SUPPORT! WeOwnTV - Picturing Independence: A Positive Revolution

<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe frameborder="0" height="410px" src="http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/weowntv/picturing-independence-a-positive-revolution/widget/video.html" width="480px"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"></span></div><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #666666; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;"><b> </b><b>‘<i>Picturing Independence: A Positive Revolution’</i></b> is a year-long production initiative to create a group of short films that celebrate the Sierra Leone of yesterday and today. As a country Sierra Leone is celebrating its 50th Anniversary of Independence on April 27th 2011. The films are being created by a group of young Sierra Leoneans who are a part of a film/video collective called WeOwnTV (which roughly translates to “Our Own TV” in Sierra Leonean Krio).</div><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #666666; font-family: inherit; font-size: small; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;"><b>Who and what is WeOwnTV?</b></div><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #666666; font-family: inherit; font-size: small; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">WeOwnTV is a collaborative media project launched by the filmmakers of the award-winning documentary <b><i>“Sierra Leone’s Refugee All Stars.”</i></b> In August 2009, Banker White and a small North American filmmaking team ran a storytelling and media production training workshop in Sierra Leone. Many of the workshop participants had their childhoods cut cruelly short by war; and as survivors, orphans, ex-combatants or former child prostitutes this opportunity to share their stories and creativity is not taken lightly. For the group, creating media provides an opportunity to unite their community in a cooperative effort while envisioning a future lit by optimism and resilience. Today, WeOwnTV has grown to become an active collaboration between filmmakers in North America and these talented filmmakers based in Freetown,</div><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #666666; font-family: inherit; font-size: small; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;"><b>What will the films be about?</b></div><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #666666; font-family: inherit; font-size: small; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">As part of the initiative, both narrative and documentary films are going to be produced. These works explore the idea of independence and rebuilding a positive national and cultural identity. The project has already received the honor of being selected as one of the programs officially endorsed by the Sierra Leone 50th Anniversary Committee.</div><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #666666; font-family: inherit; font-size: small; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">One example of a film that is currently in post-production is titled, <i>They Resisted. </i>This is period piece set in the early days of the slave trade in Sierra Leone. It tells the story of a slave revolt in Africa and explores aspects of West African culture pre-contact. The team is working with local historians at the national museum of Sierra Leone. It was a major production that had a cast of more than forty actors and required a strong collaborative community effort with Kent Village – where the film was filmed. Many local villagers also acted in the piece.</div><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #666666; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Please go contact us at info@weowntv.org. We will quickly get back to you!</span></span></div><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #666666; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; line-height: 19px;"><b>You can donate as much as $1! Visit their <a href="http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/weowntv/picturing-independence-a-positive-revolution">Kickstarter page to give</a>.</b></span></span></span></div>

SUPPORT! WeOwnTV - Picturing Independence: A Positive Revolution

  ‘ Picturing Independence: A Positive Revolution’  is a year-long production initiative to create a group of short films that celebrate the...

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SOLAR LOVE: "HERE COMES THE SUN" ::: ALBUQUERQUE mural w/Jaque Fragua p.2

