September 30 2011

International Translation Day

I believe many of you don’t know that translators actually have their own special day to celebrate: September 30th of each year.

Back in 1991 the International Federation of Translators (FIT) launched the idea of an officially recognised International Translation Day to show solidarity of the worldwide translation community in an effort to promote the translation profession in different countries. The significance of the date (September 30th) is that it’s the feast day of St. Jerome (347-420 AD), the Bible translator who is considered as the patron saint of translators, interpreters and librarians.

And each year there’s a special theme. This year’s theme celebrates the professional translators, interpreters and terminologists represented by FIT member associations that build bridges between cultures and facilitate communication that creates prosperity and cultural enrichment. As the Federation note in their press release for International Translation Day 2011:
“Thanks to translators, interpreters and terminologists, peoples around the world can preserve their cultural heritage while being active participants in the “global village”. Cultural diversity makes our world a better place, but we have to understand each other in order to avoid international conflicts and to help each other in times of need. We have to understand each other to appreciate our cultural differences.” Read ‘Translation: Bridging Cultures’ in full…

I personally knew about the International Translation Day only 3 years ago, believe it or not, and I frankly never celebrated it before… until this year that is, when I got a sweet greeting message from a thoughtful friend wishing me a “happy International Translation Day”.

So to celebrate this day with you, I’m sharing some of my favourite translation-related videos , wishing all fellow translators a Happy International Translation Day, whatever language you speak.

Learn a foreign language.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Do you speak English?

Berlitz: Improve your English.

Category: General | Comments Off on International Translation Day
September 26 2011

Remembering & Missing Edward Said

“My argument is that history is made by men and women, just as it can also be unmade and rewritten, always with various silence and elisions, always with shapes imposed and disfigurements tolerated.” – Edward Said

Yesterday marked the  8th anniversary of the passing of Edward Said, the Palestinian literary theorist, the esteemed University Professor of English and comparative literature, and most importantly the advocate for Palestinian rights, and the most powerful political voice Palestinians had.

Edward Said was an influential scholar, whose  incorruptible beautiful mind and whose big brave heart charmed us all. I -and so many others like me- were impressed by his genius work, his diverse talents,  and his significant impact on spreading awareness of the Palestinian cause and the Middle Eastern conflict.

So here we are remembering you Edward Said, the humanist, the extraordinary intellectual; here we are remembering your inimitable courage to fight for all that is virtuous.

RIP Edward Said…

Category: Art & Literature, Media, International, Palestine | Comments Off on Remembering & Missing Edward Said
September 24 2011

The Irvine 11: A Sad Day For Democracy

Today history was made, today a new lesson was taught, a lesson to all humanity about the value of freedom of speech, the fulfillment of justice, and the right to oppose ‘the other’:  no matter where you come from, no matter where you live, no matter how peaceful you’re doing it, if you ever protest the war crimes of Israel, you have to know that you are committing a crime greater than those you’re protesting.

Today peaceful voices were silenced,  productive members of society were found guilty of speaking their minds, nonviolent protesting was condemned, while the real criminal was set loose, yet again, while the real criminal is free,  again, and while injustice prevails, again and again. The Irvine 11,  my heart goes out to you, your families,  the justice that you stood up to, the freedom that you stand for…

Oh yes,  since we’re learning a valuable lesson about the lack of freedom of speech and the most basic forms of democracy, any comments supporting the Irvine 11 are more than welcome, and any that are against them will be proudly deleted, ignored, and thrown into trash.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Category: Media, International | Comments Off on The Irvine 11: A Sad Day For Democracy
September 18 2011

Remembering Sabra & Shatila Massacre

“Twenty nine years have past, my goodness. I’ll never forget you wonderful people. Neither will I forget the extremes of inhumanity and human compassion, the ugliness and beauty, the laughter and grins while murdering with a disregard for humanity and life impossible to comprehend, and the tears and cries of deepest despair and suffering no human being, not even an animal should experience”.

People of Sabra and Shatila, I’ll Never Forget You… by Christof Lehmann.

