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Heritage Geology – The Limestones of Moray
You are here: Home1 / Heritage Geology – The Limestones of Moray
Article by Don Stewart, Trustee – Scottish Geology Trust
Morayshire has a poor limestone resource, at least when compared to neighbouring Banffshire, and many other parts of Scotland. So, in the 18th and 19th centuries, when locally sourced lime was highly valued for agricultural improvement and building materials, there was intense exploitation of the sparse outcrops that existed.
The Morayshire limestones are somewhat enigmatic, being unusual in origin, i.e. not the usual lagoonal depositional setting that characterises large limestone deposits e.g. Banffshire, central Scotland and the Pennines of northern England. The modern analogue of such lagoonal deposition is found in the Bahamas.
Figure 1: Old Red Sandstone with caliche layers.
Instead, the Moray limestones are historically termed "cornstones", or in current geological terminology "calcretes" or "caliches". These are pedogenic or soil-forming deposits. In an arid desert environment, a land surface exposed for an extended period, many thousands of years, will form a soil horizon at surface. Sporadic heavy rainfall will penetrate deeply, and over the dry periods these ground waters will be drawn back up to evaporate, but carrying with them, in solution, carbonates and other minerals from the deep subsuface. Thus a significant concentration of calcium carbonate can arise in the soil. Subsequent burial by further deposition leads to calcrete formation as part of the diagenetic or rock-forming processes. The modern analogue of such processes is in the deserts of western USA where these soil formations are termed caliches.
In this article, I consider both the Devonian (Old Red Sandstone) cornstones, and the Triassic calcretes/silcretes, known locally as "the Cherty Rock". A really good example of such calcrete formation within the Old Red Sandstone can be seen on the shore at Milton Ness, just north of St Cyrus in Angus. Fig 1 shows a small section. Here again it was considerably exploited for limestone, serving several large kilns along the Angus coast.
Localities:
Figure 2: The riverside locality at Cothall
So, in the Elgin and Forres districts we have these cornstones within the upper Old Red Sandstones. There is a zone running SSW from the Boar's Head Rock, east of Lossiemouth, to Mayne Woods, just west of Elgin Golf Course. It is apparently abruptly terminated by a splay of the Rothes Glen fault, although similar rocks appear further west again at Cothall Quarry, a kilometre or so SW of Forres on the right bank of the River Findhorn. These limestones will be of the order of 370 million years old, in the late Devonian period.
Nearer the coast there are further calcrete occurrences, but this time in Triassic rocks of some 200million years age. While the diagenesis is broadly the same process, the result is much more variable in that there can be a "silcrete" rather than a "calcrete" or anything in between. If the rising fluids are silica concentrates rather than carbonate, then we get a silcrete formation. Thus we have the Cherty Rock of Stotfield outcropping near Inverugie, a kilometer south of Hopemen where limestone was quarried, burned and exported by railway to Hopeman harbour, and at Stotfield where the rock is primarily a silcrete, or a chert liberally infused with drusy quartz crystals and galena (lead sulphide).
Investigation across the Moray Firth at Golspie (Batten et al, 1986), where the same Triassic sequence occurs, has demonstrated that the Cherty Rock represents the top of the Triassic, being superseded above by now proven lower Jurassic Dunrobin deposits. There is borehole evidence in Moray of the lower Jurassic, but always in faulted blocks, and nowhere seen deposited directly on the chert. Another minor locality has been mapped in the old surveys at Spynie Palace. Here the modern maps confirm a faulted outcrop of Cherty Rock, with Triassic Lossiemouth Sandstone below and Jurassic Dunrobin Bay Formation above (not exposed – determined by borehole drilling).
Thus the Cherty Rock has become an important stratigraphical marker at the Triassic-Jurassic boundary, particularly in the offshore Moray Firth hydrocarbon basin.
Sites of Exploitation:
Figure 3: The kiln and quarry (beyond at right) at Elgin Golf Course
The Elgin Calcrete Formation, as now named by the British Geological Survey (BGS), outcrops to the east and south of Elgin. The late 19th Century geological survey shows cornstone outcrops at Stonewells and Nether Meft near Innes House. Then a larger outcrop from south of New Elgin across to Mayne Woods, is mapped, together with minor outcrops at Waulkmill (Pinefield) and Pittendreich to the west of the River Lossie. The reported exploitation (Robertson et al) describes quarrying at all these localities (analysed at 88.5% CaCO3 at Stonewells), but more recent surveys (Peacock et al) indicate poor or non-existent exposure now.
Research using the mid 19th century 6" OS maps shows significant quarrying and limekilns now under housing in south New Elgin, quarrying on what is now Elgin Golf course and at Mayne Wood, with a limekiln. Site visits have confirmed the quarry on the golf course at [NJ 2149 6094] with some clean minor exposures of cornstone nearby, an overgrown quarry in Mayne Wood with some dismal vegetated exposures [NJ 2124 6062], and a relict kiln at [NJ 2139 6087], shown below. It's interesting to note the quality of the masonry here, and its relatively good preservation because the golf course has resisted housing developments!
Figure 4: The clean riverside nodular calcrete exposure at Cothall
Cothall Quarry [NJ 010 560] near Forres is somewhat of a revelation, there being an extensive excavation with some excellent but variable exposures of calcareous sediments. The quarry is some 200 meters long with a fairly continuous 7.5 metre deep formation, in which there is 3 metres of massive limestone (Parnell 1983). In places it appears thicker, but this is probably due to local faulting moving the formation vertically. There is a particularly clean exposure close to the river bank beneath the track (NJ 0109 5597]. Here some of the rock is greenish in colour, due in part to a baryte content (Parnell 1983). BGS now ascribes this limestone to the top of the Kingsteps Sandstone Formation, interleaved between those beds and the Alves beds above. Old analysis (Robertson et al, 1949) showed 92.77% CaCO3.
From the New Statisical Account "There is a limestone quarry on the farm of Mundole belonging to Sir William G. Cumming, where kilns are in constant operation, and lime is sold, but chiefly to the proprietor's own tenants".
With careful searching, the remains of two small kilns can be found adjacent to the track on the main quarry side [NJ 0117 5596]. Small exposures of the internal bowl masonry and some vitrified rock can still be seen in the side-by-side hollows in the bank. The kiln size appears at odds with the quarry size. A larger masonry structure is more common at such large quarry sites. Limekilns Wood and Limekilns Cottage names possibly give clues!
Figure.5: The calcrete exposure at the A96 Findhorn bridge
This cornstone outcrop was noted in earlier surveys to continue downstream to the bridge (now the A96). Certainly it can be seen across the river on the left bank at Cothall striking northwards, but is now mapped by BGS as a horizon connecting both banks just north of Cothall. A calcrete is evident on the river Findhorn bed below the A96 bridge, at the NW left bank. Here, BGS names this the Boathill Limestone Member mapped in a faulted block with Alves Sandstone, thereby not relating it directly to the Cothall outcrop.
At Hopeman, there was extensive quarrying and at least one kiln just to the north of Inverugie House at NJ 151 686. However there has been recent housing development which has largely obliterated the workings and kilns. An informal survey and publication by W. Ashley Bartlam in 2001 can be inspected at Elgin Museum. This describes the site some years back, including mention of two kiln remnants and a gravity tramway to Hopeman harbour.
An extract from Bill Bartlam's publication below, shows the scale of this kiln, and its state of repair and visibility in 2001:
To the east of the middle house in the development there is an area of undeveloped rough ground with a quarry remnant now much infilled with debris. There is no evident rock exposure or sign of any kiln structure. Kilns were at [NJ 1502 6865] and [NJ 1504 6863] just west of the quarry, probably now under the garden of this house. At least one kiln was quite large, about 8 metres in diameter and about 6 metres in height. From the New Statistical Account: "Yields were about 3500 bolls of lime at 3s.6d. per boll (Moray barley measure)"
The most westerly house, on the right as you approach on the track from Hopeman, is encircled by a small quarried cliff of cherty rock [NJ 149 685]. With permission from the householder, it's possible to inspect the chert in all its variability, with some quite clean exposures of both silcretes and calcretes.
Figure 6: Part of the remaining Inverugie calcrete / silcrete exposures at NJ 149 685.
Moving on to Stotfield at Lossiemouth, there is ample opportunity to inspect the Cherty Rock in a considerable coastal exposure. Here it is primarily a silcrete rather than a calcrete, and has been worked for galena.
There is also limestone in the Buckie Beds at Buckpool, of a different petrogenesis, to be covered in a future article.
Finally, the site of the old quarry at Linksfield, Bishopmill was the location of a large Jurassic clay glacial erratic, which, when much quarried for clay, exposed a quarry floor of cornstone. A kiln existed at [NJ 2209 6408] where there is a suitable mounded site, but vegetation has obscured any construction.
ROBERTSON et al 1949, The Limestones of Scotland, Institute of Geol Sciences, HMSO.
PEACOCK et al 1968, The Geology of the Elgin District, Mem. Geol. Survey.
PARNELL, J. 1983. The Cothall Limestone. Scottish Journal of Geology, Vol. 19, 215–218
BATTEN et al, 1986. The Triassic-Jurassic junction at Golspie, inner Moray Firth Basin, Scottish Journal of Geology, Vol. 22, Part 1, 85-98.
The Second Statistical Account of Scotland, 1845.
BARTLAM, W. Ashley. 2001, Stones and Quarrying in Moray, Published by the author, copy available at Elgin Museum.


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Andy Robertson on Liverpool's Premier League Trophy Lift: We Can't Wait
It's coming.
By GraceOnFootball@GraceOnFootball Jul 19, 2020, 12:30pm BST
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Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images
Liverpool won the Premier League approximately 700 years ago and still haven't lifted the trophy.
Andy Robertson hasn't let it deter him.
