1000 ID
Sunday, May 1, 2011 Vol. 1, Issue 2
2 The Internet: A Force of Good or Evil?
Have you ever been given
something that at first seemed insig-
nificant but then became so much a
part of you the very idea of parting
with it seemed terrifying? I have.
You have as well. In fact, we all have
been “given” such an indispensable
thing in this dreary process of mod-
Rebuilding ernization; most people prefer call-
Kirkuk ing the “thing” “the internet” – an
3
attempt to lend substance to the in-
tangible.
According to dictionary.
com, the internet is “a vast computer
network linking smaller computer
networks world wide.”
Like that definition is even
necessary. The internet has been
woven into the fabric of our lives.
Who does not know what the in-
ternet is? But only a decade ago this
was a much sought-after means of
explanation for a vaguely-known
word.
Ten years ago, these “world-
wide networks” were limited to or
could only be afforded by few, by
a privileged few. But now, even my
Good Immigration,
friendly neighborhood guard has
4
Not Mass Immigration regular, if not constant, access to the
EDITORIAL
Searching for Gladness
5 6
182, We’ll Never
Forget You
internet. In this decade, most of our
news intake, business, shopping, ed-
ucation, gaming, sharing, and social
interactions have been shifted onto
the internet. This shift in the settings
of literally all the aspects of our lives
has done wonders, has done “mira-
cles” in developing our lives – some
go so far in that claim.
Probably the most signifi-
cant contribution of the internet
to the world is social networking.
(Yet another unnecessary definition
could fit here, perhaps). Social net-
working websites allow their users,
or profile owners, to publish content
on to a bulletin board. With these
websites, you can connect or recon-
nect with old or new friends; share
your thoughts, pictures, videos, mu-
sic, and links; publicize “what’s on
your mind” or “what’s happening”;
exchange public or private messag-
es; and “poke” someone even if you
are not physically beside them.
The two social networking
giants Facebook and Twitter (What
is wrong with me and the unneces-
sary delineations?) allow you to get
“instant updates from your friends,
The New Iphone
is Coming Out!
Photo courtesy of hongkiat.com
industry experts, favorite celebrities,
[learn] what’s happening around the
world”, and “connect and share with
the people in your life.”
The two giants both have
very catchy names, but the guys at
Twitter did better by choosing a
name that is actually in the diction-
ary.
Facebook and Twitter, make
socializing on the cyber world so
easy that a lot of people – 500 mil-
lion to be exact in the case of the for-
mer – pay hourly or even minutely
homage to this ten-year-old god of
our era.
(While I am still on the sub-
ject of social networks, let me vain-
ly request your support for Awat
Newspaper on Facebook and Twit-
ter. You know what they say, “one
more ‘Like’ makes our day!”)
Social networking websites
are also valued for their revolution-
provoking abilities; one can advocate
an action or communicate a piece of
news to large masses through these
websites. They were among the
most important factors that helped
7
start and prolong the recent revolu-
Clash of the Titans
tions in the Middle-East.
So far so good, right? De-
pending, of course, on where you
stand on the political spectrum.
Some people call social
networking the “cheapest, fastest,
and most effective” way of interac-
tion and communication. However,
while social networking does pro-
mote easy communication and in-
teraction and has made the world
a smaller place, an over-use or an
unhealthy diet of it can undermine
communication, making internet
“connections” expensive, slow, and
ineffectual. Social networking has
the potential to split up families,
destroy relationships, end the medi-
eval fable of quality time, plummet
literacy rates, expose the inappropri-
ate, and ruin lives as more and more
people give up the physical for this
virtual, the substantial for this intan-
gible.
The internet is one of those
sneaky inventions, like the tele-
phone and the television, that steals
its way, unobserved and unchecked,
into the world and right into our
lives. And before you know it, it is
everywhere, doing great benefit and
great harm to the human race.
With the “worldwide net-
works,” our communication abilities
are limitless. But it seems that limit-
less does not always connote good-
ness. We humans can make social
networking so costly, so impeding,
and so misleading that our lives will
be lost with it, and pocket-friendli-
ness will not matter anymore.
Blessed be the internet! We
all say. That is until we find out that
the internet is not only the Ahura
Mazda, but also the Ahriman; that
it is not only black or white, but in
shades of grey. Best we understand
and take action before we find our-
selves lost in a murky smog, isolated
and entirely disconnected.
1

Sunday, May 1, 2011
Awat Newspaper
Established on December 1, 2010 NO: 2
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Owner on Behalf
Amed Latif Omar
Editor in chief
Meer Ako Ali
Page Editors
Arez Taha Sadiq
Bery Majeed
Joshua Andrew Stacey
Meriwan Zana
Muhammed Abdulsattar Faraj
Razhan Kawa Ali
Layout Designer
Marwan Muhammed Hazim
Graphics Designer
Arsh Latif Omar
Marketing Manager in Sulaimany
Lazo Rizgar
Erbil Development Manager
Zana Jaff
Public relations contact information: Publication Type: Monthly Peri-
odical. E-mail: awatnews@gmail.com. For advertisements, contact us
by phone: 07711533308, or by email: awat.advertisement@gmail.com.
“Like” Awat Newspaper on Facebook.
Follow Awat_Newspaper on Twitter
Disclaimer: All the ideas expressed in this newspaper are the ideas of
the individuals and not that of the Awat Newspaper. The Awat News-
paper does not take responsibility for what is articulated by distinct
writers.
Awat abides by the rules of press ethics.
Rebuilding Kirkuk
For many years Kirkuk bat-
tled acts of injustice from Saddam’s
regime and still continues to suffer
from the side-effects today.
Historically speaking,
Kirkuk has always been considered
a Kurdish city. Now it is a differ-
ent story. Turkmen argue that it
belongs to them, Arabs claim it for
themselves, and Kurds argue that it
is theirs.
The Kurds of Iraqi Kurd-
istan see Kirkuk as a potential seat
of power, a site of emotion as well
as economic significance. Until re-
cently, the real power within Kirkuk
rested in the hands of the Arab
population of Kirkuk, secured by
immigrants from all over Iraq un-
der Saddam Hussein’s “Arabization”
program. Since the fall of Saddam,
thousands of Kurds who were forced
out of Kirkuk have begun returning
home and thousands more dream of
doing the same.
The current issue that is vis-
ible within Kirkuk is of Arabs want-
ing the Peshmarga to be forced out
of the city, and for article 140 of the
Iraqi constitution to be unimple-
mented. This approach of the Arabs
is seen as a threat by the Kurds be-
cause the Kurds’ ultimate aim is for
Kirkuk to be attached back to the
three other provinces, Sulaimany,
Hawler, and Dohuk, which have
been recognized by Baghdad as the
semi-autonomous parts of Iraqi
Kurdistan.
