Iloilo Freedom Ride for a human trafficking free Philippines

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by Rappler.com Posted on 04/24/2013 12:58 PM |Updated 04/24/2013 12:59 PM

FREEDOM WARRIORS. Cyclists joined the ride to make the Philippines human trafficking free. Dakila photo

Around 500 cyclists gathered at the Freedom Ride for a Human Trafficking Free Philippines at the Iloilo Provincial Capitol last Saturday, April 20. Dubbed as one of the biggest and broadest bike tour ever held in Panay, the campaign mobilized cyclists, students, NGOs, artists, sports and lifestyle enthusiasts, government officials and even participants coming from Manila and nearby provinces like Aklan.

The Freedom Ride is organized by the artist collective, Dakila, a group creatively inspiring involvement in social transformation, in partnership with the Manila Fixed Gear, the Freedom from Debt Coalition Iloilo, Partido ng Manggagawa, and the Iloilo Folding Bike Riders (I-Fold) with the support of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the Department of Justice Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (DOJ-IACAT) and the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC).

A lot of people in the provinces fall prey to human trafficking because of the lack of information given to them. Iloilo is one of the more vulnerable provinces for labor trafficking especially with the number of Overseas Filipino Workers and seafarers coming from the province. Its proximity to Boracay and other tourist spots also makes Iloilo a transit area for sex trafficking. We are glad that the local government, NGOs, the cycling groups, artists and advocates here in Iloilo have embraced the call to be Freedom Warriors. We hope that through the Freedom Ride more people here in Iloilo will learn more about human trafficking and contribute in the movement to stop modern day slavery, said Karen Bermejo, co-organizer and head of the Dakila Iloilo Collective.

Every year around 300,000 to 400,000 Filipinos fall prey to human trafficking in our own country and abroad.The Philippines remains a source, transport and destination area for human trafficking. In 2010, the Philippines was in danger of being downgraded to a Tier 3 status in the US Department of State human trafficking index for a poor performance in the fight against human trafficking and for being in the Tier 2-watchlist (a list that included countries having the most number of human trafficking victims and with less government efforts to stop forms of human trafficking) for two consecutive years. This could have caused the withdrawal of some $700 million in non-humanitarian, non-trade related aid including grants from the millennium challenge program. As a result of intensified efforts, the countrys status was upgraded a notch higher to Tier 2 in 2011 and maintained the status in 2012. Tier 2 countries are those, which have shown significant efforts to fight human trafficking but have yet to fully comply with standards set by the United States' Global Trafficking in Persons (GTIP) Report.

READ: Trafficking in Persons report: PH still under Tier 2

According to Dakila President, Lourd de Veyra, Not only are we a country with 10 million of our countrymen working abroad and where disasters, armed conflict and poverty force most of us to find better opportunities and safer living space elsewhere, but also a society where the luster of city life and promise of fast cash continue to attract people from the rural communities. As a result, more people are becoming vulnerable to human trafficking. The involvement and support of the countrys fast growing cycling community in the Freedom Rides galvanizes the use of road signs to help simplify the concept of the campaign and make it easier for the public to understand.

The Freedom Ride served as the launch of the Stop, Look, and Listen campaign of Dakila in Iloilo to intensify efforts to stop human trafficking in the Philippines. The campaign kicked off last March 9 through the first Freedom Ride in Manila led by His Excellency Ambassador Ton Boon von Ochssee and Mrs. Martine Boon von Ochssee of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, H.E. Josef Rychtar of the Czech Embassy, and H.E. Guy Ledoux of the European Union, Department of Justice Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (DOJ-IACAT) Chief Senior State Prosecutor Jonathan Lledo and participated by members of the diplomatic community; top officials of Dutch Corporations, officials of the Department of Social Welfare and Development, Bureau of Immigrations, Office of the Executive Secretary of the Office of the President, Miss Earth winners, and celebrities like Reema Chanco and Albert Martinez.

The next Freedom Ride will happen on April 27, 2013 (Saturday) in Zamboanga City. Assembly will be at Plaza del Pilar at 3:30pm.

