Egyptian FE-Mail

Saturday, April 4, 2009

Egypt Watch

Source: AMCHAM - Egypt Watch Bulletin

Those are the headlines that caught my attention ... The tourism headlines are DEPRESSING .. this is a huge decline since my days in tourism.

EGYPT'S CENTRAL BANK LOWERS INTEREST RATES
The Central Bank of Egypt (link here) lowered its overnight deposit rate by 50 basis points to 10%. In February, the central bank had reduced the base rate by 100 basis points from 11.5%. The central bank also lowered the overnight lending rate by 50 basis points to 12% and the discount rate to 10% .............. Not sure how I feel about this one!! Scam?!! There has to be a trick

SUEZ CANAL REVENUES DECLINE 26% IN FEBRUARY
Egypt's Suez Canal revenues dipped 26% to $301.8 million in February, compared to $407.7 million in February 2008 and also down from $332.4 million in January, the Suez Canal Authority said .... Do you think Piracy has to do anything with this?

TAXI OWNERS SEEK LOANS TO RENEW VEHICLES
Egyptian banks received 5,000 requests from taxi owners for loans to renew their taxis. The loans will bear a fixed interest rate of 6.25%. Advertising companies will be paying LE416/month per taxi in return for taxi owners putting advertisements on their taxis, reducing the monthly installment to a range of LE590-1,435 .......... My heart goes out to the taxi drivers who will be in debt probably for the next 5 years (heavy debt) ... hope they learn to maintnaice their new cars.

TE PLAN TO INCREASE INTERNET SEGMENT
Telecom Egypt (AmCham member) (link here) Chairman Akil Beshir said the company plans to increase the internet segment contribution to total revenues from 5% last year to 10%. Meanwhile, Beshir expects subscribers’ net addition to range between 100,000 and 200,000 subscribers in fiscal year 2009 .... yeah and then they censor it .. so people are left with emails and a few sites to keep them company

MINISTRY PROPOSES FREE-MARKET ELECTRICITY PLAN
Egypt's Ministry of Electricty and Energy (link here) has set out a plan to allow the private sector to provide electricity, slowly shifting towards a free-market electricity scheme. This significantly changes the landscape in the electricity sector ... why does this sound like bad news?

PRIME MINISTER APPROVES LE8 BILLION MEDICAL CITY IN HELWAN
Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif approved the signing of a memorandum of cooperation with British investors to set up the largest Medical City in the Middle East over an area of 500 feddans at a total cost of LE8 billion in Helwan. Helwan Governor Hazem al-Quweidi signed the memorandum and said that the Medical City falls within the development strategy prepared by the governorate .... emmmm words like largest and biggest and development no longer do it for me

PLANS TO DEVELOP A NEW TERMINAL IN HURGHADA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
The Ministry of Civil Aviation is planning to develop a new passenger terminal in Hurghada International Airport next June, said the General Manger of the Hurghada International Airport .... again?!!!! I have been adding that line to my marketing plans since 2001

EGYPTIAN EXPORTS TO FRANCE UP BY 22.9%
Egyptian exports to France have increased in 2008 by 22.9% to hit 926 million euros. According to official French statistics, petroleum exports to France out of the total figure hit 470 million euros while non-petroleum exports hit 456 million euros ... I was hoping it would have been anything but petroleum

OCI SIGNS FERTILIZER DEAL 13
Egypt's Orascom Construction Industries (OCI) said it signed a deal with a subsidiary of Brazil's Group Fertipar for the supply of granular urea fertilizers to Brazil .... Smart .. hats off .. thumbs up ... bow

VEHICLE SALES FALL 37% IN FEBRUARY
Total vehicle sales in Egypt fell 37% year-on-year (Y-o-Y) to 13,148 units in February 2009, according to the Automotive Marketing Information Council (AMIC). The decline was softer than the 50% Y-o-Y plunge of January 2009. On monthly basis, total sales were up 22%. This brings 2M2009 total vehicle sales down 44% Y-o-Y, with passenger car sales down 47% Y-o-Y and commercial vehicle sales (buses and trucks) down 34% Y-o-Y ... Every year they say something about cars becoming cheaper ... and I wait .. and wait .. and wait ...

