Recently in Society Category

For some reason, I found myself today reading a column by a Washington Times columnist who was furious that former CIA Director James Woolsey had suggested that profiling Muslims might not be the answer to airline security. Granted, I am not an expert on security or counterterrorism, although in light of the fact that our experts do things like posting their security procedures manual on the Internet, perhaps anyone is qualified to bring a little common sense to the issue. For the sake of argument, let's leave aside the quaint notion that Muslims are fellow human beings who deserve the same dignity and respect as anyone else, and focus purely pragmatic reasons why a policy of profiling might not be a good idea:

1. Bigotry does not equal security. Stereotyping all Muslims because a tiny fraction have been involved in acts of terror against the United States is both a lazy and ignorant way to cope with the problem of terrorism. Lazy because it relieves one of the necessity for analyzing the problem. Ignorant because it makes an assumption that in the vast majority of cases is untrue and unwarranted. We've been here before: we made the same mistake with the Nisei in World War II.
2. Humiliating people does not make us safer. Treating Muslims like cattle, particularly in countries like Iraq that we are trying to "help," has been proven to undermine our counter-terrorism efforts. There is nothing like an Abu Ghraib to recruit people to Al Qaeda. So why should we adopt a policy that humiliates and discriminates against Muslims generally?
3. Profiling all Muslims is radically overinclusive. When approximately one in six people on earth is a Muslim, and a de minimis number of them pose a threat, then it is highly inefficient to try to screen all Muslims in order to uncover the few who may be terrorists.
4. Profiling all Muslims is radically underinclusive. Two words: Oklahoma City. Profiling Muslims does nothing to catch the Timothy McVeigh's of the world. There are lots of people who hate us who are not Muslims.
5. It's impractical and inefficient. Much as we like to think we have infinite resources in the United States, in point of fact there is no way we are going to be able to keep track of a billion people.
6. It misjudges the threat. If Flight 93 had reached its destination, I might well have died in my office a couple of blocks from the White House on September 11, 2001. As it was, I left the office shortly after Flight 77 smashed into the Pentagon across the river. My brother in law watched the twin towers fall in New York. Despite the unprecedented carnage and the shocking effect of an assault on American soil, however, there was never an existential threat to the United States. Unlike Japan or Germany in the Second World War, Al Qaeda had no ability to follow up. Before we turned the tide in the Pacific, Japan had not only bombed our main naval base but asserted control over a good part of the Pacific and invaded China. Germany, meanwhile, reigned supreme over the rubble of Europe, where England was a beleaguered holdout. While I agree we should treat the threat from Al Qaeda seriously and pursue it relentlessly, lest it develop the capability to do us greater harm, I do not think that our values, our liberty, and our privacy should all be mindlessly sacrificed in pursuit of the terrorist menace. Frankly, at present the average American is far more likely to die in an automobile accident than to be a victim of airline terrorism. And yet our cynical and cowardly public officials harp on our irrational fears and prejudices to the benefit of their own power and position.
7. It's not the most effective use of our resources. Where is Osama bin Laden and why is he at large? A more effective pursuit of Al Qaeda (rather than the sideshows in Iraq and Afghanistan, and now Yemen?) and a reexamination of the brutal Realpolitik that drives American foreign policy would, in my opinion, do more to reduce the terrorists threat than profiling every last Muslim could ever accomplish.

In every endeavor, there are certain people who achieve a level of excellence that clearly separates them from the ordinary participant. Such people need not be a world champion -- a Lance Armstrong, Mohammed Ali, or Michael Phelps -- but nevertheless they demonstrate a grace and proficiency that sets them apart.

For me, a handful of blogs that I read integrate words, pictures and presentation in such a skilful manner that they are truly set apart -- and, of those, one is written by an acclaimed Moroccan-American novelist. Among the rest, My Marrakesh stands out for elegant design, exquisite taste, gorgeous photography, and crisp, whimsical prose.

