In my memory I founded my private library of memories…
I only selected the good things
that made and make me happy…
I had a good life
and I learned a lot from it,
how to avoid pain and then, laugh.
Many illnesses
of age
with my good and strong attitude
nothing will break me…
As long as I can I will walk paths,
and when I can’t anymore
I will fly high and far,
nothing will stop me…
And if I fly from this life
I will be a breeze to kiss
those who remember me
and those I knew how to love…
I will be verses,
I will be poems for whoever wants to remember me…
Mirta Liliana Ramírez has been a poet and writer since she was 12 years old. She has been a Cultural Manager for more than 35 years. Creator and Director of the Groups of Writers and Artists: Together for the Letters, Artescritores, MultiArt, JPL world youth, Together for the letters Uzbekistan 1 and 2. She firmly defends that culture is the key to unite all the countries of the world. She works only with his own, free and integrating projects at a world cultural level. She has created the Cultural Movement with Rastrillaje Cultural and Forming the New Cultural Belts at the local level and also from Argentina to the world.
Аннотация: В данной статье автор определяет «общество wi-fi», влияющие факторы на него, информационное участие в обществах запада и востока и влияние информации на слои общества, принесены некоторые социологические и дидактические мысли и анализы по получению информации и в целом информационное участие молодёжи в обеспечение мира в обществе.
Abstract: In this article, the author describes the “wi-fi society”, the factors affecting it, information participation in western and eastern societies and the impact of information on the layers of society, some sociological and didactic thoughts and analyzes on obtaining information and informational participation of young people in ensuring peace in society.
Keywords: youth, parent, teacher, society, information, media product, media education, internet, “wi-fi society”, globalization, peace, peace consciousness.
It is known that in the current globalization conditions, the formation of peace consciousness among people, communities, nations and societies, states and regions and ensuring peace is the most important issue. Ensuring sustainable peace and development is becoming more important than ever.
In the era of the development of the media, especially in the era of the development of internet-journalism, the selection of any information, the evaluation of the emotions and worldviews that come or are conveyed through the process of globalization, certainly creates the need to form an information culture in every person, first of all, in our youth.
What is information? What is information participation? Young people, in general, what is the information culture of all Internet users, is there a measure or scale of this issue? What is the state of spirituality or culture on the Internet? What are moral factors and their role in using the Internet? Isn’t the concept of morality falling behind the “domestic desires” of society members? What common and simple “immune systems” exist against the manipulation carried out by the mass media and media products?
In the era of the development of Internet and Telegram channels, most social groups, teams in workplaces, any person who is active in higher educational institutions and professions, and in general social relations, communicate through telephone, Internet/telegram communication. Each of us is an information consumer. It has been a long time since information has become a media product.
Various markets, people’s occupations, including household affairs, official channels are becoming a daily source of information. Different social strata of the people look for the information they like, everyone looks for the information that is of interest to them. A researcher who wants to do scientific work will look for OAK sites, connect to official channels, like journals and networks with various scientific news and innovation. Housewives watch channels that cook all kinds of pastries. Parents watch the channel administrated by the headmaster of the school where their children are studying, and they see the site dinky.com. Masters see master sites. Auto repairer and drivers view social media/channels related to auto service.
There are almost no houses, streets, or workplaces without WI-FI – people can enjoy a concert program or a music video of their favorite singer when they are tired from work. Or people can order food from the comfort of their homes by phone or online. Thanks to WI-FI, the pace of life has changed and accelerated.
In today’s media world, you can order any product you want through a social network. These are also conveniences for the people, this is also a trend observed worldwide. Phone companies are engaging their customers with various internet packages through various promotions. But at the same time, the phone and the Internet have become a source of good and bad, goodness and evil. How can this be explained?
First, the internet has anything (information) you want and you can get as much information as you want. The Internet has become a total information space. As the media field and the mediasphere expands, it goes towards infinity.
Second, the Internet has no owner, but the entire population of the globe uses it. This is one of the biggest risks for all subjects who are internet users. Because in society, the thing that is owned does not exist, and the thing that is not owned is dangerous.
