---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Free the Slaves | Peggy Callahan <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Date: Fri, Aug 29, 2008 at 8:20 PM Subject: Freedom Awards and Much More To: Philip Jones <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
*In this Edition:* Freedom Awards Update | I AM THE CHANGE | IN THEIR OWN WORDS | Policy Update | *Countdown to the Freedom Awards! *The first *Freedom Award winners* have been selected from five countries and will soon be winging their way to Los Angeles for the September 15th celebration. You can see all of the winners and slide shows of their work at: www.THEFREEDOMAWARDS.net<https://www.freetheslaves.net/NETCOMMUNITY/Page.aspx?pid=447&srcid=2486&srctid=1&erid=35173> *The Winners: Archbishop Desmond Tutu<https://www.freetheslaves.net/NETCOMMUNITY/page.redir?target=http%3a%2f%2fwww.tutu.org%2f&srcid=2486&srctid=1&erid=35173> * will present *The Frederick Douglass Purpose Award* to a former slave helping others find purpose in their lives. The award will go to *James Kofi Annan* of Ghana. James spent most of childhood in slavery. He escaped when he was 14, learned to read and graduated from university and immediately starting helping other kids stay free. Today he runs Challenging Heights an organization that keeps hundreds of kids out of slavery and helps rehabilitate those who've escaped. * The Harriet Tubman Community Award* to *CPT* and *Reporter Brasil* of Brazil that not only help free slaves in the Amazon but also trace slave tainted goods and publicize their findings. *The William Wilberforce Leadership Award* to *Amihan Abueva* of the Philippines. Amihan has spent her career fighting the trafficking of children into sex slavery. She co-founded an organization that works in 70 countries around the world. *The Harriet Tubman Community Reintegration Award* to *Friends of Orphans*in Uganda. *Friends of Orphans* was founded by a former child soldier who escaped then risked everything by going back into the war zone to help other child soldiers. *The Anne Templeton Zimmerman Fellows* are *Jessica Leslie* and *Aashika Damodar*. Both young women have already fought slavery in several countries around the world and here at home. They will spend an intense year at FTS headquarters, Georgetown University and at the frontlines of slavery as we nurture the next generation of anti-slavery leaders. *A Soul-Revving-Heart-Thumping-Shout-Out-Loud Ceremony **The Freedom Awards *We'll be *rockin' September 15th* as we honor the *heroes of the anti-slavery movement*. Confirmations are still coming in so you should check back on our site periodically but we can share some of the good news now about who's involved: *Film director, writer, producer and abolitionist Tom Shadyac* will host the event. Tom's irreverent, authentic sense of humor and deep caring about our planet is just part of the reason he is the perfect guide for this adventure. Nobel Laureate and longtime FTS supporter *Archbishop Desmond Tutu*<https://www.freetheslaves.net/NETCOMMUNITY/page.redir?target=http%3a%2f%2fwww.tutu.org%2f&srcid=2486&srctid=1&erid=35173> of South Africa. *Sir Ken Robinson*<https://www.freetheslaves.net/NETCOMMUNITY/page.redir?target=http%3a%2f%2fwww.sirkenrobinson.com%2f&srcid=2486&srctid=1&erid=35173>, one of the world's leading experts on education who may have missed his calling as a stand-up comedian<https://www.freetheslaves.net/NETCOMMUNITY/page.redir?target=http%3a%2f%2fwww.ted.com%2findex.php%2ftalks%2fken_robinson_says_schools_kill_creativity.html&srcid=2486&srctid=1&erid=35173> . *Humanity United*<https://www.freetheslaves.net/NETCOMMUNITY/page.redir?target=http%3a%2f%2fwww.humanityunited.org%2f&srcid=2486&srctid=1&erid=35173> founder, *Pam Omidyar*. HU is one of the world's largest investors in anti-slavery work and privy to what it takes on the ground and at the high reaches of power to end slavery. *Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor*<https://www.freetheslaves.net/NETCOMMUNITY/page.redir?target=http%3a%2f%2fdrjilltaylor.com%2f&srcid=2486&srctid=1&erid=35173> the Harvard trained neuroscientist and best selling author and Oprah regular who wrote the book, 'A Stroke of Insight'. *Dr. Gail Zimmerman* is a trustee of *The John Templeton