Addressing sex education in the Middle East: from toddlers to teens

Would an open approach toward the taboo subject of sex be such a bad thing in the region? Why do I like 'cupcakes' more than I like 'people'? Still asking questions about Amina who has now been proven to be the creation of a hoax, Energy 'rich' countries run short of energy, and the appeal (or not) of graphic images in the media.

Sexual subjects are largely hidden from children to young adults in the Middle East and the young find out from 'others'.

Chasing Pavements [2]

Sexual Education

Educating the Middle East young in the world of sex that they will eventually be faced with. This can surely be done in an empowering way for the Mid-easterners that should not be considered oppressed or backward, opines 'Rain'. "I've written a post about this before,and then I deleted it,why? because simply it would be misunderstood.. Why I'm writing about this again is this incident: I'm sitting with my 4 year old nephew,we're doodling and playing,I drew him a duck..he said it's pretty but needs some modification,I gave him the pen and watched him draw a circle at the bottom of the duck saying that that is supposed to be its private area,and then he was silent for a bit..and then drew a pair of boobs for the duck,I think he was considering that the word duck is feminine in Arabic so it must be a girl.."

Electronic Intifada [3]

New evidence about Amina, the "Gay Girl in Damascus" hoax

Rumors that 'she' operates in Hebrew too abound: "We have gathered compelling new evidence regarding the “Gay Girl in Damascus” blogger hoax." "We believe the story of Amina to be totally baseless and the doubts expressed by other observers, such as Liz Henry and Andy Carvin, to be entirely founded."

The Emirates Economist [4]

Energy rich country out of gas, electricity

Things are not always as they seem: "It's life in the UAE and it's been going on for years."

Ahmad Quatato [5]

"20 QUESTIONS THAT COULD CHANGE YOUR LIFE"

Curiosity may have killed the cat, but it's usually only enhanced man or woman: "If you’re like most people, you became obsessed with questions around the age of two or three, and scientists now know that continuing to ask them can help keep your mind nimble however old you eventually become."

Beirut Spring [6]

Should Newspapers Put Gory Images On Their Front Pages?

Do graphic images in news generate the desired response, or do people tune out? "I was looking at Almustaqbal’s front page (pdf) and could not believe that they have chosen that image as their main picture for the Syria story. "