Desert Dawn by Fraser MacDonald

DesertDawn The Magazine of Dubai Women’s College

‫فجر الصحراء‬

TheWhenunrevealed trauma the source of sexual abuse is close Two-way street The relationship between a government and its citizens

‫ مسؤولية وطنية‬.. ‫قراءة الدستور‬

Contents

06 18 24

06 Women: The unrevealed trauma: when the source of sexual abuse is close It’s not normal What if no one proposed? What is your mother’s name? Divorced before wed! Education: Drugs in schools Rising stars Society: Two-way street: the relationship between a government and its citizens Any poor Emiratis out there? It’s a shame to seek a counselor! Work in Abu Dhabi? Dear Diary ... Going on a date! From the shadows

40 46

Health: Bento! Locally produced organic food Media: Blogging in the UAE The indelible Dunbar Self-censored journalists Google before you tweet All your rights are reserved

Personality: An Emirati multi-talented icon

!‫دخان وال نار‬

!‫ال وقت للرياضة! عذر غير مقبول‬

‫الشفافية بني عني الرقابة وعبء التوثيق‬

‫ الوأد الوظيفي‬.. ‫انطفاء الشعلة‬

‫السفر مرآة تعكس الهوية أم نافذة للحرية‬

‫ مسؤولية وطن ّية‬.. ‫قراءة الدستور‬

‫شارع ذو اجتاهني‬

‫السر غير املكشوف‬

The opinions presented in this issue do not necessarily represent the views of Desert Dawn, the Applied Communications Department, DWC or its officials. Desert Dawn welcomes submissions from all students, however, not all submissions may be printed and they may be edited for space, style and content. Desert Dawn is produced by DWC’s Applied Communications Department

Publisher Dr. Howard Reed

From the Director great incentive to learn even more and the journey towards excellence continues.

Dr. Howard Reed, DWC Director. Ayesha Bin Zayed/DWC

The Desert Dawn Team is certainly evolving and learning some of the finer points about publishing a magazine. They have learned that not everyone cares or reads what they write and of those who read it, the ones who give direct responses are a small minority. They thus learn that there are more subtle responses that provide useful feedback, such as unsolicited requests for more copies. They also learned that it takes time and money to publish a magazine and that they are in fact operating a small business. This powerful learning experience becomes a

In a ‘normal’ socio-economic climate, this unique authentic learning experience would probably go unnoticed beyond the content of the magazine. If the content is relevant, maybe even different and exciting, interest increases and expectations rise. If the socio-economic climate is depressed, turbulent or in some other way ‘abnormal’, Desert Dawn becomes even more relevant. Young people throughout the region are seeking ways to express their views, participate, make a difference, change unjust policies and depressing habits. They are looking for ‘space’ to flex their muscles and hopefully this refers to intellectual rather than physical muscle. Desert Dawn is an intellectual muscle flexing space for the Team and the readers. It is a hopeful expression of productive, youthful talent and energy. It is another great example of Dubai Women’s College Practicing the Future. Dr. Howard E. Reed

Publisher

howard.reed@hct.ac.ae 04 2089 202

Editors & Designers Hessa Al Hamadi & Reem Ahli Writers Abdulla Bufaroosha Afra Atiq Ahlam Al Bannai Amina Shahwari Aisha Bin Obood Asma Al Zaabi Ayesha Al Madani Eman Al Owais Fatema Al Kamali Fatima Al Matrooshi Hamda Al Bastaki Hamda Hassan Hessa Al Hamadi Jumana Ghanem Khulood Al Jasimi Latifa Al Karrani Maryam Al Falasi Maryam Al Mulla Mirah Al Falasi Muna Abdelkarim Nuha Hassan Reem Ahli Sara Al Jawi Shahad Al Zarooni Shaikha Al Ayali Shamma Al Mansouri Shamsa Ahmad Shatha Al Ameri Wafa Al Marzouqi Cover by Sara Al Jawi & Hessa Al Hamadi Advisors Dr. Behjat Al Yousuf Associate Director Dr. Hanan Hairab Chair-Applied Communications Arabic Text Editor Laura McNabb English Language Margo Tummel Graphic Design Rajaa Abu-Jabr Journalism Dubai Women’s College Tel. +9714 2672 929 PO Box 16062, Dubai www.dwc.hct.ac.ae For feedback regarding Desert Dawn, please contact Dr. Hanan Hairab on +9714 2089530 or email: desert.dawn@hct.ac.ae Written & designed by DWC Year 4 Applied Communications students

WOMEN

7 hide and seek and the grown-ups were in the living room sipping their tea and talking. One of the girls was counting down from one hundred. I still hear her childish voice fading away when my cousin took my hands and looked at me in a creepy way. He whispered, “I know a secret place where no one can find us.” Then he gave me a piece of candy. I was a bit curious so I went along with him. When we reached the storeroom, he said gently, “Lie down on the floor.” At that moment, I had goose bumps and I was terrified. “I don’t want to. I am afraid of roaches.” Then he grabbed my hand and pushed me down by force. “What are you doing?? Get off me!” I wailed. But he just continued.

Struggling to keep myself pure. Photograph by Sara Al Jawi/DWC

The unrevealed trauma

when the source of sexual abuse is close LATIFA AL KARRANI & SARA AL JAWI “I still remember that day like it was yesterday, I was about 7 years old when it first started. I found myself on the floor and my cousin on top of me. I felt weird movements. Suddenly, I felt pain,” says M. M. is now 23 years old. She reveals her disturbing story for the first time. Her cousin who was 14 years old at the time sexually

abused her in the storeroom. M lived with this secret trauma for 16 years. “I was only a child, but I knew that it wasn’t right and for some reason I was really terrified,” she testifies. A study done by Al Ittihad newspaper shows that 18 percent of child molestation is done by firstdegree relatives of the victims.

Shockingly “such incidents are rarely reported by the victims due to fear of causing disgrace to the family honor,” says Mohammad Ali Rostom, head of Family and Society Prosecution at Dubai Prosecution. M. tells her story. “I remember when we had a family gathering, where all the kids were playing

Incest (sexual abuse by a family member) is a problem that challenges world societies and is not specific to any one culture. In the past, more often offenders were relatives like uncles and cousins. Nowadays, they are closer family members of the victim, like fathers or brothers. “We must put an end to this problem before it becomes a phenomenon and spreads throughout our society,” says Widad Lootah, counselor at the Community Development Authority in Dubai.

Causes of this severe problem are things like social isolation experienced by children and teenagers, unquestioned seclusion in bedrooms and bathrooms with libidos and fantasies, and family disintegration. Some abusers have been victims themselves. Some were exposed to sexual content. “I recall my brother bringing me illegal pornography of siblings.

I refused to watch but he would force me, and then he started touching. When I fought back and tried to get out he started hurting me,” S.A. tells.

Physical, psychological and behavioral symptoms victims might suffer include unusual aggression, difficulty in walking or sitting, pain or itching in genital area, obesity, eating disorders, sleep disorders, sexual dysfunction, depression, anxiety, or selfdestructiveness. M. isolated and created a bubble around herself.

Incest (sexual abuse by a family member) is a problem that challenges world societies and is not specific to any one culture.

She made barely any friends and found it hard to trust anyone. M. was depressed; she tried to commit suicide by taking pills and started cutting herself after realizing that she had been molested.

H. has a brother who abused her at a very young age. It started with candies, a kiss on the cheek and ended with the loss of her virginity. This continued for years. Over time she got used to it and even started liking it. H. created a romantic fantasy in her mind where she loved her brother, and she refused the idea of getting married, just so she could stay close to her brother. “Incest has

a lifelong negative impact where most of the victims are between five to ten years old. At this young age such impact creates inner conflict where the child feels confused between feeling pleasure and feeling dirty at the same time,” explains Dr. Raymond Hamden, clinical and forensic psychologist at the Human Relations Institute in Knowledge Village, Dubai.

Because most of the victims are young children who do not know what incest is and cannot differentiate between proper and improper touching, education at an early age is critical. “Educate your child at the youngest age possible starting with two to seven year old kids. Use kids’ educational pictures to show them that it is not allowed for someone to touch their private parts. Using simple language that is age-appropriate will make the process clear and understandable. As for the seven to ten year olds, connect the reasons for why it is wrong for a person to touch their private areas to religious reasons. Never be shy to answer any of their questions because if they don’t learn it from you they might learn it from an abuser. When it comes to teenagers nowadays it is very important to know what they are doing behind closed doors,” Lootah advises. S.A. has been hiding her secret for almost 19 years now. She was sexually abused by two of her brothers and a cousin. She has bruises and scars from one of her brother’s repeated use of sharp objects like billiard sticks, pens and burning liquids like ink and alcohol when he physically abused her. Her isolated suffering continued as she gave up on ask-

9 ing outsiders for help after trying three times. “I approached my university’s counselor after my teacher became suspicious. I had my presentation that day and in the middle of it I fainted. My face was pale and I couldn’t walk properly. The teacher then asked me to talk to the counselor and tell her everything. I was telling myself that this was too big for me to handle. I felt exhausted. I needed to tell somebody so why not her? I then asked her to keep it a secret and not tell anybody on campus or even my parents because they would kill me for humiliating the family. The next day I came to the administration area to find that everyone there knew my story. Some of the employees asked me questions as they were curious about my situation. I was shocked, betrayed and crushed,” S.A. says.

It takes a lot of courage for these victims to seek help, especially when they are young, as they might not fully realize that what is happening is wrong. In some cases, victims might think what they are going through is normal. Some even feel they are obligated to continue doing it without resistance. “I thought it was something natural that happens in every household to every girl. I remember mentioning this to my classmates when I was 8 years old and the school counselor called my father in and told him for the first time about it,” S.A. explains. M. fears talking about her story because she is afraid of people finding out she is not a virgin. She feels ashamed and disgusted with herself. She prefers to keep it a secret. “A ‘no fear’ campaign is needed to break the silence and ignorance. The healing starts with

the victim’s reach for help, and we will help her all the way through it,” Lootah attests. In most sexual abuse cases it is hard for the victim or the victim’s family to sue the abuser due to lack of evidence. “Most sexual harassment cases are difficult to prove due to the absence of forensic evidence and because victims don’t report the case to the police when it happens,” explains Rostom.

In some cases, victims might think what they are going through is normal. Some even feel they are obligated to continue doing it without resistance.

Female victims who lost their virginity when they were sexually abused find it difficult to get married and move on, fearing what their husbands might think. “We help these girls by providing them with an official document from the police, supported by a doctor, testifying that she lost her virginity due to sexual abuse without her consent. This document will assure the fiancé, husband or even the father who does not believe his daughter, that the girl was not involved in forbidden relationships,” Lootah explains.

These victims live their lives with hidden secrets and shattered souls. Their experiences leave permanent scars. It is important to seek professional help to fix the damage so that victims do not become sexual abusers themselves in revenge. “I always thought of hurting his loved ones, but if I can’t forgive him how can I expect others to forgive me?,” M admits.

S.A. is still trying to end her battle with her brothers. She tries to protect her little sister and herself since none of her family members help her. They just cover it up. “I remember once when my little sister, who was about 2 years old at the time, came to me and her diaper wasn’t closed correctly. She had a piece of candy in her hand. ‘Who gave this candy to you?’ I asked her fearfully. She innocently smiled and pointed at my brother who had sexually abused me. I’ll never allow those monsters to touch my sister in that sick way. Since that day, I have watched her non-stop,” S.A. declares. “I suffer from insomnia and eating disorders. I often wake up crying and bleeding in the middle of the night.”

It’s not normal This is a true story and therefore name has been withheld to protect the writer’s privacy. Years ago, when I began to realize what was going on around me, I knew that there was a ‘special’ and ‘secret’ relationship between me and my father. One day, when I was about 14, I was wondering: “Why do the girls at school talk about their secret relationships with boys but not with their fathers?” As soon as I confessed to my best friend about my father, I knew that I was the only girl who was experiencing this ‘disgusting’ relationship. My siblings and my mother didn’t know anything about the secret between me and my father, however, my parents’ relationship was not any better. Despite all of that, I was the only one hurt by him and the only one who heard his lies over and over. When I was 7 years old, I was forced to spend more time alone with him while the rest of the family went shopping. They would return home with toys and candies, things which I used to envy.

At age of 14, when I discovered I was being abused, and after telling my friend, she advised me to talk to someone in my family. My father did not allow us to see anyone, only our relatives twice a year, for the Eid occasions. So I returned home that day and told my older brother. He told me he would help me if I just shouted or called for him when my father started abusing me. That was defi-

nitely impossible for me, because I had feared my father since I was a child and my relationship with my mother was awful because she was jealous of me whenever my father treated me better than her or bought anything for me. My relationships with my siblings were not any better; they hated seeing me the ‘beloved daughter’ of our father and they were always on our mother’s side, even when I was right.

When I told my brother his suggestion was completely impossible, he told me he would find another solution but I had to ‘close my mouth’ and never tell anyone, not even mom. I thought if my brother could help me, for sure mom would be able to do more, so I told her. At first, she told me to stay away from my father; I did not know she was planning something else. After he came home, mom told him everything, he denied it all, she slapped me, and my nightmare life had just begun. I was forced to take back all that I had said. After that day, I lived in fear for eight years. My father was using me for his own pleasures, mom was mean to me and our relationship was worsening day by day. Whenever she fought with him, she would ask me if he had abused me so as to threaten him and convince him to take her side. This scene repeated itself every few weeks, and the result was

always the same: they both were against me. No one knew how I felt; I used to cry almost every night. I began scratching my body and licking whatever blood emerged from my body. I felt that all males were a curse; they who caused my pain and sorrow, they whom I feared most, and they whom I wanted to destroy. My siblings were far from understanding me; they sided with my mom because they felt that I was a spoiled brat and bad daughter who tried to destroy the family. Their lives were not any better; they could not see or meet anyone except in school; they were forced to go to one shop in the mall for three hours once a week. In time, though, my sisters became my saviors. After I told them about the secret relationship, they tried their best to help me. They stayed awake all night to prevent any abuse and stood with me against mom when she hurt me.

When I was 21, he married another woman, who abused me even more than he did. However, now I live with my mom and siblings. We are happy despite the fact that he has opened many court cases against us. During those dark years I learnedhow to be patient, how to rely only on myself, and how to stick to whatever I believed in. I became a person who many others now trust and believe in.

11 and explained the whole situation to him. The Prophet replied: ‘Why not marry Hafsa to someone who is better than both Abu Bakr and Othman?”

Do women in the UAE propose? Latifa Al Falasi/DWC

What if no one proposed? HAMDAH HASSAN “I always dreamt of wearing the white wedding gown, having a fancy wedding everyone talked about, and having babies and a big family; I always wanted to be a successful housewife. However, deep inside I knew that my dream would not come true unless someone proposed,” admits Fatima Al Kaabi, a 30 year old manager. Marriage is almost every girl’s wish; however, most girls have to wait for the man to propose. The tradition of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) dictates that it’s the man’s duty to propose to the woman. Islam gives another view of marriage proposal. During the

Islamic era, it was the parents’ duty to find, choose and propose to the man they thought would be a righteous husband for their daughters.

This takes us to a famous story in Islam when Caliph Omar bin al-Khattab started thinking about marriage for his daughter, Hafsa. Caliph Omar first thought of his dearest friend Abu Bakr and asked him to marry Hafsa, but Abu Bakr remained quiet and Caliph Omar was very disappointed. Then Caliph Omar went to his other friend, Othman, who had recently lost his wife. Othman answered that he did not want to marry at that time. Caliph Omar then went to the Prophet Mohamed

In a culturally conservative country like the UAE, a woman’s proposal is considered inappropriate. It is rare that a man or his family would accept it. Abdulaziz Al Hammadi, a marriage counselor at Dubai Courts, Family Guidance and Reconciliation Section, notes that a woman’s proposal, including her parents’, is considered a sensitive issue to discuss in the UAE. “It’s hard to convince society to accept the idea of women proposing to men.” Al Hammadi mentioned a few cases he dealt with where the father of the bride had arranged to propose by approaching the groom’s family. “This type of marriage is very rare and usually happens between very closely related families,” Al Hammadi adds. Culture and tradition in the UAE impact peoples’ mentality and values, and control their actions and how they evaluate things. Twenty-eight year old operation officer, Abdulla Hammad, thinks it is inappropriate for a woman to propose to a man. “It is the man’s job to propose, it is human nature and a man will always want to feel responsible.” Hammad thinks that it would be very disrespectful and humiliating for the man if a woman asked for his hand in marriage.

This belief is not only among Emirati men. Some Emirati women have a similar way of thinking and are concerned about how people would judge them as a woman’s proposal is so uncommon. “It’s

shameful; I will never take the initiative to propose, and I will not let my parents do so either.” Reem Ahmed, 26, finds it very awkward to propose. “I don’t want him teasing me and telling me that I was the one who pursued him.”

Unlike some Emirati women, HR employee Mona Yaqoob, 27, does not mind the idea of her parents approaching a man. “Things would be much better if a woman’s parents could find husbands for their daughters.” Yaqoob adds that this would help to decrease the percentage of spinsters. Agreeing, university student Rashed Al Matrooshi says, “I wouldn’t mind for a woman to come and ask for my hand in marriage, especially if it was someone I loved and didn’t have the courage to ask her myself.”

Some people are open-minded about women’s proposals, but with some conditions as marriage is a lifetime commitment. “I wouldn’t have a problem if a woman or her family proposed to me,” says Mansoor Sultan, an engineer. He notes his main concern is to get to know the girl and her family before the marriage, and his parents should also accept the girl. There are many points that parents and women should consider before proposing, because rejection is most likely to happen and no one wants to be in such a situation. “If any woman or her family decides to propose, they should find the right way to do so,” says Al Hammadi. He added that the parents of the woman should ask a lot about the family they are proposing to, whether or not they are open-minded about such

matters. He emphasized that this should be done indirectly or through someone the family trusts before they actually propose. Parents, especially mothers, are very sensitive when it comes to their daughters’ marriage. They worry if no one proposes. Amna O., mother of two daughters, refuses the idea of finding a husband for her daughters. “If I do so, people will immediately think that something is wrong with my girls, or I want to get rid of them.”

In a culturally conservative country like the UAE, a woman’s proposal is considered inappropriate. It is rare that a man or his family would accept it. Some Emirati women have taken the risk and proposed to men; the experiences varied. Alia Saleh, a banker, was in love for four years and wondered why he did not propose. “I thought I should take the first step so I asked my mother to approach his family, and they accepted. Sometimes a girl should stand up for what she wants and try hard to get it.”

Hamdah Ali, a senior development executive, shared her experience regarding the man she thinks is the one for her. “I met him five

years ago, and we have been in a relationship ever since. He never brought up the subject of marriage, and when I finally got the courage and told him how I felt, he rejected me and said he is not thinking of getting married now.” She has not given up on the relationship.

University student Sultan Salem experienced a woman’s proposal. “I was speechless when my parents said that our neighbor asked me to marry their daughter.” Salem was even more shocked when his parents showed interest and asked him to seriously think about the proposal. Women have altered many traditional gender roles since they started running for high governmental positions, competing in different sport games, and owning their own businesses. As many women take on larger leadership roles in the workplace and in society, with moral support from their families, perhaps women and parents should consider taking the lead in marriage proposals.

What is your mother’s name? SHAIKHA AL AYALI by his mother’s name is embarrassing to him.

This behavior by some men is not well-received by many women. Afra Atiq, 22, is a university student who sees such behavior as rude. “I think we are past the tribal days of women’s names being taboo. I have worked hard to get where I am. I am not inferior to anyone so why not use my name?”

Is a woman’s name forbidden? Shaikha Al Ayali/DWC

The house bell rang. An invitation was given to me from one of our relatives. Exciting! It was a silk wedding invitation box decorated by a card adorned with a crystal buckle and golden ribbon A classic invitation with an elegant font type, but who was the bride? Was it Sara’s or Mariam’s wedding? They both were engaged. Omitting the woman’s name is not a unique story that belongs to a specific person or group of people. It has been practiced for a long time and has become a custom within the Arab world, specifically the Gulf region. The traditions that appeared in the era of ‘ignorance’ (Jahiliah)

still influence some men’s behavior today. Until now, some men feel shy to mention their mothers’, sisters’, or wives’ names in front of other men. They often use expressions to hide the woman’s identity. Instead of using her given name, he refers to her as: the family, the children, or ‘al radeea’a’ which means ‘my sister’ in Emirati society. Some men believe that saving a woman’s name on their mobiles will put them in a sensitive situation if any of their friends read her name on an incoming call. This attitude affects young boys’ behavior towards their relatives. For instance, in the Arab culture, calling a young boy

Although education has helped change some of these behaviors, still there hasn’t been great improvement. Despite all the progress of civilization, we still suffer the impact driven from the pre-Islamic era of ‘ignorance.’ Neglecting the woman’s name is a cultural contradiction, where a woman has been given a name and subsequently had it taken away from her. Still, some men overreact.

Government employee Rashid Al Muhairi, 27, had a fight with one of his friends when the friend asked Al Muhairi about his mother’s name. “I was embarrassed when he asked me in front of my friends.” He believes there is no need to disclose the name of his mother, sister or wife because it is personal; unless it is necessary to spell it out on an application form. University student Salem Al Hammadi, disagrees with Al Muhairi. “I strongly believe that

the name doesn’t affect the woman directly, there is no logical reason not to pronounce a woman’s name.” Al Hammadi stresses that calling each woman by her name is a way to show her the respect she deserves. Arguing with that, Shamma Abdullah, housewife, admits that some behavior and reactions from men make her uncomfortable to hear her name spoken out loud in public. “It is annoying when some young boys don’t take people’s names seriously and they just make fun of them, especially when it’s one of the old names in our society,” she says. In the local culture, withholding the woman’s name is considered a way to preserve her dignity. A woman will have more value under her husband’s or father’s name, or in reference to her oldest son like ‘Um Mohammad’. However, these practices do not honor the most basic rights of women. Instead, men should pronounce women’s names in front of others respectfully and proudly.

The Holy Quran was written over 1400 years ago. It has Surah 19: Maryam (Mary) titled by a woman’s name. Islam honors women and their rights and protects them from injustice. Anas Bin Malik narrates: “We arrived at Khaibar. I saw the Prophet, making for Safiya ‘the prophet’s wife,’ a kind

of cushion with his cloak behind him [on his camel]. He then sat beside his camel and put his knee for Safiya to put her foot on, in order to ride [on the camel]. He didn’t feel shy about his soldiers observing the scene, and when everyone else only whispered the names of their women, our prophet stated his wives’ names and showed his love in front of everyone.”

(The Holy Quran) has Surah 19: Maryam (Mary) titled by a woman’s name. Islam honors women and their rights and protects them from injustice.

There is additional evidence from Shari’ah when Amr bin Al’Aas asked the Prophet: “O, Prophet of Allah whom do you love the most?” “Ayesha,” he replied. “And whom do you love the most among the men?” “Her father,” the Prophet said. (Hadith in Bukhari)

“These days men don’t think to mention the names of any women in their family; they just point to them using different ways, ignoring the way women feel about it,” says Dr. Mohammad Al Olama, chancellor of the College of Law at United Arab Emirates University. However, thousands of years ago, when the Prophet Mohammed was sitting in an open area with some men, someone asked about the name of the woman sitting beside him. He answered in front of everyone that she was his wife, Safia. Al Olama points out that it is not forbidden in Islam to mention a woman’s name; all these behaviors are a result of the era of ‘ignorance.’ The Prophet Mohammad stated the names of his wives and daughters in front of all strangers and publicly disclosed his feelings and love. Some men assume a female’s name is an embarrassment that should not be announced in public for religious reasons. However, an understanding of the teachings of Islam proves the opposite. This is purely a cultural belief.

Divorced before wed! MARYAM AL MULLA In a coffee shop in Dubai, Sara was enjoying her regular cup of coffee while flipping through a magazine when suddenly her eyes froze on a wedding ring advertisement. She stared at the picture for almost an hour, remembering her Melcha. Sara started to cry; she had gotten divorced only because of cancer. “I was really shocked when I learned that I had breast cancer. I got the bad news six months after my Melcha,” recounts 30 year old Sara Ahmed, remembering her awful divorce. Melcha is a signed official document declaring the couple officially married before the wedding ceremony takes place. Divorce during the Melcha is a sensitive issue in UAE society. While some families look at divorced females negatively, others are more open-minded and do not pass judgment.

A divorced couple. Wafa Al Marzouqi\DWC

If divorce is no longer a big issue why do some families still judge these divorced girls harshly? Government employee Hessa Ahmad, 27, was rejected by her colleague’s mother when she learned that Hessa was divorced. “I felt very resentful of being rejected just because I got divorced during my Melcha.” Hessa believes divorced girls in UAE society are not given the right of a second chance. Families often play a major role in

divorce during the Melcha. Abdul Aziz Al Hamadi, a family counselor in Dubai Courts, notes that the involvement of families can make the problem worse. “Mothers, particularly, play a major role in the divorce. How? Normally, they start encouraging their daughters to ask for unbelievable demands. For example, she may encourage her daughter to ask the husband to book their wedding ceremony in the Grand Hayatt rather than the Al Bustan Rotana because it is a newer and more prestigious hotel.”

here in Dubai Courts, but I can say that yes, the number of divorces during this period is increasing.”

“From my experience I found that sometimes a person might be a professor, or CEO or a manager in a high position, but the mentality and understanding of marriage and divorce is very narrow,” Al Hamadi adds.

Some families in the UAE extend the Melcha three to seven months or even longer. Others limit it to a month or even just a few days.

The divorce cases during the Melcha period in Dubai Courts are increasing...

The number of divorce cases during the Melcha in Dubai Courts is increasing according to Al Hamadi. “There is no single statistic that shows the number of divorced cases during the Melcha

UAE culture prevents the bride from meeting or talking to her groom unless there is an official marriage agreement, the Melcha. Only during the Melcha can couples get to know each other closely, but within limits. “I am very disappointed with our culture; my family forced me to agree to the Melcha just because I told them I needed to know more about my future husband before getting officially married. My parents were against the idea of meeting with him before the Melcha,” Elham Abdulla, 35, complained. She emphasized culture has to change and parents must allow their daughters to meet their future partners before the Melcha takes place. “I got divorced after only two months because we did not share anything in common.”

DEWA employee Hanan Al Muhairi, believes the UAE culture is complicated. “Here in the UAE every family sets up their own limitations, boundaries and rules. What might be applicable for my friends’ family might not be applicable for my own family. I believe divorce at an earlier stage

16 is better because the couples might have kids and they could ruin their kids’ lives badly.”

Reasons for divorce during the Melcha might vary from one case to another. Mukhtar Gharib, a lawyer, introduced examples of some divorce cases during the Melcha and emphasized that most of the reasons were not valid. “A couple, with their families, came to my office for a divorce and the reason was a disagreement between the bride and groom about the wedding stage design. They were stubborn and unfortunately their parents supported the idea of divorce.”

Infidelity is another reason for divorce during the Melcha. “I received a 26 year old woman in my office requesting divorce. She said, ‘I cannot continue with the marriage procedures because I found out that he is in a love relationship with another woman’. She had a point and I agreed with her.” Gharib acted on her request. Muna, a government employee, explained her reason for a Melcha divorce. “We simply got divorced because my ex-partner disagreed with me about having my wedding dress made in Lebanon; his ridiculous reason was the cost.” Muna seemed happy and unaffected by her divorce. Gharib advises that Melcha married couples read more about marriage responsibilities and attend workshops the Marriage Fund offers. “As a lawyer I encourage and advise women and men to read the Personal Status Law book, which is available at Dubai Court and in most bookshops.”

Gharib emphasized the value of reading this book before marriage because both parties need to know more about the rights and responsibilities of marriage.

EDUCATION

Drugs in schools SHAHAD AL ZAROONI was addicted to Tramadol and Lyrica, prescription drugs that he bought from his friends for 10 Dirhams. We found out when he overdosed and was taken to hospital by his friends. It was a shock for us since we didn’t expect such behavior from our son; he was a totally different person at home.”

Missing school and declining grades are signs of drug use. Hessa Al Hamadi/DWC

“I started inhaling lighter fluid by putting the gas adapter under my teeth. I used to do it with my friends in school during our break time. It was a weird feeling as it made us feel high and sleepy the whole day. This addiction was common among high school students. Things became worse and we couldn’t stop the habit and soon we needed something stronger,” tells Ahmed M., an 18 year old high school student. He is one of many Emirati teenagers

who have been drawn into drug addiction.

Drugs have no rightful place anywhere in society, especially among the young people. It is a nightmare for parents. A news article published on 12th May, 2010, in Al Emarat Al Youm, reported that 8,749 abuse substances intended for high school students were confiscated by the police.

Tramadol, one of the most misused drugs on campuses these days, is a prescription drug found in any pharmacy and can be prescribed by any doctor. Painkillers like Tramadol are very harmful as they cause hallucination, red eyes, feeling high, and low appetite. Salem Ahmed, father of a 19-yearold son, says: “My son took drugs for three years starting in grade 10 and we didn’t know that he

Waleed Khalid, 20, who has only completed grade nine, tells about his addiction. “I took Tramadol ,Lyrica ,smoked K2 spice, chewed nicotine which we bought from groceries, plus a lot of drugs that were cheap and easy to find everywhere. We kept searching for drugs and shared with each other. I am now addicted to heroin. I tried to stop several times, but I couldn’t. Everyone around me, my friends at school and my cousins, are into drugs. I quit school years ago and continued taking drugs until one of my friends died because of drugs.”

Not only boys take drugs at school; girls at schools and universities are also using. “Many girls call me asking for drugs,” Khalid adds.

Parents do not spend much time with their children and they do not check the backgrounds of their children’s friends. Students are influenced by each other. Parents need to be aware. “I don’t give my children everything, but provide them with their needs.

My husband and I make conscious decisions about our kids. We give each of them 150 dirhams weekly and we monitor how they spend it. We set curfews and we call them every hour when they are out. We also get to know their friends and those families just to make sure that they are good company for our kids,” says Hamdah K., a mother of seven kids.

Studies show that teenage addicts are often from broken families that have weak connections among the members.

University student Ali Saeed, 20, was addicted to drugs during high school. He learned to take drugs from a friend in school and he taught another friend to use as well. “We used to smoke K2. We called it Space; it’s a kind of spice we put in the pipe. We bought it from different people. We also used to take presecription pain killers. We bought them from networks in Dubai. Most guys go to networks to use and buy drugs. I stopped when my

parents found out. They took me abroad for treatment and to keep me away from my friends. I regret what I did and I feel sorry for all my friends. If time was turned back, I wouldn’t do what I did,” says Saeed.

Khalifa Ahmed, a father, thinks the UAE government should assign students who are trustworthy and known for their good morals in school as detectives. He suggests that these secret student detectives get paid by the government. They would assist the police in detecting students abusing drugs and help the government identify the distributors.

In the UAE there are rehab centers that advise and support parents whose children are drug addicts. The National Rehabilitation Center of Abu Dhabi admits that although awareness is growing, the percentage of drug abuse is increasing among young people. Many teenagers who visit the Center are usually about 18 years old using hallucination pills and pain killers. In many cases, this is followed by the use of white and black poisons. Dr. Hamadan, a family phychiatrist in Dubai, says the teen years are a very sensitive period when curiosity, love of exploration and adventure control teens’ behavior. They are open to various experiences including drug abuse. Teens may also turn to drugs to deal

21 with family problems and issues. Studies show that teenage addicts are often from broken families that have weak connections among the members. These teenagers often suffer from a variety of social problems; peer pressure and the need to belong are significant factors. Addiction treatment should always start with toxin and physiological treatment and then move to the rehabilitation stage. The physiological treatment must be taken into account when developing a treatment plan.

Treating the psychological problems connected with the social and family problems experienced by the patient is very important. If ignored by the parents themselves, this may lead to a relapse. “To prevent such a situation, I believe that parents should spend more time with their children and try to listen to their problems, and observe and plan for their futures early,” Dr. Hamadan advises.

