Recent Editorials

(Here are some of my recent editorials in The Gulf Today – posted for my records)

Quantum leap in refugee

numbers wipes out solace

The immense cost of not ending wars or preventing conflicts is showing through petrifying figures: More than 50 million people were forcibly uprooted worldwide at the end of last year, the highest level since after World War Two, as people fled crises from Syria to South Sudan.

What is even more worrying is that half of them are children, many caught up in conflicts or persecution that world powers have been unable to prevent or end.

In August, the one millionth Syrian refugee child was registered; only a few weeks later, UN officials announced that the number of Syrian refugees had passed two million.

Desperate refugees and migrants from the Middle East and Africa have drowned after taking rickety boats in North Africa to cross the Mediterranean to reach Europe, mainly via Italy.

Italy has a mission, known as Mare Nostrum or "Our Sea," which has rescued about 50,000 migrants already this year. Italy will ask the European Union next week to take over responsibility for rescuing migrants, a task that is costing its navy 9 million euros ($12.25 million) a month.

There are growing number of unaccompanied minors on all routes - in the Mediterranean routes, Caribbean, through Mexico to the US, on the Afghan route into Iran, Turkey and Europe. “We see them everywhere,” as UN officials put it.

It is a matter of pride for the citizens and residents that the UAE stands out as the most generous country. As per Ministry of International Cooperation and Development (MICAD) data, UAE's assistance for the refugees worldwide, between 2009 and mid-2014, has amounted to Dhs2.60 billion and benefited 71 countries.

The breakdown of MICAD's figures shows that UAE provided more than Dhs502.3 million in assistance for Syrian refugees at home and in neighbouring countries (2012 till June 2014), Dhs646.7 million for refugees in Pakistan in the past five year, Dhs312.8 million for Yemen, Dhs219,6 million to Libya, Dhs145 million to Afghanistan, and Dhs107.4 million to Somalia.

MICAD's report also notes that UAE, at a donor’s conference in Kuwait in January 2013, pledged $300 million of which more than Dhs281 million has already been disbursed.

UN High Commissioner for Refugees António Guterres hit the nail on the head when he stated: “Peace is today dangerously in deficit. Humanitarians can help as a palliative, but political solutions are vitally needed. Without this, the alarming levels of conflict and the mass suffering that is reflected in these figures will continue.”

UAE generosity

knows no borders

The launching of a vaccination campaign against polio in the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and tribal areas in Pakistan by the UAE Project to Assist Pakistan (UAE-PAP) is one among the several humanitarian initiatives launched by the UAE in different countries.

The UAE has translated development and humanitarian aid into a foreign policy instrument. The philosophy behind this is two-fold: first, it is dictated by an Islamic belief that helping those in need is a primary duty; and second, that part of the country’s wealth from oil and gas should be devoted to assisting less fortunate countries and individuals.

The late Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, founder of the UAE, expressed this clearly when he declared: “We believe that the benefit of the fortune granted to us by God should spread to cover our brothers and friends.”

The UAE is now the largest donor offering $5.2 billion aid, making it the number one humanitarian capital worldwide.

The launch of the UAE vaccination campaign came as per the directives of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan to provide humanitarian and development assistance to the friendly people of Pakistan. It is a humanitarian initiative aimed at vaccinating 3.643 million Pakistani children against polio over a period of three months, i.e. June, August and September, 2014.

It is not just Pakistan. The UAE Red Crescent Authority (RCA) recently sent its 12th humanitarian aid convoy carrying 40 tonnes of dates to Syrian refugees in Jordan.

So far, the UAE humanitarian mission has sent 3,600 tonnes of relief aid on 185 trucks to camps on the Jordan-Syria border. The agency’s convoys are part of UAE’s ongoing humanitarian operation aimed at helping tens of thousands of Syrians who were displaced by escalating violence in their country.

Recently, Sultan Abu Al-Einein, former advisor to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, hailed the UAE for providing continuous humanitarian aid for underprivileged Palestinians.

According to Human Appeal International UAE (HAI), the HAI provided $8 million in humanitarian and development aid for poor Palestinians in 2013 in coordination with Palestinian agencies.

Nothing sums up the UAE’s longstanding culture of giving and charity better than the words of UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum:  ''We are living in a state of humanity and we are keen on delivering aid and relief to whomsoever is in need of them.''

Plunging economies

could prove deadly

A revelation, based on a study, by the British Journal of Psychiatry that recession led to 10,000 suicides in Europe and the United States should act as an eye-opener for the rest of the world on how wrong economic policies could cost lives.

The study conducted by the University of Oxford and the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine analysed data from 24 European Union countries, the US and Canada.

It study showed that suicide rate had declined in Europe till 2007. But, in 2009, there was a sudden 6.5 per cent increase, a level that sustained until 2011. The suicide rate was also declining in Canada, but there was an increase when the recession hit in 2008, leading to 240 more suicides.

