Michael Thomas Quintet at Kennedy Center

Silver Spring jazz player, promoter, and educator Michael Thomas plays with his quintet at Millennium Stage, 6 p.m. January 5, 2006. See post and comments on 9/26/06 for info on his music and performance at Kefa Cafe.

Photo of Auction Artwork

Look beyond the shot of me with eyes closed. That's the artwork painter Nihal Kececi is offering at silent auction (minimum bid $500). Come by after Jan. 1 for coffee or gelato and visit the piece in person! —Amy

Silent Auction for Artwork by Nihal Kececi

Our featured artist, Nihal Kececi, this month is selling one special painting, a framed "master's edition," at silent auction. A big painting of a graceful woman in a light blue dress. Here's how it works: You list your name and contact info with your bid and the highest bidder at the end of the exhibit (I think we said 2 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 13) goes home with the painting. And—Nihal will give 50% of the sale to the cafe owners. Bidding starts at $500, and bids may be raised by a minimum of $25.

Check cafe hours the week between Christmas and New Year's (Kwanzaa week) by driving by or calling in advance—the dates fall in such a way that Lene and Abeba may take most or all of the week off (which means no coffees and no gallery viewing, except through the window, on those days).

Meet Nihal Kececi

ART EXHIBIT
Nihal Kececi presents her paintings and fine art prints in an exhibit titled “sensation." Space 7:10 at Kefa Café, Saturday, Dec. 11 —Sat Jan. 13.

RECEPTION
Friday, December 15, 2006, 4:00pm to 5:45pm

Bio
Nihal Kececi has spent a life time bridging the worlds of science, engineering and arts. She has worked as a design engineer, research scientist, and lately a software system analyst. She holds a B.S. in Physics, and a M.S. in Nuclear Engineering and author of many technical articles. She worked as a system design engineer and at the same time participated in many art exhibitions in Turkey, Canada, Germany and USA.

Artist Statement
I am adept at mixing left-and right-brain pursuits, splitting my time between computer screen and canvas. Experimenting with conscious and unconscious painting process raised questions in my mind about the self-reflective nature of reality.

As an engineer, I try to find a model for any complex system for controlling system variables in a logical way. During the intuitive painting process, I learned that modeling and controlling have not been successful for my style of painting, as my best paintings are created when I allowed my hands and my mind to flow freely. I have been wondering if programmed thinking and focus on control prevents one from reaching their soul.

Space 7:10 at Kefa Café
963 Bonifant St.
Silver Spring, MD
301.589.9337

Poem Inspired by Anti-War Poetry Salon

A brand-new poem, and as so much of Kyi's writing, it's somehow, both amusing and poignant. —Amy

A Funny Thing Happened

At the Kefa Café.

I arrived as usual, 6 PM or a little after.

However early I arrive, Lene and Ababe, the owners

have already arranged the chairs for my Salon

This evening Sarah Browning of D.C. Poets Against War is to read.

I get my coffee and Sarah gets a bottle of water.

Ababe at the counter, says “Two people called

They wanted to know if someone named Baldwin is reading.”

Bemusement.

The only Baldwin I know is James.

And maybe the piano. to continue reading

Update on Documentary on Biracial Identity

From filmmaker J. Tomiko Anders, who screened the first rough cut version of "Mergence" at Space 7:10 at Kefa Cafe:

Docs in Progress

Mergence was selected for this round of Docs in Progress with the Women in Film in Video in Washington, D.C. It's an opportunity to "pitch" the film an audience of people and to a roundtable of documentary filmmakers. After the pitch, I'll receive facilitated feedback from the group. http://www.docsinprogress.org/peer_pitch.htm

Mergence Clips at the San Fran Fringe Festival

FUSE, the play associated with the Alloy Project (www.thealloyproject.com) had a successful run at the San Fransisco Fringe Festival in September. Fuse is most successful in its filmed interviews and when onstage couples have specific dramatic stakes." --Bay Times

Interviews Completed!

As of now, the film contains interviews with people representing all 12 of the two or more race groups from the 2000 Census with populations over 100,000 in the U.S. and 6 two or more groups with populations under 100,000. For those of you into demographics this is exciting news--for those of you who aren't--it's great because it means a wider variety of voices are represented.

Post-Production!

Post-production has begun. 70% of the 52 hours(!) of footage has been logged (yes, by me!) and bids are coming in from editors to work with me on creating the final product. I hope to settle on someone by the end of December.

Best,

J. Tomiko

Stop HIV/AIDS in India Initiative Calls for National Guidelines to Treat Children in India

Dr. Vineeta Gupta was a recent guest of Dr. Kaung's Salon. She writes:

Hi friends of SHAII.

Please do send our press release to your list-serves and help get the message across. Thanks!

Best, Vineeta

Stop HIV/AIDS in India Initiative

www.shaii.org

Press Release

India’s initiative to provide low-cost pediatric formulations to 62 countries welcomed

Non-resident Indians and international advocacy groups urge India to reject proposal to adopt the Data Exclusivity provisions to its Drugs and Cosmetics Act in order to maintain its leadership in providing low-cost medicines worldwide

Contact: Dr. Vineeta Gupta, Phone 202-789-0432, Ext. 207, Email: guptahr@yahoo.com

Washington DC, World AIDS Day: December 1, 2006 — The Stop HIV/AIDS in India Initiative (SHAII) is joined by the Students Global AIDS Campaign (SGAC), American Medical Students Association (AMSA), Global AIDS Alliance (GAA), and Global Action for Children (GAC) in welcoming India’s initiative to provide low-costpediatric formulations to 62 countries and to expand its own treatment outreach to children living with HIV/AIDS. SHAII and her partners have been campaigning for the provision of pediatric formulations through government programs, as opposed to providing children with fractions of the adult medication, which often results in over or under dosage.

“Although it is a great initiative, with less than 100 physicians trained to treat India’s more than 250,000 children living with HIV/AIDS, adopting a narrow and target-based approach to increase treatment access from 1048 to 10,000 children in four months without a strong policy framework and guidelines may prove to be counterproductive,” said Dr. Vineeta Gupta, Director of SHAII.


“India must immediately develop and implement national guidelines based on a holistic approach, not only for the treatment, but also for the protection, support, and care of orphans and vulnerable children affected by HIV/AIDS in order to make this initiative really effective,” added Dr. Gupta. Dr. Gupta served as a maternal and childcare physician in India’s public healthcare system for over a decade and has witnessed the pitfalls and failures of target-based healthcare programs.

The initiative to provide low-cost pediatric formulations reinforces India’s leadership in providing global access to AIDS medication. This leadership is under grave threat, as India is considering Data Exclusivity amendments to the Indian Drugs and Cosmetics Act (DCA). If adopted, these amendments will severely impede the future production of low-cost generic medications. Under the current Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) agreement of World Trade Organization (WTO), India is not obligated to impose data exclusivity regulations. The WHO has additionally affirmed this view, yet there is strong pressure from the United States and multinational pharmaceutical companies to enact these provisions. "The pressure from the US is responsible for the Indian government's move to introduce data exclusivity. This needs to be exposed by the global civil society," said Gopa Kumar of the Center for Trade and Development, India. Of the 1.6 million people living with HIV/AIDS receiving ARVs worldwide, more than 50% rely on Indian generic medicines.

Vineeta Gupta

MD, JD, LL.M

Director, Stop HIV/AIDS in India Initiative

Phone 202-789-0432 Ext 207

www.shaii.org