Fez - Interest in integrating media in the Moroccan educational curriculum has grown recently. In fact, with the phenomenal speed of technological advancement that modern societies witnessed during the mid-twentieth century, Morocco has found itself obligated to not miss the train of change, especially in the field of education. In this respect, the Moroccan White Book, an official document that addresses the country’s curriculum, notes: “the Moroccan educational curriculum can be considered as a mirror which reflects the dynamic changes that take place in society” (2002, p.2).

This fact has raised a very concerning question among Moroccan syllabus designers about whether or not to integrate media in schools. The controversies over this issue often revolve around if media can be considered an academic discipline. However, given the fact that schools must keep up with the dynamic changes that occur in society, integrating media in the curriculum has become crucial to education. In this respect, several questions arise as to what Media Education is, what are the reasons behind integrating it in schools, how should it be taught once it is integrated in the curriculum,and finally how should it be assessed?

Media education is the type of education that aims to make individuals media literate. It goes beyond Information Communication Technologies in that it is more humanistic by virtue of its focus on the learners’ needs. That is to say, students should be educated and made aware of the nature, techniques, and impacts of media texts and messages. The assumption behind raising such media awareness is that media texts often contain subliminal messages that serve to transmit the ideology of its owners in a very subtle way.

Evidence for integrating this type of education in the Moroccan educational curriculum in general and the English Language Teaching Curriculum in particular can be found in an English lesson entitled “Mass media shapes our view of the world”, under a unit referred to as “mass media” in the first year Baccalaureate textbook entitled “Ticket to English” (for further examples, see “The Extraction of Values from Moroccan Textbooks (2011)”. In general, becoming media-wise, so to speak, decreases the likelihood of being affected by media ideologies. Becoming media literate is not only restricted to deciphering media texts, but it also includes producing one’s own media. In short, media education is about developing young people’s critical and creative abilities.

As a matter of fact, enhancing critical thinking, bringing the world into the classroom, and developing global citizenship are deemed to be the major reasons behind integrating media studies in the Moroccan curriculum. In order to understand and evaluate media texts, students should have the skill of critical thinking. In other words, students should not take anything for granted; they should question everything they hear or read from the media. Media is said to bring the world into the classroom in that it serves as a bridge between people and information from all over the world, regardless of the constraints of time and place. Last but not least, media education can also develop students who are global citizens; that is, students who are not governed by their own culture but are open to all the cultures of the world.

The next question that raises concerns is the method of teaching media in the classroom. Teaching media education can be accomplished by using several techniques. It is sometimes said that the best way to teach media is by using media itself. In the same vein, the Moroccan National Charter for Education and Training (2000, p. 48) has pointed out:

“… la technologie pédagogique joue un rôle determinant et croissant dans les systèmes et méthodes d’enseignement…”

[“…Educational technology plays a crucial role in the teaching methodology…”]

It is through exposure to different Information and Communications Technology (ICT) materials that students can learn more effectively how to use and create media products. Furthermore, the textbooks that constitute the necessary resources for any teaching course are, in fact, different types of media, namely that of print media. There is also computer-based instruction, where students can learn more effectively and more easily through synchronous or asynchronous ways in very interactive virtual learning environments.

One equally important aspect of education that constitutes the fourth component of the curriculum, in addition to the purposes, content, and methodology, is that of assessment. Nowadays, we speak of what is called “computer based assessment”, or the type of assessment that goes beyond the traditional pencil and pen exams. The purpose behind these computer-based tests is to assess students’ technological competency, which is considered a transversal competency within the competency-based approach to education, in addition to strategic competency, cultural competency, methodological competency, and communication competency. In a word, the different techniques used for media education can add a new dimension to teaching-learning operations.

All in all, media has become a part of our daily lives. Therefore, media education should be integrated in any curriculum that claims to be learner-centered and goes along with the dynamic changes in our societies.

References:

M.E.N, (2000).The National Charter for Education and Training. Retrieved May 16, 2015 from www.men.gov.ma .

M.E.N (2002).The White Book. Retrieved May 16, 2015 from www.men.gov.ma.

M.E.N, (2011). The Extraction of Values from Moroccan Textbooks. PP.127-140. Retrieved March 04, 2015 from www.men.gov.ma .

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By Abderrahmane Boulmani

Tantan - Psychology has approached man from many different angles. In this essay, I will focus on the outstanding psychological approaches to human development, namely Piaget’s cognitive development, Erikson’s social development, and Kohlberg’s moral development.

At the heart of Piaget’s theory are three major facets:

- Genetic: higher processes come from biological mechanisms.

- Hierarchical: all the stages must undergo a given order before any subsequent stages are possible.

- Maturational: man goes through invariant stages in the development of his nervous system.

Although cognitive development is genetic, it is also affected by many other integrated factors, such as education, culture, and the environment. The environment is the first influencer; children try to understand their surroundings very early in life through two different techniques. Assimilation, the first of the two, takes place using pre-existing schemata to understand a new piece of information. During accommodation, the child relates new experiences to old ones and changes concepts accordingly.

Throughout life, cognition develops in four stages:

Sensory motor stage:

The infant combines the sensory experiences with the motor actions to give sense to what surrounds him; this step is divided into six sub-stages: reflexive schema, primary circular reactions, secondary circular reactions, coordinating secondary circular reactions, tertiary circular reactions and inner representation.

Pre-operational stage: 

Also subdivided to two sub-stages. The first is the pre-conceptual sub-stage, which lasts from ages 2 to 4, remarked by the usage of language that allows for the formation of a mental representation of the things the child does not see directly in front of him, a process called object permanence. The second stage is intuitive thought, which is remarked by the child’s will to have answers to every question asked.

Concrete operational stage: 

Concrete objects are of vital importance in the formulation of hypotheses.