The number of people ending lives was already on a high in the US, but the rate “accelerated” with the economic crisis, leading to 4,750 additional deaths.

The International Labour Organisation (ILO) has cautioned that in the aftermath of the global economic crisis, more than 70 per cent of the world population is without proper social protections.

In the European Union, cuts in social protection have contributed to increases in poverty which now affect 123 million people or 24 per cent of the population, many of whom are children, women, older persons and persons with disabilities, according to the ILO.

Farmer suicides in India are another glaring example of faulty economic planning playing with lives of people. In 2012, the National Crime Records Bureau of India reported 13,754 farmer suicides. The farmers suicide rate in India has been in 1.4 to 1.8 per 100,000 range over a 10 year period through 2005.

India is an agrarian country with around 60 per cent of its people depending directly or indirectly upon agriculture. Farmer suicides account for 11.2 per cent of all suicides in India.

Many experts insist that structural changes in the macro-economic policy of the Indian government that favoured privatisation, liberalisation and globalisation are the root cause of farmer suicides.

Governments should keep in mind that economic issues impact the lives of citizens directly. If countries like Thailand and South Africa could achieve universal health coverage in just a few years, why cannot other countries do so? If there is a political will, there surely could be a way.

There is indeed a dire need for most governments to scale up investment in child and family benefits, pensions and other public expenditures.

Afghan voters

deserve a pat

Millions of voters in Afghanistan who chose to cast their ballots defying threats of violence at the second round of presidential elections deserve kudos for their courage and commitment to shape the future of their country.

The presidential election marks the first-ever transfer of power from one elected leader to another in Afghan history. Though scores of people were killed in poll-related violence, there were far fewer incidents than had been feared.

The election pits Abdullah Abdullah, a former anti-Taliban Northern Alliance leader who served for a period as foreign minister under Karzai, against ex-World Bank economist Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai, a former finance minister.

The two candidates came top of an eight-man field in the April first-round election, triggering the run-off as neither reached the 50 per cent threshold needed for outright victory. Abdullah secured 45 per cent of the vote in April with Ghani on 31.6 per cent.

Whoever wins will take over as most foreign troops withdraw, leaving behind a potent insurgency and a growing economic crisis.

Counting the ballot will take weeks. The preliminary result is due on July 2 and a final result on July 22. However, international concerns are already focused on the risk of a disputed outcome as the two candidates have started trading fraud allegations.

To allow the democratic process to take its course, it would be prudent for both the candidates to leave the resolution of disputes and complaints between them to the election management bodies.

President Hamid Karzai, who is constitutionally barred from a third term in office, is due to step down after ruling since 2001. He has fulfilled his pledge not to interfere in the election, though he is tipped to retain influence after handing over power.

Karzai’s relationship with the US soured badly, and the next president is likely to reset relations by signing a long-delayed pact for some US troops to remain on a training and counter-terrorism mission after this year.

Last month, President Barack Obama said that if the pact is signed, 9,800 of the 32,000-strong US deployment would stay in 2015.

A credible election and a smooth handover of power would be a major achievement for Afghanistan's backers after 13 years of costly military and civilian assistance.

The priorities for the incoming president will be to stabilise the faltering economy and a fresh attempt to bring peace after decades of war. If the economy turns vibrant, insurgency would automatically subside.

Attack on Muslims in

Lanka disgraceful act

The attack on Muslims in Sri Lanka by extremist Buddhists is a matter of serious concern for the international community.

Armed mobs broke into the houses of Muslims and burned them after stealing jewellery and money. Dozens of shops were gutted, motorbikes and bicycles piled up and set on fire. Mosques were defaced. At least three innocent Muslims were killed and several injured.

The stories in four mosques in Alutgama —Theru mosque, Dharul Huda, Adikari Road Mosque and Walpiti mosque — were all about attacks and looting. Residents talked of homes, fortunes and businesses lost and expressed anguish at the lack of government intervention that could have stopped the rioters before they killed and injured several people.

It is highly troubling to note that police just stood by and refused to intervene in the violence. The riots were visibly too organised to have been a random one.

The incidents have also mirrored events in Myanmar, where there has been a surge of attacks by majority Buddhists against Muslims.

The dreadful action by the extremists has drawn worldwide condemnation highlighting the gravity of the situation. The United States, European Union, rights group Amnesty International and the Organisation of Islamic Co-operation have all voiced concern over the plight of the innocent victims.

Muslims make up about 10 per cent of the 20 million population. Sri Lanka is still deeply scarred by its quarter-century civil war that ended in 2009 between the Buddhist Sinhalese majority and ethnic Tamil rebels, who were largely Hindu. Buddhist-Muslim violence had been relatively rare.

