The Best Investment

The Best Investment

By NANCY GIBBS Monday, Feb. 14, 2011

"The benefits are so obvious, you have to wonder why we haven't paid attention. Less than 2¢ of every development dollar goes to girls--and that is a victory compared with a few years ago, when it was more like half a cent. Roughly 9 of 10 youth programs are aimed at boys. One reason for this is that when it comes to lifting up girls, we don't know as much about how to do it. We have to start by listening to girls, which much of the world is not culturally disposed to do. Development experts say the solutions need to be holistic, providing access to safe spaces, schools and health clinics with programs designed specifically for girls' needs. Success depends on infrastructure, on making fuel and water more available so girls don't have to spend as many as 15 hours a day fetching them. It requires enlisting whole communities--mothers, fathers, teachers, religious leaders--in helping girls realize their potential instead of seeing them as dispensable or, worse, as prey.

A more surprising army is being enlisted as well. A new initiative called Girl Up girlup.org aims to mobilize 100,000 American girls to raise money and awareness to fight poverty, sexual violence and child marriage. "This generation of 12-to-18-year-olds are all givers," says executive director Elizabeth Gore, the force of nature behind the ingeniously simple Nothing but Nets campaign to fight malaria, about her new United Nations Foundation enterprise. "They gave after Katrina. They gave after the tsunami and Haiti. More than any earlier generation, they feel they know girls around the world."

Read more: http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,2046045-2,00.html#ixzz1D8ZTxzVm

What Influence Does Washington Have in the Arab World?

Photo: AP... Anti-government protesters react in Tahrir Square, Cairo, Egypt, February 4, 2011

"Many analysts, such as Fawaz Gerges with the London School of Economics, said in the long term, irrespective of U.S. influence or lack thereof, people in Arab countries in the Middle East will determine their own fate - as is the case in Egypt.

"The future of Egypt will be determined by Egyptians," said Gerges. "There is a new reality in politics in the Middle East. The new reality is people are becoming empowered, they realize that the oppressive status quo has done a great deal of damage to their society, to their reputation, to their economy. The United States has limited options, even though the United States can be a force for stability by trying to convince and nudge its allies - that is they must respect the new reality of politics in the Middle East."

Gerges said the new reality is all about pluralism. "It's about institution building. It's about bread and butter. It's about freedom. In the long term, I would say that America's strategic interests are served, will be served, by the new reality, in particular if the new awakening is consolidated in institutional building and pluralistic government."

In the final analysis, Aaron David Miller said let's not overstate American influence in the Arab world.

"Look, we have to get a grip and understand one thing - we don't manage history," said Miller. "Reinhold Niebuhr [American theologian] said you can't control and manage history. And we have to get used to that fact."

Describing the Middle East, Miller says "you have a broken, dysfunctional region that is going to take years to repair - and it cannot be repaired from the outside.""

http://www.voanews.com/english/news/middle-east/-What-Influence-Does-Washington-Have-in-the-Arab-World-115324079.html?c=y&pollSubmitted=y#pollAnchor&mr=1&oid=4&pid=114857954&cid=8500664

1,500-year-old church found in the Holy Land

A boy walks on a pile of dirt and rubble dug from an archaeological site where an ancient church was found in Hirbet Madras, central Israel, Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2011. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)

A view of a mosaic in the archaeological site where an ancient church was found in Hirbet Madras, central Israel, Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2011. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)

Amir Ganor of the IAA (Israel Antiquities Authority) stands at the archaeological site where an ancient church was found in Hirbet Madras, central Israel, Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2011. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)

A detail of a mosaic in the archaeological site where an ancient church was found in Hirbet Madras, central Israel, Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2011. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)

A view of a mosaic in the archaeological site where an ancient church was found in Hirbet Madras, central Israel, Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2011. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)

Amir Ganor of the IAA (Israel Antiquities Authority) shows a mosaic in the archaeological site where an ancient church was found in Hirbet Madras, central Israel, Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2011. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)

A detail of a mosaic in the archaeological site where an ancient church was found in Hirbet Madras, central Israel, Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2011. Israeli archaeologists say they have uncovered a 1,500-year-old church, including an unusually well-preserved mosaic floor with images of lions, foxes, fish and peacocks. According to Amir Ganor of the IAA (Israel Antiquities Authority) the church in the hills southwest of Jerusalem was active between the fifth and seventh centuries A.D. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)

This Weeek in Palestine Artist of the Month: Mohammed Amous

Message From the Editor

We are in the midst of a deepening crisis. I am not referring to the political situation - which is, in fact, deepening and which does not show any sign of a breakthrough - nor am I talking about the economic situation - which remains quite precarious, locally and globally. I am referring to the water situation: the lack of rainfall this winter (we are already halfway through it). Precipitation so far has been barely a third of what this country normally gets, which is not much to begin with.

