Check RM100 notes for fakes

Friday May 23, 2008

PETALING JAYA: Check your RM100 and RM50 notes, folks! Hold each note up to the light and if you can't see the first King's watermark portrait, it’s a fake.

Fruit vendor Loh Man, 53, discovered three days after a couple bought RM15 worth of fruits at his stall in Old Klang Road that the RM100 note they used to buy the fruits with was counterfeit.

Loh Man realised something was amiss when the colour on the note started to fade and the watermark of the King was missing when the note was held up to the light.

1) The security thread on a real note is embedded in the bill and appears on the reverse side of the note as a silver dotted line. When the note is held up against light, it is seen as a continuous dark line and the repeated text 'BNMRM100' can be read. This feature is missing on the counterfeit note, where the 'security thread' appears as a silver dotted line.

2) No raised Braille feature on the counterfeit note.

3) The holographic design on the LEADA (Long-lasting Economical Anti-copy Device) strip represents the same motif as used in the purple patch as well as the text 'BNMRM100'. The colour of these elements change when the viewing angle is changed. The counterfeit note features just a silver thread with a floral pattern.

4) The portrait of the first King on the right of the real note is raised (Intaglio Print). This effect is missing on the fake note.

5) Watermark portrait of the first King is missing in the counterfeit note. The numeral 100 watermark at the base of the King's watermark is also missing.

He sought the help of MCA Public Services and Complaints Department head Datuk Michael Chong who said this was the first RM100 fake note he had come across. He said he had been previously alerted of RM50 fake notes.

“Just hold the notes up to the light and check,” he advised the public at a press conference.

“The watermark portrait can be seen easily. At the base of the watermark, the numeral 100 is clearly visible in a real note but absent in counterfeit ones,” he said, adding that fake notes were also deeper in colour.

To demonstrate how easy it was to pass off the RM100 fake note as the real thing, Chong and a few reporters tested them out on merchants, who thought the notes to be real.

“I am very surprised that I managed to get through five merchants without being detected,” Chong said, adding that one trader took a close look at the note but still did not suspect anything.

Chong said he had seen a number of fake RM50 notes but claimed that Loh's fake RM100 note was more sophisticated.

”I will bring the matter up to Bank Negara,” he said.

Coutesy star

A must for anyone going to Okinawa

Tuesday 20th May, 09:16 AM JST

For anyone planning a trip to Okinawa, the Okinawa Island Guide 2008-2009 is a must. The 122-page glossy magazine is chock full of information about the island’s tourist and historical spots and also includes many feature stories about Okinawan food, culture, arts & crafts, a guide to healthy aging, plus area maps of Naha, Chatan, Okinawa City and other locations.

Whether it’s tips on driving to diving with whale sharks, this 4th edition of the magazine is perfect for both first-time visitors to Okinawa or veterans. The guide costs 1,500 yen and is available at most bookstores.

See the Guide

Courtesy JapanToday

Iran using euro, yen in oil deals

Wed, 30 Apr 2008 10:33:23

Iran has completely switched away from US dollar in its oil trading.

Iran has switched from dollar to euro and yen in oil trading, says international affairs director of the National Iranian Oil Company.

Hojjatollah Ghanimifard in an interview with Fars news agency said since last year Iran's oil transactions have been conducted in euro and yen, and dollar has been completely replaced by these two major currencies.

"Iran has reached agreements with all its crude oil buyers to pay in foreign currencies other than the US dollar," he added.

Ghanimifard also noted that Iran's crude oil transactions in Europe are conducted in euro, while both euro and yen are used for its oil sales in Asia.

MMM/BGH

English Club Vs English Club in Moscow

Page last updated at 15:45 GMT, Thursday, 1 May 2008 16:45 UK

Moscow confident of final success

By Rupert Wingfield-Hayes BBC News, Moscow This final is the biggest sporting event to hit the Russian capital since 1980 For days, the British media has been filled with doom laden stories about what a disaster the UEFA Champions League final in Moscow on 21 May is going to be. Even the BBC has not been immune. To believe the reports, thousands of British fans face a series of seemingly insurmountable hurdles to getting to the match. Visas will not be issued in time, there will be no flights available, Moscow hotels are full, and prices are astronomic. . . . . read more Cristiano Ronaldo's goals have been the key to Manchester United's success this season [AFP] Cristiano Ronaldo doesn't want Moscow mentioned until Manchester United has successfully defended its English Premier League title. The Portugal winger doesn't want the Red Devils to lose focus in the league amid the euphoria of reaching European football's showpiece match on May 21 in the Russian capital. "It's a great feeling to be in my first Champions League final,'' Ronaldo said after Manchester United's 1-0 victory over FC Barcelona. . . . . read more

