Virtual Magazine of Morocco on the Web
Morocco Week in Review 
September 19, 2009

Nortis Cimecom to equip 470 Moroccan schools with high-speed satellite internet.
Paris

Nortis Cimecom, a leading VSAT operator and a long-standing partner of Eutelsat, has been selected by the Moroccan Education Ministry and the telecoms regulator (ANRT) to provide 470 schools beyond range of terrestrial networks with satellite-based broadband service.

This deployment is part of a far-reaching national programme dubbed Genie devised by the Education Ministry to extend ICT infrastructure to schools and offer on-going teacher training programmes and Internet access to educational content for pupils, a joint statement of Nortis and Eutelsat said. Nortis Cimecom has been selected to equip 25 % of schools in the first phase of the programme. The government seeks to provide 9,260 schools with high-speed internet.
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Dams 73.4% full by September 16.
Rabat

The volume of water retained in Morocco's dams have reached, by September 16, 11.4 billion cubic meters, that is 73.4% of their full capacity, up from 37.4% last year. The figures were released Wednesday by the State secretariat in charge of water, which noted that some dams have reached their full filling capacity as a result to the recent heavy rains. Alwahda, Africa's second largest dam, has retained 2.3 billion cubic meters of water, that is 63.2% of its capacity, the source said.   © Agence Maghreb Arabe Presse 2009
http://us.lrd.yahoo.com/_ylc=X3oDMTB0aDcxZTg1BF9TAzIxNTExMDUEZW1haWxJZAMxMjUzMjAzNjI1/SIG=145lmjkev/**http%3A//www.zawya.com/Story.cfm/sidZAWYA20090917054340/Dams%2520in%2520Morocco%252073.4%2525%2520full%2520by%2520September%252016
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'Moro' cookbooks open up a world of Moorish flavors Sam and Sam Clark's cookbooks offer wonderful, straightforward recipes from the Moorish Mediterranean.
http://www.dailypress.com/features/family/food/dp-family-food-0906,0,5113175.story?track=rss
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Ramadan for an American Muslim in Morocco
A. ANTARA 

I’m not sure if it’s a good idea to write this. During Ramadan, Muslims are not supposed to say bad things.  But, this is the truth as I experience it about Islam in Morocco, and about my experience as a Muslim in Morocco. 

When we finally knew we would be moving to Morocco, one of the things that I most looked forward to was living in a Muslim country where there was freedom of religion, where people can choose how they practiced their religion, yet where values and laws where influenced by the religion of the country (if that makes any sense).  Basically, I wouldn’t want to live in Iran where women are forced to wear veils*, or in Saudi Arabia where women are seen as so inferior that they are unable to drive.  That’s not Islam, by the way.  I thought I would learn a lot living in a Muslim country by being surrounded by the spirit of Islam, and that in being here I myself would become a stronger person and a better Muslim.

Here’s what I imagined…that family’s prayed together at each and every call to prayer; that people greeted each other with As Salam Alaikum on the street, so much so that I would have trouble keeping up with the number of people we passed; that people would be more willing to help each other; and that the level of respect youth had for elders was eons beyond American kids.  I imagined that no one drank, no one tried to cheat another, and I imagined that the the stares and comments American women complain about where figments of their imagination.
Read more: http://www.moroccoboard.com/viewpoint/97-a-antara/624-ramadan-for-an-american-muslim-in-morocco
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Morocco's fight of violence against women part of strategy aiming gender equality.
Rome

Morocco's fight of violence against women is part of the country's strategy towards guaranteeing gender equality, Minister of Social Development, Family and Solidarity, Nouzha Skalli said on Wednesday. The official, who was speaking at a G8 conference on violence against women, stressed "the empowerment and habilitation of women is a top concern and priority of the political agenda that stems from a political will," adding that such a will involves the different players and mobilises the civil society. She noted that this violence, which remained as a taboo for a long time, is today subject of the attention of the public authorities and the civil society in Morocco, underlining that the north African country has made large steps towards institutionalising the fight against this plight.

