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There’s probably a photographer hidden in each of us, looking out for a platform. Community invites you to grab your chance and send your contributions with contact details and complete description of the images to [email protected] — PHOTO ESSAY, Page 10

Tuesday, June 4, 2019 Shawwal 1, 1440 AH

Doha today: 310 - 390

COVER STORY Ma the stalker Octavia Spencer’s true crime obsession and best friendship is behind her horror star turn. P4-5

POP SPOT SHOWBIZ

German sextet Rammstein’s DEAP holds largest cleanup Untitled at no 3 on UK chart. drive in Ramadan. Page 11 Page 16 2 GULF TIMES Tuesday, June 4, 2019 COMMUNITY ROUND & ABOUT

PRAYER TIME Fajr 3.13am Shorooq (sunrise) 4.44am Zuhr (noon) 11.33am Asr (afternoon) 2.57pm Maghreb (sunset) 6.23pm Isha (night) 7.53pm

USEFUL NUMBERS

Avengers: Endgame Infi nity War (2018), the universe is in ruins. With the help of Emergency 999 DIRECTION: Anthony Russo, Joe Russo remaining allies, the Avengers assemble once more in order to Worldwide Emergency Number 112 CAST: Brie Larson, Winston Duke, Karen Gillan undo Thanos’ actions and restore order to the universe. Kahramaa – Electricity and Water 991 SYNOPSIS: After the devastating events of Avengers: THEATRES: The Mall, Landmark Local Directory 180 International Calls Enquires 150 Hamad International Airport 40106666 Labor Department 44508111, 44406537 Mowasalat Taxi 44588888 Qatar Airways 44496000 Hamad Medical Corporation 44392222, 44393333 Qatar General Electricity and Water Corporation 44845555, 44845464 Primary Health Care Corporation 44593333 44593363 Qatar Assistive Technology Centre 44594050 Qatar News Agency 44450205 44450333 Q-Post – General Postal Corporation 44464444

Humanitarian Services Offi ce (Single window facility for the repatriation of bodies) Ministry of Interior 40253371, 40253372, 40253369 Ministry of Health 40253370, 40253364 Hamad Medical Corporation 40253368, 40253365 Qatar Airways 40253374

NGK SYNOPSIS: A charismatic young man embarks on a DIRECTION: K Selvaraghavan political journey that results in a socio-political revolution. CAST: Suriya, Rakul Preet Singh, Sai Pallavi THEATRES: The Mall, Landmark, Royal Plaza ote Unquo Qu te The Mall Cinema (1): Devi 11pm. “I surround 2 (Tamil) 2:30pm; NGK Royal Plaza Cinema myself with good people (Tamil) 8:30pm; Devi 2 Palace (1): NGK (Tamil) who make me feel great and (Tamil) 11:15pm. Devi 2 (Tamil) 2:30pm; 2:30pm; NGK (Tamil) give me positive energy.” The Mall Cinema (2): Devi 2 (Tamil) 9pm; Ma 8:30pm; NGK (Tamil) — Ali Krieger Aladdin (2D) 2:30pm; (2D) 11:15pm. 11:15pm. Aladdin (2D) 8:30pm; Landmark Cinema (2): Royal Plaza Cinema Avengers: Endgame (2D) NGK (Tamil) 2:30pm; NGK Palace (2): Aladdin (2D) 11pm. (Tamil) 8:30pm; NGK 2:30pm; Aladdin (2D) The Mall Cinema (3): (Tamil) 11:15pm. 8:30pm; Ma (2D) 11pm. Community Editor NGK (Tamil) 2:30pm; Landmark Cinema (3): Royal Plaza Cinema Kamran Rehmat Aladdin (2D) 2:30pm; e-mail: [email protected] Aladdin (2D) 9pm; NGK Palace (3): Devi 2 (Tamil) Telephone: 44466405 (Tamil) 11:15pm. Aladdin (2D) 8:30pm; 2:30pm; Aladdin (2D) 9pm; Fax: 44350474 Landmark Cinema (1): Avengers: Endgame (2D) Devi 2 (Tamil) 11:15pm. Tuesday, June 4, 2019 GULF TIMES 3 ROUND & ABOUT COMMUNITY

the resort. Only for QR280 per person. school includes Group Music lessons, Hip- hop, Ballet, Drawing and Painting, Drama Summer Camp for Special Needs Theatre & Taekwondo. Ages between 5 and 10 WHERE: Step by Step Centre for Special years old after school hours. Needs WHEN: June 30 – August 1 TIME: 8:00am – 12:30pm During this time, all therapists and teachers will be working together, running individual, peer and group sessions within classes. The children will continue learning age-appropriate concepts, work on social skills, life skills training, arts and crafts, music, and fun activities such as water play.

Artistic Gymnastic Classes WHERE: Qatar Academy Msheireb WHEN: Ongoing TIME: 3:15pm – 4:15pm The Olympic sport using horizontal bar, rings and fl oor exercises on mats for the children from age 4 till 16.

Hobby Classes WHERE: Mamangam Performing Art Centre WHEN:Wednesday – Monday Mamangam Performing Art Centre, is a holistic performing arts institution and a one stop solution for adults as well as children looking to explore their talents in various art forms. We off er classes in contemporary, EVENTS ISC Skipping Rope Open Bollywood, hip hop, Indian classical dance, Championship music (Hindustani and Carnatic), arts and WHERE: Ashoka Hall, ICC craft, karate, yoga, percussion (Chenda, MF Husain: The Horses Of The Sun WHEN: June 15 Thimila, Elathalam and Madhalam), violin, Exhibition TIME: 11.00am – 1:30pm harmonium, public speaking. WHERE: Mataf: Arab Museum of Modern Indian Sports Centre under the patronage Additional services include dance Art of Embassy of India is organising Third education, choreograph music videos and WHEN: Ongoing till July 31 edition of ISC Skipping Rope Open dance cover albums, choreograph dance TIME: 9am – 7pm Championship – 2019 for Speed Hop and musical projects, corporate workshops and The exhibition presents Hussain’s pluralist Speed Endurance competitions. Categories, events, choreograph events for schools, approach to the divine and cosmic aspects of include Under-12 (Boys and Girls), Under–18 colleges, alumni meets and corporate being, articulated through the myths, symbols (Boys and Girls) and Adults (Men and and choreography events. For details, call and narratives of the world’s religions and Women) – above 18 years. Entry is free. Career Guidance 33897609. philosophies. M. F. Husain: Horses of the Sun Championship is open to all Indians and WHERE: Right Track Consultants, Al bears witness to a recurrent motif in his art, a students of any nationality studying in Indian Sadd Arabic Calligraphy Workshop personal symbol of self-renewal and vitality. Schools. Last date of entry is June 11. For WHEN: Sunday – Thursday WHEN: Saturday – Wednesday further details, [email protected] or TIME: 6pm – 8pm TIME: 6pm Katara Drive Thru Festival 55824194/55956008. Career guidance for course, country, Arabic Calligraphy workshop is back. WHERE: Katara Cultural Village college and entrance for students of Grade Come and learn the artistic practice of Arabic WHEN: Ongoing till June 10 Ballet Lessons IX-XII, of all curriculum. Career assessments handwriting and calligraphy at Music and TIME: 6pm – 4am WHERE: Music and Arts Atelier administered for stream preference, career Arts Atelier. Join us at Katara Village and enjoy the WHEN: Ongoing test, branch preference, personality, The lessons will take place every Saturday, diverse cuisines at your car step! From fi rst TIME: 4pm – 8pm multiple intelligence and learning styles Monday and Wednesday at 6pm. For day of Ramadan until Eid holidays starting For more info e-mail at registration@ and productivity. For more information, more information, contact registration@ from 5pm till 2am. atelierqatar.com or call on 33003839. 55448835. atelierqatar.com

India to Qatar – Symbiosis of Cultures WHERE: FBQ Museum WHEN: Ongoing till July 31 Under the context of cultural exchange, FBQ Museum brings together the treasures of the museum owned collection in order to promote mutual understanding, recognition and appreciation between Qatar and India. Composed of fi ve main topics, including community, trade, arts, food and incense, the exhibition takes one on a journey to explore the rich and diverse Indian cultures, the long historic links between Qatar and India, and cultural similarities between Qatar and India.

