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Taif to Host Second Edition of Saudi Writers Forum

Taif to Host Second Edition of Saudi Writers Forum
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Taif to Host Second Edition of Saudi Writers Forum

Taif to Host Second Edition of Saudi Writers Forum

The Saudi Literature, Publishing and Translation Commission is preparing to launch the 2nd edition of the Saudi Writers Forum, opening doors for dialogue among intellects, authors, and poets willing to discuss the Saudi literary scene, and explore means and perspectives to develop it.

The Academy of Arabic Poetry is set to host the 2nd edition of the Writers Forum in Taif, to celebrate the city’s nomination as the Capital of Arab Poetry 2022. The event, scheduled on August 26-27, includes panels and symposiums that focus on literature genres, translation, publishing, and poetry, as well as renewing the connection with novelists and contributors in the field.

Atallah Al-Juaid, president of the Taif Literary and Cultural Club, said “the second edition of the forum was scheduled in Taif after its selection as a capital of Arabic poetry, a title given for the first time for an Arabic city.”

“Taif will be hosting the Saudi Writer Forum as a platform that brings together intellects and writers to study and discuss everything related to literature in Saudi Arabia.

“Since its debut in Asir, this forum has aimed at availing the expertise and ideas of intellects and writers, in addition to laying the ground for rich literary and cultural discussions among the participants,” Al-Juaid told Asharq Al-Awsat.

Al-Juaid believes that the success of these forums requires commitment to their conclusions and recommendations, as well as implementing their ideas, coping with challenges, and addressing the discussed problematic matters.

“In Saudi Arabia, we are living an accelerated, ongoing advancement in all fields, and culture is no less important than the other industries. It requires a rapid movement that outpaces bureaucracy affecting the cultural institutions, and keeps up with the aspirations of intellects and novelists when it comes to organizing literary and cultural events. Hopefully, the literature commission executives would consider the participants’ concerns, and take advantage of the forum to set an ambitious, advanced vision to address the challenges and inaugurate a new cultural phase,” he said.

Topics of Writers Forum

The scheduled panels held during the forum focus on several topics like exploring the role of the non-profit sector in cultural empowerment, the image of the other, society role, and the current state of Saudi poetry.

The second day of the forum also discusses diverse topics including the enrichment of critical movement, cinema novel, and the activity of the literary scene. The event will see the participation of 21 speakers in eight different panels.

The forum will also dedicate some sessions to showcase the completed and future works of the literature commission, best initiatives, as well as celebrating the selection of Taif as the first city of Arabic poetry this year.

Dr. Ahmed al-Hilali, literature professor at the Taif University, said the forum is an opportunity to gather intellects, exchange views on literature in Saudi Arabia, and highlight aspirations for the coming phase.

“Given their themes and focus on Saudi literature, the panels of the forum will enrich the gathering and give it an enhanced role in discussing topics related to the current state of poetry and other literary topics,” he stated.

“We hope to hear a clearer definition of the future of Saudi Arabia’s culture, and serious proposals about the topics enlisted on the forum’s schedule, to get a better understanding of the new direction of the cultural institutions like literary clubs and cultural associations branches, as well as the products and initiatives recently approved by the ministry,” he added.

The first edition of the Saudi Writers Forum took place on August 2021, in the Asir region. It hosted panels that discussed different subjects, and the challenges and aspirations of Saudi novelists in the sectors of literature, publishing, and culture.

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Sunshine Abounds as the Summer Solstice Arrives

Children cool off as they run through a public fountain in Colmar, eastern France, on August 21, 2023, as France experiences a late summer heatwave. (AFP)
Children cool off as they run through a public fountain in Colmar, eastern France, on August 21, 2023, as France experiences a late summer heatwave. (AFP)
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20
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Sunshine Abounds as the Summer Solstice Arrives

Children cool off as they run through a public fountain in Colmar, eastern France, on August 21, 2023, as France experiences a late summer heatwave. (AFP)
Children cool off as they run through a public fountain in Colmar, eastern France, on August 21, 2023, as France experiences a late summer heatwave. (AFP)

Peak sunshine has arrived in the Northern Hemisphere: the summer solstice.

Friday is the longest day of the year north of the equator, where the solstice marks the start of astronomical summer. It's the opposite in the Southern Hemisphere, where it is the shortest day of the year and winter will start.

The word “solstice” comes from the Latin words “sol” for sun and “stitium” which can mean “pause” or “stop.” The solstice is the end of the sun's annual march higher in the sky, when it makes its longest, highest arc. The bad news for sun lovers: It then starts retreating and days will get a little shorter every day until late December.

People have marked solstices for eons with celebrations and monuments, including Stonehenge, which was designed to align with the sun's paths at the solstices. Here’s what to know about the Earth’s orbit.

Solstices are when days and nights are at their most extreme

As the Earth travels around the sun, it does so at an angle relative to the sun. For most of the year, the Earth’s axis is tilted either toward or away from the sun. That means the sun’s warmth and light fall unequally on the northern and southern halves of the planet.

The solstices mark the times during the year when this tilt is at its most extreme, and days and nights are at their most unequal.

During the Northern Hemisphere’s summer solstice, the upper half of the earth is tilted toward the sun, creating the longest day and shortest night of the year. This solstice falls between June 20 and 22.

Meanwhile, at the winter solstice, the Northern Hemisphere is leaning away from the sun, leading to the shortest day and longest night of the year. The winter solstice falls between December 20 and 23.

The equinox is when there is an equal amount of day and night

During the equinox, the Earth’s axis and its orbit line up so that both hemispheres get an equal amount of sunlight.

The word equinox comes from two Latin words meaning equal and night. That’s because on the equinox, day and night last almost the same amount of time, though one may get a few extra minutes, depending on where you are on the planet.

The Northern Hemisphere’s spring, or vernal, equinox can land between March 19 and 21, depending on the year. Its fall, or autumnal, equinox can land between Sept. 21 and 24.

On the equator, the sun will be directly overhead at noon. Equinoxes are the only time when both the north and south poles are lit by sunshine at the same time.

What's the difference between meteorological and astronomical seasons? These are just two different ways to carve up the year.

While astronomical seasons depend on how the Earth moves around the sun, meteorological seasons are defined by the weather. They break down the year into three-month seasons based on annual temperature cycles. By that calendar, spring starts on March 1, summer on June 1, fall on Sept. 1 and winter on Dec. 1.