Thirdly, the Internet can be used by all the peoples of the earth, which differ in their culture and lifestyle, mentality and moral dimensions or criteria, political systems and systems, political and religious views, social and national issues. In the age of the global information society, something that is a common and everyday thing in European and “western civilization” societies in general may not be accepted in Islamic and Eastern countries. However, in the Eastern world, there are religions such as Islam, Buddhism, Shintoism, Hinduism, and Christianity/Orthodox. This “no-acceptance list” includes marriage (is it necessary/absent), family building (attitudes), independent opinion of young people (is it possible/not to marry independently), the head of government (or the leader of this or that political force) in parliamentary debates , of course, whether it is possible to make a well-founded criticism) etc. can be included. Islam is absolutely against national discrimination, religious and racial discrimination. At the same time, this difference is clearly visible in issues such as tolerance, tolerance and the right to freedom of belief.
There are also some differences in continuing education and teaching technology. For example, no eastern nation burns the holy book of another nation in front of the public, under the permission and protection of the special police (it was observed several times in Swedish society), or caricature the holy person of another nation or entire nations and bring it to a history lesson. vices do not exist. It is inexcusable that such senseless and unspiritual actions were supported by the official politicians and leaders of those societies. Don’t you think that these societies are recognized as examples of democracy and political culture?!
An independent position or an independent worldview is a cultural expression of freedom, or it should be that it should not be at the cost of restricting someone’s rights, but should be related to the integrity (inseparability) of each person (in this society, in life) and the indivisibility and limitation of the integral rights. No Muslim person will caricature Jesus – because in Islam, a Muslim does not insult the name of a Muslim, he respects the prophet – this is a condition of faith. Or, no Muslim will desecrate and burn the Bible in front of the public, or under cover of it, etc. All this is what Oswald Spengler once wrote about “the fading of Europe (the sun)”, which means that the values that have been formed and preserved for centuries are being eroded from the roots in some societies. The historical fact is that the European continent is the starting point of both world wars. It is also true that the “European concert” (G. Kissenger’s expression) played the whole globe to its “song”. However, as a center of modern civilization, many learners, job seekers, and peace and political asylum seekers from all over the world are looking for Europe. So, development has always attracted others to itself, occupied the center of human interests… Or family education work, the relationship in building a family is also different. Because ideas, values, ideals and cultures are different. Differences are also visible in the differentiation of information. Today’s society is governed by information. For this reason, media culture and information participation are gaining importance in the information society.
Fourthly, there are all the shows on the internet that have the evils of cruelty, terror and obscenity with scenes of oppression, blood and the like. This leaves aside all the positive aspects of the internet and shows the negative ideological-ideological aspects of the internet.
Some media products can serve to depersonalize and de-ideologize society – nothing happens as it is; nothing happens by itself; and nothing exists by itself; and worst of all – nothing can replace the personal depreciation and so on. Every move can be a product of “big game”, various political “settings”, or really some societies are really becoming demoralized – and it is impossible to determine this – this is the Internet – this ocean, it is impossible to look for something special. .
The internet has no morals. Behavior is in the individual. But both of them can be used for the peace of society, prosperity of nations and human happiness.
Fifth, in societies where bread and education and human survival are still a problem, the penetration of the Internet and communication into the society or the way of life of the society may be far away.
In today’s increasingly complex and tumultuous world politics, this issue is evident in some societies that are in turmoil, or in societies that have not developed programs to get out of poverty.
At the moment, peace on earth, being the greatest blessing, is falling to the level of the most despised value – this is being watched not only by the mass media, but also by social networks.
Sixth, at the same time, the Internet has become a sign of progress and development, a factor of integration of (some) society with the world community.
Nowadays, international communication of ordinary people, communities, social groups is increasing more than political structures. Because it is determined by many factors, such as work or finding a job, studying or getting an education, learning the secret of a profession or trade, interests or free time, and cooperation and solidarity in official organizations and communities. In today’s communication, e-mail and telegram channels are the main means of communication. Scientific circles, scientists, specialists can participate in online conferences, webinars or defense of scientific work, one or another course from their office or home; they can learn a language, take lessons, post video lessons. From the other side of the world, you can publish a scientific article in a famous magazine on the other side, or you can go to the website of the University of Chicago, any so-called “open” (i.e. free) library through your personal laptop and download this or that article, book, Oxford, Harvard and other universities. you can see free “open classes” on social networks on the Internet, in particular, on “Google”, “YouTube” (although these free classes on the networks serve as an advertisement for the higher education institution, but as a good ped-technology and methodical guide for the people of science on the way to learning) can serve) and so on.
