H I L A L I Y A

I'd like to thank Hilaliya for letting me post in his website and promise and do solemnly swear not to use words like 'slut', 'prick', 'cunt', 'shit', 'fuck', 'bastard', 'tits', 'fag', 'dyke' or 'whore', 'hooker', 'slut' (twice ..... apologies ......), 'bitch', 'hoo hoo', 'pee pee' or 'prick.'

It's very hard for us as Kuwaitis and as humans in fact to live without politics and politicians. For one thing we wouldn't have anything to complain about or anyone to blame and lets face it our parents would have very little to do at family gatherings if it weren't for these close-minded, hypocritical, lying, cheating, corrupt and lurid men (and recently women) who we have chosen to represent us and our stake in the country we live in.

Sadly, however as with most things involving money, power and the public eye, politics has become a foray for those of us who are smart - for the most part, some can't write their names yet but it's still early and I doubt that the people who voted for him know the significance of literacy in the modern world - have scrupulous and rather mercurial morals.

So how do we fix our politicians? (And no I do not mean neuter them - although the idea may appeal to some; it is simply not a solution in the civilized world).

How do we make them represent us the way they should and promised? Unlike the cure for cancer, the flying car or cloning, not even Hollywood could come up with an answer...politicians can't be fixed because they didn't get into politics to change things, they got into politics to become famous and gain respect.

And they can't be held accountable because no one can...lets face it, I've never been held accountable for a single unpaid bill or parking ticket and neither have you. We even have people who have been convicted of manslaughter in the US and are living happy k-town-esque lives and we enjoy our freedom to bypass rules, get things done quickly and forget about that speeding ticket.

So what solution could we possible come up with? (Before you ask, truth serum doesn't work)

The answer apparently lies in cleanliness and lemon scented Windex...According to Professor Liljenquist of some University I've never heard of morals are largely dictated by how fresh the place smells....ugh...She compared how likely people were to be charitable in a Windex scented room and in a standard one and found that people were about twice as likely to be charitable and morally bound if you provided them with a clean environment.

But the trouble with that - apart from the fact that it sounds like hogwash - is that knowing the people within our current "Majless," they'll probably end up killing each other for the government tender to provide lemon scented, morally assured freshness in their meeting hall.

Kuwait has been an official state since it's independence from Great Britain in 1961, further back it was an official political entity since the 1922 Treaty of Uqair. Even further back during the 18th Century, it was a thriving sea port for the busy spice trade between East and West, and even before that, during the 17th Century, it started as a settlement for Bedouin tribes seeking refuge from massive seasonal drought around the Arabian Peninsula. Indeed, the earliest recorded history of the State of Kuwait goes back to the year 1613.

Throughout Kuwait's history, no religious animosity was demonstrated, no sectarian bigotry was recorded, and indeed, no religious affiliations were bragged about, until Oil created wealth, which in turn created education, which was (at the time) heavily influenced with Arabism and Pan-Arab ideals and values.

Kuwaitis thrived on their own self-disciplined tolerance and peaceful co-existence, not just with themselves, but with other people as well. When the Saudi Monarch Abdulaziz Ibn Saud and his family were overthrown by the Al Rasheed, they sought refuge in Kuwait. When Sa'adun Pasha, leader of the Muntafiq Tribe fled the Ottoman Wali in Basrah, he sought refuge in Kuwait. When the Israelis attacked Palestinian villages and kicked them out of their own homes, Kuwait offered them a temporary home, all 400'000 of them, until some of them turned rogue and bought into Saddam's lies. The same goes for the Lebanese, the same goes for many others.

This short and brief history describes Kuwait as a haven for freedoms and liberties, and if one goes into more detail in this regard, one can clearly outline the massive tolerance of the Kuwaitis, people and government, throughout its history. All this was done without any Islamic Political Movements like HADAS and the Salafists dictating religion to the masses.

Fast-forward to the present day, and here's what we get:

1-Women must wear the Hijab when in Parliament.
2-Women must have the authorization of their guardians in order to get a Passport (Edit: This was annulled by the Constitutional Court last week)
3-Voting for women is "Haram."
4-Women and Men must wear admissible swimwear.
5-All Shisha (hubbly-bubbly) joints, cafes and restaurants are to close by midnight.
6-Females saluting Males is "Haram."
7-Standing up to the National Anthem is "Haram."
(...and much more trivial stuff I can't recall at the moment!)

What is being enforced on us as a people is not religion, nor is it a return to religious piousness, Kuwaitis were always pious, and observed religion (all religions) in ample fairness and respect to all the inhabitants, including Kuwaiti Jews and Christians, not including the many other denominations that came as expatriate workers, who helped build Kuwait up from a mud village into a city of skyscrapers and advanced financial institutions. All lived side by side in peace and respect, for both themselves and to others, ever since the 18th Century. They never needed people like some of today's MP's dictating religion and claiming their God-given destiny to bring back the populace to its religious piousness. Those people do not represent me, and as far as I'm concerned, they don't represent what Kuwait stands for. Moreover, had they truly been Kuwaitis, and had they known Kuwait's true history of tolerance and respect, they wouldn't have brought these complications up in the first place!

I believe in Democracy. I believe it can work in Kuwait, and I believe in free speech. I condone these values, as someone who 'at least' believes in equality for all. What I don't believe in, and what I can't condone, is a weak and fearful reactionary government that responds favorably to idle threats made by socially insignificant malcontents and religious zealots who think that, just because they can hold a group prayer in mosques, that automatically makes them leaders and protectors of the people's religious values.

Drawing from my own 'limited' experience, it's very hard to be a leader. You need charisma, intellect, objectivity, tolerance, a belief in oneself and one's plight. Most of all, however, you need a consensus of opinion. This can only be brought about through open, frank and fair dialogue between the opposite sides.

Evoking a Fatwa that restricts personal freedoms, and then forcing the Government to implement this Fatwa, in direct conflict with the country's constitution, is not a consensus, it's a dictatorship! At the very least, it's the beginnings of a state where the power of the few overrules the rights of the many, where the law of the land is the rule of men, not of the Law, where there is no protection for civil liberties, where there is no tolerance for any form of political opposition when men in power invoke religion, and where allegiances are made and created through socialization and blind allegiance.

This type of state is an Authoritarian state, it is the middle ground between Democratization and Dictatorship, and right now, we're witnessing Kuwait moving through this middle ground towards a Dictatorship. This is a dangerous time for Kuwait's Democracy, and I fear that MPs such as Mohamed Hayef's (and other like-minded individuals) recent collective uproars are precursors of even more sinister things to come.

