Spotted this right outside the airport after you exit the parking lot. It scared the hell out of me…

I was wondering around tonight when I stumbled across an old photography store. Some pictures in the display grabbed my attention and when I looked inside I spotted an old man sitting reading the Koran and two other interesting photos. I decided to go in and check the photos out and I ended up spending around an hour there talking to the old man.

I won’t mention the photographers name or the shop location since I want to give him his space and privacy but he’s a Lebanese guy who ran away from an abusive father and took the bus and came to Kuwait in 1959. He hasn’t left since… not even once. He worked a variety of jobs here and there and in the end became a journalist and took some really great photos, some of which many of us have come across in one point in time or another. He ended up opening up his own photography shop and it’s been there ever since. Today the shop doesn’t sell anything, he doesn’t have any customers nor even a store sign. He broke the sign ages ago because to keep it up he would have to pay a fee of KD25 a year which he didn’t want to. He sold all his negatives to a newspapers years ago for KD200 and has a few photos he kept which he was selling framed for KD25 a piece but someone bought his photo and then made copies and started selling them for KD1 so that income stopped.

While there I spotted some old cameras behind an extremely dusty display that looked like it hadn’t been open since the 80s and my God what a beautiful camera collection. He had cameras from the 70′s and early 80′s still boxed brand new! He even had the beautiful rangefinder Konica S3 from 1974 which I had purchased used off eBay for KD60 last year, except he had a brand new one all boxed up and priced at KD45! He also had two brand new Nikon F3′s from 1980, a Vivitar 35EE, a Vivitar 35EF, Mamiya 135AF and boxed up Hasselblad but I couldn’t tell what model it was. I really want to buy them all but I don’t think he wants to sell them. He’s pissed off at the whole world, he’s depressed, he’s really old and he doesn’t want to sell anything. He told me 5 months ago his residency expired and he’s now living in Kuwait illegally. He feels that he’s been forgotten and no one cares about him or remembers him. How could someone who’s been in Kuwait for 50 years non stop still require an ikameh to live here? It made me realize that if I lose my job tomorrow I would have to leave Kuwait as well except I am young and I could always move to Lebanon and start a new life or something but this old man, where would he go? He’s easily at least 80 years old, he doesn’t have any family, never married, no relatives and he hasn’t been to Lebanon in over 50 years neither does he want to go back…

I had to leave but told him I would come back again since I wanted to listen to his life story and maybe give him some recognition with my blog. I also promised him the next time I go back I would bring my laptop along since I was telling him about the Internet and he told me he had heard about it but had no idea what it was. I told him I would come back and show him since he seemed eager to know how it worked and who invented it and how it looked. I asked him what time to what time I could find him at the shop he told me 24 hours. Turns out he lives in the shop.

Not to be confused with The Shark of Kuwait, Sharks of Kuwait is a 22 minute long documentary by AlJazeera English.

Fifty years ago, the Arabian Gulf was full of sharks. Witness joins an expedition to find out how many have survived years of ecological damage.

[YouTube]

They look like they have a lot of fun. [YouTube]
If you don’t know who the Kuwait Kites Team are click [Here]

I’m a huge fan of Victorinox Swiss army knives and if I wasn’t so clumsy with sharp objects I would probably have a nice huge collection at home. Thing is I have three Swiss army knives and have managed to cut myself accidentally with all three (one of them pretty deep) so I’ve kinda kept my distance from them.

But that doesn’t mean I can’t admire the knives. They have some really great looking ones with my favorite being the bright emergency yellow RescueTool which I’ve had my eye on for a while now. Majority of people don’t know this but we have a pretty good Victorinox dealer here in Kuwait. The shop isn’t in the best location and the interior design is pretty crap (check photos below) but they do have a pretty huge collection.

The shop is called Shalimar Stores and they’re located in the ground floor of the mall right behind Johnny Rockets Salhiya. Prices of knives vary with the majority falling in between KD5 to KD15. They also carry Victorinox scissors, bags and watches as well. Their phone number is 22451270

Hamburger expert and filmmaker George Motz meditates on meat and makes the perfect burger. [Link]

Yesterday BuYousef emailed a link to an article in LIFE about Kuwait dating back to 1959 which contained a good amount of pictures and information. He had found that article by using the search feature in Google Books and it made me realize I might be able to find other hidden treasure and I did. Since his email I’ve been reading old articles none stop and I’m still not 0.0001% through them all.

