NBC Universal announced the top finalists at the grand finale of its fifth-annual “Short Cuts” Film Festival on October 20 at the Directors Guild of America (DGA) Theater in Los Angeles. The event was hosted by Craig Robinson of NBC’s “The Office” and Olivia Munn of NBC’s upcoming series “Perfect Couples.”

Hosts Olivia Munn & Craig Robinson with Julius Onah - Recipient, Best Director, The Bounday

Now in its fifth-consecutive year, NBC Universal’s “Short Cuts” Film Festival has earned its place as the authority on delivering new diverse voices to the film and television industry. The program is championed by Kendra Carter, Director of NBC Universal’s Talent Diversity Initiatives.

“NBC Universal continues to push boundaries as a leading showcase for multi-cultural expression, both in the growth of our submission categories and in the enhanced quality of our awards structure,” said Carter. “Our constant goal is to discover, develop and present cutting-edge work from a diverse perspective to our colleagues within the NBC Universal family and the entertainment industry at large.”

The finalist films were presented in three major categories to include: Best Short Film, Best Actor within a Film, and Best Director. This year’s honorees are director/co-writer Viet Nguyen and co-writer Christopher Dinh for “Crush the Skull”; Randall Park for “Blueberry,” and Julius Onah, writer/director of “The Boundary.”

Ultimately, Onah’s “The Boundary” received the award for Best Director and earned him a finalist position in the NBC Director Fellowship program. For Best Actor, Park’s performance in “Blueberry” allowed him to receive a one-year NBC Universal Talent Holding Deal. Likewise, co-writers Nguyen and Dinh received a blind script deal with NBC Universal. Additional prizes include: meetings with NBCU executives; an NBCU Digital Studio Opportunity; a Panavision camera package donation valued at $60,000; and a creative concept commercial assignment granted by Burrell Communications, a top multi-cultural advertising agency.

“I would like to congratulate this year’s filmmakers for their amazing shorts,” said Wil Sylvince, founder of the “Short Cuts” Film Festival. “I also want to thank NBC Universal and the entire industry for their commitment and support for diverse creative content. The NBC ‘Short Cuts’ Film Festival has made its mark. It has become the ultimate platform for diverse writers, directors and actors to gain feedback from industry leaders while establishing notoriety for their creative work.”

“Short Cuts” Film Festival is a company-wide initiative and is one of many live events produced by NBC’s Talent Diversity Initiative with the goal of cultivating diversity both in front of and behind the camera. This year’s panel of judges include Jeff Ingold (NBC Comedy Programming), Grace Wu (NBC Casting), Franklin Leonard (Universal Pictures), Quan Phung (Stuber Productions), Karen O’Hara (Syfy) and Karen Horne (NBC Entertainment Programs).

Selected from over 1,500 submissions, this year’s finalists included: Joshua Funk, (writer/director of “Undocumented Worker: The Audition”); Debby Wolfe, (writer/director of “Gordita”); Sterlin Harjo (writer/director of “Three Little Boys”) and Francisco Ordonez, (writer/director of “Cookie”). Semi-finalist films were screened earlier before an industry audience in conjunction with the New York Television Festival on September 22.

Corporate support for this year’s initiative came from sponsors such as The Hollywood Reporter, Burrell Communications, Panavision, the Sheraton Universal Hotel, CIROC and Web Solutions MD.

“It’s a great honor for Burrell Communications to partner with NBC Universal ‘Short Cuts’ Film Festival to create opportunities for the next generation of young filmmakers and storytellers,” said Lewis Williams, Chief Creative Officer of Burrell Communications. “Burrell has always made it a priority to provide an outlet for creative individuals to showcase their talent and skills. These opportunities are crucial to the diversity of ideas, content and talent in the film and advertising industry. We applaud this year’s finalists and winners.”

NBC Universal’s “Short Cuts” Film Festival was founded with actor/writer/comedian Sylvince in 2005 to display and celebrate diversity in the entertainment industry. The objective is to allow creative individuals with diverse perspectives the opportunity to present their material in front of key decision makers within the industry. When Sylvince is not working on the “Short Cuts” Film Festival, he performs on the national comedy circuit, including college campuses, and in festivals worldwide.

For additional information, please visit: WWW.NBCSHORTCUTS.COM

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The 65^th United Nations General Assembly began Sept 20, 2010 with the usual fanfare and traffic headaches in midtown Manhattan. Aside from the local commuter’s annoyance, however, the subject of the annual meeting centered on issues that all Americans and the international community have great stakes in. President Obama spoke to the Assembly stressing the need for continued peace talks between Israeli and Palestinian leaders. He said that it is possible to have an agreement on creating an independent Palestinian state and simultaneously securing Israel within a year, based on newly restarted peace talks between the two. This was contingent on an extension on the settlement moratorium, although President Benjamin Netanyahu stated publicly that the freeze would end as scheduled. This back and forth on spreading Israeli territory into Palestinian regions is the source of contention between international leaders trying to get the opposing sides to put away their differences and develop two independent states living in peace. These tough objectives, from social development to economic and political stabilization, will not come easy, as representatives from Israel, Palestine and parts of Africa can attest. Leaders of premier international think tanks and organizations criticized President Obama, who although known for his rousing words and insights, found himself hard-pressed to show tangible, consistent gains. Some expressed disappointment at what seemed to be back-pedaling on the Israeli territory issue. Another area that President Obama has received scrutiny in is the priorities of the nation’s budget. To date, the U.S. has spent $100 billion on the largely drawn out and marginally successful Afghan War, while only $10 billion put into the whole of Africa. Some argue that it is time for these countries to help themselves and not strain American taxpayers. To his credit, in his speech Obama did call out Arab countries that support Palestine with words but not political and financial help, indicating a region yet to find its own internal balance without outside intervention.

