PROPOSAL:
Concept and Project by: Bircan UNVER
http://www.lightmillennium.org

***PLEASE NOTE THAT BELOW PROJECT IS NOT FUNDED, AND WE SEEK POTENTIAL FUNDERS FOR IT. THIS PROJECT WILL BE OFFICIALLY LAUNCHED BASED UPON SECURING ITS 1/3 ESTIMATED BUDGET. THANK YOU.***

Premiere, Panel and Award Program tentatively titled:

“TO UNITE ­ THAT IS WHY WE CAME”

Inspired by the celebrations of the 800^th Birthday of MEVLANA CELALEDDIN RUMI
Projected Premiere Date: December 2008

Concept and Purpose: To encourage students in media, film, visual arts, multi- media to search and read Mevlana Celaleddin RUMI’s works. And more specifically, to inspire students to learn about RUMI's philosophy.

“TO UNITE ­ THAT IS WHY WE CAME;
TO DIVIDE, THAT IS NOT OUR AIM”

and stir the minds and hearts of students to produce an 8-minute program based on their inspirations and connections with today’s world based upon the ideas and works of Rumi. Students are free to choose any idea or Rubaiyat or Stanza by RUMI as a starting-out point for their inspirations. (See Lightmillennium.org, Wikipedia.Com and Mevlana.Net Web Sites for ideas, a list of suggested book titles and other related Web Sites.

http://www.lightmillennium.org/2005_15th/thalman_rumi_p1.html,

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rumi, & http://www.mevlana.net/resources.htm

This will also serve to introduce RUMI’s basic philosophy to a younger generation of students, especially in terms of Rumi’s concept of “global unification” and “a culture of global peace”, and to emphasize his idea that "the whole world is ONE GLOBAL FAMILY", a philosophical position that is shared by the United Nations. The results will explain to the audience the viewpoint and understanding that a student/youth might take at this point in the history of the world.

The total budget for this project is estimated to be between $300,000 and $350,000. (Please see Funding & Support)

Context: By encouraging undergraduate and graduate media/visual arts/multi-media students to learn about RUMI's philosophy and share and present their projects, Light Millennium hopes to establish a link and emphasize the effectiveness and importance of Rumi's philosophy to today’s world. Light Millennium hopes that the interpretations, perspectives and styles of modern-day students, in the form of video art or a short documentary, will relate to RUMI mysticism in such a way that the project will be a meaningful academic and intellectual experience. B. Unver will combine the winning projects (10 short films/art works will be chosen) in an 80-minute program titled “TO UNITE ­ THAT IS WHY WE CAME”. She plans to premiere it at the United Nations.

Schools that have winning students participating in the final competition will have the option of showing the film at their own campuses. Light Millennium will seek other venues to show the final piece in the United States and internationally.

Light Millennium hopes that the students will be inspired by Rumi’s thinking so that they will produce 8-minute long films in various digital environments, interpreting his philosophy.

This project will require the collaboration of students from many educational institutions

and various other organizations within the United Nations. It will also contribute to the expansion of study and research about RUMI's Philosophy, which ultimately will serve to create bridges among different cultures, and therefore influence the development of a “global peace culture”.

About RUMI:

Rumi, (1207­1273) was a 13th century poet, jurist, and theologian. Rumi was born in Balkh (then a city of Greater Khorasan in Persia, now part of Afghanistan) and died in Konya (in present-day Turkey). His birthplace and native tongue indicate a Persian heritage. He also wrote his poetry in Persian and his works are widely read in Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, and in translation in Turkey, Azerbaijan, the US, and South Asia. He lived most of his life and produced his works under the Seljuk Empire, centered in Konya/Anatolia, Turkey.

Rumi's importance is considered to transcend national and ethnic borders. Throughout the centuries he has had a significant influence on Persian as well as Urdu and Turkish literatures. His poems are widely read in the Persian-speaking countries of Iran, Afghanistan and Tajikistan and have been widely translated into many of the world's languages in various formats. (source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rumi)

Reason & 2007 ­ International Rumi Year:
The Culture and Tourism Ministry of Turkey declared 2007 as "International Rumi Year" and this declaration was supported by UNESCO in March 2006. This declaration directed the world’s attention to Rumi and to the commemoration of his 800^th-birthday anniversary, which is being celebrated all over the world this year.