A search for Kuwait in Google Books will get you tens of thousands of results but I managed to narrow down the search a bit and found the ones below:

1952 Venus is a crook in Kuwait
1955 Proved in the Blazing Heat of Kuwait!
1958 Fresh Water from the Sea
1959 Kuwait: the fabulous sheikdom
1961 A dusty vigil
1965 Everything’s up to date in Kuwait
1975 What happens when the oil is gone?
1979 Bite that tiger
1980 Solar power station for oil-rich Kuwait

Some of the interesting stuff I read weren’t just articles about Kuwait but articles that mentioned Kuwait. I didn’t post them above because there were too many but I did read some interesting stories like I was reading an article from 1961 about a Nazi war criminal that was hiding in Kuwait and then I read another small snippet from someone in Kuwait who had sent a letter to Boys Life. It’s just random bits like that which I found really entertaining to read. Google Books is just amazing.

Not sure if many people have noticed this but street lamps have unique numbers on them. I remember reading once that these numbers are used to identify the location in case of emergency like say you get into an accident and you call for help, you could read them the number on the lamp post and they would know exactly where you are. I wonder if that applies in Kuwait.

I was on my way back this morning from walking my dog when I noticed a lot of dust coming out from the empty sand lot near my house. When I got closer I realized the local baladiya were there with two trucks. They were filling up the hole I posted about two days back! One large truck dumped sand in and around the pit while a larger bulldozer proceeded to fill it up until the hole disappeared.

That absolutely made my day. Thanks to everyone who helped out, I am sure the whole neighborhood really appreciates this. I also suddenly feel like I am in a real life scene from the hilarious TV show Parks and Recreation which means I should now try and convince the baladiya to turn the empty lot into a park.

Update: The Governorate of Hawalli responded with the following:

Dear Mark,

The Governorate of Hawalli would like to thank you for your kind efforts in pointing out an issue that has been causing distress to the surrounding residents of the area around the “hole”.

After receiving instructions from the Governor of Hawalli, Governorate officials contacted the appropriate officers at the Municipality of Kuwait – Hawalli Division – and notified them of the issue.

The Governorate has made sure that the issue has been dealt with immediately and accordingly, and followed up with the Municipality to ensure that the issue was resolved appropriately. We would also like to confirm that the hole, that was unfortunately used as a waste disposal site by many, had been thoroughly cleaned and the waste removed before being backfilled.

The Governorate of Hawalli has always tried to be on top top of such issues, and hopes that this would only be just one part of a cumulative effort that symbolizes a greater collective awareness, taking us one further step for a cleaner, and hopefully greener, Kuwait.

It is refreshing to find that such a sense of responsibility and care is still active in our beloved country. On behalf of the entire Governorate team, we would like to thank you all for your support, and the Municipality for their great work and quick response. Please rest assured that the Governorate of Hawalli will always try to tackle such issues in the future head on.

Of course, there are important lessons to learn from this experience. The strength of Kuwait is not found only in its government, but through the dedication of the people of Kuwait as a whole. It is truly found in the compassionate and caring hearts and the dynamic spirit of our citizens, residents and visitors.

Thank you.

I have to say I am EXTREMELY impressed! I am really at a loss for words. I thought no one actually cared about “old” Salmiya but it seems there are some people who do. I did not expect this. I’ve lived on the street for 30 years now and I’ve posted about my frustration before (here and here for example) but now I feel there might be hope. Thank you!

Ok this might sound weird but one of the things I remember the most about Terminal 5 at London Heathrow Airport was the hand dryer in the bathroom (video above although it really doesn’t do it justice). It was just incredibly powerful, like it must have been connected to an extra airplane jet engine they had lying around because it was just vicious.

I never found another hand dryer as powerful until recently while I was in Lebanon I was washing my hands in a bathroom at a mall when I spotted the Dyson AirBlade (video above but there are like a million others on YouTube). Dyson if you don’t know make some very cool vacuum clears and fans so it kinda makes sense I guess that they make hand dryers. Anyway although the AirBlade wasn’t as powerful as the Terminal 5 hand dryer it looked really cool and it currently ranks the second most powerful hand dryer I’ve ever used. So I was checking to see how much it costs cuz it would be cool to get one for the house and it turns out they’re selling on eBay for over $1,200!

