Yay, Everyone Can Keep Their Passports.

New Labour Law putting employers, aka sponsors, in their place indicate that, though it might be slower than some people want, Saudi is changing.  Breaking news this week - employers are not to keep workers passports anymore.

Not that employers were legally allowed to keep their employees passports anyway, but they did it out of habit and because there was no law stating, quite obviously, that they weren't supposed to.   Now Saudi sponsors are going to have to change their ways or risk getting fined if they continue in their wicked ways.  If I was a worker bee, I'd head off today and get back what's rightfully mine!

A couple of years back I wrote about the issue of employers keeping worker passports in the post, That Passport Is Mine, Thanks.  In it I explained how the passport issue was linked to Saudi sponsorship.  It's nice to know at least a part of that post is obsolete.

It's funny that this new law was announced this week because just last week I was having a chat with our new compound manager (we'll call her the CM), answering a few questions she had about how the place operated.  Not only is she new to compound management, she is also fairly new to Saudi (she's been here about four months).  While chatting, one of our security guys came in to the office.  He walked over and handed his passport to our CM.  She looked at him quite blankly and said, 'What is this?'
He said, 'I back my vacation.  This for you'.
They looked at each other for moment, both almost as still as statues, she not comprehending what he was saying, while he was most likely wondering if there was a problem.  She turned and looked questioningly at me.

I said, 'It is common practice for employers to keep employee passports, though it isn't a legal practice.  You can ring Head Office and find out what to do or you can decide here and now what is best'.
She turned to the security guy and said, 'Keep it.  It's yours.  I don't need it'.
He looked rather surprised.  He hesitated a moment.  She waved him away and he walked off pocketing his passport.  (I'll have to check later if she gave him back his iqama).
'Do they really do that?' she asked.
'Yep', I said.
'Oh my god.  I don't believe it', she exclaimed in utter disbelief.
Like I said, she's new here.

Here's a write up by Saudi Gazette on the new law - SR2000 fine for keeping workers passports.
My initial reaction to the news was a double take - I had to read it again just to be sure I'd read it right!  Then I was like, 'Wow, OMG, Yes, fist pump, high five, Whoop Whoop, Party Party'.  (Ok, so I may have been in the sun too long).  As I said, Saudi is changing.  Here's hoping if any Saudi sponsors don't heed the new law, the Saudi judiciary will do exactly as the new law claims.



Ka Kite,
Kiwi

Sport For Girls In Saudi Arabia

Let's Go Girls

Woohoo, girls can do sports in state schools.  Read this, from Arab News...

For the first time in Saudi Arabia, a government school has introduced sports for girls, after a call for the lifting of a ban on women in sports, press reports said on Sunday.Girls at Amal Institute in Jeddah competed in a volleyball tournament last week after the school built new sports facilities, also for basketball, tennis and hockey, Al-Hayat Arabic daily said. 

In April, the Shoura Council recommended after a heated debate that the longstanding ban, already relaxed in private schools last year, be scrapped.  The council cited a ruling the late Sheikh Abdul Aziz bin Baz, a former mufti, that women were entitled to play sports “within the limits set by Islamic law.” 

Big Up's Shoura Council.
'Nuff said. 
Bring it on!



Ka Kite,
Kiwi

The Great Saudi MERS Coronavirus Malady

The Saudi Gazette ran a story the other day on the death of a health worker in a government hospital to Middle Eastern Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) - Coronavirus.  He was the second health care worker to die of the disease in a Saudi Ministry of Health Hospital.  As always with life in the Magic Kingdom, there is an interesting story that can be found in the dusty haze of Saudi's handling of the Coronavirus situation.  Here's my take on 'The Great Saudi MERS Coronavirus Malady'

MERS CoV (an official term for the virus) has been quietly rumbling around Saudi Arabia since being discovered in 2012.  According to figures in the Gazette, since being identified 369 people have been infected with the disease and 111 have died - a fairly high mortality rate, wouldn't you say?

The virus has also been turning up in other parts of the globe - the latest countries to report MERS CoV include Egypt, Malaysia, the Philippines, Greece, Yemen and most recently, America.  Given that Saudi is a mecca for foreign workers from all over the world it is hardly surprising that the virus is being carried offshore to everywhere else.

The health experts had a few questions about the MERS virus (as it's locally known) when it first turned up on the scene - Where did it originate from?  What was the mode of transmission?  How could it be treated?   Two years later, they are still asking the same questions.  They think the virus originated from an animal - possibly camels.  They know that the virus spreads between people who are in close contact, but aren't sure of exact transmission.  There is still no vaccine for prevention or cure for seriously affected cases.

