Think tanks as change agents in the land of the free

Continued on page 3

In Memoriam: John Blundell (see p. 11)

Four U.S. groups among eight Templeton Freedom Award finalists

In an election year like this one, spending on political ads in the U.S. will greatly exceed the combined budgets of the country’s free-market think tanks. But for those who favor limited government, the expected “return on investment” of political spending appears small compared with the results created by some of the best think tanks. This article looks at four such think tanks, all finalists for the 2014 Temple-ton Freedom Award: the Acton Institute, Foundation for Government Accountability, Goldwater Institute and the Illinois Policy Institute.

Peace, Love, & Liberty War is not inevitable. But peace cannot be achieved by wishful thinking alone.Peace, Love, & Liberty is a provocative new book of essays edited by Atlas Network Executive Vice President Dr. Tom G. Palmer. The essays present the evidence regarding what fosters peace, and what disturbs it with conflict. The data demonstrate that the world can continue to grow more peaceful if we limit government and foster open trade and the rule of law. It takes an unflinching look at the ideologies of conflict on the hard Left and hard Right – and presents an alternative that can be the basis of a new, smart, evidence-based Peace Movement.Some of the essays in the book include: Radley Balko, journalist, Washington Post: “The Militarization of Policing”; Robert M.S. McDonald, associate professor, United States Military Academy: “The American Enlightenment’s Wariness of War”; Steven Pinker, professor, Harvard University: “The Decline of War and Conceptions of Human Nature”; and Erik Gartzke, associate professor, University of California, San Diego: “The Free Trade Peace”. Those chapters and more provide information on how we can have a society that is both free and peaceful.

These four Atlas Network partners from the U.S. and partners from Lithuania, Spain, Mexico and Denmark make up this year’s Templeton Freedom Award finalists. The Templeton Freedom Award is generously supported by Templeton Religion Trust and will be presented during Atlas Network’s Liberty Forum and Freedom Dinner. The winning organization will receive a $100,000 grand prize.

Peace, Love, & Liberty is a joint project of Atlas Network and Students for Liberty. Contact Atlas Network at (202) 449-8449 or Events@AtlasNetwork.org to order your copies today.

HIGHLIGHTS Fall 2014•

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As this issue of Highlights goes to press, tear gas has been unleashed on pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong. The Occupy Central with Peace and Love movement has demanded a reversal of plans that would let Beijing vet candidates for Hong Kong’s leadership posi-tions in the scheduled 2017 election.Those plans were announced the week prior to The Atlas Network Experience in Hong Kong, co-hosted by the Lion Rock Institute and the Atlas Network (see page 7). The current tensions point to a

dilemma: will Hong Kong become more like China, or China more like Hong Kong? The Fraser Institute’s newly released Economic Freedom of the World: 2014 Annual Report again ranks Hong Kong number one in economic free-dom, ahead of 151 countries reviewed in the study. Whether Hong Kong’s current liberties can be preserved, and whether it can remain a beacon of free-dom for the region, are two of the big questions of the early 21st century.

A couple of years ago, I was looking at photographs I had taken during a recent business trip to China. Close inspection of one picture of a small flotilla of fishing boats in the waters off the Port of Xiamen revealed a

surprise. I had accidentally captured a religious mass, taking place on a ship, away from where it could be

detected by authorities. It was a stark reminder of how many people cannot safely enjoy their natural freedoms.I was delighted to discover Atlas Network soon after, when it hosted Chen Guangcheng at its 2012 Freedom Dinner. It’s a privilege to join the community of Atlas Network donors who share my conviction that we need to support the ideas of economic and personal liberty all over the world. -Jeff Kofsky, Atlas Network Supporter

