tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-80295691433933484002024-03-13T17:03:24.627+03:30Persian ParadoxMassoumeh Ebtekar's Official BlogUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger314125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8029569143393348400.post-20417644229885932562017-10-13T10:54:00.001+03:302017-10-13T10:54:29.242+03:30Salam<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: Helvetica; color: rgb(49, 49, 49); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(49, 49, 49); min-height: 20px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: Helvetica; color: rgb(49, 49, 49); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(49, 49, 49);"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">Salam</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: Helvetica; color: rgb(49, 49, 49); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(49, 49, 49);"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">Salam, the common greeting of Muslims means peace. The response: Salam Alaikum means peace be upon you. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: Helvetica; color: rgb(49, 49, 49); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(49, 49, 49);"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">As humans we cherish peace, compassion and love as intrinsic values that define our humanity. We champion these values since they are at the core of our soul, our living heart and the root of all hope. However, the unambiguous prediction of the Angels at the time of creation, who according to the Holy Quran, questioned God for bringing into being the human race, by maintaining that they will shed much blood, and make war, has proven to be correct up to now. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: Helvetica; color: rgb(49, 49, 49); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(49, 49, 49);"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">Tens of millions have lost their lives, their livelihoods, future and corrupted their own nature because of wars and conflicts based on greed and supremacy. From the outset of the 20th century till today, the United States Government has been the world’s major purveyor of violence, gross interference in the affairs of other nations and maintains a clear program aimed at full spectrum world domination.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: Helvetica; color: rgb(49, 49, 49); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(49, 49, 49);"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"> Its global military apparatus that maintains 900 bases and more outside its borders is not intended to promote peace. The current administration has indicated in meetings including those with with the International Atomic Agency that the multilateral Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) is not to their benefit. They have lobbied and pushed congress and the Persian Gulf Sheikdoms for arms sales to ensure that their military industries survive and prosper at the expense of the blood of the downtrodden, as the world witnesses for the Yemenese people.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: Helvetica; color: rgb(49, 49, 49); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(49, 49, 49);"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"> </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: Helvetica; color: rgb(49, 49, 49); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(49, 49, 49);"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">Till now the JCPOA has served as a beacon of hope for resolving political and diplomatic disputes through negotiation. A win-win approach was taken and guided negotiations to come to solutions despite the very complicated and critical issues involved. The fact that the Nuclear Deal has prevented conflict and eased tensions in West Asia and at the global level is well known. Equally clear is the fact that extremist elements on all sides have actively worked against this pact, both during and after its conception. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: Helvetica; color: rgb(49, 49, 49); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(49, 49, 49);"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">After the election of Donald Trump one of his first pronouncements was the accusation that the JCOPA has been one of the worst deals in American history. This white nationalist sentiment along with the Neocon and Zionist agenda has encouraged Trump to make yet another mistake in continuance of a series of successive faults to decertify the nuclear deal and to set the US government on a collision course with Iran. Trump made a blunt historical miscalculation concerning Tehran by siding with an autocratic kingdom when he criticised Iran on the day 40 million people took to the polls to elect their president in one of the most democratic events in the region. </span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: Helvetica; color: rgb(49, 49, 49); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(49, 49, 49);"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">He has made several strategic international mistakes each weakening multilateralism, he has taken a similar negative stance against the Paris Agreement on Climate Change which has ramifications for the future of our planet. The recent exit of the US from UNESCO, the educational institution of the UN, is another indication that this administration has no concern for global peace. Eventhough the IAEA has repeatedly testified that Iran is in compliance with the JCPOA, and European counterparts have confirmed Iran fulfilling the requirements and said they will do anything to save the pact, Trump may announce he will not certify the JCPOA. This radical and irrational stance has not been welcomed by the majority members of the international community, people who cherish global peace and who have come to understand the hard way, the intrinsic worth of human values in their hearts.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: Helvetica; color: rgb(49, 49, 49); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(49, 49, 49);"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"> Analysts, observers and diplomats have also taken it upon themselves to come forth in support of Iran and the JCPOA. In fact what we witness today is that Iran is emerging as a reliable player in international affairs.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: Helvetica; color: rgb(49, 49, 49); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(49, 49, 49);"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">Iran has stood by its commitments, withstood all pressures, proven in action not words that it is fully committed to the JCOPA. If one partner breaks this pact, ultimately, they will lose significant reputational integrity, as this is a multilateral 5+1 deal and cannot be undermined by one member. The UN has lifted all its previous resolutions and sanctions related to nuclear activity and is standing behind the JCPOA.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: Helvetica; color: rgb(49, 49, 49); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(49, 49, 49);"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">Today Iran is unified and standing firm in support of this nuclear pact. Today we witness unprecedented support for our government and armed forces. However, more interesting is the international support that Iran enjoys today, the fact that political leaders and states from Europe to Asia, African and even South America have indicated their unwavering support for the deal.</span></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: Helvetica; color: rgb(49, 49, 49); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(49, 49, 49); min-height: 20px;"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"></span><br></p>
<p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-family: Helvetica; color: rgb(49, 49, 49); -webkit-text-stroke-width: initial; -webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(49, 49, 49);"><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;">Today we are witnessing a wave of support from both civil society and academia, a wave that hopefully will lead to an awakening of the collective human consciousness and a serious movement to protect peace: This most precious and elusive treasure on earth. </span></p><div><span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><br></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8029569143393348400.post-69530663219402981202016-10-14T18:01:00.000+03:302016-10-14T18:43:45.246+03:30Hussein, A Guide to Contemporary Salvation<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
We just left behind the days of Ashura, the tenth of Muharram, the annual ceremonies commemorating the martyrdom of Hussein the grandson of Prophet Muhammad, in 61 AH. The event has now been commmemorated for about 14 centuries in many parts of the Islamic world. What makes Ashura eternal and universal is a discourse which is relevant and compelling for most human beings even today.<br>
The Ommayid Dynasty ruled over most of the Islamic lands at that time. In practice they had departed disgracefully from the authentic teachings and ethics of Islam. Their tyranny and materialistic outlook was taking Muslim societies backwards and they were propagating a very deviated and distorted image of the religion. Imam Hussein who followed the tradition and pure beliefs of the Prophet was deeply critical and resentful of the ruling system , he had not pledged allegiance to Yazid the Khalifat.His life was thus threatened in Mecca while the people of Kufa had sent thousands of letters asking him to come to their rescue. He decided to leave taking his family along as a sign of peaceful migration. Hussein's rationale and charismatic behaviour had attracted many and this could not be tolerated by Yazid. Imam set out for Iraq with family and companions but Yazid decided to confront him and force him to pledge allegiance or face an unequal battle. Hussein asked them to let him return back .He reminded them of his backgrounds, his father Ali and brother Hassan were of the most famous and revered personalities of their time, they too were also persecuted by the dreadful brutality but also worldly attractions of the rulers that made the people complacent in face of the truth. Imam knew that if he submitted he was in a sense validating their system in the name of Islam. So he decided to withstand, to resist and to fight in an eternal battle between falsehood and righteousness.<br>
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Historians have accounted many narratives known as <i>maghatel</i> some of them overstating and some closer to the reality. Many Muslim and non Muslim scholars have studied and written on this important subject. According to the original narratives, Hussein announced that he will stand up for enjoining what is the truth and forbiding what is wrong and to bring about a reform in the deviated ranks of the religion. The legacy of Hussein was to support the oppressed and confront the oppressors, choosing life with dignity or martyrdom instead of siding with tyranny and hypocrisy. Imam and his companions fought valiantly and were martyred so that the truth would shine and the true path of righteousness would remain for all humanity. His compelling cause was that of all humanity of all times, not confined to one geography or on era but a universal message that many irrespective of religion or nationality respect and cherish.<br>This event becomes very relevent at a time when certain groups and states in the name of Islam are wrongly attempting to create discord and hatred , when they resort to violence and terror as a means to make their case. When DAESH is supported and funded by certain states to create war in Iraq and in Syria, to establish a rule of terror in the name of the Religion of Compassion ,who is to be held accountable in the international scene? When double standards take an independent nation to years of sanctions for a probable threat, what has been done to condemn an illegitimate state which has nuclear arsenals with no international regulation and oversight. What has been done to condemn a state that has been bombing civilians in Yemen for so many years ? Why is there so very little coverage about the tragedies and civilian deaths in Yemen in mainstream media? When will governments that have had military adventures in the region be held accountable for the suffering of people in Afghanistan, in Iraq,in Yemen , in Gaza in the West Bank, in Syria, in Libya in Somalia? Is it only now that the ughly offshoots of terror and the collateral damage of the homeless refugees has reached their shores and shaken their societies, the West is waking up to this tragedy. Now listen to the disgusting election debates that are exposing the dirty side of politics in a country that claims to lead the world. The United Nations has not lived up to its commitments to protect global peace and security, and Ban Ki Moon will leave the world more insecure than when he began, more in environmental distress than before he started. If they have assisted or tacitly approved these actions , global leaders are accomplices in these tragedies.<br>
