Residents across the capital reported seeing more trees taken down this year than ever before.
Residents across the capital reported seeing more trees taken down this year than ever before.

Residents struggle to get to the root of tree-chopping in the capital



ABU DHABI // The municipality plans to have 40 per cent more green space in Abu Dhabi by 2014, but residents across the capital are worried the city is hindering its own progress.

In the first few months of this year there have been more tree removal crews on city streets, and residents are puzzled and unhappy about what the municipality is calling "beautification efforts".

Rebekah Jamieson has lived in Abu Dhabi for 14 years, and said she was shocked to see the scale tree removal operations have reached.

"They're indiscriminately cutting down these beautiful trees," said Mrs Jamieson, 40, from the UK. "They're lopping them down. This is not a case of pruning; it's a case of butchering."

Mrs Jamieson said she has questioned crews uprooting greenery in the area of Khaleej al Arabi and 11th Street, but they do not have answers.

The municipality has said the pruning, which is continuing, is part of routine beautification maintenance aimed at keeping up the appearance of the city. Officials have said trees are removed only when they are diseased, dying or a danger to surrounding buildings.

Residents across the capital reported seeing more trees taken down this year than ever before. J N, 43, an Indian who lives near 15th Street and Al Karamah, said she was shocked to see all the greenery in her neighbourhood unceremoniously removed two weeks ago. "Every year, they came to chop the bushes, but this was different," she said. "This was a huge tree in front of a school that provided shade to children, and it was one of 10 trees they just cut down."

Earlier this month, municipal officials said that trees are sometimes cut down at the request of residents, who complain that the overgrown branches are unsightly, especially in residential areas and between villas.

As part of the Asematy campaign, which encourages residents to beautify their own areas, the municipality is working with communities to "rid suburbs and streets of these practices that distort the urbanised appearance of the city and undermine the security, safety, health and environment".

Linda Scholz, who lives in Al Bateen, called the tree removal a crime. "These trees are full of birds," said Mrs Scholz, an American. "They provide shade and privacy for my house. It's terrible what they're doing. Up until now, it's been mostly pruning, but to cut down an entire beautiful tree is unacceptable."

Many residents said the increased tree-trimming was especially upsetting considering the dedication of Sheikh Zayed to planting millions of trees in the emirates. "If Sheikh Zayed were still alive, this would never happen," Mrs Scholz said.

For J N, a self-proclaimed "flower lady", the destruction of the greenery is "a shame" after 25 years of watching trees and plants grow out of the desert landscape.

"If anyone comes to my neighbourhood, they won't even recognise my house," she said.

"It used to be so green, and now it really does look like the desert."

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Four motivational quotes from Alicia's Dubai talk

“The only thing we need is to know that we have faith. Faith and hope in our own dreams. The belief that, when we keep going we’re going to find our way. That’s all we got.”

“Sometimes we try so hard to keep things inside. We try so hard to pretend it’s not really bothering us. In some ways, that hurts us more. You don’t realise how dishonest you are with yourself sometimes, but I realised that if I spoke it, I could let it go.”

“One good thing is to know you’re not the only one going through it. You’re not the only one trying to find your way, trying to find yourself, trying to find amazing energy, trying to find a light. Show all of yourself. Show every nuance. All of your magic. All of your colours. Be true to that. You can be unafraid.”

“It’s time to stop holding back. It’s time to do it on your terms. It’s time to shine in the most unbelievable way. It’s time to let go of negativity and find your tribe, find those people that lift you up, because everybody else is just in your way.”

Business Insights
  • Canada and Mexico are significant energy suppliers to the US, providing the majority of oil and natural gas imports
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  • US domestic suppliers might benefit from higher prices, but overall oil consumption is expected to decrease due to elevated costs
The years Ramadan fell in May

1987

1954

1921

1888

Business Insights
  • As per the document, there are six filing options, including choosing to report on a realisation basis and transitional rules for pre-tax period gains or losses. 
  • SMEs with revenue below Dh3 million per annum can opt for transitional relief until 2026, treating them as having no taxable income. 
  • Larger entities have specific provisions for asset and liability movements, business restructuring, and handling foreign permanent establishments.
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Citadel: Honey Bunny first episode

Directors: Raj & DK

Stars: Varun Dhawan, Samantha Ruth Prabhu, Kashvi Majmundar, Kay Kay Menon

Rating: 4/5

If you go

The flights 

Emirates flies from Dubai to Funchal via Lisbon, with a connecting flight with Air Portugal. Economy class returns cost from Dh3,845 return including taxes.

The trip

The WalkMe app can be downloaded from the usual sources. If you don’t fancy doing the trip yourself, then Explore  offers an eight-day levada trails tour from Dh3,050, not including flights.

The hotel

There isn’t another hotel anywhere in Madeira that matches the history and luxury of the Belmond Reid's Palace in Funchal. Doubles from Dh1,400 per night including taxes.

 

 

UAE SQUAD

 Khalid Essa (Al Ain), Ali Khaseif (Al Jazira), Adel Al Hosani (Sharjah), Mahmoud Khamis (Al Nasr), Yousef Jaber (Shabab Al Ahli Dubai), Khalifa Al Hammadi (Jazira), Salem Rashid (Jazira), Shaheen Abdelrahman (Sharjah), Faris Juma (Al Wahda), Mohammed Shaker (Al Ain), Mohammed Barghash (Wahda), Abdulaziz Haikal (Shabab Al Ahli), Ahmed Barman (Al Ain), Khamis Esmail (Wahda), Khaled Bawazir (Sharjah), Majed Surour (Sharjah), Abdullah Ramadan (Jazira), Mohammed Al Attas (Jazira), Fabio De Lima (Al Wasl), Bandar Al Ahbabi (Al Ain), Khalfan Mubarak (Jazira), Habib Fardan (Nasr), Khalil Ibrahim (Wahda), Ali Mabkhout (Jazira), Ali Saleh (Wasl), Caio (Al Ain), Sebastian Tagliabue (Nasr).

England's lowest Test innings

- 45 v Australia in Sydney, January 28, 1887

- 46 v West Indies in Port of Spain, March 25, 1994

- 51 v West Indies in Kingston, February 4, 2009

- 52 v Australia at The Oval, August 14, 1948

- 53 v Australia at Lord's, July 16, 1888

- 58 v New Zealand in Auckland, March 22, 2018

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SPECS

Engine: 4-litre V8 twin-turbo
Power: 630hp
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Milestones on the road to union

1970

October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar. 

December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.

1971

March 1:  Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.

July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.

July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.

August 6:  The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.

August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.

September 3: Qatar becomes independent.

November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.

November 29:  At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.

November 30: Despite  a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa. 

November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties

December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.

December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.

December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.

When Umm Kulthum performed in Abu Dhabi

  

 

 

 

Known as The Lady of Arabic Song, Umm Kulthum performed in Abu Dhabi on November 28, 1971, as part of celebrations for the fifth anniversary of the accession of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan as Ruler of Abu Dhabi. A concert hall was constructed for the event on land that is now Al Nahyan Stadium, behind Al Wahda Mall. The audience were treated to many of Kulthum's most well-known songs as part of the sold-out show, including Aghadan Alqak and Enta Omri.

 
Disclaimer

Director: Alfonso Cuaron 

Stars: Cate Blanchett, Kevin Kline, Lesley Manville 

Rating: 4/5

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The biog

Hobby: Playing piano and drawing patterns

Best book: Awaken the Giant Within by Tony Robbins

Food of choice: Sushi  

Favourite colour: Orange