Seventh, we should introduce “wi-fi hygiene” in the family and in educational organizations – this should be determined by a single date and announced as a day without internet, and everyone should follow it. Because we need to pay close attention to internet hygiene and internet ethics, which are the main rules of media education, and we should introduce our children to honest work, education, reading books, professions, and nature, without exposing them to phones and computers as a condition of the “technological age” from childhood. it is permissible for us to teach to love. We need to instill nursery care into the child’s mind from an early age. Honorable President Sh.M.Mirziyoev’s work “New Development Strategy of Uzbekistan” rightly emphasized one fact: “Because now our children are being “educated” not by parents, kindergartens, schools and institutes, but in most cases by the phone in their hands.” Unfortunately, this small phone is no longer a simple means of communication, it is often turning into a big weapon that promotes foreign ideology, a source that spreads the “virus” of violence and evil, we would be telling the truth” [Shavkat Mirziyoyev, 2022, p. 284]. In this statement, the phrase “the phone is “educating”” is in quotation marks and can be interpreted as “the phone is leading”, “seeing through the phone”, “connecting to the phone”. Because in some cases, by uploading the tasks to the phone, the parents give the child the right understanding and the right way about the upbringing, kindness, etiquette between adults and children, and the culture of behavior in society in general. We think that they are not paying attention.
Also, our children go through all kinds of manipulative mental processes such as igromania, cinemania, mobimania, sometimes if you see adults playing “games” on the phone or computer – you wonder what happened to people, why they are the greatest of blessings – time and health. We think that they should spend it in vain. Or, as a result of the advertisement of certain products, which is repeated over and over again on television, the whole nation puts only that product on their family and relatives’ events – “because it is advertised”, they say, “good things are advertised”. If we name them now, it will be an advertisement. In fact, it is called mind manipulation. Social consciousness does this in reflexive conditions, because social consciousness does not have a mind, a mental state of the world. The mind is in the person, the outlook is in the person, the behavior is in the person, and so on.
American sociologist Alvin Toffler in his work “Third Wave” made a prophetic conclusion regarding the concept of “wi-fi society” that we are emphasizing (considering the consequences of social development and technological changes) before the advent of the Internet age: “A new technosphere together with a new other-sphere (also) is taking shape, and it has (will) far-reaching complications that cover all areas of life, especially our consciousness (covers)” [Elvin Toffler 1999. p.276-277].
Know-how, innovation and any (technological) innovation is supported by any society aiming at proper, sustainable development. The idea of sustainable development should also demonstrate the commitment of the international and global “wi-fi community” to the principles of peace. But any technological innovation should not lead away from a certain value system of the society, and ultimately should serve the well-being of the society and human happiness.
Eighth, media education penetrates into everyday life and explores the issues of our information security – because it is connected to the rights of the person, individual life, right to life, privacy. For example, on October 25, 2023, the demonstration of the “arm’s length stroller” of the “Junama” company was leaked to the social networks of our Republic – this is an innovation, a novelty, well, of course. When the marketer presented the “hand-end stroller”, she demonstrated that she could turn, follow, and “wheel” this household item without touching it with her index finger. But what is the purpose of creating a stroller – why does the buyer, the consumer buy it – to turn the baby in the fresh air, to help with child care – if the product is turned at the tip of the hand and controlled with finger gestures, the attention, education, care is not on the child inside the stroller, “foreigner” ”, “valuable”, “excellent” – the demonstration becomes more important – it is not important – what will happen to the child – will the young man not cripple his child in order to gain prestige in front of women and girls, the way to treat a person as a human being will fail, which will affect the rights of the child contrary to the inherent right of the child. It’s like putting a phone in a young child’s hand. However, the rays coming from the phone, constriction of the eye vessels, enlargement of the pupil, etc., have a negative effect on the child’s health. We believe that in this matter, the symptoms that lead to psychological stress should be researched separately, and special “smart commercials” should be developed and presented to the public on TV – this would also be a way to teach “wi-fi hygiene” and call for a healthy spiritual lifestyle.
