Virtual Magazine of Morocco on the Web
Morocco Week in Review 
May 10 , 2008

School Supplies Needed to Support Environmental Education in Morocco .
Donate your surplus school supplies to help Peace Corps volunteer Ashley Hollenbeck '06 promote environmental education in Morocco. Boxes are located around campus to accept donations.

Ashley Hollenbeck '06 is in her second year as a Peace Corps volunteer working for the Tamga Site of Biological/Ecological Importance (SIBE) located in the Azilal Province of Morocco. She works with the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Water/ Forests, and a local NGO addressing the issues of environmental education, waste management, and ecotourism. Hollenbeck recently designed a curriculum guide to use in classrooms and clubs throughout the region and will be training teachers this fall on how to implement environmental awareness in their schools.

The exploitation and overuse of natural resources is a growing problem in Morocco, particularly in rural areas. As an Environmental Studies major, Hollenbeck is no stranger to conservation and restoration. She believes that educating youth will help ensure the survival of native plant and animal species essential for community members future livelihood and quality of life.

Transporting and planting over 1,400 trees with only two weeks notice established Hollenbeck's credibility with the local community. She distributed a mix of Carob, Cyprus, and Eucalyptus trees to 40 farmers in the outlying agricultural area and helped school children plant the remaining trees on school grounds of five local schools. Hollenbeck's next challenge is to bring her environmental awareness curriculum to the classroom. However she needs resources to encourage both students and teachers to participate in the curriculum.

The plan is to provide each participant with a small kit of school supplies including crayons, markers, colored pencils, water colors, scissors, glue, erasers, pens, pencils, etc. Hollenbeck hopes this simple gesture will provide an incentive for teachers to diversify their curriculum to include environmental education components.

Moroccan teachers face a shortage of school supply resources. Many teachers purchase supplies out of their own pocket due to the lack of funding and resources. In response to this need, Hollenbeck has mobilized family and friends to help in gathering supplies. She adds, "There have been many people who have expressed interest in helping out while I am working over here, and I think I have figured out a way for people from home to contribute in a small way if they wish to."

Pacific students, staff, and faculty are invited to support Ashley's environmental education project in Morocco by donating new and used school supplies. Collection boxes will be available on campus at:

• Strain Hall (Office 102)
• Career Corner bulletin board (in UC by the old mailroom)
• Chapman Hall (Career Resource Center)

Hollenbeck's sister, mother, and grandmother will deliver the school supplies when they visit Morocco this July. Plans include shipping the school supplies should resources surpass weight limits. Questions can be directed to:

Shelby Hollenbeck
503-663-3610
shel1bean11@hotmail.com
Posted by Career Development Center (careerdevelopmentctr@pacificu.edu) on May 5, 2008 at 12:15 PM
http://www.pacificu.edu/news/detail.cfm?NEWS_ID=4835&CATEGORY_ID=23
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USAID receives prize at International Agriculture Show in Meknès.
Sarah Touahri  2008-04-30

The US Agency for International Development was recognised by King Mohammed VI at a recent agricultural trade show for its contributions to the country's agricultural development. Morocco awarded the Best International Participation prize to the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) at the third Moroccan International Agriculture Show (SIAM) Monday (April 28th) in Meknès.

Some 600 exhibitors representing 25 countries participated in the fair. More than a half million visitors viewed seven thematic sections covering all areas of agriculture, from supplies and livestock farming to products and mechanisation.

King Mohammed VI presented the trophy to USAID Agriculture Programme specialist Jawad Bahaji, representing the agency’s director in Morocco. The agency was among 39 economic operators honoured at the event's closing ceremony for efforts in the sector across the different regions of Morocco.

"This award translates the significant efforts that USAID/Morocco has been doing to develop Moroccan Agriculture for more than five decades and the sound and strong partnership with the agency’s public and private Moroccan counterparts, especially in Agriculture value chain development approach", Bahaji said in a statement to Magharebia. Through the five-year Integrated Agriculture and Agribusiness Programme (AAI), the agency is helping Moroccan agriculture and agro-industry respond favourably to new circumstances created by the free trade accord with the United States and other trade agreements with Morocco’s trading partners.

Aims of the 2005-2009 AAI initiative include: improving public policies and institutions; increasing agricultural and livestock production; improving competitiveness in agro-processing industries; and enhancing capacity to support competitive value chains. AAI consultant Brahim Soudi said that the approach for analysing agricultural production chains in Morocco, fine-tuned by USAID, is intended to improve the competitiveness of the sector by involving a large number of small producers and processors, with contributions from supporting actors and markets.

Future programs, such as the Millennium Challenge Compact – a five-year, $697.5m agreement aimed at reducing poverty and increasing Morocco's economic growth – will target improved productivity in this sector. "USAID richly deserves the prize, given its sustained action in support of agricultural development," said farmer Mohamed Brami. He explained that the agency's efforts are evident in both finance and guidance.

Brami cited an agency analysis of the olive oil production chain in the Saiss region, which "set out strategic directions to improve the chain’s competitiveness, including setting up companies to manage logistics, institutes to provide technical training in jobs relating to olive growing, and companies specialising in marketing olive products".

Fatiha Farrato of the Women and Rural Development association agreed that USAID initiatives have improved Moroccan agriculture. Awarding the trophy to USAID, she said, is the logical outcome of efforts made by the agency to promote and modernise the agriculture sector at the regional level. "As Morocco opens itself up and commits itself to strengthening commercial ties with other countries," she said, the agency's assistance will help bring "greater dynamism into the role of international companies". http://www.magharebia.com/cocoon/awi/xhtml1/en_GB/features/awi/features/2008/04/30/feature-03
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Morocco to pay parents to send children to school: minister.
Apr 26, 2008 RABAT (AFP)

Morocco is to pay parents to send children to schools in a system so bad that there is no drinking water in three quarters of rural establishments, the country's education minister said Saturday. Ahmed Akhchichine told the newspaper Journal Hebdomadaire that a new government programme would tackle neglect of the education of poor children especially in rural areas, saying a similar scheme had already proved effective in Mexico.

"We are going to pay parents to send their children to school," said Akhchichine. "At present, 75 percent of countryside schools have no drinking water and 80 percent have no toilets," he revealed. Before educational questions were addressed, he said, "we need facilities with a basic minimum of conditions: water, electricity, blackboards, hygiene, this is the priority of priorities."

Girls can give up going to school entirely because of the absence of toilet facilities, the minister admitted. Moroccan school education did not meet the hopes of society, he said. He added that 70 percent of university students were studying arts and letters, calling for institutions to re-focus their offerings.
http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5hPK1GzPVRbxfIY3JD1Z3cC7BFpvw
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Morocco launches English website on economy.
Casablanca, May.8

An English-language website dedicated to economy and finance in Morocco was launched Wednesday in Casablanca by the "Centre Marocain de Conjoncture" (CMC). The site, accessible through the URL www.moroccobusinessnews.ma, is dedicated to foreign investors in particular English-speaking countries," said the CMC chairman, Habib El Malki, at the launching ceremony.

