#arab lifes matter more than your music competition

[the-narnian-sea]

Annual reminder: Eurovision supports apartheid and genocide and y'all need to stop letting that slide.

[oliveducation]

The Importance of Arabic in the UAE: Boosting Your Career and Cultural Connection

Introduction

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is a dynamic hub of culture, commerce, and innovation. As one of the most influential countries in the Middle East, the UAE offers a unique blend of traditional values and modern advancements. Central to its identity is the Arabic language, which plays a crucial role in both the personal and professional realms. In this blog, we will explore the significance of Arabic in the UAE and how proficiency in the language can provide you with a competitive edge in the workplace.

The Significance of Arabic in the UAE

Cultural Heritage: Arabic is more than just a means of communication in the UAE; it is a vital part of the nation’s cultural heritage. The language is intertwined with the country’s traditions, literature, and religious practices. Understanding Arabic allows you to appreciate the rich history and cultural nuances that define the UAE.

Official Language: Arabic is the official language of the UAE. Government documents, legal proceedings, and public communications are predominantly conducted in Arabic. Proficiency in the language ensures that you can navigate these essential aspects of life in the UAE with ease.

Daily Interactions: While English is widely spoken in the UAE, particularly in the business and tourism sectors, Arabic remains the primary language for many residents. Being able to converse in Arabic enhances your ability to connect with locals, fostering deeper relationships and a more immersive experience in the country.

The Professional Edge: How Knowing Arabic Benefits Your Career in the UAE

Enhanced Communication: In a multilingual environment like the UAE, the ability to speak Arabic bridges communication gaps. Whether you are dealing with clients, colleagues, or stakeholders, proficiency in Arabic enables you to engage more effectively and build trust.

Competitive Advantage: Many employers in the UAE prioritize candidates who are bilingual or multilingual. Knowing Arabic sets you apart from other candidates, demonstrating your commitment to integrating into the local culture and business environment.

Networking Opportunities: Networking is crucial in the UAE’s business landscape. Arabic language skills open doors to a broader network of contacts, including influential local business leaders and government officials. This can lead to new opportunities and collaborations.

Customer Relations: For businesses that cater to Arabic-speaking clients, being able to communicate in their native language significantly improves customer service and satisfaction. It shows respect and understanding of their needs, leading to stronger client relationships and loyalty.

Navigating Bureaucracy: Proficiency in Arabic is invaluable when dealing with government procedures, legal matters, and official documents. It simplifies processes and ensures that you fully understand and comply with local regulations.

How to Learn Arabic: Tips and Resources

Enroll in Language Courses: Numerous language schools and institutions in the UAE offer Arabic courses tailored to different proficiency levels. Enrolling in a structured course provides a solid foundation and guided learning experience.

Language Exchange Programs: Participate in language exchange programs or find a language partner. Practicing with native speakers helps improve your conversational skills and gain real-world experience.

Immerse Yourself: Surround yourself with the language by watching Arabic TV shows, listening to Arabic music, and reading Arabic books or newspapers. Immersion accelerates learning and enhances comprehension.

Conclusion

In the UAE, the Arabic language is a gateway to understanding the country’s culture, enhancing your professional prospects, and forging meaningful connections. As the nation grows and diversifies, proficiency in Arabic becomes an increasingly valuable asset. By investing time and effort into learning Arabic, you position yourself for success in the UAE’s vibrant and competitive environment.

At Olive Education, we offer Arabic courses in Sharjah, designed to meet your specific needs and goals. Whether you are a beginner or looking to advance your skills, our experienced instructors and immersive learning approach will guide you on your journey to fluency. Enhance your career and cultural understanding in the UAE with Olive Education’s best language training courses in Sharjah. Enroll today and start unlocking new opportunities.

[alifarabic]

6 reasons why is it important to teach your child Arabic at a young age

Teaching a second language to your child has several benefits. It improves concentration, multi-tasking ability, critical thinking, listening skills, and more. Moreover, some studies show children who are proficient in multiple languages show signs of enhanced mental flexibility. By teaching a foreign language to your child, you can improve their skills and help them become a multi-lingual person. It can greatly help in their future career as well.   As Muslim parents living in the non-Arabic speaking communities, many of you might be worried whether your kid would be able to read and write in Arabic when they grow up. Learning Arabic is not just for followers of the Islamic religion.

Given the numerous benefits of learning Arabic, many parents think of teaching Arabic to their kids apart from other European languages. Choosing Arabic as your child’s second language is beneficial to them in multiple ways. For children, it is pretty easy to learn Arabic online these days.

Arabic – a rich language As we know, the Arabic language is one of the oldest in the world. It is a Semitic language which is still spoken in a larger part of the world. It is one of the recognised official languages by the United Nations. More than 420 million people in the world are Arabic speakers. It is the official language of more than 25 countries around the world. It is in the sixth position among the spoken languages in the world currently. Arabic is the main language of the Islamic faith. To understand Islamic religion at its best, one needs to be proficient in the Arabic language as well. Not just religion, Arabic learning is helpful in international relationship, education, career, travelling, and more. It opens up huge opportunities for building a great career. After all, Arabic is one of the beautiful languages in the world with rich literature. In this blog, let us analyze a few factors that explain why it is important to teach your child Arabic.

Language skill to stand out in the western world In the western world, you may find many people who can speak languages like Spanish, French, Italian, etc. But Arabic is not a popular language in the west. Also, it is not commonly taught in schools or universities. A study in the US says that Arabic constitutes of only 2.1% of the languages taught in colleges and universities. A number of foreign language learning statistics show that Arabic is not a preferred language in educational institutions in the west. As a result, people who can speak Arabic are a rarity in the western parts of the world.  Arabic is a language with growing importance, be it diplomacy, international business, or cultural studies. When you teach your child Arabic, you are helping them gain a skill that can be largely beneficial in their future life. Even basic Arabic skills like reading and writing can help them improve their opportunities for career success.

