tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18927845.post115493273033909626..comments2024-03-17T17:36:38.142+01:00Comments on M and J Adventures: Sticking one's head in the sand smog?nzmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03160346268566279764noreply@blogger.comBlogger30125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18927845.post-1155556888258457402006-08-14T14:01:00.000+02:002006-08-14T14:01:00.000+02:00Thank you much.I don't know much about the devasta...Thank you much.<BR/><BR/>I don't know much about the devastation of the construction on marine life, but common sense says the coral reefs are being damaged beyond repair, and that's a scary, scary thought to me; since destruction of these can and will lead to other dangers.<BR/><BR/>Sharks making their way into swimming water, much, much easier because of the destruction is one of the fears that first hits me...Tainted Femalehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01497914886022943495noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18927845.post-1155380667505740532006-08-12T13:04:00.000+02:002006-08-12T13:04:00.000+02:00tainted: Thanks for your comments. That's scary a...<B>tainted:</B> Thanks for your comments. That's scary about Iran, and I remember reading about other cities where this has occured - although their names escape me. In conditions like this, at most risk are the young and the aged, and those with respiratory conditions such as asthma, bronchitis and emphysema.<BR/><BR/>There's untold damage being done by the island building which is just simply being dismissed. The ships dredging for sand are causing most of it as they are sucking sand off the bottom of the gulf to deposit into piles to make the islands. The dive centre that we dive with has some horror stories to tell of the devastation out there. Whole feeding grounds for fish have been stripped out. <BR/><BR/>I would hope that they have a good sewer system out on the islands to catch waste water - especially when it rains, otherwise there's going to be all sorts of crap being discharged into the water.<BR/><BR/>It's good to see your blog back up. Insh'allah that things will be alright for you as you work through your issues.nzmhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03160346268566279764noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18927845.post-1155370099720476072006-08-12T10:08:00.000+02:002006-08-12T10:08:00.000+02:00I remember something a few years back, where Iran ...I remember something a few years back, where Iran was forced to take 'off days' or something like there, where people weren't allowed to drive because pollution levels were so high people were dying on the spot. I wondered then, when it would be like that here.<BR/><BR/>Recently, the concerns over the devastating effects on marine life from the construction of the Islands, and proof with all the dead fish washing up in Sharjah, have caused no changes at all.<BR/><BR/>I can't help but think this country is killing itself with all the warnings.<BR/><BR/>This and your most recent are highly interesting and they've been my pleasure to read.Tainted Femalehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01497914886022943495noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18927845.post-1155349848691998412006-08-12T04:30:00.000+02:002006-08-12T04:30:00.000+02:00Interesting post. Thanks.Interesting post. Thanks.Pandaboniumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08352197350806179930noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18927845.post-1155318244704837172006-08-11T19:44:00.000+02:002006-08-11T19:44:00.000+02:00John: it's here as part of the weekly blog round-u...<B>John:</B> it's <A HREF="http://archive.gulfnews.com/articles/06/08/07/10058289.html" REL="nofollow">here</A> as part of the weekly blog round-up, and they picked the Jebel Hafeet article as the one to promote.nzmhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03160346268566279764noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18927845.post-1155306930558451352006-08-11T16:35:00.000+02:002006-08-11T16:35:00.000+02:00nzm - I missed the Gulf News article r.e. your blo...nzm - I missed the Gulf News article r.e. your blog. Can you post the link? Thanks.John B. Chiltonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18208312356775869565noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18927845.post-1155188654828251672006-08-10T07:44:00.000+02:002006-08-10T07:44:00.000+02:00Robin: - welcome! I love your blog and your photo...<B>Robin:</B> - welcome! I love your blog and your photos and dogs are just gorgeous. Bodhi reminds me a lot of a Tibetan terrier called Basil who I used to look after in NZ. He was my soul-dog!