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Stay golden! If you've ever clocked that unmistakable, glassy sparkle to a celebrity's complexion on the red carpet, chances are they've paid a visit to Dr. Mariana Vergara.The NP-C, who treats A-listers out of her
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The holy month of Ramadan represents an opportunity to promote values of moderation, balance, solidarity, and self-discipline. However, the month also witnesses a noticeable rise in consumption levels across several sectors, particularly food, energy, and water. Instead of being a month of moderation and restraint, Ramadan has become for some families a season of excessive spending. Excessive consumption during Ramadan contradicts the essence of fasting, which is intended to refine self-discipline and strengthen social solidarity. From an environmental perspective, over-consumption aggravates waste management challenges, increases pressure on natural resources, and contributes to a higher carbon footprint, negatively affecting both the environment and society. In this context, experts have warned of the adverse consequences of rising non-essential spending on household budgets during Ramadan, stressing the importance of adopting behaviours that reflect the true objectives of fasting. Experts interviewed by Qatar News Agency (QNA) stated that high consumption during Ramadan is no longer limited to food, but has become a comprehensive phenomenon affecting various aspects of daily life, from energy and water consumption to increased purchasing and unplanned spending, creating a striking contrast with the spiritual values that the holy month is meant to reinforce. In this regard, Chairman of Friends of Environment Center (FEC), Dr Saif bin Ali al-Hajari, said Ramadan has become for some segments of society a season of intensive consumption rather than a period of reflection and rational use of resources. He stressed that focusing solely on food waste, despite its importance, does not reflect the full scope of the problem. He noted that consumption in Ramadan doubles in several aspects, with food representing the most visible component of a broader pattern that also includes energy, water, goods and even time. Food waste remains the clearest indicator of escalating consumption during the holy month, with estimates suggesting that food waste ranges between 30 and 50 percent of total food prepared in homes, hotels and restaurants. Food wasteDr al-Hajari pointed out that the average per capita food waste in Qatar during Ramadan exceeds global averages, stressing that these figures reflect imbalances in consumption culture and food planning, particularly amid the expansion of Ramadan banquets, social gatherings and rising demand for takeaway meals. The chairman of FEC also highlighted that energy and water consumption during Ramadan are no less significant than food waste. Homes typically experience higher electricity usage due to increased cooking activities and prolonged operation of household appliances, in addition to rising water consumption associated with food preparation and cleaning. He explained that this increase often occurs without real awareness of its environmental impact, despite its direct pressure on natural resources and contribution to a higher ecological footprint, stressing that rationalizing energy and water use is as important ethically and religiously as reducing food waste. Dr al-Hajari added that consumption during Ramadan also extends to non-food goods, as shopping malls and markets witness growing consumer demand driven by promotional campaigns and seasonal purchasing associated with the holy month. This spending pattern reflects a seasonal consumer culture based not on actual need but on social and psychological motivations, warning of its economic impact on families, especially amid rising financial obligations during and after Ramadan. In a less discussed dimension, Dr al-Hajari pointed out that wasting time is another form of irrational consumption during Ramadan, where excessive focus on preparation and consumption activities may overshadow the spiritual essence of the month, which is based on worship, reflection and social solidarity. Regarding the root causes of rising consumption patterns, he attributed them to the persistence of social customs linking abundance with social status, weak planning at the household level, commercial advertising influences during Ramadan, and limited awareness of long-term environmental and economic impacts. Dr Saif bin Ali al-Hajari affirmed that Qatar is making continuous efforts to promote responsible consumption through the National Food Security Strategy, waste reduction programs, and environmental and community initiatives aimed at strengthening sustainability concepts. He noted that charitable initiatives, smart applications and partnerships with the private sector provide practical models for managing consumption surplus, though their success ultimately depends on changing individual behaviour. He called for redefining the relationship with consumption during Ramadan, stressing that moderation does not mean limiting generosity but directing it in the right way. He emphasized that Ramadan is an opportunity to practice awareness rather than multiply consumption, and every resource we preserve today is a right for future generations. He also stated that building a sustainable society begins with simple daily decisions related to what we buy, consume and waste, stressing that the true spirit of Ramadan lies in balance rather than excess. For his part, Professor of Finance at the School of Business at Al al-Bayt University in Jordan, Omar Khalif Gharaibeh, pointed out in remarks to QNA that Ramadan has become a unique seasonal consumption phenomenon in Muslim societies, with effects extending to essential resources such as water and energy, as well as consumer behaviour regarding goods and services. Field estimates indicate that demand for food products may increase by 50 to 100 percent in some markets during Ramadan, accompanied by a noticeable rise in food waste. He also cited estimates by the Food and Agriculture Organization stating that about 1.3bn tonnes of food are wasted annually, adding that Ramadan represents a seasonal example of the global challenge of food loss. He noted the transformation of the holy month in some cases into a consumption-driven season influenced by social customs, advertising, and marketing campaigns. Excessive consumptionShopping has become an end, with spending increasing before iftar due to hunger and psychological stimulation. This psychological and social shift reflects a fundamental paradox: fasting is meant to regulate desires, yet in practice it is often accompanied by excessive consumption and waste, placing pressure on household and economic resources. Excessive consumption is not only linked to economic aspects but also to environmental challenges, including water and energy depletion, increased organic waste, and higher carbon emissions. Health experts also warn that overindulgence in sweets and fatty foods and poor sleep regulation can harm individual health, reflecting how resource mismanagement extends from society to the human body itself. Gharaibeh highlighted that Ramadan should be a comprehensive test of self-management and resource governance at both individual and societal levels, linking spiritual values with practical responsibility. He stressed that Ramadan should not become a season of luxury food or social competition but rather an opportunity to promote moderation and discipline in personal and public resources. He called for community-wide engagement in sustainable behaviour to reduce waste and support food security, noting that solutions should not be limited to individuals but should also involve public policies that encourage rational consumption, reuse practices and food donation. Addressing excessive consumption during Ramadan requires dual awareness, religious awareness that restores the true meaning of fasting based on moderation, and economic and environmental awareness that recognizes the impact of individual behavior on resource sustainability. Balancing the spiritual dimension with environmental responsibility is the pathway to making Ramadan a month of true worship and sustainable development at the same time.
