redwalker-blog

[redwalker-blog]

Censorship in Morocco: “Basta” (Stop)

February 18th, I thought that I will be writing an article on “475,”a short film about Amina Filali case, the   16 year-old girl who committed suicide after she was forced to marry her rapist.

About a year after Amina’s life, the film about her life was…

View Post

[redwalker-blog]

Moroccan woman raped and arrested after her rapist was declared innocent

Malika Slimani, a woman who was raped by a government official, but found herself facing contempt charges for protesting an appeal court decision to declare her rapist innocent.

A lower court found Hassan Arif guilty and sentenced him to one year. Malika…

View Post

shared via WordPress.com

[redwalker-blog]

Moroccan Higher Educational System : Overcrowding & Free Open Access

View Post

shared via WordPress.com

[redwalker-blog]

October 11th : "International Day of the Girl Child"

The UN General Assembly has formally declared October 11 as the International Day of the Girl Child.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-QgoY3P3GAY&w=610&h=374]

International Women’s Day have done so much, with its campaigns through the years, to…

View Post

shared via WordPress.com

[redwalker-blog]

RELIGION & FEMINISM

Can someone be a feminist & a religious at the same time ? Let’s try to answer it using pure logic.

View Post

shared via WordPress.com

[redwalker-blog]

Teach4Morocco is a Moroccan national Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) located in Meknes and works in the education and rural development. 

The aim of Teach4Morocco is to help the children and teachers in the schools to have access to a good quality environment for education. 

Teach4Morocco activities vary depending on the needs of the selected schools. Teach4Morocco intends first to evaluate the environment of schooling then determine the needs of the schools.

These activities are divided into two categories:

Category #1:

This category includes all the infrastructure constructions, repair, and replacement of classrooms and classroom materials such as desks, blackboards, roofs, windows, doors…

Teach4Morocco also provide the necessary school materials for a normal functioning school. The materials include full school bag materials, chalk…

Category #2:

This part includes activities that volunteers can participate in, these activities take under consideration the academic side of learning, but also on the extracurricular activities including sports, theater, drawings, competitions… 

This year project will be taking in Ichbaken, a small village in the High Atlas Mountains where Teach4Morocco intends to collaborate with platform interface IEP and work together during a period of two weeks on rebuilding the school and the classrooms and also on different activities.

Keep tuned ! We'll keep you updated.

For more details :

Interface IEP Sciences Po Aix - Projet Teach4Morocco Ichebaken

Teach4Morocco Facebook Page

[redwalker-blog]

This just in! Global Girls at the IWF

Reform, Freedom and Revolution: Turkey - A positive player?

Is the topic of the second plenary of this beautiful morning.

Moderated by The Hon. Nayla Moawad, former First Lady of Lebanon, Member of Parliament and former minister of Social Affairs, widow of Lebanese President René Moawad.

Featuring

Dr. Meliha Altunisik, Dean, Graduate School of Social Sciences, Middle East Technical University, Ankara, Turkey and wirely published author and expert on Turkish Foreign Policy in the Middle East including TESEV’s “Challenge to Turkey’s Soft Power Across the Arab World.”

Soner Çağaptay, Senior Fellow & Director, Turkish Research Program, The Washington Institute for Near East Policy and former Ertegun Professor at Princeton University’s Department of Near Eastern Studies who has published extensively on Turkish domestic politics, Turkish nationalism and U.S. - Turkish relations. 

Ceren Kenar, Co-Founder and Spokesperson of Young Civilians (Genç Siviller) - the most prominent pro-democracy youth movement in Turkey – civil society activist, delegate of Movements.org, and advocate for internet freedom whose speeches on Taking it to the Street, Taking Action to Address Political Process, and 21st Century Women Leaders  is resonating around the globe.

In order to change the situation in her country concerning military issues, Ceren Kenar says they had one of the most powerful tools to do so "we had humour and we mocked military, and believe me they don't like us!", engaging a youth action "we started a youth politics with the passionate belief of democracy". She considers herself lucky because they were quiet ordinary people living in extraodinary times and unusual conditions that allowed  them to make their action possible and impacting.