ITALY & EGYPT INK DEAL TO UPGRADE EGYPTIAN RAILWAYS
Egypt and Italy signed a deal to fund the development of the Egyptian Railway Authority (ERA). The deal was signed in Cairo by Egyptian Transport Minister, Mohammed Lotfi Mansour, and the Italian Minister for Infrastructure ... a bubble? could it be one? I have seen the reports on the General Motors trains ... yeah and the train drivers strikes ... sigh

AERO TRAVEL TO BUILD LUXURY HOTEL
Aero Travel Hotels Company will build a five-star hotel with 350 rooms for transit travellers at the Cairo International Airport. The company is currently talking with Banque Misr to obtain a $53 million loan for the project, and its application should be approved in a few days ..... where are those figures that say that luxury travelers no longer want Egypt and we are better off with the 4 stars all inclusive fun hotels?

LOUIS MAKES ITS FORAY INTO EGYPT WITH NEW HOTEL 15
Cyprus hospitality company Louis Plc said it will manage a five-star Louis Tiran Sharm hotel, which is set to open in Egypt in June. The 346-room property, on a private 1,500 meter stretch of Sharm El Sheikh's coast, is owned by Egyptian firm Tower Group. Egypt's most popular Red Sea tourist resort, Sharm El Sheikh attracts a high percentage of European visitors all year round .... Cyprus? Sharm El Sheikh ... very very smart move ... Cypriots love Sharm ... I am not kidding you ... short flight .. sun .. fun ... beaches .. and cheap .. great!

Get your full report here .. free
Egypt Watch Bulletin, April 1, 2009 – (HTML version)
Egypt Watch Bulletin, April 1, 2009 – (PDF version)

Friday, April 3, 2009

Global Voices update

Egypt: Baha'is attacks spark outcry
Egyptian Baha'is under attack
Egypt's First Adult Graphic Novel on Trial
Is Egypt on the verge of a cultural revolution?
Egypt: Women turn to the Internet to fight taboos
Egypt: Arab Youth on a Presidential Mission
Long awaited victory for Baha'is in Egypt
Egypt: Dalia Ziada urges Saudi Arabia to end discrimination against Muslim women
Egypt: Mostafa Hussein shreds the Honor Legacy
Egypt: Blogger Mohamed Adel Released
Egyptian -and Muslim- Girls between a Rock and a Hard Place
Egyptian bloggers unite in the face of terrorism
Criminal Minds: The Egyptian Sexual Offender's Profile
Egyptians on the verge of insanity
Blog Plagiarism hits Egyptian Bloggers
Egypt: Bloggers Take on the “Sons of Zion”
Egypt's Leading Women
Egypt: Bloggers Rally Against Sexual Predators
Egyptian Bloggers and Journalists in the Hot Seat
Egypt: Local Reflections on “Going Local”
Egypt: “Kleenex” Literature at the Cairo International Bookfair
Erin Brockovich wanted in Egypt
Egypt: Bloggers Divided over Geert Wilders
The Egyptian Bloggers Bookfair
Egyptian bloggers visit injured Palestinians
Egypt: Bloggers on the Fence
Egyptian Bloggers Ask: WHY?
An Egyptian Blogger's take on Robert Fisk's Piece
Saudi Arabia accuses Egyptian of Espionage
Egyptian and Tunisian Bloggers against Censorship
Egyptian Spinsters
Looking at Egypt's First Female Mayor

For more posts click here Marwa Rakha

Tuesday, March 31, 2009

المصرى بين الأنانية و الأنامالية و السلبية

الشهر دا فعلا شهر زى الزفت عليا ... احتكيت بجين الندالة المصرى أكتر من مرة ... انا مش هاتكلم عن مشاكلى الشخصية مع مدونين او اعلاميين .... انا هاتكلم تانى عن رد فعل المدونيين المصريين تجاة قضية الحسبة المرفوعة على مجدى الشافعى كاتب رواية مترو و محمد الشرقاوى الناشر. زى ما يكونوا مستخسرين الكام دقيقة اللى هيقولوا فيها حرام كفاية ... زى مايكونوا مش فارق معهم مادامت النار ماطالتهمش .. ندالة و لا مش ندالة؟ انانية و لا مبالاة و لا ليها اسم تانى؟

