BBA 20113: Welcome to the Diamond Circus Task

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Read Time:1 Minute, 10 Second

The Diamonds also had their turn with for their Circus Task Presentation and by the looks of things they were giving the Rubies a run for their Wager. They came out of the House in a jovial circus mood and that’s exactly what they brought throughout their performance.

The ring master this time was none other than the flamboyant Sierre LeoneanBassey who brought his fake English accent with as he presented the different acts. The two clowns were represented by yours truly, Nando and Bimp, whose act was the funniest by far.

The two hot hula hoop ladies in the Diamond House were Dillish and Beverly who did justice to the act. But everyone knows that just watching the two beauties would be enough entertainment for a while. Annabel also had fun being the Beard Lady and she looked perfectly in character.

Melvin the magician also brought his A-game as he performed a few tricks that had everyone clapping hard and the whole gang ended their Presentation with a birthday song for the former President of South Africa, Nelson Mandela. That, and the song they sang, was a nice touch to their performances. But we all know that Biggie needed to be impressed by these Housemates. Good luck to the Diamonds.

Do you think the Diamonds will win their Wager?

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
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BBA 2013: Task: The Circus comes to the Ruby House

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Read Time:1 Minute, 40 Second

The Rubies presented their Task with much discipline and enthusiasm as they exited the House in song and dance, it was all very entertaining to watch. Cleo as an MC led the circus crew with her strong voice.

Angelo introduced the different acts by the countries that they all came from. The ring master Oneal started the show off with his whip in hand and the two clowns,Sulu and Elikem ran onto the stage to do their funny piece.

Two of the hottest ladies in the Ruby House, Cleo and Pokello walked in in style and started with their sexy hula hoop act, which lasted for about a few minutes, with their smiles in place. Cleo was looking sizzling hot in a red dress while Pokello was as hot in her black number.

The two were later joined by the two clowns who wasted no time on acting silly and then the ring master came to join in the fun. Although there was no music, you could still see and enjoy their circus act because it was essentially what most circus acts looked like. After all that was done, Oneal introduced the Bearded Lady also known as Feza and what her role required her to walk about and sit down while wearing her beard. Oneal then introduced an act that was from South America, a short man that goes by the name of Fabio Corolo who is a miming magician. Angelo was Fabio and he did a good job on his performance.

The act ended with a board that wished former South African president a happy birthday and the Ruby song they came up with earlier. That was a nice touch from the Ruby House. Well done Rubies. They all did their best and it’s now up to Biggie to decide whether they win their Wager or not.

Do you think the Rubies will win their 100% Wager back?

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
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BBA 2013: Failed Task: Both Houses lose their Wagers

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Read Time:1 Minute, 6 Second

After all that effort Biggie?

Both the Rubies and the Diamonds were very disappointed in Biggie’s decision for their Circus Task Presentations. Both Houses have forfeited their 100% Wagers and Biggie wasn’t joking about his decision as he told all of them of his disappointment.

The Rubies thought he was joking and that he would come back saying he was pulling their tired legs but nothing of the sort happened. Biggie meant what he said and wasn’t impressed with any of the House Presentations because the Housemates didn’t put much effort into their Task.

The Diamonds were as disappointed but Annabel told everyone that they were fine as far as food was concerned. “We still have bottles to last us another week and we have meat, sausage and food,” she said trying to encourage the sad Diamonds.

This goes to show that Biggie takes Task Presentations very seriously and wanted to awaken the Housemates to that reality. The survival of the Chasemates in the House depends a lot on their Wager, which they need to work for by doing Tasks. But it might seem that our Chasemates have become quite comfy in Biggie’s House and feel that they don’t have to impress him anymore.

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
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BBA 2013: Eating Responsibly to prevent food shortage

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Read Time:1 Minute, 8 Second

Now that both Houses have lost their Wager, food is going to become scarce for the next few days hence the Ruby’s decision to eat responsibly so that the food they have now will tie them over till next week.
Just before they slept, Sulu, Cleo and Angelo were discussing the issue of food and understandably so because some of the Housemates eat more than others.

