What’s the connection and what can be done?

On Earth Day, it’s crucial to reflect not only on the health of our planet but also on the interconnectedness of environmental sustainability, fair trade practices, and especially the fight against human trafficking. Caring for the planet offers hope for future generations, while caring for those forced to work against their will provides them with immediate hope. The issue of human trafficking is personal, and I will not stay silent, especially when it affects my staff, my clients, and my profession. What does Fairtrade mean and what does it stand for? The Fairtrade symbol assures consumers that the goods being bought are purchased from businesses that create and make products in an ethical and sustainable manner. Consumers can be assured that the farmers and workers receive fair compensation for their labor. From strict adherence to issues like workers’ rights, poverty, child labor safety, gender equality, and climate change, becoming Fairtrade certified is a rigorous and detailed process and stands against human trafficking in any form. It should be noted that Fairtrade is not free trade. Free trade is a policy that believes there should be no restriction on imports or exports to a country. Is 50 million a big number? That’s approximately how many people are currently being trafficked worldwide. That’s more than the entire population of California or more than the number of people who live in Canada. If each of them were standing next to each other, with their hands at their side, they would circle the planet at the Equator. What is human trafficking exactly?  Human trafficking is an issue that we don’t think of as being a problem in Ohio or even Lakewood, but it is. This degrading crime involves the use of force, fraud, or coercion to obtain some type of labor or commercial sex act. The Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (TVPA), as amended (22 U.S.C. § 7102), defines “severe forms of trafficking in persons” as: Sex trafficking: the recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, obtaining, patronizing, or soliciting of a person for the purpose of a commercial sex act, in which the commercial sex act is induced by force, fraud, or coercion, or in which the person induced to perform such act has not attained 18 years of age; (and) Labor trafficking: the recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, or obtaining of a person for labor or services, through the use of force, fraud, or coercion for the purpose of subjection to involuntary servitude, peonage, debt bondage, or slavery.  Human Trafficking vs Human Smuggling In human trafficking, the victim is being “forced, defrauded, or coerced into trafficking. Even if victims initially offer consent, that consent is rendered meaningless by the actions of the traffickers to exploit them for labor, services, or commercial sex.” A victim does not necessarily need to be moved from one location to another.  A person could be locked in a hotel room for 16 hours a day in front of a webcam six days a week.  Trafficking is a crime against an individual. In human smuggling, “Individuals consent to being smuggled. The transaction is mutual and ends upon arrival at the desired destination.” A person is moved across the border, and this is defined as a crime against that nation. http://www.acf.hhs.gov/otip According to the US Department of State, human trafficking is almost a $150 billion industry. Forced labor, which is seen in garment/clothes, cocoa, coffee, agriculture, and sugarcane industries, accounts for roughly $50 billion. Commercial sex exploitation, which often hides behind the umbrella of prostitution, forced marriage, and massage parlors, amounts to $99 billion. Exodus Road, a non-profit organization dedicated to fighting human trafficking worldwide, estimates there are 400,000 victims in the United States who are either involved in forced labor or sex industries. Walk Free, an international human rights group focused on the eradication of modern slavery, places the estimate closer to 1 million people.  How about Ohio? The office of Criminal Justice Services for Ohio states on their website, “In the current academic and policy literature, there are no agreed-upon estimates of the number of human trafficking victims in Ohio. These efforts are further hindered due to the clandestine nature of human trafficking and the failure to recognize exploitation when it occurs.”  https://ocjs.ohio.gov/anti-human-trafficking/data-and-reports/estimating-the-prevalence-of-human-trafficking-in-ohio Using statistics from the Human Trafficking section of the World Population Review and US National Human Trafficking Hotline, The Human Trafficking Courts (htcourts.org), an organization providing comprehensive, up-to-date information on human trafficking shelters has some staggering results. They estimate that, as of June 2022, Ohio ranks fifth in the country for human trafficking. The rate of human trafficking is approximately 3.84 victims per 100,000 residents, putting the number of estimated victims being trafficked around 450 people at any given time. These estimates are based on the number of reports and “signals” which include calls, text messages, email, and web chats to the hotline coming from Ohio. https://htcourts.org/ohio/

On April 3, 2024, police and agents from the Northeast Ohio Human Trafficking Taskforce raided three massage parlors, two of them were on Madison Avenue. The first one, K Spa, was 500 feet from our Lakewood office. The second, Green Massage, was another 1,000 feet down the road. The third was in North Olmsted. The locations on Madison were right across the street from Harding Middle School. Even more disturbing is that the location for K Spa was previously called Harmony Massage, a place raided two years prior by police.

News reports about the raid mentioned that the K Spa, the location closest to us, was discovered to have a large box of cash and living quarters. They said that police had enough evidence to issue warrants for more arrests and said that all three of these commercial sex establishments are only part of a much bigger human trafficking operation.