"We can't wait!" Robertson told Liverpoolfc.com. "Obviously when we won the Champions League last year you get the trophy in a matter of minutes after the game and then you don't let go of it, so we've had to wait three weeks it will be, but to see Hendo lift the trophy above his head will be emotional.
"It will be all the emotions into one, I think. Seeing our captain lift a trophy that has not been at the club for 30 years will bring joy and happiness and everything along with it.
"Of course we would love the fans to be there to enjoy a big celebration against Chelsea but it's not meant to be and we'll try to make the most of it.
"But the fact that Hendo gets his hands on the trophy is enough for us and we look forward to that game so much, and then we can really celebrate with the trophy in our hands."
Robertson has undoubtedly been an outstanding performer and deserves his medal. It's just a shame we can't all be there to see it happen, but still, happy days.
Premier League 2019-20 Title Celebration: Liverpool vs. Chelsea
Digging Deeper Into Liverpool's 5-3 Win over Chelsea
Klopp: The Trophy Ceremony Will Be Great, But First There's a Game to Play

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The Boathouse Hotel
Hospitality with a Heart in Holyhead
By | Gan Kirsty Williams
The Boathouse Hotel - a lively community hub providing eco-tourism in Holyhead
The newly-created Boathouse Hotel is the first social enterprise Eco-Hotel in North Wales with a social and environmental mission. Nestled in a dip on Newry Beach Promenade, the Boathouse Hotel boasts a perfect location on the Anglesey Coastal Path overlooking Holyhead Harbour, Holyhead Breakwater, the Irish Sea and the ferries sailing in all weathers. Furthermore, the hotel is situated within a recommended Star Gazing location due to the low light pollution and is minutes from stunning coastal walks, a SSSI, and the wild nature of Wales.
As a social enterprise, in addition to traditional tourism and hospitality, the Boathouse is committed to contributing to the local community and the environment. The organisational mission is to develop the hotel into a lively community hub that fosters community cohesion as well as provide tourists with an eco-choice for locally sourced food and beverages and comfortable accommodation. Since taking over management of the Boathouse Hotel in 2021, Wild Hospitality has cultivated a space of belonging, warmth and well-being for the local community and implemented a series of green initiatives to ensure the hotel is as environmentally friendly and sustainable as possible. The Boathouse has already attracted recognition for its innovation and social initiatives. Within the first year they were named as Finalists in the Social Business Awards Wales in 2022 in the 'Ones to Watch' category.
Wild Elements has been involved in Holyhead for a number of years, delivering outdoor education sessions to local schools, training programmes to adults, and allotment development, and wanted to further their community support, leading to the creation of Wild Hospitality and the Boathouse. Since taking over the Boathouse, they have initiated a number of community-based activities to foster belonging and well-being, to improve the quality of life for residents and visitors in Holyhead, and to promote community spirit, Welsh culture and equality and diversity.
In true community spirit, over the past year the Boathouse Hotel has supported local organisations and charities with fundraising and events, including 3D kids (an organisation for children with additional needs), Anglesey Foster Carer Association, Digartref Ltd, and Anglesey Writing Festival. Christmas 2022 saw them launch their 1st Community Christmas to provide a Christmas Celebration and support those who are homeless, lonely or socially isolated. The Boathouse is also dedicated to improving the lives and aspirations of the community and supporting staff members and volunteers in professional development - encouraged with eight staff members gaining qualifications that increase their job skills and employability.
In developing a social enterprise at the heart of the community, the Boathouse is aiming to pave the way for other hotels in North Wales, showing that there is a different way to do hospitality with a heart. The Boathouse is a not-for-profit hotel, with all profits going back into the community of Holyhead and its surroundings. In conserving the environment and fostering the local community, the Boathouse Hotel hopes to play a central role in Holyhead's social, cultural and heritage life for many years to come.
Boathouse Hotel, Holyhead, Anglesey, LL65 1YF
Official Website | Gwefan swyddogol
https://www.boathousehotelholyhead.com/
Kirsty Williams , "The Boathouse Hotel," Ports, Past and Present, accessed January 26, 2023, https://portspastpresent.eu/items/show/718.


Vasai is a nice place to visit in Maharashtra. It's popular for its nature, winter and architecture. Vasai is visited by most people in the months of April, May, June and October. It's somewhat offbeat. You won't find the place crowded.


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Tradeskills » 68th minute. The win se
Guildwars 2 » Forum » Tradeskills » 68th minute. The win se
#1 | 68th minute. The win se 21.05.2019 02:09
LONDON, England - Bottom-place Fulham beat Newcastle 1-0 on Saturday for its first win in the Premier League since New Years Day. The Cottagers last victory came in a 2-1 home win over West Ham when Rene Meulensteen was still in charge. Since then, a miserable run of seven defeats and two draws has seen the club part with the Dutch coach and replace him with German Felix Magath. And the 60-year-old Magath claimed his first victory since taking over when Ashkan Dejagah cut in from the left before rifling a shot under goalkeeper Tim Krul in the 68th minute. The win sees Fulham move to within three points of Crystal Palace in 17th place while Newcastle was left in ninth on 43 points. Newcastle manager Alan Pardew served the first of his seven-game ban for headbutting an opposing player. -- SWANSEA, Wales - West Bromwich Albion recovered from conceding an early goal by scoring twice in the second half to earn a 2-1 win at Swansea on Saturday in the Premier League. A day after severing ties with striker Nicolas Anelka, West Brom had a terrible start as Roland Lamah put Swansea ahead in just the second minute. But Stephane Sessegnon equalized in the 52nd and Youssuf Mulumbu netted the winner in the 85th to put West Brom three points above the relegation zone. They are now just one point behind 14-place Swansea. West Brom announced late Friday it had fired Anelka after the French forward said on Twitter that he had terminated his contract following his ban for a controversial goal celebration gesture. Spanish striker Michu came on as a substitute for Swansea, making his return after a lengthy injury layoff. -- SOUTHAMPTON, England - Southampton secured a 4-2 win over relegation-threatened Norwich in the English Premier League on Saturday. The Saints took a fifth-minute lead when Morgan Schneiderlin raced onto midfielder Gaston Ramirezs pass before slotting past John Ruddy. The visitors found themselves chasing a two-goal margin when substitute Ricky Lambert struck seconds after his introduction in the 57th. Lambert then turned provider for Jay Rodriguez, who converted from close range in the 72nd. Norwich set up a dramatic finale after grabbing two goals in quick succession. First through substitute Johan Elmander in the 85th before Robert Snodgrass beat goalkeeper Artur Boruc seconds later. But youngster Sam Gallacher calmed Southampton nerves as Norwich chased the equalizer, with the Canaries now a mere four points outside the relegation zone. -- SUNDERLAND, England - Crystal Palace held Sunderland to a 0-0 draw in the Premier League on Saturday in a game between two sides fighting to stave off relegation. The hosts dominated possession but struggled to create scoring chances, with Fabio Borini coming closest in the 83rd minute when his hard shot hit the crossbar. Kagisho Dikgacoi missed a late chance for the visitors to steal the win when his shot from the centre of the box went wide. Palace remained three points above Sunderland in 17th place, but the visitors have two games in hand. -- STOKE, England -- Peter Odemwingie scored twice as Stoke came from behind to beat West Ham 3-1 and move further away from relegation danger in the English Premier League on Saturday. England striker Andy Carroll gave West Ham the lead in the fifth minute with his first goal since April, only for Peter Crouchs acrobatic effort to strike the shoulder of Odemwingie and ricochet in for the equalizer in the 32nd. Marko Arnautovic put Stoke ahead in the 69th and Odemwingie finished a counter attack with a powerful shot from an acute angle with 11 minutes to go. Stoke moved into the top half while West Ham is six points clear of the relegation zone. Manchester City Jerseys . 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Fernandinho Jersey .com) - Nino Williams posted 18 points and seven rebounds, as Kansas State edged No.LEICESTER, England - Former England striker Kevin Phillips will retire at the end of the season, ending a 20-year career in which he became the only English player to win the European Golden Boot. Phillips was the Premier League top scorer in 1999-2000 with 30 goals for Sunderland, a tally which earned him the coveted prize. The 40-year-old Phillips currently plays for second-tier side Leicester, which has already won the League Champpionship title.ddddddddddddHell play his final match on Saturday. Phillips, who also had spells at Crystal Palace, Watford, Southampton, Aston Villa, Birmingham, Blackpool and West Bromwich Albion, played eight times for England. Phillips says "every kid dreams of playing for teams like Man United and Chelsea, winning Premier League titles, but Ive certainly enjoyed my career and have no regrets whatsoever." 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Bouchard made her way there on Monday » « oenix Coyotes on Thursday night as Wh


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Home›ddqeklkj›
Choir Choir Choir sets Aretha Franklin tribute
Choir! Choir! Choir! sets Aretha Franklin tribute for Thursday by The Canadian Press Posted Aug 20, 2018 9:39 am PDT Last Updated Aug 20, 2018 at 10:20 am PDT AddThis Sharing ButtonsShare to TwitterTwitterShare to FacebookFacebookShare to RedditRedditShare to 電子郵件Email Singalong Collective "Choir Choir Choir!" performs in Toronto's Nathan Phillips Square on October 24 , 2017. Choir! Choir! Choir! is paying tribute to the "Queen of Soul" with a special night of celebration. Organizers for the drop-in Toronto vocal collective say they'll gather on Thursday to recognize the passing of Aretha Franklin. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young TORONTO – Choir! Choir! Choir! is paying tribute to the "Queen of Soul" with a special night of celebration.Organizers for the drop-in Toronto vocal collective say they'll gather on Thursday to recognize the passing of Aretha Franklin.The group — which spends a night rehearsing a song before recording the performance for an online video — plans to sing Franklin's "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman."They'll meet at Toronto's Great Hall concert venue at 8 p.m. for a "pay what you can" all-ages event."We were never lucky enough to meet or sing with Aretha Franklin though she was always at the top of my list," said co-founder Nobu Adilman."Her voice and music were a big part of (my) early listening years."Choir! Choir! Choir! was founded in 2011 as a bunch of singers who wanted to unite over their common interest in popular music.Over the years they've performed a number of tributes to iconic musicians shortly after their deaths, including one for David Bowie at the Art Gallery of Ontario and Gord Downie at Nathan Phillips Square. They were also invited to perform at two Bowie tribute shows at New York's Carnegie Hall and Radio City Music Hall.Some of their most notable YouTube videos include a version of Prince's "When Doves Cry" and of Rick Astley's 1987 hit "Never Gonna Give You Up," which featured the English singer leading the crowd.Follow @dfriend on Twitter.
