Congratulations Eric Garcetti Is Elected Mayor City of Los Angeles
May 21, 2013 by News Desk
Filed under Breaking News, City, Local Elections, News, People
Photo credit to: Wikipedia
Eric Michael Garcetti (born February 4, 1971) is the mayor-elect of Los Angeles and an outgoing member of the Los Angeles City Council, representing the 13th District.[1] He served as Council President from 2006 to 2012.[2]
Garcetti is the son of the former Los Angeles County District Attorney Gil Garcetti. A member of the Democratic Party, Garcetti won in a nonpartisan election for Mayor on May 21, 2013, defeating city Controller Wendy Greuel;[3] Garcetti is the city’s first elected Jewish mayor and its youngest in more than a century.
On May 21, 2013 Eric Garcetti was elected Mayor of Los Angeles with 53.9% of votes. His term will begin in July 2013.
“Thank you Los Angeles–the hard work begins but I am honored to lead this city for the next four years. Let’s make this a great city again.” twitted Mayor elect Eric Garcetti.
“You can’t look to the stars until you’ve fixed the cracks in the sidewalk,” Los Angeles City Councilmember Eric Garcetti often says. As the third-term councilmember serving the 13th Council District, Garcetti has shown that a commitment to the street-level health of the community is a necessary first step in creating positive change. His unique combination of pothole politics and vision has won measurable results in the 13th District, showing how local solutions can show the way to make our city safer, create transportation solutions, and ease the city’s housing crisis.
A fourth-generation Angeleno, Eric Garcetti was born at Good Samaritan Hospital and grew up in Los Angeles. He won a hotly-contested election to the Los Angeles City Council in 2001, becoming one of the youngest city councilmembers in the city’s history. Over 100 languages are spoken on the streets of his district, from Hollywood to Downtown and across the Los Angeles River. The neighborhoods he represents constitute the beating heart of Los Angeles.
Garcetti was unanimously elected as Council President in December 2005 and unanimously re-elected in July 2007 and July 2009. During his tenure as president, he modernized the council’s legislative assignments, making the council’s committees more reflective of the issues that face Los Angeles.
During his first term in office, Garcetti emerged as an effective local problem-solver and as a strong advocate on citywide and national issues. He led the effort to fund the nation’s largest Affordable Housing Trust Fund, oversaw the economic and cultural revitalization of Hollywood, wrote and championed Proposition O to clean up our local water, won passage of a plan that eliminated the city’s business tax for 60% of all businesses, and helped bring thousands of new high wage jobs to Los Angeles and his district. In his district, he tackled neighborhoods’ most intractable problems, nearly tripled the number of parks, ensuring the availability of an after-school program in every school in the district, and reducing graffiti by more than 60 percent.
Councilmember Garcetti’s work has been recognized in dozens of awards, including the John F. Kennedy New Frontier Award for Americans under 40 who are changing their communities with a commitment to public service; the Green Cross Millennium Award from former President Mikhail Gorbachev, for environmental leadership; a “Tiger Award” from the Valley Industry and Commerce Association, for his work on business tax reform; the New Democrat of the Week recognition from the Democratic Leadership Council, for his work on safety in commercial office buildings and security officers’ working conditions; and the first Olson Award from Human Rights Watch for his human rights activism.
The Los Angeles Times writes that Garcetti is “smart” and “imaginative” and offers the city “refreshing idealism.” He was featured in LA Weekly’s Best of Los Angeles issue and the Los Angeles Alternative Press readers named him “L.A.’s Favorite Elected Official” of 2003. In 2004, The Los Angeles Business Journal named him one of the 25 Angelenos who stand out for their potential to shape lives in Los Angeles. A profile in Los Angeles magazine in 2006 called him “a rising star”.
Photo credit to: ericgarcetti.com
Prior to his election, Garcetti taught public policy, diplomacy and world affairs at Occidental College and the University of Southern California. In 1998, the Rockefeller Foundation selected him as a Next Generation Leadership Fellow. Eric Garcetti was raised in the San Fernando Valley. He studied urban planning and political science at Columbia University, where he received his B.A. and M.A. in International Relations. He studied as a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford University and the London School of Economics. He is an avid photographer, jazz pianist and composer. He lives in Silver Lake with his wife, Amy Elaine Wakeland.
