Dec 21---being polite?

We spoke for 2 hours about how our world seems to be on the edge of being an impolite haven.
We have a lot of excuses for being rude.
Some even say to be rude is a sign of stature! WOW.
But there is no substitute for a thank you and a smile.
So why are we so impolite?

Dec 16---Citizen Journalism and Books

Do we trust citizen journalism? To get an idea of what it is all about read this.

We also talked about why we need books.

December 15---india and zimbabwe

Hour one we spoke about the right to food in India.

Hour two we revisited Zimbabwe.

December 14--- Government and Investing.

Hour one we spoke to Nabil Ali Alyousuf the Director General of The Executive Office of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, United Arab
Emirates Vice President, Prime Minister, and Ruler of Dubai.

His current duties in his capacity as a Director General include leading the
development of Dubai Strategic plan, designing and implementing policies and programs that aim at enhancement of the public sector in Dubai and development of initiatives to improve the competitiveness of the national workforce in the labor market.
He is currently the Chairman of Dubai Institute for Human Resource Development, Executive
President of Dubai School of Government, Director of Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Award for Arab Management, and Vice Chairman of the Arab Strategy Forum.

WWW.DSG.AE

We spoke about the culture of government in the UAE, Educating for for government and the future.

In hour 2 we spoke to Edward Roderick about ENVESTORS.

Ww spoke about angel investing and how it might be the way to think about a balanced investment portfolio today, if you are a sophisticated investor!

Dec 10---Arab Art Scene.

Charlie Pocock of the Meem Gallery joins us for a conversation about the state of the art industry and where it is going.

December 9---Responsible Consumption

Annelies Hodge joined us for 2 hours to talk about the idea of responsible consumption, very cool!

December 8---Haj and an Eid Home Business.

Hour 1 we talked about the Haj.

Hour 2 we spoke about the RAYHANAH project during Eid in the UAE.

You can contact RAYHANAHbite@gmail.com or go to RAYHANAH on facebook for more information!

Dec 3=====education needs what?

Mishal Kanoo and I had a lively talk about what education really needs today. My thoughts are simple, more application of content to the real world!

Education is an individual activity, yet when we get into the business world the success of a company is seldom due to one person!

Yet we are never taught or directed on how to actually work together!

Then we had a romp around the idea that maybe we are a bit too negative! As a population! Globally.

Food for thought!

Dec 2---UAE National Day

We spoke about UAE National Day.

December 1---Sharjha banning 86 professions from driving.

We had an interesting conversation about the driving permit ban that will be pushed through in Sharjha!

Great idea came out of 2 hours of conversation, why are the governments and organisations int he UAE not using NIGHTLINE as a live focus group?

FROM THE BBC.

Emirate car ban on menial workers

Sharjah skyline" border="0" vspace="0" width="226" height="170" hspace="0"> the poor state of public transport in the emirate may compound the problems caused bythe ban

Sharjah, one of the seven emirates that make up the UAE, is to bar workers in certain jobs from applying for driving licenses, a newspaper has reported.

The ban will cover 86 categories of mainly menial jobs - including cooks, housemaids, gardeners, and tailors.

It was brought in by Sharjah's police traffic department to curb congestion and pollution, the report says.

The United Arab Emirates have one of the highest ratios of car ownership to population in the world.

The report, which appeared in the Gulf News daily newspaper, was linked to from Sharjah's official police website.

The impact of the ban on workers may be compounded by the poor state of public transport in the emirate.

Many, if not most, of those hit by the driving ban will be foreign workers in low-paid, unskilled jobs.

The report said driving licence applications would still be accepted from those with university degrees.

The UEA is heavily dependent on foreign labour to fill positions which locals have not traditionally filled.

Expatriates make up 84% per cent of the United Arab Emirate's 5.6 million population, often sending remittances home to boost family income.

Sharjah's move comes in the wake of a decision by the other emirates to shelve a plan which would have banned all vehicles over 20 years old.

No official reason was given for the change of mind, but it is thought that the impact of the global economic downtown may have played into it.

Nov 30--- MUMBAI Reactions from Dubai.

Riz Khan of Al Jazeera, Pranaay Gupte and you join us to talk about your reaction and hope from the Mumbai attacks.

Movember 26th

The Mo is looking great!

NOV 26--Mishal Kanoo and James Talk Happy!

We also spoke about the recession, Dubai and business.

Where is the leadership?

We need a happiness reboot I suspect!

Nov 25---Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe, listen to the show!

What are our leaders doing to en d this crisis?

Anything would be better today's intervention.

"We don't want another Iraq..." was the response of one caller.

Hmmmm... maybe that type of intervention would actually work!

Nov 24---Aid and HIV---talking docs

We had an interesting conversation with Dr. Nada Al-Marzouqi, National HIV/AIDS program manager for the Ministry of Health.

We spoke about AIDS and the UAE.

HIV.INFO.UAE@Gmail.com

Eduardo Blanco has been diagnosed with HIV and joined us on the phone from the UK.

In hour 2 we spoke with Dr. Yashoda Ravi, Dr. Indubaala Sukumaar and Dr. Anand about medicine and the doctor patient relationship.

Nov 23---WARC

We were joined by Khadija Faramarzi "K" & Shaima Al Sayed "no name yet" for a conversation about the Woman Auto Racing Club and the Unity Drive December 2nd!

In hour 2 we went into more detail about the Unity Drive and how it will bring attention to Breast Cancer Awareness from one end of the UAE to the other!

movember

Hi All,

During Movember (the month formerly known as November) I'm growing a Moustache. That's right I'm bringing the Mo back because I'm passionate about tackling men's health issues and being proactive in the fight against prostate cancer.

To donate to my Mo you can either:

Click this link https://www.movember.com/ca/donate/donate-details.php?action=sponsorlink&rego=1440241&country=ca and donate online using your credit card or PayPal account.

Donations are tax deductible to the extent permitted by law.