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Questions and answers - Def Leppard and Rockstar Photographs We update almost daily. please do not take any of these photographs or else they will be removed.
Do you have any Questions about me, any R'N'R', or real Metal bands? Ask me here and I will answer them.
When did Def Leppard form?
Why is your site called Def Leppard Forever?
Originally, it was going to be dedicated to Steve Clark, hence the name used to be SteveClarkForever. Then it progressed for Def Leppard also. I thought what the hell and decided to get as many photos as I could of each and every band I liked. which hopefully, will happen. That is how it came to be.
How come you haven't updated in a long time?
He died in his own home on January 8th, 1991, from an overdose of codeine, morphine, valiums, and had a blood alcohol .30! he was found dead on his couch by his girl friend.
What are your favorite Hair Metal bands?
So yeah, I have many more but i would rather not waste your time listing off a ton of bands.
Well, since I did a school paper on it and it is my seccond favorite sub-genre of Metal next to Hair, it formed in the late 70's with bands such as Iron Maiden, Diamond Head and Saxon. Of course there are many others but I do not care to list them all off at this moment, you go look it up. It became very popular after the punk explosion and without it, there would have been no NWOBHM.
Want to know more Winger love them & Did Kip have one or more children with what wife?
I have done some research just for you! Since I am not the most interested person of Winger or Kip. (Sort of)!! My conclusion, Kip dated Beatrice but never had children with her. She died in a car accident back in 1991, and he was very devastated. When he married in 2004 with Paula DeTulli, She had a kid in her previous marriage. I'm pretty shure he has loads of kids out there buddy! heh, heh! I will post more photos of Kip and his band soon. If you want to know more, just ask what.


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Grape seed extract: Discover its benefits and uses
This bug juice has more antioxidants than orange juice
Interview: Stephanie Seneff on glyphosate
Grape seed extract is a substance derived from the seeds of red wine grapes. Research indicates that consuming it may help promote your health in various ways
Discover what areas it may help you with, and whether eating actual grape seeds could be more beneficial than taking grape seed extract
What is grape seed extract and its benefits?
Studies regarding the benefits of grape seed extract
Possible side effects of grape seed extract supplements
Feasting on grapes may not provide the same effect as grape seed extract
Frequently asked questions about grape seed extract
Grape seed extract is a substance derived from seeds of the common grape, Vitis vinifera. Commonly sold as a supplement, this extract is available in different forms, such as liquid, tablets or capsules.1
Grape seed extract is quickly becoming well-known due to recently published research. Evidence suggests that grape seed extract contains antioxidants and other compounds that may optimize your health.2 Discover what grape seed extract is and how it can benefit you by reading this article.
Grapes are one of the most popular fruits in the U.S. In 2016 alone, statistics indicate that consumption was 8.2 pounds per capita.3 Consumed raw, grapes have a sweet, yet slightly tart flavor that many people enjoy. But most people discard the seeds when they eat grapes,4 not knowing that these discarded remains may actually be one of the healthiest parts of the plant.
Researchers have discovered that grape seed extract contains powerful antioxidants that may be beneficial to your health, particularly oligomeric proanthocyanidin complexes (OPCs). According to Alternative Medicine Review, OPCs are not just antioxidants, but also possess the following properties:5
Anticarcinogenic
Vasodilatory actions
One of the notable benefits associated with grape seed extract is its ability to help curb high blood pressure. In a 2016 study published in the British Journal of Nutrition, researchers noted that those who consumed 300 milligrams of grape seed extract twice daily for six weeks had significantly reduced systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure.
In addition, fasting insulin and insulin sensitivity improved.6 Additional research has shown that grape seed extract may help in the following capacities:7
Bone strength — A study has found that a mixture of calcium and grape seed extract had a beneficial effect on bone formation and strength for the treatment of bone debility caused by low levels of calcium among participating Wistar rats.8
Yeast control — Research indicates that grape seed extract can help control Candida albicans, a yeast strain commonly associated with vaginal candidiasis and mucosal infection.9
Cognitive function — According to a study published in Experimental Gerontology, grape seed extract was found to help lower oxidative stress in the brain, thanks to its proanthocyanidin content.10
Diabetes — In one study, diabetic male Wistar rats who were given grape seed extract along with exercise exhibited reduced body weight, high-density lipoproteins, heart rate and systolic blood pressure.11
Edema — Taking grape seed extract may help reduce swelling (edema) after a period of prolonged sitting, as suggested in a study published in Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture.12
Anti-platelet aggregation — The polyphenols found in grape seed extract have been found to help reduce platelet aggregation.13
Cholesterol management — Grape seed extract has been found to exhibit beneficial effects on oxidized LDL cholesterol, according to a study published in Japan.14
Grape seed extract may also help reduce your risk of developing cancerous skin tumors. According to a study published in Molecular Nutrition & Food Research, supplementation of proanthocyanidins from grape seeds exhibited a decrease of ultraviolet-induced skin tumor development in SKH-1 hairless mice. Researchers believe that the antioxidants work by helping reduce oxidative stress in the body, among other beneficial processes.15
Grape seed extract is well-tolerated, according to published studies. In one example, no side effects were reported among female volleyball players who took the extracts to test for improved metabolic function.16 In another study that experimented on the effects of grape seed extracts on energy intake, participants didn't show any adverse effects.17
At the most, you may experience digestive discomfort. In a 2019 study, four participants who took grape seed extract rich in proanthocyanidin experienced gastrointestinal problems.18
Note: Feasting on grapes may not provide the same effect as grape seed extract
While published data suggest that supplementation of grape seed extract may benefit your health, some people may opt for a natural route by consuming grapes. However, to obtain these benefits, you would need to eat a lot of grapes, which is not advisable as the fruit is high in fructose. Too much sugar in your system can potentially harm your health.
As an alternative, you can just consume the seeds, but be advised that they have a very bitter taste due to the various antioxidants present in them. If you do not like the taste of the seeds, you may opt for a high-quality grape seed extract supplement instead.
Q: What is grape seed extract good for?
A: Research indicates that grape seed extract can play a role in helping manage diabetes and cholesterol levels, boost your antioxidant levels, reduce the risk of platelet aggregation and eliminate microbes.19
Q: Where can you buy grape seed extract?
A: Grape seed extract can be conveniently purchased online. However, it's more important to look into the quality of the ingredients used, and if the company follows ethical business practices to create a top-notch product that is safe to consume.
1 National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, "Grape Seed Extract"
2, 19 Antioxidants (Basel). 2017 Sep; 6(3): 71
3 Statista, "Per Capita Consumption of Fresh Grapes in the United States From 2000 to 2016 (In Pounds)"
4 ScienceDaily, June 17, 2014
5 Alternative Medicine Review, 2000 Apr,5(2):144-51
6 The British Journal of Nutrition, 2016 Jan 28;115(2):226-38
7 Medical News Today, "What Are the Benefits of Grape Seed Extract?"
8 Journal of Musculoskeletal & Neuronal Interactions, 2005 June;5(2):162-9
9 BioMed Research International, 2014;127021
10 Experimental Gerontology, 2011 Nov;46(11):958-64
11 International Cardiovascular Research Journal, 2013 Dec;7(4):111-7
12 Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, 2013 Feb;93(3):457-62
13 Platelets. 2008 Feb;19(1):70-7
14 J Nutr Sci Vitaminol (Tokyo). 2007 Apr;53(2):174-82
15 Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, "Grape Seed"
15 Molecular Nutrition & Food Research, 2008 June;52(Suppl 1):S71-S76
16 Iran Red Crescent Med J. 2016 Sep; 18(9): e31314
17 Eur J Clin Nutr. 2004 Apr;58(4):667-73
18 Medicine (Baltimore). 2019 May;98(21):e15515
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With the initial adhesive adventures behind us, the 6P has finally come out of its shell.
Unlike other phones we've seen lately, there's no discrete display assembly or easily removed rear cover here. Instead, the 6P's internals come out of the rear case in one mega-sized component assembly, leaving only the NFC antenna behind.
This isn't a good sign for the 6P's repairability—in fact, it reminds us of our harrowing experience with the HTC One M7.
On the bright side, it looks like a daughterboard interconnect cable is all that stands between us and the battery!


From the moment I tasted its lusty mole sauces and made-to-order, griddled corn tortillas, I fell in love with the Oaxacan Kitchen.
You will, too, when its founder Ron Kent joins me for a cooking demo at Macy's Valley Fair in Santa Clara, 6 p.m. May 7.
You may think you know Mexican food. But Oaxacan Kitchen — which has its own food truck that makes the rounds of the Peninsula, as well as food stands at local farmers markets — sets itself apart from the run-of-the-mill with its richly authentic flavors.
The state of Oaxaca in southern Mexico is regarded as one of that country's great gastronomic centers. Kent will teach you how to make one of its fabled dishes, and provide the recipe for you to make at home.
The free cooking demo takes place in the culinary kitchen on the main floor of the Men's and Home store.