Part of what makes My Marrakesh so attractive is its thematic unity. The author, an expatriate American building an elegant guesthouse in cosmopolitan Marrakesh, couples a deep love of Moroccan artistry with an engaging sense of humor over the incessant minor obstacles that repeatedly arise to frustrate her would-be avocation as a hotelier. Occasionally, as in her recent photo montage of Afghan men, she permits a glimpse of the grittier life she leads professionally as an international consultant.

Mostly, however, My Marrakesh is a celebration of simple pleasure and daily beauty -- snapshots of family life, interviews with both Marrakeshis and visitors, accounts of shopping trips in Marrakesh's rich and varied markets. It presents a picture of a life varied and fulfilled, in which one can escape, though not forget, the world's troubles through an appreciation of beauty as seen by the eye of a connoisseur.

For all these reasons, it is easy to see why My Marrakesh again has my vote for Best African Blog in the 2010 Weblog Awards, and I urge anyone who visits the 2010 "Bloggies" to cast a vote for My Marrakesh.

I do not encourage either the production or the consumption of marijuana, but my only real policy concern related to either of them is the undesirable social effects of interdiction.

When I read a a self-congratulatory proclamation that marijuana cultivation has been significantly reduced in areas such as the Rif Mountains of Morocco, estimated to account for half the world's hashish production, it raises a question in my mind which almost always goes unaddressed.

If cultivation of marijuana in the Rif has been significantly suppressed, what exactly are the farmers and the families in this notoriously poor region of Morocco doing to support themselves? Have the governments that are suppressing cultivation (we are not told how), provided roads, schools, and jobs so that people in the Rif can make a living by other means? Curious minds would like to know.

The View from Fez has an interesting piece on the future of the hammam ("Turkish bath") in the Mediterranean. So far, it appears to be holding its own in Morocco, despite being studied by the EU.

Michael Van Der Galien argues that full democratization in Morocco is a bad idea because

A large part of the Moroccan people is uneducated and socially extremely conservative (read strict, strict Muslims). They barely know how to take care of their own family. Should people like that be allowed to determine the fate of an entire country?

Strict, strict Muslims? not in my experience, at least not in comparison with many other Muslim countries. Anti-Western? Most Moroccans were pretty welcoming to me. Barely know how to take care of their own family? The tight-knit social and family structure in rural Morocco as I knew it demonstrated an effectiveness in caring for one's family on limited resources that some in America would do well to emulate. Really, such a libel makes it hard to take the rest of the argument seriously. Contrast The Moderate Voice.

I do not mean to paint Morocco through rose-colored glasses. There is a lot of poverty and lack of education and many people are quite religious. Frankly, however, I would trust some of the poor, uneducated, religious Moroccans I knew with the ballot much sooner than some of their so-called betters, particularly those who have bought into the police state. And Van Der Galien's implicit assumption that the right to vote should be limited to an educated elite runs counter to the modern democratic experience, especially in the United States, where the long term trend for two centuries has been to expand the franchise.

My acquaintance with Morocco is mostly cultural and experiential, and I normally know enough to know that I don't know enough to comment intelligently on Moroccan politics. (I find it hard enough to follow American politics.) I do think, however, that if progress toward democracy in Morocco stagnates or retrogresses, as it has with the recent crackdown on the press, that the outcome will ultimately be bad for the country and for the monarchy.

UPDATE: Shadi Hamid in a further exchange of views with Michael Van Der Galien.

MarocAntan offers old photographs and historical commentary on the Morocco that was.

Magharebia.com reports:

In Morocco, 24 people were killed and 1,194 injured last week in 927 road accidents, MAP reported. A police statement attributed the accidents to loss of control over vehicles, negligence of pedestrians and drivers, speeding, violating road rules, and driving under the influence. Road accidents in the country have increased by 3% yearly over the last decade, causing enormous economic losses, especially for the tourism sector. Losses are estimated at $1.2 billion a year, or 2.5% of GDP. (Ech Chourouk, MAP)

It is enough to make one think twice before taking tne next grand taxi ride. I assume that the buses have a somewhat better record, since they are bigger, although I have vivid memories of the rusted wreckage at the base of the High Atlas. Bad as the roads may be, for much of the country — as for the United States — there is no good alternative.

