Paradise lost on Maldives' rubbish island

It may be known as a tropical paradise, an archipelago of 1,200 coral islands in the Indian Ocean. But the traditional image of the Maldives hides a dirty secret: the world's biggest rubbish island. (reports http://www.guardian.co.uk/)
A few miles and a short boat ride from the Maldivian capital, Malé, Thilafushi began life as a reclamation project in 1992. The artificial island was built to solve Malé's refuse problem. But today, with more than 10,000 tourists a week in the Maldives adding their waste, the rubbish island now covers 50 hectares (124 acres).
So much is being deposited that the island is growing at a square metre a day. There are more than three dozen factories, a mosque and homes for 150 Bangladeshi migrants who sift through the mounds of refuse beneath palm-fringed streets.

Environmentalists say that more than 330 tonnes of rubbish is brought to Thilafushi a day. Most of it comes from Malé, which is one of the world's most densely populated towns: 100,000 people cram into 2 square kilometres.
Brought on ships, the rubbish is taken onshore and sifted by hand. Some of the waste is incinerated but most is buried in landfill sites. There is, say environmental campaigners, also an alarming rise in batteries and electronic waste being dumped in Thilafushi's lagoon.

"We are seeing used batteries, asbestos, lead and other potentially hazardous waste mixed with the municipal solid wastes being put into the water. Although it is a small fraction of the total, these wastes are a source of toxic heavy metals and it is an increasingly serious ecological and health problem in the Maldives," said Ali Rilwan, an environmentalist in Malé.
Despite the growing crisis, Thilafushi remains largely hidden from view. Nobody goes there apart from workers.
Meanwhile, tourism has made the Maldives the richest country in South Asia in terms of GDP a head - which is around $4,500 (£3,100) - though that wealth is thinly spread.

However, almost everything has to be imported. Most tourists can only be catered for by bringing in thousands of tonnes of meat, vegetables and diesel oil every year.
All this produces what many say is an unsustainable amount of waste. Every tourist produces 3.5kg of rubbish and requires 500 litres of water a day.
The lack of space means the Maldives is now "exporting junk" to India. "Before, the ships that brought our vegetables from south India used to return empty, but now we are sending them crushed cans, metals, cardboard. They then sort them out and get cash for them," said Rilwan.

Environment issues are a major political issue in the Maldives, not least because its 300,000 people face being the first to be submerged under rising sea levels caused by global warming.
Earlier this month the new president, Mohamed Nasheed, told the Guardian of his radical solution to save his people: put aside some of the Maldives' tourism revenues to buy another homeland.

Discos Forbidden in Islam says Maldives Islamic Ministry

Minivan News reports that the ministry of Islamic affairs appealed to the Maldives Police Service on Wednesday to end to all the discos organised for New Year’s Eve celebrations.
Police sergeant Ahmed Shiyam confirmed Dr Abdul Majeed Abdul Bari, the minister of Islamic affairs, had made an official request to the police commissioner, Ahmed Faseeh, for police to take action regarding this matter.
“We will be taking steps in accordance to the ministry’s request,” said Shiyam, but he did not comment on what action the police would take.
Dr Bari refused to comment on the issue on Wednesday.
Sheikh Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed, the state minister of Islamic affairs, said the ministry had formally requested the police stop the discos from taking place because they were contrary to Islam. He added the ministry had received complaints from the public.
“We have received hundreds of complaints asking for a ban on the DJs,” he said. “So, the number of people who are against having DJs is greater that the number who wants them.
“Even a police official has informed us that they have also been receiving complaints.”
According to Shameem, it is haram or forbidden in Islam for both sexes to dance together.
Article 10 of the Constitution states the religion of the Maldives is Islam and Islam shall be the basis for all laws in the land.
Although Article 27 stipulates everyone has the right to freedom of expression, the right only exists as long as it is “not contrary to any tenet of Islam”.
Shameem said the ministry had met with and advised some of the people organising the events.
“They said a lot of money had been invested to organise the events and it would be a great financial loss if the discos were cancelled,” he said. “They added they would not organise more discos in the future.”
Hussain Ibrahim, a prominent lawyer, agreed there was no law which permitted discos.
Ibrahim, also a former constitutional assembly member, said discos were forbidden in Islam and as such would be contrary to the Constitution.
“I can’t believe it,” said 25-year-old Ali Hussain after hearing the ministry’s decision. “It’s a big surprise. I’ve been celebrating New Year’s Eve for the past five years by going to discos. Boys and girls want to dance to music on this night.”
Hussain added if discos are banned, circumcision parties should also be forbidden.
“In circumcision parties, men and women dance very closely, so the ministry’s decision is unfair.” (Minivan News)

