Saturday, February 28, 2009
Interior details
The stream of details in the harmonious whole inside the Sultan Hassan madrasa is endless...
Sweden - reading in February
A number of links didn't really fit into the last posting because they are more focussed on Sweden and Europe.
Mats G Larsson has written on Vikings and their European activities.
Svenska Dagbladet visited a seminar on 100 years of Swedish public diplomacy and dealing with the press. Dagens Nyheter wrote here on the same.
I previously shared a critical link on a Maria-exhibition in Stockholm, here comes the answer.
A reflection from Dagens Nyheter on the debate on marriage rights.
A debate on the research agenda in Sweden.
Europe and european identity are also a topic of discussion.
The activities of the pope have been much in focus recently too.
Honour violence and the incapacity of western society to take care of it's victims is revisited by Dagens Nyheter too.
Swedish politicians have been active in Belarusian politics.
Another outlook to Europe discusses the identity of young muslims in France.
Mats G Larsson has written on Vikings and their European activities.
Svenska Dagbladet visited a seminar on 100 years of Swedish public diplomacy and dealing with the press. Dagens Nyheter wrote here on the same.
I previously shared a critical link on a Maria-exhibition in Stockholm, here comes the answer.
A reflection from Dagens Nyheter on the debate on marriage rights.
A debate on the research agenda in Sweden.
Europe and european identity are also a topic of discussion.
The activities of the pope have been much in focus recently too.
Honour violence and the incapacity of western society to take care of it's victims is revisited by Dagens Nyheter too.
Swedish politicians have been active in Belarusian politics.
Another outlook to Europe discusses the identity of young muslims in France.
Friday, February 27, 2009
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Back in Sultan Hassan madrassa
Back in Cairo, the minbar and mihrab of the Sultan Hassan. I love the lamps!
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Abu Dhabi Friday recreation!
Just jutting in a few shots from our Friday excursion yesterday - not bad, heh?
More reading in February - Middle East
As usual, I try to thematize the links I collect to share with you... so I try to keep this to the Middle East.
Hussein Agha and Rob Malley for NY Review of Books on how NOT to gain Middle East Peace....
Tulin Daloglu for Middle East Times on change in the Turkish political landscape, also related to the Middle East.
Ingvar Oja for Utrikesbloggen on Al Jazeera and the Middle East media landscape.
Aftonbladet sees "Waltz with Bashir" on Israel and Lebanon.
More commentary on the film on Farah Diba, this time from Aftonbladet and a review from Dagens Nyheter.
The Guardian talks about Iranian president Ahmedinejad's domestic position. BBC meets Shirin Ebadi to talk about women's rights in Iran.
Al Jazeera meets everyday life in Kabul, during a month. Dagens Nyheter writes on renewed American policies.
BBC shows lovely photos from the desert in Oman. also in phptos, Arbaeen in Iraqi Karbala.
BBC also commemorates 20 years of the Iranian fatwa against Rushdie and his book.
Per J Andersson writes for Dagens Nyheter on modern slums, mainly in India and other parts of the Third World.
The National reports direct UAE-Kashmir flights.
In the UAE, new press legislation is being worked out - the National reports. Also the position of Persian-related individuals and families in the Emirates is discussed. Heritage preservation in Sharjah is also a topic of reporting.
The continued debate on the need for development of not least the knowledge economy in the Arab world is mirrored in the National.
Issues of women and wealth in the Gulf reflects another aspect of this needed development.
Al Jazeera shows a series of programmes on terrorism.
A shrine in Morocco draws Sufi visitors from all over western Africa.
Hussein Agha and Rob Malley for NY Review of Books on how NOT to gain Middle East Peace....
Tulin Daloglu for Middle East Times on change in the Turkish political landscape, also related to the Middle East.
Ingvar Oja for Utrikesbloggen on Al Jazeera and the Middle East media landscape.
Aftonbladet sees "Waltz with Bashir" on Israel and Lebanon.