Formal operational stage:

Children who reach this stage are able to operate many subtle levels of reasoning.

Different from Piaget, Erikson has tackled human development from the moral dimension. In his book, childhood and society, he suggests that we face a specific psychological dilemma at each stage of life. Success in resolving the problem results in healthy development, whereas a failed resolution results in a rocky life. He suggests several different stages in man’s life:

Trust Vs Mistrust (first year of life): the child is totally dependent on others to form his basic attitude. Trust is established when the child is given adequate love and physical care.

Autonomy Vs Shame and Doubt: children develop self-control through touching, climbing, etc. Parents help their children when they encourage them to try new skills. Regardless of knowing that first attempts at new skills almost always fail, parents should not offer over-protection to ensure the proper development of the child’s autonomy.

Initiative Vs Guilt: through play, the child undertakes and carries out multiple tasks. Parents should take the initiative in their child’s development by giving the child more time to play, more opportunities to ask questions and use their imagination, or else the child may suffer from an emotional handicap.

Industry Vs Inferiority: the age at which the child enters school is highly important; it is essentially the entrance to social life and status; both success and failure start here.

Adolescence—Identity Vs Role Confusion: In this period, the adolescent is always trying to answer the question, “who am I?” It is in this stage that mental and physical maturation bring new feelings and attitudes, which is why they feel a need to build their own self-image out of self-representation and relationships with others. Those that fail in this stage consequentially suffer from role confusion.

Young adulthood—Intimacy Vs Isolation: after building his identity, man seeks to share a meaningful life and love through intimacy. Failure in this stage causes isolation.

Middle adulthood—Generativity Vs Stagnation): people in this stage are driven by the need to guide the next generation. This can be achieved by guiding one’s own children or others by taking the position of teachers, coaches, etc .If this is not attained, the person is only concerned with himself.

Late adulthood—Integrity Vs Despair: the above stages are of a great deal of importance to stamp this stage .If one lives responsibly, he develops a sense of integrity that allows him to face aging and death with dignity, but when the previous years are viewed with regret, the person feels despair. To these people life is nothing but a missed opportunity, and because of this death and aging are the source of fear and despair.

Through his case studies, the American Kohlberg proves that people face moral dilemmas in their lives and suggests solutions to overcome them. His research shows that there are different types of reasoning according to age. Kohlberg has developed classifications with three levels of moral development:

Pre conventional level: moral thinking is determined by consequences of action (rewards or punishment).

Conventional level: Our actions are directed by the desire to conform to socially accepted expectations or values.

Post conventional level: behavior is directed by one’s principles.

As far as teaching is concerned, teachers should try their best to adapt these theories and put them into practice. Unfortunately, this is not the case in Morocco. I have conversed with many middle school teachers who astounded me with their lack of or very little knowledge about education, always on the defensive that teaching is all an art, something I could not deny. But education is also a science— if it weren’t, what would be the use of the literature that has been developed?

The above theories must have some practicality to Moroccan middle classes. According to Piagetian theory, students only learn when they are active. As teachers, we should not present all information directly to students, but we must instead guide and give them a chance to explore ideas on their own. In addition, we have to know the age and mental stage of our students. Most of the time the stage is concrete operational, thus concrete objects are still of vital importance to teach new concepts. Equally important, teachers should believe that students are not empty vessels, rather that they come with pre-existing schemata that should be taken into account.

Social and moral development can also be applied to our classes. However, they don’t frankly state much to this application. While I was reading these theories, my attention was attracted by many cues, namely initiative, guilt, inferiority, and role confusion (Erikson’s social development), pre-conventional, conventional, and post- conventional levels (Kohlberg’s moral development).

Students like to take the initiative in the class and intervene doing an activity (presentations) and so forth. Here, the teacher should reinforce this by giving students freedom to ask any questions and express themselves freely, motivating them to be active learners. Unfortunately, I see that the case is totally the opposite— the teachers know nothing but criticize the student’s interventions. To these teachers, I want to say that they run the risk of turning our students’ initiative into guilt and inferiority.

Furthermore, I like to remind our teachers that adolescents are very sensitive; they are troubled to identify who they are. Sometimes, they believe that they are only what they contribute to the class or how their relationship is with others, such as teachers and classmates. So, when the teacher is hard on them, they think they are disliked (according to Maslow, love is very important) and to regain love they copy either the teacher’s personality or that of classmates they perceive as more favored. This will inevitably cause role confusion or a split personality. As far as their morals are concerned, I like to say that middle school students only check to conform to the society and satisfy others. Thus, a heavy burden is placed on the teachers’ shoulders to objectively implant their beliefs in their students' minds and educate them while paying attention not to interfere into the borders of their identity.

References:

Child, Dennis (1981). Psychology and the teacher (3rd ed). Holt, Rinehart and Winston, London

Coon, Dennis. Introduction to Psychology: Exploration and Application. St. Paul: West Pub., 1986. Print.

Kangran Jerome & Cynthia Lang (1978).

Abderrahmane Boulmani is a teacher of English in Tantan, Sothern Morocco. He holds a B.A in English studies from faculty of letter and human sciences at the University of Ibn Zoher, Agadir. He is interested in cultural and social studies. He writes and advocates for the Amazigh cause. (abderrahmane.boulmani@yahoo.com)

Edited by Sara Gomez

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Rabat- The organizing committee of Miss Morocco 2015 has reportedly assigned bodyguards to protect this year's 27 finalists from sexual harassment.

Amid fears they might be prone to harassment, the organizers of the second edition of Morocco's beauty pageant have decided that contestants be assigned security.