Why or how the property company leased out the space to two illicit massage businesses in three years is beyond my comprehension, but they did. Early last week, I noticed that they were looking for someone to lease that space and by Saturday the sign was missing. Before it’s argued that the property management company probably didn’t know it was “one of those places”, I’ll help them out to keep it from being a place that gets shut down a third time. They can check with the Ohio Medical Board and discover, in less than a minute, that none of the workers had a massage license. Here’s the link to save them an additional thirty seconds:

https://elicense.ohio.gov/OH_HomePage

Where are they in Ohio?

The Domestic Human Sex Trafficking report funded by the Department of Justice in 2012 found that in Ohio, massage parlors accounted for 18.6% of adult victims. In 2021, the National Human Trafficking Hotline received tips indicating that the number of individuals being trafficked in massage parlors was closer to 10%.

It would be reassuring to know that the number of illicit massage parlors is decreasing; however, many are still operating in Ohio. My tenure on the American Massage Therapy Board exposed how rampant this problem is and how difficult it is to shut them down. There are websites that inform people where to go to receive these services. They list the city, the name of the place, their address, hours of operation, the names of the “providers,” along with reviews. A couple of days after the raids on April 3rd, the status of these three places was changed to “closed”. I am glad that all the places listed in Lakewood are closed, but I am deeply troubled by the 185 places still open in Ohio.

Where are the victims coming from?

In the Traffikwatch training videos from Exodus Road, they indicate that 85% of the people trafficked in the United States are from within the United States. Throughout this article, there are many uses of the word “estimated”. Since the actual number will never be reported due to the hidden nature of human trafficking, many of these “estimates” rely on interviews from survivors who escaped or were rescued from their situation.

To prevent at-risk individuals from being trafficked, in 2012 Ohio enacted a law under Kidnapping and Extortion, known as ORC 2905.32, which provides guidelines for identifying victims of trafficking in persons. In 2021, the state identified 1,535 individuals at risk for human trafficking. Based on the materials in the video, from the Governor’s annual report on human trafficking, and from information cross-referenced from several anti-trafficking websites, there are warning signs to pay attention to..

If working with students or youth:

-Sudden changes in behavior, particularly withdrawal, fearfulness, isolation, anger, and desperation

-The presence of an older boyfriend or girlfriend

-Sudden expensive possessions that feel out of place

-A social media presence growing increasingly sexualized

-LGBTQ+

-Those considering or who have dropped out of school

-Those in an unsafe home/foster care setting

 Other situations that place someone at risk:

-Certain individuals who find themselves ensnared after forming romantic relationships, only to be coerced or manipulated into prostitution

-Others are enticed by deceptive offers of employment, such as opportunities in modeling or dancing

-Being compelled into the trade by family members, while others face expulsion from their families, leaving them in dire financial circumstances where survival hinges on exchanging sex

-Drug/alcohol use, domestic violence/abuse, victim of rape, depression, or other mental illness

-Those worried about where they will sleep or eat, homeless

-Individuals who may have accrued debt during incarceration; they may have made connections with traffickers during incarceration, and some who lose their safety net upon release may feel that no other options exist

-Sitting alone and being asked if “They want to have some fun with a couple of his friends” – (Keep an eye on this one)

Why are there victims?

Greed and the law of supply and demand. At the height of the slave trade in the 1850s, the price for a slave, adjusted for inflation, would cost $40,000. Today the average slave costs $90. The demand for cheap goods, including counterfeit clothing and electronics, as well as inexpensive coffee, continues to drive the industry. The more things change, the more they stay the same. In areas of the world where there is little to no oversight or accountability, this will continue to get worse.

This is personal for me and for our clients.

I have been a licensed massage therapist since 2001. I love the staff at Lakewood Massotherapy, and I thoroughly enjoy working with our clients and watching them progress through the sessions. I’m honored when those around me ask me what’s going on in my life, and I cherish the stories that have been shared with me about their lives and their families as well. However, over the last several weeks, I have begun hearing stories and have had things reported that left me speechless.

On Thursday, I was having a conversation with the receptionist, and she was telling me about a guy who called earlier that day and wanted to know if he could come in for a ½ hour session with a “happy ending.” She said “no” and added that he’s not welcome in our office. A few minutes later, I answered the phone. It was a woman trying to schedule an appointment and wanted to come in for a ½ hour session to have her neck worked on.

The client’s request was reasonable and innocent, but I felt an stirring in my heart over the request because of the guy from earlier in the day. I explained to her some of the reasons why we don’t offer it.  Then I decided to tell her about the conversation I just had with the receptionist. I explained that the 1/2 hour time that she asked for was typical of those who frequent massage parlors and only “want a specific area worked on”. I mentioned that the places down the street were recently raided by the police and agents for the human trafficking task force.

