Call to the Conscience

Proyecto #CaminosDeLuz // #LightPaths project

Through the strategic alliance between the Asotransito, Fashion Vial y Llamado a la Conciencia Vial, we seek to support Venezuelan migrants who are crossing the border of different countries by foot, through the delivery of a ribbon / bracelet (for adults and children ) made with fluorescent and reflective materials with compartments for any document held by the migrant, it is intended for the citizens to be visible for drivers of Colombian roads, and thus avoid traffic accidents due to lack of visibility.

Every day tens of thousands of Venezuelans cross the border with Colombia, which has been a host country and passage for millions of them, on the other hand, a large part of these people undertake long walks on Colombian roads to get to Ecuador, Peru or other southern countries, all this according to testimonies in search of opportunities and a better lifestyle.

Not all Venezuelans who enter Colombia stay, many of those who arrive in Cúcuta walk along several roads to the border of Ecuador to emigrate to that country or to Peru or Chile.

Therefore, it can be said that crossing part of Colombia on foot is a challenge faced by dozens of Venezuelans who, without transportation money, venture from the Venezuelan border on the roads to the Colombian territory to reach cities in the interior in search of work.

According to investigative journalism, Venezuelans declare long walks during the day and even at night reaching late hours of the night by long stretches of road and highways without much lighting and high risk areas, as they are fast roads structurally unsuitable for pedestrians, adding unfavorable climatic conditions, both for health and visibility, reinforces the need for reflective clothing in order to avoid or reduce the risk of a road accident.

UN statistics indicate that about 2.3 million Venezuelans have left their country in the face of the crisis that they are living there.

It is necessary and indispensable to offer visibility to walkers and thus reduce the possible risk factor in a traffic accident, taking into account the vulnerability of these people due to fatigue, inadequate and in some cases precarious feeding, as well as the climate factor and the emotional instability before an uncertain future.

Asotransito, Fashion Vial y Llamado a la conciencia decided to activate ourselves with "Camino De Luz" or “Light Path”, for this we need your collaboration to achieve in the initial phase 1000 reflective bracelets that will be delivered in Pamplona-Colombia, which is a strategic site to attract the migrant from walking.

We need to raise $ 5072 to cover all the manufacturing and logistics expenses of the project. For the manufacture, imported materials are required, which are not available in Venezuela. Regarding the logistics of the project, there will be a donation day of necessary clothing for these migrants, such as sweaters, shoes and food.

We need to make 1000 to start and we know they are few, but we also understand the complication in getting the money necessary to start production.

"WE ARE ALL VENEZUELA" we are united by this process...

visit www.asotransito.org.ve

HOW VENEZUALA’S CRISIS IS HITTING ROAD SAFETY

Original de Global Allianse of NGO's For Road Safety

http://www.roadsafetyngos.org/sh_events/venezualas-crisis-hitting-road-safety/

In Venezuala in July, inflation reached 83,000% and prices for food and everyday items are doubling approximately every 26 days. Many public services, including bus and train services are shutting down, and citizens are struggling to meet household expenses.

The crisis is having a devastating effect on road conditions and subsequently on injuries and fatalities. Road infrastructure is deteriorating with no money available for checks and improvements meaning that the roads themselves are less safe. Spare vehicle parts, including tires, are difficult to get hold of. This has two effects: one is that unsafe vehicles are being driven, the other is that less people have enough money to run a car and therefore more people are walking or taking public transport.

More people are using public transport but less public transport is available. Bus operators are among those who are unable to obtain spare parts for their vehicles and are unable to pay their drivers enough as living costs increase rampantly. As a consequence, buses are overloaded with people hanging from the sides and bumpers. The elderly and vulnerable are worst affected because they do not pay bus fares, so bus drivers are not motivated to stop for them.

Where public services are failing, some people are seeing an opportunity. Private trucks, known as “kennels” because of their resemblance to animal transporters, have begun to operate as unofficial buses. Not only are the authorities turning a blind eye to this, but some city councils have acquired cage-type trucks themselves, which are being used as public transport. These makeshift vehicles are causing an increased number of crashes, injuries and fatalities.

