what happens to paper waste in Oman??

Have you ever wondered what happens to the piles of  old newspapers and magazines you have at your home when you don't need them anymore? If you are living in Oman you probably would know that we don't have official recycling facilities for paper waste, let alone plastic and glass waste. Green initiatives are rare in this part of the world but good intentions that need guidance are still there!

I came across a facebook page called Muscat Waste Paper Collection. It is a green initiative founded by Zohena Dhanani providing a solution for paper waste in Oman from old newspapers, magazines and books by collecting them then exporting to Dubai or other parts of the world where recycling happens as it was explained for me when I asked them what happens to the paper after being collected. Their mission is "Save paper today for a Better future Tommorrow"

Here is how it works : 

1. Tell your neighbors, friends, colleagues about what to collect, big loads are preferable.
2. Collect whatever paper waste you can get and you can call them so they pick up what you gathered from different  locations like : houses, offices, supermarkets and malls.

See? it's that easy! just gather big loads of paper and call!

Contacts :

In order to get further information about the intiative you can call : 95921486 (zohena), for collecting the paper loads call:  97072911 (Nadir). Or you can e-mail them on : alrihamgp@gmail.com . Or simply log on to their FaceBook page : Muscat Waste Paper Collection.

Please spread the word amongst the people you know, we need more green initiatives!

UPDATES :
I found out there are other green initiatives similar to Muscat waste paper collection, so I thought of adding it in the same post as a reference , please if you have other sources, send me the contacts and info about it.

Another green initiative was : Project GreenWeek as FAITH a fellow blogger mentioned. According to their page it was founded in the Fall of 2010 by students of SQU during the period from 5th to 9th of March 2011. Too bad it wasn't extended so I hope this initiative extends it's period and expands it's coverage to outside SQU as well. Maybe if a decent number of people requested it, it might happen? check out their FaceBook page from here : Project GreenWeek

Cheers,

M

HUGE changes in Oman! New Royal Decrees!

As I think most of you already know by now the HUGE changes happened in the cabinet reshuffle ? or let's say in appointing and reappointing ministers and ministries in the past 3 hours ?!

here are the Royal Decrees from the Oman News Agency website : Royal Decrees( English version, النسخة العربية )

this is the video when the news were boradcasted on Oman TV in Arabic

this is really HUGE, some of the names the protesters raised have been removed! Macki and the entire MONE is removed! Also a dozen of new names have surfed up to be ministers. many of which people actually think they are a good change and can make a difference! I personally don't have solid background information from the new names that have emerged.

big changes keep coming, let's hope it's for the best of Oman!

Cheers, 

M

Flat Tyre and PinkBerry?

I bet you've already guessed the connection from the title between a flat tyre and PinkBerry?

just to change the mood from the recent posts that I have blogged, I decided to blog about something happy, well almost.

You probably saw the ads in the paper about opening a new branch of PinkBerry in Muscat City Center , Oman.-located near Chili's restaurant &  the food court- and people are already going crazy over it, including me. I mean who wouldn't? it's Food!

I was so excited so I was speeding and got the flat tyre. faj3ana* much? 

here's the flat tyre pic

a flat tyre.. SERIOUSLY!

 and it was all worth it:

 TADAAA

a sensational passion-fruit frozen yoghurt from pinkberry 

updated shots: 8th of March 2011

sorry you might have to reposition your head to see the picture ! my bad I was too excited to eat than take a properly-human-like pix! maybe next time I'm going I'll take better pictures. promise. 

ok moment of truth, the two things are not connected by any sort and happened on two different days, I was just goofing around in finding a silly story to bring up pinkberry ! lol and regarding the flat tyre, it happened by accident from a nail on the street, so it has nothing to do with me speeding up. I was actually taking a turn when it happened. I was lucky because it happened just a minute away from home so I was safe and nothing serious happened.

Cheers,

M

*faj3ana: is a word used to describe how overly impressed & excited a person can be with something for the first time, usually used with food.

Unemployment Allowance & the 50 K Jobs!

Last night on "Hona Oman" show on Oman TV, they interviewed the minister of manpower shaykh: Abdullah Al Bakri to discuss the latest Royal orders on which 150 R.O / month will be entitled for unemployed citizens and the 50 thousand job opportunity as well.

I tweeted most of the points yesterday as it was aired on TV.

1. The 50 k Jobs offers will be both provided by the public & private sectors in the sultanate
2. The 50 k unemployed citizens already registered in the manpower directories until 27th of Feb 2011 will have the priority 4 immediate employment.
3. Those who updated their profiles recently will have the priority chances to be called for job interviews first. 
   job-seekers are expected to update their profiles in the ministry of manpower records every 3 months
4. Those who registered for a manpower ID after 27th of Feb. Will be entitled with the 150 R.O/month but will have to wait until the first 50 K jobs are occupied.
5. Each citizen will have 3 job offers in total on which he/she will be offered in a period of 15 days-1month between each offer. He/she will get the 150 R.O/month until finishing the process. 
   
   
   in case the citizen declined the 3 offers, he will no longer be considered a jobseeker and won't be entitled with the 150 R.O continuation.
6. the Minimum wage 200 R.O is implemented starting 1st of March 2011 and those not applying it should be reported 2 manpower .
7. citizens SHOULD NOT sign any contract bellow the minimum wage & must report that to the ministry.

These were the basic points on which they were discussed.

Important information for job-seekers

• Updating your bank account info will be added & new fields on the online system on the ministry's website : www.manpower.gov.om u can also call the hotline: 80077000 to update your info and bank account
• You can update your profile online on: www.manpower.gov.om also for new job-seekers, you can printout the forms and fill out your information for submission in order to get a manpower ID

this was a fast blogpost for those who were asking for detailed information .

Cheers,

M