"" Welcome to my thoughts: 2014

Sunday, October 5, 2014

ތިމާވެށި- ކުނިގޮނޑު

ދިނޭކަޑް އެންޑް އެފްރެއިޑްގެ އަންހެން ބައިވެރިޔާ އެލިސަން ޓީލް ރާއްޖެ އައިސް ދިވެހިރާއްޖޭގެ "ގޮނޑުރަށް" ނުވަތަ މާލެއާއި ކައިރި ރަށްތަކުގައި އުފެދޭ ކުނި އުކާލާ ތިލަފުށީގެ އިތުރުން މީހުން އުޅޭ ބައެއް ރަށްތަކައް ދިއުމަށްފަހު ނަގައިފައިވާ ފޮޓޯ ތަކަކާއި ވީޑީއޯއެއް އާންމު ކުރުމާ ހަމައިން ތަފާތު ވާހަކަތަށް މީހުން ކިޔަންފެށިއެވެ. ހާއްސަކޮށް ސޯޝަލް މީޑީޔާގައި އޭނާއަށް ތައުރީފު ކުރުމާއި އޭނާއަށް އެއްޗެހިވެސް ކިއެވެ. ހަޤީގަތަކީ ރާއްޖޭގައި ގިނަ އަދަދަކަށް ޕްލާސްޓިކް ވޭސްޓް ނުވަތަ ކުނި އުފެދޭކަމެވެ. ނަމަވެސް އެވާހަކަ މެއިންސްޓްރީމް މީޑިއާގައި ދައްކާލެއްމަދީއެވެ. ނުވަތަ އެވާހަކަ ދައްކާމީހުންނަށް އައިސްދާނެ ދެކޮޅުވެރިކަމަކާއި ހުރެ އެފަދަ ވާހަކަތަށް ލިޔަން ނުކެރެނީއެވެ. ތިލަފުއްޓައްގޮސް އެތަނުގެ ގޮނޑުގައި ހުރެ ފޮޓޯއެއް ނަގަން ނުކެރެނީއެވެ. 



ރާއްޖެއަކީ ތިމާވެއްޓޭކިޔައިގެން އެންމެ ގިނައިން ވާހަކަދައްކާއެއް ޤައުމެވެ. ވަކިން ޚާއްޞަކޮށް މޫސުމީ މައްސަލަތަކާއި ފަރުތަކާއި ކަނޑުގެ ލޮނުގަނޑަށް އަންނަ ބަދަލުތަކާއި ގުޅުވައިގެނެވެ. ނަމަވެސް ހިތާމައަކީ ދިވެހިން އެފަދަ ވާހަކަތަށް ދައްކާވަރާއި ގާތަށްވެސް ރައްކާތެރިވުމުގެ ފިޔަވަޅުތަށް ނާޅާކަމެވެ. ފަހަރުގައި އެފަދަ ވާހަކަތަށް ދައްކަނީ ބޭރުގެ ފަރާތަކުން ކޮންމެވެސް ކަހަލަ ފަންޑެއް ހޯދުމުގެ ބޭނުމުގައި ކަމަށްވުމީ ހަމަ އެކަށީގެންވާ ކަމެކެވެ. އެހެންނޫންނަމަ 5.798 km2 (2.239 sq mi) ސާފުކޮށް ނުބެލެއްޓެންވީ އެއްވެސް ސަބަބެއްނެތެވެ. ކުނި އުކާލުމާއި އުފުލުމަށް ޚާއްޞަ ޤަވާޢިދު ތަކެއް ހަދާފައި ހުރެއެވެ. ނަމަވެސް ބައިސްކަލާއި ސައިކަލާއި ޕިކަޕުތަކުގައި ކުނި އުފުލަނީ އެމީހަކު ހިތަށް އެރިގޮތަކަށެވެ. އެކަމާ ކަންބޮޑުވެ އަޅާލާނެ ހަމަ އެކަކުވެސް ނެތްކަހަލައެވެ. އެކަން ބަލުމާއި ތަންފީޒީ މުއައްސަސާ ތަކުގެ ވެރިންގެ ގޭގޭގެ ކުނިވެސް އުފުލަނީ ހަމަ އެއްކަލަ ހަމައެއް ލަމައެއްނެތް މީހުންނެވެ.

