September 2005 - Volume 2, Edition 2

Dear Friend,

We are pleased to share with you an update of the latest activities of the Daniel Pearl Foundation (DPF). DPF is a non-profit, charitable organization promoting cross-cultural understanding through journalism, music and innovative communications. If you wish to support us, please visit Ways to Help on our website www.danielpearl.org and the wish list at the end of this newsletter.

Best Regards,

Judea and Ruth Pearl

Contents
> Steve Reich, R.E.M. and Russell Simmons Join Music Days Honorary Committee
> Music Days 2005 begins October 1 - Spread the Word and Register
> New “Harmony for Humanity” e-Stage Web Broadcast throughout October
> Innovative High School Reporting Program Certifies First PEARL Reporters
> Daniel Pearl Fellows from Yemen and Pakistan Complete Tenure at U.S. Newspapers
> Hard Questions Continue to be addressed through Daniel Pearl Dialogue for Muslim-Jewish Understanding
> Judea Pearl Featured Speaker at Grace Cathedral in San Francisco on 9/11- Listen Live!
> New Executive Director Joins the Daniel Pearl Foundation

Steve Reich, R.E.M, and Russell Simmons Join Music Days Honorary Committee

DPF is honored to announce three additions to the Honorary Committee of Daniel Pearl Music Days in 2005, a global network of performances and concerts to be held October 1-10.

Steve Reich is one of contemporary music’s most influential composers and a pioneer of the minimalist “New Music” movement. Reich is currently composing a new vocal/instrumental work entitled “Daniel Variations" with text from the biblical book of Daniel and from the words of Daniel Pearl. Daniel Variations will premiere in London (October 7 and 8, 2006), New York (October 22, 2006), Porto (November 12, 2006) and Paris (November 14, 2006). Thanks to the Marco H. Goodman Trust, this work was commissioned by the Daniel Pearl Foundation in conjunction with Carnegie Hall, Barbican Centre-London, Cite de la Musique-Paris and Casa de Musica-Porto, Portugal.

R.E.M. is one of contemporary music’s most influential groups. “We are excited to be working with the Daniel Pearl Foundation and its diverse Honorary Committee for their annual Music Days events,” said R.E.M.’s lead singer Michael Stipe. DPF is grateful for R.E.M.’s concert dedication during Music Days 2004 and the group's continuing support.

Russell Simmons is considered the godfather of hip hop and is Chairman of the Board of the Foundation for Ethnic Understanding. The co-owner of Def Jam Records, Simmons has produced or managed numerous popular musicians, and has had a significant influence on modern culture through various multi-media and fashion enterprises.

The Daniel Pearl Music Days Honorary Committee spans a wide variety of musical genres and includes Salman Ahmad, Theodore Bikel, Yefim Bronfman, Hamza el Din, Herbie Hancock, Ida Haendel, Sir Elton John, Tania Libertad, Yo-Yo Ma, Zubin Mehta, Mark O’Connor, George Pehlivanian, Itzhak Perlman, Mohammad Reza Shajarian, Ravi Shankar, Barbra Streisand and John Williams.

Music Days 2005 begins October 1- Spread the Word and Register

The Fourth Annual Music Days is just around the corner. Artists with musical events between October 1-10 - amateur or professional – are invited to register their performances at www.music-days.org and make a dedication to the ideals of tolerance and humanity. To spread the word, contact your local orchestra, professional musicians, favorite music group, radio or club DJ and bring to their attention the opportunity to be part of this global event.

New “Harmony for Humanity” e-Stage Web Broadcast throughout October

This year we are proud to introduce Harmony for Humanity e-Stage, a web-based broadcast of selected words and music inspired by Daniel Pearl and his pursuit of truth, friendship and humanity. During the month of October, a dedicated internet radio station will play original songs and compositions as well as playlists in "harmony for humanity."

Participants can contribute by submitting music, lyrics, poems, articles or playlists for consideration. We also welcome recordings of live music taken during Music Days events for broadcast in the second half of October. Please visit www.music-days.org/estage.htm for more information or to submit material for consideration.

Innovative High School Reporting Program Certifies First PEARL Reporters

We are very excited about the recent launch of PEARL World Youth News, a unique Internet-based student news service launched in partnership with iEARN (International Education and Resource Network). Through a network of more than 20,000 schools in 109 countries, high school students collaboratively publish articles on an international news service for young journalists. The project focuses on developing journalistic skills, unbiased reporting and respect for cultural differences.