Nevertheless, the mood at the UN meetings is one of gritty determination. In the court of public opinion, many bloggers increasingly question the relevance and practicality of the Millennium Development Goals launched in 2000. The Millennium Development Goals, by 2015, are as follows: one-Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger. 2- Achieve universal education for boys and girls. 3- Promoting gender equality and empowering women. 4- Reduce child mortality by two-thirds in children under age 5. 5- Reducing maternal mortality ratios by 75% and achieving universal access to reproductive health. 6- Combating HIV/AIDS, Malaria and other major diseases and halting their spread. 7- Ensuring environmental stability and reducing biodiversity loss. 8- Develope a global partnership for development that addresses the special needs of certain developing nations while fostering a rule-based, nondiscriminatory trade system.

According to Jeffrey D. Sachs, world economist and head of Columbia University’s Earth Institute, the MDGs are still attainable. So far, the results achieved are mixed. Many ten nations in Africa, including Angola, Ethiopia and Egypt reported that they halved their absolute poverty levels. The other side of the coin calls for protecting fair and free votes in Sudan or enforcing women’s rights to education and economic opportunities in Kenya. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon stressed that the eight goals can only be successful worldwide if the 192 member nations honor their commitments. This means that due diligence should not slow down during the economic crises of the past two years. “We should not balance budgets on the backs of the poor,” said Ban.  Mr. Sachs asserted that one step towards bolstering U.S. involvement in the MDGs begins in Washington. Old trade policies from two decades ago do not reflect today’s foreign assistance agenda. The world is rapidly changing, so the models for interacting with countries in need must change as well. President Nicolas Sarkozy pledged that France would increase its contribution to the Millennium Goals by 20 percent over the next three years, on the heels of a controversial Parliamentary ruling. The decision to increase the retirement age in France from 60 to 62 has sparked ongoing protests from citizens, threatening Sarkozy’s already faltering legacy of effective governance. Mary Robinson, former UN Human Rights Commissioner when the MDGs launched in 2000, said that they are faltering because of a lack of accountability from rich countries. She also criticized the well-roundedness of the approach, pointing out that women’s reproductive and legal rights were not high up enough in the assessment of human rights. On another hand, the policies were not linked to employment or address jobless rates in the Middle East or Africa, which tend to go hand-in-hand with poverty and lack of education.  Friday, September 24 session of the General Assembly was an emergency meeting to address the rising world food prices in the largest food producing nations. Leaders met to share information and coordinate strategies to deal with this year’s drought and floods that cost huge losses. Ongoing riots erupting in food producing nations like India, Brazil and Mozambique center on more demand for higher calorie foods like milk, meat and fruit, while protesting higher prices for less available food in general. 

One thing that is clear from the impassioned talks during the General Assembly, the nations need to innovate new effective ways to resolve their differences. The world cannot expect the MDGs to succeed without integrative approaches that explicitly address their interconnectedness. Leaders of developing nations or “bad boys” like Ahmadinejad should focus on using their platform at the UN to promote their nation’s agenda and attempts at cooperation, not pulpits for sowing seeds of animosity. This is the breaking point for so many reasons worldwide, and many still look to the United Nations for realistic, effective solutions.

~by Selome Brathwaite

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Sub-Sahara Africa leads global decline in new HIV cases
UNAids said that between 2001 and 2009, new HIV infections in 22 countries in the world’s worst affected region had seen a drop in new cases of more than 25%. The decrease has been credited to a greater awareness and better use of preventative measures.
 
The use of male condoms has also doubled in the past five years and many communities are embracing male circumcision, which research shows has the potential to reduce HIV infections among men by nearly 60%.
 
The report also notes that cases of HIV are increasing in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, and among gay men in developed countries at a rate of 500 new infections a day. Currently there are now 5.2 million people worldwide receiving treatment for HIV/Aids, which has helped to ensure that 200,000 fewer people died from the virus in 2008 than in 2004.
 
Many are worried that a shortfall in the funding for AIDS in 2009 could put further progress at risk. UNAIDS said an estimated $15.9 billion was available for the global AIDS response, which is $10 billion short of the estimated need.
 
UNAIDS recommends national governments allocate between 0.5 percent and 3 percent of government revenue to HIV and AIDS, depending on the prevalence of disease in their country. The report said that while domestic investments in AIDS have increased over the past decade, for a majority of the countries severely affected by the disease, those investments would not be enough to meet their needs
 
1 in 7 people in U.S. living in poverty
According to a report the Census Bureau released Thursday, the U.S. poverty rate soared to 14.3 percent in 2009, its highest level in 15 years — up from 13.2 percent in 2008.
 
The number of people in poverty nationally rose from 39.8 million in 2008 to 43.6 million in 2009 – the most in the 51 years for which poverty figures are available.
 
Meanwhile, the rate of children younger than 18 living in poverty increased from 19.0 percent to 20.7 percent – a jump of 1.4 million to a total of 15.5 million. The child-poverty rate was the highest since 20.8 percent in 1995.
 
The report also showed median household income fell to $49,777 in 2009 from $50,112 in 2008, a drop that the Census Bureau characterized as “not statistically different.”
 
Along with the rise in poverty, the report showed an increase in the ranks of the uninsured. The number of people without health coverage rose from 46.3 million in 2008 to 50.7 million in 2009.
 
The percentage of people covered by private insurance – 63.9 percent – was the lowest since 1987, the first year such data were collected.
 
5 Arrested on Alleged Threat to Pope
Five men have been arrested by anti-terrorism officers from the Metropolitan Police in London under suspicion of preparing an attack against Pope Benedict who is on a state visit to Britain.
 
The arrests follow a warning Thursday night from the head of Britain’s MI5 security service of a potential threat against the pope. The men are Algerian and are in the U.K. illegally.
 