There are a number of warning signs and symptoms you will notice if your son or daughter is an addict:

Rising stars

• Using eye drops to help with red eyes or dilated pupils

JUMANA GHANEM

• Red eyes and dilated or smaller pupils • Unexpected weight loss or gain • Loss of appetite

• Changes in physical appearance (cleanness, tidiness, and hygiene) • Bad odor on breath or clothing

• Hesitation in speaking and stuttering • Acting hyper and abnormal • Always asking for money

• Skipping school and getting lower grades

• Change in friends and being secretive about them • Changes in manners

• Sudden changes in mood

• Wanting more privacy; locking doors; avoiding eye contact; sneaking around • Missing money and valuables

• Acting uncharacteristically isolated, withdrawn, or depressed

• Using incense, perfume, or air freshener to hide the smell of smoke or drugs

Having self-confidence, believing in your abilities, owning a clear vision, and working hard keep the dreams alive and help achieve success. Desert Dawn meets with more outstanding students in some of Dubai’s high schools who share their successes, dreams, and ambitions. 1. Marwa Hassan

School: Al Shorouq Private School Age: 17 Favorite subjects: math and biology Interests: reading, swimming, and adventure

“I’m very optimistic, active and ambitious. I would like to study biotechnology, especially genetic engineering. After reading scientific research about the importance of the stem cells, I promised myself to work hard and achieve my big goal, which is to be a doctor in stem cells engineering. I’m very sure that achieving this goal is challenging and needs very hard work, but no one in life succeeds and achieves big accomplishments without risks and challenges. My role models in life are people who achieved successes from nothing. Therefore, I would like to start from zero and grow step by step in terms of achieving my big ambitions.”

2. Sara Khalid Mohammed

School: Dubai First Private School Age: 16 Favorite subjects: math Interests: reading and programming

“All my classmates think that I’m an introverted and nervous person, but the truth is that I’m very calm and I don’t like anyone to interrupt me during classes. I’m a workaholic. I like to focus on my studies and get high marks. I spend my whole day studying, that’s why I don’t have time to practice my hobbies or gather with friends and family. I will study computer science as I want to be a successful programmer.” 3. Muna Mohammed Al Awadi

School: The New World Private School Age: 17 Favorite subjects: psychology and Arabic Interests: swimming

“I love psychology so much. I always get high marks in it. For this reason, I decided to study psychology and become a psychologist. I always like to take part in improving our society and help in solving social and psychological problems so we can have balanced individuals and society.”

23 4. Ahlam Salah Al Shihhi

7. Noora Jamal Ibrahim

School: Al Sofouh High School Age: 17 Favorite subjects: English and math Interests: music

School: Princess Haya bint Al Hussain School Age: 17 Favorite subjects: biology Interests: reading encyclopedias

“I’m a friendly, active, confident, and sociable girl. I like participating in educational events, competitions, and debates. This gives me the chance to meet new people and new cultures. Through participation in these activities I try new things, so I can know myself better. After graduating from high school I wish to study music, but unfortunately everyone is against me because of tradition. I will never give up. I will practice it as a hobby and will study something related to it like media studies, specifically television and radio.”

5. Fatima Al Marri

“Since I was in primary school, I have been curious to learn about the human body and I love to learn more and more about it. My friends and family noticed and they encourage me to study medicine, which I think would be the most suitable major for me. I’m confident, intelligent, and always seek to learn about the human body and enhance my knowledge. Since I’m the student parliament president in the school, I always focus on spreading the importance of knowledge and advise students to expand their knowledge and enlighten their thinking.” 8. Aya Al Bastaki

School: Al Ettihad Private School Age: 17 Favorite subjects: history Interests: helping others

“Before I was confused and didn’t know what to study, but after the changes that are happening recently in the world, I’m really excited to study international studies or political science. I will also take courses in business management because my dream for the next ten years is to have a successful business company. I would like to take an effective role in the prosperity and development of the UAE, economically and politically. My role model is His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid because he is business savvy, a great leader, a great thinker, and has a clear, strong vision. He wants the best and works to achieve it. From him I learnt that nothing is impossible and if we keep working on our dreams, we will accomplish them.” 6. Lateefa Abdulla Al Awadi

School: Al Raya High School Age: 17 Favorite subjects: all Interests: drawing, illustrating, and playing the organ

“Everyone around me tells me that I’m talented and this encourages me to develop and improve my talents. Since my hobbies are drawing and illustration, I would like to become a famous Emirati animator. I get my inspiration from the Japanese and Korean animes. I started by learning Japanese, and I really wish to travel to these countries to complete my study in animation so I can apply what I learn to create an Emirati animes version. I would like to be a great artist like Leonardo da Vinci - when his name is mentioned, you taste the art.”

School: Al Mawakeb Private School Age: 16 Favorite subjects: English and biology Interests: reading, swimming, basketball.

“I plan to go to college and excel in my studies; mainly digging into myself, to find the person I am and know exactly what I want in life. Many people have goals that vary in type and ambition. My precise aim and goal is to be an aspiring writer, seeking to learn and gain new things in life and remain undaunted all the way, until I finally reach a point of satisfaction. Success! I am very fond of the idea of participation and volunteerism. I feel it gives a person a good chance to socialize and interact with new people. I like participating in school activities like talent shows and national day celebrations.”

9. Shaima Abdulla Al Shaikh

School: Al Khaleej National School Age: 17 Favorite subjects: biology and physics Interests: reading, video games, and writing poetry

“I’ve applied for a scholarship and hopefully I will continue study abroad, either in Malaysia or the U.S.A. Hopefully, I will major in biotechnology/genetic engineering, then master in bioformatics. I love this major because it helps me understand how the world around us functions. It allows us to see life and this world from a different perspective. It feeds my curiosity when it comes to how our bodies function. My goal would be to serve humanity and Allah in the best possible way. I hope I will be able to cure many diseases.”

SOCIETY

25 justice, and ensured safety and security. Citizens also have many privileges such as free access to health services, marriage fund payments for men, social security to the unemployed, widowed, divorced, disabled and elderly; and most importantly, free education for all Emiratis. The UAE Constitution states in “Article 17: Education shall be a fundamental factor for the progress of society. It shall be compulsory in its primary stage and free of charge at all stages, within the Union. The law shall prescribe the necessary plans for the propagation and spread of education at various levels and for the eradication of illiteracy.” The founder of the UAE, H.H. the late Sheikh Zayed, focused on providing high quality living for his people and improving living conditions. Therefore, the UAE is classified as a high-income developing country and is considered among the highest country rates of Gross Domestic Product (GDP - The market value of goods and services produced in a given year).

Spoiled syndrome among some Emiratis. Sara Al Jawi/DWC

Twow ay street the relationship between a government and its citizens SARA AL JAWI At the beginning of the semester some students mark their desks to state that the desk belongs to them, not realizing that the desk is being paid for by the government and will be used by other students. In the workforce, some employees delay their tasks for the next day and play on their Ipads or computers and leave work at 2:00pm sharp. At home, some let the maid teach their children and help them with their homework while they watch TV or go shopping. In a majlis, one may

hear complaints and demands for free water bills, no Salik fees, discounts for fines and so on. Some locals behave like spoiled children who have the “I Want Syndrome.” Experts say that parents who indulge their children and excuse them from taking responsibility create a sense of entitlement among their children with no duties or contributions. For example, when a person walks in the park and sees garbage on the ground he

just passes by. In his mind, he feels it is not his responsibility, but rather the job of the Dubai Municipality cleaner.

Some actions and behavior of locals may be interpreted as spoiled and can hinder the development of the United Arab Emirates and its human capital.

The UAE is a young society, only 39 years old. Since its establishment, the UAE has provided citizens with rights such as equality, social

With all the privileges that a UAE citizen has, some attitudinal acts seem ungrateful. “Since the establishment of the UAE in 1971, it has built on several core principles, one of these principles being that the government provides fundamental services of free education, healthcare and housing, and essential employment. So while the provision of these services for free is a great comfort to Emiratis, this welfare state formula has also created a comfort zone for Emiratis that unfortunately has negative consequences in the shape of a sense of entitlement and complacency among Emirati nationals. I will not generalize and say with all Emiratis, but with

many,” says H.E. Najla Al Awadhi, former member of the UAE Federal National Council, CEO of Najla Al Awadhi Consulting.

“...this welfare state formula has also created a comfort zone for Emiratis that unfortunately has negative consequences...” Local citizen benefits include Emiratisation, a government policy that aims to provide job opportunities for UAE nationals. According to Tanmia, the National Human Resource Development and Employment Authority, “UAE nationals represent less than two percent of the private sector which is considered the major employer in the country (52 percent).” Furthermore, less than 10 percent of Emiratis represent the country’s total labor force. “I see a lot of UAE nationals who don’t have that expectation of themselves and a sense of duty to make the UAE a better, wealthier, more creative place,” says current affairs commentator, Mishaal Al Gergawi.

A law from the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs was issued in 2004 reinforcing citizens’ participation in the private sector under the title of “Training and Employment of UAE Citizens in the Private Sector.” The law states that all companies in the trade sector with 50 employees or more shall employ nationals at a ratio of

two percent yearly. This, however, creates a dilemma. “I disagree with the view the government should provide nationals with jobs. What is missing is the clear message of what responsibility and role the recipient of these rights has towards the nation,” Al Gergawi adds.

Are the citizens being spoon-fed by the country? Or is the UAE doing its best to provide its citizens with privileges because they represent the minority in their own country? The Emirates has been in a race to build strong human capital, yet many Emiratis are not playing a role in giving back to the country. “If you ask most nationals what they believe their duty is towards their nation, they would probably say that they are willing to fight for the UAE. But citizenship shouldn’t only be exercised during periods of existential threat alone,” says Al Gergawi.

Nevertheless, there are many Emiratis who do give back to the country, even in the simplest ways. Marwa Al Shaibani, a student at Zayed University is one example. She and her team came up with Young Eager Steps, an organization that helps the needy and organizes social events for the community. “Giving back to the community doesn’t have limits or restrictions; you can pick whatever you love to do and do it,” says Al Shaibani. A citizen can give back in many ways like working hard in a job, raising good children, being a top student, or donating a dirham. Such contributions are not just our civic duty, but are also a part of our religion. “I think it starts at home and how families teach young Emiratis about their role in life, their work ethic and that

27 nobody owes them anything. The world doesn’t owe them anything, they have to go out and make their way in the world,” Al Awadhi notes. Al Awadhi believes that one can learn about civic duty at home, in school, and through media - a very powerful tool. “If there was progressive media in terms of putting information forward that makes Emiratis feel that they need to stand up in life and be as equally strong as the government, it would definitely affect the mindset of the Emiratis, their sense of entitlement and sense of civic duty,” she says.

Another factor that creates a sense of entitlement is oil. Does the country depend on oil wealth more than human capital? According to U.S Energy Information Administration, the UAE has been able to reserve oil during the last decade due to Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR), a term for techniques used to increase the amount of oil that can be extracted from an oil field. “Oil is viewed as a somewhat abundant revenue source, which doesn’t require the majority of the country to be productive. Its revenues and its reinvestment allows the country to not depend on the productivity of its citizens,” Al Gergawi notes. The principle of gratitude is lacking in some Emiratis; the relationship between the citizens and the government is a two-way street. “You’re in trouble if you think that there’s an endless wealth of oil and the government will keep on doing this when the productivity of UAE nationals is not high,” saysAl Awadhi.

Living their future. Fatema Al Kamali/DWC

Any poor Emiratis out there? FATEMA AL KAMALI & HAMDA AL BASTAKI

You can give back to your country. Sara Al Jawi/DWC

The poorest forty-one countries (567 million people) have less money than the seven richest people in the world combined. There are people living under the poverty line in poor as well as wealthy countries. Poverty is present everywhere. Over three billion people, almost half of the world’s population, live on less than Dh9.2 a day. Globally, Dh4.6 per day is defined as the poverty

line. According to Dubai Economic Council, the poverty line in the United Arab Emirates is Dh80 per day. The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) refers to the total market value of all goods and services produced in a country in a given year, equal to total consumer investment and government spending, plus the value of

exports, minus the value of imports. It’s often considered an indicator of a country’s standard of living. On a global scale, and according to CIA World Factbook and the International Monetary Fund, the UAE’s GDP was ranked number 35 out of 190 countries in 2010. The European Union came first on the list. Even though the world economic crisis affected countries’ economies negatively,

29 the UAE still managed to be among the top countries in GDP ranking.

Abu Dhabi and Dubai control 83.2 percent of the country’s wealth; they are the largest suppliers and producers of oil. This uneven distribution of economic development in the UAE makes some Emirates poorer than others. The other five emirates comprise only 6.9 percent of the country’s wealth, creating dependence on the federal government for financial support.

Causes of poverty differ from one country to another. One of the main causes in the UAE is society’s focus on image. As an example, most individuals in an Emirati family own their own cars. Mostly they buy high standard cars and don’t mind applying for a loan to own such cars. Ministry of Social Affairs research points to ‘high standards’ as the most common factor of the impoverished, followed by the cost of living. People would not be living in poor conditions if a luxurious life had not been one of their priorities. Ninety-eight percent of families getting help from the Red Crescent have loans that leave them unable to pay for the essentials of living. Many families know they are eligible for help from specialized foundations. The main reason they do not ask for help is shame; they think it is embarrassing. Pride and dignity stop them from asking for the aid they need.

The UAE has no official published research regarding people living under the poverty line. The only available statistics go back to 2008, prior to the economic crisis.

A well-known Emirati organization studies the poverty in the country annually, but does not provide research results for the public. When asked to provide research findings, they said it was confidential.

Ninety-eight percent of families getting help from the Red Crescent have loans that leave them unable to pay for the essentials of living.

“The ministry is working on research to come up with detailed statistics about poverty in the UAE which will be available by the end of 2011,” said Abdulsamad Al Kamali, coordinator at Social Security Administration, Ministry of Social Affairs. All studies verify that there are no individuals living within the global poverty line in the UAE. Dr. Faris Abdulrazak, chief economist of the Dubai Economic Council says, “construction workers have the lowest salaries in the country; however, they earn more than Dh5,500 per year which is the global standard of poverty according to The World Bank.” “An individual whose salary is Dh1250 or less can get help from the government. The Ministry of Social Affairs contributes to individuals by helping them financially

starting from Dh625,” Al Kamali explains. Low salaries are not the only factor the Ministry considers. There are different categories the government uses to determine when to help those in need, so all residents get the food they need to survive. However, these families will still be considered poor according to the Emirati standards of living.

The UAE’s Federal Law No. 2 of 2001 regarding Social Security Law states that widows, orphans, special needs, elderly, divorced and some other groups can legitimately receive financial aid from the government. There are rules that apply before helping needy families. Specialized centers look at the income, the properties they own, the ratio of family members to rooms, rent cost and health status.

Dubai Economic Council has listed different standards in measuring poverty in the UAE. “The council studied the minimum acceptance within the society,” Dr. Faris explains. Each country has different principles of living, and this is what was considered before coming up with a poverty line for the country. The results show that out of 16.9 percent of the poor residents, 7.2 percent are Emiratis. People living under Dh80 a day are considered poor according to the standards of living, which is Dh2400 per month. This amount for a family of six –the average Emirati family - is not enough to fulfill basic needs. Food, petrol, electricity, water and other items are daily life expenses. The federal or local government supports nearly 27 percent of Emiratis. Help can be provided

as part of the citizens’ salaries; in addition to their basic salaries, some people receive money for house rent and school fees for their children. “Other than my basic salary, the company I work for pays for my kids’ education, health insurance and part of my house rent,” says Saeed Mohammed, an Emirati father of four. “With the high cost of living, it would be hard for many householders to provide their family with an average lifestyle without the help of the government.”

Apparently, if the government stopped helping their citizens, poverty in the country would rise by 21 percent in Dubai and double in Sharjah according to Dubai Economic Council. This means that the help Emiratis get plays a large role in reducing the cost of living.

The UAE has no official published research regarding people living under the poverty line.

Bait Al Khair Society states that 17 thousand Emirati families need help from the government. The UAE has people living in poor conditions, but not yet at the global poverty line. There are good intentions from the government, either by specialized foundations or ministries. Economists, however, generally agree that poverty in the UAE does not represent

a massive problem especially because both the community and government are working together to help reduce the percentage of poor. The Bait Al Khair Society has 4,868 families registered to receive help. More than 50 percent of these families receive help because of their low incomes. The remaining amount of the financial aid is distributed among different categories.

All official information that is available shows that there are a few poor Emiratis in the country. The help they receive from the government improves their standard of living. Different authorities state different facts; some say that loans and high standards of living are the two causes of poor financial conditions. Other foundations say that most of the people that need help are low income. All foundations avoid giving or officially stating that they conduct annual research regarding this issue. All they could provide were statistics from before the economic crisis. The question is, do we have research on the status of poverty in the country in the past three years? And, if yes, why isn’t it made public?

Aiming for an expensive car. Fatema Al Kamali/DWC

31 can offer objective and impartial solutions and advice. People consider counselors to be trustworthy individuals who share empathy with their clients rather than sympathy. Others think counselors are strangers and do not know how individuals can share their problems with someone they just met in a counseling session. Men’s perspectives

“I will never seek a counselor or a friend to share my problems, or speak to anyone, because I always feel responsible enough to take care of myself and others as well,” said Sultan Hussain. However, he also believes people in our society do not see counseling as a positive practice because they associate it with seeking help from a psychologist, and people tend to think it is for those with mental disorders.

What do you think about counseling? Hessa Al Hamadi/DWC

It’s a shame to seek a counselor!

MUNA ABDELKARIM She kept loading herself with secrets, hiding her problems and dealing with people she could not tolerate. She went from a funloving person to a fully stressed, aggressive and emotional person who could barely exchange a smile with anyone. Aisha, 27, working in Crime Scene Investigation for the past five years, says, “I reached a point where I couldn’t imagine my life without problems, I didn’t know what was wrong, I hardly ever spoke my problems

to anyone or trusted people.”

Aisha was not very happy about her life until she sought a counselor last year. She was very upset about her job that her father forced her to take and with her personal life that was filled with responsibilities. Last year she finally accepted her friend’s suggestion to see a counselor who could assist her in overcoming the stress and pressure she was facing in her life.

This is the story of an Emirati female who realized the need for a counselor in her life. How many of us believe that we need to seek a counselor? Is it a shame to seek a counselor in our society? Do we consider people who need counselors as mentally ill? Some people believe that counseling is a tool that can help resolve the complications an individual faces in his/her life. The counselor is an expert who

Hussain also mentioned the lack of awareness about the counselors’ job and what they can offer to different people. “I think we need to convince people about counseling advantages and then encourage them to seek counseling if they need.” Ahmed Khalid, a 29 year old business student, voiced his opinion about what the male gender thinks about counseling. He mentioned that men in UAE society are victims of misconceptions about counseling as they perceive people who seek counselors as mentally sick. Some Emirati men oppose the idea of seeking a counselor’s help and they would rather resolve their issues privately instead of sharing their concerns with others because it is a sign of weakness

to rely on others.

Women’s perspectives Women are more likely to seek another person’s help. Reem Younis, 28, strongly agrees to seeking a counselor because they are the expert in understanding human behavior and the reasons behind it. Seeking a friend’s help might make the issue worse because not all friends have enough experience and wisdom similar to a counselor’s. She also agrees that people in the UAE feel ashamed

...the shame factor around counseling is related to the culture since people in UAE society are very concerned with their image and are afraid of losing ‘face’.

to see a counselor and very few Emiratis visit these professionals. The few who visit a counselor use fake names and try to hide their identities and faces. College student Afra Atiq thinks that the shame factor around counseling is related to the culture since people in UAE society are very concerned with their image and are afraid of losing ‘face’. They do not want anyone to think badly of them or even pity them. Therefore, people need to understand that

counselors are impartial and respect confidentiality. Facts about counseling

The UAE is expanding rapidly in all fields and improving several aspects of the country’s services like education, health, business and entertainment. As a result, counseling emerged in the UAE a few years ago in many areas: health counseling, career advising and counseling, couple or family counseling, and personal counseling. People are beginning to realize the need for counseling in different aspects of their lives and UAE colleges and universities offer counseling courses to address various concerns that impact individuals within society. Through counseling people learn to reshape their lives for the better as they recognize their strengths and weaknesses and overcome stress and depression. Experts highlighted reasons why people seek counseling:

• Uncomfortable emotions: anger, sadness, depression and low self-esteem. • Unfulfilling communication at workplace or with elderly relatives or family members and friends.

• Unwanted thoughts: negative thoughts, the stress on perfectionism and confusion in decisionmaking. In the UAE, 17.7 percent of people face stress in their daily lives and 20 percent suffer from depression; women rank higher than men. The article also mentioned that the First Annual Women’s Health

33 Conference held in Abu Dhabi warned about the increasing number of women becoming depressed in the Gulf generally, and the UAE specifically. Do you know what happens in a counseling session?

You enter a nicely decorated office with a quiet atmosphere where a friendly person welcomes you, offers you coffee, and invites you to feel comfortable. After a few minutes s/he gently asks, “What brought you here today?” You start talking, continuing until you feel that you have nothing else to say; then the person replies quietly and helps you sort out your problems. Finally, you leave hoping to come back again and talk to this person who not only gave you her/his time, but helped you reform certain ideas. Yes, this is counseling; a very direct, fluid and confidential experience with someone new, who happens to be a counselor. Counseling in Islam

Islam encourages counseling and considers it a treatment that humans might need in their lives. Muna Tarish, a counselor and Islamic scholar at the Department of Islamic Studies-Sharjah, explains that people who seek counseling are not patients who need medical treatment. This is contrary to society’s view which believes that people who need counseling are considered suspicious or “Mowaswesine”: those who are in constant stress and have the impression that something or someone is questionable, dishonest, or dangerous which results in mental instability and stress.

Tarish explains there is a difference between a psychologist and counselor and she does not encourage everyone to seek the help of a psychologist because they are more for medical purposes and severe psychological complications that need medical treatment. Counselors help their clients deal with problems like stress, depression and lack of self-esteem. Tarish is also a counselor at the Department of Family Affairs in Sharjah and counsels people from different genders and age groups. The key to her success as a counselor is her ability to understand the needs of her clients and guide them so they can solve their issues independently in the future.

Work in Abu Dhabi? ABDULLA BUFAROOSHA “As soon as I graduated with a Bachelor degree in Electrical Engineering, I started applying for jobs in Dubai, where I live. I was advised by my colleagues to apply for a job at ADNOC in Abu Dhabi. To my surprise, I was accepted with an unbelievable offer. Thus, I chose to work in Abu Dhabi,” narrates 24 year old Ahmed Al Falasi.

In the past couple of years, many fresh graduates from other emirates in the United Arab Emirates have accepted jobs in the capital. This career movement has become a trend these days. What are the driving forces behind it?

Conclusion

In this modern, busy, fast and stressful life, we all encounter certain personal or professional issues that can prevent us from accomplishing our goals. Call it counseling, therapy, career counseling, couple counseling, or advice, whatever you like; they all fall under one category. The focus is not on the titles but the mission, which is, with the help of an expert, to live a peaceful, productive, emotionally stable and healthy life.

It is customary in the UAE for people to live close to their families. Local people prefer to stay in their parents’ houses even after marriage and may not leave until they have many children. In the past, the houses of local people were big enough to gather the whole family, including grandparents. Because of this tradition, it is difficult for the new generation to separate themselves from their families, even within the country. Thus, some of the locals who work in Abu Dhabi choose to commute on a daily basis between the capital and their hometowns.

I am going to work in Abu Dhabi. Abdulla Bufaroosha/DWC

Ahmed Abdulrahman, a 32 year old from Sharjah, shares his story of working in Abu Dhabi. “I was

34 25 years old when I finished my studies in the United States; I returned to the UAE and got married directly. At that time, I received an offer to work in ADWEA in Abu Dhabi. It was a tough decision for me to move with my wife to Abu Dhabi. Although it was not easy for us to move away from our families, as time passed, we got used to living there and made a lot of friends in Abu Dhabi.” Others prefer the daily commute between Dubai and Abu Dhabi. “After working for two years in Dubai Media Incorporated, I received an offer to work in Abu Dhabi Media Company. Although, there was not a big difference in salary, I was so excited about a new experience in my field. Some of my friends had rented flats in Abu Dhabi, which made it easier. In my case, I preferred to drive from Dubai to Abu Dhabi and back on a daily basis. It was exhausting in the beginning, but I got used to it,” said Rashid Ahmad, a 27 year old TV producer. In 2007, the government raised salaries in all seven emirates in order to assist the locals financially. The increase in Abu Dhabi was the highest. As a result, Emirati employees from other emirates started searching for work opportunities in Abu Dhabi.

“I was working at Dubai Municipality. I enjoyed working there as it offered a great Performance Development Plan for its employees, but the low salary forced me to look for a higher paying job to live a better life with my family. I got an offer from Al Etihad Airlines in Abu Dhabi with a better position and twice the salary. In the beginning, I

found driving to Abu Dhabi daily really difficult. However, I believed that it was worth it,” says Rashid Al Baloushi.

Opinions vary for the local residents in other cities. In a survey of 100 Emiratis from both genders, people over the age of 35 preferred to work in their cities. In contrast, the age group of 16-35 preferred the idea of working in Abu Dhabi. Ninetytwo percent of the survey applicants cited salaries as a key factor. More than half of the respondents agreed that working in a place far from their families’ houses would be important to consider. Other factors such as looking for a pretigious position and higher education through scholarship, were of less importance by the survey applicants.

Mohammed Ibrahim tells his story of getting a higher paying job in the UAE capital. “I work in one of the public libraries in Dubai. Last year I received an attractive job offer with almost twice my current salary. However, increasing my monthly salary is not the only factor when accepting a job offer. For instance, my job in the public library exposes me to different kinds of knowledge and new thoughts. So, I prefer to stay with my current job.” Nowadays, there is great appreciation in UAE society for professional women. This allows them the freedom to make their own decisions. Previously, it was rare for Emirati women to work far from their home cities. According to the Desert Dawn survey, most females did not work in Abu Dhabi. It is, however, interesting to note that the majority of

them were open to the idea of working there.

“Three years ago I got an offer to work as a graphic designer in an advertising agency in Abu Dhabi. In the beginning, my family was not enthusiastic about allowing me to drive daily from Ajman, where we live, to Abu Dhabi. I was very excited to take this opportunity in order to improve my skills and to expand my knowledge in my major. After discussing this with my family, they respected my decision and agreed to give me the chance. I went there and everything was fine. I made the right decision,” says Amina Mohammed.

Many companies in Abu Dhabi such as, Etihad Airlines and ADNOC offer educational sponsorships for local students. Emirati students who live outside the UAE capital join such programs to have the opportunity to develop better skills and career growth. Ahmed Al Meer, from Dubai tells of his experience studying at ADNOC Institute in Abu Dhabi. “I always dreamed of being an engineer in an oil field, one of our main natural resources in the UAE. When I finished secondary school, I applied to ADNOC and was accepted. That was one of the best moments in my life. I studied hard to graduate as an engineer and work in one of Abu Dhabi’s petroleum fields.” Abu Dhabi has created a very attractive work environment for local employees from all over the UAE. Many people not living in the capital find that working in Abu Dhabi is an experience worth taking regardless of the long distance and personal sacrifice.

37 usually happens during emotional or stressful incidents. “I sometimes get into these situations, but I try to save it as much as I can.” She also noted that parents should restrain themselves during emotional times.

Some parents do not realize the magnitude and impact of lying to children. It cultivates in their hearts and minds and they may end up becoming frequent liars.

Reflecting bad manners toward children. Eman Al Owais/DWC

Dear Diary …

15/02/1999 – 11 years old “Dear Diary,

EMAN AL OWAIS The impact of parents’ behavior on children continues to be a critical issue in society. Eman Al Owais captures three scenarios from diaries of three children on this topic. 02/07/1996 – 8 years old “Dear Diary,

Today after school I was watching cartoons. I heard my mother shouting and she called my brother a “stupid cow.” I asked mum “Where is the cow? I want

to see it.” She slapped me and told me not to say it again! I don’t understand why she slapped me. All I asked was to see the cow!”

The first school in a child’s life is the university of the family where s/he learns everything. Children normally imitate everything they see and therefore parents are generally aware of their behavior especially in front of children

Dr. Tawfeeq Al Khulaify, a child psychologist, believes that a child learns from the father and mother

through role models, or social learning. The child learns positive and negative behaviors together. According to Albert Bandura, a psychologist, “social learning occurrs through four main stages of imitation: close contact, imitation of superiors, understanding of concepts, and role model behavior.” Haleema Sultan, a mother of three, agrees it’s the parents’ responsibility to provide a good example. Parent behavior may possibly be inappropriate, but it

When I was sitting with my dad he asked me if I did my homework, and I replied, yes. He said I should be honest and not lie, God hates people who lie, and they go to ‘Hell’. Suddenly the phone rang, and he immediately asked me to answer the phone and said, ‘If it is uncle Mohammed, tell him that I am not here.’ I answered, and the caller asked about my father. I told him, ‘Father says he is not here but he is beside me.’ After the call, my dad punished me and asked why I did that. I answered, ‘I don’t want Allah to be mad at me.’” Some parents do not realize the magnitude and impact of lying

to children. It cultivates in their hearts and minds and they may end up becoming frequent liars. Hamda Anwahi, a mother of one child, believes lying to children makes them unwilling to respect parents. The child will not consider his parents as his role models.

Ohood Al Serkal, a mother of two, seconds Hamda’s opinion on loss of respect for parents. “Of course when my kids do this, I will punish them, even if I did it myself. I will explain to them what’s wrong and will show them that I will change myself, promising that we will all change together.” 01/09/2006 – 18 years old “Dear Diary,

In the evening, I went out with my friends to the ‘Sheesha’ place and we ordered sheesha and black tea. After a while, I saw my father enter and I was terrified. When he first saw me, he came over and starated shouting in front of my friends, asking me why I was smoking and why I didn’t keep my promise to not try anything that would affect my health. I answered him, ‘You smoke. Why shouldn’t I?’ Smoking is harmful to a person’s health. Children of smoking parents are more likely to become smokers than if their parents were non-smokers. When the child witnesses this phenomenon, he is likely to believe that he will be a man once he lights a cigarette. Abdulla Al Ali, father of two, asserts, “I will never punish my son since I smoke, but I will advise him and will let him

know that even if I smoke, it’s not necessarily right.” He added that the young generation want to experience new things and even if the parents advise them, they will do it behind their backs.

The percentage of smokers under the age of 18 in UAE has reached 22%, compared with smokers over 18 years, which is 18%, according to the Ministry of Health, Ras Al Khaimah, the Medical and Health Survey of the World Youth Report 2005, and the World Health Organization 2007. Any learnt behavior can be eliminated and replaced with a positive behavior. And as they say ‘prevention is better than cure’.

Going on a date! SHAMSA AHMAD Psychology Another key factor in girls’ behavior is their surrounding environment, which in many cases is their friends. Dr. Manal Al Ali, relationships consultant, argues that girls like to share secrets; they like to talk and tell each other their stories and the things they did on a date. They unintentionally, or intentionally, challenge each other. Dr. Al Ali explains that the core of this problem starts when girls show off their boyfriends and the expensive gifts they have received, and all the fun they had.

Dating in the UAE. Eman Ghazal/DWC

Passing a group of girls in a shopping mall, it is normal to hear them proudly sharing about their adventures with boys. Audacious and defiant, they aren’t worried about who might be listening.

Values and traditions are becoming more difficult to preserve nowadays. Girls brag about things that were considered taboo in the past. Talking about dating gives some girls the sense they are modern and cool. This change in behavior of youngsters in our society raises many questions. How did this happen? What led to this openness? Has globalization put pressure on young girls? Is it more freedom given by modern families?