According to daily newspaper Al Akhbar in its Tuesday, May 19th issue, contestants had experienced sexual harassment from some Gulf customers inside the hotel where they are currently staying ahead of the competition's final scheduled for Saturday, May23rd, in Tangiers.

Being in the same place with 27 beauties, hotel customers, mainly from the Gulf States, are said to be seizing any opportunity to flirt with this year's Miss Morocco contestants.

The same source said several bodyguards have been mobilized to escort the twenty-seven finalists in their preparations for the beauty pageant.

The organizers of the Miss Morocco pageant have also declared that there would be no bikinis this year "out of respect of the country's ethics".

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Rabat - The Moroccan pilot whose F-16 warplane crashed in Yemen has been found dead and his body returned home on Tuesday, May 19th.

According to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), the body of 26-year-old First Lieutenant Yassine Bahti was transferred to Morocco.

"Since the first moments of the crash, a team from the Saudi defense ministry, its Moroccan counterpart and [the International Committee of] the Red Cross was formed to locate the body of the martyr,” the SPA said.

"Once the body was located, his family had requested it to be flown to Morocco and it was flown to Morocco through Djibouti," the source added.

SPA said Saudi Defense Minister and Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman ordered "that the Moroccan martyr be treated the same as a Saudi martyr, financially and morally."

According to local media reports, Bahti will be given military funeral honors at the Ben Guerir Air Base near Marrakech. His body will be transferred to Casablanca where he will be laid to rest.

Wreckage of the Moroccan F-16 was found in the Saada area of northern Yemen, a stronghold of the Iran-backed Houthi militia.

The Saudi-led coalition has said a technical fault or human error caused the crash, denying reports that Houthi fire brought down the plane.

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Rabat- After three years of dispute over copyright law, global protests, and several deaths, the appeals court of San Francisco finally ruled that the YouTube ban over Innocence of Muslims, an American film under fire for controversial anti-islamic content, should be removed.

Controversy sprouted from a released trailer of the movie, where actress Cindy Lee Garcia seems to ask if the Prophet is a child molester. Garcia claims to never have uttered the inflammatory line—she says she was tricked into appearing in the film and that the line was then dubbed over her voice.

In February 2014, Google was ordered to remove the movie from YouTube. Before the ruling of the court, the giant American company had contented that removing “Innocence of Muslims” would be “unconstitutional”.

Google commented on the matter, saying, “We’re pleased with this latest ruling. We have long believed that the previous ruling was a misapplication of copyright law.”

The previous ruling had removed the film entirely from YouTube, and it is still uncertain whether it will be reposted or kept off of the website, although the court ruled that Garcia has no legal backing for its removal, even after receiving multiple death threats.

The films, which depicts Prophet Muhammed as a fool and sexually neurotic individual, has sparked a worldwide outrage upon its release in 2012.

The way in which Muslims are portrayed in the film was behind the deadly attacks that targeted the US embassy in Libya in September, which resulted in the death of American Ambassador, Chris Stevens.

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Rabat - A former congressional candidate in Tennessee could face up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine for plotting an assault on a mosque in New York, according to news agencies.

Robert Doggart has admitted to plotting to burn down an upstate New York small mosque following a Facebook posting in which he alleged a community outside of Hancock, New York, was planning a terrorist attack and "must be utterly destroyed."

"We shall be Warriors who will inflict horrible numbers of casualties upon the enemies of our Nation and World Peace," he posted on Facebook.

Doggart also plotted to use an assault rifle "with 500 rounds of ammunition" against anyone who tried to stop him, according to court documents.

He also said in cell phone communications that he plans to form a militia to attack Islamberg, a self-named small Muslim community located in Hancock, New York, about 209 km northwest of New York City.

"Those guys (ought or have) to be killed. Their buildings need to be burnt down. If we can get in there and do that not losing a man, even the better," Doggart said during a phone call with an informant, according to court papers.

Doggart made a failed bid for congress in 2014 as an independent. He was released on $30,000 bail.

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Rabat- Hachim Mastour, AC Milan’s midfielder, has reportedly welcomed his inclusion on the list of players called to play on head coach Badou Ezzaki’s Morocco’s national team, according to Hesport.

Mastour is among the 30 players the Moroccan coach called ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations first qualifying match against Libya, scheduled to take place on June 12 in Agadir, in southern Morocco.

One of Mastour’s relatives told Hesport that the Moroccan young player is ready to play for the Morocco and put an end to the speculation on which national team he would eventually choose.

Since entering the spotlights a few years ago, Italian and Moroccan observers have wondered whether the Moroccan player will play for Italy or Morocco.

It seems that the player has taken his time to reflect on his decision and has learned from the experience of other promising players who faced similar situations in recent years.

According to the same source, Moroccan-Spanish player Mounir Haddadi affected Mastour’s decision. Haddadi decided to play for Spain, only for Spanish coach Vicente Del Bosque to leave him off the team after he played his first official match with the Spanish squad.

The other factor that allegedly influenced Mastour’s decision is the fate of several Brazilian players who decided to play for the Italian squad and were sidelined after they played for the first time, killing any hope for them to represent their home country.

The same source added that the Moroccan player is waiting for the Moroccan Football Federation to send a formal request to AC Milan so he can officially declare his intention to play for Morocco.

Mastour became a household name in 2013 after British sports website Footballbettingodds.co.uk named him the world’s top rising stars on a list of 100 rising football players.

The young Moroccan started his career with Reggina before his transfer to AC Milan in 2012 for a world-record teenage transfer, worth 500,000 euros.

The player, who will turn 17 next June, made his debut on AC Milan’s first squad in May 2014.

“He has the quality of Robinho, the professionalism of Kaka, and the natural ability of Ballotelli,” Milan’s former coach Massimiliano Allegri was quoted saying about Mastour.