Xoussef's comment on Hind's "Give me a sign" — that the song is "banal" but the video is "wonderful," seems to me to be right on. Several other points struck me. One was that I don't see that many Moroccan (or Moroccan inspired) songs in English; pace Marrakesh Express. The other is the degree to which the video is orientalized, from Hind's dress to the images of her mysterious hooded lover to the dance scene at the end. I would be very curious to know how this song speaks to Moroccans — to me it seemed to play very much to a European/American fantasy of Morocco, but perhaps my own view is too crude and stereotyped.

I was also very struck by Xoussef's reasons that he won't blog for a Maghreb Union: to me, the proposed Union seems a noble aspiration but not a political possibility.

Sexual Threats Stifle Some Female Bloggers - washingtonpost.com

The Washington Post today ran a story on women bloggers being targeted with harassment and threats of violence:

As women gain visibility in the blogosphere, they are targets of sexual harassment and threats. Men are harassed too, and lack of civility is an abiding problem on the Web. But women, who make up about half the online community, are singled out in more starkly sexually threatening terms -- a trend that was first evident in chat rooms in the early 1990s and is now moving to the blogosphere, experts and bloggers said.

Beyond the obvious revulsion against threats of sexual violence against anyone, there are several additional reasons why this story is particularly disturbing. Not only are many of the attacks quite graphic, but also the perpetrators are often able to remain anonymous on the Internet. While one's first sympathies go to the victims, the consequences for the blogosphere are also likely to be severe. I would venture to say that a majority of the high quality blogs that I read regularly are written by women, and for women in the Maghreb the Internet seems to have been a particularly liberating opportunity for public expression. It would be a shame for the criminal actions of a few sociopaths to shut down access to free expression on the Internet for over half of the population. Finally, if my daughters want to blog when they get older, I want them to be able to do so without fear.

The Soul of Morocco - New York Times

And the New York Times, with the usual (detailed and well written, of course).

Everything Morocco: The Two Sides of Fez Medina

Everything Morocco has a grim view of the face of Fez that is too seldom seen:

Right now, today, in 2007, Fez is also a ghetto in every sense of the word and most of its inhabitants are barely eking out a miserable subsistence living. Too many are uneducated, drug-addicted, criminals, and even worse, children of these people caught in a devastating self-defeating cycle of destruction. Bidonvilles surround the area and most foreigners probably walk right past them never imagining what kind of hell exists in a place like that.

When I was in Morocco, the British Council Bookstore was one of the few sources for books in English, particularly books for students of English. The books were good, but not cheap, and I used to lend them out to my students for a few days at a time. I wonder how much has changed.

Magharebia reports that there are between 5,000 and 7,000 homeless children in Casablanca, a city of approximately 3.5 million.  In contrast, in Chicago, a city of  2,896,016, there were approximately 26,000 homeless children as of 2001, of whom 12,000 were "chronically homeless," according to a study by the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless.  In both cities, public and private resources fall far short of meeting the needs of these children.  

To me, it seems both an indictment of the American way of life and a symptom of how intractable a problem homelessness is that a major American city of comparable size to Casablanca faces a worse homelessness problem than that of the bidonvilles of Casa.  Although we clearly lack sufficient resources and a sufficient commitment to addressing the problem in both countries, it seems to me that perhaps we need new ideas for coping with the problem as well.

Morocco and Spain are engaged in serious discussions of the possibility of digging a channel tunnel or "chunnel" under the Straits of Gibraltar in order to connect Morocco and Spain by 2025, according to the Washington Post. After reading of the desperation with which immigrants try to cross the Straits clandestinely by boat now, one wonders what the implications for immigration would be, but certainly it would help to draw Europe and North Africa closer.  Of course, any improvement in the Moroccan economy as a result of more developed infrastructure can only have a positive effect on the number of desperate sea crossings.