A Malaysian Advanture

Guy Wells is one of the lucky winners of the Postcards From Malaysia Contest that ran at the end of 2006 to usher in Visit Malaysia Year 2007. This Australian traveller ventured from the East Coast to the West Coast of the Peninsula, making friends and experiencing new adventures the whole way through. We set off to Malaysia without doing much research for what we felt was a well-earned break after another set of University exams. With our trust Lonely Planet guides to Malaysia in hand, we arrived in Malaysia at about 10pm, fortunately we had decided to book a hotel just off Petaling Street for a night so that we could get our feet and decide our next destination. The Transit train from the airport was a breeze, and made Melbourne’s International Airport look like a small domestic airport. We got to the Hotel and decided it was time for a snack, fortunately some of the food stalls never seem to close, so having dinner at midnight was no issue. Before leaving KL we thought it best to have a look around the city, so we spent the day just wandering around, something that would be a breeze in most Australian cities, but we somehow forgot about the humidity, and found ourselves stopping every 20mins for another drinks break. We eventually made it to the Petronas Towers, and the KLCC shopping centre, however we were a little late to get tickets to go up to the Sky-bridge, something that should you get the opportunity would be well worth a look. The area surrounding the Petronas Towers, shows a great deal of planning, with a huge park and play areas right in the middle of the city. Clearly a lot of time and money has gone into the planning and infrastructure of Kuala Lumpur in the last 10 years to make it a first class city. “To come across the other side of the equator and meet a group of people with a completely different background yet similar outlook and humour to us, 2 young Australians, was pleasantly surprising.” Fortunately we had some friends staying in KL at the time of our visit and they were more than happy to take us out for dinner and drinks, there is nothing much better than being in a foreign country and having the locals to show where and what to eat, while at the same time getting a better insight into the culture. We were also given a lesson in the barter economy, quickly learning the benefit of the ‘local price’ as opposed to the ‘tourist price’. Having only been in Malaysia for a day at this stage, we were challenged to eat a number of new foods, some of which were unforgettable and some we would prefer to forget. The Durian or “king of Fruits was one we were told so much about, including one friend saying it was like eating ice cream on a traditional Malaysian toilet (jamban). We just had Far too quickly our two night/three day experience reached its close. But both Nicky and I knew that this, along with so many of our underwater experiences in Malaysia, had been memorable enough to guarantee our return. Soon!! From KL it was decided that we should see a little of the east coast of Malaysia, we had been told of an island off the coast of Terengganu called Pulau Redang, which was known for its white beaches, and great snorkelling. Those wishing to go to an island like Redang are recommended to book accommodation, which includes meals and boat transfers. What better way to travel than by bus, nobody can complain about an 8 hour bus ride for 30 MYR. After travelling through parts of Indonesia and China, we were unsure of what quality of transport to expect, but were pleasantly surprised by the air-conditioned comfort of the buses, a tip to future travellers: Ask for super VIP buses (the same price for a little bit of extra comfort). The Island of Redang must be seen to truly understand the island, or what parts of it we managed to see. Upon arrival on the island, you almost felt relaxed immediately, with resort style accommodation, 3 meals a day, and guided snorkelling trips off the bright white beaches. It was a pleasant surprise to only see a few other Westerners, with most other guests to the island from mainland Malaysia. “The time spent in Penang was a whole world away from Redang, with some beautiful old world charm and some great night markets.” “In the next 3 days there was a lot of beach volleyball and soccer played as well as having a laugh all around.”In the next 3 days there was a lot of beach volleyball and soccer played as well as having a laugh all around. The friendships made in those 3 days were amazing and possibly the best memories of the trip. To come across the other side of the equator and meet a group of people with a completely different background yet similar outlook and humour to us, 2 young Australians, was pleasantly surprising. The time spent with these people was so enjoyable that on our return to KL we visited them again, and were treated to a tour of the city by locals. From Redang, we had heard lots about Penang, so it was decided that this would be our next stop. The overnight bus took us from Terengganu to Penang, arriving at 6 am. We were told that Chulia Street was the place to go for cheap accommodation, being students, we had to have a look. We decided it was best to grab some food for breakfast and then decide where to stay. Dim Sum was something we hadn’t had yet so we decided its as good a breakfast as any. We sat down, waiting for the sun to come up and feasted on Dim Sum. The time spent in Penang was a whole world away from Redang, with some beautiful old world charm and some great night markets. All we had heard when we mentioned that we would be going to Penang was that the food there was amazing, so it was decided that we would spend much of the next few days eating. It was amazing to watch the Roti Canai being made in front of you, it puts all pizza makers to shame. After walking past the Beca riders for the last couple of days and not getting a lift off them, we decided to ask one if he could take us to the botanical gardens, naively not knowing how far it was, he thought about it for a second and then decided it was much too far, his friend saw the funny side of it and was rolling around in tears. When we found out how far it was we too couldn’t stop laughing, and to think this guy was actually considering it, it would have taken him an hour!! The night markets up at Batu Feringghi are well worth a visit, and have a few large eating areas surrounded by hawker stalls to choose your favourite dish. The market has lots of arts and crafts along with the watches and CD’s/DVD’s. After 3 days in Penang, it was time to get back to KL to spend the last day shopping and catching up with the friends we met in Redang before we headed back to the winter of Melbourne. Staying again along Petaling Street, we frequented the hawker stalls for food and clothes, thinking we were getting everything for an absolute bargain. The friends from Redang told us we had to go down to Klang to visit them. We jumped on a bus and off we went. We were again treated to dinner and drinks, and a great night amongst friends. Eating as travellers the whole time, it is good to go to peoples favourite restaurants and eat what they recommend. Due to leave for Melbourne on a night flight, we had 1 day to go in Malaysia, after recounting the stories and determining if there was anything we had yet to do, our friends managed to not be working and took us for a drive, visiting temples and more eateries, the fun didn’t stop till the moment we jumped on the plane to go home. The hospitality showed by all Malaysians, was very welcoming and helpful, allaying any fears or concerns a traveller may have. We were pleasantly surprised by the progression of KL city and the quality of the transport both within the city and interstate bus services. Malaysia is not always high on the tourist hit list for Australian travellers, however, after visiting the country, I would recommend it as a destination to visit.