قال المدون اللى مش فارق معاه: و انا هاعمل ايه يعنى و كلامى هيفيد بإيه؟

ردى: جرنان الاهرام بيطبع حوالى 2 مليون نسخة و معدل القراءة من اربعة ل ستة مليون حسب اليوم و الصفحة و طبعا مش كل الملايين دى بتقرا الجرنان حتة حتة ... يعنى اجدعها كاتب بيقراله بتاع مليون ... دا اولا

ثانيا جرنان النهاردة بكرة بقى اخبار بايتة و لو حد عايز يطلع خبر اتنشر من سنة هتطلع روحه ... دا ثانيا

ليه بقى صفحة المدون بقت سلاح فتاك و كل كام يوم يطلع صحفى كبير يشتم فى التدوين .... علشان انتم منافسة .. كل مدون منافس قوى جدا لكل صحفى بيكتب فى جريدة مطبوعة

اولا انتم عندكم ارشيف من سنة سيدنا نوح
ثانيا لكل واحد قرائه من مصر و من برة
ثالثا فى تدوينات بتترجم
رابعا القناوات مش لاقية حاجة تتكلم فيها فبيدوروا على مواضيع عندكم .. اه و الله
خامسا حتى لو كلمتكم نقطة فى بحر ما ينفعش تبخلوا بيها على البحر

قال المدون اللى مش شايف غير تحت رجليه: انا أصلى ضد شرقاوى و مش باحبه
ردى: انا ممكن اكون مش طايقة شرقاوى و ماعرفش مجدى الشافعى و ما قريتش الروايه و لو قريتها مش عاجبانى و مع ذلك هقلب الدنيا على قد ماقدر على دماغ اى حد عايز يكتم صوت كاتب و لا مفكر و لا حتى انسان عادى

الموضوع موضوع مبدا .... حرية الرأى ... حرية التعبير .... كل واحد حر

اما موضوع ان القضية كسبانة كسبانة

هو احنا لازم نستنى لما يتحكم على واحد مننا علشان نتحرك ... لازم دايما نستنى البلا لما يقع؟

ثانيا مين اللى قال انها كسبانة؟
مش هيبقى اكبر من جمال الغيطانى و لا حلمى سالم و لا احمد عبد المعطى حجازى و لا حتى نوال السعداوى

اقرا عن الاحكام و الغرامات
الاهانة مش فى الحكم و السجن و الغرامة .. الاهانة فى ان حد سمح لنفسه انه يتعدى حدوده و يحاول يخرس صوت و فكر انسان تانى

و احب أفكركم

"They came for the Communists, and I didn't object - For I wasn't a Communist;
They came for the Socialists, and I didn't object - For I wasn't a Socialist;
They came for the labor leaders, and I didn't object - For I wasn't a labor leader;
They came for the Jews, and I didn't object - For I wasn't a Jew;
Then they came for me - And there was no one left to object."

Saturday, March 28, 2009

"Metro" Egypt's first adult graphic novel on trial

Postponed to 4 April

تم التأجيل الى 4 أبريل

محاكمة مجدى الشافعى و محمد الشرقاوى - The Trial of Magdy El Shafee and Mohamed El Sharkawy

I wrote about this back in April 2008 when it first happened ... The beginning of the story and here and here

Today I learnt that their trial is on Saturday 28 ... quote from Magdy El Shafee

فوجئت بخبر استدعائى انا و ناشر "مترو" لجلسة محاكمه "مترو" يوم السبت القادم فى وقت انتهينا فيه من تجربة حميمية نتج عنها المعرض الذى ابهر الجميع بصدقه و عفويته - يمكنكم مشاهدته فى جوته وسط البلد - لكى اشعر اننى راض عن نفسىو راض عما افعلهو اترك الامر لرجال القضاء لكى يحسموا الامر تماما فنحن من نشرف هذا البلدلا الفاسدون و لا مسؤلى الامن و لا المحتكرون نحن من ننشر وجهها المضئ و على القضاء ان يحسم الامر يوم السبت القادم دعواتكم

