UP Ibalon Bicol: Egypt

Showing posts with label Egypt. Show all posts

Michael Jackson & his ancient Egyptian look-alike

8/19/2009 | Posted by mesiamd | Edit Post

She can be La Toya Jackson or Whoopi Goldberg---- or why not Michael Jackson?

Displayed in the Field Museum in Chicago is a 3,000 year old Egyptian limestone bust showing an unidentified woman supposed to be sculpted during the New Kingdom Period, 1550 BC to 1050 BC. The stone piece of art draws attention for its simiiarity to the look of pop idol Michael Jackson who is still mourned worldwide after his untimely death. (Photo Credit: YahooNews/ AFP/HO/File) =0=

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Labels: artist, arts, bust, Egypt, Egyptian art, La Toya, Michael Jackson, MJ, sculpture, Totie Mesia, Whoopi Goldberg

Divided reactions to Barack Obama’s speech in Cairo

6/06/2009 | Posted by mesiamd | Edit Post

US President Barack Obama who said he came to Cairo, Egypt to find a new beginning between the United States and the Muslims of the world, based on “mutual interest and respect” got mixed reactions from his audience worldwide during his speech on June 4, 2009:

"I think President Obama's speech had a positive meaning. However, we hope it will not become a mere slogan but be followed up in concrete terms," ---KH Salahuddin Wahid, Indonesian Cleric. Antara News Agency. www. Chinaview.net (06.05/09 Tong, X)

"No American president has ever gone out of his way to reach out to the Muslim world in the way that President Obama has. We applaud that. But our applause is discreet rather than rapturous for these are as yet mere words. Were we ever to see all -- or any -- of them transition from rhetoric to reality then the applause would thunder across the world, and bring together the hands of every faith."---The News (Pakistan) Rhetoric and Reality (editorial) www.rferl.org (06/05/09)

"His naivete can be dangerous,” said Aliza Herbst, West Bank Settler. Huffington Post (06/04/09 Gutkin, S)

"This has made him close to the heart of the people. Our people like the person who is honest and address them with frankness and opens his heart and says good words, but not without action," said Salah Mansour, Café manager, Cairo, Egypt VOA News (06/05/09, Desvarieux, J)

"It's a public relations address more than anything else," said Mohamed Habib, deputy leader of Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood. Reuters. (06/05/09 Alexander, D; Blair, E; Nakhoul. S)

“I feel that the speech was balanced and offered a new vision of rapprochement regarding relations with Islamic states. [His speech shows that the US] will deal with the region's issues with a sense of balance. This includes the Palestinian question, the end to Israeli settlements, Palestinian rights, which must be respected. “----Amr. Moussa, Head of the Arab League.Rhttp://news.bbc.co.uk (06/04/09)

“His bloody messages were received and are still being received by Muslims, and they will not be concealed by public relations campaigns or by farcical visits or elegant words," said Ayman al-Zawahri, al-Qaida's No. 2 in criticizing Obama’s upcoming message. AP (06/02/09, Youssef, M)

"The nations of this part of the world ... deeply hate America…Even if they give sweet and beautiful (speeches) to the Muslim nation “ said Iran’s Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as reported by Reuters. www.npr.org (06/04/09 Holzma, T)

"It's some of the biggest pile of horseshit I've had to listen to in years.. and I still don't understand what's "historica"l about it?!!"---Hossam el Hamalawy, Egyptian leftist blogger. Guardian.co.uk (06/04/09)

"The Islamic world does not need moral or political sermons. It needs a fundamental change in American policy," said MP Hassan Fadlallah of Lebanon's Hezbollah. Reuters. (06/05/09 Alexander, D; Blair, E; Nakhoul. S)

“Obama has the intention to build goodwill with Muslims worldwide. But so far he is just an actor. This is just a spectacle. The dialogue is good. But if the policy doesn't change, nothing will change." - Dian Teja, 25, watching the speech at a café in Jakarta, Indonesia. www.politicsdaily.com ( 06/04/09 Kraskin, M)

“I think on human rights there were many things that were commendable... but it is disappointing that when he talked about democracy in the Muslim world he wasn't more specific about some of the problems.”---Eric Goldstein. Human Rights Watch. http://news.bbc.co.uk (06/04/09) (Photo Credit: Alex Johnson; Peter Gutierrez x 2)=0=

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Labels: Barack Obama, Cairo, diplomacy, Egypt, Israel, Muslim, Palestine, Palestinian, peace, speech, Totie Mesia

Muslim religious bias behind the killing of pigs in Egypt?

