The Notebook

2011-04-30T09:01:00.000+03:00

2011-03-02T12:25:00.002+02:00

Call for applications for AMAN School of Peace Studies 2011

2011-02-04T17:45:00.000+02:00

The Asian Muslim Action Network

January 2011

Dear AMAN supporter,

Call for applications for AMAN School of Peace Studies 2011

The Asian Muslim Action Network (AMAN) is calling for applications from peace activists, community development workers and scholars for its next School of Peace Studies and Conflict Transformation Course. The three-week course will take place in Bangkok, Thailand, from 2-23 March 2011. It will include workshops, lectures and exposure visits to local communities.

Since its debut in 2005, the annual three-week event has empowered a network of community leaders, activists and scholars from across Asia. The School of Peace Studies and Conflict Transformation focuses on conflict analysis and prevention, peace building and understanding peace and conflict in local, regional and international contexts. Emphasising respect for cultural and religious diversity, participants examine how religious traditions can be a force for peace, justice and social transformation.

For more information about the course and an application form, visit:

www.arf-asia.org/aman_school.php. Women and community workers in conflict areas are particularly encouraged to apply. English proficiency required.

Applications close on 5 February 2011. No applications will be accepted after this date.

Course Fees: $US 200

Travel costs from home country to Thailand are the responsibility of the participant or sponsoring agency. Limited scholarships are available. Participants are encouraged to find sponsors in their own country or region.

Please feel free to pass on information about the AMAN School of Peace Studies and Conflict Transformation Course to your colleagues and networks.

Yours sincerely,

Ekraj Sabur

Deputy Director
AMAN School of Peace Studies and Conflict Transformation

Email: peacestudies@arf-asia.org

Website: www.arf-asia.org/aman_school.php

Tzazae khatri - Cheb Mami

2011-01-10T17:04:00.000+02:00

Photo stream

2011-01-10T16:13:00.000+02:00

Youth in Nepal

YouTube Channel

2011-01-10T15:55:00.001+02:00

Amman is the most expensive city in the Arab World!

2011-01-10T15:47:00.001+02:00

Monday, February 13, 2006

So we have been living in an illusion in the past decade, believing that Dubai is the most expensive city in the Arab world. It has been proved as a misconception by the highly credible Economist Intelligence Unit who have carried out a global survey on the living expenses in 128 countries in the world compared to incomes. The results were published in a recent feature in the London-based Al Sharq Al Awsat newspaper and they plce Amman as the most expensive Arab city at the global position (70) beating Dubai to that title (71). The third expensive Arab city was Casablanca (80) followed by Abu Dhabi (82) and Manama (82).

The most expensive city in the world is Oslo the capital of Norway which beat Tokyo and Rijkiavik as the cities that will rip your money off. The least expensive city in the world is Tehran while the least expensive in the Arab world is Tripoli. So, who says the economies of Libya and Iran are not social-friendly?

Cheb Mami & Susheela Raman ( Live Duet )

2011-01-10T12:55:00.000+02:00

Cheb Khaled Wahrane Wahrane

2011-01-10T11:51:00.000+02:00

In the wee small hours of the morning

2010-12-08T17:46:00.001+02:00

In the wee small hours of the morning
While the whole wide world is fast asleep
You lie awake and you think about the girl
And never ever think of counting sheep

When your lonely heart has learned its lesson
You'd be her's if only she would call
In the wee small hours of the morning
That's the time you miss her most of all

When your lonely heart has learned its lesson
You'd be her's if only she would call
In the wee small hours of the morning
That's the time you miss her most of all

The Prince of Milan

2010-12-08T16:48:00.005+02:00

Diego Milito

Diego Alberto Milito (born 12 June 1979) is an Argentine footballer who currently plays as astriker for Internazionale. He also plays for the Argentine national team. A prolific and consistent center-forward, Milito has statistically averaged just over a goal every two appearances, over the course of his 10 year professional career. He was pivotal in Inter's 2009/10 treble winning season and his two goals in the Champions League final at last gave him international recognitions as one of the world's most effective strikers.

He has been nicknamed Il Principe del Bernal (Italian for "The Prince of Bernal") or El Príncipe del Bernal (in Spanish) because of his physical resemblance with former Uruguayan footballerEnzo Francescoli, who was nicknamed that way (without "Bernal").

Personal life
Diego is married to Sofia and they have two children. He has a younger brother named Gabriel who is also a footballer, who plays his football at Barcelona.

International career

Milito scored two goals on his international debut against Uruguay in 2003, but appeared only intermittently during the following years, and was omitted from the 2006 World Cup squad. He played for Argentina in the 2007 Copa América tournament, gaining playing time afterHernán Crespo's injury in a group stage match against Colombia and he was also included in Argentina's final 23 player roster for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

Internazionale

2009–2010: A Treble-Winning Debut Season

On 20 May 2009, La Gazzetta dello Sport confirmed that Diego Milito was transferred to Internazionale (alongside Thiago Motta). The transfer fees were undisclosed but Genoa got Robert Acquafresca, Riccardo Meggiorini, Leonardo Bonucci, Francesco Bolzoni and cash.

