The UN on Friday announced that following serious allegations of sexual exploitation and abuse, an entire unit of 60 peacekeepers from Tanzania formerly based in the western part of the Central African Republic (CAR), is to be repatriated.
UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric told correspondents that the decision to send the unit home had been made by the Secretariat in New York, following consultations with the peacekeeping mission in CAR, MINUSCA.
‘Credible evidence’
“The decision comes after a preliminary investigation which found credible evidence that 11 members of the unit had allegedly engaged in sexual exploitation and abuse of four victims”, Mr. Dujarric said.
In a statement, MINUSCA said that a rapid response team had been “immediately deployed” to assess the allegations.
Responding on Twitter to the news, UN Peacekeeping chief Jean-Pierre Lacroix, said that the scourge has no place in any part of his department, adding that the upcoming repatriation “is a robust measure taken to protect victims and demonstrate our resolve to swiftly address these wrongs with the troop-contributing country.”
“The identified victims are being provided with care and support by the Mission’s humanitarian partners. The Mission has also deployed a team to further engage with the community”, he added.
The Spokesperson said the Tanzanian Government had already been formally notified of the decision, and have themselves deployed a national investigation team to CAR.
Tanzania pledges action
“In reaffirming their commitment to zero tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse, the Tanzanian authorities noted the seriousness of the allegations and have committed to taking the necessary action to address these matters.”
Mr. Dujarric added that the unit had been relocated away from the area where the alleged abuse took place are are now confined to barracks “in order to protect victims as well of course, as the integrity of the investigation. The unit will be repatriated once their presence is no longer required in theatre by the investigators.”
Zero tolerance
He noted that the Secretariat’s decision was in accordance with Security Council resolution 2272, which provides clear support for decisions made by the UN Secretary-General to repatriate peacekeeping personnel, of “a particular military unit or formed police unit of a contingent, when there is credible evidence of widespread or systemic sexual exploitation and abuse by that unit.”
The UN chief António Guterres announced a firm and robust policy early in his tenure of ‘zero tolerance’ towards sexual abuse by UN personnel, calling on Member States to sign a voluntary compact on preventing and addressing the scourge, in 2017.
Mr. Dujarric stressed that the UN remains committed to “robustly implementing” the zero tolerance policy at all levels.
OHCHR said that on 25 May, security forces stormed a peaceful meeting of Baha’is in Sana’a. Seventeen people, including five women, were taken to an unknown location, and all but one, are still being held incommunicado.
The UN rights office urged the de facto Houthi authorities in Sana’a, to immediately release the detainees.
On 2 June, according to OHCHR, Shamseddin Sharafeddin, the Mufti appointed by leaders of the Houthi rebel movement accused the detained Baha’is of being traitors, and said that if they did not repent, they “should be killed”.
Baha’i is a faith that emphasizes the worth of all religions since its establishment in the 19th century, according to the international community’s website, including “divine educators” such as Abraham, Moses, Krishna, Jesus and the prophet Muhammad.
Around one per cent of Yemen’s non-Muslim population are estimated to subscribe to the faith.
Houthi rebels, who are Shia Muslims, have controlled Sana’a since 2014, as part of the long-running conflict with officially-recognized Government forces and their allies, for full control of the country.
Sermon incited ‘discrimination and violence’
OHCHR Spokesperson briefing in Geneva, Jeremy Laurence, condemned the use of “any language that incites discrimination and violence, particularly against minorities, and often leads to forced exile and displacement”, in addition to contravening international law.
“We remind the de facto authorities in Sana’a, that they must respect the human rights of people living under their control”, added Mr. Laurence.
“Human rights guarantees minorities, among other things, the right to profess and practice their own religion and the right to a fair trial before an independent and impartial tribunal”, he continued.
He said pre-trial detention “should be the exception and should be used only if reasonable and necessary, based on an individual assessment of each case.”
Speaking to journalists from Bilozerka, a town on the Dnipro River about 20 kilometres west of Kherson and five kilometres from the frontline, Ms. Brown, the Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, said that on Friday, the UN brought in a five-truck convoy to the affected areas, with desperately needed drinking water, food and equipment to help repair damaged homes.