The money raised by Movember is donated directly to the Prostate Cancer Research Foundation of Canada who will use the funds to create awareness and fund research across the country into prevention, detection and treatment, with a goal to ending the threat of prostate cancer.

Did you know:

• Every year around 24,700 Canadian men are diagnosed with prostate cancer and about 4,300 die of the disease, making it the number one cancer threat to Canadian men.
• 1 in 7 men will develop prostate cancer in their lifetime.
• All men over the age of 40 are potentially at risk and should talk to their doctor about the disease and early detection. Prostate cancer is 95% curable if detected and treated early.

For those that have supported Movember in previous years you can be very proud of the impact it has had and can check out the details at: [Fundraising Outcomes].

Thanks for your support,

James

Movember Foundation
Changing the face of men's health
www.movember.com

Nov 18---Afghanistan to UAE Space Race!

Hour One we spoke to Adrian Edwards the UN Director of Communication and Public Information in Afghanistan.

Hour two we spoke to Mr Ahmed Obaid Al Mansoori about the UAE, space and science!

Nov 17---RTA and www.bizreprttv.com

Mr. Abdul Mohsin Ibrahim A. Younes Member of the Board of Directors RTA and CEO of Strategy and Corporate Governance,joined us in hour 1. We had a great conversation about what the RTA is doing and why.

John Robins joined us in hour 2 to talk about www.bizreporttv.com. We learn about ideas, corp comm, film making and the quest for making it happen!

JAMES and MOVEMBER

Movember is really coming on!
Care to make a donation?
Follow the link below! Click and give!
http://ca.movember.com/mospace/1440241

nov 16---food and a good rant

We had a go at the food crisis and then we had a good rant on customer service!

nov 12---pirates,remebrance,finances

Frank Kennedy spoke to us about remembering the great war 90 years on. We also spoke about marine safety.

In hour 2 Sanjay Tolani, a member of the million dollar round table group, joined us to talk about what you and i should be doing as this economic crisis unfolds.

Nov 11---Congo

Mr. Jaya Moorthy a communication specialist with INICEF made it possible to speak to a rape and beating survivor in the Congo.

Very emotional but a must listen program!

Nov 10---How we eat!

We spoke about healthy eating and how bad we parents are at feeding our children in a manner that is actually good for their future!

Ahlaam Ali from Powereat spoke with us.

Ahlaam is the founder of Fitness Quotient – FZC and the creator of the Powwer™ Eat and Powwer™ Bhangra concepts. Ahlaam had a vision and that was to create a Fitness and Nutrition based Transformation Company that would empowwer people to get fit and healthy in a fun and sustainable way.

Today the fabulously creative and passionate team at Fitness Quotient has indeed empowered its members to drastically change their lifestyles for the better. With the introduction of Powwer™ Eat Online, the services provided by Fitness Quotient - FZC are not just restricted to within the UAE but now stretches further afield including the UK, US and the Indian subcontinent.

Ahlaam holds an International Diploma in Nutrition from the School of Natural Health Sciences in the UK. She is also a member of the International College of Holistic Medicine also based in the UK.

Ahlaam is extremely passionate about enabling members to transform their lives in a holistic and sustainable way. All the various product offerings created by Ahlaam are in direct response to market needs and have therefore proven to be extremely successful!

Message from Ahlaam:

“Living a healthy lifestyle is a mind set. It is about getting to that mindset before you hit the rocky road with various ailments. Also lets not forget leading a healthy lifestyle does not mean you can never again have that slice of pizza. It is about being healthy 80% of the time whilst allowing yourself to be naughty 20% of the time. This is, of course, once you have achieved your goal weight and eliminated any outstanding ailments!! If you have made up your mind to create a new you, the healthy way, and that Switch has Definitely Flicked then congratulations!! You have made this choice as an investment in yourself!! Give one of our team members a call and we will take over from there!!” We also spoke to Lester Owencroft of Lunchboxes and found out that there is hope here! Brought to you by two market leading organizations based right here in Dubai, LunchBoxes.ae provides a unique and exciting online culinary service specially designed to be simple and hassle-free for parents but fun and healthy for children. Citychef LLC and Janell Marketing Consultancy joined forces with a mission to make a difference to everyone's lives in the UAE and to help you create healthy, diverse and nutritious lunchboxes for you child which we then deliver direct to their classroom every day. CityChef is a five-star HACCP Certified catering company that serves the culinary needs of leading establishments, local organizations, royal & international celebrities, cruise liners and airlines. They also cater for large corporate events, mega functions and private parties across the UAE. Headed by Zouhair Harkous, his team of international chefs and state-of-the-art kitchen facilities make it possible for Citychef LLC to satisfy its clients with gastronomic delights of vast diversity. Citychef is part of the CG Group, a conglomerate of ISO certified companies that has been providing an entire spectrum of world-class services in this region since its inception in 1994. What started as a single company devoted to providing security systems has today turned into an international organisation with business interests covering as diverse areas as gourmet catering, comprehensive security solutions, selling and installing security systems, fire & gas protection, electromechanical & power generation, powered access services and facility services, security-services and many other activities in diverse industries. Citychef is a dynamic, forward thinking business entity, that is responsive to its customers needs, creative in its pursuits, leader in its markets and family to its employees. Janell Marketing Consultancy (formerly known as Blue Diamond Management Consultancies), is a specialist marketing organization based in Dubai and headed by Lester Owencroft. He and his team have more than 15 years experience working across the diverse cultures of the UK, South Africa, Australia, Singapore, Hong Kong and more recently the UAE. They focus on the design and delivery of specialist marketing strategies that help bridge the gap across multicultural divides.

Nov 10---World Economic Forum and Id Cards

We talked about the Emirates ID Cards and about the World Economic Forum in Dubai!

November----4 Emirates Medical Association

Dr. Ali Al-Numairy president, Dr. Jaasim Khalfan Humaid vice president and Dr. Mustafa Al Hashimi treasurer speak about medical issues in the UAE.

Nov 3---US Election from Dubai

Dubai is asked how it would vote!

It is Obama all the way!

