June 2018 - Global Foundation for Democracy and Development

Monthly Archives: June 2018

The History of Bachata Urbana is Presented in New York
The former president of the Dominican Association of Art Critics (ACROARTE), Máximo Jiménez, launched his latest book on the bachata, one of the most popular Latin American musical genres that originated in the Dominican Republic in the 20th century. Published by Funglode, the book launching event took place before a relaxed and enthusiastic audience that gathered at the Dominican Commission of Culture in New York.

GFDD/Funglode President and Representatives Participate in Annual ISTE Conference and Expo
The former President of the Dominican Republic and founder of the Global Foundation for Democracy and Development/Funglode, Dr. Leonel Fernández, participated in a variety of dynamic and educational panel discussions during the 2018 Annual ISTE Conference and Expo which took place from June 24 to 27 in Chicago, Illinois.

“The Lack of Sustainability is Going to Affect Us All; it’s Already Affecting Us”
Global Foundation for Democracy and Development (GFDD) and its Dominican Republic Environmental Film Festival (DREFF) hosted a panel discussion at its Washington, DC office, titled “Best Practices on Sustainable and Responsible Tourism”. The conversation included international speakers such as Natasha Despotovic, GFDD/DREFF’s Executive Director and President, Villa Serena Hotel in Samaná, Dominican Republic; Jake Kheel, Vice President, Grupo Puntacana Foundation (and
co-director of the documentary ‘Death by a Thousand Cuts’); Martha Honey, Co-Founder & Executive Director, Center for Responsible Travel (CREST) and Maryanne Culpepper, Executive Director, Environmental Film Festival in the Nation’s Capital (DCEFF).

“Open and Simultaneous Primaries Continue to be Unconstitutional”, an article by Dr. Leonel Fernández
Article 42 of the Bill on Political Parties, Groups and Movements, approved by the Senate of the Republic last April, establishes that the only methods by which candidates running for elected positions can be chosen is through open and simultaneous primaries.

Exploring Dominican Culture and Music with Máximo Jiménez
In celebration of Dominican culture and music, journalist, music and film critic and author, Máximo Jiménez will lead a conversation entitled “Musica y cultura popular dominicana” at the Dominican Commission of Culture in the United States.

Call for Applicants: GFDD UN Programs Volunteer Position
The UN Programs Volunteer will provide support with international affairs initiatives such as the foundation’s UN programs, the GFDD Global Roundtables and the Global Rountable Issues Blog. The volunteer will also gather and analyze information in the areas of International Policy and UN Affairs, climate change and sustainability as well as other topics related to international development.

The DREFF, Along with Ministries of the Environment and Tourism, Celebrate World Ocean Day
To commemorate World Ocean Day, held on June 8th of each year, the Dominican Environment Film Festival (DREFF), along with the Ministries of the Environment and Tourism of the Dominican Republic, featured a special presentation of the short documentaries El mar y yo (non-official translation: The Sea and I) and Un viaje a través de los ojos del
arrecife (non-official translation: A Journey Through the Eyes of the Coral Reef).

DREFF Celebrates World Environment Day and World Ocean Day with Film Showings at the Cinemateca Dominicana and Local Universities UNIBE and UNAPEC
Beginning June 1st, the Dominican Environmental Film Festival (DREFF) celebrated during an entire week two important international days: World Environment Day and World Ocean Day, held annually on June 5th and 8th, respectively.

GFDD Convened Civil Society Organizations as part of the OAS General Assembly Events in Washington, DC
Global Foundation for Democracy and Development (GFDD), as a non-governmental organization accredited to the Organization of American States (OAS) and within the framework of a collaborative agreement between both institutions, convened civil society organizations of Latin America, the Caribbean and the Western Hemisphere to discuss the future of the Americas.