Dissent and Defiance in Damascus
By Ali Khan
13 April 2011–Young people in Syria are talking about their future. While Bashar al-Assad makes concessions that fail to convince, what is clear is the growing divide between government and people – however anxiously the world looks on.
A Syrian girl in Jordan in a protest in front of the Syrian embassy in Amman 4/24/11. REUTERS/Muhammad Hamed |
Dictatorships are built on myths. When people begin to see the lies for what they are, the psychosis of fear melts away. Living in Damascus, one could not help but notice the intricate tapestries of illusions that the government had so carefully woven. The ever-present posters of various potentates across the Arab world are not just the machinations of arrogant and egotistical men but rather serve as daily reminders of the fact that everyone is under constant surveillance. I remember sitting in a coffee shop in Damascus with some friends when the owner came and sat with us because we had begun to discuss Arab politics. The café was empty and we were sitting at the back. The owner asked us if we had switched off our mobiles and taken the battery out. I, being the only foreigner, asked why, to which he replied that the Syrian government could listen into the conversation even if the phone is not making a call.
Obviously not all Syrians believe in these kind of stories but it is helpful in illustrating how the ostensibly mysterious and the brutal nature of regimes compels people to take part in creating these myths, thereby strengthening the hold of the regime over people. Another more popular ‘fact,’ which many foreign visitors write about, is how a large percentage of taxi drivers work for the mukhabarat or the intelligence service. Of course, there will always be people who are willing to provide information to the government that they deem to be important. Much of it in reality is inconsequential, but again it helps perpetuate the mystery of tyranny. Although the Syrian intelligence services have a fearsome reputation, largely because of their reliance on a massive network of human and not electronic intelligence, the recent events in Syria have started to show fissures and cracks forming in the regime.
Revolutions are unpredictable and hundreds of people can be killed before a small act ignites everyone into taking to the streets. As we saw in Egypt, the ‘uprisings’ built up momentum for many weeks before finally exploding, although it remains to be seen if the revolution is over yet. There seems to be a similar momentum building up in Syria. There has been much speculation about the role of electronic media, facebook and twitter in catalysing the various movements across the Arab world. Although there can be no denying the fact that facebook and twitter allow for instant dissemination of news and important information, I have also seen them being manipulated by some people. One friend posted a video of a ‘protest’ at a mosque in Syria with a short clip of people shouting “Allahu Akbar – God is greatâ€. However, when another friend found a longer version of the same clip, it turned out to be a group of people who were chanting the takbir (Allahu Akbar) after the Friday sermon of one of the state-vetted clerics.
Over the last few weeks I have watched with great interest a debate take place amongst my friends in Syria about their future. Some people made their profile pictures black as a sign of protest, others have used a Syrian flag and yet others have put up a picture of Bashar al-Assad. When I was living in Damascus, opposition to the government was not as widespread as one might have expected and indeed Syrians might be slower than others about coming out to protest.
Indeed, there was even an implicit understanding about what was perceived to be a trade-off between rights and security. However, high corruption and the brutal crackdowns are fast depleting any goodwill that Bashar al-Assad has.
Fadi as-Saeed, a chemistry student at the University of Damascus, was beaten to death on Monday and it seems the administration is now pointing their guns at students, often the most vocal demographic in protests.
Heading for civil war?
Syria is wracked with internal divisions, which have often been exacerbated by the heavy-handedness of the government. The largely secular ruling Ba’ath party has been at odds with the Muslim Brotherhood since the 1940s. After a particularly violent few years of assassination attempts and car bombs, in 1982 Hafez al-Assad’s brother Rifaat, who now lives in exile in London, surrounded and bombed Hama. The town was known for being a base of the Muslim Brotherhood and the bombing killed thousands of people. Subsequently, the Brotherhood and indeed all other opposition have effectively been stifled while the Alawi minority has strengthened its position.
The Alawis are the spiritual progeny of a movement started in the 9th century when Ibn Nusayr announced himself as the bab or the hidden gateway to truth (God). Very close in terms of practice to Christians, Alawis or as they also known Nusayris believe in a kind of holy trinity comprised of Mohammad, Ali and Salman al-Farisi, one of the first Persian converts to Islam. The reason they are viewed as non-Muslims is because of their belief in the divinity of Ali, the cousin and son-in-law of the Prophet, who was the fourth Caliph and the first Imam for Shi’as. In a bid to consolidate their power the Alawis managed to secure recognition from the Shi’a leader, Musa as-Sadr, in 1972, declaring them to be Muslims. As early as 1936 they procured a decree from the Sunni Chief Mufti of Palestine, al-Haj Amin al-Husaini, recognizing them as Muslims.
However, many Sunnis and some Shi’a ulama, or scholars, continue to view the Alawis as non-Muslims, or even sometimes as apostates.
Apart from the Alawis, the Christians are a sizeable minority and form about 10% of the population and the Druze constitute about 3%. The Sunnis form the majority of the population. Syria also has a large Palestinian refugee population of 500,000 and more than a 1,000,000 Iraqi refugees.
The problems in Syria today are therefore exacerbated by the fact that Syria could be heading for a civil war, due to these old ethnic and sectarian tensions, and might follow the Libyan scenario rather than the Egyptian or Tunisian model. One factor however, that might hold back an all-out war is that there are a multitude of links between the regime and society through army, government and non-official ties. Bashar al-Assad, although seen by some to be a moderate and a reformer is still presiding over institutions that were created during his father’s time. This means that often the ‘old guard’ is the biggest obstacle to implementing reform. However, there have been some token gestures of reform from the President.
Among the small number of concessions that the regime has made are a few that were pushed for by a group of imams, headed by Ramadan al-Buti, perhaps Syria’s most famous cleric. A casino has been shut down and a ban on wearing the niqab, a veil that covers the face as well as the body, in educational institutions is being reversed just as France is implementing its own ban. In other ‘concessions’ the infamous 1963 Emergency Law is now finally to be lifted, but an ‘Anti-terrorism’ law is to be passed instead. About 200,000 Kurds who have hitherto not been granted any rights have been given citizenship. But a majority of the Kurds who form 11-14% of Syria’s population still suffer from various institutional biases. The Kurds have responded by protesting in Qimishli, in the north-east of Syria, under the interesting slogan, ‘we want freedom not citizenship.’
Foreign stakeholders and high stakes
The stakes that many foreign actors have in Syria are also crucial in determining the next steps in the Syrian uprisings. Iran and Hezbollah will fear the loss of an important regional ally and the possible rise of a predominantly Sunni government. Apart from this, even Shi’as who are not ideologically aligned with Iran will be afraid of the loss of the comfort in which the community lives. In particular, the network of religious schools around Sayyid Zainab’s shrine in Damascus are already fearful of what may happen if the Alawis lose power. Israel must worry because at the moment it has an enemy that it ‘knows’ whereas it will be harder to predict whether the new government shall be even more anti-Zionist.
As it is, there is already an air of uncertainty in Israel about what might happen on its western borders, in Egypt. Unlike in Egypt where the Muslim Brotherhood were social activists and not involved in politics (until now perhaps), the Brotherhood in Syria has been in exile for nearly thirty years – which means that they have little support on the ground and will need time to carve out a political space. Confessions on Syrian state TV from alleged Brotherhood members stirring up trouble seem manufactured so that the crackdown on protesters can be blamed on ‘outsiders.’ The Gulf countries and Saudi Arabia have had a deep interest in promoting Sunni interests and in the case of Saudi Arabia, their brand of Wahhabism. The growth of this school of thought in Syria has been aided by the fact that a large number of Syrian migrants live and work in the Arabian Peninsula. In the last few years, America has reached out to Damascus and sent various envoys and feelers in order to improve relations, but often with limited success. It is evident then, that current events and any change in Syria will have a far larger geo-political impact on the Middle East than Libya, though of course Libya might be more important to Europe financially.
History, repetition and farce
Following the killings and crackdown on various protests from the Southern town of Deraa to the coastal cities of Tartous and Lattakia, Bashar al-Assad has attempted a reshuffle of his government by firing various provincial governors and appointing new people to his cabinet. However, it seems that superficial changes coupled with a completely disproportionate clampdown on protesters will only exacerbate the situation. Although regarded as more sensible than his father, it seems that like all other dictators, Bashar is also out of touch with ordinary Syrians.
Vogue magazine, which seems to make a business out of glamorizing the lives of the wives of various Arab potentates, writes in a recent interview of the president and his wife that, “the household is run on wildly democratic principles.†It goes on to explain how Asma al-Assad – ‘we all vote on what we want, and where’ – and her husband are often ‘out-voted’ by their three children. This in turn explains the chandelier made of comics that hangs above the dinner table. To talk of democracy in their household while a large percentage of people are often detained without any recourse to the law is nothing more than an insult to all Syrians. It is precisely this kind of insensitive, indeed farcical, attitude that might catalyse the current uprisings into a revolution.
