On money and happiness

Showing more empathy and charity towards the poor can help reduce poverty and destitution in the world

BY SHAFEEN I MUSTAQ

If the rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer, does this mean the rich have to curb their dreat:ns and aspirations to lift up the status of the poor? When David Beckham earns $100,000 a tlay, should he be giving that away to live in Inglebu rn, so chat the poor can rise up to a proper standard of living? The reality of rnodern soc iety i s that the rich are rich at the expense of the poor. \Y./e Jive off the poor, we cake their mone y, their oil, minerals, gemstones and their labour at such horrifying low costs that we create a socioeconomic div ide respons ib le for the brain drain and resource drain of ocher countries. In doing so we make ourse lves wholly respons ib le for the growing economic divide and the misfortunes of chose less well off.

Does chis mean the rich are not allowed to aspire? No. Everyone is enti tled to asp ire. The garment worker who is only paid 50c for a dress yo u bought at $110 is also entitled to aspire. But she liYes in a society in which you have conb:ibuted to the death of her cl.rean1s. We have built a soc io - economic arena tn wh ich third world countries are pitted against first world countries like gladiators, w ith little to no hope for success Shouldn't we work cowards a society where this worker's labour is duly paid and her right to dream is duly respected and given a lighting chance? Islam's way of wealth distribution gives people that chance. The concept of 'zakoa! which is to donate a small po r tion of one's wealth to the less fortunate means chat if we all gave a little of ,vhat we have, there would be no poverty in this world. But we don't. We would rather spend it on a new house or another car, than g ive even a cent more than what is expected of us

It is here tl1at I believe it is our collective responsibility to judge eacb other, and remind ourselves of om bow1daries and of the risk of hedonism. A reminder between friends that extravagance leads to the loss of val u es and sense of self, should not be considered offense. Rather, it should be gratefully accep ted so that we do not lose oucselves in the consumerist mad dash for materialistic satisfaction. So, no!

I don't think David Beckham should live tn Llglebnrn. He has worked very hard to get where he is, by virtue of his looks, talent and his efforts at harnessing his fame. But he should remember that the privileges be takes for granted which pos ition him in the c,i111e de la cri!111e of society, are but a dream for 90% of his fellow humans. And he knows tl1at.

His efforts with ONICEF and those of Meryl St:reep and Angelina Jolie w ith other NGOs, show that there ate celebrities who take on the responsibility of helping those less fortunate, and cake it very serious ly

So the next time you look at that amazing red sports car, or the brand new housing complex in which you can build a mansion, remind yourself that having food, shelter, clothes and access co education put5 you i.n the cop

10% of society. Remind yo urself that we live in a world of 6 billion people in which the majority go hungry every day, have little to no shelter, or are facing religious and cuJmral persecution. Recognise that the current socioeconomic status, division of wealtl1 and labour, and political hegemony only perpetuate this divide and drive mankind to total despair and apathy. Remind yourself cbaty01/ can make a clifference by doing you r bit for your fellow humans. Buy fair trade, look behind the fa<;ade of materialism, refrain from extravagance, put aside some portion of your wealth for charity.

The most important thLng yo u can do to srop tl1e perpetuation of our consumerist cu lture is to educate your children, families and friends. Teach chem the value of money. Show d1em d1rough your own actions d1at simply because you have the means to deck

''The concept of 'zakaat'which is to donate a small portion of one's wealth to the less fortunate means that if we all gave a little of what we have, there would be no poverty in this world

''yourself in Louis Vuitton, doesn't mean that you do Fo r somewhere in some dark decrepit factory, d1ere is a little git:l who makes those lush things ) Oll crave with no hope of ever wearing tl1em herself. Remember rliat wh il e you have asp irations, you are not d1e only one that does. And there is nothing m ore rewarding tl1an giving back some.one's right to aspire, in whatever way you cau.

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Apart

In celebratio n of my twin daughte r s' 4'" birthd ay I rook th em o n th eir first overseas holiday to Fij i. As we disembarked from the p lane and began the walk coward s the taxi srn nd , icky turned and ran back to the craft o n h earin g a deafeni ng welcome cr y of 'Bula' (Hello!) fro m large m en in grass skirts, w ielding cl ubs for dramatic effect. Severa.I trips later we retmn to exp lore the Cora.I Coast o n the main is1md of Vi ti Levu.

Th e drive from t he airport passes r adi , predominantly an Indian town with the Sri Siva Sub rama ni ya Temple, th e lai-gesc in the southern hemisphere, a nd spice s hops and Indian restaurants lining the main street. \ l itb v illages, co c onut trees, sugarc ane a nd pin eapple plantations, Fiji's coasrnl road is a pictures9 ue drive circling tl1e island as beauri fu.l beaches, coral reefs and scenic bays co rne in to view. \ V/e arr ive at our hotel, Outrigge r o n cbe Lagoon, and for the next week, m y teenage daughters s pend their days b y the poo l while l venture off explo ri ng the island.

Mo r e cban just an idyllic hol.iday destination in the South Pacific, Fiji is friendly. le took me several clays to realise, as I wal ked alon g the roads ide, that a too t from a pa ssing car was a way of asking whether l was in n eed of a lift. Afte r wal ki ng for several k ilo m etres on ch e fust d ay a nd many toots later, a mini bus wi th yo ung backpackers onboard stopped and the guid e from Fee J ee Expe rience offered me a r ide. Over the n ext few days, I was offered lifts b y an academic remrning to Fiji Universi ty with he r smd en ts in tow; Inoke, an attorney goin g home with his daughter a fte r a conference; and raxi drivers o ffe1.ing a life w hile o n their way to collect passengers. 1 also caugh t local b u ses piled high with fresh fruit a nd vegeta b les, wi th fre9uent sco ps fo r children making the.ir way to school.