The minister also reviewed the various actions taken by Morocco to guarantee gender equality, including the new Family Code, which provides for equal rights and responsibilities in the family household; the nationality code, which enables a Moroccan mother to transfer her nationality to her kids; and the criminal code, which incriminates sexual harassment in the workplace. Skalli deems that the issue of sharing responsibilities between men and women, and setting up a man-woman partnership for development and equality of chances is the best way to overcome development hindrances, including violence against women. She also recalled the election, in 2002, of 35 women MPs, and the appointment of 7 women ministers in 2007, adding that 3,428 female local representatives were elected in the June 12 local elections. http://www.map.ma/eng/sections/social/morocco_s_fight_of_v/view
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Morocco mulls national strategy to address autism.
Rabat

The Moroccan government said it will set up soon a joint commission tasked with sketching a strategy and a work plan to address autism in the north African country. The announcement was made during a debate late Monday by Minister of Social Development, Family and Solidarity, Nouzha Skalli, who said the strategy will look into ways to overcome the difficulties encountered by the government in dealing with this disease.
The action will centre on sensitising people living with an autistic person on the importance of early screening, training the needed staff, and encouraging the opening of new centres for autistic children, as well as modernising the pedagogical approach concerning these children.

Skalli said in implementation of the 2008-2012 plan, the department has devised several programs aimed to guarantee the social participation of autism-hit people. She also called on all players to pool their efforts in order to back the initiatives aimed to address the problems which patients face. During the meeting, a partnership convention was signed by the ministry of social development and the Collectif autisme Maroc to support the 2010 programmes of the collectif. Two centres for the disabled will be opened soon in the cities of Marrakech and Meknes. They will join the Lalla Meryem institute for autistic people in Tangier and the Mohammed VI centre for the disabled in Salé. http://www.map.ma/eng/sections/social/morocco_mulls_nation/view
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Maid in Morocco
September 5th, 2009 Sarah Alaoui

“Here you go, akhti Sarah,” she said, while carefully pouring the lukewarm water from the bronze kettle. I watched as it slowly dribbled over my outstretched hands, and splashed into the small plastic tub she carried in her other hand while waiting for the cue to hand me the hand towel draped over her shoulder. “Safi, shoukran,” I thanked her and quickly removed my hands, not wanting to take up anymore of her time and wanting to be rid of my uneasy feeling of being catered to by a woman not much older than I. She came back a few minutes later carrying a straw tray of piping hot bread that she’d carried back from the neighborhood oven and set it down on the table next to the steaming herbed chicken and pickled lemon tagine. Behind her trailed her small daughter, Naima, carrying a bottle of Fanta —more like clutching it to her small body, so as not to drop it and be reprimanded by her mother.

Amongst my photographs of crowded souks and souvenirs of hand-woven, colorful baskets lugged back on the plane home, my memories of vacations spent in Morocco are littered with images of maids. In Bouznika, a beachside haven where the elite of the country spend les vacances, we spent several days relaxing with some family friends who had arrived with four maids in tow. Each time I’d visit my grandparents’ house, there’d be a different maid than the last time I’d come —all had either left voluntarily or been dismissed. I’d sit around during the hottest hours of the afternoon —Moroccan summers yield temperatures of around 110 degrees —trying to keep cool and catching trails of the adults’ conversations. The latest gossip would be recounted, tales of whose diabetes was worse and whose blood pressure was higher would be recounted as if the person with the more tragic medical history would be offered a prize later, and of course, woeful stories about “how hard it is to find a good maid nowadays”.

With their conversation drawing to a lulled buzz in the back of my mind, I spent hours contemplating the situation. These women and children are born into an unfortunate (to say the least) position in a country whose rich are separated from the realities of their country’s economy and developing status by elaborate walls and a language they insist on speaking —one that was left over from their history as subjects of imperialism. In addition to expensive villas and numerous trips overseas, the upper class of Morocco like to flaunt their wealth through their accumulation of maids.

These poverty-stricken, uneducated women come from villages on the outskirts of Moroccan cities and have no choice but to provide for their families and children by taking jobs as maids for the country’s most ostentatious citizens. The stigma of poverty they are branded with at birth is further emphasized by this symbolic occupation —maids are to be seen and not heard. They work behind-the-scenes —similar to the house elves in J.K. Rowling’s famous wizarding series.

There are many families in Morocco who attempt to provide a home and not just a workplace for their maids. My grandmother has always made sure her maids’ children received an education alongside her own children and grandchildren —during the time her mother worked in my grandmother’s house, Naima went to the same school as my cousin. Unfortunately, it is safe to say that most people in the country do not provide the same earnest care to their maids.

Eleven-year-old Zainab Shtet is currently experiencing the aftermath of possibly one of the worst ordeals any human can have to endure —bruised, burned, starved all under the hand of her “masters”. The daughter of a desperately impoverished father, Zainab had no other hopes for bettering her future but to offer herself as a maid. The sad irony here, is that her boss was none other than a judge and his family. She had to cater to the needs of the richest and most powerful citizens of Moroccan society including a so-called representative of the law. How can justice ever be brought to this little girl when her perpetrator and arbiter are one —especially in a country where the barriers of law topple down with the hands of money.

