Escape
102
we know things in our minds and
we know things in our hearts
we're not truly alive until
we know in our heart
that we will die
the mind can be a prison
leave our heart open
so we can escape
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Escape
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Does having had an infectious disease improve one's perception of health? A global study that questions our representations A paradox in global health brought to light
162
Infectious diseases such as tuberculosis, malaria, or dengue are often seen as synonymous with suffering, lower quality of life, and in many cases, mortality. However, a large international study conducted across 187 countries challenges this assumption: people who have experienced one or more infectious diseases report, on average, a better perceived state of health than those who have never had any.
Data from a global sample
With nearly 88,000 participants, this study is based on a questionnaire distributed both online and on paper in some countries, including Morocco and Algeria. Researchers examined two key pieces of information: the participants’ experiences with nine infectious or parasitic diseases (including typhoid, cholera, and filariasis) and their response to a simple question: "How healthy do you feel on a scale of 1 to 11?"
Surprising but consistent results
The results are unexpected: people who have contracted at least one of these diseases rate their health better than those who have never had one. This phenomenon is even more pronounced among those who have had multiple infections. On a scale from 1 to 11, non-exposed individuals had an average rating of 7.4, compared to 8.3 for those with multiple exposures. Even though the statistical difference is modest, it remains significant.
This result was confirmed through various statistical methods, including mixed models that accounted for country differences and propensity score matching to reduce bias.
Hypotheses to explore
Why do people who have been ill feel generally healthier? Several possibilities can be considered:
A psychological resilience effect: Having overcome a serious illness could boost confidence in one's body.
An implicit comparison: These individuals may feel "healthy" in comparison to what they have experienced.
A selection bias: Only people who survived and regained good physical condition participated in the survey.
What does this mean for Morocco?
In Morocco, as in other middle-income countries, infectious diseases remain a reality, especially in rural areas or among vulnerable populations. However, these results might encourage a rethink of our health prevention and education campaigns. Instead of focusing solely on the fear or severity of diseases, it could be beneficial to adopt a more positive approach, highlighting the skills developed by individuals who have overcome an infection: endurance, knowledge of the body, and adaptability.
Additionally, using simple indicators such as self-reported health could be useful in Moroccan public policies. Cost-effective to implement, these indicators provide a global sense of well-being that is difficult to measure with biological analyses alone.
Conclusion: when the experience of illness becomes a strength
This study invites us to deconstruct a widely held belief: having suffered from an illness does not necessarily mean one will feel more vulnerable afterward. For many people around the world, and perhaps in Morocco as well, illness is experienced as a formative trial. What if the key to better mental and physical health lay in how we perceive our own bodies?
Invitation to read the article:
I invite you to read this interesting article that explores the psychological factors influencing sports performance in Spanish elite athletes. The study highlights key elements that can enrich our understanding of the links between sports psychology and success on the field. You can read the full article here: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0033350625001039
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Does having had an infectious disease improve one's perception of health? A global study that questions our representations A paradox in global health brought to light
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Are Wydad and Raja really that weak???
257
In the Monday, April 14, 2025 episode of my weekly sports show “Sports with Aziz Daouda” on Barlmane Radio, I revisited the brilliant performance of the Moroccan U-17 national team at the Africa Cup of Nations, applauding the outstanding display by the *“Atlas Cubs”*, who delivered a high-level performance in this prestigious continental tournament.
I also discussed the Casablanca Derby between Wydad and Raja, held at the Mohammed V Complex — commonly referred to as "Donor" by the people of Casablanca — which has recently reopened after a complete renovation. I recalled the history of the stadium, which is part of a broad program aimed at modernizing Moroccan sports infrastructure in preparation for hosting CAN 2025 and the 2030 FIFA World Cup.
I especially commented on the decision by the ultras of the two major Casablanca clubs to boycott the derby and the supposed impact of this decision on the match.
I also pointed out that the stadium now presents a new face, both in terms of the quality of the pitch and the noticeable improvement in television coverage.
At the end of the show, I highlighted and discussed the innovations in refereeing that FIFA plans to introduce starting from the next Club World Cup, scheduled to take place in the USA next summer.
Below, you will find the link to the episode, which is in Moroccan Darija.
I invite you to comment on my remarks and, above all, to share your views on the show, as well as to send me your suggestions and proposals to improve the concept. Thank you in advance!
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Are Wydad and Raja really that weak???
