My Blog

Millions of lives at stake' in Darfur

Kostana — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 12:57:25 GMT

While the world keeps turning and we cry about our own economic woes in this country, and while the Republicans keep trying to block any move to do anything about it, these headlines quietly slip by unnoticed. While the lives of hundreds of thousands of Dafuris are at risk, Omar al-Bashir has kicked out the IRC and Oxfam - and 11 other agencies so far - from administering aid to the many at risk in Sudan. This is unacceptable. Did we learn nothing from Nazi Germany? How long will we let this go on? How long will we placate China? I urge you - if you give a damn at all about the innocent lives of little girls raped by soldiers, and women who have lost their husbands and seen their own babies thrown into fires and their villages destroyed. If you believe that racism is wrong - if you believe that crimes against humanity are wrong - STOP BUYING from China! They are the number one source of income and weapons for Sudan because of their trade with Sudan for oil. Please tell the world. No one seems to be listening. Read Tears from the Desert - I highly recommend it. While you go about your day today - whatever suffering or trouble you may experience. I urge you to think of what it might be like to die of starvation after so many years of struggle. To watch your children die of starvation and to be utterly helpless to stop it. DO SOMETHING! Write your congressman, lend a hand to someone you know personally who is in trouble, pass the word on to others about what is happening, join a protest, and above all - don't buy from China! From thestar.com: "During a catastrophic six-year war, more than 100,000 people in Sudan's Darfur region have lost their lives to violence. But humanitarian agencies say more are now at risk of a silent death from deprivation and disease, after the expulsion of international aid groups that supply half the region's needs. Yesterday, Sudanese President Omar Bashir – now a wanted war crimes suspect – held a defiant celebration in Khartoum as his government expelled 13 international aid groups responsible for food, shelter and health care in the western Darfur area. Bashir, gyrating to bursts of nationalist music outside the Republican Palace, told thousands of cheering supporters Sudan was refusing to "kneel to colonialism" by rejecting the warrant from the International Criminal Court, and he insisted Sudan had been targeted because of its oil and natural resources. But humanitarian groups said he was dancing on the graves of Darfur's traumatized people, who are already at risk of starvation and epidemics, many of them living in dangerous conditions in camps for displaced people. The average life expectancy in Sudan is 50, and many children die before age 5. "Millions of lives are at stake and this is no time to play political games," said Tawanda Hondora of Amnesty International's Africa Program. "By expelling humanitarian agencies, the Sudanese government is effectively holding the entire civilian population of Darfur hostage." Amnesty warns that some 2.2 million people are at risk without adequate aid. The United Nations says the figure is up to 1.5 million – the number of Darfur people dependent on aid for basic health care, food and drinking water. Sudanese officials accuse the aid groups of "working outside their mandate" by sending information on alleged atrocities to The Hague-based court. They say the expulsion is final, and other groups may follow. Darfur advocates were outraged at Bashir's draconian retaliation, although Sudanese officials had warned aid groups might be targeted. "It's a very significant escalation, and one the UN can't ignore," said John Norris, executive director of the Enough Project, which campaigns against genocide and crimes against humanity. "This really throws down the gauntlet to the international community." He urged the UN Security Council to authorize the UN and African Union peacekeeping force in Darfur, backed up by air power, to deliver aid "by all necessary means," if Bashir fails to cancel the expulsion order. China and the African Union countries have taken a different tack. They are urging the council to suspend the arrest warrant against Bashir for a year to give the sputtering Darfur peace process a chance. The United States and its allies reject the plea, and say they would veto such a move."

Act NOW to keep arts funding in the economic stimulus package!

