General
Keeping children safe
I feel it is advisable to have regulations for seat belts continue to be applied for all seats in the school buses that are on our roads (‘New drivers to get two-year licence, starting from July 1’, Gulf News, April 17). The advantage factors I find behind such an enforcement of safety regulation are many. First and foremost, at any given point in time, the student is safeguarded from impacts due to sudden braking.
Secondly, when it is normally enforced on a daily basis it will become an automatic habit, which will be carried on to their private travel with friends and family. They will be leading the way as ambassadors of road safety.
It may also reduce the driver distractions that happen often in the school buses where children run around or jump on the seats, ignoring the request of the supervisors and drivers. It may thus reduce the bullying that might be happening in some cases.
Safety education is something children should be reminded of every moment. It is because we tend to take some small points lightly, thinking that we know it or “it will not happen to me” that many accidents occur. So, why do we miss out on the opportunity of a road safety education opportunity for children? Teach them young and travel with them safely throughout!
From Mr Ramesh Menon
Abu Dhabi
Read more on the subject:
Draft seat belt law does not cover school buses
Seat belts on school buses should be made mandatory
A system that helps save water
Reader came across a school project that reuses water in the flushing system
Published: 15:40 April 9, 2017
A few days ago, after a hectic schedule at the office, I decided to visit a friend and spend some quality time relaxing. During our conversations, I could hear some sounds from the washroom. I was curious to know what was happening and came to know that my friend’s son and his classmates were working on a water conservation project for their school.
It is always amazing to see projects on water and energy conservation. The children were fixing a self-made wash basin, connected to the toilet’s flushing system. When the flushing mechanism fills the tank, a pipe channels extra water to the basin, dedicated to washing one’s hands.
I was amazed by the concept. There were a few young boys working on it and the tools they used were all simple. The basin was a simple ice cream tub and two pipes were connected to it as an inlet and outlet.
In this newly created flush system, when you flush, water from the storage tank moves to the toilet and fresh water fills the tank for the next flush. While filling the tank, some water is redirected to this wash basin. This water supply lasts for about a minute, or until the tank fills up. The water collected in the basin then goes to the tank for the flush. It saves a large volume of water!
One of the students told me: “Normally, we need 20 seconds to scrub our hands with soap and then wash up, but this process consumes a lot of water. This model will save this resource.”
In a day, a person washes his or her hands seven times on average, as stated by WaterWatch, a US-based non-governmental organisation. During hand wash, up to 14 litres of water can be consumed by just one person. But, by using the device created by these students, only 5.6 litres of water would be consumed by one individual in a day. In a family of four, that saves up to 33 litres of water per day. And the best part is, all this water is then reused, to flush the toilet.
I later found that the students had implemented the idea in different places, and thousands of litres of water were being saved in their school and in the homes of some of the students. This idea is the brainchild of Keerthi Kumar Jagannath, an administrative staff member at the Abu Dhabi Indian School, Al Wathba. He deserves great appreciation and honour for initiating, motivating and encouraging students to take up such projects.
He has a target of equipping 1,000 washrooms with this set-up. When I spoke with him, I found it was his passion to invent, demonstrate and inspire others with such innovative ideas.
Such efforts should be endorsed, in order to foster improved environments. The power to save the planet rests with us. I hope more schools, malls and corporations adopt this simple method in their flushing system so we can save a huge volume of water every day.
— The reader is based in Abu Dhabi.
To read it in original visit Gulf News Dated 10 April 2017.
“Thank you” note – Short Take
This generation now is entirely different from the generation that I belong to. I am surprised by the ease with which they adapt to modern technology. For everything there is a solution that they can come out with.
Talk about the art of reading, and the situation is very different. Now, children are well aware of everything. They have an easy and always reachable guru in terms of Google search.
The art of reading from the books and gaining knowledge and engaging oneself is slowly dying down. Children reading newspapers have become a rarity.
It was, therefore, a surprise to notice a young graduate UAE national girl who joined me at office recently, keenly reading books and newspapers both in print and online. Curious, I told her she seemed a different kind.