The striker adapted to his new surroundings quickly and had an excellent start to his Internazionale career scoring two goals in a 2–0 World Football Challenge win over Milan. Subsequently on 29 August, in his first ever Milan Derby in Serie A, Milito assisted two goals and scored a penalty, his first league goal of the season, to cap off a 4–0 victory. Later, on 13 September, he scored his second league goal in a 2–0 home win against Parma. In the next league match against Cagliari he scored both goals for Inter in a 1–2 away win. These two goals placed him at the top of the all-time Serie A scoring charts for best strike rate, with 28 goals in 35 games, giving him an average of 0.8 goals per game. Milito continued his fine run of form with another goal in the next league match against Napoli, scoring the second goal after Samuel Eto'o scored in the first minute, a game that they won 3–1.

The consistency which Milito had shown at his previous clubs was sustained throughout his debut season at Inter, and after the first few matches he had established himself as a key contributor to the squad. On 30 October, in a 5–3 home victory against Palermo, Milito, who had returned from an injury, came off the bench to make the result safe scoring Internazionale's fifth goal. In the next game, againstLivorno he scored another goal, taking his strike rate up to seven goals in nine league matches. Three days later, on 4 November, he scored his first goal in the UEFA Champions League in a 1–2 group stage win over Dynamo Kyiv, it was the equaliser which led to Wesley Sneijder's game-winner in the 89th. On 24 February, in another Champions League match, this time in a 2–1 round of 16 win againstChelsea, he scored another important goal, his second in the competition. Four days later, Milito netted the matchwinner which gaveInternazionale a 3–2 victory at Udinese, in a thrilling win for the "Nerazzurri". On 27 March, after missing a 3–0 win over Livorno with a hamstring problem, Milito returned for a crucial battle at title contenders Roma, where he scored one goal in a 2–1 loss. On 31 March, in a 1–0 Champions League quarter-finals win against CSKA Moscow, he scored the winning goal which enhanced Internazionale's chances of reaching the semi-finals. Diego scored a vital goal in a 3–1 home win against Barcelona in a first leg Champions League semi-final win.

During the very last matches of the 2009–2010 season, Milito proved instrumental in Inter's winning of the first treble in the history of Italian football. The Argentine first scored the only goal in Inter's victory over Roma in the final of the Coppa Italia on 5 May 2010, enabling the nerazzurri to take home their first trophy of the season. Eleven days later, it was also Milito's goal which secured Internazionale's 18th scudetto when they beat Siena 1–0 on the final matchday of Serie A. With only two points separating the top two teams in Serie A, the goal lifted Inter to the summit of the table after being in a position to lose the league title to Roma at the half-time break as Roma, playing simultaneously, were winning their own match against Chievo at that point. Milito himself declared this goal to be the "best of his career", having been decisive in delivering a league title to his team. However, there was more to come from the forward and on 22 May 2010 Milito yet again proved vital as he scored twice to seal a victory in the Champions League Final over Bayern Munich. As a result Internazionale became European club champions for the first time in 45 years with a 2–0 victory and completed their historic treble championship season.

After the treble success many pundits took note of the fact that Milito had always been an effective and efficient striker, yet remained one of the most underrated players in world football because of his low-key manner and the fact that he had plied his trade for smaller, less competitive teams prior to joining Inter. Scoring goals on the biggest stages for a marquee team finally earned the striker the recognition merited by his skill and goalscoring record. Of the player and his two Champions League winning goals, The Guardian wrote:

“

Vision, timing, flawless technique and sangfroid – these two goals had everything a great striker needs, plus a sense of lyricism in the fluency of his movement. The 30-year-old Milito is hardly a fancy striker, not a Messi taking your breath away with a trick or a Tevez galvanising the stadium with elemental force, but his economy has been just as devastating...

”

On 9 August 2010, Milito signed a new four-year contract with the Nerazzurri. On 26 August 2010, Milito was named 2010 UEFA Forward and Player of the Year

Istanbul mosques

2010-12-08T16:18:00.000+02:00

The Center of Things

2009-10-30T13:06:00.004+02:00

Inter-regional Dialogue
Mohammad Al-Daraweesh

Dialogue between Asian and Middle Eastern countries will not only promote peace and development in their own region but will have significance for the whole world, writes Mohammad al-Daraweesh.

Middle East-Asian dialogue has a significant historical, strategic and geographical basis. The vast territory encapsulated by these two regions includes the largest continent on earth, the richest area in terms of natural resources, and is also one of the most sensitive regions of the world from a strategic and historical point of view.
The global significance of Asia and the Middle East in the world carries with it unique potential and promise for regional integration in terms of economical and social development, perhaps more than in any other regional grouping.