Ms. Brown has been visiting affected areas and said that people were completely taken by surprise by the flooding, which came in the middle of the night on Tuesday after the dam suffered a massive breach. Both Ukraine and Russia have blamed each other for its destruction.
She stressed that people were “distraught” by the latest catastrophe to hit them, but remained resilient, even though they faced “daily shelling” – including just a day ago.
Rising needs
In many places, the waters haven’t receded yet, which is why the impact remained hard to assess and satellite imagery was “critical”, Ms. Brown said. The UN aid coordination office (OCHA) said on Thursday that flooding would still last “for at least a week”.
For the moment, an estimated 17,000 people were affected in the flooding zone according to Ms. Brown. UN refugee agency (UNHCR) spokesperson Shabia Mantoo, added that this number could rise to 40,000 as the situation evolved.
‘Doing my darndest’
Asked to comment on earlier criticism from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of the UN’s relief effort, Ms. Brown said that the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the UN World Food Programme (WFP) had been bringing in supplies “from day one” with commercial vehicles and that UNHCR and the UN migration agency (IOM) were also on the ground.
“I have asked that question to the Ukrainian authorities, ‘Did we get here on time?’ And the answer was yes,” she said.
Ms. Brown explained that the current situation was very difficult and fast-moving, and that the fact that UN agencies brought in relief with commercial transporters may have made them less visible to the authorities.
She also recalled her conversation with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba on Thursday, focused on “what more we can do together”.
“I am doing my darndest to ensure that we do our job,” she insisted.
Call for access to Russian-occupied areas
OCHA said on Thursday that the UN was “extremely concerned” about the plight of civilians in areas under Russian military control and that it had no access to those areas in the Kherson region.
UN rights office (OHCHR) spokesperson Jeremy Laurence, told reporters on Friday that just like humanitarian actors, human rights monitors cannot enter the Russian-occupied territories, as Russia had denied the Office’s repeated requests on the issue.
He reiterated the urgent call for access, along with an appeal for an independent investigation into the exact circumstances of the Kakhovka dam destruction.
Waterborne diseases on the rise
Humanitarians insisted that stagnant water in the flooded was a “major” health concern, carrying risks of cholera and diarrhoea.
UNHCR also pointed out that sewage, heavy oil and pesticides were mixing with the floodwaters and creating additional health hazards.
The UN World Health Organization (WHO) warned on Thursday about the impacts of the flooding on sanitation systems and public health services. WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus tweeted that WHO is supporting the authorities to prevent waterborne diseases and to improve disease surveillance.
WHO teams are on the ground, performing health needs assessments, and the agency’s Ukraine office said that in the coming days, additional supplies to strengthen access to health services will be delivered.
Landmines threat
With landmines floating downstream with the floodwaters, Ms. Brown said that a UN Mine Action Service (UNMAS) mine expert had been deployed to work with the UN Development Programme (UNDP) to assess the risks and that a map had been produced of the most heavily mined areas.
On Thursday, Ms. Brown discussed the situation with Ukraine’s First Deputy Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko, the Government’s focal point on landmines.
She said that the UN was asked to work closely with Ms. Svyrydenko to communicate the risks from unexploded ordnance in the floodwaters to the population and specifically involve UNICEF in spreading the word in schools.
Denise Brown, UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Ukraine (centre), visits Bilozerka, one of the communities worst-affected by the floods caused by the Kakhovka Dam.
Fresh concerns for the future
While the immediate impact of the dam’s destruction is staggering, Ms. Brown expressed her concerns about “what the future holds”, amid the destruction of homes, farmland and livestock, the dramatic impact on water and energy supplies and the serious risk of environmental contamination.
To plan for the long-term effects of the disaster, the veteran aid official said that on Thursday, the UN team met with representatives of the Ukrainian Government, the European Union and the Kyiv School of Economics to look at the available satellite imagery and continue the needs assessment.
“We need to focus on an emergency response right now”, he said, highlighting a three-step plan to provide humanitarian assistance to all Ukrainians impacted, who have faced more than one year of war following Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022. “We need to save people and get them to places where they are safe and can eat, and get safe drinking water.”
