Saudi Ministry of Culture Launches Camel Studies Grant

Saudi Ministry of Culture Launches Camel Studies Grant
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Saudi Ministry of Culture Launches Camel Studies Grant

Saudi Ministry of Culture Launches Camel Studies Grant

The Saudi Ministry of Culture, in partnership with the Ministry of Environment, Water, and Agriculture, launched the Camel Studies Grant, which aims to shine a light on the vital role camels play in Saudi Arabia's cultural, social, and economic fields through scientific research.

The grant welcomes proposals exploring various aspects of camel significance, encompassing historical, cultural, social, economic, environmental, and health dimensions, reported the Saudi Press Agency on Monday.

The historical field encourages research that preserves the rich cultural heritage surrounding camels. This includes studies comparing the importance of camels across civilizations, historical and ethnographic analysis of camel-related traditions, and exploration of archival methods for safeguarding this heritage.

The cultural field focuses on the artistic and literary representation of camels. Researchers can delve into critical and literary studies on camels in Arabic and Saudi literature, including children's books. The field welcomes studies on camel-related vocabulary and their portrayal in various artistic mediums, from visual and cinematic arts to engravings and sculptures.

The social field investigates the place of camels in Arab and Islamic societies. Research can explore the local significance of camels, their social impact, traditions associated with ownership, and the influence of national camel events on communities, both locally and globally.

The economic field examines the economic contributions of camels and products derived from them. Researchers can analyze the use of camel wool and leather in fashion and furniture industries. The field encourages studies on sustaining the economic viability of camel products and measuring the financial impact of camel festivals and related institutions.

The environmental field focuses on the impact of camels on the environment. Research can explore sustainable land-use for camel grazing, analyze carbon dioxide emissions, and investigate the role of camels in maintaining ecological balance in arid lands.

The health field delves into the potential health benefits of camel products. Researchers can investigate the medical and therapeutic applications of these products. The field welcomes studies on developing technologies for measuring camel meat quality and projects focusing on camel breed preservation and genetic mapping.

The launch of the Camel Studies Grant coincides with the UN declaration of 2024 as the International Year of Camelids. It also celebrates the Kingdom's designation of 2024 as the Year of the Camel.



UN Puts 4th Century Gaza Monastery on Endangered Site List

The Saint Hilarion complex dates back to the fourth century. Mahmud HAMS / AFP/File
The Saint Hilarion complex dates back to the fourth century. Mahmud HAMS / AFP/File
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UN Puts 4th Century Gaza Monastery on Endangered Site List

The Saint Hilarion complex dates back to the fourth century. Mahmud HAMS / AFP/File
The Saint Hilarion complex dates back to the fourth century. Mahmud HAMS / AFP/File

The Saint Hilarion complex, one of the oldest monasteries in the Middle East, has been put on the UNESCO list of World Heritage sites in danger due to the war in Gaza, the body said Friday.
UNESCO said the site, which dates back to the fourth century, had been put on the endangered list at the demand of Palestinian authorities and cited the "imminent threats" it faced.
"It's the only recourse to protect the site from destruction in the current context," Lazare Eloundou Assomo, director of the UNESCO World Heritage Centre, told AFP, referring to the war sparked by Hamas's October 7 attack on Israel.
In December, the UNESCO Committee for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict decided to grant "provisional enhanced protection" -- the highest level of immunity established by the 1954 Hague Convention -- to the site.
UNESCO had then said it was "already concerned about the state of conservation of sites, before October 7, due to the lack of adequate policies to protect heritage and culture" in Gaza.
The Hamas attack on October 7 resulted in the deaths of 1,197 people in Israel, most of them civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures.
Israel's retaliatory offensive against Hamas has killed at least 39,175 Palestinians in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run territory's health ministry, which does not give details of civilian and militant deaths.