Regardless of all the threats
Vol. 1, Issue 2
Protests in Kurdistan
Since February 17th of
2011, people have been holding ac-
countable protests in Sara Square
for more than two months. Hold-
ing banners and flags, they pro-
claimed that the perverseness and
corruption of the government has
to be dealt with; otherwise, they
would not leave Sara Square or
stop protesting. They also ask why
the government is reluctant and
vague with their justice not captur-
ing the people who are responsible
for killing over seven people on the
day of the demonstrations.
Because of the clashes and con-
frontations between the citizens of
Suleimaniah and the government,
consumption that each household
used to get. The morning after the
protesting took place, in a phone
call with those who work within the
and violations that Kirkuk faces, Ministry of Oil department, Dr. Na-
there are some positive changes to
jmaddin Karim stressed his concern
be seen within the city; they might
in regards of the situation of the
be minor yet very important for fuel consumption that Kirkuk used
Kirkuk and its residences. One of
to receive. After hours of negotia-
those important changes happened
tion, the Ministry of Oil department
a few weeks back, March 30, 2011
came to the decision that they will
to be precise. Kirkuk gained a new start giving Kirkuk their share of the
governor, and council chairman;
fuel consumption that was unlaw-
previously both positions were filled
fully snatched away from them.
by the Kurds causing a lot of ten-
Furthermore, Dr. Najmad-
sion between the Kurds, Turkmen, din, held a meeting with the mem-
and Arabs. This time round the new
bers of the Kirkuk City Committee
governor of Kirkuk is a Kurd; Dr.
during which they discussed the
Najmaddin Karim replaced Abdul- ways they can make Kirkuk a safer
Rahman Mustafa whereas the chair-
man is a Turkmen, by the name of
Hasan Turan, who replaced Rizgar
Ali.
On the day Dr. Najmaddin
Karim took his constitutional oath
at a ceremony held at the congress
hall in Kirkuk, he stated, “I’ll give
my utmost effort to serve in all fields
that require improvement, such as
electricity, health, water, fuel, em-
ployment, investment and infra-
Photo by Kani O. Shwani
structure. I will also try to build trust
The historical castle of Kirkuk.
between the different factions of the
city, by depending on dialogue and city in areas where acts of terror and
serving them all.” Dr. Najmaddin
crime are prominent. The Com-
Karim also promised to take seri-
mittee and the governor decided
ous and effective actions towards to install surveillance cameras in
rebuilding Kirkuk.
public places in Kirkuk in order to
Recently in Kirkuk, more
decrease crimes and terrorist acts
than 100 people protested against within the city, and to make the city
the lack of public services; this
a safer place for its residences, and
negatively affects the city. The pro-
for visitors.
testers demanded better services in Kirkuk’s future might be far
electricity, water, health, fuel, and stretched and unpredictable; but
employment. Particularly in fuel
with unity, hard work, and commit-
services, they were demanding an- ment from all of the ethnic groups,
swers from the Iraqi government there’s high probability stability will
about why they have cut off the fuel return to Kirkuk sooner than later.
Local News
government’s Security Committee
many people, unfortunately, have
for Sulaimaniya Province declared
that unlicensed protesting will be
illicit and not allowed.
fallen victim; over 250 protest-
On April 21 of 2011, Human
ers, security forces, and journal- Rights Watch (HRW) said “Kurd-
ists were injured. Tear gas, bullets, ish authorities should end their
and marbles were used in the col- widening crackdown on peaceful
lision between security forces and protests in northern Iraq;” they also
the citizens of Suleimaniah caus-
included that “authorities should
ing mischief and fainting. Citizens hold liable responsibilities for at-
captured were beaten severely. The tacking protesters and journalists
protesting ended forcefully when in Erbil and Sulaimaniah.” Human
significant amounts of Peshmarga Rights Watch also criticized the Se-
and security forces entered the city,
curity Committee’s decision to ban
taking over the city center and Sara
protesting, stating that “Legislation
Square on April 18th of 2011. passed by the Kurdistan Regional
In Erbil and Duhok, several Government (KRG) in December
attempts for demonstrations were gives authorities wide discretion in
taken, but clashes between several deciding whether to approve a li-
protesters and security forces were cense for a protest. The law’s word-
confronted relentlessly; of which ing is exceptionally vague and sus-
as a result several people were cap- ceptible to abuse.”
tured. On April 19th of 2011, the
Photo by Haedar Omar
US Troops in Iraq
Photo courtesy of creativecommons.com
violence and terrorism.
Last month, Muqtada al-Sadr, a
prominent Shia cleric, along with
tens of thousands of followers gath-
ered to mark the eighth anniversary
Even though the American combat of Saddam’s fall during which several
mission in Iraq has officially ended, American flags were burned. In his
there are still about 47,000 American speech, Sadr declared that the failure
troops still lingering in Iraq. The re- of American forces to withdraw com-
maining troops are tasked mainly with pletely by the end of the year meant
advising and training Iraq forces, and “escalating military resistance and re-
assisting in civilian operations. activating the Mahdi Army.” The Mah-
Last year, President Obama an- di Army is a militia force founded by
nounced that all US forces would be Muqtada al-Sadr that has had several
completely evacuated from Iraq by violent clashes with US forces in the
December 31, 2011. But there is new past.
dialogue between Iraqi and American US Defence Secretay Robert Gates
visited Iraq last month to speak with
officials on extending the deadline
the country’s top leaders regarding the
farther. Delaying evacuation would
US forces’ planned withdrawal. He as-
have several consequences for both
President Obama and Prime Minister serted that United States was willing to
keep its forces in Iraq a while longer
Nouri al-Maliki. Both of them risk fac-
only if the Iraqis asked for it. Gates also
ing great political turmoil from their
supporters if they decide to keep the visited Kurdistan and met with Mas-
soud Barzani to discuss security issues.
US forces in Iraq a while longer.
General Babak Zebari, the Chief of
Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki faces
quiet a dilemma. If the US forces stay Staff of the Iraqi Armed Forces, said
in Iraq for a longer period, many fac- that the Iraqi forces need at least an-
tions would be disgruntled including other decade to become fully capable
Maliki’s Shia allies as well as neighbor- of defending the country from secu-
ing countries Iran and Syria. However, rity threats. Several political analysts
if the US forces retreat on time, Iraq and lawyers have also stressed that the
faces a potentially drastic increase in presence of American troops in Iraq is
of utter significance to Iraq’s future.
