Category Archives: Freedom

We believe in freedom and democracy. Freedom loving societies are not just the best places to live, they are the most successful.

When the Berlin Wall fell and the Iron Curtain came crashing down 3 decades ago, renewed democracies were established across Eastern Europe. People have become freer, living better lives and their children have better futures. But these hard-won gains are now at risk with malign, autocratic regimes seeking to take away peoples freedom.

Look at whats happening in Belarus. The escalating standoff at the Polish border marks the latest step by the Lukashenko regime to undermine regional security. He is using desperate migrants as pawns in his bid to create instability and cling onto power, regardless of the human cost.

The United Kingdom will not look away. We will stand with our allies in the region, who are on the frontier of freedom. Thats why we are proud to be the first European country to assist Poland by agreeing to send a small team of personnel to provide engineering support to ease pressure at the border.

In the same way, we were the first European country to put sanctions on the Lukashenko regime, targeting over 100 individuals and organisations with measures including asset freezes and travel bans. This shows we are ready to take the lead in standing up for freedom and democracy, acting robustly, decisively and relentlessly to take on malign actors wherever they are in the world.

We are not just standing side by side with Poland as they bear the brunt of this shameful manufactured migrant crisis, but also others in the Visegrad Four Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic and our friends in the Baltics and Ukraine.

In Belarus, this carefully crafted crisis is an attempt to divert attention away from the litany of abhorrent acts and human rights violations that the regime has already committed. Since the fraudulent election in August 2020 we have seen members of the opposition, journalists and activists beaten, jailed and killed, while others have been forced into exile.

In contrast to their tyrannical leaders, the people of Belarus are true democrats. Time and again we have seen ordinary citizens risking everything to stand up for their rights and keep the flame of freedom alive. As the chair of the Belarusian Association of Journalists, Andrei Bastunets, said: Today, the law does not defend us. Today, we defend the law.

Russia has a clear responsibility here. They must press the Belarusian authorities to end the crisis and enter into dialogue.

We need to fight for the rule of law, freedom and democracy, and we must take that fight to the where that ideological battle is. Security is no longer solely about military hardware. The battle is now taking place in cyber space, the economy, and in the appalling use of people as collateral.

We will join forces with our partners to advance our shared interests. At the NATO foreign ministers summit in Riga in a few weeks time, we will put forward new proposals to challenge the 21st century methods of aggression being used by those who threaten our freedoms, economies and democracies.

The world is changing and modern threats are more multifaceted and complex. That idea lies at the heart of the Integrated Review of security, defence, development and foreign policy the government published earlier this year. We need to work with allies who believe we must have a world where freedom loving democracies dont just survive they thrive.

That is why we remain the largest European spender on defence in NATO the worlds greatest defence alliance. It is why we are working with friends and allies in South East Asia where we are deepening our defence, maritime and security ties. This week in Indonesia, the worlds third largest democracy, I agreed new ties in cyber. I also visited Thailand and Malaysia, where our cooperation includes the Five Power Defence Arrangements. We are also increasing our defence collaboration with India, Israel and many others around the world. Through AUKUS we are collaborating with the US and Australia on the next generation of technologies.

I want our friends across Europe to join us. That means standing together for example in opposing the construction of the Nord Stream 2 Pipeline. It risks undermining European security by allowing Russia to tighten its grip on those nations who rely on its gas, despite the pandemic reminding us about the importance of having diverse supply chains to avoid being strategically dependent on unreliable partners.

At this critical time, we should be deepening our investment and trade ties with counties that follow the rules and allow free market economies to thrive. We cannot, and will not, ever give succour to those who want to undermine freedom and democracy.

Together with our friends and allies, we can build a network of liberty, working to repel these malign actors to ensure freedom loving people can live in peace.

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We must stand together for freedom and democracy: article by Liz Truss - GOV.UK

SOUTH SIOUX CITY, Neb. (KCAU) Over Veterans Day Weekend, Siouxland Freedom Park received nearly $50,000 in donations from various community organizations, all to keep it on its trajectory of becoming one of the regions best veterans parks around.

Ten years ago, there was nothing here. This was a thicket with weeds as big around as your arm, and to see what we have now with the wall, the flag, the building, said Mike Newhouse, president of Siouxland Freedom Park.

Newhouse understands that Siouxland Freedom Park has come a long way from its early days. Serving as president, hes seen the evolution over the last decade with one of their largest achievements recognized fittingly on Veterans Day this year.

