As owner and chief executive of one of the nation's largest African
American real estate development companies, R. Donahue "Don" Peebles has
an impressive resumé.
The multibillion-dollar portfolio of the Peebles Corp. includes
luxury hotels, high-rise apartment buildings, and Class A office space
in Washington, New York, Las Vegas, and Miami. Missing from that list: a
casino, though he has made close-but-no-cigar efforts in Atlantic City
and in Yonkers, N.Y.
Thursday, May 31, 2012
Show Up for Israel at the Celebrate Israel Parade June 3rd
By: Matthew Hiltzik and Ronn Torossian
We are two proud Jewish
New Yorkers (and fathers) of the same age. While we may differ in some of our
approaches and styles in business and politics – one of us aligns more with
conservative causes and one of us leans more liberal – we share a strong
interest in celebrating Israel. And we agree that this year’s 48th Annual Celebrate Israel
Parade is a unique chance for people with far more divergent philosophies than
ours, to come together to demonstrate to the world the common love and support
we all share for Israel.
Like many others in New
York’s Jewish community, we are very concerned about Israel’s image and pay
close attention to the never-ending public relations battles against the Jewish
State. We each make our living in the world of public relations with our own
communications firms - building brands and enhancing images – so we are also
uniquely positioned to see these battles from a different perspective, one that
can occasionally be unsettling.
We fear many American
Jews are losing sight of our sense of community, allowing differences of
opinion that are extensions of the larger left vs. right, “religious” vs.
“non-religious,” to polarize the Jewish community. It’s true that not everyone
who supports Israel has the same way of expressing their support. We can’t
agree on everything, but June 3rd is a day to put
differences aside and focus on what unites us: our appreciation for Israel and
our fellow Jews. This day is about Israel, what Israel means to us, and how we
send that message to the world. It’s a day to celebrate the strength from the
diversity of Am Yisrael.
As fathers of children
in Jewish day schools here in Manhattan, we wonder: what message are we sending
our children, on a day that is supposed to stand for unity? New generations
cannot offer us hope unless we plant the seeds ourselves, and it starts with
showing up.
The Jewish people’s
willingness to challenge one another is one of our greatest collective
strengths, but when we put aside those differences and come together we are
even stronger. Though challenging, this ability to elevate ourselves above
conflict is what sets us apart and has been displayed through our resilience,
as a people, for thousands of years. A recent example of this strength is when
Jews of different political backgrounds came together to defeat a local attempt
to boycott Israeli products.
Considering this
positive example, as well as the challenges facing Israel - like the Iranian
nuclear threat and the uncertainty around surrounding countries - this is a
time for us to stand together and show the world that we can put aside our
differences. So it is particularly inexplicable, disappointing and more than a
little ironic to see Jews who claim to oppose the boycott of Israel suggesting
the boycott of this day of solidarity. Above all, it undermines our common
goal: wanting to display to the world a strong, united front in support of
Israel.
June 3rd is a day, this year of
all years, to celebrate the beauty of Israel – the land and her people, our
children and families marching in the parade, and the diversity of the American
Jewish community.
With that in mind, the
theme of this year’s parade is “Israel Branches Out.” 40 new groups – including
15 new congregations – have signed up to march in the parade this year. With
over 30 thousand marchers, this is the largest celebration of Israel in
the world- and intended to be nonpartisan and apolitical. It is the
perfect opportunity to celebrate all of the wonderful things about Israel that
the general public does not have the opportunity to hear about in the news
every day. And from a public relations perspective, this is an annual golden
moment that is not to be wasted or misused. Let’s make the most of it,
together.
So let’s look forward to
June 3rd as an opportunity to celebrate what we have in common - our care
and love for Israel. Enjoy yourself, enjoy your family and enjoy all that we
have to celebrate as Jews today. We will both march in the parade and show up
for Israel – we hope you will too.
Matthew
Hiltzik is President and CEO of Hiltzik Strategies, and Ronn
Torossian
is
President and CEO of 5WPR. They are both proud, committed Jews.
