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Tag: Nimra Ahmed

  • The uncrowned mascot of the Qatar World Cup- “Metro Guy”

     

    A Kenyan man gets hired for a security job at the World Cup but instead has to give directions to tourists and fans. He goes viral on TikTok just for saying ‘Metro.’ ‘This Way.’

    By Nimra Ahmed 

    Abubakr Abbass, a 23-year-old from Mombasa Kenya, whose job is to direct World Cup fans in Doha, Qatar to a metro station, in the historic market of Souq Waqif has gone viral on social media. 

    He feels God had a greater purpose for him. He was excited about the World Cup and had always wanted to travel to a foreign country. So, Abbass applied for the advertised security job. He nearly missed the interview in Nairobi, Kenya because he was informed of the job a day before the deadline.

    As luck would have it, the job was his. However, when he reached Qatar, he was informed he would give fans directions to the metro station. Even though it wasn’t the job he had applied for, Abbass still decided to take it. 

    Abbass, in a reflector coat, sits in a tennis umpire chair and has a large purple foam finger. His job is to direct hundreds of people to the nearby metro station with the help of his megaphone. 

    Abubakr Abbass,“Metro Guy”- courtesy of mozzartsport

    He became an overnight social media sensation because he found an ingenious and interesting way to direct fans to the nearby metro station. His job was mundane, but he put a twist on it, and he caught the world’s attention. 

    A clip of him is even found on the FIFA World Cup’s Twitter page. Every time he says ‘Metro’, fans from different countries either repeat after him or chant, ‘This way!’.

    https://twitter.com/FIFAWorldCup/status/1595961490380828672?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1595961490380828672%7Ctwgr%5E5894b02c4705bb498881ea45a374df967f3a7896%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fnewsroompost.com%2Fsports%2Ffifa-world-cup-2022-kenyan-man-goes-viral-for-showing-way-to-doha-metro-watch%2F5211861.html

    The way he says, ‘Metro’. ‘This way’. ‘Metro’. ‘This way,’ has now become a catchphrase. Fans are recording videos and posting them on social media platforms.

    @chappzz

    Meet the viral metro man 👨 #qatar🇶🇦 #fifaworldcup2022 #metro #thisway #viral #vedio #guy @metro_man001 ♥️😂

    ♬ original sound – Shafla Imthiyaz

    ‘Metro Guy’, as he is now referred to, has captivated audiences with his enthusiastic calls. TikTok videos were posted showing him in action. #metroguy and #metroman, as he is dubbed, has been viewed 12.4 million times on TikTok. He brings a smile to everyone’s face and cheers everyone in person and online. 

    “Qatar has managed to make us laugh!”

    Cindy Taylor, 19, a student from Dublin. 

    The TikTok account ‘metro_man001’ that he started on Monday 21st November 2022 (on the second day of work) already  has 46,100 followers in just three days and has made Kenya, a country in East Africa, popular. Tourists and football fans are even trying to mimic his catchphrase into his own megaphone.

    He made his TikTok account after gaining popularity. #Metro Guy is busy doing his job while a Brazilian fan copies his actions and records a video.

    https://www.tiktok.com/@metroguy00/video/7169317941433912582?is_copy_url=1&is_from_webapp=v1

    His employers felt the need to award him for his efforts, as he was in the limelight of the world stage and had drawn attention to the area. He was presented with gifts – a pair of sneakers and World Cup merchandise. He is touched by this gesture and notes that he was never given a gift in his life.

    https://www.tiktok.com/@arsenal.champion/video/7169364482873969921?is_from_webapp=v1&item_id=7169364482873969921&lang=en

    Have you heard of the ‘Metro Guy’ in Qatar? 

    “Yeah, I have seen his TikToks. He is hilarious and he does a good job of lightening the mood. I want to go to Qatar just to feel the ambiance of the place and be a part of #metroman’s day! We all need some good old-fashioned laughs,” commented Steve Byrne, 22, a student from Dublin. 

    “Qatar has managed to make us laugh! In all the somber and serious allegations against Qatar about the bad treatment of workers, here is a simple man breathing fun into his job. In today’s fast-paced life, we just don’t have the time to appreciate the small things,” said Cindy Taylor, 19, a student from Dublin. 

    “There is a lot of controversy surrounding the World Cup. I can’t wrap my head around it. But there is, hope ‘Metro Guy’ lives.”, said Oliver Wilson, 28, a tourist in Dublin.

    The official mascot is La’eeb which means ‘super-skilled player’. It is a ghutra – the Arabic term for a headdress for men – popular in Arab countries. But Abbass is the uncrowned mascot of  the Qatar World Cup! 

