PAAIA Members $25 (discounted from $30)

When: August 19th, 2010, 5:00pm -8:00pm.

Where: Atrium Hotel, OC Airport - Poolside Cabanas (18700 Mac Arthur Boulevard Irvine, CA 92612 )

Click here to read more.

Aug. 11, 2010, Los Angeles, CA - Andy, declared best Iranian Singer of the 90s by Universal Studios, is a long time friend of PAAIA; he collaborated with the 2010 Census Coalition and attended PAAIA’s Passing the Torch of Success in New York last April. We like him a lot, and in a moment of inspiration, took the opportunity to chat with him.  He talked to us about music and more. Here it is.

Q: Give us an inside scoop of what you are doing these days?

Right now my single release “Madaram”, is number one on Radio Javan and I hear that the volume of downloads is causing technical strains on their website! I’ll be singing this song at my upcoming concert at the Bren Event Center in Irvine, August 21^st.  You can download “Madaram” for free from my website.

Q: What is the significance of this song and how is it being received?

I wrote this song for my mother who passed away three years ago. Although it is a sad song, it has touched a lot of people.  I’ve received multiple e-mails from fans.  One fan said that this song helped him deal with the loss of his mother last year; others are calling or visiting their moms to tell them how much they love them.  I am grateful that this song is helping and reconnecting people. 

Q: What role did your mother play in your career?

She was my biggest fan and number one supporter.  Our parents are the best teachers and we are reflections of them.  My mother is the main reason I was able to follow my dreams.

Q: What are your thoughts about the Iranian American Community?

The global success of an individual contributes to the image of his/her nation.  What I mean is, when you think Beatles, you immediately think England, just as Pele is brings up Brazil in our minds.  These individuals contribute to the image of their society.  The world’s opinion of a community depends on the world’s opinion of its individuals; so highlighting the success of Iranian Americans in the Diaspora helps shape a positive picture of our community.  

Q: What is your advice to our PAAIA Nex/Gen readers?

Before I speak about that I want to say that I’m a big supporter of PAAIA.  First and foremost, if we don’t support each other no one else will.  Secondly, as Iranians this is the first time we are experiencing being a minority group.  We don’t have the support system and community ties that our fellow Jewish and Armenians have developed throughout history.  We are still learning what it means to support each other.   

The sooner we start supporting one another, especially our youth, the sooner we will be in a position of leadership within the broader American community.  We need to teach our youth how to work together.   So my advice to our young Iranian Americans is to work with each other, support one another, and work to build a strong community and voice here in America so we can help all Iranians, especially those in Iran.

Q: Do you mean on a political level?

Not political because governments come and go but on a humanitarian level we need to help each other whether in the US, Iran, or around the world.

Andy, thank you for sharing your time with us.  I look forward to seeing you perform "Madaram" next week.

August 10, 2010, Seattle, WA- With less than a week to go before the primary election, Shahram Hadian’s candidacy for the Washington State House of Representative continues to gain momentum with a new endorsement from the Seattle Times, the largest daily newspaper in the state of Washington.

Last week, the Seattle Times Editorial Board endorsed Shahram Hadian (R) as the top choice for Washington State House of Representative (District 44, Position 1). The Board deemed that it is time for a change in the 44^th Legislative District.  “Veteran state Rep. Hans Dunshee, D-Snohomish, is intelligent and hardworking but he is also emblematic of the excessive spending that has characterized Olympia in recent years. We have endorsed him in each re-election campaign since 2000, but this year we cannot,” said the Seattle Times. “Our recommendation is for Shahram Hadian, a pastor at a Lynnwood church and a community activist who pushed successfully for Snohomish County's ban on near-naked baristas.” 

Hadian was born in Iran, and moved to the U.S. at the age of seven. He has lived in the Pacific Northwest region for the past 28 years. He is a graduate of the Washington Law Enforcement Academy and served as a Police Officer for the City of Redmond.  Hadian considers himself a strong conservative leader and an independent thinker. His campaign’s top priorities include: job creation, supporting small businesses, prioritizing education, smaller government, creating safer communities, and increasing civic involvement.

Hadian has also been endorsed by the Snohomish County Republican Party, Washington State Farm Bureau Political Action Committee, National Federation of Independent Businesses (NFIB), as well as a number of county and state elected officials.

Hadian faces incumbent Dunshee as well as fellow Republican Bob McCaughan in the August 17, 2010 primary. The two candidates who garner the highest total number of votes advance to the general election in November.

Click here to read the Seattle Times’ endorsement of Hadian.

Click here to learn more about Shahram Hadian’s campaign.

 Haleh Zandi and Gavin Raders, co-founders of Planting Justice, dedicate their time to community organizing, urban food production, and shifting local and international policies towards more just and sustainable solutions for all. They organize free community work-parties and low-cost educational workshops at schools, transform yards into edible gardens and create jobs through training the community to create sustainable, replicable gardens with complete nutritional diet in the city. PAAIA sat down with Haleh to learn more about her work as the co-founder of Planting Justice, a non-profit organization whose slogan is “Grow Food, Grow Jobs, Grow Community” and is founded on three guiding principles “Food Justice, Economic Justice, Environmental Justice”.

Haleh, it’s a pleasure sitting with you and talking about your accomplishments as a young member of the community. I first learned about Planting Justice through my conversations with you and Gavin. After reading more about your organization on your website and articles such as the one featured on Food First, I felt it imperative to share your work with the community.