CEO’scorner

Supporter spotlight

As we approach the 25th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, Atlas Network has been engaging partners in a discussion of Today’s Berlin Walls – the seemingly immovable realities of the early 21st century that limit our freedom, and deserve to be torn down.The finalists for the 2014 Templeton Freedom Award each have made substantial progress in chipping away at the Berlin Walls they confront today. The eight finalists are the Acton Institute (USA); the Center for Political Studies (Denmark); Civismo (Spain); the Foundation for Government Accountability (USA); Goldwater Institute (USA); Illinois Policy Institute (USA); IPEA (Agora Institute for Strategic Thinking) (Mexico); and the Lithuanian Free Market Institute (Lithuania).It’s easy to get discouraged by news headlines in 2014, but the Templeton Freedom Award finalists demonstrate how much impact can be had by effective free-market organizations. I’d submit to you that Atlas Network is also seeing positive trends that forecast brighter days ahead. Just look at the record numbers of young people excelling in our training programs and helping launch new efforts in parts of the world we never touched in the past.The late John Blundell famously said: “There are no shortcuts in the battle of ideas.”In November, friends of Atlas Network will gather in New York City to honor John’s memory and discuss their ambitions and plans for toppling Today’s Berlin Walls.You can help us honor the legacy of our friend John by joining us in our tribute; and by heeding his sage advice that we must always stay committed to the long-term advance of the ideas of liberty.

Focus on freedom in Hong Kong

Brad Lips Atlas Network CEO

Jeff Kofsky and his daughter, Sophie, at Freedom Dinner 2013.

Occupy Central protests in Hong Kong, September 2014.

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Change agents (cont’d.)A game changer in education policyIt’s been more than half a century since the modern school choice movement began with Milton Friedman’s promotion of “school vouchers.” Today, a new reform has gained momentum, and it provides higher levels of choice, and fosters greater competition among education providers, compared to traditional vouchers. The Goldwater Institute developed and championed the idea of Education Savings Accounts (ESAs) – portable bank accounts families can use to pay for tuition, online classes, tutoring and more. Importantly, ESAs have been vindicated in the Court where past school choice laws failed.Stopping the spread of government dependenceObamaCare originally mandated an expansion of Medicaid that would put 16 million more people – the majority, able-bodied adults without children – in government-funded healthcare. Few thought the Supreme Court’s June 2012 decision, which gave states the decision whether or not to implement the expansion, would change the end result since states seldom turn away federal dollars. But the Foundation for Government Accountability’s Uncover ObamaCare initiative has waged a state-by-state battle, via a powerful combination of in-depth research, on-the-ground education and innovative advocacy strategies. The result: 9.4 million Americans have been kept off Medicaid, and expected program costs to

taxpayers have been reduced by $500 billion over the next decade.A tax policy victory in deep blue IllinoisIllinois Policy Institute defeated a movement to amend the Illinois Constitution and replace the state’s flat income tax with a progressive rate structure. This victory means that over the next five years alone, nearly $30 billion will stay in the hands of Illinois’ families and businesses instead of going to

politicians in Springfield. Defeating the progressive tax proposal means the average Illinois family will have an additional $3,200 at their disposal over the next five years. The defeat of the progressive tax was a major victory against an entrenched culture of overspending, cronyism and blatant disregard for taxpayers.Changing the conversation about the morality of free enterpriseToo often, members of the clergy – from whom many Americans develop their moral intuitions – carelessly adopt our politicians’ preferred narrative about government’s role “taming the evils” of free enterprise. The Acton Institute educates religious leaders in the ways free enterprise uplifts the poor and reinforces

moral virtues. In particular, Acton University has grown into a force – a four-day conference that attracts more than a thousand participants annually. And the attendees come from all over the world. “One of the most gratifying things about Acton University is its international character and the growing participation of younger participants from the developing world,” said Kris Mauren, executive director of the Acton Institute. “These young people know what

hasn’t worked in desperately poor places in Latin America, Asia and Africa. They come to Acton University to find out what actually does work.”These four examples demonstrate how effective think tanks generate results – some on immediate policy outcomes, others on changing the longer-term policy landscape.The Templeton Freedom Award

is the largest prize honoring excellence within the free-market think tank community. In addition to the four above-mentioned U.S. organizations, the class of finalists for the 2014 Templeton Freedom Award includes IPEA - Agora Institute for Strategic Thinking (Mexico), CEPOS - Center for Political Studies (Denmark), Civismo (Spain), and the Lithuanian Free Market Institute (Lithuania).The winner of the $100,000 grand prize will be announced live on stage at Atlas Network’s Freedom Dinner in New York City on November 13, 2014. The Templeton Freedom Award is generously supported by Templeton Religion Trust.