The lack of public transport has forced more people to walk. While, this could be seen as a favorable step, however, in this formally car-based culture, many streets, especially in the interior of the country, are not set up for pedestrians and lack signs, sidewalks, crossings, and lighting.

Alliance member NGOs in the country are working hard to address the increasing issues with limited resources. Asotransito are campaigning hard with the government to prioritize safe roads and transport even in the face of multiple issues. They are also taking practical low-cost action. The project #CaminoDeLuz, meaning “path of light”, seeks to distribute fluorescent and reflective bracelets to those forced to walk on badly-lit streets, including the thousands of refugees walking long distances to cross the border into neighboring Colombia. The bracelets can be seen by drivers 250 meters away and alert them to slow down to avoid pedestrians. Asotrotransito is seeking funding from international donors to extend the project.

Autralia: 'It will never happen to me': The problem with road safety campaigns

Welcome.
Today, we want to recommend to those who come to this blog, the newspaper article The Signey Mornign Herald who present a very interesting reflection of how possibly "bloody" campaigns as an attempt to catch the attention of public road users, are not so effective.

To read about it you can follow the following link:

 'It will never happen to me': The problem with road safety campaigns

Read the Child Declaration

Los niños de todo el mundo inspiraron esta Declaración Niño. Ellos expresaron sus pensamientos y temores acerca de viajar en las carreteras. Dijeron que lo que necesitan para mantenerse seguros en las carreteras.

En un esfuerzo conjunto, los expertos del mundo también esbozan medidas que se deben tomar. Juntos hacemos un llamado a los tomadores de decisiones en todo el mundo a tomar medidas y proteger a los niños. Salvemos Vidas niños.

Lea la Declaración de Niños para la Seguridad Vial.

Cada día más de 500 niños y niñas pierden la vida en accidentes de tránsito en todo el mundo. Miles de personas están heridas. Apoyo a la campaña firmando la declaración. Juntos vamos a hacer un llamado a la acción sobre la seguridad vial!

http://www.savekidslives2015.org/

Recommendations for participating in a #seguridadvial TweetUp November 15th

Recommendations for participating in a #seguridadvial TweetUp

1- Every phrase, advise, idea or sentence must include the label assigned for the event

For November 15th, 2013 the label is #seguridadvial (preview to the "International day for Street Transit victims")

2- Tweeters must not write disrespectful or hatred messages nor post gore images, or make unfounded accusations. They must always respect local laws even in cases of perpetrators of violent transit accidents.

3- Posting your tweets is a completely free activity, its a citizen´s right and maybe even a duty and they will be the creation of each one of you. Don´t waste this oppotunity to reach the conscience, the heart and the minds of the people and even the authorities.

4- Given that it is a free will activity, you can allow yourselves to be creative, friendly and maybe even spicy with your tweets. Do not limit yourselves.

5- These will be appropriate opportunities to remember friends and family who may no longer be with us because of street transit accidents. International day for Street Transit Victims is commemorated every year on the third Sunday of November and this year will be on the 17th.

6- If you wish to send several tweets, allow some time in between them so you don´t cluster your follower´s accounts and also to allow for them to answer back and make comments on your messages. To find out if someone has indeed answered or commented, go to the upper bar and click on @Conecta. These are simple examples and everyone is free to write up their tweet as they wish.

Its a great opportunity to get the local and regional authorities involved and call their attention in your tweets. Give them ideas and show initiatives on the subject or even point out to transit problems in your neighborhood or commute areas.

This activity is for everyone and we are all part of the street transit system regardless of wether you are a mother, father, student, a professional, a Kraft laborer, business man, entrepreneur... we are all affected by the anarchy or lack of structure in the transit system both at a financial level as at a emotional level. Our health is affected by it physically and mentally. We can also be part of the needed solutions.

Contribute, Ask, Learn

Wish you all success!!

Welcome to this life road that we can create together

Mich Vera

Porlamar - Venezuela.