"What is past is prologue"
- William Shakespeare

Kuwait's Polluted Bay (Still from Kuwait Times)

I have heard rumblings lately about the water quality in the Kuwait Bay - and wondering how much (little) has been done to better regulate what goes into the bay since the 2001 fish kill. Most of us can smell the answer to that question. Kuwait's environment is in deep trouble.

In 2001, I conducted my own research into the fish kill problem after being asked to write scripts for a series of documentaries to be aired on KTV2. What I discovered so disgusted me that I vowed never again to put my toes into the water surrounding mainland Kuwait. I still won't - especially after the Mishref sewage accident this year.

When are the authorities going to wake up to the problem? Every summer, I wonder if I am going to wake up, once again, to the smell of rotting fish.

The following are two eco-minded scripts I found dating back to 2001:

"Earth Vision" Documentary,
Director - Noora Bourisely
AIRED KTV2 September, 2001

Long before oil was ever found on the land of Kuwait, proud, hard-working people made their livings from the clean waters at the tip of the Gulf. Oyster beds and sea creatures abound. Pearl divers and fishermen supported their families by harvesting the sea.

Today, Kuwait is facing a monumental catastrophe. Fish and oysters are harder to find. The cleanliness of the waters is doubtful.

Lately, if you were not able to notice the troubled waters by walking outside and smelling rotting fish on the shorelines; you have probably noticed the decline of the population's favorite food at the dinner table.

No matter what cross-section of Kuwait's diverse population you are from, chances are that you have regularly enjoyed good seafood meals here until recently.

Who would have though several years ago that you would ever hear someone in a local restaurant ask, "Where is your fish from?" Several years ago, it would have been impossible to find a front-row parking space at any of Kuwait's fish markets.

Many Kuwaitis and expats alike turn to the sea for their livelihood - most prominently during the summer months. Many people here own boats. As you pass by the marinas these days, you will notice how many boats are in port - and it is not because of bad weather.

We have been hit by a nameless, faceless environmental terrorist.

In 1990, an enemy snuck up on the northern border of Kuwait.

In 2000, a silent enemy emerged in the waters of Kuwait when 'meide' (or mullet in English) began to die mysteriously.

Again this year, the enemy returned to exact a more dramatic and tragic consequence:
Not only were 'meide' dying, but also 'hamoor' (grouper) and other larger species such as sea mammals, a dolphin ad a small whale. The enemy is still lingering on our sea borders. Who is this enemy? Who is to blame? Why is he still here and why has the population seemed to have turned a blind eye towards recent events? Will the enemy return next year or the year after to kill again?

This contamination is unprecedented in the history of Kuwait. It is possibly the environmental catastrophe of the century. When Iraq pumped oil directly into Gulf waters during its brutal occupation, the world condemned the act of eco-terrorism. However, the spills were contained and the following year, the fish returned as normal.

What is happening now in Kuwait is different. The disaster and its impact are continuing and we can not be certain that whatever has killed the fish won't return because the root of the catastrophe has not been found.

Casual attitudes may be the main culprit. People occasionally toss a soda can or plastic bag into the sea. How can one small act be a big deal? Destruction of natural resources begins with complacency. Our relaxed attitudes are now keeping our children away from the beaches and islands of Kuwait. It is keeping 'hamoor' and 'zubeidi' off the menu. We al need to act together to do something now, before it becomes a problem which will take years to reverse.

What are the contributing factors? We are looking at numerous factors, which may contribute to the problem - either singularly, or as a group.

Iraq has been a suspect by its diversion of the natural flow of water through the marshes of Shatt Al Arab.

An oil processing technique called "oil shifting" may be another factor to the fish kill. Until recently, Kuwait had not used this method. This process pushes oil from below ground by the use of water and corrosives. Used water is treated and sent back out to the Gulf. Ground seepage from years of casual dumping - either in personal use of chemicals and used oil, or by companies and car shops - may take some of the blame.

Is toxic waste being dumped in Kuwait? Is the problem possibly from tankers in the Gulf? Microbes are most likely not the main cause of the fish kill because birds that have fed off the dead fish have not been affected.

Raw sewage has been periodically dumped into the water. If you have ever been in a boat close to Kuwait's shores in the summer, you will know that the sewage is there. If you live within close proximity to any of the numerous sewage outlets, you will know that sewage is a problem. Rounding Ras Salmiya on a boat on a hot summer's night will make you wonder why nothing is being done.

Are we swimming in a stew of waste and chemical by-products? Many countries in other parts of the world have long-understood that water is a resource to be cherished.

Marine Pollution (Still from Blushberry)

"Earth Vision" Documentary,
Director - Noora Bourisely
AIRED KTV2 October and November 2001

What is happening with the fish in Kuwait? Is it safe to eat fish yet? What we know is that we still don't know. Explanations still vary. Reports given to the public have been vague and general and lately, almost everyone you speak to has another report - often conflicting with what you've already heard. Most people are still waiting for answers, but nothing is being provided. We may not ever know for sure what killed the fish this year and we won't be able to know if the fish will die again next year, or in the years to come.

Some of the population has started to eat fish again, thinking that it is safe, but is it really? How do we know for sure that it is safe if there have not been any definitive answers to how the fish kill began? If the reason behind the fish kill is not conclusive, then how can the problem are rectified so it won't happen again; what if the cause is infectious and a danger to humans?

In August, we were told not to eat fish for 2 months, then later for 2 years. Is it safe yet? The 2-month time frame has not yet elapsed, and obviously not the 2 year frame. Our love of seafood and the willingness to readily buy it and consume it may be putting us in danger.

The ecology of Kuwait's Bay is fragile. Many people don't take into consideration how gentle this ecology is or how it can be affected by many variables. We have to look at each variable to determine the answers - not just because of this year's fish kill, but to keep it from happening in the future. Once an underwater environment is changed, several things may happen in a domino effect. Plankton will die. Floor-dwelling creatures will die. Small fish will die. Larger fish will die. Human life and activity will be affected. Conservation of our marine ecology must start at the lowest level.

Reduction of oxygen in the bay

Several experts believe that a combination of the high temperature, high salinity (salt content in the water), and low oxygen concentrations in the bay may have been the cause of the fish kill.

What would cause lowered oxygen in the water? A high concentration of inorganic nutrients in Kuwait is most likely to blame. It is likely that the nutrient from sewage, in combination with several nutrients released at the acqua culture site in Kuwait's bay is major sources. The sediment found in Kuwait bay (sienna) might also be an important source of inorganic nutrients if the water conditions are such that the sediment becomes mixed.

Bacteria

While searching for answers to the cause of the mystery, a name has often been coming up: Streptococcus iniae. Quietly, this killer is known to cause "mad fish disease."

On October 1st, the Supreme Council for Environment concluded that this particular strain of bacteria was to blame for the dead fish in Kuwait Bay.