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Rabat - The night unfolds as it usually does for these four women. After putting on makeup and changing into their skimpy dresses, the girls head out to find their next prey.

They hail a taxi and step in, and then "the boss" begins lecturing her disciples over Khaliji music in the background. "Today I want you to show your asses, your legs and lips, understood?" The taxi driver looks over, shocked. "What are you looking at? I am a whore and I am vulgar. What do you expect me to say?"

This shocking portrayal of four prostitutes in the city of Marrakech is the plotline of Nabil Ayouch's newest film. "Much Loved (Zine li Fik)" is a social drama that portrays the daily life of four marginalized women prostitutes in the city of Marrakech, Randa, Nouha, Soukaina, and Hlima.

In an earlier interview with American magazine "Variety", Ayouch said he began researching the topic 18 months ago, initially interviewing more than 100 prostitutes in Casablanca, Rabat and Tangier, talking about their personal backgrounds and what led them onto prostitution.

Although the film is based on the real life of prostitutes in Morocco, it is still appalling to the general public. After two clips of the film were posted to YouTube over the weekend, the controversy over the vulgarity of the film began.

In the same taxi scene, the head prostitute implores God for a nice handsome Saudi with a small [penis] and a lot of money so she can have a nice night. In the second clip, the prostitutes are shown dancing at a party in front of men from the Gulf countries. In a tight black dress that barely covers her flesh, one of the girls competes with the others for the attention of the men by dancing seductively in the middle of the dance floor. The "panel of judges" watches the girls eagerly as they make their pick.

Nabil Ayouch’s film “Much Loved” was picked to feature in the lineup of the Director’s Fortnight at Cannes Film Festival (AKA la Quinzaine des Réalisateurs).

The two clips have already come under fire, generating over 1600 dislikes from viewers on YouTube over the course of three days. In contrast, the clips only have 500 likes combined.

In the comments section below the videos, there is a polarized debate between those praising the film's accurate portrayal of the prostitute's life and those against its crudeness. The latter claims that the film goes against the ethics of the Moroccan society.

By Tarik ElBarakah and Sara Gomez

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Rabat - American pop star Madona created a buzz after she posted on Saturday on her Instagram a controversial photo of a Jewish and a Muslim man face to face, seemingly about to kiss.

The caption of the posts reads, "This image is ????. ??#rebelhearts," a reference to her recent studio album, "Rebel Heart."

The post sparked a flurry of comments, ranging from angry users who criticized Madona’s implication of religious aspects in this homosexual photograph, to others commending the photo as “a positive message of love.”

This image is ????. ??#rebelheartsA photo posted by Madonna (@madonna) on May 17, 2015 at 3:24pm PDT

Some Instagram users called the photo “disgusting” and “offensive to both religions.”

Another user commented, “Islam doesn't support homosexuality and if someone doesn't like that then they don't have to be Muslim. It’s that's simple.”

According to the Huffington post, “the original photo was taken last year by photographer Ziv Sade for Drek, a Tel Aviv-based group that organizes gay parties.”

Ziv Sade posted the photo on his Instagram with special thanks to Madonna for sharing his image, adding, "And let freedom win <3."

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By Ouassima Boujrad

Ifrane – Oussama Elkhairi AKA PerixStep is a rising artist at Al Akhawayn University Ifran.

The 18-year-old Moroccan dancer known as PerixStep is full of sensation on and off the stage. Perixstep is praised for his stunning performances among the AUI community and spends the rest of his time as a passionate student at Al Akhawayn University.

Al Akhawayn University Ifran is small but houses a diverse community. It is a place with a new story to tell every day, a new life to live, and a new connection to make. Not only is there excellence in education, but there is also beauty in student life hobbies and extra-curricular activities. The university is known for supporting young dreamers in their educational life, personal passions, and future career goals.

Inspired by Marquese Scott, Oussama started his dancing career by performing a set of animated, robotic and jazz dance movements under genres of music like dubstep. “PerixStep,” his stage name, is also the name given to the kind of dances he performs. Born and raised in Rabat, Oussama has reached his dream of becoming a celebrity among the AUI community, the place where he first discovered and improved his dancing skills.

A huge buzz surrounding his latest performance in the 2015 AUI Talent Show has made him one of the most demanded celebrities in the AUI. The AUI Talent Show is a yearly show that showcases the hobbies and hidden talents of AUI students and gives them the opportunity to publicly express themselves through singing, dancing, rapping or playing a musical instrument. It is one of the important events in AUI that shows how talented its students, such as Oussama, are.

Oussama El Khairi happily accepted our invitation for an interview with him.

MWN: Now that your dancing abilities are so advanced, everyone wants to know how and where they began.

Oussama: My dancing career began when I joined Al Akhawayn University in 2013. Soon after enrolling in school, I met some dancers that showed me different dancing techniques. , One of them was Azhar Sistorms, who is also an AUI student and one of the most well known young Hip-Hop dancers in Morocco. I say that she is one of the best female dancers I've ever met. Although I had been dancing before joining AUI, I did not have much knowledge about the structure and the techniques that make up a memorable dance performance. After some dance rehearsals, I considered what the students taught me and re-performed their techniques with my own style; the style that I feel more comfortable with. Well, I don’t follow the given “guidelines” exactly as I learned them, but I guess that is what makes me unique and different from everybody else when it comes to dancing. I try to put creativity into my dances to make them uniquely mine.

MWN: When did you decide to share your talent with the public? 

Oussama: I was constantly attending the different dancing classes offered by some clubs in the University, where I got to know some professional dancers. It was actually Azhar who convinced me to participate in the AUI’s talent show managed by the SAO (Student Activities Office). It was crazy. That was when the Al Akhawayn community discovered my talent. After that, I began to get invited to perform in different events at multiple clubs.