Buying a private piece of paradise

No man is an island. But plenty of people fancy the idea of owning one. It may seem that Asia would be a magnet for "islomaniacs." Indonesia is the largest archipelago in the world, with 17,000 islands. The Philippines has about 7,100 or so, depending on the tides. Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam all have extensive coastlines. But real estate laws do not make it easy for foreigners to own property in Southeast Asia, and most islands either do not have clear ownership rights or are already settled. Also, the few places that do come on the market can have prohibitive costs, thanks to demand from hotel developers.

Given all those difficulties, several new developments are selling villas on private islands that are adjacent to high-end hotels. Owners can have their island retreat without having to absorb the total cost of keeping it habitable. Aman Resorts is selling villas that start at $3 million on a private island in the Philippines. Owners have unfettered access to the resort's facilities and can live at their property, use it as a holiday home or include it in the company's rental pool.
Similarly, Soneva Kiri, a resort run by Six Senses on the Thai island of Koh Kood, is selling villas starting at $4.5 million. There also is a private island for sale nearby at $38 million. And the Jumeirah Private Island project in Phuket, Thailand, is selling private residential villas and estates next to a resort, with prices starting at $3.2 million. The developers of all these projects say it is too early to tell how the global real estate slump and credit crisis will affect sales - or whether persistent political problems in Thailand will take a special toll on that country's projects.

There are options for buyers with smaller budgets, like The Village at Coconut Island, a private island just off Phuket, with prices starting around $610,000. Also, a startup called Barefoot Investments is beginning its first project on a private island in the Philippines, the Cacao Pearl in Palawan, with homes starting at $210,000. "There's a wide selection of interest for private islands that would support a development that's a hop skip and a jump from a five-star resort," said David Simister, chairman of CB Richard Ellis for Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia. "It's the ideal balance."

But, with enough money, there are ways to get around the problems. Six Senses is offering the Thai island of Koh Raet, with a 10-bedroom villa and full management services, for $38 million. It says the spot, opposite Koh Kood and the Soneva Kiri resort, has drawn interest from potential buyers in the Middle East, Taiwan and Russia, but no one has committed.

"There are only so many private islands you can buy, and this one is fully managed and serviced by Soneva," said Adam Taugwalder, the sales and marketing director for the company's residences division. As required by Thai law, it would be sold on a 30-year lease, with two extensions of the same duration; the company promising additional extensions, if possible.

Six Senses made its name with its flagship resorts in the Maldives, Soneva Fushi and Soneva Gili. The expansion into private property is something of a gamble for the company, but the founders - the chief executive, Sonu Shivdasani, and his wife and creative director, Eva Shivdasani - say they started their hotels so they could have their own house at Soneva Fushi. Now, they are offering such access to others. (extracts from http://www.iht.com/ )

Where the very rich go to indulge their expensive desires (including Maldives)!

