Last August, the Amazon rainforest was struck by wildfires that spread at a devastating speed through an area the size of three football fields per minute. It was not the first time the rainforest has faced such a threat and, for the Amazon as well as the rest of the world's forests, it will not be the last.
Unlike other times this has happened, however, in August the media exposure grew faster than the fire itself. The visibility of the mass destruction was, for many of us, a long-overdue wake-up call about the state of our endangered planet.
For the two of us, who would eventually come to found Mangroves 4 Mankind, it was a turning point. We were overcome by a fierce sense of urgency to act.
Individuals are often unsure of where to start and how best to achieve results during times like this. Donations were being solicited all over the internet, but there was little confidence that the funds would really be directed towards efforts to fight the fires or to restore the rainforest. As a result, many did not donate, even though the will was there. Nonetheless, we could not afford to idly stand by and watch. No human can – not if we want to leave a habitable planet behind to the next generation.
Here in the UAE, we are accustomed to working fast. A 10-year plan can be achieved in 12 months. It is deeply ingrained within us; we have grown up seeing our desert towns blossom into green metropolises. We thought that if we combined this mindset with our determination to make a difference, along with the fact that our country has strong relationships with governments globally, we would be in a unique position to make a positive impact on the world.
And so, Mangroves 4 Mankind was born: a licensed social enterprise established in the UAE with the unique objective of combatting climate change by conserving and restoring mangrove ecosystems in every coastal city around the world.
M4M speaks to you, the individual, making sure that scientific facts are at the forefront of your news, and shedding light on global projects that support rural communities and micro-businesses livelihoods of which are dependent on the health of the mangrove forests in their surroundings.
There were many reasons we chose to focus on mangroves, beginning with the fact that we already have a very healthy population of mangrove forests scattered along the UAE’s coastline. This would allow us to work with experts in our own backyard and to learn sustainably on the ground without having to travel and add to the world’s carbon emissions.
The second reason is that research shows that three quarters of all tropical fish species are born within mangrove forests. Therefore, they are crucial to biodiversity health and to humankind’s consumable supply of fish.
Third, mangroves aged 10 years and older absorb over six times more carbon in their soil than any terrestrial tree. When mangroves are destroyed, not only do we take away a vital source of our planet’s carbon sequestration, but also release all of the carbon stored in the back into the atmosphere.
Therefore, governments around the world must put the necessary legislation in place to protect existing mangrove ecosystems, because simply replanting those destroyed will not help to mitigate the environmental damage. Preservation and protection of mangrove forests will always be more valuable than planting them anew. Still, with the loss of mangrove ecosystems that we have witnessed over the last few decades, there is an urgent need for us to replant them now as an investment in our future.
Today, we are faced with a pandemic, and the world has come to a standstill because of it. The huge decrease in human activity has also resulted in a drastic reduction in the use of fossil fuels, which is promising for the environment. We need to focus on fundamental changes in manufacturing, a shift towards green energy, more responsible choices in consumerism and the restoration of our planet's forests, if we are to tackle the elephant in the room – climate change.
Prior to the pandemic, statistics showed that 93 per cent of the world's donations were directed towards humanitarian causes and only three per cent allotted to the environment. Today, with the collapse of the global economy and the devastation caused by Covid-19 to so many lives, these figures will be even more skewed towards humanitarian causes. However, the two are not separate from one another. In fact, we are faced with this pandemic partly because we have tampered too much with nature. Climate change, moreover, is an eventual catastrophe for all human life on Earth.
Finally, we would like to leave you with this thought: although you are now dreaming for life to return to normal, that "normal" was not working. We want to enter a world of new beginnings. Brands and businesses will be knocking on every door and appearing on every screen to pull us back to "normal", but let us make responsible choices in what we buy this time around.
Let us eat better and consume only what is necessary. Let us fight the need for instant gratification and, instead, be thoughtful towards those in need. Let us take action as individuals and have a more balanced approach in sharing the Earth’s limited resources. Let us ensure that wildlife and foliage thrive wherever possible. Every single one of us can make a difference in the world, and we look forward to starting a new journey with all of you.
Sheikha Shamma bint Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan and Ahlam Bolooki are the co-founders of Mangroves 4 Mankind
Honeymoonish
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No more lice
Defining head lice
Pediculus humanus capitis are tiny wingless insects that feed on blood from the human scalp. The adult head louse is up to 3mm long, has six legs, and is tan to greyish-white in colour. The female lives up to four weeks and, once mature, can lay up to 10 eggs per day. These tiny nits firmly attach to the base of the hair shaft, get incubated by body heat and hatch in eight days or so.
Identifying lice
Lice can be identified by itching or a tickling sensation of something moving within the hair. One can confirm that a person has lice by looking closely through the hair and scalp for nits, nymphs or lice. Head lice are most frequently located behind the ears and near the neckline.