It is the first electronic publication that specializes in economy in the English language, he added, noting that this website aims to ensure the opening of the Centre on the general public and support the Moroccan economy in its opening process to regional and international environment. This new interactive site is a platform for businessmen, policy makers, and academics seeking economic information about Morocco.

Created in 1990, the CMC is an independent and private observatory of the Moroccan economy. It is
http://www.map.ma/eng/sections/economy/morocco_launches_eng/view
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Scorpion stings kill 100 under 15s yearly in Morocco.
Essaouira (south), May 9

Scorpion stings kill about 100 under 15s every year, in a total of some 30,000 cases of scorpion poisoning documented yearly in Morocco, according to figures of the Centre national antipoison et de pharmacovigilance (CAPM) (poisons and drug monitoring center). To stem this scourge, a nationwide campaign themed "Together Save our Children from Death from Scorpion Stings," was launched on Friday in the city of Essaouira. It is meant to reduce by 30% the mortality rate.

Initiated by the CAPM, the campaign will be carried out under the aegis of the Health Ministry, in collaboration with the Province of Essaouira, the Mohammed VI Foundation for Research and the Protection of Argan Trees, and NGOs. Speaking on the occasion, king’s advisor and chairman of the Foundation, André Azoulay, stressed the need to fight scorpion stings in the city.

According to figures of the CAPM, 91 people died in 2006 of scorpion stings, compared to 98 in 2005 and 93 in 2004. Scorpion stings are the primary cause of 50 to 60 % of documented poisoning cases in Morocco. The north African country has more than 30 kinds of yellow and black scorpions. The latter remain the most dangerous, according to CAPM.
http://www.map.ma/eng/sections/box5/scorpion_stings_kill/view
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Factory blaze leaves 56 dead in Casablanca.
2008-04-27 Sarah Touahri and Mawassi Lahcen

Experts blamed non-compliance with safety regulations for a tragic fire Saturday in a mattress factory. Fifty-six people, unable to escape the building, perished in the blaze. Casablanca is in shock after a tragic fire broke out Saturday (April 26th) at the Rosamor Ameublements mattress factory in the Lyssassfa industrial zone, killing 56 and injuring 12 more. Nearly 100 workers were on site at the time of the blaze. Eyewitnesses place the time of the tragedy at around 10am, saying the fire spread quickly to all four floors of the factory. Fire fighters took until 6pm to bring the situation under control.

Mustapha Touil, Civil Defence Commander for the Wilaya of Greater Casablanca said the fire was difficult to control due to the quantity of flammable materials and chemicals stored in the factory. In a further challenge to rescue workers, he added, the metal gates to the building were sealed tightly and the windows barred. People living nearby did their best to save the workers while help was on its way. Using wooden beams, they tried to gain access to the building despite the rising flames and managed to save a few of the trapped employees.

One female survivor said she was working in the sewing workshop on the third floor when workers came from downstairs in a panic, explaining the situation. "We decided to go up to the roof," she said. "There, we found a ladder left behind by construction workers and some ropes... we used them to land on the roof of the adjacent building."

"We were working when the fire caught us by surprise," one young worker who escaped the blaze said through tears. "We tried to put it out with water but we weren’t able to. I broke a window on the second floor and jumped out."

There were conflicting reports early on about the correct number of workers inside the factory. Estimates ranged from 100 to 300, but one worker said: "The factory employs more than 200 workers, but they weren't all present because it was Saturday, and we only work for a half day."

Interior Minister Chakib Benmoussa travelled immediately to the scene of the disaster, announcing that the Prosecutor-General’s office has begun an inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the fire. "It is of the utmost importance that we launch an inquiry," he said. "We are going to question the owners of the factory to find out about the working conditions, the safety measures which were in place and the cause of the fire."

He also said that by order of the King, efforts will be made to provide support to the victims of the blaze and to console and assist the families of the victims, given the tragic circumstances. A team of counsellors has been formed to support those victims who were rescued.

Incidents of this kind raise the issue of safety standards in industrial buildings in Morocco. Mustapha Taouil, who led the rescue effort, blamed non-compliance with safety regulations: "We were surprised to find that the factory contained numerous chemical products. The premises had no basic emergency equipment, as is required by law. The staff worked behind closed doors, by order of the owner. This was what led to the high death toll."

Workers reported that the owner had expanded illegally to the fourth and fifth floors, undertaking the construction at night, and had even discussed converting the fifth floor into a restaurant. Quality control engineer Hassan El Ouazzani told Magharebia that safety and quality standards had not been observed in the factory. "It makes no sense for a four-storey block to be converted into a mattress factory. For this type of manufacturing you need a safety plan approved by the local authorities and emergency services," he explained. http://www.magharebia.com/cocoon/awi/xhtml1/en_GB/features/awi/features/2008/04/27/feature-01
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Saudi Arabia grants Morocco $500m to ease oil price pains.
2008-05-06

Saudi Arabia will grant Morocco $500m to mitigate the effects of soaring international prices on Morocco's oil bill, MAP reported on Monday (May 5th). The news was contained in a message from Abdallah Ibn Abdelaziz al-Saoud to King Mohammed VI, delivered by Saudi Arabia's ambassador to Morocco Mohamed Ben Abderrahman El Besher. Morocco's Office des Changes reported that crude oil imports in the first quarter of 2008 reached $1.1 billion, a 68.9% increase over the same period in 2007. http://www.magharebia.com/cocoon/awi/xhtml1/en_GB/features/awi/newsbriefs/general/2008/05/06/newsbrief-05
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Morocco: early produce exports up 16% through April.
2008-05-06

Morocco's global exports of early fruits and vegetables totalled 60,000 tonnes between January and April, a 16% rise over the same period last year, the ministry of agriculture and fisheries announced. Citrus exports, however, decreased 5% due to diminishing production. http://www.magharebia.com/cocoon/awi/xhtml1/en_GB/features/awi/newsbriefs/general/2008/05/06/newsbrief-06
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2.18 billion dollars in Morocco-Japan cooperation past decade, JBIC governor.
Rabat, May 9

Visiting governor of the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC), Koji Tanami, said on Thursday that cooperation relations between Morocco and Japan have totalled some USD 2.18Bn over the past ten years. During a meeting with Economy and Finance Minister, Salaheddine Mezouar, Mr. Tanamil voiced his country's will to pursue efforts to strengthen bilateral relations at the economic and financial levels.

For his part, Mr. Mezouar praised Japan's support to Morocco's development efforts, particularly in terms of opening up the rural areas, reinforcing basic infrastructures, and fighting poverty. JBIC governor, who is leading a large delegation including the Vice-President of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) on a working visit to Morocco (May 7-9), held also talks with Prime minister, Abbas El Fassi, and minister of Foreign Affairs, Taieb Fassi Fihri.
http://www.map.ma/eng/sections/last_world/2.18_billion_dollars/view
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85,000-year-old finery recovered in Moroccan cave.
By Agence France Presse (AFP)  Friday, May 09, 2008

RABAT: Archaeologists have uncovered shells used for finery by prehistoric communities 85,000 years ago in a cave in eastern Morocco, the country's heritage institute said Tuesday. A research team, led by archaeology and heritage institute (INSAP) member Abdel-Jalil Bouzouggar and Oxford University's Nick Barton, found the 20 perforated shells in a cave near Taforalt between March and April this year.