I explained that most people who are trafficked in the United States are already here.  Often they’re lured away by people who promise to take care of them or show them a good time. Then she told me a story I never thought I’d hear.  Last summer her daughter was home from college and she was at a large, outdoor shopping area in Westlake. Her daughter was sitting at a table by herself when an middle aged guy approached her. With a limited proficiency in spoken English, he asked her if she was there by herself and if she wanted to join him and a couple of friends for a good time. She was there by herself, but she quickly looked around and pointed at a random couple and said that she’s here with her parents. She got up and began walking towards them even though she had no idea who they were, and he departed in a different direction. Her surety in herself and quick thinking kept her from potentially becoming another statistic.

I wish I could say that these are the only stories, but I would be lying. Ever since those massage parlors closed, we have had an average of 1-2 encounters with people every day that will never be allowed in our office. Sometimes they call, and other times the guys enter the office, looking unkempt with neglected hygiene and ask the receptionist, “What do your girls look like?”. Some have had the audacity to ask the receptionists right to their face if they give happy endings, or they’ll ask them if they give the massage themselves. A couple of weeks ago, I came out of a session to give my client some final recommendations in the lobby. I didn’t realize that a guy had just asked the receptionist if we give happy endings. When he saw me, he asked with a shocked expression, “Oh! Guys do this too?” Without knowing what had just happened, I said, “There’s quite a few of us that have been massaging for a while.”

It used to happen about once a month, but now this is happening at least once every day. Every. Single. Day.

Someone asked me if there was a possibility that undercover cops are trying to find out if we’re doing that too. If that’s the case, they can ask all they want. I would love to have them sit in the office to take away the guys bothering my staff.

I changed the sign on the A Frame outside the day after the raids to show my support for HB 255. The bill is regarding massage establishments and nontherapeutic massage. In essence, it would establish a non-therapeutic massage registry and would require that anyone working in a facility either be registered or licensed with the state. If someone doesn’t have a license or isn’t registered, the place can be closed at any time. 

There is hope, and here are some things that we can do to keep our community safe.

With regard to businesses:

– Look for businesses that have unusual opening/closing hours.

– Check for a high level of privacy. Are all the windows and doors covered from the inside with curtains, blinds, or tint?

– Pay attention to signs of fear and isolation among workers, such as forced working conditions, beds, mattresses, and living spaces.

– Be cautious of places that accept cash only.

Other ways to help out:

– Work or volunteer with vulnerable populations and at-risk youth.

– Buy Fairtrade. Look for the logo. Visit places like the One World Shop in Rocky River or any of the places in the Fairtrade Ohio network. https://ohiofairtrade.com/ohio-fair-trade-stores/

– Be digitally mindful and aware of who is messaging you.

– Support anti-trafficking organizations.

– Talk to your elected officials about getting Ohio HB 255, or at the very least, having legislation passed at the city level like it has in other states in Ohio.

– Spread Awareness: Share this article and information about Fairtrade and human trafficking with your friends, family, and social networks. Education is key to driving meaningful change.

Important numbers:

National Center for Missing and Exploited Children: 1-800-THE-LOST

National Human Trafficking Hotline: 1-888-373-7888 (Help available in 200 languages) Text HELP or INFO to 233733 (BEFREE)

Global ICE/DHS: 1-866-347-2423

Please note:

Do not attempt to directly confront a human trafficker or break down a door to free someone. If you see something, say something. It’s better to be wrong in reporting an issue than to let it continue.

Conclusion

It may seem like a stretch to link Earth Day and human trafficking together, but it’s not. The biggest shift to help the planet and people is by purchasing Fairtrade. Every Fairtrade purchase contributes to both environmental sustainability and the prevention of human trafficking. Fairtrade certification not only assures consumers that products are free from slave labor and child labor while ensuring fair wages but also mandates environmentally friendly methods for product creation and harvesting. Supporting fair trade certification fosters a commitment to environmental stewardship, which in turn contributes significantly to reducing air, ground, and water pollution, along with greenhouse gas emissions.

Climate change impacts every corner of the globe, yet it is the marginalized communities worldwide that bear the brunt of its effects. As climate change triggers natural disasters, homelessness inevitably rises, leaving vast populations vulnerable to trafficking. Moreover, climate change has the potential to displace countless individuals when a natural disaster like a volcano erupts in Iceland or Indonesia. When people are compelled to flee their homes as climate change refugees, they become increasingly susceptible to both labor and sex trafficking.

One of the industries where human trafficking is prevalent is in illegal forestry. Every year, deforestation claims enough trees to cover an area equivalent to the nation of Panama. Up to one-third of the global wood trade is facilitated by illicit logging networks, which frequently exploit the labor of indigenous communities and others through coercion. Communities that have mobilized to safeguard their forests are significantly less susceptible to exploitation by illegal timber operations. By advocating for reforestation initiatives at the local level, the capacity of these networks to exploit communities can be greatly diminished.

Having been a part of the Fairtrade community for several years, there is no collective spirit so strongly unified in their efforts for the preservation of the earth and human life than theirs. Their voices and determination are strong and resolute, and if you listen closely, you’ll hear mine too.

Happy Earth Day,

CJ Bromfield