SL ARTS & LITERATURE: Artists and Authors Gather To Raise Awareness May 25th – International Missing Children Day ~ The SL Enquirer

Monday, May 23, 2011

SL ARTS & LITERATURE: Artists and Authors Gather To Raise Awareness May 25th – International Missing Children Day

Monday, May 23, 2011 Anneli Ulrik, Caledonia Skytower, Garden of Change, International Missing Children's Day, Morgue McMillan, Serene Bechir No comments

Every day, every year children become victims of crimes at the hands of those who should be caring for them, at the hands of strangers, or in the midst of fleeing from one perceived evil they stray into the hands of another that injures them, or even may cause their death. International Missing Children’s Day is a worldwide annual event to raise awareness and provide information on these issues as well as to provide links for further information and help. International Missing Children's Day is celebrated on May 25, the same day as the United States' National Missing Children's Day designated by Ronald Reagan in 1983.

On May 25^th, artists, musicians, and authors will gather in in Second Life® at the Garden for Change to commemorate this day in the virtual world - promoting awareness and advocacy in a multi-national, multi-lingual effort. http://slurl.com/secondlife/Garden%20for%20Change/128/128/2

In Germany according to BKA there are currently 1,700 children missing permanently. According to Missing Children Europe in the UK it is estimated that 140,000 cases of missing children are reported annually (383/day). In Belgium Missing Children Europe’s member Child Focus opens an average of 4 new cases a day. In the United States it is estimated that of 621 child abductions which ended in murder, 44% of the children were killed within the first hours, 74% were killed within 3 hours and 91% within 24 hours after the disappearance.

In 2010, International Missing Children’s Day was commemorated in Australia, Canada, Brazil, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Romania, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom who are part of the Global Missing Children’s Network (GMCN), a program of the International Centre for Missing & Exploited Children, which recognizes the need to collaborate on this complex issue on a global level. The program is supported by Motorola Foundation.

According to www.icmec.org , participating countries released balloons displaying photos of missing children from around the world in the hope that someone, somewhere, will recognize them. Additional activities were also planned. Brazil hosted a one-day seminar followed by the release of balloons in Brasilia; the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) released their annual report on missing children, presented an AirCanada award to a law enforcement officer for extraordinary efforts to recover a missing child, and released balloons at the RCMP Visitor Centre in Ottawa; and the Dutch National Police visited local schools to talk to children about International Missing Children’s Day and to release 500 balloons.

Balloons were also released virtually at www.helpbringthemhome.org.au, an interactive portal developed by the Australian Federal Police (AFP) for the campaign. The AFP also created a powerful 30 second public service announcement, which was distributed throughout participating countries to drive people to the website for further information

Anneli Ulrik, Morgue McMillan, and Serene Bechir have brought together and impressive group of artists and creators willing to lend their support to raising awareness and stopping the loss of innocents.

EVENT SCHEDULE – May 25th

Day Schedule: 9:00AM to 3:00PM SLT

Hosts: Anneli Ulrik (German), Morgue McMillan (English)

9:00am : Welcome and “Anna is Lost”, a true telephone-case presented by Initiative Vermisste Kinder

10:10am : poetry readings by Serene Bechir, Morgue McMillan, Klannex Northmead, DonJuan Writer, Ixmal Supermarine, Ingeborg Apfelbaum, Mathoni Zuhrah; visual presentation: Aneli Abeyante; background music: James Corachea