Across most of the Arabic-speaking world, Mother’s Day is celebrated on March 21. In reality, though, the adoration of mothers is as perennial as it is primordial – twenty-four-seven, three-sixty-five, since before man began. As Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, tweeted on the evening before Mother’s Day in 2018: “For us, every day is a day to celebrate mothers, for they are an eternal source of giving. We are proud of their role in the family, community and nation, and we pray for their happiness.”
But what would make our mothers truly happy? If asked this question, I suspect many mothers would selflessly wish for their children’s happiness and wellbeing.
The UAE has made great progress in safeguarding and promoting the wellbeing of the nation's children. Examples of this work include Federal Law No 3 of 2016, better known as Wadeema's law. This extensive child rights law aims to ensure that all children in the UAE can be safe and happy and has led to the establishment of various child protective entities. Continuing this tradition, last Tuesday, Abu Dhabi's Early Childhood Authority launched the World Early Years Development movement.
The WED movement is a remarkably ambitious initiative. It aims to provide innovative answers to some of the critical challenges of 21st century childhood. For example, problematic technology use, unhealthy lifestyles and how best to promote children’s emotional wellbeing. Although launched in the UAE, the aims of the WED movement are global. Many of the solutions conceived in Abu Dhabi will work equally well on distant shores. It was the poet Maya Angelou who wrote: “We are more alike… than unlike”. This statement is even more accurate when applied to children. Similarly, the Nobel laureate Elie Wiesel wrote, “human suffering anywhere concerns men and women everywhere”. Again, a statement that is even more valid when it is children who are suffering.
Research spanning decades is unequivocal about the lifelong detrimental effects of adverse events in childhood. From bullying and parental neglect to poor nutrition, the fingerprints of early adversity are all over the social, physical and emotional problems that emerge in adolescence and adulthood. In the US, for example, the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention suggest that preventing adverse events in childhood would massively reduce some of the world’s leading causes of death and disability. This includes problems such as heart disease and suicide, substance misuse and depression.
What kind of things could we do to reduce the likelihood of children experiencing abuse and neglect? Better still, what could we do to actively promote positive growth, ensuring our children are psychologically resilient and enjoying optimum levels of emotional wellbeing. Answers to such questions will need to consider the child’s entire ecosystem and environment.
One place to start, however, is school. Bullying can be one of the most negative experiences for a child to endure. At the very least, most schools pay lip service to the idea of zero-tolerance for bullying. However, such a reactive and basic stance is no longer good enough. For me, schools should be more closely rated and ranked on how much they actively do to promote kindness and compassion among the whole school community. Children learn implicitly; if they see adults mistreating each other, it is no surprise that they too learn how to be unkind. There is a saying in Arabic, al-hilm qabl al-ilm: kindness before learning. Our schools would be wise to adopt this motto.
Another wellbeing innovation, one that has gained considerable prominence in recent years, is mindfulness. An attention training technique, mindfulness is used to explore emotions and reduce stress reactivity. This evidence-based approach to wellbeing has proven effective across a broad range of contexts, from reducing relapse in recurrent clinical depression to enhancing creativity and innovation. The UK's mindfulness in schools project was started in 2009 and aimed to make a difference in the lives of a generation of children by positively impacting their mental health and wellbeing. MiSP is on target to have taught over a million children practical mindfulness skills by 2025.
The UAE has made great progress in safeguarding and promoting the wellbeing of the nation's children
Also related to the work of MiSP, mindfulness will become part of the national school curriculum in Wales from September 2022. In preparation, all education professionals in Wales will be allowed to attend an eight-week adult mindfulness course. This is the most crucial part of the initiative for me: teachers becoming more mindful and compassionate, especially those working in primary school. Children learn their emotional responses, including kindness, by watching their elders.
Another innovation we might consider within the school context is an idea that I call the biophilic classroom. Biophilia is an idea popularised by Harvard naturalist Dr Edward Osborne Wilson. His central argument is that humans have an innate tendency to seek connections with nature and that the natural world soothes us. Classroom design should strive to be biophilic, using natural materials such as bare wood and stone, while also incorporating diverse forms of plant life. Such an environment can only impact the wellbeing of children and adults for the better.