<BR/><BR/><B>Louis:</B> have a great time this weekend. With Sunshine arriving home, it's a good reason to go away and celebrate!<BR/><BR/>Last night when I was driving home on Al Sufouh Road, the whole area was covered in a low-lying black/brown fug of exhaust fumes from the buses and trucks. It's especially bad around the entrance to the Dubai Marina. I imagine that out on the Emirates Road it would be worse. I thought to myself, "Gosh, those pesky European countries, look at all that muck they've sent to us." :-)nzmhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03160346268566279764noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18927845.post-1155184955444047422006-08-10T06:42:00.000+02:002006-08-10T06:42:00.000+02:00With this construction craze, I doubt things would...With this construction craze, I doubt things would get any better. For now escape to Hatta & Al-Ain are our best bets to breath easy for a while.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10771588241002373014noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18927845.post-1155178325618016902006-08-10T04:52:00.000+02:002006-08-10T04:52:00.000+02:00hmmm..dun beleive everything your read from word-o...hmmm..<BR/><BR/>dun beleive everything your read from word-of-mouse,<BR/><BR/>Unless u are a cat.. Meow..Robin CHANhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12980108678986165599noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18927845.post-1155148645198532172006-08-09T20:37:00.000+02:002006-08-09T20:37:00.000+02:00I would like a Tupperware rocket ship. Any serious...I <I>would like</I> a Tupperware rocket ship. Any serious boat that I'm ever going to own is more likely to have a pair of inboard diesels.<BR/><BR/>As dreams are free, I'm entitled to have big expensive ones...Grumpy Goathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07944514711900089561noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18927845.post-1155141896030535532006-08-09T18:44:00.000+02:002006-08-09T18:44:00.000+02:00HMHB: thanks for the congrats - our blog visitor t...<B>HMHB:</B> thanks for the congrats - our blog visitor traffic has considerably increased due to Gulf News, as well as John Chilton at <A HREF="http://emirateseconomist.blogspot.com/" REL="nofollow">The Emirates Economist</A> linking to here.<BR/><BR/><B>kishor:</B> thanks for the link - I'll reciprocate when I update our template.<BR/><BR/><B>Wendy:</B>Despite all its foibles, and what place doesn't have them, Dubai is a great place to be - we do love it here. It is most probably one of the most westernised Arab countries, although the standard of dress has slipped considerably and I'm often embarrassed by the lack of courtesy and respect shown by scantily dressed people walking through malls and other public places. We can see The Palm from our apartment, and if you want to live like a sardine, then this is the place to go! No thanks - not for me.<BR/><BR/><B>Grumpy:</B> - I honestly think that this banning of 2-strokes is a move to try and drive some of the smaller less showy boats out of the marina area. You're right - jetskis are more of the culprits, but then they don't moor in the marina! Obviously the person who wrote the article has no idea what he's writing about. You have a tupperware rocket ship with V6 engines? I'm so jealous!nzmhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03160346268566279764noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18927845.post-1155117120081580122006-08-09T11:52:00.000+02:002006-08-09T11:52:00.000+02:00I'm sure that someone who's just bought a 36 foot ...I'm sure that someone who's just bought a 36 foot speedboat with a pair of Yamaha VX250 two-stroke outboards is going to be delighted. After all, the equivalent pair of four-stroke outboards might use less fuel and make less noise and smoke, but they weigh and cost roughly twice as much.<BR/><BR/>Take a look around any marina just about anywhere in the world, and you'll find most outboards have two-stroke engines. <BR/><BR/>This decision by Dubai Marina to ban two-strokes with immediate effect looks to me like nothing more than an attempt to drum up trade down the four-stroke outboard souq.<BR/><BR/>And I wonder if the two-stroke ban extends to jetskis? Their motors aren't outboards, and at least some jetski engines are two-strokes.<BR/><BR/>Oh, and would Gulf News care to appoint someone who knows at least something about internal combustion engines when writing on the subject? Emmanuelle Landais doesn't seem to understand it: "Two-cylinder" engines indeed!