The five men, between the ages of 26 and 50, have been taken to a central London police station as officers were searching a business in central London and homes in the north and east of the city. None of the men have been charged.
 
It is not clear whether the investigations relate to a plot against the pope himself or an element of the visit.
 
Vatican spokesman, Rev. Federico Lombardi, says the pope was informed and is not worried and remained calm. Lombardi says the Vatican has complete trust in the British police and does not consider the situation particularly dangerous.
 
The pope’s visit has drawn criticism in the mostly Protestant, highly secular Britain. His trip is also overshadowed by the Catholic Church’s clerical abuse scandal, as well as the Vatican’s stance on gay rights, abortion and contraception. 
 
The German pope was met by some 125,000 supporters at the start of his visit in Edinburgh, Scotland.  Queen Elizabeth II officially welcomed the pontiff.  This is only the second papal visit to Britain since the Church of England broke away in the 16th century. Pope Benedict is expected to conclude his trip with a beatification mass for 19th century cardinal John Henry Newman.
 
Egyptian newspaper defends doctored photo
A state run newspaper on Friday defended a decision to publish a doctored photograph putting Egypt’s president front and center at Mideast peace talks in Washington, saying it was meant to illustrate Hosni Mubarak’s key role.
 
The original photo shows President Barack Obama in the lead, flanked by the Israeli and Palestinian leaders, Mubarak and Jordan’s King Abdullah II on the red carpet as the talks got under way Sept. 1 in Washington.
 
Al-Ahram, Egypt’s oldest newspaper, altered that image in its Tuesday edition to show Mubarak in the lead, with Obama slightly behind him to his right, plastered over a broadsheet article titled “the Road to Sharm El Sheikh.” That was referring to the Egyptian Red Sea resort that hosted the second round of negotiations, which wrapped up in Jerusalem on Wednesday.
 
Egyptian bloggers and activists said the photo was unprofessional and called it an example of the regime’s deception of its own people. Critics also said the photo was an attempt to distract attention from the fact that Egypt’s role in the Mideast peace process has waned.
 
The newspaper’s editor-in chief, Osama Saraya, lashed out at critics in an editorial Friday, pointing out the original photo was published the day the talks began and the doctored version was only meant to illustrate Egypt’s leading role in the Mideast peace process, not to change the story.
 
Saraya accused critics of launching a smear campaign against Al-Ahram, which was first published in 1876. The newspaper has enjoyed the widest circulation in Egypt but has faced a growing challenge in recent years by a new breed of private publications and the Internet.
 
It is not unusual for Egyptian newspapers to retouch pictures of senior officials to improve their appearance or light.
 
Woman admits acid attack was self-inflicted
A woman gained sympathy from around the world after disclosing her story of an apparent brutal acid attack.  Now, she admits it was self-inflicted.
 
Bethany Storro, 28, told police in Portland, Oregon that just after 7 p.m. on August 30 a black woman with a ponytail had walked up to her, said, “Hey, pretty girl, want something to drink?” and then threw acid in her face. A composite sketch of the assailant was drawn, and police devoted the full resources at their disposal to apprehending the assailant.
 
Her horrific endeavor gained even further attention after she recounted the details of her “attack” at a news conference, whilst covered in bandages, with her parents by her side. Then, not even a week later, in Mesa, Ariz., Storro’s plight seemed to spawn a copycat incident. A female stranger threw acid in the face of 41-year-old Derri Velarde. She was burned severely.
 
After investigating, police discovered a number of discrepancies in her story. The splash pattern of the hydrochloric acid her skin seemed more consistent with rubbing on than being thrown on. She claimed that her eyes were spared because she had on sunglasses, eventually prompting police to question why she was wearing them in the evening. Once pressured by investigators, Storro confessed the injuries were self-inflicted.
 
Vancouver Police Chief Clifford Cook said he did not know Storro’s motive, but added the 28-year-old was “very remorseful.”
 
Subsequently, Bethany Storro now faces charges for filing a false police report and donations made towards her recovery will be returned.
 
 
 
~Nailah Ellis Timberlake

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The Drug Enforcement Administration is seeking to hire Ebonics translators as private contractors to help with undercover drug investigations.

The Center for Applied Linguistics defines Ebonics as, “a dialect used by many African Americans in certain settings and circumstances that contrasts with other dialects in terms of its grammar, pronunciation, and vocabulary.”

The DEA is looking for nine translators who are fluent in Ebonics to help interpret and transcribe wiretapped conversations of suspects under investigation and eventually be able to testify in court regarding the cases.

Special Agent Michael Sanders told reporters that, “the DEA’s position is, it’s a language form we have a need for…it’s a language form that DEA recognizes a need to have someone versed in to conduct investigations.” Sanders added that the translators would work in the agency’s Southeast Region which covers Washington D.C., Georgia, Louisiana, Florida; and the Caribbean.

Ebonics became a hotly debated topic in 1996 when a California school district passed a resolution recognizing Ebonics as the primary language of African American children with the goal of incorporating Ebonics in order to improve academic performance. At the time, critics believed that legitimizing Ebonics would lend to teachers not taking Black students seriously and lead to poor performance from students in urban settings.

Critics worry about the accuracy of an ‘experts; knowledge of a language that isn’t taught in schools and is widely regarded as controversial.

H. Samy Alim, a Stanford linguistics professor who specializes in black language and hip-hop culture, told the Associated Press that the DEA’s request for an Ebonics translator highlights a serious issue. “It seems ironic that schools that are serving and educating black children have not recognized the legitimacy of this language. Yet the authorities and the police are recognizing that this is a language that they don’t understand,” he said. “It really tells us a lot about where we are socially in terms of recognizing African-American speech.”

Sanders said there is nothing “racial” about the job, and described white rapper Eminem as “one of the best speakers of Ebonics there ever was.”