Natasha used to complain that some of her fellow Housemates eat even if they are not hungry and some would waste food by first opening this, leave it opened and open something else. But she always felt that she had no grounds to be limiting people from eating and wasting food because that was not her House.

I bet you the Housemates are now thinking about Natasha especially now that they won’t be eating as much as they are used to. When Cleo suggested to the two gentlemen to decrease their food intake, Angelo said the only way he knew how to be responsible with food was eating period, so you know he wasn’t committing to eating less. Sulu agreed withCleo, if they don’t eat less they will run out of food before they can get more.

Do you think the Chasemates will have enough food till next week?

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
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BBA 2013: Is Zambia Cleo feeling lonely?

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Read Time:1 Minute, 8 Second

It might seem like the lovely ZambianCleo is feeling a bit alone as she lay in bed reading the Bible and singing songs of worship. Could she be missing her beloved Hakeem or did she just want some quiet time away from her fellow Housemates?

When this lovely Zambian came into The Chase, she had been a strong independent woman who in no time had found love with a young Zimbabwean model and hunk Hakeem or was it the other way round? Either way, they then had a very sweet relationship, with ups and downs of course but eventually they soldiered through their differences. And ever since then, we’ve known her as Hakeem’s girl.

Now that her prince is gone, it’s understandable that she would want to detach herself from her Housemates from time to time, to reconnect with herself and possibly plan her game as an individual. It looks like that what she was doing tonight, trying to get some guidance from the good book. As much as she’s survived Hakeem’s Eviction, she now has to survive for herself and possibly aim at winning the grand prize. Wouldn’t that be great for Zambia?

Do you think Cleo is isolating herself because she misses Hakeem or was she planning her game?

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
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Orji Kalu’s Frank Letter To Governor Amaechi

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Read Time:3 Minute, 10 Second

“To Governor Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi, this is the time to wear your thinking cap and beat a retreat fast. There is no need squabbling with the President, because it is a battle you cannot win. The office of the President of Nigeria carries enormous powers, and when these powers are evoked it crushes anybody in its trail. You should not look at the President as a former deputy governor and vice president. Level has changed. He is now the President and Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

He has an unfathomable capacity to make life miserable for you. Forget all the noise your supporters are making: they will desert you the moment you cease to be governor. From the support you have received from the state legislature, members of the National Assembly from your state and other groups, it is certain you are liked and very popular. But that is so long you remain the governor and control tangible financial resources.

Bear in mind that the forces massed against you are formidable..Your priority should be to leave lasting legacies for which generations unborn will remember you. That being the case, you should choose between your personal interest and that of the Rivers State people. They accuse you of harbouring a vice-presidential ambition. Though there is nothing wrong in that. Nonetheless, you should dump that if it makes some people uncomfortable. Think about your future, safety of your family and the welfare of the people of Rivers State who would be collaterally affected should anything untoward happen to you. God forbid! God has been gracious to you – raising you from grass to grace.

You had been a councillor in Port Harcourt[correction, mine], Speaker of Rivers State House of Assembly during the tenure of Peter Odili as governor, and now a two-term governor. What else do you want? If it is the will of God you would be vice president or president, nobody can stop you.

They said you contested for a second term as chairman of NGF against your party's directive. If that is true, then, it was wrong. So long you remain a PDP governor you must subject yourself to your party's directive. If you want to do things your own way the proper thing to do is to found your own party or resign from PDP. Your suspension is a prelude to a stiffer action against you, which you may find unpalatable. As your name 'Chibuike' (God is my strength) goes, all will be well with you if you hearken to the voice of reason. God will desert you the moment you fail to listen to the small still voice..Now to those that fuel the crisis in Rivers State: You should search your conscience and desist from fomenting trouble. If you love President Jonathan as you openly profess then you have a responsibility to make him succeed.

