College students began working on the issue of plastic pollution on the grounds of Whistling Woods International. Tiya Dushia noted that people are often surrounded by plastic but rarely think about its ultimate fate.
College students began working on the issue of plastic pollution on the grounds of Whistling Woods International. Tiya Dushia noted that people are often surrounded by plastic but rarely think about its ultimate fate.
When plastic waste accumulated on the campus of Whistling Woods International, President Meghna Gai Puri considered the possibility of using this material more effectively. She stated that she noticed the accumulation of plastic and saw a chance to transform it into something useful, aiming to make sustainable development a creative and real part of the campus life.
In September 2024, WWI launched a plastic collection campaign as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility program, Khwab CSR. Student volunteers collaborated with marketing and building maintenance teams to collect and sort the waste. Tiya mentioned that after lectures, they spent time separating plastic from dry waste, and also brought packaging from home, especially from online deliveries.
On October 17, 2024, the campus handed over 100 kg of plastic waste. Jay Mehta emphasized that the cumulative effect becomes evident when the entire community participates. This activity did not stop after the first handover: by Environment Day 2025, students had collected another 50 kg of plastic across the campus.
The company United270 was responsible for sorting, cleaning, and shredding the plastic, after which it was turned into fiber. This fiber was then woven into fabric suitable for making T-shirts. Fifty T-shirts were created from the recycled fabric. Jeff Emmanuel, founder and chief creative officer of United270, noted that when people see discarded plastic being turned into something wearable, it changes their view of waste.
These T-shirts were given to 50 students from the organization Salaam Bombay. This initiative inspired the organization to start its own plastic collection. Since then, Salaam Bombay has collected over 600 kg of plastic. At WWI, composting bins, glass bottles, and discussions about waste issues have become an integral part of daily campus life. Tiya concluded that she always believed that one person could make a difference, and what she saw here is the result of the entire community's belief in that.
The dispute concerning the pride flag at Bishops school has moved beyond the school grounds and messaging groups, attracting the attention of the wider public. Figures involved in this dispute include The Kiffness, who has about 1.8 million followers on Instagram, Renaldo Gouws with nearly 100,000 followers on X, Anton Taylor (about 151,000 followers on Instagram), and Drew Birch (@drew_birch).
The most obvious trigger for this story is The Kiffness' comment on a Bishops school Instagram post, where Taylor wrote: 'Hatred and cowardice always hide their face. I put my name and face behind what I stand for.' The Kiffness responded to this post, stating that since Bishopscollegeza is a private Anglican school, demanding it fly this flag is like asking a vegan restaurant to serve a double burger with bacon and cheese.
He continued, replying to other commentators, that the 2024 alumni group and members of SRF had sent an open letter requesting that the flag not be used. Furthermore, The Kiffness contrasted the age of the pride flag (48 years) with the age of the Bible (3400 years).
Taylor clearly did not approve of The Kiffness' intervention in his comments. He contacted him via WhatsApp, asking why he was interfering with his Instagram comments, noting that despite The Kiffness' 'crazy statements' on social media, he had always remained silent, and asked about the reasons for his participation on social media, having a personal contact number with him.
Five minutes later, The Kiffness sent a voice message lasting 2 minutes and 56 seconds. In it, he told Taylor that he did not object to Taylor publicly responding to opinions that he himself published. He emphasized that public platforms should allow people to see different points of view, and concluded by telling Taylor that he could share this voice message with whomever he wished.
Taylor had previously been involved in political intrigues among Bishops alumni. In 2019, TimesLIVE reported that he was the deputy chairman of ODU when the issue of expressing distrust in his administration was discussed, and Taylor emotionally appealed to alumni via Facebook, urging them to support the committee.
However, this past incident does not define the current conflict but explains why the transition of the dispute from internal structure to public space seems familiar. The situation was amplified by Renaldo Gouws, a former Member of Parliament, who brought the dispute to a broader public arena by posting the Alumni Committee's letter on X and framing the struggle as a reasonable demand turned into a 'culture war bonfire.'
In his typical manner, @Anton_Taylor, dubbed the 'awakened snowman,' decided to turn a reasonable request into an end-of-the-world scenario. He also accused everyone who disagreed with his position of homophobia, secrecy, and ignorance, threatening them with 'exposure.'
Bishops alumni are making a rather reasonable demand of the school: 'What is the school's policy regarding the flying of flags associated with any ideology?' They conclude by stating that people like @Anton_Taylor seek attention at all costs, and if 'burning down the house' is necessary for that, they will do it. For him, subscribers, likes, and coverage matter more than the reasons.
Drew Birch supported the 'men in @bishopscollegeza and @bishops_old_boys' for 'courage in confronting the crowd,' mentioning Taylor. In a second post, Birch addressed the 'Christian brothers who abandoned their God,' quoting Isaiah 5:20 and Leviticus 18:22. The Kiffness also commented on this post, repeating the analogy of the vegan restaurant.