According to a statement from the Moroccan Ministry for Culture, the shells are the type prehistoric people would have worn. In 2007, Bouzouggar and Barton discovered 14 perforated shells in the same cave. "This discovery shows that the making and use of objects of finery is very anchored in the traditions of Morocco's prehistoric people," said Bouzouggar, in whose opinion the country is the original center of artistic and symbolic creation.

Objects of finery discovered in Morocco are "now considered to be even more ancient than those discovered in Algeria, South Africa and in Palestine," said the Culture Ministry. Known as the "cave of pigeons," the 30-meter-deep, 10-meter high cave is situated 50 kilometers from Morocco's Mediterranean coast. - AFP
http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=1&categ_id=4&Article_id=91831
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Students with famous Moroccan name build life at MSU.
May 05, 2008 -- Carol Schmidt, MSU News Service

The man with one of the most famous names in Morocco is a teaching assistant at Montana State University. Mohamed Zerktouni, grandson of a famous Moroccan martyr for whom streets and highways across the country are named, is a graduate student at MSU. Half a world away from his family home in Casablanca, Zerktouni is studying for a master's in public administration -- his second degree from MSU. He also serves as the on-campus teaching assistant for MSU's Arab language class.

In addition, Zerktouni's younger brother, Khalid, and sister, Hind, are also MSU students. "This is a safe and good place to go to school," says the eldest Zerktouni sibling whose name is something of a household word in his native Morocco, similar to Martin Luther King Jr. in the U.S.

Mohamed Zerktouni says it is a great honor to have the same name as his grandfather, who was martyred in the Moroccan war for independence from France. The elder Mohamed Zerktouni took poison in a French prison in 1954 rather than reveal the identity of his fellow revolutionaries. His son, the father of the MSU Zerktounis, was only six-years-old at the time.

"If you say the name (Mohamed Zerktouni) in Morocco, everyone knows it." Mohamed Zerktouni said. And while it is a great honor to share the name, it was also a bit freeing to attend school in a place where no one knew his name when Zerktouni showed up in Bozeman nine years ago.

Most Moroccans speak several languages. Mohamed spoke French and English in addition to Moroccan Arabic, and wanted to improve his English by attending school in the U.S. He attended Al Akhawayn University, MSU's sister university in Morocco's Atlas Mountains. The dean of students was a family friend and recommended MSU. "My parents thought (MSU) was a good idea," Mohamed said of his parents, Abdelkarim and Rachida Zerktouni. "They thought it would be a good place to study with few distractions."

Also, several of his friends already were studying at MSU. They told him MSU was a good place, everyone was friendly, and that it was cold. Indeed, when he first arrived it was 36 degrees below zero and he had a few misgivings that were quickly overcome. He said he was never lonely -- at the time there were 17 Moroccan students at MSU also from his university. He graduated in finance from MSU then worked in Los Angeles for three years at an accounting and payroll company. His parents urged him to return to MSU for graduate school. And truth be told, he looked forward to returning to Bozeman.

"My parents wanted me to go back to school before I got used to the income," he recalled. He said even though he liked Los Angeles, with a climate similar to Morocco's, "I worked too hard there."

Hind, who had graduated from a French school, was looking into attending a university in either France or the U.S. Since her brother was in Bozeman, she also selected MSU. She graduated from MSU with a bachelor's degree in computer engineering and is currently a graduate student in construction engineering management. She also works in Graduate and Family Housing. Younger brother, Khalid, who is studying business, came two years ago.

"All I have heard about since high school is Montana," Khalid said. He said the final Zerktouni sibling, a younger brother, will also one day attend MSU. However, now he is only nine years old. Since the Zerktounis have arrived at MSU, several MSU officials, including MSU President Geoff Gamble and Provost David Dooley have visited the Zerktouni family in Morocco. Gamble, who was the recipient of some of Morocco's legendary hospitality when he visited the country and the Zerktounis last summer, said the family emblemizes the value of international education.

"The Zerktounis are a wonderful family and we appreciate that they have entrusted MSU with the education of their children," Gamble said. "In turn, MSU is enhanced by the culture and experience that students such as the Zerktounis bring to our university."

Mohamed said he and his siblings have built a home-away-from home in Bozeman, where he has passionately learned to ski. He plans to return to Morocco after he gets his graduate degree next year to work, perhaps with the Moroccan government. Hind would like to try her hand working at a multinational company in the U.S. before she returns home to start her own business. After he graduates from MSU, Khalid would also like to get some work experience in America before he returns home.

"Morocco is still expanding so there are many opportunities," Khalid said. All three of the Zerktounis say their future plans will be enriched by their education at MSU, where they have become adept at speaking English. They say when they leave they will take many memories of their American home."Our best memory will be the people we have met here, all the friends," Hind said."Back home you wouldn't say hello to someone you didn't know. Here it was almost a shock to have people saying hello."

Norm Peterson, Vice Provost for International Education, who has also visited the Zerktouni home in Casablanca, said that MSU has benefitted by having the family Zerktouni in Bozeman. "Mohamed, Hind, and Khalid are great students and wonderful ambassadors for Morocco," Peterson said. "Their story illustrates that we have so much to learn about other nations and their cultures from our international student community on the Bozeman campus."Debra DeBode (406) 994-7180, debode@montana.edu
http://www.montana.edu/cpa/news/nwview.php?article=5888
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Female rappers win Morocco's first national hip-hop competition.
2008-05-07 By Imane Belhaj

Ten hip-hop and breakdance groups from across Morocco competed at the Ouf du Bled music festival Saturday in Casablanca. Female rappers Flow Tigresses and breakdance troupe Anti Boys Crew won the final vote. The recent "Ouf du Bled" music festival in Casablanca was more than a great showcase of Moroccan hip-hop and rap talent; it was also the first-ever national hip-hop music and breakdance competition. After winning regional contests, ten groups from across the country performed for fans at Cinéma Rialto on Saturday (May 3rd). The audience voted to push female rappers Flow Tigresses and breakdance troupe Anti Boys Crew straight to victory.

Organisers were pleased with the large turnout. Najlaa Naoumi of the contest's judging panel said the national festival attracted nearly 1,000 spectators when about 600 were expected. The festival was a golden opportunity for talented bands to go up on stage and perform before the Casablanca public, Naoumi said, not to mention offering new talent a chance to meet established bands such as Casa Crew, Fez Clan City and Casa Urban Show.

Event organisers Centaure Agency and "L'boulevard des jeunes musiciens" saw the growing appeal of hip-hop culture to young people and became convinced that the festival would be a success, she explained. In the future, she said, the festival will be the voice of youth through which "they can express whatever goes on in their minds".