The parks board of directors had a tough decision to make on who to give the naming rights to for the new Interpretive Center, but they were able to settle on the one person to be awarded the Medal of Honor and the Air Force Cross, Brigadier General Bud Day and wife Doris.

There are no two people who have done more to inspire us and to set the kind of tone that will prevade Siouxland Freedom Park in the future, said Newhouse about the couple.

Before the ribbon-cutting for the new building, a ceremony was held at the Veterans Memorial Wall with Post Commander John Ludwick of South Sioux Citys American Legion Post 307 leading the presentation of colors and a firing party. Ludwick spoke on why veterans deserve a place like this to honor them.

Took an oath to defend the Constitution, protect it against its enemies foreign and domestic. We still believe in that, still have to be on guard for it. As the saying goes freedom is not free, also freedom is not a free-for-all, said Ludwig.

Newhouse, rightfully emotional, said the mission now is to turn the Interpretive Center into a venue of education and inspiration for generations to come.

Were progressing rapidly to finish the interior. Soon well begin to populate the building with museum-quality exhibits. Its hard to put into words what a special day this is for all of us, said Newhouse.

Newhouse told KCAU9 that most of the donations would go towards bringing in new exhibits to the Center as well as beginning new projects like the Korean War Memorial.

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Siouxland Freedom Park continuing to inspire regions veterans - KCAU 9

Republican Rep. Scott Perry of Pennsylvania is set to take the helm of the conservative House Freedom Caucus in January, and hell bring to that job a nearly decade-long record of skepticism toward established climate change science.

Perry, an Army National Guard veteran who has represented a central Pennsylvania district since 2013, frequently uses his positions in the Foreign Affairs and Transportation and Infrastructure committees to fight proposed climate change policies, even those with broad GOP support.

Yesterday, Perrys office announced that he had contracted COVID-19 and was quarantining at home with "quite mild" symptoms. A spokesperson did not respond to a question about whether Perry had been vaccinated, along with questions about his opposition to climate change legislation.

He told PennLive in 2018 that he believes the climate is changing, but questions the overwhelming scientific consensus that humans are the main cause via greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuels and other actions.

The climates changing, without a doubt. I think we contribute to it. I dont know exactly how, and that becomes the rub, he told the news outlet. It opens up an opportunity for skepticism we want to proceed based on the facts; not based on suppositions or the facts we hope that we have.

The Freedom Caucus doesnt publicize its membership, but it is believed to have around 40 members. It says it supports open, accountable and limited government, the Constitution and the rule of law, and policies that promote the liberty, safety and prosperity of all Americans.

For the past six years, I have stood shoulder to shoulder with the men and women of the Freedom Caucus as we have tirelessly fought to hold the line to promote liberty, safety and prosperity for Americans, Perry said in a Monday statement in which the group announced his election. I am grateful to continue to carry the torch for these champions of freedom.

Perry has taken numerous steps to stop Congress from acting on climate change.

In one case, he opposed a bipartisan effort in 2018 to require considerations for climate change and energy resilience in military installation planning to the National Defense Authorization Act. Perry proposed an amendment to strip the provision out of the defense bill, but it failed (E&E Daily, April 10, 2018).

The year before, he unsuccessfully tried to remove a provision from that years defense bill to ask the Pentagon to study climate vulnerabilities on military bases (E&E Daily, July 14, 2017).

More recently, Perry proposed a number of amendments to bipartisan disaster relief and resilience legislation aimed at limiting its scope. He argued incorrectly that any attempt to link climate change to worsening disasters is thoroughly debunked by the actual data (E&E Daily, Oct. 28).

He sponsored a bill, H.R. 5372, to block the creation of the Biden administrations new Office of Climate Change and Health Equity within the Department of Health and Human Services (E&E Daily, Sept. 28).

Other unsuccessful moves by Perry would have prohibited EPA from using Section 115 of the Clean Air Act a provision on international air pollution to write greenhouse gas regulations, and stopped the government from measuring the social cost of carbon (E&E Daily, July 19, 2018; E&E Daily, Sept. 13, 2017).

But Perrys moves to stop environmental action go beyond climate change. An amendment he sponsored last year would have required EPA to study the uncertainties in the modeling behind the Chesapeake Bay cleanup program (E&E Daily, June 29, 2020).

