Virginia Stacey
USA
World Wide Strategies Inc.
After being laid off from her job with Idaho Dept. of Labor, Virginia established an organization helping workers throughout the world with employment rights.
IdahoStatesman.com article September 06, 2008.
Larry Polsky
Boise, Idaho.

SMOKH (THE SOVEREIGN MEDICAL ORDER OF THE KNIGHTS HOSPITALLER http://smokh.org/ ) has been working at the grassroots since 1050 A.D. to bring change to the world's community for better health care, without drugs, without high-tech gear and machinery. SMOKH has been working to improve governments' policies towards marginalized people and others so neglected.

SMOKH was recently given special recognition by the Holy See for its efforts to help the poor and needy with natural medicine. ( http://smokh.org/holysee.html ). The Knights Hospitaller is the oldest Christian, medical charity in the world, having its roots in Jerusalem. SMOKH doctors and its leader, Grand Master Charles McWilliams, have been a leading voice in helping the Ecuadorian government fully recognize natural medicine, and its leading members to be registered by Conesup (Conseuo Nacional de Educacion Superior) as Doctors of Natural Medicine. SMOKH is a registered medical charity by the Ecuadorian Congress ( http://smokh.org/ecuador.html ).

SMOKH and its leader have allowed natural medicine to be recognized by the Nevis Island government and having established natural medicine as a household world in the Leeward Islands of the Caribbean (St. Kitts/Nevis, Antigua, St. Marteen, Monserat, Anguilla, St. Thomas/St. Croix, British Virgin Islands, Dominica). SMOKH has leading members in its organization who continually educate and disseminate the principals of natural medicine throughout the world community, participating in world congresses.

Professor Charles McWilliams
Nominee's Country: Nevis
Nominee's Organization (optional): Soverign Medical Order of the Knights Hospatillar
Why This Person Should Be Recognized: Prof. McWilliams is the Grand Master of the Order and has been instrumental in promoting natural medicine in countries around the world.
Link(s) for More Info: www.smokh.org
Your Name (optional): Dr. Fred Lowry Jr
You Location (optional):Statesville NC USA

by Dr. Marwen Z. Saab.Ph.D.,DNM. Doctor of Naturopathy and Holistic Nutritionist
Kaya Noord Jongbloed 17.Curacaao Neth. Antilles.

Prof Dr. Charles MacWilliam
Nominee's Country: Nevis
Nominee's Organization (optional): Soverign Medical Order of the Knights Hospatillar and the World Organization of Natural Medical Practitioners.
Why This Person Should Be Recognized: Prof. McWilliams is the Grand Master of the Order and has been instrumental in promoting natural medicine in countries around the world.
SMOKH, through its secular WORLD ORGANIZATION OF NATURAL MEDICINE, have sponsored five world congresses on natural medicine with government recognitions: Toronto Canada; Quito Ecuador; Nassau, Bahamas; Hong Kong, China; Houston, Texas.
SMOKH is the only organization in the world to advocate and fully return MONASTIC MEDICINE (the roots of western nature cure, http://smokh.org/pages_good_health/monastic.html ) back to the spiritual life of Christians and those who respect GOD, realizing spiritual care must be returned and integral to primary medical care. One of the only viable ways to bring genuine relief to millions without popular medical care or access to pharmaceuticals is to use God given medicines of nature cure while respecting if not supplementing spiritual growth of individuals as part of the healing process. Spiritual principles of all major religions respect sound conduct and moral discipline as necessary elements of proper dietary and hygiene.
Link(s) for More Info: www.smokh.org and www.wonmp.us

Your Name (optional): Dr. Marwen Z. Saab. Ph.D.,DNM.
You Location (optional):Curacao Netherlands Antilles

Patty Hall with H20 For life, which is a non-profit organization that formed in Minnesota. The organization is a resource and connection for schools across the United States to partner with a school in a developing country to help raise money for them to complete a water, hygiene or sanitation project for their school. This organization not only reaches out to those in need in developing countries but also teaches our young people in the United States about the world and teaches them to take a step in the direction of helping others.
They have a website: www.h20forlifeschools.org

Thanks
Katy Domschot
Minnesota, School teacher who has participated for the last two years in the organization and have watched my middle school teachers and students come together for a great cause. Last year we raised 11,000 for a school in Kenya and were able to see the completed project through pictures and letters.
This year we are working again with H20 for Life and are partnered up with three smaller projects for a total of 11,000 in the countries of Bolivia, Nicaragua, and Bangladesh. We have already raised 2,500 this year.

Nominee's Name: Dr. Monica Alonso
Nominee's Country: Spain
Nominee's Organization (optional): Pan American Health Organization - Washington, DC. USA
Why This Person Should Be Recognized:
This person should be recognized for her excellent achievement in public health strategies actions made across Latin America in the prevention, treatment and control of HIV/AIDS and related disease. Her perseverance, knowledge and implication demonstrated that Dr. Monica Alonso is a great professional who believe on her work and moreover she's sacrificing her personal live (by travelling around Latin America 50 % of her time and working extra hours and not being with her 2 young kids of 7 and 3 and half years old).
Link(s) for More Info: www.paho.org/English/AD/FCH/AI/bul_eng_no16_1207.htm
Your Name (optional): Rudolph Peltier
Your Organization (optional): JSI
You Location (optional): Washington, DC. USA