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
500 TO RALLY FOR JACOB OSTREICHER WHO HAS BEEN ILLEGALLY IMPRISONED BY THE BOLIVIAN GOVERNMENT
REQUEST FOR COVERAGE Contact:
Rena Resnick
212.584.4323
rresnick@5wpr.com
AN AMERICAN NAMED JACOB OSTREICHER
HAS BEEN ILLEGALLY IMPRISONED BY THE BOLIVIAN GOVERNMENT
IT’S TIME TO TAKE NOTICE
AND DEMAND HIS FREEDOM
500+ WILL CONVERGE ON THE BOLIVIAN MISSION IN NYC
500+ WILL CONVERGE ON THE BOLIVIAN MISSION IN NYC
April 30, 2012 – A press conference will be
held in front of the Bolivian Mission to the United Nations to rally support
for Jacob Ostreicher, an innocent New York businessman who has now been
confined for 11 months in one of Bolivia’s most notoriously dangerous prisons
without being charged.
Bolivian authorities have spent the time investigating
Ostreicher for money-laundering, after nearly 30 hearings, prosecutors have
presented no evidence to back their allegations that the American did anything
wrong. The United States Department of
State has had no luck talking to the Bolivian government, and the United
Nations Human Rights Commission is “monitoring” Jacob’s situation.
On Tuesday, May 8th, ABC News Nightline hosted by Terry Moran will air a
segment about Jacob’s plight. In advance
of this airing, Jacob’s family is holding a rally at the door of the Permanent Mission of Bolivia to the
United Nations. 211 East 43rd Street at 11:00 AM on Thursday, May 3rd,
2012.
Jacob’s wife Miriam, his children, grandchildren, community
and public leaders along with 500 of his friends and supporters will stand in
solidarity with Jacob Ostreicher to demand that Bolivia end his wrongful
imprisonment and release him immediately.
WHO: 500+ of Jacob
Ostreicher’s Family, friends and supporters
WHAT: A
Rally in Support of Jacob’s plight and an appeal for his release
WHY: An
American has been wrongfully imprisoned in Bolivia and he needs to come home
WHEN: Thursday,
May 3, 2012 at 11:00AM
WHERE: Permanent
Mission of Bolivia to the United Nations. 211 East 43rd Street
Expose: PR Firms Assist In Selling Terror And Brutality
Terrorist organizations Hamas, Hizbullah, and
Arab nations who butcher their citizens have hired large PR agencies to
lobby for them in the press and on the world stage. And the PR agencies
go along. Money talks.
From Ronn Torossian, CEO of 5WPR
The Arab nations have hired 10 New PR Agencies since last year – and these PR firms assist them in selling terror and brutality
The U.S. Public Relations industry is one which is very high profile, but is a tiny, close knit industry, with only perhaps 75 American PR firms having more than 50 employees (i.e. enough scope/influence to represent a foreign government or foreign interests).
Over lunch this week, one of my peers, who like me, owns 1 of the 25 largest USPR Agencies, explained why his firm would no longer work with Jewish organizations and Pro-Israel concerns. He explained there is simply too much money working for Arab organizations and interests, between their front groups, organizations and projects - so from a business perspective, he was no longer working for Pro-Israel or Jewish organizations because that would preclude the Arabs hiring him.
It’s a trend which will grow – and will see Arab interests even more positively portrayed in American media.
In the latest news, Bahrain in the last 12 months has hired at least ten public relations companies. Yes, you read it right – 10 – including Qorvis, the Washington company hired by Saudi Arabia to salvage that kingdom's reputation abroad after the 9/11 terrorist attack.
The regime of Bahrain, which tortures its own citizens, has an awful human rights record and doesn’t recognize the existence of Israel, also hired Joe Trippi, former campaign manager for Howard Dean’s 2004 presidential bid, Sanitas International, whose partner Christopher Harvin is a former Bush White House aide.
In the “new” Middle East a lot has changed – except for recognition of Israel, and millions are spent by Arab interests on professional public relations campaigns:
Harbour Group, a Washington D.C. lobbying firm, has been hired by the new Libyan Government, As the Hill recently revealed, Harbour recently signed a new $15,000 a month contract with the Libyan Embassy.
Patton Boggs, another large K street lobbying group, is also now representing the new Libyan regime.They previously worked with Qaddafi, alongside Cambridge, Massachusetts-based Monitor Group, which held a hefty $250,000-month contract with Tripoli, recruiting prominent American academics to praise the Libyan government.
