More of Paradise in Paradise

These are some more photos from the Tehran City Park, taken today with my cell phone camera. Hope you enjoy them !

Paradise in Paradise

Tehran's parks are beautiful in spring. The Tehran City Park is one of the older parks in Tehran. Yet it is of the most beautiful. These are some of the photos I took with my cellphone camera this morning on my way to the City Council which is  on Behesht (Paradise)  Avenue, adjacent to the park.

The Awakened Conscience of Gunter Grass

European nations have a long history of legislation and political and social activism aimed at promotion of individual freedoms and human rights. This approach has been historically  overshadowed by the the advent of Nazism and the Holocaust, as well as the rise of Communism and more recently, ethnic strife and genocide in the Balkans. Certain trends have been intentionally politicized and utilized as a political weapon. While the crimes of the Holocaust are a historical fact, an exaggeration of the events was necessary as a pretext for the creation of a homeland for Jews, by the usurpation of land in Palestine. The crimes of the Holocaust became an issue which could not be contested or questioned . Branding the critiques  as "antisemitic"  became a means to silence any attempt to question the logic behind the creation of the zionist state.

The list of authors or poets who have been assailed  for criticizing zionism is on the rise.Gunter Grass is the latest. .He is the most popular German writer who won the Nobel Prize in literature in 1999. Now, he is being victimized for a poem saying that Israel, not Iran, was the greatest threat to world peace. In the poem titled "What Must Be Said " published in Germany's Suddeutsche Zeitung and several othe European newspapers. Mr. Grass said he was tired of  Western Hypocrisy for calling an end to Iran's nuclear program while tolerating Israel's secretive nuclear program, which has been widely discussed but never officially confirmed. Mr. Grass has the courage to speak about a reality that many have now realized but do not dare to speak up. Zionism influences not only American politics but European and other policies throughout the world through its media, wealth, and political conglomerates. Zionism has taken the world to the verge of global war in many instances and now once again, Israel is spearheading a war against Iran for unjustified and irrational reasons.

May it be that the awakened conscience of the likes of Gunter Grass would stand up against this terrible trend that has taken the lives of thousands in wars instigated by the zionist Christian and neo-Con lobby in the US and their proxies in other parts of the world.

Natural Protected Areas of Iran

As the final days of the Nowruz vacation are nearing, we see preparations for the 13th of Farvardin or the first 13th day of the year, traditionally called " Sizdebedar". Iranians flock out of homes to take refuge in nature. It is considered now, as the Day of Nature.  Iran harbors a very diverse and beautiful natural environment. Although I had visited many areas of the country before my tenure as the Head of The Department of Environment, but those 8 years provided me with a unique opportunity to visit some of the extraordinary attractive feats of nature in Iran. The DOE is responsible for 4 types of protected areas in Iran. As I began work in 1997, we had 4.75 percent of the land devoted to protected areas, by 2005 when I left this figure had rose to 7.5%.  This amounts to  16 National Parks, over 93 Protected areas, 24 Natural Monuments and  several Wildlife Refuges.

The DOE has about 4000 armed rangers to protect this vast landscape, but considering the large amount of arms among people and nomads and overpopulation in some regions, this number of rangers does not suffice. During those years we embarked on projects to train, educate and upgrade the facilities that rangers posses; we also worked on empowering and educating local communities and NGOs to assist in local protection activities.

We promoted certain priority areas such as the protection of wetlands and forests. During those days, more than 10% of total forest area was ruled as protected areas and a "Sustainable Forest Management" strategy was approved in the Supreme Council of the Environment. The Supreme Council, headed by the President was an important tool for promotion of protected areas in the country. Unfortunately, the Council was downgraded and annulled by Mr. Ahmadinejad during his first year as President.
The diversity of desert, forest, wetland , sea, range land, mountains and bush land , in the intersection of Eurasian and Asian climates,  has created a unique biodiversity of fauna and flora which demonstrates scenery and services not available in  other  locations. Iran is also famous for its migratory birds and for this reason is the home of the Wetlands or Ramsar Convention.

During the final months of my tenure at the DOE, we prepared the first Atlas of Protected Areas in Iran which was published a year after. The Atlas is a unique feat of professionals and academics who have produced this collection of invaluable information on Iran.
I hope that we all learn to protect and cherish the blessings of God and the superb nature that has been gifted to us .