    This can be motivating for young people to take their jobs seriously no matter how small and try to enjoy the task at hand and be innovative at the same time. Some amusement at the end of the day for tired tourists!

  • Where is Ireland’s Solar Panels Plan headed?

    Two African men install solar panels neatly on a residential roof of a house near the ocean. Sustainable living. Photo credit- Unsplash

    Solar panels, an option for combatting increasing energy bills

    By Nimra Ahmed

    There is a climate and biodiversity emergency across the world, yet Ireland has been slow in finding solutions to slash the rising costs of energy.

    An attractive system for household electricity generation could be solar photovoltaic (PV) panels.

    Most solar PV systems feed excess power back to the electricity grid where it is consumed by residential, commercial and industrial users. These solar panels would be an additional source of domestically generated energy and help reduce dependency on imported fossil fuels.

    According to a national study of domestic solar potential, if residents fitted solar panels it could reduce electricity bills by €900 per annum and produce 36 per cent of all residential demand. The solar PV system would pay for itself in seven years. Furthermore, the EU policy aspires to have rooftop panels for all new residences by 2029.


    The MaREI Research Centre at University College Cork used satellite data to look at every rooftop in Ireland and found there was enough roof space for 10 solar panels in more than one million homes. Furthermore, residents could also benefit from a substantial grant from the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland. Developers also approached Irish landowners for potential solar farms. As of January 2012, farmers who want to install a solar PV system can claim back the VAT incurred on the purchase of the system.


    The review of Irish planning laws began in 2019 but it has taken an energy crisis to push the government into action three years later. The government has finally decided to amend its very restrictive planning rules. As of 2022, the Irish government has said that homeowners will be paid for the exported electricity they produce through their solar PV system to the grid by their energy supplier.

    However, the initial €200 million fund to provide grants to install these panels is not enough and should be increased. Households were given up to €2,400 to install solar panels, this should be doubled to up to €4,800 so that families who are eager to get the benefits but can’t afford the upfront payment can avail of the scheme.

    “The Climate Action Plan process outlines a series of actions that need to be taken by government, by sector and by citizens to meet the ambitious target of a 51 % reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2023.”

    Charlie McConalogue, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

    The government also has plans to put solar panels in every school in the country. Another step Ireland has taken towards sustainability is wind turbines. This has helped in cutting costs and increasing productivity for the future.

    Do you think the government will give more incentives to farmers to increase the number of wind turbines to make it 100% on all farms?

    “The government is fully committed to and recognises the benefits of the deployment of renewable technology at a farm level, as a cost-saving measure and a diversification opportunity as well as contributing in a positive way to the decarbonisation of the energy system. Under the Microgeneration Support scheme, micro-wind is one of four technologies included for support. More details on this scheme can be found here. Homes, farms, businesses and communities to benefit as Eamon Ryan, the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, announces the Micro-generation Support Scheme,” said Charlie McConalogue, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine.

    What can farmers in Ireland do on a small scale that would help increase sustainability on their farms?

    “At a farm scale, there are three ways in which farms can increase their sustainability by: reducing absolute emissions through activities such as reducing chemical fertiliser at farm level, using low emissions slurry spreading (LESS) technologies for spreading animal manures and adopting nutrient planning at a farm level.

    “Increasing carbon sequestration through forestry and better management of organic and mineral soils.”Increasing carbon sequestration through forestry and better management of organic and mineral soils.

    “Contributing to sustainable energy through adopting energy efficiency measures,
    deployment of renewables and the provision of bioenergy materials as a displacement for fossil fuels and energy-intensive materials. The Teagasc Signpost Farm Programme provides further details on the types of measures that can be taken at a farm level: Signpost Programme – Teagasc I Agriculture and Food Development Authority, said McConalogue.”

    Do you think rural Ireland is doing enough to meet the future demands of Carbon
    footprint?

    “Reducing greenhouse gas emissions will require an economy-wide and all-of -L approach where each member of society will have an important contribution to make, including rural Ireland. The Climate Action Plan process outlines a series of actions that need to be taken by government, by sector and by citizens to meet the ambitious target of a 51% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2023. Agriculture must and will play its part in meeting this objective to ensure that we have economically and environmentally sustainable rural and coastal communities, said McConalogue.”

               Charlie McConalogue, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine 
            Photo Courtesy of  Charlie McConalogue.

    “Systems cost roughly between €4,500 and €5,500 typically, to include the inverter, controls and meters. Solar users prioritize their energy, first on the fridge, then the cooker, lights, laptop and other devices, and directing any excess to hot water if they have a hot water diverter installed,” James Boland (48) a solar panel installation businessman.