Kostana — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 00:58:24 GMT

This is being passed around by my colleagues and advocates for the arts. Please feel free to pass along! NEA funding is under attack and we need to act and act now -- not just for this stimulus package, but to put these false arguments to rest once and for all. The arts are part of the solution! The arts are a powerful economic engine and play a vital role in our communities, enhancing each of our lives. Get the facts, not the spin! Let’s keep and increase arts funding in the stimulus package! Here are ten reasons why the arts should matter to you. 1) Increased funding in the arts invests in an industry that supports jobs, generates government revenue, is the cornerstone of tourism and economic development, and drives a creativity-based economy. 2) Nonprofit arts organizations and their audiences generate $166.2 billion in economic activity every year. 3) Nonprofit arts organizations return nearly $30 billion in government revenue every year. 4) Nonprofit arts organizations and their audiences support 5.7 million jobs. 5) Investment in non-profit arts generates a spectacular 7:1 return on investment. That is, $1 invested in the arts generated $7 in the community. $50 million to the NEA (National Endowment for the Arts) would generate $3.5 billion in economic activity. 6) The arts are shovel-ready – each dollar of arts funding goes to work immediately creating jobs, attracting investment, generating tax revenue, and stimulating local economies through tourism and consumer purchases. 7) Artists constitute a sizeable class of workers -- only slightly smaller than the total number of active-duty and reserve personnel in the U.S. military. 8) The performing arts draw more attendance than sports. 70% of Americans attend at least one performing arts event per year versus 53% that attend one sports event. 9) Children who receive an arts education on a regular basis are more likely to be recognized for academic achievement and less likely to engage in delinquent behavior. 10) A strong arts and culture sector and a creative workforce attract and keep businesses in the community - it is one of the top ten attributes corporations look for in a new business site. The arts are not “pork spending” -- even if you are not an arts patron, the money spent on non-profit arts funding benefits you. The money allocated for the National Endowment for the Arts represents less than 1% of the proposed economic stimulus package. The arts are part of the solution! Take action now! Write your congressmen in under 5 minutes! Click here: http://theperformingartsalliance.org/campaign/AmericanRecoveryandReinvestmentBill *Research comes from Americans for the Arts, the National Governors Association, the National Endowment for the Arts and the Performing Arts Research Coalition

Victory!

Kostana — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 02:57:30 GMT

What an awesome night! Obama wins! Prop 2 passes in California! Massachusetts bans greyhound racing! The Abortion bans FAILED to pass and the Colorado ballot question about defining a personhood from the fertilized egg is defeated! All in all a good day, except for gays....Unfortunately gay marriage is defeated in CA, FL, and Arizona, and Arkansas banned gay rights to adopt and foster children. Let's keep working on changing that one folks! Still, I think we're headed towards equal rights for EVERYONE! And I have hope that with Obama elected we will all be better off and there is hope for the future, but we can't stop working now. It's not just on Obama's shoulders to change the world. We all need to pitch in! I am - (after many years of not being) - proud to be American today..... More coming soon on my experience working with the Obama campaign! It was incredible! Peace!

My last blog post

Kostana — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 21:49:20 GMT

on the elections at least... VOTE PEOPLE!!!!! No excuses!!! If you need a ride to the polls, call your polling place! If anyone tries to interfere with your right to vote, REPORT IT! The past week has seen a barage of nasty lies coming out of the ugly McCain Palin campaign. I still have hope for positive change. I still believe we can win if people are not ruled by fear, lies, and blatant racism. I truly believe no matter who wins, the economy will recover over time, although McCain's plan obviously benefits the wealthy, while Obama's plan benefits the middle class. The truly scary thing is that If McCain/Palin win, we will face the most conservative Supreme Court in our history and we begin to lose the precious freedom this country was founded on. Please, if you are still undecided, don't make a decision based on tv ads and mailings. Go to the candidates' websites and you will clearly see their views on all the important issues. If you don't know where to vote, go to the State Board of Elections in your state: For instance, in Virginia, it's www.sbe.virginia.gov Peace be with you all!

More Obama

Kostana — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 17:14:11 GMT

This is the family I want to see in the White House!

It is a truly sad day in American Politics

Kostana — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 17:13:11 GMT

I received the hate mail from the John McCain campaign today with photos of Bill Ayers all over it - tying him to Obama - falling just short of calling Obama himself a terrorist. I called the Republican Party of VA immediately, told them to drop me from their list, and that I was truly ashamed that they are now resorting to lies and smear campaigns. I can't say I'm surprised, since I've seen the same tactics used in the local community to hurt people. But I think it's a sad day in American politics when those we hold in the highest office resort to these sort of desperate, ugly tactics. I'm wondering if Obama could sue for slander - the flyer is THAT BAD (although I'm sure their rich, fancy lawyers made sure it was barely legal). I'm saddened that people will be influenced by this kind of trash. I've lost any respect I ever had for John McCain, as he has now shown his true colors. It's time for real change folks, and the truth is that only one candidate is offering it. I hope dearly that Obama wins. I have the greatest respect for him and for Michelle. I think it would be a refreshing change to have them in the White House. The only thing McCain's hate mail did for me, was make me rush to donate another $25 to the Obama campaign - and I don't even have steady work right now. But my future - the future of our country - the future of our natural resources - the future of women's rights as human beings - depends on it. I urge you - if you care about any of these things - to get involved. I'm going to go make phonecalls for the Obama campaign today. And I hate phones. But if it makes one more person vote, it will be worth my doing something that makes me uncomfortable. I do not believe there has been a more important election than this one during my lifetime. Get educated and go vote. And talk to your friends about it. So many people are misinformed. And for those women ignorant enough to believe that Roe Vs. Wade can't be overturned, refer them to this site. You can see where your state already stands.... http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/elections/elections2008/