Category: Arab Societies, Palestine | Comments Off on Remembering Sabra & Shatila Massacre
September 17 2011

Prince El Hassan Bin Talal of Jordan: Making Sense of 9/11

Prince El Hassan bin Talal of Jordan on how Americans and Middle Easterners can move past a decade scarred by 9/11 and the subsequent “war on terror” to embrace the new spirit of cooperation embodied by the Arab Spring:
“Over the past ten years, much has been written in an attempt to make sense of what happened on 11 September 2001. It is a difficult task. Analysing evil is not easy. Terror makes no sense to the rational mind. All that seems clear is that, for millions of Americans and the world at large, the events of that day will never become just a memory but will remain something they carry with them for the rest of their lives.”  continue reading…

Category: Arab Societies, Media, International | Comments Off on Prince El Hassan Bin Talal of Jordan: Making Sense of 9/11
September 8 2011

Toronto Palestine Film Festival 2011

Ok ladies and gents, mark your calendars and get ready for the Toronto Palestine Film Festival (TPFF), it’s going to take place between Sept.30- Oct.7, 2011. The festival program for 2011 is now live!

The TPFF is a non-profit organization which started  back in 2008 as a commemoration of the 60th anniversary of Al-Nakba.  Dedicated to bringing vibrant Palestinian cinema to GTA audiences, TPFF promotes the richness of Palestinian Arab culture through cinema, music, and other forms of visual arts. The festival offers a diverse array of stories, memories, genres and themes. 24 films will be screened, of which 11 are Canadian premieres, 9 are North American premieres and 3 are Toronto premieres.

For more info. on the TPFF: their latest news & events, as well as the ticket prices, check out their website: TPFF.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Category: Arab Societies, Canada, Entertainment, Media, International, Palestine | Comments Off on Toronto Palestine Film Festival 2011
August 10 2011

Ramadan; A Yearly Reminder

“How do you do that?”, “why do you do that?”, “for how long did you say?”,
“sorry, but I loooove my food, can’t imagine myself skipping all these meals…”

Many people fail to understand how such a harsh religious tradition could refine the soul and create more sensitive, sympathetic, and compassionate individuals in society.
This post is not really intended to preach anyone, nor change anyone’s mind about what they think of Ramadan. I’m actually writing to  remind Muslims who totally forgot about the spirit of their religion and are missing the point of its existence in the first place. So consider it a reminder, if you may, of the significance and the importance of this Holy Month.
Ramadan is not to “torture” the soul, or to “weaken” the body. It’s not cruel and it’s not meant to starve human beings. It’s simply a yearly wake-up call, to remind us that life doesn’t revolve around you or me, and that the planet is a place for all kinds of life to coexist in harmony. It’s a call to stop taking things for granted, contemplate, look around us, recognize others’ misery and misfortune, appreciate what we have, share it, give, work, and make this world a better place.
The long hours of fasting make it  hard, difficult, but it’s just a taste of what the less fortunate endure day after day, year after year, neglected, having to put up with their poverty, hunger, thirst and suffering while other parts of the planet are throwing away what would feed and quench the thirst of thousands of people.
Ramadan is a time to care for  hungry humans, animals, plants, the whole universe, in hope that your practices during this month will stick to you for as long as you may live.
But many Muslims are only abstaining themselves from eating and drinking alone,  missing out on the real spirit of the month, and many, so many, have given up on the whole fasting tradition altogether, claiming that you can be compassionate, and you can help others without torturing yourself… which is possible, but you can’t really feel what others feel until you’ve tried it yourself, not to forget that fasting does not mean limiting oneself to an abstinence from food and water, it’s about refining yourself from the core, meditating, taking a break from this materialistic world and getting in touch with your soul, testing its endurance and what it can accomplish even with the absence of the most basic elements of living. It’s all about being a better person and challenging yourself by depriving it from all that it has, so that you’d be in the shoes of the poor and helpless, just for a few hours, that’s all.

So please remember those in need, and please do help, not by words, but with real action. Donate, donate, donate. Thousands of people are starving to death every day, and thousands like them are dying out of thirst or the lack of access to clean water.

Go to Islamic Relief, choose your language, and pick one of the many donation options listed:  East Africa Crisis, Libya/ Yemen/ Syria Emergency Appeal, or any  Humanitarian Appeal to other countries that need your help such as Palestine, Pakistan… etc. Or to support projects that provide clean water, or help orphans and so on. The choice is yours, so little can do so much.

