Action Reflection Prepared by Joshua Rabang

As an action taken against human trafficking, I created a poster to publicize this evil practice to the Serra community. I emphasized the slogan of my poster, “STOP Human Trafficking”, through the use of photo editing on a stop light that I took a picture of. Each light on the stop light had a face of a sufferer of human trafficking on it while the red light was illuminated, conveying that this practice had to be “stopped” as soon as possible.

Through this action, I hope to have informed more Serra students about human trafficking and maybe have sparked an interest in a few to do research into the subject. Before this project, I did not nearly know how bad modern slavery has gotten. Ever since I learned about the ending of slavery in early America, I did not even think that such a thing could go on in our world today. I want the younger students at Serra to be aware of this practice so they, too, can take action and be more aware of this injustice. Education is the key to success, and if I educate younger students, success will be produced. However, I do not know if my action succeeded as I have not seen any copies of my poster around school.

As a result of my taking action against human trafficking, I am inspired to take action on future justice issues that I encounter. I feel as if I have been given a responsibility to become a “light” to this world that can show and reveal social injustices. Before taking this action, I used to think that attempting to solve a worldwide problem was too big of a task for me to accomplish. However, I realized that not one person can solve international injustices. Issues such as human trafficking are solved communally, and it is our responsibility, as inhabitants of this world, to work together to solve things one step at a time.

Action: Poster

The 7 Catholic Social Teachings

The Church’s social teaching is a tool that each and every person can use to gain God’s wisdom regarding the principles needed to build a holy and just society. These principles not only teach us how to combat the challenges of modern society but also inform us on how to live our daily lives according to the church. These teachings have been expressed through a tradition of papal, conciliar, and Episcopal documents. In the following reflections, we aim to highlight the true essence that lay within our Catholic social tradition.

Life and Dignity of the Human Person

The Catholic Church proclaims that human life is sacred and that the dignity of the human person is the foundation of a moral vision for society. Everyone is precious; people are more important than the material things of this world. When brothel owners, soldiers, and business owners take advantage of other people by forcing them to abuse their bodies, kill people, and do hard labor, human life is no more treated as “sacred” but rather as a mere resource. Those suffering by the practice of human trafficking are having their right to life taken away and are forced to live lives that are dedicated to making money that they will not even be paid.

Call to Family, Community, and Participation

The family is the central social institution that must be supported and strengthened, not undermined. People also have a rightful duty to participate in society. Child soldiers, young prostitutes, and forced laborers do not have this “call” to their families or to their societies. Instead of their lives of unending toil, they should have the right to do what they please to do. Children of Uganda should not be taught how to shoot guns, fight, and torture, but should rather be educated in the school system.

Rights and Responsibilities

Every person has a fundamental right to life and a right to those things required for human decency. Corresponding to these rights are duties and responsibilities to one another, to our families, and to the larger society. We, being part of a privileged, fruitful society, have the responsibility to guarantee all other human beings the same rights we have. Those being trafficked under the radar (whether by smuggling or through corrupted government officials) have the right to life which we have.

Option for the Poor and Vulnerable

A basic moral test is how our most vulnerable members are faring. We need to put the needs of the poor and vulnerable first. Again, as members of a privileged society, our main focus should be on helping those who are less fortunate than we are. Those who are most vulnerable to being trafficked are the poor. Thus, in order to stop human trafficking, poverty around the world needs to be taken care of.