Update: Attorney General Bill McCollum Follows The Lauch of The New CyperSafety Program

Hello Everyone,

Evelyn here,

with more "From The Loft To The Streets". Below is a copy of the the most recent news release from the Attorney General Bil McCollum on the new CyperSafety program. 

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Office of the Attorney General

Bill McCollum

Attorney General of Florida

 

PRESS RELEASE

May 21, 2007

 

McCOLLUM HOSTS CYBERSAFETY PRESENTATION IN LEE COUNTY

~ Attorney General talks about internet safety, SafeSurf initiative ~

 

      TALLAHASSEE, FL – Closely following the statewide launch of a new

cybersafety initiative, Attorney General Bill McCollum today addressed

parents, teachers and students at a countywide internet safety presentation

at Caloosa Elementary School in Lee County. Speaking at the invitation of

the Lee County School Board, Attorney General McCollum emphasized the

growing need for cybersafety education at all levels, from parents in the

home to kids and teachers in Florida schools. He also encouraged audience

members to visit and use his new cybersafety website located at

http://www.safeflorida.net.

 

      “While it is certainly important to have stronger laws against

internet sex predators and child pornography, education for internet users

of all ages is paramount,” said Attorney General McCollum. “Parents and

children alike must be more aware of the dangers often encountered online

and understand and employ basic safety tips for surfing theinternet.”

 

      After Attorney General McCollum spoke with the attendees about the

importance of cybersafety and the potential hazards online, the audience

separated into three groups to receive more in-depth presentations. Members

of the Attorney General’s Child Predator CyberCrime Unit worked with

elementary, middle school and high school students, and adults to focus on

age-appropriate internet safety tips such as the importance of knowing who

children are talking to online before giving out personal information such

as addresses or phone numbers.

 

       The SafeSurf websites, accessible through http://www.safeflorida.net

provide valuable information to adults, teens and younger children about

staying safe while surfing the internet. The SafeSurf children’s page

includes several entertaining and educational games that teach internet

safety, while the SafeSurf teen page offers tips on safeguarding personal

information, avoiding dangerous situations.A teen webpage also displays a

link to the CyberCrime Unit’s MySpace page and stories from teenagers who

were victimized on the internet. The SafeSurf page for adults provides a

guide to popular internet language used in chat rooms and gives safety

advice on how to monitor children’s activities online.

 

      In addition to the new websites, Attorney General McCollum announced

that his office will be presenting CyberSafety programs, similar to the

ones delivered tonight, in schools across the state beginning this fall.

The presentations will enable school children to identify potential

internet threats so they are better able to protect themselves. The

school-based initiative will also include the Internet Student Advisory

Council which matches technology-savvy teenagers with the CyberCrime Unit’s

law enforcement team.

 

      More information about Attorney General McCollum’s cybercrime

initiative is available online at: http://www.safeflorida.net/SafeSurf.

 

 

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Evelyn out.

On Human Bondage - The Threat of Human Traffiing

Hello Everyone,

Evelyn here,

with an update on the Attorney General office progress and concerns about the rising crime rate in human trafficing, which has become the highest incident of crime in the nation and a fast and real threat among Florida residents. Below the the latest news on this insidious crime.

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The Attorney General Bill McCollum's News Briefs

A Newsletter

May 18, 2007

Volume 5, Issue 20:

Message from Attorney General Bill McCollum

Human trafficking, a form of modern day slavery, is considered one of
the worst offenses against human dignity. This week, a dedicated group
of men and women met to discuss how we can best combat this terrible
crime and protect its many victims. The Florida Coalition Against Human
Trafficking is an extraordinary organization with people who are
committed to making a difference.

This modern-day form of slavery turns human lives into business
transactions and deprives them of the most basic human right - the
right to freedom. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services, human trafficking is the second largest and fastest growing
criminal industry in the world. With Florida's unique geography,
rapidly growing population, and huge influx of visitors every year,
our state is at an elevated risk for being affected by this
insidious crime.

Victims of human trafficking are predominately forced to work in
prostitution or the sex entertainment industry, however other forms
of labor exploitation are also prevalent, including domestic
servitude and sweatshop factory work. Trafficked victims are difficult
to identify for many reasons, primarily because their captors instill
fear in them through various methods to keep them enslaved. Whether
by force or by coercion, many victims believe they have no means to
escape their situation and remain in bondage for the rest of their
lives.

To successfully combat the growing problem of human trafficking we
know that it requires many partnerships - partnerships with other
nations, federal, state and local law enforcement, faith-based and
other non-profit organizations. Here at the state level, as Attorney
General, I want to bring attention to the plight of those who are
victimized by this crime and ensure that traffickers are put behind
bars where they belong.

I believe an important tool in combating trafficking was the passage
of a law in 2004 that makes it a felony in Florida to engage in
sexual trafficking of minors and categorizes human trafficking as a
form of racketeering. This racketeering law allows our Office of
Statewide Prosecution to actively pursue cases involving human
traffickers. I know that our Statewide Prosecutor feels very strongly
about the responsibility to protect those within Florida’s borders
and I am confident our prosecutors will rise to this challenge.

Properly identifying victims has long been a problem, but I am
pleased to announce that last week the Criminal Justice Standards
and Training Commission added, as part of the basic skills course
for all Florida law enforcement officers, training on human
trafficking crime prevention and investigation. This added training
will heighten awareness and allow law enforcement to bring more
traffickers to justice.

As Attorney General, I will do everything within my power to protect
human trafficking victims and punish the perpetrators who commit
these deplorable crimes. Our citizens and our guests deserve nothing
less than our strongest efforts.

