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Straightforward Insight, an organisation founded by Nikkil Dcruz and Prithwiraj Purkait, students of Grade 11 and 12 of DPS-Modern Indian School, teamed up with Deap Qatar for a cleanup at Zekreet Beach that saw more than 40 student volunteers remove over 100kg of trash from Qatar’s coastline. The volunteers connected with Straightforward Insight through their Instagram page @straightforwardinsight

On a blistering hot summer day, a pair of doves rest in a Sidra tree’s shade in a Doha backyard. Though doves are capable of enduring the desert summer, they are eager to cool off. PICTURE: Gulf Times news editor Bonnie James (Instagram: the.explorer7)

Qatar Museums announced that the National Museum of Qatar (NMOQ) has achieved Carbon Neutrality Certification for the reporting period of April 2022 to March 2023. The milestone reflects the museum's proactive approach to sustainable operations, setting an example for cultural institutions worldwide.Commenting on the occasion, Director of National Museum of Qatar Sheikh Abdulaziz Al-Thani said "the National Museum of Qatar's commitment to reducing its carbon footprint has resulted in this remarkable accomplishment. This certification is testimony to the museum's perseverance towards operating in an environmentally conscious manner."Founding Chairman of GORD Dr. Yousef Alhorr said that "by embracing sustainability, museums become guardians of both time and our planet, safeguarding artistic treasures and cultural heritage, all while minimizing their environmental footprint. NMoQ's attainment of carbon neutrality not only sets a powerful example for the global art sector, but also serves as an inspiration for organizations across various sectors within Qatar, urging them to prioritize environmental responsibility. Ultimately, NMoQ's success reaffirms Qatar Museums' role in pursuing Qatar National Vision 2030, paving the way for a low-carbon future."To attain carbon neutrality, Qatar Museums' National Museum of Qatar (NMoQ) initiated strategic measures. These include transitioning to renewable energy sources, implementing energy-efficient technologies, supporting waste reduction and recycling, promoting sustainable transportation, engaging employees in eco-friendly practices, optimizing water usage, and conducting a comprehensive carbon footprint assessment. These comprehensive efforts showcase the museum's unwavering dedication to environmental stewardship and sustainability, solidifying its role as a global leader in responsible cultural institution management.

Fruit-laden Neem trees are a ubiquitous sight in Qatar during summer. Neem (Azadirachta indica), a fast-growing tree of the mahogany family (Meliaceae), is valued as a medicinal plant, as a source of organic pesticides, and for its timber. Nearly all parts of the Neem tree are useful, and many of its medicinal and cosmetic uses are based on its antibacterial and antifungal properties. PICTURE: Gulf Times news editor Bonnie James (Instagram: the.explorer7)

A dove peers from its nest, high on a neem tree in a Doha garden. The scorching summer heat does not trouble the species, which often nests in the open, irrespective of how high the mercury climbs. PICTURE: Gulf Times news editor Bonnie James (Instagram: the.explorer7).

Ants are on a nectar hunt in a Doha garden. Similar to numerous other insects, ants enjoy eating energy-rich nectar and frequently visit flowers. Ants are also close relatives of bees and wasps which are important pollinators in most plant communities. PICTURE: Gulf Times news editor Bonnie James (Instagram: the.explorer7).

A rock dove, a resident breeder in Qatar, is on high alert as it scans the surroundings from a high perch in Doha. PICTURE: Gulf Times news editor Bonnie James (Instagram: the.explorer7).

As a part of taking initiatives for clean air and climate change, the Indian Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers (Ishrae) in Qatar organised a plantation drive at MES Indian School. Ishrae Qatar chapter officials Sajeeda, Thulasiram and Abdullah took part in the event alongside twenty members of the Campus Care Force of MES Indian School. A number of saplings were planted on the occasion of the World Environment Day. Principal Dr Hameeda Kadar lauded the efforts taken by Ishrae Qatar chapter towards sustainable environmental practices by planting trees and educating young minds about protecting the environment, and thanked all for providing an opportunity to be part of Qatar’s Plant 1mn tree project. The teachers in charge were Jency George, Shailaja Nishad, Sneha R, Sibby Shaji John and Bitty Varghese.