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"The Arc of History: Morocco Advances, Algeria Stalls"
577
Diplomacy, regional geopolitics, and strategic interpretative dynamics in North Africa have evolved profoundly over time. The turning point came in 2007, when the UN Security Council welcomed Morocco’s autonomy initiative, paving the way for a definitive resolution of the Sahara issue within the framework of Moroccan sovereignty. This was a difficult choice for Morocco, but a deeply pragmatic one. The initiative was part of a long-term vision of regional integration, based on cooperation and complementarity.
Seeing Algeria mired in its contradictions, Rabat believed it could offer a lifeline. But perhaps Morocco underestimated the instability of its neighbor's regime—either incapable or stubbornly unwilling to adjust course. Rather than seize the opportunity, Algiers chose escalation, multiplying hostile statements and provocative actions. The change in Algerian leadership had sparked some hope for a thaw in Moroccan circles. The King of Morocco went as far as issuing two solemn appeals for dialogue. The response: a categorical rejection.
Instead of proposing an alternative, Algeria has persisted in a strategy of confrontation, ignoring new geopolitical dynamics. Belligerent rhetoric and unilateral decisions against Morocco have grown in number. Algiers is sinking deeper into denial, detached from contemporary geopolitical realities. One may well wonder if Algerian decision-makers live in the same world as everyone else.
During the 2024 vote on the UN resolution renewing MINURSO’s mandate, Algeria—despite being a non-permanent Security Council member—found itself isolated and powerless. A moment as pathetic as it was revealing.
The overwhelming support of Arab and African nations for Morocco’s territorial integrity, alongside the growing shift of many states toward Rabat’s vision, has done nothing to shake Algeria’s stubbornness. Spain’s decision to embrace Morocco’s autonomy plan sent Algiers into a symptomatic fit of hysteria. President Macron’s letter and his subsequent speeches further aggravated Algerian authorities, who eventually backed down—without gaining anything in return but humiliation.
No constructive proposals have ever emerged from Algiers. Nothing concrete. Nothing useful. It’s as if insult, slander, and defamation have now become legitimate diplomatic tools. Their statements have grown increasingly virulent—sometimes downright vile—betraying a loss of emotional control.
More recently, following a clear reaffirmation of U.S. support for Morocco’s autonomy plan, Algeria issued a statement riddled with ambiguity, approximations, and glaring editorial weaknesses—in both French and Arabic. It read like the incoherent mumbling of a groggy boxer, staggering after a technical knockout.
This communiqué can be interpreted in multiple ways, all revealing the same disarray. It first appears to reflect a desire to dilute the importance of the U.S. message by drowning it in a muddle of distorted legal references, shaky historical reminders, and absurd ideological arguments—a clumsy attempt to minimize the impact of American support on domestic public opinion and the few remaining allies.
It also reveals a form of misunderstanding—feigned or sincere—of current diplomatic realities. The Algerian decision-making circles cling to an obsolete reading of the issue. Do they really believe in a possible reversal? They imply that international positions remain ambiguous or negotiable—despite all evidence to the contrary. If they truly believe that, they’re alone in doing so.
Above all, the statement reflects a stubborn refusal to accept facts. Algeria likely understood the American message: a clear and renewed endorsement of Morocco’s sovereignty over its Sahara. But for reasons of internal politics and regional posture, it chose to ignore it—an attempt to save face… but is that truly sustainable?
With each passing day, Morocco’s position on the international stage grows stronger. Pragmatism, consistency, active diplomacy, and strategic intelligence are paying off. Morocco’s internal front remains solid, united, and unwavering—a major asset. The diplomatic momentum driven by Morocco is now shared and supported by the world’s major powers, in a geopolitical context where economic and security interests prevail over outdated slogans.
Algeria, by contrast, remains stuck in a rigid and sterile posture—to the detriment, it must be said, of its own people, held hostage by an issue they were never genuinely consulted about. For nearly 50 years, they’ve endured the consequences of ideological stubbornness without the slightest tangible benefit.
And things could get even more complicated. By now antagonizing Sahel countries—particularly Mali—Algeria is compromising even its traditional alliances. Russia is watching with concern as instability spreads across a region it views as strategic. One wonders what direction Algerian diplomacy is taking—and whether anyone lucid is still at the helm.
The fact that Staffan de Mistura was questioned at the U.S. Department of State is telling—especially since he was received by a subordinate. Lisa Kenna, in charge of political affairs, conveyed a clear message: the U.S. wants a swift resolution, and there is now only one solution on the table. With no room for negotiation, his role is to urge the parties to align with that solution. Among those parties, Algeria stands front and center—whether it likes it or not.
