The Arab American News Wire for PRESS RELEASES is a free service that features PRESS RELEASES on topics related to the Middle East and American Arab/Muslim community. They can be reprinted, with attribution to the writer or the the original source and are a courtesy of the Arab Daily News online website (www.TheArabDailyNews.com).
The Mosque Foundation and AgeOptions Offer Classes to Help Adults Learn to Thrive With Chronic Health Conditions
(November 30, 2011 – Bridgeview, IL) Adults are invited to join a series of free classes to help them learn to thrive, not simply survive, with chronic health conditions. The series will be held at The Mosque Foundation, 7360 W. 93rd St. in Bridgeview, IL. The series begins on Monday, December 12, 2011 and runs from 10:30am – 1:00pm. More series will be scheduled as well for those interested.
Take Charge of Your Health is an interactive series of six workshops offered throughout suburban Cook County. The ongoing workshops are sponsored by AgeOptions, the Area Agency on Aging of Suburban Cook County, and made possible through a grant from the U.S Administration of Aging via the Illinois Department of Public Health.
The program uses the Chronic Disease Self-Management Program developed by Stanford University. Research has demonstrated its effectiveness in improving participants’ health outcomes.
Each series of workshops is taught by two trained class leaders. Participants learn:
* Coping with fatigue, frustration, pain and isolation that may be related to ongoing health conditions
* Exercising to maintain and improve strength, flexibility and endurance
* Using medications
* Communicating with family, friends and health professionals
* Practicing good nutrition
* Evaluating new treatment options
* Problem solving around the ongoing health condition
* Brainstorming and other techniques
The free class sessions meet two and one-half hours per week for six weeks.
Participants set their own goals and work on goals they want to accomplish while learning how to manage pain and other symptoms. “The workshops allow older adults to meet people, share what they know and come up with new ways to improve their lives,” said Maria Oquendo-Scharneck, AgeOptions health and diversity coordinator.
Participants in previous classes report:
* Feeling better
* Feeling relief from pain, fatigue and symptoms related to chronic disease
* Having more energy
* Being more confident
* Feeling in control of their lives
* Feeling connected to others with similar issues
For more information or to register call The Mosque Foundation at (708) 430-5666, or contact Maria D. Oquendo-Scharneck at (708) 383-0258 or takecharge@ageoptions.org.
AgeOptions is a nonprofit organization located in Oak Park, IL, that has served the older adults of suburban Cook County and their caregivers as an Area Agency on Aging since 1974. For more information, please visit the Agency web site at www.ageoptions.org
Arab Economic Sanctions, a Defeat for the Syrian Regime Leads to More Isolation
In response to the decision of the Arab League to impose economic sanction on the Syrian regime, the Syrian National Council (SNC) stated: The SNC confirms that the economic sanctions approved by the Council of Arab Foreign Ministers against the Syrian regime for its refusal of the Arab Initiative are considered a defeat, and are an important step towards isolating it and limiting the supplies that fuel its war against the peaceful demonstrators in Syria. Preventing the regime's officials from traveling, and halting trade and financial transactions with institutions under the regime's control, enhances the people's ability to respond to the oppression the Syrian regime practices against the unarmed civilians. The Syrian regime is politically and morally responsible for any social effects that may result from these sanctions for its refusal to act logically by its reckless dealing with the sanctions and their expected results, and its failure to respond to the efforts of the Arab League. The SNC calls on all Arab countries to continue the policy of isolating the regime on all levels - political, economic, and diplomatic, to immediately apply all decisions made and prevent the regime and its officials from bypassing them, and to confirm Arab unity with the Syrian people's struggles for freedom and dignity. The SNC will continue its efforts with all countries and regional and international organizations to further isolate the regime and overthrow it as soon as possible.
****************************** For more information or commentary, please contact Ausama Monajed, member of the Syrian National Council. Email: amonajed@gmail.com
Israeli Palestinian Confederation Convention December 12, 13th and 14th, 2011.
Jerusalem- Beit Jaala - Haifa
Our Pre- Elections convention will take place this year on December 12th 13th and 14th at the Ambassador Hotel in Jerusalem, Talitha Kumi in Beit Jaala and Bet Hagefen in Haifa. The convention will have presentations from such notable Israeli and Palestinians as: Shlomo Ben -Ami, Sari Nusseibeh Ruth Dayan, Munther Dajani, Uri Avnery, and Ahmed Natour. In addition we will have presentations from candidates who are currently running in these historical elections. The audiences will be inspired and entertained by the world renowned peace activist and singing performer, Liel Kolet.
Palestinians and Israelis alike are also registering to become voters in the FIRST Israeli Palestinian Confederation elections which will take place next year on December 12, 2012.
The convention schedule is as follows:
Jerusalem
Monday, December 12th 2011 Ambassador Hotel.
2:00 P.M Press Conference (Pre- convention)
4:00 P.M: Convention begins
Beit Jaala
Tuesday, December 13th 2011, Talita Kumi.
12:00 P.M Press Conference (Pre-Convention)
2:00 P.M: Convention begins
Haifa
Wednesday December 14th 2011, Bet Hagefen.
12:00 P.M (noon)
The Israeli Palestinian Confederation will be an independent government for the mutual benefit of the Palestinian and Israeli people. It does not replace or and is not intended to undermine the existing Israeli or Palestinian governments. The Israeli Palestinian Confederation will become an additional governmental organization necessary to fill in the current void and make peace. Our Constitution and the Frequently Asked Questions are available on www.ipconfederation.org.
In the next year, Palestinians and Israeli citizens who reside in the regions will continue to offer their candidacy for President and for Parliament in each of the predetermined 300 districts. Each Parliament member will represent a population of over 35,000 people and will serve a period of four years.
The President will be serving a term of two years and will then rotate with his Vice President for an additional two years. The President and Vice President must include an Israeli and a Palestinian Citizen. We currently have almost 450 candidates.
