7th Sharjah Used Book Fair by Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services opens
Photo courtesy SCHS
The 7th edition of the Used Book Fair organised under the theme of “Get a book – Light a path” by the Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services (SCHS) opened on Wednesday, 26th February 2020.
Celebrating the Emirate of Sharjah as World Book Capital City, this four-day book fair offering over a million used books will be held from Feb 26-29 held at the Palm Gardens, Khalid Lake, Sharjah.
In her message, Sheikha Jamila bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, Director-General of Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services, emphasised the importance of organising the book fair coinciding to the vision of the His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohamed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah.
Consistent with the cultural, and knowledge approach which, coinciding with the vision of His Highness Dr Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, the Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services (SCHS) has been organising the fair every 2 years since 2006, reinforcing the value of a book and its importance, and also to promote the culture of reading through the community in all age categories.
In addition, it promotes the book’s value and its importance through encouraging reading and promotion and development of volunteering amongst youth.
This year the organisers have targeted a million books for display and sale.
Mr. Jehad Abed Alkader, the festival’s General Coordinator has ensured the rule of volunteering, in all stages of the book fair. Starting from preparatory works, volunteers a valuable number of people with different abilities. participate and engage in the festival’s organization and realized the importance of promoting awareness and education in community, through organizing this festival.
They all work under the directives of Her Highness Sheikha Jameela Bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, to make the Used Book Festival through perfect organisation, innovative ideas, and the increase in the number of displayed books and revenues that serves the public interest of people with special abilities and the society as well. Special attention has been taken to maintain the pricing of books in the fair between one dirham and twenty dirhams, providing an opportunity for all, to get books at nominal prices.
The first version of the festival has been launched, in April 2006. the number of books displayed in that year was 80 thousand books. Then, the number of books increased in 2007 to become (100 thousand). The number became (150 thousand) in 2009. In the fourth edition, which was in 2011, the number of books was (500,000 thousand). The number of books increased more and more in the years 2013 and 2016 to reach in 2020 more than one million books as indicated by supervisors who have been working in sorting and pricing books since months.
The Festival, will offer a wide range of cultural events, recreational programs, and various cultural activities. It considered as the first, and the largest festival of its kind in the United Arab Emirates, in aspects of its idea, and organizing.
The festival deserves every required support especially; it has a rosy picture of “The Smiling Emirate,” which works hard to ensure a decent life for all.
Undoubtedly, main goals of the festival are not financial profit; however, the proceeds of this event will be used in supporting services provided by the SCHS to people with disabilities. the process provide an opportunity to forming alternators committees, collecting books and classifying them, and it offers to its pioneers from different age and population groups to get books and provide equipping with the knowledge and culture.
Volunteers included students from Sharjah Technical College and University of Sharjah and students from Arab and foreign schools and participants from the Emirates Volunteers platform and Emirates NBD.
Thai Poosam Abu Dhabi 2020
Work is worship. True, for every expatriate. Family is devotion, more important for every human being. Balancing life between work and family and your passion is sometimes a challenge. You love to do so many things in life, but unable to do.
Never mind. I believe in keeping an attitude in my life like one gets in a cricket match for a player to get a run out or a stumping chance or a football or hockey player to score a goal in a flash.
It was one such occasion that I happened to attend. I was not planning to attend. But, ended up and then couldn’t resist leaving.
And if I attend, even if I do not have my professional equipment, use whatever I have!.
That’s what I did this weekend. Captured an entire Bhajan session by Bhajan Bharathi for Thai Poosam 2020 held at Abu Dhabi, using my mobile camera.
Enjoying watching the videos, taken through mobile, not one but two. One live on FB and other for Youtube!.
Our Story of Date Palm Trees – 2020
It’s beginning of a new year and new month and a new season too. The date palm trees have flowered. Yes, It marks the arrival of a new season. Weather is cold now, but very soon it will change and the summer will begin. You can expect hot and sunny days soon. Then in no time, the holy month of Ramadan starts. By the time Eid Al Fitr comes, these flowers on date palms would have developed and fully ripened dates will be ready.
I have been following them for the past several years. Each time they flower, it is an opportunity to remember about the past seasons. And also look forward to the future ahead.