Talking about Islam, Kenar is not okay with the way the governments are dealing with religion putting stamps on believer groups such as "islamists" or "extremists".

What Turkey shows that any muslim country can be laïc, but it is up to each country to find out how. Separating education and religion should be taking in consideration in order to build on representing diversity, says Soner Cagaptay.

"We are not going backwards, but we are not moving forward" & it is a problem says Kenar on the Democracy process of her country.

"Economic picture of the country (Turkey) looks better than the political picture" says Cagaptay.Countries get just get one chance to grow economical system that suits their demographic pyramid, and Turkey has come over that path.

Concerning education, Cenar says that the turkish system teachs youth to be loyal to the nation and good citizens while she thinks education system should teach youth to be great doctors and engineers.

As for women's condition, Cenar is not feeling comfortable with how people support women's rights because they don't do it for the sake of women's rights but to show how modern and civilized they are and that they shouldn't a difference between secular women and muslim women.

Activists should work together, Arab and Turkish ones and should exchange experiences and be open to do that, finishes off Cenar. 

"If you're making your statement really bold, you will be heard", Ceren Kenar.

p.s: We will be following up on the different sessions of the Conference, just stay tuned for more next week ;).

End of last plenary session of the conference!

This is Majdouline Lyazidi reporting for Global Girl Media

This is our world and my voice!

[redwalker-blog]

This just in! Global Girls at the IWF

Today is the second and last day of the conference, we arrived pretty early to catch some amazing ladies and get the time to discuss with them while recording our video.

The first plenary of this day is about Wealth & Opportunity in the Arab World - Market Development & Transformation. Knowing that the Arab World holds 60% of the world's oil and gas reserves or that many of the banks in countries such as Kuweit, Jordan, Lebanon, Egypt and Saudi Arabia have the highest liquidity ratios in the world and strong balance sheets; you know it is one crucial topic to discuss! Sharing knowledge and experiences about Finance in Morocco, Egypt, countries of The Golf... Even Islamic banking is being brought to the table. As enrishing as it could get! 

Soha Nashaat, Senior Advisor and Board Member of Barclays Bank (Switzerland), based in Dubai and former CEO, Middle East for Barclays Wealth. She has been named among the "100 Most Powerful Arab Women" and the top "100 Women in Finance".

Karim Hajji, Chief Executive Officer of the Casablanca Stock Exchange, Morocco.

This outstanding panel is moderated by Kathy Fazel, Vice president, Philips, Hager, & North Investment Ltd., Canada.

This is Majdouline Lyazidi reporting for Global Girl Media

This is our world and my voice!

[redwalker-blog]

This just in! Global Girls at the IWF

Egypt case plenary session:

Discussing the case of Egypt, moderated by Paula Yacoubian - journalist and television host for Future News Network, Lebanon - and featuring an outstanding panel:

Gameela Ismail, Activist and award winning journalist, former correspondent for the Arabic edition of Newsweek, and Co-founder of the Al-Ghad Party of Egypt.

The Hon. Mona Makram-Ebeid, Distinguished political science and sociology professor at the American University in Cairo.

Ahmed Naguib, Egyptian protest leader and Co-founder of the Council of Trustees of the Revolution.

- Our computer turned off, so here are some Tweets we've shared earlier. Following & reporting not that easy, so much interesting we forget we're here to report to the world! -

Egyptian women do not fear islamists or the military or Shafiq or whatever he reprents. Revolution in Egypt was mostly made by women! Says Gameela Ismail #IWF

Though outside of the parliement. No authority can take our rights from us! Says Gameela Ismail on women activism in Egypt #IWF

Establish a constitution is a priority for Egypt in order to ensure people's rights. The next president should bring HOPE to the young generation! Says The Hon. Mona Makram-Ebeid #IWF

Young people believe Change comes from a mouse click, says Ahmed Naguib #IWF #Icanonlyagree 