Nominee's Name: Olena Prykhodko
Nominee's Country: Ukraine
Nominee's Organization (optional):
Why This Person Should Be Recognized: At the age of seven, she joined a nationwide group for young women leaders, and by 11 she was demonstrating in support of Ukraine's Orange Revolution. Among her many accomplishments at a young age is forming a group called the Kharkiv Regional Council of High School Students, which was able to bring youth opinions on child welfare policies to the highest national decision-making level."
Link(s) for More Info: http://us.oneworld.net/article/357892-at-16-a-champion-democracy
Your Name (optional):
Your Organization (optional):
Your Location (optional):

Nominee's Name: Waseem Mahmood
Nominee's Country: UK
Nominee's Organization (optional): Yeh Hum Naheen Foundation
Why This Person Should Be Recognized: for organising the world's largest ever petition which was signed by over 62 million Pakistanis to pledge their opposition to terrorism
Link(s) for More Info: http://www.yehhumnaheen.org/cc.php?finalpage_os=index.php and http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/coventry_warwickshire/7559313.stm
Your Name (optional): Bill Gunyon
Your Organization (optional): OneWorld UK
You Location (optional): UK

Peace Brigades International for their work in Colombia. The organization's core are volunteers who accompany local human rights activists who have received threats, and thus creating a space for them to maintain their crucial work for human rights in a country with over 4 630 000 internal refugees.

Nominee's Name: Dr. Mandawuy Yunupingu
Nominee's Country: Australia
Nominee's Organization (optional): Yothu Yindi Foundation

Dr. Yunupingu is known in his country as the "Father of Reconciliation." He has continued to be a strong voice for his people in the Northern Territory, and indeed other Aboriginal people of Australia. He (along with his clan) has faced an oppressive former government and many other hurdles in fighting for basic rights. Dr. Yunupingu, through his unwavering message and spirit, has educated mainstream Australia through his music (Yothu Yindi), his organization (the Yothu Yindi Foundation), numerous interviews and lectures. He is a gentle and patient soul who has only wanted to see his dream of equal rights for his people realized. Dr. Yunupingu began as the principal in a small school in Yirrkala and became the first Aboriginal person in Arnhem Land to receive a university degree, among other notable achievements. He was instrumental in the two-way learning process between white and black people, and together with other clan members, set up the Yothu Yindi Foundation. Through the YYF, the annual Garma Festival was born as well as the newest program, the Healing Place. There are a few other cultural projects his organization conducts to mentor young people as well as continue to educate the mainstream population. His perseverance has paid off and there is more awareness than ever of the broken health care and education system for Aboriginal people, and several initiatives have recently been created to deal with this situation. Dr. Yunupingu has inspired me personally and I have begun a project that will assist in getting proceeds to his organization. He is not well at the moment and it meant a lot to me to get this entry submitted.

Link(s) for More Info: http://www.healingplace.com.au/moreinfo.html and http://www.yothuyindi.com/ (the Garma site can be reached from this link).

Nominee's Name: Emmanuel Tasur
Nominee's Country: Kenya
Why This Person Should Be Recognized: At a young age, Emmanuel chose to go against the village norm and pursue an education instead of becoming a warrior. He now dedicates his life to building schools in his area and giving children the opportunity to learn and potentially change their futures.
Link(s) for More Info: http://news.newamericamedia.org/news/view_article.html?article_id=99eb714d541ce69610aea322d71f06ad

Janny Beekman
The Netherlands
Stichting Nahid

Janny Beekman has had her 65th birthday but she is putting more effort than ever in the Nahid house in Kabul, which gives widows and children shelter. She also motivates other people to help, so that they have made a start for small businesses there. This gives people income so that they can have a living.

www.nahid.nl

Nominee's Name: Mrs. Adenike Olufunmilayo Esiet
Nominee's Country: Nigeria
Nominee's Organization (optional):Action Health Incorporated
Why This Person Should Be Recognized: Catalying the Successful Implementation of the National Family Life and HIV Education Curriculum in Nigeria despite all odds. this curriculum has been accepted by the all state ministries of education and it is being implemented in schools. Millions of Nigeria young persons now have access to information.
Link(s) for More Info:info@actionhealthinc.org
Your Name (optional):
Your Organization (optional):
You Location (optional):

Carlo Tortora-Brayda di Belvedere
Ethiopia
Alchemy World
Carlo, born of Italian and Ethiopian parentage grew up knowing that he had to work to improve the lives of those living in extreme poverty. He established Alchemy World and social entrepreneurship schools to help youth create and run their own small to mid-sized businesses and have the capacity to employ others. He has now dedicated his life to providing opportunity to these youth to dream larger than they ever thought possible.
http://www.alchemyworld.org

Stephanie MacGregor
Canada

Nominee's Name: Patricia Smith Melton
Nominee's Country: USA
Nominee's Organization (optional): Peace X Peace
Why This Person Should Be Recognized: Like so many others, Patricia Smith Melton’s world was changed by September 11, 2001. A poet and playwright by training, she wondered how she could put her expertise to work for peace. During the next nine months as America prepared for war, Patricia documented the peacebuilding work of women on the ground on five continents. These stories became the award-winning documentary, Peace by Peace: Women on the Frontlines. The film was broadcast on more than 300 PBS television stations across the U.S. and in 15 other nations.