Sources: Wikipedia, http://cd13.com, http://www.ericgarcetti.com
About News Desk
About Diversity News Magazine: Diversity News Magazine is an independent multi-media outlet own by Minority-Owned Business who works with everyone and it is published by Diversity News Publications. Diversity News Magazine executive editor-in-chief is Esteban Escobar aka Steven Escobar an award winning honored and respected Journalist. Diversity News Magazine is a consumer news magazine covering news, entertainment, features, awards, sports, events and much more. DiversityNewsMagazine.com, an online & special print consumer news magazine that is visited by more than two million visitors a month, it is another venue for advertisers to showcase their products, brands or services on the classified and display pages. The purpose of the magazine is to educate and inform the diverse community worldwide. It focuses on local, national and international news, entertainment, features, sports and more importantly, newsworthy items that would be of interest to our diverse cultures. For more information visit Diversity News Magazine at http://www.diversitynewsmagazine.com/
Actor and LGBT advocate Omar Sharif Jr. joins GLAAD staff
April 12, 2013 by News Desk
Filed under LGBT, News, People, Uncategorized
Photo credit to: Bjoern Kommerell/GLAAD
NEW YORK, April 12, 2013 - GLAAD, the nation’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) media advocacy organization, today announced that actor and LGBT advocate Omar Sharif Jr. will join GLAAD’s staff as National Spokesperson and Strategic Giving Officer. Complementing the work of National Spokesperson Wilson Cruz, Sharif Jr. will be an essential part of GLAAD’s Development team, helping to build relationships with donors and raise vital funds to support GLAAD’s work to lead the conversation for LGBT equality.
“I’m thrilled to be joining GLAAD in their culture-changing work” said Sharif Jr. “Having lived and worked in over half a dozen countries, I know the influence and impact that American media has globally – particularly in the broader Middle East, where it is widely syndicated and consumed. Working with GLAAD, I know that that I’ll be helping to effectuate change back home and around the world.
“Omar’s story is one of tremendous courage and one that also reflects the journey travelled by countless Americans who’ve come to support equality after a friend, family member or colleague comes out as LGBT,” said GLAAD’s Dave Montez. “As an outspoken advocate for equality, Omar brings not only extraordinary skill and expertise to GLAAD, but also an incredible passion for building a better tomorrow for LGBT people everywhere.”
Sharif Jr. comes to GLAAD from a Canadian non-profit advocacy organization, where he served as the Director of Outreach and garnered several years’ experience in the areas of fundraising, government affairs, legislation, non-profit development, and advocacy.
Last year, Sharif Jr. published a letter in The Advocate, in which he came out as gay and half-Jewish and questioned the new Egyptian government’s commitment to basic human rights and diversity. He then faced a barrage of condemnation, criticism and threats of violence. In his words, “Most of this negativity was spurred on by the Arabic media’s demonization of my gay identity. Having lived through this experience and others, I feel that I am perfectly positioned to embody GLAAD’s mandate to donors as I can speak from the heart and cite personal experience in an effort to highlight the importance of promoting understanding and acceptance and advancing equality through the media. Last year, when I came out, I did not simply find my voice; I found my purpose. With that purpose came a sense of urgency and a responsibility to advocate on behalf of those still silenced by fear or repression.”
Sharif Jr. holds an advanced Master’s degree with merit from The London School of Economics. His first day at GLAAD will be May 1, 2013.
About GLAAD: GLAAD amplifies the voice of the LGBT community by empowering real people to share their stories, holding the media accountable for the words and images they present, and helping grassroots organizations communicate effectively. By ensuring that the stories of LGBT people are heard through the media, GLAAD promotes understanding, increases acceptance, and advances equality. For more information, please visit www.glaad.org or connect with GLAAD on Facebook and Twitter.
Source: GLAAD
About News Desk
About Diversity News Magazine: Diversity News Magazine is an independent multi-media outlet own by Minority-Owned Business who works with everyone and it is published by Diversity News Publications. Diversity News Magazine executive editor-in-chief is Esteban Escobar aka Steven Escobar an award winning honored and respected Journalist. Diversity News Magazine is a consumer news magazine covering news, entertainment, features, awards, sports, events and much more. DiversityNewsMagazine.com, an online & special print consumer news magazine that is visited by more than two million visitors a month, it is another venue for advertisers to showcase their products, brands or services on the classified and display pages. The purpose of the magazine is to educate and inform the diverse community worldwide. It focuses on local, national and international news, entertainment, features, sports and more importantly, newsworthy items that would be of interest to our diverse cultures. For more information visit Diversity News Magazine at http://www.diversitynewsmagazine.com/
TV and Radio Host/Producer Ryan Seacrest Named Honorary Chair of the GRAMMY Foundation Board
January 30, 2013 by News Desk
Filed under Breaking News, Business News, Celebrities, Charity News, Entertainment News, News, People
Photo courtesy of Ryan Seacrest Productions
GRAMMY Foundation® and The Recording Academy®
Partner to Institute First Annual Music Educator Award.
Santa Monica, Calif. (Jan. 30, 2013) — The GRAMMY Foundation® — one of two affiliated charities of The Recording Academy® — announced today that Ryan Seacrest has been appointed Honorary Chair of the GRAMMY Foundation Board. The GRAMMY Foundation offers year-round music education programs for high school students and schools; and advancement, archiving and preservation, and grant-making programs to safeguard important collections and fund research at the intersection of music and science. Seacrest joins current GRAMMY Foundation Board Chairman and new venture backer Rusty Rueff; Vice Chair Tim Bucher, founder and CEO of TastingRoom.com and Silicon Valley-based entrepreneur; Secretary/Treasurer Geoff Cottrill, chief marketing officer of Converse; and Chair Emeritus Beatriz R. Perez, chief sustainability officer of the Coca-Cola Company, in leadership positions at the organization.