As an aficionado of African-American history, Zainab’s story not only shocked me, but it also provided me with a mirror of our own past. We cannot change the current economic structure of Morocco —we cannot widen the gap between the rich and the poor overnight. We can, however, promote the importance of education and make sure each and every child is provided with an education and not forced with the burden of work —especially not one where he or she has to serve an entire family hand and foot.

It will take time and effort, but as a Moroccan-American, I do not feel comfortable with myself knowing I have not made any attempts to better the situation of poor, young maids in Morocco. In an entrenched political system, change has to come slowly and over the course of many years. However, by spreading Zainab’s story and seeking solace in the power of awareness, I know that eventually, as it has in our own country, “A Change is Gonna Come”.
http://www.mideastyouth.com/2009/09/05/maid-in-morocco/
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Morocco's world Jews convene in Essaouira pilgrimage.
Essaouira, western Morocco

Hundreds of Moroccan Jews from the four corners of the world are convening in the Atlantic city of Essaouira for the Hiloula of Rabi Haim Pinto. A warm welcome was reserved to the pilgrims, who came from different countries to take part in this yearly four-day religious gathering, but also to "renew, like every year, their attachment to the alaouite throne (of Morocco), and pray for peace in the world," rabbi David Pinto said.

Speaking on the event, Essaouira governor, Nabil Kharroubi stressed the "rich significance" of this moussem, which "enables us to share what we have in common; our heritage and hour history, which were shaped by our ancestor for centuries. "This heritage and this history were founded by our kings, and H.M. king Mohammed VI is its present guardian, who works daily so this shared heritage would be protected and transmitted to the future generations," Kharroubi said. He underlined that Morocco, faithful to its history and traditions, “provides an example of openness, diversity, cohabitation and a shared land.”

Hiloula is also a successful example of social and civilisational integration, said the chairman of the city hall, Mohamed Menguet.

Rabi Haim Pinto, who died in 1845 at the age of 96, has managed to achieve the great dream of building a synagogue in Essaouira, in which he spent his days praying and teaching Torah.
http://www.map.ma/eng/sections/social/morocco_s_world_jews/view
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Ramadan takes its toll on Morocco’s ‘gerraba’
Watermen turn into beggars across Casablanca’s streets, traffic lights during the Holy month.
By Saad Guerraoui - CASABLANCA

Watermen, or Gerraba (in Moroccan), start filling Casablanca’s busiest traffic lights and areas three hours before iftar (breaking the fast), but this time not for selling water. Jawad, a 22-year-old gerrab, is begging in Verdun traffic light, a scene that has become a deja vu to car drivers and pedestrians across the Moroccan economic capital during the Holy month of Ramadan.

“Business is dead during Ramadan daytime, which leaves us with no choice but to beg to make ends meet,” said the young man who declined to give his full name for fear of being ashamed by his family. “I have six younger brothers to feed and their expenses are beyond my financial capabilities, especially as the second half of Ramadan coincides with the start of the school year,” he sighed, thanking donors for their generosity, without which he would have quit this job he inherited through two generations.

Gerraba are part of Morocco’s colourful cultural heritage and known icons among foreign tourists who are offered a sip of water in a copper mug or bowl by these thirst quenchers as soon they get off their coaches in popular tourist attractions. However, many tourists complain about being ‘ripped off’ by gerraba who dearly charge them for a photo souvenir.“A gerrab asked my grandson, who was born in Holland, 100 dirhams (US $12) for taking a photo with him. It’s insane!” said the septuagenarian grandfather.

Another gerrab, roaming the streets of Bab Marrakech in Casablanca’s ancient Medina, declined to be interviewed as he was busy begging in the midst of the crowded market one hour before iftar.
Dr. Saad Guerraoui , Senior Editor http://www.middle-east-online.com/english/?id=34423
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Taste of Morocco coming here
Thursday, September 17, 2009 By Bob Batz Jr., Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Moroccan-born Abdel Khila hopes to open in October a Moroccan (with some French) restaurant on Washington Road in Mt. Lebanon. Called Kous Kous, the small space (formerly Enrico's) will be decorated with Moroccan tiles and other art. "We're working on making it look authentic," said the multi-lingual Mr. Khila, on leave as a French and Arabic teacher at Upper St. Clair High School. He's doing a lot of the work remodeling the restaurant, but he formerly cooked at several -- Casbah, a Mediterranean and North Africa-themed restaurant in Shadyside, as well as Cafe Zinho and the late Baum Vivant and LaForet. Signature dishes will include couscous, tagines and pastilles, or savory pie, he said earlier this week. "That's the fun part of Moroccan food -- a lot of it is unique to that country."
Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09260/998408-34.stm?cmpid=fooddining.xml#ixzz0RV74FEFN
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Casablanca Restaurant introduces “Tagine and Couscous: Dishes from Morocco”