John Braugh, the Chairman of the Linguistic Society of America’s public relations committee told ABC News that,  ”They probably want reliable expertise to make sure they’ve got an accurate interpretation for what is said.” He continued, “Because there’s the perception in many minds that you don’t need a translator, people believe they’ve understood something when they haven’t.”

~Nailah Ellis Timberlake

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Nestled in the northernmost corner of the Upper East Side of Manhattan is a string of high-rises housing many well-to-do families from diverse backgrounds. Walking down 2^nd Avenue, you will find all manner of convenience store, grooming spa, and specialty restaurant demarcated by the 96^th Street “border” that separates the public housing projects of East Harlem from this curious yet self-contained region.  One could argue that there is a lot of good coming out of the Upper East Side, in spite of its exclusive outer shell, at times. Amid the boutique clothing shops and high-end groceries, you will also come across another seemingly endemic occurrence between 2^nd and 3^rd Avenues, the upper 70s through the upper 90s: the charity thrift store. There are thrift shops dedicated to funding AIDS and cancer research, diabetes and arthritis, manned by a purposeful set of middle-aged and elderly women that maintain a knowledgeable and business-oriented attitude while graciously ushering in the curious and the bargain- hunters, alike. The shops provide an alternative shopping experience that seems to have caught on again in this new tight economy: bringing together thrift and social services. The Spence-Chapin shop stands out from these in that their funds go to their adoption agency. Not far from the thrift store of the same name is the New York headquarters of the agency, operational since 1908. Spence- Chapin is a fixture in the neighborhood. They handle domestic as well as international adoptions, pre- and post-pregnancy counseling, and hold informational meetings monthly open to the public and those seriously considering adoption. Spence-Chapin also makes big strides in keeping 4- to 6-week old infants connected to their birth parents in some form of open adoption until they are older. Its domestic adoption fees are based on a sliding scale. On its website, the organization promotes a Sept 7 documentary that aired on PBS, “Off and Running” which focused on the triad. The “adoption triad” includes the agency, the parents and the adoptee, indicating a substantial shift from the early years in America where the actual child really had no voice in his or her own situation. One thing is clear when someone decides to go down the road of adopting a child: you have to have a deep purse as well as a big heart.

In the last decade, high profile adoptions are more noticeable because of celebrities like Lionel Richie, Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, Madonna and most recently Sandra Bullock. These A-listers make it seem so simple, but even Madonna can attest to varying stages of international red-tape and unfavorable media coverage, and that is for people with all the money a child could possibly need. Principled state and private institutions still have a moral mandate to conduct a thorough and unbiased review of any potential adoptive parent, regardless of public position or influence. What seems like a recent trend of interracial international adoption sparks public interest and ire, in some circumstances because it forces Americans to look inward at the validity of social, economic and cultural reasons for adopting children. The call has always been for the rights of the child, his or her long-term well-being, and a supportive network of family members (biological or otherwise) and programs that maintain these mandates. Times were when it was hopeless to pursue information about one’s origins, and in some cases, closed adoptions still maintain this in the interests of protecting the birth parents’ wishes for privacy. Various social networking sites and groups now help adoptees do their own sleuthing to triangulate information. Programs like Ethiopian Heritage Camp, started by native Ethiopian adoptee Amber Stime who is also the Executive Director of African Cradle foster an atmosphere that supports adopted children by connecting to the art, language, food and other significant cultural markers of their native countries. These organizations provide an often-overlooked connection to the puzzle many adoptees face growing up in America.

Recent statistics estimate that more than one-third of Americans have considered adoption, although only about 1.6% of the current population of women 18-44 is actively seeking to adopt (CDC, 2002). Most adoption agencies are non-profit, so their charges cover expenses and a nominal fee, yet the cost of total adoption proceedings, including legal fees, counseling, placement, pre and post preparations can run into the tens of thousands, aside from actual costs of raising a child in America today. The first state that legally allowed adoption was Massachusetts in 1851, following the Adoption of Children Act, where adoption was a social and legally bound operation for the best interests of the child. This Act required judges to oversee adequate standards for adoption proceedings. By 1872, the New York State Charities Aid Association had organized and created a specialized child-placement program in 1898. A Michigan law in 1891 required that the judge determine an adoptive parent had “good moral character” as well as the means to raise and educate an adoptee in a suitable home. It would take until 1989, with the UN Convention on the Rights of The Child, and the 1993 Hague Convention on the Protection of Children and Cooperation with Respect to Inter-country Adoption before the international community had a unilaterally binding document focused on accrediting agencies, protecting children from smuggling, abuse and inappropriate adoption processes. The U.S. joined the Hague Convention in 2008. Certain countries outside of the European Union or the Convention may still have a high “market” in the U.S. but lighter regulations in countries like Guatemala and Moldova. Another important aspect to consider is what proportion of children is leaving a poverty-ridden country and what is the state of that country’s politics with America.

The April 2010 scandal involving American mom Torry Hansen sending her 7–year-old adoptive son Artyem Savilev back on a plane to Russia by himself highlights ongoing problems the international adoption community need to address. Ms. Hansen claimed that her son was mentally ill to the point of threatening her, yet saw no moral or physical harm in jet-setting an unaccompanied minor away from the promise of a better life. Moscow saw this action as so jarring that it publicly discussed suspending or closing all international adoption agreements with the U.S., a possibility that no-doubt causes much consternation for the thousands of white families that still look to the northern expanse for a child that could “fit” into their familial unit. Preferences and politics will always have a way of getting tied up with the most important service adoption provides, but aside from the occasional horror stories that make it to American televisions, there is still a large interest in caring for and raising the future world. Only more interest can beget better laws, bilateral agreements with specific countries, and, hopefully an ultimate end for the need to transplant underserved youth from their native lands in the first place.