Formal Statement from Mohamed El-Sharkawy:

السبت القادم ٢٨ مارس ٢٠٠٩ تقرر عقد جلسة لمحاكمتي بصفتي الممثل القانوني لدار ملامح للنشر ومجدي الشافعي مؤلف ورسام رواية "مترو" .المثير في الموضوع أن الماده التي يتم محاكمتنا بموجبها هي نفس المادة التي يحاكم بها من قام بتوزيع ونشر وبيع مجلات "بورنو"لكل من يستطيع تقديم العون والمساعدة يرجي الاتصال بنا او بمركز هشام مبارك للقانون..يرجي إرسال الرسالة لكل من يهمه الامر !شكر

Thursday, March 26, 2009

Earth Hour - Egypt

I got this by email and thought of sharing it ... (thanks Nachoua)

Earth Hour is this Saturday March 28 from 8:30-9:30pm. People all over the world are asked to turn off their lights for one hour as a way of “voting” for Earth and against Global Warming.

Egypt has joined Earth Hour’s global call for action on climate change. The lights will go out on the Sphinx and Great Pyramids of Giza, the Cairo Tower , and Bibliotheca in Alexandria for Earth Hour from 8:30-9:30pm on Saturday March 28. Ministry of Environment invites all ministries, governorates, and citizens to participate in the international initiative to combat global warming by turning out the lights for one hour on Saturday March 28, 2009 at 8:30pm.

We want to reach the target of 1 billion votes, which will be presented to world leaders at the Global Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen 2009. This meeting will determine official government policies to take action against global warming, which will replace the Kyoto Protocol. It is a chance for the people of the world to make their voice heard. Earth Hour began in Sydney in 2007, when 2.2 million homes and businesses switched off their lights for one hour. In 2008 the message had grown into a global sustainability movement, with 50 million people switching off their lights. Global landmarks such as the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco , Rome ’s Coliseum, the Sydney Opera House and the Coca Cola billboard in Times Square all stood in darkness.

In 2009, Earth Hour is being taken to the next level, with the goal of 1 billion people switching off their lights as part of a global vote. Unlike any election in history, it is not about what country you’re from, but instead, what planet you’re from. VOTE EARTH is a global call to action for every individual, every business, and every community, a call to stand up and take control over the future of our planet. Over 83 countries and territories have pledged their support to VOTE EARTH during Earth Hour 2009, and this number is growing everyday.

Regards,
Daniele Anelli
Ieoc HSE Manager
1, Rd 204 - Degla Sq. Maadi, Cairo
Tel: +20 2 25222414
Fax: +20 2 25222730

محاكمة مجدى الشافعى و محمد الشرقاوى - The Trial of Magdy El Shafee and Mohamed El Sharkawy

I wrote about this back in April 2008 when it first happened ... The beginning of the story and here and here

Today I learnt that their trial is on Saturday 28 ... quote from Magdy El Shafee

فوجئت بخبر استدعائى انا و ناشر "مترو" لجلسة محاكمه "مترو" يوم السبت القادم فى وقت انتهينا فيه من تجربة حميمية نتج عنها المعرض الذى ابهر الجميع بصدقه و عفويته - يمكنكم مشاهدته فى جوته وسط البلد - لكى اشعر اننى راض عن نفسىو راض عما افعلهو اترك الامر لرجال القضاء لكى يحسموا الامر تماما فنحن من نشرف هذا البلدلا الفاسدون و لا مسؤلى الامن و لا المحتكروننحن من ننشر وجهها المضئو على القضاء ان يحسم الامر يوم السبت القادم دعواتكم

Formal Statement from Mohamed El-Sharkawy:

Next Saturday March 28th, a court session has been scheduled for me as the legal representative of Malamih and Magdi El-Shafie the author of Metro. the interesting thing is that we are being tried with the same article of the law as if we are publishing, distributing and selling a porn magazine!!!!