All the candidates, along with their personal biographies, photos, and mission statements now appear on our website at www.ipconfederation.org
DISTILLED SPIRITS COUNCIL URGES COOK COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
TO REJECT ALCOHOL TAX HIKE IN BUDGET PROPOSAL
Chicago, IL – The Distilled Spirits Council today urged the Cook County Board of Commissioners to protect Chicago’s struggling hospitality industry by rejecting a job-killing alcohol tax increase in Board President Toni Preckwinkle’s proposed budget.
“During these troubling times, policymakers need to protect hospitality workers and consumers, not punish them with higher taxes,” wrote Council Vice President Dale Szyndrowski, noting that the hard-hit Chicago hospitality industry is still down 13,000 jobs since the recession. “The proposed tax increase will make spirits taxes in Chicago 85 percent higher than in New York City, and likely drive more business and tourists into surrounding counties and neighboring Indiana.”
Szyndrowski also pointed out that a restaurant patron already pays a staggering eight different direct taxes each time he or she purchases a drink: Federal Excise Tax ($13.50/proof gallon), State Excise Tax ($8.55/gallon), County Excise Tax ($2.00/gallon), City Excise Tax ($2.68/gallon), State Sales Tax (6.25%), County Sales Tax (1.25%), City Sales Tax (1.25%) and Transport Tax (1.00%). In total, he said, nearly 60% of the price of a bottle of spirits at the local liquor store already goes to taxes.
“By any measure, Cook County consumers are already paying more than their fair share in alcohol taxes,” Szyndrowski said. He further noted that Cook County’s proposed alcohol tax would mark the fourth alcohol tax hike on Chicagoans since 2005, including a state excise tax increase in 2009 that nearly doubled taxes on distilled spirits.
—30—
To receive a copy of the full letter, please contact Ben Jenkins: bjenkins@discus.org. Economic analysis on tax increase proposal attached.
The General Delegation of the PLO to the US is pleased that the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) accepted the State of Palestine as a full member during its session on October 31, 2011. With over 10,000 years of history, Palestine looks forward to finally take its rightful place among other nations of the world in this prominent institution. We hope this will help preserve the integrity of our cultural heritage after decades of Israeli negligence and abuse.
Meanwhile, we regret to see the U.S. Administration carry through its threat to freeze UNESCO funding for accepting Palestine’s legitimate right for membership when UNESCO provides critical assistance to many nations in education, children rights, women rights, and cultural heritage.
The General Delegation of the PLO to the US is surprised by the swiftness of the American response in withholding the aid, and can only hope this administration will exercise similar promptness in responding to Israeli violations of international law and defiance of US policy.
Statement Regarding the Latest Israeli Escalation in Gaza
The General Delegation of the PLO to the US condemns the latest unwarranted Israeli escalation in the Gaza Strip. Many of the casualties reported were unarmed civilians and not militants, in contrast to what mainstream publications reported. Moreover, Israeli warplanes continued their onslaught despite an Egyptian-mediated truce that went into effect Sunday at 10 P.M. The latest round of strikes is another example of the Israeli domestic politics resulting in military escalation against the Palestinians.
Nonetheless, we remain committed to a non-violent solution to the conflict, and hope that all parties abide by the declared truce.
We are disappointed at the U.S. Administration’s lack of response to this latest escalation. The recent Israeli airstrikes on Gaza constitute violations of human rights, and the Israeli government’s continued settlement expansion is in direct opposition to U.S. policy.
The General Delegation of the PLO to the US urges the U.S. Administration to display evenhandedness in handling the Mid-East conflict, and to take immediate steps to prevent Israeli transgression of Palestinian human rights, which undermines the peace process and aspirations for a just and lasting solution.
To arrange a media interview with Ambassador Maen Areikat, Chief Representative of the General Delegation of the PLO to the US, please contact Amro Jayousi on ajayousi@plodelegation.us or tel. 202-974-6360.
FUNATICAL’s Chicago line-up includes Samson Koletkar (world’s only Jewish Indian comedian), Mike Batayeh (Arab Christian), Tehran SoParvaz (African-American-Iranian) as well as Chicago’s own Ray Hanania (Arab Christian) and MoNa (Arab Muslim).
Samson Koletkar was born and raised in Mumbai. Samson brings a refreshingly new approach to cerebral, witty, thought-provoking humor with a global perspective. Being a Jewish Indian in America has only added to the anomaly that is Samson. His comedy is socially aware and is driven by his personal trials and tribulations. He highlights religious, political, social and traditional hypocrisies and issues, and shares his views on day to day absurdities of the human nature. With his clean approach to comedy he is able to perform just as easily at clubs and theaters as he is at corporations, colleges, fundraisers and speaking engagements.
Mike Batayeh has guest starred and recurred on several hit television shows and has co-starred alongside A-list actors in several films. He recently filmed his first co-lead roles in the short film, "Fly While Arab" and the feature film, "Detroit Unleaded" (release date 2012). Mike is based in Los Angeles but has toured all over the United States as a comic. Mike is one of the ambassadors of western comedy to audiences in the Middle East, as he was part of the first wave of comics to perform live in Dubai, Lebanon, Nazareth, Jordan and Egypt. His mix of biting social commentary, physical comedy and ability to entertain leaves audiences eagerly anticipating his return.
According to Editor and Publisher magazine, Ray Hanania is "...a Palestinian-American writer married to a Jewish woman. He writes about Mideast issues in an evenhanded way." Ray is a stand-up comedian, media analyst and political consultant specializing in Middle East issues and events, and mainstream American politics. He is president of Urban Strategies Group and writes several columns. Hanania co-hosts the American Arab radio show "Radio Baladi" which is simulcast in Michigan, Ohio and Northern Illinois. He hosted the live Chicago morning show "The Ray Hanania Show" for three years on WJJG AM 1530 Radio.
MoNa is an Arab-American comedian from Chicago who has performed throughout the U.S. and Canada. She studied improv and comedy writing at Chicago’s Second City and has performed on many stages through theChicagoland area, including: the Chicago Center for the Performing Arts, Comedy Under the Tap, Chord on Blues, Jokes & Notes, the Lincoln
Lodge, Loco Locas at Watra, 1001Laughs Tour and now FUNATICAL: Taking Comedy to the Extreme.