Eatbees has a timely but grim reflection on the likely sentence awaiting Nichane journalists Sanaa El Aji and Driss Ksikes for having the temerity to publish some popular jokes that happened to mention God and the Prophet.

Eatbees also poses the following very insightful conundrum: The monarchy appears to be taking harsh measures against Nichane in order to preempt popular Islamist sentiment. The Islamist Party of Justice and Development (PJD), however, like all legal parties in Morocco, is subordinate to the king. So why do the monarchy and the political classes seem to be so panicked over the possibility of a PJD electoral victory? (Not that I think this would be a good thing, but thwarting it might be worse.)

A better approach, it would seem, would be to uphold the freedom of the press and basic civil liberties and allow the citizenry to vote freely for whom they prefer. A naive policy in the short run perhaps, but a wiser one in the long term.

American Islam - Paul M. Barrett - Book - Review - New York Times

The New York Times favorably reviews the new book of family friend Paul M. Barrett on Islam as practiced in America. Barrett profiles seven different moderate Muslims living in America for a variety of viewpoints that contrast with the frequent demonization of Islam in America, although the review notes that conservative and radical points of view are largely unrepresented. I am hoping to pick up a copy at Politics and Prose on January 29 at 7 p.m., where Barrett will be holding a book signing.

Eatbees reports a disturbing rumor that the Moroccan government's surprise shutdown of the periodical "Nichane" was prompted by pressure from the Gulf states and may reflect Saudi interference with Moroccan internal affairs.

Larbi, however, on whose blog the rumor originally appeared (in a comment from nemo), points out in a comment to eatbees that this act of censorship is unusual because it appears to be supported by a majority of the Moroccan people. At the same time,Larbi paints a grim picture of the fight for civil liberties and free expression caught between the repression of the Monarchy on one side and the widely popular Islamist Party of Justice and Development (PJD) on the other.

Islam & Religious Tolerance

Those who believe (in the Quran) and those who follow the Jewish (scriptures) and the Christians and the Sabaeans, any who believe in Allah, and the Last Day, and work righteousness, shall have their reward with their Lord, on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve. T.Q., Sura 2 of 114, The Cow, verse 62.

Nadia Lamlili has a very thoughtful post (in French) discussing the underlying similarities of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam and the potential for tolerance among them. Overall, she concludes that there is more room for tolerance than the adherents of the three religions are normally willing to admit.

Interview With Condoleezza Rice - washingtonpost.com

Condoleezza Rice may be whistling past the graveyard, but she has encouraging words for reform and liberalization in Morocco.

But I think if you go to the Forum for the Future and you see these non-governmental organizations gathered together and being able to sit across the table from the most conservative Arab states like Saudi Arabia all the way out to reforming states like the states of the Gulf and Jordan, it's quite an achievement and I can list the achievements: they have women voting in Kuwait, the beginning of municipal elections in Saudi Arabia; but also if you look at places like Bahrain and Oman and Morocco and Jordan, the reform agenda is alive and well. And what will we say to those people who have staked their future on reform and democracy if somehow this word disappears from American foreign policy? And so to me this is at the core.

I actually agree that the United States should support democracy. I do not think we can do this through secret government, intimidation of the press, invasions, torture, clandestine imprisonments, suspension of habeas corpus, military show trials, and removing jurisdiction from courts. In addition, given the stark realities of the situation in Iraq, which Rice largely seems to play down, it seems hard to believe that the administration of which she is a part will somehow experience a revelation and begin to provide wise leadership on the Israeli-Palestinian issue or even on reform in Morocco.

Morocco Foundation - Sponsor an orphan child from Essaouira's area

The Morocco Foundation, established by Moroccans in America to support development efforts in Morocco, is offering a chance to sponsor orphaned and abandoned children in the Essaouira area, among other projects.

