Opinions | Letters
July 6, 2009
Letters to the editor from readers of Gulf News for July 6, 2009.
- Gulf News
- Published: 22:53 July 5, 2009
Pivotal role
This draws a parallel between Switzerland and the UAE ("Housing Irena, a great achievement, says Shaikh Abdullah", Gulf News, July 1).
The UAE is regarded as a neutral nation just as Switzerland is to Europe - a peaceful and beautiful country that promotes peace and justice. The UAE has already established its position by being a respected voice of neutrality and a country that advocates peace.
Housing Irena's headquarters in the UAE is as important as the establishment of The Hague. There is no doubt that Irena is going to play a pivotal role in reducing carbon emissions and ensuring an optimum use of energy.
From Mr Abdul S. A.
India
No measure
I congratulate the UAE for bringing Irena here. By this, the UAE is now at the forefront not only in reshaping the world's future but in saving it from an environmental crisis, too. The economic, political and social benefits are simply immeasurable!
From Mr Y. Olatundun
Sharjah
Website comment
At any cost
This is a farce considering the fact that reported war crimes committed by Sri Lanka's mono-ethnic military during the last phase of the war have not been looked into ("Sri Lanka plans legal action against Tamil rebels," Gulf News, June 30).
Though much of the evidence appears to have been destroyed, satellite images and aerial pictures are significant in showing the indiscriminate use of heavy weaponry on civilian huts and hospitals. Justice needs to be served to 20,000 dead civilians and scores of mutilated victims.
From Mr Sandy Vadi
Ontario, Canada
Choose the sea
If you see the pool is dirty, why do you jump in ("Palm Jumeirah residents fall sick after swimming in dirty pools", Gulf News, July 2)?
By the way if we are talking about Palm Jumeirah, isn't it the development in the sea? Why not jump into the sea and have a nice time rather than in a shallow swimming pool?
From Mr Nath
Dubai
Website comment
Action needed
I live in an apartment along the shore and pay Dh53,000 in service charges every year. Where is my money going? The whole of the beach is in a mess - unkempt and unclean. Please, can relevant authorities take action?
From A Reader
Dubai
Website comment
Qualified staff
There has to be a professional company and people involved in treating pool water. Most of the time we find that people who are handling the chemical treatment for pools are not qualified enough to handle this job.
It is a serious issue and Dubai Municipality has to look into this matter seriously. Still there are many pools which don't have an automatic dosing system for pH balance and chlorine, although it is required.
From Mr Suhail Bandarkar
Dubai
Website comment
One source for help
It's really pathetic to note that lodging a complaint with Gulf News is the only means to get a decent or fair service from banks, phone companies, airlines or other service providers in the UAE.
These complaints are then forwarded to the companies and eventually resolved. My heart goes out to those consumers who cannot read or write or have the patience to send letters to the newspaper.
From Mr Khurram Asif
Dubai
Too hot to handle
The number of taxis in Abu Dhabi has reduced considerably, a clear indication that the authorities are doing a good job in encouraging the use of public transport. It would be great if a new route could be introduced for passengers commuting to and from Khalifa Street too.
There are many people who work in offices located in this area. It is extremely difficult to get a taxi during office hours. The condition becomes worse during summer as it is highly inconvenient to find a taxi in the sweltering heat.
From Mr S. Biswas
Abu Dhabi
Other priorities
Air conditioned bus stops should be a second priority ("Air-conditioned bus shelters launched in Abu Dhabi", Gulf News, July 2).
The first priority for the authorities concerned should be to construct more pedestrian underpasses and over bridges all over the busy areas of the city. This will minimise jaywalking.
From Mr Joseph Thomas
Abu Dhabi
Website comment
Frequency of service
The bus shelters are a humanitarian step for people. They would be helpful to those who use buses. However, the main thing that would encourage people to use buses are timings and frequency of service. If the buses are on time and waiting time is short, only then would people use buses.
From Mr Shahzad Shaikh
Dubai
Website comment
Respecting rights
Most pedestrians tend to cross roads even if the signal is red ("Drivers do not respect us pedestrians", Gulf News, July 1). Pedestrians need to respect drivers, too. They must realise that they do not have the right of way to cross a highway from any point they wish. Respect signals please.
From Ms Eva Donna Isla
Dubai
Website comment
A gift to people
This is, indeed, a gift to people as the shelters would encourage more commuters to use public buses. I would like to congratulate the concerned authorities on this initiative and we as residents will support and utilise it in a proper manner. More buses to other areas of Abu Dhabi would be another treat for residents.
