Spreading Madrid beaten positivity, joy again as Barca, in Kuwait4 Atletico47 shine
Max 33º Min 15º FREE
www.kuwaittimes.net NO: 16118- Friday, March 28, 2014
SaudiSaudi PrincePrince namednamed deputydeputy crowncrown princeprince SEE PAGE 12
Local FRIDAY, MARCH 28, 2014
Conspiracy Theories Kuwaiti fistfight in the Berkshire
By Badrya Darwish
t is not funny. Actually, it was rather ironic what hap- this project initiated much earlier. Why were we let to a fist fight over a trivial matter. The participants in the fist Ipened with our engineers from Kuwait National breathe polluted air filled with carbon dioxide for 60 years? fight were senior engineers and not entry level employees Petroleum Company who went to discuss the clean fuels Is that why we have high rates of people with asthma or who had just graduated. project - which has been awarded to three consortia, one of what is locally called “tank”? Past is past. It was our bad luck. We would like to hear from KNPC what action was taken them led by a British company. The other two contracts were We can throw it behind our backs. Let’s look forward. It is a regarding this group of engineers? Or maybe due to their awarded to a US-led and a Japan-led consortia. The clean good move that the government finally decided to clear the high posts we might never find out. Is this how Kuwait is rep- fuels project is a pretty good project. It is designed to air we breathe. resented in the global arena of corporate business? Is this upgrade Mina Al-Ahmadi, Mina Abdulla 1 and Mina Abdulla Back to the team of Kuwaiti engineers who went to the the reputation we are giving of our country? And to hear 2 refineries to produce clean fuel and to boost the daily oil Reading City in Berkshire, the United Kingdom. The senior silence on behalf of KNPC makes it worse. Have a good night! capacity. It has to decrease the carbon dioxide during the engineers went to sign contracts related to the British com- @BadryaD production of oil. pany. Imagine guys that the dispute between them reached If Kuwait is 11th in the world in terms of oil producers and England and they fought in front of representatives of a for- we lay on a sixth oil reserves, I was wondering, why wasn’t eign company. According to sources, the fight escalated into
Local Spotlight Phantom appointments a felony
By Muna Al-Fuzai
hantom appointments of citizens in the grants Kuwaitis who work in the private sec- Pprivate sector is illegal, but some local tor an allowance plus their salaries. The rea- companies have been actively involved son for this is to bring the salaries closer in in such irregularities regardless of official range with their peers in the government sec- orders. Recently, the Ministry of Social Affairs tor. The company owners are rewarded for and Labor decided it was time to take this act by helping them win bids, making stronger action to stop these companies. more business and gaining more money out Manipulators will be questioned by the public of lies! prosecutor on felony charges and their cases That is why I believe it is good step by the will no longer be treated as misdemeanors. ministry of social affairs to no longer accept Legally, a misdemeanor is considered a this kind of theft and treat these crimes as minor crime with a small fine, but a felony is felonies. In order to prevent the occurrence of more serious and means many years in such crimes, the first step will be to ensure prison, so people have to think twice before the presence of the company on the ground, committing such crimes. I believe local com- then issue work permits for employment files pany owners and the people who accept to recorded for this company. keep their names on paper as real workers I think it is important to observe and fol- while they are not are thieves and liars. low up all company activities and any claims They not only have agreed to make false of abuse and delay of salaries. We should not statements to official departments, but they wait until the harm is done, and therefore it is are also enjoying some privileges and bene- a must for the ministry to carry out their fits with no right. The government usually duties towards workers - nationals or expats.
KUWAIT: The view of Shamiya in Kuwait City. — Photo by Sherif Ismail Local FRIDAY, MARCH 28, 2014 #HappyQ8 - Spreading positivity, joy in Kuwait
An interview with Filmmaker & Editor Mohammad Al Saeed
EORITU (pronounced Where To?) recently released a video #HappyQ8 aimed at spreading positivity and Whappiness in Kuwait. The video, filmed with an all local crew, shows various locations around Kuwait and people of all backgrounds (locals, expatriates, young, old, women and men) dancing and having fun to Happy, the Pharrell Williams song from Despicable Me 2. We spoke with Mohammad Al Saeed, the writer and editor of the film about its creation. You can watch the video #HappyQ8 on Youtube.
KT: Can you tell us first a bit about yourself? Mohammad: I’m an MA Filmmaking graduate from Goldsmiths College, University of London. My first memory of falling in love with filmmaking was when I used to curl up on my dad’s couch and watch his favorite movies as a kid. Watching movies exhilarated me and that little fire inside of me grew exponentially as I grew older. I borrowed my first camera from my parents and created random “TV show spe- cials” that my cousins and I came up with. I’m 29 now and that same passion still strongly exists. I mostly work on music videos, fashion films and short films. My ultimate dream is to make feature films. My favorite genres are romantic comedies, thrillers, and musicals!
KT: Where did the idea for the HappyQ8 video come from? What got you started? Mohammad: The idea belongs to Taiba al Qatami, owner of WEORITU, an international organization that aims to spread positivity through the arts. Taiba approached me two months ago and pitched the idea. I agreed instantly and couldn’t wait to start filming and editing the #HappyQ8 project.
KT: How many people were involved, how long did it take to film, what were some of the technical aspects/chal- lenges you faced? Mohammad: Taiba teamed us up and started the #HappyQ8 team that consists of the following people: Dana al Jouder, Faisal al Humaid, Ahmad al Qabandi, Omar Afuni, Haya al Essa, Nasser al Qatami, Shaikha al Qatami, Athba al Essa, Noor Behbehani, Fatema Behbehani, Abdullah Abdulrahman. We were like a big family and had so much fun on and off set. We all believed in the cause and with Taiba’s guidance we worked efficiently and felt at ease even though what we were doing was challenging. It took us five days to Local FRIDAY, MARCH 28, 2014
film and we made sure we included all of Kuwait’s landmarks that disrespects our country. One of the WEORITU (pro- and the beautifully-diverse people that live in Kuwait (locals nounced Where To) goals was to change people’s idea of and expats) from various backgrounds and nationalities. Kuwait and that change can happen if we work towards it, together. KT: Did you have any problems legally (isn’t dancing in public and mixed dancing illegal in Kuwait)? What has KT: What are you hoping to achieve with this video? been the response from people? From authorities? And what project are you working on next? Mohammad: We did not face any problems during the Mohammad: We are hoping that this video spreads posi- filming of the #HappyQ8 video. On the contrary, people who tivity, happiness, and joy. Even if it’s just a smile at the end of saw us filming were intrigued and wanted to take part in the the video. I would love to work with WEORITU in the future video. They were happy to see us do something positive like and spread more positivity to the world. In the mean time, I’m this for Kuwait. Besides, the people in the video were just working on a few of different projects; two documentaries, a being themselves, having fun and acting goofy; they weren’t family-oriented short film, and