FREE Established 1961 Friday ISSUE NO: 18061 JUMADA ALTHANI 20, 1441 AH FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2020 Philippines lifts worker Love, lust, heartache: Secret Red-hot Lakers beat Nuggets, 9 deployment ban to Kuwait 20 dating lives of young Saudis 45 Pacers snap losing streak On thin ice: Ice Skating Rink to close for good SEE PAGE 6 2 Friday Local Friday, February 14, 2020 PHOTO OF THE DAY Is CCTV safe? Local Spotlight By Muna Al-Fuzai [email protected] CTV refers to closed circuit television, a surveillance system that includes cameras and recorders for mon- Citoring activities in a company, house or even a small grocery shop. The aim of this system is to prevent and detect crimes when they occur to keep the public and prop- erties safe. But the question remains - is it safe enough? Are surveillance cameras useful or a violation of freedoms? This question was a matter of debate on social media due to a recent incident that occurred in Kuwait. A woman discovered that someone violated the privacy of her house, especially after cameras filmed her while she was arguing and screaming at one of her kids. Some people considered the leaked video an act of child abuse, while some said that no one has the right to publish such videos in public without the woman’s permission, because what happened is a violation of privacy and who- ever did this act deserves punishment. I think the issue has different viewpoints. No person has the right to violate the privacy of a person in their home without permission; therefore the woman has the right to take legal actions. I think surveillance cameras should not be a cause for concern, but some people do not like to see them as they Lampposts on Gulf Road seen at sunset. — Photo by Mustafa Albader/KUNA A woman discovered that someone Losing a pet violated the privacy of her house small kids or animals who might possibly harm them, IN MY VIEW which wasn’t always an easy job. After having them for four years and two months, I lost the female, Mishmish. It was so hard watching her die consider them against privacy and freedoms, while some By Nawara Fattahova without being able to help. I took her to different veteri- people prefer the idea of installing surveillance cameras as narians, but they just gave her vitamins and said they a source of security and safety. [email protected] didn’t know what else to do. When I finally found a good Of course, misuse of surveillance systems can happen vet who had some knowledge of these exotic animals, it by recording some embarrassing situations of public fig- was too late, and Mishmish passed away. The vet said she ures and using these videos to end their careers and humil- pet is not just an animal - it’s a member of the fami- most probably had kidney disease as she was drinking too iate them in public, and this is something that can happen. I ly. When a pet dies, it hurts and those who don’t much in the last three days. When sugar gliders get old, think surveillance cameras are absolutely necessary to stop Aunderstand this, who don’t have pets can seem the kidney is the organ that gets damaged. abuse, and at the same time, deterrent laws should be heartless or cruel for lacking empathy. I guess she was old. The lifespan of sugar gliders is enacted in case of misuse, with severe legal penalties for I fell in love with sugar gliders even before adopting short, as they only live between five to eight years. The vet those who misuse them or hack others’ privacy. them. I always wanted one, though they are not really told me that I was doing well as they lived with me for In fact, I believe that surveillance cameras are the best meant to be pets. But my mom refused, she did not want over four years, as she had met people whose sugar glid- solution not only to stop any possible criminal activity, but pets in the house. Then one day a friend told me her ers died in less than a year. I buried her with a broken some working mothers are using cameras to monitor their brother was leaving the country and wouldn’t take his two heart and much pain. domestic workers at home, especially those with infants. sugar gliders with him. So I ended up adopting them, I know Mishmish was old, but it is so hard to lose her But, this also has caveats, and possibly threats. telling my mom I had saved their lives. I explained that after more than four years and so many memories. I feel For example, a friend who has a baby girl and a new otherwise they will be thrown on the streets and die, as bad for Mango, who is very lonely now. I’m not sure what worker was worried about leaving the little one alone for a they can’t tolerate the weather of Kuwait. to do. I thought of placing him at the zoo with other sug- long time, so she placed a camera in the child’s room. But As soon as my mom saw them and looked at their cute ar gliders to keep him in a collective, but the staff told me after a while she discovered that the system was exposed to faces, she forgot her anger and objections and welcomed that they don’t have space for him and no one to take penetration and hacking, and therefore the girl could be at them home. She fell in love with them, and she even fed care of him. risk. So she canceled the setup, but her anxiety did not end. them when I wasn’t at home or early in the morning before I know that cameras are the ideal solution to maintain I was shocked by some negative and emotionless com- I woke up. She especially liked to share her croissants. ments of people on her death, as if it was a broken glass or safety and also help provide visual records to the police Even when one of them escaped from the cage and I was as evidence for conviction. Choosing a monitoring sys- some unimportant thing. Only those who had a pet and hunting for him in the house and he bit me, I was never tem may be difficult, and there is a need to be careful and lost it understood my great pain and loss. It’s not just an mad at him. only select a monitoring system from a well-known com- animal - it’s a living soul and breathing creature like I was always worried who would take care of my lovely pany to avoid possible breaches of privacy. At least, it humans, but more precious than most humans on this will be easy to demand the company for clarifications sugar gliders Mango and Mishmish when I planned to planet. and investigations, because security companies do not travel. I had to make sure I gave them to trusted friends May you rest in peace, my lovely Mishmish - I will nev- allow such tampering. who would take good care of them and who didn’t have er forget you. 4 Friday Local Friday, February 14, 2020 PHOTO FEATURE Story and Photos by Ben Garcia vested vegetables. “These boxes contain vegetables from this farm only - they will be t a farm in Jahra, a Kuwaiti farmer delivered tomorrow to supermarkets around grows leafy greens of various kinds Kuwait.” Alike lettuce, coriander, spinach, People tending the farm are mostly from rocca, parsley, dill and mint. Accord- Bangladesh, directly hired by the owner. “We ing to Abul Kalam, a salesperson at a small have several workers in the farm for plough- shop on the farm, the owner has several other ing, planting and harvesting,” Abul Kalam farms, which he visits once in a while. “My said. The farm is cultivated regularly and can sponsor has several farms in Kuwait, particu- produce multiple harvests. “Most of our leafy larly in Wafra and Abdaly - we are supplying greens are cultivated twice or thrice a year. the entire market of Kuwait,” he said, gestur- For example, rocca is harvested three times,” ing towards stacked cartons of freshly har- he told Kuwait Times. Friday 5 Local Friday, February 14, 2020 The best time to plant vegetables is al- Vegetables are also imported from other ways during winter, when the weather is countries. “We have competitors in various cooler. But the farm is utilized the whole year countries. So the market price is dictated by round since free irrigated water is supplied. the supply,” he said. In the small shop, a “Winter here is not that harsh compared to bunch of leafy greens usually sold for 50 fils other countries, so we can plant at any time; is sold at 25 fils or cheaper. “We have dis- however, most of the greens need cooler plays of produce here from our farms in climes, which is why we have more of these Jahra, Wafra and Abdaly. We hope to supply veggies during winter. We plant even in sum- the entire market, but we need to cultivate mer, but they are not as healthy compared more to meet local demand,” Abul Kalam to winter planting,” Abul Kalam said. concluded. 6 Friday Local Friday, February 14, 2020 On thin ice: Ice Skating Rink to close for good KUWAIT: People skate at the Ice Skating Rink in this July 30, 2015 file photo.