Because it blindsided my insulated view of the world and expanded my field of sight, The 2009 Freedom Awards got my attention about the fact that large-scale slavery exists as this is being written. Even in the United States. Boom. There it is, right between the eyes. About this notion you might want to read Free the Slaves' page titled, "Slavery Today." You could also glance at Free the Slaves' map. The darkly humorous throwaway line used in jest when talking with your boss about overtime, "Don't you know they already freed the slaves?," now has new meaning for me.

Since I'm friends with someone who performed at the event, I expected I'd be attending the The 2009 Freedom Awards ceremonies as an interested audience member instead of media rep. The Freedom Awards were streamed live and you can see some back story at Peggy Callahan's Huffington Post feature. I surmised that I'd find a well-organized, thoughtful group of people celebrating their successes and tragedies in a cause dear to their hearts, but that I'd come home unaffected. I've done more than my share of professional fund raising and I thought my Heart of causes was 'spoken for.'

So like a thorough media rep, I always do homework before I attend anything and I even listened to an NPR interview of Free the Slaves co-founder Kevin Bales. I found his interview to be educated, thoughtful and interesting. I take comfort and pride in being someone who, when they show up for anything, is confident they've enlisted into a cause which is all-encompassing and unavoidable.

I saw the list of notables presenting and attending included Ashton Kutcher, Camilla Belle, Carla Gugino, Demi Moore, Isabel Allende, Rickie Byars Beckwith, Tom Shadyac and the Agape International Choir. I've talked with celebrities before and always found them to first be people who are interesting or pleasant. But although I knew both celebrities and media alike would attend, I wasn't expecting to have any life-altering discussions or experiences.

It seems I might have been mistaken. This began to dawn over me as I watched, with the audience, some of the videoed presentations of former slaves who were liberated. They were present. The vids also showed slaves who haven't been freed. They were often tortured and always threatened before they walked free. Norman Jean Roy, Given Kachepa and many others with beating hearts and soul-lit eyes spoke their truth about what it was like to be enslaved. Here and now, in our life and times. This got my undivided attention and that's difficult although I've overcome most of my blonde DNA.

Think for a moment about that. I don't have to explain what it would mean because you've your own imagination.

Several turnings pointed me toward my options and prospective actions. First, how and what E. Benjamin Skinner said from the stage about his work and his meeting with a 17-year-old woman he couldn't save. Ben is author of A Crime So MonstrousCarr Center for Human Rights Policy at the Harvard Kennedy School. and a Fellow with the

Ben is clearly impassioned and on a lifelong mission. And if there's one thing that always gets my attention, it's someone articulate who knows what they're talking about who brings their Heart to their work. Then, talking with him a little about his experience and work propped open the door to my soul, so I could actually absorb what had gone on at the The 2009 Freedom Awards.

Next, in thanking Kevin Bales for the evening and talking about Blue Planet Almanac, I asked who else I might touch base with in that moment. He suggested Siddarath Kara. Siddarth is at once intense, brilliant and laser focused on his task at hand, uncovering the economic policies which encourage slavery with the assistance of his book, Sex Trafficking: Inside the Business of Modern Slavery.

Of all the things I could imagine to make the Earth a better place, abolishing slavery wasn't even on my radar until last night. Now I have to decide what I can do about it. My thanks to the real heroines and heroes of the evening; all the slaves, freed or not, who have their stories to tell. I hope we're able to talk as free souls, because last night I couldn't look all of you in the eye until I make ready.

Alexandra Cousteau of Expedition: Blue Planet

To make your world your own, you have to act and do what you love. No matter who you are, you start where you stand and get moving. Whether or not you're a pioneer, to do something important it's never enough to take the reins your family gave you and simply guide your horses down the road. Because change is the way of the universe, you have to think about where you're going and only then will the journey become your own. And, of course, everyone wants their own journey, right?

Alexandra swims with manatee

Alexandra Cousteau got busy on her own philanthropic mission. Honoring her family's tradition as champions and stewards of the earth, National Geographic's recognition of Alexandra Cousteau as Emerging Explorer shows that she has developed and cultivated her own voice in Mother Earth's favor. Nodding to her family, Alexandra's bio explains, "When asked about the impact that her father and grandfather have had on her life, Alexandra explains, 'the best example they gave me was the importance of living a life of consequence, value, and meaning. I honor their memories by creating a legacy of my own in speaking out for the preservation of our blue planet and all its waters.”

Ben Pederick , Alexandra and Pablo Levinas in Botswana

Because of her experience and perspective, Alexandra founded Blue Legacy - and these days its principal project is Expedition: Blue Planet. Imagine trekking for 100 days across five continents to chronicle what our specie is doing and what needs to be done and you've got an intimation of what her and her fellow explorers are up to.

Alexandra at Women s Health Blue Party

From Blue Legacy's Website, "Expedition: Blue Planet will chronicle the interconnectivity of water. A key aspect of the project will be its ability to show how individual stories are part of the larger, universal story of an interdependent, global water ecosystem. In this way, we will create a new vision for what it means to live in a world where water is our most precious resource, and a plan for what we must do to protect it."

So if you've surfed to this page to make your journey your own, you'll be especially excited to hear Alexandra's perspective as Blue Planet Almanac's guest, live from the field of her Expedition: Blue Planet, on the May 12,2009 Blue Planet Almanac at 2:00 PM, Pacific. Tune in, call in. Blue Planet Almanac at HealthyLife.net, all-positive talk radio.

Aura Wright, clairvoyant astrologer

CBS’ ENTERTAINMENT TONIGHT TELEVISION
DEBUTS SURPRISE, NEW SEGMENT ON JANUARY 2, 2009

The longest-running entertainment news program in the world, in its 27^th season, CBS Television’s syndicated Entertainment Tonight kicks off 2009 in its “Coming Attractions of ’09” episode featuring discussion of superstars and American fortunes in the tricky times ahead. On January 2, 2009, on CBS’ channel 2 at 7:00 P.M. Pacific time - 14 million viewers will see not only their favorite hosts and correspondents including Mary Hart and Mark Steines – but their mouths will likely be agape as they hear confidential, surprise information and predictions from gifted clairvoyant astrologer Aura Wright about their favorite superstars’ or popular politico’s fortunes and romances. While America recovers from its New Year’s celebrations, Entertainment Tonight expects many eyes glued to its broadcast.

Astrology Chick^TM  Aura Wright has been asked by Entertainment Tonight to provide her astoundingly-accurate vision about media stars who include Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, Tom Cruise, Katie Holmes, Miley Cyrus, Paula Abdul, John Mayer, Britney Spears, Will Smith and even Jada Pinkett Smith. An astrologer and naturally-gifted clairvoyant for 15 years, Wright takes her accuracy seriously and is known for predicting media, world and financial events. Although Wright’s appearances are often humorous or light-hearted, she’s accustomed to spotting events like who will win Academy Awards, which celebrity couples will have new children, which politician’s stars are rising, which celebrities are likely to have box-office blockbusters or smash, new television shows.

Wright’s stellar work as astrologer or clairvoyant has been featured on national television networks before including NBC, ABC, CBS, on the Chelsea Lately Show and also in publications like In Touch, OK and Yogi Times magazines and Find Bliss. Wright grew up in ashrams, yoga retreats and Indian reservations. She set foot on her journey to master her calling as a young child of the Hippie revolution. Her education into the deepest roots of psychology, personality, astrology and mysticism took form by learning from the Masters of the day like Guru Ram Dass and the Dalai Lama. Now, in a lighthearted spirit of assisting America and the World with its growth and progress, Wright consults for those in positions of the highest influence.

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