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ARCHIVE: October '99: |
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Message from the Editor
Dear Readers,
Welcome to this month’s issue, where you will find lots of events taking place. All you have to do is, check the Urwa and you will not have a moment to yourself. Like I mentioned last month, it was the start of all the societies’ activities. Have you been informed of the latest events, parties, fund-raising, conferences, plays, etc.? Well, in this issue, we will try to mention them all (if we have the space!!). Wednesday meetings are back by popular demand. Please read on for further details. Don’t forget, the elections are this month, so please vote if you have the right. Hope to read from you soon.
Reem
News
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Club Elections
Elections for the Arab Club Committee Posts are to take place this month . If you are a keen worker, or you know someone who is, and want to improve the Club, either put your name down for elections or vote for your nominee. Time is running out, so complete the forms as soon as you receive them.
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Job, jobs, jobs.......
We have recently started to ask for your CV’s (or a shortened version) so that we could print them in the Urwa to allow Arab employers to contact you. We would like to thank all who have written in, and apologise to those who have not had their CV put in (due to problems in receiving the e-mails). If you could re-send them, or send them in, we will do our best to print them and hopefully get you on your way to your new career. If you could send all the information to either the secretariat, or to boty4life@aol.com they will be dealt with ASAP.
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Events
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Summary of Upcoming Events
06.10.99
09.10.99
12.10.99
15- 17.10.99
16- 17.10.99
20.10.99
12.11.99 | Meeting at Luigi Malones, 7 p.m. onwards
MAP dinner, Inter-Continental Hotel
Meeting to discuss the Urwa editorial
Divided Hearts Play, Commonwealth Institute
Third Arab Communities Conference, University of Westminster
Meeting at Luigi Malones, 7 p.m. onwards
Lebanese Millennium Party, Roof Gardens Kensington
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Arab Communities Conference
The first Arab Communities conference was held in SOAS on the 6th of October 1990 under the title: Arab Communities in Britain: Prospects and Concerns. The second Conference was held at Imperial College on the 19-20 November 1993 under the title: Towards developing a framework for the Arab communities in Britain and strengthening their common objectives and programme. The third conference is an extension of the previous two as it strives to build upon what has been achieved of their recommendations and to determine the areas of strength and weakness within the communities; and to define a flexible mechanism by which to ensure the active participation of members of the Arab communities in achieving these objectives.
The conference is going to be held on 16-17 October 1999 in Westminster University, Regent Street, London. Registration from 9-10 a.m. Research papers to be presented at the conference will include: Cultural Identity of British Arabs; The Economic Conditions of the Arab Communities in Britain; Participation in British Political Life; and Organizing the Arab Communities and Financing their Programmes. Throughout the conference, there will be an Art Exhibition with the works from the calligrapher Dr. Ahmed Mustafa, The Painter Mrs. Suad Al-Attar and the Sculptor Mr. Abdo Nagi. On Saturday 16th October 1999, there will be a musical recital on the lute by Ahmed Mukhtar and Omar Munir Bashir. On the Sunday 17th October 1999, there will be concessionary tickets for conference participants to the play “Divided Hearts”: A play in English, written and produced by Nabil Sawalha, Directed by Nadim Sawalha. For more information or to participate, please call the secretariat on 0181 766 6713.
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Wednesday Meetings
This is back by popular demand. Wednesday meetings have been a way to allow the Arab youth to get together and get to know each other in a casual and friendly atmosphere. The committee started out its meetings in Henry’s in High Street Kensington. But due to the monotony, it was decided to move to another location. So far, we have been unsuccessful in finding the right place, but we are still looking. Now we have found Luigi Malones. This is about 5 minutes’ walk from South Kensington Station, parking is also available after 6.30 p.m. (on a single yellow). Meetings will start from 7.30 p.m. onwards on the first and third Wednesday of every month. Luigi Malones, Old Brompton Road, London. See you there.
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Theatre
Nabil Sawalha has written and produced a play called “Divided Hearts”. It is directed by Nadim Sawalha. The play will be in English and tackles the problems Middle Eastern families face when living in the West. The play will be held in the Commonwealth Institute, High Street Kensington, London W14 on 15th, 16th and 17th October 1999. Tickets are £40, £30, £20 and £15, with a £5 concession for students (with a valid card) and under 16’s. Sunday Matinee ticket prices are £25, £20 and £10 (no concessions). Doors open at 7:15 p.m. (matinee at 2:45 p.m.) to start at 8:00 p.m. (matinee at 3:30 p.m.) To reserve your tickets or for more information, call the secretariat on 0181 892 0484 or fax 0181 400 2583 or 0956 386 550.
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Editor's Meeting
I would like to thank all who have replied and showed an interest in editing the Urwa. There will be a meeting held on Tuesday 12th October 1999 at 7:00 p.m. in Henry’s, High Street Kensington, to discuss the role further. Anyone interested is most welcome to attend. I look forward to seeing you there.