People are angry with Western countries for gaving their support for over 30 years to all these dictator's regimes, says Ahmed Naguib #IWF 

We're trying to do something but I'm not sure it will succeed easy. But you should know that Egypt is very safe state compared to other states at the moment, says Gameela Ismail #IWF

What about the cops and minority (including Christians) in the future of this Egypt that builds itself day by day? asked someone from the audience. The Hon. Mona Makram-Ebeid says they're egyptian citizens and have the same rights as any other citizens. #IWF

Shocking numbers:

One million street children in Egyptian streets & one hundred thousand people eat from garbage in Egypt everyday, says Ahmed Naguib #IWF

Ahmed Naguib sharing a video about women's participation in the revolution just now, we'll share the link later. Women of all different backgrounds were out there in the front line, how they fiercely fought with the military.

Art found its way on the Tahrir square, as a way Egyptians expressed themselves.

End of session

This is Majdouline Lyazidi reporting for Global Girl Media,

This our world and my voice!

[redwalker-blog]

This just in! Global Girls at the IWF

We are currently at the International Women's Forum World Cornerstone Conference from May 30 until June 1, 2012.

The 1st plenary session is about Morocco and the so called The King's Revolution presented by Hynd Haya Bouhia - Harvard trained economic expert and former CEO of the Casablanca stock exchange and ONLY woman at the job! - as a social and development transition chronologic line concerning both human rights & social work & economic development. 

After a speech about her background as a woman in her field and how Morocco's transitioning to a more developed country, she's being live interviewed by Jessie Deeter - veteran documentary filmmaker and journalist covering the Middle East and Africa  -. Questions regarding democracy, change, women's rights and the revolution and the King's contribution in all this process. When a question is asked about youth and education Haya Bouhia response was "still coming" as well as investments.

End of reporting for the 1st session! Stay tuned for more!

This is Majdouline reporting for Global Girl Media

This is our world and my voice 

[redwalker-blog]

Tonight my mood is on the classical Arabic songs. THE OLDIES! Oum Kaltoum, Mohammed Abdel Wahab or Abdel Halem Haffez and others.

But how did I come to that point tonight ? Because it's the 100th Anniversary of Mohammed Abdel Wahab.

The song above was composed and sung by him at first, but I'm sharing one of the hundred covers made from this song.

Mohammed Abdel Wahad was a prominent 20th-century Egyptian singer and composer.

He composed a lot -really a lot- of songs and musical pieces in classic Arab music, for himself and many other famous classic Arab singers. Just for Oum Kaltoum, the Queen of classic Arab music, he composed 10 songs.

Mohammed Abdel Wahad was also an actor, and he was THE FIRST EGYPTIAN singer to move from silent-era acting to singing.

But you know what's kind of surprising and astonishing is that he introduced rhythm and blues in Abdel Halim Hafez's song "Ya Albi Ya Khali".

Listen :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V_5z5eJNkkQ

♪  "Hit the road Jack and don't you come back no more, no more, no more" ♪ 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8Tiz6INF7I

ISN'T IT ?!!!! xD

[redwalker-blog]

Over the next few days, weeks, months and until December 2012 you'll be hearing the slogan "KONY 2012" (if you haven't already heard it).

To quote Invisible Children, the organisation behind this campaign : "KONY 2012 is a film and campaign by Invisible Children that aims to make Joseph Kony famous, not to celebrate him, but to raise support for his arrest and set a precent for international justice."

But who is Joseph Kony ?

Joseph Kony is the head of the Lord's Resistance Army, a Ugandan guerrilla group, who :

Has abducted and forced an estimated 66,000 children to fight for him to maintain his power.

Has abducted girls to offer them as a reward for his commanders as sexual slaves.

Has forced boys to kill their own parents, this way they know they have no home to come back to and their only option is to fight for him.

Has also forced the internal displacement of over 2,000,000 people since its rebellion in 1986.

Joseph Kony is not fighting for any cause but just to maintain his own power even if he claims to fight to establish a theocratic government based on the Ten Commandments.