The inspiring stories of the women Patricia met while filming, and decades of experience with communication and information technologies, became the foundation on which she built Peace X Peace (www.peacexpeace.org). The internet-based Peace X Peace Global Network invites women everywhere, regardless of status, language, religion, race, or nationality, into a secure space where they communicate directly and personally, form lasting relationships, and take action together for peace. Now, with new technologies like instant messaging, mobile web pages, online translations, audio/video file sharing, and blogs, Peace X Peace is opening the world for women who only yesterday were confined by four walls.

Patricia provided patient capital for the organization over six years as it grows to become self-sustaining. In that time, Peace X Peace has received numerous awards. Most recently we won the 2007 ePhilanthropy Foundation's Best Community Building/Activism Award, in a field that included Oxfam, the Humane Society, and the American Cancer Society. And in 2008, Peace X Peace won the Technology Innovation Award from NPower Greater DC and Accenture.

"We are citizens from many nations, from cultures with long rich histories and cultures with short wild histories. We have different religious and non-religious beliefs; our nations are governed by different political systems; we have different styles of personal interaction and communication," Patricia once wrote. "Yet we contribute, by our efforts to understand and honor each other, to the deep creativity that can keep our planet alive. We are interdependent, whether we recognize it or not."

Patricia’s latest project, Sixty Years, Sixty Voices: Israeli and Palestinian Women (www.60voices.org), includes a book and an interactive website highlighting the lives of 30 Palestinian and 30 Israeli women from every walk of life and illuminates each woman’s deepest feelings, visions, and hopes for peace along with practical approaches they use every day to make peace a reality in their lives. A natural progression from Smith Melton’s years of work in the peace process and her ability to gain the trust of women on both sides of a conflict, she created this project to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the founding of the state of Israel. The 60Voices project documents the impact of that event for the Palestinian and Israeli people and lifts up the stories of women from the region. The book will have its official US launch on November 19th.

Link(s) for More Info: http://www.peacexpeace.org/content/, http://s52574.gridserver.com/
Your Name (optional): Pat Morris
Your Organization (optional): Peace X Peace
You Location (optional): Washington, DC

Nominee's Name:Francisco Soberon

Nominee's Country: Peru

Nominee's Organization (optional):Asociación Pro Derechos Humanos (APRODEH)

Why This Person Should Be Recognized:APRODEH has been the driving force behind the current trial of former Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori for alleged crimes against humanity during his 1990-2000 reign. This trial marks the first time a former head of state has been extradited to his own country to face justice for human rights violations. APRODEH supplied the attorney who is representing victims' families in this case and is responsible for recent convictions of death squad leaders. In her book Speak Truth to Power, Kerry Kennedy highlighted the APRODEH founder, stating that "In the violent, vicious military and political battle that has divided his country, Soberón has been viewed with suspicion and fear by both sides. Throughout the last arduous twenty years, Soberón has never failed to report abuse, even though doing so has endangered his life." Indeed he continues to face threats from all sides. In May 2008, leading international human rights groups came to Soberón's defense when current government officials made unfounded accusations against him.

Link(s) for More Info:http://www.aprodeh.org.pe/

Your Name (optional):Erik Leaver

Your Organization (optional): Institute for Policy Studies
You Location (optional):

Nominee's Name: Martin Fisher
Nominee's Country: USA, Kenya
Nominee's Organization (optional): KickStart

Why This Person Should Be Recognized: Martin Fisher has applied his passion for improving things to the challenge of eliminating poverty in rural Africa. In collaboration with co-workers, he has invented low-cost, human-powered irrigation pumps and other simple moneymaking tools, coupled with a sustainable and replicable supply-chain model that enables subsistence farmers to use the equipment to become self-reliant entrepreneurs. This process is transforming the lives of hundreds of thousands of poor Africans by enabling them to double or triple their annual net family incomes -- his efforts have already enabled over 310,000 people to rise out of poverty.

"These poor rural farmers have one asset: a small plot of land; and one basic skill: farming. The best business they can pursue is irrigated farming," Fisher explained. "Once they employ irrigation, the farmers can grow and sell high-value crops, like fruits and vegetables. They can grow year-round and reap four or five harvests, instead of waiting for the rain to grow a staple crop once or twice a year."

Link(s) for More Info:
http://www.kickstart.org
http://web.mit.edu/invent/n-pressreleases/n-press-08LMA.html
http://web.mit.edu/invent/a-winners/a-fisher.html

Your Name (optional): Joshua Schuler
Your Organization (optional): Lemelson-MIT Program
You Location (optional): Cambridge, MA