The cost of water to private citizens has increased significantly in the last year, and it is expected to go up by another 18 percent soon. In addition, the tax levied on those who consume water beyond their allotted quota may be re-introduced, in the hope of severely curtailing water consumption. The first to suffer will be private gardens and public parks, whose irrigation will become exorbitantly high. This is all too sad, given the already dry landscape around us. One cannot help but wonder at the paradoxical situation in the world when one sees the floods and torrential rains that other countries are experiencing.

This issue is dedicated to Palestinian children, who make up an important chunk of the population. A solid nation starts with the education and care lavished on its children. It is therefore important that we put in place institutions that care for their education and well-being. Besides good schools, cultural institutions, libraries, museums, sports complexes, and parks (preferably not dry ones!) are a must. We also need to care for the less privileged among us, those who suffer from physical or mental handicaps. Given the proper attention and care, they may get along with the rest of us and even excel. I invite you to read the many articles that focus on education, children’s rights, sexual abuse, and caring for disabled children, among many others.

Children are our future, so it is important that we take good care of them to secure our legacy and make sure it lives on.

Tony A. Khoury
Editor-in-chief

Artist of the Month

Mohammed Amous

Variety has always been the key for Mohammed Amous. Cutting-edge graphic design combined with a love of classical illustration. His subject material has ranged from Sesame Street to mental health campaigns. His client list jumps from youth activism groups to the United Nations. The journey through various projects has informed a career that has developed through experimentation.

From the tender age of six he was sketching regularly, first imitating the works of great Palestinian artists such as Ismail Shamout, before moving on to depict resistance characters as was artistic custom during the mid 1970s.

“The appreciation and support of others encouraged me,” he recalls, and his passion and skill developed through his school years, so much so that after graduating he was offered the opportunity to participate in a prestigious art course at New Jersey College in the United States. It proved a bittersweet moment, as a lack of funding prevented him from obtaining the required visa. Instead he enrolled at Bethlehem University, and instead of art, he found himself studying math and physics.

Amous discovered that the disciplines were complementary, that his new subject matter gave him an “understanding of space” that proved valuable for his artwork. “The teachers would talk about equations and then I would draw them on a board,” he told us.

His first professional works came in the form of illustrations for children’s books, which allowed him to build a reputation for flair and creativity. Following a 1991 diploma in illustration and graphic design, convened by his long-term employers at Turbo Design, he embarked on a career that took in working for some of the region’s most prestigious media institutions and international groups. Amous most enjoys “working for a large audience, which makes me more motivated, professional, and creative.”

His client list includes UNICEF, The World Bank, the Ministry of Health, and the Palestinian National Theatre, and he has learnt from all of their subjects, including health issues and finance. His affinity with children has the deepest roots. He tells us that children were the catalyst for change from his early militaristic art. “When you work for children you realise that you can’t have this subject. You teach yourself to dream again, to learn again. You can build a new style of work.”

Amous credits the influence of children with the development of his personal style. “Working with children, you realise they see more details. They are closer to nature, everything is new to them. I try to look through a child’s eyes. When they look at illustration they see more than an adult does.”

It is partly for this reason that he has come to most enjoy working with watercolour paints. “The transparency and the simplicity make it my favourite, even though it’s harder than using oils or other materials. The value is the details that watercolour allows.”

In 2009, Amous became chief of directors at Al-Mahatta Gallery for Contemporary Art - Ramallah. The gallery had opened just three years before, the brainchild of seven artists volunteering for a labour of love, intended to infect the city’s youth with their passion. Since then it has become Palestine’s largest art space, hosting regular exhibitions and workshops.