Let’s start by introducing Planting Justice to our readers!

Q: Where did the idea behind Planting Justice come from and how did it form?

Planting Justice grew out of an edible landscaping and ecological design company Gavin Raders and I started in June 2008 called the Backyard Food Project. Whereas the benefits of edible landscaping and permaculture have thus far been restricted to those who can pay a premium for it, we were determined to make healthy food, edible landscaping, and ecological education affordable and accessible to low-income urban residents. From the start, we organized friends with canvassing experience to raise donations and volunteers house by house, and in their first year we created 40 urban permaculture gardens for both full-paying and low-income clients that recycled greywater and harnessed precious rainwater to efficiently produce thousands of pounds of fruits, vegetables, eggs, honey, meat, herbs and edible mushrooms, all while providing relevant and inspirational environmental education and outdoor experiences for low-income youth and families.  The high demand for our services convinced us to scale up this work by organizing an income-generating 501(c)3 non-profit that could create green jobs in edible landscaping and grassroots organizing, while increasing food security, community building, and environmental education in economically disadvantaged communities. 

Q: Who are the main participants?

At schools, community centers, prisons, housing complexes, and private residencies, Planting Justice empowers disenfranchised urban residents with the skills, resources, and inspiration to maximize food production, economic opportunities, and environmental beauty in our neighborhoods.

Q: What projects are you currently working on?

Since March 2009, Planting Justice has been in collaboration with Mandela Marketplace and West Oakland Youth Standing Empowered (WYSE) to develop an educational food forest at Burbank Community Garden in East Oakland. During the 2009-2010 school year, Gavin and I led a weekly afterschool program called “Food Justice and Culinary Arts” in collaboration with the East Lake YMCA program and 12 African-American students at Explore College Preparatory middle school. We have also been in collaboration since March 2009 with the Insight Garden Program at San Quentin State Prison working with 35 inmates twice a month to mentor them in edible landscaping and ecological design. We are effectively working with San Quentin authorities to develop a space, beyond the existing native plant garden, for these men to grow food and gain job-training skills to enter into the green economy upon release. During the 2010-2011 school year, Planting Justice will be collaborating with Mandela High School in East Oakland to develop a weekly food justice/ecological entrepreneurship course with juniors through their social justice internship. Since February 2010, Gavin and I have been leading bi-weekly urban gardening workshops at Keller Plaza in North Oakland with low-income and elderly residents, 90% of whom are Eritrean and Ethiopian. Having knocked on over 50,000 doors in 5 states to organize on a range of national and international anti-nuclear, anti-war, human rights, and environmental causes, we also train other environmental grassroots organizers to canvass for Planting Justice. Lastly, Planting Justice transforms the front and back yards of private residents for both full-paying and subsidized clients, and has started over 60 gardens in the past 2 years.

Q: Where does the funding come from?

Planting Justice generates much of its own revenue through its programming, including the door-to-door outreach program and the edible landscaping fee-for-service program called Transform your Yard. As a 501(c)3 organization, Planting Justice has received several small grants that help sponsor community garden projects. Also, Planting Justice has a dedicated monthly sustainer program in which people give $5 or more per month to help fund this important work towards food and economic justice.

Q: How do you envision Planting Justice in a few years?

Planting Justice aims to show how hundreds of jobs in food production, value-added, and retail can be created in and near every U.S. city; jobs that regenerate local economies, natural resources, and the bodies, minds, and spirits of urban residents. By implementing tangible, innovative solutions to the interlinked crises of urban food injustice, economic injustice, and the climate crisis, Planting Justice intends to demonstrate that cities such as Oakland can not only produce healthy and sustainable food for those who currently lack access to it, but do it in a way that simultaneously creates dignified, living-wage jobs for economically disenfranchised people and shows a viable alternative to the industrial food system that is itself at the root of health inequity and the climate crisis. Our long-term goal is to support a radical legislative, cultural, and physical shift in the way our country feeds itself, towards a local, sustainable and just food system that enables all people to have access to affordable, nutritious food that heals rather than ails them. We envision Planting Justice to be in cities across the U.S. such as Los Angeles, New Orleans, Washington D.C. and Detroit.

Q: How can the community help?

The community can help in several ways.

1) To hire our Edible Landscaping team to transform your yard into an abundant, nutritious landscape that demonstrates permaculture design and helps to alleviate our individual food miles. For every 3-4 full-paying clients, Planting Justice can implement one garden for free for a low-income household! Just fill out the form.

2) Become a monthly sustainer at $5/month or more. If we have 1,000 people giving a little each month, Planting Justice would be able to implement gardens commissioned by the community without having to wait or rely upon foundations who live outside our community.

3) Collaborate with Planting Justice on food justice issues. Planting Justice is always looking for ways to empower disenfranchised urban residents with the skills, resources, and inspiration to maximize food production, environmental beauty, and economic opportunities in our neighborhoods.

4) Spread the news about Planting Justice. Tell your friends and family to become monthly sustainers or to hire Planting Justice as Edible Landscapers.

Thank you, Haleh for sharing your time with us. Needless to say, your work is inspiring for our young activists and philanthropists.

"The Los Angeles based Jewish Vocational Services (JVS) since 1930 has been providing programs and services to various individuals who have been financially struggling. These services include efforts to help countless folks become self-sufficient and even offered scholarships to college students in need who show potential. Last month I attended the JVS’s Scholarship awards night and was surprised to find that a majority of the 100+ scholarship recipients this year were local young Iranian Jews."

