A Conference about Human Rights Crisis in Burma

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Parent Category: Expos and Conventions

Category: Previews

Published on Friday, 27 August 2010 05:00

Written by Brad Balfour

On Saturday, October 16th and Sunday, October 17th, 2010, Free Burma Alliance, Network 355 and Amnesty International will hold a two-day conference to raise awareness about the human rights crisis in Burma (Myanmar), as well as funds for Burmese children with cardiac disease.

There is an urgent need to raise awareness about humanitarian crisis in Eastern Burma, where over 3,500 villages had been burnt and over 3.5 million people displaced. Provisions for health care are inadequate: 80 per cent of Burmese citizens live in malaria risk areas, thousands go without treatment for conditions such as tuberculosis (TB) and HIV/AIDS, and countless children have minimal access to treatment as marginalized refugees.

Forced labor, torture, rape, religious persecution, landmines, forced relocation, and attacks on civilians persist as everyday realities for the innocent people of Eastern Burma.

The event will start with a fundraiser on October 16th to raise money for crucial cardiac surgeries for four Burmese children cared for by the Burma Children Medical Fund. The cost of each surgery is $5,000.  If left untreated, the children – Shin Aw Ba Tha, Hell May Say, Surin, and Thant Zin Win – face death or serious handicaps..

The fundraising dinner, featuring Burmese performers and a silent auction, will take place from 7-10 pm at the famed Friar’s Club, 57 East 55th Street in New York City (www.friarsclub.com). Guests will include notable celebrities, politicians, and philanthropists.
 
On day two, Sunday, October 17th, the Free Burma Alliance/Amnesty International Inaugural Conference takes place. It aims to establish a community that will share knowledge and collectively develop and implement strategies for expanded public awareness, advocacy and activism in relation to Burma. The conference will take place at the Liederkranz Foundation, 6 East 87th Street, from 12-5 pm, followed by a cocktail reception.

The agenda includes three films – Meh Sha by Hezekiah Lewis, This is My Witness by Nobel Women's Initiative and the Women's League of Burma, and Burma: An Indictment by Jeremy Taylor – as well as three panel discussions.

Scheduled panelists Thomas Van Dyke (Heroes Serving Humanity), Mac McClelland (author of For Us Surrender is Out of the Question), Roland Watson (Dictator Watch), Myint Soe (NLD-LA Secretary) and Nay Tin Myint (political prisoner for 15 years) will discuss strategies for expanded advocacy and activism concerning this on-going crisis.

Free Burma Alliance is a coalition of human rights and humanitarian relief organizations dedicated to raising awareness about humanitarian crisis in Burma and providing support to the ill-treated and oppressed women and children of Burma.

Network 355 is a NYC based network of socially responsible professional women who volunteer their expertise to raise awareness about humanitarian and cultural causes.

Amnesty International is a worldwide movement of people who campaign for internationally recognized human rights for all.

Tickets ranging from $20 to $250 are available at: burmaevent.eventbrite.com For more info go to:

www.freeburmaalliance.org

www.network355.org

www.amnesty.org

Your Online Life, in Person at Intervention

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Parent Category: Expos and Conventions

Category: Previews

Published on Thursday, 19 August 2010 05:00

Written by Bree Rubin

People spend hours every day reading blogs and webcomics and watching indie videos and shorts. If you've ever wondered what it would be like to party with all of your favorite online personalities in one weekend, then you will want to go to Intervention being held in Rockville, Maryland at the Hilton Washington DC/Rockville (1750 Rockville Pike) Friday September 10th through Sunday September 12th ,2010.

In its inaugural year, Intervention brings creators of online indie content, such as blogs, animation, music, videos, and webcomics to their fans. As the digital world grows and matures, the importance of these communities cannot be ignored.

From Friday through Sunday, attendees will be treated to nearly 24-hour programming including gaming, panels, workshops and discussion groups if you're looking to get involved with your own web-niche. There is a vendor room with over 40 webcomics, New Media experts and artists. 

On Friday night, enjoy a burlesque-style figure drawing session with the famed Molly Crabapple and Dr. Sketchy's Anti-Art School. If you want to see artists duke it out on the big paper, the rising phenomena that is Super Art Fight comes to bring drawing battle to a fever pitch. DJ Subvert hosts two goth/industrial dance parties for everyone to burn off some of that extra energy. Don't miss a performance by the naughty fandom troupe, Cosplay Burlesque.

The extensive list of guests includes: 

• Evil, Inc.'s Brad Guigar
• Megatokyo's Fred Gallage
• Loldwell's Caldwell Tanner
• IHL's James Hatton
• Sticky Comics' Christiann
• Nerd Comics' Bree R. and Ami Bogin
• The System's Ross Nover
• Hello with Cheese's Darren Gendron& Bryan Prindiville
• Erfworld's Rob Balder
• DC/Marvel artist Rob Granito
• Dueling Analogs' Steve Napierski
• Sluggy Freelance's Pete Abrams

For more information and registration details, visit: InterventionCon.com

Intervention
Sept. 10th-12th
Hilton Washington DC/Rockville
1750 Rockville Pike
Rockville, Maryland 20852-1699

First Lincoln Center Fashion Week Features Over 90 Designers

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Parent Category: Expos and Conventions

Category: Previews

Published on Wednesday, 11 August 2010 18:20

Written by T. T. Maloney

From September 9th-16th, 2010, thousands of fashion industry professionals will gather to see over 90 of the world's most established and up-and-coming designers present their collections for Spring 2011 at the first Lincoln Center Fashion Week.

IMG Fashion has unveiled the initial line up of shows from these designers for Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week's first season in Lincoln Center's Damrosch Park.

