Out of the Box ...

On a recent visit to Lamcy Plaza I was looking at some watches when my neice pointed out that the signboard had the name of the shop misspelt. Ever ready to do a favour, I quickly pointed out to the salesman at the counter that the letter 'U' was missing from the signboard. He quickly pointed to me saying, "Sir, that's you! We are missing you."

A clever way of engaging the customer and establishing a harmonius bond. I was well and truly taken in. My compliments on a clever ploy drew an even quicker response, "The credit goes to my boss, he's a very clever guy." No doubt.

Rare creativity in Dubai's communications landscape.

Will we lose the most valuable assets due to the financial crisis?

The global financial crisis is taking a heavy toll on human resources. Sweeping job cuts across continents have become as much a lead for the media as ‘bleeding’ stories. The attacks in Mumbai dominated the headlines, but only as long as the drama unfolded, soon to be replaced by falling oil prices, record falls in the stock indices and of course, bailouts. Even the hijacking of one of the biggest oil tankers with over one hundred million tonnes of the black gold is already off the radar.

Men and women across the world who lose their jobs are reduced to mere numbers much like the ‘casualty’ figures in a terror attack. Shattered lives and families without roof over their heads or income source to sustain themselves are only ‘human interest’ stories.

In this de-humanizing crisis scenario, Dubai, as indeed the UAE and the entire Middle East, being dependent on expatriate skills, needs to retain the human resources already available. A programme should be in place to evaluate and where possible locate them in new placements. It would be the human thing to do. It would also be the most pragmatic; considering that significant costs in both money and time will have to be expended during this crisis situation to recruit new staff for those companies that need to. Food for thought …

Emirates Identity Pre-registration form can now be downloaded from the EIDA website

The pre-registration application for the Emirates Identity Card can now be downloaded in Arabic and English and completed offline. The website opens fast and contains instructions for Online Booking and Complaints and Suggestions. Pass on ...

The new President of America …

Some newscasters on international television channels were quick to point out that they would not be ‘calling’ the election until voting across the country had closed as it could deter voters in states where the polls close last, given that Americans across seven time zones are choosing their forty fourth president.

Given the intense competition among the various media entities, that would be a tough call indeed. Results on CNN.com at the time of writing show Senator Obama comfortably leading Senator McCain 174 to 69 electoral votes.

The 2008 election is keenly watched around the world for several reasons. Chief among them is a loss of credibility in American foreign policy during the current administration.

The invasion of Iraq began on the basis that there were weapons of mass destruction. None were found but the occupation and the suffering of the Iraqi people continues. The frosty relations that America has with Iran and North Korea have at various times given rise to the possibility of war. In Afghanistan, a half-hearted war continues against the Taliban and has recently angered the new administration in long time American-ally Pakistan for unauthorized attacks within the country and the killing of civilians. Inconsistency and double standards have been a common thread in American policy. Diplomacy appears to have been stifled by the American political dream of maintaining superpower status; to be the best economic resource, police, the judge and jury for the entire world. A challenge whether it be from China or India which have much larger populations is frowned upon.

Even though the relationship between man and his environment is better understood today, America failed to give leadership to the world by ratifying the Kyoto Protocols.

More recently, the financial crisis which began in the USA has gripped the entire world creating a very vulnerable situation for people everywhere. It was to the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank that less developed countries made a pilgrimage with a begging bowl. Today the IMF is in such dire straits that the Prime Minister of Great Britain followed a senior US official this week to countries in the Middle East seeking funds for the IMF which has already bailed out some countries affected by the financial crisis.

The new President of the United States of America would have to urgently and concurrently address all these issues even as he juggles with domestic considerations which have propelled him to the Oval Office.

He will have to engage in a reordering of American foreign policy with an emphasis on diplomacy. He will have to give leadership to the setting up of a new institution to regulate global financial markets and relationships, perhaps on the lines of the International Telecommunication Union. Under his leadership, America will have to show its commitment to the protection of the global environment by throwing its weight behind international initiatives such as the Kyoto Protocols.

Right now, the CNN electoral map shows Barack Obama leading 207 to 135. May the better man win.

How she said, “Yes!”

We’ve read about it in the classics, in romantic novels and seen it happen in everyday life. But the way this woman said ‘yes’ is certainly unique. It’s rarely that you read about something in real life that seems like it was in the movies, so I’ll let you read the original story here. Enjoy!

The Credit Crunch

The founding fathers of the United States of America saw well into the future when they charted the course for the country. Thomas Jefferson the primary author of the Declaration of Independence who was also the President from 1801 to 1809, wrote a Decalogue of Canons for Observation in Practical Life, one of which was, “Never spend your money before you have it.”

Many would no doubt argue that it no longer holds true. The current financial crisis though is forcing people to observe this canon perhaps even more rigorously than it was intended to be.