Anyone who can offer any help please let us know or contact Hisham Mubarak law center, other than that please forward this message to all concerned and interested.

Thanks!

السبت القادم ٢٨ مارس ٢٠٠٩ تقرر عقد جلسة لمحاكمتي بصفتي الممثل القانوني لدار ملامح للنشر ومجدي الشافعي مؤلف ورسام رواية "مترو" .
المثير في الموضوع أن الماده التي يتم محاكمتنا بموجبها هي نفس المادة التي يحاكم بها من قام بتوزيع ونشر وبيع مجلات "بورنو"

لكل من يستطيع تقديم العون والمساعدة يرجي الاتصال بنا او بمركز هشام مبارك للقانون..
يرجي إرسال الرسالة لكل من يهمه الامر !

شكر

More from Sharkawy

بعد أن صادرتها شرطة الآداب
محاكمة مؤلف وناشر رواية مترو
القاهرة فى 27/3/2009

في الوقت الذي نتطلع فيه جميعاً الي المزيد من الحريات وسقف أعلي لممارسة حقيقية في التعبير وبحرية عن كل ما يجول بخاطرنا لمصلحة هذا الوطن..
تنظر محكمة جنح قصر النيل السبت القادم 28 مارس،القضية رقم 4732 لسنة 2008 جنح قصر النيل، والمتهم فيها كلا من"مجدى الشافعى" مؤلف رواية "مترو"،و"محمد الشرقاوى" ناشر الرواية،بعد أن احالتهم نيابة حوادث القاهرة للمحاكمة بعد أن اتهمتهم بأنهم" صنعا وحازا بقصد الاتجار والتوزيع مطبوعات منافية للآداب العامة بأن قام المتهم الأول(مجدى الشافعى) بتأليف كتاب"مترو" وضمنه عبارات منافية للآداب العامة وقدمه المتهم الثانى(محمد الشرقاوى) الذى قام بطباعته ونشره وتوزيعه.."،وطالبت النيابة بمعاقبة المبدعين بموجب المواد30 و171 و178 و198 من قانون العقوبات.
وكانت الإدارة العامة لحماية الآداب(وهى إدارة تابعة لوزارة الداخلية) قد قامت بضبط مئات النسخ من رواية "مترو" فى ابريل الماضى(2008) بعد أن اقتحمت دار "ملامح" للنشر،وبعض المكتبات منها مكتبة الشروق،ومكتبة الديوان،وحررت محضراً وعرضته على النيابة العامة والتى استدعت كلا من"مجدى الشافعى" و"الشرقاوى"،للتحقيق معهم،ثم صدر قرار رئيس محكمة جنوب القاهرة بتأييد ضبط ومصادرة الرواية.
وفى يونيه الماضى(2008) تقدم أحد محامو الحسبة،ببلاغ للنائب العام ضد مؤلف الرواية وناشرها،وقد أرفق البلاغ بالتحقيقات،ثم قررت النيابة العامة تقديم"مجدى الشافعى"،و"الشرقاوى" للمحاكمة أمام محكمة جنح قصر النيل.
أن دار"ملامح" للنشر،والمبدع"مجدى الشافعى"و"مركز هشام مبارك للقانون"،يعلنوا عن حاجتهم لدعم كافة المهمومين بحرية التعبير،للدفاع عن حرية التعبير والإبداع،وخاصة أن الرواية يتربص بها بعض المحتسبين،كما يعلنوا بأن محاكمة رواية "مترو" لن يزعزع ايمانهم بحرية الإبداع كما وردت بالدستور المصري بالمادة 49 وكذلك بالمواثيق الدولية لحقوق الإنسان.
للاستفسار يمكنمكم الاتصال
0106888331
0107920678
0120624003
0225758908

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/editevent.php?eid=60328284170#/event.php?eid=60328284170

Monday, March 23, 2009

Principles of Spiritual Activism

Principles of Spiritual Activism
By David, Exquisite Safaris
Forwarded to me by Ossama Nada

