Sports in Maldives!

We are a nation surrounded by oceans and the most beautiful beaches in the world. Our population is scattered to tiny islands, but the one sport we really seem to excel at is Football. That does not mean we do not have opportunities with other sports. We as a society was 'encouraged' by the governments to play more football. We have had past successes with badminton and cricket and carom. People might laugh it off as why does the government even care about such petty games? Well it is the healthy thing to do! Literally! 

Recently we had the spectacle of our teams not being exceptionally good but remarkably good at the Asian Games, and the popular government TV channel host Shakeeb making fun of the expenses on teams for sports and how we do not produce results. Well first of all sports keeps our youth away from drugs and many other unhealthy habits for it engages the mind and the physique of a person as well as takes away their free time that they might use not so usefully. Sports is a solution for many social issues and when one such 'celebrity' on one of the longest running TV programs, criticises the efficacy of utilising money on sports; the joke is on him. As a 'journalist' or 'TV Presenter' he should not assume things and cast such a controversy over such an important component of society without any basis or realising that the funds for most of our sports activities are in fact from international sources. 

Then again, like most of our 'professionals' why should we care about facts and figures and the truth? Let us all politicise it and call it a political statement. Maybe it is, but the society needs to realise the implications are rather more damaging to society as a whole! It is a a very wrong message to the community and the youth! We all know not to trust the government, please, we do not need Shakeebe' telling us that! Then again is he also not paid by the government? So is he biting the hand that feeds him? Maybe the politics of sports associations and politicians is so far rooted we need a legislation or a societal response! No more Sports Politics!!! Do not let any political entity hijack the sports we love! It should be one of those things that brings us together not breaks and divides us! If the people want they can play other sports as well....let us bring on more water sports maybe...or rather build a damn swimming pool for our swimmers so they can practice before the games; before we call them 'disappointing'. Your shameful negative attitude and 'afraid of loosing power' belief system should not get in the way of the youth! We are not all politicians!

LIFE in Maldives!

P.S This article is based on authors own assumptions/observations and naive interpretations of what he sees in our society.

SOCIETY TODAY: Maldivian society today is a healthy one of many subcultures and denominations that are more often misread and ignored and dismissed by the larger majority. The sub cultures based on religious beliefs and political beliefs and scientific beliefs work in their own cliques within the society. We may choose to say we are 'united' and 'one religion' and are 'peace loving' citizens. That would be factually and evidentially wrong; and a downright lie! Our society is based on few rich people who own the resorts and major businesses to smaller businesses funded by the richer Old Guard and politicians who are financially supported by the same old dinosaurs and a society that lacks proper knowledge and basic life skills. We believe the epitome of life is to own a big smart phone (emphasis on big rather than high technology) and a flashy motor bike or car and with numerous visits to restaurants and café's every day. We are the definition of an MTV generation that has continued its apathy towards real life issues and focussed more on the flashy magazine life styles. We put down our books and play games on tablet devices. We preach religion to cover our own guilt and label another as a Kafir way too often, while never looking in the mirror ourselves. We forgot that religion can only unite when we actually wanted to unite. The biggest problem of all is kids having kids! Our youth, in their prime, with degrees and international undergraduate education, get married and have kids, while they themselves have yet to throw down their own bibs, and contribute to society. The spoon fed population that the 30 year dictatorship created has rooted itself through the non-functional educational system. We eat and drink and spend what we do not have and desire what we never really need. Basic facilities or health care and transportation have not developed as the society is actually quite content with what it has right now! 

DEMOCRACY AND REVOLUTION: we never had a revolution since the times of Mohammed Thakurufaanu! The democracy movement was halted and the revolution grasped for its final breath with the first multi party election. The roots of the Old Guard run deep and strong and within all political entities in the country. This counteracts any democracy loving statesmen or politicians. Then again how will we have a revolution when the people do not really need one? They are engaged in extra curricular activities through out the day and night and are quite content with their situation. Unless there is a deep rooted desire and necessity there shall be no revolution. Democracy? Well we first need to know and understand what it is. I am not surprised there still are people who think democracy means we vote in parliamentarians that make the biggest promise and that is it. 