SMITA DESHMUKH Times News Network At 26, he could have easily settled into a cushy corporate job. But treading a different path comes naturally to Deelip Mhaske. A masters in social work from Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), he left a lucrative job to plunge headlong into research. And today, his singlehanded effort has ensured livelihood for over 18 lakh poor people in Maharashtra. The Mhaske story has all the elements of grit and determination amongst young people who not only believe in change but are also willing to work towards it. A love for research made him study law and inch towards Loksatta, an NGO working in the field of education and development. That’s where Mhaske did pioneering fieldwork — travelling in drought-hit areas of Marathwada to studying the plight of landless labourers. His findings were revealing — 26 per cent of the state population comprises landless and bonded labourers who are illiterate. He found that most of these people encroach on arable land, which is around 35,000 acres. The result: most of them are arrested and their cases go on for up to 25 years. “All literacy and poverty issues are related to land. If such a huge chunk of land is lying vacant, why can’t it be legally given to these poor people who are fighting for one square meal a day, several of them committing suicide?” asks Mhaske. Eager to find a solution, he wrote to almost all top politicians, but the only one who showed genuine interest was former Finance Minister Dr Manmohan Singh. A meeting with Singh lead to a chance to meet Congress President Sonia Gandhi. “The scheduled 15-minute meeting lasted 45 minutes. Big leaders were waiting outside as Gandhi decided to take up the issue with the state Democratic Front (DF) government,” recalls Mhaske. The state government has now announced a scheme proposing 4 acres of land per family, which will benefit around 18 lakh people. Titled Swabhiman Yojana, the scheme offers 2 acres of free land and 2 acres of land via interest-free loans of 10 years. Despite this, Mhaske is cautious. “Fund allocation should be proper. I hope this policy does not remain a mere political stunt. The policy should be monitored by a core team.” While some newspapers did take notice, Mhaske’s work remains largely unnoticed. But the man is not upset with the general apathy around him. “What can you expect from people who are constantly running a hectic life in metros? But all’s not lost. There are people willing to help. It’s encouraging.”

Organisation: Foundation For Human Horizon

Nominee's Name: Deelip Mhaske

Nominee's Country: India

Nominee's Organization (optional): Foundation For Human Horizon

details: www.paybacktosociety.blogspot.com

same news appearing all time ,,,,everywhere ,,in reality its not true..its just propaganda of things which can not be validate...

Nominee's Name: Antonio Arrendel
Nominee's Country: USA
Nominee's Organization (optional): Sport in Society at Northeastern University
Why This Person Should Be Recognized: Antonio is the definition of a leader, a trailblazer, an activist and a friend. Antonio works full time as the Manager of Training and Outreach for Sport in Society's violence prevention and diverstiy programs. To particpate in just one of Antonio's trainings or to listen to one of his motivational speeches is to have your life transformed forever. He has an ability to motivate and inspire people both by presenting and by connecting. Walk down the streets of Boston and chances are every other person you meet will know Antonio. Antonio, a child of Haitian immigrants, grew up in Roxbury, MA, where stepping over a dead body on your way to school was not always uncommon. Through his love of music and his excelling at track, Antonio went on to attend Northeastern University where he became a track star. More importantly, he overcame the challenges of dyslexia to graduate with a degree in Human Services. Antonio went on to become one of the first members of Sport in Society's Athletes in Service Program, volunteering to act as a role model and mentor for Boston's urban youth. He also spend some time in the state prison system, helping to reform and educate domestic violence perpetrators. He took that passion back with him to Sport in Society, where he now dedicates himself to inspiring youth and adults to look beyond difference, to work together together for social change. The thing about Antonio is that it is not work, it is life. Literally. The man carries around training exercises, such as games about diversity and perspective, that he will bring out to the Boston streets to just engage random passersby in discussions and educational games about social justice. Perhaps the most inspiring thing, however, is that he does it all with grace, style and a smile. He might be the most well dressed man - not so much in the expensive sense, but in the unique, individual sense - with the best hat collection I've ever seen. I have yet to see him without a smile and to have him in a room is to add unsurmountable energy to the atmosphere. None of us are really sure how old he is, since it is a fact that he looks roughly ten years younger than his actual age. Antonio is an inspiration both to the youth hed educates, the adult males he mentors, his children, and his coworkers. I sincerely wish this comment box had more room and the ability to upload videos so you, too, could witness the man in action! Did I mention that someone is currently making a documentary about his life and work?
Link(s) for More Info: www.sportinsociety.org
Your Name (optional): Meghan
Your Organization (optional): Sport in Society
You Location (optional): Boston, MA, USA

I came across this nomination the other night and I would like echo all that was said about Antonio. Antonio is truly one of a kind. He has a gift for connecting with every single person with whom he comes in contact and really makes a difference in people's lives. Antonio loves to have a good time and has an unmatched level of creative thinking! He is the type of person that naturally motivates others to appreciate life and to do good things. Check out his trailer for the documentary he just completed filming:
http://www.loweroadproductions.com/pages/Romeo.htm

Fr/Dr Richard Frechette
Haiti
NPFS Notre Petit Freres and Soeurs
www.nph.org
www.friendsoftheorphans.org


As a Passionist priest, Fr. Richard Frechette ministers the spiritual health o humanity. As a general practitioner, Dr. Richard Frechette ministers the physical health of children in third world countries. He has dedicated nearly half of his life helping children who otherwise have no where to go. His selflessness is reflected in his decision to leave the most prosperous nation in the world and live and work in the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, Haiti.
Richard Frechette should be considered for the award because he makes vital contributions to the health and well-being of children and people –giving care, conform, support and hope to thousands.
As an example what He is being doing for the last 25 years:
This is an unedited original email message from Father Rick Frechette, as he reports on his emergency trip to Gonaives.
"hello to all
with much difficulty and facing raging nature in the form of winds and rains and flash floods we were able to get to gonaives to help the sisters of mother teresa who are friends of ours as of 20 years they have sent many children to our orphanage over the years and we have helped them with many medical cases
some of their patients drowned in their house and the sisters were on the roof for 3 days unable to come down
in any case we made it to Gonaives with 5 truckloads of help
mostly drinking water which is rare we went with 21,000 servings of water it is prepared like a glass of water in a small plastic bag
we brought a ton of food and dry clothes and a pump, generator and gas to pump the water out of the compound
we left last night but got caught between 2 raging rivers and spent the night in the trucks wondering what would happen to us and how we would cross but we fought our way through mud and waters today and made it to port au prince where all the bridges around our hospital are destroyed and there is massive flooding in parts of port au prince, and cabaret it is a very tragic situation
as you know our orphanage had extensive damage but no one was harmed we will be without electricity for a few months i am sure
as you know we had the effects of hurricane ike last night so even though we left gonaives it is flooded again to 3 meters as i write and by cell phone we know the sisters are back on the roof
tropical storms fay gustave, hanna and hurricane ike have displaced about 1,000,000 people in haiti due to floods from a government source i heard today
best regards your prayers are appreciated
fr rick"

