PEN American Center News: March 11, 2010‏

LOOK FOR PEN March 25–28: Tenth National Black Writers’ Conference Stop by Medgar Evers College in Brooklyn and say hello. Please e-mail us if you will be attending. >> More April 7–10: AWP Conference in Denver Drop by the PEN table, and also catch our event featuring authors Jackson Taylor, Sapphire, Phillip Lopate, and Marie Ponsot. Let us know if you will be at AWP by e-mailing Membership Manager Nick Burd. >> More FIND PEN ONLINE • Facebook • Twitter • Blogspot • iTunes • YouTube • Flickr ADVOCACY NEWS Join PEN’s Campaign to Free Writers and Journalists in Iran PEN is one of a number of leading free expression organizations mounting a campaign this month in support of writers and journalists in Iran. Please sign our petition to help free our colleagues now. >> Sign the petition PEN, Book Groups See Progress on Patriot Act The Campaign for Reader Privacy believes that developments in 2009 have laid a strong legislative foundation for securing significant new protections for library circulation and bookstore sales records. >> More Writer Liao Yiwu Prevented From Attending Book Festival Liao Yiwu, a member of the Independent Chinese PEN Center (ICPC), was removed from a plane bound for a literature festival in Cologne, Germany, and was placed under house arrest. >> More Free Expression Groups Call on Iran to Allow U.N. Rights Experts Tehran’s envoy Mohammad Javad Larijani spoke of a “standing invitation” for the U.N.’s special rapporteurs to visit and investigate claims of rights abuse—only to later reverse his position. >> More UPCOMING EVENTS April 26–May 2: PEN World Voices Festival of International Literature With more than 50 events, 150 writers, and 40 different countries, this week-long celebration of books and writing from around the globe features conversations, readings, an all-star Cabaret, and much more. >> More *Festival tickets on sale March 18 at 2 p.m.* Thursday, April 8: Secularism, Islam, and Democracy: Muslims in Europe and the West Tariq Ramadan, in his first public appearance in the U.S. since he was barred from entering the country in 2004, will join author Ian Buruma and author/Obama advisor Dalia Mogahed to address issues relating to secularism, Islam, and democracy. >> More NEW AT PEN.ORG Found in Translation Speaking across geographies, styles, and literary conventions, this year’s Translation Feature includes work by Macedonio Fernández, Ayane Kawata, and Eshkol Nevo, among others; a Brazilian Portuguese Translation Slam; and new online resources for translators. >> More Reflecting on Black History Month Visit the Open Book Feature for podcasts, tributes, readings, poetry, fiction, and original essays reflecting on African American writing and art. >> More Unsubscribe rawfkolkata@live.com from this list. Update your information. PEN American Center | 588 Broadway, Suite 303 | NY, NY 10012 | (212) 334-1660