Category Archives: Freedom

Editor's Note: Gabriel Aikens is a student at NC Central University who is working this summer with Duke's Office of News and Communications.

Durham, NC - A formula for summer learning that turns it into a cool and tasty experience: Dip ice cream into liquid nitrogen. Be astonished by the chemical change. Then eat, and laugh loud.

In a boisterous corner of West Campus recently, 80 second and third graders in the Duke University/Children's Defense Fund Freedom School found that to be a winning formula for keeping kids on track for learning during the summer and fostering a love for reading and exploring.

The lesson had the students create frozen concoction similar to Dippin' Dots, by dropping the ice cream into a container of liquid nitrogen. The program's supervisors safely handled the liquid nitrogen and the students were able to eat their creations after the nitrogen hardened the ice cream.

"It's so cold that it burns? That doesn't make any sense," said second grader Shannon Murphy. She and the other children were perplexed and fascinated.

"It makes this summer really cool," said Jorge Castillo Hernandez, a 3rd grader from E.K. Powe Elementary School who wants to be an astronaut. "I like all the fun stuff we do like going to the museum, going to the pool, and making crafts."

The Children's Defense Fund, a national non-profit organization, developed the Freedom Schools model for students who are at risk of losing academic ground during the summer. There are more than 100 Freedom Schools throughout the country, all with a main focus on reading.

"The books chosen for the children are from a committee of well-respected educational leaders and activists," says Lindsay Naylor, program coordinator for Duke's Office of Durham and Regional Affairs. Naylor helped acquire funding for the program, which is now in its second year at Duke. "The books are meant to give the children different perspectives of cultures and the world."

These books include "A Picture Book of Thurgood Marshall" by David Adler and "Biblioburro: a True Story of Colombia " by Jeanette Winter. Each deals with themes such as family, community, hope and education.

Besides reading every day, the students engage in a variety of activities while on campus, including visiting science labs.

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Freedom School Helps Durham's At-Risk Students

Richmond, Va. --

Construction on the First Freedom Center complex, a combined hotel and educational center on one of the most significant historical sites in downtown, is expected to begin early next year.

The complex, which won Richmond City Council approval Monday night, is a joint project of First Freedom Center and Richmond-based hotel owner and operator Apple REIT Cos.

The six-story project on East Cary and 14th streets includes two hotels and an education center on the site where the Virginia General Assembly passed Thomas Jefferson's Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom in 1786.

The statute was a cornerstone of the First Amendment to the Constitution.

"Jefferson did this on this piece of ground, and from here it has radiated out across the country and around the whole world," said Randolph Bell, the center's president.

"We want the center to be a manifestation of that unique Richmond linkage to the world through this ideal."

When completed, the center will house permanent and traveling exhibits as well an auditorium and meeting space. First Freedom's mission is to advance freedom of religion and freedom of conscience.

Apple REIT, a real estate investment trust focused on ownership of upscale, extended-stay and select-service hotels across the country, will build a 135-room Courtyard by Marriott and a 75-room Residence Inn by Marriott at the center.

The hotel space will include a religious freedom library "and other features responding to the educational mission of the overall complex."

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Two hotels to be part of First Freedom Center in Shockoe Slip

23 July 2012 Last updated at 21:14 ET By Lewis Macleod BBC Monitoring

Cautious reforms being introduced by Burma's President Thein Sein are freeing up the rigid controls on the media.

Although repressive laws remain technically in force, practical guidelines have given print, television and internet journalists considerable leeway to report on everything including controversial political questions.

Information Minister Kyaw Hsan says a new media law is being drafted that will abolish censorship and replace it with a self-regulating Press Council.

After criticism in the exiled media that journalists were not being consulted, Kyaw Hsan invited some Burmese media players back home to help work on the draft with additional assistance from UNESCO, the UN cultural agency.

By the time she was 14, Myo Myo already knew that she wanted to be a journalist.

She is eagerly anticipating the government's revision of Burma's media law.

''I want more press freedom,'' said the 31-year-old who worked for a weekly newspaper in Rangoon, and then the Myanmar Times.

She recently spent three months in Singapore on the Asia Journalism Fellowship programme under the Temasek Foundation and the communications school at the Nanyang Technological University.

''I've made up my mind that I will spend my life in media industry.''

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More press freedom for Burma's media

July 23, 2012 - Frontier League (FL) Florence Freedom Florence, KY-The Florence Freedom rallied for an enormous 10-9 victory over the Lake Erie Crushers Monday afternoon on "super splash day" at the Home of the Florence Freedom.

