Syrian Community in Cardiff, in a state of fear

John – as this Syrian person living in Cardiff prefers to be called – is not much different from any typical family man from Wales: he has just picked up his little kid from school. Once they get home, the father sits on the couch while the child does not waste a second to play with his siblings. The happy cries of the children playing in the living room are in sharp contrast with the shocking words of their father:

“In Syria you don’t have a say,” he states. “Basically you don’t have dignity over there: you can’t say your vision, you can’t say your view, you can’t say anything. If you speak, you go to jail.” John gives an example: “My sister has two sons and they were arrested just because they demonstrated on the streets.”

Even more than 3,000 miles away from Syria, John still cannot speak with full freedom. He keeps real his name secret, as the revelation of his identity could put his family from Syria in danger. “Lots of people know who I am, so I can’t show my face or say my name,” he says.

On February 11, more than 40 supporters from Cardiff and Bristol went to London to demand the end of the civil population oppression in Syria. According to John, those who demonstrated in Trafalgar Square were filmed by people who defend the Syrian regime with the purpose of threatening their families back in Syria.

This illustrates to what extent the Syrian community in Cardiff is living in a state of fear. John gives the example of some students living in Cardiff, sponsored by the Syrian government, who apparently back the regime but, internally, are on the side of the revolution.

“Lots of students here they try to keep quiet, because they know that if they speak one spy could transfer the information back home and your family can be in danger. You have to be very careful who you talk to, who you transfer information to, unless you don’t care about the possible consequences to your family back in Syria,” he explains.

Does it mean that people from the Syrian government are working here? “Of course!” he cries. In spite of the dangers, John points out that most of the Syrian people living in Cardiff are trying to spread the awareness about what is happening in Syria. In Wales, the group Welsh Solidarity for Syria, for example, is working to let the people know the (until know forgotten) reality of Syria through peaceful demonstrations on the streets.

In Syria to provide help

The lack of prospects in Syria – “the economy is ruled by them”, says John referring to Assad’s family – as well as the lack of rights to say anything, made him come to Cardiff to study. Now, after ten years living in Wales, returning to his homeland is not an option to him. “Not only because of the education of my children, but also for a matter of security,” points out John. His option, instead, is to stay here and go back just on holiday, as he did two months ago.

Unlike many people, the purpose of his holidays was not to relax, but to help his family. “When I go there, even if is just for a month, I can help in many ways: mainly financially, but also by offering moral support.” With a mixed expression of rage and impotence, he says: “I do fear for my family but, what can I do?” His resignation is caused by the whole situation in Syria, with defenseless people being killed by Bashar Assad’ regime – the UN estimates that 7,500 people have been killed so far since the uprisings against the tyranny of Assad to stay in power took place a year ago.

But, how is the situation now in Syria? “It is a war, is a civil war,” John explains. “It is beyond the imagination, people now don’t fear anything, they will go out demonstrating every single hour, every single minute.” John stresses the attitude of the people in Syria, willing to demonstrate in the streets even when it means risking their lives. “If you die, you die” – he says, and adds: “Either you die with dignity or get slaughtered by a soldier.”

The macabre reprisals of the Assad’s regime are diverse, from killing – “it is so easy, so cheap for them,” says John – to continuous rapes of the female population and the lack of supply of food, electricity and water, so the population surrenders to the ruling power. “The situation is really bad, especially in Homs,” he explains.

While the regime is trying to control Syria’s two main cities, Damascus and Aleppo, so they can manage to control other cities – says John – the civilian population is paid to fight each other. Men have got weapons, females spy. “You can’t trust anyone,” he adds.

Regarding the international community reaction, John points out: “Everybody has an interest in Syria, but they don’t defend its people.” Many of these interests are geopolitical, as Syria is the link point between Iran, Iraq, Lebanon and Israel.

For John, military international intervention could be an option, but he hopes that the regime will collapse internally rather than having to rely on external intervention. “The free army, formed by people who have split from the regime army, is protecting the demonstrators,” he says, and adds: “We hope that they will help to the revolution.” To him, the weak economy of Syria at the moment will help to collapse the regime very soon, apart from the influence of the demonstrations, which are becoming more and more continuous across the country.

