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For vernacular Arabic speakers, learning literary Arabic as hard as new language—researcher
HAIFA (Press Release)—Literary Arabic is expressed in the brain of an Arabic speaker as a second language and not as a mother tongue. This has been shown in a new study by Dr. Raphiq Ibrahim of the Edmond J. Safra Brain Research Center for the Study of Learning Disabilities at the University of Haifa's Department of Learning Disabilities. "The cognitive disparity between the two languages is similar to the difference between a native and a second language. This offers an explanation for the objective and day-to-day difficulties that confront Arabic-speaking students when attempting to learn to read the non-spoken language," the researcher explains. The new study has been published in the Journal of Psychology Research and Behavior Management.
The Arabic language differentiates between the everyday spoken language, which has varying local dialects, and the written, literary Arabic (so called Modern Standard Arabic - MSA), which is shared by all Arabic speakers and is learned in all schools alongside reading and writing. According to Dr. Ibrahim, data collected over the past few years examining the Arabic reading skills and comprehension of Arabic-speaking students in Israel and Arab countries have shown a lower level of proficiency compared to Hebrew-speaking counterparts in Hebrew and to other native speakers in their native languages. One assumption has been that the difference between the languages influences the student's levels. The current research sought to examine the cognitive status of spoken Arabic versus MSA in the brain, by means of a priming technique: examining the effect of auditory presented words in one language on the cognitive processing of the same word in another language. In order to do so, the researcher compared the priming effects between MSA, spoken Arabic and Hebrew amongst native Arabic speakers who master the three languages.
The results have shown that the cognitive process in using MSA in a bilingual native Arabic speaker who is also fluent in Hebrew is more similar to that employed for Hebrew, which is a second language, and less similar to the cognitive process of using a mother tongue. As such, all Arabic speakers who are fluent in MSA are considered de facto bilinguals. Dr. Ibrahim explains that "the results of this study indicate that linguistic structures of MSA that constitute the basis for reading acquisition are likely to be unfamiliar to the Arabic-speaking child when beginning to learn to read in first grade. This makes learning to read in Arabic a double mission, whereby children are expected to acquire in parallel an auditory linguistic system as well as a complex orthographic-visual language system." He adds that this could have a negative effect on the development of reading skills and could compromise a pupil's achievements in the higher grades, especially for less skilled students. This new study also implies that MSA ought to be taught with techniques usually employed for the instruction of a second language. One such known technique, for example, is auditory exposure to a second language as early as preschool and kindergarten.
Haifa researchers say marijuana may help in PTSD treatment
HAIFA (Press Release)—Use of cannabinoids (marijuana) could assist in the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder patients. This is exposed in a new study carried out at the Learning and Memory Lab in the University of Haifa's Department of Psychology. The study, carried out by research student Eti Ganon-Elazar under the supervision of Dr. Irit Akirav, was published in the prestigious Journal of Neuroscience.
In most cases, the result of experiencing a traumatic event – a car accident or terror attack – is the appearance of medical and psychological symptoms that affect various functions, but which pass. However, some 10%-30% of people who experience a traumatic event develop post-traumatic stress disorder, a condition in which the patient continues to suffer stress symptoms for months and even years after the traumatic event. Symptoms include reawakened trauma, avoidance of anything that could recall the trauma, and psychological and physiological disturbances. One of the problems in the course of treating trauma patients is that a person is frequently exposed to additional stress, which hinders the patient's overcoming the trauma.
The present study, carried out by Dr. Akirav and research student Eti Ganon-Elazar, aimed to examine the efficiency of cannabinoids as a medical treatment for coping with post-traumatic stress. The researchers used a synthetic form of marijuana, which has similar properties to the natural plant, and they chose to use a rat model, which presents similar physiological responses to stress to that of humans.
The first stage of the research examined how long it took for the rats to overcome a traumatic experience, without any intervention. A cell colored white on one side and black on the other was prepared. The rats were placed in the white area, and as soon as they moved over to the black area, which they prefer, they received a light electric shock. Each day they were brought to the cell and placed back in the white area. Immediately following exposure to the traumatic experience, the rats would not move to the black area voluntarily, but a few days later after not receiving further electric shocks in the black area, they learned that it is safe again and moved there without hesitation.
Next, the researchers introduced an element of stress. A second group of rats were placed on a small, elevated platform after receiving the electric shock, which added stress to the traumatic experience. These rats abstained from returning to the black area in the cell for much longer, which shows that the exposure to additional stress does indeed hinder the process of overcoming trauma.
The third stage of the research examined yet another group of rats. These were exposed to the traumatic and additional stress events, but just before being elevated on the platform received an injection of synthetic marijuana in the amygdala area of the brain – a specific area known to be connected to emotive memory. These rats agreed to enter the black area after the same amount of time as the first group – showing that the synthetic marijuana cancelled out the symptoms of stress. Refining the results of this study, the researchers then administered marijuana injections at different points in time on additional groups of rats, and found that regardless of when exactly the injection was administered, it prevented the surfacing of stress symptoms.
Dr. Akirav and Ganon-Elazar also examined hormonal changes in the course of the experiment and found that synthetic marijuana prevents increased release of the stress hormone that the body produces in response to stress.
According to Dr. Akirav, the results of this study show that cannabinoids can play an important role in stress-related disorders. "The results of our research should encourage psychiatric investigation into the use of cannabinoids in post-traumatic stress patients," she concludes.