ޕާކު ކުރުމުގެ ޤަވާއިދަކީވެސް މިދެންނެވި ފަދަ މައްސަލައެކެވެ. ސަރުކާރުގެ އޮފީސްތަކާއި ހޮސްޕިޓްލްތަކުގެ ކައިރީ ގައި ޓްރެފިކް ޕޮލިހުން ފޯރިއަށްތިބޭކަހަލައެވެ. މީހަކު ޤަވާއިދާއި ހިލާފަށް ޕާކު ކޮއްލައިފިނަމަ ވަރަށްވެސް އަވަހަށް ސްޓިކަރ ޖަހާނެވެ. އެކަމަކު މާލޭ ހުޅަނގު ހާބަރު ސަރަހައްދުގައި ޕާކުކޮށްފައިވާ ވެހިކަލްތަކުގެ ވާހަކަ ދައްކަނީ ކާކުހެވެ؟ އެތަނުގައި ވެހިކަލް ދޮވުމާއި ތެޔޮބަދަލުކުރުމާއި މަރާމާތު ކުރުމުން ފެށިގެންގޮސް ނައްތާލުމާއި ހަމައަށް ހުންނަނީއެވެ. ސްޓިކަރ ޖަހާނެ އަތެއްނެވެ. ފަތާ ސަރަހައްދަށް ތެޔޮއެޅުމުން ބައެއް މުއައްސަސާތަކަށް ހީވީ އެހެންފަދަ ކަމެއް ލައިގަނެގެން ހުޅޭހެންނެވެ. އެކަމަކު މިދެންނެވި ހުޅަގު ހާބަރުގެ ބިންގަނޑަށް ތެޔޮއެޅި ބިންގަނޑު ތަޢައްޔަރު ވާއިރު އެވާހަކަ ދައްކާނެ މީހަކުނެތެވެ. ޖޫރިމަނާކުރަން އަންނާނެ އީޕީއޭގެ މީހަކު ނުވެއެވެ.


