Arranged Ex-Satyam Ronaldo hits marriage: chief gets 7 300 mark as Yes I do, years for Messi, Suarez no I don’t7 ‘India’s16 Enron’ lift Barcelona47 Min 22º Max 38º FREE www.kuwaittimes.net NO: 16486- Friday, April 10, 2015 New park, new rules See Pages 4 & 5 Local FRIDAY, APRIL 10, 2015 ‘Shift Kuwait 5’ hits new records Local Spotlight KUWAIT: His Highness Sheikh Salem Al- tion of the award in tandem with presen- The Friday Market Ali Al-Sabah Informatics Award (Shift tation of Kuwait as a hub for humanitari- Kuwait 5), which was launched in an work, led by His Highness the Amir, February on the Kuwait government who has been crowned with the UN-des- and animal rights online website, has hit a new record of ignated title, “the Humanitarian Leader.” participants’ numbers. Member of the Meanwhile, Ahmad Safar, the coordi- Organizing Committee of the Award nator, said the competition, held under Bassam Al-Shemmari said in a statement the theme “Kuwait for Humanity,” had By Muna Al-Fuzai yesterday that the new record “elevates proceeded since February, receiving its rank among international informatics’ some 229,000 participants from 99 competitions, thus becoming one of the states. A month-long poll was held major ones.” simultaneously with the launch of the The competition has attracted con- competition, with questionnaires about [email protected] testants from the United States, the benefits of the competitions, where 97. Philippines, India, Pakistan, Ethiopia, 6 percent of the polled sample affirmed Holland, Italy, Spain, Sweden, its usefulness. n all countries of the world, there are open Switzerland and Armenia. The draw will This year’s competition titled “Kuwait weekly markets that are usually characterized by be held next week to choose nominated For Humanity”, is meant to showcase the simplicity, variety and lower prices and so it is in winners of the award. country’s prominent charity work. The I Kuwait. But when the situation becomes suspicious Al-Shemmari quoted His Highness term “shift” is Arabic slang for “I’ve got- and dangerous, I feel that I’m obliged to call for Sheikh Salem Al-Ali as calling for promo- ten acquainted with.” — KUNA shutting down the place because of continued infringement of human and animals rights. In theory, the Friday Market is a weekly, cheap market for people with low-income, but over the years, many problems have turned this place into a hotbed of irregularities and especially violations of the humane treatment of animals. One of the issues that harmed the reputation of this market was the sale of stolen pets, as well as wild and dangerous animals that cannot be classified as domestic such as cheetahs, monkeys and snakes. New types of animals for sale such as leopards and crocodiles can also be found occasionally at the market and are sold without any licensing or care for public safety. The animal’s care later is left to the maids. Are maids trained for animal care, especially of wild animals? Unfortunately, there is no signifi- cant progress in the field of animal protection or care after it is bought from the market. Another concern is the situation of animals, like when a large number of birds are kept together in tiny cages. Prices are also manipulated by vendors, especially of birds. Puppies and kittens are often too young to be sold and have been taken away from their mothers at birth. Most of these animals die in a very short period because they suffer from illnesses, dehydration and malnutrition, lack of proper vaccinations. It’s a very sad ending for a liv- ing soul. I wonder why we are not doing enough to stop the abuse against these animals. The general idea of people dealing with the animals takes the form of temporary entertainment. Many people are keen to acquire pets for their children but they KUWAIT: Photos show a section of the Jahra Road project where the structure has been supported with random rocks and leave them without care until they die because of sticks. (Below) A sign along the road reads: “Stay in line” but the Arabic translated means :stay in your lane. The photos neglect. The animal vendors are keen only for the were taken yesterday at the intersection of Jahra Road with Airport Road in Shuwaikh. ( Photos by abdellatif Sharaa profits, and the proof of this is what happens in the Friday Market in the form of chaos in the sale of ani- mals. Sales are performed without a proof of purchase such as a detailed receipt, so if the animal turns out to be sick, the buyer can make a claim against the seller. I know that there are a number of non-profit organizations working for animal rights, but they need a lot of support and public awareness of ani- mal rights and the right ways of caring for an ani- mal and not only how and where to buy one. Workers in the market are another problem, and the ministry of interior is doing its best through security campaigns. Violators of labor and residency laws have found a safe haven in this market to escape from security men, but their numbers are decreasing. I support the security sweeps because it limits and controls the presence of offenders and protects consumers from fraud. The question remains: Who should bear the responsibility for this? I know that some people believe that the municipality and the ministry of interior must be fully responsible for monitoring the markets, but what about people’s awareness. It is the joint responsibility of all those who demand to preserve the rights of people and animals and their health. Local FRIDAY, APRIL 10, 2015 Filipino families limit children due to costs By Ben Garcia Roman Catholic Church, which counts about 80 percent of Filipinos as follow- ennylyn, a Filipina working in ers and disapproves of all forms of artifi- Kuwait, has three children, and cial birth control, and even divorce. It Jwould like to have more. Her wish, was only last year that the government however, will likely go unfulfilled due to finally overcame over a decade of the rising cost of raising children in Church opposition to implement a Kuwait. Jennylyn is constrained by reproductive health law providing the many factors including the dwindling poor with birth control services. The purchasing power of her and her hus- new law guarantees universal access to band’s salaries, the rising costs of child methods of contraception, fertility con- care and education, rent and food. trol, sex education and maternal care. Jennylyn and husband’s combined In Kuwait, most Filipino couples salary is KD 1,000. have only two or three children. “Both my husband and me want one There are about 200,000 Filipinos in more child, but this is no longer possi- Kuwait, with two recognized pri- ble considering the cost of living in vately-run Philippine schools with Kuwait,” said Jennylyn. “I come from a kindergarten, elementary and big family and it’s cool to have many high school levels. The school sisters and brothers. Even back in the fees follow the standard rate Philippines, you can no longer afford it approved by the Ministry of if you have more than three children, Education. “Schools here are unlike the case 20 to 30 years back. We very expensive, as if we are pay- can’t survive if we don’t do some family ing tuition fees for college stu- planning,” she added. dents! I have two kids in the Manila supports a family planning elementary and high-school method which advises married couples levels - and it’s hard to main- to avoid having many children and use tain a family here. We need to contraceptives. “We don’t get any sup- consider many issues,” said port from our government - it’s up to us Rolly, a Filipino married to a to live our life. We practice birth control, staffer in a private clinic. “Yes, we because if we didn’t, we would’ve prob- want more children - they are a ably had more than 10 kids by now,” gift and blessing, but we need to Jennylyn said. provide them with all their needs to The Philippines has one of the survive, including food, shelter and fastest growing populations in the education. These are not free even in Average monthly expenses of world. On July 27, 2014, the Philippine’s the Philippines, so what can be said population hit a new milestone with about other countries where we are a Pinoy family living in Kuwait the birth of the 100 millionth Filipino, a working?” he asked. healthy baby girl. This was based on Rolly and his wife earn KD 800 a Rent: KD 270 population projections by the month in combined wages. “I am seri- Food: KD 150 Philippine Statistics Authority, which ously considering going back home Combined transportation: KD 80 estimates that three babies are born with the kids. I think I can do much bet- Education: KD 200 every minute. ter there. Earning money and spending Efforts to control the Philippines’ it all here is not good. Sometimes, I Miscellaneous: KD 100 population growth have long been have to borrow money just to survive,” No savings hampered by the influence of the Rolly noted. Look up, reality’s calling By Aakash Bakaya But it’s the adults who are the most worrying. Driving while texting is a major issue in Kuwait and nothing seems to be done was completing my visa procedures at the fingerprint office about it.