“I speak for all of the officers and directors of the GRAMMY Foundation in wholeheartedly welcoming Ryan to our Board,” said Neil Portnow, President/CEO of The Recording Academy and GRAMMY Foundation. “I’ve known Ryan personally and professionally for many years, and his energy, integrity and keen vision will bring an increased strength to our mission and programs.”
“Contributing to the great work of the GRAMMY Foundation will be an honor and privilege, as music has forever been a powerful force in my life,” said Seacrest. “It’s truly exciting to join the Board and help launch the Music Educator Award, which will recognize one of America’s greatest treasures: music teachers.”
In recognition of the significant role of teachers in shaping their students’ musical experiences, the GRAMMY Foundation and The Recording Academy are partnering to present the first Music Educator Award. Open to current U.S. music teachers kindergarten through college, the Music Educator Award will be awarded annually starting in 2014 during GRAMMY Week. The nomination process will launch online beginning Feb. 10 at www.grammymusicteacher.comand the deadline for submissions is April 15.
Seacrest holds preeminent positions in broadcast and cable television, nationally syndicated radio and local radio as both an Emmy®-winning producer and host. He is celebrated internationally as host of the top-rated primetime talent showcase “American Idol” on Fox, serves as an executive producer and host of “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve With Ryan Seacrest” on ABC, and has a groundbreaking agreement with NBCUniversal that includes on-air broadcasting and producing duties across the NBC and E! networks. On radio, Seacrest is host of “On Air With Ryan Seacrest,” his market-topping No. 1 nationally syndicated Los Angeles morning drive-time show for Clear Channel’s 102.7 KIIS-FM, as well as a nationally syndicated Top 40 radio show.
He launched Ryan Seacrest Productions in 2006, which has since become an Emmy-winning television production powerhouse creating unscripted, scripted and digital programming. RSP produces the E! hit series “Keeping Up With The Kardashians” and spin-offs “Kourtney And Kim Take Miami” and “Khloe And Lamar.” RSP is currently producing “Married To Jonas” on E! and “Shahs Of Sunset” on Bravo. The company also produced the Emmy Award-winning reality series “Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution.”
Seacrest is an investor in media and entertainment companies: he recently made an investment in Civic Entertainment Group, a marketing services company, as well as in the new cable channel, AXS TV. He has strategic partnerships with several blue-chip brands, including Coca-Cola, Procter & Gamble and Ford.
He is also chairman of the Ryan Seacrest Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for seriously ill and injured children through unique programs that utilize multimedia and interactive platforms. RSF is building broadcast media centers within hospitals for children to explore the creative realms of radio, television and new media. RSF has opened broadcast media centers in Atlanta, Philadelphia and Dallas.
About The GRAMMY Foundation:
The GRAMMY Foundation was established in 1989 to cultivate the understanding, appreciation and advancement of the contribution of recorded music to American culture. The Foundation accomplishes this mission through programs and activities that engage the music industry and cultural community as well as the general public. The Foundation works in partnership year-round with its founder, The Recording Academy®, to bring national attention to important issues such as the value and impact of music and arts education and the urgency of preserving our rich cultural heritage. For more information about the Foundation, please visit www.grammyfoundation.org
About The Recording Academy:
Established in 1957, The Recording Academy is an organization of musicians, songwriters, producers, engineers and recording professionals that is dedicated to improving the cultural condition and quality of life for music and its makers. Internationally known for the GRAMMY Awards — the preeminent peer-recognized award for musical excellence and the most credible brand in music — The Recording Academy is responsible for groundbreaking professional development, cultural enrichment, advocacy, education and human services programs. The Academy continues to focus on its mission of recognizing musical excellence, advocating for the well-being of music makers and ensuring music remains an indelible part of our culture. For more information about The Academy, please visit www.grammy.com.
Source: The Recording Academy
About News Desk
About Diversity News Magazine: Diversity News Magazine is an independent multi-media outlet own by Minority-Owned Business who works with everyone and it is published by Diversity News Publications. Diversity News Magazine executive editor-in-chief is Esteban Escobar aka Steven Escobar an award winning honored and respected Journalist. Diversity News Magazine is a consumer news magazine covering news, entertainment, features, awards, sports, events and much more. DiversityNewsMagazine.com, an online & special print consumer news magazine that is visited by more than two million visitors a month, it is another venue for advertisers to showcase their products, brands or services on the classified and display pages. The purpose of the magazine is to educate and inform the diverse community worldwide. It focuses on local, national and international news, entertainment, features, sports and more importantly, newsworthy items that would be of interest to our diverse cultures. For more information visit Diversity News Magazine at http://www.diversitynewsmagazine.com/
American Idol’s Randy Jackson Receives “Music for Life” Award at 2013 NAMM Show
January 24, 2013 by Entertainment Desk
Filed under Awards, Breaking News, Celebrities, Entertainment News, Featured, News, People
Photo by David Livingston/Getty Images for NAMM)
Legendary producer, musician and TV personality awarded NAMM’s highest honor
Carlsbad, CA (January 24, 2013) – The National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) honors legendary music producer Randy Jackson with its highest honor, the “Music for Life” award. Jackson is recognized for his pervasive influence in the music world, and his longtime encouragement of budding music-makers.