Easier to learn multiple languages When you know French, it becomes easier to learn languages such as Portuguese, Italian, Spanish, and more. Similarly, teaching your child Arabic makes it easier for them to learn various other languages. The Arabic language works as a foundation for a few other languages. It has a lot of similarity with languages such as Farsi, Persian, Turkish, Urdu, Hebrew, etc. The vocabulary and usage of Arabic and these languages are similar. If the kids are taught Arabic in their childhood, they will have an easy time learning these languages. They can easily pick up the semantic and grammatical concepts of these languages. Not only it helps people to grab awesome career opportunities in countries that speak these languages but also makes it easier to travel to these places.  

Better career opportunities There is a huge flow of investment from the Arabic countries to the western world in the last few years. Definitely, companies look for people who can speak the native language of investors. Many businesses and organizations in the western world look for Arabic translators and interpreters as trade relations with the Arabic-speaking countries continue to improve. Also, Arabic speakers are required in foreign services, banking, finance, consulting, journalism, etc. It is also important for successful trade and negotiations with the Arab-speaking world as well as in the international business environment. People who can speak Arabic will have a competitive advantage when they look for job opportunities in the western world. Thus, you are opening up the doorway for a better career by teaching your child Arabic.

Travel and experience other cultures No matter where you go, it is an advantage if you can speak in their native language. Learning a new language is the first step to immerse oneself in understanding a foreign culture. The Arabic language is spoken in more than 60 countries in the world. When you teach your child Arabic, you make it easier for them to travel to Arabic-speaking countries and mingle with other cultures easily. Also, they can appreciate the art, music, and literature of those countries seamlessly. Since Arabic has various dialects, learning Arabic will allow the children to learn various cultures existing in different countries when they grow up.

The bottom-line As most of know, Arabic is a difficult language when compared with other European languages. That is why introducing the child to the Arabic language at an early age is important. It is better if you can start the Arabic learning course for the child before he/she turns eight years of age. They can pick up the language later as well. However, the learning curve may be slow as they grow up.  Teaching your child Arabic can be largely beneficial for their future life. It increases job opportunities while making it easier to travel to Arabic-speaking countries. As parents, you should understand teaching a new language to the child asks for a committed and consistent approach. Make sure you keep motivating the child throughout the learning journey.

[thirstyfortom]

Finally I can request yaaaaay!! This is my first time! Ok could you please do how would the rfa+v+saeran react to MC being a professional figure skater (like Viktor from yoi), and the reason that she is in Korea is because for a competition, like she is not from Korea she's a foreigner

I can’t follow this request exactly as it is,otherwise MC could have lost the competition for W.O. since she was trapped for11 days lololol. So I’m just going with a foreigner MC living in Korea fortraining, is that ok?

RFA + Saeran and V with an ice skater MC

Zen

Powercouple, the tabloids are going crazy about him dating this super talented andpromising ice skater from Thailand (like Phichit

Yourschedules are a mess, so it’s hard for him to watch you competing, and it’shard for you to watch his musicals

Butyou two try to make the best out of it, and he dedicates all his free time towatch your practices

Sonof a bitch even joins you in the ice rink and damn, he got some fine moves youcould use

Actually,exchanging dance moves are a thing to both of you. And the result is always amazing!

Whenhe released his first album, you were competing in Germany so you couldn’t makeit to the party, not that he minded, you already knew all the songs.

Matterof fact, you used of them in your program.

 Yoosung

Poorthing is so intimidated by this tall Australian girl who looks like an icegoddess in that rink.

Butyou’re always bringing him along to your practices and eventual competitionsthat take place in Korea.

Hestill can’t go abroad with you due to college, but he will definitely followyou around the world once he graduates.

He’slegitimately your biggest fan, he learned everything about the jumps andjudging criteria so he can actually be a part of this.

Youteach him how to skate, he’s not as elegant as you, but still… he’s verygracious.

Hebarely stayed to his graduation, he needed to go home to watch you in thefinals of the Grand Prix in Switzerland.

Helost your presentation, but he came in time to see you getting interviewedabout your bronze medal. When you said you dedicated this to your boyfriend whojust graduated, he’s gone!

Jaehee

Shewants to know everything about your job and about your home country: SouthAfrica.

LikeYoosung, turns into your biggest fan and learns everything she can about thesport so you can always talk about it.

Yourcoach thinks her advices to you are really on point. Yes, do as she says, girl,and you can bring the gold home.

She’sso interested in this she becomes a fan of other ice skaters, and she knows alot of facts about your competitors she’s more than happy to share with you andyour coach.

She’slike a soccer mom sometimes, always pushing you and encouraging you to bringyou’re A game even in the practices. Even your coach tells her to go easy onyou.

Butyou don’t mind, her enthusiasm and encouraging help you a lot, and it pays offwhen you bring a silver medal home (not a golden one, but just wait untilOlympics)

Andthe celebration is nothing too over the top, just the two of you on a cute iceskating date followed by some cocoa your amazing girlfriend made it.

Jumin

Anothertabloid material couple. Mr. Director and this Mexican ice skater living inKorea for training.

It’shard for both of you to catch up with each other’s work, but the mutual supportis essential even from afar.

Andif he can’t be there in person, he makes sure to send you gifts and cardsreminding you how much he is proud of you for everything and how he can’t waitto see you.

Ofcourse he also gives you financial support, making sure you have the bestcoach, the best physical training, the best costumes. He’ll pay copyright forany song in the world you need for your routines.

LikeJaehee, always encouraging you to bring your best, but he goes a little easieron you since he’s worried you’re might be straining yourself.

Hecleaned his schedule to watch you in the finals of the Grand Prix in Denmark.

Iscompletely gone when you show up in a costume that reminds a lot a cat. No, notjust any cat, that majestic white cat called Elizabeth the 3rd. Oh,she should be here to see this too.

Saeyoung

Whenhe finds in the background check that you’re a Jamaican girl who ice skates, hecan only think about one thing:

ONEOF THE GREATEST MOVIES EVER MADE: COOL RUNNINGS!

