Russia, Turkey Lead Global Decline in Internet Freedom

For the fourth consecutive year, Internet freedom around the world is on the decline, according to a new report from a human rights group. Russia, Ukraine and Turkey dropped the furthest in Freedom House's "Freedom on the Net 2014" report, which looked at 65 countries for signs of increased Internet surveillance, censorship, arrests of social media users and more. This year in Turkey, Twitter was temporarily blocked in the run-up to local elections, while in Russia the government was criticized for increasing Internet censorship during the Sochi Winter Olympics and for its military conflict with Ukraine. Overall, Iran, Syria and China hold the top spots as the "world's worst abusers of Internet freedom," according to the report.

More people were arrested and prosecuted for their online actions in 2014 than ever before, the report stated. "In a departure from the past, when most governments preferred a behind-the-scenes approach to Internet control, countries are rapidly adopting new laws that legitimize existing repression and effectively criminalize online dissent," it said. There were very few countries that made gains in the rankings, with most of the increases due to "less vigorous" enforcement of existing laws instead of positive new steps. The United States was judged less free than only five countries: global leaders Iceland, Estonia, Canada, Australia and Germany.

First published December 4 2014, 3:33 AM

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Russia, Turkey Lead Global Decline in Internet Freedom

Basketball preview: Virginia Conference 15 boys

By Joey LoMonaco December 3 at 4:05 PM

Top teams

Potomac (28-1), Freedom-Woodbridge (14-8), Brooke Point (8-15)

Top players

G Frank Agyemang, Freedom-Woodbridge 6-3, Sr.

F Armond Griebe, Potomac (Va.), 6-6, Sr.

G Keijon Honore, Potomac (Va.), 5-11 Sr.

G Capree Manning, Freedom-Woodbridge, 5-8 Sr.

G Terrance Ward, Potomac (Va.), 6-3, Jr.

Skinny: Despite graduating its top three players from last years Virginia 5A championship team Tariq Felder, Trey Porter (George Mason) and All-Met Randy Haynes the Panthers have no intention of making this a rebuilding season. Restocking the Panthers front court is 6-6 senior forward Armond Griebe, a transfer from Belgium by way of Alaska. Griebe hasnt been exposed to the AAU circuit, Honore said, but lately recruiters have been, kicking the door in trying to get him. Terrance Ward, a junior transfer from Christ Chapel, holds an offer from James Madison. Junior Keijon Honore, Keiths son, will reprise his role as a starting guard, where he averaged 7.8 points per game during the title run. ...

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Basketball preview: Virginia Conference 15 boys

Unete a Freedom Network Pagan mejor que adSense Comprobado y por Paypal – Video


Unete a Freedom Network Pagan mejor que adSense Comprobado y por Paypal
Freedom Network nete (Requisitos No tener faltas de copyright )ese es el requisito que importa, a mi, me aceptaron sin tener reproducciones, por que ava creado el canal y me aceptaron con...

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Unete a Freedom Network Pagan mejor que adSense Comprobado y por Paypal - Video

New freedom camper bans hard to enforce

Policing freedom campers in the Mackenzie District could prove tricky, the local MP says.

The Mackenzie District Council planning and regulation committee voted last week to introduce a bylaw banning freedom campers from parts of Tekapo, Twizel, and the Lake Opuha and Ruataniwha shorelines.

Mackenzie District mayor Claire Barlow said yesterday the district still welcomed freedom campers if they followed the new rules.

Waitaki MP Jacqui Dean said the district's size could make it hard to catch campers who didn't meet the bylaw's new requirement to be able to take care of their own sanitary needs if they stayed on council land.

"There are so many corners for them to tuck themselves away."

Council community facilities manager Garth Nixon said the council could consider hiring contractors to hand out $200 instant fines for those parked on its land, but it owned only a small percentage of public land in the district.

Nixon said the Department of Conservation was a major landowner in the Mackenzie District, administering land on the shores of lakes Alexandrina, Ohau, Poaka, Pukaki, and Tekapo and elsewhere in the district.