The following are links to some stories that have helped me understand the current situation better. Trust it helps you too.

Bitten by the global credit crunch – A simple and humorous elucidation of how the lack of regulation has helped feed greedy financial institutions till they could no longer function and how their bad debts are being bought out by the US government. By Mick O’Reilly, Deputy Managing Editor of the Gulf News. October 10, 2008.

The credit crunch and its effects –Brien Donnellon’s article in the March 2008 issue of Swiss News gives the impression that Rating Agencies are also to blame for the current crisis.

Timeline: Global credit crunch – BBC News traces the crisis from April 2007. Published: October 6, 2008.

Imagine if there was no financial meltdown ...

The crisis with the American economy appears to have reached epidemic proportions. The next President of the United States of America will no doubt have his hands full, grappling with the crisis and leading the country in rebuilding the economy over the next four years or eight.

But what is the American legacy? Obviously one of heavy metal. Here's a story from ABC News about how they built a special store in 1924 for some very solid stuff. Read all about it here ...

The human spirit

'After a rip current swept the boy and his father out to sea Saturday, darkness fell, and the sound of rescue helicopters and boats grew faint until they were nonexistent.'

CNN reports an amazing story of a father and his autistic son who were swept out to sea and their dramatic survival and rescue after 12 hours in the Atalantic Ocean. Read all about it here ...

Trial by media?

I firmly believe there is more good in human beings than bad. In a court of law an accused is presumed innocent until proven guilty. Often though, the media report events in a manner that could permanently damage the lives of those accused, irrespective of their innocence or guilt. In the UAE, I find the identity of the accused is safeguarded by some newspapers using only the initials of the accused and not their names.

My mind is drawn to media coverage of two people accused of misbehaving on a public beach in Dubai. Even before the courts have had the occasion to try the case and make a determination, international media have published accusations, names, and photographs and virtually condemned the accused to a lifetime of ostracization.

Would it not be respectful of the courts and fair by the accused to await the decision of the courts?

Although the right to privacy is hotly defended particularly in the west, media intrusion is defended as a right to information.

In the past, those accused of sensationalism and undue intrusion into the private lives particularly of celebrities, were the tabloids. Today, the mainstream media appear to be following suit.

Could the mediated reality create a fundamental change in the way media itself is structured? Time will tell. Let’s wait and see.

The Blind Boy

I have little interest in most of the trivia that are circulated by friends and colleagues and end up in my inbox. Occasionally though, I must admit there are gems. Here's one that I received today which I guess would be appreciated by many, but particularly those in the media and humanitarian sectors. Thanks Charika.

***

A blind boy sat on the steps of a building with a hat by his feet. He held up a sign which said: "I am blind, please help." There were only a few coins in the hat.

A man was walking by. He took a few coins from his pocket and dropped them into the hat. He then took the sign, turned it around, and wrote some words. He put the sign back so that everyone who walked by would see the new words.

Soon the hat began to fill up. A lot more people were giving money to the blind boy. That afternoon the man who had changed the sign came to see how things were. The boy recognized his footsteps and asked, "Were you the one who changed my sign this morning? What did you write?"

The man said, "I only wrote the truth. I said what you said but in a different way. "What he had written was: "Today is a beautiful day and I cannot see it."

Do you think the first sign and the second sign were saying the same thing?
Of course both signs told people the boy was blind. But the first sign simply said the boy was blind. The second sign told people they were so lucky that they were not blind. Should we be surprised that the second sign was more effective?

Moral of the Story: Be thankful for what you have. Be creative. Be innovative. Think differently and positively.

Invite others towards good with wisdom. Live life with no excuse and love with no regrets. When life gives you a 100 reasons to cry, show life that you have 1000 reasons to smile. Face your past without regret. Handle your present with confidence. Prepare for the future without fear. Keep the faith and drop the fear.

Great men say, "Life has to be an incessant process of repair and reconstruction, of discarding evil and developing goodness…. In the journey of life, if you want to travel without fear, you must have the ticket of a good conscience."

The most beautiful thing is to see a person smiling… And even more beautiful is, knowing that you are the reason behind it!!

***

Floods cause humanitarian crisis in South Asia

Heavy monsoonal rains have triggered a humanitarian crisis in south asia. India is so far the worst hit with at least 2 million people reportedly displaced. Television reports showed Indian Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh speaking to journalists following an aerial survey of flood affected regions with Congress Party President Sonia Gandhi. The floods are reported to be India's worst in half a century. BBC News reported that the Prime Minister has described the floods in Bihar as a 'national calamity' and released an aid package worth $ 230 million.