Foundation<https://www.freetheslaves.net/NETCOMMUNITY/page.redir?target=http%3a%2f%2fwww.templeton.org%2f&srcid=2486&srctid=1&erid=35173> * and will present the Zimmerman fellows in honor of his wife *Anne Templeton Zimmerman* who dedicated her life to helping persecuted people where ever she found them. *Jane Wales* the founder and CEO of the *Global Philanthropy Forum<https://www.freetheslaves.net/NETCOMMUNITY/page.redir?target=http%3a%2f%2fwww.philanthropyforum.org%2fforum%2fAbout_Us.asp%3fSnID%3d2031771166&srcid=2486&srctid=1&erid=35173> *that helps philanthropists strategically pursue international causes. *Music *The evening will be overflowing with raise the roof music from Rickie Byars-Beckwith<https://www.freetheslaves.net/NETCOMMUNITY/page.redir?target=http%3a%2f%2fwww.weletitbe.com%2f&srcid=2486&srctid=1&erid=35173>and the 150 member Agape International Choir<https://www.freetheslaves.net/NETCOMMUNITY/page.redir?target=http%3a%2f%2fwww.agapelive.com%2f&srcid=2486&srctid=1&erid=35173>and WT Greer<https://www.freetheslaves.net/NETCOMMUNITY/page.redir?target=http%3a%2f%2fwww.wtgreer.com%2f&srcid=2486&srctid=1&erid=35173>. The extraordinary tone for the evening will be set by String Theory<https://www.freetheslaves.net/NETCOMMUNITY/page.redir?target=http%3a%2f%2fwww.stringtheoryproductions.com%2f&srcid=2486&srctid=1&erid=35173>as they play harp strings that descend from a five-story belfry and Idris with his 20 drummers... but who is counting? Stay tuned – more to come. Click here for details.<https://www.freetheslaves.net/NETCOMMUNITY/page.redir?target=http%3a%2f%2fwww.freetheslaves.net%2fNETCOMMUNITY%2fPage.aspx%3fpid%3d456%26srcid%3d447&srcid=2486&srctid=1&erid=35173> [image: Breaking News] A lawsuit has been filed against KBR, one of the largest US contractors in Iraq alleging that the company engaged in human trafficking of Nepali workers.Click here to read the article.<https://www.freetheslaves.net/NETCOMMUNITY/page.redir?target=http%3a%2f%2fwww.washingtonpost.com%2fwp-dyn%2fcontent%2farticle%2f2008%2f08%2f27%2fAR2008082703237.html&srcid=2486&srctid=1&erid=35173>For more background and government memos on trafficking and the war in Iraq go to our website www.warslavery.org<https://www.freetheslaves.net/NETCOMMUNITY/page.redir?target=http%3a%2f%2fwww.warslavery.org%2f&srcid=2486&srctid=1&erid=35173> ------------------------------ *The Story Behind the Story* [image: Behind the Scenes]<https://www.freetheslaves.net/NETCOMMUNITY/Page.aspx?pid=455&srcid=2486&srctid=1&erid=35173> See a slide show of all the work going on behind the scenes to create an evening worthy of the heroes we're celebrating. ------------------------------ [image: To Plead Our Own Cause]<https://www.freetheslaves.net/NETCOMMUNITY/page.redir?target=http%3a%2f%2ffreetheslaves.madebysurvivors.com%2fcategory-s%2f2.htm&srcid=2486&srctid=1&erid=35173> ------------------------------ *New Video:*[image: Triggering Hope]<https://www.freetheslaves.net/NETCOMMUNITY/page.redir?target=http%3a%2f%2fwww.freetheslaves.net%2fNETCOMMUNITY%2fPage.aspx%3fpid%3d457%26srcid%3d316&srcid=2486&srctid=1&erid=35173>This 8 minute video shows how entire communities are breaking free from slaveholders. [image: Charity Navigator]<https://www.freetheslaves.net/NETCOMMUNITY/Page.aspx?pid=184&srcid=2486&srctid=1&erid=35173> [image: Donate Today]<https://www.freetheslaves.net/NETCOMMUNITY/Page.aspx?pid=184&srcid=2486&srctid=1&erid=35173> [image: Sign Up to be a Member] <https://www.freetheslaves.net/NETCOMMUNITY/Page.aspx?pid=186&srcid=2486&srctid=1&erid=35173> [image: Chelsey Outcalt]High School student *Chelsey Outcalt* says *learning * about *slavery changed her life* and *inspired* her to *action*. It all started when she read, "*Be the Change"* by Zach Hunter. *Zach* has *inspired thousands* of *teenagers* around the *world*. "That book *inspired me to be the change I wanted to see in the world *and that included a *world without slavery*," said the 18-year-old Brownsburg High School senior from Indiana. Chelsey decided to *raise $5000* for* FTS' partner APPLE *to help *end child slavery* in *the fishing villages* along *Ghana's Lake Volta*. Chelsey is a *creative fundraiser*. She *carries* a *decorated shoebox* that people fill with *loose change*. She keeps in touch with all the schools she visits to keep people engaged and *marks her fundraising progress* on