As Monarchy Falters, Islamism Rises - Jamai Aboubakr - PostGlobal

Aboubakr Jamai, publisher of Le Journal Hebdomadaire, has an analysis of forthcoming Moroccan legislative elections in the Washington Post. Jamai points out that while the Islamic Party of Justice and Development commands the allegiance of only a small number of voters committed to a party, it is the overwhelming choice undecided voters.

When first asked about the party they would vote for, Moroccans chose the socialist party with 13% in support. The Islamist PJD party ranked third with 9%. But more than 55% of the citizens polled claimed to be undecided. When those 55% were asked to make up their mind one way or the other, more than 66% chose the Islamist party. That gives the PJD a tremendous lead over the other parties.

Secular parties have proven to be neither honest nor efficient, according to Mr. Jamai, with the result that they are increasingly being squeezed between the all powerful monarchy and the surging Islamists. Real reform will only come with more freedom and accountability in the government.

Update: For French speakers, Larbi has a very interesting commentary on the Economist Intelligence Unit's assessment that Morocco is one of the more stringent dictatorships in the world. Larbi points out that, for good or ill, the fact that Islam is the state religion and the activities of other religions are circumscribed makes the country less "democratic" from the Western point of view of the Economist.

Peaktalk - A MODERATE MUSLIM’S DESPAIR

A very pessimistic view of the plight of Moroccan immigrants in the Netherlands.

Turkish, Surinam, Moluccan and Somali communities do not produce as many radical and hateful youngsters compared to the Morrocans. Why that is? I have noticed that in many Moroccan families boys are treated harshly, without any love. They are being raised to survive. They need to grow up quickly, if necessary harshly. They see how their mother is abused. If their father walks into the door, they walk out. That is a feeding ground for aggression.

Link from Andrew Sullivan. If this is the case, I would be very curious to know the explanation why such a comparatively moderate and progressive country as Morocco would produce such a depth of bitterness among its emigrants.

THE VIEW FROM FEZ: The Jews of Morocco - a lesson in coexistence.

Legend has it that Moroccan Jews have been here since the days of King David. In the south of Morocco, three days journey from Sousse - there is a boulder on which is engraved -“Joab, son of Zeriah, drove the Philistines to this point.” Joab ben Zeriah was one of King David’s captains. And so it has been concluded that Moroccan Jews have been in this North African country since the day of King David.

The View from Fez discusses the troubled history of Jews in Morocco and latter day efforts to protect a much diminished community.

Morocco: A Suburb of Paris - Newsweek: International Editions - MSNBC.com

"Of course we love our own culture," says Leila, who lives in the cultural capital of Marrakech. "But ours is now a European way of life."

Newsweek has a superficial but generally favorable commentary on Moroccan modernization and liberalization. Although the article points out the disparity between the living standards of most Moroccans and the Europeans who are populating the new tourist playgrounds, it does not really analyze how the interaction between them is likely to play out.

Here and here.

A ‘Hippie Trail’ Stop Goes Mainstreamin Morocco - New York Times

The New York Times wonders whether Morocco will be "spoiled" by mass tourism.

The Morocco Times reports that Moroccan students in Canada and the United States have established a new foundation to provide aid to Morocco and leadership training to students.

A very attractive set of photos from Morocco is posted at Murmures..

Liosliath points to the Morocco FAQ. Well worth a vist.

Official visits : Putin arrives in Casablanca :: moroccoTimes.com

Russian dictator Vladimir Putin pays an official visit to Morocco. Putin's visit is the first by a Russian head of state.

A New Record For Africans Risking Boat Route to Europe

From the AP via the Washington Post:

With routes through Morocco being gradually sealed, the rising wave of African migration to Europe has been pushed hundreds of miles south, forcing many to make a perilous voyage in open boats to Spain's Canary Islands, their gateway to the prosperous European Union.