5/05/2009 | Posted by mesiamd | Edit Post

In Egypt where 90% adhere to the Muslim religion, the consumption of porcine meat is forbidden. Muslims believe pigs are unclean and many don’t eat pork. That’s why it is easy for the government to order the slaughter of 300,000 pigs, many of which are raised by the poor 10% Coptic Christian minority in the country.

Christians condemn the government action which threatens to decimate the hog industry which supplies about 30% of the country’s meat consumption. So far about 700 pigs have been killed and irate hog raisers engaged the police with rocks and bottles to protest in Cairo.

Adel Hammouda, the chief editor of the weekly al-Fagr and a Muslim, picked up on the religious implication of the pig slaughter when he wrote in his column: "They found in this black epidemic their golden opportunity to wage their religious war against Christianity, hiding behind the pigs." ---- AP (05/06/09, Michael, M)

Allegation of religious bias cropped up after the Egyptian government ordered the killing of pigs as a preventive measure against the spread of the swine flu. The action was considered by the World Health Organization (WHO) as unnecessary since there is no convincing evidence that these hogs harbor the H1N1 flu virus.

Certainly, the lines which divide health decisions, politics and religion are thin. The Egyptian government must be rational in deciding on health policies which put certain groups in society at a disadvantage. There is no convincing reason to justify the singling out of Egypt’s Christians who raise pigs as their source of food. The killing of their hogs must stop. (Photo Credit: Peggy Collins) =0=

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Labels: bias, Christians, Coptic Chrisitians, Egypt, government, H1N1 virus, Health, infection, killings, Muslim, pig slaughter, pork, religion, Swine flu, Totie Mesia, WHO

Egypt’s slaughter of pigs to prevent swine flu criticized

5/04/2009 | Posted by mesiamd | Edit Post

Because there’s no evidence that pigs harbor the H1N1 virus that cause the swine flu, the killing of pigs isn’t necessary. That’s according to Barbara Straw, a professor of large animal clinical science at Michigan State University's College of Veterinary Medicine. Her reaction comes on the wake of Egypt’s move to kill an estimated 300,000 swines which many consider as a knee-jerk reaction to the threat of influenza. Eating bacon, pork chops, or other pig products are not likely to cause swine flu. So far health authorities believe nothing like this is happening at this time.

"Killing (pigs) is not a solution, otherwise, we should kill the people, because the virus spreads through them," wrote Abdullah Kamal of the daily Rose El-Youssef.---- http://www.ynetnews.com

“Egypt, which has no swine flu cases, is the only country in the world to order a mass pig slaughter in response to the disease. The move mirrored Egypt's battle with bird flu, in which the government killed 25 million birds within weeks in 2006.”----AP (05/03/05, El-Tablawy, T)

A country of 80 million, Egypt doesn’t have a large hog industry and its predominant Muslim religion forbids the consumption of pig’s meat. Swine is the source of food of non-muslims, mostly Coptic Christians who comprise only a 10th of the population.

Egyptians are enraged over the Health department’s pig slaughter order which the public considers a reflection of the government ineptness in handling health emergencies. The World Health Organization (WHO) thinks the pig slaughter wasteful and unnecessary.

Though the swine flu appears to have slackened in its spread, more countries in Europe, Asia, and Latin America have reported cases of the influenza. The reference of the disease as H1N1 viral flu is preferable than "swine flu" which is misleading and dampens the business of hog raisers. It is unclear if the infection will extend into the months of fall when the seasonal flu comes along. (Photo Credit: AP/ Nouri, N) =0=

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Labels: Christians, Coptic Chrisitians, Egypt, epidemic, H1N1 virus, Health, influenza virus, pig slaughter, prevention, Swine flu, Totie Mesia, virus, WHO

UP Ibalon Bicol

Michael Jackson & his ancient Egyptian look-alike

Divided reactions to Barack Obama’s speech in Cairo

Muslim religious bias behind the killing of pigs in Egypt?

Egypt’s slaughter of pigs to prevent swine flu criticized

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