The telephone and the Internet are a means of communication and communication, a source of information for young people and adults – this cannot be limited to anyone, of course. But the culture of using it should be explained by parents at home, and by teachers and coaches at educational centers. Unlimited opportunities and unlimited values may hinder or develop the abilities of an individual, because some achieved result may create “sufficiency coefficient” and lead to static in the mental state of mind and mental development. And life is a lifelong dynamic event, consisting of change and development. In order to survive in it, it is necessary to rely on certain values. A person without value, society loses its way, suppresses the idea of development from the social consciousness – even if it is developed, it remains undeveloped – a phenomenon of statics occurs under the imagination of dynamics. This also applies to the “wi-fi community”.
At the same time, young people, due to their youthful curiosity, may turn from the “information menu” in the media field into witnesses of social situations or relationships that are foreign to them, and become participants (such information) – this may have legal, political, and moral complications. Because young people are interested in expressing their opinion by seeing a situation in a certain network, reacting to it, putting a like or other emoticons – we, teachers, parents should show our young people the right way to do this. “Father of cybernetics” (founder) N. Wiener “information is a meaningful signal from the external world as a result of our adaptation to it and the process of adaptation of our emotions to it” [Yakupov P.V. 2016.s.261], does not describe it in vain. Feelings, like mind and consciousness, should be pure, but information and the world of information are not – there is no such thing as pure information or pure information space, or all information does not serve our Self.
So, how to form or implement the culture of information selection in the society?
For this, we believe that every parent and employer in the field of education and workplaces should be medically literate. For this reason, UNESCO describes media education as a lifelong discipline. The English scientist L. Masterman wrote that “Media education is a lifelong process” [Masterman, L. A. R. 42].
With the increase of information channels, the role of television or other types of mass media in people’s life is weakening, reading newspapers and magazines is decreasing in our society, such a culture is becoming a historical memory. True, our people have long watched TV programs, in particular, entertainment, various shows, watch movies, but at the same time, they always monitor various social networks through the phone (the Internet or “wi-fi”), their favorite they listen to music from their creators, watch clips, communicate with their friends or, let’s say, get the relevant information they need.
A “wi-fi society” is rapidly forming in our society. “Wi-Fi society” means the use of the Internet by almost all strata of a certain society, streets, families and houses, trade and service, household and general social life systems, education, profession, language, science, and information. we mean the lack of restrictions, the development of communication and communication tools, the development of internal and external intercultural cooperation, the socialization processes of young people, the development of household or home information participation, the rapid growth of household journalism, blogging and consumer culture. Even the streets and apartments where newspapers and magazines are not read or not entered have Wi-Fi, there are almost no areas and strata that are not reached by the Internet.
So, we understand that there are no areas of social life and people’s lifestyle that the Internet has not penetrated. In such a society, there is unlimited Internet in every household, and everyone – young and old – uses the Internet, in which the education of young people, checking the channels for receiving information, directing them to networks that are interesting and useful according to their educational direction and interests, and Internet hygiene, which we emphasize, “wi-fi Teaching hygiene is the responsibility of parents and adults. This is explained by the fact that people’s access to information through the Internet has greatly expanded in society, and it has penetrated not only young people, but all layers of society. It also shows that there is no center or specific program that monitors or evaluates all this, or researches or researches the criteria and laws of social thought and social consciousness, the consciousness of peace or the spirit of pacifism. However, it is becoming clear that there is a need for projects that are specifically developed and thought out in this matter, as well as spiritual, sociological, psychological and political research.
Books:
1. Shavkat Mirziyoyev. Development strategy of new Uzbekistan. – T.: “Uzbekistan”. 2022. 440 pages.
2. Alvin Toffler. THREE WOOL. Moscow. AST.1999.783 pages.
3. Yakupov P.V. Communication: opredelenie ponyatiya, vidy kommunikatsii i ee barery// Vestnik universiteta (MGU). Social structures, institutes and processes. – 2016. – S. 261-263.
4. Masterman, L. A Rationale for Media Education. In: Kubey, R. (Ed.) Media Literacy in the Information Age. – New Brunswick & London: Transaction Publishers. 1997.