MWN: You already mentioned that Marquese Scott was the reason you started dancing for the first time. Is he still your ultimate inspiration?

Oussama: Marquese is a legend because he took the dancing industry to a new, higher level and I really respect him, but I don’t think that he’s my ultimate inspiration. My dance crew, House of Touch, (international online dance crew) and I try to inspire each other as much as we can. We have different styles and come from all over the world, yet we all have the same goal and function as a family. So, House of Touch is my ultimate inspiration, if I may say so. Shout out to them by the way! (laughs.)

MWN: How do you feel when you perform? You look deeply concentrated on the stage.

Oussama: When I’m on stage, I just focus on the music and whichever beat is coming up next. That sounds insane, but you feel like you are dancing alone in a place you have never been to before. When performing, nothing else matters besides that moment when you are dancing. That is how it feels like.

MWN: What are your intentions while performing such dances?

Oussama: I always tend to tell a story. My movements are a series of events that form a story. My greatest performances are the ones where I am strongly connected with the chosen music. In these dances, the combination of body movements, facial expressions and music all form the artful story. If I’m dancing on a song that I don't connect with, then the dance will not tell a story. It's all about the way in which I project my feelings to the audience.

MWN: Do you have any vision for the future? Would you ever consider participating in a dancing competition?

Oussama: Well, I am not interested in competing in a talent show or a battle competition if that’s what you mean, at least for now. Concerning my future plans, I am currently working on my first collection of dancing videos that I’ll upload to YouTube soon.

MWN: What does it feel like to be a dancer?

Oussama: To be honest, I really feel blessed and proud to be a dancer, and I’m extremely grateful for the people who helped me show up out of nowhere.

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Rabat - Morocco organized military funerals to honor first Lieutenant Yassine Bahti, who died following the crash of his F-16 warplane in Yemen.

The ceremony was presided by Bouchaib Arroub, inspector general of the FAR and commander of the southern zone upon the instruction of King Mohammed VI, Supreme Commander and Chief of General Staff of the Royal Armed Forces (FAR).

According to a statement from the Royal Armed Forces carried by Maghreb Arab Press (MAP), the military funeral honors took place on Wednesday at the Sale Air Base. The funeral ceremonies were also marked by the presence of Abdelatif Loudiyi, Minister Delegate for national defense.

"Yassine Bahti was martyred while fulfilling his military duty in the framework of Morocco's participation in the Arab coalition to restore legitimacy in Yemen," the statement said.

In the presence of Bahti's family and civilian and military figures, a funeral oration was delivered by an officer of his unit in the memory of the deceased.

King Mohammed VI has also decided to take charge of the funeral and burial of the pilot at Shuhada cemetery in Casablanca, the statement added.

The body of the Moroccan pilot arrived in Morocco on Tuesday following a successful mediation by Moroccan-British national Jamal Benomar, former United Nations Secretary General’s Special Adviser on Yemen.

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Rabat - General Abdelaziz Bennani died Wednesday in Rabat after several months of palliative care.

Born in 1935 in Taza, the four-star general was between 27 July 2004 and 13 June 2014, the General Inspector of the Royal Armed Forces. He had been hospitalized in the Val de Grace Hospital in Paris in 2014 due to health problems.

He was replaced as the Inspector General of the Moroccan army and commander of the southern zone, by General Bouchaib Arroub.

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By Sara Gomez

Rabat - During my travels over the past seven years, I’ve realized a few things. One of those is that life is fluid. Like water, life runs through filters, sewers, down bumpy roads and in waves of all strengths and sizes. Through it all, it changes a bit.

Yet, it is still water.

The train my cousin takes to school in Medellin, Colombia takes a longer route than the bus I take to school does, the smell of the coffee my grandmother in Mexico City makes for breakfast is stronger than the instant coffee packets I sprinkle into a mug of water every morning, and the light bulb that illuminates my side of the room in my host home here in Rabat, Morocco, is a tad bit more fluorescent than the one in my bedroom in Florida.

Life is different all around, but if we squint our eyes tightly enough, it’s easy to see that there are many similarities connecting seemingly opposite ways of life together. These similarities exist to remind us that we’re all living on the same planet, after all.

One of the similarities between life in Morocco and what I’ve experienced of life in South and North America is the importance placed on greetings and goodbyes. In South America and Morocco, it is customary to greet each other with a kiss on the cheek, although two, three, or even four are more typical in Moroccan culture. In Colombia and Mexico, women greet each other and men with kisses and men typically shake hands or exchange a soft hug, depending on the level of friendship and comfort between the two.

Everyone gets the kiss in Morocco—though I’ve also noticed a few handshakes between businessmen in a professional setting.

In North America, however, I’m always faced with a decision to make when meeting someone new: should I kiss him or her on the cheek like I was raised, in my Hispanic household, to do? Or would a hug be more appropriate? Most people go for a hug when first meeting someone new, so the usual outcome of a kiss on the cheek is a surprised expression, nervous laughter, and an uncomfortable first impression for the one doing the kissing.

 I am sure Moroccan’s would have a lot of awkward moments in the United States, as would an American in Morocco. Moroccans in Colombia or Mexico, however—now that would be a fantastic fusion of three similar, yet extremely unique cultures. I presume a Moroccan, a Colombian, and a Mexican would have a blast in the kitchen. Moroccan cuisine is similar to that of traditional Colombian and Mexican dishes, yet almost completely different from the food in the states. You won’t find a McDonalds or Wendy’s on every street corner in Mexico, Colombia, or Morocco like you will in the United States. In fact, I’ve only seen one McDonalds in the city since I’ve been here, and it looked almost more out of place than I do.