Four days since the destruction of the dam in southern Ukraine, flooding has started to recede, although the disaster is still causing displacement and rising humanitarian needs, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), which Mr. Griffiths heads.
In the Kherson region which is under Ukrainian control, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported that 320 people have been displaced over the past 24 hours, increasing the total number who had to leave their homes, to more than 2,500.
Across the Ukrainian-controlled areas of Kherson, nearly 40 villages and towns have been severely affected by the flood, with more than 3,620 houses recorded as damaged to date OCHA said, in its latest situation report released late Friday afternoon.
Three-phase response plan
Highlighting the UN’s three-phase response plan, The UN relief chief said emergency actions include getting people to safety, delivery life-saving supplies, and assessing the longer-term consequences. An appeal for emergency assistance is also in the works, he said.
Responding to media reports referring to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s comments on the slow reaction by aid agencies, Mr. Griffiths said an immediate response had always been the priority
“I understand the President’s frustration,” he said. “What we focused on was trying to get the response moving as quickly as possible.”
Providing an update on recent efforts, he said two convoys departing on Thursday had reached 30,000 people in Kherson along with another delivery made on Friday, adding that “the engine is moving”.
Phase one priorities in the coming days will be to continue to both rescue people and deliver medical supplies and food aid, including via boats operated by the World Food Programme (WFP), he said.
The next phase will aim at reaching those in need, including the 700,000 people who currently lack safe drinking water, and providing livelihood assistance.
Examining the environmental and economic consequences will make up part of phase three, he said. This may be the most “awful shock” to the people of Ukraine and the global South, because it is bound to have an effect on food security as the “bread basket” of Ukraine is most certainly going to be affected, he warned.
Denise Brown, UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Ukraine (second right), visits Bilozerka, one of the communities worst-affected by the floods caused by the Kakhovka Dam.
Reaching out to Russian authorities
“We have been in touch with the Russian authorities in the last half hour,” he said, noting that his Office is seeking permission to have safe access across lines.
Turning to the ongoing mis- and disinformation campaign over responsibility and circumstances surrounding the dam disaster, he said “our obligation is to tell the truth about needs and to deliver on that.”
“Our message to the region is one of solidarity and sympathy,” he said. “The idea that you would go through more than a year of war… and then suddenly to be woken up in the middle of the night by this blast and that torrent, which takes away any future that you might have known before…under these circumstances, the message from the world is very simple: we stand by you in this time of need.”
Crisis in Sudan
Turning to the crisis in Sudan, where fierce fighting continues since rival military forces clashed in mid-April, Mr. Griffiths expressed hope that the latest imminent ceasefire, set to begin on Saturday, will work and “give us a window of opportunity”.
“We’ve agreed on cross-border operation from Chad into Western Darfur so that we can actually begin to see the level of needs,” he said.
“What is fundamentally important is the beginning of a process which brings an end to this war, which deals with the reasons it started, and which returns it to civilian rule and the proper embrace of its people by government,” he said.
“That’s what all humanitarians want: to be driven out of business by the resolution of the conflict,” he added.
“We are concerned by the continued devastating impact of the fighting in Sudan on civilians,” Spokesperson Jeremy Laurence told journalists in Geneva.
The Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and military rival, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), have been locked in vicious clashes since mid-April.
Hundreds have been killed and some 1.2 million have been displaced. UN agencies and partners have repeatedly warned of the growing humanitarian crisis.
Mr. Laurence said at least eight people died in an air strike on a busy livestock market in the capital, Khartoum, on Wednesday, allegedly carried out by the SAF. At least three of the victims were from the same family.
A child was reportedly killed in a separate incident that day after a shell struck his home in the Al-Shajraa district, in southern Khartoum.
Refugee and orphan deaths
OHCHR has also received reports of the killings of four other civilians in the capital on Monday, while at least three people from the same family, including a pregnant woman, were reportedly killed on Sunday.
Airstrikes that day near the Sport Complex in southern Khartoum, hit a refugee centre, reportedly killing at least 10 refugees. Furthermore, no fewer than 71 children have died at an orphanage in Khartoum since the fighting started due to lack of humanitarian assistance, including medical supplies.