Tehran SoParvaz is a half Iranian and half African American stand-up comedian and performer who lives in the Washington D.C. metro area. He is a dynamic and high-energy comedian and entertainer who is the host of a popular satellite TV and radio show that airs around the world. He has been using his witty and unique perspective of life and sense of humor in comedy shows along Maz Jobrani, Max Amini and FUNATICAL: Taking Comedy to the Extreme.
With increased religious and cultural tension growing in America and around the world,'FUNATICAL' breaks stereotypes and bridges gaps between people of diverse backgrounds and religions by promoting unity through laughter. Comedians poke fun of culture, race, politics, religion and current events, which they lampoon with clean humor and satire.The shows are produced by an interfaith team who uses comedy as an equalizer to counter prejudices in a humorous way.
‘FUNATICALofficially launched in Hollywood, CAat the World Famous Comedy Store with a red carpet premiere, followed by three shows throughout Southern CA that brought together a diverse interfaith audience who were united by laughter. The tour continued with sold out shows in the Washington D.C. metro area, and special appearances at the National Press Club and Georgetown University.Media coverage includes Huffington Post, Voice of America, Al Hurra TV, Middle East Broadcasting, Belief Net and more.FUNATICAL has also performed in Toronto, Canada and is receiving requests to take the show internationally.
FUNATICAL: Taking Comedy to the Extreme’s Chicago show will take place Saturday, Nov. 5th, 2011 (8pm) at American Islamic College’s auditorium on 640 West Irving Park Road in Chicago, IL.Sponsors of the show include American Islamic Congress, Project Nur, Urban Strategies Group, Mike Anderson Chevrolet of Chicago, Beauty and the East TV, and a contribution by Eric Hovemeyer & Christine Bieri. Contributing sponsors include Abrahamic Alliance, United Religions Initiative (URI),Hyde Park & Kenwood Interfaith Council, and the Peace Garden Project.
Israel-Hamas Prisoner Swap Casts Harsh Light on Detention Practices By All Sides, Says Amnesty International
Contact: Suzanne Trimel, 212-633-4150, strimel@aiusa.org (New York) -- The prisoner swap involving Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit and 477 Palestinian prisoners highlights the need for the humane treatment of all detainees in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT), Amnesty International said today.
Malcolm Smart, Amnesty International's Middle East and North Africa director, said: “This deal will bring relief to Gilad Shalit and his family after an ordeal that has lasted more than five years. Many Palestinian families will feel a similar sense of relief today when they are reunited with their relatives, many of whom have spent decades under harsh conditions in Israeli detention."
"However, more needs to be done to protect the rights of thousands of others who remain in detention. The Israeli authorities, the Hamas de facto administration in Gaza, and the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank must seize this opportunity to ensure respect for the rights of all prisoners and detainees in their custody.”
Shalit was captured by Palestinian armed groups from Gaza in a cross-border raid on June 25, 2006. Since then he has been allowed no contact with his family, who have campaigned relentlessly for his release. Nor was he allowed access to the International Committee of the Red Cross, despite repeated appeals by Amnesty International and other organizations, which made it impossible to verify the conditions of his captivity.
Amnesty International has repeatedly called on the Hamas authorities not to treat Shalit as a hostage and a bargaining chip, in violation of their obligations under international humanitarian law.
It has also consistently raised concerns with the Israeli authorities about the prison conditions of Palestinian detainees, and the fact that Israel continues to imprison Palestinians from the OPT inside Israel, in violation of its obligations under the Fourth Geneva Convention.
Over 5,200 Palestinians from the West Bank – including East Jerusalem – and the Gaza Strip, which together comprise the OPT, are currently detained in facilities run by the Israel Prison Service. The vast majority are detained inside Israel.“International human rights standards and international humanitarian law guarantee every person deprived of liberty the right to humane and dignified conditions of detention, adequate medical care, and regular family visits,” said Smart.
“Israel, the Hamas de facto administration, and the Palestinian Authority must ensure that all detainees receive fair and prompt trials meeting international standards, and that judicial rulings on the release of detainees are implemented”.
Since September 27, hundreds of Palestinian prisoners have been on hunger strike in protest against recent punitive measures imposed by the Israeli authorities.
Prisoners are demanding that the Israel Prison Service end the arbitrary isolation of prisoners and allow them regular family visits.
The fact that they are detained on Israeli territory makes it difficult, if not impossible for their families to visit them, as the Israeli authorities often refuse to grant them travel permits. Israel suspended family visits for all prisoners from Gaza in June 2007, in a punitive policy that penalizes both the detainees and their families.
The 477 prisoners released by Israel today, including 450 men and 27 women, include 275 sentenced by Israeli military courts to one or more life terms. Prisoners released include those convicted of ordering or carrying out attacks on Israeli civilians.
The Israeli High Court of Justice on Monday rejected appeals against the release filed by Israeli families and organizations opposed to the deal.
In two months time, another 550 prisoners, who have not yet been identified, are due to be released in the second phase of the deal.
Of the prisoners release today, will return, without restrictions, to their homes in the Gaza Strip, Israel or the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem.
Fifty-five prisoners will return to their homes in East Jerusalem or other parts of the West Bank under a “security arrangement,” which will restrict their movement and subject them to regular monitoring by the Israeli authorities.
Another 164 prisoners from the West Bank, including East Jerusalem will be transferred to the Gaza Strip. According to the Israel Prison Service, 18 of them will be transferred for three years; it is unclear if or when the other 146 will be allowed to return to their families.
While the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip are internationally recognized as a single territorial unit under the Oslo Accords and international humanitarian law, the Israeli authorities do not allow Palestinians living in the Gaza Strip access to the West Bank or vice versa. These Palestinians will thus be entirely cut off from their family members with no possibility of visits.
Finally, 41 prisoners, including one woman, will be exiled abroad. Most of them are serving life sentences.
