Grupo Salinas Awards Winners of Fourth Annual 'Caminos de la Libertad' Essay Contest to Support the Basic Human Right of Freedom

Grupo Salinas Awards Winners of Fourth Annual 'Caminos de la Libertad' Essay Contest to Support the Basic Human Right of Freedom

Grupo Salinas Founder and Chairman Ricardo B. Salinas Pliego Suggests that Freedom Be a Conscious Fight for a Way of Living

Guidelines for Fifth Annual Contest Are Available at www.caminosdelalibertad.com

Grupo Salinas Is Committed to Ongoing Discussions on Freedom

MEXICO CITY, Oct. 12 /PRNewswire/ -- "Freedom is the most distinctive characteristic of mankind. We are who we are because of the capacity to decide. Many speak of the concept of freedom. However, beyond a word, or a passing fad, we should fight to make freedom a true form of living," said Ricardo B. Salinas Pliego, Founder and Chairman of Grupo Salinas, during the awards ceremony of the fourth annual Caminos de la Libertad essay contest.

The contest is open to entries written in Spanish from throughout the world, and receives over 1,000 entries from over twenty countries, rewarding the top three finishers with cash prizes of US$15,000, US$10,000 and US$5,000, respectively. Entries have been received from Mexico, The United Sates, Canada, Cuba, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Spain, Peru, Uruguay, Argentina, Chile, Brazil, Venezuela, Colombia, Bolivia, El Salvador, Puerto Rico, Panama, Paraguay, the Republic of Serbia, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom, to name a few countries.

Guidelines for the fifth annual contest are currently available at http://www.caminosdelalibertad.com/ .

Mr. Salinas added that freedom is a basic human right that is fundamental for Grupo Salinas and worthy of reflection. The organization sponsors a variety of events to promote freedom, including a special multi-media competition for young people ages 15-25 that includes separate categories for photography, video, fine art, music, essays and graphic design. Winners for this separate contest will be announced on November 15 in commemoration of the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. Details on this contest are also available at http://www.caminosdelalibertad.com/ .

"Caminos de la libertad has grown well beyond what I initially imagined," said Sergio Sarmiento, President of Caminos de la Libertad. "It has become an intellectual and academic program that is increasingly ambitious. Beyond a collection of essays, it is an international effort to promote reflection on a basic human right that is important for all of us, one that defines our essence as human beings: freedom."

The winners of this year's contest are:

First Place:

Isaac Sanchez Juarez (Mexico) with the essay titled: Libertad economica y crecimiento. Teoria y evidencia. (Economic Freedom and Growth. Theory and Evidence).

Second Place:

Luis Maldonado Manzanilla (Mexico) with the essay titled: Las paradojas de la libertad. Una reflexion personal desde la ergastulo. (The Paradox of Freedom. A Personal Reflection From Confinement)

Third Place

Yoani Sanchez (Cuba) with the essay titled: La libertad como forma de pago (Freedom as a Form of Payment)

The jury also recognized essays with honorable mentions from the following countries: Mexico, Argentina, Peru, Uruguay, Guatemala, Chile and Venezuela. These essays will be published along with the first through third place finishers in a special commemorative edition.

About Grupo Salinas

Grupo Salinas (http://www.gruposalinas.com/) is a group of dynamic, fast-growing, and technologically advanced companies focused on creating shareholder value, contributing to build the middle class of the countries where they operate, and improving society through excellence. Created by Mexican entrepreneur Ricardo B. Salinas (http://www.ricardosalinas.com/), Grupo Salinas operates as a management development and decision forum for the top leaders of member companies, TV Azteca (http://www.irtvazteca.com/), Azteca America (http://www.aztecaamerica.com/), Grupo Elektra (http://www.grupoelektra.com.mx/), Banco Azteca (http://www.bancoazteca.com.mx/), Afore Azteca (http://www.aforeazteca.com.mx/, Seguros Azteca (http://www.segurosazteca.com.mx/), and Grupo Iusacell (http://www.iusacell.com/). Each of the Grupo Salinas companies operates independently, with its own management, board of directors and shareholders. Grupo Salinas has no equity holdings. However, member companies share a common vision, values and strategies for achieving rapid growth, superior results and world-class performance.

International Press Contact:
Daniel McCosh
dmccosh@gruposalinas.com
011 52 55 1720 0059

Source: Grupo Salinas; Ricardo Salinas; Yoani Sanchez; Caminos de la Libertad

CONTACT: International Press: Daniel McCosh, Grupo Salinas,
+011-5255-1720-0059, dmccosh@gruposalinas.com

Web site: http://www.gruposalinas.com/

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