Legendary investor Sir John Templeton saw the value of Atlas Network and its think tank partners. Explaining his support of work toward better public policies, Sir John once said, “a great deal of philanthropy addresses the symptoms of current poverty, but little is devoted to the more cost-effective strategy of preventing future poverty.” (Ambassador Curtin Winsor, Sir John Templeton, Dr. Alex Chafuen)

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Atlas Leadership AcademyThink Tank MBA

What’s Next? • October 31 - November 11: Think Tank MBA in Fairfax, Virginia – 5 credits• November 9 - 12: Think Tank Leadership Training in New York City – 3 credits• November 12: Think Tank Shark Tank in New York City (sponsored by the Rising Tide Foundation)• December 4 - 6: Lights, Camera, Liberty! workshop in Los Angeles – 2 credits• January 5 - 8 : Asian Think Tank Start Up Training in Kathmandu, Nepal – 2 credits

We are regularly adding new trainings to the schedule. Visit AtlasNetwork.org/ALA for more on Atlas Leadership Academy training opportunities.

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Think tank leaders are often pulled in a million different directions. From fundraising to outreach to writing, many think tank leaders must do it all. It can be difficult to find the time to breathe let alone plan for the future. However, experience has shown us that think tanks with a clear, focused vision and plan are the most likely to achieve impact and sustainability. Atlas Network’s Think Tank MBA provides the unique opportunity to take time away from a busy schedule and focus on strategic planning while receiving one-on-one coaching and feedback, as well as advice and encouragement from peers within the field. Held for 10 days each year just outside Washington, D.C., the Think Tank MBA produces a class of leaders ready to think of the big picture and tackle the needs of their organizations head on. This year’s group of leaders will be presented at Atlas Network’s Liberty Forum and Freedom Dinner, where they will compete in an Elevator Pitch Competition.

Some of this year’s participants include: Tricia Yeoh, Chief Operating Officer, IDEAS, Malaysia Tricia joined the IDEAS team in 2013 after a successful career with other think tanks and the state government in Malaysia. IDEAS has become one of the most respected think tanks in the country; the organization is regularly asked for comments on current issues, playing a role in reforms within the government.

Christiana Hambro, Head of External Relations, Institute of Economic Affairs, United Kingdom In the last two years, Christiana has built on the strengths of the Institute of Economic Affairs by engaging new audiences in the UK and beyond. She helped develop and launch the student-oriented magazine, EA Magazine, and spearheaded the fast-growing Freedom Forum in London in partnership with the Liberty League student group.

Igor Gembitsky, Online Product Manager for LearnLiberty.org, Institute for Humane Studies, United StatesIgor is the Online Product Manager for LearnLiberty.org, an Institute for Humane Studies (IHS) project that aims to expose young people to the foundations of classical liberal ideas across a wide variety of disciplines. He is the project lead of Learn Liberty Academy, IHS’s out-reach-focused intensive online educational programs. Before joining IHS to pursue his passions for liberty, he worked for two years as a neuroscience researcher studying neurodegenerative disease in Birmingham, Alabama.

Guillermo Peña Panting, Executive Director, Eleutra, Honduras After working for several think tanks and the Honduran Chamber of Commerce, Guillermo and his team have embarked on a new adventure, launching the think tank Eleutra in 2013. Heavily engaged in decreasing government regulation on business, and participating in plans for Zones for Employment and Economic Development (ZEDE), Guillermo is poised to bring real, and last-ing reform to this country.

Tricia Yeoh

Christiana Hambro

Igor Gembitsky

Guillermo Peña Panting

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Jacek Spendel, 2013 Think Tank Shark Tank WinnerAt Atlas Network’s Liberty Forum & Freedom Dinner 2013, Jacek Spendel won over last year’s judges (Don Smith, Terry Kibbe & Ron Manners) during Think Tank Shark Tank with his compelling pitch for the Freedom Under Fire project. Since then, his think tank has produced 10 episodes of its video series and is currently pitching the series to Polish TV networks. He is a founder and presi-dent of Poland’s Freedom and Entrepreneurship Foundation (FEF).