DRUGS, GANGS AND JUDICIARY: Heroine, Cocaine, Hashish, Weed, Alcohol, LSD, Meth, Horse tranquillizers and sleeping pills and so much more is abundant in the Maldives. The UN reported that the illicit drug trade is a billion Rufiyaa per year industry. It employs more politicians and gangs and judges than the government!Judiciary? Well when the highest standard of education of a Supreme Court Judge still stands at basic diploma or less and at times judges do not know Islamic Law nor Common Law; the basic tenets of our judicial system and laws. Some barely speak or read English language; I wonder how they even go through complex banking and financial documents in cases. Judges do not need to have a specific educational qualification of higher standard, but basic literary skills, knowledge, experience, morality, ethics and other such qualities seem far more important; at least for this lay person it seems so. The Gangs always win their cases and it is not uncommon for most of the criminal law practising firms in Maldives benefit highly from criminal cases. It is a vicious circle.

EXTREMISM: another one of those terms i find hard to define. We have extremists at all areas and angles and mix and matches as well. Some say religious extremism is the problem, i say lack of education and politicising of religion is the Problem! The educational institutions that the government accepts for religious studies need to be revised! Religion is not the problem but those who practice it to the point of using it as a tool to suppress and again to be popular. The scholars of religion at times seem to be like celebrities! Why not show and lead by example? Volunteer at hospitals to show compassion; teach the Koran to show the support for education; write and discuss and argue over contentious issues amongst the scholars! Well when the society does not demand choice, but rather follow for it is the easier choice, this is where we will be.

TOP IT ALL: i would reiterate that the biggest problem still is Kids having Kids! While we are unable to feed, care or give proper education, we seem to have children. Of course this benefits the consumerism culture created by the financial/capitalist Old Guards. Socialism is a taboo subject! The culture of loans is now on! Home loans, electronic equipment loans to students loans! I myself am guilty of one! We do things just for the sake of doing! Our doctors are doctors because it pays more or was the easiest choice to get a scholarship. Our students aim to achieve top grades so their parents can boast about it amongst their friends! The children have children themselves because that is what their parents did. Learning from example! Yeah allow the youth to marry young to hold back their canal desires or what not, but don't encourage or force them to have kids, while they have not matured enough themselves! Is it all bad? NO!! It is good that we have not come to the breaking point of a revolution! It means we are still capable of healing ourselves! Who knows i might just be talking all crap while sitting at a coffee, with my expensive motorbike parked outside and typing on my brand new orange tablet! I hope the best contribution of mine to the society is not a fertilization of my biological specimen with another to produce another consumerist, sugar crazed, face on the tablet, following, spoon fed, entity! Good Night all you beautiful people; just go read a book

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Solar Energy, is it our Future?

The Maldives is a nation of Sun and lots of clear skies. It was no surprise that one of the first alternative, renewable energy sources that the nation experimented with was Solar Energy. The efficiency of the solar energy concept is not as simple as one may fathom from grade science knowledge; i learned for myself. 

SUNLIGHT: The first thing that is required is sunlight, if it is Solar Photovoltaic or heat from the sun, if it is Solar-thermal, such as the water heaters we have been using for over 15 years. The Maldives boasts at average 9-12 hours of sunlight per day for 80% of the year at average. There is clearly no lack of sunlight for the day.

STORAGE: Solar energy requires batteries that will be used to store the energy from the day for usage at night. With current capacity of batteries, it is almost negligent to use it all through out a night with Air Conditioning and Refrigerators sucking in all the energy through out the night. The current batteries in the market are expensive as well as not to the efficiency we seek. 

