I've complied my posts from the previous sajha thread on trafficking and formed it into an article below. Please read, then copy and paste the entire article into an email and forward it to all on you contact list and ask them to forward it to everyone on their contact list. Lets get the chain going as today will be the day we will make a difference in someone's life. The Himalayan Curse The issue of trafficking Nepali girls and forcing them into prostitution has been around for years now. Correct me but I haven't heard of any initiatives being taken by the government (past or present) to eradicate this sick, sick mentality of the people who sell such innocent victims, often their own daughters or wives. I seriously think that the restrictions on the borders should be much stricter. This open border shit with India has caused more emotional/mental, physical and cultural costs than all the financial benefits combined. I hope to see this dark saga end someday and Nepali village girls everywhere could live a life of hope. HOW CAN YOU HELP? By raising awareness as I feel that it is the sole key in this case. This is not only a Nepali issue but also concerns the Indians as well. They need to know of the atrocity that is taking place in their own yard. Our politicians somehow need to make this agenda among the top priorities and go to the Lok/Rajya Sabha to enlighten the Indian politicians which MAY make them take up some measure on their side as well. Only once the demand is curbed on their side, will the supply of these innocent minors decrease. This is not going to happen overnight but it can always start within the lowest levels (e.g.: discussion boards, college seminars, mass e-mails, etc.) and then slowly in time once massive awareness kicks in, the issue could come to the forefront (it should've by now but somehow, somewhere the movement has faltered). As statistics have put it; more than 30 girls are sold daily...That makes it 10,950 a year and for the past 15 years since Maitinepal (one of the few combating vehemently against this trade) was formed, it equals a whopping 164,250 girls!! Imagine 164,250 and that too at the low end of the spectrum as girls were being sold even before maitinepal was formed! Can't imagine the hell ALL these girls had to go through and moreover, since such a massive scale of people are being affected directly by this trade, why isn't the UN or any other developmental agency involved? Not enough awareness I guess. Lets now find a way to change this for good. ~Please forward this to all the people on your email list and ask them to forward to all the people on their list. www.Maitinepal.org needs our help right away and you can visit their site to find out how. My brethren, let the awareness begin with you today!!