Into the Fire: The Sun Celebrates Personal Writing: Join Sun authors Michelle Cacho-Negrete, Doug Crandell, Gillian Kendall, and Sparrow, along with editor and publisher Sy Safransky, for a lively weekend of writing, reflection, and inspiration, June 3–5, 2011. The gathering will be held at Rowe, a retreat center situated on fifty acres of lush woodland in the Berkshire Mountains of western Massachusetts.
A large enrollment is expected, and spaces are limited. You may register by contacting Rowe at (413) 339-4954, or online.
Stephen Iachetta and Rod Driscoll as Friends Union Band will be performing this evening, Saturday, April 16th, 7:30pm at a very special folk concert evening launching the “Music at the Meeting House” series. The concert will take place at the Historic 1848 Shaker Meeting House, 25 Meeting House Road, (Next to Albany International Airport), Colonie, NY. Refreshments will be served and proceeds will help support the Shaker Heritage Society – America’s First Shaker Settlement circa 1776.
Friends Union Band features Adirondack hammer dulcimer, 6 and 12 string guitar, and vocalist, Rod Driscoll with fiddle master Steve Iachetta. Their repertoire consists of innovative and traditional roots music. I highly recommend attending. A good cause and great music!
The Shaker Heritage Society is a chartered 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation.
This year’s Literary Debutante Ball will celebrate five One Story authors who published their first book in the last year, and honor novelist and memoirist Dani Shapiro for her role as a mentor to so many emerging writers. The night will feature the debutante procession, an art auction, and a signature BULLDOG gin cocktail, “The Six Poisons,” named for One Story issue #69 by Dani Shapiro.
The 2011 Literary Debutantes are: Robin Black, Susanna Daniel, Seth Fried, Jerry Gabriel, and Jim Hanas.
Tickets are currently on sale. The Ball takes place on Friday, April 29, 2011 from 7-11pm at The Invisible Dog Art Center, 51 Bergen Street (btw. Court St. & Smith St.), Brooklyn, NY 11201.
One Story is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization supported by readers and by grants from organizations including the National Endowment for the Arts, the New York State Council on the Arts, and Amazon.com. This event is generously sponsored by Bulldog Gin, among others.
The International Project “Art for Peace” – 14th edition will be judging submissions from children and youth ages 4 through 16 on the subject: Art For Forests Of My Country. Judging takes place in November 2011.
According to the United Nations Environment Programme, forests represent 31% of terrestrial coverage, serving as a shelter for 300 million people and also directly ensuring the survival of 1.6 billion humans and 80% of the planet’s biodiversity.
The predatory exploitation and disrespect of the natural life cycle of forests leads to the extinction of many species of wild fauna and flora and trigger serious consequences to human life because they are a source of drinking water and food.
Deforestation and forest degradation are responsible for 20% of greenhouse gases emitted, causing the worsening of climate change. This rate is higher than all global transport emissions.
In order to aware the entire world population about the vital importance of their forests, the United Nations declared 2011 as the International Year of Forests.
Teachers are asked to work with their students on a project supporting the preservation of forests and their importance in ensuring life on the planet. Students should express themselves through art and messages about conservation of their country’s forests. An educational component focused on environmental preservation, social responsibility, and peace should be part of the project.
The work may be sponsored and submitted by children and youth in a school, community organization, on behalf of a company (the children of employees), an academy, library, or individually. All works must be received by October 21, 2011.
Suggested topics that might be addressed include:
- Forests are a source of life, drinking water and food;
- The flora and fauna of the forests of your country;
- The large trees that cover the forests in your country;
- Destroyed forests causing loss of biodiversity, extinction of flora and fauna and the loss of water resources;
- The watersheds of forests. rivers, lakes, waterfalls, and caves;
- Forest people and their traditions. Their work in protecting natural resources for their survival;
- Essential raw materials found in the forests for the pharmaceutical industry;
- The worsening of climate change caused by forest degradation;
- Destruction of forests for cattle pasture. This is a major cause of greenhouse gases.
- Actions to prevent construction in areas where deforestation can cause erosion in the soil, leading to tragedies; or
- Every nation, through government and non-governmental organizations, must ensure that forests are managed for their country in a sustainable way for present and future generations.
Please see the attached rules in English, Spanish, or Portuguese.
The documentary film “Irena Sendler – in the name of their mothers” premieres nationally on PBS on Sunday, May 1, 2011. Check your local PBS station for times.