Travel the Tour de France Route on YouTube in 4 Minutes

There is a keen and growing cycling community in the United Arab Emirates and over the years the general interest in this historic and demanding event has been building.

As the Tour de France has commenced for 2009, have a look at this short YouTube video to see the cities on the way and the type of terrain that Lance Armstrong and company will be climbing.

Dr Geoff Pound

How Happy Are People in the UAE?

UAE Position
The UAE is still dogged by its heavy ecological footprint which has the country rated at 123 out of 143 countries in the 2009 Happy Planet Index (HPI).

According to this rating, one would have to deduce that residents of the UAE are an unhappy lot.

2009 Happy Planet Index
Today, Saturday 4th July 2009, sees the launch of the second global compilation of the Happy Planet Index, in a new report and updated website.

The report, The Happy Planet Index 2.0: Why good lives don’t have to cost the earth, contains the results of updated data for 143 countries around the world, representing 99 per cent of the world’s population.

It also includes new analysis which examines changes in HPI scores for major nations over time.

Alongside the report, the updated www.happyplanetindex.org website is launched, which allow users to sign up to a new happy planet charter, calculate their own HPI score, and explore the HPI data.

Measuring Health and Happiness
The Happy Planet Indicator is an attempt to combat the myth of economic growth as the best measure of progress and that which brings happiness.

The HPI measures happy lives according to three main indicators:
1. Life expectancy at birth.
2. Life Satisfaction: The term subjective well-being is used to capture its complexity. Aside from feeling ‘good’, it also incorporates a sense of individual vitality, opportunities to undertake meaningful, engaging activities which confer feelings of competence and autonomy, and the possession of a stock of inner resources that helps one cope when things go wrong.

Life satisfaction is typically measured with the following question:
"All things considered, how satisfied are you with your life as a whole these days?"

Responses are made on numerical scales, typically from 0 to 10, where 0 is dissatisfied and 10 is satisfied.

3. Global Footprint: Realizing that individuals are part of a community and an ecological system, the ecological footprint of an individual is a measure of the amount of land required to provide for all their resource requirements plus the amount of vegetated land required to sequester (absorb) all their CO2 emissions and the CO2 emissions embodied in the products they consume. This figure is expressed in units of ‘global hectares’.

The Happy Planet Index is based on a combination of these three indicators.

UAE-Good News and Bad News
Different countries do well according to different indicators.

The highest average levels of life expectancy are those of Japan (82.3 years) and Hong Kong (81.9). The UAE life expectancy is a high 78.3 years.

The highest life satisfaction levels are those of Costa Rica (8.5 on a scale of 0–10), with Ireland, Norway and Denmark just behind. The UAE came in at a high 7.2.

The softest ecological footprints are found in Malawi, Congo and Haiti (each with 0.5 on a scale of 0-10).

The countries which tread heaviest in terms of ecological footprint are Luxembourg (10.2 global hectares per capita), the United Arab Emirates (9.5) and the USA (9.4).

A person using up to 2.1 global hectares is, in estimating the total amount of productive hectares on the planet and dividing this by the world’s total population, using their fair share of the world’s resources.

Overall, the UAE polled at 123rd position in the world with an HPI rating of 28.2.

Comparisons are Odious but…
Costa Rica comes in at the top of the Happy Planet Index with a rating of 76.1

With the highest levels of reported life satisfaction, and the highest happy life years – Costa Rica stands out in the HPI even before considering its ecological footprint.

At second position is the Dominican Republic with an HPI of 71.8, third is Jamaica with an HPI of 70.1 and fourth place is Guatemala with an HPI of 68.4.

What is it about these happy countries in this Central American and Caribbean region?

Near to the UAE in terms of geography, Egypt came in at 12th spot with an HPI of 60.3, Saudi Arabia at 13th with an HPI of 59.7, Palestine at 56th with an HPI of 47.7 and Kuwait at 128th position with an HPI of 27.0.

The UK scored 74th position with an HPI rating of 43.3, Australia polled at 102nd place with an HPI of 36.6, NZ at 103rd spot and an HPI of 36.2 and the USA took the 114th place with an HPI of 30.7.

The unhappiest countries, according to the HPI are Namibia at 140th place with an HPI rating of 21.1, Botswana at 141st place with an HPI of 20.9, Tanzania at 142nd place with an HPI of 17.8 and Zimbabwe taking 143rd place with an HPI of 16.6.

Links
Check out the The Happy Planet Web site to download the full report, calculate your own HPI score, evaluate this measurement and read the Happy Planet Charter.