What is Streptococcus iniae? Streptococcus iniae is a marine bacterium which was first observed in 1972 as a cause of disease among freshwater dolphins (pink dolphins) of the Amazon. Until recently, findings of the bacteria in salt water have been rare.

The most familiar form of the Strep bacteria is Streptococcus, group A, commonly known to cause "strep throat", and impetigo (a skin rash). Both are contagious. Streptococcus, group B (group B strep) is a bacterium that causes life-threatening infections in newborn infants. Group B strep can also cause serious diseases in pregnant women, the elderly, and adults with other illnesses.

How does the marine strain, Streptococcus Iniae bacteria affect fish and what is "Mad Fish Disease"? The bacteria cause the fish's eyes to bulge and it will swim erratically (in circles or making dramatic moves) before dying.

How does this bacterium affect humans? The Streptococcus iniae, bacteria occurs in different strains, and until recently most did not cause symptoms in humans. The first recognized case of infection in humans occurred in Texas in 1991 and a second in Ottowa, Canada in 1994. In humans, the disease causes skin infections, fever, shaking, and in at least one case, meningitis. During the time frame of 1995 through 1996, several people in Canada were stricken with the "Mad Fish Disease" contracted from infected fish, which caused meningitis-like symptoms.

The disease is contracted through puncture wounds from fish bones or cartilage. Human victims responded favorably to antibiotics, but health officials in Canada advised people to wear rubber gloves when handling the fish. Should we, in Kuwait, do the same?

There have been no local warnings to the public.

Other Streptococcus iniae-related fish kill phenomena around the world have included a fish kill in the southern Caribbean islands in 1999- the first time that the bacteria was ever found in the open ocean. At that time, the primary deaths of fish were concentrated to a bay. Later, fish began to die in the open sea. Again, the sea temperature was higher than normal, allowing officials to believe that the fish suffered from a combination of stress and bacterial growth.

Interestingly, because the causes of the 1999 fish kill in the Caribbean were not readily known, several contributing factors, similar to Kuwait's, were scrutinized: elevated sea temperature, a northern water flow towards the islands (turning the water a slightly greenish color), poor visibility due to nutrients and particles in the water, possible dumping of hazardous chemicals and toxic waste. Sewage dumping also increases the likelihood of bacterial growth.

1999 - Red Tide in Kuwait

In the summer of 1999, red tide was blamed for a fish kill in the northern part of the Gulf.
What Is Red Tide? Red tide is the result of a massive multiplication (or "bloom") of tiny, single celled algae called Karenia brevis, usually found in warm saltwater, but which can exist a lower temperatures. It is a natural phenomenon, apparently unrelated to manmade pollution. In high concentrations, K. brevis may create a brownish red sheen on the surface of the water; in other instances, it may look yellow green, or may not be visible at all. Some red tides have covered up to several hundred square miles of water. No one can predict when or where red tides will appear or how long they will last since they are affected by many variables such as weather and currents.

Reports of red tides have been recorded as far back as the mid 1800's. Red tides can occur anywhere in the world and at any time.

The 1999 fish kill was different that what was/is being experienced this year. In 1999, nowhere near the amount of fish died. During this year's kill, an estimated 2000 tones of fish died.

Is the Oil industry a factor through the Sea Water Injection method?

The oil processing technique, which has been used in Kuwait only during the past several years, called Sea Water Injection, has people wondering if it may be either a contributing factor, or the main reason behind the fish kill. Sea Water Injection is used to pump oil from the ground by pushing oil from below ground by the use of sea water.
The water is taken from the Sabiya power station, filtered, and sent via a 48 kilometer pipe to oil fields in northern Kuwait to inject the wells. The Sabiya station started sending water to the fields only last year when the sea water injection started.

Many residents of Kuwait have questioned if this method of treatment has harmed the ecology, but officials continue to assert that the disposed water is waste free and clean of hazardous materials. The public continues to be skeptical, despite the reports to the contrary.

Officials reason that the used water has not been deposited directly into the sea, but onto land approximately three kilometers away from the sea, where sea birds drink from it. So far, no information has shown that any of the sea birds has become ill. However, the number of migrating flamingos to the north of Kuwait seems to have diminished, as their migratory season starts this month. None of us know if ground seepage from the dumping area to the bay has occurred.

There are plans for a 60 million KD project to re-inject water into the Burgan oil field instead of dumping it into the desert. So far, Kuwait Oil Company has been spending over 200 million dinars on environment-friendly operations.

Sooner or later - It reaches the sea

Regardless of your opinion of the cause of the fish kill - one thing is certain: We must all take a closer look at our environment. What we dump will eventually make its way into the sea. Medical waste, sewage, chemical waste, oil and gas from boats, ground seepage from companies or manufacturing sites - all of the byproducts are eventually going to make their way in to the marine ecology and do damage.

Did you know passing tankers often flush their empty hulls in Kuwait waters? How does this make you feel? None of us are happy with the outcome, but are we doing anything either individually or collectively to rectify what is happening in our waters? If you see someone thrown trash into the ocean, does it affect you? Perhaps not for the moment, but eventually when the beaches become dirty and the water unsanitary to swim in, it does affect you.

Is anyone being fined? Penalties for those in violation of dumping must be levied. There must be closer scrutiny of both individuals and organizations responsible for massive environmental damage. All the signs are there - we need to do something. The general consensus is that whatever killed the fish this year will return. Why? Reason being no one has actually done anything to fix it.

An electrical generator depot burning in Faiha following an explosion.

If what I am about to convey to you seems grim, it's because it's the truth, and the truth usually is that way.

In my opinion, Kuwait is not what it used to be. I don't mean the advancement in economic and educational levels, I mean on a social, ethical level. For example, it used to be the case, back when I was growing up, that when a policeman passed by, people would actually respect the authority he represented. Nowadays, police officers get scolded whenever they try to do their job of regulating the speed laws, thanks to glorified MP's who come-a-running whenever the guilty parties cry "wolf'!

It's a shame to see Kuwait in the state it's in right now; Economic uncertainty, Environmental time-bombs, Political instability, Geo-political threats, Social discord (despite what the naysayers say!), and through it all, a shadowy, semi-dominant authority rules over all, pitilessly exercising it's power of coercion and manipulation in between the cracks of jurisprudence and double-meanings in order to either quietly privatize or blatantly rip off the entire state, leaving nothing but polluted crumbs for the rest of the populace to fight over.

Think I'm exaggerating? Consider this:

• It's been almost a month since the Mishref Sewage Plant disaster and the investigation is still ongoing as to exactly who was to blame between the Ministry of Public Works and the Contractor! Ironically, though, this issue was flagged as a potential problem by the Green Line Environmental Group back in 2007, and was issued in a report to the Ministry back then. At the same time, local newspapers report on Kuwait's Oil investments in Vietnam and China, in light of the global economic downturn and potential reduction of Oil supplies in the region. One has to ask where all this money came from, and where will it go.