ATLAS LEADERSHIP ACADEMY

Patrick ReasonoverTaliesin Nexus (United States) ALA Class of 2014 The Erasmus Film Workshop A transformative force in launch-ing a documentary film renais-sance, led by liberty-inspired filmmakers, the Erasmus Film

Workshop is a one-day workshop for five of the most promising liberty-oriented documenta-ries in development paired with mentors from Hollywood (screenwriters, directors and pro-ducers). The workshop will provide necessary guidance in concept and story development. And it will ensure that free market documen-taries present a compelling, story driven mes-sage, and attract a wider audience.

Cristina BerechetCivismo (Spain)ALA Class of 2013A Sustainable Pension System for Spain

Civismo proposes a dramatic overhaul of the Spanish pension system, a new approach that

mixes both public and private contributions to achieve pension solvency and sustainability.

Baladevan RangarajuIndia Institute (India)ALA Class of 2014Right to Safety Mobile Application

This mobile app will give the power back to the people of India by providing valuable information about rules and regulations. The Right to Safety app will ensure that

individuals hold police and other bureaucrats account-able to the law; limiting misuse of power, corruption and harassment, and ensuring that Indian citizens are em-powered to pursue their own livelihood and prosperity.

Candelaria de ElizaldeLibertad y Progreso (Argentina) ALA Class of 2014Already on the Road to Serfdom

Building on Libertad y Progreso’s strong social media and video presence, the Already on the Road to Serfdom video series will feature six videos. The videos

will provide the necessary data and compelling stories that expose the current oppressive tactics implemented by the Argentine government. The video series will make the case for limited government and a return to growth and prosperity for the once prosperous country.

Cristina Berechet

Baladevan Rangaraju

Candelaria de Elizalde

2014 Think Tank Shark Tank contestants

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The annual Think Tank Shark Tank Competition at Atlas Network’s Liberty Forum high-lights the best of the think tank world in an exhilarating live showcase. This competition asks four graduates of the Atlas Leadership Academy (ALA) to pitch new project ideas to a panel of judges. The contestants have six minutes and must answer questions from the judges before a live audience for a chance to win $25,000. This competition highlights the importance of strategic planning, solid preparation and story-telling, and is sponsored by the Rising Tide Foundation. This year’s contestants are below.

ATLASNETWORK.ORG (202) 449-8449

Patrick Reasonover

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Donning promotional glasses are the participants of “Friedman Trivia Night”, hosted by Atlas Network in Washington, D.C., and New York City. The events were held in partnership with the Friedman Foundation for Educational Choice.

In the summer of 2014, Atlas Network sponsored 21 events featuring world-class speakers, inspirational partners, and rewarding networking.

In August, Atlas Network hosted Mr. Gao Yan from Unirule Institute, a leading think tank in China, to discuss the role of independent think tanks in the midst of China’s new economic and political reforms. (Dr. Alex Chafuen, Mr. Gao Yan, Dr. Tom G. Palmer, Laura Liu)

Atlas Network events

Upcoming Events• November 12 - 13: Liberty Forum & Freedom Dinner – New York City, NY• November 14: Sound Money Breakfast with Judy Shelton, co-hosted by the Foundation for Economic Education

– New York City, NY• January 8 - 11: Asia Liberty Forum – Kathmandu, Nepal

A full listing of Atlas Network events is available at AtlasNetwork.org, along with a Global Events Calendar listing conferences being hosted by our partners around the world.

Naomi Brockwell (Moving Picture Institute) was a featured speaker on Bitcoin at the Atlas Network Experience in San Francisco. She is pictured here with program sponsor Scott Banister.

Atlas Network supporter Deni Browne visits with Garrett Johnson (Lincoln Labs) and Candace Johnson at the Atlas Network Experience in San Francisco, a two-day event held in partnership with the Pacific Research Institute and the Independent Institute.

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ATLAS NETWORK EVENTS

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The Atlas Network Experience in Hong Kong, which took place directly after the Mont Pelerin Society’s General Meeting, brought together more than 100 free market think tank professionals and thought leaders to discuss key trends and provide updates on the freedom movement in Asia.

Robin Sitoula, founder and executive director of Samriddhi, The Prosperity Foundation, describes Nepal’s freedom movement during his talk in Hong Kong and San Francisco. “[At Samriddhi] we created a coalition to stand up for the masses... and their right to pursue life without government arrestment.”

