• Launching Into Iranian-Female 176 July- August 2018 Space Exploration Vol. XXVIII No. 176 • Who Benefits? • The Middle East through Graphic Novels •Book Review: Just Mercy • Guard Your Heart No. 176 July - August 2018 • Nutrition and Your Skin • Ajil Shirin • How Does Modern Planning Work? • The Quiet American 1 176 Since 1991 By: Shahri Estakhry Persian Cultural Center’s Bilingual Magazine Is a bi - monthly publication organized for Who Benefits? literary, cultural and information purposes This editorial was published in Peyk issue #104, in 2006. I strongly believe in what I have written Financial support is provided by the City of and am going to repeat it after 12 years again. Stop and review how very sadly we have stepped San Diego Commission for Arts and Culture. backwards in these past years. Hunger is the number one killer of children globally. Child trafficking is astonishing and millions and millions have become homeless or refugees in other lands. Persian Cultural Center 6790 Top Gun St. #7, San Diego, CA 92121 If I had been a well-known celebrity with possibilities of press/radio or TV at my disposal Tel (858) 552-9355 perhaps by now this thought, which has occupied my mind for such a long time, would have Fax & Message: (619) 374-7335 been implemented into action. Email: [email protected] www.pccsd.org As consumers we spend billions annually, without a second thought to who really benefits from our purchases. When gas prices go up, we become upset when we hear about the profit margins of oil companies and the retirement packages of their executives. When we read articles or see May-June 2018 specials with celebrities reminding us of today’s natural and human disasters, it is a momentary Vol. XXVIII consciousness reminding us “how sad.” We have to encounter so many ups and downs in our Circulation: 6000 own lives, and the world tragedies are so many these days that to a certain extent we have Persian Cultural Center become indifferent to humanitarian needs of millions, even those at our own doorsteps. A non - profit national corporation Established in 1989. San Diego, California In reality poverty, hunger, violence, and illness are so widespread that they are the number one enemy of our world. No region is immune to this enemy. Millions sleep hungry even in the Board of Directors: wealthiest nations on earth. Nikoo Atefi, Fariba Babakhani- Ghazi, Amir Farshad Babakhani, Parnian Badii, Let me say this again: As consumers we spend billions annually, without a second thought to Hamid Beikzadeh, Farideh Fazel, who really benefits from our purchases. Shouldn’t we at least be curious? What charitable and Ida Khodami, Hossain Hajimowlana, humanitarian causes are supported by the businesses profiting from our purchases? Gity Nematollahi, Hamid Rafizadeh, Venus Safaei, Shahla Salah, Golsa Soraya What would happen…here comes that thought…if we, the consumers, with every purchase we make – no matter how big or small – begin to ask the cashier, “Which charitable organization Editorial Board benefits from my purchase?” Posing this question can lead to one of two scenarios – in the first, Shahri Estakhry, Anahita Babaei the cashier will know the answer right away – charitable giving is a part of what that business is Aria Fani, Saeid Noori Bushehri “all about.” In the second, you can be sure that you have stunned the cashier behind the machine! Shahrzad Julazadeh, Shaghayegh Hanson, How would she/he know what on earth we are talking about!?!?! But the question is out there Reza Khabazian and Rachel Tait and if enough of us ask, the cashier will bring this question to the attention of the manager. The manager will begin to realize that consumers are sending a new message to the business (one Editor–In–Chief: Ali Sadr that will be communicated by the manager to the decision makers of the business) – one that says, I’m willing to buy from you and help you profit, but in return, I expect you to also do Graphic Artist: Saeed Jalali your share and partake in helping with the charitable and humanitarian needs of our world. Peyk reserves the right to edit all materials We buy goods at several times the cost to make them. Shouldn’t some of this profit help eradicate at its sole discretion. Materials submitted hunger and poverty and facilitate better education and health for those in need? Wouldn’t you will not be rturned to sender, even if not feel better knowing that a portion of your purchase made a difference; and it wasn’t all for the used, and the contributor will be deemed benefit of a few? to have given consent and license for the reproduction and publication of such Now, this is not to say that businesses don’t already support humanitarian/charitable