Photo by David Livingston/Getty Images for NAMM
Introducing the GRAMMY-winning producer, musician, songwriter, best-selling author, entrepreneur and beloved television personality to a packed house during the 2013 NAMM Show’s Breakfast of Champions, NAMM president and CEO Joe Lamond refers to Jackson as one of music’s true renaissance men.
“Throughout his career, Randy Jackson has served as an ambassador for music in all its forms – as a musician, a writer, collaborator, and producer,” said Lamond. “His enthusiasm for the musicians he interacts with on “American Idol” is unabashed and real, and truly comes from an organic place. Randy Jackson knows music because he lives music.”
NAMM’s “Music for Life” award was created to recognize individuals and organizations that demonstrate, support and exemplify NAMM’s vision that the joy of making music is a precious element of daily living for everyone. Past recipients have included musicians such as Stevie Wonder, Yoko Ono, Quincy Jones, Henry and Felice Mancini, as well as members of Congress, governors, business leaders, the Smithsonian, and Sesame Workshop.
Photo by Rodrigo Vaz/Diversity News Magazine
Growing up in Baton Rouge, LA, Jackson was immersed in the region’s veritable music gumbo on the streets, in church and at home. Developing an affinity for myriad styles, he naturally picked up the bass guitar at 13-years-old and began on a dynamic and diverse path. He has performed with Journey, Aretha Franklin, Bob Dylan, Jerry Garcia, Keith Richards and countless others. Jackson produced and collaborated with music luminaries from nearly all disciplines. All in all, he’s received more than 1000 gold and platinum plaques with collective sales exceeding 200 million. Jackson moved seamlessly into his role as “American Idol’s” longest-standing judge, combining his producer’s sensibilities and his musician’s ear to help make the show one of the highest rated in television history.
His charitable work includes Save the Children, the Gibson Foundation, Ronald McDonald House charities, the T.J. Martell Foundation, and NARAS Music for Schools. He is the architect of multi-million dollar fundraiser “Idol Gives Back,” which delivered relief to beleaguered Louisiana in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. He also contributed to the remake of “We Are The World,” benefiting Haitian relief efforts.
The NAMM Show gathers 95,000 members of the music product industry from around the world to preview new product debuts from thousands of brands across every category. Learn more about the 2013 NAMM Show at http://www.namm.org/
About NAMM
The National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) is the not-for-profit association with a mission to strengthen the $17 billion music products industry and promote the pleasures and benefits of making music. NAMM’s activities and programs are designed to promote music making to people of all ages. NAMM is comprised of approximately 8,500 Member companies located in more than 87 countries. For more information about NAMM or the proven benefits of making music, interested parties can visit www.namm.org, call 800-767-NAMM (6266) or follow the organization on Facebook, Twitter and YouTu
Sources: Lippin Group/NAMM
About Entertainment Desk
About Diversity News Magazine: Diversity News Magazine is an independent multi-media outlet own by Minority-Owned Business who works with everyone and it is published by Diversity News Publications. Diversity News Magazine executive editor-in-chief is Esteban Escobar aka Steven Escobar an award winning honored and respected Journalist. Diversity News Magazine is a consumer news magazine covering news, entertainment, features, awards, sports, events and much more. DiversityNewsMagazine.com, an online & special print consumer news magazine that is visited by more than two million visitors a month, it is another venue for advertisers to showcase their products, brands or services on the classified and display pages. The purpose of the magazine is to educate and inform the diverse community worldwide. It focuses on local, national and international news, entertainment, features, sports and more importantly, newsworthy items that would be of interest to our diverse cultures. For more information visit Diversity News Magazine at http://www.diversitynewsmagazine.com/
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Kerry Washington to Receive President’s Award at 44th NAACP IMAGE AWARDS Feb. 1st
January 18, 2013 by Entertainment Desk
Filed under Awards, Breaking News, Celebrities, Entertainment News, Events, News, People, Television Shows
Photo courtesy of NAACP Image Awards
Presentation to Trailblazing Actress and Activist
To Be Made During Live Broadcast on Feb. 1, 8-10 p.m. EST on NBC.
LOS ANGELES, CA (January 18, 2013) – Kerry Washington will be presented with the NAACP President’s Award at the 44th NAACP IMAGE AWARDS, broadcast live from 8-10 p.m. ET (PT tape-delayed) on Feb. 1 on NBC, it was announced today by the NAACP.