WHY WOMEN SHOULD VOTE

Kostana — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 12:40:46 GMT

This was passed on to me in 2 separate emails by great women I know, and I thought it important enough to post here, because this election can be determined by the large numbers of women who have not yet decided who to vote for (unbelievable to me since our own freedoms are on the line in this election - remember ladies the next president may appoint up to 3 Supreme Court Justices this next term who we will be stuck with FOR life!). I might add that there is only one candidate that cares about our human rights & equal pay and that is Barack Obama..... This is the story of our Grandmothers and Great-grandmothers; they lived only 90 years ago. Remember, it was not until 1920 that women were granted the right to go to the polls and vote. The women were innocent and defenseless, but they were jailed nonetheless for picketing the White House, carrying signs asking for the vote. And by the end of the night, they were barely alive. Forty prison guards, wielding clubs and their warden's blessing, went on a rampage against the 33 women wrongly convicted of 'obstructing sidewalk traffic.' They beat Lucy Burns, chained her hands to the cell bars above her head and left her hanging for the night, bleeding and gasping for air. They hurled Dora Lewis into a dark cell, smashed her head against an iron bed and knocked her out cold. Her cellmate, Alice Cosu, thought Lewis was dead and suffered a heart attack. Additional affidavits describe the guards grabbing, dragging, beating, choking, slamming, pinching, twisting and kicking the women. Thus unfolded the'Night of Terror' on November 15, 1917, when the warden at the Occoquan Workhouse in Virginia ordered his guards to teach a lesson to the suffragists imprisoned there because they dared to picket Woodrow Wilson's White House for the right to vote. For weeks, the women's only water came from an open pail. Their food -- all of it colorless slop -- was infested with worms. When one of the leaders, Alice Paul, embarked on a hunger strike, they tied her to a chair, forced a tube down her throat and poured liquid into her until she vomited. She was tortured like this for weeks until word was smuggled out to the press. So, refresh my memory. Some women won't vote this year because -- why, exactly? We have carpool duties? We have to get to work? Our vote doesn't matter? It's raining? Last week, I went to a sparsely attended screening of HBO's new movie 'Iron Jawed Angels.' It is a graphic depiction of the battle these women waged so that I could pull the curtain at the polling booth and have my say. I am ashamed to say I needed the reminder. All these years later, voter registration is still my passion. But the actual act of voting had become less personal for me, more rote. Frankly, voting often felt more like an obligation than a privilege. Sometimes it was inconvenient. My friend Wendy, who is my age and studied women's history, saw the HBO movie, too. When she stopped by my desk to talk about it, she looked angry. She was -- with herself. 'One thought kept coming back to me as I watched that movie,' she said. 'What would those women think of the way I use, or don't use, my right to vote? All of us take it for granted now, not just younger women, but those of us who did seek to learn.' The right to vote, she said, had become valuable to her 'all over again.' HBO released the movie on video and DVD. I wish all history, social studies and government teachers would include the movie in their curriculum. I want it shown on Bunco night, too, and anywhere else women gather. I realize this isn't our usual idea of socializing, but we are not voting in the numbers that we should be, and I think a little shock therapy is in order. It is jarring to watch Woodrow Wilson and his cronies try to persuade a psychiatrist to declare Alice Paul insane so that she could be permanently institutionalized. And it is inspiring to watch the doctor refuse. Alice Paul was strong, he said, and brave. That didn't make her crazy. The doctor admonished the men: 'Courage in women is often mistaken for insanity.' Please, if you are so inclined, pass this on to all the women you know. We need to get out and vote and use this right that was fought so hard for by these very courageous women. Whether you vote democratic, republican or independent party -- remember to vote. History is being made.

Please read this...