• Government schools have just opened up their gates for the beginning of the school year and the MP's are still shouting over the decision to 'endanger the children with the Swine Flu epidemic', as well as the usual drivel regarding the lack of preparedness in confronting Swine Flu and addressing educational needs! Also, Funnily enough, the recent decision by Kuwait University to raise the minimum acceptance requirements for new students because they are pushing the notion that a 3.0 GPA is better than a 2.8 GPA simply because the University "doesn't have enough seats!" -If you don't believe that one, just look at today's Al Qabas newspaper!

• The Government pushes Parliament to issue a new law that penalizes whoever 'endangers the national unity, whether in deeds or in words', while simultaneously allowing a football match to take place between the Kuwaiti and Iraqi teams - despite local sensitivities on such issues - and begins to internationally endorse the notion that it's contemplating Iraq's suggestion to restructure Iraqi debt owed to Kuwait! On this particular note, and to put it clearly, this Kuwaiti (me) is definitely not in favor of these decisions; I believe Iraq should remain indebted to Kuwait until all dues are paid, in complete accordance with UN Security Council Resolutions. Such is the way of 'civilized' and 'educated 'societies, and not tribal ones.

While all this is happening, some MP's are calling onto the Government to curb 'illegal Disco Clubs' in Kuwait as it is in conflict with social morals and standards!

Never mind the MP whose son is the chairman of a company that extorts salaries from poor expat workers, never mind the MP whose KD5 Million check bounced and has been 'out of sight' for the past 4 months, and is nowhere to be found, never mind the MPs who paid, bartered & coerced their constituents for votes just to get elected to parliament.

Instead of focusing on pressuring the Government to clamp down on the rising problems of housing, health and education - like we voted them to do -these characters are asking the government to instead clamp down on illegal acts of immorality in Kuwait and its Islands, as if Kuwait was one big Playboy Mansion!

Unfortunately, this is the New Kuwait, a country with laws but no responsible lawmen, a country with a government that is not governing as it should, a country with rights that are not given. In short, a country with no foreseeable future except the inevitable collapse.

In one of my older posts, I mentioned that "What we need to do is dare to think outside the confines of our traditionalist ways, and encourage other to do so as well. " How many of us are actually prepared to do that, I wonder.

People need to change the way the State's Authority is practiced and implemented in a manner that commensurate with their own credibility and reputation. I say "people" because this is still a Democracy, governed by the People for the People, and not a state that is governed by a handful of royals, loudmouth MP's and Fundamentalists who are out for their own gains. We are still living on this land, and we deserve better. Keeping in mind the feebleness of the individual needy constituent when it comes to his own personal gains, the corrupt MP will eventually find it extremely difficult to succeed if he is constantly confronted with people who aren't afraid to lose some personal privileges for the sake of the 'Greater Good' that is Kuwait's future prosperity. This will inevitably turn the Parliament into a more effective tool in the face of the Government, who will come to respect (not fear) it's wishes and demands, and eventually do some good for a change.

To make a long story short: If you want to change something, change yourself first, only then will other changes eventually follow. This is what happens to prosperous societies such as those of Singapore, Post-WWII Europe, Japan, China, and yes, even the United States!

Ironically, what has clearly been prescribed in the Holy Quran is being shunned, very few of us actually attempt to better ourselves as people - we tend to negate life's priorities. Yet we can easily call ourselves "Muslims" just because we speak casually in classical Arabic with heavy religious undertones, grow our beards, perform the five basic tenets of Shahada, Prayers, Paying Zakat, Hajj and Fast during Ramadan while we threaten the Government with feeble, idiotic threats if nothing's been done to curb social deviance? That's the double standard Mr. Islamic MP according to any dictionary you pick up.

Islam - the religion as a whole - is not simply a set of rules or regulations, it's a covenant with the Creator to be the best you can be while ensuring that the lives of other people all around you are equally improved, whether you're a leader or a follower. Personally, I feel sorry for the candidates, who buy into the lies and deception; I sincerely hope that change is for the better, socially before officially, and we can finally rid ourselves from all those loudmouths who thrive on social misconduct and use it as fodder for their political gains. One can only hope, especially one in despair.

If, however, some of you think that it's not all that bad and things are actually better than the apocalyptic scene I just presented, I hope you'll excuse me if I present you with these words of wisdom!

The International Research and Exchanges Board (IREX)*, in association with a group of active and experienced bloggers, is sponsoring a workshop on September 28 in Kuwait . The event will be held at Marina

Panelists and participants will discuss:

• The Growth of Blogging in Kuwait.
• The Effect of Blogging on Public Debate and the Traditional media.
• How to Create and Maintain a Successful Blog.
• Legal Concerns and Restrictions on Bloggers.

The panelists:

Bader Al-Furaih (founder of Kuwait blogs and Safat)
http://kuwaitblogs.com

Reem Al-Shammari
http://chilloutkuwait.blogspot.com

Abdullatif Al-Omar
http://GlobalVoicesonline.org

Hasan Ramadan
http://fernas.blog.com

Zayed Al-Zaid
http://alaan.cc

Mohammed AbdulQader Al-Jasem
http://aljasem.org

The panel will be moderated by veteran blogger and occasional Hilaliya Guest Writer Mohamed Al-Yousifi (http://www.ma6goog.com/).

To register for the event please go to:
http://www.irex-mena.org/blog/

This event is open to the public.

For more information please contact us on 66189918

I occasionally bump into public sector decision-makers, almost always discussing issues such as 'lack of development' and 'bureaucracy,' with them concluding 'we are unable to work, there is nothing we can do about it.'

There is actually.

Get out of the way and let's have someone with some backbone assume your position.

It's not personal. It's business.

As the state wrangles over Iraqi UN compensation payments, rising corruption, unemployment, visa trafficking, electricity and water dilemmas, and a myriad of other usual problems, let us look back at August 2nd, the Iraqi occupation of Kuwait (that's right Mr. Kuwait Government, the Iraqi invasion and occupation, not the 'Baathist' invasion, not the 'Saddamist' occupation - you can't rewrite history).

There is nothing to say really. It's all been said elsewhere and it's all been said in the following article 'A Soldier's Diary: A Kuwaiti Volunteer Looks Back at 'Liberation' - you'll know what we went through and how we feel about Kuwait in its current incarnation.

Financial regulations are a form of regulation or supervision, which subjects financial institutions to certain requirements, restrictions and guidelines, aiming to maintain the integrity of the financial system. This may be handled by either a government or non-government organization.