And one of the ways to attain this objective is to make peace between him and his perceived adversaries. You should, for once, bury your selfishness and work for peace in Rivers State..Let me make it very clear: the crisis in Rivers State will not lead to the victory for either President Jonathan or Governor Amaechi or their teeming supporters; rather it will end up tearing the entire nation apart, because those involved in the fight are too powerful and connected to be ignored, and their tentacles stretch to as far as Damataru and Jigawa in the north, Lagos and Ogbomosho in the west, Abakaliki and Awka in the east, and Calabar and Yenagoa in the in the south. I rest my case and pray God to intervene in his own way. OUK”…..

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
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Lagos court jails 45-year-old cripple, 19 others for street begging

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Read Time:2 Minute, 0 Second

The Special Offences Court sitting in Alausa, Ikeja, yesterday sent a 45-year-old cripple, Sunday Erim Udoyo, and 19 others to jail for begging on the streets of Lagos.

Over 120 beggars were jailed following the prohibition of begging in the state last year. Those sentenced were charged for committing an offence punishable under Section 166 (2) Criminal law 2012.

The beggars were arrested and arraigned in court by officials of the Lagos State Office of Youth and Social Department.

Udoyo, who National Mirror learnt, suffers from hernia, was said to have been brought to Lagos by his relation, Sunday Etim, 26, from Cross Rivers State.

Udoyo and Etim resorted to begging in order to raise money to carry out operation on the hernia, as two of them were arrested.

The cripple was sentenced along six others on Monday.

But because of his disability, Udoyo was convicted and remanded at the Lagos State Rehabilitation Centre, Majidun, where he will spend two years.

Etim bagged two years jail term without a option of fine alongside Wasiu Abass, 24.

The charge against the three beggars read: “That you, the above named defendants on 13th day of July 2013 by 9.00 am along Obafemi Awolowo Way, Ikeja, placed yourselves on the road for gathering of alms and committed an offence punishable under section 166(2) of the Criminal law 2011.”

Four other beggars and two sisters were also arraigned same day and sentenced to one year imprisonment without option.

They are Peace Ezugwu, 24; Mercy Ezugwu, 26 and Dotun Owokiigbe, 20.

The charge against them read: “That you, the above named defendants on 12th day of July 2013 by 4.50 pm at Abiola Garden, Ojota, placed yourselves on the road for gathering of alms and committed an offence punishable under Section 166 (2) Criminal law 2012.”

They were also accused of conducting themselves in a manner likely to cause breach of public peace and collection of illegal dues from persons and committed an offence punishable under section 2 of the Illegal Collection of dues in public place law of Lagos State 2013.

The beggars were found guilty of conducting themselves as disorderly people without visible means of livelihood and committed an offence contrary to section 166 (1) (a) Criminal law of Lagos State 2011 and punishable under section 166 (2) of the same law

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
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Blind student learns to read Braille with lips

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Read Time:6 Minute, 9 Second

Hong Kong (CNN) — Tsang Tsz-Kwan may look like an average student in Hong Kong with her standard-issue blue shift dress with a Chinese collar and sensible black shoes. But her ordinary appearance and shy manner mask a steely determination to triumph over tremendous odds.

She recently scored within the top 5% for nearly all her subjects in the city's college entrance examination — despite being blind and severely hearing-impaired from a young age. She also lacks sensitivity in her fingertips, which denies her the ability to feel the raised dots of Braille characters.

Rather than admit defeat, the 20 year old found an alternative way to read Braille — with her lips.

"In Primary 1 (the equivalent of Grade 1 in the United States), I noticed that she was always leaning forward," said Mee-Lin Chiu, a teacher at the Ebenezer School & Home for the Visually Impaired — the only special needs school in Hong Kong dedicated to the blind.

"She told me it was because she could read more clearly with her lips than her hands."