As if that weren’t enough, Congressman Joe Wilson announced plans to submit a bill designating the Polisario Front as a terrorist organization due to its ties with Iran. The initiative is highly likely to succeed. The noose will tighten even further around the Algerian regime, which will have lost all room for maneuver.
It is time to put an end to this ideological charade—these puppets still waving outdated slogans in the corridors of the African Union, at the expense of the exhausted Algerian taxpayer waiting in endless lines for milk and cooking oil.
The patience, wisdom, and perseverance of the Moroccan Kingdom are bearing fruit. Morocco always knew it was just a matter of time. Those who doubted it now understand: you don’t trifle with the interests of one of the world’s oldest nation-states.
Algeria could have avoided this debacle—had it ever had the clarity to see what was obvious to everyone else: the course of history.
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Enochian Magick
782
Enochian magick is a ceremonial magical system developed by Dr John Dee, a renowned Elizabethan scholar and astrologer, and Edward Kelley, his scryer, in the late 16th century. This system is based on communications they claimed to receive from angels, showing a complex cosmology, language, and set of rituals for engaging with these celestial beings. At its core, Enochian magick tries to be a shortcut to the gap between humanity and higher spiritual realms, offering practitioners access to deep spiritual insights and divine energies.
The foundation of Enochian magick lies in the angelic language, known as Enochian, which was revealed to Dee and Kelley during their scrying sessions. This language includes a unique alphabet, vocabulary, and syntax, believed to be the language spoken by angels and by the prophet Enoch. The Enochian Keys or Calls, a series of invocations in this strange language, are used to summon angelic beings and open the gates to higher realms known as the Aethyrs. These Aethyrs are described as thirty spiritual planes, each progressively closer to the divine source, with angels guarding and governing their mysteries. The experience of going through the Aethyrs is seen as a journey of spiritual ascent and self-transformation.
Central to the system are the Enochian tables or Watchtowers, which are complex grids of letters representing the elemental forces of Air, Fire, Water, and Earth. These Watchtowers are divided into quadrants, each associated with specific angels and energies. Practitioners use these tables to invoke the angelic rulers of the elements, looking for their guidance, protection, and assistance in magickal workings. The Tablet of Union, a smaller grid connecting the elements through Spirit, integrates these forces into a cohesive whole. Another critical tool is the Sigillum Dei Aemeth, a complex diagram with divine names, placed beneath a crystal ball or black mirror to facilitate angelic communication.
Enochian magick emphasizes the practitioner’s purity of intent and spiritual alignment. Rituals are complex and demand precision, often involving sacred geometry, divine names, and invocations to create a sacred space and establish contact with angelic entities. The system also includes protective measures, ensuring the practitioner is shielded from any disruptive or overwhelming energies encountered during the work. The presence of higher divine forces, such as the sacred names of the Almighty or the supreme angelic hierarchy, is invoked to maintain balance and control throughout the process.
Modern interpretations of Enochian magick vary widely. Some practitioners view the system as a pathway to direct communication with angelic beings and an exploration of divine mysteries. Others interpret it as a symbolic framework for inner spiritual growth, with the angels and Aethyrs representing aspects of the self or stages of consciousness. This perspective aligns Enochian magick with psychological and archetypal approaches to spirituality, emphasizing self-discovery and transformation.
Enochian magick is regarded as one of the most intricated and powerful systems in Western occult tradition. Its unique combination of divine language, sacred symbols, and celestial hierarchies offers practitioners a profound tool for accessing higher spiritual realities. Whether approached as a mystical system for engaging with angels or as a symbolic journey of personal enlightenment, Enochian magick continues to inspire and challenge those who delve into its depths.
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Questions About Food Security !
816
**Food security is defined as a state in which all people, at all times, have physical and economic access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food that meets their dietary needs and preferences for an active and healthy life. ** This widely recognized definition, first introduced at the 1996 World Food Summit in Rome and later refined in 2001, highlights four essential pillars: availability, accessibility, utilization, and stability. It emphasizes not only the quantity of food but also its quality—both are critical for supporting health and overall well-being.
While this definition presents an ideal vision, the global reality is far more complicated. **Is food security still a challenge in the world today?** Unfortunately, the answer is yes. Millions of people continue to struggle with hunger and inadequate access to nutritious food.