Kostana — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 13:05:51 GMT

This is from the Huffington Post, and Eve Ensler says it much better than I did... "Drill, Drill, Drill" "I am having Sarah Palin nightmares. I dreamt last night that she was a member of a club where they rode snowmobiles and wore the claws of drowned and starved polar bears around their necks. I have a particular thing for Polar Bears. Maybe it's their snowy whiteness or their bigness or the fact that they live in the arctic or that I have never seen one in person or touched one. Maybe it is the fact that they live so comfortably on ice. Whatever it is, I need the polar bears. I don't like raging at women. I am a Feminist and have spent my life trying to build community, help empower women and stop violence against them. It is hard to write about Sarah Palin. This is why the Sarah Palin choice was all the more insidious and cynical. The people who made this choice count on the goodness and solidarity of Feminists. But everything Sarah Palin believes in and practices is antithetical to Feminism which for me is part of one story -- connected to saving the earth, ending racism, empowering women, giving young girls options, opening our minds, deepening tolerance, and ending violence and war. I believe that the McCain/Palin ticket is one of the most dangerous choices of my lifetime, and should this country chose those candidates the fall-out may be so great, the destruction so vast in so many areas that America may never recover. But what is equally disturbing is the impact that duo would have on the rest of the world. Unfortunately, this is not a joke. In my lifetime I have seen the clownish, the inept, the bizarre be elected to the presidency with regularity. Sarah Palin does not believe in evolution. I take this as a metaphor. In her world and the world of Fundamentalists nothing changes or gets better or evolves. She does not believe in global warming. The melting of the arctic, the storms that are destroying our cities, the pollution and rise of cancers, are all part of God's plan. She is fighting to take the polar bears off the endangered species list. The earth, in Palin's view, is here to be taken and plundered. The wolves and the bears are here to be shot and plundered. The oil is here to be taken and plundered. Iraq is here to be taken and plundered. As she said herself of the Iraqi war, "It was a task from God." Sarah Palin does not believe in abortion. She does not believe women who are raped and incested and ripped open against their will should have a right to determine whether they have their rapist's baby or not. She obviously does not believe in sex education or birth control. I imagine her daughter was practicing abstinence and we know how many babies that makes. Sarah Palin does not much believe in thinking. From what I gather she has tried to ban books from the library, has a tendency to dispense with people who think independently. She cannot tolerate an environment of ambiguity and difference. This is a woman who could and might very well be the next president of the United States. She would govern one of the most diverse populations on the earth. Sarah believes in guns. She has her own custom Austrian hunting rifle. She has been known to kill 40 caribou at a clip. She has shot hundreds of wolves from the air. Sarah believes in God. That is of course her right, her private right. But when God and Guns come together in the public sector, when war is declared in God's name, when the rights of women are denied in his name, that is the end of separation of church and state and the undoing of everything America has ever tried to be. I write to my sisters. I write because I believe we hold this election in our hands. This vote is a vote that will determine the future not just of the U.S., but of the planet. It will determine whether we create policies to save the earth or make it forever uninhabitable for humans. It will determine whether we move towards dialogue and diplomacy in the world or whether we escalate violence through invasion, undermining and attack. It will determine whether we go for oil, strip mining, coal burning or invest our money in alternatives that will free us from dependency and destruction. It will determine if money gets spent on education and healthcare or whether we build more and more methods of killing. It will determine whether America is a free open tolerant society or a closed place of fear, fundamentalism and aggression. If the Polar Bears don't move you to go and do everything in your power to get Obama elected then consider the chant that filled the hall after Palin spoke at the RNC, "Drill Drill Drill." I think of teeth when I think of drills. I think of rape. I think of destruction. I think of domination. I think of military exercises that force mindless repetition, emptying the brain of analysis, doubt, ambiguity or dissent. I think of pain. Do we want a future of drilling? More holes in the ozone, in the floor of the sea, more holes in our thinking, in the trust between nations and peoples, more holes in the fabric of this precious thing we call life?"

A REAL Heroine! (Just my opinion)