Mr. President Say No to War With Iran

Here is a copy of the one page advertisement that the Iranian American Council posted a few weeks ago in the Washington Post. Several retired Generals and high ranking American military officials have signed a letter to Obama asking him to resist pressures on him to attack Iran. " Military action at this stage is not only unnecessary it is dangerous... We urge you to resist the pressure for a war of choice with Iran." the letter ends. This could be an indication of the pressures on Obama by the zionist lobby and AIPAC. It was published before a meeting of the leaders of both  countries (US and Israel ) last month.

Many observers believe that the American public  should start asking themselves finally who runs the foreign policy of their country; Americans or Israelis.  There is plenty of information and analysis available  in the internet on the influence of zionists in the Congress and Senate and how they are shaping US economy , media and foreign policy. It is a shame that the American public is not informed and/or is not sensitive about the future of their nation and particularly when it comes to sending their young people to war and sacrificing their lives, they are so impotent.
While the quantity of  propaganda, news items and analysis on war against Iran has been escalating during the past months a recent article in the Guardian  http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/mar/22/nuclear-watchdog-iran-iaea serves as an eye-opener.
The IAEA chief has been accused of pro-western bias over Iran by several former Agency officials. They have warned of parallels between the Agency's current approach to Iran and its past mistakes over Iraq's supposed weapons of mass destruction. Wiki leaks documents also show that Amano is bending increasingly towards the US.

In these sensitive times it is important to remember that the UN and related bodies have an official responsibility and mandate to protect world peace. The American neocon and zionist lobby have taken the US to war for several times in this part of the world, the devastating consequences of which for humanity are immense.  It is now time that the UN takes a serious step to contain zionist  American politicians and to inform them that the Islamic Awakening or the Arab Spring however you name it, is a symbol of an end to Zionist hegemony in the middle east. The recent ruling of the Egyptian Parliament calling for a severance  of diplomatic relations with what they have called the "zionist entity" is a clear sign of this reality.
Nations are seeking freedom and dignity under the umbrella of their national and Islamic identity, not under foreign supremacy and rule. The international community should realize that despite the challenges Iranians face in Iran, they are strong and unified in the face of any external threat.  They should have known that threats of this kind  will not help to promote freedom or human rights in Iran, nor will it force Iran to relinquish its rights as a member of the international community.

Nowruz

Nowruz literally meaning "new day" is the most precise timing for the commencement of  spring according to the solar calendar. The Iranian new year coincides with the Equinox and the true shift in the earth's axis which leads to a change in climate and season. Nowruz is celebrated in many Central Asian countries where festivities continue for weeks.  As nature welcomes change and new life, Nowruz is the time for a revival of spirit and body. After weeks of Khanetakani or major housekeeping efforts, Iranians prepare a table of specialties beginning with S, or Haft Sin. Nowruz is a time for friendship and forgiveness, it is a time for cherishing the blessings of life and nature.
Iranians and many other nations who enjoy the Persian culture and civilization celebrate Nowruz , for this reason the UN has designated this day as an international celebration. We are celebrating Nowruz in difficult political and international times this year but Iranians worldwide pray and hope for peace and prosperity for all peoples in the world. Nowruz carries a message of the great Persian civilization and culture that has delivered great achievements for humanity and is a symbol of human dignity, freedom and greatness.

I hope that Nowruz will bring about change in the antagonism certain governments promote against Iran and help them to realize that Iranians are a peace loving nation, yet they are determined to protect their dignity and independence. I hope that in the coming year pressures and sanctions against Iran would subside and internal conditions would improve as a result.

The Scent of Spring

The Scent of spring has filled the air. The weather is still cold at times but you can feel the change is coming. We just hope it comes in our hearts and in our minds as well. The sounds you hear have changed , as if the birds have flocked to welcome Nowruz, we witness their freedom in flight and song , and long for it. There are rumors that some prisoners will be granted a Nowruz family reunion and temporary freedom. We hope it is true....

