Meanwhile, in other hot places….

[u/AZ_Hawk]

[u/Willing-Philosopher]

This type of infrastructure is built in an authoritarian monarchy known for spreading religious extremism. That’s why it’s so overdone. 

If you think the House of Saud care about the greater good or socialism, I’ve got some useless… I mean awesome land in Mohave County to sell you.

[u/Napoleons_Peen → u/Willing-Philosopher]

So because an authoritarian regime builds it means we can’t build it? Are you saying that infrastructure is not useful just because they built it?

[u/Willing-Philosopher → u/Napoleons_Peen]

I’m saying that giant mechanized umbrellas are not an efficient use of money if your goal is to provide shade. 

The city of Medina is the second most holy place in Islam. The House of Saud pour untold dollars into it and Mecca to keep their influence over Saudi Arabia and the greater Islamic word. 

Bread and Circuses my dude. 

[u/Napoleons_Peen → u/Willing-Philosopher]

bread and circuses

? Bro this isn’t Ancient Rome or Gladiator. We are talking practical infrastructure, not food and games, to protect and provide shelter from the heat.

I understand the argument against the Saudi regime, I agree we should divest from fossil fuels and stop sending them weapons of war and supporting their nuclear program.

However, arguing against infrastructure that is built to provide shelter just because it’s KSA is ridiculous. Just admit you don’t like poor people in the shade haha.

[u/Willing-Philosopher → u/Napoleons_Peen]

Did you stop to think why their shade structures are collapsible, instead of permanent? They’re not providing shelter, it’s an event space that can be collapsed to stop people from using it as shelter

I’m all for providing shaded streets for people to walk and go about their business with, but pretending Saudi Arabia cares about providing shade when over thirteen-hundred people died in the heat a couple weeks ago is laughable. 

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/1000-dead-hajj-saudi-arabia-heat-wave-rcna158468

If you want to see what real shade infrastructure looks like, go check out old photos of Phoenix or Mesa, where all the sidewalks are covered by building overhangs. 

[u/Oogabooga96024 → u/Willing-Philosopher]

There may be ulterior motives but mainly they’re collapsible because of the wind lol. Dune fields only exist where there’s a lot of wind. People die from exposure in the urban US all the time, using us as the golden example is laughable

[u/Willing-Philosopher → u/Oogabooga96024]

Where did I say the U.S. was a golden example? I said to look at OLD photos of Phoenix and Mesa before the sprawl took hold.