It is unclear whether they are being exiled permanently or will be allowed to return to their homes in the OPT at some point in the future.
Article 49 of the Fourth Geneva Convention prohibits an occupying power from forcibly transferring or deporting people from an occupied territory. In the event that those prisoners being exiled abroad or transferred to Gaza from the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, have not given their consent, Israel would be violating its obligations under international humanitarian law.
Amnesty International is a Nobel Peace Prize-winning grassroots activist organization with more than 2.8 million supporters, activists and volunteers in more than 150 countries campaigning for human rights worldwide. The organization investigates and exposes abuses, educates and mobilizes the public, and works to protect people wherever justice, freedom, truth and dignity are denied.
FUNATICAL’s Chicago line-up includes Samson Koletkar (world’s only Jewish Indian comedian), Mike Batayeh (Arab Christian), Tehran SoParvaz (African-American-Iranian) as well as Chicago’s own Ray Hanania (Arab Christian) and MoNa (Arab Muslim).
With increased religious and cultural tension growing in America and around the world,'FUNATICAL' breaks stereotypes and bridges gaps between people of diverse backgrounds and religions by promoting unity through laughter. Comedians poke fun of culture, race, politics, religion and current events, which they lampoon with clean humor and satire.The shows are produced by an interfaith team who uses comedy as an equalizer to counter prejudices in a humorous way.
‘FUNATICALofficially launched in Hollywood, CAat the World Famous Comedy Store with a red carpet premiere, followed by three shows throughout Southern CA that brought together a diverse interfaith audience who were united by laughter. The tour continued with sold out shows in the Washington D.C. metro area, and special appearances at the National Press Club and Georgetown University.Media coverage includes Huffington Post, Voice of America, Al Hurra TV, Middle East Broadcasting, Belief Net and more.FUNATICAL has also performed in Toronto, Canada and is receiving requests to take the show internationally.
FUNATICAL: Taking Comedy to the Extreme’s Chicago show will take place Saturday, Nov. 5th, 2011 (8pm) at American Islamic College’s auditorium on 640 West Irving Park Road in Chicago, IL.Sponsors of the show include American Islamic Congress, Project Nur, Urban Strategies Group, Mike Anderson Chevrolet of Chicago, Beauty and the East TV, and a contribution by Eric Hovemeyer & Christine Bieri. Contributing sponsors include Abrahamic Alliance, United Religions Initiative (URI),Hyde Park & Kenwood Interfaith Council, and the Peace Garden Project.
Responding to the US Department of Justice alleged charges
against “Mohamad Soueid”
Regarding the US Department of Justice alleged charges against the Syrian-born naturalized U.S. citizen Mohamad Soueid, the Embassy of Syria in the United States wishes to clarify the following:
1.Neither Mr. Soueid nor any other citizen of the U.S. is an agent of the Syrian Government.
2.The accusation that a U.S. citizen is working with the Syrian Government to intimidate U.S. citizens is absolutely baseless and totally unacceptable.
3.Contrary to the statement of the Department of Justice, Mr. Soueid is not an agent of any Syrian institution; he never worked under directions or control of any Syrian official.
4.Contrary to the statement of the Department of Justice, the Syrian Government has never paid Mr. Soueid travel expenses to Syria or any amount of money for any other services. We challenge the Department of Justice to provide a single shred of evidence to prove that Mr. Soueid has ever been paid by the Syrian Government.
5.There has never ever been a private meeting between President Assad and Mr. Soueid. This ludicrous accusation is a reflection of the poor quality of the whole set of allegations.
6.Contrary to the statement of the Department of Justice, Mr. Soueid has never provided any individual at the Syrian Embassy in the U.S. with any information regarding U.S. protesters or otherwise. This is a flagrant effort to defame the Embassy of Syria based on sheer lies and fabrications.
7.The Syrian Embassy in the U.S. has never recruited the services of any individual to inform on any sort of activities. We challenge the Department of Justice to provide a single evidence to the contrary.
Finally we hope that a thorough and comprehensive investigation will prove the veracity of our statement and expose the nature of those allegations for what they truly are: a campaign of distortion and fabrications against the Embassy of Syria in the U.S.
Coordinator:
Dr. Maria C. Khoury, Tel: 054 5 465 845 or 0599 318
347
Email: Khourymaria@hotmail.com
(Interviews Nadim Khoury / David Khoury
Tel
:(972) 2 289 8868 Mobile 0599 371
105)
September 24, 2011
Taybeh
Municipality in conjunction with the Taybeh Brewing Company, Nadim
Khoury, master brewer and all local civic organizations will host the
Taybeh Oktoberfest, 7th annual village festival, Sat and Sun,
Oct 1 and 2, 2011 in Taybeh, Palestine, 11 am to 10 pm with the opening
celebration on Sat, 11am at Taybeh Municipality under the patronage of Her
Excellency Dr. Khouloud Daibes, Minister of Tourism and Antiquities.
Promoting support for local products with cultural exchange and heritage, the
festival will open with the Brazilian band, Rodrigo Lessa Trio; Sri Lanka
Dance and TaybehFolklore Group . The band traveling from
Spain, Metal Cambra, will perform at 2:30pm.
Taybeh
Oktoberfest, reflecting democracy and modernism has become one of
the most distinctive festivals inspiring international travel and is the
cooperative work of the Taybeh Municipality and its mayor Mr. David
Canaan Khoury with all local civic organizations (directions/schedule www.taybehmunicipality.org)
Celebrating during this very historic time when Palestine applied
for 194 member state in the United Nations will hope to bring many from the
diplomatic, international and local community to Taybeh for support and
solidarity.