It usually starts from the feeling of ‘what we can’t get is what we want.’ Girls know they are not supposed to date as dictated by local values and traditions, but they still do it, challenging society and culture. With more people dating, some now believe dating is acceptable. They think they should date, otherwise people will judge them as being unsociable or ‘abnormal.’ Globalization Globalization is probably the most significant force impacting youngsters and their behavior. Dr. Mona Al Suwaidi, a social specialist and consultant, explained that the fast change and development of the country led to remarkable transition and change in behavior.

“Media, magazines, and movies have an effect on girls as they imitate celebrities, wanting to be like them.” Dr. Al Suwaidi agreed that foreigners with their cultures, lifestyles, habits, and ways of dressing also have a large impact on the behavior of young girls. They tend to imitate and copy the Westerners’ lifestyle. Dr. Al Suwaidi argues that youngsters tend to absorb new patterns easily in a very short period of time. Change is normal and healthy, but in conservative societies people always have limits. When new behavior might affect someone’s values, morals, and principles, people usually question the implications.

Guys who give girls expensive gifts make it appealing for girls to have a boyfriend. Dr. Al Ali adds that the caring, love, and attention the girls get from the guys are usually attractive reasons to have a boyfriend and brag about him. Another reason is when girls want to escape the issues they have with their families and turn their reality into a fairytale kind of story.

Dating is unacceptable in the local society, but girls accept it amongst themselves because some see it as a way to share their secrets with friends. It makes them feel better as it comforts them somehow; each girl is not the only one who is doing something unacceptable and dangerous. Dr. Humaid Al Abdulla argues, “That makes her feel better about herself, and that’s why she shares with her friends.”

Dating is unacceptable in the local society, but girls accept it amongst themselves because some see it as a way to share their secrets with friends.

Dr. Al Ali emphasizes the implications of bragging, arguing that girls who brag about their relationships and act careless are immature and might not understand the significance of this reckless behavior later in their lives. “These girls’ confessions could threaten their reputations, especially if one of them started talking outside the group.”

Family A lot of people argue that the role of the family is vital and the absence of close monitoring creates critical issues. Hanan Al Shafar, a young mother of two, believes if girls knew there was someone who watched and cared, then they would limit their dating, become

more cautious, and respect their families.

Dr. Al Suwaidi stresses the importance of the values and principles that should be instilled in the girls from the beginning. “People should behave based on their values and principles in life. With this, they’ll be convinced of what they are doing and they won’t be as affected by the environment surrounding them.”

Theory Society views a girl and a boy sitting alone in public as if they were committing a crime. Dr. Al Abdulla argues that the barriers society imposes between girls and boys are precisely what girls are trying to overcome. “We need to change our idea about segregation as it won’t help solve the problem; instead, it will make it even worse. We simply need healthy monitoring and strong values.”

HEALTH

Bento! HESSA AL HAMADI “Bento” is a Japanese word, which means “lunchbox.” It is very important for children to eat food that is not only healthy and delicious, but also beautiful to look at. Therefore, mothers need to create a mom-made meal that is carefully prepared with a touch of love and kindness. It will make a great connection to home and family while the child is away at school, and this is what Bento is all about.

What do your kids eat for lunch at school?

Children eat a lot of their food each day away from home. Parents should be more aware of the importance of a healthy lunch for their children. Dr. Nada Saadi, clinical dietitian in Al Wasl Hospital notes, “A healthy and balanced lunch can help children concentrate better at school and it is actually proven that students who eat healthy lunches perform better academically than those who don’t. Eating healthy meals regularly is an important factor in preventing excessive weight gain and obesity.”

“Bento” is a Japanese word, which means “lunchbox.” Hessa Al Hamadi/DWC

Some parents prefer to give their children money for lunch rather than packing a homemade meal. But do you really know what your children eat from the school’s cafeteria? Are they eating healthy or unhealthy food? Parents should check the cafeteria’s menu at school

Is it challenging for you to prepare a healthy lunchbox meal for your child? Do you struggle to get them to eat what you have prepared, and enjoy beneficial food as well? Do your kids come home starving, and tell you that they couldn’t eat because they didn’t like the food you prepared? Don’t be afraid anymore! To persuade your children to eat everything in their lunchboxes with great appetites, you just need Bento!

to make sure that it provides children with healthy food. If the menu is full of unhealthy food items, then create your own healthy lunchbox and send it to school with your child. Aisha Abdullah, mother of a 6-year-old son, realizes that “lunch is the most important meal that provides my son with energy, which gets him through the whole day including learning and after school activities.”

Packing a healthy lunchbox

Remember, the meal that you prepare for your child should be well thought through, since what your child eats will affect his growth and body development. Here are the five main items to put in a lunchbox:

• Starchy foods Starchy foods or grains are very important. They include a variety of bread, rice, and pasta. They are

the perfect source of energy and they provide health benefits like lowering the risk of some chronic diseases. Kids need five to nine servings of these per day.

• Vegetables It is common for children to dislike eating some vegetables, but encourage your children to eat vegetables by eating them yourself and using them in different meals every day. Vegetables contain many minerals, fiber, and vitamins that provide children with longterm health benefits. Kids need four to five servings of these every day. • Fresh fruit Fruit is also very important for kids’ health. It contains a number of vital nutrients, vitamins,

43 carbohydrates, and minerals that play a key role in developing a healthy body. Kids need two to three servings every day.

• Dairy foods This group is important for kids’ growth as it includes milk, yogurt, and cheese, which provide their bodies with calcium, protein, and vitamins. Dairy foods help in building and maintaining strong, dense bones. Kids need two to four servings every day. • Proteins They include meat, fish, eggs, and others. This group is important because it keeps kids healthy, since it contains protein, iron, vitamins, and minerals. Kids need a half to two servings from this group each day.

There is still one group not mentioned, which includes fats and oils. Kids’ bodies need them, but they can be found in other foods like meat and dairy products.

Alert!

Remember! The best drink for children is water; they should drink plenty of water to keep their bodies healthy and avoid dehydration. If you want to change or add an additional drink to the lunchbox, make sure to choose a healthy drink, such as milk or 100 percent natural juice.

How to get your child to eat a healthy lunch

It might take time for your kids to get used to eating a healthy lunch. However, it is worth it, so keep trying. These tips will help you to accomplish the goal:

• Let them make it themselves. First of all, sit with your kids and create a food menu, then take them on a shopping trip. Get the kids involved in choosing and preparing the meal; since most kids are more apt to eat when they make some choices and prepare their meals. Don’t forget to guide their decisions to healthy choices. • Don’t force them. Don’t get in the habit of forcing your kids to eat food they don’t like. Be patient, try different things, and think outside the box! There are plenty of healthy foods your kids will like, so do not give up easily.

• Add healthy food step by step. Remember! Your kids need time to get used to eating healthy food, especially vegetables. Therefore, start with a small amount, so that they do not notice it. When they get used to eating that much, you can increase the amount of healthy food and reduce the amount of unhealthy food.

• Be a role model. Kids learn a lot of their behavior from their parents. When your kids see you enjoying eating healthy food, they will be more likely to eat healthy food as well.

It’s time to get creative with Bento!

The goal of Bento is to create a healthy meal, which is appealing to the eye and tastes yummy! If you want your kids to look forward to opening their lunchbox with a huge smile, here are some creative steps: • Choosing the lunchbox. Let your children choose their favorite lunchboxes.

• Divide the lunch box into sections reflecting the proper ratios. Divide your kids’ lunchbox, so that they can have a nutritionally diverse yet balanced meal. To divide the food creatively use square containers, such as cupcake holders, they make great sections. • Divide the meal properly. You can divide the meal into three or four parts. The biggest part of the main dish can be a sandwich. For the other two parts - one of them could be a fruit or vegetable salad, and the other could be a dessert. • Use colorful food. Kids love colors, so try to make their lunch colorful. You can mix their meal with small pieces of colored vegetables, which is attractive. You can use fruit salads as dessert, since fruit colors look bright. Remember! Never let a kid’s lunchbox leave your house without including fruit and vegetables. • Create fun shapes and sizes. Children love shapes, they will be super excited to see a rabbit or a flower-shaped sandwich, star-shaped fruit, round melon

balls, or cubed vegetables. In addition, try to use small and large food items in their lunchbox. “I feel very happy when I open my lunchbox at school and see that my mother made me a pizza in the shape of a car. She always makes my food look like something I know,” says Saeed Mohammed, 6 years old. • Theme of the week. You can create a theme every few weeks; for example serving all red or orange foods. In addition, you can leave a small note in your child’s lunchbox. This note of love or a joke will make your child extremely happy. You can write the note on a piece of paper or to be more creative use fruit and vegetables to write your note.

Fatima Ibrahim, mother of a 5-year-old girl says: “I am like many mothers, I prepare a lunch for my child everyday. I know how challenging it can be to think of something tasty and also healthy. It has been two years since I started making my daughter’s lunchbox look like a Bento. It was difficult in the beginning, but it got easier and soon took me less time to prepare her lunch.” She also adds that she is not concerned about the time she spent preparing the lunchbox as it was more important to see her child happily eating her healthy lunch.

Useful websites http://www.parenting.com/ http://familyfun.go.com/

http://www.deliciousmagazine.co.uk/

http://www.freshforkids.com.au/index2.html

Locally produced organic food KHULOOD AL JASIMI At the supermarket I stand in the vegetable section comparing two cucumbers, one organic and one non-organic. To look at, they’re the same shape, color, and size; the difference is the nutritients and vitamins each of them contains.

UAE consumer demand for organic food increases every year. Statistics from the Ministry of Environment and Water show that the whole vegetable growing area in the UAE is 14,710 donum (1donum=100 m2). This area produces both organic and non-organic tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, beans, squash, eggplant, cauliflower, cabbage, watermelon, okra, and others. Consumers question the health impact of chemicals used to grow their food. “We need to have laws,” says Mr. Ahmad Al Kitbi, a farmer in Al-Ain. His farm produces many organic vegetables such as lettuce, cucumbers, eggplant, arugula and watermelon. “I ask the concerned authorities to monitor all agriculture products,” says Abdullah Al Shamsi, an Emirati farmer who produces organic food. “The authorities need to make sure that those products are completely free of harmful chemicals that cause diseases.”

Green to help you stay fit and healthy. Khulood AJasimi/DWC

The government is addressing consumer concerns about whether or not the food is organic and safe for their health. “The regulations

are strict and make sure products are organic. Products are examined to make sure they are organic 100 percent, starting from seeds, and remain chemical free through all stages of the production, packing and local distribution,” says Sumaya Al Rais, Director of Animal and Plant Health in the Ministry of Environment and Water.

“The regulations are strict and make sure products are organic. Products are examined to make sure they are organic 100 percent,...”

This is important as more farms produce organic vegetables and fruit; all farms are approved by the government and supervised by the Ministry of Environment and Water. “In Dubai, there are 11 farms now,” Al Rais stated.

Organic food provides better nutritional value. “Organic foods are healthier because they contain more than 50 percent of the daily use of vitamins, minerals and

enzymes,” notes Dr. Hussein Ali Taha, Ministry of Environment and Water.

An ‘A’ symbol is stamped on both local and imported organic foods for easier identification by shoppers. This is required in all supermarkets. Alia Ahmad, a housewife, recognizes the trademark. “I choose the organic fruit and vegetables that have the stamp; it is a bit expensive but healthier.” Noora Mohammed, another housewife does the same. “There is a separate section for organic food in the Union Cooperative Society where products are stamped with the Ministry of Environment and Water trademark.”

MEDIA

? Where does UAE blogging stand? Aisha Bin Obood/DWC

Blogging in the UAE AISHA BIN OBOOD In the era of New Media, the world has become a platform where each person has control. Receiving information no longer goes only one direction. New Media promises the democratization of creating, publishing, sharing and interacting with media content. This in turn, has generated the concept of Citizen Journalism, where individuals take advantage of tools in modern technology to report information. Blogs, in this regard, are one tool that allow individuals to write, critique, and share opinions through textual and visual posts. They offer bloggers breathing space, where freedom is overwhelming. Because of this, the

blogging phenomenon has swept the world.

In spite of this, the UAE seems to have an undefined status in blogging. It is hard to tell whether the blogging movement is doing well or not, due to the lack of credible resources analyzing the movement in the UAE. However to have a general idea of the country’s blogging status, it would be helpful to look at blogging in the neighboring Gulf countries.

As one of the oldest and most powerful in the area, Kuwaiti blogging, without doubt, is highly practiced to express democracy and monitor the country’s political events. Sharing similar power is

Saudi Arabia, the second highest Arab country for number of blogs according to a recent study titled “Mapping the Arabic Blogosphere” at Harvard University. Not only that, the Kingdom has more female bloggers than any other Arab country by 46%. It is also the first Gulf country to form an official community for its bloggers, known as OCSAB, which was launched in 2006.

In Oman, blogs are characterized as very professional and sophisticated in content. An example is a 2-year-old blog that has had 4000 visits; whereas some older blogs in the Gulf have not exceeded 3,000. In Bahrain, blogging receives a great deal of attention from

the Bahraini media. Reciprocally, bloggers pay close attention to what is happening in the media. Bahraini bloggers are mostly concerned with the country’s internal political and social events. Qatar has several talented bloggers, but still needs to boost blogging. However, there was indication of improvement in 2009 when the “Supreme Council of Information and Communication Technology” launched the “All About Blogging Conference” in Doha. It gathered experts from all over the world to share their blogging knowledge. Qatar has more than 1,140 blogs, though not considerable when it had over 400,000 Internet users in 2008.

In contrast, the UAE has the highest number of Internet users in the Arab region, reaching 75.9% of the population, according to the UN Agency for Information and Communication Technologies. The obvious absence of a blogging culture is evident when one types the words ‘UAE blogging’ or ‘Emirati blogging.’ Results are advertising websites or blogs written by non-Emiratis. It is even harder to find articles written by the local press about blogging. Therefore, the best way to investigate blogging in the country is by talking to some of the oldest and most active bloggers. When asked about the status of blogging in the UAE, Mohamed Suhail, a long-time blogger, and creator of Najam Suhail blog, describes UAE blogging as being in its ‘infancy.’ “Blogging in the UAE is not falling behind compared to other Gulf countries, and the evidence is the increase of UAE bloggers creating free blog accounts in websites providing

such services.” Suhail also argues that blogging in the UAE cannot be compared with others in the Gulf because they are familiar with the blogging culture and appreciate its importance to society.

...the UAE has the highest number of Internet users in the Arab region, reaching 75.9% of the population...

Abdulla Al Muhairi, who started blogging back in 2003, is happy with the blogging participation in the UAE especially the Emirati blogs written in Arabic as compared to earlier times when the majority were non-Arabic blogs. “Our population as Emiratis doesn’t exceed one million, and the majority are under the age of 25. So it is normal not to have as many blogs as our brothers in the Gulf.” Osama Al Zubaidi, the creator of the 6-year-old Osama blog and more recently the Photo World blog, has a different perspective. “Personally I feel that we are behind our brothers in the Gulf countries, where blogging has recently improved dramatically.” To Al Zubaidi, blogging in the country has not shown any clear signs of improvement. However, some bloggers still prefer to see the glass half full. Obaid Al Kaabi, creator of the 2-year-old Al Kabbi blog, says:

“I think blogging in our country is pretty good; more attention is given to blogging these days, with more Emirati blogs appearing.” He argues that a few years back, personal websites and forums were the main attractions for most youth, and blogging received little attention. “Today it’s the opposite with more groups of individuals taking steps to enter the world of blogging,” he explains. Nevertheless, Al Kaabi also shares his dissatisfaction with blogging in the UAE. “Despite all, I cannot deny the fact that I am not totally pleased with what we have because there is always room for improvement.” If blogging in the UAE is lagging behind, reasons or obstacles hindering its growth would be interesting to investigate. Al Muhairi observes several factors. “I can’t point at one specific cause, but I think in our culture, we lack the habit of contributing and expressing opinions.” He also asserts some Emiratis might not value blogging or writing. “It might be also that many Emiratis choose to communicate through social networks, or are satisfied with having conversations on their BlackBerries.”

Abduallah Al Abdouly, the creator of Snyar general blog, sees the absence of a blogging culture in the Emirati society as the main obstacle. For many, blogging is about grabbing snippets of news, jokes, or videos and posting them in one place to create a blog. This is a common misconception. “Blogging is writing and expressing your opinion to reflect your own thoughts,” he clarifies. Al Abdouly noted that he does post special news sometimes, but he makes sure to write articles twice or more per

49 week for his blog. To him, this is necessary in order to reach more people and be noticed. Two of his articles have been published by CNN’s Arabic website.

It is not only writing that matters. Al Zubaidi stresses that quality is what makes a difference. “Regardless of the small group of local bloggers, the majority lack the general knowledge, which is reflected in the quality of our blogging.” He also criticizes the lack of richness and depth in topics. “Unfortunately, most blogs I encounter lack the experience and sophistication needed to raise issues integrated with solutions. Instead they are simply posted complaints with discussions.” To obtain a higher quality of blogging in the country, bloggers need to embrace principle values combined with knowledge. Al Kaabi believes that the local bloggers need to enhance their blogging ethics. This includes taking responsibility and having the capacity to examine topics from different angles.

In spite of these weaknesses affecting blog quality, there are other major factors limiting its expansion. Suhail believes that blogging in the UAE does not get the needed media attention. This explains the rare blogging forums, or annual meetings in recent years. Al Muhairi stresses that the local media needs to show more collaboration with bloggers and social media. “Some of our newspapers and magazines still treat bloggers as aliens, where actually, they should give them some space to participate.”

This is exactly what the majority of interviewed Emirati bloggers have asked for, even through their blogs. They all share similar beliefs that with better attention and care, there is possibility to grow stronger. Al Kaabi looks foward to having a blogging council, gathering UAE bloggers to discuss related matters. This will also enable bloggers to engage with society by launching initiatives and activities relevant to Emiratis. In addition, Al Abdouly seeks more blogger rights. “I hope bloggers will receive moral support by having similar rights to journalists and media people.” This, he explained, will help them interview public personalities and participate in important media events and meetings.

To obtain a higher quality of blogging in the country, bloggers need to embrace principle values combined with knowledge...

Providing bloggers with their needs will not only benefit them, but also will enable them to give more to the country. As Al Zubaidi clarifies, “Bloggers are no less important than authors or writers, so by having more brilliant bloggers, the country’s profile will definitely rise.”

Seen as regular people, Suhail believes that bloggers can more effectively touch the public on some issues. He explains, “Bloggers can tackle the negative phenomena happening in the community, and reduce the impact by talking to a wide range of readers.” Al Abdouly asserts that with the increased presence of blogs, there would be an interesting variety of perspectives to grab the peoples’ attention, more than the dull newspapers.

The indelible Dunbar REEM AHLI Sometimes there is no better feeling than knowing you always have support from a piece of solid motherboard and an angelic light shining through your screen, welcoming you into a new community. Pop out alerts constantly buzz through your speakers, requesting your precious friendship, pending on your acceptance.

As blogs vary in types and topics written, Al Kaabi believes the gains will vary too. “Having more bloggers writing articles talking about ideas to solve traffic jams for example, or supporting the government’s initiatives to have a cleaner environment, we will have a better community, where more individuals are aware of their responsibilities.” He trusts the country’s ability to take advantage of young, talented youth expressing their creative ideas.

“Interestingly, sometimes individuals experience very different reactions when meeting their cyber friends face to face,...”

Talking about the future of blogging in the UAE, bloggers had varied projections. While Suhail sees that the future might introduce more brilliant bloggers to the field, Al Zubaidi believes that enthusiasm for blogging will lessen, especially with the temptation of social media websites.

How many actual friends do you really have in this community? And can you actually know if what you have is an indelible friendship? Or is it just a group of people staring at you from your screen, screaming for attention?

Social network friends. Hessa Al Hamadi/DWC

With the invasion of social networks in our daily routines, it has become easier to meet new people from different parts of the world without ever stepping outside our comfort zones. To complete this transaction you only

51 need an Internet connection and an account in any preferred social network website.

Cyber network communities differ from normal face to face interactions. Sana Husain Al Marzouqi, 20 year old Emirati blogger of “The S Letters” admits, “Of course, face to face friendships are much better than cyber friendships. They are more personalized. A person is not only what they type or say, there is much more than that. One’s personality includes their gestures, their body language, their appearance, the way they talk, and eye contact; all contribute to knowing a person better.” Hence, Al Marzouqi views cyber friendships as potential face to face friendships. Merging online life with real life can be quite challenging. People can get lost in limbo. Also, trust issues arise as cyber relationships are often anonymous. Dr. Layla Abdulwahab Asamarai, Senior Clinical Psychologist & Head of Psychology at Rashid Hospital says, “Interestingly, sometimes individuals experience very different reactions when meeting their cyber friends face to face, and sometimes the reaction tends to be one of disinterest or confusion.”

In the cyber world human behavior may be doubtful, especially when meeting someone new. You never know the true person on the other side of the screen. “Individuals in cyber space are free to embody various aspects of the character or fantasies that they may not be able to enact in a face to face relationship. While this may be freeing for some as they can express themselves more openly online, sometimes this

split between cyber and real is no more than an inaccuracy,” explains Dr. Asamarai.

Dunbar emphasized the fact that the relationships between yourself and the 150 people is not just about remembering faces and names, it’s about trust, obligation, and dedication to one ANother.

However, some people believe that it is possible to create a real emotional bond with others online. “Facebook and other social network sites allow us to maintain friendships that would otherwise rapidly wither away. And they do something else that’s probably more important, if much less obvious; they allow us to reintegrate our networks so that, rather than having several disconnected subsets of friends, we can rebuild, albeit virtually, the kind of old rural communities where everyone knew everyone else. Welcome to the electronic village.” (The New York Times online December 25, 2010.) One of the most important aspects in social networks is the live interaction amongst people.

Social network friendships are similar to investments. If you really want to make these relationships last, you need to put in energy, time, and commitment. It’s not enough to just browse and feel proud of the huge number of friends you have in your list. Quality communication is the ultimate key factor in rejuvenating your friendships. The real question is: how many meaningful social friendships can we maintain? “We can only ever have 150 friends at most, and that’s the reason why Facebook cannot expand our true social circle; our brains just aren’t big enough to cope.” (Guardian online March 14, 2010.) This is now known as Dunbar’s number.

Robin Dunbar is an evolutionary anthropologist who teaches at Oxford University. His work and ideas describe the correlation between the size of a specific part of an individual’s brain and the size of that individual’s social network activities. He supports this idea by presenting his hypothesis that claims: “There is a cognitive limit to the number of individuals with whom any one person can maintain stable relationships, this limit is a direct function of relative neocortex size, and this in turn limits group size. The limit imposed by neocortical processing capacity is simply on the number of individuals with whom a stable inter-personal relationship can be maintained.” (“Life With Alacrity” online March 10, 2004.) According to the “Guardian” online March 14, 2010, Dunbar’s number “150” goes back to the 18th century. Dunbar studied the number of people who were living in counties, villages, and

How many meaningful social friendships can we maintain? Reem Ahli/DWC

communities and concluded that the lucky number was indeed 150. Dunbar emphasized the fact that the relationships between yourself and the 150 people is not just about remembering faces and names, it’s about trust, obligation, and dedication to one another. These are the factors required in order to start a meaningful relationship, and make it count. This illustrates the importance of social networks in our daily lives, and how it has become essential to search and understand this evolution. The era of online shopping and website browsing has gone, instead is the new era of

socializing with people from different parts of the world, hoping to obtain meaningful relationships. Dunbar’s number proves how much time people are willing to spend getting to know each other. (The Wall Street Journal online February 12, 2012) Nick Humphrey, a consciousness expert, believes that human beings have big brains not for the purpose of understanding the world we live in, but to understand each other. Dr. Asamarai supports the above statement by referring to the time each individual spends trying to understand oneself while learning

about others at the same time. “It is not surprising to hear that our greatest quest is to understand each other,” said Dr. Asamari.

It is also significant to highlight that going from one relationship to the next results in better understanding of each other as well as oneself, which eventually leads to finding true friendships that count.

Self-censored journalists LATIFA AL KARRANI Journalism is considered a tool that communicates the truth, but what happens when some journalists decide to cut out the truth? What happens when they intentionally decide not to talk about certain issues? Is it selfcensorship?

Self-censorship is the act of censoring one’s expression for several reasons. The practice of self-censorship is a double-edged sword with value placed on both freedom and individuality.

Journalism in the UAE Journalists know what is permissible and what is not and in most cases they decide not to cross boundaries. They choose not to deal with complex or controversial issues even though, and according to the National Media Council, they have the freedom to do so. “There is a new law which protects journalists from being sent to jail for carrying out their duties and instead imposes fines,” confirms Ibrahim Al Abed, the Director-General of the National Media Council that oversees the UAE media.

Journalism is responsibility. Latifa Al Karrani/DWC

In the United Arab Emirates, selfcensorship is common amongst local journalists; they tend to be cautious in what they cover. Some believe it is necessary to practice self-censorship to maintain harmony among people from all walks of life. “Journalism

is more art than science; it has red lines and essential points that must be adhered to. Journalists should practice self-censorship because reporting is a huge responsibility. Some journalists exaggerate some issues, which aggravate community problems and cause public confusion. Our community is conservative, it’s a fact,” explains Geehan Al Shoieri, Editor at Al Khaleej Newspaper.

Reasons Different journalists identified similar reasons for why they selfcensor their work. The conservative local society is an important factor, they say. They do not want to be criticized for discussing sensitive issues; therefore, they create a zone through which they filter the content before offering it to the public. Playing it safe is their preference. Rafeeq Al Jerjawi, Deputy Managing Editor of Emirates Today, talks about why journalists practice self-censorship. “The majority of stories are often or sometimes avoided because of the complexity of society, plus the fear of pressure. Embarrassment of being criticized by society is basically what stops journalists from writing about some issues.” Another reason is that societies are usually divided into opponents and proponents of certain issues and journalists take this into account to avoid creating conflict. A local journalist in one of the

Arabic newspapers who asked not to be identified confesses: “Yes, I do practice self-censorship. There are issues I can discuss with my readers, but I decide not to write about topics or issues I can’t solve. I don’t write to create a buzz.”

They (journalists) do not want to be criticized for discussing sensitive issues...

Public’s rights Certain issues are kept hidden from the public, but members of society demand the right to receive the news. “If journalism was meant to deliver the news, why not do it fully. It is a matter of personal prejudice. I will decide what I want to know. Let them write about everything, we have the right to be aware,” says Aisha Abdulla, a teacher.

In response, Haitham Ahli, global management graduate, offers a different perspective. “In my point of view, censorship is part of society; there are occasions when it is necessary for journalists to selfcensor. It has many benefits, and it must be exercised to avoid conflict in society itself.”

How much self-censorship is being practiced? The amount of self-censorship practiced in the UAE can be measured through the sensation and buzz in society, which is almost fictional in the UAE. Nassir Al.R, a retired journalist who worked for eight years in Al Bayan Newspaper believes “self-censorship lives inside all writers. It is the voice of fear that stops us. It is the voice that tells us you can’t write about certain subjects because it’s controversial.”

55 was worth sending I would check and double check to make sure it was 100 percent true.”

think!

write

read

Do people in the UAE realize the impotrtance of sourcing information before posting or spreading it online? Aisha Bin Obood/DWC

Google before you tweet SHATHA AL AMERI Is it possible that each person can create his/her own press agency? Well, maybe all you need is an account on a social network like Facebook, Twitter, or maybe Blackberry messenger BBM. What about creating a blog and trying to connect to as many people as you can, who are willing to follow you and read whatever you write! Whether the information is right or wrong, sourced or not, it is up to you and your credibility. Lately, the spotlight has focused on social networks especially considering the current issues arising in the Arab world. Statistics reveal obvious growth in the number of Internet users

in the Arab world. This triggers many questions such as: are citizens of the UAE aware or informed enough about the advantages and disadvantages of dealing with social networks? Do people in the UAE have the legal rights to sue social network abusers? Do people in the UAE realize the importance of sourcing information before posting or spreading it online? In a small community of approximately 890,000 UAE citizens, about 53 percent of the total Emirati population is young, between the ages of 14 and 25. This group is seen to be addicted to social networks. Spreading rumors and information around

the UAE in a few short hours is not a difficult task for them.

Noura Mohammed is a Sharjah Women’s College fresh graduate. She has a Facebook account and Blackberry service, but she does not believe everything she reads and tries to share information carefully. “I believe in the saying ‘Believe none of what you hear, and only half of what you see’. Believing every broadcast I receive would be utterly foolish and unwise because life is full of conniving people who tend to send misleading news and stories. I don’t tend to share everything I hear because not everything I read or hear is necessarily true. But if the information I received

Furthermore, Mohammed believes that a social network is like anything else, a two-edged weapon, which can be a blessing when used wisely and a curse if used irresponsibly. In addition, Mohammed does not see any harm in sharing information that would benefit people and raise awareness among them. However, she is strongly against rumors that could ruin one’s reputation and social status. She also believes there should be a penalty for those who think that a person’s reputation is a game. Mahir Al Khaja tells his story. Al Khaja, 26, is a young Emirati director and performer, wellknown for his passion for Michael Jackson, as seen in his style that is distinctive from other Emirati men. His look caused many rumors and false stories were spread using social media. “The rumors I constantly hear are that I’m gay, atheist, or Satanist! And all of these rumors are based on my look,” Al Khaja added. “Arabs, I think, judge others by their appearance more than anything else!”

Al Khaja took steps against some rumors that were spread on social networks. “I filed two action suits. One was against a social forum after they accused me of converting to Judaism. The rumor was a risk to my career as a person in the media, and to my personal life as a Muslim living in an Islamic country,” he explains. Additionally, Al Khaja believes that censorship is required in social networks especially when considering the recent changes in

the Arab world. He thinks many people in the UAE misuse social networks and he believes the main reasons behind it are the lack of education and user age.

Al Khaja shared some solutions that he thinks could help reduce the misuse of social networks. “In my opinion, I think Blackberry should go through more restrictions and people younger than 20 years old should not be allowed to use it. Moreover, there must be serious emphasis and punishment for people who spread rumors.”

Believing every broadcast I receive would be utterly foolish and unwise because life is full of conniving people who tend to send misleading news and stories. Criminal investigator Omar Khalid explains there are strict regulations in the UAE concerning electronic crimes. For example, abusing Islamic values and principles or spreading information or pictures of anyone’s private life or family life, even if they are true, brings a punishment of one year in jail and a fine of no less than 50,000 Dirhams. “We have a special department that specializes in monitoring the electronic system. There are some forums that are always monitored by this depart-

ment, which stops the offenders and takes legal action if there are any kind of negative rumors or cursing on their sites.” Khalid says there are some people who report crimes to the police who in turn check and take legal action. A number of Blackberry users admitted to not verifying the credibility of each broadcast they share with people although they don’t believe all the information they receive. However, some chose not to share broadcasts so they didn’t accidentally support rumors.

If you are a BBM user and you speak Arabic, most likely you received a broadcast about the religious figure Sheikh Nabeal Al Awadi a few months ago talking about the end of the world and the signs of judgment day, relating it to the revolutions in the Arab world and the movements to overthrow governments. At a later point, a new broadcast was sent to people of Al Awadi denying the previous broadcast, clarifying it was just a rumor. On the other hand, the same day of the resignation of former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, people started sending happy broadcasts congratulating Egypt for its freedom. Ten minutes later, broadcasts became depressed as people started to see flashes of Egypt’s future resembling Iraq, or worse. Would people have such contradicting opinions in ten minutes in real conversation? Even social networks are ethically guided and their users must think twice before copying and pasting or posting information.

All your rights are reserved

Others are completely unaware of the necessary action and are in need of guidance. Hessa Mohamed designed an original artwork piece for her wedding invitation back in 2008 and she assigned the production to Al Banafsaj, a well-known wedding invitation printing factory in Sharjah. In the following years, Mohamed saw a replica of her invitation in four different weddings; two of them were produced by the same factory, certainly without considering her rights or asking permission. “I did not take any action because I did not have time and had no idea where or how to start,” Mohamed explained.

