Clipmarks | abailart's 'iran' clips

Conservative Call to Purge Social Science Teaching

Sat, 05 Sep 2009 13:34:10 GMT

clipped by: abailart

CAIRO — As Iran’s universities prepare to start classes this month, there is growing concern within the academic community that the government will purge political and social science departments of professors and curriculums deemed “un-Islamic,” according to academics and political analysts inside and outside Iran.

Ayatollah Khamenei said this week that the study of social sciences “promotes doubts and uncertainty.”

“Many of the humanities and liberal arts are based on philosophies whose foundations are materialism and disbelief in godly and Islamic teachings,”

Teaching those “sciences leads to the loss of belief in god

For years, the study of subjects like philosophy and sociology has been viewed suspiciously by Iranian conservatives.

Tags: liberalphobia

Zoomorphic Calligraphy

Thu, 20 Aug 2009 14:18:59 GMT

clipped by: JohnWaterman

Clip Source: bibliodyssey.blogspot.com

"This new mode was not a matter of script metamorphosing into living forms which are also readable letters, but of using script to delineate such forms. Seldom had the flexibility of the Arabic alphabet been so tested.

This practice established itself only relatively late in Islamic art, when the taboos outlawing religious iconography had lost some of their power.

[Zoomorphic calligraphy] developed [..] in Ottoman Turkey, India and Qajar Iran [and] was known as early as 1458."

All the above zoomorphic (and anthropomorphic) works are © Hassan Musa from Sudan.

Most, but not all of these images come from the Sudan Artists Gallery.

"Hafez (d. 1390) is Iran’s premier and most quoted lyric poet.

The painter and printmaker Jila Peacock has chosen ten love poems from Hafez and following the footsteps of the great Islamic calligraphers, has produced ten shape-poems that sit by her own translations from the Persian."
Jila Peacock's 'Ten Poems from Hafez',

17th century

Turkey

Israeli Oranges 'on sale in Iran'

Mon, 27 Apr 2009 11:52:29 GMT

clipped by: abailart
clipper's remarks: Profit motive bill always bypass petty political differences?

Clip Source: news.bbc.co.uk

Fears that an Iranian ban on imports from its arch foe Israel was flouted by the sale of Jaffa oranges have sparked an inquiry in Tehran, reports say.

City authorities asked the judiciary to take action after the Israeli fruit was allegedly imported in boxes marked as Chinese, local media report.

The fruit was imported via Dubai and put on sale at markets and in shops in and around Tehran, one report says.

An Iranian customs official later told a third news agency, Isna, he found the reports impossible to believe but added that if any Israeli oranges had been imported, it could only have happened through unofficial channels.

"In addition to the inspections, importers are informed about the laws and they will never take such risks for importing just a few tonnes of goods," said Mohammad Reza Naderi, deputy head of Iranian Customs.

"Even if it is said that the oranges were imported to the country from Israel, the import was not done through official channels."

Tags: jaffa oranges

Iran and US hold 'cordial' talks

Tue, 31 Mar 2009 20:40:45 GMT

clipped by: abailart
clipper's remarks: Change has come to America.

Clip Source: news.bbc.co.uk

The US envoy to Afghanistan has held "a cordial exchange" with Iran's deputy foreign minister, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has said.

The meeting between Richard Holbrooke and Mohammad Mehdi Akhoondzadeh took place on the sidelines of a meeting in The Hague to discuss Afghanistan.

The US has welcomed Iran's presence at the meeting.

Analysts say the easing of tensions between the US and Tehran is due to a new tone set by the Obama White House.

Earlier, Iran gave a guarded welcome to US plans to increase regional co-operation over Afghanistan.

Tags: us-iran

US Syrian Raid Sets Iraq on Fire

Sat, 01 Nov 2008 08:48:07 GMT

clipped by: abailart

Clip Source: www.atimes.com

DAMASCUS - The United States raid on Syria on October 27, which led to the killing of eight civilians, sent shockwaves throughout Iraq, mainly enraging the Sunni community, former Ba'athists and tribal leaders who are pro-Syrian.