Sexual violence, online hate
Mr. Laurence said OHCHR is also concerned by reports of conflict-related sexual violence.
“Since the fighting began, our Office has received credible reports of 12 incidents of sexual violence related to the conflict, against at least 37 women – although the number could be higher. In at least three incidents, the victims were young girls. In one case, 18 to 20 women were reportedly raped,” he said.
Growing reports of apparent enforced disappearance and arbitrary detention are another concern, he added, and journalists are also now at greater risk amid a rise in online hate speech and disinformation.
OHCHR has learnt of a list circulating on social media accusing certain journalists of being RSF supporters. Staff have also seen comments on Facebook calling for the killing of those on the list.
Appeal for accountability
“We reiterate the High Commissioner’s call on both parties to the fighting to ensure protection of civilians and respect for international humanitarian law and international human rights law,” he said.
“They must also ensure all violations are effectively and independently investigated and those responsible are held accountable.”
“Food diversion is absolutely unacceptable,” said WFP Executive Director Cindy McCain, following a joint statement made by Ethiopia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and USAID announcing their commitment to addressing deeply concerning revelations of aid diversion.
“While we will temporarily halt food aid assistance in Ethiopia, nutrition assistance to children, pregnant and breastfeeding women, school meals programmes, and activities for building the resilience of farmers and pastoralists will continue uninterrupted,” she said, welcoming the Ethiopian Government’s commitment to investigate and hold accountable those responsible.
Widespread theft
Over the past months, large aid deliveries have been stolen, according to media reports.
“Our first concern is the millions of hungry people who depend on our support, and our teams will work tirelessly with all partners to resume our operations as soon as we can ensure that food reaches the people who need it the most,” the SFP chief said.
More than 20 million people in Ethiopia urgently need humanitarian food assistance, as the long-lasting effects of conflict and drought continue, according to the agency.
“WFP is working closely with its UN and humanitarian partners and local stakeholders to reform the way assistance is delivered across Ethiopia and in all high-risk operational contexts where we work,” she said, adding that the agency takes this issue very seriously and will take every necessary step to ensure that critical food assistance reaches those who need it most.
Airborne infrasound can improve can improve tsunami warnings and other emergency responses.
Scientists from the US state of Alaska have found that sensors that detect changes in atmospheric pressure due to earthquakes can receive data on large earthquakes and explosions exceeding the maximum capabilities of many seismometers, reported the electronic edition “Euricalert”.
Sensors that detect inaudible infrasounds in the air can improve tsunami warnings and other emergency responses while reducing costs.
The study by experts from the Geophysical Institute at the University of Alaska in Fairbanks shows that these devices can determine the magnitude of earthquakes more accurately than some seismographs. The initial tsunami warning is based only on the estimated magnitude and location.
Infrasound sensors are commonly used for other purposes such as detecting mine explosions or nuclear detonations. They also detect landslides, erupting volcanoes or meteors entering the Earth’s atmosphere.
“What we’ve done is use infrasound for a purpose it’s not really intended for,” says Ken McPherson of the Alaska Geophysical Institute. “We found that it works well for providing complete data for strong earthquakes.”
These infrasound detectors are typically used for non-seismic purposes, including detecting explosions in the mining industry or nuclear detonations. They also record landslides, erupting volcanoes or meteorites entering the Earth’s atmosphere.
The sensors register changes in atmospheric pressure caused by infrasound waves, whose frequency is lower than that which humans can hear.
Infrasound sensors can record the full range of Earth’s surface motion during an earthquake by picking up changes in atmospheric pressure caused by shifting layers.
Seismographs detect the actual movement of the earth’s surface. The problem with them is that they have an upper limit, which means that data for some large earthquakes that exceed this limit may be missing. Seismographs can also fail to detect weaker tremors if their epicenter is too close to the instrument.
Seismologists can prevent these gaps, including by using strong motion sensors. They have no limitations when it comes to strong tremors, but are more expensive and less accurate in detecting data from weaker ones.
Infrasound sensors are cheaper and operate at the same speed as seismographs. This is especially important in the event of a tsunami. The US National Tsunami Warning Center has only four minutes to send out notifications the moment an earthquake strikes.