A Choral Kaleidoscope Concert WHERE: Swiss International School WHEN: June 13 TIME: 7pm onwards Featuring Qatar Youth Choir and Qatar Sunset Desert Safari with Iftar Dance and Instrument Classes Junior Choir – their last concert of the WHERE: Sealine Beach WHERE: TCA Campus, Behind Gulf Times season. Qatar Youth Choir has recently WHEN: Ongoing Building returned from workshops and concerts with TIME: 2pm – 10pm WHEN: Wednesday – Monday the Vienna Boys Choir in Austria. Qatar Enjoy a day out in the relaxing singing sand Learn the movements of dance styles in Junior Choir will perform their concert dunes of Mesaieed along with a thrilling dune After School Activities Bollywood, Hip Hop and also the musical programme in September.Tickets are bashing experience. This 8-hour getaway WHERE: Atelier instruments such as Piano, Guitar, Keyboard available from choir members or on the door takes you all the way to the breath-taking WHEN: Ongoing for adults as well kids and move in the world for QR60. inland sea beach aka Khor Al Adaid to watch Music and arts activities for students of music. For details, contact 66523871/ the Sunset. Break your fast with lavish Iftar at taking place after they fi nish their day in 31326749.

Compiled by Nausheen Shaikh. E-mail: [email protected], Events and timings subject to change 4 GULF TIMES Tuesday, June 4, 2019 COMMUNITY COVER STORY Clincher for Spencer Octavia Spencer was frustrated with the lack of interesting characters coming her way when director Tate Taylor called with an intriguing off er: a twisted tale that would let her flex darker impulses and show off a side of herself nobody had seen before, writes Jen Yamato

He said, ‘I have a horror film for you,’ and I said, ‘Let me stop you, because black people always get killed in the first 15 minutes’ —Octavia Spencer, ‘ Hollywood actress