Entertainment will include an amazing diversity: CultureShoc,
Palestine’s first Rock-Rap Band; DAM Palestinian Hip Hop; O-C Soldiers Hip
Hop; Mina Band with Nazal Zanyed; West Bank Palestinian Hip-Hop /Adam
DJ; Palestine Street; Toot Ard with Reggae from the Golan
Heights; Eurasica Band from Jerusalem; Egtyas7 Underground; Ramallah
Band featuring Jack Tanous; Hajj MC; Amer Zahr Comedy ; The
Palestinian Circus School; Palestinian National
Theater; Alrowwad Cultural & Theater ; Sanabel Theatre;
Palestinian Circus School; World of Stories Geothe-Institut; Funonyat
Dance. The Karate Demonstration from Japan will complement the
Taybeh Beer competition and street hockey games; Taybeh Walk organized by Walking
Palestine. Aiman Salaymeh and Nadia Abu Ghattas will exhibit hand
crafted jewelry along with other exhibitions by Holylanders. DJ Rateb will
be in the Old City.
Taybeh expresses appreciation to all
sponsors: Ministry of Tourism & Antiquities; Consulate General
of Italy; United States of America Consulate General; Representative of Brazil;
Representative of the Federal Republic of Germany; Konrad Adenauer Stiftung;
Representative Office of Canada; Ambassador Hotel; Caritas; Spanish
Agency for International Cooperation &
Development; Adv. Mazen Qupty
The mayor states: “The Taybeh
Community invites you to celebrate the seventh
annual Oktoberfest during this very historic time where we keep our hope for
independence and the two state solution. Come see the alternative picture
of Palestine by having fun and experiencing a truly memorable event. Taybeh
Oktoberfest is absolutely the best and one of kind event in Palestine.”
Al Mubadarah: Arab Empowerment
Initiative introduces mentoring program for women in Palestine.
WASHINGTON DC— Social media uses are evolving beyond
Facebook and Twitter, as human ingenuity continues to define this dynamic
digital stage.
Al Mubadarah: Arab Empowerment Initiative, with partner
organizations, is presenting one vision for social media’s next phase through connecting
people and building more prosperous communities.
The organization is recruiting entrepreneurs with at least
five years of business development experience for the Cherie Blair Foundation Mentoring Women in Business Program.Participants will engage entirely through the
Internet using Google technology tools that enable real time connection and
collaboration.
By recruiting established successful business leaders
worldwide, the mentoring program will support Al Mubadarah’s mission of
developing stronger ties between the global Arab Diaspora and the Arab
World.Al Mubadarah develops its
programing around the needs and aspirations articulated by Arabs in the Middle
East and the Diaspora.
Entrepreneurs recruited by Al Mubadarah for the Cherie Blair
Foundation Mentoring Women in Business
Program will connect with entrepreneurial women in the West Bank who seek
technical assistance and moral support for launching their business plans. Al
Mubadarah will pair mentor and mentee with the hope and goal that a synergy
will form between the two since they will meet online regularly, develop trust,
network and discuss business concepts.
Candidates from diverse backgrounds with ethnic and cultural
ties to the Middle East are especially encouraged to apply to serve as mentors
for the Palestinian women. Exchanges between participants in such a program
create the opportunity for Arabs to learn from, and about, one another while
engaging though shared cultural references and traditions.
“The role of social media is hard to ignore, but it is the
connections with people and the sharing of knowledge in a mutually beneficial
way, that we’re promoting here,” said Al Mubadarah President and CEO, Hazami
Barmada.
As events in the Middle East have unfolded over this past
year, Barmada says she has already observed that there is a strong interest
among those from the Arab Diaspora who have wanted to give back to the region but
were unsure where to start.
“Palestine is in the
minds and hearts of many Arab people. This is linking global Arab professionals back to the Arab world,” Barmada said. “This gives
people a tangible way of helping Palestinian people: by participating in systematic community and professional development
while being remote.”
As the program gains speed, Al Mubadarah will recruit Al
Mubadarah Fellows for women mentees throughout the region. Mentors and mentees
will connect using online forums and other communication modes, including email
and chat. Mentors bring knowledge and expertise that could help women mentees
better understand steps they can take to strengthen and improve their
businesses. Mentors and mentees must agree to meet for at least one hour every
two weeks over the course of 12 months.
Al Mubadarah Advisory Board Member, Arab League Ambassador
to the United States Dr. Hussein Hassouna, applauded the initiative for
creating stronger linkages between Arabs worldwide and those in the Arab World.
“This is a great initiative that helps building bridges
between people in the Arab World and Arabs abroad,” Hassouna said.“It allows them to share their experiences,
learn from each other and work together.”
As more Al-Mubadarah fellows join the team, Al Mubadarah
intends to burnish its credentials as a global exchange platform for
Arabs.Using Internet technologies with
information sharing capabilities, is just one way Hassouna said that Al
Mubadarah will continue to take steps in examining, and addressing the loss of
talent and expertise from the Middle East due to immigration.
"I hope that in the days ahead, Al Mubadarah will
continue enlarging its membership and gain support. It is only through dedicated and collective
efforts that this initiative can achieve valuable tangible results."
Remarks
of President Barack Obama – As Prepared for Delivery
Address
to the United Nations General Assembly
New
York City
September
21, 2011
As Prepared for Delivery –
Mr. President, Mr. Secretary-General, fellow delegates, ladies and
gentlemen: I would like to talk to you about a subject that is at the heart of
the United Nations – the pursuit of peace in an imperfect world.
War and conflict have been with us since the beginning of
civilization. But in the first part of the 20th century, the advance of modern
weaponry led to death on a staggering scale. It was this killing that compelled
the founders of this body to build an institution that was focused not just on
ending one war, but on averting others; a union of sovereign states that would
seek to prevent conflict, while also addressing its causes.
No American did more to pursue this objective than President
Franklin Roosevelt. He knew that a victory in war was not enough. As he said at
one of the very first meetings on the founding of the United Nations, “We have
got to make, not merely a peace, but a peace that will last.”
The men and women who built this institution understood that peace
is more than the absence of war. A lasting peace – for nations and individuals
– depends upon a sense of justice and opportunity; of dignity and freedom. It
depends upon struggle and sacrifice; on compromise, and a sense of common
humanity.