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For the first article on this rising threat to human freedoms, see the archives of this blog.

Evelyn out.

 

Full Funding Granted to Attorney General Office To Fight Cyper Crime

 

 

Hello Everone,

 

Evelyn here,

 

Earlier this month, Florida’s Attorney General Bill McCollum office was granted full funding to expand its present six-man Cyber Crime unit to a full statewide unit. 

Below are more details form the General’s newsletter – News Briefs.

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The Attorney General's News Briefs

May 11, 2007

Volume 5, Issue 19:

 

Message from Attorney General Bill McCollum

Today, we launched an exciting new campaign addressing the importance of cybersafety, an issue widely recognized for its importance and its relevance to children, teenagers and adults throughout our state. Several new resources are now available, including Operation SafeSurf, a series of cybersafety-oriented websites located at http://www.safeflorida.net The SafeSurf websites will provide valuable information to adults, teens and kids about staying safe while surfing the internet.

 

We have made excellent progress in the legal fight against cybercrimes that victimize children, including child pornography, internet  solicitation and grooming which occurs when internet predators misrepresent their age to break down their victims’ inhibitions.

Within the past three weeks, our state legislators demonstrated their commitment to protecting our children by passing the CyberCrimes Against Children Act of 2007. We also received funding to expand the Florida Attorney General’s CyberCrime unit across the state. We will begin establishing the new units over the next yearwith 50 additional cybercrime staff dedicated to investigating, arresting and prosecuting internet predators  and child pornographers .

 

While it certainly is important to have stronger laws against child pornography and other cybercrimes, it is just as important for internet users of all ages to be aware of the dangers often encountered online and to employ basic safety tips for surfing the internet.

Today, I had the honor of joining spokespersons supporting the initiative including Tampa Bay Buccaneers player Matt Bryant and Alicia Kozakiewicz, a teenage survivor of internet solicitation and abduction, representatives from the Florida Association of District School Superintendents, and representatives from state and local law enforcement, legal, and business communities.

 

We will also be developing a Public Service Announcement campaign with our spokespersons, including Matt Bryant and professional surfer Kelly Slater, who has also endorsed our initiative.  In addition, our office will be preparing CyberSafety programs to be conducted at public and private schools across the state next fall.

 

I encourage Floridians of all ages to visit http://www.safeflorida.net and make use of the valuable information located there. The combination of tougher laws, education and enhanced law enforcement will send a powerful message that Florida is no place for predators.

 

Thank you.

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Evelyn Out.

 

Mysteriously Wildfires Spread Across the State of Florida

Hello Everyone,

Evelyn with

a bit of news "From the Loft to the Streets".  With the recent wildfires that have mysteriously spread across the state Governor Crist has taken time to visit some to burn sites to investigate the cause and the damage done to our forest areas. The learn more check out the governor's "Notes From the Capital"  newsletter below.

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May 11, 2007 

 

Dear Friends,

  

I join Floridians in honoring mothers, grandmothers and aunts across our state during this Mother’s Day weekend.  We are grateful to these dedicated, brave women for their unyielding devotion to the well-being of their children and families. We can never underestimate the influence of their sacrifice and unselfishness on the lives of their children. All mothers fill many roles –  parent, friend, protector and mentor – and build courage in their children, giving them strength to face life’s challenges and opportunities.

 

Fighting Wildfires

Our state is currently fighting wildfires during this time of drought, so I ask for your help.  Be careful with fire – pay attention to cigarette butts, firecrackers, and barbecue pits.  Be cautious when driving while smoke is on the highways. We must be aware that fire situations can change rapidly – with little or no notice.  Residents near fire situations should listen to local officials and be prepared to follow directions immediately.   

  

Make a Plan

In light of the current wildfire season and the approaching hurricane season on June 1st, I urge you to take time to review your family’s disaster plans and put together a disaster kit.  We have learned from experience that prepared residents and communities are key to surviving and recovering from hurricanes or other natural disasters. Make sure you have at least three days’ worth of supplies for your family and your pets.  You can learn more by visiting www.floridadisaster.org. 

  

  

Sales Tax Holiday

You can also learn about how you can take advantage of the upcoming Hurricane Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday, June 1st through 12th.  While we hope for a quiet hurricane season, the sales-tax holiday will give you the opportunity to receive a tax break on items like flashlights, portable radios, tarps, fuel containers, batteries and much more.  Again, you can learn more about the sales-tax holiday by visiting www.floridadisaster.org. 

  

Tax Cuts 

The sales tax holiday is a great tax cut and keeps your money where it belongs – in your pocket.  Know that I am committed to working to bring you more tax cuts – especially on property taxes.  

 

The Legislature will return to Tallahassee in a few weeks to bring you relief from skyrocketing property taxes.  I remain optimistic that this tax reduction will happen this year. You will get relief. We will be vigilant to lower property taxes – and lower them significantly. 

 May God bless all mothers and continue to bless the great state of Florida,

 PS- If you would like to contact my office, please visit http://www.flgov.com

 

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Evelyn out.

Diamond Rio - In God We Still Trust" An Update!

Hello Everyone,

Evelyn here,

Because I liked the song "In God We Still Trust" so well, I returned to Diamond Rio's website to find an album, and I found a link to "Diamond Rio - Greatest Hits, Vol. 2" at Amazon.com. Before today, I couldn't find it.

Also when I first looked at the Diamond Rio's  website there were no new concerts dates. Now they have new concerts for both this month and in June.  What a great phenomenon!

GREAT JOB AMERICA!

 

Evelyn out.