Thirty years after the appearance of Nass El Ghiwane, the Moroccan music scene is witnessing a revolution. Young people think hip-hop is about ideas and aspirations as much as it is about art. Most rap and hip-hop artists assert that their message condemns violence and calls for peace, optimism, love of life and the bold expression of youth issues.

One sign that hip-hop could indeed be the musical expression of the future is that male and female artists can compete with each other and be evaluated as equals. The Ouf du Bled competition winner, Flow Tigresses, is made up of four young women between 17 and 20 years of age. Spectator Nadia Safi, who said she is "a passionate fan of rap", voted for Hind, Sofia, Faten and Wahiba because "they could one day represent feminine rap". Concert headliners Casa Crew, Fez Clan City and Casa Urban Show performed their best-known works and encouraged novices to keep pursuing their goals.

"It is not a question of winning, though we surely wish to. This is more about participating," said Muhamed, whose group Flow Man competed at the festival. "We managed to establish contacts with a number of interested people and organisers of such events. We will definitely have another opportunity to show our talents, which is a great motive to put more effort into this," he told Magharebia.

The festival also included a breakdance competition. Groups showed distinguished talents through complicated moves that dazzled the audience. "They are true athletes and artists, because their dance moves are really difficult," said 12-year-old Nabil. "What is even more amazing is that they have outdone the original creators of breakdance." Competitors at Ouf du Bled went through early rounds in their hometowns and provinces across Morocco. The contest field was ultimately narrowed to 6 rap and hip-hop bands and 4 breakdance troupes for the Casablanca event. http://www.magharebia.com/cocoon/awi/xhtml1/en_GB/features/awi/features/2008/05/07/feature-02
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Morocco seeks to promote use of generic medicines.
2008-05-02 Sarah Touahri

Morocco's Health Ministry plans to expand the use of generic medicines in the private sector. While consumers would benefit from the lower prices, trade agreements and patent restrictions could hinder the sector's growth. While generic drugs are commonly used in Morocco's state-run hospitals, accounting for up to 90 % of the public-sector market, they have a long way to go before they see the same saturation in the private sector. A new policy announced by the Health Ministry aims to promote the use of generic medicines and keep drug prices in line with citizens' purchasing power.

Speaking at a forum organized by the Moroccan Association of Public Sector Pharmacists (AMPSP), Health Minister Yasmina Baddou said she wants to revitalise the generic medicine sector and increase its market share from its current 25%. A new plan is needed, she told attendees at the April 15th event in Rabat, because measures thus far have been "insufficient for a strong and sustained promotion of generic drugs".

The Health Ministry's plan hinges upon a price-fixing policy designed to rein in healthcare spending and achieve parity between imported and locally-manufactured drugs. "Generic medicines allow us to save a lot in hospitals," said Abdelaziz Agoumi, the ministry's director of drugs and pharmacy. He added that when invitations to tender are made, the least expensive drugs end up in hospitals.

AMPSP President Hachmi Bouzbib affirmed that generic drugs are equal in quality to name-brand medicines. However, they are much more affordable for the public, with the lowest prices equal to just 20-50% of those of name-brand drugs. But according to the Moroccan Pharmaceutical Industry Association (AMIP), only 60 million units of generic medicines are sold among the estimated total of 200 million units in the private sector each year. And despite their affordability, generics have only risen from 19 to 30% of sales in the past ten years.

Abdelmajid Belaiche, who works in the pharmaceutical industry, said generic medicines enable the health insurance system to cater to healthcare needs and keep expenditures to a minimum. This means that insurers can balance their books and thereby ensure that they are viable and sustainable. "We need to increase access to drugs and especially those for chronic and serious illnesses. Generics are a key means of increasing access to healthcare for the public and in particular the most disadvantaged people in society," he says.

However, some laboratories which produce branded drugs are against the idea of producing generics en masse. According to medical representative Fatima Ayyachi, laboratories strive to earn the loyalty of doctors who prescribe name-brand drugs. "Laboratories are doing everything they can to consolidate their position," she said.

Meanwhile, the president of the executive committee of the Pan-African Treatment Access Movement, Othman Mellouk, told Magharebia that generics cannot be promoted without tackling the issue of patents, a major hurdle. He explained that since the adoption of the Free Trade Agreement between Morocco and the United States, Morocco has gone from having a patent-free system to a restrictive system which must be relaxed if the generics market is to grow.

"We need to promote [generics] in order to encourage Moroccans to seek healthcare, particularly for chronic illnesses. Many Moroccans go without treatment because of the staggering cost of drugs," Dr. Mohamed Serghini told Magharebia. "Generic drugs have the same effect as branded ones. The only difference is in terms of price." http://www.magharebia.com/cocoon/awi/xhtml1/en_GB/features/awi/features/2008/05/02/feature-01
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Employment: Training, job market gap still there. 
5/8/2008

Employment was once again at the centre of discussions, but this time among 150 researchers and professionals coming from the four corners of the world, as part of the Third Annual Conference on Employment and Development, held in the conference centre of Skhirat on May 5-6, 2008. Organised by the World Bank and the Institute for the Study of Labour (IZA), the conference tried to provide recommendations and benchmarking; most of these emphasised the harmonisation of training and the job market.

In other words, it is the right balance to strike between the capacity of a nation to finance “bad” jobs in order to reduce unemployment and the creation of real added value through “good jobs” that are based on competence. Morocco, then, has to work harder to avoid creating jobs with weak added value, since they weigh heavy on the public budget or constitute a social burden on the company without really creating wealth.
This conclusion was in line with the idea of the president of the confederation of bosses (CGEM), My Hafid El Alamy, who sees that a big increase of the minimum wage runs the risk of harming the country's competitiveness.

The minister of employment, for his part, seems to be aware of the challenges ahead. But his objective of reducing unemployment to 7% by 2012 has to be realisable, in the sense that most of the criteria should be revised. Or else, the creation of bad jobs may slow the national economic growth. It is not an easy job, however. The national organisation in charge of promoting employment (ANAPEC) has been trying for a long time. Today, the advisors hired by this organisation are currently working on the establishment a bridge between the converted profiles and the enterprise.

The precariousness of salaries and the fear of flexibility remain the two main hurdles. The labour law, as well, has to be taken into account to accelerate the process of upgrading and promoting employment in Morocco. The government, thus, has only one choice, which is finding optimal solutions, along with the numerous workshops launched throughout the kingdom, since the current competitive environment strongly calls for better trained human resources.
http://www.moroccobusinessnews.com/Content/Article.asp?idr=18&id=43
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Morocco training female clerics to promote moderate Islam.
* Mourchidat are required to memorise holy Quran, study modern subjects

LAHORE: Morocco has recently started recruiting and training mourchidat, female Muslim clerics whose role is to help usher in a more moderate Islam, according to a report published in the Telegraph on Saturday. The Dar al-Hadith al-Hassania – a madrassa training the mourchidat (female guide) – is training a second batch of 50 female students, after a first batch of 50 graduated in April 2006.

