OPen samento

(Los Angeles, May 21, 2021)An episode from New Musicals Inc.’s upcoming webseries, “So Proudly We Hailed,” has been selected to be part of the celebrations at the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers (May 29), in Lisbon, Portugal. You can see an excerpt from this episode on YouTube at https://youtu.be/hKOrlpu5VFc The full episode is a 15-minute musical which features the true story of Paulo Jorge Machado Dias Gonçalves, who served in Bosnia, among other places. Paulo wrote the dialogue (and Portuguese subtitles); music and lyrics are by Ryan Patrick Martin. The episode, “The Messenger,” is directed by John Coppola, and features Eduardo Enrikez in the title role.The International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers, 29 May, offers a chance to pay tribute to the uniformed and civilian personnel’s invaluable contribution to the work of the Organization and to honor more than 4,000 peacekeepers who have lost their lives serving under the UN flag since 1948, including 130 last year. In Lisbon, Portugal, our episode will be shown at a very prestigious event, which coincides with an exhibit at the Combatants’ Museum. NMI is excited and honored to be part of this international celebration. Funded by grants from the California Arts Council and the Helen & Jose Colton Foundation, the new webseries “So Proudly We Hailed” features stories of veterans from all over the globe, in musicalizations of true stories, in the Veterans’ own words. We pair our honorees with an artistic team comprised of a composer, lyricist, director, and dramaturg, and shape their story into a short musical retelling in a digital platform.We’re currently shooting and editing the first eight episodes of the series, and we hope to have another call for additional submissions very shortly.The episodes currently in production are: An English Major in Camouflage: A former English major is commanded to teach literature to a foreign general. Unexpectedly, the safety of her regiment, and even the entire region, depends upon her success. By Melissa Milich; with music and lyrics by Katie Brady; featuring Christine Avila. Chasing Ghosts: Based on the Iraq War memoir, An Angel From Hell, by Ryan Conklin; with music by Ron Barnett and lyrics by Christine Croyden; featuring Troy Armond Barboza. Judy and Me: A bittersweet story of a father and a son whose relationship with the military shifts over time. By J.A. Moad II; with music and lyrics by Filip Holacky; featuring Michael Shepperd. The Interrogator: An interrogator grills the only female prisoner in Bagram on charges of terrorism. By Elaine Little; with music and lyrics by Joshua Cohen; featuring Megan Rees. Blood: A hospital Navy Corpsman discovers her personal losses intersect with the wounded soldiers in a hospital tent in Kandahar. By Billie Estes, with music and lyrics by Angela Parrish; directed by John Coppola; featuring Evelyn Halus. Christmas in Kandahar: A soldier stationed in Afghanistan accidentally buys an entire truckful of bread on Christmas Eve. By Addison Blu, with music and lyrics by Michael Finke; directed by Megan Rees; featuring Tonnocus McClain. The Messenger: A United Nations Peacekeeper from Portugal learns his life’s mission through a chance conversation with a five-year-old Bosnian boy. By Paulo Jorge Machado Dias Gonçalves, with music and lyrics by Ryan Patrick Martin; directed by John Coppola; featuring Eduardo Enrikez. Still Standing Proud: based on the service of an anonymous soldier who endured a devastating assault; with music and lyrics by Natalie Rebecca Lovejoy. A difficult but important personal story of Military Sexual Trauma.The series will debut this summer, produced by New Musicals Inc. To see sneak peeks of some of the episodes, visit www.nmi.org/veteransWe are currently looking for funding to bring five more veterans’ stories to life:The Shooter, by Brenda Garcia. The U.S. Navy gave her a camera instead of a gun. The Air Force Jumper, by Shannon Corbeil. At some point, you have to pull your own rip cord. The Observer, by Steve Bingley from the British Army. You never forget watching a friend try to hang himself. The Collector, by Diarra McCormick. The worst job in the Air Force? Tracking down your fellow service members who owe money to Uncle Sam. The Ant Man, by Jeffrey Golden. Attacked by fire ants. Twice.This project is hosted by New Musicals Inc. This activity is supported in part by a generous grant from the Helen and Jose Colton Foundation, and the California Arts Council, a state agency. Learn more about the Arts Council at www.arts.ca.gov.For more info on SO PROUDLY WE HAILED, visit www.nmi.org/veterans##New Musicals Inc., 5628 Vineland Avenue, North Hollywood, CA, 91601    818-506-8500    admin@nmi.org    www.nmi.orgCopyright © 2021 New Musicals Inc., All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you subscribed to news from New Musicals Inc. Our mailing address is:New Musicals Inc.5628 Vineland AvenueNorth Hollywood, CA 91601 Add us to your address book

This is the teaser of a 15 minute musical about the UN mission in the former Yugoslavia – UNPROFOR (1995). The full musical will be released on the 29th May 2021 – the International Peacekeepers’ Day.