One delegate to the San Francisco Conference that led to the
creation of United Nations put it well – “Many people,” she said, “have talked
as if all we had to do to get peace was…to say loudly and frequently that we
loved peace and hated war. Now we have learned that no matter how much we love
peace and hate war, we cannot avoid having war brought upon us if there are
convulsions in other parts of the world.”
The fact is, peace is hard, but our people demand it. Over nearly
seven decades, even as the United Nations helped avert a third World War, we
still live in a world scarred by conflict and plagued by poverty. Even as we
proclaim our love for peace and hatred of war, there are convulsions in our
world that endanger us all.
I took office at a time of two wars for the United States.
Moreover, the violent extremists who drew us into war in the first place –
Osama bin Laden, and his al Qaeda organization – remained at large. Today, we
have set a new direction.
At the end of this year, America’s military operation in Iraq will
be over. We will have a normal relationship with a sovereign nation that is a
member of the community of nations. That equal partnership will be strengthened
by our support for Iraq – for its government and Security Forces; for its
people and their aspirations.
As we end the war in Iraq, the United States and our coalition
partners have begun a transition in Afghanistan. Between now and 2014, an
increasingly capable Afghan government and Security Forces will step forward to
take responsibility for the future of their country. As they do, we are drawing
down our own forces, while building an enduring partnership with the Afghan
people.
So let there be no doubt: the tide of war is receding. When
I took office, roughly 180,000 Americans were serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.
By the end of this year, that number will be cut in half, and it will continue
to decline. This is critical to the sovereignty of Iraq and Afghanistan, and to
the strength of the United States as we build our nation at home.
Moreover, we are poised to end these wars from a position of
strength. Ten years ago, there was an open wound of twisted steel and broken
hearts in this city. Today, as a new tower rising at Ground Zero symbolizes New
York’s renewal, al Qaeda is under more pressure than ever before. Its
leadership has been degraded. And Osama bin Laden, a man who murdered thousands
of people from dozens of countries, will never endanger the peace of the world
again.
Yes, this has been a difficult decade. But today, we stand at a
crossroads of history with the chance to move decisively in the direction of
peace. To do so, we must return to the wisdom of those who created this
institution. The UN’s Founding Charter calls upon us, “to unite our strength to
maintain international peace and security.” And Article 1 of this General
Assembly’s Universal Declaration of Human Rights reminds us that, “All human
beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.’ Those bedrock beliefs –
in the responsibility of states, and the rights of men and women – must be our
guide.
In that effort, we have reason to hope. This year has been a time
of transformation. More nations have stepped forward to maintain
international peace and security. And more individuals are claiming their
universal right to live in freedom and dignity.
One year ago, when we met here in New York, the prospect of a
successful referendum in South Sudan was in doubt. But the international
community overcame old divisions to support the agreement that had been
negotiated to give South Sudan self-determination. And last summer, as a new
flag went up in Juba, former soldiers laid down their arms; men and women wept
with joy; and children finally knew the promise of looking to a future that
they will shape.
One year ago, the people of Cote D’Ivoire approached a landmark
election. And when the incumbent lost, and refused to respect the results, the
world refused to look the other way. UN peacekeepers were harassed, but did not
leave their posts. The Security Council, led by the United States, Nigeria, and
France, came together to support the will of the people. And Cote D’Ivoire is
now governed by the man who was elected to lead.
One year ago, the hopes of the people of Tunisia were suppressed.
But they chose the dignity of peaceful protest over the rule of an iron fist. A
vendor lit a spark that took his own life, but ignited a movement. In the face
of a crackdown, students spelled out the word freedom. The balance of fear
shifted from the ruler to those that he ruled. Now the people of Tunisia are
preparing for elections that will move them one step closer to the democracy
they deserve.
One year ago, Egypt had known one President for nearly thirty
years. But for 18 days, the eyes of the world were on Tahrir Square, where
Egyptians from all walks of life – men and women; young and old; Muslim and
Christian – demanded their universal rights. We saw in those protesters the
moral force of non-violence that has lit the world from Delhi to Warsaw; from
Selma to South Africa – and we knew that change had come to Egypt and to the
Arab World.
One year ago, the people of Libya were ruled by the world’s
longest serving dictator. But faced with bullets and bombs and a dictator who
threatened to hunt them down like rats, they showed relentless bravery. We will
never forget the words of the Libyan who stood up in those early days of
revolution and said, “Our words are free now. It’s a feeling you can’t
explain.”
Day after day, in the face of bullets and bombs, the Libyan people
refused to give back that freedom. And when they were threatened by the kind of
mass atrocity that often went unchallenged in the last century, the United
Nations lived up to its charter. The Security Council authorized all necessary
measures to prevent a massacre. The Arab League called for this effort,
and Arab nations joined a NATO-led coalition that halted Qadhafi’s forces in
their tracks.
In the months that followed, the will of the coalition proved
unbreakable, and the will of the Libyan people could not be denied. Forty-two
years of tyranny was ended in six months. From Tripoli to Misratah to
Benghazi – today, Libya is free. Yesterday, the leaders of a new Libya
took their rightful place beside us, and this week, the United States is
reopening our Embassy in Tripoli. This is how the international community is
supposed to work – nations standing together for the sake of peace and
security; individuals claiming their rights. Now, all of us have a
responsibility to support the new Libyan government as they confront the
challenge of turning this moment of promise into a just and lasting peace for
all Libyans.
So it has been a remarkable year. The Qadhafi regime is over.
Gbagbo, Ben Ali, and Mubarak are no longer in power. Osama bin Laden is gone,
and the idea that change could only come through violence has been buried with
him. Something is happening in our world. The way things have been is not the
way they will be. The humiliating grip of corruption and tyranny is being pried
open. Technology is putting power in the hands of the people. The youth are
delivering a powerful rebuke to dictatorship, and rejecting the lie that some
races, religions and ethnicities do not desire democracy. The promise written
down on paper – “all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and
rights” – is closer at hand.
But let us remember: peace is hard. Progress can be reversed.