Nov 2===UAE Nationals Working

Mr Abdul Muttalib Al Hashimi of www.nextlevel.ae joined us to talk about the need for UAE Nationals in the workplace.

Oct 29---Unicef and Jenny Hamdan on communication.

We spoke about why people do or do not jump into humanitarian roles these days... no clear answers here!

Hour 2 we spoke to Jenny Hamdan about communication in the family and how it can go very wrong!

Oct 28---TA talks public transportation

Mr. Essa Al Dosari the CEO of the RTA Dubai's Public Transport Agency talks about where we are and where we are going with public transportation in Dubai.

oct 27---women and marketing

We spoke about marketing to women!

Can we men really market to women?

Oct 26---Hour 2 George Walker

Mr. George Walker former director general of the IB organisation spoke to us about education for the real world!

George Walker (professor)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

(Redirected from Professor George Walker)

Jump to: navigation, search

This article is part of the International Baccalaureate series.

IB programmes: Primary Years Programme Middle Years Programme Diploma Programme

Institutions: The IBO United World Colleges

Lists: IB people IB schools DP schools MYP schools PYP schools

IBDP curriculum: Group 1 subjects Group 2 subjects Group 3 subjects Group 4 subjects Group 5 subjects Group 6 subjects Extended Essay Theory of Knowledge Creativity, Action, Service

Professor George Walker (born 25 January 1942) is a British educator, and the former director-general of the International Baccalaureate Organisation. He is also a productive author of articles and other works regarding international education and physical chemistry.^[1]

Walker has studied chemistry at Oxford University, and music at the University of Cape Town in South Africa. He has worked as a schoolteacher and headmaster at several UK state schools, as well as a lecturer on education at the University of York. Between 1987 and 1988, he served as a member of the UK National Curriculum science working party. Between 1991 and 1999, he worked as the head of the International School of Geneva, the oldest and largest international school in the world. In 1999, he was appointed director-general of the IBO.

Walker has since retired as head of the IBO, and has been replaced in office by Jeffrey Beard as of 2006.

[edit] Bibliography

• To Educate the Nations (2002)
• To Educate the Nations 2 (2004)

[edit] References

1. ^ Who's Who 2008. London: A & C Black.

[edit] External links

• George Walker's weblog - Professor George Walker's official blog.

oct 26--- hour 1 Carl Hodges

Carl Hodges of the Sea Water Foundation spoke to us about the rising sea levels and how we can use this!

oct 21---global warming scam?

Hans Schreuder, www.ilovemaycarbondioxide.com, joined Saad Lotfy, an expert in sustainability and environmental science, to talk about the science of global warming.

Is it a scam?

Has Al Gore fooled us?

Is the science a mess?

Who can we believe?

Oct 20---raymond hamden on terrorism

We had an amazing conversation with Dr. Reymond Hamden about the psychology of terrorism.

Very quickly we discovered that the ability to separate politics from the equation is very difficult.
But we do need to think long and hard about who and what a terrorist is the answers are not cut and dry.

oct 20---technology

Gitex is back in Dubai and the question that was on my mind was do we really need the technology that is being thrown at us?

oct 19--- hour 2

MOVEMBER is here and Nicole Betts joined us in studio to talk about why this is a big deal and why she is involved.

Adam one of the original MoBrothers answered his phone in California and said that 70% of people donating to this cause are women!

Hmmmm...

Become a mobrother!

oct 19 hour 1

In hour one of the program we spoke about the study done by Al Wasl hospital staff with respect to parents and child safety seats.

60% of mothers believe they will not be in an accident and thus think holding a child is safe!

The callers were great, listen to the podcast, there is no shortage of goodwill here!

Some suggest there is a cultural element here, I think that is a load of trash no parent want to possibly have to bury a child.

oct 15---hour 2 public private partnerships

So increasingly we are living in an age where the cost of education is extortion and this cost cannot necessarily be mat by the state alone! But what about the expertise to bring the best education to a nation? Do all states have the intellectual infrastructure to make the allow the education complex to thrive?

Margaret Corcoran from the School Improvement Partnership joins us for a lively discussion.

Oct 15--- hour 1 discrimination

Hour one was devoted to a conversation about institutional discrimination in the UAE!
How can business ask a women if she is going to get pregnant before they hire her?
How can we hire based on age or colour?
How can we pay people for equal work different wages based on colour and nationality?
Yet multinationals here in the UAE do this!
Why?

Oct 14---Archeology

Dr. Emma Thompson of the Sharjha Archeology museum joined us to talk about why this field of study is important to us all!

Oct 14---Architecture.

Mr Rashad Mohammed Bukhash Director of Dubai Municipality's Department of Architectual Heritage talked about the state of Dubai's architecture.
All may not be as it seems.

Oct 13---Susan Macaulay

We spoke about www.amazingwomenrock.com! Check it out!

oct 13---rta

Mr. Abdul Majid Al Khaja the CEO of the Rail Agency joined us in studio to talk about the master plan for Dubai transportation!

Oct 12----entrepeneurship

http://www.strath.ac.uk/huntercentre
/


We spoke to Professors Sara Carter and Colin Eden about entrepreneurship, women and the role of the MBA today. Ranjit Gajendra also commented on the Strathclyde program in the UAE and abroad.

Oct 12----Back2School Festival

In hour one we spoke with Mel Curtis, principle of JPS, Mat Lecuyer head of year 6 @ JPS, Charlotte Grieves and Ron Malonga a music teacher at DAA.

We spoke about the Back2School festival that GEMS and CSM have pulled together for October 17th!

This exciting event will be held on October 17th at Dubai Festival City. This event is a first for this region, and brings a unique addition to Centre Stage Management’s (CSM) festival portfolio. This is an event created by the youth, for the youth. CSM have recognized the need to organize an event, that specifically caters for the often overlooked and ignored 18 and under age group and it will combine international entertainment, exciting games and GEMS schools. Students at the GEMS schools are currently voting for the international musical artist that they would like to see perform on the main stage at this unique event, and you can also vote here on the left panel. We have also created many unique competitions with huge prizes, many of which include the chance to perform live, in front of thousands, on the main stage at the festival. We are also offering unique mentorship programmes, where participants can work alongside and learn from key Industry professionals, on how to create, manage and run a certain position in a company. This event is also open to non GEMS pupils; 18 and under? Come on down. This is your festival and your chance to make it the event of the year.

oct 8---jazz

In hour one Mohammed Al Ansari and myself spoke about environmental issues and whether or not we are really tuned in.