STILL USE GRID: We still require the Grid usage, from the fossil fuel burning power stations, for night usage as well as in days when there is too less sunlight. Also the Grid can be used, with proper directions and guidelines, to sell back or give back excessive energy that is produced during the day, back to the power plant, and used for equal distribution. Hence we still cannot fully depend on Solar energy alone.

COST: It is too costly for a normal average pay citizen to install a full solar panel system with storage capacities for night usage and maybe even use LED lights to reduce energy consumption. The costs of batteries and panels, and the strengthening of the roofs to hold the panels, and the surface areas that are required to produce the needed energy per household is way too high. Then there is the man power and other costs for installations and maintenance as well. 

LOAN SCHEME: Japan and other European nations such as Germany boasts, government subsidies and loan schemes that allow for their citizens to enjoy renewable energy systems including solar power. Unless we come up with another such scheme the nation cannot simply afford it. There was renewable energy government loan scheme that was started with assistance of international donors back in 2010; which we have not heard of ever since. 

ASSISTANCE: As a small island nation, Maldives is the beneficiary of many loans and financial projects aimed at renewable energy. Looking at the news within this year alone we can see that. International donors encouraging the government to start renewable energy schemes. We should take them with open arms if we are to keep up our Environmental Image or think of our Future and the Earth and reduce our carbon footprint and simply for reasons, we WILL run out of fossil fuel soon enough.

CURRENT STATUS:There are private companies that install and initiate and provide solar and hybrid power schemes in Maldives already. Some islands and Schools and building already use a solar scheme in association with the State Power Companies as well as the Utility Companies and the private companies. These schemes are highly costly to install initially but in the long run they save finances and the world it self. Hence there is no QUESTION here on if we need to opt for solar or alternative energy sources.

Our government at current is adamant in finding fossil fuel from our reef beds! If only the people begin their journey by opting for ENERGY saving equipment and household property such as LED Bulbs and learn to be more energy wastage concious. Maldivian government should be INVESTING in renewable energy sources. We could provide facilitation for renewable energy companies of the world to experiment their new technologies in Maldives. We are so few in nation but with utter necessity for saving the environment, by encouraging renewable energy sources through out the world. Unless we show by action, our calls for world wide environmental awareness will go unheard. Follow what we preach!

LINKS:

Largest Local Company with renewable energy options:

http://www.renewableenergymaldives.com.mv/

https://www.climateinvestmentfunds.org/cif/node/5816

http://minivannews.com/environment/maldives-awarded-us6-million-loan-for-clean-energy-projects-75548

https://www.climateinvestmentfunds.org/cif/content/maldives-teacher-and-student-srep

Aamu Raiyithunge Party- a Common Man's Party, in Maldives???

The AAP of India has seen radical success with their push for anti-corruption and Right to Information legislatures to be implemented, with Mr.Kejriwal at it's helm. The party that was founded in 2012 has seen notable success in the Lok Sabhah. So how has such a new party been able to defy the veteran political giants of India? It seems to me that the appeal of the AAP lies in its foundation of grass root connections that they hold dearly, and the actions that follow their words, of allowing "clean politicians" to be developed. Rather than resurrecting dinosaurs, that had previously been part of a corrupt system, AAP resorted to giving opportunity for newer leaders with backgrounds that their constituents can be proud of. It is yet soon to say how far they will go or if they will stay true to their words; and for how long. For Politics and Power Corrupts most people, but unless we Hope and Desire we can never develop or take the chance for that development, for our nation.
To look at Maldives, a much smaller nation with less than 400,000 persons, it should not be difficult to find leaders that have not let the people down. Leaders, who will not forget their roots and their promises. Call me a romantic or an ideologist, but the world is showing examples of such ideologies and fantasies coming true. Which society would reject a Political Party that is comprised of the Common Man and represents their true interests, and pushes for an Open and Transparent government, and is adamant on implementation of Anti-Corruption measures? Which society would reject the man with the broom who will sweep their roads clean and flush their toilets and wash their cloths for them? An entity that would only be as powerful as it's members and supporters let it be, and directed by open good governance policies, has no hidden agendas and works for the common good for all; such can be a common persons party. The question is, is there room for such a new party in the Maldives? Are we capable of following in the footsteps of AAP? Why does Transparency scare the current regime of politicians? Maybe because they all belonged once, to a government that ruled the nation for 30 years with a so called 'iron fist' that they once revelled under!

