Educate them first

25 January 2008

I THINK the best way to create awareness about the dangers of jaywalking is to first educate the people about its consequences. Jaywalkers endanger their own life as well as those of others, especially surprised motorists.

Once awareness is created then fines and penalties can be imposed if people continue breaking rules. It becomes the responsibility of the person to adhere to the rules and if he breaks them he should be made to understand the consequences.

I am saying this because the other day I saw police officers stopping jaywalkers and penalising them. Many were caught unawares and were bewildered not knowing why the police was apprehending them, despite having crossed those same roads for years.

For any campaign, the first step must be creating awareness. Simply imposing fines does not work as you can see that still many rules are broken namely speeding, illegal parking, etc.

Well played, India!

21 January 2008

CONGRATS to the Indian team for defeating the Australians in their home ground. Though India have lost the rubber, defeating Australia on their own soil needs to be applauded as Australians are known fighters and do not like to loose any match they play.

They are a formidable team and a determined bunch of players, especially on their own turf. India, after all the fuss and misunderstanding of Sydney, deserves credit for pulling one back from Australia and breaking their vicious winning streak since 2005. Cricket is known to be such an unpredictable game and it is surprising that the players who were struggling to secure a place in the playing eleven played the crucial role and one of them was even elected as the man of the match.

Nonetheless, the team effort and enthusiasm of the young blood did make a difference. Also, one needs to look at the captaincy of Anil Kumble and the smart decisions made by his group. When everybody expected India to field, they surprisingly elected to bat. Bringing unorthodox bowler Shewag to break a vital, promising partnership, and consistently juggling the attack, all contributed in no small manner to achieving victory.

Sometimes experiments fail and sometimes they are successful. So, it is thumbs up for Indians now. One would expect them to maintain this rejuvenated grit and continue winning and satisfy cricket loving fans back home and elsewhere.

— Ahsan Ghori, Abu Dhabi

Enjoy it while it lasts

17 January 2008

THE heavy downpour for the past couple of days brought smiles to children’s faces as they got surprise holidays. I saw kids dancing in the rain in front of my building and remembered the good old days we enjoyed during rain back home.

For some reason or the other the incessant rain though it causes havoc on the roads gives some elated joyous feelings and especially to the people where rain is a rare sight and more so when it is continuous. For the residents of Abu Dhabi, life is almost back to normal as offices and schools are open and functioning as usual. Traffic is not in chaos, unlike Dubai where lots of people got stuck on the roads.

I heard radio jam buster announcements that people take hours to reach their destinations. Better stay home is the advice. I wish I had a four wheel drive and how handy it is to negotiate the water logged roads and joking about the poor saloon car owners which are not equipped to float in water.

Gentleman’s game

12 January 2008

CRICKET used to be called the ‘gentlemen’s game’. But I believe the meaning of the term gentleman has undergone changes over the years. If an umpire fails to call a correct decision due to error of sight or whatever reason, why does the batsman not walk off the field on his own? Andrew Symonds would have stood out if he had done just that.

I remember once seeing the great West Indian fast bowler Courtney Walsh putting more focus on the gentlemanly side and letting a player in a Test play on when he could easily have run him out. Little surprise that fans still have a great deal of admiration for him.

Players should remember the real essence of the game. Unfortunately these days, competitiveness is all players are concerned about. And that would be nice if other values are also respected. Racist remarks, accusations of cheating, sledging, slander, etc, do not suit cricketers.

I BELIEVE it is not yet time for the democratisation of Pakistan. It must wait for the right time; that is, when the systems are in place and militancy is rooted out completely. Democracy had its chance on previous occasions and it miserably failed to deliver the goods for the future of Pakistan. The leaders were corrupt. Sometimes, military rulers are good for a nation, if their aim is to implement the rule of law. Musharaff did not commit any crime other than striving for the betterment of Pakistan. I think the benefit of doubt could be given to him and democracy can wait for some more time until the dust settled down.

— AG, Abu Dhabi

Unity, not split, for Iraq

4 October 2007

SO, THE Americans want to split Iraq on sectarian lines and the American Senate will agree for the age-old, oft-repeated division plan.

Well, haven't we heard of this before? Divide and rule, in fact, is the only plan countries on the west side of the hemisphere adopted successfully to control and rule countries whenever they occupied them. This is the lesson we learned from history. It is so heartening to know that all Iraqis, irrespective of their differences, have rejected this proposal.

The Kurds should join with the rest of the Iraqis and never allow space for a crevice in the mould called Iraq. It's easy to split, but difficult to unify;, and we know from history many nations suffered by the split that had happened to them.

If small nations amalgamate, they will become a force to reckon with, and hence cannot be fooled around by bigger nations. We require bigger, stronger nations to create a balance. To achieve this, smaller nations should unify first, and then improve their economies. This might sound simple, but it is not that easy to achieve.

Flouting of labour laws

2 October 2007

COMPANIES should pay overtime if the employees are compelled to work for more than the stipulated time as per the UAE labour laws. During Ramadan, it is six hours' work a day. But, in effect, do these firms pay overtime for the employees who have to put in extra hours? I am afraid many firms do not. Even some of the top companies are known not to heed the labour laws in this respect, find some way or the other to trample the employees' rights and make them work during Ramadan without any extra payment. I suggest that the ministry deploy a special team of inspectors to monitor the scenario. Some proactive action from concerned authorities is called for.