He is also a critic of electric vehicles, claiming that Democrats are brushing aside environmental problems from their production and use (E&E News PM, June 18, 2020).

Perry will take over as Freedom Caucus chair on Jan. 1, replacing outgoing chair Rep. Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.).

This story also appears in Climatewire.

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New Freedom Caucus chair has long record of climate denial - E&E News

Both days are meaningful to me because my son is a member of the U.S. Marine Corps, and I am grateful for his service and also for many other things in my life.

Thomas Gregoire swore into the U.S. Marine Corps by repeating the military oath of enlistment on Nov. 5, 2018.Ann Bailey / Agweek

It could legitimately be argued that honoring veterans and being thankful for our blessings are things which we should do every day. However, I think that its important to designate specific days Nov. 11 for Veterans Day and the third Thursday in November for Thanksgiving because it causes us to pause, reflect and celebrate on those days.

Its a tradition in most families to observe birthdays and mark them in a special way, so it makes sense to me that we do the same on Veterans Day and Thanksgiving.

I long have had an appreciation for veterans because I have great-uncles who served in World War I, my father was a member of the Army Air Corps in World War II, and one of my brothers-in-law is a veteran of the U.S. Air Force.

My gratitude for the U.S. military grew even greater when three years ago on Nov. 5, my second-oldest son Thomas enlisted in the Marines. After graduation from boot camp in San Diego in January 2019, he went to the U.S. Marine Corps School of Infantry where he learned to be a machine gunner.

Thomas Gregoire graduated from boot camp on Feb. 1, 2019.U.S. Marine Corps contributed photo

Since then, Thomas days have been filled with constant readiness training: 10- to 20-mile hikes in the California desert carrying a 75-pound pack and 45-pound machine gun, survival training in sub-freezing temperatures in the states snow-covered mountains, and consecutive days with no sleep and only ready-to-eat meals to sustain him.

Of course, thats what Thomas signed up for when he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps, and he doesnt complain about the intense, physical work that is expected in his career choice. Meanwhile, our son obviously is much more aware than his parents about the threats to U.S. freedom and that he has to be ready to defend and protect the country at a moments notice.

The things I do know, which have been reported in the media, are enough, though, to make me worry about his safety, while at the same time being proud of his willingness to put his life on the line.

During Thomas 2020 Middle East deployment ,when my worry was the most intense, I told myself that he is in Gods hands and that whatever happened, it would not change that fact. My faith in God sustained me through Thomas deployment, as it has during other challenging times in my life.

On Thanksgiving, I will give thanks, first for God, and then for Thomas, his fellow Marines, and members of other military service branches who protect our country and the right to celebrate holidays. At the top of my thankfulness list also will be my husband, Brian; our oldest son, Brendan; and our daughter, Ellen, who, along with Thomas, make up the best family for which I could ever ask to be a part of.

Ann Bailey is thankful for family time, like Ellen's graduation, on May 23, 2021. From left are Thomas Gregoire, Brian Gregoire, Ellen Gregoire, Ann Bailey and Brendan Gregoire.Contributed photo

Besides God, the U.S. military and our family, I also am thankful for farmers and that I grew up on a farm and live on one today. Im grateful that many generations of families on both sides tilled the soil and raised livestock and that I live on a farmstead that has been in the family for 110 years.

Ann Bailey is grateful to live on the farm near Larimore, North Dakota, that's been in the family since 1911.Ann Bailey / Agweek

Its not a coincidence that my love for agriculture was a major part of my decision to work for Agweek magazine, another blessing for which I will give thanks on Nov. 25.

Its my privilege to wish readers many blessings and reasons to celebrate. Happy Thanksgiving.

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Military mom gives thanks for faith, freedom, family and the farm - Pine Journal

The University of Michigan opened this academic year with an academic freedom scandal. Music professor Bright Sheng showed his class the 1965 film of Othello with Laurence Olivier playing the Moor in dark makeup. Students demanded action. The university removed Sheng from the classroom and opened an investigation. The Academic Freedom Alliance condemned the university for violating Professor Sheng's academic freedom. The university eventually relented and dropped the investigation. Unfortunately, that is not quite the end of the matter.

Professor Sheng has not been returned to his class, though he continues to do some teaching and is scheduled to resume his normal teaching activities in the spring. The university has hardly recognized its error and has failed to adequately reaffirm its commitments to academic freedom. Not exactly an encouraging sign for the future.

