♣ German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle opened the German Science Centre in Cairo on 13 November in the presence of the German Ambassador to Egypt Michael Bock. He called the centre a beacon of support for democratic transition in Egypt and the surrounding region. The Science Centre is intended to serve as a bridge to Arab countries, offering interdisciplinary workshops and conferences and advising German and Egyptian research institutes and companies. It also demonstrates German achievements in science and technology. The centre focuses on the natural sciences, environmental studies, the social sciences and the humanities. In 2012 the Science Centre presented a travelling exhibition on renewable energy and an exhibition on German inventions that have changed the world. Supporting the democratic transition in Egypt, Westerwelle underscored its significance for supporting the transition in Egypt and the surrounding region: “The success of the transition in Egypt is of key importance to the entire region. Germany sees itself as a close partner to Egypt and would like to support this change. Education is an area crucial to the success of the transition process, because young people especially need good future prospects. That is why we are making support for education, science and research an area of focus.” In Cairo, Westerwelle spoke to Egyptian students; among those he met were two students taking part in a project on the development of student participation in decision-making at Egyptian universities. ♥ The Hoda Shaarawi Association, presided over by Ragaa Mansour, organised a seminar entitled “Women's Rights and the Constitution”, coinciding with the annual celebration of the association with its revenues to be earmarked to the orphans. Present were Al-Ahram writer Mona Ragab, singer Nadia Mustafa as well as society ladies such as Bahiya Youssef, Gihan Halawa, Fatma Barada, Nabila Al-Hakim, Somaya Shawki and Samia Naguib. ♠ The International Union of the Muslim-Christian-Jewish Dialogue and Peace Education Organisation, headed by Ali Al-Samman in cooperation with the Swedish Institute Alexandria, organised a roundtable discussion titled “Healing the Rift between Secularism and Religious Concepts in Modern Societies”. The discussion aimed at defining the concept of secularism projected among a variety of people from a diversity of religious and secular backgrounds. The keynote speakers included Al-Ahram writer Afkar Al-Kharadli, former independent MP and expert at Al-Ahram Centre for Political and Strategic Studies Amr Al-Shobaki, media figures Mufid Fawzi, Mahmoud Bakri, Adel Darwish, Ghada Gharib, Victoria Harber and others, with university students from the faculties of political science, arts and mass communication from Cairo, Alexandria and Tanta universities. ♣ Marking World Diabetes Day, the Egyptian Diabetic Care Association (EDCA) held a celebration at the Gezira Youth Centre. During the celebration, a discussion was held with keynote speakers; the President of the International Union of the Muslim-Christian-Jewish Dialogue and Peace Education Organisation Ali Al-Samman, nutrition professor at Ain Shams University Mohamed Al-Hofi, Paediatrician Weaam Farouk and media official of the EDCA Brigitte Louvivre with the attendance of some 100 children. ¨ Lebanese Ambassador to Egypt Khaled Zeyada along with actor Nour Al-Sherif inaugurated the exhibition Yes3ed Saba7ak (Have A Good Morning), showcasing paintings by artist Abdel-Aal Hassan at the Picasso Gallery in Zamalek. (see Listings p.27) ♣ Asham filmmakers and actors have joined the Doha Tribeca Film Festival to participate in the Narrative Feature Competition. The third edition of the festival is taking place in the Qatari capital starting from 17 till 24 November. Asham stars a number of new talents and is produced by the Film Clinic. Producer Mohamed Hefzi, founder of the Film Clinic, and director Maggie Morgan will be attending the screening of Asham at the Doha Tribeca Film Festival, together with some cast members including Amina Khalil, Marwa Tharwat, Seif Al-Aswani, Shadi Habashi, Mohamed Sarhan, Naglaa Younis, Salma Salem and Noha Al-Khouli. Asham tells six intertwined stories about aspiration, disappointment, and hope set against the backdrop of a restless Cairo, itself on the brink of change. Some of the characters meet a street peddler, at significant points of their lives, some meet each other. The film is written and directed by Morgan; it stars director Mohamed Khan together with stage director Mahmoud Al-Lozi. ¨ Earlier this week, the American University in Cairo (AUC) hosted, for the first time, the Terry Fox Run — an annual, non-competitive charity event held in more than 50 countries worldwide at its New Cairo campus. The event aims to raise funds for the Children's Cancer Hospital Egypt 57357 to support cancer research at the hospital. Participants exceeded 1,000 school and university students, celebrities, diplomats and public figures. The day-long event included musical performances by local bands and singers as well as awareness activities. Held under the patronage of the Canadian Embassy in Egypt and organised by the Children's Cancer Hospital Foundation 57357, in collaboration with the European Union, this year's Terry Fox Run was attended by the Canadian Ambassador David Drake, the European Union delegation head James Moran, AUC executives and the hospital's senior management. “We are all enthusiastic about this event, which is a way of fighting back against cancer,” said Nagwa Ibrahim, associate provost for entrepreneurship and research development at AUC, and one of the event organisers. The race route took participants from outside the Khalaf Ahmed Al-Habtoor Football and Track Stadium around the premises for a distance of four kilometres. In addition to hosting the event at its sports facilities, the university offered arbitration, clinical and security services. Winners received medals and symbolic gifts. A cancer victim himself, Terry Fox was diagnosed in 1977, at the age of 18, with bone cancer in his right leg, which was then amputated above the knee. He died four years later after running 5,373 kilometres across Canadian provinces to raise funds for cancer patients. Fox's Marathon of Hope inspired lots of people, which led to the establishment of the Terry Fox Foundation.
