A former drug addict completed a successful climb of Mount Kilimanjaro, raising the UAE flag at the summit to round off a remarkable story of rehabilitation.
The Erada Centre for Treatment and Rehabilitation in Dubai organised the six-day trip for the Emirati man, who received intensive training in the UAE's mountains before summiting Africa's highest peak.
“It wasn’t just a physical challenge to me but climbing from a valley of pain,” the 28-year-old said. “I was recalling the past with every step and didn’t stop to prove to myself and the world that recovery can happen and falling down doesn’t mean the end.”
The man, who didn’t disclose his identify or details, has recovered from years of addiction after seven months of treatment at the centre.
A tale of recovery
After medical examination and receiving vaccinations, the man travelled from Dubai with the Erada team to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and then to Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. It is the highest mountain in Africa and the highest free-standing mountain above sea level in the world, at 5,895m above sea level and 4,900m above its plateau base.
“It was thousands of metres high and there was a lack of oxygen. I was filling my lungs with fresh air and stood on top of the mountain waving my country’s flag,” he added. “It is a message to all people suffering from addiction that your are not alone and there is support at hand if you are willing to quit.”
He thanked the Erada Centre for their help in his recovery. “The first step is admitting you need treatment. Don’t be ashamed, don’t give up, you deserve a new and better life. Without the Erada Centre I wouldn’t have succeeded. Every human deserves a second chance.”
Hard work yields success
Dr Abdullah Al Ansari, director of social support and awareness at the centre, escorted the Emirati man during the trip with another employee.
“We climbed the mountain for six days in June. He wanted an achievement after years of failure to stand proud in front of his family,” Dr Al Ansari told The National. “He wasn’t a fit person but he worked hard with us. He lost around 6kg on this trip.”
Dr Al Ansari said the decision was made to send a clear message that people with determination can recover. “Our aim was to show that Dubai can send awareness messages through sporting activities to get more people involved in helping drug addicts,” he said.
Abdulrazaq Ameri, the centre's chief executive, said they believe that success stories will inspire others to step forward to recover from addiction.
“We believe recovery doesn’t end with treatment, but a new era begins. Such initiatives help to boost confidence and send a positive message that recovery is possible and community support makes a real difference,” Mr Ameri said. He added that the centre will continue implementing unique initiatives to help the former addicts reintegrate into society.
Result
Qualifier: Islamabad United beat Karachi Kings by eight wickets
Fixtures
Tuesday, Lahore: Eliminator 1 - Peshawar Zalmi v Quetta Gladiators
Wednesday, Lahore: Eliminator 2 – Karachi Kings v Winner of Eliminator 1
Sunday, Karachi: Final – Islamabad United v Winner of Eliminator 2
The smuggler
Eldarir had arrived at JFK in January 2020 with three suitcases, containing goods he valued at $300, when he was directed to a search area.
Officers found 41 gold artefacts among the bags, including amulets from a funerary set which prepared the deceased for the afterlife.
Also found was a cartouche of a Ptolemaic king on a relief that was originally part of a royal building or temple.
The largest single group of items found in Eldarir’s cases were 400 shabtis, or figurines.
Khouli conviction
Khouli smuggled items into the US by making false declarations to customs about the country of origin and value of the items.
According to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, he provided “false provenances which stated that [two] Egyptian antiquities were part of a collection assembled by Khouli's father in Israel in the 1960s” when in fact “Khouli acquired the Egyptian antiquities from other dealers”.
He was sentenced to one year of probation, six months of home confinement and 200 hours of community service in 2012 after admitting buying and smuggling Egyptian antiquities, including coffins, funerary boats and limestone figures.
For sale
A number of other items said to come from the collection of Ezeldeen Taha Eldarir are currently or recently for sale.
Their provenance is described in near identical terms as the British Museum shabti: bought from Salahaddin Sirmali, "authenticated and appraised" by Hossen Rashed, then imported to the US in 1948.
- An Egyptian Mummy mask dating from 700BC-30BC, is on offer for £11,807 ($15,275) online by a seller in Mexico
- A coffin lid dating back to 664BC-332BC was offered for sale by a Colorado-based art dealer, with a starting price of $65,000
- A shabti that was on sale through a Chicago-based coin dealer, dating from 1567BC-1085BC, is up for $1,950
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Tomorrow 2021
War and the virus
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Plastic tipping points
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Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
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Power: 420bhp
Torque: 624Nm
Price: Dh325,125
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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
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- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Empty Words
By Mario Levrero
(Coffee House Press)
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Chitrabhanu Kadalayil: Singapore election is more than just a family feud over LKY's legacy
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MATCH INFO
Euro 2020 qualifier
Ukraine 2 (Yaremchuk 06', Yarmolenko 27')
Portugal 1 (Ronaldo 72' pen)
A cheaper choice
Vanuatu: $130,000
Why on earth pick Vanuatu? Easy. The South Pacific country has no income tax, wealth tax, capital gains or inheritance tax. And in 2015, when it was hit by Cyclone Pam, it signed an agreement with the EU that gave it some serious passport power.
Cost: A minimum investment of $130,000 for a family of up to four, plus $25,000 in fees.
Criteria: Applicants must have a minimum net worth of $250,000. The process take six to eight weeks, after which the investor must travel to Vanuatu or Hong Kong to take the oath of allegiance. Citizenship and passport are normally provided on the same day.
Benefits: No tax, no restrictions on dual citizenship, no requirement to visit or reside to retain a passport. Visa-free access to 129 countries.
Generational responses to the pandemic
Devesh Mamtani from Century Financial believes the cash-hoarding tendency of each generation is influenced by what stage of the employment cycle they are in. He offers the following insights:
Baby boomers (those born before 1964): Owing to market uncertainty and the need to survive amid competition, many in this generation are looking for options to hoard more cash and increase their overall savings/investments towards risk-free assets.
Generation X (born between 1965 and 1980): Gen X is currently in its prime working years. With their personal and family finances taking a hit, Generation X is looking at multiple options, including taking out short-term loan facilities with competitive interest rates instead of dipping into their savings account.
Millennials (born between 1981 and 1996): This market situation is giving them a valuable lesson about investing early. Many millennials who had previously not saved or invested are looking to start doing so now.
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7.05pm UAE 1000 Guineas Listed $250,000 (Dirt) 1,600m
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8.50pm Al Fahidi Fort Group Two $250,000 (T) 1,400m
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Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
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