This is the first I have heard of someone being successful using the lips.
Diane Wormsely, North Carolina Central University

Tsang herself admitted: "I know it's not a common approach and it sounds rather strange. Even I myself don't know how it came about," she added, calling it "miraculous."

In actual fact, the lips, tongue, and fingertips are particularly adept at spatial discrimination — they can perceive two points that are only 1-3 millimeters apart, according to the classic anatomy text, Field's Anatomy, Palpation and Surface Markings. In comparison, the legs or back of the hands can only detect two points with a separation of more than 50-100 millimeters.

While Tsang may not be the very first person to resort to lip-reading Braille, she appears to be a rare case. "This is the first I have heard of someone being successful using the lips," said Diane Wormsely, a professor at North Carolina Central University who specializes in education for the visually impaired. Chiu also said that Tsang was the only student at Ebenezer to have used their lips — and is the sole case she is aware of in Hong Kong.

Lip-reading Braille is not without its challenges, however.

"Nobody could accept it in the beginning," Tsang said. "Even now, many people find it odd … It's caused some embarrassment when I read in public places and in front of people that I don't have a close relationship with."

Nobody could accept it in the beginning…Even now, many people find it odd.
Tsang Tsz-Kwan

It also poses practical problems, as Braille books are typically large and heavy.

Nonetheless, Tsang said she is "grateful" to still have a way to learn about the world through the written word. Reading is one of her favorite past times — a source of intellectual stimulation and psychological refuge.

She also believes she can transcend her disabilities through hard work, determination, and the willingness to push herself outside of her comfort zone.

"Without the courage to challenge myself, there is surely no possibility of success," she said.

At Ebenezer, her classes were comprised of only ten students, whose shared disability enabled them to easily build close friendships. All materials were prepared in Braille and teachers were specially trained to work with the blind.

But in Form 1 (the equivalent of Grade 7 in the United States), Tsang decided to leave the comfort of Ebenezer and move to a regular secondary school, wanting to immerse herself in a more authentic, mainstream environment. "I have to facilitate my adaptation to society when I finish my studies and have to enter the workplace," she said.

Her transition to the city's Ying Wa Girls' School was not always easy. Classes were much larger and teachers did not have specialized training to work with blind students. Tsang had to send all printed materials to Ebenezer or the Hong Kong Society for the Blind for transcription into Braille. Reading and writing took her twice the amount of time it did for her peers, she said.

She learned she had to be more independent and make a greater effort to express her feelings and needs with staff and students, who were welcoming but unaccustomed to dealing with a blind person.

Without the courage to challenge myself, there is surely no possibility of success.
Tsang Tsz-Kwan

One of her teachers, Kwong Ho-Ka, said that staff learned over time when to intervene to help her.

"If she needs something, she will let us know," Kwong said, adding that her fiercely independent student walked around the school campus unassisted, eschewing a walking stick and elevators and taking the stairs by herself.

Kwong, who clearly holds deep affection for her student, said that while Tsang was never bullied, social integration has been a gradual process.

"She has friends, but she's not part of some big group. For example, a gaggle of girls may be chatting about pop culture, but it can be difficult for her to enter the conversation. She may not recognize who is speaking in overlapping conversations and she lacks familiarity with pop culture."

Attending class with the same cohort of students over the past three years has helped a lot, Kwong said, and students have learned to make an effort to include Tsang in conversations.

Tsang said that she has made close friends. "I am grateful for their acceptance of me as a normal member of their social circle and throughout these years, they have given me a great deal of support and encouragement."

While her academic feats — she scored 5**, the highest possible grade, for Chinese, English, and Liberal Studies, 5* for Chinese Literature and English Literature and 4 for Math — have won her much acclaim in Hong Kong, Tsang admits that she surprised herself.

"I was really astonished and excited when I heard that my results in some of the subjects were far from my expectations," she said. "I felt my hard work this year has finally paid off."

I'm going to treasure what I still have.
Tsang Tsz-Kwan

She hopes to study translation at university starting this fall to have a "balanced development in both Chinese and English."

