Only An Angel Can Save Me Now Video

Ed Bennett wrote a song Called " Only An Angel Can Save Me Now".

It was inspired by the Movie " Holly" which addresses the issue of Child Trafficking and Prostitution. UNICEF estimates over 2 million children are sold by poor parents into this downward spiraling world.

The lyrics are meant to be sung by a 12 year old girl who finds herself trapped in this predicament. ( Links to lyrics)

May Ling performs the vocals , Ed played all the instruments. Lucia Lee made the Video.

Message from MinhTu- Petra Nemcova to co-host!

Hi Everyone!

I would like to update you on some exciting news about our upcoming Anti-Child Trafficking fundraiser being held on Wednesday, October 15th. One of the most beautiful and inspiring champions for children, Miss Petra Nemcova, has decided to co-host our event with us!

Many of you know Ms. Nemcova from her hugely successful career as a top supermodel (Sports Illustrated cover and swimsuit, high fashion, etc). For those who might not be aware of this however, Ms. Nemcova is also a passionate supporter of child related causes. She has written a beautiful, inspiring book, Love Always, Petra, about her devastating experience as a survivor of the tsunami in Thailand in 2004, and in 2005 she founded the Happy Hearts Fund to aid children in need who have endured terrible hardships due to natural and economic disasters. Her appearance at events and outspokenness about the issues affecting these children has raised tremendous awareness and support for their plights. It is a huge honor that she has agreed to co-host this event with my team and I.

I would also like to announce that we now have three of the city's top Asian food chefs providing our food for us. This, along with musical performances by Lucy Woodward and Ed Bennett and presentations by guest speakers, Carol Smolenski, founder of ECPAT-USA, and Adi Ezroni, co-founder of Priority Films/Redlight Children, will make this a very special night.

As a gentle reminder, tickets are $100 if purchased in advance and you may buy them on our website (www.redlightchildren.org/nightofawareness) by clicking on the "ticket/donate" page. As space is limited, I encourage you to purchase them sooner than later, and again, please invite your friends and colleagues to come as well.

Many thanks to those of you showing your support for this important cause. It means a great deal to me personally as well as to the two wonderful organizations - Redlight Children and Thao Dan - who are helping these victimized children reclaim their lives.

Looking forward to see you all there.

Love & Peace,

MinhTu
Event Co-Host

Night of Awarness- a note from Trang Kelly

Dear Friends,

I would like to invite you to a very special evening, a fundraising event that I am organizing to benefit two important non-profit organizations that fight child trafficking and sexual exploitation: The Redlight Children Campaign and Thao Dan Children's Charity.

As many of you are probably aware, child trafficking is a global epidemic that affects hundreds of thousands of innocent children every year. It is an outrage that must be stopped and both Redlight Children and Thao Dan work tirelessly to raise awareness of the issue, fight for the childrens' rights, care for and rehabilitate those victimized by it, and protect those who are vulnerable to falling prey to it.

Please find our formal invitation below and check out our event website, http://redlightchildren.org/nightofawareness for additional details. It is going to be a wonderful night with delicious food and beverages provided by several of the top Asian restaurants in the city, compelling guest speakers, and special music performances by NYC's Miss Lucy Woodward and Grammy Nominated Ed Bennett. There will also be a silent auction which will include artwork made by the street children that Thao Dan works with in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

Tickets are $100 in advance and can be purchased on our website either by paypal or check. Please note that 100% of the event's proceeds will be going directly to Redlight Children and Thao Dan to help them continue their important work.

I am truly hoping you can make it and that you will invite all your friends and colleagues as well. Your attendance and donations will make a significant and lasting difference in the lives of these victimized children.

Best regards,

Trang Kelly

Event Co-Organizer

New Date for Fundraiser- Again

Hello Everyone
Things are under way with the plans for our fundraiser. But, we've gone back to the October 15th. Please correct your calendars.

New Date for Fundraiser

October 9th, 2008 is the new date for the fund raiser. Mark your calendars.

Child prostitute and trafficking estimated numbers country rise: ECPAT International

In Thailand- research group the Protection Project estimate the number of child victims of prostitution to be at least 80,000 but likely to be in the hundreds of thousands ,
In Sri Lanka, The government itself estimates there are approximately 30,000 children involved.
In Taiwan, between 40,000 and 60,000 children are sex workers ,
In China, the estimates range from 200,000 to 500,000 ,
In Brazil, the estimates range from 500,000 to 2 million ,
In the Dominican Republic, an estimated 25,000 ,
In West Africa, an estimated 35,000 ,
In Bangladesh, An estimated 13,000 children in Bangladesh are prey to the commercial sex industry of the country. More than 20,000 children are born and live in the 18 registered red-light areas of Bangladesh. Country-by-Country Reports Child Prostitution (gvnet.com)
In the United States, The US Department of Justice estimates the numbers to be between 100,000 and 3 million. These figures include children involved in prostitution, child pornography and who have been trafficked into the United States.

ECPAT International- article found at www.sadashivan.com/factsandfigures/

Articles on child prositution

NYMAG Online
The Thinking Blog
Huffington Post