Click here for the full article and webcast. 

Aug 7, 2010 - …Last night, unable to sleep once more and thanks to the final remnants of a fading jet lag, I settled down to read The Heart's Desire, a riveting paperback, published by an older, stylish Iranian-American novelist, an Associate Fellow at Yale  and currently a New York resident, Nahid Rachlin. I had picked up the novel at the famously-eclectic Kinokuniya Bookstore in Kuala Lumpur, the day before.  I recognised the rare intimate study of family portraits, as a 1995 edition and simply had to have it.

In a nutshell, Jennifer an American working in a hospital and playacting the loving mother and wife, marries Karim, an Iranian Professor, who lives and works in Columbus, USA. They have a small son, Darius. As soon as the Iran-Iraq war is over, the small family reluctantly returns for two months to Tehran.
 

Click here for the full article
 

Aug 05, 2010, Washington, D.C. - We have received numerous questions from the Iranian American community in connection with the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment Act of 2010 (CISADA). Some pertain to the Iranian Transaction Regulations (ITR) and some to how CISADA will impact the ITR. I will try to directly answer some of these questions below.

Q. Will the importation of rugs or carpets from Iran still be allowed?

A. The hard and fast answer to this is no. The importation ban in the CISADA is very broad. All importations of goods, services, and technologies from Iran into the U.S. are banned, unless they are specifically exempted under the ITR. However, OFAC may maintain the current general license for the importation of carpets/rugs once they amend the ITR to reflect the mandates of CISADA.

Q. Does the current U.S. sanctions regime affect those who travel to Iran to visit family, friends and/or to sightsee?

A. No. There are currently no prohibitions on the travel to Iran for any purposes. CISADA does not add any prohibitions on travel to Iran or on transactions incident to that travel.

Q. Does the ITR prohibit individuals from attending to their personal financial transactions in the U.S. such as paying bills on-line from Iran?

A. This is a gray area; however, the answer here would depend specifically on the facts of the situation. For example, if you are paying your electric bill for your house in the U.S. while you are in Iran, an argument could be made that there is no export of goods, services, or technology to a person in Iran, because the services are remaining in the U.S. On the other hand, there could be scenarios in which you engage in a personal transaction in the U.S., but the benefit of the transaction involves some export of a service to Iran. In those scenarios there could possibly be a violation. In scenarios such as these, it makes sense to request interpretative guidance from OFAC, or at a minimum to contact the OFAC compliance hotline (1-800-540-6322).

Q. Does the ITR affect those who have assets in Iran (such as property) that they would like to liquidate?

A. This again is a gray area. Since there is no import or export taking place it would seem that there is no prohibited activity, however, there are a number of activities which might take place as part of that liquidation which could violate the ITR. For example, if you wish to sell your property to a party in Iran and that party must obtain a loan from a bank in order to purchase that that property from you, then you may be engaging in the facilitation of an activity otherwise prohibited by the ITR. This is due to of the broad nature of the facilitation definition contained in the ITR which prohibits carrying out any act which would allow an otherwise prohibited activity to occur.          

Q. Does the ITR prohibit individuals from sending money to family in Iran?

A. This yet again is another area in which the facts of the situation will determine the answer. The export of goods, services, and technology are prohibited. In addition, the facilitation of transactions which would otherwise be prohibited are prohibited as well. As such, the transfer of money is not necessarily prohibited; although it should be noted that U.S. depository institutions are prohibited from maintaining accounts at Iranian banks. However, there are scenarios where the sending of money to a family member in Iran could constitute a violation of the ITR. For example, if a U.S. Person were to send money to Iran for the purpose of purchasing spark plugs from a U.S. vendor, that transaction would be considered facilitation and would be prohibited.

Q. Does the ITR affect those who provide professional services such as accounting or legal work for businesses and individuals located in Iran?

A. There are currently certain professional services which are authorized under the ITR pursuant to a general license. For example, many legal activities, particularly those dealing with US attorneys ability to counsel Iranian parties about compliance with U.S. laws, are permitted.  CISADA does not allow for the exportation of any professional services. However, it remains to be seen whether or not OFAC will maintain the general license for certain professional services to be exported to Iran.

Q. How about those individuals who find work opportunities to work with international institutions, non-governmental organizations and charities in Iran?

A. CISADA does provide an exemption for the export of goods, services, and technology to Iran which are necessary to support the activities of non-governmental organizations pertaining to the promotion of democracy.

Q. How does the law affect Iranian Americans who own property in Iran, or who receive income in Iran?

A. It may or may not affect them anymore than the ITR already does. It will all depend on the specific facts pertaining to each case. For example, if an individual is obtaining income from rental property in Iran, they may already be deemed to engaging in the prohibited export of services to Iran. As such, CISADA would not affect them anymore then they are already prohibited from engage in such activities.

Q. What do IA executives whose companies do business with Iran need to be aware of?

A. There are a number of considerations Iranian American executives need to be cognizant of. First and one many are likely already becoming aware of is the unwillingness of banks, both foreign and domestic, to be part of any transaction, no matter authorized or not, dealing with Iran. Due to the aggressive nature of OFAC's enforcement of the ITR over the past eighteen (18 months) and the new prohibitions contained in CISADA, it is no wonder banks are shying away from any type of transaction dealing with Iran. Second, is the effect that dealing with Iran can have on those companies and individuals seeking U.S. Government procurement contracts. CISADA requires that individuals or entities seeking to obtain U.S. Government procurement contracts certify that they do not engage in transactions with Iran, regardless of whether those transactions are authorized or not. Finally, depending upon the state in which these businesses are located, Iranian American executives will want to be wary of state divestment laws that might affect their organization's activities.