In hour 2 Kamal Musallam a jazz artist, here in the UAE, joined us to play and talk about jazz.

Listen to the podcast!

oct 7---clean up naif

We had a rip roaring talk about the 500 dirham fine to be imposed on those who cause minor accidents in Abu Dhabi and then we moved on to spit!

How do we get the spit on the street culture to end?

Or as Steve suggested do we really want this piece of the fabric of the nation to dry up?

Oct 6--hour 2 Dr. Ali Al Numairy Plastic Surgery

Dr. Ali Al Numairy, President of the UAE Plastic Surgery Society joined us for a conversation about the state of the profession.

Oct 6----hour 1 Selective Mutism.

May Assaaf joined us in a conversation about SELECTIVE MUTISM.

http://www.selectivemutism.org/about-smg/who-we-are

What is Selective Mutism (SM)?

Selective mutism (SM), formerly called elective mutism, is best understood as a childhood anxiety disorder characterized by a child or adolescent's inability to speak in one or more social settings (e.g., at school, in public places, with adults) despite being able to speak comfortably in other settings (e.g., at home with family).

Affected individuals understand language use and, although they have the physical and cognitive ability to speak, they demonstrate a persistent inability to speak in particular settings over a particular period of time due to anxiety. This differs from the developmentally appropriate behavior of a child with limited speaking and social interaction behaviors during the first month of school or daycare when he or she is adjusting to a new social environment with peers and teachers. SM also differs from shyness, which is a socially adaptable personality trait.

To meet diagnostic criteria, the child or adolescent with SM shows significant impairment in daily functioning, typically in educational or occupational settings, and by refraining from social participation at school and other settings due to a pronounced fear of speaking. Most affected children and adolescents function normally in other ways and learn age appropriate skills; however, some may have other comorbid anxiety disorders, developmental delays such as impaired social skills, and communication disorders in addition to SM.

Oct 5----UAE Culture

Is it possible that UAE culture is being swamped by expat influences?

Or is the issue simply globalisation?

Expats and nationals alike are asking the question about how to deal with UAE culture.

http://www.thenational.ae/article/20081004/NATIONAL/90715377/1010

'Consumerism and foreigners' greatest identity threats

Anthony Richardson and Jen Gerson

• Last Updated: October 04. 2008 11:56PM UAE / October 4. 2008 7:56PM GMT

Signs of the UAE's changing times at Marina Mall, Abu Dhabi. Andrew Parsons / The National

Residents of the UAE say the burgeoning expatriate population and consumerism are the greatest threats to national identity, according to a study published today.

In the survey, conducted by the market-research company YouGov Siraj, 60 per cent of Emiratis questioned said they felt a sense of isolation as their cultural identity became increasingly diluted by large numbers of expatriates. In contrast, 71 per cent of the western expatriates surveyed said that the biggest threat to Emirati culture and
identity was the country’s “highly materialistic and consumerist society”.

Despite those sentiments, 81 per cent of the 628 respondents – Emirati and expatriate – said they belonged in the UAE. More than half said the country’s safety record was the main attraction.

Most of those surveyed agreed that a sense of national identity could be developed by creating a “consolidated vision across the emirates that all citizens and residents can relate to equally” and by communicating traditional values.

High rents, traffic and inflation emerged as the three main problems residents have. Traffic was considered the biggest problem in Sharjah, where 56 per cent of those surveyed said it reduced the quality of their lives.

The survey found that nationals were the most likely group to say the UAE is a good place to raise a family. A fifth of all Asians questioned cited discrimination as a key complaint.

Most Western and Asian expatriates said their inability to speak Arabic had not been an obstacle to their career aspirations.

The survey will be featured this evening on Emirates Tonight, on the Arabic-language Emirates Channel.

Oct 5----Hugh MacLeod

Hour one we are joined by Hugh MacLeod!

http://www.gapingvoid.com/

Besides "cartoons drawn on the back of business cards", my main gig is Marketing Strategist for Stormhoek, a small South African vineyard, whose Web 2.0 approach to wine making is currently getting a lot of international attention in the wine trade.

My other main interest at the moment has been working with Microsoft on The Blue Monster Project, which has all to do with finding new ways to get the company to tell its story better.

The most-read page on gapingvoid is "How To Be Creative", with "The Hughtrain" ["The market for something to believe in is infinite"] running a distant second. My favorite page on the site is this one, where I talk about some of my favorite early biz-card cartoons, and what inspired the thinking behind them.

Besides taking on commssioned cartooning work, I also distribute them freely via the internet, or whatever means I have at my disposal [Please go here for more details/licensing terms etc].

If people want to use my cartoons for their own stuff, or just help support the cause, the best thing they can do in exchange is consider buying a bottle of Stormhoek, if and when they come across it. Or failing that, I really appreciate it when people add the gapingvoid widget to their blog.

Thanks for reading. Seriously. Godspeed!

oct 1----futurism

http://www.davinciinstitute.com/speakers.php

Hour 2 on Nightline a conversation with Thomas Frey!

Thomas Frey - Senior Futurist
Google's Top Rated Futurist Speaker
Executive Director of the DaVinci Institute

"The greatest value in understanding the future comes from spotting the major cultural, demographic, societal, and economic shifts early and translating them into viable business strategies," says Tom.

As the Executive Director and Senior Futurist at the DaVinci Institute, he works closely with his Board of Visionaries to develop original research studies, which enables him to speak on unusual topics, translating trends into unique opportunities.