"Whenever I come across some thought-provoking and touching books, I really wish I could translate them into different languages so as to share them with more readers," she added.

As she embarks on the new phase of her hard-won education, Tsang maintains matter-of-fact and philosophical. "The inconveniences and limitations (my impairments) bring will follow me my whole life …and I must have the courage to face the facts…I'm going to treasure what I still have."

"I would like to encourage everyone to have the courage and perseverance to go through all the ups and downs in our lives because I know everyone has their own difficulties. But one thing is for sure: where there's a will, there's a way."

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
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Cyber-sex trafficking: A 21st century scourge

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Read Time:10 Minute, 23 Second
"Andrea" was lured to work in a cyber-sex den after her cousin had promised a baby-sitting job in the city.

STORY HIGHLIGHTS
  • Andrea, 14, was lured away from her home by the promise of a well-paid job in the city
  • She was instead caught up in a new form of sexual exploitation — cyber-sex trafficking
  • Here she was expected to perform sexual acts for customers via a Web-cam
  • Widespread poverty, an established sex trade and Internet access fuel the industry
 

Negros Oriental, Philippines (CNN) — Andrea was 14 years old the first time a voice over the Internet told her to take off her clothes.

"I was so embarrassed because I don't want others to see my private parts," she said. "The customer told me to remove my blouse and to show him my breasts."

She was in a home in Negros Oriental, a province known for its scenic beaches, tourism and diving. But she would know none of that beauty. Nor would she know the life she'd been promised.

Andrea, which is not her real name, said she had been lured away from her rural, mountain village in the Philippines by a cousin who said he would give her a well-paid job as a babysitter in the city. She thought she was leaving her impoverished life for an opportunity to earn money to finish high school. Instead, she became another victim caught up in the newest but no less sinister world of sexual exploitation — cyber-sex trafficking.

Misled

After arriving at the two-story house in Negros Oriental — located in the central Visayas region of the Philippines — Andrea found that her new home would become both workplace and prison. She was shocked by what she saw.

"The windows were covered so it was dark. There was a computer and a camera where naked girls would say words to seduce their mainly foreign customers."

She said customers would ask the girls to perform sexually with each other.

For the next few months, Andrea said she was one of seven girls, between age 13 and 18, who spent day and night satisfying the sexual fantasies of men around the world. Paying $56 per minute, male customers typed their instructions onto a computer and then watched via a live camera as the girls performed sexual acts. She said the girls were often forced to watch the men they served on screens.

Opinion: Stop the scourge of child trafficking

Police threat

Andrea dreamed of returning home but her employer, an uncle, slept downstairs and kept the front door locked. "I was told if I tried to escape, the police would put me in jail. I believed it. I was very innocent — I grew up without TV and had never left my village before," she explained.

Convinced that earning enough money to finish her education was the only way to help her family out of poverty, Andrea forced herself to work. But "doing whatever the customer asked" eventually took its toll. "I wanted to cry but I could not. I wanted to cover myself with a blanket. I had goose bumps because of the shame. I would feel like I was floating," she recalled.

Andrea's story is only one of many playing out every day in a nation where the conditions — widespread poverty, an established sex trade, a predominantly English-speaking, technically-literate population and widespread Internet access — have made it easy for crimes like this to flourish.

Difficult to stop

Jo Alforque, Advocacy Officer with End Child Prostitution, Child Pornography and Trafficking of Children for Sexual Purposes (ECPAT Philippines), an NGO working to combat child sexual exploitation, explained that because cyber-sex dens can be located anywhere — from Internet cafes to private homes and offices — they are extremely difficult to identify. Anyone who has a computer, internet and a Web cam can be in business.

Whether part of large international criminal syndicates or smaller operations, their independent nature and lack of coordinated structure make it easy for cyber-sex operations to remain hidden, she said.

According to Andrey Sawchenko, National Director at the International Justice Mission Philippines, the private nature of the technology allows the crime to take place in a venue that law enforcement can't easily access — and that makes it harder to gather evidence against perpetrators.