She replied: “When I was a child, I used to have a nanny from the Philippines. Rosie was a teacher before she came to work with us. When we children used to get bored, she would tell us and teach us how to read from story books. At first, it was difficult and out of compulsion we followed. “Later on, when the words and photos got into our minds and thoughts connected with us in various ways, it became a natural process to reach out to story books, novels and newspapers. It is now part of our life.”
This being the Year of Giving, she expressed her thanks to her nanny Rosie, who is now settled in the US, through this short note.
Ramesh Menon
‘Instant fame’ is not worth endangering yourself
Readers write to Gulf News about issues affecting them and their community
‘Instant fame’ is not worth endangering yourself
Readers write to Gulf News about issues affecting them and their community
Published: 14:02 March 25, 2017
‘Instant fame’ is not worth endangering yourself
This is an extremely important move from Dubai’s Environment, Health and Safety Control Authority (“Local order against daredevil selfie takers”, Gulf News, March 21). They are curbing the recent craze of ‘selfie-adventurists’ doing dangerous stunts on top of high-rise structures. Not only is this a death-defying act, but also creates negative motivation for others to follow and receive ‘instant fame’ on social media.
In fact, people don’t just perform these kinds of stunts in Dubai alone – it happens everywhere. In one of my trips to Jebel Jais in Ras Al Khaimah, I witnessed a family encouraging children to jump repeatedly from the guard rails for a picture-perfect opportunity, while someone else kept clicking pictures on their camera. This happy excursion could have become tragic any time one of them fell down the side of a steep slope. I hope there will be more awareness programs to constantly alert and remind people of any imminent danger. Safety should be our priority at all times.
From Mr Ramesh Menon
UAE
Strict rules required to punish those who take dangerous selfies!
The trend of unauthorized and unprotected stunts and filming them and publishing them for fame has increased recently and become a menace. Authorities should come out with strict rules to punish those who do such dangerous acts without appropriate protections and approval and supervision of necessary protective authorities. These photos and videos may encourage youth to follow them without a second thought about the impending danger if they fail or falter. Safety should never be compromised and this indeed is an unsafe situation, which should never be encouraged.
To read it, visit Gulf News online
Read the corresponding article related to this comment.
Daredevil Russian couple climb Dubai highrise
ചിതലി രാമ മാരാരും പത്നിയും
ഈ ചിത്രം അവരുടെ വീട്ടിൽ നിന്ന് എടുത്തതാണ്. സമകാലിക തായമ്പക പ്രമാണിമാർക്ക് നവ മാധ്യങ്ങളിൽ നിന്ന് കിട്ടുന്ന പ്രശസ്തിയും പ്രചാരങ്ങളും കാണുമ്പോൾ, ആലോചിച്ചു പോകുന്നു, ആ പഴയ കാലത്തു ഈ അവസ്സരങ്ങൾ ഉണ്ടായിരുന്നു എങ്കിൽ എന്ന്. ഇതിനു മുൻപും ഞാൻ എഴുതിയിരുന്നു. എന്റെ കുട്ടിക്കാലത്തു, ഒരു മീന മാസക്കാലത്തു, ശബരിമല നടയിൽ കേട്ട ഒരു തായമ്പകയെ പറ്റി . ഇന്നും അത് ചെവിട്ടിൽ മുഴങ്ങുന്നു. തന്റെ വിദ്യയിൽ മാത്രമല്ല, അദ്ദേഹം ഒരു നല്ല മനുഷ്യ സ്നേഹി കൂടി ആയിരുന്നു. തങ്ക ഓപ്പോൾ (ഊരകം പടിഞ്ഞാറേ മാരത്തെ ) ഞങ്ങൾ സ്നേഹ പൂർവം വിളിച്ചിരുന്ന അദ്ദേഹത്തിന്റെ പത്നിയും നല്ല ഒരു വ്യക്തിത്വത്തിനുടമയായിരുന്നു. എന്റെ സ്നേഹ പ്രണാമം രണ്ടു പേർക്കും. ആരുടെയെങ്കിലും കൈവശം ചിതലി രാമ മാരാരുടെ തായമ്പകയുടെ റെക്കോർഡ് ഉണ്ടെങ്കിൽ ദയവായി പങ്കു വക്കുക.