These are reasons why we need to mourn and pray for humanity today , this is why we need to mourn for the martyrdom of Hussein . These sad realities are why we need to uphold the sublime values that define human dignity .These are the shared values that we need to respect and protect in these turbulent times. This is why Hussein is and will always be <i>the light of guidance and ship of salvation.</i></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8029569143393348400.post-4503580815034581832016-02-19T17:21:00.001+03:302016-02-19T17:21:41.983+03:30Peace & Environment Major Issues Iran Will Pursue in Post Sanctions EraIran will play a constuctive role in global and regional peacemaking after the nuclear deal and the full lifting of all sanctions and restrictions on Iran's dealings with the world. This process has advanced since the deal was struck and implementation day announced weeks ago. Private and corporate sector investors from around the globe are securing deals and investments in areas important for the sustainable development of Iran. In the DOE we are encouraging investment for the environment, green technologies, renewables, waste management,energy and water efficiency fields. <div>The visit of President Rouhani to Italy and France was an important step in securing stronger relations with European States that have been strong economic allies in the past. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-_Z9N9JU3Byg/Vscd6LE21vI/AAAAAAAABxs/hafl8-ab45k/s640/blogger-image--564448342.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-_Z9N9JU3Byg/Vscd6LE21vI/AAAAAAAABxs/hafl8-ab45k/s640/blogger-image--564448342.jpg"></a></div>President Rouhani and President Hollande spoke on the importance of building relationships that go beyond economic and trade issues and could enable peacemaking and resolution of conflicts that have left millions in despair in the region.<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-TYFOxgIPcGk/Vscd3dq-ZuI/AAAAAAAABxo/MTaHxW7g7Wc/s640/blogger-image--1113957325.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-TYFOxgIPcGk/Vscd3dq-ZuI/AAAAAAAABxo/MTaHxW7g7Wc/s640/blogger-image--1113957325.jpg"></a></div> They vowed to address the root causes of extremism and terror in todays world.I think this was an important step forward. We signed several agreements including one on environmental cooperation.<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-2K1j4WRoLjs/Vscd0mXRQhI/AAAAAAAABxk/BRgwflfMlz0/s640/blogger-image-209698320.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-2K1j4WRoLjs/Vscd0mXRQhI/AAAAAAAABxk/BRgwflfMlz0/s640/blogger-image-209698320.jpg"></a></div></div><div>What is important in the world is that leaders who control wealth and power need to understand that if they seek peace for their country they should seek peace for all humans. If they look for happiness for their people they must pursue happiness for all humanity. If they aspire a healthy environment for their people they should strive to save the planet for all. These are universal values that do not fit in with greed and selfishness. What is important is that many conflicts can be resolved peacefully ;if there is a genuine resolve for peace, that is if the military machinery and industry of the big powers allow, if the cartels and oil trusts permit, if the corrupt politicians change course, if the people of the world awaken to these realities which are shaping our future and that of generations to come.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8029569143393348400.post-50210815391921958542015-12-05T05:14:00.001+03:302015-12-05T05:14:15.420+03:30Iran Takes Part in Climate Summit<div>The earth's vital signs are distressed due to the excesses and agression humans have displayed. Global warming is one of the most important manifestations of this distress. After the Convention for Climate Change and the Kyoto Protocol, now global talks for the pre and post 2020 agenda have culminated in the COP21 negotiations. While few actions for implementing the Kyoto Protocol have been taken by some developed countries others refrained and global warming continued. In this round recognising the urgency of the matter, the international community decided to invite all countries to voluntarily submit their contributions to the mitigation and adaptation processes ie, the INDCs.</div><div>While 140 leaders took part in the Paris summit, amounting to the largest one day gathering of world leaders, 180 countries submitted their INDCs creating an unprecedented opportunity for global action to curb greenhouse gas emissions and slow the warming processes before it nears the 2 degrees Celsius danger point. The important issue is the inequalities manifested in both the consequenses and the responsibilities which the rich countries do not wish to undertake. </div><div>I took part on behalf of President Rouhani in the Summit in Paris . Leaders were all welcomed by President Hollande and UNSG Ban Ki Moon as well as Ministers Fabius and Royale. I thanked the President for the hospitality of his government and conveyed the regards of President Rouhani. I also expressed my condolences for the victims of the tragic terrorist attacks in Paris. Mr. Ban Ki Moon also welcomed me and I thanked him and hoped for success in the negotiations. </div><div>In the couple hours we had before the opening we met several heads of States and Prime Ministers, including the presidents of Iraq, Afghanistan, Lithuania, Armenia, Bolivia, Vietnam, Switzerland , King of Sweden, Prince of Monaco and Prime Ministers of Palestine, Pakistan, Japan, Norway, Algeria, Greece,Ireland, Vietnam and Chancellor Merkel. We spoke about bilateral relations and environmental cooperation. After the inaugural plenary session we also had some other bilateral meetings and interviews and ultimately I made my speech and we left for Tehran that night. <a href="http://unfccc.int/files/meetings/paris_nov_2015/application/pdf/cop21cmp11_leaders_event_iran.pdf" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">http://unfccc.int/files/meetings/paris_nov_2015/application/pdf/cop21cmp11_leaders_event_iran.pdf</a></div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-2HWT3Tf3jto/VmHuNoay5HI/AAAAAAAABuc/NMJzre7D6jo/s640/blogger-image--1353336137.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-2HWT3Tf3jto/VmHuNoay5HI/AAAAAAAABuc/NMJzre7D6jo/s640/blogger-image--1353336137.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-dyEt57JfSAs/VmHRPqGz7CI/AAAAAAAABuA/V9LUJshX5mw/s640/blogger-image-674631579.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-dyEt57JfSAs/VmHRPqGz7CI/AAAAAAAABuA/V9LUJshX5mw/s640/blogger-image-674631579.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-kDYgPcuGisU/VmHv--8diAI/AAAAAAAABuo/rorUNpexc8w/s640/blogger-image--635045765.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-kDYgPcuGisU/VmHv--8diAI/AAAAAAAABuo/rorUNpexc8w/s640/blogger-image--635045765.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-i8Cd-GqNekI/VmHRGH-wECI/AAAAAAAABt4/8-zDEvYGYfs/s640/blogger-image-259976528.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-i8Cd-GqNekI/VmHRGH-wECI/AAAAAAAABt4/8-zDEvYGYfs/s640/blogger-image-259976528.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-aWP4oCoSZgM/VmHRYtinqqI/AAAAAAAABuI/q__SRKuCq1Y/s640/blogger-image--1094552163.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-aWP4oCoSZgM/VmHRYtinqqI/AAAAAAAABuI/q__SRKuCq1Y/s640/blogger-image--1094552163.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ZHu5r_QOTDQ/VmH25dlKUKI/AAAAAAAABvA/yFc1dzIYrdU/s640/blogger-image-1215042347.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ZHu5r_QOTDQ/VmH25dlKUKI/AAAAAAAABvA/yFc1dzIYrdU/s640/blogger-image-1215042347.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><a href="http://unfccc.int/files/meetings/paris_nov_2015/application/pdf/cop21cmp11_leaders_event_iran.pdf">http://unfccc.int/files/meetings/paris_nov_2015/application/pdf/cop21cmp11_leaders_event_iran.pdf</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8029569143393348400.post-12719993019288316292015-11-20T10:32:00.001+03:302015-11-20T10:32:03.047+03:30Supreme Leader Submits General Policies for the Environment<div class="inner" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><div class="item-header" style="box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;"><figure class="item-img large-image" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; position: relative;"><br></figure><figure class="item-img large-image" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; position: relative;">General Policies are high level strategies formulated by experts in the Expediency Council, adopted in that council and endorsed by the Supreme Leader. We were working with the Council for the past year to define the outlines and content of the major policies we need for the environment in Iran. These general policies will enable us to strengthen cross sectoral cooperation and to engage the judiciary, legislative and even armed forces to engage in implementation of environmental policies. The stategic mandate given in this directive also addresses social participation and the civil society which could be instumental for a social campaign to change current mentality and lifestyles particulaly in consumption patterns of water and energy. In addition the emphasis on greening of the economy and supporting green technologies will give us strong incentives for investment and growth. The need to mitigate greenhouse gases and confront the detrimental effects of climate change is clearly mentioned as well. The clear focus on environmental diplomacy is also important given the regional role with our neighbours and with the wider international community that we need to persue. The General Policies have given us a strong support in promoting the environmental agenda led by President Rouhani in the current government. These policies have also given a strong signal of committment and cooperation at the international level at the onset of COP21 negotiations on the new climate agreement. </figure><figure class="item-img large-image" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; position: relative;">Iran will have an important role, as an influential and committed regional and global player, for promoting peace and environmental protection for our home, planet earth. </figure><figure class="item-img large-image" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; position: relative;"><br></figure><figure class="item-img large-image" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; position: relative;"><br></figure><figure class="item-img large-image" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; position: relative;"><br></figure><figure class="item-img large-image" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; position: relative;"><font color="#000000" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><a href="http://english.khamenei.ir/d/2015/11/18/4/791.jpg" target="_blank" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><img src="http://english.khamenei.ir/d/2015/11/18/3/791.jpg" alt="Leader" class="" title="Expand green economy, administer justice and raise awareness of the environment" itemprop="image" style="box-sizing: border-box; border: 0px; vertical-align: middle; display: block; width: 720px; height: auto;"></a></font></figure><div class="item-title" style="box-sizing: border-box; position: absolute; bottom: 0px; left: 0px; width: 720px; padding: 0px;"><h2 style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700; margin: 0px; position: relative; padding: 12px;"><span style="font-size: 17px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Expand green economy, administer justice and raise awareness of the environment</span></h2><div class="item-tools pull-left item-meta" style="box-sizing: border-box; float: left !important; border-bottom-width: 5px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><ul class="list-unstyled list-inline" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 0px -5px; list-style: none; padding: 0px 0px 4px 12px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><li class="date" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-align: left; display: inline-block; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; height: 14px;">Nov 17, 2015</li> <li style="box-sizing: border-box; text-align: left; display: inline-block; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; height: 14px; border-right-width: 0px; border-right-style: none;"><a href="http://english.khamenei.ir/print/2497/Expand-green-economy-administer-justice-and-raise-awareness" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration: none;">Print</a></li></span></ul></div></div></div><div class="item-body" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="intro-text" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700; margin: 14px 0px; display: inline-block; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">In a letter to the heads of the three branches of government, Ayatollah Khamenei, the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, announced the general policies on the environment on the basis of the first clause in Article 110 of the Constitution. </span><div class="full-text" itemprop="articleBody" style="box-sizing: border-box;"><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The following is the full text of these policies issued on November 17, 2015.</span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful</span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;">General Policies on the Environment:<br style="box-sizing: border-box;">1. Comprehensive, harmonious and organized management of vital resources (including the air, water, soil and environmental diversity) based on ecological capability and sustainability particularly by increasing capacities and appropriate legal and structural capabilities accompanied by public participation.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;">2. Establishing a cohesive and national system on the issue of the environment.</span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">3. Improving environmental conditions with the purpose of helping society enjoy a healthy environment, administering justice and observing intra-generational rights.</span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">4. Preventing and prohibiting the circulation of all kinds of unlawful pollutants, recording crimes related to the environment, administering efficient and preventive punishment of polluters and destroyers of the environment and forcing them to compensate for their actions.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;">5. Continuous refinement and control of air, water, soil and noise pollutants, destructive waves and rays and unfavorable climatic changes, and making compulsory the observation of environmental standards and criteria in implementing rules and regulations, development plans and spatial planning.</span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">6. Preparing an environmental atlas of the country and protecting, reviving, optimizing and developing renewable natural resources (such as seas, lakes, rivers, dam reservoirs, wetlands, aquifers, forests, soil, grasslands and environmental diversity particularly of wildlife), imposing legal restrictions on using these resources in line with their ecologic capability (their sustainability and resilience capabilities) on the basis of sustainability standards and criteria, the management of sensitive and valuable ecosystems (including national parks and other national environmental heritage), preserving genetic resources and developing and improving them at the level of international standards.</span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">7. Managing climatic changes, confronting environmental threats such as desertification, dust particles, drought and microbial and radioactive transmitters, promoting foresight and identifying and managing new environmental phenomena. </span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">8. Expanding the green economy by emphasizing:</span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">8.1. Low-carbon industries, the use of clean sources of energy and healthy agricultural and organic products, the management of waste and wastewater by optimizing economic, social, natural and environmental capacities and resources.</span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">8.2. The reformation of production patterns in different economic and social areas, the improvement of consumption patterns of water, various resources and materials, food and energy sources particularly through promoting those fuel sources that are in harmony with the environment.