When news of the virus first broke to the public in Saudi Arabia, people were a little concerned given that not much was known about it other than a quarter of the people who caught it died.  The public were understandably a little nervous and wanted answers to questions - mostly, how not to catch it!

By the looks of things, Saudi wasn't quite sure what to do with the growing concern regarding the virus, so settled for their usual ploy of 'The Great Cover Up'  (sounds abaya-ish doesn't it - they must have thought the virus was a woman!), mostly in relation to honestly informing the public of MERS severity, but also, apparently, on advising and updating interested international health organisations assisting research of the new bug.

Educating the public on steps to take to reduce chances of catching this, or any, virus were a non-event.  In fact, recent reports suggest that, under instructions from the previous Health Minister, health care workers were threatened if they raised alarm about the outbreak.  (Said Minister was recently sacked for his mis-handling of the whole affair).  For all the Ministry's attempts to keep information about MERS on the down low, media kept reporting that people were dying from it.

Latest news suggests the virus appears to be 'surging' in Saudi, which is a bit of a concern.  It may indicate that the virus has mutated into a form that can more easily be passed from person to person or it may simply mean more cases are being tested and diagnosed.  Whatever the cause,  I assume this surge and its associated concern, is the reason for the appointment of a new Health Minister a few weeks ago, who has hit the ground running - stepping up public awareness campaigns, creating MERS task forces, setting up designated treatment centers and even Tweeting and Facebooking information and updates, and encouraging everybody to take steps to protect themselves and their families.

It seems the health care workers, if not the country, have heaved a huge sigh of relief that the Cover Up on the MERS Coronavirus is over and now they can focus on taking the actions necessary to keep themselves, and the rest of the community healthy, safe in the knowledge that the government will be aiding them.  On a recent visit to a hospital more than a few hospital staff were wearing masks while on routine work.  And even out in the public the number of face masked expats in crowded public places, like supermarkets, has increased.  (I'm just waiting for the religious fervent to tell all foreign women to start wearing niqabs as MERS protection).

I had the chance to talk to my doctor about viruses the other day.  I've had a bit of a chest infection lately so thought it best to seek out some medical treatment.  It turns out my infection was viral, determined when there was absolutely no response to the antibiotics he prescribed.  Viruses, said the Doctor on my return visit, are going to kill off the human race one day!  What a pleasant thought.

This is what else he told me, in a nutshell:

ARCHOO!

Viruses, unlike bacteria, are smart little suckers.  Most bacteria tend to die off outside the body in a matter of seconds if there is no food source or the environment isn't conducive to staying alive.  Many viruses, however, can survive outside the body much longer than bacteria - up to 14 hours he was saying.  Which means, if a bloke with a bacterial infection sneezes on your clean, dry table, the bacteria will likely die soon after and anyone else putting his hand on the table and then rubbing his eye or picking his nose won't get the infection.  However, if that bloke has a viral infection, sneezes on the table and you practice the bad human habits previously mentioned after laying your hand on the table anytime within the survival period of the virus which, as previously stated, is quite a while, you will get the virus.  And if you aren't particularly healthy or are susceptible to viral infection, you will get sick.  Lovely.

Viruses, he said, are also able to mutate very quickly (a matter of hours in some cases, apparently) into some other form and scientists haven't yet figured out how to preempt what form a mutating virus might take.  Added to that, for most viral infections there is no anti-viral medication.  So even if we could guess the change, we probably couldn't do anything about it, anyway.  Once we've caught a viral infection, all we can do is relieve symptoms and support our immune system as it attempts to deal with the problem greebly.

In order to not catch viruses, we have to start paying attention to our human behavior.  Which means a couple of basic things really - washing hands and cleaning stuff.  

The single most important thing you can do to prevent the spread of disease is to wash your hands regularly - before, and especially after, touching anyone else or anything that someone else has touched (or coughed and sneezed on).  ( It's amazing how many things people actually touch in the course of a day - I attempted to take note this morning, till the exercise got boring and I gave up - my stickability issues run deep!)  If you do touch someone else or something touched by others then: 

Don't pick your nose.
Don't rub your eyes.
Don't eat with your fingers...
- not until you've washed your hands! 