THE VIEW FROM FEZ: Moroccan elections - 667 candidates for 90 seats

The View from Fez has a primer on the Moroccan electoral system and the coming elections for the Chamber of Advisors.

Moroccan Terror Plot Foiled With 56 Arrests, Officials Say - New York Times

PARIS, Sept. 1 — The Moroccan police have arrested 56 suspected members of a terrorist network as part of a monthlong antiterror sweep, the country’s official news agency reported on Thursday.

THE VIEW FROM FEZ: Women dumped in Morocco?

The View from Fez carries a chilling story about women who are abandoned in Morocco when their husbands or fathers return to Europe. About 20 or 30 women are abandoned each year.

One thing that is particularly interesting about this story is that it crosses the fault lines between Europe and North Africa, since the story suggests that the practice is mainly perpetrated by Moroccan immigrants to Holland (or possibly other European countries).

The story cries out for a broader analysis of the treatment of women in immigrant communities, in Europe, and in North Africa. It raises unanswered questions about whether the practice is unique to Morocco or fits in with a wider pattern of abuse of women. Perhaps that is asking too much of a single news story, but in light of common assumptions about how women are treated in the West versus Muslim countries, some serious analysis is called for.

The most disappointing part of the story is that the Dutch authorities have apparently washed their hands of the women who have already been abandoned and are confining their efforts to preventing future abandonments.

Long after Malcomb Forbes' display of conspicuous consumption as Morocco's most extravagant tourist is but a memory, the New York Times reports that his heirs have parted with a 40 percent share of their main capital asset, Forbes magazine, the erstwhile "capitalist tool." The Moroccan palace where Forbes feted Elizabeth Taylor was sold to the monarchy in the 90's, and Forbes' famous collection of Faberge eggs hit the block a short time later. As my father would say, shirtsleeves to shirtsleeves in three generations.

Morocco Arrests 44 Terrorist Suspects - New York Times

RABAT, Morocco (AP) -- Moroccan security services have arrested 44 suspected terrorists and dismantled a network allegedly planning attacks in the North African country, the state news agency reported Monday.

The article also notes that human rights organizations have raised concern that the Moroccan government has arrested and tortured innocent civilians in the course of its crackdown on terrorists.

TECTONIC: Moroccan fisheries escapes proprietary net

The Moroccan Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Sea Fisheries (MARDSF), has signed a deal with Liberty Tech to migrate all its servers to Mandriva Linux. The move makes it one of the first Moroccan government departments to take advantage of free software.

I am curious how widespread LInux is elsewhere in Morocco. Apparently the Ministry is also considering using LInux on its desktop machines. In terms of cost savings and independence from foreign corporations, this might make a lot of sense.

I take it as a positive sign for the Moroccan economy that the country now has its own "monster.com" style job board. After I encountered the board, ReKrute.com, the other day, I contacted the owner, Philippe Montant, and asked him about his board and what it meant for Morocco. Montant replied:

In fact ReKrute.com is the first professional jobboard here in Morocco and we have spent a lot of time evangelising the recruiters here in Morocco and convince them to go online to recuit. It have been created by 2 partners with the purpose of developing the online recruitment market in North Africa and French speaking countries in Africa.

The situation regarding Internet here in Morocco is exploding since 12 months now in Casablanca. To-date, there are approximately 6 to 8M web-users, and also 50000 new ADSL subscribers each month (total ADSL is around 700 000 units now). No need to say that for the level of development and the size of the population, this is huge.

The board is in French and most of the entries seem to be weighted toward technical occupations, but there is a wide variety of listings. I am hoping that ReKrute.com succeeds, and that its success bodes well for the Moroccan technical sector.

BBBSMOROCCO

The Morocco Foundation is making new efforts to aid children with Down's Syndrome. In addition to providing material aid, board members are acting as Big Brothers and Big Sisters to the children.

Sins of the Father: Reform in Rabat

The Bush administration may have as much to learn from the Moroccan experience as do the autocracies of the Middle East.

