Today, 36 per cent of the world’s population lives in water-scarce regions. If we continue mismanaging water as we do now, by 2050 half of the world’s population, half of global grain production and 45 per cent of GDP will be in water-stressed regions.
Water challenges threaten global social and political stability. The situation is critical: in the World Economic Forum’s 2015 Global Risks report, water was ranked as the global risk with the greatest potential effect on economies and societies over the next 10 years.
We must change our approach to water management. Our current model – a largely technical practice in which experts advise governments and water companies how to store, treat and manage water – simply isn’t working. There is, however, an alternative approach to water management. We’ve just somehow forgotten it.
Research brought together by the governance programme at AKU-ISMC suggests that traditional methods of water management in the Middle East based on a common social, cultural and religious heritage may provide a good starting point. The key is a sense of collective ownership of irrigation systems, water storage and treatment facilities: all parties do their bit to implement, uphold and protect water practices, because all parties need them to work.
As Dr Klaus Leisinger, president of the Global Values Alliance Foundation, frames it, "wicked problems" such as the water crisis cannot be solved, but only tamed. To do this, we need more than just technical expertise. We need a shared understanding of the problem and common moral ground.
Let’s begin with ethics. Somehow, in the technical management of water, the ethical dimension has all but been overlooked. Dr David Groenfeldt, founder and director of the Water-Culture Institute in New Mexico, United States, reminds us that ethics underlie just about every water decision, policy, practice and governance arrangement.
We need to treat the value-motivations of water suppliers as being just as important as technical information about water flows or economic data about fee payments. Take the creation of new water infrastructure such as a dam, levees, irrigation diversion or canals. Let’s consider five categories of water ethics.
There are environmental values and there are the economic values of conserving water, avoiding waste and making best use of water. We may consider social values about human health and well-being, but how often do we include cultural values about identity and one's spiritual and personal relationship to the water environment? And what, too, of governance values around participation, transparency and accountability in managing water resources?
Framing the decision to dam or not to dam, or build this or that facility to treat water, suddenly becomes a lot more complex. But, critically, if we get it right, it has a lot more support from stakeholders. We’re less likely to see water wasted, stolen or used as a pawn in tribal or political conflict when all parties feel that they have a stake in the management of that water.
Dr Abdou Filali-Ansary, former director of the Aga Khan University Institute for the Study of Muslim Civilisations, points out that in the past in the Middle East, the challenges in the management of water resources were met by creative regulation systems based on norms from, and legitimised through, interpretations of holy texts. The ways and means of water management were legitimised by values derived from local religious beliefs. This lent them popular support, and allowed them to be maintained, refined and even updated in ways that served communities directly. Critically, this approach was independent from the central branches of the state. Collective responsibility buffered water management from personal power struggles, political shifts and even conflict.
It can do this again.
In the Middle East today, applying ethics awareness to water management could involve looking to the past to find a common platform for decision-making based on traditional values associated with water ecosystems and governance.
A code of ethics which lays out the principles important to stakeholders can provide a starting point for building consensus. The development of a global "Water Ethics Charter" which is currently being undertaken by the Water-Culture Institute, Unesco and others can help provide a common language for discussing water governance and development options.
Large water infrastructure projects and industries such as mining and oil and gas, which affect water, are the obvious contexts where a code of value principles would be useful at the earliest stages of planning. But less dramatic developments, such as agricultural intensification programmes, also need to address values.
It would be an illusion to believe there are any quick solutions. There will be no quantum leap from where we are now to selfless sustainability in global water consumption, especially if the global rich continue to use resources at the pace they do.
However, if we look to the past, there is hope. We must base dialogue on common values and mutually appreciated moral principles. This is the beginning. If all stakeholders have the same understanding of the problem and what the solution might look like – first nationally, then regionally and eventually globally – it could set the course for a better mutual understanding and eventually better management. It’s the best option we have.
David Taylor is director of the Aga Khan University Institute for the Study of Muslim Civilisations, in London
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
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Nayanthara: Beyond The Fairy Tale
Starring: Nayanthara, Vignesh Shivan, Radhika Sarathkumar, Nagarjuna Akkineni
Director: Amith Krishnan
Rating: 3.5/5
Citadel: Honey Bunny first episode
Directors: Raj & DK
Stars: Varun Dhawan, Samantha Ruth Prabhu, Kashvi Majmundar, Kay Kay Menon
Rating: 4/5
The Saga Continues
Wu-Tang Clan
(36 Chambers / Entertainment One)
Business Insights
- As per the document, there are six filing options, including choosing to report on a realisation basis and transitional rules for pre-tax period gains or losses.