In the latest episode of Complex TV's Quickstrike, DJ Clark Kent and Russ Bengtson dive into one of the most anticipated releases of the year, the Bape x Undefeated x adidas Originals collaboration. They discuss the ultimate spring sneaker, white on white Air Force 1s, and staying fresh. Clark and Russ also bring on a special guest, New York Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz to discuss sneakers and why he hasn't gotten his own signature from Nike. Check out the latest episode of Quickstrike below and see more at Complex TV.


text:
Can Austin Cindric Solidify Himself?
Post author By Mitchell Breuer
Matthew T. Thacker | NKP
The 2019 NASCAR Xfinity Series season has been dominated by three drivers – Christopher Bell, Tyler Reddick, and Cole Custer.
While it is not confirmed these three will be racing for the championship at Homestead-Miami Speedway, it is likely.
However, there are still five other drivers in the playoffs, and at least one of them will also have a chance at the title. The lone question is who?
Now, while it's been all about the "Big 3," there has been one driver who has done well about proving himself this season. He is the only other competitor running for points that has more than one win.
This driver is Austin Cindric.
While he may not have the most impressive stats in the season, Cindric has been very consistent, and has even gotten better throughout the year. He started off with 13 top-10's in the first 16 races, had a bit of a low point between Kentucky, New Hampshire, and Iowa II, before winning back-to-back road course events.
He hasn't cooled off in the playoffs either; in the Round of 12, he never started or finished below third. If he repeats that in the Round of 8, he will be more than likely going on the Championship 4.
Again though – the question is can he? The momentum is there for Cindric; he just needs to capitalize
This is the opportunity to cement himself as a true contender, something that Reddick, who had a worse season up to this point, did last year. The next three races could prove monumental for Cindric, and could honestly set the tone for his NASCAR career going forward.
If Cindric continues to show his skill set, he not only proves that he should be taken seriously this year but next year as well.
After all, there's a chance that Bell, Reddick, and Custer are all gone from the series next season, which would arguably make Cindric the best in the series. Now if he made the Championship 4 and maybe even won the championship this year, the momentum skyrockets for the No. 22 team, which again, would be huge for Cindric.
After all, 2020 is setting up for a prove yourself for Cindric, who has been tied with possible opportunities in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series in the years that would follow.
What a bigger of a statement can be made than heading into next season, than a championship appearance this season. The opportunity to set all of this up starts this weekend at Kansas. It is make or break time.
EMAIL MITCHELL AT mitchell.breuer@popularspeed.com
TWITTER: @MitchellB66
Tags austin cindric, featured, Mitchell Breuer, NASCAR, NASCAR XFINITY Series, Team Penske
By Mitchell Breuer
Mitchell Breuer, is a 22-year-old Minnesota native who is currently attending Winona State University to obtain a degree in Mass Communications-Journalism. In addition to POPULAR SPEED, Mitchell is currently the sports editor at WSU's student paper, The Winonan.
← Ryan Blaney advances in Playoffs with razor-thin win at Talladega Superspeedway → Christian Eckes Clinches ARCA Menards Series Championship with Victory in Season Finale at Kansas Speedway


text:
All Entries in the "Hamas" Category
The Arab Tomorrow
DAVID B. OTTAWAY
Oktobris 6, 1981, was meant to be a day of celebration in Egypt. It marked the anniversary of Egypt's grandest moment of victory in three Arab-Israeli conflicts, when the country's underdog army thrust across the Suez Canal in the opening days ofthe 1973 Yom Kippur War and sent Israeli troops reeling in retreat. On a cool, cloudless morning, the Cairo stadium was packed with Egyptian families that had come to see the military strut its hardware.On the reviewing stand, President Anwar el-Sadat,the war's architect, watched with satisfaction as men and machines paraded before him. I was nearby, a newly arrived foreign correspondent.Suddenly, one of the army trucks halted directly in front of the reviewing stand just as six Mirage jets roared overhead in an acrobatic performance, painting the sky with long trails of red, yellow, purple,and green smoke. Sadat stood up, apparently preparing to exchange salutes with yet another contingent of Egyptian troops. He made himself a perfect target for four Islamist assassins who jumped from the truck, stormed the podium, and riddled his body with bullets.As the killers continued for what seemed an eternity to spray the stand with their deadly fire, I considered for an instant whether to hit the ground and risk being trampled to death by panicked spectators or remain afoot and risk taking a stray bullet. Instinct told me to stay on my feet, and my sense of journalistic duty impelled me to go find out whether Sadat was alive or dead.
| Sep 26, 2010 | Komentāri 0
FEMINISM BETWEEN SECULARISM AND ISLAMISM: THE CASE OF PALESTINE
Dr., Islah Jad
Legislative elections held in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip in 2006 brought to power the Islamist movement Hamas, which went on to form the majority of the Palestinian Legislative Council and also the first majority Hamas government. These elections resulted in the appointment of the first female Hamas minister, who became the Minister of Women's Affairs. Between March 2006 and June 2007, two different female Hamas ministers assumed this post, but both found it difficult to manage the Ministry since most of its employees were not Hamas members but belonged to other political parties, and most were members of Fatah, the dominant movement controlling most Palestinian Authority institutions. A tense period of struggle between the women of Hamas in the Ministry of Women's Affairs and the female members of Fatah came to an end following Hamas' takeover of power in the Gaza Strip and the resultant fall of its government in the West Bank – a struggle which sometimes took a violent turn. One reason later cited to explain this struggle was the difference between secular feminist discourse and Islamist discourse on women's issues. In the Palestinian context this disagreement took on a dangerous nature as it was used to justify perpetuating the bloody political struggle, the removal of Hamas women from their positions or posts, and the political and geographical divides prevailing at the time in both the West Bank and the occupied Gaza Strip.
This struggle raises a number of important questions: should we punish the Islamist movement which has come to power, or should we consider the reasons which led to Fateh's failure in the political arena? Can feminism offer a comprehensive framework for women, regardless of their social and ideological affiliations? Can a discourse of a shared common ground for women help them to realize and agree upon their common goals? Is paternalism only present in Islamist ideology, and not in nationalism and patriotism? What do we mean by feminism? Is there only one feminism, or several feminisms? What do we mean by Islam – is it the movement known by this name or the religion, the philosophy, or the legal system? We need to go to the bottom of these issues and consider them carefully, and we must agree upon them so that we can later decide, as feminists, if our criticism of paternalism should be directed at religion (ticība), which should be confined to the heart of the believer and not be allowed to take control of the world at large, or the jurisprudence, which relates to different schools of faith which explain the legal system contained in the Quran and the sayings of the Prophet – the Sunnah.
ISLAMIST WOMEN'S ACTIVISM IN OCCUPIED PALESTINE
Interviews by Khaled Amayreh
Interview with Sameera Al-Halayka
Sameera Al-Halayka is an elected member of the Palestinian Legislative Council. She was
born in the village of Shoyoukh near Hebron in 1964. She has a BA in Sharia (Islāma
Jurisprudence) from Hebron University. She worked as a journalist from 1996 to 2006 when
she entered the Palestinian Legislative Council as an elected member in the 2006 vēlēšanas.
She is married and has seven children.
Q: There is a general impression in some western countries that women receive
inferior treatment within Islamic resistance groups, such as Hamas. Is this true?
How are women activists treated in Hamas?
Rights and duties of Muslim women emanate first and foremost from Islamic Sharia or law.
They are not voluntary or charitable acts or gestures we receive from Hamas or anyone
else. Thus, as far as political involvement and activism is concerned, women generally have
the same rights and duties as men. After all, women make up at least 50 per cent of
society. In a certain sense, they are the entire society because they give birth to, and raise,
the new generation.
Therefore, I can say that the status of women within Hamas is in full conformity with her
status in Islam itself. This means that she is a full partner at all levels. Indeed, it would be
unfair and unjust for an Islamic (or Islamist if you prefer) woman to be partner in suffering
while she is excluded from the decision-making process. This is why the woman's role in
Hamas has always been pioneering.
Q: Do you feel that the emergence of women's political activism within Hamas is
a natural development that is compatible with classical Islamic concepts
regarding the status and role of women, or is it merely a necessary response to
pressures of modernity and requirements of political action and of the continued
Israeli occupation?
There is no text in Islamic jurisprudence nor in Hamas' charter which impedes women from
political participation. I believe the opposite is true — there are numerous Quranic verses
and sayings of the Prophet Muhammed urging women to be active in politics and public
issues affecting Muslims. But it is also true that for women, as it is for men, political activism
is not compulsory but voluntary, and is largely decided in light of each woman's abilities,
qualifications and individual circumstances. None the less, showing concern for public
matters is mandatory upon each and every Muslim man and woman. The Prophet
Muhammed said: "He who doesn't show concern for the affairs of Muslims is not a Muslim."
Moreover, Palestinian Islamist women have to take all objective factors on the ground into
account when deciding whether to join politics or get involved in political activism.
smērēšanās: How Islamophobes spread fear, bigotry and misinformation
Džūlija Holāra
Džims Naureckas
Making Islamophobia Mainstream:
How Muslim-bashers broadcast their bigotry
A remarkable thing happened at the National Book Critics Circle (NBCC) nominations in February 2007: The normally highbrow and tolerant group nominated for best book in the field of criticism a book widely viewed as denigrating an entire religious group.
The nomination of Bruce Bawer's While Europe Slept: How Radical Islam Is Destroying the West From Within didn't pass without controversy. Past nominee Eliot Weinberger denounced the book at the NBCC's annual gathering, calling it ''racism as criticism'' (Ņujorkas Laiks, 2/8/07). NBCC board president John Freeman wrote on the group's blog (Critical Mass, 2/4/07): ''I have never been
more embarrassed by a choice than I have been with Bruce Bawer's While Europe Slept…. Its hyperventilated rhetoric tips from actual critique into Islamophobia.''