As part of the celebrity speaking circuit, Tom continually pushes the envelope of understanding, creating fascinating images of the world to come. His keynote talks on futurist topics have captivated people ranging from high level government officials to executives in Fortune 500 companies including NASA, IBM, AT&T, Hewlett-Packard, Lucent Technologies, First Data, Boeing, Capital One, Bell Canada, Visa, Ford Motor Company, Qwest, Allied Signal, Hunter Douglas, Direct TV, International Council of Shopping Centers, National Association of Federal Credit Unions, Times of India, and many more.

Because of his work inspiring inventors and other revolutionary thinkers, the Boulder Daily Camera has referred to him as the "Father of Invention". The Denver Post and Seattle Post Intelligencer have referred to him as the "Dean of Futurists".

Before launching the DaVinci Institute, Tom spent 15 years at IBM as an engineer and designer where he received over 270 awards, more than any other IBM engineer. He is also a past member of the Triple Nine Society (High I.Q. society over 99.9 percentile).

Tom has been a columnist for the Denver Post, Rocky Mountain News, and Boulder County Business Report, and is the author of the 1998 book "Inventions of Impact". He currently writes a newsletter entitled "News from the Future" and has written numerous articles on a wide range of futurist topics. He has also been a contributing writer for The Futurist Magazine and is the Editor of the Impact Lab, an online emerging technology blog which was recently rated by Popular Science Magazine as one of the "top five science blogs in the known universe".

Other photos of Tom.
Photos of his recent speaking tour in India

Oct 1---lose weight

Dan from FM 92 joined us for an hour to take us on his weight loss journey!

5 months and 23 KGs later Dan has finally grabbed the weight beast by the horns and so far has it in a strangle hold!

How? The Weight Care Clinic in Dubai! 04-363-5395.

What is your health worth?

Sept 30---atm fraud

One month after ATM fraud was uncovered in the UAE we are still suffering and the banks seem to be laughing all the way to the debit sheet!

How is it that WE pay fees to banks and are told that they are working for us YET the banks have failed us while we pay them to never fail and now we cannot even access our money if we are out of country!

http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5h7QZ4SGMyn7S3g4WnomtKJKCueLA

ATM fraud hits UAE banks

6 hours ago

DUBAI (AFP) — Thousands of residents of the United Arab Emirates spending the Eid al-Fitr holiday abroad may not be able to gain access to cash as banks block international ATM transactions to combat fraud, a newspaper reported on Tuesday.

The fraud is believed to have occurred after a network that banks use to share sensitive information such as PIN numbers was breached, The National said.

The incident has exposed most banks in the UAE, the paper said.

It reported that Lloyds TSB said on Monday it had prohibited withdrawals from UAE-issued cards at cash machines in several countries, including Britain and the United States, while maintaining limits on local withdrawals.

In addition to having temporarily "switched off the use of debit cards outside the UAE," Citibank said it had been blocking cards that were "at imminent risk of being compromised".

Banks were closed in the UAE on Tuesday as the country joined most Arab states in celebrating Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan.

Sept 30---Duabi sewage crisis

There is no question about it Dubai is in the midst of a sewage crisis and nobody seems to be so worried about it!

And the really worrying thing is that we the public seem to be sitting down while the municipality tries to sort out the sewage issue.

Why are we not doing anything to limit the amount of sewage generated?

http://www.envirolet.com/



http://www.gulfnews.com/nation/Leisure/10248048.html

The Nation Leisure Prasad Nair/Gulf News A dark layer of sewage remains in the bay of Dubai Offshore Sailing Club, in Jumeirah. The club has cancelled all dinghy sailing due to the danger posed from the contaminated water. Raw sewage prevents sailing in Dubai waters By Mariam M. Al Serkal, Staff Reporter Published: September 26, 2008, 23:32 Dubai: Dubai Offshore Sailing Club on Friday cancelled its sailing trips as sewage continues to flow into the harbour, members have said. "This has been an ongoing problem for the past three months," they said, referring to raw sewage floating around the harbour. A statement from the Club said: "We have suspended all dinghy sailing and children's activities and advised members not to swim and go into the water." The club conducted its own water sampling tests two weeks ago. "It showed that the public beach is as contaminated as ours," a member said. The dinghys are in the process of being relocated to the corner next to the public beach, so that members will be able to at least wade in the water without coming near to the sewage. 'Nothing suspicious' The ongoing problem worsened on Tuesday night when a closed-off storm drain was reopened and sewage that had collected over several days flooded the harbour. Despite the contamination in the area, beachgoers continued to swim in nearby beaches and said that they did not know of the pollution. A maintenance cleaner at the public beach next to Burj Al Arab said that a team of Dubai Municipality employees removed the sewage from all affected beaches on Wednesday. Dozens of residents were found lounging on the beaches that apparently looked free from any contamination. Many beach-goers said that they did not notice a difference in colour or smell in the waters, and they had no idea that it had been contaminated. "I did not notice anything suspicious," said Karl Zablan, one swimmer. "It was refreshing to smell the salty water and everywhere I swam was quite clean." The Jumeirah Beach Hotel continued to keep its beach open to hotel guests. The public beach next to Union Square also saw its fair share of beach-goers, and none seemed to notice that there was any problem with the waters. "The beach is far from the sewage line and I do not think that this beach will get affected from that," said bather Alvin Tabaniag.

sept 29---sustainability

Annelise Hodge joined us in studio to talk about the sustainability of our lifestyles!

1987 was a watershed year YET the action on the product of this year has been less than glowing.

Yes we have had earth summits.
Yes we have had corporations attempt to be more thoughtful.
Yes we have had movies and a lot of interest in the environment.

But in the end are we or have we really done much to change things?

I hope we don't stand on the edge of the pond as the Easter Island people did and say, "too little too late!"

Our Common Future

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Our Common Future is a report from the United Nations World Commission on Environment and Development (WCED) and was published in 1987.

Its targets were multilateralism and interdependence of nations in the search for a sustainable development path. The report sought to recapture the spirit of the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment - the Stockholm Conference - which had introduced environmental concerns to the formal political development sphere. Our Common Future placed environmental issues firmly on the political agenda; it aimed to discuss the environment and development as one single issue.