1. Transformation of motivation from anger/fear/despair to compassion /love /purpose.

This is a vital challenge for today’s social change movement. This is not to deny the noble emotion of appropriate anger or outrage in the face of social injustice. Rather, this entails a crucial shift from fighting against evil to working for love, and the long-term results are very different, even if the outer activities appear virtually identical. Action follows Being, as the Sufi saying goes. Thus, “a positive future cannot emerge from the mind of anger and despair.”—Dalai Lama

2. Non-attachment to outcome.

This is difficult to put into practice, yet to the extent that we are attached to the results of our work, we rise and fall with our successes and failures a sure path to burnout. Hold a clear intention, and let go of the outcome—recognizing that a larger wisdom is always operating. As Gandhi said, “the victory is in the doing,” not the results. Also, remain flexible in the face of changing circumstances: “Planning is invaluable, but plans are useless.”—Churchill

3. Integrity is your protection.

If your work has integrity, this will tend to protect you from negative energy and circumstances. You can often sidestep negative energy from others by becoming “transparent” to it, allowing it to pass through you with no adverse effect upon you. This is a consciousness practice that might be called “psychic aikido.”

4. Integrity in means and ends.

Integrity in means cultivates integrity in the fruit of one’s work. A noble goal cannot be achieved utilizing ignoble means.

5. Don’t demonize your adversaries.

It makes them more defensive and less receptive to your views. People respond to arrogance with their own arrogance, creating rigid polarization. Be a perpetual learner, and constantly challenge your own views.

6. You are unique. Find and fulfill your true calling.

“It is better to tread your own path, however humbly, than that of another, however successfully.” —Bhagavad Gita

7. Love thy enemy.

Or at least, have compassion for them. This is a vital challenge for our times. This does not mean indulging falsehood or corruption. It means moving from “us/them” thinking to “we” consciousness, from separation to cooperation, recognizing that we human beings are ultimately far more alike than we are different. This is challenging in situations with people whose views are radically opposed to yours. Be hard on the issues, soft on the people.

8. Your work is for the world, not for you.

In doing service work, you are working for others. The full harvest of your work may not take place in your lifetime, yet your efforts now are making possible a better life for future generations. Let your fulfillment come in gratitude for being called to do this work, and from doing it with as much compassion, authenticity, fortitude, and forgiveness as you can muster.

9. Selfless service is a myth.

In serving others, we serve our true selves.

“It is in giving that we receive.” We are sustained by those we serve, just as we are blessed when we forgive others. As Gandhi says, the practice of satyagraha (clinging to truth) confers a “matchless and universal power” upon those who practice it. Service work is enlightened self-interest, because it cultivates an expanded sense of self that includes all others.

10. Do not insulate yourself from the pain of the world.

Shielding yourself from heartbreak prevents transformation. Let your heart break open, and learn to move in the world with a broken heart. As Gibran says, “Your pain is the medicine by which the physician within heals thyself.” When we open ourselves to the pain of the world, we become the medicine that heals the world. This is what Gandhi understood so deeply in his principles of ahimsa and satyagraha. A broken heart becomes an open heart, and genuine transformation begins.

11. What you attend to, you become.

Your essence is pliable, and ultimately you become that which you most deeply focus your attention upon. You reap what you sow, so choose your actions carefully. If you constantly engage in battles, you become embattled yourself. If you constantly give love, you become love itself.

12. Rely on faith, and let go of having to figure it all out.

There are larger ‘divine’ forces at work that we can trust completely without knowing their precise workings or agendas. Faith means trusting the unknown, and offering yourself as a vehicle for the intrinsic benevolence of the cosmos. “The first step to wisdom is silence. The second is listening.” If you genuinely ask inwardly and listen for guidance, and then follow it carefully -you are working in accord with these larger forces, and you become the instrument for their music.

13. Love creates the form. Not the other way around.

The heart crosses the abyss that the mind creates, and operates at depths unknown to the mind. Don’t get trapped by “pessimism concerning human nature that is not balanced by an optimism concerning divine nature, or you will overlook the cure of grace.”—Martin Luther King Jr. Let your heart’s love infuse your work and you cannot fail, though your dreams may manifest in ways different from what you imagine.