Photo by Ray Bilcliff: https://www.pexels.com/photo/giant-tsunami-wave-9156792/
The majority of bathing water sites in Europe met the European Union’s most stringent ‘excellent’ water quality standards in 2022, according to the latest annual Bathing Water report published today. The assessment, put together by the European Environment Agency (EEA) in cooperation with the European Commission, highlights where swimmers can find the cleanest bathing sites in Europe this summer.
The quality of water at coastal sites, which makes up two-thirds of total bathing spots, is generally better than that of inland river and lake sites. In 2022, 88.9% of the EU’s coastal bathing sites were classified as being of excellent quality as compared to 79.3% of inland sites.
In 2022, 95% of bathing waters in Cyprus, Austria, Greece, and Croatia met the ‘excellent’ quality standard. Moreover, in Malta, Bulgaria, Romania, Slovenia, and Luxembourg, all assessed bathing water waters met at least the minimum standard of sufficient quality in 2022.
Since the adoption of the Bathing Water Directive in 2006, the share of ‘excellent’ sites has grown, and has stabilised in recent years, between 85–89% for coastal and 77–81% for inland bathing waters. In 2022, it represented 85.7% of all bathing waters in the EU. The minimum water quality standards were met at 95.9% of all bathing waters in the EU.
Swimmers heading for lakes, rivers and beaches to cool off this summer can be sure of the highest quality standards in bathing sites across Europe. Maintaining high standards for the quality of bathing water, including in urban areas, is beneficial for citizens’ health and well-being. We must continue to achieve these high standards with a comprehensive approach to preserving our most precious resource. The EU is championing the water solutions we need now and in the future, including water efficiency and reuse, integrated approach to the management of water resources across sectors, reducing by 50% pesticides, nutrients, antimicrobials and plastic litter in oceans and rivers and restoring our rivers.
Leena Ylä-Mononen,EEA Executive Director, said:
This is great news for all Europeans who demand that the environment we all share and enjoy, including our cherished bathing sites, are as clean as possible. This shows that over 40 years of hard work in monitoring and improving our coastal waters, rivers, lakes and ponds is paying off, but it also shows that regular monitoring is vital to positive progress.
The share of bathing waters with poor water quality has dropped in the past decade and has been stable since 2015. In 2022, bathing waters with poor water quality constituted 1.5% (315 sites) of all bathing waters in the EU. This shows that the health risk of swimming in bathing waters is slowly decreasing in Europe, although it still exists at a few hundred of bathing water sites. 45 bathing sites were still classified as poor after at least five consecutive years. Of these, nine managed to improve their quality to the sufficient level in 2022.
Bathing water quality at coastal waters is generally better compared to inland waters, due to the more frequent renewal and higher self-purification capacity of open coastal waters. Moreover, many inland bathing waters of central Europe are located at relatively small lakes and ponds, as well as at rivers with a low flow. Compared to coastal areas, these inland waters are more susceptible to short-term pollution caused by heavy summer rains or droughts, especially in the summer.
The growing importance of bathing water sites in cities
Around half of European citizens living in towns and cities have access to urban swimming sites and swimming in local rivers, canals or lakes is increasingly possible and popular. The waters are designated and monitored under the provisions of the EU’s Bathing Water Directive, which safeguards public health and protects the aquatic environment.
Of all European bathing waters, more than 1,800 (8%) are in almost 200 cities with more than 100,000 inhabitants and play an important part as urban public spaces. The main socio-economic and environmental benefits that stem from clean and safe urban bathing waters in Europe include better public health, increased ecosystem services, higher recreational value with overall improvement of public spa ce as well as quality of life.
The vast majority of European bathing waters are found in 47 Mediterranean cities across four countries: Greece (37 bathing waters in 7 cities), France (280 bathing waters in 9 cities), Italy (343 bathing waters in 13 cities), and Spain (192 bathing waters in 18 cities). Other bathing waters are distributed throughout 7 cities in Portugal, and 2 cities in Croatia, Denmark, and Albania.