Roles and Goals of Regulation:

1. To enforce applicable laws
2. To prosecute cases of market misconduct, such as insider trading
3. To license providers of financial services
4. To protect clients, and investigate complaints
5. To maintain confidence in the financial system

Source: Wikipedia

Obama's Financial Regulatory Reform:
Obama has proposed a Financial Regulatory Reform which address five key objectives;

1. Promote robust supervision and regulation of financial firms.
   
   
   • Financial institutions which are critical in keeping the market stable should be subject to strong supervision and regulations.
   • New powers are given to the Federal Reserve to supervise all the firms that could pose a threat to financial stability, including those which are not banks.
   • To improve inter-agency cooperation and to identify financial risks, a new council will be formed, called Financial Services Oversight Council.
2. Establish comprehensive supervision of financial markets.


• Additional power to Federal Reserve to oversee payment, clearance and settlement systems of financial systems
• Comprehensive regulation of all over-the-counter derivatives by the Federal Reserve (A type of financial derivative that has its transaction directly negotiated between two parties rather than through an exchange. Some financial derivatives, such as a swap, a forward rate agreement or an exotic option, are usually done over the counter.)
• New requirements for market transparencies, stronger regulation of credit rating agencies.
  
3. Protect consumers and investors from financial abuse.


• A Consumer Financial Protection Agency will be established to protect consumers across the financial sector from unfair, deceptive and abusive practices.
• Improving the standards of the providers of consumer financial products and services, whether they are a part of a bank or otherwise.
  
4. Provide the government with the tools it needs to manage financial crises.


• Issues of non-bank financial institutions, whose failure could have serious impacts on the market, to be resolved by an overseeing authority (Federal Reserve)
• Revisions to the Federal Reserve's emergency lending authority to improve accountability.
  
5. Raise international regulatory standards and improve international cooperation.


• International reforms to strengthen the capital framework; improving oversight of global financial markets; coordinating supervision of internationally active firms; and enhancing crisis management tools.
  

Kuwait, large, empty patches and plots of desert land around homes, bridges, buildings - many in central Kuwait and inside neighborhoods - why can't they beautify or 'green' the areas: palm trees, grass, parks - anything?

Kuwait should plant millions of palm trees like the UAE at least - if any city needs additional oxygen it's hot, dusty Kuwait.

I am sure they can arrange a grossly overinflated tender for that...

Between August 1990 and 1991 Kuwait was invaded by Iraq and eventually liberated by the United States primarily (alongside a handful of Allied forces).

We where all glued to the television sets watching CNN which had back-to-back, 24 hour coverage of Iraq and Kuwait. The Invasion was played out in real time in every little detail. We would see a scud being launched from Southern Iraq, only to be notified that it was heading towards Dammam. Fifteen minutes later the local civil authorities would turn on the sirens signaling a Scud attack. CNN was intense, detailed, live and captivating.

All other news on CNN was neglected. Ads where put on hold. Kuwait was important. Iraq had to be stopped. The oil had to flow.

Nineteen years later, the possible seeds of a new Iranian revolution are beginning to bloom. This will have a global effect based on the outcome. It will affect the freedom of people, it will affect the price and supply of oil. It will change the whole political map of the Middle East.

Turning the channel to CNN to see what is the latest on this important event, what do I see - what are the latest news? The Jonas Brothers will apear on Larry King? The Lakers? Coby did something? Okay, what is on the ticker tape at the bottom of the screen? Nothing, no mention of Iran, just sports results. Iran ceased to exist.

Where can someone concerned about Iran and interested in what is happening there go to? Twitter. Yes, Twitter. The place where angst driven teens tell you what they are eating, celebrities write through their PR agents about their next events and many others. Twitter has become the new real time news channel for Iran. You can follow the latest events by searching here. Videos are posted, pictures taken, posted as soon as they are taken.

Here is an interesting analysis of the recent Iran developments from 'Stratfor':

'Western Misconceptions Meet Iranian Reality'
By George Friedman
'Stratfor'

In 1979, when we were still young and starry-eyed, a revolution took place in Iran. When I asked experts what would happen, they divided into two camps.

The first group of Iran experts argued that the Shah of Iran would certainly survive, that the unrest was simply a cyclical event readily manageable by his security, and that the Iranian people were united behind the Iranian monarch's modernization program. These experts developed this view by talking to the same Iranian officials and businessmen they had been talking to for years -- Iranians who had grown wealthy and powerful under the shah and who spoke English, since Iran experts frequently didn't speak Farsi all that well.

The second group of Iran experts regarded the shah as a repressive brute, and saw the revolution as aimed at liberalizing the country. Their sources were the professionals and academics who supported the uprising -- Iranians who knew what former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ruholla Khomeini believed, but didn't think he had much popular support. They thought the revolution would result in an increase in human rights and liberty. The experts in this group spoke even less Farsi than the those in the first group.

Misreading Sentiment in Iran

Limited to information on Iran from English-speaking opponents of the regime, both groups of Iran experts got a very misleading vision of where the revolution was heading -- because the Iranian revolution was not brought about by the people who spoke English. It was made by merchants in city bazaars, by rural peasants, by the clergy -- people Americans didn't speak to because they couldn't. This demographic was unsure of the virtues of modernization and not at all clear on the virtues of liberalism. From the time they were born, its members knew the virtue of Islam, and that the Iranian state must be an Islamic state.

Americans and Europeans have been misreading Iran for 30 years. Even after the shah fell, the myth has survived that a mass movement of people exists demanding liberalization -- a movement that if encouraged by the West eventually would form a majority and rule the country. We call this outlook "iPod liberalism," the idea that anyone who listens to rock 'n' roll on an iPod, writes blogs and knows what it means to Twitter must be an enthusiastic supporter of Western liberalism. Even more significantly, this outlook fails to recognize that iPod owners represent a small minority in Iran -- a country that is poor, pious and content on the whole with the revolution forged 30 years ago.

There are undoubtedly people who want to liberalize the Iranian regime. They are to be found among the professional classes in Tehran, as well as among students. Many speak English, making them accessible to the touring journalists, diplomats and intelligence people who pass through. They are the ones who can speak to Westerners, and they are the ones willing to speak to Westerners. And these people give Westerners a wildly distorted view of Iran. They can create the impression that a fantastic liberalization is at hand -- but not when you realize that iPod-owning Anglophones are not exactly the majority in Iran.

Last Friday, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was re-elected with about two-thirds of the vote. Supporters of his opponent, both inside and outside Iran, were stunned. A poll revealed that former Iranian Prime Minister Mir Hossein Mousavi was beating Ahmadinejad. It is, of course, interesting to meditate on how you could conduct a poll in a country where phones are not universal, and making a call once you have found a phone can be a trial. A poll therefore would probably reach people who had phones and lived in Tehran and other urban areas. Among those, Mousavi probably did win. But outside Tehran, and beyond persons easy to poll, the numbers turned out quite different.

