Water shortage in the UAE

Water shortage in the UAE

Paragraph 1: introduction of water and explanation of problems:

 Water is the main source for the living of human beings; even animals depend on water to live. People use water for drinking and showers and for many uses in agriculture and industry. The shortage of water causes many problems for all beings and creatures on earth. The usage of water is increasing every year more and more and the amount of water is decreasing whether from rain or wells and also the rivers; the amount of water in rivers is running out. Many countries around the world suffer from the shortage of water and that may be because they use a lot of water in everyday life or because they don’t have any source of supplying water such as rivers or falling rain; sometimes it doesn’t rain all the year in some countries. If the problem still continues, many people will die before getting the fresh water they need to live. In many parts of the world people don’t find water to drink and others don’t find enough water to grow plants which may cause starvation for people and animals.

 

Paragraph 2: Solutions

 The problem of water shortage in the UAE is big but there are many solutions to overcome it. The most effective solution of the problem is to make people aware of the problem and its seriousness for people and all creatures in the country because any attempt to solve the problem without the awareness is useless. Another solution is to make meters at homes to count the amount of water used by people and the over usage should be charged a fine to control the usage of water and save it. A third solution is to use a system for using water in agriculture to avoid water waste and there is another solution related to agriculture which is to grow crops which preserve water and also to grow crops which need the salty water instead of using the fresh water which people use for drinking and cooking at home. Finally the increasing of desalination stations around the UAE may help the problem to be reduced by increasing the amount of water produced but the problem will still be a dilemma because the usage of water will be doubled in a few years as researchers indicated in conferences about the problem. 

 

 Paragraph 3: UAE, a case study

 Water shortage in the UAE has increased in the last thirty years as the Emiratis usage of water has increased as people use hundreds of gallons of water every day for washing, drinking and many uses as well. The location of the country in the desert is the main cause for the shortage of water as it has a small amount of underground water. It also has no more rain in winter. More over there are no rivers to supply the country with the needed water. All these reasons forced the UAE government to rely on the purification of the sea water which is called desalination;  it removes salt from the water of the sea to use it for the multi-uses of people and animals and for the agriculture as well, but the high usage of people for water at homes and farms makes the problem bigger and without an end.

 

 

 

Bibliography

·         UN warns of water shortage - The National. (n.d.). Latest and breaking news | thenational.ae - The National. Retrieved May 30, 2013, from http://www.thenational.ae/news/uae-news/un-warns-of-water-shortage

·         subject. (n.d.). Balancing water supply and wildlife : Nature News. Nature Publishing Group : science journals, jobs, and information. Retrieved May 30, 2013, from http://www.nature.com/news/2010/100929/full/

·         CNN, R. O. (n.d.). All About: Water and Health - CNN.com. CNN.com International - Breaking, World, Business, Sports, Entertainment and Video News. Retrieved May 30, 2013, from http://edition.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/asiapcf/12/17

·         Problems - Water Shortages. (n.d.). Web of Creation. Retrieved May 30, 2013, from http://www.webofcreation.org/Earth%20Problems/water.htm

·         Threat of water shortages sees Middle East governments focusing on increasing supply, September 06–2006, from,

http://www.ameinfo.com/95533.html

·         Worldwatch Magazine Jan-Feb 2003, from,

http://www.webofcreation.org/Earth%20Problems/water.htm

The Taj Mahal

The Taj Mahal

The Taj Mahal is the most brilliant and the most triumphant achievement among the funeral monuments all around the world. It marks the culmination in the evolution of the tomb. The Indian builders achieved the most beautiful expression through this creation under the Mughals. The Taj Mahal was built by a Mongul emperor named Shah Jahan, for his wife Mumtaz Mahal. Only three years later his beloved wife died shortly after childbirth. In 1632 Shah Jahan began the project of building a mausoleum, or tomb for his wife, and it was also part of her last wish to have a beautiful tomb.  The Taj Mahal was built in Agra in Northern India in 1632-1648. Also the building is built in an Islamic style of architecture.  The Taj Mahal took nearly 22 years, from 1632 to 1653. However, its two outlying buildings (one is a mosque) were completed in 1643, and the main mausoleum was finished in 1648. The Taj Mahal cost around 32 million India rupees and it is still standing.

In the construction of the Taj Mahal three types of stones have been used.  Semi-precious stones: these were mainly used for inlaying work. Rare and scarce stones and other materials which were used for the construction of Taj Mahal included different kinds of bricks, Gaj-i-Shirin (sweet limestone) and there are many. The Taj Mahal was constructed using materials from all over India and Asia. In addition, over 1,000 elephants were used to transport building materials during the construction. Master craftsmen from all over India and Asia were brought to Agra to carry out his design. Ustad Ahmed, the most famous Persian architect of the day, designed the complex. However, the Emperor did not want any of those workers to recreate the same design anywhere in the world. So he cut their hands off with the hope that theTaj Mahal stays as one unique building in the world. In the end there were no problems encountered while building the Taj Mahal.