The Bodu Bala Sena, or Buddhist Power Force, which is known for its hatred of the country's Muslim minority, led the mob. Sadly, the group has been gaining followers and is believed to even enjoy state support.

It may be recalled that Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, Sri Lanka's powerful defence secretary and the president's brother, once made a public appearance supporting the group's cause.

Galagoda Atte Gnanasara, the leader of Bodu Bala Sena, claimed that the Buddhists were angry over an alleged attack on the driver of a Buddhist monk. The statement merely smacks of divisive tactic.

President Mahindra Rajapaksa has promised an investigation into the violence, but he needs to do more than that. Those behind the killings should be brought to justice. The government should protect religious minorities and their places of worship. There is a need for all sides should to exercise restraint and expedite the reconciliation process.

Israel should be held

accountable for crimes

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is absolutely right. Israel is using the disappearance of three teenagers a week ago as a pretext to impose tough punishment against Palestinians and besiege them in violation of international humanitarian law.

Israeli harassment continues in varied ways. The military raids have spread from house-to-house searches in Hebron, the area where the three teens went missing, to incursions across the West Bank.

Despite the fact that the three settlers were present in an area under the full Israeli control at the time of their disappearance, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is trying to hold innocent Palestinians responsible for the incident. Since the latest operation began, about 280 Palestinians have been arrested.

Unfortunately, it is the ordinary families that bear the brunt of the ruthless actions. Israeli troops barged into the home of a Palestinian family in Taffuh village even when four children were sleeping as schools have closed for summer holidays. The soldiers kicked on the doors and told the family to get out.

In another village, over the past six days, troops have turned properties upside down. After ordering a family out of their home, the soldiers began using the house as an operating base. Other families have had the opposite problem, being forced to stay in just one room inside their own homes as soldiers took over the rest of the house.

The scope of the searches and the tight lockdown imposed on the Hebron area has made life very difficult for the local population

Permanent Observer of the State of Palestine to the United Nations, Ambassador Riyad Mansour, has also sent a letter to the UN Secretary-General highlighting the critical situation of Palestinian prisoners and detainees in Israeli prisons and on Israel's colonial settlement campaign and measures against the Palestinian people.

Mansour mentioned about military raids, mass arrests and detention, illegal settlements expansion, demolition of Palestinian homes, including those belonging to bedouin communities, extrajudicial executions and incessant provocations by against Palestinian people and their holy places.

If the current situation is allowed to continue, frustration of ordinary Palestinians at Israeli restrictions in the West Bank will surely mount as the holy fasting month of Ramadan is due to begin by month-end.

Israelis continue to carry out grave violations of international law. Washington and the international community cannot afford to remain silent. The United Nations should act to stop the aggression and hold Israel accountable for its crimes.

Blurred image

of paparazzi

Tabloid newspapers cherish the idea of kindling controversies. They make or mar celebrities. There has been no conclusive verdict as yet on the red line for paparazzi when it comes to privacy of celebs.

The latest controversy has been stoked by German tabloid “Bild” which has published a picture of the Duchess of Cambridge, in which she is seen exposing her bare bottom. The image was taken by a photographer during the recent Royal tour of Australia.

The Duke and Duchess were visiting the Blue Mountains near Sydney when a blast of wind from a nearby helicopter blew up her Diane Von Furstenberg wrap dress and accidentally flashed her backside.

The newspaper published the revealing photograph alongside two other pictures of reality TV stars Kim and Kloe Kardashian, who were snapped in similarly compromising positions recently. The translated caption read: “Khloe, Kim and Kate — backsides which have moved us these past few days.

Incidentally, an Australian newspaper has become the second publication to run images of the Duchess of Cambridge’s bare bottom in its pages.

The controversy comes less than two years after the Britain’s royal household began legal proceedings against French magazine “Closer” for running topless photographs of the Duchess, taken as the couple holidayed at a chateau in the Provence region.

Noted actor and mother, Kristen Bell, is not the one amused by the role of paparazzi. Taken in by the plight of Suri Cruise, who has been chased by cameras practically from birth, with no choice in the matter, because her parents are Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes, Bell has launched a campaign against unruly media people.

To curtail media demand for paparazzi images of celebrity kids, she’s using the plight of 8-year-old Suri as an example. Launched in January, Bell’s No Kids Policy gained almost instant traction by hitting the entertainment media where it hurts: celebrity access, which translates into viewers, readers and profits.

Bell got a bunch of stars, from Jennifer Aniston to Jennifer Lawrence, who agreed to decline interviews with TV and text outlets that use paparazzi photos or video of children that were taken without their parents’ consent.

Some states and countries restrict paparazzi activities by passing laws and not allowing them to take photographs in specific events. While celebrity privacy and journalistic rights battle will continue forever, self-restraint and regular debates will go a long way in protecting both sides, morally and legally.

