For Immediate Release

Al Jazeera English sponsors Encounters Documentary Festival

Encounters to host Al Jazeera showcase, including multi-award-winning Bahrain: Shouting in the Dark and African-themed docs

Presentation by Al Jazeera series producers and commissioning editors

Opportunity for SA industry to pitch leading broadcaster

Al Jazeera English has signed on as one of the sponsors of this year’s Encounters South African International Documentary Festival, running from 7-24 June 2012.

As part of the deal, Africa’s most prestigious documentary festival will host an Al Jazeera showcase.

“Al Jazeera English is the leading news channel in the world, producing some of the most acclaimed documentaries anywhere,” says Mandisa Zitha, festival director at Encounters, pointing to a string of recent accolades for the broadcaster, like being named The Royal Television Society’s 2012 News Channel of the Year and winning a Peabody, the oldest award in electronic media, for its ground-breaking coverage of the Arab Spring. “We’re very excited to be partnering with them.”

Encouter’s Al Jazeera showcase includes Bahrain: Shouting in The Dark, about the 2011 Arab revolution that was abandoned by the Arabs, forsaken by the West and forgotten by the world. The controversial documentary won The Foreign Press Association Documentary of the Year, the George Polk Award for Excellence in Journalism, and the Scripps Howard Jack R. Howard Award for Television Reporting, among other accolades.

Watch the promo

On YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LTtPH-FSDfA

The five other Al Jazeera English films on the programme demonstrate the broadcaster’s commitment to covering Africa’s stories.

Libya: Through The Fire focuses on Mohammed Nabbous, who returned from exile to set up an independent satellite television station to alert the world to Benghazi’s increasing peril. This remarkable and heart-breaking documentary embodies the story of the Arab Awakening and carries viewers through the historic events in Libya on a very human level.

Watch the promo

On Youtube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQ2nf9WlPZo

Africa Investigates was a world-first, giving some of Africa’s best journalists the resources and opportunity to pursue high-level investigative targets across the continent. Two episodes, Fool’s Gold and Spell of the Albino, will screen together as a double-header at Encounters.

Watch the promo

On YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0GwRxV2zZI

In Fool’s Gold, legendary Ghanaian investigative journalist Anas Aremayaw Anas goes undercover to expose a group behind the scams and confidence tricks that accompanied Ghana’s gold rush.

Spell of the Albino puts the focus on Tanzania, where albinos are still being savagely mutilated and murdered for their body parts – falsely believed to have magical properties.

Bitter Root goes to Northern Uganda, where two ex-commanders in The Lord’s Resistance Army, responsible for numerous brutalities against unarmed civilians, ask the tribal elders to implement Mato Oput, a traditional system of restorative justice involving perpetrators and victims.

Watch the promo

On YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aWolvdVgzGs.

The Nigerian Connection investigates the trafficking of young girls from Nigeria to Italy for the sex trade, exposing how juju or black magic is used by organized crime to keep the girls in fear for their lives.

Watch the promo

On YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JRcz5vZwngk

South African Clifford Bestall, who won the Audience Award at Encounters in 2010 for The 16th Man, is also screening his Hillbrow-themed Between Heaven and Hell, which he shot for Al Jazeera English last year.
Watch the promo

On YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LXnVY2b0rH0

Al Jazeera will also host an Industry Presentation on Monday, 11 June 2012 from 5-7pm at Protea Hotel Fire & Ice, New Church Street, Cape Town. Osama Saeed, head of international and media relations at Al Jazeera English, and Al Jazeera English commissioning editors Diarmuid Jeffreys, Dominique Young and Jon Blair will explain Al Jazeera’s approach, followed by a Q&A and informal drinks. Blair is a South African-born Oscar, Emmy and BAFTA-winner.

Both presentations have limited space available, so Encounters encourages industry to book early by emailing manager@encounters.co.za .

Al Jazeera English will also be hosting a pitching forum for African filmmakers (see attached Call).

For more information, visit http://www.encounters.co.za or call 021 465 4686.

Oluko
Encounters International Documentary Festival
1st Floor,
27 Caledon Street
Cape Town
oluko@encounters.co.za

http://www.encounters.co.za

tel: +27 21 465 4686
fax: +27 21 461 6964

On May 20, 2012, a rare solar eclipse alignment will happen between the Earth, the Sun and, our central Sun, Alcyone in the Pleiades Constellation.