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قبل وفاة الشيخ أحمد الجابر بـ عشرة سنوات إندلعت شرارة الحرب العالمية الثانية التي شارك فيها 100 مليون جندي يمثلون جيوش سبعين دولة تقريباً , و قد إستمرت هذه الحرب لـ ست سنوات متواصلة و راح ضحيتها ما يقارب الـ ستين مليون نسمة , أي ما يعادل 2 بالمئة من سكان العالم في ذلك الوقت , و تمتد جذور أسباب هذه الحرب الى نتائج شقيقتها الحرب العالمية الأولى حيث فرضت الدول المنتصرة فيها شروطاً مادية و معنوية قاسية على الدول المنهزمة , و بالأخص ألمانيا التي حُرِمت من حق بناء ترسانتها العسكرية , بطبيعة الحال ساهمت هذه الشروط بـ جرح كرامة دولة عظمى مثل ألمانيا مما فجّر بين أفراد شعبها المشاعر القومية التي تحولت لاحقاً الى قومية إقتصادية و منها الى حرب عسكرية دفع العالم أجمع ثمنها غالياً
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أسدل عالمنا البائس الستار على هذه الحرب في العام 1945 , و قد كان الدمار و الإنهيار البشري و الإجتماعي و الأخلاقي و البيئي و الإقتصادي من أهم نتائج هذه الحرب , خصوصا في الدول الأوربية التي كانت ساحة القتال الرئيسية بجانب الساحة الآسيوية المنكوبة , و هذا ما أدى الى تتويج الإتحاد السوفييتي الشيوعي و الولايات المتحدة الأمريكية الرأس مالية على عرش العالم , فقد نجحت أمريكا في تحويل إقتصادها المنهار في 1933 الى أكبر خزينة ذهب في العالم عام 1945 , و هذا ما ساعدها على جعل الدولار الأمريكي العملة الأولى في التعاملات الدولية
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أيضاً ساهم الضعف و الوهن الذي أصاب الدول الإستعمارية العريقة في تشجيع حركات التحرر حول العالم , و هذا ما أدى الى قيام الحكومة العراقية بإنقلاب فاشل ضد الإستعمار البريطاني في العام 1941 , على الجانب الآخر نجحت سوريا و لبنان في الحصول على إستقلالهما – الصوري – في نفس العام و الإستقلال الفعلي في العام 1943 , و من أهم نتائج هذه الحرب تأسيس الأمم المتحدة في العام 1945 و تأسيس جامعة الدول العربية في نفس العام , و قد تحاشت الدول المنتصرة – الحلفاء – تكرار نفس الخطأ الذي وقعت فيه بعد الحرب العالمية الأولى بتطبيقها خطة مارشال التي أسست خطط إعادة بناء و إعمار الدول المنهزمة بمساعدة الدول المنتصرة , و قد تقاسمت الولايات المتحدة و الاتحاد السوفييتي حق الوصاية على هذه الدول , فأصبحت الدول التابعة للأولى رأس مالية ناجحة كـ ألمانيا و اليابان , و أصبحت الدول التابعة للثانية إشتراكية لم تحقق الكثير من النجاح الإقتصادي
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I passed by Pinkberry last night and noticed they’ve increased the amount of staff from the usual 4 to 15. I am guessing the majority are being trained for the other two new stores that are opening up but with 15 employees the line was nearly non-existent.

In other frozen yogurt news, I spotted what looks like a frozen yogurt machine being installed and tested at IKEA!

This is just amazing! I can’t stop laughing. The Arabic lines read:

Istanbul in Hawalli
Restaurant and coffee shop under Turkish management
Hawalli – Beirut Street
Next to Al Ameed Coffee, in front of the Pakistani School

Thanks Phoenix

Very strange fellow. [YouTube]

Thanks Saad

I didn’t know we had hovercrafts in Kuwait, how can I get a ride in one?? [YouTube]

Spotted this bus on my way into work this morning. Turns out there was a building under construction that was lifting some metal beams via a crane but the beams crossed over the main road where a Citybus was passing by.