CISADA is broad and will further narrow the limitations on transacting in Iran already established by the ITR. However, until OFAC amends the ITR to reflect the mandates of CISADA, it remains unclear how dramatic these changes will be. As always, the most important thing for the Iranian American community is to remain aware of the U.S. economic sanctions laws relating to Iran and how to address potential issues that may come up in their day to day life. Before engaging in any transaction with Iran make sure to seek out the advice of an attorney who is familiar with the Iran sanctions and who has experience in dealing with matters before OFAC.  The consequences of violating the ITR are too severe to fail to take such steps.

Eric Ferrari is a Partner in the Washington, DC office of McNabb Ferrari, P.C. and a member of the Iranian American Bar Association-Washington, DC Chapter. Erich is an internationally recognized expert in OFAC litigation and U.S. economic sanctions programs; he publishes on related issues and blogs at www.sanctionlaw.com. Nothing in this article should be construed as legal advice as every case is different. If you are impacted by any topic discussed in this article you should consult with an attorney who has expertise in OFAC. If you would like more information about the contents of Erich’s article, call him at 202-351-6161 or email ferrari@mcnabbferrari.com.

 August 4, 2010, New York, New York – Thanks to renowned plastic surgeon Dr. Kaveh Alizadeh, an Iraqi boy who was dreadfully injured after setting off an improvised explosive device (IED) has been given a second chance at life. 

Nine year old Waad Baktar was playing with his friends in the outskirts of Baghdad when he mistakenly set off an IED, which left him without an arm, a leg, an eye and any hope for a decent future. 

An American soldier stationed in Iraq brought Baktar’s predicament to the attention of the Global Medical Relief Fund, a Staten Island based charity, which arranged for the boy’s travel to New York for medical treatment at no cost to Baktar’s family.  

Over the course of four months and twelve surgeries, Dr. Alizadeh and his team provided reconstructive surgery to Baktar’s face and foot.  Baktar also received a prosthetic arm and leg from the Shriner’s hospital in Philadelphia and a prosthetic eye from a physician based in Manhattan.    

“They fixed this young man and made him whole again,” explained Congressman Gary Akerman (D-NY) during a farewell ceremony for Baktar at the North Shore University Hospital in Long Island. “They turned what was a nightmare of a situation into a functioning, happy, smiling human being once again.”

Click here to view CBS News report with Dr. Kaveh Alizadeh.

 http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2010/08/02/iraqi-boy-gets-life-changing-surgery-on-long-island/

On July 21, 2010, the Orange County Friends of Mark Ameli held a successful fundraiser, which follows his tremendous win in the primary election of June 8, 2010. 

As reported earlier, Ameli is a candidate for Judge of the Superior Court of the Los Angeles County; once elected he will be the first Iranian American to hold such a position. Ameli was faced with a very challenging race, but despite seven opponents in the primary election, he emerged as one of the two top vote getters and advanced to the runoff election, to be held on November 2, 2010. 

Ameli told his supporters who had gathered at the fundraising event that he has already received the endorsements of a number of elected officials and organizations.  Among them are Sheriff Baca, Congressman Henry Waxman, Assembly Members Feuer, Hall, Lowenthal and Speaker Emeritus, Karen Bass.  He has the endorsements of several judges as well as mayors of cities in Los Angeles County, and of the Los Angeles County Democratic Party, Iranian American Lawyers Association, Iranian American Republican Council of California and Orange County, and other organizations and community activists. 

In order to win in the general election, Ameli needs to advertise more widely to get his name and message out. This will require additional funds.  The event of July 21^stwas a good start for Mark’s campaign.  But what is now required is more fundraisers and more people who are willing to contribute to his campaign online.  Please visit Mark Ameli’s website, www.electmarkameli.com, and make a contribution to his campaign.  With your help, Mark will get elected as the first Iranian American Judge of the Superior Court in Los Angeles County, the largest County in the United States. 

PAAIA Members receive a 10% discount. 

The highly acclaimed Iranian musical phenomenon Homay and the Mastan Ensemble return for the third consecutive year.  For more details please see press release.

When:August 15, 2010 at 7 p.m.

Where:Walt Disney Concert Hall.

To purchase tickets, please go to Ticketmasterand enter Discount Code: GROUPHM10

August 1, 2010, Washington, D.C. - On July 22, 2010, the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals overturned a District Court ruling that awarded Mattel, Inc. ownership of the Bratz product.  The ruling is a major turnaround for MGA Entertainment Inc., and its Iranian born CEO and founder, Isaac Larian, in its long running legal battle with Mattel over the fashion doll line.

The decision reversed a 2008 copyright infringement victory for Mattel.  The suit alleged that the designer who created the Bratz line was working for Mattel when he conceived the idea and design for the dolls.  The ruling gave Mattel ownership over the Bratz dolls. MGA was ordered to transfer all products and assets associated with the Bratz line to Mattel.

MGA appealed the District Court’s decision, leading to a review by the U.S. Court of Appeals.The Ninth circuit ruled the jury verdict and damages awarded should be vacated and that the entire case will likely need to be retried.  Specifically, the three-judge panel questioned whether Mattel is entitled to the ideas and drawings of a former employee if they were not part of the scope of his employment. 

