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Manal AlShareef

Saudi 12 Comments

I am really saddened by what is happening to Manal AlShareef as a result of her wanting to drive a car, which should not be an issue at all. What is saddening is she is alone in all of this, in 1991 when a few women went out, there was no social media and camera phones, it was all talk about so and so, and the story was (which I heard, no references here), with the gulf war and American troops in Saudi, American military women were seen driving on the roads, so Saudi women wanted to drive also as if the ban had been lifted, and if you ask most people (including me) I would not be able to name one of the women who drove on that day off the top of my head.

King Fahad Road 01

King Fahad Road in Riyadh By Thamer Al-Hassan

Now Manal, has been tuned into a hero and a villan, and everyone will use her name somehow to drive some point across.

The process of her being stopped by the police and then the Commission (Hai’a) showing up to handle the situation, and then detaining her only shows the unpreparedness of the current system (of traffic police) to handle a situation like this, and ask anyone who has been in an accident or was issued a traffic violation and they will tell you the negatives and the hassles of the current system.

I wish for Manal’s release, but I know now, as I said, she will be used as an example, by both sides to drive their points across… while they drive, she wont.

Saudi Women Driving on the 17th of June

Saudi, Women 0 Comment

I have shared my thoughts on the issue of Saudi women and their right to drive a couple of times (here and here). I shared the experience of my cousin also. And of course I wrote a parody, which should be the anthem of the movement (we still need a singer) :)

This time, and maybe it is the influence of the Arab Spring, they have set a date, the 17th of June 2011 for women to go out and drive their own cars.

Here is a nice video, which is a school project made by Saja Kamal, an international affairs and political science student, tackling the subject in a very nice and intelligent way, she got the conservative view (and it is not unanimous) and the government’s view on the subject, a great job to say the least.

I am eager to see how all this plays out in the end, and as usual, Saudis have taken to Facebook to show their support, or their opposition, one says it will crash into any woman driving, the other says it will “protect” women drivers from those who will crash into them, and some of course say they will hit their women who want to drive, of course that is not what a real man does.

It would be wise to sell any stocks one has in auto insurance companies, and maybe invest in companies with tow-trucks :)

Saudi Women Want to Vote

Saudi, Women 2 Comments

Some Saudi Women want to vote in the municipal elections, which by the way, most men say they will boycott because the elections are a joke, since none of this will have the power to change anything.

I found this picture, now these are not Saudi women, but the picture really is expressive of the situation, at least it is to me. The younger educated generation refuses to live like their mothers… I know it is a cliché, since no woman wants to grow up to be like her mother… or so I hear :)

Saudi Oil Reserves Are Depleting

Politics, Saudi 2 Comments

Yes they are, just like life, it begins to end on the first day of a newborn, and it is always a countdown. However, that’s nothing new, what people want to know is how much is left?

Ever heard the piece of wisdom (actually it’s rule numero uno) that says “never let no one know, how much dough you hold, cuz you know, the cheddar breads jealousy ” that little piece of info will never be known.

I guess I am old enough to begin to see parts of history repeat it self, around 3, 5, and 7 years ago they said Saudi oil reserves were inflated, and the Saudi Oil Minister Mr Ali Al-Nuami denied that, now wikileaks say the same thing, how is that a leak? Sound more like wikiletsfreakpeopleout.

So yes they are depleting, worldwide, that is why we (as humans) are trying to recycle, and trying to make more energy efficient machinery, and moving to renewable energy sources… And Saudi needs to have nuclear power. There is almost no way out if it, Saudi exports oil, if Saudi does not export oil, then Saudi has no income, and since we here in Saudi, are consuming more each year, translating into loss of income, the most efficient source of power now is nuclear. Rule number four “never get high on your own supply”.

The question is, to all who are wondering, what will happen when all the oil is gone? will Saudi go back to the dark ages? and forgotten in history like it always was? probably not.

Apparently there is gold, copper, phosphate, bauxite – this place could be the next Canada or Australia

Video: Jeddah Help Volunteers in Action

Movies, Saudi 1 Comment

A couple of months ago I volunteered with the Jeddah help initiative to provide relief to the poor areas of Jeddah which were hit badly due to the flash flooding which happened around the end of January 2011.

Here is a short video of the people living in those areas, their homes, and the guys in action delivering the food and other things.

It was a great experience, I met some of Jeddah’s finest people who I am extremely proud to know.

 

 

Saudi Ban on Female Supermarket Cashiers

Saudi 0 Comment

Not that I have seen many of them, or checked out using one of the lines they operate, but I am a hopeful person (with borderline delusions), I assume they will provide women with better career opportunities, after all, if a cashiers can never aspire to be a store managers, then there is little use to make our precious jewels/diamonds work in dead end jobs all while being driven around like queens.

Let’s also continue to let them go to stores where they are sized up for bras and panties by strange men (ok those store clerics are like doctors, so it’s ok… No wait… Don’t they also want all female hospitals in Saudi… Hmm, maybe that’s why they don’t want the supermarkets and shopping centers to take all the female workforce, women rather go shopping than work in hospitals… I think I finally cracked it)

Of course this also means that, and this is for the ladies only, driving is “far away from your mustaches”.

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© Qusay 2013