On 9 August, 1942 at the height of the Second World War, in a besieged Russian city, a concert was about to take place. Leningrad (now St Petersburg) was surrounded by an enemy who showed no mercy. Soviet composer Dmitri Shostakovich wanted his Seventh Symphony to be performed in the city of his birth.
Under conditions of deprivation, musicians from the Leningrad Radio Orchestra, supplemented by those in the military, performed the concert in what was to become the legendary artistic performance of the war.
For the suffering citizens of that great city, the performance represented defiance. For the country, it represented hope. For the enemy, it marked the beginning of their end. Such is the inspirational power of music.
As we are all united in our frail humanity to adapt to a new reality, we can do with being reminded of the extraordinary power of culture.Over the past few weeks, the world has been forced to cope with an insidious, silent threat.
Culture comes from the Latin ‘cultura’ in the agricultural sense: to cultivate. Agriculture at the time was the quintessential activity of human will over nature; to adapt and adopt, to survive in varied environments.
And yet, amid the excesses of today that have pushed the world to global warming and immense peril, we may have forgotten the humility nature asks of us.
Culture, as a human activity, is filled with a sense of care and humility. And so, at a time when we must collectively organise to overcome and survive our greatest threat, we must care for each other.
And yet we must also ponder the lessons in humility that nature is sharing with us.
A year ago a fire broke out on the roof of the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. Centuries of history were being engulfed in flames and people were weeping as the world looked on in disbelief.
The roof was utterly destroyed, and the wooden spire collapsed in on itself.
Miraculously, the beautiful stained glass of the church’s enormous and stunning rose windows was unscathed.
A few days later the world pledged to resuscitate Paris’ grand lady to its former glory. This spirit of solidarity in the face of adversity displays the best of humanity.
Culture in this time of crisis must also be pragmatic. As we now find ourselves in a strange new circumstance of confinement, torn abruptly from our world of unrestricted freedom of commerce and travel, a lockdown is a social, psychological and economic shock.
During this time, culture becomes a way to manage the mental shock of confinement, the psychological pressure of uncertainty and the slow trickling away of time.
This is particularly true of our elders. They are more isolated because they are less comfortable with the digital tools of socialisation than younger generations.
Their isolation is even more necessary because coronavirus is particularly fatal to the elderly, and more painful because morale is a vital part of their ability to withstand confinement. And again, culture can be a way to lift their spirits.
Culture teaches us mutual recognition, collaboration and the importance of being mindful of others, all qualities necessary to fight Covid-19. We cannot solve the crisis in Europe and let it reignite in Africa.
The UAE was quick to act for the benefit and safety of its citizens and residents. The country also extended a helping hand to other countries. But such a responsible attitude is not a given. If anything, it is probably the exception.
And as a nation, a region and a member of the global community, we cannot allow self-interest and short-sightedness to limit our efforts.
Again and again, culture has been used to create the conditions for co-operation. Arte, the cultural TV channel created jointly by Germany and France, allows both countries to learn more about each other, to create a communal culture and to move away from former belligerence and enter a mutually profitable era of peace and co-operation.
Culture teaches us mutual recognition, collaboration and the importance of being mindful of others, all necessary to fight Covid-19
Over the years, Abu Dhabi Music and Arts Foundation has been successful in promoting shared values. Through the Abu Dhabi Festival, magnificent musicians have gathered from around the world to collaborate with amazing multicultural audiences.
Through the dissemination of culture, people discover themselves in each other. And if people recognise themselves in each other, it can make global policies against the virus and in favour of health and the economy more effective.
I recall an event that took place a few years ago here in Abu Dhabi, in which a wonderful person and master musician from the US, Wynton Marsalis, welcomed onto his stage Naseer Shamma, a virtuoso from Iraq.
At the time, American forces were occupying Shamma’s country, and yet the power of music brought him and Marsalis together. Suddenly, borders and nationalities did not matter, only a human spirit joined by a creative energy was important.
The ensuing concert left the audience in stunned silence, followed by a rapturous standing ovation.
Examples like these show that we must continue to plan, to work, to reach out to the world and bridge our differences, to make possible the coming together of people and performers and artists, and to showcase our similarities and break down the barriers that exist in the mind.
In other words, in a world where our options are shrinking, culture broadens possibilities and offers options. It is an enabler of the many when the few are powerless.
The crisis we now face has made the fragile more fragile. People with chronic illnesses, or those who have been in the hospital for long stays, are particularly susceptible to the virus.
Having worked with hospitals in the Emirates, we know that everything counts when it comes to making illness more bearable. Music might not be a vaccine but it certainly helps strengthen the will to fight back.
Huda I. Alkhamis-Kanoo, Founder, Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation and Founder & Artistic Director, Abu Dhabi Festival
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
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Starring: Amir El-Masry, Pierce Brosnan
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Rating: 4/5
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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.
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
10 tips for entry-level job seekers
- Have an up-to-date, professional LinkedIn profile. If you don’t have a LinkedIn account, set one up today. Avoid poor-quality profile pictures with distracting backgrounds. Include a professional summary and begin to grow your network.
- Keep track of the job trends in your sector through the news. Apply for job alerts at your dream organisations and the types of jobs you want – LinkedIn uses AI to share similar relevant jobs based on your selections.
- Double check that you’ve highlighted relevant skills on your resume and LinkedIn profile.
- For most entry-level jobs, your resume will first be filtered by an applicant tracking system for keywords. Look closely at the description of the job you are applying for and mirror the language as much as possible (while being honest and accurate about your skills and experience).
- Keep your CV professional and in a simple format – make sure you tailor your cover letter and application to the company and role.
- Go online and look for details on job specifications for your target position. Make a list of skills required and set yourself some learning goals to tick off all the necessary skills one by one.
- Don’t be afraid to reach outside your immediate friends and family to other acquaintances and let them know you are looking for new opportunities.
- Make sure you’ve set your LinkedIn profile to signal that you are “open to opportunities”. Also be sure to use LinkedIn to search for people who are still actively hiring by searching for those that have the headline “I’m hiring” or “We’re hiring” in their profile.
- Prepare for online interviews using mock interview tools. Even before landing interviews, it can be useful to start practising.
- Be professional and patient. Always be professional with whoever you are interacting with throughout your search process, this will be remembered. You need to be patient, dedicated and not give up on your search. Candidates need to make sure they are following up appropriately for roles they have applied.
Arda Atalay, head of Mena private sector at LinkedIn Talent Solutions, Rudy Bier, managing partner of Kinetic Business Solutions and Ben Kinerman Daltrey, co-founder of KinFitz
Why it pays to compare
A comparison of sending Dh20,000 from the UAE using two different routes at the same time - the first direct from a UAE bank to a bank in Germany, and the second from the same UAE bank via an online platform to Germany - found key differences in cost and speed. The transfers were both initiated on January 30.
Route 1: bank transfer
The UAE bank charged Dh152.25 for the Dh20,000 transfer. On top of that, their exchange rate margin added a difference of around Dh415, compared with the mid-market rate.
Total cost: Dh567.25 - around 2.9 per cent of the total amount
Total received: €4,670.30
Route 2: online platform
The UAE bank’s charge for sending Dh20,000 to a UK dirham-denominated account was Dh2.10. The exchange rate margin cost was Dh60, plus a Dh12 fee.
Total cost: Dh74.10, around 0.4 per cent of the transaction
Total received: €4,756
The UAE bank transfer was far quicker – around two to three working days, while the online platform took around four to five days, but was considerably cheaper. In the online platform transfer, the funds were also exposed to currency risk during the period it took for them to arrive.
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