About the author: Ali Khan is a PhD student in history at the University of Cambridge whose areas of interest are South Asia and the greater Middle East.
13-18
Hijab Gaining Favor in Turkey
By F. Brinley Bruton
ISTANBUL, Turkey — Funda Altintas picks at her lamb kofte and salad and tentatively describes her dream.
“I really want to be a professor,†the 23-year-old psychology graduate says. “My father says that maybe in 10 years I’ll be able to be a professor.â€
On a night out on the town, Altintas’ friends also share their ambitions: Melike Akkus, 25, and Fatma Betul Yumuk, 22, are getting their MBAs. Esma Bendez, 23, would like to focus on intercultural studies.
Despite earning degrees from one of Turkey’s best universities, none can be sure of reaching their career goals. What stands between them and their ambitions has little to do with dedication, loans or standardized tests. Instead, it is the traditional Muslim head covering they all wear.
Parliamentarians, judges, teachers and professors are forbidden from wearing the headscarf in public buildings, even though Turkey is predominately Muslim and governed by the Islam-oriented Justice and Development Party (AKP). Held in place by an old guard of secular bureaucrats, judges and the army, the ban has been eased at universities but remains unofficially applied in large parts of the private sector.
For many Muslims, the right of women to dress in accordance with their beliefs is on the front line in a battle with the traditional ruling class. For many secular Turks, the head covering is a symbol of everything they fear Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan government is working toward — political Islam and the oppression of women.
Istanbul seems to comfortably meld the old with the new, the secular with the religious. A sleek tram car rumbles through the Old City. The Blue Mosque’s soaring minarets and a hulking Aya Sofia — first a basilica, then a mosque and now a museum — crown a skyline that is both ancient and modern.
Women with and without headscarves walk through the city, arms sometimes linked. Despite appearances, what is known here as the “turban†remains one of the most polarizing issues in Turkey.
‘Shock, awe and sadness’
Merve Kavakci-Islam’s experience illustrates how explosive one piece of clothing can be. At the age of 30, she was elected as a lawmaker for the Virtue Party (Fazilet Partisi) in 1999.
Jeers greeted the engineer when she arrived for her swearing-in wearing a headscarf. For 45 minutes, dozens of rival parliamentarians chanted:
“Out, Merve Kavakci! Out!â€
“The prime minister (Bulent Ecevit, who served in the role until 2002) got up and pointed at me with his finger and said, ‘Put this woman in her place,’†she told msnbc.com.
Kavakci-Islam never took her seat. She was stripped of her Turkish citizenship within weeks and two years later her party was closed down.
Now a lecturer at George Washington University and Howard University, Kavakci-Islam says she felt “shock, awe and sadness†at her treatment in parliament.
“I was Western-educated — (with) all the qualities that the republic wanted,†she says. “But one-quarter of the parliament were protesting against me.â€
The governing party is in a tight spot. In 2008, the AKP’s failed attempt to lift a ban on Islamic dress at universities was used in a legal bid to shut it down. It was alleged the party had violated the country’s secular constitution. And while the party says it will support university students expelled for wearing the “turban,†it has refused to back around a dozen headscarved women who filed candidate applications ahead of June’s parliamentary elections.
“There should be candidates wearing headscarves, but not now,†AKP deputy leader Bulent Arinc said last month.
Demonstrations
Even after the secular republic was established in 1923 by Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, many women continued to cover their heads. The ban has been enforced with varying severity over the years, but the vast majority of women of the traditional elite did not and do not cover their heads.
Akkus, Bendez, Betel Yamuk and Altintas pressed their point while at college. The four friends led five months of demonstrations at Bosphorus University when a new rector decided to enforce the ban on headscarves.
They say they are tired of fighting for the right to get ahead while “You have to convince other people that you are a thinking person with ideas and thoughts,†Yamuk says.
Bendez told msnbc.com it is difficult to debate the subject with fierce secularists.
“Everybody talks to me, but they don’t try to understand me,†she said.
Secularists say easing the ban not only would betray the country’s tenets but fundamentally hurt women’s rights.
“The headscarf is a religious symbol but today it is a political symbol,†said Nihal Kizil, the vice president of educational charity Association to Support Contemporary Life. “Can you imagine a headscarf-wearing judge presiding over a woman without a headscarf?â€
Disadvantaged?
The four friends say they constantly feel disadvantaged because of the way they dress.
Leaning over a cup of sugary tea served in a traditional tulip-shaped glass, Akkus says the fact that she covers her head has had a big impact on who will hire her and the size of her salary.
“I graduated from the best management programs in Turkey, and yet I earn half of what my classmates do,†she said.
Akkus recounts a conversation with an executive with one of the world’s biggest car companies. She asked him why his firm didn’t hire headscarf-wearing women in management positions in Turkey but did in other parts of the world.
“He told me, ‘We have to follow the rules of the country,’†Akkus said.
But Akkus, Bendez, Betel Yamuk and ———- agree that society is changing.
“Ten years ago, you couldn’t imagine the president’s wife in a headscarf,†Betel Yamuk says optimistically.
The fact that President Abdullah Gul’s wife, Hayrunnisa, covers her head has also been noticed by the country’s army chiefs, who in October boycotted the Republic Day reception hosted by first lady.
Akkus is less upbeat than Betel Yamuk. She recounts the anger and humiliation she felt at the age of 14 when female students at her school were forced to uncover their heads.
“Soldiers came to our school,†she says. “It was the hardest thing I have experienced.â€
Akkus and her mother wept that day and she vowed never to return to school. She did eventually return without her headscarf, but also forged a new long-term goal: “We decided the best thing for me to do would be to become a very important person.â€
13-18
Terry Jones Denounced by Muslim and Christian Leaders
By Adil James, TMO
Reverends and imams speak at the ICA press conference at 10:30AM Friday April 22, 2011. At center is Imam Qazwini of the ICA, to his right Imam Elahi and Imam Mardini, respectively. |
Dearborn–April 22–The overcast morning of Friday April 22 was one that began with the ominous likelihood of violence. Despite the religious significance of the day (Easter to Christians) “Pastor†Terry Jones had planned to burn the Qur`an directly in front of the biggest mosque in the United States as an act of provocation. As the day turned out, however, Jones was prevented through last-minute legal wrangling from going through with what would have been an incendiary act on several levels. The city of Dearborn feared an outbreak of violence, as evidenced by the police presence at the mosque.
But as the day began, religious leaders from the community did not know the burning would be prevented–they thought that Jones might go through with his plan, and they spoke en masse in the auditorium of the Islamic Center of America, speaking one by one against Jones’ message of hate, bigotry, and intolerant ignorance.
Present were many news channels and outlets–the ICA room chosen for the press meeting teemed with reporters, looking a little bit like the White House briefing room.
The speakers one by one spoke a message of tolerance–and the theme of all their speeches was that Terry Jones is in fact an extremist and his act of burning the Qur`an is rooted in his deep ignorance, and his behavior stands in stark contrast to the behavior and message of Jesus (as).
The symbolism of Jones’ attempt to burn the Qur`an on Good Friday was not lost on the Christian reverends who spoke–all of them expressed their dismay at such an act of hatred being committed on a day which should represent the directly opposite message.
Imam Qazwini of the Islamic Center of America functioned as the moderator of the event, one by one introducing the many speakers who (literally) joined hands to protest Jones’ planned act of hatred.
The mayor of Dearborn, Jack O’Reilly, spoke very fluently about the event, pointing out the need to balance the rights of people against one another–while a man in America has a right to protest, the churches local to ICA (which have stood where they are for 50 years) also had a right to perform their Good Friday services in peace. He pointed out Jones’ attempts through internet advertising to bring hundreds if not thousands of people to his planned protest, which contradicted his application for a permit to protest which listed only five or six protesters.
The mayor gave perhaps the strongest Christian argument against Jones’ planned behavior, citing the Pope’s decree that Islam is a valid religion, and that Catholics should treat their Muslim brothers and sisters with respect. O’Reilly also cited Bible passages which he said described Jones’ behavior, of inciting fear in people and then asking for money, which Jones had done.
Most of the Christian ministers and reverends who spoke questioned Jones’ title of “pastor,†pointing out the nature of his message as being contrary to the essential teachings of his religion.
One reverend said “Today is Good Friday… the message of today is about love, not exclusive love, but unconditional love. Love God with all your heart and soul, and love your neighbor as yourself.â€
He pointed out that the deeper issue in Jones’ protest is the issue of racism.
Mustapha Turk of IONA said that if Jones had read the Qur`an he would not burn it because the Qur`an has praises of Jesus (as) on almost every page.
One reverend begged the people of Pakistan and Afghanistan not to react with violence to whatever scene might unfold later in the day.
Several of the Christian ministers pointed out the burning of churches during the civil rights struggle as being similar to Jones’ attack on Islam.
Imam Qazwini perhaps put it best when asked whether he had tried to communicate with Jones.
