Reading the Paper

Here's an interesting section from the paper about technology and how it is shaping our lives: "In this incessant need for technology, we are connecting with the world but aren't we losing touch with the ones we care about the most. . . Most of may may not realise it, but technology has now replaced marriage and other close relationships as a major source of affirmation in our lives. Marriage and family are tough sometimes so people turn to social media for support and understanding." I thought this was really interesting because it's a topic I discuss with my friends and colleagues quite a bit, but especially because it was in the Khaleej Times this morning. There was a related pieced on cyber bullying. We tend to think of these are uniquely American problems when obviously they are incresingly a problem for more and more people around the world. There was also an insightful article about changing gender roles in the Emirati workplace (and the phrase "the pink-collar workforce was used).

In addition, there was a thoughtful op-ed piece on the world's growing population and consumerism. After discussing how quickly China and India would catch up to the US in economic size and consumer hunger, the point was made: "Wherever we look - be it carbon emissions, oil and gas, food shortages, water, rare earths, fisheries or forests - there just isn't enough for the world to soak up another two consumption-driven Americas. To stop heading down this road Asian governments must immediately recognize that a bleak future lies ahead if Asians attempt to live out an aspiration to consume like Americans." It is always a bit humbling/depressing to hear your country used as a synonym for over-consumption (just as it is when the US is used that way when folks describe a violent society) but always pretty ironic that I read it in the UAE, which is the only country in the world to have a larger per capita carbon footprint than the US. That said, for all of their often over the top behavior, it does seem that the Emirates is taking the issue more seriously than the US is.

Finally, there was s story about the US government issueing another travel advisory for American citizens travelling abroad in light of the tenth year anniversary of 9/11, which is, appropriately enough, the first day of my fall class at Zayed. I'll be interested in follow the news coverage, although not so much in the mainstream US media, which I'm afraid will just use it as an excuse for more shallow patriotic chest thumping.