Kostana — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 01:22:39 GMT

I watched the Democratic Convention and most of the Republican. I was struck by Obama's clear plan and the positive actions that came out of the Dem's convention. All I heard from the Republicans were chants of "USA, USA", lots of negative bashing of "liberals" (I still don't understand how we got such a bad name - when we stand for freedom for all), Sarah Palin's lies, and of course John McCain's promise that "I'm a war hero and I'll fight for you". Am I the only one who is sick of war, and doesn't think that fighting for your country necessarily makes you a good leader? Personally, I'd rather have someone leading the country who knows how to make peace. Is anyone else tired of the war rhetoric? I also take huge issue with the Republicans basically saying, "John's a war hero and Palin is a woman, so you can't criticize us". Palin should be treated like any other candidate - not give special treatment because she's a woman (I'm a lifelong feminist by the way). I think as voters & citizens we're entitled to know who she is, what she stands for, and how she'd govern if McCain kicks the bucket while in office. Quite frankly she frightens me. The only thing worse than a man taking away a woman's freedoms, is a woman taking away a woman's freedoms. Wake up people. Palin is an extremist with extreme religious views she feels should govern our Constitution. She does not believe in abortion even for victims of rape and incest. BTW - Alaska has the highest rate of rape cases in the United States - mostly among native women, who may not even be Christian or share her beliefs about when life begins. She's also a lifetime member of the NRA and supports the aerial shooting of wolves - something I've fought long and hard against! This election is critical - before you vote (and I hope you are exercising that right), please consider the fact that whoever becomes President will affect the make-up of our Supreme Court - to me, perhaps the MOST important issue at hand. I have the utmost respect for people of every religion, and I also respect that this is a nation of many religions, and those who have no religion at all. However, I do not believe religion belongs in government. That's what our forefathers fought against. I cannot imagine sending the United States back 100 years and dismantling all the hard work of all the feminists who came before and fought for our right to vote and our right to make personal decisions about our own sex life and health. Before you vote, please consider the REAL ISSUES at hand, not whether or not someone has 5 children or how pretty they are or even what sex or color they are. None of these things should be considered in deciding who will be President and Vice President. I am appalled that Palin uses the "sexist" argument when people question her ability to govern. It has nothing to do with her sex. I will say, however, that perhaps, if she believed in sex education, her daughter might not be pregnant, and if she believed in stem cell research, perhaps we could find a cure for Downs Syndrome. So, before you go to the polls, make sure you understand what is at risk. Our freedom, our environment, our future. Directly from the McCain website: "John McCain believes Roe v. Wade is a flawed decision that must be overturned, and as president he will nominate judges who understand that courts should not be in the business of legislating from the bench. However, the reversal of Roe v. Wade represents only one step in the long path toward ending abortion. Once the question is returned to the states, the fight for life will be one of courage and compassion - the courage of a pregnant mother to bring her child into the world and the compassion of civil society to meet her needs and those of her newborn baby. The pro-life movement has done tremendous work in building and reinforcing the infrastructure of civil society by strengthening faith-based, community, and neighborhood organizations that provide critical services to pregnant mothers in need. This work must continue and government must find new ways to empower and strengthen these armies of compassion. These important groups can help build the consensus necessary to end abortion at the state level. As John McCain has publicly noted, "At its core, abortion is a human tragedy. To effect meaningful change, we must engage the debate at a human level." And for those who believe all who make a commitment to love each other should be able to marry: "As president, John McCain would nominate judges who understand that the role of the Court is not to subvert the rights of the people by legislating from the bench. Critical to Constitutional balance is ensuring that, where state and local governments do act to preserve the traditional family, the Courts must not overstep their authority and thwart the Constitutional right of the people to decide this question. The family represents the foundation of Western Civilization and civil society and John McCain believes the institution of marriage is a union between one man and one woman. It is only this definition that sufficiently recognizes the vital and unique role played by mothers and fathers in the raising of children, and the role of the family in shaping, stabilizing, and strengthening communities and our nation." Get involved. Get the facts. VOTE!

The Most Important Blog Post I will perhaps ever write….

Kostana — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 03:22:22 GMT

I have strong political views (at least about things that are truly important) and was brought up by parents who were always involved at both the local and national level in politics. Parents who taught me that our right to vote is one of the most important and valueable choices we have. While I am not one to normally share my political views with others, I believe now is one of those times when it is of the utmost importance. I have been watching the Democratic Convention for past 3 nights and have been moved – particularly by Michelle Obama, Hilary, Joe Kerry, Bill, and Biden….. On my recent trip, I finished reading “Kabul in Winter” by Ann Jones. I highly recommend it to EVERYONE. What does that have to do with the presidential election? Ann is an excellent and articulate writer and I could not put her book down. She gives honest and accurate information on how responsible the United States is for the situation in Afghanistan as well as our complete and utter lack of concern for women there and elsewhere. Why are we always the last to be seen as worthy of human rights? Neither religion nor political agenda are valid excuses or justification for subjugating, imprisoning, raping, murdering, or torturing women. If you value your rights as a woman, the power to make your own personal decisions regarding your own physical body, the right to make equal pay and to be treated equally in any and all manners, you must vote Obama If you care about real justice and don’t want our Supreme Court to be aligned completely to the RIGHT, you must vote Obama…. If you value the earth that supports us, nourishes us and sustains us, If you are concerned about gas prices, our dependency on oil, global warming, & factory farming, you must vote Obama If you care about how your tax dollars are spent on foreign aid and want to repair the damage to our international reputation, & to make amends to the people who have suffered greatly at the hands of the mujahadeen and the Taliban who we armed and trained, then you must vote Obama If you care about the economy and don’t want our jobs sent over seas, if you care about national security, if you are sick of tax breaks for the rich, if you have no health care and want a better system, then you must vote Obama. Enough said.

Downeast Maine was incredible!