“I met [him] last night at Channel 2 where we were both guests, and I invited him not to protest, but to come inside and have a dialog with Muslim leaders.â€
“I don’t think he is sincere, or logical,†said Imam Qazwini.
13-18
Ayesha Khan Receives Prestigious Schweitzer Fellowship
CHICAGO, IL–Midwestern University pharmacy student Ayesha Khan, a Batavia resident, will soon be spending a year putting her idealism into action. Recently, Ms. Khan was selected for the prestigious Schweitzer Fellowship, a program that enables university graduate students to design and implement innovative projects to help vulnerable Chicago communities.
Ms. Khan will create and implement an adolescent health and wellness curriculum at the East Aurora Magnet Academy in Aurora, Illinois. She will educate middle school students on ways to prevent disease and injury, improve health, and train them to become leaders and promoters of healthy choices. “I picked adolescent health as my focus because I’ve always liked working with younger kids. They have so much enthusiasm and they are very receptive to change,†Ms. Khan said.
Starting next fall, Ms. Khan will teach an intensive five-week course at the magnet school which focuses on math, science, and technology. “I wanted to do something to help these students, because I know they are great bunch of kids who are really smart and motivated, but they often don’t have the family background or support at home that they need,†she said. “If we can reach these kids and can get them to change their health through better choices or habits, then maybe in the future we’ll have people who have developed better lifestyles,†she added. Ms. Khan intends to end her course with a health fair where students will present their research on various healthcare topics to fellow classmates, family members, and the community.
Ms. Khan is a third-year pharmacy student at Midwestern University’s Chicago College of Pharmacy and believes her participation in the fellowship will prepare her well for her future career as a pharmacist. “Being able to lead and implement a project like this will make me better equipped for the workforce,†she said. “I think it’s going to be a lot of work, but also a lot of fun. I’m really looking forward to working with the kids and inspiring them and maybe become a mentor to some of them.â€
Named in honor of Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Dr. Albert Schweitzer, the Chicago Area Schweitzer Fellowship encourages exceptional students to “make their lives their argument†by addressing the serious health challenges faced by members of society whose important needs are not currently being met. In collaboration with existing community organizations, schools, or clinics, each of the Schweitzer Fellows provides 200 hours of direct service.
13-18
Arabian Sea Host to Rare Humpbacked Whales
By Sumayyah Meehan, TMO
The Middle East is host to a veritable smorgasbord of treasures ranging from the Oud, or Arabian stringed instrument, to the finest breeds of horses in the world. At the onset of this year Marine Scientist Robert Baldwin, in cooperation with the Environment Society of Oman (ESO), revealed that a rare species of humpbacked whale was discovered in the Arabian Sea specifically alongside the coast of Oman.
Baldwin led his own team of researchers in studying the new species, which has just recently been named the “Arabian Sea Humpback Whale†by the International Whaling Commission. The researchers were able to collect an immense amount of data including samples of DNA and more than 10,000 photographs of the whales in their natural habitat. They also studied behavioral and social patterns of the newly discovered mammals to better understand how to preserve and protect the species from harm.
What makes the Arabian Sea Humpbacked Whales so unique from other whales is that they do not migrate. Other breeds of whales are nomads and regularly migrate in search of food, better water temperatures depending on the season and for breeding purposes. These whales prefer to stay close to home, off the coast of Oman, and will spend their lifetime in the exact same place. The Arabian Sea Humpbacked Whales must be able to fulfill all of the activities of a regular whale while never moving too far from home.
According to Baldwin, the newly discovered breed of whale is so unique that it is one of the most at risk whale species in the world. In a recent statement Baldwin said, “Not only are these whales distinct in this regard, but our recent research also indicates they are one of the smallest and potentially most vulnerable whale populations in the world.†The whales face threats both on land and in the sea in the form of pollution, urban development that often extends into the ocean with manmade islands, sea crafts and rising sea temperatures during the summer months that force the warm-blooded whales to marinate in water the temperature of soup.
Several of Oman’s ministries, including the Ministry of Fisheries, have vowed to take whatever measures necessary to protect the newly discovered national treasure. The Executive Director of ESO, Lamees Daar, recently was quoted as saying “Now, more than ever, we have a huge responsibility to keep our seas healthy and by working with both Ministries our combined efforts will have a greater impact on the protection and conservation of this species.â€
In the interim the Omani-Based Renaissance Whale and Dolphin Project, currently managed by Marine Scientist Andrew Wilson, will oversee the well being of the whales until more data is gathered and processed to determine the best course of action to ensure the longevity of the population.
13-18
ANALYSIS-Investment Key as Indonesia Eyes Greater US Cocoa Exports
By Michael Taylor
JAKARTA, April 7 (Reuters) – Indonesia’s cocoa industry is looking to grab a bigger slice of the U.S. market due to unrest in top producer Ivory Coast, but needs a review of an export tax, as well as more investment to boost quality and output.
Often regarded as a cheap source of low-grade cocoa, Indonesia has embarked on a series of programmes to improve quality, but faces serious obstacles including disease and a switch to alternative crops like palm oil.
Indonesia signalled its intention in talks with the United States on Tuesday, with the world’s number three producer saying it aims to increase exports to the lucrative U.S. market by 10 to 15 percent.
“We would expect a continued expansion outside the Ivory Coast,†said Sudakshina Unnikrishnan, analyst at Barclays Capital.
“Sadly, if we are to see a sizeable increase in terms of Indonesian production, then further investment is needed.â€
A violent political standoff brought the Ivory Coast, the world’s top cocoa producer, to the verge of an all-out civil war, threatening the cocoa harvest and exports and pushing cocoa futures to a 32-year peak last month. [ID:nLDE7352EO]
The prospect of a resolution to the conflict has seen ICE cocoa futures <CCc2> down about 20 percent from the peak as exports, banned for more than two months, are set to resume within weeks if incumbent leader Laurent Gbagbo leaves.
“Anyone would love to take advantage of this opportunity with unrest from the major exporter,†said Kona Haque, analyst with Macquarie Bank in Londonsaid, adding that Indonesia, Brazil and Ecuador are all suppliers to the U.S.
Problem-Ridden
Trailing Ivory Coast and Ghana as a producer, Indonesia is currently carrying out a three-year government-backed industry revitalisation plan.
However, cocoa production in Southeast Asia’s biggest economy is far from problem free.
Indonesian cocoa farmers have been battling the pod borer, worm-like creatures that eat cocoa beans and became a menace in 1999, as well as the spread of VSD, a fungal disease which attacked leaves, branches and tree trunks across key cocoa-growing areas of Sulawesi in 2008.
The poor quality of Indonesian cocoa makes the country’s beans unsuitable for shipment to Europe, which puts a premium on top quality chocolate, with the bulk of material moved to Asian countries such as Malaysia for grinding.
“Crop protection and fertiliser subsidies — these are really the big things that would help out the local (Indonesian) farmers,†said Hague.
“Indonesia has had bad crops this year because of heavy rains. Their exports out of Sulawesi have been falling… It’s not as good as the Ivorian.â€
Indonesian cocoa output is seen flat this year at 600,000 tonnes, as higher production from new planting offsets the impact of heavy rains, the Indonesian Cocoa Association, or Askindo, said.
About 90 percent of Indonesian cocoa growers are smallholders, which has limited the sector’s expansion for decades. Many cocoa farmers have chosen to plant cheaper and more profitable crops, such as rubber or palm oil.
“Cocoa is a more difficult crop to grow than palm and is more prone to diseases,†Chris De Lavigne, vice president of Industrial Practices at Frost & Sullivan, said.
“A lot of the old plantations in Malaysia and Indonesia were ripped out and re-planted by smallholders, who have turned to palm.â€
“These diseases and issues that cocoa faces can be dealt with, but the government needs to provide good support — they (farmers) need the right feeds and a lot of training and education.â€
Cocoa crops start to mature around four years old.
US Market Share
Although lagging bigger cocoa consumers in Europe, the U.S. cocoa market is seen as having enormous potential.
“In Europe people eat about 10 kilos per capita each year. The U.S. are well behind but growing very strongly,†said Carlos Martinez, a marketer at Citigroup.
“They are moving away from low quality chocolate. In the next ten years (U.S. consumption) should double,†Martinez said, adding that the U.S. imports about 400,000 tonnes of cocoa per year, mainly from Latin America.
Indonesian cocoa exports to the U.S. last year were about 90,000 tonnes, down from 120,000 tonnes in 2009, Dakhri Sanusi, secretary general of Askindo, said this week.
“For 2011 I’m a bit pessimistic because of the implementation of the export levy,†he added. “It is difficult to maintain the (current) level… Maybe it will be the same as last year.â€
The Indonesian government slapped an export tax for the first time on locally grown cocoa beans last April in an effort to encourage the retention of fermented beans for local refining in order to gain a premium in international markets.
