Friday, January 29, 2010

"L'Union Fait La Force"

Tania DeBarros, a sophomore at Tufts University.

On Friday, January 29, 2010, 5 students from Massachusetts Institute of Technology, in Cambridge, MA came together to organize a special showcase fundraiser to support the relief efforts that are currently happening in Haiti.  They are participating in "Symphonic Relief for Haiti": A Global Concert to Benefit Partners in Health, where musicians around the world are joining in a global effort to health the community in Haiti through musical performance.  The goal of this global concert is to raise a total of $250,000 for the relief.  

P.A.T.U. Dance Group, presenting traditional and modern African dance.

MIT's showcase, "L'Union Fait La Force: Strength Through Unity" was held in the Kresge Auditorium at 7:00 pm.  Throughout the evening, student as faculty members from MIT and surrounding universities performed, including: Alphi Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Tania DeBarros, The Ex-Factor, Les Freres Deronette, JBonzie, Rayel Light, Love and a Sandwich, Martay, Melange, MIT Gospel Choir, Luis Fouche featuring Tsion Aberra, P.A.T.U. and Patrick Sylvian.  There were also two guest speakers, Noam Chomsky and Dale Joachim, who are both professors at MIT.

Mistresses of Cermony Queenette Karikari and MJ Murphy.

The Longwood Symphony Orchestra and the New England Conservatory will be closing out the last day of events on January 31, 2010 with a final concert at 12:30 pm.  More information can be found on their website here.



Three members of Les Frere de Deronette singing.




To make direct donations to Partners In Health, send checks to 888 Commonwealth Avenue, 3rd floor, Boston, MA 02215, and indicate that your contribution is a part of the "Symphonic Haiti Relief."


Read about Symphonic Relief for Haiti in The Boston Globe's Worldly Boston Blog



Friday, January 22, 2010

Light Reading



Man reading in the Boston Public Library in Copley Square.

Today I stopped into the Boston Public Library to look for a book that the Book Club is reading this month, but I happened to find a bunch of books on the Philippines that I decided to just relax and browse through for a little while before leaving.  I sat at a table next to one of the large, arched windows that look down onto Boylston Street, and I loved the light that filtered in and fell on the face of the man reading in front of me.

Friday, January 15, 2010

Martha Coakley Runs for US Senate

On Friday, January 15, 2010, Martha Coakley held a campaign rally in the Fairmont Copley Plaza Hotel, less than a week before the scheduled special election, Tuesday, January 19th.  Coakley is running against Scott Brown for the US Senate seat for Massachusetts, which was formerly held by the late Ted Kennedy. Kennedy had past away in the middle of his term in 2009 after battling cancer.


Special guests who spoke during the rally included:  Boston Mayor Thomas Menino, Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick, Senate President Therese Murray, Massachusetts US Senior Senator John Kerry, and Former President Bill Clinton.




During Clinton and Coakley's speeches, they encouraged supporters make donations to the Haiti relief (above image).  The former president and his predecessor, George W. Bush, have been appointed leadership roles in the relief efforts and have created the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund.



Mayor Thomas M. Menino



Sr. Senator John Kerry



Former President Bill Clinton (left) with Senate candidate Martha Coakley


If you are a Massachusetts resident, click HERE to find your nearest polling location.




To download the audio from the campaign, click on the following link:
Martha Coakley Campaign Rally Speech - Jan. 15, 2010