Andrew Shuen of Lion Rock Institute explains his think tank’s focus on preserving the economic liberties that transformed Hong Kong into a powerhouse of prosperity.

Atlas Network in Hong Kong

Atlas Network fellow and Director for International Relations at Freedom Factory in South Korea, Casey Lartigue, introduces Yeonmi Park, an inspiring North Korean refugee and human rights activist.

Tricia Yeoh discusses how IDEAS (Malaysia) has utilized results of focus groups to refine its message and broaden its appeal to new audiences.

“So we answer the central paradox: why does a free-market think tank exist in

the freest economy in the world? We exist because it may be the only way to guarantee this miracle of

Hong Kong will exist into the future. It is the task

for us to win the war of ideas in the hearts and

minds of the people of Hong Kong.”

-Andrew Shuen, co-founder

of the Lion Rock Institute

Making the case for free trade in Kenya through evidence-based researchAs part of Atlas Network’s Free Trade research and education project, Kenya-based Eastern Africa Policy Centre (EAPC) recently published a new study. The report, “Struggling with formal and informal trade barriers: challenges facing the long distance trucking industry in the East African Community”, highlights how high shipping costs suppress employment, stifle growth and prevent African entrepreneurs from reach-ing foreign markets. The report was covered by major news outlets in the East African Community such as Standard Media Group and Nation Media Group.

ATLASNETWORK.ORG (202) 449-8449

Program spotlight

Eastern Africa Policy Centre is addressing how high shipping costs are a barrier to freedom in the East African Community.

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Atlas Network World10

Hong Kong and Beijing: The future of economic freedom – September 10Hong Kong’s economic freedom score is 90.1, making it the top-rated economy for the 20th consecutive year. But as Atlas Network President Dr. Alex Chafuen writes in a recent article in Forbes, “Hong Kong is prompted by the fear and frustration that the powers in Beijing will erode the strength of the institutions which led this tiny place on earth, to become a rock of liberty and prosperity.”

Say goodbye to Australia’s carbon tax – July 31On July 17, the Australian Senate voted to repeal the country’s carbon tax. Sinclair Davidson, Senior Fellow for Australia’s Institute of Public Affairs (IPA) writes, “If global warming is a problem, then it requires a global solution. A local tax will do nothing to address global warming, apart from imposing high costs on the local economy.” IPA’s Director of Development and Communications James Paterson explains on WSJ Live why Australia became the first nation to repeal its carbon tax.

AtlasNetwork World10 is our bi-weekly email newsletter featuring the work of Atlas Network partners. Following are selected stories from recent editions. If you would like to receive AtlasNetwork World10 emails, or if you have a story idea, please email Daniel Anthony at Daniel.Anthony@AtlasNetwork.org.

Town Hall tycoons get rich off UK taxpayers – August 4Britain’s independent grassroots campaign for lower taxes, The TaxPayers’ Alliance (TPA), has released the 8th annual “Town Hall Rich List”. It discloses 2,181 council employees who received total remuneration in excess of £100,000 ($168,065 USD) in 2011-12. Chief Executive of the TPA, Jonathan Isaby said, “It’s particularly galling in places where councils are pleading poverty and demanding more and more in Council Tax. Taxpayers expect their council to be filling potholes, not pay packets.”

India’s Repeal 100 Laws Project – October 9Statist politicians love to write laws promising nice things to people who vote for them. That’s why it was so refreshing to hear Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi make the opposite promise: to try to repeal a new law every day. Enthused by Modi’s promise, Centre for Civil Society launched a citizens’ initiative called the Repeal 100 Laws Project, recently featured in a BBC analysis, that identifies which laws should be the first to go.

Today’s Berlin Walls – September 10The Berlin Wall was a physical and symbolic representation of the barriers between the free world and authoritarian control. When it came down 25 years ago, mil-lions of people suddenly had the freedom to live their lives as they wanted to. And now, all over the world, Atlas Network partners are working to tear down barriers to freedom that still exist today. What are some of today’s Berlin Walls that exist in your city, state and country? Follow us on Twitter (@AtlasNetwork) and join in the conversation using the hashtag #TodaysBerlinWalls.

