protestpoems. org is a poetry journal entirely devoted to, and fully committed to, new poetry that tackles human rights issues worldwide.

The journal strives to present the best poems of protest written to promote freedom of speech and human rights. It is updated fortnightly. We publish a maximum six poems a month to keep a steady flow of relevant protests. Although we update the journal often, we are very selective. We are looking for edge.

The website and mailing lists provide information about persecuted writers, along with letters of protest ready for our subscribers to cut and paste. To receive emails (once a month, on average) with protest information focused on a specific persecuted writer, send an email to <write(at)protestpo ems.org> (replace (at) with @). Please write SUBSCRIBE in your subject line.

Planned remaining publication dates for 2010 are :

22 May
05 June
19 June
03 July
17 July
31 July
14 August
28 August
11 September
25 September
09 October
23 October
06 November
20 November
04 December
18 December

Submission guidelines

It’s simple.

We’re not looking for partisan propaganda. We’re not looking for party-political mouthings. We’re not looking for sentimental depictions of what you see on the TV. We’re not looking for rhyming greetings card verses.

We want you to champion, not yourselves, but human rights; the rights of those who don’t have the freedom to write and speak as we do. Rage. Celebrate. Mourn. Demand. Scream. Dance.

Formal complaints are especially exciting. There’s something wonderfully subversive about a villanelle that attacks a government deliberately making the same mistake over and over again.

If you need to be inspired, read the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Then check out any objective newsfeed or news site.

Paste your poems (a maximum of 3 one-page poems), into the body of an email and send to <write(at)protestpo ems.org> (replace (at) with @). If necessary, you can email a single .doc or .rtf file containing all the poems you are submitting.

Include a brief bio.

We will accept poems previously published on paper, as long as you hold the copyright. We will not accept poems which are already (or have previously been) published online (including blogs). We will publish a poet only once a year.

If your poem deals with a specific call for action, or commemorates a specific person, please let us know.

This one is for mature audiences:

Continue reading →

I’m looking for speakers for our next fashion and tech workshop called “Fashion Mash-Up on May 20th to be held at Pigment Cosmetics. Join the prestigious list of speakers and mentors that have graced our stage. To be considered as a speaker, you have to be at least familiar with social media apps such as Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and currently using these open apps to promote your business online.

Our main topic will be “Social media in the fashion industry” details are below”

1. How has social media reshaped the ever changing trends in the fashion industry
2. How to apply social media in marketing your online store, fashion design or boutique product?
3. Discuss how social media makes it possible for fashion designers or fashion boutiques to generate interest about their brand online.
4. How a brand can be promoted more to customers at a global scale with a minimal cost.
5. Discuss the following social media platforms: LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and Meet Up.
6. What are the latest open source tools or online platforms in social media that enables the fashion industry professionals, to connect with their customers online

If you missed our last event and for more details about this forum, please visit this site: http://www.facebook.com/l/25e7d;fashiontwitup.onsugar.com/

To review SFFAMA’s online portfolio, please visit – http://www.facebook.com/l/25e7d;www.slideshare.net/owengeronimo/sffama-organization-presentation

You may visit our site here –
http://www.facebook.com/l/25e7d;www.sffama.com/

Please email to me your website at: owengeronimo@gmail.com for consideration.

Thank you –
Owen Geronimo
SFFAMA, Inc.

globalaffairs.es

(ESPAÑOL)

Estimados miembros

Para el siguiente número de Global Affairs estamos particularmente interesados en:

–          La situación política en Tailandia

–          Corrupción en Italia

–          Gordon Brown y el futuro de la política británica

–          Lula y el desarrollo económico de Brasil

–          Turbulencias en las divisas

–          El futuro de Irak

–          El vertido del Golfo de México y sus consecuencias económicas

–          Inmigración mejicana en Arizona y la ley Jan Brewer

–          Laura Chinchilla y el futuro de Costa Rica

Por favor si estás interesado en escribir sobre alguno de estos temas o proponer alguno diferente envía un mail a eva.diez@globalaffairs.es

Puedes unirte a nuestro grupo de facebook en http://www.facebook.com/?sk=messages&tid=1351843763533#!/group.php?gid=6178354337

Gracias por tu interés en Global Affairs.

Saludos,

globalaffairs.es

(ENGLISH)

For next Global Affairs issue we are interested in the following topics:

–          Politics in Thailand

–          Corruption in Italy

–          Gordon Brown and the future of British politics

–          Lula and economic development in Brazil

–          Turbulences in divisa market

–          The future of Iraq

–          The Mexican Gulf oil spill and its economic consequences

–          Mexican migration in Arizona and Jan Brewer Law

–          Laura Chinchilla and the future of Costa Rica

If you are interested in writing about one of these topics of proposing a new one, please email to eva.diez@globalaffairs.es.

You can join our Facebook group http://www.facebook.com/?sk=messages&tid=1351843763533#!/group.php?gid=6178354337

Thank you for your interest in Global Affairs.