MARIAM AL FALASI

Will your simple rights declaration protect your artwork? Mariam Al Falasi /DWC

Sitting in her home office, Mariam Bin Natoof, the founder of Natoof Design, who has created unique wedding invitations since 2005, received a photo on her mobile from a family member with a message saying “Check this out, this looks similar to your designs.” Looking closely at the photo Bin Natoof realized this did not look similar to her design, it looked exactly the same. “I asked my cousin to send me the actual card, and to my amazement the design was a duplicate, they did not even bother to change the colors,” said Bin Natoof. She assertively added, “I took all the necessary steps to warn the violator and began the process of legal action.” They say imitation is the highest form of flattery, but would you honestly feel flattered if someone else was making money from your hard work? The obvious declaration of your rights on the artwork usually does not stop

UAE law provides the necessary support for all artistic creators; the copyright law protects paintings, drawings, photographic work, graphics, as well as subjects like literary work, music and speeches. Yet, most individual professionals and freelancers in the creative field either are not aware of this law, or they are not bothered to take action. More surprisingly, certain groups of people think the law does not exist or it does not penalize the violators. Since 2002 Aljoud Lootah has been freelancing as a graphic designer. She started her own design line with Niftee Fashion in 2007. Lootah accomplished a stunning amount of creative work for government companies and private events. Her work gets more recognition each day and

being in the spotlight increases her risk of being copied. Still, Lootah has not registered her artwork as she explained, “I am not familiar with the exact legal rights of my designs.” The absence of knowledge and awareness about the law is evident among designers. “The law for copyrighting designs in the UAE is not clear, at least not to us the designers,” Lootah noted.

Professional designers who have been in the business for a long time are more serious about the violation of their copyrights, whereas young freelancers seem to be helpless about the situation. “I am sure legal action will cost me money and probably I will not be able to afford it; therefore, I cannot go after them,” said Najla, 21, a fresh graphic designer graduate. “And I am not sure if there is an actual punishment in our law for copying work,” she added.

Moon Night is a wedding services shop in Ajman, and it reproduced Natoof Design’s creation. Upon examination, the displayed wedding invitations all had different signatures on the back covers. One said “By Maryam Al Juzairi,” another card mentioned “By Al Sabahya for Weddings,” and of course there was a design “By Natoof” among them. The shop assistant openly stated that all of these names belong to the shop’s designers. When the owner Mohammad, in the business for the past 20 years, was confronted about the copied work, he hesitated for a moment and said, “This is what we do, if a client comes with a photo for another invitation or a sample and wants us to create the same, I cannot say no because I will lose the client and someone else will take the job.” Obviously Mohammad is aware of the copyright law in the UAE and knows about the legal implications if he were ever caught. However, he is not worried about it as he explains, “I know a person has the right to protect his or her work; I would be upset if someone else

copied my stage designs because they are my original pieces. I have been working for a long time in this business and never been pursued about the copied work because everyone is doing it.” Whether to show some regret or just to avoid answering more questions, the owner agreed to remove all the copied invitations from the shop by Natoof Design.

They say imitation is the highest form of flattery, but would you honestly feel flattered if someone else was making money from your hard work? With one click on Google, you will find hundreds of articles and documents explaining the copyright law in the UAE. One of the leading law firms in the region, ‘Al Tamimi and Company’ clearly explains that the UAE has enforced the copyright law since 1994 and it has been amended over the years (UAE Copyright Law – Law No. 7 of 2002). “The UAE Copyright Law is similar to other nations laws and protects copyrighted work regardless of whether it is registered or not,” said Lara Ababneh, senior associate at Al Tamimi and Company. Full documentation about the copyright law in the UAE can be accessed on Al Tamimi’s website:

http://www.tamimi.com, under the title “Copyright Law.”

Abu-Ghazaleh Intellectual Property is another law firm that specializes in registering trademarks, patents, designs and copyrights. The firm provides more elaboration on the possible penalties for copyright violation. “The first step would be issuing a warning letter to the person who violated the law, asking them to immediately withdraw the copied artwork,” said Rami, a senior IP assistant. “Then, if the person does not respond, the case will go to court.” In court, the judge will issue the appropriate penalty based on the crime. The punishment can start with paid fines and can move to prison sentences to closure of the business. All intellectual property rights are maintained by the UAE Federal Ministry of Economy. The division is segregated into three departments: Trade Mark, Industrial Property, and Copyright. The copyright department handles the implementation of the law, accepting the applications to register the rights, issuing the copyright certificates for the owners, receiving complaints and following up with the court cases. Innovation can diminish when the market encourages people to copy each other’s work. Individuals who produce original work should seek protection and take action whenever their rights are violated. Only then will copyright criminals think twice before they replicate and use other’s work. “Ultimately, it is the responsibility of the owners to protect their work and hence they should invest time in pursuing the violators and take the proper action through their attorneys,” Ababneh concluded.

PERSONALITY

An Emirati multi-talented icon NUHA HASSAN Sharjah-based family. “My parents support my journey as an artist, and they are proud of me and try to help me overcome any obstacle I face.”

Scene from short movie Rewind. Muna Al Ali/DWC

At a MinD (Made in Dubai) art exhibition, organized by Dubai Community Theatre & Arts Center DUCTAC, I met Muna Abdulqader Al Ali. She was displaying conceptual video art through a huge screen in the entrance. Al Ali is a young Emirati artist who is passionate about writing, art, photography and directing. There is no limit to her creativity. She enjoys learning new things. She looks at life as a train, where the stations and all the views she passes are lessons to learn.

Al Ali has a bachelor in Business Information Technology from Dubai Women’s College (DWC). She started her career by joining the IT Department of Emirates Post Group Holding in Dubai as a programmer. Currently, she is the manager of Administrative Systems

in the IT Department. She also holds an executive MBA in Innovation and Entrepreneurship from HCT. She enjoys her job. “I learn new things on a daily basis because of my curiosity to know and learn more.” She prefers working on new and creative ideas rather than doing routine duties at work. At school, Al Ali was known for being a hard working student who preferred reading or writing stories and diaries over participating in extracurricular activities. Writing poems and novels was her instrument to explore feelings. “I believe it helped me explore ideas and enrich my imagination,” Al Ali explained. Joining the college helped Al Ali build strong selfconfidence. “I will never forget my first presentation at DWC, when my

In the field of arts, she mostly produces contemporary art works that are based on certain issues or concepts. “I am inspired by the world around me and try to convey my thoughts and reactions to my surroundings through my artistic statements.” She considers her artwork to be an exchange between herself and the audience. English teacher said, “You do have a smile that relaxes the audience, you should use it often,” Al Ali said.

In 1999, she started painting sessions at Emirates Fine Arts Society (EFAS). Then, she joined as a member, which allowed her to attend workshops by famous artists and get involved in the annual arts exhibition of EFAS at Sharjah Arts Museum and other art shows. “In 1999, I started as a painter and I produced impressionism types of paintings,” she said. The Ministry of Culture and Media in Abu Dhabi collected one of her paintings in 2006. In the same year, one of her paintings won a Merits Award at the first Sheikha Manal Young Artists competition. She is the second daughter in her

“I am inspired by the world around me and try to convey my thoughts and reactions to my surroundings...”

Her artwork has been shown in international art shows in New York, Japan, Australia, Tehran, Turkey, Germany, Serbia, Spain and several Arab cities. The majority of her contemporary works include installations, photography and non-dialogue short movies. Last year, her five-minute short movie “Ea’ada” (REWIND) was nominated at the ‘Muhr’ Emirati Competition in the Dubai International Film Festival

(DIFF). It was screened at the Mall of the Emirates on December 2010. “REWIND” is an experimental, surrealistic mystery.

Al Ali is also a writer. She writes about her work. Her first book titled Mirror, was published in 2010 by Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture & Heritage (ADACH), and has been translated into Urdu and German.

Al Ali encourages artists from the UAE to represent the country’s heritage and traditions. “Conceptual artwork is not popular enough in our region. We are trying to explain our work to spread the ideas.” She believes the media plays an important role in supporting local talent. Very ambitious, Al Ali tries to make the ‘knowledge of new experiments of arts’ easier for people in UAE society and show them the path. “I produce works that represent me and my identity as a UAE female artist. Writing my first novel and directing more movies are my future plans. I want to create something that combines all my artwork in writing, directing and fine arts in a way that shows my ideas and the way I see things,” she notes. She pointed out that being an artist is not easy. “I usually encounter many obstacles. However, if you really have the passion for art, you can never be happy unless you do art and nothing should stop you.”

Muna Al Ali/DWC

Al Ali’s book. Muna Al Ali/DWC

Al Ali’s art work. Nuha Hassan/DWC

DWC NEWS

AFRA ATIQ DWC Goes Social DWC, keeping true to its slogan “Practicing the Future,” officially launched its very own Twitter and Facebook accounts in February, 2011. Each account is maintained by DWC’s marketing department and designed to keep the community up to date with college news and events. They also act as platforms where students, graduates and staff can interact. DWC also has its own YouTube channel and Linkedin account. DWC Library set up a blog to keep the DWC community informed and well-read. The blog features library news, student resources and online library services. Currently, DWC’s social media accounts have a combined total of approximately 600 subscribers and growing. http://www.facebook.com/HCT.DWC http://twitter.com/HCT_DubaiWomCol http://dwclibrary.wordpress.com/ http://www.youtube.com/user/dwchct

International Women’s Day Celebration To commemorate the 100th year anniversary of International Women’s Day, Dubai Women’s College, in partnership with Ernst & Young, held an impressive one-day event on its campus entitled “Inspiring and Celebrating Women: Past, Present and Future Successes.” Women from the community, DWC alumnae and several schools attended the event on 23 March, 2011. It featured a panel discussion that brought female leaders in to discuss their challenges and experiences, an Alumnae Souk, where DWC graduates displayed their own products and businesses, and a photo exhibition by DWC Applied Communications students. Various workshops focusing specifically on female empowerment ran throughout the day. The keynote address was delivered by Her Excellency Najla Al Awadhi, former Member of Parliament of the United Arab Emirates, Young Global Leader, and founder and CEO of Najla Al Awadhi Consulting. Her Excellency discussed the role of women in society and urged young women to advocate for social change. She also stressed the importance of life-long learning, volunteer work and being role models. Her Excellency also spoke about the importance of social media in relation to raising awareness about the challenges facing women in the region. She encouraged women in the audience to become social media activists, mentioning issues that are fundamental to the progress of women and lobbying for the empowerment of women.

After the keynote address, the Celebrating 100 Years of Women Achievements panel discussion took the stage. The panelists were: Nima Abu-Wardeh, presenter, BBC World News weekly financial program, Middle East Business Report and CEO of cashy.me; Deanna Othman, Country General Manager, Premium Banking UAE, Chair of UAE Diversity & Inclusion Council at Standard Chartered Bank; Ginnie Carlier, Partner and Diversity & Inclusiveness Leader at Ernst & Young MENA; Latifa Fikri, Vice President, Product Marketing, E-vision at Etisalat; Nicholle Kingsley Senior Associate at Herbert Smith; Manal Omar, Regional Program Manager for the Middle East for Oxfam. The lively discussion was moderated by Dr. Behjat Al Yousuf, Associate Director of DWC. Although many valid points were raised, most of the discussion centered around overcoming challenges and striking a balance between corporate career and family life. Memorable Quote “We don’t need to compete with men who set the bars. We need to create our own way of doing things” - Nima Abu Wardeh

Green Street Cafe The Foundations department “Green Team” held the Green Street Cafe on March 17, 2011. Green Street Cafe, an initiative organized to spread environmental awareness, focused on sustainable transport, water and electricity conservation and general environmental issues. Supporting the event were Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) and Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA). RTA’s Dr. Khaled Al Zahid, Director of Marine Transport, ran an informative discussion about the need for creating an environmentally aware generation. Dr. Al Zahid also spoke about RTA’s innovations in creating a sustainable transportation system. He stressed the importance of youth being involved in that process. Moving away from transportation, but still focusing on youth, Abdulla Mohamed Al Qassab, Graduate-Senior Technical Customer Services at DEWA, led a lively, interactive discussion with DWC students on the importance of saving water and energy. Al Qassab emphasized that water and electricity conservation is a national duty and not something to be taken lightly. He gave some quick tips and tricks that the students could implement in their homes and distributed bio-lights. The Foundations students also performed a play entitled “What Will Happen To the Turtles?” The play examined the harsh reality of the costs of development and the impact it has on the environment and its inhabitants.

63 From Shiraz to Mars Under the patronage of His Excellency Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Chancellor of Higher Colleges of Technology, DWC held an inspirational session with Dr. Firouz Naderi entitled “From Shiraz to Mars” on February 14, 2011. Dr. Naderi, currently the Associate Director of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, told his story of how a little boy from Shiraz, Iran, became one of the key players at NASA. He stressed the importance of dreaming big and how setting high goals led him to where he is now. Other topics discussed during the session were life on planet Mars, the vastness of the universe and the discovery of planets similar to Earth. The session was attended by students, professionals and members of the community. Dr. Naderi’s visit to DWC is part of its commitment to bringing high quality scholars, speakers and professionals together with the students.

MCI 2011 On 14 March, 2011 DWC held its annual Mass Casualty Incident (MCI). The MCI is a simulated emergency drill for DWC Paramedic, Health Science and Applied Communications students. This year’s MCI was a plane crash site and the ‘injured passengers’ were DWC staff and volunteers. The Civil Defense also participated in the drill for the first time as well as the Dubai Corporation for Ambulance Services and Dubai Police. Paramedic students were quick to rescue the passengers, who all had different degrees of injuries, while Pharmacy and Medical Imaging students also helped to assess their conditions and injuries. Capturing the chaos and excitement of the MCI were the Applied Communications students, who assumed the role of media covering a massive plane crash. No students who took part in the MCI knew about the number or kinds of injuries they would see during the drill.

Technology Week IT Services and the Center for Applied Learning and Multimedia (CALM) at DWC organized the first ever Technology Week from 6 - 10 March, 2011 to showcase what was new, useful and fun in the world of communication and communication technology. Each day there was a series of activities, workshops, sessions and talks. These included a 3D classroom and video demonstrations, sessions on Internet awareness and how to create your own website, and selected daily TED talks. Another highlight of the week was the daily Microsoft Kinect tournament in sports including beach volleyball and bowling. Students were also invited to take part in a show-and-tell session and talk about their favorite i-Phone application. A PC re-furbishment station was also set-up where DWC staff and students could donate their old and unwanted PCs to Dubai Municipality Computer Refurbishment Center. The Center offered to repair them and donate them to those in need.

Library Week 2011 The 2011 DWC Library Week was held under the theme “Create your own story @ your library.” The event was held from 10-14 April, 2011. The main objectives of Library Week were to increase reading enjoyment, promote libraries as cultural centers and foster creativity. There were several activities organized by the library for the DWC community to learn through stories and reading. Library Week 2011 opened with an discussion by Mohammed Al Hammadi, Editor in Chief of National Geographic Al Arabiya. Al Hammadi spoke to the students about the importance of reading while elaborating on his own experiences with reading. He revealed some shocking statistics about the reality of reading in the Arab world and gave practical advice to the students on how to choose the right books to read. National Geographic Al Arabiya also set up a photography exhibition at the college.

One of the main events of the week was Ahmed Yousuf’s visit when he performed his art of Hakawati, an ancient form of Arab storytelling. He spoke passionately about the revival of Hakawati in the Arab world and the importance of learning through storytelling. Dubai Public Libraries held an informative workshop about reading to children. Also popular was the First Chapter Reads, an activity where students and staff could listen to someone read the first few chapters of a book, and then continue reading the books on their own. Throughout the week, there were different competitions. Several students

participated in the six-word memoir and 100 word short story competitions. Large graffiti boards were set up in different locations on the campus, on which students and staff could share their favorite authors, books, movies and characters. On a similar inspirational note, thought-provoking quotes were hung up in common areas on campus. Displays in the library included an Arabic book fair, a creative book display of inspirational books to help students “create their own story,” and streaming of Applied Communication students’ promotional library videos.

Mohammed Al Hammadi “There is a clear difference between those who read and those who don’t. Even if you have a high GPA and graduate with honors, employers can always tell who reads and who doesn’t. You need to read.”

“Never assume the information that you get on online forums or Wikipedia is true. Always evaluate the information you are reading”

LEND A HELPING HAND AFRA ATIQ

Book Reviews Global Youth Empowering Movement (GYEM) aims to bring like-minded Dubai youth together and empower them through a series of workshops and community service projects.

Karama Kanteen A support program that provides food for those who are underprivileged, injured or receive low income. Karama Kanteen welcomes volunteers.

Contact: info@thegyem.org

Contact: karamakanteen@hotmail. com

Make-a-Wish Foundation grants wishes to children who are terminally ill or have lifethreatening medical conditions.

Website: http://www.makeawish. ae/en/faq.php Contact: info@makeawish.ae

The Art of War for Women By Chin-ning Chu

Become part of the “Pink Circle” by joining the yearly Safe and Sound breast cancer awareness campaign. Website: http://www.safeandsound.ae

The Lorax by Dr. Seuss

“I speak for the trees, for the trees have no tongue,” Dr. Seuss famously said in his book, The Lorax. Not simply a children’s story, it has underlying modern-day issues such as capitalism, environmentalism, deforestation and biodiversity. The book follows the story of the Lorax, who lives peacefully in a kaleidoscopic forest threatened by the Once-ler, who wants to chop down the forest to make, according to the book, a Thneed because, “A Thneed’s a Fine-Something-That-All-People-Need!” The Lorax is what people have come to expect from a Dr Seuss bookcomplete with carefully chosen words that are beautifully woven to produce a true classic to read, and re-read.

Have you ever asked yourself “How do I reach my goals and advance in my career, while still staying a nice person?” Have you ever felt like women have to check their femininity at the door when they enter the office? Do you sometimes wish you had a workplace guide to help you deal with sticky situations? The Art of War for Women could be the book for you. It is packed with practical advice and strategies to help working women. Chu has taken Sun Tzu’s famous Art of War philosophy and made it specifically for working women. The book contains chapters on everything from job envy to conflicts with co-workers plus extra pages to jot down thoughts and reflections.

Forgotten Queens of Islam By Fatima Mernissi

To describe this book as “enlightening” would not do it justice. The Forgotten Queens of Islam is a powerful reminder of the female influence in Islam. Mernissi looks at not only women who were queens by birth and marriage rite, but also those who rose to power despite their existing circumstances. The stories of the queens in this book stretch from female Sultans in Egypt to Mongol empresses to Shiite queens in Yemen. It is a concise account of their lives, struggles and separate rises to power. The Forgotten Queens of Islam contains lessons that transcend barriers of religion and culture- it is universal.

Book Reviews

Internet Café AFRA ATIQ 5Min

by Magrudy’s

Move over YouTube, there’s a new player in the world of online videos. 5Min is a collection of five minute video tutorials. There is a wide variety of videos on the website and it’s well worth a visit. There are even school related tutorials like geometry and history videos. http://www.5min.com/

Internet Public Library

A Monster Calls Patrick Ness

The monster showed up just after midnight. As they do. But it isn’t the monster Conor’s been expecting. He’s been expecting the one from his nightmare, the one he’s had nearly every night since his mother started her treatments, the one with the darkness and the wind and the screaming. This monster is something different. Something ancient, something wild. And it wants the most dangerous thing of all from Conor. It wants the truth. Darkly mischievous and painfully funny, “A Monster Calls” is an extraordinary novel of coming to terms with loss that will appeal to teenagers and adults alike.

The Pile of Stuff at the Bottom of the Stairs Christina Hopkinson

Mary Gilmour’s life is going down a plug hole. Her job is part time but housework is full time, and she has no time at all for her two young sons. Mary believes there is only one thing standing between her and organised contentment: Joel, her husband. Since star charts have worked on improving the behaviour of their children, she designs an equivalent for her husband. Although he has no idea of it, Joel has six months to prove that his credits outweigh his debits. Or else.

The Land of Painted Caves Jean M Auel

Thirty years after the publication of ‘Clan of The Cave Bear’ Jean M Auel bring us the conclusion of the ‘Earth’s Children’ series. Following the story of Ayla, her mate Jondalar, and their little daughter, Jonayla, ‘The Land of Painted caves’ takes readers on a journey of discovery and adventure as Ayla struggles to find a balance between her duties as a new mother and her training to become a Zelandoni -- one of the Ninth Cave community’s spiritual leaders and healers. If you are new to this stunning series why not take advantage of Magrudy’s special offer to buy part one, ‘Clan of The Cave Bear’, for only 19AED.

This is one giant compilation of online resources ranging from encyclopedias to newspaper articles. It’s very easy to navigate and family-friendly. The best feature of this website is its organization. It’s organized into five main sections: resources by subject, magazines and newspapers, special collections, teens and kids. This makes finding information easy and stress-free.

http://www.ipl.org/

Newseum

http://www.newseum.org/todaysfrontpages/flash/default.asp

All those who like to keep up with current events, rejoice! Aptly named, the Newseum is literally a “News Museum.” It’s a daily updated collection of front-page newspapers from around the world. The newspapers are easily downloaded in pdf format. The Newseum boasts an impressive “790 front pages from 84 countries.”

BUQSHA

AFRA ATIQ We chose to call this section ‘Buqsha’ (see below for meaning) as it is dedicated to exploring various elements of Emirati culture and traditions.

‫ هي الصرة من القماش وتكون قطعه مربعه‬:‫معنى بقشه‬ .‫توضع بها املالبس قدميا‬ Buqsha: an old word used to describe a square shaped piece of cloth. It was used to carry various items such as groceries, clothes and other items.

Traditional Dance in the UAE

Traditional male dances in the UAE are an integral part of the country’s culture. Traditionally, dance in the UAE has expressed joy and marked special occasions within the tribes. It took a great deal of physical strength and fitness to perform them, so the dances also offered an opportunity for men to showcase their physical abilities. For this reason Al Ayyalah, Al Yollah and Al Herbiya were also used as techniques to ward off other tribes. Al Ayyalah ‫العيالة‬ Is a victory dance. It symbolizes the defeat of an enemy and can be done with a large group of men. The men stand in two rows facing each other, and then each man interlocks his arm with the man beside him, while wielding a camel stick (A’assa) or sword in the other hand. Both rows move back and forth depicting advances and retreats. They declare challenges and boast their strengths in poetic verses to the beat of drums.

Men performing traditional dance. Gulf News: Rise of a Nation (Book)

Emirati Proverbs

Al Yollah ‫اليولة‬ Is a play-by-play recount of the events of battle to those who were not there. It is an all-male dance performed using sticks, swords or rifles. It is performed between two rows of men simultaneously performing Al Ayyalah. Al Yollah can be done by one, two or four men at the same time. Moving around the center of the Al Ayyalah dancers, the Yawweel (dancer) throws up his weapon as high as he can and catches it before it touches the ground. Al Yollah is performed to the beat of a drum or the rhythmic recital of poetry, depending on the tribe of the Yaweel. As an art form, Al Yollah has been around for more than two hundred years. Al Yollah also became a means of showing a particular tribe’s strength on the battle field. Today, it is performed with a much lighter mock rifle and is one of the more popular forms of traditional dance in the UAE.

‫‫اخلير في بطن الش ‬ر‬ Al-khair fi batn al-sharr “Goodness in the heart (belly) of evil.” This proverb is said of things, circumstances, events or people that at first appear bad or ominous but eventually prove to be good or lead to desirable results. ‫‫احليلة ما توصل دا‬ر‬ Al-hila matwassil dar “Trickery opens no doors.” This proverb simply says that trickery or deceit does not pay.

Al Herbiya ‫احلربية‬ Is a dance to show bravery and get ready for battle. It’s similar to Al Ayyalah but performed solely to the recitation of poetry or Al Shallah.

Sheikh Zayed performing traditional dances. Ramesh Shukla/The UAE the formative Years (Book)

‫‫اليمر يخلف رما ‬د‬ Al-Yamer yikhallif ramad “Charcoal yields ash.” Parents should not always be blamed for the bad deeds of a wicked son or daughter since bad nature may overpower good upbringing and nurture.

‬ ‫‫احفظ احلتات لني ايقول لك الزما ‬ن‫ها‬ ‫ت‬ Ihfadh al-hitat lein-i-goullak al-zaman hat This is advice to not discard things that seem to have little or no value for they may prove useful in the future. http://www.visitabudhabi.ae/en/our.heritage/poverbs.and.sayings.aspx

‫‪71‬‬

‫التحقيقات الصحفية‬

‫‪70‬‬

‫دخان وال نار!‬ ‫ميرة الفالسي‬

‫الغازات التي ميكن اشتعالها إذا وصلت لدرجة حرارة‬ ‫معينة‪ ،‬واجلدير بالذكر أن الرائحة تكون قوية جدا في‬ ‫الصيف بسبب ارتفاع درجة احلرارة‪.‬‬ ‫يوجد في دبي خمسة مكبات للنفايات في مناطق‬ ‫متفرقة هي القصيص و جبل علي و الهباب وورسان‬ ‫وأخيرا بياضة‪.‬‬ ‫يطالب سكان القصيص في دبي بدفن أو إزالة مكب‬ ‫النفايات املوجود قرب املنطقة السكنية التابعة لهم‪،‬‬ ‫معربني عن استيائهم من اجلهة املعنية التي تقوم‬ ‫بدفن النفايات في املكب‪ .‬مرمي علي‪٦٠ ،‬عام ًا‪ ،‬ربة‬ ‫بيت‪ ،‬إحدى األمهات الالتي يعشن هذه املعاناة‪،‬‬ ‫تقول‪ :‬أحيان ًا من شدة الرائحة ال نستطيع أنا وأسرتي‬ ‫فتح الباب للخروج من املنزل وال حتى لبضعة دقائق‪.‬‬ ‫خالد عبدالله‪ ٥٠،‬عاما‪ ،‬رجل أعمال‪ ،‬يقول‪ :‬أصبحت‬ ‫القصيص منطقة حيوية تتسم مبشروعات سكنية ال‬ ‫ينبغي أن يتواجد فيها مكب للنفايات‪.‬‬ ‫سعود عبدالله‪٢٨ ،‬عاما‪ ،‬موظف يإحدى‬ ‫الدوائراحلكومية‪ ،‬يقول‪ :‬الدخان الذي يظهره مكب‬ ‫النفايات يصدر رائحة كريهة جدا ويتسبب في زيادة‬ ‫نوبات الربو لدى ابنتي الصغيرة‪ .‬كما أضافت ابنة‬ ‫سعود غالية‪ ٨ ،‬أعوام‪ ،‬طالبة في املرحله االبتدائية‪،‬‬ ‫قائلة‪ :‬أمتنى اختفاء هذا املكب بسبب الدخان‬ ‫والروائح التي تنبعث منه‪ ،‬فأنا أتأذى ً‬ ‫جدا منه ألنني‬ ‫مريضة وال أحتمل هذا الدخان‪.‬‬ ‫مساحة مكب النفايات‪( .‬تصوير بلدية دبي)‬

‫رائحة كريهة‪ ..‬وألسنة الدخان تتصاعد بالقرب‬ ‫من إحدى املناطق السكنية‪ ،‬يتهافت سكان املنطقة‬ ‫مسرعني إلى البراحة القريبة إلطفاء احلريق‪ .‬ولكن‬ ‫املفاجأة دخان بال نار‪ ،‬يتوقفون محتارين أمام‬ ‫تساؤالت كثيرة حول هذه احملرقة وما قد حتتويه من‬ ‫نفايات غريبة‪ ،‬وكيف ميكن أن يكون هناك دخان يبدو‬ ‫حلريق كبير لكن ال نار؟!!‬ ‫االرتياح‬ ‫حرق النفايات كرس انطباع ًا بالقلق وعدم‬ ‫ً‬ ‫لدى الناس‪ .‬لعلمهم أن اجلهة املعنية بالتخلص من‬ ‫النفايات تقوم بحرقها األمر الذي يسبب لهم أذى‬ ‫كبيرا من الرائحة والدخان‪ .‬لذا أصبح االسم الدارج‬

‫ملكب النفايات محرقة النفايات‪.‬‬ ‫فما هي النفايات؟ النفايات تشمل كل أنواع‬ ‫املخلفات التي ال نحتاج إليها أو انتهت صالحيتها‬ ‫فتدفع بها املنازل أو املتاجر أو املدارس خارج ًا‪.‬‬ ‫في بعض األحيان حتتوي املكبات على جميع‬ ‫أنواع النفايات عدا نفايات املصانع واملستشفيات‬ ‫واملخلفات الكيميائية اخلطرة‪ .‬ويتم تصنيف هذا‬ ‫النوع من النفايات التي ال حتتوي على مخلفات‬ ‫كميائية على أنها نفايات خضراء‪.‬‬ ‫في املكب تتم عملية التخلص من النفايات بدفن‬

‫النفايات دون معاجلتها‪ .‬واملكب عبارة عن حفرة كبيرة‬ ‫ارتفاعها املكب ما بني ‪ ٣٠ -٢٥‬مترا وأحيان ًا تكون‬ ‫متفاوته احلجم‪ ،‬هذا مع اختالف حجم النفايات بني‬ ‫املاضي واحلاضر‪ ،‬إذ ازداد حجمها أضعافا في وقتنا‬ ‫احلالي إضافة إلى أن النفايات قدمي ًا كانت حترق‬ ‫بالطريقة التقليدية‪.‬‬ ‫في بعض األحيان يتصاعد الدخان من املكب وهذا‬ ‫الدخان يعتمد على نوع النفايات التي تدفن وتتحلل‬ ‫في املكب‪ ،‬عملية التحلل نفسها تطلق عدة غازات‬ ‫ليست بسامة ولكنها غير مستحبة ومن ضمنها غاز‬ ‫امليثان‪ .‬يعد غاز امليثان ً‬ ‫غازا عدمي اللون ويصنف من‬

‫الدكتور محمد عبدالله‪ ،‬أخصائي في األمراض‬ ‫الصدرية لدى األطفال‪ ،‬يقول‪ :‬يجب على مريض‬ ‫الربو االبتعاد عن أي شي يهيج الربو ألنه إذا تعالج‬ ‫وكان يعيش بالقرب من مكان يصدر الدخان فإن‬ ‫العالج لن يكتمل بل إن هذا سيجعل احلالة أسوأ‪.‬‬ ‫ومن جهة نظر معاكسة‪ ،‬فإن حميد راشد‪٣٠،‬عاما في‬ ‫إحدى الدوائر احلكومية‪ ،‬يقول‪ :‬وجود مكب النفايات‬ ‫ضروري ً‬ ‫جدا وأشكر اجلهة املعنية على جهودها في‬ ‫جمع النفايات وأخذها إلى املكب والتخلص منها‬ ‫منع ًا لكثرة احلشرات واملخاطر الصحية واملنظر‬ ‫السيء‪.‬‬ ‫فما مدى اختالف وجهات النظر بني مدى فائدة وجود‬ ‫مكب ومدى ضرره لدى من يتأذى من وجوده بسبب‬ ‫خطورة عملية احلرق؟!! سالم أحمد سالم‪ ،‬رئيس‬

‫شعبة معاجلة النفايات اخلطرة‪-‬بلدية دبي‪ ،‬يقول‪ :‬ال‬ ‫يوجد ضرر ولكن أحيان ًا عند حدوث احلرائق في فترة‬ ‫الصيف ‪-‬وهذا نادر احلدوث ‪-‬تتصاعد أبخرة وعادة‬ ‫تتجه مع حركة الرياح نحو املناطق السكنية‪ .‬يضيف‬ ‫سالم‪ :‬في حالة استمرار احلرائق وعلى املدى الطويل‬ ‫ستترتب أضرار على البيئة وعلى الناس الذين‬ ‫يعيشون قرب املكبات ولكن على املدى القصير ال‬ ‫يوجد أي تأثير‪.‬‬

‫يطالب سكان القصيص‬ ‫في دبي بدفن أو إزالة مكب‬ ‫النفايات املوجود قرب املنطقة‬ ‫السكنية التابعة لهم‪،‬‬ ‫معربني عن استيائهم من‬ ‫اجلهة املعنية التي تقوم بدفن‬ ‫النفايات في املكب‪.‬‬