Kostana — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 13:56:56 GMT

I'm trying to get back into the swing of things and prepared to teach Turkish Romani dance at camp this weekend after a truly incredible and inspiring trip away from it all - with my sister - in Maine. We went to Cutler and did the 10 mile Bold Coast Trail (4.5 miles in pouring rain!!!!), staed wiht lovely hosts at a cute B&B in Cutler Harbor, visited Lubec and Eastport, biked the carriage trails in Acadia National Park, ate seafood in Bar Harbor, went swimming in Echo lake, whale watching in the Bay of Fundy, hiked Indian Blagden Point (& got eaten alive by noseeums) and tried sea kayaking for the first time. I loved it and did not want to leave. Aaahhhh, I miss the Coastal life... someday. I can only hope to return to that life.

More Tragedy in Afghanistan

Kostana — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 12:04:35 GMT

This is profoundly sad. I just went to the Afghan exhibit in the National Gallery on Sunday. It was quite amazing. To read this now is a reminder of how much we screwed up there, and how much the people are still suffering: "Four International Rescue Committee Aid Workers Killed in Afghanistan 13 Aug 2008 - Four International Rescue Committee aid workers were killed this morning in an ambush in Logar Province in Afghanistan. They include three international staff members, all women - a British-Canadian, a Canadian and a Trinidadian American - and an Afghan driver. Another Afghan driver was critically wounded. They were traveling to Kabul in a clearly marked International Rescue Committee vehicle when they came under fire. The IRC has contacted family members and will provide additional information later. "We are stunned and profoundly saddened by this tragic loss," says George Rupp, president of the International Rescue Committee. "These extraordinary individuals were deeply committed to aiding the people of Afghanistan, especially the children who have seen so much strife. Words are inadequate to express our sympathy for the families and loved ones of the victims and our devoted team of humanitarian aid workers in Afghanistan." The International Rescue Committee has suspended its humanitarian aid programs in Afghanistan indefinitely. The IRC has been working in Afghanistan for 20 years, providing lifesaving aid and recovery assistance to the Afghan people." - from the IRC website

Darfur Olympics

Kostana — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 00:01:56 GMT

I want to share this link because it's so important to me. If you feel the same, please pass it on. Don't let people forget that genocide continues today while we do nothing.... This site gives an alternative to watching the Olympics and also tells you which corporate sponsors are supporting them: http://www.switchovertodarfur.org *Warning: Controversial Content! Don't watch this at work!

I'm selling my wedding gown

Kostana — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 23:57:30 GMT

Worn only once! Professionally cleaned and boxed with certificate of guarantee form the cleaner... Gown is 100% Polyester Satin with beaded lace overlay, tiny buttons down the back, & beaded spaghetti straps. By Maggie Sottero Couture The gown is a size 6. Approximate length from just under the bust to the floor is 46.5 inches. For pictures, please visit: http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk156/kostanadancer/IMG_0290.jpg http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk156/kostanadancer/IMG_0294.jpg http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk156/kostanadancer/IMG_0403.jpg http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk156/kostanadancer/IMG_0404.jpg http://i279.photobucket.com/albums/kk156/kostanadancer/IMG_0469.jpg Note: Veil and gloves are NOT included. My mother made the veil for me, and I purchased the gloves separately from a bridal store online. For more information or to make an appt. to see the dress, please email me at kostanadanceratyahoodotcom. I'd love for it to go to someone I know and like!!!!!

Summer reading

Kostana — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 20:33:44 GMT

I just finished "Merle's Door" by Ted Kerasote, and bawled my eyes out (warning: must have kleenex for last 2 chapters if you are a dog owner). Ted's writing about the death of his dog was so personal that it took me back to the day I had to make a decision to put my own dog down, my best friend, the most painful day in my life. It's amazing how reading someone else's experience can take you back to that raw moment - that separation of 2 friends who have shared a love so intimate and pure I'm not sure it can be compared to human love. He expounded on many of the things i so often think to myself, such as why cant' dogs live as long as turtles and parrots? They are such perfect beings. such true friends. my current dog, bailey makes friends with everyone who passes through our doors. no one can resist his sweetness! I am not a person who believes in heaven or hell. For me heaven could be no greater than being cuddled next to my sweet dog on a beautiful day. There could be no heaven for me anywhere that did not include all of my dogs. (Bailey loves to point out that "dog" is after all, god spelled backwards!) Anyway, I highly recommend the book to dog lovers. OTher great reads include: 1) The Good Pig by Sy Montgomery - my favorite so far... and 2) THirteen Moons by Charles Frazier "A dog comes to you and lives with you in your own house, but you do not therefore own her, as you do not own the rain, or the trees, or the laws which pertain to them... ...A dog can never tell you what she knows from the smells of the world, but you know, watching her that you know almost nothing..." -Mary Oliver

Inspiration

Kostana — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 03:03:23 GMT

A friend just passed this on to me, and I love it! Pretty much embodies my philosophy in life.... maybe if we were all doing this, we wouldn't have time for war and killing the environment around us... it's a must-see! very uplifting! http://www.wherethehellismatt.com/videos.shtml?fbid=242TD

In Memory of...