2 3
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Good Immigration, Not Mass Immigration
The Coalition govern-
ment in the UK recently an-
nounced plans to cut net mi-
gration to UK to the “tens of
thousands” each year rather
than hundreds of thousands. The
prime minster in his speech deliv-
ered to Conservative party mem-
bers in Hampshire railed against
the threat to society posed by the
“largest influx” of immigrants
in British history. The focus of
Cameron’s argument to cut im-
migrations was that immigrants
don’t make enough effort to inte-
grate and to learn English; some-
thing that has “created a kind of
discomfort and disjointedness”
in neighbourhoods across the
country and disrupted commu-
nities.
It is noteworthy to men-
tion that the government is about
to make harsh cuts to teaching of
Japan: earthquake, tsunami Royal Wedding
and a nuclear crisis of the Century
March 11 2011 saw a day in
which Japan will never forget. An
8.9 magnitude earthquake shook
the coast bringing the country to
a standstill. Efforts to rescue the
injured and find the missing end-
ed in the loss of around 25,000
people and many more left home-
less. The impact of the quake hit
the countries financial sector hard
with the countries stock exchange
ending in losses weeks after the
quake hit.
To add to the chaos, Japans
nuclear facility on the eastern
coast brought extra headache to
the government. The Fukushima
Daiichi plant was hard hit by the
8.9 quake and began a nuclear
emergency for Japan that is com-
parable to the Chernobyl disaster.
The plant was designed for earth-
quakes and procedures imple-
mented were as planned. Back-up
generators helped cool the reac-
tors as the main power grid went
down.
What was not expected was
the 15 metre tsunami that ham-
mered the plant in the aftermath
of the earthquake. The plant was
designed to withstand a 6 metre
tsunami only, where the genera-
tors and oil storage tanks were
taken out after the tsunami hit. Of
the plants 11 reactors, 8 were shut
down before the tsunami hit, but
reactors 1-3 of the Daiichi plant
Vol. 1, Issue 2
English for speakers of other lan-
guages. In 2007, Labour restrict-
ed free English lessons to people
on benefits; now, these will only
be available to those on “active
benefits” such as jobseeker’s al-
lowance. Low-paid workers on
income support, asylum seekers
and spouses – the very people
Cameron devotes his attention to
in his speech – will no longer be
eligible to attend English classes
to learn English.
Further, Cameron in his
speech draws on examples of
abuse of hospitality largely in-
volving non-Europeans migrant
as people who engage in forced
marriages; students who are be-
ing invited to “get a free ride” to
the UK. But the vast majority of
recent immigration has come
from within the EU (in 2008,
99,000 out of 166,000 migrant
workers came from European
countries) not outside the EU.
However, the Business secretary
Vince Cable (Liberal Democrats
experienced over heating which
till today, a month from the initial
quake, steps are still being taken
to prevent a catastrophe occur-
ring.
The rare appearance of the Japa-
nese emperor, Emperor Akihito,
signalled the significance of the
nuclear situation: where he said
he was ‘deeply worried’ about the
crisis in his country. Exactly a
month later, on the anniversary
of the quake, powerful tremors
hit the coast once again where the
epicentre of the tremors was in
the Fukushima area once more,
where the US Geological Survey
recorded it to be a 7.0 magnitude
quake, less powerful than the first
yet still dangerous.
Scientists and engineers scram-
bled to prevent a meltdown at the
Daiichi plant. Most recently the
Daiichi plant owner, Tokyo Elec-
tric Power Company, laid out its
plan for bringing the reactors of
the plant into a stable state known
as a ‘cold shutdown’, allowing for
the dismantling of the plant,
though their plan has started with
disheartening news as the robots
sent to survey the plant recorded
a very high radiation level where
crews of engineers cannot enter
and attempt repairing the dam-
aged cooling systems. With the
economy in free fall and a nuclear
crisis on their hands, no one can
predict what Japan is set to face in
the near future.
Photo courtesy of creativecommons.com
Party) challenged Cameron’s in-
terpretation of the government
policy. Cable said “The reference
to the tens of thousands of im-
migrants rather than hundreds
of thousands is not part of the
coalition agreement, it is Tory
party policy only”. Another sen-
ior Lib Dem, who reflected on
Nick Clegg’s (the deputy prime
minister) thinking, said: “The
tens of thousands is Conservative
policy. It is not Lib Dem policy.
We do not think that it can be set
Two billion people
watched the royal display of a
fairytale-like wedding of two gor-
geous and loved personalities.
Celebrations of the newly wed
Prince William and Her Royal
Highness the Duchess of Cam-
bridge have taken place all over
the world, from China to our
street parties in England. The
Royal wedding has captivated the
world for the past 5 months. More
than 150,000 people gathered in
Hyde Park from the early hours,
and at least one Million people
were present in central London,
waving a sea of flags, and cheer-
ing wholeheartedly for the royal
wedding of the century.
Fashion designers have
obsessed about the wedding
dress, which turned out to be by
Sarah Burton, a British designer.
Many have applauded Catherine
Middleton’s choice, especially the
British fashion designers, because
it has for one more time given the
British fashion industry a boost.
The British media’s growing ob-
session of her is reminiscent of
Princess Diana. Many who came
out to celebrate the wedding on
the streets of London remarked
that they wished “Diana was here
to see it, she’d be proud.” Tributes
were paid to Diana, and many
held banners up around Hyde
Park, expressing their love for Di-
ana and the newly weds.
International News
“It is true that it is not in
the coalition agreement. But there
are quite a lot of things that are
not in the coalition agreement.
This policy has been cleared at all
levels of government.”
Cameron’s speech regard-
ing cut to net immigration has
been criticised as electioneering,
as local elections in UK will be
held on 5th May 2011. Thus, it is
confusing to know what to make
of Cameron’s speech, as the Lib-
eral Democrats who are part of
as a target. It is not government
policy.” the coalition government have
But Tory government come out publicly and said deep
sources challenged Clegg’s inter- cuts of migrations to UK out-
side the European Union is not
pretation when they insisted that
a government policy. It would be
the tens of thousands figure was
formal coalition policy agreed interesting to see if this policy is
by the cabinet. One source said: pushed by the conservative party
(who are majority in the coalition
“That figure is in the background
documents to the Queen’s speech government) to be enforced as a
and is in Home Office docu- government policy or if it just re-
ments. It has been used on the mains as a hallow promise to col-
floor of the Commons. It is gov- lect votes.
ernment policy.
The Arab League
is Delayed Again
to face the unrest in Bahrain in
March.
As the crackdown by the
Sunni rulers of Bahrain sparked
The Arab league summit criticism from Iraq, tensions
has been postponed a couple of arose between Sunni Gulf coun-
tries and their Shia neighbors in
times this year. The Arab coun-
the world’s top oil-exporting re-
tries agreed to delay the summit
gion.
which was scheduled for May 11
in Baghdad. The instability in the
Arab countries has been press-
ing the Arab league to delay the
summit from March to May.
