Month: August 2016
Back to School! #StartEarlyDriveCarefullyReachSafely
Back to School!
Let our priority be on imparting Road Safety Values to children & parents.
Let order and peace prevail on our roads.
Let our children learn the value of discipline in their day-to-day life.
#StartEarlyDriveCarefullyReachSafely
Humility is the Key
The Hindu newspaper carries a beautiful column every day except Sunday. It was a must read for me during my younger days. Follow it whenever possible as it is good to read it and pass it on to the young generation the values of life. Have a great day/great weekend.
Do you want to be Happy? Then, visit Stillwater Aquarium
Stillwater Aquarium designs offers one of a kind service in setting up Indoor Aquaponics and Nature Aquariums.
Indoor Aquaponics can provide round the year pure organic vegetables for small family, and can be setup at very reasonable cost. This also bring in many health benefits as well as education for children and adults to make your own food without chemicals and pesticide
Let this weekend visit be to Stillwater Aquarium
For details, contact: Godfrey Antony Phone +971507926791
or Basil James Phone +971555942487
Click Your Heart Out!
Opportunity for Passionate Photographers Group Members.
To photograph 12 exclusive events in Abu Dhabi and Dubai till end 2016 !
* Cultural/Sports/Indoor/Outdoor
* All are welcome
* Photography equipment and guidance will be provided
If interested, write to talentshare2016@gmail.com for more details
Call for more visible policing on UAE roadways
The observation by Traffic Safety experts are true and actual. A certain share of drivers are relaxed on the traffic violation punishments measures enforced through electronic media such as radars and surveillance cameras. Obviously they form the majority in creating dangerous road situations. It was not the case previously. There used to be police patrol in car and motorbikes. They come from nowhere and drivers used to be alert about such presence and avoid neglecting the road safety rules. Fear of punishment is an important factor to deter dangerous driving.
I feel therefore that there should be intermittent presence by Police on all the major roads to show their physical presence and ensure safe driving practices are followed.
In addition, weather conditions will change soon to foggy mornings very soon. An occasional presence of patrol cars posted on the major highways will definitely deter dangerous driving during the foggy season ahead so that we do not have any traffic calamities.
Children should be taught from a young age to follow the rules. Co-passengers in public and private vehicles should remind and warn those drivers who ignore the safety of others. Let patience and safe driving sense prevail on our roads. Continuous campaign to remind the drivers of following the safety driving practices is the need for the hour.
Letters to the National on:
Experts call for more visible policing on UAE roadways
Shine a light on E10 roadworks
The continuing roadworks on the E10 from Shahama to Abu Dhabi are creating confusion, especially near the airport.
There is poor lighting in this area, where the road narrows yet many drivers continue to speed.
There is no signage to advise drivers to reduce their speed, adding to the dangerous driving situation.
Ramesh Menon, Abu Dhabi
Letters to the Editor: The National Dt 22 August 2016
Task in hand for the new school season
Shopping malls are ready with stock of “Back to School” items to welcome the new school season. Unlike the earlier season, the market doesn’t seem to be vibrant and lively this year.
For parents, there is lot to think about the season ahead. Life is not so easy as it used to be earlier.
Especially after reading the news in The National UAE parents worry over school costs as cost of living rises.
A change of outlook is required among parents and children and definitely will come in the days ahead. Spending on extravagance is bound to decrease. In a way, it will be good to see children get used to the age old basics – specially move away from the so called electronic gadgets and get back to traditional reading methods from print media. Concentrate on physical fitness and sports activities rather than confine themselves within the four walls of their home.
At the same time the difficult market conditions may not give options for inferior products to infiltrate into the market in the disguise of “Sale” to attract consumers.
#SafeCycling on a Friday #InAbudhabi.
It is my routine to explore Abu Dhabi’s beauty during the weekend, specially on Friday mornings.
It is silent and you will get to meet those who are enthusiastic and carry similar fitness objectives in life.
Try it out.
#Safecycling #inAbuDhabi
Attaching a cycling route map for those interested. This route is expanding.