Message of President Khatami to CPE Awards Ceremony

The Seventh Round of Dr. Taghi Ebtekar Environmental Awards were held by the Center for Peace and Environment in Tehran, on March 7, 2012.  Three awards were granted to researchers and journalists in the field of environment and natural resources while the Board of Referees granted three plaques of honor to NGOs and activists in this field as well.  Seyyed Mohammad Khatami  the former President of the Islamic Republic of Iran delivered a message to this ceremony , the text of which is as follows:

In the Name of Allah

Life is a great and unique blessing bestowed upon humans who are the sublime making of God and the hallmark of God’s creation.  God has summoned humans thus uplifting them from the individual level to an elevated personality and dignity and this call has been the summon of” life”. As the Holy Quran says:” O those who have believed, when God and the Prophet invite you to that which gives you life, then accept their invitation.”(Anfal 24)  It is clear that life in this context occupies a greater  and higher expanse than  only this worldly life. Even though life in this world is also very precious and the life of each person is as valuable as the life of all humanity. As the Holy Quran states “   the killing of a person for reasons other than legal retaliation or for stopping corruption in the land is as great a sin as murdering all of mankind.” (Maede 32).

 This exclusive and matchless blessing of life is constantly threatened and its protection based on mores and reason  is a   prescribed  and universal responsibility . In our age the terms “ecosystem and environment”  have found a unique place in terms of the attention humans  pay and the worth that they attach to life and the threats that are  exclusive to our times.

Hunger , disease , war, discrimination and deprivation are the afflictions of a large part of the human society and the anxiety has ensued  in part, as a result of ignorance- which has diminished throughout history and thus its dire consequences. Also  in part,  these afflictions are due to the oppression ruling upon human societies  while  humans though out history have fought oppression and despite the setbacks  they have faced,  they have never relinquished the quest and effort for attaining freedom and justice for all.

Today hunger and disease and unsuccessful efforts to meet the essential needs of societies has afflicted many societies  also oppression, discrimination and deprivation of humans from their basic rights both in the internal scene of countries and in the international scene are the greatest enemies of humanity. The modern world is plagued by consumerism and the insatiable quest of the powers, who are equipped with technology , power and pride. They have begun  a race for technology as the base for material development and growth among nations, but  this has led to new forms of pollution and environmental degradation and has taken the human race and earth to the verge of destruction.

The degradation of natural resources , pressures on our life spaces and even pollutants in the air which seems to be nature’s complimentary gift to humans , has taken us to a dangerous situation.

Fortunately,  we are facing an unprecedented consensus in today world on the importance of protection of the environment and the need for sustainability and healthy environments. Even though this theoretical consensus has not translated into action and has not deterred many of the past and current trends of environmental destruction .

In addition, it is necessary to note that if humans are more sublime than nature and human life is not limited to this material world,  then in addition to the concerns that we have for this world and this life, we also need to be concerned about the spiritual life of humans. Therefore, followers of divine religions  particularly Islam, in addition to the emphasis laid upon protection of the environment ,have also stressed upon the need to protect the spiritual life and environment as well.  Undoubtedly, the prevalence of deceit, accusations, and insecurity as well as the growing gaps between people and their governments and the increasing mistrust against governments and their incompetence in running the affairs of their societies , are all reasons for increasing social ailments and are currently polluting our social environments in the vast sense of the word.

Here we are gathered to commemorate a dear person whose most prominent feature was his concern for human life and efforts to improve and safeguard the environment and cure the damages inflicted upon it. He strived to improve both the material and spiritual environment of our age.  Dear Dr Taghi Ebtekar is no longer among us but his memories persist.  Here I  must take note of the capabilities and efforts of his only successor  Dr. Massoumeh Ebtekar, who both during her productive tenure  at the Department of the Environment and after that has endeavored with passion and knowledge to find ways for the betterment of life for people and has rightfully attained the title of : Champion of the Earth” from the international community.

Seyyed Mohammad Khatami

Tehran, March ,7,2012.