DOC spokesperson Shirley Slatter said DOC rangers checked for freedom campers in the Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park, charging them a $10 camping fee if they were caught.

DOC did not police land next to state highways in the district, but restricted freedom camping on the shores of Lake Poaka to self-contained vehicles staying at the site for no more than four nights in any calendar month.

A Meridian Energy spokesperson said the company was reviewing the draft bylaw. The electricity generator had installed fences and signs on Meridian-owned land to keep freedom campers off areas such as grass verges where they could endanger road users. The company tried to maintain public access where possible.

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Global Freedom Network: World faith leaders signed Declaration to eradicate modern slavery

- Common commitment to inspire spiritual and practical action by all world faiths and people of goodwill everywhere to eradicate modern slaveryVatican City, Tuesday, 2 December 2014 - Today, on the International Dayfor the Abolition of Slavery, the Global Freedom Network (GFN) has broughttogether leaders of the Christian Catholic, Anglican and Orthodox, as wellas Buddhist, Hindu, Jewish and Muslim faiths who have jointly declared onecommon humanitarian endeavour: To eradicate modern slavery by 2020throughout our world and for all time as a crime against humanity.In a ceremonial act, a Joint Declaration of Religious Leaders againstModern Slavery was signed by: - Catholic: Pope Francis - Hindu: Her Holiness Mata Amritanandamayi (Amma) - Buddhist: Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh (Thay) (represented by Venerable Bhikkhuni Thich Nu Chan Khong) - Buddhist: The Most Ven. Datuk K Sri Dhammaratana, Chief High Priest of Malaysia - Jewish: Rabbi Dr. Abraham Skorka - Jewish: Chief Rabbi David Rosen, KSG, CBE - Orthodox: His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew (represented by His Eminence Metropolitan Emmanuel of France) - Muslim: Mohamed Ahmed El-Tayeb, Grand Imam of Al-Azhar (represented by Dr. Abbas Abdalla Abbas Soliman, Undersecretary of State of Al Azhar Alsharif) - Muslim: Grand Ayatollah Mohammad Taqi al-Modarresi - Muslim: Grand Ayatollah Sheikh Basheer Hussain al Najafi (represented by Sheikh Naziyah Razzaq Jaafar, Special advisor of Grand Ayatollah) - Muslim: Sheikh Omar Abboud - Anglican: Most Revd and Right Hon Justin Welby, Archbishop of CanterburyA number of faith leaders spoke at the event and video messages were givenby His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and by Grand AyatollahSheikh Basheer Hussain al Najafi who could not attend the ceremony but areequally committed to eradicating modern slavery and human trafficking.Videos of the event are available on:http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7391151-faith-leaders-eradicate-slavery/ as well as on the GFN Website: http://www.globalfreedomnetwork.orgAs one of the founding partners of the Global Freedom Network, the WalkFree Foundation's Andrew Forrest, witnessed the historic event and calledfor international organisations and business leaders to join with faithleaders in the fight against modern slavery.This is the first time in history that the leaders of the ChristianCatholic, Anglican and Orthodox, as well as Buddhist, Hindu, Jewish andMuslim faiths have come together to jointly declare one common endeavouragainst slavery.Joint Declaration of Religious Leaders against Modern Slavery"We, the undersigned, are gathered here today for a historic initiative toinspire spiritual and practical action by all global faiths and people ofgood will everywhere to eradicate modern slavery across the world by 2020and for all time.In the eyes of God*, each human being is a free person, whether girl, boy,woman or man, and is destined to exist for the good of all in equality andfraternity. Modern slavery, in terms of human trafficking, forced labourand prostitution, organ trafficking, and any relationship that fails torespect the fundamental conviction that all people are equal and have thesame freedom and dignity, is a crime against humanity.We pledge ourselves here today to do all in our power, within our faithcommunities and beyond, to work together for the freedom of all those whoare enslaved and trafficked so that their future may be restored. Today wehave the opportunity, awareness, wisdom, innovation and technology toachieve this human and moral imperative."*The Grand Imam of Al Azhar uses the word "religions"For more information please visit: http://www.globalfreedomnetwork.orgProfessional images and videos are provided free of charge on the GFNwebsite: http://www.globalfreedomnetwork.org and onhttp://www.multivu.com/players/English/7391151-faith-leaders-eradicate-slavery/Please also visit our social media channels: Twitter @gfn2020 (#EndSlavery)About modern slaveryModern slavery is the systematic deprivation of a person's liberty, andabuse of his or her body, for example through mutilation or organ removal,for the purposes of personal or commercial exploitation. According to the2014 Global Slavery Index released by GFN's member partner Walk FreeFoundation, almost 36 million people are currently trapped in modernslavery. These are people who have lost their freedom and are beingexploited for personal or commercial gain. According to the InternationalLabour Organization the total profits obtained from the use of forcedlabour in the private economy worldwide amount to US$150 billion per year.The Global Freedom NetworkThe Global Freedom Network is a faith-based global network with a visionand purpose to eradicate modern slavery and human trafficking throughoutour world and for all time. It was launched on 17 March 2014 at theVatican. The Memorandum of Agreement and Joint Statement establishing theGlobal Freedom Network had signatories from the Casina Pio IV, LambethPalace, Al Azhar Mosque and Walk Free Foundation.The Global Freedom Network has outlined six fields of action for achievingits vision. These include mobilising faith based communities, supply chainproofing to promote ethical purchasing arrangements, improving the care forvictims and survivors, advocating for law reforms and enforcement,facilitating and promoting education and awareness, and securing sizeablefunds in order to carry out its task.Press contactCNC - Communications & Network ConsultingMax Hohenbergmax.hohenberg@cnc-communications.com+49 172 899 6264Marie von Bismarck marie.bismarck@cnc-communications.com + 49 172 853 2927---------------------------------02.12.2014 Dissemination of a Corporate News, transmitted by DGAP - aservice of EQS Group AG.The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.The DGAP Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements,Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases.Media archive at http://www.dgap-medientreff.de and http://www.dgap.de---------------------------------301531 02.12.2014

