Woman Today October 2011

contents

october 2011

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Life’s many lessons

How many of us sit down to think of the good things that life has bestowed upon us? How many count our blessings each day? With a new lease of life, five breast cancer survivors share with Cassey Oliveira the lessons they have learnt in their journey of survival. Meet: Neysa Hill, Luiza Pancoti, Noura, Amany Eid Garcia and Amani Halawa.

WORLDWIDEWOMEN

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Wangari Maathai

Unbowed, unmatched

Her ex-husband described her as ”too educated, too strong, too successful, too stubborn and too hard to control.”

All the right attributes for her to become the first African woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize. Our tribute to the eco-warrior.

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Nada Al-Shaibani

Screen Test

Nada is a pathbreaker, and one of the first Qatari female television presenters. In an interview with Maryam Al-Subaiey she shares her experience, and discusses what it feels like to be a pioneer in this field and talks about her future goals.

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Holly Joint

Loving what you do

Her enviable portfolio comprises the successful launch of the al khaliji bank in Qatar with her being the Head of Strategy and Programme Management, and Qatar winning the FIFA World Cup 2022 Bid with her as the Bid’s Programme Director. Currently the Director of Operations and HR at Starlink, Holly tells Cassey Oliveira why she loves what she does.

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Riding on Risk

Dr Rajka Milanovic Galbraith highlights the important things that one must know about breast cancer: knowing who is at risk, knowing when to screen and knowing that detection sometimes yields positives.

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Raising awareness

A look at some of the unusual yet worthwhile breast cancer awareness campaigns across various cities this month ...

Fighting a cause

For Karen Al-Kharouf, the month of October alone doesn’t suffice. The non-profit organisation that she set up – Think Pink Qatar (TPQ) – works through the year, educating people about breast cancer, and the annual Walk held in October is only the grand finale.

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Cancer-proof your life!

“I’m a big believer in keeping things simple.

So here are my simple guidelines to ensuring you have a vibrantly healthy (cancer-free) and youthful body long into your advanced years,” writes Nicole Van Hattem, health coach.

WT TRANSFORM 12 STYLESTOP 58

The Countdown Begins

Alyson Gilpin has had an exciting month – losing body fat, cooking up a healthy buffet at home, and enjoying a complete wardrobe makeover. She gets ready for the grand REVEAL in November.

VOLUME VI / ISSUE 09

october 2011 Publisher & Editor-in-Chief Yousuf Jassem Al Darwish Chief Executive Sandeep Sehgal Executive Vice President Alpana Roy Vice President Ravi Raman Managing Editor Vani Saraswathi Deputy Editor Sindhu Nair fashion & lifestyle correspondent Orna Ballout Editorial Co-ordinator Cassey Oliveira correspondent Ezdhar Ali Art Director Venkat Reddy Asst Director – production Sujith Heenatigala assistant Art Director Hanan Abu Saiam Senior Graphic Designers Ayush Indrajith Sampath Gunathilaka M D Graphic Designer Maheshwar Reddy B photography Robert Altamirano Managers – Marketing Mohammed Sami Zulfikar Jiffry Senior Media Consultant Chaturka Karandana Media Consultant HASSAN REKKAB Marketing research & support executive amjeth ali Accountant Pratap Chandran sr. distribution Executive Bikram Shrestha Distribution Support Arjun Timilsina Bhimal rai

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Address all your correspondence to Woman Today, Oryx Advertising Co WLL, P.O. Box 3272; Doha-Qatar Tel: (+974) 44672139, 44550983, 44671173, Fax:(+974) 44550982, email: wtoday@omsqatar.com. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the written permission of the publisher. The publisher does not accept responsibility for advertising contents. Licensing/ Republishing WT content: To obtain permission for text syndication in books, newsletters, magazines, newspapers and web or to use images/pictures carried in Woman Today, please contact our syndication and licensing department on the numbers given above. Permission is also required to photocopy a WT article for classroom use, course packs, business or general use. Custom reprints: Published article/s to be used as stand-alone pieces can be reprinted by us on special request. The reprint cost is based on the length of the article and the quantity ordered. Contact our custom publishing division on the numbers given above for more information.To subscribe to Woman Today call our subscription department on the numbers given above.

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October 2011

FROM THE EDITOR

As we worked on this month’s edition of Woman Today, our endeavours were laced with a thread of hypocrisy. There are at least three women on the team who should have started on annual mammograms (among other tests) but haven’t.

How come women who run to the physician when their child so much as sniffles put off taking care of their own health? So have you had a check? Are you up-to-date with the ageappropriate health checks? Are YOU a priority in your life?

This month, we speak to five survivors who share the lessons they’ve learnt through their ordeal. Neysa Hill, Luiza Pancoti, Noura, Amany Eid Garcia and Amani Halawa are among the women who inspire us this month.

On the cover is Nada Al-Shaibani, who has survivor stories of her own to tell. The first Qatari female TV presenter, Nada has had to deal with plenty of challenges, shattering several stereotypes on her way, but this young lady is raring to go.

Our in-house inspiration Alyson Gilpin of the Transform campaign is on the last leg of her life overhaul, and is all set for the Reveal in November.

Then there is Dr Wangari Maathai, Africa’s first female Nobel Prize winner, who died last month. The causes she fought for were many, and the people whose lives she improved are innumerable. We pay homage to one of the most inspiring women of our time.

Some of us fight many people’s battles, and some just our own. Whatever your cause, believe in it, and persevere. And tomorrow, let the cause you pay attention to be your health.

Be aware. Be safe.

Vani Saraswathi

GO GREEN

Nokia C5-03

Woman Today invites readers’ feedback Share your views on the magazine or any issue connected to Qatar.

One lucky reader will win a Nokia C5-03.

Write to: The Editor, Woman Today, PO Box 3272, Doha Fax: (+974) 44550982 email: wtoday@omsqatar.com

Woman Today reserves the right to edit correspondence. Views and opinions expressed in the published letters may not necessarily be those of the publication.

Cars, Cars, Cars I thoroughly enjoyed the September issue of Woman Today – an entire issue on cars, cars and just cars. The test-drive reviews were fun to read as the drivers provided an honest opinion of how they felt being behind those wheels. My personal favourites would be the GMC Terrain and the Porsche Cayenne V6 as I am a fan of SUVs. Frankly all the cars look amazing and choosing the best one is difficult. Woman Today has done a great job in presenting its readers with a stylish and interesting issue!

Jenny Calleiga great Read Woman Today is one great magazine to read. It gives its readers something to look forward to with every issue, and the September issue was no less. Women and cars – a fascinating topic that even my husband could not resist reading.

The tips provided on every page were interesting and informative too. I liked the 20 terms for dummies; they were of great help for a dummy like me. The tips on how to revamp your car were great too. Planning on applying a few of them to my very own Proton!

Frieda Menzes Style Advice I have been following Woman Today regularly and am glad that the magazine introduces great columns with every issue. I have always wanted

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letters

October 2011

to receive style tips from a style expert as I fall under the ‘plus size’ category and was happy to learn that there will be a column by a stylist in the coming issues. I hope the column will feature styling advice for women of my size soon.

Sheetal Fernandes Transformation Woman Today is a fun magazine and I have never missed an issue since I landed in Qatar last year. I have been following WT Transform from April when the project was just launched.

The initiative is unique and rewarding. There is a visible change in Alyson – not just in her physical appearance but in her attitude as well. I loved reading her experience at The Spa Resort in Thailand. I am waiting anxiously for the final revelation. Alyson is a star!

Aaliya Marri Women on top One of my favourite shows on TV has been The Doha Debates, and I was surprised to find Series Producer Tanya Sakzewski featured in the September issue of Woman Today. I really love when your magazine features such passionate and ambitious women in its every issue. It’s inspiring to read their stories and what keeps them moving ahead. Please continue featuring successful women who can motivate other women towards success.

Sarah Jones

inshort

The early bird gets thinner too

B

IUD cuts cancer risk

I

ntra-uterine devices designed to prevent conception may also protect against cervical cancer, according to a study covering more than 20,000 women that was released recently.

Introduced in the 1970s, IUDs are today widely used around the world. The T-shaped device, containing either a plastic-and-copper wire or hormones, is placed inside the uterus to prevent pregnancy.

The study, published in the journal The Lancet Oncology, found that women with a history of using IUDs had roughly half the

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October 2011

risk of developing cervical cancer compared to women who never used them.Earlier research on IUDs found a protection against cancer of the womb lining, but data on cancer of the cervix had been mixed.

Xavier Castellsague of L’Hospitalet de Llobregat in Catalonia, Spain and colleagues analysed data from 10 studies on cervical cancer and 16 studies on the prevalence of HPV infection. Use of an IUD did not affect the risk of contracting human papillomavirus (HPV), but appeared to offer significant protection against both major types of cervical cancer.

ad news for those who love a good lie-in: a new study finds that people who get out of bed by 7 am, on average, do better in the workplace and have a lower chance of being depressed, stressed and overweight.

“Morning people tend to be healthier and happier as well as having lower body mass indices,” researcher Dr Joerg Huber of Roehampton University in London said at a British Psychological Society conference, according to the UK’s Telegraph last week.

In a study of 1,068 adults, evening people were found to get out of bed by 8:54 am, on average. At weekends, everyone enjoyed an extra hour under the covers: early risers awoke at 7:47 am, compared to 10:09 am for late risers.

Another study, in the US, found that Americans who habitually stay up later and sleep in later eat more fast food and overall calories and less fruit and vegetables, and have a higher body weight and more difficulty with weight loss than people who have more normal sleep routines.

Brit kids unhappiest

Consumerism to blame?

B

ritish children are trapped in a cycle of compulsive consumption as parents shower them with gifts to make up for their long working hours, a UNICEF report has concluded.

The study, commissioned after British children were ranked by the United Nations as the unhappiest in the industrialised world, blamed the results on a culture of “brand bullying” and a lack of family interaction.

“Parents in the UK almost seemed to be locked into a system of consumption which they knew was pointless but they found hard to resist,” said Agnes Nairn, the report’s author.

“While children would prefer time with their parents to heaps of consumer goods, parents seem to find themselves under tremendous pressure to purchase a surfeit of material

goods for their children,” she added.

The report’s researchers quizzed hundreds of children in Britain, Spain and Sweden to discover what made them happy.

“This compulsive consumption was almost completely absent in both Spain and Sweden,” Nairn noted.

Children told researchers that their happiness relied upon spending time with family and friends and having “plenty to do outdoors”.

The report blamed British parents for using television “as a babysitter” and for allowing children to play computer games for long periods, depriving them of fresh air.

Children’s Minister Sarah Teather said: “We share UNICEF’s concerns about the rise of consumerism among children, and it’s worrying to see that in some cases parents are under the same pressures.

“We are clear this needs to be tackled and are currently working with businesses and regulators to implement the recommendations from (Chief Executive of the Mothers’ Union) Reg Bailey’s review on commercialisation and sexualisation of children,” she added.

Cut the carbs and eat frequent meals

2011 October

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Source: AFPRELAXNEWS

A

fter studying how the body responds to different foods at the molecular level, Norwegian biologists have come up with a dietary formula they say is the best for maintaining optimum health: one-third protein, one-third fat and one-third carbohydrate.

When that formula is skewed – particularly to be on the carbohydraterich side – that causes genes to work “overtime”, said scientists at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology. Too many carbs activate genes that cause inflammation as well as those associated with the development of cardiovascular disease, cancer, dementia and type 2 diabetes, throwing the body off kilter.

Their observations came after conducting a study in which 32 slightly overweight men and women were fed a diet made of specially powdered food. For six days, participants consumed a diet composed of 65 percent carbs, 15 percent protein and 20 percent fat.

After another week of no diet, they were then put on a six-day diet in which they cut the carbs in half and consumed twice as much protein and fat. Researchers gleaned their information from blood tests.

The Countdown Begins

Alyson Gilpin has had an exciting month – losing body fat, cooking up a healthy buffet at home, and enjoying a complete wardrobe makeover.

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October 2011

photography: Robert Altamirano

Measurements: down a total of 64.5 inches

Weight: down 11.6kg

fter a long hot summer it was a relief to get back to work and into a routine. During the holidays I often found myself walking towards the fridge even when I was not hungry. I was just bored, and eating was an easy way to stop boredom.

Now I am back at work, I have my breakfast, my mid-morning snack at break-time, lunch when I get home, snack in the afternoon,

and dinner with the family in the evening there is a routine and definitely no time for boredom and snacking. My trips to dados for cellulite and mesotherapy kept me sane and it was great to chat with the friendly therapists. I have enjoyed working out at Curves.

The trainers are very motivating and always have a smile.

With Curves running a six-week challenge that offers fantastic prizes, it is amazing to see how motivated I and the other members

are. My weight loss results are interesting and causing me to change a very old mindset: scales show how thin or fat you are. In the last two months I have had to review my way of thinking because my scales are not changing; my weight has plateaued but the centimetres are dropping off. I can feel it in my clothes and I have the proof in my monthly measurements at Curves. I am not losing weight on the scale but I am still losing body fat, which is exactly what I want.

Following Alyson

... As she shares her personal journey on her Wordpress and Twitter ON Twitter

@AALNicole #wttransform@WomanToday Did my grocery shop, ready & organised 2 shed next 10kgs 77 days 2 reveal September 9, 2011

I am very happy to say that there were also

Sick Sick Sick!!!

items that she loved. I need to accessorise

@AALNicole #wttransform@WomanToday

I am really not feeling well! My hubby had the

more with jewellery and handbags and shoes.

