Zoocap

In April, traveling around the city streets of Singapore will become more cost effective, more ‘green’ and a bit more quiet as the new electric scooters will go on the market. The leading maker of the scooters, Zeco , estimates that by the end of 2009, more that seven hundred and fifty will be cruising around the city streets, without a sound. Much like the hybrid cars, the scooters have no gears and thus no vibrations, and thus a reduction in the noise pollution. Just one positive aspect of these vehicles. While the scooters, which top speed is just about 60 mph, will be banned from the expressways during their first year, the Department of Transportation will review that ban next year. So for now, the smaller city streets will be the only place legal for driving the scooters. Which is just fine for those consumers looking for options.

The scooters will need to be charged after every 150 miles traveled, and the charge of the battery takes about two hours. This will end up costing the owners of the vehicles, just around sixty dollars a year. In the United States, most people have trouble making sixty dollars spent at the gas pumps last throughout the week. Aside from the cost, most people in Singapore have become environmentally aware, have been for some time actually. The government provides rebates for those business installing solar panels and water conservation devices, and this is no different. Those purchasing the scooters will receive rebates up to five hundred dollars. Three different companies have jumped in to support, by installing ‘green lot’ sections in their parking lots, equipped with battery chargers that are free to the public for the use of recharging the scooters. The largest of the companies and the first to sign on to provide this is the Swedish based company, Ikea. Two stores in Singapore have already completed their lots and the vehicles are not even for sale yet. Soon, some of the best Singapore hotels, the restaurants and many buildings in the downtown business district will be equipped with such accommodations. Making this not only the ‘green’ thing to do, and the inexpensive mode of travel, but quite convenient as well.

Elections in various countries have gained much press in the last few years. Here and now, perhaps come and gone depending on the time differences, people around the world are voting tonight for a common idea and purpose, the global election, to save the planet. The acknowledgment that no matter cultural and societal differences, the earth needs our help. In much the same way as the last presidential election was covered by the press, this has gained momentum from the time the idea was conceived by the World Wildlife Foundation, in Sydney, Australia in 2007. The symbolic act of simply switching off the lights for one hour, just sitting and looking at the sky…well, coming from America, that idea is so foreign, and so necessary on a multitude of levels. In the luxury hotels of Singapore, lights will go dark, and what is offered only serves to re-enforce. To re-enforce that there is much more to do than sit around a hotel room watching American Idol. Music concerts are planned for tonight, the Esplanade is having a party, people will experience a bit of what life was like before technology took over simple human contact.

This is the first time in history, that all the people of the world will vote in one election. All nationalities, all races must agree, regardless of spiritual or religious beliefs, regardless of ideas of wars on terror and wars based on cultural differences, this is one challenge that affects all people equally, the war against global warming. A topic raised that the conference on Global Climate Change in Copenhagen earlier this year. People of this world can and must make their voices heard…and perhaps the best way to be heard is to just be quiet. Just turn out the light. For one hour. In Sydney 2 years ago, businesses and residential homes, did just that. Turned out the lights for one hour. It went from there with the Opera House, the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, and the Times Square infamous Coca Cola sign, all going dark. Fifty million people took part that year. Today, March 28th, 2009 that goal is one billion. This does not matter where you are from, what your social or economic status is or who you hold to be God…it’s is just simply a vote to cast to say “I care”. I care about my life and those I love, the plants, the oceans, the hillsides, and the small man farming in some faraway location. One hour, for one day…cast your vote. Just simply switch that light. Off.

In light of the current global economy, many anticipated that this year’s Art Dubai would struggle to make a splash. While sales on big ticket pieces were down from the previous year, overall, participants and organizers were optimistic about the event’s success.

One of the surprises of the event was the success of European and American artists at this year’s show. The culture clash between Middle Eastern sensabilities and Western subjects caused a few problems at the event. Works with overt sensuality or displaying images considered inappropriate to Muslim traditions were carefully screened ahead of time. However, some confusion over the standards meant that a few galleries had to cover, hide, or remove some pieces during the event.

