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S&V
gallery.
presents
Ego, oblivion & connection
Beginning July 9, for two weeks, Saphira & Ventura Gallery presents the group exhibition of art and design, with display of paintings, photographs, jewelry, fashion design and furniture.
EGO, OBLIVION & CONNECTION is an exhibition that reveals beauty in an explosion of freedom of expression in the form of metal, wire, wood, precious and semi-precious stones, which together invade the female cosmic world. |
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Artists: Rafael Quirindongo; Leonardo Bueno; Hadasah; JOTAPE; Alcinda Saphira; LIZ Carvalho; Marcos Amaro; Andrzej Zynis; Pedro Manuel; Alexandra Betancur; Neela Pushparaj and Antonio Bezerra.
The showcase is curated by Alcinda Saphira and the art promoter Luciana Morais, and produced by Beatriz Deruiz.
Opening reception: Thursday, July 9, 2015 from 6pm to 9pm, at Saphira & Ventura Gallery at 4W 43th Street # 415 NY- NY 10036. |
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Hey everyone,
We host quite a few special events at the White House every year, but for me, nothing beats what's going down here today: the 2015 Kids' "State Dinner."
This is the fourth Kids' "State Dinner" we've hosted -- and every year, we challenge kids across the country to create an original recipe that is healthy, affordable, and absolutely delicious. The competition was stiff and, believe me, it was nearly impossible to choose just one winner from each state, territory, and D.C. Today, 55 of our nation's most inventive young chefs will join us for a healthy lunch that features a selection of their recipes.
When you do, two things will be clear. First, America's kids are passionate about not just eating healthy food, but about cooking healthy food, too. Second, if these kids are the future of American cuisine, we'll be eating healthy for years to come.
And that's one food trend I can get behind.
I promise you, these kids won't disappoint.
Thanks,
First Lady Michelle Obama
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PARA AVANÇAR A DEMOCRACIA - JOSE SERRA
“Para conservar o seu espírito, a democracia representativa precisa mudar sempre”.
Sempre que se discute a relação entre corrupção e eleições no Brasil aborda-se o financiamento das campanhas. Há quem defenda a total proibição das contribuições de empresas privadas, ou, entre os que as admitem, que sejam estabelecidos limites, que os destinatários sejam apenas os partidos, que uma empresa possa doar somente a um dos candidatos, etc.
Estou entre os que defendem a existência legal de contribuições de pessoas jurídicas, dentro de certos parâmetros. Já em 1993, quando eu era líder do PSDB na Câmara, fiz proposta, que virou lei, para que tais doações, até então proibidas — regra solenemente descumprida —, fossem permitidas. A essência do meu argumento tinha e tem a ver com a necessidade de elevar a transparência do processo eleitoral, diminuir o caixa dois das campanhas e facilitar o controle pela Justiça e pela opinião pública.
Na mesma época, propus um debate que retomei agora no Senado, no âmbito da Comissão de Reforma Política, bem dirigida pelo senador Romero Jucá (PMDB-RR). Parece justa a preocupação com as fontes de financiamento de campanhas, mas considero essencial ir além e adotar medidas que reduzam seus custos, responsáveis, em última análise, pela imensa demanda de recursos.
Dois fatores são decisivos para turbinar esses custos: o atual sistema proporcional de eleição de vereadores, deputados estaduais e federais e o formato do chamado horário eleitoral gratuito, que é, ao contrário do que o nome sugere, caríssimo.
Ampla maioria da Câmara Federal rejeitou, recentemente, emendas constitucionais que promoviam mudanças nas regras de eleição de deputados. A Casa não mexeu, também, no sistema eleitoral dos vereadores, cuja alteração pode ser feita por lei ordinária, em um único turno.
Pensando nessa maior simplicidade e com a esperança de fazer um experimento que tem tudo para dar certo, eu já havia apresentado o projeto de lei que institui o voto distrital para os vereadores de cidades com mais de 200 mil eleitores. Esse projeto foi rapidamente aprovado pelo Senado e tramita agora na Câmara. Minha expectativa é que possa ser votado em agosto e que, até lá, a maioria dos deputados se convença a votar a favor. Muitos temem mudanças de regras que afetem sua reeleição, mas o meu projeto se restringe aos vereadores.
Quanto ao segundo fator que turbina os custos de campanha, o horário eleitoral supostamente gratuito, tenho insistido em tribunas, palestras e entrevistas: é preciso promover grandes mudanças. Não sem antes lembrar que esse horário tem um custo elevado também para os cofres públicos e, portanto, para os contribuintes. Todas as emissoras deduzem dos impostos devidos aquilo que perdem de publicidade durante a propaganda dos partidos e seus candidatos: R$ 840 milhões em 2014! Nos anos não eleitorais, o custo da chamada propaganda partidária é de R$ 300 milhões.