At the moment, the poorer quality beans are traded at a discount as wide as $500 a tonne, while better quality West African beans enjoy a premium to futures prices.
Late last month Askindo said the export tax was diverting money that could be reinvested in plantations, while the scheme had not significantly boosted local grinding. [ID:nL3E7EN1JA]
Askindo chairman Zulhefi Sikumbang said Indonesian producers needed to invest in new farming techniques and to improve output, but they have little access to capital and interest rates for loans were too high.
“There is a tonne of potential for Indonesia,†said Frost & Sullivan’s De Lavigne.
“But if you look at the average yields that Indonesia are getting, it’s under half a tonne per hectare… You should be able to get at least a tonne if not a tonne and a half.†(Additional reporting by Fitri Wulandari and Lewa Pardomuan in SINGAPORE; Editing by Ramthan Hussain)
13-18
The “Surge” in Iraq & Afghanistan
NATO & the Pashtuns–A Misunderstanding of Tribal Identities
By Geoffrey Cook, TMO
Richmond, VA–April 9th–Your narrator finds himself in the (U.S.) Civil War-era (1860s) era capital of the Confederacy (i.e., the South) where he listened to the research of a Michael Yalchi on the lack of understanding between NATO (the North Atlantic Treaty Organization) and the operation of tribal identity within the Southern Afghani battle theater. This article is written with a considerable amount of your essayists own research, too.
Richmond, from which your author is reporting, is a moderate-sized (American) Revolutionary-era city of a little over 200,000, and is, also, the present-day seat of government of the current (U.S.) Commonwealth (State) of Virginia on the Atlantic seaboard a hundred miles below Washington D.C. (Most of the American Civil War [1860-1865] was fought within this hundred miles between the two fore-mentioned two cities.) This War fought on U.S. soil is considered the first “modern†martial dispute.
While in the Middle East, this past week (18th-24th) of the actual physical act of writing (April 23rd –26th) this article, the Libyan Civil War continues to fume, and Colonel Khadafy may even overcome his armed opposition as the battleground is raging back and forth between his divisions along with their African mercenaries against the rebels headquartered in this barren environment second city, Benghazi, the latter’s de facto capital. Succinctly, there is no way to predict the outcome of this clash.
At the same time, British officers have been on the ground secretly for several weeks now whipping the rag-tag insurgent “military†into a credible resistance as the established government in Tripoli has ordered allied tribal leaders into the fray against a strategic dissident-held urban center.
The European Union (EU) intends to go to the Security Council of the U.N. (United Nations) in New York City to obtain the “legal†permission to plant the soldiers on the Maghreb soil there to, supposedly, institute safe-sanctuaries there. (There was a great failure by the Dutch Army in the 1990s Bosnian War wherein Muslims were massacred by the failure of Amsterdam to enforce their assigned asylum.) In Libya, what had started as a “no-fly†zone to protect unprotected non-combatants is, unfortunately, becoming a campaign for regime change in that North African nation. Fortunately, Washington has pledged not to place land troops on another Islamic territory. Hopefully, they will keep to their promise!
Concurrently, Ba’athist Syria is teetering toward a civil war; while Yemen “ancient†fissure between the North and South is beginning to crack again. It was announced on the 23rd that Sana’a head of State was willing to step down, but this had become questionable by the 25th. The Crown Prince of Bahrain has informed the British Royal family (the 24th) that he would not be able to attend Prince William’s wedding in London because of the unrest on his island. Most of the other States in the Islamic West (of Dar al Islam) are in the midst of upheaval, too. Some more dramatically and critically than others. The end results in this overall region will depend upon how the present elites of their individual nation-states will react to their internal populist challenges.
Back to Michael Yalchi: Iraq, which he only mentions only in passing, is, also, going through disturbance. Strangely, if the late Bush Administration had refrained from its aggression, Sadam Hussein’s government’s days were limited anyway without so many Western allied lives lost! Michael Yalchi did mention the success of General Petraeus’ surge in Mesopotamia, but he spent most of his time on its application on the Afghanistani battlefield.
One cannot talk about the Middle East unless one considers Afghanistan. The U.S. strategic position is that it is on the eastern limits of American calculated policy regarding the Middle East — along with Pakistan (whose civil society is presently up in “arms†over the U.S.A’s drone [unmanned aircraft] attacks mainly in the tribal areas within their nation that may have caused as many as nine hundred non-combatant Pakistani deaths last year). On the other hand, if you were in the Kremlin’s foreign office, the Hindu Kush Mountains is definitely part of Central Asia. To the British and (now) New Delhi and Islamabad, it is unequivocally part of South Asia since it is solidly and historically inter-connected to the nations across the Khyber.
In one sense, although it has an ancient history as a separate country, modern Afghanistan was a creation of the British and Russian Empires during the Nineteenth Century as a buffer zone between the two. During the last decade of that century, the border was forced upon the tribes in the desert-like mountains (i.e., the Durand Line) to slow down what was known as the “Great Game.†The British Indian Army had fought three disastrous wars over that world on the other side of their Line in the Nineteenth and the early twentieth centuries, and the War from which Moscow had retreated in 1989 was in effect their Third Afghan War. All (total) six Afghan Wars fought by the two dissimilar Empires ended disastrously for the European powers. The current War is an American/NATO adventure with the puppet-placed Kabul government as ally. The enemy, of course, is the Taliban “army†(whose mass Kandahar prison break-out this past week-end [23rd through 24th]shows a degree of popular support and effective tactical ability).
Some political scientists have described the current dispute not as a War an Afghani War, but as a revolt of a regional sub-nationality, the Pashtuns, for self governance and unification since they are divided by the arbitrary and ill-delineated Durand Line which currently serves as the border between Islamabad and Kabul. The War on The Afghani side of the boundary is in the South of their countryside while in Pakistan it is being waged mostly within Peshawar’s Provinces by Rawalpindi‘s army.
Since we are discussing the War about Kandahar, the demographics of Afghanistan show forty percent Pashtun (the highest single element within the total population). Near 11 and one-half percent are of the Durrani tribal group, and almost 14 percent are Ghilzai. The Tajiks within the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan are the second largest ethnic group with a little over 25 percent of the population. The Hazaras stand at 18 percent while the Uzbeks that are ruled from Kabul are at slightly over 6 percent. The Turkmen there are at 2.5 percent. The lowest identifiable ethnic group, is the Qizilbash at 1%. Other minuscule clusters measure about 7 percent all together. As can be seen the mountainous nation is a multi-ethnic and, further, multi-lingual, and discord has arisen out of these issues.
Within Pakistan, on the other hand, who are divided by the aforementioned frontier from their Pashtun brothers to the north — they make up about fifteen and one-half percent of the whole of the latter country’s population. The Pastuns there — besides the Northwest Provinces — are largely settled in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas and in Baluchistan on the Iranian periphery, but pockets are scattered all over that nation-state. Also, the Taliban themselves are mainly Pashtun, and are logically located in Afghanistan’s south and the Northwest Provinces in Pakistan’s Hindu Kush.
Back to Michael Yalchi’s comments: The American-led coalition is attempting a surge in Afghanistan similar to the successful one in Iraq, but the tribal composition and internal identification within the two states are significantly different. The Wickileaks of last week (18th-24th) has brought the District of Columbia’s faulty assumptions to light. In Afghanistan, it is a social misunderstanding by NATO in how the various high tribes and sub-tribes relate amongst themselves that creates a problem for the Europeans and North Americans in their counter-insurgency.
Yalchi asserted that “Afghani (tribal) territorial ‘maps’ inform their society.†That is, the clans are essentially local, and the division of customs, etc. between groups are determined by the harsh landscape, for they are isolated one from another, and, curiously, the same geographical constraints that make travel problematic throughout the region for Brussels (i.e., NATO‘s) armed forces has created shortcomings in the Western alliance’s rush throughout that craggy topography.
Your correspondent, who happens to be an anti-imperialist personally, desires to end this piece by stating, unlike the British in their Imperial times who would be stationed in the Mountains for thirty years, and often would take a Pashtun woman to wife, etc., and was trained to speak the local language fluently. (In other words, although alien, he was intimate with the culture.) The American soldiers are posted in Southern Afghanistan for about a year at a time. Mostly, they depend upon “fixers,†a journalistic term denoting a person native to the country who leads non-indigenous individuals through the landscape, translates and arranges things with the local inhabitants.
This lack of cultural comprehension is the real reason the North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s campaign in Helmet and other Provinces in the South of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan is going inadequately for the Western offensive in suppressing the Taliban’s insurgency.
Whereas Michael Yalchi regulates his analysis to the NATO alliance’s lack of accomplishment to a deficiency in grasping the lack of cohesion between the clannish customs who are opposing the Western soldiers in the combat zone in the high country, your commentator would go further to say it is a total cultural insensitivity and disrespect for their Pashtun opponent.
