Tahrir! The Photographic Gallery at the American University in Cairo is hosting a photographic and art exhibition entitled "Tahrir!" due to be inaugurated on 3 April. This exhibition, which is an environmental installation within the tradition of the Tahrir week, includes a selection of almost 100 photographs taken by 19 photographers including among others Amr Abdallah, Randa Shaath, Ahmed Abdel-Latif, Nabila Akhtar, Roger Anis, Ramy Georgy and Thomas Hartwell. photo: Thomas Hartwell The Royal Cairo Rotary Club (RCRC), presided over by Hanaa El-Hilali, held a seminar at Le Pacha Nile Boat. The seminar featured deputy Prime Minister and the temporary head of the Supreme Press Council Yehia El-Gamal who discussed the constitutional changes as well as discussing the parliament and presidential elections. Guests of the seminar were Managing Editor of the Social Fund for Development Hani Seif El-Nasr, President of the International Union of Muslim- Christian-Jewish Dialogue and Peace Education Ali El-Samman, former minister of social insurance and pension Mervat El-Tellawi, ambassador Naela Gabr, Editor-in-Chief of Nisf Al-Donia magazine Afkar El-Kharadli as well as society ladies Brigitte Louvivre and Hoda Zurqana. On the occasion of Mother's Day, Al-Tayaran (Aviation) Club hosted an exceptional celebration this year honouring mothers of those killed during the 25 January Revolution. Mother of Khaled Said, last year's Alexandria's victim, was among the mothers who were honoured during the ceremony, while actress Nihal Anbar distributed the honorary shields to the mothers, Anbar was emotionally touched and burst into tears along with one of the mothers. Popular singer Hamada Hilal was present as well. Under the auspices of the Secretary-General of the Arab League Amr Moussa, the Egyptian Centre of the Awareness of Law presided over by judge Khaled El-Qadi held a workshop under the title The Role of the Arab Media in Cultural Development and Law Awareness, at the Arab League. Deputy Chairman of the State Council Judge Mahmoud El-Attar, President of the International Union of Muslim-Christian- Jewish Dialogue and Peace Education Ali El-Samman, veteran media figures Fadila Tawfik, Laila Rostom, Hassan Hamed and Sanaa Mansour as well as actor Hamdi Ahmed participated in the activities of the workshop. At Alef Bookstore, Al-Maadi branch, satirist and TV anchor Ahmed El-Assely signed his satirical book, The Second Book. Director of Alef Bookstores Wael Abdallah moderated the give-and-take discussion that took place between El-Assely and his fans who talked about the recent constitutional amendments and his memories in Tahrir Square during the days of the 25 January Revolution. Congratulations! Poet Saad Abdel-Rahman has been named the new head of the General Organisation of Cultural Palaces (GOCP) -- affiliated to the Ministry of Culture -- succeeding Ahmed Megahed, who is now head of the General Egyptian Book Organisation. The Goethe Institute in Tahrir Square is also holding a two-day book fair on 1 and 2 April, 10am to 6pm. It is scheduled to be inaugurated by German Ambassador to Egypt Michael Bock where German books will be sold. At the reception hall of the Goethe Institute, books that were brought by the administration of Frankfurt Book Fair to be displayed at the cancelled Cairo International Book Fair will be on show under the slogan "Modern Books-New Worlds". More news on the AUC! The outreach programme of the Department of Physics at the American University in Cairo (AUC) welcomed members of the Cairo community to discuss and observe this past weekend's "Supermoon" phenomenon. The "Supermoon" was a mere 356,577km away from Earth, the closest it has been in more than 18 years. As a result of its proximity, the moon appeared 14 per cent larger and 30 per cent brighter. In addition to being able to gaze at the moon through advanced telescopes on the AUC campuses in New Cairo and Tahrir Square, AUC Professor Alaa Ibrahim presented two public lectures, "The Science Behind Supermoon" and "Tsunami". Ibrahim explained the phenomenon of the "Supermoon" and refuted misconceptions by some astrologists that there is a relationship between its appearance and catastrophic events, such as the earthquake and subsequent tsunami in Japan. "There is no scientific evidence that links the moon to natural disasters on Earth," he noted. Contrary to myth, Ibrahim highlighted the fact that science has proven that in reality, the moon prevents natural disasters by balancing the earth's rotation around its tilted axis, which would otherwise wobble like a top. Ibrahim announced that several other celestial phenomena occur this season, including a close encounter with planet Saturn. AUC will hold similar lecture and observation events for the community on its two campuses on 3 April.