Although no official statistics exist, Ruby Ramores, a former Executive at the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT), believes tens of thousands of women are involved in the industry and that most of the girls are recruited by friends, family — sometimes even by their parents. Poverty can often drive parents to sell the services of their children, she said.

Victims endure lives degraded by traffickers

Family pressure

I was told if I tried to escape, the police would put me in jail. I believed it. I was very innocent — I grew up without TV and had never left my village before.
Andrea

Delia (not her real name) now aged nine, said she was just 7 years old when her mother made her undress in front of their computer at home. "I stood there naked. That's all I wanted to do, not the other things, like when mama said to spread my legs, I didn't want to," she recalled. "I would be scared of my mother. Because before I didn't know what she was doing was bad, I only knew later on."

Rescued after three years when her father found out about her mother's cyber-sex operation, Delia is now under the care of a government-run temporary shelter for abused young girls and spoke to CNN in the company of her social worker.

According to Ramores, parents who submit their children to cyber-sex — especially the ones from rural areas — think this is something that won't violate their children in the way that traditional sex crimes do because it is just a camera and just the body being shown, and there is no touching with anyone else. "So, it's a better option than being pushed to prostitution which has physical interaction," she said.

Social workers say the families don't understand the effect of the work on their children. They are thinking, instead, about money and survival.

Government action

Cyber-sex trafficking may have largely operated under the radar in the past, but there are signs that the Philippines government is focusing more on the issue.

In 2011, the Philippines successfully prosecuted its first case of cyber-sex trafficking against two Swedish nationals and three Filipinos. Although there have been more than 100 convictions under the country's Anti-Trafficking in Persons law of 2003, this was the first case that specifically punished someone for cyber-sex operations.

"It gives a strong message to the traffickers: 'We know you are out there now and we are going to get you,'" said Ramores. It also serves as a wake-up call for Filipinos in a country where law enforcement and the public have been largely unaware of the problem.

The government has initiated a nationwide advocacy and media campaign that focuses on awareness of this new face of commercial sexual exploitation. This includes training seminars held to teach those on the front lines — law enforcement, prosecutors, government agencies, and NGOs — to combat these crimes.

Public appeal

The Philippines Congress has also passed the Expanded Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act, which increases funding to government agencies, provides greater protection to victims and is designed to strengthen the prosecution of those engaged in human trafficking.

Ramores says it's essential for the public to have a new context in which to interpret any suspicious behavior: "Unless there will be whistle-blowers, we won't be able to catch them. We need people to be aware and to cooperate with us in order for us to track these kinds of crimes."

Andrea was rescued after being held for three months, when one of the other girls escaped and told the authorities. She is now a star witness in a case against her abusers, but she said she has received death threats and that has prevented the case from progressing. "I want them to be punished but I have moved far away to Manila because I am scared for my life," she said.

Scars of abuse

Milet Paguio, a social worker working with commercially exploited children in the Philippines, said that many rescued girls, who have often spent years in the cyber-dens, are often uncooperative with rescuers and confused at first. They fear they will be the ones punished, and in the cases when family members are being accused, the girls often want to protect them. The crime may be a virtual one but the emotional scars are very real.

I would be scared of my mother. Because before I didn't know what she was doing was bad, I only knew later on.
Delia

"They have low self-esteem, don't respect themselves, and for those who spent a long time in the dens — they often behave in a way that is very flirty … when they see men, they sometimes cannot control themselves," she said.

In many ways, cyber-sex trafficking appears to be the perfect 21st century crime. Technology has made it easier to access and exploit the vulnerable, operate illegal activities across borders and more difficult to discover the identities of those who are behind the crime.

Information technology evolves quickly and in the Philippines, perpetrators often have more financial and technological resources than those trying to catch them.

According to Sawchenko, close cooperation with international law enforcement authorities — providing training to local police and working together to catch those involved in both countries — has made a vital difference.