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Iloilo Freedom Ride for a human trafficking free Philippines

ESGR Announces Semifinalists for 2013 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award

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ARLINGTON, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), a Department of Defense operational committee, announced that 138 employers have been selected as semifinalists for the 2013 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award. The Freedom Award is the DoDs highest honor for employers that provide extraordinary support to their Guard and Reserve employees. This years semifinalists stood out among 2,899 employers nominated by a Guard or Reserve employee.

More than one million Americans serve in the National Guard and Reserve, playing a critical role in both combat and humanitarian missions. The Freedom Award provides these service members with an opportunity to recognize civilian employers that go above and beyond in supporting their service. Employers selected as semifinalists assist Guard and Reserve employees through formal and informal initiatives, including setting veteran hiring goals, establishing military employee liaisons, providing childcare for deployed employees, arranging care package drives, and granting additional leave for military employees and family members before and after deployments.

"Freedom Award semifinalists stand out for their extraordinary support and steadfast commitment to our nation's Citizen Warriors," said ESGR Executive Director Ronald G. Young. "National Guard and Reserve members show tremendous resolve overseas and during times of domestic crises. Our nation owes a special debt of gratitude to employers enabling these brave men and women to serve."

ESGR will announce the 2013 Freedom Award finalists next month after a review board comprised of military and civilian leaders selects the 30 most supportive employers. Up to 15 award recipients will be announced early this summer and honored in Washington, D.C. in September at the 18th annual Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award ceremony.

A complete list of Freedom Award semifinalists from each state is available at http://www.FreedomAward.mil under the Media Tab in the Press Releases section.

About ESGR and the Freedom Award:

The Freedom Award was instituted in 1996 under the auspices of ESGR to recognize exceptional support from the employer community. In the years since, 175 employers have been honored with the award. ESGR develops and maintains employer support for Guard and Reserve service. ESGR advocates relevant initiatives, recognizes outstanding support, increases awareness of applicable laws, and resolves conflict between service members and employers. Paramount to ESGRs mission is encouraging employment of Guardsmen and Reservists who bring integrity, global perspective and proven leadership to the civilian workforce.

For questions or interviews regarding the Freedom Award, please contact Beth Sherman, ESGR Public Affairs, at 571-372-0705 or by email atESGR-PA@osd.mil.

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ESGR Announces Semifinalists for 2013 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award

Good News for Freedom Mortgage Corporation

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MOUNT LAUREL, N.J., April 24, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Freedom Mortgage Corporation, a privately held mortgage lender, announces reaching a company milestone. The company has been listed the #3 issuer of Government National Mortgage Association (GNMA) loans nation-wide by Bank of New York Origination for January, February and March of 2013. In December of 2012 Freedom Mortgage was listed #5.

"The reports are indicative of a trend showing our business is on target. We are proud of the accomplishments of the team and look forward to receiving April's report," states Stan Middleman, President and CEO of Freedom Mortgage.

Freedom Mortgage Corporation, a full service, privately held, mortgage lender of VA, FHA and Conventional Loans licensed in all 50 states, has been helping homeowners since 1990. Headquartered in Mount Laurel, NJ, Freedom Mortgage is a top GNMA issuer with a $20+ billion portfolio and 6 operation centers nationwide. The company's unprecedented and continuing growth brings protecting customer privacy and regulatory affairs to the forefront with Freedom Mortgage exceeding compliance standards imposed by various regulatory agencies. Freedom Mortgage is proud to maintain an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and is a member of both the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) and the National Association of Mortgage Brokers (NAMB).

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Good News for Freedom Mortgage Corporation

Freedom Bank Celebrates 16th Consecutive Quarterly Profit

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FAIRFAX, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Freedom Bank of Virginia (Bank) (Bulletin Board:FDVA.OB) earned a Net profit before taxes of $300,596 for the quarter ending March 31, 2013, its sixteenth consecutive quarterly profit. Net profit at March 31, 2012 was $308,772. Improving asset quality, allowed less to be put in the Provision for loan losses, which helped offset increased salary expense from hiring additional lenders versus the prior year.

