International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its 'Abolition' (?!)

August 23 of each year is designated by UNESCO to memorialize the trans-Atlantic slave trade.  The International Day commemorates the uprising which took place on 22-23 August 1791, when slaves in Saint Domingue (present-day Haiti), launched an insurrection which ultimately led to the Haitian revolution and helped to promote the cause of human rights. It was first celebrated in a number of countries, in particular in Haiti (23 August 1998) and Senegal (23 August 1999).


The following TED talk by Lisa Kristine was posted just in time to remind us that slavery is far from being abolished - whether the slavery remains within state borders, or exists as modern human trafficking, trans-Atlantic or otherwise.

Recorded at TEDxMaui 2012, held on January 22, 2012 at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center.

If you are inspired by her amazing talk and especially her stunning photographs, and you truly want to end modern day slavery, you can buy the book (proceeds go directly to help end slavery) from Lisa Kristine's web page:
http://www.lisakristine.com/shop/books-and-dvds/slavery-standard-book/

or donate directly to Free the Slaves
www.freetheslaves.net