Iraq asked the Arab
league to postpone the summit.
As Ben Helli, Deputy Secretary
General of the Arab League said,
“The Arab League today distrib-
uted a memorandum to its mem-
bers stating that due to a request
by Iraq to convene an extraor-
dinary meeting of Arab foreign
ministers, and in light of the
consultations conducted ... with
member states, an agreement
emerged to delay the summit.”
One of the important
subjects that will be discussed in
this summit is the unrest in most
of the Arab countries. They also
have to choose a new secretary- Graphics by Marwan Muhammed
general to succeed Amr Moussa,
whose terms will end on 15 May. The Sunni countries are fully
Nominees have been submitted aware of Iraq’s Shiites gaining
for this post by both Egypt and control and their main problem
Qatar. is the growing influence of Shiite-
The Bahraini Foreign dominated Iraq. Iraq will benefit
Minister said that the Gulf Arab a lot if the summit is held suc-
states asked the Arab League cessfully in Baghdad. This sum-
to cancel the next summit. The mit might be a chance for Iraq to
reason is that Iraq criticized the reassure its neighbors, especially
placement of the Gulf troops Sunni dominated countries.

Sunday, May 1, 2011
Tabooed Inside Kurdistan
Rape is one of the worst
things that could happen to a
woman, especially to a woman
from within the Kurdish commu-
nity. This is partly because of the
fact that in the Kurdish society,
the value of women is based on
their virginity before marriage. A
family’s honor is often associated
with their daughter remaining
chaste and pure until marriage.
Consequently, speaking against
rape becomes extremely hard,
particularly if women are led to
believe that it will dishonor their
families, destroy all future mar-
riage prospects, or even bring an
end to their existing marriage due
to the social perception of a rape
victim as a “second hand good.”
Recently, the case of
Eman El Obeidi was one that ech-
oed throughout the Middle East.
Eman is a Libyan postgraduate
law student who was detained for
two days by Muammar Gaddafi’s
troops during the current tension
in Libya. She was gang-raped by
a group of inhumane men; but,
Spirited Protests, Unclear Demands
In Sulaimany on any Fri-
day towards noon, the feeing in
Sara, now “Tahrir Square” to some,
is positively electric. There is a
sense, as with the American stu-
dent protests of the 1960’s and ear-
ly ’70’s, that something important
might somehow spontaneously
happen, a happy result of the sheer
emotional energy of the event. All
the necessaries are present: central
platform, amped up p.a. system,
inspiring oratory (or at least clam-
orous oratory), and a charged up
crowd composed mostly of stu-
dents and young workers waiting
for a sign.
There is something in the
comparison between the Ameri-
can protests of forty years ago
and those roiling across the Mid-
dle East (including Sulaimany)
over the past several months that
takes a bit of the edge off the lat-
ter. Four decades ago, American
students had a specific, theoreti-
cally achievable agenda: stop the
war in Vietnam and swing the
government’s support more fully
towards civil rights for America’s
women and minorities. The fed-
eral government in Washington
was the right target for such pro-
tests: it had started and sustained
the war, and only it could stop it;
and, since the Civil War, Wash-
ington had come increasingly to
be seen as the guarantor especially
Vol. 1, Issue 2
in defiance of the cultural expec-
tations set for women, she ran
into a Tripoli hotel full of foreign
journalists. Shouting through
tears, her story became known to
the world, and the ignominy sur-
rounding rape became the center
of feminist discourse.
Cases similar to Eman El
Obeidi are rare, not only in Lib-
ya, but throughout Middle East.
Kurdistan keeps no official sta-
tistics of rape because this crime
goes unreported due to social
stigmatization. When rape cases
are reported, they are kept private
in fear of retaliation from the per-
petrator’s family or associates.
Maintaining honor and
familial respect is very important
to women in Kurdistan. Rape
supposedly brings women dis-
honor, shame, embarrassment,
and humiliation. If women be-
lieve that rape renders them as
“damaged goods,” then it is no
wonder they don’t find reporting
this crime an appealing retreat
toward justice, partially in fear
of the consequence of social im-
plications, and being labeled as
“raped.”
of 14th Amendment rights. Dem-
onstrations here in Sulaimany, by
comparison, have the heartfelt but
somewhat vague goal of forcing a
government perceived by its crit-
ics as corrupt and unresponsive
to be, well, honest and responsive.
It is hard to see how well behaved
demonstrations will accomplish
this end, and furthermore, it is
hard to understand by what stand-
ards we should judge their even-
tual success.
Sulaimany’s dilemma is
shared throughout the Middle
East: the “revolutions” of February
and March have somewhat floun-
dered as it becomes evident that
uprisings in Egypt and Tunisia,
and perhaps also in Yemen, Syr-
ia, and even Libya, were inspired
by frustration with entrenched
power elites rather than by “revo-
lutionary” impulses for some sort
of progressive change. In Egypt
already the Old Regime is, with
the approval of the majority of
Egyptians, quietly reasserting its
authority, simply sans Mubarek.
In order to avoid the pit-
falls that have occurred elsewhere
in this Middle Eastern anno mi-
rabilis, Sulaimany’s young must
recognize that to date they have
neither asked for nor offered any-
thing new politically. In a recent
major magazine article on Iraq’s
economy it was noted that the
level of dependence on the gov-
ernment for employment and in-
vestment in Iraq is among the ten
highest in the world. If the gov-
What perpetuates a culture of
stigmatization of rape might also
be the legal system’s approach to
criminals convicted of rape, and
their treatment of rape victims. greatest hunger. “In a world where
In more advanced legal
systems, victims are given prior-
ity along with sensitivity. Unfor-
tunately, in Kurdistan the fate of a
rape victim is at the discretion of
the judge’s conviction of whether
a medical investigation should
even be conducted.
In order to take proper
care of the victims of rape, so-
ciety needs to tackle the stigma
attached to rape. Public attitude
towards rape must change. By
collecting stories from rape vic-
tims, non-profit organizations are
hoping to break the stigmatiza-
tion and taboo surrounding rape.
Moreover, if these same organiza-
tions help rape victims recover
from this traumatic experience,
it will make their lives easier, and
encourage them to come forward
with their cases, as opposed to
feeling humiliated or ashamed.
ernment is indeed corrupt and
unresponsive this may be a core
problem. Government control of
jobs and capital (which was the
principal means of social control
by the “pre-invasion” regime) re-
mains essentially unchanged in
Iraq.
Yet what is being asked for
in Tahrir Square? The government
must create jobs; the government
must provide housing subsidies;
the government must improve es-
sential services, etc. The govern-
ment has a legitimate role to play
in these matters, but it is limited.