</span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">8.3. The promotion of green and non-fossil modes of public transportation such as electric modes and an increase in public transportation particularly in large cities.</span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">9. Balancing and preserving, in an optimal way, groundwater through watershed and aquifer management, managing elements that reduce groundwater utilization and evaporation and preventing the entrance of pollutants.</span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">10. Establishing an environmental auditing system in the country by considering environmental values and costs (destruction, pollution and revival) in national accounting.</span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">11. Supporting and encouraging investments and technologies that are compatible with the environment by using proper means including green taxes.</span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">12. Preparing an environmental behavior chart and promoting and establishing environmental behavior and culture based on constructive Iranian-Islamic values and patterns.</span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">13. Improving studies and scientific research, utilizing new environmental technologies, benefiting from constructive domestic experiences in the area of preserving the balance of ecosystems, and preventing the environment from being polluted and destroyed.</span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">14. Raising and strengthening societial awareness, knowledge and outlook about the environment, and strengthening religious culture and teachings related to social responsiblty particularly through enjoining to do good and forbidding evil with the purpose of preserving the environment at all levels of society. </span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">15. Strengthening environmental diplomacy through:</span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">15.1. Efforts to create and strengthen regional organizations with the responsibility of confronting dust particles and water pollution.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;">15.2. Strengthening relations and encouraging purposeful and efficient cooperation – bilateral, multilateral, regional and international cooperation – in the area of the environment.</span></p><p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 10px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">15.3. Making efficient use of international opportunities and incentives in moving towards a low-carbon economy and facilitating the transport and development of relevant technologies and innovations.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;"> </span></p></div></div></div><div class="item-sharing" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 12px;"><div class="pull-left" style="box-sizing: border-box; float: left !important;"><ul class="list-clean list-inline" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; list-style: none; padding: 0px;"></ul></div><div class="clearfix" style="box-sizing: border-box;"></div></div><div class="group-box group-2 border-bottom" style="box-sizing: border-box; height: 275px; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-color: rgb(230, 230, 230);"><div id="box29" class="box box cols cols-3 cols-item border-top" data-conf="{}" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin-bottom: 28px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 0px; background-image: none; min-height: 240px; 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Ashura has become an opportunity for contemplation on the plight of humanity. <div>Sixty years after the advent of Islam and the Hejira, fearing a serious deviation from the authentic teachings of Islam ,Imam Hussein did not pledge allegience to the tyrant of his time. Being a charismatic and popular figure, Hussein was under tremendous pressure to approve thetreacherous policies of Yazid .Branded as a rebell by the regime and based on the invitation of thousands of Kufan residents he departed from Mecca before Hajj. Along with his companions and household, he faced a full army prepared for war in Karbala. He attempted to prevent war and bloodshed but the enmy was relentless. He was martyred along with his sons and companions leaving his sister Zainab and the children to pass on the message of Karbala. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Bxh5G-9ZjJU/VitlGihk8fI/AAAAAAAABsU/yXVt-l8R88A/s640/blogger-image-2022659010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Bxh5G-9ZjJU/VitlGihk8fI/AAAAAAAABsU/yXVt-l8R88A/s640/blogger-image-2022659010.jpg"></a></div> His was a life of love and inviting all humans to embrace the qualities of virtue. The account of his legendary life and Ashura as the climax of his campaign for justice, is laden with references to his compassion and love for all. His endeavors to bring the adversaries to reverse their policy and leave him alone and abandone the battle field are a clear testimony to the ethical nature of his cause. In stark contrast with the message of contemporary reactionary terrorists who try to portray a very violent and ruthless image of Islam, Hussein's mesage was one of abiding to principles of human dignity, even in the battle field Imam orders his warriors not to shut off water from the enemy. He invites them to change course and save themselves,but they have been promised reign and wealth in return for killing Imam and silencing his campaign for justice.<div>Fourteen centuries later, the voice of Hussein is loud and clear as he calls " life with oppressors is loss,and death becomes salvation" or as he said "my revolution is to invite people to enjoin in what is right and avoid what is wrong". Hussein stand as a beacon of light in the dark times we experience today, the philosophy of Hussein stands as a ship of salvation for a humanity shaken by stormy waters of war, violence and dangers for the future of our planet earth.<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Dcs3NfKtqx4/VitlDAmnjfI/AAAAAAAABsE/lN26EemKfig/s640/blogger-image-725199461.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Dcs3NfKtqx4/VitlDAmnjfI/AAAAAAAABsE/lN26EemKfig/s640/blogger-image-725199461.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-9blIL7RY6g8/VitlE7E3P7I/AAAAAAAABsM/JJZpzlTZno8/s640/blogger-image-1330969965.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-9blIL7RY6g8/VitlE7E3P7I/AAAAAAAABsM/JJZpzlTZno8/s640/blogger-image-1330969965.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-QtZERW4pJjo/VitlIDupM6I/AAAAAAAABsc/ezrIRFvKgHw/s640/blogger-image-383318045.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-QtZERW4pJjo/VitlIDupM6I/AAAAAAAABsc/ezrIRFvKgHw/s640/blogger-image-383318045.jpg"></a></div></div><div>More and more we see people from different walks of life, from different religions and nationalities embracing the cause of Hussein, striving for a life of dignity in a world torn apart by poverty, war, injustices and environmental degradation.</div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8029569143393348400.post-19112957131705281512015-10-17T08:20:00.001+03:302015-10-17T23:17:50.116+03:30Iranian Wonderland<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
The Islamic Consultative Assembly or Majlis as we call it, witnessed fierce debates on the Nuclear Agreement. The supporters of Paydari Faction, who stood firmly behind the former President Ahmadinejad During his term, are staunch adversaries of the agreement. They went as far as threatening Drs. Zarif and Salehi ,the Foreign Minister and the Head of the Atomic Energy Organization. Yet ultimately since the majority were convinced, in spite of the very heavy lobby of the opponent and the very negative report of the special commmittee in charge, the agreement was appproved by the Majlis and endorsed by the Council of Guardians. Thus, one of the major vows of President Rouhani during his election campaign has neared fulfilment. While the Supreme Leader has given the green light for the 5+1 Agreement from the star,he has stressed on containment of political relations with the US considering the continued expansionist and militaristic policies of that government in the region.<br />
During the past months we are witnessing a rising flurry of diplomatic and business delgations, including a evident willingness on behalf of American corporations who feel they are falling behind in the competition. European and Asian, political and economic sectors have arrived but we have also seen a surge in journalists and tourists arriving in the Iranian Wonderland.<br />
Journalists are asking for interviews many of which I simply cannot accomodate, but those which I do, are keen on asking about the future of our relations with the west about my views as a member of the revolutionary student group in 1979, on the prospects of the new deal for the region and the world .<br />
I believe that the Moderation Government of Dr. Rouhani has taken great economic, social, political ,environmental and international strides in the past 25 months, yet we still have a long way ahead. In light of the very volatile situation of the middle east Iran has been playing a more proactive role to create more trust and confidence and sort out the differences created by a fabricated wave of Iranophobia among Arab states. We also have much to do in terms of creating grounds for a full integration of political groups loyal to the Constitution in the upcomming Majlis elections.<br />
We also have a very challenging course ahead in terms of integrating environmental concerns in the country's development processes.<br />
Hope and Prudence have been the key motivating factors in this path; we trust in God to guide us through these troubled waters.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8029569143393348400.post-58789441755876048902015-10-02T23:48:00.001+03:302015-10-02T23:48:35.048+03:30GreenTech Helsinki<p class="MsoNormal"><br></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I visited Helsiniki this month based on the invitation of the Finnish Minister of Economy to speak at an international event on Green Technologies. In addition to taking part in that session I met several dignitaries including, the President of Finland, the speaker of the Parliament, the Minister of Trade, the Minister of Environment, and the Committee on Foreign affairs. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-nOTpE7CIIIQ/Vg7l0aoH0DI/AAAAAAAABqk/gnxX5vSqUAE/s640/blogger-image--979728792.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-nOTpE7CIIIQ/Vg7l0aoH0DI/AAAAAAAABqk/gnxX5vSqUAE/s640/blogger-image--979728792.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-s3Zb2rXNoC4/Vg7l9KlQLwI/AAAAAAAABqs/mKkxWYkcWNw/s640/blogger-image--1655690263.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-s3Zb2rXNoC4/Vg7l9KlQLwI/AAAAAAAABqs/mKkxWYkcWNw/s640/blogger-image--1655690263.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Cwwa-jAqZPo/Vg7mIHI_jMI/AAAAAAAABq0/h8hbrf2WXLU/s640/blogger-image-441774278.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Cwwa-jAqZPo/Vg7mIHI_jMI/AAAAAAAABq0/h8hbrf2WXLU/s640/blogger-image-441774278.jpg"></a></div>The cordial and positive atmosphere in all the meetings was indicative of a general resolve to upgrade bilateral relationships. Many Finnish corporations had a long history of successful dealings with Iran until of course the sanctions. <p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">On the second day of my visit </span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">I also had the opportunity to meet with the Confederation of Finnish Industries and several top business leaders who were very keen to find ways to return or to begin investment in Iran. I explained the environmental challenges we face in Iran and proposed a joint effort to invest in green technologies such as solar energy.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-viedVqn4_-4/Vg7mY0gHd_I/AAAAAAAABq8/RyogLipVczg/s640/blogger-image-1828679510.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-viedVqn4_-4/Vg7mY0gHd_I/AAAAAAAABq8/RyogLipVczg/s640/blogger-image-1828679510.jpg"></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Several interviews with local and international media were convened including one with Euronews. Journalists were mostly inquisitive about the post[-]sanctions plans and the future relationships between Iran and the West.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-i2IQNKjWCl0/Vg7mmPpl2JI/AAAAAAAABrE/sB6vEIRduaU/s640/blogger-image--2076275492.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-i2IQNKjWCl0/Vg7mmPpl2JI/AAAAAAAABrE/sB6vEIRduaU/s640/blogger-image--2076275492.jpg"></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">In these deliberations I emphasized on the emerging role of Iran in promoting peace and security in the region. I also mentioned that environmental issues are of a global and human nature and that we are all passengers of one ship and have a common but differentiated responsibility in this regard.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Meanwhile, duringthe previous visit I had two months ago in Norway we had decided to convene technical workshops on renewable energies and environmental standards in petroleum industries. These workshops will be held in Bushehr and Tehran next month marking the start of our practical cooperation .</span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8029569143393348400.post-7896298817743695602015-08-15T07:54:00.001+04:302015-08-15T07:54:25.477+04:30Global Day of Peace for Iran<br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-zDM9jXNpH4M/Vc6w5T7-XwI/AAAAAAAABoY/0sfnZoA7K9s/s640/blogger-image-2045864630.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-zDM9jXNpH4M/Vc6w5T7-XwI/AAAAAAAABoY/0sfnZoA7K9s/s640/blogger-image-2045864630.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Over 70 US cities have pledged to take part in a ceremony to support the nuclear deal with Iran. The opponent of the deal mainly the Hawks and Zionist lobbies see their interest in continuing tensions with Iran ultimately leading to a full escalation of war. That would give them more chances to sell their weapons and to dominate over the region. The Amercan people live in relative prosperity but they shuold know that this prosperity is attained at the price of war and suffering for many on earth.They need to realize that they are complicit in what their government does in other parts of the world. Time for indifference and carefreeness has elapsed, the young American generation must now choose between peace or war.The Iran nuclear deal has a message of mutual respect,peace and coexistence for all irrespective of our beliefs,cultures,nationalities or race,it builds upon our shared humanity, the dignity that every human being deserves. I pray and hope that goodness and peace will overcome.