Prosperity comes slowly. Societies can split apart. The measure of our
success must be whether people can live in sustained freedom, dignity, and
security. And the United Nations and its member states must do their part to
support those basic aspirations.
In Iran, we have seen a government that refuses to recognize the
rights of its own people. And as we meet here today, men, women and children
are being tortured, detained and murdered by the Syrian regime. Thousands have
been killed, many during the holy time of Ramadan. Thousands more have poured
across Syria’s borders. The Syrian people have shown dignity and courage in
their pursuit of justice – protesting peacefully, standing silently in the
streets, dying for the same values that this institution is supposed to stand
for. The question for us is clear: Will we stand with the Syrian people, or
with their oppressors?
Already, the United States has imposed strong sanctions on Syria’s
leaders. We have supported a transfer of power that is responsive to the Syrian
people. Many of our allies have joined us in this effort. But for the sake of
Syria – and the peace and security of the world – we must speak with one voice.
There is no excuse for inaction. Now is the time for the United Nations
Security Council to sanction the Syrian regime, and to stand with the Syrian
people.
Throughout the region, we will have to respond to the calls for
change. In Yemen, men, women and children gather by the thousands in towns and
city squares every day with the hope that their determination and spilled blood
will prevail over a corrupt system. America supports their aspirations. We must
work with Yemen’s neighbors and our partners around the world to seek a path
that allows for a peaceful transition of power from President Saleh, and a
movement to free and fair elections as soon as possible.
In Bahrain, steps have been taken toward reform and
accountability, but more are required. America is a close friend of Bahrain,
and we will continue to call on the government and the main opposition bloc –
the Wifaq – to pursue a meaningful dialogue that brings peaceful change that is
responsive to the people. And we believe the patriotism that binds Bahrainis
together must be more powerful than the sectarian forces that would tear them
apart.
Each nation must chart its own course to fulfill the aspirations
of its people, and America does not expect to agree with every party or person
who expresses themselves politically. But we will always stand up for the
universal rights that were embraced by this Assembly. Those rights depend upon
elections that are free and fair; governance that is transparent and
accountable; respect for the rights of women and minorities; and justice that
is equal and fair. That is what our people deserve. Those are elements of a
peace that lasts.
Moreover, the United States will continue to support those nations
that transition to democracy – with greater trade and investment, so that
freedom is followed by opportunity. We will pursue a deeper engagement with
governments, but also civil society – students and entrepreneurs; political
parties and the press. We have banned those who abuse human rights from
travelling to our country, and sanctioned those who trample on human rights
abroad. And we will always serve as a voice for those who have been silenced.
Now I know that for many in this hall, one issue stands as a test
for these principles – and for American foreign policy: the conflict between
the Israelis and Palestinians.
One year ago, I stood at this podium and called for an independent
Palestine. I believed then – and I believe now – that the Palestinian people
deserve a state of their own. But what I also said is that genuine peace can
only be realized between Israelis and Palestinians themselves. One year later,
despite extensive efforts by America and others, the parties have not bridged
their differences. Faced with this stalemate, I put forward a new basis for
negotiations in May. That basis is clear, and well known to all of us here.
Israelis must know that any agreement provides assurances for their security.
Palestinians deserve to know the territorial basis of their state.
I know that many are frustrated by the lack of progress. So am I.
But the question isn’t the goal we seek – the question is how to reach it. And
I am convinced that there is no short cut to the end of a conflict that has
endured for decades. Peace will not come through statements and resolutions at
the UN – if it were that easy, it would have been accomplished by now.
Ultimately, it is Israelis and Palestinians who must live side by side.
Ultimately, it is Israelis and Palestinians – not us – who must reach agreement
on the issues that divide them: on borders and security; on refugees and
Jerusalem.
Peace depends upon compromise among peoples who must live together
long after our speeches are over, and our votes have been counted. That is the
lesson of Northern Ireland, where ancient antagonists bridged their
differences. That is the lesson of Sudan, where a negotiated settlement led to
an independent state. And that is the path to a Palestinian state.
We seek a future where Palestinians live in a sovereign state of
their own, with no limit to what they can achieve. There is no question that
the Palestinians have seen that vision delayed for too long. And it is
precisely because we believe so strongly in the aspirations of the Palestinian
people that America has invested so much time and effort in the building of a
Palestinian state, and the negotiations that can achieve one.
America’s commitment to Israel’s security is unshakeable, and our
friendship with Israel is deep and enduring. And so we believe that any lasting
peace must acknowledge the very real security concerns that Israel faces every
single day. Let’s be honest: Israel is surrounded by neighbors that have waged
repeated wars against it. Israel’s citizens have been killed by rockets fired
at their houses and suicide bombs on their buses. Israel’s children come of age
knowing that throughout the region, other children are taught to hate them. Israel,
a small country of less than eight million people, looks out at a world where
leaders of much larger nations threaten to wipe it off of the map. The Jewish
people carry the burden of centuries of exile, persecution, and the fresh
memory of knowing that six million people were killed simply because of who
they were.
These facts cannot be denied. The Jewish people have forged a
successful state in their historic homeland. Israel deserves recognition. It
deserves normal relations with its neighbors. And friends of the Palestinians
do them no favors by ignoring this truth, just as friends of Israel must
recognize the need to pursue a two state solution with a secure Israel next to
an independent Palestine.
That truth – that each side has legitimate aspirations – is what
makes peace so hard. And the deadlock will only be broken when each side learns
to stand in each other’s shoes. That’s what we should be encouraging. This body
– founded, as it was, out of the ashes of war and genocide; dedicated, as it
is, to the dignity of every person – must recognize the reality that is lived
by both the Palestinians and the Israelis. The measure of our
actions must always be whether they advance the right of Israeli and
Palestinian children to live in peace and security, with dignity and
opportunity. We will only succeed in that effort if we can encourage the
parties to sit down together, to listen to each other, and to understand each
other’s hopes and fears. That is the project to which America is committed. And
that is what the United Nations should be focused on in the weeks and months to
come.