It takes earth 26,000 years to travel around Alcyone. http://www.2012.com.au/Ascension_and_the_galaxy.html

“The Pyramid of the Sun outside Mexico City at Teotihuacan is said to be aligned with the Pleiades, for its west face and many of the surrounding streets were aligned directly with the setting point of the Pleiades on midnight of the night when it is at its highest point. The Pleiades was clearly revered also by the Mayans, who in the area of Chichen Itza knew that the Sun casts a snake-like shadow on the side of the north stairway of the Kukulcan pyramid during the spring equinox. Some scholars have calculated that about 60 days after this shadow’s appearance, when the sun reaches its zenith over the Pyramid at mid-day (May 20 – May 23), there is another direct alignment with the Pleiades. This Pleiades-sun alignment may have a direct connection with Quetzalcoatl, the feathered serpent that came to bring a greater wisdom to the planet.

The ancient Egyptians also singled out the Pleiades as a female goddess, probably most often recognized as Neith, the “divine mother”, or Hathor, who took on the form of a cow (who carried the seeds of life). Pyramidologists working in Egypt in the last twelve years have found pyramidal texts that suggest the Egyptians revered the Pleiades as a higher divine star system, especially Alcyone, its brightest star.”

http://www.keysofenoch.org/html/the_pleiades.html

more info: http://esoterism.ro/english/central-sun.php
http://www.bibliotecapleyades.net/pleyades/esp_pleyades_25.htm
Photo: John Major Jenkins- book, Maya Cosmogenesis 2012:
http://www.diagnosis2012.co.uk/5.htm

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zU_LHGaGWDs&feature=player_embedded

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Catalyzing-Change/193431794045607

Have you heard of water grabbing? It is happening already…

http://www.criticalcollective.org/?publication=the-global-water-grab-a-primer

“Water grabbing is an expression of an economic model of development in which capital accumulation is linked to increasing control over abundant and cheap supplies of natural resources, including food, water and energy. The outbreak in 2008 of a global financial crisis accompanied by extraordinary commodity price spikes and growing financial speculation in food commodities provoked a new round of water, land and resource grabbing as governments and investors sought assurances which could not be provided by increasingly volatile and unreliable markets.”

A Primer
Sylvia Kay and Jenny Franco2

http://www.criticalcollective.org/wp-content/uploads/watergrabbingprimer-altcover.pdf

What shall we do?

Let’s remember why we were so proud when this man made this speech all those years ago

I’m packed and ready to move out of the family home again. This time it feels for good, and to roam on Mama Gaia’s body where she leads me, us is what I’m feeling our life will be like from now on.

I travel light, but I still see some more stuff that’s not needed in my life come up to be given away, or shared.

He cleans up after himself.
He cleans up the planet.
He is a role model for young men.
He is rigorously honest and fiercely optimistic.

He holds himself accountable.
He knows what he feels.
He knows how to cry and he lets it go.
He knows how to rage without hurting others.
He knows how to fear and how to keep moving.
He seeks self-mastery.

He has let go of childish shame.
He feels guilty when he’s done something wrong.
He is kind to men, kind to women, kind to children.
He teaches others how to be kind.
He says he’s sorry.

He stopped blaming women or his parents or men for his pain years ago.
He stopped letting his defenses ruin his relationships.
He stopped letting his penis run his life.
He has enough self-respect to tell the truth.
He creates intimacy and trust with his actions.
He has men that he trusts and that he turns to for support.
He knows how to roll with it.
He knows how to make it happen.
He is disciplined when he needs to be.
He is flexible when he needs to be.
He knows how to listen from the core of his being.

He’s not afraid to get dirty.
He’s ready to confront his own limitations.
He has high expectations for himself and for those he connects with.
He looks for ways to serve others.
He knows he is an individual.
He knows that we are all one.
He knows he is an animal and a part of nature.
He knows his spirit and his connection to something greater.

He knows that the future generations are watching his actions.
He builds communities where people are respected and valued.
He takes responsibility for himself and is also willing to be his brother’s keeper.

He knows his higher purpose.
He loves with fierceness.
He laughs with abandon, because he gets the joke.

