Know Your 30 Human Rights with Ellen Firestone

Listen and Learn about the Universal Declaration of Human Rights Article 27.  1.  Everyone has the right freely to participate in the cultural life of the community, to enjoy the arts and to share in scientific advancement and its benefits. 2. Everyone has the right to the protection of the moral and material interests resulting from any scientific, literary or artistic production of which he is the author. This episode features an interview with nationally renowned artist, Debbie Arambula. Debbie is affectionately identified by her art collectors as “The Heart Artist”. Her energetic use of exuberant colors expresses emotional energy that speaks to people in all walks of life. Named a contemporary master by art mogul David Goldstein, she has been recognized countless times for her mastery of color and signature style. With over a quarter of a century of experience creating highly regarded public and private art she has been commissioned by thousands of people and her paintings can be found in homes all over the world.  Debbie has been selected to participate in over 2000 juried art shows nationwide.  Passionate about uplifting the world through art she been invited to participate in several public art projects and community fundraising partnerships with such prestigious non-profits as Hospice of the Valley, American Heart Association, Boulder City Hospital, Hearts in San Francisco Foundation, SF General Hospital, Komen LA, City of Campbell, City of Morgan Hill and more. Extensively interviewed in the media nationwide since 1996, Debbie has been seen on NBC and ABC affiliates in major West Coast cities, KRON TV, Entertainment Magazine, Good Day Sacramento, Good Morning Scottsdale, Fox 5 in Las Vegas, ABC, NBC and KFYI Phoenix, among others. Debbie has also been featured in major magazines & newspapers such as Romantic Homes Magazine-National, SF Chronicle, LA Times, San Jose Mercury News, Homes by the Sea, and Décor Magazine.    

Listen and Learn about the Universal Declaration of Human Rights Article 26.  1.  Everyone has the right to education. Education shall be free, at least in the elementary and fundamental stages. Elementary education shall be compulsory. Technical and professional education shall be made generally available and higher education shall be equally accessible to all on the basis of merit. 2. Education shall be directed to the full development of the human personality and to the strengthening of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. It shall promote understanding, tolerance and friendship among all nations, racial or religious groups, and shall further the activities of the United Nations for the maintenance of peace.  3. Parents have a prior right to choose the kind of education that shall be given to their children. This episode features an interview with Human Rights Educator, Mr. Otis Day.  Otis Daye has been in the field of education for over 13 years. He holds an interdisciplinary Bachelor's degree in Peace and Conflict from Mount St. Vincent University, a Bachelor's degree in Education, and a Masters in Leadership and Administration with a focus on mental health both from Saint Francis Xavier University.  Starting off as classroom support, Otis then shifted to help pilot the SchoolsPlus program before finally landing in the classroom as an elementary teacher. Otis is now the Student Equity Consultant for Halifax Regional Center for Education, in Nova Scotia Canada where he is dedicated to helping teachers, students and administrators understand the role that culture, race and human rights play in creating a positive and supportive school culture. Otis continues to advocate on behalf of students who have traditionally been disengaged in school and is passionate about finding new and creative ways to allow students to reach their full potential. Otis is supported by family which includes his wife and three children.

Listen and Learn about the Universal Declaration of Human Rights Articles 25.  1.  Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his control. 2. Motherhood and childhood are entitled to special care and assistance. All children, whether born in or out of wedlock, shall enjoy the same social protection.  This episode features an interview with Brand Ambassador for Youth for Human Rights India, Shaleen Das.  Shaleen shares how this human right is being executed in her country.

Listen and Learn about the Universal Declaration of Human Rights Articles 23 & 24. 23: 1. Everyone has the right to work, to free choice of employment, to just and favourable conditions of work and to protection against unemployment. 2. Everyone without any discrimination, has the right to equal pay for equal work. 3. Everyone who works has the right to just and favourable remuneration ensuring for himself and his family an existence worthy of human dignity, and supplemented, if necessary, by other means of social protection. 4. Everyone has the right to form and to join trade unions for the protection of his interests. 24: Everyone has the right to rest and leisure, including reasonable limitation of working hours and periodic holidays with pay. This episode features an interview with International Consultant, Coach and Trainer, Patrick Valtin. Patrick is also CEO and President of HireBox International and author of the Best Sellers, Taking Off the Mask and No-Fail-Hiring 2.0.

Listen and Learn about the Universal Declaration of Human Rights Article 22: Everyone, as a member of society, has the right to social security and is entitled to realization, through national effort and international co-operation and in accordance with the organization and resources of each State, of the economic, social and cultural rights indispensable for his dignity and the free development of his personality.  This episode features an interview with Harold D'Souza, President of Eyes Open International. Harold compares the Social Security program in the United States with that of India. According to UN statistics in 2016, 55% of the world's population or 4 billion people did not have any form of social protection. Harold shares his philosophy on “social kindness” and how citizens can help each other realize this human right.

Listen and Learn about the Universal Declaration of Human Rights Article 21: 1. Everyone has the right to take part in the government of his country, directly or through freely chosen representatives. 2. Everyone has the right to equal access to public service in his country. 3. The will of the people shall be the basis of the authority of government; this will shall be expressed in periodic and genuine elections which shall be by universal and equal suffrage and shall be held by secret vote or by equivalent free voting procedures. This episode features an interview with Lauren Swartz, President & CEO of the World Affairs Council of Philadelphia. The World Affairs Council's tagline is: Democracy Demands Discourse. Lauren discusses democracy's growth worldwide and the notion of full vs flawed democracies. 