If the government is truly corrupt
and unresponsive, then the source
of the government’s leverage – its
control over jobs and capital –
must be diminished in favor of the
private sector. The young should,
in what might seem completely
counter-intuitive to most, demand
that government abandon its role
in job creation, its control of capi-
tal investment, its control of natu-
ral resources, including oil, and
its central role in providing most
necessary services.
John F. Kennedy wrote
in his inaugural address: “ask not
what your country to do for you;
ask what you can do for your coun-
try.” Sulaimany’s young can start a
real revolution, one that will pay
immediate benefits without the
violence and upheaval seen else-
where in the region, by consider-
ing the implications of Kennedy’s
speech for Iraq and acting accord-
ingly.
Searching for Gladness
I’ve met quite a number
of young people from the Middle
East who first and foremost want
to become doctors. Then, maybe,
they’ll consider becoming engi-
neers or businessmen.
When I lived in Kurdis-
tan in 2004 many of my students
said they wanted to become doc-
tors simply because that’s the best
they could be. If they scored high
enough on the baccalaureate ex-
aminations, they would be placed
in the medical school, no questions
asked, no choices given. If they
scored a 98 they could become a
doctor.
I also have several friends
in the Middle East who have failed
on the road to becoming a doc-
tor and, in so doing, have brought
great shame upon their families. I
met one friend’s father who said his
son, a young guy who was expect-
ed to become a doctor but strug-
gled academically, has brought
him great shame but thank God his
three other sons were better. Four
years later, my friend is still trying
to get into medical school and also
regain the respect of his family.
Another friend has near
shouting matches with his parents
when they are on the phone. De-
spite this student, from a poor area
of the Middle East, procuring sev-
eral scholarships, getting accepted
to a top university, studying in
America, having articles published
in prominent newspapers, study-
ing public policy and administra-
tion won’t bring the family the kind
of honor that becoming a doctor or
engineer would. Despite his son’s
success his father says he will never
be happy.
Sometimes, of course,
there’s no family pressure. Stu-
dents just want to be doctors be-
cause they want to be the best; they
want the honor and prestige for
themselves. Wanting to become a
doctor is certainly not wrong.
But who wants to go see a
doctor who doesn’t find great joy
in her profession? Who wants an
engineer to build a building who
doesn’t love what he does? And
who wants to work with a busi-
nessman who is really only after
your money?
Frederick Buechner, an
Photo courtesy of creativecommons.com
Editorials
American author, writes that the
job we should take, our vocation,
our calling even, is where our
deepest gladness meets the world’s
there is so much drudgery, so much
grief, so much emptiness and fear
and pain, our gladness in our work
is as much needed as we ourselves
need to be glad.”
Do you know what makes
you glad? The world doesn’t just
need your talents. It needs your
gladness, too. This idea, that the
world might actually need your
gladness, is shocking.
I graduated from a college
whose alumni consistently become
successful doctors, lawyers, politi-
cians, and investment bankers. But
not many of them find deep glad-
ness in their work. They took these
professions on because their par-
ents were doctors or lawyers, be-
cause they want a certain lifestyle
and require a certain paycheck.
But not many of them are
glad.
Some of my classmates actually
hate their work but they like the
size of their house or the model
of car they drive. So they’re stuck.
And they’re miserable.
I know far too many artists,
teachers, and humanitarians stuck
in business school. I’ve met too
many pre-med students who aren’t
convincing when they tell me why
they want to be doctors. I’ve met
too many business students who
really just want to make money.
When you consider what
to study, what career path is best,
look also for what makes you glad,
really glad, the kind of gladness
that can give you joy in the midst
of suffering.
Consider how to offer that
to the world. You might become a
doctor. You might become a jour-
nalist. You might own that corner
store down the street.
But please starting looking.
You won’t be doing this
only for your sake, but for the sake
of the medical profession, for the
sake of your children, and also for
the sake of your city.
It might be a difficult road
to walk down. But do it together,
take your friends, you won’t be
alone.
I’m just ahead of you myself.
4 5
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Too Much Stress!!!
Whenever I complain
about the pressure I feel life is ex-
erting on me, my mother laughs
and claims that I’m too young to
speak such nonsense; she says
that older people with bigger
problems really know what it’s
like to feel stressed, not a sev-
enteen year old with too much
homework and lack of sleep. In
fact, it’s not just my mother I
hear it from, but practically al-
most all adults over the age of
thirty. However, this assumption
is both incorrect and overrated.
All people, at one point or anoth-
er, are affected by stress, whether
it is in a good or bad way.
Defined as “a particular
pattern of disturbing psychologi-
cal and physiological reactions
that occur when an environment
event threatens important mo-
tives and taxes one’s ability to
cope,” stress basically represents
the way our bodies respond to
change. Contrary to what most
people believe, some stress can
actually be healthy. Stress adds a
little bit of flavor to life. It chal-
lenges us, and with it brings op-
portunity, and forces us to learn
182, We’ll Never Forget You Teaching Middle Eastern History to Iraqi Students
The Jews succeeded in
presenting the Holocaust to the
international community. Like-
wise, the Armenians’ are re-
nowned for the genocide that
was witnessed against them. The
Kurdish Anfal campaign must be
similarly regarded by the world.
Though it shares the same char-
acteristics that take part in any
mass murder, it has fallen short in
portraying this image to the out-
er world. The question remains,
who can we blame for this, and
how can we improve?
To poke at the surface of
my own culture, I can easily say
that we Kurds only commemorate
the Anfal victims on the cam-
paign’s birthday. Only once a year
do we think of the 182,000 inno-
cent souls that left us for a better
place. For us Kurds to learn from
our mistakes, we must always
bear in mind the atrocities that
the Anfal campaign caused us,
not just on an annual basis but on
a daily one. This is the progress
we should aim for.
