Does Qatar Put Profit over People?

You have spoken words of wisdom........

Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery

None but ourselves can free our minds..

The choice of whether Qatar wants to prioritize on profits or people is theirs alone. And they are choosing profits and self-interest. Comparing something simple like a bus shelter with the west is not a fair argument. Western cities operate on a tight budget and have to spread their money wisely and often end up with a deficit. They can't approve all yearly initiatives because there just isn't enough money.

Qatar is in a unique position with a low population, zero immigration or any social responsibilities for non-Qatari's, and a huge budget surplus. Qatar's 2006-07 budget surplus is QR6.7 billion. Basically they have no budget constraints.

So not providing shade at a bus stop is simply them choosing not to make it a priority. Why? Is it because Qatari's don't ride the bus? Comparing buses in Qatar with Nepal is insulting. Nepal has a per-capita income of $1,500. Versus Qatar, which has a GDP per capita of $63,000. This gives Qatar the excuse to not have them???

Another simple example is pedestrian overpasses over major roads. Every year countless expats are killed or severly injured while trying to cross the roads. But still there are no pedestrian overpasses on any of the roads. Why? Is it because Qatari's aren't gettting killed trying to cross the road.

Is it ethical to know people are getting injured or killed, have the funds and the means to do something about it, but choose not to?

Diamondgirl you have a big heart and your making positive changes but you say: "Unfortunately we haven't had the benefit of hundreds of years to change like the west." This is actually where you are lucky. Learn from the mistakes of the west so you don't repeat them. Unfortunately this isn't the case and Qatar is turning into just another Country of Consumers. Land in Dubai and it could be any American city, and Qatar is joining the race to achieve the same goal. You have look at the big picture, challenge everything, and don't allow things to take place simply because that's the way it is in the west. Once a country decides the direction of where it wants to go, it's extremely hard to turn back. If you choose consumerism, prepare to live with the consequences.

5 years from now when there are more social ills because of the quest for the fast buck just don't blame the west. Instead remember that all the choices Qatar is making is theirs alone. All the evidence and studies are already available from the West to learn from our mistakes and shortcomings. Don't let your ego decide what's best for you, let your heart decide what's best for society.

Below is a recent article from Harvard Psychologist Daniel Gilbert. It sums up the futile quest for happiness by consuming:

Individuals and societies don't have the same fundamental need.

Individuals want to be happy, and societies want individuals to consume. Most of us don't feel personally responsible for stoking our country's economic engine; we feel personally responsible for increasing our own well-being. These different goals present a real dilemma, and society cunningly solves it by teaching us that consumption will bring us happiness.

Society convinces us that what's good for the economy is good for us too. This message is delivered to us by every magazine, television, newspaper, and billboard, at every bus stop, grocery store, and airport. It finds us in our cars, it's made its way onto our clothing. Happiness, we learn, is just around the corner and it requires that we consume just one more thing. And then just one thing more after that. So we do, we find out that the happiness of consumption is thin and fleeting, and rather than thinking to ourselves, "Gosh, that promise of happiness-by-consumption was a lie," we instead think, "Gosh, I must not have consumed enough and I probably need just one small upgrade to my stereo, car, wardrobe, or wife, and then I'll be happy."

We live in the shadow of a great lie, and by the time we figure out that it is a lie we are closing in on death and have become irrelevant consumers, and a new generation of young and relevant consumers takes our place in the great chain of shopping.

do you know when pork will be sell to the public in Qatar? :-( Why can't Qatar groceries shops have a pork room like in the UAE?

and one more thing ... why expat can't bring alcohol/booze into the country but they can buy it inside Qatar from booze shop.

PS: I have find Little Angels nursery ... thanks to you for the direction.

And yes, Western countries don't particularly like women wearing he jab, and why should they?

Umm...its' called cultural diversity and considering the west is mostly democracy, than people should wear what they want. I don't see how a woman wearing a he jab, abaya, etc. has any impact on people. It's a personal choice, if they want to wear it, so be it. How is it in anyway hurting anyone?

Alexa, I'd be interested to know what rules you feel are difficult to live with in Qatar from an expat point of view.