The NAACP President’s Award, chosen by NAACP President and CEO Benjamin Todd Jealous, is bestowed in recognition of special achievement and distinguished public service. Past honorees include Van Jones, President Bill Clinton, Soledad O’Brien, Ruby Dee, Muhammad Ali, and most recently, the Founding Members of the Black Stuntmen’s Association.
“For the first time in 40 years, we have a black woman playing the leading role in a primetime drama on network television. Kerry Washington is a modern trailblazer,” states Jealous. “Her talent and will have taken her to heights we have not seen in years. She extends the tradition of women like Ruby Dee, Cicily Tyson, and Lena Horne. Rather than seeing her professional success as cause for political silence, she has chosen to use it as a platform for social change. Her championing of the rights of women around the world, and her early work to campaign for President Barack Obama are examples of her willingness to be a politically active and risk-taking woman in real life even as she plays one on TV.”
NAACP award-winning actress, Kerry Washington, is a versatile and fearless actress with an impressive and diverse body of work. With the critical and commercial success of her most recent projects (Django Unchained and ABC’sScandal) garnering industry-wide acclaim, as well as her involvement with President Obama’s re-election campaign, Washington has proven herself to be an emerging power player in Hollywood as well as a social and political activist within the community.
Washington is an active member of the V-Counsel, an esteemed group of advisors to V-Day, the global movement to end violence against women and girls, and she serves on the board of Voices of a People’s History, a non-profit arts and education group. She also sits on the Artist’s Committee for the largest national advocacy association for the arts, Americans For The Arts. In 2008, Washington received several accolades including the Women’s Project Women of Achievement Award, the GWU Alumni Association’s Recent Alumni Achievement Award, and the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Phoenix Award, for Washington’s commitment to social advocacy. In 2009, Washington received the US Conference of Mayors Artist-Citizen Award for public leadership in the arts. That year she was also named a member of President Obama’s Committee for the Arts and Humanities, headed by First Lady Michelle Obama.
Originally from The Bronx, New York, Washington is a graduate of The Spence School. In 1998, she graduated Magna Cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa from The George Washington University.
The NAACP Image Awards are being produced by Reginald Hudlin and Brad Lachman. Bill Bracken will serve as Supervising Producer and Byron Phillips as producer. The production team also includes Tony McCuin as director and Melanie Massie as the talent executive. The live show will originate from The Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles.
Event sponsors include FedEx, AARP, UAW/Chrysler, Wells Fargo, Ford Motor Company, Anheuser Busch, Hyundai Motors, AT&T, Southwest Airlines and Walgreens.
Logo courtesy of NBC
About the NAACP Image Awards:
The NAACP Image Awards is the premier multicultural awards show. It celebrates the accomplishments of people of color in the fields of television, music, literature and film, and also honors individuals or groups who promote social justice through creative endeavors. For all information and latest news, please visit the official NAACP Image Awards website at http://www.naacpimageawards.net
About the NAACP:
Founded in 1909, the NAACP is the nation’s oldest and largest civil rights organization. Its members throughout the United States and the world are the premier advocates for civil rights in their communities, conducting voter mobilization and monitoring equal opportunity in the public and private sectors. For more information visit http://www.naacp.org/
Sources: NAACP and The Lippin Group
About Entertainment Desk
About Diversity News Magazine: Diversity News Magazine is an independent multi-media outlet own by Minority-Owned Business who works with everyone and it is published by Diversity News Publications. Diversity News Magazine executive editor-in-chief is Esteban Escobar aka Steven Escobar an award winning honored and respected Journalist. Diversity News Magazine is a consumer news magazine covering news, entertainment, features, awards, sports, events and much more. DiversityNewsMagazine.com, an online & special print consumer news magazine that is visited by more than two million visitors a month, it is another venue for advertisers to showcase their products, brands or services on the classified and display pages. The purpose of the magazine is to educate and inform the diverse community worldwide. It focuses on local, national and international news, entertainment, features, sports and more importantly, newsworthy items that would be of interest to our diverse cultures. For more information visit Diversity News Magazine at http://www.diversitynewsmagazine.com/
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Lawrence Wright book “Going Clear: Scientology, Hollywood, and the Prison of Belief” Controversies
January 18, 2013 by Esteban Escobar
Filed under Book Releases, Celebrities, Consumer News, Entertainment News, International News, News, People, US News
Graphic courtesy of Lawrence Wright
On Thursday, January 17, 2013 NBC Rock Center with Brian Williams television show investigates about The Church of Scientology controversies.
The most famous Scientologist to leave Scientology and speak out against it, sits down for an exclusive television interview with Harry Smith. Paul Haggis, the Oscar-winning writer and director of “Crash” opens up about what attracted him to Scientology and why he ultimately walked away from it after 34 years. Plus, Pulitzer Prize-winning author Lawrence Wright who wrote the new book Going Clear: Scientology, Hollywood and The Prison of Belief, and former members of the Church of Scientology who say they were pressured to abort their child and were punished when they chose not to. The church denies the allegations.
