News From Thailand
Heading toward the 6-month mark
Last week I attended a workshop...
1. Supply
Porn producers want viewers to believe that the "actors" depicted are consenting adults. Maybe some of them are. But how can we know? One problem is that we can't see what is going on off-camera. Viewers cannot distinguish who is 18, who is a trafficking victim, who is being prostituted, who is being raped, and who is willing. But we do have the testimony of current and former industry participants who disclose the widespread use of drugs, violence, and threats- suggesting that compliance often results from coercion.
Furthermore, we know that pornographic material is also used to "groom" HT victims so that they will understand what is expected of them and be desensitized to it- whether the abuse is filmed or not.
2. Demand
The globally rising demand for "harder" pornographic content has contributed to (among other things):
- Increased demand for trafficking victims (live and recorded).
- Increased incidence of "live streaming" and "on demand" abuse.
- Increased sex tourism/child sex tourism.
Clarification: not everyone who views porn develops an addiction. Also, not everyone who becomes addicted to porn engages in extreme sexual acting out.
The links are:
- Porn use chemically affects the brain in the same way as drug use. The risk of addiction is greater with early and prolonged use.
- One feature of addiction is escalating behavior. As the brain adapts over time, stimuli must increase (frequency, volume, or severity) to achieve the same "high".
3. MGM
- "Sexting"- sending explicit photos or video to another person (most often a boyfriend or girlfriend).
- Posting self-generated explicit photos or video to social media (such as Instagram, Facebook, or Snapchat).
- Unwanted contact from a sexual predator who has engaged with the material.
- "Sextortion"- when he/she is forced to comply with an abuser/trafficker based on the threat of exposure of the MGM.
- The unauthorized use/distribution of the images or video. Forever.
- "Revenge porn" - when the MGM is posted publicly in an effort to humiliate him/her.
In the fight against human trafficking...
Hope to see you when I'm in NC for the month of April!
Email: Helen@hugproject.org
Website: http://theelephantchronicles.com/
Location: Northern Thailand
Phone: 0953215655
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hugprojectthailand/
Speaking Events on the Calendar... You are welcome to join in!
- Davidson County Community College: Wed. 3/29/17 at 1:00pm
- Clemmons United Methodist Church Youth Group: Sun. 4/2/17 at 6:00pm
- Clemmons United Methodist Church Women's Group: Tues. 4/4/17 at 7:00pm
- Women's Wellness & Fitness Center- Lunch & Learn: Thurs. 4/6/17 at 12:00noon
- New Philadelphia Moravian Church Sunday School Group: Sun. 4/9/17 at 10:00am
- Home of Noel & Beth Collis: Wed. 4/19/17 at 7:00pm
- Home of Butch & Jennifer Pendergrass: Sat. 4/22/17 at 6:00pm- Dinner included!
- Ebenezer Fellowship (home of Russell & Karen Wilson): Sun. 4/23/17 at 11:00am