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German Chancellor Friedrich Merz urged Beijing to press Russia for an end to the Ukraine war and raised the issue of Europe’s yawning trade gap with China as he followed a string of Western leaders to court President Xi Jinping. Here are key outcomes of the German leader’s inaugural trip to China earlier this week: Travelling with dozens of business leaders, Merz told reporters that economic competition “played an important role” in conversations during his visit. European businesses complain that China, with its low domestic demand, is flooding Europe with cheap goods. Germany’s trade deficit with China hit a record €89bn ($105bn) last year. “This dynamic is not healthy,” Merz admitted after talks on Wednesday. “We want to reduce these imbalances, which have arisen primarily from overcapacity in China,” he said, vowing that more German officials would visit the country this year. While Merz stressed the need to reduce dependence and trade imbalances, China raised concerns about what it calls Berlin’s “over-securities” of trade and high-tech exports. Merz’s visit was a “success for both sides”, said Wang Dong, a professor at Peking University’s School of International Studies. “Germany secured strong economic and business deals, while China deepened strategic communication with Europe’s key power.” Companies from both sides reached more than 10 agreements this week across industries including autos, energy and finance, according to the Chinese commerce ministry. But the visit “did not exceed expectations,” said Philippe Le Corre, a China-Europe relations expert at the Asia Society Policy Institute’s Center for China Analysis. “Bilateral trade is unbalanced and increasingly so,” he said. “I don’t expect Chinese investments to come soon and help rebalance that deficit.” Merz said China had agreed to purchase up to 120 additional Airbus aircraft, adding that it “demonstrates how worthwhile such trips can be”. He did not specify when those purchases would take place. Airbus is Europe’s largest aerospace company, and China is a key export market. The new Airbus deal would follow a raft of orders announced by Chinese firms at the end of last year. Air China, Shanghai-based Juneyao Airlines and Spring Airlines, as well as Hong Kong-listed China Aircraft Leasing Group Holdings (CALC) announced purchases totalling around 150 jets. Airbus has yet to publicly comment on the deal announced by Merz. It did not respond to an AFP request. Merz told reporters following talks with Chinese leaders on Wednesday that he urged Beijing to exert influence on its ally Russia to end the war in Ukraine. “Signals from China are taken very seriously in Moscow,” Merz said. “China’s voice is heard in the world.” Xi said that diplomacy was “key to the issue” and that it was necessary to address the “legitimate concerns” of all sides, according to Chinese state news agency Xinhua. Merz added that Germany wanted China to avoid supplying Russia with dual-use goods its military could use against Ukraine. “I hope that in my talks I was able to foster a little understanding for the fact that the leadership of this country should also contribute to ending the war in Ukraine,” Merz told reporters before he left China on Thursday. Merz said he had also touched on the sensitive topic of Taiwan, the self-ruled island China claims as its territory and which it has not ruled out using force to annex. Any “reunification” must be done peacefully, the German leader said. Merz is the latest in a string of Western leaders to visit China since December. “China has risen to the ranks of the great powers,” Merz said. “That is also changing our relationship with China.” Britain’s Keir Starmer, France’s Emmanuel Macron and Canada’s Mark Carney also visited Beijing, as they recoil from a mercurial United States. “European countries now see China as a stable, indispensable partner — not just an economic player, but a critical factor in their foreign policy calculus,” said Peking University’s Wang. Merz said Germany’s trade policy was “not in isolation” from Europe. But visits by individual European leaders are not as strong as a coordinated push, Asia Society’s Le Corre warned.”Beijing has been trying to ignore EU institutions for the past few years,” he said. “Beijing is always keen to ‘divide and rule’.”