West harbour area, Male' Maldives




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Wednesday, October 1, 2014

Identity Crisis - Hong Kong is not Beijing, and 2014 is not 1989

"Today, students are attempting to occupy the streets outside Hong Kong’s central government complex; 25 years ago, the students occupied Tiananmen in Beijing. However, Hong Kong is not Beijing, and 2014 is not 1989. These similar actions have taken place in entirely different contexts, even though Beijing’s political control is behind both of the events. It is important for us to identify the real sources of the current conflicts in Hong Kong, and not get sidetracked by simple reflections back to Tiananmen.
On the surface, the turmoil in Hong Kong is caused by Beijing’s decision regarding general elections. In reality, the deep sources of the conflict are not so different from the recent large-scale outbreaks of social tensions in Xinjiang, Tibet, and Taiwan. These tensions should not be seen as isolated political battles with Beijing, but rather should be heard as both the battle cry of China’s new identity crisis and a conflict of globalization. For these places, globalization has to some extent become “Chinaization” or “Mainlandization.” These recent events can be explained by the globalization theory “Jihad vs. McWorld.” This theory describes globalization as dialectical interactions between modern commercial fundamentalism and traditional parochialism. It argues that the expanding global commerce and the corporate control of the political process has weakened the autonomy and power of local communities, threatening the identity and culture of the smaller communities while at the same time leading to the reassertion of
In Hong Kong we can see clearly the effect “McWorld” has had, even though the further integration with mainland China brought prosperity to the city. But most of the advantages and profits produced by this process have gone to business tycoons and corporate elites. Much like the American rallies against the “1%” in recent years, the remaining grassroots population experiences the problems that this success has brought.
Due to the arrival of large numbers of newcomers and the flow of outside capital to Hong Kong, the real estate market has skyrocketed, pricing out much of the population while also increasing everyday cost of living. Large numbers of visitors have made the city quite crowded, leading the local people to worry that further integration will threaten their way of living, the identity of the city, and most of all the distinction of Hong Kong from the mainland that they so cherish.
In Xinjiang, Taiwan, and Tibet there is another story of globalization. The Uighurs, Taiwanese, and Tibetans feel they have been marginalized. For the Uighurs population, their response is jihad. In recent years we have seen the violent attacks in Xinjiang and other parts of mainland China. These violent actions can to some extent be seen as local resistance and rebellion in response to this marginalization and threat of identity, though any terrorist actions should be condemned.
Whereas the Hong Kong students went to the street to protest, a group of Hong Kongese business tycoons went to Beijing and met with the Chinese leadership. Beijing was pleased to gain their support. It is similarly common in Taiwan, Tibet, and Xinjiang for elites to have maintained good relations with Beijing. The CCP has garnered support from the successful elites, while keeping their growth tied closely to Beijing. There are many cases of major Taiwanese corporations having relocated their headquarters from Taiwan to the mainland. The huge market the mainland offers has brought enormous profits to the Taiwanese business community. For example, a Taiwanese company in Mainland China manufactures almost all iPhones.
This phenomenon can be explained by another theory of globalization: “integrated on top, collapsed on the bottom.” When the elites of the different regions and industries gain from globalization, they become more united and integrated behind the banner of shared economic interests. On the other hand, even though the living standards of people in the grassroots have been improving in recent years, they have suffered many of the negative consequences of the globalized economy, such as the demise of their established traditions, cultural morality, and identity.
It is in this identity crisis that the different groups have chosen to express their protests. The recent student movement in Taiwan against the Cross-Strait Service Trade Agreement with China has been the Taiwanese response. While the protests in Hong Kong and Taiwan should not be confused for any type of jihad like that of the Uighurs’, they nonetheless underscore common issues. Unfortunately, Beijing is not well versed in handling identity issues. Identity-based conflict is different than interest-based conflict. People won’t change their cultural identity, whether by intimidation or by compensation. Both the proposition of bribes and the threat of use of force often only worsen a situation, as people remain steadfast to their identity. Beijing lacks an understanding of this concept and how to remedy it.

Hong Kong’s problem will continue for as long as the structural sources of conflict cannot be addressed. The identity crises in Hong Kong, Xinjiang, Taiwan, and Tibet will surely become Beijing’s real tests and dilemmas. How well the Chinese leadership deals with these crises will determine China’s rise and future development. From this perspective, the identity issues have a real global impact, as does the street movement in Hong Kong”
I find this essay very informative and thought I would re-publish the article on my blog for my blog followers. This article was originally published in Times, and was written by Zheng Wang: is the Director of the Center for Peace and Conflict Studies (CPCS) at Seton Hall University in New Jersey.

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Sunday, September 14, 2014

Big really better! - Samsung vs Apple

Photo Credit: Ron
When Samsung came up with bigger screen phone, Apple immediately defended their stance on smaller screen. In fact, Steve Jobs, then CEO of Apple said on Apple developers’ conference that they never produce any headphone which the customers unable to reach any corner of the device by customers thumb when they use it in one hand.
Not more than 4 years, today Apple has introduced 5.5 inch iPhone 6. Apple also came up with iWatch as an extension to Apple family. Again, Samsung introduced its first Samsung watch 2 years back, and Nike, Navman introduced similar sort of "Health conscious" product years back.
 It's worth noting that Apple is years behind Samsung in offering larger screen sizes, something that may explain the company's lagging sales numbers, compared with Android devices, many of which have larger screens. So why does Apple seem to be so far behind the curve?
Part of the answer, of course, is that Apple only really launches one phone a year most years. Last year, it was the iPhone 5S, which was physically little different from the previous iPhone 5. It's hard to keep up with the light-speed changes in the phone industry when it takes a company a year to make a substantive change.
Apple's arch-rival Samsung, on the other hand, seems to have an inexhaustible supply of new phone types and launches them to fill any conceivable, and some inconceivable product niches.