Awkward moments

Every one of us goes through awkward moments at some stage in life.  I have had my bit too.

It was an hour-long walking session at the beautiful Sharjah Corniche, where I saw awesome people of different nationalities. I exchanged greetings with a couple of known faces. When I returned to my building, the watchman smiled and said: “You have worn your T-shirt the wrong way.”

I only hope the pretty people who crossed my path that day considered it the latest fashion.

There were a couple of newcomers in my neighborhood. I was chatting with a boy. Pointing out at a tall guy passing by, I mentioned, “This fellow thinks too much of himself.”

The boy looked surprised but asked politely, “Why do you think so?”

“He claims to be a lawyer and acts as if he is a judge,” I replied.

“Have you interacted with him?” the boy asked.

“Once or twice, but I do not have a great impression.” I went on.

“You should try talking to him more. My brother is not so bad,” the boy smiled, leaving me absolutely embarrassed. I had learnt my lesson on the evil of backbiting.

An elderly teacher shared with me her embarrassing moment.

Her primary class students were innocent but naughty. One boy broke the silence in the class by asking, “Maam, can I ask you a question?”

“Go ahead.”

“Are you pregnant?”

“Sit down,” shouted the embarrassed, obese teacher.

Before the boy sat down, another commented, “How can she be pregnant, you stupid. She is old.”

The teacher joined a gym the next day.

Recent Editorials

Here are some of the recent Editorials I wrote for The Gulf Today. (Posted for my records).

Dubai Expo will open up

unlimited opportunities

Every five years and for a period of six months, World Expos attract millions of visitors. The Expo has never been held in the Middle East, Africa and South East Asia in the history of the event. But in six years’ time, history will change.

The Expo 2020 would take place from October 2020 to April 2021 in the dazzling city of Dubai. The hosting of Expo 2020 is expected to yield Dhs89 billion in added economic activities and raise the overall GDP of the UAE in a variety of sectors.

As Reem Al Hashimi, UAE Minister of State and the Managing Director of the Expo 2020 Executive Body, stated, the Expo 2020 will provide 277,000 new job opportunities and will have a positive and comprehensive economic impact on Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) since they constitute about 95 per cent of all registered companies in the UAE.

Each World Expo is a catalyst for economic, cultural and social transformation and generates important legacies for the host city and nation. For instance, Shanghai 2010 World Expo helped transform a heavily industrial city-centre area into a thriving cultural and commercial district while also bringing its theme “Better City, Better Life” to the attention of 73 million people.

The next World Expo takes place in Milan, Italy, in 2015. The focus: “Feeding the Planet, Energy for Life.” The UAE will host the World Expo 2020 under the theme ‘Connecting Minds, Creating the Future’.

China and India are among UAE’s biggest trading partners and the country’s trade with Africa has increased 600 per cent since 2000. It is forging new trade relations with Latin America in addition to its strong relations with over 220 countries.

Embracing more than 200 nationalities and cultures, the UAE is already an important international tourism destination with more than 95, 000 hotel rooms and 11 million tourists in 2012. The UAE is also home to 63-business council and a financial centre for 18 of the world's top 25 international bank, six of the top 10 law firms and six of the top 10 insurance companies.

The awarding of Expo 2020 to Dubai reflects the confidence of the international community in UAE’s abilities. When there is clarity in vision and aspiration to achieve big, countries can take peace, progress and prosperity to new heights. In that sense, the UAE has repeatedly proved to be a highly progressive country serving as a model for the rest of the world.

Splendid Sharjah

charms visitors

Developmental projects are in full swing giving every reason for visitors and residents of Sharjah to smile. Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah His Highness Dr Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi has stated that he is personally keen on drafting parks and roads because all these projects would eventually reflect Sharjah’s civilisation and add to the UAE’s beauty.

A number of projects in celebration of Sharjah as Capital of Arab Tourism 2015 are underway. Sheikh Sultan himself took part in designing the projects, which included Al Qasimiya University, the hugest project at the emirate level. The Dibba Water Canal is expected to be inaugurated within 10 days.

Most projects are likely to be completed before 2015  concurrently with Sharjah celebrations for being selected as capital of Arab tourism. These include Wasit sanctuary, Al Hafiya sanctuary and Maliha museum in which archeological and environmental tourism will be demonstrated.

That is not all. Sheikh Sultan has also announced the establishment of two institutions, one concerned with labour disputes and the other with security and safety as part of a programme titled, “Sharjah is a Healthy City.” Besides, land has been granted for building an integrated sports city with fully equipped stadium on Al Dhaid road in Sharjah City.

On Sharjah’s travel horizon is the Sir Bu Nair Island tourism project, slated for completion in 2017. The island will harbour a five-star hotel and resort, hotel apartments and an amphitheatre among other attractions.