‫فكيف تتم عملية التخلص من النفايات؟!! في‬ ‫البداية توجد سيارات مخصصة جلمع النفايات‬ ‫وتكون هذه السيارات موزعة على مناطق تبع ًا‬ ‫للبلدية‪ .‬هذه السيارات تنطلق حسب جدول معني‬ ‫ألخذ النفايات من املناطق السكنية ‪-‬ما عدا األماكن‬ ‫االستثمارية‪ -‬نحو املكب‪ .‬هذه السيارات اجلامعة‬ ‫مهيئة بخاصية ضغط النفايات‪ .‬بعد ملء النفايات‬ ‫إلى احلد األقصى‪ ،‬تنتقل هذه السيارات إلى أقرب‬ ‫مكب لها حسب املنطقة‪ ،‬بعد التخلص من النفايات‬ ‫في املكب ترجع هذه السيارات لالنتقال إلى منطقة‬ ‫ثانية ألخذ نفاياتها لتعيد الكرة في اليوم الثاني‬ ‫وهكذا‪ .‬هذه السيارات تكون في اخلدمة من الصباح‬ ‫الباكر إلى العصر‪ ،‬يوجد أيض ًا سيارات أخرى تقوم‬ ‫بجمع النفايات ولكن هذه السيارات تكون تابعة‬ ‫لشركة أخرى وتقوم بأخذ النفايات في أي وقت‪ .‬كما‬ ‫نوه محمود عبدالرزاق ‪ ،‬رئيس أنظمة املعاجلة‪-‬بلدية‬ ‫دبي‪ ،‬بأن املكب مفتوح على مدار األسبوع لتدفن‬ ‫فيه النفايات‪ .‬يغلق املكب ملدة يوم واحد خالل‬ ‫األسبوع لعملية التغطية أو إلجراء صيانة داخلية‬ ‫للمكب‪.‬‬

‫عمر جاسم‪٢٥ ،‬عاما‪ ،‬موظف في أحد البنوك‪ ،‬يقول‪:‬‬ ‫من املفروض أن يخصص للمكابات أماكن بعيدة عن‬ ‫املناطق السكنية‪.‬‬ ‫محمود عبدالرزاق ‪ ،‬رئيس أنظمة املعاجلة‪-‬بلدية‬ ‫دبي‪ ،‬يقول‪ :‬املكبات موجودة منذ سنوات وسنوات‬ ‫وعندما خصصت األماكن لم تكن هناك مناطق‬ ‫سكنية بعد‪.‬‬ ‫اجلهات املسؤولة عن التخلص من النفايات وتفريغها‬ ‫في املكب لها خطط مستقبلية في أخذ النفايات‬ ‫ً‬ ‫بعيدا عن املناطق السكنية ليتم إغالق هذه املكبات‪.‬‬ ‫وتأمني الراحة للفرد كأولولية في املجتمع‪ .‬ونرجو من‬ ‫سكان املناطق القريبة من مكب النفايات مساعدة‬ ‫هذه اجلهات في تفهم األوضاع‪ .‬فنقل املكبات‬ ‫موضوع قيد الدرسة من اجلهات املعنية واملسألة‬ ‫مسألة وقت ال أكثر‪.‬‬ ‫مساحة كبيرة‪...‬حديق ُة خضراء‪...‬حتتوي على بستان‬ ‫فيه جميع أنواع الورود‪ ،‬طفلة صغيرة تقطف وردة‬ ‫وتركض مسرع ٌة إلى والدها لكي تهديه الوردة‪.‬‬ ‫الوالد يشوي في مكان مخصص للشواء حيث يذهب‬ ‫الدخان في مكان بعيد عن الناس‪ .‬الفتاة الصغيرة‬ ‫تقول لوالدها أنها سعيدة ً‬ ‫جدا بوجود هذا املكان ألنها‬ ‫تستطيع اللعب واللهو في املكان الكبير بعيدا عن‬ ‫مشاكل ومعوقات مكب النفايات‪ .‬اجلميع يستنشق‬ ‫الهواء النقي بعيدا عن التلوث‪.‬‬

‫‪72‬‬

‫‪73‬‬

‫ال وقت للرياضة! عذر غير مقبول!‬ ‫شماء خليفة‬

‫الرياضة ولو بتخصيص دقائق معدودة يوميا‪ ،‬كل‬ ‫إنسان لديه وقت وإن كان قليال؛ فالرياضة تؤدي‬ ‫للراحة النفسية أوال‪ ،‬حيث يشعر اإلنسان أنه يعطي‬ ‫جزءا من وقته لنفسه‪ ،‬وممارستها تقي اإلنسان من‬ ‫اإلصابة بالقلق النفسي واالكتئاب‪ ،‬فهي أيضا مفيدة‬ ‫كعالج لهذه األمراض‪ ".‬يؤكد الدكتور عبداحملسن بأن‬ ‫مستقبل الشباب والشابات الذين ميارسون الرياضة‬ ‫هو مستقبل صحيء دون مرض‪ ،‬و يشير د‪ .‬عبد‬ ‫احملسن‪ :‬لوحظ في الدراسات أن معظم املتفوقني‬ ‫واملبدعني ميارسون الرياضة وهذا يؤكد املثل القائل‬ ‫؛العقل السليم في اجلسم السليم؛ وأيضا فإن ممارسي‬ ‫الرياضة ال يصابون بأمراض الضغط والسكري أو‬ ‫األزمات القلبية والدماغية‪.‬‬

‫الرياضة متنع من اإلصابة بالسمنة‪( .‬من تصميم حصه احلمادي ‪/‬كلية دبي للطالبات)‬

‫فاطمة‬‪ ‪،‬شابة إماراتية في مقتبل العمر‪ ،‬من أصحاب‬ ‫الوزن الثقيل‪ ،‬جتلس أمام شاشة التلفاز ملا يزيد‬ ‫على االثنتي عشرة ساعة بصحبة الفوشار واحللويات‬ ‫واملشروبات الغازية‪َ .‬ن َظرت إلى الساعة؛ هل تفي‬ ‫بوعدها ألمها مبمارسة الرياضة ملدة عشرين دقيقة؟‬ ‫ولكنها فضلت االتكاء عوض ًا عن ذلك ومتابعة‬ ‫برامجها املفضلة‪ ،‬وتكاسلت كعادتها عن ممارسة‬ ‫الرياضة بحجة‬ ‫ليس لدي وقت!‬ ‫ليس بغريب على مجتمعنا ظاهرة اجللوس أمام‬ ‫التلفاز لساعات طويلة واألكل املستمر‪ ،‬وكل ما‬ ‫نسمعه هو ليس لدي الوقت ملمارسة الرياضة‪.‬‬

‫هل أصبحت ممارسة الرياضة حمال ثقيال يتجاهله‬ ‫الكثيرون؟ هل أصبح مجتمعنا خامال؟ وأولئك‬ ‫املتجاهلني للرياضة‪ ،‬ها غابت عنهم فوائدها؟ هل‬ ‫لديهم الوعي بخطورة تأجيل ممارستها على صحتهم؟‬ ‫ملاذا ليس لديهم الوقت بالتفكير ملمارسة الرياضة؟‬ ‫هل ألن الرياضة مملة أم ألنها متعبة؟‬ ‫ظاهرة اخلمول واجللوس أمام التلفاز واحلاسوب اآللي‬ ‫وعدم ممارسة الرياضة لفترات طويلة من أخطر الظواهر‬ ‫في مجتمعنا‪ ،‬فهي خطر على صحة املواطنني وإن‬ ‫لم يكن هذا اخلطر حاضرا اآلن فسيبدي املستقبل‬ ‫آثاره الوخيمة‪ .‬يقول الدكتور عبداحملسن السيد‬ ‫محمد‪ ،‬أخصائي الطب الباطني وطب األسرة في‬ ‫عيادة الصفا الطبية في دبي‪ " :‬البد من ممارسة‬

‫ال يغيب عن كثيرين أن اإلمارات ثاني دولة في‬ ‫العالم من حيث ارتفاع نسبة اإلصابة بداء السكري‪،‬‬ ‫وكل إنسان عرضة لهذا املرض‪ ،‬لذا ينبغي مراجعة‬ ‫األولويات‪ ،‬وتنظيم الوقت‪ ،‬وعدم هدر الوقت‪،‬‬ ‫وتخصيص بعض الوقت ملمارسة الرياضة ‪ ،‬حيث‬ ‫نوه الدكتور عبداحملسن بأن الرياضة تساعد على‬ ‫التمثيل الغذائي لكل املواد الغذائية‪ ،‬وخاصة‬ ‫البروتينات والنشويات والدهون‪ ،‬بحيث ال يكون‬ ‫ُكم السعرات احلرارية التي نتناولها في الطعام أكثر‬ ‫من ُكم السعرات احلرارية التي يحتاج إليها اجلسم‪،‬‬ ‫وإذا حدث ذلك وأخذ اجلسم أكثر من احتياجاته فإن‬ ‫النتيجة هي السمنة‪ ،‬يضيف د‪ .‬عبد احملسسن‪:‬‬ ‫الرياضة متنع من اإلصابة بالسمنة وكذلك تعدل‬ ‫مستوى ضغط الدم‪ ،‬ومستوى السكري في الدم‪،‬‬ ‫واملريض الذي يعاني من السمنة يكون عرضة‬ ‫لإلصابة بارتفاع ضغط الدم الشرياني‪ ،‬واإلصابة‬ ‫مبرض السكري واإلصابة بأمراض القلب والصدمات‬ ‫الدماغية أكثر من غيره؛ ولذلك فإن الرياضة تقي‬ ‫اإلنسان من كل هذه األمراض وأهمها اإلصابة‬ ‫بالسمنة‪.‬‬ ‫وتوافق الدكتورة مرمي مطر‪ ،‬مدير عام هيئة تنمية‬ ‫املجتمع ومؤسس ورئيس مجلس إدارة اإلمارات‬ ‫لألمراض اجلينية‪ ،‬بأنه ينبغي املبادرة والتوعية للحد‬ ‫من ظاهرة اخلمول وحجة عدم توفر الوقت قائلة‪:‬‬ ‫البرامج التوعوية يجب إدراكها والتفكير بها‪ ،‬وتفعيل‬ ‫أدوارنا في اإلمارات شيء البد منه سواء في امليدان‬ ‫الصحي أو في املدارس أو األسر‪ ،‬كذلك ينبغي‬ ‫االهتمام بالوقاية من األمراض‪ ،‬واألهم استيعاب‬

‫دور الوقاية والثقافة حتى وإن كان بالفحص الوراثي‬ ‫والوعي من األمراض التي ستنتج والتي قد تكون‬ ‫جينية‪ .‬و تؤكد‪ :‬إن الوقاية خير من العالج مبمارسة‬ ‫الرياضة وتصحيح النمط املعيشي‪ ،‬و الفكرة السائدة‬ ‫بأن الرياضة مرهقة‪ ،‬وأضافت الدكتورة مرمي بأنه‬ ‫بتغيير العادات السيئة للطعام واعتماد طبخ وأكل‬ ‫كل ما هو صحي وطازج واالبتعاد عن عوامل البيئة‬ ‫الضارة من حولنا سنصبح أقوياء وأصحاء‪.‬‬ ‫واجلدير بالذكر أن بلدية حلكومة دبي أوجدت تقريبا‬ ‫في كل املناطق السكنية حدائق صغيرة بها ممشى‬ ‫و ِشباك معلقة لكرة السلة‪ ،‬والقدم‪ ،‬وغيرها من‬ ‫الرياضات التي سيستمتع بها املواطن‪ ،‬خاصة بأنها‬ ‫قريبة من منزله‪ ،‬وهكذا فلن يكون لديه سبب للخمول‬ ‫واجللوس لساعات طويلة في منزله‪ ،‬بل إن ذلك‬ ‫سيشجعه على ممارسة الرياضة باستمرار ورمبا يوميا‪،‬‬ ‫ونوهت الدكتورة مرمي بضرورة استغالل هذا املمشى‬ ‫قبل بدء الصيف وكذلك أكد الدكتور عبد احملسن‬ ‫بأن أبناء اإلمارات والشباب معرضون للخطر في‬ ‫املستقبل لعدم تخصيص وقت للرياضة‪ ،‬حيث يقول‪:‬‬ ‫اإلمارات فيها ‪ ٪٢٥‬مصاب بالسكري‪ ،‬أي أن بني‬ ‫كل ‪ ٤‬أشخاص واحد مصاب بهذا املرض‪ ،‬و أما‬ ‫نسبة السمنة لدى األطفال املواطنني في املدارس‬ ‫فكبيرة جدا حيث أن ‪ ٪٤٠‬من األطفال هم أيضا‬ ‫عرضة لإلصابة مبرض السكري مستقبال‪ ،‬إذ لم يتم‬ ‫عالجهم‪ ،‬والعالج الرئيسي هو تنظيم األكل وممارسة‬ ‫الرياضة‪ .‬ويعقب الدكتور عبد احملسن بأن العوامل‬ ‫محدودة جدا وهي اخلمول وعدم احلركة أو كثرة‬ ‫اجللوس أمام التلفاز والكمبيوتر والضغوط النفسية‬ ‫والعصبية وعدم ممارسة الرياضة‪.‬‬ ‫بالنظر إلى االستفتاءات التي أجرتها صحفية‬ ‫مجلة فجر الصحراء على فئة عشوائية من املجتمع‬ ‫املواطن ملعرفة رأي الناس حول موضوع ظاهرة اجللوس‬ ‫لساعات طويلة بغير فائدة مع حجة عدم إيجاد‬ ‫الوقت ملمارسة الرياضة‪ ،‬فقد تبني أن ‪ ٪٥٠‬من الفئة‬ ‫العمرية ما بني ‪ ١٥‬إلى ‪ ٣٠‬يؤيدون حجة أن ليس‬ ‫لديهم الوقت ملمارسة الرياضة؛ وذلك نظرا النشغالهم‬ ‫في أمور املنزل والعمل‪ ،‬ونسبة ‪ ٪٤٠‬من الفئة ذاتها‬ ‫تصر على ممارسة الرياضة ولو لعشر دقائق في اليوم‪،‬‬ ‫باعتبار الرياضة مفيدة ألجسامهم لليوم وللمستقبل‬ ‫أيضا‪ .‬في حني أن ‪ ٪١٠‬من نفس الفئة العمرية ال‬ ‫تريد التطرق إلى هذا املوضوع‪.‬‬

‫يقول عيسى سعيد‪ ١٦ ،‬عاما‪ ،‬طالب إماراتي في‬ ‫مدرسة دبي الدولية اخلاصة‪ ،‬أحد األشخاص الذين‬ ‫يعيشون هذة الظاهرة‪ :‬ليس لدي الوقت ملمارسة‬ ‫الرياضة بل إني أنشغل باملذاكرة وكتابة الواجبات‬ ‫طوال األسبوع‪ ،‬وحني تأتي اإلجازة ال أفكر بالرياضة‬ ‫ألنها تأخذ من وقت إجازتي التي أريد االستمتاع‬ ‫بها‪ ،‬كاخلروج إلى املقهى ومشاهدة التلفاز‪ .‬ويشدد‬ ‫عيسى على أن الرياضة مرهقة وال أهمية لها‪.‬‬ ‫باملقابل عفراء عيسى‪ ،‬طالبة جامعية إماراتية تبلغ‬ ‫من العمر ‪ ٢٤‬عاما‪ ،‬تقول‪ :‬أعلم بأن الرياضة مفيدة‬ ‫جدا‪ ،‬ولكن ال يسعني الوقت ملمارسته نظرا لضيق‬ ‫وقتي بانشغالي بالواجبات وواجبات أطفالي‪.‬‬

‫ظاهرة اخلمول واجللوس أمام‬ ‫التلفاز واحلاسوب اآللي وعدم‬ ‫ممارسة الرياضة لفترات‬ ‫طويلة من أخطر الظواهر‬ ‫في مجتمعنا‪ ،‬فهي خطر‬ ‫على صحة املواطنني وإن لم‬ ‫يكن هذا اخلطر حاضرا اآلن‬ ‫فسيبدي املستقبل آثاره‬ ‫الوخيمة‪.‬‬

‫ويرى عبدالله سيف‪ ٢٧ ،‬عاما‪ ،‬إماراتي اجلنسية‪،‬‬ ‫موظف في إحدى الدوائر احلكومية‪ ،‬بأن ممارسته‬ ‫لرياضة املشي بالقرب من منزله أمر ضروري بالنسبة‬ ‫له‪ ،‬حيث أنه ميارسها ‪ ٤‬مرات أسبوعيا ملدة ‪٣٠‬‬ ‫دقيقة لتجديد احليوية‪ ،‬ولتنشيط الدورة الدموية‪،‬‬ ‫والتخلص من السموم‪ ،‬ولتخفيف ضغوط حياته‪ .‬كما‬ ‫أضاف عبدالله قائال‪ :‬تتطلب الرياضة في بادئ األمر‬ ‫استعدادا نفسيا ودافعا مما يجعلها أحيانا في آخر‬ ‫األولويات اليومية‪ ،‬أما ترتيب الوقت فهو من شيم‬ ‫األشخاص الناجحني وال يكون الفرد ناجحا إن لم‬ ‫يرتب يومه ويخصص وقتا للرياضة‪.‬‬ ‫وحول املوضوع ذاته تقول داد محمد‪ ٣٠ ،‬عاما‪ ،‬ربة‬ ‫منزل إماراتية‪ :‬أمارس الرياضة ‪ ٥‬مرات أسبوعيا‬

‫ملدة ساعتني تقريبا بدافع رغبتي في تقوية العضالت‬ ‫وخسارة الوزن‪ .‬وأوضحت بأن ممارستها للرياضة في‬ ‫النادي الرياضي تشكل أهمية بالنسبة لها‪ ،‬حيث‬ ‫أنها مقوية للتواصل االجتماعي وكسب الصداقات‬ ‫اجلديدة من مختلف اجلنسيات ولتخفيف ضغوط‬ ‫احلياة اليومية‪.‬‬ ‫حينما نسمع بعض أفراد من مجتمعنا يقولون بأنه‬ ‫ليس لديهم الوقت ملمارسة الرياضة‪ ،‬فإنهم بالتأكيد‬ ‫يجهلون معنى الرياضة‪ ،‬حيث تقول الدكتورة مرمي‬ ‫مطر‪ :‬لديهم احلق في ذلك‪ ،‬فالكثير من املواطنني ال‬ ‫يدركون بأن كل إنسان قادر على ممارسة الرياضة‪،‬‬ ‫حيث يجب تعريفهم بأن الرياضة ال حتتاج بالضرورة‬ ‫إلى مالبس خاصة أو ارتياد صاالت رياضية‪ ،‬وإمنا‬ ‫ميكن لكل إنسان ممارسة الرياضة في أي مكان وزمان‬ ‫بطريقة مناسبة له ولظروفة‪ ،‬مثال استخدام الدَ رج أو‬ ‫حتريك الرقبة والعني واليد والرجل والبطن وغيرها من‬ ‫الرياضات‪.‬‬ ‫وتضيف إلى ما سبق تيتيا بييرمان‪ ،‬مدربة اللياقة‬ ‫البدنية ومساعدة مدير برامج الصحة في نادي‬ ‫دبي للسيدات بأن كل إنسان لديه الوقت ملمارسة‬ ‫الرياضة‪ ،‬وليس على اإلنسان حتمل تكاليف العضوية‬ ‫أوالتدرب في النوادي الرياضية‪ ،‬وإمنا الرياضة قد‬ ‫تكون في املنزل من دون شراء أية آلة رياضية‪ ،‬بل‬ ‫على اإلنسان املشي للتنزه خارج منزلة عندما ال‬ ‫يكون اجلو حارا جدا‪ ،‬والتنشط خالل النهار‪ ،‬واتخاذ‬ ‫الدرج بدال من املصعد في املرة القادمة‪ ،‬وعدم‬ ‫التوقف عن ممارسة الركض والقفز حتى وإن كنت في‬ ‫املنزل ولكن بلطف‪ ،‬وتضيف قائلة‪ :‬يجب على ممارس‬ ‫الرياضة أن يتمسك بالدافع وااللتزام‪ ،‬بالتركيز على‬ ‫النتائج بدال من التركيز على مستوى لياقته احلالية‪،‬‬ ‫والدافع هو اختيارك أنت‪َ ،‬فتَحلى بالشجاعة‪.‬‬ ‫الوقت متوفر إذا عرفنا كيف ننظمه‪ ،‬ونخصص‬ ‫بعض الوقت للرياضة‪ ،‬فاجلسم السليم يحتاج إلى‬ ‫‪٢٠‬دقيقة فقط في اليوم‪ ،‬وكم من الساعات تهدر‬ ‫أمام التلفاز!! شاهد التلفاز واستمتع وأنت تتحرك‬ ‫أو متشي على جهاز املشي أو تقوم ببعض التدريبات‬ ‫البسيطة‪ ،‬فالرياضة تزود اجلسم باحليوية والنشاط‪،‬‬ ‫فيصبح ممارس الرياضة قادرا على العمل بكفاءة‬ ‫وإتقان‪ ،‬واملثل يقول "العقل السليم في اجلسم‬ ‫السليم‪".‬‬

‫‪74‬‬

‫‪75‬‬

‫الشفافية بني عني الرقابة وعبء التوثيق‬ ‫عائشة املدني‬ ‫ال تنتمي لها الطالبة؛ وذلك إلعطاء املقيمني انطباعا‬ ‫جيدا عن أسلوب التدريس املتبع في املدرسة‪ ،‬و‬ ‫تكمل الطالبة حديثها قائلة‪ :‬استمتع بتقدميي احلصة‬ ‫الدراسية كبرنامج تلفزيوني أو إذاعي ألنها فرصتي‬ ‫ألصقل موهبتي في التقدمي لكن الطريقة التي‬ ‫ُت ْس َت َغل فيها موهبتي في املدرسة تضايقني‪.‬‬ ‫البد أن للرقابة ووضع االستراتيجيات ومؤسسسات‬ ‫التنمية املهنية دورا عظيما في تطوير العملية‬ ‫التعليمية‪،‬‬ ‫في حديث مع مدرس املرحلة اإلعدادية "س‪.‬ح‪".‬‬ ‫أوضح أنه راض كل الرضى عن تقييم إدارة التدريب‬ ‫و التنمية املهنية‪ ،‬ألن املالحظات و التوجيهات‬ ‫التى يتلقاها من اللجنة بعد التقييم تفيده بإدراك‬ ‫الثغرات في موقفه التعليمي؛ ليعمل على إصالحها‬ ‫وتفاديها مستقبال‪ .‬خالفا لرأي بعض الطالب في‬ ‫أن املدرسني يستخدمون أساليب تدريسية أخرى‬ ‫عند التقييم‪ .‬قاملدرس "س‪.‬م‪ ".‬يقول‪ :‬أنا شخصيا‬ ‫أستخدم األسلوب التدريسي نفسه‪ ،‬ولكن رمبا يقوم‬ ‫البعض بتغيير األسلوب وحتسني األداء باستخدام كل‬ ‫اإلمكانيات عند حضور اإلدارة‪.‬‬ ‫بني هذه اجلدران ينمو جيل املستقبل‪ ( .‬عائشة املدني‪/‬كلية دبي للطالبات)‬

‫جيل املستقبل جيل يضع كل آماله على املقاعد‬ ‫الدراسية‪ ،‬و َيت ََطلع إلى بناء ُطموحاته و صقل‬ ‫إبداعاته‪ ،‬والتطوير من نفسه‪ ،‬واالنطالق ملستقبل‬ ‫ناجح‪ .‬جيل حفيد جليل نشأ وتربى في مدارس رائدة‬ ‫تخرج منها طالب على أيدي مدرسني أكفاء‪ ،‬من هذه‬ ‫املدارس مدرسة السعادة و مدرسة الفالح و مدرسة أم‬ ‫سقيم و مدرسة األحمدية والتي تعد من أبرز املدارس‬ ‫القدمية في دبي‪ .‬افتتحت مدرسة األحمدية عام‬ ‫‪١٩١٢‬م ومن أشهر تالميذهاالشيخ راشد بن سعيد‬ ‫آل مكتوم رحمه الله الذي تلقى ِتعليمه على يد خيرة‬ ‫املعليمن في هذه املدرسة‪ُ .‬طالب العلم َأمانة َيتَوجب‬ ‫على اجلميع احملافظة عليها‪ ،‬فديننا احلنيف يحثنا‬ ‫على العلم في قوله تعالى ((يرفع الله الذين آمنوا‬ ‫منكم والذين أوتوا العلم درجات)) و يحثنا على‬ ‫إعالء مكانة العلم‪ .‬فلماذا تضيع األمانة لدى بعض‬ ‫املؤسسات التعليمية ؟ و ملاذا توضع كل اإلمكانيات‬ ‫في خدمة املوقف التعليمي حصرا عندما يكون‬ ‫الهدف تقومي املوقف بحضور التوجيه‪ ،‬بينما تغيب‬

‫هذه اإلمكانيات بعد ذلك؟‬ ‫في زيارة إدارة التدريب و التنمية املهنية إلحدى‬ ‫مدارس الطالب املرحلة الثانوية‪ ،‬يقول الطالب‬ ‫محمد عبدالله‪ :‬عند حضور اإلدارة مع مدير املدرسة‬ ‫للتقييم يتغير نظام التدريس تغيرا جذريا‪ ،‬كما‬ ‫يتم التحضير الستقبال اإلدارة قبل أيام من حضور‬ ‫اللجنة ويتَحدّ َ‬ ‫ث الطالب عن طالء اجلدران‪ ،‬و تغيير‬ ‫أبواب الغرف الدراسية‪ ،‬وتعليق الوسائل التعليمية‬ ‫على اجلدران‪ ،‬وحتضير أوارق العمل‪ ،‬والدروس‬ ‫بعروض تقدميية‪ ،‬وتوزيع الطالب إلى مجموعات‬ ‫للتفاعل‪ ،‬حتى مالبس األستاذ تتغير‪ .‬وأوضح‬ ‫أن كل هذه التغيرات ما هي إال مساحيق جتميلية‬ ‫ينتهي مفعولها التجميلي حال انتهاء التقييم وخروج‬ ‫اإلدارة من الفصل الدراسي‪ ،‬ويكمل الطالب محمد‬ ‫عبدالله قائلاً ‪ :‬إن نشاط ُ‬ ‫الطالب يزداد بحضور‬ ‫اإلدارة بتوجيه ُم ْس َبق من المُ درس‪ ،‬و المُ علم يكون‬ ‫مثالي ًا في أسلوبه التدريسي للتقييم‪ ،‬وهذا التصرف‬

‫ال ُيرضيني‪ ،‬بل يدفعني للتساؤل ملاذا فقط بحضور‬ ‫اللجنة! وملاذا ال تكون جميع احلصص الدراسية على‬ ‫املستوى ذاته؟‬ ‫ال بد أن املعلم قدوة للطالب‪ ،‬وسيفقد كثيرا من‬ ‫مكانته عندما يبدو ضعيفا وغير متطابق مع ذاته‬ ‫في كل املواقف‪ ،‬فهل قلة الكفاءة هي السبب؟ هل‬ ‫األعباء التي تصب على عاتق املدرس هي السبب؟‬ ‫هل األعباء التي تصب على كاهل املدرس تضعف‬ ‫من إمكانياته؟‬ ‫وحتدثت الطالبة "ع‪.‬م‪ ".‬عن جانب مهم آخر و هو‬ ‫استغالل موهبتها في التقدمي التلفزيوني واإلذاعي‬ ‫في تقدمي احلصة الدراسية عند حضور إدارة التدريب‬ ‫والتنمية املهنية حي ُ‬ ‫ث تَقوم الطالبة بتوجيه من المُ درسة‬ ‫بتقدمي احلصة الدراسية بأسلوب تلفزيوني أو إذاعي‬ ‫كنوع من التغيير والتجديد‪ ،‬كما تستعار هذه املوهبة‬ ‫لدى الطالبة "ع‪.‬م‪ ".‬للحصص الدراسية األخرى التي‬

‫فإذا إذا كانت املشاهد التي حتدثنا عنها سابقا‬ ‫تهدف إلى جتميل الواقع‪ ،‬فما الذي ُي ْجبِر املدرس‬ ‫على فعل ذلك؟ وهنا تبرز نقطة مهمة يجب أن‬ ‫نتطرق إليها وهي إثقال كاهل املعلم باألوراق‬ ‫التوثيقية واملتطلبات الورقية واخلطط وغيرها وغيرها‬ ‫من املسميات التي ال تنتهي وكل تلك املتطلبات‬ ‫تطلب من املعلم من قبل إدارة التدريب و التنمية‬ ‫املهنية‪ ،‬فإذا توجب على املدرس إجناز كل هذه‬ ‫األوراق ليثبت أنه يقوم بعمله‪ ،‬فمتى يا ترى يتسنى‬ ‫له القيام بعمله احلقيقي‪ ،‬ؤإذا كان ميضي الوقت‬ ‫في وضع اخلطط‪ ،‬فمتى يا ترى سيتسنى له تنفيذ‬ ‫اخلطط‪ ،‬وعندما يتجاوز املطلوب املعقول أو املقدور‬ ‫عليه أال نتوقع أن ندخل في دوامة من الشكليات‬ ‫التي العالقة لها بجوهر العملية التعليمية؟ إذا‬ ‫كنا ننتظر من املعلم أن يتابع طالبه فردا فردا ونريد‬ ‫أن نصدق أنه يجد الوقت لذلك بعد كل الورقيات‬ ‫املطلوبة للتدريس معضم الوقت في املدرسة‪ ،‬ومن‬ ‫ثم التصحيح والتحضير لليوم التالي؟ وإذا اعتبرنا‬ ‫أن املعلم يعمل دون توقف فإن هذا لن يكفي إلجناز‬ ‫ما تزعم الورقيات إجنازه‪ ،‬فإذا كان املعلم يعرف‪،‬‬

‫والطالب يعرف‪ ،‬واإلدارة تعرف‪ ،‬فلمن نضع مساحيق‬ ‫التجميل على وجوه خططنا؟‬ ‫إدارة التدريب و التنمية املهنية ليست باإلدارة‬ ‫اجلديدة بل مت تشكيلها من ِق َب ْل وزارة التربية‬ ‫و التعليم في السبعينات ولكن طرأت تعديالت على‬ ‫التسمية‪ ،‬إضافة الى التغيرات التي طرأت على نظام‬ ‫التقييم اإلداري والتدريسي ‪ .‬إدارة التدريب والتنمية‬ ‫املهنية تشكل حلقة وصل بني وزارة التربية والتعليم‬ ‫واملؤسسات التعليمية‪ ،‬ولم يغب عن وزارة التربية‬ ‫والتعليم أهمية التواصل املباشر بني إدارة التدريب‬ ‫والتنمية املهنية والطالب؛ و ذلك للتعرف على‬ ‫احتياجات الطالب من جميع النواحي‪.‬‬

‫عند حضور اإلدارة مع مدير‬ ‫املدرسة للتقييم يتغير نظام‬ ‫التدريس تغيرا جذريا‪ ،‬كما‬ ‫يتم التحضير الستقبال‬ ‫اإلدارة قبل أيام من حضور‬ ‫اللجنة‪.‬‬