Review: 1Malaysian restaurant

Pic: 1malaysiacuisine.com

The exotic spices and tastes of Malaysian cuisine can be enjoyed right in the middle of the city centre in 1Malaysia, the only restaurant in Cardiff that offers traditional Malay food.

Situated just opposite St. John The Baptist Church and next to the fish market, 1Malaysia is a perfect option for those who are looking for a menu with plenty of choice where dishes are varied in nature, robust in textures and a meeting of different cultures.

 “Our food is a mixture of the main cultures that live in Malaysia: Malay, Chinese and Indian,” says Alex Wong, the owner of the restaurant, a Malaysian chef with more than 25 years of experience who has an eye on the details.  “When you have got passion for something you do it properly,” he says.

Although there is room for dishes from China and India, 75 per cent of the menu is Malay, explains Mr Wong.

“I wanted to make the menu more Malay because there are many Chinese restaurants in the area and I wanted to distinguish from the others,” he adds.

Indeed, this restaurant is completely different to Asian buffets or take-away Chinese restaurants, where, as Mr Wong says, “there is too much food on the table, and people just can’t finish it.”

1Malaysia is a real option for those who are looking for something different to eat and, at the same time, natural ingredients.

Mr Wong explains: “Our curries are not curry-powder based; we use herbs and fresh ingredients, like coriander, to give the natural colour to our dishes. This is why our food is so different, because there is no colouring in the food we prepare; the colour comes from natural ingredients.”

Advised by Mr Wong, the menu for two people which offers a genuine merge of these three cultures includes Chicken Murtaback, as an Indian appetizer, and the main dishes Rendang Lamb Mamak, typical Malaysian curry, and the Chinese wok fried Chow Keow Teow.

The Indian Chicken Murtaback (crispy pancake filled with chicken, spices and potatoes) is a tasty appetizer, perfect for those who prefer their dishes a little less spicy, but the price (£4,95 for four little pieces) just seems too much.

The star dish, Rendang Lamb Mamak, described in the menu as “a rainbow of spices and herbs with traces of coconut” is a mouth-watering Malaysian curry stew and the price (£9,50 per dish) is worth every penny. The lamb, with a touch of lemongrass, ginger and a perfect spicy flavour, melts in your mouth. To ensure the meat is so tender, the beef has to be slow cook.

“You can’t hurry it,” says Mr Wong. “This dish must be marinated at least over a night, that is the reason of its delicious flavour,” he explains.

The Chinese Chow Keow Teow with prawns is made with flat rice noodles with a combination of vegetables, finished off with soya sauce, egg and sambal chilli. The good thing about this dish is that, apart from being delicious, it includes lots of prawns, not two or three as in many restaurants. The price is also quite reasonable (£7,50 per dish).

Overall, the food was tasty and the portions large enough. The service was polite, friendly to the clients and effective. The waiter didn’t take long to bring the food, but perhaps it was because there weren’t many clients in the restaurant.

“It is slightly quiet, not so many people know about Malaysian food,” says the owner.

In spite of its quality meals, the interior design of the restaurant lets it down. There is an obvious lack of typical Malaysian decor that could make the place cosier, bringing to Wales this exotic culture.

The restaurant, that was set up a year ago, in December 17, is still unknown by many people.

“They should come and try. I haven’t yet found a single person who didn’t like our food,” says Mr Wong as a message to his prospect clients.

1Malaysia cuisine
Average food spend (for two people) £27
22/23 Trinity Street, Cardiff CF10 1BH
Phone: 02920 233 298
www.1malaysiacuisine.com

The single market in the evolving European economic crisis: the role of Wales

Pic: Alicia Villegas

The economic crisis has prompted an urgent need to increase Welsh competitiveness within the European single market to achieve growth.