The emirate has emerged as a favourite holiday destination for visitors from around the world, especially those from Europe and neighbouring Gulf countries. It has been recognised as the home of Arab and Islamic culture and civilisation. It was declared the Cultural Capital of the Arab world in 1998 by Unesco. Recently, the Arab tourism ministers' summit in Cairo selected Sharjah as the Capital of Arab Tourism for Year 2015.

According to the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority, the first quarter statistics for Year 2014 showed remarkable growth in the tourism sector compared to the sector's performance during the same period last year.

The total number of hotel guests touched 600,000 against 515,947 guests last year. With hotel apartments recording similar increase, Sharjah has registered a healthy 15 per cent increase in visitors over the same period last year.

Tourists from Europe are the top tourism-generating destination bringing in over 251,000 visitors. As always Sharjah welcomed large numbers from visitors the neighbouring Gulf states. Way to go, Sharjah.

Aid delayed is

aid denied

At a time when more than nine million Syrians have been displaced by the country’s civil war, it is distressing to note that weak co-ordination by UN officials is creating doubts on whether international aid is actually reaching those who need it most.

It is said that 6.5 million of the displaced are still inside Syria, while 2.7 million have fled to nearby countries. Syrians also are finding health care hard to obtain. Fifty per cent of hospitals are said to be out of service and 70 per cent have been damaged.

In such a situation, it is shocking that seven weeks after UN aid trucks crossed from Turkey into Syria for the first time, aid workers in the southern Turkish humanitarian hub of Gaziantep still have no idea exactly where the supplies ended up.

The convoy of 78 trucks taking food, bedding and medicine to Syria's mainly Kurdish Hasakah province was seen as a test of the willingness of Syria's authorities and rebels to abide by a UN resolution urging them to let aid across front lines and borders by the most direct routes.

But no distribution lists have been made available for this or any other UN delivery, according to aid workers in Gaziantep. This hampers the efforts of charities trying to address the world's biggest humanitarian crisis.

NGOs complain that despite multiple requests, the United Nations has so far failed to share its methodology in identifying those most in need and monitoring where its aid goes after delivery. Often it does not even disclose what its food aid includes. That makes effective coordination among Syrian and international agencies operating out of Turkey unnecessarily complicated.

A UN resolution, adopted by the Security Council in February in a rare show of unanimity on Syria, sought to boost humanitarian access and threatened to take "further steps" if Syria's government and the rebels failed to comply. But the lack of transparency around UN deliveries makes that hard to monitor.

It may be recalled that the United Nations recently rebuked donors for not doing enough to help millions of Syrian refugees in the region as well as host countries, saying massive aid is needed. The world body, which is otherwise doing a tremendous job, should roll up its sleeves and boost co-ordination efforts so that aid from donors will reach the right people at the right time.

Air pollution poses

soaring challenge

The World Health Organisation’s (WHO) warning that many of the world’s cities are “enveloped in dirty air” that is dangerous to breathe need to be taken seriously and the authorities concerned should initiate remedial action.

When an internationally reputed organisation says that urban dwellers are being exposed to excessive air pollution and are at a risk of respiratory diseases and other long-term health problems, there is need for introspection.

Air quality in most urban areas worldwide that monitor outdoor air pollution fails to meet WHO safety guidelines, putting people at additional of serious health problems, the agency has noted while issuing its 2014 urban ambient air quality database.

The WHO database covers 1,600 cities across 91 countries – 500 more cities than the previous database (2011), revealing that more cities worldwide are monitoring outdoor air quality, reflecting growing recognition of air pollution’s health risks.

Only 12 per cent of the people living in cities reporting on air quality reside in cities where that air quality complied with WHO guideline levels. About half of the urban population being monitored is exposed to air pollution that is at least 2.5 times higher than the levels WHO recommends - putting those people at additional risk of serious, long-term health problems.

The latest WHO report, however, has kicked up a dust in India with the country’s air monitoring centre dismissing data that showed New Delhi's air as the dirtiest worldwide.

The study showed Delhi had an annual average concentration of airborne small particles of less than 2.5 micrometres in diameter, known as PM 2.5, of 153. This was almost three times as high as the reading for Beijing of 56 despite the Chinese capital's reputation for smog, and 10 times that of London. Indian officials have dubbed the finding “biased and misleading.”

In most cities where there is data to compare the situation today with previous years, air pollution is getting worse. Many factors contribute to this, including reliance on fossil fuels such as coal-fired power plants, dependence on private transport motor vehicles and the use of biomass for cooking.

Some cities, however, are making notable improvements, demonstrating that air quality can be improved by implementing policy measures such as banning the use of coal for “space heating” in buildings, using clean fuels for electricity production and improving efficiency of motor vehicle engines.