The Mattel v. MGA case also presented an issue of whether a verdict should be overturned based upon expressed prejudice among jury members during deliberations.  In July of 2009, PAAIA along with the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), Iranian American Bar Association (IABA), and the Iranian American Jewish Federation (IAJF) filed an amicus brief arguing that bigoted comments made by a juror during deliberations introduced bias in those proceedings and amounted to the denial of a fair trial for the Iranian American defendant. 

The District Court found that during jury deliberations, Juror No. 8 explicitly referred to Iranians as people “who are stubborn, rude, and who have stolen other people’s ideas.” The District Judge dismissed the juror but held that the remarks did not affect or influence the decision made by the jury.

While the decision to overturn the verdict was not based on the expressed prejudice during the jury deliberations, PAAIA nonetheless welcomes the appeals court decision.  PAAIA is firmly committed to ensuring fair treatment under the law for Iranian Americans, and combating all instances of discrimination against them on the basis of ethnicity, national origin or religion.

Click here to learn more about the appeal ruling over ownership of Bratz Dolls.

Art review by Peter Hutchison, Los Angeles Times

 “The 1979 song, which was released in the same year as the Islamic Revolution, has been reworked by two exiled Iranian brothers.

Roger Waters, a founding member of Pink Floyd, gave the rights to Blurred Vision, a duo living in Canada, to remake the classic under the title Another Brick in the Wall (Hey Ayatollah, Leave Those Kids Alone)."

Click here for the full article.

By Erich Ferrari

July 29, 2010, Washington, D.C. -The Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment Act of 2010 (CISADA or "the Act") was passed by Congress on June 24, 2010, with a vote of 99-0 in the Senate and 408-8 in the House of Representatives. The Act expands upon the restrictions of the Iran Sanctions Act of 1996 ("ISA") and the Iranian Transaction Regulations ("ITR") administered by the Department of Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). On July 1, 2010 President Obama signed this Act into law.

CISADA is a major expansion of U.S. economic sanctions against Iran and contains many new restrictions on companies considering business activities related to Iran. This article will provide an overview of the primary provisions of CISADA, with a particular focus on those sections that will most directly affect the average Iranian American.

I. New Prohibitions on Business

First, one of the most striking provisions of CISADA is the definition of "person." The definition of "person" has been expanded to include financial institutions, insurers, underwriters, guarantors, and all other business organizations; this is in addition to those individuals and entities already deemed as persons under both the ISA and the ITR. In addition, CISADA extends liability for violations to the successors of entities, parent companies, affiliates, and subsidiaries of an entity that formerly engaged in prohibited transactions under the U.S. economic sanctions. In the past, parent companies were liable only if they had approved of and/or facilitated prohibited transactions. Now, a parent company may be subject to sanctions if they knew, or should have known, that their subsidiary was engaging in prohibited transactions. This is a major enhancement from previous sanctions.

            a. Sanctions Related to Iran's Petroleum Industry

CISADA serves to expand U.S. sanctions against Iran by prohibiting foreign companies from engaging in the sale, lease or provision of any goods, services, technology, information, or support that would facilitate the maintenance and/or expansion of Iran's petroleum refineries. Furthermore, those foreign entities supplying refined petroleum products to Iran would also be subject to sanctions. Effectively, these new prohibitions seek to bar a variety of different sectors, including financial services, telecommunications, logistical, and consulting and business services from supporting Iran's petroleum refineries.

CISADA also imposes sanctions on a number of other activities related to Iran's petroleum activities. It permits the President to impose minimum sanctions against entities that knowingly invest $20 million or more that contributes to the development of Iran's petroleum and natural gas resources.  Furthermore, the Act requires prospective U.S. government contractors to self-certify that they do not engage in any of the restricted petroleum-related activities described above. Parties that submit false certification will have their contracts terminated and are subject to debarment for a period of up to three years.

            b. Government Procurement Contracts

Another interesting section of CISADA that might be of particular interest to the Iranian American business community is that which deals with companies seeking U.S. government procurement contracts.  Those companies are now required to self-certify that they do not engage in activities that would be prohibited under the sanctions. This means companies will have to conduct an internal evaluation of their activities under CISADA and determine whether they have violated the law. Those engaged in such activities will not be eligible to receive U.S. government procurement contracts.

            c. Effect on Financial Institutions

CISADA also imposes new restrictions on financial institutions that are independent of the petroleum-related sanctions described above. The new restrictions apply to both "domestic" and "foreign.”

One example of these new restrictions is found in the requirement of regulations to be imposed that would prohibit the holding of payable-through accounts in the United States by foreign financial institutions engaged in specified activities. These activities include:

         Facilitating the efforts of the Government of Iran to acquire weapons of mass destruction and/or delivery systems for such weapons, or the provision of support for acts of international terrorism;

         Facilitating the activities of a person subject to financial sanctions pursuant to United Nations Security Council Resolutions;

         Engaging in money laundering to facilitate the activities described above;

         Facilitating efforts by the Central Bank of Iran or any other Iranian financial institution to carry out activities above; and

         Facilitating significant transactions or providing significant financial services for the Government of Iran or any of its agents whose property is blocked under the International Emergency Economics Powers Act (IEEPA) or for a financial institution whose property is blocked in connection with Iran's weapons activities or support for international terrorism.

