MINA SEINFELD DE CARAKUSHANSKY – PRESIDENT OF BRAHA

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Mina Seinfeld de Carakushansky is the President of BRAHA – Brazilian Humanitarians in Action and an Honorary Professor of the University of Salvador of Buenos Aires, Argentina as well as the International Coordinator of the Program Forging Leadership for Drug Demand Reduction in Latin America DPNA/DFAF. She holds Masters Degrees in Mathematics and in Management and is a graduate of the High Strategic Studies Course by the Superior War College of Rio de Janeiro. She was an Associate Professor of Mathematics at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro for 25 years. On several occasions she represented two consecutive Mayors of Rio de Janeiro (a city of over 11 million people living in its metropolitan area) at several international conferences as well as at working committees in Latin American, Asian and European countries.  She speaks seven languages, has planned and coordinated more than 70 international seminars and conferences for various national and international law enforcement agencies and international drug prevention organizations in many countries of Latin America. She is the former Head of the Drug Prevention Bureau (Drug Czar) of the City of Rio de Janeiro and former Head of the Special Secretariat for the Prevention of Chemical Dependence. She has developed numerous drug prevention programs and has authored texts and articles about Drug Prevention, Legalization, and Preventive Cities. Professor Seinfeld has received numerous awards; among them the highest Rio de Janeiro State Military Police Award (Comendadora) and the Euzebio da Costa Medal of the Municipal Guard of Rio de Janeiro. Professor Seinfeld, who was born in Rumania after the end of WWII, was awarded the coveted Honorary Citizenship of the State of Rio de Janeiro given by the State Congress of Rio de Janeiro, 2002. In 2008, Professor Seinfeld received the set of Medals Pedro Ernesto, the highest recognition given by Rio de Janeiro’s Legislative Council.  Professor Mina Seinfeld de Carakushansky is a member of the Board of Directors of Drug Watch International, a member of the Board of the World Forum Against Drugs and a member and Special Advisor to the International Task Force on Strategic Drug Policy.

HEITOR DE PAOLA, M.D. Cultural Director of BRAHA

Earned his Medical Degree from Federal University of Pelotas School of Medicine, RS, Brazil, in 1969. His Internship was at the Psychiatric Hospital of the University from 1966 to 1969. Since 1970, he has lived in Rio de Janeiro. Until 1974, Dr. De Paola worked in many psychiatric hospitals, caring for a variety of cases, including drug-addicts. Graduated as a Psychoanalyst in Adult Psychoanalysis, Brazilian Psychoanalytic Society of Rio de Janeiro, in 1978. Was Assistant Professor (1978-1984). Dr. De Paola has been a Training Analyst since 1984, and he is currently Professor of Psychoanalytic Technique, Psychoanalysis of Serious Regressed and Deeply Disturbed Patients, Comparative Theory of the British School of Psychoanalysis. Dr. De Paola is Founding Member, Training Analyst, and past Secretary-General of the Rio-3 Psychoanalytic Association. Is Clinical Consultant for Boyer House Foundation, Berkeley, California, a Full-Member of the International Psycho-Analytical Association, and a student of Essential History of Philosophy under Professor Olavo de Carvalho. Since 1974, Dr. De Paola has had a full-time Private Practice in Psychoanalysis, and he has had more than thirty specialized papers published in Brazil and abroad. Since 2001, he has written about political analysis, and since 2003, he has been a columnist for Midiasemmascara , a liberal-conservative on-line newspaper. Dr. Heitor De Paola is a Drug Watch Delegate and member of the Board of Directors of Drug Watch International.

GUILLERMO FERNANDEZ D’ADAM. M.D.

• Medical Doctor Degree - Universidad Nacional de Córdoba (Argentina), holds a Master Degree in Public Health (Universidad del Salvador - USAL)
• International Master in Prevention and Assistance of Addictions (University of Salvador - Argentina / Deusto University - Spain)
• Directed the Therapeutic Community for children and youngsters of Don Torcuato (State of Buenos Aires) for the treatment of Psychiatric and Addictive Pathologies.
• In the 90 participated in the Programming and development of the Plan Regional de Prevención y Asistencia de las Adicciones en la República Argentina (State of Buenos Aires).
• Was Director of the Graduate Work Universities Network in Drug Addiction, formed by 16 different Universities from Argentina and was also Director of the Instituto de Prevención de la Drogadependencia of USAL.
• Full professor of Community Prevention (Prevención Comunitaria) and Institutional Practice in the Technical and Master Courses of Drug Addiction at the Universidad del Salvador
• Presently is the Coordinator and Full Professor in the Course for Therapeutic Assistants of the Universidad Católica de Cuyo en San Juan (Argentina) and Associate Professor in Sanitary Psychology at the Psychology Department of the Universidad del Salvador (Buenos Aires).
• Does Consulting and Supervision in Mental Health Institutions in Argentina and does Technical consulting and Development for Governmental and Non-Governmental Organizations outside Argentina.

