It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood...

Warrior, open your eyes

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Niancho Sanneh, from the Niancho Eniyaley (Warrior, open your eyes) group, an african dance and drum band,  beats his djembe drum during the 2007 World Water Day - Walk for Water in Venice beach on Saturday, March 24, 2007.

Posted on Saturday, March 24, 2007 at 02:40PM by Registered CommenterFabian Lewkowicz in , | Comments1 Comment | EmailEmail | PrintPrint

World Water Day

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About a couple hundred people walked from the Santa Monica Pier, south along the boardwalk to Venice during the 2007 World Water Day Walk on Saturday, March 23, 2007.  In many communities around the world, women and children must walk up to 6 miles a day to retrieve clean water for their families. The Walk for Water on World Water Day is a symbolic act of solidarity and an effort to educate the public about the World Water Crisis. The world water crisis is one of the largest public health issues of our time.  Worldwide, nearly 1.1 billion people (roughly 20% of the world’s population) lack access to safe drinking water [1]. The lack of clean, safe drinking water is estimated to kill almost 4,500 children per day [2]. In fact, out of the 2.2 million unsafe drinking water deaths in 2004, 90% were children under the age of five [3]. Water is essential to the treatment of diseases, something especially critical for children.

Posted on Saturday, March 24, 2007 at 02:23PM by Registered CommenterFabian Lewkowicz in | CommentsPost a Comment | EmailEmail | PrintPrint

Rub a dub-dub

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Anthony Santiago, 13, (left) and Manny Bravo, 14, from the Virginia Avenue Park Teen Center, wash a BMW on Saturday at St. Anne’s Catholic Church in order to raise money for their upcoming camping trip to Lake Arrowhead planned for over the Easter break.
Posted on Saturday, March 24, 2007 at 01:16PM by Registered CommenterFabian Lewkowicz in | CommentsPost a Comment | EmailEmail | PrintPrint

puff, puff

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Azita Jolaei, 18, (left) and Sheyda Semnani, 18, smoke a Marlboro cigarette in-between class  while studying their Philosophy homework from World Literature Class on Friday, March 23, 2007, at SMC.
Posted on Friday, March 23, 2007 at 07:30PM by Registered CommenterFabian Lewkowicz in | CommentsPost a Comment | EmailEmail | PrintPrint

Norooz Extravaganza 2007

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1) Fataneh Eghbali, designer of the 'Haftseen,' a traditional New Years table setting, explains the 7 article on the table to Dr. Chui L. Tsang, president of Santa Monica College, while he sprinkles 'Esfand' (incense)  for purity, health and to 'cast away the evel eye' during the Persian New Year Celebration, "Norooz Extravaganza 2007," at the SMC Clocktower (Main Campus) on Thursday, March 22, 2007. 2)  Anita Ashoori, 20, from the SMC Iranian Student Club, decorates  'Haftseen.' 3)  Susan Tsarukyan cuts the Baklava  during the Persian New Year Celebration, "Norooz Extravaganza 2007." 4) Farshid Davoodi, 23, from the SMC Iranian Student Club, waves around the 'Esfand.' 5)  Dr. Chui L. Tsang dances with the students during the party. 6) Students dance during the  "Norooz Extravaganza 2007."
Posted on Thursday, March 22, 2007 at 02:49PM by Registered CommenterFabian Lewkowicz in , , | Comments3 Comments | EmailEmail | PrintPrint

Sunny-side-up

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1) Sixth-grader Peter Akpulonu, 11, confirms the folklore legend and manages to balance his egg upright at the Santa Monica Police Activities League during the  Vernal Equinox  and the first day of spring. According to the  legend, an egg will only balance on its end on the Vernal Equinox. The origins of this legend can be traced to ancient China, where it was believed that the balancing of eggs is easily accomplished on 'Li Chun', which is considered to be the 'Beginning of Spring,' and which marks the beginning of the Chinese Solar Calendar.  Gravity is 'balanced' when the Sun is over the Earth's equator; alternatively, the Sun exerts significantly greater gravitational attraction on the Earth during the equinoxes. 2) Sixth-grader's  Peter Akpulonu, 11 (left)  and  Nicholas Ivy, 12, balance their eggs upright. 3) left to right; Ryan Jackson, 9,  Peter Akpulonu, 11,   and  Nicholas Ivy, 12.  4) Toni Bryant, 7, and her younger sister Taneia, 6, manage to balance their eggs upright. 5) Three eggs balance upright at PAL on Tuesday.
Posted on Tuesday, March 20, 2007 at 08:04PM by Registered CommenterFabian Lewkowicz in , | CommentsPost a Comment | EmailEmail | PrintPrint

To protect and serve

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Jose A. Haro and Erika Aklufi are sworn in and become the newest officers in the Santa Monica Police Department on Tuesday, March 20, 2007, at City hall. Chief Timothy Jackman oversees the ceremony.
Posted on Tuesday, March 20, 2007 at 03:11PM by Registered CommenterFabian Lewkowicz in | CommentsPost a Comment | EmailEmail | PrintPrint

Medal of Merit

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Santa Monica Police Chief Timothy Jackman awards Lauralee Asch with the Medal of Merit on Tuesday,  March 20, 2007 in recognition for her many years of distinguished service to the Santa Monica Police Department and the community of  Santa Monica.
Posted on Tuesday, March 20, 2007 at 03:05PM by Registered CommenterFabian Lewkowicz in | CommentsPost a Comment | EmailEmail | PrintPrint