More commentary on the film on Farah Diba, this time from Aftonbladet and a review from Dagens Nyheter.
The Guardian talks about Iranian president Ahmedinejad's domestic position. BBC meets Shirin Ebadi to talk about women's rights in Iran.
Al Jazeera meets everyday life in Kabul, during a month. Dagens Nyheter writes on renewed American policies.
BBC shows lovely photos from the desert in Oman. also in phptos, Arbaeen in Iraqi Karbala.
BBC also commemorates 20 years of the Iranian fatwa against Rushdie and his book.
Per J Andersson writes for Dagens Nyheter on modern slums, mainly in India and other parts of the Third World.
The National reports direct UAE-Kashmir flights.
In the UAE, new press legislation is being worked out - the National reports. Also the position of Persian-related individuals and families in the Emirates is discussed. Heritage preservation in Sharjah is also a topic of reporting.
The continued debate on the need for development of not least the knowledge economy in the Arab world is mirrored in the National.
Issues of women and wealth in the Gulf reflects another aspect of this needed development.
Al Jazeera shows a series of programmes on terrorism.
A shrine in Morocco draws Sufi visitors from all over western Africa.
Friday, February 20, 2009
Four legal schools
Inside the madrasa are, in the four corners of the courtyard, a door in each corner. Each leads to a college, specialised in teaching each of the four legal schools of sunni Islam. The last time the premises were used was apparently some mere twenty years ago, as student dorms for the Azhar University. Each of the portals is unique, although similar in style.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Delightful reading...
I brought a bunch of books from Cairo, with a lot of Arabic fiction in translation in the lot.
One delightful acquaintance was this book, though I realized it was the second in a series.
But the language and the dreamy sense of the story is lovely in it's inner drama.
One delightful acquaintance was this book, though I realized it was the second in a series.
But the language and the dreamy sense of the story is lovely in it's inner drama.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Entering the madrasa
Once entering, the severe outisde gives way to calm and harmony and great attention to details and symbolism.
Central asia and more
Dagens Nyheter analyzes the taliban-resurge in Afghanistan.
Even more interestingly, Danish journalist Carsten Jensen has written a 3part article series on visiting Afghanistan, for the fourth time and last in 2002. Part 1, part 2 and part 3 are definitely worth reading, as well as the concluding remarks. He severely questions the added value of the international presence in the current form, saying we don't do it for Afghanistan but for ourselves and for some unknown good - but what I really lack is a recipe for a viable alternative?
Amnesty displays a photo exhibition on people displaced by oil pipelines in the Caucasus.
And Swedish Television broadcast the first part yesterday in a documentary series on Iran.
Even more interestingly, Danish journalist Carsten Jensen has written a 3part article series on visiting Afghanistan, for the fourth time and last in 2002. Part 1, part 2 and part 3 are definitely worth reading, as well as the concluding remarks. He severely questions the added value of the international presence in the current form, saying we don't do it for Afghanistan but for ourselves and for some unknown good - but what I really lack is a recipe for a viable alternative?
Amnesty displays a photo exhibition on people displaced by oil pipelines in the Caucasus.
And Swedish Television broadcast the first part yesterday in a documentary series on Iran.
Monday, February 16, 2009
Blogging the Gulf
I haven't yet encountered a strong local blogging community here in the Gulf, but maybe I am looking in the wrong places? Here are at least some I have encountered (some of which have closed done or are blogging only intermittently) - but please suggest any other you may know!
Many of these from the Emirates, are expat-driven or oriented against expat communities (but if anyone knows of blogs by or for specifically non-Western residents that would be much appreciated):
UAE community, Emirates Economist, , Grapeshisha, An Emirati's Thoughts (as far as I know the only Emirati blog), Dubai Daily Photos (pretty inactive, as far as I can tell), Fake Plastic Souks (on media and expat life in the UAE).
From Bahrain, we have 2 bright women: Silly Bahraini Girl and Bint Battuta.