Basil's Bar & Restaurant is a wooden shack of a beach bar located on the remote Caribbean island of Mustique. But despite its understated look, a night out at Basil's could bring you face to face with Tommy Hilfiger, Mick Jagger, Denzel Washington or even Queen Elizabeth.
"Here, they get to let their hair down and be normal people," says owner Basil Charles. "Bill Gates was sitting at the end of my bar reading a book one morning--I had no idea who this man was."
This 30-year-old establishment is one of the liveliest--and one of the only--bars on Mustique. Nicknamed "Billionaires Island," the 1,400-acre Mustique is so exclusive, there's only one hotel--the 17-room Cotton House Hotel. Most wealthy visitors rent one of 100 private villas, which run as much as $150,000 a week. Staffed with private chefs, butlers and maids, these full-service, two- to nine-bedroom residences give the mega-rich the opportunity to stay in what are essentially their own private hotels.
Mustique is one of a handful of exclusive and exotic hot spots billionaires go to relax and blow off steam. Whether they crave pristine beaches, rugged mountains or just a ridiculous resort in the middle of nowhere, billionaires have the megabucks to lap up luxury anywhere they desire.
And if they want a destination with a little more glamour and action than remote Mustique, they jet to the French port town of St. Tropez to show off their hard-earned assets. The French Rivera's most popular summertime spot offers one of the most glamorous ports in the Mediterranean, where owners of some of the world's largest yachts drop anchor to raise their glasses in the town's bustling bars, restaurants and nightclubs.
St. Tropez's deep-water harbor is a magnate for seafaring billionaires, like media titan Rupert Murdoch and investor Jeff Greene.
For a true piece of paradise, billionaires travel to Maui, Hawaii, where they often stay at the 370-room Four Seasons Resort to enjoy pampering by pool attendants equipped with chilled towels, Evian water misters and ice pops. When staying at the top hotel on the island, billionaires request the best room: the 5,000-square-foot Maile Suite, which costs $14,000 a night.
"The suite encompasses the entire 17th floor, and has three bedrooms, a private spa, a eucalyptus rain shower, six plasma TVs, an enormous balcony for tremendous views of the ocean and high-powered binoculars for whale watching," says Mark Simon, director of marketing for the Four Seasons Maui.
Computer tycoon Michael Dell liked the Four Seasons in Maui so much that he bought the entire hotel in July 2004.
Also on the list of billionaire playgrounds: The Maldives, where billionaires head to enjoy a system of coral reefs off the coast of India; the Hamptons, where mansions, quaint beaches, and pulsing nightlife mix at the east end of Long Island, N.Y.; and Palm Beach, Fla., where perfect year-round weather and beachfront mansions have attracted billionaires like Donald Trump and John Kluge.
But the freezing of the credit market, the failure of Wall Street firms and the S&P 500's 37% fall since last December have forced even the ultra rich to tighten their alligator belts. In 2009, the billionaires who sip cocktails at Basil's might be more frugal, and could pass on the $150,000-a-week mansions, opting for the relatively practical $50,000-per-week estates instead.
(reproduced from http://www.eturbonews.com/)

Naomi Cambell in the Maldives!

Living the good life, Naomi Campbell flaunted her bikini figure while enjoying a sun-filled vacation in the Maldives (pic) over the holiday weekend (27 December 2008).
Accompanied by her Russian billionaire boyfriend Vladislav Doronin, the temperamental supermodel offered a rare smile as she splashed in the water alongside her beau and two of his scantily dressed guy pals.
As for the 38-year-old catwalk queen’s vacation destination, the Maldives is an island nation in the Indian Ocean. Suitable for a billionaire and his supermodel gal, the island nation is the smallest Asian country in terms of both population and area.

Gasim’s silly and immature ultimatum to the government!

Those of us who have been following the reform movement would know that at various stages of this evolving movement, it was Gasim Ibrahim who has continuously acted on selfish ways which weakened the movement. Gasim always pretends to be a reformist but when he had the chance to lead the movement (as the head of the MDP), he chose to join dictator Gayyoom’s ruling DRP.

Gasim joined the MDP-alliance only when he feared that a Gayyoom-win could be devastating for his business and for himself personally. When the MDP-Alliance won the election, Gasim was given (as agreed) the influential position of Home Minister. But just as he messed his appointment as Finance Minister of Gayyoom, Gasim messed his appointment as Home Minister of the new government too.

His record as a Finance Minster was terrible and his record as the Home Minister show his childish and immature side. God help us if this man somehow becomes our President. Now Gasim and his Jumhooree Alliance has given an ultimatum of 48 hours to the new government (of which Gasim is also an alliance member)! Gasim’s Jumhooree Alliance is accusing President Nasheed of not honoring his pre-election promise of giving 30% of all political posts to members of the Jumhooree Alliance. In a tit-for-tat war of words, MDP official (Zaki) has said that Gasim hasn’t honored his promise of sharing 30% of the campaign expenses of the Alliance.