Dollar Falls to Record Against Euro as EU Inflation Quickens

By Ye Xie and Bo Nielsen

April 16 (Bloomberg) -- The dollar fell to a record low against the euro as European inflation accelerated last month, reducing chances the European Central Bank will follow the Federal Reserve in cutting interest rates.

The currency had its biggest decline versus the euro in three weeks, weakening to $1.5979 as U.S. housing starts dropped more than twice as much as forecast to a 17-year low. The Canadian and Australian dollars and the Norwegian krone increased after crude oil touched a record $115.07 a barrel. . . . . read more

US Dollar Shows Little Hope for Rebound on Further Record-Lows

Tuesday, 06 November 2007 17:32:11 GMT

Previous Articles

• Nov 06 - US Dollar Shows Little Hope for Rebound on Further Record-Lows
  
• Nov 05 - Euro: Rate hike, Rate hike, Rate hike
  
• Nov 05 - US Dollar Bounces on Dow Jones Tumbles - Can it Hold Gains?
  
• Nov 02 - Forex Traders Punish the US Dollar Despite Bullish NFP Data - What Happened?
  
• Nov 01 - Currency Trading Markets Sell the US Dollar on Treasury Yield Tumbles
  
• Oct 31 - Currency Traders Show Little Fear of Post-FOMC Dollar Rally as Euro Sets Record Heights
  
• Oct 30 - Dollar Falls to 26-year Lows Against British Pound ahead of FOMC Decision - Strong Rebound Unlikely
  
• Oct 29 - Euro Hits New Record High
  
• Oct 29 - US Dollar at Record Lows against Euro on Stock Market Rallies: Dollar Unlikely to Post Worthwhile Rebound
  
• Oct 26 - US Dollar At Record Low, Oil At Record High - Will These Extremes Moderate Next Week?
  
• Oct 26 - US Dollar Selling Accelerates - Currency Traders may push Euro to Further Record Highs
  
• Oct 25 - US Dollar Nears Record Lows As Durable Goods Orders Plummet
  
• Oct 25 - US Dollar Bounces Back on Dismal Jobless Claims and Durable Goods Orders - What Gives?
  