Dr Geoff Pound

Why Emirates Airline Flight Attendants are Flying High

The Wall Street Journal article on Emirates airline has been published for a while but it is still drawing interest and comments.

Despite the economic downturn the UAE-owned airline is adding to its fleet but there are some special features that have attracted the 10,000 flight attendants to this company.

Here is a brief summary of their employment guidelines:

* Hire attractive looking stewards
* Emirates draws young recruits (average age is 26 but by comparison, 12% of all US flight attendants are under 30)
* Emirates prefers women to men: 75% of total flight crew must be female
* Train them in beauty and etiquette
* Regular manicures and facials for men and women
* Women must retouch lips with bright red lipstick every 15 minutes
* Keep your weight down
* No pregnancy policy for unwed women
* Innocuous onboard flirting is condoned (accepting business cards and phone numbers is OK)
* No alcohol to be consumed in the 12 hours before a flight
* Smoking and eating in uniform are prohibited
* Pay is less than other airlines but Emirates offers free accommodation and transport to and from work.

For more on why the employment applications are soaring and what people think about this:
Farnaz Fassihi, Rich Dubai Flirts with Hard Times but Its Airline is Still Flying High, Wall Street Journal.

Dr Geoff Pound

Image: Glimpses of Emirates flight attendants.

Sarkozy Bans Burqa to Free Women from Mobile Prison

Le Ban Sur La Burqa
Nicolas Sarkozy was recently in the United Arab Emirates to launch some military and cultural projects.

Last week, back in his homeland, the French President announced some controversial plans to ban Muslim women from wearing the burqa — the loose-fitting garment that covers women completely from head to toe, sometimes with mesh or a veil over the eyes.

"In our country, we cannot accept that women be prisoners behind a screen, cut off from all social life, deprived of all identity," Sarkozy said. "The burqa is not a religious sign; it's a sign of subservience, a sign of debasement."

Debating the Burqa
What do you think about imposing a burqa ban?

Is the burqa a religious sign that is required by Islam? A sign of subservience?

Is a state ban a denial on one’s individual freedom?

Tune into a debate on the issue between Mehded Maryam Sinclair, an American Muslim currently living in Amman, Jordan and Mona Eltahawy, a syndicated columnist currently living in New York.

Link: Debating the Burqa: Sarkozy Proposes Ban, NPR, 2 July 2009.

Dr Geoff Pound

Longing for the Emiratization of the Food Industry

The Emirates Palace is welcoming a new master chef with superb credentials in Italian cuisine but when are we going to see Emirati food being showcased in the best hotels and restaurants of the UAE?

This is no disrespect to Andrea Montella who comes to Abu Dhabi with vast international experience gained over three decades in New York, London, Brazil, Thailand, Italy and the Middle East. With his award-winning Mezzaluna (Italian for half moon) Montella is well equipped to fulfil his ambition in making the Emirates Palace “the best provider of Italian food and to deliver the very highest standards of culinary expertise and service.”

Fine Italian flavours served by the maestro will be very welcome in the UAE especially at the ‘star-studded world class events’ hosted by the Emirates Palace.

But wouldn’t it be good for the nation, if in the pursuit of the Palace to be the epicurean flagship, its new master chef was given the mandate for making the Emirates Palace the mecca for Emirati cuisine?

Wouldn’t it be marvellous if the master chef was given the freedom to discover the ancient recipes from this part of the Arabian Peninsula and the menus that were served throughout the year and particularly during the religious festivals?

Can you imagine the Palace kitchen being turned into a school for Emirati chefs to be trained in their national cuisine under Andrea’s tutelage?

The Emirates Palace in time could in time become the powerhouse for producing Emirati chefs who will take their epicurean delights to all the emirates and to the tables of distinguished hotels all around the world.

Related
Try Camel Milk, Camel Meat and Now Gourmet Quail in the Emirates, ETE.
Eating the Emirates, ETE.

Dr Geoff Pound

Image: One of the restaurants in the Emirates Palace and welcome to Andrea Montella.

Connect with Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid on Facebook

He has his own award-winning personal website. He has recently invited people to submit questions and suggestions online and he is busy responding in this forum. This week His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum has joined Facebook.

Why ever would this busy leader want to join an online social network?

Access
The test of good leadership is the ability to engage with your people, to help them to know that you hear their concerns and to learn from them.

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed has consistently given many indications that he is not remote or aloof. Facebook gives the Ruler of Dubai a further opportunity to engage with his people.

One of his new Facebook friends likes this quality and after thanking the Sheikh for accepting him as a friend he says, “Facebook helps us to communicate with you directly.”

