Key Lime Pie to Star in Key West Festival and World Record Attempt

KEY WEST, Florida Keys -- The creation of the world's largest Key lime pie, the wacky Miss Key Lime Pageant, pie-eating and cooking contests and other tasty temptations await Key West visitors July 3-5 during the second annual Key Lime Festival.

Celebrating the Florida Keys' signature dessert and the tiny fruit that inspired it, the flavorful festival is to kick off Thursday, July 3, with a 2-5 p.m. Key Lime Bar Krawl. Plans call for "krawlers" to sample Key lime martinis and margaritas at local watering holes and select their favorites.

The festival's highlight is to be an attempt by event founder David Sloan, author of "The Ultimate Key Lime Pie Cookbook," and three fellow chefs to shatter their own record for baking the largest Key lime pie in history.

In 2013 the quartet created a gargantuan pie that measured more than 8 feet in diameter and required the juice of 5,760 yellow Key limes. They plan to prepare and serve the 2014 pie, expected to reach 9 feet in diameter, during a lively street party set for 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, July 4, on Greene Street just off Duval Street.

The festival's annual Key Lime Pie Eating Contest is to be staged during the street party as well.

Believed to have originated in Key West in the late 1800s, Key lime pie was designated Florida's official pie in 2006 by the state legislature. Its primary ingredients are condensed milk, egg yolks and Key lime juice, with the creamy filling typically nestled in a graham cracker crust and topped with whipped cream or meringue.

Attractions Saturday, July 5, include a pie-making challenge for amateur and professional bakers. Pies are to be judged on criteria including appearance, flavor balance and originality, and spectators can purchase tickets to sample and cast People's Choice votes.

The festival is to conclude with Saturday night's Miss Key Lime U.S.A. Pageant, a tangy takeoff on the Miss America competition. The contestant who scores highest in the talent, costume, vintage style and Q-&-A categories will take the crown and step into the "limelight."


Festival information: www.keylimefestival.com
Key West visitor information: www.fla-keys.com/keywest or 1-800-LAST-KEY
Social: facebook.com/floridakeysandkeywest · twitter.com/thefloridakeys · www.keysvoices.com · www.youtube.com/floridakeystv

International Day Against Torture: AfriForum involves International Council against Torture in efforts to eradicate farm attacks

Human rights organisation AfriForum will release a report tomorrow, 26 June 2014, highlighting the brutality of farm murders and attacks in South Africa.  This is done as a part of AfriForum’s ongoing campaign against this particular category of violent crime in the country.

It was decided to release the report on the 26^th of June, as the United Nations has designated this date to be the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture.

The International Rehabilitation Council for Victims of Torture (IRCT) has also undertaken to study AfriForum’s report.  The IRCT is based in Denmark and is affiliated with the UN.  It is an umbrella organisation consisting of 144 independent rehabilitation bodies in more than 70 countries.

The report comprises more than 30 pages and was compiled with the expert assistance of a criminologist specialising in farm murders.  It contains a series of case studies in which the torture of victims of farm attacks and murders are analysed.

The report will also be submitted to the office of the newly appointed Minister of Police together with a petition asking for the prioritising of farm murders.  It was signed by 60 000 people.  The office of the Minister has confirmed that it will meet the AfriForum delegation.

Ernst Roets, Deputy CEO of AfriForum, said that this action is a continuation of the intensified campaign for the prioritising of farm murders and attacks.  “These crimes often involve high levels of brutality.  Despite that, Government is greatly in denial regarding the true extent of the problem.  The President, in the past week, said that the agriculture community should create one million jobs in the next few years, but Government ignores the fact that many of those employers and their employees are tortured and murdered.”

Various victims of farm attacks, of which some were tortured, will be present when the report is released.