Dimond Girl Nepal do have Volvo Buses, they also have rickety ones.

But here we are talking about a very very small country with such a big natural resource.

Yes Qatar is also lucky to have a very able & compassionate Emir.

"The lighting of the Torch" at the Games would be the most Daring, Romantic & Awe-Inspiring moments of all games Asian or Olympic till date. And to have it done IN SUCH A GREAT STYLE by one from the Royal family may be the only Games ever.

HH has set some very admirable & great goals. But the small things would have changed a lot.

Had the bus thing got going (not that it is not improving) more people would have been induced to travel by bus & the streets would have been a little less traffic-jamed.

Stadium-wise most of the games & tournament happen in the day so it would have been encouraging for the kids to watch the game live rather than on TV.

sure there is a difference...But you know what..it is exactly the same way in Europe. There too you have a difference between the native people and the foreigners living there. The native people are always privileged. It will always be like that.

So I don't understand why non-Qatari's are complaining.

In Europe foreigners are told when complain about i.e the zero-tolerance policy or other improper treatment encouraged by the governments: Hey, if you don't like how we run things over here then f... off!! Go home!

I haven't heard that from any Qatari's...I find Qatari’s very welcoming. Yes you have Qatari’s who treat people like dirt…true…

but hey.. when a Muslim girl is told to take off her scarf and beeing rejected for jobs because of her name and skin color. I find that pretty disgusting and inhuman too… and that’s happening in western "developed" countries. Isn’t that the same as Qatari’s are living like kings and doing what ever they want???

Again, native people are always privileged.

Anywayssss…. I find Diamondgirl's arguments pretty sensible. She is absolutely right in all she said on this topic. Qatar is still in its developing phase and has a lot more to offer. I personally look forward spending more time in this country

I think Qatar is doing amazingly well and have great respect for the Emir.

Your putting words in my mouth....when did I say...

"We're all wealthy, we're all spoiled, we're all corrupt, we're all lazy, we're all stupid!"

Ummm, I didn't! Maybe you have issues of your own!

Oh please, you have to admit, Qatari's are treated like kings compared to the labor workers!

Agreed. The contractors of these unfortunate people need to be held accountable and this must come from the top.

I would swap your Emir with Blair or Bush any day and feel I had the better side of the swap. He is a good leader, especially given the way his father ran Qatar.

But what happens at the lower levels puts this country to shame and maybe the Emir needs to actually hold these people accountable for what they are doing to your country.

On a side note - Youth violence in Qatar = take one youth (usually male), add a powerful car and you have a lethal/violent combination??

Scorpio, thanks for your kind words. It's true, I do have a priviledged life but I am also very busy with various philanthropic ventures in Qatar and other countries. I try to put my time to good use as well as balancing my family life. Just yesterday I spent the day in a homeless shelter in London working with people on a project about re-entering the work force. When I come back to Qatar I have a meeting with impoverished Qataris on a similar theme of getting back to the work force and earning a living. Different countries, same problem. I hope I can make a difference, I'm really trying to.

Red Pope, beg to differ on your interpretation of apartheid. Apartheid means an official policy of racial segregation. This is exactly what the US were doing until the Civil Rights movement. We all know the term apartheid from Nelson Mandela and South Africa but there are many countries who did and are practising apartheid to this day. It can be argued that the Israeli government are practising apartheid with policies such as not allowing Jews to sell property to Arabs for example.

If you find it tough to meet locals then how can you be so sure we're all treated like kings?? I know it's nothing compared to how the labourers are treated but please don't think that we're all rich and treated like royalty. A sizeable portion of Qatari's are treated like dirt believe it or not so it hurts that you would have this pejudice against like we're all wealthy, we're all spoiled, we're all corrupt, we're all lazy, we're all stupid!

However, US has had and still have Economic and Educational Apartheid..

So is England!!!!!

Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery

None but ourselves can free our minds..

I really admire you for your contribution and humanity in helping others. You are one of a kind. As I’ve mentioned before, I have found it tough meeting locals, compared to other regions in the Middle East, and would love to hear more about your efforts and opinions. I would also like to help!