We would like to vote for Fr. Frechette.
Mary Ellen and Alan DeBord
1/31/09

Nominee's Name: Dr Ashwin Naik
Nominee's Country: India
Nominee's Organization (optional): Vaatsalya Heatlhcare

Why This Person Should Be Recognized: For his contributions in making healthcare accessible and affordable in India by creating a innovative business model for private healthcare in India

Link(s) for More Info: http://www.vaatsalya.com

Nominee's Name: Losang Rabgey & Tashi Rabgey
Nominee's Country: USA (Canadian citizens, ethnically Tibetan)
Nominee's Organization (optional): Machik
Why This Person Should Be Recognized: Losang Rabgey and Tashi Rabgey, co-founders of Machik, have been doing the difficult work of building capacity for Tibetans on the plateau with a message of hope in a time of much cynicism and an uncertain future. So much of the dialogue on Tibet is on the political, Machik's focus is on strengthening communities, providing opportunities for education to enable a sustainable future for Tibetan people. In the rural Tibetan township of Chungba, students in a school that Machik supports have shown that children of subsistence farmers and nomads can excel in bilingual education. In 2008, the first ever graduating class from the Chungba Primary School swept their final exams, placing first across 53 schools. Machik has many more stories of hope and entrepreneurship.
Link(s) for More Info: www.machik.org, http://www.machik.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=107&Itemid=73
Your Name (optional): Angelica Das
Your Organization (optional): MA Candidate, International Media, School of Communication, American University
You Location (optional): Washington, DC

Nominee's Name: William McDonough
Nominee's Country: United States
Nominee's Organization (optional):
Why This Person Should Be Recognized: His work, book & philosophy. He's transforming business and the world!
William McDonough's new book, written with his colleague, the German chemist Michael Braungart, is a manifesto calling for the transformation of human industry through ecologically intelligent design. Through historical sketches on the roots of the industrial revolution; commentary on science, nature and society; descriptions of key design principles; and compelling examples of innovative products and business strategies already reshaping the marketplace, McDonough and Braungart make the case that an industrial system that "takes, makes and wastes" can become a creator of goods and services that generate ecological, social and economic value.

In addition to describing the hopeful, nature-inspired design principles that are making industry both prosperous and sustainable, the book itself is a physical symbol of the changes to come. It is printed on a synthetic 'paper,' made from plastic resins and inorganic fillers, designed to look and feel like top quality paper while also being waterproof and rugged. And the book can be easily recycled in localities with systems to collect polypropylene, like that in yogurt containers. This 'treeless' book points the way toward the day when synthetic books, like many other products, can be used, recycled, and used again without losing any material quality—in cradle-to-cradle cycles.
Link(s) for More Info: http://www.mcdonough.com/
Your Name (optional): Roshani
Your Organization (optional): OneWorld
You Location (optional):

People of Zimbabwe
They have suffered and survived for so long. Hopefully there can be a peaceful mediation between Mugabe and Tsvangirai, and things can improve socially, politically & economically!

For the Latest News and Groups Working on Zimbabwe's human rights situation, see OneWorld's Zimbabwe page: http://us.oneworld.net/places/zimbabwe

Troy Davis
He has suffered in the prison system unjustly for long enough!
http://www.troyanthonydavis.org/
He should be freed immediately and compensated for the unnecessary suffering.

Burmese freedom fighter Han Lin, who died much too young on September 26, 2008, should be awarded this honor posthumously in conjunction with Jeffrey Hellman, the young filmmaker and activist who continues Han Lin's legacy of working tirelessly to free the Burmese people and their brave, brilliant, incarcerated Nobel Peace Prize winning democracy leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, from the clutches of a brutal military regime.

Aung San Suu Kyi has been held by the regime, cut off from outside contact, for most of the time since she and her party won a national election in a landslide in 1990. She has never been able to take her rightful place as the country's leader. Yet she and her suffering compatriots are not forgotten. Burmese individuals and groups around the world continue the struggle to free her and the many other political prisoners, and indeed the entire populace, from the clutches of the murderous cabal that uses rape, torture, kidnapping and conscription of children into the military, forced labor (slavery), and the razing of entire villages as a matter of policy in keeping the people down.

Han Lin, himself a political refugee because of his own anti-junta activities, led the International Campaign for Freedom of Aung San Suu Kyi and Burma (ICFAB) -- a long name for a poor, ragtag, utterly committed group of activists, primarily Burmese exiles but also including allies from around the world -- who since 2004 have staged hunger strikes, long marches for freedom, numerous demonstrations at embassies of many countries, and meetings with diplomats in those embassies to request and demand action on behalf of Aunt San Suu Kyi and Burma. Through the tenure of Secretary-General Kofi Annan and now under Ban Ki-Moon, the United Nations continues to hear from ICFAB regularly.

