The exception to the rule

A series of storms sweeping their way across the Atlantic has meant that we have been unable to depart. Even the saltiest of sea dogs has been scratching his briny beard at this unseasonal weather. We chose our departure date specifically because it was not storm season and fair weather would be likely, but alas there is always an exception to the rule.
We do have some of the world´s finest weather routers at out disposal and indications are that the nasty low pressures systems should cease inbetween christmas and the new year. With this in mind we have a new provisional start date of the 29th December.
With the continuence of a delay such as this many of the crew members were forced to face the insidious pressures of the ´real world´. This has resulted in several earnest and lugubrious crew discussions about finacial implications, deadlines and worst case scenarios. We have decided on leaving Gomera to reconvene after christmas and I believe that most of the issues have been contained and so long as we do leave this year, it will be with the original crew intact and happy!

Sun, Seasickness and Anticlimax

After heading back to the UK for my brothers wedding (congrats!) and to fulfill ADR(additional dialogue recording) committments for a film I shot earlier this year, I am now back in the Canaries with the crew. We went out for our first row here and I was in the off watch (those not rowing) to start. I was stuck in the cabin feeling a little queezy and before long was on deck vomiting into a bucket. Not a good start. I should say though I probably would´ve been sick if I stayed on land- shots at the previous nights Tropical party definately to blame! That didnt stop me jumping on and rowing when the watches swapped round, so atleast i didnt let the crew down. The next days trip went very well and we reached a speed of 5.6knts.
However since then things have very much slowed. We had a problem with our water maker and the only option was to fly out a spare part which wouldnt arrive till tuesday, meaning a likely departure date would be thursday 10th, 4 days later than planned. However to make things worse, we have just had some bad news on the weather front which has frustrated people no end, resulting in us probably having to sit tight until the 16th. Theres not really any work I can do on the boat and as the weather worsens we wont even be able to have practice rows, so hanging around is the order of the day. There´s nothing worse than doing nothing, what an anticlimax.
That said with expeditions there is always the chance of delays, so although i´m dissapointed its a case of just accepting it really. In the grand scheme of things a 10 day wait isnt the end of the world, the show must go on! And atleast the sun is shining. For now..

Here we are in La Gomera

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Peter Gadiot in La Gomera.

The 12-seater rowing boat "Brittania III" is being prepared shortly before the planned departure in early December 2009 from the Spanish Canary Isles. Destination: Antigua, 3000 miles away! If they get there in under 33 days, they will have broken the world record!

Here are the members of the Brittania III team:

Peter Gadiot
Linda Brewer
James Scott
James Nettleton
Lise Kronborg
Neil Ward

David Hoskins

Ian Couch
Lee Fudge
Anne Miltenberger
Allan Lyngholm
Robert Prentice

Follow their progress as they row across the Atlantic Ocean here:
http://www.atlanticrowingrace09.com/progress/byteam/31/
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Peter Gadiot explains what's going to happen

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This is about our campaign to make the world more aware of modern-day slavery.

More info at our website http://www.rowingagainstslavery.org - please check it out and also follow us on Twitter http://twitter.com/ragainstslavery and Facebook http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=291911600110.

Thanks for viewing - Peter Gadiot

La Gomera!

So I have spent the last week in the Canary islands preparing the boat along with my fellow crew of the Brittania III. The weather and atmosphere is great. As I was arriving to the island I saw the Atlantic stretching out before me and was filled with a huge sense of anticipation and adventure. To think i'd be heading out there into the distance in just a little boat with no sails or motor.
Back in the docks we had lots of jobs to do such as preparing loads of food, padding, cleaning and trimming the boat, sorting the gearing of the oars, painting, putting landyards on just about everything..the list goes on! It feels good to finally be out here after what seemed like a long and often trying gestation period. Its actually about to happen! Thanks to those companies who donated goods to the project, much appreciated. PG

An evening of inspirational talk, live music & fundraising

Come along to my talk at Grub on Wednesday 18th of November! Please click on the poster to enlarge it.