Maldives NEEDS Change Once MORE!

AT SOME POINT we start to find ourselves looking back; at what we have accomplished and what we have failed at. The chances are we will repeat our own mistakes over and over again, unless we do something drastic about it. Eventually we have to break free from this circle of repetitive mistakes. Such is life.

MARCH 2014, we are back to where we once started. We are with the uttermost need for change once more. The only difference is, this time we need to change ourselves. Maybe Mahatma Gandhi was right; we should become the change we wish to see in this world. Maybe, that was our mistake then; we can correct it now. 

TODAY WE ENJOY the luxuries of technology and freedoms we did not have 5 years back, we only lack the luxury of time. The goals of yesterday are once more goals for us today. It would be easy to say forget the differences and unite to change the government; but we know that is not the way. We cannot forget how we came back to this situation once more, in full circle. We cannot let apathy grip the nation to its last breath. We cannot let a minority govern the majority simply due to mere lack of will and blatant laziness. We can easily say the past is the past and move on; but that will not be enough for history and the sake of our future generations.

THE ONLY WAY to do this, would be to educate and be aware. To learn and crate a knowledge based society that is strong in their beliefs and even stronger in their determination for development; of self and the nation. The duty owed to ourselves and the nation are ones we need to fulfill for we shall be judged on these duties.

UNLESS WE CAN EDUCATE and protect our younger generations we cannot create a future generation. If the political parties fail in creating younger generation of leading politicians and statesmen, and the withering veterans remain in power; there will be no future. There is almost no hope for the current failed politicians and if we are to wait until they; very likely pass away; then what would happen to the parties themselves? Wither and waste as well?

 NO WE CANNOT! The Parties need stronger programs for youth development and recruitment. Our education system needs an overhaul as we need more thinking and questioning and curious young adults. People who will not take anyone’s words merely for the sake but research and learn and make an educated decision. We need young adults that balance life, enriching their soul, physical body and life as a whole. Young people who are passionate in their beliefs, and love their nation.

THERE IS ALWAYS HOPE! We cannot just throw in the towel now! We have been lead to this moment by visionaries and idealists and believers in freedom and democracy and strong faith. It is time that we all chip in and collectively carry that torch. A nation is a structure that never finishes being built; we need to reinforce and redecorate regularly. It is a tree that needs constant watering, and a book that has to be carefully handled and read with an open mind. A Nation is an empty vase unless we plant the flowers of different colors and shades. A Nation is a boat that sails against and with the wind, depending on who is steering. 

What we could become as a Nation!!!