Jeffrey Hellman has taken up the torch since his beloved teacher Han Lin was felled by cancer -- the only enemy that could defeat that courageous man. Jeffrey has posted scores of videos on YouTube about Burma, ICFAB, Han Lin, and ASSK, garnering thousands and thousands of viewers. Earlier this year he went to Thailand to visit Burmese refugees in camps near the Thai-Burma border, and shot amazing video interviews with them. He is finishing a film, called Honoring Home, on the life and legacy of his friend and mentor Han Lin.

It would be wonderful to see these two men -- the late 57-year-old Burmese freedom fighter Han Lin and the passionate 23-year-old U.S. American filmmaker and humanitarian Jeffrey Hellman, who is dedicating his life to the cause of freedom in a land halfway around the globe. They are two extraordinary individuals.

Han Lin's family, who continue his work as well, would be especially honored to know that their beloved husband, father, and brother is being remembered with a One World Trailblazer Award; the award would be a worthy tribute to the heroic Han Lin and a well-deserved honor for his mentee Jeffrey Hellman.

Burmese freedom fighter Han Lin, who died much too young on September 26, 2008, should be awarded this honor posthumously in conjunction with Jeffrey Hellman, the young filmmaker and activist who continues Han Lin's legacy of working tirelessly to free the Burmese people and their brave, brilliant, incarcerated Nobel Peace Prize winning democracy leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, from the clutches of a brutal military regime.

Aung San Suu Kyi has been held by the regime, cut off from outside contact, for most of the time since she and her party won a national election in a landslide in 1990. She has never been able to take her rightful place as the country's leader. Yet she and her suffering compatriots are not forgotten. Burmese individuals and groups around the world continue the struggle to free her and the many other political prisoners, and indeed the entire populace, from the clutches of the murderous cabal that uses rape, torture, kidnapping and conscription of children into the military, forced labor (slavery), and the razing of entire villages as a matter of policy in keeping the people down.

Han Lin, himself a political refugee because of his own anti-junta activities, led the International Campaign for Freedom of Aung San Suu Kyi and Burma (ICFAB) -- a long name for a poor, ragtag, utterly committed group of activists, primarily Burmese exiles but also including allies from around the world -- who since 2004 have staged hunger strikes, long marches for freedom, numerous demonstrations at embassies of many countries, and meetings with diplomats in those embassies to request and demand action on behalf of Aunt San Suu Kyi and Burma. Through the tenure of Secretary-General Kofi Annan and now under Ban Ki-Moon, the United Nations continues to hear from ICFAB regularly.

Jeffrey Hellman has taken up the torch since his beloved teacher Han Lin was felled by cancer -- the only enemy that could defeat that courageous man. Jeffrey has posted scores of videos on YouTube about Burma, ICFAB, Han Lin, and ASSK, garnering thousands and thousands of viewers. Earlier this year he went to Thailand to visit Burmese refugees in camps near the Thai-Burma border, and shot amazing video interviews with them. He is finishing a film, called Honoring Home, on the life and legacy of his friend and mentor Han Lin.

It would be wonderful to see these two men -- the late 57-year-old Burmese freedom fighter Han Lin and the passionate 23-year-old U.S. American filmmaker and humanitarian Jeffrey Hellman, who is dedicating his life to the cause of freedom in a land halfway around the globe. They are two extraordinary individuals.

Han Lin's family, who continue his work as well, would be especially honored to know that their beloved husband, father, and brother is being remembered with a One World Trailblazer Award; the award would be a worthy tribute to the heroic Han Lin and a well-deserved honor for his mentee Jeffrey Hellman.

Nominees' Name: Han Lin (posthumous) and Jeffrey Hellman
Nominee's Country: Burma/USA
Nominee's Organization (optional): International Campaign for Freedom of Aung San Suu Kyi and Burma/Honoring Home
Why These Persons Should Be Recognized: Please see entry above
Link(s) for More Info:
Your Name (optional): Maura Stephens
Your Organization (optional):
Your Location (optional): USA

ame: Ardoch Youth Foundation
Country: Australia
Why? It is a totally community-funded, non-religious grassroots not-for-profit organisation which was started 20 years ago (1988). It works as an education resource support centre and highlights 'making education a reality' as its motto! For over 20 years Ardoch has challenged: Government, business, church groups, community groups and individuals to understand that if education is the 'key' that provides us with options and choices in life it must be more than an academic exercise. Therefore role models; basic needs (ie, lunch, breakfast club items, basic stationary) are essential and should be available to all. Ardoch harnesses these resources from diverse partners and does it very effectively!

I am pleased to nominate Jayne Lytel, author of Act Early Against Autism, both for her excellent book and for her valiant defence and perseverance on behalf of her son, Leo, who has managed to move off the autism spectrum after years of research on the part of his mother.

