World Poetry Movement reading organized for February 15, 2019

Our readers will include: Alina Gregorian, Christopher Atamian, Chris Brandt, Dana Trupa, Gordon Gilbert Jr., Janlori Goldman, Jee Leong Koh, Kate Hogan, Lisa Whitten, Marianela Medrano, Marta Lopez Luaces, Mercedes Roffé, Miguel Falquez-Certain, Michael Klein, Robert Roth, Sarah Van Arsdale, Akram Alkatreb, and, Lola Koundakjian

A Global Chorus Of Life - UN CORO GLOBAL POR LA VIDA

World Poetry Movement Statement 

September 24th, 2011
We gather today to increase an exultant wave of poetry, which is moving through the world, from stage to stage where people linked attend the same desire, the same aspiration to take the challenge of the great transformations of the spirit, building a gesture, an openness to all the changes and disruptions necessary to establish a world according to life and not subject to the designs of the devastation.

Today we celebrate that we are a joyful transition into a new time, into a new atmosphere where that make possible a congregant light and peace without treaties and without demagogy.

Today we are not here to blame the man because of his excesses towards the catastrophe but to increase the radiant energy of poetry, that moves forward as a light network towards new dimensions of consciousness, to take in the majesty of the horizon of our time.

Today brings us together a fresh impetus, with the aim of influencing the urgent transformations, facing the challenges of this moment that threatens the life of many species, including humans.

Today this call is made possible by the concurrent power of poetry and the poem is the magical instrument for expanding the dislocating power needed to open our minds, our hearts and our mind and so jump to that dimension where we can carry our dreams, symbols and desires to the level of achievements.

We know that a poem will not stop tsunamis, nor wars.

But a poem is a shield against the language of the devastation, war and over-exploitation.

A poem will not heal 1.020 million people chronically hungry in the world; a poem will not stop the starvation of 750.000 people in Somalia.
But a poem is expressed for reaffirmation of life, singing activated by radiant energy of poetry that is a celebration of light.

A poem will not solve the basic problems of a defied humanity.
But a poem is sung dream, vision, oxygen for the spirit

A poem will not conjure the monsters climate.
But a poem is a door that opens when everything seems a dead-end.

A poem prepares the mind for what will be and what is not yet known.
A poem is not mercenary of any disgrace.

A poem is the place of magic and symbolic conjunctions that reaffirm us as a species, exscinded between the animal and human.

A poem is dreaming the world anew, and in this it gives validity and meaning to the reality we live in;
A poem goes on creating the mental future from which our civilization of tomorrow will grow.

Therefore a society that fails in the field of art and literature is a society that has become mentally fossilized and harmed its own capacity for self renewal and rejuvenation.

Poems remind us that starvation, war, overpopulation and pollution are not the effects of our lack of technology or resources, but the lack of ethics and love.

And poems are keys that can open for us the treasure house of our common riches – human love, wisdom, creativity and beauty: riches that are made abundant when shared.

We invoke the powers of poetry not to fall into the macabre game of barbarism.

A poem is a driver desiring change, looking for a new oxygen under a sky of lead and sulfur.

A poem is the cause of the great spiritual convergences. A poem shows us that poetry is the ecology of the symbolic ecosystems. Poetry is the biology of the mind, the engine of the dreamers, of those who aspire to make the leap to a new dimension of being where it is possible to exist without the burden of the iniquities that we inherited and that it is time to stop.

Poems to feed the dream for a true humanity finally liberated from the big mistakes.

For the dignity that gives us the poetry, today we joined a global chorus of life, for real change, now that we move through a dangerous edgeof our human history.

**

Declaración del World Poetry Movement 

Septiembre 24 de 2011 

Hoy nos reunimos para acrecentar una ola exultante de poesía, que se está moviendo por el mundo, de escenario en escenario donde concurren personas ligadas al mismo deseo, a la misma aspiración por asumir el reto de las grandes transformaciones del espíritu, construyendo un gesto, una actitud abierta a todos los cambios y rupturas necesarias para fundar un mundo acorde a la vida y no sujeto a los designios de la devastación.

Hoy celebramos que somos tránsito gozoso hacia un nuevo momento, hacia una nueva atmósfera que propicie una luz congregante y la paz sin tratados ni demagogias.

Hoy no nos encontramos para reprocharle al ser humano sus excesos rumbo a la catástrofe sino para aumentar la energía radiante de la poesía, que avanza como una red luminosa hacia nuevas dimensiones de la conciencia, para asumir con grandeza el horizonte del tiempo presente.

Hoy nos reúne un ímpetu renovado, con el ánimo de incidir en las urgentes transformaciones, ante los retos de este momento en que peligra la vida de muchas especies, entre ellas la humana.