Ona serious note, tho: he loves it! He loves to go to your practice and watchesyou mesmerized, he always yells YAAAAAASSS everytime you jump.

He’salways with you no matter where you’re competing, though he stays more in thebackstage rooting for you.

Besure he has strong opinions about your costumes and make-up. He even does yourmake-up sometimes, and it’s always flawless!

Youcame back from the Grand Prix in Russia with an honorable fourth place,impressive for someone who never even seen snow for most of her life. He’s superproud!

Butwhat he really likes is that you chose “I Can See Clearly Now” by Jimmy Cliff,for your routine. Yes, he’s not the only one to like Cool Runnings here.

Saeran

 Whywould a Brazilian girl be an ice skater? I would be damned if I don’t pairthis precious boy with a Brazilian MC Does it even snow in Brazil? itdoes in the south

Whenhe led you to Rika’s apartment, you weren’t competing yet, you just moved in toKorea

Wheneverything is over, he feels guilty for a lot of things, of course. But leadinga foreigner girl in a different country with very different culture from hersis what he regrets the most.

Sonow it’s his personal mission to support you in everything you do, even when hemisses you so much.

You’realways chatting via Skype and he asks about everything, the competition, thecountry you are right now, how you’re gonna take down the competition.EVERYTHING!

Oncehis therapist says It’s okay for him to travel and face large crowds, be surehe’ll follow you around whenever you go.

He’ssuper proud when you win a 5th place using the song he suggested foryour routine.

V

Gurl…the photos he takes of you…

Sincehe doesn’t really have a boss or a schedule, he follows you abroad. This man isbasically your guide and makes sure you’re learning and enjoying every countryyou visit at its fullest

Beingalso very rich, he can make sure you have the best training and the bestcostumes.

Andwhen you tell him you’re thinking about having an original song for yourroutine, be sure he’ll find the best musicians to make this happen.

 Hehas access to the best spots in the rink, so his photos of you are alwaysperfect. He sells some of them to the press, but keeps most of them to himselfand his personal collection.

Heknew you were getting at least the bronze medal after that amazing presentationin the Grand Prix, and when you actually did, he was super proud.

Thecelebration involved you two heading to your home country: United ArabEmirates. And there goes another photo shoot of you.

[ramonamorford-blog]

Famous people, Music, Flicks, And Wit

A stroll down some of Bangkok's for thousands of spreading and labyrinthine alleyways can easily deliver unknown adventures for website visitors who are actually keen to turn up the actual Thailand. This lesser degree however is actually to a particular extent made up for by the loved one distance of the work area, therefore preventing lengthy driving hrs, which is convenient for domesticity. Lots of folks around the globe jeopardize their lifestyles every day fighting for the freedom of their countries. By the end of 1972 John intended to do with Cotton as he believed the bike was actually much less very competitive, the Taking care of Director of Cotton, Reg Buttery, tried his hardest to maintain him, he also recommended that John take the bike to The golden state to demonstrate it. John thought a bunch of Reg Buttery and also didn't wish to permit him down however after a considerable amount of thought and feelings and also point to consider, bearing in mind matters like loved ones as well as loved ones company devotions etc he decided that the amount of time had actually involved carry on and also handed his bike back to the Cotton manufacturing facility. Having said that, the paperwork and also requirements that regulate health food manufacturing might be actually also burdensome in the beginning for a new service tip in a backwoods. You'll observe people utilizing the river to shower, Superlook17.Info wash their clothing, as well as also clean their pearly whites & at water's upper hand (certainly not highly recommended). Throughout the years the training school has gone from stamina to stamina and been fortunate sufficient to have viewed a lot of the nation's best difficulties cyclists go to as trainers, one normal instructor in these times is actually obviously Joe Cook, 15 times South West Centre Champ, who was themself some of the quite initial students of Brenda's Trials University". Examples feature Contents regarding or worrying General Health & Health And Fitness, Hair Elimination, Wellness, Fatigue, Rate Of Metabolism as well as Healthy And Balanced Lifestyles. Paying attention to these sad country songs can help you to deal with the reality and relocate on. Or, nation tracks can easily function as the catalyst for establishing some problem management systems. In the course of this time, he was not simply Head of state, yet Military Administrator, House Administrator (1941-42), Foreign Administrator (1942 ), Education And Learning Minister (1943 ), and also Administrator of Trade and Field (1943) that made it seem like Hideki Tojo was controlling all factors of Japan. In my country our team have Coloured, Malaya, Europeans, Asiatics, and the entire bit, that performs certainly not create all of them Africans, since in their everyday lives they reside and practice their culture, and certainly not African culture. The staff also adds that others have shown that adolescent pregnancy and also motherhood is related to reduced education and learning of young women, lesser revenue as well as living typical and also as a result lower longevity at childbirth. Past history presents that individuals of Asia had actually been actually overseeing themselves well, long prior to the Europeans carried out; that five hundred years ago the Mandarin people were the most technically state-of-the-art peoples around the world; that the Indians had been the best traders in the world, pulling in extensive volumes of gold from the Roman Empire for the finest of fabrics; that village-level democracy in India was actually widespread more than 1,000 years ago; that ideology and also mathematics were therefore advanced in Asia that Europe had the ability to acquire these by means of the Arabs and Moors; that town planning in the Indus Valley civilisation of more than 2,000 years earlier set the criterion for extra recent urban areas in other places on earth; and that Persia, India and also China had actually been creating premium quality art centuries before other societies had the capacity to. For over fifteen years, the Lucketts have actually made their property, which consists of twenty acres, readily available for hardships and also for ordeals holidays. Throughout those day of reckonings, while the priceless life yet stayed, my tears, my phrases, and whatever I carried out attested to my heartstricken attrition. That'll produce it to make sure that you possess the max volume of air circulation to your burning enclosure which are going to perhaps assist you to start the cars and truck up and also stress out a few of your energy injection cleaner. He had actually been actually considerably influenced due to the popular music and also narration tunes of Johnny Cash money. Chickens nevertheless have certain days of the year where they are effectively liked as well as enjoyed; Thanksgiving holiday Time and in Christmas. Particularly if they are individuals in the Internet marketing business with a listing of customers. This is what Jude really loved most approximately her brand new located nutrition, she could possibly forget about meals entirely eating what ever she desired for one food a day.