Though it didn't ultimately win the award, While Europe Slept's recognition in the highest literary circles was emblematic of a mainstreaming of Islamophobia, not just in American publishing but in the broader media. This report takes a fresh look at Islamophobia in today's media and its perpetratrators, outlining some of the behind-the-scenes connections that are rarely explored in media. The report also provides four snapshots, or "case studies," describing how Islamophobes continue to manipulate media to in order to paint Muslims with a broad, hateful brush. Our aim is to document smearcasting: the public writings and appearances of Islamophobic activists and pundits who intentionally and regularly spread fear, bigotry and misinformation. The term "Islamophobia" refers to hostility toward Islam and Muslims that tends to dehumanize an entire faith, portraying it as fundamentally alien and attributing to it an inherent, essential set of negative traits such as irrationality, intolerance and violence. And not unlike the charges made in the classical document of anti-Semitism, The Protocols of the Elders of Zion, some of Islamophobia's more virulent expressions–like While Europe Slept–include evocations of Islamic designs to dominate the West.
Islamic institutions and Muslims, of course, should be subject to the same kind of scrutiny and criticism as anyone else. For instance, when a Norwegian Islamic Council debates whether gay men and lesbians should be executed, one may forcefully condemn individuals or groups sharing that opinion without pulling all European Muslims into it, as did Bawer's Pajamas Media post (8/7/08),
"European Muslims Debate: Should Gays Be Executed?"
Similarly, extremists who justify their violent actions by invoking some particular interpretation of Islam can be criticized without implicating the enormously diverse population of Muslims around the world. After all, reporters managed to cover the Oklahoma City bombing by Timothy McVeigh–an adherent of the racist Christian Identity sect–without resorting to generalized statements about "Christian terrorism." Likewise, media have covered acts of terrorism by fanatics who are Jewish–for instance the Hebron massacre carried out by Baruch Goldstein (Extra!, 5/6/94)–without implicating the entirety of Judaism.
Islam, Political Islam and America
Arābu ieskats
Is "Brotherhood" with America Possible?
khalil al-anani
"there is no chance of communicating with any U.S. administration so long as the United States maintains its long-standing view of Islam as a real danger, a view that puts the United States in the same boat as the Zionist enemy. We have no pre-conceived notions concerning the American people or the U.S. society and its civic organizations and think tanks. We have no problem communicating with the American people but no adequate efforts are being made to bring us closer," said Dr. Issam al-Iryan, chief of the political department of the Muslim Brotherhood in a phone interview.
Al-Iryan's words sum up the Muslim Brotherhood's views of the American people and the U.S. government. Other members of the Muslim Brotherhood would agree, as would the late Hassan al-Banna, who founded the group in 1928. Al- Banna viewed the West mostly as a symbol of moral decay. Other Salafis – an Islamic school of thought that relies on ancestors as exemplary models – have taken the same view of the United States, but lack the ideological flexibility espoused by the Muslim Brotherhood. While the Muslim Brotherhood believes in engaging the Americans in civil dialogue, other extremist groups see no point in dialogue and maintain that force is the only way of dealing with the United States.
Nodarbošanās, Koloniālisms, Aparteīds?
The Human Sciences Research Council
The Human Sciences Research Council of South Africa commissioned this study to test the hypothesis posed by Professor John Dugard in the report he presented to the UN Human Rights Council in January 2007, in his capacity as UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in the Palestinian territories occupied by Israel (namely, the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, un
Gazā, hereafter OPT). Professor Dugard posed the question: Israel is clearly in military occupation of the OPT. At the same time, elements of the occupation constitute forms of colonialism and of apartheid, which are contrary to international law. What are the legal consequences of a regime of prolonged occupation with features of colonialism and apartheid for the occupied people, the Occupying Power and third States?
In order to consider these consequences, this study set out to examine legally the premises of Professor Dugard's question: is Israel the occupant of the OPT, un, if so, do elements of its occupation of these territories amount to colonialism or apartheid? South Africa has an obvious interest in these questions given its bitter history of apartheid, which entailed the denial of selfdetermination
to its majority population and, during its occupation of Namibia, the extension of apartheid to that territory which South Africa effectively sought to colonise. These unlawful practices must not be replicated elsewhere: other peoples must not suffer in the way the populations of South Africa and Namibia have suffered.
To explore these issues, an international team of scholars was assembled. The aim of this project was to scrutinise the situation from the nonpartisan perspective of international law, rather than engage in political discourse and rhetoric. This study is the outcome of a fifteen-month collaborative process of intensive research, konsultācija, writing and review. It concludes and, it is to be hoped, persuasively argues and clearly demonstrates that Israel, since 1967, has been the belligerent Occupying Power in the OPT, and that its occupation of these territories has become a colonial enterprise which implements a system of apartheid. Belligerent occupation in itself is not an unlawful situation: it is accepted as a possible consequence of armed conflict. At the same time, under the law of armed conflict (also known as international humanitarian law), occupation is intended to be only a temporary state of affairs. International law prohibits the unilateral annexation or permanent acquisition of territory as a result of the threat or use of force: should this occur, no State may recognise or support the resulting unlawful situation. In contrast to occupation, both colonialism and apartheid are always unlawful and indeed are considered to be particularly serious breaches of international law because they are fundamentally contrary to core values of the international legal order. Colonialism violates the principle of self-determination,
which the International Court of Justice (ICJ) has affirmed as 'one of the essential principles of contemporary international law'. All States have a duty to respect and promote self-determination. Apartheid is an aggravated case of racial discrimination, which is constituted according to the International Convention for the Suppression and Punishment of the Crime of Apartheid (1973,
hereafter 'Apartheid Convention') by 'inhuman acts committed for the purpose of establishing and maintaining domination by one racial group of persons over any other racial group of persons and systematically oppressing them'. The practice of apartheid, moreover, is an international crime.
Professor Dugard in his report to the UN Human Rights Council in 2007 suggested that an advisory opinion on the legal consequences of Israel's conduct should be sought from the ICJ. This advisory opinion would undoubtedly complement the opinion that the ICJ delivered in 2004 on the Legal consequences of the construction of a wall in the occupied Palestinian territories (hereafter 'the Wall advisory opinion'). This course of legal action does not exhaust the options open to the international community, nor indeed the duties of third States and international organisations when they are appraised that another State is engaged in the practices of colonialism or apartheid.
ISLAM, DEMOCRACY & THE USA:
Cordoba Foundation
Abdullah Faliq |
Intro ,
In spite of it being both a perennial and a complex debate, Arches Quarterly reexamines from theological and practical grounds, the important debate about the relationship and compatibility between Islam and Democracy, as echoed in Barack Obama's agenda of hope and change. Whilst many celebrate Obama's ascendancy to the Oval Office as a national catharsis for the US, others remain less optimistic of a shift in ideology and approach in the international arena. While much of the tension and distrust between the Muslim world and the USA can be attributed to the approach of promoting democracy, typically favoring dictatorships and puppet regimes that pay lip-service to democratic values and human rights, the aftershock of 9/11 has truly cemented the misgivings further through America's position on political Islam. It has created a wall of negativity as found by worldpublicopinion.org, according to which 67% of Egyptians believe that globally America is playing a "mainly negative" role.
America's response has thus been apt. By electing Obama, many around the world are pinning their hopes for developing a less belligerent, but fairer foreign policy towards the Muslim world. Th e test for Obama, as we discuss, is how America and her allies promote democracy. Will it be facilitating or imposing?
Moreover, can it importantly be an honest broker in prolonged zones of confl icts? Enlisting the expertise and insight of prolifi
c scholars, academics, seasoned journalists and politicians, Arches Quarterly brings to light the relationship between Islam and Democracy and the role of America – as well as the changes brought about by Obama, in seeking the common ground. Anas Altikriti, the CEO of Th e Cordoba Foundation provides the opening gambit to this discussion, where he refl ects on the hopes and challenges that rests on Obama's path. Following Altikriti, the former advisor to President Nixon, Dr Robert Crane off ers a thorough analysis of the Islamic principle of the right to freedom. Anwar Ibrahim, former Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia, enriches the discussion with the practical realities of implementing democracy in Muslim dominant societies, namely, in Indonesia and Malaysia.
We also have Dr Shireen Hunter, of Georgetown University, ASV, who explores Muslim countries lagging in democratisation and modernisation. Th is is complemented by terrorism writer, Dr Nafeez Ahmed's explanation of the crisis of post-modernity and the
demise of democracy. Dr Daud Abdullah (Director of Middle East Media Monitor), Alan Hart (former ITN and BBC Panorama correspondent; author of Zionism: Th e Real Enemy of the Jews) and Asem Sondos (Editor of Egypt's Sawt Al Omma weekly) concentrate on Obama and his role vis-à-vis democracy-promotion in the Muslim world, as well as US relations with Israel and the Muslim Brotherhood.
Minister of Foreign Aff airs, Maldives, Ahmed Shaheed speculates on the future of Islam and Democracy; Cllr. Gerry Maclochlainn
– a Sinn Féin member who endured four years in prison for Irish Republican activities and a campaigner for the Guildford 4 and Birmingham 6, refl ects on his recent trip to Gaza where he witnessed the impact of the brutality and injustice meted out against Palestinians; Dr Marie Breen-Smyth, Director of the Centre for the Study of Radicalisation and Contemporary Political Violence discusses the challenges of critically researching political terror; Dr Khalid al-Mubarak, writer and playwright, discusses prospects of peace in Darfur; and fi nally journalist and human rights activist Ashur Shamis looks critically at the democratisation and politicisation of Muslims today.
We hope all this makes for a comprehensive reading and a source for refl ection on issues that aff ect us all in a new dawn of hope.