The Washington Post's Jim Hoagland writes about Morocco's unique path toward reform.

Feud With King Tests Freedoms In Morocco

Since ascending the throne in 1999, Mohammed has transformed his country by approving parliamentary elections, a robust press and equal rights for women, giving Moroccans more freedom than most of their Arab neighbors in North Africa and the Middle East. Those changes have also given new life to long-suppressed opposition groups that are demanding more concessions from the king but do not necessarily believe in a Western-style democracy.

The Washington Post has run a major story on the challenge of Islamic radicals to the legitimacy of the monarchy, and the monarchy's subsequent prosecution of Islamist spokeswoman Nadia Yassine. Yassine's prosecution raises the question whether democratic reforms can survive Islamic radicalism, which poses the dual threat of provoking a backlash from the monarchy or taking power and extinguishing liberty.

Due East of Augusta has reflections on a year spent in Morocco, followed by pictures.

The High Atlas Foundation held its annual meeting and announced a number of new initiatives to further development in Morocco.

The Rock Star's Burden - New York Times

Paul Theroux suggests that the history of Ireland is instructive on the path to development in Africa. "Ireland may be the model for an answer. After centuries of wishing themselves onto other countries, the Irish found that education, rational government, people staying put, and simple diligence could turn Ireland from an economic basket case into a prosperous nation." See also Blackprof.com.

The Morocco Foundation has announced that it has been granted tax exempt status by the IRS, and gifts are now fully tax deductible.

What's With Those Spanish Enclaves in North Africa? - And what's so special about Parsley Island? By Daniel Engber

Slate describes the history of the Spanish enclaves, Spain's illogical insistence on maintaining them, and the immigration headache they cause the European Union.

The Union Internationale des Avocats (The International Union of Lawyers) just concluded its 49th annual conference in Fez. In addition to exploring a number of topics of international scope, the sessions at the conference also included a discussion of Moroccan Family Law. It sounds as though it was a very interesting conference, and the UIA could not have chosen a more inviting location.

Wafin.com has a story (registration required) on the efforts of Returned Peace Corps Volunteers to make a continuing contribution to development in Morocco through the High Atlas Foundation, which is holding a reception and fundraiser in New York City on September 15, 2005.

World Trade Net - Home page

Since the expiration of global quotas in textiles, the surge in Chinese production of textiles has had a devastating impact on the Moroccan textile industry:

North African countries have also not been spared the consequences of Chinese competition. Following the expiration of the Agreement on Clothing and Textiles in January 2005, Morocco's textile exports fell by 33%. The sector is significant for Morocco's economy as the textile industry represents a third of its manufactured exports and employs 200,000 people.

The United States Department of States' Post Report on Morocco.

The Morocco Foundation describes itself as an organization dedicated to sending donations of clothing, shoes, and toys to Moroccan children. It is hard to imagine a more worthwhile goal.

Joshua Haynes is planning a project to assist a local Moroccan orphanage. I have a little experience with orphanages in Morocco, so I know that anything that can be done to help will be needed and appreciated. Joshua is planning to post a website outlining the orphanage's needs.

The Third Goal of the Peace Corps as enunciated in the Peace Corps Act is to create "a better understanding of other peoples on the part of the American people."

Today's Peace Corps Volunteers are doing this in a way that would have been unimaginable to me when I was in Outat El Haj in the late 80's. Joshua Haynes' Moroccan Emprise is but one example of the weblogs created by Volunteers currently serving in Morocco. Additional Volunteer sites listed by Haynes include Dougie's Daily, Due East of Augusta and "I could have sworn they said 'Monaco'". These sites offer compelling combinations of pictures and narrative that vividly evoke the American experience in Morocco. It is hard to imagine a more vital and heartening use of 21st century technology to promote knowledge and understanding.

