I may not think much of his music, but it turns out that DJ Hardwell is a man after my own heart. In an interview with The National a few months ago, he said: "If I had to choose a favourite meal, I'd definitely go for steak. Lately I've been thinking about becoming a vegan, but I love steak so much."
That’s precisely how I feel. The problem is, every steak I now eat is served with a super-sized side of guilt. In case you hadn’t noticed, veganism is the new black. All the cool kids are doing it. Brad Pitt, Jessica Chastain, Ellen DeGeneres, Liam Hemsworth, Sia, Stevie Wonder, Peter Dinklage, to name but a few.
In the old days, vegans were part of a little club, united in their superciliousness and prone to hugging trees. Even if you secretly knew they had a point, they could be easily avoided. But oh, how those meat-free tables have turned.
Soon after he wrote a story on the rise of veganism for this newspaper, my colleague Kevin gave up meat altogether. There were things he saw during his research that could not be unseen, apparently, although he has been gentlemanly enough not to share them with the rest of us.
My colleague Sarah, meanwhile, a vegetarian for many years, has finally given up that last dash of milk in her morning coffee and declared herself animal product-free. A couple of weeks ago, I was invited to a barbecue by some friends in our neighbourhood. "Sorry, we don't eat meat. But please feel free to bring your own," the WhatsApp message read. At another dinner party, the lovely lady sitting next to me seemed entirely unbothered that I was tucking into a chunk of cow, even though we were having a long conversation about why she has totally eschewed animal flesh.
And this week, I received a press release about the launch of “vegan community days” – the first of which will take place on Saturday at the Rove hotel in Healthcare City and will include yoga by the hotel pool, all-vegan food, talks, demonstrations, films about veganism. The ranks are closing in.
There’s an old joke: “How do you know if someone is a vegan. Don’t worry, they’ll tell you.” But I’m not sure it rings true any more. That’s the thing about this new breed of vegan. There is no condescension. There is, seemingly, no struggle. The vegans of 2018 don’t feel the need to shove their views down your throat. They are entirely secure in their choice. And they are not jealous of that rib-eye you may be tucking into.
It doesn't feel like a short-term fad, either. And that's because the modern-day vegan knows they are on the right side of this fight. Just like DJ Hardwell knows, and just like I know. It is becoming increasingly difficult for any animal-loving, health-conscious adult to justify the consumption of animal products. A slew of documentaries highlighting the horrors of the food industry have given birth to the term "Netflix vegan", individuals who, like Kevin, have watched things like Earthlings, Cowspiracy, What the Health and Food Inc – and just can't unsee what they have seen.
I am finding it difficult to fight the tide. I'm an animal lover and environmentalist at heart – but to proclaim to be either of these things while eating animal products is becoming little more than hypocrisy. The upshot is that being a carnivore in 2018 is starting to feel a lot like being a smoker used to. I was late getting off the cigarette bandwagon and it wasn't fun being the last woman standing.
The case for veganism is overwhelmingly strong. There's the sheer cruelty that we are inflicting on animals on a global, industrial scale. It is estimated that 70 billion animals are killed each year for food, as well as trillions of fish. There's the health element – it is becoming apparent that animal products are damaging our health. The American Dietetic Association notes that a vegetarian diet reduces the risk of many chronic degenerative diseases and conditions, including heart disease, cancer, obesity, hypertension and diabetes. And then there's the environmental argument. Rearing meat takes an incredible toll on our planet. I just wish I didn't love steak so much.
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Read more of Selina's thoughts:
Phone etiquette? I need some guidelines please
After a decade, Dubai feels like it has come of age
Why social media influencers can be frustrating for journalists
Why a goodbye in the UAE can be particularly bittersweet
Four lessons learnt as a dog owner in Dubai
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Company%20profile%20
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Venom
Director: Ruben Fleischer
Cast: Tom Hardy, Michelle Williams, Riz Ahmed
Rating: 1.5/5
Where to donate in the UAE
The Emirates Charity Portal
You can donate to several registered charities through a “donation catalogue”. The use of the donation is quite specific, such as buying a fan for a poor family in Niger for Dh130.