The publication of Our Common Future and the work of the World Commission on Environment and Development laid the groundwork for the convening of the 1992 Earth Summit and the adoption of Agenda 21, the Rio Declaration and to the establishment of the Commission on Sustainable Development.

An oft-quoted definition of sustainable development is defined in the report as:

"development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs."

In addition, key contributions of Our Common Future to the concept of sustainable development include the recognition that the many crises facing the planet are interlocking crises that are elements of a single crisis of the whole [1] and of the vital need for the active participation of all sectors of society in consultation and decisions relating to sustainable development.

Our Common Future is also known as the Brundtland Report in recognition of former Norwegian Prime Minister Gro Harlem Brundtland's role as Chair of the World Commission on Environment and Development.

Wikisource has original text related to this article:

Brundtland Report

• Our Common Future (1987), Oxford: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-282080-X

Sept 29---housing in dubai!

One family one villa is the new law in Dubai and as of October 28th it is possible for a landlord to be fined 50, 000 dirhams for not enforcing evictions.

One landlord called Nightline and asked why he was being forced to be the bad guy and if he was happy with who lived in his property was there a problem?

Many people had questions about why this has come about at all and whether the law will extend to flats!

The burning question was where are people suppose to live?

http://www.gmanews.tv/story/96384/Villas-housing-more-than-one-family-illegal-in-Dubai---report

Villas housing more than one family illegal in Dubai - report

05/20/2008 | 08:52 PM

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The Dubai Municipality ordered the crackdown on villas housing more than one family to prevent unhygienic practices and traffic bottlenecks (photo: Wikipedia)

MANILA, Philippines - Dubai authorities have launched a crackdown on villas that offer shelter to more than one family, online news site Khaleej times reported Tuesday.

Families of expatriate workers, including Filipinos, often resort to living with other families inside a house to cut on the cost of lodging in the oil-rich state.

The Dubai Municipality’s Building Inspection Department has warned residents of villas with more than one family that their water and electricity supply would be cut off immediately.

According to the report, the practice has become a lucrative business for many landlords in Dubai as well as original tenants who decided to partition the villas into one-bedroom units and open it up for rent.

The Municipality had earlier issued a ban on bachelors and single women sharing the same villas.

Omar Mohammed Abdul Rahman, Head of the Building Inspection Section said the move was made to address the health, safety and hygiene problems caused by cramped living quarters.

Rahman added that with several families living under a single house, the area becomes cramped with cars which would result to “major traffic disturbances." -GMANews.TV

September 28---death

Funny thing death. We all know it is coming, our end, but we seem to act as if it will not!

A bit of planning is in order. A will, finances, lists of contacts, a plan is needed because at some point someone is going to have to deal with everything and that person is not you!

Yes the last thing we seem to do is plan!

Listen to the podcast story!

Marina speaks after 30 minutes, fast forward, what a story!

I hope I have friends like her!

Sept 24--- power of a smile

Jamal Al Falasi and AliSaleem joined me to talk about the power of the smile!

http://www.barbaraburnette.com/thepowerofasmile.htm

The Power of A Smile

In the list of little things that you should not underestimate, a smile should be added - yes, a single smile. Your first thought may be in an agreement for the most part. More than likely you may think that a smile is something pleasant to receive and doesn't extend too far beyond that. But, aaaaahhhh it can be so much more. Allow me to share with you one of my experiences and the impact of receiving a smile. Surely if it had such a powerful impact on me, there are others who have had something similar happen to them. It was mid morning or early afternoon and as I was in the midst of running an errand, I was feeling so down about a lot of things in my life that were not going as I wanted them to. In this early part of the day, I was bordering being depressed and felt confidently that I would feel that awful feeling for the rest of the day, maybe the next day and the day after that. In the parking lot of a shopping strip center, I started to walk across the path of a car that was approaching too rapidly. I slowed my walk, took a couple of steps back and looked at the driver to acknowledge her and indicate that I was not attempting to be rude. She brought her car to a stop, motioned to me to cross, and smiled. It seemed so simple. It was in that moment of receiving her smile that something magic happened. My spirits immediately lifted and all traces of the blues, depression, feeling down or anything there of dissipated. I returned with a smile of my own. It was the least I could do for this perfect stranger who had brought me out of a dismal time with a mere flash of a smile.

I crossed her path and proceeded to my destination as she slowly drove off and got on with her day.

God used her to sprinkle his warm, comforting mist upon my spirit. That happened about eight or nine years ago to this writing and it is still one of my most treasured and phenomenal experiences. One of the many gifts from God, a smile, so small yet registered with an impact that positively changed my entire day and maybe more days ahead, and allowed me to pass on good things to others and get on with my day and life, minus the negativity.

I'm sure that this lady who smiled freely without giving it a second thought has no idea the difference she made in that split second. As with her, you never know how you may be positively changing something for someone. So, keep smiling.

Sept 24--- info security and the power of nice

In hour one we spoke with the men behind www.spectrumme.com about our information security needs today!

Amazing how little ongoing attention organizations are paying to information security.

http://www.iso.org/iso/support/faqs/faqs_widely_used_standards/widely_used_standards_other/information_security.htm

ISO/IEC 17799:2005 Information technology - Security techniques - Code of practice for information security management

Information is an asset that, like other important business assets, is essential to an organization’s business and consequently needs to be suitably protected. This is especially important in the increasingly interconnected business environment. As a result of this increasing interconnectivity,

information is now exposed to a growing number and a wider variety of threats and vulnerabilities (see also OECD Guidelines for the Security of Information Systems and Networks).

Information can exist in many forms. It can be printed or written on paper, stored electronically, transmitted by post or by using electronic means, shown on films, or spoken in conversation. Whatever form the information takes, or means by which it is shared or stored, it should always be

appropriately protected.

Information security is the protection of information from a wide range of threats in order to ensure business continuity, minimize business risk, and maximize return on investments and business opportunities.