Men and women learn side by side, but only men will be able to lead prayers. The mourchidat help women with religious questions, with their education and give support in schools and prisons. The long-term hope is that by working face-to-face with the community, they will help foster a more moderate Islam. Funded by the government, the initiative is part of a wave of liberal reforms begun by King Muhammad VI in 2004. “This is a rare experiment in the Muslim world,” Muhammad Mahfudh, the centre’s director, said.

Modern approach: More than 400 women applied for the 50 places. The prerequisites are an entrance exam, an interview and a BA degree. Candidates are also required to have a life grounded in the teachings of the holy Quran, by which is meant memorising it, and to have an understanding of tajwid, the art of Quranic recital. The course includes Islamic studies, psychology, sociology, computer skills, economy, law and business management, along with three hours of homework a day.

“We want to help people know the Quran and to promote flexibility, and there are a lot of problems in our society - social, political, all,” one student, Halima Kachkach, 29, said. “Before the mourchidat, women had no one to answer their questions,” said Dr Rajaa Naji el Mekkaoui, an expert in family law at the Université Mohamed-V in Rabat, and one of the architects of the mourchidat programme.

“They will try to find the answers in other areas, from fundamentalist imams - and this is a big risk to society. If they ask that if they are authorised to work, the imams will say, ‘No, that is not allowed’. If a woman asks ‘what must I wear’, they will say, ‘She must be covered with the veil’.” El Mekkaoui believes that the mourchidat are a liberating force for women, and an inhibitor for radicalism.

The idea for the mourchidat was first discussed in 2003, but its roots go back to 1999, when Mohammed VI came to the throne. But the landmark event that paved the way for the mourchidat took place in 2003. In a radical break with tradition, the king invited el Mekkaoui to give the Ramadan lecture at the royal palace in Rabat, attended by members of the government, high-ranking military officials and foreign ambassadors. It was the first time a woman had even been allowed to enter the room, let alone permitted to speak.

On graduation, each mourchidat is assigned a mosque, which can be anywhere in Morocco, although the ministry in charge aims to find somewhere close to their families. The mourchidat offer spiritual advice and teach women the holy Quran, but also discuss more contentious gender-related issues — about sex, womenn’s health, what to do if your husband beats you — issues that women would not dream of asking an imam. They are paid 5,000 dirhams (£420) a month, and work long hours, both in and outside the mosque..

Since the introduction of the mourchidat, Turkey has also challenged traditional Islamic gender roles with the appointment of 450 women as preachers - or vaize. The Diyanet, or Directorate of Religious Affairs, which controls the Islamic faith in Turkey but also tries to improve women’s rights, sees the appointment of female vaize as a crucial step forward. daily times monitor
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2008%5C04%5C27%5Cstory_27-4-2008_pg7_11
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Morocco is truly exotic.
Sunday, April 27, 2008 BY JUDE TOWNEND | THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Morocco is probably best known for cities like Fez, Casablanca and Marrakech. But this country in the northwest corner of Africa is actually a place of dramatic variety. Even on a one-week visit, it's feasible to fit in a trip to a major city or two, in addition to exploring rural areas. Explore undulating desert dunes, the magnificent Atlas Mountains, or a tranquil beach like those found near Agadir. Or visit the Volubilis Roman ruins near Meknes, the dinosaur footprints near Azilal, or eerily quiet Berber villages around Imlil, at the base of Mount Toubkal.

The ancient city of Fez is known for its architecture, medina (the old part of the city) and Karaouine Mosque and University, dating from 859. In Marrakech, by day you can explore the Saadian tombs and the luscious Marjorelle Garden, and by night the famous Djemaa El Fna square, with its food stalls, entertainers and peddlers.

In Casablanca, the modern, giant Hassan II mosque looks like it's melting into the sea at sunset. And for fans of the 1942 Humphrey Bogart movie, head to Rick's Cafe, opened by American Kathy Kriger in 2004, a marvelous evocation.

Americans living in Morocco advise that there's no such thing as a "must-see" list. "There are many places beyond Marrakech that people should consider putting on their agenda," said Vanessa Noel Brown, from Washington D.C.

The U.S Department of State warns that the "potential for terrorist violence" in Morocco is high. But the number of American visitors to Morocco is slowly increasing, according to statistics from the tourist board and the U.S. Embassy here. In 2007, 131,000 Americans visited, 13 percent more than in 2006, when 115,000 Americans arrived.

"Americans like Morocco - they get a taste of the Arabic world, without having to go to the Middle East," said Yassine Naciri, who works at a mid-range hotel in Marrakech. His hotel, Marhbabikoum, like many, is of the traditional "riad" style: quaintly decorated rooms built around a tiled courtyard, gently lit by candlelight in the evening. The very best riads are complete with an in-house "hammam," an opulent version of traditional Moroccan communal bathhouses.

It is also possible to stay in a restored kasbah. There are hundreds of them around the country; they once served as fortresses for the most important families. Some stand empty now, while others have been turned into luxury hotels. But budget travelers can also find cheap hostels and guesthouses all over the country, for as little as $10 a night.

Foreigners can expect to attract attention, especially in the more touristy areas, where touts - people who offer unsolicited services for tips - are desperate for business. English is more and more widely spoken, according to Hamid Khairi, founder of the Morocco section of CouchSurfers, the U.S-based accommodation swap Web site. "But basic French is useful," he said.

Morocco's culinary splendor needs little translation however; the superb fusion of French and Middle-Eastern fare speaks for itself. The renowned sugary mint tea is drunk throughout the day, and at greater frequency the farther south you go.

Islam is central to Moroccan life and on the main religious day of Friday, shops and businesses frequently shut for most of the afternoon. Women may want to dress modestly in respect to local customs. For travelers saving their dirhams (the local currency, currently about seven to the dollar), sharing a "grand-taxi" which seats two in the front, and four in the back, is the most convenient way to get between towns and villages. The smaller "petit-taxis," a different color in each town, are limited to three people but Moroccan law does not allow them to leave their designated city.
http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080427/LIFE09/804270314/1052/LIFE
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The best of Morocco .
Vol XXXI NO. 37 Saturday 26 April 2008 

MOROCCAN cuisine, fashion, art, music and culture will be the focus of a 10-day festival that begins at the Albareh Art Gallery, Adliya, on Tuesday. The festival, entitled Morocco: Colours, Sounds and Flavours, is being organised by the gallery and the Moroccan Embassy. It will open at 7pm on Tuesday and will continue until May 8. The festival will begin with three days of fashion shows by Morocco-based designer Fatima Benhaida, who will present Andalusia fashion from the 18th century up to the beginning of the 20th century and pieces from her own collection.

Moroccan oud player Said Charibi and France-based classical singer Naziha Meftah will also perform on each of the three nights. A gala dinner that will feature a number of traditional dishes prepared by a Moroccan chef will be served during the three-day event, starting at 9pm each night.

Art critic Dr Moulim El Arousi, will discuss the movement of contemporary art in Morocco and around the world on Wednesday and May 3. The lectures will begin at 6pm on both nights. Various artworks by artists Hakim Al Ghazali, Mohamed Al Mourabiti, Amal Besheir, Kenza Benjelloun and Hassan Nadim will also be unveiled at 7pm on Tuesday.