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

80/20 Rule in Relationships

This quote from the movie 'Why did I get married?' says it all

In most cases, especially in relationships, you will only get 80% of what you NEED and you will hardly get the other 20% that you WANT in your relationship. There is always another person (man or women) that you will meet and that will offer you the other 20% which is lacking in your relationship that you WANT. And believe me, 20% looks really good when you are not getting it at all in your current relationship.

But the problem is that you will always be tempted to leave that good 80% that you know you have, thinking that you will get something better with the other 20% that you WANT.

But as reality has proven, in most cases, you will always end up with having the 20% that you WANT and loosing the 80% that you really NEED and that you already had.
Be careful in deciding between what you WANT and NEED in your life.

Cheating happens when you start looking for what you don't have. 'Wow, this girl in my office is a ! real looker. But it's not her Wynona Rider features that got me. I'm crazy about her because she's also understanding, intelligent, tender - so many things that my spouse is not'

Somewhere along the way, you'll find a woman or a man who will be more charming or sensitive. More alluring. More thoughtful. Richer. Have greater sex appeal. And you will find a woman or man who will need you and pursue you and go loco over you more than your spouse ever did.

Because no wife or husband is perfect. Because a spouse will only have 80% of what you're looking for. So adultery takes place when a husband or wife looks for the missing 20%. Let's say your wife is melancholic by nature.

You may find yourself drawn to the pretty clerk who has a cherry laugh no matter what she says: 'I broke my arm yesterday, Hahahaha . . ..'

Or because your wife is a homebody in slippers and pajamas, smelling of garlic and fish oil, you may fall for a fresh-smelling young sales representative that visits your office in a sharp black blazer, high heels, and a red pencil-cut skirt Or because your husband is the quiet type, your heart may skip a beat when you meet an old college flame who has the makings of a talk show host.

But wait! That's only 20% of what you don't have.

Don't throw away the 80% that you already have!

That's not all. Add to your spouse's 80% the 100% that represents all the years that you have been with each other. The storms you have weathered together. The unforgettable moments of sadness and joy as a couple. The many adjustments you have made to love the other. The wealth of memories that you've accumulated as lovers.

Cheating happens when you start looking for what you don't have.

But faithfulness happens when you start thanking God for what you already have.

But I'm not just talking about marriage.

Happiness keeps you Sweet, Trials keeps you Strong, Sorrow keeps you Human,
Failure keeps you Humble and Success keeps you glowing,
But only Faith and Attitude keeps you going....

My aunt sent me this:)

Friday, March 6, 2009

Flush

He told me that I needed to meditate and that if I looked inside me I would find all the answers, the cure, and the strength that I needed. I was curled at the far end of the sofa at the far end of the room at the far end away from the light. He told me that I looked old and defeated when only a few days ago I was glowing. I wanted to tell him what happened. I needed to open up. He told me that I was my own healer and left me to face my demons. I have never meditated before but I took endless trips down the abyss of my darkness and back. I have friends and they would be more than happy to listen but what good would it do when I knew that he was right – I am my own healer. No one could help me .... ever!

I switched off all the lights. Everything was on mute. I stretched on the sofa, and as I looked at the ceiling my eyes adjusted to the darkness, and I could see my hand reaching out to me in the black bubble. I took a deep breath and dove into the darkness within me. Waves of anger and sorrow took turns tossing and turning me. I fell off the sofa. I was stuck between the sofa and the wooden table in the center of my living room. My back was to the sofa. My feet were on the carpet. My knees were against the wooden table. Tears were rolling down my cheeks.

I am a toilet.

The ocean scent of the freshener, the little bubbles of blue water, the spotless clean porcelain, and luminous reflections on the oval seat – I am a beige toilet. A dark shadow hung over me like a ghost from the past. It came closer until I could no longer see the light. An Ass. Shit. More shit. I can’t breathe. I can’t breathe. No! No! Don’t throw toilet paper! No! No! Don’t clog me! Oh No! Please don’t throw the cigarette. What now?! A fountain of pee … he peed all over me. I was crying lest my tears flush away the stains. I reached out for the flush. I flushed. It’s still there. I was sobbing as I flushed again. The cigarette butt was turning into some spongy material ... then I flushed ... The toilet paper softened until it melted in my gutters … and I flushed … In the abyss of my darkness I flushed loads of shit, pee, paper, and cigarette butts. Fresh water ... new bubbles ... the pee was gone.