Translation: Manuel Barreto. (Thanks Manuel)

Recommendations for participating in a #seguridadvial TweetUp

Recommendations for participating in a #seguridadvial TweetUp

1- Every phrase, advise, idea or sentence must include the label assigned for the event

For May the 10th, 2013, the label is #Peatones or #walksafe (reason for these labels)
For November 15th, 2013 the label is #seguridadvial (preview to the "International day for Street Transit victims")

Contribute, Ask, Learn

Wish you all success!!

Welcome to this life road that we can create together

Mich Vera

Porlamar - Venezuela.

Translation: Manuel Barreto. (Thanks Manuel)

III TweetUP #Walksafe Second UN Global Road Safety Week

"Too many pedestrians are being killed and injured on the world's roads. Yet implementing safety measures are cost effective and the solutions are simple. Often what's needed is as simple as a safe crossing point or a pavement" more info: http://www.who.int/roadsafety/week/2013/en/index.html

From 06 to May 12 the week begins UN global road safety for walkers. PARTICIPATE in the TweetUp on May 10 with the labels #walksafe / #peatones a Twitt, an RT is sufficient.

Participate, learn, share

II Twitter Traffic Safety Meeting

Dear Friends:

I am pleased to invite you to participate in the virtual event called "II Twitter Traffic Safety Meeting" , ir the second meetins organized this year.

Being part of this event is quite simple, you just have to connect to Twitter, from your home, office or cell phone and start writing sentences of 140 characters that including the tag or hashtag # SEGURIDADVIAL and you're already helping with a small part to this wonderful journey, our wish is create paths life, be sure we are doing our best to safe people in the streets. What to write? Tips, cases, warnings, complaints, remember a family member or friend affected by events on the road, make proposals for your city, ask questions. we already have confirmed, the participation of experts from Chile, Argentina and Spain, therefore, will be a great opportunity to share any concerns

What else is needed for the success of the day? Definitely your commitment to participate with one or more Twitts. If you are an activist, or forms part of an NGO, maybe you are an expert in road safety, Prosecutor, Police, or any other kind of specialist, is the opportunity to come into contact with thousands of people and express your ideas, concerns, projects concerning the subject

For more information such as: why talk about road safety, how to use Twitter for this event, contact us, through our email : llamado_ala_conciencia@hotmail.com. For data, readings, statistics, visit the blog: www.llamadoalaconciencia.blogspot.com

This activity is a citizen initiative, participation is free, of course always remember we need to be polite and educate, is not allowed insults, derogatory, grotesque imagery, or violent, or anything that affects, or violates the law and good mood to carry positive messages to society,

Thanks for being part of the solution,

T.S.U. Mayerling Vera

Nonprofit Organization "Llamado a la Conciencia Vial".

Toni Donato Bolis - do not drive distracted!

And on Saturday it was the sad 1 yr anniversary of the crash that stole the loves of Toni Donato Bolis and her unborn child Ryan, who was to be born in 2 days because of a distracted driver. We must stop these tragedies from occurring to any more innocent victims...

By: Jennifer Freedman S.

Foto: Toni Donato B and... Ryan

Jessica Uhl (6/4/89-11/23/07)

Yesterday we honored Jessica Uhl (6/4/89-11/23/07) who would shave turned 23. Instead she and her sister lost their lives to a distracted State Trooper who was speeding, talking on his phone, and texting on his computer. Please do only one thing while you are behind the wheel... DRIVE!!

By: Jennifer Freedman S.

Jessica Uhl (6/4/89-11/23/07)

MARCH 29, USED Hashtags #ROADSAFETY on Twitter

The activity is very simple:
Let's talk about road safety on March 29, 2012 up to the #ROADSAFETY trending topic all day ... for the epidemic of road accidents is WORLD.
If you do not have an account on twitter, participate from Facebook.Invite your friends! SPREAD THE WORD

Speak?Yes!

- Give advice
- Made a story
- Calls for better transportation and better roads
- Appreciates a good service
- Remember a loved one
- Talk about how you drive in city
- Report: Twitter and many influential government agencies have this social network accounts tell them about ROAD SAFETY
And all I want to share on this topic.