Last year Amous hosted a two-week workshop to teach poster design in advance of the “Tolerance” exhibition, partnered by the Ramallah Centre for Human Rights Studies (RCHRS). The workshop elicited a “great reaction from the young artists. We were able to give them experience and exposure, the tools to enter illustration. It helped support the institute and promote the idea of tolerance.” The workshop was a continuation of Amous’s work with youth. He had previously led a series of projects to create murals with children’s groups all over the West Bank.

Yet he sees a worrying trend in the next generation of illustrators. “I advise the youth to keep drawing, to learn the original forms before trying to experiment with graphics and advanced technology. I see the weakness in works coming out today; we are losing artists as illustrators, they need to develop a natural feeling for drawing. They need to study the theory, the history, the various schools and forms before they dive into computers and their talents are lost.”

Amous’s number one ambition today is to create a children’s book entirely of his own making, from conception to bookshelf, including writing, with which he admits having little experience. Yet he is no stranger to the genre, having already produced a series of comics based on characters in a Jerusalem children’s theatre. He describes the theatre as one of his key formative influences and one that allowed him to travel to such far-flung locales as Sweden, Norway, Italy, and Britain.

His other ambitions also include children. Amous would love to see Al-Mahatta Gallery host regular exhibitions of youth work, although he acknowledges the pressures aspiring artists face in this financial climate. Less than 1 percent of the government budget goes toward culture, but he believes that the authorities are “doing their best to support art. We are helped by the Ministry of Culture on many projects. They share our goals to help Palestine modernise, but we want art to be more of a priority; it is very important for development.” He tries to convince young people that it is possible to forge a career in art “if you have the courage and passion. People thought I was crazy to be an artist after studying math.”

Amous’s own children are unsurprisingly touched with the art bug, although their creative talents have led them in a different direction. Jude, 11, is already a whiz on her cello, while Zain, 9, is inseparable from his violin. It doesn’t bother their proud father that his children have taken a fresh path. He has learned to appreciate variety.

You can reach Mohammed Amous at Jawwal: 0598 184 193 or E-mail: m2amous@gmail.com.

Children of Palestine, UNITE! By Cairo Arafat As we move forward in our quest to end occupation and establish the State of Palestine, we have begun to ask ourselves what kind of country we want for our people. We hear words like democratic, s more

The Situation of Children in the Occupied Palestinian Territory An Overview By Jean Gough Although there has been some progress towards achieving children’s rights in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt), 1.9 million children continue to suffer from the impact of occupation, the more

The Ritual of Reading By Paola Handal-Michael It’s about 7 in the evening and things are starting to slow down around the house. Both kids have finished homework and are freshly bathed, and I am buzzing around picking up a few things and cl more

Childhood, Parenting, and Poetry The Scars of Love By Dr. Ali Qleibo There was a time when meadow, grove, and stream, The earth, and every common sight, more

Present and Future: The Urgency of Children’s Rights in Palestine By Rifat Odeh Kassis Our children are our future. This i

Disabled Children Face a Hard Life By Sofie Hviid Ahmad* was 13 years old before anyone knew that he had autism. Most of his life had been spent in a small room at the top of the house, isolated from the rest of the family. His parents would tie more

I’m Palestinian and I’m Going to School Today Madrasati Palestine Hamza is 16 years old; he is in the final crucial years of his education. He is a Palestinian. To simply get to school each day, he must cross several checkpoints, complete with their intimidating p more

TEDx: Celebrating Thought “Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an art more

Children’s Space Palestinian refugee camps challenge our thinking about space as a result of its scarcity and the layered social practices that result from this reality. Since 2003, we have been working with childre more

Call of the Wild By Kieron Monks The happiest day of your life. No, not the one where you got to walk out through the school gates knowing that you would never have to go back. Not the first day of your dream job, your marriage, more

Oasis in the Sand The deserts around Bethlehem make few concessions to human needs. Fierce heat and hostile terrain made life a struggle for Bedouin inhabitants even before the land became “Area C,” subjected to more

Moving towards the Sexual and Reproductive Rights of Children and Adolescents By Feletcia Adeeb/Saleh Palestinian children suffer from a dual burden: they are not only victims of conflict and occupation-related violence, but they are also suffering from non conflict-related violent behaviour, incl more

Nablus Circus School By Lisa Masri When you hear the word “circus” you probably think of clowns, elephants, lions, strange people, and a big tent. more