Of course, staying out of breathing, coughing or sneezing range of coughing, sneezing, heavy breathing types is also a good idea.  Wearing a mask as a barrier to picking up air-borne coughed a sneezed things wouldn't hurt at all, though people may look at you like you're an over-reacting hypochondriac - that is until they get sick and you are not!  

If you are the coughing and sneezing type, stay home, in bed, away from other people!
If you insist on subjecting friends, family and the general public to your presence, have plenty of tissues, or wear a mask, into which you can cough, sneeze or heavily breathe.   Wash your hands regularly - especially after coughing or sneezing into them because you didn't buy a mask or bring a tissue! 

And stay away from camels! 

Obviously my doctor and I were having a fine old chat and these fairly simple precautions aren't new nor are they rocket science, but they should reduce the risk of catching MERS CoV or any other nasty bug for that matter, said my Doctor.  

It seems the messages he was passing on to me, or something along similar lines, is now going to be spread throughout the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia courtesy of the new Minister of Health.   And I think he will be talking to a population prepared to listen.  One friend told me of weddings that have been down sized due to concern about MERS and my husband sent through this little diagram he had received from his office...

Of course the government is in a bit of a quandary what to do about the Hajj and Umrah pilgrimages.  Masses of people gathering in one place is like a viral hoe down.  Though the Chinese say they may have unearthed a discovery that my lead to treatment, my guess is the cure is a ways off yet, so the Great Saudi MERS Coronavirus Malady gets to live on a while longer yet.

Ka Kite,
Kiwi

Someone Doesn't Care About The Health Message.

There was an article in today's Arab News (aka The Green Truth) about removing school canteens and only having vending machines to provide students with food.  I have to admit, it triggered my pessimistic tendencies.  Either someone higher up the food chain in this country has no idea about Saudi's dietary related health issues, or is simply choosing to ignore recent health data and messages calling for improved health of the people.

Almost every week in the Arab News, and most other media in Saudi, are articles on how fat and unhealthy Saudi's are becoming from lack of exercise and Western dietary influences.  Along with those articles come government promises to 'do something about it'.

To their credit they have made various moves to address the problem, one strategy being specifying the type of food to come out of school canteens.

'Why on earth', I thought, 'would you go to the trouble of banning unhealthy food in school canteens and then decide to kit the whole place out with vending machines?'  And then it hit me.  Because you can - and in this country the only people who can do whatever they want are those near the top of the Saudi tree. ( It's interesting that Saudi tree's are covered in thorns!)

Camel hiding behind thorny Saudi shrubbery.

I couldn't help thinking that Someone Highly Placed has found a way to make some cash and is his using his influence to ride roughshod over any initiatives put in place to really help his countrymen (even if they are only school kids), and is only focused on  helping him (or perhaps her) self.  And then I came across this article, also in Arab News late last year, about Vending Machine Distribution Agreement.  One can't help but wonder if these are the machines going into schools.

Saudi is a fascinating country and, contrary to a lot of the taunting press that goes viral via social websites, the folks running the place are not giant ignoramuses. They do, however, face a bit of a battle with some entrenched attitudes, some more recently wired into the psyche than others.

Wasta is a word bandied about in this region and, in a nutshell, it means 'Influence'.  It can be used for good purposes or otherwise.  Within its powerful sphere hide greed, arrogance and selfishness, traits that seem to be an accepted part of the culture of this country.  It is quite obvious to anyone who's lived here a little while that the only people able to influence two Ministries (Health and Education according to this article) are those with lots of Wasta.

Watching the rapidly expanding girth of the people over the last few years, the big wigs are well aware that the health of this nation is a bit of an issue.    They're building numerous hospitals and health clinics to assist the cause but, as someone who has worked in the health arena for a while knows, hospitals are like the ambulance at the bottom of the cliff.  A better idea is to keep people away from the cliff's edge altogether.  Vending machines in schools is like giving the cliff a party sign and sending out invitations.

I hope they can this plan. I hope Miss Pessimism is completely wrong and can go back to her corner.  I also hope that someone higher up the hierarchy chain decides he cares more about the health of his people than some bugger who's bought a boatload of vending machines and needs to get rid of them!

And if, as a friend suggested yesterday, Saudization is part of this plan (though lord knows how because sacking canteen workers and replacing them with machines doesn't strike me as helping the cause) then perhaps The Powers That Be could look at 'Kid Chow', one of a number of prepared food companies experiencing some healthy growth, according to the Wall Street Journal, and take a leaf out of their lunchbox menu for a business idea.