You are right in saying that it happens everywhere, but, you’re talking about countries where “locals” are victims and treated inhumanly as well. I don’t see that happening in Qatar. The locals are treated like kings...Sadly it has all do to with what nationality you are.

you are kind of right...

However, US has had and still have Economic and Educational Apartheid..

Diamondgirl wrote:

As was apartheid in the US.

Apartheid was South Africa.

Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery

None but ourselves can free our minds..

Like I said plenty in Qatar that needs improvement...I'm in no way suggesting that there isn't.

But it is worth pointing out that these kind of problems are not peculiar to Qatar...they are worldwide. Buses and bus stops for example... in the UK people wait at bus stops in hailstorms, in thunder and lightning conditions, torrential downpours and get a right soaking and they've had a public bus service there for what over fifty years. Where are the heated, cosy bus shelters one might ask? There are hundreds of thousands of bus stops in the UK with no bus shelters. And bus stations. Someone once advised me if I should arrive at a bus station in Europe to close my eyes and run 300m before opening them as they are so awful. And the lovely bus station in Katmandu...it doesn't take you long on a bus in Nepal to know that you are risking your life on a jam packed old rickety bus that's literally falling to bits. This is what Nepalis have to put up with in Nepal. I know this from personal experience. Went round Nepal on an anti child labour mission on these kinds of buses and it was a complete nightmare. And forget about any air conditioning. Qatar buses despite having no luggage rack are regularly full of passengers. Admittedly luggage racks would be helpful. I spoke to a British lady who said that she goes on the buses in Doha all the time and thinks its the best bus service she's ever used! I'm not suggesting it is but that is what she told me!

Scorpio, that is awful if it is true about treating injured based on nationality. On my return to Qatar I will investigate this with HMC. Things will only change if it is unacceptable to the genreal public. As well as writing on this forum people need to complain to the relevant authorities. For those scared they will lose their jobs others who feel strongly about it should do it for them. Child labour in the UK was abolished because of public protest. As was apartheid in the US. It's a sad old world when you look at some of the problems in it.

Jack, about not having a Qatari ID. There are thousands of people here classed as bidoons meaning without a passport. They have crossed the border illegally. However they are not refused free education for their children or healthcare. One of the saddest things I've seen are people dying literally on the doorsteps of hospitals in India because they could not afford treatment or were sidelined by hospital authorities because of their status in society.

"And people don't die on the doorsteps of hospitals here because they won't treat them as they have no money. That's at least one thing we've managed to get right."

I know people that worked as ambulance drivers in Doha who have been so appalled at the conditions and treatment when it comes to labour workers lack of medical treatment that they have left. An incident where there was a car crash with 3 locals barely scratched, 3 Indian workers dying on the road, with the ambulance drivers told they must go to the locals 1st, despite who need’s the medical attention 1st. The Indians died. I’ve heard dozens and dozens of stories like this. That’s just as bad as dying on the doorstep of hospitals. Yeah you’re right; it doesn’t have anything to do with the money, just race! And yes, it can happen anywhere.

Qatar is getting better but the question still rings true.

Look out of your car window on Thursday evening when you are speeding home.

The Labourers after having toiled in the sun till now still waiting on the roadside for some taxi or bus only to meet other fellow countrymen. Mostly they have been waiting for atleast 30min & might have to wait another 30min.

Spanking new Stadiums have been built but no roof. So one cannot sit there after sunrise & before sunset.

Airconditioned Mercedes-Benze Buses but poles as bus-stands.

(have a look at the Nepal's Kathmandu Busstand. They have built it like an Airport. And they have to put up with this thrash when they come here) whereas Airconditioned Busstops should have been the minimum. And the maximum being it having a caffeteria & small shopping-place.

No luggage racks in the buses to put your luggage.

These things are akin to buying a car with 1 wheel less. So the whole car becomes unusable.

Its not a big deal to do this, or is it? Now its a year old still nothing on the horizon.

Qatar does not have the quantity of illegal workers as in other countries. And those that have been brought in to work in Asian Games Project are still stuck here.

diamondgirl:

Is there a person here that works without a Qatari ID? Very Very Rare? But as an eg. in India there are thousands of napali & Bangladeshi who walk over the border, every day, without any peice of identification on them. Yet they they get treatment at the Government Hospital. I m talking about thousands per day, not one or 2. Similarly in other countries.