In honor of Mawlana Jalal-ud-Din Balkhi-RUMI, (also known as MEVLANA CELALEDDIN RUMI) one of the great humanists, philosophers and poets of all humanity. UNESCO issued a UNESCO Medal in his name in 2007, in association with the 800th anniversary of his birth, in the hope that this medal will prove an encouragement to those who are engaged in a deep and scholarly dissemination of his ideas and ideals, which in turn would in fact enhance the diffusion of the ideals of UNESCO. Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rumi

Consequently, inspired by UNESCO’s declaration, Light Millennium has introduced, for the first time “Short Digital Video Production Awards” with the participation of undergraduate and graduate school students within the U.S. and also in Canada. This will be available in its first year to U.S. and Canadian students. But, if successful will beexpanded internationally in future years. We hope that RUMI’s 800^th Birthday Celebrations in 2007 will be a beginning of a project to be duplicated in the years to come. 

***PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS PROJECT IS NOT FUNDED, AND WE SEEK POTENTIAL FUNDERS FOR IT. THIS PROJECT WILL BE OFFICIALLY LAUNCHED BASED UPON SECURING ITS 1/3 ESTIMATED BUDGET. THANK YOU.***

Funding and support (for participating students): All successful applicants will receive the same amount of support funding which should be used for tuition for a course relevant to their project and for production costs leading to a final project documented in an 8-minute program based on Rumi’s philosophy. 10 students will be awarded a sum of $2500, based on their written proposals, to be used for tuition and production costs. There will be also awards for the three best projects ($6,000) presented at the ‘Premiere and Awards Ceremony’. In order to support the participation of each student producer/director at the ‘Premiere and Awards Ceremony’ at the United Nations in New York City, the organization will also seek travel funding (hotel accommodation, food and other out-of- pocket expenses) for each student in the amount of $1500. The total projected budget for 10 students is $46,000. In order to launch this project, and to meet with the above promises to the students that apply to be part of this project and their schools, the Light Millennium will secure the necessary funding. Also, budget for its key staff, communication, editing equipment and computer support, advertisements, publicity, editing time for the final project (DVD re-production) and the first basic event-related expenses will be secured. The total budget for this project is estimated to be between $300,000 and $350,000. In order to launch this project, the organization will secure at least one-third of the estimated budget.

Geography: For the launching of the project and for the first year, participants will be from U.S. universities/colleges. There will be an attempt to include one or two Canadian schools. However, we also aim to replicate this project in any interested country, based on future, collaborative partnerships and sponsorships as an annual or biannual international “Production Award”- event, following the general concept of the project as outlined this year, in the future.

Premiere/Special Screening targets: Following the premiere at the U.N. during the first week of December 2008 (if the U.N. has underwent its Capital Master Plan Renovation, then the premier venue will be a U.N. affiliated one in NYC), we aim to screen the project at the participating schools in the spring of 2008. Furthermore, the project will be submitted to various national and international video/film festivals, and will be aired on local public access channels.

Process and Basis for Choosing the Best and most Relevant pieces: The projects of ten students will be chosen. Those selected students will be supported with funds to produce a short video project, and each project will be exactly 8 minutes long. Each 8-minute production will symbolize a single 100^th-Anniversary of RUMI’s Birthday; the last one will represent his 800th Birthday. Students should present a written proposal (up to 3-5 pages). The projects of the best ten will be supported. The most original and relevant ideas, both in terms of content and interpretation will be chosen by a committee to be appointed by Light Millennium.

The organizer of this project, Light Millennium is seeking funding from partner organizations, institutions and foundations for each selected student at the level of $2500 for costs for tuition (optional) and the production of the 8-minute, short, digital art work/documentary/film.