If you have kids, take them around for a walk in the evening. Show them the changes to the trees and flowers as the flowers blossom to a fresh green date and then ripen to reddish and juicy ones.
Very few know about this hidden treasure from this part of the world. The actual date tree population in UAE is about 40 millions of which 8.5 in Al-Ain region. The gene pool is large and composes about 120 date varieties. New introductions from Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Oman included Khallas, AbouMaan, Hallawi, Khissab, Khenezi, Nabut Saif, Jabiri, Hillali, Lulu, Chichi, Khadraoui, Sakii, Sultana and Barhi varieties.
UAE produces 533,701 Metric tons of dates on an average every year.
Mark out one or two date palm trees near your home and click them as you watch these wonderful natural phenomenon happening near you. Involve your kids.
Please do share your clicks with hashtags #OurStoryofDatePalms2020 #Talentshare
Good photos taken by children will definitely get appreciated and appropriate rewards.
#F1 race ahead #InAbuDhabi
This weekend #InAbuDhabi is going to be super busy!. #EtihadAirways #AbuDhabi #GrandPrix will be held on 29 November to 1 December 2019.
The weather and ambience are perfect for every race lover and tourist in Abu Dhabi this week. The settings for the 48th UAE National Day has never been so pretty.
Watch out for some action photos and videos in the coming days.
ADNOC Abu Dhabi Marathon 2019
For some of us every day in life itself is a race. It was a beautiful experience to participate in the 1st ADNOC Abu Dhabi Marathon in 2018. As they say, when you fall in love with something, continue to love it… and it is the case for me this year as well.
I will be participating in the 2nd edition of the ADNOC Abu Dhabi Marathon to be held on Friday, 6th December 2019. A larger team from #Total will also be there along with me.
We are keen among us to find out who clocks the best time this year!.
Photo Speaks – Some connections remain life long
I very rarely take selfies, because, I am not good at it!. And photos including me, that too very rare – because, I will be the one who will be clicking always. So, if one of these happen, it obviously is with someone extra special. This time, it is with Devu…. who has been with our family, before I was born, who has been with us all along. She and her late husband Velayudhan worked for us. They had 2 kids, a boy and a girl, of the same age as my younger sister and myself… both died when they were small kids. After that, we were like their own kids for both of them. Velayudhan died long ago in a tragic accident. Devu is still around. Old age is giving her troubles to walk and move around. But her spirit to keep young and cheerful is still there!. She is not working any more, but comes home time to time. I managed to meet her this time, and it is then this click happened. Indeed, a celebrity in our life. God bless.
The below short story in Malayalam will describe life in those days:
https://atomic-temporary-88500520.wpcomstaging.com/…/08/18/യാരുക്കാകെ-യാരുക്കാകെ-…/
Photo Speaks – Festival of Lights
It was something special to witness this Festival of Lights at Kodungallur during this Navarathri.
#KodungallurTemple
#Chandrayan2
The distance covered with the distance to cover is within the reach of those who try.
We will be there soon….
Congratulations to #TeamISRO – #Chandrayan2 is a success and #India wins.
As a #PassionatePhotographer, I know how difficult is to click a perfect photo of moon. We congratulate your hard work and dedication and sure that your continued efforts will find success soon.
@rameshmenonauh
Photo ©rameshmenonabudhabi@gmail.com
Sushma Swaraj was a great ambassador for our country
Swaraj’s death is a huge loss to all of us. She was the best external affairs minister we could ever dream for.
She was also an approachable person. During her visit to address the Indian community in the UAE at an event held in the Indian Social and Cultural Centre in Abu Dhabi, she let each and every attendee who wanted to take a photograph with her do so without so much as a murmur.
Her death has left a vacuum that will be difficult to fill.
Ramesh Menon, Abu Dhabi
Had stopped writing my opinion in The Letters section of newspaper for sometime. This was an instance, I couldn’t resist. Because @SushmaSwaraj was one twitter account that we all could tweet and be sure to get a response with solutions to any problems addressed. Once again, may her soul rest in peace.
(My note in The Letters to the Editor of The National newspaper of tomorrow – Back to letter writing days and columns!).
ClicksandWrites 
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