Always be cautious for self and those others on your path.
#ClicksandWrites
#PassionatePhotographers
#SafeCycling
#InAbuDhabi
Weekend in Venice is now a flight away with Etihad
Etihad Airways, the national airline of the UAE, will expand its services to Italy with a new daily flight to Venice’s Marco Polo Airport. The new service will begin operations from 30th October, 2016 and be served by an Airbus A319, offering 16 seats in Business and 90 in Economy. Together with Alitalia, its code-share and equity partner, Etihad Airways will offer 35 weekly flights in and out of Italy, including double daily services to Rome and Milan.
One of the most beautiful travel locations to plan your weekend/long holidays made easier by this new route.
You will agree with me as you see some of my clicks taken during my visit.
Ramesh Menon given Ministry of Interior Excellence Award
Transcript of an interview taken for Arabic media after the Award Ceremony:
Age, job, number of years in the UAE?
I am 47 years and working as Communications Coordinator for Total, French Oil Company. I have been a resident of UAE since 1988. My wife, Rajashree Menon and myself live in Abu Dhabi.
The Award : Ministry of Interior Excellence Award
Why were you given an award by the MoI?
It was for my continuous contribution to the MOI on several subjects with a qualitative outlook intended to improve the harmonious living of the residents, both locals and expat in Abu Dhabi and UAE in general.
When did you receive a call from the police? What was your initial reaction?
The award ceremony was on Thursday, 5th February 2015 and I received a call from a lady Lieutenant colonel who introduced herself and verified me before she said to me about it.
It was a totally unexpected call and I was a bit surprised and made sure it was me she was trying to contact. I then asked her details about the award and which suggestion of mine has been selected. Her reply was that I am a regular contributor and hence there were more than one of merit that made them consider me for it.
When you were at the capital police HQ how did you feel, as the awards were for the police and other individuals? I believe there were a few or no Asians apart from you. How honored were you being among the award recipients?
It was indeed a special feeling to go to the premises of Capital Police on that day. Reaching there, I found myself to be the one of the only Asian expatriate among the lineup of police personnel in uniform and in civil dress.
I realized it was something special to be among them. They were from different emirates. Talking to some of them and watching them interacting with each other I realized, we all carried the same zest for Safety. We all considered it as our responsibility to act with diligence on whatever subject we handled.
It also confirmed one common truth that each one of us did our individual actions without ever thinking of any remote possibility of being selected for such a prestigious award!.
Now can you tell us when you started providing suggestions and proposals to the police? Were most of the suggestions pertaining to road safety? Can you tell us
It is a continuous process started way back from 2006, when I was awarded by Dubai Municipality as Distinguished Contributor for their Have Your Say Programmes. It was followed in 2007 too.
The dedicated Have Your Say programmes by the authorities are a useful platform for those who wish to contribute towards the betterment of community. Abu Dhabi Police’s website and the contact centre abudhabi.ae is of real help for community oriented persons like me. I use various options like the contact centre website and email, then over phone directly to the helpline numbers and also through the Community Police department.
Road safety is one of my primary target. However, it doesn’t end there. I contribute and communicate to them in various other subjects such as hygiene issues etc as and when I get to see an alarming situation, which needs to be highlighted to the authorities.
Some of them are at times considered risky and my sense of commitment to adhere towards community safety have prevailed over personal safety and resulted in me communicating with the authorities. It has never been done with a felicitation oriented approach.
My Objectives:
I have always strived myself to promote safety aspects at all time and believe that it is everyone’s responsibility to create a safe environment, whether it on the road, or elsewhere in the community.
My actions therefore have been initiated to support the authorities and administration to propagate effectively their messages to more public through writing or other communication means.
It is a two way process to alert the authorities whenever I witness and confirm authentically it is an anomaly which requires rectification. At the same time an alert is passed on to the community to warn them about any danger if it exists. Focus is maintained on this objective and all available platforms are utilized.
Other Awards and Achievements:
ClicksandWrites 
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