It rushes through valleys, crashes against cliffs,
sweeps across fields where young trees struggle to find their footing.
The weaker ones bend, some break, some are uprooted entirely.
Love is like that tree.
If its soil is not firm, if it is not nurtured with care,
warmed by tenderness, strengthened by trust,
the first storm can shatter it.
People have forgotten that love must be tended.
They have forgotten that a tear can be water,
that a word can be light, that a touch can be shelter.
The winds are growing stronger.
The world is cracking under their force.
Love vanishes in the grip of fear,
in the silence of cold stares, in the emptiness of unspoken thoughts.
And yet, all it takes is a hand to steady the young tree until its roots grow deep.
It is not too late. The wind is just the wind—
unless we give it the power to break us.
Maja Milojković was born in 1975 in Zaječar, Serbia. She is a person to whom from an early age, Leonardo da Vinci’s statement “Painting is poetry that can be seen, and poetry is painting that can be heard” is circulating through the blood. That’s why she started to use feathers and a brush and began to reveal the world and herself to them. As a poet, she is represented in numerous domestic and foreign literary newspapers, anthologies and electronic media, and some of her poems can be found on YouTube. Many of her poems have been translated into English, Hungarian, Bengali and Bulgarian due to the need of foreign readers. She is the recipient of many international awards. “Trees of Desire” is her second collection of poems in preparation, which is preceded by the book of poems “Moon Circle”. She is a member of the International Society of Writers and Artists “Mountain Views” in Montenegro, and she also is a member of the Poetry club “Area Felix” in Serbia.
Poet Pat Doyne invites writers to enter the Tor House poetry contest. Submissions must be sent via snail mail to the address in the link and postmarked by March 15th.
Poet Eva Petropoulou shares that Our Poetry Association, an international writers’ collective, has opened submissions for its spring contest, with a theme of justice.
Poet and essayist Abigail George, whom we’ve published many times, shares the fundraiser her book’s press has created for her. She’s seeking contributions for office supplies and resources to be able to serve as a speaker and advocate for others who have experienced trauma or deal with mental health issues.
Synchronized Chaos Magazine also encourages you to watch short videos of international authors, artists, and activists interviewed on the Xena World chat show, including several of our contributors.
Poet Annie Finchseeks assistance with training a new app that will identify and teach different forms of poetic scansion. She’s looking for people who know how to do scansion manually to go over the collection of poems in the training set.
Essayist and poetChimezie Ihekuna seeks a publisherfor his children’s story collection Family Time. Family Time! is a series that is aimed at educating, entertaining and inspiring children between the ages of two and seven years of age. It is intended to engage parents, teachers and children with stories that bring a healthy learning relationship among them.
Essayist Jeff Rasley’s new book is out: It’s a story inspired by my own experience of a sophisticated California kid transferring to my grade school in the small town of Goshen, Indiana in 1965. It did not go well, when the new kid challenged the “gang” of kids who thought they were the cool kids who ruled the playground. For most of us, it was a blip in our lives. But one boy never recovered.
It is a short story, just 25 pages. So it only costs $2.99 for the ebook and $9.99 for the paperback. For some of you, it may evoke nostalgia for a time gone by (like using Juno instead of gmail). For others, it will be historical fiction from a strange time and place. Check it out at https://www.amazon.com/Came-Parkside-School-Jack-Thriller-Mystery-Romance -ebook/dp/B0DY9TKL6V
Contributor Kelly Moyer has a new book out, Mother Pomegranate and Other Fairy Tales for Grown-Ups. It includes the piece “The Pussy Whip” which she sent to Synchronized Chaos, as well as many other stories. It’s available here.
Contributing poet and Pushcart nominee Kurt Nimmo’s new book Texas and New Mexico: Selected Poems 2015-2025 is out and available here.
Our April 1st issue will be crafted by co-editor Kahlil Crawford. He’s a poet, musician, and essayist who has put together previous issues on Latin Culture and Electronic Music.
In March we will have a presence at the Association of Writing Programs conference in L.A. which will include an offsite reading at Chevalier’s Books on Saturday, March 29th at 6 pm. All are welcome to attend!