Mas o problema maior é o das campanhas propriamente ditas: os custos de produção dos programas apresentados no horário, medidos em centenas de milhões de reais, representam de longe o maior item de despesa das campanhas majoritárias (de presidente, governadores e prefeitos das cidades maiores). Esse custo equivale a uns dois terços das despesas totais.
Quando o horário gratuito foi criado, a ideia era generosa: garantir o acesso dos candidatos à mídia eletrônica, independentemente de sua condição econômica e linha política. Mas, ao longo dos anos, essa intenção foi distorcida. O acirramento das disputas eleitorais levou os partidos com mais chance a contratar publicitários brilhantes e jornalistas preparados a fim construir imagens persuasivas de seus candidatos e até, em vários casos, inventarem novas personalidades para eles. Tudo enriquecido por minidocumentários e efeitos especiais. Custos? Cada vez maiores.
Mas o encarecimento da propaganda não trouxe aos eleitores mais informação, e, sim, mais enganação. Com talento publicitário, imaginação solta e recursos técnicos, verdadeiros postes se metamorfoseiam em oradores brilhantes, administradores experientes, sujeitos bonzinhos e sempre corajosos.
Para reassumir o espírito democrático da proposta original, o horário eleitoral precisa ter outro formato, na linha do “candidato e a câmera”, sem participação de terceiros, depoimentos, cenas externas, filmes, trucagens, etc. Apresentei propostas a respeito à comissão de reforma política do Senado e ao relator Jucá. O candidato comparecerá à TV apenas com a cara e a coragem, para expor livremente o que pensa e o que pretende fazer.
Paralelamente, apresentei três outras propostas. Primeira: encurtar o número de dias do horário eleitoral e o tempo do programa de 45 para 30 dias, e de 50 para 40 minutos. Tudo a fim de diminuir custos e não abusar da paciência das pessoas. Parece razoável. A segunda restringe o mercado persa de tempo de TV que se monta a cada eleição: as alianças tendem a se dar apenas em função dos minutos ou segundos de que os diferentes partidos dispõem. Um comércio que só faz piorar a política e a formação de governos, além de encarecer as campanhas majoritárias. A ideia, no caso, veio de um deputado do Mato Grosso, Nilson Leitão: o tempo de TV de cada coligação será a soma dos tempos do partido do candidato e do seu vice.
Por último, apresentei um projeto que pode não economizar dinheiro, mas combate o desperdício de futuro: instituir a obrigatoriedade de comparecimento dos candidatos a governador e a presidente nos debates de TV de segundo turno.
No primeiro turno, os candidatos nanicos a esses cargos deverão superar cláusula de representatividade, de modo que não haja um número excessivo de candidatos, circunstância que impede debates mais substantivos, capazes de subsidiar a decisão esclarecida do eleitor.
Tanto quanto as tiranias só se deterioram, o sentido das democracias é o permanente aperfeiçoamento. O que é sempre restaurado continua funcional. A democracia representativa, em suma, precisa mudar para que conserve seu espírito: expressar a vontade do cidadão.
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I am humbled to share that over 2500 artists, and those who support them (everyone from web designers to managers to moms) are participating in Social Media House, and it's artists on all levels from household names to brand new singer songwriters with only one track recorded.
The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive and artists are already connecting, forming in-person mastermind groups to move through the course and giving each other constructive feedback - and we are only in week 1 of 9!
Collaboration is my favorite part of being an entrepreneur and everything great that has ever happened to me has happened because I chose to share my ideas and get in community with others.
It's thrilling to see collaboration beginning to gel in Social Media House and today is the LAST DAY for you to sign up.
You can take it at anytime from anywhere as long as you have an internet connection.
It will take between 1-3 hours a week depending on where you need to improve.
A new module is delivered every Tuesday and the course will run through the first week of September.
I am giving away a full 3 month Cyber PR Campaign (valued at $4995) for the artist or band who completes the course, participates enthusiastically in the forums, and helps their fellow course takers.
If you want to get in control of your brand, your marketing, and set yourself up to make more money with clearer more focused goals - GET IN TODAY
Here is the link! http://bit.ly/CyberPRCourse
and "See" you in Social Media House.
 Contact Us
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Cyber PR 389 12th St Brooklyn, New York 11215 United States (212) 239-8384
This morning, the United States became the first country to reach Pluto -- and the first country to explore the entire classical solar system: Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto.
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This morning, the United States became the first country to reach Pluto -- and the first country to explore the entire classical solar system: Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto.