Down to Earth
It surprised his interviewer on 60 Minutes to see that His Highness Sheikh Mohammed drove his own vehicle around Dubai and the Emirates.

It was a sign of his pastoral concern that after floods did damage to the homes of his constituents that he rolled up in his vehicle to visit them.

Now, judging by the reactions of his first few Facebook friends, the Sheikh is surprising many people with this initiative and his reaching out in friendship.

One of his appreciative Facebook friends remarks, “This is the first Arab leader in the world who reaches out unconventionally, innovatively and who contributes to building the virtual world community.”

Disclosure
Facebook gives to everyone the opportunity to reveal as much or as little as one chooses. This is a useful avenue for leaders and celebrities who want to share with people their ideas and the ordinary ‘status updates’ from their everyday lives.

On his Facebook page there is much already that Sheikh Mohammed is revealing—his political views, his religious views, some personal details such as his birthday, the things he is passionate about, his favourite books, the values that have been instilled within him, the achievements of which he is proud and the things he rates as matters of importance.

Approachability
At the commencement of this new chapter in his Facebook career Sheikh Mohammed has posted two photo albums. They contain old and more recent photos of his children, with their names and some pictures of him with his grandchildren about which the caption reads, “Deriving happiness from a new generation in the family.”

Some other photographs show Sheikh Mohammed in ‘everyday encounters’—visiting a man he met on his rounds last year, mixing with men in a home for the elderly and visiting students in a school.

Perhaps it is in these pictures more than any of the words that Sheikh Mohammed is depicted as being very approachable. Under one of the family photos someone has added this comment: ‘Father and daughter...an amazing bond.”

Dialogue
The beauty of Facebook is that it is interactive and ideal for stimulating conversation. After his initial greetings the Sheikh is using Facebook to stimulate discussion and seek the wishes of his people. He made this statement which has a question: “I visited the Ministry of Education today and would like to raise this question, ‘Should the new academic year start during Ramadan or after the Eid holiday?’” Judging by the number of replies, people are eager to tell Sheikh Mohammed what they would like to see happen and why.

Sheikh Mohammed’s Facebook friends are already remarking to him on his humility, characterised by the way he is giving them a chance to express their admiration, their appreciation, their blessing and their suggestions.

His friends are feeling honoured and humbled to be able to interact with the Ruler in this way.

One person said, “Wow—my first friend who is a leader of a nation!”

Creating a Community
One wonders how one person might engage effectively with thousands of people through Facebook yet this medium does foster a sense of community. This is a community that reflects the cosmopolitan flavour of the UAE and His Highness is writing to people in Arabic as well as in English. Women and men, old and young have a chance to respond in whatever language they would like to communicate.

Facebook is part of the World Wide Web so people in D.C., Dresden or Durban can feel just as close to the Sheikh as those who are living in Dubai. Facebook, therefore, gives to Sheikh Mohammed an international platform and the possibility of developing an international community.

Here is Sheikh Mohammed’s Facebook address if you would like to request to become one of his friends.

There were more than 700 people who became friends of the Sheikh in his first two days of being part of the Facebook community. Be in quick as there is a limit of 5,000 friends that anyone can have.

Further:
Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Judged One of the 75 Most Influential People of the 21ST Century, ETE.
Poems Give Most Revealing Glimpse of HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid al Maktoum, ETE.
Sheikh Mohammed Hailed as Most Powerful in Horse Racing Industry, ETE.
Sheikh Mohammed Pays Record Price for Aussie Horse Racing Deal, ETE.
Sheikh Mohammed’s Ambitions for Middle East, ETE.
Sheikh Mohammad Models Rare Style of Leadership, ETE.
Sheikh Mohammed’s Leadership is Honoured, ETE.
New Website for H H Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, ETE.
Dubai and Sheikh Mohammed on 60 Minutes Video, ETE.

Dr Geoff Pound
Geoff can be contacted by email at geoffpound(at)gmail.com or on Facebook.

Image: Sheikh Mohammed’s current photo and front page on Facebook.

Change that from English to Emirati Premier League Football

England to Emirates
Another Premier League football club could be passing into Emirati ownership after the official United Arab Emirates news agency WAM reported that Ahmed bin Saqr al-Qassimi, a member of the UAE ruling family, had bought a majority stake in an unnamed club.

Foreign Ownership
Should al-Qassimi take a stake in one of the British-owned clubs in the league it will make overseas investors a majority around the Premier League table.

Ten clubs are in foreign ownership: Arsenal, Manchester United, Liverpool, Portsmouth, Aston Villa, Chelsea, Sunderland, West Ham, Fulham and Manchester City.