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8029569143393348400.post-22702263793280347102015-08-06T09:00:00.001+04:302015-08-06T09:00:44.696+04:30Iran Nuclear Deal :Congress DecidesAs long as we are alive we are tested for our deeds,our words and even our intentions and thoughts.This is part of the system of creation where a chance is given to every human to fulfill a life in the good or the bad direction on the basis of the free choice given to all humankind.We are thus always making choices, taking decisions which directly or indirectly, immediately or gradually affect our lives and determine our fate. Regulating or controling our inner drives, which are intrinsically very strong is part of this process, therefore caution is the rule of the day. This individual perspective , which applies to most faiths and religions, would have very dramatic dimensions when taken to social and political levels. The reasons behind major decisions affecting the future of humanity has sometimes fallen into the hands of people who have not taken caution against their inner drives , people who have not realized what could be at stake, people who did not have the insight to forbid what is bad and to enjoin what is good. 70 years ago the US employed nuclear weapons against Hiroshima & Nagasaki killing millions of innocent civilians. Nuclear proliferation and the arms race has continued in the world unabated since and while millions live in abject poverty and disease, while the natural environment of planet earth is degrading at an alarming rate, military expenditure and the legal and illicit arms trade has exceeded all other areas.<div>70 years later, building upon the legacy of those who have invited humanity to peace, brotherhood and justice, Prophets and altruists, Iran joined western powers in a difficult, complex and intriguing process of negotiations. These talks were aimed at lifting the illegal sanctions against Iran and ensuring western powers about the peaceful intentions of our nuclear program. The successful settlement gave a strong signal to the international community that inspite of a long standing conflict between Iran and the US, dialogue can open vistas for reconciliation provided that a strong political will exists. The support of the Supreme Leader and the President for Dr. Zarif and his team paved way for a national resolve on this matter in Iran, despite differences of opinion among political rivals. The current internal debates and hearings in the US Congress have recieved much media coverage. Since the major opponent of the deal has been the Zionist regime, their staunch supporters in the Congress have taken coordinated positions against the deal, bringing into light the true intentions of certain groups who consider the security of Israel more important than US or even global security. This reveals how the nuclear deal has exposed the true identity of zionist groups in the US and how this minority has contolled the political, financial and media strongholds of that nation for decades. The question has surfaced in many social media that since the American people have been held hostage and taken to war several times to protect Israel will they now stand up to protect their own nation to secure global peace and to restore the damaged image of their country in the world? Americans and particularly their young generation have been generally barred from understanding the truth behind their governments policies, they are usually uninformed or indifferent. The Iran nuclear deal provides an opportunity for the people and the Congress who purport to represent them to engage in determining their destiny and that of the world, to change the war mongering image of their government. The Congress now has a historical decision which is exposed and evident for the world to see, to give diplomacy and negotiation a chance or to stubbornly push ahead for unilateral dominion,conflict and violence. I sincerely hope that the American people and the Congress take necessary caution and make a better decision for peace and the future prosperity of all humanity. </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8029569143393348400.post-12572906219807108212015-07-31T23:37:00.001+04:302015-08-01T04:52:04.209+04:30Fabius and climate talks in TehranTehran has been hosting high level diplomatic <span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">delegations since the nuclear settlement. One after the other political and economic figures have arrived to enhance and strengthen relations. Lauren Fabius, the French Foreign Minister, was the most recent among them. He arrived on Wednesday to meet, Dr. Zarif, President Rouhani, ministers of industry and petroleum. </span><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">As Fabius is the future President of the COP21, the climate negotiations that must lead to a new agreement by the end of 2015, he also came to visit me at Pardisan Park later in the afternoon. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-dysAeWX8bj0/VbwRKfUTSkI/AAAAAAAABnQ/PmdszUw8WqI/s640/blogger-image--1039237302.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-dysAeWX8bj0/VbwRKfUTSkI/AAAAAAAABnQ/PmdszUw8WqI/s640/blogger-image--1039237302.jpg"></a></div>Areas of bilateral cooperation, green technologies, renewable energy and air pollution control were discussed . We also spoke on the various hurdles ahead of the climate negotiations. The issue of common but differentiated responsibilites eluding to the historical responsibility of industrialised countries which have a long history of GHG emissions was brought up. I also noted of the need to take more practical steps and commitments by countries of the North. A balanced, equitable and sustainable deal which addresses mitigation as well as adaptation and the damages countries are facing is required. I noted that our government will collaborate to achieve those ends. I also made note of the steps Iran is taking for energy efficiency as well as renewable energies. The damages Iran faces now due to climatic changes including higher temperatures, lower precipitation and less snow resulting in degradation of natural resources and agriculture were also discussed. I mentioned that the episodes of dust storms were also increasing in incidence and intensity. Mr. Fabius invited me to attend a consultation session with ministers in Paris ahead of the COP21 session. I also asked him finally whether he thought the COP talks would be more difficult than the nuclear negotiations.</span><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-o7n906JWTq4/VbvHLNJby3I/AAAAAAAABms/85MAitwp_Hk/s640/blogger-image-507872724.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-o7n906JWTq4/VbvHLNJby3I/AAAAAAAABms/85MAitwp_Hk/s640/blogger-image-507872724.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-sLmlLW6fj98/VbvHffcTCRI/AAAAAAAABm0/qslzCvqaAXM/s640/blogger-image-1450090268.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-sLmlLW6fj98/VbvHffcTCRI/AAAAAAAABm0/qslzCvqaAXM/s640/blogger-image-1450090268.jpg"></a></div>We moved to the lobby of the main building of the DOE to meet the large group of reporters and respond to some questions.</span></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8029569143393348400.post-48712173798894399382015-07-19T15:48:00.000+04:302015-07-19T15:48:45.259+04:30Hopes on the Horizon<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
Hopes on the Horizon<br />
<br />
In the Name of Allah, the Merciful the Compassionate<br />
<br />
The agreement between Iran and 5 +1 on the nuclear activities of the Islamic Republic has been coined as a major historical event which has changed the course of events not only with respect to relationships among these nations but also at the broader international level. This new page in history has brought into light the real image of Iran. Adversaries for a long time, used a name calling game to label Iran as a threat, as irrational and hostile in mainstream media, they had invested on creating a negative and fearsome image . Iran was portrayed as a source of instability and threat for the region, Iranophobia was advertised to ensure a constant sales of arms to the Sheikhdoms of Persian Gulf. Iran was excessively threatened and pressured for several years. Unnecessary and illegal sanctions were adopted against Iran, including chapter 7 resolutions which could take a country to military confrontation. A continuation of that trend would have eventually lead to escalation of conflicts in the very volatile west Asian region. While the sanctions did pressure the economy and environment in Iran, the nation withstood the pressures. Iranians were never prepared to submit or to relinquish their rights as a dignified member of the global community.<br />
In the Presidential elections of 2013 the people of Iran voted for a change in both domestic politics and international diplomacy. They voted so that the nuclear issue would be resolved in a peaceful and balanced manner, protecting the rights of Iran to peaceful nuclear technologies but also addressing international concerns. Dr. Rouhani was elected by the people to change the previous trends and address both national and international challenges in a rational manner. In addition to the weight that the Rouhani administration gave to curbing inflation and improving conditions for the workplace and employment ,special emphasis was placed on environmental standards and mainstreaming sustainable development policy as well as a robust health care scheme which was implemented nationwide. As his government was tackling the very difficult internal issues, Dr. Rouhani mandated the Foreign Minister Dr. Zarif and his team to engage with the 5+1 for a serious resolution of the nuclear issue. According to many observers, the Iranian negotiating team were both very qualified and experienced but also knowledgeable on the technical matters, particularly since Dr. Salehi the current Head of the Atomic Energy Organisation joined them. A regional power negotiated competently for several months with six major global powers , even as the stream of events unfolded it became clear that Iranians, clear on their rights and objectives, are patient and polite and as Zarif noted clearly “ Iranians are not to be threatened”. After a lengthly process of negotiations where many issues were resolved and both sides made possible concessions, hardliners from both sides began a campaign to derail and spoil the processes. Also those who felt that their interests were undermined began a smearing campaign. The highest political will on all sides and specifically the support of the Supreme Leader, who indicated his full trust for the negotiating team, paved way for the final round and ultimate settlement.<br />
A longstanding conflict between Iran and the West came to a settlement which can prevent a new war and military adventures in the region. Many clashes in the world have led to armed conflict and loss of human life, this is a new chapter in the international scene where a conflict is resolved through tedious and long months of negotiations. This is an example of a win win outcome where both sides believe they have gained. The strong message of peace and reconciliation that this agreement sends in a world marred by the terrible violence and killings of the extremists and terrorists, is a beacon of hope for the world and can serve as an example for others.<br />
The Holy Quran has many lessons for humankind, it makes a clear reference to such examples in the verse Fuselat ayat 34 : “And not equal are the good deed and the bad. Repel [evil] by that [deed] which is better; and thereupon the one whom between you and him is enmity [will become] as though he was a devoted friend.”<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8029569143393348400.post-15298568805721200912015-07-10T19:03:00.001+04:302015-07-10T19:03:10.661+04:30Quds Day, Unity for Justice, Peace<p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">People and government have been celebrating the last Friday of Ramadhan as Quds day in Iran for 34 years. Many other nations have also embraced the celebration during these years. Millions march in support of the Palestinian cause and condemn the atrocities and oppression of the zionsts. The issue of Palestine stands today as a stark symbol of global injustice and mismanagement with no clear solution in sight.</span></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-gS6IrwHOIjo/VZ_XfdUjh1I/AAAAAAAABk0/N8IK7YzXfZc/s640/blogger-image-1511354062.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-gS6IrwHOIjo/VZ_XfdUjh1I/AAAAAAAABk0/N8IK7YzXfZc/s640/blogger-image-1511354062.jpg"></a></div>International instititions and major powers have failed to act properly and to save innocent civilian lives in many instances including Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, Yemen and Gaza. This incompetence has led to despair and has fuelled hatred and violence in the world. Today many analysts have found evidence to believe that DAESH is a fabrication of Western and Zionists intelligence services, to create discord and hatred against Muslims and to give a very wrong message about a religion preaching love and compassion for humanity.<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-RWd2zme2vp4/VZ_XoddSRSI/AAAAAAAABlE/f0BmPa37Rbc/s640/blogger-image-1134782333.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-RWd2zme2vp4/VZ_XoddSRSI/AAAAAAAABlE/f0BmPa37Rbc/s640/blogger-image-1134782333.jpg"></a></div><p></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The marchers of Quds day were mostly Shias supporting the cause of Palestinains who are mostly Sunnis. The march was a demonstration of unity and fraternity of all humanity against oppression and war. Muslims and all believers in righteousness and peace marched today to demonstrate their solidarity against oppression.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-MLlHy-VKmvw/VZ_XkAKNi7I/AAAAAAAABk8/8yEh3fC3YIo/s640/blogger-image-1740060822.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-MLlHy-VKmvw/VZ_XkAKNi7I/AAAAAAAABk8/8yEh3fC3YIo/s640/blogger-image-1740060822.jpg"></a></div><p></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> </span></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">A group of researchers have done some valuable work to expose the extent and dimensions of the genocide in Gaza. It is notable that while the recent condemnation of the Gaza massacre in 2014 as genocide by the Human Rights Commission is a valuable action it is only the begining of a process which could shed light on this calamity.</span></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><a href="http://www.filmsforaction.org/watch/csi-gaza-forensic-architects-map-devastation-in-gaza-to-show-human-rights-violations/#.VZ_PNMIFJwI.blogger" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><font color="#000000">CSI: Gaza - Forensic Architects Map Devastation in Gaza to Show Human Rights Violations</font></a></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8029569143393348400.post-71374637397191264182015-06-26T18:54:00.001+04:302015-06-26T18:54:19.265+04:30Peacemaking in OsloIran and Norway decided to work together in the field of the environment since 1999. The Norwegian Minster of Environment repaid my visit in 2001 and we signed minutes of the meeting to work together in different areas. Last week I was invited to attend the Oslo Forum, entitled this year: Peacemaking in in times of global disorder. There were many sessions dealing with crisis situations in different regions.Peacemaking is quite valuable when we attempt to understand the root causes, to take effective prevention measures and to transform conflicts into opportunities for develoment and peace.We also had many bilateral meetings as well.