Sawchenko points to an increase in the number of victims being rescued and an increase in the number of cases being filed against perpetrators in recent years, as an example.

In 2012: Philippines top court restrains cyberlaw

Global issue

Eric Mcloughlin, Deputy Attache at U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, a Homeland Security Investigations agency (HSI), is among those working with authorities in the Philippines to fight cyber-crimes. "Because of the nature of the Internet and cyber-crimes, criminals feel it's easier to operate with anonymity behind these virtual barriers," he said. "It's a challenge for law enforcement to identify them and make sure they are held accountable.

"In addition to cyber-operations being more complex criminal syndicates, there are also many mom and pop shops — if you take one down there could be several on the same street who are doing the same acts that might not have connections to each other."

Even customers abroad are not safe — officials in the Philippines are working with U.S. domestic agencies to identify offenders.

Recently, CNN reported that the testimony of three girls in the Philippines helped convict a Pennsylvania man who had been involved in a cyber-den. He has been sentenced to 12 years in a U.S. federal prison for child pornography.

"Rescuing victims is a priority but if we don't continue to investigate the ones purchasing their services, we are only doing half the job," said McLaughlin.

"Catching those running the cyber-dens is the first step of what could be a big domino effect with lots of challenges. If we go to digital analysis and the forensics of hard drives, we can find that they were communicating with thousands of customers around the world — this involves different jurisdictions and we need evidence to go after all those individuals."

Andrea, now 20 and in college, hopes to become a social worker so she can help victims. She offered advice from her own experience: "If you want to find a job, know everything about the recruiter, the kind of job and the payment. Don't be blinded by the money. You can find a decent job, just don't give up. And do not trust people so easily — just because someone is your family it does not mean they are good."

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
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George Zimmerman Claims African Americans Should APOLOGIZE TO HIM! (Video)

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Read Time:1 Minute, 52 Second

Now that the George Zimmerman trial has concluded, and he has been set free with no conviction for killing the 17 year old, unarmed, Trayvon Martin, it seems an appropriate time to recap Zimmerman’s interview with Sean Hannity.

An unrepentant George Zimmermann sat down with Sean Hannity and even had the audacity to ask African-Americans to apologize to him, even while he never so much as apologized, nor showed for shooting Trayvon Martin… a shooting which he said was inevitable, and was “God’s Plan.”

“I would just ask for an apology. I mean if I did something that was wrong. I would apologize.”

Here is the video… You’ve got to see it to believe it.

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Some notable contradictions, and bizarre statements from the video:

  • He says he had a lot of time to think and reflect, but hasn’t had a lot of time to think and reflect upon the killing of Trayvon Martin.
  • He admits he was NOT on any neighborhood watch patrol but was on his way to go shopping at Target.
  • He claims he had “never heard of” the Stand Your Ground law before his arrest, even though this contradicts the statement from his college professor.
  • He says he is sorry the the Martins had to bury their son, and bizarrely claims that he loves his children… even though they don’t yet exist.

The whole Hannity interview was a heavily choreographed exercise designed to allow George Zimmerman to play the victim. Every scripted question and answer was done with the intention of helping Zimmerman’s defense. Everything anyone needs to know about the remorseless George Zimmerman can be found in this interview.

George Zimmerman thinks he is the real victim here, and he is waiting for Al Sharpton, Spike Lee, and the African-American community to apologize. Now that the trial is over, the Zimmerman family laments that George will “never be able to walk down the street without fearing for his life.”

…Sort of like Trayvon Martin.

Spread the world and let people know what kind of sociopathic individual we are dealing with here.

About Post Author

Anthony-Claret Ifeanyi Onwutalobi

Anthony-Claret is a software Engineer, entrepreneur and the founder of Codewit INC. Mr. Claret publishes and manages the content on Codewit Word News website and associated websites. He's a writer, IT Expert, great administrator, technology enthusiast, social media lover and all around digital guy.
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