Reading to our children is one of the best things we can do to help our children on their journey into education. Maggie McKenzie explores the long-term benefits......

In his 1899 book The Theory of the Leisure Class, the economist
and sociologist Thorstein Veblen wrote that “conspicuous
abstention from labor … becomes the conventional mark of
superior pecuniary achievement.” In other words, the richer
one gets, the less one works and the more likely one is to try to
show off one’s ample leisure time. For a while, Veblen’s theory held,
with few exceptions. But no longer. In today’s hectic world, one can
now make a good guess about how rich somebody is based on the
long hours they put in at work. The wealthiest people, on average,
work more than those poorer than them.

In the debate over Earth and its changing climate, rhetoric
frequently suggests that we are destroying the planet. It’s
rather evident that the insatiable greed of humanity is
seriously damaging our precious Mother Earth. Without
thinking of our offspring’s future, we gorge on the world’s
natural resources. We are more like a modern-day camper than a forager of old who truly lived off the land. Moreover, according to the latest report by the Medical Society Consortium on Climate and Health, which represents more than half of US doctors, from rising levels of air pollution to increased water contamination and a widening range for disease-carrying mosquitoes, climate change
is making people sick. And unless the world takes strenuous
action, they warn, “those harms to our health are going to get much worse.”
A healthy planet and a healthy community go hand in hand. To fulfill this goal, we must protect the environment in which we work and live. Our voices and actions help in shaping innovative policies and business practices, and creating a groundswell that will eventually permeate all of our institutions. Whether it’s recycling or buying organic and local, getting rid of the second refrigerator and replacing light bulbs, driving less or not driving at
all, eating less meat, or being the environmental supporter in an institution, every small or large step is meaningful. Going vegan— eliminating our consumption of meat, eggs, and dairy products—is the single best thing we can do to protect our environment and reduce pollution. Read more about it on P.24 and find out why your veg choices are more sustainable than you may realize. 

Nothing has the power to change the world like the unconditional love of a mother. Indeed, ‘mother’, or its equivalents, is the most beautiful word in any language. It evokes a spectrum of emotions and a gamut of feelings in the heart of even the most ruthless individual. She is always willing to forgive and accept her children with arms wide open, no matter how much they have gone wrong and hurt her. However, we hardly stop to think of how they feel and whether they need help. In a sense, we neglect them by not appreciating them enough. 

Mother’s Day is just around the corner and it’s that special day that gives you the perfect opportunity to shower your mom with your love and affection. Tell your mother how much she means to you and pamper her with generous gifts. It doesn’t need to be an expensive stuff. You can make her day special with beautiful quotes, poems, and loving words. Let her know how special her love for you is, and acknowledge all the pain and sacrifice she took to raise you to become the way you are today. Thank her for her unconditional love, for forgiving you when you did something wrong, and held you when the world around condemned you. Thank her for being at your side when you needed her the most. Remember how she stayed awake at night to care for you when you were unwell. 

Happy reading!

Many of us grow up with the desire to change the world, to do something to banish all the injustices we see, to help the disadvantaged, and to make a difference to society in some meaningful way. And then, when we are at the stage of deciding what course to take and which career path to pursue, we find that other “considerations” come in the way of our decision. Somewhere the fervour to “do good” gets sidelined by such factors as size of pay packet, perks, comfort of work space, professional growth path and so on. These are important considerations too, but if you are one of those who have the passion and the will to tackle the tough problems of society, then perhaps you should look further. Doing socially meaningful work is not the preserve of social workers alone. Every specialisation has some social value, and it is up to the specialist to find a way to put his/her education and expertise to work in an area where it can make a difference. All kinds of training, from technical to humanistic to social science to pure science, can contribute to developing society in some way. And at the same time, contribute to personal and professional development and fulfilment.

Happy reading!

The dawn of a New Year is seen as a fresh start and a time for pondering what went wrong or right over the previous 12 months. In order to begin something new, we must release the old, possibly by “taking stock” of our lives, goals, hopes, dreams and accomplishments. However, our busy schedules and hectic pace of life can take a toll on our time and energy. Whether working to tight schedules or multi-tasking, sometimes we forget to take time out for ourselves and thus unwittingly miss the opportunity to re-focus our priorities. On the flip side, however, we don’t often have time to consider all the underlying stuff that gives our work shape, character, and meaning, and that time won’t ever appear on its own. 

Knowing the end goal of anything sets our wheels in motion. From daily things, like getting out of bed to go to work in the morning to once-in-a-lifetime things like visiting the Great Wall of China, we get things done when we treat them like goals that need to be accomplished.  Recent findings in the field of neuroscience show that in the arena of neuroplasticity the brain has the ability to become rewired with new neural pathways, allowing a person to have absolute control and determination. Setting small, attainable goals throughout the year, instead of a singular, overwhelming goal on January 1 can help us attain whatever we strive for. After all, it’s the little things that make a big difference. Take your pick from these smart resolutions on P. 26 that will help you lead a life filled with health and happiness. Moving on to this month’s spotlight 
story (P.14), read an incredible story of a nine-year-old cancer sufferer Alexander Goodwin, who is using the power of social media to raise £120k for his treatment. 