The Maldives is the Island in the Sun; with so much sun that we should probably start experimenting with solar technologies. Why are we not? Can we not bring in foreign investments in the shape of technological firms that research on renewable energies rather than making political statements of utilising Green technologies just to make headlines? The government Flats and Office's and other buildings for public and it's own usage can be of renewable technologies right? I wonder why we make all these studies and report on Green Technologies but really do not do anything on it? Is it the Capital costs that are too high or is it because specific companies and businesses might lose their profits if we invest in Green Technologies?
What about research from our Oceans and Coral Reefs? Professor Ugail has an island now in Lhaviyani Atoll that i await to see some solid research come out of. What about the Marine Research Centre? Can we not expand it? Is there no investment in new medicinal developments or Marine research that might be beneficial to the world as well as Maldives?
I wonder often why we do not produce world class Divers? Can our Coast Guard be turned into one of the finest Diving Units in the world and maybe specialise in salvage? Maybe then we will have more vessels donated from international donors.
What about a Solar Hybrid Hydro kind of technologies that can make a electricity grid that can power up the whole country as well as power one of the most advanced Information Technology hubs? The IT Hub can support and host servers for world renown multi nationals and banks and so forth. IT is a great field for a nation that has limited resources and land to utilise. Our dependency on Fisheries is vulnerable. Another nuclear leak into the oceans can deplete our fishes and contaminate our waters.
Then there is the clear blue waters that surround us. International standard Ocean swimmers? Maybe in the long run that can be something we develop.
We have limited land and limited human capital; but if effectively utilised we can grasp development at rates our neighbours cannot. We have lesser problems as a society than the rest of the nations. We are unique but we refuse to capitalise on that uniqueness.
Of course we need a stable government to do all this; but more than that we need a ready to move population; that is aware and up for it. Unless the people demand these changes from our politicians, we will be stuck in this loop of building sea walls and flats. There are so many areas of development and technology and productive activities that can preserve our fragile ecosystem and protect our islands. It is just too easy to say "or we are tiny islands far away and we cannot develop them it is too expensive"; since we it is not expensive to build Bridges between those islands a hundred airports we do not need. Healthcare, Education, Sports Centres and much more can be amongst the list of productive and economically viable areas of development that we can invest and benefit from. Maybe one day we will see it a reality!

The flight that has landed in our hearts

MY THOUGHTS: Thousands of people are tweeting and updating their status with ideas, rumours, links and heart felt emotions with regards to the Malaysian Airlines flight that is still missing. The officials and rescue workers from all over the world are busy at work and the media trailing, every step of their way. I cannot even begin to imagine the pain and anguish of not knowing where the loved ones are; being felt by the families of the passengers. The nightmares that must follow them every night; as the strings of hope they hang on to break away one by one.

SELF CENTRED: To add to all this confusion and sorrow are the self-centred persons who should rather tie a stone around their feet and jump into the ocean. These people are playing with the feelings of the emotionally drained and information deprived families and loved ones. It is all fun and good if we knew what really happened and lives weren't at stake. I made a funny remark as well when I first heard the news. It was a surprise when the first headline appeared, “Malaysian Airlines Flight is missing”, but realising that the lives of hundreds of people on board and the families tied to them were in the balance; I simply felt empty myself. Imagine if someone made fun of a tragedy in our own nation and how we would feel. I wonder what really the people of the island of Maldives saw on Saturday morning? 

POLITICS: Then there is the various news agencies weaving theories like grandmothers knitting. Maybe stories such as this should be reserved for pure facts alone. False hope can hurt more than anything else, in this situation. Malaysian opposition politicians are ready to utilize the scenario to demonstrate the government’s incapability’s. The rest of the world uses it to mask other serious issues such as Russia and the Ukraine situation.

MOST IMPORTANT NEWS TODAY: this is the most heartless thing for one to say maybe, but it has to be said as well. There are thousands of people dying in Africa and the Middle East and for a moment we have forgotten about them. Unfortunately the missing MAS flight's news was a break from all those other serious issues, that once more will be spread across the headlines, all over the world.  If and when the airline is found, there will be relief for so many people in so different aspects. Today’s Malaysia will be tomorrow’s Ukraine or Syria once again.

MORAL OF THE STORY: there is no moral to it that I should dictate. The moral is whatever you find for yourself, reading the stories of the families in pain. Question yourself if whatever comment you make, on social media, with regards to persons lives; are they going to hurt or heal? This is once more an opportunity to look within ourselves and realise what we really have become, with easily available social media, thinning social boundaries and the ability to find support for all the wrong ideas we express, with ease, on the internet. I pray for the families and the persons on the MAS flight, and i pray for all the persons suffering through out the world. For today it might be you, tomorrow it would be me.