"The Separation" Oscar Award

I had seen "The Separation " several months ago in Tehran. During the screening term the theaters in Tehran and other cities were so crowded that people had to queue for hours before they could purchase a ticket. At the same time a political film was screened with the support of the government aimed at mocking the opposition. The government tried to downplay the overwhelming response to the independent cinema represented by "The Separation". This smoothly flowing  film which centers on the theme of family ties and realities in Iran, points to the role of a "lie" in taking these families to the verge of disintegration. Asghar Farhadi, the Director has a strong talent in suspense, the viewer does not understand until the very end why the events occurred in such a manner.  "The Separation" won several awards in national competitions and the Fajr Festival. Later, the film was welcomed in several international film festivals, one of the most important of which was the Golden Globe. Now, a few nights ago Farhadi won the Oscar Award for Best Foreign Film at the 84th annual Academy Awards, becoming the first Iranian director to receive this award. In his acceptance speech Farhadi  proudly dedicated his award to the Iranian Nation.
He boldly noted :
At this time, many Iranians all over the world are watching us and I imagine them to be very happy. They are happy not just because of an important award or a film or filmmaker, but because at the time when talk of war, intimidation, and aggression is exchanged between politicians, the name of their country Iran is spoken here through her glorious culture, a rich and ancient culture that has been hidden under the heavy dust of politics. I proudly offer this award to the people of my country, a people who respect all cultures and civilizations and despise hostility and resentment.


This award became a beacon of hope for many people in difficult time the Iranian society is now facing.
Some analysts have indicated that Farhadi's message was a rebuke to war on all sides. In a world stage where Iran is repeatedly pressured and threatened to relinquish its peaceful nuclear energy plans, this Oscar award is an indication that the cinema industry and their leaders do not align themselves with the politicians on such issues.

Scientific Advancement and Sanctions

As celebrations for the 33 anniversary of the Islamic Revolution are underway, Obama has proposed a new set of sanctions against Iran for the ninth or tenth time during his term. While Americans are facing serious internal economic crisis and political turmoil, not to mention the occupy wall street movement, they continue to pressure the international community to escalate pressures on Iran on terms of suspicion that Iran may be engaged in activities to enrich uranium to the weapons grade degree. This continues on the basis of a mere suspicion,  at a time when in addition to India and Pakistan in this region, the zionist regime defies international regulations and scrutiny and keeps dozens of nuclear warheads in the occupied territories. The ongoing awakening of the Muslim and Arab world and the occasional threats of military action against Iran are making the region more volatile. Yesterday news of anti war, anti sanctions and anti dictator demonstrations in several cities in the United States was  reassuring, that at least the people in the US are worried that the war mongers, the military and oil cartels, the zionists will have the final say again .
Contrary to claims of the western powers that the sanctions are directed against the Iranian government, it is now clearer than ever that the sanctions are taking their toll against the Iranian people in an unprecedented manner.  There are many examples to mention. I will refer to two personal experiences which were revealing. The first dealt with a proposal to hold an environmental photography competition by an Iranian NGO,  they mentioned that on the famous national geographic society site, Iran was banned from taking part in those competitions. They had proposed that Iranian NGOs should oppose this attitude and announce their own photo competition.
In the academic sphere, while international sources have all highlighted the scientific growth rate of Iran as the highest in the world, very few journals have taken another course. Personally, I have succeeded to publish more than 15  ISI papers since 2009, most of them original research work with our graduate (MSc and PhD) students. My colleagues in the Faculty of Medical Sciences and other Universities have similar achievements.  We have increasing difficulties in obtaining research materials for our laboratories but in dealing with other scientific communities throughout the western world it is clear they understand, sympathize and cooperate with Iranian scientists . This is what should be expected from academic communities who despise war and understand that peace is the prerequisite for development and scientific advancement. Last week a colleague from another medical university informed me that Nanomedicine , a scientific journal devoted to research in the field of nanotechnology and medicine has indicated that it will not publish papers from Iran. Since one of my students has completed her work on the production of a candidate HIV nanovaccine I had chosen this journal for the submission of her manuscript.
In conclusion, considering the heavy propaganda against Iran and the preparations for another war in this region, I hope  people around the globe will awaken to the deviant policies of the American  zionist camp before it is too late.

