Month: August 2007
My favorite photo of the day – 13 August 2007
A painter getting ready to give a coat of aluminium paint to the lamp poll – a scene from Delhi
Free bus service to save lives
Free bus service to save lives
By Ashfaq Ahmed, Staff Reporter/GULF NEWS Published: August 13, 2007, 22:48
Dubai: The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) is hoping pedestrian deaths will drop once it introduces its free shuttle bus service.
The RTA has taken this new initiative to encourage people to use the free bus service and curb traffic accidents between the first interchange and Trade Centre roundabout on Shaikh Zayed Road.
“Some 14 pedestrians have already died while 39 were injured in various road accidents so far this year on Shaikh Zayed Road,” said Mohammad Obaid Al Mulla, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Public Transport Agency at the RTA.
A total of 20 people have died on this road during the first six months of this year. Out of 135 total road accident deaths, 56 pedestrians had been run over, the RTA statistics revealed.
Final arrangements
Badr Mattar Al Siri, Director of the Traffic Department at the RTA said: “With the launch of the new service, pedestrian accidents this year would drop. Last year 120 pedestrians died on Dubai Roads compared to just 47 in 1997.”
Initially two buses will shuttle on this route at an interval of half an hour. However, the date of launching and exact time of operation will be announced soon, once the RTA makes final arrangements. It is expected to start next month.
Al Mulla said the provision of such services comes within the vision of the RTA to provide safe and smooth transport for all.
“The service will not only help reduce pedestrians deaths but also reduce traffic on this stretch of the road as motorists can leave their cars and use buses to commute between offices and hotels in this important commercial and residential area,” he said.
Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre, Dubai Financial Market and a number of hotels are all in the area between the Trade Centre Roundabout and the Defence Roundabout.
Al Siri called upon pedestrians to take extra caution by crossing roads from designated places only.
Danger spots
“The RTA has also fenced a number of danger spots, which have witnessed accidents where pedestrians had been run over, which accounted for 38 per cent of the total accident fatalities in 2006.
“It is an alarming indicator because pedestrian mortality rate in developed countries ranges from 15 per cent to 18 per cent of the total road accident deaths,” Al Siri said.
Residents working on Shaikh Zayed Road have welcomed the free bus shuttle service.
“It is a great idea. I have to commute between offices on both sides of Shaikh Zayed Road for my meetings. Now I can leave my car and take the bus,” said Rameez Ali, a salesman.
He said it would also save him from the hassle of finding parking.
The RTA is also spending Dh70 million on pedestrian bridges and signal-controlled zebra crossings in Dubai to reduce deaths.
At least 17 new crossings will be completed in 2008. In addition, 47 pedestrian crossings are being constructed as part of Dubai Metro Stations Project, 12 of which are located at the Dubai Metro stations on Shaikh Zayed Road.
Pedestrians face hefty fines and jail for ‘carelessness’
Traffic enforcement officers have sent out a strong warning against reckless pedestrians who cross roads at undesignated areas, thus causing accidents and endangering the lives of themselves and others.
Pedestrians have been warned against crossing roads irresponsibly and from the undesignated areas as they might be slapped with a hefty Dh500 fine or jailed, Salah Bu Farrousha, Head of Traffic Public Prosecution, told Gulf News yesterday.
“If a pedestrian crosses the road carelessly and [is] responsible for an accident … endangering his own life besides the lives of others [motorists] then he will be slapped with a maximum fine of Dh500 or land in prison.
“Crossing a road in an undesignated spot is an act punishable by law,” said Bu Farrousha.
Have your say
Will you use this free bus service? Do you think it can really help save lives?
100% Emirati
100% Emirati
By Shireena Al Nowais, Staff Reporter / GULF NEWS Published: August 12, 2007, 23:00
In a small corner on the second floor of the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage (ADACH), aka the Cultural Foundation, is an invincible time machine.
As you step through this time machine you are transported to a time in the UAE when television, the internet, chairs and other modern-day luxuries did not exist.
Veiled women sit crosslegged in a woollen tent sipping freshly brewed Arabic coffee. One woman is quietly weaving a traditional dress with gold lining. After the dress is completed and she is satisfied with her work, she pins it to a wall made of palm fronds where it joins a colourful array of traditional dresses waiting to be sold.
Preserving culture
Mohammad Khalaf Al Mazroui, Director-General of ADACH, says that the authority puts emphasis on traditional Emirati crafts as part of its strategy to preserve Abu Dhabi’s cultural heritage, hence the creation of a “corner” or an outlet where traditional handicrafts are displayed.
“With globalisation and free trade, local products have entered a mismatched competition with imported ones. On the other hand, most of our traditional handicrafts contribute to the promotion of tourism and feature the habits and traditions of the people of Abu Dhabi, the UAE and the entire Gulf region,” he said. 
Traditional arts
The outlet, located at Delma Corner in the Cultural Foundation, features Emirati women performing the arts of sado (wool/cotton weaving), teli (embroidery), palm tree frond weaving and henna.
Samples of Emirati traditional handicrafts are available for sale and all profits are rolled back into the project. Thus visitors directly contribute to the preservation of Emirati traditional crafts, some of which are close to disappearing.
Making a point
Al Mazroui made it clear that through this project ADACH also aims to show visitors how these folk arts are as beautiful and creative as other arts.
“Formal and folk arts have the same roots, and most of the world’s renowned artists have drawn their creative works from folklore. Thus, craftsmen and folk artists deserve from us all respect and recognition,” he said.
Did you know?