Canada now representing Israeli interests in Venezuela
CARACAS, Venezuela (Press Release)--The Canadian Embassy has begun representing Israel’s diplomatic and consular interests in Venezuela. This follows the suspension of diplomatic ties between the two countries in January 2009 by President Hugo Chávez and the expulsion of Israel’s ambassador in Caracas. In addition to relaying diplomatic communications between Israel and Venezuela, Canada will also provide consular services for Israeli citizens or those seeking to travel to Israel. Since January, Venezuelans Jews lacking Israeli passports had to travel to either Bogota, Colombia or Miami to request a visa.
Venezuelan Jews last week said that the Chávez government has stopped issuing visas for Israelis seeking to visit the South American nation. The leftist president has repeatedly adopted a strident tone against Israel, often equating it with his other foe, the United States. At the same time, Chávez has forged close relations with countries such as Iran, Libya and Syria. Earlier this year, he told the Arab news channel ‘Al-Jazeera’ that there were no plans to resume diplomatic relations with Israel until the latter reconsidered its "genocidal attitude."
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Merkel tells US Congress Iran must not get nuclear weapons
SAN DIEGO (WJC)—Addressing a joint session of Congress in Washington, German Chancellor Angela Merkel paid tribute to the six million Jews and other victims who perished during the Holocaust, which she called a "break with civilization." Merkel, who was re-elected as German leader last week, also expressed regret for the "hatred, destruction and annihilation Germany brought over Europe and rest of the world," during World War II.
She lashed out at Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Iran’s nuclear program: "A nuclear bomb in the hands of an Iranian president who denies the Holocaust, threatens Israel and denies Israel the right to exist is not acceptable.”
“Zero tolerance needs to be shown when there is a risk of weapons of mass destruction falling, for example, into the hands of Iran and threatening our security," Merkel said in her address to Congressmen and senators. She said Germany recognized the need to confront Iran directly on this issue, with stiff sanctions if necessary
Holocaust denier Ramin
now Iran's media chief
TEHRAN (WJC)—Mohammad-Ali Ramin, a top advisor to Iran’s President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and considered by many as ‘the brain’ behind the president's repeated Holocaust denial, has been appointed as the Iran’s new deputy culture minister, in charge of media and communications. Ramin is the regime's most hard-line Holocaust denier and anti-Semite. He currently serves as secretary-general of the Tehran-based World Holocaust Foundation, which was established at an international conference of Holocaust deniers in Tehran in 2006. A number of controversial figures, including former Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke, attended that conference.
Ramin, who reportedly lived in Germany for a number of years, was quoted as saying in a 2006 interview with a an online newspaper that Adolf Hitler was Jewish and that Hitler's policies were aimed at bringing about the establishment of a Jewish state. In another interview with the ‘Shahrvand’ publication, Ramin said that he had never denied nor confirmed the Holocaust. "My slogan is: allow the claim of the Holocaust to be studied." He also expressed hope that one day when "Europeans will guarantee freedom of expression," the headquarters of his foundation could be transferred to Berlin.
On another occasion, he was quoted as dubbing Jews filthy people who spread lethal disease: "Through history, there were many claims against the Jews. They were the source of lethal disease such as the Plague and typhoid fever, because they are extremely filthy people." In his current post as official in charge of communications and the press, Ramin will be able to influence Iran’s media agenda.
Iran reportedly repressing those who say Holocaust happened
NEW YORK (Press Release)—In a crackdown never seen before, Iranian authorities have moved against college students for expressing belief that the Holocaust occurred, representing a "frightening escalation of hate-filled efforts to deny the Holocaust and assail the memory of the Jewish victims."
The Amir Kabir news agency reported that in September the president of Khaje Nasir University ordered the student newsletter shuttered because it printed articles that insinuated that the Holocaust did indeed take place. They added that the Basiji, the Iranian regime's "enforcers" threatened to use force against the university administrators if the student paper was not closed.
Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadenijad has made denying the Holocaust a major theme of his regime. On September 18, around the time of the demanded closure, he said, "They (the Western powers) launched the myth of the Holocaust. They lied, they put on a show and then they support the Jews."
World leaders roundly condemned these remarks with the US describing them as "ignorant and hateful." Until now, no reports of Iranian actions against those speaking about the reality of the Holocaust have surfaced. These new threats against freedom of expression represents a shocking step toward depriving Iranians of their civil rights. Sources for this story noted that pressure from the government on Iran's educational centers is proof of the regime's totalitarian nature.
As the foremost organization worldwide of Holocaust survivors and their families, the American Gathering is "appalled that in present-day Iran, where Holocaust denial abounds, it is now dangerous to express belief in the historical tragedy of the Shoah. This represents a new level of moral abasement."
"We ask the United States Congress and the Administration to investigate this abysmal matter, and call upon them and other international leaders to express, in the strongest terms, their revulsion of these new threats to decency and historic truth."
MP Wilshire apologizes for likening scandal-plagued politicians to Holocaust victims
LONDON (WJC)—The British member of Parliament (MP) David Wilshire, of the Conservative Party, has offered an "unreserved" apology for comparing politicians caught up in an expenses scandal to Holocaust victims. Wilshire is to stand down at the next election after being found guilty of having diverted GBP 100,000 (US$ 164,000) from his parliamentary office allowance to his private company. In the wake of the scandal, which affected many other members of Parliament, Wilshire wrote to his constituents that “The witch hunt against MPs will undermine democracy. It will weaken Parliament. Branding a whole group of people as undesirables led to Hitler's gas chambers."
Jon Benjamin, chief executive of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, said: "There is no comparison between the treatment of MPs and the persecution and murder of innocent men, women and children. To draw a parallel displays a lack of judgment and sensitivity." Conservative party leader David Cameron said Wilshire’s comments had been "frankly ludicrous".
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