‫وتأكيدا لرؤية وزراة التربية والتعليم وحرصها على‬ ‫مستقبل جيل املستقبل‪ ،‬فالطالب لهم احلق في تقييم‬ ‫املدرس من حيث التدريس‪ ،‬حيث تقوم إدارة التدريب‬ ‫والتنمية املهنية بتوزيع استبيان تقييم املدرس على‬ ‫الطالب وبذلك يتسنى لإلدارة معرفة احتياجات‬ ‫الطالب مباشرة‪ .‬وال تقتصر مهام إدارة التدريب و‬ ‫التنمية املهنية على تقييم مستوى طاقم التدريس‬ ‫والوسائل املتبعة في التدريس‪ ،‬وال تقتصر مهامها‬ ‫كذلك على تقييم إدارة املدرسة على الصعيد املهني‪،‬‬ ‫والعلمي‪ ،‬والكفاءات الشخصية‪ ،‬بل تستعني إدارة‬ ‫التدريب و التنمية املهنية باملالحظات التي تضعها‬ ‫للمدرس وأسلوب تدريسه ومن ثم تقوم مبُناقشة‬ ‫أسلوب التدريس لكل مدرس مع مدير املدرسة ومن ثم‬ ‫ري في الفصل الدراسي‪،‬‬ ‫مطابقته بالتقييم الذي ُأ ْج َ‬ ‫يقيم املدرسني فقط بل يقيم مدير‬ ‫هذا اجلانب ال ِّ‬ ‫املدرسة أيضا من حيث حرصه وقدرته على متابعة‬ ‫املدرسني‪ ،‬وحضور احلصص الدراسية‪ ،‬ويستفاد من‬

‫التقييم بتنظيم ورش عمل وبرامج تدريبية وندوات‬ ‫استنادا للنتائج واالحتياجات التي يشير إليها‬ ‫التقييم‪ .‬فتكون هذه اإلدارة كاملرشد واملساعد لألخذ‬ ‫بيد أعضاء التدريس واإلدارة و االرتقاء بهم إلى‬ ‫املستوى العلمي واإلداري املطلوب‪ ،‬وكذلك تعريف‬ ‫أعضاء هيئة التدريس بكل جديد من تطوير مناهج‪،‬‬ ‫وأنظمة وقوانني تصدرها وزارة التربية والتعليم‪.‬‬ ‫تتطلع وزارة التربية والتعليم من خالل هذه اإلدارة‬ ‫إلى مواكبة التطورالعلمي وانتقاء القادة القادرين‬ ‫على إدارة النظام التربوي واإلداري بشكل فعال‬ ‫وسليم بأسلوب حديث‪ ،‬كما أضافت مديرة إدارة‬ ‫التدريب والتطوير املهني االستاذة نبيلة امليرزا بأن‬ ‫الوزارة تتطلع من خالل هذه اإلدارة إلى االستفادة من‬ ‫معطيات التكنولوجيا في مجال التعليم‪.‬‬ ‫أهداف و تطلعات وزارة التربية و التعليم من تشكيل‬ ‫إدارة التدريب و التنمية املهنية واضحة ولكن بالنظر‬ ‫إلى اإلحصائية التى أجريت على بعض الطلبة‬ ‫والطالبات من مختلف املراحل الدراسية ملعرفة مدى‬ ‫رضا الطالب والطالبات عن أسلوب التدريس في‬ ‫حضور و غياب إدارة التدريب و التنمية املهنية فقد‬ ‫تبني أن نسبة ‪ ٪٩٧‬من الطالب ليسوا راضني عن‬ ‫أسلوب التدريس في غياب اإلدارة و هذه النسبة‬ ‫تعد مشكلة كبيرة وخطرة حتتاج إلى إعادة النظر‬ ‫فيها وإسعاف الطالب منها‪ ،‬ولكن! وفي هذا اإلطار‬ ‫ينبغي طرح بعض التساؤالت الستكمال املشهد‪ ،‬هل‬ ‫يدرك الطالب معايير التقييم و مواصفات الدرس‬ ‫اجليد؟ هل يستطيع الطالب أن يكون موضوعي ًا؟‬ ‫هل مت تدريب الطالب على التقييم؟ ومتى نصل إلى‬ ‫مجتمع ثقة بالكفاءات التي نوظفها؟‬

‫‪76‬‬

‫‪77‬‬

‫انطفاء الشعلة ‪ ..‬الوأد الوظيفي‬ ‫أسماء الزعابي‬ ‫مساعدة املوظف في تطوير نفسه‪ ،‬أو توفير فرص‬ ‫للتدريب وجتربة أعمال أخرى‪".‬‬ ‫بعض الوظائف يكثر فيها التدريب والتطوير والبعض‬ ‫اآلخر يفتقر إلى هذا النظام؛ فيعتمد املوظف على‬ ‫تطوير ذاته بذاته‪ ،‬يرى البعض أن الدوائر احلكومية‬ ‫تفتقر إلى استراتيجيات أو لوائح لتطوير املوظف‬ ‫خالل سنوات عمله‪ ،‬ويرى البعض اآلخر أن املوظف‬ ‫هو املسؤول عن تطوير نفسه خالل فترة عمله ليكون‬ ‫مسؤو ًال عن إثبات جدارته لهذا الوطن‪ .‬يبني صالح‬ ‫حسن املوظف في شرطة دبي بأن املوظف مسؤول‬ ‫أيض ًا‪ ،‬وله دور أساسي في التطوير واليقع اللوم على‬ ‫احلكومة فالدور متبادل بني الطرفني و يقول‪ :‬أعمل‬ ‫منذ ‪ ٤‬سنوات وال أكف عن تطوير نفسي واملبادرة‬ ‫من جهتي بالبحث عن أفضل الدورات والتدريبات‬ ‫لتطوير نفسي وتطوير القسم الذي أعمل فيه‪،‬‬ ‫فاملوظف عليه التزامات‪ ،‬واحلكومة تضع في املوظف‬ ‫عند تعيينه كل الثقة‪ ،‬وعلينا املبادرة واملسؤولية في‬ ‫تطوير أنفسنا وتقدمي اقتراحاتنا للجهة املسؤولة‪.‬‬

‫من هو املالم القطاع احلكومي أم املوظف؟ (تصميم أسماء الزعابي‪ /‬كلية دبي للطالبات)‬

‫تتثاءب مرمي بكسل وهي تفتح حاسوبها اآللي‬ ‫القدمي الذي يأخذ وقت ًا طوي ًال لكي يعمل‪ ،‬ترتشف‬ ‫فنجان ًا من القهوة العربية التي تطلبها خصيص ًا مبجرد‬ ‫وصولها إلي املكتب‪ ،‬ومن ثم تدخل اإلنترنت لكي‬ ‫تتصفح آخر األخبار التي تصلها عن طريق البريد‬ ‫اإللكتروني‪ ،‬يرن هاتفها فتجري بعض املكاملات‬ ‫اخلاصة وترسل بعض الرسائل هذا إن لم تكن تتحاور‬ ‫مع صديقاتها في قائمة البالك بيري‪ ،‬تصلها بعض‬ ‫التعاميم فتسأل العامل اآلسيوي عن محتواها وتوقع‬ ‫دون قراءتها وتضع يدها على خدها متأففة وتندب‬ ‫حظها وتسرح بخيالها‪ :‬ماذا لو كنت موظفة في‬ ‫قطاع آخر؟!"‬ ‫هذا السؤال يتردد في أذهان الكثيرين من موظفي‬ ‫القطاع احلكومي؛ إذ يعاني الكثير منهم من الصدمة‬ ‫بعد استالم الوظيفة حيث تتحطم آمالهم وتوقعاتهم‬ ‫على أرض الواقع! مرمي تلك املوظفة الشابة منوذج‬ ‫خلريجة جامعية عملت في أحد الوزارات التابعة‬

‫للقطاع احلكومي‪ ،‬ومنذ مت تعينها و حتى اآلن وهي‬ ‫متارس الوظيفة نفسها‪ ،‬في القسم نفسه‪ ،‬في املسمى‬ ‫الوظيفي نفسه‪.‬‬ ‫البعض يفضل العمل في القطاع احلكومي؛ فهو بيئة‬ ‫محلية مبعنى أن أغلب موظفيها من اجلنسية احمللية‬ ‫ناهيكم عن نظام التقاعد الذي يجعل املوظف يشعر‬ ‫باألمان الوظيفي‪ ،‬إضافة إلى ساعات العمل التي‬ ‫تقل عن ساعات العمل في القطاعات األخرى‪ ،‬وفوق‬ ‫كل هذا الراتب الشهري املغري‪.‬‬ ‫ولكن صدمة اخلريجني اجلدد أكبر؛ ذلك أنهم يرون‬ ‫أنفسهم استثمارا جيدا للقطاع احلكومي الذي سريعا‬ ‫ما يضع إمكانياتهم في ثالجة الروتني وامللل‪.‬‬ ‫توظيف اخلريجني اجلدد في القطاع احلكومي قد‬ ‫يساهم في توظيف مهارات جديدة ويافعة للتطوير‬ ‫والتجديد‪ ،‬فهو استثمار جيد للمستقبل‪ ،‬إلى ذلك‬

‫أشارت نبيلة العوضي رئيسة مكتب التخطيط‬ ‫والتطوير في بلدية دبي مؤكدة‪:‬إن توظيف اخلريجني‬ ‫اجلدد يسهم دائما في تطور العمل من خالل تقدميهم‬ ‫ً‬ ‫أفكارا إبداعية خالقة‪ ،‬فهم يسعون إلبراز أنفسهم‬ ‫باملثابرة في العمل‪ ،‬فكم من أفكار مت تطبيقها كان‬ ‫منبعها خريج حديث التعيني‪ ،‬ولكن األهم من كل هذا‬ ‫تغذية هذا احلماس بالتحفيز الدائم من جهة العمل‪.‬‬ ‫يبدأ املوظف اجلديد السلم الوظيفي في قمة حماسه‬ ‫واندفاعه إال إن العديد من املوظفني يفقدون‬ ‫احلماس واإلنتاجية سريعا بعد دخولهم في الوظائف‬ ‫احلكومية‪،‬و في هذا السياق حتكي منى العابر موظفة‬ ‫سابقة عن جتربتها‪ ،‬بعد أن عملت في إحدى الدوائر‬ ‫احلكومية‪ :‬إن بعض اجلهات تعني املواطنني بالعدد‬ ‫دون النظر إلى الكفاءات أو املؤهالت العلمية مما‬ ‫يؤدى إلى الشعور بعدم احلماس والتشويق في العمل‬ ‫حيث أن املوظف يقوم بنفس األعمال لفترة طويلة‬ ‫دون ترقية أو تقدير‪ ،‬وقد تفتقر بعض الوظائف إلى‬

‫من جانب آخر تؤكد أسماء حامد موظفة في وزارة‬ ‫التربية والتعليم وبشدة أن اجلهة احلكومية مسؤولة‬ ‫عن املوظف‪ ،‬حيث يجب أن تضع له خطة عمل ملدة‬ ‫زمنية‪ ،‬وتوصيفا دقيقا للمهام الوظيفية ملتابعة‬ ‫تطويره وإنتاجيته حتى ال يشعر بأن العمل احلكومي‬ ‫ممل وروتيني فهي تقول‪ :‬من االستراتيجيات املهمة‬ ‫عند تعيني أي موظف رسم مسار وظيفي له ملدة‬ ‫ال تقل عن ‪ ٥‬سنوات حتدد فيها تطوره الوظيفي‪،‬‬ ‫ووصف واضح للوظيفة ليكون على درايه مبهامه‬ ‫الوظيفية على أكمل وجه وهذا ما يعكس اهتمام‬ ‫املؤسسة مبستقبل املوظف حديث التعيني‪.‬‬ ‫يحمل املواطن نظرة سلبية اجتاه العمل في احلكومة‬ ‫فهو يفضل العمل احلكومي ولكنه ال يستفيد منه‬ ‫وال يفيد احلكومة‪ ،‬بعكس القطاع اخلاص الذي‬ ‫يفرض على املوظف كيف يتعامل ويصقل مهاراته‬ ‫ً‬ ‫قادراعلى العمل بإنتاجية أكبر فاحلماس‬ ‫حتى يكون‬ ‫واملنافسة همامن أكثر الدوافع للموظف إلكمال‬ ‫مسيرته العملية بكل حرص وإتقان ليكون موظف ًا ذا‬ ‫جتربة تفيده إذا شغل أي منصب وظيفي‪.‬‬ ‫في دراسة قامت بها هيئة تنمية وتوظيف املوارد‬ ‫البشرية الوطنية (تنمية) تبني أن تركيز معظم‬ ‫املواطنني في العمل ينصب على التوجه إلى القطاع‬

‫احلكومي‪ ،‬فقد بلغت نسبة املواطنني في املستوى‬ ‫احمللي واالحتادي ‪ ،٪٨١.٢‬بعكس القطاع اخلاص‬ ‫الذي يعد من أبرز القطاعات في الدولة ولكن تصل‬ ‫نسبة عمل املواطنني فيه أقل من ‪.٪٢‬‬ ‫نورة البدور مديرة مركز التوظيف وتنمية املهارات‬ ‫في هيئة تنمية وتوظيف املوارد البشرية الوطنية‬ ‫تؤكد "العمل في القطاع احلكومي كبداية للخريجني‬ ‫قد يكون صعبا‪ ،‬ألن القطاع احلكومي بدأ يرسم‬ ‫االستراتيجيات لتطوير املوظف ولكن هذا قد يأخذ‬ ‫الكثير من الوقت حتى يطبق عملي ًا‪ ،‬فإن وضعت‬ ‫الفرصة للمواطن بالعمل في القطاع اخلاص‪ ،‬يجب‬ ‫عليه أن ال يتردد؛ ألنه سيدخل في فرصة للتطوير‬ ‫اإليجابي‪ ،‬الكتساب اخلبرة وااللتزام والتحدي املستمر‬ ‫والضروري بني املوظفني من مختلف اجلنسيات‬ ‫والكفاءات‪.‬‬

‫يحمل املواطن نظرة سلبية‬ ‫اجتاه العمل في احلكومة‬ ‫فهو يفضل العمل احلكومي‬ ‫ولكنه ال يستفيد منه‪...‬‬

‫تروي موزة الشامسي موظفة قدمت استقالتها‬ ‫بعد مدة عمل ‪ ٣‬أسابيع فقط في إحدى اجلهات‬ ‫احلكومية‪ ،‬أنها لم تشعر بأن املكان الذي عملت‬ ‫فيه يحقق طموحاتها وأهدافها التي تسعى إليها‬ ‫مؤكدة‪ :‬كيف لي أن أكتسب خبرة في أداء العمل‬ ‫بأقدم الوسائل املتاحة‪ ،‬طالبت بتعديل بعض األمور‬ ‫البسيطة كتغير احلاسب اآللي؛ لتسهيل عملية‬ ‫العمل ولكن دون جدوى‪ ،‬كيف لي أن أتطور وأسعى‬ ‫للتدريب إذا لم يتم االهتمام بي كموظفة جديدة؟؛‬ ‫لذلك فقد قررت أن أبحث عن عمل في القطاع‬ ‫اخلاص حتى أكتسب املهارات التي أتطلع إليها‪.‬‬

‫و تؤكد نورة البدور مديرة مركز التوظيف وتنمية‬ ‫املهارات أن احلكومة تسعى لتقدمي كل ما هو متاح‬ ‫لتحقيق األداء املتفوق واملجفز لإلبداع والتميز‬ ‫كبرنامج الشيخ خليفة للتميز احلكومي الذي يسعى‬ ‫ً‬ ‫جاهدا لتقييم ومتابعة التطور والتميز احلكومي بدقة‬ ‫وتنمية املهارات والقدرات‪ :‬علينا أن ال نتجاهل‬

‫دور املسؤولني في تدريب املوظفني وحتفيزهم بشكل‬ ‫مستمر لطرد امللل والعمل الروتيني من حياتهم‬ ‫العملية وترسيخ فكرة اإلبداع والتجديد املستمر‬ ‫لديهم‪ ،‬فالمانع من مشاركة املسؤولني في دورات‬ ‫وورش عمل ملعرفة الطرق اإليجابية للمشاركة في‬ ‫حتسني األداء الوظيفي للموظفني والطرق املناسبة‬ ‫الستثمار مهاراتهم واالستفادة منها‪.‬‬ ‫على الرغم من اختالف اآلراء حول استفادة‬ ‫اخلريجني من العمل في القطاع احلكومي‪ ،‬تبني بعد‬ ‫االستبيانات التي مت إجراؤها على عينة عشوائية‬ ‫من ‪١٠٠‬مواطن من كال اجلنسني‪ ،‬أن ‪ ٪٧٠‬يؤيدون‬ ‫العمل في القطاع احلكومي و‪ ٪٣٠‬يؤيدون العمل‬ ‫في القطاع اخلاص‪ .‬تختلف أسباب املواطنني الراغبني‬ ‫في العمل في القطاع احلكومي‪ ،‬فإن ‪ ٪٤٠‬يتوجهون‬ ‫للعمل في القطاع احلكومي بسبب الراتب املغري‪،‬‬ ‫و‪ ٪٣٠‬يفضلون عدد ساعات العمل القصيرة في‬ ‫الوظائف احلكومية‪ ،‬و‪ ٪٣٠‬يتمسكون بالعمل‬ ‫احلكومي لضمان نظام التقاعد الذي يوفر للموظف‬ ‫االمن واالستقرار‪.‬‬ ‫مؤخرا بادر سمو الشيخ ماجد بن محمد بن راشد آل‬ ‫مكتوم‪ ،‬رئيس هيئة دبي للثقافة والفنون إلى توفير‬ ‫ثالثة برامج تدريبية للخريجني اإلماراتني من مختلف‬ ‫أنحاء الدولة لتعزيز قدراتهم في العمل من خالل‬ ‫التدريب والتعليم وتنمية املهارات واخلبرات‪ ،‬لرسم‬ ‫مستقبل مهني وتطوير الكوادر الوطنية إلحراز التقدم‬ ‫في مجال العمل‪.‬‬ ‫في إطار التطوير الوظيفي طرحت فكرة الدوران‬ ‫الوظيفي التي يؤمل تطبيقها في القطاع احلكومي؛‬ ‫وذلك بأن يتم نقل األفراد بعد العمل في قسم‬ ‫محدد خالل فترة زمنية محددة إلى قسم آخر قريب‬ ‫من مجال العمل؛ ليساعد على جتديد عمل املوظف‬ ‫وتطويره‪.‬‬ ‫رغم اعتراض الكثيرين تبقى الوظيفة احلكومية‬ ‫ً‬ ‫مالذا لهم ورغم محاوالت احلكومة لتطوير القطاع‪،‬‬ ‫مازال القطاع يتصف بالتقليدية‪ ،‬ولكن يبقى األمل‬ ‫في استمرار وهج الشعلة‪ ،‬فكم من فكرة إبداعية‬ ‫مت وأدها في مكانها قبل والدتها‪ ،‬وكم من شعلة‬ ‫متوهجة ومتقدة انطفأت ألنها لم جتد مناخ التوهج!‬ ‫استراتيجيات التطوير مطلب لرد جميل احلكومة‬ ‫والوطن وكي التنطفىء الشعلة‪.‬‬

‫‪79‬‬ ‫الفرص املتاحة لهم‪ ،‬فمجتمعنا الشرقي يتيح فرصا‬ ‫أكثر للرجال‪ ،‬لذا أجد الفرصة مناسبة لي في السفر‬ ‫للقيام بأي تصرف دون قلق‪ ،‬و ال يعترض إخواني‬ ‫على ذلك هنا على الرغم من اعتراضهم على السلوك‬ ‫ذاته ونحن في البالد ألنه بزعمهم‪ ،‬خارج الدولة ال‬ ‫أحد ينظر إلى الثاني‪ ،‬و كل يعيش في حاله‪.‬‬ ‫تقول السيدة نورا و هي ربة بيت وأم ألربع بنات‬ ‫و ثالثة أوالد‪ :‬أقضي سفري في كل سنة مع بناتي‬ ‫األربعة‪ ،‬وأعطيهن احلرية في التصرف‪ ،‬يلبسن ما‬ ‫يردن ويذهنب إلى حيث يرغنب مبراقبتي من بعيد‪،‬‬ ‫ففي كل سنة يقضني صيفا ممتعا مع صديقاتهن وأنا‬ ‫أتعرف على العديد من الناس في فترة سفري‪ ،‬ال‬ ‫أفرض على بناتي لبس الشيلة أو العباية في فترة‬ ‫سفرهن فهن ناضجات و لديهن حرية االختيار‪ .‬وطبعا‬ ‫يختلف الكالم عن ذلك في داخل البالد فقد أضافت‬ ‫السيدة نورا‪ :‬نعم أفرض عليهن الشيلة والعباية‬ ‫في البالد احتراما للمجتمع‪ ،‬والسمعة‪ ،‬والعادات‬ ‫والتقاليد‪ ،‬أما خارج البالد فهذا ال يتعارض مع‬ ‫عاداتهم و تقاليدهم‪ ،‬واملجتمع هناك ال يرى مشكلة‬ ‫في ذلك‪ ،‬وال أحد يعرف أن بناتي هن بنات فالن أو‬ ‫أخوات فالن‪.‬‬ ‫أما بعض األهل فلديهم نظرة أخرى‪ .‬فمن وجهة نظر‬ ‫املوظف راشد محمد فإنه يجب أن تكون تصرفات‬ ‫اإلنسان سواء كانت داخل الدولة أو خارجها مبنيه‬ ‫على اعتقاداته‪ ،‬فكل له حرية العيش والتصرف‪،‬‬ ‫ومن ال يرى خطأ في أفعاله خارج الدولة‪ ،‬فليمارسها‬ ‫داخل الدولة إذن‪ ،‬بغض النظر عن نظرة املجتمع‪،‬‬ ‫لكل إنسان احلق في العيش كما يريد‪ ،‬فأنا ال أسمح‬ ‫ألخواتي في خارج الدولة بتخطي حدودهن التي‬ ‫رسمتها لهن في الدولة ‪ .‬فتغير املكان ال يعني‬ ‫تغير مبادئنا‪ ،‬و يعتبر راشد األهالي الذين يسمحون‬ ‫ألبنائهم مبمارسة ما مينعونه عنهم في الدولة بأنهم في‬ ‫صراع مع النفس‪ ،‬وال يعرفون ماذا يريدون بالضبط‪،‬‬ ‫وطاملا أنهم سمحوا ألبنائهم مبمارسة تصرفات معينة‬ ‫فهذا يعني أنهم اليرون فيها عيبا‪ ،‬فلماذا إذن‬ ‫يغيرون تصرفاتهم مع تغير املكان؟‬ ‫وتؤيد ذلك السيدة فاطمة جمعة قائلة‪ :‬في األول‬ ‫واألخير أعامل بناتي وأوالدي في داخل الدولة أو‬ ‫خارجها املعاملة ذاتها‪ ،‬فأنا أضع من أولوياتي مخافة‬ ‫رب العاملني ويجب أن أعلمهم ذلك‪ ،‬في الدولة‬ ‫لديهم احلرية ملمارسة أي تصرف ال يخالف دينهم‬ ‫و لن أسمح لهم بأي تصرف يتجاوز حدود الدين‬ ‫خارج الدولة‪ ،‬فرب العاملني موجود في داخل الدولة‬ ‫وخارجها‪.‬‬ ‫رغم اختالف مفاهيم السفر والسلوكيات التي ميارسها‬ ‫البعض في السفر ترى أمل محمد و هي طالبة‬ ‫جامعية وأم لطفلني بأن الصيف هو فترة للترفيه‬ ‫والتغيير فأنا أقضي صيفي بطريقة مريحة وممتعة‪،‬‬ ‫أرتدي ما يحلو لي بحيث ال يخالف ديني‪ ،‬وال‬

‫أفضل املبالغة في ما أحمل معي من أغراض فأنا في‬ ‫األخير ذاهبة ألقضي وقت املرح‪ ،‬أفضل قضاء وقتي‬ ‫في املناطق الترفيهية واحلدائق مع عائلتي‪ ،‬وكعادتنا‬ ‫في البالد نحاسب على تصرفاتنا‪ ،‬وإن رأيت أي‬ ‫تصرف مشني من أشخاص من بلدي‪ ،‬ال أرى ضيرا‬ ‫في النصيحة‪.‬‬

‫أكثر ما يثير غضبي عندما‬ ‫أسافر إلى خارج الدولة‪ ،‬منظر‬ ‫الرجال الذين يتنزهون في‬ ‫النهار مع عائالتهم وزوجاتهم‬ ‫وهم في قمة الغضب‬ ‫والتكشير‪ ،‬وفي الليل عندما‬ ‫يقضون الوقت مع أصدقائهم‬ ‫يكونون في غاية الفرحة و‬ ‫يتصرفونكاملراهقني‪.‬‬

‫و من ناحية أخرى جتد الطالبة اجلامعية حصة عبدالله‬ ‫للسفر طعما آخر و تقول‪ :‬ال أبالي بأي تصرف غريب‬ ‫من أي شخص ففي كل مجتمع تكون هذه الفئة‬ ‫موجودة‪ ،‬وفي الوقت الراهن ولله احلمد هناك العديد‬ ‫من الشباب الذي يبذلون الكثير من املال واجلهد‬ ‫إلظهار دولتهم في الصورة الصحيحة في خارج‬ ‫الدولة‪ ،‬فلقد قمت أنا ومجموعة من الشباب في‬ ‫عمري بالتوجه إلى عدد من الدول األجنبية‪ ،‬وقمنا‬ ‫باملشاركة في فعاليات للتبادل الثقافي إلبراز ثقافة‬ ‫بالدنا و عاداتنا التي نفخر بها‪.‬‬ ‫أما املوظف احلكومي أحمد خميس فيؤكد قائال‪:‬‬ ‫درست في الواليات املتحدة لفترة تفوق اخلمس‬ ‫سنوات على حساب دولتي وفي هذه الفترة عاهدت‬ ‫نفسي أن أرد اجلميل إلى دولتي بأي عمل مشرف؛‬ ‫فقررت أن أمثل دولتي بطريقة مشرفة من خالل‬ ‫مشاركتي في النوادي واألنشطة الثقافية إلبراز ثقافة‬ ‫بالدي فلقد لقبت بشاعر اجلامعة وأيضا شاركت‬ ‫العديد من الناس في املجتمع املتعدد الثقافات‬ ‫بثقافة بالدي فنحن أهل الكرم والنخوة وال أنسى‬ ‫كيف أعجب أحد الزمالء بكرمي عندما دعوته إلى‬ ‫العشاء مرتني في بيتي وشاركته بألذ أكالت بالدي‬ ‫احمللية‪.‬‬ ‫في اآلونة األخيرة انتشرت ظاهرة ارتداء "وزار‬ ‫وفانيلة" في أحد الشوارع في الواليات املتحدة‬ ‫من بعض اخلليجيني؛ وذلك بحد ذاته أمر مشني‪،‬‬ ‫حيث أن هذه املالبس تعد مالبس داخلية ال تصلح‬

‫للظهور العلني في املجتمعات‪ .‬يعتقد رحمة العويس‬ ‫أن هذه التصرفات املشينة تخرج من األقلية وليس‬ ‫األغلبية‪ ،‬فكثيرا ما يسافر رحمة للتجارة أو السياحة‬ ‫و يضيف‪ :‬ال أعتقد بأن هناك نسبة كبيرة من ممن‬ ‫يتصرفون تصرفات مشينة كهذه تعكس صورة سيئة‬ ‫عن البالد‪ ،‬و بشكل عام إن املوضوع ال يخصنا‬ ‫وحدنا‪ ،‬فهناك بعض األجانب ممن يتصرفون تصرفات‬ ‫غير الئقة في بالدنا أيضا‪ ،‬كما قلت‪ :‬إنها االقلية‬ ‫وهذا سلوك عاملي ال ينتمي إلى دولة معينة‬ ‫تبقى سلوكيات املسافرين رغم اختالفها سلوكيات‬ ‫وتصرفات شخصية ومن املفروض أن يقوم كل شخص‬ ‫مبراقبة تصرفاته ومراجعة النتائج التي ستعكسها‬ ‫هذه التصرفات‪ ،‬وعلى الرغم من أن السفر مساحة‬ ‫شخصية ولكننا في النهاية سفراء هويتنا‪.‬‬

‫‪80‬‬

‫‪81‬‬

‫السفر مرآة تعكس الهوية أم نافذة للحرية‬ ‫أحالم البناي‬ ‫كان اجلو صاخبا جدا في منطقة "نانا" في تايلند‬ ‫كالعادة‪ ،‬شارع مليء مبحالت الصرافة واملطاعم‬ ‫العربية‪ ،‬وجميع مرتادوه من العرب لذا سمي " فريج‬ ‫العرب" لطاملا أمسكت بكاميرا الفيديو اخلاصة بي‬ ‫ألصور اجلو الصاخب ومرتادي املنطقة‪ ،‬ومعظمهم‬ ‫من الدول اخلليجية‪ .‬في منطقة مزدحمة جدا‬ ‫يتزاحم الناس من أجل الوصول إلى وجهتهم‪ ،‬ومن‬ ‫احلشد‪ ،‬تشق طريقها فتاة في كامل حلتها وزينتها‬ ‫مبكياجها الصارخ وأحمر شفاهها الالمع‪ ،‬ترتدي‬ ‫عباءتها الواسعة املفتوحة التي تبدي بنطالها اجلينز‬ ‫" السكيني" وحذاءها عالي الكعب الذي ال أعرف‬ ‫كيف تستطيع أن متشي فيه ‪.‬‬ ‫ليس ذلك باملنظر الغريب في تلك املنطقة‪ ،‬فـتلك‬ ‫املرأة املعروفة لدى اجلوار‪ ،‬والتي اعتادت أن ترتدي‬ ‫مالبسها احمللية وتتصوغ بأغلى أنواع الذهب‬ ‫واملجوهرات دون أية مباالة باللصوص في تلك املنطقة‬ ‫ما هي إال ذكر أو جنس ثالث يعبر بطريقته عن‬ ‫حريته من خالل ممارسات مسموحة في اخلارج‪ ،‬ممنوعة‬ ‫في الداخل‪ .‬بل ويعاقب عليها القانون‪.‬‬ ‫قد يرى بعض املسافرين السفر خالل فصل الصيف‬ ‫فرصة للهرب من اجلو احلار واجلاف‪ ،‬في حني يرى‬ ‫البعض اآلخر السفر في الصيف هربا من إطار‬ ‫العادات والتقاليد وفرصة ملمارسة ما يشاؤون بعيدا‬ ‫عن أعني الناس وانتقادات املجتمع‪ ،‬فكما نعلم إن‬ ‫كل ممنوع مرغوب وكلما مارس األفراد ما هو ممنوع‬ ‫خالل فترة معينة زاد شغفهم بتجاوز ممارساتهم أكثر‬ ‫في املرة القادمة لذا تزداد رغبتهم في السفر لقضاء‬ ‫إجازة مليئة باحلرية بزعمهم حيث ال يعرفهم أحد على‬ ‫ما يظنون‪.‬‬ ‫السفر هو أفضل هوايات الطالبة اجلامعية "م‪.‬أ‪".‬‬ ‫حيث تستطيع خالل فترة سفرها العيش بحرية مطلقة‬ ‫بعيدا عن إطار العادات والتقاليد ودون أن تسمع‬ ‫كلمة "عيب بيرمسون عنج"‪ ،‬تقول "م‪.‬أ‪ ".‬أرتدي‬ ‫ما يحلو لي خالل فترة سفري‪ ،‬وأسهر كما أريد دون‬ ‫ان أخاف من نظرات اجليران حينما أعود متأخره مع‬ ‫صديقاتي‪ ،‬وأرتاد األماكن التي أراها مناسبة لي‪،‬‬ ‫في حني يراها مجتمعي ال تناسب الفتاة الشرقية‪،‬‬ ‫فأفعل ما أشاء وأعيش كما يحلو لي في هذه الفترة‪،‬‬ ‫دون أن أخاف من كالم الناس و نظراتهم‪.‬‬ ‫مسافرة خليجية في إجازة‪( .‬من تصميم وفاء املرزوقي ‪/‬كلية دبي للطالبات)‬

