ALKHOBAR, 1 April 2003 — Here in Saudi Arabia we’ve given up sleeping. With the violence north of our border heating up after dark, people are camped out until the wee hours of the morning, keeping one eye on the television and the other eye on the Internet. As I mentioned last week, I personally have weaned myself from TV news addiction. So I’m not wasting my time in front of the tube. However, my incoming e-mail is at an all time high. Most late night hours I am online, replying to messages and researching queries.
From Singapore (that’s you Jay), to Seattle (that’s you Bill), folks are writing to me about politics, economics, technology, psychology — the range of topics is incredible. Every day, people from all around the world are directly reaching out to each other for understanding and answers. It has been enlightening for me to watch people bypass traditional information sources in this crisis. Instead, individuals are on their own quest for knowledge, using the Internet as their facilitator.
I am delighted to receive e-mail but it troubles me that so many letters start out with the words, “I don’t mean to bother you, but.” I will take the opportunity now to write that the e-mail address at the end of this column is for readers to convey comments, criticisms, questions and concerns. As long as the correspondence is polite, I am happy to receive it. So please write anytime.
That said, I received an interesting e-mail from Jubail on the subject of mobile phone theft, a topic addressed in this column two weeks ago.
From M. Kannan the letter read in part:
“Your suggestions concerning mobile phone safety should be taken seriously by all mobile users. Nowadays, many mobile users have programmed their phones with Western musical ring tones. These play at such a loud volume that they can be heard a block away. This is an invitation to mobile thieves. Last weekend, here in Jubail, one of my Filipino friends was standing near Park View Restaurant with his costly mobile clipped to the waistband of his jeans. A local lad approached him from behind, snatched it and threw it to another youth standing a few feet away. Then they both ran away in opposite directions. Before the friend could decide which one to chase, they both vanished into the crowd on Jeddah Street. My friend could not do anything except inform STC to block his number.”
Mobile phone theft is a big problem now in the Kingdom, but over the last two weeks I have noticed something equally worrying. People are talking for hours each day with their mobile phones held against their ears. The subject of mobile phone radiation was covered last year in this column. I don’t want to flog the topic to death, but a quick review is in order. There is concern over the use of mobile phones and their possible health implications. Research on the subject is inconclusive. Because of this uncertainty, governments throughout the world have recommended that users adopt a precautionary approach and limit their exposure to radiation from mobile devices. This means that it is advisable to choose a cell phone with a low SAR value. Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) is an indication of the amount of radiation that is absorbed into a head while using a cellular phone. The higher a phone’s SAR rating, the more radiation is absorbed into the head while using that handset. Some older cell phones being sold in the Kingdom’s secondhand markets have shockingly high SAR values.
The US Federal Communications Commission has set a SAR limit of 1.6 W/Kg. SarValues.com has made available information on the SAR rating of most cell phones. The lists at the site are divided into European or American phones. If the SAR value of your phone is not listed at the site, e-mail addresses for all phone manufacturers are provided, so the manufacturer may be contacted directly for the information.
If your mobile has a high SAR value, get rid of it. Do not think that the solution is to use a gadget that promises to reduce electromagnetic emissions. According to the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) there is no scientific proof that the coin-sized metallic fiber patches placed over the earpieces of cell phones significantly reduce radiation exposure. In fact, the agency has asserted that devices, which block only the earpiece or another small portion of the phone, are ineffective because the entire phone emits electromagnetic waves. Further, the FTC has charged that the shields may interfere with the phone’s signal, causing it to draw more power and emit even more radiation.
On that unhappy note, let’s move to another worrisome observation. In a conversation with a banker from HSBC in Bahrain, I became aware that anxiety with the Iraqi crisis has compelled a growing number of individuals to open offshore accounts through HSBC. This is not good news for the Kingdom’s banks since each offshore account requires a minimum opening balance of $5,000 and the accounts are most attractive to affluent banking customers.
The offshore accounts generally aren’t set up to hold funds people need for daily living. The accounts are useful though for people who want to keep funds in an account that can be accessed globally and also for some expatriates who don’t want to send their funds home for tax reasons. In addition, people are also moving their investments into these offshore accounts. Some people have been going to Bahrain to set up the offshore accounts, but more are simply completing the requirements through hsbc.com.
“Strict anti-money laundering regulations mean that more paper work is required to open an HSBC offshore account now, than a couple of years ago,” said the banker. “Basically we need to confirm identity and verify the source of the funds. It usually takes 10 days to two weeks to initially set up the account. After that, it’s easy. Clients then have several different ways to manage their funds — from paper statements to online access.” The banker continued, “I believe that HSBC is attracting customers because of our perceived neutrality. In these uncertain times customers are looking for a bank with demonstrated stability and global reach. I want to emphasize that these customers are coming to us. Due to the Kingdom’s laws, HSBC is not allowed to go to Saudi Arabia and solicit business. However, if a request comes from the market, then we are able to provide service.”
The current situation is just a taste of things to come. Saudi banks have treated customers poorly and have been slow to diversify their offerings. As more and more people accept the concept of Internet banking, the most lucrative accounts will shift from Saudi banks to banks abroad that offer better returns and online management.
Now, it’s time to stop thinking about how to be creative with your cash. Instead, let me give you something to do to channel all those creative energies that have been wasted lately, and maybe you’ll win a little cash, too.
Cannon has announced the launch of the “Canon Digital Creators Contest 2003.” This is a digital-age competition aimed at encouraging the creative exploration of new directions in visual expression in the Internet-era. Competition entries will be accepted until Sept. 4, 2003. This event is an ideal opportunity for photographers from Saudi Arabia to compete and win on a global level.
The Cannon Digital Creator Contest 2003 comprises four categories: Digital Photo (Print), Digital Graphics/Illustration (Print), Digital Movie, and Web. Winners receive cash prizes and/or products from Canon or other sponsors. The Gold Award in each category is $20,000. For contest entry guidelines and other information visit canon.com/cdcc/. Please note, entries for Europe, Middle East and Africa must be submitted to Canon Digital Creator Contest Amsterdam Secretariat, Strawinskylaan 705 1077 XX Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
If you need something to get your creative juices flowing, take a look at some of the images newly posted by Selwa Press publisher, Tim Barger, at his website, OutInTheBlue.com. Barger has discovered a set of eight postcards that were printed by Aramco in the 1960s and distributed for public relations purposes.
“These eight postcards are a poignant look at Aramco and the Eastern Province in the early 1960’s, a time when Americans and Arabs worked together toward their mutual prosperity,” writes Barger at the site.
OutInTheBlue.com has developed considerably since it was launched just a couple of years ago. The site boasts quite a collection of photographs by Barger and others, plus information and essays about the Middle East, including excerpts from the famous historical volume, “The Arab War,” written in 1917 by Gertrude Bell — a must-read for anyone attempting to understand global politics today. Go and have a look online, anytime.
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