Established 1961 13 Lifestyle Features Sunday, February 21, 2021

n the ruins of an ancient Byzantine home and his livelihood when he fled the “The project has two main aims: preserv- because it gives me a monthly income of sarily international” experts, she said. She church in northern Jordan, local towns- city of Daraa in war-torn Syria in 2012, the ing heritage... (and) creating job opportu- 300 dinars,” said the 32-year-old said the pilot program had “paved the Ipeople and Syrian refugees work side- project is a lifeline. “I am proud to be part nities for local communities,” even if the Jordanian, who is from Rihab. way to a much larger project which is tar- by-side on a project that preserves cul- of the restoration and maintenance of his- employment is short-term, said Dania geting six sites in the north of Jordan and tural heritage and fights poverty. toric monuments,” the father of six said. Dirani, head of the UNESCO initiative. ‘Let the world know’ funded by the European Union”. Meticulously operating by hand with “It’s saved me financially and I’ve gained She said the workers were trained in the Abandoned in the ninth century, the Meanwhile the Rihab work, which tweezers and brushes, workers restore a real experience.” site’s history and churches, along with town’s ruined churches were rediscov- began in October last year, is expected mosaic floor piece by piece at the St how to work with mosaics and restoration. ered from 1999. At the church of to be completed by the end of May. John the Baptist church, built in 619 AD. It is one of three church mosaic floors under restoration, or recently restored, in the small town of Rihab, adding to an impressive array of such national treas- ures. Jordan’s most renowned mosaic is one of the oldest maps of the Holy Land, consisting of over two million mosaic stones originally built into the floor of a sixth century Byzantine church in Madaba. “I don’t think there is another country with (as) many floor mosaics for the Byzantine time,” said 54-year-old expert Workers employed by a pilot project run by the UN cultural Franco Sciorilli, an Italian who is supervis- agency UNESCO restore a mosaic floor at an ancient church ing the work. Rihab, 70 km north of the complex in the small town of Rihab, some 70 km north of the capital Amman and less than half that Jordanian capital Amman, on Feb 9, 2021. — AFP photos Workers restore a stone wall at the ancient church complex. A worker restores a stone wall. distance from the Syrian border, has over time been home to around 32 churches, mostly from the Byzantine era, according Training and jobs Only half of the 600 applicants could Procopius and Sergius, built in 590 AD, Italian Sciorilli, who said he had trained to Sciorilli. But nowadays only the ruins of Kneeling on thick pieces of foam, be chosen, and those most in need were stonemasons working on the UN project around 500 people in restoring mosaics five or six are visible, including the St workers hunch over a brown, white and given priority, she added. The workers restore pilasters and plinths. Restoration since coming to Jordan in 1994, George cathedral, built in 230 AD and black tile mosaic, whose design repre- earn between 12.5 and 15 Jordanian of the mosaic flooring at the St Mary expressed enthusiasm about the site’s one of the oldest in the world, he said. sents the Tigris and the Euphrates Rivers dinars (just under $18 and up to $21) a church, built in 543 AD, was completed restoration. “The mosaics we have here The rest remain buried in sand. as well as trees, flowers and geometric day, depending on their skills and qualifi- last month. are very simple, but the technique is very Three hundred people, a fifth of them figures. There are no human faces or cations. Meals and transport costs are UNESCO official Giorgia Cesaro said unique - it is completely different than women, are working on the pilot project bodies, in conformity with a ruling by part of the package, in a country where the project represented “a change in the what you see” elsewhere, he said. “We to restore the sites, run by UN cultural eighth-century Byzantine Emperor Leo III the unemployment rate is 23 percent. approach to heritage conservation”, one should let the rest of the world know agency UNESCO and financed by the Isaurian forbidding such depictions. For Taha Al-Khazaleh, who has a that took into consideration the communi- about it.” — AFP Germany. All of the workers live in Rihab, An ancient Greek inscription reads diploma in restoring mosaics, it was a ties living near the archaeological sites. and around a third are Syrians. For 45- that the mosaic was financed by resi- perfect fit. “I was happy to be part of this “The idea is that they are the ones who year-old Walid Al-Awad, who lost his dents in honor of St John the Baptist. project because it’s my specialty - and can take care of their heritage, not neces-