Drew Rundle's three run homerun in the 7th gave the Freedom a late inning lead that they never relinquished. Rundle's homer came with the Freedom trailing 8-6, as they also got a clutch performance from Pierre LePage, who came in as a defensive replacement for Peter Fatse. LePage went 3-4 with 3 RBI including an RBI single in the 8th which gave the Freedom a 10-8 lead. That RBI proved to be pivotal because Andrew Davis of Lake Erie launched a 9th inning homer over the right field wall against Brennan Flick to cut the lead to 10-9. Flick stayed composed on the mound though to retire the final two batters and notch his second save in as many nights.

Lake Erie built a 7-2 lead after the first two innings against Freedom starter Scott Moviel. The Crushers took advantage of Moviel's wildness, as he walked 6 batters in 1.2 innings on the hill. The Freedom chipped away at the Crushers lead in the 4th inning. Kyle Bluestein made his professional debut and got his first pro hit on an RBI single in the inning. Edwin Padua followed with an RBI hit as well, and then LePage lined a two run single to cut the Crushers lead to 7-6.

Sean Gregory was a part of a bullpen that pitched the final 7.1 innings of the game, only allowing two runs. Gregory earned the win after throwing 2.1 innings and only giving up 1 hit. Mike Hanley preceded him with 3 solid innings, as Matt Kline and Flick also contributed in the bullpen heroics.

The Freedom will go for the series sweep against Lake Erie Tuesday night. LHP Paul Fagan(6-3, 2.76) will start for the Crushers while LHP Brent Choban will make his professional debut for the Freedom. Tuesday's game can be heard with Steve Jarnicki starting at 6:50 pm on Real Talk 1160 and realtalk1160.com.

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The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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Freedom Get Late Comeback Win over Lake Erie

Kanpur:Freedom fighter Captain Lakshmi Sahgal has died in a Kanpur hospital; she was 97. She was in a coma since Wednesday when she had a heart stroke. She was a close aide of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose.

There will be no cremation ceremony held as her body has been donated to the Ganesh Shankar Vidyarthi Medical College in Kanpur.

Captain Lakshmi Sahgal was born in Madras and qualified as a doctor from the Madras Medical College in 1938. Two years later, she moved to Singapore and set up a free clinic to help migrant Indian workers. She met Subhash Chandra Bose in Singapore in 1943. He spoke of the need to create an all- women's regiment in the Indian National Army in the fight for India's independence, and made her its commander.

In 1947, she married Colonel Prem Kumar Sahgal. Their oldest child, Subhasini, is a prominent social activist and CPM leader. The Sahgals were settled in Kanpur where she continued her work as a doctor. In 1971, Sahgal joined the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and represented the party in the Rajya Sabha.

In 2002, four leftist parties - the Communist Party of India, the Communist Party of India (Marxist), the Revolutionary Socialist Party, and the All India Forward Bloc - made her their candidate for President of India. She was defeated by APJ Abdul Kalam.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Vice President Hamid Ansari today condoled the death of freedom fighter Captain Lakshmi Sehgal, saying that the nation has lost an icon of selfless service. (Read)

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Freedom fighter Captain Lakshmi Sahgal dies

23 July 2012 Last updated at 10:29 ET

There are calls for Bradley Wiggins to be given the Freedom of the City of Westminster after his historic Tour de France win.

The 32-year-old cyclist sealed Britain's first Tour victory on Sunday and now councillors want to honour him.

He grew up in Maida Vale and used places such as Hyde Park and Paddington Recreation Ground to train in.

A Westminster City Council spokesman said giving Wiggins the award "is something we are keenly looking at".

Councillor Paul Dimoldenberg, leader of Westminster Council's Labour group, said: "Bradley Wiggins is the most fantastic sportsman and it all started in Maida Vale.

"Westminster City Council should honour this most dedicated sportsman for his achievement as the first Briton to win the Tour de France, as well as his magnificent Olympic medals.

"Bradley Wiggins is a great role model for young people and the council should award this honour in Olympic year 2012."

One of the Maida Vale councillors, Alastair Moss, Conservative, said: "Bradley Wiggins has scored a historic sporting victory and inspired huge pride across the country - no more so than in his home turf of Westminster and Maida Vale.

"Recognising Bradley's outstanding achievement through the Freedom of Westminster award is something we are keenly looking at."

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Freedom award call for Wiggins

By Gracie Bonds Staples

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Despite the model minority stereotype that presumes all Asian-Americans are prosperous and well educated, Keish Kims family is not well-to-do and she cant get into her dream college.