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOlsCVbt5qtoBUsZfE_GF1ove3k-Mitl9e9nwqB4-v9ovisXlbh-PdJc6wVHuNXAJHtrdKobvjraIhBjY4UiE5DIOc5X8ff6cIcjrbfRzXvBIRvmekV2DNM0c0Xps0VfrZqri2fEY0aFA/s1600/Lichiban-JaqueFragua-AlbuquerqueMural-TITLE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOlsCVbt5qtoBUsZfE_GF1ove3k-Mitl9e9nwqB4-v9ovisXlbh-PdJc6wVHuNXAJHtrdKobvjraIhBjY4UiE5DIOc5X8ff6cIcjrbfRzXvBIRvmekV2DNM0c0Xps0VfrZqri2fEY0aFA/s1600/Lichiban-JaqueFragua-AlbuquerqueMural-TITLE.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBsY_RSGPZGWV0YyELOyiwy61EJxgA106ztSSC6czyb0RDiS3-tsEKmdMDKFxJuiJdK1hUMjs0O81BdJSRfnAjqxmvd-ZkQy1xUFwlmtoNPih2zcRUo_sCe2sXW4G0hrue0uYNJ_yPRak/s1600/800px-Flag_of_New_Mexico.svg.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBsY_RSGPZGWV0YyELOyiwy61EJxgA106ztSSC6czyb0RDiS3-tsEKmdMDKFxJuiJdK1hUMjs0O81BdJSRfnAjqxmvd-ZkQy1xUFwlmtoNPih2zcRUo_sCe2sXW4G0hrue0uYNJ_yPRak/s320/800px-Flag_of_New_Mexico.svg.png" width="320" /></a></div>I had a life-transforming time in the desert of New Mexico. The land is consecrated to the Sun as the state flag's solar symbol, sacred to the Pueblo Natives, reminds one...I've been mentally projecting myself to this desert for the last couple of years... I'm still trying to absorb all the experiences I had out there. When I was visualizing the mural, I tried to tune into the magic of the land and create something seen through the eye of the heart.<br /><br />The mural my local host, <b><a href="http://fragua.tumblr.com/">Jaque Fragua</a></b> &  I were working on for the upcoming STREET ARTS show at 516Arts was a testament to the power of color to represent the victory of life over the all-consuming greyness brought upon by pollution and natural/human disasters. I remember growing up in communist Hungary known for the vast environmental and health damage that the lo-tech industrial complex brought to the country...I remember craving bright colors as a child, since the dominant color of that era was grey or shades of grey mixed with faint colors...it meant to keep us on a lower vibration. When I looked at the walls of the building, I couldn't wait to just jump into it and see the transformation we were about to bring on. What happened to the EL REY Theatre was a case of color therapy, a symbolic victory of the Sun over darkness, life over death, renewal over pollution and waste. I always dreamt of creating art that followed in the footsteps of traditional artists who created icons or offerings to the higher spirits. Our piece became a metaphor for fertility and spiritual blessings, and everyone who came through to check on us had thanked us for changing up the feel of the whole area. I cannot even thank to all the people who came through and brought us water, food, beer, or sunblock...I really felt the love from the locals, and am very grateful for it.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNR7Wj1ILziHCmuiGsTodMbErNBYvl7u5NVGVVgzMXKBTwQK2XUxz_79QiB4AdKFM-28-6fbO9K6R1WK5Gh8tmGDICSLuopF0sA1pWLEQz56yKORmP7W5mH3NfJIC2ycIdAIj9dASn2JU/s1600/STREETARTS-Albuquerque2010MURALElReyThetrebefore.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNR7Wj1ILziHCmuiGsTodMbErNBYvl7u5NVGVVgzMXKBTwQK2XUxz_79QiB4AdKFM-28-6fbO9K6R1WK5Gh8tmGDICSLuopF0sA1pWLEQz56yKORmP7W5mH3NfJIC2ycIdAIj9dASn2JU/s1600/STREETARTS-Albuquerque2010MURALElReyThetrebefore.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>The Guardian of the Mountains is a Keeper of The Flame, </b>the gatekeeper for the Secret Treasures hidden inside its belly. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcmpuw6R96emPZbEHB65nPh13JurL4iGf1NtPkM3SeRwQ1nePlimuo8sZdV08IF2Ac599bXlIMZiMEBDLxR8o3Y-alEo42mTURu6jND1lLkRCAoBHGnuroeytw4-kCGt4zwOiLFu9ZTP4/s1600/STREETARTS-Albuquerque2010MURALjaque-patGuardian.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcmpuw6R96emPZbEHB65nPh13JurL4iGf1NtPkM3SeRwQ1nePlimuo8sZdV08IF2Ac599bXlIMZiMEBDLxR8o3Y-alEo42mTURu6jND1lLkRCAoBHGnuroeytw4-kCGt4zwOiLFu9ZTP4/s1600/STREETARTS-Albuquerque2010MURALjaque-patGuardian.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>The UNDERWORLD Belly of the Guardian</b> [=burnt out landmark, the once famous Golden West Saloon, also served as a symbol the environmental abuse inflicted upon sacred land by the nuclear industry]. It comes to warn that if you disrespect the Guardian or fail its test, you'll end up swallowed up by the <b>RedCarpetTongue</b> and get burned.  Our Guardian stands as a reminder that the land is sacred and is protected. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqY26Qcm_TnVo6IWB-QFguqWPKroN7CA3mySYp7HR_O7bK4WXs6ZwlDhoELuRrkYVTfCQIbDImBTQrVyAYjE_JTd6f8dfmi1_UKNOJ7jiwnmHuREpk-o9RWxMMLqYjwRIpmWvwW2YkIAA/s1600/STREETARTS-Albuquerque2010MURALburnoutSaloon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqY26Qcm_TnVo6IWB-QFguqWPKroN7CA3mySYp7HR_O7bK4WXs6ZwlDhoELuRrkYVTfCQIbDImBTQrVyAYjE_JTd6f8dfmi1_UKNOJ7jiwnmHuREpk-o9RWxMMLqYjwRIpmWvwW2YkIAA/s1600/STREETARTS-Albuquerque2010MURALburnoutSaloon.jpg" style="cursor: move;" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">If you pass the Guardian without getting trapped, you may climb the <b>Skypiercing Ladder... elevate  </b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh0orwbsb_myZ42yWpKbIdzFwljSAF1TLxa2ANNiu67YAhggUHLOgmgU-BnqPsL3zYB2Sx7MM80WRiJNJE2Gzp8uB1zOvLHU60drWi8lPX_8RQC6EQ-jlTbsqAWqBb3x0DGcpJ5x5I2x8/s1600/STREETARTS-Albuquerque2010MURALjaqueclimbing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh0orwbsb_myZ42yWpKbIdzFwljSAF1TLxa2ANNiu67YAhggUHLOgmgU-BnqPsL3zYB2Sx7MM80WRiJNJE2Gzp8uB1zOvLHU60drWi8lPX_8RQC6EQ-jlTbsqAWqBb3x0DGcpJ5x5I2x8/s1600/STREETARTS-Albuquerque2010MURALjaqueclimbing.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSGH2lPbyNXHxsjUIPeEw-PtoQMOQ2Ov1Xy9iDlbByMDiG1-UsrHlG-fQvWCv25CdHewMVuOxj8g8gQIVo48SLwxdnte2VvyyHrmgUqtdK0R6DYAfbVXXPCuJaQQ8yYEAcv8IhaKLAvf4/s1600/STREETARTS-Albuquerque2010MURALJaqueCloudfaceBboy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSGH2lPbyNXHxsjUIPeEw-PtoQMOQ2Ov1Xy9iDlbByMDiG1-UsrHlG-fQvWCv25CdHewMVuOxj8g8gQIVo48SLwxdnte2VvyyHrmgUqtdK0R6DYAfbVXXPCuJaQQ8yYEAcv8IhaKLAvf4/s1600/STREETARTS-Albuquerque2010MURALJaqueCloudfaceBboy.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> Both Jaque and Cloud Face are multitalented artists working  as painters, musicians and bboys. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMcSBDxqUC482t2Moz-xHvl7gcXgBcjCNDJP4-3u0QZffA4vqLhf3yWBIieu6VrW0NdEEN70fPYUD4vyrKRsVfszC1g-VT5KxT0HiuuAMFSd3cPOws9xpk4b4dVEvYMV5eD2moJ8MG4bY/s1600/STREETARTS-Albuquerque2010MURALJaqueFraguaCloudface.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMcSBDxqUC482t2Moz-xHvl7gcXgBcjCNDJP4-3u0QZffA4vqLhf3yWBIieu6VrW0NdEEN70fPYUD4vyrKRsVfszC1g-VT5KxT0HiuuAMFSd3cPOws9xpk4b4dVEvYMV5eD2moJ8MG4bY/s1600/STREETARTS-Albuquerque2010MURALJaqueFraguaCloudface.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>Markaba Baba's Electric Treasure Ches</b>t. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Holds the key to understanding the harnessing of the elements (fire/water/air/earth - natural power resources) to find GOLD (spiritual understanding/ blessings/ solar energy). </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN4lfPAcArZems_bb6dWeGThJlngDqqUS13iNMDcIlMLg96zpFO6X6FFnbhXk4lMMDdCQpbRa6FIuG2-dG3V_3U-qPKnKp8WdkEptTdOSIuhyphenhyphenmjAlNqDTg6vjQoxJYm9kLDI60U0bpdOU/s1600/Lichiban-JaqueFragua-AlbuquerqueMural2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN4lfPAcArZems_bb6dWeGThJlngDqqUS13iNMDcIlMLg96zpFO6X6FFnbhXk4lMMDdCQpbRa6FIuG2-dG3V_3U-qPKnKp8WdkEptTdOSIuhyphenhyphenmjAlNqDTg6vjQoxJYm9kLDI60U0bpdOU/s1600/Lichiban-JaqueFragua-AlbuquerqueMural2.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The New Generation </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN7qyQNJwBRG1OEA45DIUsHUTVInwgDr3xkU8Dx0XNbJFrGyv3WY2A2W6UHp94-_juHf0CbtvxypaQNLeyWBhIKbDohm1XRgAzpUu1oa_lWxmfIF05Z8WxgFvFVSpRH60o60T4Eik5wlc/s1600/STREETARTS-Albuquerque2010MURALJaquePatRandy!.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN7qyQNJwBRG1OEA45DIUsHUTVInwgDr3xkU8Dx0XNbJFrGyv3WY2A2W6UHp94-_juHf0CbtvxypaQNLeyWBhIKbDohm1XRgAzpUu1oa_lWxmfIF05Z8WxgFvFVSpRH60o60T4Eik5wlc/s1600/STREETARTS-Albuquerque2010MURALJaquePatRandy!.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij9rwqtAU-5ypICfRutedIGrcdaam6vP7qWzg_NUDuJYmKUzp1M8MnXVTiYYP11-NV_qWAbLjo0lo_YkgFmhc9bR2Ktirhwc6IEuxWEDmRkFBuHX4cOCN4FE_kmnR3AfeiAJ2KeahDsHc/s1600/Lichiban-JaqueFraguaprayer-ElReymural.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij9rwqtAU-5ypICfRutedIGrcdaam6vP7qWzg_NUDuJYmKUzp1M8MnXVTiYYP11-NV_qWAbLjo0lo_YkgFmhc9bR2Ktirhwc6IEuxWEDmRkFBuHX4cOCN4FE_kmnR3AfeiAJ2KeahDsHc/s1600/Lichiban-JaqueFraguaprayer-ElReymural.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">One of the invited guests of the STREET ART Show that our mural was a part of was photographer Henry Chalfant. Henry is most known for his photos documenting NY subway trains and co-producing <a href="http://www.stylewars.com/">Style Wars,</a> one of the most important documentaries about graffiti and hip-hop in 80's NYC. He came through to take some shots of us.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZJSiRILu632YQvtN1WcgskgnHct4gEctFN-5b1eWfs2xpl_zeMo2Ypk-VY5vdplrnAF9jh2eSG2AlNSrPP83tkvcd-ff1DI0YXzXICVZjgC3ZRH3fyLuRWEd6HAKdV94eHQ4pzZMJEQ4/s1600/HenryChalfant-Lichiban-JaqueFragua-RandyBPatB-NM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZJSiRILu632YQvtN1WcgskgnHct4gEctFN-5b1eWfs2xpl_zeMo2Ypk-VY5vdplrnAF9jh2eSG2AlNSrPP83tkvcd-ff1DI0YXzXICVZjgC3ZRH3fyLuRWEd6HAKdV94eHQ4pzZMJEQ4/s1600/HenryChalfant-Lichiban-JaqueFragua-RandyBPatB-NM.