As an offshoot of 100,000 Poets for Change (100TPC), this event is organized by The Bardo Group Beguines‘ Rev. Terri Stewart (Beguine Again and The BeZine) at Riverton Park United Methodist Church, 3118 S 140th Street, Tukwilia, Washington 98168 on Saturday, September 24th, 1 p.m. – 3 p.m. with a social gathering from 3 p.m. – 4 p.m. Terri will lead a peacemaking circle that will focus on earth justice. She says, “We want to make a public witness of peace and peace for the earth. Hope to see you there!”
Rev. Terri Stewart, Associate Pastor at Riverton Park United Methodist Church, Canoness at The Bardo Group Beguines, Director at Youth-Chaplaincy-Coalition
The Peacemaking Circle will focus on ecological justice by following the tradition of the Tagish and Tlingit First Nation people of the Yukon Territories as taught to me by Saroeum Phoung.
“The principles of Peacemaking Circles are embodied in the talking piece. A talking piece holds the power of both talking and listening. It gives everyone an equal say as it relentlessly passes from person to person in a clockwise manner.
“Circles intentionally create a sacred space that lifts barriers between people, opening fresh possibilities for connection, collaboration and mutual understanding. The process works because it brings people together in a way that allows them to see one another as human beings and to talk about what matters.
“We will be utilizing the method of a talking circle that allows different voices to come together to explore a particular topic, the environment, from many different perspectives. This allows a diversity of voices, thoughts, and ideas to surface.” Terri Stewart
That same afternoon there will also be a food drive in process at Riverton for the Tukewila Pantry Emergency Food Bank and donations of food or money are welcome. Here is the wish list if you are able to help:
Remember, wherever you are in the world, go to 100TPC to find an event in your area or to register to hold one and no matter where you are, you can also participate in The BeZine’s 100TPC virtual event.
Of note: Michael Rothenberg, cofounder of the global peace initiative, 100TPC, announced yesterday that 500 events are now registered.
Here’s the good news: There are thousands of peace-loving, peace-living artists who gather in solidarity in some 120 countries around the world each year on the fourth Saturday of September and who connect and continue to work and stay connected even after the main event is over. The main event is 100,000 Poets for Change (100TPC), which is in its sixth year.
If we were rioting in 120 countries, for sure you’d see us on CNN, but we bare witness to the desire for and possibility of peace and apparently that doesn’t qualify as news: won’t get the adrenalin going, won’t sell laundry soap, won’t create division among us so that the wealthy and powerful can use us for their own ends. The world in all its strife is left to learn about 100TPC through social media. So be it …
THE BACK STORY:
I wasn’t there at the beginning, but I imagine that 100 Thousand Poets for Change founders, Michael Rothenberg and Terri Carrion (both of Big Bridge Press), were having dinner one night – maybe with some other poets and some artists and musicians – contemplating the state of the world, the disconnection among communities and nations and trying to think of some way to connect positively, to come together in the service of shared ideals such as harmony, stewardship and compassion. And so it happened that in 2011, Michael put out a call on Facebook for 100,000 Poets for Change and a movement was born. If memory serves there were 700 events held simultaneously around the world that first September.
The first night of the 100TPC World Conference in Salerno, Italy in 2015. Over 80 poets from 22 countries and 6 continents came together to share and to plan for the future of 100TPC
Michael and Terri recently stated that peace and sustainability …
. . . are major concerns worldwide and the guiding principles for this global event. All participants hope, through their actions and events, to seize and redirect the political and social dialogue of the day and turn the narrative of civilization towards peace and sustainability. We are living in a world where it isn’t just one issue that needs to be addressed. A common ground is built through this global compilation of local stories, which is how we create a true narrative for discourse to inform the future . . .