13-18
Letters to the Editor–Syed Aslam’s Response to Criticism of his article
Dear sir
I read with interest the Letter to the Editor dated April 22-228. 2011 written by Mr. Masood Ranginwala, (Chairman, Islamic Learning Foundation NY). I would like to remind him that my article was not against Imam Ahmed ibn Hanbal, I have great respect for him and other Imams. He suffered to uphold the Sunnah of Prophet that is true, but his view regarding science and its learning could be different and that what I was trying to point out. As a matter of fact I found the quotation about Ahmed ibn Hanbal which is my article in Syed Ameer Ali’s book The Spirit of Islam published in 1923 in which he discussed in detail why Muslims lost interest in science and technology.
…
Even in modern time Hossein Nasar, a well known scholar of history of Islamic science, insists that the Arabic word Ilm only refers to the knowledge of God. He thinks that modern science is a cancer which is destroying the fundamentals of the Islamic faith. You may agree or disagree with the position of these individual but to bring it out and debate on their position is not Un-Islamic, unfair and should not cause any disrespect to any body or cause enmity as indicated Mr. Ranginwala in his letter.
So far the tradition of Prophet (as) is concerned he made no distinction between secular education and religious education which this famous Hadith confirms:Seek knowledge though it be in China. Clearly, one would not go to China to learn about Qur’an and Hadith. What our Prophet meant, was to seek technical or scientific knowledge even if you had to travel a long distance, like going to China. There are many other Hadith which confirm this position.
Syed Aslam
Aslamsyed1@yahoo.com
13-18
A Doctors Guide to Protecting Their Assets
By Adil Daudi, Esq.
A very common joke used by most doctors who have had a bad experience with a lawyer is that “there are more lawyers than doctors in a hospital.†Although the joke itself is not completely true, it’s also not far from the truth. More and more doctors are having to worry about being sued for some form of malpractice. Whether that makes doctors more alert when conducting a procedure, or more nervous, has yet to be proven. But what is quite apparent is that lawyers are quick to pull the trigger on a lawsuit whenever a doctor is on the receiving end of the complaint.
So what happens when a doctor is in the middle of a lawsuit where the potential judgment of the liability exceeds the doctor’s malpractice limits? Without a properly structured plan in this common scenario, the doctor becomes susceptible to having his or her personal assets exposed and seized; this can include bank accounts, investments, a primary residence, and rental property, among other assets.
However, with a few simple steps and with even the most simplistic plan in place, a doctor can potentially save and protect millions of dollars from creditors and bad lawyers.
The following are three strategies a doctor can, and should, implement into their day-to-day lives; which will, at the very least, help discourage potential lawsuits from arising:
i. Create a Professional Limited Liability Company (PLLC): As recent as December 2010, former Governor of Michigan, Jennifer Granholm, made Michigan one of the top States in the country to start a PLLC. The bill provides a distinct advantage for owners of a PLLC, as the exclusive remedy for any creditor against debtors is through a charging order.
A charging order is best exemplified when a creditor intends to obtain the proceeds that a debtor distributes to themselves through their PLLC. However, if the debtor decides to not make any distributions, which is often the case, then the creditor is left with no alternative remedy.
Moreover, a well structured medical practice with multiple PLLCs can deter potential lawsuits. Please consult with a professional attorney to learn more about creating and administering a PLLC.
ii. Create an Irrevocable Trust: Once created, an irrevocable trust is a trust that cannot be changed, altered or amended. Although this trust is extremely effective in protecting your assets, the downside is that it takes away ownership and possibly control from the creator of the trust (i.e. you). Your ownership loss prevents creditors from being able to reach these assets. Remember, a creditor can only attack the assets that you own; therefore, if it’s not in your name, creditors will not have access to it.
Prior to getting yourself into an irrevocable trust, be sure to speak to an attorney who practices in Asset Protection. More and more attorneys who are not familiar with this topic tend to advise clients that a Revocable Living Trust (RLT) can serve the same purpose. This is not true since an RLT does not take ownership or control away from your assets because the assets remain in your individual name.
iii. Create a Retirement Savings: There is a reason why OJ Simpson is continuing to live a normal life despite having a judgment against him for over $20 million. He took complete advantage of a protective tool that the government made available to the public. The federal government protects all contributions made to a qualified retirement account from creditors. Therefore, all qualified retirement accounts, such as contributions to 401(k) plans, 403(b) plans and profit-sharing plans are protected from creditors, until you start making withdrawals.
In addition to qualified accounts, Michigan has also allowed contributions to Individual Retirement Accounts (IRA) to be protected from creditors. Therefore, if you have not already done so, it will be worthwhile for you to start maximizing your contributions.
Despite the fact that malpractice lawsuits have been on the rise for the past decade, doctors continue to take the reactive approach to planning and tend to take the necessary steps of protecting their assets only after the filing of a lawsuit. By doing so, the doctor is exposed to possible criminal charges, as any transfers of funds or assets made after the filing of a lawsuit is considered a fraudulent conveyance. In other words, it is now too late. You must plan before the lawsuit.
Although the foregoing is not a comprehensive list of asset protection strategies, it is however a good starting point. For the number of years invested in your profession, it only makes sense that you consult with a professional attorney who can assist you in preserving your hard-earned wealth before it is all taken away.
Adil Daudi is an Attorney at Joseph, Kroll & Yagalla, P.C., focusing primarily on Estate Planning, Shariah Estate Planning, Asset Protection, Business Litigation, Corporate Formations, Physician Contracts, and Family Law. To contact him for any questions related to this article or other areas of law, he can be reached at adil@josephlaw.net or (517) 381-2663.
13-18
Family Planning in Islam
By Karin Friedemann, TMO
In every bed, there is a promise. – Nathaniel Hawthorne
Politicians like to talk about “freedom of choice.†They are talking about abortion. The assumption is that if a woman chooses not to have an abortion, then the blame, and thus, the financial and emotional responsibility for the child, rests squarely on her shoulders.
Yet, others take another approach. I’ll never forget my Italian teacher in college giving us undergrads a lecture on morals. She said something I’ve never heard anyone say out loud. “When you choose to have sex, you have made that choice.†God bless her for her audacity to speak out in the face of the victimization of women and children!
Does anyone have any idea how many poor yet honest men all over the world are living without love for months and years at a time, often going to another city for work so they can send money home to their families?
Can you imagine the terrified lifestyle of a typical Afghani woman existing on a couple bags of rice, taking care of her children alone, in the middle of a violent war, waiting for her husband to come back with some groceries in a few months?
Many families who are blessed to be together are very much together. As in, living in one room. Sharing a house with their siblings and their spouses and their children. Many families, even in Europe, live in a one room apartment. During the night, the living room becomes the bedroom.
If you have never witnessed childbirth, let me explain something to you. It really hurts. It turns your body inside out. For a woman to choose to let a man put his “gushing fluid†inside her is the voluntary personal choice to go through an experience that feels about as pleasant as having a bus roll over your body very, very slowly.
Pregnancy is a time of such sickness that if she were a man, he would choose not to work that day. Childbirth can last for days. It takes a woman three years to get back the full use of her body after having a baby, if she exercises daily. No matter what, she permanently loses the strength of her eyesight and teeth. What an unthinking man might have thought was simply a beautiful moment, for her it was a life investment. There is no such thing as “accidentally†getting someone pregnant.
In Islam, men are the maintainers of women. There is none of this weird American marital squabbling about who pays what. Motherhood is a full time job. A loving woman carries the child in her womb for nine months and then nurses the child for two years, sacrificing her calories, her strength, and her free time. A mother cannot come and go as she pleases. She cannot fall asleep whenever she feels tired. And it’s not a question of whether she wants to do it or not. Women are biologically programmed to suddenly wake up on emergency alert if her baby so much as coughs in his sleep.
Full responsibility for a baby deprives the caretaker of REM sleep.
People who are deprived of sleep for a prolonged period of time spend a lot of energy merely “coping.†But somebody has to get the bills paid while someone maintains the living standard of the home. That is why parenting is a shared responsibility. There should be no burden on the woman in addition to the full time job of raising a child in a clean and safe environment. The least a man can do is pay all her expenses.
If he cannot afford to buy his family a house, his wife and the kids can share one mattress like the majority of people in the world. Even if a man is sleeping outside, he can put a tarp over his family’s head.
Because every soul born is someone that God commanded to be born and a man must take full responsibility for his family. Anything a woman spends on household expenses is rewarded by God like donating to charity, while anything a man does to help in the home is rewarded by God as charity.
In Islam, even if the marriage does not work out, the children are still the man’s full financial responsibility. He has to keep them alive and well – not just send their mother a “donation†per month.
Women have to start taking themselves more seriously. Motherhood is a full time career worthy of a six digit income. Find a man who will do everything he can to find a way to love the mother of his children, provide them with food and a roof over their heads, and if they cannot work things out he would be aware of what it costs to raise a child.
