Juice of life
“If you cannot find a job, don’t give up. Look for something you can start and earn money with.
No job is small. If you work hard and are determined you will definitely achieve something in life — patience is key.”
(FT 17/09) This powerful message was shared by Keveni Seru who sells juice in order to keep people hydrated. Thanks to Wanshika Kumar and the people’s newspaper, readers had the opportunity to read another mouth-watering story in yesterday’s People’s column.
According to Keveni, it was not easy to start his business and that he had a tough time learning to make a juice that was refreshing and tasty so that he did not let his customers down. Keveni added that witnessing the smiles on people’s faces after quenching their thirst at his stall was priceless to him.
Now as we go through the new normal and are adjusting to it, those who have lost their jobs can take inspiration from the likes of Keveni.
The message is simple – do not give up and be patient. Thank you Keveni!
Thank you Wanshika and The Fiji Times for Keveni’s story!
Sometimes we take juice sellers for granted not realising what they go through. Stories like this make us realise that not everything in life comes easy.
We have to work hard to get them. RAJNESH ISHWAR LINGAM Nadawa, Nasinu
Inspirational documentary
Colin Kaepernick Price of Protest is an inspirational documentary on how a black boy adopted by white folks grew up to be an NFL superstar but sacrificed his sports career for a higher calling, drawing attention and awareness to police brutality against black people in America, and against racial injustice. He inspired a global movement (taking a knee).
High profile athletes joined the movement in solidarity.
Including Lilian Thuram, former French World Cup winning soccer star, who got an honorary PhD for his educational campaign for racial equality. For people everywhere who protest in the hope of bringing about change for a better world this is a must see documentary.RAJEND NAIDU Sydney, Australia
Backyard farms
Who would have thought that backyard gardening and farming will become so important for survival?
Today many have to rely on that. That’s why it’s very important never to take anything for granted because no one knows what the future holds for them. Even all the money in the world is of no use in this pandemic. No doubt this pandemic has taught us many lessons.
How much one learns and realises is another thing.
Maybe it’s a wake-up call. KIRTI PATEL Lautoka
Tourism factor
There is an assumption among tourism industry planners as revealed by Fantasia Lockington in her article “The Tourism Experts” (FT 17/09) that once a vaccine is found for COVID-19, airlines will be back in the skies, and tourists will be returning in numbers.
I believe medical experts are now saying humanity may need to have to learn to live with COVID-19 as it is here to stay.
The virus is a respiratory illness similar to the common cold and the flu, and just as human kind has yet to develop a vaccine for these common ailments, it is highly probable that the same will apply for COVID-19.
Not everyone will like to have needles stuck in themselves or in the arms of babies, and quite apart from the fact that people may exercise their constitutional right not to accept the vaccine, health experts are saying that just as in the case of the flu, the world may have to deal with different strains of the COVID virus for eternity requiring regular vaccination, as in the annual flu shots.
I believe this could be the death knell for high density tourism as we have grown accustomed to. SEMI TAWAKE Field 40, Lautoka
New courses
With all that’s happening around the world, I am sure it won’t be long before we see new engineering courses like geo-engineering, re-engineering, and back-engineering joining the other mainstream courses in our tertiary institutions from certificate to degree levels.
While these may seem new, it appears that its exponents have apparently been mastering their craft over many, many years, with examples of their handiwork to show.
I am also sure that there would be more than enough experts out there, to be course lecturers and tutors. Once it becomes mainstream, it can be a new area for our young people to get into.
After all, we do not want to be left behind, do we? EDWARD BLAKELOCK Admiral Circle, Pacific Harbour
Electrical safety
The other day we took delivery of a new washing machine, but as could be expected, the electrical plug was not of the type that could directly connect to the household wiring/plug system that is standard to Fiji. The plug was a non-fused type, similar to those fused ones in use in the UK.
The machine supplier provided a surge protector and an adaptor to allow a standard Fiji plug to be used. However when assembled, the plug arrangement protruded 9cm from the wall outlet making it easy to dislodge if struck by people walking close by. Dangerous indeed, especially for small kids.
Even more deadly are the two-pin plugs, round pins, that are supplied mainly, not totally, for low power applications. The small conversion sockets available are not well matched to the pins, the pins are loose inside the socket, another danger. Of course it is sometimes easy to cut into the supplied cable and retrofit a Fiji plug but this is not always possible.
I note the clothes iron we have, which draws a lot of power, is two cable with no “Earth”, as was the washing machine I just replaced. I wonder how many property fires in Fiji are caused by earthing problems. I expect EFL are the regulatory body for this sort of thing. If so they should, by January, 2021, issue instructions that all 240V AC power plugs, cables, earthing etc for households be covered by at least Australian standards as that is the type of plug etc that is in use here.
If there is a Fijian standard in use it probably needs revising, or more stringent policing. ALLAN LOOSLEY Tavua
World Water Monitoring Day
World Water Monitoring Day is observed on September 18. Have you given much thought to the quality of water around you?
Perhaps not, but thousands of others throughout the world have. World Water Monitoring Day was established to encourage and educate people on how to monitor the components of water in their local area.
This important annual outreach invites citizens throughout the world to monitor the quality of local streams, rivers, lakes, ponds and other water resources. Not all types of water found are in consumable positions so water treatments are done to ensure that it is safe to drink.
The most serious problem is pollution and learning how to identify, take care of, and prevent it is more important with every passing year.
There are many lands on Earth which don’t provide much fresh water for the people’s, plants’ and animals’ needs. Water is an absolute essential of human life, and every form of life that we know of requires it to exist. Water is a valuable product, and one which we tend to take for granted up until supplies run short.
World Water Monitoring Day advertises thoughtful usage of water, so as to keep resources and ensure that water is offered where and when it’s needed.
But water is also a universal solvent, collecting all the elements of its environment, and from there carrying it directly into our homes and bodies It also promotes recognition of what’s really in our water –– from beneficial nutrients and minerals to damaging chemicals.
Why not take this day to know what you’re taking in? Use water wisely and report any water leakage to WAF. NEELZ SINGH Lami
