UNSC and the security myth

A few days ago, the UN Security Council took a unanimous decision to punish companies that contribute to the smuggling out of Libyan oil, triggered by a Korean ship’s entry to the Libyan port without the knowledge or permission of the Libyan authorities. When I say UNSC unanimity, I mean the consensus and agreement between the five countries holding the veto power. One may say the Security Council is composed of 15 countries. While this is true, the commands and decisions are, however, in the hands of the five countries. The 10 non-permanent members are just an entourage, nodding and approving what the others want.

Saudi Arabia has taken a wise decision when it rejected to join the council, regardless of the reasons and considerations behind this rejection. One of the rules and foundations that the Security Council falsely claims to serve is international security. However, the SC is a strange body and has an unprecedented record in approving decisions, one can say, are against global security. Then the question begs to be asked, who determines what when addressing a global security threat? Who prioritizes these threats? Does the UN have a specific definition of the international security and when it is in danger? History taught us that the “superpowers” have this authority.

During three years of the Syrian revolution, the UNSC stood silent in front of the suffering of Syrians reeling under the regime’s crackdown. Justice and objectivity should lead the council’s work but obviously this hasn’t happened in Syria’s case at least. In a world where power rules, our Arab and Islamic countries should take a role in a world that has become similar to an unknown wilderness.

— By Dr. Abdul Rahman Altrairy

Employment of women

I appreciate the efforts being made by the Ministry of Labor to employ only women at shops selling their accessories. The first and second phases of the program have been implemented while the third phase will come in to force early next year when jobs in the shops selling perfumes, wallets, clothes etc. will be reserved for women.

It is significant to note that the ministry declared that those who tamper with the phased implementation of the program would be severely penalized. For instance, any employer appointing a foreign woman in his shop will be fined not less than SR3,000 for each illegal worker. As per Article 230 of the Labor Law, the erring employer will also be denied the right to recruit foreign workers and will not be eligible for any assistance from the Manpower Development Fund for a period of three years, and for five years if the violation is repeated.

I am indeed impressed by the ministry’s determination to implement this program with zero tolerance for any attempt by an employer to cheat the stipulations of women’s employment.

Workingwomen should also be protected from harassment and abuses. Action should be taken against those who abuse workingwomen through the social media sites.

The Labor Law protects women’s rights. It stipulates that when a woman worker’s husband dies, she should be given not more than 15 days leave with full salary. I have been demanding the ministry to amend the clause in such a way that it fulfills the religious directive of observing “eddah” when a woman’s spouse dies. The state’s regulations have been demanding to support divorced women and widows. I wonder what prevents the ministry from granting women leave with full salary during the entire period of “eddah.”

— By Halah Al-Qahtani

Death boxes

A car can be beautiful from the inside features to the outside design to the technical competencies. None of these options, however, will come in handy when they break into pieces. After an accident, these cars turn from navigation-smart vehicles to death boxes. As we are still awaiting the implementation of the public transport projects and trains, cars remain the most popular means of transport.

We can’t ignore the fact that we are reckless drivers. In the Saudi streets nowadays, we face two issues. One, we drive carelessly practicing adventurism and nomadism at times. Secondly, we can’t ignore that we have anonymous drivers. Ten million foreigners are living among us; most of them come from less fortunate or developing countries. Some learn driving here; others face psychological difficulties resulting from leaving their families, the new lifestyle as well as other intellectual crises. This can lead any human being to a state of indifference and depression, definitely affecting their driving. This combination leads to one of highest fatal accident rates.

An Interior Ministry official said the accidents of the last 20 years topped the death toll of the world’s biggest five wars. Seventeen souls are rested each day, and it’s not good to stay silent anymore! We need to double the traffic police and patrols in the streets. We can’t stay observant when our lives are in danger and our children face death in the street each day. Taking measures for the safety of people’s lives is one of the Shariah’s main components.

— By Dr. Mazin Abdul Razaq Balila

Absenteeism in our schools

UNFORTUNATELY, our school education cultivates some unhealthy habits among our children such as absenteeism. It is a widespread problem in the student community. The habit is deeply rooted in students because they have been accustomed to it for many years. I am sorry to say that the department of education and schools’ managements have also contributed to this negative phenomenon.

This bad habit does not, apparently, stop at the school level but goes on to harm university education because students carry the habit to their institutions of higher learning. After university education the same students take up responsible jobs and carry with them this bad custom. In fact, our educational institutions produce a generation of youth grown up on absenteeism, negligence and lethargy. Just imagine the plight of our country when its affairs would fall into the hands of a group of youth who used to sit idle flouting the orders of authorities, and pressure on school management to get away with their absenteeism.

Same is the case with examinations. Students decide not to attend classes on days prior to exams. In order to save their faces, school authorities declare a 15-day revision period during days preceding the examination.

At our universities also a number of days or weeks are lost in the name of charting the time schedule or late registration.

The educational statutes stipulate that a semester should not be more than 18 weeks or less than 16 weeks including the days of examinations. But students prolong their vacations by absenting themselves from classes ignoring the ministry’s directives. They do this in collusion with school administration, which gives them some indications that the days preceding the vacation are part of vacation.

It is saddening that such a lethargic generation, which passes out from universities will be controlling our future, manage our affairs, occupying high-ranking positions in the legislative, executive and planning sectors.

So we should be extremely careful about developing our future leadership. Our students should be disciplined to respect the academic plans and should be trained under strict supervision.

— By Abdul Aziz Al-Jarallah