It’s nothing new in the Middle East – Arab governments spend lots of money on public relations.
The Syrian regime continues to butcher thousands of its people in the streets – and it is, by and large, missing from the mainstream media. One of the things a good crisis PR agency is able to do is ensure that negative stories never get printed.
One day, we will read about who is working for Syria now. A few months ago, hackers released hundreds of e-mails from Syrian President Assad's office, which revealed a document preparing Assad for his December 2011 interview with ABC's Barbara Walters.
This week, the glowing profile and stunning full- page picture of Asma al-Assad, Syria's First Lady which had appeared in Vogue in February 2011 entitled: "Asma al-Assad: A Rose in the Desert" was quietly removed from Vogue’s website. Vogue wouldn’t comment on why the story was removed – but the story which described her as "glamorous, young, and very chic - the freshest and most magnetic of first ladies," ran as the Syrian government was butchering anti-regime protesters. APR firm Brown Lloyd James worked for Syria to arrange the story at the time.
This same company, Brown Lloyd James, worked in the past to boost the regime of Libyan dictator Moammar Qaddafi. They said, "…we assisted the Libyan government in its efforts to reach out to the international political community through the United Nations and to the U.S. political and university community."
Terrorist organizations Hamas, Hizbullah, and certain Arab nations have hired PR agencies to lobby for them in the press and on the world stage.
Terror groups have engaged reporters and journalists, shared meals and drinks with them and won their favor.
Fenton Communications, a New York City–based PR firm, works with the Arab state of Qatar to develop a campaign to essentially delegitimize Israel by orchestrating an international anti-Israel campaign aimed at breaking the blockade of the Gaza Strip.
Fenton Communications also works for "Al Fakhoora," a Qatar-based pro-Palestinian initiative that has "launched an advocacy campaign to file legal charges against Israel and change the public perception in the West about its actions." An April 2012 website posting spoke of working with NYC Fenton Communications to help campaign to help end the blockade in Gaza. They continue to assist terror groups openly.
The PLO Mission in the U.S hired Bell Pottinger, a leading International PR agency, to provide "advice on strategic communications, public relations, media relations and congressional affairs."
U.S. PR giant Burson–Marsteller, in response to Israel's request for a meeting, said: "We will not deliver tender to such a project… we are running a commercial venture. If we accept this project, this will create a great amount of negative reactions…Israel is a particularly controversial project."
There's a reason the Arabs win in the media — they hire communications professionals – they spend money and will continue to win.
In the Middle East, slaughtering of innocent people continues – from Bahrain to Syria - and Public Relations pros allow them to continue to sell their stories.
I was saddened this week over lunch when my peer explained to me why his agency would no longer work for Jewish or Israel interests – and whilemy firm, 5WPR, wouldn’t work for the barbarians who slaughter innocent people, its competitors make millions selling terror and brutality.
Ronn Torossian is CEO of 5WPR, a leading US Public Relations Agency, and author of "For Immediate Release: Shape Minds, Build Brands, and Deliver Results with Game-Changing Public Relations.” The book has been called “the best book ever on Israel public relations” by the Deputy Speaker of the Israel Knesset, Danny Danon
From Ronn Torossian, CEO of 5WPR
The Arab nations have hired 10 New PR Agencies since last year – and these PR firms assist them in selling terror and brutality
The U.S. Public Relations industry is one which is very high profile, but is a tiny, close knit industry, with only perhaps 75 American PR firms having more than 50 employees (i.e. enough scope/influence to represent a foreign government or foreign interests).
Over lunch this week, one of my peers, who like me, owns 1 of the 25 largest USPR Agencies, explained why his firm would no longer work with Jewish organizations and Pro-Israel concerns. He explained there is simply too much money working for Arab organizations and interests, between their front groups, organizations and projects - so from a business perspective, he was no longer working for Pro-Israel or Jewish organizations because that would preclude the Arabs hiring him.
It’s a trend which will grow – and will see Arab interests even more positively portrayed in American media.