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When most people think of empowerment, certain images and phrases certainly come to mind: Women’s movement, Equality, Grassroots Activism, and Underserved Population are just a few. The concept of empowerment and its intricate relationship to women’s struggles did not develop in a vacuum. In the United States, the 19^th Amendment granted women the right to vote in 1920, not even 100 years ago. Owning property, being able to carry one’s own name with dignity and a sense of self and having a voice that will be heard in the democratic process of the nation were some of the major reasons for the women’s suffrage movement. Other important concerns included decent employment, access to higher education, childcare considerations and domestic violence awareness, issues that touched men and women and their relationships. In the beginning there was an uproar that women were out of line making demands for equal or fair treatment, that they should keep quiet in their realm of the home, but the fact remains that these human requirements foster a better society across gender lines. In recent years, more men are taking a stand concerning domestic violence prevention, economic and social development and many other types of community and international advocacy. The shifting paradigm of male and female contemporary roles also informs a need for changing traditional concepts to cope with society as it is today.

As with the men that pledge every year during V-Day movements to stamp out sexual oppression of women worldwide, they are recognizing within themselves the truth of the statistics. Men perpetrate most violent crimes specifically against women. The important aspect of these crimes is the intimacy aspect. There are fewer men killing men they love or are related to in some aspect than men killing or terrorizing women. There are also considerably less documented cases of men mass raping or sexually subduing other men. Since in most parts of the world women outnumber men and are the primary childcare providers, the dilemma increases because once women are mistreated or killed, their children, the next generation, is also vulnerable. Orphaned children in poor or disadvantaged communities fall through the cracks, are exposed to more traumatic experiences and have a generally harder time surviving to adulthood without permanent developmental effects.  Crimes that target women create a counterproductive social development where generations of dysfunction can flourish. This is also true for societies where the male population is constantly under attack from violence, lack of gainful employment, substance abuse and other mental and physical assaults. In addition to this, men react to depression very differently. According to UK mental health charity Mind, men are just as likely to get depressed as women, but they are less likely to seek help, be diagnosed and receive treatment. If one does not have a constructive outlet, the results can be catastrophic for those nearby. Extrapolate this predicament to a particular economic or social bracket and you may very well have a national problem. This is happening all over the world right now.

As mentioned before, two very different approaches to the situation are worth highlighting, as they attempt to address common problems with uncommon solutions. Male advocacy can mean recruiting more men into discussions and actions to prevent domestic violence, using religious doctrine or sports-centered activities to reaffirm the role of provider and protector or strategizing community building and AIDS awareness projects with and for young men. It can also mean creating a space for men to deal with depression, achieve higher education standards and regain some of the bruised ego that stems from having no one to connect with and too often ends with a violent or self-destructive reaction. A common sign of depression in men, as opposed to women, is lashing out and getting aggressive. As in the recent headline incidents involving men going on a murder/suicide spree after being fired or dumped, they feel they have nothing else to live for, yet want to take down as many people that “wronged them” as possible. The need for male advocacy is apparent. Steve Saltarelli, a University of Chicago student had a light-bulb moment last year after writing a satirical article in the school newspaper. Saltarelli touched on the subject of lowered test scores and less men in higher education in recent years. He also mentioned that many college-age men have a general unawareness and apathy towards global issues, indicating disconnection from society. Saltarelli felt the need to create Men in Power, his campus group, to address these issues with men who are prime targets for depression and need to be more in tune with the world around them as they grow into the future leaders and taxpayers. The idea was never to disparage the women’s empowerment movements that came before and still hold the line for equality and advocacy, but rather serve as a complement, showing that men, too need to address social pressures and have constructive support mechanisms in place to deal with their aggression. This approach to male advocacy is catching on as more and more mental health and social development experts get to the root of why systematic atrocities occur in so many parts of the world on varying levels. You may see high instances of young men in gangs in major cities across the US, and in war-torn parts of Central Europe of East Africa, they are in militias threatening the stability of governments.

Similarly, across the globe, a group of men successfully completed a training program specifically geared to educate them in ending violence against women. A large objective for a small program in the small nation of Fiji, these twenty men participated with the Women and Children’s Crisis Centre (WCCC) with funding from AusAid Regional. Their goal was to understand the reasons domestic violence persisted in their community, and use religious as well as guidelines from international objectives to counteract the trends. Similar programs and movements have cropped up outside of the Western world, in India and Japan, two countries that have a long history of male-centered cultures.

The mission behind these two tactics is to foster an environment that promotes well-balanced, responsible men that can function in society, have happy relationships and be career-focused and nurturing individuals, character traits that women have fought for since time immemorial. While there are many naysayers about certain men’s rights movements in America and abroad, these particular projects can serve as a precedent for open and fair dialogue on men’s roles in the future.

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During a White House Iftar dinner celebrating Ramadan, President Barack Obama showed his support for a Muslim community center and mosque near ground zero by stating that, “as a citizen, and as the President, I believe that Muslims have the same right to practice their religion as everyone else in this country.”

The proposed $100 million dollar Cordoba House also known as the Park51 proposal, will be a 13 story mosque and Islamic cultural center 2 blocks away from the site of the Sept. 11 attack on the World Trade Center that killed nearly 3,000 people. Daisy Khan, Executive Director of the American Society for Muslim Advancement (ASMA) who founded the project along with her husband, Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf, hopes that it will represent the “voices of American Muslims in and will honor members of other communities who came together in support and collaboration with the Muslim community on September 11 and its aftermath.” She also hopes that the project will fight “Islamophobia” that has become prevalent in the years following the September 11^th attacks. In an interview with the Washington Post, Khan said, “There is too much at stake, constitutional rights, the development of the Muslims here, how the world is watching the United States. We tell people America upholds religious freedom. We should not compromise those values.”

