Family Who Lost Their Son Work for Justice

Danielle and Eric Eiler’s son Travis was killed while he was on an overseas trip with Campus Crusade for Christ in the closed country of Kazakhstan in December 2011.

Today, Danielle and Eric are still searching for justice in honor of their son.  Danielle and Eric have conducted much research and investigation into Travis’ death, and recently wrote to Hal Peters, Policy Analyst in the office of South Carolina Governor Nikki R. Haley for his help. See his reply below.

September 11, 2013

Dear Mr. Eiler,

Thank you for your recent correspondence to Governor Haley concerning federal oversight of study abroad programs.  It is encouraging that citizens are taking an active role in their government and Governor Haley values receiving feedback from citizens like you.

While the Governor keeps track of a number of federal issues, we have reviewed your correspondenceand have determined the South Carolina Congressional Delegation would be of greater assistance. You may follow-up with the Delegation Members by using the attached contact info.

Thank you again for your correspondence and your interest in South Carolina’s government.

Sincerely,

Hal Peters

Policy Analyst

Office of Governor Nikki R. Haley

SOUTH CAROLINA CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION

The Honorable Lindsey Graham, Senator

290 Russell Senate Office Building

Washington, D.C. 20510

Website: www.lgraham.senate.gov

Phone: 202.224.5972

The Honorable Tim Scott, Senator

167 Russell Senate Office Building

Washington, D.C. 20510

Website: www.scott.senate.gov

Phone: 202.224.6121

The Honorable Mark Sanford, Representative, 1st District

322 Cannon House Office Building

Washington, D.C. 20515

Website: www.sanford.house.gov

Phone: 202.225.3176

The Honorable Joe Wilson, Representative, 2nd District

2229 Rayburn House Office Building

Washington D.C. 20515

Website: www.joewilson.house.gov

Phone: 202.225.2452

The Honorable Jeff Duncan, Representative, 3rd District

116 Cannon House Office Building

Washington, D.C. 20515

Website: www.jeffduncan.house.gov

Phone: 202.225.5301

The Honorable Trey Gowdy, Representative, 4th District

1404 Longworth House Office Building

Washington, D.C. 20515

Website: www.gowdy.house.gov

Phone: 202.225.6030

The Honorable Mick Mulvaney, Representative, 5th District

1207 Longworth House Office Building

Washington, D.C. 20515

Website: www.mulvaney.house.gov

Phone: 202.225.5501

The Honorable James E. Clyburn, Representative, 6th District

242 Cannon House Office Building

Washington, D.C. 20515

Website: www.clyburn.house.gov

Phone: 202.225.3315

The Honorable Tom Rice, Representative, 7th District

325 Cannon House Office Building

Washington, D.C. 20515

Website: www.rice.house.gov

Phone: 202.225.9895

Are You A ClearCause Champion?

Every Cause needs a Champion.  Will you be a Champion for our ClearCause?

NO ONE KNOWS that laws that protect youth and students on American campuses are nonexistent when programs escort our kids into foreign countries.  Help us reach as many people as possible and to inform, protect, and save youth and student lives.

We have created a volunteer program called Champions. These volunteers believe in our mission, “Zero Preventable Youth & Student Deaths & Injuries in an Industry Held to the Highest Standards.”

We promise you’ll learn a few cool social media tricks when you agree to take a comprehensive ClearCause training program developed by Remotely Smart.

Commit a small amount of time each month to support ClearCause, as a Champion.  We will deliver some compelling and fun social media messages for people in your community.

You value safe global youth and student travel. Championing our ClearCause encourages downloads of our ASAPP free checklist.  Be one of the first to learn about our SOS Ap.  Get deals on trip insurance and late breaking news while you help us raise money to grow and expand our reach and good work.  We want every youth and student to know how to advocate for themselves abroad.

Our Champion program begins on October 20, 2013.  We have planned a five week build-up for Give to the Max Day on November 14, 2013.  Each week you will copy, paste and share our most important messages on social media channels like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Pinterest.  We’d love to see you share your personal stories and why you care, too!

Our ClearCause Champions will be asked to post 1-3 messages a week and retweet or repost information from various ClearCause social media. Our ClearCause Social Media Manager - Kacie Griffith, Blogger - Nicola Losik, and video producers - TCA Media,  The Reporters Inc. and Shadow Fox Media will have some engaging and compelling content.

This is a NEW program.  We hope you to enjoy the journey and engage to make a positive difference with just a few moments of time.  We will provide some fun recognition for our outstanding Champions.  To become a champion, please email Champion@ClearCauseFoundation.org

Safety means the world to America’s most valuable treasures, our sons and daughters, on programs abroad. They are our future.  Safety is not an accident.

Thank You!

The Dangers of Studying Abroad in Peru

Peru is the third largest country within South America and is bordered by Ecuador, Columbia, Brazil, Bolivia, Chile and the Pacific Ocean, according to the Peru Tourism Bureau. The tourism industry within Peru generates more than 1 million jobs per year for locals, a Peru This Week article reported. Here is information you need to know regarding safety before you send your kids there “for the opportunity of a lifetime."

The top four causes of unnatural death in Peru:

1. The U.S. Travel website reports that a terrorist group, The Shining Path, is active in Peru and “has previously expressed an intention to target U.S. interests.” Past incidents include attacks by large and heavily armed groups and kidnappings of Peruvian and foreign workers. The U.S. Embassy within Peru doesn’t allow their U.S. government employees to travel at night due to the risk ofrobbery and unsafe road conditions.