Treating lice at home
Head lice must be treated as soon as they are spotted. Start by checking everyone in the family for them, then follow these steps. Remove and wash all clothing and bedding with hot water. Apply medicine according to the label instructions. If some live lice are still found eight to 12 hours after treatment, but are moving more slowly than before, do not re-treat. Comb dead and remaining live lice out of the hair using a fine-toothed comb.
After the initial treatment, check for, comb and remove nits and lice from hair every two to three days. Soak combs and brushes in hot water for 10 minutes.Vacuum the floor and furniture, particularly where the infested person sat or lay.
Courtesy Dr Vishal Rajmal Mehta, specialist paediatrics, RAK Hospital
The specs
Engine: 5.2-litre V10
Power: 640hp at 8,000rpm
Torque: 565Nm at 6,500rpm
Transmission: 7-speed dual-clutch auto
Price: From Dh1 million
On sale: Q3 or Q4 2022
One-off T20 International: UAE v Australia
When: Monday, October 22, 2pm start
Where: Abu Dhabi Cricket, Oval 1
Tickets: Admission is free
Australia squad: Aaron Finch (captain), Mitch Marsh, Alex Carey, Ashton Agar, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Chris Lynn, Nathan Lyon, Glenn Maxwell, Ben McDermott, Darcy Short, Billy Stanlake, Mitchell Starc, Andrew Tye, Adam Zampa, Peter Siddle
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More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
The candidates
Dr Ayham Ammora, scientist and business executive
Ali Azeem, business leader
Tony Booth, professor of education
Lord Browne, former BP chief executive
Dr Mohamed El-Erian, economist
Professor Wyn Evans, astrophysicist
Dr Mark Mann, scientist
Gina MIller, anti-Brexit campaigner
Lord Smith, former Cabinet minister
Sandi Toksvig, broadcaster
Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere
Director: Scott Cooper
Starring: Jeremy Allen White, Odessa Young, Jeremy Strong
Rating: 4/5
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
More on Quran memorisation:
The years Ramadan fell in May
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Silent Hill f
Publisher: Konami
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC
Rating: 4.5/5
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Fixtures (all in UAE time)
Friday
Everton v Burnley 11pm
Saturday
Bournemouth v Tottenham Hotspur 3.30pm
West Ham United v Southampton 6pm
Wolves v Fulham 6pm
Cardiff City v Crystal Palace 8.30pm
Newcastle United v Liverpool 10.45pm
Sunday
Chelsea v Watford 5pm
Huddersfield v Manchester United 5pm
Arsenal v Brighton 7.30pm
Monday
Manchester City v Leicester City 11pm
How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
- Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
- Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
- Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
- Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
- Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
- The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
- Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269
*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year
What is the FNC?
The Federal National Council is one of five federal authorities established by the UAE constitution. It held its first session on December 2, 1972, a year to the day after Federation.
It has 40 members, eight of whom are women. The members represent the UAE population through each of the emirates. Abu Dhabi and Dubai have eight members each, Sharjah and Ras al Khaimah six, and Ajman, Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain have four.
They bring Emirati issues to the council for debate and put those concerns to ministers summoned for questioning.
The FNC’s main functions include passing, amending or rejecting federal draft laws, discussing international treaties and agreements, and offering recommendations on general subjects raised during sessions.
Federal draft laws must first pass through the FNC for recommendations when members can amend the laws to suit the needs of citizens. The draft laws are then forwarded to the Cabinet for consideration and approval.
Since 2006, half of the members have been elected by UAE citizens to serve four-year terms and the other half are appointed by the Ruler’s Courts of the seven emirates.
In the 2015 elections, 78 of the 252 candidates were women. Women also represented 48 per cent of all voters and 67 per cent of the voters were under the age of 40.
Result
Crystal Palace 0 Manchester City 2
Man City: Jesus (39), David Silva (41)
About RuPay
A homegrown card payment scheme launched by the National Payments Corporation of India and backed by the Reserve Bank of India, the country’s central bank
RuPay process payments between banks and merchants for purchases made with credit or debit cards
It has grown rapidly in India and competes with global payment network firms like MasterCard and Visa.
In India, it can be used at ATMs, for online payments and variations of the card can be used to pay for bus, metro charges, road toll payments
The name blends two words rupee and payment
Some advantages of the network include lower processing fees and transaction costs
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
Coal Black Mornings
Brett Anderson
Little Brown Book Group
Stats at a glance:
Cost: 1.05 billion pounds (Dh 4.8 billion)
Number in service: 6
Complement 191 (space for up to 285)
Top speed: over 32 knots
Range: Over 7,000 nautical miles
Length 152.4 m
Displacement: 8,700 tonnes
Beam: 21.2 m
Draught: 7.4 m