ight years ago director basement couch in a historic West Jason Blum, comparing her turn to 1996’s A Time to Kill before moving Q: Rarely do Oscar-caliber Tate Taylor and actress Adams mansion littered with red Kathy Bates’ in Misery. “It’s very new out to LA together. The Geminis will actresses lead movies like this, Octavia Spencer scored Solo cups and party detritus, set and very diff erent and hasn’t been be spending their birthdays apart but rarer still is a genre fi lm in the summer’s biggest dressing evoking the ramshackle done in a long time, to have an actress (Taylor turns 50 the day he begins which a woman of color is front sleeper hit with The Help. party pad of Ma. of that stature in a super fun, super fi lming his next movie, starring and center. How did Ma become E(She went on to win an Oscar for the “He said, ‘Not only are you not scary R-rated movie.” Allison Janney; Spencer, back in your fi rst horror collaboration? best picture nominee.) Now they’ve getting killed in the fi rst 15 minutes — It’s a tour-de-force departure LA from the UK where she’s been Taylor: It’s so serendipitous, how reunited for a very diff erent kind of you get to do the killing.’ I said, sign from type for Spencer, who was working on The Witches, jokes that all this happened. It was meant to be. surprise: the deliciously bananas me up!” she said, laughing. also Oscar-nominated for Hidden she’ll be celebrating her 41st birthday She had expressed frustration to me Blumhouse thriller Ma, a shockingly Spencer stars as Sue Ann, a quiet Figures and The Shape of Water. She “again”). about being off ered the same thing, gory R-rated thriller about a small-town veterinary assistant who gleefully cranks up the crazy in Ma, “We did good,” he smiles. “It took and that women of colour don’t ever mild-mannered woman (Spencer) buys drink for a group of local teens scripted by Scotty Landes and Taylor 25 years, little PAs driving out here. get to be the lead of something. Jason who turns stalker on the teens she one day then off ers her home to her from a story by Landes, while fi nding She’s in London shooting a movie [Blum] and I had a general’ meeting, befriends. new friends as a place to party. The surprising humanity in the character but we’ll still call each other in our and I said, “I want to do something As the longtime friends and kids aff ectionately dub her “Ma” for — even as she’s teetering on the brink underwear, laughing about it.” messed up!” collaborators tell it, Spencer was her welcoming hospitality, including of sanity and, in one of the fi lm’s The pair talked with The Times frustrated with the lack of interesting Diana Silvers as Maggie, a newcomer demented scenes, sewing the lips of about their best friendship, projects Q: What does that mean to you, characters coming her way when to town who begins to distrust Ma’s a chatty teen together with a needle and more in an interview that has your idea of “messed up”? Taylor called with an intriguing outwardly friendly facade. and thread. been condensed and edited for Taylor: What it meant for me was off er: a twisted tale that would let But as Ma’s becomes the go-to “For a character like this to work clarity. ‘No rules,’ and that’s what’s great the Academy Award winner fl ex her party spot in town, secrets from you’ve got to have empathy for her,” about the Blumhouse model. It’s darker impulses and show off a side the past reveal themselves and her Taylor leans forward conspiratorially Q: Are you two indeed BFFs? really in many ways an experiment. of herself nobody had seen before. obsession reaches a Fatal Attraction with a wink in his eye. “And feel Taylor and Spencer: The budgets are so low. They had just “He said, ‘I have a horror fi lm for pitch. Juliette Lewis, Missi Pyle and guilty because you’re kind of … glad [Simultaneously] Yes. gotten this script and pitched me the you,’ and I said, ‘Let me stop you, Luke Evans also costar as former she’s doing some of this stuff .” Taylor: We were roommates for idea. I read it and I came back and because black people always get classmates of Sue Ann’s. Alabama native Spencer and seven years. I adapted The Help while said, ‘What about Octavia?’ killed in the fi rst 15 minutes,’” said “What’s really special about Ma Mississippian Taylor fi rst met as we were roommates and she would Spencer, sitting next to Taylor on a is Octavia Spencer,” said producer production assistants on the set of scream at me, ‘Minny’s my part!’ Q: Without spoiling the twists Tuesday, June 4, 2019 GULF TIMES 5 COVER STORY COMMUNITY and turns of Ma, what was your shorthand with Octavia important for you to convey in came in handy? terms of Sue Ann’s humanity, Taylor: I knew we were cooking given the extreme and gory with gas on her very fi rst day, in lengths she goes to? the very fi rst scene she shot, and Taylor: Sue Ann needed to be was really excited about it, was likable and we needed the audience to when Ma goes to Maggie’s [Silvers’] be really confused, hoping she would house. Octavia said, “Get ready — I stop doing these things. I wanted know what I’m gonna do.” And she the audience to wish they could gave her that look over her shoulder push pause on the movie, somehow and I went, ‘OK, she is in it.’ walk into the fi lm, and go, “Sue Ann, The Blumhouse model typically listen. Let’s go get a coff ee.” means a contained story and a modest budget, but relative Q: Octavia, how did you fi nd creative freedom. Why was the person beneath the monster it important to take it back to that Sue Ann becomes? Mississippi, your third fi lm in the Spencer: You can’t eff ectively state? play a character that you judge, Taylor: I love fi lming there so I had to do a lot of research. because when you have a budget She exhibits character traits that of this level you have to be are abnormal — I research things, resourceful. People in these poor because I live in the true crime world. towns in Mississippi are just Taylor: Murder TV. starved for any kind of economic development, and they’re smart. Q: What do you consider They know: If we help them come “Murder TV”? here and give them free locations, Spencer: I watch all of the there’s a lot of money they’re going Investigation Channel [ID TV] … to spend. It’s the puzzle. I’m dyslexic and Spencer: And dollars in the I learned and stayed intrigued pockets of the community. That’s with reading by reading a lot of what I like. We shot some scenes mysteries. The natural progression at Alcorn State University, and is to crime, and true crime for me they are starting a film school. I’m is where I exist. It’s about solving ACTION: McKaley Miller, left, and Octavia Spencer in the film Ma. excited for that … they are making the puzzle every night. Did I get it so that those young people the right man? Was I wrong? will be able to become writers, Sometimes I’m wrong, but 90% of “What’s really special about Ma is Octavia Spencer. It’s directors, work behind the scenes. the time, I’m right. very new and very different and hasn’t been done in a Taylor: She profi les people! Q: Octavia, you also starred ‘You see how they got that last long time, to have an actress of that stature in a super in Luce at Sundance, which meatball? That’s an exhibit of a confronts race in a direct way, behaviour, there’s this one show I fun, super scary R-rated movie.” and executive produced Green watch and this man would always Book. Do you consider your take the last food, and what he’s Jason Blum, producer recent films united by common actually doing is he’s going to America. There’s a regional Spencer: Exactly. deal with and confront race, threads? What themes are poison it, and then he’s going to neutrality to it. Taylor: “Oh, she’s a black and race in the South. Are important to you to put into bring it back to the buff et because woman from this town.” Or, “These you saying that in Ma you the larger conversation? he knows the person who saw him Q: Do you mean the intention kids grew up in this affl uent, blah- intentionally tried not to focus Spencer: You know what, take it is going to come back!’ was that audiences didn’t read blah-blah…” It’s just life. on that? there’s no correlation. I chose to Spencer: [Laughs] I profi le, into it — Spencer: No — I’m a black do Luce because we didn’t grow I profi le. But I see things other Taylor: So there are no cultural Q: You’ve both made movies woman. But what I liked about it up with a silver spoon in our people don’t see, because I watch implications. in the past that did deliberately was this character was fi rst written mouths. Someone — an educator, human interaction and behaviour. for a white woman, and he put a kingmaker — could have easily I’m a huge fan of John Douglas, who back story in that made her right chosen someone else and I would started the behavioural science for me, but the same back story have had the complex that I was unit at the FBI. Huge fan. And now would have fi t a white woman. It’s not worthy to be who I am, and to everybody’s into forensics. I liked it the fi rst time that I’m not playing a get to where I am. I choose things before all of you! character that has to be black; she now for different reasons, and just happens to be black. So this is sometimes there are themes that Q: Have you ever met not racially … charged. sort of bleed into each other. But somebody in real life who Taylor: It’s me wanting to put for me it was all about making you’ve suspected could be… my best friend in a part she’s never sure that every child is treated as Taylor: I’ve dated them. [Looks gotten to do, and how fun would it if they were the Luce. That every at Octavia] I’m not kidding. be if we went and did it! child can see their potential. And Spencer: I’m not touching when you have people dictating that … but I’ve met some suspect Q: You cast Allison Janney in that or being gatekeepers of who people. It’s in the eyes! When Ma as Sue Ann’s terrible boss. gets to progress, I have a problem people feel like they constantly Did you just call all your friends of that. So of course I have to play have to be a certain way, and they up to make this movie? the gatekeeper, so I can talk about constantly have to please you Taylor: [To Octavia] She told that. and you never get to see the real me last week we’d been friends for person… I’m like, why is it that you 20 years. Q: At this point in your never get mad? That’s a human Spencer: I’ve been saying 18, career, how do you view the trait. People have bad days. When making us sound younger! power of your work? people don’t have bad days, I get a Taylor: Us, Allison and Melissa Taylor: I think Octavia is little nervous. McCarthy — we were all struggling. infinitely relatable and that’s a Allison had just gotten this pilot powerful thing. Q: Ma is set in Ohio, even called West Wing. But when you Spencer: I just feel lucky that though you fi lmed it in Tate’s all genuinely love each other and I get to work with my best friend home state of Mississippi. Sue you’re all struggling, you become on projects, I feel lucky that great Ann is one of the few African family. You just want to be a part scripts are coming to me — and American characters in her of helping everybody. So Alison’s great scripts that I turned down town. Why take the story out of always like, ‘I must be a part of for different reasons — and that I the South? everything you do. What am I in get to work at this level. If I can be Taylor: I didn’t want it to be Ma? I said, “There’s a vet …” and an influence to anyone to pursue specifi cally Deep South, because she said, ‘OK!’ It’s too damn hard their dreams and know that then there’s this whole other not to make it fun, this business. they’re worthy, then that’s what trope-cliché-expectation I POWERFUL: “I think Octavia is infinitely relatable and that’s a powerful thing,” I’m going to take from it. — Los wanted it to be Anywhere, says Ma director Tate Taylor. Q: What was a scene in which Angeles Times/TNS 6 GULF TIMES Tuesday, June 4, 2019 COMMUNITY

DPS-MIS organises donation drive DPS-MIS, in association with Indian Community and Benevolent Forum (ICBF), recently organised a donation drive for the underprivileged section of the society during the holy month of Ramadan. The students of Nursery till Grade-XII participated in the drive. Around 5 tons of essential food items and other commodities were collected. The proceeds were distributed at the labour camp and Detention Centre. The aim of the drive was to develop in young minds a heart for ‘giving back’ and empower them with the mindset that they can make a diff erence.

SIS organises Inter Class Elocution Competition

Junior Section of Shantiniketan Indian School (SIS) recently express themselves in a chorus of groups. Winners of the organised Inter Class Elocution Competition for the competition, included Grade I F, Grade II E, Grade III B, students of Grade I-V. The objective of the competition Grade IV B and Grade V E. The event was attended by Dr was focused on equity and inclusive practices, where Subhash Nair, Principal of SIS, along with Dudley O’Connor, all children were given the opportunity to participate, Vice Principal of SIS; Heena Imran Dhondne, Head Teacher; build on their confidence, showcase their passion and and Shalini Priya, Assistant Head Teacher.