Joshua Haynes feels frozen out on Eid el Kebir. I remember feeling a little bit the same way when it seemed everyone in town had been invited to a wedding except me. I did not have too much trouble getting over it, however, because people made such an effort to include me on so many other occasions.

Joshua Haynes' A Moroccan Emprise, chronicling his experiences as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Morocco, has made a welcome return after a brief hiatus. I still find it amazing that Morocco has progressed so much in the fourteen years since I was there that a Peace Corps Volunteer is able to maintain a web site.

Middle East Institute: Press Release

The Middle East Institute is pleased to announce that Jacques Roussellier has joined the Public Policy Center as an Adjunct Scholar. Roussellier, currently a specialist with the World Bank Group, served as spokesman for United Nations peacekeeping operations in Western Sahara from 1999-2001. During his tenure in Western Sahara, Roussellier was actively involved with UN operations in the region, organized and implemented the mission's public relations strategy, and developed relationships with key constituents and regional actors.

He apparently has an article on life among the Berbers in Morocco in National Geographic. Thanks to Wafin.com for the link.

MoorishGirl: "Give Us Jobs, Not Democracy"

MoorishGirl reports that the main concern of Arab youth is unemployment. Sounds right to me.

My experience in Morocco was that there were large numbers of well educated people who could not find jobs, and my students were generally pessimistic about their chances of finding work even if they obtained a degree.

Of course, sometimes political liberalization is necessary to promote job creation.

Some 20,000 Dutch gather to pay homage to slain controversial filmmaker

"I was debating whether or not to come, but I decided that as a Muslim and as a Moroccan I should take up my responsibility to show that we do not support this act," she told AFP.

The murder of Dutch filmaker Theo Van Gogh (a relative of the painter) by a Moroccan with dual Dutch citizenship sparks fears of a backlash against Moroccans in Europe. Moroccans have become one of the largest groups of immigrants in Europe.

The Washington Post reports that persistent poverty in the country's notorious bidonvilles (slums) and a government crackdown on Islamic groups may be contributing to radicalization of Moroccan society. The paper speculates that such radicalization could lead to a greater terrorist threat.

Adoption of a Foreign Child

The United States Embassy has a statement on adopting children from Morocco:

If you wish to adopt a child abroad, and you are in the United States, contact the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Service office that has jurisdiction over your place of residence. Please be advised that securing custody of Moroccan orphans for immigration is extremely difficult as adoption is essentially illegal in Morocco.

I do not know the full story, but my understanding is that the prohibition stems from a desire that Muslim children not be adopted by non-Muslims and so lost to the faith. After all, the King of Morocco is still the Emir Al Moulmenin (Commander of the Faithful).

MoorishGirl discusses her meeting with Karim Tazi, who runs a number of charities in Casablanca, including one that helps people in the Casablanca bidoville (slum) where the Casablanca bombers lived:

I wish people who spend their time talking about bringing democracy to the Arab world and who accuse Arabs of not doing enough would come see for themselves. Maybe then, instead of bombing these people into democracy, they'd roll up their sleeves and help.

My first thought is to wonder whether Mr. Tazi is any relation to the Mme Tazi who sponsored La Creche Lalla Hasna when I volunteered there in the late 90's. The Creche provided enriched day care to orphans between the ages of 8 months and 3 years who lived at the adjoining state run orphanage. The children faced a hard future — illegitimate or born of prostitutes, they were unlikely to be adopted by Moroccans. At the same time, state policy discouraged adoption by non-Muslims, so they were likely to remain wards of the state for a long time. The state run orphanage simply did not have adequate resources to give the children the care and attention they needed.

Guardian Unlimited | The Guardian | �7bn cannabis crop strips Morocco of trees and soil

"Cannabis production is expanding so fast in Morocco that it is causing soil erosion and the destruction of long-established forests, the UN reported yesterday."

The increase in production is apparently driven by spiraling European demand. Europe, like the United States, is left in the position of publicly deploring drug production while paralyzed by its own insatiable consumption.