The Universal Declaration of Human Rights defines the foundation of freedom as being “recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family.”

Freedom has many manifestations: Freedom of speech…freedom from fear…freedom of movement and residence…freedom of thought, conscience, and religion…freedom of opinion and expression…freedom for peaceful assembly and association…freedoms to which everyone is entitled, without distinction of any kind.”

Yet around the globe, many people are denied essential freedoms and basic human rights. To raise awareness of the importance of freedom, the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, in cooperation with Apple Inc., is asking college students across the United States to participate in a national video essay competition on the subject of “Freedom Is . . .”

Here’s how the contest works:

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Freedom Center Uses Wi Fi, Digital Media to Embrace New Audiences

Cincinnati, Ohio — The Global Citizen of the 21^st Century is likely to be a “digital native,” born into and growing up in a technology-driven world. According to the Pew Internet & American Life Project, today’s 13 to18-year olds spend more than six hours each day using some form of digital media. Access to information is ubiquitous, giving greater importance to informal learning as a necessary supplement to school-based activities.

The National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, today, placed itself at the center of this new learning ecology by launching a one-of-a-kind project that builds on the influence of technology in our lives. The “Digital Backpack Classroom,” will allow visitors at the Freedom Center to embrace social networking technology, digital media production, and wireless computing in ways that empower them to create, distribute and access a shared vision for freedom.

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