Eluned, Baroness Morgan, former MEP and honorary distinguished Professor at Cardiff University, yesterday warned to the Welsh business community to face up to the current economic climate.
The single market seems to work better in other areas than in Wales but, for Eluned, Baroness Morgan, the issue is not the EU lack of support but a Welsh problem.

“In Wales we have three cases of top level EU funding and we are going backwards,” she said. “I am not sure where is the problem of the lack of growth, I am trying to work out what are we doing wrong, because whatever we are doing at the moment is not working,” she added.

Eluned, Baronness Morgan, who is now employed by Swalec, a company that is keen to look at opportunities for closer collaboration in innovation and research and development in Wales, said also that the Welsh business community should look into trade within the EU, as 15 per cent of Welsh trading good are in the European market.

“People speak about the importance of reaching out to countries like Brazil, Russia, India or China, which are all there with huge potential, but the fact is that Welsh businesses have more trade in Ireland that they do with all of this countries together,” she said.

During a roundtable at Cardiff University in which the future of the European single market in the light of the global financial and economic crisis was discussed, Eluned, Baroness Morgan explained that, at the time of the creation of the single market within the UE, the Welsh business community was very supportive of it.
“The single market in Welsh economy is key because a lot of investment came into Wales, attracting Japanese and Korean investors,” she said and, referring to the trading opportunities within the UE, she added: “I think it is fair to say that the opportunities offered to Welsh business are immense because of this market of 500 million people.”

The single market can offer benefits, but also some challenges and, with the current economic crisis, these ones are even more demanding.

“We are living in a global market where competition is fierce, facing the particular challenge that we have an aging population, so unless we are going to act together, we will not be able to pay for our older population, which could lead to a social crisis,” she explained.

Apart from the higher competition within the single market, there are other challenges that need to be addressed. Michelle Cini, European Politics professor from Bristol University, pointed out that gaps in legislation within the single market were a problem.

“Where the gaps are, tend to be the most controversial areas and the most difficult areas to legislate,” she said.

Ms Cini said that the businesses complained about the lack of legislation. Also the dynamic within the single market was another important issue that must be addressed, along with the lack of public confidence in the single market to deliver growth.

“It seems to be a tendency, at general level, to particularly look at the EU as a solution to the problems being faced in the financial and economic crisis, but perhaps the solution should be provided by the national governments,” she said.

Ms Cini also explained that opposition to the EU by some countries like the UK within the EU is a risk as it could trigger fragmentation and a shaper “two speeds EU”. She also worried about the critical voices who oppose a dominant role for the market.

“These voices perceive the single market as an example of the EU adopting a neoliberal approach, even if the language of the reports and the Single Market Act is very much the language of social Europe,” she pointed out.

To face these criticisms Henrik Morch, from the European Commission, highlighted the achievements of the single market, particularly in terms of opportunities for business within the EU, such us the huge potential of ecommerce. Mr Morch said that for the across border market, ecommerce is still insignificant, making up about a 3 per cent in the EU market, but if it were to double by 2050, the economic benefit of that would be huge, up to €700 billion.

“The single market is now part of the solution, is even more important now than ever because of the economic crisis, but at the same time, it is seen as part of the problem. This is the risk and I think it is important to highlight the very confident benefits that inter-markets give,” he said.

Mr Morch added: “There is not a single bullet to revitalise the single market and create thousands of jobs and economic growth in one goal. It doesn’t exist: the single market is built piece by piece.”

Granada, the charm of the contrasts

La Alhambra / Pic: Ramón Villegas

In South Spain there is a place where the Muslim and Christian culture live together, creating a unique atmosphere, a mixture of unforgettable images, flavours and smells that can only be found in the city of Granada.

At the foot of Sierra Nevada, the highest peak in the Iberian Peninsula, lies the Moorish Alhambra Palace, the most emblematic monument of this multi-cultural city in Eastern Andalusia.