And now some members of the faculty who were enthusiastic about the persecution of Professor Sheng in the first place are doubling down. An open letter tries to rewrite history and denies that the Sheng case ever involved a conflict over free speech or academic freedom. More troubling, it calls for the university to mandate "anti-racism training" for all the members of the faculty so that professors will know what they are allowed to teach students in the future. Everyone must think the same way at the University of Michigan. The letter demonstrates that advocates of "anti-racism practices" in universities have no tolerance for intellectual freedom and will brook no dissent.

The AFA responds with another letter to the university's leadership. From the letter:

Quite simply, the letter is proposing that the university adopt an ideological litmus test against which faculty should be measured. Academic freedom protects the ability to scholars and instructors to disagree about the subject matter over which they have disciplinary expertise. Professor Sheng is free to introduce instructionally relevant material for the purpose that he sees fit and with the context that in his scholarly judgment the material demands. It is entirely incompatible with academic freedom to suggest that the university administration should declare some scholarly and pedagogical choices beyond the pale and demand that all faculty on campus conform to the orthodoxies that some members of the faculty would prefer. Some faculty might well prefer to teach using an anti-racist lens, but no serious university should declare that all members of the faculty must do so.

It is not hard to imagine the abuses that could follow from the university going down this path. Rather than being a campus on which scholars can freely debate controversial issues and challenge prevailing wisdom, this proposal seeks to stifle debate, suppress dissent, and insist that every member of the faculty must adopt and teach the same ideas. If the university can declare the teaching of disfavored ideas to be "irresponsible" and tantamount to creating a "hostile learning environment," then there is no reason why the list of officially sanctioned dogmas cannot be expanded. State legislatures across the country are currently debating whether some "divisive concepts" should be banned from classrooms lest some students draw the wrong conclusions from being exposed to them. If the university begins to carve out exceptions to academic freedom, it can expect the exceptions to grow and expand over time.

The open letter at Michigan does have one good idea. The AFA agrees that the university administrators should be provided with clear guidelines so that they will know how to respond to such complaints in the future. Of course, I'm sure the letter writers would like those guidelines to say that dissenting professors should be quashed. The AFA would be happy to assist the university in developing guidelines that actually protect academic freedom and that would help prevent such an embarrassing violation from happening again.

We do agree with the letter writers on one point, however. We too think the university would be well-served by developing "clear protocols in the event that a student reports a racist incident." As you recently noted, the decision to remove Professor Sheng from the classroom was "made locally" by a dean who did not have the benefit of such a clear protocol. The university should take steps to ensure that such a violation of academic freedom does not happen again. It seems evident that many department chairs, deans and university administrators do not understand what is protected by academic freedom. Future violations of academic freedom can be avoided if those administrators had a better understanding of how teaching and scholarship is protected from administrative interference. The university should make clear to administrators who might receive such a complaint in the future that it should immediately be dismissed the moment it becomes evident that such a complaint is merely objecting to the educationally relevant, substantive content of a course.

This episode is indeed a learning opportunity. It is an opportunity for the university to learn that its protections for academic freedom are inadequate and that intellectual freedom at the university needs to be better secured.

Read the whole thing here.

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Academic Freedom Not Yet Safe at the University of Michigan - Reason

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Opinion: Freedom of choice in voting | Letters to the Editor | postregister.com - Post Register

Britney Spears is looking forward to her future following the end of her 13-year conservatorship.

On Monday, the "Toxic" singer took to Instagram to once again thank her fans as well as to share how she celebrated her newfound "freedom" over the weekend.

"What an amazing weekend," Spears began her post. "I felt like I was on cloud 9 the whole time !!! I actually got my first glass of champagne at the most beautiful restaurant I've ever seen last night !!! I'm celebrating my freedom and my B day for the next two months !!!!!!!!!!!"

"I mean after 13 years I think I've waited long ENOUGH !!!!" she added.

HOW BRITNEY SPEARS WAS FREED FROM HER CONSERVATORSHIP

Britney Spears is looking forward to her future following the end of her 13-year-long conservatorship. (Getty Images)

Spears, whose birthday is on Dec. 2, also gave a special shout-out to her attorney, Mathew Rosengart.

"He has truly turned my life around I'm forever thankful for that !!!!" she wrote. "What a sight seeing so many people celebrating my victory . I love my fans so much so thank you."