DOWN ANOTHER SIZE!!!!! 16 and shrinking

flu last week and has passed it on to me! I have

I need to make my outfits mine.

every day from a 22. http://wp.me/p1rhxQ-2B

a dog and ache from head to foot. It’s been a

September 24, 2011

@AALNicole #wttransform @hotmail.com

very long time since I felt so awful. I am a lit-

Shopping up a storm

Huge boost from friends at work!! My trans-

tle frustrated because I cannot exercise - defi-

On Thursday evening I had the pleasure of

form is being noticed, I feel great http://wp.me/

nitely don’t want to at the moment. My weight

shopping with Lynette Cowie for my new

p1rhxQ-2G

on the scale does not seem to be moving but I

wardrobe as part of my transform. Our first

am still shrinking – the centimetres are still

stop was at Dorothy Perkins. We had such fun

@AALNicole #wttransform@WomanToday

coming down, I can feel it in my clothes.

trying on different outfits and Rob the Wom-

So excited this eve Lynette of# Doha’s Clothing

an Today photographer was snapping away

Revivalist coming to revamp my wardrobe for

September 19, 2011

as I tried on different outfits and accessories

the new me

Wardrobe Make Over, Lynette clears out

and even if I say so myself I looked amazing

my wardrobe!

and I felt very sexy in a little black dress (did

@AALNicole #wttransform@WomanToday

Lynette of Doha’s Image and Clothing Reviv-

I say LITTLE? Yup I did!!!) Lynette found the

Shopping up a storm with Lynette of #Doha’s

alist came to my house to continue with my

most amazing shoes with very high heels ( I

Image & Clothing Revivalist great new outfits.

image makeover. We had a great time trying

have not worn high heels for years) to go with

http://wp.me/p1rhxQ-2R

on my clothes and the discard pile grew and

the little black dress and a great white jacket

grew. Some items of clothing Lynette was

with a black collar – amazing I felt like a mil-

very definite had to go either because they

lion dollars.

been hit hard. I am coughing and sound like

made me look ‘boxy’ or they were outdated.

Follow her on: wttransform.wordpress.com wttransform

Mobile partners :

2011 October

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When I went back to school, after not seeing any of my colleagues over the summer, they could not believe how much weight I have lost and WOW did the compliments make me feel good!

Nicole and I spent a day in the summer going through my pantry and sorting out ways to set me up for success with regards to my eating plan. The idea was that I have a cooking day on the weekend and I cook up a storm, making things like veggie quiches, bran muffins, rice and one or two dishes that could be frozen, so that on those days when things are hectic and I don’t have a moment, I can reach into the deep freeze and there will be something prepared. So no more excuse for the quick fixes that are also quick to add the kilograms. I must admit it has made life a lot easier and there is definitely something reassuring about the freezer being full of yummy, healthy food.

A huge high for me, what I think every woman has dreamed of,, was having Lynette Cowie – an image and stylist consultant – come over and go through my

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October 2011

wardrobe. Together we threw out firstly the fat clothes and those items that make me look “boxy”, and clothes that definitely just don’t do 'it' for me anymore. Lynette also pointed out that I need to make my own look using accessories, which I definitely do not have a lot of. So we drew up a shopping list and met at Villaggio one evening to shop. We had fun! Our first stop was at Dorothy Perkins to select an outfit for my Reveal on November 16 and we could not resist trying on some gorgeous outfits. I felt very sexy, slim and confident.

It’s been years since I felt that - I am a new ME! I went home after the shop exhausted, but an extremely satisfied customer with lots of new accessories and some new outfits that Lynette and I just could not resist!

Although most of this month has been very exhilarating, I have had to deal with some frustrations and disappointments.

Just after Eid I got the flu, which turned into bronchitis. I was not able to exercise for two weeks which was very frustrating

Coaching Updates

It’s been a busy month with the return to work routines after a long summer break.

With so many conflicting priorities, the challenge for Alyson was to stay focused on her goal, writes Coach Nicole.

N

ext month is the Reveal where Alyson will be going through the final stages of her Transform and showcasing her amazing transformation to a room full of special guests from sponsors and media to family and friends. This will be a major milestone in her journey and a

as I was worried that I would not have such great results, but my fears were unfounded, I still had great results. A huge motivator for me was getting slimmer and healthier so that I could go back to South Africa and show my family and friends a new transformed me. The plan was that my family and I would be going to South Africa in December to “Reveal” myself to all my supporters in South Africa. Travel plans didn’t work out as expected. In the past a setback like this would have devastated me and I would have run to the fridge and binged, feeling sorry for myself. However, now I just see it as a setback and look for positives, how far I have come both physically and mentally, and how I will make a plan to go to South Africa to share my triumph with my family and friends there.

I am now on the downhill run towards the Reveal and I am extremely motivated in my eating habits and exercise. I am organising myself by planning ahead and setting myself up for success to make the most out of my Transform.

much awaited special treat.

This month we looked at practical ways that Alyson can set herself up for success.

Here are some of the ways we worked to keep it simple and focused:

Recipes We created a folder with categories for breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks and special occasions. Recipes were chosen from a list of Alyson’s old and new favourites.

Ingredient lists were reviewed to look for ways to increase the nutrition content of the recipes. Each recipe was given a rating of: Easy - few ingredients and simple to make

fitness

wardrobe

beauty & spa

wellbeing

support partner

partners

Retail Therapy There’s nothing quite like a healthy dose of retail therapy to bring new energy to one’s life, especially when armed with the support of a stylist, a predetermined shopping list and spending money. Alyson and Lynette, Doha’s Image and Clothing Revivalist, spent an exhilarating evening in Villaggio Mall, beginning their journey in Woman Today Transform’s clothing sponsor, the Dorothy Perkins store.

“Slipping into a highly fashionable pair of rope-detailed wedge shoes, Alyson commented with such confidence and glee that

there would be no turning back to her old choices,” Lynette divulged.

This spontaneous and heartfelt reaction delighted both stylist and Alyson as, through a careful selection of footwear and signature accessories, the intended modernity and sophistication was brought into Alyson’s new wardrobe.

To achieve this focused final stage of Alyson’s personal image process, Alyson needed to understand her personal figure, colour and lifestyle requirements, followed up with a thorough wardrobe cleanse.

“With such a dramatic ‘Transform’ and measurement loss, Alyson (and I) happily let go of approximately one third of her wardrobe,” says Lynette.

A large number of these pieces were given the nod, based on their style, fabric and print proving to be outdated – with Lynette insisting Alyson reflect her newfound sense of youthfulness and energy.

Lynette also believes in celebrating and dressing

one’s body for the moment, so the fit of each and every item was appraised and selected based on which best complemented Alyson’s present body shape.

Alyson’s learned new ways of mix-andmatching combinations of pieces, veering away from her habit of pairing everything with black slacks and shoes. “This dull play pairing is such a common mindset among fuller-figured ladies who believe their bottom half is best ignored,” explains Lynette.

“I demonstrated and encouraged Alyson to become more adventurous and daring in her colour and styling combinations, with the layering factor adding new interest and individuality to any outfit,” says Lynette.

With continued weight and measurement loss, together they wisely decided to focus mainly on developing Alyson’s accessory pieces, as her footwear, handbags and costume jewellery were in dire need of an injection of fun, sophistication and colour. “This is exactly what both Alyson and her wardrobe needed – a boost of style that will see her through to, and far beyond, her Transform journey,” Lynette concludes.

Lynette Cowie is a Doha-based Image & Clothing Revivalist, who recently launched her line of clothes and accessories. She can be contacted through: http://www.facebook.com/Doha.Image.Clothing.Revivalist http://www.lynettecowie.com

Quick - could be made in advance, 20 minutes or less preparation time Pantry - could be made in advance, in bulk and stored outside the freezer Freezer - could be made in advance, in bulk and frozen We also reviewed healthy pre-made storebought foods that could be frozen for emergency meals.

Pantry and fridge makeover Part of being set up for success is having easy, quick access to the right ingredients and re-

moving items that don’t support your new eating style. We reviewed the good, the bad and the ugly in Alyson’s pantry and fridge.

Alyson already had many great healthy products in her cupboard and other items that will be replaced with better choices as she goes along.

Shopping Tour Once we had reviewed Alyson’s recipe list, she created a detailed grocery shopping list.

Together we toured the local grocery store, reviewing labels, talking about complex

carbohydrates/healthy fats/protein choices, discussing adjustments to recipe ingredients and filling the shopping trolley with options that will work for Alyson and her family.

Kitchen makeover Having the right tools close at hand is essential when you want to maximise your effectiveness when you are busy. A great tip (if you have the bench space) is to put key pieces of equipment on top of the bench. Slow cooker, blender, food processor and juicer now greet Alyson when she walks into her kitchen.

2011 October

17

Countdown calendar It is just a month away from the big Reveal event. To keep Alyson focused on her goal, she has created a countdown calendar to the Reveal date with images that inspire her.

This is posted on her kitchen wall, along with her body statistics which show that she is shrinking every month. Creating this type of tool is great for motivating Alyson and is a great visual tool that encourages her family to continue to be involved in the excitement of her Reveal.

Support network Alyson has wonderfully supportive people around her – her husband and children, colleagues at work, family and friends in South Africa and Qatar. In addition, Alyson also has everyone involved in the Transform project to lean on when she

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October 2011

needs a motivational boost. Each of us has a support network; the key is to nourish this network and tap into it when you need support.

Having fun With a tight schedule and the pressure starting to build as the lead-up to Reveal continues, it’s important that Alyson has some fun. This was easy this month. Alyson has already cultivated a very positive outlook and a great sense of humour with all the challenges she has overcome in her journey so far.

With the wardrobe makeover and clothes shopping tours this month with Lynette Cowie of Doha’s Image & Clothing Revivalist, there were plenty of opportunities to have a good stressrelieving giggle.

Health Journeys are what Nicole specialises in. It's a holistic approach to wellness that empowers and transforms lives in a way that is individual and sustainable. Nicole created WT Transform to inspire everyone with the "I can do it" attitude to health and wellbeing, and to showcase a holistic approach to creating your best life. Along with Transform, Nicole has created More Raw – a Facebook group that is guiding participants through detox and cleansing, and also regularly takes individuals and groups to detoxing retreats in exotic locations worldwide.

Nicole van Hattem is Founder and Wellness Director of Art of Abundant Living, which specialises in individual health coaching, corporate wellness programmes, health products and retreats.

Find out more at www.artofabundantliving.com, join Art of Abundant Living on Facebook or follow Nicole on Twitter @AALNicole and LinkedIn. Nicole transformed her own life and as a result her body transformed too. To read her story and view the before and after pictures, please visit www. artofabundantliving.com -Success Stories.

worldwidewomen Wangari Maathai

Unbowed, unmatched

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October 2011

It took me a lot of days and nights to convince people that women could improve their environment without mucH technology or financial resources.

Wangari Maathai

Source: AFPRELAXNEWS

T

he first African woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize, the Kenyan Wangari Maathai, who died last month, rose to prominence fighting for those most easily marginalised on the continent – poor women.

Honouring her in 2004, the Nobel awarding committee praised Maathai for taking “a holistic approach to sustainable development that embraces democracy, human rights and women’s rights in particular”.

The first woman in East and Central Africa to win a doctorate, Maathai started her career as an environmental campaigner after planting some trees in her own back garden.

This inspired her in 1977 to form an organisation – comprised primarily of women – known as the Green Belt Movement to fight the devastating effects of deforestation and desertification.

She mobilised poor women to plant more than 30 million trees as part of a drive to produce sustainable wood for fuel use and to combat soil erosion.

One of few Kenyan women to invariably don traditional African dress of colourful wax fabric, Maathai, who died at the age of 71, smiles broadly on photos.

She studied biology in the US and, after gaining her doctorate at Nairobi University, clocked up another first – becoming the first woman to teach there.

In her 2006 autobiography “Unbowed: One Woman’s Story”, Maathai recounts how climate patterns had ceased being predictable since her childhood on the slopes of Mount Kenya, a fact linked to climate change.

“At the time of my birth, the land around Ihithe was lush, green and fertile.

“The seasons were so regular that you could almost predict that long monsoon rains could start falling in mid-March. In July you knew it

worldwidewomen could be so foggy you would not be able to see 10 feet in front of you and so cold that the grass would be silvery white with frost,” she writes.

Touring Ihithe to launch her book in October 2006, Maathai told reporters: “But now the climate and the environment have changed and has become unpredictable.”

She has told the BBC’s Africa Live programme that her tree-planting campaign was far from popular when it first began. “It took me days to convince people that women could improve their environment without much technology or financial resources.”

The Green Belt Movement went on to campaign also on education, nutrition and other issues important to women.

While Maathai picked up numerous awards for her work to protect the environment, she was also beaten unconscious and arrested, often for campaigning against deforestation.

In the late 1980s, she became a prominent opponent of a skyscraper planned for the mid-

Her ex-husband described her as “too educated, too strong, too successful, too stubborn and too hard to control” dle of the main park in the centre of Nairobi.

She was vilified by the government of then President Daniel arap Moi, but succeeded in thwarting the plans.

In 1997, she submitted to public pressure to run for president against Moi but did not take campaigning seriously and did not even release a manifesto.

Five years later, however, she made it into parliament as part of an opposition coalition which swept to power after Moi stepped down.

She was appointed deputy environment minister in 2003.

The Nobel Peace Prize committee praised her as “a source of inspiration for everyone in Africa fighting for sustainable development,

Women Nobel laureates

1903 - Marie Curie (Physics)

Women have been named Nobel laureates 41 times in the 110-year history of the awards. One woman, Marie Curie, has been honoured twice, with the 1903 Nobel Prize in Physics and the 1911 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. This means that 40 women in total have been awarded a Nobel Prize between 1901 and 2010.

democracy and peace”.