It is important to note that the Alumni Committee's letter asks the Bishops Council to provide clear written policy regarding flags, rather than demanding the exclusion of gay people from the moral universe, despite how the internet has portrayed this dispute. The ODC letter states that Bishops should only fly three official flags in an official capacity: the South African flag, the Bishops flag, and the St George's flag. The letter also seeks to separate this request from hostility towards gay and lesbian people in the Bishops community.
ODC confirmed to 2oceansvibe that a younger committee was elected this year, and some new members were recent Bishops students who personally reviewed this letter and vote. When the time came to hold this event again, they raised the issue once more, requesting written policy from the Council on behalf of the students who initiated the letter and vote.
In his voice message, The Kiffness stated that, being a 'product of a private Anglican school,' he believes such institutions should 'adhere to their values.' He argues that schools should avoid political or social movements because they polarize students. His stance then becomes harsher: he applies this to gender identity, stating that he would not want his son to attend a school that teaches that it is normal for a boy to identify as a girl or, even stranger, as a cat. He added that this 'does not mean I hate trans or gay people,' but that faith compels him to see 'things as they are.'
Thus, the flagpole dispute inevitably transitions into a broader discourse on sexuality, gender, faith, and who has the right to define the character of an Anglican school. What started as a student vote now includes The Kiffness, Anton Taylor, Renaldo Gouws, and numerous screenshots, posts, and arguments on social media, with the vote itself becoming the quietest part of the story.
Residents of the United Arab Emirates now have the opportunity to join a volunteer initiative aimed at boosting the morale of Dubai's workers. The Dubai Volunteers team is resuming its ice cream distribution campaign for the second time this summer, aiming to reach over 19,000 low-skilled workers across the emirate.
This campaign is organized by the Spread Kindness volunteer team under the slogan 'Defeat the heat with a cool treat' and is registered with the Community Development Authority (CDA). Aisha Ismail, the team founder, noted that they saw how hard their low-skilled brothers work outdoors and wanted to do something simple that would bring instant relief and a smile.
The team's history dates back to 2015, when a small group of friends and family members conducted acts of kindness called Open Arms. This year, the group changed its name to Spread Kindness and officially registered with the CDA to implement larger projects. Ismail emphasized that their main goal remains unchanged: turning compassion into real action, one person at a time.
Each distribution day begins with an briefing on hydration and safety. Afterward, volunteers put on their jackets and head to worksites with a van carrying ice cream. The team coordinates its actions with site managers before approaching workers during their break. Aisha Ismail shared that they hand out cold ice cream and say a simple 'thank you for building our city.' She added that in those moments, you can see the heat dissipate and a smile appear.
Residents can become volunteers by registering through the CDA Volunteer Portal or the DubaiNow app and searching for 'Spread Kindness.' All volunteering hours are officially recorded by the CDA, and participants receive a certificate. Ismail urged people to join, regardless of the duration of participation, to bring a smile to those who build the city.
Those who prefer to provide financial support can do so through the team's partnership with the AES Community Care Club. This club organizes two distribution events: on Sunday, July 26th, and Sunday, August 23rd, both starting at 12:00 PM, with locations to be announced later. Donations start from 30 dirhams per person and go directly to the campaign's ice cream supplier, not the team itself. Additionally, the team holds a weekly food drive for workers every Saturday in Al Nahda 1 area, from 11:15 AM to 12:30 PM. The ice cream campaign is part of a broader wave of summer initiatives for outdoor workers, including the 'Al Freej Fridge' campaign and the midday work ban, which is now in its 22nd year. Ismail concluded that the essence is not the ice cream, but dignity, respect, and connection. Contact information for those wishing to help or donate is 056 312 7666.
The Consulate General of Uzbekistan in Vladivostok, in cooperation with the Migration Agency, provided support to a family facing a difficult life situation and helped them return to their homeland.
An Uzbek citizen approached the consulate, reporting on the critical situation of her family, who were temporarily residing in Primorsky Krai. She stated that she came to Vladivostok in 2025 to work near her husband.
However, in March 2026, her husband sustained a serious head injury after a fall, which left him bedridden and unable to move independently. Consequently, the woman had to stop working to care for her spouse.
Gradually, the family began to face acute shortages of funds to cover expenses, including housing, food, medical treatment, and necessary medications.
Thanks to the assistance of the Consulate General and funding from the Migration Fund for Spouses, as well as the arrival of a doctor from Uzbekistan to accompany the patient, air tickets were purchased. On July 15, the family successfully flew via the route Vladivostok — Moscow — Tashkent and returned to Uzbekistan. Previously, Uzbek diplomats had also helped a compatriot reduce the costs of cancer treatment in China.
