Diagram of a slave ship: slaves were packed so tightly onto ships that many died on crossings to Europe or America.

Fighting for Freedom

Hull will soon be at the centre of world celebrations to mark 200 years since the end of the British slave trade - but the fight to end modern-day slavery goes on.

The 200-day countdown started on September 6.
That's 200 days to March 25 next year, the day exactly 200 years ago, when the Abolition of Slave Trade Bill was passed through Parliament.
It was the first-ever triumph in international human rights - and the achievement of one of Hull's most famous sons - William Wilberforce.
Wilberforce, an MP for Hull and a devout Christian, was horrified by the plight of slaves.
After capture in Africa, they were packed so tightly onto ships that each person only had a width of around 12 inches to lie in. Without light or air, and often chained by the neck and legs, the heat and smell would be have been unbearable.
Many slaves died on the journey at sea.
"Never, never will we desist till we extinguish every trace of this bloody traffic," said Wilberforce.
As his birthplace, Hull is proud to be the focal point of commemorations across the world, with its Wilberforce 2007 programme of events.

Modern-day slavery
But modern-day human rights campaigners point out that Wilberforce's work is far from over.
It's estimated that there are more than 27 million slaves in the world today - and that includes people in forced labour, women and girls being trafficked for work in prostitution, and children kidnapped and brutalised to be used as soldiers.
It's hoped the Wilberforce 2007 programme will highlight the suffering of modern slaves and look at ways of ending modern slavery.
Meanwhile, the people of Hull are being invited to sign a petition against modern slavery, which was launched on September 6 by the Wilberforce 2007 committee in partnership with Anti-Slavery International.

City of freedom
Hull City Council has a history of involvement in human rights issues. This year, the council helped open the Wilberforce Institute for the Study of Slavery and Emancipation (WISE) on High Street, next to Wilberforce House museum.
Run by the University of Hull, it's the world's first institute dedicated to researching the history of slavery and will also pursue research into modern human rights issues.
Hull was also the first council in Britain to sign up to the world human rights organisation Amnesty International - and world leaders Desmond Tutu and Nelson Mandela, both renowned for their work in human rights, are Freemen of the city.
In 1982, Hull became the first city in the western world to twin with a third world city - that city being Freetown in Sierra Leone, which was the world's first colony for free Africans, set up in 1792 by Wilberforce and his fellow anti-slavery campaigners.

The Life of Wilberforce

Born in 1759, William Wilberforce came from a prosperous merchant family in Hull. His birthplace is now preserved as the Wilberforce House museum on High Street.
His former school, Hull Grammar School, is now also a museum (it's the Hands on History Museum, in South Church Side, opposite Holy Trinity Church).
Aged 17, Wilberforce attended Cambridge University where he became friends with William Pitt, who was to become Britain's youngest-ever prime minister.
Wilberforce himself became the youngest member of the House of Commons when he became MP for Hull, aged 21. It's said that, as a young back bencher, he was known as the "Nightingale of the House of Commons" because he had such a distinct and melodious speaking and singing voice.
He and Pitt were said to be the political celebrities of the 1780s. It's said that their charm, wit and position made them greatly sought after in up-market drawing-rooms and social circles.
But in 1784, Wilberforce's life changed radically when he converted to Christianity. Rather than strive for personal success, he worked to a higher calling. 'Can one serve God and one's nation in Parliament?' he asked.
Wilberforce refused to be beaten on the Abolition of the Slave Trade Bill which suffered more than 12 defeats, before it was finally made law in 1807. From then, British sea captains who were caught carrying slaves were fined £100 for every slave found on board.
Wilberforce continued to campaign for the freedom of slaves throughout the British Empire. He died on 29 July, 1833 and is buried in Westminster Abbey.

Countdown to commemorations

The city's first major Wilberforce event took place in the city centre on September 6.
The event, to mark the start of the 200-day countdown to the actual 200th anniversary of the abolition of the British slave trade on March 25 next year, included the lighting up of the Wilberforce Monument, in front of Hull College, which had already been specially cleaned for the occasion.
Members of the public were also treated to performances from the musical Cargo, which has been specially written for the Wilberforce 2007 programme by musician Paul Field. The full musical will be performed at Hull City Hall on March 31 before being take on tour throughout the country. It tells the story of the struggle to end the slave trade. (Don't miss the children's competition on page 26 to design a cover for the CD of the musical).
This month also sees the launch of the novel "Daniel" by Richard Adams (author of Watership Down) which tells the story of a slave who works on a plantation in the US in the 18th century - but who comes to England where he earns respectability and joins the fight against the Slave Trade, and meets Wilberforce.
The 200 days will also be counted down on the Big Screen, in Queen Victoria Square.
Between now and the end of 2007, there will be a great many events, conferences, performances, lectures and commemorations of many different kinds. Don't miss Hull in print to find out what's happening.

What do you think?

Kara Cantrell (13), of Fountain Road.
There's a museum dedicated to William Wilberforce. He was an MP and stopped black slavery. He was a good man. He stopped slavery by petitioning parliament.

Michael Phillips (12), of Swanland
Wilberforce freed the slaves. I know that child slavery exists in the world today. It's wrong because you're not a child for very long but spend most of your life as an adult. You shouldn't be forced to work as a child; you should be able to go to school and have time to play.

James Cross (14), of Belgrave Drive, west Hull
A slave is someone who gets forced to work for no pay. Everyone needs to have a life - they shouldn't have to do it and we should raise funds to try and stop it.

Josh Kidd (12), of Burstwick
A slave is someone who gets bossed about all the time and gets no money for the work they do. I think that the fact that there are still slaves today is terrible and the United Nations should stop it.

For more information about the launch of Wilberforce 2007 contact 300300 or visit www.wilberforce2007.com *