This is what you need to be thinking about on your first date. Does the man value his future offspring? Does he have a sense of personal honor?
A man must provide for his children, not only out of some ambiguous and fluctuating emotional attachment but because they are his flesh and blood, part of his lineage. A good man is looking for a good woman who has the qualities he wants in his descendants. He is always thinking long term about how to put his DNA to proper use. The sure sign of a no good man is a man who just lets things happen. Some men think that a crime is less criminal if it’s done in the heat of passion. Yet, the act is still a deliberate act. Don’t do it without getting married first.
13-18
Muslims and THE PEACE – As Salaam
Finding a new way to fight
By Imam Abdullah El-Amin, TMO
Since the start of the so-called “Muslim Reformation†in Tunisia, Egypt, Algeria, Yemen, Libya, and others, there have been many†Coach Potato Diplomats†explaining the why’s and the who’s of what is happening…
These “Islamic†countries have been operating under tyranny and dictators since they gained their freedom from the colonialists who put these dictators in power. The same countries that colonized these countries; the United States, France, Italy, Germany, United Kingdom and others, are the same ones controlling their economy today. In some African countries, the colonizing country controls the airports that they built and command upwards of 95% of all revenues generated yearly – while the natives are just happy to be able to use it.
One of the most common descriptions of Islam is it’s theâ€religion of peace.†And this is true. The very root of the word Islam means peace. But it’s more than a definition and explanation of a word; it is actually a way of life.
The war we are fighting today is not really one of bullets and physical violence. For us Muslims it is not even one of planes, ships, rockets, and nuclear weapons because we are grossly inferior in all those areas. So it makes sense to approach the solution to our problems in a different way. The war we must fight today is not one of raw emotion; it must be one fought with morality and spiritually-guided intelligence.
I’m sure most of you readers have heard of the “Qur’an-burning Pastor Jones from Florida. This fellow traveled to Detroit, Michigan to stage a protest against the “threat of violence stemming from what he thinks is sharia law. Ironically his protest was to be in front of a masjid widely known for its efforts to spread peace through our society. It seems his, and his sponsors( reported to be some White-supremist right-wing group in Northern Michigan) sole purpose was to incite the very violence he says he was trying to prevent. And he wanted to do all this on the Christian “Good†Friday and in the very name of Christ Jesus, who, according to biblical scripture, would never have done such a thing.
As a result and I’m sure much to his surprise, Pastor Jones’ plans backfired on him and actually benefited the Muslims. Nearly a thousand people of varying faith traditions (mostly Christians) came to the masjid targeted by Jones, the Islamic Center of America, to speak against him and extol the virtues of our glorious religion. The Archbishop of Southeast Michigan, the leader of over one and a half million Catholics was in attendance and lead the speeches of the interfaith group of leaders.
After the short program one of the most glorious and spectacular sights I have personally witnessed took place. A multitude of Christians, Buddhists, Jews, Bahia, and others, joined hands with the Muslims and circled the masjid in a show of solidarity and interfaith love and respect. It was a sight to behold. Now who would have thought such a show of love and respect was possible? Many people, including many Muslims, believe this religion would never garner that kind of respect. But Almighty ALLAH has promised the believers the victory IF they submit to Him with a gentle heart.
But it was no accident that that great multitude of people showed up to support the Muslims. The Council of Islamic Organizations of Michigan (CIOM) has been working diligently fostering interfaith love and respect for over thirty years. Additionally, the Interfaith Leadership Council co-sponsored the program at the masjid. They worked tirelessly to show their support of the masjid and their disdain of “Pastor†Jones. The relationship with the different faith traditions in the area has been on solid footing because we reached out to them and they reached out to us. We accepted their overtures and they accepted ours. So we grew to know one another.
As I said earlier, we do not have the wherewithal to fight a physical war but our God and our scripture make us well equipped to fight a spiritual one.
Let us focus on fighting a war we can win. Let us argue with them in the best manner – with wisdom and beautiful preaching. That’s when we are setting our aim on the real enemy; the Shaitan.
It is a war fought on our terms; and it is a war we can win.
As Salaam alaikum
Al Hajj Imam Abdullah El-Amin
13-18
Ferndale Residents Want Backyard Chickens
By Michael P. McConnell Daily Tribune
FERNDALE – A group of residents wants backyard chickens allowed in the city and is working to convince officials to scratch out a new ordinance to allow the birds.
Though Ferndale’s ordinance allows chickens, it prohibits them unless they are kept at least 150 feet from the nearest neighbors’ property.
That provision effectively prohibits chickens in 90 percent of city neighborhoods.
Chicken enthusiasts say the birds are a natural low-cost way to have fresh eggs and good fertilizer for their gardens. Keeping chickens in urban areas has become a movement of sorts over the past several years and are permitted in many cities from New York to San Francisco with some restrictions.
Locally, cities such as Madison Heights and Hazel Park have recently changed their ordinances to accommodate chickens. Residents in Ypsilanti and Ann Arbor are also permitted to keep chickens.
Resident Laura Mikulski, an avid organic gardener, wants chickens allowed because their eggs provide a good source of locally grown protein without having to engage with the darker side of the industrially raised eggs available at most stores.
“I started gardening and then thought I would like to have my own sustainable source of protein,†she said. “That’s when I checked the city ordinance and found out you can’t have chickens any closer than 150 feet from another residence. Only about 10 percent of Ferndale is eligible to have chickens under the current ordinance.â€
Mikulski and others are now on a mission to change the city ordinance and have reached out to Councilwoman Melanie Piani.
“I expect this group is going to work with the city and the city’s community development director and bring a draft proposal to the City Council,†Piani said. “I think backyard chickens, if done properly with good oversight, can be a good thing for the community. This is a trend that is going on in urban areas all over and not just Ferndale. They are taking control of their food and what they put into their bodies.â€
Madison Heights was the most recent city to change its ordinance to allow chickens. City Council members in November voted 5-2 to allow backyard chickens. There was some opposition to the chickens from residents. Councilman Brian Hartwell said at the time that anti-chicken sentiment was based on an image issue, adding that “some feel Madison Heights is too good for hens.â€
Anne, an Oakland County resident who keeps four chickens and didn’t want to reveal her last name, said she, her husband and their two small sons like watching and feeding the birds.
“We really enjoy coming out here with our 3-year-old to collect the eggs,†she said, as she and her son checked in on the chickens in their backyard Friday. The family also likes to grow the vegetables they eat and buying food locally. She sees keeping chickens as an extension of that philosophy.
“You can’t get much more local than your backyard,†she said.
Mikulski is working with gardener and farmer Trevor Johnson to make a pitch for chickens in Ferndale.
Johnson, a Detroit resident, previously lived in Ferndale for 17 years and is now looking to buy a house here so he can move back.
“Allowing chickens in our backyards is a way to allow them to be chickens without hormones and control they way they are treated and raised,†he said. “It gives you the ability to have control over what enters your mouth. Food is one of the most effective leverage points to make any change in society because it touches everybody.â€
Ferndale Mayor Dave Coulter admits he doesn’t know much about chickens and has yet to take a position on whether they should be allowed in every backyard.
“I’m no expert but I’m open to being educated,†he said.
13-18
900 Gather in Dearborn as Religious Leaders Rebuke Pastor
By Francis X. Donnelly / The Detroit News
Dearborn— A variety of religious leaders rebuked a Quran-burning pastor today and affirmed their support for religious freedom and civil discourse.
They spoke at the Islamic Center of American a day before Florida pastor Terry Jones planned to appear there to protest what he called Islamic extremists.
About 900 people turned out to hear the religious leaders, who ranged from Archbishop Allen Vigneron of the Catholic Archdiocese of Detroit; Imam Sayed Hassan Al-Qazwini, leader of the Islamic Center; and Richard Nodel, president of the Jewish Community Relations Council.
The Rev. Charles Williams II, pastor of King Solomon Baptist Church in Detroit, said Jones has actually done the community a favor by uniting the various religious factions.
“Thank you for bringing us together,†William said as the audience all stood to applaud. “This is our time to go to work.â€
He said the community should use the unity to tackle other problems, like crime and economic troubles.
“This is our time to go to work,†he said.
After Dearborn Mayor John B. O’Reilly Jr. and eight religious leaders spoke during the two-hour rally, the crowd held a silent vigil by walking outside quietly and forming a half circle facing the mosque. The half circle they formed around mosque was a symbol of them protecting the mosque against Jones.
They held hands and remained quiet for 10 minutes before ending the silence by relaying the word “Amen†from one end of the line to the other.
Before and during the rally, hundreds of people signed a 50-foot-long banner that exhorted them to oppose Jones and remember the best parts of their faith.
“We, as caring neighbors in southeastern Michigan, stand together in condemning the actions of those who spew hate and fear, and who misuse and desecrate holy books of faith,†read the banner.