 

Finally, anyone attempting to say something in the praise of the Taj Mahal suddenly feels at loss of words the moment he/she steps in the historical magnificence. An apostle of love, Taj Mahal is now at the top of the list of Seven Wonders of the World. And  It is one of the most recognizable structures in the world and one of the most beautiful. It was built by Mugal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his wife.
Because of it's wonderful decor and landscape, it has been named a wonder of the world. It attracts between 2 million and 4 million visitors annually.

First of all, before his accession to the throne, Shah Jahan was popularly known as Prince Khurram. Also, Shah Jahan fell in love with the beautiful Arjumand Bano Begum and married her, making her his third wife. In addition, Arjumand Bano Begum was christened by Shah Jahan as Mumtaz Mahal, meaning the “Chosen One Of The Palace” or “Jewel of the Palace”.

On the other hand, Shah Jahan lost Mumtaz Mahal, when she died giving birth to their 14h child. However, for the transportation of the construction materials, more than 1,000 elephants were employed. As many as 28 different varieties of semi-precious and precious stones were used to adorn the Taj with exquisite inlay work.

Also, depending on what time of the day it is and whether or not there’s moon at night, the Taj Mahal appears to be of different colors every time. Some even believe that this changing pattern of colors depicts the different moods of a woman.

And passages from Quran have been used as decorative elements throughout the complex. On the sides of the actual tomb of Mumtaz Mahal, 99 names of Allah can be found as calligraphic inscriptions.

Taj Mahal was built in stages, with the plinth and the tomb taking up roughly 15 years. Building of minarets, mosque, jawab, and gateway took an additional 5 years to be completed. And there are different types of marbles used in the construction of the Taj Mahal and they were brought over from many different regions & countries: Rajasthan, Punjab, China, Tibet, Afghanistan, Srilanka, & Arabia.

Many precious stones and lapis lazuli (a semi-precious stone) were ripped off from its walls by the Britishers during the Indian rebellion of 1857. And the Taj Mahal attracts 2-4 million visitors annually with over 200,000 from overseas.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reference

v  century, t. l., & 1857, p. o. (n.d.). Taj Mahal - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Retrieved April 16, 2013, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taj_Mahal

v  The Taj Mahal, India. (n.d.). IslamiCity.com - Islam & The Global Muslim eCommunity . Retrieved April 30, 2013, from http://www.islamicity.com/culture/taj/?AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1

v  Treasures of the World | Taj Mahal. (n.d.). PBS: Public Broadcasting Service. Retrieved April 30, 2013, from http://www.pbs.org/treasuresoftheworld/a_nav/taj

v  Taj Mahal - Taj Mahal India - Taj Mahal Agra - Taj Mahal Travel- Taj Mahal Information - Tajmahal India. (n.d.). Taj Mahal - Taj Mahal India - Taj Mahal Agra - Taj Mahal Travel- Taj Mahal Information - Tajmahal India. Retrieved April 30, 2013, from http://www.tajmahal.org.uk/

v  History Of Taj Mahal, Tajmahal History, Taj Mahal Info, Taj Mahal Story, Taj Mahal Building. (n.d.). Taj Mahal India, Taj Mahal India Tours, Taj Mahal Agra Tour, Agra Taj Mahal Tours, India Tajmahal Information, Agra Taj Mahal Tour India. Retrieved April 30, 2013, from http://www.tajmahalindia.net/history-of-taj-mahal.html

v  Taj Mahal Story - Story of the Taj Mahal - Taj Mahal India Story - Taj Mahal True Story. (n.d.). Agra India - Agra Tourism - Agra City - Travel to Agra - Travel Agra - Tourism in Agra. Retrieved April 30, 2013, from http://www.agraindia.org.uk/taj-mahal/taj-mahal-story.html

Youths put skills ahead of money

Emirati youths entering the fob market prioritise skills over salaries of about 50 students In a live voting session, 30 per cent of participants said the opportunity for growth and promotion was the most important factor when considering a job offer; 20 per cent said learning new skills was the top factor; while 18 per cent said work environment and culture was the main factor. Only 10 per cent said they would consider salary first. A mere 2 per cent said working hours were the most important criterion. INJAZ UAE is an organization that aims to build bridges between schools and colleges and the private sector private companies can’t hire Emiratis because they can't give them the salaries and working hours they demand. Hopefully this will prove them wrong. Students believed working in the private sector would present more demands than working for the government. Asked whether working for the private sector would throw up challenges, 81 per cent said yes and 13 per cent said no. Responding to the same question about the government, 40 per cent said yes and 31 per cent said no. The main concern about working in the private sector was competition for promotion and recognition; in the government, it was dealing with routine. However Job fairs, career guidance and workshops with corporate guests are ways that universities can help create new perceptions about working in the private sector. To do its bit, the business world can offer internships and trainee programmes to young graduates. 30 per cent of the university students and fresh graduates polled place most importance on growth and promotion opportunities when selecting a job. Nearly 70 per cent of participants at the forum said that getting a job is their most immediate priority after graduation, over further education or entrepreneurship opportunities. When choosing between public and private sector positions, the deciding factors for Emirati youth tend to be growth and promotion opportunities, work environment and skill development.

