Thursday, June 28, 2007

Egypt totally outlaws female circumcision

Cairo - Egypt strengthened its ban on female genital cutting on Thursday by eliminating a legal loophole allowing girls to undergo the procedure for health reasons, the health ministry said.

Genital cutting of girls, often referred to as female genital mutilation or circumcision, is banned in Egypt although the practice remains widespread as a rite of passage for girls and is often viewed as a way to protect their chastity.

The health ministry said in a statement it had now outlawed the practice entirely after an 11-year-old girl died while undergoing the procedure at a private medical clinic.

Budour Ahmed Shaker died last week in the southern province of Minya after she was given a heavy dose of anaesthetic, security sources said.

The health ministry's step cancelled out a 1996 provision to the law which had permitted the operation "in situations of illness" should doctors advise it, the health ministry said.

Egypt's state-appointed Grand Mufti, in the strongest statement yet on the issue by the government's official arbiter of Islamic law, said on Sunday Islam forbade the "harmful tradition of circumcision" of girls.

The Grand Sheikh of Cairo's prestigious al-Azhar mosque, Mohamed Sayed Tantawi, has also described the practice as un-Islamic, but some other clerics have supported it.

Both Tantawi and Coptic Pope Shenouda, the leader of Egypt's minority Christian community, have said that neither the Qu'ran nor the Bible demand or mention female circumcision, which is usually performed on pre-pubescent girls.

The practice involves cutting off part or all of the clitoris and other female genitalia, sometimes by a doctor but also often by a relative or midwives. Side effects include hemorrhage, shock, and sexual dysfunction.

Female genital cutting is performed on both Muslim and Christian girls in Egypt and Sudan, but is rare elsewhere in the Arab world. It is also common in Eritrea, Ethiopia and Somalia.

The Egyptian doctors' syndicate has launched a probe into the girl's death and warned doctors against performing the procedure either in homes or medical facilities, citing "detrimental health effects" on girls.

A major Egyptian daily newspaper said authorities had suspended the doctor who performed the operation from some work.

A 2005 Unicef report found 97 percent of Egyptian women between ages 15 and 49 had been circumcised.

Egypt's campaign to end female cutting has included television programmes aimed at persuading parents to abandon the ancient practice.

By Abigail Hauslohner

What every office needs

heineken

Thursday, June 07, 2007

Capella's Online University - University Degrees Online

The following blog post is based on information provided by Blogitive... For more information, please visit Blogitive.com

Did you ever want to get an additional degree and didn't have the time to goto a regular University – just because you couldn't spare the time to go through the entire course. Many a time you may also not want to leave your current day-job just to get that extra university degree. Well, in that case - the answer would be to enroll in an online course

Recently, Sara Orem, faculty member in the online university’s School of Business and Technology, co-authors book titled 'Appreciative Coaching: A Positive Process for Change'

MINNEAPOLIS, April 20, 2007

Sara Orem, PhD, an adjunct faculty member at Capella University, an accredited, fully online university, has co-authored a new book titled Appreciative Coaching: A Positive Process for Change.

Recent developments in psychology and organizational development suggest that people and organizations flourish when they focus on human ideals, achievements, and best practices. Appreciative Coaching, which has been published by Jossey-Bass, uses positive questions, mindfulness, and other tools to acknowledge the strengths of individuals and effect change. Orem’s co-authors are Jacqueline Binkert, PhD, and Ann Clancy, PhD.

'Rather than focusing on individuals in limited or problem-oriented ways, Appreciative Coaching guides the reader through four stages – Discovery, Dream, Design and Destiny – that inspire them to an appreciative and empowering view of themselves and their future,' Orem says. 'What we have presented is really a new application of appreciative inquiry.'

Orem adds that the book is written for individual coaches of managers, executives, and 'those who do one-on-one work with people who can influence and create change in their organizations.'

In addition to serving as a faculty member and coach in Capella University’s School of Business and Technology, Orem is the principal of her own coaching firm. She has presented programs in Appreciative Inquiry at the National Organization Development Network, and International Coach Federation annual conferences. She lives in Oakland, California.

Binkert is an executive coach who specializes in working with leaders and teams during times of change. Clancy is president of Clancy Consultants and has worked with community organizations, large corporations, and federal agencies.

About Capella University

Capella University was established in 1993, and is a fully accredited online university that offers graduate degree programs in business, information technology, education, human services, and psychology, and bachelor’s degree programs in business and information technology. Within those areas, Capella currently offers 82 graduate and undergraduate specializations and 16 certificate programs. You can get your business degree online through Capella in your spare time and on your own schedule.

It is committed to providing high-caliber academic excellence and pursuing balanced business growth. Capella University is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Capella Education Company, headquartered in Minneapolis.

So do check out the University Degrees Online options available at Capella University and decide for yourself. the available invigorating and rewarding online PhD and PsyD programs...

Most students enjoy online education for several reasons. They say that their online education outshines their traditional classroom experiences. That's because in online education is that you are a part of a team and this always helps you to learn from the students.

For more information, please visit Capella.edu or call 1-888-CAPELLA (227-3552).

Capella University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission and is a member of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA), Ncahlc.org.

Capella University,
225 South Sixth Street, Ninth Floor,
Minneapolis, MN 55402, 1-888-CAPELLA (227-3552), Capella.edu.

Irene Silber
Capella University
612-977-4132
irene.silber@capella.edu