In the latest news, Bahrain in the last 12 months has hired at least ten public relations companies. Yes, you read it right – 10 – including Qorvis, the Washington company hired by Saudi Arabia to salvage that kingdom's reputation abroad after the 9/11 terrorist attack.
The regime of Bahrain, which tortures its own citizens, has an awful human rights record and doesn’t recognize the existence of Israel, also hired Joe Trippi, former campaign manager for Howard Dean’s 2004 presidential bid, Sanitas International, whose partner Christopher Harvin is a former Bush White House aide.
In the “new” Middle East a lot has changed – except for recognition of Israel, and millions are spent by Arab interests on professional public relations campaigns:
Harbour Group, a Washington D.C. lobbying firm, has been hired by the new Libyan Government, As the Hill recently revealed, Harbour recently signed a new $15,000 a month contract with the Libyan Embassy.
Patton Boggs, another large K street lobbying group, is also now representing the new Libyan regime.They previously worked with Qaddafi, alongside Cambridge, Massachusetts-based Monitor Group, which held a hefty $250,000-month contract with Tripoli, recruiting prominent American academics to praise the Libyan government.
It’s nothing new in the Middle East – Arab governments spend lots of money on public relations.
The Syrian regime continues to butcher thousands of its people in the streets – and it is, by and large, missing from the mainstream media. One of the things a good crisis PR agency is able to do is ensure that negative stories never get printed.
One day, we will read about who is working for Syria now. A few months ago, hackers released hundreds of e-mails from Syrian President Assad's office, which revealed a document preparing Assad for his December 2011 interview with ABC's Barbara Walters.
This week, the glowing profile and stunning full- page picture of Asma al-Assad, Syria's First Lady which had appeared in Vogue in February 2011 entitled: "Asma al-Assad: A Rose in the Desert" was quietly removed from Vogue’s website. Vogue wouldn’t comment on why the story was removed – but the story which described her as "glamorous, young, and very chic - the freshest and most magnetic of first ladies," ran as the Syrian government was butchering anti-regime protesters. APR firm Brown Lloyd James worked for Syria to arrange the story at the time.
This same company, Brown Lloyd James, worked in the past to boost the regime of Libyan dictator Moammar Qaddafi. They said, "…we assisted the Libyan government in its efforts to reach out to the international political community through the United Nations and to the U.S. political and university community."
Terrorist organizations Hamas, Hizbullah, and certain Arab nations have hired PR agencies to lobby for them in the press and on the world stage.
Terror groups have engaged reporters and journalists, shared meals and drinks with them and won their favor.
Fenton Communications, a New York City–based PR firm, works with the Arab state of Qatar to develop a campaign to essentially delegitimize Israel by orchestrating an international anti-Israel campaign aimed at breaking the blockade of the Gaza Strip.
Fenton Communications also works for "Al Fakhoora," a Qatar-based pro-Palestinian initiative that has "launched an advocacy campaign to file legal charges against Israel and change the public perception in the West about its actions." An April 2012 website posting spoke of working with NYC Fenton Communications to help campaign to help end the blockade in Gaza. They continue to assist terror groups openly.
The PLO Mission in the U.S hired Bell Pottinger, a leading International PR agency, to provide "advice on strategic communications, public relations, media relations and congressional affairs."
U.S. PR giant Burson–Marsteller, in response to Israel's request for a meeting, said: "We will not deliver tender to such a project… we are running a commercial venture. If we accept this project, this will create a great amount of negative reactions…Israel is a particularly controversial project."
There's a reason the Arabs win in the media — they hire communications professionals – they spend money and will continue to win.
In the Middle East, slaughtering of innocent people continues – from Bahrain to Syria - and Public Relations pros allow them to continue to sell their stories.
I was saddened this week over lunch when my peer explained to me why his agency would no longer work for Jewish or Israel interests – and whilemy firm, 5WPR, wouldn’t work for the barbarians who slaughter innocent people, its competitors make millions selling terror and brutality.
Ronn Torossian is CEO of 5WPR, a leading US Public Relations Agency, and author of "For Immediate Release: Shape Minds, Build Brands, and Deliver Results with Game-Changing Public Relations.” The book has been called “the best book ever on Israel public relations” by the Deputy Speaker of the Israel Knesset, Danny Danon
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