I'll also share a recent Global Voices collection on internet access in Bahrain and Qatar (which is not even represented above - enlighten me!).
Many of these from the Emirates, are expat-driven or oriented against expat communities (but if anyone knows of blogs by or for specifically non-Western residents that would be much appreciated):
UAE community, Emirates Economist, , Grapeshisha, An Emirati's Thoughts (as far as I know the only Emirati blog), Dubai Daily Photos (pretty inactive, as far as I can tell), Fake Plastic Souks (on media and expat life in the UAE).
From Bahrain, we have 2 bright women: Silly Bahraini Girl and Bint Battuta.
I'll also share a recent Global Voices collection on internet access in Bahrain and Qatar (which is not even represented above - enlighten me!).
Saturday, February 14, 2009
New communications
Global Voices encourages us all to use new technology for social (and other) needs - by asking us to teach our friends to micro-blog for Valentine's!
I just joined Twitter, by the way!
I just joined Twitter, by the way!
Caring gifts
Happy Valentine's Day!
Here I offer you a set of links where especially caring gifts, making our world a little bit brighter not only for the recipient, can be found. Maybe not the typically romantic Valentine's thought, but with a greater impact.
Diakonia, Swedish Red Cross, Swedish Save the Children, Swedish Unicef, Swedish Society for Nature Protection, Swedish Committee for Afghanistan, IM
I know there are more, give me your favourite recommendations!
Here I offer you a set of links where especially caring gifts, making our world a little bit brighter not only for the recipient, can be found. Maybe not the typically romantic Valentine's thought, but with a greater impact.
Diakonia, Swedish Red Cross, Swedish Save the Children, Swedish Unicef, Swedish Society for Nature Protection, Swedish Committee for Afghanistan, IM
I know there are more, give me your favourite recommendations!
Friday, February 13, 2009
Photo prize
Dagens Nyheter's photographer came second in an international photo competition for his news photography from the war in Georgia in August 2008. A set of Lars Lindqvist's praised photos can be seen here, telling a story of war.
Beneath the Cairo citadel
Beneath Salah ed-Din's and Muhammad Ali's Citadel on the Eastern rim of old Cairo, lies the Sultan Hassan madrassa and the newer Rifai mosque, and an open plaza outside them. My longterm readers have seen photos from here before, but I made a renewed visit about 2 weeks ago.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Exhibitions
A little discreet push for some exhibitions I would like to see...
I have strong views on exhibition production and really enjoy a wellmade one!
An exhibition on India in London is featured in a set of photos in Dagens Nyheter.
and British Museum has a historic exhibition on Iran.
The Museum of Ancient and Near East art (is that the name? Medelhavsmuseet!) has a special exhibition of it's unique Cypriot collection.
And finally, Ebba Witt-Brattström om the Stockholm History Museum's Maria-exhibition, displaying medieval Swedish madonnas. She is not impressed! ;-)
I have strong views on exhibition production and really enjoy a wellmade one!
An exhibition on India in London is featured in a set of photos in Dagens Nyheter.
and British Museum has a historic exhibition on Iran.
The Museum of Ancient and Near East art (is that the name? Medelhavsmuseet!) has a special exhibition of it's unique Cypriot collection.
And finally, Ebba Witt-Brattström om the Stockholm History Museum's Maria-exhibition, displaying medieval Swedish madonnas. She is not impressed! ;-)
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
February reading
I keep trying to update more often, but again I have a backlog of reading I want to share. A lot of Gaza again of course - and some I am keeping for more thematic posts.
About 2 weeks ago I blogged about the Day of Remembrance for holocaust victims and here are a few articles surrounding that: on recurring rasism in society as seen from a victim, on the specific situation in the Ukraine, a love story in the midst of living hell, about spreading the word, on a German officer disliking his own regime and leaving a distinct European heritage,
Foreign Minister Anna Lindh was ultimately my boss at the time of her tragic death. Here is a review of a book on her by her colleague and friend, witness to her murder, and here another and a third reader.