MARCH 29, USED Hashtags #ROADSAFETY

Remember, road safety is everyone's responsibility, PART for your children, friends, family, FOR A BETTER LIFE. According to WHO, 1.2 million people die per year ROAD VIOLENT ACTS and at least 50 million are injured.

YOU AND YOUR GOOD CONDUCT ROAD IS THE SOLUTION.

Megan Small (4/11/86-11/25/07)

Let's remember Megan Small (4/11/86-11/25/07),

4 yrs ago last week her life was taken by a texting driver. She was a Senior at Baylor Univ. Her best friend laura was in the car behind her and was also hit and injured. Please honor Megan's memory and Laura's tragedy and tell people to put down the phone while they drive. No call or text is worth a life!!! My thoughts are with you Patricia L Small &

Darlene Gleffe

By: Jennifer Freedman Smith

Global Plan - 5 Pillars

Seat Belt Use

The case of Cornelia Galavan - Bucharest - Romania

My name is Cornelia Galavan and aI am 53 years old, I am from Bucharest - Romania.
Thirteen years ago I was the victim of an accident, which left me disabled.
This tragic accident was amplified by an inequitable act of justice which has been going on for thirteen years, having moral and material effects going far beyond those of the road crash.
In the act of justice I met corruption, abuse and crime, as well as a legislation favouring the authors of road traffic tragedies in Romania.

In between hospitals and courts of law I came to meet tens of victims of road crashes and families of the deceased, who accused the abuses and inequity of the act of justice concerning these tragedies.

Thus, I took the initiative of officially organising the first actions of protest in Romania by the victims of road crashes in front of state institutions as early as 1998, drawing a distrass signal to the way these tragedies are resolved, as well as to the passivity of the state to the high number of serious traffic accidents.

In order to prove the presence of corruption in the act of justice regarding criminal records I managed to bring before the court of law for the first time in Romania a judicial auto technical expert who was condemned for forged expertise.

Following the public involvement and the connections with tens of victims and mourning families, but also that of my personal tragedy and the abuses faced in resolving my tragedy, I took the initiative of starting for the first time an association of the victims of road safety under the name Association of the Victims of Road Traffic – AVAC.

Also as a first, I initiated and organised project ROAD TEARS ( LACRIMA RUTIERA) as early as 2001, establishing the commemoration of road victims yearly, six years before the Romanian Government recognised it. At present, the project which reached its Xth edition this year is running on the World Remembrance Day for Road Traffic Victims, as established by the UN.
The innovative project of a disabled victim in clutches was appreciated by high profile personalities such as President of Romania Traian Basescu, Her Royal Highness Princess Margaret, Chief of EU Delegation, Jonathan Scheele (UK), Minister of Administration and Internal Affairs Vasile Blaga and others, while at the Civil Society Gala – 2006 ROAD TEARS was granted the Special Award.

On an international plane, project ROAD TEARS is known and appreciated by the Council of Europe at a high level, and in 2009, UN- WHO invited me at the World Conference of Road Safety NGOs which took place in Brussels on May 7-8, as sole invitee from Romania.
Moreover, the project is currently recognised by several organisations and associations in Europe and in the world, which appreciate the initiative and the efforts of a road traffic victim to continue ROAD TEARS.

About my tragedy, the abuse and corruption in the act of justice, as well as to the civic and public involvement which led to personal initiatives for the first time in Romania are testimony the articles published in the mass-media over the 13 years of nightmare spent in the justice hell machine which ruined my life worse than the accident itself, but also the 13 years of civic and public involvement run with the purpose of reducing road tragedies, as well as for a “real road traffic justice” through which the lives of road traffic victims and the deceased should no longer be despised by the judges in a permissive legislation which favours the “road assassins”.

Best regards,
Cornelia Galavan
Road Tears (2001 - 2011)
ROMANIA.

Admin note: Thanks for sharing your experience with us. Strength and success in your work.