Cash loan boost for hydroponics farmers

"This technology uses 80 per cent less water, less pesticides and less fertiliser than traditional farming," said Yousri Kabil, an engineer at the protected agriculture unit of the Farmers Services Centre, an Abu Dhabi government body that aims to modernise the emirate's farms. Farmers in Al Gharbia have slowly been converting to hydroponics - which allows them to grow fruit and vegetables using less water and energy and are now being offered loans to help them make the switch. Yafour Al Hameli shows some of the tomatoes he is growing on his farm using his new hydroponics system. The centre plans to install the system in farms in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain before the end of the year to produce leafy vegetables and forage crops. Farmers are keen on it and we want to encourage hydroponics on all Abu Dhabi farms, to be able to produce food all year round. For the past year and a half, Mr Al Hameli has been growing almost 30 tonnes of tomatoes and peppers a year in soil in his six greenhouses. The Khalifa Fund is a government organisation that helps develop Abu Dhabi businesses. Two Emirati farmers in the Western Region are setting up closed hydroponics farms which will save up to 60 to 80 per cent of water used for irrigation, compared to conventional agriculture. Since the hydroponics system does not involve soil, it involves a wide variety of growing media, such as perlite, gravel, peat, sand, rock wool and others. ADFSC is supporting the demonstration of hydroponics farms of two Emirati farmers in the Western Region, who grow vegetables such as tomatoes, capsicum and cucumber throughout the year, including summer. Hydroponics is a method of growing plants using mineral nutrient solutions in water, without soil.

How do Gulf Corals beat the heat?

Corals have managed to beat the heat by acclimatization to hot water. The coral live in sybiosis with zoooxanthellae, a type of agae that lives inside the coral and gives it energy, and in return, the coral provides shelter, nutrients mostly nitrogen and carbon dioxide for photosynthesis. If one dies the other is unable to feed itself to stay alive. At temperatures above 35C, the algae's photosynthesis produces oxygen radicals that damage the coral tissue. To protect itself, the coral spits out the zooxanthellae. it can live off its fat reserves for a week, after that it needs to take the algae back in or it will die. A case of bleaching was seen in 1998, when the El Niño subjected 80 % of the world's coral reefs to extreme temperatures. Gulf's corals seem to be coping. It may be something to do with an unusual complement of protective mechanisms. Corals reproduce in one of two ways: through fragmentation or larval production. When a piece of coral breaks off, rolls across the sand, lands somewhere else and starts growing this is fragmentation Larval production happen, in massive spawning events, when countless billions of tiny, 1mm-long larval bulbs are released float around the sea for up to a week.

 

New Pearl Museum opens in RAK

 

There are many ancient myths about the pearl, but two local legends say she has two mothers. Showed from thoughts of one called Bint Al Matar which mean’s daughter of rain, and other one called Bint Al Qamar which mean also daughter of the Moon. As you know, RAK was known as the capital of the pearl trade for European travelers and sailors. The museum manager points to a replica of a document dated 1654, from the governor general in Batavia to the directors of the Dutch East India Company in the Netherlands. It asks the company to send "two energetic and experienced merchants" to Julfar, where "this jewel is being fished, to stay there from the first to the last catch". The centuries-old pearling industry collapsed in the Gulf in the early 1930s but the influence of the pearl lived on, as Emirati women are still being named after different types of local names for pearls. The museum, which is one of a kind in the region, opened two months ago. They used a protection diving gear; regardless they suffered from deafness and sickness. On the second floor there is the “Miracle of Arabia” which they are proud of sitting inside a red velvet throne.

First reflective statement

What is this course about?

This course, it’s about academic reading, writing and summarizing  skills. In addition I have learnt how to use blogger.  

What have I learnt so far?

I have learnt how to summarize paragraphs and  take out  the main word and  sentences.

 

What do I expect to get from this course?

I expect to improve my reading, writing and my English grammar skills to deliver the information in the best way.

 

What do I know about hedley?  

Mr. Hedley is our English teacher. He has worked in several countries before coming to the UAE. He taught us how to use  the blogger. He is funny and creates a good teaching environment. He has a history with wild life. He is married and he has a few children.

The Hajj

Hajj is a pillar of Islam, a ritual performed by Muslims during the 8^th day of Dhul Hijjah. All Muslims face the Ka’aba during their 5 times prayer every day. It was built by Abraham and his son Ishmail. Before Hajj, all Muslims attending the rituals must be vaccinated against several illnesses. Men have to clean themselves on their way to Mecca. They also have to wear a 2 piece robe while women should wear a long white robe but with their faces uncovered. It begins with Tawaf 7 times around Ka’aba. Then comes Sa’I which means going 7 times between the hills of Safa and Marwa. Then they travel to Mina and throw 7 pebbles at 3 statues at the Jamarat. Next day they have to travel to to Arafat. They head to Mecca again for the same. Mina comes next where they spend 3 days and pray. The last ritual is the farewell Tawaf in Mecca.

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