To the surprise of most
socialist Kurds, it is not the sole
role of the KRG to propagate
the Anfal tragedy to the external
world. In fact, it is the task of
Features
Vol. 1, Issue 2
new skills and ways to behave search shows that around 99%
in order to adapt to a changing of all illnesses are somehow con-
environment. Just imagine your nected to stress; while stress can-
life without a bit of stress; how not be completely avoided, it is
dull would that be? important to learn how to con-
Stress, when excessive, trol it instead of letting it take
does eventually turn into a prob- control of you. The first step
lem. What are the causes of towards doing so involves iden-
stress? Well, it can be anything tifying the stress factors in your
from fear of not meeting peo- environment. Understand your
ple’s expectations, being unable limits, and don’t take on more re-
to sort out priorities, or losing a sponsibility than you can handle.
loved one, to something as sim- Furthermore, avoid the people
ple as burning dinner. When and things that stress you out. If
stress caused by these forces be- politics cause you to stress, then
comes excessive, a feeling of be- stay away from political conver-
ing overwhelmed, irritated, and
sations. In addition, learn how
impatient with oneself and oth- to communicate with others and
ers arises. It can lead to depres- express your feelings, instead of
sion, sleeplessness, drinking, and bottling up your thoughts and
drug abuse. emotions. Compromise and
Teenagers often fall vic- managing time also play an im-
tim to stress based on more spe- portant role in reducing stress.
cific reasons. They feel pressure We all have those mo-
from their teachers, friends, and ments where we’ve just had
parents. Moreover, teenagers enough, and feel like we’re being
are faced with making decisions pushed over the edge, but letting
in regard to their education and stress get the best of us is both
future. They are at a crossroads, unhealthy and doesn’t solve any-
and every choice they make thing. In order to take control of
will affect them in the long run. our lives, and reduce the nega-
Sometimes, it can lead to feeling tive consequences of overstress-
out of place. For teenagers, com- ing, we need to either change the
munication with peers and par-
ents often helps relief stress.
situations that cause stress, or
change our approach of how we
Evidently, stress is often deal with those situations.
detrimental to our health. Re- Photo courtesy of creativecommons.com
henchmen. Of Syria’s Ba’athist of young kids willing to consid-
non-governmental organizations,
regime under the Assads, they er ancient civilizations for a few
universities, research centers, and knew virtually nothing until they hours a week would roll through
normal Kurdish citizens to spread
read the textbook, nor were they year after year, and I’d be grati-
the story of the Kurds. Most of particularly familiar with the ori- fied if one or two would even ask
While proctoring the fi-
the advancement that takes place gins and ideology of the Ba’athist the question “What can I do with
nal exam for my Middle Eastern
concerning the Anfal campaign “movement” at large. Here I felt a History degree?” as the course
History course at the American
has to be by the sheer responsibil- useful: I could impart a factual neared completion.
University of Iraq - Sulaimani, I
ity of the Kurdish citizens them- sat for two hours with fourteen basis for the jumble of details and Here in Iraq, my task was
selves. Iraqi Kurdish students. They ap- bits of propaganda these twenty- something new entirely. I had
ish Iraqi Kurds learned along the the responsibility to help these
pear so western: jeans and Ralph
way. Perhaps they would fashion students make sense of their own
Lauren Polo shirts for the men,
styled hair and high heels for the a narrative from this lesson and immediate pasts: the worlds they,
women. Not one of the students they could weave together a story their parents, and grandparents
would seem out of place crossing that made sense to them. endured, and in many cases suf-
Yet as we discussed the fered through. All but one was
a campus quad in suburban Bos-
history of Iraq in greater detail, born after the Anfal, yet they were
ton or Atlanta, so it’s easy to for-
get that their life experiences are specific stories and points of view still connected to it, with relatives
so foreign to Americans. emerged. One student remarked lost, people moved, and villages
razed. These, and other traumas
I took over the course on the lingering effects of the
midway through the semester gassing of Halabja, his home- associated with the regime ech-
when a colleague took a great job town. Another knew the border oed through my course.
region where Iran and Turkey What my students were
back in the states. Having already
meet Iraq because his father had missing was a scaffolding to in-
covered my specialty, Ancient
been a Peshmerga operating in tellectualize their experiences.
and Medieval Mediterranean cul-
that area. Others reported on the I could give that to them. No-
ture, the course required me to
lecture on the Middle East since iconography of Baghdad’s Victo- tions such as “cults of personal-
ry Plaza area, with the two arches ity” and the distinctions between
Graphics by Marwan Muhammed 1948, an area I’d previously cov-
ered in World Civilization survey of crossed swords held by arms authoritarian and totalitarian re-
modeled after Saddam’s own. gimes appeared as we threaded
Therefore, the public intellectual classes. So, I found myself in my I was struck how alien through the upheavals of the Ira-
must be responsible for making second week facing a room full a situation this was for me as nian Revolution, the Gulf War
of Kurdish kids trying to explain
the Anfal campaign an interna- an historian. Back in the US, I and the intifada. When I heard a
the Ba’ath Party’s climb to power
tionally recognized genocide. in Syria and Iraq: a topic I antici- worked hard at “selling” Greek student in the cafeteria say in re-
You are responsible for always pated they knew all the details. and Roman histories to American sponse to another “I used to think
reminding your fellow Kurdish And they did know some students, searching for provoca- that Saddam was an evil but great
colleagues, exposing the Anfal Iraqi facts: the name of Saddam tive primary sources or insightful leader too, but I learned in my
truth rest of the world, and under Hussein’s mentor and predeces- secondary articles to catch their History class that he constantly
no circumstance forgetting the sor; their hometown of Tikrit; limited attention. Whether out made mistakes once he came to
butchery that the Kurds have wit- the identities and associated of mild antiquarian interest or my power,” I smiled inwardly. We all
nessed. atrocities committed by various shameless hucksterism, classes learned something in that course.

Sunday, May 1, 2011
The New Iphone
is Coming Out!
We all know Apple is a
very conservative company that
does not allow the outside world
to know much about its products
until they are released. The re-
lease of the Iphone 5 is highly an-
ticipated by Apple lovers world-
wide. The following rumored
specs are simply the upgrades
that people have been asking for.
The engineers at apple will
introduce the new Iphone with a
faster processor and more ram.
They might double the capacity
of the ram to two gigabytes. Ru-
mor has it one of the advance-
ments is that the home button
will be removed. They might
also release the Iphone 5 with an
8 mega pixel digital camera. The
fans of apple also believe that the
new Iphone will have a better
resolution and a bigger screen.
Steve Jobs, the Man behind Apple
Steven Paul, commonly
known as Steve Jobs, is an Ameri-
can business entrepreneur and
inventor. He is the co-founder,
and chief executive officer of Ap-
ple Inc. Steve Jobs also previously
served as chief executive of Pixar
Animation Studios; he became a
member of the board of directors
at The Walt Disney Company in
2006, following the purchase of
Pixar by Disney. He was accredit-
ed in the familiar Toy Story movie
as an executive producer.
Steve Jobs was born into
family that didn’t have the will to
raise him and was later adopted.
Jobs’ biological parents — Abdul-
fattah Jandali, a Syrian graduate
student who later became a politi-
cal science professor, and Joanne
Simpson, an American graduate
student who went on to become
a speech language pathologist —
later married, giving birth to and
raising Jobs’ biological sister, the
novelist Mona Simpson.
Going to work for Atari
after leaving Reed College, Jobs
renewed his friendship with Ste-
ve Wozniak. The two designed
computer games for Atari, get-
ting much of their influence from
the Homebrew Computer Club.