I did my fair share for this year. I did donated plenty of shoes, clothing and 350 QR worth of food to the Nepalese who lost everything due to the greed of their patrons. That is including some aspirin, and a short wave radio for them to listen to music or the news.

For what I have seen so far is How our community in Doha pulls together when asked for help in a justifiable cause in helping others.

Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery

None but ourselves can free our minds..

oh no Scorpio, it's me...read your comment wrong.

I didn't call you a hypocrite...I called "her highness" one...sorry for the mix up!

Sure Alexa when I come back from my business trip. I'm off tomorrow. Hoping to have a bit of time off in Tuscany. Have to see how the schedule goes though.

Red Pope, I couldn't agree more with you and I did acknowledge that there are wrong things happening here that need to be changed. The main point of what I said was that we need more time to right these wrongs and we are working on it. I drew a comparison to the developed world and how its taking them hundreds of years to right their wrongs. Ten years is nothing in comparison yet Qatar gets a right old bashing on this website.

Also wish to point out that Sheikha Mozah does good for people other than 'her own'. She donates millions of rials all over the world for charitable causes as does the Emir. For example millions of dollars were donated to the Hurrican Katrina aftermath from Qatar.

If you seriously think that it is hard for migrant workers to cross the border and work illegally then you haven't been to the Texas border towns and seen hundreds of thousands of migrants working there whose employers are more than happy to exploit them and pay them a pittance for hard work with no accomodation, food, etc. Quite often they are gunned down by wealthy Texas landowners for trying to cross their land. These migrants often bring their family and their children to work for these unscrupulous employers as child labour. The government turns a blind eye to put profit over people. These children don't have access to education or healthcare as they are illegal immigrants. At least we don't have child labour in Qatar. And people don't die on the doorsteps of hospitals here because they won't treat them as they have no money. That's at least one thing we've managed to get right. We're working on the other things. Do you wish to help?

I wish you the best luck in your school, I'll invite you for some Turkish coffee then.

Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery

None but ourselves can free our minds..

I'd be happy to have a non-alcoholic drink with you as soon as I'm back from Oz ;-) Right now though I got lots of studying to do if I have any hope of becoming a decent lawyer so sorry if I've been invisible for a while.

So, My brother, when are you going to have a glass of wine with alcohol content with me?

Long time don't hear about you.

Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery

None but ourselves can free our minds..

Qatar has truly come a long way if people can criticise she-who-must-not-be-named in a public blog without it being banned!

I don't agree with some of the American Politics at all, specially in their foreign affairs are disastrous given a bad image to the entire world. Is true that she is done good things for her people only. But you forgot that your country was build on foreign labor at a cheap price, with no respect for their basic needs and care. Your labor laws practices are a joke to my ears based on cheap labor and de-humanistic treatment. There is plenty to prove that subject.

In the US prior to 9=11 anyone was welcome to work in the U.S. specially in the construction and farming industries. Since then immigration rules are changed and is strictly enforced to everyone. Is real hard for anyone to come to work in the USA. Yet every year hundred of workers with the open migrant lottery system do arrive in the USA and established themselves.

Yet, I do admire your country progress and I respect your way of life, but your country civil rights and labor laws need to be mended and enforce for equality, specially with those patrons who think they own slaves instead of workers. Your country has a good chance to be a model for the rest of middle east. Start cleaning out your house by separating the old traditional way of thinking about labor and laborers laws. Given everyone a fair chance of care, shelter, progress, and business opportunities to all.

All this being said, starts in your house that is Qatar politics and laws. No one is perfect and their is no denial there has being serious catastrophic incidents with migrants involved.

Qatar in my opinion still a good place to live. You just have to adapt and overcome the negative side.

Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery

None but ourselves can free our minds..

Scorpio I may be many things but I am no hypocrite. I am actively involved in many local causes and most definitely put my money where my mouth is. Not only do I talk about these issues, I actually try to practically do something abut it.