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzkMUOGdDtWfIeqfdwGxs0u-OTrEFDm-Bfi_YZmBuogdnWT-eDilUyFNiswl97u3QiU77KIfGnH-K6434v7g0Pdv_oDlddWUZEyTXExTifzMOcipXBALQA3VgXohLwcId5EyV3OHeBhx8/s1600/HenryChalfant-JaqyeFragua-Lichiban-Patb-RandyB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzkMUOGdDtWfIeqfdwGxs0u-OTrEFDm-Bfi_YZmBuogdnWT-eDilUyFNiswl97u3QiU77KIfGnH-K6434v7g0Pdv_oDlddWUZEyTXExTifzMOcipXBALQA3VgXohLwcId5EyV3OHeBhx8/s1600/HenryChalfant-JaqyeFragua-Lichiban-Patb-RandyB.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3edRG5Gbx-zAk4gdwGBgu2Oh-lHBSbur7eyUP1Mj54ci5DP1sW5z5gH_t2Y8zenkHbA9kSCK-Lc6-NoNH4zGoCFhuKBI1DfxDC9PAFFKEDFjtk6qYpKLx99B4tRh3bWUfbELVflAqFUo/s1600/STREETARTS-Albuquerque2010MURALPatRandyhenryChalfant.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3edRG5Gbx-zAk4gdwGBgu2Oh-lHBSbur7eyUP1Mj54ci5DP1sW5z5gH_t2Y8zenkHbA9kSCK-Lc6-NoNH4zGoCFhuKBI1DfxDC9PAFFKEDFjtk6qYpKLx99B4tRh3bWUfbELVflAqFUo/s1600/STREETARTS-Albuquerque2010MURALPatRandyhenryChalfant.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhagMqCpiUriMnv9SeuErb7whyphenhyphen35YGacxplR-ez1pldcnTOLNwkHvHFKaolPnMVd8WYM5do1cH9zlmSF0QvQj2n5xCp4zQeLVyFYaQOLBRFtN80dR58GfIH2o4NHvcRBeVoSWh1rS1nAsU/s1600/HenryChalfant-Lichiban-JaqueFragua-RandyBCloudface3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhagMqCpiUriMnv9SeuErb7whyphenhyphen35YGacxplR-ez1pldcnTOLNwkHvHFKaolPnMVd8WYM5do1cH9zlmSF0QvQj2n5xCp4zQeLVyFYaQOLBRFtN80dR58GfIH2o4NHvcRBeVoSWh1rS1nAsU/s1600/HenryChalfant-Lichiban-JaqueFragua-RandyBCloudface3.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><object height="81" width="100%"> <param name="movie" value="http://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F2656309&show_comments=true&auto_play=false&color=00ffdd"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed allowscriptaccess="always" height="81" src="http://player.soundcloud.com/player.swf?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F2656309&show_comments=true&auto_play=false&color=00ffdd" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="100%"></embed> </object>   <a href="http://soundcloud.com/dewse/nina-simone-here-comes-the-sun-francois-k-remix">Nina Simone - Here Comes The Sun (Francois K. Remix)</a> by <a href="http://soundcloud.com/dewse">Dewse</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Jaque's clouds bring golden blessings. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">GOLDEN RAINDROPS / SOLAR BLESSINGS</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">turn into GREEN seeds. The ORANGE represents fire/Sun, BLUE=water, the GREEN=fertile crops </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWExRvIfv9HjkP17RyIY4vlmCefNpcv8E7Rjs5ACeAFxV91MzIUPXiTTmGXoaFfrSFaWYVnZij-4QJf2rCdw3vrxBb1N1Lt7wy6jFypPd1BgO91EEBuUg72EGG5oC_D3gOMSepmZ9ODT8/s1600/STREETARTS-Albuquerque2010MURALLichiJaquelift.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWExRvIfv9HjkP17RyIY4vlmCefNpcv8E7Rjs5ACeAFxV91MzIUPXiTTmGXoaFfrSFaWYVnZij-4QJf2rCdw3vrxBb1N1Lt7wy6jFypPd1BgO91EEBuUg72EGG5oC_D3gOMSepmZ9ODT8/s1600/STREETARTS-Albuquerque2010MURALLichiJaquelift.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Randy B took the trash can and turned it into a piece of art. In a way our whole piece was a testament to how with a vision, the ruins can be transformed into new life & blossom, also a consistent theme in Jaque's work. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgura86DbQIulZA-gCS4zQxDJoWzLPIgGA3mt27KXEAghp6i54zIr20SCZOnzROqoArPbmANpvUh_CPK0slI77v0EfHeWsCfsAQYQmrIhfsRCnH7th5aFIRTys9bpb_zrBJ6bcoOGYPIGU/s1600/STREETARTS-Albuquerque2010MURALRandyB-painting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgura86DbQIulZA-gCS4zQxDJoWzLPIgGA3mt27KXEAghp6i54zIr20SCZOnzROqoArPbmANpvUh_CPK0slI77v0EfHeWsCfsAQYQmrIhfsRCnH7th5aFIRTys9bpb_zrBJ6bcoOGYPIGU/s1600/STREETARTS-Albuquerque2010MURALRandyB-painting.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We had a team of beautiful artistas helping out as well. Another dope artist, Jaque's production assistant and friend,Vanessa brought her touch with some flowers to the corner of the building. My lovely host, film-maker/documentarian Marie-Michele was documenting the process.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL3VLc6bjQ5BDBtym-aEXYG1Ip0vg9hSe_YFQcNXVd26yOjYXfYRn8LlZpX6xJ5Xs183B5463YkqiquHrpcRJOAEpQEAPN62AKe_gLsnv6RaEJlwK3BteL3GYiPlRGJgBCG7jUEo7B5sE/s1600/STREETARTS-Albuquerque2010MURALVanessa-MarieMichelle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL3VLc6bjQ5BDBtym-aEXYG1Ip0vg9hSe_YFQcNXVd26yOjYXfYRn8LlZpX6xJ5Xs183B5463YkqiquHrpcRJOAEpQEAPN62AKe_gLsnv6RaEJlwK3BteL3GYiPlRGJgBCG7jUEo7B5sE/s1600/STREETARTS-Albuquerque2010MURALVanessa-MarieMichelle.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> The third artist working on the mural, NY-based Chris Stain's stencil piece alongside of Jaque's piece on the road side wall. Without previous planning, Chris also brought a vision of a Native mother and child and windmills to the whole that matched ours thematically.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIrG2_2qHv6bwCNfXY9EWcoRNc3TeyVGrQvHfGproewhcymka9bO0I0rCXnB0pVp4LL9Ergxk2zRMTHTT1_WFMXV0m__vfgJN2vYNIEExuB-Gbb65YiR8k8L5CC3cSOQbHASf_tGqKtOo/s1600/STREETARTS-Albuquerque2010MURALCrisStainJaqueFragua.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIrG2_2qHv6bwCNfXY9EWcoRNc3TeyVGrQvHfGproewhcymka9bO0I0rCXnB0pVp4LL9Ergxk2zRMTHTT1_WFMXV0m__vfgJN2vYNIEExuB-Gbb65YiR8k8L5CC3cSOQbHASf_tGqKtOo/s1600/STREETARTS-Albuquerque2010MURALCrisStainJaqueFragua.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2jR5EBJ1B-OKxHsUcOrIc3CGSjBruEeBjY6Pl2EWDEYZ_1cBmF6HNXwCW3DadQqkOKuacqvmeVnb7DkEQ55EeE3YMYoxFfR_DwsYiG5yyoKs3R1YA6425422zOpyNcwQwx81DB9R7qZ0/s1600/STREETARTS-Albuquerque2010MURALlichijaqueday&night.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2jR5EBJ1B-OKxHsUcOrIc3CGSjBruEeBjY6Pl2EWDEYZ_1cBmF6HNXwCW3DadQqkOKuacqvmeVnb7DkEQ55EeE3YMYoxFfR_DwsYiG5yyoKs3R1YA6425422zOpyNcwQwx81DB9R7qZ0/s1600/STREETARTS-Albuquerque2010MURALlichijaqueday&night.jpg" style="cursor: move;" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPBGN0M283PogoHNqjU7z1nx32rkAtHObpK-8e8wC5J7iNGFO_YbBxziogibDIBTCQ_kJmNUGvprDkSJl8ygYH10YEE3a5-Uoo5LPi5yZVeci0Fhjp6RnjTTwFsKS52yjP6RFA1uTT1Sk/s1600/Lichiban-Albuquerque-JaqueFragua-tongue.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPBGN0M283PogoHNqjU7z1nx32rkAtHObpK-8e8wC5J7iNGFO_YbBxziogibDIBTCQ_kJmNUGvprDkSJl8ygYH10YEE3a5-Uoo5LPi5yZVeci0Fhjp6RnjTTwFsKS52yjP6RFA1uTT1Sk/s1600/Lichiban-Albuquerque-JaqueFragua-tongue.jpg" style="cursor: move;" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Our piece is an offering to the <b>Mother of All Things</b>, the hidden Source of Mother Nature inside the <b>Holy Mountain</b> where love energy is emanating from her heart nurturing all living beings from within.   I painted this in memory of a visionary experience I had last summer.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHYYTuPjZEY3GtozZ8aI1P5sn4hDg-S1bXus2CJQT9JKKOc_9c5FBHfCWimeKPUUzoWuhnLm7RfIZdC2GIHuW2XJ63julH-ILne0NaIZcZhyXYCuJrqkZN2Kg851xBoNCbEaUfPAaZBxo/s1600/Lichiban-JaqueFragua-AlbuquerqueMural4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHYYTuPjZEY3GtozZ8aI1P5sn4hDg-S1bXus2CJQT9JKKOc_9c5FBHfCWimeKPUUzoWuhnLm7RfIZdC2GIHuW2XJ63julH-ILne0NaIZcZhyXYCuJrqkZN2Kg851xBoNCbEaUfPAaZBxo/s1600/Lichiban-JaqueFragua-AlbuquerqueMural4.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwZbBv5a74dVA9fWcGF-O2BzmEBOSCVd9RAj1AU1LmPMHlnXp8L3soyv5k88DkpBJI4SKxeOn9hFNX1cNV8VnlWepR3MaYzKQ0249dIgJib6Gy-VxXh2IZDo6fgZz-Skc7S9uvTn1MU1Y/s1600/STREETARTS-Albuquerque2010MURALnames.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwZbBv5a74dVA9fWcGF-O2BzmEBOSCVd9RAj1AU1LmPMHlnXp8L3soyv5k88DkpBJI4SKxeOn9hFNX1cNV8VnlWepR3MaYzKQ0249dIgJib6Gy-VxXh2IZDo6fgZz-Skc7S9uvTn1MU1Y/s1600/STREETARTS-Albuquerque2010MURALnames.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Francesca Searer, our curator from <a href="http://www.516ARTS.org/">516ARTS</a> did an an awesome job at making sure we had everything at our disposal from snacks to the amazing colors....Thanks for everything, Fran!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGHifBnA_m-NULRACp5oeDjN_zOYRfDpy_wQ6Tmk_QI9wcqCQhnsZ5MkqwtsTad_NfHPY-j3hvQEUrNEdPr04BuJWPizliJpQaCYJb3WTqT70u_QgEz0__UQ1V2TTQbzIk7zSuYxAGPTY/s1600/Lichiban-JaqueFragua-AlbuquerqueMural-Frans516arts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGHifBnA_m-NULRACp5oeDjN_zOYRfDpy_wQ6Tmk_QI9wcqCQhnsZ5MkqwtsTad_NfHPY-j3hvQEUrNEdPr04BuJWPizliJpQaCYJb3WTqT70u_QgEz0__UQ1V2TTQbzIk7zSuYxAGPTY/s1600/Lichiban-JaqueFragua-AlbuquerqueMural-Frans516arts.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">WONDERLAND...my hosts' house I was staying at. I found a new family here.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNog93v475QE4BgYuLjNCDl80PlBqB9f4fnn3zmkCybmkJc5WEtVcPB3YRcPNJhpgntog0arH28Y7cPWzzHZyhGew45XTsBm_sEBdm0y8vTDGoLs-tU-xG7hBU2Opbng2CWuGf4HajOGY/s1600/Albuquerque2010-wonderland.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNog93v475QE4BgYuLjNCDl80PlBqB9f4fnn3zmkCybmkJc5WEtVcPB3YRcPNJhpgntog0arH28Y7cPWzzHZyhGew45XTsBm_sEBdm0y8vTDGoLs-tU-xG7hBU2Opbng2CWuGf4HajOGY/s1600/Albuquerque2010-wonderland.jpg" style="cursor: move;" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> Chevy Apache on Central Ave</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWgJh2Ctm3S98nmGrqb2_UJFZnjTEKCQOJSft2O50ZEnxXvSWHex0I-Nkl6xJW8zdFWgAszge4MtPH6h6Xzvb8funhF9ka3KHYP1CDryOTjEJGAmwkPQXcbq2yMMx0srTrPVeBqnqZeDQ/s1600/STREETARTS-Albuquerque2010MURALfordapache.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWgJh2Ctm3S98nmGrqb2_UJFZnjTEKCQOJSft2O50ZEnxXvSWHex0I-Nkl6xJW8zdFWgAszge4MtPH6h6Xzvb8funhF9ka3KHYP1CDryOTjEJGAmwkPQXcbq2yMMx0srTrPVeBqnqZeDQ/s1600/STREETARTS-Albuquerque2010MURALfordapache.jpg" style="cursor: move;" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #7e2217; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"></span></div><h2 style="font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">the opening</span></i></span></h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtXSOHp1ZeblAD5LWvmBb9DaLaIrsbCiA7UoymmFxBJ1Wlpd24bVvDQKjdTP6AtyHfAQvoRqp-YaZHt29zwGRPJVGPKTlTp8FjFDxkmhjDPLaMGw6BJ4IyFCZFCnfOOGxwXKEwB5u7iNI/s1600/JaqueJamesLichi%2540O.