• Oct 24 - US Dollar Tumbles As Futures Start To Price In A 50bp Cut
  
• Oct 24 - US Dollar Rallies Despite Falling Treasury Yields - What Happened?
  
• Oct 23 - US Dollar Resumes Its Descent Ahead Of NAR Existing Home Sales
  
• Oct 23 - US Dollar Drops on Dow Rallies - Forex Traders Remain Indecisive
  
• Oct 22 - US Dollar Posts Largest Rally against Euro Since 2005 - Forex Speculators Fear Turn
  
• Oct 19 - US Dollar Recovers from Record Lows on Dow Tumbles, Markets Hesitant Ahead of G7
  
• Oct 18 - US Dollar Tumbles Ahead of G7 Summit, Fed Rates Outlook Exacerbates Sell-off
  

Written by David Rodriguez, Currency Analyst

The US dollar continued to set record lows against the Euro and Canadian dollar, defying calls for a worthwhile correction on unflappable anti-greenback sentiment. Limited economic data on the day left currency traders to force movements off of broader speculative interest, and dollar-selling remained the dominant theme in broader currency markets. In fact, the downtrodden buck fell against all major foreign counterparts on a daily basis.

Euro bulls sent the single currency to yet another record, touching heights of $1.4569 before a marginal retracement through the New York afternoon. The British Pound likewise saw strong bids through Tokyo and London trading hours and established fresh 26-year peaks of $2.0905. Anti-US dollar sentiment continued to bolster the Canadian dollar, which shows few signs of slowing its ascent at C$0.9240 per USD. A bounce in global equity markets was not enough to keep the dollar bid against the Japanese Yen, and indeed the greenback remained relatively unchanged at 114.52 yen through time of writing.

The lack of economic data did not stop traders from forcing strong price movements across major currency pairs, and pure market flows away from the greenback served as the only real justification for the move. One prominent bank claimed that the relative underperformance of US equity markets encouraged many clients to pursue risky asset classes in Europe and elsewhere. Others cited further sovereign bank reserve diversification as a prominent driver of daily exchange rates. Whatever the underlying justification for the dollar rout, it remains relatively clear that speculators show little interest in forcing a worthwhile correction in the downtrodden currency. The trade-weighted dollar index has now fallen in seven of the past nine active days, setting fresh-record lows of 75.99 at time of publication. Given such overwhelming bearish momentum, we see little reason for a dollar bounce through subsequent currency trading.

US equity markets proved far more fortunate through NYSE price action, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average adding 50 points to 13,591. A surge in energy stocks pushed broader indices higher, and the S&P 500 added 0.5 percent to 1,510. Tech stocks were the smallest gainers through the session, however, with the NASDAQ Composite a mere 0.2 percent improved to the psychologically significant 2,800 mark.

US Government Treasury yields were slightly higher through the trading session, as the 10-year added 2 basis points to 4.35 percent. Yet shorter-dated yields remained relatively unchanged at recent 26-month lows of 3.67 percent. Speculators seem convinced that the Federal Reserve will continue to cut short-term interest rates through the medium term, and money market rates continue to decline through the period. In fact, Fed Funds Futures now show a 64 percent chance of an FOMC interest rate cut on its December 11 meeting.