A Mosque In Downtown Kuwait

As radical as it may sound, the above title is absolutely true of all Democracies!

It is by no means contradictory to Islamic Sharia, far from it - It actually protects Islam and Sharia and all religions from misuse and misinterpretation, if only the opponents read wisely.

With all the factions coming up in Kuwaiti Politics these days - with each considering the other blasphemous - the political waters become murky to the electorate with regards to the choices they make.

If one considers that voting for HADAS or the Salafists, for example, would initiate the reshaping of the government into an Islamic one, the same would be true for the Shiite groups, the Liberals, the Tribalists, and so on.

To counter this fear - while providing equality to the entire population - the Kuwaiti Government needs to be reshaped Kuwait into a Secular State. Within this state, Religion is protected, in all its various forms and definitions, while the Rule of Law keeps it in check, so that no one religion or belief can demolish or defame the other. At the same time, the Government held accountable by each religious group so that no particular favoritism is given to any one group with regards to rights and obligations to the State and its Head.

This, in essence, is the very definition of a true Democracy. Anything else is a workaround. By that I mean, a twisting of the facts in order to address the development of a particular agenda that may or may not be productive to the society at large.

An 'Islamic Democracy' means the implementation of Sharia Law onto everyone, referenced by the power monger's own interpretation of this Law, be it Wahaabist, Taliban, Hadas or Hezbolla.

A 'Tribalist Democracy' means the 'Bani-Somethings' exert their will and influence onto all those that are not of their tribe.

A 'Liberal Democracy 'means the right to throw wild Animal House style parties at college (to some, at least!) without concern for the more moderate of our society, and so on...

But the biggest threat of all, the one we are surely to face if these latest elections results don't provide the needed results, is an Authoritarian Government, where the individual's rights and obligations are subject to the whims of the 'Ruling Elite', unabated, unobstructed and unchallenged.

Here is where the line was drawn back in 1961/62, when Kuwaiti society decided to implement a constitution that would protect them and their generations from this type of rule. Here we are, 47 years later, deciding on what type of government to represent the people.

In my blog, I posted many entries about how to select and decide upon the right candidate for the job, and I'm reinforcing this point again here: By choosing wisely, all these political groups and their agenda's will be limited it, but if they come into power, they will modify the government's 'modus operandi' so that it becomes more 'user friendly' to their agenda, therefore, we the people will be at their ideological mercy.

In short, Kuwait should be a Secular State in order for all ideologies be absorbed and protected for their individual followers. Everyone has a right to think and say what he or she likes, as long as these actions to not infringe upon the rights and freedoms of others. Everyone should also have a right to be protected from corruption, as long as this protection is not extorted into a new form of corruption.

The new marriage law providing for pre-marriage checkup will be in force on Sunday, August 2, 2009, Assistant Undersecretary of Kuwaiti Ministry of Health for Medical Services, Dr. Yousuf Al-Nesf announced Wednesday.

Why?

"The aim of the legislation is to ensure a healthy and happy family and eradicate the hereditary and communicable diseases in Kuwait", said Dr. Yousef Al-Nesf during the announcement.

Meanwhile, Abdullah Al-Hamoud, supervisor of family affairs at the Justice Ministry, said if the results of the lab tests proved that the would-be marriage is unsafe due to the illness of one or both of the partners, the marriage contract would be cancelled.

"A marriage officer is authorized to solemnize a marriage only after receiving a certificate that verifies that the couple conducted a checkup and were physically fit," Al-Hamoud reminded.

The survival of the fittest or is it catalyzing the process of being the fittest ?

Do we need to accelerate the nature's process by adopting such rules?

Are we morally justified ?

"A government which robs Peter to pay Paul can always depend on the support of Paul".

- George Bernard Shaw

We all understand that money can be a powerful motivation.

Most of us don't realize it, until we starting making some money by ourselves at regular intervals of time.

Students can be enterprising, independent and smart.
The question is how ?

They can do a lot of multi-tasking with their studies, researching into unknown territories, coordinating events, excelling at extra-curricular activities and so on.

Well that gets one, some good experience, dedication, time management skills, and people management.

However, students may be "Independent" financially.
Not because they are deprived of finances, but because it helps them understand the principles of generating money by their ideas.

How to convert an idea into a money making machine... ?

The product/service which probably may qualify to be a successful startup has certain characteristics such as:

1. It caters to a specific need of a larger community or immediate smaller group
2. It is easily accessible by different means (consider online access and never forget the traditional way)
3. The demand for it is perpetual (lasting an indefinitely long time). It need not have to be in super high demand. It needs to be asked daily. E.g. Bread.
4. It does not require a lot of investment at the beginning
5. Can be coupled with other existing products/services (especially useful while starting, e.g. you can bundle your product or service with some other product/service. e.g. Think DELL and Microsoft)
6. It can be started in a garage or in the basement. (no huge real estate requirements)
7. Can be started with a single individual or two. Two is preferred.
8. It can be described easily to an average individual
9. Takes less time to monitor by the business owner (Spending an hour or two at the beginning should be suffice. Remember your primary objective is still to succeed at studies)
10. Should be able to diversify
11. Being aware of financial lessons which are not taught in classrooms, but gained by experience is a HUGE advantage when one graduates.

The idea here is not to make ONLY money, however in a long run, be able to learn how to shape an economy.

Once one masters certain principles of making money, money just keeps flowing.
Keep the input and output flow of money at almost the same rate.

Keep the money always flowing, never keep it static.
Otherwise one runs a big risk of not making more or even losing it.

It was a fine, sunny Sunday morning, my brother and I wanted to buy something online for our nephew. I quickly pulled out my Internet Card and inputted the details and, to our surprise, the transaction got rejected.

So we dialed the call center number of a major bank in Kuwait, and the customer service agent informed us that my card is blocked since I delayed the payment. I authorized the payment after 15th, (which happens to be the due date), and the transaction shows up on my Internet Card statement; I have sufficient credit to make a purchase.

The agent calmly responded that I needed to visit my branch to unblock my card.

I simply asked him, "Isn't it not logical to a banking system, to just unblock a card when the transaction is done, qualifying it to be valid again for use?"

The agent cordially repeats again, "Please visit your branch Sir"?

I made a quick visit to my branch (Yes, you have to visit THE branch where you opened your account! Sadly my office is in The City and my branch quite far away).

After explaining the issue to the Customer Care Representative at the branch, she replies, "we have to send an email to the head quarters to get your card unblocked and it may take 24 - 48 hours for that."