The Sea Organization, or Sea Org, is a unit of the Church of Scientology, comprising the church’s most dedicated members. The church refers to it as a religious order. As of 2009 it had around 6,000 members.[2] The Sea Org was established on 12 August 1967 by L. Ron Hubbard, the science fiction writer and church’s founder, initially on board three ships, theDiana, the Athena, and the Apollo. In 1971 it assumed responsibility for the ecclesiastical development of the church, and in particular for the upper levels of its training, known asOperating Thetan or OT levels.[3]
It moved to land bases in 1975, though maritime customs persist, with members wearing naval-style uniforms and addressing each other, women included, as “sir.”[4] In 1988 the church purchased a 440-foot ship, the “Freewinds,” which docks in Curacao in the southern Caribbean and is used as a religious retreat and training centre, staffed entirely by Sea Org members.[2]Sea Org members sign one-billion-year contracts with the church, in exchange for which they are given free room and board, and a small weekly allowance. They are allowed to marry, but must relinquish their membership if they have or want to raise children.[5]
The Billion-year contract
According to Hubbard, the Sea Org’s mission is “an exploration into both time and space.”[6] Sea Org members act as goodwill representatives and administrators of Scientology; all policy and administrative posts in the church’s key organizations are held by Sea Org members.[3] Most members are given room, board and a small weekly allowance of about $24 per week, though some sources list $50.[9]
In accordance with Scientology beliefs, members are expected to return to the Sea Org when they are reborn; the Sea Org’s motto is “We Come Back.”[1] Members must therefore sign a symbolic billion-year “religious commitment,” pledging to “get ethics in on this planet and the universe.”[10] The church contends that the contract is merely symbolic of the dedication members are expected to give to the organization, and that they are free to leave if they wish. After signing, members report to the Estates Project Force, the Sea Org’s induction programme; Melton writes that members may take several years between signing the commitment and attending the induction. Once induction is completed, the final decision to join is made.[11]
Members who leave the Sea Org are issued a “freeloader’s bill,” retroactively billing them for any auditing or training they have received. Although the bill is not legally enforceable, these Scientologists may not receive services at any Scientology organization until they pay the bill and perform an ethics course.[12]
About Going Clear: Scientology, Hollywood, and the Prison of Belief:
A clear-sighted revelation, a deep penetration into the world of Scientology by the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Looming Tower, the now-classic study of al-Qaeda’s 9/11 attack. Based on more than two hundred personal interviews with current and former Scientologists—both famous and less well known—and years of archival research, Lawrence Wright uses his extraordinary investigative ability to uncover for us the inner workings of the Church of Scientology.
At the book’s center, two men whom Wright brings vividly to life, showing how they have made Scientology what it is today: The darkly brilliant science-fiction writer L. Ron Hubbard, whose restless, expansive mind invented a new religion. And his successor, David Miscavige—tough and driven, with the unenviable task of preserving the church after the death of Hubbard.
We learn about Scientology’s complicated cosmology and special language. We see the ways in which the church pursues celebrities, such as Tom Cruise and John Travolta, and how such stars are used to advance the church’s goals. And we meet the young idealists who have joined the Sea Org, the church’s clergy, signing up with a billion-year contract.
In Going Clear, Wright examines what fundamentally makes a religion a religion, and whether Scientology is, in fact, deserving of this constitutional protection. Employing all his exceptional journalistic skills of observation, understanding, and shaping a story into a compelling narrative, Lawrence Wright has given us an evenhanded yet keenly incisive book that reveals the very essence of what makes Scientology the institution it is.
About Lawrence Wright: Lawrence Wright is a graduate of Tulane University and the American University in Cairo, where he spent two years teaching. He is a staff writer for The New Yorker, and the author of one novel, God’s Favorite, and six previous books of nonfiction, including In the New World; Saints and Sinners; Remembering Satan; and The Looming Tower, which was the recipient of many honors–among them, The Pulitzer Prize, the Los Angeles Times Book Prize, and the New York Public Library’s Helen Bernstein Book Award for Excellence in Journalism. He is also a screenwriter and a playwright. He and his wife are longtime residents of Austin, Texas. Lawrence Wright official website: http://www.lawrencewright.com/
Sources: NBC, Amazon.com, Wikipedia
Editor’s Note: We have attended to The Church of Scientology Celebrity Center in Hollywood for many community events and we can tell you that we do not see anything of what is been reported or written on the book about how they treat brainwashed people. The only thing that we can say is that is up to you, if you let somebody take advantage or brainwash you about religions.