Richard M. Owens

Andrew Kutt opened Oneness Family School, a small Montessori school in Chevy Chase, DC, at the age of 29. 20 years later, the school has grown from 6 children to 126 children, starting from ages 2 through ages 14. Now 20 years young, this school still carries forth Andrew's vision of a school where personal growth is valued as much as academic excellence, as children and families learn to appreciate and manifest appreciation of the world, its offerings and its diverse cultures. Every day, Andrew honors his teacher the late Sri Chinmoy as he strives to empower a whole new generation of learners who will become meaningful contributors in the 21st century. Andrew and his small team of teachers believe that in nurturing our students' ever expanding consciousness, every one of the Oneness students can realize their potential and come to feel and believe that the world is indeed one family. Andrew had a vision 20 years ago, and his school carries forth his inspiration of children learning to be peaceful in an unpeaceful world, and a true global citizen.

Nominee's Name:Ambassador Dr. Muhammad Shahid Amin Khan
Nominee's Country:Pakistan
Nominee's Organization (optional):International Human Rights Commission
Why This Person Should Be Recognized:He is working day night for the promoting Peace and doing alot for the mankind he been the person who should awarded and his sikls should be utilize world wide as best organizer, he must be honoured, He brings Iran and its government to meet the world demands for Peace, he working in Afganistan, Pakistan for peace and end terrorism, He always say "If on the cost of me Peace can come for mankid than I am ready to give my life".
Link(s) for More Info:www.geocities.com/ihrc_org
Your Name (optional): Farshad Haqhdadi
Your Organization (optional):World Peace Mission Organization
You Location (optional):Iran

Nominee's Name: Aby Raju and the Indian People's Workers Congress
Nominee's Country: India/USA
Nominee's Organization (optional): Indian People's Workers Congress
Link(s) for More Info: http://us.oneworld.net/article/358048-indians-peruvians-honored-human-rights-work

Nominee's Name: Singer and human rights activist Miriam Makeba, died Nov. 2008
Nominee's Country: South Africa

From her obituary in The Guardian:
Miriam Makeba, who has died aged 76, was known as Mama Africa and the Empress of African song. She was one of the most visible and outspoken opponents of South Africa's apartheid regime from the 1960s till its dismantling in the early 1990s. She was also the anti-apartheid movement's most audible spokesperson, having entered the top flight of international performers and able to sell out prestigious concert halls with a repertoire that changed little over three decades of musical evolution.

Makeba's career propelled her from township singing group to global celebrity, feted in some countries and banned from others. She was a natural and consummate performer with a dynamic vocal range and an emotional awareness that could induce the delusion of intimate contact in even the most impersonal auditorium. But her personal life was an epic tragedy of injustice, domestic upheaval, exile and torment.

Miriam "Zenzi" Makeba was born in a township suburb of Johannesburg. Her father, Caswell, was Xhosa: her mother, Christina, was Swazi. The name Zenzi (from the Xhosa Uzenzile, meaning "you have no one to blame but yourself"), was a traditional name intended to provide support through life's difficulties.

Later the family moved north to Transvaal, where Caswell worked as a clerk for Shell. Her mother was a spiritual healer who also took jobs as a housemaid. After the early death of her father, Miriam was forced to work, and for a short spell...

See http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2008/nov/11/miriam-makeba-obituary for more

In the face of violent repression, Women of Zimbabwe Arise is a cross-class, multi-ethnic human rights movement which has maintained an explicitly nonviolent, creative, bold approach to challenging the Mugabe regime.
See http://www.wozazimbabwe.org/ and articles we have run in Peacework Magazine by and about their amazing nonviolent resistance at:

#
The Power of Love Conquers the Love of Power: Women of Zimbabwe Arise
www.peaceworkmagazine.org/print/573
#
Fighting Repression with Love: The Traumatic Effects on Women who Speak Out
www.peaceworkmagazine.org/print/992

and
Zimbabwean Dissidents Unite in Prayer for Peace
http://www.peaceworkmagazine.org/zimbabwean-dissidents-unite-prayer-peace

In Peace,

Sam Diener
Co-Editor, Peacework Magazine, "Global Thought and Local Action for Nonviolent Social Change"
American Friends Service Committee - New England

Please accept my nomination of Mikkel Vestergaard Frandsen, Chief Executive Officer of Vestergaard Frandsen, a 50-year-old global company specializing in complex emergency response and disease control products -- specifically, products that help achieve the United Nation's Millennium Development Goals. The company has turned humanitarian responsibility into its core business by creating innovative products that prevent the transmission of water- and vector-borne diseases, and contribute to the survival of people living in developing countries. Products include PermaNet® long-lasting insecticide-treated bed nets for the prevention of malaria, and the award-winning LifeStraw® Personal and Family point-of-use water purifiers.

As a CEO committed to alleviating diseases that ravish developing countries, Mr. Vestergaard Frandsen this year conceived of and personally funded a groundbreaking pilot program -- the Integrated Prevention Demonstration (IPD) -- in an effort to identify far more effective and efficient ways to provide life-saving products to people quickly and efficiently.

Investing millions of dollars and countless hours, Mr. Vestergaard Frandsen established a partnership with the Kenyan Ministry of Health and U.S. CDC for the IPD campaign which ran from Sept. 16-22, 2008 in western Kenya. The goal was to prove that an integrated campaign could create an innovative approach to HIV testing that reduced the stigma and included an incentive for a large population of sexually active adults in a single community to participate. The IPD sought to test more than 80% of the target population for HIV within an unprecedentedly short (seven-day) time period. Previously, less than 20% of the adult population had ever been tested for HIV. . CarePacks™, providing a strong incentive for participation, included PermaNet® bed nets, LifeStraw® water purifiers, educational materials and condoms.