#PKDay

Today, 5th of May, we celebrate the Day of the Portuguese Language.
Portuguese unites 9 countries: Angola, Brazil, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Equatorial Guinea, Mozambique, Portugal, São Tomé and Príncipe and Timor-Leste, in addition to Macau, China and the diasporas spread across Europe and the North America.
There are more than 260 million people speaking the language of Camões (the National poet) and by 2100, it is estimated that there will be more than 500 million Portuguese speaking people.

On 14 April 2021, NATO leaders have met at the highest level and decided to leave Afghanistan starting May and finishing by 11Stpember 2021.

On the same day, the UN mission in Afghanistan – UNAMA – published a paper titled “Afghanistan Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict 2021 First Quarter Report”. In it, one can read that the Taliban are not stepping down their fighting campaign; quite the contrary. In many major cities, there has been a “hunt” for afghanis related with Human Rights protection. The report documents that – only in the first quarter 2021 – there has been 1,783 civilian casualties (573 killed and 1,210 injured), which is a 29% increase compared with the same period in 2020. “Of particular concern is the 37% increase in the number of women killed and injured, and a 23% increase in child casualties compared with the first quarter of 2020.”

UNAMA tweeted: “Extraordinary levels of harm inflicted on civilians in #Afghanistan conflict continues unabated, says new UN report issued today. Urgent action required by all parties to stop the violence.”

It is well known that there is no military solution for the Afghani case, even NATO says so. However, it is also true that there are no conditions for a “civilian only” presence on the ground. As soon as the international military presence vacates the country, so will many of the Non-Governmental Organizations. It seems that a it is time for another type of international presence in Afghanistan.

Will UNAMA shift from a Special Political Mission into a Peacekeeping Mission? But, if so, will the UN blue helmets be able to do what the “all mighty” NATO couldn´t achieve in 20 years of military presence?

We´ll see, … but something must be done … the Afghans deserve a solution.

Starting on the 1^st of May the foreigner forces participating in NATO Mission Resolute Support, will start orderly leaving Afghanistan, aiming to vacate the country on 11 September 2021; 20 years after the twin towers’ terrorist attack.

This agreement, achieved by consensus among all NATO leaders on 14APR2021, was made in light of the recognition that there is no military solution to the challenges Afghanistan faces.

However, Afghanistan will not be “abandoned” to its own faith. According to the Allied statement:

“The conclusion of NATO’s Resolute Support Mission takes place against the backdrop of renewed regional and international support for political progress toward peace. We will continue to support the ongoing Afghan-owned and Afghan-led peace process. “

The United Nations will now have big shoes to fill in that part of the World.

A sustainable peace in Afghanistan will have at its foundation an enduring, comprehensive, and inclusive peace agreement that puts an end to violence, safeguards the human rights of all Afghans, particularly women, children, and minorities, upholds the rule of law, and ensures that Afghanistan never again serves as a safe haven for terrorists.

We honor our fallen comrades.

Easter Friday April 2, 2021, the United Nations mission to Mali (MINUSMA) suffered a “complex attack” (direct and indirect fires coordinated in form and in time), which resulted in the death of four blue helmets of the Chad. The latest reports informed that, in addition to the deaths, there are also a number of injuries among the UN contingent. With this attack, 9 blue helmets have died in Mali since the beginning of 2021, making a total of 245 peacekeepers killed since the start of the mission in 2013.

MINUSMA has ensured that this attack will not undermine its determination to continue to fulfill its mandate. The UN mission also reiterated its continued commitment to protecting people and working for peace. The UN Secretary-General – António Guterres – reaffirmed the United Nations’ solidarity with the people and government of the Republic of Mali in their quest for peace, and offered his condolences to the Chadian government, as well as to the families of the dead soldiers of the peace, wishing a quick and complete recovery of the wounded.