Background
The assessment for today’s report is based on the monitoring of 21,973 bathing sites across Europe that were reported to the EEA for the 2022 season. This includes sites in all EU Member States, Albania and Switzerland. These have to be monitored for four consecutive bathing seasons before they can be considered as of either ‘excellent’, ‘good’, ‘sufficient’, or ‘poor’ quality.
Alongside this year’s Bathing Water Report, the EEA has also released an updated interactive map showing the performance of each bathing site. Updated country reports are also available, as well as more information on the implementation of the directive in countries.
In the context of the European Green Deal and the Zero Pollution Action Plan, the Commission is currently assessing whether the Bathing Water Directive is still fit for purpose in order to protect public health and improve water quality, or if there is a need to improve the existing rules and propose relevant updates, including new parameters.
The Bathing Water Directive is one of several pieces of EU law that protect water. It is complemented by the Water Framework Directive, the Environmental Quality Standards Directive, the Groundwater Directive, the Marine Strategy Framework Directive and the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive.
Morocco, 11th MATA Equestrian (horse-riding) festival. Photo credit BXL-MEDIA
MATA Festival // The “ALAMIA association for social and cultural action” organised the 11th edition of the international Mata horse-riding festival from 02 to 04 June 2023 in the Zniyed locality, commune of Larbaa de Ayacha, province of Larache.
This is a unique game that calls on the courage and intelligence of those who play it, as it is an ancestral tradition from an exceptional region that the “Jbala” tribes have named Mata.
Morocco, Alamia held 11th Horse-riding festival of MATA 24
Placed under the High Patronage of King Mohammed VI and held under the theme “Mata; heritage of humanity and meeting of cultures“, this edition, organised in partnership with UNESCO’s International Festival of Cultural Diversity, was a great success, with tens of thousands of visitors and the quality of guests from countries such as Spain, Belgium, Cameroon, Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire and Portugal.
As festival president Nabil Baraka explains, the highlight of this 11th edition was the Moroccan government’s decision to include the Mata equestrian competition on UNESCO‘s list of intangible heritage.
This decision was strongly supported by the Minister for Youth, Culture and Communication, Mohamed Mehdi Bensaid, who, at the opening ceremony of the festival, in the presence of the Minister for Water and Equipment, Mr Nizar Baraka, the Minister for Industry and Trade, Mr Riad Mezzour, the Wali, Mr Mohamed Mhidia, and civil society representatives, as well as the Moroccan Minister for Culture, Youth and Communication, Mr Nabil Baraka, civil society, as well as leading political figures, announced the launch of the procedure for registering the Mata ancestral equestrian competition on UNESCO’s list of intangible heritage, in line with HM the King’s enlightened vision, which aims to promote Morocco’s cultural heritage on an international scale. He went on to say that this traditional game would also be included on ISESCO’s list of intangible heritage.
Morocco, Alamia held 11th Horse-riding festival of MATA 25
Referring to the specific nature of this multi-dimensional event, the Minister indicated that through the promotion of the Mata festival, the Department aims to introduce the world to a unique game that calls on the courage and intelligence of those who play it, given that it is a traditional game from an exceptional region, which the “Jbala” tribes have named Mata.
The festival’s chairman, Nabil Baraka, said on this occasion that Morocco, under the enlightened leadership of HM King Mohammed VI, is working tirelessly to safeguard and enhance its tangible and intangible cultural heritage, which is characterised by its richness and diversity, noting that this annual event, the cornerstone of which is the Mata equestrian competition, helps to preserve an ancestral intangible civilisational heritage and revives the region’s age-old traditions.
He pointed out that the Mata festival, which is open to all continents, has become a forum for conviviality and cultural, social and economic exchange. He added that this event, which highlights the role of the horse in the northern region and pays tribute to its riders, also fosters the economic and tourist development of the Kingdom’s northern and southern regions, by showcasing their many assets and promoting their rich and varied local products and crafts, which are now world-renowned.
Mr Nabil Baraka pointed out that previous editions of this popular equestrian game have been very well attended by enthusiasts from all over the world, saying that this festival aims to revive and preserve Morocco’s traditional civilisational heritage and to enshrine the values of solidarity, tolerance and living together that Morocco has embraced throughout its history and right up to the present day, under the enlightened leadership of HM King Mohammed VI.