On a similar subject some of you might not be aware of this but the employees of KPTC, the public blue buses are on strike because they’re protesting a KD50 salary cut. [News]

I am 100% sure this can’t be legal or healthy. I live in Salmiya in the old souk on Salem Mubarek Street. Right behind my building there is an empty sand lot which is used as a parking by people coming to shop in the street. The sand lot is also used as garbage dump. It has around 7 regular sized garbage cans… and one big hole in the ground.

A hole in the ground! For some reason it seems the local baladiya or whoever is responsible for garbage collection can’t afford new garbage bins or something and have decided instead to dig a big hole in the ground and fill it up with garbage. Every morning a bulldozer comes and digs up the garbage.

Why can’t they place a large garbage bin or two or three more regular sized ones instead of digging a hole?

First of all the lot is heavily surrounded by residential buildings. Second of all there is a mosque just 20 meters away from the hole. Finally people use the lot as a parking lot. Salmiya is over crowded and lacks ample parking and people are forced to park in the sandy lot filled with garbage. At night the lot is pitch black since there isn’t any kind of lighting and people end up parking right next to all the garbage bins and holes. That can’t be healthy.

Hopefully by me posting about this maybe something can be done about this. It’s just too disgusting, I mean it’s a frickin hole in the ground that’s being filled with garbage!

I took the picture above outside Costa at Marina Crescent but I’ve noticed quite a few restaurants have also closed down during Ramadan for renovations. I never liked that Costa branch since I found it too bright and uncomfortable. I’m not a fan of coffee shops anyway but I do prefer the cozy feel I get from Starbucks.

As I previously mentioned, Gucci shut down in Villa Moda and are opening up at 360 Mall. Well it looks like the store is practically done and ready to open any day now.

I was at Sultan last night when I spotted a new organic corner. What grabbed my attention was the fact they got some new brands including a brand of tea called Clipper which have pretty cool packing you can see below.

I also spotted the Red Bull bottles pictured below in the fridge which reminded me of the Thai Red Bull’s.

Released earlier this month but I missed it somehow. He’s still funny as usual. [YouTube]

Thanks Ali

Posted by Fahad AlYehya | Core Fitness – Kuwait

This generation’s females are anemic, bulimic, and anorexic. They deny those things ad infinitum, of course, but you can’t really trust anything they say. They think cupcake is a food group.

Because I want to be fair and balanced, I will write this post with my “female” voice. (Yes, I do have a female voice. I keep it locked away safe and sound though. And my female voice is still a beast that will scratch your eyes out. Don’t mess with Lupita, yo!) Take it away Lupita:

75% percent of us are ova’weight, ese!
It sucks to be fat and anemic at the same time; it’s like you’re fat for nothing. Malnutrition here translates into eating junk calories devoid of any essential vitamins and minerals, replaced by traditional wholesome food.

But you told us to satisfy our cravings in moderation, homes!
I worked with women who eat nothing but chocolate, cupcakes, muffins and donuts all day long. Eating desserts and sweets all day moderately is anything but moderate. Eat your 2-3 square meals first and enjoy snacking in between them but in moderation.

Psshhh, wha’eva fatty! I have a high metabolism and I can eat wha’eva ah want.
If only I had a fils for every time I heard that, I’d be able to cross all of Lupita’s 160 cousins over the border. Studies conducted in Kuwait have shown that females between the ages of 14-18 are playing Russian Roulette with high cholesterol levels and diabetes. You don’t have high metabolisms; it’s called skinny fat. A person with a high metabolism looks like an anatomy chart. You look like a skinny stripper with extra jiggle.

Like I could care less what you tink. I’m enjoyin’ life and I’m happy! And my momma tinks I’m too SKINNY!
My mother, Allah bless her heart, is overweight and your mother’s also probably overweight. Mothers should set better examples by teaching their children on how to eat properly. Unfortunately, mothers enjoy dessert and sweet consumption more than their daughters. No one wants to be fat alone, so listen to mommy and have that extra cupcake. With whipped cream. And mango juice. And ice cream. With fondue on the side. Maybe cookies. Screw it, I’m adding in cookies.

OK OK! I get it! Save me from my own demise, papi!

I thought you’d never ask.

Bad Habits Gone Worse

Breakfast: – The majority of females are not breakfast-eating-creatures. They just don’t get hungry in the morning, so they tend to wait a few long hours to break their fast. Aside from slowing down your metabolism and increasing the chances of obesity by 150%, eating late breakfasts only increases hunger for the wrong cravings.