On the BBC’s Desert Island Discs programme, where guests get to choose eight pieces of music, one book and one luxury item with which to be marooned on a deserted island, Maathai, a Christian, chose the Qur'an and a large basket of fruit.

Her musical choices ranged from Ave Maria to a hit from Benin singer Angelique Kidjo.

She is survived by three children and a granddaughter.

Her former husband, whom she divorced in the 1980s, was said to have remarked that Maathai was “too educated, too strong, too successful, too stubborn and too hard to control”

1991 - Aung San Suu Kyi (Peace)

1909 - Selma Lagerloef (Literature)

1991 - Nadine Gordimer (Literature)

1911 - Marie Curie (Chemistry)

1992 - Rigoberta Menchu (Peace)

1926 - Grazia Deledda (Literature)

1993 - Toni Morrison (Literature)

1928 - Sigrid Undset (Literature)

1995 -Christiane Nuesslein-Volhard

1931 - Jane Addams (Peace)

(Medicine)

1935 - Irene Joliot-Curie (Chemistry)

1996 - Wislawa Szymborska (Litera-

1938 - Pearl Buck (Literature)

ture)

1945 - Gabriela Mistral (Literature)

1997 - Jody Williams (Peace)

1946 - Emily Greene Balch (Peace)

2003 - Shirin Ebadi (Peace)

1947 - Gerty Cori (Medicine)

2004 - Linda Buck (Medicine)

1963 - Maria Goeppert Mayer (Physics)

2004 - Elfriede Jelinek (Literature)

1964 - Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin

2004 - Wangari Maathai (Peace)

(Chemistry)

2007 - Doris Lessing (Literature)

1966 - Nelly Sachs (Literature)

2008 - Francoise Barre-Sinoussi (Medi-

1976 - Betty Williams (Peace)

cine)

1976 - Mairead Corrigan (Peace)

2009 - Ada Yonath (Chemistry)

1977 - Rosalyn Yalow (Medicine)

2009 - Elizabeth Blackburn (Medicine)

1979 - Mother Teresa (Peace)

2009 - Carol Greider (Medicine)

1982 - Alva Myrdal (Peace)

2009 - Herta Mueller (Literature)

1983 - Barbara McClintock (Medicine)

2009 - Elinor Ostrom (Economics)

1986 - Rita Levi-Montalcini (Medicine)

Professor Marie Curie working in the laboratory of Paris University.

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October 2011

1988 - Gertrude Elion (Medicine)

1905 - Bertha von Suttner (Peace)

worldwidewomen

Nada Al-Shaibani is a pathbreaker, and one of the first Qatari female television presenters. In an interview with Maryam Al-Subaiey she shares her experience, discusses what it feels like to be a pioneer in this field and talks about her future goals.

Screen Test 24

October 2011

My first choice was Al Kass sports channel because of my deep love for sports. I found great support because of my knowledge and passion for sports.

N

ada Al-Shaibani has a degree in Nutrition from Qatar University, but has found her calling as a television presenter, one of the very first Qatari pros in the field. She started her career in Qatar with Al Kass Channel as a sports presenter – a natural place to start, as she is an athlete herself.

Currently she is a co-presenter of ‘Swalifna Helwa’ – a talk show which airs on Dubai channel. She is also part of the TV Support and Development Committee in Qatar which is going to launch new ideas and concepts for QTV. In the past decade, she progressed admirably in her career, making a name for herself, but she steadfastly holds on to her Qatari identity and style, always in a shayla and abaya. It is not presenting alone that she is involved in; she has written the scripts for several children's and adult programmes as well.

Off camera, Nada spends her time reading and travelling. Her mantras for life are ‘never stop dreaming’ and ‘the sky is the limit’.

Tell us about the first steps?

Since 2001, I have developed an interest in media. I have participated in several local shows and children’s shows. My graduation project was related to media; in the project I wrote a small cartoon script for children called ‘Fruit Basket’ to encourage them to eat more fruit and vegetables. The purpose of the project was to learn the effects of media on children. The cartoon was played on TV, and I conducted a survey in several primary and secondary schools to see the effect it had on children and young adults. It was a first-of-itskind in Qatar, and I received good feedback

from my professors at university. This was the first step towards realising my dream.

During the summer of that year, I interned at QTV for a children’s show. Through this internship I learned a lot about TV and loved the fact that every day was new and interesting.

There was no routine, and it was a place where dreams could be realised. Not only that, I also realised that it was a place where you could reach out to a large number of people.

When did you decide to get in front of the camera?

I generally like creative work, I abhor routine and this pushed me even further towards media. In 2007 some friends encouraged me to be on TV instead of working behind the scenes. My first choice was Al Kass sports channel because of my deep love for sports.

I found great support because of my knowledge and passion for sports. It was a very successful experience and I have learned a lot from it.

Which TV shows have you worked on? Do you have a favourite, and why?

I love all the programmes I have presented. I started reading sports news, specifically the Olympics news in 2008. Then I presented ‘Al Dahwanya’ in the 19th Gulf Cup in Oman with my colleague Khaled Al-Hiddi. It was my first live experience. After that I was part of a programme called ‘Nuon, the stories of athletic women’. In this programme we hosted wellknown female athletes from the Gulf to hear about their stories of ambition and success.

This show is probably the dearest to my heart. It was an idea that I pushed for over two years. It was a first-of-its-kind in the region.

Quick Take Favourite book/author... There is one for every phase in my life.

TV personality I admire... Khadija bin Qanna, Al Jazeera news anchor; Laila Al-Shaikhli, also at Al Jazeera; and Muntaha Al Rumhi at Al Arabiya.

If I were not on screen, then... I would specialise in sports and nutrition A TV show I wish I could host... A show where I could host Fairuz, neighbour to the moon.

Role model... Mohammed bin Hammam. Always determined.

Style is... a reflection of one’s personality.

Favourite abaya designer... no one specific.

All Khaleeji abaya designers are great!

Favourite accessory... Anything made

by Azza Fahmy, very creative and unique.

Favourite holiday destination... anywhere with a beach.

On my iPod... Mohammed Abdu, Fairuz, Hussain Al-Jassmy, Talal Maddah, Shereen, Abdulmajeed Abdullah.

Tomorrow is... the future.

2011 October

25

worldwidewomen follow those steps. I believe that we should hold on to what’s traditional but present it in a modern way that suits the 21st century.

You are one of the few professional Qatari TV presenters, or rather the only Qatari. How does this reflect in your personal life?

I always separate my professional life from my personal life. I like to give every part of my life the time it deserves without sacrificing one over the other. I am still the same person I was before starting TV, and I think that the ability to maintain yourself in this environment shows whether you are really into it for passion or just for fame. As a Muslim, I believe in modesty, and the more modest you are, the more people around you will like you.

On Camera: Nada (second from left) at one of her shows.

We moved from one country to another trying to profile as many Arab women athletes as possible. I consider it my baby because it materialised after a long time and a lot of hard work, and also because I worked on it behind the scenes as well as on camera.

I also participated in the morning show at Doha channel in 2009, and for almost a year I have been co-presenting ‘Swalifna Helwa’.

This show is different because it is far from sports; it covers diverse topics and has more space for personal opinions. I feel that it shows more of my character.

Each programme has its own memories.

A memorable moment in your career?

During the 19th Gulf Cup, I had the privilege of interviewing Mohammed bin Hammam, President of the Asian Football Confederation. I have always admired his ambition and hard work. Meeting an idol, and interviewing him, was a dream come true.

Did you have good speaking and acting skills as a child?

I never had an interest in acting as a child, but I was interested in studying Arabic and enjoyed it a lot. My speech skills were clear and I focused on developing them further.

It must have been a difficult

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October 2011

path, since it is not the most traditional course of action to take in Qatar. What were the challenges you faced, and how did you overcome them?

Yes, Qatari society is very conservative and has different characteristics from other GCC societies. At first it was difficult to convince my dad. It took more than three months of negotiations. But I am lucky that in my family we believe in democracy. We were able to bring our points of view closer. Finally my dad approved, as long as I had certain working hours and kept my Qatari identity.

I was, of course, afraid of how society would look at me, but since I have emphasised my Qatari identity on TV there has been wide acceptance. The programmes I present are done in a respectful way which suits my culture.

Eventually everyone was on my side.

What do you think of the status of gulf television channels?

Do you like them, or would you like to see some changes?

Khaleeji channels have gone through massive changes in the past few years. But we see a big difference between private channels and those which represent the government. The private ones have more resources and freedom to implement changes and ideas. I hope that one day the traditional TV channels will

There must be some Qatari girls who want to be like you.

What advice would you give Qatari girls to inspire them to pursue their dream?

I would like to tell every young person, especially women who are aspiring to work in media, that you have to continuously work hard and be very patient. It might seem easy to just talk in front of the camera, but it is much more than that; you need to train a lot and read and learn as much as possible. Television presenters must have wide knowledge to be able to ask questions, analyse and say the right thing at critical times. Most importantly, you need to be very confident of what you do. When you go on TV you don’t only represent yourself but your country too. Also, you will always find haters in your path. Never allow them to get to you; rise above them.

Do you want to have your own show one day?

My ambition is to have my own show but I think I still have a long way to go to reach this stage. I know that one day I will realise what this show should be about, and when that day comes I will work hard for it to come true. I am not sure what it should be about, but generally, I prefer social and sports programmes because they are very interactive with the audience and will always leave a mark, so this is where I am headed

worldwidewomen

Her enviable portfolio comprises the successful launch of the al khaliji bank in Qatar with her as the Head of Strategy and Programme Management, and Qatar winning the FIFA World Cup 2022 Bid with her as the Bid’s Programme Director.

Currently the Director of Operations and HR at Starlink, Holly Joint tells Cassey Oliveira why she loves what she does.

W

hile many women would cringe at the thought of gizmos, Holly Joint, for one, loves gadgets and technology! What's more, as the Director of Operations at Starlink, she enjoys catching exclusive previews of the latest devices even before they hit the markets.

“It’s great to be at the forefront of technology, connecting and entertaining people,” says Holly. And while she’s busy delivering communications and entertainment to hands and

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October 2011

Loving what you do

Word of advice

"Women often don’t voice their personal ambitions. Tell your boss or your colleagues who you want to be, what you want to do, and how they can help you get there. You won’t be offered a promotion on a plate. You need to figure out what it takes and demonstrate that you are the right person with the right skills and attitude for it."

home, as per the company’s mission, Holly also oversees the Human Resource Department at Starlink.

“There is an issue with HR being viewed just as an admin department,” she explains. “HR should in fact be more about enabling people to deliver the strategic aims of the company and drive growth, whether that is through improved selection, better training or simply ensuring that everyone knows why their role matters.” Hence, at Starlink, major efforts are taken on ‘how to engage employees’, and at the heart of this are the company’s values of great service, respect, responsibility, teamwork and loving work that are to be imbibed by each employee. “Loving work isn’t just about having fun (although we like to have fun), it’s about you caring about the business and jumping out of bed in the morning ready to go the extra mile.”

Women and career Holly was one of the speakers at the How Women Work Conference held earlier this year, where she talked about ‘What makes a workplace attractive for women’.

“Transparency and flexibility,” she says.

“Transparent in terms of being clear about what you want someone to do and being open with them about what is going well and isn’t going so well. Flexible, because women have multiple roles in society and many jobs can easily flex to support that.”

Does Starlink fit the bill then? “Definitely!

Roughly 50 percent of our employees are women and there are two women on the senior management team as well. We try to be sufficiently flexible to support women in continuing their career when they have a family, and also to provide opportunities for career progression into different areas where we might be able to be more flexible with working terms and conditions.”

According to Holly there are numerous opportunities for women, but not all opportunities are structured to be accessible for women.

“There are certain societal pressures deeply embedded that make it difficult for women to express their ambitions. If a woman says she wants to be a CEO, she will be branded aggressive or pushy; if a man says the same, he gets a pat on the back.”

Another challenge facing women out here

is networking. “Networking is essential here, and it can be very difficult for women as much of this happens in male-only environments such as the majlis.”

But be honest, she tells women, about where you are most likely to face challenges, and to make sure to get the necessary support. “Work as a team with male colleagues. There may be some opportunities that might need them to help you. Also, more and more women are making an impact in Qatar; contact them, as it is always flattering to be asked for help.”

Career Hopping Holly’s career path has involved stints first in the telecoms industry, then banking, then sports and back to telecoms again. It was a risk, says Holly, but a risk that favoured her well. “I took a risk in moving industries, moving countries; but if I hadn’t, I would never have had the chance to set up a bank (the al khaliji Bank in Qatar) or be involved in a winning World Cup bid!”

Prior to Starlink, Holly had worked as the Programme Director for Qatar’s FIFA World Cup 2022 Bid. “It was an amazing experience and I am very excited about what it means for Qatar. I know for most people the World Cup is all about the beautiful game, but for me it is about the excitement of bringing change to the region and quite literally uniting the world.”

The bid also brought her to meet some very famous footballers. However, she was completely unfazed, she confesses, as she didn’t know enough about the game to know who they were!

Having sampled one industry after another, Holly has figured out that all businesses are fundamentally the same. “Business people are full of smart talk and jargon. I never admire that as what value does it bring? Occasionally there are some very complicated concepts or technical details to understand that are new to me, but I always enjoy asking someone to explain to me what they are talking about. It’s amazing how many people have been using an acronym for 10 years but don’t actually know what it means, or talk about something that they can’t actually explain.”

Loving work, living life “I just enjoy what I do, that is my greatest motivation on a long, busy day,” says Holly.