This event, he continued, is also an opportunity for the southern provinces, the festival’s permanent guest, to exhibit their products alongside cooperatives from the northern region, giving guests a chance to discover the variety and richness of the local treasures of both regions.
As in previous years, the organisers have concocted a programme packed with a wide range of activities. During the three-day event, national and international guests and visitors were able to travel back in time and discover exhibitions of local products and Moroccan crafts. The Festival also offered local, national and foreign audiences a series of evenings of Sufi songs and local and national folk shows.
Morocco, 11th MATA Equestrian (horse-riding) festival. Photo credit BXL-MEDIAMorocco, 11th MATA Equestrian (horse-riding) festival. Photo credit BXL-MEDIAMorocco, 11th MATA Equestrian (horse-riding) festival. Photo credit BXL-MEDIAMorocco, 11th MATA Equestrian (horse-riding) festival. Photo credit BXL-MEDIAMorocco, 11th MATA Equestrian (horse-riding) festival. Photo credit BXL-MEDIAMorocco, 11th MATA Equestrian (horse-riding) festival. Photo credit BXL-MEDIAMorocco, 11th MATA Equestrian (horse-riding) festival. Photo credit BXL-MEDIAMorocco, 11th MATA Equestrian (horse-riding) festival. Photo credit BXL-MEDIAMorocco, 11th MATA Equestrian (horse-riding) festival. Photo credit BXL-MEDIAMorocco, 11th MATA Equestrian (horse-riding) festival. Photo credit BXL-MEDIAMorocco, 11th MATA Equestrian (horse-riding) festival. Photo credit BXL-MEDIAMorocco, 11th MATA Equestrian (horse-riding) festival. Photo credit BXL-MEDIAMorocco, 11th MATA Equestrian (horse-riding) festival. Photo credit BXL-MEDIAMorocco, 11th MATA Equestrian (horse-riding) festival. Photo credit BXL-MEDIAMorocco, 11th MATA Equestrian (horse-riding) festival. Photo credit BXL-MEDIAMorocco, 11th MATA Equestrian (horse-riding) festival. Photo credit BXL-MEDIAMorocco, 11th MATA Equestrian (horse-riding) festival. Photo credit BXL-MEDIAMorocco, 11th MATA Equestrian (horse-riding) festival. Photo credit BXL-MEDIAMorocco, 11th MATA Equestrian (horse-riding) festival. Photo credit BXL-MEDIA
There were also a number of events on the menu, including an environmental awareness campaign and children’s games. Tributes were also paid to prominent figures from the worlds of culture, sport and civil society.
“This annual event celebrates an ancestral culture that expresses a rehabilitated sense of honour, a deep-rooted faith, patriotism as a Sufi school and spiritual and universal values; all the humanist heritage bequeathed by the great Quotb Moulay Abdeslam Ibn Mashich to the Chorfas Alamiyines, the Tarika Mashichiya Shadhiliya and the inhabitants of this exceptional region,” says a press release from the Mata International Equestrian Festival and the Alamia Laaroussia Association for Social and Cultural Action.
Reading books, apart from enriching our vocabulary, our general culture and speech, transports us to other worlds and even takes us away from the real world in which we live for a little while. To read is so important, valuable and enjoyable that those who don’t I can only say that they don’t know what they are missing.
Reading, unlike watching TV, develops our imagination, makes us think, reason, have a logical and coherent thought. In general, the benefits of reading books are so many that I recommend you grab a book right now and start this magical process.
As I already mentioned reading books gives us a lot and the benefits are really quite. In the following lines, I will consider the most important of them.
• Knowledge and Information: Books are a rich source of knowledge and information. They cover a wide range of topics and subjects, allowing readers to learn about different cultures, historical events, scientific concepts, personal development, and much more. Reading expands your understanding of the world and provides lifelong learning opportunities.
• Mental stimulation: Reading is a mentally stimulating activity that engages your brain. It improves cognitive abilities such as critical thinking, analysis and problem solving. Improves vocabulary, language skills and improves memory and concentration. Regular reading can help keep your mind sharp and active.