[latestnews2018-blog]

Mohammad Assaf on close fans and Eid plans

New Post has been published on https://latestnews2018.com/mohammad-assaf-on-close-fans-and-eid-plans/

Mohammad Assaf on close fans and Eid plans

Saturday afternoon was bright and sunny in Dubai, fit for a happy occasion: Mohammad Assaf was to meet with a few lucky fans for lunch at Jumeirah Emirates Towers.

The 28-year-old Palestinian singer, in collaboration with clothing brand Max Fashion, of which he’s a celebrity ambassador, held a competition to share a traditional Arabic meal with fans. But one could be forgiven for thinking it was just an overlarge family reunion, as the smiling pop star hopped between his admirers for casual conversations.

“I feel like an artist has to be close to the people he loves,” Assaf told Gulf News tabloid!. “He should share with them a lot of things, the good and the bad. This lunch has an air of familiarity to it. Everyone here is [like a family].”

Competition winner Mai Ali, who is half-Egyptian and half-Palestinian, has been following Assaf since he won Arab Idol in 2013, and says she was pleased to find out he is just as modest in person.

“I love him and my daughter loves him. I usually don’t watch singing competitions, but Assaf was special, so we followed him,” the 36-year-old said.

“He’s down-to-earth and hasn’t changed since his beginnings. Even the way he interacts with children; my daughter asked him to speak to her friend on the phone, who loves him, too.”

Ali added: “His voice is beautiful. On stage, it sounds different than on cassette. He’s one of the rare artists who has that.”

Read what Assaf had to say about his fans, Eid plans, and the upcoming release of his Iraqi-style single.

A long time ago when we spoke, you said that you get overwhelmed sometimes, if hundreds of fans ask for a photo in a day. Do you still get nervous when you know you’re going to meet a lot of people?

It does still happen sometimes. It depends on your mental state, whether you’re prepared or not. When it comes to concerts, especially, I have a bit of fear, always. That’s natural.

Before you go on stage?

Of course.

Why is that?

Because it’s not easy for an artist to always maintain himself, his art, his way of singing, his way of interacting with fans at a show. You don’t know what the circumstances are going to be and how you’re going to be feeling. On the subject of mental state, it’s not possible for someone to always be perfect in his personal life. I get really affected, sometimes. But I’m the kind of person, no matter how nervous I am beforehand, after the first song on stage, I’m good. It’s easy for me, then. Everything flows.

How do you take care of yourself and your mental well-being?

I’m the type of person, I don’t like to talk about myself, but I have a quiet personality. I don’t like a lot of ruckus. I try, always, to stay far away from problems, even in the entertainment industry. I don’t like to create problems. Even though I’m faced with a lot of issues, I’m put under pressure, but maybe I got used to it. When I first came up, things that were said in the media, rumours, they got to me. Now, it doesn’t bother me anymore. My private life is so important to me, away from the fame and the fans, who I love and who love me. There’s a corner that’s just for me. I don’t like anyone else to enter it.

When fans come up to talk to you, what’s the thing they say the most?

My relationship with people, my fans, baffles me. I feel as though I know them and they know me. I’m a really social person, I just get right into a conversation. We talk about art, we talk about personal stuff, we talk about Palestine — especially the Palestinian fans, they’re always surprised by how much I know about Palestine. If they bring up a family in Palestine, I can tell them where they live. In the Palestinian society, our social ties are really strong — we know each other really well, we know about all kinds of areas and families. We’re a simple community. So I feel like that’s what we talk about most, more than my art and what I’m doing next.

Do your fans thank you?

A lot. I hate talking about myself, but people always tell me, you’re so close to us. We don’t feel like you have that megalomania [smiles]. I don’t know how to talk about myself, you have to ask them!

Does it feel weird sitting here today for lunch, and hearing your own music play?

[Laughs] For sure. It’s something that’s funny, and maybe people will find this weird, but it’s so rare for me to listen to myself. I listen to other people, but the only time I really listen to my own music is before I choose it for my album. I’m prepared to listen to a song a hundred times. I keep repeating it in the car, until I can make sure whether or not I want to choose this song or another. And after a song or an album releases, I’m constantly on social media trying to read people’s comments, so I can know what their reaction is — what did I do right, what did I do wrong. This is so important to me. I think a lot. I’m a big thinker.

What’s next for you, music-wise?

I have an Iraqi song. I’m going to turn it into a lyric video instead of a music video. I’ve chosen to release it after Eid, because during Eid, a lot of people are going to release new music. I want to be a little different.

And what are you listening to right now, in terms of other artists?

To be honest, everything that the girls and guys of my generation are listening to, I’m listening to, too. But maybe, I lean more towards classical, romantic music as a fan. But as a singer, I find that more pop music works for me.

Eid Al Adha is upon us. What are your plans?

First of all, best wishes for the year ahead. I’m heading to Palestine to spend Eid with my family, nothing more. To me, that’s the most important thing. Always.

[in-sightjournal]

Interviewer: Scott Douglas Jacobsen

Numbering: Issue 15.A, Idea: Outliers & Outsiders (Part Nine)

Place of Publication: Langley, British Columbia, Canada

Title: In-Sight: Independent Interview-Based Journal

Web Domain: http://www.in-sightjournal.com

Individual Publication Date: December 8, 2017

Issue Publication Date: January 1, 2017

Name of Publisher: In-Sight Publishing

Frequency: Three Times Per Year

Words: 2,801

ISSN 2369-6885

  Abstract

An Interview with Houzan Mahmoud, M.A. She discusses: impact of war on personal life; injustice and death in home territory; the impulse for war and atrocities; previous and current Iraq governments; respects for Kurds and Kurdish Culture; impact on women and children, as innocents in general; and rebuilding a generation who lost education, nutrition, family members, and reliable governmental support and institutions.