2. The state travel website also reported assaults on rivers in the Amazon jungle in recent years, with dangers including river pirates. There are also unexploded ordnance and mines left over from the 1995 Peru/Ecuador border conflict. Occasionally there will also be incursions of armed guerrilla forces from Columbia into Peru’s remote areas, the US DOS website warns.

3. Crime reports on the state travel website include carjacking, sexual assault, and armed robbery, all common in Lima and other large cities. “In addition, numerous U.S. citizens have reported the theft of passports, cameras, and other valuables on overnight bus rides, by thieves who take advantage of sleeping passengers or their stowed luggage in the cargo area underneath when opened during scheduled stops for passengers to disembark or enter the bus,” the website reports.

4. Those who hail taxis from the street have been assaulted, robbed and even “express kidnapped.” “In the recent past, there have been a number of cases of armed robbery, rape, other sexual assault, and attempted rape of U.S. citizens and other foreign tourists in Arequipa and in Cusco city, as well as in the outlying areas in the vicinity of various Incan ruins. These assaults have occurred both during daylight hours and at night,” the website reports. Read more about what you should know before traveling to Peru here.

Another informational resource to read stories of tourists visiting Peru is http://www.touristkilled.com. Read about three American tourists who were kidnapped, robbed and assaulted by villagers while on a mountain climbing trip in Peru during January (2012) and other true stories of other tourists in Peru here.

World exploration is an awesome goal, but travel safely! Have you downloaded the ASAPP Checklist?

Should Mothers & Fathers of Teenagers Boycott Costa Rica Student Travel? Hotel Guard That Shot Justin Johnston Set Free – Study Abroad Tragedy

Justin Johnston was studying abroad in Costa Rica with high school classmates when he was tragically shot in front of his hotel room door by a hotel security guard who was an illegal alien with an illegal weapon. Justin was not doing anything wrong. (Read more.) Justin’s family has tried to seek Justice for Justin  with in-depth investigations into his murder and the EF Tours program.

Justin’s case went to its first trial in August, 2012, where the Johnstons and Justin’s friend testified. “The security guard was convicted of simple homicide and the hotel was found responsible,” the press release read.  Justin’s killer was sentenced to 15 years.

Seven months later, the Appellate Court nullified the Trial Court’s decision on a technicality of whether the guard intended to kill Justin when he shot. “On that technicality, all of the prior work, cost and sacrifices the Johnstons had made towards the first trial was erased,” the press release read.

The Trial Court had explained why it found the guard had meant to kill.The guard had fired a deadly weapon at Justin from a short distance and did not warn Justin before he fired. There were no warning shots as the guard alleged, the area that he shot Justin in was lit and the guard knew that the hotel was filled at capacity with about 40 foreign students. The shot entered Justin’s chest, hitting his ribs and then his heart. Despite all this, the Appellate Court overturned the Trial Court’s findings. The press report states that there was “overwhelming testimony that despite laws and regulations developed to protect citizens and the tourist industry, there were many violations of the laws made by the defendants.”

On September 16, 2013, more than two years after Justin was killed. The Johnstons flew out to Costa Rica to testify again. At the end of the trial, the security guard who shot Justin was found not guilty and was set free. The official written document of the trial will be released on October 7,2013.

The Johnston family is shocked and devastated by the trial’s results after all of their efforts to fight for justice for their son. ClearCause passionately advocates for safe global travel and works with parents, students and legislators to ensure safety on study abroad. Don’t let a tragedy of this nature happen. Use your voice. And stay informed.

A recent comment on a ClearCause blog by a Costa Rican named David Stein give this harsh warning, “I am sad for you but you do not understand Costa Rica. Hotels have been robbed by armed banditos. The fact the any court here at all gave a 15 year sentence to the shooter is remarkable. Here this is considered a long sentence. Especially in that the guard was attempting to do his job. This is a third world country with much crime and the guards are poor, uneducated people. Nothing excuses what happened but truly if he got 15 years in jail you are lucky. I walk armed in my own neighborhood at night where the guards know me and things are lit up. From my understanding your son was sneaking through a barbed wire fence after a curfew set to ensure safety. I wish I knew what to tell you but this is life here – all the guards are generally uneducated and untrained and often illegal aliens. If you think you are going to change a third world countries behavior you are not. They gave a severe sentence for down here. I have many friends from America who have been shot and stabbed and the perpetrators received no sentence. And, in those cases it was not an accident but an assault. Some have been murdered and the perpetrators received a less severe sentence than your son’s shooter. rather than seeking vengeance against a poor third world country doing its best, maybe this sad thing will serve as a lesson for future tourists down here to be careful, follow rules and not expect much justice. Your son could also have been attacked by a Puma, Jaguar or bitten by a fer-de lance snake – It is dangerous down here, especially if rules are not followed.”

Should parents of teens boycott student programs in Costa Rica?

ClearCause PSA Campaign Wins Emmy – Keeping Students Safe Abroad!

ClearCause with A2F Pictures has been selected as a 2013 Upper Midwest Emmy Recipient for our new Public Service Announcement campaign! ClearCause works to protect and inform students abroad.

A2F Diectors Mark Mazur, James Rauthmann and Trent Hilborn partnered with ClearCause to create three powerful videos that communicate the drive and passion of ClearCause to empower global youth travel in complete safety.

ClearCause received an in-kind grant of $10,000 for three compelling public service announcements. Goodwill Communications has been airing these on cable channels for months before millions of viewers.

We at ClearCause are so grateful for your support!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W4kXV-cAYQY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qg0rJAT4YVI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=esuo3E5Ij70