a snowball rolling downhill.
One day while searching for the funny pages in the newspaper, a morning ritual, 12-year-old Craig Kielburger was stopped by a headline that read, "Battled Child Labor, Boy, 12, Murdered." Iqbal Masih, a Pakistani boy, had escaped child labour at age nine to become a leader in the movement against bonded labour and child slavery. He was eventually shot and killed for speaking out.
Craig brought the article into his Grade 7 class to ask if anyone would help him continue Iqbal's fight. Eleven hands shot up, and Free The Children was born. Since that day, Craig and his friends haven't stopped. He has travelled the world, learning from thousands of forgotten and voiceless people, and giving inspirational speeches to world leaders and youth.
Every day the movement grows and every day we are closer to the world we dream of. Here is where we get to see the dream and the reality from Craig's eyes.
See the personal side of Craig in this exclusive interview. Discover what he does in his time off, how he gets around in a new country, and more! >
craig's blog.
and so it begins. Craig's blog is up!
If you haven't heard the buzz, you could be missing out.
Mark Winston, a professor at Simon Fraser University heard it. So did Eugenio Angles farmer in Alto Beni, Bolivia.
Unfortunately, the buzz seems to be dying down. That's because its source is dying out. And, the eerie silence has more than one person raising the alarm.
"Beekeepers all around the world are noticing their bees dwindle and disappear," says the professor of apiculture and social insects. "Over the last few years, they have been losing a third of their bees. That's pretty catastrophic."
It's estimated about one-third of thehuman food supply is dependent on pollination. Hundreds of species of nuts, berries, grains and vegetables rely on bees' diligent work. Combine that with income-generating beekeeping and you've got a little creature with a massive impact on the daily lives of humans.
The vainshing bee phenomenon is labeled colony collapse disorder. Winston attributes it to a number of factors. Parasites that destroy colonies have become resistant to antibiotics we use to kill them.
Check out all of Craig's books here >
Read our Global Voices articles written by our very own Craig & Marc Kielburger here >
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Check out the latest about Craig and FTC in the media here >
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What single piece of clothing would you wear every day if you could?
It would definitely be my Me to We Style, “Be The Change?T-shirt. It's comfortable and because it's organic and fair-trade, I feel good about wearing it. I wore it recently to a U2 concert and it got a great reception. The Edge walked over to my shake hand because he loved the message so much! It was such a cool experience and great to know that rockers can voice a social message as well.
In your downtime, what is your favourite spot in Toronto?
Believe it or not, my favourite spot in Toronto is the Free The Children and Me to We offices. I don't think you'll find anywhere else in the city that's so full of energy, great people and close friends. There's always someone around with a warm smile and a big hug. Plus, when the computers turn off, the pizza comes out. It's just such a welcoming place to come home to.
When you visit a new and unfamiliar place, what is the very first thing you do?
Once I've gathered my luggage and made my way through the airport, I go to a caf?and ask a local for travel advice. This is really the best way to get the inside scoop. Most people are so helpful and will let you in on the best restaurants, the places where locals hang out and the real must-sees.
Rather than getting caught in a tourist trap, this helps me experience a new culture to its fullest.
Being the founder of Free The Children is an almost non-stop job. But when you do get a chance to take a breath, how do you unwind?
When I get a chance to breathe, I'm usually holding my breath. That's because I love crazy adventures! In the past, I went running with the bulls, deep-sea diving and solo skydiving. This summer, I got a chance to visit the source of the Nile and go white water rafting and bungee jumping. I don't think there's any better way to unwind than feeling that rush of adrenaline.
You don't exactly live a normal, run-of-the-mill life. So what do your friends think of what you do?
My closest friends are people who grew up with me as part of Free The Children. All of them are so supportive. Even those who are not working with us full-time because of grad school or new adventures, they still share that passion for social change. They are so committed to making a difference in the world as well and I really appreciate every one of them.
Do you have a morning ritual that gets you ready for the day, mentally/physically/spiritually?
Whether I'm reading it online line or spread out on my kitchen table, I always start my day reading the newspaper. That way I can catch up with what's going on in the world. Archbishop Desmond Tutu once told me the newspaper was like a menu laying out all the world's issues that need our help.
If you're passionate about local issues, it's your first couple pages. If you want to make a difference on national issues, go midway through. If your passion is changing the world, it's always at the end. Either way, it's conveniently divided out for you every single day.
You've eaten meals from all parts of the world and in all settings. What is the one meal that you will surely never forget / the strangest food you've ever eaten?
There are way too many to choose from. I've eaten silk worms and fried bumble bees. Then, there's blood, very fresh heart and eyes. Tasty.
You always appear very self-confident, but when was the time that you felt the most unsure of yourself?
The very first time I spoke in front of my Grade 7 class, I was so scared. I had a speech impediment growing up and was always very nervous about public speaking. Standing in front of the other students and asking them to help start Free The Children was definitely a challenge. But, that first step gave me some confidence and it gets a little easier every time.