Gulf News

Fasting can improve your health – Gulf News Dt. 29 Jue 2014

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Fasting can improve your health

It will be a good idea for non-Muslims to experience a day of fasting followed by iftar
•             By Ramesh Menon
•             Published: 16:08 June 28, 2014

It is a divine time to become engaged in the community by investing time, skills or other resources at a personal level. It is highly important that people abide by the dress code policy especially during Ramadan, as many visitors remain unaware of the cultural sensitivities of the country.
Malls, hotels, buses, taxis, train and airline centres should put up flyers, to remind people of the courtesy policies during Ramadan. Many tourists coming from Western countries are not aware of the dress code policies and as a result, they might end up touring the country wearing shorts or sleeveless shirts during Ramadan, unaware that this might disturb the people observing the holy month.
It will be useful to spread knowledge on how to keep healthy while keeping to religious obligations. Healthy fasting during Ramadan is of prime importance as people tend to get more obese and diabetic due to irregular eating and overeating after ending their fast. Fasting during Ramadan can improve a person’s health, but if a correct diet is not followed, it can possibly worsen your condition. Therefore, the important factor is not the fast itself, but rather what is consumed in the non-fasting hours.
Non-muslims should be considerate to the feelings of those who are fasting. For those who are new to the country, remember that eating, drinking and smoking in public during Ramadan is forbidden as Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset during this time. It shows a lack of sensitivity if some people eat while others fast for over 17 hours. Don’t play loud music because neighbours could be fasting and/or resting.
             
It will be a good idea for non-muslims to experience a day of fasting followed by an iftar.
I am sure this will give a chance to learn self-restraint and will highlight the importance of caring and sharing.
Also, due to environmental changes, it will be the same time the date palm trees will be ready for harvesting the ripened dates, the nation’s hidden wealth.
Both join together as a double sign of good days ahead and let the country prosper in all ways.
To read it in original, please visit Gulf News Online

This entry was posted in Daily Ramadan thoughts, Gulf News, HSE, Letters to the editor, Mind Speaks, Opinion 2014.

Garnering support – Letters to the Editor – Gulf News 27 June 2014

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Garnering support
It is impressive and highly promising to note the increased production forecast for UAE farm produce in the coming season (‘10,000 tonnes more vegetables grown at Abu Dhabi farms,’ Gulf News, June 23). The effort and amount of technology expertise added with financial support is huge and each of the participating farmers should be highly praised to keep the interest in the field of agriculture ongoing.
With the weather conditions not in favour, it is of great importance to encourage more people to come forward and actively participate in agriculture that suits the nation. With regards to garnering additional support, the produce should be allocated to special areas at all the leading supermarkets and be given prominence in terms of pricing and marketing.
From Mr Ramesh Menon
Abu Dhabi

To read it in original, please visit, GULF NEWS online.

This entry was posted in Gulf News, Letters to the editor, Mind Speaks, Opinion 2014, UAE.

Letters: on – 10,000 tonnes more vegetables grown at Abu Dhabi farms

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10,000 tonnes more vegetables grown at Abu Dhabi farms

It is impressive and highly promising to note the increased production forecast for UAE farm produce in the coming season. The effort and amount of technology expertise added with financial support is huge and each of the participating farmers should be highly praised to keep the interest in the field of agriculture ongoing with sustained interest. With the weather conditions not in favor and with all the global warming issues kept in mind, it is of great importance to encourage more locals to come forward and actively participate in agriculture that suits the nation. In order to garner additional support, the produce should be allocated a special corners at all the leading supermarkets and be given prominence in terms of pricing and marketing. Wherever there is lack of water supply identified, it should be complemented with alternate source of water supply to keep the interest sustained.

To read it in original, please visit Gulf News online.

This entry was posted in Gulf News, Letters to the editor, Mind Speaks.

Reader picture of the day – Rare sighting – Gulf News – 30th April 2014

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This entry was posted in Gulf News, Letters to the editor, Opinion 2014, Passionate Photographers, Photo Speaks.

Don’t be oblivious – Letters to the editor – Gulf News – 20.04.2014

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Don’t be oblivious
Last week, I witnessed a horrendous sight during lunch time at a parking spot in Electra Street, Abu Dhabi. From experience, I have always had the belief that drivers on our roads are and always will tend to be careless towards the safety of themselves and other living beings. This was confirmed when I was leaving from an apartment and noticed blood and crushed body parts of some small animals.
A closer look at the area really made me feel sad, as I found three kittens that had been run over and were breathing their last, thanks to a driver who had parked in the location, and then driven off, without any care. There was no one in the vicinity when I approached the kittens and I was having a hard time moving the two living felines out of danger by myself. By the time I brought a small supporting platform to lift one kitten and place it safely on the pavement, another driver came in a rush and ran over the remaining kitten! Convincing him to move his vehicle and taking the injured kitten to a suitable place and caretaker was not an easy task.
I wish our drivers cared a bit more about their surroundings, and paid attention not only to the road but also the obstacles they might come across the whole time they are on the wheel.
World Safety Day is on April 28. Let ‘Safety first’ be our motto – for all living beings.
From Mr Ramesh Menon
Abu Dhabi

Gulf News – 20th April 2014
To read it in original, please visit Gulf News online

This entry was posted in Gulf News, HSE, Letters to the editor, Mind Speaks, Opinion 2014, Road Safety, Safety First.