<div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-jceSinGtGVw/VY1gfq2ZtwI/AAAAAAAABkA/HlySbHQ8iQ4/s640/blogger-image--2125102245.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-jceSinGtGVw/VY1gfq2ZtwI/AAAAAAAABkA/HlySbHQ8iQ4/s640/blogger-image--2125102245.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-msV6NjFlrY8/VY1gjiFOsSI/AAAAAAAABkI/rmbB31ExUeg/s640/blogger-image--2072373185.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-msV6NjFlrY8/VY1gjiFOsSI/AAAAAAAABkI/rmbB31ExUeg/s640/blogger-image--2072373185.jpg"></a></div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> I spoke at a session devoted to Iran this morning and made note of</span> the fact that peacemaking is an example of enjoing what is good and forbidding what is evil, which is a basic precept of Islamic ethics and also prescribed by Abrahamic religions. I spoke about the internal policies of Dr. Rouhani in different areas including the environment and also referred to the various international overtures we have had in promoting diplomatic relations with our neighbors but also in engaging for a just settlement in the Nuclear talks with the 5+ 1. I took questions from the audience some of which were quite challenging.</div><div>I also met with the Minister of Environment of Norway, and the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs in the Parliament. We had a meeting with the Prime Minister and the Minister of Foreign Affairs. We disscussed many issues including environmental cooperation but also regional issues and ways to confront the rise of extremism. Norwegian politicans were very concerned about the rising insecurity in many regions but also the spread of DAESH.</div><div>I hope this visit would help to promote more understanding between our two nations.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8029569143393348400.post-46995186675878930252015-05-16T14:09:00.001+04:302015-05-16T14:12:36.418+04:30Iraqi President in TehranFouad Massoum the President of Iraq visited Iran last week accompanied by Ministers of Trade and Environment. In addition to the significant political implications of this visit, in which Iran reiterated its will to stand alongside the people and government of Iraq against terror and DAESH, this visit also had important environmental dimensions.<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-0VsDggLmI2s/VVcN--qb9mI/AAAAAAAABhg/5jsb52CTUx8/s640/blogger-image--1787201163.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-0VsDggLmI2s/VVcN--qb9mI/AAAAAAAABhg/5jsb52CTUx8/s640/blogger-image--1787201163.jpg"></a></div><div>For the first time high level bilateral talks included environmental cooperation and the final communique delivered at the end of this visit clearly stated the will of both countries to improve the state of the environment. During bilateral talks we had we decided to work together for exchange of information, training of Iraqi experts and joint research. Areas included protection of wetlands , prevention of desertification and dust storms and creating transboundary peace parks on the border. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-3fWrWH1LiVE/VVcN1u8-CkI/AAAAAAAABhY/h8j667ho8i0/s640/blogger-image--181395654.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-3fWrWH1LiVE/VVcN1u8-CkI/AAAAAAAABhY/h8j667ho8i0/s640/blogger-image--181395654.jpg"></a></div><div>We have provided technical and training assistance on environmental issues to Iraqi brothers before and we decided to continue. While it is well understood that peace and security are the prerequisite for any improvement of environmental conditions, both Presidents stressed that Iran will continue to play an instrumental role in confronting terror and insecurity in Iraq along with the Iraqi people. </div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8029569143393348400.post-55267133223751349472015-04-18T08:57:00.001+04:302015-04-18T08:57:06.024+04:30Restoration of Anzali Wetland ,Caspian Sea<p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The five littoral states of the Caspian Sea are bound by only one modern international legal instrument,ie the Tehran Convention on the Protection of the Marine Environment. This convention which was signed in 2004 in Tehran provides mechanisms for cooperation to protect biodiversity, coastal zone management, waste and pollution control. </span></p><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Last week President Rouhani visited Gilan Province on the coast of the Caspian Sea. During this visit I delivered a report on the Anzali Wetland on the coastal zones of the sea.The wetland which extends over 19000 hectares and plays an important role in the ecosystem and livelihoods of millions has faced many challenges during recent decades. The government of Dr. Rouhani has laid much emphasis on the restoration programs for this wetland particularly in conjunction and support of the Government of Japan. In my report I noted that the restoration plan for Anzali is now prepared and will be underway this year. Prevention of soil erosion in the larger water basin including protection of forests, waste management, sewerage treatment and sustainable agriculture practices are all very important. Anzali and the Gilan province is one of the most beautiful natural attractions of the world. The President emphasised on the importance of protecting the wetland and promoting environmental standards in Gilan.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ToE0dpqq7A0/VTHdCIzZpJI/AAAAAAAABf0/vT4yNtKDwfo/s640/blogger-image-127643248.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ToE0dpqq7A0/VTHdCIzZpJI/AAAAAAAABf0/vT4yNtKDwfo/s640/blogger-image-127643248.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-a-BBSKFwRBo/VTHdFhOeCVI/AAAAAAAABf8/osRsmp3zd1w/s640/blogger-image--2086939552.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-a-BBSKFwRBo/VTHdFhOeCVI/AAAAAAAABf8/osRsmp3zd1w/s640/blogger-image--2086939552.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-3cNHCDGC2bU/VTHc_SKwLjI/AAAAAAAABfs/VlKPWTZ8Mew/s640/blogger-image--1206742740.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-3cNHCDGC2bU/VTHc_SKwLjI/AAAAAAAABfs/VlKPWTZ8Mew/s640/blogger-image--1206742740.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-isCyIKb20rY/VTHc8e4gMwI/AAAAAAAABfk/wHyFbjRV6CE/s640/blogger-image-928772026.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-isCyIKb20rY/VTHc8e4gMwI/AAAAAAAABfk/wHyFbjRV6CE/s640/blogger-image-928772026.jpg"></a></div><p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8029569143393348400.post-90581769124896080232015-04-01T07:24:00.001+04:302015-04-01T07:24:08.330+04:30Clean Air for Iranian CitiesThe government of Dr. Rouhani has launched a major campaign for better air quality for our large cities. The program adopted last year by the cabinet undertakes several dimensions and cuts across many different sectors.The DOE has undertaken the management of this mega project in national dimensions. The improvement of fuel quality despite continuing sanctions in these areas resulted in the distribution of euro 4 quality petroleum and diesel in many areas leading to a decrease in aromatic and sulfur content. The automotive industry also began implementing euro4 standards under our continuous inspection processes. Power plants were controlled in terms of the heavy fuels they were accustomed to using before. 300000 obsolete cars were outphased for recycling and replaced by new cars under a new incentive promoted by the government. All these measures and many more led to a gradual but significant improvement of air quality in our mega cities. Tehran had 44 days of better air quality as comparedto the previous year. This indicates we are on a correct track but that we also need to continue and ensure the efficient implementation of this vital project. After Nowrooz we have had very clean air in Tehran and many cities here are some pictures I have taken from Tehran yesterday.<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-CK0jC172biU/VRtdryAWhSI/AAAAAAAABe0/GCuP29bV4UA/s640/blogger-image--835671364.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-CK0jC172biU/VRtdryAWhSI/AAAAAAAABe0/GCuP29bV4UA/s640/blogger-image--835671364.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-TL8ARcouOYw/VRtdpBame8I/AAAAAAAABes/68rQT-UCe0E/s640/blogger-image-153587427.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-TL8ARcouOYw/VRtdpBame8I/AAAAAAAABes/68rQT-UCe0E/s640/blogger-image-153587427.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-5jMMn1M7GjU/VRtdzNphm0I/AAAAAAAABfE/8FCYHZXhazU/s640/blogger-image--1562243695.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-5jMMn1M7GjU/VRtdzNphm0I/AAAAAAAABfE/8FCYHZXhazU/s640/blogger-image--1562243695.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-IbAarWUlmPc/VRtdviNKzcI/AAAAAAAABe8/xAEGIJGsFVA/s640/blogger-image-1751118616.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-IbAarWUlmPc/VRtdviNKzcI/AAAAAAAABe8/xAEGIJGsFVA/s640/blogger-image-1751118616.jpg"></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8029569143393348400.post-54717492422994772172015-04-01T07:04:00.001+04:302015-04-01T07:04:41.844+04:30International Environmental Award in TehranThe fourteenth round of the Dr.Taghi Ebtekar Award was held a few days ago in Tehran. The Center for Peace and Environment as an NGO, convenes this ceremony on an annual basis to appreciate the efforts of researchers and activists in the field of the environment. The managing board decided this year, to award an international figure who has a lifetime achievement for the environment, in addition to the national awardees. Candidates were all selected after a public announcement from among those who applied for the prize, by a jury chosen from amog prominent scholars and activists.The 2015 international prize was awarded to Dr. Klaus Topfer, the former German Minister of Environment and former head of UNEP for 8 years. He championed the cause of the environment at the global level andsucceeded in taking the issue to the highest levels of the international agenda. He now heads the Institute for Advanced Sustainabiliy Studies in Potsdam. Dr. Topfer who arrived in Tehran for the award ceremony spoke on the importance of cross cultural dialogues for the protection of the environment. He also pointed to the importance of climate change effects in coutries like Iran and stressed on the need for <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-38k08V5iDOQ/VRtZPz0A9zI/AAAAAAAABeg/e_e5mxU_aTQ/s640/blogger-image-1624072490.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-38k08V5iDOQ/VRtZPz0A9zI/AAAAAAAABeg/e_e5mxU_aTQ/s640/blogger-image-1624072490.jpg"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-38k08V5iDOQ/VRtZPz0A9zI/AAAAAAAABeg/e_e5mxU_aTQ/s640/blogger-image-1624072490.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-fIl4EptxCdE/VRtZNeXujZI/AAAAAAAABeY/zt5JLIsmUYk/s640/blogger-image-1911650710.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-fIl4EptxCdE/VRtZNeXujZI/AAAAAAAABeY/zt5JLIsmUYk/s640/blogger-image-1911650710.jpg"></a></div></div>a serious collective effort to change current lifestyles and consumption patterns at the global level. He thanked the CPE for the award and hoped that collaboration on matters of joint interest for Iran would continue. Dr. Topfer visited Lake Urumia next day and met with the teams involved in educating and training local farmers for more sustainable agricultural practices.<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-yKf8P7ibRms/VReG1zVDT_I/AAAAAAAABeA/0EiXfxanUQc/s640/blogger-image--1074459155.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-yKf8P7ibRms/VReG1zVDT_I/AAAAAAAABeA/0EiXfxanUQc/s640/blogger-image--1074459155.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-ML9c9hRzpRU/VReGxI6FCfI/AAAAAAAABd4/g7xwpLLXoPk/s640/blogger-image-278087573.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-ML9c9hRzpRU/VReGxI6FCfI/AAAAAAAABd4/g7xwpLLXoPk/s640/blogger-image-278087573.jpg"></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8029569143393348400.post-16134357571329008292015-03-15T08:14:00.001+03:302015-03-15T08:40:39.827+03:30Talks in ParisI was invited by the Executive Director of UNESCO to attend a session on the appraisal of achievement s of the Beijing World Conference on Women twenty years later. I spoke on the advances but also obstacles women face worldwide. I mentioned the consumerist and materialistic approach that plagues our world today and results in the erosion of both ethics and the nature we rely on for existence. Six women were invited to speak about their views, three of us had attended the fourth world conference in 1995. I also met separately with Irina Bokova and spoke about joint activities.<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-Xgz-sbdTbJo/VQUOR5r5GKI/AAAAAAAABdU/smXFtO3O6M4/s640/blogger-image--670085467.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-Xgz-sbdTbJo/VQUOR5r5GKI/AAAAAAAABdU/smXFtO3O6M4/s640/blogger-image--670085467.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-WjL-IESeLMA/VQUOPJrHm5I/AAAAAAAABdM/feYXpYqoC3I/s640/blogger-image-1771389759.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-WjL-IESeLMA/VQUOPJrHm5I/AAAAAAAABdM/feYXpYqoC3I/s640/blogger-image-1771389759.jpg"></a></div><div>I had a speech at the Diplomatic Club in Paris where I spoke on the moderation policies of the Government of Dr.Rouhani. The program was ensued by a lengthy question and answer session dealing with all aspects of social and political affairs.<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Y5CKncnu-8g/VQUOKOpXKtI/AAAAAAAABc8/T1ONDVlYRKY/s640/blogger-image--468160469.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Y5CKncnu-8g/VQUOKOpXKtI/AAAAAAAABc8/T1ONDVlYRKY/s640/blogger-image--468160469.jpg"></a></div></div><div>Medef International is a French corporate sector alliance which also held a session where I spoke frankly about business opportunities in the field of environment for about 70 business leaders.</div><div>I had a working lunch session with several media directors including Le Monde and Figaro and others. Again I responded to many questions not only on internal politics but also the nuclear deal and prospects for improving relations with the west.</div><div>I also spoke with a group of Parliamentarians from the French Congress and Senate over dinner .We exchanged views on issues like ways to combat climate change and extremism. </div><div>My meeting with Laurin Fabius, the French Foreign Minister recieved alot of media attention. Fabius is leading the negotiations on climate change which will finalize later this year in Paris. We discussed many issues of mutual interest.