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Are green energy policies creating a new bubble? – July 17“The problem in green energy is that the politicians care more about the headlines their subsidy create, and what green plants they can stand in front of, rather than looking at what is commercially sensible from a business point of view. Truly sus-tainable energy is commercially sustainable energy.” So says Per Wimmer – a cel-ebrated adventurer, founding CEO of Wimmer Financial, and author of The Green Bubble (with a forward by Sir Richard Branson), recently published in Swedish by Atlas Network partner Timbro.

Human Rights Foundation petitions UN for Cuban journalist’s safety – July 31The Human Rights Foundation has submitted a petition to the United Nations re-questing that the government of Cuba adopt measures to protect the right to life, security and physical integrity of Roberto de Jesús Guerra Pérez. Guerra, a Cuban journalist, recently suffered a brutal assault. He was attacked solely for exercising his right to freedom of opinion and expression.

The $15 billion Quebec surplus that might have been – July 17Imagine a world where Quebec’s provincial officials had kept spending from growing faster than the general economy. And now imagine a $15 billion Quebec surplus. Unfortunately, all you can do is imagine, because past government prom-ises of spending restraint have failed to materialize. Montreal Economic Institute covers the impact of controlling spending in its recent study.

FIRE sues U.S. universities over unconstitutional speech codes – July 3On July 1, The Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE) announced that it would sue universities that are enforcing illegal speech codes--rules that limit students’ freedom of speech. So far, suits have been filed by FIRE against Ohio University, Iowa State University, Chicago State University, and Citrus Col-lege in California. In a Reason Magazine article, Greg Lukianoff, president of FIRE, said, “Universities’ stubborn refusal to relinquish their speech codes must not be tolerated.”

ATLAS NETWORK WORLD10

ATLASNETWORK.ORG (202) 449-8449

Passing the baton to Western Australia’s next gen leaders – July 17The Mannkal Economic Education Foundation’s new book A Libertarian Primer for Future Leaders of Western Australia is a tool to encourage the next generation in the right direction. Mannkal’s founder, Ron Manners, recently noted that the book marks “the passing of a baton” as it will be up to the rising generation to write the next chapter in Western Australia’s freedom story. Atlas Network is one of ten free-market organizations hosting students from Western Australia for brief stays made possible via Mannkal’s International Scholarships.

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Team members update

Atlas Network is proud to welcome its newest partners:

Our growing network

Laura Liu became a full-time employee this summer after a year as a contractor. Laura is the Freedom to Trade Global Initiative Fellow. She supported the recent study by the Eastern Africa Policy Centre (see page 7), “Struggling with formal and informal trade barriers: challenges facing the long distance trucking industry in the East African Community.”

Laura Liu

If you haven’t done so already, check out the new AtlasNetwork.org. Atlas Network has been fortunate to work with Chicago-based digital agency Killswitch Collective on the design and development of our new website. The goal of the website redesign was to bet-ter harmonize the various efforts of everything Atlas Network is doing into a more engaging digital pres-ence and to help us better connect with our partners, donors and others who are interested in strengthening the worldwide freedom movement. When you visit the new site, the work of our 450+ partners is prominently featured throughout the entire website, from the homepage image carousels, to the newly designed global partner directory, to the Atlas Leadership Academy alumni profiles, to the newly de-

signed global partner events page, to the regular news updates highlighting the work and impact of our partners. Some additional development is ongo-ing – we are looking forward to adding various features and a responsive mobile design in the near future. At State Policy Network’s annual meeting in September, the AtlasNetwork.org website was recognized with the best new website award by Spark Freedom – a free-market marketing and communications consultancy.

AtlasNetwork.org

Support Atlas Network while you shop!You can help Atlas Network strengthen the worldwide freedom movement by shopping at smile.amazon.com. AmazonSmile is a simple and automatic way for you to support charitable organizations every time you shop, at no cost to you. Amazon will donate 0.5

percent of the price of your eligible AmazonSmile purchases to your charity of choice – just select the Atlas Network when you create your account.