World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims

20 November 2011

Road traffic crashes kill nearly 1.3 million people every year and injure or disable as many as 50 million more. They are the leading cause of death among young people aged 10–24 years.

In October 2005, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution which calls for governments to mark the third Sunday in November each year as World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims. The day was created as a means to give recognition to victims of road traffic crashes and the plight of their relatives who must cope with the emotional and practical consequences of these tragic events.

WHO and the UN Road Safety Collaboration encourage governments and nongovernmental organizations around the world to commemorate this day as a means of drawing the public’s attention to road traffic crashes, their consequences and costs, and the measures which can be taken to prevent them.

By: World Health Organization

TOGETHER WE CAN SAVE MILLIONS OF LIVES !

DECADE OF ACTION FOR ROAD SAFETY 2011 - 2020.

TOGETHER WE CAN SAVE MILLIONSOF LIVES !

ROAD TEARS FROM GLOBAL REMEMBRANCE TO GLOBAL ACTION !

And how not to get involved in the development of the project initiated by UN and EU when road safety is in jeopardy because of the corruption phenomenon in which drivers' licenses are obtained even by illiterate citizens. How not to get involved in the project in Romania when we do not have a modern road infrastructure leading to road safety and the quality of the existing one in terms of quality puts us 120th rank in the world (!)? How not to get involved when ' road criminals ' are killing innocent people and the magistrates and justice is convicting them to more than symbolical sanctions with suspension, with a negative impact on all endeavours for road traffic education? How not to get involved when from 1800 criminal case files investigated by prosecutor offices in a year when PEOPLE have died, only two thirds get in front of judges and from 330 'road criminals' only 10% are convicted to execute a prison sentence and the victims and successors of the deceased are humiliated for years in the 'huge blender of justice'? How not to get involved when there is NO REAL JUSTICE FOR ROAD ACCIDENTS?

Cornelia Galavan - Road Tears (2001 -2011)

In Memory of Carla Bate say NO to killer's pending Parole

I AM COMPLETELY INDEPENDENT OF THE FAMILY OR ANYTHING ELSE SURROUNDING THIS CASE. HAVING RECEIVED SOME INFORMATION IN REFERENCE TO THE KILLER OF CARLA BATE I FELT ADAMANT TO SET UP THIS GROUP & GET OUR VOICES, FEELINGS & OPINIONS HEARD BY ALL THE RELEVANT AGENCIES INVOLVED WITH THE FOLLOWING CASE: ONCE YOU HAVE READ THE FOLLOWING NEWS ARTICLE IT WOULD BE MUCH APPRECIATED IF YOU WOULD POST ANY COMMENTS ON YOUR FEELINGS ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED TO CARLA & THE DEVASTATION IT CAUSED TO HER FAMILY & MANY AROUND THEM. THE KILLER IN QUESTION HAS APPLIED FOR A 'RELEASE ON TEMPORARY LICENCE', EVEN THOUGH HE'S NOT QUITE SERVED 4 YEARS FROM THE DISGUSTING 8 YEAR SENTENCE HE WAS GIVEN.ALL COMMENTS POSTED WILL BE USED IN THE FIGHT AGAINST ANY POSSIBILITY OF 'RELEASE ON TEMPORARY LICENCE' OR ANY FUTURE EARLY PAROLE HEARINGS.THANKING YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT.
Rachael Eckersley

Drunk death driver jailed for 8 yearsFrom the Bolton Evening News, first published Saturday 18th Dec 2004.A DRUNKEN driver who killed a teenage girl while "showing off" to young friends in his sports car has started an eight-year jail sentence. Carla Bate, aged 13, was thrown more than 20 yards across a road junction and killed instantly when a car driven by Steven John Lewis ploughed into railings on Longcauseway, Farnworth, where she and a friend were standing. Her friend, Leanne Keegan, also aged 13, was left fighting for her life as a result of her injuries. Bolton Crown Court was told on Friday that club musician Lewis, aged 35, had been speeding round the streets of Farnworth at up to 80mph following a drinking binge.