“What kind of change are we talking about? The first order of change is for poets, writers, musicians, artists, anybody, to actually get together to create and perform, educate and demonstrate, simultaneously, with other communities around the world. This will change how we see our local community and the global community. We have all become incredibly alienated in recent years. We hardly know our neighbors down the street let alone our creative allies who live and share our concerns in other countries. We need to feel this kind of global solidarity.”
What started as a poets’ event now includes artists, photographers, musicians, drummers, mimes, dancers, arts lovers and other peacemakers.
Michael Rothenberg and Terri Carrion created a website where anyone who wanted to organize an event could register. It is to this site that you may go to register an event or to find an event in your area. If you want to organize an event and it sounds rather onerous to you, keep in mind that while an event might be big and attended by many in a park or town square, it might also be a small gathering of like-minded artists at your home or a local cafe. I organized The BeZine 100TPC virtual event because I am largely home bound and assume there are others out there like me who would like to participate in 100TPC but would find it difficult to spend the day out. This virtual event also gives people anywhere a place to participant in 100TPC if there is no event scheduled in their vicinity. So just use your imagination and be creative about this. You might dedicate a book club meeting to it or an afternoon at church. This year, Terri Stewart (Beguine Again and The BeZine) has organized a peacemaking circle to be held at her church in Seattle. Bravo!
Organizers generally make flyers for their events. These are often small works of art. Depending on religious or national holidays, in some countries the events are held on days other than the fourth Saturday of September. In other countries – Morocco is one – events are held monthly. The main consistency is spirit and shared vision.
If you are reading this post in an email, you will likely have to link though to view this slide show.
THE BeZINE 100,000 POETS FOR CHANGE, virtual event
The BeZine 100,000 Poets for Change will start on September 15th with our September issue. Priscilla Galasso (scillagrace) is the lead for that issue. The theme is Environment and Environmental Justice, which is our chosen theme for 100TPC 2016. If you’d like to submit work on topic for that issue, send it to bardogroup@gmail.com. Please review submission guidelines first.
Our 100TPC event is hosted from our blog. The post will go up at 12 a.m. PST on September 24 and you can begin including work immediately using either the comments section or Mister Linkey. Direction will be included in the content of the post. American-Israeli Michael Dickel (Fragments of Michael Dickel) is the Master of Ceremonies again this year. He does a fabulous job of it and will keep the action and commentary running via the comments section. You are encouraged to share your own work and to read the work of others. I’ll be on hand to give Michael breaks and to keep the dialog going until midnight PST – California. Ultimately all work shared is archived on site and at Standford University. Please keep in mind, that this is not just for poetry. You can share appropriately themed fiction, music video, creative nonfiction – whatever can be shared in a comment. Long pieces can be shared by putting in the url link to your work on your blog or website.
To help get you going, we’ll do 100TPC writing prompts here at The Poet by Day on Wednesdays, August 23 and August 31, so that you can begin working on something for September 24. Comments will be open for sharing and – in fact – as of today, comments are open again on this site.
100,000 PEACEMAKERS FOR CHANGE, Seattle, WA
This event is organized by The Bardo Group Beguines‘ Rev. Terri Stewart (Beguine Again and The BeZine) at Riverton Park United Methodist Church, 3118 S 140th Street, Tukwilia, Washington 98168 on Saturday, September 24th, 1 p.m. – 3 p.m. with a social gathering after from 3 p.m. – 4 p.m. Terri will lead a peacemaking circle that will focus on earth justice. She says, “We want to make a public witness of peace and peace for the earth. Hope to see you there!” The Facebook Page for this event is HERE.
That same afternoon there will also be a food drive in process at Riverton for the Tukewila Pantry Emergency Food Bank and donations of food or money are welcome. Here is the wish list if you are able to help:
Remember, wherever you are in the world, go to 100TPC to find an event in your area or to register to hold one and no matter where you are, you can also participate in The BeZine’s 100TPC virtual event.
Poets, artists and musicians around the world are planning individual events to take place simultaneously on September 24th in conjunction with 100 Thousand Poets for Change in a demonstration/celebration of poetry, art and music to promote social, environmental and political change.