Fondswerver en avonturier roeit de Atlantische Oceaan over om aandacht te vragen voor moderne slavernij

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Om de door de VN erkende Internationale dag van de afschaffing van de slavernij kracht bij te zetten, roeit de jonge acteur Peter Gadiot de Atlantische Oceaan over in een poging het wereldrecord te breken en zo de aandacht te vestigen op het probleem van wereldwijde slavernij en mensenhandel.

Peter Gadiot

Londen, Verenigd Koninkrijk – Acteur Peter Gadiot roeit de Atlantische Oceaan over om aandacht te vragen voor het probleem van de moderne slavernij. Hij hoopt de oversteek van La Gomera op de Canarische Eilanden naar Antigua in de Caraïben in een recordtijd van minder dan 33 dagen af te leggen.

Dit project zet bovendien de door de VN erkende Internationale dag van de afschaffing van de slavernij (2 december) kracht bij; deze dag valt tijdens de laatste voorbereidingen voor de oversteek. Peter Gadiot en zijn crew zullen op zondag 6 december 2009 aan de oversteek beginnen.

De bijna 5000 km lange reis is een enorme fysieke uitdaging; alle crewleden roeien gedurende 24 uur per dag in een continu ritme van 2 uur op, 2 uur af – zodat de boot tijdens de gehele oversteek niet stil komt te liggen - in een poging het huidige wereldrecord van 33 dagen te verbreken.

De crew, die mogelijk naakt zal moeten roeien om zoutzweren te voorkomen, zal te maken krijgen met blaren, slecht weer en haaien. Bovendien zullen ze het tijdens de oversteek moeten stellen zonder toiletvoorzieningen en gekookt voedsel.

De 10-koppige crew is samengesteld door de kapitein, Ian Couch; één van de enige drie mannen ter wereld die zowel de Atlantische als de Indische Oceaan heeft overgeroeid.

"Tijdens mijn reizen naar diverse landen in de wereld heb ik met mijn eigen ogen gezien wat de effecten zijn van moderne slavernij. Daarom wil ik heel graag iets grootst doen om aandacht te vragen voor dit probleem," aldus Peter die het project “Rowing Against Slavery” heeft genoemd.

Peter, die zelf geen roeiervaring heeft, wil het probleem onder de aandacht te brengen om zo mee te helpen aan de bestrijding van deze verderfelijke en mensonterende misdaad. De campagne wordt gesteund door organisaties die strijden tegen slavernij en uitbuiting in al zijn vormen, waaronder Anti-Slavery International en Fairtrade Foundation and Help the Children.

Het probleem van moderne slavernij:

• De VN schat dat wereldwijd 12,3 miljoen mensen als slaaf worden gebruikt.

• Mensenhandel is een moderne tragedie; het is de snelst groeiende vorm van slavernij en een illegale industrie waarin miljarden euro's omgaan.

• De belangrijkste vormen van uitbuiting zijn gedwongen arbeid, schuldslavernij en mensenhandel.

“Iedereen zal ontzag hebben voor de enorme fysieke uitdaging die Peter en zijn crewgenoten zichzelf hebben opgelegd, maar wat nog indrukwekkender is, is dat Peter zijn moed inzet in solidariteit met de miljoenen mensen die over de hele wereld als slaaf worden gebruikt.

Peter zal aandacht vragen voor de vrijheidsstrijd van de schuldslaven in Zuid-Azië, voor de pogingen van huishoudelijk personeel om wereldwijd wettelijke bescherming te krijgen en voor de roep om scholing door miljoenen kinderen die tegen hun wil gedwongen worden te werken. Wat hij doet, zou over alle oceanen moeten weerklinken, opdat de leiders, door wiens gebrek aan optreden dergelijk onrecht blijft bestaan, zich zouden schamen.”

Aldus Aiden McQuade, directeur van Anti-Slavery International (opgericht in 1839)

Bedrijven en personen die het project willen sponsoren of een bedrag willen doneren om zo het project te steunen en geld in te zamelen voor instellingen tegen slavernij, kunnen terecht op de website van het project: http://www.rowingagainstslavery.org. Donaties van goederen en diensten zijn eveneens zeer welkom.