I maintain that she does a lot for her country. She is almost singlehandedly responsible for making it culturally acceptable for Qatarias to be in the work force. She has created a feminist movement amongst the locals in a few short years. How long did that take in the US or UK. Less than 10 years????????? I think not. Women were dying for the right to vote...see Suffragette Movement.

Yes I agree that there are many problems with my country but also applaud the achievements of the Emir in all that he has done in about the same length of time that Tony Blair/George Bush has been in office (@ 10 years). If you compare the them the Emir comes out on top definitely. He has turned this country around. Tony Blair has marginally managed to get some people out of squalid poverty but this is debatable depending on your political persausion. Bush I won't even get started on!

And all over the world there are problems with labour forces. That doesn't make it right but this is not a problem exclusive to Qatar. The numbers of abused workers in UK and US vastly outnumber here (remember the Chinese cockle pickers in south England who were living in abhorrent conditions and picking cockles in dangerous conditions when they couldn't swim? That's still going on today.). And the millions of illegal workers in the US who are totally expoited by US citizens. Tsk tsk aren't these supposed to be western countries who tell us ignorant Qataris how it should be. Take a look in your own back yard.

As far as only acting on things if they affect them then that most certainly does not apply to HH Sheikha Mozah. Her family were not affected by the education system as they were all educated privately yet she founded Qatar Foundation and has upgraded local schools and started the Independent School system. Her daughter Sheikha Mayassa founded Reach Out to Asia which raises millions of dollars and focuses on education to name but one thing. She's not affected by poverty but it obviously affects her. This is just the tip of the icegerg in terms of their efforts.

Didn't the west have a couple of revolutions and wars to get them to where they are now??? Give us time. What we have achieved in a few years is not everything but pretty amazing. We are aware of the issues of our country and working on it. Unfortunately we haven't had the benefit of hundreds of years to change like the west. For one exaple the US were still practising apartheid in the 1950s!!! And it is subtley going on strongly to this day.

Did you come to this country to pocket your cash and bellyache about how it's not like the west or are you actively involved in helping the situation in a practical way? Has anyone approached the Human Rights Committee?

Alexa I'll happily give you my opinions on what you asked me another time. I think I've gone on long enough for now!!!

For a person that holds MBA from a prestigious institution from the USA, Maybe her lips are stitch only to political white flouring?

Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery

None but ourselves can free our minds..

I don't care how intelligent she is....Hitler was intelligent and look what he did!

Hypocritical to even make comments like that when you have people that are treated worse than dogs in Qatar....it’s horrific.

So Sheikha Mouza has time to fly all over the world and do all this stuff and can be very convincing at appearing genuine yet is unaware of whats goes on in her home country? Give me a break. This is just nothing but hot air, if she truly were concerned of stopping profit being put over people she can start by looking out her window. There are countless amounts of human right violations in Qatar related to this issue, and she has to go out and preach to the world how it should be stopped? Please.

Yes, they do. So what do you define, when you hire hundred of Nepalese to work over here, you bankrupt and bail out in their salaries and passports? Modern slavery? or simply discriminatory,

Is easy for someone of her social status to mention empty words to the public, but your own turf (Qatar) is a catastrophe of Inhumane actions.

Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery

None but ourselves can free our minds..

of course it puts profit over people, wouldn't you????.....

I know for a fact that she works really hard, all hours of the day and night with bags of energy. In person in a relaxed private setting when she's not just reading from a script she comes across as highly intelligent and caring. She listens carefully to what you say to her and then will quote you years later! Masha'Allah she's got seven children, some adult children now, but although she travels a lot she is with her children a lot too. She flies thousands of miles to come home to attend their special events at school, uni and the like and the next day flies back to continue what she was doing. She really encourages her children to be significant and purposeful. Her daughter HE Sheikha Mayassa is a chip off the old block. She's great fun and a total force to be reckoned with!!! Girl power is so alive and kicking in Qatar!!! Sheikha Mozah rocks.

You only have to look around to see that "Qatar puts profit over people".

I don't think she spends enough time in the country to know that Qatar is no better then anywhere else. But no matter what I do admire the women, she's one smart chick.

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