Keywords: Culture Project, feminism, Houzan Mahmoud, Iraq, Kurdistan, Kurds.

An Interview with Houzan Mahmoud, M.A.: Co-Founder, Culture Project (Part One)[1],[2],[3],[4]

1. Scott Douglas Jacobsen: When I reflect on war and conflict, the statistics tell one story. The personal narratives tell another. You experienced war, so I want to explore the latter with you. We did some work together, whether interviews or editing articles for Culture Project. How did war impact your life?

Houzan Mahmoud: This is a long story. It’s not easy to describe it. I shared the pain and sorrow of horrors of war with my family, friends, neighbors, and thousands of others. Therefore, telling my own story might be a fraction of a very small part of a huge story, the problem is those people who haven’t seen war, and only get statistics about it.

They really have no clue how ugly, insane, and inhumane war is. There is nothing humane about it. It’s only about bullets, air raids, bombardments, and shootings. It is all about sounds, sounds of bombs, and the wounded, really nasty and annoying sounds of different levels. Sometimes, even when the war is over, it stays with you.

Anything that falls, breaks, or explodes, even if it has nothing to do with war. It still connects with the images of war, the sounds, and noises, and the destruction comes alive again in your mind. There is another thing I hate most along with war: the military uniform, especially of those that belonged to Saddam Hussein’s regime.

That particular clothing of men and their guns was repulsive, as it will always stay in your mind as a symbol of killing. Men in uniforms who kill. I spent the first twenty years of my life like this. I witnessed the Iraq-Iran war, the sanctions, the first Gulf War, then the Kurdish uprising in 1991 and its aftermath of instability.

Let me share some experiences with you, when I came to London, even when I see anyone who were uniforms of their jobs, like the railway staff, I would be scared as I thought they were the army and are arresting people.

Another example was of an explosion of a boiler in my neighbourhood, although the boiler had nothing to do with rockets, bombs, or war. It straight away felt as if we were at war. So many nights, I woke up and when I didn’t hear shooting. I was relieved. I couldn’t believe it. That I would live one day and sleep one night without hearing gunshots, and without fearing for our lives.

2. Jacobsen: How did you cope, if you did, experiencing or witnessing widespread injustice and death in the home territory?

Mahmoud: Interestingly, you do cope. Sometimes, you get used to the situation. You become creative in finding life in small things that might have not mattered to you before. You try your best to protect your life because it becomes more precious to you. You will do your best to live.

You want to live more. It may be the idea of a better life and future helped us to cope better. The idea that one day the war will be over. That we can start a normal life again. The reality is even when the war ends life is never like before again. By the end of the war, we would have lost many of our loved ones. We would have sorrowed and grieved.

Sometimes, you might even think the dead are the luckiest because they are gone, and we are here to pick up pieces, to mourn and to remember the bombs, the rockets, the air raids, in addition to living under a dictator.

To sum up the love of life, the beauty of this planet, and my ideals for a world without war, without the suffering of human beings keeps me going. I enjoy nature. I love seeing flowers, trees, and parks, but also human creativity such as art, music, cinema, and dance.

There is a lot to be happy about in life. I see all of what happened to me as different chapters of my life. Today, I live a new chapter of my life. I happy to have survived, but I always remember those who didn’t make it.

3. Jacobsen: What impulse does war serve for us? Why do men commit most of the atrocities, to you?

Mahmoud: It is hard to have this discussion, there has been a lot of writings, talks, and research into ‘why war happens?’ From sociological, psychological, political, economic and cultural aspects, at the same time, it’s hard to come up with one concrete answer.

Let’s not forget that after the First World War, there were more than ten million people who died in the battlefields in Europe.  Two leading thinkers (Sigmund Freud and Albert Einstein) started to debate as to why, what could be the reason? Is it human’s destructive impulse, the lust for hate and destruction as Einstein wrote to Freud? What could be the reason?

They were shocked and burdened by the war themselves, but, look, even the Second World War broke out, and then many more wars across the world in different times and places.

I find it hard to solely blame this on human nature and assert that humans by nature harbor hate and violence. A lot of this violence and hatred is learned. It is taught by the state through its apparatuses such as education, military, religion, media, and political ideology in general.

I have been at the receiving end of so many wars. I never wanted to be; I never harbored hate towards the people on the other side.

I saw a state, a bloody nation-state, backed by international forces, where weapons were sold to Iraq and Iran by the “civilized” western government, but we the ordinary people on both sides were the victims.

Or those who were forced into military conscription had to go and fight a war that had nothing to do with them. So many soldiers who were ordinary people from the poor background died in these wars for nothing.

In our case, even when I look at it now, a lot of countries in the Middle East are drowning in bloodshed. There is a huge intervention by imperialists. They have an interest – both political and economic.

I, therefore, would find a Marxian approach to war more accurate in terms of its focus on modern wars are results of the competition for resources and markets between great imperialist powers, maintaining that these wars are expected consequences of the capitalist class system and their free market.

You hardly see men from the upper ruling classes die in these wars. You see mostly or only the poor who in the process of war become a burning fuel for the capitalist killing machines. Imperialists vying for the monopoly of power, expansion, and resources using religion, race, nationality, and other excuses to invade, kill, and occupy places.

4. Jacobsen: How does the current leadership of Iraq compare with the prior leadership?

Mahmoud: It is really not a good idea to compare. What do I compare this new Iraqi regime with? With the previous regime of genocide, dictatorship, a government that was responsible for mass graves and mass exactions? It is very sad to be comparing regimes after forty years of oppression and dictatorship.

The current Iraqi regime was a product of US/UK occupation, so they gave birth to it. It is an ethno-sectarian and religious establishment. They are so corrupt and indulged in inner fighting between different sects of Islam. They didn’t have time to fight with Kurds.