This episode features an interview with Harold D'Souza, survivor of labor trafficking and debt bondage in the United States of America. Originally from India, Harold D'Souza is well educated and experienced in sales management. He has a Bachelors in Business and a Masters of Commerce from The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda. Harold stepped down from a senior management position in order to pursue the American Dream which he believed was within his reach. Harold came to the U.S. following the advice and encouragement of a man who would become his trafficker.  Today, Harold is a Survivor-Advocate and Public Speaker. His experience has given him a new purpose and meaning in life.  Listen and learn from this human rights HERO about what you can do to help create awareness and potentially help victims of human trafficking, a horrific human rights violation occurring in the United States and around the world. You can do something about it!

This episode features an interview with Rayla Allertsen, Human Rights Educator from Manila, Philippines in honor of the 72nd Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Rayla is also an International Speaker and Mentor on the Empowerment of Women & Children, Leadership, Self-Worth, Entrepreneurship & Environment, Founder of I AM S.A.M. Foundation, Inc and 2019 Awardee of the Global Woman Awards, Inspirational Woman.

Listen and Learn about the Universal Declaration of Human Rights Article 20: 1. Everyone has the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association. 2. No one may be compelled to belong to an association. This episode features an interview with Diane Stein, President of Citizens Commission on Human Rights, Florida.

Listen and Learn about the Universal Declaration of Human Rights Article 19: Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers. This episode features an interview with Wil Seabrook, Musician, Writer and Founder of Rock for Human Rights. Wil shares his experiences and the importance of this Article on Freedom of Expression and what you can do to promote and protect this human right.  

Listen and Learn about the Universal Declaration of Human Rights Articles 17 & 18, Right to Own Property and Freedom of Thought, Conscience and Religion. This episode features an interview with Anneke Kat, Youth & Community Programs Manager for Interfaith Philadelphia. Find out what you should know about these human rights and how you can apply them in your daily life. Dare to Understand! Article 17: 1. Everyone has the right to own property alone as well as in association with others. 2. No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his property. Article 18: Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.

Listen and Learn about the Universal Declaration of Human Rights Article 16, Marriage and Family. This episode features an interview with Wil Seabrook, Musician, Writer and Founder of Rock for Human Rights. Wil shares  experiences and realizations from his own marriage along with lines from his latest song regarding marriage. Learn why marriage and family are fundamental to a strong, sustainable culture and what you can do to promote and protect this human right. Article 16: 1. Men and women of full age, without any limitation due to race, nationality or religion, have the right to marry and to found a family. They are entitled to equal rights as to marriage, during marriage and at its dissolution. 2. Marriage shall be entered into only with the free and full consent of the intending spouses. 3. The family is the natural and fundamental group unit of society and is entitled to protection by society and the State.

Listen and learn about the Universal Declaration of Human Rights Articles 13 through 15. This episode features an interview with Evans Kwesi Mensah, Business Strategist and Best-Selling author originally from Ghana. Find out what you should know about these articles and how to apply these rights in your daily life. Article 13: 1. Everyone has the right to freedom of movement and residence within the borders of each State. 2. Everyone has the right to leave any country, including his own, and to return to his country. Article 14: 1. Everyone has the right to seek and to enjoy in other countries asylum from persecution. 2. This right may not be invoked in the case of prosecutions genuinely arising from non-political crimes or from acts contrary to the purposes and principles of the United Nations. Article 15: 1. Everyone has the right to a nationality. 2. No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his nationality nor denied the right to change his nationality.

Listen and Learn about the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Articles 6-12 relating to Law and Justice. This episode features an interview with Erin Daly and James May, both Professors of Law at Widener University Delaware Law School. Erin and Jimmy are also the Co-founders and Directors of the Dignity Rights Project, an organization that helps to advance the dignity rights of vulnerable around the world in matters relating to environmental health, education, and political participation, among other things. They have written extensively on environmental rights and they are currently at work on several projects about dignity rights, including the first legal casebook on the subject. 

Listen and Learn about the Universal Declaration of Human Rights Article 5, No Cruel Treatment: No one shall subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. This episode features an interview with Abigail Rodgers Layton, Director of the Family Division at the Delaware office of the Attorney General. Find out modern day violations and what actions you can take to help!

Listen and Learn about the Universal Declaration of Human Rights Article 4, No Slavery: No one shall be held in slavery or servitude; slavery and the slave trade shall be prohibited in all their forms. This episode features an interview with Yolanda Schlabach, Executive Director of Zoe Ministries-Delaware and founder of DelCAT (Delaware Coalition Against Trafficking). Find out what actions you can take to help combat this horrific crime of modern-day slavery.

This episode features an interview with Ella Torrey, former Public Information Officer to Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt, US Mission to the United Nations. On December 10th, 1948, Ella Torrey was a young reporter for the Chicago Tribune living in Paris, France and was one of the journalists present at the United Nations' General Assembly meeting the night the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted. Listen to Ella describe what it was like to be in the room on that historic night and then just a few years later, how it was to work alongside Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt.

Listen and Learn about the first three articles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) including how all human beings should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood. Article 1: All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood. Article 2: Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. Furthermore, no distinction shall be made on the basis of the political, jurisdictional or international status of the country or territory to which a person belongs, whether it be independent, trust, non-self-governing or under any other limitation of sovereignty. Article 3: Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person.

In this episode, we introduce Ellen Firestone, United for Human Rights Ambassador, National Council Member of the United Nations Association of the United States 2018-2020 (UNA-USA) and President's Volunteer Service Award Recipient for her work with Human Rights. Listen and Learn about the United Nations' Universal Declaration of Human Rights adopted in 1948, why it is important to know your 30 human rights and what YOU can do to promote and protect them for yourself and others!