Articles and letters may be edited for the purposes of clarity and space. They are published in good faith with a view to enlightening all the stakeholders. However, the contents of these writings may not necessarily match the views of the newspaper.
A world without social media
It is hard to believe that only a little over a decade ago, our way of life was really different from the way it is now. Although, they were some social media sites long before that, most of the population did not really see the need or use for it. Most did not even have the access to them. It wasn’t until Facebook, Twitter and Smartphone came along when things really started to change.
Needless to say that in 2020, social media has changed the way society works, whether it’s the sharing of an idea, the communication of news, or the availability of a product or service. Social media is now used in almost every part of our lives. Social media has also changed how business recruit individuals into their companies. Looking back to ten years ago, recruiters were limited in the ways they could reach out and engage with potential candidates and clients, but thanks to the rise of the internet and mobile devices paired with the growth of social media, it would seem modern day recruiters are now spoilt for choice in the ways they can make contact with potential candidates and clients.
Social media has also made it easier for us to express ourselves. There are numerous ways we can express ourselves, not only to our friends but to the outside world whether that is through Facebook, Instagram and YouTube etc. Normal people now have the capacity to make their opinion known on a massive scale. Before social media, you could have an opinion but you could only tell a few people close to you, and now, story is different. Within a few minutes, thousands could know about your opinion. Social media has also made it easier for us to track people down.
MIAN DAWOOD MEHMOOD
Wah Cant
Towards de-globalisation
The world is moving toward de-globalization due to Coronavirus. Approximately 50 countries have confirmed cases of the virus and nobody knows how long the COVID-19 epidemic will last. Factory closures and production suspensions are already disrupting global supply chains. Prevention and control of Coronavirus has become priority of nation-states. Even, strong allies like Pakistan and China have suspended projects, import-export and immigration etc.
Qatar has temporarily banned the entry of people arriving from 15 countries, including India, Pakistan, China, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Bangladesh, Nepal, Philippines, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Syria and Thailand. Saudi Arabia has cancelled the Umrah visas for particular Coronavirus affected countries. People are saying ‘no’ to handshakes and hugs to avoid Coronavirus. The question is how far it will prevail in global arena? How long it will threaten international community? How far it could draw this globe to the economic recession? Will it cause de-globalization or global disintegration? According to private media reports, a recent economic survey shows that global economy is moving toward downfall.
Oil prices are moving down continuously. Along with the cure of virus, planning for alternate regulation of trade and business is needed to save the world from an anticipated economic recession. As the Dutch historian Johan Huizinga showed, the period following the Black Death in Europe turned out to be the “waning of the Middle Ages.” For him, the real story was not just the economic after-effects of a pandemic, but the mysticism, irrationalism, and xenophobia that eventually brought an end to a Universalist culture. Likewise, it is entirely possible that COVID-19 will precipitate the “waning of globalization.”
RABEEA IJAZ
Faisalabad
Delhi massacre
This is with reference to a recent report published by ‘The New York Times’ which said that recent evidence suggests that New Delhi police “concertedly moved against Muslims” and “actively helped Hindu mobs” that targeted Muslims and their homes during the deadly riots that gripped the Indian capital last month. At least 50 people were killed in Delhi’s worst communal violence in decades, over two-thirds of them from India’s Muslim minority, according to hospital lists.
According to the publication, several videos have surfaced of Delhi police assaulting Muslim protesters and urging Hindu mobs to join. The report also quoted a police commander as saying that as the violence erupted attributed to mostly Hindu mobs officials were told to deposit their guns at the police station; NYT journalists later heard officials yelling to one another that they needed guns, not sticks, to confront the growing mobs.
Ironically, the violence in North East Delhi unfolded while Modi was busy rubbing shoulders with American President Donald Trump only kilometres away. Back in 1947, India’s constitution writers envisaged a secular state where all citizens were equal before law. But the rise of Hindu nationalism has been testing that ideal. Since Narendra Modi became Prime Minister in 2014, hardliners in his Bharatiya Janata Party, or BJP, have become increasingly emboldened in promoting the dominance of its Hindus, who form 80% of the population.
ANZA KANWAL
Rawalpindi
One wheeling in Pakistan
One wheeling is riding a motor bike, using a single wheel which can be life threatening. Often carry out dangerous stunts like lying flat, standing on motor bikes and driving with backs facing the handle. In recent years, there was an alarming increase in this dangerous trend among the youth in Pakistan. Most of these bikes are run without silencer and the bikers make sure to give their bike a complete makeover so that they have dazzling headlights, awkward designs without mudguards and fuel tanks adorned in different colours.
The dangerous trend is of one wheeling continued unchecked on various roads, as motorcyclist at full speed on a single wheel. One wheeling is the unusual sport of developed world, however never is it practised the way it is in Pakistan, on busy roads and streets. In the USA, UK, Japan and other western countries, one wheeling is considered sports in a form of uni cycling, bicycling and tricycling and motor biking. Daring stunts can be witnessed on sports channels where joy riders take part in international events and enjoy the speed and stunt they perform in a healthy and relatively safer environment.
Among the many causes, fuelling this dangerous trend is the practice of people betting on their favourite items. In Pakistan, people face a lack of recreational activities. We lacked state-owned parks and opportunities for healthy sports. Then militancy and terrorism reduce any opportunities for healthy entertainment in the country. In these circumstances, people resort to dangerous activities like one wheeling as a form of entertainment. The government should set up safe racetracks for riders and depute special trainers where riders can take part in biking activities in a healthy and safe environment.
HADIA AZIZ
Islamabad
Democracy
in Zimbabwe
I struggle to understand that the President of Zimbabwe Mr Mnangagwa recently said that democracy is for the dead people. This President, who took power after ousting President Mugabe, promised that he was immediately going to reform the judicial system, revive the economy and change Zimbabwe into a formidable democratic country. He also said that he was going to make firm efforts to re-engage Zimbabwe with the international world and re-join Commonwealth.
However, his actions and lack of meaningful commitment to unlock the fortunes of Zimbabwe shows that he is a dismal failure. Zimbabweans were denied justice and democracy for three and half decades by Mugabe and can no longer remain thirsty for democracy any longer. Countries like the UK, South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Australia and Canada should voice their concerns about lack of democracy in Zimbabwe as they pick up pieces of Mnangagwa incompetence by hosting migrants from Zimbabwe.
TAPIWA MUSKWE
London