There was the referendum of Kurdistan, which was even non-binding, where people peacefully voted and expressed their wish to be independent of Iraq. Yet, they brought their worst militias to invade Kurdistan and the language they use in their media and official statements are very similar to the language that was used under Saddam’s regime against Kurds.

I have opposed this Islamist and ethno-sectarian regimes from its establishment and there is no hope in them.

5. Jacobsen: Do they respect the Kurds or Kurdish culture?

Mahmoud: They respect no one, let alone Kurds. These are militia-based political parties, extremely corrupt. They act as mercenaries for regional as well as international powers. Kurds have always had high aspirations for freedom, social justice, and rights.

They don’t accept being treated as second-class citizens in their own lands. We have a history of the struggle for our rights. We will oppose whoever undermines and takes away those rights from us: be it a Kurdish government or Arab, or Islamists, and so on.

It is a basic human dignity. No one accepts being degraded and treated like a half-human or subordinate. Kurdistan has always been the center of progressive politics, the left and progressive movements always were established there. The current revolution of Rojava is the latest example of an inclusive, egalitarian alternative.

When political parties in the Iraqi government have no ideological bases that recognize basic human rights and dignity, then they haven’t learned the lesson, they only continue with their nationalistic, almost fascistic, rhetoric of ‘Iraqi unity’, and so on.

When they have been dividing Iraq along lines of religious sects, ethnic backgrounds, and persecuting religious people who are not Muslims like Yezidis, Christians, and Shabaks.

Imagine if a government is such a failure and they have been fuelling the division and instead of making human rights and equal citizenship superior to every sectarian agenda then people will not call for a break-up of Iraq.

6. Jacobsen: How does war impact women and children who remain innocent?

Mahmoud: Like in every war, women are the target due to their gender. Rape is always used as a weapon of war. For example, in the latest invasion of Kurdistan by Iraqi militias, there are many reports that they have raped Kurdish women and exploded homes of Kurdish civilians.

They are not even shy. They post them on social media, how they torture Kurdish men, how they kill them, and how the abuse the children and the elderly. Such militias are war criminals and mercenaries, who don’t think but only kill and rape.

This takes the question of women’s armed resistance and how self-defense is as important as defending the cities from invaders. Unfortunately, these women were defenseless ordinary civilians, who never thought they would be victims of rape by the army or criminal gangsters of a government that claims to be our government and wants us to live in a united Iraq.

These crimes against people come from the simple fact that they are Kurdish.

7. Jacobsen: How does a country rebuild a generation who lost education, nutrition, family members, and reliable governmental support and institutions?

Mahmoud: To such governments, people’s welfare is the last thing they would think about. Imagine that Iraq is turned into a mafia land, a bunch of mafia with armed militias, and weapons protecting only their own interest both politically and financially.

They always need a story to maintain a narrative that the “nation” or the “country” is in danger in order to start small wars to send poor people to be killed, then they make people forget about their rights, health, education, housing: everything. They came to power in 2003. To this day, most people don’t have electricity, clean water, or medicine.

Iraq, including Kurdistan, is up for grabs. This is how it has operated since then. Multinational companies and local corrupt rulers have turned people’s lives into a living hell. So, there are no institutions as such, all corrupt, and dysfunctional. They have more alignments to one party or another. The interests of the citizen are the last thing that counts.

Iraq is a name only, empty of content, empty of the most basic human rights and dignity. If you hear the rhetoric of politicians in these regions, what they say under the name of “nation,” “country,” and “our people” is overwhelming, you would say, “Wow, what great politicians, they love their people. They are doing all they can for them…” In reality, it’s only lies and nonsense. The rhetoric that every dictator is saying and using against the best interests of the common person, the citizenry.

I have lived and remember Iraq as this empty shell, where millions were killed and massacred for its sake, but it doesn’t really exist at least for its majority poor, who are workers and women.

It has never offered us, and particularly me, anything apart from suffering and loss.

That’s why I have dedicated all my life to support ordinary civilians, especially women throughout Iraq and Kurdistan who have been silenced and their rights are curtailed. So, I only have my voice to speak up, and a pen to write.

I think this is enough for a feminist to turn this patriarchal, masculinist chauvinist, and dictatorial place upside down.

References

Fantappie, M. (2011, January 30). Houzan Mahmoud of Owfi Tells Us About Her Role in the Struggle for Equality in Iraq and Kurdistan. Retrieved from https://www.w4.org/en/wowwire/equality-human-rights-social-justice-in-iraq-kurdistan/.

IHEU. (2008, September 31). Volunteer of the month: Houzan Mahmoud. Retrieved from http://iheu.org/volunteer-of-the-month-houzan-mahmoud/.

Jacobsen, S.D (2017, July 4). Interview with Houzan Mahmoud – Co-Founder, The Culture Project. Retrieved from http://conatusnews.com/interview-houzan-mahmoud/.

Jacobsen, S.D. (2017, June 24). An Interview with Houzan Mahmoud — Co-Founder, Culture Project. Retrieved from https://medium.com/humanist-voices/an-interview-with-houzan-mahmoud-co-founder-the-culture-project-7c8861d186a1.

Mahmoud, H. (2006, September 27). A dark anniversary. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2006/sep/27/ontheoccasionof24thseptember.

Mahmoud, H. (2006, June 12). A symptom of Iraq’s tragedy. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2006/jun/12/theendofzarqawitheusmade.

Mahmoud, H. (2004, March 8). An empty sort of freedom. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/world/2004/mar/08/iraq.gender.

Mahmoud, H. (2005, August 14). Houzan Mahmoud: Iraq must reject a constitution that enslaves women. Retrieved from http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/commentators/houzan-mahmoud-iraq-must-reject-a-constitution-that-enslaves-women-5347236.html.

Mahmoud, H. (2005, January 28). Houzan Mahmoud: Why I Am Not Taking Part in These Phoney Elections. Retrieved from https://www.vday.org/node/989.html.