GET-TOGETHER: M A Shahid, President of the Management Committee of Pak Shamaa School and College (PSSC) recently organised an Iftar get- together for the staff members and the families of PSSC.

IFTAR: Thuvakunnu Kootayma Qatar Chapter (TKQC) recently organised an Iftar get-together at Asian Town. Around 130 members of TKQC attended the event. The event was inaugurated by Saleem Nalakath, KMCC State Committee Member. Muhammed Ali Thuvakunnu presided over the event. Moossa Kalinga welcomed the gathering and Salam Veetikkal, President of KMCC Kannur District. Mohamed Poonthottam, Aboobacker Yamani and Ebrahim Musliyar off ered felicitations. Ashik P proposed a vote of thanks. Tuesday, June 4, 2019 GULF TIMES 7 COMMUNITY

GWS organises an interactive session on yoga Gorkha Welfare Society (GWS), a Nepali community organisation, recently organised an interactive session on yoga with Dr Raju Adhikari and Ramji Adhikari, experts on Yoga and positive thinking, at The Gorkha Restaurant. The programme was chaired by Rajeshwor Dhakal, Chairman of GWS. Bimal Subedi, Nabin Pokharel, Karim Baks Miya and Hamsaraj Dhakal, Nepali community leaders, along with Chaitanya Krishna also spoke on the occasion. The event was attended by over 200 members and guests, including entrepreneurs, intellectuals, journalists and representatives from various Nepali community organisations. Speaking on the occasion, Dr Raju Adhikari and Ramji Adhikari stressed on the importance of management. Rajeshwor Dhakal urged Nepalis to participate in the yoga and positive thinking programme. – Text and photo by Usha Wagle Gautam

HIQ Community Group organises Iftar party Hyderabadis in Qatar (HIQ) Community Group and Channel 5 recently organised an Iftar party at personalities, including Yawar Hussain, Akram Hussain, Srinivas Gadde, Khaja Nizamuddin, Siraj Indian Hyderabadi Spices Restaurant. The team of HIQ, under the guidance of Syed Rafi, organised Ansari, Qamar Qureshi, Mohd Ashfaq and Sridhar Abbagoni. the event. The team, included Amjad Khan, Syed Gulraiz, Mohd Yawar Hussain, Mukarram Speaking on the occasion, Syed Rafi, Chairman of HIQ Community Group praised its team Hussain. Mohd Atif, Zeeshan Qazi, Mohd Mustafa, Mohd Ali, and Khaja Nizamuddin. The event members for their contributions and long association. He also highlighted the past achievements was sponsored by Indian Hyderabadi Spices Restaurant. The event was attended by notable and discussed the future plans of HIQ Community Group.

QSindhis organises 5th Annual Iftar

QSindhis, Pakistani Sindhi Community in Qatar, recently organised its 5th Annual Iftar at Waha Club Al Asif Memon and Zeeshan Memon, Co-founders of QSindhis, welcomed the gathering. Maqsood Mangi, Khor. All the members along with their families attended the event wearing Sindhi cultural attire with Mujtaba Baloch ,Muhammad Shaikh, Iftikhar Jatoi, Junaid Mahar and Atif Dogar, chief organisers, Ajrak. presented Ajrak to the guests and shared annual progress report and achievements of QSindhis since The guest of honours at the event, included Sarwar Hussain, Head of Chancery/Second Secretary 2014 until 2019. Speaking on the occasion, Sarwar Hussain applauded the Pakistan’s Sindhi Community at Embassy of India; Nargis Raza Otho, Riyaz Bakali, Manzoor Mari, Arshad Hussain, Asharaf Siddiqui, eff orts to promote inter community unity. Moreover, he congratulated Core Committee of Qsindhis Saleem Baloch, Rana Anwar Ali, Ubaid khan, Abdul Qahar, Kamran Tarkayi, Kamran Bangash, Hassan for organising an event where all the communities took part and celebrated the colours of Ramadan Lashari, Khalil Bhatti and Jamshed Bajwa. together. 8 GULF TIMES Tuesday, June 4, 2019 COMMUNITY TRA Disneyland heads into uncharted la The 14-acre land, the park’s largest expansion themed to a single franchise, will usher guests through its entryways from Fantasyland and Frontierland into carved tunnels that lead to grand reveals of the bustling Black Spire Outpost, writes Todd Martens

GREET: Cast members greet people at the start of The Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run ride.

ere’s a familiar and Walt Disney Imagineering, the you may find yourself attracting Pandora at Walt Disney World’s White’s Adventures, today known eff ective design trick company’s arm dedicated to theme the attention of a bounty hunter, Animal Kingdom, Galaxy’s Edge as Snow White’s Scary Adventures, often used at theme park experiences. speaking to you not as a theme launches a new era of interactive famously lacked Snow White; parks: Corral guests The obvious similarities between park guest but as a member of theme park entertainment. If the instead, guests were cast in the role under or through a Disneyland’s past and its Star Wars- the Star Wars universe. Much largest criticism of theme parks of the princess. It’s a move that Hpassageway that forces the crowd to led future, however, will all but end of the non-essential signage is that they’re too expensive, to led to confusion: Why isn’t Snow narrow before a grand reveal. there. will be written in the Star Wars get the most out of Galaxy’s Edge, White in her own ride? How can a Think of Disneyland’s Main Envisioned as a busy, rugged language of Aurebesh, requiring your desire to become an active guest in a vehicle on a visible track Street, USA, where park-goers are space port, Black Spire Outpost’s a translation app to mimic the participant, an actor, if you will, be a protagonist? shunted through a passage under sheer size and activity will sensation of being a tourist on in a Star Wars narrative, will be as Those going to Galaxy’s Edge a train tunnel that gives way to provide an immediate contrast to another planet. important as a working credit card. in its opening weeks will no a romantic, turn-of-the-20th- Disneyland’s quaint, homey and And those who want to bring “If you want to sit back and just doubt be primed for a new kind century town and a fantastical protective feel. Forced-perspective home a fancy, hand-built watch the world go by that’s also of interactive experience. After castle. At the entrance to Disney illusions, designed to make lightsaber need more than just a fine, but I think one of the things all, they had the foresight to book California Adventure’s Cars Land, objects appear larger, are needed willingness to pay $200; the plan is that we know about our guests is advance reservations, long ago an archway both shadows and sparingly here. A centrepiece of to ask guests to provide a password they want more and more to lean sold out, or a Disneyland Resort frames the intricate yet massive the land is a lifelike creation of the to gain entry into the not-so- into these stories,” says Imagineer hotel stay required to see the land hand-sculpted and rust-hued Millennium Falcon ship, which secret guildlike shop dedicated to Scott Trowbridge, whom Disney through June 23. But Disneyland, mountain range inspired by stands at approximately 100 feet saber-crafting. CEO Bob Iger described in a recent which attracts just under 19 numerous Southwest landscapes. long. On Rise of the Resistance, tweet as the ‘creator’ of Galaxy’s million per year according to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, an attraction opening this year, an Into a New Era Edge. recent crowd estimates, isn’t just a opening this weekend at Disneyland auditorium-sized ship hangar will The Disneyland hype machine “They want to get closer to place for early adapters. in Anaheim, Calif, is no diff erent. drive home the point that guests labels Galaxy’s Edge as the “most these characters; they want to Will the casual theme park The 14-acre land, the park’s largest are but one speck in a larger galaxy. technologically advanced single- participate more and not just be a family, those who spend hundreds expansion themed to a single Throughout, we’ll hear the roar themed land ever.” Yet if it meets spectator,” Trowbridge continues. or thousands yearly to simply franchise, will usher guests through of spaceships and musings of the vision of the Walt Disney “And so more and more we’re be entertained at Disneyland or its entryways from Fantasyland and war. But traditional theme park designers who created it, Galaxy’s giving our guests opportunities to Florida’s Walt Disney World, Frontierland into carved tunnels trappings, character meet-and- Edge won’t just put guests on an do just that.” which opens its own Galaxy’s Edge that lead to grand reveals of the greets, passive rides and churros, alien planet; it will lead theme What Trowbridge describes isn’t on Aug. 29, be ready for a land that bustling Black Spire Outpost. won’t be found on Black Spire parks into uncharted territory. entirely a wholesale rewriting of asks for audience participation? “It promotes a sense of discovery, Outpost’s planet of Batuu (to While part of an evolution that theme park rules. Disney Imagineers anticipate a sense of adventure, a sense of, reflect the rugged nature of the brought us the Wizarding World of Galaxy’s Edge could be viewed some tweaks along the way but ‘I want to go and explore. I want land, you’ll snack on turkey jerky). Harry Potter at Universal’s Florida as a contemporary interpretation also believe Galaxy’s Edge will fully to go and turn the corner,’ “ says Forget standing in line for a and Southern California parks of Disneyland’s original pitch. realise the park’s long-envisioned Chris Beatty, an executive with photo with Darth Vader; instead, and the Avatar -inspired land of Its opening-day attraction Snow original thesis. Tuesday, June 4, 2019 GULF TIMES 9 AVEL COMMUNITY ands with ambitious Galaxy’s Edge