Like most Hispanic food, Moroccan food is based around a heavy usage of fruits and vegetables. Instead of ordering a Diet Coca Cola or a Dr. Pepper like one would in the states, Hispanics and Moroccans tend to accompany their meals with juice made from fresh fruits and vegetables, such as carrots, peach, avocado, and oranges. Not to mention the tea! This is one specialty that undeniably belongs solely to Morocco, and rightly so. Tea, specifically mint, is served at almost any occasion, with any meal, at any time of the day. It’s traditional for a reason, like Colombian coffee and Mexican chili peppers; it’s one of a kind. Mexican and Moroccan meals are incomplete without spices. The spices used in both countries are, of course, different, but that’s what makes them unique to each cuisine. The only “spices” used frequently in American cuisine are salt and pepper, accompanied with other bland ingredients such as cornmeal and potatoes, unlike Hispanic and Moroccan dishes which are full of both flavor and nutrition.

I could go on forever about the many similarities and differences between these four countries which I have at some point called my home, but I must mention the most distinct difference of all: the people. Colombians are loud and festive—always laughing about something, usually animating their conversations with Colombian sayings that have existed for generations and will be passed down through their children and younger family members. Mexicans are stern and warm—protective over what’s theirs, affectionate toward loved ones, and always down for a hearty meal with family. Moroccans are friendly, welcoming, intelligent, and complex human beings with more history behind them than ever imaginable. Americans are patriotic and multi-faceted: it is hard to define a culture that has taken so much from other ones, in both a negative and a positive way. One thing links these three cultures together, something that (in my opinion), American culture lacks: family values.

Hispanic and Moroccan traditions revolve around spending time with family—whether its at the dinner table, after or before school, and even during their entire lifetime, the physical bond between a Hispanic or Moroccan family is a very significant one. As an American who grew up in a Hispanic household, I’ve experienced both sides of the coin.

Admittedly, I’ve also played for both teams. I left home for college, something almost unimaginable among my extended family living in Colombia or Mexico. I traveled to Morocco by myself, something that was highly rejected by my traditional parents (at first! I think they’re happy about it now.) But I’ve also spent New Years Eve at home with my parents and sister, carrying out traditional Hispanic traditions such as eating twelve grapes at midnight and wearing yellow underwear for happiness, peace, luck, and wealth in the New Year, while my American friends were out partying with each other. I’ve visited family and spent countless days doing simple things like watching soccer with my grandfather while the people back home went backpacking throughout Europe together. During my childhood, while all my friends were having sleepovers that I wasn’t allowed to attend, my mom was tucking me into bed, and now we’re best friends. Meanwhile, some of my friends struggle to talk to their parents about things as simple as stress at school or work.

While American individualism is beneficial in terms of educational opportunities, career paths, and personal “freedom,” without a tightknit family like those found in Moroccan and Hispanic households, these American luxuries are hard to enjoy.

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Casablanca  - King Mohammed VI appointed, Wednesday in the Royal Palace of Casablanca, new ministers.

The new ministers are Mohand Laenser, Minister of Youth and Sports, Driss Merroun, Minister of Urbanism and Town Planning, Abdelaziz El Omari, Minister for Relations with Parliament and Civil Society, Khalid Barjaoui, Minister Delegate to the Minister of National Education and Vocational Training, and Jamila El Moussalli, Minister Delegate to the Minister of Higher Education, Scientific Research and Executive Training.

On this occasion, the newly appointed ministers were sworn in before the King.

The audience was attended by Government Chief Abdelilah Benkirane, Minister of Endowments and Islamic Affairs, Ahmed Toufiq, Minister of National Education and Vocational Training, Rachid Belmokhtar, Minister of Higher Education, Scientific Research and Executive Education, Lahcen Daoudi, and HM the King’s Chamberlain Sidi Mohammed El Alaoui.

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Rabat- King Mohammed VI appointed, Wednesday in the Royal Palace of Casablanca, four new ministers of the third version of the Benkirane government. The King has appointed some unfamiliar faces and shuffled named another to a new post.

In addition to Mohand Laenser, former Minister of Urbanism, who replaced Mohammed Ouzzine as the new Minister of Youth and Sports, the Moroccan monarch appointed four new ministers who will serve alongside Abdelilah Benkirane in government.

Here are the profiles of the new Ministers

Driss Merroun

He was appointed Minister of Urbanism and Town Planning, replacing Mohand Laenser. A trained engineer, Merroun is currently a member of the Popular Movement Party (MP) in the House of Councilors. He also served as the MP parliamentary group president in the second chamber. He is considered by his party as a “moderate and a man of dialogue.”

Khalid Barjaoui

He was appointed Minister Delegate to the Minister of National Education and Vocational Training. He will replace Abdeladim El Guerrouj. Born in Errachidia in 1966, Barjaoui is the dean of the faculty of juridical, economic and social sciences of Rabat-Souissi. In 2000, he earned a doctorate degree in law. He is also the author of several publications, including: "The private international law in matters of personal status", "Dissolution of marriage in Morocco, between the Moudawana and debate about change", "The marriage contract between the Moudawana and international conventions of human rights" and "The problem of Moudawana in Morocco between feminists and Islamists".

Jamila El Moussalli

A member of the Party of Justice and Development (PJD) has been appointed Minister Delegate to the Minister of Higher Education, Scientific Research and Executive Education, replacing Soumia Benkhaldoun. El Moussalli chairs the Moroccan-Venezuelan parliamentary friendship group in the House of Representatives. An academic by profession, she is a strong advocate for justice to Arab women, according to her Party. She began her political career in the early 1990s when she was elected as member of the General Secretariat of the PJD.

El Omari Abdelaziz

He was appointed Minister for Relations with Parliament and Civil Society, replacing El Habib Choubani who found himself in hot water after he asked for the hand of Soumia Benkhaldoun, outgoing Minister Delegate to the Minister of Higher Education, Scientific Research and Executive Education.