    “Unwieldy planning processes are hindering Ireland’s transition to cleaner energy with unnecessary delays. But there has been an increase in domestic solar PV panels after the government’s incentives. Unfortunately, there aren’t enough trained workers to put in the panels, so even when homeowners are keen on it, they aren’t ready to wait for a long time for the installation, said Boland.”

  • Illegal drug use escalating in Ireland

    Illegal drug use escalating in Ireland

     

    In 2021, cocaine was the second most common main problem drug. In 2021, for the first time, the National Drug Treatment Reporting System (NDTRS) recorded more cocaine than heroin cases among those treated for drugs as a main problem. Cannabis was the third most common reported drug problem.

    By Nimra Ahmed

    There has been an increase in illicit drug use in Ireland in both young people and adults. This could be due to unemployment, high population densities, poor facilities or just for recreational purposes.

    According to a Health Research Board (HRB) survey, one in four (23%) of the participants had used an illegal drug at some stage in their life. That means almost 900,000 adults of 15 years and above of the general public have used an illicit drug. Furthermore, one-in-fourteen (7%) revealed that they had used a prohibited drug in July 2021.

    The areas with the highest drug use in Ireland are: North Dublin, Southwest Dublin, Wicklow, Kildare, Southwest and East coast Regional Drug and Alcohol Task Force (RDTF) areas.

    Looking specifically at opioid use, there are an estimated 11,729 problematic opioid users in Dublin alone while the rest of Ireland has approximately 8,146 users.

    AreaKnownEstimateRate
    Co.  Dublin7,91611,72912.72
    Rest of Ireland4,3968,1463.97
    Total12,31219,8756.68
     

     Estimates of the number of problematic opioid users for Co Dublin and the rest of Ireland, and rates per 1,000 population aged 15 to 64 years (2019). Created by Nimra Ahmed using data sourced here.

    There has been an overall increase in the total number of reported cases of drug use in 2021. Statistics show that 10,769 cases were reported for treatment out of which 39.1% were new cases while previously treated cases were 56.6%. Moreover, 4.4% of the cases were of unknown status. 

    In 2020, cannabis was the substance for which treatment was most commonly received, with 1,229 cases. However, in 2021, for the first time in Ireland there were more cases of treatment for cocaine as a main problem drug. The HRB observed for 2021, 34% were treated for opioids, 30% were treated for cocaine, and 21% were treated for cannabis while 11% were treated for benzodiazepines. It was noted that 28% were females who were treated while 72% were males. 

    In 2020, cannabis was the substance for which treatment was most commonly received, with 1,229 cases. However, in 2021, for the first time in Ireland there were more cases of treatment for cocaine as a main problem drug. The HRB observed for 2021, 34% were treated for opioids, 30% were treated for cocaine, and 21% were treated for cannabis while 11% were treated for benzodiazepines. It was noted that 28% were females who were treated while 72% were males.

    Infographics for drug cases and cocaine cases in Ireland. Infographic created. by: Nimra Ahmed using data sourced here.

    At a glance, statistics show that the median age for drug use is 32 years. 13% are homeless even though 21% are employed and 21% have injected themselves at some stage. When we compare the shocking 3,248 cases of cocaine use to the overall drug use the median age is 31 years. 34% are employed and 25% of them are women.

    Infographics for drug cases and cocaine cases in Ireland. Infographic created. by: Nimra Ahmed using data sourced here.

    Since illegal drug use has increased overall, it is necessary to also observe Irish youngsters.   Another recent study on substance abuse in  Irish youngsters showed an increase in cocaine usage amongst 15 to 24-year-olds. This has led to a 170% increase in the treatment of young cocaine users. The Health Research Board’s report, revealed that  26.7% of young adults used illegal drugs in their lifetime, while 18.5% in the last year and 10.5% in the last month. 

    Created by Nimra Ahmed and data gathered here.

    Over one-half of the sample of third-level students participating in the Drug Use in Higher Education in Ireland (DUHEI) survey (N=11,592), in 2021 reported lifetime use of an illegal drug (55%) 

    Brian Pennie, author, speaker, PHD candidate, university lecturer, and life-change strategist, was a chronic heroin addict for 15 years. He believes trauma could lead to addiction. In his infancy he had a surgery without anesthesia which he thinks may be the root cause of  the uneasiness and anxiety he felt throughout his childhood and adulthood.

    These feelings of unrest, anxiety and worry led him to a dark path even though he was at school and held a job. Pennie turned his life around by replacing his addiction of drugs with the addiction of  learning.