It came as such a surprise to Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki that he was completely dumfounded at commenting. Here was the prime minister of Iraq, an ally of Iran and a former resident of Syria, watching Syria being attacked from his own territory - without his knowledge.

The Syria raid has electrified Iraq's Shi'ites, who are once again calling on Maliki not to sign the SOFA, claiming it will be used against Iran since it would give the US long-term access to Iraqi territory.

Sunnis are furious, given their historic relations, both personal and commercial, with the Syrians.

Of the 1.5 million Iraqi refugees in Syria, a majority are Sunnis.

A prominent Kurdish politician, Mahmud Othman,

feared

such action would only add to the anti-American sentiment in Iraq

Tags: iraq, syria, iran, kurds, sunnis, shi'iites

Lighting the Night

Wed, 22 Oct 2008 19:51:16 GMT

clipped by: JohnWaterman
clipper's remarks: Visit boston.com for the full impact.

Clip Source: www.boston.com

Berlin, Germany is hosting its "Festival of Lights" this week, until October 26th. Dozens of landmarks are lit up with lamps, projectors and lasers, accompanied by fireworks and other events. We humans light up the night for many reasons, practical, artistic - even reasons with more meaningful messages. Pictured below are night scenes from Berlin and around the world, illuminated in interesting ways

The "Siegessaeule" (Victory Column) is illuminated during a rehearsal for the upcoming "Festival of Lights" in Berlin, Germany on October 13, 2008

The landmark Berlin Cathedral is colorfully illuminated on the opening evening

An ancient temple is lit up with candles at a Gala Dinner to celebrate the life of the opera singer Luciano Pavarotti

A worker passes by a lighting installation on a wall near London Bridge during the evening rush-hour

Festival of Lights - Berlin, official site

Tower of David - Wikipedia Entry

Milad Tower - Iran, Wikipeida entry

US Trade Embargo with Iran

Fri, 22 Aug 2008 15:33:46 GMT

clipped by: abailart
clipper's remarks: Figures are total for 2008 to date

Clip Source: www.radianceweekly.com

Iran considers the recent US pressure on the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to restrict trade with the Islamic Republic as "illegal" and it would jeopardize the region’s economy. T

Iran’s most widely circulated newspaper, Hamshahri, warned in its editorial that trade restrictions would hurt Iran, the UAE and other Middle East countries. US pressure for tougher trade laws is part of the Bush administration’s broader campaign to contain Iran amid tensions over what the US calls pursuit of nuclear weapons and support of the Iraqi insurgency.

Clip Source: www.census.gov

Trade in Goods (Imports, Exports and Trade Balance) with Iran

NOTE: All figures are in millions of U.S. dollars.

Exports

65.0

Imports

59.8

SOURCE: U.S. Census Bureau, Foreign Trade Division, Data Dissemination Branch, Washington, D.C. 20233

Tags: us-iran trade

Turkey is Centre of the World

Sat, 02 Aug 2008 09:14:40 GMT

clipped by: abailart
clipper's remarks: Despite the fragile situation, if Turkey were to organise autonomy for Kurds in its own borders, northern Iraq, Syria and Iran it would be a heroic act of enormous historical import.

Clip Source: www.atimes.com

Turkey's political stability is no longer just a national issue of 80 million Turks. It is a vital issue today for the international community. And Turkey's role in the Israel-Syria peace talks is only the tip of the iceberg. In the highly volatile Middle East situation, Turkey also facilitated contacts between US National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley and Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki. (The two adversaries visited Ankara recently.) Furthermore, Turkey has waded into the Iraq project.

Besides, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is poised to spread to the northern shores of the Black Sea. The new cold war has arrived in Turkey.

Turkish foreign policy is cruising at an optimal level with its prestige as a regional power running high as it mediates peace in its neighborhood and commands influence. Turkey has returned to the Middle East region after an absence of almost nine decades.

Tags: turkey

Iraq Poised to Explode

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 11:27:24 GMT

clipped by: abailart
clipper's remarks: Not a stunningly original analysis but sometimes the obvious needs repeating over and over.