According to White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs, President Obama did not want to “get involved in local decision-making” at first but after much criticism, he decided to weigh in on the debate. He stated, “This is America, and our commitment to religious freedom must be unshakable. The principle that people of all faiths are welcome in this country, and will not be treated differently by their government, is essential to who we are.” He continued, “Al Qaeda’s cause is not Islam — it is a gross distortion of Islam,” and “In fact, Al Qaeda has killed more Muslims than people of any other religion, and that list includes innocent Muslims who were killed on 9/11.”

Governor David Paterson suggested moving the project further away from the trade center site. “My suggestion was that one of those solutions might be to find an area that’s in lower Manhattan that serves the catchment area of the Muslim community that’s growing that they would like to serve and, at the same time, would not be so close to Ground Zero that it seems to offend many people that live there and many people that don’t.” In addition to his suggestion, Governor Patterson went as far as offering state assistance for any relocation. Paterson plans to meet with developers in the following days to talk about the concerns of those still hurt and angry over the Sept. 11 attacks.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg weighed in on the debate after the city’s Landmark Preservation Commission unanimously voted not to extend landmark status to the building on Park Place where the mosque and community center is planned. In a speech, he called it an important a test of the separation of church and state and questioned the idea of government attempting to deny private citizens the right to build a house of worship on private property based on religion and that, “This nation was founded on the principle that the government must never choose between religions, or favor one over another.” He continued, “Let us not forget that Muslims were among those murdered on 9/11 and that our Muslim neighbors grieved with us as New Yorkers and as Americans. We would betray our values – and play into our enemies’ hands – if we were to treat Muslims differently than anyone else.”

Former Mayor Rudy Giuliani who led New Yorkers through the aftermath of the September 11^th attacks, recognized the rights of the Cordoba Initiative to build the Mosque but called on the Imam behind the project to drop it or move it to another location stating, “This project is divisive. This project is creating tremendous pain to people who have already paid the ultimate sacrifice,” on NBC’s “Today” show. He continued, “The reality is that right now, if you are a healer, you do not go forward with this project,” said Giuliani. “If you’re a warrior, you do.”

Many Americans have voiced their disappointed with Obama’s support of the Mosque near Ground Zero. A Gallup Poll released last week found 37% of Americans disapprove of Obama’s comments supporting Muslims’ right to build the mosque whereas 20% approve. The fact that Obama has supposed the initiative has called into question his own religious beliefs. In a Time Magazine poll released this week, 24% of Americans said they think President Obama is a Muslim, an increase since last year. White House spokesman Bill Burton responded by making it clear that President Obama is Christian. “He prays every day. He communicates with his religious adviser every single day. There’s a group of pastors that he takes counsel from on a regular basis.” The fact that Obama has supposed the initiative has called into question his own religious beliefs. As the 9^th anniversary of the September 11^th attacks nears, the national controversy over the Ground Zero Mosque debate will surely continue with Obama certainly feeling the backlash.

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The ongoing monsoon and devastating floods in Pakistan impart a bleak future for the perpetually aggrieved state. Its nearest neighbor and constant rival, India, shares many similarities, in terms of ethnic makeup, historical lineage and political problems. Home to about 180 million, the recent floods stretch through the heart of the country, from the Khyber Pass in the disputed Kashmir region in the north, through to the Arabian Sea in the south. In addition to destroying valuable fall harvests in a prime agriculture region, the flood has rendered about 1.5 million people homeless, and hundreds of thousands more cut off from any help. The natural flow of these catastrophes dictates that soon the problem will include lack of clean water and food access, and a rise in water-borne diseases and deaths. About 8 million people currently need emergency assistance. As if Pakistan does not have enough problems, the economic and social upheaval coming could very well spiral the state out of governmental control.

Since the 1947 partition of India and Pakistan by former imperial Britain, the two countries have endured a long and bloody rivalry drawn down religious as well as ideological lines. Pakistan is primarily Muslim, while India is predominantly Hindu with large Sikh and Christian populations. The partition, meant to ease tensions between the diverse populations of the former British Empire, only exacerbated ancient feuds that went back to the times of the Silk Road. Pakistan claims Kashmir and Jammu territories should be a part of their nation, since major Muslim populations live there, but the geographic regions provide coveted access to remote locations, as well as high economic value in the cashmere wool trade, for instance. Intense riots, migration and unrest have continued to plague the borders for the past 60 years. Although Kashmir officially acceded to India in 1954 and approved its own India-based constitution in 1957, Pakistan retains control of certain areas within the Kashmir state, and throughout the 1970s and 1990s assisted in various military invasions and retaliations to their advances in taking over. A 1971 civil war in Pakistan prompted the creation of autonomous Bangladesh, formerly known as East Pakistan.

Although the 50^th anniversary of independence in 1997 saw public efforts at diplomacy between India and Pakistan, the stalemate over Kashmir and Jammu continued, and the 1990s overall was marked by a resurgence of militant Islamists in the valley regions. A large number of “jihadist” fighters, survivors of the Soviet-Afghani war of the 1980s inhabited the region, and became breeding grounds for al-Qaeda and Taliban movements. In 1998, India and Pakistan intensified their one-upmanship nuclear rivalry, with both countries successfully testing long-range missiles capable of destroying major cities. Now that these former colonies were forces to be reckoned with, the international community responded with public sanctions and froze humanitarian aid in an effort to cool down the arms races of these volatile “squabbling siblings”.  Throughout the 2000s, India and Pakistan continued to exchange blame and protracted armed attacks in spite of international pressure.