Beginning work in the Jobs’ fam-
ily garage, they managed to make
their first “killing” when the Byte
Shop in Mountain View, CA
bought their first fifty fully as-
sembled computers. On this ba-
sis, the Apple Corporation was
founded; the name and logo were
derived from Job’s favorite fruit.
Steve Jobs’ innovative idea
of a personal computer led him
into revolutionizing the computer
Vol. 1, Issue 2
People don’t only care about what
is upgraded inside the Iphone, but
rather want to see enhancements
on the outer cover. They expect
a brushed aluminum back panel
replacing the current glass back.
This will ensure that a white Ip-
hone will be available as the new
model is released. Many other
companies started to use alu-
minum for their products, now
it’s Apple’s turn to use it in or-
der to stay in the competition.
We also believe that the new Ip-
hone will have the Near Field
Communication (NFC) technolo-
gy. It is possible to have the “wave
and pay” NFC on the new Iphone.
This application will make the
lives of many people easier. They
will be able to simply pull out
their phones and pay, instead of sic videos for this album. These
carrying around their credit cards hit albums propelled Zakaria into
with them. The future owners of becoming a Kurdish Star, known
Iphone 5 will have to deal with
their bank accounts using ITunes.
There is still some inconsistency
regarding the date of the Iphone
hardware and software industry.
At the age of 21, he and his friend
Wozniak built a personal com-
puter called the Apple, followed
by the Apple II, which was then
followed by Macintosh. The Ap-
ple changed people’s conception
of a computer from a gigantic and
mysterious mass of vacuum tubes
only used by big business and the
government to a small box used
by ordinary people. Without little
steps, it’s impossible to reach the
end of a journey. Now, Jobs owns
5.426 million shares of Apple, and
138 million shares of Disney. His
wealth is estimated to be around
$5.1 billion in 2009, making him
the 43rd wealthiest American.
Photo courtesy of creativecommons.com
ISteve, the first biography on Ste-
ve Jobsand, will be hit the markets
in early 2012.
“I skate to where the puck is go-
ing to be, not where it has been.
And we’ve always tried to do that
at Apple. Since the very begin-
ning. And we always will,” says
Steve Jobs.
5’s release. Some rumors con- mors assume it will be delayed ing surprised by Apple and what
cluded that it will be available to this upcoming September. We their new product has to offer.
in the stores on June; other ru- are all looking forward to be-
Zakaria Abdullah
Born into a musical family,
Zakaria Abdullah is a renowned
Kurdish singer that hails from
Erbil, Kurdistan. Zakaria moved
to Sweden in 1993 where he be-
gan pursuing a musical career.
Initially, he played the keyboard,
and composed pieces for popular
Kurdish singers. He released his
first album, ‘To Hati (You came),
in 1998. The album was well re-
ceived by Kurdish audiences all
over the globe. His first music
video was for the song To Hati.
Zakaria’s second album
was Bigerewe (Come back), re-
The lost Tradition Awat Poll
As Kurdish culture is in-
fluenced more and more by the
west, our traditional Kurdish
clothes lose more and more of
their unique style.
Let’s cut the sleeves of our
Kurdish dress a little shorter, or
better yet let’s eliminate the faqy-
ana all together. Let’s make the
underpants into undercapris or
undershorts. Let’s change the vest
into something that ties in odd
places. How about a dress that is
lose fitting? No way, the tighter it
gets, the better.
Just a few years ago, when
I went to the tailor to have my
Kurdish dress sewn, she asked me,
“Would you like it in Irani or Sora-
ni style?” This year, the same tailor
had over a dozen different dresses
she showed me, and asked with
excitement, “Which style would
you like?” I stopped to think for
a moment. She began again, “Tell
me a style of your own!” At that
point, I was intimidated to add
a few extra layers of skirting to
Entertainment & Technology
Photo courtesy of creativecommons.com
leased in the end of 1999. This al-
bum was produced by the help of
some Kurdish musicians and his
company, Zakaria Music pro. He
released one video for the song
Bigerewa. Daye (Mother), his
third album, was one of the best
albums of his career. It sold over
a 1,000,000 copies worldwide.
This album was a mix of Kurdish,
Middle Eastern, and pop music.
He shot two music videos for the
album, both in Kurdistan for his
songs Daye and Bochi Hati.
In 2002, he released his
album Rojgar (Days) which sold
more than 1,500,000 copies. The
album consisted of 14 songs; all
of which were recorded in Tur-
key. Zakaria released three mu-
Photo courtesy of creativecommons.com
the bottom. Who was to tell me I
couldn’t? Tradition stopped me.
Although these new styles
might be attractive and even pret-
ty in some cases, they are NOT
traditional Kurdish clothing. If
each one of us changes tradition
in our own little way, then soon
enough, we will lose that tradition
for good. So, next time we’re at a
tailor, let’s think, “Is my new idea
for my dress worth our tradition
being lost?”
and listened to by Kurds all over
the world. He held many concerts
and sang many national anthems.
The best was yet to be re-
leased from him. Tellinaz (Lovely)
sold more than 3 million copies,
introducing him to even foreign-
er listeners. This album, just like
the one before it, was released in
Turkey. The album had a Middle
Eastern sound mixed with pop.
Tellinaz was the best selling album
in Kurdistan in both 2004 and
2005.
Since then, he has released two
other albums, Genji pir and Lapa-
ray Spi.
Zakaria has many young fans, but
his fan base doesn’t stop there;
Kurds and people in foreign coun-
tries also listen to his tracks.
Q: Who is your
favorite Kurdish
singer?
Graphics by Marwan Muhammed
6 7
Sports
Sunday, May 1, 2011 Vol. 1, Issue 2
May: The Decisive Month
The question is: to which
of these above categories will you
belong? Will you be celebrating
rie A), will also have their title
deciders in mid-May. The likes
of Manchester United and Chel-
in a restaurant with friends? Or sea will be fighting for the Eng-
It’s the final and most ex- will you be smashing the TV lish crown. Barcelona and Real
citing month of the 2010/11 sea- into bits? You’ll soon find out in Madrid (as usual) will be bat-
son. The top European football a month of champion deciders! tling it out for the Spanish title.
As the season comes to Finally, AC Milan, Napoli, and
leagues will see its champions
its end, a handful of gigantic, Inter Milan will toil for the Ital-
revealed and crowned. Some
teams will see themselves pro- exciting clashes promise to en- ian championship. In addition,
moted to a higher league; some tertain all football fans around the English FA Cup and the Ital-
will see themselves demoted to the world. All eyes are focused ian Cup (Coppa Italia) finals will
a lower league. It’s the time of on the fourth and final Clasico also be held this month. But the
celebration; it’s the time of frus- in the Champions League semi- game that will close off the sea-
tration. There will be tears of joy final, but there are other matches son and perhaps attract the most
and tears of misery. There will you don’t want to miss out on! attention will be the Champions
be heaping of praise and piling The three great leagues of Eu- League final on May 28, which
of blame. Such is the significance rope (English Premier League, will take place in Wembley Sta-
of the beautiful game. Spanish La Liga, and Italian Se- dium, England.