Fever of Tensions

The fever of tensions between Iran and the US has been on the rise with the West imposing sanctions meant to cripple the Iranian economy and using  harsh rhetoric on possible military assaults as a means to force Iran to compromise on its nuclear program. Many analysts believe however, that the image is more complicated than presumed. Obama reiterated that "all options with respect to Iran are on the table" phrase in his State of the Union address this week to appease the  Republicans, while he also mentioned negotiations as the main strategy ahead. Americans have emphasized on a carrot and stick approach in dealing with Iran while in reality, they have   pushed a supremacist attitude, attempting to scare off Iran. Americans have spent millions of dollars to upgrade this campaign in the Persian Gulf and in support of Israel's strategies against Iran according to this wikileaks cable. This 2007 US Embassy cable published by Wikileaks   describes the minutes of a meeting between US undersecretary Burns and Meir Dagan, Israeli  Mossad Chief. The cable refers to a 30 billion dollar aid and a security MOU with Israel which is applauded and a Gulf Security Dialogue initiative which is referred to as important for promoting anti Iran sentiments in the region. Dagan outlines a 5 pillar strategy against Iran including , political approach, covert measures, counterproliferation, sanctions and force regime change. The Zionist regime which has been the reason for instability, violence, and armed conflict in the region and many parts of the world and which has not abided to international agreements such as the IAEA or the NPT now poses as the vanguard of peace !  Last week in Davos, during the WEF, the Israeli President has stated that Iran is the greatest threat to peace in the middle east. We have  a saying in Farsi " He holds his hand forward : makes ridiculous claims, so that he does not fall back ; so that he can hide his loss". 
This Wikileaks cable has much to say about the reality of American foreign policy and Israel's hypocritical nature. It is a necessary reading for all those who wish to be informed about the truth concerning the current pressures and threats against Iran.
Most important is that, as a member of the Reformist movement, I continue to believe that American foreign policy in this region has nothing to do with peace, human rights or democracy. Their double standards and abusive policies in using such issues to spearhead  American interests in the region and to strengthen Israeli positions are well known for all. While Reformists strongly criticize the current Ahmadinejad government and its ongoing policies of pressures on rivals and opponents, they also do not identify themselves with American and western foes who only seek their interests in the region. Reformists have stood on their principles and are under pressure from all directions for this independent position.  Reform will bring about change in the Iranian society sooner or later and this will enhance democratic values and a return to the authentic values of the Islamic Revolution. This however, will not create favorable grounds for American interference and Israeli gains. Contrary to the false allegations of the current government and contrary to the false claims of foreign powers who think they can use the opposition to forward their agenda, the Reform movement has no foreign strings attached and when it comes to issues of national integrity they stand united against foreign aggression or interference. Even though the foreign policy tactics and inefficient diplomacy of this era is seriously questioned by many politicians on both sides of the table.
Obama came with a promise to change the despicable American foreign policy promoted by the Bush administration, the policies which had created flames of  hatred within and out of the US. Four years later, the pressure from the powerful zionist lobbies and the mighty oil and military cartels and the influential media moguls has all caved in to formulate a policy for Obama ,leading to something very similar to that of Bush and his entourage.
This is a sign  for all to understand that Democrat or Republican , Bush or Obama - when it comes to imperialist- zionist interests; there is little difference among them.  I would sincerely  urge Obama to make a righteous decision  for the future and  to stand for peace and stability in the world, not  for war and hatred.

The Internet in Iran

We have become totally reliant on the internet during these days . In the university and in the council I have to rely on the internet to submit scientific papers, to send letters and to keep up with the news. The internet in Iran these days has a story of its own. In addition to the filtering of many sites particularly political blogs and sites, the access and speed of the internet has been fluctuating during the recent years. Now more recently, the internet has been very slow. There has been some news of a national internet, contradictory to the concept of the global internet.  Also some have spoken about a Halal Internet, indirectly referring to the degrading content available on the internet. It has been a debate related directly to the relationship between Islam and personal freedoms. The conservative approach is that human beings are free only in the realm of religious duties, that they must obey and submit to the orders of God and that disobedience and dissent are equated with blasphemy. The progressive and forward looking approach is different. In this approach Islam promotes its teachings in the context of the freedom and dignity of humankind. Humans have the right to chose their direction in life. According to the Holy Quran, there is no coercion in Islam. Coercion and forceful measures  or severe restrictions have no positive effect on the heart and minds of people.

The internet is a tool the use of which requires technical and social training. Censoring and preventing access to the internet, particularly in political fields, is a infringement  upon the basic rights of citizens. Children and young people should receive education concerning the risks and dangers of using the internet.  Abusive and sites with immoral and degrading content should be banned but political and ideological content is different, freedom of thought and freedom of expression is part of the basic rights that God has given to every human being.