ഒരിക്കലും മരിക്കാത്ത മൂന്ന് ഉപദേശങ്ങൾ!
ഇത് 2010 മാർച്ചിൽ ഫ്രാൻസിസ് കുരിശ്ശേരി അച്ഛൻ അബുദാബിയിൽ വന്നപ്പോൾ ക്രൈസ്റ്റ് കോളേജ് വിദ്യാർത്ഥികളെ അഭിസംബോധന ചെയ്തു സംസാരിച്ച ഒരു വീഡിയോ ആണ്. ഒരു ചെറിയ സുഹൃത്ത് സംഗമം. കുരിശ്ശേരി അച്ഛന്റെ ക്ലാസ്സുകളെയും കാലത്തെയും അറിയാവുന്നവർ ഇന്നും അദ്ദേഹത്തെ ഓര്മയിലും അവരുടെ വല്ലപ്പോൾ്ഴും വിളിച്ചു സംസാരിക്കാനോ കാണാനോ ഉള്ളവരുടെ പട്ടികയിൽ നിലനിർത്തുന്നുണ്ട് എന്ന വസ്തുത അദ്ദേഹത്തിന്റെ വിദ്യാര്ഥികളോടുള്ള നല്ല സമീപനത്തിന്റെ സാക്ഷ്യപത്രമാണ്.
7 കൊല്ലം കഴിഞ്ഞെങ്കിലും ആ വിഡിയോയിൽ പറഞ്ഞ വസ്തുതകൾ ഇന്നും നിലനിൽക്കുന്നു.
മുഴുവനും കണ്ടു നോക്കൂ, താല്പര്യമുള്ളവരുമായി പങ്കു വെക്കൂ.
ഒരു കണ്ണിമാങ്ങാ കാലം കൂടി!
ഈ ചിത്രം കാണുമ്പോൾ ചിലർക്കെങ്കിലും വായിൽ വെള്ളം വരും!. കൂടെ കുറെ പഴയ ഓർമകളും.
ഈയിടെയായി സമയം കിട്ടുമ്പോഴൊക്കെ നാട്ടിൽ ഓടിയെത്താൻ ശ്രമിക്കാറുണ്ട്. അത് ചിലപ്പോൾ ബാക്കി ഉള്ള സമയങ്ങളിൽ കൂടുതൽ സമയം പണിയെടുത്തും കൂടുതൽ ചുമതലകൾ ഏറ്റെടുത്തും കൂട്ടി കിഴിച്ചു കിട്ടുന്ന ഔദാര്യങ്ങൾ കൊണ്ടും ഒക്കെ ആണെന്ന് വച്ച് കൊള്ളൂ. കൂടെ പ്രധാനമായും വയസ്സായ അച്ഛന്റെയും അമ്മയുടെയും കൂടെ വിലപ്പെട്ട കുറച്ചു ദിവസ്സങ്ങൾ ചിലവഴിക്കാൻ ഉള്ള ആഗ്രഹവും.
നാട്ടിലെ ഓരോ തരി മണ്ണും, ഓരോ മുക്കും മൂലയും ഏതൊരു പ്രവാസിക്കും എന്നും എന്നും വിലപ്പെട്ടതാണ്. പ്രവാസി എന്ന് ഞാൻ ഉദ്ദേശിച്ചത് ഗൾഫിൽ ഉള്ളവരെ മാത്രം അല്ല. നമ്മുടെ സ്വന്തം നാടും വീടും വിട്ടു മാറി ജോലിക്കാര്യത്തിനായി വിട്ടു നിൽക്കേണ്ടി വരുന്ന ഏതൊരുവനും പ്രവാസി ആണ്. എവിടെയായാലും!.