The pop star concluded her post with a mention of Hailey Baldwin. The model dressed up as Spears for Halloween.

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"She was me for Halloween I think I won brownie points with my kids !!!!" Spears said of her two sons before adding, "But seriously though how freaking cool is that ????"

Spears spoke out for the first time following the end of her conservatorship on her social media accounts Friday. (Getty Images)

Spears spoke out for the first time following the end of her conservatorship on her social media accounts Friday.

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"Good God I love my fans so much its crazy," Spears, 39, captioned a video from the scene outside the courthouse after the announcement.

Good God I love my fans so much its crazy, Spears, 39, captioned a video from the scene outside the courthouse after the announcement. (Photo by Marco PiracciniArchivio Marco PiracciniMondadori via Getty Images)

"I think Im gonna cry the rest of the day !!!! Best day ever praise the Lord can I get an Amen," she continued before adding, "#FreedBritney."

Fox News' Lauryn Overhultz contributed to this report.

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Britney Spears celebrates 'freedom' with her 'first glass of champagne': 'On cloud 9 the whole time' - Fox News

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EXCLUSIVE: The House Freedom Caucus is calling on House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., to refuse to fund the executive branch over President Biden's vaccine mandate.

"President Biden and administration officials on his behalf have issued multiple executive orders and directives mandating COVID-19 vaccinations under threat of retribution that will cause the loss of livelihoods and endanger Americans," the caucus said in a letter obtained by Fox News Tuesday.

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

The lawmakers argued that Congress should move to block funding for the executive branch over the orders, pointing to Biden's orders requiring companies with over 100 employees to require the vaccine and mandating the shot for federal workers.

APPEALS COURT RE-AFFIRMS STAY ON BIDEN WORKPLACE VACCINE MANDATE, CITES 'SEVERE' RISKS

The letter comes after a federal appeals court reaffirmed its stay on the workplace vaccine mandate, ordering the U.S. Labor Departments Occupational Safety and Health Administration to "take no steps to implement or enforce the Mandate until further court order."

"Federal vaccine mandates will only further divide America and harm our national security. For example, thousands of men and women in uniform are thus far choosing not to meet the recent COVID-19 vaccination requirements imposed by DoD. It is absurd to threaten to discharge honorably or dishonorably anyone in our military for making that choice," the letter said.

President Joe Biden gives a thumbs up as he walks with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of Calif. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

Other federal agencies that could be negatively impacted are Customs and Border Protection and other law enforcement and defense personnel, the letter argued.

"Moreover, at a time when our nations supply chains are at a breaking point, and our nation is suffering a labor shortage, reports have indicated that 72% of unvaccinated workers vow to quit if ordered to get vaccinated a number that includes truckers, firefighters, police officers, and healthcare workers," the letter continued.

The lawmakers noted that many of the nation's healthcare facilities are already short staffed, while mandates could cause nursing homes to completely shut down due to the insufficient staffing.

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President Biden speaks about the bipartisan infrastructure bill in the State Dinning Room of the White House, Saturday, Nov. 6, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

"Congress must oppose these COVID-19 mandates OSHA, federal employees [including DoD], federal contractors, CMS, and others," the lawmakers said. "Please be advised [in advance of the Dec. 3 expiration of the current continuing resolution funding government] that in addition to any other objections to government funding we reserve the right to make we will not vote for a continuing resolution, or any other government funding legislation, while any federal COVID-19 vaccine mandates remain in place."

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House Freedom Caucus formally calls on Congress to deny gov funding over vaccine mandates in letter to Pelosi - Fox News

A state lawmaker wants to protect Pennsylvanians right to decide whether to refuse a vaccine of any type or medical treatment or procedure without being questioned or discriminated against for their decision.

This push from Rep. Russ Diamond, R-Lebanon County, grows out of the ongoing debate over COVID-19 vaccine mandates that are cropping up in places around the state.

The legal fogginess of this topic is evident in the manifold legal cases currently before the courts, both federal and state, he told the House Health Committee on Tuesday. The plaintiffs in these cases have a conviction that they shouldnt be forced to or coerced to receive this particular vaccine and shouldnt be discriminated against for choosing not to receive it.

The committee voted 15-10 along party lines to approve Diamonds proposed constitutional amendment that would protect individuals freedom to refuse any medical procedure, injection, vaccine or prophylactic.