Information security is achieved by implementing a suitable set of controls, including policies, processes, procedures, organizational structures and software and hardware functions. These controls need to be established, implemented, monitored, reviewed and improved, where necessary, to ensure

that the specific security and business objectives of the organization are met. This should be done in conjunction with other business management processes.

ISO/IEC 17799:2005 establishes guidelines and general principles for initiating, implementing, maintaining, and improving information security management in an organization. The objectives outlined provide general guidance on the commonly accepted goals of information security management. ISO/IEC 17799:2005 contains best practices of control objectives and controls in the following areas of information security management:

• security policy;
• organization of information security;
• asset management;
• human resources security;
• physical and environmental security;
• communications and operations management;
• access control;
• information systems acquisition, development and maintenance;
• information security incident management;
• business continuity management;
• compliance.

The control objectives and controls in ISO/IEC 17799:2005 are intended to be implemented to meet the requirements identified by a risk assessment. ISO/IEC 17799:2005 is intended as a common basis and practical guideline for developing organizational security standards and effective security management practices, and to help build confidence in inter-organizational activities.

Related Press release article:

• Improved ISO/IEC 17799 makes information assets even more secure (June 2005)

Related link:

• ISO/IEC JTC 1 SC 27 - IT Securities techniques

Sept 23---Islam

http://muhammad.net/

Who was the Prophet Muhammad?

Enjoy a conversation that seeks to answer those questions that we have on our minds but never seem to have the opportunity to ask!

Sept 23---debt and you

The debt crisis can be taken all the way down to the personal level here in Dubai. This year alone 82 people have taken their lives because they see no way out!

http://www.thenational.ae/article/20080901/OPINION/423966882/1006/rss

The pitfalls of personal debt

• Last Updated: September 01. 2008 9:07PM UAE / GMT

The casual observer could be forgiven for thinking that the UAE’s 24 per cent increase in personal loans during the first half of 2008, which The National reported yesterday, smacks of profligate living in the face of rapidly rising prices.

And they might be right. According to a study by the Dubai Central Jail, more than 40 per cent of inmates were locked up for defaulting on loans. But what looks like an irresponsible, sudden spike in indebtedness only tells half the story. The lending rates for most Gulf currencies, which remain closely linked to the US dollar, are remarkably low compared to high inflation, which rose about 11 per cent last year. The result is that the real cost of borrowing money, thanks to the low interest rates set by the US Federal Reserve, America’s central bank, is actually negative when inflation is considered.

In that sense, the rising consumer debt is natural behaviour in an environment where money can be borrowed for free. And despite accelerating rates of indebtedness, borrowing levels in the UAE are still manageably low. The economic reality is that the sky is not falling – debt is simply not something to be afraid of. The UAE is entering a more leveraged phase in its economic growth as consumers learn to take advantage of high monetary liquidity to consume while also putting their savings to work.

This is good for consumers, good for banks and (of course) good for the real estate market. But such conditions are not without potential pitfalls. Instead of worrying about rising debt, perhaps it is time to read the economic tea leaves in search of a different message. As the UAE’s economy becomes more leveraged, it’s more important than ever to make sure that the proper safeguards and regulations are evenly applied and obeyed.

The monetary authority has recently dropped the Dh250,000 personal lending limit in favour of a cap that would limit borrowers to 25 times their monthly salaries. But without a federal credit bureau, such a regulation is all but toothless. Borrowers can, for example, use the same piece of property as collateral on several different loans at several different banks.

Irresponsible consumers can also take advantage of the legal lacunae between federal and emirate-level banking regulations. Without a national set of regulations, such borrowers will always be able to find banks with low lending standards somewhere in the UAE. As far as consumers are concerned, bad debt is only part of the problem. Bad – or absent – regulations are even worse.

Sept 22---Reg Athwal

Reg Athwal joined us in hour 2 to talk about the idea of our potential in life and how we can do what we really want to do and be happy in the process!

www.unleashyourdna.com

'Presenting What Matters'

RAW Group (RAW LTD and RAW LLC) is a leading provider of expert professional speaker services for conferences, congresses, meetings, exhibitions and events throughout United Kingdom, Europe, Africa, Middle East and Asia, with offices established in London and Dubai. We have presented what really matters to millions of people in 36 countries since 2002. Our vision is to continue to 'present what matters' to people throughout the world. We currently offer extensive value-add services to clients running events in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Muscat, Bahrain, Kuwait, Jeddah, Riyadh, Doha, Cairo, Karachi, Mumbai, Delhi and Bangalore. Reg Athwal, the founder of the RAW Group of companies is a world renowned presenter and conference chairman. If you are looking for an expert professional speaker to open or close your next conference, meeting or event then look no further. Reg Athwal chairs conferences as an expert link presenter, livewire moderator, anchor for live interviews, facilitator of panel discussions and forums, and master of ceremonies for prominent gatherings to include Awards Ceremonies, Product Launches, Government Forums, Royal Family Addresses and Celebrity Functions. A prime-time news review on the 'City7' News Channel in Dubai, United Arab Emirates on Reg Athwal's 'Unleash Your DNA' Seminar. Reg Athwal has spent many years building businesses and specializing in human capital management and human potential development, and combines these two areas to be masterful when presenting on the platform, whilst informing and educating audiences throughout their conference experience. What you get with Reg Athwal is a warming and energetic professional delivery style, backed with extensive business expertise and substance. We understand every event is unique and Reg Athwal customizes speeches and conference chairman services to suit your exact needs. Please contact us immediately and let's explore the possibility of working together and 'presenting what matters' to your delegates.

Sept 22---The University today

Hour one Prof. Ron Wolfe joined us to talk about the university and its role as an educator for life versus a training ground for business.

www.bbc.co.uk
http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/today/newsid_7609000/7609693.stm

The head of Cambridge University has criticised the government over pressure on elite institutions to take more students from disadvantaged homes. Vice-Chancellor Alison Richard said universities were there to educate and lead research and not act as "engines for promoting social justice". University and Skills Secretary John Denham and Vice-Chancellor of King's College Rick Trainor discuss the priorities of universities.

sept 21---venture capital

Harvey Klyce of New Enterprise East Investments walked us through venture capital and the changing face of the UAE when we talk about ideas.