Hoy esta convocatoria es posible gracias a la fuerza concurrente de la poesía y es el poema el instrumento mágico de expansión de la energía dislocante necesaria para abrir nuestra mente, nuestro corazón y nuestro espíritu y así saltar hacia esa dimensión donde podamos llevar nuestros sueños, símbolos y deseos al plano de las realizaciones.

Sabemos que un poema no detendrá tsunamis, ni guerras.

Pero un poema es un escudo ante el lenguaje de la devastación, la guerra y la sobre explotación.

Un poema no curará a 1.020 millones de personas que padecen hambre crónica en el mundo; un poema no detendrá la muerte por inanición de 750.000 habitantes de Somalia.

Pero un poema es expresado para reafirmación en la vida, en el canto activado con la energía radiante de la poesía, que es celebración de la luz.

Un poema no resolverá los problemas básicos de la humanidad vulnerada.

Pero un poema es sueño cantado, visión, oxígeno del espíritu

Un poema no conjurará a los monstruos climáticos.

Pero un poema es una puerta que se abre cuando todo parece sin salida.

Un poema prepara la mente para lo que será y de lo que aún no se sabe.

Un poema no es mercenario de ninguna desgracia.

Un poema es el lugar de las conjunciones mágicas y simbólicas

que nos reafirman como especie, escindida entre el animal y el humano.

Un poema es soñar un mundo nuevo, y en esto le da validez y sentido a la realidad en que vivimos.Un poema fluye creando un futuro mental desde el cual crecerá la civilización del mañana.Por esto una sociedad que falla en el campo del arte y la literatura es una sociedad que se ha fosilizado mentalmente y menoscabado su capacidad de auto-renovación y rejuvenecimiento.

Los poemas nos recuerdan que la hambruna, la guerra, la superpoblación y la polución no son efectos de nuestra falta de tecnología o recursos, sino de nuestra carencia de ética y amor.

Y los poemas son llaves que pueden abrir para nosotros la casa del tesoro de nuestras riquezas comunes –el amor humano, la sabiduría, la creatividad y la belleza: tesoros que se hacen más abundantes cuando son compartidos.

Invocamos los poderes de la poesía para no caer en el juego macabro de la barbarie. Un poema es un motor deseante de cambio, en busca de un oxígeno nuevo, bajo el cielo de plomo y azufre.

Un poema es la causa de las grandes convergencias espirituales. Un poema nos hace comprender que la poesía es la ecología de los ecosistemas simbólicos. La poesía es la biología del espíritu, el motor de los soñadores, de quienes aspiran a dar el salto hacia una nueva dimensión del ser en la quesea posible existir sin el lastre de las iniquidades que hemos heredado y que ya es tiempo de que cesen.

Poemas para alimentar el sueño por una humanidad auténtica, por fin liberada de los grandes errores.

Por la dignidad que nos da la poesía, hoy nos unimos a un coro mundial por la vida, por el cambio verdadero, ahora que nos movemos por un borde peligroso de nuestra historia humana.

100 Thousand Poets for Change on September 24

In Solidarity with the World Poetry Movement, the Armenian Poetry Project invites its readers to participate in 100 Thousand Poets for Change. Poets around the world are planning individual events to take place simultaneously on September 24th in a demonstration/celebration of poetry to promote social and political change.

Over 335 cities representing 68 countries have signed up already to make this global initiative a success through poetry readings, political demonstrations, community picnics, awareness events, parades, and more!

Prior to Sept 24, read a poem in silence, or, to a group, or to a friend in need and buy a book of poetry. On the day of September 24, 2011, attend any of the events in your area.

ANY ARMENIAN POETS PARTICIPATING or ORGANIZING AN EVENT, please contact Lola at armenianpoetryproject[at]gmail[dot]com for postings in APP.


Lola Koundakjian
Participant in the WPM

Statement of the World Poetry Movement

The Armenian Poetry Project invites Armenian poets and poetry organizations to read and spread the news of the formation of the World Poetry Movement. The statement found below was released at the closing ceremony of the 21st International Poetry Festival in Medellín Colombia, July 2011 and is updated to include new affiliations.

Any individuals and organizations interesting in joining this movement please contact APP at armenianpoetryproject[at]gmail[dot]com.

Thank you,

Lola Koundakjian
2010 participant at the 20th International Poetry Festival, Medellín, Colombia

___________________

At the 21º Medellin Poetry Festival, directors of Poetry Festivals worldwide have conducted a 5-day meeting on the status of poetry and poetry festivals across the world, analyzing and discussing human concerns and issues regarding difficulties and achievements as part of local organizations promoting poetry in each of our cities and countries.

The first sessions discussed the relationship between poetry and peace and reconstruction of the human spirit, nature reconciliation and recovery, unity and cultural diversity of the peoples, material misery and poetic justice, and actions to take towards the globalization of poetry.