So far the lineup for our reading includes Asha Dore, Douglas Cole, Scott Ferry, Linda Michel-Cassidy, Aimee Suzara, Reverie Fey, Ava Homa, Michelle Gonzalez, Terry Tierney, Anisa Rahim, Katrina Byrd, Cindy Rinne, Norma Smith, and Kelliane Parker.
Author Justin Hamm is hosting a FREE online literary event the weekend of AWP, known as StayWP. This will include author talks, informative panels, book launches and networking!
Paul Tristram, like Whitman, sings of himself with easy confidence and exhilaration in life’s experiences. Philip Butera’s poetry speaks to the masks we wear and finding the courage to be authentic. Grzegorz Wroblewski digs deep into our fleshy reality, addressing the “meat” of our existence and our bodies’ undeniable needs. Tojiyeva Muxlisa also looks at our bodies, outlining common gynecological diseases and their treatments.
Dr. Prasanna Kumar Dalai’s poetry explores human emotion: romantic attraction, loneliness, grief, and confidence. Kendall Snipper speaks to the small and large sensations that bring back memories. Stephen Jarrell Williams looks back at the ‘paradise’ of his hometown in a moment of nostalgia. David Sapp recollects the wildness and local color of his boyhood days.
Kylian Cubilla Gomez’ photography captures a sense of whimsy and joy. A cat, Jean-Paul Moyer, partners with poet Kelly Moyer to create splashy, colorful paintings by moving paint around on canvas.
Life meets art in Alan Catlin’s work, as he recollects bits of his past and how he engaged with literary movements and cultural icons. Mark Young evokes moments of change, evolution, and decision in his poetry, as characters grapple with taking stock of themselves. Alaina Hammond’s drama explores the tension and commonalities behind practitioners of different art forms, and how and why they chose their crafts.
Umida Haydaraliyeva expresses the creative joy of an emerging author. Muhabbat Abdurahimova speaks to a poet’s quest for inspiration. Chris Foltopoulos’ guitar plucks out dulcet tones on his experimental music project Arpeggios. Chuck Taylor turns to writing as one of many ways to find solace during fits of insomnia.
Mahbub writes of a dream journey through gardens and his early childhood as Rus Khomutoff’s visual poetry takes us on a dreamlike quest through the beauty and mystery and riddle of our existence. Chuck Kramer’s work comes from a speaker of a certain age reflecting on their life and its meaning, finding purpose through experience teaching young children.
Ilhomova Mohichehra offers up her gratitude to her teacher. Bibikhanifa Jumanazarova poetizes about her mother’s wisdom and gentleness. Ibrahimova Halima Vahobjonovna celebrates the lifelong love and devotion of her mother as Sevinch Abirova contributes a piece of love and appreciation for a younger family member. Mirta Liliana Ramirez points out how she learned and got stronger from her past experiences, even from people who were not kind to her. Lilian Dipasupil Kunimasa speaks to the power of kindness and friendship, even online friendship across the distance, to affect our lives.
Mesfakus Salahin recollects the joy of young love on a warm evening. Xavier Womack speaks of a crush and the desire for a deep connection with a classmate. Anna Keiko speaks to the joy, strength, and staying power of true love. Jeannette Tiburcio Marquez evokes the joy and sweet surrender of ballroom dance with a romantic partner.
Kristy Raines’ poetry explores both interpersonal romantic love and human compassion for the world. Peter Cherches’ short stories probe how much we owe each other as fellow inhabitants of the planet, how far we will go for each other. Graciela Noemi Villaverde expresses her hopes and dreams for international peace among humanity, and Eva Petropoulou does the same for the sake of the world’s children. She also pays tribute to her deceased father.
Dr. Adnan Ali Gujjar offers up a poetic tribute to the grace and mentorship of poet Eva Petropoulou Lianou and her advocacy for peace and global justice. Dr. Jernail Anand’s essay argues for the value of art and literature for a fully developed and moral society.
Saidqulova Nozima sings of her Uzbek homeland as Munisa Azimova celebrates her Uzbek heritage and homeland in tender verse. Still others focus on the nation’s many accomplished writers. Sevinch Shukurova illustrates how the genre of poetry allowed Uzbek writer Alexander Faynberg to concisely and directly express his message. Nilufar Anvarova sends up a poem on the creative legacy of Uzbek writer and statesman Erkin Vahidov.Odina Azamqulova highlights the contributions of writer and translator Ozod Sharafiddinov to Uzbekistan’s literary heritage.