This approval puts the measure into position for consideration by the full House. Before it would appear on a ballot for voter ratification, it first must pass the full House and Senate in two consecutive two-year legislative sessions.

Diamond said adding this proposed right to medical freedom to Article 1 of the state constitution would bring clarity to individuals right to say no to medical procedures, treatment, vaccines and prophylactics.

Democratic Rep. Bridget Kosierowski of Lackwanna County, a registered nurse, questioned the inclusion of prophylactics. She said that could lead to patients refusing handwashing preparation for tests, washes before a knee replacement, and preparation for a colonoscopy. An attorney for the committee said patients have the right to refuse that now.

Rep. Dan Frankel, D-Allegheny County, called Diamonds bill a dangerous proposal. Simply bringing it up for committee consideration does harm by further sowing distrust in vaccines, he said.

Whats more, he argued vaccine requirements have been a public health success story when it comes to measles, polio, rubella, mumps, tetanus and among other ailments. He further said the COVID-19 vaccines have been shown to reduce the number of virus-related deaths.

If this constitutional amendment were to be enacted, the worst of COVID would be with us forever, Frankel said. Vaccines limit the spread of deadly viruses.

Committee Chairwoman Kathy Rapp, R-Warren County, said she is not an anti-vaxxer but believes people should have the freedom to choose whether to get a vaccine. She added she finds it troubling that a number of doctors and nurses have refused the vaccine.

It still should be a persons right in this country, she said. I know that many people have a lot of issues with the contents of certain vaccines and we are seeing more and more adverse effects.

Rep. Stephanie Borowicz, R-Clinton County, said her support for the bill is not about being anti-mask or anti-vaccine either.

She said, Were anti-force from a government telling us what to do with our bodies.

Jan Murphy may be reached at jmurphy@pennlive.com. Follow her on Twitter at @JanMurphy.

Read more on PennLive:

Pa. COVID-19 hospitalizations rise as summer surge remains stubborn

In China, COVID-19 health workers beat a pet corgi to death while its owner was in quarantine. Chinese people are outraged

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COVID-19 vaccine mandates give rise to call for protecting medical freedom in Pa. constitution - pennlive.com

The technology behind self-driving cars was behind the idea of creating a kind of harness for the blind and visually impaired. Co-founder Mael Fabien of the Swiss company biped explains how it works.

Seeing videos about self-driving cars and the progress they are making with them in San Francisco got me thinking, how can we use this technology for the blind and visually impaired? If we can make cars drive themselves, then surely that technology can also be used to give blind and visually impaired people their autonomy and freedom of movement. I approached a friend I knew from a hackathon about this. We realized that it had potential as a start-up after we wrote some code and created an initial prototype. In January 2021 he moved from Germany to Switzerland and now we are working full time on biped.

Also interesting: Innovative shoe warns blind people of obstacles

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We offer one ready-made solution. There are indeed many other innovations that offer support to our target group, but therein lies the crux: those systems do not work together. You have electronic walking sticks that vibrate near objects, smart glasses that detect faces and QR codes, GPS devices and so on. But you cant simultaneously process a vibration and sound while also listening to your smart glasses. Our harness has 3D cameras and detects moving objects, predicts where they are going and has a battery life of up to six hours.

Before we started working on the software and hardware, we asked the Jules Gonin Eye Hospital in Lausanne what they thought of our idea. We have been working closely with them ever since. The prototype has now been tested by 50 people from the target group. Now we are in our fifth iteration and end-users and experts have been consulted for all versions.

The reactions have all been positive. People indicate that they have more insight and awareness of their surroundings when they are on the street or in a new environment. They can anticipate better and therefore feel safer. Now we are looking at how we can improve the ergonomics of the harness and are completing our final prototype which will incorporate these ergonomic improvements. Many end users told us that they had the dream of running around a stage one day. We also want to expand our solution so that the harness can be used in other types of activities in the future, such as running.

We dont have a fixed cost for our harnesses yet. It will probably be offered for lease first so users can test it before spending a lot of money on it. Hopefully, it will eventually be reimbursed by users health insurance like other devices, but that still has some way to go. We hope that our product will become accessible to everyone. Only then can we achieve our goal: to give people their freedom of movement and autonomy (back).

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Blind and visually impaired get their freedom of movement back with biped - Innovation Origins