Expat experience: Having worked in the West before, there are two major differences that Holly has noticed while working in an Arab country:

1 2

The notion of saving face. To a Westerner it can make someone seem devious or dishonest when they are not being direct, but actually they are trying to protect you or someone else from humiliation.

Limited downward delegation of authority. If you come here having run a huge operation of several hundred people elsewhere, it’s tough to accept that you can’t sign off even stationery.

“There are so many people in jobs that they hate who moan constantly. How awful is that?

I love what I do and honestly feel excited about the things that we are doing.”

With so many expats in the workforce, one has to be available round the clock, feels Holly, hence taking work home becomes inevitable.

“My husband has his own business too, so it is possible for the working day to never end for the both of us. But we try to limit work to half an hour in the evening and to remind each other to step away from the BlackBerry or laptop.

“My husband supports me whenever I need it. He is my best friend and the funniest person I know. We have a lot of fun, which helps to alleviate any kind of stress.”

When not working, Holly loves to read and likes writing fiction, although these days, she says, it tends to be more of bullet points in PowerPoint. Holly is also a keen amateur photographer and loves travelling, so she tries to combine the two.

“Travel broadens the mind and expands your horizons. When I was 19, I worked in Kenya and someone told me: don’t try to change the world, let Kenya change you. It was the best advice, and I learned so much”

2011 October

29

worldwidewomen

All creatures

great and small Victoria Scott meets Helene Baigent, a globe-trotting vet who’s loving life in Doha

L

ike many animal-loving girls and boys the world over, Helene Baigent wanted to be a vet when she grew up. But she had more hurdles to jump than most; an asthmatic, an early allergy check showed she reacted to almost every animal tested. She was determined that this would have no bearing on her future career choice, however.

“I just decided there was no way that was going to happen – after all, I grew up on a farm! I was used to it,” says Helene, laughing.

The 29-year-old New Zealander has been in Doha for just over a year. Helene works at the Qatar Veterinary Center, which has premises near Villaggio. The practice – which has boarding kennels and a grooming centre – has three full-time vets.

Her early years as a vet have been spent in three vastly different practices. “The first two years were at a mixed animal practice in New Zealand, in Christchurch,” she says. “I mostly looked after pets, but some farm animals too. And lots of farm animals kept as pets!”

Next, she headed to the UK, and went to work in what Helene tells me was a “cute little country town” – Saxmundham in Suffolk. “We had such a

30

October 2011

range of clients. One of our regulars was a big TV star, and then we also had people who lived in council housing, who had nothing.”

After a year in the UK, Helene headed back home, this time to fulfil an ambition – working with large animals in New Zealand’s high country. “We did really cool jobs out in the country stations, working with dairy clients, and people who trained race horses,” Helene enthuses.

“We were doing the sort of work you wouldn’t get The Qatar Veterinary Center someone anywhere else – like drivis open 8am-8pm brought a ing for two hours into every day except Friday. sugar glidthe mountains just for an www.qatarvet.com er – a kind after-hours call-out.” of bat – into It was this job that proappointments only the clinic the vides Helene with the most other day. And memorable moment in her cawe also get a lot of reer so far. “We had a call-out from African grey parrots, these people who had 30 bulls, all with and macaws. They’re so huge horns. Their neighbour had had one of his workers mauled, so our client decided to rare in New Zealand, but here you can just go remove the horns. I had to lean over the rails to the souq to buy them!”

Other regular visitors to the clinic are less of the cattle yards to inject each bull with sedative, and while I was doing it, the next bull in of a welcome sight. “We get a lot of kittens, the queue took the top rail off the cattleyard I bought in the souq, who quickly become sick. was standing on. He was WILD. I just jumped Most of them die or are ill for a long time. There off and ran across the yard as fast as I’ve ever are some viruses very few animals survive. run – after all, there was a big one- ton bull I’ve never had to put so many small animals on drips. And the stray population here is so running after me!”

So what led Helene to give up the thrills of heart-breaking, but we get so many calls from a job in the mountains to head to the desert? people about them, and we can’t take them all.

“Because I’ve done it now,” she says. “I’m quite We do take in some, but we have to put a lid on adventurous, and I still wanted to do some it or we’d go out of business.”

Helene has settled well into her adopted travelling, and I do really like small animal practice. This job came up over here, and be- home. “Doha is such a growing city,” she says. cause it’s so different culturally, I thought I’d “It’s got a positive vibe, as it’s not in economic depression like the rest of the world. Of course enjoy the new challenge.”

It’s clear that this particular “small animal there are things here that annoy you, but then practice” is something out of the ordinary. “We you go back to your home country and it puts see a lot of hunting dogs,” says Helene. “And this into perspective!”

4421 6405,

Helene tells me she finds the work here varied and challenging – in a good way. “We have a huge mix of clients, both expats and locals,” says Helene. “Obviously there’s the whole communication barrier, and there are different cultural expectations too. People have different attitudes towards animals – particularly over what sort of animals they keep as pets.”

I ask Helene about that Doha hardy perennial, the pet cheetah. Is this true, or an urban legend? “Oh, definitely true!” laughs Helene.

“We get a lot of phone calls from people wanting us to treat them. But of course, because they’re illegal, we can’t. I had a couple in my consultation room who asked me to come and see their cheetahs. They pulled out pictures of them on their phones – one of which showed a cheetah wearing a diamond collar, sitting in a cafe! And when I said I couldn’t come, they asked if I could come and see their lions instead.”

Helene is smiling broadly, and I can see she gets a lot of pleasure from her work. So, will she be ministering to Doha’s menageries for a while longer, or has she already got her eyes set on her next challenge? Something tells me she’s still enjoying the ride. “At the beginning, I just thought of my stay here in six-month blocks.

But now I’m kind of thinking I might stay a bit longer.”

2011 October

31

beaware

Life's many lessons

How many of us sit down to think of the good things that life has bestowed upon us? How many count our blessings each day? With a new lease of life, five breast cancer survivors share with Cassey Oliveira the lessons they have learnt in their journey of survival.

Lesson 1

You know your body the best.

Neysa: The moment I first felt a lump in my breast, I knew what it was. But my mammograms always came fine, and I was told I was fine. Soon I started feeling worse, I was vomiting blood. When I did a re-test in Qatar, I was finally diagnosed with breast cancer.

If you feel something is wrong, though the tests are negative, ask for a re-test. You know better how your body feels.

Lesson 2

Your family is your greatest support.

Luiza: When I first felt a lump in my breast I was contemplating going to the doctor. Only when my then 12-year-old son started insisting, did I have my mammography. When I told my son that I had breast cancer, he cried the first day. Every day after that he would kiss me, hug me, and try to make me laugh. I asked him why he did that, and he said because he wanted to see me happy.

Noura: My family supported me a lot during my treatment. I can never forget how my mother would sit next to me everyday and read the Quran with her hand on my chest.

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October 2011

Lesson 3

You are your own strength.

Neysa: I am a resilient person. I did cry at times, but I felt something come over me and tell me that I was going to be alright. I went to Panama for treatment by myself. I called this a journey, and wanted to do it alone. It was my personal strength that kept me going. The funny thing is when you tell people you have cancer, they start crying, and you end up consoling them that it s going to be okay!

Amani H: When I told my daughters about the breast cancer, they were scared for me, and the eldest was scared for herself. Since I had it, she thought she would get it too. So I took her for an ultra sound and it was fine. My youngest took it the hardest. But this made me stronger as I felt if I looked scared and weak during my treatment, it would affect them more. My children became less worried once they saw me full of hope.

Once you start the treatment, things start falling to place and you know what you have to do. You feel confident and strong. You need to have a high morale and a positive attitude to get well soon.

Truths about breast cancer

Breast cancer is not contagious.

Breast cancer is a just like any other disease. It can be treated.

You don't have to be under medication lifelong. It depends on what your doctor says and more importantly on how your body takes it.

Exercise doesn t deteriorate your condition. It makes you fitter.

There is no quick solution for breast cancer.

Be patient and believe in yourself as well as in your medication.

You would fall sick for a day or two, but after that you will lead a normal life even under medication.

You will survive breast cancer if detected and treated early.

HOPE, SMILE AND SURVIVE: (l-r) Neysa Hill, Luiza Pancoti, Noura, Amany Eid Garcia and Amani Halawa.

2011 October

33

beaware Luisa: I never wanted anyone to feel sorry for me. I told my husband and children to get back to their routine and not worry about me. I also never let the fear of losing my breast come across my mind. I think this helped me stay positive.

Noura: I always went for my chemotherapy alone because I didn t want to see someone upset because of my cancer. I am much stronger than the rest of my family.

moved the scarf my son kissed my head and told me that I was always beautiful.

Women in Qatar are lucky...

Lesson 4

Lesson 6

Breast cancer is not the worst thing to happen.

Amani H: The word cancer itself is very scary.

I always thought cancer is the worst thing that could happen to anyone, not until I saw people suffering from nervous system disorders that are incurable. Their entire body is affected whereas just removing a breast doesn t affect your body in anyway.

Lesson 5

For those who cannot afford the treatment, all expenses are borne by the Qatar National Cancer Society.

Al Amal Hospital does early detection for breast cancer for free.

Luiza: After my chemotherapy, I had lost all my hair. I cried. I came home with a head scarf around my head. My son asked me to remove it but I refused as I thought I looked ugly. He insisted and told me that I didn t have to cry because my hair would grow back soon. When I finally re-

October 2011

Amany E: Now that I have survived I have grown stronger, mature and confident.

Luiza: When you have breast cancer, every morning you wake up and pray to get one more day to be with your family. You start to appreciate life.

Noura: I have got a new life and am now starting to see the more beautiful things in life. I had friends before, but with breast cancer I have now met so many good friends who have helped changed my attitude towards life.

Neysa: I decided to excise both my breasts because of the type of cancer I had. It would have spread to the other breast in the future. I just wanted to live.

Amani H: Some women live for their appearances and those are the ones who would suffer during the treatment. They don t do chemotherapy because they fear losing their hair but they don t realise they might lose their life. For an ordinary, practical woman, appearances don t matter. They know that the physical changes that come with breast cancer are temporary. Your hair would grow back. You can also opt for a breast reconstruction surgery.

Appreciate life.

Amani H: As a survivor, you start to see life in a better way. You don t fuss anymore. You learn that friends and family are the most important things in life.

Appearance doesn t matter.

34

Noura: I had removed both my breasts simultaneously because I was told by my doctor that the cancer would spread to the other breast in the future, and I didn t want to go through the whole process again. I didn t want to keep my breasts to look beautiful to people; living was more important.

Lesson 7

Hayat Cancer Support Group Initiated by the Qatar National Cancer Society, the Hayat Cancer Support Group comprises breast cancer survivors, families of survivors and health care professionals who are involved with spreading awareness and supporting breast cancer patients.

Life is a test, face it.

Amany E: Religion says that humans will always be tested this was one of my tests. You need to be strong to accept it and find a way out.

Amani H: To have fear is not bad; but let the fear be your motive to survive, not the reason why you die.

Luiza: I once asked my cousin why I got cancer when there were people who were unhealthy, who drank alcohol and smoked cigarettes. My cousin replied that it was because God loved me, he knew that I could handle it much better than such people. It s sad that those with good health are wasting their life with cigarettes and alcohol

beaware

Riding on Risk

Dr Rajka Milanovic Galbraith highlights the important things that one must know about breast cancer: knowing who is at risk, knowing when to screen and knowing that detection sometimes yields false positives.

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October 2011

T

he greatest risk factors for breast cancer are: age, genetic predisposition and oestrogen exposure. By age, the older you are, the higher the chance of getting breast cancer. Having a first-degree relative with breast cancer (mother, sister or daughter) approximately doubles your lifetime risk.

If you delivered your first baby after the age of 30, you also have an increased risk, as you have had a longer time to be exposed to what we call “unopposed” oestrogen.

Meanwhile, factors that are protective against breast cancer are: exercise, breastfeeding (for at least 16 months), having a postmenopausal Body Mass Index (BMI) of less than 23, having more than five children, taking aspirin more than once a week, and having your ovaries removed before the age of 35.

There are various breast risk assessment calculators. Once such calculator is based on the “Gail Model that was developed for healthcare providers. If you are uncertain of your risk, you can go online, calculate your risk and then discuss it with your physician. Here is the link: http://www.cancer.gov/bcrisktool/.

I created a Youtube video on how to use this

Other risk factors involved:

Having a BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutation Having a relative with BRCA1 Or BRCA2 gene mutation (without even being tested yourself) gives you a 20-25 % greater chance of getting breast cancer Prior history of radiation therapy between the ages of 1030 years Having a genetic disease such as Li-Fraumeni syndrome, Cowden syndrome or Bannayan-RileyRuvalcaba syndrome or a first degree relative with these syndromes Early age (<12 years) at the start of your menstrual period (or menarche) Developing menopause at an older age (>55) Drinking more than two alcoholic drinks per day History of a benign breast biopsy Never delivered a baby

calculator which can be found here: http:// www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0fLMdhyS3c &feature=channel_video_title.

When to Screen Your screening will be based on whether you are at increased risk, your age and where you live. If you are at normal risk, the guidelines change from country to country. Recently the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) revised their guidelines to have annual screenings start at the age of 40. Many of the societies in the US recommend starting annually at 40, including the American Cancer Society and the American College of Radiology. However, the Australian Government’s Department of Health and Ageing, along with the UK’s National Health Service, recommend screening mammograms starting at age 50 and not 40, while in New Zealand free mammograms are offered to all women aged 45-69. For more country-specific recommendations, you can look to the Geneva Foundation for Medical Education and Research: http://www.gfmer.ch/Guidelines/ Breast_diseases/Breast_cancer_screening. htm. Talk to your doctor if you have any questions about when to have a mammogram.

