30 Firefighters Killed As Iran High-Rise Collapses
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Kite Team Scores dead as Djokovic out in coloring Italy avalanche second round, Kuwait skies4 buries12 hotel loses44 to Istomin Min 10º Max 20º FREE www.kuwaittimes.net NO: 17116- Friday, January 20, 2017 30 firefighters killed as Iran high-rise collapses SEE PAGES 10 &11 TEHRAN: Firefighters battle a blaze that engulfed Iran's oldest high-rise, the 15-storey Plasco building in downtown Tehran yesterday. — AFP Local FRIDAY, JANUARY 20, 2017 Local Spotlight Eight men own half the world By Muna Al-Fuzai [email protected] new report published by Oxfam International marking the annual gathering of political and Abusiness leaders in Davos said eight men own the same amount of wealth as half the world! Winnie Byanyima, Executive Director of Oxfam International, RAIN IN KUWAIT said: “It is obscene for so much wealth to be held in the hands of so few, when one in 10 people survive on Light rain and grey skies clouded over Kuwait yesterday, cooling temperatures to mid 60s ahead of the start of less than $2 a day. Inequality is trapping hundreds of the weekend. —Photos by Yasser Al-Zayyat millions in poverty; it is fracturing our societies and undermining democracy.” Oxfam’s report, ‘Economy for the 99 percent’, said eight men own the same amount of wealth as 3.6 bil- lion people, who make up the poorest half of humani- ty. Such a conclusion by the report speaks for itself on how the gap between the rich and the poor is becom- ing wider every day. I believe this is a matter of concern, because it doesn’t have negative consequences on rich people, but on local communities, especially those with limit- ed resources, and on humanity as a whole. With more people falling below the poverty line and being unemployed, the rate of crimes and violence will increase. Inequality can lead to troubled societies and civil conflicts. The report concluded with a call for fundamental change in the way we manage our economies so that they work for all people and not just a fortunate few. It also called for better data on the distribution of global wealth - particularly in India and China. The Oxfam study is good and its calls are fair, but I don’t know how these results could be implemented, because rich people always want to make more money, while poor people keep struggling to make ends meet. The dilemma here is of the middle class, because it is shrinking every day. Few middle class people move IN MY VIEW up, while many fall behind. It is important to preserve the middle class and strengthen its sources of income. We should not expect the eight men to give away all For the want of a stamp their money to the rest of the world. They may be making some donations, but we have to be realistic. If you worked so hard for a secure income for yourself By Ramona Crasto and your family, would you give it away just like that, out of humanitarian concern? I have not seen anyone doing this except in movies. This is real life. [email protected] The report showed some good aspects that we need to consider related to women and wages, stat- oes humanity exist? This question seems to baffle peo- late and the stamp machines were all empty. Helpless they ing that with the current trends, it will take 170 years ple today. On one side terrorist attacks have paralyzed waited for the staff to help them and figure out a way to solve for women to be paid the same as men. This is true, Dthe world while on the other hand there seems to be no this tiny problem as the child was suffering from high fever. because women face discrimination in wages and solution to it. This is the bigger picture but how do we solve the “Without the stamp we cannot help you, we are sorry,” bigger problem without finding solutions to the smaller ones explained one of the staff. The family was aghast. What about salary benefits around the world. The report called on happening within our vicinity. What is humanity? In simple in cases of emergency? The child was suffering from a very governments to increase taxes on the wealthy and words, it means showing kindness and love to other humans in high fever and the family was ready to pay for the stamp, they those with high incomes to generate funds needed to our darkest hours. only needed one urgently. Yet no one helped with a solution. invest in healthcare, education and job creation. It Children are the purest form of bliss and love. Their little cry It’s understandable that the government should have prop- called for decent wages and stopping discrimination can bring tears to anyone’s eyes. Recently, a friend of mine told er procedures in place. But red tape should not endanger the me a heart