On World Environment Day, Qatar’s local impact-driven gifting company Verdura Care collaborated with the Qatar Foundation’s Park and Plant initiative to deliver a unique tree-planting event with the support of children and women from the local community who joined to plant 700 native trees in Education City. The aim was to improve awareness among the local community and, especially the children, on the importance of indigenous plants and their impact on protecting biodiversity and combating desertification and climate change.

As part of World Environment Day, Nammude Adukkalathottam (Our Kitchen Garden), Doha, organised NAD Environmental Quiz 2023. More than 200 students from various schools in Qatar participated.Dr Sarath Lal was the quiz master. The winners were selected after three rounds. Evin Varghese Binu (MES Indian School) got the first place, Adeeb (MES Indian School, Abu Hamour branch) was second and Veda Virendra Redkhar (MES) third. Areeba Firoz, Shreya S V and Shaba Rebin, all from MES, won consolation prizes.Lakshmi Suryan conducted a seminar on the importance of Environment Day. Radio Malayalam representative Naufal and Brilliant Education Centre director Mohamed Ashraf spoke. Certificates were given to all participants. Our Kitchen Garden President Benny Thomas welcomed the gathering.

With summer setting in, the rays of the morning sun outlines new shoots of a Sidra tree, the iconic symbol of Qatar's heritage. Until the fruit season next winter, Sidra trees seen widely across the country, will be providing the much-needed shelter for birds and shade for humans. PICTURE: Gulf Times news editor Bonnie James.

Bangiya Parishad Qatar, a socio-cultural organisation affiliated to Indian Cultural Centre, organised a beach cleaning camp. A large number of community members, including many school children, participated. The beach cleaning initiative and related activities were supported by Al Wakrah Municipality.

At the height of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, Doha-based Filipino accountant Jeacim Francis Adaya started his journey in hydroponics gardening thinking it could be a good bonding activity with his wife, Misty, and daughters Sofia and Zara.But it was in March 2022 after moving to a much larger house that Adaya realised the potential for hydroponics gardening despite a few trials and errors along the way.He explained to Gulf Times the potential of hydroponics gardening in addressing some of the challenges facing modern agriculture, such as limited land availability, water scarcity, and environmental degradation.By sharing information and promoting the use of hydroponics gardening, Adaya hopes to help raise awareness of these issues and encourage more people to adopt sustainable and efficient methods of agriculture.GULF TIMES: Is indoor hydroponics gardening possible if one does not have ample outdoor space?ADAYA: Yes, indoor hydroponics gardening is a great option for people who do not have ample outdoor space, as it allows them to grow plants indoors without soil. Hydroponic systems can be set up in a small space, such as a spare room, closet, or balcony, and can produce a high yield of plants compared to traditional soil-based gardening.With hydroponics, you can grow a wide variety of fruits, vegetables, herbs, and flowers, and you can control the growing conditions, such as light, temperature, and nutrients, to optimise growth and yield. Additionally, indoor hydroponics gardening can be a fun and rewarding hobby, and it can even help reduce your carbon footprint by reducing food transportation and waste.For those who want to get started in hydroponics gardening, what is the initial cost of investment? Kindly provide an overview of the budget for a small, medium, and large garden.The hydroponic method that I am using is called “Kratky Method,” which is simple and adaptable for small home gardens. This passive method of hydroponics only requires a few basic supplies, such as container with lid (I use styro box), styro cups, growing medium (I recommend using cocopeat), nutrient solutions, and seeds.The average cost for a DIY small setup (one box/starter kit), which can produce about eight to 10 lettuce heads (or other vegetables of choice), is QR100 to QR150. A medium setup with around 50 boxes that can produce about 400 to 500 lettuce heads may cost around QR2,000 to QR3,000, while a large garden setup with around 100 boxes for 1,000 lettuce heads would cost about QR5,000 or more.What varieties of vegetables could be grown in this climate through hydroponics gardening?There are many varieties of vegetables that can be grown in an outdoor hydroponic system in Qatar during the cold months (November till the first week of May).Some popular choices include:Leafy greens: Lettuce, spinach, and kale are all good choices for hydroponic gardening in the winter.Herbs: Basil, parsley, and mint are herbs that can be grown in a hydroponic system during the winter.Root vegetables: Carrots, beets, and radishes can all be grown in hydroponic systems during the winter, although they may require a bit more attention than other vegetables.Tomatoes: Cherry tomatoes can be grown successfully in hydroponic systems during the winter, as long as they receive enough light and warmth.Peppers: Bell peppers and hot peppers can also be grown in hydroponic systems during the winter, as long as they are provided with sufficient heat and light.It’s important to note that the specific varieties of vegetables you can grow will depend on the conditions in your indoor or outdoor hydroponic system. You’ll need to ensure that your plants are getting enough light, nutrients, and water to thrive, and you may need to adjust these factors depending on the type of plant you are growing.What are the benefits of hydroponics gardening?Hydroponic gardening, which involves growing plants in a soil-free medium and delivering nutrients directly to the roots, has several benefits, including increased productivity and yield, water conservation, no soil-borne diseases, space efficiency, and educational benefits.Overall, hydroponic gardening can have a positive impact on one's professional, social, personal, and family life by promoting sustainability, efficiency, and education.What life lessons can hydroponics gardening teach children and why is it important to pass on the knowledge of hydroponics gardening to the younger generation?Hydroponic gardening can teach children several valuable life lessons, including responsibility, patience, science and environmental awareness, nutrition, and creativity and problem-solving.