Cities like Copenhagen and Bogotà have improved air quality by prioritising dedicated networks of urban public transport, walking and cycling. There is a lesson for others to learn here.

Israel should accept

Pope’s peace message

Pope Francis’ peace initiative in the Middle East as part of his ongoing visit to the region is a noble gesture that deserves support from all sides, but the question remains whether Israel will co-operate. Going by past experience, Israel has effectively scuttled all such peace efforts earlier.

Pope Francis had flown by helicopter to Bethlehem from Jordan, where he started his tour on Saturday, becoming the first pontiff to travel directly to the West Bank rather than enter via Israel. This is seen as a decisive nod for Palestinian statehood aspirations.

Israel’s games are getting exposed. It had repeatedly blamed the Palestinian president for the failure of the latest peace talks, but standing alongside Mahmoud Abbas, Pope Francis pointedly referred to him as "a man of peace and a peacemaker."

It is not just that. Pope Francis also made a surprise stop at the massive wall the international community sees as a symbol of Israeli oppression and barrier to peace.

Pope Francis has delighted his Palestinian hosts by referring to the "state of Palestine," giving support for their bid for full statehood recognition in the face of a crippled peace process and inviting the Palestinian president to the Vatican.

Israel’s actions on the ground are a matter of concern. International rights groups have heavily criticised the treatment of Palestinian youngsters by Israel's military, with a report this month finding increasing numbers of arrested minors are placed in solitary confinement.

A 2013 Unicef report found Israel was the only country in the world to systematically try children in military courts, often after being aggressively awakened in the night by armed soldiers, blindfolded and deprived of sleep. The vast majority of arrests are for throwing stones.

It is known that Israel’s settlement expansions led to the breakdown last month of US-mediated peace talks. Watchdog group Peace Now had recently stated that Israel increased settlement work four-fold during the latest round of peace talks, pushing forward with construction of nearly 14,000 new homes in the West Bank and east Jerusalem.

At the spot where the Pope Francis stood and prayed near the separation wall, someone had sprayed in paint the words "Free Palestine." The writing on the wall is clear. Israel has to mend its ways. The occupation has to, and will, end. Israel should take the honorable Papal message for peace in the region seriously and end its atrocities immediately.

Peace cannot

be abducted

The abduction of over 200 girls from a boarding school in the northeast Nigerian town of Chibok in mid-April by Boko Haram militants and the failure to rescue the victims as yet is a matter of deep concern for the international community.

Concerns have been mounting about the girls’ fate after Boko Haram chief Abubakar Shekau claimed responsibility, saying his group was holding the schoolgirls as "slaves" and threatening to "sell them in the market."

Rattled by the abductions, several world leaders have called for intensified efforts to ensure the peaceful return of the victims. “Bring our girl back,” are the words reverberating from across the globe.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon voiced his deep concern during a phone call with the country’s President, Goodluck Jonathan, who has accepted the former’s offer to send a high-level envoy to discuss how the world body can support the government tackle internal challenges.

Jonathan’s government stands accused of being slow to mount rescue operations. In fact, human rights group Amnesty International has stated that Nigeria's military had advance warning of the April 14 attack by Boko Haram that led to the kidnapping but failed to take immediate action.

US President Barack Obama has described the kidnapping as "heartbreaking" and "outrageous" even as Washington deployed military experts in the hunt for the children.

US officials have voiced fears that the girls, aged between 16 and 18, have already been smuggled into neighbouring countries, such as Chad and Cameroon. The governments of both denied the girls were in their countries.

President Jonathan declared a state of emergency in the northeast a year ago, ordering extra troops, but security officials say the armed forces remain overstretched. Perhaps as few as 25,000 service-ready troops face an insurgency over a wide area in the northeast, communal violence across north and central Nigeria and rampant oil theft in the south, as well as commitments to peacekeeping missions.

Two decades ago Nigeria's military was seen as a force for stability across West Africa. Now it struggles to keep security within its own borders. A lack of investment in training and failure to maintain equipment has damaged Nigeria's armed services.

The entire world shares the anguish of the families of the girls and the people of Nigeria at this traumatic time. Ideological differences should never be a reason for such deplorable action against innocent girls. Attacks on schools, students and teachers are prohibited under international humanitarian law and the perpetrators should be held accountable.

Acid test for Ukraine’s

‘Chocolate King’

Ukrainians have rallied overwhelmingly behind billionaire owner of chocolate factories and political veteran Petro Poroshenko in the elections, but the burly 48-year-old faces a barrage of challenges in healing the bleeding nation.

The country is on the brink of bankruptcy and a UN official warned recently that the southern and eastern regions are awash in weapons and are a scene of numerous cases of illegal detentions and abductions.