    “I used to think I knew a lot. I didn’t. I believed my own lies, weaving an imaginary world full of delusion, denial, and deceit. Combined with chronic anxiety and an overactive mind, this warped view of reality steered me towards a life of addiction,” said Brian Pennie, author, speaker, PHD candidate, university lecturer, and life-change strategist.  

    A person smiling for the camera Description automatically generated with medium confidence

    Brian Pennie- Photo Credit: Finne

    Philip Byrnes, 44, a General Practitioner (GP), voices his concerns, “substance use is a very real part of Irish society. Youngsters especially females are now using more than ever. 24% of females are lifetime users while males are 29% so, females are not so far behind statistically.”  

    “Nobody seems to know exactly why substance abuse is on the rise. Drug use affects people’s lives, their health both mental and physical, as well as impacting relationships with family and friends”, he added.  

    “One solution that Germany contemplates is to legalize the buying and owning of cannabis (up to 30g) for recreational use. The reason for this is to better protect young people who are already using black market cannabis. If this law passes, it could be a model for other European countries. The solution for the Irish nation is still unknown but we need to act fast if we want to save our society.”  

    Illegal drug use in Ireland had plateaued in 2014/2015 and further decreased in 2016 and 2017. However, since 2018 it has steadily been on an upward trend again. Today in Ireland, cannabis use has stabilised but there is an increase in cocaine use, and the prevalence of polydrug use. 

    Ecstasy and cocaine usage in Ireland is the second highest in the whole of Europe. It represents a huge challenge for policy makers, social workers and addiction counsellors fighting the issues day in, day out.

  • Diwali- The Indian New Year

    Diwali- The Indian New Year

    Diwali, (festival of lights) is a popular Hindu festival which celebrates the triumph of good over evil is celebrated in conjunction with the Hindu New Year all over the world. 

    By Nimra Ahmed 

    ‘Diwali’ or the ‘festival of lights’ is a religious festival for Hindus and ties in with the Hindu New Year. It is celebrated by Hindus, Jains and Sikhs. Diwali means ‘row of lights’ in Sanskrit. It is a five day festival between October and November depending on the moon sighting. Diwali is generally a time for visiting family and friends, exchanging gifts, wearing new clothes, feasting, feeding the poor, and setting off fireworks. Diwali represents the triumph of good over evil, light over darkness and wisdom over ignorance.

    For the Hindus, it stands for different traditions in various area. In the north of India, it symbolizes the victorious return of Prince Rama with his wife, Sita, and brother, Lakshman, from a 14-year-long exile and war. People of Ayodhya lit lamps along the way to light their path in the darkness. In the south, it is the day Lord Krishna defeated the demon king Narakasura. In western India, the festival is the day that Lord Vishnu, the Preserver (one of the main gods of the Hindu trinity) sent the demon King Bali to rule hell.

    For the Jains, Diwali is the day when the last of the Jain Tirthankaras, Lord Mahavira, reached nirvana, also known as complete knowledge and enlightenment.

    For the Sikhs, Diwali is a story of the struggle of freedom because  it celebrates Guru Hargobind’s, (the sixth guru) victory from Emperor Jahangir, who had him imprisoned and 52 other princes with him, in 1619. Guru Hargobind did not leave the prison for freedom until he was able to take the princes with him.

    Diwali- by Nimra Ahmed.

    Many consider Diwali to be a fresh start, similar to the Lunar New Year in January. Many people clean, renovate, decorate their homes and buy new clothes in preparation for the upcoming year.

    The ‘Tilak ceremony’ is where the hosts apply a red ‘Tilak’ (made of red paste) on the forehead to welcome and honour guests. 

    The colours for Diwali are: Red, Yellow Magenta, Blue . Rangoli’, which means “an array of colours” in Sanskrit. Rangoli is a tradition that dates back nearly 5,000 years to the Aryans. 

    Rangoli has different names depending on the  Indian state and culture. They are usually made outside the main entrance, in the early mornings after cleaning the area as a welcoming gesture to the Gods for good luck. Rangoli designs are bright, colourful and beautiful made using rice, flower petals or coloured sand. Rangoli is intended to welcome Lakshmi (the goddess of wealth and good luck) into their homes and lives. It represents the happiness, positivity and liveliness of a household.   

    During Annakut,  people prepare and offer a large variety of vegetarian food to Lord Krishna as a mark of gratitude. There are 56 different dishes. Annakut means ‘mountain of food’. The story behind it is that Lord Krishna saved the people from torrential rain by lifting Govardhan Hill as shelter, so the ‘mountain of food’ represents the hill and the food represents the people’s gratitude towards Lord Krishna. 