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtXSOHp1ZeblAD5LWvmBb9DaLaIrsbCiA7UoymmFxBJ1Wlpd24bVvDQKjdTP6AtyHfAQvoRqp-YaZHt29zwGRPJVGPKTlTp8FjFDxkmhjDPLaMGw6BJ4IyFCZFCnfOOGxwXKEwB5u7iNI/s1600/JaqueJamesLichi%2540O.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhugSKjBAhIqTZUcfiblMe7x6EBKQsQPA3TJFMRdWJ02rMapqdesruiB_yNghqDsG8VOGrV-BzDWoIYxpVrf7H-keWB2LiTYRizqkXrYtItihZy-JBPFRe9HsmpgGKRObjQ54cBfkMBhgc/s1600/STREETARTSOpening-RandyB-JaqueaFragua.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhugSKjBAhIqTZUcfiblMe7x6EBKQsQPA3TJFMRdWJ02rMapqdesruiB_yNghqDsG8VOGrV-BzDWoIYxpVrf7H-keWB2LiTYRizqkXrYtItihZy-JBPFRe9HsmpgGKRObjQ54cBfkMBhgc/s1600/STREETARTSOpening-RandyB-JaqueaFragua.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXO7ff_ey6ZD_b0B89v4-6xvRPlvsngZHmefXL9kC9fyeVqMlFSvpDs-7h4mpZoqFWfdeQyFHkVQwS9za4rol9OS4wQ3uqIdd-r81zX7aSaYcjU1ANO9oJ3LuYXcJRspiFwj5wzcWFMcU/s1600/STREETARTS-Albuquerque2010-JaqueFraguaart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXO7ff_ey6ZD_b0B89v4-6xvRPlvsngZHmefXL9kC9fyeVqMlFSvpDs-7h4mpZoqFWfdeQyFHkVQwS9za4rol9OS4wQ3uqIdd-r81zX7aSaYcjU1ANO9oJ3LuYXcJRspiFwj5wzcWFMcU/s1600/STREETARTS-Albuquerque2010-JaqueFraguaart.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj39gDhLQCJhqbfGNzgznYSTklieNLrHfyQepQhqgqPyJWqmHH06muFsDPkexsA28ZI7K6m_VkSx_LwaYdf2XZ2pV5DSd_2fPnEg5iQY8xlHhCgVzL7-JqJHX1gqoUw5rvCH2Avq79h8CY/s1600/STREETARTS-Albuquerque2010-chaz-jaquefragua.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj39gDhLQCJhqbfGNzgznYSTklieNLrHfyQepQhqgqPyJWqmHH06muFsDPkexsA28ZI7K6m_VkSx_LwaYdf2XZ2pV5DSd_2fPnEg5iQY8xlHhCgVzL7-JqJHX1gqoUw5rvCH2Avq79h8CY/s1600/STREETARTS-Albuquerque2010-chaz-jaquefragua.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJLpN6cqKCmI8aEyS_DxC64r46akYE2ui2_YYODD8cRoY-p-y_I_On6auwr2x0o8OM4OPLXHfWrH2JDx0wEJZ5u79V6DaQj9t6CLDWNb3WF6GmCAmZE1fiCdVrGAIHjroUAKo7dh6Pz9I/s1600/STREETARTS-Albuquerque2010-ShepardFaireyBasquiat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJLpN6cqKCmI8aEyS_DxC64r46akYE2ui2_YYODD8cRoY-p-y_I_On6auwr2x0o8OM4OPLXHfWrH2JDx0wEJZ5u79V6DaQj9t6CLDWNb3WF6GmCAmZE1fiCdVrGAIHjroUAKo7dh6Pz9I/s1600/STREETARTS-Albuquerque2010-ShepardFaireyBasquiat.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW04YQWx06c55-d_1v3x0nbZS3PjSblI-7PanquwOuxyq3BN80SuaOJXRe2qb-hSeeiBiVAPjZPtl8Qm3iIUo67LBOcEVzPotWGvs52X1PTBhyphenhyphenIBuXh4PpVBfhPtaVcbPKlD6X0pKoNZ8/s1600/STREETARTS-Albuquerque2010-JaqueLichibanFransgroup%2521%2521.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW04YQWx06c55-d_1v3x0nbZS3PjSblI-7PanquwOuxyq3BN80SuaOJXRe2qb-hSeeiBiVAPjZPtl8Qm3iIUo67LBOcEVzPotWGvs52X1PTBhyphenhyphenIBuXh4PpVBfhPtaVcbPKlD6X0pKoNZ8/s1600/STREETARTS-Albuquerque2010-JaqueLichibanFransgroup%2521%2521.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBw8OU7CgFumv_dTJ8S_Qgg6Hjo3HHGIXglFWy5DJ8OspzxSEDHoKcRemw1glK1SLVeQyH9yCnCOdXDqpBZrqdc5a74iYs7b7TYV1P3PxGMSu392Buh8oTt8zxpzdtUV_n6cBWA1PvMz4/s1600/VanessaRossJaqueLichi%2540opening.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBw8OU7CgFumv_dTJ8S_Qgg6Hjo3HHGIXglFWy5DJ8OspzxSEDHoKcRemw1glK1SLVeQyH9yCnCOdXDqpBZrqdc5a74iYs7b7TYV1P3PxGMSu392Buh8oTt8zxpzdtUV_n6cBWA1PvMz4/s1600/VanessaRossJaqueLichi%2540opening.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDmJtSQqcwnHOriORckEi-H43V-Y8vP3FaWuvatVLwvWf54PLTxhcK2TdgpqyH1ZDJ6XoiZ-lyiE1y-fgrjnICdtf1XArRfWFQGsqYRMg6mQVfCGQrl8NwmfWCCX5BMTzAPX5WC3ogenQ/s1600/STREETARTS-Albuquerque2010-photos.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></i></span></div><h2 style="font-size: 22px; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></h2><h2 style="font-size: 22px; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>NOT AN AFTERTHOUGHT</i> </span></h2><h2 style="color: #3b0b0b; font-size: 22px; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">SOLAR POWER vs. THE DARK LEGACY OF THE NUCLEAR INDUSTRY </span></h2><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Underneath the artistic vision and the spiritual layers of our piece is yet another dimension that hopes to raise awareness about an aspect of history that affects Indigenous communities in the region. Those who like to dig deeper can read the colors and metaphors through a different lens as well.</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The city of Socorro, NM is about 75 miles south of Albuquerque was the site of the first nuclear weapon testing of the atomic bomb in 1945 just before the the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki a few days later (it is also a site of many UFO sitings). Following the explosion, the agencies leading the test decided against the "evacuation of the immediate area for secrecy reasons. As a result, people in the surrounding areas were exposed to radiation by breathing contaminated air and drinking contaminated water and goats’ milk.[</span><a href="http://www.science20.com/news/first_atomic_bomb_test_exposed_new_mexico_residents_to_radiation"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">source</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">] " The test was conducted on Native land and affected Native communities primarily. The sacred sites of New Mexico were then exploited later by the nuclear industry for uranium mining that had caused further environmental damage and devastating health problems in those communities.</span><br /><i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">UN Committee on Racial Descrimination (CERD) Consolidated Indigenous Shadow Report, Sub-Section on Environmental Racism of Indigenous People</span></b></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">s reported "Water quantity and quality were directly impacted by the mining of uranium in the Grants Mineral Belt in New Mexico. The Grants Mineral Belt was the most intensely mined area for uranium in the U.S. from 1950-1990 [...] These contamination issues have impacted domestic water consumption and use as well as agriculture and livestock watering and have drawn correlations to cancerous related illnesses among the impacted population" [</span><a href="http://www.ienearth.org/international.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">source</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">]. </span></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> </span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As developing nations like China and India are driving up the price of uranium, the US government is pushing the uranium industry back into Indigenous lands. Sacred sites in New Mexico are being threatened again by this new wave of uranium development.<br /><br />It's been proven by innumerable studies that local mine workers and their families have died from diseases related to exposure to the radioactive uranium. The economic benefits that the uranium industry promised to Native workers have not only left those communities poor but it began destroying them over generations while the multinational corporations reaped the only benefits.<br /><br />The bad news is that the uranium industry keeps on pushing its agenda to reestablish mining in sacred lands despite the resistance efforts of tribal leaders. The good news is (or let's say potentially good news) is that renewable energy businesses are starting to make headway in New Mexico, offering the development of an alternative, "green" industry in the region. The answer is the SUN.<br /><br />According to the report of The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) an overwhelming majority of Americans support the solar energy industry. "Not only will these projects produce clean, reliable energy, but they will create tens of thousands of high-paying, American jobs in manufacturing and construction trades from coast to coast. This would include significant new jobs at our state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in New Mexico, where we manufacture both high-quality photovoltaic panels and concentrating solar power receivers. This industry can provide clean solar power to millions of households while creating thousands of new green energy jobs.<br /><br />“The sun provides more energy in an hour than all the coal mines and oil wells do in a year. This solar energy is limitless and pollution free,” said Sean Garren, Clean Energy Advocate, Environment America. “Solar energy will play a major role in weaning the nation from dangerous, polluting, unstable and, in many cases, increasingly expensive forms of energy. America can and must figure out how to tap the heat and power of the sun." [</span> <a href="http://www.seia.org/cs/news_detail?pressrelease.id=769"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">source</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">] </span></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The question remains as for who exactly is going to benefit from this development. As artists the least we can do is to keep our eye out. I give thanks to my fellow visionary and friend, Jaque Fragua for the eye-opening inspiration and for holding the torch.</span></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><object height="340" width="560"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/V05fkwb7XyE?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/V05fkwb7XyE?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(I'd note that the biggest uranium mining companies are multinational entities, which include companies from Kazakhstan, Japan, Canada, China, Australia, Namibia, Iran beside the US and other countries)</span></span></div></div>