Over Peter Gadiot

Peter Gadiot is half Mexicaans, half Nederlands. Hij is opgegroeid in Sussex in het Verenigd Koninkrijk en heeft een groot deel van zijn leven doorgebracht vele verschillende landen - hij is een echte wereldburger.

Hij heeft een opleiding gevolgd aan het gerenommeerde Drama Centre London (bekende oud-studenten zijn: Colin Firth, Paul Bettany en Pierce Brosnan) en is in de zomer van 2008 afgestudeerd. Hij speelt in de Britse tv-komedie, “My Spy Family” en heeft de mannelijke hoofdrol in de nieuwe speelfilm “13Hrs”. http://www.petergadiot.com

Verdere informatie over Peter en informatie over de 10 crewleden, die allen voor hun eigen goede doel roeien, kunt u vinden op de website van de crew die binnenkort bekend zal worden gemaakt.

Neem voor meer informatie contact op met:

Peter Gadiot
Rowing Against Slavery
+44 (0)777 606 3653

rowingagainstslavery@gmail.com
http://www.rowingagainstslavery.org
http://www.twitter.com/RAgainstslavery

Aangeboden door: WorldWidePR.net
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Crawley Library Talk

Come along to my talk at the Crawley library on Thursday the 5th November! Please click on the poster to enlarge it.

Akon supports Rowing Against Slavery

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On The Mike With Mike Sherman: Since Akon is already an active anti-slavery campaigner (it's the subject of the video 'Blood Into Gold' that he made with Peter Buffett), Mike Sherman asked him recently at the 2009 Think Pink Benefit Concert for Breast Cancer Awareness, Mizner Park, Boca Raton what he thought about Peter Gadiot's project called 'Rowing Against Slavery'. Peter is rowing the Atlantic Ocean to increase public awareness of modern-day slavery, child labour and human trafficking, in support of Anti-Slavery.org, Save The Children and Fairtrade.

o O o

MIKE: "Hi, I'm Mike Sherman from the hit TV show 'On The Mike With Mike Sherman'. There's a brave young man out of England named Peter Gadiot who'll be rowing from South Africa to the Caribbean islands against slavery... and recently, I had a chance to go one on one with world superstar entertainer Akon about this serious, serious issue... and here's what he had to say."

AKON: "Now I think it just, it opens the doors for conversation, so you know, there's a lot of things and issues that we all forget as people, things that can actually help bring us closer together, that's actually built in from the history of it. You know, so things like that only opens up conversations for us to actually be able to communicate. So I like that action."

o O o

http://www.rowingagainstslavery.org

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Rowing Against Slavery MercuryFM interview

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http://www.rowingagainstslavery.org

Cheryl Dennis of Mercury FM interviews Peter Gadiot about his campaign against slavery: on 6 Dec 09, he will row (probably naked!!) 3,000 miles across the Atlantic from the Canary Isles to Antigua to make us more aware of the problem of modern-day slavery, child labour and human trafficking.

This interview will be broadcast soon on http://www.mercuryfm.co.uk 97.5 - 102.7 FM

Anti-Slavery International Director Sends Letter of Support

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It is all happening!

This week has seen several newspaper articles printed as well as our first radio interview (audio to come soon).




One of the charities we are supporting is Anti-Slavery International which was founded in 1839 by Thomas Clarkson and other abolitionists, making it the first ever International Human rights Organization.

Their director, Aiden McQuade, was on a long train journey and thought of writing a message for us and here it is...

“While everyone must be in awe of the sheer physical challenge of the task that Peter and his team mates have set themselves, even more impressive is that Peter is deploying his courage in solidarity with the millions of people in slavery across the world.

Peter will be raising awareness of the struggle for freedom by bonded labourers in South Asia, the efforts of domestic workers to obtain legal protection around the world, and the demands for education by the millions of children forced to work against their will. What he is doing should echo across all the oceans and shame the leaders whose inactions maintain such injustices.”