• Emotional and mental well-being: Books can have a positive impact on emotional and mental well-being. Reading can be a form of escapism, providing a break from everyday stress and worries. It can transport you to different worlds, evoke emotions and offer a sense of relaxation and inner peace. Reading can also provide inspiration, motivation and personal growth, helping you gain new perspectives and insights into life.
• Vocabulary and language skills: Regular reading exposes you to a wide range of words, phrases and sentence structures, which expands your vocabulary and improves your language skills. It helps you develop a better understanding of grammar, sentence construction and writing styles. This in turn improves your communication skills both verbally and in writing.
• Empathy and understanding: Reading fiction, in particular, helps develop empathy and understanding for others. Through stories and characters, readers can gain insight into different perspectives, cultures, and experiences. It promotes empathy, compassion and the ability to relate to others in real life.
• Stress reduction and relaxation: Engaging with a good book can be an excellent way to relax and reduce stress. It provides an escape from everyday pressures and offers a form of entertainment and relaxation. Reading before bed can also help improve sleep quality.
• Enhanced creativity: Reading can stimulate creativity and imagination. When you read, you visualize scenes, characters, and settings in your mind, creating a unique mental experience. It can inspire and fuel your own creative endeavors, whether it’s writing, art, or problem solving in a variety of fields.
• Cultural and social understanding: Books expose readers to different cultures, traditions and perspectives, promoting a better understanding and appreciation of diversity. They can promote tolerance, inclusion and a sense of global citizenship.
• Example for your children: when you read books, your children have a wonderful example and who knows, one day they may fall in love with reading themselves.
All in all, reading books provides a really wide range of benefits that contribute to personal growth, knowledge acquisition, mental well-being and intellectual development. It is a wholesome and enriching activity that can be enjoyed by people of all ages.
How does reading books stimulate our mind?
Reading books stimulates the brain in several ways, involving different cognitive processes and neural networks. Here’s how reading stimulates our minds:
• Mental Visualization: When you read a book, especially fiction, your brain creates mental images of the scenes, characters, and settings described in the text. This visualization process activates the visual cortex and enhances your imagination and creativity.
• Language processing: Reading involves decoding and understanding written language. Your brain processes words, sentence structures, and grammar, which improves language processing skills and increases your ability to understand and use language effectively.
• Cognitive engagement: Reading requires active mental engagement. As you read, you interpret and analyze the information presented in the text, make connections with your prior knowledge, and form mental representations of the content. This cognitive processing stimulates critical thinking, problem-solving and analytical skills.
• Memory and recall: Reading books challenges your memory as you recall details about characters, plot lines and events. Your brain makes associations and connections between the different elements of the story, strengthening memory and recall abilities. Recalling information from previous parts of the book also improves your working memory capacity.
• Focus and concentration: Reading books requires constant attention and concentration. It requires you to focus on the text, follow the narrative, and maintain engagement for extended periods. Regular reading can improve your ability to concentrate and sustain attention in other areas of life as well.
• Empathy and theory of mind: Reading fiction, especially stories that delve into the inner lives of characters, can improve empathy and theory of mind—the ability to understand and infer the thoughts, emotions, and intentions of others. By immersing yourself in different perspectives and experiences, you develop a deeper understanding of human behavior and emotions.
• Neuroplasticity and brain connectivity: Engaging in reading exercises the brain and promotes neuroplasticity – the brain’s ability to reorganize and form new neural connections. It strengthens existing neural pathways and creates new ones, improving overall brain connectivity and cognitive flexibility.
• Emotional and sensory activation: Reading can elicit emotional responses and engage the sensory areas of the brain. The descriptions of smells, sounds and emotions in books can activate the corresponding areas of the brain, making the reading experience more vivid and immersive.
By stimulating these cognitive processes and neural networks, reading books improves brain function, enhances cognitive abilities, and contributes to lifelong learning and mental well-being. The more you read and challenge your brain with varied content, the more you reap the cognitive benefits of reading.
Illustrative Photo by Aline Viana Prado: https://www.pexels.com/photo/person-holding-a-book-2465877/