Kostana — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 13:03:11 GMT

George Carlin http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MrXvDXVhqfU a laugh for today in his memory.... WARNING: it is full of profanity and controversy. might not want to play it at work. he will be missed. thanks for the laughs George.......

Into the Wild

Kostana — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 01:47:57 GMT

So, I finally saw this movie. Read the book awhile ago. Strange timing as it arrived from my netflix queue the same day I was involved in 2 conversations about my "old life" when I used to rock climb, canoe, mountain bike and hike with my dear friend Cara. I miss those days - when "truth" was pure and simple. I've lived for very short periods "in the wild" - not as primitive as Chris McCandless, but pretty close to the earth - and I miss it. There's a great comfort in knowing that nature provides for all things we could ever want or need - at least if we don't kill her. Tonight, I light a candle for the spirit of Chris McCandless. Whatever people thought of him - what he did - I think he was just a good kid with a pure heart living the best way any of us possibly could - away from the temptations and corruption of society. I envision dying that way someday. Just walking out into the wilderness and surviving as long as I can until the air, the earth, the fire, the water washes over me, engulfs me and sets me free from the pain of suffering. Oh - and I had to edit this post to say - I think Sean Penn is a brilliant director. He did such an amazing job with this film....and I don't know if he did all the casting or not, but whoever did made great choices. I highly recommend it!

The week in re-cap

Kostana — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 02:54:44 GMT

So much going on I've wanted to blog about, so I thought I"d make it brief and include what affected me most this week (good & bad): Hilary stepped down, Bo Diddley died - they did a great tribute to him on Prairie Home Companion; unfortunately, I found out that a good friend has cancer, on a lighter note - I finished reading "The Good, Good Pig" - great book, I started "Snow Flower and the Secret Fan", saw a great interview with Susan Wicklund, had an amazing class with Faten, the words to "Woman is the Nigger of the World" have been on my mind a great deal lately... been learning new Turkish folkdances with Burhan Aydogdu and feeling so fortunate to work with some really amazing women in Kardelen folkdance troupe - they are such an accomplished and lovely group of people! still hoping my feet will last awhile longer...my left foot is pretty much in constant pain now. spending every extra second of my day with the best dog on earth who reminds me of what is truly important.... a good butt scratch and a bellyrub... nothing else really matters - it's a zen thing

Herdeljezi Romani Dance & Music Festival - COMING SOON!

Kostana — Fri, 09 May 2008 01:09:40 GMT

Come join us next weekend for fun, awesome classes and wonderful music! We've added free kid's activities this year too! Plus it's Seido's birthday, AND we have a new addition to our extended musical family - baby Aleksander Weiner! So there's lots to celebrate! AND we're raising money for Reyhan Tuzsuz's family to find a new home in Turkey as their Romani neighborhood is being destroyed. So, c'mon out have fun and support a good cause! There's also an additional workshop with Reyhan on Sunday, May 18 at 11am-1pm. See website below for details. Check us out being all cultural and everything on Cultural Tourism DC! http://www.culturaltourismdc.org/calendar2532/calendar_show.htm?doc_id=221778 Or on our own site: www.wmfolklifecenter.org/annual_festival07

Another One Bites the Dust

Kostana — Fri, 09 May 2008 01:03:40 GMT

So, Nader's in Fredericksburg, one of my favorite places to dance (well-paid, well-treated) is closing. I wish Nader and his family all the best, though I am sorry to see them close and will miss performing there - a great place with zero drama. I keep thinking this is yet another sign to me to call it "quits". Yet, I also had my best performance ever when Souhail and Rachid were here. Their music was so inspiring. Maybe I should go out while on top of my game? Not stick around like the Rolling Stones dancing when I'm gray haired and broken? I'm already heading that direction. I fell down the metro escalator today! For a dancer I truly have no grace. But in my defense it was quite slippery. Feeling very bruised right now. And have a big gig tomorrow night. Aaahhhh the dance goes on.

Dhoom 2

Kostana — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 03:30:46 GMT

Ok who has seen this film? This has got to be the corniest film I have ever seen...albeit with the most beautiful people in the world in it. I mean c'mon is there anybody prettier than Hrithik Roshan? Maybe Aishwarya Rai... Anyway it reminded me of James Bond meets Fame meets a really bad cheesy MTV video from the 80's. too incredibly hilarious. I bet it would be really cool to watch stoned.... might add some depth at least. well, I admit - it was worth it wasting a few hours of my precious time just to watch this guy in complete hedonistic fantasy (is hedonistic a word???)