Escape from Gaza By Ahmed Masoud and Justin Butcher I see her, through a shadowy tunnel, lying on a dirty bed, scarcely breathing, a flicker of light around her. Through the darkness, I hear men crying, weeping - the voi more

The Last Word - Beware of Vegetables! An unemployed university-graduate-turned-street-vendor-of-vegetables who was trying to sustain his family was forcibly evicted from where he had stationed his cart - apparently for not having the more

The United Nations on Children and Armed Conflict

Introduction

Children are the primary victims of armed conflict. They are both its targets and increasingly its instruments. Their suffering bears many faces, in the midst of armed conflict and its aftermath. Children are killed or maimed, made orphans, abducted, deprived of education and health care, and left with deep emotional scars and trauma. They are recruited and used as child soldiers, forced to give expression to the hatred of adults. Uprooted from their homes, displaced children become very vulnerable. Girls face additional risks, particularly sexual violence and exploitation. All of these categories of children are victims of armed conflict. All of them deserve the attention and protection of the international community.

Children are innocent and especially vulnerable. Children are less equipped to adapt or respond to conflict. They are the least responsible for conflict, yet suffer disproportionately from its excesses. Children represent the hopes and future of every society; destroy them and you have destroyed a society.

In stark opposition to the commitments of the international community and the significant progress that has been made on the children and armed conflict agenda, grave violations against children in situations of concern continue to be perpetrated on an alarming scale.

The violations that continue to be perpetrated against children shock the human consciousness and compel us to act. The Secretary-General's words to the Security Council articulate our collective imperative:

"We must send a strong signal to the world that those committing appalling crimes against children in conflict situations will be brought to justice" (Statement at the Security Council Open Debate on Children and Armed Conflict on 29 April 09 - S/PV.6114). "The protection of children in armed conflict is a litmus test for the United Nations and the Organization's Member States. It is a moral call, and deserves to be placed above politics. It requires innovative, fearless engagement by all stakeholders" (Statement at the Security Council Open Debate on Children and Armed Conflict on 17 July 2008 - S/PV.5936).

Developments in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and Israel

Not until signed- By Walid M. Sadi

http://www.jordantimes.com/?news=33949

Not until signed
By Walid M. Sadi

I don’t know exactly what to make of the recent leaks about the Israeli-Palestinian negotiations that go back for almost two decades.

On the one hand, the leaks suggest that the Palestinian negotiators went too far to appease the Israeli counterparts and arrive at some deal with them. The “revelations” also suggest that no matter how far the Palestinians go to accommodate Israeli negotiators, it is never enough.

To start with, there is no way to determine for sure whether the leaks are accurate. “Leaks” can be easily doctored to suit the purpose of the people behind them.

Palestinian negotiators and others were quick to dismiss the leaks as inaccurate and having been quoted out of context. This could be true, but it is not the point.

The question that comes first to the mind of most of us is why the leaks and why now.

While Al Jazeera satellite television station was credited with making public allegedly secret talks between Palestinians and Israeli negotiators, Israeli hands cannot be ruled out altogether, as this whole episode seems meant to embarrass the Palestinians and bring to a complete halt any semblance of peace talks.

It is also possible that when the Palestinian were making generous concessions to Israel on several key issues, including East Jerusalem and the future status of Jewish settlements in Palestinian lands, including East Jerusalem, they were simply bluffing and sounding out Israel’s negotiating stance.

To the credit of the Palestinian side, it must be said that there is no deal with Israel that the Palestinian Authority can be held accountable for until it is signed and ratified by it. Anything short of this remains of academic and rhetorical value.

I doubt very seriously that the Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas would commit a historic folly by yielding as much as the leaks seem to suggest.

The shockwaves from the leaks will be soon forgotten and what will remain are the constant basics: Israel does not wish to strike a reasonable and fair deal with the Palestinians, and the Palestinians will continue to have their unfulfilled national dreams for some more time.

30 January 2011

'Brady Bunch' diplomacy

Muslim Americans: Sitcom diplomacy - latimes.com

People Power

An Egyptian anti-government activist kisses a riot police officer following clashes in Cairo yesterday.

The human wall protecting Cairo museum. So beautiful #egyptEgyptians protect their heritage- and their future

(The Cairo Museum Attracts attracts millions of tourists from overseas every year. Tourism is a vital source of income for many people)