Now, this is a minor instance where the banking software itself can check to ascertain whether the card is blocked - when a valid transaction is done, and unblock it if the transaction succeeds. This only shows how inconvenient the customer experience can become due to a minor issue of information technology. At the very least, the major banks in Kuwait need to review their IT and software benchmarks based on surveys and general feedback by customers. The idea here is that a very minor feature, when under-estimated, can cause a much inconvenience to a large customer base, not just the incident mentioned above, but other issues related to banking transactions, that ultimately taint customer service satisfaction.

A few days ago I attended a conference in Dubai.

I attempted to check in at the 'Kuwait Airways' desk at Dubai Airport, amidst a frenzied crowd, and was told there was 'an eight hour delay from the 'Kuwait Airways' side'

The crowd around me, consisting of families and businessmen were cursing the state ("What is wrong with our country?" and "Why are they refusing to develop it - where is our money going?"). There was anger in the crowd, pure venom. They didn't care if Emirati citizens or foreigners were listening - they have had it with Kuwait's lack of services and mean, tight-fisted ways and they were verbally generous.

We scurried, managing to transfer our tickets to Emirates Airlines - departing at the original KA time - at the brand new, gleaming, high-tech Terminal Three (there was a work-in-progress metro rail outside that looked like something out of 'Epcot').

The trip was smooth. Even in Economy passengers were treated with the utmost respect and service was excellent (if it were Economy in 'Kuwait Airways' the personnel would have treated us all like garbage, especially the Asians).

A perfect landing by the Emirates pilot was briefly interrupted by a screeching brake.

"We are sorry ladies and gentleman, there was a driver who managed to speed across our tarmac during our arrival," said the pilot. Passengers burst out laughing, "Yes, we definitely are in Kuwait now!" they hollered.

We exited our planes and were met with crowds of laborers and tourists, cigarette smoke, filthy ambience, dim lighting and the obligatory pink airport signs - yes we had arrived at Kuwait Airport, a far cry from whence we came. But hey, its home isn't it. We were relieved and content.

Two days later, the electricity goes off in my neighborhood, for three hours. The Ministry of Electricity's line was constantly busy. I went to check the local transformer/electrical building and found expatriate Ministry of Electricity technicians waiting, unable to do anything ("Please call the Ministry," they implored me, "we are waiting for the hajji Kuwaiti engineer."). They wanted my help in contacting their ministry - think about that for a minute.

This morning I open a newspaper and see quotes by Ministry of Electricity Under-Secretaries admitting there will be more power cuts this summer. Bloggers and columnists have been writing about this crisis for over five years - why didn't the government do anything about it? Oh wait, they spent half a billion on decrepit generators that didn't do the job - genius.

Let me say one thing to the movers and shakers (and I know for a fact you, your kids and your relatives follow this and other blogs): enough is enough, get your heads out of your posteriors, forget your egotistical, tired summits and conferences, and get working for the state, for this country. It is time you provided basic services to people without humiliating them - there is a resentment and anger towards government and officials in this country that you are not aware of.

We are a rich country. Use our resources wisely and work for us - that is what you are there for: public service.

Patience is not indefinite. And God won't forgive those who don't take care of their flock.

Minutes ago 'Al Arabiya' news channel announced the return of Sheikh Nasser Mohamed Al-Sabah as Prime Minister.

We have yet to see any reactions from the MPs or the Kuwaiti public. I hope that Sheikh Nasser gets the chance to head a strong and positive cabinet.

May God bless Kuwait, its Emir and the Kuwaiti People

People often ask me what kind of demographic this blog caters to (since it's a Kuwaiti English language blog). As you can see from the above mid-month chart, the blog is truly global, with a large chunk of readership just from the United States alone.

We've done our bit.

Now the Government needs to step up to the plate.

L-Right (Aseel Al-Awadi, Rola Dashti, Salwa Al-Jassar and Masouma Mubarak) L-Three: Stephanie McGehee/Reuters; right, Yasser Al-Zayyat/AFP-Getty Images

Our faith in the system and people of Kuwait was reaffirmed today.

Following years of uncertainty and gridlock, the people of Kuwait have voted for change. I am certainly in high spirits, and relieved. We were hoping one or two women would make it in, we got four!

Some newcomer independents also won and 'Hadas' took a big hit in the 3rd District (my district). The 'fatwas' and mudslinging by xenophobic elements towards women and progressive candidates backfired, reenergizing and intensifying support for them.

Rain in Islam is a blessed event, and it rained slightly today on 'Election Day' (our third in over three years). Hopefully, it is a positive omen of things to come.

Voting took a maximum of ten minutes, including a detour by a Candidate (who gave the obligatory two minute campaign speech) on my way to voting.

It seemed very quiet this year, with reports of low voter turnouts from all the districts.

Let us hope the third time is the charm.

Here are a couple of previous stories: last year's 'Election Day' (2008) post 'Casting The Ballot In Kuwait' and the prior post 'It's Over, I Voted' (2006).

Remember.

One week to elections.

Please don't vote for people who don't respect women's political rights, who court and fund foreign extremist elements, who auction their shoes for so-called 'freedom fighters,' who lambast the Prime Minister yet accept funds from him, who issue fatwas based on personal interests and who accept 'campaign contributions' from foreign citizens.

Here endeth the speech.

'National Assembly' Extension

May 16th, Election Day, is on the horizon.

People often ask what my personal criterion is in electing someone - some of it instinctual, most of it is real politik-based, in other words, candidates who perform their duties in a realistic, level-headed manner with the national interests at heart, devoid of extremist, foreign ideologies and immune to the vaults of riches and personal self-aggrandizement.

In many cases, however, there are candidates who are smart, educated, progressive but don't particularly fit a 'code,' a set of questions that I mentally scrutinize concerning the candidate:

• Who will the candidate support as 'Speaker of the Parliament'?

• Will the candidate accept a cabinet position?

• Does the candidate have any business interests with the state?

There are a couple of exceptional candidates, from both genders, look impressive on paper, but offering them a vote would be fruitless - they wouldn't meet the aforementioned benchmarks. I don't know about you, but I am not in the business of electing individuals interested in cabinet positions (or in individuals who enjoy the 'status quo') - to me those are wasted votes.

What are your personal benchmarks for the ideal candidate?

I have been tweeting more than I have been blogging. I apologize, but tweeting on Twitter is so much easier especially from a mobile device, both in reading other peoples tweets and writing your own. I write random things that I see, thoughts that I have, respond to my tweet friends and update them on where I am in this world - all in 140 letters or less.

Recently celebrities have had the media focus on twitter, first Ashton Kutcher was on a head to head race with CNN by being the first to amass the millionth follower. Ashton won if you did not know. A few days later, Oprah joined twitter and tweeted her first tweet from her show, she quickly got told off by Shaquille O'Neal telling her that her caps where on, which is considered similar to shouting and bad Internet etiquette.

