Video of the Week

Blood Into Gold : Peter Buffett featuring Akon

"All that you own through the blood of another".

Blood Into Gold is a collaboration between Peter Buffet and Akon that deals with the all too prevalent issue of child slavery and human trafficking.

Although we may be tempted to say it doesn't happen on our doorstep, the reality is that it's going on everywhere - even in the so-called developed world. According to the UN, over 12 million people worldwide are trafficked for forced labor or sexual exploitation.

Originally written after a request from the non-profit organization, Culture Project for the 2009 Commemoration of the International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade, Blood Into Gold contains some very stark imagery - from children working in a mine and prostituting themselves on the street to and fighting as Child Soldiers.

UNICEF's direction of the video no doubt allowed access to this confronting and saddening imagery.

The message of this song an video is clear - every day, people are bought and sold at the expense of their own well-being for other people's profit - or sell themselves through the sheer necessity of needing to make a living and just survive.

It's impossible to watch it without wondering if there's something you can do to help. And thankfully there is - as part of the project, they have put together a website at IsThereSomethingICanDo.com.

"We hope that we're able to provide the type of online resource that has the power to change lives," said Peter Buffett. "With our new re-launch, IsThereSomethingICanDo.com truly answers the title question with a 'yes.' There IS something you can do and here's how."

The webiste contains information what you can do to help - the Polaris Project which was named after the North Star that guided slaves towards freedom, the Somaly Mam Foundation which focuses on eradicating the root of human trafficking and various UNICEF efforts.

I urge you to watch this video and then visit IsThereSomethingICanDo.com to play your part in stamping out human trafficking!

> Peter Buffet's website

> Akon's website