<BR/><BR/>Unless I've totally misunderstood, and my brace of two-stroke V6 outboards on the back of my Tupperware rocket-ship is OK after all.Grumpy Goathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07944514711900089561noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18927845.post-1155114172845732852006-08-09T11:02:00.000+02:002006-08-09T11:02:00.000+02:00You have a home in New Zealand, so why are you liv...You have a home in New Zealand, so why are you living in the desert country!!! I like New Zealand - though I've only seen Auckland and Hamilton. So many Fiji people around!<BR/>Well, now I know where Dubai is - there was a program on our TV about it and what a strange place. There was this reference to the Palms! Now who would want to alive like that? I hope you're not one of the architects.<BR/>I noticed in the program that women can wear full cover, head-cover, or modest clothes, there's a kind of freedom it seems.<BR/>The pollution sounds very bad and I love turtles too.<BR/>Melbourne gets smog occasionally and Geelong very little though when we drive up the country then we notice the cleaner air.<BR/>W.Peceli and Wendy's Bloghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01165668047817341837noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18927845.post-1155111161057533032006-08-09T10:12:00.000+02:002006-08-09T10:12:00.000+02:00Congrats on being featured in Gulf News. BTW, I am...Congrats on being featured in Gulf News. BTW, I am going to blogroll you. Hope it is ok with you.Al Nims Mediahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10970805021887839221noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18927845.post-1155101217640799312006-08-09T07:26:00.000+02:002006-08-09T07:26:00.000+02:00M&J, congrats on appearing in yesterdays' Gulf New...M&J, congrats on appearing in yesterdays' Gulf News! You are now officially famous. Can I have your autograph?<BR/><BR/>HMHBhalfmanhalfbeerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04578801186226557125noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18927845.post-1155052226340089282006-08-08T17:50:00.000+02:002006-08-08T17:50:00.000+02:00mise: you're right - it does begin at home, and I ...<B>mise:</B> you're right - it does begin at home, and I was reminded of that when back in NZ in June. Suddenly I was recycling cans, bottles, papers, plastics because there is a system for this to happen.<BR/><BR/><B>HMHB:</B> you're welcome!<BR/><BR/><B>seebee:</B> Don't I know it! I spent an hour on Saturday cleaning the balcony and it's already getting dirty with cement dust again. It smells too. Our end of the marina has got better because a lot of the buildings are being completed. But it will worsen again now that the 2 twisted towers are due to rise.<BR/><BR/><B>kishor:</B>: thanks! I'll try to get around to the tag soon.<BR/><BR/><B>paresh:</B> I still owe you the NY images too! I'll get a disc together and see what I can do!nzmhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03160346268566279764noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18927845.post-1155048702968702572006-08-08T16:51:00.000+02:002006-08-08T16:51:00.000+02:00NZM - Nice solid pictures to drive your points hom...NZM - Nice solid pictures to drive your points home. Now - when can I get siad copies of clear air Dubai Gleaming pics?! :)Pareshhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05032253467260536085noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18927845.post-1155041888178577182006-08-08T14:58:00.000+02:002006-08-08T14:58:00.000+02:00This makes an interesting reading. Thanks for shar...This makes an interesting reading. Thanks for sharing.<BR/><BR/>You have been tagged. Please check my blog for details.Al Nims Mediahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10970805021887839221noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18927845.post-1155037503114182422006-08-08T13:45:00.000+02:002006-08-08T13:45:00.000+02:00M, you must notice the same when you sweep your ba...M, you must notice the same when you sweep your balcony as I do when I sweep around our place...it's not sand, it's cement dust. The air is full of cement dust all the time - noticeably a little better on Fridays when construction work is much less, and as your photos show it was almost clear during the mourning periods.Seabeehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06939892206726271433noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18927845.post-1155036160187170202006-08-08T13:22:00.000+02:002006-08-08T13:22:00.000+02:00Nzm, a quick note of sincere thanks for helping me...Nzm, a quick note of sincere thanks for helping me out with my blog! You really are a star.