    The national Indian dress for men is Kurta (shirt) and pajama (bottoms). Kurta is a long loose shirt, which falls below or may be just above the knees. It used to be worn by men but now it is a uni -sex dress. For the women it is the sari. There are many other traditional dresses depending on which area of India you belong to. The word ‘sari’ comes from a Sanskrit word meaning ‘strip of cloth’.  

  • Where are they? – 900 long-term missing persons in Ireland

    Where are they? – 900 long-term missing persons in Ireland

    Image source: An Gardaí Síochána.

    There are more than 900 long-term missing persons cases in this country. The public only hears of roughly 300 cases while nearly 9000 are reported every year.

    By: Nimra Ahmed 

    In the past, missing people were often reported in newspapers but today social media has made its way into each and every home as a helpful tool. A loved one may be missing, some are found alive while others might be found too late.

    This is today’s scary reality. However, many investigations can remain open for years, leaving families in limbo hoping for the best, but fearing the worst. For these families going through the toughest time of their lives, not knowing if their loved ones are being exploited or abused, is a living hell!

    According to the National Missing Persons Helpline, the public only hears of approximately 300 missing persons each year but there are far more undocumented cases. This service collects figures on the number of missing person cases made public through Garda appeals.

    Figures released for 2022 by An Garda Síochána report 3257 – 7752 missing persons. Moreover, thirty-five people are still missing and have not yet been found. Between 9,300 and 9,600 reports for missing persons have been made since 2017 till date. Reports of children and teenagers disappearing tend to account for about three-quarters of these. 

    Tulsa (the Child and Family Agency in Ireland) is an organization that cares for immigrant children. They are responsible for placing children in foster care. From 2017 to date, 54 unaccompanied children – children who arrive in Ireland without an adult looking after them – have gone missing while under Tusla’s care. According to the agency’s figures, only eighteen of those kids were found or were accounted for.  

    As of 11 February 2022, 813 missing person cases remain open in Ireland, down from the 890 cases that were unresolved in December 2019. The longest-running case dates back to 1951. 

    “Unfortunately, there is no such profile for missing people. They can come from all parts of society,” – Garda spokesperson

    One such example of an adult gone missing is Anthony Kennedy (AK), 69, a teacher.https://www.hotpress.com/music/appeal-made-to-find-missing-dublin-musician-anthony-ak-kennedy-22894025

    He was reported missing when one of his friends who Anthony was in constant contact with, couldn’t get in touch with him and informed his family. Anthony went missing from his home in Whitefriar Street, Dublin 8 on 21st February 2022. Unfortunately, on 3rd March 2022, his body was recovered from the Grand Canal, Portobello Harbour, Dublin after ten days. 

    “Since AK was an older, mature adult the Gardaí did not seem overly concerned initially, however, they issued a missing person alert when days went by,” said AK’s friend, Catherine Ann Cullen, an award-winning poet. One can report a missing person and file a report with the Gardaí as soon as the person goes missing.

    Social media has become a useful source that helps in quickly spreading awareness of a missing person. It helps in tracing the person’s whereabouts. In this case, Cullen organized the social media search. She used Twitter, Facebook and WhatsApp to inform people of AK’s absence and asked for help in locating him. 

    In this age of misinformation, “his close friends were clear on when and where they had seen him last, but two possible sightings of him that were on social media, one by a former neighbour and one by a friend of a friend, turned out to be inaccurate if the Garda’s timing of his death is correct,” said Cullen.

    “People responded immediately to express their concern on social media, but the first possible sighting report came three or four days after the first post,” added Cullen.

    “Social media is a good way of spreading the news and photographs. The people who shared or made contact on social media were not anonymous, they were using their names. However, you can be anonymous, if you want, when calling a Garda helpline,” Cullen said.

    Do the Garda have a common profile for people who go missing in Ireland? “Unfortunately, there is no such profile for missing people. They can come from all parts of society and even foreign nationals who are reported missing in Ireland can show up just about anywhere all over the world,” said a Garda spokesperson.

    Scientific breakthroughs in DNA tracking and the formation of the National Missing Persons database in 2015, which is managed by Forensic Science Ireland, have played a vital role in solving many long-running missing person cases recently. 

    The ‘National Missing Persons Day’ in Ireland is an annual day of commemoration and takes place on the first Wednesday in December each year. It complements the existing ‘International Missing Children’s Day’ commemorated on 25 May. 

    Such days commemorate those who are missing and recognise the trauma of their families and friends. They also highlight open or unsolved missing persons cases, and provide information on available support services.

    The national Missing Persons Helpline can be reached on 1800- 442 -552 or through this website.