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Plan to Bring American Tourists
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IIPT is taking steps to build bridges of mutual understanding between the peoples of Iran and the United States.
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The International Institute of Peace through Tourism (IIPT) plans to launch its Persian Journey tours to get better acquainted with the rich Persian civilization.
IIPT is taking steps to build bridges of mutual understanding between the peoples of Iran and the United States by offering Americans opportunities to visit this ancient cradle of civilization and experience its culture and hospitality, Moj News Agency wrote.
In announcing the tours, IIPT Founder and President Louis DÕAmore said, ÒIIPT is pleased to launch its Persian Journey tours. We recognize IranÕs historical significance as a civilization and the importance of building bridges of understanding between our cultures.Ó
ÒThe Iran tours have been crafted to reinforce IIPTÕs dedication to making Travel and Tourism the worldÕs first Global Peace Industry and the belief Ôthat every traveler is potentially an ambassador for peaceÕ. The tours will exemplify IIPTÕs ideals and values,Ó he said.
Two 11-day tours will depart in Fall 2009 hosted by the IIPTÕs World Peace Travel program as part of its continuing efforts in Òpromoting a culture of peace through tourismÓ.
IIPT believes visitors to Iran will find the country rich in history, vibrant in culture and warm in hospitality, with Iranians eager to meet and welcome Americans to Iran.
Donald King, IIPT ambassador at large, has led several previous trips to Iran and firmly believes, ÒThere is no warmer welcome for Americans anywhere than in Iran.Ó
IIPTÕs first tour to Iran is scheduled for Sept. 22-Oct. 2, 2009, and will be led by DÕAmore. The second tour is scheduled for Oct. 6-16, 2009, and will be led by Donald King.
Both tours have identical itineraries and will take in the splendor of IranÕs ancient and modern civilization showcased at its three main cities: Tehran, Shiraz and Isfahan.
The tours will visit the treasure trove of museums in Tehran, magnificent ruins of Persepolis and the grandeurs of the old city of Isfahan.
The spectacular sightseeing will also be complimented by off the beaten track excursions such as an evening visiting nomads, sipping tea along the bridges overlooking the scenic Zayandeh River or exploring the myriads of bustling bazaars.
The Persian Journey tours are being organized in cooperation with the American Society of Travel Agents.
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Imam Khomeini a Global Personality
A Syrian researcher said the late Imam KhomeiniÕs approach toward women is a lesson for all Islamic countries.
Maryam Kheyrbeck made the above statement in a conference dubbed ÒImam KhomeiniÕs Role in Awareness of Muslim WomenÓ on Saturday, IRNA reported.
ÒThe womenÕs situation in Iran is a model for other women in the world, especially Muslim and Arab women,Ó she said.
She added that Imam Khomeini always believed women are half of the society who train the other half, noting that he played a big role in promoting womenÕs role in society.
Kheyrbeck urged all countries to embrace ImamÕs beliefs about women.
University professors, students and Syrian women personalities attended the one-day conference sponsored by IranÕs Embassy in Damascus.
Conference in Norway
On the occasion of 20th death anniversary of the late Imam Khomeini, a conference was held in Oslo dubbed ÒImam Khomeini and Islamic MoralityÓ on Saturday.
Representatives from different cultural and Islamic centers in Norway presented their papers in the confab.
One of the speakers, Hojjatoleslam EÕjaz Hossein Ashna, called the late Imam a global personality belonging to the whole humanity and said although he passed away 20 years ago, his words and way still show the road to every truth-seeking person.
A Lebanese cleric residing in Norway, Sheikh Mahmoud Jaloul, said the late Imam brought new concepts into the world political literature.
IranÕs charge dÕaffaires in Oslo, Mohsen Bavafa, presented a historical background of IranÕs Islamic Revolution under the leadership of Imam Khomeini and added that the hegemonic powers were trying to spread anti-cultural values in the Islamic society, but the Imam neutralized the plot.
In the conference, a number of poets recited poems in Arabic, Urdu and English to describe late ImamÕs characters.
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Donor Organ Personality Worrisome
Most people have a strong aversion to the idea of receiving a donor organ from a killer, a study suggests.
Those questioned said they would be far happier receiving a transplant from someone with a good moral background, the Cheltenham Science Festival heard.
It follows on from research which found one in three organ transplant patients believe they have taken on some aspects of the donorÕs personality.
Around 16 million people are on the UK organ donor register, BBC reported.
Professor Bruce Hood, a cognitive neuroscientist at the University of Bristol, tested the effects of information about the morals of a potential donor in 20 students who were asked to imagine they needed a life-saving heart transplant.
They were shown pictures of strangers and asked to rate how happy they would be to receive an organ from them.
The students were then shown the photos a second time but told that the person was good or bad.
Negative scores increased dramatically when they were told the donor was a bad person.
When told they were looking at pictures of good people, there was a small increase in positive ratings.
The largest negative effect was for a murdererÕs heart.
Connection
Professor Hood told the conference that he had spoken with patients who believe they have taken on a psychic connection with their organ donors, and even their memories and experiences.