The most popular form of craft in Abu Dhabi is sado — the art of wool/cotton weaving. This handwork item is quite popular among tourists.
Teli is another well-known local craft in Abu Dhabi. It is basically the Arab-style embroidery that adorns women’s clothes.
The weaving of palm tree fronds is also a popular craft in the emirate. The end results are beautiful baskets and bags.
Dolphin loads its first cargo of condensate produced in Ras Laffan
Dolphin loads its first cargo of condensate produced in Ras Laffan
By Himendra Mohan Kumar, Staff Reporter/GULF NEWS Published: August 12, 2007, 23:00
Abu Dubai: Dolphin Energy Limited, a joint venture company comprising Abu Dhabi government’s investment arm, Mubadala Development Company, Total of France and Occidental Petroleum of the United States, yesterday said it had successfully loaded its first-ever cargo of 500,000 barrels of condensate, produced from its natural gas processing plant at Ras Laffan, Qatar.
Dolphin Energy, however, did not disclose where the cargo was headed.
“Our customers are all signed up. When we reach full production early next year, we will be transporting two billion standard cubic feet of gas per day to the UAE,” a Dolphin Energy official told Gulf News. However, the official declined to provide the company’s current gas production figures.
“Two additional cargoes will follow in August. About six similar-sized cargoes of condensate are expected to be exported every month once full production is reached,” Dolphin Energy said in a statement.
Massive initiative
The Dolphin gas project is the largest single energy initiative ever undertaken in the Middle East.
Dolphin gas, a source of clean energy for the Southern Gulf, involves the production and processing of natural gas from Qatar’s North Field, and transportation of the dry gas by sub-sea export pipeline from Qatar to the UAE.
Through its supply of natural gas from Qatar, it will also bring together the UAE, Qatar and Oman in a regional energy network for the first time.
Long-term customers for the gas from Qatar are Abu Dhabi Water & Electricity Authority, Union Water & Electricity Authority, Dubai Supply Authority and, from 2008 onwards, Oman Oil Company. Each of these have signed gas supply agreements with Dolphin Energy for 25 years.
Dolphin Energy is owned 51 per cent by Mubadala Development Company, on behalf of the Government of Abu Dhabi, and 24.5 per cent each by Total and Occidental.
Dolphin Energy was created with the aim of developing substantial energy projects throughout the GCC and supporting the development of long-term industries throughout the region. It is expected to create wealth, economic growth and employment opportunities for the citizens and residents of the region.
Coming back with more NIP (News, Information and Pictures)
Hello friends, I have been away for a few days of rest & recreation. I am back here in Abu Dhabi and invite you again to my e-Home with plenty of NIP (News, Information and Pictures)and of course the regular Team 1 newsletter. As usual a new topic is getting ready in the background of my mind while moving around and I hope you will enjoy reading it. Not to forget our little friends, Jajoo Jajoo stories will have an interesting story for them. Enjoy a few feeler photos while you get set to enjoy your coffee break at http://www.team1dubai.blogspot.com.
Petronas Twin Towers Malaysia
Go-carting – Genting Highlands
View from Batuk Caves – It was time to sit, relax & have a drink after a tough, fast and productive year. It was time for planning ahead too.
“Awareness”
It is not unusual for us to get so caught up in meeting our needs, desires, and goals that we lose sight of what is happening around us. From time to time, we may be stopped in our tracks by some unusual event that will cause us to pay attention to what is important. Those lessons can cause “dents” as happened in the following story.
A young and successful executive was traveling down a neighborhood street going a bit too fast in his new Jaguar. He was watching as kids darted out from between parked cars and slowed down when he thought he saw something.
As his car passed, no children appeared. Instead, a rock smashed into the Jag’s side door! He slammed on the brakes and spun the Jag back to the spot where the rock had been thrown. He jumped out of the car, grabbed the kid who was standing there and pushed him against a parked car shouting, “What do you think you are doing?”
Building up a head of steam he went on, “That is a new car and the dent from the rock you threw is going to cost a lot of money to repair. Why did you do it?”
“Please sir, please. I’m sorry, I didn’t know what else to do,” pleaded the youngster. “I threw the rock because no one else would stop…”
Tears were dripping down the boy’s chin as he pointed around the parked car. “It’s my brother, sir,” he said. “He rolled off the curb and fell out of his wheelchair and I can’t lift him.”
Sobbing, the boy asked the executive, “Would you please help me get him back into his wheelchair, sir? He’s hurt and he’s too heavy for me.”
Moved beyond words, the driver tried to swallow the rapidly swelling lump in his throat. He lifted the young man back into the wheelchair and took out his handkerchief and wiped the scrapes and cuts, checking to see that everything was going to be okay.
“Thank you and may God bless you, sir,” the grateful child said to him. The man then watched the little boy push his brother toward their home. It was a long walk back to his Jaguar… a long, slow walk. He never did repair the car door. He kept the dent to remind him not to go through life so fast that someone has to throw a rock at you to get your attention.
Author Unknown
Everyday, we have the opportunity to be aware of what is going on around us and to notice who might need our assistance or attention. When we are so focused on ourselves or getting where we are going, it may take a rock to get our attention.
Let’s slow down and truly “see” what is around us. How many “dents” do we need before we make it a habit to “stop, look, listen, feel and care?”
Affirmation for the Week:
“I maintain awareness and vigilance in my life. I need only a feather to tickle me, not a rock to dent me, to bring my awareness back to the moment when my attention and focus strays.”
Have an observant week!
ClicksandWrites 
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