This is the Mature Masculine – the New Warrior – a re-definition of masculinity for the 21st century. By no means is this list complete. You are welcome to come and add your gifts to this community. –Boysen Hodgson
www.mkp.org
The ManKind Project

Very co-incidently I came across this video on YouTube, predicting an earthquake, and a few others too. Now I don’t expect you to totally accept this prediction as fact, but it is something to ponder on. Check this out:

MAJOR DISCOVERY of LEY LINES from the 188 DAY QUAKE PATTERN!?

http://www.facebook.com/pages/God-Code-Matrix-of-188/249833015110848

Music by: The vib0nacci Sequence, The Elektrik Haze & BT

https://www.facebook.com/TheElektrikHaze

http://soundcloud.com/elektrikhaze

http://www.godlikeproductions.com/forum1/message1788212/pg1

As much information and material as I covered in this video, its just scratching the surface which I’ll deal more with in part 3 since many of the concepts I discussed need more study. And although I initially wanted to keep the video under 10 minutes,, due to the complexity, magnitude and amount of information that could only be grasped by important context (especially for those new to this topic), it couldn’t be done.
Whether anything occurs or not is anyones guess, but I’ve presented this information in hopes it might help raise awareness and preparedness JUST IN CASE for those who live in or around major quake prone zones these ley lines may be trying to tell us something.

And while the subject matter is very serious and had to be informative, I also tried to present it in an entertaining way to keep things balanced on the lighter side.

No I don’t claim to be any mathematician, scientist, astronomer, etc. As I said, i’m simply presenting the evidence and information as I see it posing some possible ways to look at it,, but in the end, people can make up their own minds. If there’s any errors in the “math” etc, let me know and i’ll correct it or answer any questions I can. And yes, there are some portions of this dissertation that do not conform to certain conventional scientific theorems. As to the LINES, they’re extremely precise using euclidean geometry IMO, however obviously in a non-euclidean context, it would be far more complex to illustrate. in respect to the latitude of the Chile Quake and New Zealand, while slightly off by several degrees of latitude, the overall DIAGRAMS that appear are still valid and IMO, the model and essential theory is correct as well which is why there’s a CIRCLE around each of the POINTS that in the context of the ENTIRE SIZE OF EARTH, and should be within a reasonable distance for these points to show a very close approximation with curvature of earth which btw is NOT a perfect sphere! Its more an OBLATE spheroid. In fact latitude and longitude vary at certain points and grids. Degrees of latitude are parallel so the distance between each degree remains almost constant but since degrees of longitude are farthest apart at the equator and converge at the poles, their distance varies greatly. So as you move north or south of the equator, the distance between the lines of longitude gets shorter until they actually meet at the poles.

Anyways, Now that I’ve open pandoras quantum box so to speak with this, I definitely welcome any thoughts or questions because as I said, this discovery is only in its infancy stage. But I think those who take the time to consider what i’m presenting with an open mind, will see the merit or significance as well as implications in at least the very BASICS of the subject matter.

I truly hope nothing catastrophic happens around 3/22 or 9/27, but again, the evidence from just the latest PATTERN thats CREATED these ley lines, is not only OBVIOUS to anyone with a brain who takes the time to research the pattern, but the evidence is compelling to say the least. Does it mean a mega quake will occur on these next dates? NO, and I’ve explained in detail why. But I’m sure in hindsight, the people of JAPAN might have benefited and been thankful had such information like this been available before the events of 3/11/11!

The material and premise of the video transcends all ethnic, racial and religious boundaries that have divided humans and caused the suffering, and wars for millennia on this planet, so I’m not looking for any accolades other than trying to RAISE AWARENESS and PREPAREDNESS for these and other events about to occur soon, because this is not about me. Just delivering a MESSAGE so to speak.

Time will tell and Judge the merit of what i’ve presented whether or not anything seismically occurs that this discovery warns about that has far deeper significance and implications on a UNIVERSAL LEVEL when you read between the LINES no pun intended!

In the meantime I highly suggest those in major urban centers around these ley lines take this threat very seriously and at the very least make some basic emergency preparations in the next weeks and months due to major TECTONIC even POLITICAL and Financial upheaval.

The historical and geological records say the Earth and particularly the Pacific Ring of Fire will experience a 9+ magnitude quake event on March 22, 2012 @ 4:58:34 UTC where Earth axis is expected to shift 5+ inches. Earth experienced a simlar event on February 27, 2010 and March 11, 2011 and we expect the 188-day Cycle Pattern to continue. Everyone living in a seismic zone should pay careful attention to events transpiring around March 22, 2012 along with people living near the coasts.

Original March 22, 2012 Warning Video:

thebarcaroller March 22, 2012 Warning Video:

Sollarsystemscope.com: http://www.solarsystemscope.com/

USGS 2010 Chile Data: http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/recenteqsww/Quakes/us2010tfan.php

USGS 2011 Japan Data: http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eqinthenews/2011/usc0001xgp/

Terral03.com: http://terral03.com/

Download Paltalk Messenger (free): http://www.paltalk.com/

Terral’s Research Group: http://www.paltalk.com/g2/group/1388121500/

188-Day Cycle Video:

Granting legal personhood status to an entity not traditionally considered a human being has always been a legally thorny issue, not to mention its controversy in matters of public opinion. Recently, the American Association for the Advancement of Science convened for the world’s largest scientific conference in Vancouver, Canada, and the hot-button item discussed was the general consensus that cetaceans (or whales and dolphins) should have recognized rights.