US Hamas policy blocks Middle East peace
Henrijs Zīgmans
Failed bilateral talks over these past 16 years have shown that a Middle East peace accord can never be reached by the parties themselves. Israeli governments believe they can defy international condemnation of their illegal colonial project in the West Bank because they can count on the US to oppose international sanctions. Bilateral talks that are not framed by US-formulated parameters (based on Security Council resolutions, the Oslo accords, the Arab Peace Initiative, the "road map" and other previous Israeli-Palestinian agreements) cannot succeed. Israel's government believes that the US Congress will not permit an American president to issue such parameters and demand their acceptance. What hope there is for the bilateral talks that resume in Washington DC on September 2 depends entirely on President Obama proving that belief to be wrong, and on whether the "bridging proposals" he has promised, should the talks reach an impasse, are a euphemism for the submission of American parameters. Such a US initiative must offer Israel iron-clad assurances for its security within its pre-1967 borders, but at the same time must make it clear these assurances are not available if Israel insists on denying Palestinians a viable and sovereign state in the West Bank and Gaza. This paper focuses on the other major obstacle to a permanent status agreement: the absence of an effective Palestinian interlocutor. Addressing Hamas' legitimate grievances – and as noted in a recent CENTCOM report, Hamas has legitimate grievances – could lead to its return to a Palestinian coalition government that would provide Israel with a credible peace partner. If that outreach fails because of Hamas' rejectionism, the organization's ability to prevent a reasonable accord negotiated by other Palestinian political parties will have been significantly impeded. If the Obama administration will not lead an international initiative to define the parameters of an Israeli-Palestinian agreement and actively promote Palestinian political reconciliation, Europe must do so, and hope America will follow. Unfortunately, there is no silver bullet that can guarantee the goal of "two states living side by side in peace and security."
But President Obama's present course absolutely precludes it.
Islamism revisited
MAHA AZZAM
There is a political and security crisis surrounding what is referred to as Islamism, a crisis whose antecedents long precede 9/11. Over the past 25 years, there have been different emphases on how to explain and combat Islamism. Analysts and policymakers
in the 1980s and 1990s spoke of the root causes of Islamic militancy as being economic malaise and marginalization. More recently there has been a focus on political reform as a means of undermining the appeal of radicalism. Increasingly today, the ideological and religious aspects of Islamism need to be addressed because they have become features of a wider political and security debate. Whether in connection with Al-Qaeda terrorism, political reform in the Muslim world, the nuclear issue in Iran or areas of crisis such as Palestine or Lebanon, it has become commonplace to fi nd that ideology and religion are used by opposing parties as sources of legitimization, inspiration and enmity.
The situation is further complicated today by the growing antagonism towards and fear of Islam in the West because of terrorist attacks which in turn impinge on attitudes towards immigration, religion and culture. The boundaries of the umma or community of the faithful have stretched beyond Muslim states to European cities. The umma potentially exists wherever there are Muslim communities. The shared sense of belonging to a common faith increases in an environment where the sense of integration into the surrounding community is unclear and where discrimination may be apparent. The greater the rejection of the values of society,
whether in the West or even in a Muslim state, the greater the consolidation of the moral force of Islam as a cultural identity and value-system.
Following the bombings in London on 7 Jūlijs 2005 it became more apparent that some young people were asserting religious commitment as a way of expressing ethnicity. The links between Muslims across the globe and their perception that Muslims are vulnerable have led many in very diff erent parts of the world to merge their own local predicaments into the wider Muslim one, having identifi ed culturally, either primarily or partially, with a broadly defi ned Islam.
PRECISION IN THE GLOBAL WAR ON TERROR:
Sherifa zuhur
Seven years after the September 11, 2001 (9/11) attacks, many experts believe al-Qa'ida has regained strength and that its copycats or affiliates are more lethal than before. The National Intelligence Estimate of 2007 asserted that al-Qa'ida is more dangerous now than before 9/11.1 Al-Qa'ida's emulators continue to threaten Western, Middle Eastern, and European nations, as in the plot foiled in September 2007 in Germany. Bruce Riedel states: Thanks largely to Washington's eagerness to go into Iraq rather than hunting down al Qaeda's leaders, the organization now has a solid base of operations in the badlands of Pakistan and an effective franchise in western Iraq. Its reach has spread throughout the Muslim world and in Europe . . . Osama bin Laden has mounted a successful propaganda campaign. . . . His ideas now attract more followers than ever.
It is true that various salafi-jihadist organizations are still emerging throughout the Islamic world. Why have heavily resourced responses to the Islamist terrorism that we are calling global jihad not proven extremely effective?
Moving to the tools of "soft power," what about the efficacy of Western efforts to bolster Muslims in the Global War on Terror (GWOT)? Why has the United States won so few "hearts and minds" in the broader Islamic world? Why do American strategic messages on this issue play so badly in the region? Why, despite broad Muslim disapproval of extremism as shown in surveys and official utterances by key Muslim leaders, has support for bin Ladin actually increased in Jordan and in Pakistan?
This monograph will not revisit the origins of Islamist violence. It is instead concerned with a type of conceptual failure that wrongly constructs the GWOT and which discourages Muslims from supporting it. They are unable to identify with the proposed transformative countermeasures because they discern some of their core beliefs and institutions as targets in
this endeavor.
Several deeply problematic trends confound the American conceptualizations of the GWOT and the strategic messages crafted to fight that War. These evolve from (1) post-colonial political approaches to Muslims and Muslim majority nations that vary greatly and therefore produce conflicting and confusing impressions and effects; un (2) residual generalized ignorance of and prejudice toward Islam and subregional cultures. Add to this American anger, fear, and anxiety about the deadly events of 9/11, and certain elements that, despite the urgings of cooler heads, hold Muslims and their religion accountable for the misdeeds of their coreligionists, or who find it useful to do so for political reasons.
EGYPT'S MUSLIM BROTHERS: CONFRONTATION OR INTEGRATION?
The Society of Muslim Brothers' success in the November-December 2005 elections for the People's Assembly sent shockwaves through Egypt's political system. In response, the regime cracked down on the movement, harassed other potential rivals and reversed its fledging reform process. This is dangerously short-sighted. There is reason to be concerned about the Muslim Brothers' political program, and they owe the people genuine clarifications about several of its aspects. But the ruling National Democratic
Party's (NDP) refusal to loosen its grip risks exacerbating tensions at a time of both political uncertainty surrounding the presidential succession and serious socio-economic unrest. Though this likely will be a prolonged, gradual process, the regime should take preliminary steps to normalise the Muslim Brothers' participation in political life. The Muslim Brothers, whose social activities have long been tolerated but whose role in formal politics is strictly limited, won an unprecedented 20 per cent of parliamentary seats in the 2005 vēlēšanas. They did so despite competing for only a third of available seats and notwithstanding considerable obstacles, including police repression and electoral fraud. This success confirmed their position as an extremely wellorganised and deeply rooted political force. At the same time, it underscored the weaknesses of both the legal opposition and ruling party. The regime might well have wagered that a modest increase in the Muslim Brothers' parliamentary representation could be used to stoke fears of an Islamist takeover and thereby serve as a reason to stall reform. If so, the strategy is at heavy risk of backfiring.
Iraq and the Future of Political Islam
Džeimss Piskatori
Sixty-five years ago one of the greatest scholars of modern Islam asked the simple question, "whither Islam?", where was the Islamic world going? It was a time of intense turmoil in both the Western and Muslim worlds – the demise of imperialism and crystallisation of a new state system outside Europe; the creation and testing of the neo- Wilsonian world order in the League of Nations; the emergence of European Fascism. Sir Hamilton Gibb recognised that Muslim societies, unable to avoid such world trends, were also faced with the equally inescapable penetration of nationalism, secularism, and Westernisation. While he prudently warned against making predictions – hazards for all of us interested in Middle Eastern and Islamic politics – he felt sure of two things:
(a) the Islamic world would move between the ideal of solidarity and the realities of division;
(b) the key to the future lay in leadership, or who speaks authoritatively for Islam.
Today Gibb's prognostications may well have renewed relevance as we face a deepening crisis over Iraq, the unfolding of an expansive and controversial war on terror, and the continuing Palestinian problem. In this lecture I would like to look at the factors that may affect the course of Muslim politics in the present period and near-term future. Although the points I will raise are likely to have broader relevance, I will draw mainly on the case of the Arab world.
Assumptions about Political Islam There is no lack of predictions when it comes to a politicised Islam or Islamism. 'Islamism' is best understood as a sense that something has gone wrong with contemporary Muslim societies and that the solution must lie in a range of political action. Often used interchangeably with 'fundamentalism', Islamism is better equated with 'political Islam'. Several commentators have proclaimed its demise and the advent of the post-Islamist era. They argue that the repressive apparatus of the state has proven more durable than the Islamic opposition and that the ideological incoherence of the Islamists has made them unsuitable to modern political competition. The events of September 11th seemed to contradict this prediction, yet, unshaken, they have argued that such spectacular, virtually anarchic acts only prove the bankruptcy of Islamist ideas and suggest that the radicals have abandoned any real hope of seizing power.
Islam and Democracy
If one reads the press or listens to commentators on international affairs, it is often said – and even more often implied but not said – that Islam is not compatible with democracy. In the nineties, Samuel Huntington set off an intellectual firestorm when he published The Clash of Civilizations and the Remaking of World Order, in which he presents his forecasts for the world – writ large. In the political realm, he notes that while Turkey and Pakistan might have some small claim to "democratic legitimacy" all other "… Muslim countries were overwhelmingly non-democratic: monarchies, one-party systems, military regimes, personal dictatorships or some combination of these, usually resting on a limited family, clan, or tribal base". The premise on which his argument is founded is that they are not only 'not like us', they are actually opposed to our essential democratic values. He believes, as do others, that while the idea of Western democratization is being resisted in other parts of the world, the confrontation is most notable in those regions where Islam is the dominant faith.