Participants decided to establish the World Poetry Movement, whose main purpose would be to increase cooperation between poetry festivals, poets and poetic projects, thus strengthening our collective voice.

The World Poetry Movement recognizes that:

• Poetry provides meaningful insights into the human condition. 
• Contrary to the idea that languages divide the world, it is precisely the diversity of languages that enriches poetry festivals. 
• The World Poetry Movement will strengthen each festival in their local and global approach to their challenges and concerns. 
• The exceptional connection with the public evidenced in the Medellin Poetry Festival highlights the value of poetry reaching people. 

Main objectives of the World Poetry Movement are:

• That all poets, poetry initiatives and organizations are invited to join the World Poetry Movement. 
• To promote the growth of poetry festivals across the world in all their diversity. 
• To enhance communication between poetry festivals and poetry organizations. 
• To promote the development of poetry schools and poetry initiatives. 
• To explore audience development initiatives to broaden publics and access to poetry. 
• To address issues such as publishing, translation and the general concerns of poets worldwide. 

This movement begins a significant process that goes beyond individual concerns and creates exciting possibilities for poets and poetry events worldwide - we stand with humility and care for the birth of this new project.

Tomás Arias, poet and representative of Barcelona Poesía (Spain)
Kwame Dawes, poet and representative of Calabash International Literary Festival (Jamaica)
Norma Cárdenas, director of Encuentro Iberoamericano de Poesía Carlos Pellicer Cámara (Tabasco, Mexico)
Iliana Godoy, president, Encuentro Hispanoamericano de Poesía Independiente en México D.F. (Mexico)
José María Memet, poet and director, Encuentro Internacional de Poetas ChilePoesía (Chile)
Sixto Cabrera, poet and representative, Encuentro Latinoamericano de Poesía en Veracruz (México)
Pedro Enríquez, poet and director, Festival de Poesía al Laurel, Granada (España)
Gustavo Caso Rosendi, coordinator, Festival de Poesía de La Plata (Argentina).
Lucy Cristina Chau, poet and directora del Festival Internacional de Poesía Ars Amandi (Panama)
Jelka Ciglenečki, director, Festival Days of Poetry and Wine (Slovenia)
Aaron Rueda, poet and director, Festival Iberoamericano de Poesía Salvador Díaz Mirón (Mexico)
Fernando Valverde, poet and director, Festival Internacional de Poesía de Granada (Spain)
Rafael del Castillo y Fernando Linero, poets and representatives, Festival Internacional de Poesía de Bogotá (Colombia)
Benjamín Chávez, director, Festival Internacional de Poesía de Bolivia.
Graciela Aráoz, poet and director, del Festival Internacional de Poesía de Buenos Aires (Argentina)
Miguel Iriarte, poet and director, Festival Internacional de Poesía en el Caribe, PoeMaRío, en Barranquilla (Colombia)
Juano Villafañe, poet and director, Festival Nacional y Latinoamericano de Poesía en el Centro (Argentina)
Norberto Salinas y Rodolfo Dada, poets and representatives, Festival Internacional de Poesía de Costa Rica
Rigoberto Paredes, poet and director, Festival Internacional de Poesía de Honduras
Alex Pausides, poet and director, Festival Internacional de Poesía de La Habana (Cuba)
Giovanni Gómez, poet and director, Festival Internacional de Poesía Luna de Locos (Colombia)
José Zuleta, director, Festival Internacional de Poesía de Cali, Colombia
Tati Hernández, director, Festival de Poesía en la Montaña, Jarabacoa (República Dominicana).
Fernando Rendón, Gabriel Jaime Franco, Jairo Guzmán y Gloria Chvatal,
Representatives, Festival Internacional de Poesía de Medellín (Colombia)
Renato Sandoval, director, Festival Internacional de Poesía de Lima (Peru)
Casimiro de Britto, director, Festival de Poesía en Portugal.
Marvin García, poet and director, Festival Internacional de Poesía de Quetzaltenango (Guatemala)
Gabriel Impaglioni, poet and director, Festival Internacional de Poesía Palabra en el Mundo (Argentina/Italy)
Vilma Reyes y Vicente Rodríguez Nietzche, poets and representatives, Festival Internacional de Poesía de Puerto Rico.