The first blow to Kims quest for success came when the lawyer hired by her family to handle their immigration from Seoul, South Korea, in 2000 (when Kim was 8) missed a crucial deadline, making it impossible for them to attain citizenship. The second came in 2010 when the state Board of Regents barred illegal immigrants from attending the states top five universities.

But not long after the regents made their decision, Kim found herself receiving instruction from University of Georgia professors at Freedom University, an underground classroom for illegal immigrants provided by volunteer teachers at an undisclosed location in Athens.

We were all qualified professors, so we thought that is something we can do, said history professor Pamela Voekel, a co-founding faculty member of Freedom University. All it would take was our time and effort, while the students and their families were risking so much.

While the volunteers at Freedom University hope the regents eventually change their policy, many Georgians support the rule, believing that for every illegal person attending a public university, a U.S. citizen is turned away.

And, as regents spokesman John Millsaps said, There are 30 other public institutions in the University System of Georgia that undocumented students can attend.

However, some believe the policy should go farther. Earlier this year Rep. Tom Rice, R-Norcross, sponsored a bill that, had it passed, would have barred illegal immigrants from attending all public colleges.

Thousands of Gwinnett students cant get into the University of Georgia because its full, said Rep. Don Balfour, R-Snellville, who supported the bill. People who are legal in the state should be getting positions before people who are illegal.

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Freedom University helps immigrants achieve dreams

ATLANTA, July 23, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --The U.S. Department of Defense named Delta Air Lines (DAL) a 2012 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award recipient. With more than 3,000 nominations submitted, Delta is one of 15 employers awarded the Department of Defense's highest recognition given to employers for exceptional support of Guard and Reserve employees.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20090202/DELTALOGO)

"The Freedom Award is a great honor and even more special because Delta was nominated by a co-worker and Air Force Reservist," said Delta CEO Richard Anderson. "Supporting the 3,000 Delta people who serve our nation has long been part of our culture and is one of many ways we strive to make Delta a great place to work. Our commitment extends to the millions of servicemen and women who fly with us throughout the year, and to our veterans. Delta will always be there to support you."

Delta supports its people serving in the Guard and Reserve by offering health and welfare benefits, and travel privileges during and upon return from military service.

Delta employees often recognize military service members in uniform by providing First Class/Business Elite upgrades when seats are available, allowing priority boarding, providing complimentary access to the more than 50 Delta Sky Clubs nationwide, and by publicly thanking members of the military onboard. Delta flight attendants have been recognized for sending journals filled with customer messages to men and women stationed overseas, and for sending care baskets. And at more than a dozen U.S. airports, Delta employees administer volunteer honor guards when transporting the remains of military service personnel, complete with flag ceremonies and specially themed patriotic ground equipment.

Delta has pledged to hire more veterans by 2020 as part of its participation in the 100,000 Jobs Mission. As part of this commitment, Delta sponsored the 2011 the Gracie Mansion Veterans Day Breakfast hosted by Mayor Michael Bloomberg, and the Veterans Day Parade, both held in New York City.

In addition, Delta is a longstanding supporter of military support organizations such as the Fisher House Foundation and United Service Organization, and has donated millions of SkyMiles through the SkyWish program to provide airline travel for families of men and women in uniform.

Since 1996, only 160 employers have received the Freedom Award. Delta is the first airline to receive the Freedom Award in a decade.

The 2012 honorees will be recognized at the 17th annual Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award Ceremony in Washington, D.C. on Sept. 20, 2012.

Delta Air Lines serves more than 160 million customers each year. During the past year, Delta was named domestic "Airline of the Year" by the readers of Travel Weekly magazine, was named the "Top Tech-Friendly U.S. Airline" by PCWorld magazine for its innovation in technology and won the Business Travel News Annual Airline Survey. With an industry-leading global network, Delta and the Delta Connection carriers offer service to nearly 350 destinations in 65 countries on six continents. Headquartered in Atlanta, Delta employs 80,000 employees worldwide and operates a mainline fleet of more than 700 aircraft. A founding member of the SkyTeam global alliance, Delta participates in the industry's leading trans-Atlantic joint venture with Air France-KLM and Alitalia. Including its worldwide alliance partners, Delta offers customers more than 13,000 daily flights, with hubs in Amsterdam, Atlanta, Cincinnati, Detroit, Memphis, Minneapolis-St. Paul, New York-LaGuardia, New York-JFK, Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Salt Lake City and Tokyo-Narita. The airline's service includes the SkyMiles frequent flier program, a world-class airline loyalty program; the award-winning BusinessElite service; and more than 50 Delta Sky Clubs in airports worldwide. Delta is investing more than $3 billion through 2013 in airport facilities and global products, services and technology to enhance the customer experience in the air and on the ground. Customers can check in for flights, print boarding passes, check bags and review flight status at delta.com.