CISADA also requires that regulations be imposed to prohibit any entity controlled by a domestic financial institution from knowingly transacting with or benefitting the Government of Iran or any of its agents whose property is blocked under IEEPA. This provision directly expands the scope of the prohibitions to foreign subsidiaries of U.S. companies

II. CISADA's Practical Effects

Probably the most pertinent section of CISADA to this article is section 103 which addresses the increased restrictions on the import and export of goods, services, and technology between the U.S. and Iran. Specifically the Act seems to eliminate previous general licenses authorizing U.S. imports of pistachios, carpets, caviar and other Iranian products.  While OFAC has not yet amended the ITR to reflect the new prohibitions of the CISADA, it seems that the existing regulatory exemptions with respect to certain imports from Iran will be eliminated.

CISADA still provides exceptions, and authorizes licenses, for some exports, although the export of goods, services, and technology has been limited to the following areas: personal communications, information and informational materials; transactions incidental to travel; articles intended to relieve human suffering; agricultural commodities, medicine, medical devices; services and hardware to facilitate internet communications; hardware and software to provide access to the internet; goods, services and technology necessary for the safe operation of commercial aircraft; and goods, services, and technology necessary to support the activities of non-governmental organizations related to the promotion of democracy. Furthermore, there is a catch all provision that exempts the export of any article to Iran that is deemed to be in the national security interests of the United States.

CISADA specifically identifies Iranian diplomats, representatives of other government or military or quasi-governmental institutions, such as Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and its affiliates, and requires the freezing of funds and other assets belonging to these designated persons, as well as transfers to family members or associates acting on the designated person's behalf. As such, Iranian Americans must be careful in any dealings they have with such individuals.

III. New Authority and Requirements for the Enforcement of Sanctions

CISADA does not only place limitations on the ability of individuals and businesses to carry transaction in relation to Iran, it also expands the authority of federal and state governments to enforce sanctions. A prime example of these new powers is found in the requirement of the President to designate nations that are known for diverting goods, technology, or services to Iran. The Act would impose licensing limitations on regulated exports to those designated countries.

Furthermore, CISADA has provided the President with a host of new tools with which to carry out economic sanctions against Iran. Some of the new prohibitions the President can employ include the following: prohibitions of foreign exchange transactions subject to U.S. jurisdiction that involve sanctioned entities; prohibitions on transfers of credit or payments between, by, through, or to financial institutions that are subject to U.S. jurisdiction and that involve any interest of sanctioned entities; prohibitions on transacting or exercising any right, power, privilege with respect to property subject to the jurisdiction of the U.S. in which a sanctioned entity has an interest.

In addition, the President must designate countries as Destinations of Diversion Control under specified circumstances and list which goods, services, and technologies are being diverted. The effect of such determinations is that all listed goods, services, and technologies exported to designated countries will require licenses, and applications for licenses will be treated with a presumption of denial. The President may also delay the imposition of the licensing requirements in 12-month increments under certain circumstances.

Finally, CISADA permits States to pass divestment laws that would allow the prohibition of investment of public funds in business entities that invest in Iran. What that means for the average Iranian American is that they would no longer be able to obtain state sponsored grants for those businesses who also invest in Iran. Arizona, California, Florida, Minnesota, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania have already enacted laws, such as these, which relate to investments in Iran.

Erich Ferrari is a Partner in the Washington, DC office of McNabb Ferrari, P.C. and a member of the Iranian American Bar Association-Washington, DC Chapter. Erich is an internationally recognized expert in OFAC litigation and U.S. economic sanctions programs; he publishes on related issues and blogs at www.sanctionlaw.com. Nothing in this article should be construed as legal advice as every case is different. If you are impacted by any topic discussed in this article you should consult with an attorney who has expertise in OFAC. If you would like more information about the contents of Erich’s article, you may call him at 202-351-6161 or email ferrari@mcnabbferrari.com.

 July 29, 2010, Washington, D.C. — Persian is a hot subject on U.S. college campuses, with students registering for courses in the language in unprecedented numbers.

Surveys of colleges and universities by the Modern Language Association have shown large gains in registration for classes in Persian (also called Farsi): up 82 percent from fall 1998 to fall 2002, and up 82 percent again from fall 2002 to fall 2006. (Enrollment in all foreign language classes generally rose in those periods, but at a much slower pace: by 17 percent from 1998 to 2002 and by 12.9 percent from 2002 to 2006.) The next four-year survey is due out in 2011, and those in the profession say it’s clear the number of students continues to rise substantially, spurred in part by a U.S. government effort, begun in 2006, to encourage the teaching of Persian as well as Arabic, Chinese, Hindi, Swahili, Turkish and Urdu.

Pardis Minuchehr, a University of Pennsylvania faculty member and president of the American Association of Teachers of Persian, said students have a number of reasons for taking her courses in Persian, but one dominates: About half are “heritage speakers,” who learned only a limited level of the language, or none, from parents or grandparents who were born in Iran. As young adults, they want to reclaim that part of their culture and communicate more easily with their extended families. 

Click here to read more.

http://www.america.gov/st/educ-english/2010/July/20100722141620ffej0.3439142.html?CP.rss=true

By Negin Mirmirani, PAAIA Reporter

Since 2006, Mahmood Hamidi has been combining his computer skills with his passion for photography to capture stunning 360-degree panoramic images of some of the most beautiful places in the world, including Shiraz; look for them on his website.  I recently took a few moments to learn more about Mr. Hamidi and his work.  