Considered the heart or Granada – not in vane it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site – the Alhambra is a magnificent complex that used to be the city, fortress and palace of the Kings of the Nasrid dynasty. Its extensive rooms, beautiful gardens and famous fountains make up the highest expression of Muslim art in Europe. On the hill opposite the Alhambra, is the Albaicín, one of the oldest districts of Granada. Its Moorish roots make this neighbourhood a charming place. It is well worth a walk through its labyrinth of narrow streets to see the gardens of the cármenes (its typical houses), as well as the wonderful viewpoints – such as San Nicolás and San Cristobal – and the colourful Arabic market, full of shops with souvenirs and crafts. And to end the long stroll, there is nothing better than an aromatic tea in the teterías located at the bottom of the hill, while watching the bustle of the tourists and the authenticity of the locals with the catchy Arabic music in the background.

The best way to approach the Christian Granada is to visit the Royal Chapel – where the Catholic Monarchs are buried – and the Cathedral, a masterpiece of Spanish Renaissance style, built by Queen Isabella immediately after the conquest of the city in 1942, which led to the disappearance of the last Arab Kingdom in the Peninsula.

Apart from its monumental and picturesque places, Granada is also well-known to be one of the few remaining cities in Spain where tapas are still served free. From the neighborhood of La Chana to the area known as Plaza de Toros, there are many areas in which ‘ir the tapas’ (go around to the bars eating tapas) means get a free lunch while consuming a couple of drinks.

For the flamenco-lovers the Sacromonte is a must-see neighbourhood. Famous for its caves, many of which have been transformed into bars where the gypsies sing and dance flamenco every night. It is impossible to transfer the beauty of the views of the Alhambra, the charming Albaicín, the architectonic variety and great entertainment of this city onto paper. Granada can’t be explained, it needs to be seen, felt and breathed to appreciate its atmosphere. Once visited for the first time, there will be an irresistible urge to come back again to this dreamlike city.

Easter in Granada

If you go to Granada during the Easter holidays and suddenly you see a group of people dressed up as if they belonged to the Ku Klux Klan, don’t panic, they are just penitentes, that is, members of the cofradías who participate in the processions of Semana Santa (Holy Week) in Easter.

Many people from Granada take this religious event very seriously, so the Granada processions are quite spectacular and passionate. Months before the Holy Week, the members of each hermandad (brotherhood) prepare the figures of their Christ or Virgin Mary for their own processions and make sure everything is ready for the event.

During the processions, the pasos (wooden platforms) with the figures are carried on the shoulders of the men known as costaleros. They are followed by queues of penitentes or nazarenos, dressed up with long gowns and a particular cylindrical hat.

In Granada there are many processions, but the most popular ones are the “Silent Procession” – where the street lights are turned off and people remain silent as the procession takes places – and the “Gypsy Procession” – with bonfires and saetas (traditional songs to the Virgin) sung by the believers.
This year the Holy Week in Granada takes place from 1st to 8th of April.

Women entrepeneurs

Equality and emancipation are meaningful words in today’s women lives, however, when it comes to examining true equality in the labour market, good news for women is not so good any more, neither globally nor in Wales.

For Alejandro Suárez, author of the book It’s time to assemble your own business, a major problem that women face is the gender gap in entrepreneurship at a global level. “Women have spent years claiming a place in the labour market, but now it’s time to promote a new social and cultural change in which women are not only eligible to hold a job, but to create it,” he notes.

More than 104 million women in the world were actively engaged in starting and running new business ventures, contributing significantly to entrepreneurship in the 59 countries studied in the report, According to the latest data from the Global Entrepreneurship monitor (GEM).

In spite of this achievement, the vast majority of the economies analysed have more men than women entrepreneurs and, therefore, the gender gap persists globally, according to a multi-year analysis from 2002 to 2010.

The proportion of all entrepreneurs who are women varies considerably among the economies: from 16 per cent in the Republic of Korea to 55 per cent in Ghana – the only economy with more women than men entrepreneurs.

In Wales, the percentage of women entrepreneurs decreased from 58 per cent in 2009 to 43 per cent in 2010, which meant a widening of the gender gap in entrepreneurship by 15 per cent and a drop of female entrepreneurship to 3.6 per cent – a figure which is statistically the same as the UK.