Moroccan cuisine is a very diverse cuisine with influences from many cultures that have been a part of Moroccan history. Moroccan cuisine is well known for its spices and succulent flavors, which holds some similarity to the Thai cuisine. Casablanca Restaurant would like to introduce to you “Tagine and Couscous: Dishes from Morocco” for the month of September’s promotion.
http://www.thaipr.net/nc/readnews.aspx?newsid=62CE7E5F3497F99AF73400C97A5BED78
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Nana's inspiring wrinkles
FEATURE - FARAH KINANI

The dynamic sound of few birds eating the wet breadcrumbs on the shady left side of the veranda announces a sunny day. I shake my right foot to get rid of a noisy bumblebee and two sparrows fly away. Less cautious, my brother's gray pigeons keep enjoying their daily treat while two other sparrows hide under the bamboo chaise-longue, then hop watchfully toward the tray to sneak whatever left from their breakfast meticulously prepared by Nana, my grand mother.    

The bee insists on landing on my big toe. One last shake and the slightly illuminated veranda is empty of its birds and bees.

Nana's frail shoulder is not a comfortable cushion for my head, but she likes to have it there to pass her fingers through my snarled hair. She then detangles every rebellious curl her hand encounters. It hurts!

I dive my nose on the long sleeve of her green Caftan and get submerged by the soothing smell of rosemary mixed with lemon and olive oil. For the lapse of a second, I picture myself trotting a wild horse through fields of rosemary. The pain is already a fading memory.

Some shy rays begin to shimmer. They tickle my face and I no longer feel like closing my eyes.

Nana pulls her sleeves out of my face and puts on her bifocal eyeglasses. She then starts reciting some prayers. I try to focus on what Nana is muttering, but she moves her head slightly to the right then to the left in a long and repetitive ritual. The words become unclear and it's getting harder for me to follow her prayers.

The reddish bricks on the wall give the veranda a warm and homey look. The old braided Moroccan rug thrown over the floor lends an air of antiquity to the place.

Nana's bean-shaped hearing device falls on my forehead. I jump out of her lap and hit the bird's tray. She interrupts her trance and stares at me looking confused. She then starts laughing vehemently and her bony shoulders move back and forth.

Nana closes her eyes in an unsuccessful attempt to control her laugh. Some deep-rooted wrinkles cover her tiny face.
I look for the brown device and set it back in Nana's left ear. She kisses my hand and holds it to wipe warm tears from her cheeks. She always cries when she laughs intensely.

I help Nana stand up and kiss her head. I trace her wrinkles with my fingers and can't help thinking how serene and how amazingly beautiful she looks.

The sparrows are getting noisier and my brother's nonchalant pigeons are back in what resembles a "catwalk show-off". The sun fills the veranda with a peaceful warm glow; it's breakfast time. Nana brings her traditional ceramic turquoise plate and carefully spread the succulent rosemary dipping on it, a treat she lovingly prepares, every morning, for the pleasure of the family and the delight of the bees. 
Farah Kinani Heydari is a freelance journalist based in North Potomac, MD since 2001. She worked as correspondent of Assabah, le Matin du Sahara, and wrote an article for Jeune Afrique right after the tragedy of sep 11, 2001. She also cotributes to “Magharebia.com” and to“The Global Voices Online”.  Farah is married to an Iranian-American and has two kids Sara 7 and Dara 5.“Dara” means “spiritually rich” in Persian.
http://www.moroccoboard.com/features/98-farah-kinani/628-nanas-inspiring-wrinkles
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The Sweet Life
SARAH-ALAOUI 

I was born with my mother’s eyes and my father’s mouth, my mother’s sensitivity and my father’s stubborn nature. I was also blessed with my father’s sweet tooth, a genetic history of diabetes that has plagued many members of my family (including my grandfather whose prosthetic leg is the result of his lifelong battle with an unrelenting affinity towards sweets) and an Arab family who loves to cook and feed me "koul, koul!