According to the 2023 State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI) report, 733 million people faced hunger in 2023—one in five of them in Africa. Alarmingly, global hunger levels have shown little improvement over the past three years. Compared to 2019, an additional 152 million people are now undernourished, marking a significant setback. In fact, the report notes that current hunger levels resemble those last seen in 2008–2009, effectively erasing 15 years of progress. If current trends continue, 582 million people are projected to remain chronically undernourished by 2030, with half of them in Africa, putting the Zero Hunger goal at serious risk.
Despite these challenges, considerable efforts have been made to improve food security. In 2022, the World Food Programme (WFP) provided food assistance to over 150 million people across more than 120 countries. The Global Agriculture and Food Security Program (GAFSP) has invested over $2 billion to support smallholder farmers in low-income countries. Initiatives like the FAO’s Hand-in-Hand also focus on addressing hunger and poverty hotspots by promoting agricultural development.
This brings us to a key question: **Why does food insecurity persist despite global interventions?**
The main challenges of achieving global food security that we often hear about include: conflict and political instability, which disrupt food production, transportation, and markets; climate change and natural disasters, which damage crops, reduce yields, and threaten food supply chains; poor infrastructure and weak supply systems, especially in rural or remote areas, which hinder effective food distribution; and economic shocks and global market disruptions, such as those triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic or the war, which drive up food prices and reduce availability for millions of people.
When we look at the current state of global food security, we are left with critical questions: **Where are the gaps that prevent global food security from being achieved? Are they in the efforts used to address food insecurity? In our understanding of the challenges surrounding food security? Or in the way we define global food security itself?**
Food security is often associated with the concept of "Zero Hunger," but the two are not synonymous, nor is one simply a subset of the other. Achieving food security means achieving Zero Hunger, but the reverse is not necessarily true. It is possible to provide enough food to prevent hunger and allow someone to survive, yet this does not equate to fully achieving food security. Food security goes beyond merely ensuring that people are not hungry. It involves providing access to a balanced and nutritious diet that meets both the quantity and quality of food needed to support a healthy life. True food security means individuals not only have enough food to avoid hunger, but also the proper nourishment to maintain health and well-being in the long term.
**But what exactly does "food" mean in the context of food security?** In other words, what are the essential elements of food that must be sufficient in both quantity and quality to promote good health? We understand that food can be broadly divided into two main categories: cultivated food, which includes grains, vegetables, fruits, and legumes, and animal-based food, which includes meat, dairy, and eggs. In terms of price, animal-based foods are typically more expensive than cultivated foods due to the costs associated with raising animals, including feed, land, and labor. This price disparity can create barriers to access, particularly in low-income communities where people may prioritize quantity over quality. However, both categories are essential for a balanced diet. Cultivated foods provide important carbohydrates, fiber, and micronutrients, while animal-based foods offer high-quality proteins and essential fats, as well as key vitamins and minerals like vitamin B12 and iron.
Achieving food security requires access to both types of food. In other words, the challenge lies in identifying an optimal strategy for selecting key elements from both categories and focusing efforts on ensuring their availability. Rather than dispersing resources across a broad range of foods within the same category or with similar nutritional value, we should first prioritize the most essential nutrients and food types. Then, efforts should be concentrated on making these critical foods accessible, affordable, and sustainable for all populations with reasonable prices. This targeted approach can help bridge the gaps in food security, ensuring that people not only have enough food but also the right kind of food to promote long-term health.
Many of us may perceive food as a trivial part of daily life, something we take for granted. However, when a crisis strikes—such as during pandemics or wars—people quickly rush to secure food, highlighting its fundamental role in survival and stability. This behavior underscores how essential food is, not only for day-to-day living but also for maintaining societal resilience during times of uncertainty.
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Questions About Food Security !
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The Objective Truth
873
In this story, an opinion is shared that one of the many hallmarks of an almost perfect human being is objectivity.
Of course nobody is perfect, and there is no way anything or anyone can be perfect. But every day, our constant struggle is to become better versions of ourselves than we were a day before.
In this journey, one of the very important items that one can pick up is the ability to be clearly objective. As the old saying goes, everything has its pros and cons. It is in the same way that no one can be right all the time.
Therefore, possessing the ability to distinguish between when you are just sure you are right, and when you can clearly see that you are wrong, and then going ahead to admit your wrong is key to getting nearer to perfection.
It is totally okay to be wrong. Heck! I may even be wrong with these claims.
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For once, the PJD is proposing to set up a national sports council
1184
It's not customary, but this Sunday, April 6, 2025, the article is about sports. I don't usually like to talk about it unless I'm forced to. It's paradoxical, given that I've dedicated my life to sports and made it my profession. Many are convinced that it's very difficult to make changes, as mediocrity is deeply rooted, good intentions are disrupted, undesirable skills are present, dedication is not valued, and honesty is perceived as questionable.