José Mármol, poet and director, Festival Internacional de Poesía de República Dominicana
Leonardo Onida, director, Festival Ottobre in Poesia, de Sardegna (Italy).
Grupo Coordinador, Festival Napolipoesia (Italy)
Otoniel Guevara, poet and director, Encuentro Internacional de Poetas El Turno del Ofendido (El Salvador)
Guillermo Naranjo, director, Encuentro Internacional de Poesía Occidente (Costa Rica).
Rira Abbasi, director, International Festival of Peace Poetry (Iran)
Jidi Majia, director, International Poetry Festival of Qinghai (China)
Lisa Makarchuk, Coordinator, Internatio​nal Festival of Poetry of Resistance (Canada).
Gaston Bellemare, Presidente de la International Federation of Poetry Festivals y director del Festival International de la Poèsie de Trois-Rivières (Canada)
Lucile Bernard, director, Les Rencontres Internationales de la Poésie de Marrakech (Morocco).
Marcel Kemadjou, director, International Poetry Festival 3V (Cameroon).
Iryna Vikyrchak, poet and executive director, International Poetry Festival Meridian Czernowitz (Ukraine)
Lello Voce, poet and representative, International Poetry Festival RomaPoesía and Absolute Poetry (Italy)
Amir Or, poet and director, International Poetry Festival Sha'ar (Israel)
Rati Saxena, poeta and director, Krytia International Poetry Festival (India)
Thomas Wohlfahrt, director, Literaturwerkstatt Berlín (Germany)
Sergio Iagulli e Raffaella Marzano, coordinators, Festival Lo Spirito dei Luoghi (Italy)
Sergio Iagulli, director, Incontri Internazionali di Poesia di Sarajevo (Serbia)
Endre Ruset, poet and director de Norsk Litteraturfestival (Norway)
Peter Rorvik, director, Poetry Africa (South Africa)
Bas Kwakman, director, Poetry International Rotterdam (Netherlands)
Regina Dyck, director, Poetry on the Road (Germany)
Céline Hémon, representative, Les Printemps des Poètes (France)
Zabier Hernández, representative, Recital Internacional de Poesía desde el Sur, en Pasto (Colombia)
Héctor Berenguer, director, Semana de las Letras, Rosario (Argentina)
Jack Hirschmann, poet and director, San Francisco International Poetry Festival (Unites States)
Mendy Knott, director, Spleet This Rock (United States).
Eliana Mesa, coordinator, Sunday Poetry, Toronto (Canada).
Ataol Behramoglu, poet and advisor, Smyrna Poetry Festival (Turkey)
Eleanor Livingstone, director, StAnza: Scotland’s International Poetry Festival (Scotland)
Nikola Madzirov, poeta and representative, Struga Poetry Evenings (Macedonia)
Ban'ya Natsuishi, poeta and director, Tokyo Poetry Festival (Japan)
Ide Hintze, director, Poetry School of Vienna (Austria)
Casa della Poesia (Baronissi/Salerno, Italy)
Fundación Rosalía de Castro (España)
Lola Koundajkian, director, Armenian Poetry Project (Armenia)
Alpidio Alonso Grau, director, Poetry Magazine Amnios (Cuba)
Norberto Codina, director, Poetry Magazine La Gaceta de Cuba
Fidel Diaz C., director, Poetry Magazine El Caimán Barbudo (Cuba)
Edel Morales, director, Poetry Magazine La Letra del Escriba (Cuba)
Jorge Bousoño, director, Portal Digital Alas (Cuba)
Roberto Manzano, Jesús David Curbelo, Susana Haug, directors, Proyecto Pedagógico Laboratorio de Escrituras de La Habana.
María Teresa Cuesta, directora, Sello Editorial Colección Sur Editores
Marlene Alfonso Ulacia, coordinator, Proyecto comunitario CubaPoesia
Nina Reis, Roberto Bianchi , directors, Cultural Movement aBrace,
Helena Villar Janeiro, director, Fundación Rosalía de Castro (Spain)
Francisco Garzaro, poet and representative, Mesa de Poesía, Guatemala
Milena Ercollani, president, Associazione Culturale "La Sammarina" (San Marino)
Michael Rothenberg, director, 100.000 Poets for Change
Thiago de Mello, Brasil.
Pablo Armando Fernández, Cuba.
Hugo Mujica, Argentina.
Liliana Diaz Mindurry, Argentina.
Armando Santoro, Italia.
Clemente Padín, Uruguay,
Rafael Patiño, Colombia.
Gaston Saint-Fleur, Haití.
Juan Diego Tamayo, Colombia.
Oscar González, Colombia.
Cristina Castello, Argentina.
Soledad Benages, Spain.
Cristian Avecillas, Ecuador.
Winston Morales, Colombia.
Jairo Godoy, Argentina.
Mónica Muñoz, Argentina.
Jorge Campero, Bolivia.
Omar Castillo, Colombia.
Carmen Campos, Venezuela.
Ngwatilo Mawiyoo, Kenya.
Ricardo Luis Plaul, Argentina.
Edel Morales, Cuba.
Leticia Herrera, México.
Jorge Ariel Madrazo, Argentina