But it could also be due to Apple's established culture of doing only what the company believes it needs to do, regardless of what customers may indicate what they want. The concept of limiting customer input into the design of Apple products was part of the legacy of Steve Jobs, who fostered the idea that Apple knew best.


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Monday, September 8, 2014

The great Nasira Abdulla 1956 - 2014

Nasira Abdulla or known as “Moya Narsia”, is the most iconic female street walker in the capital of Male’. It was surprised to know that she passed away this morning – May Allah grant her eternal paradise bless her soul. The news of her death was the almost viral new in social media today. The news was originally covered on Haveeru Online. The way it was covered was critizsed by many netzien “The begger, Nasira Passed away”, however, later the contents were edited.

credit: Hasan Hilmy
I found many sympathy messages, and status updates. It shows the connection, love and respect she has gained in our society. Once she appeared in Asters Advertisement with great "Foyy vikkaa meehaa" - Another great hero. Many people remember her as a funny, scary, random and obviously hardworking, and someone make living on her own.







Sometimes back a Hulhevi Media capture her story in their documentary. In it she mentioned that she was abused, molest, and sexually harassed several times. She loves to be loved, and get people’s attention. 


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Sunday, September 7, 2014

What is Special Economic Zone?

Special economic zone or SEZ is a geographical area where the economic activities take place within the country’s national boarder with special license. In these zones business and trade laws that differ from the rest of the country. The concept of SEZ emerged just after the industrialization. The first recoded economic zone was created in Puerto Rico in 1947, followed by Island and Taiwan in 1960, One of the most famous SEZs was founded by the government of the People's Republic of China under Deng Xiaoping in the early 1980s. The most successful SEZ in China is in Shenzhen. Following this example, SEZs have been established in several countries, including Brazil, India, Iran, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, the Philippines, Poland, Russia, and Ukraine.

The category 'SEZ' covers a broad range of more specific zone types, including Free Trade Zones (FTZ), Export Processing Zones (EPZ), Free Zones (FZ), Industrial Estates (IE), Free Ports, Urban Enterprise Zones and others. Usually the goal of a structure is to increase foreign direct investment by foreign investors, typically an international business or a multinational corporation (MNC). Generation of additional economic activities, Development of infrastructure facilities, promotion of exports of goods and services, and creation of employment opportunities. It is estimated that around 52 million people secured their jobs in SEZs, and roughly US $ 600 billion worth of exports are channeling through various SEZs around the world.

It is known fact that not all the economic zones are successful. There are over 3570 economic zones established in 132 countries around the world, among them 14% of the zones are failed projects. The reasons why these zones are unable to fulfill its purpose is due to various political influence.  
Since SEZ is governed by a special act, most of these acts facilitates; 
  • Tax concessions for both development and utilities,
  • Simplified compliance procedures and documentation with an emphasis on self-clarification
  • Single window clearance on matters relating to central as well as state government for setting up units in a SEZ
  • Assurance of investment security by the state



INTRODUCTION OF SEZ IN MALDIVES 

The concept of SEZ act is one of the most criticized act in recent years, it was on the discussion table in the past decades, specially in 2007 when Hon Gasim Ibrahim was Minister of Finance.  Special Economic Zone came to light in its full swing under the leadership of Yamin Abdul Gayyoon. The flagship project “iHaven” is one of the most dramatic projects ever to be taken place in Maldives. The project is comprised of many components such as International Airport, Export Processing Zone, Tran-shipment Port, Bunkering Facility, Dry Dockyard etc. 



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