The General Authority of Islamic Affairs & Endowments
The site has an e-donation service accepting debit card, credit card or e-Dirham, an electronic payment tool developed by the Ministry of Finance and First Abu Dhabi Bank.
Al Noor Special Needs Centre
You can donate online or order Smiles n’ Stuff products handcrafted by Al Noor students. The centre publishes a wish list of extras needed, starting at Dh500.
Beit Al Khair Society
Beit Al Khair Society has the motto “From – and to – the UAE,” with donations going towards the neediest in the country. Its website has a list of physical donation sites, but people can also contribute money by SMS, bank transfer and through the hotline 800-22554.
Dar Al Ber Society
Dar Al Ber Society, which has charity projects in 39 countries, accept cash payments, money transfers or SMS donations. Its donation hotline is 800-79.
Dubai Cares
Dubai Cares provides several options for individuals and companies to donate, including online, through banks, at retail outlets, via phone and by purchasing Dubai Cares branded merchandise. It is currently running a campaign called Bookings 2030, which allows people to help change the future of six underprivileged children and young people.
Emirates Airline Foundation
Those who travel on Emirates have undoubtedly seen the little donation envelopes in the seat pockets. But the foundation also accepts donations online and in the form of Skywards Miles. Donated miles are used to sponsor travel for doctors, surgeons, engineers and other professionals volunteering on humanitarian missions around the world.
Emirates Red Crescent
On the Emirates Red Crescent website you can choose between 35 different purposes for your donation, such as providing food for fasters, supporting debtors and contributing to a refugee women fund. It also has a list of bank accounts for each donation type.
Gulf for Good
Gulf for Good raises funds for partner charity projects through challenges, like climbing Kilimanjaro and cycling through Thailand. This year’s projects are in partnership with Street Child Nepal, Larchfield Kids, the Foundation for African Empowerment and SOS Children's Villages. Since 2001, the organisation has raised more than $3.5 million (Dh12.8m) in support of over 50 children’s charities.
Noor Dubai Foundation
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum launched the Noor Dubai Foundation a decade ago with the aim of eliminating all forms of preventable blindness globally. You can donate Dh50 to support mobile eye camps by texting the word “Noor” to 4565 (Etisalat) or 4849 (du).
The bio
Favourite book: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
Favourite travel destination: Maldives and south of France
Favourite pastime: Family and friends, meditation, discovering new cuisines
Favourite Movie: Joker (2019). I didn’t like it while I was watching it but then afterwards I loved it. I loved the psychology behind it.
Favourite Author: My father for sure
Favourite Artist: Damien Hurst
The specs
Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
Power: 579hp
Torque: 859Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh825,900
On sale: Now
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
Du Football Champions
The fourth season of du Football Champions was launched at Gitex on Wednesday alongside the Middle East’s first sports-tech scouting platform.“du Talents”, which enables aspiring footballers to upload their profiles and highlights reels and communicate directly with coaches, is designed to extend the reach of the programme, which has already attracted more than 21,500 players in its first three years.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Electoral College Victory
Trump has so far secured 295 Electoral College votes, according to the Associated Press, exceeding the 270 needed to win. Only Nevada and Arizona remain to be called, and both swing states are leaning Republican. Trump swept all five remaining swing states, North Carolina, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, sealing his path to victory and giving him a strong mandate.
Popular Vote Tally
The count is ongoing, but Trump currently leads with nearly 51 per cent of the popular vote to Harris’s 47.6 per cent. Trump has over 72.2 million votes, while Harris trails with approximately 67.4 million.
COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
The Bio
Name: Lynn Davison
Profession: History teacher at Al Yasmina Academy, Abu Dhabi
Children: She has one son, Casey, 28
Hometown: Pontefract, West Yorkshire in the UK
Favourite book: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
Favourite Author: CJ Sansom
Favourite holiday destination: Bali
Favourite food: A Sunday roast
THE SPECS
Engine: 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged V12 petrol engine
Power: 420kW
Torque: 780Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh1,350,000
On sale: Available for preorder now
The specs
Engine: 2x201bhp AC Permanent-magnetic electric
Transmission: n/a
Power: 402bhp
Torque: 659Nm
Price estimate: Dh200,000
On sale: Q3 2022
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