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Delta Receives Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award

July 22, 2012 - Frontier League (FL) Florence Freedom O'Fallon,MO-The Florence Freedom and River City Rascals played a four hour and nine minute game, as the Rascals outslugged the Freedom 14-10. On top of the four hour plus game, there was a twenty minute delay in the top of the 6th as home plate umpire Bill Lopina was injured on a foul ball off the bat of Jim Jacquot, which forced him to leave the game, as field umpire Jeremy Stangelo umpired the remainder of the contest.

The Freedom had leads of 5-2, 7-2, and 9-8, but couldn't hang on as they were dealt their fourth straight series loss. John Malloy went 3-5 with 3 RBI, including two solo homeruns, one of which led off the game which was the second time he accomplished this during the three game series.

After the Freedom tied the game at 10-10, the Rascals loaded the bases in the bottom of the 8th against relief pitcher Sean Gregory. With one out, Matt Kline was brought in to face Chris Andreas. Andreas eventually won a lengthy battle as he hit a SAC fly to right field scoring Eric Williams, which proved to be the game winning run. The Rascals then got some insurance runs in the inning on a three run homerun from Curran Redal to put them up for good 14-10. Gregory(4-5) took the loss as he was making his first appearance out of the bullpen this year.

The Freedom return to Florence for a brief three game homestand starting Sunday night against the Lake Erie Crushers. RHP Pat Arnold(3-2, 5.05) will get the ball for the Crushers, as Brandon Mathes(0-0, 5.45) will make his first start of the season for the Freedom. Sunday's game can be heard with Steve Jarnicki starting at 5:50 pm on Real Talk 1160 and realtalk1160.com.

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The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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Freedom Drop Marathon Game to River City

In America, freedomnow means the right to inflict harm on the community, whether its the freedom of Wall Street bankers to gamble recklessly, the freedom of the rich to shut factories and off-shore jobs or the freedom to swagger around with deadly weapons. That freedom has struck again in Colorado, writes Lawrence Davidson.

By Lawrence Davidson

Well here we go again. Late in the evening of July 20, a masked gunman entered a Colorado movie theater playing the new Batman movie and opened fire killing at least 12 people and wounding 50. The gunman was not a large anthropomorphized bat but rather a young white male, and he was armed with a rifle, a shotgun and two handguns all of which he had legally obtained.

This is nothing new in the Land Of The Free. Among the more notable victims of the nations love affair with deadly weapons have been Abraham Lincoln, James Garfield, William McKinley, John F. Kennedy, Robert Kennedy, Martin Luther King, Ronald Reagan (wounded) and, of course, John Lennon.

College photo of James Holmes, 24, who allegedly opened fire during a screening of "The Dark Knight Rises" at an Aurora, Colorado, theater early Friday, killing 12 people.

Then there are the recent (and periodically ongoing) mass murders among the population at large: the Columbine High School shootings, the Beltway sniper incidents, the Virginia Tech massacre, and the 2011 Tucson killings. To this can be added the daily shootings that occur in every city in the country. Taking the representative year of 2007, there were 31,224 deaths from gunshots with 17,352 of them (56 percent) being suicides. The numbers have, generally, been going up.

Those who stand against tightening up the nations presently useless gun laws have a variety of arguments most of which are in good part delusional. Thus:

1. EXCUSE NUMBER ONE Guns dont kill people, people kill people.

a. It is certainly true that while sitting on a shelf, locked in a draw or carried in a holster, guns are inert pieces of machinery and, ultimately, it takes a finger to pull the trigger. Yet this fact is actually irrelevant. Its irrelevant because guns are not manufactured to stay on shelves, in draws or holsters. That inert status has nothing to do with why they exist. So, we can go on and ask:

b. Why are guns manufactured? Why do they exist? Primitive firearms were invented in China sometime in the 12th Century. They were invented to be used in warfare, that is to kill and injure other people. As the technology spread westward, first into the Arab lands and then to Europe, the technology was improved, but its raison detre (its reason for being) to kill and injure others stayed the same.

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America’s Twisted Notion of Freedom