New York gallery Goff + Rosenthal sold out their exhibition inventory while Galerie Michael Schultz (Berlin) registered two of the event’s highest sales: a piece by SEO (Korea) for $95,000 and one by Huang Min (China) for $63,000.

The four-day event attracted art buyers from across the Emirates and the rest of the Middle East as well as serious collectors from around the world. The event provided a bit of a bump for Dubai. No doubt the luxury hotels Dubai UAE saw an increase in business as did high end restaurants and retail locations.

While overall sales may have been down, organizers are optimistic that 2009 is still a building year for Dubai‘s premiere art event. They were pleased to see many new faces, both in exhibitors and buyers and feel that this year’s buzz will continue to build the reputation of the event in the contemporary art world.

The event, which began in 2007, featured over sixty international galleries and showcased contemporary art. Art Dubai includes workshops and artist projects as well as a separate program for children, called START. 2009 marked the debut of the Abraaj Capital Art Prize.

In 2004, a decision that forever affected the entire red hawk population in New York City’s Central Park was made. Almost for twenty years, New Yorkers and visitors to the city alike had been watching Pale Male, a red hawk that moved to the park in 1991 and after being evicted from the park by crows, made his home on the ridge of a Fifth Avenue high rise apartment building. In 2004, the spikes designed to deter pigeons along the ledge were removed. These spikes also served as a support structure in which the hawk’s nest was set for close to 15 years. The removal of the spikes in turn also destroyed the hawk’s nest. The Audubon Society, including building resident Mary Tyler Moore, were outraged by this turn of events. The spikes were eventually re-installed but since that time, unfortunately, no new hawks have hatched.

Prior to the removal of the spikes, Pale Male’s life was well documented by people either watching from the windows of the New York business hotels, or by others in Central Park, via binoculars, every day during spring. Not too long after moving in Pale Male became an global attraction as visitors and bird enthusiasts from all over the world began to vacation in the city for the purpose of viewing the birds. Despite the obvious differences between a vast metropolitan city like New York and open nature Pale Male seems to like it in the city just fine. His nest overlooks the Metropolitan Museum, Central Park, Sheep’s Meadow and the lake. Pale Male has fathered over 25 young hawks that now inhabit Central Park and the surrounding neighborhoods and continue to proliferate.

The 6th Absa Cape Epic kicks off on Saturday, March 21st and runs through Saturday, March 28, 2009. the Absa Epic is billed as the “largest full-service mountain bike stage race in the world.”

While a major fire on Table Mountain earlier in the week forced the cancellation of the Thursday’s prologue course practice, organizers have stated that “registration and all ‘non-riding’ pre-event functions will continue to take palce at the same venues and at the same time as previously comunicated.” Barring additional fire flare-ups or changes in weather conditions, the course will be open on Friday for practice and the prologue will start as scheduled on Saturday.

The Epic features four categories of competition. Two-member teams will compete in Mens, Ladies, mixed, and Masters events. All teams must ride together at all times during the race. The Masters category stipulates that both team riders must be at least forty years old.

Mountain bike riders from over 46 countries are expected to gather in Cape Town for this event. Competitors from Japan, Russia, Australia, Bermuda, the Middle East, and Slovakia have registered for the event.

Cape Town is excited about the influx of riders, crews, and fans that arrive each year with the Epic. Look for five star Cape Town hotels to be full of celebrity riders and media and for fans to camp out along the race route.

This year’s favorites to watch in the all important Men’s event include the German teams of Karl Platt who finished 1st in 2007 and 2nd in 2008 and Stefan Sahm and Jocehn Kab and Hannes Genze. The South African team of Kevin Evans and David George is also expected to do well, after finishing 3rd in 2008.