Meal Choices: – If it’s crunchy and looks like it could kill you in a few years, then chances are its being consumed by our female population. They’ll cave in with their cravings, and fast. They’ll skip or decrease wholesome food to make way for a slice of cheesecake or some Garret popcorn that costs more than a 60-day supply of a fat-burner.

Water Consumption: – I often wonder if females ever received the memo where it clearly stated that “water is essential for life”. I always know I’m in for a challenge once a female client says “maybe 1 glass of water every 1-2 days”, “I don’t like it”, or “it tastes bad” and of course “it’ll just make me pee too much”. Not a lot of you females even reach the minimum requirement for water consumption. You eat food with no nutritional value and you skimp on drinking something that clears all those toxins from your body because it’ll bloat and make you urinate a lot. This is how you get Alzheimer’s.

Meal Timing: – Whoever invented dessert should be shot in the head. For the sake of everything that is holy, DO NOT eat sweets right after ANY meal! I’m well aware they’re tempting, but it’s like you’re begging your insulin to be shot into a never ending diabetic frenzy. Snacks have calories too, so just wait 2.5-3 hours and eat your desserts in moderation.

Late Night Pig-Outs: – Females like to late-night splurge in groups of at least 2. The more females gathered, the worse it gets. They always order in extra sweets just to make themselves feel better by saying “hey, it’s not like I ate the whole thing. I’ll just save the leftovers for the starving population of Africa”. Imagine an aerobics class, but instead the actual aerobics you’ve got food, and instead of the hot and fit instructor you’ve got an old ignorant fatty eating her life away one cake at a time.

The Protein Dilemma

Majority of females are not avid protein eaters. They favor the sweet and not the salty. They’ll do anything for some hair growth, nail growth and healthy looking skin, yet fail to realize the important factors proteins play in the growth, repair, recovery and rejuvenation of damaged tissue cells.

Optimal Cell Growth: – You want healthy looking skin, long lucid hair, and nails that would make Wolverine cry in envy? Eat an egg or two for breakfast, 5oz of red meat for lunch and some fish or chicken for dinner. Seriously, how hard is that?

Anemia: – You bleed uncontrollably once a month. You need the nutrients that are derived from protein sources, yet you reach for that Snicker’s bar to get your sugar-fix knowing well that 2-3 banana’s would help you recover faster. Your body will burn off all cells before you go anemic. Cells being burned include hair (hair loss), skin (pale) and nails.

Pregnancy: – For the sake of your offspring, do not short change their health by skimping on nutrients. An anemic pregnant woman is no laughing matter. Children should be active, chubby and smart by the time they reach 2 years of age, not skinny, dazed and easily bruised. You’ll need as much cell growth promoting protein to feed that fetus and not fat-promoting cupcakes.

Metabolic Factors: – Diets that are high in protein and fibrous veggies while low (I said LOW, not NO) in starchy complex carbs are a lot better at ridding fat from the exact stubborn root. Why? Not only does protein consumption provide your metabolism an incredible boost, but it replaces the energy source once used by carbohydrates. Note to Dieticians/Nutritionist/Health Experts: ketogenic diets coupled with healthy fats and fibrous veggies is healthy, risk-free and guaranteed to keep the fat off forever!

The Carbohydrate Conundrum

Females are carbovores.

Didju just call us carb-whores? You don’t even need a billion dollar study to figure that out. All you need is a notepad, a pen or pencil and well-positioned chair at The Chocolate Bar. Every girl aches and tears at the damage that has been done by the oh-so-ill-fated-demise of her carb-dominant life. I’m not telling you to cut them out completely; I’m simply stating that you refrain from eating them alone or overindulging.

Complex Carbs: – Have some multi-grain cereal, some rice, potatoes (even fries) and some whole-wheat bread, but not too much. The “stop eating carbs after 3pm” serves well with women. A bowl of All-Bran with Lactose-Free milk for breakfast, red meat with a cup of rice at lunch and…

Fibrous Veggies: – …a salad and chicken for dinner. Veggies are (are you ready for this?) CARBS! You’re not really low-carbing if you’re eating endless bowls of salad. Surprisingly, not a lot of health experts even recognize this. Minimize complex carbs for fibrous veggies as much as you can, and reap the benefits of a flat and bloat-free stomach. You’ll also fill in all your nutrient deficiencies for calcium, iron, all the B vitamins and vitamin C.