‫وفيما يتعلق باحلدود والعادات والتقاليد املتعلقة‬

‫بكل من املرأة والرجل‪ ،‬أظن أننا نتفق جميعا على‬ ‫أن املوضوع اليتعلق باملفاضلة‪ ،‬لكن باختالف طبيعة‬ ‫األحكام‪ ،‬وطريقة التعاطي مع االهتمامات وأسلوب‬ ‫ممارستها‪ .‬أحمد س‪ .‬موظف حكومي يرى أن السفر‬ ‫فرصة للمتعة‪ ،‬فيقضي معظم أيام سفره التي غالب ًا‬ ‫ما تكون مع أصدقائه أو زمالء عمله في االستمتاع‬ ‫بأمور ال يرغب مبمارستها في الدولة رغم أن املجال‬ ‫مفتوح له‪ .‬ويضيف أحمد‪ :‬ال أرغب بارتياد النوادي‬ ‫الليلية في الدولة‪ ،‬على الرغم من وجودها‪ ،‬وعلى‬ ‫الرغم من أنه اليوجد ما مينعني من ذلك‪ ،‬و لكني ال‬ ‫أفضل ذلك احترام ًا مني السم عائلتي وللمحافظة‬ ‫على سمعتي‪ ،‬لذا أرتاد النواد الليلية في خارج‬ ‫الدولة حيث ال يعرفنا أحد‪ ،‬وأنا على ثقة بأن ذلك لن‬ ‫ميس سمعتي أو سمعة عائلتي‪.‬‬ ‫يقوم معظم املسافرين مبمارسة سلوك معني خالل‬ ‫فترة سفرهم نابع من اهتماماتهم احلياتية وميولهم‬ ‫الشخصية‪" .‬س‪.‬ح‪ ".‬طالبة جامعية من عشاق‬ ‫املوضة ومن مدمني املاركات العاملية تؤكد قائلة‪:‬‬ ‫شغفي الكبير بعالم األزياء واملوضة‪ ،‬يجعلني أنتظر‬ ‫الصيف بفارغ الصبر ألرتدي ما يحلو لي بطريقة‬ ‫جتعلني أنافس جنمات هوليوود‪ .‬أول شيء أقوم‬ ‫به عند ركوبي الطيارة هو وضع عباءتي في شنطة‬ ‫يدي‪ ،‬فأنا على استعداد كامل لدفع أي ضرائب وزن‬ ‫على حقائبي التي أعمل طول فترة السنة على ملئها‬ ‫بالثياب واألحذية العالية التي تتماشى مع املوضة‬ ‫ألتزين بها خارج الدولة‪.‬‬ ‫وتبقى احلرية مبفهومها املتعلق بسلوكيات السفر هي‬ ‫املطلب األكبر للمسافرين‪.‬‬ ‫سعاد محمد خريجة جامعية تقول‪ :‬أتصرف بحرية‬ ‫أكبر خارج الدولة فبإمكاني التحدث مع من أريد‬ ‫سواء كان ذكرا أو أنثى وألبس كما أريد دون أن‬ ‫أحسب أي حساب للمجتمع‪ ،‬ولو صدر مني تصرف‬ ‫يعتبر "مرفوضا" في مجتمعي ال أبالي ألن الناس ال‬ ‫يعرفون من أكون‪ ،‬وال أعتقد بأنني سأعكس صورة‬ ‫سيئة عن بلدي فأنا ال أرتدي مالبسي احمللية وال‬ ‫أحمل معي شيئا يعكس هوية الدولة التي أتيت‬ ‫منها‪.‬‬ ‫توافق لطيفة محمد موظفة في قطاع حكومي سعاد‬ ‫فتضيف على كالمها‪ :‬أتصرف بحرية كبيرة في خارج‬ ‫الدولة إلمياني بأن مجتمعنا يحكم على تصرفات‬

‫الناس بشدة‪ ،‬فال أستطيع أن أضحك بصوت عال‪،‬‬ ‫فاجلميع سينظر إلي وأنا في بلدي‪ ،‬أما إذا قمت‬ ‫بالتصرف نفسه في اخلارج فلن يهتم أحد فمجتمعنا‬ ‫ينطبق عليه هذا املثل‪" :‬كل ما يعجبك و البس ما‬ ‫يعجب الناس" فأنا آكل و ألبس ما يعجبني خارج‬ ‫الدولة‪ ،‬وال أعتقد بأنني أعكس صورة سلبية عن‬ ‫بالدي فأنا ال أقوم بأي فعل يجعلني محط األنظار‪.‬‬

‫يرى البعض السفر في‬ ‫الصيف هربا من إطار العادات‬ ‫والتقاليد وفرصة ملمارسة ما‬ ‫يشاؤون بعيدا عن أعني الناس‬ ‫وانتقادات اجملتمع‪...‬‬

‫جمانة غامن مخرجة تلفزيونية ال توافق من يعتقد‬ ‫بأن ال أحد سيعرفه خارج دولته‪ ،‬فمعظم اخلليجيني‬ ‫يتوجهون إلى وجهات معروفة ومحددة مثل تايلند‪،‬‬ ‫لبنان‪ ،‬لندن وفرنسا وال بد من مقابلة من يعرفهم في‬ ‫خارج الدولة و تقول مؤكدة‪ :‬كثير من البنات يلبسن‬ ‫مالبس ال تليق بهن وشباب يرتدون مالبس نسائية‬ ‫يظنون بأن ال أحد يعرفهم هناك‪ ،‬وميارسون حياتهم‬ ‫بحرية أكبر بعيدا عن األعني كما يظنون متجاهلني‬ ‫املبادئ الدينية‪ ،‬هذا بغض النظر عن العادات‬ ‫والتقاليد‪.‬و تضيف جمانة‪ :‬هذا ليس فقط نتيجة‬ ‫الهروب من العادات والتقاليد بل إنه قلة وازع ديني‬ ‫وصراع مع النفس‪ ،‬وأشارت جمانة إلى أن من يظن‬ ‫نفسه قادرا على الهروب من أعني الناس مخطئ‪،‬‬ ‫فالدنيا قرية صغيرة كما يقال‪.‬‬

‫أما مرمي ع‪ .‬و هي موظفة في قطاع خاص فترى أنها‬ ‫حتافظ على سلوكها ذاته في كل األمكنة‪ ،‬إن كانت‬ ‫خارج الدولة أو داخلها‪ ،‬فاليوجد قانون مينعك من‬ ‫سلوك معني في بلدك‪ ،‬وما املهم في كالم الناس أو‬ ‫انتقاداتهم إذا كنا مؤمنني بأننا على صواب‪ .‬أكثر‬ ‫ما يثير غضبي عندما أسافر إلى خارج الدولة‪،‬‬ ‫منظر الرجال الذين يتنزهون في النهار مع عائالتهم‬ ‫وزوجاتهم وهم في قمة الغضب والتكشير‪ ،‬وفي الليل‬ ‫عندما يقضون الوقت مع أصدقائهم يكونون في غاية‬ ‫الفرحة و يتصرفون كاملراهقني‪.‬‬

‫سوء املعاملة مع النادل في املطعم أو مع البائعني‬ ‫في احملالت تصرف يستفز رجل األعمال محمد سالم‬ ‫الذي يقول‪ :‬ال أعلم ملاذا ولكن العديد من الناس‬ ‫يسيؤون معاملة العمال واخلدم‪ ،‬وهذا أكثر مايثير‬ ‫غضبي على الرغم من أن تلك البالد تكن كل‬ ‫االحترام للعمال‪ ،‬وهذا يعكس صورة سلبية جدا عنا‬ ‫كذلك أبدى محمد استياءه من بعض املسافرين في‬ ‫محطة القطار والوقوف في الصفوف بغير انتظام‪،‬‬ ‫حيث يقول‪ :‬يؤسفني أن أرى البعض منا يتزاحم وال‬ ‫يبالي بتلك التفاصيل الصغيرة الكبيرة في املعنى‪.‬‬ ‫أما الطالبة اجلامعية س‪ .‬أ‪ .‬فتقول‪ :‬في إحدى‬ ‫زياراتي لدولة من الدول ذهبت إلى ذلك املقهى‪،‬‬ ‫وجلست على طاولة في موقع استراتيجي‪ ،‬فجأة‬ ‫أتى مدير املطعم وطلب مني اختيار طاولة أخرى‬ ‫ألن هذه الطاولة محجوزة طول فترة الصيف للسيد‬ ‫فالن بن فالن فأدركت من اسمه بأنه عربي وأخبرني‬ ‫مدير املطعم أن السيد فالن دفع مبلغا هائال حلجز‬ ‫تلك الطاولة‪ ،‬خرجت من املطعم على الفور وعدت‬ ‫في املساء ألرى سر تلك الطاولة فرأيت السيد فالن‬ ‫جالسا‪ ،‬يعاكس الفتيات بطريقته احمللية التي‬ ‫تعتبر غريبة بالنسبة ألولئك الفتيات‪ ،‬و املخجل في‬ ‫املوضوع أنه يلبس قميصا عليه صورة علم بالده‪.‬‬ ‫أخجل أن أمشي في لندن مبالبسي احمللية‪ ،‬التي تدل‬ ‫على أني خليجية ال أريد أن أصنف مع تلك الفئة‬ ‫التي ال تعكس ثقافتنا بشكل مشرف‪ ،‬هذا ما قالته‬ ‫املذيعة التلفزيونية حمدة نور حيث ترى أن معظم‬ ‫اخلليجني في األونة األخيرة يرتادون لندن للتظاهر‬ ‫والتباهي‪ ،‬و على الرغم من أن ذلك يشكل خطرا‬ ‫عليهم ويلفت أنظار اللصوص‪ .‬و تضيف بأنها تعرف‬ ‫الكثير ممن تعرضوا للسرقة والضرب بسبب ساعاتهم‬ ‫املاسية أو مقتنياتهم الغالية جدا فكل ميشي و في‬ ‫يده عشرات األكياس من محالت املصممني العاملية‪.‬‬ ‫تلعب العائلة دورا كبيرا في تشجيع أبنائها على‬ ‫ممارسة سلوكيات معينة غير مسموحة في بلدهم‪،‬‬ ‫حيث تسمح بعض العائالت ألبنائها مبا متنعه عنهم‬ ‫في داخل الدولة فتفتح لهم املجال لتخطي حدود‬ ‫مرسومه لهم أو في التشكيك بالعادات أو التقاليد‬ ‫و ترى الطالبة اجلامعية نوف علي أنها تستمتع بكل‬ ‫حلظات سفرها إلى اخلارج و الذي يتيح لها مساحة‬ ‫أكبر من احلرية‪ :‬لطاملا حسدت إخواني الشباب على‬

‫‪82‬‬

‫‪83‬‬

‫قراءة الدستور يجعل املواطن واعيا ً بحقوقه وواجباته املكفولة له مبوجب الدستور‪( .‬من تصميم حصه احلمادي ‪/‬كلية دبي للطالبات)‬

‫قراءة الدستور ‪ ..‬مسؤولية وطن ّية‬ ‫أمينة شهواري‬

‫حص ٍة من حصص القانون في إحدى مؤسساتنا‬ ‫في ّ‬ ‫تخصص‬ ‫العليا في اإلمارات‪ُ ،‬سئل ُط ّالب ّ‬ ‫التعليم ّية ُ‬ ‫عما إذا كان إبعاد املواطن عن الدولة جائزا‬ ‫القانون ّ‬ ‫بحكم القانون أم ال‪ ،‬فسكتوا ُب ْرهة‪ ،‬وبعدها انقسموا‬ ‫ُ‬ ‫ب بنعم أو بال‪ ،‬فردّ أستاذ القانون عليهم‬ ‫بني مجي ٍ‬ ‫قائال‪:‬عليكم الرجوع إلى دستور الد ْولة‪ ،‬فاإلجابة تقع‬ ‫بني ثناياه‪.‬‬ ‫ضج املكان‪،‬‬ ‫ما إن ردّ األستاذ بهذا الردّ‪ ،‬حتّى ّ‬ ‫العذر‬ ‫وبدأت األحاديث اجلانب ّية‪ ،‬لم يلتمس األستاذ ُ‬ ‫للطالب في عدم معرفة اإلجابة الصحيحة على الرغم‬ ‫لتخصص‬ ‫من أ ّنهم كانوا في بداية طريق دراستهم‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫القانون‪ ،‬وك ْيف ل ُه أن يعذرهم وقد أمضوا اثني عشر‬ ‫عاما من أعمارهم على مقاعد الدراسة في املراحل‬ ‫اإلبتدائية واإلعدادية والثانو ّية يدرسون مختلف‬ ‫العلوم واملعارف!!‬ ‫ويبدو بأن الط ّالب ليسوا الفئة الوحيدة التي‬ ‫تستعصي عليها اإلجابة عن هذا السؤال‪ ،‬بل ينضم‬ ‫إليهم في ذلك السواد األعظم من أفراد املجتمع‬

‫اإلماراتي‪ .‬لقد كان االنقسام الذي ظهر بني الطالب‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫ضعف ّاطالعهم على‬ ‫مؤشرا حقيق ّيا وخطيرا على ْ‬ ‫دستور الد ْولة الذي يمُ ثّل كتاب الدولة األ َّول وواجهتها‬ ‫أجمع‪ ،‬فعلى من تقع‬ ‫الرئيسية أمام ُد ْول العالم‬ ‫ْ‬ ‫مسؤولية التوعية بقوانني الدولة؟ هل هي مسؤولية‬ ‫املؤسسات التعل ّيم ّية أم مسؤولية احمليط االجتماعي‬ ‫الذي يعيش فيه الفرد‪ ،‬أم مسؤولية الفرد نفسه؟ وهل‬ ‫ميثّل ضعف التوعية في مرحلة التنشئة سببا مباشرا‬ ‫بأهم وأبسط قوانني الدستور؟‬ ‫في ضعف معرفة الفرد ّ‬ ‫تسببت في ذلك؟‬ ‫أم أن هناك عوامل أخرى قد ّ‬ ‫بصفته طالبا في كل ّية القانون بجامعة الشارقة‪ ،‬فإنّ‬ ‫"إ‪.‬ح‪ ".‬بدأ حديثه مع ّرفا الدستور على أ ّن ُه الكتاب‬ ‫يضم مجموعة من القواعد العامة التي ّ‬ ‫الذي ّ‬ ‫متكن‬ ‫املواطن من أن ميارس حقوقه العامة‪ ،‬وقد قام رئيس‬ ‫الدولة باملصادقة على هذا الدستور الذي يكفل‬ ‫للمواطن حر ّياته العامة‪.‬‬ ‫املهم لكل مواطن االطالع‬ ‫يعتقد "إ‪.‬ح‪ ".‬بأ ّنه من ّ‬ ‫على دستور الدولة‪ ،‬لكي يتع ّرف على حدود حر ّياته‬

‫املكفولة له مبوجب الدستور‪ ،‬حي ُ‬ ‫ث أ ّن ُه الحظ بأنّ هناك‬ ‫الكثير من الطلاّ ب الذين يقضون سنوات طويلة على‬ ‫مقاعد الدراسة وبعد ذلك يتخ ّرجون من املدارس‪ ،‬وهم‬ ‫يجهلون ما يعنيه الدستور‪ ،‬وكنتيجة لهذا يجهلون‬ ‫فإنهم بالضرورة يجهلون عالقة هذا الدستور بحقوقهم‬ ‫وحر ّياتهم العا ّمة كمواطنني‪ ،‬وتكون املفاجأة عند‬ ‫انخراطهم في احلياة املهن ّية والعا ّمة‪.‬‬ ‫وحول املوضوع ذاته يظهر من خالل حديث الطالب‬ ‫"إ‪.‬ح‪ ".‬اهتمامه وتركيزه على جانب واحد من جوانب‬ ‫الدستور وهو جانب احلقوق والواجبات العا ّمة الذي‬ ‫واملسمى باحلر ّيات‬ ‫يتضمنه الباب الثالث من الدستور‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫واحلقوق والواجبات العا ّمة‪ّ ،‬‬ ‫ولعل تركيزه على احلقوق‬ ‫تخصص قانون‬ ‫والواجبات عائد إلى ك ْونه طالب ّ‬ ‫وقضايا حقوق ّية‪.‬‬ ‫ويرى "إ‪.‬ح‪ ".‬بأنّ املناهج التعليم ّية املوضوعة من‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫تتحمل اجلزء األكبر من‬ ‫قبل وزارة التربية والتعليم‬ ‫مسؤولية تعليم الطالب قوانني الدولة الواردة في‬ ‫يتحمل احمليط األسري مسؤولية من‬ ‫الدستور‪ ،‬بينما‬ ‫ّ‬

‫الدرجة الثانية من حيث تشجيع األبناء على االطالع‬ ‫على دستور الدولة‪.‬‬

‫واالتجّ اهات العا ّمة للدستور‪ ،‬ويتحدّ ث القسم الثالث‬ ‫عن الدعامات األساس ّية لالحتاد‪.‬‬

‫وال تختلف عفراء مطر‪ ،‬مسؤولة العالقات اإلعالم ّية‬ ‫في نادي دبي للصحافة‪ ،‬كثيرا مع "إ‪.‬ح‪ ،".‬ح ْي ُ‬ ‫ث‬ ‫اخلاصة باملدارس‬ ‫أ ّنها ترى بأنّ املناهج التعليمية‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫لم ت ُقم بتناول موضوع الدستور بالشكل املطلوب‪،‬‬ ‫فعفراء ال تذكر أ ّنها درست شيئا عن الدستور في‬ ‫أي مرحلة دراس ّية من مراحل دراستها‪ ،‬وتضيف‪ :‬قد‬ ‫اعتبر أسلوب التدريس في املدارس والذي يعتمد‬ ‫على التلقني سبب ًا ملا تع ّودنا عليه من التقاعس‬ ‫والتكاسل عن البحث عن املعلومة‪ ،‬وذلك عندما‬ ‫مهم موجود في‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫تترسخ لدينا فكرة أ َّن كل ما هو ّ‬ ‫الكتاب‪ ،‬بينما يختلف الوضع عند دخول الطالب‬ ‫احلياة اجلامع ّية التي يعتمد فيها التدريس على‬ ‫أسلوب البحث الذاتي‪.‬‬

‫وعلى الرغم من حماسها للتع ُّرف على دستور الدولة‬ ‫املخصصة للدستور في الكتاب‪،‬‬ ‫من خالل الوحدة‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫املخصصة‬ ‫إ ّال أنّ "م‪.‬ص‪ ".‬اعتبرت أنّ املساحة‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫لطرح هكذا موضوع ال تل ّبي رغبتها في التع ّرف‬ ‫على دستور الدولة بشكل كاف‪ ،‬ولكنّها وفي جميع‬ ‫األحوال اعتبرت أنّ تسليط الضوء على الدستور خي ٌر‬ ‫يتم التسليط عليه نهائي ًّا‪ ،‬واقترحت أن‬ ‫من أن ال ّ‬ ‫يتم التركيز عليه ومنحه مساحة كافية بدال أو أسوة‬ ‫باملوضوعات التي تشغل حيزا كبيرا في املنهج وتكرر‬ ‫أكثر من مرة مثل موضوع قيام احتاد دولة اإلمارات‬ ‫العربية املتّحدة أو موضوع تأسيس مجلس التعاون‬ ‫اخلليجي‪.‬‬

‫وتعتب عفراء على وسائل اإلعالم على تقصيرها في‬ ‫اخلاصة بدستور دولة اإلمارات‪،‬‬ ‫عرض املوادّ التثقيفية‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫حي ُ‬ ‫ث أ ّنها تقول‪ :‬يجدُ ر مبحط ّات التلفاز احملل ّية أن‬ ‫تتناول هذا املوضوع في شكل مادّ ة تثقيفية وتوعوية‬ ‫بدال من عرضها املن ّوعات والبرامج غير الهادفة‬ ‫التي ال تخدم عقل املشاهد‪ ،‬فاالنتخابات البرملان ّية‬ ‫للمجلس الوطني االحتادّ ي جارية ويجدر باجلميع‬ ‫معرفة ما يجري في هذه االنتخابات من خالل تغطية‬ ‫وسائل اإلعالم لتط ّورات هذه االنتخابات‪.‬‬ ‫ولم تغفل عفراء مسؤولية الفرد اجتاه تثقيف نفسه‬ ‫وتوعية عقله بأهم ّية قراءة الدستور‪ ،‬فلقد اعتبرته‬ ‫شيئ ًا أساس ّي ًا وواجب ًا وطن ّي ًا‪ ،‬فألقت بالتالي جزءا‬ ‫من املسؤولية على الفرد نفسه‪ ،‬فقالت مؤكدة‪ :‬نحن‬ ‫وخاصة شريحة الشباب‬ ‫في اإلمارات وبشكل عا ّم‪،‬‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫لدينا نظرة سائدة إلى السياسة على أنها حروب‬ ‫ودماء‪ ،‬وهي نظرة خاطئة بالطبع‪ ،‬ما جعل اهتمامنا‬ ‫يظن‬ ‫باألمور واألوضاع السياس ّية ضعيف‪ ،‬كما ّ‬ ‫الكثير بأنّ قراءة الدستور ليست من اختصاصه‪،‬‬ ‫بل من اختصاص طلبة القانون ورجاله‪ ،‬وإلى جانب‬ ‫ذلك قناعتنا األكيدة بأنّ حكومة الدولة تعمل من‬ ‫أجل راحة املواطن وأمن الوطن‪ ،‬ولذلك صارت فكرة‬ ‫االطالع على دستور الدولة أمرا ثانو ّيا بالنسبة‬ ‫للكثير منّا‪.‬‬ ‫ومن جهتها‪ ،‬ع ّبرت م‪.‬ص‪ ،‬وهي طالبة في الص ّ‬ ‫ف‬ ‫التاسع في مدرسة قباء للتعليم األساسي للبنات‬ ‫في إمارة رأس اخليمة عن حماسها ورغبتها الشديدة‬ ‫في التع ّرف على دستور الدولة الذي يتناوله كتاب‬ ‫التربية الوطن ّية للص ّ‬ ‫ف التاسع‪ ،‬ح ْي ُ‬ ‫ث قالت‪ :‬لقد ّ‬ ‫مت‬ ‫تخصيص وحدة كاملة في كتاب التربية الوطن ّية‬ ‫لتناول موضوع دستور دولة اإلمارات العرب ّية املتحدة‬ ‫وكل ما يتع ّلق به من م ّواد وقوانني‪ ،‬وتنقسم هذه‬ ‫املخصصة للحديث عن الدستور إلى ثالثة‬ ‫الوحدة‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫أقسام‪ ،‬ح ْي ُ‬ ‫ث يتناول القسم األ ّول الدستور بشكل‬ ‫فيتم فيه استعراض اخلصائص‬ ‫عا ّم‪ ،‬أ ّما القسم الثاني ّ‬

‫وردّ ا على تعليق الطالبة "م‪.‬ص‪ ".‬بخصوص شعورها‬ ‫املخصصة في كتاب التربية الوطن ّية‬ ‫بأنّ الوحدة‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫للص ّ‬ ‫ف التاسع ال تشبع رغبة الطالب مبعرفة املزيد‬ ‫عن دستور الدولة‪ ،‬تقول األستاذة جميلة الصوري‪،‬‬ ‫وهي مع ّلمة تاريخ متقاعدة بأ َّن الف ْرد مبقدوره اللجوء‬ ‫إلى مصادر أخرى مختلفة وعديدة في حال لم يجدْ‬ ‫في املنهج ما يكفيه ويل ّبي رغبته في التع ّرف على‬ ‫الدستور بشكل أعمق‪ ،‬فهناك املكتبات العا ّمة التي‬ ‫وبغير ّ‬ ‫شك حتتضن كتبا عن تاريخ الدولة واحتاد‬ ‫اإلمارات السبع وما أعقب ذلك من وضع دستور‬ ‫مؤقت‪ ،‬وما م ّر به الدستور حتّى أصبح دستورا دائما‪،‬‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫املتعطش ملعرفة املزيد عن الدستور‪،‬‬ ‫كما أنّ الفرد‬ ‫بإمكانه اللجوء إلى املث ّقفني السياسيينّ املوجودين‬ ‫في الدولة كدارسي مجال التاريخ ليسألهم فيما يريد‬ ‫معرفته‪ ،‬وشدّ دت األستاذة جميلة الصوري كذلك‬ ‫على أهم ّية تعريف الطفل على مبادىء بسيطة من‬ ‫كي يكون على معرفة بقوانني دولته‬ ‫دستور الدولة ْ‬ ‫منذ الصغر‪.‬‬ ‫مصيبة وطن ّية!!! هكذا ع ّلقت األستاذة جميلة‬ ‫الصوري على جهل ط ّالب القانون مبادّ ة دستور ّية‬ ‫كهذه في املوقف املذكور في بداية هذا املقال‪ ،‬فقالت‪:‬‬ ‫من العيب أن يجهل الطالب اجلامعي أو أن تخفى‬ ‫فتخصصه في مجال معينّ ال‬ ‫عليه معلومة كهذه‪،‬‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫يهتم بتثقيف نفسه في مجاالت أخرى‪،‬‬ ‫يعني أن ال ّ‬ ‫كما أنّ من واجب أي مواطن إماراتي متع ّلم أن ينقل‬ ‫ما تع ّرف عليه من قوانني وموادّ وتعديالت دستورية‬ ‫جديدة إلى والد ْيه من غير املتع ّلمني‪.‬‬ ‫وبخصوص التوعية بأهم ّية قراءة الدستور فإنّ‬ ‫املتخصص‬ ‫الدكتور سعيد حارب‪ ،‬األستاذ اجلامعي‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫في القضايا احلقوقية‪ ،‬والناشط في املجتمع املدني‬ ‫يع ّلق‪ :‬إنّ التوعية بأهم ّية قراءة الدستور هي‬ ‫مسؤولية مجتمع ّية تبدأ من األسرة التي يجب أن‬ ‫تشجع أبناءها على التعرف إلى هذا الرمز الوطني‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫حتى يعرفوا حقوقهم وواجباتهم‪ ،‬ثم يأتي بعد‬ ‫ذلك دور املؤسسات التعليم ّية لتعريف الطالب‬

‫بالدستور وذلك من خالل املناهج التعليمية‪ ،‬وخاصة‬ ‫في املراحل املتقدمة من التعليم كاملرحلة الثانوية‬ ‫واملرحلة اجلامع ّية‪ ،‬كما تقوم وسائل اإلعالم بدورها‬ ‫في التعريف بالدستور من خالل برامجها احلوارية‪،‬‬ ‫وملؤسسات املجتمع املدني كذلك دور في تعريف‬ ‫الناس بالدستور‪.‬‬ ‫وفي سؤال عن عواقب جهل الفرد بدستور دولته‪،‬‬ ‫أجاب الدكتور سعيد حارب قائال‪ :‬إ َّن جهل املواطن‬ ‫بالدستور يجعله غير عارف بحقوقه وواجباته على‬ ‫اعتبار أنّ الدستور هو عبارة عن صيغة قانون ّية أو‬ ‫عقد ّ‬ ‫ينظم العالقة بني الدولة ومواطنيها‪ ،‬ولربمّ ا أوقع‬ ‫جهل املواطن بحقوقه وواجباته في مخالفات قانونية‪،‬‬ ‫كما أنّ جهله قد يجعله عرضة للتأثر مبعلومات غير‬ ‫صحيحة عن دولته‪.‬‬ ‫ومن جهتها قالت حور حامد‪ّ ،‬‬ ‫موظفة في شعبة‬ ‫الدراسات االجتماعية بقسم إدارة املناهج بوزارة‬ ‫التربية والتعليم‪ :‬إنّ كتاب التربية الوطن ّية للص ّ‬ ‫ف‬ ‫التاسع ليس هو الوحيد من كتب التربية الوطن ّية‬ ‫يتضمن موضوع الدستور‪ ،‬بل أنّ إدارة املناهج‬ ‫الذي‬ ‫ّ‬ ‫بشكل م ّبسط في اجلزء‬ ‫قامت بطرح هذا املوضوع‬ ‫ٍ‬ ‫األ ّول من كتاب التربية الوطن ّية للص ّ‬ ‫ف األ ّول وذلك‬ ‫في الوحدة الثالثة من الكتاب وحتت عنوان وطني‬ ‫اإلمارات‪ ،‬كما قامت بتناول جزء من موادّ الدستور‬ ‫في الوحدة األولى من كتاب التربية الوطن ّية للص ّ‬ ‫ف‬ ‫الثالث والذي يقع حتت عنوان زايد باني اإلمارات‪،‬‬ ‫باإلضافة إلى الوحدة الثانية من نفس الكتاب وذلك‬ ‫يأتي حتت عنوان حقوقي وواجباتي‪ ،‬أ ّما الدستور‬ ‫واخلدمة احلكومية فهو عنوان الوحدة الثانية من‬ ‫كتاب التربية الوطن ّية للص ّ‬ ‫ف السابع‪.‬‬ ‫وختمت حور حامد حديثها بالق ْول‪ :‬إنّ هناك ّ‬ ‫خطة‬ ‫مستقبل ّية لزيادة مساحة تناول قضايا الوطن في‬ ‫كتب التربية الوطن ّية ابتداء من مرحلة رياض األطفال‬ ‫وصوال إلى املرحلة الثانوية‪ ،‬وستتع ّلق هذه القضايا‬ ‫بستّة محاور أساس ّية وهي الهو ّية الوطن ّية‪ ،‬والدولة‬ ‫واحلكومة‪ ،‬والقانون‪ ،‬واحلقوق والواجبات‪ ،‬واملشاركة‬ ‫الفاعلة‪ ،‬واالقتصاد في وثيقة التربية الوطنية‬ ‫اجلديدة‪.‬‬ ‫ولنعد إلى موقفنا السابق في بداية هذا املقال‪ ،‬ونرى‬ ‫ُ‬ ‫ماذا فعل أستاذ القانون بعد هذا املوقف مع ُط ّالبه‪،‬‬ ‫فهاهو يق ّرر فرض عقوبة نافعة ومحببة ُ‬ ‫لط ّالبه‪،‬‬ ‫الفصل‬ ‫ويطلب منهم البحث في دستور الدولة عن ْ‬ ‫احلصة‬ ‫الذي يتناول هذه املادّ ة الدستور ّية واحلضور في ّ‬ ‫التالية مع اإلجابة الصحيحة‪ ،‬وعند مراجعة الط ّالب‬ ‫للدستور‪ ،‬تبينّ لهم بأ ّنه ال يجوز إبعاد املواطنني‪ ،‬أو‬ ‫نفيهم من االحتاد‪ ،‬وذلك مبوجب املادّ ة ‪ 38‬من فصل‬ ‫احلر ّيات واحلقوق الواجبات العا ّمة من الدستور‪،‬‬ ‫ً‬ ‫عقوبة تستوجب ال ُشكر‬ ‫وهكذا كانت عقوبة األستاذ‪،‬‬ ‫والثناء؛ أل ّنها كانت ذات قيمة وطن ّية خالصة تعزز‬ ‫االنتماء والهوية الوطنية‪.‬‬