A MESSAGE FROM 100,000 POETS FOR CHANGE CO-FOUNDERS, POETS MICHAEL ROTHENBERG AND TERRI CARRION ~
On September 24, 2016 concerts, readings, workshops, flash mobs, parades, and demonstrations will take place in more than 120 countries around the world. 100 Thousand Poets for Change’s founders, Michael Rothenberg and Terri Carrion, state that peace and sustainability “. . . are major concerns worldwide and the guiding principles for this global event.” All participants hope, through their actions and events, to seize and redirect the political and social dialogue of the day and turn the narrative of civilization towards peace and sustainability. We are living in a world where it isn’t just one issue that needs to be addressed. A common ground is built through this global compilation of local stories, which is how we create a true narrative for discourse to inform the future . . .
“What kind of change are we talking about? The first order of change is for poets, writers, musicians, artists, anybody, to actually get together to create and perform, educate and demonstrate, simultaneously, with other communities around the world. This will change how we see our local community and the global community. We have all become incredibly alienated in recent years. We hardly know our neighbors down the street let alone our creative allies who live and share our concerns in other countries. We need to feel this kind of global solidarity.”
****
Information on The BeZine virtual event is HERE. To find an event scheduled in your area or to register to organize one, link to 100TPC HERE. The following is an example of just one of nearly 450 events scheduled so far for September 24th. Other events are ongoing in different places across the globe.
“Lost Horse Press and the Bonner County (Idaho) Human Rights Task Force are teaming up for the fourth year in a row to present a poetry and music open mic for local writers, musicians, artists, students to express their ideas for positive change in our community, in ourselves, in our country, and in the world.
“Join Sandpoint poets and musicians as they connect with artists all over the globe to express their aspirations for a better world. The Sandpoint event will be held on Saturday, 24 September 2016 from 1 pm until 4 pm at Evans Brothers Café. The greater community to join in as readers, performers, or listeners.
‘If you’d like to be considered for a spot as a featured reader or musician, please contact Lost Horse Press at 255.4410 or email losthorsepress@mindspring.com. You may also sign up the day of the event for the Open Mic. Spaces are limited so if you want to be assured a reading/performance time, please register before the event. We look forward to hearing your thoughts for supportive and constructive change!”
Thank you for sharing your love of words. Comments will appear after moderation.
NOT POETRY BUT I know a lot of readers here are multitalented. This just came across my desk and it sounds like a wonderful opportunity for someone. It’s “a project of PBS/POV and the New York Times. The Embedded Mediamaker project will allow a documentary filmmaker, creator or creative technologist rooted in documentary storytelling to work for 20 weeks at The New York Times alongside some of its most creative journalists. The mediamaker will work with The Times and POV to create new forms of documentary and interactive content with a team of Times writers, editors and visual storytellers involved in Race/Related, a newsletter and reporting project exploring race as it is lived today.’ Details HERE.
CALLS FOR SUBMISSIONS
Opportunity Knocks
NEW YORKER Poetry submissions:Poetry is reviewed on a rolling basis. Send up to six poems per submission, but please submit no more than twice in twelve months. We do not consider work that has appeared elsewhere (including Web sites and personal blogs), or translations that have already been published in English (the original text may have been published.) Simultaneous submissions are welcome; please notify us promptly if a poem is accepted elsewhere. Response time averages two to six months; after three, you are welcome to query the status.” Details HERE.