If we want to honour mothers and make them happy, let’s think of innovative ways to promote their children’s mental health.
Justin Thomas is a professor of psychology at Zayed University and a columnist for The National
Infiniti QX80 specs
Engine: twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6
Power: 450hp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: From Dh450,000, Autograph model from Dh510,000
Available: Now
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)
The Pope's itinerary
Sunday, February 3, 2019 - Rome to Abu Dhabi
1pm: departure by plane from Rome / Fiumicino to Abu Dhabi
10pm: arrival at Abu Dhabi Presidential Airport
Monday, February 4
12pm: welcome ceremony at the main entrance of the Presidential Palace
12.20pm: visit Abu Dhabi Crown Prince at Presidential Palace
5pm: private meeting with Muslim Council of Elders at Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
6.10pm: Inter-religious in the Founder's Memorial
Tuesday, February 5 - Abu Dhabi to Rome
9.15am: private visit to undisclosed cathedral
10.30am: public mass at Zayed Sports City – with a homily by Pope Francis
12.40pm: farewell at Abu Dhabi Presidential Airport
1pm: departure by plane to Rome
5pm: arrival at the Rome / Ciampino International Airport
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
Key findings of Jenkins report
- Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
- Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
- Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
- Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
What sanctions would be reimposed?
Under ‘snapback’, measures imposed on Iran by the UN Security Council in six resolutions would be restored, including:
- An arms embargo
- A ban on uranium enrichment and reprocessing
- A ban on launches and other activities with ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons, as well as ballistic missile technology transfer and technical assistance
- A targeted global asset freeze and travel ban on Iranian individuals and entities
- Authorisation for countries to inspect Iran Air Cargo and Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines cargoes for banned goods
AI traffic lights to ease congestion at seven points to Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Street
The seven points are:
Shakhbout bin Sultan Street
Dhafeer Street
Hadbat Al Ghubainah Street (outbound)
Salama bint Butti Street
Al Dhafra Street
Rabdan Street
Umm Yifina Street exit (inbound)
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
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.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Company%20Profile
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The%20specs
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Women%E2%80%99s%20T20%20World%20Cup%20Qualifier
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The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
HIJRA
Starring: Lamar Faden, Khairiah Nathmy, Nawaf Al-Dhufairy
Director: Shahad Ameen
Rating: 3/5
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Sour%20Grapes
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The%20specs
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Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
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
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-finals, first leg
Liverpool v Roma
When: April 24, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Anfield, Liverpool
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 2, Stadio Olimpico, Rome
NEW%20UTILITY%20POLICY%3A%20WHAT%20DOES%20IT%20REGULATE%3F
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Brief scores:
Day 2
England: 277 & 19-0
West Indies: 154
Ferrari
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Our legal columnist
Name: Yousef Al Bahar
Advocate at Al Bahar & Associate Advocates and Legal Consultants, established in 1994
Education: Mr Al Bahar was born in 1979 and graduated in 2008 from the Judicial Institute. He took after his father, who was one of the first Emirati lawyers
The figures behind the event
1) More than 300 in-house cleaning crew
2) 165 staff assigned to sanitise public areas throughout the show
3) 1,000 social distancing stickers
4) 809 hand sanitiser dispensers placed throughout the venue
Quick facts on cancer
- Cancer is the second-leading cause of death worldwide, after cardiovascular diseases
- About one in five men and one in six women will develop cancer in their lifetime
- By 2040, global cancer cases are on track to reach 30 million
- 70 per cent of cancer deaths occur in low and middle-income countries
- This rate is expected to increase to 75 per cent by 2030
- At least one third of common cancers are preventable
- Genetic mutations play a role in 5 per cent to 10 per cent of cancers
- Up to 3.7 million lives could be saved annually by implementing the right health
strategies
- The total annual economic cost of cancer is $1.16 trillion
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Lamsa
Founder: Badr Ward
Launched: 2014
Employees: 60
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: EdTech
Funding to date: $15 million