The IPD became the largest private-sector led HIV testing event ever. Nearly 50,000 people (80.2% of the target population) participated; with 2,016 people testing positive for HIV who have received follow-up care including access to life-saving medication. This replicable model will be presented to other governments and global donors to help developing countries meet their national HIV testing goals of having at least 80% of the sexually active adult population know their HIV status by 2010.

IPD partners believe that the integrated approach – targeting HIV, malaria and water-borne diseases – will provide health authorities with program and cost-effectiveness data which can help break down policy and funding barriers traditionally separating these diseases, and lead to more efficient and affordable approaches to addressing them.

I've attached a copy of the IPD Case Study, a Vestergaard Frandsen backgrounder and Mikkel's bio. You can also visit the website, www.vestergaard-frandsen.com, to read about more initiatives from Vestergaard Frandsen and the company's commitment to reduce suffering and alleviate diseases among the world's poor.

Thanks in advance for your consideration.

Meryl Rader

THE RADER GROUP

Nominee's Name: Terri L Bartlett
Nominee's Country: USA
Nominee's Organization (optional): Former PAI, Consultant
Why This Person Should Be Recognized:

Terri Bartlett, who passed away unexpectedly this weekend in Tennessee, was a force of nature, bulldozing her way through bureaucracies, arcane laws and barriers to ensure that the health and rights of women and their families the world over were safeguarded. Using her Southern charms, she would cajole high level policymakers into understanding her worldview of equity and parity. While others would write white papers or deliver keynote speeches, Terri would instead bat her eyelashes, exaggerate her Tennessee drawl and lay out arguments that were difficult to combat. Standing just about five feet tall and with an impish, beautiful face, Terri was the very embodiment of a "steel magnolia."

Lee Bartlett was a native of Tennessee and a graduate of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and a Fellow of the Institute of Politics, Loyola University in New Orleans, Louisiana. She began living her ideals right out of college - working as the Director of Volunteers for Planned Parenthood Association of Nashville. Soon, she worked her way up to Executive Director of the Tennessee Association of Planned Parenthood Affiliates, a statewide advocacy organization. She later founded Planned Parenthood of Louisiana and served for more than a decade as its CEO and President.

After so many years of working to improve the lives of women in the U.S., Terri chose to use her considerable skills to guarantee sexual and reproductive health and rights for women and their families in the developing world. She joined Population Action International (PAI) in 1999 as Vice President for Public Policy and Strategic Initiatives. In the eight years that she held this position, Terri Bartlett directed the organization's domestic and international policy agenda. She became a regular fixture in the halls of Congress, in Parliaments around the world and in cities, towns and villages from Thailand to Ethiopia to Haiti. Women, policymakers, heads of state and advocates around the world came to know and love the small woman with the big ideas. She was at the vortex of every meeting she attended, leaving a palpable blast of energy in her wake.

Ms. Bartlett also played a key role in bringing the issue of reproductive health supplies to greater global attention. She served on the Executive Committee of the Reproductive Health Supplies Coalition, an alliance of leading reproductive health organizations that works to identify the main causes of supply shortages and provides recommendations to government leaders and policy-makers about improving the availability and access to these products.

In the year since Terri left PAI, she had served as a public policy consultant to numerous foundations and nongovernmental organizations. Although her work was often in Washington, DC, and other world capitals, her heart was in rural Smithville, Tennessee where she lived with her beloved dog. She signed off her emails to friends and colleagues with, "from the hills..." Her death has brought grief to tens of thousands of people from Nairobi to Cairo to New Orleans to Washington, DC. She was engaged in several projects at the time of her death and had just finished rejoicing in the election of Barack Obama. But the ideals she fought to make reality - ensuring that women and infants don't die in childbirth, that women choose when and how many children to have, that girls receive educations to make them self-sufficient - will continue. And friends and colleagues and people whose lives are vastly improved because she once was here will forever be indebted to her. "From the hills," you will always be with us, TLB.
Link(s) for More Info: http://www.populationaction.org/blog/2008/11/in-memoriam-terri-bartlett-for.html and http://www.facebook.com/groups.php?ref=sb#/group.php?gid=32225634875
http://nola.live.advance.net/news/t-p/frontpage/index.ssf?/base/news-32/122647097223920.xml&coll=1&thispage=1
Your Name (optional): Caroline Jane Kent
Your Organization (optional): German Foundation for World Population (DSW)
You Location (optional): Germany

I just read that Justine Masika from Congo won the Dutch Human Rights Tulip. She runs an organisation that supports victims of rape in Congo. Since the situation there is really bad at the moment, she seems to me a perfect nominee for your Trailblazer contest.

She supports victims of rape with medical an psychological care, gives information to prevent stigma and takes legal action against rapists.

More info: http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/AFR62/006/2008/en
http://www.frontlinedefenders.org/taxonomy/term/1042

Nominee's Name: Winter Soldiers, Iraq and Afghanistan
Nominee's Country: United States
Nominee's Organization (optional):
Link(s) for More Info:
http://us.oneworld.net/article/iraq-veterans-describe-atrocities-lawmakers
http://us.oneworld.net/article/357564-%E2%80%9Cwe-blew-her-pieces%E2%80%9D-testimonies-iraq