Month: November 2014
"The Man Committed"
“The Man Committed”
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| Its real – Gilles Richaud, posing in front of the TOTAL ad featuring him. |
ADIPEC 2014 is into its third day and this prestigious conference and exhibition is turning out to be a record breaking one in terms of visitors, participation from major International Industry players, contractors and visitors.
The stream of visitors never stopped and we at TOTAL Stand were busy attending them. Hundreds of visitors of all nationalities were moving in both directions in front of our stand. Suddenly a colleague pointed out to me to a man walking away to the main exit door. He continued to guide my view to the huge poster by TOTALat the main entrance of the ADNEC atrium. I couldn’t believe my eyes!. It was the same man in the advertisement that TOTALhas released recently for one of their posters with the theme “Committed to Better Energy”.
The stream of visitors never stopped and we at TOTAL Stand were busy attending them. Hundreds of visitors of all nationalities were moving in both directions in front of our stand. Suddenly a colleague pointed out to me to a man walking away to the main exit door. He continued to guide my view to the huge poster by TOTALat the main entrance of the ADNEC atrium. I couldn’t believe my eyes!. It was the same man in the advertisement that TOTALhas released recently for one of their posters with the theme “Committed to Better Energy”.
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| Gilles Richaud – “the committed man” |
As part of their dedicated efforts to promote TOTAL and its brand as a truly global company that blends with each of their regional ethos, a series of themes have been prepared and released world-wide through print, electronic and online media. One among them was based on the Total Abu Al Bhukhoosh Academy and its objectives to impart quality education to young emirati students. The academy provide students opportunity to learn techniques of oil and gas industry and come out as professionals who are directly inducted to major oil companies within Abu Dhabi.
The “Committed to Better Energy” campaign was launched in October and by now the advertisement has been seen by millions in print, television and through online portals and not to forget the huge hoardings. It took a while for me to believe that I am seeing the person who has actually posed for it!. I realized an opportunity to meet and talk to him.
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| A lady posing with “the committed man” |
By then he was lost in the crowd. Somehow, I managed to find him and bring him to the huge hoarding displayed there and requested him to pose for me. Seeing me taking pictures of him, the crowd too realized the opportunistic occasion and rushed to pose with him and talk to him. Ladies and youth were prominent among them. They merrily clicked with him and showed thumbs-up sign of happiness and I heard one of them saying – this is real!.
A star is born – Gilles Richaud, “The Man Committed” made our day a memorable one.
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| Youth showing thumbs up sign of happiness in clicking with “the committed man” |
Ramesh Menon, Abu Dhabi
from ADIPEC 2014
12th November 2014
Visit TOTAL at ADIPEC 2014
Please visit and get to know:
- 3-D CLOV Mega Project Hologram Pyramid
- E-Learning Simulation
- Total ABK Academy
- Presentations at Stand A232 Auditorium
- Touch Table for Total Publications
- F1 Simulator
Meet our experts at stand A232 and at Young ADIPEC to experience demonstrations.
Exhibition dates: 10-13 November 2014 at ADNEC, Abu Dhabi.
BETTER SAFE THAN SORRY
BETTER SAFE THAN SORRY
On Nov.3, we celebrated the UAE Flag Day. As part of the events of the flag campaign “Raise it high… Raise it proud” we were hoisting the flag in front of the mall where our office is situated. All management and staff were present representing a high multi-national blend joining together to show our solidarity to the country and its leaders’ vision.
The UAE national anthem was played at the end and we were just dispersing when I suddenly noticed our vice-president Sultan Al Hajji rushing to the middle of the pathway separating the main road from the mall.
I saw a group of school children running between the vehicles to a school bus which had stopped wrongly on the middle of the road for them to alight.
I was shocked and my reaction was also as impulsive as my vice president. I too rushed to the bus, stopped the children and went and requested the driver to move the bus to a safe place for children to get in. All these happened in a flash and we were able to control the children quickly.
We sent a request to the mall authorities and through them to the government departments to have appropriate fencing immediately so that this easy path that tempts drivers to stop midway ends.
We also came out with a plan to reroute the direction for larger groups, especially children to board the bus in safety. End of the day, it became a productive effort with excellent coordination from all concerned.
This spur of the moment action made our UAE Flag Day memorable. We felt happy that we value safety.
Safety aspects cannot be given rest. Safety is everybody’s business.
That is the culture we wish to bring on in everyone’s mind.
Ramesh Menon
To read it in original, please visit Gulf Today Online
For all my readers:
If you enjoyed reading this post and wish to subscribe to my blog, please go to the left hand side and choose the last ‘box’ which says subscribe. Also explore the many ‘previous articles’ listed month-wise on the links above on the left side of the blog. Share the posts with your friends through Facebook, Twitter or other accounts using the buttons below each post.
You may also read similar articles at: Safety First
I would love to read your comments.
Thank you and best regards – Ramesh Menon Abu Dhabi – Clicksand Writes
School buses must be tamed – Letters to the Editor – The National Dt 04 November 2014
School buses must be tamed
I am relieved to know that road accident rates in Abu Dhabi have fallen (Deaths on roads decline by 17 per cent, November 2).
However, when I look at the way some drivers behave, I cannot believe that we have made any significant achievement in terms of road safety awareness.
For example, I regularly see school buses speeding through Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Street, Corniche Road and through the narrow lanes of Madinat Zayed. I see them being driven recklessly almost everywhere in the city.
Are these drivers not bothered about the safety of children, that of their own and other road users? Are they not even afraid of punishment?
More importantly, there is no way to alert the bus owners about such dangerous behaviour as none of them carries the “Am I driving safely?” sticker. This issue needs to be addressed urgently.