The time is right and the time is now. The world is in trouble and she’s sick. And it’s been said during these times that the green jobs are the ‘sexy’ jobs. The third definition of ‘sexy’ is exciting or glamorous. Well the green technology is exciting. To believe that businesses will be able to take part in righting the wrongs of decades upon decades of either ignorance or consciously ignoring is exciting. And glamorous, well all of Hollywood, California is going green, the glamorous have noticed, maybe. American Physicist Richard Feynman, wrote about being in a crosswalk in Pasadena, California in the 1970′s. People he passed had tears running down their cheeks and face masks on, just for a stroll. California stepped up, increased the requirements for emissions control, and now the city of Los Angeles has fresh air, for the most part, and healthy beaches with healthy marine life. When a group of citizens take notice it’s no wonder what can be accomplished. That is what is happening in Singapore. The city sits just outside of a rain forest, and along the waters of the Straits of Johor, waters that are in danger of the floating trash island, known as the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. A transient dump, dropping off much and havoc as it makes its way through the Pacific Ocean, passing Hawaii and headed for East Asia.

Singapore government has taken notice. Many opportunities exist in Singapore today, for those trained in the solar and wind generated energy field. The trouble is, for Singapore is that at the current time, there are not enough qualified Singaporeans to fill those jobs. Tourism has been booming in Singapore for the last few decades, whether it be vacations or holidays, or business conventions and seminars, five star hotels in Singapore and convention halls are becoming monikers of well being as they shift to using green and environmentally friendly energy sources. Many have installed water conserving devices in the plumbing and are converting to solar and wind generated energy. And these plants need workers, many qualified for the performance of these jobs are relocating and immigrating to Singapore, much like the immigration for the positions available during the tourism industry boom. One company, Vesta, has over twenty different nationalities working together under the same roof, for it is a financially viable endeavor, investments in ‘Green’ companies are up while other investments in the current economy are falling. And it is an endeavor of the spirit and the mind of humans, to see where they went wrong and have wronged the world, and the desire to heal the mistakes.

For many summer travelers, Majorca is the prime destination spot. Many relaxing beaches, or many night time spots create an atmosphere that is quite like no other. Tourism has brought the rest of the world to the Balearic Islands, wherein it was a location known about and traveled to for Europeans for years. The shopping centers, the restaurants, the best hotels Majorca has it all to make a vacation memorable. There are many watersports for adults as well as children, there are music festivals and dance festivals. And when considering summer school study programs, what better place to take care of business. And if one need attend school in the summer when the rest of the world is on vacation, one would do well to study on an island known for summer time fun.

Classes take place at the University de les Illes Balears. The school began in 1978 and has over 14,000 students enrolled for their summer programs. The philosophy of the university dates back to the philosophy of the early 15th century, remaining devoted to the culture of the islands and the protection of the environment. And while the ideology is old school, the campus is most certainly not, boasting state of the art equipment and laboratories. While the campus sits at the base of the Serra de Tramuntana mountain range it is just a quick 15 minutes to the center of town. And while the program offers a variety of classes in business, marketing and tourism studies, the language program is one of the most popular. Students from other countries wanting to learn Spanish come to the island for total immersion, in the language and in the culture. Often times they stay all summer with a host family. Living and breathing and speaking and eating the culture. Programs such as this have been proven to create lasting impressions for one thing and for another, the learning of the language is a more comprehensive endeavor. As the study doesn’t end for the day once the class time is over. It is carried out on the street and into the restaurants andhome-life and friendships.

The ‘invasion’ of music occurred more than forty years ago. Not a lot of time in the history of the world, but creating history non the less. And so much so in such a short amount of time. The Beatles walked off their plane in Manhattan’s Kennedy airport, and they took not only New York and the United States by storm, but the rest of the world as well. Looking back it seems that music was kept secret and with British Invasion that secret was shouted from high atop those buildings in NY and from and to the hearts of everyone. None of this was lost on the tiny island of Singapore, a country crying out to this day for a voice that ends oppression. The voice of creativity. And while it is ironically funny that the first things to go in public programs, schools and the society programs in general, are the arts…it’s fitting. As what is worth more to fight for than the voice of the human heart? So bring it on governments of the world, give the artists fodder for inspiration, as nothing has stopped you in the past and nothing will stop the future the artists will create.