SOLAR LOVE: "HERE COMES THE SUN" ::: ALBUQUERQUE mural w/Jaque Fragua p.2

I had a life-transforming time in the desert of New Mexico. The land is consecrated to the Sun as the state flag's solar symbol, sacred ...

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MUSIC4ACAUSE:...Gulf Aid All-Stars feat. Mos Def, Lenny Kravitz & The Preservation Hall Jazz Band "Ain't My Fault"

<div style="text-align: center;"><object height="340" width="560"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/6-hgqMys-Bs?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/6-hgqMys-Bs?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; ">load the track on Itunes now! All proceeds to gulfaid.org</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; "><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; "><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; ">Itunes link:</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; "><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; "><a dir="ltr" href="http://t.ymlp52.com/ewjaaammjaaamjsbadajjqh/click.php" rel="nofollow" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 12px; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 51, 204); text-decoration: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; " target="_blank" title="http://t.ymlp52.com/ewjaaammjaaamjsbadajjqh/click.php">http://t.ymlp52.com/ewjaaammjaaamjsba...</a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; "> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; "><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; "><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; ">With oil continuing to leak into the waters off the Gulf Coast, The Gulf Relief Foundation's fundraising efforts continue with the June 15 iTunes release of "Ain't My Fault." This musical collaboration features the GULF AID ALL-STARS: New Orleans' own Preservation Hall Jazz Band and Trombone Shorty collaborating with Lenny Kravitz, Tim Robbins and Mos Def. The song--an updated version of a 1960s New Orleans Mardi Gras standard originally written by Joseph Smokey Johnson (who also recorded the track) and Wardell Joseph Quezergue--features updated lyrics by Mos Def and Preservation Hall's Ben Jaffe to reflect the current tragic situation's affects on the region.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; "> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; "><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; "><br />"Ain't my Fault" is available NOW via iTunes as a single(99 cents)or video($1.99) with all proceeds being distributed by the Gulf Relief Foundation (GulfAid.org) to support organizations focused on wetlands/coastal environmental issues and the regional seafood industry.</span></div>

MUSIC4ACAUSE:...Gulf Aid All-Stars feat. Mos Def, Lenny Kravitz & The Preservation Hall Jazz Band "Ain't My Fault"

load the track on Itunes now! All proceeds to gulfaid.org Itunes link: http://t.ymlp52.com/ewjaaammjaaamjsba... With oil continuing to leak...

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MAPPING A GREEN FUTURE

<div style="text-align: center;">I've been building with fellow artist/ activist Jake Fragua from New Mexico - checking out <a href="http://jakefragua.com/">his website</a>, I found this documentary where he is featured as one of the spokespersons of the local Native American community that has been adversely affected by the environmental damage that the government and corporations have caused over time, raising important issues about how to build a green future & a self-sustaining community.<br /><object height="340" width="560"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/WXsNiGqvurI&hl=en_US&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/WXsNiGqvurI&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="340" width="560"></embed></object><br /><span>'Mapping a green future' is a documentary produced by the Center for Contemporary Arts that explores the opportunity that New Mexico has to a clean energy economy.</span><br /></div>

MAPPING A GREEN FUTURE

I've been building with fellow artist/ activist Jake Fragua from New Mexico - checking out his website , I found this documentary where ...