Nada Raafat Elkharashi, who graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts in Qatar (VCUarts Qatar) in Doha, with a BFA in Interior Design in 2017, and an MFA in Design in 2021, created a unique public seating structure in response to Qatar Museum's open call on the theme 'Reuse, Recycle and Reduce'.The piece of furniture was exhibited during Milan Design Week 2022, as part of the Rossana Orlandi Ro Plastic Exhibition. It was selected as a finalist for the international Rossana Orlandi Ro Plastic Prize 2022: Urban and Public Design and went on to win third place in the category.The Ro Plastic Prize is the international award of 'RoGUILTLESSPLASTIC'. The award has been drawing the attention of an increasing number of designers, innovators, entrepreneurs, startups, scientists, researchers, and communication experts who are passionate about creating extraordinary and impactful projects that involve the reuse of waste.The piece of furniture, with back-to-back sitting spaces and a perforated shade that lets in flickering light, was first unveiled in M7 in Msheireb Downtown Doha, during a 'Qatar Creates' event last year."The design calls for collecting local egg crates from the community, big supermarkets, chicken farms, and, most importantly, from individual households," Elkharashi said. "For this seat, I collected unused egg crates from local hypermarkets such as LuLu and Carrefour. I also purchased recycled pulp egg crates, to fill in certain spaces. But for future public seat collections, all crates will be collected locally, categorised according to size, and used for production.”The VCUarts Qatar alumna says that in the long run, the concept and final product should motivate residents to have designated bins to dispose of their daily share of egg crates.According to Elkharashi, the design and implementation of the furniture piece can be adapted to the number of egg crates collected, making it similar to a modular system where individual components can be added or removed. The core is designed using a metal brace, and screws. The cartons are assembled as one longitudinal cladding module, making the seat firm and functional. The more egg crates are collected, the more cladding modules can be joined as separate extensions at the top or on the sides.Elkharashi added how as time passes, and the cartons degrade, only the metallic brace and the screws of the main structure will remain, leaving the public with a visual reminder to gather and replace the degraded crates with another batch of reused egg crates that are locked on the metal brace using the screws that protrude from it.

