In 2006, Andrew Simms at the New Economics Foundation, dreamt up the concept of Earth Overshoot Day. It was meant to measure the planet's ability to renew its resources year-on-year against human consumption, a way to illustrate how much we overshoot the environment. That year, the date fell in October. Last year, it moved to August 1.
In addition to us tearing through what the planet offers faster and faster, Forbes reported in 2017 that, around the world, one million plastic bottles were purchased every minute. Of that, barely 90,000 will be recycled. Horrified? You should be. Thankfully, however, all of us can help solve this problem. All we have to do is get involved.
Given that one plastic bottle takes 500 years to break down (plastic does not decompose, but rather degrades into ever smaller particles), it makes sense to recycle it, rather than throw it away. Recycling uses less energy, reuses precious resources and is a better idea than throwing something into landfill.
Long-term, of course, reducing the use of plastic is the only answer. However, if that feels too difficult, it is possible to contribute straight away by ensuring that the plastic we do use is effectively recycled.
Support Global Recycling Day
One easy way is to support Global Recycling Day, an initiative now in its second year, developed by Ranjit S Baxi's Global Recycling Foundation. The organisation has one very clear goal: to try and get as many people as possible motivated to get out and help. "The role of the Foundation is to show the world that recycling is a collective endeavour, crucial for the future of the planet," the company's website says.
The site is filled with ideas on how to make a difference, from organising school clean-up days to sharing the results on social media. Importantly, however, the message is about spreading awareness, so that recycling becomes an everyday habit, rather than something to do occasionally.
Global Recycling Day is supported by the United Nations – in fact, Baxi is hoping the event makes it to the official UN calendar – and the former head of UN Environment, Erik Solheim, is also backing the scheme. "We need to see waste for what it really is – a wasted resource," he says. "There is no place on our planet any more for products that are used only briefly and thrown away. We need to ensure planned obsolescence is a thing of the past. It's time for countries to dramatically step up recycling rates if we are to save this planet."
Despite being a little sluggish about recycling at first, things are now picking up steam, in typical UAE style, with the arrival of smart recycling centres around the country last year and an extra 100 recycling units on Dubai's Sheikh Zayed Road.
Use the HomeCycle app
A clever app called HomeCycle makes things even easier. The brainchild of John van Zuylen, HomeCycle lets people in Dubai book a recycling pickup that will come right to your home or office. Free and easy to use (there is also a website), the app requires you simply to sign up and book a collection. As well as helping the environment, users will earn points that can be used to donate to charities, or that can even be used to redeem discount vouchers.
One early adopter was MonViso, the Italian water company that recycled 400,000 bottles in 2018. The app is designed to make recycling accessible to everyone, and van Zuylen says it has never been more relevant. "HomeCycle is perfectly aligned with the Vision 2021 of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum [Vice President and Ruler of Dubai] to divert 75 per cent of waste from landfill," he says. "The idea is really to help the industry to reduce its plastic footprint by making all residents and companies part of the move."
Events to attend
The UAE has also stepped up in other ways, big and small. For example, Abu Dhabi Waste Management Centre Tadweer recycled close to 7,000 tonnes of used vehicle tyres last year, while the capital also has recycling plants for plastic products, construction and demolition waste, as well as used engine oil. Last year, more than 50 restaurants pledged to ban plastic straws on their premises, while others offered patrons a discount if they brought their own cutlery and crockery.
We wanted to draw attention to the issue of food waste and show people how easy it is to avoid.
On Saturday, Dubai will host the Good Food Fight, for those who yearn to live a waste-free life. The idea behind this guided walking tour around JLT is to visit three eateries in the area, taste three dishes created from "kitchen scraps", and learn from experts how to transform leftovers into meals. "We wanted to draw attention to the issue of food waste and show people how easy it is to avoid," explains Stephanie Mahmoud, one of the Food Trail presenters and creator of this experience. "Avoiding food waste is an age-old skill, and we would go so far as to even say it's an art form. We're taking some old-school ideas and updating them for contemporary living, and we're using historical context to help us solve a modern-day problem."
Designed by Frying Pan Adventures (part of the Global Food Tourism Association), Good Food Fight's aim is to introduce regional cuisines to a wider audience, and create tasty food that does not waste anything. Sounds like a lesson we could all benefit from.
Conflict, drought, famine
Estimates of the number of deaths caused by the famine range from 400,000 to 1 million, according to a document prepared for the UK House of Lords in 2024.
It has been claimed that the policies of the Ethiopian government, which took control after deposing Emperor Haile Selassie in a military-led revolution in 1974, contributed to the scale of the famine.
Dr Miriam Bradley, senior lecturer in humanitarian studies at the University of Manchester, has argued that, by the early 1980s, “several government policies combined to cause, rather than prevent, a famine which lasted from 1983 to 1985. Mengistu’s government imposed Stalinist-model agricultural policies involving forced collectivisation and villagisation [relocation of communities into planned villages].
The West became aware of the catastrophe through a series of BBC News reports by journalist Michael Buerk in October 1984 describing a “biblical famine” and containing graphic images of thousands of people, including children, facing starvation.
Band Aid
Bob Geldof, singer with the Irish rock group The Boomtown Rats, formed Band Aid in response to the horrific images shown in the news broadcasts.
With Midge Ure of the band Ultravox, he wrote the hit charity single Do They Know it’s Christmas in December 1984, featuring a string of high-profile musicians.
Following the single’s success, the idea to stage a rock concert evolved.
Live Aid was a series of simultaneous concerts that took place at Wembley Stadium in London, John F Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, the US, and at various other venues across the world.
The combined event was broadcast to an estimated worldwide audience of 1.5 billion.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The five pillars of Islam
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
The five pillars of Islam
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
Why seagrass matters
- Carbon sink: Seagrass sequesters carbon up to 35X faster than tropical rainforests
- Marine nursery: Crucial habitat for juvenile fish, crustations, and invertebrates
- Biodiversity: Support species like sea turtles, dugongs, and seabirds
- Coastal protection: Reduce erosion and improve water quality
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Revibe%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202022%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Hamza%20Iraqui%20and%20Abdessamad%20Ben%20Zakour%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20UAE%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Refurbished%20electronics%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunds%20raised%20so%20far%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%2410m%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFlat6Labs%2C%20Resonance%20and%20various%20others%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Disposing of non-recycleable masks
Use your ‘black bag’ bin at home
Do not put them in a recycling bin
Take them home with you if there is no litter bin
- No need to bag the mask
Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)
Ms Yang's top tips for parents new to the UAE
- Join parent networks
- Look beyond school fees
- Keep an open mind
Our legal consultants
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
Cultural fiesta
What: The Al Burda Festival
When: November 14 (from 10am)
Where: Warehouse421, Abu Dhabi
The Al Burda Festival is a celebration of Islamic art and culture, featuring talks, performances and exhibitions. Organised by the Ministry of Culture and Knowledge Development, this one-day event opens with a session on the future of Islamic art. With this in mind, it is followed by a number of workshops and “masterclass” sessions in everything from calligraphy and typography to geometry and the origins of Islamic design. There will also be discussions on subjects including ‘Who is the Audience for Islamic Art?’ and ‘New Markets for Islamic Design.’ A live performance from Kuwaiti guitarist Yousif Yaseen should be one of the highlights of the day.
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