Aiden McQuade

Wow, I'll certainly find motivation from those words when the going gets tough.

Please, remember... This project benefits from monetary or time/talent contributions. We are actively looking for sponsorship and donations from companies and individuals to help fund the project and raise money for our charities. Every £5.00 means 1 mile further across the ocean. Donations of goods and services are also very welcome.

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Join our Facebook group, follow us on Twitter, and please help us spread the word! Any contribution of any size in whatever form would be very appreciated!
+44 (0)777 606 3653 rowingagainstslavery@gmail.com
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We're on the home page of Rowing News!

It looks like the folks at Rowing News found our press release and added it as a news story on their home page. Then @kate_garratt sees it and tweets about it, as does @bubble_aish and a host of other tweeters, so thank you everyone for helping us get the word out.

We're still looking for sponsors so please get in touch if you know anyone who might be interested.
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Actor Rowing the Atlantic to Raise Awareness of Modern-Day Slavery

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To mark the United Nations’ International Day for the Abolition of Slavery, young actor, Peter Gadiot, is crossing the Atlantic Ocean to highlight the problem of global slavery and human trafficking whilst attempting to break the cross-Atlantic rowing world record.

Peter Gadiot

East Grinstead, Sussex, UK – Actor, Peter Gadiot, is rowing the Atlantic to raise awareness of the problem of modern-day slavery. The crossing from La Gomera, Canary Isles to Antigua in the Caribbean is hoped to be completed in a record-breaking time of less than 33 days.

The project also marks the United Nations’ International Day for the Abolition of Slavery - 2 December - which falls during the final preparations for the crossing. The crew is scheduled for departure on Sunday, 6th December 2009.

The 3,000-mile journey will be an enormous physical challenge, with all crew members rowing 2 hours on, 2 hours off, continuously for 24 hours a day – such that the boat will never stop moving throughout the entire crossing - in an effort to beat the current 33-day cross-Atlantic world record.

The crew, who may have to row naked in order to prevent salt sores, will face blisters, temperamental weather and sharks, as well as no cooked food or toilet facilities.

The crew of 10 was hand picked by the captain, Ian Couch, one of only three men in the world to have rowed both the Atlantic and Indian Oceans.

"Having travelled to many countries across the world and seen, first hand, some of the effects of modern day slavery, I really wanted to do something big to raise awareness of this issue," says Peter who has named the project, “Rowing Against Slavery”.

Peter, who has no previous rowing experience, aims to increase awareness of the problem to help combat this pernicious and degrading crime. The campaign is in support of organisations that campaign against slavery and exploitation in all its forms, such as Anti-Slavery International and Fairtrade Foundation.

The problem of contemporary slavery:

• The UN estimates that 12.3 million people, worldwide, are enslaved.

• Human trafficking is a modern tragedy, is the fastest growing form of slavery and is a $10 billion illegal industry.

• Major forms of exploitation are forced labour, bonded labour (debt slavery) and sexual slavery.

Sponsorship and donations from companies and individuals to help fund the project and raise money for anti-slavery charities are invited via the project’s website at http://www.rowingagainstslavery.org. Donations of goods and services are also very welcome.

About Peter Gadiot

Peter Gadiot is half Mexican, half Dutch, grew up in Sussex, UK and has spent a large part of his life in many different countries - he is a true citizen of the world.

He trained at the prestigious Drama Centre London (whose alumni include Colin Firth, Paul Bettany and Pierce Brosnan), graduating summer 2008. His credits include the TV comedy, “My Spy Family” and the male lead in the upcoming feature film, “13Hrs”. http://www.petergadiot.com

Further information about Peter along with details of the 10 crew members, each rowing for their own separate causes, can be found at the crew’s website which will be announced soon.

For more information, please contact:

Peter Gadiot
Rowing Against Slavery
+44 (0)777 606 3653

rowingagainstslavery@gmail.com
http://www.rowingagainstslavery.org
http://www.twitter.com/RAgainstSlavery

Submitted by: WorldWidePR.net

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