DISPLAY: A view of the display at the Droid Depot as media members get a preview during the Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge Media Preview event.

NEW ADDITION: A sign inside Oga’s Cantina, in the new Star Wars: Galaxy’s ON SALE: Kowakian Monkey-Lizard toys, for $69.99, at the Creature stall, inside the market place. Edge at Disneyland Resort, in Anaheim, Calif.

“We plan, we plan, we plan, we Going Trackless Kalama, who has helped direct the aren’t just there for photo ops, they In 2014, Disneyland for instance plan and then we find out that the The Millennium Falcon: interactive experiences of Galaxy’s may ask about your allegiance to introduced the live-action role- one thing we didn’t think about Smugglers Run ride will depend Edge and was instrumental in the the First Order and current villain playing game the Legends of is the thing that the guest wants,” upon it. Six guests at a time will be development of Smugglers Run. Kylo Ren. And instead of parades, Frontierland. For several weeks, says Imagineering producer Robin given a mission and assigned a role, “By the same token,” he you’ll watch Disney’s staff , or cast visitors were allowed to essentially Reardon. “But I think in this case two pilots, two gunners and two continues, “we’re also designing members, behave as if they live on battle for control of a fi ctional you don’t need to learn anything engineers. It’s a theme park ride the experience so that no matter the planet. They’ll fi x ships, fuss town set within the park’s vision special. It should feel like ‘Star designed for generations weaned on how well or how poorly anybody around their stores and may even of the Old West. Players could Wars’ does in the movies. It should games. Guests will be asked to make performs each individual role, it gossip with guests about other complete various tasks in the hopes feel familiar. It is a village. It is a fast friends with one another so doesn’t feel punitive. We want to Black Spire Outpost residents. of amassing little wooden tokens, place where people live. they can play together, one pilot, for make sure that everybody walks Expect the land to come with its “bits,” which could be used to buy “We always in our theme parks instance, will navigate the ship left off feeling successful, that they own lingo, and it’s been hinted that land or bribe others. The team with try to get people to shed their to right while another will move the accomplished the smuggling run.” a resistance fi ghter or two may even the most land would win. outside life and come in and be Falcon up and down. Success, though, won’t always be ask visitors for help. Today, Trowbridge describes able to play – to be a princess or a While there’s only one outcome to pretty. “The ship may be totally on Disney public relations offi cials Legends of Frontierland as a pirate or whatever,” she continues. the ride, there are variables based on fi re,” Kalama says. cringe any time the phrase ‘spectacular failure.’ The game’s “We’re creating the backdrop for how well the group works together. While Smugglers Run may be the ‘role-playing’ is brought up, but economy system quickly proved them to do that. It’s easy to get Smugglers Run isn’t just trackless, most overtly interactive aspect of Trowbridge has said the vision for troublesome. It lacked rules, and a little kid to want to be a pirate. it’s user-directed. the land, the entirety of Galaxy’s the land is to allow guests to opt-in therefore players made their own. It’s maybe a little harder to get a “We’ve very intentionally made Edge is designed as a sort of liveable to game-like experiences that fall Trowbridge says guests were stealing 45-year-old dad to want to be a sure that we are play-testing with board game, and Imagineers are somewhere between simplistic latex gloves from food stands and pirate. I think we’re going to find groups of people who are strangers counting on guests wanting to roll choose-your-own adventure blowing them up to create makeshift that in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge that have a very diff erent dynamic their own dice. activities and live-action role- chickens in the hopes of selling them everybody is going to want to play.” with one another,” says Asa Stormtroopers walking the land playing, or LARPing, as it’s known. for bits. – Los Angeles Times/TNS 10 GULF TIMES Tuesday, June 4, 2019 COMMUNITY PHOTO ESSAY

