Support continues to stream in for our Break The Chains campaign.

Launched at the start of this week, we are calling on readers to sign an on-line petition demanding action from global leaders to help free at least 12 million modern day slaves.

Started ahead of the official bicentenary of the abolition of the slave trade in Britain and its territories in 1807, the petition by human rights charity Anti-Slavery International is calling for Governments to end to all forms of human captivity. This includes human trafficking, child labour, bonded labour and forced marriage. Charities, community groups, religious leaders and one of the Island’s top sporting stars have already backed Break The Chains.

Now Opposition Leader Wayne Furbert and US Consul General Gregory Slayton have thrown their weight behind it.

Mr. Furbert last night urged residents to back the campaign.

He said: “Slavery is a scar across human history, and Bermudians still live with its heavy legacy of racial discrimination, whether perceived or real. No issue inflames our people more than this.”

“It is the dragon we must slay, and it can only be done if we truly want something better for ourselves and our children. The only way we’re going to get to a better place is through developing the widest understanding of the continuing impact of slavery and finding ways to shut it down.”

Mr. Furbert added: “We must talk about it, but only with the purpose of finding solutions that work. Mobilising our collective will is essential to this task, and so the United Bermuda Party applauds The Royal Gazette’s <$>Break the Chains campaign and its call for residents to sign a petition to end slavery today.

“This is an opportunity for people to declare themselves anti-slavery and anti-racist and they should take it. I encourage people to sign up. All of us working together can slay the dragon.”

And US Consul Mr. Slayton told The Royal Gazette: “We are completely supportive of this initiative. The scourge of slavery dates back thousands of years and it has been a constant nightmare that echoes to the modern day.” He added: “Stamping out slavery in this decade is one of the highest priorities of the US Government.”

Mr. Slayton said he was delighted to see Bermuda rallying with people from across the world to focus on what he said was a “very, very critical issue”.

*To sign the Anti-Slavery International petition go to www.antislavery.org/2007/actionsign.php <$>and fill in your details. To comment on The Royal Gazette <$>Break The Chains Campaign call 278-0160, or email djones[AT]royalgazette.bm