When I stay in my grandparents’ house in Morocco, I am spoiled with kisses from more aunts and great-aunts than I can count on both hands and a daily abundance of…sugar. Breakfast includes Moroccan pancakes soaked — er, drizzled — in honey, a plethora of cookies with almonds and jam prepared in every way possible and of course, Moroccan mint tea. The tea, which is served after almost every meal is the biggest perpetrator because it is served with generous amounts of sugar cubes — “Let her drink it, she doesn’t need to be worrying about sugar at this age!” I don’t refuse the aforementioned food — how could I, that would just be rude. Let’s be honest, though, I don’t fare any better in the United States. Brownies and cookies are my downfall, not to mention my newfound comfort food discovered during finals week in college — self-serve frozen yogurt with any and every topping imaginable (cheesecake bites, anyone?).

With my family’s medical history and a long list of future goals, including the chance to interview Fidel Castro before he dies (don’t ask), I couldn’t afford to keep up this sweet diet. Going completely cold turkey, however, could potentially be as shocking to my system as sugar is. I came to a compromise by occasionally incorporating Splenda and other artificial sweeteners into my diet. If I was craving soda, I’d pop open a Diet Coke. If I wanted cookies, I’d Google a recipe that contained sugar substitutes. However the term “artificial” also scared me. While an excess of sugar definitely has a detrimental impact on the body, are the alternatives any better? I decided to do my research and find out.

Searches on the safety of artificial sweeteners came up with a litany of results examining the sugar substitutes’ relation to cancer, weight gain and an increase of headaches. Before any conclusions can be drawn, one needs to distinguish between the different categories of sweeteners. Expert Cynthia Haines (Health Central) breaks them down:

“Acesulfame K (Sunett, Sweet One): Acesulfame K is found in many food products and can be used in baked goods. Its safety is backed by a multitude of studies, according to the FDA.

Saccharin (Sweet 'N Low, Sugar Twin): Saccharin was close to being banned in 1977 due to rat studies linking it to bladder cancer. The National Cancer Institute and the FDA have since concluded that its use is not a major risk for bladder cancer in humans (because the rats during the study were given a dangerously high amount of the product, indicating that such a large consumption may potentially be harmful).

Aspartame (Nutra-Sweet, Equal): The American Medical Association and the FDA have both concluded that aspartame is safe in moderation. One exception: People with a medical condition called phenylketonuria (PKU) should avoid it. These people cannot metabolize part of aspartame, allowing it to accumulate in the body to dangerous levels.

Sucralose (Splenda): Sucralose is sugar chemically altered into the non-caloric sucralose. Splenda can be substituted for sugar in baking and cooking.

Neotame: Neotame is a recently approved artificial sweetener made by the same company that produces NutraSweet (aspartame). Products containing neotame are not required to carry the PKU warning as it is chemically different from aspartame and therefore does not have the same issue described above.”

According to this data and other complementary information found on Associated Content, sucralose (Splenda) seems to be the safest sweetener based on the fact that test participants have not indicated any negative side effects from having consumed the product. It has been approved in an increasing number of countries for consumption, further emphasizing its apparent safety.

It is also important to note that while artificial sweeteners do not raise blood sugar levels, products that contain them also include carbohydrates and proteins that could affect levels.

At this point, although some people think there might be a correlation between certain side effects and artificial sweetener, there is not enough proof to draw a concrete causation. Because the effects of these products have not been tested long enough, it is best to use these products in moderation.

Because of the availability of these alternative sweeteners, my family and I are able to modify our favorite recipes and still continue to live the sweet life.  
http://www.moroccoboard.com/viewpoint/94-sarah-alaoui/626-the-sweet-life
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Marrakech: City of souks, snakes and side trips
Monday, September 07, 2009 By Jessica Yadegaran, Contra Costa Times MARRAKECH, Morocco

Smoke rises like thin clouds above the Jemaa El Fna, the public square at the center of Marrakech. It is dusk, and white-robed food vendors tame hissing flames as they grill kebabs, simmer sheep heads and saute snails. The music is hypnotic. Berbers, the original inhabitants of Morocco, play long, mystical strains of a percussive groove, while the Gnawa, descendants of the Sudan, draw throngs of tourists with their drum-and-bass beats. Snake charmers and transvestite belly dancers compete for the camera, while a shoeless girl begs for money.

The scene is the most intense blend of sights, sounds and scents I have ever witnessed, and it is the first thing I tell friends who ask me if I think North Africa is for them. If you are a foodie who loves to shop, you must go to Marrakech. The cuisine is cheap and delicious, and you can design an apartment in "Arabian Nights" chic for less than half what it would cost in the United States. At press time, the exchange rate was eight dirhams per dollar.
Read more:  http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09250/990645-37.stm?cmpid=travel.xml#ixzz0RVCPehEL
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