NASA's New Horizons interplanetary probe has been making its way to Pluto since January 19, 2006, and has been providing the world with the sharpest photos ever seen of our Solar System's most prominent "dwarf planet." Today, it made its closest approach to Pluto yet -- about 8,000 miles -- at around 07:49:57 EDT.
Here's the photo they took -- which, despite traveling at the speed of light (186,000 miles per second), took four and a half hours to reach us here on Earth as it crossed the 3 billion miles between here and Pluto:
That we were able to get so close to Pluto today is a feat whose probability scientist Neil deGrasse Tyson likened to "a hole-in-one on a two-mile golf shot." He's right.
Every once in a while, a photo comes along that has the ability to shift not just how we see our place in the universe, but how we see ourselves -- not just as Americans, but as citizens of Earth.
This is one of those photos, and I hope you'll share it with someone today.
More soon --
John
Dr. John P. Holdren
Director, Office of Science and Technology Policy
The White House
@whitehouseostp
Hi, all --
Checking back in quickly with one more update about the New Horizons spacecraft's mission to Pluto.
Around 8:00 a.m. Eastern yesterday, New Horizons passed within 8,000 miles of Pluto -- capturing even better images of the icy dwarf planet than those made earlier in the probe's approach.
Here is one of those remarkable, newly transmitted images:
It's been a pretty incredible couple of days.
Thanks.
-- John
Dr. John P. Holdren Director, Office of Science and Technology Policy The White House @whitehouseostp
Profº ANDRÉ LUIZ MELO
Rua:Frei Evaristo,91 centro,CEP:88015-410
Florianópolis/SC - Fone: 48 8419-9393 ViVo / 48 3225-0237 Net
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Today, after two years of negotiations, the United States -- together with our international partners -- has achieved what decades of animosity has not:
A comprehensive, long-term deal that will verifiably prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.
This deal shows the real and meaningful change that American leadership and diplomacy can bring -- change that makes our country and the world safer and more secure.
We negotiated from a position of strength and principle -- and the result is a nuclear deal that cuts off every pathway to a nuclear weapon.
Because of this deal, Iran will not be able to produce highly enriched uranium or weapons-grade plutonium, the raw materials necessary to build a bomb. Here's why:
Under this deal, Iran will reduce its stockpile of enriched uranium by 98 percent, remove two-thirds of its installed centrifuges -- the machines necessary to produce highly enriched uranium -- and store them under constant international supervision.
To put that in perspective, Iran currently has a stockpile that could produce up to 10 nuclear weapons. Now, its uranium stockpile will be reduced to a fraction of what would be required for a single weapon.
Under this deal, Iran will modify its nuclear reactor in Arak so it cannot produce weapons-grade plutonium -- and all spent fuel from the reactor will be shipped out of the country indefinitely.
This deal is not built on trust -- it's built on verification. Under this deal, we will, for the first time, be in a position to verify that Iran is meeting all of these commitments. International nuclear inspectors will have access to Iran's nuclear program -- where necessary, when necessary. This is the most comprehensive and intrusive verification regime that we have ever negotiated. If Iran tries to divert raw materials to covert facilities, inspectors will be able to access any suspicious locations.
As Iran implements this deal, it will receive gradual relief from sanctions. If it violates any aspect of this deal, sanctions that have crippled Iran's economy will snap back into place.
That's the deal.
It has the full backing of the international community. Without it, there'd be no agreed-upon limitations on Iran's nuclear program and other countries would feel more compelled to pursue their own programs, threatening a nuclear arms race in the most volatile region of the world.
Put simply: No deal means a greater chance of more war in the Middle East.
That is why it would be irresponsible to walk away from this deal. Moving forward, I welcome a robust debate in Congress on the details of this deal. As Commander-in-Chief, I am confident that this deal will meet the national security interests of the U.S. and our allies. So I will veto any legislation that prevents the successful implementation of this deal.
Our differences with Iran are real, and the difficult history between our nations cannot be ignored. But it is possible to change. The path of violence and rigid ideology; a foreign policy based on threats to attack your neighbors or eradicate Israel -- is a dead end. A different path -- one of tolerance, and peaceful resolution of conflict -- leads to more integration into the global economy, more engagement with the international community, and the ability of the Iranian people to prosper and thrive. This deal offers an opportunity to move in a new direction.
We should seize it.
Thank you,
President Barack Obama
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 THE WHITE HOUSE
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Greetings! Last month was a busy month at the White House, as we celebrated Immigrant Heritage Month and honored the rich contributions of immigrants and refugees all around the country.
