Tag Archives: entertainment
Public decency drive to continue during Ramadan
Public decency drive to continue during Ramadan Afkar Abdullah / 28 June 2013 The Sharjah Police will continue the public decency awareness campaign to curb objectionable practices and behaviour like wearing of skimpy outfits and eve-teasing during the holy month of Ramadan. The police would target youth who indulge in eve-teasing in shopping centres and malls, a top officer said. The police would not tolerate those who indulge in activities that threaten the society or any other act that violates the culture, tradition and religion of the emirates. Police patrols would be deployed around shopping centres and commercial and residential areas in all parts of Sharjah. “The visitors and residents of Sharjah should respect the emirate’s rules and its society,” he said. He said the decency campaign had achieved its goals in Sharjah during the last two years, as the number of such crimes dropped. “The initiatives taken by the Sharjah Police in educating the public about this particular law had played a great role in ensuring safety and peace in the emirate for all residents. He said that some diplomatic missions in Dubai have joined the emirate’s police to encourage expatriate residents from their countries to strictly abide by all laws and regulations pertaining to the dress code, decency and public conduct. afkarali@khaleejtimes.com Continue reading
Prayers as Nelson Mandela remains critical
Prayers as Nelson Mandela remains critical (Agencies) / 28 June 2013 South Africans prayed and waited as the condition of ailing anti-apartheid leader Nelson Mandela continued to be critical, forcing President Jacob Zuma to cancel a trip to neighbouring Mozambique. Zuma had been due to attend a summit in Maputo of the Southern African Development Community to discuss regional infrastructure, but pulled out after visiting the 94-year-old former president in hospital late on Wednesday. But a government statement said Mandela’s condition improved overnight and is now “stable” while still critical. The statement followed a visit by President Zuma — his second in the past 24 hours — to the anti-apartheid hero in a Pretoria hospital, where he is being treated for a lung infection. “He is much better today than he was when I saw him last night. The medical team continues to do a sterling job,” Zuma said in a statement released by his office. US President Barack Obama said Nelson Mandela was a “hero for the world” whose legacy would live on throughout the ages. “He is a personal hero. I think he is a hero for the world, and if and when he passes from this place, one thing I think we all know is that his legacy is one that will linger on throughout the ages,” Obama said in Senegal. Continue reading
Be Somebody to inspire the world
Be Somebody to inspire the world Sarah Young / 28 June 2013 Inspirational graffiti is now gracing the walls of Dubai, thanks to an American team undertaking a whirlwind, paint-splashing tour through 15 cities in 11 countries. A team of four have bought the slogan from the social media motivation movement “Be Somebody” to two walls in the Al Quoz art district, Al Serkal Avenue. The brainchild of Kash Shaikh, who worked for nine years building brands for Proctor and Gamble and camera company GoPro, and Josh Heuser, founder of Agar, a culture-creating marketing and social intelligence agency in the US, the six-week self-funded tour started on May 25 in Austin, Texas, and will finish in San Francisco on July 4. Besomebody.com was started by Shaikh who began using the hashtag #besomebody in 2009. The blog now claims to be the fastest-growing online motivation movement in the world, with content reaching 3 million people each week in 30 countries. Following visits to 10 cities including New York, London, Paris, Barcelona, Casablanca, and Shirati, Tanzania, the group reached Dubai, the sole Middle Eastern venue, on Monday evening and left again on Wednesday night. The idea came about after Shaikh saw the phrase tagged on an overpass in his home town Houston, Texas. “Any time someone saw that they’d take a picture and send it to me. I had hundreds in my inbox.” Captured by the idea of “tagging the world”, and bringing together social media and street art, Shaikh and Heuser brought on renowned Cincinnati-based graffiti artist Danny Babcock to create these “punch in the gut” pieces to “inspire people to do what they want to do”, and filmmaker Matthew “Snow” Rowe to document the journey. Shaikh said Dubai was one of the places they were most excited to reach. “It’s an emblem of imagination and innovation. We’ve come here when the art scene is really taking off. “I spent three months living in Dubai two years ago and really noticed the lack of art scene…your first impression of the town is very sci-fi, plastic and metal…so it’s really cool to do this and show a different side of Dubai. “A lot of progress has been made. “One thing we don’t want to do is bring to life stereotypical parts of Dubai…the over-indulgence and luxury. We want to take the true and positive behind that….no limits and pushing further than people have dreamed to push … This place is a fantasy land.” With between 36 and 72 hours in each location, the team has to find a wall and some paint, and then get cracking on a piece relating to a city-specific theme. Dubai posed unique challenges of “highly expensive paint”, and burning heat, meaning the team had to work all hours of the night and early morning. Luckily, arrest was avoided given they were able to do it on private property. “It was a pleasant surprise finding this oasis of art in Dubai, and …people so open and welcoming. It fights back against that stereotype that you can’t do this in Dubai.” Dubai’s theme was imagination, to link to the World Expo 2020 aspirations, and engage the community to connect and build the future together. Babcock, who likens the process to hip hop in that he freestyles his creations on the spot, said the phrase “success and excess” was running through his head while working here. “Everything (here) is done in a creative way …. even if it’s built fast. “It takes imagination to be that successful to excess. “And you’re in the middle of a desert, so everything has to be creative. What is imagination, if not creating and bringing to life.” Al Serkal developer Abdelmonem Bin Eisa Alserkal said Alserkal Avenue had always been a home to independent projects, initiatives and ideas. “#besomebody is a wonderful global movement dedicated to engage the community and we are glad to be a part of it.” Shaikh said the UAE had by far the most Be Somebody followers in the Middle East, with most aged between 15 and 30, and was one of the top 12 countries using BeSomebody. “People here understand what we are trying to do. “This is exciting because this age-group can really drive change and movements. So much has happened in this region with the Arab Spring …and the next step is people looking at striving for something positive.” sarah@khaleejtimes.com Continue reading