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STATEMENT BY WYCLEF JEAN ON HAITI EARTHQUAKE

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja8ctOcNIw8oGOTDXUdRSjfz8QKzz_P_ETHu2BevovU6exRGJhazFNlMluEhDCGkDg_tKMhGSwYfvHlw4NgiS_xnk0EVnGaMlw-eQ065oWwx5mi_lbiaoiNJRs-iiEOR8ICuyUmsI-SX0/s1600-h/haiti.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426879814372678450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja8ctOcNIw8oGOTDXUdRSjfz8QKzz_P_ETHu2BevovU6exRGJhazFNlMluEhDCGkDg_tKMhGSwYfvHlw4NgiS_xnk0EVnGaMlw-eQ065oWwx5mi_lbiaoiNJRs-iiEOR8ICuyUmsI-SX0/s400/haiti.jpg" style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" /></a><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">“Haiti today faced a natural disaster of unprecedented proportion, an earthquake unlike anything the country has ever experienced.</span><br /></span> <div style="font-family: arial;" class="journal-entry-tag journal-entry-tag-post-title"> </div> <!--StartFragment--> <p><span style="font-size:100%;"><span>The magnitude 7.0 earthquake – and several very strong aftershocks – struck only 10 miles from Port-au-Prince. I cannot stress enough what a human disaster this is, and idle hands will only make this tragedy worse. The over 2 million people in Port-au-Prince tonight face catastrophe alone. We must act now.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="text-align: left; width: 510px;">(AP Photo/Jorge Cruz)</span></span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span>President Obama has already said that the U.S. stands ‘ready to assist’ the Haitian people. The U.S. Military is the only group trained and prepared to offer that assistance immediately. They must do so as soon as possible. The international community must also rise to the occasion and help the Haitian people in every way possible.”<br /><br />Many people have already reached out to see what they can do right now. We are asking those interested to please do one of two things: Either you can use your cell phone to text “Yele” to 501501, which will automatically donate $5 to the Yele Haiti Earthquake Fund (it will be charged to your cell phone bill), or you can </span><a href="https://co.clickandpledge.com/advanced/default.aspx?wid=23093">click here</a><span> to DONATE.<br /><br />Thank you,<br />Wyclef<br /><br /></span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="http://www.yele.org/about-us/"><strong>Yéle Haiti</strong> </a>is a grassroots movement that builds global awareness for Haiti while helping to transform the country through programs in education, sports, the arts and environment. Yéle’s community service programs include food distribution and mobilizing emergency relief. Grammy-Award winning musician, humanitarian and Goodwill Ambassador to Haiti Wyclef Jean founded Yéle Haiti in 2005.</span></p> <span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" ><a href="https://co.clickandpledge.com/advanced/default.aspx?wid=23093"><img alt="" src="http://www.yele.org/storage/help_haiti_01.gif?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=1263409959951" /></a><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:180%;" >You can also check out a list of other international NGOs responding to the crisis on <a href="http://www.interaction.org/crisis-list/earthquake-haiti">InterAction.com</a></span><br /></div>

STATEMENT BY WYCLEF JEAN ON HAITI EARTHQUAKE

“Haiti today faced a natural disaster of unprecedented proportion, an earthquake unlike anything the country has ever experienced. ...

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THE REVOLUTION NEEDS AN EVOLUTION:: MICHAEL CORDERO

<div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">Just saw this inspiring video from Brooklyn fam, <span class="UIIntentionalStory_Names" ft="{"type":"name"}"><a href="http://www.myspace.com/soulhustler" onclick="'ft(">Michael Cordero. </a></span><span class="text">Michael has been keeping true to the spirit of the artist-activist model, -a type that you've seen in the '50s and '60s more than these days-, making his art a catalyst for change and evolution... something I definitely relate to.<br /></span></div><span class="text"> </span><span class="UIIntentionalStory_Names" ft="{"type":"name"}"></span><span class="UIStory_Message"></span></div><object height="326" width="580"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><param name="movie" value="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=8427780&server=vimeo.com&show_title=0&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=fce114&fullscreen=1"><embed src="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=8427780&server=vimeo.com&show_title=0&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=fce114&fullscreen=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" height="326" width="580"></embed></object><p><a href="http://vimeo.com/8427780">Mikey 1Soul on Guide To Liberation</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/mvmt">MVMT</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.</p><p><span class="text"><span style="font-style: italic;">About Michael Cordero</span>: a member of the Brooklyn-based artist collective, <a href="http://trustyourhustle.blogspot.com/">TRUST YOUR STRUGGLE</a>, brand Architect of 1 Soul Designs & Co-Owner of Fresthetic, Michael has launched several successful arts and community based businesses and has dedicated his life t0 promoting social, political and cultural awareness in order to provoke change. His work has impacted communities in NYC, San Francisco, Cuba, Vieques, Mexico and Guatemala. To find out more, check out his site at <a href="http://conscioushustler.mvmt.com/">conscioushustler.mvmt.com</a></span></p>

THE REVOLUTION NEEDS AN EVOLUTION:: MICHAEL CORDERO

Just saw this inspiring video from Brooklyn fam, Michael Cordero. Michael has been keeping true to the spirit of the artist-activist model, ...

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just say no...

<div style="text-align: center;">this is probably my favorite PF song<br />Pink Floyd :: Welcome to the Machine<br /><object height="385" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ZB_2oIKUVks&hl=en_US&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ZB_2oIKUVks&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="385" width="480"></embed></object><br /></div>

just say no...

this is probably my favorite PF song Pink Floyd :: Welcome to the Machine

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PRESS::: VONY at RISE UP RADIO!

<a href="http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q202/licsi777/vony-radio-lichi-suzy-keish.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><span style="display: block;" id="formatbar_Buttons"><span class="on down" style="display: block;" id="formatbar_CreateLink" title="Link" onmouseover="ButtonHoverOn(this);" onmouseout="ButtonHoverOff(this);" onmouseup="" onmousedown="CheckFormatting(event);FormatbarButton('richeditorframe', this, 8);ButtonMouseDown(this);"><img alt="Link" border="0" class="gl_link" src="http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif" /></span></span><span style="display: block;" id="formatbar_Buttons"><span class="on down" style="display: block;" id="formatbar_CreateLink" title="Link" onmouseover="ButtonHoverOn(this);" onmouseout="ButtonHoverOff(this);" onmouseup="" onmousedown="CheckFormatting(event);FormatbarButton('richeditorframe', this, 8);ButtonMouseDown(this);"><img alt="Link" border="0" class="gl_link" src="http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif" /></span></span><img alt="" border="0" src="http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q202/licsi777/vony-radio-lichi-suzy-keish.jpg" style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 486px; height: 365px;" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">The <span style="font-weight: bold;">Voices of New York </span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"> (VONY)</span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span> movement is evolving beautifully. VONY's founder, Suzie and I have been given an opportunity to talk about our work at </span><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="http://www.wbai.org/" onclick="'ft(" target="_blank">Rise Up Radio - WBAI-FM, New York</a> a couple of months ago (This was actually my second time at the radio. Back in December, I had a chance to talk about my solo show the <span style="font-style: italic;">Secret Lives of Samurais </span>on this dope program). The show this time focused on education and on some of the flaws inherent in the public educational system, and it touched on some less serious tabloid stories. We came in at the second half of the show discussing the alarming phenomenon of the reduction of funds from art education and how VONY tries to counteract the negative effects of this by creating and implementing mentoring workshops that encourage creativity at an early stage of child development. I believe that art, among other things, is the foundation of culture, and it is the voice of a community; hence it has a powerful political potential. So if you take away the arts, you practically undermine a community's (and of course the individual's) creative power for self-determination and expression. This is why I think as artists it is very important for us to give back and nurture the next generation of visionaries to create, dream and believe in their vision...to have a VOICE! Big shout out to our lovely hosts TastyKeish & the boys Digo and Divino for having us on the show and doing a great job with the program. Thank you!<br /></span><span style="font-size:130%;">You can listen to the show on RiseUp Radio <a href="http://archive.wbai.org/files/mp3/090904_210001rur.MP3">HERE </a>(we come in on the second half of the show.)<br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size:85%;">You can see some of the video footage from our first youth media arts conference & fundraiser concert with BILAL, 88-Keys, Jesse Boykins & Honey LaRochelle from this past summer <a href="http://lichiban.blogspot.com/2009/07/bilal-jesse-boykins-iii-at-vony-benefit.html">here</a><a href="http://vonyspeaks.blogspot.com/">. Check the VONY blog</a> for more info and become a <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Voices-of-New-York/86591056607">fan of Voices of New York on facebook</a>. New website coming soon.<br /></span><br /></div><br /></div>

PRESS::: VONY at RISE UP RADIO!

The Voices of New York (VONY) movement is evolving beautifully. VONY's founder, Suzie and I have been given an opportunity to talk a...