About Esteban "Steven" Escobar
Executive Editor In Chief, Director of Public/Media Relations & Community Affairs, Sales, Reporter, Webmaster & Graphic Designer Specialist. About Esteban “Steven” Escobar: Esteban A. Escobar (born in El Salvador, Central America on September 6th) is an Award Winning American (Journalist, reporter, editor, columnist, writer, producer, director, publicist, radio personality, accounts receivable specialist, humanitarian and philanthropist). Esteban is known as Steven Escobar. He is the Executive Editor-In-Chief of Diversity News Magazine, an online & special print consumer news magazine that is visited by close to two million visitors a month while growing each day. Esteban “Steven” Escobar is also Producer, Director of Diversity News TV, the host of Diversity News Radio, on Air with Steven Escobar and the President of Diversity News Publications, a news/entertainment multimedia firm in Hollywood, CA. Steven Escobar owns E.E.Enterprises and an affiliate of The Diversity News Publications Family of Companies. Steven Escobar is also the official Hollywood and Los Angeles County Events Examiner for Examiner.com and contributor for Yahoo.com distributed via Yahoo Voices. Steven Escobar also gives back to the community by helping charities, and since 2003 to the present, he has been raising money and awareness for AIDS Walk LA benefiting AIDS Project Los Angeles. Also in 2011 Steven Escobar raised money and awareness for The Life Group LA and volunteered for Exotifit For Humanity and The Human Rights Campaign Los Angeles Steering Committee. Steven was nominated for The Shorty Awards 2011 and the People’s Choice Fan Award 2012. In 2012 Steven Escobar receives the Humanitarian Award at the 2012 International Noble Awards. Also on June 2, 2012 Steven Escobar Received the Community and Humanitarian Services Award at Kayamanan ng Bayan for all his contributions to the Filipino American community in Southern California. On 12-12-12 Steven Escobar received Award for Most Fascinating Person of the Year 2012. On 2-22-2013 Steven Escobar is nominated for a 2013 EOTM Award (Entrepreneurs on the Move) for Outstanding Journalist and on April 25, 2013 receives nomination for 2013 EOTM Award for Outstanding Internet Radio. On April 4, 2013 Steven Escobar receives award for Diversity News TV “Best B-Roll." Yahoo.com names Steven Escobar the Hot 500 contributors during the month of March 2012 of Yahoo! Contributor Network. Steven Escobar currently resides in Los Angeles County in the City of Hollywood, CA. For more information visithttp://www.stevenescobar.diversitynewspublications.com, http://www.stevenescobar.blogspot.com or his IMDB at http://www.imdb.com/name/nm4164655/
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Chelsea Clinton Named Honorary Chair of the National Day of Service for Presidential Inaugural
January 15, 2013 by News Desk
Filed under Breaking News, Government, News, People
Photo credit: Facebook
WASHINGTON – Tuesday, January 15, 2013, Today the Presidential Inaugural Committee (PIC) announced that Chelsea Clinton will serve as Honorary Chair of the 2013 National Day of Service, which will kick off the Second Inaugural weekend of President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden.
“We are thrilled that Chelsea Clinton will play such a critical role in mobilizing Americans across the country to take part in the National Day of Service,” said PIC President and CEO Steve Kerrigan. “Through her work with the Clinton Foundation and her recent efforts to help communities impacted by Hurricane Sandy, Chelsea sets a remarkable example for serving and strengthening our country. As Honorary Chair, she will be instrumental in helping lead the President’s call to service and growing this important tradition.”
Chelsea Clinton will join Americans in all 50 states to participate in service events on Saturday, January 19 and will headline the Service Summit on the National Mall. The First and Second Families will also be participating in service events in the D.C. area on Saturday.
“There is no more fitting way to mark a presidential inauguration than a day of service,” said Chelsea Clinton. “Coming together as a country to strengthen our communities has always been part of the American spirit. I am deeply grateful that President Obama and his administration have put service at the center of the Inauguration weekend and I am proud to be part of a nation-wide service effort, honoring the service and legacy of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and building a brighter future for all of us.”
More information on the 2013 Presidential Inaugural Committee can be found at www.2013pic.org and on Twitter @obamainaugural.