“Start Early, Drive Carefully, Reach Safely” Safety First campaign

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“Start Early, Drive Carefully, Reach Safely” Safety First campaign through http://www.clicksandwrites.blogspot.com
Special Message @ Gulf News live coverage of IPL T20 2014 from Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi.

16th April 2014

This entry was posted in Gulf News, HSE, Letters to the editor, Mind Speaks, Opinion 2014, Road Safety, Safety First.

Evicted Indian family living in lobby in Dubai – Gulf News – 09 April 2014

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Evicted Indian family living in lobby in Dubai

It is very sad to see and read these stories coming up often through your columns. Thank god, at least for this person, the credit card debt is only 90K, compared to others who listed in similar situations. Both this and the rental dues could be talked out and sorted out or reduced with the help of experts willing to assist. I am sure, he will be able to sort out things with the help of compassionate readers and take his family back home for better and economical treatment to recover. Hope things will turn around positive for him and he can take care of his wife’s treatment back home and education of his children too. An example of Gulf News’s CSR commitments to the society. My salute to the team who brought out this story and to all those who came forward to assist.

Ramesh Menon, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

To read the related article and my reply in original, please visit GULF NEWS online

This entry was posted in Gulf News, Letters to the editor, Mind Speaks, Opinion 2014.

‘Beware when clicking your camera in UAE’ – Gulf News Dt. 03rd April 2014

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Abu Dhabi: Residents across the UAE are finding themselves on the wrong side of the law because they do not realise that they’ve unwittingly committed a cybercrime, leading judicial experts said in the capital on Wednesday.
A simple act such as taking a picture of a bystander or a friend without their permission and sharing it through social media could be construed as a crime in a court of law, Dr Omar Al Ghoul, a judge at the UAE Federal Courts, told Gulf News.
“These sorts of seemingly simple crimes are a result of the increasing proliferation of smartphone use, and the public’s general lack of awareness on the UAE’s stance on internet use,” he said.
“The use of the internet has grown in the UAE to such an extent that, in some legal cases, it is being treated as an addiction, and ‘patients’ are referred to rehabilitation facilities,” Dr Al Ghoul added.

Continue to read at GULF NEWS online.


Very important information for all those who love to click at random. The rules are not clear so that one is always in two minds whether or where to click. It is always good to take permission in advance before clicking pictures of strangers, especially women and children. A good reminder to all.

Ramesh Menon, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

This entry was posted in Gulf News, Letters to the editor, Mind Speaks, Opinion 2014, Photo Speaks, UAE.

Grating at Jebel Hafeet needs repairs – Gulf News Dt. 30 March 2014

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Grating at Jebel Hafeet needs repairs
Reader is concerned about the safety of people visiting and littering at the same time
Ramesh Menon  Gulf News reader Published: 17:30 March 29, 2014

•             Image Credit: Ramesh Menon
•             A grill has fallen down at Jebel Hafeet and is a hazard.
On my visit to Jebel Hafeet, Al Ain a few days ago, I found a series of safety and environmental hazards.
One section of the grill near the restaurant is broken and taken down by some people. This gives a dangerous opportunity to those people who are passionate about taking group photographs and venture to the edge.
While I was there, I saw a group of people taking seriously dangerous steps and clicking photographs without thinking of the danger ahead of them, if they slip.
I also found many venturing to the steep mountain ahead and trekking. With rain and strong winds, these pathways are dangerous and accidents can happen any time. There are also possibilities for other hidden dangers of the unknown kind. And it does not end there. Those who venture out throw plastic cans and bottles.
I humbly request the authorities to take urgent measures to close the grills and install necessary signboards to keep the area clean at all times.
The reader is based in Abu Dhabi.

Be a community reporter. Tell us what is happening in your community. Send us your videos and pictures at readers@gulfnews.com
To read it in original, please visit GULF NEWS online.

This entry was posted in Gulf News, HSE, Letters to the editor, Mind Speaks, Opinion 2014, Safety First.

An inspiring story – Gulf News Dt. 28-03-2014

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An inspiring story.

I consider myself lucky to have visited the final day of the Abilities ME Exhibition and Conference, the first of its kind that offers support for the provision of education and awareness to people with special needs and disabilities. There were many interesting presentations and stalls. However, one young and vibrant person offering visitors an explanation about her stall caught my attention. She was Nilofar Saleem. A few years ago, I had met her when she was a student at Manzil, a centre for special needs in Sharjah. Then I met her at the same centre, when she became a staff member. Now, four years later, I was meeting her at this exhibition. I noticed several changes in her attitude. She was more confident and put on her trademark smile when I approached her. She is a person with global development delay (a person diagnosed with having a lower intellectual functioning than what is perceived as normal). Once she recognised me, she told me all about her new job and life. She now works with one of the leading banks in the UAE that has supported her to develop into a self sufficient young individual. It is an inspiring example of how an institution can groom an individual to become a breadwinner for a family and look ahead in life. How many organisations would be willing to support individuals like Saleem to find a firm footing in life?

From Mr Ramesh Menon Abu Dhabi

This entry was posted in Gulf News, Letters to the editor, Manzil, Mind Speaks, Opinion 2014.