The idea behind granting personhood status to these animals is that it’s been proven they possess faculties thought previously to be unique only to humans. Cetaceans have not only demonstrated an ability to think, to emote, and to form sophisticated social groups, using a sophisticated language, but they’ve also shown that they possess self-awareness. They are actually able to think about the way they think.

For example, a BBC article described how a group of dolphins was asked to pull two levers to distinguish between two almost identical sounds. They were also given the option of a third lever indicating that they found the task too difficult and wanted to pass. This, researchers argue, demonstrates that dolphins are able to assess their own thinking. Self-awareness, the ultimate human trait, is apparently not as exclusive to us humans as we have always thought.

Although it may seem like a radical idea to grant an animal the status of personhood, it definitely is more of a misnomer than anything. If cetaceans are given rights, they won’t be human rights in the way that we normally think of them. That is to say, dolphins and whales won’t be able to vote, attend school, or pay taxes, of course. Personhood for them would essentially mean that the hunting and abuse of these animals would be strictly forbidden. Since they would no longer be considered property, it would also be illegal to use them for the purposes of entertainment.

As Eric Michael Johnson of Scientific American argues, granting personhood status to nonhuman entities is nothing new. In 1886, Johnson notes, the U.S. Supreme Court granted personhood status to the Southern Pacific Railroad, which meant that this railroad was granted full 14th amendment rights under the U.S. Constitution. Since 2010, Johnson goes on to explain, the Citizens United ruling granted the same rights to all U.S. corporations. If a business can be considered a legal person, then why not whales and dolphins, who’ve shown they possess much more distinctly human traits than corporations?

What do you think? Should our cetacean brethren be granted rights that protect them from human violence?

By-line:

Mariana Ashley is a freelance writer who particularly enjoys writing about online colleges. She loves receiving reader feedback, which can be directed to mariana.ashley031 @gmail.com.

As some of you may know, I am currently volunteering my time and energy at a very special little organic farming project in the foothills of the Himalaya Mountains the North of India. At this stage the project is still in its infancy but already its receiving interest and support from the right people, which indicates a lot of growth potential. The project was founded by a very young “70 year old” man named Hari Pant. Hari and this project already have a very loyal following and he is being assisted and supported by a team of passionate foreign volunteers. At this point the farm is serving as a meeting point, where likeminded people from all over the world are coming together to learn and to share their own knowledge about sustainability, conscious living and permaculture to get the project off the ground. Very interesting and exciting for those of us that are here!

One of the project goals is to host school children, university students and educational camps to educate them in eco farming and sustainability – the project is not all that far from making this a reality. Unfortunately one of the requirements for this to materialise is electricity – which at the moment, is non-existent up on the mountain.

So this is the first part of the purpose of this mail, and where you and the power of your VOTE come in..
(Please don’t get lost just yet)

The project has been short listed in a competition where we are in line to win a grant from Mahindra for Rs.400,000 (approx $ 8,000). This prize money will help the project in getting SOLAR PANELS installed on the farm – which will take care of the energy needs involved in accommodating the future students. Electricity allows us to plough full steam ahead in promoting the project to schools, universities and other institutions. Ie, this kind of advancement is a leap in the right direction in terms of actualizing this part of the projects vision.

So those of you who resonate with this kind of project, kindly give us a vote – its really easy (ok, there are a few clicks involved but still super simple)!

I would really appreciate your vote/ support!!!
1) Click on the link – http://bit.ly/VoteHFP

2) Then click the vote button

3) A window will open – {LOGIN AND VOTE} using your Facebook account.

4) Voila – REALLY EASY!!

The next part of this mail, is more of an open invitation to those of you who are/ have been involved in projects like this or live off the grid permanently to feel free to share your experiences, thoughts, recommendations, assistance, volunteers, joys, campfire songs whatever. Ie. We welcome your interest and input. Also, you’re more than welcome to share this mail with your eco-orientated databases.

At this point much of what gets done on the farm depends largely on the type volunteers we receive and the skills they have. Functions like website management, marketing, administration etc take a back seat when volunteers and resources are focusing on construction/ development up on the farm so any help or suggestions for solutions in these areas would also be greatly appreciated too!