I hope you’ve enjoyed the past year with Society and look forward to a fabulous 2017.

Happy reading!

In most parts of the world, food is associated with hospitality and expression of friendship.
Therefore, sensitivity to food rules and customs is important in building and strengthening
cross-cultural relationships. In sharing a meal with people from diverse cultural backgrounds
and sampling their traditional dishes our identities expand to take in a fresh feast of experiences
capable of fostering improved intercultural understanding and communication. This can only
yield positive benefits and facilitate intercultural adaptation and competence. Carve out time
from your busy schedule and share a meaningful meal with friends and family. Try a “festive feast”
or a holiday-themed recipe.
Yum! It’s the food issue and we take a closer look at some of the key aspects of Indian cuisine. Well,
before you start messing up the kitchen, let’s find out where you stand on the spectrum of Indian
food knowledge. Are you an old pro who can easily sort out your sambars from your samosas
from your sambals? Or are you an uneasy newbie who can barely order tandoori chicken at a
restaurant, let alone make it yourself? Take our quiz on P.26 and find out how much do you really
know about Indian food.
Moving on to this month’s spotlight story, we have got an incredible story of Qatar-based Indian
expat Biju Chandrika Gangadharan (P.12) who is creating wonders by making sculptures from
bath soaps. We love when artists take ordinary things and make them extraordinary. To Biju,
carving fragrant bath soap is a unique and fascinating form of art. He finds it exciting because
of the suspenseful quality it gives his work. Every new sculpture is a challenge and the more
complicated the sculpture, the more interesting he finds it.
Happy reading!

Gourmet: Carolyn Robb, former personal chef to TRH Prince Charles and the late Princess Diana for over a decade, shares her fantastic selection of snacks and nibbles for you to try...

It’s back-to-school time of the year again. For many children, summer is so much fun and they are very unhappy to let the fun go. So help them see that there’s a way to return to school buses, backpacks and books with a genuine smile instead of a grimace. If you don’t have a fun 

back-to-school tradition, start one. Back-to-school gifts are a great way to show your kids you value their education. Children look to their parents for clues on how to handle various situations. By giving your child a back-to-school gift, you’re telling them education is important and worth celebrating. Wrap up some crayons, pencils, pens, paper, stickers, a colouring book, some fun toys or treats and anything else that says “have a fun school year!” Put it all in a new lunchbox or backpack and surprise your child before the school year begins. It’s a great way to help build the excitement and lessen the back-to-school stress. Simultaneously, understanding a child’s unique style or situation is critical to a successful transition. Check out Dr Samra Tahir’s tips on ‘how to beat the back-to- school blues’ on P.24. According to her, whether your child is excited or anxious, there are many things parents can do to help make the transition as stress-free as possible.

And moving on to this month’s gourmet piece on P.60, Carolyn Robb, former personal chef to TRH Prince Charles and the late Princess Diana, shares some sneaky ideas for giving kids the foods they love. A home-made lunch will always make kids feel close to you and comfortable at school, especially since they are able to eat the food they enjoy at home. Pick up a nice little lunch case you think your child might like and show your little one how to open, unpack, eat and repack the excess or whatever is reusable, and how to dispose the waste properly. We hope everyone has a safe, enjoyable, fun-filled, and most importantly, healthy return to school this September!

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Society Magazine, a monthly family magazine published by Gulf Times newspaper in Qatar, mirrors the multi-ethnic modern society that is the Qatar of today. For over five years now, month after month, its well laid-out pages with crisply written content, including human interest stories, and sharply focused images have been the joy of families living in Qatar. The magazine offers a broad range of features, primarily based on lifestyle and social issues, relevant to Qatar expatriates and nationals. 
We aim to set the benchmark for editorial credibility in the market with regular features and articles showcased in a contemporary, high-quality format. There is something to hold the interest of every member of the family from tiny tots to the adult seeking intellectual stimulation and easy-to-use information from topics as varied as fashion & beauty, health &wellness;, motoring, education, parenting and technology to arts and culinary tips.  
Although the magazine’s content are not strictly advertising driven, its seamless and flexible editorial approach allows ample scope for well-written advertorials to be featured in every issue based on the cyclical and seasonal nature of local trends that dictate consumer behaviour. This understanding of the reader pulse powers issues focusing on health, travel, back to school, food, festive season etc.
The magazine can be described as both reader and advertiser friendly. The fact that it is distributed free of cost with every copy of the Gulf Times newspaper speaks a lot for its readership and reach.


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Society Magazine - October 2016

Society Magazine - October 2016

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