60% Stake
According to the report al-Qassimi, a member of the ruling family of the emirate of Ras al-Khaimah (one of the seven emirates of the UAE), would be taking a 60 per cent stake and be appointed honorary chairman this week.

First Manchester City
Last year an Abu Dhabi Sheikh bought Manchester City.

Next Portsmouth
Portsmouth is the subject of a bid from the Abu Dhabi investor, Sulaiman al-Fahim.

Which Club?
A source close to Anfield’s owners denied Liverpool was the club in question.

Which club do you think is the next on the Emirati shopping list?

There’s no doubt about it, a revolution in ownership is gradually taking place and the wealthy Arab football lovers are at the forefront of this movement.

Related:
Portsmouth Gets Profile of New Football Club Owner, Sulaiman Al Fahim, ETE.
Is the UAE poised to Buy the Portsmouth FC? Yes! ETE.
Abu Dhabi to Buy Manchester City Football Club, ETE.
Abu Dhabi Purchase of Foreign Football Club Impedes Emirati Identity, ETE.
Video about Manchester City Takeover by Abu Dhabi, ETE.
The UAE Football Team Should Watch this Video from Barcelona FC, ETE.

Dr Geoff Pound

Image: Some of the clubs in the English Premier league.

Tour the UAE’s New Piaggio Planes Purchased in Paris

Paris Purchase
As part of the expansion of its fleet, the UAE Air Force and Air Defense announced at the Paris Air Show that it was purchasing two Piaggio Aero P180 Avanti II planes.

Why Italiano?
The UAE Air Force did extensive evaluation of various models and looked at the usual things such as reliability, cost etc. but here are the deciding factors:

* Multi-purpose facilities
* Piaggio’s ongoing relationship through training
* Speed for evacuations
* Ambulance facility
* Spacious stand-up cabin
* Environmentally efficient
* Cabin Configuration options

Take a Virtual Tour
Not convinced?

Check out the Piaggio Aero web site and the P180 Avanti pages, see the comparisons and go for a virtual tour of the cabin.

Then watch a short video or two of the plane doing some aerobatics.

It will make you want to say, ‘Bravo!’

More Info:
Paris Air Show, Flight Global, 15 June 2009.
The UAE Air Force Selects Piaggio Aero, AMEInfo, 15 June 2009

Dr Geoff Pound

Image: Glimpses of the new UAE purchases from Genoa, Italy.

Watch Sheikh Mohammed Ride with the Queen at Ascot

Royal Procession
Check out this video of HH Sheikh Mohammed being granted the privilege of guest of honor as he rode with the Queen in her carriage to the races on 18 June 2009.

Also in the carriage, are the queen’s husband, the Duke of Edinburgh and Andrew, the Grand old Duke of York.

The commentary about colors, hats, broaches and Irish guards convey something of the pageantry of such a day.



Gold Race
The third day of the festivity is traditionally when the Gold Cup (Group 1 Flat Horse Race over 2 miles and 4 furlongs) is raced, which is Britain’s most prestigious event for ‘stayers’.

Royal Company
Sheikh Mohammed’s personal web site added these details:

“The festival was attended by Dubai Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai Deputy Ruler and Finance Minister Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, wife of Sheikh Mohammed Princess Haya bint Al Hussein, Chairman of Dubai Culture and Arts Authority Sheikh Majid bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Prince Charles, Princess Anne, other royals, dignitaries, senior officials and a large gathering of racing enthusiasts.”

Second Carriage
HRH Princess Haya bint Al Hussein, Sheikh Mohammed’s wife, was in the second carriage, along with the Princess Royal, the Earl of Huntingdon and Mr. John Warren.

Winners
Sheikh Mohammed, owner of the Godolphin Stable, had three horses entered in the Gold Cup: Eastern Anthem, Veracity and Sagara. Although none of his horses got over the line first in the Gold Cup, Flying Cloud, his horse ridden by Frankie Dettori, won the Ribblesdale Stakes.

Dr Geoff Pound

UAE Car Rally Driver Featured in LA Times

The LA Times has a regular feature called ‘Friday: The Day in Photos.’

In a recent edition of the online paper, a UAE car rally driver appeared in the gallery of photos.

The photo is posted here (thanks to the LA Times).

The caption:
“Khalid Al Qassimi of the United Arab Emirates is enveloped in sand while driving his Ford Focus RS WRC in the SS 2 of Acropolis Rally of Greece 2009, in Thiva, which is north of Athens.”

Check out the other photos in the gallery at this link:

Friday: The Day in Photos, LA Times, 12 June 2009.

Dr Geoff Pound