The Minister of State for Tolerance, Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi, last week called for the promotion of the concept of tolerance to counter “a rise in negative rhetoric, discrimination and sectarianism”.
Her remarks, delivered to the Arab Media Forum, covered issues such as cultural exchange as well as religious dialogue, but were, in essence, focused on the need to champion shared human values at a time when they are increasingly under threat.
A few days earlier, I was part of a delegation, led by Sheikha Lubna, to the Vatican, following up on the visits last year both by Sheikha Lubna and by Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces.
Listening, along with thousands of pilgrims, to a homily delivered in St Peter's Square by Pope Francis and having the remarkable opportunity of a private viewing of the glories of the Sistine Chapel were highlights of that recent visit, but there was much more besides.
Among our official engagements were two that reflected the UAE's commitment to the development of deeper links with the Catholic Church.
One was a meeting with the head of the Vatican's historical archives to initiate discussions on potential future collaboration with the UAE's own National Archives. Among documents we were shown were some dating from the 17th century dealing with the interactions that then existed between Rome and the Arabian Gulf. The relationship between the Catholic Church and the UAE is not new, it dates back centuries, even if, at times, it was not altogether harmonious. In the history of that relationship, there are elements from which both sides can learn as we seek to strengthen ties today.
The second meeting was with the president of the Pontifical Council for Inter-Religious Dialogue. This meeting, coming ahead of the Pope's visit to Egypt and his historic meeting with the leadership of Al Azhar, provided an opportunity to promote mutual understanding and respect.
Addressing this theme, the chairman of the General Authority for Islamic Affairs and Endowments, Dr Mohammed Al Kaabi, pointed out that “the UAE has taken rapid steps to consolidate the values of tolerance and to correct misconceptions and misinterpretations regarding tolerance in our revered faith of Islam”.
While dialogue at this level is of enormous value, it will be unable to achieve the desired results unless there is also a reaching out to the public at large, whether to laymen or to clergy.
One important example of that was the visit to Abu Dhabi a few days ago of a group of more than 30 Muslim, Christian and Jewish clergymen from the United States, as part of an American “Caravan for Peace”, for discussions with the Forum for Promoting Peace in Muslim Societies, led by Sheikh Abdullah bin Bayyah.
One feature of those talks was the need for people of all faiths to be united against the practitioners of terrorism and the preachers of intolerance and hatred, with one Jewish participant later tweeting: “We all built bridges, not walls; [we] learned about love, not hate.”
During his historic address in Egypt a few days ago, Pope Francis said, in part: “We are called to walk together, in the conviction that the future also depends on the encounter of religions and cultures.”
Here in the UAE, as Sheikha Lubna noted last week, the presence of people from close to 200 countries, living together harmoniously, means that "we do have a sound equation for tolerance and peaceful coexistence, and we want to maintain this for future generations”.
A well-known English proverb states that "mighty oaks from little acorns grow". In a world where there is a desperate need for mighty oaks of tolerance, it is reassuring that, here in the UAE, our little acorns are well-rooted and are thriving.
Peter Hellyer is a consultant specialising in the UAE’s history and culture
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MEFCC information
Tickets range from Dh110 for an advance single-day pass to Dh300 for a weekend pass at the door. VIP tickets have sold out. Visit www.mefcc.com to purchase tickets in advance.