Mahmoud, H. (2007, May 2). Human chattel. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2007/may/02/humanchattel.

Mahmoud, H. (2006, October 7). It’s not a matter of choice. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2006/oct/07/wearingtheveilhasneverbee.

Mahmoud, H. (2014, October 10). Kobane Experience Will Live On. Retrieved from http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/houzan-mahmoud/kobane-isis_b_5958150.html.

Mahmoud, H. (2014, October 7). Kurdish Female Fighters and Kobanê Style Revolution. Retrieved from http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/houzan-mahmoud/kurdish-female-fighters-_b_5944382.html.

Mahmoud, H. (2016, November 1). Mosul And The Plight Of Women. Retrieved from http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/houzan-mahmoud/mosul-isis-women_b_12740882.html.

Mahmoud, H. (2006, October 17). The price of freedom. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2006/oct/17/655000isnotjustanumber.

Mahmoud, H. (2007, April 13). We say no to a medieval Kurdistan. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2007/apr/13/thefightforsecularisminku1.

Mahmoud, H. (2007, December 21). What honour in killing?. Retrieved from https://www.newstatesman.com/international-politics/2007/12/women-rights-iraqi-honour.

Appendix I: Footnotes

[1] Co-Founder, Culture Project.

[2] Individual Publication Date: December 8, 2017 at www.in-sightjournal.com; Full Issue Publication Date: January 1, 2017 at https://in-sightjournal.com/insight-issues/.

[3] MA, Gender Studies, SOAS-University of London.

[4] Photograph courtesy of Houzan Mahmoud.

Appendix II: Citation Style Listing

American Medical Association (AMA): Jacobsen S. An Interview with Houzan Mahmoud, M.A. (Part One) [Online].December 2017; 15(A). Available from: www.in-sightjournal.com/mahmoud-one.

American Psychological Association (APA, 6th Edition, 2010): Jacobsen, S.D. (2017, December 8). An Interview with Houzan Mahmoud, M.A. (Part One). Retrieved from www.in-sightjournal.com/mahmoud-one.

Brazilian National Standards (ABNT): JACOBSEN, S. An Interview with Houzan Mahmoud, M.A. (Part One). In-Sight: Independent Interview-Based Journal. 15.A, December. 2017. <www.in-sightjournal.com/mahmoud-one>.

Chicago/Turabian, Author-Date (16th Edition): Jacobsen, Scott. 2017. “An Interview with Houzan Mahmoud, M.A. (Part One).” In-Sight: Independent Interview-Based Journal. 15.A. www.in-sightjournal.com/mahmoud-one.

Chicago/Turabian, Humanities (16th Edition): Jacobsen, Scott “An Interview with Houzan Mahmoud, M.A. (Part One).” In-Sight: Independent Interview-Based Journal. 15.A (December 2017). www.in-sightjournal.com/mahmoud-one.

Harvard: Jacobsen, S. 2017, ‘An Interview with Houzan Mahmoud, M.A. (Part One)‘, In-Sight: Independent Interview-Based Journal, vol. 15.A. Available from: <www.in-sightjournal.com/mahmoud-one>.

Harvard, Australian: Jacobsen, S. 2017, ‘An Interview with Houzan Mahmoud, M.A. (Part One)‘, In-Sight: Independent Interview-Based Journal, vol. 15.A., www.in-sightjournal.com/mahmoud-one.

Modern Language Association (MLA, 7th Edition, 2009): Scott D. Jacobsen. “An Interview with Houzan Mahmoud, M.A. (Part One).” In-Sight: Independent Interview-Based Journal 15.A (2017):December. 2017. Web. <www.in-sightjournal.com/mahmoud-one>.

Vancouver/ICMJE: Jacobsen S. An Interview with Houzan Mahmoud, M.A. (Part One) [Internet]. (2017, December; 15(A). Available from: www.in-sightjournal.com/mahmoud-one.

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In-Sight Publishing and In-Sight: Independent Interview-Based Journal by Scott Douglas Jacobsen is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. Based on a work at www.in-sightjournal.com.

Copyright

© Scott Douglas Jacobsen, and In-Sight Publishing and In-Sight: Independent Interview-Based Journal 2012-2017. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Scott Douglas Jacobsen, and In-Sight Publishing and In-Sight: Independent Interview-Based Journal with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.  All interviewees co-copyright their interview material and may disseminate for their independent purposes.

An Interview with Houzan Mahmoud, M.A. (Part One) Interviewer: Scott Douglas Jacobsen Numbering: Issue 15.A, Idea: Outliers & Outsiders (Part Nine) Place of Publication: Langley, British Columbia, Canada…

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27th China International Information and Communication Exhibtion