The opportunity arose due to two political parties, as it's not common for both parties to show interest in sports within a week. The PJD and the FFD have done so. I found this very interesting because usually, parties only address the subject after unacceptable results. Then, succumbing to emotion, they take advantage of the situation to question the government and, for a while, take a stand, criticizing the responsible minister and blaming the federations. This was the case recently following the disappointing results at the Paris Olympics. Afterwards, there was complete silence.
During the preparation of electoral campaign programs, some parties, though rare, mention sports in simple narratives that are generally devoid of meaning; just to say it's important, without specifying why or how they plan to address it once in parliament or government. This quickly translates into a lack of vision in the inaugural speeches of prime ministers, now chiefs of government. We settle for a few phrases picked up here and there to say that sports are not forgotten.
From memory, I can cite a few exceptions that confirm the rule. The Ittihad Addoustouri, in its program at its creation, dedicated a good chapter to sports. I contributed significantly to it. The USFP, during the last elections, also invited me to a reflection that served as the basis for the party's program. I also remember participating in similar work a long time ago with the Istiqlal under the impetus of Si Belmahi, the valiant president of the FRM cycling federation.
This time, it's the PJD that has taken a stand by proposing, according to the press, a bill to create a National Sports Council in place of the current responsible department, namely the small sports department under the Ministry of National Education, Preschool, and Sports.
The structure of Si Akhanouch's Government and its revised version continues to astonish, reducing sports to a simple department without prominence among the prerogatives of a ministry bogged down in endless reforms, without us seeing the end of the tunnel. Since independence, national education has been in perpetual reform. The latest one dates back to just last week. Let's hope it's not the last.
Since this attachment, the two ministers in charge seem not to have time for sports.
The PJD has come boldly with this project, which is not new. The first sports conferences in the early sixties already mentioned it. Since then, sports have experienced at least 14 or 15 upheavals, going from an independent department to being attached to youth, national education, passing through a secretariat attached to the prime minister. It was even attached to labor during the time of the late Arsalane El Jadidi.
Sports will continue on its path with more or less success, but mostly repetitive failures. The only time it experienced some stability was during the time of the late Abdellatif Semlali, who still holds the record for longevity as a sports official. His tenure as Secretary of State and then Minister lasted eleven good years. We talked then about a sports takeoff. It was a relatively happy period that saw a restructuring of the sports field with sponsorship, the second round in the World Cup, the creation of the National Athletics School, and a resurgence of youth in more than one sport discipline.
The PJD, which led the government, didn't it realize the malaise that sports were experiencing during its ten years of glory? Better late than never.
Moving to a sports management system that escapes political time is a necessity. It's an evident demand made by many specialists for a long time, without the political world following up. Sports time is longer than political time. Preparing high-level athletes requires 7 to 8 years of continuous and linear work. Sports performance requires time and stability. The number of ministers in charge of sports who have succeeded each other in a short period shows how much we need this stability, and that's one of the flaws, but not the only one.
Due to ignorance of this history, some say that the project is inspired by what happened in France with the creation of an agency to handle sports. This is completely false. The demand in Morocco is much older. For about forty years, it has been discussed. Already during the government of Driss Jettou, it was on the table but did not succeed for many reasons, including a certain resistance that does not want this highly promising sector to leave the political sphere.
National sports can only thank the PJD for this bold move, even if it doesn't have much chance of succeeding, given how things are going in the current parliament. The PJD, being largely in the minority and without real support from its partners in the opposition, will have at least succeeded in opening the debate in the right direction. The supporters of Si Benkirane rightly refer to the royal letter of 2008. They cite the law 30.09 without saying that it was catastrophic for national sports. This could be the subject of a future article.
The second party that raised the issue of sports did so just yesterday. It is the Front of Democratic Forces. The party, under the leadership of Si Mustapha Benali, has brought back to the forefront the discussion of public sports policies with an extremely wide and varied panel of specialists and sports leaders, and in the presence of representatives from political parties of the same persuasion. The debates were of very good quality with a broad consensus around solutions that seem obvious and the surprise that they are not being implemented. This kind of debate is as necessary as it is urgent. Morocco, which makes sports and football in particular a driver of development, cannot wait any longer, lest it see its colossal efforts wasted and thus dangerous for its near and distant future.
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For once, the PJD is proposing to set up a national sports council
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