The Four Freedom Awards; 24 May 2008

[Marengo]

On May 24 H.E. Prime Minister mr. dr. J.P. Balkenende will hand out the four freedom awards in the presence of HM The Queen and HRH Princess Maxima in the Nieuwe Kerk in Middelburg, Zeeland.

Some information from wikipedia:

The Four Freedoms Award is an annual liberal inclined award presented to those men and women who have "demonstrated" an achievement to the principles lined out in the Four freedoms speech president Franklin Delano Roosevelt gave to the US Congress on 6 January 1941. It is handed out in alternate years in New York by the Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt Institute and in Middelburg by the Roosevelt Stichting.

The awards were first presented in 1982 on the centenary of president Roosevelt's birth as well as the bicentenary of diplomatic relations between the United States and the Netherlands. The awards were founded to celebrate the four freedoms espoused by president Roosevelt in his speech:

1. Freedom of speech
2. Freedom of religion
3. Freedom from want
4. Freedom from fear

For each of the four freedoms an award was instituted, as well as a special Freedom award. In 1990, 1995, 2003 and 2004 there were also special awards.
In odd years the awards are presented to American citizens or institutions by the Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt Institute in Hyde Park, New York. In even years the award ceremony is held in Middelburg and honours non-Americans.The choice for Middelburg was motivated by the suspected descendance of the family Roosevelt from Oud-Vossemeer in the municipality Tholen.

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[lucien]

This years recipients of the Four Freedoms Award are:

Former German President Richard von Weizsäcker:

For his contribution to cope with the WW II past of Germany by defining the end of the war not as the
day Germany lost the war,but a day of liberation.

Lakhdar Brahimi:

Freedom of Speech and Expression:For his contribution to Freedom of Expression as a Special UN Envoy to
Afghanistan and Iraq between 2001 and 2005.

Dr.Karen Armstrong:

Freedom of Worship,British author,for her contribution to the Freedom of Religion,an expert in the field of Religion,
she opened the basics of the Christian,Muslim,Jewish faiths to a broader audience.

Jan Egeland:

Freedom from Want:for his role in the diplomatic process that resulted in the Oslo Agreement between Palestine and israel in 1993.
The diplomatic involvement in a cease fire in Guatemala,the 1997 Ottawa Treaty on use and production of landmines.

Willemijn Verloop:

Freedom from Fear:for her role as founder of War Child The Netherlands.

With the Freedom for Fear Award for War Child the Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt Institute
emphisizes the importance of childcare in warzones.

Het Koninklijk Huis


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[Royalfotograaf]

Willemijn Verloop is a good friend of princess Mabel. Princess Mabel is also founder of War Child.
Maybe princess Mabel will come with the Queen and princess Maxima to Middelburg.

[Marengo]

I remember Willemijn Verloop speaking out for Mabel during the engagement time. Did Mabel participate in founding Warchild too?

[lucien]

Originally Posted by Marengo

I remember Willemijn Verloop speaking out for Mabel during the engagement time. Did Mabel participate in founding Warchild too?

HRH is co-founder of Warchild,and still very much involved.

[lucien]

Originally Posted by Royalfotograaf

Willemijn Verloop is a good friend of princess Mabel. Princess Mabel is also founder of War Child.
Maybe princess Mabel will come with the Queen and princess Maxima to Middelburg.

Princess Mabel is attending a symposium in Tokyo at present,and will not return until after saturday,unless she skips part of the program there,which I don't think she will do.

[Marengo]

The ceremony was today, some pictures:

Maxima, Beatrix and von Weisacker

von Weisacker receiving the honours

the Queen and the ex-president

Willemijn Verloop

Maxima & Willemijn

Maxima and Hat

[giov]

Pics from Belga Picture
BelgaPicture - Category details

[lucien]

Originally Posted by giov

Pics from Belga Picture
BelgaPicture - Category details

Giov,I'm afraid the link doesn't work,no pics that is.

Het Koninklijk Huis

[giov]

Sorry!
It should be ok now.
BelgaPicture - Category details

More pics from PPE
PPE Agency