Let’s go back in time, to the year 2004. At that time, the outlook in Wales was completely different for women entrepreneurs. Wales was an example of equality in entrepreneurship in the whole world, having one of the best gender balances, as female entrepreneurship was at three quarters that of the male entrepreneurial activity.

“For a few years we had the Entrepreneurship Plan in Wales and within that there was a special focus on women and minority groups, because, at that time, that was a major policy of the government,” says Christine Atkinson, head of Women’s Entrepreneurship Hub at the University of Glamorgan.

Since the Entrepreneurship Action Plan finished, the upward trend for women entrepreneur has reversed.  Ms Akinson explains:  “With the recession and with changes in the policy, those sorts of support measures have gone. If you take the support structures away, then the trend of women entrepreneurs is falling back again.”

An institutional framework to support women entrepreneurs might be the key to reduce the gender gap, but, why are there fewer women entrepreneurs than men not only in Wales, but across the world? The answer is more complex than it seems to be at first sight.

In her article What Do We Know about the Patterns and Determinants of Female Entrepreneurship across Countries? Maria Minniti, a leading expert in global entrepreneurship, finds a possible answer looking into the subjectivity and possibly biased perceptions.

Particular cultural beliefs could influence women to have less self-confidence, opportunity perception, and, eventually, the prospect of starting a new business as a career choice. This could be a reason that explains why women are more likely to be motivated to set up a business by necessity rather than an opportunity, as well as less likely to believe they have the skills to start and run a new venture, according to the latest GEM report.

Discrimination against women as result of gender beliefs inherent in a culture or society could also reduce women’s likelihood of becoming entrepreneurs. Ms Minniti explains in her article: “Discrimination has been suggested as a possible explanation for the gender gap in entrepreneurship and this is likely to be more significant in poorer countries although the evidence is mixed.”

In other words, societal beliefs – especially in certain male-dominated fields – reflect gender bias, which makes things, such as being accepted by some clients or having good relationships with vendors, more difficult for women entrepreneur.

“Gender bias depends on who you deal with,” says Bianca Cridland, a 24 year-old entrepreneur from Swansea who set up her business Gower Soaps from scratch.

“If someone has a lower opinion of you because you are a woman, you can pick it up from the first impression and you can counter that immediately with the knowledge and skills you have, that’s my strategy,” she adds.

In spite of the stereotypes against women, Ms Cridland argues that being a woman is an advantage when it comes to getting help from other women. “It is an unwritten rule. From my experience, the majority of help I have had come from other women in business. Even if they haven’t been able to help me directly, then they gave me advice or contact details from someone else,” she explains.

Another reason that might have an impact on the entrepreneur gender gap is related to finance. Women may find more difficult than men to access finance to get started in business, according to a study based in the UK and carried out, among others, by Dylan Jones-Evans, Director of Enterprise and Innovation at the University of Wales.

To deal with this issue, the study suggests that support organisations should be created in order to make available start-up finance. Another suggestion includes the need to increase both financial awareness and literacy though entrepreneurship education programmes at university, so potential female entrepreneurs are aware of all financial options open to them.

Professor Ms Akinson points out other factor that must be considered when analysing the gender gap in entrepreneurship. “There is a big issue that women face, which is the whole issue of work-life balance: those women that have caring responsibilities still are trying to pursue business,” she says.

For Georgina Jones, Welsh entrepreneur and co-director of the Cardiff-based company Sing and Inspire, coping with the difficulties related to maternity issues depends on the support network. “I don’t have children, but my business partner has and I can see that, for many people with family, business life is more challenging because they have more commitment than me,” she argues.

Many obstacles for women entrepreneur haven’t gone away and there are still barriers that need to be address. Policymakers, society and women themselves need to work towards the reduction of the gender gap in entrepreneurship.  Just as a century ago thinking about equality and emancipation was a distant goal in women’s minds, the significant increase of women entrepreneurs in Wales and globally is a goal that can be achieved. As Mr Suárez suggests in his book on entrepreneurship, the change is possible, but there is no time to lose.