The premiere of the final composite video, a panel discussion of the winners, and a special awards ceremony at the premier, of the best three videos, will be held during the first or second week of December 2008 inconjunction with the Celebrations of the Seb’i Arus” (December 17), of RUMI, in which internationally has been celebrating every year in Konya, Turkey.

Selection Process & Awards: A jury committee will select the ten best projects from all applicants. 10 selected students will be informed via e-mail by June 6, 2008. (Accordingly, related media release will be e-distributed and e-published on the organization’s web site.)
Based upon receiving above documents by the organization, amount of $2500 award check will be mailed to each student in 2 weeks by the organization.

The awarded ten projects will be shown together at the premiere. Attendees of the Premiere & Award Ceremony will select the best three productions within 10, who will receive their awards at the premier. The awards for the best three as the “post-awards” will be as follows:

*First place $3 thousand,

*Second place $2 thousand,

*Third place $1 thousand.

Each of the ten finalists will be awarded a certificate for their participation of the United Nations event.

Each “grant award” winner will be presented with a check at the premier by the Light Millennium in the presence of the organizers, co-sponsors and the DPI/NGO Executive Committee and the audience.

***PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS PROJECT IS NOT FUNDED, AND WE SEEK POTENTIAL FUNDERS FOR IT. THIS PROJECT WILL BE OFFICIALLY LAUNCHED BASED UPON SECURING ITS 1/3 ESTIMATED BUDGET. THANK YOU.***

Project Officially Launching date via a Media Meeting (based upon obtaining the 1/3 of the budget in October or the latest in November 2007): December 2007.

Student Participation Period: Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall 2008.

Anticipated premiere date: December 2008
Final Screenings: June 30, 2009 (includes two or three additional screenings beside the premier)
Project life span: 2 years. From its Premiere, 2 or 3 special screening, local tv airings, including submitting the project to the nationwide and international festivals. However, the executive producer plans to Web streaming of the project once its planned public events are accomplished, and DVD might be re-produced based on sufficient claim for it. Thus the project life-span considerably could be from 2 years to 5 years.

Format: Sony-Cam-DV Tape ­ NTSC

Style: Free ­ Based on each student's preference. An experimental format for the project will considered.

Deadline for the written applications/proposals:
April 30, 2008

Deadline for the 8-minute video project:
October 15, 2008

Student Application and Responsibility: Each student will provide an outline of the proposed project with a budget. The project budget may exceed the $2,500 award but the amount above $2,500 will be the student’s responsibility. If chosen, the student will provide a single copy of the completed “master” of the finished program in Sony Cam-DV/NTSC format, and 5 DVD copies of the project, a brief auto-biography (300-350 hundreds words) and a photograph for publicity. The photo should be both in hard copy and on a CD.

Note: Application Form will be available on the organization web site when/if the organization has secured 1/3 ofthe estimated Grand Budget of this project.

How to announced this project: Advertisement in two mainstream media news companies on the East and West Coasts of the U.S., and in two local newspapers or professional magazines; personal contacts or visits to potential universities/colleges, nation-wide; a flyer/brochure; Web publications and Internet promotions.

Selection criteria: In order to ensure diversity of ideas and inclusive participation, any interested student (as undergraduate or graduate) is encouraged and invited to submit proposals.

Here are some hints for the students who are applying:

-       Are you aware of not belonging only to where you were born but belonging to the whole Earth/World?

-       You are from a different century and separated from Rumi by 800 years.

However, after doing some background reading, do you see now how very different cultures have some common desires and dreams for all people and the World?

-       Think of an idea that will resonate with Rumi and yet be modern both in its production and its realization.

-       Remember that the finalists’ projects will be promoted and presented in a very prestigious environment, at a United Nations event; and that, if you are a finalist, you will be among student producer/directors as part of a panel at the special screening. You should prepare something that you can talk about in order to share your experience with the audience. It can therefore be a very personal reaction to Rumi’s words.

-       Most likely, the ten students chosen will be meeting for the first time through this project. Their pieces will be shown together. There is a potential here to develop life-long friendships. Think about a project that you think will resonate with your generation and that you can talk about to others.