Clash of the Titans
Graphics by Marwan Muhammed
Graphics by Marwan Muhammes
Soccer, or football, as
some call it, is a very intense game
A “Shooting” Sport
that involves plenty of emotions.
You cannot find a family who does
not have a member involved with
comprised of two main factors,
soccer in one way or another – ei-
speed and teamwork, as the case
ther by practicing it regularly (or
usually is with other team sports.
occasionally), or by just watching
Not long after it was launched,
it. It is the leading sport around Basketball is among the
basketball became an interna-
the globe. There are various soc- most popular sports around the tional sport. Students all around
cer competitions in both club level world. It is not just any sport, the world formed little teams as
and national level. Since the sport but a team sport. It all started representatives of their schools.
has been around for a while, there at Springfield College in early
It later became a national-la-
are games in soccer that are called Graphics by Marwan Muhammes December, 1891. The rules and
beled association sport, known
“derbies.” A derby is referred to a portion in Spain that has always drew even more media attention. basics of the game were written
as the NBA (National Basketball
match played between two rival sought for independence from These two teams currently rank as and established by Dr. James Na-
Association). Basketball was
clubs. In these kinds of games,
the Spanish, but has always been two of the world’s best clubs; they ismith, a Canadian-born physi- truly a great contribution to the
the tension is very high. The most cal education professor and
a part of Spain. General Franco, own the most talented and expen- world of sports. Though it was
famous derby in the world is be- instructor at Springfield Col-
who ruled Spain in the 20th cen- sive players around the globe, such initially most highly anticipated
tween Real Madrid and Barcelo- lege. It began with “throwing a
tury for about 36 years, was a huge as Lionel Messi (Barcelona player) in the US, basketball today has
na, two Spanish clubs. This derby
has been given the special name of fan of Real Madrid. He was also and Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Ma- ball into hoops of holes,” which
developed the idea of shooting
attracted enormous attention
globally.
against the Catalans gaining in- drid player). They also have two
“El Clasico.”
Throughout history, this dependence, and constantly op- of the best soccer managers, Jose the ball into a cylindrical bas-
ket-based hoop. The game was
game has drawn much attention
for various reasons; some are even
posed them. Therefore, soccer
served as a battlefield between the
Mourinho (Real Madrid coach),
and Pep Guardiola (Barcelona
political. Madrid, the capital city Spanish and the Catalans, but on coach). In 2011, El Clasico has
of Spain, is the host of Real Ma- the pitch. been an unrivaled, mouth-water-
As the years passed, the ing game, having four matches
drid. Barcelona, on the other
hand, represents Catalonia, a derby got more significant, and played in only 18 days.
140 Years Old and Still Running!
teams will play at home or away. teams around the country from
The venerable competi- the smallest to the biggest eagerly
tion sees itself in a total of 14 joined!
rounds divided into 4 stages: six Presently, the Premier
The Football Association qualifying rounds, followed by League and Football League clubs
Challenge Cup, generally known another six rounds, and finally are eligible to play part in the FA
as the FA Cup, is the oldest as- into the semi-final, and final. Cup. As new conditions came to Photo courtesy of creativecommons.com
sociation football tournament in The first game was held in 1871; the minds of the FA Cup Asso-
the world, dating back to the late Barnes won over Civil Service by ciation, it was required from the ranking teams who surprisingly holding 11 titles, is Manches-
19th century in England. It is still a score of 2-0 with 1,200 attend- teams to have their own stadiums. win over higher division teams in ter United. Next is Arsenal with
viewed as an important trophy ances. However, The Football As- The Association sets considerable every FA Cup tournament. It is, 10 titles, followed by Tottenham
because of its spectacular history. sociation was formed 8 years ear- limitation factors for pre-clubs of course, amusing when a team Hotspur with 8. To this very day
The FA Cup is a competi- lier, but back then the teams only and new teams that want to com- outside of the two main leagues
defeats one of the top Premier the FA Cup is still running, spon-
tion based on knocking out teams; played friendly matches. Over pete in the tournament.
each team is drawn randomly for the years, as the game became One interesting aspect League teams, and earns the title sored by E.ON, one of the world’s
competing against another. From popular in England with trophies of the competition is the Giant- of “Giant-Killer.” largest energy providers.
the draw, it is decided whether given to the winning teams, other killers, referring to as the low- The most successful club,

Sunday, May 1, 2011
Awareness
You Are Very Likely to Get Brain Cancer
Did you know that you have a
very high chance of getting brain
cancer later in your life? This
doesn’t sound good, does it? And
no, I am not joking.
Your next question will most like-
ly be “why?” You probably have
a cell phone. Even if you don’t,
you use it quite often. Contrary
to popular belief, the radiation
of the cell phone increases the
chance of brain cancer. This has
been suggested by several recent
studies.
The Interphone study claimed
that the use of digital cell phones
for more than ten years leads to a
118% increase in the risk of brain
cancer. But an analysis by Hard-
ell Et Al in 2006, a well designed
study, revealed that the increased
risk of malignant brain tumors
could be as high as 180% – very
shocking indeed.
Several other studies show similar
statistics. Since these studies are
increasing in number, we need to
be more cautious of our health.
Leisure
Vol. 1, Issue 2
“ What is true of the individual will be tomorrow true of the whole
nation if individuals will but refuse to lose heart and hope. ”
Dr. Joseph Mercola, a renowned
health activist, suggested a guide- Mohandas Gandhi
line that can help reduce our ex-
posure to cell phone radiation.
The following points make up Dr.
Mercola’s guideline.
- Children Should Never Use Cell
Phones
- Reduce Your Cell Phone Use
- Use A Land Line At Home And At
Work
- Use Your Cell Phone Only Where
Reception Is Good
- Turn Your Cell Phone Off When
Not In Use
- Use Safer Headset Technology
Wireless Dread
Electronics control our lively state;
Wireless on, our brains are gone.
Radioactive rays control our fate.
Talking on your cell becomes pro-
longed;
Put down your phone, disconnect
the internet.
Open a book, you won’t regret it!
Poem by Shene Shamal
Cartoon by Sarmad Kinany
Photo of the month
Created by Marwan Muhammed Photo by Sivar Qazaz
Flora and fauna of Kurdistan during Spring.