causes – submission in Peyk magazine and / or the many do. But, we should send a clear message that as consumers – as the bread and butter of Peyk website the profit margin – we EXPECT all of them to be supporting humanitarian and charitable causes and that we want to know what they are doing to make this a better world. If we ask and ask and ask “Which charitable organization benefits from my purchase?” you PCC Foundation can be sure that eventually, the cashier in scenario number two will be able to tell you a list of Charitable Organization organizations and causes the business is helping. Affiliate of Persian Cultural Center Tel (858) 552-9355 No one said it would be easy to ask this question time and again, but knowing that this simple Fax & Message: ( 619) 374 - 7335 question can mean a big movement to improve our world, it will be well worth the few seconds it’ll take to ask it before paying for our goods and services. Do you know who benefits from your purchases? You should! Cover Design: Saeed Jalali No. 176 July - August 2018 3 PCC (Persian Cultural Center): PCC NEWS Jong-e Farhangi For nearly four years, on the second Friday of every month, a program called “Jong-e Farhangi” is held at the Iranian - American Center (IAC), a program that is well-placed in the minds of cultural program enthusiasts. The program’s overall theme hovers around various arts and cultural topics .The program is run by Ali Sadr or Reza Khabazian and consists of inviting experts on different fields King Raam solo concert, May 25, 2018 of arts, literary and social fields. With the invitation of Samuel Jordan Center of UCI and PCC, King Raam, a renowned Iranian pop artist, went on stage of Iranian- San Diego Jong-e Farhangi, May 2018 American Center and received a standing ovation by the audience. Jong-e Farhangi for the month of May was cancelled due to the conflict with other events. Persian Culture Center, general assembly and annual election, May 20, 2018 San Diego Jong-e Farhangi , June 8, 2018 The annual meeting and the election of the Persian Cultural Center This program was held at the Iranian-American Center (IAC) with the presence of the Board of Directors, members of the and hosted by Ali Sadr. The first guest was Ms. Bita Ashtari, the Persian Cultural Center took place at Iranian School of San Diego president of Iranian-American Bar Association (IABA), San Diego (Mt. Carmel High School). chapter who talked about IABA services to Iranian-American A complete report of this meeting is presented in Pages 6 and 7 community, common issues dealt by this association and how of this issue. people can contact IABA. The second part of this program was “Shahnameh Khani” (reciting Tale of Kings) which was lead by Mr. If you would like to volunteer and work in PCC’s committees, please Mahmoud Behrouzian and performed by his team. This program contact our office (858) 552-9355 or by email: [email protected]. was accompanied by Kourosh Taghavi playing Setar and Ali Sadr Screening “Midnight Sun” at the presence of playing “Zarb-e Zoorkaneh” (a percussion instrument played in Shahab Hosseini, May 13, 2018 Iran’s traditional gyms). In the second part of the program, Ali Midnight sun movie written and directed by Shobeir Shirazi and Sadr interviewed Ms. Farideh Shanbanfar, an author and translator, produced by the award winning actor, Shahab Hosseini, was shown about her activities and works. At the end Ms. Shanbanfar along at the Center. Shahab Hosseini who was present at the screening with Nooshin Khorsandian and Saeid Nori Bushehri read one of went on stage and interviewed by Mahmoud Reza Pirouzan of PCC. her short stories. This event was warmly received by San Diego movie enthusiasts. This film is the product of a young independent Iranian filmmaker Exhibition and parade of Linda Vista cultures that Shahab Hosseini has supported. Midnight sun movie went on April 28 2018 screen in cities in the US. Persian Cultural Center booth welcomed visitors in this annual event. Melodic Rhythms concert, May 5, 2018 A sold out concert by Kourosh Taghavi in setar and Miles Shrewsberi in Tabla. According to Kourosh Taghavi, this concert was a musical conversation between Persian and Hindi music. Both musicians presented audience with explanations about their music and the decision to make this joint performance. The program was warmly received by a packed house. 4 No. 176 July - August 2018 Movie and Discussion The Movie and Discussion group of PCC aims to screen movies from Iran on the third Friday of each month. The group has started review of the well known movies of the last 40 years. After each movie, most audience stay for a lively discussion about the movie.