Ka Kite,
Kiwi

Saudi Women's Movement

I'm a spectator in Saudi, and that's as it should be.  Changes in Saudi should be at the direction of Saudi's themselves.  One of the things I'm really enjoying watching though, is the way Saudi women are on the move. And it's fabulous.

Women related happenings of note recently - First, women were appointed to the Shoura Council.  Then, earlier this month the first woman was registered by the Justice Ministry as a legal trainee allowed to practice law, and you can read about it in this post - Saudi First Female Lawyer Faces Huge Obstacles.

Earlier this week  Eman Fahad Al Nafjan, via her blog Saudi Women's Weblog, was letting everyone know about a Saudi Women and Inheritance Seminar.

And today Saudi's first ever domestic violence ad revealed.

Being a spectator watching Saudi women on the move is certainly exciting.


Ka Kite,
Kiwi

On Ya Bikes Ladies.

Big News - Saudi Ladies are allowed on bikes and buggies.
I'm pumped, thrilled, over-joyed - and I'm not Saudi!

It looks like somebody has had to eat their words.  That person being me.  A few weeks back there was a news article about the Bearded Ones not being happy about women riding quad bikes.  And soon after that there was another one about the increase of women involved in quad bike accidents due to abayas getting wrapped up in the wheels.  I was fairly certain, and told Hubster so, that the next announcment would be "Women Forbidden From Riding Quad Bikes Due to Danger".  So this latest bit of news is a real turn up for the books.

I've read the article in the Saudi Gazette very carefully, more than once.  Just double checking it's true!  I love the term 'wearing fully modest dress'.  That does not mean 'abaya'.  That means 'modest'.  You don't need an abaya to dress modestly.  I admit I've never worn an abaya when out on the bikes.  Hat, sunnies, longs and t-shirt are what I wear on quad bikes.  Jeans, jacket, boots and helmet when I'm the motorbike.

Cycling on the DQ I opt for bike shorts and t-shirt.  Though when cycling up the road I wear track pants, one of Hubsters shirts and a hat with my hair tucked up under it.  Road riding usually takes place early morning, when no-one is up, or night time, when they can't really see.  It's been a bit of a bug bear of mine that I can't freely ride out our compound gate - but that day has come.  Hasn't it?  I mean 'Women are free to ride bikes in parks, seafronts, among other areas', means out my front gate down empty morning roads, doesn't it?  I reckon it does! Yip, yahoo!!

Apparently foreign women were never forbidden from riding bikes or buggies which, I gotta say, is news to this foreign bird.  Even the General of the Traffic Police didn't make the point quite that clear when Hubster asked him one day about his wahine being able to ride on the back of his Motoguzzi.  Though the rational may explain why, the couple of times we were pulled over while I was on the Guzzi, the police didn't seem to mind at all.  Once they saw our iqama's they would exclaim to Hubster - "Zawja", meaning wife, shake his hand and send us on our merry way.   According to the General, they know westerners are a bit different so, provided we aren't doing anything that would attract undue attention, they leave us be.

This latest bit of news means two things.  Hubster is getting a bicycle so we can ride through Wadi Hanifah together.  I can't wait!  And next on my list of things to do is buy myself a Harley - an 883 Superlow.  There's an absolute beauty in the Harley Shop now, because I'm fairly certain women licensed to drive is next on the cards.



Ka Kite,
Kiwi

New Year Snow in Saudi

It's snowing in Saudi.
Up in the northern regions.

The locals have come out in force to enjoy the unusual weather.  This picture from the Arab News is exactly what I'd expect to find on a snow covered road in Saudi - cars strewn about the place on purpose.

And as this news clip on English al-Arabiya website shows, Saudi's are taking the opportunity to do what they do best - picnic and be Flamin' Galah's in their cars.  Good on them, I say.

('Flamin' galah' is an Ozzy term for someone who is a bit of a fool, but in a loveable way.  For more information on Galah's visit The Australian Galah).

Galah

The cool temperatures have even reached down here to Riyadh.  It's so chilly in our apartment I'm trying to find my slippers!  Socks aren't doing the trick warming my feet.  Apart from the fact most of the soles are threadbare with holes at the ends threw which my big toes peek, our floors are cold, hard slate tiles so the chill is going through my socks.  Not that I'm complaining.  Oh no.  I'm grateful I'm indoors.

This cold snap isn't limited to Saudi.  Most of the Middle East is in for a freezing, which isn't good news for residents who remain in wore torn Syria, nor their fellow countrymen living in refugee quarters across the border.  Spare a thought for them suffering in this New Year snow.