A lot of people joined and tweeted on twitter after that.

Today, I got informed by twitter that Aseel09 is following me on twitter.

Knowing that it is the Candidate Aseel Al Awadhi, I followed her back. Unfortunately, Aseel's tweets were more like announcements of her media and campaigning activities. They don't even look like she is the one posting her tweets. I have some advice for Aseel or any celeb whether, local or international, big or small, on how to behave on twitter:

1) If you join Twitter, first be sure that your mobile device supports it and tweet constantly from there. It is more convenient in real time for all your followers.

2) Tweet yourself, don't let anyone tweet for you. The whole beauty of twitter is that it's personalized, and not a tedious announcement of some event.

3) Be human, tell us your activities, spur of the momen thoughts and comments - don't misuse it as a Public Relations form of spin.

4) Be funny, show us your humor.

5) Be interesting, tell us the story about what is happening to you, with one tweet after other.

6) Comment and reply to your followers or anyone else you may have an opinion about.

7) Using Twitter as a platform for announcements is the wrong way to tweet.

If you want to see an interesting and captivating twitterer you can check out my own tweets. (Apologies for the self promotion).

I hope Aseel listens to my advice, and if she does, she will win my vote and others.

Political fatigue and cynicism are in the air. People aren't even into election rallies. And the ones who are, hear the same tales of 'If I am elected.' Newspapers are tedious to read. Late night TV shows featuring candidates have become deja vu. There are some candidates who aren't even running because they fear parliament might be disbanded again.

People fear even if they vote right, the government will deliberately hijack its own political process baiting the 'Problem MP's' by imposing Defense Minister Sheik Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah as Prime Minister on them and that in itself will court trouble and controversy.

Even if the government doesn't impose the Defence Minister on Parliament, the same schtick will occur: there will be a session or two of Parliament followed by a four month hiatus. They will reconvene in October, the government will hand in a lacklustre 'cut and paste' development program and the Parliament will go haywire. Then we all get hit by an 'unconstitutional dissolution.'

Will that stop me for voting? Of course not - after all I can spare an hour on May 16.

Do I think my vote will make a difference on Election Day? No.

The Gulf Road - Kuwait City (from Marof39)

It isn't really that bad in Kuwait in the summer time, traffic gets lighter in August, it is easier to get around, fruits and vegetables become plentiful and cheaper, and people spend more time at the beach, enjoying its usual summer activities.

Kuwait has a very strange peculiarity that you don't see anywhere else in the world; most of our beach front from Salmiya all the way to the southern border - more than eighty kilometers long - is locked out to ordinary people save for very few areas here and there, the rest is occupied by chalets owned by Kuwaiti citizens and, in some cases, by a handful of small scale resorts - with horrendous prices, mind you; for a short family vacation, what the Brits call a "bucket and a spade" holiday. The odd thing is that these chalets remain mostly closed and empty during summer and you see miles and miles of dark or dimly lit chalets along the coast.

What is left of the sea front in a country that prides itself of its past as a seafaring nation is a stretch of coastline that has been reclaimed and developed for enjoyment of the rest of the population, this area is called the 'Gulf Road' or the corniche. More and more locals spend their summer days and nights (as well as Friday afternoons) frequenting it with their families and friends, laughing, playing, swimming and most importantly cooking their meals.

In Kuwait we make a big fuss out of cooking, especially when it comes to roasting kebab and grilled meats on the beach. This alfresco grilling causes people annoyance for no reason. Critics claim the rising blue smoke reminds them of the Red Indians, some say the smell is nauseating, some say the family man who is usually in charge of cooking isn't particularly tidy, leaving a mess of trash afterwards, this in spite of signs that clearly state "NO GRILLING" (it seems Kuwaitis like to do the grilling only in the National Assembly (our Parliament) .

What do we expect when we squeeze two million people on a stretch of sand that is less than 16 kilometers long? There are not enough car parks (people used to park on the pavement - even though we put up these hideous concrete balls to prevent them from parking there - so now they just park on the main road instead).

Beach life on weekends is all about barbequing and grilling anywhere in the world, east or west the best nation for beach barbequing culture is Australia: they placed grills along all their popular beaches so the holiday makers or beachgoers wont have trouble cooking their own food; they even gave these grills a cute names like 'barbies' ("put another shrimp on the Barbie, mate").

Of course as I previously mentioned our 'No Grilling' signs are prevalent all along the beach. Kuwait needs to remove these signs and build grills and let the fires roar, spreading the heavenly aroma for all to share - what is a beach without a mess?

Have a great summer.

It saddens me to repeatedly hear people comment that they "won't be voting" in the upcoming elections on May 16. What saddens me most of all is that these people represent the young demographic, people who are just about-or have begun to create a family of their own, and need every help they can get to ensure their family's security when oil runs out.

It's not just about improving government services; it's ensuring that these services continue to survive after the economy shrinks from complete oil dependence in sixty or seventy years time; according to recent estimates (some reports claim a maximum of forty years).

I have a 2 year old daughter, by the time she's a mother, her children will face Kuwait's hardest economic situation ever-a country without oil to fuel the state's expenditures and services. In other words, what I as a parent decide today will affect my grandchildren's future wellbeing.

By selecting the right MP, we as voters set the standards for a better future, it's not about voting for someone who would be able to help me grab a government-built house quicker than the rest, or someone who would be able to process my papers with his influence or some other short-term personal gain.

Younger voters may not feel it now, but think about this: A University education with gender-segregated classes is no education to rely upon, and this segregation came about recently because the people voted for the wrong MP's. On the same subject, an educational system where course work is dictated by politically and religiously motivated advisers is doomed to produce fanatics and extremists no matter how the situation is justified.

Last year I posted a blog about the difference between the Kuwait of the 1960's and today, and in it, I outlined the features of the ideal candidate for my family and myself. Today, however, there are many options that fit the description I set for myself, and ironically enough, they were not all tribalists nor Islamists or 'service MP's'; They were all right-minded people, with an actual progressive agenda and clean-shaven faces who don't shout their throats off in front of cameras, spurting out brain-farts for local consumption while flexing their tribal or Islamist muscles!

I'm not endorsing anyone in particular here, but I am asking everyone to vote, and vote well. Vote with your minds, not your hearts, not your ears, and certainly not for your expected monetary gains - despite what you may watch in political plays and songs, you shouldn't be voting for Kuwait for the sake of Kuwait; It's simply a plot of land with oil underneath it! You should be voting for your family's well-being in the not-too-distant future, you should be voting for Kuwait's children, since they'll be inheriting the problems and solutions that you will be creating today....and if that's not enough to make someone vote right, think about people in my latest post, and what they'd done for you and your country lately!