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Last year I had the opportunity to perform in Russia for hundreds of grateful young people.
These concert-goers were the children of communist era Russians, and reflected none of the stereotypes (at least the ones we learned in school during the cold war) characteristic of that time in Russia. They were smart, energetic, optimistic, and eager for new experiences abroad. One evening I was speaking to my translator, a 20 year old college student fluent in three languages, about what she was going to do this coming summer. She smiled, straightened her back and said, I am going to America. Great I said, to do what? Again with great pride she said I am going to work at McDonalds. It took me a minute to get over the idea of someone traveling such a great distance to work at a fast food joint in Cleveland. She was so excited though, that I really didnt want to press the point, but I did ask a few more questions. She went on to explain that an agency is sending her over to work and has already taken a large deposit (undoubtedly all the money she had). The more questions I asked, the more I realized that this didnt sound good. Not wanting to discourage her I asked to see the contract the agency had sent her. The only document she could produce was a fax from some number in New York with absolutely no pertinent information on it. From what I was seeing, it did not appear that she was going to be working under the golden arches any time soon.
With the fall of communism and the opening of the borders, a new work force has emerged. One that can be easily motivated by American dreams pumped into their country via Satellite TV. This work force is desperate and willing to do anything to get a job abroad, even pay in advance for passage to the States or exotic Western Europe. Many however find no job at all. Rather, they find a life of indentured servitude. Slavery.
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Whether its dive bar brothels in Eastern Europe, the brick kilns of India, or some run down apartment outside of Philadelphia, the world we live in is stained with numbers of slaves reaching an estimated 27 million. In many cultures sex tourism (primarily with children) is accepted and sometimes encouraged. Children are being wooed from their villages into the towns, sometimes being directly purchased from the parents or traded for a television.
I know these facts are harsh and stirring. They stirred me. I began to read as much as I could about it. From the New York Times article on January 25, 2004 entitled The girl next door, to books on modern day slavery like Disposable People . But what could I do? Give money? Sure, thats very important, but I am enraged. I want to DO something. So, I did what I know how to do. I wrote a song. I wrote a song to raise awareness of these atrocities. Baby Blue was written as a cry for help; a cry from someone who has no country, family, or advocate to lift them out of their oppression. This song is included on our latest album, and the lyrics will be posted on our Web site very soon. You can also listen to the track right from the music player on our Homepage.
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The good news is that help is available. Through organizations like Free The Slaves and International Justice Mission these children and families are finding advocates from far away places. They are finding justice for the first time in their lives. Please visit these sites and read about their passion for freedom. In a time such as this, justice and freedom are gifts we can actually give to each other.
Tremolo will stay united with these causes as long as we are a band. We will do all we can to raise awareness, raise funds, and raise these victims to their deserved freedom.
www.freetheslaves.net
http://www.ijm.org/
Written by Justin Dillon
All Photos © 2004 Free the Slaves. |
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