False positives of Mammography Of all mammograms performed, 90 percent usually come back without evidence of breast cancer while the remaining 10 percent will require further testing with either additional mammogram views or ultrasound. With further testing, 85 percent will be normal and 15 percent will require a biopsy, however only two percent of all patients having a mammogram will actually require a biopsy. Of the biopsies, 80 percent will be normal (meaning the mammogram was falsely positive) and 20 percent will be cancerous. Thus, mammograms (like any test) can result in false positives and can lead to unnecessary biopsies. There is no way to avoid this unless you want to risk missing an even larger number of cancers. Currently the false negative results occur at a rate of 8-10 percent. It may sound strange to then recommend mammograms when they are not 100 percent accurate, but in the US, mammograms have helped reduce the death rate from breast cancer by 30 percent since 1990

Ask the Doc

1

Is the radiation from the mammogram harmful?

The amount of radiation from one mammogram is equal to 2 1/2 months of your daily environmental exposure.

2

I am 40-years-old, and don’t have any risk factors for breast cancer. What is the chance that I will develop breast cancer?

One in 69 women in their 40s will be diagnosed with breast cancer.

3

I have taken oral contraceptive pills (OCPs) for a long time.

Does this increase my risk of breast cancer?

Most studies show that OCPs do not increase your risk of breast cancer while some studies have shown them to increase the risk.

Dr Rajka Milanovic Galbraith is an American Board certified family physician, a mother of two and a wife who has resided in Doha for the past 6 years.

She has over 14 years of clinical experience and is regarded highly by her patients, colleagues and staff.

Recently she launched a website: www.expatdoctormom.com, which provides up-to-date information in a wide variety of areas including: healthcare, parenting, travel, and entrepreneurship. Dr Rajka writes a regular column covering subjects from women and family health to parenting issues. If you have questions you wish answered, please write to wtoday@omsqatar.com, subject line ‘Ask the Doc’.

2011 October

37

beaware

October Diary:

Raising awareness A look at some of the unusual yet worthwhile breast cancer awareness campaigns across various cities this month ...

Roanoke: Men in Pink Roanoke's firefighters are on a mission to "extinguish" breast canc er in the month of October that mar ks both the month of Breast Cancer Awareness as well as Fire Preventi on.

Firefighters will be sporting pink uniform shirts during the month in solidarity with those suffering from breast cancer.

By Cassey Oliveira

Manama Don't sh:op, just walk

pore: Singaup!

Pick

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A 3km walk of hope calle d "Kick up yo heels" by loca ur l non-profit or ganisation Think Pink Ba hrain will be held within th premises of th e e city's famou s City Centre mall. A maxim um of 300 pa rticipants ca register for a n fee of BHD5 (Q R48) which includes a co mmemorativ e "Kick up yo heels" Walka ur thon pink T-sh irt and a reus able matchin g Think Pink Bahrain tote The non-com bag. petitive walka thon will begi from the Food n Court area at Level 2 while covering all th e levels of th e mall towar the final fini ds sh line.

Seat Badgtele: it!

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38

October 2011

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s n Septe aduate Four gr it the roads o y crossh -da Victoria ark on an 80 22 cities b m o e acr ss ing a 11 to oad trip Canada, driv k r y r t n in in p s cou e g s nnin campu and do aim is to n a and 15 v k The us pin l of d hats. lumino irts an well as a tota ale h s , s e d s s a e sha h s t s e rough waren raise a (QR491,400) th s to support 0 sse $135,00 r-style sungla ictoria o t ion of V is ia v iv d r of a e c n ast ca the bre Foundation ls a Hospit

St. Louis: Let there be li g

ht

Don’t be surpri sed to find a pi nk bulb on sale w hen you walk in to any of the 287 Walmart stores in Missouri, Illinoi s, Indiana, Kans as and Kentucky that are partic ipating in the "p ower of pink" programme. Br ainchild of loca l marketing guru Sherri Cliffe, th e programme en courages custom ers to buy these en ergy-efficient pink light bulbs to help raise awar eness. One of th ese pink bulbs glows proudly at the Mayor's office too!

Australia: Black and White Fashion meets a cause with the Fashion Targets Breast Cancer (FTBC) campaign that has Australia's leading fashion personalities, models and actresses along with their favourite high street brands participating in it. Fashion buffs can save a life by purchasing a black and white item from any of the supporting fashion labels; 25% of the total funds raised from these sales will be donated for breast cancer research.

Man la : Kiss iGoodb ye Beau

ty b to 125 rand Avon w ,0 Octob 00 Kisses" m ill hold a "R er 2 a ace aratho nd s Pretty n ColorB ell its speci on al Sim liss lip its "Ki pl ss st campa Goodbye to ick as part y of ign to Breast raise m ippine Cance r" G o Care C eneral Hosp ney for the ital (P Philentre GH a hospit nd sele ) Brea al c s the br s. The camp ted provinci t and's a a i l g n a 125th lso ma celebr an rks ation this ye niversary ar.

Boston: Get a room The White Elephant inn at Nantucket Island in the city will be donating $1 (QR3.64) from every room night charge for October to the local charity organisation, the Marla Ceely Lamb Fund. The inn is also offering a special pink White Elephant T-shirt in their gift shop and a Think Pink cocktail at its Brant Point Grill restaurant. Guests will be able to meet with other 'pink' surprises during their stay. The inn's mascot – Trunket, the elephant – will be dressed in pink too!

Suffolk: Watch my Shoe

har-

lc g, bra n n ua as: Dalilng, blin its third a My Bra" cau st Bl ing ll ho lled "Bl will be blinged a y wi s

eBa ction c ed bra h. Each omen u g t ity a e 37 blin the mon enteen w que r v g e e uni n h s i w dur fort of g these beads, d e tion the ef blin pearls, e g th n to is bra at dow ric, faux rs durin eeds s e c b who using fa d feath . All pro en n p bras owers a orksho n G. Kom f the l o w f sa a u k l r S de r si s y B ted to M l lea B ay ' g Blin e dona he globa t, via e mme. n b t a will e Cure, moveme e progr l h r t b e a r c t o i n f cha r st ca brea Works g Givin

A support group from Sentara Obici Hospital in Suffolk, VA, the Pink Passion, has initiated a shoe-decorating contest to raise money to support breast cancer patients receiving chemotherapy. Contestants are required to lend their creative touch to women's shoes or boots; flip-flops, however, cannot make their way to the contest. On October 14th, a Pink Passion fashion show will be held to showcase these embellished shoes and a winner would be announced.

2011 October

39

beaware

Fighting a cause It’s that time of the year again when societies around the world are busy scouting various awareness strategies for breast cancer. But for Karen Al-Kharouf, the month of October alone doesn’t suffice. The non-profit organisation that she set up – Think Pink Qatar (TPQ) – works through the year, educating people about breast cancer, and the annual Walk held in October is only the grand finale, she tells Woman Today.

W

hen Karen AlKharouf’s grandmother died of breast cancer at the age of 72, Karen assumed it to be a cause of old-age. She was young then, and was never quite aware of the disease. It was only when she got older, and had an opportunity to volunteer at the American Cancer Society in the US that she realised cancer had nothing to do with age. “My grandmother had found the lump in her breast much before she was officially diagnosed, but left it unattended. By the time she went to the doctor, the lump had grown to the size of a small peach and had already affected her entire body,” recalls Karen. It was then that she saw early detection as the best defence against breast cancer. TPQ was thus created to spread the

By Cassey Oliveira word here in Qatar.

“TPQ is active in the community through awareness events that are partnered by local charities, NGOs, government, schools and universities. We make these events fun, but the mission remains to educate people who attend about breast cancer.”

There is a change that Karen notices. “Women have now started to discuss more about breast cancer. They are asking questions and speaking to their doctors about it.” The number of Qatari women and even men turning up for the Breast Cancer Walk has increased over the years, indicating the growing ratio of awareness in the community.

Knowing that breast cancer occurs in men too, TPQ dedicated an entire campaign for men last year, educating them about the disease and continues to keep them engaged in other events as well.

Family matters Lending tremendous support to her work is Karen’s husband and co-founder of TPQ. “Since my husband is an Arab, he understands the culture well. He is the best way to get men in the community, especially Arab men, to support their wives or female relatives.”

Karen’s daughter isn’t far behind. “She is aware of my efforts to raise breast cancer awareness. She helps me by getting her friends at high school to speak to their mothers about the need for early detection.”

Karen Al-Kharouf Founder of Think Pink Qatar

40

October 2011

Fight back Like her grandmother, Karen has had encoun-

ters with many strong women who have relentlessly battled the disease. There are two in particular. “One has survived the cancer, but went through a trauma when the cancer was advancing. She refused to give up for the sake of her children and husband. She told me that she had to live for them and fight not a battle, but a war for that.

“The other woman I met at a survivors meeting. She was diagnosed during her 30s with terminal breast cancer. But she is a fighter, and is still fighting. Her commitment towards life has made me appreciate life more, and fight harder to raise awareness.”

It’s only natural for people fighting cancer to suffer from bouts of depression and a major factor for it is losing one’s breast to the cancer. “There might be days when women feel sad about not having their breast, but I am sure they would rather lose the breast than lose their life.” Then there’s always the option of having a breast reconstructive surgery. “A woman who had undergone the surgery told me that she welcomed the new breast as she now has a better cup than before.” Surgery or no surgery, ultimately it’s more important that you live than have a breast, says Karen

October 28, 2011

The ‘We Walk to Live’ breast cancer walk will be held at the Doha Corniche, starting at the Museum of Islamic Art till the Sheraton Park. The Walk is free to public and participants are requested to wear pink to show their commitment towards the fight against breast cancer.

beaware

Cancerproof

your life!

By Nicole Van Hattem

Let FOOD be thy medicine and medicine be thy food Hippocrates

42

October 2011

L

et 's face it, we live in a toxic world.

There are nasty chemicals and toxins present in our air, environment, food system, our homes and even our body products. Our bodies create toxins as a natural part of their daily functions. We even have toxic relationships and lifestyles! Considering this entire toxic onslaught on our biological system, it often amazes me that so many of us are cancer-free.

I 'm a big believer in keeping things simple. So here are my simple guidelines to ensuring you have a vibrantly healthy (cancer-free) and youthful body long into your advanced years.

Control what you can control Do you have control over the quality of the air you breathe or how much you breathe?

What about the chemicals used to clean your home or office?

Do you choose the chemical products that you use on your body?

Who controls the foods that you are putting into your body?

Do you choose to get regular exercise? (30 minutes or more a day, five or more times a week) How are you conducting your relationships with colleagues, family members, and friends?

What thoughts do you choose that inspire you to get

Healthy eating tips: Eat whole, natural and pure foods.

Avoid chemicalised and overly processed foods.

Avoid artificial sweeteners, colours and flavourings.

Avoid genetically modified foods.

Eat organic whenever possible.

Eat a wide variety of foods eat foods from all the colours of the rainbow.

Eat slowly, mindfully and without distractions and chew!

Eat small amounts, more often throughout the day to stabilise blood sugars.

Eat a balance of complex carbohydrates, healthy fats and lean proteins at each meal.

out of bed each morning and face the new day with a smile?

How much clean water do you drink on a daily basis?

Do you surround yourself with a clean, simple, natural environment?

How much time do you spend in front of the TV, on the computer, with your mobile phone, watching movies or reading violent or drama-filled books?

Take a good look at the life you have created for yourself. Celebrate what's already working for your wellbeing and make decisions to change those things that are not supporting your health. Now take action.

For the things that you cannot control – stressing over the things that you are not able to change will not make you healthier or happier, so let them go. Yes you can practise actively – let go of things for a week and see what happens.

Move! You were designed to move, so move!

1 Eat well. Junk food is not food! Choose organic, whole, natural, pure and real foods.

2 Sleep. Deep, restful, rejuvenating sleep.

3 Breathe. Inhale clean oxygen-filled air and do breathing exercises. Take three deep breaths now while you are reading this.

4 Relax. Meditate, exercise, spend time with supportive people, paint, read, play with pets whatever works for you.

5 Drink water. Lots of clean water. Soft drinks and soda, tea, coffee and juices are not water.

6 Detox. Clean out your system on a regular basis.

7 Give. Give a smile, some of your time, a helping hand, a bit of inspiration, words of encouragement – the list is endless.

8 Live a meaningful life. Define what this means for you and get busy with it.

Each of us has 24-hours in a day. No more, no less.

Decide how you are going to invest each day in ways that create well-being in your body, mind and spirit.

Recognise that there are choices you make every day that contribute to your natural ability to fight cancer.

You are your own powerful healer and protector. You have the ability to cancer-proof your life

Interesting statistic: The American Cancer society estimates that one third of all American cancer deaths might be diet-related.

Cancer fighting foods: Avocados Broccoli Cabbage Carrots Cauliflower Chili peppers Figs Flax seeds Garlic Grapefruits Grapes Green tea Kale Lemons Oranges Mushrooms Nuts Papayas Raspberries Rosemary Seaweed and other sea vegetables Sweet potatoes Tapioca Tomatoes Turmeric

Nicole van Hattem is an Executive Health Coach, writer, speaker, presenter and corporate wellness consultant. She is also the Founder and Director of Art of Abundant Living and runs a thriving health coaching practice.

Satisfy your hunger for life – to find out more go to www.artofabundantliving.com, join Art of Abundant Living on or follow Nicole on @AALNicole and 2011 October

43

beaware

Power

of Pink

There’s a Think Pink Breast Cancer Awareness Walk in the city on October 28. Don’t fret if you can’t take part; Woman Today offers tips for you to do your bit, in style.