The argument has also been made from the other side as well. An Iranian religious scholar, reflecting on an early twentieth-century constitutional crisis in his country, declared that Islam and democracy are not compatible because people are not equal and a legislative body is unnecessary because of the inclusive nature of Islamic religious law. A similar position was taken more recently by Ali Belhadj, an Algerian high school teacher, preacher and (in this context) leader of the FIS, when he declared "democracy was not an Islamic concept". Perhaps the most dramatic statement to this effect was that of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, leader of the Sunni insurgents in Iraq who, when faced with the prospect of an election, denounced democracy as "an evil principle".
But according to some Muslim scholars, democracy remains an important ideal in Islam, with the caveat that it is always subject to the religious law. The emphasis on the paramount place of the shari'a is an element of almost every Islamic comment on governance, moderate or extremist. Only if the ruler, who receives his authority from God, limits his actions to the "supervision of the administration of the shari'a" is he to be obeyed. If he does other than this, he is a non-believer and committed Muslims are to rebel against him. Herein lies the justification for much of the violence that has plagued the Muslim world in such struggles as that prevailing in Algeria during the 90s
Organizational Continuity in Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood
Tesa Lī Eizenharta
As Egypt's oldest and most prominent opposition movement, the Society of
Muslim Brothers, al-ikhwan al-muslimeen, has long posed a challenge to successive secular
regimes by offering a comprehensive vision of an Islamic state and extensive social
welfare services. Since its founding in 1928, the Brotherhood (Brālība) has thrived in a
parallel religious and social services sector, generally avoiding direct confrontation with
ruling regimes.1 More recently over the past two decades, however, the Brotherhood has
dabbled with partisanship in the formal political realm. This experiment culminated in
the election of the eighty-eight Brothers to the People's Assembly in 2005—the largest
oppositional bloc in modern Egyptian history—and the subsequent arrests of nearly
1,000 Brothers.2 The electoral advance into mainstream politics provides ample fodder
for scholars to test theories and make predictions about the future of the Egyptian
regime: will it fall to the Islamist opposition or remain a beacon of secularism in the
Arab world?
This thesis shies away from making such broad speculations. Instead, it explores
the extent to which the Muslim Brotherhood has adapted as an organization in the past
decade.
Hizbollah's Political Manifesto 2009
Following World War II, the United States became the centre of polarization and hegemony in the world; as such a project witnessed tremendous development on the levels of domination and subjugation that is unprecedented in history, making use and taking advantage of the multifaceted achievements on the several levels of knowledge, culture, technology, economy as well as the military level- that are supported by an economic-political system that only views the world as markets that have to abide by the American view.
The most dangerous aspect in the western hegemony-the American one precisely- is that they consider themselves as owners of the world and therefore, this expandin strategy along with the economic-capitalist project has become a "western expanding strategy" that turned to be an international scheme of limitless greed. Savage capitalism forces- embodied mainly in international monopoly networks o fcompanies that cross the nations and continents, networks of various international establishments especially the financial ones backed by superior military force have led to more contradictions and conflicts of which not less important are the conflicts of identities, cultures, civilizations, in addition to the conflicts of poverty and wealth. These savage capitalism forces have turned into mechanisms of sowing dissension and destroying identities as well as imposing the most dangerous type of cultural,
national, economic as well as social theft .
Islamist Opposition Parties and the Potential for EU Engagement
Tobijs Ārčers
Heidija Huuhtanena
In light of the increasing importance of Islamist movements in the Muslim world and
the way that radicalisation has influenced global events since the turn of the century, it
is important for the EU to evaluate its policies towards actors within what can be loosely
termed the 'Islamic world'. It is particularly important to ask whether and how to engage
with the various Islamist groups.
This remains controversial even within the EU. Some feel that the Islamic values that
lie behind Islamist parties are simply incompatible with western ideals of democracy and
cilvēktiesības, while others see engagement as a realistic necessity due to the growing
domestic importance of Islamist parties and their increasing involvement in international
affairs. Another perspective is that democratisation in the Muslim world would increase
European security. The validity of these and other arguments over whether and how the
EU should engage can only be tested by studying the different Islamist movements and
their political circumstances, country by country.
Democratisation is a central theme of the EU's common foreign policy actions, as laid
out in Article 11 of the Treaty on European Union. Many of the states considered in this
report are not democratic, or not fully democratic. In most of these countries, Islamist
parties and movements constitute a significant opposition to the prevailing regimes, un
in some they form the largest opposition bloc. European democracies have long had to
deal with governing regimes that are authoritarian, but it is a new phenomenon to press
for democratic reform in states where the most likely beneficiaries might have, from the
EU's point of view, different and sometimes problematic approaches to democracy and its
related values, such as minority and women's rights and the rule of law. These charges are
often laid against Islamist movements, so it is important for European policy-makers to
have an accurate picture of the policies and philosophies of potential partners.
Experiences from different countries tends to suggest that the more freedom Islamist
parties are allowed, the more moderate they are in their actions and ideas. In many
cases Islamist parties and groups have long since shifted away from their original aim
of establishing an Islamic state governed by Islamic law, and have come to accept basic
democratic principles of electoral competition for power, the existence of other political
competitors, and political pluralism.


All I wanted then was to fill my arms with sharp flowers.
choke juice like an even tempo.
and their delight of undoing me.
like firewheels burning little moats.
and past, and the mad embracing of pain.
Erika Mueller's poems have appeared in Willow Springs, Women's Studies Quarterly, and elsewhere. She holds an MFA from the University of Oregon and an MA from Iowa State University. She is currently an Assistant Editor at Cream City Review and lives in Oregon.


text:
Ugandan Legal Education
By: David R. PapkePosted on August 22, 2012 Categories International Law & Diplomacy, Legal Education, Public
During early August, I lectured at several Ugandan universities, and in the midst of my lecture tour I had the opportunity to learn about the Ugandan approach to legal education. Its form and goals contrast strikingly with what we take for granted in the U.S.
Someone who wishes to become a practicing lawyer in Uganda begins by completing a four-year major in law at a Ugandan college or university, much as one would complete a major in history or chemistry. Then, one takes the entrance test for Kampala's Legal Development Center (LDC), the nation's only "law school." If successful on the test, one joins a 400-student cohort at the LDC for a one-year, intensive study of areas of law. It culminates with the Ugandan bar exam, and between one-third and two-thirds of those sitting for the bar exam pass.
When I compared this approach with American legal education one morning over coffee in the faculty lounge at the LDC, a Ugandan professor expressed surprise that most American law students earned a liberal arts degree before attending law school.
She asked in a friendly but earnest way, "Why would somebody study something like political science before studying the law?" When I sketched standard American law school courses in jurisprudence, legal history, and law and economics, heads were shaking in mild disbelief. I made a spur-of-the-moment decision not to mention I had just published the second edition of a textbook in law and popular culture!
In essence, Ugandan legal education consists of surveying areas of law, both in the undergraduate programs and at the LDC. There is a bit of observing in court and a course in advocacy at the LDC, but, for the most part, professors present the laws and students try to remember them. Products of this type of legal education take themselves to be technicians who assist clients or the state, and the professional assistance of Ugandan legal technicians is quite welcome in the context of the nation's rapid modernization.
American affluence and our stage of socio-economic development allow us the luxury of proffering future lawyers broad undergraduate programs before law school and then educating (not training) them with a range of doctrinal courses, clinical experiences, and theoretical offerings. If everything goes according to plan, American lawyers hang up their shingles as learned men and women, who are able to critically and creatively engage the law on behalf of their clients in fully modernized society.
15 thoughts on "Ugandan Legal Education"
Joseph Hylton says:
I suspect that the Ugandan approach is closer to the world norm in legal education than that of the United States.
In Germany, law is also a first degree with a primary emphasis on what the law is. Undergraduate law students essentially devote their time to memorizing the German Civil Code. What we think of as the "academic" study of law doesn't really begin until students with law degrees choose to pursue masters or PhD degrees in law.
There are those who believe that the U.S. system of requiring lawyers to first acquire a four year bachelor's degree and then a three year law degree–which did not become the norm until after World War II–was at its base a way of controlling the supply of lawyers.
Requiring would be lawyers to pursue seven years of higher education delays the entry of individuals in the legal profession of those who become lawyers, and it presumably deters some people from pursuing careers in law.
In contrast, in countries like Uganda, as the above post notes, there is pressure to get qualified "legal technicians" into the workplace as quickly as possible.
Alex Buri says:
1.	Contrary to your assertion, Law Development Center (LDC) in Uganda is not a law school, as it does not offer any education leading to the award of an academic degree. Instead, the LDC is a statutory corporation established under the Law Development Center Act (Chapter 132 of the Laws of Uganda) – Its functions are set out under section 3 thereto.
2.	The yearlong course that you probably described in your blog is a Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Practice. (Please refer to the Advocates (Enrollment and Certification) Regulations (Statutory Instrument 267-1 of Uganda). Please refer to Regulation 2 (a) thereof, that states inter alia that it is a 'postgraduate bar course'.
3.	There are 7 law schools in Uganda (a nation that is about the geographical size of Oregon). The longest standing law school being – The Makerere University, School of law.
4.	The 4 year course you probably made reference to, is a law degree. The Bachelor of Laws degree (LLB – Legum Baccalaureus). Therefore, it is a degree in law and not a 'major in law', as you aver.