Aftonbladet calls on Jazeera pictures from Gaza to be widely used by media globally. Aftonbladet writes from the ruins of Gaza and meets an old acquaintance from the intifada. Also heritage is destroyed.
BBC reports on phosphorous wounds in Gaza. Strong opinions in Svenska Dagbladet on responsibility for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Thomas Friedman also expresses his opinion, for New York Times. Pierre Schori for Aftonbladet on strategies to meet Israel. Kjell Jonasson from the Church of Sweden writes of the (im)morality of war in Gaza and is interviewed too. Svenska Dagbladet meets the Palestinian doctor who works for peace and in Israel, losing several children in the recent war.
Dagens Nyheter tells the story of the shoe thrown at president Bush, landing in Tikrit, in giant shape. ;-)
MERIP on Obama and change in the Middle East policy field. Rob Malley for New York Review of Books on the Middle East, "What next"? Christian Science Monitor discusses Turkey's mediating position against the backdrop of recent events. Rumors of Al-Qaeda connections in Turkish robberies, showing fragmentation.
More about Nahid Perssons film on Farah Diba. The children of the revolution speak to Svenska Dagbladet. Trita Parsi for Utrikesbloggen on Khatami.
A much-discussed report from the Defence Research College on extremism and violence in southern-Sweden Rosengård.
Hanne Kjöller for Dagens Nyheter on the pain of humanity and trust in society. Also Dagens Nyheter, on relationships - to be or not to be...?
Pia Bergström writes for Aftonbladet on saving photos in the digital age - a very important topic for this blogger as you may imagine!
About 2 weeks ago I blogged about the Day of Remembrance for holocaust victims and here are a few articles surrounding that: on recurring rasism in society as seen from a victim, on the specific situation in the Ukraine, a love story in the midst of living hell, about spreading the word, on a German officer disliking his own regime and leaving a distinct European heritage,
Foreign Minister Anna Lindh was ultimately my boss at the time of her tragic death. Here is a review of a book on her by her colleague and friend, witness to her murder, and here another and a third reader.
Aftonbladet calls on Jazeera pictures from Gaza to be widely used by media globally. Aftonbladet writes from the ruins of Gaza and meets an old acquaintance from the intifada. Also heritage is destroyed.
BBC reports on phosphorous wounds in Gaza. Strong opinions in Svenska Dagbladet on responsibility for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Thomas Friedman also expresses his opinion, for New York Times. Pierre Schori for Aftonbladet on strategies to meet Israel. Kjell Jonasson from the Church of Sweden writes of the (im)morality of war in Gaza and is interviewed too. Svenska Dagbladet meets the Palestinian doctor who works for peace and in Israel, losing several children in the recent war.
Dagens Nyheter tells the story of the shoe thrown at president Bush, landing in Tikrit, in giant shape. ;-)
MERIP on Obama and change in the Middle East policy field. Rob Malley for New York Review of Books on the Middle East, "What next"? Christian Science Monitor discusses Turkey's mediating position against the backdrop of recent events. Rumors of Al-Qaeda connections in Turkish robberies, showing fragmentation.
More about Nahid Perssons film on Farah Diba. The children of the revolution speak to Svenska Dagbladet. Trita Parsi for Utrikesbloggen on Khatami.
A much-discussed report from the Defence Research College on extremism and violence in southern-Sweden Rosengård.
Hanne Kjöller for Dagens Nyheter on the pain of humanity and trust in society. Also Dagens Nyheter, on relationships - to be or not to be...?
Pia Bergström writes for Aftonbladet on saving photos in the digital age - a very important topic for this blogger as you may imagine!
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Tulun revisit
Just as the photos from my previous Cairo visit at New Year ran out, I went back!
The shadow below is me at the Tulun mosque, my definite Cairo favorite.
The shadow below is me at the Tulun mosque, my definite Cairo favorite.
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