NPR is my new hero

So I've rediscovered how awesome it is to listen to National Public Radio. Though it's based in the United States, I've just started listening again online from Florence, and I've begun an enthusiastic addict. Hard topics, terribly interesting, real people and fueling the search of knowledge. It's breathtaking.

Here's a nine-minute story that surprised, challenged and inspired me. It talks about how the author, Benjamin Skinner, was able to negotiate for a nine-year old sex slave to be sold to him for $50 US. Don't worry, he didn't actually buy. He was determined that during his journalistic under cover work he would never pay for a human life. He only broke that rule once.



Two stats seriously surprised me: First, while about one person becomes a slave in the U.S. every 30 minutes, the U.S. is one of the countries with "less" slaves, according to Free the Slaves.net. And secondly, most slaves are NOT commercial sex slaves.

The interview is even better if you're able to listen to the voices: click the audio icon directly under the story's heading.