In connection with International Year of Millets, Rajagiri Public School (RPS) has joined hands with Indian Institute of Millet Research (IIMR), Hyderabad, India to popularise the use of millet as the staple food among the Indian community. A stall showcased various varieties of millets and different types of dishes made using millets and their recipes.The year-long celebration is supported by the members of the school’s Parent Council. Executive members Teenu Joggy. Roma Achamma Thommen and Shanmuga Pandian who managed the millet stall at Rajagiri Fest, explained that inculcating healthy food habits in the young generation is the prime duty of every parent, especially in an era when life style diseases are on the rise.A formal launch of the celebration was done by Indian embassy first secretary (education, culture and information) Sachin Dinkar Shankpal by handing over specially crafted bookmarks illustrating the different kinds of millets and their health benefits. The school plans to hold online sessions for students, conducted by the scientists of IIMR, develop small plots in the school garden with various millet crops, promote millet snacks in the students’ snack boxes at least once in a month and organise quizzes and debates.

Indian Business & Professionals Council (IBPC) Qatar and MES Indian School jointly organised an awareness programme for students at the school campus recently as part of the International Year of Millets 2023 (IYOM 2023).IBPC president Jaffer Us Sadik spoke about the importance of millets, the first domesticated cereal grains, which were most likely cultivated in Asia more than 4,000 years ago.Millets rank as the sixth most important cereal grains in the world today, sustaining more than one-third of the world’s population.Renitha Richard, chief nutritionist at Allevia Medical Center, educated the students about millets as 'Nutri-cereals' due to their high nutritional value and a valuable source of energy, proteins, dietary fiber, minerals, and vitamins. Millets are also gluten-free and a great option for those who are intolerant to wheat and other grains.Millets are rich in antioxidants and have anti-inflammatory properties. They are easy to digest and can help improve digestive health. Millets are a great choice for weight management, as they are low in calories, yet they provide a feeling of fullness. Millets are also high in minerals like iron, magnesium, and zinc, which are essential for healthy bones and teeth. Consuming millet can also help to reduce the risk of diabetes and heart disease, she added.Mohammed Ilias of MES appreciated the the initiative to spread awareness on millets and encouraged his students on the benefits of these “tiny grains” that pack a big nutritional punch and urged the students to include millet in their daily diets. School teachers Jency George (Campus Care Force), Sneha Ramachandran Pillai, Sibby Shaji John, Bitty Varghese, Rema Devi, Rajesh K.S (Scouts and Guides) and Fency Patrose (Cubs in-charge) were the MES event co-ordinators. More information about IYOM2023 is available on ibpcqatar.com

Talking Matters Toastmasters Club, in association with WabiSabi Qatar, conducted an upcycling waste disposal drive, 'Trash to Treasure'.The event, which saw donated waste materials being taken by individuals to create craft pieces, was held at Stafford Sri Lankan School.Discarded plastic and glass bottles, cans, bags, magazines, newspapers, scrap paper and old clothes were brought in by members from the Toastmasters Community and from DPS-Modern Indian School.The event was organised by club president Pooja George and vice president (public relations) Abhina Pradeep in association with member and WabiSabi Qatar founder Nisha Shivram and with the support of club officials and members Thirumoorthy Anbazhalgan, Midhun Mohandas, Kumar Angamuthu, Ram Mohan Rai, Sivaprakash Vaitheesvaran, Hitesh Saviliya, Meenalochini and Pramod Shetty.Toastmasters District 116 director Rajesh V C, district programme quality director Ravi Shankar and Division C director Pradeep Menon also attended.Toastmasters International is a non-profit educational organisation committed to communication and leadership. There are 117 clubs in Qatar.