R&D, Green thinking, technology all come together.

Hour 2 we looked at the issue of blocking content on the Internet that violates copyright. No clear answers here.

sept 17---greeenwashing and museums

Sept 17 started with a discussion about greenwashing, how companies and groups are telling us that they are environmentally friendly when they really are not!

Think automobile manufacturers!

Hour 2 we spoke about the need for museums and took a look at Sharjha and what they are doing with 18 museums on line and more coming.

Sept 16---- banks and then a conversation on Islam

We began the evening asking if there was any confidence in the banks in the UAE.

The short answer is no. Customer satisfaction is at an all time low and there is little being done from a PR angle to fix this.

The ATM fraud that has rocked the system seems to have exposed the weakness of the plastic banking network here.

The big question on peoples minds is who is going to pay for this failure.

In Hour 2 we were joined by Sary Farah a Humanities and Islamic Studies Teacher to help get a better understanding of the issues we confront with our youth today.

Srpt 15---what are parks for?

Abu Dabi is now enforcing a ban on bikes in public parks!

So, what are parks for anyway?

Don't we want our youth to adopt a culture of recreation?

If we ban activity that might see physical activity adopted into a lifestyle aren't we sending the wrong message?

http://archive.gulfnews.com/articles/08/09/16/10245303.html

A ban that goes too far

Gulf News Published: September 15, 2008, 23:52

Residents of Abu Dhabi can no longer ride bicycles in the municipality's parks. According to Abdul Aziz Al Jeraishi, director of Parks and Recreation Facilities Division at Abu Dhabi Municipality, the blanket ban has been in place for some time, but had never been enforced. The reason for the blanket ban was to prevent large groups of youths from riding their bikes through the parks, disrupting the enjoyment of families and those using the facilities. The effect, though, of this ban, is to take away the peaceful past time of cycling because of the actions of a few disruptive youths. Perhaps the municipality should work, then, on providing a network of bike paths through the city. There is hardly a more relaxing pastime than gently riding around a grassy park, taking in the sun, enjoying the ambience of a beautiful day. Let not the actions of some youth spoil this for all.

September 14---taxi

We were joined by Mr. Abdul Azeez Maalik the CEO of Dubai Taxi Agency

It is interesting to note that the taxi industry in Dubai is regulated by the Road and Transport Authority.

And the Road and Transport Authority also owns Dubai Taxi Corporation!

Do taxi's pay SALIK? Yes and every time they go under a sign we are told.

There is a lot of training for the cabbies here in the UAE BUT if you feel that there is something not right with your cab experience it is your DUTY to give the company a call.

Likewise compliments are also welcome.

sept 14---children and a talk about taxis

So the moral grounding of our children is thought to be under siege!

The chief of Dubai police has asked how do we being up our children today to be morally grounded tomorrow?

Who raises children today? Schools, parents, house help, the state?

There are no simple answers and from the sms messages the responsibility rests with parents... so why is the chief of police bringing up this issue?

http://archive.gulfnews.com/articles/08/09/14/10244877.html

Calls made for moral grounding when raising children in UAE

By Alia Al Theeb, Staff Reporter Published: September 14, 2008, 00:02

Dubai: The Chief of Dubai Police has raised the issue of bringing up children in the UAE and questioned who is responsible for their development, as schools only focus on education and can neglect to instil solid morals with children. Lieutenant General Dahi Khalfan Tamim, who is also Chairman of the Juvenile Welfare Association, was speaking during a Ramadan Majlis held on Thursday. The Majlis focused on a number of aspects related to raising children, including raising children under various threats and changes as well as upbringing based on a national strategy that helps achieve development. During the majlis, Lieutenant General Dahi questioned who is responsible for children's development, pointing out that schools deal with formal education, but there is little attention being paid to how the children are being raised. He said that school books only have educational materials, but that raising children with a good moral foundation is not addressed. "The raising issue is absent from our schools, as nobody has met to prepare the subjects of moral raising," he said. Lieutenant General Dahi called for a joint council to discuss the issue of raising children because it is a serious matter, as nowadays some youngsters can be seen imitating the West by dressing in ways that diverge from the UAE's culture and religion. Teachers moving "The low wages of teachers has prompted the best of them to find other jobs or migrate to other countries which is a loss for our schools," he said. Sultan Saqr Al Suwaidi, Federal National Council (FNC) member and vice president of the Juvenile Welfare Association, said there is a high-scale media campaign to turn youngsters toward western styles and away from their own culture and tradition. Therefore, governments must guide the media regarding this issue. Many personalities present at the majlis agreed on the importance of a solid upbringing for youngsters which comes from various factors such as a good family atmosphere, schools and the society. Ali Humaid, from the Islamic Affairs and Charitable Work Department, said parents must not leave parental responsibility to housemaids, as youngsters must be exposed to their parents' good example. Khamis Abdullah from the Ajman Educational Zone, said a survey he conducted among preparatory students revealed that 25 per cent of them watched TV for long periods, 35 per cent watched TV after midnight, 44 per cent watched a programme for the appearance of a female presenter and 76 per cent challenged the idea of encoding channels. Khalifa Al Mehrazi, a family counsellor at Dubai Courts, drew on the issue of an emotional gap between a child and his/her family. This was revealed in an experiment where children were asked to rank five words starting with whom they would prefer to sit. The words were football, playstation, father, school and friends. "Playstation came first in the list while father came last," he said. Communication He said statistics revealed that 94 per cent of divorces occur during the first four years of marriage, which affects the raising of children, and in most cases children lose the language of communicating with their parents. Participants at the majlis also agreed on the importance of establishing an association to coordinate with various society organisations regarding raising children and family counselling, police and other concerned authorities to carry out studies and research related to juveniles and education.