São Paulo – The Arab Culture Institute (Icarabe) should promote course "Arab World: current conjuncture and analysis of sceneries", between October 27th and November 24th. There will be five classes taught by specialists in the area and presented at the offices of the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce, in São Paulo.
The course should cover the recent happenings in the Arab world, in countries like Lebanon, Egypt, Tunisia, Syria and Yemen, among others, and their unfolding. Each lesson will be presented by a different teacher, under the following themes: The Arab World: diagnosis and perspectives, with Mohamed Habib (University of Campinas); Unfolding of the new scenery in the Israeli-Palestinian matter, with Salem Nasser (Getúlio Vargas Foundation); United States and its Middle East policy, with Reginaldo Nasser (Pontifical Catholic University of São Paulo); and Brazil and the Middle East: the routes for Brazilian foreign policy, with Cristina Pecequilo (Federal University of São Paulo).
"The lesson by professor Habib will focus mainly on Egypt, but it will also cover what is happening in all Arab nations and their perspectives, what may be seen for the future in the very long term for all these events,” said Heloisa Abreu Dib Julien, the course coordinator. “Salem’s class will cover what is expected regarding the Israeli-Palestinian cause and the North American posture. Nasser will discuss the matter of the American youth that currently protests against Wall Street and that should open its eyes to the cost of war and how much it costs to sustain Israel,” she explained. "Cristina will discuss the Brazilian foreign policy under the routes opened by [former president] Lula, and this is the route that should be travelled,” she finished off.
The last class will be a debate on theme "The matter of Arabs as the ‘other’ and representation of the ‘other’ in Arab culture. The part played by the media”. "We are going to cover [the studies of] Edward Said and analyse how the West sees the Arab world as the ‘other’ and how the west is seen by Arab culture,” pointed out Heloisa. "We are also going to talk about how the West deals with Arabs in media and vice versa,” she said.
The lessons should take place on Thursdays, from 7:30 pm to 10:00 pm, except for the class of November 9th, which will be on a Wednesday. Enrolment is open up to the 25th of October. Those participating in at least four classes will get a certificate at the end. In total, there are 80 seats available.
Service
Course "Arab World: current conjecture and analysis of sceneries"
From October 27th to November 24th
Site: Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce
Avenida Paulista, 326, 11th floor – São Paulo
Cost of the course: General public: 150 Brazilian reals (US$ 85). Icarabe members, students and retirees: 130 reals (US$ 75).
Enrolment may be through site www.icarabe.org.br, on e-mail curso@icarabe.org, or by telephone (+55 11) 5084-5131, from Monday to Friday, from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm.
*Translated by Mark Ament