The fact of the matter is that even if President Nasheed hasn’t stuck to the letter of his agreement with the Jumhooree Alliance, Nasheed has given some influential posts to the Jumhooree Alliance. To whine and protest and give childish ultimatums at a time when the country is facing the biggest economic downturn for decades shows that Gasim is like a spoilt kid who is jealous that his friend got a toy that he himself didn’t get.

Even if Gasim and the Jumhooree Alliance have a legitimate case against the new government, this isn’t the right time to give this sort of ultimatum which could be interpreted as a ploy to weaken the new president and create chaos.

Some say that Gasim is now regularly meeting his old friend Ilyas Ibrahim (ex-dictator Gayyoom’s influential brother in law). Does this mean that Gasim and Gayyoom have kissed and made up after their recent political differences? As long as Gasim is with Ilyas and Gayyoom he cannot be taken as being on the side of the ordinary people. How can any decent politician claim to be working for the people if he has links to an ex-regime that sucked our blood for 30 years?

Gasim’s role in the DRP (as Finance Minister) and his role in the new government have shown what an immature politician he is. This also shows his miscalculations and childish whining. Maldivians would be fools to elect this man as even a member of parliament, leave alone as president!

As for other members of the Jumhooree Alliance (i.e. Adhaalath Party and Monaza Naeem), I simply cannot comprehend that Adhaalath Party could leave the ruling alliance and side with Gasim even if he decides to leave the alliance after the 48-hour-ultimatum. The interesting and heartwarming developments brought to the religious sphere by Adhaalath Party as a member of the ruling alliance, would only strengthen Adhaalath Party in the future. If they throw all that away to side with an immature and volatile politician such as Gasim, it would only weaken Adhaalath. My humble advice to Gasim would be: build on your strengths and in business and give-up the political ambitions which could ultimately weaken your business and serve no purpose for you or the nation.

No one is saying that the new government is faultless or perfect. Of course president Nasheed and his government have a number of issues that they need to readdress, but the fact of the matter is that the ultimatum given to the new government by Gasim would only strengthen the government ahead of the upcoming parliamentary election and show the Maldivian people what a good business man Gasim is and what a silly and immature politician he is!

Himeyn Ingilaab or Himeyn Conspiracy?

“Himeyn ingilaab” was a reformist website that made a significant contribution in the concerted effort to oust dictator Gayyoom from power last month. But since the election of Nasheed as the new president, “Himeyn ingilaab” seems to have changed its tone. Criticizing the new government isn’t a problem. In fact we should all criticize President Nasheed and his new government in areas that warrant criticism. But “Himeyn ingilaab” seems to be purposely publishing even false propaganda to achieve a hidden agenda.

The website (http://himeyn-ingilaab.com/) now seems to have become the mouthpiece of politicians such as Umar Naseer, Ibra and even DRP. We at this blog criticize the new government too but we have no agenda to oust the new government and install a new regime with some hidden agenda. Sadly the same cannot be said about “Himeyn ingilaab”.

In fact Himeyn ingilaab now seems to have become a “Himeyn Conspiracy” or “Silent Conspiracy”! The protest by DRP and Umar Naseer to prevent the extension of the resort leases for 50 years is an example of political cynicism. DRP was in favour of such an extension when Gayyoom was in power. Now that DRP is in opposition they are pretending to be the saviors of the public interest by portraying Umar Naseer as Robin Hood!

Himeyn Ingilaab seems to have sold their soul to a secret agenda. Their latest story is calling for Jumhooree Party to win a majority in the upcoming parliamentary elections in February. Can anyone smell a rat?

I am regular reader of the website and I hope that the editors and mangers of the website review their policies and stop this rot. No one is calling for a halt to the criticisms of the new government. But we should realize that we just ended 30 years of brutal dictatorship. Gayyoom left the country’s economy in ruins. We should give the new government some time and breathing space before we pass judgment. My personal belief is that the new government will need at least one to two years before they can turn the economy around and before we start seeing real benefits seeping into our lives. So, how about stopping this Himeyn Conspiracy and continue the Himeyn Ingilaab?