• Center for Free Market Enterprise (Malawi)• Conservatives for Liberty (United Kingdom)• Fondation iFRAP (France)• Fundación Progreso y Libertad (Argentina)• Instituto Ludwig von Mises Portugal (Portugal)• Joseph Howe Institute (Canada)• Ladies of Liberty Alliance (United States)

• Libertas Institute (United States)• Scientific Research Mises Center

(Minsk Mises Center) (Belarus)• The Freedom Association (United Kingdom)• The Ronald Coase Center for the Study of the

Economy at Zhejiang University (China)

Redesigned global events calendar

Redesigned global partner directory

Atlas Network’s Marketing and Communications team, Grace Courter and Daniel Anthony, accepting the best new website award.

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In memoriam: John Blundell

John Blundell and Leonard Liggio at a conference at Bates College in Maine in 1981 (the year of Atlas Network’s founding). Photo by Greg Lindsay.

John Blundell dons his “fancy waistcoat” in honor of the late Lord Harris and Manuel “Muso” Ayau at an Atlas Network event in 2012.

On July 22, Atlas Network lost a dear friend, its former CEO and longtime Board Member. The death of John Blundell came as a shock to many in the freedom movement who recognized him as one of its

most influential builders. In 2008, Margaret Thatcher called him “one of the most effective champions of the free-enterprise eco-nomic model which has delivered progress and prosperity around the world.”

John spent two decades as the General Director of the Institute of Economic Affairs in London. Earlier, he led (simultaneously) the Institute for Humane Studies (IHS) and the Atlas Network, organiza-tions that served as catalysts to the creation of new generations of classical liberal academics and think tank entrepreneurs, respectively.

He continued to play active roles with the Atlas Network, IHS, Heri-tage Foundation and Mont Pelerin Society (after having organized its largest-ever meeting in London in 2002). He received honorary Ph.D. degrees from the University of Buckingham in the UK and Universi-dad Francisco Marroquín in Guatemala.

John had a keen sense of how history moves, and the principles that will be vindicated over the long term. He celebrated bold leadership on behalf of those principles, and also the quiet behind-the-scenes

work that often matters more than what’s most visible to a general audience. This comes through loud and clear in his most notable written works, including Waging the War of Ideas; Margaret Thatcher: A Por-trait of the Iron Lady; and Ladies for Liberty.

John was a beloved figure and a great and generous friend. He delighted in designing and giving elabo-rately thoughtful, one-of-a-kind gifts. John looked out for friends in need, while shying away from recognition himself. John is survived by his wife Christine and their two sons.

Atlas Network looks forward to celebrating John’s life and achievements during a special evening pro-gram on Wednesday, November 12, at the 2014 Liberty Forum.

ATLASNETWORK.ORG (202) 449-8449

John Blundell

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Atlas Network 1201 L Street NWWashington, DC 20005

What are Today’s Berlin Walls that still exist where you are? Join us for the international freedom event of the year where you’ll have the opportunity to bring them to the global stage. Liberty Forum & Freedom Dinner 2014 will commemorate 25 years since the fall of the Berlin Wall. To learn more, go to AtlasNetwork.org.

Establish your legacy with a planned gift

LIBERTY FORUM & FREEDOM DINNER 2014

This year’s highlights include:• Keynote presentation by Garry Kasparov –

legendary chess champion and 2014 Atlas Temple-ton Leadership Fellow.

• A special tribute to John Blundell, former CEO and longtime Board Member of Atlas Network, who passed away on July 22, 2014.

• Liggio Lecture by John Tomasi – Director of the Political Theory Project and Professor at Brown University.

• Atlas Leadership Academy’s Think Tank Shark Tank $25,000 competition, sponsored by the Rising Tide Foundation.

• $100,000 Templeton Freedom Award grand prize announcement.

Liberty Forum: November 12 - 13 at InterContinental Times Square Hotel, New York CityFreedom Dinner: November 13 at Capitale, New York City

We would like to thank the members of the Fisher

Legacy Society, Atlas Network’s planned giving

program:

Charles Albers

John* and Christine Blundell

Dorian Fisher*

Dan Grossman

Thor Halvorssen

George L. Hesse*

Bruce Jacobs*

David Keyston

Ron Manners

George Pearson

Vida Ribnikar*

Jan E.G. Smit*

William O. Sumner

Will Wohler

To learn more about

the Fisher Legacy

Society & plan your

gift, contact Stephanie.Giovanetti

@AtlasNetwork.org or 202.449.8449.

*deceased

ATLASNETWORK.ORG (202) 449-8449

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