<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-wzE2ETM7JP8/VQUOMxfdPyI/AAAAAAAABdE/38kFWLoUa04/s640/blogger-image-1965534460.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-wzE2ETM7JP8/VQUOMxfdPyI/AAAAAAAABdE/38kFWLoUa04/s640/blogger-image-1965534460.jpg"></a></div></div><div><br><div><br></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8029569143393348400.post-3659947301432288322015-02-24T07:22:00.001+03:302015-02-24T07:22:58.739+03:30Fourteenth environment exhibition of TehranOn the occasion of the fourteenth International Environment Exhibition, we had three high level international guests. The Environment Ministers of Lebanon, Russia and the Vice Minister of Japan arrived for the inaugural session. I had bilateral sessions and we discussed areas of practical cooperation. With Japan we had a policy dialogue session to follow the MOC that we had previously adopted. The Russian Minster signed the Biodiversity Protocol of the Tehran Convention for the Protection of the Caspian Sea Environment and our directors signed an action plan on joint collaboration. <div>The year's exhibiton was convened under the theme of Green Economy ,Resilient Economy. In the opening ceremony, the First Vice President of Iran Dr Jahangiri, spoke on the importance the government of Dr. Rouhani attaches to the environment and the green economy.In addition, the minsters of Russia, Japan and Lebanon also spoke on the need for regional and international efforts to protect planet earth. I <span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">then visited the different booths and met both private sector and NGO s active in this field. 290 different business and economic sectors had participated . In addition, over 80 NGOs and firms from 14 countries had taken part, it was an important event since we need to make the connection between economic activity and advances in the protection ot our global environment.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">Many new innovations in fields of renewable energies, recycling, waste management, water purification </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">and treatment systems, air filtration technologies,energy efficiency methods biodiversity protection and many more new technologies were presented at the fair . This creates opportunities for trade, exchange of views and know how in areas pertaining to environment protection.<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-eZemqxyLTDU/VOv1inwOlFI/AAAAAAAABbc/ZPwNmLlvlUI/s640/blogger-image-1983427366.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-eZemqxyLTDU/VOv1inwOlFI/AAAAAAAABbc/ZPwNmLlvlUI/s640/blogger-image-1983427366.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-hzO_DBp4JPY/VOv1lqj1NSI/AAAAAAAABbk/s5-8pzsgJAg/s640/blogger-image--339187998.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-hzO_DBp4JPY/VOv1lqj1NSI/AAAAAAAABbk/s5-8pzsgJAg/s640/blogger-image--339187998.jpg"></a></div></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8029569143393348400.post-1102944952774371442015-01-09T15:47:00.001+03:302015-01-09T15:47:31.042+03:30Now Prophet Muhammad ,Messenger of God<div dir="ltr" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" trbidi="on"><h3 style="margin: 0px; position: relative;"><font color="#000000" style="font-size: 17px; text-decoration: none; clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; display: inline !important;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Muhammad-A-Prophet-Our-Time/dp/0061155772/" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; font-size: 17px; text-decoration: none; clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; display: inline !important;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dxbD0c1sbhA/UBps7yYjqiI/AAAAAAAABo4/QLrATZ7jHTw/s320/muhammad-a-prophet-for-our-time.jpg" width="212" style="border: none; position: relative;"></a></span></font><font color="#000000" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; font-weight: normal;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iT4lZrm3-hM/UBps5g1IsBI/AAAAAAAABow/C57IBl1-1LY/s320/Muhammad_Life_Earliest_Sources_Martin_Lings.jpg" width="210" style="border: none; position: relative;"></span></font></h3><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">What interpretation of Islam is authentic, what is the true spirit of Islam and who was the Prophet of Islam ? These are the questions we face today considering the violent and hateful behavior of a group who have displayed cruel acts and wreaked havoc in many parts of the world. The importance of a full and complete biography of the Messenger as available to us can not be under estimated in this troubled time since both Muslims as well as Non Muslims have serious knowledge gap and even misunderstandings when it comes to recognition of the nature and behaviour of the Final Prophet and Messenger of God sent to all of humanity, who came to restore the primordial religion of Man.</span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br><br></span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Muhammad-His-Messenger-Veneration-Religion/dp/0807841285/" imageanchor="1" style="text-decoration: none; clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><font color="#000000"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-h_ZHCZY1PgM/UBp_YKSbWaI/AAAAAAAABrQ/6OREwGfyJxA/s1600/Annemarie_Schimmel.jpg" style="border: none; position: relative;"></span></font></a><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">In reality no Biography of Prophet Muhammad can really suffice to know him for he was all together someone else, the like of which humanity never saw before, never will in future. Language falls short to describe his appearances let alone the splendor of his character, the utter compassion flowing from his heart, the excellence of his mind, his ethical behavior and unmatched generosity and his unparalleled skill as a teacher of truth. Yet many prominent scholars have studied his life and produced remarkable works.</span><br><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">"You have good example in God's Apostle for anyone who looks to God and the Last Day and Remember God always."<i> - The Quran</i><br><br></span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Memories-Muhammad-Why-Prophet-Matters/dp/0061231355/" imageanchor="1" style="text-decoration: none; clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><font color="#000000"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SBG4dA8tUvs/UBlqtsRdwYI/AAAAAAAABng/9W7d9lm35pw/s320/Memories_of_muhammad_cover.jpg" width="209" style="border: none; position: relative;"></span></font></a><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Here are some books and references introduced by authorites on Islamic thought.<br><br></span><a href="http://sufibooks.info/Quran/Al-Itqan-fi-Ulum-al-Quran.pdf" imageanchor="1" style="text-decoration: none; clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><font color="#000000"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rcPSwzKeMXw/UBxDCF4tSCI/AAAAAAAAIJw/eVHL0OcGLtc/s320/al-Itqan_Suyuti.jpg" width="233" style="border: none; position: relative;"></span></font></a><a href="http://sufibooks.info/Biography-Rasul/Shifa-by-Qadi-Iyad.pdf" imageanchor="1" style="text-decoration: none; clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><font color="#000000"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mVEvI6zG9RI/UBwk2lYlu1I/AAAAAAAAIIo/OiIIsTez1Pc/s320/as-Shifa_Qadi_Ilyad.png" width="230" style="border: none; position: relative;"></span></font></a><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span><ul style="padding: 0px 2.5em; margin: 0.5em 0px; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial;"><li style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; border: none;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><b>Muhammad, his life based on the earliest sources</b> by Martin Lings</span></li><li style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; border: none;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Muhammad-His-Messenger-Veneration-Religion/dp/0807841285/" target="_blank" style="text-decoration: none;">And Muhammad is His Messenger</a></b> by Annemarie Schimmel</span></li><li style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; border: none;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Memories-Muhammad-Why-Prophet-Matters/dp/0061231355/" target="_blank" style="text-decoration: none;">Memories of Muhammad</a> </b>by Omid Safi</span></li><li style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; border: none;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Life-Prophet-Muhammad-Hamza-Yusuf/dp/B00262BBN0/" target="_blank" style="text-decoration: none;">The Life of the Prophet Muhammad</a></b> by Hamza Yusuf</span></li><li style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; border: none;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Following-Muhammad-Rethinking-Contemporary-Civilization/dp/0807855774/" target="_blank" style="text-decoration: none;">Following Muhammad</a> </b>by Carl W. Ernst</span></li></ul><ul style="padding: 0px 2.5em; margin: 0.5em 0px; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial;"><li style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; border: none;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Muhammad-Biography-Prophet-Karen-Armstrong/dp/0062508865/" target="_blank" style="text-decoration: none;">Muhammad: A Biography of the Prophet</a></b> (1991) by Karen Armstrong</span></li><li style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; border: none;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><b><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Muhammad-That-Matters-Ziauddin-Sardar/dp/1444154621" target="_blank" style="text-decoration: none;">Muhammed: All That Matters</a></b> (2012) by Ziauddin Sardar</span></li><li style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; border: none;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Muhammad-Prophet-Time-Karen-Armstrong/dp/0061155772/" target="_blank" style="text-decoration: none;">Muhammad: A Prophet for Our Time</a></b> (2006) by Karen Armstrong</span></li><li style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; border: none;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Short chapter on the Prophet in "<a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/files/1091/1091-h/1091-h.htm#2H_4_0003" target="_blank" style="text-decoration: none;"><b>Of Heroes and Hero Worship</b></a>" by Thomas Carlyle</span></li></ul><ul style="padding: 0px 2.5em; margin: 0.5em 0px; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial;"><li style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; border: none;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><b>Al-Itqan Fi 'Ulum Al-Qur'an </b>by Imam Suyuti (<a href="http://sufibooks.info/Quran/Al-Itqan-fi-Ulum-al-Quran.pdf" target="_blank" style="text-decoration: none;">Download PDF</a>) </span></li></ul><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">(For learning about how Prophet taught the Qur'an)</span><br></span><ul style="padding: 0px 2.5em; margin: 0.5em 0px; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial;"><li style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; border: none;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Life-Muhammad-Translation-Ishaqs-Sirat/dp/019636034X" target="_blank" style="text-decoration: none;"><b>The Life of Muhammad: A Translation of Ibn Ishaq's Sirat Rasul Allah</b></a> by Alfred Guillaume (<a href="http://archive.org/details/IbnIshaq-SiratRasulAllah-translatorA.Guillaume" target="_blank" style="text-decoration: none;">access to the Book</a>)</span></li></ul><ul style="padding: 0px 2.5em; margin: 0.5em 0px; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial;"><li style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; border: none;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Footsteps-Prophet-Lessons-Life-Muhammad/dp/0195374762/" style="text-decoration: none;">In the Footsteps of the Prophet</a></b> (Lessons from the Life of Muhammad)</span></li></ul></div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">by Tariq Ramadan (<a href="http://sufibooks.info/Islam/In_the_Footsteps_of_The_Prophet_Tariq_Ramadan.pdf" target="_blank" style="text-decoration: none;">download PDF</a>) <br></span><ul style="padding: 0px 2.5em; margin: 0.5em 0px; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial;"><li style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; border: none;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><b>Memories of the Prophet (Why the Prophet Matters)</b> by Omid Safi</span></li></ul><ul style="padding: 0px 2.5em; margin: 0.5em 0px; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial;"><li style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; border: none;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><b>Muhammad the Prophet of God</b> (detailed) by Khawaja Shamsuddin Azeemi (<a href="http://www.4shared.com/file/67640111/1e359b41/Mohammed_PBUH_1_english.html" target="_blank" style="text-decoration: none;">Link for Book</a>)</span></li></ul><ul style="padding: 0px 2.5em; margin: 0.5em 0px; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial;"><li style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; border: none;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Life-Last-Prophet-Yusuf-Islam/dp/B000003RTY" target="_blank" style="text-decoration: none;">The Life of the Last Prophet</a></b> (concise) Yusuf Islam (translated into French by Iman and Tariq Ramadan)</span></li></ul><div><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Messenger-Meanings-Life-Muhammad/dp/0141028556/" imageanchor="1" style="text-decoration: none; clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><font color="#000000"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kZJGsIAzNOA/UBxBI6wlVtI/AAAAAAAAIJo/vzN09pbQJ24/s320/Messenger_life_of_Muhammad_Tariq_ramadan.jpg" width="207" style="border: none; position: relative;"></span></font></a><a href="http://www.kalamullah.com/Books/Ar-Raheeq%20Al-Makhtum.pdf" imageanchor="1" style="text-decoration: none; clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><font color="#000000"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dWRdaAmOes4/UBwp1vskmsI/AAAAAAAAIJA/4sGGKyRLV9U/s320/Ar_Raheeq_Sealed_Nectar.jpg" width="209" style="border: none; position: relative;"></span></font></a></div><div><ul style="padding: 0px 2.5em; margin: 0.5em 0px; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial;"><li style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; border: none;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><b><a href="http://abdurrahman.org/seerah/SN/sealednectar/index.html" target="_blank" style="text-decoration: none;">The Sealed Nectar (Ar-Raheeq al-Makhtum)</a></b> by Safi-ur-Rehman Mubarakpuri (<a href="http://www.kalamullah.com/Books/Ar-Raheeq%20Al-Makhtum.pdf" target="_blank" style="text-decoration: none;">download PDF</a>)</span></li></ul></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br><br> </span></div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><b>Some of the Testimonial about Prophet Muhammad by Scholars and Thinkers of the past</b><br><br><br>“The world is in dire need of a man with the mind of Muhammad; religious people in the Middle Ages, due to their ignorance and prejudice, had pictured him in a very dark way as they used to consider him the enemy of Christianity. But after looking into the story of this man I found it to be an amazing and a miraculous one, and I came to the conclusion that he was never an enemy of Christianity, and must be called instead the savior of humanity. In my opinion, if he was to be given control over the world today, he would solve our problems and secure the peace and happiness which the world is longing for.” - <i>George Bernard Shaw, the British playwright</i><br><br>“It is impossible for anyone who studies the personality of the great Prophet of the Arabs, and come to know how this prophet he used to live, and how he taught the people, but to feel respect towards this honorable prophet; one of the great messengers whom Allaah sent” <i>- Annie Besant, wrote in ‘The Life and Teachings of Muhammad’</i><br><br>"If greatness of purpose, smallness of means, and astonishing results are the three criteria of a human genius, who could dare compare any great man in history with Muhammad? The most famous men created arms, laws, and empires only. They founded, if anything at all, no more than material powers which often crumbled away before their eyes. This man moved not only armies, legislations, empires, peoples, dynasties, but millions of men in one-third of the then inhabited world; and more than that, he moved the altars, the gods, the religions, the ideas, the beliefs and the souls. Philosopher, Orator, Apostle, Legislator, Conqueror of Ideas, Restorer of Rational beliefs... The founder of twenty terrestrial empires and of one spiritual empire -- that is Muhammad. As regards all standards by which human greatness may be measured, we may well ask, is there any man greater than he?” <i>- Alphonse de La Martaine wrote in ‘Historie de la Turquie’</i><br><br>“Muhammad was a shining example to his people. His character was pure and stainless. His house, his dress, his food - they were characterized by a rare simplicity. So unpretentious was he that he would receive from his companions no special mark of reverence, nor would he accept any service from his slave which he could do for himself. He was accessible to all and at all times. He visited the sick and was full of sympathy for all. Unlimited was his benevolence and generosity as also was his anxious care for the welfare of the community.”<i> - Dr. Gustav Weil writes in ‘History of the Islamic Peoples’</i><br><br>“It is a great shame for any one to listen to the accusation that Islaam is a lie and that Muhammad was a fabricator and a deceiver. We saw that he remained steadfast upon his principles, with firm determination; kind and generous, compassionate, pious, virtuous, with real manhood, hardworking and sincere. Besides all these qualities, he was lenient with others, tolerant, kind, cheerful and praiseworthy and perhaps he would joke and tease his companions. He was just, truthful, smart, pure, magnanimous and present-minded; his face was radiant as if he had lights within him to illuminate the darkest of nights; he was a great man by nature who was not educated in a school nor nurtured by a teacher as he was not in need of any of this.” <i>- The British philosopher, Thomas Carlyle, who won the Nobel Prize for his book ‘The Heroes’ wrote:</i><br><br>“Us, Europeans, with all our concepts could not reach what Muhammad has reached, and no one will be able to precede him. I have looked in the history of humanity for an example and found that it was Muhammad, as the truth must be revealed. Indeed, Muhammad succeeded to subdue the entire world to monotheism”. - <i>Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, the German writer</i><br><i><br></i><br><i> </i></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8029569143393348400.post-13110863681040763552014-12-27T08:21:00.001+03:302014-12-27T08:21:29.760+03:30Christmas, Hopes and Woes<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">As Christmas arrives the atmosphere of festivity spreads not only in the Western / Christian hemisphere but also in other areas of the world, including here in Tehran where you can see Christmas decorations in many shops and stores. The sentiment of hope for peaceful coexistence among followers of different religions and sects is now stronger than ever in Iran, with the postive steps taken to improve social and political conditions by the Rouhani administration, even though challenges still persist. Armenians not only celebrate freely but their presence is clearly felt in the mainstream media, I was reading a debate about the increasing prices of a Christmas tree in Tehran yesterday in a daily newspaper.Or the visit I had last year to the Armenian cultural and sports club Ararat which recieved widespread media coverage.</span><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Yet this not the general image in the region, American military adventurism in the past decades instigated by the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan has left indelible scars of pain, suffering and destruction in most countries of the region. In addition to Afghanistan, Syria and Iraq that still suffer from violence, terror and insecurity now hallmarked by the fabrication of DAESH,Palestine Libya,Somalia,Yemen, Egypt and many more have faced the exodus of Christians and minorities who have faced persecution at the hands of terrorists who are mandated to smear the image of Islam and sow discord and insecurity in the region.In an artcle entitled "Why Millions will Mourn this Christmas " http</span><a href="http://www.ronpaulinstitute.org/archives/featured-articles/2014/december/23/why-millions-of-christians-will-mourn-this-christmas/" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">://www.ronpaulinstitute.org/archives/featured-articles/2014/december/23/why-millions-of-christians-will-mourn-this-christmas/</a><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">, Evan Mcadams best described the predicament :"</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">It will be a miserable Christmas for the overseas victims of US interventions this year. Though "regime change" proponents talk of bringing freedom and democracy to the countries they target, the end result is quite the opposite: the rise of extremism, famine, ethnic cleansing, and economic destruction are what the US government has left behind in places like Iraq, Syria, and Ukraine."</span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">In Iran many observers see positve prospects for the final resolution of the Nuclear issue particularly after the restoration of ties with Cuba which has improved the approval ratings of the US President, there is much speculation that negotiations will pave the way for the success of the nuclear talks and lifting of the illegal sanctions against our nation.</span></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Iran now has undeniable leverage in the Islamic world, the current Iranian administration percieves this as an opportunity to promote peace and security in the region and to combat terrorism and extremism which most probably parallels the interests of the nations in the Western Hemisphere. Mr. Obama now has a unique chance to improve the image of the USG smeared by war mongering,torture and racism, to counter the extemists who rely on blood and the suffering for their dominion and to come to terms with the Islamic Republic of Iran.</span></font></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-RDrbKBDLNNo/VJ46zUQ0GiI/AAAAAAAABZk/dHQtnWhrd5I/s640/blogger-image--585189491.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><font color="#000000"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-RDrbKBDLNNo/VJ46zUQ0GiI/AAAAAAAABZk/dHQtnWhrd5I/s640/blogger-image--585189491.jpg"></font></a></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8029569143393348400.post-74882605718215877192014-12-23T13:29:00.001+03:302014-12-23T13:29:43.977+03:30Turkey and An Interview With Hurriyet Newspaper<div>Last week I took part in the 5th ECO Environment Ministers meeting in Istanbul.I arrived early in the morning to take part in a working breakfast with the Turkish environment minister, where we discussed bilateral ties and the need for a memorandum of understanding to define areas of future action.<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-B02Nt9ZWPfE/VJk9AcCuqQI/AAAAAAAABY8/HPNhtM51Y5Y/s640/blogger-image-331492398.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-B02Nt9ZWPfE/VJk9AcCuqQI/AAAAAAAABY8/HPNhtM51Y5Y/s640/blogger-image-331492398.jpg"></a></div> The ECO session defined a strategy for environmental cooperation in the region and a declaration was adopted at the end.<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-P00ju1_XsfQ/VJk84HQY1pI/AAAAAAAABY0/t2KWBATsuD0/s640/blogger-image-231370086.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-P00ju1_XsfQ/VJk84HQY1pI/AAAAAAAABY0/t2KWBATsuD0/s640/blogger-image-231370086.jpg"></a></div> That day I had several interviews including one with Hurriyet Daily Newspaper. I invite you to read the challenging questions posed and my answers. At the end of the day we had some time to spend walking alongside the Bosphorus.We flew back to Tehran that evening .</div><a href="http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/media-freedom-needed-to-fight-corruption-says-iranian-vp-ebtekar.aspx?pageID=238&nID=75901&NewsCatID=359">http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/media-freedom-needed-to-fight-corruption-says-iranian-vp-ebtekar.aspx?pageID=238&nID=75901&NewsCatID=359</a><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/media-freedom-needed-to-fight-corruption-says-iranian-vp-ebtekar.aspx?pageID=238&nID=75901&NewsCatID=359"></a><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-L_8AXiEo8rc/VJk8wfQo1VI/AAAAAAAABYs/DusbVxmpT24/s640/blogger-image--1982040765.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-L_8AXiEo8rc/VJk8wfQo1VI/AAAAAAAABYs/DusbVxmpT24/s640/blogger-image--1982040765.jpg"></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8029569143393348400.post-7304875255086275242014-12-04T08:49:00.001+03:302014-12-04T08:49:27.366+03:30National Hero, Chemical Weapon Victim, Ahmad Zangiabadi<div class="copy"><div class="copy"><p style="margin: 5px 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Introduction to this story by the UN Resident Coordinator in Iran</strong></p><p style="margin: 5px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> <br>The United Nations, in its mandate to promote peace, has ardently opposed the use of chemical weapons. <br></span></p><p style="margin: 5px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> </span></p><p style="margin: 5px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">In September 1982, the UN General Assembly accepted the annual report of the Conference on Disarmament, which contained what later became the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC).<br></span></p><p style="margin: 5px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> </span></p><p style="margin: 5px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The CWC – which outlaws the production, stockpiling and use of chemical weapons and their precursors – came into force in 1997 and is administered by the Organization for the Prevention of Chemical Weapons in The Hague.</span></p><p style="margin: 5px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> </span></p><p style="margin: 5px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The CWC bears great significance for Iran, whose people were subjected to these heinous weapons during the Iran-Iraq War (1980-1988).<br></span></p><p style="margin: 5px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> </span></p><p style="margin: 5px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Today, the victims of the sulphur mustard gas attacks continue to suffer from the consequences.</span></p><p style="margin: 5px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> </span></p><p style="margin: 5px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The UN office in Iran and UNIC are proud of their friendship with the Tehran Peace Museum, where many of these victims share their stories and experiences.</span></p><p style="margin: 5px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> </span></p><p style="margin: 5px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Sadly, one of our friends died recently. Here is his story.</span></p><p style="text-align: start; margin: 5px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><img src="http://un.org.ir/images/All_Stories/UNDP/789.PNG" alt="789" width="321" height="230"></span></p><p style="margin: 5px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><img src="http://un.org.ir/images/All_Stories/UNDP/30_Nov_2014_-_Ahmad_Zangiabadi_Chemical_Weapons_Victim_from_the_Iran-Iraq_War_1980-1988_1965-2014_1.jpg" alt="" width="1" height="1"></span></p><p style="margin: 5px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> </span></p><p style="margin: 5px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="wf_caption" style="margin: 0px; display: inherit;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><img src="http://un.org.ir/images/All_Stories/UNDP/30_Nov_2014_-_Ahmad_Zangiabadi_Chemical_Weapons_Victim_from_the_Iran-Iraq_War_1980-1988_1965-2014_2.jpg" alt="30 Nov 2014 - Ahmad Zangiabadi Chemical Weapons Victim from the Iran-Iraq War 1980-1988 1965-2014 2" width="530" height="353" style="margin: 0px;"></span><span style="clear: both; padding: 8px 20px 0px 0px; display: block;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Ahmad Zangiabadi in January 2014. (Photo courtesy of Time Magazine)</span></span></span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> </span></p><p style="margin: 5px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Ahmad Zangiabadi died two weeks ago. The day was Tuesday, the 18th of November 2014. He was 49 years old. The cause of his death was respiratory collapse.</span></p><p style="margin: 5px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> </span></p><p style="margin: 5px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Ahmad was born in Kerman on the 9th of April 1965, into an ordinary Iranian family. But when the Iran-Iraq war started in 1980 over a territorial dispute, he followed the well-trodden path chosen by patriotic young men from across the ages. He volunteered to join the army and went off to defend Iran.