"We are tremendously excited about our new home at Lincoln Center and overwhelmed by the response of so many designers who will be showing with us as part of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week this season," Said SVP and Managing Director of IMG Fashion Peter Levy, "The opportunity to facilitate such a large number of shows and events within the new footprint of the event bodes very well for the new location."   

Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week will present the following designers:

• Nicholas K
• Project Runway
• Toni Maticevski
• Richard Chai
• Ruffian
• Christian Siriano
• Bensoni
• Farah Angsana
• VERRIER
• Concept Korea
• Richie Rich
• Tadashi Shoji
• BCBGMAXAZRIA
• Duckie Brown
• Michael Angel
• Buckler
• EDITION Georges Chakra
• Ports 1961
• Alexander Berardi
• Academy of Art University
• Lacoste
• Binetti
• Cynthia Rowley
• Prabal Gurung
• ADAM
• Yoana Baraschi
• Mik Cire
• Charlotte Ronson
• Z Spoke by Zac Posen
• Venexiana
• Derek Lam
• Timo Weiland
• Lela Rose
• DKNY
• Rebecca Taylor
• Rebecca Minkoff
• Hervé Léger by Max Azria
• Diane von Furstenberg
• Trias
• Global Glam Collection
• Custo Barcelona
• Tommy Hilfiger
• Vassilios Kostetsos
• William Tempest
• Jenny Packham
• Carolina Herrera
• Carlos Miele
• Diesel Black Gold
• Tracy Reese
• Donna Karan Collection
• TONYCOHEN
• Monique Lhuillier
• Yeohlee
• HerchcovitchAlexandre
• Perry Ellis
• Elie Tahari
• Monique Péan
• Badgley Mischka
• Vera Wang
• Rosa Cha
• Max Azria
• Bibhu Mohapatra
• Dennis Basso
• Luca Luca
• Sophie Theallet
• Tibi
• Narciso Rodriguez
• Toni Francesc
• Bill Blass
• Tory Burch
• Michael Kors
• Nanette Lepore
• General Idea
• Adrienne Vittadini
• Gottex
• Milly by Michelle Smith
• Odd Molly
• Anna Sui
• Mackage
• Ralph Lauren
• Andy & Debb
• Isaac Mizrahi
• Davidelfin
• Argentina Group Show
• Calvin Klein Collection Women's
• J. Mendel
• Rebecca Moses
• Naeem Khan
• IVANAhelsinki

Among the designers returning from previous seasons of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week or those showing for the first time as part of the lineup include:

• Betsey Johnson
• Bibhu Mohapatra
• Bill Blass
• Buckler
• Cynthia Rowley
• Derek Lam
• Jenny Packham
• L.A.M.B.
• Rosa Cha
• Ruffian
• VERRIER
• Vivienne Tam
• Zang Toi

Opening Day, Thursday, September 9th, will kickoff with Nicholas K in the Studio venue and will also include the Project Runway/Season 8 finale in the Theatre and past Project Runway winner Christian Siriano in the Stage. Former Heatherette guru Richie Rich will close the historic first day with a Studio show.   

A fourth presentation space called the Box will be utilized for designer presentations, industry forums, press conferences and other activities.    

The new venue will boast a number of technical enhancements to adjust with the changing needs of the fashion community including: a more gracious lobby to better accommodate designer guests; modified runway theaters and modular designer spaces that support advanced production capabilities; expanded lighting and digital design resources; new décor and increased venue/runway sizes and enhancements as well as a comprehensive digital upgrade to the event, including a new website, registration, credentialing and seating system, digital signage and various other improvements.    

The city, working with IMG Fashion and Lincoln Center, has embarked on a coordinated effort to ensure Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week takes place in an efficient and organized manner. Led by the citywide Event Coordination and Management Office, city agencies – including the Transportation, Police, Fire, Buildings, Parks and Recreation and Sanitation Departments together with the Mayor's Community Assistance Unit, and New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) – are coordinating issues related to pedestrian access, ancillary parking, community resources, traffic flow, and opportunities for local businesses.   

According to IMG, each year, the 232,000 attendees at the two Fashion Weeks generate new economic activity for New York City businesses, accounting for more than $466 million in direct visitor spending and contributing to $1.6 billion in annual tax revenue to the city's fashion industry.

For the businesses surrounding Lincoln Center specifically - the restaurants, hotels, and retailers - as well as the thousands of caterers, security, and service workers staffing the shows, relocating Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week will result in economic benefits. More than $40 million annually is spent on meals at local restaurants; nearly $30 million on taxis, car service, and public transportation; and an additional $56 million at area hotels, said IMG.   

Title sponsor Mercedes-Benz is joined by DHL, American Express, Maybelline New York, W Hotels Worldwide, TRESemmé, AOL Inc., ideeli, Cambria Cove, Starbucks Frappuccino Coffee Drink, Kim Crawford Wines, EFFEN Vodka, FIJI Water, as well as the following media outlets The New York Times, Women's Wear Daily, and Getty Images.

Over eight days more than 100,000 guests will pass through the new Lincoln Center tents.

The new location at Lincoln Center provides Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week attendees with convenient transportation and access to the event via subway, buses, taxi and car service.

By subway, the 1 train goes directly to the 66th Street/Lincoln Center Station as well as the 1, A, B, C, D service to the 59th Street/Columbus Circle stop.

By bus, the M5, M7, M10, M11, M66 and M104 lines all stop within one block of the Lincoln Center campus.

Cars can pick up and drop off at the main steps main steps between 63rd and 64th Streets on Columbus Avenue and will have a designated waiting area on 65th Street. In addition, there will be a taxi stand near 62nd Street and Columbus Avenue.    

For more information, please visit: www.mbfashionweek.com

Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week
Lincoln Center's Damrosch Park