And when it comes to the colour pink, you can never go wrong.

By Cassey Oliveira

PINK your face

Give your face a pink touch. Pink lipstick, eyeshadow, blush – we’re sure you have that shade in your make-up kit. Let’s fight the disease with a ‘pretty’ bold face!

Could buy

Bourjois

Give your eyes that delicate look with this fresh pink eyeshadow shade.

PINK your home

Charity begins at home; so does awareness. Decorate your bedroom or living room with any pink items you have at home for the month: pink candles, curtains, flowers, beauty range or perfumes. Your sister, mother or friend at home will know why.

Could buy

Rimmel

Rimmel’s all-new Vinyl Max Gloss promises the most voluptuous pout ever with its luscious hot pink shade.

Could buy

Victoria’s Secret

That the brand has opened up its first store at Landmark Mall in Doha is no secret.

Grab the latest range of beauty products and feel beautiful.

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October 2011

Could buy Could buy

Louis Vuitton

This elegant Tambour Blush watch is a blend of subtlety and femininity with its pale pink dial and pink alligator strap. It’s time to take action!

PINK your accessories

Maybe you don’t want to wear pink. Let your accessories add a dash of pink, then. Your belt, watch, earrings or handbag could be of a pink shade. Pink hair extensions? We leave that to you. When anyone remarks “Pink!” remind them why.

Lancel

Bags to dump in your necessities!

PINK your gift

If your calendar shows a dear one’s birthday, anniversary or just any celebration this month, get them something in pink. Don’t forget to gift-wrap it in a glossy pink sheet with a pink ribbon to top it all. There, the message is loud and clear! If not, add a P.S. note below your best wishes!

PINK your feet:

Take your first step towards raising awareness in style. Apply a pink shade of nail polish on your toenails for this month. It’s ultra-girly but does exude a bold statement. Matching pink footwear would do the trick too!

Could buy

Sophie’s Closet

You can buy any of these fancy pink ornaments online by logging on to www.sophiescloset. com. What's more, you can enclose any of these precious adornments in a cute pink gift box that can be delivered free of charge to the woman you care about!

Could buy

Hoss Intropia This retro and feminineinfluenced footwear from Hoss Intropia is simply perfect.

PINK your wardrobe Getting ready for the office? Fish out a pink shirt, skirt or dress from your closet. Your colleagues may get a hint or two.

Could buy

Louis Vuitton

Try this simple yet sassy dress from the brand’s Cruise 2012 collection.

mixedbag

Ten kilometres and a doughnut Sue Eedle was looking for a challenge, so she agreed to run 10km in aid of charity. She didn’t expect to enjoy it and get hooked on running...

A

couple of years ago, just for a day, I was probably the second fastest woman over 50 in our part of North London. That achievement earned me – along with a thousand or so other runners, men and women of all ages – a t-shirt and a free doughnut.

The thought of that beckoning doughnut had helped to power me around an undulating 10km course of parkland paths and residential back streets. But after I had gasped my way across the finish line and walked, panting and

48

October 2011

sweating, through the funnel of plastic tapes channelling us towards the marshals who checked off our numbers, I simply felt nauseous. Volunteers were handing out bananas and bottles of a rehydrating sports drink, one swig of which proved so disgusting that I spat it out right away in a bush.

Yet it took only a short time for my body to recover and my spirits to lift as the congratulations of my family and friends and those “happy hormones” kicked in to give me the natural high that follows a good run. And then

I really felt ready for that doughnut!

Another race I’d done promised “commemorative medal and watermelon for all finishers” (not a whole one each, the small print quickly clarified). But surely no one in their right mind runs 10km – ten thousand metres! – for a t-shirt and a doughnut, let alone a souvenir medal and a piece of fruit? Correct. We don’t.

So what is it that gets hundreds of thousands of runners, from elite athletes to flabby joggers, turning out for races, fun runs and even marathons all over the world?

What to wear?

Proper running shoes are a must, to reduce the risk of injury. Ordinary trainers or sneakers won’t give the right support. Get someone in a specialist sports shop to analyse your gait and guide you to the correct footwear.

You can look stunning in all sorts of gorgeous sports gear, but those of us who’d feel self-conscious in Lycra – whether for reasons of fashion, figure or modesty – can happily wear a nice baggy t-shirt and a pair of comfortable shorts or jogpants.

You must be joking!

I fell into running by accident. I agreed, almost as a dare (“Who, me? You must be joking!”) to take part in a local community 10km event for charity. In a bit of a rut, stuck at home with kids and some odds and ends of voluntary work, I needed a worthy challenge, something to go for. And so I allowed myself to be teased into signing up. I had six weeks to train from scratch (free training sessions were offered) and so long as I got round the course in one piece, and raised loads of sponsorship money for the cause, I could retire in glory and never run again (obviously).

What I wasn’t expecting was that I would find myself enjoying it. Admittedly, there were rainy mornings (this was London) when I dragged myself out of the house muttering: “Running sucks!” But more often the buzz from those endorphins, the afterglow of a training session round the park followed by a hot shower and a big breakfast, gave me a strange feeling of well-being. And there was genuine pleasure from striding through the peaceful woods – or even round the houses – among early-morning dog walkers and other motley joggers.

Over the weeks, I steadily built up from plodding three times round the block in 20 minutes, producing aching muscles the next day, to a 40-minute breeze further afield, and then, before long – knee strains...doctor...

Optional accessories include sunglasses, baseball cap or visor, hair scrunchies, sweatbands, pursebelt, wristwatch with clever buttons, heart rate monitor, etc.

physiotherapy... classic runner’s knee. A sports injury! I was more or less an athlete! That idea at least was some consolation for the pain and the setback to my ambitions. In fact I was a typical novice, doing too much, too far, too fast and too soon. As with all kinds of physical exercise, beginners need to take things gently at first and build up their activity very slowly.

The other main thing to remember is to warm up and stretch well before and after every session.

At your age...

For a time my husband, while supportive, did worry about the wisdom of doing all this “at your age...” Running is actually an excellent sport to take up in middle age or even later, as is often the case with women. I heard recently about a woman who took up running on her 60th birthday, did the New York marathon seven months later, and did it again at the age of 70 accompanied by her 40-year-old daughter! Well, there are superwomen and there are the rest of us, but even we ordinary women can still surprise ourselves by achieving more than we expect. My husband now raises fewer doubts since in one race (not a very big one) I was placed 1st FV45 (Female Veteran over 45) and got a little trophy, much to my delight.

That’s one of the things I like about races.

Although they are, by definition, competitive events, most of us are really running against

Also, carry a water bottle or make sure you have plenty of water stops along the way and lots to drink afterwards.

ourselves and others like us. As well as prizes for the fastest three men and women, there are often winners too in different “veteran” age groups – men over 40, 50, 60 and 70 and women over 35, 45 and 55, for example. But everyone runs in one big friendly mass together, most of us not expecting any sort of prize but hoping perhaps to achieve a Personal Best, by running the distance faster than we’ve ever done before.

As you will have gathered, I did not retire after my debut event but rehabilitated my runner’s knee and continued to run just for enjoyment. I realise I haven’t even mentioned the health and fitness aspect. To be honest, I don’t really do it for that, though naturally I reap considerable benefits.

Here in Doha I use a treadmill at the gym most of the time, but in the cooler months it’s wonderful to go outdoors. Popular places to run are the Corniche, with its cooling sea breeze, and Aspire Park with its greenery. To run socially, in the company of fellow enthusiasts of all abilities, you could join a club like Doha Hash House Harriers; or for advice and help with your running, especially if you’re just starting out, try Qthletics Track and Field Club (www.qmotion.com.qa).

There has been talk in the past of organising a 10km race in Qatar. If it ever happens, I’ll be there – for the sheer joy of it, doughnut or no doughnut!

2011 October

49

He said she said...

The Relationship ‘Types’

The world of dating and relationships is unlike any other. It is a case of Type-Watcher beware, writes May-Britt Searty.

T

o make just the right impression during crucial first encounters, it is not uncommon for individuals to overemphasise their least preferred way of interacting, often to counteract insecurities about their natural behaviour.

Introverts, for example, may try to be more outgoing and appear more extraverted; Extraverts, who have often been told that they talk too much, may clam up and listen more.

Sensors may say and do intuitive things, and Intuitives can become aware of tangible sensing things to which they might not otherwise pay attention. Thinkers get very schmaltzy, and Feelers – who know they tend to get swept away emotionally – may become hardshelled, appearing tough, cool and aloof. All of these defensive measures may be short-lived and can disappear once either party gains a moment of security in the situation and then the fun starts.

The best way to describe types is through Carl Gustav Jung’s personality Inventory, which focuses on how people go about gathering information about the world (PERCEPTION), how they reach conclusion about what they have perceived (JUDGEMENT), and what their sources of energy are (EXTRAVERSION versus INTROVERSION).

Based upon several years of serious observation, Jung hypothesised two opposite ways of perceiving: (SENSING) versus (INTUITION), and two opposite ways of judging: (THINKING) versus (FEELING).

Carl's theory got further developed by two women, Katharine Briggs and Isabel Briggs Myers, who created what is today probably the world’s most used and comprehensive personality inventory or psycholometric instrument, called the Myers Briggs Type Indicator, also referred to as MBTI. The MBTI produces 16 different personal-

ity types, each with its own characteristics and strengths. There are no right or wrong answers on the indicator and no assumed “right” way to be. There are preferences, of course, and the MBTI assists you in clarifying what your type preferences are.

EXTRAVERT (E) VS INTROVERT (I) When the time came to plan the wedding, while the EXTRAVERT and the INTROVERT both agreed on a small wedding, they had some clear differences on what that meant. To the EXTRAVERT, that meant “only” the 300 people he counted as close friends. For the INTROVERT that was absurd; she wanted just ten or twenty.

SENSING (S) VS INTUITION (N) Making a good impression, when meeting a mate’s parents or anyone else for the first time, is very different for SENSORS and IN-

2011 October

51

mixedbag TUITIVES. For SENSORS, who prefer to be grounded in “what is”, are keenly aware of appearances: every hair must be in place, colours must match, and styles must be upto-date and appropriate for the occasion; even a hanging thread can keep a SENSOR from having a good time. So, as the meeting approaches, it is important to SENSORS to be on time and to have things happen with exactness and precision. Moreover, if the SENSOR is also a JUDGER, then timeliness and respect for traditions are mandatory. Meanwhile, INTUITIVES can have problems too.

Exactness isn’t as important to them as are general impressions. They may hope to impress a mate’s parents with intelligence but, not being particularly conscious of time, may show up rather late, thereby damaging the first meeting unknowingly. Conversation can sometimes take on a life of its own as the INTUITIVE's imagination carries him or her to a variety of subjects not necessarily related to anything previously discussed. “I understand you’re a junior in college,” says a parent. “Funny you should mention that,” responds the INTUITIVE. “Just last week we were studying the relativity of placement in college to placement in birth order, and there are some amazing connections.”

Another case. The INTUITIVE, was asked by his SENSING wife to fix a leaky tap, spent the next two weeks reading about taps, and trying to understand the whole plumbing system before his wife got impatient and called a plumber.

I have often experienced SENSING partners who apologise to their INTUITIVE husband or wife for thinking that things they have done or said for the past 20 years were done to personally irritate them, where in fact their behaviour was just a reflection of their INTUITIVE preference that is fundamentally different from the SENSING preference.

THINKING (T) VS FEELING (F) Picture the first wedding anniversary of a THINKING male and a FEELING female. It’s the end of a fairly normal first year – whatever that means.

He thinks there are at least three possible responses to the anniversary celebration:

52

October 2011

It’s gone pretty effectively. We will go out to dinner and a movie afterwards.

The year has gone pretty well. So let’s improve what’s already good. Here are some questions to help guide our development.

Let’s spend the evening evaluating and celebrating.

Our anniversary conflicts with my bowling league game, so we will have to celebrate it on another day.

The FEELING wife is furious. How can someone be so cold and objective about such a very special event? “Obviously,” she thinks, “he doesn’t care enough.” Or, worse: “I’ve failed somehow to impress him with the crucial nature of our first anniversary. It’s my fault.”

For FEELERS, the first of almost anything

is important – the first kiss, the first date, the first vacation, etc. So the 1st anniversary, for the FEELER, must be significant, experiential, schmaltzy, warm, expressive and, above all, MEANINGFUL. One advice to the THINKERS – Don’t let your first anniversary become TRAUMATIC!

JUDGERS (J) AND PERCEIVERS (P) Anniversaries and many other gift-giving occasions can be apt for JUDGING AND PERCEIVING misunderstandings. A JUDGER would say, “I don’t like surprises.” Of course, the PERCEIVER would say “The whole world is a surprise, and isn’t it exciting!”

Consider a typical scenario. A very special day – Valentine’s Day! The wife, a JUDGER, approaches the husband, a PERCEIVER, a few days before and says “Here is a list of some of the things I would like you to pick from”, thinking that the list would be helpful and constructive. To the PERCEIVER, of course, this is cramping all creativity and diminishes the thrill of buying any gift at all.

The day arrives and the JUDGER has made a beautiful dinner and is ready 20 minutes before the agreed time. It’s 8 p.m. – she is ready – food is ready to be served and everything is organised and perfect. “Where is he?” she thinks to herself, looking at her watch - it is 19.58!

With every passing second, she is getting more and more upset. At 20.05 the PERCEIVER frantically runs through the door, with the comment “Am I late?!”