He had also used repeatedly peace talks to re-arm, regain force and kill again.

To avoid abduction by LRA, every night as many as 40,000 children flee their homes in the countryside to sleep in the relative safety of towns. Known as "night commuters", they seek refuge overnight at churches, hospitals, bus stations and temporary shelters before returning home again EACH MORNING !

Such a criminal ! don't you think ? Yes, and this is why he's #1 on the list of the International Criminal Courts Most Wanted Criminals along with 4 others LRA seniors leaders, there are 33 charges :

12 counts are crimes against humanity, which include murder, enslavement, sexual enslavement and rape;

and there are another 21 counts of war crimes which include murder, cruel treatment of civilians, intentionally directing an attack against a civilian population, pillage, including rape, and forced enlisting of children into the rebel ranks. 

But he stills free because his crimes aren't known by people so the governments doesn't think that it is an issue. For this purpose, Invisible Children has fought for 8 years to raise the awareness about his crimes in Uganda against the Children and the local population. And here's the result : In October 2011, Obama authorized the deployment of approximately 100 combat-equipped U.S. troops to central Africa. Their goal is to help regional forces remove Joseph Kony and senior LRA leaders from the battlefield and they will only be providing information, advice and assistance necessary to Uganda forces.

BUT ! Yes, BUT if people forget about issues and causes, the U.S. operation can be canceled in any time. So we've got to remind them and in order to keep their awareness, Invisible Children released this short documentary called "Kony 2012" and started a social media campaign to garner support and awarness of the LRA and Joseph Kony.

The campaign focus on the website that features the video above, sharing tolls, and a plan for encouraging activism and bringing public awareness for the end goal of capturing Kony in 2012.

As a part of the plan, 20 celebrity "Culturemakers" and 12 Policy makers are target as individuals to send messages regarding the campaign.

Actually I'm astonished by the way that Jason Russel managed the cause and I'm also in awe of this awareness campaign.

And lastly :

"WE'VE SEEN THESE KIDS

WE'VE HEARD THEIR CRIES

THIS WAR MUST END

WE WILL NOT STOP

WE WILL NOT FEAR

WE WILL FIGHT WAR"

[redwalker-blog]

Hey Folks ! It's been a while that I didn't post anything (sorry I was "restructuring myself"!).

I'm coming back to you with something that maybe can change your opinion of "what you are good at", Ladies & Gentlemen let me introduce you : REVEAL by L'OREAL.

Reveal is an online game launched by L'OREAL with learning & recruitment objectives, but especially is a game that allow you to know your professional and personal abilities at the end of the game.

The Game is a series of challenges concerning the launch of a product where you have to make important decisions in 5 different areas such as Research & Innovation, Marketing, Sales Development, Operations and Finance.

At the end of the game you'll be asked to send your CV to L'OREAL and if you got a high score maybe you'll get an internship at L'OREAL.

And every 6 months there's a cycle with a different challenge and different prizes for the winner of the Competition (with the highest score in all the fields) and the 5 winner for each Professional Area.

The last cycle was from September 1st to February 29th 2012 and the newt one has already began and will go on until the end August 2012.

The Game is divided in 3 episodes with 4 scenes in each episode, besides making decisions about the whole process of the product's launch that challenges your professional abilities, you also got at the end of each episode a quiz to take which tests your personal abilities in the professional environment.

There's also a Learning Center that provide you with learning resources in the 5 areas and actually I think it's important to take the Learning Center's tests because even if it's not obligatory it allows you to know what of the 5 areas you are best in.

Even if you already chosen your specialty, for example before taking the game I wanted to work in marketing -I already have been in web marketing- but I discovered that I'm not good in marketing as I am in finance even if I've never worked in this area.

At the end of the game you'll be provided with an analyse of Your Working Style (How do you deal with challenges in the professional environment), Your Professional Focus (An overall grade for each field which allow you to have a better picture on your career options) & of course a Feedback about how the Product Launch (in other words a feedback about decisions you made during the Product Launch process).