rundown once home year ordered it closed, and every animal new laws targeting poachers, who regu- to what was dubbed the “world’s to be relocated - an exercise in itself that larly trap and traffic birds, monkeys, and Aloneliest elephant” and notorious ended in tragedy. even black bears, said IWMB chair- for housing animals in cramped concrete Two lions died during their relocation woman Rina Saeed. enclosures has launched an ambitious when zookeepers attempted to pry them $7.5 million makeover plan. Animal rights from their pen by setting ablaze piles of ‘He looks very happy’ activists had campaigned against the hay. Pakistan’s climate change ministry Kaavan’s departure for happier pas- plight of Zoo’s biggest attrac- has now taken charge of the zoo’s reha- tures proved bittersweet for at least one tion - a 35-year-old bull named Kaavan, bilitation, with plans to establish a vastly man connected to the zoo - his last the last remaining Asian elephant in the improved conservation center. “We have keeper, Imran Hussain. Hussain was country - who had lived alone since the temporarily shifted some 380 different hired and specially trained last year death of his mate eight years earlier. animals - including monkeys, nilgai when Kaavan’s plight became interna- Kaavan was transferred to Cambodia (antelope), zebras and bears - to differ- tionally known, but quickly formed a late last year in a blaze of publicity after ent sanctuaries within and outside bond with his pachyderm pal. “I feel his plight caught the attention of US Pakistan,” said Waqar Zakriya of the something breaking inside me when I superstar Cher, who helped raise funds Islamabad Wildlife Management Board come to the zoo and see his empty This combination shows a file photo (top) This combination shows a file photo (top) for the jumbo relocation. While the ele- (IWMB). “They will all be brought back - cage,” he told AFP. of a toppled statue of John Robert Godley of the badly damaged Knox Presbyterian phant now has hundreds of acres to not to be kept in captivity but in a nation- “He used to welcome me with a loud in Cathedral Square on Feb 24, 2011, two Church surrounded by rubble on Feb 23, roam alongside dozens of companions in al park in a natural habitat.” trumpet and by raising up his trunk every days after a deadly 6.3 magnitude earth- 2011; and the rebuilt church (bottom) near- northern Cambodia, his last years in The center will also include facilities to morning. He would throw water over me quake rocked Christchurch; and the now ly 10 years later on Feb 17, 2021. Pakistan were anything but tranquil. treat and rehabilitate injured indigenous to express his pleasure - and anger.” resurrected and repaired statue (bottom) — AFP photos Islamabad Zoo was bereft of any nat- wildlife - the first of its kind in the country. Still, he knows the beast is now in a bet- nearly 10 years later on Fe 17, 2021. ural vegetation and many animals there The initiative was “brilliant and extraordi- ter place. “I have seen video clips of developed classic caged behavior, such nary”, said Rab Nawaz, the Director of Kaavan... he looks very happy,” he said. six-storey, 1980s-era office block that as constant swaying or repetitive pacing. World Wide Fund for Nature in Pakistan. “I pray to God for his long life.” — AFP “pancaked” within 20 seconds of the Established in 1978 and eventually grow- Mistreatment of animals - in or for Quake-hit quake hitting then burst into flames. A total ing to 30 acres, keepers struggled to entertainment -is commonplace in of 115 died in that structure alone, includ- care for the zoo’s residents. Conditions Pakistan, but attitudes are changing. ing 65 foreign students, mostly from China were so bad that a High Court judge last Wildlife authorities are also pushing for Christchurch and Japan. An official investigation found the build- ing was so badly designed it should never regains its mojo, have received planning permission and construction codes nationwide were tight- ened significantly. A 7.1-magnitude quake 10 years on in September 2010 had weakened build- ings but caused no direct fatalities and Christchurch mayor Lianne Dalziel con- lthough a decade has passed, New ceded the relative success withstanding Zealander Gordon Cullen still vividly that tremor had led to complacency. “The Arecalls his daring escape from a September earthquake was a wake-up high-rise tower block during the deadly call that we should have taken more notice Christchurch earthquake on Feb 22, 2011. of as a city,” she said. Among the CTV Trapped in a fifth-floor office after the 6.3- dead was Maysoon Abbas, wife of Maan magnitude shake that would claim 185 Alkaisi, who maintains a dogged cam- lives in the South Island city, Cullen exited paign to bring the engineers who In this picture taken on Jan 6, 2021, Vaqar Zakaria, member of the Disused amusement rides are seen at the closed Marghazar Zoo. in dramatic style, dangling a fire hose from designed the building to trial, even though Islamabad Wildlife Management Board (IWMB), speaks during an — AFP photos a smashed window and clambering down police maintain there is insufficient evi- interview with AFP in Dino Park in Islamabad. to the roof of a neighboring car park. dence. “Everybody knows that justice has “Filing cabinets were falling over, desks not been served,” Alkaisi told AFP. But the senior family members pledged ‘Service is universal’ were going end to end, there was a lot