He rushes upstairs to change for dinner.

While changing, he is trying to wrap the present and write a nice note on the card he bought just minutes before. The PERCEIVER is very excited about the SURPRISE he bought his wife, but when she opens it, still upset about his lateness, the evening is ruined, because it wasn’t anything from the list she gave him four weeks ago!

There is the saying: ‘Seek first to understand and then to be understood’.

Sometimes it is very important to place our selves in the other person’s shoes to enhance our communication and effectiveness.

Appreciate each other’s differences, articulate the other person’s strength, and have respect for one another – these are three essential ingredients for a lifelong marriage or partnership

May-Britt Searty has been a recognised MBTI Consultant for the past 15 years and offers different seminars where the Myers-Briggs-Type Indicator is used as a basic helping tool to create a better understanding of yourself. She will be facilitating a two-day relationship workshop (November 18-19) from 09.00 - 15.00.

She will be using the MBTI as a main tool to get a profound understanding of ourselves as well as our partners. E-mail: maybrittsearty@yahoo.com. Telephone: +974 33857201

filialfix

Stars, not so bright

While many of our celebrity role models are going steadily down the drain, Amel Osman writes on how not to follow suit.

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With social media being used by millions of people around the world it is easy to become obsessed with celebrities and forget ourselves and those nearest and dearest to us.

W

against adversity. After dropping out from school, Mark turned to drugs. At 16 he was convicted and sentenced for assault. While Mark could have led a life of crime, he explains that he chose to turn his life around during a 45-day stint in jail. He reached out to those he has hurt and apologised. He channelled his energies and talents in the creative arts, excelling as an actor and producer.

hether it is Amy Winehouse’s recent tragic demise, Lindsay Lohan’s frequent brushes with the law or Miley Cyrus constantly making headlines with her unsavoury behaviour – one can’t help but worry if today’s teenagers and adults alike are at risk of imitating their idols with dangerous consequences. Long gone are the days when only a celebrity’s hair colour or style was mimicked by loyal fans, but now they are mimicking tattoos, dress sense and even the vocabulary of their favourite stars.

Here are a few tips to help you remain grounded even if the celebrities are not...

Celebrities are humans Bombarded by news feeds 24/7 through our TVs, smart-phones and iPods means that our lives have become entwined with those of the celebrities we follow on Twitter and Facebook. They update us on their lives, share personal photos, trials and tribulations which lead us to believe we know them inside out.

It is easy to forget that the celebrities we admire are not just actors on a screen or characters in a story, they are humans and as such make mistakes too. When we make a bad decision we have to bear the wrath of our friends, family and colleagues. When a celebrity puts a foot wrong, the whole world is watching, judging and having their say. This can’t be easy on anyone; however the positive aspect of this is that we can learn from their mistakes, see how their lives have been affected and as they say, the disgrace of others keeps tender minds from vice.

Not only are celebrities’ unfavourable actions broadcasted, their punishment is as well. Not only do we see them doing wrong, we also see them pay the price whether it is a jail sentence or a setback in their career.

Lindsay Lohan is no stranger to public apologies. “I want my career back; I want

Winehouse: Admired for her talent alone? the respect that I had when I was doing great movies. And if that takes not going out to a club at night, then so be it. It’s not fun anyway,” she whined to Vanity Fair.

Nurture your talent With social media being used by millions of people around the world it is easy to become obsessed with celebrities and forget ourselves and those nearest and dearest to us. By remaining focused on yourself and nurturing your own talents and abilities, you unlock the key to not falling prey to the negative influence of those in the media spotlight.

We are all surrounded by strong influential characters such as parents, employers, educators and colleagues, all whose influence impacts us more directly than those we view on a television screen, whose lives are very much stemming from our own but take a different path.

Mark Wahlberg was chosen by US teens and tweens as 2010’s U.G.L.Y. (Unique Gifted Lovable You) celebrity. These awards honour celebrities for their strength and quality, and Mark was voted because of his brave fight

Education Educating people to be smart enough to choose their own positive role models is important, but teens and young adults need to be given credit for their own intelligence. Noting most young people’s reaction to the arrest of Hilton, Miley’s smoking and Lindsay’s drug taking, a majority reacted with disgust and disbelief. None seemed to be impressed or keen to follow in their footsteps.

AOL’s Just So You Know Awards saw 44,500 youths, aged 9-15, cast their votes on who they thought were the best and worst celebrity influences. The fact that they voted the likes of Selena Gomez and Taylor Swift as good influences while damming Britney Spears and Miley Cyrus shows that their aspirations are far from those arrested on drug charges and guilty of erratic and wild behaviour.

Miley, 18, has been voted the worst celebrity role model for the second consecutive year with some teens saying they didn’t approve of the choices she made and others even claiming they were “over her”.

You inspire too Finally don’t forget... you are a role model too!

Someone is also looking up to you and admiringly mimicking your actions and aspiring to your achievements. It could be a friend, relative, or an impressionable young person, so make sure that you continuously strive to be the best person that you can be

2011 October

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slug name health&fitness

New World Medicine

Fusion of Acupuncture, Herbal Medicine and Traditional Chinese Medicine

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raditional Chinese Medicine or TCM, including acupuncture and herbal medicine, is quickly becoming the treatment of choice for many people who are finding problems with standard Western medicine and its numerous negative side effects. Utilising the knowledge of both Western medicine and the ancient Chinese medicine, what has now begun to emerge is the New World Medicine where the benefits of technology and modern medicine together with the ancient understanding of natural substances and the energetic pathways of the body create a scientific healing system of maximum effectiveness.

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People often choose acupuncture or TCM because the Western therapy is either not effective or its negative side effects are worse than the condition itself. Acupuncture and herbal medicine are time-proven, safe, and effective when done properly. TCM empowers patients to take control of their own health without being reliant on drugs or other damaging treatments which are often marketed as "safe" by modern healthcare systems. In reality, many Western treatments are done for the sake of financial profits for hospitals and drug corporations and not for the benefit of individuals. Meanwhile, TCM can be combined with proper use of Western medicine, and is much

more cost effective since it can help patients avoid expensive drugs and surgery.

Acupuncture, in particular, works by balancing out the different systems in the body and by unblocking what is blocked. Acupuncture points are electrical switches in the body which can short-circuit and cause chronic pain or destructive habits like overeating or smoking. The proper functioning of the body depends on all the circuits and switches working properly. When a circuit is blocked, it results in advanced ageing, recurrent health problems, emotional suffering etc. By unblocking and regulating the "circuit board", we can restore optimal functioning of the body. This

also extends into the realms of boosting immunity, slowing and even reversing the ageing process, and strengthening the mind and body in all ways.

TCM Vs western medicine The big difference between TCM and conventional Western treatment is that TCM treats the root cause of disease while Western medicine treats the symptoms. Take, for example, cancer: Chinese medicine considers cancer a symptom which stems from a root cause which often exists years before the physical signs of cancer arise. By diagnosing this pattern of disharmony early, we can treat less

severe symptoms like headaches, menstrual disorders, digestive troubles, sleep problems etc. and PREVENT cancer from arising altogether.

Western medicine, on the other hand, waits until there are physical signs of disease to treat because it is ignorant of the true cause of the disease which can be diagnosed and treated years before there are physical changes in the body. By this time it is too late, and Western medicine becomes merely a "triage" treatment, trying to save the patient from imminent death. Eventually, one has to endure very drastic means such as chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery to treat the cancer.

Granted, these are powerful tools which can save people's lives, but the majority of these treatments can be prevented by simply using Chinese medicine. By diagnosing and correcting imbalances in the early stages, you are preventing deadly or debilitating diseases in the future. So, by using acupuncture, you are not only treating your headaches or other annoying symptoms, you are also preventing the disease from developing in the future. Prevention of the disease is not really part of the Western medicine system, although it may seem like there is some education in this direction. In actuality much of the modern health system is designed to keep people reliant on drugs and in effect makes people weaker and more prone to developing serious diseases. This is evident, for instance, in the numerous lawsuits which have arisen from the over-prescribing of hormone drugs (especially hormone replacement therapy, or HRT) for uterine cancer. Chinese medicine is gaining popularity not only because it is so effective where Western medicine fails, but because it actually gives people tools to strengthen and better their lives and reduce reliance on drugs and doctors in general.

Cosmetic or facial acupuncture is also gaining popularity over botox and other invasive procedures. By increasing collagen production, improving lymph and blood circulation and balancing the internal organs, acupuncture can stimulate the body's ability to regenerate itself. It can remove toxins, relax and tone the muscles and rehydrate the skin, thus aiding in the treatment of wrinkles, forehead furrows, frown lines, sagging skin or skin that is oily, dry or dull, circles under the eyes, acne, eczema, rosacea, and scars from surgery or

trauma. Combining herbal, dietary and exercise advice, this is a comprehensive treatment strategy resulting in restoring one's overall health and reducing the effects of ageing. People often experience increased energy and a deep underlying feeling of well-being.

The treatment of infertility for both men and women with Chinese medicine is also growing tremendously due to its safety and success. Western medicine is good to rule out serious conditions which might prevent pregnancy, but the use of drugs to induce pregnancy is always detrimental to the mother and the baby. Despite what physicians tell their patients about the risks involved, there are always negative side effects to this approach.

Chinese medicine, on the contrary, strengthens the body, builds the hormonal, blood, and other deficiencies, and creates a state where the pregnancy, delivery and development of the child after birth are even healthier than without the treatment.

Herbal medicine is an even bigger part of TCM, and is very important in treating more serious internal and chronic conditions like infertility and menopausal problems. The herbal formulas provide the building blocks for making red blood cells, hormones, neurotransmitters, and other important bioactive molecules. You let the body take what it needs from a large assortment of nutrients instead of giving hormones directly, which makes the body's own production less. This way you encourage the body's innate healing ability to balance and regulate itself and create longterm strength and harmony

Dr David Mioduski is an Oriental Medicine practitioner. He will be available for sessions at the Six Senses Spa at Sharq Village and the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Doha from October 25 to November 22, 2011. Bookings can be made in advance by contacting the Spa directly at 44256999. For any queries, feel free to e-mail David at doc@acupuncture-medicine.com.

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EST T A L SUE IS ON W NO ANDS ST

P.O. BOX: 3272 DOHA - QATAR Tel: (+974) 44672139, 44550983, 44671173, 44667584 Fax: (+974) 44550982 E-mail: tqatar@omsqatar.com www.omsqatar.com

Welcome the Fall I n yoga and its sister science Ayurveda, we believe that every season has its own quality. The push to emerge, grow and change that we experience in the spring is followed by the expansive, adventurous energy of the summer months. Once the winds change and fall begins we start withdrawing our energies again. We sense the need to hunker down and get back to work; to prepare for the stillness; and to focus on the winter. It is a new beginning. The harvest has been reaped and the fields now need to be sowed. Children are back to school. Routine becomes key.

For some of us this change of seasons can be a challenging time, especially the return to routine (and perhaps to a foreign country) Valerie Jeremijenko is the that is associated with the fall. We either resist Director of the Doha-based it altogether, planning our next vacation and Yama Yoga Studios, which offers watching for the migrating birds, or we throw over 50 classes a week at both ourselves into it too wholeheartedly - creating the Ritz and at Garvey’s. See routines and regimens that we could never www.yamayogastudios.com for information on programmes and maintain or survive. How do we recognise classes. these tendencies and balance our fall so that

we can prepare for a winter of wellness? How can yoga help?

The first thing to remember is that we should do nothing too harsh with our practice before winter. While spring and summer are about cleanses, detoxes and challenges, fall should be about nourishment, self-care and reducing stress. This should be the attitude also to establish or maintain your yoga practice. Your practice should be realistic. Plan for perhaps two classes a week then ten to twenty-minute practices at home on the other days. When you practise at home, practise balances as much as you can. My favourite balance pose for the fall is Swaying Tree. In this pose you simply stand with one foot pressed against the thigh of the other. Then breathe, creating focus and stability, and when you feel comfortable, lift your arms above your head and lean over the lifted leg, stretching the side of the body. Swaying Tree is, of course, a metaphor for the season, the way we can feel tossed by the winds of change, but the focus, breath, balance and sense of grounding down that we bring to it as we try to maintain our centre is a lesson in how to deal with it.

So as the fall settles and changes towards winter use oils on your skin, keep warm and moist, and stick to your routine. Get your children to school on time. Sleep longer if you need to. Salute the sun in the mornings, balance in the evenings. Seasons will change again, and spring and summer will return.

Namaste

2011 October

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stylestop Bag that!

Get the exclusive range of Cowie branded bags for this season. The hot new autumn/winter accessory 2011 collection is the first to arrive in Qatar. Available in a variety of styles and colours, the unique Springbok hide is beautifully combined with suede and leather to up the level of elegance. Available to view and order from www.lynettecowie.com

Topshop Intricate beauty

Topshop has launched the new capsule collection from designer Michael Van der Ham, also known for his intricate jigsaw-like innovations. Michael reinterprets vintage eveningwear through this collection by stitching panels of draped or pleated gowns onto a plain shift dress, skirt or the waistband of tapered trousers, adding glamour to any simple silhouette. The vibrant colour palette includes rich jewel hues of bright pink, vivid blue, turquoise and navy.

Loriblu Shoe Stopper

Italian luxury shoe brand Loriblu has opened its first store in Salam Plaza at The Gate Mall in Qatar. Created by Graziano Cuccy and Annarita Pilotti, the entire collection for women is a celebration of her charm, elegance, femininity and grace while the men’s collection speaks of style, exclusivity and elegance. For women there are glittery suede high-heel boots and soft, lacy suede cuissard models, while men can opt for the corporate look with calfskin or patent leather footwear.

