Copera’s Corner (Episode #3)
With Hosts: Rebecca L. Mahan and Hallie Neill
Listen to this show below the intro article
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By: Hallie Neill
Women and children snatched from the safety of their middle and upper class homes to be sold over and over again as sex slaves. Buckle up and hold onto your loved ones – this selling of flesh is spreading like wildfire, already the third fastest growing crime above guns and drugs. It’s time to talk about human trafficking.
We are emotional and speechless as we hear the shocking statistics, the degree of depravity and torture but we cannot look away – and encourage you to listen as it may save someone you love.
Becky McDonald, President of Women at Risk, (WAR) International, is a powerful voice for the silenced victims. Working for 30 years in anti-trafficking relief work Becky is devoted to waking our sleeping culture to the dangers and realities of the sex trade. WAR works in 45 countries facing a well oiled machine of selling children and women that is a big, nasty, profitable business. 300,000 minors are currently trafficked in the US. 1M women and children are trafficked internationally. Becky shares that a fraction of victims are runaways.
How does it happen? A job offer at craigslist; a ride home with a friend; a sleepover; the internet; date rape drugs at parties. Becky shares the signs to look for in victims (such as barcode tattoos for a quick and easy sale of the innocent and unwilling flesh) and warns that escape, if one is so lucky, is just the beginning of a long road to recovery and healing.
Prevention, rescue and restoring victims by teaching women a skill to live lives of dignity is WAR’s transformative mission. Discover how purchasing a beautiful necklace made by a rescued woman will transform your life and hers. www.warinternational.org
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From Singer to Sex Slave – A Survivor’s Story
Selling drugs is a crime with consequences. Selling flesh has no consequence for the trafficker – but as you will hear from a real life survivor about her own horrific sexual torture and trafficking – there are indeed, long lasting consequences for the victim.
Rhoda Kershaw, a dazzling 18 year old redhead with a lovely voice, took a singing job in Japan – or so she thought. The night she was invited to sing at a private club for the men with the Mercedes — the world as she knew it, would change in a flash. Drugged and carried away to a lavish hotel room, Rhoda woke to see scores of naked, dragon and demon-tattooed Yakuza (the Japanese Mafia). The 70 men would steal her virginity over 3 days of non stop rape, torture and beatings. Rhoda tells her harrowing story in not to be missed detail, and how calling on the name of Jesus was the beginning of her escape and eventual return to the US.
Enter Becky McDonald and one of her board members from WAR who swept in to “simply love” on Rhoda. Becky tells us, “Victims don’t begin to heal until they feel safe”. Hidden away in a private room together, the women wept, prayed, listened to every detail of Rhoda’s story and loved her. Unconditionally. Rhoda shares that forgiving her tormenters began to set her free from the power they had over her life. Becky instructs that this is not a get out of jail free card for the abuser – but that forgiveness is the first step to truly getting free for the victim. Rhoda Kershaw’s spectacular voice and story are told on her CD “Giving Back Love” found at iTunes and CDBaby.
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Copera’s Corner Radio Personalities provide customized event entertainment by Award winning Opera Singers that accompany an Expert guest speaker. Public speaking never sounded so good! www.coperacorner.com
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COPERA’S Corner may be heard at 9PM EST every Sunday (you will receive a “No Results Found” message if you click on the show link prior to air time) at The Liberty Beacon Radio Network. And can be heard in full anytime after show publish time (pre-recorded).
Click on the TLB Radio Logo to hear this show
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COPERA’S Corner hosts:
Hallie Neill:
Opera Singer, Actress, Playwright
“Soprano Hallie Neill is a rapturous singing actress…” (The New York Times)
Beginning her career as a singing waitress and singing telegram performer, Hallie left sunny San Diego for the wilds of Alaska working for the Alyeska Pipeline to support her dream of singing on the operatic stage.
Professional light opera and musical theatre roles led to her grand opera debut in New York City in the leading role in “La Traviata” for an audience of 20,000 in Central Park with the New York Grand Opera.
Hallie has since appeared in over 35 countries from Hong Kong to Dubai, Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center and with regional opera companies throughout the US.
Hallie created leading roles in two operatic world premieres: Anton Coppola’s “Sacco and Vanzetti” for Opera Tampa and Philip Glass’s "La Belle et la Bete" throughout Europe, and has toured extensively in leading operatic roles with Teatro Lirico d’Europa throughout Spain, Portugal, Germany and the US. Recorded for Nonesuch Records with the Philip Glass Opera Ensemble and appeared as the opera singer voice over artist in the feature film “Doggie Boogie”.
A noted playwright, Hallie was featured on the 50th Annual Grammy Awards Entry List for “Best Musical Show Album” for her first script, starring opposite her husband, Metropolitan Opera baritone Theodore Lambrinos in “A Scandalous Affair” throughout the US including Lincoln Center and the Players Club in New York City.
As a humanitarian and spokesperson, Hallie has appeared on FOX News with Kelly Wright’s Beyond the Dream Series for the Coats 4 Kurdistan relief efforts, on NBC with Chuck Scarborough, News 4 New York, for a disease awareness campaign, as professional ambassador for victims of human trafficking for WAR, International and serves on the board of Change for Hope, a non profit creating coalitions of care to help refugees in Kurdistan.
Rebecca Mahan:
Rebecca was employed for over 10 years as a law enforcement officer and was a Field Training Officer, as well as, Background Investigator. She has spent over20 years studying domestic violence and working with victims of various traumatic events. She has spent many years working directly with others to be successful in their independent business goals and a successful recruiter. She is an author and host of several radio shows. Rebecca was a columnist for over 7 years at a community college and is currently a columnist, “Becca’s Brief’s” with Communities Digital News.
Her education includes: Associates degrees in Christian Studies, General Education, General Business Management, and Law Enforcement. Bachelor’s degrees in Church Ministry and Occupational Studies Vocational Arts. Master’s degree in Biblical Studies. Currently enrolled in a Doctorate of Philosophy of Theology program.
Rebecca has combined her knowledge and experience to create the successful program, V.O.T.E., Victims Overcoming Traumatic Events, Program for those exposed to domestic violence and other traumatic events. Her goal is to assist law enforcement, first responders, and others to save lives, reduce injury, and help others to move forward to a healthier life.
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