The Middle East or West Asia sits where Africa, Asia and Europe meet. Opinions vary as to what countries make up the modern definition of the Middle East. Armenia, Azerbaijan, Cyprus and Georgia were previously associated with the region but are now more widely considered to be closer in political and economic terms to Europe. The African country of Egypt is still thought by some to be in the Middle East, as well as the northern African countries that border the Mediterranean Sea.

The idea of a Middle East-Asian networking is not new. The Bandung Conference in 1955 was significant in challenging the dominance of the bipolar Cold-War system by creating a third, international and non-aligned group. Arguably, this ‘third way’ kept the Cold War strategically limited to the European front, and third world countries were given an alternative forum for international politics.

This did not prevent the Cold War being played out in either Asia or the Middle East however, as the West remained aware of the regions’ strategic significance. This in turn exacerbated existing differences between countries in the region. Further, this region of the world has been and continues to be spiritually , philosophically and culturally significant for the world’s major religions. This has had the simultaneous effect of highlighting difference, while also having a positive impact on the march of history towards peace, progress and human security.
The second session of the ministerial dialogue between Asia and the Middle East was held on the 6th of April 2008 in the Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheik. The session was convened in recognition that achieving durable peace and sustainable development is a common task for Asia and the Middle East. States pledged to participate in the session to promote mutual cooperation in the political, economic and cultural rights.

During the session the representatives of 50 countries and some international organizations discussed ways of strengthening cooperation between Asia and the Middle East. The statement issued at the conclusion of the session focused on respecting the principles of independence and state sovereignty, territorial integrity and non-interference in internal affairs. The statement also called for the creation of conditions for peace, friendship and harmony to achieve peace, stability and economic prosperity in the region and thereby throughout the world.
During an era of multipolarity, economic globalization and regional integration, Asia and the Middle East have new opportunities for development, while at the same time facing many challenges. The regions bear joint responsibility for achieving peace and development. Therefore, they must work on the following aspects:

Firstly, achieving stability and security in the region is the prerequisite for development in any country or region. Asia and the Middle East encapsulate the world’s most politically sensitive issues including the Palestinian-Israeli confict, Iraq and the nuclear issue on the Korean peninsula.

This requirement has become more acute with the growth in significance of non-traditional security issues such as terrorism and cross-border crimes. Wang Yi, Deputy Chinese Foreign Minister and head of the Chinese delegation participating in the session emphasized that the countries of both Asia and the Middle East must conduct dialogue and consultation based on mutual trust, mutual benefit and equality to resolve disputes peacefully.
Secondly, there needs to be mutually beneficial cooperation in the economic sphere. Most of the countries in Asia and the Middle East are developing countries and have a common goal and responsibility of economic development. They are complementary in natural resources, markets and industrial structures and have great potential to cooperate in the trade, investment, finance, energy and tourism sectors.

Finally, and very importantly, promoting dialogue among different civilizations and religions should be a central aim because many of the differences and conflicts in these regions result from misunderstandings between different cultures and religions.
Public opinion all over the world confirms that Asia and the Middle East will continue to play an indispensable role on the world stage. Therefore dialogue in the interest of peace and development in the region also works towards durable peace and sustainable development in the world.

amanamagazine 5 Vol.2 Issue.3

Brothers Mohammad and Omar Al-Daraweesh from Jordan recently attended the AMAN/ARF Youth for Peace Conference on the outskirts of Bangkok.
They came to educate other participants about the Palestinian conflict. As Mohammed points out, Jordan has had a central role in working for peace between Israel and Palestine at the very highest levels of politics.

This role has also been manifested at a grassroots level, and the Al-Daraweesh brothers are part of a new generation of Jordanians working for peace.
The ‘Jordanian Interfaith Coexistence Research Centre’ aims to use “fourteen centuries of peaceful interfaith coexistence in Jordan and human rights principles as models for building a better political, social, economic, cultural, and security environment” in the Middle East.
The main activity of the group is to draw people from different faiths together to work through misunderstandings and prevent any potential conflict.

This, Mohammed says, is based on an understanding that “in the Arab World, any country’s problem is every country’s problem”. Apart from conflict prevention and interfaith dialogue, the groups that the Jordanian youth work with also address HIV/AIDS through education and prevention campaigns.

In all of these activities youth play a central role, and the Al-Daraweesh brothers used Youth for Peace conference to meet other young people who work for peace throughout Asia.
“The best thing about the conference is that we share knowledge and experience” says Mohammed “and this promotes open-mindedness”.
To learn more about the Jordanian Interfaith Coexistence Research Centre, go to www.coexistencejordan.org.

To comment on this story, please email
Mohammad_al.daraweesh@hotmail.com.

Peace-making Generation
Peace initiatives are not often given prominence in stories about Muslims and Christians in the Arab world. Yet Jordanian youth are showing that the two religions can engage in a constructive dialogue. Interview by AMANA staff