Written by David Rodríguez, Currency Analyst for DailyFX.com

Caspian Sea leaders sign declaration

source almanartv

17/10/2007 The Second Summit of the Caspian Sea Littoral States ended its work in the presence of heads of state of Iran, Russia, Azerbaijan Republic, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan in Tehran on Tuesday afternoon. They released a declaration on major regional and international issues. Following is an excerpt of the declaration: The Caspian Sea littoral states will make efforts to reinforce peace, stability, economic development, and good neighborliness in the region. The sides will have equal rights in international cooperation and are determined to boost relations in political, diplomatic, economic, scientific, technical, cultural, and social spheres. The sides will make attempts to efficiently utilize the Caspian Sea’s rich resources and expand economic cooperation, particularly in the energy and transportation areas. The sides hereby announce that only Caspian Sea littoral countries are allowed to use the resources of the sea. The sides agree that the Caspian Sea legal regime should be drafted as soon as possible. The Caspian Sea should only be used for peaceful purposes and any problems related to the sea should be resolved diplomatically by the littoral states. The sides will make efforts to develop mutual trust and reinforce regional security. They will also avoid using military force in mutual relations. The sides believe that the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty is one of the most important foundations of international peace and stability. The sides confirm that all signatories to the NPT have the right to generate and utilize nuclear energy for peaceful purposes within the framework of the NPT and the International Atomic Energy Agency Statute. Stances at the summit In his speech to the conference, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad announced that the third summit of the Caspian Sea littoral states will be held in Baku, Azerbaijan in 2008, and a joint economic conference will be held in Moscow next year. "The presidents of the five Caspian Sea littoral countries agreed to meet every year, and their foreign ministers will meet every six months," he added. Asked about the propaganda campaign against the conference, Ahmadinejad stated that the declaration that was signed at the end of the conference was a robust response to those countries that were opposed to the meeting. Russian President Vladimir Putin told reporters that the Iran-Russia nuclear cooperation is for peaceful purposes. The countries have “expressed the idea that peaceful nuclear activities must be allowed,” Putin said, reiterating that Iran should be allowed to pursue its nuclear program for peaceful purposes. Putin discussed issues pertaining to comprehensive security and stability in the region and the joint campaign against "international terrorism and extremism.” Among other things, Russia has proposed building a canal as soon as possible to connect the Caspian Sea to the Black and Azov seas to help establish the North-South Corridor, he said. Russia is the only country helping Iran to construct a nuclear power station for peaceful ends, he added, referring to the construction of the Bushehr nuclear power plant. For his part, Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev stated that the convention should be finalized as soon as possible, and the dialogue between the countries should be sped up. "I believe that the Tehran summit and the declaration we will adopt here will be a turning point in the development of cooperation between Caspian states in all fields and in insuring stability and peace in the region, and that the Caspian will become a sea of peace, friendship, and cooperation,” Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said. Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhammedow said he was optimistic about Caspian states’ cooperation and the agreements made by the five countries on ecology, shipping, tourism, and the use of hydrocarbon reserves.

Putin arrives in Tehran despite warning

SOURCE ALMANARtTV 16/10/2007 Russian President Vladimir Putin, brushing off the threat of a reported plot to assassinate him, arrived in Iran on Tuesday for talks with Iran's leaders focusing on Tehran's nuclear row with the West. The Russian president was officially welcomed by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in Saadabad castle in Tehran. Putin is due to attend a summit of five Caspian Sea states aimed at bringing them closer to a deal on dividing the sea and its huge oil and gas resources. Putin is visiting the Islamic Republic ahead of parliamentary elections in December and amid speculation on how he will maintain a grasp on power in Russia after he quits the top job. His visit also comes amid increasing pressure to impose sanctions on Iran for its nuclear program, something Moscow and other allies are against. Kremlin officials said on Monday that plans for the visit were in doubt after a Russian news agency report said about assassination plot against him. Iran said the report was baseless and Putin shrugged it off. "If we have a chance to keep up these direct contacts, then we will do it, hoping for a positive, mutually advantageous result," Putin said in Germany before his arrival. Tehran says the visit by Putin and other leaders at the Caspian summit shows U.S. efforts to isolate it are failing.

SOWETO ON THE TOURIST TRAIL

Flying car to take off in a year

Thu, 11 Oct 2007 19:46:20

Terrafugia Transition

MIT scientists take another step towards aero-auto hybrids by producing the first automated folding wing for light sport aircrafts.

For many years researchers believed aero-auto hybrid vehicles would be commercial failures; however, MIT scientists say they are on the way to overcome existing problems.

The team hopes to use 'Terrafugia' which was manufactured in 2006 and displayed as the world's first automatic folding wing, to complete a roadworthy aircraft within a year.

The first patent for a vehicle capable of both driving on roads and flying in the air was issued in US in 1918.

MHE/HGH

Iran transit stop for Indonesian pilgrims

Sun, 16 Sep 2007 11:16:48

Muslim pilgrims carry out Hajj rituals.

Prior to arrival for Minor Hajj in Saudi Arabia, a ritual destination for Muslim pilgrimage, Indonesians choose Iran as their transit stop.

Mohammad Kazem Kholdinasab, Director of the Department of International Affairs at Iran Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization, affirmed, "Indonesian pilgrims will be coming to Iran before they enter Saudi Arabia. They will stay in Iran for around two or three days."

By 2008, Iran is anticipated to host over 25,000 pilgrims.