1 caught a bus to Suva, the cap ital an d h ome to h alf of F ij i's population, and a city tha t see m s to be subjected to a constant driz zle I visi ted the li vely marker, had an excellenr Indian lunc h with local ingre d ients rep lacing those that are not locally available, and vi sited the Fiji Museum , w h ich tells the c ountr}"s story thr ough musical instru ments, cooking tool s a n d war clubs. I als o visited Pacific Harbour, wi th several r eso r ts and a marina

Fiji's most beautiful beach is Natado la, a long crescent sh aped beach of w h i te sand. W ith a go lf course and several expensive resort hotels, while Jovel)', those staying here bad little inclination to ve n tu re beyond l caug ht the local bus several tim es to Sigaroka, the l.argest town on the Cora.I Coast and the commercial centre for tl1e far m in g comJnunities upr iver in the Sigaroka Valley The .fresh produce marker sold tl1e sweetest pineapples, and roots fo r making kat'a were piled high in bunches. A few supermarkets, resrnurants, a l'vfosque and souvenir sto res make up tl1e compact town

Locals advised that I sho uJd do two thin gs while in Fij i - rake a cruise to the i slands and travel into the interior.

After cross ing the Sigatoka River by boar, we hopped inro an o p en 4WD jeep with considerable horsep ower and for the next hour we went up and down hills alo n g t he v alle y roa d, skirting b)' th e river manoeuvred w i th cons iderable skill by Josephine, our tour guide. Stopping at a village we met villagers climbing onboard a truck to atte n d a cllurch serv ice An eld erly man hopped out, came towards us and presented me w ith a Aowe r garland.

Ar i aihebe Cave more than 170 metres long, we waded knee deep in cle ar water ro the dark inte ri or before be ing offered kt1va by the village ch ief. Inevitably, vi s.irors will be invited to drink kava, a relaxing traditional drink made from the kava root that numbs your tongue and tastes like bi tter liquid mud. l\ifade b y placi ng ground kava root in a cloth infu sed with water in a wood en bowl, it is offered as a gesture of welcome.

0 Lu final day was spent o n Ra Maranrn, a beautifu.lly restored tall ship as we cruised ro Tivua lsland for snorkelling, kayaking and a tropical buffet lunch. W ith dJe most perfect of sunny skies, a sudden storm had us running for cover, with offers of kam. \"(/e returned back co rbe botel with the crew singing merril y

Fij i is a co u ntry with a strong cultural heritage of F ijians and descendants of Ind ian labourers who were brought to work in d1e sugar industry between 1879 and 1916 On our lase night we

INDIAN LINK watched another sunset, the aromatic blend o f coconut oil and tropical b looms filling the air. 1 went for my final walk along the beach and began talking to a family preparing a picnic. "Would you like to come join us?" Ir was

Rajen , a chef at the Outrigger Hotel, enjoying his day o ff.

"Come agai n!" they called, and as d1e horses were brought down to the water's edge for a swim i n the lagoon, I thought I surely can and will!

Travel Notebook

Gett Ing There

Virgin Australia, Jetstar and Fijia nAirways fiy from Austra lia to Nadi. Watchfo r specials. Taxisare plentiful at theairport or pre-boo kacoach transfer withCoral Coaches or private transfer t hrough you r hotel. Express and loca l buses provide convenient and Inexpensive transpo rtat ion aroundthe iSla nd, but as they stick to the main roads, hirea taxi fo r sightseeing the beaches, since many are away from the main road

I

ACCOMMODAT ION

Fiji has a 010u rableexchange rate whichtrans lates into a great and affordable holiday dest ination, and resorts aregenerall yof a highsta ndard We thoroughly enjoyed ou r stay at theOutr igger on the Lagoo n- Fiji +679-650-0044 / reservat ionS@Out ri ggerfiji.com.fj/www.o utriggerfiji.com Thedail y activities planner will occupy your time without needing to leave t he resort. The kid's cl ub is excellent My daugh ters spent their time by the poolside, although gu ided tours to sand du nes, kaya ki ng etc,, are on offer. Fire walkin g, the Fij ian Lovo and traditional dance ni ghts area high light. The resort fronts a bea utiful lagoo nwithanexp.1nslve lu sh iropical garde nand large lagoon swimming pool. Some resorts are mo resuited toco upiesor honeymooners, whil eot herscater fo r fam ili es Solotravellers might better enjoy tou rin gwit ha to ur companysuch as Fee.lee Experience.

DIN ING

Opt fo r a meal package if you plan to spend yourtime at a resort, si nce meal costs do ad d up. We fo und several restaurants only asto nesthrow from the resort, wit h Le Cafe recommended.

FURTHER INFORMATION

Avo id thecyclone season Captain CookCru ises offer a great day sailing out to Tivua Island.+ 6796701-823/reservations@captaincook.com,fj/www.captaincook.com.fj S i gatoka Rive r Safa ri offer two excurs ions, both recommended. +679 -6501-721 / safari@sigatokariver com/www.sigatokarive r.com