His car, with two boys aged 13 and 14 travelling in one front passenger seat, was seen overtaking other vehicles at more than twice the speed limit. After the crash, Lewis left the scene and tried to destroy evidence linking him to his Toyota MR2 Coupe car. In what was described as an "astonishing twist of fate", the court heard that Lewis had been drinking at his flat with the two girls not long before Carla, of Primrose Avenue, Farnworth, was killed. Lewis, who worked in nightclubs under the name MC Breeze, had invited youngsters to his flat in Westland Avenue, Farnworth, on August 8 this year. Witnesses say he left to buy vodka from a nearby shop at 8pm before pouring drinks for youngsters including Carla, Leanne and the two boys, as well as himself. Leanne said in a statement read to the court that she had also seen Lewis smoking cannabis. Carla and Leanne, described as "inseparable" friends who attended Harper Green School, left his flat at around 9pm after Carla had told Leanne that it was time to leave. They refused a lift from the drunken Lewis. A friend who called at the flat said Lewis was "unsteady" on his feet. Lewis said he had been drinking since lunchtime. Lewis left his flat at 10.15pm to drive to a nearby petrol station for a drink, taking the two boys with him. Despite their pleas for him to slow down, he sped into a garage before revving his engine repeatedly on the forecourt.

The court was told that witnesses said they saw the car travelling at "motorway speeds" around Farnworth. Lewis drove through a red light before hitting a yellow Audi on Albert Road, close to the junction of Longcauseway, before spinning across the junction at 40mph and hitting the two girls, who were standing in a gap between railings. Carla was thrown across the road into railings on the other side of the road and died immediately.

Lewis and the two boys then fled the scene and returned to his flat where he showered and placed clothes in the washing machine. After police called, he denied he had been in the car and refused to give blood sample at the police station. At an earlier hearing, Lewis pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving. He also admitted failing to stop after an accident, failing to provide a specimen of breath and driving without insurance. Jailing him, Judge William Morris said: "No sentence can reconcile the fact that you left one girl dead. "In my judgement, you were showing off, that child had a long life ahead of her. All that potential will never be realised." Lewis, once banned from driving for having excess alcohol and jailed for 100 days in 1990 for drug possession, was also given four months for failing to stop at the scene and two months for failing to provide a specimen. Those sentences will run concurrently with the eight-years sentence. Leanne, now aged 14, of Aster Avenue, Farnworth, spent two weeks in intensive care fighting for her life and lost a kidney. She has not yet returned to school. Carla's devastated family said they were anticipating a bleak Christmas without her. "The law doesn't allow a long enough sentence for this man and no matter what happens it won't bring Carla back to us," said Carla's aunt Dawn Coen, aged 26, in a statement read outside court. "As a result of one man's reckless actions, we have lost a fun loving girl who was extremely close to her whole family. "Christmas will be a very difficult time for all the family but we hope the sentencing of Lewis today will bring to an end the suffering imposed on our family." Miss Coen, who had Carla's uncle, Andrew Coen, aged 40 at her side, choked back tears and she paid tribute to niece Carla.

"Carla was a devoted daughter, sister, niece, granddaughter and great-granddaughter who lived life to the full and she is sadly missed every single day. Not a day goes by when her sisters Zena and Celina do not think about her, she said. "We still cannot believe Carla has been tragically taken away from us so soon in her life. She had so much to live for but the reckless driving of one man has taken her away from us. We would just like to take this opportunity in thanking everyone who's taken part in putting together this case and to the firemen, police and ambulance people for their help.Detective Inspector Sara Wallwork, who led the investigation, said: "This was an extremely tragic accident in which a 13-year-old girl lost her life and her friend suffered serious injuries. "

Lewis is believed to have been travelling at excessive speed shortly before the collision and despite the serious injuries suffered by Carla and Leanne, he chose to leave the scene of the accident. "I hope that today's sentence serves as a reminder to others of the tragic consequences which can occur from irresponsible and reckless driving."Archive HomeFrom the Bolton Evening

Newshttp://www.burnleycitizen.co.uk

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/group.php?gid=19516834666