The Bank generated significant loan growth over the trailing twelve months. Gross loans receivable increased to $183,295,852, which was up 18.5% from $154,468,808 at March 31, 2012. According to CEO Craig Underhill, The Bank significantly increased the size of its lending staff in the second half of 2012 and is realizing significant loan growth from that investment. In addition to the staff hired in 2012, the Bank hired two more experienced commercial lenders in the first quarter of 2013 to continue to accelerate loan growth.

Total assets increased 10.4% to $239,780,059 up from $217,266,197 at March 31, 2012. Investment securities increased $8,154,889 (32.2%) to $33,485,453 and Bank Owned Life Insurance increased $1,058,422 (105.8%) during the same period, which along with loan growth increased these assets of the Bank by $37,860,355 (20.8%) since March 31, 2012. The growth in assets was partially funded by $20,670,596 (10.7%) growth in deposits. The Bank also decreased low yielding Federal Funds by $17,971,000 (-67.1%) to fund the growth of higher yielding assets compared with March 31, 2012.

Capital continues to be strong, growing $1,558,970 (6.5%) over the same period in the prior year to $25,555,169. Regulatory Capital minimums for Tier 1 Leverage Ratio, Risk Based Capital Tier 1, and Risk Based Capital Tier 2 were 5.0%, 6.0% and 10.0% respectively, to be considered well capitalized. At March 31, 2013 the ratios for the Bank were 10.59%, 13.28 % and 14.49% respectively, all in the well capitalized category. The Bank continues its tradition of maintaining a strong capital base to serve the needs of its customers and stockholders.

About Freedom Bank

Freedom Bank is a community-oriented, locally-owned bank with locations in Fairfax and Vienna, Virginia. For information about Freedom Banks deposit and loan services, visit http://www.freedombankva.com.

This release contains forward-looking statements, including our expectations with respect to future events that are subject to various risks and uncertainties. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from management's projections, forecasts, estimates and expectations include: fluctuation in market rates of interest and loan and deposit pricing, adverse changes in the overall national economy as well as adverse economic conditions in our specific market areas, maintenance and development of well-established and valued client relationships and referral source relationships, and acquisition or loss of key production personnel. Other risks that can affect the Bank are detailed from time to time in our quarterly and annual reports filed with the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. We caution readers that the list of factors above is not exclusive. The forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this release, and we may not undertake steps to update the forward-looking statements to reflect the impact of any circumstances or events that arise after the date the forward-looking statements are made. In addition, our past results of operations are not necessarily indicative of future performance.

Investment securities available for sale, at fair value

Total Deposits

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Freedom Bank Celebrates 16th Consecutive Quarterly Profit

Expelled-No Intelligence Allowed, (The origin of social-ism work, and eugenics) – Video

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Expelled-No Intelligence Allowed, (The origin of social-ism work, and eugenics)
This is how arrogant and authoritarian the new liberals are. They don #39;t REALLY believe in free speech for everyone, they just use the idea to shove their ide...

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Expelled-No Intelligence Allowed, (The origin of social-ism work, and eugenics) - Video

Injustice Gods Among Us Gameplay Walkthrough Part 6 – Let’s Play Series / Playthrough Cyborg – Video

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Injustice Gods Among Us Gameplay Walkthrough Part 6 - Let #39;s Play Series / Playthrough Cyborg
Injustice Gods Among Us,Injustice Gods Among Us Gameplay,Injustice Gods Among Us Walkthrough part 1,Injustice Gods Among Us All super moves,Injustice Gods Am...

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Injustice Gods Among Us Gameplay Walkthrough Part 6 - Let's Play Series / Playthrough Cyborg - Video

Beware the Unstoppable Cyborg Turtle

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We've turned insects into cyborgs using nerve stimulation, and that's pretty cool. But insects aren't scary. You know what's scary? Turtles. Turtles are scary. Researchers atKAIST in South Korea have managed to hack a live turtle, adding a noninvasive steering system that they've successfully used to get the animal to follow an arbitrary winding path. Yes, this means that we have cyborg turtles now. Everybody very slowly panic.