The last six years have seen even more woes for Pakistan in the form of almost annual devastating natural disasters. A 2004 tsunami and 2005 Kashmir earthquake rocked the country, sparking international support in spite of fears of governmental corruption of aid. A 2003 military coup and subsequent reinstatement of elected officials left uncertainty about consistency by Pakistani officials to continue the fight against Islamist militants. In mid-August, monsoon season brought the most devastating floods to date, swallowing up about one- third of the country and leaving as many as 20 million people at risk for homelessness, disease and abject misery. It came as a surprise, then that India publicly stepped up and offered $5million in aid to its constant rival. The gift is generous, considering the state-run giving program has only collected just over $1 million alone. Fears that funds would be misappropriated hamper efforts, especially at a time when the international community is reeling from recessions across world markets as well as large outpourings of billions of aid dollars for other victims this year, such as Haiti. UN Secretary General reportedly appealed for $460 million in emergency funds. Although Pakistan has been criticized for its slow movement in addressing the floods and providing adequate support for victims, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmoud Qureshi made a public announcement that the government has accepted the money from India. India expressed their willingness to provide more assistance, proving that in times of true desperation, one’s neighbors, however combative, might be the most understanding and able to assist.

At this time in Pakistan’s history, it is important that its most staunch rival reach out a helping hand.  Most of the international community is exhausted by the constant blame games and seeming backwardness of its leaders. Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari gained much international criticism for retreating to France in the midst of the flood disaster, causing more people to distrust the sincerity of the government’s efforts. In a time where the United States’ War on Terror seems a thinly veiled attempt to cull the spread of Islam within its own borders, it still manages to be one of the largest aid benefactors to Pakistan to date, even more than fellow Islamist countries like Saudi Arabia. India’s contribution can serve as a world inspiration to continue to believe in Pakistan, in spite of their history of animosity. The last five years have seen a number of major natural disasters around the world, and, coupled with economic meltdowns, sever donor fatigue threatens to dry up traditional means of support for survivors. India is in a position to step up its role as not only exporter of intellectual services and technological advancements, but also international benefactor, starting right in its own “backyard”. Pakistan needs to prioritize its missions in the aftermath of this disaster if it expects increased international support. Its claims of working with the US to fight home-based terrorist organizations must be a balance of protracted armed training as well as targeted aid to its own victims, the most vulnerable to social unrest.

Photo courtesy of: www.monstersandcritics.com  

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Recently, Supermodel Naomi Campbell went from the Catwalk to the Courtroom to testify in war crimes court in the trial of former Liberian president Charles Taylor, 62, who is accused of funding and enabling rebels during Sierra Leone’s 10 year civil war. As the first African leader to be tried before an international tribunal, Taylor is being accused of supplying weapons to rebels in exchange for rough diamonds, also known as ‘blood diamonds,’ that were mined in the war ravaged country. Taylor is being charged with 11 war crimes including murder, rape, sex enslavement and the recruitment of child soldiers which resulted in the murder of an estimated 150,000 people.

The prosecution hopes to link the diamonds that Campbell received after attending a dinner in honor of South African President Nelson Mandela in Pretoria, South Africa, in 1997 to Taylor who was overheard offering them to her as a gift at the event. Campbell told The Hague tribunal that after dinner, two men knocked on her door and gave her a pouch of what she described as “dirty looking pebbles.” Campbell claims that she didn’t know the stones were valuable or that they were from Taylor. If the prosecution can prove the gift came from Taylor, they’ll prove that he had blood diamonds in his possession, a claim that he vehemently denies.

There has been some contradictory testimony from those who were also in attendance for the dinner. Actress Mia Farrow, testified that the next morning at breakfast, Campbell recounted the events of the previous evening saying that she had been awakened by some men sent by Charles Taylor and they had given her a huge diamond. Farrow’s testimony corroborates a statement given to prosecutors by Campbell’s former agent, Carole White who said the model and the dictator were “mildly flirtatious” at dinner. White said the gift of the diamonds had been discussed over dinner and that Taylor said he would send some men back with the gift for Campbell. White said that Campbell was initially excited to receive the gift but was later disappointed when the diamonds arrived unpolished.

In a statement released last week by Jeremy Ractliffe, the former director of Nelson Mandela’s children’s charity, he confirmed that he received “three small uncut diamonds” from Campbell on Sept. 26, 1997. “I took them because I thought it might well be illegal for her to take uncut diamonds out of the country,” said Ractliffe, “Naomi suggested they could be of some benefit to the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund, but I told her I would not involve the NMCF in anything that could possibly be illegal.” Ractliffe ended up keeping them and turned them over to the South African police last Thursday.

Charles Taylor was the President of Liberia from 1997 to 2003 where he reigned as a corrupt and brutal leader. He was overthrown and went into exile to Nigeria in 2003, but was later arrested and charged with war crimes and crimes against humanity in Sierra Leon in March 2006. No verdict is expected until 2011.

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Persevering in an ongoing charge to revitalize the Harlem community’s commitment to living healthy lives, the Central Harlem Health Revival (CHHR) will hold its 5th annual Central Harlem Health Revival on Saturday, September 18; Saturday, September 25 and Sunday, September 26. Festivities held at various Harlem locations on these two weekends will include an obesity conference, a youth health conference, a health walk and the annual health festival. All events are free and open to the public. A full schedule of events and submission guidelines for contests and youth programs can be found at www.centralharlemhealthrevival.org.

“Autumn is a time when we tend to fall back into our regular routines. We at CHHR challenge the community this Autumn to fall into a healthier routine. Don’t simply hit the restart button and yield to the automatic pilot. Make a real effort to jump start, or ramp up your commitment to truly making health a habit,” said Patricia Butts, Central Harlem Health Revival Co-Chair. “Dying of preventable diseases in high numbers is not acceptable. We can live healthy and be active, even on a budget. We are inviting the community to come to our events and find out how to live healthy abundant lives and then pass on healthy habits to their children. We can Make Health our Habit,” said Mrs. Butts.

