Tony Blair accepts 1001 Inventions book at special meeting of Arab ambassadors
Wednesday 27the September 2006U.K. Prime Minister Tony Blair has embraced the Muslim community with his endorsement of the pioneering book 1001 Inventions: Discover the Muslim Heritage in Our World.
Blair gratefully accepted a copy of the acclaimed work from HRH Prince Mohamed Bin Nawaf Bin Abdel Aziz Al-Saud, Saudi Ambassador to the U.K. and Custodian and Keeper of the two Holy Shrines.
The Prime Minister's endorsement took place at a special ceremony at the ruling Labour Party political conference in Manchester in the U.K. Blair hosted all Arab and Islamic Ambassadors on the sidelines of the conference. The subject of Muslim heritage in our world came up high on the discussion.
In recognition of the enormous contributions of Muslims to science and technology, the Prime Minister posed in front of cameras holding one of the last remaining copies from the first edition. Due to popular demand for the unique publication, a second edition of 40,000 copies is being printed and is expected to be available shortly.
The book given to the Prime Minister forms part of the groundbreaking 1001 Inventions project designed to raise awareness of 1,000 years of ‘missing history', the previously unacknowledged rich scientific and technological heritage of the Muslim community. The project also features a touring educational interactive exhibition, teachers' pack, posters and conference.
The book was produced by Dubai-based Muslim Heritage Consulting in association with the Foundation for Science Technology and Civilisation (FSTC) in the U.K.
Since its initial publication in March, both organisations have been inundated with requests for copies from governments, academic institutions and corporate interests around the globe.
The British Government has championed the cause of the 1001 Inventions project, with generous sponsorship from the Home Office, Foreign Office and the Department for Trade and Industry.
The initiative has drawn letters of support and commendation from the Prime Minister, other ministers and dignitaries and, more recently, the U.K.'s Foreign Secretary Jack Straw mentioned it in his speech in Riyadh at the "Two Kingdoms" Conference.
Editors' Note:
After a phenomenally-successful launch of the 1001 Inventions exhibition at the Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester, U.K. earlier this year, 1001 Inventions: Discover the Muslim Heritage in our World is set to tour over 20 nations in Europe, the Middle East, the Far East and Australasia.
It is due to continue its U.K. tour at the National Museum Cardiff on October 24th 2006, with an official opening event of selected VIPs and local community on October 26th to celebrate the arrival of the exhibition.
This is a timely endorsement, by the highest UK official and the Arab Ambassadors, of the valuable work of FSTC in leading an education campaign to bring awareness of a 1000 years of Muslim Scientific achievements during a time known as "Europe's Dark Ages". The Saudi Ambassador, HRH Mohammed bin Talal, who presented the book, is standing next the Prime Minister.
It is worth mentioning that the 1001 Inventions project (comprising a travelling interactive exhibition, the book, teachers' pack, set of posters and a website all entitled 1001inventions) was sponsored mainly by British (government and private) institutions.
http://www.1001inventions.com