A communications engineer, El Omari was elected as member of the parliament in 2002 under the PJD banner. He is the head of the PJD office in Rabat. He also served as the PJD group president in the House of Representatives during the 2007 legislature.

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Rabat- Hachim Mastour, a Moroccan players who plays with AC Milan, expressed his happiness to be called up by the Badou Ezzaki, head coach of Morocco’s national team, ahead of of the African Cup of Nations first qualifying match against Libya next June 12 in Agadir.

“I am happy to join the Moroccan national team and it is something wonderful, even if I Played for Italy’s U-16 team,” he was quoted by Egypt’s Al Far Riaid as saying.

The Moroccan wonderkid came under the spotlight in recent years thanks to his dribbling ability, drawing the attention of European heavy weights, such as Real Madrid, Ajax Amsterdam and FC Barcelona.

A survey conducted by a British website in 2013 voted Mastour the world’s “most promising rising star.”

According to Tribal Football, Real Madrid have been in touch with Mastour’s agent since last January, while Ajax and Barcelona have been reportedly monitoring his development.

The player, who was included in AC Milan first squad in May 2014 at the age of 15, has been facing knee problems this season.

The Moroccan player appeared in a commercial with Red Bull and Nike where showed off his skills with Brazilian star Neymar.

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Rabat- Moroccan Myriam Adnani is poised to become the first Muslim female pilot in Europe. The Moroccan woman, who was born in the Netherlands, has just completed a course that allows her to become a commercial pilot.

The 23-year-old shared the news with her friends on her Facebook page.

“After almost two years I have completed the entire course to become a commercial pilot. From theory in Hoofddorp to flying in the U.S. and Belgium and the last course on the Boeing 737. I'm feeling so happy and blessed,” she said.

Myriam was born in July 1991 in the Netherlands, where she spent her school years until she joined Amsterdam’s Oxford Aviation Academy. The young woman also enrolled in a theoretical course in Hoofddorp in the Netherlands, as well as a training course in the United States and Belgium.

Myriam Adnani becomes the second Moroccan woman to enter history in this field, over sixty years after another Moroccan and Arab woman became a licensed pilot in the 1950s.

In 1952 while Morocco was still under the French protectorate, Touria Chaoui became the first Moroccan and Arab woman to become a pilot.

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Rabat - French-Moroccan director Nabil Ayouch has rallied to the defense of his newest film "Much Loved (Zine Li Fik)" which has suffered divided reviews.

The film, which is yet to be released in cinemas, is already the subject of some controversy in Morocco after several clips of the film were posted to YouTube. Over the last few days, some have criticized the film - which tells the story of four prostitutes in Marrakech - mainly for its crudeness and excessive use of vulgar language.

Now, director Nabil Ayouch is responding to his critics. Speaking to news website Hespress, Ayouch has urged Moroccans to refrain from judging his film based on clips made available on social media platforms. "I have many reasons that led me into talking about prostitution. Why do we choose to hide and state that it does not exist in Morocco? My role as a director is to ask questions and to contribute to the creation of a debate that could result in solutions to the phenomenon."

"I did not want to lie to people and give them something that does not resemble to their reality," Ayouch said. "My responsibility as a director is to cinematically show the negative and positive phenomena that exist in my society. I do not aim to link this phenomenon to Morocco, is does exist everywhere, the film carries a message beyond the limits of the country."

Ayouch added: "There are many ways to love your country, it is not necessary to describe your country as the most beautiful country in order to express this love, those who criticize some phenomena [in the country] can love it better than those who complement it all the time. A film about prostitution should not offend the country, if so, the same would have happened with crime and gang movies in America."

When asked if he thought about the film in terms of economic success rather than artistic accomplishment, Ayouch said: "The Moroccan people know very well the goals for which they go to the cinema; therefore, they will not go to the cinema only once they heard the film contains controversial scenes."

Photo courtesy: Much Loved - Zin li fik - de Nabil Ayouch/ Official Facebook Page

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By Zineb El Mechrafi

Rabat - What do you think these myths are? Tea and coffee lovers? Gossipers in the cafes? Crazy drivers?

Throughout the world, non-Moroccans have formed opinions about Moroccans —some are misguided viewpoints and others are somewhat more accurate. Have you ever wondered what the world thinks about Moroccans? Here are the top 10 m about Moroccans:

1. Moroccans are nomads roaming the desert on camels

FICTION. To a certain extent, a journey to the south of Morocco will take you to panoramic views of the sand dunes in the well-known Sahara desert. Yet, that only pertains to the southern regions like Zagora and Merzouga, where you can camel trek over the dunes and witness nature’s wonders and the locals’ way of life. It is indeed an experience that is well worth the effort and attracts people from all over the world.

2. Moroccans live in a desert oasis surrounded by palm trees

FICTION. Again, the southern part of the nation is what drives foreigners to paint Morocco with a single brush and think it is just a sandy exotic country with no industrial foundation. Though part of this stereotype is legitimate, one must realize that industrial cities like Casablanca, which is the largest city in the Maghreb and is also one of the largest and most economically and demographically important cities in Africa.. Indeed, leading Moroccan companies and international corporations have their headquarters and facilities in Morocco.

3. Moroccans are polygamists

FICTION. Religion plays an important role in this stereotype. Owing to recent legal restrictions imposed by the government of Morocco and western influences, polygamous marriage is practically nonexistent nowadays. According to various reports from visitors, Morocco is actually said to be one of the least accepting of polygamy in the Muslim world.