From Mr John Dias Felix
Abu Dhabi
Website comment
Your comments
To make the Dubai Metro a positive success the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) should operate 25 small coaches to close by destinations of each station as shuttle services with a Dh2 e-bus pass will allow the commuters to reach their offices or home on time. People who use their cars to commute to reach their offices will also think of using Dubai Metro by taking a little walk to reach the shuttle service stop which is good for health and will eventually reduce the number of cars on roads and ease traffic. The shuttle services during peak hours should be increased and decreased during lean hours. Every rule has an exception and people who are forced to use their vehicles for official purposes have no choice but to use their vehicles.
Liaqath Ali
Dubai,UAE
Posted: July 06, 2009, 10:56
Actions speak louder than words in healing conflict, but sometimes the message needs to change first. The rift between America and the Muslim world is a case in point. US President Barack Obama seized the moment to change the tone of relations in his address to the Islamic world at Cairo University. He pushed all the right buttons on the divisive issues, winning a standing ovation. Many said, rightly, that the real test lay in America's future actions. So it is too soon for a comparison with the symbolism of John F. Kennedy's speech at the Berlin Wall, or Richard Nixon's visit to China. But that has not stopped some commentators from doing just that. Mr Obama promised a new beginning for the United States and the Muslim world, based on mutual interest and respect. This will win more hearts and minds than a "for us or against us" approach. His reputation as an orator went before him. Even before he spoke, extremist Muslim leaders including Osama bin Laden appealed to sympathisers not to be fooled by sweet talk. The speech did lack concrete initiatives. But Mr Obama is trying to navigate a minefield of distrust laid by his predecessors' mistakes and foreign-policy failures. He was right to start by seeking to restore the image of America, tarnished by the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq and the treatment of military detainees. He was frank about past errors. At the same time, he marked out US positions on controversial issues such as terrorism and democracy. It was cleverly done. Mr Obama held out a vision of a world free of extremist or nuclear threats with countries living in peaceful co-existence. If the US can just make the improbable seem possible, it would be a landmark.
Mark Rebello
,Bangalore
Posted: July 06, 2009, 10:55
The US president Barack Obama chooses Dubai for example! The US president says, "Countries like Japan and South Korea grew their economies while maintaining distinct cultures. The same is true for the astonishing progress within Muslim majority countries from Kuala Lumpur to Dubai". Indeed, peaceful co-existence of various cultures and religions, communal harmony made UAE an example to others. So, the president didn't spare it in his remarkable address. We express our joy listening to the word 'Dubai' and feel pride. Dubai is an example of growing economy despite the presence of distinct cultures.
W. Quraishi
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: July 06, 2009, 10:54
First let me congratulate you and the entire team of Al Nisr Publishing for successfully completing 30 years. I have a wish to travel to Dubai and UAE; I have been reading Gulf News online since few months. Gulf News has provided such useful, detailed information not only by its print media but also by electronic media (GNTV). My best wishes for the newspaper to keep growing.
Yogesh Chugani
,Jamaica
Posted: July 06, 2009, 10:54
Recently I stopped at a signal in Al Qusais and to my horror saw something terrible. A white four wheel drive vehicle driven by a well dressed and good looking woman and a small kid in the front passenger seat. She had kept all the window glass panels lifted up to get the full effect of the air conditioner and escape from the scotching heat outside. But she was having a burning cigarette in her hand and puffing her way thoroughly enjoying the smoking and blowing out the poisonous and pollutant air into the vehicle and forcing the poor child to passive smoking. Is it ignorance or is it arrogance?? She is putting her health into trouble and spoiling the future of that cute child beside her. Is there any rule to complain such behaviour and can the authority spot fine her? We need more strict rules to be implemented.
Bader Al Deen
Dubai,UAE
Posted: July 06, 2009, 10:53
I've always had it in my mindset to do something good to the environment. Collecting trash and throwing them in the trash chute isn't really helping our planet. It's a good thing the Sharjah municipality has been doing some work with the segregation of waste. I live in the Majaz Park area. There, they have put up trash bins for sorting paper, bottles and plastics, and other wastes separately. But I believe it shouldn't stop there. The authorities should be more proactive in devising schemes or bills in implementing waste segregation. Currently, I'm having problems on how to deal with the following trashes and how to dispose of them properly - paper and cardboards, plastics (bags, food containers, wrappers, etc.) and styros, metals (old cookware, utensils), light bulbs, batteries, cooking oil, food waste. Is there anyone out there that knows how to segregate and collect any of these specific wastes?
Allan Geroy
,UAE
Posted: July 06, 2009, 10:53
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