- SMEs with revenue below Dh3 million per annum can opt for transitional relief until 2026, treating them as having no taxable income.
- Larger entities have specific provisions for asset and liability movements, business restructuring, and handling foreign permanent establishments.
'Joker'
Directed by: Todd Phillips
Starring: Joaquin Phoenix
Rating: Five out of five stars
What drives subscription retailing?
Once the domain of newspaper home deliveries, subscription model retailing has combined with e-commerce to permeate myriad products and services.
The concept has grown tremendously around the world and is forecast to thrive further, according to UnivDatos Market Insights’ report on recent and predicted trends in the sector.
The global subscription e-commerce market was valued at $13.2 billion (Dh48.5bn) in 2018. It is forecast to touch $478.2bn in 2025, and include the entertainment, fitness, food, cosmetics, baby care and fashion sectors.
The report says subscription-based services currently constitute “a small trend within e-commerce”. The US hosts almost 70 per cent of recurring plan firms, including leaders Dollar Shave Club, Hello Fresh and Netflix. Walmart and Sephora are among longer established retailers entering the space.
UnivDatos cites younger and affluent urbanites as prime subscription targets, with women currently the largest share of end-users.
That’s expected to remain unchanged until 2025, when women will represent a $246.6bn market share, owing to increasing numbers of start-ups targeting women.
Personal care and beauty occupy the largest chunk of the worldwide subscription e-commerce market, with changing lifestyles, work schedules, customisation and convenience among the chief future drivers.
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3EFounder%3A%20Hani%20Abu%20Ghazaleh%3Cbr%3EBased%3A%20Abu%20Dhabi%2C%20with%20an%20office%20in%20Montreal%3Cbr%3EFounded%3A%202018%3Cbr%3ESector%3A%20Virtual%20Reality%3Cbr%3EInvestment%20raised%3A%20%241.2%20million%2C%20and%20nearing%20close%20of%20%245%20million%20new%20funding%20round%3Cbr%3ENumber%20of%20employees%3A%2012%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
From Zero
Artist: Linkin Park
Label: Warner Records
Number of tracks: 11
Rating: 4/5
Company%20Profile
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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.
The specs
Engine: four-litre V6 and 3.5-litre V6 twin-turbo
Transmission: six-speed and 10-speed
Power: 271 and 409 horsepower
Torque: 385 and 650Nm
Price: from Dh229,900 to Dh355,000
Engine: 80 kWh four-wheel-drive
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 402bhp
Torque: 760Nm
Price: From Dh280,000
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.
RACECARD
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UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
The%20specs
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In numbers: China in Dubai
The number of Chinese people living in Dubai: An estimated 200,000
Number of Chinese people in International City: Almost 50,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2018/19: 120,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2010: 20,000
Percentage increase in visitors in eight years: 500 per cent
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
A little about CVRL
Founded in 1985 by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, the Central Veterinary Research Laboratory (CVRL) is a government diagnostic centre that provides testing and research facilities to the UAE and neighbouring countries.
One of its main goals is to provide permanent treatment solutions for veterinary related diseases.
The taxidermy centre was established 12 years ago and is headed by Dr Ulrich Wernery.
Company%20profile
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Masters%20of%20the%20Air
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Wicked
Director: Jon M Chu
Stars: Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jonathan Bailey
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
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.
Kanguva
Director: Siva
Stars: Suriya, Bobby Deol, Disha Patani, Yogi Babu, Redin Kingsley
PREMIER LEAGUE STATS
Romelu Lukaku's goalscoring statistics in the Premier League
Season/club/appearances (substitute)/goals
2011/12 Chelsea: 8(7) - 0
2012/13 West Brom (loan): 35(15) - 17
2013/14 Chelsea: 2(2) - 0
2013/14 Everton (loan): 31(2) - 15
2014/15 Everton: 36(4) - 10
2015/16 Everton: 37(1) - 18
2016/17 Everton: 37(1) - 25
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