-       Remember that you will get national attention for your work and may inspire others.

Please see Lightmillennium.org, and Mevlana.Net Web Sites for ideas, a list of suggested book titles and other related Web Sites.

http://www.lightmillennium.org/2005_15th/thalman_rumi_p1.html,

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rumi, & http://www.mevlana.net/resources.htm

More information on Jalal ad-Din Muhammad RUMI:
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RumiP

Mawlana Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Rumi (Turkish: Mevlânâ Celâleddin Mehmed Rumi) , also known as Mawlānā Jalāl ad-Dīn Muhammad Balkhī, but known to the English-speaking world simply as Rumi, (1207­1273 CE) was a 13th century Persian poet, jurist, and theologian. His name literally means "Majesty of Religion", Jalal means "majesty" and Din means "religion".

Rumi was born in Balkh (then a city of Greater Khorasan in Persia, now part of Afghanistan) and died in Konya (in present-day Turkey). His birthplace and native tongue indicate a Persian heritage. He also wrote his poetry in Persian and his works are widely read in Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, and in translation in Turkey, Azerbaijan, the US, and South Asia. He lived most of his life and produced his works under the Seljuk Empire.

Rumi's importance is considered to transcend national and ethnic borders. Throughout the centuries he has had a significant influence on Persian as well as Urdu and Turkish literatures. His poems are widely read in the Persian speaking countries of Iran, Afghanistan and Tajikistan and have been widely translated into many of the world's languages in various formats.

After Rumi's death, his followers founded the Mevlevi Order, better known as the "Whirling Dervishes", who believe in performing their worship in the form of dance and music ceremony called the sema.

The general theme of his thoughts, like that of the other mystic and Sufi poets of the Persian literature, is essentially about the concept of Tawheed (unity) and union with his beloved (the primal root) from which/whom he has been cut and fallen aloof, and his longing and desire for reunity.

The "Mathnawi" weaves fables, scenes from everyday life, Qur’anic revelations and exegesis, and metaphysics, into a vast and intricate tapestry. Rumi is considered an example of "insani kamil" — the perfected or completed human being. In the East, it is said of him, that he was, "not a prophet — but surely, he has brought a scripture". Rumi believed passionately in the use of music, poetry and dancing as a path for reaching God. For Rumi, music helped devotees to focus their whole being on the divine, and to do this so intensely that the soul was both destroyed and resurrected. It was from these ideas that the practice of Whirling Dervishes developed into a ritual form. He founded the order of the Mevlevi, the "whirling" dervishes, and created the "Sema", their "turning", sacred dance. In the Mevlevi tradition, Sema represents a mystical journey of spiritual ascent through mind and love to "Perfect." In this journey the seeker symbolically turns towards the truth, grows through love, abandons the ego, finds the truth, and arrives at the "Perfect"; then returns from this spiritual journey with greater maturity, so as to love and to be of service to the whole of creation without discrimination against beliefs, races, classes and nations.

According to Shahram Shiva, one reason for Rumi's popularity is that "Rumi is able to verbalize the highly personal and often confusing world of personal/spiritual growth and mysticism in a very forward and direct fashion. He does not offend anyone, and he

includes everyone. The world of Rumi is neither exclusively the world of a Sufi, nor the world of a Hindu, nor a Jew, nor a Christian; it is the highest state of a human being — a fully evolved human. A complete human is not bound by cultural limitations; he touches every one of us. Today Rumi's poems can be heard in churches, synagogues, Zen monasteries, as well as in the downtown New York art/performance/music scene." According to Professor Majid M. Naini [7], Rumi's life and transformation provide true testimony and proof that people of all religions and backgrounds can live together in peace and harmony. Rumi’s visions, words, and life teach us how to reach inner peace and happiness so we can finally stop the continual stream of hostility and hatred and achieve true global peace and harmony.