Fruits: – Apart from their nutritious profiles, fruits contain fructose to satisfy your sugar cravings. Moreover, fruits won’t interrupt fat-burning since the majority of them are low-GI. Nothing rejuvenates the female PMSing body more than fruit consumption. Fruits contain just enough sugar to bump up your blood sugar levels from excessive blood loss and electrolytes to aid in optimal blood pressure regulation.

Mix and Match: – I’ve seen a few females eat their carbohydrates alone. Adding in extra ingredients would increase calorie consumption, but would best serve weight-loss goals by keeping you fuller longer. Eating pasta without a side order of grilled chicken or shrimp would only increase pasta consumption. Adding in a protein source would provide better appetite fullness before you decide to order that delicious piece of Apple Fritter.

The Fat Phenomenon

Females are never short of fat consumption.

Ay cabrón! See dis burger? I’m doing dis because you told me I was anemic! Females are short of “essential fatty acid” consumption, the omegas. Oh, you mean seafood? I’ve been eating some of that Essa Maki since like piff, pish, fo’eva! Salmon, tuna, almonds, walnuts, flaxseed and fish oil; 5 foods that contain an abundant amount of essential omegas that contribute to successful and long-lasting fat-loss, tissue repair, hair growth, acne-free skin and joint repair.

Eggs: – Super high in complete protein, eggs contain nutrients that are REQUIRED for living. An egg or two a day will NOT increase LDL cholesterol levels at all. If your reason not to indulge in this protein/fat power food is due to it’s high cholesterol content, then stop it. High LDL levels are due to sugar consumption, not dietary cholesterol. A cookie is not considered a dietary cholesterol source. I eat 3 whole eggs a day, 7 days a week, 30 days a month and 365 days a year. I challenge anyone to a cholesterol blood test.

Fish: – If you can’t handle the stink, then grill or lightly fry your fish. If not, then indulge in some salmon sashimi (semi-raw fish). Fish is lighter than other protein sources and can easily fit in with any carb source. Try to include seafood 3-4 times a week. If not…

Nuts: – ..get in a few raw walnuts into your diet pronto. Nuts also contain essential fatty acids. Include 5-10 walnuts whenever you plan on constructing home made dessert.

Flaxseed: – Flaxseed is considered an alternative remedy for various disorders such as hormonal imbalances, PMS, prenatal or postnatal disorders, menopause and breast cancer. Flaxseed’s also an excellent source of protein and fiber, two things that’ll keep you feeling fuller longer. Ok, bu’ how will dis help me lose deez? *points at waist* Multiple research studies have indicated that including flaxseed in your daily diet can help you manage your weight. Besides controlling your carb cravings by stabilizing your sugar levels, flax expands five times in bulk when ingested. Flax taken half an hour before meals will help you eat less. Opt for Flaxseed oil, granules or soft gels. You said some ting about menstrual cycle? Flaxseed is also used as a guaranteed and natural way to normalize the menstrual cycle, manage menopause, and lower the risk of osteoporosis, cancer and heart disease. Positive effects include fewer cycle changes (your agonizing terrible mood swings), along with a reduction in ovarian dysfunction, which in turn decrease the development of breast and other cancers.  As women reach menopause, the level of estrogens in their body decreases, causing an increase in the risk of cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis.

Until Next Time

Part 1 identifies what women are doing wrong. Part 2 will hopefully tackle how woman can do it right.

Posted by Fahad AlYehya | Core Fitness – Kuwait

That’s pretty nasty but surprisingly the driver survived! [Video]

via autoblog

This Kuwaiti jujutsu guy is amazing to watch, he’s got a new video up where he once again shows you how you could use your 3gal for self defense. [YouTube]