<BR/><BR/>HMHBhalfmanhalfbeerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04578801186226557125noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18927845.post-1155034293823449642006-08-08T12:51:00.000+02:002006-08-08T12:51:00.000+02:00M&J...I believe that environmental protection star...M&J...I believe that environmental protection starts at home...with small things like recycling, buying cars with smaller engines, using fewer pesticides etc...etc..now I'm no card carrying member of the Green Party or Greenpeace, and wouldn't fancy chaining myself to the Golden Gate Bridge either, but individuals can have an impact if there are enough of them to put pressure on local political representatives ...of course I'm talking about in countries where there are political parties and where people have a right to protest about civic issues...unfortunately, and I know it sounds cynical, but it seems that in the case of Dubai, the best way to get better air quality is to find it somewhere else...Misehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14500730996132041193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18927845.post-1155024938709920522006-08-08T10:15:00.000+02:002006-08-08T10:15:00.000+02:00Nzm, actually by the end of the week I would have ...Nzm, actually by the end of the week I would have happily killed as many geese as I could find. The noise they make is unbelievable, all night and all bloody day too!<BR/><BR/>HMHBhalfmanhalfbeerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04578801186226557125noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18927845.post-1155018512558133282006-08-08T08:28:00.000+02:002006-08-08T08:28:00.000+02:00SS: the Germans have a saying which roughly transl...<B>SS:</B> the Germans have a saying which roughly translates to: <I>it's easier to sweep in front of someone else's house than it is to clean your own.</I> :-)<BR/><BR/>And I'm a long way off from being an environmental crusader - I just can't see myself camping in trees and chaining myself to bulldozers! What is happening does concern me, especially when a lot of it is preventable.<BR/><BR/><B>John:</B> I accept advice from one who knows! Duly noted and amended - thanks.<BR/><BR/><B>Sandie:</B> I believe that the earth would find a balance again with no smog - after all with no smog, it did once have an ice age, although theories do suggest that this was caused from volcanic dust blocking the sun. So we run the risk of too much smog causing it to cool too much also! And I'd much rather not be breathing all that crap too!<BR/><BR/>I've emailed you on how to change the blog template.<BR/><BR/><B>The Lady:</B> you're right - there is a lot happening here without much longterm thought on the impact that it has. For instance, if they continue with the greenification projects, how is going to impact on the eco-climate of the region? And already there are serious water supply issues arising.<BR/><BR/><B>Jin:</B> there was <I>talk</I> that Sheikh Mohammed was to issue a ruling that no further plans for buildings were to be approved until all present construction that had already been approved was completed. This was about a year ago that I heard this, but I don't know if it was ever made official, or whether it was just another rumour.<BR/><BR/>I wonder how they're going to market the new island to the turtles? Maybe they'll go out in their <A HREF="http://archive.gulfnews.com/articles/06/03/18/10026321.html" REL="nofollow">submarines</A>, round them up and drive them onto the island? lol<BR/><BR/><B>HMHB</B> - thank you. I have occasional moments of sanity! Welome back - looking forward to your fois gras recipe which starts with: first kill your goose!nzmhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03160346268566279764noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18927845.post-1155017177532984702006-08-08T08:06:00.000+02:002006-08-08T08:06:00.000+02:00Nzm; great to read a senisble intelligent and thou...Nzm; great to read a senisble intelligent and thought provoking article on the problem. Well done.<BR/><BR/>HMHBhalfmanhalfbeerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04578801186226557125noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18927845.post-1155016239519669112006-08-08T07:50:00.000+02:002006-08-08T07:50:00.000+02:00I personally think someone somewhere should have a...I personally think someone somewhere should have a deadline, a STOP date on the development of the UAE, because at the moment it seems that no one will be happy until they've ruined everything that was once natural about this place. It's incredibly sad to see & hear of things like the turtles & the attitude of 'oh well, we'll turf them off their own island & build them another one'.Jaynehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06546956519928584352noreply@blogger.com