"I Cannot Be Bought"
40.3 million human beings are in slavery today. We like to think slavery is an issue of the past, but there are more slaves today than there has been at any point in history. The "I Cannot Be Bought" campaign aims to raise awareness about the devastating truth of human trafficking and the power media has on this evil.
What do books have to do with human trafficking?
William Wilberforce brought down the slave trade with the power of the pen. He had help from notable writers of his time like Hannah Moore; they used pamphlets, plays, and other mediums to spread their message and showcase the evils and depravity of the slave trade. The stories we tell fiercely impact our imaginations, hearts, and passions. This truth drives #ProtectCleanFiction in the "I Cannot Be Bought" campaign.
What we read will affect how we view the world. This is why we hold so strongly to novels that uplift virtue and quality. (This is not to say that a story cannot be fun or must be groundbreaking to have value.) Sadly, as has grown popular, are books filled with gratuitous descriptions of sex that cause your brain to react in the same way it would porn. Porn is degenerative in its devaluing of human beings and sex itself. It is a moral compromise that spreads to its consumers through over-sexualization which feeds into porn.
It's a cycle...
It would be reductionist to say it is only these three steps that play into the horrors that are human trafficking, but for the sake of simplicity, it can be boiled down as above. The demand for more gratuitous sexual content is driven by over-sexualization and thereby porn.
We have the power to change that.
Breaking down the Campaign:
Feel free to download and repost this image on social media if you feel compelled. Use the hashtages #Icannotbebought and #protectcleanfiction.
Chain Breaker
“You can choose to look the other way but never again can you say that you never knew.”
― William Wilberforce
The founder of #ProtectCleanFiction, Abigail G. Thompson is partnering with author Anna Kosten to bring readers an anthology "Chain Breaker" which will be a collection of short stories and art pieces on the subject of human trafficking to raise awareness about this critical issue. Every purchase of this anthology will go to the O.U.R Rescue which works to save people from these situations. There will be three stages to this release and we hope you pray about getting involved in this project.
1. Submissions Open
August 31-October 1
Submit your work to be featured in the Chain Breaker Anthology, a collection of writings and art that portray the dark reality of human trafficking.
Rules:
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No language
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No smut
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No gore
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Be respectful
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Include your name/pen name underneath your title
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Accepting written works and art
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Work must represent human trafficking or Christian topics
For Writers:
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Accepting any writing (short stories, poetry, etc.)
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Word count limit: 8000 words
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Please submit your writing through a .doc document rather than a PDF
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Work should be written in a 12-size font and double-spaced.
For Artists:
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Art must be digitally submitted
Human trafficking is a sensitive topic.
It is vital that we portray this subject correctly and carefully.
Before creating and submitting your work, it is required that you take the time to research and study this topic to portray it accurately. Linked below are blogs, stories, videos, and podcasts that all delve into this dark reality.
OUR RESCUE YouTube Channel
OUR RESCUE Podcast
OUR RESCUE Articles
Polaris Project Training Course
Movies:
Sound of Freedom
City of Dreams
Use these resources to be a voice for the voiceless and a light in the darkness.
2. Cover Reveal, Merch Drop, and Fundraiser!
COMING OCTOBER 5
October 5 will be a day you will not want to miss! Not only will there be an amazing cover revealed by you will also be able to purchase some amazing merch which will go to paying all the fees that go with publishing a book like primarily editing.
"Fiction Becomes Reality"
With original art made by the founder of #protectcleanfiction, the imagery and slogan aims to showcase the consequences of an oversexualized culture.
As you can see by this sneek peek into the merch designs, you will want to be around for October 5 for when all the epic designs drop and your purchase can help release a book about human trafficking.
3. Release and Raise Awareness
The release date for "Chain Breaker" will be January 11 which is Human Trafficking Awareness day. We hope that this anthalogy and by product this campaign will do more than be another book released into the world, but something that helps people realize, and become passionate about this critical issue.
Made by Miranda Markley at @thespiritseedscomic