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Global Freedom Network: World faith leaders signed Declaration to eradicate modern slavery

Freedom Award Winners Participate In Public Forum

DOWNTOWN MEMPHIS, Tenn. (FOX13) - The 2014 Freedom Awards are being held Tuesday night at the Cannon Center. Tuesday morning, the four honorees participated in a public forum at the Temple of Deliverance Church.

The most familiar face in the room likely was former NBC anchorman, Tom Brokaw, who is to receive the Freedom Award for lifetime achievement. The others, not so familiar, but the words they spoke may last a lifetime.

Robert Parris Moses is an early Civil Rights Leader from New York, who risked his life to bring the vote to folks he had never met in Mississippi.

Moses faced relentless violence and intimidation as she traveled to the counties in Mississippi to educate and register voters. He was beaten and arrested in Amite County, in 1965. Only one African American was registered to vote. And a life time later, he is still fighting for the rights of others.

The stop and frisk laws are an affront to the presumption of innocence and the reason is this. The presumption of innocence is not just the legal concept in common sense terms it depends on generosity of spirit which sees the best not the worst in any stranger, says Robert Parris Moses.

Frank Robinson traveled from his hometown in California to a brave new world of baseball.

At an early age he knew he would face obstacles in life but refused to allow the words and actions of others to define him. Instead he spoke out on racial inequality and channeled his frustrations to improve his playing abilities.

And of all the great people Robinson met in his long and distinguished career in major league baseball, his hero was to be found back home in California.

Your best role model is your parents, and they are great role models. My mother, I grew up in a single parent home and did not let that stand in my way. I hear all the time you need a father in the home. Absolutely, if possible, But, it's not fully necessary for you to achieve what you want to in life says Robinson.

Following the public forum, the recipients of the Freedom Awards were scheduled to be at the Cook Convention Center, the Cannon Center, for the 6:30 awards ceremony, followed by dinner at the Cook Convention Center.

