ART Community Dialog: The Voices of Western New York Artists

In keeping with the mission statement of community support, American Repertory Theater of Western New York has created a website and Facebook Page dedicated to opening up online forums to discuss issues facing WNY Artists. This new Website Public Forum page is entitled "The Voices of Western New York Artists."

These public forums are designed for all members of WNY Cultural Groups, media, individual artists and anyone with an opinion that faces Artists in Western New York.

Those visiting The Voices of WNY Artists website and the Facebook page are encouraged to post opinions, offer links to blogs & websites, announce upcoming shows and, most importantly, utilize their voices for the sole purposes of creating dialog and being heard.

The mission of the American Repertory Theater is two fold.  To produce both classic and contemporary theatrical works and support a new generation of playwrights. These productions are purposefully created through the innovative exploration of these selected works, thereby enhancing the cultural and intellectual experience of the theatergoer.

Second, the American Repertory Theater will serve as a catalyst for community dialogue and action that will result in sustained economic growth and increase the collaboration within all sectors of our community.

Facebook

WEBSITE 

For information: 

Matthew LaChiusa (716) 884-4858  

email artofwny@msn.com

 

Freedom Flotilla II and The Canadian Boat to Gaza, "Tahir"

The Canadian Boat to Gaza campaign announces today the successful conclusion of arrangements to purchase and register a boat to carry the Canadian delegation to Gaza. The boat’s name Tahrir (Liberation in Arabic) has been chosen to honour the square in Cairo that was the focus of the democratic uprising that has spread hope across the Middle East.  

The Tahrir will sail with vessels from France, USA, UK, Ireland, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, Greece, Turkey, and other countries, as part of the Freedom Flotilla II. This international movement in solidarity with the Palestinian people turns the spotlight on the blockade of Gaza and its 1.6 million residents whose access to resources and ability to travel has been unilaterally impeded by the illegal Israeli blockade.


The 25-metre Tahrir will carry approximately 45 people: delegates from across the country, high profile Canadians plus journalists. As well, the Canadian campaign has partnered with campaigns from other countries and will carry delegates from Australia, Belgium and Denmark. 


A new website: http://www.tahrir.ca/ was launched today to coincide with news of the boat’s purchase and will be the site for online donations.

As the Israeli government continues to threaten the use of force against the Freedom Flotilla II, we call on all Canadians, including Members of Parliament from all parties, to join with us in demanding that the Canadian government take concrete steps to guarantee the safety of humanitarians headed to Gaza. 

“My heart is with the participants in the Canadian boat to Gaza in this important initiative for freedom and justice for Palestine. I urge the Canadian government to do all it can to prevent Israeli aggression against the flotilla and the activists aboard the boats,” said Jewish Holocaust survivor and Palestine rights activist Suzanne Weiss in Toronto.

The world is watching: we will not be intimidated and we will not forget the Palestinians of Gaza.

End the Blockade of Gaza!

Tear down the Apartheid Walls!

End the Israeli collective punishment on the Palestinian people, Free Palestine!

Support the Free Gaza movement & US Boat to Gaza break the siege on Gaza!

http://www.FreeGaza.org

 

http://UStoGazaWest.org/

http://www.UStoGaza.org
 

# # #

Susan Marie Public Relations

Think Twice Radio 

New York USA 2011

 

In Honor of Mothers & Children: Tweet for Hunger and Education

Josette Sheeran, front line reports and head of The World Food Program [WFP, the world's largest humanitarian org], began a movement on twitter to battle hunger for children globally by having people retweet a simple message in honor of her Mother, Sarah.

#AMeal4Sarah @JosetteSheeran #MothersDay

*Josette will donate one meal for every single message sent on twitter per account up to 4,000 meals until Mother's Day. 

The World Food Programme is the world's largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger worldwide. In emergencies, they get food to where it is needed, saving the lives of victims of war, civil conflict and natural disasters. After the cause of an emergency has passed, they use food to help communities rebuild their shattered lives.  WFP is part of the United Nations system and is voluntarily funded.

 

 © WFP 2011

In honor of my own Mother, Mary, along with WFP's and Josette's initiative, as a UN Volunteer and bloggers for hunger through WFP; I decided along with CEO and founder of PYA, Syed Ali Abbas Zaidi, to donate towards the renovation and rebuilding of schools in Pakistan by asking people to tweet: 

 #pkfloods @ThinkTwiceRadio #MothersDay @P_Y_A        

*For every single tweet per account, up to 1,000 tweets, I will donate to Pakistan Youth Alliance towards cost of renovation of elementary schools drastically damaged by the 2010 flooding in Pakistan. 

Pakistan Youth Alliance  [PYA], one of the forerunners of youth organizations in Pakistan, are in the process of giving education back to children who currently do not have schools to attend. 

PYA, created and based in Pakistan in 2007, with chapters in Canada, KSA, and the UK, educates and empowers youth in order to cause awareness through action. Their focus is on societal issues that need to be understood, supported and altered in order to create a tolerable and progressive society. Syed Ali Abbas Zaidi, CEO of PYA, along with co-founder, Maryam Kanwer, created this organization in 2007. In 2011, PYA has grown into an international  movement recognized by the UN in NYC.

 © PYA 2011

Through the utilization of technology, Josette, to WFP and myself to PYA, are able to feed and provide education for children in honor of Mothers for Mother's Day, by giving to children internationally.  This is only possible with the help of all people through retweeting [sending] each message online @twitter.  When each limit has been reached, donations will be made for both causes to both organizations. Only through the help of this global family, can the children be given aid, thus honoring all Mothers in return. 

We need your help in order for this to come to fruition. 

1. HUNGER: copy and paste this message on twitter: 

#AMeal4Sarah @JosetteSheeran #MothersDay

2. EDUCATION:  copy and paste this message on twitter:

#pkfloods @ThinkTwiceRadio #MothersDay @P_Y_A      

 IT IS FREE TO HELP!

This is your chance to become a part of a global initiative for Mother's Day.  It is to honor Mothers and children, as well as providing for them both. 

We need you. 

Just copy, paste and send.

 

Peace,

Sue