breaking story. Her niece, a beautiful little two year health of any one, especially a small, sick child. against women. old fell sick. Her worried family took her to the doctor who then How do we solve national issues when issues like this are The Oxfam report also called on business leaders to advised that they take her to Mubarak Al Kabeer hospital in causing life and death situations at times. Small steps alone play their part in building a human economy. I trust Jabriya immediately. make a big change and this is a change we really need right these findings clearly show that the modern economy But when her family reached there, they faced a major prob- now in a world where humanity is just an emotion and humans is broken. lem. The procedures require that to see a doctor, they need to are just beings living ruthless lives. have a government stamp. Unfortunately the timing was very FRIDAY 20 JANUARY 2017 Local Large kites can take hours to set up including anchoring, straightening lines, lifting and ensuring all safety precautions are in place. Abdurahman Al-Farsi with the Al-Farsi Kite Flying team during a recent Friday in Bnaider. - Photos by Yasser Al Zayyat Al-Farsi Kite Team work together to set up and fly massive sized kites in Bnaider (Road 258) every Friday. Teamwork, cooperation and communication as well as a dedication to kite flying are a must. Coloring Kuwait's Skies By Faten Omar now owns more than 100 large kites and countless of small ones. "We honored to lift our beloved Kuwait's flag," he said. Al-Farsi reveals that it took him years to learn from experts the Al-Farsi team includes many youth volunteers and dedicated very Friday the skies in Bnaider are treated to a colorful, fundamentals of flying large kites, lifting and stability, adjusting kite enthusiasts. soaring spectacle with roaring dragons, flying fishes and all to improve flight or fix problems, safety, anchoring larger kites, "My team and I fly together, share together and make friends. Ethe colors of the rainbow. This fluttering festival is the cre- line art, and the most difficult challenge: tangled lines. We communicate about the kites, share experiences and flying ation of Abdurahman Al-Farsi, president of the Al-Farsi Kite Flying "We change the way that we fly to make the best of the weath- techniques," he said. "This year soon, we will break our own world Team. Al-Farsi is also the owner of the world's largest kite, a giant er," he explains. record by the biggest kite about environment signed by our manta ray. The team has been flying kites since the 1990s and Farsi attends many kites festivals around the world. Through Kuwaiti print," Al-Farsi revealed. organizes kite flying activities every Friday during the winter such festivals he met Peter Lynn (Kites' Maestro) and bought Al-Farsi invites the public to enjoy the kites every Friday months as well as an annual kite flying festival. some of his unique kites then he decided to cooperate with Lynn (weather permitting) from Noon to 4pm at Bnaider off Road 258 Kuwait Times spoke with Al-Farsi to learn more about the to break the World Record with the creation of a giant kite which and have their lunch with a beautiful view. "It is an opportunity to world of kite flying in Kuwait. was created successfully and was launched in Britain's sky. fill the sky with color, and people can join us and bring their "It all started in 1995, when a small kite was dedicated to my Al-Farsi also holds the Guinness World Record for the 'largest friends and family to barbeque." son Faris Al Farsi from AbdulRazaq Al Khames, and that's when kite ever flown'. The largest kite ever flown, has a total lifting area He added that they also participate in February festival along Faris began admiring this hobby or should I say I'm the one who of 950 m. When laid flat, it has a total area of 1019 m. The kite with many countries that fly their kites like France, Italy, US and became obsessed with its breathtaking beauty," explains Al-Farsi. measured 25.475 meters long and 40 meters wide. The kite was more than one team from Southeast Asia. He added that the love of this hobby started to grow in him and flown at the Kuwait Hala Festival in Flag Square, Kuwait City, on he began thinking of owning another kite, but bigger, and he 15 February 2005. FRIDAY 20 JANUARY 2017 Local Abdurahman Al-Farsi inside the kite World-record kite flying in Bnaider every Friday with Al-Farsi Kite Team Local FRIDAY, JANUARY 20, 2017 Traditional kitchen ventilation methods in historic Kuwait By Sheikha Al-Lougani KUWAIT: As it’s commonly known, the kitchen is one of the most important spaces in any household especially in the old- en days public restaurants were not as plentiful.