An amazing event by the city
The event for Dubai’s world record for the longest graffiti scroll was awesome (‘Dubai breaks worlds longest graffiti scroll,’ Gulf News, December 2)! I had registered to be a part of the Guinness World Record breaking event. The organisers arranged a workshop, and I was able to learn how to do graffiti. The event was so exciting, and I feel so proud to be a part of this event that marked the 43rd National Day of the UAE. I was also able to meet several great artists from around the world and see their artistic hands at work. Kudos to Dubai for organising such wonderful events!
From Mr Achilles Ash
Dubai
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Where’s the justice?
It’s unfortunate that even after 30 years the victims of the Bhopal gas tragedy have not yet seen justice (‘Thirty years on, Bhopal’s ghost haunts India,’ Gulf News, December 2). On December 2nd 1984, lethal methyl gas leaked from a state-run plant and thousands of poor villagers around there died. Thousands are still living in appalling conditions and still, neither the International Criminal Court (ICC) or the Indian courts have served proper compensation for the dead or the people who survived the tragedy.
Justice delays are considered as justice denied. The victims of the tragedy do not belong to any vote bank politics, so none of the political parties are interested in uplifting them. Not even an attempt has been made by any successive governments to extradite the chairman and CEO of the company to the court of justice. He passed away on September 29, 2014. In any tragedy, it’s the victims who suffer and the people who are responsible for the incidents tend to escape using power and money. At least the present government should give employment opportunities in the government sector and give adequate compensation for the next of kin of the victims.
From Mr Eappen Elias
Dubai
Rent hikes are more
The information in this article is nowhere near the reality for the amount that the rent has gone up by (‘Dubai apartment rents up 20.2%,’ Gulf News, December 2). If you go and look into the market, the prices have gone up by more than 50 per cent in many of the areas and 30 per cent and above in all other areas. I thought there were regulations for increasing rent, but many people are suffering from these hikes.
From Mr Atul
Dubai
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Geese with golden eggs
I don’t think that most people win battles against their landlord. In fact, the residents are geese that lay golden eggs for the landlords and the landlords prefer not to collect rents on a monthly basis, so they want either a single cheque or, if you’re lucky, maybe two cheques. If they were being considerate, you would find rent offers with three cheques a year and very rarely do you see four cheques for the rent. Why not collect on a monthly basis? I don’t think they should be allowed to collect rent for an entire 12 months, all in one go.
From Mr K. B. Vijayakumar
Bangalore, India
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Saw a stall in increases
It’s untrue what this article says because my rent has increased from 2013 to 2014 by 35 per cent, but in 2014 I haven’t had any increase. Around my area, a two bedroom has come down to Dh49,000 from Dh53,000 compared to last year – thank God!
From Mr Mohammad
Sharjah
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What’s real?
This is a disappointing story given that month-by-month rents might actually be falling. This article is just scaring people into thinking that rents are rising when they are mostly falling, in Dubai.
From Mr Stuart Watts
Dubai
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Significant increases
I had also a bitter experience on this rental increase matter. For the past two years, my landlord increased rent by nearly 60 per cent. Each year they are increasing it by another Dh10,000 without official notification. I had complained with the landlord, but nobody listens to me!
From Mr Dev
Dubai
Website comment
Be the change!
I wish to share my opinion on energy conservation on a global level, which forms the bedrock of a sustainable world for tomorrow. With the global population expected to rise to nine billion over the next two decades, creating energy demand increases of more than 50 per cent, supplying secure, affordable and clean energy to an additional two billion people will be no small undertaking. I believe it is a challenge that presents humanity with the greatest opportunity of a generation.
The need of the hour is to embolden global collaboration and powering the future of energy investment and innovation. According to an international consulting and analysis company, global clean energy investments grew more than five-fold between 2005 and 2012, from $30 billion (Dh110 billion) to about $160 billion (Dh588 billion). Even countries with vast reserves of fossil fuels, such as the Gulf countries, recognise the opportunity and are developing substantial programs for renewable energy development. This is only the beginning.
We must accelerate the innovation cycle by diverting capital from traditional energy exploration to future energy development, whilst driving down the cost of clean technology to make the shift economically viable. It is now impossible to decouple our economic future from our environmental one. To conclude, I strongly believe in the quote by Mahatma Gandhi: “Our future depends on what we do in the present.”
So fellow environmentalists, never be under the impression that someone else can save our planet. Be the change you wish to see in the world!
From Mr Manav Jha
Dubai
We need answers!
The political show in Islamabad by Imran Khan last weekend was massive and historic. His sit down in the capital since August 14 and impressive political rallies nationwide are awakening the Pakistanis who want to see change in the country under the strong leadership of Khan.
The political opponents of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) are once again putting allegations on Khan. My question to them is: if everyone in parliament and on the streets admitted to widespread rigging in the 2013 general elections, then why is the government and judicial authorities not ready to appoint a free and impartial judicial commission for investigations? What should PTI and Khan do? They have tried every possible source: parliament, the Election Commission, the Superior Courts, negotiations with the government and opposition leaders, sit downs, political rallies and even massive support from the people. Now the “shut it down” threats by PTI are its final option. The ball is in the government’s court now.
As Pakistanis, holding our heads high with our identity, we need answers against the rigging of the people’s mandate!
From Mr Khaula Shahbaz Rao
Dubai
School bus behaviour
I would like to bring to your notice a common issue faced by many students that has to do with school transport. In order to make school bus journeys a safe and pleasant experience for all students, I think it is not only the responsibility of transport companies and staff, but students also by behaving well with their fellow students. It seems that most of our school bus journeys are not very pleasant due to the unacceptable behaviour of some students. The other day, I boarded the bus from school to go home. Since we had a cooking activity in the last period, I was carrying some plates and a cover. In order to sit down, I gave my plates to a friend and kept my cover next to another student’s seat. The student started throwing my cover like some sort of toy around the bus.
I got angry and lost my temper. Then the bus conductor came and solved the issue - apparently putting me at fault. Many students criticised me and called me ‘shameless’ for losing my temper at a ‘small’ child. I was really upset and it spoiled my mood for the entire day. What about his action? Was me losing my temper wrong in any manner? Such unacceptable behaviour on school buses is a bad experience for all of us, especially after our parents pay a lot of money for the service.
From Ms Lakshmi Rajagopal
Dubai
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