THE ATLANTIC “is always interested in great nonfiction, fiction, and poetry. A general familiarity with what we have published in the past is the best guide to what we’re looking for. All manuscripts should be submitted as a Word document or PDF. Succinct pitches may be submitted in the body of an e-mail. To submit nonfiction, send your manuscript or pitch to: submissions@theatlantic.com. To submit fiction, send your manuscript to: fiction@theatlantic.com. To submit poetry, send your manuscript to: poetry@theatlantic.com.” The Atlantic
THE APPLE VALLEY REVIEW welcomes submissions of poetry, short fiction, and essays and submissions are open year round for work that has both mainstream and literary appeal. “In other
words, please send us work that is both accessible and finely written. . . . This is not currently a paying market. However, all work published in the Apple Valley Review during a given calendar year will be considered for the annual Apple Valley Review Editor’s Prize. From 2006 to 2015, the prize was $100 and a gift of a book of poetry or fiction.” Details HERE.
STORM CELLAR “is a national literary arts magazine with a special emphasis on the Midwest, appearing in print and ebook editions. We want your prose, poems, chimeras, and ideas penned on envelopes in buses and train cars. The magazine aims to publish amazing work by new and established writers and artists, present a range of styles and approaches, and be as un-boring as it can. If you write one thing to be read while waiting for the all-clear to sound, send it here.” Details HERE.
CICADA YA (14+ years) lit/comics magazine “is looking for fairy tales and folklore with a twist—we want you to take familiar stories and dress them up; dress them down; give them some bite; shine a different light on them. Tell us a dark and weird tale from your culture, or show us something new. Let the wolf win. Stick all of those tired old folktale tropes in a blender, add genre-savviness and a dash of hot sauce, and serve over ice.” Deadline for submissions of short fiction, poetry, essays, and comics pitches is August 20, 2016. Details HERE.
The Tahirih Justice Center stands alone as the only national, multi-city organization providing a broad range of direct legal services, policy advocacy, and training and education to protect immigrant women and girls fleeing violence. Come out and support some of New York’s most powerful artists as they perform to raise money for a worth cause. $10 suggested donation all going to the center. Thanks to Terri Muuss for sharing this with us. Lifting the Veil Facebook Page is HERE.
August 7 at 5 p.m. – 8 p.m. EDT at BrickHouse Bewery & Restaurant 67 W. Main Street, Patchogue, New York 11772.
RUMORproceeds go the Syrian-Armenian Relief Fund. The collection is by Silva Merjanian. “Rumor is a stunning tour de force of passionate, life-affirming poetry. Silva Merjanian evokes time and place with both grace and authority. Poetry is obviously a tool for her own healing and in that she brings us face to face with the human condition in all its complexity, beautiful and loving and devastating cruel, and she does so totally without pretension.” excerpt from CELEBRATING AMERICAN SHE-POETS (19): Silva Zanoyan Merjanian, Borrowed Sugar, Borrowed Time – War-torn Lebanon to Peace in California
HANDS & WINGS, Poems for Freedom from Torture (White Rat Press, 2015). The poems in it are freely shared by A-list poets. The proceeds go to help with the rehabilitation and support of torture victims seeking protection in the U.K. For purchase contact Dorothy Yamamoto: dorothy.yamamoto@whiteratpress.co.uk
100,000 Poets (and other artists) for Change, 2016
AN ANNOUNCEMENT FROM 100TPC COFOUNDER, MICHAEL ROTHENBERG: “On September 24, 2016 poets, musicians and artists around the world will be organizing poetry readings, parades, gallery exhibitions, music and dance performances focused on issues of peace, justice, and sustainability. This important annual global act of solidarity is the core activity of 100 Thousand Poets for Change, a non-profit organization.
100 Thousand Poets for Change offers an opportunity for a peaceful global discussion of issues such as war, global warming, poverty, racism, gender inequality, homelessness, gun violence, police brutality, lack of affordable medical care, censorship, and animal cruelty. Individual organizers are free to choose the specific topic and focus of their local event. If you are interested in participating in this global action please post sign up HERE.”
THE BARDO GROUP BEGUINES will host a virtual 100TPC event on September 24 with American-Israeli poet, Michael Dickel (Fragments of Michael Dickel) as Master of Ceremonies. Between Michael and me the event will run from morning in Israel to midnight in California. You can share your work through Mr. Linky (instruction will be provided) or in the comments section of the blog post that day at The BeZinewhere you can also enjoy the work of other artist activists.