Rumi's poetry is often divided into various categories: the quatrains (rubaiyat) and odes (ghazals) of the Divan, the six books of the Mathnavi, the discourses, the letters, and the almost unknown Six Sermons. Rumi's major work is Masnavi-ye Manavi (Spiritual Couplets), a six-volume poem regarded by many Sufis as second in importance only to the Qur'an. In fact, the Masnavi is often called the "Qur'an-e Parsi" (The Persian Qur'an). It is considered by many to be one of the greatest works of mystical poetry. Rumi's other major work is the Divan-e Shams-e Tabriz-i (The Works of Shams of Tabriz - named in honor of Rumi's great friend and inspiration, the darvish Shams), comprising some 40,000 verses. Several reasons have been offered for Rumi's decision to name his masterpiece after Shams. Some argue that since Rumi would not have been a poet without Shams, it is apt that the collection be named after him. Others have suggested that at the end, Rumi became Shams, hence the collection is truly of Shams speaking through Rumi. Both works are among the most significant in all of Persian literature. Shams is believed to have been murdered by disciples of Rumi who were jealous of his relationship with Shams (also spelled Shems).

Fihi Ma Fih (In It What's in It) is composed of Rumi's speeches on different subjects. Rumi himself did not prepare or write these discourses. They were recorded by his son Sultan Valad or some other disciple of Rumi and put together as a book. The title may mean, "What's in the Mathnavi is in this too." Some of the discourses are addressed to Muin al-Din Parvane. Some portions of it are commentary on Masnavi.

Majalis-i Sab'a (seven sessions) contains seven sermons (as the name implies) given in seven different assemblies. As Aflaki relates, after Sham-i Tabrizi, Rumi gave sermons at the request of notables, especially Salah al-Din Zarqubi.

Bibliography

• The Mysteries of the Universe and Rumi's Discoveries on the Majestic Path of Love, by Majid M. Naini, Universal Vision & Research, 2002 ISBN 0-9714600-0-0 [8]
• The Mesnevi of Mevlānā Jelālu'd-dīn er-Rūmī. Book first, together with some account of the life and acts of the Author, of his ancestors, and of his descendants, illustrated by a selection of characteristic anecdotes, as collected by their historian, Mevlānā Shemsu'd-dīn Ahmed el-Eflākī el-'Arifī, translated and the poetry versified by James W. Redhouse, London: 1881. Contains the translation of the first book only.
• Masnaví-i Ma'naví, the Spiritual Couplets of Mauláná Jalálu'd-din Muhammad Rúmí, translated and abridged by E. H. Whinfield, London: 1887; 1989. Abridged version from the complete poem. On-line editions at sacred-texts.com and on wikisource.
• The Masnavī by Jalālu'd-din Rūmī. Book II, translated for the first time from the Persian into prose, with a Commentary, by C.E. Wilson, London: 1910.
• The Mathnawí of Jalálu'ddín Rúmí, edited from the oldest manuscripts available, with critical notes, translation and commentary by Reynold A. Nicholson, in 8 volumes, London: Messrs Luzac & Co., 1925­1940. Contains the text in Persian. First complete English translation of the Mathnawí.
• Rending The Veil: Literal and Poetic Translations of Rumi, translated by Shahram Shiva Hohm Press, 1995 ISBN 0-934252-46-7. Recipient of Benjamin Franklin Award.
• Hush, Don't Say Anything to God: Passionate Poems of Rumi, translated by Shahram Shiva Jain Publishing, 1999 ISBN 0-87573-084-1.
• The Essence Of Rumi's Masnevi (Including His Life and Works) is a masterpiece from the pen of Dr. Erken TÜRKMEN, Professor, Near East University, Faculty of
  Arts and Sciences (Turkish and English Departments), Nicosia, North Cyprus. www.essenceofrumi.com
• The Essential Rumi, translated by Coleman Barks with John Moyne, A. J. Arberry, Reynold Nicholson, San Francisco: Harper Collins, 1996 ISBN 0-06-250959-4; Edison (NJ) and New York: Castle Books, 1997 ISBN 0-7858-0871-X. Selections.
• The Illuminated Rumi, translated by Coleman Barks, Michael Green contributor, New York: Broadway Books, 1997 ISBN 0-7679-0002-2.
• The Masnavi: Book One, translated by Jawid Mojaddedi, Oxford World's Classics Series, Oxford University Press, 2004 ISBN 0-19-280438-3. Translated for the first time from the Persian edition prepared by Mohammad Estelami with an introduction and explanatory notes. Awarded the 2004 Lois Roth Prize for excellence in translation of Persian literature by the American Institute of Iranian Studies.
  From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rumi

***PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS PROJECT IS NOT FUNDED, AND WE SEEK POTENTIAL FUNDERS FOR IT. THIS PROJECT WILL BE OFFICIALLY LAUNCHED BASED UPON SECURING ITS 1/3 ESTIMATED BUDGET. THANK YOU.***

Copyright Information: Copyright of the final video project will remain with the Light Millennium, a non-profit NGO. There will be no profit made from this competition or its results. Students, however, retain the copyright of their own project and are free to submit their own 8-minute projects to any video festival they wish, following the Awards Ceremony. If students choose to submit their own work at any future venue they choose, the Light Millennium and the original title of this project is to be mentioned in the credits

as a courtesy to the sponsoring organizations. The Light Millennium will re-produce the whole 80-minute DVD and distribute copies at no charge during its own events and various festivals in which it participates. Orders for the DVD will be sent for the cost of shipping & handling. Light Millennium will mount the project with video streaming over the Web when the necessity funds are available. Thus, even when the actual supply of DVDs is exhausted, this project will be available on the Internet.

About the Light Millennium Organization:

The Light Millennium organization has been operating with no office, no paid staff, no funds but 100% volunteer content and in-kinds donations, and voluntary productions of the organization’s e-publications, television programs and public events since its informal inception in August 1999 (formally since July 2001). Regardless of the major need for professional full-time and part-time, paid staff (minimum 3-5), technical equipment (computer, printer/fax) and updated software programs; and without any regular, sustainable income, and still basically un-funded; and with the organization mainly operating out of a home-office environment (with a child) and on its virtual platforms, the organization has still reached its 7th anniversary with more than 700 content/program contributors --both one time and many times, a total of 953,252 web site visitations on the main website alone—the total hits were 13,735,798 in 2006, and with over thirty collaborations with institutions, organizations, and private sector.

* As total, cable casted: 60 television programs in Queens (51 owns and produced by LM, and the organization sponsored 9 more for cable casting under the Light Millennium TV Series/QPTV since January 2000, jointly with other organizations). For LMTV Videography see the following URL:

http://www.lightmillennium.org/bu_videography.html

* Organized/collaborated/sponsored 44 public events since 2000. Of those, 39 programs occurred in New York. 28 of these events were in the last 3 years.

For detailed information about the Light Millennium’s events on the Web, see:
2006> http://www.lightmillennium.org/events/2006_list.html
2005> http://www.lightmillennium.org/events/2005_list.html
2000-2004> http://www.lightmillennium.org/events/list_since2000.html

* From January 2000 until now, the organization has e-published 34 issues on its three e-platforms, both in English and Turkish. There was also an introductory issue in 1999.

The organization has aimed to create an "archive of our time". From the inception of the Light Millennium until the present, all submitted ideas and written works have been presented on the Web, including the Introductory Issue. These are all available from the organization's Web Archive> http://www.lightmillennium.org/archive.html

For a profile of the Light Millennium see the following URL: http://lightmillennium.org/about%20lm/brochure_2007.html

To summarize, despite the absence of capital funding and minimal overhead, The Light Millennium has been able to present more diverse ideas for promoting “freedom of expression” globally on its multi-platforms, and has been reaching out to more people and participants each year, and, based on the Publishing Policy and Publishing Criteria of the organization, expanded its influence in more cultural and social levels than many other organizations of equivalent and much larger size.

What we have accomplished so far with common energy, compassion, passion and dedication toward the mission of the organization should be considered in the evaluation of the organization’s RUMI-VIDEO Production Awards project worth to be funded.