Tracking the best in Qatar

Qatar is a unique place in many dhows and the West Bay towers I tried ways, and one of them is how it off ers to accentuate the contrast between old an endless stream of imagery to those and new by adding a black and white who love beauty — both natural and patina eff ect. man-made. My addition to the images is Unusual for a small country, you minimal in terms of concept, but it never run out of things to photograph: expresses how I see Qatar — a place architecture, nature, birds, that nurtures the intertwining of waterfronts, spectacular boats — tradition with splashes of worldwide whether age-old dhows or futuristic culture twists. yachts. Driving around Qatar, I often After seven in Qatar, I’m still itching experience photographer’s FOMO to wake up at 4am and travel anywhere or “fear of missing out”: when in the city, while it’s still quiet, to get you witness an outstanding view, an interesting lighting or angle. a breathtaking sky but you can’t Today’s selection is a little diff erent stop and store it on your camera, so however, as it includes a few pieces instead you have to store it in your where I’ve mixed a little input of my heart. own. —Text and photos by Cristina For example, in the image of the Ionascu @cristina_ionascu_photo Tuesday, June 4, 2019 GULF TIMES 11 POP SPOT COMMUNITY German sextet Rammstein’s Untitled at no 3 on UK chart t is ten years since German of art,” Christian Lorenz remarked. Neue Deutsche Harte sextet “We also regretted their apparent Rammstein released their last inability to detect irony. We like studio album. being on the fringes of bad taste. The They kept in touch with controversies are fun but also serve a Ifans by touring and releasing live purpose. We like audiences to grapple and compilation albums during with our music and people have this time. But their followers were become more receptive.” primed and ready for new music. A revised version of Liebe Ist Fur So it is that Rammstein’s Untitled Alle Da saw the album removed seventh studio album has stormed from the Harmful to Young Persons straight to number three on the UK index. But Rammstein continue to chart and given the Berlin-based court controversy in a number of band a tenth consecutive chart- their videos. topper in their homeland. The latter is true of the video The same six members have been accompanying their latest single, together since Rammstein formed Auslander. Although the overall in 1994. Such stability of personnel eff ect is a comedic take on German is highly unusual for any band who colonialism in Africa, the video and have been around for so long. Yet CD single cover artwork feature lead guitarist Richard Z Kruspe has objectionable photos of women. a simple explanation. Like almost all of Rammstein’s “Rammstein follow our own songs, Auslander is sung in rhythm,” he stated. “We take no German. This has led to the band notice of people who think we need becoming aware of the need to to get a record out every two years. incorporate dynamic imagery in That’s one of the reasons why we’re their videos and stage shows. still together with the same line- Pyrotechnics play a large up. We take care of each other. If TOPPERS: Rammstein’s seventh studio album has given them a tenth consecutive chart-topper in their homeland. part in Rammstein’s live somebody needs to take the time off performances. So much so that Till to do something else, we listen.” This was their only album which Columbine High School massacre listen to our music but would never Lindemann qualifi ed as a licensed The “something else” Richard failed to top the German chart. But in 1999, the Beslan School hostage want to harm anyone. Should we pyrotechnician and has performed refers to can be anything from time Herzeleid did reach number six, crisis in 2004, the Jokela School stop making hard music because entire songs seemingly engulfed in with family to working with other remained in the chart listings for shootings in 2007, the Isla Vista some bad people might like it?” fl ames. musicians on a side project. Richard 102 weeks and earned Rammstein killings in 2014 and the Trollhattan “Our songs have no lyrical “We realise almost all of the actually fronts the New York-based their fi rst platinum disc. School attack in 2015. content or expressed political people who see us outside Germany industrial metal band Emigrate. The band’s subsequent career “Anything can awaken radical beliefs which could possibly don’t understand the song lyrics,” Two of their three albums were has been a succession of triumphs. feelings in people,” Till Lindemann have infl uenced the shootings,” Oliver Reidel admitted. “We felt like issued during Rammstein’s hiatus Their popularity quickly spread suggested. “It could be a painting Paul Landers insisted. “The band we had to come up with something from recording new music. world-wide. All tickets for their or a fi lm, whatever. I’m sure it was members have children of our own other than the music to keep the Richard, lead singer Till concerts sell in no time and albums just a coincidence that it happened who receive only healthy and non- drama in our shows and videos.” Lindemann, rhythm guitarist register platinum disc sales fi gures to be our music. It’s important to violent values.” “We like playing with fi re in our Paul Landers, bassist Oliver on pre-release orders alone. discover what caused these people This may well be true. But while shows,” Richard refl ected. “We Reidel, drummer Christoph But Rammstein’s career has to make their decisions, how they the “Untitled” cover picture of also wear a variety of costumes and ‘Doom’ Schneider and keyboardist certainly not been without became animals, not their taste in a single unlit match is unlikely portray diff erent characters in the Christian ‘Flake’ Lorenz initially controversy. Their last studio music.” to cause any problems, it was a shows and videos. But it’s all done won a contest for amateur bands. album, Liebe Ist Fur Alle Da, was “Our music is made to release controversial cover image plus the with a sense of fun. We take our Their prize was the chance to initially added to the index of the aggression,” Christoph Schneider explicit lyrics of two tracks which music and lyrics very seriously. But record demos and submit them to Federal Department for Media added. “People listening to it also resulted in the furure surrounding we were all born and brought up in record labels. They were signed Harmful to Young Persons in need to do that. But it’s ridiculous Rammstein’s previous studio the communist East Germany so by Motor Music and Rammstein’s Germany. to blame the artistes when things album. our videos and stage performances debut album, Herzeleid, was Their music has also been like the shootings happen. What “We were genuinely surprised by combine humour, theatre and our released in 1995. linked to the perpetrators of the about the millions of people who the advisory board’s parochial sense East German culture.”

All book-signing and other and will defend to the death your songs originally recorded by artistes promotional events have been right to say it.” ranging from Joni Mitchell to Roy in brief cancelled. Moby has also used social This is obviously a view which Orbison and Dionne Warwick to Gary media to apologise to Natalie and does not find favour among many Puckett & The Union Gap. everyone else who features in his contemporary music fans. The brutal Reviews have been generally Moby This was 20 years ago when book. condemnation of any British artiste favourable but almost all of these Natalie was already a successful “I am the one who released the who expresses support for the make reference to the reason why You would not believe a long- actress, hardly the unknowing, book without showing it to the Conservative party or any American California Son is not available in a established artiste such as Moby innocent high school graduate people I wrote about,” he conceded. who praises President Trump off ers number of British record stores. would need to fabricate a story she makes herself out to be in “I’m the one who posted defensively clear evidence of this. There is no Morrissey’s crime was to wear about dating a film star in order her comments about Moby. After and arrogantly. I’m the one who longer any sense of having to agree a For Britain political party badge to sell his autobiography. Yet this reading Natalie’s words, Moby used behaved inconsiderately and to disagree. during several recent performances appears to be exactly what he has his Instagram account to reassert disrespectfully. There is obviously There were recent calls to boycott in New York. This, along with quotes done. his claim that they had dated for a no-one else to blame but me. I want concerts and destroy records by which suggest far right political As part of his recently published short time and posted photographs to apologise again and to say clearly the Canadian singer Shania Twain leanings, have seen some record memoir, Then It Fell Apart, the depicting them together. that all of this has been my own fault. because she suggested in an stores refuse to sell his music and electronic music superstar claimed Only Moby and Natalie know Thank you and I’m sorry. interview that she might have voted the Merseyrail train network remove to have briefly dated Oscar-winning the truth of what happened for Donald Trump had she been a US all posters from their stations actress Natalie Portman. She between them. But the controversy Morrissey citizen. advertising California Son. disputes Moby’s account suggesting surrounding Natalie’s continuing Morrissey has now fallen victim Disapproval of what you say rules she simply remembered him as a contradiction of his memories, A quote attributed to the French to a similar kind of treatment. The the roost nowadays in both music much older man being creepy with particularly in this era of the #MeToo writer Voltaire by the English former Smiths singer has released and everyday life. Defending your her after she had just graduated movement, has driven Moby away historian Evelyn Beatrice Hall reads; a new studio album, California Son. right to say it no longer seems to from high school. from public life. “I wholly disapprove of what you say It is a collection of covers featuring apply. 12 GULF TIMES Tuesday, June 4, 2019 COMMUNITY CARTOONS/PUZZLES

Wordsearch Adam

Pooch Cafe

BEACH CRAB VACATION POOL SHORTS JELLYFISH SWEAT TOWELS SUNSET RESORT HATS VOLLEYBALL SWIMSUIT SUN BLOCK LOBSTER BURN UMBRELLAS SURF SANDALS ICE CREAM WATER SKI TAN SUNGLASSES

Codeword Every letter of the alphabet is used at least once. Squares with the same number in have the same letter in. Work out which number represents which letter.