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Lebanese Millennium Party
“The Lebanese Millennium Party” has been fixed for Friday 12th of November 1999 at “The Roof Gardens”. Live Entertainment and top DJ & Dinner Buffet awaits you on the night.
Time: 9:00 p.m. - 3:00 a.m. Venue: Roof Gardens, 99 Kensington High Street, London W8.
Age Group: Aimed at 18-35 years.
For more information, please call 0411 062 308 or write to mathus@email.com
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Articles
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"Growing Up"
Last month’s article is open to discussion, and any thoughts on the subject will be welcomed. There are many youth that are in the same position as the writer of that anonymous e-mail, but not all would agree to the same ideas and way forward. If you have any comments, please send them so that they may be printed. Kahlil Gibran wrote in “The Prophet” about freedom and children. This might be of interest to the writer.
And a woman who held a babe against her bosom said, Speak to us of children.
And he said:
Your children are not your children.
They are the sons and daughters of Life’s longing for itself.
They come through you but not from you.
And though they are with you yet they do not belong to you.
You may give them your love, but not your thoughts.
For they have their own thoughts.
You may house their bodies but not their souls,
For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow, which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams.
You may strive to be like them, but seek not to make them like you.
For life goes not backward not tarries with yesterday.
You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth. The Archer sees the mark upon the path of the infinite, and He bends you with His might that His arrows may go swift and far.
Let your bending in the Archer’s hand be for gladness;
For even as He loves the arrow that flies, so He loves also the bow that is stable.
And an orator said: Speak to us of Freedom.
And he answered:
At the city gate, and by your fireside I have seen you prostate yourself and worship your own freedom,
Even as slaves humble themselves before a tyrant and praise him though he slays them.
Ay, in the grove of the temple and in the shadow of the citadel I have seen the freest among you wear their freedom as a yolk and a handcuff.
And my heart bled within me; for you can only be free when even the desire of seeking freedom becomes a harness to you, and when you cease to speak of freedom as a goal and a fulfillment.
You shall be free indeed when your days are not without a care not your nights without a want and a grief,
But rather when these things girdle your life and yet you rise above them naked and unbound.
And how shall you rise beyond your days and nights unless you break the chains which you at the dawn of your understanding have fastened around your noon hour?
In truth that which you call freedom is the strongest of these chains, though its links glitter in the sun and dazzle your eyes.
And what is but fragments of your own self you would discard that you may become free?
If it is an unjust law you would abolish, that law was written with your own had upon your own forehead.
You cannot erase it by burning your law books not by washing the foreheads of your judges, though you pour the sea upon them.
And if it is a despot you would dethrone, see first that his throne erected within you is destroyed.
For how can a tyrant rule the free and the proud. but for a tyranny in their own freedom and a shame in their own pride?
And if it is a care you would cast off, that care has been chosen by you rather than imposed upon you.
And if it is a fear you would dispel, the seat of that fear is in your heart and not in the hand of the feared.
Verily all things move within your being in constant half embrace, the desired and the dreaded, the repugnant and the cherished, the pursued and that which you would escape.
These things move within you as lights and shadows in pairs that cling.
And when the shadow fades and is no more, the light that lingers becomes a shadow to another light.
And thus your freedom when it loses its fetters becomes itself the fetter of a great freedom.
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Breast Cancer
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. 5 -10% of breast cancer is hereditary. It is the most common form of cancer affecting women in Britain. It is estimated that one in every 11 women in this country will develop Breast cancer at some point in their life. It mainly affects women between the ages of 35 and 54 years of age.
Different postcodes in Britain mean different treatments. The Prime Minister, Tony Blair, earlier this year asked why there is such a difference in treatments within the postcodes. The reason came was that the hospitals did not have enough funds to treat all the women. The more commonly used, and older, drug fluorouracil costs about £6 for 10ml vial, whereas 2ml vial of the new drug Taxotere costs £575. The reason for this is that when a new drug comes on the market, it is patented for 10 years (the pharmaceutical company can charge as much as it wants) the drug is exclusive to them and they have no competition. The high prices go towards the research and development costs the company faced in marketing the drug in the first place, as well as paying for research costs of drugs that did not pass their final trials.
The government is spending more than £150 million on breast cancer each year and an extra £30 million this year alone.
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Still, there is a need for charities and donations to help raise the funds to continue with research and development.
Since only 5-10% of breast cancer is hereditary, that means about 90% is caused by other factors such as diet, smoking, and exposure to pollutants and chemicals. To help with the prevention of breast cancer, a diet of fresh vegetables, fruit, Soya, fish, seafood and poultry has proved beneficial in Japan where only 28 women in 100,000 have breast cancer. Olive oil, which is full of fatty acids that help stop cells to mutate, is used widely in the Mediterranean area with mortality rates less than those in Britain. Complimentary therapies can also enhance the chances of survival, and exercise benefit the body to improve on its immune system.
For further details of Breast Cancer Care or helplines call: 0808 800 600, or for complimentary medicine call: 0870 161 1600. Support the research, and the Breast Cancer Awareness month by wearing a pink ribbon!!! Stay healthy.
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