Monday's rapid military response to separatists who seized the airport in Donetsk appears to be a defiant answer to Moscow, which has claimed it is ready for dialogue with Poroshenko, but the troubles seem far from over for Ukrainians.

Preliminary results with about half of votes counted gave Poroshenko 53.7 per cent of the vote - towering over a field of 21 candidates with enough support to avert a run-off. His closest challenger, former premier Yulia Tymoshenko, secured just 13.1 per cent and made clear she would concede. Official results are likely to be announced by June 5.

‘Chocolate King’ Poroshenko, known for his pragmatism, supports building strong ties with Europe but also has stressed the importance of mending relations with Moscow.

He stated his first step as president would be to visit the Donbass eastern industrial region, where pro-Russia separatists have seized government buildings, declared independence and battled government troops in weeks of fighting.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, who last month described eastern Ukraine as "New Russia," has made more accommodating noises in recent days. He promised at the weekend that Moscow would respect the will of Ukrainians, and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov repeated that promise saying Russia was ready for dialogue with Poroshenko.

Western countries put little faith in Putin's promises. He has repeatedly announced he would pull troops from the frontier without doing so. They dismiss Russia's denials that it has aided the rebels, whose Donetsk force is led by a Muscovite the European Union describes as a Russian military intelligence officer.

Poroshenko's sweeping margin of victory gives him a firm mandate that makes it harder for Moscow to dismiss him as illegitimate, as it did in the case of the interim leaders he will replace.

Novertheless, Russia could still use the gaps in the election in the east to challenge its legitimacy.

It remains to be seen how Poroshenko will successfully steer Ukraine westward, with Russia - Ukraine's major market and vital energy supplier - looking determined to maintain a hold over the second most populous ex-Soviet republic.

Demographics at work

(My article in Business@Qatar-posted for my records)

‘Pet’ project takes furry companions for a spin

(My article in The Gulf Today, May 14, 2014)
DUBAI: On the lines of school buses for children, a British national is planning to launch a taxi “shuttle service” for pets soon in Dubai that will drop and pick up the four-legged loved ones from day-care centres.
Animal lover Arthur Obyrne, who runs a pet taxi service in the emirate, receives numerous calls and text messages every day for help from pet owners who face difficulty, as animals are not allowed to travel in public transport vehicles.
Lack of awareness about local rules also poses a problem for tourists. “Just the other day, a woman from Poland landed at the Dubai airport with her British bulldog. She was in distress as she could not hire any taxi home, as they are barred from carrying animals. Fortunately, someone gave her our number and we dropped her home in Greens,” says Obyrne.
The former business development officer, who had worked in the Middle East, South Africa and India, and also as a commercial artist in the UK, got bored of the routine and was discussing with a friend in Dubai about starting his own business, when the idea of a private taxi service for pets flashed through his mind.
“I remembered a few acquaintances who had asked for help to transport pets to vets or day-care centres. I approached the government authorities and got a green signal for my pet project,” he says.
“It was initially through word of mouth. We printed cards and pasted leaflets in supermarkets. We also started a website, http://www.pettaxisdubai.com. The phones started ringing and we got busier and busier.”
Obyrne says it not just money but also his love for animals that keeps him going. He recently received a phone call from a woman around midnight asking for help to transport her dog to the vet. “I was tired but thought I needed to help the troubled animal. When the treatment was over, we realised that the injury was not life-threatening. But that’s how owners love their pets.”
His team of four includes three women, among whom one is a veterinary nurse.
“We have two vehicles and our services include pick up and drop off service,vet delivery, airport customs, document clearing, pet sitting, dog walking and food deliveries,” he points out.
“Apart from our vet delivery, consultation and collection service, we also supply an airport handling service, including airport customs document clearing with pick up and transport available for anywhere in Dubai.”
While Obyrne charges Dhs75 for half an hour as service cost, he is surprised that some people grumble about the rates. “There was one person who kept saying ‘You are expensive. You make me angry’.”
It is not that the job is always pleasing. “There are occasions when we need to keep live worms and roaches in the fridge overnight for delivery as food for specific animals. That is quite unpleasant, especially for my wife,” he says, adding, “I have even delivered medicine for a tiger that was injured.”

About future plans, Obyrne says that he wants to expand his services to cover the entire UAE. “Hope it works,” he smiles.

An institution shows the way

(My article in The Gulf Today- posted for my records)
SHARJAH: The Abdullah Omran Taryam Model School for Boys in Sharjah, formerly known as Suhaib Primary School, dedicated the entire past week to highlighting the prodigious contributions made to the nation by the late Dr Abdullah Omran Taryam.
The Ministry of Education, under the directives of Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah His Highness Dr Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, recently renamed the school after Dr Abdullah Omran Taryam.