Central Harlem Health Revival events are specifically designed to combat high rates of stroke, pulmonary disease, diabetic complications, cardiovascular disease, HIV/AIDS and the devastating impact these illnesses have on the Harlem community. Over the past five years CHHR has tested over 300 residents and is aiming to test over 500 at this year’s health festival. “CHHR shares in the philosophy that if healthcare is left alone to physicians and other healthcare professionals like myself, it is doomed to fail,” explains Dr. Olajide Williams, Director of the Stroke Initiatives, Harlem Hospital Center and CHHR Co-Chair. “We are all stakeholders. Through CHHR activities such as these being planned, including health screenings and focused health education, communities take responsibility for their health, and join the fight against health disparities,” stated Dr. Williams.

Central Harlem Health Revival 5th Anniversary Festivities

Saturday, September 18
Obesity: It’s a Family Affair (ages 12+)
9:30a.m. – 2:30p.m.
Thurgood Marshall Academy
200 West 135th Street
New York, NY 10030

Obesity: It’s a Family Affair – This day long conference promotes the importance of healthy eating and physical activity. Workshops will give people of all ages tools they can use to make informed decisions on healthy eating and living. The day will also feature The Healthy Harlem Recipe Contest, which will show that healthy food can be tasty and affordable. Highlights will include performances by the winners of The Fat Truth: A Youth Essay, Poster and Spoken Word Contest for youth ages 12 -21, as well as games, workshops, raffles and youth skits. Special guests appearances.

Saturday, September 25
Youth Health Celebration
9:30a.m. – 4:30p.m.
Minisink Townhouse/ NYC Mission Society
646 Lenox Avenue
(at 142nd Street)
New York, NY 10037

Youth Health Celebration – In-depth workshops will expose youth to the realness of diabetes, STDs, stroke, unplanned pregnancy and unhealthy relationships. Forums on sexting, cyber bullying, peer pressure, puberty and hygiene will also be held as CHHR aims to empower the lives of Harlem youth. Community resources offer free information on childcare, college readiness, financial literacy, job training and mentorship. Screenings for HIV, blood pressure, diabetes, cholesterol, and vision will also be provided for youth and parents. Live entertainment, special guests, raffle prizes, refreshments and giveaways will also be included. The event is free and open to the public, but registration is required.
Visit http://chhryouthhealth.eventbrite.com to register.

Sunday, September 26
Health Walk – It’s A Health Thing!
2:00p.m.
Starts at 126th Street and Adam Clayton Powell, Jr., Blvd.

5th Anniversary Health Festival
Festival directly follows walk
Jackie Robinson Park
Entrance at 148th Street and Bradhurst Avenue

Health Walk – It’s A Health Thing! & 5th Anniversary Health Festival– All of the community is invited to the flagship event of the 5th Anniversary festivities, the Health Walk and Health Festival. Registrants of the walk and organizations will walk from 126th Street between Frederick Douglass and Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. Boulevards to Jackie Robinson Park. As participants walk The Ephesus Seventh Day Adventist Starlighters Pathfinder Club Band will lead the walk and play to encourage participants to keep walking towards a healthier lifestyle. (There was to be another band. I’ll check on it today and if so will get the name.) Once walkers arrive at Jackie Robinson Park there will be entertainment, games and free health screenings. For those who want or require it, festival participants can be chaperoned through the festival by specialists called “Patient Navigators.” As Patient Navigators accompany a participant to festival areas they will offer one-on-one information and answer health questions specific to participant’s needs.

About Central Harlem Health Revival
The Central Harlem Health Revival was created in 2006 by The Office of Minority Health of the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and the Borough of Manhattan Ecumenical Advisory Group (BMEAG) to address the magnitude of the disparity in the quality of the health and health care of Central Harlem residents compared with New York City as a whole. CHHR aims to promote a spiritual renewal in the Harlem community’s commitment to living healthy lives. CHHR partners with houses of worship and community organizations, hospitals, and universities to plan and implement the CHHR Revival at the end of each September, while offering other health-driven activities occurring throughout the year. CHHR revival events are specifically designed to empower community residents to truly manage their health and to combat the high rates of preventable diseases and their devastating impact on the Harlem community.

Co-chairs of Central Harlem Health Revival: Mrs. Patricia Butts, First Lady, Abyssinian Baptist Church; Dr. Kristie Lancaster, Associate Professor of Nutrition, NYU, and member Canaan Baptist Church of Christ; Dr. Olajide Williams, Director of the Stroke Initiatives, Harlem Hospital Center; and Nana Aboagye, Director, Office of Minority Health, NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.

Funded in part by Council Member Inez E. Dickens, 9th Council District, Speaker Christine Quinn and the New York City Council. Central Harlem Health Revival Sponsors: AARP, Abyssinian Baptist Church, Alzheimer’s Association, American Cancer Society, Bioscrip Pharmacy, Canaan Baptist Church, Church of St. Charles Borromeo and the Chapel of the Resurrection Roman Catholic Church, Church of St. Charles Borromeo and the Chapel of the Resurrection Roman Catholic Church Health Promotion Committee, Columbia University School of Nursing, Convent Avenue Baptist Church, Denny Moe’s Superstar Barbershop, Ephesus Seventh-Day Adventist Church, Harlem Health Promotion Center, Harlem Hospital Center, Harlem Hospital’s Walk it Out, Mother AME Zion Church, The Mount Sinai Medical Center, New York City Mission Society, Northern Manhattan Perinatal Partnership, Inc, The City Mission Society, The Healthy Sisterhood Inc., The Helen B. Atkinson Health Center, The ISIAH Project, The New York City Council and The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Office of Minority Health, Weight 2 Go and New York Road Runners.

For additional information, visit www.centralharlemhealthrevival.org.

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