ഇന്നത്തെ ബാല്യം അല്ല ഞാനും എന്റെ അതെ വയസ്സുള്ള അല്ലെങ്കിൽ അതിലും മുതിർന്ന തലമുറയുടെ ബാല്യം. ഒരുപക്ഷെ അവർക്കേ അറിയൂ, ഓര്മയുണ്ടാവൂ, ഈ ഉപ്പിലിട്ട കണ്ണിമാങ്ങയുടെ വില.
ഇന്നത്തെ തലമുറ എല്ലാ വിധത്തിലും സ്വയം പര്യാപ്തത നേടിയെന്നു അവകാശപ്പെടാം, അവകാശപ്പെടുന്നുണ്ടാവാം. അവർക്ക് ഇന്ന് എല്ലാം ഒരു മൊബൈൽ തുമ്പത്തു കിട്ടുന്ന കാലം. അപ്പോൾ അധ്വാനിച്ചു സ്വയം നേടുന്നതിന്റെ വില അറിയുമോ ആവൊ?
സമരങ്ങൾക്കായി സമയം കണ്ടെത്തുമ്പോഴും, സമയം കണ്ടെത്തി പഠിച്ചു മാർക്കു നേടുന്ന പഴയ തലമുറയും ഇപ്പോഴത്തെ പുതിയ തലമുറയും എത്ര കണ്ടു ലക്ഷ്യബോധം ഉള്ളവരാണ് എന്നുള്ളത് ചിന്തിക്കേണ്ട കാര്യം തന്നെ.
ഒരു കണ്ണിമാങ്ങാ കാലം കൂടി അനുഭവിക്കാൻ അവസ്സരം തന്ന സർവേശ്വരനോട് നന്ദി പറഞ്ഞു കൊണ്ട്, മാവിൻ ചുവട്ടിൽ വീട്ടിൽ വീണു കിടക്കുന്ന ആ കണ്ണി മാങ്ങകൾ പെറുക്കി എടുത്തു ഉപ്പിലിട്ടു തിരിച്ചു വരുമ്പോൾ എന്റെ ബാഗിൽ കൂട്ടി. കാലത്തെ പ്രാതലിനു കഞ്ഞി കുടിക്കുമ്പോൾ ഒരവസരം കൂടി തരും അത്, എന്റെ ഗ്രാമത്തെയും, ജനിച്ചു വളർന്ന നാടിനെയും, മാതാപിതാക്കളെയും, കൂട്ടുകാരെയും ഓർക്കാനായി. എന്നെന്നും ഓർക്കാനായി. ഒരിക്കലും മറക്കാതിരിക്കാനായി.
സസ്നേഹം
രമേശ് മേനോൻ
16 March 2017
Visit Al Wathba Wetland to Click & Win
Several times we go far away to see beautiful places and subjects. Many times we forget to visit the natural beauty which is close to us. Al Wathba Wetland Reserve in Abu Dhabi is one such place that UAE residents and visitors should never miss to visit.
Al Wathba is globally recognized as a national and regional hotspot for scientific research and contributes to developing the global scientific knowledge on wetland ecology and the biology of breeding resident and migratory birds of the UAE, including the flagship species, the Greater Flamingo. The reserve supports a rich array of wildlife and many globally and locally threatened wetland species. The reserve is one of the first protected areas in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi and the first to be declared as a Wetland of International Importance (Ramsar Site) under the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands.
The reserve supports a rich array of wildlife and many globally and locally threatened wetland species. Since 2011, flamingos have regularly bred in Al Wathba.
Total has extended its collaboration with EAD through a new partnership to protect and develop Al Wathba Wetland Reserve. The objectives of this partnership is to support the agency in its efforts to protect the wetlands of the Abu Dhabi region.
Environment Agency Abu Dhabi has launched Al Wathba photography competition to win a prizes up to AED 24,000. Starting from now to the 30th of April, 2017. You are encouraged to participate in it.
Al Wathba Wetland Reserve was established in 1998 by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. It was the first place in the Emirate to be designated for protection by law and was declared a Ramsar site in 2013. This means that the site has been recognized by the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance and joins a list of over 2,000 other internationally recognized wetlands around the world.