Clip Source: www.thenation.com

Despite the Optimism of the Neocons, which has pushed mainstream media coverage to be increasingly flowery about Iraq's political progress, in fact the country is poised to explode.

There are at least three flashpoints for an explosion, any or all of which could blow up over the next couple of months. (Way to go, Surgin' Generals!) The first is the brewing crisis over Kirkuk, where the pushy Kurds are demanding control and Iraq's Arabs are resisting.

second is in the west, and Anbar, where the US-backed Sons of Iraq sahwa ("Awakening") movement is moving to take power against the Iraqi Islamic Party, a fundamentalist Sunni bloc

third is the restive Mahdi Army of Muqtada al-Sadr, which is chafing at gains made by its Iranian-backed rival, the Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq (ISCI).

Tags: iraq factional internicine war, kurds, north iraq-turkey, iran shiites

A Gleam of Sufi Hope in the Darkness

Tue, 08 Jul 2008 08:34:34 GMT

clipped by: abailart
clipper's remarks: <<<Another belief he shares with Sufism is the idea that God, humanity and the natural world are all linked, and might even be part of a single entity, a sort of cosmic trinity. This idea has practical consequences. For example, it suggests that a believer will love and respect humanity and the natural world as they would God. It also means that no one should be seen as an outsider.>>>
Who today represents a Christian counterpart?

Clip Source: www.prospect-magazine.co.uk

The Turkish cleric Fethullah Gülen, winner of our intellectuals poll, is the modern face of the Sufi Ottoman tradition. At home with globalisation and PR, and fascinated by science, he also influences Turkish politics through links to the ruling AK party

Is it possible to be a true religious believer and at the same time enjoy good relations with people of other faiths or none? Moreover, can you remain open to new ideas and new ways of thinking?

He promotes an open brand of Islamic thought and, like the Iran-born Islamic philosophers Seyyed Hossein Nasr and Abdolkarim Soroush, he is preoccupied with modern science

Unusually for a pious intellectual, he and his movement are at home with technology, markets and multinational business, and especially with modern communications

Sufism is integral to Ottoman as well as wider Islamic history, and in spite of attempts at repression, it remains popular and powerful in many Muslim countries

Tags: fethullah gulen

Israel Will Attack Iran with US Backing

Sat, 07 Jun 2008 10:21:30 GMT

clipped by: abailart

Clip Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Israel "will attack" Iran if it continues to develop nuclear weapons, one of prime minister Ehud Olmert's deputies warned yesterday. Shaul Mofaz, a former defence minister and a contender to replace the scandal-battered Olmert, said military action would be "unavoidable" if Tehran proved able to acquire the technology to manufacture atomic bombs.

Mofaz is Israel's transport minister, but he is also a former chief of staff, privy to secret defence planning as a member of the security cabinet, and leads regular strategic talks with the US. He implied that any attack on Iran would be coordinated with Washington. "If Iran continues with its programme for developing nuclear weapons, we will attack it," he told the Hebrew daily Yediot Aharonot. "The UN sanctions are ineffective."

Tags: israel, nuclear weapons

Israel's Nuclear War on Iran

Sat, 07 Jun 2008 10:19:30 GMT

clipped by: abailart

Clip Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Oil prices leaped to another record high yesterday as Israel warned Iran about its nuclear sites and the dollar slumped on news of the biggest jump in US unemployment for 22 years.

Already jittery oil markets were sent into spasm by remarks from Israel's transport minister that an attack on Iranian nuclear sites looked "unavoidable". Any attack on the country would threaten supplies from the whole region.

Shares dived after the US unemployment rate unexpectedly jumped to 5.5%, intensifying fears that the world's biggest economy is sliding into recession.

Tags: oil, recession, israel

Stained Glass

Sun, 04 May 2008 08:40:17 GMT

clipped by: JohnWaterman

Clip Source: www.stainedglassmuseum.com

References to stained glass in England date from the 7th century, and by the 12th century it had become a sophisticated art form.