Na passada sexta-feira 2 de abril de 2021, a missão das Nações Unidas para o Mali (MINUSMA) sofreu um “ataque complexo” (fogos diretos e indiretos coordenados na forma e no tempo), do qual resultou a morte de quatro capacetes do Chade. Os últimos reportes informam que, para além das mortes, existe também um número de feridos entre o contingente da ONU. Com este ataque já morreram no Mali 9 capacetes azuis desde o início de 2021, perfazendo um total de 245 soldados da paz mortos desde o início da missão em 2013.

A MINUSMA garantiu que este ataque não prejudicará sua determinação de continuar cumprindo seu mandato. A missão da ONU também reiterou seu compromisso contínuo de proteger as populações e trabalhar pela paz.

O Secretário-Geral da ONU – António Guterres – reafirmou a solidariedade das Nações Unidas com o povo e o governo da República do Mali na sua busca pela paz, e ofereceu as suas condolências ao governo do Chade, bem como às famílias dos soldados mortos da paz, desejando a rápida e completa recuperação dos feridos.

A Organização do Tratado do Atlântico Norte acaba de divulgar as despesas militares (2020) de cada um dos 29 Aliados.

(Em milhões de unidades da moeda nacional) – Albania (Leks) 20,353; Belgium (Euros) 4,755; Bulgaria (Leva) 1,843; Canada (Canadian dollars) 30,815; Croatia (Kunas) 6,700; Czech Republic (Koruny) 74,300; Denmark (Kroner) 32,572; Estonia (Euros) 615; France (Euros) 46,200; Germany (Euros) 51,610; Greece (Euros) 4,398; Hungary (Forint) 853,196; Italy (Euros) 22,844; Latvia (Euros) 664; Lithuania (Euros) 1,028; Luxembourg (Euros) 356; Montenegro (Euros) 73; Netherlands (Euros) 11,500; North Macedonia (Denars) 8,303; Norway (Kroner) 67,908; Poland (Zlotys) 52,997; Portugal (Euros) 3,191; Romania (New Lei) 21,431; Slovak Republic (Euros) 1,796; Slovenia (Euros) 504; Spain (Euros) 12,932; Turkey (Liras) 89,392; United Kingdom (Pounds) 48,260; United States (US dollars) 784,952.

Nos muitos quadros e números disponíveis, pode-se ler que Portugal (embora tenha aumentado o investimento na área da Defesa) é o único país que não gastou praticamente nada em infraestruturas de defesa (0.2% do orçamento de Defesa), pertencendo ao grupo dos sete países que menos gasta em operações e treino militar (17.8% do orçamento de Defesa). A grande fatia do orçamento de Defesa continua a ser para os gastos com o pessoal (65.4%), colocando o país no grupo dos oito Aliados que gastam mais de 60% do seu orçamento de Defesa com o pessoal. Portugal volta a estar entre os sete países aliados que menos gasta em equipamento (16.6%).

Desta forma, parece obvio que para se manter qualidade e gastar menos com o pessoal e, simultaneamente, investir-se dinheiro em equipamento, infraestruturas, treino e operações, só há uma via a percorrer – aumentar o orçamento de Defesa para “os tais” 2% do PIB apregoado pela OTAN.

Our Veterans have wonderful stories…this story and illustration comes from one of our program participants from Portugal, Paulo Jorge Machado Dias Gonçalves:

“Nowadays, whenever I see children amusingly coming from school and playing on the streets, I smile and think how fortunate they are to live in a peaceful and secure environment.

As a peacekeeper Veteran, it’s inevitable to recall my UN mission during the war in Bosnia. One day, while patrolling Sarajevo’s streets, I saw some children playing hide and seek among the ruins of their village. That was the only possible game they could play out in the open, because there were snipers in the vicinity. When they saw that I was observing them they stopped playing. The youngest, recognizing that I was a foreigner soldier, approached me.

This child, who was about 5 years old, looked at me and with the most innocent smile, asked something I could not understand. A young man passing by translated it – “He’s asking how is the war in your country?”

What a punch in the stomach, to think that this was the only reality he knew… I often wonder if today’s parents realize that peace and security are not granted things. We all must strive to maintain them. We owe it to the next generations.” #Veteran #Artist

This story is currently being adapted to a musical and, coming soon, it will be available over the internet in a short (musical) video. Stay tune!