They will remain on display at the gallery daily from 10am to 1pm and from 4pm to 8pm until May 8. Entry to the gallery is free and all are welcome. The festival is being held under the patronage of Shaikha Hessa bint Khalifa Al Khalifa, the wife of Southern Governor Shaikh Abdulla bin Hamad Al Khalifa.

Tickets for the three-day show are priced at BD25 each and seating is limited.
Contact 39069016, 39439595, 36365611 or 17717707 or e-mail art@albareh.com for more information.
http://www.gulf-daily-news.com/Story.asp?Article=215636&Sn=BNEW&IssueID=31037
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A plan to boost agriculture unveiled.
By Kaci Racelma. Friday 25 April 2008

Seeking to revive the agricultural sector in the face of an increasing global food crisis, the Moroccan government has decided to opt for a new strategy. This new strategy which is spread over a period of ten years, will focus on improving the situation of farmers and creating employment and wealth.

The minister of agriculture Aziz Akhenouche, unveiled a new investment plan last week. The plan spread over a period if 10 years aims at boosting the Moroccan economy as well as elevating the standard of living of Moroccans. The new strategy will also consist of providing farmers with technical and financial assistance to increase their production.

The 11 billion Dirham plan consists of the creation of a national agricultural fund as well as the development of over 1500 new projects including the development of rural farming. It also tackles lasting solutions on issues concerning working conditions in the farming sector, subsidies for irrigation and other farming equipment, the establishment of storage and marketing units for farm produce, and the intensification of livestock operations.

The minister believes that the backlog caused by complicated procedures must give way to a new "one-stop shop" to help improve the Moroccan farming sector. It is in this light that the current legislated average wait of 13 months for financial aid, considered too long, is being reviewed to cut it to only 40 days.

The new farming policy aims at promoting and guiding private investment, through targeted subsidies, and focusing on activities which would make better use of the country’s agricultural potential. Ten regional funds are also about to be launched in addition to the national fund to allow farmers to increase their production. This new strategy has been applauded by Moroccan farmers.
http://en.afrik.com/article13375.html
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BRAvery Campaign Bras donated to organisation in Morocco.
gibfocus - 24th April 2008

A total of just under 2000 bras were taken over to Tangier and presented to Malika Benslimane, the President of the Moroccan Association of Women Entrepreneurs for Economic and Social Development (AMFEDES North-South). The bras, the result of an eight month awareness campaign spearheaded in Gibraltar by Aimée Montovio of AiméeJay Intimates, will be put to good use in Morocco in areas where extreme poverty makes it difficult for women to own bras. The group of Moroccan women entrepreneurs co-ordinate their efforts with the aim of helping women find their way into the business world and ensuring an active role in the process of socio-economic development. They are very involved in supporting initiatives of a charitable nature and have close links with the Gibraltar Business Network.

‘We are delighted to have made this link with the Association in Tangier,’ said Mark Montovio who co-ordinated the BRAvery campaign. ‘We wanted the bras to be put to good use, and after creating the chain in Main Street several months ago and then washing the bras, we made use of the close links that Myra Zayas, of the GBN has with the group in Tangier. We are aware that the association is planning training in management and assistance for setting up projects. They are also seriously involved in the social aspect, to include the fight against illegal immigration, raising public awareness and involvement in helping troubled young Moroccans obtain professional qualifications. Another major initiative is putting together a study project for the creation of a drug rehabilitation centre in Tangier.’

The BRAvery Campaign was a great success. The goal was to gather at 11am on the weekend before Valentine's Day and make a bra chain the length of Main Street, beginning outside the ICC building and ending outside Convent Place. An hour and a half later, and after tying together one thousand three hundred and sixty four bras, the chain was extended to the gates at the entrance of town and saw its conclusion at Referendum Gates. ‘We had hoped to get together as many people as possible to raise funds and create awareness in support of Sonia Golt’s message – Early detection equals survival. A total of £1466.94 was raised throughout the campaign which is still in the process of being allocated to a breast cancer related project.’

Competing with the fierce winds on the day and the bitter cold, the chain grew slowly but efficiently as ladies tied a representative balloon every nine bras to indicate the fact that one in nine women will be diagnosed with the disease.

Aimée Montovio, was very clear about her message. 'It is very important to make ladies aware of their general breast health. Part of this is making sure they wear a correctly fitted bra. Bras are not meant to hurt the breast but support the breast tissue, but very often women put up with the discomfort of wearing a small cup that can cause breast tenderness and even fluid filled cysts in the breasts. An important part of the BRAvery campaign was to encourage women to ditch ill-fitting bras in favour of a professionally fitted bra.'

Mount Productions and AiméeJay Intimates would like to thank all those people who supported the event and ensured that the message was heard loud and clear.
http://www.gibfocus.gi/details_todaysnews.php?id=3484
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The grotto of Rhafas (Morocco)
jeudi 24 avril 2008
Human behaviour and the environment in the Paleolithic and Neolithic periods in eastern Morocco : the grotto of Rhafas Luc WENGLER

Located in the north-east of Morocco, the grotto of Rhafas above all contains information on the Middle Palaeolithic period, between 50,000 and more than 100,000 years ago, thanks to a long stratigraphic series and, to a lesser extent, on the Neolithic period in the region in around 3500 B.C. It is of great interest, since there has long been doubt as to the existence of a native Mousterian in the Maghreb, due to the very small number of sites where this culture is found despite intensive research. Knowledge of this culture from the Middle Palaeolithic period, as well as its successor, the Atherian, characterised by its pedunculated items, is still embryonic in this region ; only working hypotheses relating to their origin and evolution have been formulated. The way of life of these populations, their behaviour in the face of changes to the environment and their social organisation are almost unknown to us. It is currently thought that these cultures are in fact pre-modern homo sapiens sapiens cultures, and not Neanderthal cultures like those found in Europe, giving them special prominence in the study of the origins of modern man. Apart from this anthropological aspect, the problems cited above remain for more recent periods, in particular that in which the Neolithic culture develops, knowledge of which often rests on ancient studies that have proven insufficient to deal with current issues relating to the on evolution of societies and require the study of new finds.

The scientific issue
The interest in the grotto of Rhafas consists of the richness of the documents that produced by the different geological layers, both in terms of archaeology and the environment in which people lived during the Mousterian, Atherian and Middle Neolithic periods. On the other hand, with its numerous geological layers, one can envisage the changes in the environment and cultures of the Middle Palaeolithic period in a particular area.

Paleoethnology of the Middle Palaeolithic period
Using fragments, animal remains and different materials, it is possible to discover certain aspects of the way of life of prehistoric man, to clarify the nature of his relationship with his environment and to learn about some of his behaviours. To meet these objectives, archaeological remains must be studied on a naturalistic, multidisciplinary level, in order to obtain as much information as possible, both on the environment and the material culture left behind by prehistoric man. When the settlement area has not been too disturbed during and after visits, this also requires that these remains be included in the organisation of the site as they are discovered, in order to be able to interpret the space in which he lived. Yet, some Mousterian archaeological levels uncovered since the first survey have been perfectly preserved, making the grotto of Rhafas a special place of study to understand how people used the space at their disposal and what role this site played in their subsistence economy. This, in return, will require the excavation of a large area of the hollow, an indispensable requirement in order to obtain a global vision of how it was used.