The concept here is so absurdly simple that I can't believe we all don't have remote control pets already: the turtles (they'rered-eared sliders) get an attachment to their shells consisting of a half-cylinder that can be remotely rotated with a servo. By rotating the half-cylinder around to present the turtle with what looks like an obstacle on one side or another, the turtle can be encouraged to move towards whatever direction appears to be obstacle-free. And it totally works:

This turtle has not been conditioned or trained in any way; the cybernetic control system is just tapping right into the turtle'sinnate instinctive behavior of obstacle avoidance, allowing voluntary control of the turtle. The word "voluntary" means that the turtle isn't being forced to go in any particular direction: it's just deciding to head where it doesn't see any obstacles.

So, er, what's so great about turtles? Well, they can move around in land and water, and they're powered entirely by whatever plants happen to be around, which is more than can be said for any robot currently in existence. As the researchers put it: "the system is suitable for application in tasks traditionally carried out by mobile robots, such as surveillance and reconnaissance, exploration and navigation, as well as other missions dangerous for humans." The current hardware is a little bit clunky, but it's not hard to imagine that eventually, the turtles could end up with (say) a pair of fancy LCD sunglasses that can duplicate the appearance of obstacles to achieve the same effect. And there's potential for using this same method on more than turtles:

In future works, we will study controlled behavior in more detail and also apply this framework to other animals that have excellent vision. Hawks, cats, lizards and carp are good candidates. They are also big and strong enough to carry larger devices. Through our on-going research, we already found that the same framework can be employed to control fish.

This is how it begins. First turtles. Then fish. Then, THE WORLD!

You can find the entire paper available for free over on PLOS One.

Via [ Discover ]

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Beware the Unstoppable Cyborg Turtle

New Mix: Cyborg Love, Heartbreak And A Mystery

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Clockwise from upper left: Aesop Rock and Kimya Dawson of The Uncluded, guitarist William Tyler, singer Cassandra Jenkins and Laura Marling

On this week's All Songs Considered, hosts Bob Boilen and Robin Hilton settle into the new NPR Music offices and discover that it comes with their very own butler. After bumbling around in the studio, they also manage to figure out all the new gear and share some great new music.

Things kick off with a strange tale from the playful pop group Sonny and the Sunsets about a man who falls in love with a cyborg. Then the fabulously quirky singer and guitarist artist Kimya Dawson of the Moldy Peaches and hip-hop producer and rapper Aesop Rock collaborate on a surprising new project they call The Uncluded.

Also on the show: A richly layered cut from the remarkable guitarist William Tyler; the smoky voice of newcomer Cassandra Jenkins; a long-overdue new album from the strangely alluring rock group Snowden; and British singer-songwriter Laura Marling has a heartbreaking new song called "Where Can I Go."

Keep listening: At the end of the show Bob and Robin play an audio clue that adds to a growing mystery on the web pointing to a new album from ... an unnamed band. Very mysterious.

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New Mix: Cyborg Love, Heartbreak And A Mystery

Crime Against Women: Alcohol, drinking banned on Goa Beaches

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Panaji, April 24: In a move to curb crime against women and keep the beaches in the state clean, Goa Tourism department asked Indian Reserve Battalion (IRB) to restrict people with alcohol or glass bottles on beaches in Goa.

According to sources, alcohol on Goa beaches will be banned soon. Times of India quoted a senior tourism department official as saying, "Implementation of this (ban on alcohol on Goa beaches) has begun."

"To prevent eve teasing incidents on Goan beaches we have taken this step," added the official who also informed that even locals would not be allowed to enter into the beaches with alcohol.

"Domestic tourists coming to Goa, buy liquor in bulk from wholesale stores and enter beaches with snacks which is one of the reasons for littering on beaches. This will also help to keep beaches clean," the official was quoted as saying.

The daily report also mentioned that the state tourism department has been trying to prevent tourists drinking on beaches and the breaking of bottles on beach by drunken tourists with the implementation of the ban.