Ka Kite,
Kiwi



Photo credits:
www.theatlantic.com
www.birdsfreewallpaper99.blogspot.com

www.nzpounamu.com

Saudi Women Are Working on Cosmetic Counters.

Riyadh Gallery

On my most recent trip out and about in Riyadh the other day it hit me how many Saudi women are working on cosmetic counters and reception desks these days.

Some time ago the King decreed that women were to be employed in lingerie shops which duly came to pass without the world coming to an end as some conservatives were trying to tell people would happen.  He followed this up with a decree that all cosmetic counters must be manned by women.  And soon, according to this report in the Saudi Gazette, women will be working in abaya shops, clothing stores and numerous other retail outlets.

Make-up counters and lingerie stores aren't the only place you will find Saudi women at work today. A recent trip to the hospital found a shifting sea of black amongst the admin/reception staff.   New arrivals to the country have complained how unwelcoming it is to approach a woman in black. It pays to remember that a year ago you wouldn't have been met by a woman at the counter, much less one in black.
This is progress.
Celebrate it. 

Keeping the youthful population of Saudi from revolting as they have in the rest of the Middle East due largely to unresponsive, out of touch, rip off leadership probably had something to do with these decisions.  

The pressure to deal with the high unemployment of Saudi women and the nonsensicalness of demanding extreme gender segregation then making strange men sell women their underwear and look deeply into their eyes to tell them what color eye shadow suits their personality was probably added incentive to implementing the changes.

As mall trawling is not one of my regular pass times it wasn't until yesterday that I met a wonderful young Saudi woman providing customer service at a makeup counter in a major department store.

At this point in my post I can hear my daughters - 'Mum, you're at a make-up counter!  OMG!' 
Make-up is not something I do, apart from a little lippy now and then.  Skin care, yes.  Make up, no.  The stop at the make-up counter was for my Saudi friend, for what is a mall trip without company.

Photo Credit:www.theage.com.au

We got to talking with this young sales assistant because Saudi women are inquisitive people and are not averse to asking whatever question is on their mind.  She was interested in how an expat came to be out shopping with a Saudi.  We were interested in how she got her job.

Her story, which N translated for me, goes something like this:

She needs the job to support her through her study course.  She has every intention of working her way to the top of the profession she has chosen to study.  The cosmetic job was advertised at the institute where she studies.  She put in her application and got the job.

She gets up in the morning and heads off to an institute to study her course from 7am till 2pm.  Then she comes to the department store and works from 4pm till 10pm.  She does this most days of the week. On days when there is a special promotion (and promotions often last 2 - 3 days), she has to give up her attendance at study to work on the shop floor all day.  She admitted she is very tired.

N and I discussed her story as we wondered around the mall.  Our discussion reminded me of two things that are oft times overlooked by expats as we comment on how different life is in the Magic Kingdom - Not all Saudi's are rich.  Not all Saudi's are lazy.

Of course quite a few are rich. 
Obscenely so.

And a lot more are...not lazy exactly.   Lazy doesn't appropriately define the current general Saudi attitude (mostly of the males) to work.  Lazy implies a lack of energy.   Saudi work ethic, or lack of, is more complex than lacking energy.  There's a whole raft of religious, cultural, economic and historical factors that contribute to the less than optimal work attitude of many of today's Saudi,(especially the men), and I'm sure someone out there is studying it and writing a thesis on it.

With so many stories circulating about how Saudi's, (mostly the men), don't like to, don't want to or don't know how to work it was inspiring to meet a young woman who is taking hold of the changes being implemented by the current King with both hands and making the most of them.  And she's working hard.

It has been said by many that the women will change this country (as they have most others - can you feel the female bias?).  If this one young woman is a reflection of the attitude that the female half of the Saudi population possesses then watch out men.  You're about to be steam rolled by women working on make-up counters!

Ka Kite,
Kiwi

Biometrics to register expat women

Today in Saudi Gazette......

