Happy New Year

A bit late, I know!  Although here in France New Year celebrations and greetings continue throughout January. Just want to wish you all health and happiness for 2012 and to thank every one of you who read, follow and comment on this blog.

And now for some really good news; remember this post: http://thefrenchsampler.blogspot.com/2010/09/help-free-billy-burton.html 

Well, shortly after Christmas Billy Burton recieved a full pardon by the President of the Philippines and after eighteen years of incarceration in the Philippines, Billy will shortly be returning home to freedom in Britain. A great start to the New Year, for Billy and his family and friends.  And of course a big thank you to his supporters, campaigners and everybody that took the time to sign the petition and send letters, which all helped towards securing Billy's release.  The power of the internet when used in the right way can be a wonderful thing.

Help Free Billy Burton

 
In 1992 Billy Burton, aged 29, made the biggest mistake of his life. He had been travelling the World, got into extreme financial difficulty and made the terrible decision to carry cannabis out of Manila.

Billy was carrying 12lbs of cannabis and was arrested at Manila airport and was subsequently given a life term of 30 years. Initially he was informed that he could expect to serve eight years before being considered for parole; however before he reached eligibility to apply, the Filipino government enforced an embargo on parole for all drug offenders, even if sentencing had taken place prior to the ruling. Retrospective increases in sentences for all drug related offences, mean that Billy will now not be due for release until 2032, by which time he will be 70.

Billy fully accepts his wrong doing. Now aged 48, he has spent the past eighteen years simply surviving. He committed a crime and does not try to excuse himself, he fully accepts that this was wrong; but after 18 long years, we his supporters, feel he has paid the price. By comparison, if he had committed a similar offence in the UK, he could have expected to have served five years.

"For my disrespect, lack of decency and failure to uphold moral standards when I committed a crime 18 years ago, I have only regrets.  There are no excuses.  I do not think however that only bad people do bad things; sometimes good people also do bad things"

Billy Burton

Text Source courtesy of freebillyburton.com 

Billy is also a victim of Thalidomide  and now at 48 years old his health is starting to deteriorate as a direct result from this drug.  I find it ironic that Billy has been incarcerated for trying to smuggle a relatively small amount of cannabis out of The Philippines, whilst the people who distributed Thalidomide which disabled thousands of children across the world and brought heartache to so many families walk free.

To find out more about Billy and offer your support, please visit: FREEBILLYBURTON.COM
Just signing your name on the petition will help in the campaign to release Billy.