For Web Profile of the Light Millennium Organization:
http://www.lightmillennium.org/about%20lm/brochure_2007.html

Mission & Vision of the Light Millennium:
http://www.lightmillennium.org/lm_mission.html

Project Executive Producer: Bircan Ünver, (also) Executive Producer and Director of The Light Millennium TV Series/Queens Public TV. See: http://www.lightmillennium.org/bu_videography.html

About Bircan Unver, Executive Producer and Director of the project:

Bircan received Field and Studio Production certificates from Queens Public Television (QPTV) in 1992. Since then, she has produced, directed and edited more than 50 original programs, both in studio and field, and aired them on QPTV’s four channels (#34, 35, 56 & 57). She launched the Light Millennium TV Series (monthly) at QPTV on Jan. 13, 2000, and won some awards for her programs. Please see the Videography:
http://www.lightmillennium.org/bu_videography.html)

As an art journalist, Bircan had numerous articles published in various Turkish monthly art magazines and some daily newspapers from 1984 to 1989. She compiled her articles, interviews and essays in a book titled En Kutsali Yaratmak (The Most Sacred is to Create) in Turkish, published by SAY Publishing House in Istanbul in 1995.

Bircan’s interviews and articles continue to appear on various web sites and printed magazines (such as sanathaber.net, oytrabzon.com, Euroturks, dPaper, PORTRELER, HurriyetUSA) as well as on the lightmillennium.org and isikbinyili.org web sites.

Bircan is the originator (1999) and founder (2001) of the Light Millennium organization. She has been the executive producer and director of the Light Millennium since its inception, and is the main representative of the organization to the United Nations.

She developed, conducted, designed, e-produced, and promoted nearly 40 e-magazines under the Light Millennium organization. Please see the Archive of the Light Millennium: http://www.lightmillennium.org/archive.html)

She also originated, developed, produced and co-produced 45 various cultural and educational public events in collaborations with various civil society organizations, universities and private companies for the Light Millennium organization.
For more information on EVENTS:
2006: http://www.lightmillennium.org/events/2006_list.html
2005: http://www.lightmillennium.org/events/2005_list.html

2000-2004: http://www.lightmillennium.org/events/list_since2000.html

Bircan holds a Master’s Degree from Media Studies of the New School University. Her thesis project was a half-hour documentary titled “ALL IDEAS” (1999). She has a BA degree is in Fine Arts from University of Mimar Sinan, Istanbul, Turkey (1988).

Bircan was born in Yukarikale, an ancient village in Turkey in 1959 and grew up in Istanbul as the oldest of seven siblings. She first came to the U.S. in September 1989. She lived in LA between 1989-1990 and in New York between 1990-1993. She resides in Queens, New York since 1996. She has two sons.

For more information: http://www.lightmillennium.org
E-mail: bircanunver@lightmillennium.org/ or contact@lightmillennium.org

--Proposal Timeline Updated on: June 6, 2007

* If the U.N. has began its Master Capital Plan ­ Renovation, accordingly a U.N. affiliated venue will be aimed.

***PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS PROJECT IS NOT FUNDED, AND WE SEEK POTENTIAL FUNDERS FOR IT. THIS PROJECT WILL BE OFFICIALLY LAUNCHED BASED UPON SECURING ITS 1/3 ESTIMATED BUDGET. THANK YOU.***

© Bircan Unver, The Light Millennium, 2006-2007.

"The Light Millennium., is a 501 (c) (3) Tax Exempt and Public Benefit Organization & Associated with the Department of Public Information of the United Nations. Its mandate is effective as of December 12, 2005. http://www.lightmillennium.org - http://www.isikbinyili.org - http://www.turkishgreeksynergy.net. The Light Millennium.org has been based in New York, and on the Web, since August 1999.

“YOU ARE THE SOUL OF THIS GLOBAL PLATFORM” ­ “WE ARE FOR THE GREATNESS IN HUMANITY”.

--Post to the Web by Bircan Unver on July 7, 2007. 2007.--