If you missed them, be sure to check out these blogs from White House staff: Chris Chu, Fatima Noor, Jackie Dao Dinneen, and Vikrum Aiyer.
As part of Immigrant Heritage month, the White House held a World Refugee Day Champions of Change event to celebrate the contributions of refugee leaders around the country. The event featured National Security Advisor Susan Rice, Ambassador Samantha Power, and Domestic Policy Council Director Cecilia Muñoz.
Champions of Change are recognized for their contributions to the refugee community on June 25th. Pictured from left to right: Nadia Kasvin, Anna Crosslin, Benjamin Gucciardi, Zeljka Krvavica, Marwan Sweedan, Ambassador Amanda Power, Sasha Chanoff, Gatluak Ter Thach, Mariela Shaker, Micheal Ighodaro, and Mone Aye.
The Administration continues to make strides towards a fairer, more just immigration system. On July 15, recommendations were submitted to the President as a part of his Presidential Memorandum on "Modernizing and Streamlining the U.S. Immigrant Visa System for the 21st Century," a key component of his November executive actions. Recommendations include actions to modernize our system for efficiency and accessibility, streamline our legal immigration system, and strengthen our humanitarian system.
Additionally, USCIS published a notice of proposed rulemaking that would expand an existing process to provide provisional waivers to certain family members of U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents seeking to obtain lawful permanent residence and reduce family separation. Currently, the process is only available to relatives of certain U.S. citizens. This notice of proposed rulemaking is one of several executive actions that continues to move forward.
Furthermore, this month USCIS launched its Citizenship Public Education and Awareness Initiative to promote awareness of the rights, responsibilities, and importance of United States citizenship to eligible lawful permanent residents. For more information and to learn how you can get involved, click here.
This campaign aims to provide those seeking citizenship with information on the naturalization process and USCIS educational resources. It is part of a larger effort to demystify the process and provide lawful permanent residents with information to protect themselves against the unauthorized practice of immigration law.
Administration Updates
Modernizing & Streamlining Our Legal Immigration System for the 21st Century(7/16)
As a part of November's Executive Actions, President Obama issued a Presidential Memorandum to direct the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Homeland Security to lead an interagency effort to develop recommendations, with stakeholders and experts, to modernize the immigration system. Click here for the Fact Sheet.
ICE issues new guidance on the care of transgender individuals in custody (6/29)
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE), Office of Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) issued further guidance to personnel on how to care for transgender individuals in custodial settings, including appropriate data systems, officer training and tools, and housing care.
America's Youngest Pioneers: Immigrant Children, Youth and Adults-What does the data show? (6/25)
Currently, there are over 4.7 million foreign born individuals enrolled in pre-kindergarten to postsecondary education. Another 20 million students are the children of foreign born parents. This Department of Education webinar focused on a national perspective and current data.
DHS Extends Temporary Protected Status Registration Period for Liberia, Guinea, Sierra Leone (6/25)
DHS is extending the initial registration deadline for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) from May 20, 2015, to Aug. 18, 2015, for eligible nationals of Liberia, Guinea, and Sierra Leone.
Statement by Secretary Jeh C. Johnson on Family Residential Centers (6/24)
[W]e must make substantial changes in our detention practices with respect to families with children. In short, once a family has established eligibility for asylum or other relief under our laws, long-term detention is an inefficient use of our resources and should be discontinued.
DHS Announces Temporary Protected Status Designation for Nepal (6/24)
Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson announced his decision to designate Nepal for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for 18 months based on the conditions resulting from the devastating magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck Nepal on April 25, 2015.
Administration Blogs
Bringing Our Immigration System into the Digital Age (7/16)
In November, President Obama announced a series of Executive Actions to fix the broken immigration system. As a part of these efforts, he charged the key federal agencies responsible for administering our legal immigration system to find recommendations to modernize and streamline the system.
Johan Uvin, Department of Education: Pathways to Citizenship through Career and Technical Education (6/30)
Johan Uvin is the Acting Assistant Secretary of the Office of Career, Technical and Adult Education at the U.S. Department of Education. This is his story.
Nina Vaca, CEO of Pinnacle Technical Resources, Writes about Fulfilling the American Dream (6/30)
"E Pluribus Unum": out of many, one. In recognition of that motto, I held a quarter up to the scores of men and women whom I had the honor of addressing at the induction ceremony for the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services in Dallas, Texas, on June 18.
USCIS Celebrates World Refugee Day and 10th Anniversary of USCIS Refugee Corps (6/19)
World Refugee Day is June 20. This year marks the 10th anniversary of our refugee corps. Working in cooperation with the Department of State, the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program resettled 69,987 in the United States during fiscal year 2014. To watch Director León's video, click here. |
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