Clip Source: en.wikipedia.org

Technical details

Clip Source: en.wikipedia.org

Large late 12th-c. window in Canterbury Cathedral with recently restored early 13th-c. glass showing details of metal supporting frame

Clip Source: en.wikipedia.org

Window in Canterbury Cathedral showing the pot metal and painted glass, lead H-sectioned cames, modern steel rods and copper wire attachments

Clip Source: en.wikipedia.org

European panel, 1564, with typical painted details, extensive silver stain, Cousin's rose on the face, and flashed ruby glass with abraded white motif

History

A perfume flask from 100 BCE-200 CE

The Portland Vase, a rare example of Roman flashed glass

Clip Source: en.wikipedia.org

Stained glass in the Nasir al-Mulk mosque in Shiraz, Iran

Medieval

Clip Source: en.wikipedia.org

Clip Source: www.stainedglassmuseum.com

Clip Source: en.wikipedia.org

Destruction and continuation

Clip Source: en.wikipedia.org

Revival

Clip Source: en.wikipedia.org

Clip Source: www.stainedglassmuseum.com

Clip Source: en.wikipedia.org

19th and early 20th century windows

Clip Source: en.wikipedia.org

Iran Pulls the Strings: oil is not well for Cheney

Fri, 04 Apr 2008 08:39:15 GMT

clipped by: abailart
clipper's remarks: Useful analysis of the complex matrix behind the geopolitical war to control Iraq.

Clip Source: www.atimes.com

The turf war in the Iraqi Shi'ite regions has several templates. Iraq's future as a unitary state; the parameters of acceptable federalism, if any; attitude towards the US; control of oil wealth; overvaulting political ambitions - all these are intertwined features of a complex matrix.

Tehran would be gratified that in any case it has made the point that it possesses awesome influence within Iraq. Anyone who knows today's anarchic Iraq would realize that triggering a new spiral of violence in that country may not require much ingenuity, muscle power or political clout.

to be able to summarily cry halt to cascading violence, and to achieve that precisely in about 48 hours, well, that's an altogether impressive capability in political terms. In this case, the Iranians have managed it with felicitous ease, as if they were just turning off a well-lubricated tap.

Cheney must be furious that Tehran torpedoed the entire US strategy for Big Oil.

Tags: iraq, iran

10 Most Beautiful Bridges in the World

Sat, 08 Mar 2008 08:55:32 GMT

clipped by: Aribeth
clipper's remarks: >>We’ve come a long way in bridge building since crossing a river on a fallen log. The first bridges were built with wooden planks, ropes and stones. Soon, stronger material were required. Wood and stone bridges gave way to iron, then to steel ones. Bridge building techniques also evolved: beam, cantilevered, cable-stayed, and suspension bridges - each with advantages that made it the right choice for a particular location.

Political fortunes and wars have been made or lost by bridges. Throughout history, bridges had been built by engineers and burned by warriors, and crossed by kings and commoners alike. Millions of people owe their livelihood to bridges, as most require them to commute; and yet thousands of people choose to end their lives by jumping off them every year.<<

Clip Source: www.neatorama.com

10. Khaju Bridge

Iran

9. Pont du Gard

spanning the Gard River in southern France

8. Bridge of Sighs

Legend has it that if lovers kissed on a gondola underneath the Bridge of Sighs at sunset, their love would last for eternity.

7. Iron Bridge

spanning the Severn river in Shropshir

England

6. Covered Bridges

5. Ponte Vecchio

The Ponte Vecchio is a medieval bridge over the Arno River. Actually, it’s much more than a bridge - it’s a street, a marketplace, and a landmark of Florence, Italy.

It is said that the word "bankruptcy" came from Ponte Vecchio. When a merchant failed to pay his debt, the table ("banco") he used to sell his wares was broken ("rotto") by soldiers. Not having a table anymore ("bancorotto"), meant the seller was bankrupt.

4. The Wind and Rain Bridge

in China.

3. Brooklyn Bridge

one of the main crossings of the East River and one of the most heavily trafficked bridges in the world

2. Tower Bridge

one of London’s most recognizable landmarks

1. Golden Gate Bridge

symbol of San Francisco