Al Wathba Wetland Reserve covers a total area of five square kilometers, comprising wetlands, sabkhas (salt flats), fossilized sands and dunes.
Despite its relatively small size, it simply teems with life. You will discover an amazing diversity here, including several endangered species who have made this their home and found shelter, protection and nourishment.
The presence of so many different habitats and types of vegetation within one compact area has attracted many different forms of life. More than 250 species of birds have been spotted, along with an abundance of aquatic life, as well as 37 plant species. Al Wathba also features a rich variety of dragon flies and damsel flies.
But its greatest and most spectacular attraction is, of course, its flamingo population. When these migratory birds fly in to spend autumn until spring here, as many as 4,000 can be counted. Even when the majority return to Central Asia for the summer months, they still leave behind a resident population which can be seen all year round. In July 2013, the Greater flamingo colony successfully hatched 231 chicks at Al Wathba.
When to visit?
Since Al Wathba Wetland Reserve is an ecologically sensitive area, visiting hours and days are limited.
The reserve is open for public on Thursdays and Saturdays from 8.00am to 2.00pm and for schools on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
What will you find there?
Recent on-site construction has made Al Wathba more visitor-friendly including a bird hide that provides easy, close-up viewing.
There are also two clearly marked walking trails, of one and a half and three kilometers respectively, which give great views of the flamingo colonies.
What species can be seen there?
There are hundreds of bird, plant and other species to be seen at Al Wathba – these are just some of them. To get more information, click on the name of the species that interest you.
– Greater flamingo
– Black winged stilt
– Spiny tailed lizard
How Do you Get There?
The reserve is squeezed between Baniyas City, Musaffah, and the Abu Dhabi Al Ain Truck Road.
AL WATHBA PHOTOGRAPHY COMPETITION
Spread the word. IT’S BACK! The “Al Wathba Photography Competition” is back for a third round starting from November 6th, 2016 to April 30th, 2017.
Snap an amazing photo and participate in the “Al Wathba Photography Competition”.
The competition will have two categories this year amateur photographers and professional photographers. Participants will get the chance to participate with one photo.
The reserve is open for the public on Thursdays and Saturdays from 8.00am to 4.00pm.
To participate in the competition, follow us on our Instagram account (@EAD_Community):http://instagram.com/EAD_community
Upload the photo with the hashtag: #capturealwathba
As a caption :“Participating in the competition”
Please read the terms and conditions of the competition. By participating, you are agreeing to the terms and conditions, the Environment Agency- Abu Dhabi will not be held responsible if the terms and conditions were not followed. All the photo that are submitted by participants in the competition will be owned by EAD and will be evaluated and uploaded with the list of all participating photo’s.
Prizes worth AED 24,000 in the forms of vouchers:
2 Categories:
Professional photographers:
First place winner – 6,000 DHS
Second place winner – 5,000 DHS
Third place winner – 4,000 DHS
Amateur photographers:
First place winner – 4,000 DHS
Second place winner – 3,000 DHS
Third place winner – 2,000 DHS
A team of qualified judges will evaluate the photos and choose the winning photos. The winners of the competition will be announced in a special event.
Best wishes to all participants.
To know more details + Click here to visit the Al Wathba Wetland Reserve website.
Photo credit: Ramesh Menon, Abu Dhabi. Text source: Al Wathba Wetland reserve site
Photo Speaks: Walking in the moonlight
It was a casual walk on last thursday evening and suddenly my phone started beeping. Looking at the messages, it was a chat conversation on whatsapp from friends in Kerala about a surprise circle surrounding the moon when they observed it from their locations in Kerala. It created a curiosity element in me and then I started walking in search of a clear location away from the tall buildings. As usual my camera was with me and hence this click and presentation. May be useful for children.
Walking in the moonlight #inabudhabi
#RameshMenonAbuDhabi
#Clicksandwrites
#PassionatePhotographers
#travelphotography
ClicksandWrites 
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