Thus, the objective is to acquire fundamental information on the knowledge of Mousterian and Atherian cultures in the Maghreb, both environmental and paleoethnological. The first information shows that the grotto was periodically settled by small groups of hunter-gatherers, whose territory extended for more than 100km from north to south. They also evolved in the steppes and in the Thuyas woodland that surrounded the grotto. Hunting supplied them with horses, buffalo, gazelles and wild ox, as well as rhinoceros and small game. The grotto of Rhafas also provides a rare opportunity to study the mechanisms of the evolution of cultures since the Middle Palaeolithic period. In addition to the discrete modifications to collections of tools during the Mousterian period, one can also study on this site the passage from the Mousterian to the Atherian periods, which until now no find has been able to deal with in detail, and to envisage the problems associated with invention and innovation in these cultures.

Neolithic shepherds
Much closer to us, people from the Middle Neolithic period established themselves in the grotto of Rhafas on several occasions. The remains that they left behind show that they used pottery with contours and threaded combed decoration, with round or cone-shaped bottoms. They used polished axes, but the main items in their collection of tools and weapons consisted of items fitted with blades or thin blades made from hard stones. For them, the hollow was a refuge where they could pen their herds of sheep and goats. Above all, this shepherd population hunted for small game and was not familiar with cereal cultivation. The excavation of the grotto of Rhafas, therefore, was envisaged as a global, interdisciplinary project where a regional approach is essential from the point of view of the environment and sites that people were able to visit, with the grotto of Rhafas being just one of these sites. The expected results in this regard will have repercussions for related disciplines involved in this study.

Bibliography
WENGLER L., 1997 - Le passage du Moustérien à l’Atérien. L’Anthropologie, Paris, t.101, no.3, p. 448-481.
WENGLER L., M. El AZZOUZI, J. BROCHIER, A. MERGAA, N. MERCIER, J.-L. REYSS, H. VALLADAS and B.WENGLER, 1998 - La grotto du Rhafas (eastern Morocco) et les recherches sur le Paléolithique moyen, in ”Plus d’un siècle de recherches archéologiques au Maroc", Colloque International et Premières Journées Nationales d’Archéologie et du Patrimoine de la Société Marocaine d’Archéologie et du Patrimoine, 1-4 July 1998 Rabat, Morocco. In preparation.

WENGLER L., 2001 - Settlements during the Middle Paleolithic of the Maghreb. In : N. Conard Ed.,”Settlement dynamics of the Middle Paleolithic and Middle Stone Age”. Kerns Verlag, Tübingen, Germany, p. 65-89.

WENGLER L, WENGLER B., BOUZOUGGAR A., EL AZZOUZI M., BERNOUSSI R., BROCHIER J.E., DELIBRIAS G., FALGUERES C., MERCIER N., MERGAA A., MOFTAQIR L., MOHIB A., NAMI M., REYSS J.L., VALLADAS H. and VERNET J.L, 2001 - La grotto du Rhafas : site Neolithic et Paleolithic moyen du Maroc oriental. XIVe Congrès de l’Union Internationale des Sciences Pré- et Protohistoriques, 2-8 September 2001, Liège, Belgium. Forthcoming title.

Works financed by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs in partnership with different universities, the CNRS and the CEA and the Institut National des Sciences de l’Archéologie et du Patrimoine, Rabat, Morocco.
http://journal3.net/spip.php?article235
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95% of human rights violations victims were indemnified, Minister.
Rabat, May 8

Ninety-five percent of the victims of human rights violations in Morocco, who were listed by the Equity and Reconciliation Commission (IER), have received compensations, Justice Ministry, Abdelwahed Radi stated on Wednesday. The remaining five percent did not receive their compensations for personal reasons, the minister said before parliament in a note read on his behalf by Minister in Charge of Relations with the Parliament, Saad Alami.

IER was created in 2004 to seek out-of-court settlement of human rights breaches committed in Morocco between 1956 and 1999. It has conducted investigations until 2006 and validated 8,070 files of rights victims, recommending compensations amounting to USD 80Mn. Concerning individual damage, the ministry, Mr. Radi said, is working in conjunction with the Advisory Council for Human Rights (CCDH) to solve administrative and social insertion cases. The minister recalled an agreement, entered into force past September, to include rights victims and their families in the compulsory health insurance.

The regions of Figuig, Errachidia, Zagora, Khenifra, Ourzazate, Al Hoceima and Casablanca are ....
http://www.map.ma/eng/sections/imp_social/95_of_human_rights/view
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Unemployment rate drops to 9,6% as of February.
Rabat, May 8

The rate of unemployment in Morocco posted a decrease from 10,1 to 9,6% over the past three months, despite the difficult economic juncture, Moroccan Communication Minister, government spokesman, revealed on Thursday. In a press briefing at the end of the weekly cabinet meeting, Mr. Khalid Naciri said, quoting Moroccan Prime Minister, Abbas El Fassi, that the national economy created 84,000 jobs in the sector of services, 81,000 in public buildings and works sector and 52,000 in the industry sector. http://www.map.ma/eng/sections/social/unemployment_rate_dr_1/view
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Morocco earmarks 1.3 million dollars to boost NGOs' action.
Fez (center), May 3

The Moroccan government said it has earmarked MAD 10Mn (about USD 1.34Mn) in 2008 to boost the work of some 2,000 NGOs of the north African kingdom. The announcement was made Saturday by Moroccan Minister of Social Development, Family and Solidarity, Nouzha Skalli, who was speaking at a meeting on "The Launch of the Qualification Process of Associations". She said this amount is part of a program devised by her department, and that will extend on the period 2008-2010 to benefit a total of 6,000 associations across the country.

A plan envisages a two-fold action to boost the work of associations, she said. First, elaborating and adopting an "Ethical Charter" to govern the action of NGOs, and selecting two research departments that will accompany the qualification process of the associations. The second phase includes the achievement of organizational and institutional diagnoses for associations and pinpoint the strong and weak points so as to reinforce their capacities, and improve the institutional, legal, fiscal and accountability environment in which they are operating. The meeting is part of a series of meetings planned across the country to inform associations of the qualification program and persuade them to join in, before the start of diagnoses.
http://www.map.ma/eng/sections/social/morocco_earmarks_1.3/view
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A taste of Morocco from the barbecue.
Saturday May 10th, 2008 Jim Romanoff  THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

When it's grilling season, it's much easier to avoid the takeout dinner trap. Spending a few minutes in the morning creating a quick marinade for a healthy protein such as chicken or fish can ensure you have a tasty entrée ready for quick cooking on the grill when you get home.