JUAN ALBERTO YARIA

Dr. in Psychology 1972 – Universidad de Belgrano – Argentina.
Master in Prevention and treatment of addictions. Universidad de Deusto. Spain.

• Was the Secretary of Prevention and Treatment of Addictions of the State of Buenos Aires – 1993/2000
• Deputy Secretary of Prevention of Addictions of the Argentinean President’s Office - 1989-1990.

Presently is the Director of the Institute for the Prevention of Addictions of the Universidad del Salvador and Full Professor of Child and Youth Psicopatology, Psicología Evolutiva I y II, Sistemas de Prevención y Asistencia en el campo de la salud, . Full Professor of Master of Gestión Social y Gerenciamiento Público, Psicología Sanitaria, Psicopatología, TRATAMIENTO II, Master en Prevención y Asistencia de las adicciones – Psychology School - Universidad del Salvador

Has authored many books, among which are: .
• Guía para Familias y Líderes Sociales en el tema de la Drogadependencia – Editorial Lumen y Ediciones Universidad del Salvador; Drogas, Postmodernidad y Redes Sociales – Editorial Lumen y Ediciones Universidad del Salvador; La cultura del malestar: drogadicción, alcoholismo, sida. Editorial Lumen y Ediciones Universidad del Salvador, La existencia tóxica. Editorial Lumen y Ediciones Universidad del Salvador, Buenos Aires. 1993.
• El paradigma de la complejidad y las políticas para enfrentar las adicciones. Buenos Aires 1996.
• Las adicciones y la postmodernidad – Bases filosóficas del programa “ 10.000 Líderes para el cambio” Buenos Aires. 1995.
• For the last 20 years has been a frequent invited speaker at International Conferences in Argentina and abroad.

PAULO ANTONIO WENGORSKI

A linguist working with English, German, French, and his native Brazilian Portuguese. He has been leading, as President, Brazilian Translators´ League, SINTRA, from 1994 to 1999 and presently is the Vice-President of ABRATES, Brazilian Translators Association, and Coordinator of the Translators Accreditation Program. He also writes short stories and plays, and helps, since its very start, to organize an annual play contest, initiated by Prof. Mina Seinfeld de Carakushansky, that Rio de Janeiro City Administration has been sponsoring over the last ten years, named “Wipe Drugs Out of Stage”, having children from public schools writing plays on drug effects and prevention for prizes, from computers to books.

LUIS MARIA VIALE

Has Bachelor Degrees in Journalism and in Social Communication and a Master Degree in Drug Addiction Prevention and Assistance from the University of Salvador, Buenos Aires, Argentina and the University of Deusto, Spain.

Has participated in diverse International Conferences on Drug related issues, especially regarding youth issues and has written in several newspapers in Córdoba such as La Voz del Interior, El Diario de Carlos Paz Newspaper,
Among the works he has published as articles and books are: “Drug, Crime and Youth”, “Comparison of Models of Assistance of Street Children”, “Media and Drugs”, “Preventive Cities – The Social Facilitator as a Change Agent”, “Drug Abuse Prevention”, “Utopía sin drogas”, (Utopy without Drugs), “Resliencia, Etica y Prevención”, “El consumo de alcohol de niñas, adolescentes y futuras mamás”, (Alcohol Consumption in Girls, Teenage Girls, and Future Mothers), “Los padres, las drogas y la escuela”, (Parents, Drugs and School), “Que Gran Capitán, que gran ejemplo”, (Great Capitan, Great Role Model).
Was in charge of Preventive Operations at the Consejo Provincial de Protección al Menor (Provincial Board for Minors Protection), Juvenile Police. Consejo Provincial de of the Program of Assistance of Minors in Social Risk, Juvenile Police Coordinator. Has received several distinctions for his work in preventing youngsters from drug use and violence.

CARLOS ARRIAGA Y CERVANTES

Born in Mexico City, graduated as a Mechanical Engineer and a post-graduate diploma in Administration of Small and Medium Enterprises, in Brussels, Belgium. Has master’s degree studies in Public Administration, with focus on Sociology of Education. Worked as a certified engineer administrator until he his true vocation: teaching and educational work. He has been the principal of schools since the age of 27, leading educational institutions for thirty years. Has held positions at the National University as Head of the Department of Institute’s Incorporation, at the Mexico’s Women University as Vice-Rector, at the University of Valle de Mexico as Managing Director of its campus Tlalpan.
He is a family’s and couple’s therapist.

