Guinness World Records™ Record-Breaking Attempt Underway at Miami Dade College
Members of International Solidarity for Human Rights - The New Generation seek to set a new record for “Longest Reading Aloud Marathon by a Team”
Standing (L-R): Isabel Viera, Devorah Sasha, Ana Maria Leonardi, Maria Cristina Alarcon, Carlos Martinez. Sitting (L-R): Elizabeth Sanchez Vegas, Lilly Blanco.
Miami, November 3, 2009 - With music, poetry and inspirational words, six women began a 10-day reading marathon today at Miami Dade College in an attempt to break a Guinness World Records™ record while promoting education, understanding and respect for human rights. Their quest, which will end at some point during the afternoon of Nov. 12, is being streamed live at www.mdc.edu/iac/live.
Members of International Solidarity for Human Rights-The New Generation seek to set a new record for “Longest Reading Aloud Marathon by a Team” while reading the 30 Articles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, repeatedly for more than 224 hours at Miami Dade College’s InterAmerican Campus in Little Havana. They will do this while the MiamiBook Fair International takes place Nov. 8 – 15 at the college’s Wolfson Campus where human rights and freedom always take center stage.
In 1948, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted and proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly. It has since been translated into more than 360 languages and described by the Guinness Book of Records as the “Most Translated Document” in the world. Nonetheless, only 5 percent of the world’s population is aware that the Universal Declaration for Human Rights exists and a mere 1 percent has actually read it.
“We estimate that during our attempt, the 30 Articles of this extraordinary document will be repeated about 1200 times. With a 24 hour international audience via the internet, our goal is not only to set a new reading record, but to reach millions of people who otherwise wouldn’t be aware of their intrinsic rights,” says Elizabeth Sanchez Vegas, founder of International Solidarity of Human Rights.
Ten Days Together
To comply with the guidelines of the Guinness World Records™ organization, the team must remain on the premises for the entire length of the attempt. The six women team will be living in Conference Room 401. A space of approximately 300 square feet will be blocked off to accommodate comfortable living, sleeping and eating quarters. Also, by mandate of the Guinness World Records™, the entire event area will remain open for public and media viewing. If all goes as planned, the record is expected to be set between 4 and 6 p.m. Nov. 12.
The Women
Elizabeth SanchezVegas - founder of ISHR / former television news anchor; Devorah Sasha - international songstress; Ana Maria Leonardi - visual artist / art instructor; Lilly Blanco - marketing & design consultant / multi-media artist; Isabel Viera - radio personality / actress / founder of Profunda, Exilio Productions & DeVarona Group; and Maria Cristina Alarcon - journalist / author
This event is produced in memory of Eleanor Roosevelt and in honor of The New Generation.
WHAT: Members of International Solidarity for Human Rights -The New Generation seek to set a set new record Guiness World Records™
record for “Longest Reading Aloud Marathon by a Team”
WHEN: Tuesday, Nov. 3 – 9 a.m. Opening Ceremony in Courtyard, 10 a.m. Reading Begins with Guinness Adjudicator Present
WHERE: Miami Dade College
InterAmerican Campus - Room 401
627 SW 27th Avenue
Miami, FL 33135
International Solidarity for Human Rights Media Contacts: Elizabeth Sanchez Vegas 786-301-3019, esv@ishrights.org; Lilly Blanco 786-280-2282, lb@ishrights.org.
Media-only contacts:
Juan Mendieta, 305-237-7611, jmendiet@mdc.edu, MDC communications director
Sue Arrowsmith, 305-237-3710, sue.arrowsmith@mdc.edu, media specialist
Tarnell Carroll, 305-237-3359, tcarroll@mdc.edu, Media Specialist
Alejandro Rios, 305-237-7482, arios1@mdc.edu