Imagine what life would be like if you woke up every single day afraid to go to school or afraid to walk to your local grocery store. Afraid to share your story with local authorities because you knew your voice would not be heard. 

Imagine what life would be like if you had NOTHING shielding you from violence.

“While the world has made encouraging strides in the fight against global poverty, there is a hidden crisis silently undermining our best efforts to help the poor….

…It is a plague of everyday VIOLENCE.”

I was honored to be given a chance to read an advance copy of ‘The Locust Effect‘ written by Gary Haugen, CEO of the International Justice Mission (http://www.ijm.org/). I’d like to share with you a few notes about the book and how we all can TAKE ACTION to positively impact those suffering from violence and poverty.

Everyday thousands of people around the world work for humanitarian organizations invested in helping those in need, ending poverty and spreading awareness for Universal Human Rights. Many of these organizations solely focus on water aid, food aid, disease prevention, shelter, and education; unintentionally avoiding the underlying CORE issue(VIOLENCE) that strongly dictates the overall impact or efforts of their work in ending poverty.

There are many devastating things happening all over the world at any given time, but this book genuinely emphasizes how important everyday basic safety truly is in order to lead any sort of a productive life. 

For example, we may be able to build a school in the developing world to give the opportunity for a substantial education, but of what use is this school if young girls are traumatized and afraid to walk there every morning due to the fear of rape or abduction? They inevitably do not receive a formal education, nor do they receive necessary assistance or protection from local law enforcement in order for them to flourish and make steady progress.    

The core argument of The Locust Effect is that the direct solution to violence against the poor is law enforcement.

How can a society restrain violence if it only addresses the exacerbating factors in the absence of a functioning justice system? The Locust Effect lifts the veil on common forms of violence against the poor in the developing world(Corrupt police officers, forced labor, rape, murder) and sheds light on the lives of the 4 billion who live outside of the law’s protection.

This book is painful to read, but worth every heartbreaking minute. There are many detailed personal accounts of devastating violence against families and individuals who have no honest or effective way of protecting themselves. Nonetheless, it’s an enlightening and necessary read pertaining to universal human rights for those interested in making a lasting and positive global impact.

In order for there to be successful unified progress in ending global poverty, we must first address the underlying core issue of violence and the brokenness of developing world justice systems.

Violence and abuse may often be hidden, however we can no longer deny or turn a blind eye to it’s powerful negative impact on the world’s poor.

The Locust Effect will effortlessly inspire you and lead YOU to TAKE ACTION.

This book can be used as a tool for knowledge and motivation. It will forever change the way you view those living in poverty, and leave you with the hope that we CAN and WILL create safer environments for the poor to be given the equal opportunity to thrive!

In 2015 there will still be around 883 million people living in extreme poverty.

IJM is wholeheartedly invested in fighting to help those who have been taken advantage of(without financial means to protect themselves).

Please assist IJM and Be A Voice for those with No Voice.

Buy The Locust Effect February 2-8 and for every copy sold in the U.S., a generous donor will give $20 to IJM*. (*up to $40,000 – enough to cover the cost of 8 rescue operations.)

Visit http://www.thelocusteffect.com/ to Learn more and to Get Involved!

Follow IJM on Twitter for Daily Updates!  https://twitter.com/IJM

*All author royalties from your purchase of this book will help fight violence against the poor*