Together with shoes, the Loriblu collection also includes a range of bags – from clutch bags, shopping bags to pochettes and the big daily bags.

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Tous Musky Mist

The new perfumed body mist, Tous l’eau, created by Nathalie Lorson, is a soft concoction of relaxing ingredients such as citric oils and aloe vera. The floral top notes give way to the soothing notes of jasmine and white peony, while the enveloping bottom notes have the heavenly smell of musk, patchouli and amber lingering all around you.

women’secret The new line which enhances your figure

women’secret surprises us again with a new flattering product for women – an underwear collection which is slimming, moulds to your figure and enhances it.

The secret is a fabric of exceptional quality (LYCRA beauty fabric), which adapts to each body and gives support by defining its contours in such a way that you’ll hardly notice you’re wearing it. Thanks to its flat seams which are barely noticeable and don’t cause marks, these pieces mould to your body like never before and give you fantastic support as well as feeling soft and comfortable.

The collection is made up of high-waisted and hipster briefs, trousers, bodysuits and a push-up bra. Colours available are champagne and black. w’shape is the collection to make the most of your image and put on your best every day and on special occasions, with that extra women’secret touch to make you feel pretty in underwear.

Splash Style Statement

Since the autumn/winter season is all about contrasts and alternatives, Splash introduces a collection inspired by four unique looks. The first inspiration is drawn from the Neo Prep Americana trend which has preppy overtones, pop brights, bold multi-colored effects, metallic colour mixes, prints and stripes.

Next is the Electro Mod which is a perfect combination of high luxury and absolute subtlety with modern silhouettes in hyper-bright hues.

Swagger reprises the 70s theme with glossy satins, lace, sumptuous knits, fur, exotic skins, feathers and gold embellishments. Colour palette includes plum, rust, burgundy, eggplant and camel. Lastly, the Glamour Goth combines masculine tailoring with feminine ruffles for a decorous and glamorous look.

Choose your look this season!

Hoss Intropia Nature inspires The latest Autumn/Winter collection from Hoss Intropia is inspired by nature and mountains that is indicated by the use of pure materials like wools, cottons and leathers in compelling colours of black, red, turquoise and ivory. A little inspiration is also drawn from New York City; structured garments ooze classic elegance in colours such as black, grey, camel and tobacco. Fabrics used are silk, chiffon, guipure, fine laces or velvet which lend a feminine and mysterious touch to the fabulous collection.

2011 October

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Put your hands up

Silkor Laser Medical Centre lets both men and women get rid of unwanted hair in a quick, less painful and inexpensive way.

I

have never done a laser before, so when the offer came to try the one at Silkor, though sceptical at first, I gave in. With a bunch of queries in my mind, I was on my way to meet Marcelina Elia, Branch Manager and my therapist. Having visited another laser medical centre in the city with a friend of mine before, I expected to be welcomed by a similar ambience – the one that is usually associated with a clinic. Wrong. Step in at Silkor and you might mistake it for a spa. “Our characteristic med-spa design is to make customers feel relaxed and comfortable, and not as if they are in an operation theatre. Every single branch of Silkor has the same ambience,” says Marcelina.

We were soon engaged in a consultation session (which is free for customers) where Marcelina helped clear the doubts that had been plaguing me for a while, and after a little contemplation I agreed on an underarm laser hair removal that comprised four sessions, at intervals of six to eight weeks. I had waxed a few weeks ago, so the hair had grown just

enough for Marcelina to inspect it. “Your hair is perfect for laser – it’s black and thick,” she commented. That was the first, and perhaps the only, compliment one could ever have received for the hair that grew under their arms! I was advised to let the hair grow a little more, and then have it finely shaved a day before my treatment.

The laser shots lasted for about 4-5 minutes for each arm, and it felt like needles prodding into your flesh. By then, you could smell burnt hair. The radiations are strong, so I had to wear protective glasses and hold a cooling pipe to annul the heat of the laser. The hair that didn’t fall off during the session was taken care of during the “retouch” session 10 days later. Avoid the sun, and don’t spray deodorant for a day I was told.

I immediately peeked into the mirror, and my hair was gone. There were a few brown spots that looked like burn marks, but those gradually vanished. The next session was set for a month later, and I am looking forward to it. Till then I can put my hands up whenever I want to, care-free...

Hair matters...

Underarms is the quickest and safest area of the body for a laser.

Be careful if you are planning on facial hair removal. Laser works best on thick and dark hair on a lighter skin colour; finer hair might result in a scarred skin. Silkor assures no side effects for any of its laser treatments, but then, it's laser after all.

Reviewed by Cassey Oliveira

2011 October

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aroundtown

Get tickets at Virgin

K

atara, the cultural village, has announced an exclusive partnership with Virgin Megastore which allows cultural festival fans to purchase their tickets from any of the store’s outlet across the region.

The deal was signed by Darweesh Ahmed, Marketing and International Affairs Director, Katara and Nassim Goraieb, Marketing Manager, Virgin Megastore.

Nassim said, “Katara is playing a significant role in connecting cultures and civilisations and with Virgin’s in-store capabilities and online infrastructure, this partnership ensures that concert and event tickets are more accessible to residents both inside and outside of Doha.”

“At Katara, we aim to offer strong and exciting cultural experiences across Doha and our partnership with Virgin Megastores is a move

(l-r): Virgin Megastore’s Sales Operation Manager, Bassem Said and Marketing Manager, Naseem Ghoraieb with Katara’s President, Abdul Rahman Al-Khulaifi and Marketing and International Affairs Director, Darweesh Ahmed in the right direction,” said Darweesh. “We have created a programme packed with unique events to-date and will be making further announcements for the upcoming season.”

First up, the Virgin Megastore Ticketing Box Office will be the exclusive seat booking

Arab films to compete at DTFF Doha Film Institute (DFI) has announced 14 feature films and documentaries that will compete in the 2011 Doha Tribeca Film Festival’s (DTFF) Arab Film Competition. The five-member Narrative Film Competition Jury will be led by the award-winning Syrian director Mohammed Malas who is widely recognised for his critical and socially engaging cinema.

The competition will have two juried segments of narrative and documentary films this year along with a set of new awards including: Best Arab Narrative Feature; Best Arab Narrative Director; Best Narrative Performance Award; Best Arab Documentary Feature; and Best Arab Documentary Director. The Festival will also feature two audience awards; for Best Narrative Film and Best Documentary with cash prizes of QR364,000 ($100,000) each.

Mohammed said: “The Competition places select regional films up on an international platform, opening up various doors for films to gain exposure and distribution opportunities outside of the Arab World, which remains a fundamental issue within the regional industry.”

The stories lined up mostly revolve around childhood and love, the turbulence of revolution, the inner world of Arab life and films which reveal the true nature of the lives of contemporary Arab women. They will be subtitled in both Arabic and English.

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agent for the upcoming Latin American Cultural Festival (LACF) to be held from October 6-15, 2011 at Katara. Tickets are available from 9:30am - 12midnight at both Landmark and Villaggio outlets or can be purchased online at www.virginmegastore.me.

Street Style Brunch at W Doha

W

Doha is revamping its iconic South-East restaurant Spice Market to incorporate the delights of the Far East. Diners will be fascinated by the room’s decor that resembles a Far East street market with street signs and traditional food carts that will bring Asian culinary marvels in clay pots to the tables. Even kids will feel at home with their own junior size chop sticks.

While lots of live action at fresh food and spice stations, great cocktails and cool sounds from the spinning DJ will set the mood, diners will also be treated with the hottest duck and green thai curries with Pad Thai created by tempura and wok stations and unusual tasting desserts to top it all. An Asian Market has also been created outside Spice Market. The brunch comes at an introductory price of QR320 per person.

W Doha, PR and Events Manager, Edgar Vaudeville said, “It’s an amazing transformation; diners will feel they could be dining in downtown Hong Kong or even Singapore. Our new Spice Market brunch will stand out as the most genuine and creative Asian cuisine around. We want diners to enjoy themselves and have fun while feasting on amazing dishes.”

ABA’s mentoring initiative

Dr Ahmad Hasnah, Associate Vice President, Higher Education, QF with Nabeel Ali Bin Ali, Vice Chairman, ABA Group

A

li Bin Ali Group (ABA) has announced a remarkable initiative with Qatar Foundation (QF), offering mentoring opportunities to a number of students from QF universities.

Unlike most mentoring efforts, the ABA initiative will not just be a sponsorship or a CSR effort. The chosen students will not just re-

ceive a sponsorship but also professional exposure in their area of specialisation, according to the officials.

A few of the group’s divisions like International Agencies (IA), Qatar Quality Products (QQP), Ali Bin Ali Medical & Fauchon will support this endeavour.

Commenting on this initiative, ABA Vice Chairman, Nabeel Ali Bin Ali said: “We came up with this mentoring initiative because we wanted to show our commitment to the education sector. We wanted to give students internship opportunities and equip them with professional skills.”

Speaking to the media, Dr Ahmad Hasnah, Associate Vice President, Higher Education, Qatar Foundation, said: “We are very happy to work in partnership at one of Qatar’s most successful conglomerates. We are especially pleased because we know that the ABA Group truly believes in fostering local talent and equipping young people with professional skills in order to prepare the next generation of business leaders. This is a goal Qatar Foundations shares and readily supports.”

The mentoring effort was launched with the Scholarship signing ceremony. Nabeel Ali Bin Ali, Vice Chairman, Ali Bin Ali Group, Dr Ahmad Hasnah, Associate Vice President, Higher Education at Qatar Foundation and other senior management staff from both ABA Group and QF were present during the signing ceremony.

Qatar Today on the App Store

Q

atar Today, Qatar’s No 1 news and business magazine, is now available on the App Store for free downloads. Qatar Today is the flagship title of Qatar’s leading publishing house, Oryx Advertising Co WLL. Designed in-house, by the expert designing team, the Qatar Today app for iPad is an enhanced digital version of the print magazine, incorporating a range of multimedia features.

This is another first for Qatar Today and Oryx Advertising, as the first local magazine to be on the store.

Commenting on this important feat, Oryx Advertising Co WLL, Vice President Ravi Raman says: “As the country’s leading magazine it was important for Qatar Today to be available on all platforms, be it mobile or tablet. This called for a lot of hard work and the end result showcases the design intuitiveness of the team. It is remarkable that the whole project was done in-house We did not want to outsource the project but be involved in it at every stage, as we understand best what the local market seeks. We strive to bring the best in design and content to our readers and this is just one more step in that direction. This is the first step in the digital direction for us, and we have some exciting plans in the pipeline.”

In the first week of launch itself, there were a few hundred downloads.

Once the app is downloaded from the store, the reader will receive a push notification when a new issue hits the stand.

The iPad app is part of Oryx’s endeavours to reach out to its readers in all forms of media. Established in 1973, Oryx is the only publishing company in Qatar that brings out four monthly magazines – Qatar Today, Qatar Al Yom, Woman Today and Glam – and several other periodicals such as T Qatar, CAMPUS, Landmark, ICT Today and Progress. All of these titles are leaders in their categories.

2011 October

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thinkingaloud

Ms, Mrs or Give-ita-miss?

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rench feminists have launched a campaign to abolish the use of "mademoiselle", a term for an unmarried woman still used on official papers which they say demeans women and enshrines sexism.

France has no equivalent to the ambiguous "Ms" used in English, and French feminists do not see the need for it. They just don't see why it is deemed necessary immediately to know a woman's marital status and not a man's.

"When opening a bank account, it's impossible to be called 'Madame' if you're unmarried. You will certainly end up as 'Mademoiselle'," Christine wrote on www. viedemeuf.fr, a forum for the "sexist cliches of daily life".

"It might seem like a detail but it's highly symbolic of inequalities," said Julie Muret, of "Osez le feminisme!" (Dare feminism!), which this week, along with the "Chiennes de Garde" (Guard Dogs) group, launched

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a campaign for "mademoiselle" to be officially abolished.

The use of "mademoiselle" was inscribed in French law in the early 19th century thanks to the Napoleonic Code, but today it no longer has any legal meaning.

While in France letters from the taxwoman will be addressed to "mademoiselle", in Germany the equivalent term "Fraulein" faded out in the 1990s, after having been eliminated from official use in 1972.

Laurence Waki, who wrote a book called "Madame or Mademoiselle", says that people who make the distinction are imposing an identity, "either of age, or of marital status. It's unbearable."

But for Olivia Cattan, of the "Paroles de Femmes" (Women's Words) group, the issue should not be a priority.

"This isn't going to resolve women's problems, the violence, the precariousness," she said.

t ’s Whatake? Mrs d ss an s? youir nk Mi l t e

h ti ou t c ial n Do y judi e r p ion o ar e opin m r o u c . ar us yo sqat M ail m o day@ w to

What’s your take?

Do you think th is is a viable alternat ive to m arital strife?

Mail us your op inion on w today@omsq atar .com

In sickness and in health… for two years!

Mexico City lawmakers, majority leftists, want to issue temporary marriage licences, to help avoid the hassle of divorce.

The lawmakers have proposed a civil code that allows couples to determine the length of their commitment, minimum of two years, opting out of the lifetime deal.

The contracts would include provisions on how children and property would be handled if the couple splits.

"The proposal is, when the two-year period is up, if the relationship is not stable or harmonious, the contract simply ends," said Leonel Luna, the Mexico City assemblyman who co-authored the bill.

Luna says the proposed law is gaining support and he expects a vote by the end of this year.

Around half of Mexico City marriages end in divorce, usually in the first two years.

It's worth noting that Mexico has the second largest Catholic population in the world, after Brazil