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FRIENDS WE LOVE presents: Rasu Jilani of CDTBK

My good friend, RASU JILANI, Owner & <a href="http://www.cdtbk.com/">Creator of Coup D'Etat Brooklyn</a> was recently featured on <a href="http://vimeo.com/fwl">friendswelove.com</a>. Rasu explains how to apply the idea of a coup d'etat to overthrow the negative aspects of not only the economy & business practices proven to be disfunctional but also of the self. Change comes from within, and to build a new system based on sharing, we do have to work on elevating our selves...this is the voice of the BROOKLYN Renaissance. Kudos to Rasu!<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><object height="300" width="400"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><param name="movie" value="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=6256453&server=vimeo.com&show_title=0&show_byline=0&show_portrait=1&color=911c22&fullscreen=1"><embed src="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=6256453&server=vimeo.com&show_title=0&show_byline=0&show_portrait=1&color=911c22&fullscreen=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" height="300" width="400"></embed></object><p><a href="http://vimeo.com/6256453">Rasu Jilani, Owner + Creator of Coup d'etat Brooklyn :: 120 Seconds</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/fwl">friendswelove.com</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.</p><br /></div>

FRIENDS WE LOVE presents: Rasu Jilani of CDTBK

My good friend, RASU JILANI, Owner & Creator of Coup D'Etat Brooklyn was recently featured on friendswelove.com . Rasu explains ho...

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inner visions

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj83miIqRR2kMPO1Tw-sZJtN0mq3dZ3VbKi4ccQBnIYQaSW4IM7i5HXmg3stT2_nf9Br-BwajXVRxx6WBfgT4WUP5pC_FwDVS2LIdScGjm9zFLXkaK8A6ub6JH1wWzyL5NCQ5HXlXzaS78/s1600-h/Himalaya_Sunset_by_balaa.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363669586737093666" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj83miIqRR2kMPO1Tw-sZJtN0mq3dZ3VbKi4ccQBnIYQaSW4IM7i5HXmg3stT2_nf9Br-BwajXVRxx6WBfgT4WUP5pC_FwDVS2LIdScGjm9zFLXkaK8A6ub6JH1wWzyL5NCQ5HXlXzaS78/s400/Himalaya_Sunset_by_balaa.jpg" style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 289px; height: 433px;" /></a>This is one of the reasons why I'm drawn to the Himalayas...I've been there in my dreams countless times as a child (i believe beyond this life), visited its foothills as an adult, and made a vow to go back. It is one of the most important power centers of this planet and I feel it is one of my spiritual homelands. The force that drew me there made me stop doing art for years and pursue an interest in a Kashmiri-Himalayan form of Sufism as a student of Persian and Islamic mysticism. The main person I was drawn to was a Persian-speaking Muslim mystic from the thirteenth century called <span style="font-weight: bold;">Najm ad-din Kubra</span> who had a discipline involving spiritual alchemy and visualization techniques of the seven colored subtle centers of the body (called<span style="font-style: italic;"> latifah), </span>much like the system of chakras developed in India and adopted into Tibetan Buddhism that developed in the Himalayas<span style="font-style: italic;"> (there is very little reliable information on the web about Kubra and the order he founded, but this <a href="http://www.sufi.it/sufismo/maestri/Najmuddin_kubra.htm">link</a> gives a tiny glimpse of what Kubra was all about).</span> Kubra's teachings were carried to Kashmir and became the foundation of the Kubrawiyya order of Sufism. If you would like to know more about the Kubrawis and another Kashmiri Sufi order that sprung off of their order, I recommend two of my friends' work (once you study something this obscure, you're bound to meet and befriend the two main experts on the subject). Check out <a href="http://www.bookfinder.com/author/jamal-j-elias/">Jamal Elias: <span style="font-style: italic;">The Throne Carrier of God : The Life and Though of 'Ala ad-dawla as-Simnani</span></a>. The available online as a partial scanned preview <a href="http://books.google.com/books?id=zqc01-Y6XfMC&dq=jamal+elias+throne+carrier&printsec=frontcover&source=bn&hl=en&ei=FXaCSs71CduQtgfG8JXPCg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=4#v=onepage&q=&f=false">here</a><br />and <a href="http://www.bookfinder.com/search/?ac=sl&st=sl&qi=GwcSh83W2VLDl6ChmShMpkOCpw4_8714528079_1:34:128&bq=author%3Dshahzad%2520bashir%26title%3Dmessianic%2520hopes%2520and%2520mystical%2520visions%2520the%2520nurbakhshiya%2520between%2520medieval%2520and%2520modern%2520islam%2520studies%2520in%2520comparative%2520religion">Shahzad Bashir: </a><span style="font-style: italic;"><a href="http://www.bookfinder.com/search/?ac=sl&st=sl&qi=GwcSh83W2VLDl6ChmShMpkOCpw4_8714528079_1:34:128&bq=author%3Dshahzad%2520bashir%26title%3Dmessianic%2520hopes%2520and%2520mystical%2520visions%2520the%2520nurbakhshiya%2520between%2520medieval%2520and%2520modern%2520islam%2520studies%2520in%2520comparative%2520religion">Messianic Hopes and Mystical Visions: The Nurbakhshiyya Between Medieval and Modern Islam</a>, </span>which you can also peep <a href="http://books.google.com/books?id=uom79HNFPGgC&printsec=frontcover&dq=jamal+elias+throne+carrier&source=gbs_similarbooks_s&cad=1#v=onepage&q=jamal%20elias%20throne%20carrier&f=false">here </a>.<br /><br />After spending several years learning the languages and everything I could find about this line of teaching, I <a href="http://lichiban.blogspot.com/2008/12/kashmir-my-spiritual-homeland.html">went to Srinagar, Kashmir</a> to seek the legacy of the Sufis and Tibetan Buddhist teachings (as a grad student) and returned completely reborn (as an artist)...Ironically, what made me want to pursue my studies was what ended up releasing me from a carrier path that was no longer giving me any sort of spiritual satisfaction. I quit school and decided to approach my search from an angle that was more true to who I am..more of a visionary than an academic. I had to restart from scratch...but I feel more alive than ever and my passion for seeking the truth keeps me going even when the conditions get fucked up. <span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">[artwork by balaa]</span></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><div style="text-align: center;">This is for my fellow seekers who have been asking me to share more of my spiritual interests through my blog...a rare glimpse into the life of Tibetan Buddhists masters who have dedicated their life to finding enlightment, and much like their Sufi counterparts, were seeking liberation through the realization of the fundamental unity of all beings...that is the true meaning of LOVE...the most powerful vibration of the universe and the biggest threat to those who have usurped this-wordly power through a discourse of war and fundamental difference (=inborn inequality) between beings.<br /></div></div><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/J-kOuHkQErc&hl=en&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/J-kOuHkQErc&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="344" width="425"></embed></object><br />[This is a rare footage from <span>1963, when for the first time, the Dalai Lama allowed a Westerner, Desjardins, to film the heart of the Tibetan tradition. The original 60s commentaries are dated, take it with a grain of salt]<br /></span></div>

inner visions

This is one of the reasons why I'm drawn to the Himalayas...I've been there in my dreams countless times as a child (i believe beyon...

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BROOKLYN DIARIES:: FLOW FOR CHANGE : Vony Speaks FUNDRAISER & VONY PSA Premiere Screening

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3h4ZKG9wVCmjPGBRoN0VcM5QHlGfVtjjZG5jSv64L53jqDjNNHnQjvGHIhnijPxOp_NlaZ5v9S9aoieOeBaNfp01jKz6PLqzXdzCXFuWP7wmIAZIMQwq7DPtnrllxlut95PVqKJLCMyc/s1600-h/lichibanVONYshootsolo.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337415992445187970" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3h4ZKG9wVCmjPGBRoN0VcM5QHlGfVtjjZG5jSv64L53jqDjNNHnQjvGHIhnijPxOp_NlaZ5v9S9aoieOeBaNfp01jKz6PLqzXdzCXFuWP7wmIAZIMQwq7DPtnrllxlut95PVqKJLCMyc/s400/lichibanVONYshootsolo.jpg" style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" /></a>A little over a month ago, I participated in the PSA shoot for <a href="http://www.vonyspeak-conference.org/">Voices of New York (VONY)</a> a wonderful and much-needed educational project of my good friend Suzanna (<a href="http://vonyspeaks.blogspot.com/">aka Suzanna Ali</a> (read an interview with her about VONY on <a href="http://cdtbk.com/site/2009/05/vony/">Coup d'Etat BK</a>). I've been a huge supporter of her project, and she's chosen me as one of the main art mentors for her organization, which I'm very excited about, since I always wanted to be part of some kind of art-educational project involving kids. Suzanna is a visionary with a holistic, spiritual outlook on education and she has in mind to build a program that would nurture a new generation of youth with a focus on encouraging creative expression from an early stage onward. She is planning to involve artists as art mentors who could also serve as role models for the youth. We used a work of mine that I did as collabo project with my good friend, Jelsen Jargon, called <span style="font-style: italic;">We Are (</span>read my post about the collabo <a href="http://wronglips.blogspot.com/2008/05/world-at-largelove-without-borders.html">here</a><span style="font-style: italic;">)</span>.<br /><br /><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>This Tuesday, May 19th the premiere of our PSA shoot, also featuring <a href="http://www.myspace.com/bilaloliver">Bilal </a>and <a href="http://www.myspace.com/88keys">88-Keys</a>, will take place along with a with spoken word performances that serve as a fundraiser for VONY. Def Jam and HBO have partnered with VONY to bring you "FLOW 4 CHANGE" showcasing some of the most talented poets of our time! See the flyer below for details. Here are some flicks from our PSA shoot near the Brooklyn Children Museum...this was back in early April, at the first spring weekend of cherry blossoms and 80 degrees balmy weather....the blossoming trees were shouting new life and flourishing future...a perfect symbol for VONY's growth and the blossoming of a future generation of creatives.<br /><div style="text-align: center;">Suzy, Liz, Rasu of Coup d'Etat with the kids. Joel and Anna were directing the shoot.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q202/licsi777/vony_lichiban.jpg" /><br /><img src="http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q202/licsi777/VONYshootpromolichibanblog.jpg" /><br /><img src="http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q202/licsi777/vony_lichiban2.jpg" /><br /><a href="http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c227/NikkiNu123/flowforchange.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c227/NikkiNu123/flowforchange.jpg" style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 281px; height: 493px;" /></a>The event will be hosted by Bilal & Suzen Baraka with performances by Brave New Voices' Queen Godis and Joshua Bennet, Def Poetry Jam's Staceyann Chin and Black Ice, and our beloved poet and brother, Kesed just to name a few. Your support is greatly appreciated.<br /><br />The VONY is dedicated to nurture a new generation of youth whose creativity is reinforced and guided by art mentors and visionary educators. So come out and support this fundraiser for Voices of New York Speak!</div>