During last year's visit to Iran by the Indonesian deputy minister of culture and tourism, both countries signed an agreement on initiating executive programs within the field of tourism.

For more Auto Accessories click here

Parties attack Brown election decision

Parties attack Brown election decision

source almanarTV

07/10/2007 UK opposition parties say they are disappointed by Prime Minister Gordon Brown's decision not to call an autumn election. The Conservatives say Brown was frightened by opinion polls in the Sunday Times and News of the World which put the Tories ahead of Labor. Brown said a vote was being delayed so people had time to see how successful his policies were. "I'll not be calling an election. I have a vision for change in Britain and I want to show people how in government we're implementing it," Brown said. "Over the summer months we've had to deal with crises, we've had to deal with foot-and-mouth, with terrorism, with floods, we had financial crises." He added. Conservative leader David Cameron said Brown had shown "great weakness and indecision", and had made a "humiliating retreat". Lib Dem leader Sir Menzies Campbell said that Brown had a "crisis of confidence", and that his decision showed "a loss of nerve".

Iraq's refugee number increases

Tue, 18 Sep 2007 16:29:55
Source: AFP

Iraqis are suffering dire consequences of Bush's war

The number of people displaced in Iraq has increased, despite US officials' claims on security improvement in the war-ravaged country.

The International Organization for Migration said on Tuesday that the number of Iraqi refugees has grown by about 50,000 to 2.25 million since July.

Shia Muslims make up some 65 percent of the displaced while 31 percent are Sunnis and 4 percent Christian, according to an IOM survey of some 114,732 families.

"The majority of the displaced assessed are renting substandard shelter or are staying with friends of family, placing new burdens on host communities," the IOM said in its latest "Emergency Needs Assessments" report on Iraq.

The problem is compounded by many provinces now restricting entry and registration of displaced persons, and by the decision of Iraq's neighbors Syria and Jordan to impose visa requirements in order to stem the flow of refugees, it added.

The organization's latest review warned that the alleged progress in parts of Baghdad and the western province of Anbar were by no means uniform or certain to continue.

Increased security, particularly in the capital, is the central aim of US President George W. Bush's "surge" strategy, which has come under heavy attack at Congressional hearings in recent weeks for not being successful.

DT/DT

Making Money off Poland's Communist past.

UNIFIL mandate extended in Lebanon

Source Al Manar TV

Readers Number : 21

24/08/2007 The UN Security Council voted unanimously Friday to extend the mandate of the 13,600-strong UN troops in Lebanon and called for a permanent cease-fire and long-term solution to last summer's Israeli aggression against Lebanon. The resolution adopted by the council emphasized the need for greater progress in resolving these and other issues stemming from the Second Lebanon War. The Security Council reiterated its intention ''to consider further steps to contribute to the implementation of a permanent cease-fire and a long-term solution.'' Earlier this month, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urged the council to extend the mandate of the force, known as UNIFIL, praising the troops for helping to establish security in southern Lebanon following the Israeli aggression. The resolution commends UNIFIL's positive role, with Lebanese troops, in helping ''to establish a new strategic environment in southern Lebanon.'' The current mandate of the force - comprising 11,428 ground troops, 2,000 maritime personnel, 185 staff officers and 20 local staffers - expires on August 31. The resolution emphasized the need for further coordination between UNIFIL and the Lebanese army in the southern border region to establish ''an area free of any unauthorized armed personnel, assets and weapons.'' It condemned all terrorist attacks on UNIFIL.

America’s Extensive Islamic Heritage Detailed in Exhibitions.

09 August 2007

Organization works to increase awareness of Islamic experience in America

By Jeffrey Thomas
USINFO Staff writer

Washington -- Some years ago, Amir Muhammad began researching his family’s roots without any thought that it might lead him to America’s little-known Islamic heritage. Until then, he assumed that most American Muslims arrived in the 20th century, and he was unaware of any Islamic connection in his own family prior to his personal acceptance of Islam 35 years ago.

But Muhammad discovered he does have Muslim ancestors, as do many African Americans and Native Americans, and that the story of Islam in America reaches back much further than most people imagine.

In 1996, he established the nonprofit organization Collections & Stories of American Muslims (CSAM), of which he is president and curator. His goal is to uncover and preserve America’s Islamic heritage and to create a greater awareness of the Islamic experience in America.