The first group of students has completed the PEARL Reporter Certification Program and submitted their articles to the news service's editorial schools for publication on the PEARL Website (under construction). The students are from Romania, Cameroon, Pakistan, the United Kingdom and the US. More than 140 students from 37 countries are currently registered for the certification program and thousands of schools worldwide have access to the PEARL articles.

The PEARL Reporter Certification Program was developed with the assistance of Karen Freeman, of the editorial department of the New York Times, and Melvin Mencher, Professor Emeritus at Columbia University's School of Journalism. Graduate students from Columbia's School of Journalism and the New York University's Department of Journalism are volunteering to evaluate the program. For more information, please contact anindita@us.iearn.org.

Daniel Pearl Fellows from Yemen and Pakistan Complete Tenure at U.S. Newspapers

This year DPF hosted two Daniel Pearl Fellows in partnership with the Alfred Friendly Press Fellowships (AFPF).

Walid Al-Saqaf, 31, completed his six-month fellowship at the Washington Bureau of The Wall Street Journal, Daniel Pearl’s former employer. Since April he published numerous articles on a variety of topics. In September he will resume his position as editor-in-chief of the Yemen Times, the country’s largest and most influential English-language newspaper.

Ammara Durani, 28, completed her six-month fellowship reporting for the Los Angeles Times – Daniel Pearl’s hometown newspaper – and spent two weeks at The Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles. Durani will return to her assistant editor job at The News on Sunday, Pakistan’s most important English language newspaper.

These two fellows participated in “Muslim Journalists Look at America: A Conversation with Two Daniel Pearl Fellows,” hosted by the Los Angeles Press Club and moderated by Rob Eshman, editor-in-chief of The Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles.

Hard Questions Continue to be addressed through Daniel Pearl Dialogue for Muslim-Jewish Understanding

In recent years, tension between Jewish and Muslim students has escalated on several US campuses, mostly over differing perspectives on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The Daniel Pearl Dialogue for Muslim-Jewish Understanding provided an opportunity to ease that tension at Duke University and UC Irvine in February and May of this year. Professors Judea Pearl and Akbar Ahmed continued their national and international series of conversations in Ottawa and Toronto with a lively discussion of current events and a look at the religions that have shaped their lives. Professors Pearl and Ahmed demonstrated how people holding divergent and passionate viewpoints can disagree respectfully. The Dialogue continues in New York City on October 30.

Judea Pearl Featured at Grace Cathedral in San Francisco on 9/11

Opening of the Fall 2005 Grace Cathedral Forum Series in San Francisco, DPF President Judea Pearl will discuss the promotion of education and open dialogue, his son's use of the international language of music to reach across the cultural divide, and how people from all backgrounds have continued to unite in a post 9/11 world. Moderated by The Very Rev. Alan Jones, Dean of Grace Cathedral, the Forum will include a special Mayoral Proclamation presented by Khaldoun A. Baghdadi of the San Francisco Human Rights Commission, officially naming October 10 - Danny’s birthday - as “Daniel Pearl Music Day” in San Francisco. The event is open to the public and you can also listen live online on September 11, 2005, at 9:30am Pacific Standard Time by visiting The Forum.

New Executive Director Joins the Daniel Pearl Foundation

The Daniel Pearl Foundation is pleased to announce the hiring of a new Executive Director. Jackie Gelfand has worked in nonprofit management for 20 years, primarily in the areas of healthcare, education and high-risk youth programs. Her extensive nonprofit and fundraising experience will ensure sustainability for DPF and assist in moving it to the next level of its development. Gelfand replaces Marianne Scott, who was instrumental in the development of DPF and has joined its Advisory Board.

Foundation Wish List

DPF is looking for volunteers in the following areas:
• International PR and marketing
• Photographers, videographers and journalists to document Music Days events
• Graphic design
• Computer technical support
• General project driven researchers

Daniel Pearl Foundation Contacts

Newsletter feedback: comments@danielpearl.org
General inquiries/comments: jackie@danielpearl.org
Media inquiries: Rochon Perry of Black Ink at media@danielpearl.org
Music Days Inquiries: music-days@danielpearl.org
Volunteers: volunteers@danielpearl.org
Visit us online at www.danielpearl.org

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Daniel Pearl Foundation

16161 Ventura Boulevard, #671
Encino, California 91436
USA

The Daniel Pearl Foundation is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Tax-ID 03-0393564. To make a donation, visit Ways to Help or mail a check to the address above. Contributions of $5,000 and more are recognized on Accolades to Our Donors and will be recorded in Books of Good Deeds.