Hundreds of dolphins are washing up on France's Atlantic coast and thousands more are believed killed in fishermen's nets each year, as environmentalists and Brussels pressure the government to protect the marine mammals.On Wednesday, Allain Bougrain-Dubourg, head of the League for the Protection of Birds (LPO), said he would write to President Emmanuel Macron that "the time has come to do our utmost to save dolphins from mistreatment or even extinction."This dramatic situation is even less acceptable given that it is avoidable," Bougrain-Dubourg added.Pro-dolphin activists say harmful fishing activities, including deep-sea and sea-bed trawling, must be halted for several weeks in the Bay of Biscay between France and Spain.The Pelagis ocean observatory has spotted a surge in dolphin deaths on the Atlantic coast, with 127 common dolphins washed up in January alone -- up from 73 in the same month last year.Increased dolphin deaths are usually seen later in the year, during their February-March coastal feeding season that brings them closer to fishing vessels chasing hake and sea bass.This year the increase in finds is "especially early", Pelagis said this month.Over the whole of 2022, 669 dolphins washed up -- down from 1,299 in 2020.Scientists believe that more than 80 percent of dead dolphins sink or decompose at sea rather than washing ashore, suggesting the real number of deaths is far higher at up to 11,000 per year.Of the washed-up dolphins, "most presented signs of being caught in fishing equipment", Pelagis said, with the LPO singling out "slices in the tail fins and clear traces of nets" on their skin.- 'Half-measures' -CIEM, a scientific body that tracks North Atlantic ecosystems, has for years urged a winter pause for some indiscriminate fishing techniques, meeting fierce resistance from industrial fishermen.After two years of pressure from the European Commission and under the spotlight from activists, Paris has so far offered an eight-point plan with technical measures, stopping far short of an outright ban.Measures include a voluntary observer scheme aboard fishing vessels, satellite tracking and fitting trawlers with cameras or acoustic repellent devices that drive the dolphins away.Many fishing ships are already fitted with the devices in a "large-scale experiment" to test their effectiveness, the government said.But the LPO denounced the government moves as "half-measures... that will change nothing and cost us precious time".Environmentalist group Sea Shepherd said the repellent devices "create huge exclusion zones in dolphins' feeding grounds" that risk cutting them off from needed nourishment.Paris has not completely closed the door to temporary bans, suggesting "time- and space-limited closures" to fishing could be tested in the Bay of Biscay in winter 2024-25 "if there are no satisfactory results in reducing accidental catches" of dolphins.That isn't soon enough for the activists. Sea Shepherd have filed a criminal complaint on January 16 against persons unknown over the failure to intervene.

With the aim of creating awareness and increasing the production and consumption of millets, the United Nations (UN), at the behest of the Indian government, has declared 2023 as the International Year of Millets (IYoM).To celebrate this important UN initiative, the Indian Business and Professional Council (IBPC Qatar) and the Indian embassy in Doha have joined hands to kickstart the IYoM activities starting with a gathering of hypermarket representatives and food importers in Qatar.In his opening remarks, IBPC vice-president K P Ashraf welcomed the delegates and briefly explained the agenda. Angeline Premalatha, counsellor (Political and Commerce) at the Indian embassy, explained the significance of the International Year of Millets and the desire to host various activities to raise awareness about millets in Qatar and their importance in the daily diet.Allevia Medical Center nutritionist and dietician Renitha Richard gave a presentation on the various health benefits of millets, while IBPC vice-president Hisham Abdul Raheem proposed various initiatives to promote millets in Qatar.Later, Team IBPC also met with the management representatives of Radio Malayalam, Mirchi One and Radio Olive-Suno to kickstart the year-long public awareness campaign for millets.More information about the IYoM is available at https://ibpcqatar.com/ and its social media platforms.

Winter in Qatar is a riot of colours, be it in the public parks or home gardens. The pleasant weather soothes the human mind and body, fauna and flora and rejuvenates mother nature in general. These scenes from a Doha backyard is a small example of the winter magic. PICTURES: Gulf Times news editor Bonnie James