Garfield Puzzles courtesy: Puzzlechoice.com courtesy: Puzzles

Sudoku

Bound And Gagged

Sudoku is a puzzle based on a 9x9 grid. The grid is also divided into nine (3x3) boxes. You are given a selection of values and to complete the puzzle, you must fill the grid so that every column, every anone is repeated. Tuesday, June 4, 2019 GULF TIMES 13 PUZZLES COMMUNITY

Super Cryptic Clues Colouring

Across Down 1 Immaculate location? Not so! 2 Father’s period for diversion (8) (7) 6 Brief immersion that may be 3 Number three eight nine lucky? (3) initially (3) 9 Part of safari sent up (5) 4 As a self-centred person, I get 10 People in boats one rams at so worried (6) sea (7) 5 Fight with club that may be 11 Fresh water is provided by recycled (5,4) restaurant staff (7) 6 Odd editor gets up to object 13 Celebration not completely (5) unknown? (5) 7 Female copper? (5) 14 Wonder if it’s Eve in 8 Foxtrot by Romeo has to disguise? (6) produce disapproving looks (6) 15 Dealer rejected Soviet 12 Mysterious mutation of giant paintings? (6) mice (9) 19 Singular stuff? Beat it! (5) 16 Study former currency in a 21 Teeth one’s seen in French foreign country (7) resort (7) 17 Take stock for reform in 22 Confused agitation or restful Ulster (6) confusion (7) 18 Cereal brought in like nuts 23 Starters for Tokyo lunch (6) including uncooked fish (5) 19 A piece of furniture, right 24 German article returns in until now (2,3) colour (3) 20 Like a ball in a game of golf? 25 Russians supplying bags for (5) lettuce? (8) 23 Rosie Lee held by estate Answers agent (3) Wordsearch Codeword Yesterday’s Solutions 14 GULF TIMES Tuesday, June 4, 2019 COMMUNITY LIFESTYLE/HOROSCOPE Violent video games can be dangerous for children

ids exposed to violent video State University in the US, included 220 games are more likely to children who found a gun while playing. pull the trigger in real-life Nearly 62 per cent of the 76 children who situations, as compared to played the video game with gun touched a those who do not indulge handgun. Kin such gaming habits, researchers have About 57 per cent of the 74 children warned. who played the game with sword violence Published in the JAMA Network Open touched a gun, and about 44 per cent of the Journal, the study examined the effects of 70 kids who played the non-violent version video games with weapons on children’s touched a gun. behaviour when they found gun in real-life. The violent versions with guns and The study was conducted on children swords were significant even after aged between 8-12 years who were assigned accounting for other mitigating factors to play three different versions of the game such as sex, age, trait aggressiveness, Minecraft. exposure to violent media, attitudes The first version was violent and required toward guns, presence of firearms at players to kill monsters with guns while the home, interest in firearms and whether second required players to kill monsters the child had taken a firearm safety with swords. course. The third version was non-violent, with Although, the research is limited by the no weapons or monsters. artificial setting of a university laboratory After 20 minutes of game-play, the kids and Minecraft is not a very violent game played with other toys in another room with no gore, the researchers encourage that included a cabinet with two disabled gun owners to secure their firearms and handguns, said the researchers. reduce children’s exposure to violent For the findings, the team from Ohio video games. – IANS

ARIES TAURUS GEMINI March 21 — April 19 April 20 — May 20 May 21 — June 20

You aren’t free enough, Aries. This is especially true in your If you were in charge of a company’s human resources department, Gemini, the jolly side of your life may be rocked by a storm of relationships. With the current astral energy, you can expect to break Taurus, today you would begin to completely overhaul the recruitment emotion. You may go from intense rage to ecstasy in an instant. The free of your chains. It’s time for you to participate more in life. Speak procedure. You would focus more on the human element rather than day may instruct you to get hold of your emotions. If you hope to your mind. Tell people what you want and when you want it. Surely any diplomas and awards people wave around as evidence of their build a stable relationship, it’s necessary to maintain psychological one of your desire. abilities. Confidence in people combined with trust in your instincts coherence and physical health. could prove profitable in more ways than you imagine. CANCER LEO VIRGO June 21 — July 22 July 23 — August 22 August 23 — September 22

The day may be somewhat oppressive, Cancer. It’s possible you You seem frustrated today, Leo! There’s only one person who could This is a contemplative day, Virgo. You seem to be developing new will receive some unpleasant news related to your domestic life. possibly arouse your anger to such a degree, and that’s you. Today’s techniques, means, therapies, and methods to use in your main Perhaps in the past few years you haven’t been especially careful aspect is favorable for crises of conscience that result in a change occupation. Today you’re likely to question your underlying reasons about your home budget. Or you may have postponed an important of attitude. You’re likely to remember to choose your words more for so much innovation. Why reinvent the world? Although you may maintenance task for too long. While this may not be the day the carefully from now on. not make any major changes in your activities, you could find new roof literally falls in, it’s time to take care of repairs. justifications for them. LIBRA SCORPIO SAGITTARIUS September 23 — October 22 October 23 — November 21 November 22 — December 21

You will have to expect the day to be somewhat frustrating, Libra. You mustn’t expect to do whatever you like today, Scorpio. Quite the Don’t automatically assume that people are going to understand Your friends may insist that you be more cooperative and less contrary! You may be restrained by technical limitations. Perhaps your needs, Sagittarius. Your emotions may be powerful today, and individualistic. They could resent your refusal to be part of the team. your financial resources will be insuff icient. In other words, you you could end up scaring people away instead of drawing them In fact, your rebelliousness may be earning you quite a reputation! won’t be able to follow your usual pattern of taking refuge on a closer simply because you act irrationally and emotionally instead of How you deal with these clashes will set the stage for your future. spiritual island and quietly contemplating your inner thoughts. reasonably and civilly. Be careful about targeting your frustration at Think carefully before taking action. the people who can help you the most. CAPRICORN AQUARIUS PISCES December 22 — January 19 January 20 — February 18 February 19 — March 20

What good does it do you to resist change, Capricorn? Everyone If you work in a helping profession such as psychotherapy, you’re You don’t have to be a genius or do something extraordinary in knows that you have trouble adapting to change in the world probably breaking quite a few rules and protocols right now, order for people to notice you, Pisces. It’s time you abandon the around you. Unfortunately, that’s life and you can’t do much about it. Aquarius. You may even be going against theories that were a notion that you can’t play a musical instrument because you don’t However, you aren’t powerless. You will find that life is more stable fundamental part of your education. Don’t be troubled by your have perfect pitch or that you can’t sculpt because you don’t have when you can surf the waves of change. Embrace change and make rebelliousness. It’s important that the status quo be challenged from Michelangelo’s genius! Dare to engage in any hobby or interest that it work for you rather than resist it all the time. time to time. It’s people like you who advance the field! you fancy. Tuesday, June 4, 2019 GULF TIMES 15 SPIRIT OF RAMADAN COMMUNITY