Meanwhile, several miles away in 19th District Court, a jury was selected for a trial Friday that will weigh whether Jones legally can carry out plans to protest at the mosque.
fdonnelly@detnews.com
(313) 223-4186
13-18
Community News (V13-I18)
Daniyal Khan wins national video contest
HARTFORD,CT–Daniyal N. Khan, a student at Berlin High School has won a national video contest for his video about the element hydrogen and has been invited to Philadelphia to receive his award from the Chemical Heritage Foundation.
His video won the individual category in the It’s Elemental video contest, part of the foundation’s program to promote the International Year of Chemistry. Khan and 10 others will receive $5,000 grants sponsored by Dow Chemical Co.
Sun Prairie Planning Commission rejects mosque proposal
MADISON, WI–Sun Prairie’s Plan Commission is recommending that a mosque not be granted a permit to operate in the Nature’s Preserve Office Park, citing opposition from neighboring businesses over traffic and parking concerns, the Wisconsin State Journal reports.
The 6-0 commission vote against the permit application came Tuesday at a meeting attended by about 40 members and supporters of the mosque.
Afterward, Fayaz Suleman, the secretary and treasurer of the mosque board, said he was disappointed and unsure of the mosque’s next move.
Tuesday’s vote was advisory only. The Sun Prairie City Council is expected to take up the issue May 3.
Halal meals for the asking
MUNCIE,IN –A growing list of universities in US and Canada are now trying to accomodate the dietary needs of their Muslim students. But there are still some institutions where Muslim students are not offered a halal option due to logistical or other reasons. Administrators at Ball State University in Indiana say that there is not much demand for halal meals on their campus, reports the campus newspaper.
“[Dining can’t do anything] unless there is one individual who says, ‘Can you help me?’ and we can order it,†said Elizabeth Poore, assistant director of operations for Ball State Dining.
Ball State Dining has ordered halal specially for individuals who requested the foods in the past, but dining offers halal on a case-by case basis.
For other holidays that require special diets, dining services tries to accommodate students, such as Muslim students who fast from sunrise to sunset during Ramadan, Poore said.
American architecture & culture influenced by Islamic traditions: expert
DALLAS, TX–The depth of Islamic influences on American architecture and culture is more than what is widely assumed said Dr. Hussein Rashid while delivering a lecture on “Everyday “Art: the Islamic Contribution on American Arts†at the Southern Methodist University in Dallas.
“[Islamic influences in art] are political statements . . . an expression of multiple identities, of being American and of being Muslim. Being Muslim-American is not a disconnect, but rather a long and rich tradition,†Rashid was reported as saying by the SMU Daily.
Rashid applauded the role of television shows for discussing what it means to be Muslim-American.
“The night news hours is no longer where people get informed… the things that tie people together are primetime watercolor shows,†he said.
13-18
Salute to All Houstonian Pakistanis for Being Philanthropic Despite Recession
$210,000+ Raised at DIL Event
DIL Houston Chapter Board Members including Dr. Umair Shah, Dr. Tauseef Salma, Salma Siddiqi, Neelofur Ahmad, Aquila Chawdhary, & Uzma Bawkher, At Annual Gala Dinner Omni Hotel Houston… |
Houston, Texas: “President Obama during his intended visit to Pakistan should be taken to a DIL’s school, and said this is an institution to combat the enemy of Pakistan, that starts with ‘I’; and when he will ask is it India, we should say No: It is Illiteracy.â€
These were the words of the inspiration keynote speaker Dr. Azra Raza as the Annual Fundraising Gala of Developments In Literacy (DIL), as this past weekend at this event, DIL raised more than $210,000, when their target was $161,000. Earlier the weekend before the last one, almost $400,000 were raised by “TCFâ€, when target was $250,000. Majority of these donors are from the Houstonian Pakistani community.
Our media would like to salute all the Houstonian Pakistani Community for being big hearted, as they have poured their hearts out and given their hard earned money for the causes to improve true literacy in Pakistan, despite the ongoing difficult economic times.
Attorney Noami Hussain and Kamila Hussain, being the Diamond Sponsors, were the major underwriter of the Annual Gala of DIL. Host of the evening was Dr. Umair Shah, while Guest of Honor was Congressman AL Green and Keynote Inspirational Speaker was Dr. Azra Raza, Professor of Medicine at Columbia University, New York.
At this DIL-Houston’s sold-out gala at the Omni Westside Hotel, the goal was to support the annual educational costs for 2011 students in DIL schools in Pakistan ($160,880). Not only did the goal was achieved, but well-exceeded with $210,000 being raised – good enough to educate 2011 students and then some for a year. This was DIL’s highest collection total to date and could not have done it without all of DIL’s friends and supporters, who helped achieve this remarkable number.
An exceedingly valued leader in enlightening reforms in Pakistan, DIL has been renovating the lives of disadvantaged children since 1997. DIL’s model of transforming the features of education in Pakistan include: Teach, train, & coach 17,000 children (67% girls); Administer 150 progressing schools, where less fortunate students achieve more thriving & safe potentials; Has contemporary school libraries; Provide computer labs to enhance students’ competence & grow their competiveness at international level; Offer first-rate child-centered syllabus, scholarships, reading programs, and extramural pursuits; Attracts and retains high-quality teachers; Forefront in the up to date teacher’s own learning for DIL and other organizations teachers; and process of gauging results & outcomes.
People in attendance Dr. Azra Raza, Congressman Al Green, and others, who share the thoughts why supporting educational efforts is critical to the success of our next generation. In addition, the audience was able to hear directly from Aasia, a former DIL teacher, and Abdullah, her son (a former DIL student), who flew in from Virginia to share their heartfelt story. It was topped off with great food, wonderful entertainment, and a whole lot of fun.
The organizers have requested that those who were not able to make it, it’s not too late to help by visiting www.DIL.Org Annual Assistance packages include $25/Child-Classroom-Furniture; $50/Child-Transportation; $80/Child-Education; $250/Teacher-Training; $1,500/Classroom; $2,000/Computer-Lab; $500/Child-Primary-Education/6-Years; and full-school sponsorship opportunity is available.
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Muhammad Wilkerson Waits for His Name to Be Called
By Parvez Fatteh, TMO, Founder of http://sportingummah.com, sports@muslimobserver.com
With the NFL Draft this Thursday, there is talk that Temple University defensive tackle Muhammad Wilkerson could be selected in the mid-to-late first round. That means that likely by the end of Thursday we should know his new NFL Team. Marc Londo of the Philadelphia Examiner wrote up an NFL Draft Prospect report on Wilkerson, and stated, “He plays with high motor and has very good balance for a big man, with an impressive ability to quickly change direction. His superior strength, power and athleticism at the point of attack makes him a force to be reckoned with.â€
At 6-4 and 315 pounds with 35 ¼ inch arms, Wilkerson has great size. He ran a 4.96 forty at the Combine and has shown the ability to play inside in a 4-3, or defensive end in a 3-4 system. Wilkerson has been know for his athleticism since coming out of Linden High School in New Jersey, where he was known for his skills on the the basketball court. Scouts, Inc. had him rated as the 173rd-best power forward in the country. After a year of prep school at Hargrave Military Academy , the 6-4, 315 pound joined Temple as a three-star defensive lineman, where he ended up being the best defensive player Temple fans have seen in decades. This was shown by his accomplishments where he was named to the 2010 All-MAC first team honoree. In 2010, Wilkerson finisished with 70 tackles, 9.5 sacks and 13 tackles for loss last year, this includes the game against Kent State , where he dominated the line with 6 tackles and 3 sacks for a loss of 21 yards, earning him the MAC Defensive Player of the Week honors. His final stats for his three year Temple career, 144 tackles, 17.5 sacks and 26 tackles for loss. His versatility as an athlete is precisely why he should fare well at the next level. He’s able to handle the double team very well and can get into the backfield. Beyond that, he has made the plays when Temple has needed them. As an early entry into the draft, he still has rough areas in his game that need to be worked out. However, that could also be considered part of his upside. He’s been very effective with a relatively limited skill-set. With further instruction from NFL coaches, he can be a difference maker for any franchise that drafts him. Since becoming an Owl, Wilkerson has worked hard to become a leader among his teammates. He is diligent and expects the same of those around him. His lead-by-example work ethic has been instrumental in the growth of the Temple football program. It is his maturity that I feel gives him an edge on many other defensive line prospects in the top portion of the draft. Good luck to Wilkerson on Thursday. SU will tweet as soon as he is drafted.
13-18
Hedo Turkoglu and the Magic Fight Back
By Parvez Fatteh, TMO, Founder of http://sportingummah.com, sports@muslimobserver.com
Things were looking dismal for Hidayat “Hedo†Turkoglu and his Orlando Magic team after they lost 88-85 to the Atlanta Hawks in game 4 of their NBA Eastern Conference first round series, giving Atlanta a 3-1 series lead. Shooting guard Jason Richardson of Orlando and center Zaza Pachulia of Atlanta were suspended for game 4 due to their semi-brawl in game 3. So, leading up to Sunday’s game, Orlando head coach Stan Van Gundy wanted small forward Hedo Turkoglu to take more open shots. However, Turkoglo was only able to muster six points, six rebounds, and two assists on an abysmal two for twelve shooting.
