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Al-Ahram Weekly 9 - 15 December 1999 Issue No. 459 
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Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Al-Ahram Weekly 9 - 15 December 1999 Issue No. 459
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| Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Less catering
Egypt Region International Economy Opinion Culture Debate Features Profile Living Travel Sports People Time Out Chronicles Cartoons Letters Sir- I was very pleased to learn that some leading Egyptian businessmen decided to show a quick response, and a positive one I must say, to the call made by President Mubarak upon the economically privileged members of our society to donate more money during Ramadan to help state efforts in provide housing for new graduates and less privileged young men and women. For years, this class of up-and-coming Egyptian businessmen has adopted a pattern of conduct that annoyed me -- to say the least. Those new businessmen tended to be very busy spending their money, and I am talking about millions of Egyptian pounds, importing food and flowers for the ultra-lavish weddings of their children and the parties they threw at summer resorts built along the northern coast for the rich and misbehaving. They did not seem to bother very much with critics who kept reminding them that there are very many under-privileged who could make use of some of this money for medical bills and other pressing needs.
I hope that Mubarak's call will prompt a change there. A start has been made.
Those appallingly rich businessmen could still have the French and Swiss catering for their parties. But, it would do them no harm to invite fewer people and allow for many more of the less- privileged to have a roof on their heads.
Zoheniya Abdel-Gawad
HeliopolisMobile mania
Sir- Aaaargh! Mobile telephones will soon be the death of us all! Whether in a coffee bar where one is quietly enjoying a nice cappuccino or reading a book on the 'Turbini' train between Alexandria and Cairo, there is always someone either barking orders or giving us the details of his last business transaction, thus shattering our peace of mind for the rest of the day!
There should be a law against mobile telephones. I wonder how the Brits and other EU members deal with this audio hazard.
Mamdouh El-Dakhakhni
AlexandriaReader's report
Sir- I am an avid reader of your publication. I have been following the Weekly since its early beginnings, and I am writing to congratulate you on a job well done.
I am also writing to congratulate Ms Fayza Hassan for her excellent recent articles, especially her recent profiles, the article about olive oil, and the Suez Canal article. Her weekly column, Pot-Pourri, has become an absolute must for me. I am not exaggerating when I say I think she is probably the best female journalist in Egypt.
I am also quite fascinated by some of Ms Hanan Radwan's profiles and the people she continues to select. She shows excellent creative writing.
Last but not least, let me express my gratitude for the excellent design of the Weekly's web site.
Tarek Shaarawy, MD
Eye surgeon
Lausanne, Switzerland
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