Most of us relate slavery to African-Americans being shipped over from Africa to the United States in the 16th through the 19th centuries...few of us are aware of the ongoing struggle many people face in the 21st century.
Modern day slavery is still a strong cell of activity around the world: Globally, some 600,000 to 800,000 people are being trafficked across international boarders each year, 20% of the victims are children.* In the United States, the CIA estimates 50,000 people are trafficked through the USA annually as sex slaves, domestics, garment and agricultural slaves.*
These numbers are startling to say the least; thankfully, there are many groups dedicated to ending this disturbing trend.
Members of IALF will share information via CNN's Freedom Project. Please feel free to check out the following link for information, stats, and ways to help: http://thecnnfreedomproject.blogs.cnn.com/
The "It's All For L.O.V.E" blog team would like to wish
Prince Michael Jackson II a.k.a. Blanket
a very happy 9th birthday today!!!
You have been through a very hard time and had to go through more than a child of your age should ever face but we do hope that by the love and support of your family and loved ones, and by the love you get from all over the world, there is a happy and lovely year ahead for you!!!
May you be blessed and rewarded today and for the rest of your life!
Every second, 3 sharks die at human hands. Many are "finned" so that their fins can be used for shark fin soup. Sharks are becoming extinct and it is affecting all ocean life.
Executive Producer/Director Gary Rose and fledgling group KISS (Kids Involved in Saving Sharks) have teamed up to create a PSA campaign aimed at halting the slaughter of sharks and preserving the ocean's ecosystem.
MJ Fam, please help those kids and spread their message to help the endangered species of sharks that are essential to our eco system!
Why?
Sharks have been around for nearly 400 million years: that makes them older than dinosaurs! There are about 375 different types of shark in the world.
The sea monster myth
Sharks rarely attack people. In fact, the chance of being attacked by a shark is less than the chance of being struck by lightning. The real dangers for people in the ocean are drowning, exposure and being struck by a boat. So no, sharks are not the sea monsters we hear about in stories.
Threat to survival
While sharks are not a threat to people, people are a very real threat to sharks. Each year, over 100 million sharks are killed, most of them for their fins. In fact, there are now 20 types of sharks that are in danger of disappearing because of overfishing.
One of the reasons the shark population is decreasing rapidly is that it takes a long time for sharks to become adults. When a young shark is caught they do not have the chance to grow up and produce baby sharks (pups).
When it comes to reproducing, sharks are more similar to mammals such as whales, dolphins and humans than to other fish. While most fish reach maturity in only a few years and produce thousands or millions of eggs per year, sharks take many years to reach maturity, with some species not reproducing until they are over 15 years old. So when sharks are overfished it may take them many years to recover and in some cases they may never recover.
Why care?
Sharks are crucial parts to the ocean ecosystem. They are at the top of the ocean food chain. They control populations in a beneficial way by eliminating diseased and genetically defective animals. Sharks are an important part of the Earth’s biodiversity.
YOU can help endangered sharks!
1. Educate yourself and others about their importance to our world.
2. Send letters to politicians and other influential people. Let others know how you feel about endangered sharks and how crucial they are to the environment.
3. Sign a petition or start a petition against shark finning and send it to representatives of China.
4. Avoid purchasing products made from sharks.
5. Organise a fundraising activity at your school or in your community and donate to a shark conservation program or organisation.
Together we can make a difference! Tell us how you’ve helped the sharks and inspire other to do the same.
Anthony Jackson is a young American actor, singer and songwriter. He's currently working on his first studio album "Anton Classic" to be released this year.
His first single is called "Come To My City" and is out now!
To listen and order from amazon.com click here. For itunes click here.
Also check out this video: Come to My City - Anthony Jackson & Dancer Brian Woolridge
Anthony's grandfather is Joseph's younger brother. His parents are Tony and Debra Jackson. When Anthony was 7 years old his father Tony passed away. At that time Michael became signifigantly involved in Anthony's life. He is close to family, especially from the next generation.
See Anthony's heartfelt speech at the "Forever Michael" event on June 26, 2010:
Michael and Anthony:
Keep supporting the Jacksons legacy and show some L.O.V.E. for Anthony!
These numbers are startling to say the least; thankfully, there are many groups dedicated to ending this disturbing trend. 