Nosirova Surayyo offers up suggestions for becoming fluent speaking in a second language. Maftuna Bozorova encourages readers to learn about other cultures through learning foreign languages. Abduraximova Farida Khomiljon examines various methods for teaching English as a second language.
Lazzatoy Shukurillayeva translates a poem by historical Uzbek writer Alisher Navoi that considers the vagaries of fate. Duane Vorhees speaks with a gentle humor to both intimacy and mortality. J.K. Durick’s work comments on transience: money, moments in time, even our health will pass. Kurt Nimmo addresses forms of living death in his work alongside actual mortality: being stuck in a dead-end job, being addicted, having one’s life’s work erased.
Mykyta Ryzhykh crafts a somber, deathly world. Jacques Fleury’s protagonist drowns himself in a quest for oblivion after his mental illness drives his family away, missing some potential positive news after his passing. Alex S. Johnson’s short story character decides against suicide when he encounters “spirits” who wish they had had more time on Earth.
Paul Durand’s piece explores how Andy Warhol transcended his ordinary, vulnerable humanity through art and fame. Taylor Dibbert finds a kind of strange and transcendent solace in the fact that great authors have written about the kinds of travel mishaps he experiences.
Pat Doyne lambasts Donald Trump’s plan to take over and gentrify the Gaza Strip by displacing its impoverished residents. Bill Tope’s short story traces how casual prejudice and homophobia can lead to violence. Abeera Mirza’s poetry tells the tale of how a young wife escapes domestic violence. Bill Tope and Doug Hawley’s collaborative story also presents hope as a wife bravely confronts her husband about his behavior and he chooses accountability and sobriety.
DK Jammin’ turns to his faith for moments of grace and solace in ordinary life despite a complex and sometimes harsh world. Sara Hunt Florez recalls the constant passage of time and encourages us to make the most of what we have, even in small moments with those around us. Ma Yongbo speaks to shifting reality and impermanence, human limitations and death, and the immortality he finds through creativity.
Isabella Gomez de Diego’s photos reflect the simple joys of nature, family, home, children, and faith. Maja Milojkovic offers simple kindness to a ladybug, releasing the insect to fly and dream freely outside. Lidia Popa reaches deep inside her mind to find inner personal peace.
Sayani Mukherjee revels in the small pleasures of a spring tea party. Rasulova Rukhshona celebrates Central Asian spring Nowruz New Year with a poem about loving grandparents, flowers and birds.
Brian Barbeito’s prose piece evokes his youth and personal creative awakening. Mushtariy Tolanboyeva expresses the lament of an impatient tree who wanted to blossom, but bloomed too early before winter finished.
Daniel De Culla’s piece illuminates his love for all of the planet’s life and recognizes that each species’ existence is inter-related. Adaboyev Maqsad’s essay suggests pathways towards ecological sustainability, elucidating economic and legal means of addressing environmental issues.
Murodjon Asomidinov also discusses economics and global justice, calling for empowering the youth of the world through financial literacy education.
Z.I. Mahmud’s essay explores feminist Indian writer Amar Jiban’s writing about the struggles of older single and widowed women and the need for all women to have education as a pathway to independence and financial security. Nurmatova Aziza relates the tale of a young woman who bucks traditional gender expectations by traveling to the city for an advanced degree.
We hope that this issue will be a source of empowerment, commiseration, and merriment at the many facets of our shared humanity and our shared connection with the rest of Earth’s life.
Tea
Teapots and adorable napkins
The child's soul knows no bounds
It clasps a little a lithe wards dream
A homesickness that grows in your soul
A pungent tea flavoured gift that i picked up
A flower of moth eaten daisies I charm in thee
Bottled and boat necked gifts that churn my soul
A homely affair a stage show for faint hearted
I like to knit sweaters in lulled voice
What if my voice reached you today?
I will scramble and do the dishes the art of
Domestic choices still I landed on my fairy tales
I daresay I will write on my behalf
As poetry becomes a stagecraft for skin and home.
