Getting the final shots – trip #2 to SE Asia
Well, Red Earth hits the road again in South East Asia for another Street Dreams shoot. The goal of this trip is to fill in gaps in the present script and to connect with anti-sex trafficking advocate Chong Kim. As the story comes together, we are becoming increasingly confident that this is a compelling documentary. The inclusion of Chong and the chance to capture additional and fresh material will only make the film better still.
The trip will go from 5 – 17 Dec and will be mainly Thailand where we will reconnect with Destiny Rescue. Don’t forget to follow us here on our blog while we’re overseas!
For more information on Chong Kim our latest Street Dreams addition please go to www.chongkim.net, or here for information about her upcoming feature film.
All things going well, we hope to release Street Dreams in early 2012. Watch this space!
Hi Mike
Thanks for the update. My colleagues and i eagerly awaut the release of this important documentary.
As a personal donour ($100AUD) to your mission, I would love to receive a copy of the book and DVD, and attend the launch if possible.
I will be in SEA (Cambodia, Thailand & Lao PDR) working for Interpol on some child sex trafficking matters for the next few months so will miss the launch, however can you please save me a book and DVd and some trickets to the launch (I will send two Detectives in my place).
By way of background, what I will be responsible for in my work next year is a Training Needs Analysis for the UNODC and Interpol on what is required (skills, equipment) for local police to increase their response (and build capacity to respond) to travelling child sex offenders in South East Asia.
The two countries which I am currently contracted for at this stage are Cambodia and Thailand, with potential for Laos and Vietnam later on in 2012, as all 4 nations are part of an overall UN project in the greater Mekong Delta Region. I know there are other nations affected by this (Myanmar & the Philippines especially, but at this stage the project is only looking at these 4 nations).
Specifically the project is focussing on the tourist precincts in Thailand: (Pattaya, Bangkok and Chang Mai), and in Cambodia: (Siem Reap, Phnom Penh, Sihanoukville).
The main job for me is to engage specific law enforcement personnel and Subject Matter Experts to establish what local police need to better respond to travelling child sex offenders and what barriers may exist (eg. bias, negative perceptions, cultural and moral opinions, corruption, etc).
We are only looking at travelling child sex offenders, which rules out customers for the adult night time business. By definition the project also rules out the local customer base, which I realise narrows the scope a lot given most customers (especially in Cambodia and Thailand) are not falang, but local men. I think the idea is to start with this narrow scope, which is more likely achieve some traction, and build upon it for longer term change.
Having spent a fair amount of time in the south east, I am reasonably familiar with the customs, geo-political factors and structure, and my career in the police here focuses on training our members about the illicit drug trade, which is linked to the south east and is partly why I was selected for the position I think.
I’m not naiive; I’ve worked in the illicit drugs arena for more than 12 years (from both a health and law enforcement angle) and there isn’t a solution to be found for that issue, so I know I won’t be changing the world or saving anyone with this work.
Like you, I believe that addressing poverty is the only real solution, but that is a long term macro policy step that I can only make recommendations on. Initially I need to focus on the areas where I can make a difference, even if the difference is small. If that means enabling only a handful of police to do their job more effectively then I can live with that.
Keep up the brilliant work.
Jarad
jaradhenry77@optusnet.com.au
+61413421921