But when you leave food in a marinade all day, it's important to select your ingredients with care. Marinades usually are made with either acidic ingredients (such as vinegar and citrus juices) or enzymatic ingredients (such as pineapple and papaya juices). Both are excellent for adding flavour, but can change the texture of the food during a long soak, and not always for the better. Highly acidic marinades can often toughen food, while those with enzymatic ingredients can make the surface of the food mushy.

A better choice for an all-day marinade is yogurt, which is only mildly acidic. Yogurt marinades have tenderizing qualities and add great flavour. Plus, yogurt helps the other flavourings in the marinade permeate the meat rather than just sit on the surface. This helps the taste linger after grilling. Even with a yogurt marinade you will want to choose your meat or fish carefully. Delicate fleshed fish such as catfish or tilapia don't hold up well sitting in a marinade for more than an hour or two. Instead, choose firmer fish such as tuna, swordfish or salmon, which can marinate for up to eight hours.

These Moroccan-style chicken breasts are succulent and the yogurt marinade caramelizes while grilling, creating a beautiful golden crust.

Try serving this dish on top of a salad made with the larger-sized pearl couscous, chopped tomatoes, cucumbers, olives and some crumbled feta cheese all tossed in a lemon juice-olive oil dressing.

MOROCCAN-STYLE CHICKEN BREASTS
Start to finish: 20 minutes, plus 6 to 10 hours marinating
Servings: 4
75 ml (1/3 cup) plain nonfat yogurt
75 ml (1/3 cup) chopped fresh cilantro
15 ml (1 tbsp) extra-virgin olive oil
15 ml (1 tbsp) minced garlic
5 ml (1 tsp) sweet paprika
5 ml (1 tsp) cumin
1 ml (1/4 tsp) salt
1 ml (1/4 tsp) black pepper
500 g (1 lb) boneless, skinless chicken breasts
In a small bowl, mix together the yogurt, cilantro, oil, garlic, paprika, cumin, salt and pepper.
Place the chicken in a shallow dish and spread with half of the yogurt mixture; turn the chicken over and spread with the remaining yogurt mixture. Cover and refrigerate for 6 to 10 hours.

Preheat a gas grill to high or prepare a charcoal fire. Grill the chicken until it is cooked through and no longer pink at the centre, about 5 minutes per side.

Nutrition information per serving: 179 calories; 49 calories from fat; 5 g fat (1 g saturated; 0 g trans fats); 66 mg cholesterol; 3 g carbohydrate; 27 g protein.
http://telegraphjournal.canadaeast.com/article/292223
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Tangier Jazz Festival - Tanjazz 2008
Morocco Newsline Sunday, 04 May 2008

Once again, now in its 9th year, TANJAzz will bring jazz-lovers, fans and the uninitiated, to the city of the Strait, to listen to all stripes of cosmopolitan, relaxed and upbeat jazz. This year there are many new aspects of the programming and organization to discover: uncommon musicians, new locations, new sponsors and exciting programming.

After a detour to the lawns of the Cricket Club in 2007 (because of the new public gardens in the Mendoubia), TANJAzz is returning to the city center. The festival is putting down roots in Moulay Hafid Palace des Institutions Italiennes, just steps away from the Grand Socco. The two main stages, which will host two concerts a day, will be located in this superbly restored building. The concerts will take place at 7:30pm on the Comarit Stage and 10:30pm on the BMCI Stage.

There will also be two locations for the after-party: Castel Palace, where the music will be more than just for listening; it will be for dancing, from 10pm to 3am, and the Glenfiddich Club, where we recommend you reserve your table to continue swinging until dawn. Many emblematic sites in the city are affiliated with the festival. The Movenpick hotel, the Rif Hotel and Spa, and the Continental Hotel will host live-music brunches, dance lunches, piano lounges and more.

According to the festival's tradition, the streets of Tangier will also be included in the party thanks to daily parades at the end of each afternoon and free outdoor concerts at Place des Nations, where the Veolia Stage will accomodate easy-listening jazz and Moroccan fusion.

For more information, plese visit www.tanjaz.org In assosiation with Morocco Newsline www.morocconewsline.com
http://www.melodika.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2891&Itemid=41
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Guy: We can encourage businesses to do the right thing.
Barb Guy 05/03/2008

When Chris and I visited a rugmaker's gallery in Morocco in 1995, we were enchanted by the rich colors, the gorgeous patterns, the acrid smells, the foreignness of the entire experience. The refined salesman, fluent in English, Spanish and Arabic, could convert prices into a dozen different currencies in his head. He showed us increasingly smaller rugs as the reality of our meager budget became clear to him. At one point he mentioned that young children worked in his factory. He said it as though it were the hallmark of sophistication, adding, "Children's hands make the smallest, finest knots."

Creeped out at the thought of little children missing school, hunched over their grubby bare feet, blistering tiny fingers to make carpets for the tourist trade, Chris and I almost left. Then the salesman showed us a small piece he said was about 100 years old. Did this render the rug, even if it, too, was made by children, innocent due to its antiquity? In 1895, education was a long way from guaranteed to all kids in the United States, so how could we expect any more of Morocco?

Chris and I will never know the truth about our rug. Did the salesman, seeing our concern, present us with a carpet - and a story - that we could live with? Under the circumstances, it's not surprising we don't love the rug. Yet our dollars of approval went to the rugmaker. Now I try to pay attention when I'm uncomfortable about a purchase. That's what's behind World Fair Trade Day, Saturday, May 10 (www.wftday.org). This annual effort by a global network of 300 free trade organizations is intended to teach consumers about the power of our currency to reward or to punish.

Where we direct our money matters a great deal; we can encourage businesses that are using humane practices. On the other hand, we can withhold our cash from those whose focus falls too fully onto the financial side while not showing enough compassion for people or planet. We buy more and more local goods at our house, but adhering entirely to local production would keep us away from products we're not willing to live without. Like bananas, for one. And handmade crafts from other cultures, for another. Two-thirds of the people on Earth live on less than a dollar a day. The rest of us throw dollars out the window, figuratively, every day, even in our new-found tough economic times. These thrown-out dollars don't make their way to the world's poor people; they often line the pockets of practitioners of unethical, unsustainable business practices.

Fair Trade means worrying about gender equity, working conditions, child labor, the environment, trade relations, the payment of a fair price and creating opportunities for economically disadvantaged producers. If you don't have time to take all this on, you can shop with people who do.
Ten Thousand Villages (founded by kindly Mennonite church people and with shops in Salt Lake City and Logan) and Global Exchange (www.gxonlinestore.org) both have Free Trade Mother's Day gifts. Also, a few products in many local stores bear certification of sustainability or fair trade practice; we need only start looking and requesting.

For caring people, World Fair Trade Day is a reminder that we can direct our purchasing power to help the little fingers of the world use pencils, chalk and toys, leaving jobs like making rugs for the hands of adults - adults who work in safe conditions and receive a fair wage. If that's the message our Moroccan rug was meant to teach us, then I guess it was worth it, although Chris and I only paid a fraction of its cost, if you know what I mean.
http://www.sltrib.com/opinion/ci_9142847
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