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Mario (June 15, 1932 – January 1, 2015) was an American politician and member of the Democratic Party. He served as the 52nd Governor of New York for three terms, from 1983 to 1994, Lieutenant Governor of New York from 1979 to 1982 and Secretary of State of New York from 1975 to 1978.

Cuomo was known for his liberal views and public speeches, particularly his keynote speech at the 1984 Democratic National Convention where he criticized Ronald Reagan’s policies. The speech brought him to national attention, and he was widely considered a front-runner for the Democratic nomination for President in both 1988 and 1992, but he declined to seek the nomination in both instances. His legacy as a reluctant standard-bearer for the Democrats in presidential elections led to him being dubbed “Hamlet on the Hudson”.

Cuomo was defeated for a fourth term as Governor by George Pataki in the Republican Revolution of 1994, and he subsequently retired from politics. He was the father of five, including Andrew Cuomo, the current Governor of New York, and journalist Chris Cuomo, currently at CNN.

He died of natural causes due to heart failure in Manhattan, New York City, on New Year’s Day, 2015.

for more info, go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mario_Cuomo

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It is a trip that should be significant to all those who believe in the concept of fairness, democracy, and human rights. More than a public relations campaign, this trip is very meaningful. Its implications will hopefully continue to reverberate because of its high profile status and unequivocal solidarity with the people of the State of Israel. It would be prudent for us to stand up and take notice.

The threat facing Israel today is perhaps unprecedented, and I’m not just referring to the physical aspect of this threat. Israel’s very legitimacy is currently being challenged daily by those who would like to claim the moral high ground. Governor Cuomo’s trip was instrumental in addressing these concerns. I, among all like-minded New Yorkers, greatly appreciate his gesture in expressing solidarity with the Jewish state.

As Governor of the State of New York, Cuomo’s visit is symbolic. New York remains a key player in international finance and plays an integral role in the world economy. According to a report in ‘Start-Up Nation’, New York’s trade with Israel totaled more than $4.5 billion dollars last year, and some 200 Israeli start-ups are estimated to be located in New York City alone. So the message of the Governor’s visit is not just political in nature. It expresses the economic best interest of his millions of constituents.

In the end of the day, the economic outlooks of the two states are intertwined. A nation of less than 8 million people, Israel has 65 companies listed on the NASDAQ, more than any other country outside of the United States and Canada. It’s also got the highest number of start-ups per capita of any nation in the world.

Governor Cuomo recognizes this. That’s why he is so determined to stand with Israel during these trying times. His visit has captured both national and international headlines, allowing the world to see that the governor of this most populous state (and perhaps a potential national leader) expresses a keen understanding of the very delicate and sensitive position that Israel finds itself in.

To the best of my knowledge, Governor Cuomo is the very first governor to visit Israel since this crisis started more than a month ago. The visual effect of watching him visiting an actual tunnel from which Hamas fighters can indiscriminately attack Israeli citizens is a powerful one for the world to see. More than anything else, the world at large — including the Europeans — must be made to understand that the State of Israel has a key partner in the State of New York. As their economies are closely linked, they inevitably enjoy deep reservoirs of mutual support.

There is a saying that goes: The best defense is an offence. There are those in this conflict who engage in this strategy by relentlessly attacking Israel for killing innocent civilians. Yet it is mind boggling to me how any remotely objective person could consider equalizing the missiles being fired at Israel with the tempered Israeli response. It’s almost like the child who murders his parents and then cries because he’s an orphan!

Of course we mourn the death of the innocent Palestinians. And the destruction of Gaza neighborhoods is also heart wrenching. But we place the blame solely and squarely on the shoulders of those who have decided to terrorize Israel. As the Governor said during his trip: “We understand what you are facing and we support your right, your need, to defend your people against terror.”

Time and again during his stay in Israel, the Governor connected the common goals and aspirations of Israel and New York. “The fight that you fight,” he said, “is the fight against terror. Unfortunately in New York we’ve had a rude awakening to the pain and suffering that terror can cause back in 9/11. So we have a special sensitivity in our hearts for what you’re going through now.”

He also highlighted the fact that we share a common enemy. “They’re against Israel,” he said, “because Israel is a democracy. And those that oppose democracy oppose Israel here in the Middle East and they oppose us.”

