Tag Archives: environment
Dubai hotel to celebrate the power of books
Dubai hotel to celebrate the power of books Staff Reporter / 25 March 2014 Some of the world’s top authors will be present at The Lost Chambers Aquarium at Atlantis, The Palm, during International Children’s Book Day on April 2. Some of the world’s top authors will be present when Atlantis, The Palm celebrates International Children’s Book Day (ICBD) on April 2 at The Lost Chambers Aquarium. Special guests include Kathryn Cave, award-winning English children’s author of Somewhere Else ; Maitha Al Khayyat, Emirati Children’s author; Rashid Al Kous, General Director of Knowledge Without Border; and Salha Ghabish, author of Dana’s trip . Other activities include face painting, arts and craft, music, storytelling, educational talks and Aquatheatre shows designed to instill the love of reading and ocean conservation. There is an entry ticket for adults priced at Dh100 but free admission for one child (under 11) with each paying adult. Established in 1967, ICBD is celebrated to increase the literacy rate among children. It is managed by the UAE Board of Books for Young People (UAEBBY) and was officially established by Shaikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, UAEBBY Patron. Shaikha Bodour said: “The power of books to open doorways to understanding can never be overstated, which is why every child must have the right to become a reader. International Children’s Book Day is a wonderful opportunity to not only raise awareness within the broader community of the importance of fostering a culture of reading, but also to engage with children in a fun and interactive way that encourages their love for books and reading.” The team at The Lost Chambers Aquarium seeks to make the world a better place, by stimulating the minds of children and educating them about the world and its oceans. In the aquarium, children can explore, touch tanks filled with starfish and pencil urchins, horseshoe crabs, and sea spiders. They can touch, feel and interact with sea life. Special exhibits are dedicated to different sea creatures, such as the delicate Moon Jellyfish, busy lobster and glittery anchovies — each fascinating to watch and with a story to tell. They can explore The Lost Chambers Aquarium on their own or choose to interact with a ‘Marine Educator’, who shares educational facts. “Childhood is the ideal time to educate children about environmental issues and to broaden their understanding of the world. Being able to read is imperative in helping broaden these horizons,” says Natasha Christie, Director of The Lost Chambers Aquarium. news@khaleejtimes.com For more news from Khaleej Times, follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/khaleejtimes , and on Twitter at @khaleejtimes Continue reading
Arab Idol set to enthral at Clusters of Light
Arab Idol set to enthral at Clusters of Light Staff Reporter / 24 March 2014 Assaf will join a stellar cast of Arab performers including Ali Hajjar, Lotfi Bouchnak and Hussein Al Jasmi in addition to a large global team consisting over 700 people. Acclaimed young Palestinian artist Mohammed Assaf — who won the Arab Idol competition in 2013 — arrived in Sharjah to perform in the oratorio Clusters of Light . Assaf will join a stellar cast of Arab performers including Ali Hajjar, Lotfi Bouchnak and Hussein Al Jasmi in addition to a large global team consisting over 700 people. The performance is the inaugural event of Sharjah’s tenure as the Islamic Culture Capital 2014. Composed by Khalid Shaikh, a distinguished Bahraini artist, Clusters of Light is about the life of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), and reviews the history of Islam from the Prophet’s birth to his death. Mohammed Assaf said, “I am excited, of course. It will be a thrill to see the audience’s reaction to the many surprises in the show, and to its sheer scale and ambition. I am confident this show will be so spectacular that it will remain in people’s memories forever.” He said he is excited to share the stage with Arab performers when the show opens on March 26 at the 4,500 seat Open Majaz Island Theatre. Assaf became gained international fame after he won the hugely popular talent programme Arab Idol in its second season. He has since gained global recognition and critical acclaim. – afkarali@khaleejtimes.com For more news from Khaleej Times, follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/khaleejtimes , and on Twitter at @khaleejtimes Continue reading
Catch this high-speed train from a skyscraper!
Catch this high-speed train from a skyscraper! (IANS) / 24 March 2014 The vertical train hub aims to resolve the inevitable challenges that cities will face by 2075, and offers a deliverable and sustainable solution for the future of the transport generation. Imagine taking your seat on a high-speed train through an elevator that is parked on the side of a skyscraper. It may sound wild but two British designers have the concept ready to roll on the track. Called as the Hyper-Speed Vertical Train Hub, this unusual transportation concept is the brainchild of designers Christopher Christophi and Lucas Mazarrasa. “The vertical train hub aims to resolve the inevitable challenges that cities will face by 2075, and offers a deliverable and sustainable solution for the future of the transport generation,” Christophi was quoted as saying. Here, the station for high-speed rail is built on the side of a skyscraper. As the train travels and transitions from its horizontal formation and ascends up the facade vertically, the carriages will pivot similar to that on a ‘Ferris wheel’. It would allow the passengers within the carriage to remain in an upright position and facing towards the cityscape, said a report on eVolo website. The carriages would be supported by a magnetic structure located at either side — eliminating the need for rails beneath and allowing the carriages and its passengers to connect to the tower. Trains, once ready to move, would shoot down the sides of the building into underground tunnels to their destinations. Each coach would have 10 people in two rows facing each other. Take an elevator to a specific floor to catch your train. Each terminal would have its own set of elevators to increase efficiency, the report added. For more news from Khaleej Times, follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/khaleejtimes , and on Twitter at @khaleejtimes Continue reading