But things turned around in game five in Orlando, Florida. The Magic throttled the Hawks 101-76. Turkoglu contributed with nine points, two rebounds, and three assists. And that was even more points than their best player, as center Dwight Howard only had eight points and eight rebounds. But it was a collective team effort that now takes the series to Atlanta for game six. The Chicago Bulls await the winner of this series after finishing off the Indiana Pacers in five games.
13-18
The Top Female Muslim Tennis Player
By Parvez Fatteh, TMO, Founder of http://sportingummah.com, sports@muslimobserver.com
The search for the top Muslima in the tennis world takes us to two countries: Iran and France. Arsalan and Nouchine Rezai emigrated from Iran to France. Arsalan, being an auto mechanic, was in search of a better life for his family. In 1987, Nouchine, a physical therapist, gave birth to daughter Aravane. And, a tennis star was born.
She began playing tennis at the age of eight. Now, in 2010, she is the top women’s tennis player in all of France, and the 18th-ranked women’s tennis player in the world. And to think, she started out in the game as her older brother’s ball girl. And if she hadn’t become a professional tennis player she had designs on becoming a physicist. Her brother, Anauch, has gone on to become a successful tennis coach. While Aravane has gone on to record victories over such tennis stars as Maria Sharapova, Justine Henin, and Venus Williams.
Aravane maintains close relations with her family. She is coached by her father, while her mother travels with her in the role of physical therapist. A baseline player and hardcourt specialist, Aravane first saw international success by winning gold medals while representing Iran in the Women’s Islamic Games in 2001 and 2005. She has since gone on to win four Women’s Tennis Association tournament titles thus far in her career. In grand slam play, her best finishes so far have been a fourth round finish at the 2006 U.S. Open and a fourth round finish at the 2009 French Open. Her highest WTA world ranking thus far was number 15, achieved just last month. So, clearly her star is on the rise.
On the personal side, Aravane is fluent in three languages: French, Persian, and English. Her cultural interests range from Bollywood films to Persian poetry and Persian music. And she remains down to earth enough to enjoy a good kebab. While she still intends to pursue the field of physics after she is done with tennis, her immediate goal remains to emulate her favorite players, Steffi Graf and Andre Agassi, by achieving the number one ranking in the world. She will be in action this week in Bali, as the number two seed in the $600,000 Commonwealth Bank Tournament of Champions.
13-18
Analysis: Syria Neighbors Fear Future Without Assad Family
By Samia Nakhoul
BEIRUT (Reuters) – From Israel to Iran, Syria’s neighbors are starting to contemplate the possibility of a future without the Assad family as Lords of Damascus, and, whether friends or foes, some don’t like what they see.
Indeed, some are in denial about what they are witnessing.
Hezbollah, the Lebanese Shi’ite movement widely seen as an Iranian proxy in the Middle East, purports to believe the government of President Bashar al-Assad is putting down an insurrection by armed gangs of Salafi or Sunni Muslim fanatics.
In its report of the Syrian army’s assault on the southern city of Deraa, epicenter of the revolt which began last month, Al Manar, Hezbollah’s television, stuck to the official version that the army responded to citizens’ pleas to put an end to “killings and terrorizing operations by extremist groups.â€
Hezbollah greeted with glee uprisings that overthrew dictatorships in Tunisia and Egypt and championed the rights of Bahraini protesters against Saudi military intervention to quash Shi’ite demonstrations.
But it is distinctly unenthusiastic about the risk of losing the support of a Syrian government which is not only its main protector but the conduit for arms supplies from Iran.
Tehran, which regards Syria as a close ally in a mainly Sunni-dominated region suspicious of non-Arab Shi’ite Iran, has called the revolt in Syria “a Zionist plot.â€
Yet Israel too seems deeply uneasy about any change in the status quo.
Although they are still formally at war, Syria under the current president and his late father, Hafez al-Assad, has maintained a stable border with the Jewish state since 1973 even though Israel still occupies the Golan Heights.
Fear of Islamists
Israel’s fear — voiced more openly by commentators plugged in to its security establishment than by politicians — is that a successful uprising might replace firm Baath party rule with a more radical government, or one less able or willing to keep radical forces on a leash.
Although Assad sponsors Hezbollah guerrillas in Lebanon and Palestinian militant groups Hamas and Islamic Jihad, he has played a cautious hand.
Behind the strident Arabist rhetoric and ties with Tehran he has kept the option of peace with Israel in play and sought acceptance by Western powers.
“The implications are enormous and totally unpredictable,†said Lebanon-based Middle East analyst Rami Khouri.
“What makes Syria distinctive is that the regime and the system have close structural links with every conflict or player in the region: Hezbollah, Hamas, Iran, Lebanon, Israel, America, Iraq, Turkey. In all these (cases) there is a Syrian link.â€
Demonstrations have spread across the country and grown in intensity, he said, and protesters who began calling for reform of the system were now demanding “the overthrow of the regime.â€
At the back of many minds is the experience of Iraq, plunged into years of chaos and sectarian savagery after the US-led invasion in 2003 and removal of Saddam Hussein.
“Everybody in the region is concerned about the destabilization of Syria, even those who don’t like Assad, because there is one thing he brings to the region: a certain kind of predictability and stability,†Khouri said.
“He maintained the truce along the Syrian-Israeli border, people know how his government behaves. Nobody knows what will happen afterwards.â€
Alex Fishman, a military affairs journalist for Israel’s best-selling daily Yedioth Ahronoth, summed up Israeli apprehension after the Syrian army stormed into Deraa.
“However odd it may sound, the Israeli establishment has a certain sentiment for the Assad family. They kept their promises throughout the years and even talked about an arrangement with Israel on their terms,†he wrote.
“It’s hard to part with a comfortable old slipper, but the top members of the political and security establishment believe that the Syrian regime, in its current format, will change within weeks or months,†Fishman said.
He added: “The sole interest guiding Israel’s conduct is: if what is happening in Syria will ultimately weaken the Damascus-Iran-Hezbollah axis — we’ll come out ahead.â€
For Hezbollah and Iran, losing Assad would certainly be a big blow.
“If it (Syria) splits into mini-satellite states that will be bad news for everybody,†Khouri said, suggesting that as in Iraq this might provide an opening for al Qaeda militants.
Across the border in Lebanon, arena of a sectarian civil war in 1975-90 that sucked in regional and world powers and left Syria in control for 29 years, people are also worried.
Any prospect of a new sharpening of tensions between Sunnis and Shi’ites, Arabs and Kurds, or Christians and Muslims, all simmering across the region after being brought to the boil by Iraq, produces shudders.
“I don’t think any wise man is not worried about what happens in Syria because it is a neighbor,†said Talal Salman, editor of Beirut’s daily as-Safir.
“Any earthquake in Syria will shake Lebanon with its fragile make-up. Syria’s stability is in our interest.â€
For now, Assad has decided to follow in the footsteps of his father and resort to military force, not reform, to put down the protests at a cost so far of more than 400 lives, according to human rights groups.
Monday’s deployment of tanks in Deraa looks like an indicator of what is to come. A source close to the Syrian military said Assad and his security establishment had taken a decision to wage war on protesters across the country.
But Ali al-Atassi, a prominent Syrian activist whose father was a former president jailed for 22 years by the elder Assad, said “another Hama†was impossible.
In 1982, Hafez al-Assad sent in the army to crush an armed lslamist uprising, killing of up to 30,000 people.
“Syria has reached a turning point. It cannot go back to where it was,†said Atassi.
He said the Western habit of accommodating dictatorships in return for stability was no longer valid.
“In Tunis, Egypt and elsewhere for years, Arab leaders and the West gave the Arab people a binary choice: stability or chaos; despotism or Islamism.
“After what happened in Tunis and Egypt, we discovered that there is a third option which is the democratic way. Sure, the Islamists will play a role in it, but they will not have the leading role,†Atassi said.
While many analysts argue that life after Assad would be hazardous or that he may prove impossible to remove, others say a relatively smooth transition is imaginable over time because Damascus has institutions that can shoulder responsibility.
They include the army, whose backbone is Sunni although key posts are controlled by members of Assad’s Alawite minority.
What most observers now dismiss is the possibility of reforms substantial enough to meet popular demands.
Even if Assad wanted to enact wide-scale reforms, they argue, he lacks the power to prevail over entrenched interests in the security forces and military intelligence.
“He is the prisoner of a certain structure and at the same time part of it,†Atassi said.
“The next 2-3 weeks are really critical. They will determine whether he will remain in power or whether his regime will collapse,†Khouri told Reuters.
(editing by Paul Taylor)
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