In many respects, an expression of solidarity with Israel is identification with peace. As New Yorkers, we understand Israel’s quest for peace. After the Six Day War, Israel found itself in control of Gaza. It relinquished that control years later, providing the Palestinians an opportunity to show the world that they can indeed govern their people respectfully and generate a better future for the coming generations.

But that didn’t happen.

Instead, billions of dollars were poured into the building of terror tunnels which the Governor himself toured. Upon emerging from those very tunnels, he said, “You see that network of tunnels and it reminds you of how tenacious and aggressive the enemy is. It will not stop. You thwart them on one level and they will come back on another.” Governor Cuomo by personally traveling to Israel recognized the potential of these tunnels to wreak havoc on Israel’s civilian population.

I am certain that the Governor, as well as all of us, would love nothing more than to be able to celebrate peace between Israel and the Palestinian people. But until that day comes, we need to understand the precarious position that Israel is in and to express our steadfast and unwavering kinship with its brave people. Personally, I would be delighted to see an additional forty nine governors visit Israel, perhaps within the next forty nine days. The world at large must see this as well. They must understand that it’s not just the Congress of the United States that stands shoulder to shoulder with the Israeli people. It is also the governors — every single one of them — who represent some three hundred million Americans standing together in supporting the State of Israel.

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Learn more about the development of the college by reading the New Community College Concept Paper, the case study Rethinking Community College for the 21st Century and other college planning documents from 2008-2010.
In April 2013 The City University of New York received a $25 million gift from the Stella and Charles Guttman Foundation to support The New Community College at CUNY and two other community college initiatives to boost student retention and graduation rates. In honor of the $15 million endowment gift to the college, the foundation’s largest and the largest ever given to a New York State community college, the CUNY Board of Trustees passed a resolution to rename The New Community College Stella and Charles Guttman Community College. The gift will provide support for activities such as paid internships, community service and experiential learning and for scholarships and student emergency funds.
The Stella and Charles Guttman Foundation focuses much of its grantmaking on educational programs and social services to support low-income New York City children, youth and families. The son of immigrants, Charles Guttman was raised on the Lower East Side and attended public school until age 13, when he began working odd jobs to help support his family. In adulthood he built a successful business, The Paddington Corp. In 1959, he and his wife, Stella Rappaport Guttman, established the Guttman Foundation for the “improvement and benefit of mankind, and the alleviation of human suffering.” Upon their deaths in 1969, without leaving descendants, the Guttmans bequeathed substantially all of their assets to the Foundation.

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What is Fracking?

Hydraulic fracturing, or “fracking”, is the process of drilling and injecting fluid into the ground at a high pressure in order to fracture shale rocks to release natural gas inside.

For the full story, go to http://goodnewsplanet.com/artists-against-fracking/

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What is Fracking?

Hydraulic fracturing, or “fracking”, is the process of drilling and injecting fluid into the ground at a high pressure in order to fracture shale rocks to release natural gas inside.

ABOUT ARTISTS AGAINST FRACKING

“Right now, some people are trying to make easy money, and meanwhile ruin this country’s future, by a thing called ‘fracking.’” – Yoko Ono

Yoko and Sean were compelled into action by Governor Andrew Cuomo’s announcement that fracking might soon begin in New York – directly impacting their home in upstate New York. In less than 10 days, they gathered nearly 150 fellow artists to join them in the founding of Artists Against Fracking in August 2012.

Today, at nearly 200 members Artists Against Fracking works to expose and stop the harmful and contaminating practice of fracking for natural gas and oil through mass awareness and peaceful democratic action. At its core, we believe that fracking for shale gas is a danger to New Yorkers. Inevitably, the process leads to the  release of toxic chemicals — many of which are unknown and unreported — into our air and water.

“Though my father died when I was 5, I have always felt lucky to live on land he loved dearly; land in an area that is now on the verge of being destroyed.” – Sean Ono Lennon

#DONTFRACKNY VIDEO CONTEST

Artists Against Fracking founders Yoko Ono and Sean Lennon are asking you to help convince New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo to ban fracking in New York. Submit your 30-second ad or short video here. The winning ad will be used in the New York and Albany TV markets, and winners will have lunch with Yoko and Sean! Deadline for submission is January 20.

To submit a video, go to http://artistsagainstfracking.com/dontfrackny-video-contest/.

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