If this project has sparked a little bit of interest in you please:

* Check out our brand new website
* Join The Himalayan Farm Project on Facebook (click here)
* Read the latest blog (click here)
* Discover our work with the Bhagirath Pande Charitable Trust (click here)
* Take the time to explore the great work of our partner KORAKOR (click here)

I will be posting some more pictures of the farm and the AMAZING surrounding scenery very soon!

If you would like to know more or just send us a love-letter please pop us a mail either at:
himalayanfarmer@gmail.com

or my personal email is ok too – donna.leigh101@gmail.com

So from the bottom of my heart I thank you for taking the time to vote for this little project. I look forward to seeing you all when Im home – Im sure we’ll have loads to talk about!

A few last words about Hari and the project –

Spread over a 5 acre farm and run by an all-volunteer team, at a base level the Farm aims to:

- Be an experimental farm centre for renewable energy, green architecture and low cost organic agriculture;
- Share ideas and learn about traditional farming with the local community;
- Attract the youth and expose them to an alternative and healthier way of living and caring for the planet;
- Inspire young people to consider farming as a vocation

What made this project so special and unique to me is the father of the project. After spending some time observing Hari, its clear he is deeply sincere and kind, a humble and conscious man who is clearly very respected by his community. He has lead and personally funded a number of community enhancing projects.

Before the local hospital could afford its own ambulance, Hari had taken it upon himself to buy and operate a small and basic ambulance, which is still in use today. He also sponsored heated spinal beds to the hospital and continues to pay the salary of the operator. Just so the local mountain people can have some relief! Nice guy huh?

His willingness to learn and perseverance in gaining the skills and knowledge needed to get this project off the ground is infectious and inspirational. I believe the impact of people like Hari and these kind of projects can ripple far and wide, if we allow them to – we allow them, by nurturing and supporting their growth in whichever small way we can…

“The earth does not belong to men; men belong to the earth.”
~ Sri Aurobindo

Kind Regards,
Donna-Leigh Baird

4 Rhodes Ave Vereeniging
083 387 3696
016 455 4620
donna.leigh101@gmail.com

The Saronde Centre

Presents

African Musical Mandalas

Through making music together in groups we allow our energy to work with the mandala of wholeness or unity represented by the combined musical efforts of a group. The sounds, rhythms and movements coordinate our energies with ourselves and each other.

This interactive workshop is on African musical forms, techniques, philosophies and instruments, including the following:

1. Ugandan Amadinda – Royal Court music from Uganda, a pentatonic multiple player xylophone played with drums, percussion, singers and dancers.

2. Mbira dza vadzimu– The deep spirit instrument of the Shona of Zimbabwe. Sometimes called a ‘thumb piano’. Mostly triple time music weaving beautiful cyclical musical mandalas. Expect to learn basic dance steps, drum style, “hosho” shaker techniques, songs.

3. Kalimba – the grandfather of the mbira, shorter musical cycles than the Mbira, a good starter instrument.

4. Drums and percussion.

5. Panpipes – A more technically challenging ensemble music from Mozambique combining highly coordinated singing, dancing and pipe playing.

6. Kundi – pentatonic harp from Central African Republic

7. uHadi Bow – a xhosa instrument using the unique overtone system of sounds.

The method of transcribing rhythm with pulse notation will be explained and used in the workshop. Please bring a lined notebook and pen.

This workshop is designed to be informative, interactive, accessible and fun. It will however only dip into the large amount of information available. Classes can be arranged through the year for those who would like to go further.

Participants are welcome to walk on the property’s beautiful nature reserve, go to the waterfall, have a picnic lunch and take their time after the workshop.

CD’s available from the ILAM collection @ R130.

The presenter, Geoffrey Tracey, son of Andrew and grandson of Hugh, is the third generation of his family whose work is with African Music and Culture. He has been around music all his life and is an accomplished multi instrumentalist. He has a Bmus from UKZN and has taught African music ensembles and voice production at UKZN and Rhodes for 15 years. He has also taught internationally in the UK, USA and Australia. He is trained and works as a sangoma and manages the Saronde Centre development.

Space is limited, so booking is essential.
When: Sat 28th January, 10.30am – 1pm.
Where: Saronde, near Krugersdorp.
Cost: R100pp
Contact: Geoffrey Tracey, 082 565 9697, 011 665 4350, gogohugh@gmail.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/286138434775823/

More info: The International Library of African Music www.ilam.ru.ac.za,
The instrument factory – African Musical Instruments www.kalimba.co.za,
The Saronde Centre www.thesarondecentre.wordpress.com