CSAM exhibitions have been displayed at universities, public libraries and community centers in the United States and abroad, including the Smithsonian Institution’s Anacostia Museum and Center for African American History and Culture, located in Washington. Muhammad is seeking a building to house his collection.

Muhammad begins his account of America’s Islamic heritage with Moors fleeing the Spanish Inquisition. One of them was Estevanico, a Moor born in North Africa, who accompanied Spanish explorers in 1527 to what would become the Southwestern United States.

Slavery enters the story of Islam in America with the early European settlement. One of the myths Muhammad seeks to dispel is that enslaved Africans brought by the settlers had no organized religion and could not read or write.

He cites the story of Ayuba (Job) Suleiman Diallo, who was captured in 1730 in The Gambia and brought to Annapolis, Maryland, where he was sold into slavery. Diallo wrote a letter in Arabic to his father, according to Muhammad. The letter came to the attention of James Oglethorpe, the founder of the U.S. state Georgia, who helped buy Diallo’s freedom. Oglethorpe sent him to London and then back to his homeland to work for the Royal African Company of London. While in London, Diallo wrote down in Arabic three copies of the Quran from memory.

The CSAM exhibition includes four Quranic suras written in Arabic by a man named Charno in 1768, petitions written in Arabic by South Carolina Muslims seeking their freedom in 1753 and 1790, and photos of a diary in Arabic kept by a man named Ben Ali around 1829. Sources from the 17th and 18th centuries often refer to African Americans as Muslims, or as bearing Muslim names, or as practicing the Islamic faith. Muhammad notes that many early American Muslims had engraved on their tombstones a hand with one finger pointing up as the Islamic symbol of God’s oneness, and their tombstones were facing toward Makkah.

In every war the United States has fought, Muslims have played a role. Two Muslims who fought with distinction in the American Revolutionary War, Peter Salem and Salem Poor, have been honored on U.S. postage stamps.

Muhammad also has found records of 292 U.S. Civil War veterans with Islamic names who fought for the Union and more than 5,200 American Muslims who served in World War I.

By the later 19th century and early 20th century, Muslim immigrants were arriving in America from Yemen, Albania, Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, Palestine, Jordan, India and Poland. In 1899, Syrian immigrants in Ross, North Dakota, established what may have been the first Muslim place of worship in America. But the “first effective mosque in North America” was built by Albanian Muslims in Biddeford, Maine, in 1915, according to Muhammad.

He says that as a Muslim, he has found the stories that he uncovered inspiring. American Muslims from various backgrounds “kept their faith no matter how bad things were,” he said during a presentation at the State Department August 9.

“Muslims and Islam have been a part of the American fabric for centuries,” he said. “It is part of the many threads of culture, colors, religions and lifestyles that make up the American pluralistic quilt.”

Muhammad has written several books, including America’s Masajid and Islamic Centers: A Pictorial Account, Muslims in America: 7 Centuries of History, People of Color in Pre-Islamic and Islamic History and Contributions of Muslims to the World.

More information is available on the CSAM Web site.

Caught without a country

Five years ago, the Thai police arrested Afang Chue Mua and threatened to deport her, to send her to back to Myanmar. But Afang was born in Thailand and so were her parents.

They are members of one of seven hill tribes living in Northern Thailand. David Hawkins, reporting for AlJazeera from mae Chan in Thailand, investigates the country's stateless people.

Robert Zoellick heads to Asia .

Newly appointed World Bank President Robert Zoellick will travel to Asia next week. He will visit big aid donors Japan and Australia as well as poor borrowers Cambodia and Vietnam.

a career in environmental consultancy?

Any young graduates in environmental sciences & related fields out there interested in building a career in environmental consultancy? I would like to hear from you.

Must warn you, though - hard work, low pay, may need to travel to or be temporarily located in remote places, ride leaky boats on choppy seas, wade through mud and swamps, get bitten by leeches, wake up early but sleep late, sleep in cheap rickety chalets, etc.

Must have the patience to watch paint dry, besides the ability to think on your feet. Ability to quote at least Popper, if not Freud, is an added advantage.

Email me you CV if you think you want this kind of life. :-)


Ishak bin Ariffin
via Natura (M) Sdn Bhd.
305C Jalan Bandar 12, Taman Melawati, 53100 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Tel: +603-41 066 077 Fax: +603-41 066 011 Email: ishakvnsb@po.jaring.my or vianatura.sb@gmail.com