Other countries affected are Pakistan, Nepal and Bangladesh. The situation has worsened with initial relief efforts proving inadequate due to the large scale flooding of areas not normally prone to floods. The disaster followed a breach in the banks of the Kosi river which originates in Nepal and Tibet and flows down to the Ganges river in India. The Kosi river has reportedly shifted 120 km in the past 250 years.

Reports:

IFRC Information Bulletin August 14, 2008

UN Nepal Information Platform

Indian Red Cross Society Flood Situation Weekly Update

Etihad to be main codeshare partner of SriLankan Airlines

Etihad Airlines will be made the main codeshare partner of SriLankan Airlines, Lanka Business Online reported today. Read all about it here ...

Running the media race?

Is the competition in the mainstream media worldwide causing a drop in standards? I’m beginning to think so. Look at the coverage of some recent events.

Georgia vs. Russia. Who invaded and who acted in self defence? Many TV reports carried voice-cuts from persons identified as victims. Local officials and persons with authority in the regions were conspicuously absent. It is however possible that they were not available. Even with a multitude of reporters seemingly camping out at every checkpoint in Georgia, the picture is still hazy.

Plane crash in Madrid. Unsubstantiated figures were being quoted for at least a day before the government figure of nineteen survivors was given. Why the rush to quote a figure before it is authoritatively known. Competition no doubt.

Right now it’s the Obama VP. Who will it be? Speculation is rife. Free Press calls it ‘what passes for big time political journalism’. Read all about it here …

UAE Web Awards Entry Deadline Extended

The UAE Web Awards Committee has extended the deadline for entries till 30th September 2008. An announcement posted on its website states, ‘Due to a large number of requests to extend the period of web submissions because of Summer Holidays and Month of Ramdan Al Moubarak, the UAE Web Awards Committee decided to extend the registration date till 30th September 2008’.

Are human beings becoming irrelevant?

The four-day war between Georgian and Russian forces has highlighted the challenges faced by the media as well as the great influence the media has in shaping world events. Unfortunately, the way the world events are shaping, human beings may no longer be relevant.

On August 8th as the world was excited about the opening of the Olympic Games in Beijing came the breaking news about Georgia; the eruption of fighting between Russian and Georgian forces in south Ossettia.

Live footage of the opening of the Olympics showed several world leaders including US President George Bush and Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin in the audience at Beijing’s Birds Nest Stadium. As the story unfolded in the next days, the CNN and BBC portrayed the conflict as a Russian invasion of Georgia. Al Jazeera however, put it in context as a brutal Russian over-reaction to a Georgian adventure in Ossettia.

Even after Tuesday’s (August 12) declaration by the Russian President Dimitry Medvedev that he had ordered a halt to the military operations and a defiant speech by Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili at a rally in Tbilisi that Georgia was withdrawing from the CIS, it was still unclear as to who pulled the trigger first and whether offensive operations had indeed ceased.

Reports aired by CNN, BBC and Al Jazeera suggested that the civilian and military casualties could be high. The damage to property and the displacement of the population in the conflict areas in Georgia appear to be considerable.

The UN Security Council which debated the issue struggled and failed to even come out with a statement on the issue. The Official communiqué of the 5954th (closed) meeting of the Security Council is testimony to how ineffective it is in dealing with problems such as the conflict in Georgia. Although the permanent members of the UN Security Council have veto powers, they represent only 30% of the world population at the figures for the year 2000 carried on the UN website.

On Sunday, Reuters reported that both Russia and Georgia were armed not just with guns but with PR Agencies, and the battle was one to win hearts and minds both in the respective countries and beyond.

In the reporting of modern conflicts the who, why, what, when, where and how seem to be a huge gray area where the audience has to separate the facts from the spin.

Thomas Meaney and Harris Mylonas writing in Australia’s The Age could be closer to the truth in trying to analyse the reasons for the intensity of the conflict in Georgia.

It's clear that Mr Putin considers this payback time, not only for Georgia, Russia's meddlesome neighbour to the south, but also for President George Bush.

In February, Mr Bush and most leaders in Europe backed the independence of Kosovo from Serbia, which Mr Putin vociferously opposed. At the time US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice gave the assurance that "Kosovo cannot be seen as precedent for any other situation in the world today"

Was Kosovo the only thorn in Russia’s side? The writing has certainly been on the wall that something was waiting to happen. CNN has published an AP report on July 8, of a Russian Foreign Ministry statement:

Russia will be forced to make a military response if a U.S.-Czech Republic missile defense agreement is ratified, the Russian Foreign Ministry said Tuesday.

Nobody appears to have taken Russia seriously even though according to the US State Department’s website President Saakashvili in the presence of Secretary of State Rice is reported to have said this about Russia in Tbilisi on July 10:

Now what is the motivation? What’s the way – the Russians have been explaining this publicly as well as privately to us. This is their reaction to NATO expansion plans. This is their reaction to the independence of Kosovo. And this is their reaction to increasing U.S. presence here in the region. Looks like some people have not noticed that the Cold War is over.

The Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov disclosed at a Press Conference in Moscow August 12, that discussions had been going on with the US Secretary of State and others to avoid the confrontation for several days before it began, including the day before the confrontation erupted.

President Bush and Prime Minister Putin were both at the Birds Nest Stadium in Beijing watching the opening ceremony of the Olympics as the death and destruction was beginning in South Ossettia. Could they not have discussed among themselves and prevented the unnecessary death, suffering and destruction that occurred? Was the EU unaware that there was an explosive situation in its backyard?

Or are we at an age when diplomacy is no longer relevant and only high-tech arms, ammunition and a grand super-power world order takes precedence over human beings?

Careful about those text messages you send!

A Sri Lankan court has ruled that text messages from mobile phones are admissible as evidence in court cases according to a report in the local Sunday Times.

Although the case relates to a money transaction the newspaper has speculated on the possibility of the ruling having a long-term effect on court cases arising from broken relationships. Anyone know of any such situation around the world? Read Full story.

Olympic swimmers glide through the water in swimsuits made in Sri Lanka

Stretchline Holdings, part of MAS Holdings Group, is taking Sri Lanka into the international limelight, as two of its innovations have been instrumental in the development of the world’s fastest swimsuit -- the Speedo LZR Racer. This cutting edge creation is all about reducing drag in the water, and the key to the success of the suit are two very unique products developed solely by Stretchline -- stay4sure and Bondelast, according to a company spokesman, the Sunday Times published in Colombo reported today.

In an exclusive to The Sunday Times FT, Timothy Speldewinde, CEO of Stretchline Holdings said his company is “proud to be a part of this amazing partnership bonded together for Olympian heights.” Mr Speldewinde, a Sri Lankan national swimmer of repute in the late 1970s, said it is “also a proud day for Sri Lanka with this innovative creation.”

The company spokesman said that since the launch of the Speedo LZR Racer in February this year, swimmers have broken 52 world records while wearing it. “There will be more records broken at the Games with the help of the speediest-ever swimsuit in which Sri Lanka is a part of,” he said. Sri Lanka is competing in eight sports with Daniel Lee and Mayumi Raheem being the swimmers on the team. However the duo is not among the Speedo-sponsored swimmers though they are mostly likely to be attired in a Speedo swimsuit, like many other swimmers taking part.

Speedo is arguably the world’s largest swimsuit manufacturer and is sponsoring over 30 athletes from eight countries including the likes of Emily Seebohm and Grant Hackett from Australia and Phelps and Dara Torres from the US, the report added. Read the full story.

That a nose view mirror?

Plenty of water in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka: View from seaplane

Is this control working okay?

Graffiti in Sinhala: Tsunami, what wrong have we done?

Awareness programme for government employees on registration of tsunami affected persons

Awareness programme for government employees on registration of tsunami affected persons

Mobile digital registration of tsunami affected in Sri Lanka

External view of digital registration bus

Mobile digital registration of tsunami affected in Sri Lanka

The Burj Dubai reaches for the sky

Who's complaining of traffic in Dubai?

Dubai sunset

Toddy tapper in Sri Lanka

Dubai

The Games Begin in Beijing

China staged the world's most glittering and glamourous spectacle to open the 29th Olympic Games in Beijing, Friday night. The show involved an excellent blend of high-tech digital displays, pyrotechnics and logistics with the grace and precision of the country's most famous gymnasts to an audience of nearly one hundred thousand people at the purpose-built Birds Nest Olympic Stadium in the presence of some of the top leaders of the world. Movie projection, laser lighting and flawless choreography fused together beutifully in a four-hour long presentation that began at 08:08 PM China time on 08/08/08. The highlight of the spectacular show was the dramatic lighting of the Olympic Torch. 'Li Ning, who as a gymnast [and] stunned the world with gravity-defying turns and somersaults, lit the Olympic cauldron after "space-walking" over the heads of 91,000 spectators at the National Stadium on Friday night,' reported China's Offical News Agency Xinhua in a story published in China's offical Olympic Games Website. That certainly was an awesome spectacle.

The BBC which had a team anchored by Mishal Husain and CNN which had a team anchored by Anjali Rao were disappointing in their lack of coverage of the opening ceremony from within the Birds Nest Stadium. In fact, anchors and newscasters of the two channels seemed totally unaware of the proceedings within, even as they were being broadcast live by others. This was despite the fact that a multitude of heads of state were in the audience including US President George Bush, French President Nicholas Sarkozy, Russian Prime Minister, Vladimir Putin and Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse, to name just a few.

Hats off to Dubai Sports for showing the entire four-hour ceremony live.

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