About letter invited China International Exhibition of 2017 the relevant units: the timely tracking and understanding of the global information and communication industry development trends, and to promote a comprehensive display of information and communication industry, the latest research results, expand and deepen international exchanges and cooperation by industry (PT / EXPO CHINA2017), hosted by China Post and Telecommunications Equipment Group Corporation and China International Exhibition Center Group Corporation, will be held from September 27 to 30, the China International Exhibition on Information and Communication Day in Beijing, the National Convention Center (Chaoyang District, Beijing Tianchen East Road on the 7th). At present, the Internet is represented by a new generation of information technology and traditional industries of infiltration integration and deepening, a new round of scientific and technological revolution and industrial reform birth, the world is entering the information industry-led new economic development period. Significant breakthroughs in technological innovation and accelerated application are reshaping the economic structure of countries, so that the main competition in the industrial and economic competition. China has entered a new era of industrialization, informationization, urbanization, simultaneous development of agricultural modernization, parallel development, superposition of the development of a critical period, based on a new generation of information infrastructure network economy, intelligent manufacturing, information consumption has become a driving force for economic development, The communication industry has become an important component and development factor of the strategic emerging industry. The new generation of information technology, represented by large data, cloud computing, Internet of Things and mobile Internet, has been widely used, which brings profound changes in production mode, way of life and consumption The At present, the information and communication industry is open to an unprecedented level, and other strategic emerging industries to accelerate the integration, such as intelligent industry, smart grid, car networking and other new industrial forms, the formation of intelligent, network, digital manufacturing and service system. The strategic, basic and leading position of the information and communication industry has become increasingly prominent. China International Information and Communication Exhibition has been successfully held since 1990 for the first time since the 25th, is Asia's most influential annual event of the information and communication industry. "2016 China International Information and Communication Exhibition" on the overall scale of about 4. 5 million square meters, from mainland China and Hong Kong, Taiwan, Finland, Germany, Israel, Japan, Korea, Sweden, the United Arab Emirates, the United States and other countries and regions, more than 400 well-known enterprises exhibitors. Various forms of exhibitions, a variety of topics of the conference, various forms of interactive activities to attract government departments, international organizations, Chinese and foreign trade associations, enterprises and institutions investment, consulting, research, service agencies, institutions of higher learning and The broad participation of the community. From the news agency, television, radio, mass press, professional newspapers, Internet, new media, nearly 300 media on the exhibition carried out all-round, deep-level, multi-angle publicity and coverage. "2017 China International Information and Communication Exhibition" will focus on and demonstrate China's new generation of information and communication technology research and development, high-speed optical fiber and 4G wireless broadband network construction, Internet application infrastructure, Internet application service innovation, network and information security The latest development achievements and trends in the field, especially the information and communication industry in promoting the "network power" construction, support and services "Made in China 2025", "Internet +", "public entrepreneurship, innovation" and other aspects of the results achieved (4G / 5G), Gigabit all-optical network, SDN / NFV, Internet of things (IOT), cloud computing, large data, Internet +, smart city, smart home, intelligent terminal, information security, Car networking, industrial Internet, artificial intelligence and other new types of Internet applications and intelligent hardware. We sincerely invite your organization to select representative business, product, technology, application and solution to participate in this exhibition, the specific exhibition matters are as follows: First, the exhibition name Chinese: 2017 China International Information and Communication Exhibition English: PT EXPO CHINA 2017 2. Organizers : Ministry of Industry and Information Technology China Council for the Promotion of International Trade 2. Sponsor: China Post and Telecommunications Equipment Group Corporation China International Exhibition Center Group Corporation 3. Co-organizer: China Communications Enterprise Association China Telecom Group Corporation China Mobile Communications Corporation China United Network Communications Group Co., Ltd. China Tower Co. , Ltd. China Information and Communication Research Institute Third, the content range Broadband network: optical network, optical fiber, rural fiber construction and Wireless network: 4G / 5G, mobile communications products and services, mobile resale business, value-added services and services, enterprise mobile solutions, clustering , and other related services; broadband network access network business open pilot, satellite communications, quantum communications, and related equipment Communication, satellite communication services, etc .; network layout optimization: core network, IP and data, SDN / NFV, narrowband Internet of things, operating support platform, IPv6, overseas IDC, CDN and POP points; application infrastructure : Internet of things, Such as large data, data center, CDN, etc .; Internet services and applications: social networking, instant messaging, Internet music and video, Internet finance, games, location services, all kinds of emerging APP, etc .; new technology new products: artificial intelligence, New human - computer interaction, virtual reality, increase Strong intelligent network management and people's livelihood services: intelligent terminal, intelligent hardware, wearable equipment, servers, new audiovisual equipment, intelligent home network and related equipment, intelligent vehicle terminal, intelligent unmanned system and other new products; intelligent social management and people's livelihood services: wisdom Intelligent manufacturing, intelligent, home, car networking, etc .; intelligent manufacturing: industrial Internet, intelligent manufacturing, 3D / 4D printing, intelligent robot, enterprise information technology , intelligent transportation, intelligent transportation, intelligent energy, intelligent agriculture, wisdom and wisdom, intelligent tourism, intelligent home, car networking, etc .; Solutions, CRM, ERP, business intelligence (BI), etc .; network and information security: information security and privacy protection, monitoring and security equipment, network security and security solutions; chips and software: chips and integrated circuits, new displays, New materials, components, etc .; operating systems, databases, all kinds of application software, software-related services. Fourth, the booth specifications and prices E1-E4 area: standard booth (9 ㎡ / month), mainland Chinese enterprises RMB 23,000 yuan. E1-E4 area: light booth (not less than 36 square meters), the price per square meter for the Chinese mainland enterprises RMB 2,300 yuan. E5-E6 area: standard booth (12 ㎡ / month), Chinese mainland enterprises RMB 20,000. E5-E6 area: light booth (not less than 36 ㎡), the price per square meter for the Chinese mainland enterprises RMB 1,800 yuan. V. Forum and Seminar held in the same period During the exhibition, "ICT China • 2017 Forum" will be held, including the main forum and several industry peak forums, industry development forums, technical seminars and new press conferences. At the appointed time, the leaders of the government departments will be invited, and representatives of well-known information and communication and Internet companies, industry leaders, well-known experts and scholars and the media will be invited to conduct in-depth discussions on the focus of information and Internet, with the aim of promoting industrial transformation and upgrading , Enterprise innovation and development, Chinese and foreign exchanges and cooperation. The topic will focus on 5G, mobile Internet, Internet of things, cloud computing, large data, intelligent hardware, industrial Internet, virtual reality / enhance the reality, artificial intelligence and other hot frontier areas, combined with "Internet +", broadband China, information security and other national macro Strategy, involving mobile innovation, data management, private capital, intelligent manufacturing, "public entrepreneurship, innovation" and other transformative topics. The specific arrangements will be announced separately. Sixth, organizers Contact Information Contact: China Posts and Telecommunications Appliances Corporation-owned China International Advertising Company / Post International Exhibition Advertising Co., Ltd. Agent: Faisal Qureshi Culture Communication Co., Ltd. In & Out Asia also hope Yx Mob: +861316 2077 296 QQ: 2744867 Wechat: yoyoliu819 Email: yixi.alu01@inoutasia.com.cn