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Freedom Award Winners Participate In Public Forum

Freedom House to host 15th annual Distinguished Citizens award banquet

Freedom House in Clinton will host the 15th Distinguished Citizens Award Banquet on Dec. 8 at Fiddlers Elbow Country Club in Bedminster.

Proceeds from the event will benefit the Family Save-A-Life Scholarship Program, which supplements every residents stay at Freedom House and The Family Afterward and provides a full scholarship for indigent clients.

This years banquet will honor former Freedom House CEO Frederick T. Reihl. Reihl was appointed to the position of Executive Director of Freedom House in November 1990 and became Freedom Houses first CEO in 1997. Fred has been an indispensable leader, overseeing Freedom Houses major developments, including the establishment of the Foundation and the introduction of The Family Afterward Program, a unique program that seeks to reunify recovering women with their children and families.

It has been a great honor to work with an organization that is at the forefront of combating the pressing drug and alcohol issues in New Jersey, Reihl said. I am confident that Freedom House will continue to do great work and serve as a critical resource for many more decades to come.

In addition to honoring Fred, parallel goals of the evening are to highlight the successes of recent Freedom House graduates and, in particular this year, to raise awareness of the growing heroin problem in the state, especially in suburban areas.

Donna DeStefano, a New Jersey mother devastated by her daughters own heroin addiction in 2010, will be the keynote speaker. DeStefano was featured in the video Mom Knows Best: A Crucial Message for Parents, produced by Partnership for a Drug-Free NJ in cooperation with the Governors Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse and the NJ Department of Human Services. Lead sponsors of the event include Chubb & Son Insurance, Preferred Concepts, LLC, Commercial Mortgage Capital, KRE Group, Navigators Management Company, Inc., The Cavanaugh Family Foundation, and C.R. Bard, Inc.

Reihl has been celebrated for his impact both at Freedom House and on addiction services in the State of New Jersey. Reihl was appointed by Governor Whitman as the first member of the State of NJ New Alcohol and Drug Counselors Licensing Committee. He is a faculty member of The Rutgers Summer School of Alcohol Studies. In 2003, Reihl was honored by Sunrise House for his outstanding contribution to the field. In 2004, he was one of the first counselors to become a Licensed Clinical Alcohol and Drug Counselor in New Jersey.

Prior to his appointment at Freedom House, Reihl served as Director of a detox center run by the Bergen County Department of Health. Previously, he was employed as Director of Addiction Services for King James Care Centers. Reihl developed and administrated an outpatient program for a major hospital, served as Executive Director of an affiliate office of the National Council on Alcoholism, created an alcohol detoxification unit for the City of Newark and established the Law Enforcement Alcoholism Program for police officers. Reihl attended Seton Hall University, graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education. He earned a Masters Degree in Public School Administration at Newark State College (now Kean University). He has served as the Chairman of the National Halfway House Association Convention and was a member of the Board of Trustees of Little Hill Alina Lodge.

Freedom House, a New Jersey-based nonprofit statewide organization with facilities in Hunterdon, Mercer, Morris and Warren counties, is a national leader and an international model for the long term treatment of adult men and women with alcohol and drug addiction. Freedom House acts as not only a long-term and outpatient treatment center, but also serves a critical role as a halfway house, providing residents with substance abuse treatment services, as well as room and board, life skills training, and job search assistance. Celebrating its 28th anniversary, Freedom House was the first halfway house in New Jersey to achieve national accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF), and in 2005 became the first halfway house in New Jersey to be accredited as a Drug Court Treatment Facility. Forty-five percent of those admitted graduate from Freedom House, and of those forty-five percent 90 percent remain drug-free (Freedom House Annual Survey), a remarkable success rate. The Freedom House model, a highly disciplined, highly structured program, has been replicated in Denmark, Sweden, Romania, and South Africa.

Past Recipients of this Award

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Freedom House to host 15th annual Distinguished Citizens award banquet