‫‪84‬‬

‫‪85‬‬ ‫املعيشة لديه‪ ،‬لذلك تعتبر دولة اإلمارات من الدول‬ ‫التي تعد من أعلى نسب البلدان في الدخل احمللي‬ ‫للشخص الواحد‪.‬‬ ‫مع الكثير من االمتيازات التي يحصل عليها‬ ‫املواطنني إال أن أفعال وسلوكيات البعض تدل‬ ‫على أنهم غير مقدرين‪ .‬توضح جنالء العوضي‪،‬‬ ‫عضو سابق في املجلس الوطني االحتادي والرئيسة‬ ‫التنفيذية لشركة جنالء العوضي لإلستشارات بأنه‬ ‫منذ تأسيس اإلمارات في عام ‪١٩٧١‬م‪ ،‬بنيت‬ ‫الدولة على عدة مبادئ أساسية‪ ،‬من هذه املبادئ أن‬ ‫احلكومة سوف توفر اخلدمات األساسية من الرعاية‬ ‫الصحية املجانية والتعليم واإلسكان والوظيفة‪ ،‬ويبدو‬ ‫أن توفير هذه اخلدمات مجانا تسبب في راحة كبيرة‬ ‫لإلماراتيني وأدى لدى البعض لالسترخاء السلبي‬ ‫أمام صيغة "دولة الرفاهية" التي‪ -‬لألسف‪ -‬ترتبت‬ ‫عليها نتائج سلبية في تشكيل الشعور باالستحقاق‬ ‫بني املواطنني‪ ،‬وأنا ال أعمم‪.‬‬ ‫من ضمن امتيازات املواطن في الدولة‪ ،‬التوطني‬ ‫وهي سياسة حكومية تهدف إلى توفير فرص العمل‬ ‫ملواطني الدولة‪ .‬وفقا لهيئة تنمية وتوظيف املوارد‬ ‫البشرية الوطنية‪" ،‬مثل املواطنون أقل من ‪ ٪٢‬في‬ ‫القطاع اخلاص والذي يعتبر صاحب العمل الرئيسي‬ ‫في البالد (‪ .)٪ 52.1‬باإلضافة فإن املواطنني‬ ‫ميثلون أقل من ‪ ٪١٠‬من مجموع قوة العمل في‬ ‫الدولة‪ .‬و يقول مشعل القرقاوي معلق الشؤون‬ ‫اجلارية‪ :‬أرى الكثير من مواطني دولة اإلمارات ليس‬ ‫لديهم الشعور بالواجب جلعل دولة اإلمارات العربية‬ ‫املتحدة أكثر ثراء وتطورا وإبداعا‪.‬‬

‫يتصرف بعض املواطنني كمدللني يعانون من “متالزمة أنا أريد”‪( .‬تصميم سارة اجلوي‪/‬كلية دبي للطالبات)‬

‫شارع ذو اجتاهني‬

‫سارة اجلوي‬ ‫في بداية كل فصل دراسي يرسم بعض الطالب على‬ ‫أدراجهم خطوطا ليثبتوا ملكيتهم لتلك األدراج‪،‬‬ ‫إال أنها في احلقيقة ملك للحكومة‪ ،‬وسوف يتم‬ ‫استخدامها من قبل طالب آخرين‪ .‬في املكاتب‪،‬‬ ‫جتد بعض املوظفني غير مهتمني في إتقان العمل‬ ‫ويؤجلون أعمالهم للغد حتى يلعبوا على أجهزة‬ ‫احلاسوب أو اآليباد وما أن تدق الساعة الثانية‬ ‫ظهرا حتي يسارعوا في اخلروج إلى البيت ‪ .‬في‬ ‫املنازل‪ ،‬جتد بعض األمهات يذهنب للتسوق أويشاهدن‬ ‫التلفاز بينما يدعن اخلادمة تعلم أطفالهن و حتل‬ ‫الواجبات معهن‪ .‬في املجالس‪ ،‬تسمع الشكاوي و‬ ‫املطالب للحصول على رسوم مجانية للمياه وسالك و‬ ‫خصومات على الغرامات وغير ذلك‪.‬‬

‫هذه األنواع من السيناريوهات شائعة في دولة‬ ‫اإلمارات العربية املتحدة‪ .‬ميكن تفسير تلك األفعال‬ ‫والسلوكيات لبعض املواطنني على أنها سلوك دالل‬ ‫مرفه ميكن بالتأكيد أن يعوق تنمية الدولة ورأس‬ ‫مالها البشري‪.‬‬

‫يتصرف بعض املواطنني كمدللني يعانون من "متالزمة‬ ‫أنا أريد"‪ .‬يقول اخلبراء أن اآلباء الذين يدللون‬

‫مجتمع دولة اإلمارات مجتمع صغير يبلغ ‪ ٣٩‬سنة‬ ‫فقط‪ .‬منذ تأسيس هذه الدولة‪ ،‬قدمت دولة اإلمارات‬

‫أبناءهم ويعفونهم من املسؤوليات‪ ،‬يخلقون في‬ ‫ذواتهم الشعور باالستحقاق‪ ،‬والتملك‪ ،‬وأنه ال يترتب‬ ‫عليهم أية مسؤوليات أو التزامات مقابل ذلك‪.‬‬ ‫على سبيل املثال‪ ،‬عندما يتمشى شخص في احلديقة‬ ‫و يرى قمامة على األرض فإنه يكمل طريقه‪ .‬وفي‬ ‫داخله‪ ،‬يعتقد بأنها ليست مسؤوليته وإمنا مسؤولية‬ ‫عامل النظافة في البلدية‪.‬‬

‫ملواطنيها حقوقهم مثل املساواة والعدالة االجتماعية‬ ‫و ضمان السالمة واألمن‪ .‬باإلضافة إلى ذلك‪،‬‬ ‫قدمت دولة اإلمارات ملواطنيها امتيازات عدة مثل‬ ‫اخلدمات الصحية املجانية‪ ،‬وصندوق الزواج والضمان‬ ‫االجتماعي للعاطلني عن العمل‪ ،‬واألرامل واملطلقات‬ ‫و كبار السن و ذوي االحتياجات اخلاصة‪ ،‬وأيضا‬ ‫األهم من ذلك قدمت لنا الدولة التعليم املجاني‪.‬‬ ‫ينص دستور دولة اإلمارات العربية املتحدة في املادة‬ ‫‪ ١٧‬على أن "التعليم عامل أساسي لتقدم املجتمع‬ ‫وهو إلزامي في مرحلته االبتدائية ومجاني في كل‬ ‫مراحله داخل االحتاد‪ ،‬ويضع القانون اخلطط الالزمة‬ ‫لنشر التعليم وتعميمه بدرجاته املختلفة‪ ،‬والقضاء‬ ‫على األمية‪ ".‬ركز صاحب السمو املغفور له بإذن الله‬ ‫تعالى الشيخ زايد زايد بن سلطان آل نهيان على‬ ‫تقدمي مستوى معيشي عال لشعبه و حتسني ظروف‬

‫صدر قانون في عام ‪٢٠٠٤‬م من وزارة العمل‬ ‫والشؤون االجتماعية لتعزيز مشاركة املواطنني في‬ ‫القطاع اخلاص حتت عنوان "التدريب والتوظيف‬ ‫ملواطن دولة اإلمارات العربية املتحدة في القطاع‬ ‫اخلاص" و ينص القانون بأن تلتزم جميع الشركات‬ ‫في قطاع التجارة ممن لديها ‪ ٥٠‬موظفا أو أكثر في‬ ‫الشركة بتوظيف املواطنني بنسبة ‪ ٪ 2‬سنويا‪ .‬لكن‬ ‫هذا يخلق نوعا من املعضلة‪.‬و يضيف القرقاوي‪.‬‬ ‫قائ ًال‪ :‬أنا ال أتفق مع احلكومة في جانب توفير‬ ‫الوظائف للمواطنني هكذا‪ ،‬املفقود هنا هو الرسالة‬ ‫الواضحة عن املسؤولية ودور املتلقي لهذه احلقوق‬ ‫اجتاه املجتمع‪.‬‬ ‫هل احلكومة تدلل املواطنني؟ أم هل توفر احلكومة‬ ‫هذه االمتيازات للمواطن ألنه ميثل األقلية في بلده؟‬ ‫سارعت اإلمارات في بناء رأس مالها البشري‪ ،‬و‬ ‫لكن العديد من املواطنني ال يلعبون دورا في رد‬ ‫اجلميل لهذا البلد و أضاف القرقاوي‪ :‬إذا سألتم‬ ‫معظم املواطنني ما واجبهم نحو أمتهم‪ ،‬سيقولون رمبا‬ ‫أنهم على استعداد للقتال من أجل دولة اإلمارات‬ ‫العربية املتحدة‪ .‬ولكن ال ينبغي أن متارس املواطنة‬ ‫خالل فترات التهديد و اخلطر فقط‪.‬‬

‫ومع ذلك‪ ،‬هناك العديد من املواطنني الذين يردون‬ ‫اجلميل للدولة حتى في أبسط الطرق‪ .‬على سبيل‬ ‫املثال‪ ،‬مروى الشيباني‪ ،‬طالبة في جامعة زايد‬ ‫أسست مع فريقها "‪”Young Eager Steps‬‬ ‫وهي منظمة تساعد احملتاجني وتنظم فعاليات‬ ‫اجتماعية للمجتمع‪ .‬تقول الشيباني‪ :‬رد اجلميل‬ ‫للمجتمع ليس لديه حدود أو قيود ميكنك أن تختار‬ ‫أي شيئ ًا حتب فعله‪.‬‬ ‫ميكن للمواطن أن يرد اجلميل بطرق عديدة‪ ،‬مثل‬ ‫ً‬ ‫أوالدا صاحلني‪ ،‬أوأن يتفوق‬ ‫أن يتقن عمله و يربي‬ ‫في دراسته‪،‬أو رمبا يتبرع بدرهم‪ ،‬هذه املساهمات‬ ‫التي نقدمها اجتاه وطننا ليست فقط من واجبنا‬ ‫كمواطنني وإمنا هي جزء من ديننا احلنيف‪ .‬و تقول‬ ‫العوضي‪":‬أعتقد أن االنتماء يبدأ في املنزل مع‬ ‫توعية األسر بدور الشباب اإلماراتيني حول دورهم في‬ ‫احلياة وأخالقيات عملهم‪.‬‬

‫يبدو أن توفير هذه اخلدمات‬ ‫مجانا تسبب في راحة كبيرة‬ ‫لإلماراتيني وأدى لدى البعض‬ ‫لالسترخاء السلبي أمام‬ ‫صيغة "دولة الرفاهية" التي‬ ‫لألسف ترتبت عليها نتائج‬ ‫سلبية في تشكيل الشعور‬ ‫باالستحقاق بني املواطنني‪.‬‬

‫تؤمن العوضي بأن الشخص يستطيع التعلم عن‬ ‫واجبه املدني في املنازل‪ ،‬املدارس‪ ،‬واجلامعات وأيضا‬ ‫وسائل اإلعالم التي تعتبر أداة قوية جدا‪ .‬وتضيف‪:‬‬ ‫اذا كانت هناك وسائل إعالم تقدم لنا املعلومات التي‬ ‫جتعل املواطنني يشعرون بأنهم بحاجة الى الوقوف‬ ‫في احلياة ويكونون قادرين على رد اجلميل للحكومة‬ ‫باملثل‪ ،‬وحتقيق أشياء عظيمة‪ ،‬فإن هذا سوف‬ ‫يؤثر في منهجية تفكير املواطنني ورؤيتهم لقضية‬ ‫االستحقاق والواجب املدني‪.‬‬ ‫ثمة عامل آخر يخلق ذلك الشعور باالستحقاق‬ ‫لدى املواطن أال و هو النفط‪ .‬هل تعتمد الدولة‬ ‫على الثروة النفطية أكثر من رأس مالها البشري؟‬ ‫وفقا إلدارة معلومات الطاقة األميركية‪ ،‬فقد كانت‬ ‫اإلمارات العربية املتحدة قادرة على احلفاظ على‬ ‫النفط خالل العقد املاضي بسبب "االستخالص‬ ‫املعزز للنفط" و هي عبارة عن التقنيات املستخدمة‬ ‫لزيادة كمية النفط التي ميكن استخراجها من حقل‬ ‫نفطي‪ .‬و يقول القرقاوي‪" :‬يعتبر النفط هنا كمصدر‬

‫دخل وفير إلى حد ما‪ ،‬و هذا يتطلب من الغالبية‬ ‫العظمى من الشعب أن تكون منتجة‪ .‬احلقول النفطية‬ ‫و استثماراتها جتعل البلد غير معتمد على إنتاجية‬ ‫مواطنيه‪.‬‬ ‫يعاني بعض املواطنني من نقص مبدأ االمتنان‪،‬‬ ‫وحكومة الدولة طريق ذو اجتاهني‪.‬و تختتم العوضي‬ ‫قائلة‪ :‬ستكون في ورطة إذا اعتقدت بأن الثروة‬ ‫النفطية هي الرصيد الوحيد واألبدي‪ ،‬وأن احلكومة‬ ‫سوف تستمر في القيام بهذا كله عندما ترى إنتاجية‬ ‫املواطنني ال توازي التوقع املنشود وال تنسجم مع‬ ‫االمتيازات املقدمة‪.‬‬ ‫املواطنة احلقة طريق ذو اجتاهني‪ ،‬واجبات وحقوق‪ ،‬أخذ‬ ‫وعطاء‪ .‬هذه هي مواطنة البناء‪.‬‬

‫‪86‬‬

‫‪87‬‬ ‫األسرة) مشكلة متواجدة في كل مجتمعات العالم‪،‬‬ ‫وال تنتمي إلى ثقافة معينة‪ .‬في أيامنا هذه اتسعت‬ ‫الشريحة لتشمل األفراد املقربني جدا من الضحية‬ ‫كالوالد أو الشقيق‪ .‬و تقول وداد لوتاه‪ ،‬عضو في‬ ‫هيئة تنمية املجتمع في دبي‪ :‬علينا أن نضع ً‬ ‫حدا‬ ‫لهذه املشكلة قبل أن تصبح ظاهرة‪ .‬بعض أسباب‬ ‫هذه املشكلة تعود إلى العزلة االجتماعية التي‬ ‫يعاني منها األطفال واملراهقون فالعزلة في غرف‬ ‫النوم واحلمامات مع طاقاتهم املكبوتة‪ ،‬باإلضافة إلى‬ ‫تفكك األسرة من األسباب التي تؤدي إلي تطوير‬ ‫مثل هذه السلوكيات اخلاطئة و العدوانية على‬ ‫األطفال‪ .‬بعض املتحرشني كانوا ضحايا في السابق‪،‬‬ ‫و تعرضوا إلساءات جنسية واطلعوا على أفالم‬ ‫إباحية‪ .‬و تقول إحدى الضحايا‪ :‬كان أخي يجلب لي‬ ‫أفالما إباحية‪ .‬كنت أرفض مشاهدتها‪ ،‬لكنه كان‬ ‫يجبرني ثم كان يقوم بلمسي في أماكن حساسة‪،‬‬ ‫وعندما كنت أقاومه كان يقوم بضربي بشدة‪.‬‬ ‫قد يعاني الضحايا من أعراض بدنية‪ ،‬ونفسية‪،‬‬ ‫وسلوكية‪ ،‬تشمل العدوانية‪ ،‬والصعوبة في املشي‪،‬‬ ‫أو اجللوس‪ ،‬أو األلم و احلكة في منطقة األعضاء‬ ‫التناسلية‪ ،‬باإلضافة إلى السمنة و االضطرابات‬ ‫في األكل والنوم‪ ،‬كما قد يعاني الضحايا من خلل‬ ‫في الوظائف اجلنسية‪ ،‬واالكتئاب‪ ،‬والقلق‪ ،‬والنفس‬ ‫ً‬ ‫نفسها‪،‬بعيدا عن الناس‪،‬‬ ‫التدميرية‪ .‬قامت "م" بعزل‬ ‫وكانت جتد صعوبة شديدة في الثقة مبن حولها‪،‬‬ ‫وكانت تعاني من االكتئاب الشديد‪ ،‬كما أنها حاولت‬ ‫االنتحار و إيذاء نفسها وجرح جسدهاعمدا بعد أن‬ ‫أدركت بأن ما حدث معها كان حترشا جنسيا‪.‬‬

‫جتاهد للحفاظ على عفتها‪( .‬تصميم سارة اجلوي‪/‬كلية دبي للطالبات)‬

‫السر غير املكشوف‬

‫عندما يكون املعتدي من األقرباء‬

‫سارة اجلوي و لطيفة الكراني‬ ‫تعترف "م" قائلة‪ :‬ما زلت أذكر ذلك اليوم كما لو أنه‬ ‫حدث باألمس‪ ،‬كنت حينها في السابعة من العمر‪،‬‬ ‫وجدت نفسي على األرض وابن عمي فوقي‪ ،‬شعرت‬ ‫بحركات غريبة و فجأة أحسست بألم شديد‪.‬‬ ‫"م" هي في ربيع العمر و تروي حكايتها ألول مرة‪.‬‬ ‫ابن عمها الذي كان يبلغ من العمر ‪ ١٤‬عاما آنذاك‪،‬‬ ‫قام باالعتداء عليها جنسيا في غرفة التخزين‪.‬‬ ‫عاشت "م" مع هذه الصدمة و أخفتها بحسرة ‪١٥‬‬ ‫عاما‪.‬‬ ‫قالت‪ :‬كنت مجرد طفلة‪ ،‬ولكنني كنت أشعر بأن‬ ‫ما حصل معي ليس مشروعا‪ ،‬كنت أشعر باخلوف‬

‫الشديد‪ ،‬و لسبب ما قمت بإخفاء احلادثة عن أهلي‪.‬‬ ‫تشير دراسة أجريت في جريدة االحتاد إلى أن ‪18٪‬‬ ‫من حاالت التحرش اجلنسي باألطفال تكون على‬ ‫أيدي أقارب من الدرجة األولى‪ .‬يقول محمد علي‬ ‫رستم‪ ،‬رئيس النيابة العامة في دبي و قسم األسرة‬ ‫واملجتمع‪ :‬نادرا ما يتم اإلبالغ عن مثل هذه احلوادث‬ ‫من قبل الضحايا‪ ،‬وذويهم و يرجع السبب في ذلك‬ ‫إلى اخلوف من التسبب بالعار للعائلة‪.‬‬ ‫و تروي "م" قصتها‪ :‬أذكر بأن العائلة كانت‬ ‫مجتمعة‪ ،‬كان األطفال يلعبون الغميضة ‪ ،‬كانت‬ ‫إحدى الفتيات تعد تنازلي ًا للمئة‪ ،‬في حني كان‬

‫"س" أساء إليها شقيقها في سن مبكرة جدا‪ .‬بدأ‬ ‫بلعبته اخلبيثة بإعطائها احللوى‪ ،‬ثم إلى قبلة على‬ ‫اخلد‪ ،‬و انتهى بفقدانها لعذريتها‪ ،‬استمر شقيقها‬ ‫ببمارسة اجلنس معها إلى أن استسلمت وتقبلت‬ ‫األمر‪" .‬س" نسجت قصة رومانسية في مخيلتها‬ ‫لتجعل من شقيقها محبوبها‪ ،‬و رفضت فكرة الزواج‬ ‫من رجل آخر‪ ،‬وفاء ألخيها‪.‬‬

‫األطفال في عجلة لالختباء‪ .‬ما زلت أذكر صوتها‬ ‫الطفولي و هو يتالشى‪ ،‬عندما أمسكني ابن عمي‬ ‫وهو يبحلق في وجهي بطريقة وحشية‪ .‬و كان يهمس‪:‬‬ ‫أعرف مكان ًا سري ًا لن يجدنا فيه أحد‪ .‬ثم أعطاني‬ ‫قطعة من احللوى‪ .‬شعرت بالفضول حينها‪ ،‬وقررت‬ ‫الذهاب معه‪ .‬أخذني إلى املخزن‪ .‬استلقى على‬ ‫األرض‪ ،‬قال لي بلطف‪ .‬اقشعر بدني في تلك اللحظة‬ ‫وشعرت بالرعب‪ .‬ال أريد إنني خائفة فأنا أخشى‬ ‫الصراصير‪ .‬قام حينها باإلمساك بيدي ودفعني بالقوة‬ ‫على األرض‪ .‬ماذا تفعل؟ ابتعد عني! صرخت‪ .‬لكنه‬ ‫استمر و لم يتوقف‪.‬‬

‫يوضح الدكتور رميوند هيمدان دكتور علم النفس‬ ‫السريري والطب الشرعي في معهد العالقات‬ ‫اإلنسانية في قرية املعرفة في دبي أن معظم الضحايا‬ ‫هم من األطفال الصغار الذين ال يعرفون ما هو سفاح‬ ‫القربى‪ ،‬وال ميكنهم التفريق بني اللمس املباح واللمس‬ ‫غير املشروع‪ ،‬لذلك يعد تعليمهم في سن مبكرة أمرا‬ ‫بالغ األهمية‪.‬و يقول‪ :‬لزنا احملارم تأثير سلبي على‬ ‫الضحايا‪ ،‬وهنالك إمكانية بأن يستمر هذا التأثير‬ ‫مدى احلياة‪ ،‬حيث أن معظم الضحايا في أعمار‬ ‫تتراوح بني ‪ 5-10‬سنوات‪ ،‬يؤدي هذا النوع من‬ ‫احلوادث في سن مبكرة إلى خلق صراع داخلي لدى‬ ‫الضحايا‪ .‬فيشعر الطفل مبشاعر مختلطة بني الشعور‬ ‫باملتعة والشعور بالذنب في الوقت ذاته‪.‬‬

‫زنا احملارم (االعتداء اجلنسي من قبل أحد أفراد‬

‫و تنصح لوتاه أولياء األمور بتوعية أبنائهم بهذه‬

‫القضية في سن مبكرة قائلة‪ :‬قم بتعليم طفلك في‬ ‫سن مبكرة‪ ،‬ميكنك البدء مع األطفال من عمر ‪2-7‬‬ ‫سنوات‪ ،‬قم باستخدام صور تثقيفية لتبني للطفل أنه‬ ‫ال يسمح ألحد بلمسه في أماكنه اخلاصة‪ ،‬يجب على‬ ‫األهل استخدام لغة سهلة‪ ،‬ومناسبة لعمر الطفل‪ ،‬أما‬ ‫بالنسبة لألطفال في عمر ‪ 7‬حتي ‪ 10‬فتواصل معهم‬ ‫بالربط بني أسباب عدم السماح ألحد بلمس املناطق‬ ‫اخلاصة باألسباب الدينية‪ ،‬ال تخجل بالرد على أي‬ ‫من أسئلة طفلك‪ .‬ألنه إذا لم يتعلم منك فقد يتعلم‬ ‫من العابثني‪ ،‬وعندما يتعلق األمر باملراهقني فمن‬ ‫املهم جدا أن نعرف ماذا يفعلون وراء األبواب املغلقة‪.‬‬

‫زنا احملارم (االعتداء اجلنسي‬ ‫من قبل أحد أفراد األسرة)‬ ‫مشكلة متواجدة في كل‬ ‫مجتمعات العالم‪ ،‬وال تنتمي‬ ‫إلى ثقافة معينة‪.‬‬

‫"س‪.‬أ‪ ".‬كانت تخفي سرها حوالي ‪ ١٩‬عاما حتى‬ ‫اآلن‪ ،‬تعرضت لالعتداء اجلنسي من قبل اثنني من‬ ‫أشقائها وابن عمها و تعاني من كدمات و ندبات‬ ‫من أحد أشقائها الذي داوم على استخدام أدوات‬ ‫لضربها حتى يعتدي عليها جسديا أيضا‪ ،‬معاناتها‬ ‫استمرت بينما تخلت عن طلب املساعدة بعد أن‬ ‫باءت محاوالتها بالفشل‪.‬و توضح قائلة‪ :‬ذهبت إلى‬ ‫مستشارة اجلامعة بعد أن راودت املعلمة الشكوك‬ ‫بشأني‪ ،‬كان لدي عرض تقدميي ذات يوم‪ ،‬و في‬ ‫منتصفه أغمي علي‪ ،‬كان وجهي شاحبا وكنت ال‬ ‫أقوى على السير بشكل صحيح‪ .‬طلبت مني املعلمة‬ ‫التحدث إلى مستشارة اجلامعة‪ ،‬وأن أحدثها بكل‬ ‫شيء‪ ،‬كنت أقول لنفسي أنني ال أستطيع أن أحمل‬ ‫عناء هذا السر وحدي‪ ،‬كنت متعبة‪ ،‬وكنت بحاجة إلى‬ ‫التحدث لشخص‪ ،‬فلم ال أحتدث معها؟ طلبت من‬ ‫املستشارة أن تبقي األمر سرا وأن ال تخبر أحدا في‬ ‫احلرم اجلامعي‪ ،‬أو حتى والدي؛ ألنهم سيغضبون مني‬ ‫إلهانة سمعة العائلة وشرفها‪ .‬في اليوم التالي دخلت‬ ‫اإلدارة و وجدت اجلميع هناك وقد عرفوا قصتي‪ .‬لقد‬ ‫صدمت و شعرت باخليانة‪.‬‬ ‫يتطلب األمر التحلي بالشجاعة من هؤالء الضحايا‬ ‫إلفشاء السر وطلب املساعدة‪ ،‬خاصة عندما يكونون‬ ‫صغارا‪ ،‬واليعرفون أن ما يحدث لهمخطأ‪ .‬في بعض‬ ‫القضايا‪ ،‬يظن الضحية أن ما يحدث له أمر طبيعي‬ ‫جدا‪ ،‬أيضا يشعر البعض بأن من واجبهم أن يستمروا‬ ‫باألمر دون مقاومة‪ .‬تقول "س‪.‬أ‪ :".‬اعتقدت بأن ما‬ ‫يحدث لي طبيعي ويحدث في منزل كل فتاة‪ ،‬أتذكر‬ ‫أنني ذكرت هذا األمر أمام زميالتي عندما كنت في‬ ‫الثامنة من عمري و بعد ذلك اتصلت األخصائية‬

‫االجتماعية بوالدتي وحينها أخبرت والدي باملوضوع‪.‬‬ ‫"م" تخاف التحدث عن قصتها ألنها تخاف من‬ ‫أن تكتشف أنها ليست عذراء‪ ،‬تشعر باخلجل‬ ‫واالشمئزاز‪ ،‬وتفضل أن تبقي األمر سرا‪ .‬تشير لوتاه‬ ‫إلى وجود حاجة ماسة حلملة "ال للخوف" حتى نكسر‬ ‫حاجز الصمت و اجلهل‪ .‬تبدأ مرحلة الشفاء عندما‬ ‫تطلب الضحية نفسها املساعدة و في معظم حاالت‬ ‫االعتداء اجلنسي يصعب على الضحية أو عائلة‬ ‫الضحية مقاضاة املعتدي‪ ،‬بسبب عدم وجود أدلة‬ ‫تثبت وقوع احلادث كما يؤكد مدير قسم األسرة و‬ ‫املجتمع في النيابة العامة بدبي محمد علي رستم‪:‬‬ ‫"يصعب إثبات معظم حاالت التحرش اجلنسي ً‬ ‫نظرا‬ ‫لعدم وجود أدلة الطب الشرعي‪.‬‬ ‫الضحايا اإلناث الالتي فقدن عذريتهن عندما‬ ‫تعرضن للتحرش اجلنسي‪ ،‬يجدن صعوبة في الزواج‬ ‫أو املوافقة على الزواج خوفا من سوء الظن بهن‪.‬‬ ‫تضيف لوتاه‪ :‬علينا أن نساعد هؤالء الفتيات من‬ ‫خالل تزويدهن بوثيقة رسمية من الشرطة‪ ،‬مدعومة‬ ‫من قبل طبيب و شهادة أنها فقدت عذريتها بسبب‬ ‫االعتداء اجلنسي دون موافقتها‪ .‬هذه الوثيقة سوف‬ ‫تؤكد للخطيبها أو زوجها أو حتى األب بأن الفتاة لم‬ ‫تشارك في العالقات احملرمة‪.‬‬ ‫هؤالء الضحايا يعيشون حياتهم أسرارا مخفية‬ ‫ونفوسا محطمة‪ .‬جتاربهم تترك ندبات دائمة في‬ ‫أنفسهم‪ ،‬ومن املهم السعي إلى املساعدة من قبل‬ ‫احملترفني الذين يسعون في إصالح الضرر الذي قد‬ ‫يدفع البعض إلى التحول إلى متحرشني كوسيلة‬ ‫لالنتقام‪ .‬تعترف "م‪ ".‬قائلة‪ :‬كنت أفكر دائما بأن‬ ‫أحلق الضرر بأحبائه‪ ،‬و لكن إذا لم أستطع مسامحته‬ ‫كيف أتوقع أن يسامحني اآلخرين‪.‬‬ ‫"س‪.‬أ‪ ".‬ال تزال حتاول إنهاء معركتها مع أشقائها و‬ ‫هي حتاول حماية نفسها و شقيقتها و تقول‪ :‬أتذكر‬ ‫مرة عندما أتت إلي أختي الصغيرة التي تبلغ الثانية‬ ‫من العمر و حفاظتها لم تكن مغلقة بشكل صحيح‬ ‫و كانت متسك بقطعة من احللوى‪ .‬سألتها بخوف‪ :‬من‬ ‫أعطاك هذه احللوى؟ أشارت ببراءة إلى أخي الذي‬ ‫حترش بي و ابتسمت‪ .‬لن أسمح لهؤالء الوحوش أن‬ ‫يلمسوا أختي بنفس تلك الطريقة املشمئزة‪ .‬و منذ‬ ‫ذلك اليوم و أنا أراقبها ‪ ٢٤‬ساعة خوف ًا عليها‪.‬‬ ‫أعاني من األرق واالضطرابات الغذائية‪ .‬أستيقظ في‬ ‫الليالي باكية‪ ،‬وأنزف دم ًا في كثير من األحيان‪.‬‬

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR The previous issue of Desert Dawn (DD) demonstrated the remarkable efforts of the students as they presented sensitive topics in our society so as to increase awareness in our community. As a result, the new issue continues to push boundaries in order to meet higher expectations of a larger reading audience.

We would like to thank the DD team, the Applied Communications Department, and DWC’s Management for always encouraging the students to express their opinions freely without censorship. Your feedback is very important to us; if you have any comments please feel free to contact us: Email: desert.dawn@hct.ac.ae Telephone: +97142089530

Please note that the DD team will not make any effort to respond to comments made by anonymous individuals. DD encourages professional and transparent communication with all members of society. Enjoy the new issue! Hessa Al Hamadi Reem Ahli DD Editors

Dear Hessa and Reem, I write to congratulate you as the Editors of the latest edition of Desert Dawn. Over many years I have read lots of issues of DD, but this one I read from cover to cover, then put on my shelf to keep for future reference. You handled some very strong topics, frankly and eloquently. Well done. In addition, well done on your very powerful graphic on page 6, which starts the cover story on female circumcision with the right amount of horror and personal grief. Congratulations on a fantastic issue Francis Matthew -Editor at Large-Gulf News I have just read the new edition of DD and wanted to congratulate you on being courageous enough to tackle subjects which have been taboo. The result of keeping them taboo is that enormous harm is done when things are kept secret and are not therefore open for discussion and re-evaluation. Because something is cultural does not mean it should not be discussed. The article on female circumcision was excellent and long overdue. Chris Richards I read and was very impressed with the recent DD, with its articles on female circumcision and other sensitive topics. The article on female circumcision was particularly well-written, had personal and controversial information not generally available, and showed the “other side”women who support it. Daniel J. Greenwald -Chadbourne & Parke LLC I was delighted to receive the latest copy of DD at my office today. Thank you so much for including me on the mailing list. I have already read the articles on female circumcision and about decisions that girls are only allowed to make once they’re married. Again DD is teaching me about a variety of issues young Emiratis are dealing with and about the diverse opinions and perspectives that enrich these discussions. Well done! Please pass on my congratulations to the DD team. Adela Acevedo-Project Manager – Institutional Management & Governance The Executive Council Well done people, you should be honored for this issue. I believe the reporter of the Bedoon article put in a lot of effort to find good sources to stop the spread of false information about this topic. She enlightened many people who read this article, especially me. I really think she should be awarded for this article. Also, other articles were amazing like Fatal traditions, I smoked, Shhhh…don’t tell!, Driving with attitude, Dear women drivers, The husband with the magic wand, and Me, my mother and trust. They are all brilliant, articulate, and very organized. Maryam Nasib -Chemical analyst- Dubai Central Labortory Department SultanAlQassemi What you won’t read in the local press: Young Emirati women talk about their circumcision http://bit.ly/fAPduC PDF (from page 6)

antoniacarver Gutsiest UAE mag: Dubai Women’s College’s Desert Dawn on female circumcision, bidoon... http://bit.ly/fAPduC PDF

Dubai Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s College

P.O. Box 16062, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

TEL: 04 267 2929, www.dwc.hct.ac.ae