How did you become a photographer?   

Well, actually I am a computer engineer—not a photographer— professionally.  But photography is my hobby and takes up most of my spare time. I was interested in photography since I was a child growing up in Tehran, Khorramshahr, and Shiraz, and have been taking pictures as an advanced amateur photographer for 25 years.

What is panoramic photography and how does it work? 

Panoramic photography is a technique that uses specialized equipment and software and captures images with elongated fields of view; it is sometimes known as “wide format photography.” My images capture a full sphere around the photographer.  I use special software to allow the viewer to look in any direction they wish, as though they were standing in the center of the image, looking around.

What drew you to panoramic photography versus other forms of photography? 

I have always wanted to find alternative solutions to the limitations of conventional photography and explored computer technologies in combination with photography. The first time I saw a panoramic image I was so excited that I decided to master this technique, which involved a great deal of computer post processing; at same time it solved the limitations of conventional photography that I wanted to overcome.

What are you trying to achieve with your panoramic photography?  What would you like people to think or feel as they view your panoramas? 

I would like to let other people see the beauty of places that they might not be aware of or do not have the opportunity or ability to visit.  I want to share some of the experiences of the places at the same time as I create something beautiful.  Both are what drive me.

Your panoramas are primarily in Sweden, where you live, and Shiraz, Iran.  Why Shiraz? 

My parents were both from Shiraz.  So, we used to visit every summer and sometimes during Nowruz holidays as well. I actually lived in Shiraz for a couple of years and still feel bonded to the city and my relatives who live there. The last time I was there, in January, I decided to capture some of the city’s many beautiful places and show them to the rest of the world.

Did you face any special challenges working in Iran?

Yes. In Sweden where I do most of my other work you can easily get on the Internet, check the opening hours of a location, get reliable information about how you can get to that place, and read about any possible restrictions you should consider. Basically, you can plan your photo session quite meticulously.  Iran is another story.

For example, it took four visits for me to photograph the Nasir ol-Mulk Mosque. The first time, the mosque was closed. The second time, I arrived during daily prayers so photographing was out of the question. The third time, I was able to visit the mosque’s inner yard but wasn’t allowed to enter the “shabestan” for reasons I never understood. You can imagine the level of my disappointment and frustration. On my fourth visit, I finally got the images I wanted!

What was the biggest surprise working in Shiraz?  

I was born in Iran; I speak Persian and look Persian; you’d expect that I’d blend. Yet I attracted more attention in Iran when I set up my tripod and camera than in Europe. I suppose it was mostly curiosity. The most surprising thing was that even though I looked like everybody else and talked like everybody else, I was asked the same question I get in Sweden: “Where are you from?” 

How did you manage to capture your images without people in them?!

This can actually be an issue. I do not mind having people in the images but this matter seemed to be a little bit sensitive in Iran, especially if women were present.  In panorama photography, you have to turn around in a full circle, even up and down, and take several images one after another. It makes people wonder what in the world I am doing or what it is I am actually interested in photographing in that location! In Shiraz, I had to wait, prepared and ready on the spot, for a “people free” scene wherever possible.

Can you describe the post-photography process?  Do you use any computer enhancement techniques?  

Post-processing on the computer takes more time than the actual set up and photography process (which takes approximately one hour) because you have to mix different scenes with different lighting conditions to make a full 360x180 degree panorama.  Normally, I enhance the images a bit to make them as beautiful as they are in reality.

What would you like to photograph next?

I would love to cover archaeological sites in Iran, like Persepolis, as well as cities such as Isfahan, Yazd, Kerman, Tehran, and especially the many beautiful palaces from the Qajar and Pahlavi eras. 

Do you have any advice for aspiring, young photographers? 

Go out and photograph, there is no best place, or best equipment!

On June 24, 2010, Shabeh Jomeh, a not-for-profit networking group for Iranian-American Professionals was honored in an award ceremony by the Cook County Treasurer’s Office in Chicago, Illinois .  Maria Pappas, Cook County Treasurer, recognized 49 ethnic chambers of commerce and business organizations in the award ceremony.

The Cook County Treasurer recognized that strengthening individual ethnic groups fosters a stronger society, and the occasion of the award ceremony served to celebrate the diversity of Chicago and its ethnic communities, and to provide a forum in which leaders of the various ethnic communities could seek to establish ties amongst themselves and work together to achieve common goals for the benefit of the greater Chicago community.  Indeed, the Cook County Treasurer suggested that she would make her office available as a venue for future collaboration among the leaders of the various organizations being honored.

Neda Nabavi, Vice President of Exchange Member Services at NYSE LIFFE and Executive Director of Shabeh Jomeh and founder of Shabeh Jomeh’s Chicago Chapter said, “It was an honor to be recognized as part of Chicago’s diverse ethnic landscape.  As Iranian-Americans, it is refreshing to be recognized for positive contributions to the Chicago community as a whole.”

Shabeh Jomeh provides a venue for Iranian-Americans to meet and learn more about their community, exchange ideas, engage in new ventures to introduce Iranian-Americans to the greater community, and learn about the accomplishments of Iranian-Americans of diverse backgrounds.  Shabeh Jomeh convenes on the third Thursday evening of every month in major metropolitan cities around the world. (www.shabehjomeh.com).