4. All Moroccan Women Wear the Hijab

Due to the fact that it is on of the most liberal/westernized country in the Arab world, dressing modestly is the norm in almost all parts of the country to avoid attracting attention. In big cities, seeing someone wearing the hijab is as common as not seeing it. Although in rural areas it is more common. In general, whether you are wearing the hijab or not, you are you have the legal freedom to make that choice. Part of wearing the hijab is fitting into the mold of traditional customs and as a sign of respect and faith. Moroccans coexist peacefully even if they don’t share the same perspective surrounding the hijab.

5. Moroccans always wear traditional clothes

FICTION. Morocco is a country well known for its flamboyant outfits and its fascinating heritage. It is rich in traditions, culture, history, and religion. These factors affect the way Moroccans dress, but only to a certain extent. For example, many sophisticated or foreign-educated Moroccan women have adopted European fashion styles and have opted out of the conservative clothes in urban cities. Of course, during special events, traditional clothes such as the caftan or djellaba are prevalent and are an important aspect of the culture. Although it is a Muslim-majority country, “western” women are not expected to dress like traditional native Moroccan women, as people in the capital and other major towns such as Marrakech are used to foreigners, and are therefore likely to be more liberal and more tolerant of western clothing.

6. Morocco is a patriarchal society

FICTION. There seems to be a common misconception that Morocco is a patriarchal society due to the fact that it is a Muslim-majority country. Recent socio-economic developments and rapidly changing lifestyles have shaken the foundations of a traditionally patriarchic society and led to a rise in matriarchal power. Gender gaps have severely decreased and gender roles have been redefined. Women’s financial autonomy has rearranged the Moroccan social scene due to the fact that women are now as independent and have as many rights as men, stripping men of their historical superiority. It is true that there are many things that this society needs to work on in terms of completely eliminating male dominance, but these immense changes taking place in Moroccan society recently are a big step toward achieving the goal.

7. Moroccans Can’t Speak Arabic

Moroccan Arabic (Darija) is based off of classical Arabic but was altered due to French, Spanish and English influences. Though it is somewhat different from other dialects, most Moroccans understand and speak conventional Arabic as it is widely taught in public schools.

8. Morocco is an unsafe Arab country

FICTION. The Arab world is often labeled as violent and unsafe without acknowledging that there are regions that are far from conflicts and war. To this day, Morocco retains a stable political environment and is varied geographically, from the tourist-friendly resorts on the Atlantic coast to the exotic medinas in the interior cities. The recent peaceful protests in Rabat and Casablanca that was part of the Arab Spring did not inhibit or deter the safety of the nation as a whole.

9. Morocco is a poor country

FICTION. Morocco is defined as a developing country that has capitalized on low-cost labor to build a diverse, profitable market. Recent years showed impressive economic growth despite of the European economic slowdown in 2012. The new infrastructure improvements are most visibly illustrated by a new port and free trade zone near Tangier which are improving Morocco's global competitiveness. Although still engaged in the process of decreasing the rural poverty rate, Morocco remains the top destination for foreign investors in the Maghreb region.

10. Moroccans are racists

FICTION. Morocco is a melting pot of ethnic groups that include Berbers, Sub-Saharan Africans, Europeans, and many others. There is a lot of diversity and tourism in the kingdom, and hospitality plays a major role in the culture. It is an essential element to our culture to be warm and welcoming to foreigners. For example, a commonly held belief is that a stranger would be fed and taken care of with the rationale that that same person offering the hospitality may have the same needs one day. It is said that one of the best ways to dive into the Moroccan culture is to strike up a conversation with the person sitting next to you at a local cafe. A simple conversation could lead to a lifelong friendship after you leave Morocco.

Nonetheless, just like any other nation in the world, racism is still an issue that needs to be dealt with, especially regarding immigrants seeking jobs and opportunities.

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By Sara Gomez

Rabat - Today’s youth holds a lot of power in its hands. The ideals, perceptions, and actions of today’s youth— who will someday become the doctors, activists, educators, politicians, and leaders of the earth— will formulate the design of the world for future generations.

For this reason, among others, it is important that influential factors in the development of the youths’ ideals, such as the media, lead them in the right direction toward an understanding and tolerant future.

In the UK, researchers have made some discoveries about where the minds and attitudes of British youth concerning immigration and Muslims may be heading, and they are quite alarming, to say the least.

The UK charity Show Racism the Red Card (SRTRC) surveyed 6000 children aged 10 to 16 in over 60 UK schools between 2012 and 2014. The data collected from the questionnaires revealed a generally negative attitude toward migrants and Muslims among students, with 60 percent of them responding “yes” to the question of whether or not they believed asylum seekers and immigrants were stealing their jobs. Over half of the students agreed with the statement, “Muslims are taking over England.”

On the surface, the results may simply suggest an increasing percentage of racism among students. University of Manchester professor Hilary Pilkington disagrees, saying that the results were “not evidence of widespread racism among young people,” but instead signaled “anxiety—often based on inaccurate information.” This would mean that the information about the state of migration and Muslims in the UK provided to children comes from a biased, incomplete, and often incorrect source. There are a few obvious outlets that may be influencing the children’s attitudes such as their parents, friends, and educators.

Some outlets, however, such as television, radio, and print and online news are not as obvious, yet equally—if not more—influential as well.

After further examination of the data, SRTRC chief executive Ged Grabby said that the results demonstrate the negative effects that media has on youth and should be used to raise awareness about the issue.

Media is so highly embedded into the youth’s culture and everyday life, that it is becoming increasingly hard for them to recognize its negative effects in themselves, for those too have become embedded into who they are.

Dr. Paul Jackson from the University of Northampton warns the public that although the youth’s attitudes are formed based off of untrue information from the media, they are forming dangerously real racist attitudes.

He said, “The subsequent levels of hostility towards these groups is very worrying and something that we, as a society, need to take seriously.”

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