By the way don't be afraid of the score that you'll get (it scared the crap out of me when I saw mine 4904) because the first one you'll get it's just about a part of the game. When you'll get to check your ranking you'll have your real score in your country and also the world (mine was : 7704, 4th in Morocco & 397th in the world).

So enjoy it and Good Luck ;)

[redwalker-blog]

It's British Film Time !

.                                                                       

- My dear, it's tea time !

- NO ! It's British Film Time !

Exactly, the British Film Week will take place at Cinema 7eme Art in Rabat the 13 to 17 November 2011 every evening starting from 18:00 at .

On the program :

Never Let Me Go

Monsters

Moon

Submarine

Let Me In

If you want to attend, you can register on the British Council website or Facebook page event by giving your name, e-mail address & the name of the movie(s) you want to attend !

[redwalker-blog]

  We are in the 21st century.

We are living in a society made of law.

But the reality is... that the law of the jungle still rules Our World.

Despite of all the progress that has been made and all the values that has been adopted through the centuries... We're still an aggressive and cruel species.

This is a TV miniseries talking about cruelty of the war.

History tell us about wars but not about what was going on behind the scenes... And as Jean-Paul Sartre said : "When the rich wage WAR It's the poor who DIE" !

THIS IS RIFKI NADA REPORTING THE WORLD.

[redwalker-blog]

As any other report, we had struggle to make it done !

But what catches our attention, is the fact that women didn't want to give us interviews while they were waiting for their rights.

Doing the vox pop in Rabat downtown, we tried to ask more than 20 women -and we got just 3 of them- just two simple questions :

- In your opinion, what can women bring to the parliament ?

- Do you think that the New Constitution is going to change something about the women's political situation in Morocco ?

We didn't need a clever answer with statistics or a list of the various law applied, just their opinions, just what they think ! But they refused, some women for no reasons and some others because they thought they "don't know a thing about politic".

The conclusion that I made is that if the woman wants her place and her rights in the society and also in the institutions she must speaks her voice and breaks the silence, and that her situation is not just due to the machismo and sexism BUT due to the whole society INCLUDING the women.

For a simple reason : if we want to make a change we need to break the silence, but WE need to DO IT first !

So I think that this experience reflects the reality of the Moroccan population, they are not enough aware, and we can't go forward if we aren't, and since we are living in a country where the educational system is hopeless whether at school or home how can we aspire to have a better society without having the basics ?!

That's why, the educational problem have to be the priority of everyone, and when I say everyone I mean the government but also and especially US.

If every institution and organisation in our society established a training program per year accompanied by personal development programs that would make a change. And if the Government focused more on the educational programs quality but also cultural programs accompanied by awareness programs that would make a huge difference.

This would be beneficial to ALL of us because education means values and values develop our collective conciseness to move forward in the others social areas.

THIS IS RIFKI NADA REPORTING THE WORLD.

[redwalker-blog]

Another Human Rights Infraction

Hussien Ali Hdyah, a human rights activist from Saudi Arabia was arrested last night : Sunday, the 3rd of October.

He went to the police station to ask about his friend Fadhil Al Manasif who has been arrested earlier this week, they mentionned to Hussein that his friend was sent to the police station in Dhahran.

After getting there, Hussien was arrested because he wanted to know where his friend has been taken.

This kind of things are still happening in many countries in The World, many brothers, sisters, mothers, fathers, sons and daughters will never be released.

It's a big deal, but to resolve it each one of us can just make a little step : SHARE IT ! Every time you got news about Human Rights Infraction SHARE IT ! LET PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING ! LET'S MAKE PEOPLE THINK A LITTLE MORE ABOUT THE INJUSTICES ALL OVER THE WORLD !

JUST A LITTLE ACTION ! A LITTLE STEP : A SHARE !

This is Hussien Ali Hodyah support page : HERE !

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

CONTINUITY :

HUSSIEN ALI HODYAH HAS BEEN RELEASED WEDNESDAY, THE 5TH OCTOBER.