Chelsea Clinton
Chelsea Clinton has worked at McKinsey & Company and Avenue Capital and studied at Stanford, Oxford and Columbia Universities. She is currently pursuing a doctorate at Oxford, working at New York University and working with the Clinton Foundation and the Clinton Global Initiative and is a special correspondent for NBC News. Chelsea currently serves on the boards of the Clinton Foundation, the Clinton Global Initiative, the School of American Ballet, Common Sense Media and the Weill Cornell Medical College. She and her husband, Marc, live in New York City. For more information visit https://www.facebook.com/chelseaclinton
About News Desk
About Diversity News Magazine: Diversity News Magazine is an independent multi-media outlet own by Minority-Owned Business who works with everyone and it is published by Diversity News Publications. Diversity News Magazine executive editor-in-chief is Esteban Escobar aka Steven Escobar an award winning honored and respected Journalist. Diversity News Magazine is a consumer news magazine covering news, entertainment, features, awards, sports, events and much more. DiversityNewsMagazine.com, an online & special print consumer news magazine that is visited by more than two million visitors a month, it is another venue for advertisers to showcase their products, brands or services on the classified and display pages. The purpose of the magazine is to educate and inform the diverse community worldwide. It focuses on local, national and international news, entertainment, features, sports and more importantly, newsworthy items that would be of interest to our diverse cultures. For more information visit Diversity News Magazine at http://www.diversitynewsmagazine.com/
Jacob Lew Nominated as Treasury Secretary by President Barack Obama
January 10, 2013 by News Desk
Filed under Breaking News, Government, International News, News, People, Politics, US News
President Obama Nominates Jacob Lew as Treasury Secretary (via The White House)
President Barack Obama announces Chief of Staff Jack Lew is his nominee for Treasury Secretary to replace Timothy Geithner, right, in the East Room of the White House, Jan. 10, 2013. (Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy) Today, in an event President Obama nominated Jacob Lew — the current…
About News Desk
About Diversity News Magazine: Diversity News Magazine is an independent multi-media outlet own by Minority-Owned Business who works with everyone and it is published by Diversity News Publications. Diversity News Magazine executive editor-in-chief is Esteban Escobar aka Steven Escobar an award winning honored and respected Journalist. Diversity News Magazine is a consumer news magazine covering news, entertainment, features, awards, sports, events and much more. DiversityNewsMagazine.com, an online & special print consumer news magazine that is visited by more than two million visitors a month, it is another venue for advertisers to showcase their products, brands or services on the classified and display pages. The purpose of the magazine is to educate and inform the diverse community worldwide. It focuses on local, national and international news, entertainment, features, sports and more importantly, newsworthy items that would be of interest to our diverse cultures. For more information visit Diversity News Magazine at http://www.diversitynewsmagazine.com/
VIDEO: Elton John and David Furnish Are Fathers Again
January 10, 2013 by Entertainment Desk
Filed under Breaking News, Celebrities, Entertainment News, News, People, VIDEOS
It’s baby number two! Elton and David invite a new joy unto their world.
About Entertainment Desk
About Diversity News Magazine: Diversity News Magazine is an independent multi-media outlet own by Minority-Owned Business who works with everyone and it is published by Diversity News Publications. Diversity News Magazine executive editor-in-chief is Esteban Escobar aka Steven Escobar an award winning honored and respected Journalist. Diversity News Magazine is a consumer news magazine covering news, entertainment, features, awards, sports, events and much more. DiversityNewsMagazine.com, an online & special print consumer news magazine that is visited by more than two million visitors a month, it is another venue for advertisers to showcase their products, brands or services on the classified and display pages. The purpose of the magazine is to educate and inform the diverse community worldwide. It focuses on local, national and international news, entertainment, features, sports and more importantly, newsworthy items that would be of interest to our diverse cultures. For more information visit Diversity News Magazine at http://www.diversitynewsmagazine.com/
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The 2012 White House Holiday Card features First Family’s dog Bo
December 6, 2012 by News Desk
Filed under Breaking News, Featured, Government, Holidays, International News, News, People, Pets, Political, US News
The 2012 White House Holiday card has arrived. And this year’s card spotlights the beloved First Family’s dog, Bo.
The card was designed by Larassa Kabel, a professional artist from Des Moines, Iowa. Ms. Kabel has been creating photorealistic prints, paintings and drawings for the past 8 years and was featured as a solo artist in the Des Moines Art Center’s Iowa Artist Show in 2009, the Iowa Artist 2010 group show and many other solo and group shows in Iowa, Michigan, Texas, Florida and New York. Her work is in several private and corporate collections including Aviva, Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shield, and the World Food Prize headquarters. She also has a much-loved dog at home, which is why she chose to feature Bo in this year’s White House Holiday card.
Bo Inspects the 2012 White House Holiday Decorations
Bo makes a final inspection of the 2012 White House Christmas decorations before 90,000 visitors come through the doors of the People’s House this holiday season.
To learn more:
- Photo Gallery: First Lady Tribute Ornaments
- Joy to All: First Lady Michelle Obama Previews the 2012 White House Holiday Decor
- Bo Inspects the 2012 White House Holiday Decorations
Photo credit: The White House
Source: The White House
About News Desk
About Diversity News Magazine: Diversity News Magazine is an independent multi-media outlet own by Minority-Owned Business who works with everyone and it is published by Diversity News Publications. Diversity News Magazine executive editor-in-chief is Esteban Escobar aka Steven Escobar an award winning honored and respected Journalist. Diversity News Magazine is a consumer news magazine covering news, entertainment, features, awards, sports, events and much more. DiversityNewsMagazine.com, an online & special print consumer news magazine that is visited by more than two million visitors a month, it is another venue for advertisers to showcase their products, brands or services on the classified and display pages. The purpose of the magazine is to educate and inform the diverse community worldwide. It focuses on local, national and international news, entertainment, features, sports and more importantly, newsworthy items that would be of interest to our diverse cultures. For more information visit Diversity News Magazine at http://www.diversitynewsmagazine.com/