Check out our article on Bhuz!

Kostana — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 20:04:29 GMT

Yay! http://www.bhuz.com/forum/vbnews.php Photos by the way are by Roger Wood (at Taste of Morocco) and Margaret Loomis (at Balktoberfest)

A letter to my friends

Kostana — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 17:39:17 GMT

May 17 is shaping up to be a big day full of events. Between Tribal Fest, Raquia Hassan, and Herdeljezi Festival among other wonderful events there is so much to choose from! We are working really hard to make this year's Herdeljezi Romani (Gypsy) Dance & Music Festival even better than last year's! About the only complaint we heard last year was the tile floor in the church we rented was too hard for dancing all day.... SO, we rented the Hearst Auditorium in the National Cathedral School this year with beautiful wood floors, as well as their Proctor Gym (also wood flooring). Our lineup includes Turkish Romani dance with Reyhan Tuzsuz, Rajasthani Kalbeliya and Spanish Flamenco with Amy Luna Manderino of Shuvani in California, special guest Sani Rifati of Voice of Roma and perennial favorites Steve and Susie Kotansky teaching Romani dances from various regions including Greece, Bulgaria and Hungary. We also have Romani percussion classes with Seido, Sidqi, N. Scott Robinson and Amy Luna, Clarinet, Cimbus and Romani singing classes have been added AND we have a free children's story and craft hour in the afternoon! It costs so much money to put on a festival, and I am truly hoping we are able to make above our costs this year. As many of you know, we try to raise money for various charities at some of our events. After festival expenses are met this year, we are hoping to have enough money to help the Tuzsuz family relocate. They are losing their home, as the Romani village in Gazi Osman Pasa is being dismantled. I saw it when I was there - both the home next to Reyhan's and in front of it were being destroyed (above is a picture). I can only imagine what it looks like now. So, for those of you who have always wanted to learn Turkish Romani dance from a true Rom dancer with a big heart, I hope you will come out and support not only our festival but our efforts to help her find a new home for her family. Please pass the word on. You can download flyers at our website: www.wmfolklifecenter.org With so many wonderful classes to choose from, you can learn alot in a day, and at the same time support a great cause and make a difference in a very special lady's life. I also still have a few slots for volunteers to help with registration and evening ticket sales. Unfortunately, my mom, who was such a great help with this last year has to have major surgery only a week or so before the festival and will not be able to help us this year. To find out more, please email me at kostanadanceratyahoodotcom Thanks, Kostana

Break out the champagne!

Kostana — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 17:24:45 GMT

We received official word today that World Music Folklife Center is legally recognized by the IRS as a 501c3 nonprofit - as of May 2007 (when we first incorporated).... Ohmygoddess....I cannot tell you how relieved, excited, joyful, and scared I am! Those of you who know me well, know how long this process has taken and how hard it has been! This has been the most challenging year for me in so many ways. I walked away from $40,000/year job with 401K and health insurance to be able to have the time, energy and ability to plant the seed for a nonprofit. It has been so many sleepless nights, a few new gray hairs, and ssoooooo hard with no personal financial reward at the end of the tunnel. I found out how hard it is to work without that reward and sometimes with nothing but personal criticism. At the end of it all with the economy and housing market in the toilet, I was really getting scared. Anyone living off an artist income knows how hard that is! But as they say what doesn't kill you makes you stronger....I hope that's true! Of course what makes it all worth it is seeing your dreams come true before your eyes. But this is only the beginning. Now the REAL WORK BEGINS! We really wanted to do this for the community - to bring opportunities here that would not otherwise happen without having it be for personal gain, but instead to build something that is owned not by one person or two people but by a whole community.... So now, we invite you all to participate in anyway you can, your ideas, thoughts, your energy, your time and of course your donations! are all welcome! Thanks so much to the people closest to us who witnessed the blood, sweat & tears of the last year and supported us emotionally, financially, or otherwise. Thanks to those who believed we could make this happen. And more good news! Our stellar lineup for Herdeljezi festival (May 17) this year now includes: Seido Salifoski, Amy Luna Manderino of Shuvani, Sani Rafati of Voice of Roman, Steve & Susie Kotansky, N. Scott Robinson, and Reyhan & Husnu Tuzsuz (pending the approval of the visa process - which is our next huge hurdle)! AND we have GRAMMY AWARD NOMINEE, Souhail Kaspar coming back with Rachid Halihal to perform and teach us in April! Hope to see you all there! (Photo was taken by Margaret Loomis at Balktoberfest 2007)