Category: Charity & Human Aid, Religion | Comments Off on Ramadan; A Yearly Reminder
June 16 2011

“Kanvouver” vs Boston

As all of you hockey fans know, Boston played against Vancouver in the Stanley Cup Final yesterday; it was my 1st time ever to watch a live hockey game. And boy what a tough and hard sport it is, I mean watching along I couldn’t help noticing that Hockey is a really extremely difficult sport to master… anyway, what shocked me is that my almost 5 year old son was actually excited to watch the game, guess he heard all about it at school. He was: “Boston win, Kanvouver lose” all the time, so being a “good” parent I had to set things straight.

Lesson (1): Pronunciation.

Eman: It’s Vancouver sweetheart.

Adam: Kanvouver.

Eman: Van-cou-ver.

Adam: Kan-vou-ver.

Eman: Kanvouver.

Adam: Fancouver.

Lesson (2): Patriotism.

Eman: so why are you cheering for Boston rather than Vancouver?

Adam: because Boston is better.

Eman: this is the first time you ever watch them play, how come you’re so sure?

Adam: Boston is better. He plays better, he’s cool.

Eman: Boston is a team not a man, you know that, right!

Adam: And Fancouver?

Eman: a team too. Plus the Vancouver team is Canadian, you should be supporting the Canadian team. Dad and I are wishing Vancouver will win.

Adam: I love Canada. But Boston is in America, right?

Eman: yes right, so?

Adam: where’s Disney World?

Eman: in America.

Adam: Boston win, Fancouver lose, Boston win….

Lesson (3): It’s all about the spirit, not the winning.

Eman: Ok, you cheer for Boston, no harm in that, because in the end, in sports it’s all about the experience. Decent competing, the challenges, good playing, and the joy of sharing this marvelous experience together, whether playing or watching. So it doesn’t matter what side you’re on, as long as you enjoy it, in the end, we’re all winners.

Dad: *#U*)@)_@_

Eman: Oh No!

Adam: BOSTON WINSSSSSS!

Eman & Dad: WHY!!!!!

Adam: it’s ok, it’s just a game…. He runs all over the place: Boston won, Fancouver lost!

And this, my dear friends, is what I call successful parenting skills.

Category: Canada, Just Personal | Comments Off on “Kanvouver” vs Boston
June 4 2011

Stand Up For Justice In Palestine

Click here to view the embedded video.

Freedom OneWorld… Freedom For Palestine

Category: Charity & Human Aid, Cool Stuff, Media, International, Palestine | Comments Off on Stand Up For Justice In Palestine
May 19 2011

A Canadian Morning

There is something about Canadian mornings…

The earlier I wake up, the more beautiful my morning becomes. The foggier it is outside, the yummier my coffee tastes. The rainier it is, the more tempting it is to go out for a walk. The cooler it is, the more refreshing I feel.

There is something about Canadian mornings, that I just love.

Being an Arab, my part of the world, from which I’ve come, is considered -relatively speaking- the part of eternal sunshine and warmth. Do I miss it? wouldn’t be human if I don’t, but life and my many travels have taught me to cherish every moment of every day, no matter where on the planet I am. It has taught me to look for beauty in the darkest of times, and darkest of places. And the darker the mornings get in Canada, the more alive they become… in my eyes.

I see people waking up really really early, to start a car, catch a bus, grab a coffee, hit the gym, walk a dog, or, what Canadians love most: go jogging. No matter how cold, no matter how dark, morning is as alive as it is in the sunniest of countries, if not even more. I really don’t know how they’re always motivated to be so active all the time, and I have no idea where their energy comes from, but I admire it, I respect it, and I really am impressed with it. Mornings here look so gloomy to most, but if you look closer you’ll see all the bits and pieces that prove the fact that Canadians just don’t care how their mornings look or feel, they always have their ways to enjoy them, make the best out of them, and get you wanting to do just the same.

And since I still have no job to go to and join the thousands of Canadians in their exciting daily morning adventures, I settle for my beloved hot cup of coffee, my morning TV, my laptop, a couple of books and a very deep breath trying to take in as much of this magically refreshing morning breeze as I could… until I have enough energy to go for a nice walk that is.

Yes, there’s something about Canadian mornings that I just love.

Good morning Canada.

Category: Canada, Just Personal | Comments Off on A Canadian Morning