As many of you know, last week Atlas held its annual Freedom Dinner, which commemorates the fall of the Berlin Wall and the liberation of millions from the grip of the Soviet empire.  Along with this event, we recognized the work of 16 think tanks as winners of our Templeton Freedom Award.

Institución Futuro, based in Spain, won the award for Initiative in Public Relations for their work promoting “Tax Freedom Day” which was launched in June.  President and founder, Julio Pomes, along with his staff of eight, have been diligently working to expose the immoral nature of excessive taxation.

True to form, Institución Futuro has done an excellent job of promoting this award. Click here to read more on Institución Futuro and its recent recognition in the Spanish daily, ­­Diario de Navarra.

Don’t miss the opportunity to hear the 2008 Templeton Freedom Award winners speak on The Moral Imperative of Economic Freedom and Innovations in Promoting Liberty on November 13 (8:00AM-12:00noon) at the Renaissance Mayflower Hotel in Washington D.C.

If you are already registered for the Freedom Dinner that takes places on Nov. 12, you are invited to attend the TFA conference at no additional charge. If you are not registered for the Freedom Dinner, the cost to attend the TFA conference which includes breakfast is $50. You can register for the TFA conference on the same registration site for the Freedom Dinner, which will give you the option to select which event/s you would like to attend.

More detail about the TFA winners who will be speaking will be posted on this site in the next few days.

An independent panel of judges was called upon to select the winners of the Templeton Freedom Awards.

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As a separate note, the announcement of the winner of the 2008 Freda Utley Prize for Advancing Liberty will take place at the Freedom Dinner on November 13, 2008.

Bulgaria is a country that has often been plagued by corruption. Earlier this year, the European Union partly froze some EU funds as a message to Bulgarian authorities that they must show solid progress in fighting corruption. As part of this effort, the Bulgarian Parliament has introduced the Access to Public Information Act (APIA) to establish reforms that will increase transparency and erode corruption in their country.

A 2005 Templeton Award winner for Ethics and Values, the Access to Information Programme (AIP), has been influential in drafting amendments to APIA that have enabled it to successfully pass two parliamentary committees. Hearings on APIA are forthcoming as it moves through the parliamentary process. You can read the press release here.

By Alex Chafuen

Sir John Marks Templeton passed away this morning, July 8, 2008.  He was born on November 29, 1912 in Winchester, Tennessee. His generosity played a key role in the development of the Atlas Economic Research Foundation.  His friendship and knowledge of Antony Fisher’s work prompted him to recommend Antony, Atlas founder, for Knighthood. In spirit and in practice, Sir John and his team helped Atlas rise to a higher level of performance. As so many people were touched by his gifts many will be writing obituaries highlighting his major accomplishments.  We will post links to obituaries appearing in newspapers.  I wrote a personal obituary based on my recollections of the precious moments that I spent with him [to be posted shortly].  I also had the privilege of spending quality time with his son, Dr. Jack Templeton, and several members of his family. Jack is also uniquely endowed to push Sir John’s  vision forward.  As gentle and firm believers in the creative powers of free enterprise, the younger generations of his family will also join all those of us who work to improve the understanding of material and spiritual reality.

The entire Atlas family wishes the Templeton family strength in this moment of sadness but also of greatness.  Sir John had earned his place in history through his leadership in pioneering international wealth creation; he gained another place in history by devoting all his talents to his innovative philanthropic efforts; he has now earned eternal recognition and special place in the abode of the all generous Creator. Sir John’s major goal in life was to increase our understanding of the Divine.  He can now rest in peace contemplating the Truth which he searched  so tirelessly for.  Those who stay behind will continue this search and his mission.

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I would like to let you know that Atlas has begun accepting applications for the 2008 Templeton Freedom Awards for Excellence in Promoting Liberty. The application deadline is August 1, 2008. With the new structure of these awards, Atlas is recognizing a young think tank and a more established one in each prize category. We have added 3 new prize categories to the already existing 5 ones, so each of the 16 winners will receive $10,000.

Find more information about these awards below

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