On December 26th, a city in Iran, BAM, rumbled seemingly out of existence, but it lingers as a damaged world heritage site, an oasis on the "Silk Road", and a humanitarian disaster emblazoned into our hearts.
Part a treasure from antiquity and part a center for modern commerce and tourism, it was struck with a 6.6 rolling seismic wave.
Many of its people, much of its architecture tumbled to the ground into dust. The tragic
loss of 32,000 lives and the country's resilience is only the beginning of Jahangir Golestan-Parast's story.
Along with the unexpected event, came the international response and producer Golestan-Parast's professional response to make a documentary that lauds love, transcends isolation, and seeks to promote the human race any past misunderstandings of the culture and the legacies of the Iranian people.
This next Tuesday on Boxing Day 2017, New Education Options will screen the BAM 6.6 –Humanity Without Borders documentary. From 5-9 p.m. at the Bollywood Restaurant #2 in Sherman Oaks at the corner of Ventura Boulevard and Van Nuys Boulevard, the nonprofit will hold a community "Red Thread" event where the producer will lead a q & a and the program will start with the 55 minute screening.
The event announces the opening of Kids First of So Cal at The Legends Gym in Canoga Park reminding all of us that the best practice for performing whether in school or after school is planning, prevention, and preparation for success.
The Red Cross and the USGS have warned us regularly that we are all living in Los Angeles on many earthquake faults and are sometime expecting "The Big One'.
Iran just had another 5.5 quake and the film serves as a reminder of the courage, faith and hope it has taken to recover from BAM's great tumbler. The people who did survive are still standing. The film focuses on the brilliance, kindness, and generosity of those it features whether the Americans, International Aid Societies, or the Iranians. As a timely marker in recent international development or a study of humanity that transcends borders, its point of view is both educational and enlightening. This is an example of what an independent film can do…direct us to a high place despite our daily concerns.
Held in the Banquet Room at Bollywood Restaurant #2, at 14426 Ventura Blvd, the nonprofit is launching the debut sale of its hand-built and signed Stratocaster and thanks to its builders in Ohio and the National Science Foundation allows students to explore hands-on science and music in one lesson plan (http://www.guitarbuilding.org/).
NEO will announce the Kids First of So Cal from Hamlin Charter Academy to The Legends Gym in Canoga Park at Osborne and Desoto. The Kids First So Cal will reopen January 8th with places 60 or more students as an afternoon enriched studies and tutoring program. Kids First of So Cal will deliver programs, field trips, enriched academic services and tutoring along with a new fitness program within professional gym experience (Tae Bo with Billy Blanks, Karate, Tae Kwon Do, weight lifting and boxing).
This modestly priced fundraiser ($15.00) will serve samosas, chocolates, and tea for refreshments, with music by Pauric Dolan and William Elliott.
More information will be available to explore community building, health/wellness, and STEM/safety. New Education Options and Kids First of So Cal at The Legends Gym hope to create value for the San Fernando Valley while honoring the solemn occasion of the ground swell in 2003 on its anniversary.
For more information and to buy a ticket:
818-742-5099 text to set up a will call ticket or https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/3215140
RSVP space limited.
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Coordinated and bi-partisan action:
http://www.aecf.org/work/kids-count/
https://www.airnow.gov/index.cfm?action=airnow.local_state&stateid=5
http://www.latimes.com/local/california/la-me-southern-california-wildfires-live-here-are-all-the-l-a-unified-schools-1512547044-htmlstory.html
https://www.shakeout.org/california/
The Film- BAM it could happen to you:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bam_6.6
The Documentary at your library:
http://www.worldcat.org/title/bam-66-humanity-has-no-borders/oclc/232671539
More than ever we need to be prepared:
https://www.ready.gov/
http://temp.caloes.ca.gov/for-individuals-families/disaster-recovery-assistance-for-individuals-businesses-private-non-profits-farmers-ranchers
http://temp.caloes.ca.gov/FireRescueSite/Pages/Regions.aspx
Earth Science and STEM inform us about air quality to seismic activity:
http://www.earthscope.org/
www.airnow.gov
The nonprofit:
www.kidsfirst.la
www.waterbuddyca.org
The musicians:
Pauric Dolan, a visitor from the occupied part of Ireland and an activist for Integrated Education:
https://www.facebook.com/pauric.dolan
William Elliott Reviews:
https://open.spotify.com/album/2mEFq7p1wCgijk3NeFVkJx
Reviews "I visited an inviting childhood I never had and I would like to return to again and again. -- Ed, Chapparal Restaurant, Topanga, CA
Kenneth Grahame's classic victorian novel hits the footlights with boffo results! You don't need to have seen the stage production from which this soundtrack is taken or even have read the book, to be charmed by composer and lyricist, William Elliott's evocative, terrifically entertaining songs. -- FamilyFun-Moira McCormick, Billboard Writer Nov 97, Music Archive/Online
This is beautifully done. What a treat! Fresh, charming songs that capture the spirit of the characters. A wonderful companion to the classic story. The fully orchestrated and talented, top notch singers give children a first class theatrical experience. I was impressed. -- Robin Frederick, Producer of Children's Audio for Walt Disney Records, Kids WB! Music, Hanna Barbera, Golden Books, Fisher-Price, Kid Rhino and The Disney Channel
This tribute to Kenneth Grahame's immortal characters is family fun for all ages. -- AudioWorld-Bennet Pomerantz
William Elliott's music for the Wind in the Willows is superb! A joyous treat for young and old. -- Merrill Staton"
Landmark Worldwide will feature several new language translations of the Forum including English-Farsi on January 19th, 2018:
www.landmarkworldwide.com
The BAM history:
http://www.redcross.org.uk/en/What-we-do/Emergency-response/Past-emergency-
appeals/Iran-earthquake-2003
https://worldhistoryproject.org/2003/12/26/bam-earthquake-of-2003
Five Years Later:
http://www.ifrc.org/en/noticias/comunicados-de-prensa/middle-east-and-north-africa/iran/bam-earthquake-five-years-later/
Northridge – all the reason to remember about quakes…the Atlantic coverage 20 Years Later:
https://www.theatlantic.com/photo/2014/01/the-northridge-earthquake-20-years-ago-today/100664/
https://earthquake.usgs.gov/learn/topics/megaqk_facts_fantasy.php
New and old facts:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/earthquake-humans-cause-seismic-risk-map-1.3509769
Tickets … we are all tied together by a red thread…come to the event RSVP:
https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/3215140