Biometrics system to register all expat women RIYADH – The Directorate General for Passports is to start registering all expatriate women on its biometrics system from Saturday, March 31. Col. Badr Bin Muhammad Al-Malik, Director of the Information Affairs Administration and Spokesman of the Directorate General for Passports, said the system will be implemented across the Kingdom. The first stage will begin when expatriate women submit applications for the first issue of a new residence permit (iqama), when transferring sponsorship, changing their profession or replacing a lost iqama. Al-Malik called on employers to visit the fingerprint centers to register the expatriate female employees. They can visit the directorate’s website www.gdp.gov.sa to see a list of all the centers. A biometrics system includes, but is not limited to, fingerprints, face recognition, retina or iris recognition, palm prints and DNA, according to Wikipedia. Meanwhile according to a circular issued by the authorities, all expatriates living in Saudi Arabia should have machine-readable passports by Nov. 24, 2012, failing which, they may face problems while commuting in and out of the country, the Saudi government has said. – SG/SPA __

Biometrics, for those of you who don't know,  is an identity management and monitoring system.  It's usage will apparently better protect people and countries from identity fraud and terrorism.  Countries utilise it to strengthen security - which basically means keep an eye on people and their movements. 

Biometric systems use various human characteristics to determine identity which includes fingerprinting and face, iris and voice recognition technology.

Saudi Arabia started introducing the system back in 2010 as part of 'getting the country organised'.  At the airport customs there are eye-scanners and fingerprinting pads - neither of which I've had the pleasure to use over the past two years of coming and going.  Not sure why not.  I'm guessing that gear will disappear once the Kingdom has set up Biometric Centers in various locations around the country for all those global adventurers who want to get out of, and back into, the country.  Presumably, with the introduction of machine readable passports all over the globe, Smartgates will start being installed at Saudi international airports fairly soon.  Perhaps when they start the rumoured airport revamps.

The Biometric system is expected to improve services to visa applicants - presumably that includes both exit and entry visas.  Does this mean we will get our entry and exit visa's any faster?  Will we still need entry and exit visas?  Will employers still take passports off employees, even though they aren't supposed to?

Time will tell.

Though Biometrics for visa's may be new to Saudi Arabia, some firms have already introduced biometric fingerprinting as clock in - clock out systems for their employees.  The first company to do this in Saudi did so to ensure the people they paid to work actually arrived at work and stayed at work.    For employees who still insisted on leaving work for hours at a time the company implemented strategies to penalise them, which was mostly docking their pay.

You can imagine that didn't go down well. 

It is reasonable for a company to expect their employees are getting paid to work, but this is Saudi.  It is also commonly accepted that most of this modern Saudi generation (the ones higher up the hierarchy that is) have no idea what a hard days work actually is.  The locals (male particularly) have a reputation of tiring easily - Hubby, who stays at work till 8 or 9pm most work days, tells the story of a local colleague who stayed till 8 pm one evening out of the two years said colleague had been employed at the company, and couldn't come to work the next day cos he was exhausted by his effort.

Is a biometric system at work going to make locals be any more productive? 
I doubt it.

And what affect does form of timekeeping system have on the Saudi women at home.  Women who can't go anywhere unless their men can take a very long lunch, (I've heard one call it his second job lunch), to cart them around.  Either the women have to stay home all day or the family income takes a hit.  It's a safe bet the effect on women or the fabric of Saudi society wasn't taken into consideration when companies introduced a biometric system at work.

The article above focuses on expat women being the first to be biometircally registered. 
I wonder why.

Picture credit: mrscottyl.blogspot.com

Farasan Island in The News

Farasan Island was in the news.  Saudi's first ever Solar Power Plant was opened there earlier this month.

By ARAB NEWS

Published: Oct 2, 2011 00:25 Updated: Oct 2, 2011 00:31

JEDDAH: Abdullah bin Mohammed Al-Suwayed, undersecretary of Jazan governorate, on Saturday inaugurated the first solar energy plant in the Kingdom to generate electricity with a capacity of 500 kilowatts.

Saudi Electricity Company (SEC) established the plant in collaboration with Japanese Showa Shell. SEC's Chief Executive Officer Ali Saleh Al-Barrak, Saudi Aramco President Khalid Al-Falih and the Japanese Ambassador to the Kingdom Shigeru Endo attended the inauguration.

The establishment of the solar power plant comes in line with SEC's efforts to introduce clean energy and save the transfer of equivalent of 28,000 barrels of diesel to the Farasan Island, southwest Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabia hopes to reduce its use of fossil fuels that it would rather export by building nuclear and renewable power plants. The Farasan project should reduce diesel burning for power generation on the island.

Under the agreement, Showa Shell will own the project for up to 15 years, after which the assets will be transferred to SEC. Royal Dutch Shell owns one-third of Showa Shell, while Saudi Aramco holds about 15 percent.

I did wonder when Saudi was going to go Solar given that almost every morning when I look out my window the sky is a clear and brilliant blue.  The heat attached goes without saying.