Work may include anything on topic: poetry, essay, short fiction, video (music, mime, dance, dramatic monolgue), art and photography and so forth. The topic we’ve chosen this year – selected by Rev. Terri Stewart (Beguine Again founder) – and supported by our core team of poets, writers, story-tellers, artists and photographers, musicians and clerics is Environment/Environmental Justice. As is tradition, all work will be archived on the site and at Standford University in Stanford, CA.
FOR YOUNG POETS
STONE SOUP is a magazine founded in 1973 to encourage children ‘s creativity. It focus is “to inspire young writers by publishing the best work by their peers. We have published over ten-thousand pages of writing and art by children.” Submission details are HERE.
STRIVE FESTIVAL (England)Friday 5 August 2016 – Sunday 7 August 2016 “Calling all young thinkers, dreamers, movers and shakers: unleash your creativity at Strive festival. Strive is Southbank Centre’s festival for 15- to 25-year-olds. Curated in collaboration with our Youth Ambassadors, the festival celebrates and showcases the creativity, new ideas and artistic passions of young people today.Whether you love music, dance, poetry or visual arts, Strive is packed full of performances, practical workshops and careers advice to inspire and empower you. Details HERE.
THE POETRY SOCIETY (U.K.) is “committed to supporting poets at every stage of their career – many now established poets began taking part in our events and competitions as children, through teenage years and into adulthood. Our Young Poets Network, and events for emerging poets mean that you always have access to advice and company as you develop your craft. . . . We are committed to supporting poets at every stage of their career – many now established poets began taking part in our events and competitions as children, through teenage years and into adulthood. Our Young Poets Network, and events for emerging poets mean that you always have access to advice and company as you develop your craft.” Details HERE
YOUNG AMERICAN POETRY DIGEST, National Schools Project encourages “student writing and provides an audience for student poetry. We want kids excited about writing . . . The National Schools Project, initiated in 1994, is designed to share our youth’s talents with others, supply a national audience for student writing, and provide a publishing opportunity for young poets. Schools around the nation are invited to participate in the project by submitting their students’ most creative poetry. A panel of educators reviews the poetry submitted and selects poems to be published based on a list of literary criteria.” Details HERE
A POETRY PLAYGROUND
Youth and Adults
POETRY SOUP “is simply the world’s best and most comprehensive poetry website and poems resource…with quotes too. PoetrySoup™ is an easy-to-use, comprehensive, interactive, and fun international poetry community for all poets and lovers of poetry. Read, search, comment on, and share quotations, short poetry, funny poetry, love poetry, sad poetry, friendship poetry and more.” Details HERE.
TIDBIT
ZEN and THE ART OF ARCHERY: Paul Muldoon – Advice for Young Writers (If you are reading this in an email, it is likely you’ll have to link to the site to view this video.)
PAUL MULDOON (b.1951) is an Irish poet with some thirty collections and a Pulitzer Prize. His bio is HERE.
THE POET BY DAY SUNDAY POESY
Submit your event, book launch and other announcements at least fourteen days in advance to thepoetbyday@gmail.com. Publication is subject to editorial discretion.
As an offshoot of 100,000 Poets for Change (100TPC), this event is organized by The Bardo Group Beguines‘ Rev. Terri Stewart (Beguine Again and The BeZine) at Riverton Park United Methodist Church, 3118 S 140th Street, Tukwilia, Washington 98168 on Saturday, September 24th, 1 p.m. – 3 p.m. with a social gathering from 3 p.m. – 4 p.m. Terri will lead a peacemaking circle that will focus on earth justice. She says, “We want to make a public witness of peace and peace for the earth. Hope to see you there!”
Jamie Dedes' THE POET BY DAY Webzine 