Now, even as we confront these challenges of conflict and
revolution, we must also recognize once more that peace is not just the absence
of war. True peace depends upon creating the opportunity that makes life worth
living. And to do that, we must confront the common enemies of human beings:
nuclear weapons and poverty; ignorance and disease. These forces corrode the
possibility of lasting peace, and together we are called upon to confront them.
To lift the specter of mass destruction, we must come together to
pursue the peace and security of a world without nuclear weapons. Over the last
two years, we have begun to walk down that path. Since our Nuclear Security
Summit in Washington, nearly 50 nations have taken steps to secure nuclear
materials from terrorists and smugglers. Next March, a Summit in Seoul will
advance our efforts to lock down all of them. The New START Treaty between the
United States and Russia will cut our deployed arsenals to the lowest level in
a half century, and our nations are pursuing talks on how to achieve deeper
reductions. America will continue to work for a ban on the testing of nuclear
weapons, and the production of fissile material needed to make them.
As we meet our obligations, we have strengthened the treaties and
institutions that help stop the spread of these weapons. To do so, we must
continue to hold accountable those nations that flout them. The Iranian
government cannot demonstrate that its program is peaceful, has not met its
obligations, and rejected offers that would provide it with peaceful nuclear
power. North Korea has yet to take concrete steps toward abandoning its
weapons, and continues belligerent actions against the South. There is a future
of greater opportunity for the people of these nations if their governments
meet their obligations. But if they continue down a path that is outside
international law, they must be met with greater pressure and isolation. That
is what our commitment to peace demands.
To bring prosperity to our people, we must promote the growth that
creates opportunity. In this effort, let us not forget that we have made
enormous progress over the last several decades. Closed societies gave way to open
markets. Innovation and entrepreneurship has transformed the way we live and
the things that we can do. Emerging economies from Asia to the Americas have
lifted hundreds of millions from poverty. Yet three years ago, we confronted
the worst financial crisis in eight decades. That crisis proved a fact
that has become clearer with each passing year – our fate is interconnected; in
a global economy, nations will rise, or fall, together.
Today, we confront the challenges that have followed that crisis.
Recovery is fragile. Markets are volatile. Too many people are out of work. Too
many others are struggling to get by. We acted together to avert a Depression
in 2009. We must take urgent and coordinated action once more. Here in the
United States, I have announced a plan to put Americans back to work and
jumpstart our economy, and committed to substantially reduce our deficit over
time. We stand with our European allies as they reshape their institutions and
address their own fiscal challenge. For other countries, leaders face a
different challenge as they shift their economies towards more self-reliance,
boosting domestic demand while slowing inflation. So we will work with
emerging economies that have rebounded strongly, so that rising standards of
living create new markets that promote global growth. That is what our
commitment to prosperity demands.
To combat the poverty that punishes our children, we must act on
the belief that freedom from want is a basic human right. The United States has
made it a focus of our engagement abroad to help people to feed themselves. And
today, as drought and conflict have brought famine to the Horn of Africa, our
conscience calls on us to act. Together, we must continue to provide
assistance, and support organizations that can reach those in need. And
together, we must insist on unrestricted humanitarian access so that we can
save the lives of thousands of men, women and children. Our common humanity is at
stake. Let us show that the life of a child in Somalia is as precious as any
other. That is what our commitment to our fellow human beings demands.
To stop disease that spreads across borders, we must strengthen
our systems of public health. We will continue the fight against HIV/AIDS,
tuberculosis and malaria. We will focus on the health of mothers and children.
And we must come together to prevent, detect, and fight every kind of
biological danger – whether it is a pandemic like H1N1, a terrorist threat, or
a treatable disease. This week, America signed an agreement with the
World Health Organization to affirm our commitment to meet this challenge.
Today, I urge all nations to join us in meeting the WHO’s goal of making sure
all nations have core capacities to address public health emergencies in place
by 2012. That is what our commitment to the health of our people demands.
To preserve our planet, we must not put off the action that a
changing climate demands. We must tap the power of science to save those
resources that are scarce. Together, we must continue our work to build on the
progress made in Copenhagen and Cancun, so that all of the major economies here
today follow through on the commitments that were made. Together, we must work
to transform the energy that powers are economies, and support others as they
move down that path. That is what our commitment to the next generation
demands.
And to make sure our societies reach their potential, we must
allow our citizens to reach theirs. No country can afford the cancer of
corruption. Together, we must harness the power of open societies and open
economies. That is why we have partnered with countries from across the globe
to launch a new partnership on Open Government that helps ensure accountability
and empower their citizens. No country should deny people their rights because
of who they love, which is why we must stand up for the rights of gays and
lesbians everywhere. And no country can realize its potential if half its
population cannot reach theirs. This week, the United States signed a new
Declaration on Women’s Participation. Next year, we should each announce the
steps we are taking to break down economic and political barriers that stand in
the way of women and girls. That is what our commitment to human progress
demands.
I know that there is no straight line to progress, no single path
to success. We come from different cultures, and carry with us different
histories. But let us never forget that even as we gather here as heads of different
governments, we represent citizens who share the same basic aspirations – to
live with dignity and freedom; to get an education and pursue opportunity; to
love our families and our God. To live in the kind of peace that makes life
worth living.
It is the nature of our imperfect world that we are forced to
learn this lesson over and over again. Conflict and repression will endure so
long as some people refuse to do unto others as we would have them do unto us.
Yet that is precisely why we have built institutions like this that bind our
fates together – because those who came before us believed that peace is
preferable to war; freedom is preferable to suppression; and prosperity is
preferable to poverty. That is the message that comes not from capitals, but
from citizens.
When the corner-stone of this very building was put in place,
President Truman came here to New York and said, “The United Nations is
essentially an expression of the moral nature of man’s aspirations.” As we live
in a world that is changing at a breathtaking pace, that is a lesson that we
must never forget.
Peace is hard, but we know that it is possible. Together, let us
resolve to see that it is defined by our hopes and not our fears. Together, let
us work to make, not merely a peace, but a peace that will last. Thank you.
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