Dearth of ablution areas

19 September 2007

THERE, I feel, is a dearth of ablution areas in public places in the UAE. Many people use the wash basins in the rest rooms/toilets to perform wudhu, and this practice is not a healthy one. They have to lift their leg up the wash basins, delicately balancing themselves in one leg, to perform the exercise of washing their legs to complete the wudhu. Proper ablution areas may be built in the rest rooms/facilities so that the elderly and others can utilise them and avoid risking a fall and hurting themselves while performing this religious rite.

I suggest that specific areas be dedicated for ablution purpose so that it will be hygienic too.

Abandoned trolleys

25 September 2007

I AM often surprised to see a number of shopping trolleys being abandoned after use in front of apartments quite far from the supermarkets in Abu Dhabi. If anything, this shows a lack of civic sense.

Of late, motorists are in such a hurry that they do not wait for their turn in the queue. They use the hard shoulder and race ahead while the patient and law-abiding motorists are left behind in his car, fuming.

Public parking spaces are at times blocked and many are parking their cars across parking lanes so as to purposely avoid others the space to park. It is high time for road volunteers to come forward and curb these indisciplined behaviour before they go out of hand.

If it is not stopped, even the better ones will turn worse so that they do not end up losers and then we can imagine what will be the scene. Utter chaos!

Time for introspection

18 September 2007

THE holy month of Ramadan is a time for introspection. It’s a time when we cleanse our mind and body, and are fully devoted to God the Almighty in all ways, body, soul and mind.

This is a month of charity, humbleness, brotherhood and love towards fellow human beings. But the question that really bothers me is, do all brothers and sisters follow the holy month of Ramadan in its true sense? Do we all accumulate the benefits this month gives us in cleansing the mind and body, preparing them for the months ahead?

Many, I guess, perform fasting because they have to do it as a ritual. The essence of fasting is lost when, at the end of the day, they fail to realise the hunger of the poor and needy. Fasting, if done in the true sense, makes us understand the difficulties and starvation many poor people undergo by not having enough to eat in their everyday life. This practical lesson also prompts the haves to willingly give their dues and make the have-nots happy.

But, I am afraid, this concept has been hijacked and we have turned the month of Ramadan into a month of festivities by holding Iftaar parties in hotels and elsewhere. Lavish food awaits people to break their fast; guests are invited for feasts and one finds a variety of dishes that satisfies our palate.

Though socialising is part of Ramadan, the essence should not be removed by over indulgence. Invitation to the poor should be the focus; and not feasts with the near and dear ones. Ramadan Kareem.

  Ozone hole and worse

14 September 2007

THE ozone hole is said to reappear and it is feared that the protective layer of the atmosphere no more prevents us from the harsh and harmful effects of rays from the outer space. Who caused it? Undoubtedly, we, the humans. We have disturbed the balance of nature, and by the time we realise this, it will be too late for any remedial action.

We find ourselves at odds to unite people collectively to follow and stop using things that harm the nature. This is because people are accustomed to enjoying the immediate comforts of the little things we have around us, and we try not to focus attention on our long-term goals.

We keep hearing that the water levels in the seas are increasing due to the global warming and soon many lands, even nations, will be submerged in the sea.

This has happened before too. Climate was not always the same and we also know that rivers once flowed in the deserts we live in now. Deserts were not fertile lands in the past, but then mountains disappeared, and plants disappeared. The once-fertile land is barren now, and the once-barren lands are fertile now. This is some kind of a cycle, the reasons for which only Nature understands.

It is natural for change and evolution to take place. But, when we know for sure as to what our future generations are going to face, we need to do our best to stop doing what's harmful to Nature. Prevention is better than cure.

Many unfortunate expatriate married bachelors are living in the UAE who are forced to take bachelorhood due to circumstance rather than choice.Many come here to improve their standard of living but it is a sad fact that the standard of living for themselves deteriorates in the process of improvement in the living condition of their families in their home country.

We can say Inflation, unchanged salaries and exorbitant rents are the important factors which affected them. They have no choice but to live alone. There are many who say I shouldn’t have come here in the first place and now after having come here are in a catch 22 situation as they cannot go back and start all over again back home and with financial commitments at home they are compelled to endure their stay here by becoming the sacrificial goat for the families sake and a better living for them.

Technology definitely has had some respite for them as now everything has become virtual & electronic so now they can see and talk with their loved ones over web. This technological evolution is a great boon for the ever increasing Bachelors in the Gulf. Earlier, I remember people recording their voices in cassettes and sending it over to their loved ones. It still exists with the illiterate community here. The life of these bachelors is worth a movie so people can understand their hardships and the love for their loved ones filled with the outpouring in the cassettes and virtual correspondence. I hope people will think about the role these unfortunate people play for the development of this country and take good care of them. The people who are lucky to have their families here should involve them in the community instead of putting blame on bachelors and isolating them. They should instead be welcomed in the community. Of late I have seen so many letters discriminating bachelors. & I suggest if they are a menace punish those who are and not all the bachelors who happen to live there to eke out a living.

A Ghori