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بعد وفاة الشيخ مبارك بن صباح في العام 1915 حكَم الكويت ابنه الشيخ جابر – الحاكم الثامن – لمدة سنتين ثم انتقل الى رحمة الله تعالى ليحكم الكويت أخيه الشيخ سالم بن مبارك , و بالرغم من قصر فترة حكم الشيخ سالم بن مبارك – الحاكم التاسع - إلا أنها كانت فترة غنية بالأحداث العالمية و المحلية , فـ على الصعيد الدولي شهدت هذه الفترة نهاية الحرب العالمية الأولى و تأسيس عصبة الأمم
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و بطبيعة الحال شهدت هذه المرحلة نشاطاً محموماً في تقاسم الدول المنتصرة لـ غنائمها المنزوعة من الفريق المنهزم , و قد كان العرب في إنتظار هذه اللحظة حتى تفي بريطانيا بـ وعودها في تحريرهم من الدولة العثمانية , إلا أن بريطانيا كشّرت عن أنيابها الصفراء بعد الحرب لتستبدل الإحتلال العثماني بالإستعمار الأجنبي , و هذا ما تسبب في خيبة أمل كبيرة بين العرب , فكانت ردة الفعل الحتمية هي إنتشار الحركة القومية بين مثقفيهم
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أما على المستوى المحلي فقد كان الشيخ سالم متبعاً سنة والده و أخيه في الحكم الإنفرادي , و قد شهدت تلك الفترة تنامي القوة العسكرية لـ حاكم نجد الملك عبدالعزيز بن سعود , و هذا كان معادياً للشيخ سالم لأسباب كثيرة مما جعله يداوم على التحرش بالكويت و قبائلها من خلال مطالبتهم بالزكاة و التشكيك في دينهم و تحريض حلفائه على حربهم و فرض حصار إقتصادي عليهم , و قد ساهمت كل هذه العوامل في معاناة أهل الكويت إقتصادياً و أفول نجمها سياسياً , و في العام 1921 توسط الشيخ خزعل لحل هذه الخلافات إلا أن الموت لم يمهل الشيخ سالم , فقد توفيَ أثناء خوض الشيخ خزعل و الشيخ أحمد بن جابر – الحاكم العاشر - للمفاوضات الثنائية مع ابن سعود , و فور وصول خبر الوفاة قرر الشيخ أحمد العودة الى بلاده
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في هذه الأثناء , كان أهل الكويت بقيادة الشيخ يوسف القناعي قد عقدوا العزم على عدم قبول الحكم الفردي بعد الآن , و بهذا الطلب واجهوا الشيخ أحمد الذي وافق عليه بلا تردد بعد استشارة الشيخ خزعل , هكذا تم تشكيل المجلس الإستشاري الأول في العام 1921 , و قد تشكل هذا المجلس من إثنا عشر عضوا مُعيناً من دون إنتخاب
.
كان تنظيم بيت الحكم هو أول أعمال هذا المجلس حيث ناقش في الجلسة الأولى مسألة تنافس أبناء الصباح على الحكم , و قد انحصرت المنافسة في الشيخ أحمد بن جابر و الشيخ عبدالله بن سالم و عمهما الشيخ حمد بن مبارك , و بهذا الشأن قرر المجلس الآتي
.
يتفق الثلاثة على حاكم من بينهم , فإن لم يتفقوا يعود المجلس الى المعتمد البريطاني لإختيار الحاكم الأنسب , و إن لم يحصل ذلك يقوم أعضاء المجلس بإنتخاب الحاكم , و قد كانت بريطانيا لا تميل لإختيار الشيخ عبدالله بن سالم خوفاً من إتباعه لسُنة والده بالولاء للأتراك , و هذا ما جعل الآراء تجتمع على الشيخ أحمد بن جابر حاكماً عاشراً على الكويت , و قد أقسم الشيخ أحمد على اتباع نقاط خمسة – مكتوبة – في الحكم و هي

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أولا , أن تكون جميع الأحكام بين الرعية في المعاملات و الجنايات على حكم الشرع الشريف
.
ثانيا , العودة الى رأي علماء الإسلام في حالة عدم قبول أحد الأطراف المتنازعة لحكم القاضي
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ثالثا , يستطيع أطراف النزاع الإتفاق على تحكيم أي شخص بينهما
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رابعا , مشاورة الحاكم للمجلس في الأمور الداخلية و الخارجية التي لها علاقة بالبلد من جلب مصلحة أو دفع مفسدة أو حسن نظام
.
خامسا , كل من عنده رأي فيه صلاح ديني أو دنيوي للوطن و أهله يعرضه على الحاكم و يشاور فيه جماعته فإن رأوه حسناً ينفذ
.
تاريخ الكويت السياسي ج 5 ص 15
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Naif Al-Mutawa, the creator of THE 99 comic books was back on CNN two days ago. You can check out the article by clicking [Here]

Thanks Cheryl