5.	It is unfortunate that during your interaction with 'faculty' at 'LDC' that their 'heads were shaking in mild disbelief' when you discussed courses such as 'jurisprudence, legal history and law and economics'. The ignorance depicted in their responses, is a misrepresentation of the Ugandan legal education system. Whilst at law school in Uganda, I pursued several law courses including Jurisprudence (which I thoroughly enjoyed – including reviewing legal positivists such as John Austin and Jeremy Bentham; natural law thinkers such as Thomas Aquinas and John Locke and some leading American jurisprudential thinkers such as Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes. I also studied African history and law as a part of my law degree among many other courses. Even the foundation courses such as Contract law, Criminal law, Constitutional law, Torts and land law, inter alia were prefaced with extensive reviews of their common law history. Further, the predominant approach of teaching was the case law method with a focus on analysis of the development in legal doctrine and principals in common law. This included, but wasn't limited to appreciating significant dissenting judgments in decisions. The Ugandan legal education system is also intended to result in "learnéd men and women, who are able to critically and creatively engage the law on behalf of their clients". (As in the US, you will find that the quality of individual lawyers will differ and that that objective is not necessarily achieved in each and every graduate of law school. You will find that, just as in the US, while some students are keen to engage in intensive research and to actively engage with law review, moot court etc, there are several students that will be satisfied with 'learning the law' from nutshells and various commercial outlines (which would definitely affect the depth of their appreciation of the law))
6.	I therefore strongly disagree with the suggestion that "Ugandan legal education consists of surveying areas of law' with the 'products' being mere 'technicians'. So, while there may be some students that are intent on mere rote memorization of material (It could also be argued that the focus of the commercial bar review courses in the US is principally on rote memorization of black letter law). Rote memorization is not necessarily reflective of Uganda's legal system, any more than, say, the US government's response to Hurricane Katrina would be regarded as being representative of how the US government handles humanitarian disaster.
7.	As you may be aware, the most significant historical source of present day Ugandan law is English Common law (as is the US), because of the historical British imperialism in Uganda.
8.	Law students in Uganda have numerous avenues to become more practically and intimately engaged with the law through participation in law review in law journals, participation in moot court competitions, engaging in legal aid clinics inter alia. Some will take advantage of the opportunities available, and others will not.
9.	Uganda's education system generally will typically start with pre-kindergarten, then kindergarten, then Primary school (equivalent to elementary school and middle school in the US). Thereafter, a child would go to high school for 4 years to attain an Ordinary leaving certificate. Thereafter, a student would pursue a narrower course of study focused either on Arts courses or Science courses for 2 years (so as to attain an Advanced level certificate). Then, a student intending to go to law school in Uganda, would typically be required to sit an entrance exam, similar to the LSAT in the US (although, in Uganda it would be set by each individual University). Assuming the student met the required pass grade and had scored sufficiently highly in his or her Advanced level exams, the student would then enter Law School which is a 4 year program encompassing 40 Course Units comprising about 5 contact hours per course, per week, per semester in which the course is pursued (That is approximately 400 contact hours per semester). After law school, there is an entrance exam into LDC to entitle one to attend the Bar course. (So, instead of having independent Bar review courses such as BarBri and Kaplan, to name but a few, Uganda has one standardized bar review course that is a highly intensive year long program reviewing the foundation courses already covered at law school, a mandatory practical clerkship (with a law firm, Judge, State Attorney's office or legal department in a company or other similar entity), similar to the voluntary US summer associates programs run by most law firms (some students do engage in internships throughout law school or in research assistantships with their professors), numerous periodic practical tests and regular moot court competitions. If a student passes the bar exam, he or she can then apply to be enrolled to the bar.
The Ugandan legal system could certainly do with improvement, in many ways, no doubt. I think the challenges it contends with have more to do with certain very unfortunate social challenges within the community per se, than with the legal education system itself. A bit like the way the second amendment of the US Constitution is not necessarily the cause of the challenges the US contends with in connection with the proliferation in gun related violence.
Lastly, it would be unfair to compare Uganda with the US, as the US has been an independent nation for almost 230 years and is approximately 40 times larger than Uganda in land mass. Not to mention that it has about 10 times the population of Uganda. In addition to that, the last time the US had to contend with civil warfare was about 150 years ago, while you are probably aware that until fairly recently (Joseph Kony's LRA), Uganda has had to contend with numerous episodes of civil unrest following the end of the formal imperialism by representatives of Britain. The abstract creation of Uganda about 100 years ago from a group of over 50 diverse ethnic groups, whilst using manipulative mechanisms of divide and rule to establish the state has left it with inherent structural weaknesses. Uganda still contends with diverse forms of neo-colonialism and for the most part, relatively poor internal governance. The legacy of Uganda's various wars has been difficult to overcome. I have seen tremendous progress during the time I have lived with respect to the rule of law. Unfortunately, there are also several indicators, that that progress is fragile.
Cynthia Kinyera says:
What a perfect reply, I came here to say just that. The article was a misrepresentation and mixed up facts. LDC is not a Law school, it offers a postgraduate diploma that is necessary to practice as an attorney. There are still many jobs in the industry that one can pursue without going to LDC. Just as in the US, one doesn't need to take the Bar to become, say, a paralegal. Taking the 4-year LLB degree is what we as Ugandans consider being in Law School.
Additionally, I would like to clarify that the Ugandan high school education, formally called secondary school, is six years in total. It includes both the Ordinary level of 4 years and the Advanced level of 2 years (often called O and A level).
Many urban parents take their children to pre-primary school, which Mr. Buri has referred to as kindergarten and pre-kindergarten. However, pre-primary schools do not have any specific government-mandated syllabi and are usually independently self-regulated. As such, attending pre-primary school in Uganda is a choice for those who can afford it, not a requirement.
Primary school is seven years long. On average, a student who starts primary school at around age 5 and doesn't repeat any classes will finish secondary school at age 18.
Moses Matovu says:
Thanks Alex. I could think of no better response.
Patrick Turinawe says:
Thank you, Alex, for the comprehensive response. The
danger of only looking at the negatives in a system (at Africa as a whole) is that it breeds bias and untruthfulness as depicted in the article. The image and ideas portrayed are wrong; yet, it will be believed. It takes anybody responsible to show the other side of the story. Thanks, Alex.
Peter Kelso says:
Hello Alex, My wife has sponsored a law student at a Ugandan university right the way through. The student passed the law degree but my wife was told the student failed the LDC exam and can't now become a practising lawyer. My wife was told only 16% of law graduates pass the LDC exam as there are many graduates but very few places at the LDC. We live in Australia. I am a practising lawyer here. Does what we are told sound right to you? It seems such a shame that so many graduates are prevented from admission to practice due to the system, if what we have been told is correct.
George Tebagana says:
Peter Kelso, your concern is genuine. However, have you ever considered why the particular student you referred to failed the Bar Exam? If you critically analyse Alex's response above, you will realize that he has ably tried to explain the education system and why some students will excel where others fail. And failing at the Bar exam should not be the end of one's legal career. One can always practice law through other avenues.
sikolia steve says:
Thanks, Alex, for the well-detailed breakdown. It is actually almost similar to the Kenyan system.
Patrick Osude says:
Thanks, Alex, you bring the difference in where we see a negative view represented about us. Your analytical break-down of our education satisfies me to work hard in my law course.
Godfrey Mugabi says:
Thanks, Alex. I have had the most fortunate opportunity of having enrolled for a law degree at the main and oldest University in Uganda–Makerere University Kampala. I completed about one year ago, and I can testify that it's one of the rigorous, intense, knowledge-inserting 4 years I have experienced. I can assure all that most academic pursuits at that high level are mainly premised on personal efforts, interest in what one is engaged in, extensive research on the different topics and should one not go an extra mile, they will never appreciate all the subject units to the level they are expected.
It also does not matter how many get admitted to the bar course; a law graduate can be so useful in many ways other than focusing on actual practice especially out of school. It gives one scale as they keep trying with the bar course, which has no limits as to how many times one can sit for it.
Alex's assertions are correct as different situations affect one's grasp of whatever they are taught through school. And a lawyer who is worth talking about would never go for winning bar arguments about what the law is about, etc. A good lawyer I have found out is the one who knows where to find the law when they urgently needs to apply it and not that type who will sit in an LDC session with different lawyers and ask them about Jurisprudence, Law, Economics, etc. It just does not work that way. The best preacher rehearses what they will preach about the following day, and similarly the best lawyer researches and updates themselves to the challenges at hand. Any lawyer will tell you that there are simply many different areas of law and that one can never assume to be a master in a bar discussion or any argument. Civil law, criminal law, and commercial law each require different thinking and game plans.
Having had the luxury of doing a science degree – B-Stat & MBA before enrolling for the law course, I can attest that it was one of the best decisions I made, and I will always defend it. The uniqueness of the law degree and its intensity makes it worth each and everyone's efforts. One MUST prepare for the 4 years physically and psychologically, but its worth the sleepless nights.
chebet ali says:
The problem is with the institution. They try to limit the number they admit and yet we have few lawyers in Uganda, this is increasing unemployment. Remember most lawyers can do self-employment after a bar course. So we call upon the donors to focus much on ADR or paralegal institutions to absorb the lawyers.
Keisha Praise says:
Alex great job giving the other side of the story and its exceptions… You make wanting to be a lawyer so easy especially for some of us who have recently started pursuing our four years in different schools of law…. So I pose a question… What is the point of giving up when you are about to reach the finish line??? I think by the time one sets there mind to pursue law they should be willing to do anything to understand the law ..so everyone should give it the best shot in the bar exam until they are finally accepted..If others can , why not you
Wassajja Racheal says:
Thanks Alex for your views.
Patson W. Arinaitwe says:
It's a pleasure reading the main article and the comments as I prepare for my lecture: Legal Methods, under the sub-topic of Legal Education in Uganda. I do teach at LDC (post-graduate Diploma in Legal Practice) as well as at the undergraduate level (Bachelor of Laws).
As a legal practitioner as well as a teacher of law for the last 11 years, I have seen tremendous progress. The methods of teaching have evolved over time and the global trends such as specialization in different practice areas have certainly impacted how law is taught. But the fundamentals have remained the same. Critical thinking, legal reasoning, legal research, as well as advocacy remain core areas.
Thank you David and my friend and former work colleague Alex for generating this debate.
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