I opened my eyes. My legs hurt and I needed to stretch out of the toilet. I felt a bit better but I knew that my trip was not over. I lay on the carpet looking at the ceiling in the darkness. I closed my eyes and began feeling the velvet plush of its surface when my fingers suddenly felt a cold sticky pile move underneath my hand. Worms. I could see them; fat black sickle-shaped disgusting creatures crawling all over me. I tried to move but I was paralyzed. I wanted to scream but my lips were glued to one another. I wanted to push them away but my hands were stitched to the carpet. I was crucified. I could not even cry. I took little breaths for fear of sucking the worms into my system. I was gasping for air. I could have snapped out of it but I was intent on continuing the trip. I wanted to hit rock bottom. I wanted the anger to go away.

Light. A little light coming from the doorway. Here I am looking so wise and so content and there I was on the carpet buried in worms and decay. I watched myself walk past my corpse towards the terrace; I pulled the curtains to the side, opened the window, and let the sunlight fill the room. I know those rainbow drops. I have seen them before. The sun blew me a kiss. I kneeled over myself and my light embraced my darkness. The worms vanished. The pain vanished. The anger vanished. I hugged the inside of me. I am healed.

Flush …. One more time …. Flush … get out of my system … flush … I looked at the sky and welcomed a new beginning. On the floor I rested my exhausted body as I watched leaves grow on my barren trees outside. Colorful flowers blossomed where winter left its cruel print. I wore a necklace of beaded Jasmine and let its scent fill my lungs … I miss my grandfather. I turned to the side and opened my eyes. My trip came to an end. Two wide green eyes and a furry face were staring back at me. I could swear I saw him smile. I smiled back and hugged his warm unconditional love.

Thursday, March 5, 2009

مقالات مروة رخا لمجلة احنا و أخبار أخرى

Hi again:)

Latest News:

I now write the relationships page for Al Balagh newspaper (صفحة مع مروة رخا بجريدة البلاغ)
Click here to watch the pilot episode of my new program Tadweena تدوينة

Interesting Links:
The Interviews section on marwarakha.com is working .. have a look
My book The Poison Tree - planted & grown in Egypt is now on Amazon .... spread the word:)
Buy The Poison Tree on Amazon.com
Click here: I uploaded my interview on Nile Life برنامج كل ليلة
Click here: I uploaded my interview on Dream TV برنامج شبابيك

Click here: my posts for Global Voices

Mark your calendars

Every Monday ... I am on After Dark with Erin on Nile FM 104.2 from 10pm to 12midnight (Email me your problems or suggestions). Show is in English and you can listen to us live on http://www.nilefmonline.com/

Every Sunday & Wednesday ... I am on Radio Horytna with Yassmin Yassin from 6pm to 7pm (Email me your problems or suggestions). Show is in Arabic and you can listen to us live on http://www.horytna.net/

I wrote some controversial articles for Campus:

Egyptian FE-Mail

مونتيسوري مصر

مشاكل القراء المسجلة

مبادرة مروة رخا للنشر الالكترونى

Delivered to your Doorstep

Saturday, April 4, 2009

Egypt Watch

Friday, April 3, 2009

Global Voices update

Tuesday, March 31, 2009

المصرى بين الأنانية و الأنامالية و السلبية

Saturday, March 28, 2009

"Metro" Egypt's first adult graphic novel on trial

Thursday, March 26, 2009

Earth Hour - Egypt

محاكمة مجدى الشافعى و محمد الشرقاوى - The Trial of Magdy El Shafee and Mohamed El Sharkawy

Monday, March 23, 2009

Principles of Spiritual Activism

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

80/20 Rule in Relationships

Friday, March 6, 2009

Flush

Thursday, March 5, 2009

مقالات مروة رخا لمجلة احنا و أخبار أخرى

Marwa Rakha

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