BROOKLYN DIARIES:: FLOW FOR CHANGE : Vony Speaks FUNDRAISER & VONY PSA Premiere Screening

A little over a month ago, I participated in the PSA shoot for Voices of New York (VONY) a wonderful and much-needed educational project of...

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i'm feeling... I MET THE WALRUS

<div style="text-align: center;"><span>food for thought...<br /><object height="295" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/jmR0V6s3NKk&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/jmR0V6s3NKk&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="295" width="480"></embed></object><br /><br />In 1969, a 14-year-old Beatle fanatic named Jerry Levitan, armed with a reel-to-reel tape deck, snuck into John Lennon's hotel room in Toronto and convinced John to do an interview about peace. 38 years later, Jerry has produced a film about it. Using the original interview recording as the soundtrack, director Josh Raskin marries the terrifyingly genius pen work of James Braithwaite with masterful digital illustration by Alex Kurina, resulting in a spell-binding vessel for Lennon's boundless wit, and timeless message. </span></div>

i'm feeling... I MET THE WALRUS

food for thought... In 1969, a 14-year-old Beatle fanatic named Jerry Levitan, armed with a reel-to-reel tape deck, snuck into John Lennon...

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NYC: watch your Metrocard!

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBIDUDtUM8ODefxJ1JkmNGJgXeotgmrWKOPCZqJHMVDKMNhgW012LiMNpQTGodkEwFO3OtZIyURuSberb4SAAPFhAFY_ttynG0cdGsaEQxJjbmJ_j-dzn3HXwE9unnOiZXZ5U5slXl0hI/s1600-h/2007_06_metrocard+copy.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287999757690293218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBIDUDtUM8ODefxJ1JkmNGJgXeotgmrWKOPCZqJHMVDKMNhgW012LiMNpQTGodkEwFO3OtZIyURuSberb4SAAPFhAFY_ttynG0cdGsaEQxJjbmJ_j-dzn3HXwE9unnOiZXZ5U5slXl0hI/s400/2007_06_metrocard+copy.jpg" style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" /></a>For the last three months, I've had a feeling something was not right with my 31-day unlimited MTA metrocard...It seemed like I was able to use it for only 3 weeks instead of the supposed 4 weeks + 3 days, so I finally decided to keep my receipt and check the next time my card expired. Sure enough, it happened again. According to my receipt, I purchased the card on December 9th, but my card expired on January 1st, instead of January 8th or 9th as it was supposed to! I called MTA, and told them what happened and was told that I am not the only one who had the same experience this week or in fact in general!!!! The MTA employee told me that he gets 3 or 4 calls a week regarding this issue. So it looks like there is some sort of a NY citywide phenomenon going on and the MTA is counting on you trusting their integrity by not keeping your monthly Metrocard receipt and matching it against the expiration date, just in case you suspect something might accidentally goes wrong with your card....if nobody realizes that it is a pattern, then it looks like a one-time mistake and you'll send in your card and they will refund you...case closed. Of course I can't know what the truth is based solely on my example, but I suggest you keep your receipt next time you buy a new card.

NYC: watch your Metrocard!

For the last three months, I've had a feeling something was not right with my 31-day unlimited MTA metrocard...It seemed like I was able...

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Artists, Illustrators MOBILIZE!!!

<a href="http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q202/licsi777/WerevolvesKnowitB.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q202/licsi777/WerevolvesKnowitB.jpg" style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px;" /></a>A good friend of mine, amazing artist <a href="http://shomurase.com/">Sho Murase,</a> forwarded this alarming info to me recently about the ORPHAN WORKS ACT, a new legislation that's about to get introduced to Congress.<br /><br />This concerns all artists, copyright issues and Congress and seems<br />really important at this point in time.<br /><br />Please read and pass it to any artist , friend of an artists. Every artist must hear about this legislation about to go before Congress.<br /><br />Basically it states that if you do not pay a registration fee with an independent, for profit, registration service, for every work you create, you will lose the rights to that particular work. Imagine paying $5 for every work you create!<br /><br />To clarify some of the issues involved from, here is an excerpt from the Q&A the <a href="http://www.illustratorspartnership.org/01_topics/article.php?searchterm=00264">ILLUSTRATION PARTNERSHIP ORGANIZATION </a> page.<br /><br /><b>Q: What does it mean to say your copyright is an “exclusive right”?</b><br />A: Under existing law, “[a] copyright gives the owner the <i>exclusive right</i> to reproduce, distribute, perform, display, or license his work…Under current law, works are covered whether or not a copyright notice is attached and whether or not the work is registered (emphasis added).”<br /><url><a href="http://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/index.php/Copyright#copyright:_an_overview" target="_blank">http://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/index.php/Copyright#copyright:_an_overview</a></url><br /><br /><b>Q: Why does this exclusive right matter?</b><br />A: Two big reasons:<br />- Creative control and ownership: No one can use or change your work without your permission.<br /> - Value: In the marketplace the ability to sell exclusive rights to a client triples the value of your work.<br /><br /><b>Q: So how would the Orphan Works proposals endanger that right?</b><br />A: It would allow anyone who can’t find you (or who removes your name from your work and says he can’t) to infringe your work. Since infringements can occur anytime, anywhere in the world, they could be countless but you might never find them.<br /><br /><b>Q: So?</b><br />A: So:<br />- Under this bill, you would never again be able to assure a client that your work hasn’t been – or won’t be – infringed. Therefore<br /> - You would never again be able to guarantee a client an exclusive right to license your work. This means<br /> - Your entire inventory of work would be devalued by at least 2/3 from the moment this bill is signed into law.<br /><br />To get more info,, read up on these <a href="http://mag.awn.com/index.php?ltype=pageone&article_no=3605&page=1">link.</a> You'll find more in-depth info at<span style="text-decoration: underline;"> </span><a href="http://www.illustratorspartnership.org/01_topics/article.php?searchterm=00185">IllustratorPartnership.org</a>. Pass this along to your artist friends. Write or better yet call<br />your members of Congress.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">"TO CONTACT YOUR LEGISLATOR:<br />Go to <a href="http://www.usa.gov/Contact/Elected.shtml" target="_blank">http://www.usa.gov/Contact<wbr>/Elected.shtml</a> to quickly find the phone number, address and e-mail of every U.S. senator, U.S. representative, governor and state legislator. Forward this article to every creator you know and urge them to take a moment to protect their very livelihood. I am giving everyone the right to reprint this article in any form to help spread the word to protect our creative rights.<br /><br />Letters to our government officials don't have to be long, but they should be heartfelt. A good story helps. Tell them who you are, how this legislation negatively affects you and that you want them to vote against the Orphan Works legislation. It's that easy! If you don't, you will have only yourself to blame when you see other people making money from your art and you don't see a dime."</span>

Artists, Illustrators MOBILIZE!!!

A good friend of mine, amazing artist Sho Murase, forwarded this alarming info to me recently about the ORPHAN WORKS ACT, a new legislation...

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