This year’s application deadline for the English for Heritage Language Speakers (EHLS) Program has just been extended to August 13, 2010. EHLS is an adult scholarship and professional development opportunity for nonnative speakers of English interested in careers with the federal government.

The English for Heritage Language Speakers (EHLS) Program EHLS is an intensive, advanced English and professional skills program that prepares nonnative English speakers for careers with the federal government. The program involves 6 months of full-time study at Georgetown University in Washington, DC, followed by 2 months of part-time study which can be completed remotely. Participants improve their English through study of research and presentation skills, meeting participation and facilitation, and professional writing. The program also provides support for participants who are seeking employment with the federal government. Full scholarships, a living stipend (during the full-time portion of the program), and a relocation reimbursement are available for qualified applicants. For 2011, the program is recruiting native speakers of Arabic, Dari, Hausa, Hindi, Igbo, Mandarin Chinese, Pashto, Persian Farsi, Punjabi, Somali, Swahili, or Urdu. Please visit the Center for Applied Linguistics' website for more information about the program and application process.

 “The exhibition “Document: Iranian–Americans in L.A.” (Fowler Museum, UCLA, through 8/22) marks the emergence of a sense of Iranian American identity, even as it threatens to explode any attempt to actually define it. . . . That Iranian Americans are coming into their own in an environment in which multiplicity is a given reveals how ideas about ethnicity have expanded since the emergence of identity politics in the 1960s. While it’s still politically important for minorities to find ways of defining and representing themselves, adherence to a monolithic cultural essence is thankfully no longer required.”

Click here for the full article.

 “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” 
– Margaret Mead

 July 21, 2010, Washington, D.C. - On the heels of historical youth and first time voter turnout in the 2008 Presidential Election, PAAIA’s Washington DC NexGen Chapter mobilizes to launch a voter registration drive for Iranian Americans in the DC metropolitan area. The non-partisan voter registration drive is part of an effort to encourage Iranian Americans to participate more in American civic life, and to increase Iranian American voter turnout for this year's upcoming elections.

As individuals, Iranian Americans have garnered significant achievements in all aspects of American life over the past three decades. However, despite many individual achievements, the Iranian American community lacks an effective, nationally recognized voice in the United States. After more than 30 years, the time has come to fill this void.

Changes now in Iranian American civic participation will affect future Iranian American generations for years to come. This is not some directive that can however be issued from top down, nor does anyone organization speak for the entire community; rather, individual Iranian Americans must volunteer to help out at the local level, and embark on a grass roots campaign to increase Iranian American civic involvement.

Iranian Americans can play a pivotal role in improving the future by participating more in local and national elections. By voting, you can change your congressmen, senators, state judges, presidents, and countless other elected officials. Moreover, grass roots level involvement in politics will mean you can influence your representatives, and hold them accountable for their commitments and promises that are important to you and your community.

PAAIA NexGen DC has a Facebook group you can join and volunteer to register voters, educate your community about who is running, and help in many other ways that suit your talents.

PAAIA NexGenis an affinity group comprised of the younger generation of Iranian Americans that identify with PAAIA and implement its mission in accordance with the sociology of their age group. The NexGen host events and mixers and organize activities that cultivate friendships among their members, reinforce their relationship with PAAIA, and ultimately serve the IA community. The local Chapters and NexGen are registered Members of PAAIA.

Dean Dastvar graduated from the University of Virginia with a major in Cognitive Science and a minor in Foreign Affairs. He received his MBA from George Mason University in 2008 and is currently a JD candidate at the Washington College of Law at American University, Class of 2011. He has worked for a public affairs lobby in Washington and an international IT consulting firm, The InnoVest Group, for several years. He has also completed a Congressional Fellowship within the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission within the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs. He currently works for the Department of Transportation's Office of the Inspector General. He is also a Dean's Fellow for a project to create online libraries of war crimes cases in Afghanistan.For more information on PAAIA NexGen DC, please contact Dean Dastvar at dean.dastvar@gmail.com.

By PAAIA Government Affairs Office

July 21, 2010, Washington D.C. -  Last year, PAAIA highlighted the story of Mohammad Abdollahi who came to the United States from Iran at the age of three. Due to a minor immigration technicality, his family’s application for a visa was turned down, resulting in his “out of status” condition.

According to the 2000 U.S. Census there are approximately 2.5 million undocumented youth under the age of 18 that live in the United States. Further estimates indicate that roughly 65,000 undocumented students like Mohammad graduate from high school every year. Most do not get the opportunity to seek higher education and live their American story. The DREAM Act would create a path for many of them to legally pursue education and a career path in the United States.

The Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM) Act was reintroduced for consideration in the 111^th Congress in March of 2009. The bipartisan measure currently has 40 cosponsors in the Senate and 125 cosponsors in the House of Representatives.

The DREAM Act would enable undocumented students to obtain legal status if they arrived in the United States at the age of 15 or younger, have lived in the United States for at least five years, have graduated from high school, have good moral character, and are willing to serve in the military or attend college for at least two years.

The DREAM Act is supported by a broad coalition of immigrant, labor, civil liberties, and religious organizations. The bill has also received massive support from many student organizations around the country. This week supporters of the Dream Act rallied in Washington, D.C. for several days of lobbying in the nation's capital. Some immigration advocates are hopeful that if comprehensive immigration reform stalls, the DREAM Act may still be passed by Congress this year.

Click here to learn more about Mohammad’s story and his appeal to President Obama.

Click here to urge your member of congress to support the DREAM Act.