  “From Sunday to Monday, we usually hold various activity sessions for children. This week it was all about Dr Abdullah,” informed Mariam Al Holy, headmistress of the school.

“As people already know about the great personality, the task of explaining to parents and children about the name change became very easy. When we informed the parents, they were happy and reacted by saying ‘nice name’,” the headmistress noted.

Enthusiasm was palpable the moment one entered the sprawling school compound, which has 300 plus students on its rolls with many more expected to join the ranks next year.

Posters, bulletin boards and handcrafted charts mentioned Dr Abdullah Taryam’s contributions to the society.

“Our primary aim now is to set up an exclusive project room explaining all about Dr Abdullah Taryam,” Mariam Al Holy said. “This week, principals from other schools visited us. During the meeting, I presented all of them special mugs with a picture of Dr Abdullah and also a note on his achievements.”
A staff member added, “We were informed about the new name on Thursday. On Friday and Saturday, we (staffers) made special preparations for change in the display of the school board and also to welcome the dignitaries.”
One of the impressive charts displayed at the school entrance lucidly explains the life of the great personality after whom the school has been named. Among the various points, it highlights that Dr Abdullah was one of the main figures of the UAE before and after its establishment.
Born in Sharjah in 1948, Dr Abdullah finished his primary, secondary and high school education in Sharjah and Kuwait. He attained his Bachelor’s degree in History from Cairo University and his Ph.D in Modern History from the University of Exeter in the UK in 1986.
He established the Al Khaleej newspaper with his brother, the late Taryam Omran, in 1970, which has since grown to become the Dar Al Khaleej media group. Dr Abdullah worked as a secondary school teacher at Al Orouba School and then became a Director of the Department of Education in Sharjah. He also held the posts of Minister for Education and Minister for Justice.
It may be recalled that His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, mentioned that Dr Abdullah had contributed to the UAE Union alongside the founding fathers.

Humaid Bin Mohammed Obaid Al Qatami, Minister for Education, also remarked that naming of two schools in Sharjah after the brothers Taryam Omran and Dr Abdullah Omran was to ensure that the memory of the loyal citizens would remain entrenched in the memory of the nation for people to learn and adopt the values and principles they represented.

‘Emiratis can lunch in London, travel to Yorkshire and visit friends in Scotland’

Not my Aston Martin of course. Just free pose. 

(Exclusive interview with British Ambassador to the UAE Dominic Jermey for The Gulf Today)

Britain wants more and more Emiratis to visit and the idea behind the recent introduction of the visa waiver scheme is to encourage the UAE nationals to plan trips at the spur of the moment, “for lunch in London, travelling around Yorkshire, and having quick holidays to see their friends in Scotland.”
This was stated by the British Ambassador to the UAE Dominic Jermey in a recent exclusive chat with The Gulf Today.
From Jan.1, 2014 UAE passport holders are allowed to visit the UK for up to six months with an electronic visa waiver for tourism, business or study purposes.
“It has really worked. What we have seen is the number of Emiratis visiting the UK going up enormously. Emiratis are not a security risk. We do not want to sell them visas. We just want to open up our country so that they can visit at ease,” the ambassador said.
Asked about the recent attack on three Emirati sisters in London, Jermey replied: “I cannot comment on a legal process, but the key concern that I have got and all British community in the UAE has got is for the welfare of these women. Our hearts go to them, our hearts go to their family. I do pray for their wellbeing.”
The envoy termed the recent celebration of the Queen’s birthday in the UAE particularly appropriate because of the special ties between the two nations.
The queen made a state visit to the UAE in 2010. Last year, His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE and Ruler of Abu Dhabi, made a two-day state visit to Britain, the first visit for a UAE President in 24 years.
“I do not think there will be any other country where her majesty has done a state visit in 2010 to be followed only three years later by a state visit by Sheikh Khalifa. That I think symbolises our bonds.”
At the trade level too, the ties are getting stronger. In this connection, the ambassador made a special reference to the Dubai Ports World investment in London Gateway.
“A minister who visited the UAE recently is also a constituency member of parliament for Essex where London Gateway with DPW investment is making such a difference both to the shipping industry and also to jobs to people in that area and to what they think about the UAE.”
London Gateway, located at the mouth of the Thames, received its first cargo vessel in November after a multi-million dollar investment led by DP World.
Insisting that it was such people-to-people contacts that bind the bonds, Jermey said it was very easy to be an ambassador here “because I deal with people who love to visit the UAE. It’s a great place to be.”
Talking about the trade target set in 2009 by the two countries, he noted, “We are beating it.”
He also referred to Emirates Airlines investments in East London, where it has put in the cable car and invested in sponsorship of Arsenal Football Club."It is a continuous engagement,” Ambassador Jermey summed up. 

Rewind- 1988

A 1988 Times of India staff picnic group photo (Thanks: Achutan)