</span></p><p style="margin: 5px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> </span></p><p style="margin: 5px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><img src="http://un.org.ir/images/All_Stories/UNDP/30_Nov_2014_-_Ahmad_Zangiabadi_Chemical_Weapons_Victim_from_the_Iran-Iraq_War_1980-1988_1965-2014_5.jpg" alt="30 Nov 2014 - Ahmad Zangiabadi Chemical Weapons Victim from the Iran-Iraq War 1980-1988 1965-2014 5" width="280" height="238" style="border: none; margin: 0px 20px 8px 0px;"></span><span style="clear: both; margin: 0px 20px 20px 0px; display: block; max-width: 240px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Ahmad as a young volunteer soldier in 1982. (Photo courtesy of Tehran Peace Museum)</span></span></p><p style="margin: 5px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Ahmad spent his military career on the southern front defending Iran’s control of the Arvand River – the Shatt al-Arab – where he was a member of the volunteer army’s logistics unit.</span></p><p style="margin: 5px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> </span></p><p style="margin: 5px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“In 1984,” said Ahmad in an interview before his death, “Iraq was dropping chemical bombs on our troops. We didn’t even know what chemical bombs were.”</span></p><p style="margin: 5px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> </span></p><p style="margin: 5px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">On the 12th of April 1985, Ahmad was positioned with his unit in the Tala’ie region of the Majnoon Island when Iraq dropped a sulphur mustard gas bomb on his position. He was then only 19 years old.</span></p><p style="margin: 5px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> </span></p></div></div><div class="copy"><p style="margin: 5px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">When people are exposed to sulphur mustard gas, in more than 95 per cent of cases they don’t die. Most associated deaths occur either as a result of the explosive blast itself or when the patients – in a condition of vulnerability and exposed to liquid chemicals – are being transported to medical facilities. The real trauma and tragedy come afterwards. The symptoms of mustard gas are slow-onset. Many veterans have told of feeling quite well for some time even after the explosion. Ahmad was no different, and it was not until several hours after the attack that he began to feel unwell.</span></p><p style="margin: 5px 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong><em><span class="wf_caption" style="margin: 20px; float: right; display: inherit;"><span style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0px 20px 20px; display: block; max-width: 240px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">"With each laboured breath, Ahmad described his role at the Tehran Peace Museum and shared the experiences of survivors like him"</span></span></em></strong></p><p style="margin: 5px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> </span></p><p style="margin: 5px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“It was about 10pm in the evening,” Ahmad recalled, “when I first realized that something was wrong. I guessed that I had been exposed to chemicals. I asked someone to replace me at the front so that I could go to the medical centre.”</span></p><p style="margin: 5px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> </span></p><p style="margin: 5px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Ahmad’s condition rapidly worsened. His eyes were severely burned and he started vomiting violently. His entire body began to break out in burns and blisters. </span></p><p style="margin: 5px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> </span></p><p style="margin: 5px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> </span></p><p style="margin: 5px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“I was taken to Tehran to a hospital,” said Ahmad, “and I lay unconscious for about 40 days.”</span></p><p style="margin: 5px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> </span></p><p style="margin: 5px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Ahmad slowly began to understand that his lungs had been damaged permanently and for the next 30 years his life would be dependent on medication, hospitalization and a series of oxygen machines. After the war, Ahmad got married. In time, Ahmad’s wife, Marzieh, would be his loyal and dedicated nurse, administering his medication, helping him with his oxygen machines and making life as comfortable as possible for him.</span></p></div><div class="copy"><p style="margin: 5px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="wf_caption" style="margin: 20px; float: right; display: inherit; max-width: 260px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><img src="http://un.org.ir/images/All_Stories/UNDP/30_Nov_2014_-_Ahmad_Zangiabadi_Chemical_Weapons_Victim_from_the_Iran-Iraq_War_1980-1988_1965-2014_4.jpg" alt="30 Nov 2014 - Ahmad Zangiabadi Chemical Weapons Victim from the Iran-Iraq War 1980-1988 1965-2014 4" width="260" height="190" style="margin: 0px 0px 0px 20px;"></span><span style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0px 20px 20px; display: block; max-width: 240px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Ahmad guiding school children around the Tehran Peace Museum, June 2012. (Photo courtesy of Tehran Peace Museum)</span></span></span></p><p style="margin: 5px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> </span></p><p style="margin: 5px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">After the war, Ahmad tried to further his education and enrolled at a local university to study English literature. However, the sulphur mustard had burned his cornea and his eyesight had rapidly deteriorated. His lung condition worsened and after falling into a coma and being hospitalized, he was forced to give up any hope of continuing his studies.</span></p><p style="margin: 5px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> </span></p><p style="margin: 5px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">As one of over 100,000 survivors of chemical warfare in Iran from the war with Iraq, Ahmad sought for himself a role in helping other survivors. He joined a non-governmental organization, the Society for <a href="http://www.scwvs.org/index.php/en" style="text-decoration: none;">Chemical Weapons Victims Support (SCWVS)</a> later becoming a board member.</span></p></div><p style="margin: 5px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> </span></p><p style="margin: 5px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">In 2007, Ahmad began a career as a volunteer guide at <a href="http://www.tehranpeacemuseum.org/index.php/en/" style="text-decoration: none;">The Tehran Peace Museum</a>. As an eyewitness and survivor, Ahmad escorted visitors around the museum and gave first hand accounts of the terrible consequences of chemical weapons. He served as living testimony to the open wounds – both literal and metaphorical – still troubling war veterans, civilians and many people who continue to be affected by secondary contamination from sulphur mustard.</span></p><p style="margin: 5px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> </span></p><p style="margin: 5px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><img src="http://un.org.ir/images/All_Stories/UNDP/30_Nov_2014_-_Ahmad_Zangiabadi_Chemical_Weapons_Victim_from_the_Iran-Iraq_War_1980-1988_1965-2014_1.jpg" alt="30 Nov 2014 - Ahmad Zangiabadi Chemical Weapons Victim from the Iran-Iraq War 1980-1988 1965-2014 1" width="280" height="251" style="border: none; margin: 0px 20px 8px 0px;"></span><span style="clear: both; margin: 0px 20px 20px 0px; display: block; max-width: 240px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Ahmad Zangiabadi meets UN Secretary General Mr. Ban Ki Moon at the OPCW Conference in The Hague, April 2013 (Photo courtesy of Tehran Peace Museum)</span></span></p><p style="margin: 5px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">A committed campaigner for peace, Ahmad travelled with delegates from the Tehran Peace Museum to The Hague in April 2013. The group attended the Third Review Conference of the Chemical Weapons Convention at the <a href="http://www.opcw.org/" style="text-decoration: none;">Organization for the Prevention of Chemical Weapons (OPCW)</a>. While moving around with his portable oxygen machine, Ahmad was honoured to meet the Secretary General of the United Nations, Mr. Ban Ki Moon, and the OPCW’s Director General, Mr. Ahmed <span style="background-image: none; background-attachment: scroll; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat repeat;">Üzümcü and asked them to double their efforts to make a world free of chemical weapons.</span></span></p><p style="margin: 5px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> </span></p><p style="margin: 5px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">With each laboured breath, Ahmad described his role at the Tehran Peace Museum and shared the experiences of survivors like him. Sadly, within the last year of his life, Ahmad’s respiratory condition worsened.</span></p><p style="margin: 5px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> </span></p><p style="margin: 5px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“I am a candidate for a lung transplant,” he said, “my lungs were burnt so badly that they can’t provide my body with the oxygen it needs.”</span></p><p style="margin: 5px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> </span></p><p style="margin: 5px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Ahmad did not live long enough to receive the lung transplant. His dream of taking deep breaths would not come true.</span></p><p style="margin: 5px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> </span></p><p style="margin: 5px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Ahmad Zangiabadi is survived by his widow, Marzieh, and his only son, Hesam.</span></p><p style="margin: 5px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> </span></p><p style="margin: 5px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">But through his work and the lives he touched, Ahmad’s story will live on and his tireless campaigning to see a world free of chemical weapons will be remembered.</span></p><p style="margin: 5px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> With the courtesy of UN Reisdent Coordinator.</span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8029569143393348400.post-68406525329680875392014-11-29T23:50:00.001+03:302014-11-30T04:20:45.109+03:30A Journey to Italy<div><br></div>I was invited by the Italian Minister of Sea,Land and Environment.After arriving at Rome, we met with Ms.Emma Bunino who was the former Foreign Minister of Italy . Our first visit was at the Environmental Research Center,ISPRA, we visited their advanced laboratories and spoke about plans for joint activities. We met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs that after noon in the immense ministry building which was built once by Mosillini. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-YH0ctdVRULM/VHpp1q8vqeI/AAAAAAAABXc/Bfy_gcH0VEw/s640/blogger-image--493745988.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-YH0ctdVRULM/VHpp1q8vqeI/AAAAAAAABXc/Bfy_gcH0VEw/s640/blogger-image--493745988.jpg"></a></div>Bilateral political,economic and environmental issues were discussed. We then left to visit the Minister of Environment with whom we discussed the status of Climate Change negotiations. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ZD3p-_a0uy4/VHpprUhPS3I/AAAAAAAABXE/9hVw_H5wpqA/s640/blogger-image--1064121744.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ZD3p-_a0uy4/VHpprUhPS3I/AAAAAAAABXE/9hVw_H5wpqA/s640/blogger-image--1064121744.jpg"></a></div>The MOU for energy and climate change was then signed and we attended a reception of pasta, fish and chips hosted by the Minister of Environment in a antique setting in central Rome.<div>I began the next day with RAI international news channel broadcast live from the residence of the Ambassador. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-tXEQyO0YbT0/VHppzJvYXEI/AAAAAAAABXU/j_M7-PzsBNU/s640/blogger-image--358461199.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-tXEQyO0YbT0/VHppzJvYXEI/AAAAAAAABXU/j_M7-PzsBNU/s640/blogger-image--358461199.jpg"></a></div>The reporter and her director were both interested in Iran and related developments.The rise of ISIS was alarming for all and this matter was brought up in every meeting and interview.After several short interviews with local media and newspapers we left for a meeting with the Italian Parliament Speaker. Scores of protesters were loudly rioting outside the Parliament premises, against austerity measures which were severly hitting their livelihoods.Laura Boldrini spoke about the importance of the role which Iran as a stable country has in preventing the spread of ISIS.<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-0lXePa_K1Kc/VHppvj0G-fI/AAAAAAAABXM/G4TDruwpS58/s640/blogger-image-1793405850.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-0lXePa_K1Kc/VHppvj0G-fI/AAAAAAAABXM/G4TDruwpS58/s640/blogger-image-1793405850.jpg"></a></div></div><div>The Diplomatic Research center SIOI , had invited me to speak. I chose the title " Spirit of Dialogue and the Journey to Perfection." I spoke about how we had to bring the change we want in the world first within ourselves and particularly those in positions of leadership.<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-ucJVBF-6O8E/VHpp4Bf9pkI/AAAAAAAABXk/W2RYTGZDJK4/s640/blogger-image--1251416374.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-ucJVBF-6O8E/VHpp4Bf9pkI/AAAAAAAABXk/W2RYTGZDJK4/s640/blogger-image--1251416374.jpg"></a></div> I also responded to questions a out , human rights, foreign policy and internal politics in Iran. Our final program was to take part in the Minerva Award Program . <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-ViKIjVoc_NM/VHppohPPh_I/AAAAAAAABW8/GPhBsNavTiU/s640/blogger-image--2042770135.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-ViKIjVoc_NM/VHppohPPh_I/AAAAAAAABW8/GPhBsNavTiU/s640/blogger-image--2042770135.jpg"></a></div>This is a prestigious award given to women by the Anna Marie Mamolliti Foundation. Several women were awarded mostly from Italy , I was given the award for Political Leadership. There was a large audience attending and I took a few moments to thank the organizers and to mention the achievements nof Iranian women in different fields and to note that this award is an indication of the common values that we cherish in spite of all the cultural differences. <a href="http://roma.repubblica.it/cronaca/2014/11/27/foto/premio_minerva_2014_le_vincitrici-101618918/1/#1" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">http://roma.repubblica.it/cronaca/2014/11/27/foto/premio_minerva_2014_le_vincitrici-101618918/1/#1</a></div><div>I hope this visit has played its role in providing a more objective image of Iran and improvement of bilateral relations.</div><div><br></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0