Is the author of the book La Luna Naranja and has other books in development about the relationships between partners. He has used newspapers, radio and television to transmit information about family relationships.

He is counseling patients and participating as a volunteer in drug prevention activities and the formation of groups that teach family relationships.

FABIO BERNABEI

Free lance Italian journalist who has been General Secretary (from 1993 to April 2003) of the pro-family values NGO Associazione Famiglia Domani. Has launched some direct actions nation-wide (mass mailing campaign, conferences) in order to increase the public opinion awareness on the cultural and moral issues behind the spreading of drug use. Has written several books, among which are “Droga libera? 100 ragioni contro” (Free drugs? 100 reasons against), and more recently “Storia moderna della Droga. Dalle Utopie alla Realtà” (Modern history of Drugs. From the Utopy to the Reality): mainly the history of the pro-drug lobby from ‘50 to present days, i.e. from Allen Ginsberg to George Soros.
Was Public Affairs Advisor for the Commissioner for National Anti-drugs Policies in the Office for National Anti-drugs Policies - Rome: Dipartimento nazionale per le politiche antidroga presso la Presidenza del Consiglio dei Ministri. Has worked as Senior Advisor to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for NGO relations: Esperto del Ministro degli Affari Esteri per le Relazioni con le Associazioni no-profit e culturali, con inquadramento nella Segreteria particolare. In 2006 he was one of the journalists who founded the Associazione Osservatorio Droga - NGO (Drug Watch Association - NGO), where he is the President. He writes regularly in San Patrignano monthly magazine.

OLGA DIOSELINA MENDOZA VÉLEZ

• Bachiller en Humanidades Modernas, Licenciada en Ciencias Políticas y Sociales.
• Abogado de los Juzgados y Tribunales de la República. Doctora en Jurisprudencia
• Especialista Interdisciplinaria de la Problemática del Uso Indebido de Drogas.
• Magíster en Derecho de Familia mención Mediación y Arbitraje Familiar

• Fué Presidenta Nacional de los Clubes Juveniles de UNESCO del Ecuador, Coordinadora Provincial de la Unidad Operativa de Fundación Nuestros Jóvenes de la Provincia de Manabí (Diez años)
• Procurador Tributario del Servicio de Rentas Internas (SRI) Manabí.
• Asesor Jurídico del Centro del Joven Trabajador “CEDEJOTA”.
• Promotora de Prevención Uso Indebido de Drogas CONSEP.
• Supervisora de la Segunda Encuesta Nacional a Hogares Sobre el Consumo de Drogas.
• Abogada en Libre Ejercicio Profesional.
• Conferencista de los Seminarios de Forjando Liderazgo en las ciudades de Bahía de Caráquez y Portoviejo año 2008 (Manabí-Ecuador)..

• Há cursado inúmeros cursos de especialización em el área de Derechos Humanos, Juventud y Gênero.

Cursa actualmente Especialización en Derecho Procesal de la Universidad Andina Simón Bolívar . Y trabaja como Jueza Primero de la Niñez y Adolescencia de Manabí con jurisdicción en Portoviejo.

ELIZABETH THOMPSON

DRAGOS DORU STANICA

Teacher of Physical Education and Specialist of Sports Training of the Gama Filho University, Rio de Janeiro.

Born in Romania but living in Brazil since 1995.

Hi was a member of the team of Weightlifting Athletes and from 1983 to 1991 and he is a member of the Olympic Romanian Team.

During this period he won several national championships and the title “Master of Sport”.

He is a Teacher of the course for weghtlifting trainers of the Brazilian Weightlifting Confederation, and also a member of the Brazilian Olympic Comity.

Creator of the Project “Lift Rio” of Rio de Janeiro’s Municipal School Silveira Sampaio.

In 1991 he received the title of “Hero of Romanian Revolution” given by the
President a Romanian Republic, Mr. Íon Iliescu.

MÁRCIA NASCENTES

Graduated in Literature from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Languages: English, Portuguese, French.

Specialization in Translation and Interpretation.

Professional experience: bilingual salesperson; translator; English teacher.

Worked on various projects handled by several translation agencies and corporate clients:    Pan and Parapan American Games 2007, Rio de Janeiro;    Elsevier Editor: books on business;    Lionbridge, São Paulo: various projects;   AT&T Dataid, Valbonne France: localization projects for Digital Corp. with a main role of language coordinator towards local translators.

Cambridge official examiner; software localization; Portuguese for foreigners (1 year in Switzerland, Neuchâtel).