According to sources, authorities instructed IRB to request people initially not to consume liquor on beaches. If the people refuse then IRB officers would be allowed to take the bottles away from the tourists.

OneIndia News

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Crime Against Women: Alcohol, drinking banned on Goa Beaches

Glass liquor bottles to be banned on Goa beaches

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Panaji, April 24 (IANS) Drinking an ice-cold beer from that frosted green pint glass bottle may soon be a crime on Goa's beaches, a senior police officer said Wednesday.

Goa Director General of Police Kishen Kumar told IANS that drinking from glass bottles on beaches would no longer be tolerated in Goa.

"Would you like to drink in the open? What kind of human beings like to drink on beaches?" Kishen Kumar asked.

The ban follows lobbying by Calangute legislator Michael Lobo, who has been campaigning against the nuisance caused by glass shards scattered on the state's beaches.

"I took up the issue with the tourism department and the police. So many tourists complain about injuries caused by broken glass pieces of beer and liquor bottles on the beaches," Lobo said, advocating ban on glass liquor bottles on the state's beaches.

The tourism department has also asked the police to increase patrolling to check tourists from breaking glass bottles in beach areas.

Goa attracts over 2.6 million tourists annually. The surf, sun and cheap liquor are some of the main draws of the state, which is one of the top beach tourism destinations in the country.

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Glass liquor bottles to be banned on Goa beaches

Goa bans drinking alcohol on beaches

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Goa government has banned drinking liquor on beaches in a bid to curb littering and nuisance caused to women tourists.

However, one can continue to enjoy drinks at designated places like beach shacks, Goa Tourism Director Nikhil Desai told PTI.

"The ban has been imposed under Goa Tourist Places (Protection and Maintenance) Act which gives the right to the state government to ban things which create nuisance in the tourism zones. The act envisages to protect and maintain the tourist places from deterioration and erosion and preserve the tourism potential", he said.

India Reserve Battalion (IRB), a wing of Goa Police, manning the law and order on beaches, is asked to implement the order with immediate effect. "The violation will attract arrest", Desai added.

Desai clarified that the prohibition order is not applicable to drinking in licensed shacks or any other places where retail sale of liquor is allowed.

The ban is the fallout of mounting complaints by tourists getting injured by broken bottles littering beaches and of nuisance against women tourists by drunk hoodlums loitering beaches.

A favoured tourist destination, Goa attracts around 2.4 million tourists annually, chunk of whom are domestic.

PTI

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Goa bans drinking alcohol on beaches

Beaches reopen after slurry spill

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24 April 2013 Last updated at 09:59 ET

Three beaches at a Ceredigion seaside resort have reopened after 15,000 litres of slurry leaked from a burst tank on a farm.

Traeth y Dolau, Traeth yr Harbwr and Traethgwyn in New Quay were closed on Tuesday afternoon following the leak.

Some slurry made its way into a stream leading to the sea and the beaches were cordoned off as a precaution.

But Natural Resources Wales said the spill would have no long-term effects on the environment.

It said most of the slurry has been contained on the farm and was being put in tankers.

A fire crew and an environmental protection unit from Llanelli were sent to the scene following the alert on Tuesday.

"Our officers are monitoring the situation at New Quay very closely and are continuing to work with the farmer to prevent any further slurry entering the stream and the sea," said a Natural Resources Wales spokesperson.

We're not expecting any long-term consequences for the environment, the beaches or the water bathing quality in the area

"Much of the slurry dispersed with the tide overnight, but we'll continue to take water samples daily and share the information with Ceredigion County Council until we are sure that the pollution has cleared and the water quality has recovered."

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Beaches reopen after slurry spill

MORSON International Aerospace Engineering – meet agent Nosrom, Salford Uni – Video

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MORSON International Aerospace Engineering - meet agent Nosrom, Salford Uni
http://www.salford.ac.uk/business-school/business-management-courses This video -- Agent NOSROM - is the winner of the MORSON student competition for Salford...

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MORSON International Aerospace Engineering - meet agent Nosrom, Salford Uni - Video