“Allah does not burden a soul beyond that it can bear” Qur’an 2:286

Three steps to a happy life

Happiness is the universal goal he will have a happy life and will a person may completely forget of people from all walks of life also be rewarded in the eternal his worries and unhappiness and – be they philosophers of a high Hereafter. become happy and energized. intellectual caliber or unlettered The reason for this is obvious: This is something that is common laborers — everyone strives in those who have the correct belief to believers and others, but the search of happiness and looks for which leads to righteous deeds, believer is distinct due to his belief, ways to escape the worries of life. reformed hearts and refi ned sincerity, and his hope for reward However, most people achieve manners, have the basic foundation while learning or performing only partial or superfi cial that they can refer to in any event benefi cial deeds. If this deed is an happiness, which provides – regardless of whether these act of worship, then he will receive temporary relief from their are matters which cause joy and the reward for it, and if it is a problems. In order to search for happiness or sorrow and dejection. worldly task which is accompanied everlasting happiness that will lead The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi with a good intention, such as a person to true success, one must wa sallam, described this quality working for the sake of being able keep an open heart and mind, as the of the true believers when he said: to worship Allah, The Almighty, wise one is he who searches for the “How wonderful is the aff air of the better, then this will have a strong truth and adopts it immediately. believer! All of his aff airs are good eff ect in removing his anxiety and and this is the case for nobody else grief. 1. The most important means of except a believer. If he is blessed happiness and the foundation of all with prosperity, he thanks (Allah) 3. Concentrating on the tasks felicity is to have sound belief and and that is good for him; and if at hand, not being anxious about perform righteous deeds. he is affl icted with adversity, he the future and not crying over the FRIENDS: Muslim women chat outside a mosque in Kunming, Yunnan Allah, The Almighty, Says perseveres and that is also good for past is another way of attaining province, China. (what means): {Whoever works him.” [Muslim] happiness. righteousness (whether male or The Prophet, sallallaahu This is why the Prophet, the utmost eff ort to utilize his time ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “Be keen female) while he (or she) is a true ‘alayhi wa sallam, informed us sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, in the best possible way. This will to do that which will benefit you, believer (of Islamic Monotheism) that a believer’s reward would sought refuge with Allah, enable him to accomplish his tasks rely on Allah, and do not be lazy verily, to him We will give a good be multiplied many times over, The Almighty, from anxiety and forget his sorrow and grief. (by not exerting effort) and do not life (in this world with respect, regardless of whether what befalls and sorrow. Usually, a person When the Prophet, sallallaahu say when a problem befalls you: contentment and lawful provision), him brings him joy or sorrow. experiences sorrow due to ‘alayhi wa sallam, made a particular ‘If only I would have done such and We shall pay them certainly a what has passed and cannot be supplication or guided his nation and such, then the result would reward in proportion to the best of 2. Keeping oneself busy in retrieved, whereas grief is due to to do so, he would also encourage have been such and such’; rather, what they used to do (i.e. Paradise performing benefi cial deeds and anxiety for the future and the fear them to exert eff orts to obtain one should say: ‘This was decreed in the Hereafter).} [Qura’an 16: 97] acquiring useful knowledge. of what may happen. what they supplicated for and shun by Allah and He does what He Allah, The Almighty, promises By doing so, one’s heart is A believing slave of Allah, The everything which might prevent the wills.’ Saying ‘If’ opens the gate whoever possesses sound belief diverted from whatever causes it Almighty, should live for the supplication from being answered. for Satan (to cause discontent).” and performs righteous deeds that grief and sorrow, to the extent that current moment, focus, and exert As the Prophet, sallallaahu [Muslim] – Islamweb.net 16 GULF TIMES Tuesday, June 4, 2019 COMMUNITY SPIRIT OF RAMADAN

CLEANUP: Doha Environmental Action Project (DEAP) volunteers seen during the cleanup drive in Ramadan. DEAP holds largest beach cleanup drive in Ramadan

spirit of Ramadan cleaning the the whole country on cleanups. By Mudassir Raja beautiful beach, giving back to We are advocating for the creation the community and showing of a ‘National Beach Cleanup some love for Qatar and nature. Day’, and for a number of actions amadan re-enkindles Yes, it was hot, and yes many that if implemented would make many good qualities of us were fasting, but none of Qatar the global leader in the in Muslims. Altruism, that gets in the way for DEAP fight against plastic pollution charity, hospitality, and its volunteers! Seeing all the and would gain international generosity, kindness volunteers have Iftar at the beach recognition for Qatar in the field Rand volunteerism to mention a – on a clean beach – was quite a of sustainability, making it a few. magical moment.” benchmark for other countries. During the holy month of Jose, a US national and devoted “If you love Qatar and nature Ramadan, people from different volunteer, said: “DEAP is a and want to have litter free backgrounds are seen getting volunteering organisation leading beaches and sand dunes for involved in volunteer work in the beach cleanup movement, and generations to come, join DEAP’s Qatar. One such activity is beach the fight against plastic pollution efforts to #keepqatarclean and clean-up drives. The exercise in Qatar. During the past two support their effort to continue demands a lot of time and energy years, DEAP has organised as discovering Qatar with a purpose,” to go to beach areas and physically many as 115 cleanup drives across he added. collect the garbage. Qatar, where more than 5,300 Shola Bello is a Nigerian It is not easy during hot Ramadan volunteers have participated, expatriate and a dedicated evening to go out in the open and collecting in total over 65,000 volunteer working with DEAP. collect the trash while you are kilos of trash from Qatar’s beaches He said: “The recent drive was “It was an incredible moment, to fasting. However, the spirits of and sand dunes. amazing and unprecedented. the devoted volunteers of Doha In addition to the cleanup For the first time there were 300 see all the volunteers living the Environmental Action Project drives Jose has been very active volunteers turning up at one time. (DEAP) were not dampened by the in the community doing over 40 It was hot Ramadan evening. I spirit of Ramadan cleaning the hot weather and fasting. About 300 school presentations in an effort along with many other volunteers volunteers recently gathered at Al to educate our youth about marine was fasting. However, I was beautiful beach, giving back to the Zubarah beach to clean the area of life in Qatar, plastic pollution very spirited and did my work plastic and other garbage. and its impact, and what the diligently. community and showing some love “DEAP in conjunction with students can do to help mitigate “I am a photographer associated Nestle waters, Nestle Qatar the problem. with the group. I collect trash for Qatar and nature. Yes, it was hot, and Qatar Museums Division He said: “Plastic pollution is a and at the same time capture the of Cultural Heritage held an huge international problem. DEAP photos of the volunteers during and yes many of us were fasting, incredible beach cleanup recently is determined to create a tipping the work. I joined the group early at the Al Zubarah, a Unesco world point that generates a shift in this year. I have been in Qatar but none of that gets in the way for heritage archeological site. Some behaviours that will benefit the for seven years. I have found a 300 volunteers participated in environment and our community. productive way of spending my DEAP and its volunteers! Seeing the event where over 5,000 kilos The amount of trash found in free time. of trash where collected in one our beaches and sand dunes is “As a Muslim, it is our duty all the volunteers have Ift ar at the hour”, said Jose Saucedo, Director appalling. Worldwide every year to have cleanliness around us. of DEAP. 8 million tons of plastic ends up In Ramadan, it becomes more beach – on a clean beach – was quite He added: “We started at in the ocean. We can’t pretend prominent as we have to take care 5pm and finished at 6pm. It nothing is happening. The time to of other human beings and nature. a magical moment” was an incredible moment, to act is here and now.” I also enjoyed having my Iftar on see all the volunteers living the He added: “DEAP wants to take the beach after doing good work.” — Jose Saucedo