a poster by *coloring in a child *every time she *raises enough money* to * free* and *rehabilitate* a *child slave* in *Ghana. * So far she has *raised* about *$1800*. "The first thing I did was set up a way my *church congregation* could *give money* to the *cause* during offertory," [image: I want to be a voice for the voiceless]Her father, who is pastor at her church, even mentioned modern-day slavery in a few of his sermons. Chelsey says she is *learning* a lot *from* this *experience*. "It *really opened my eyes* up to all that I really have and *made me* so much more *grateful, *for *everything* in my *life*," said Chelsey. Adding, because she is *more grateful* she is *much happier* and more at *peace*with *herself than ever before*. "I've *learned* that *one person* can really *make a difference*, no matter what the age." Currently she is working on t-shirts and cards to sell. Up next? A pancake breakfast or ice cream social or both. *Yum! * Chelsey's youth pastor, Aaron Helman, and best friend Kasey Comingore are helping her every dollar along the way, "I* wouldn't have been able to do it without either of them. Thank you isn't even enough.*" *In Their Own Words - Supriya Awasthi **From the frontlines in Harghad, India where FTS South Asia Director recounts her first hand experience when FTS local partner **PGS*<https://www.freetheslaves.net/NETCOMMUNITY/Page.aspx?pid=440&srcid=2486&srctid=1&erid=35173> *, supported self-help groups of enslaved stone breakers gain their own mining lease and therefore their freedom because now they can work for themselves.* *The people of Harghad*, a village in Uttar Pradesh, had been *living in slavery* for so many generations that *they believed they were condemned to live an existence of abuse, shame, [image: Harghad, India]and fear, forever*. Yet when I arrived in Harghad and stood underneath the sole tree in the village courtyard with all the members of this village surrounding me, the air of Harghad that day was brooding something different. *As I stood there, I felt the communal space itself was vibrating* with an intensity that I had never felt in my previous visits to this enslaved community. *There was no doubt in my mind, every person's dream and quest for freedom was so powerful it had even affected even the air of that village*. More>><https://www.freetheslaves.net/NETCOMMUNITY/Page.aspx?pid=465&srcid=2486&srctid=1&erid=35173> *Policy Update *[image: Policy Update]<https://www.freetheslaves.net/NETCOMMUNITY/page.redir?target=http%3a%2f%2fwww.flickr.com%2fphotos%2ffreetheslaves%2f1404287714%2f&srcid=2486&srctid=1&erid=35173> *The United States' main piece of anti-slavery legislation* needs to be reauthorized every few years. *This is an opportunity to strengthen the US government's response to slavery*. The bill, which is currently in the Senate, includes all of *FTS' top priorities*, including: · Provisions that would ensure the US has a *better sense of the size and scope of trafficking today.* · *Align US foreign assistance programs more closely* with anti-slavery objectives. · *Tighten current reporting and monitoring requirements* and enhance *support for trafficking victims. **On July 31, the Senate Judiciary approved the bill*, which is called the *Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization*, S. 3061, by a vote of 17 to 2, with minor amendments. The House bill, HR 3887, was passed earlier this year. FTS hopes that the Congress will pass this bill this year, and needs your help. *Please urge your Senators to act on the bill when they return from recess. Ask your Representatives to work with the Senate to find common ground* so that Congress can approve a bill for the President's signature. Remove my name from future mailings<https://www.freetheslaves.net/NETCOMMUNITY/Page.aspx?pid=188&srcid=2486&srctid=1&erid=35173> | Privacy Policy<https://www.freetheslaves.net/NETCOMMUNITY/Page.aspx?pid=187&srcid=2486&srctid=1&erid=35173> 514 10th St. NW 7th Floor, Washington DC 20004 USA (202) 638-1865 [EMAIL PROTECTED] Content copyright (c)2008 Free the Slaves. All rights reserved. -- Philip Jones --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Black Focus Inc." group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/Black-Focus-Inc?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
