Award-winning Brazilian anti-slavery activist on Ontario speaking tour

MONTREAL, March 16, 2012 /CNW Telbec/ - Brother Xavier Plassat, Anti-Slavery and Human Trafficking Coordinator of the Commissão Pastoral da Terra (Pastoral Land Commission) in Brazil, has arrived in Toronto to share his message of anit-slavery with Canadians.

Each year, 25,000 Brazilians enter into the cycle of slavery.  Brother Plassat is a Dominican Friar, whose program helps to free between 3,000 and 6,000 slaves every year from this cycle.  His work in this field was most recently recognized by the US State Department in June of 2010¹.

At the invitation of the international development organization DEVELOPMENT AND PEACE, Brother Plassat will be speaking on this subject at various engagements throughout the Central Ontario Region between March 14^th and March 26^th. For a schedule of his speaking engagements, visit: www.facebook.com/events/309312959128663/.

The Commissão Pastoral da Terra was created by the Catholic Bishops of Brazil to respond to the needs of the poor and landless in the country. Development and Peace has been supporting the organization for several years and last year contributed $200,000 to the work of the organization.

Brother Plassat is one of several visitors from the Global South who have been invited to Canada to share with Canadians the work that is made possible in their countries through the support of Development and Peace during the organization's annual Lenten fundraising campaign.

Development and Peace is the official international development agency of the Canadian Catholic Church.

Brother Plassat is available for interviews upon request.

¹ http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/site/entry/brazil_xavier_plassat_gtip

or to schedule an interview, please contact:
Luke Stocking, speaking tour coordinator
Tel.: [phone] x225 (office), 647-927-7838 (cell)
E-mail : [email protected]