Best Regards,

Eva Díez

eva.diez@globalaffairs.es

www.globalaffairs.es

“Better to have loved and lost, then never to have loved at all”

Critics and scholars consider Puccini’s romantic tragedy La Rondine (The Swallow) closer to comic opera, since characters manage to avoid suicide and murder and suffer only heartbreak. And Opera San Jose’s production blossoms with roses and sunlight and crackles with wit and laughter, reflecting much more life and joy than loss and sorrow. Heroine Magda (Jasmina Halimic), her lover Ruggero (Alexander Boyer) and her benefactor Rambaldo (Silas Elash) sing their way through a kaleidoscope of human emotion. Magda’s maid Lisette (Jennie Litster) who jokes freely with her employers and borrows Magda’s dresses for nights on the town, and the intrepid, clever, but clueless poet Prunier may remind one of one’s own dinner party guests.

Opera San Jose’s performers fully engage with the show, and we never see ‘wallpaper characters.’ The people in the background for each scene continue interacting and mouthing words to each other while the leads present the show’s main drama. Never loud or obvious enough to distract from the story, the others on stage add even more life to the production by carrying out their individual stories with the same focus and abandon as the leads.  We get the impression that, as would be true in a real-life party, Magda’s cocktail soirees and the Bullier nightclub play host to dozens of simultaneous opera-worthy stories.

Lisette’s spectacular failure at cabaret singing, even under Prunier’s dedicated mentorship, brings to an end one of these side plots, as she flees hisses and catcalls and gratefully returns to her old chambermaid position. If Puccini had created the opera to show this scene directly, it would not have been easy for Litster to convince audiences of her lack of vocal ability. She shows off the greatest energy and vocal range of any woman in the cast, with Halimic a close second. Rondine’s entire cast and orchestra carries off the music, including famed aria Chi il bel sogno di Doretta, with a rare blend of the technical proficiency of opera and the easy grace of a musical number.

The society and cultural climate where Magda lives does eventually force her to choose between love and elegance, pleasant cottage life and lively cocktail parties, dreams and reality, youth and maturity, Ruggero and Rambaldo. However, Halimic brings such dignity to the role, standing tall and looking both men and the audience in the eye, suggesting she would be able to survive and triumph in both worlds. Even while returning home to the compromises of her adult world, she acts from her heart along with her mind: sparing Ruggero his family’s disapproval. Even as a kept woman, she’s still a romantic to an extent and capable of love and consideration for others.

Halimic’s strength and grace, along with the entire cast, chorus, dancers, effusively decorated sets, orchestra, and conductor, smiling as he mouths the arias along with the singers, beckon us to join her in celebrating life in all its manifestations.

La Rondine runs at Opera San Jose through this weekend, May 9^th, and then the season starts again in September with Anna Karenina. Tickets are on sale now for the 2010/2011 season, and readers may click here http://www.operasj.org/home.html for more information.

Take Back the Mic – Storytelling and Arts

May 20th, 2010
Ashkenaz 1317 San Pablo Ave. Berkeley, CA
Doors 7:30pm, Show 8:00pm, Soulfège 10:30pm
Come early; show begins promptly!
$10-15 sliding scale – all ages

More info and tickets here: http://www.takebackthemic.com/

I usually spare all of you international folks the local announcements, but this is run by a very worthy organization trying to get people to perform and speak and participate in the arts while creating positive change in their neighborhoods (recycling, mentoring kids so they stay in school and out of gangs, etc.) And I enjoy Ashkenaz too – open community space for diverse entertainment and cultural performances.

Call for Artists
Visions and Dreams
Art Show

Art Show and Reception: May 22, 2010 2-5 p.m.
Copy of artwork and fee due by 5:00 p.m. May 14, 2010

Who: Everyone who feels moved to participate. We would like people from every community, people who don’t consider themselves artists, trained or untrained, serious and dabblers, to submit works of visual or other types of art united under the theme of Visions and Dreams.

What: Call for Artists for any visual art medium: Photography, ceramics, painting, sculpture, drawings, jewelry, collages, glass, fabrics, and poetry (framed), any form of visual art is welcome. Dance and even film are encouraged, details to be worked out in each case.
Please call to arrange for dance, film, music, etc.
Please note: Last year, several people wanted to display artwork that was either non-original or art they owned. This year we will have a category for shared artwork so you may include it this year. The $15 fee still applies, but we encourage you to do so.

Why: The purpose of this art show is to begin a conversation in our community and to share our individual and collective images of our Dreams and Visions. We hope that this gathering of artists and appreciators will bring us new insights, new friends, new understanding, and hopefully some surprises.
More details: This show will not be juried nor will we award competitive prizes. In lieu of prizes, we will provide viewers with paper and pens to leave comments for the artists.
Please be aware this is a family event. We reserve the right to not show works that would be unsuitable for children to view.
Where: Fellowship Hall Hillcrest Congregational Church
404 Gregory Lane Pleasant Hill Ca. 94523
Questions? Contact Janice 925 689-8260 Ext. 18
Or divineimages92@yahoo.com
When: Deadline: May 14th for copy of artwork and fee
Show: Saturday, May 22nd, 2-5 p.m.
Checks should be made out to Hillcrest Congregational Church. Photographs or copies of entry can be either mailed or emailed to divineimages92@yahoo.com

Entry fee: $15 per entry (non-refundable) to cover the costs of the show. Children’s submissions 18 and under are free. If unable to pay, please contact us.

Artists are welcome to post their business cards with their work; however sales are between you and the buyer. Size of works and multiple entries may be limited depending on response.

Delivery: Works can be delivered 10:00 to 12:00 .p.m. Friday 5/21 or Saturday 5/22 9a.m. to 10:00 a.m.
Pick up: Sunday 5/23/ 10 12:00 to 1.pm.