Ramesh Menon, Abu Dhabi
To read it in original, please visit The National online
Celebrate UAE Flag Day on Monday 3rd November 2014
UAE Flag Day will be celebrated tomorrow Monday 3rd November 2014.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, announced the Flag Day campaign, urging the public to express their patriotism. Patriots across the country will raise the United Arab Emirates flag high over homes, businesses and government buildings in honor of Flag Day.
The UAE flag will be raised at 12 :00 pm as a show of national unity. The Flag Day honors the anniversary of the accession of H.H Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed as the UAE President.
Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan further explains that all the events organized by the Ministry as part of the Flag campaign aims to emphasize the vision of the ministry, and its mission to promote the national identity and community cohesion with the need to focus on the participation of all segments of society in the campaign, and organizing appropriate activities for all segments of the society.
Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan further explains that all the events organized by the Ministry as part of the Flag campaign aims to emphasize the vision of the ministry, and its mission to promote the national identity and community cohesion with the need to focus on the participation of all segments of society in the campaign, and organizing appropriate activities for all segments of the society.
The Flag campaign kicks off on the third of November and continues over seven days in all emirates through the ministry’s in all emirates through cultural centers affiliated to the ministry, schools and shopping centers, in the presence of His Excellency Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, targeting and reaching all segments of the society..
The Ministry is keen this year on the participation of all citizens and residents of the country in the Flag campaign, through the various events, activities and programs the ministry offers.The events of the flag campaign includes workshops, lectures and cultural seminars addressing the value of the flag, its symbolism and history, in addition to events and carnivals for children including coloring, shows and competitions in various shopping centers, as well as radio contests throughout the campaign days.
The Ministry of Culture, Youth and Community Development focuses to reach all citizens and residents of the state, either through media or direct communication with the public or through social networking websites, so as to achieve the greatest possible participation and interaction from different categories and age groups, symbolizing loyalty and belonging to this country and its wise leadership.
The Flag campaign under the slogan “Raise it High… Raise it Proud” is considered an opportunity for citizens and residents to express their feelings towards the UAE Flag, which is an embodiment of the meanings of greatness, pride and sense of belonging to the homeland, establishing the value of the flag and its symbolism as an essential component of the national identity. The UAE flag, moreover, symbolizes our Union, around which we all stand, as an evidence of the continuation of this generation and subsequent generations to follow the footsteps of the founding fathers of this nation who have unified all the seven Emirates..
The Flag campaign kicks off on the third of November and continues over seven days in all emirates through the ministry’s in all emirates through cultural centers affiliated to the ministry, schools and shopping centers, in the presence of His Excellency Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, targeting and reaching all segments of the society..
The Ministry is keen this year on the participation of all citizens and residents of the country in the Flag campaign, through the various events, activities and programs the ministry offers.The events of the flag campaign includes workshops, lectures and cultural seminars addressing the value of the flag, its symbolism and history, in addition to events and carnivals for children including coloring, shows and competitions in various shopping centers, as well as radio contests throughout the campaign days.
The Ministry of Culture, Youth and Community Development focuses to reach all citizens and residents of the state, either through media or direct communication with the public or through social networking websites, so as to achieve the greatest possible participation and interaction from different categories and age groups, symbolizing loyalty and belonging to this country and its wise leadership.
The Flag campaign under the slogan “Raise it High… Raise it Proud” is considered an opportunity for citizens and residents to express their feelings towards the UAE Flag, which is an embodiment of the meanings of greatness, pride and sense of belonging to the homeland, establishing the value of the flag and its symbolism as an essential component of the national identity. The UAE flag, moreover, symbolizes our Union, around which we all stand, as an evidence of the continuation of this generation and subsequent generations to follow the footsteps of the founding fathers of this nation who have unified all the seven Emirates.
To know more, please visit my source for this post: http://www.uaeflag.ae/en/FlagStory.aspx
Noble cause – Short Take – Gulf Today – Dt 01 November 2014
Noble cause
Weekends are something one looks forward to. Come Sunday, and work keeps all busy. Occasional attendance to some public function may be the only diversion to this schedule. Come Thursday and things change. We look forward to meeting friends and a series of activities rejuvenate us.
One of the activities in my life is to assist a group of friends in serving the less fortunate and less educated within our society. Less fortunate is common to all. However, less educated is an interesting term I imbibed recently from an elderly person.
We were in the middle of a health awareness campaign and one among us casually checked his blood sugar level. He was well educated, a teetotaler, and had a disciplined life. However, he was found with a higher than normal blood sugar level.
That was a chance discovery, which in normal case would have gone unnoticed till it had aggravated. A casual persuasive talk by someone to have his parameters checked helped him avert a danger to his life.
This is an important lesson we learnt. This has given us more vigour to come all out and create awareness to the less educated and less fortunate about health and dangers of smoking. Added with a bit of awareness on road safety, our mission each week is full of bliss.
End of the weekend, we all say blessed when we are able to convince someone to stop smoking or drinking or even help diagnose an unknown medical condition and assist him to get appropriate treatment.
Ramesh Menon
Gulf Today – Short Take – Dt 1st November 2014
To read it in original, please visit Gulf Today online
For all my readers:
If you enjoyed reading this post and wish to subscribe to my blog, please go to the left hand side and choose the last ‘box’ which says subscribe. Also explore the many ‘previous articles’ listed month-wise on the links above on the left side of the blog. Share the posts with your friends through Facebook, Twitter or other accounts using the buttons below each post.
You may also read similar articles at: Short Take
I would love to read your comments.
Thank you and best regards – Ramesh Menon Abu Dhabi – Clicksand Writes
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