This latest news sent me on a search of Saudi's other solar projects - there are a few being investigated by KAUST (King Abdullah Universtiy of Science and Technology), one includes using the sun for Saudi's water supply as explained in this article from KAUST's media room.

Saudi needs to find alternative ways of powering the country.  The Powers That Be are well aware that, one day, the oil will run out and that the current use is non-sustainable.  Internet sources (that most reliable fact generating machine) gives Saudi's current rate of oil production at around 8million barrels a day, most of that sent out to all points of the globe.

According to Hubby, who had to do research on the subject for a client, of it's total oil production Saudi Arabia uses 1.5million barrels a day to run the country's electricity and for fuel (though other estimates say it's closer to 3million barrels).

The Powers That Be have kept electricity and water at very low rates for the population.  So low that the cost of producing both are far in excess of what the people pay.  For example, it costs 10SAR to produce one bottle of water sold for 1 SAR.  I failed maths horribly, but even I can tell that kind of commerce isn't going to keep you on the plus side when the natural resource runs out.  Increasing prices is definitely on the cards...though it must be done slowly or the people may revolt.

Of course, should the rest of the world reduce dependence on oil based products then Saudi will have a lot more to go around.

But even so, the oil is going to run out one day - estimates vary but around 90 years is the figure according to local gossip. 

Saudi should be applauded for facing this fact and actively researching other energy sources.  Using what shines from the sky every day was a no-brainer.  It's just a shame there's so much dust blowing around - it tends to mess solar power up, just a little.

Farasan Island was chosen because it has the highest sunshine hours in the country.  One hopes that the plant is not an eye sore on Farasan and one presumes that solar energy production does not produce pollution that will spoil the crystal clear waters surrounding the islands.  Aramco, being a very reputable organisation, will have kept these factors in mind I'm sure.

I had to chuckle when I heard that Farasan Islands was in the news for having the first Solar Power Plant in Saudi Arabia given that, on our trip to Farasan one year ago, there were parts of the islands that had only received electricity a year prior, now here they are producing megawattage.

Women to Vote in Saudi Arabia

Women can now vote in Saudi.

Or can they?

Glenn read the article online, in the Arab News, the paper we call 'The Green Truth'.

'RIYADH: Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah announced Sunday that Saudi women would be allowed to stand and vote in municipal elections and also become members of the Shoura Council.'

Hubby's reaction was mixed.
My reaction was....doubtful.

Not because this is bad news. It's great.  Saudi Women voting in municipal elections and Saudi Women on the Shoura Council.  Awesome.

It's just that Saudi is a dictatorship monarchical regime.
High level government positions are filled by royal appointment.

Municipal voting has only taken place in Saudi every 30 years, give or take.  Sure the King has said 2015 is the big year for Saudi women....but will he still be around then? Will his replacement - who by the way cannot be voted in by the general populace -  hold fast to this decree?  Will any moves have been made to ensure female voting is a reality by that time.

I gather the conservatives aren't that keen and they have this way of being....annoying.  You can bet they'll be playing power games over the next few years to make sure this vote doesn't go ahead.  And though the current head of Shoura is happy to support the Kings announcement, should women actually get on to the council I have this niggling feeling conservatives will ensure conditions are put in place to limit women's effectiveness. 

Maybe I'm being unnecessarily negative but if there's one thing I've learnt about Saudi Arabia it's that what Saudi says, Saudi either doesn't or is extremely, extremely slow to come through with in practice. (Just look at the driving issue!)

I do admit to being more interested, and hopeful, about women on the Shoura Council as from 2013 than voting because the council is more active (845 sessions held and 1174 declarations issued between 2005 - 2009) than the countries voting history (grand total of 3 elections).

What is the Shoura Council?

Shoura Council

The Shoura Council is a group of individuals (currently all men) who are appointed by, and who discuss issues and make recommendations to, the king.  They are an advisory council so their powers are limited.  Part of their role is to propose draft laws, though only the king can pass the law.  They can interpret laws and advise the King on any policies, international treaties and economic plans.  They also get to review the national budget.

I understand there are currently 150 men on the council who spread themselves around 12 committees.   Coming from a Runanga (word for tribal organisation) with 15 on their board who can never agree on anything, I'd be interested to know how 150 come to consensus decisions.

How many women will make it onto the council is currently unknown.   Will it be 50/50?  Will they only be able to participate in meetings via closed circuit television because gender mixing is a no-no like the current, and only, female government Deputy Minister for Education, leaving the boys to their own private party?  Time will tell.

