One of the many things we all enjoy in the Emirates, and often take for granted, is the tremendous diversity that exists here; the breadth of racial backgrounds, the sheer mosaic of cultures, the rich tapestry of cross-cultural friendships.
For many families living here, this exciting multi-cultural landscape is precisely how they want to live, and bring up their children. Consider how lucky kids are to grow up in an environment where they have an opportunity to share experiences and form friendships with people from many countries. For many this becomes the only thing they know; it defines their identities, and through it they develop a global perspective, a greater tolerance for others, and a deeper respect for people who are different.
At Tempo, we celebrate this energy of multi culturalism. Indeed, we strive through our pages to enhance understanding, bridge differences and connect people.
In many conversations I have with friends from different countries, we talk about how children living here see themselves as global citizens. We wonder at the ease with which they travel between different cultural contexts and the ability to straddle multiple environments. And interestingly, during summer we inevitably see this crossing back and forth become more pronounced, as people travel ‘home’ or to other countries.
In this issue of Tempo we feature stories about enterprising people, who are finding ways tap into ideas and resources from their home countries – and the passion and flair with which they bring these creations back to the UAE.
Spread kindness and harmony.
Sana Bagersh, August 2015
bagersh@tempoplanet.com
Twitter: @sanabagersh
Rave – Tempo is a big supporter of The Smovies short film platform and competition, and we were delighted when the first batch of Smovies found their way to VOX Cinema screens! Go to any VOX Cinema and you’ll see the Smovies playing before the main feature. Well done Vox Cinemas for supporting community filmmaking! VOX Cinemas is a great example of how corporations should support the arts, and give back to the community. Tempo also salutes all the filmmakers who participated in season 1 and those whose films were chosen to play on the big screen. Interested in making short films (even using your mobile phone)? See page 11 on how you can get involved in the Smovies’ Season 2. Go on, get creative and go film!
Rant – We’ve been receiving complaints from Facebook users who claim that their accounts were hacked, and pornographic content posted on their timelines. This is indeed a breach of one’s privacy. Tempo conducted some research into this and it appears that in most cases this is a result of malicious apps that we all inadvertently download via content links. The first step is to delete any apps that you don’t recognize, and we suggest going through the Facebook help section to regain control and prevent it from happening again.
Rave – Some people love social media and use it everyday – while others see it as a necessary evil. But recently Snapchat opened our eyes to how social media can be a force for good. The social media channel reacted to people’s sentiments and launched #WestBankLive to allow people at grassroots level to see the everyday lives of people living in the Palestinian city. Read about it on page 36.
By SANA BAGERSH
