A message for Earth Day
On Earth Day, which is today, I would like to request all readers to support environmental protection by changing our attitude towards our world and by bringing sustainability into our day-to-day lives. For instance, we can reduce using cars and start travelling by carpooling or public transport to reduce carbon footprint. We could use less paper and switch to compact fluorescent lamps. The most important realisation we need to have is the 3Rs (reduce, reuse, recycle). Embracing Earth Day, I collected discarded car tyres from a junkyard, cleaned and painted them and then glued them together. I then glued a glass table top over the tyres and turned it into a coffee table. I made another table with discarded bicycle tyres and rims. Let’s do our bit.
From Ms Arushi Madan
Sharjah
Abusive response
A friend of mine was driving while I was in the passenger seat next to him (“Unified ‘Am I driving safely’ hotline for UAE commercial vehicles?”, Gulf News, April 20). Suddenly a white cargo van appeared from the left and pushed us towards the hard shoulder. My friend pressed the brakes and, fortunately, we avoided an accident. There was a similar yellow sticker pasted at the back of the van displaying a mobile number. I called the number to complain. As soon as I said that a van displaying that specific phone number had almost got us into an accident, the person at the other end started abusing me and disconnected the call. Apparently the mobile number belonged to the driver of the van!
From Mr Munib
Dubai
Website comment
No point in calling
I’ve tried calling the numbers on the backs of such vehicles. The response from the other side is not serious enough or sometimes the number belongs to the driver who is driving the vehicle dangerously. He then starts shouting and uses abusive language in return. So, I’ve stopped calling these numbers on yellow stickers.
From Mr Rizwan Kazi
Dubai
Extremely rude!
Will it make a difference? Personally, I don’t think so. You see the same vehicles breaking every possible road rule every day. Placing a sticker behind a vehicle does not imply or guarantee that the person at the wheel has any respect or education to apply proper driving rules.
From Mr Gregory Gomes
Dubai
Good but effective?
This is a really good move. However, I have always wondered how a person would take down a number while driving. It is hard enough to remember the plate number.
I have come across many reckless truck drivers, and sometimes it is so hard to note down the number. By the time you reach for your phone, the truck is out of sight.
From Mr Vijin
Dubai
Website comment
Not much use
Honestly speaking, this does not make any sense or help much at all, since these stickers are only displayed on the few vehicles that are run by companies. What about the reckless driving of those in private cars?
From Mr Zaid
Sharjah
Good idea
It is a good move to have a unified toll free number, as in certain cases where there is a mobile number on the sticker, it might be the contact number of the driver himself. Imagine complaining in this situation!
From Mr Ahmad
Dubai
Website comment
Reader response
Mr Fazal Elahi, if India does elect a national leader keeping Pakistan’s interest at heart we would expect nothing less but the same gesture reciprocated (“Letter to the Editor: An eye on our neighbour’s leader”, Gulf News, April 20). It would be a first in international politics that countries elect leaders keeping their neighbours interests at heart, actually maybe a brilliant solution to ending all conflict and bringing peace to mankind.
From Ms Geeti Bhatnagar
UAE
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