The Kings speech talked about refusing to "marginalize women in society in all roles that comply with Shariah".

I'm guessing he's referring to the future because Saudi's present is full of women being marginalized in roles that, as far as I can tell, though of course I'm no expert, comply with Shariah, the code of law derived from the Quran and the teachings and example of Mohammed.

The future should be bright for Saudi women who can look forward to engaging in public debates, as women did in the early days of Islam, and getting involved in decision-making processes something I hear women also did back then.  Recognition of the contribution that women made to politics in the past and that is noted in the relevant Islamic literature, means this proclamation is long overdue. 

Saudi women could even lead the military because apparently Aisha, one of the wives of the Prophet Muhammad, commanded an army of men while riding on the then accepted mode of transport - a camel.  

Comparing that piece of history to this article about a women sentenced to lashes for driving a car (todays accepted mode of transport)  just days after the King has made his historic announcement, it's rather sad, and obvious, how far women's status in Saudi has fallen over the centuries.

Turning women's right to vote and becoming members of an important council in Saudi Arabia from words to reality may, like many things in Saudi, go so slowly it's in danger of going backwards - let's hope not.




Ka Kite,
Kiwi

Female Cashiers and Lust

"There are female cashiers working in a HyperPanda Supermarket in Jeddah".  Woohoo!!
This big news?
Why?

Well, to put it simply, women aren't supposed to work. That was actually Glenn’s trump card in getting me here though after 4 months, I’d had enough of this trump card – it’s boring as here with nothing meaningful to do.  It is possible to do lots of non-meaningful things, but that’s like trading myself in for something I’m not…

Anyway, I understand the Quran specifically states that men are the 'providers and maintainers of women' meaning they bring home the bacon – turkey bacon that is because pork bacon is off the menu in this country.

Saudi women in particular are dissuaded from working. I'm presuming that somewhere the Quran specifically states a woman's sole function in life is to marry, reproduce, look after the kids and serve their men.

That being said, there are a number of Saudi women I know of who do work, but largely behind the scenes in business or in female specific areas – like the ladies only section of the bank or girls schools.   The majority of the Saudi ladies I know (not huge numbers by any means) gave up working when they got married.

Women most definitely should not work out in the public where the general population (men) can see them and, OMG!, possibly interact with them.

The media here often rabbits on about the fear behind interaction - that men may not be able to control their lust towards women .  Additionally, the male Saudi is concerned, probably because he has been wrongly informed by the Powers That Speak For Them Bearded Types, that should a man approach a female for any reason at all, her mental wiring is such that she will interpret that approach as an offer of sex.  And being such a delicate flower and totally socially inept, she is far to weak to be able to deal with such emotions.

Oh pa..lleease!

Advanced civilizations, those that put women on a more equal footing with men, have managed to deal with men’s uncontrollable, constant and all consuming lust.  What does this say about Saudi as an advancing country? (The ‘females are weak’ argument is such nonsense it doesn’t even count, so I’m not even bothering to debate that).

This article from Business Intelligence, Middle East, is a good read on Saudi women’s current and future role in Saudi’s economy.  Looks like they have a way to go, but H'Panda initiatives are heading in the right direction to get women fully participating in and contributing to Saudi economy - other than just shopping at malls.

Hyper Panda got a bit of flack over this little initiative, from the religious conservatives, but they (H’Panda) have the support of the current King, long may he live, and to date, all reports appear to be positive.

I heard that when satellite dishes first came to the Kingdom religious conservatives weren't too keen on them either, so they used to go round shooting at them.  but a glance at rooftops today shows the will of the people has prevailed and satellite dishes are everywhere.  Though I haven't been here long, I sense the will of the people isn't that inclined to sabotage the 'woman at work' experiment in Jeddah either.

There are few rules for the women working at HyperPanda - This Gulf News article gives an overview with some interesting comments.

Basically the women have to be Saudi, over 28 years of age, divorced or widowed and they have to wear the accepted dress code. I wondered why they chose this age but, it seems it's highly possible for Saudi women to have been married and divorced or widowed by the time they are 28. 

Due to Saudi Arabia'a apparently extremely high divorce rate, and the shocking road stats, there shouldn't be any shortage of applicants for the jobs. 

Who knows, one day soon this 'Big News' will be common place because female cashiers will be all over Jeddah - fingers crossed.





Ka Kite,
Kiwi