of “There’s been no action to ensure that we to review the situation a year on - with the However, it appears the pair will retain screaming,” the investment adviser told have deserving closure from this terrible move now made permanent, days after their official titles of Duke and Duchess of AFP. “We tied the fire hose around a sofa, event, even after 10 years.” Harry and Meghan announced on Sussex, and Harry remains sixth in line to locked it up against the window and I just Following the quake, and the thou- Valentine’s Day they are expecting their the throne, with no change in the line of went hand over hand and lowered myself sands of aftershocks that kept residents second child. “The Duke and Duchess of succession. “While all are saddened by down. “I did think at the time that my on edge for the next 12 months, came an Sussex have confirmed to Her Majesty The their decision, the Duke and Duchess hands were getting pretty hot. I was trying ambitious but slow rebuild that dragged Queen that they will not be returning as remain much loved members of the fami- to line up a car, so that if I dropped I’d on for years, preventing the city from mov- working members of The Royal Family,” ly,” the palace statement added. The deci- have landed on the car bonnet.” Cullen ing forward. Vacant lots filled with weeds rince Harry and his American wife Buckingham Palace announced. sion means Harry, 36, who served as a sol- made it out unharmed and - as the city of and pools of stagnant water marred the “The Queen has written confirming that dier in Afghanistan and is passionate 400,000 prepares to mark the anniversary once thriving downtown area as construc- Meghan have permanently quit royal duties, Buckingham Palace said in stepping away from the work of The about veterans’ welfare, must relinquish of the disaster - counts himself among the tion stalled due to a combination of P Royal Family it is not possible to continue several honorary military titles related to the Friday, just over a year after they rocked lucky ones. “It’s been a long time, here bureaucratic inertia and disputes over with the responsibilities and duties that Royal Marines, air force and navy. were are 10 years on and it’s still pretty building insurance payouts. “For a long the British monarchy by announcing plans to “step back” from their roles. Queen come with a life of public service.” It noted Earlier this month he formally settled a raw for some people,” he said. time, we were really worried whether we their honorary appointments and patron- libel claim against the publisher of The Mail wouldn’t have our city back but now we’re Elizabeth II ordered the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, as they are formally known, to ages would be redistributed among the On Sunday and MailOnline website over ‘This terrible event’ feeling a lot more optimistic,” Alkaisi said. remaining working royals. reports he had snubbed soldiers since Christchurch had survived earthquakes The Christchurch that Prime Minister relinquish their honorary titles and patron- ages following the confirmation that they stepping back from royal life. A spokesper- before, but the seismic jolt that hit on Feb Jacinda Ardern will visit for a memorial son for the couple said Friday they had 22, 2011 had a shallow epicenter of just service tomorrow is fundamentally differ- would not be returning as working royals. The couple relocated to the United shown that they “remain committed to their five kilometers on a previously unknown ent from the city that existed before the duty and service to the UK and around the fault that lay directly under the city. The 2011 quake. Once regarded as “a little States last year, in a move dubbed “Megxit” by the British press, and have world”. The statement noted they had results were devastating: office buildings slice of England”, mayor Dalziel said offered their continued support to the crumpled, jagged fissures opened up on Christchurch’s focus now is not on history since embarked on several commercial ventures there including lucrative tie-ups organizations they had represented busy roads, and shop awnings collapsed but embracing the city’s environment, “regardless of official role”. “We can all live onto pedestrians who moments before including the Avon River. “We’ve turned to with the streaming platforms Netflix and Spotify. At an emergency January 2020 a life of service. Service is universal,” it had been enjoying a lunchtime stroll. face the river and really embrace it as the added.—AFP Vast swathes of the suburbs became a heart of our city,” she said, citing new ter- summit with the queen, Harry’s father quagmire as liquefaction - quake-generat- races on the banks that are lined by bars Prince Charles and brother Prince William, In this file photo taken on March 11, 2019, ed quicksand - undermined the ground and restaurants.—AFP Harry agreed they would stop using their Britain’s Prince Harry and Meghan leave after that thousands of homes were built on. “Royal Highness” titles and the “Sussex attending a Commonwealth Day Service at Most fatalities were in the CTV Building, a Royal” brand. Westminster Abbey in central London. — AFP