By all standards, 2020 has been something of a disappointment.
From cancelled holiday plans and postponed weddings, to graduating via Zoom and the end of hugging as we know it, the global pandemic has left a trail of sadness in its wake.
Forest of Hope is a way to say goodbye to this year's disappointments with a seed of hope
Thankfully, we have New Zealand to show us the way out of all this doom and gloom.
Not only has the country been effective in battling the coronavirus, it's now setting the tone for a brighter 2021 by inviting people to donate a tree to its Forest of Hope.
Tourism New Zealand has partnered with conservation charity Trees that Count to ask people to plant the seeds for new native forests on the country's North and South Islands.
"As we get ready to say goodbye to 2020, what a disappointing year it's been for so many," begins the video created by Tourism New Zealand. "It's time to look forward to 2021.
"Right now, we can’t share our beautiful country as we normally would, but we can still add to its beauty and the health of the environment. Once we’re able to welcome visitors again, you can visit your tree that you helped grow."
New Zealand is among the first countries in the world to ring in the new year, and the project aims to get things off on a positive note with new forests being planted in parts of Northland and Queenstown.
Funded by trees gifted by people around the world, donators are being asked to use their frustrations from 2020 to create a brighter year in 2021, and to help sow the seeds for a better future.
Tree donations start from NZD$10 ($7) per tree and can be submitted on the Trees that Count website.
Those donating are asked to write down their biggest disappointment of the year and will also have the option to name their tree, with any given names displayed on maps of the new forests created by Trees that Count.
Te Reo Maori values
Sarah Handley, general manager for Americas and Europe at Tourism New Zealand, explained more about the native values behind the campaign in a statement.
"In New Zealand, the Te Reo Maori values of manaaki and tiaki have become incredibly relevant today. Manaaki speaks to the importance of having empathy and tiaki inspires us to care for people and place," said Handley.
"While our borders remain closed to international visitors, we wanted to extend a little manaaki and encourage a sense of tiaki to those who are in need of some optimism for the new year. With trees as a natural symbol of life and growth, the Forest of Hope is a way for people to say goodbye to this year’s disappointments and plant a seed of hope to look forward to better times ahead in 2021."
UAE Tour 2020
Stage 1: The Pointe Palm Jumeirah - Dubai Silicon Oasis, 148km
Stage 2: Hatta - Hatta Dam, 168km
Stage 3: Al Qudra Cycle Track - Jebel Hafeet, 184km
Stage 4: Zabeel Park - Dubai City Walk, 173km
Stage 5: Al Ain - Jebel Hafeet, 162km
Stage 6: Al Ruwais - Al Mirfa, 158km
Stage 7: Al Maryah Island - Abu Dhabi Breakwater, 127km
MATCH INFO
Champions League quarter-final, first leg
Ajax v Juventus, Wednesday, 11pm (UAE)
Match on BeIN Sports
The bio
Favourite vegetable: Broccoli
Favourite food: Seafood
Favourite thing to cook: Duck l'orange
Favourite book: Give and Take by Adam Grant, one of his professors at University of Pennsylvania
Favourite place to travel: Home in Kuwait.
Favourite place in the UAE: Al Qudra lakes
Five films to watch
Castle in the Sky (1986)
Grave of the Fireflies (1988)
Only Yesterday (1991)
Pom Poki (1994)
The Tale of Princess Kaguya (2013)
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
A Long Way Home by Peter Carey
Faber & Faber
Another way to earn air miles
In addition to the Emirates and Etihad programmes, there is the Air Miles Middle East card, which offers members the ability to choose any airline, has no black-out dates and no restrictions on seat availability. Air Miles is linked up to HSBC credit cards and can also be earned through retail partners such as Spinneys, Sharaf DG and The Toy Store.
An Emirates Dubai-London round-trip ticket costs 180,000 miles on the Air Miles website. But customers earn these ‘miles’ at a much faster rate than airline miles. Adidas offers two air miles per Dh1 spent. Air Miles has partnerships with websites as well, so booking.com and agoda.com offer three miles per Dh1 spent.
“If you use your HSBC credit card when shopping at our partners, you are able to earn Air Miles twice which will mean you can get that flight reward faster and for less spend,” says Paul Lacey, the managing director for Europe, Middle East and India for Aimia, which owns and operates Air Miles Middle East.
MATCH INFO
Sheffield United 0 Wolves 2 (Jimenez 3', Saiss 6)
Man of the Match Romain Saiss (Wolves)