Company%20Profile
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The specs
Engine: 3-litre twin-turbo V6
Power: 400hp
Torque: 475Nm
Transmission: 9-speed automatic
Price: From Dh215,900
On sale: Now
The specs
Engine: 2-litre or 3-litre 4Motion all-wheel-drive Power: 250Nm (2-litre); 340 (3-litre) Torque: 450Nm Transmission: 8-speed automatic Starting price: From Dh212,000 On sale: Now
The specs
Engine: Long-range single or dual motor with 200kW or 400kW battery
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Max touring range: 620km / 590km
Price: From Dh250,000 (estimated)
Saudi Cup race day
Schedule in UAE time
5pm: Mohamed Yousuf Naghi Motors Cup (Turf), 5.35pm: 1351 Cup (T), 6.10pm: Longines Turf Handicap (T), 6.45pm: Obaiya Arabian Classic for Purebred Arabians (Dirt), 7.30pm: Jockey Club Handicap (D), 8.10pm: Samba Saudi Derby (D), 8.50pm: Saudia Sprint (D), 9.40pm: Saudi Cup (D)
MATCH INFO
Sheffield United 2 Bournemouth 1
United: Sharp (45 2'), Lundstram (84')
Bournemouth: C Wilson (13')
Man of the Match: Jack O’Connell (Sheffield United)
Five ways to get fit like Craig David (we tried for seven but ran out of time)
Start the week as you mean to go on. So get your training on strong on a Monday.
Train hard, but don’t take it all so seriously that it gets to the point where you’re not having fun and enjoying your friends and your family and going out for nice meals and doing that stuff.
Think about what you’re training or eating a certain way for — don’t, for example, get a six-pack to impress somebody else or lose weight to conform to society’s norms. It’s all nonsense.
Get your priorities right.
And last but not least, you should always, always chill on Sundays.
Dr Amal Khalid Alias revealed a recent case of a woman with daughters, who specifically wanted a boy.
A semen analysis of the father showed abnormal sperm so the couple required IVF.
Out of 21 eggs collected, six were unused leaving 15 suitable for IVF.
A specific procedure was used, called intracytoplasmic sperm injection where a single sperm cell is inserted into the egg.
On day three of the process, 14 embryos were biopsied for gender selection.
The next day, a pre-implantation genetic report revealed four normal male embryos, three female and seven abnormal samples.
Day five of the treatment saw two male embryos transferred to the patient.
The woman recorded a positive pregnancy test two weeks later.
Farasan Boat: 128km Away from Anchorage
Director: Mowaffaq Alobaid
Stars: Abdulaziz Almadhi, Mohammed Al Akkasi, Ali Al Suhaibani
Rating: 4/5
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.
If you go
Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.
When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.
How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Points to remember
- Debate the issue, don't attack the person
- Build the relationship and dialogue by seeking to find common ground
- Express passion for the issue but be aware of when you're losing control or when there's anger. If there is, pause and take some time out.
- Listen actively without interrupting
- Avoid assumptions, seek understanding, ask questions
Business Insights
- Canada and Mexico are significant energy suppliers to the US, providing the majority of oil and natural gas imports
- The introduction of tariffs could hinder the US's clean energy initiatives by raising input costs for materials like nickel
- US domestic suppliers might benefit from higher prices, but overall oil consumption is expected to decrease due to elevated costs
Brief scoreline:
Tottenham 1
Son 78'
Manchester City 0
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
Greatest of All Time
Starring: Vijay, Sneha, Prashanth, Prabhu Deva, Mohan
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Where to buy art books in the UAE
There are a number of speciality art bookshops in the UAE.
In Dubai, The Lighthouse at Dubai Design District has a wonderfully curated selection of art and design books. Alserkal Avenue runs a pop-up shop at their A4 space, and host the art-book fair Fully Booked during Art Week in March. The Third Line, also in Alserkal Avenue, has a strong book-publishing arm and sells copies at its gallery. Kinokuniya, at Dubai Mall, has some good offerings within its broad selection, and you never know what you will find at the House of Prose in Jumeirah. Finally, all of Gulf Photo Plus’s photo books are available for sale at their show.
In Abu Dhabi, Louvre Abu Dhabi has a beautiful selection of catalogues and art books, and Magrudy’s – across the Emirates, but particularly at their NYU Abu Dhabi site – has a great selection in art, fiction and cultural theory.
In Sharjah, the Sharjah Art Museum sells catalogues and art books at its museum shop, and the Sharjah Art Foundation has a bookshop that offers reads on art, theory and cultural history.
OPINIONS ON PALESTINE & ISRAEL
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COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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