Last week I joined a two-day workshop in Koh Kong with anti-trafficking organizations from Cambodian & Thailand. Every morning and evening the sun shone gorgeously through my hotel window, but during the day I heard stories of men living in the sea, enslaved. This is my reflection of the plight of Cambodian fishermen trafficked onto boats through Thailand.
the sea.
a beautiful landscape for sunsets-
it’s rays sparkle.
but look behind their sparkle,
see the bright light highlighting the shadows of fishermen,
their boats black against the sun rays of hope.
can the sun break into the harrows of the fishermen?
the fish.
a staple food for this country,
prepared tasty,
and sometimes fresh.
hidden is the story of where the fish came from-
the lack of water and food,
abundance of abuses,
and tired bodies trapped to catch my meal.
tricked and trafficked, what do they think of the sun?
the boats.
big trawlers and small net boats-
both sharing in their quest for fish.
littering the deep sea, the big owners avoid regulations
flying a flag of convenience,
unchecked.
they are full of men hoping only in the chance of jumping ship,
to return home.
can the system of the sea provide more rays of hope for being rescued?
the demand.
that’s me and you.
i never asked where my fish came from before-
but my stomach fuels the need for more
sea,
fish,
boats,
and more fishermen.
God, help me be one of many rays of hope
by asking questions,
paying more for fair trade fish,
and acknowledging their labour with gratitude before i ever eat fish again.
the sun.
exposes the truth, and demands the world’s attention.
promises hope.
guarantees rescue.
provides comfort.
God, cries of fishermen & their families are rising up-
rescue them.
God, send the Sun to shine hope through us.
Awesome