Using a cliche, the country of Singapore, a very oppressed culture, has ‘stepped up to the plate”. Singapore, or the residents concerned with this type of conundrum, built the Esplanade and continue to inspire and encourage and expose society to the value and the power of music. Ten years ago the Mosaic Music Festival, set amongst the downtown area and close to many options for stay at the best Singapore hotels, began and has since become one of the most attended and respected festivals in the world. For the members of the audience and for those on stage. Steeped in jazz, the festival offers up to the public the opportunity to witness and experience some performances by truly legendary masters of the craft…on stage by the way, with ‘up-starts’, those wanting and needing to carry on the work and to offer up their own interpretation. For who can sit and listen to Gil Evans or to Miles Davis or Jimmy Peggie or Nina Simone and not be moved. Music has traditionally been known to create harmony and to relieve the pain of life in societies for all of history. TheMosaic Festival runs every year for ten days, beginning March 11 th and offers up a variety of stages and international artists and music. This is an event that should not be missed should one happen to be in the neighborhood.

The Rugby World Cup Sevens is underway in Dubai, UAE. The championship began on March 4th and concludes on the 7th. Dubai hopes that a successful event will help restore its tarnished reputation. Last month the emirate refused a visa to an Israeli tennis player scheduled to compete in the Dubai Tennis Championships.

Organized by the International Rugby Board, the World Cup Sevens is held every four years. This is the first year it is being held in the United Arab Emirates. The winners receive the Melrose Cup. in 2005, Fiji took home the cup after defeating the New Zealand team in Hong Kong. The event will be broadcast live in 200 countries. The global audience is expected to be 400 million.

Dubai has build a reputation over the last few years of welcoming international athletes in a variety of professional sports. The emirate hosts the world’s richest horse race, the Dubai World Cup, as well as major golf and tennis tournaments. The city of Dubai is also the home of the International Cricket Council.

The booming metropolitan area is committed to expanding its presence in world sports. The city has seen an explosion in development of not only 5 star Dubai hotels and resorts, but also in sports venues. Currently under construction is Dubai Sports City, a 50 million square foot complex expected to cost $3.6 billion. It wil feature a championship golf course as well as an international cricket academy and the first soccer school by Manchester United.

A successful Rugby World Cup Sevens will go a long way towards restoring the region’s reputation in the international sports arena. Following last month’s banning of Shahar Peer from entering the country, the tennis championship lost several sponsors, including television coverage, and was threatened with lose the right to hold future events. Several top international players also boycotted the championships in protest.

In traveling to Singapore one may notice the luxury, the beauty, the joy. One of the many ways to express and to move and to experience life is through the world of dance. Be it traditional ballet, or more contemporary forms, Singapore has it all. And whether one has money to spend or not, travelers world wide are aware that Singapore has something to offer everyone, from the people in fine dining restaurants, to those in cafes or those visiting the food hawker’s stands in the town squares. To those spending their nights in hostels to those sleeping in luxury Singapore hotels.

Edgy performances by The Arts Company or EcNad or the company, Odyssey Dance Theater have thrilled audiences with their high energy, creative choreography and interesting musical collaborations. And these shows enhance and illustrate the beauty and tradition of the island. Traditional dance companies, such as Sri Warisan out of Singapore is a leader in the traditional dance of the Malasian culture. Created in 1997, this company combines the traditional and the modern, in thought, choreography, music and ideas. This company takes advantage of all that technology has to offer, often combining filmed or recorded images in sound or on film to enhance the live performance. There are approximately 30 full time performers cross-trained in theater, dance and the multi-media disciplines. Over time the company has grown to include not only the dancers, but office workers and full time students. In all, there are close to 100 people involved in any given performance. The company is intent on opening up the opportunity for involvement in the world of dance and the understanding of the art form, to those either un-aware or un-exposed to the value and importance of live performance art and how it affects those who choose this way of life and those who are affected by those who do. Out reach programs provide this exposure to the general public and through festivals and performances occurring year round, opportunities for social change, international and local, are ideas that become realities.

Ballet Under the Stars has become an annual event wherein this all becomes possible. Audience members bring picnics to the park and it is fast becoming known as the night for ballet under the stars. The company, Singapore Dance Theater was founded in 1988, and performs traditional ballets by George Balanchine, as well as contemporary work by cutting edge choreographers. There is a strong alliance between SDT and the Australian Ballet. Along with most other companies of the times, these two incorporate technological surprises and festivals involving these two companies are drawing record crowds.