ÒSome of the psychological changes many patients experience have very good physiological explanations. However, according to one survey of transplant patients, approximately one in three attributes this change to taking on psychological characteristics of the donor even though conventional science has generally rejected the idea that such transference is possible.Ó
He added that in one case, a British teenager was forcibly given a heart transplant against her will because she feared that she would be Òdifferent with someone elseÕs heartÓ.
ÒThis explains the findings that most people were repulsed by the thought of receiving a transplant from a murderer. Essentially they believe they will somehow take on those characteristics of the donor,Ó Prof. Hood said.
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Drugs SeizedIn Sistan-Baluchestan
Authorities in Sistan-Baluchistan province have seized the biggest consignment of drugs in eastern Iran, which included 4,707 kilograms of opium and morphine.
Commenting on the news, commander of the provincial Fath Operational and Law-Enforcement Headquarters, Brigadier General Gholamali Nekoei, said 2,927 kilograms of opium and 1,780 kilograms of morphine were confiscated in Koy-e Khajeh city, IRNA reported.
Nekoei did not give details about those arrested in the operation.
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Mexico Fire Deaths Rise
The death toll from a fire at a daycare center in northern Mexico rose to 38 children with 23 more hospitalized, many with life-threatening burns, Mexican authorities said on Saturday.
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Iran Will Publish Afghan School Books
An official announced that Iran would be publishing textbooks for AfghanistanÕs schools.
Reza Rezaei, the head of IranÕs printing industry union, told Mehr News Agency that representatives from the union have discussed the issue with an Afghan publisher and over 70 percent of the job have been completed.
ÒWe hope to become like India someday and print a majority of publications used by other countries. This is possible for Iran but requires more logical program,Ó he said.
ÒIn recent years, Iran has enjoyed dynamic developments in the printing industry and has the potential to become a regional magnet for the export of printed products.Ó
Pointing to the exhibit of Saudi Print 2009 in October, Rezaei said representatives from IranÕs printing industry can register for this event at the union.
The organizers of Saudi Print have designated 300 square meters for Iranian participants.
Life, Health Insurers Invest Big in Tobacco
Major US, Canadian and British life and health insurance companies have billions of dollars invested in tobacco companies.
Wesley Boyd, the studyÕs lead author, found that at least $4.4 billion in insurance company funds are invested in companies whose affiliates produce cigarettes, cigars and chewing tobacco, AFP reported.
ÒDespite calls upon the insurance industry to get out of the tobacco business by physicians and others, insurers continue to put their profits above peopleÕs health,Ó said Boyd, a faculty member of Harvard Medical School.
ÒItÕs clear their top priority is making money, not safeguarding peopleÕs wellbeing,Ó he wrote.
Tobacco is considered the leading cause of lung cancer and a major risk factor for heart attack, stroke, pulmonary disease and cancer.
According to the World Health Organization, it is a contributing factor in 5.4 million deaths a year.
Researchers first revealed that health and life insurance companies had major investments in tobacco companies in 1995 in an article in the British medical journal Lancet.
Firefighters Most Trusted Group
Firefighters are the most trusted professionals in Europe and the United States, and politicians the least, with bank employees considerably less trusted than a year ago, according to a survey.
After a year in which much of the world slid into recession led by a crisis in the financial sector, just 37 percent of respondents to a survey by market research institute GfK said they trusted bankers, compared with 45 percent a year ago, Reuters reported.
Firefighters were trusted by 92 percent of respondents, and politicians by 18 percent.
Some of the biggest variations between the countries included in the survey--16 European countries and the United States--were found in levels of trust in the church, the police and judges.
The clergy is trusted by 88 percent of Romanians but just 26 percent of Greeks, for example, while just 37 percent of the Russians surveyed said they trusted the police, compared with 88 percent in Germany. Bulgarian judges won 31 percent approval, while in Poland 86 percent said they trusted judges.
Melbourne WorldÕs Swine Flu Capital
AustraliaÕs second city of Melbourne has become the Òswine flu capital of the worldÓ, according to a report, as the countryÕs confirmed tally of the disease soared to 1,009.
Some 874 of the infections have been detected in the southern state of Victoria, with most of those cases concentrated in the north and west of the state capital Melbourne, the health department said on Saturday.
The disease has spread more than 1,000-fold in the past three weeks, hitting schools in the Melbourne area hard and making Victoria the worst affected area on earth per head of population, The Australian newspaper said.
ÒMelbourne is now the swine-flu capital of the world, with the H1N1 virus twice as prevalent in the Victorian population as it is in Mexico, where the pandemic began,Ó the respected daily reported.
ÒWith the stateÕs comparatively small population, swine flu occurs in about one in 9,139 Victorians--more than double the one in 21,860 Mexicans with the virus and triple the one in 27,295 people with swine flu in the US,Ó it added.
Australian swine flu cases now represent about 4.5 percent of the 21,940 confirmed cases in 69 countries reported to the World Health Organization.
Health Minister Nicola Roxon said late Friday that swine flu would remain on the rise for some time.
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