Critical for economic growth
The comments in The Views’ piece can be considered as a repeated call to end widespread conflicts in the region (‘Arabs must come up with action plan to end regional conflicts,’ Gulf News, November 24). It is promising that the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is now seriously looking into issues that concern its people and resources. The contribution of people from some of the Arab countries that have struggled due to years of civil war, have led to the creation of unforeseen situations in the economy of GCC countries.
It is critical to straighten issues pertaining to foreign policy in order to reach a common consensus in the event of increasing unrest in the region. It has a great influence on the economies of not only the GCC, but of the rest of the world, as well.
The years of conflicts are echoing the fact that increasing militancy tends to destabilise the economy, growth, resources and more importantly, the lives of ordinary people. Therefore, a collective action plan can find a healthy and effective outcome.
From Mr Ramachandran Nair
Oman
Keep up morale!
May God help, bless and give success to this gentleman on his mission (‘Expat to walk across all seven UAE emirates,’ Gulf News, November 23). Keep your morale high, brother! The UAE is one of the best and safest countries in the world.
From Mr Khoram
Pakistan
Website comment
Giving back
Seeing how this Pakistani expatriate is going to walk across the seven emirates in celebration of National Day demonstrates what I love about the UAE — almost everyone here perfectly coexists. I have not heard one major or minor incident here regarding cultural clashes between nationalities. There is nothing even remotely life-threatening in this peaceful country and the only way we can thank this nation is by working hard, investing money in the UAE in areas like real estate, locally produced goods, local education and into the health sector. That’s just my opinion.
From Mr Shah Ryar Khan
Dubai
Website comment
Always feeling safe
Well done, friend! Yes, the UAE is one of the safest countries of the world. Even in my home country, where I was born and completed my education, I always feel unsafe when I am going from one place to another, even during the day time, but in the UAE, it’s not like that at all. I used to relax at the Jumeirah Corniche late at night with my family, without any fears. What a great country.
From Mr Shariq Syed
Abu Dhabi
Website comment
Always memorable
We went to Abu Dhabi to witness the National Day celebrations in a mall and while we were returning, we were caught in a parade (‘Only official UAE national day parades allowed,’ Gulf News, November 23). Motorists who were visitors to the mall, were forced to be a part of the parade due to a lack of traffic discipline among the people taking part in the parade. It was a memorable experience, though it took three hours to reach Dubai. I would love to register and be a part of the parade. Wishing the UAE, my country of birth, a much more organised National Day for 2014!
From Mr Achilles Ash
Dubai
Website comment
Our biggest shame
If you think that the problem of sex abuse from celebrities has stopped, then you are dreaming (‘Britain still grappling with celebrity sex abuse,’ Gulf News, November 23). It didn’t start in the 1970s and it sure hasn’t come to an end. There is a sorrowful sickness in society of women being raped and children being abused. This is what the human race has to be ashamed of — that we have not yet found a way to stop this and yet we are capable of so many other wonderful achievements.
From Mr David Woodward
Dubai
Website comment
Television is universal
In light of World Television Day last week, the use of television is ever-increasing and it has diversified from just being a tool for watching movies and programmes. The television has changed our lives in so many ways and for that, I think it is amazing. It entertains us, teaches us, broadens our horizons and has broken geographical, linguistic, and cultural barriers. Television brings us news every day from every corner of the world instantly and focuses attention on major issues facing the world — it produces results. It has been a symbol of communication. It also gives us the comfort of watching movies at home, without having to purchase tickets.
Now, television has evolved. It has gaming capacities with different providers offering facilities for games. Internet television is yet another option where YouTube is on a big screen and now, video conferencing is done on televisions as well. Earlier, they were a status symbol and now they are practically a necessity. No wonder the United Nations has a day to honour television!
From Ms Maria Vincent
Dubai
JFK’s mystery murderer
I think that November will forever be etched into the minds of Americans as the day darkness descended on their soil. It was 51 years ago that the political family’s slow disintegration began when John F. Kennedy (JFK) was assassinated.
A shooting in 1963, then Senator Bobby Kennedy’s plane was lost over the Atlantic — piloted by JFK’s son. Jackie Kennedy died of cancer and the last surviving brother, Senator Ted Kennedy, succumbed to poor health.
Whilst assassinations are not new and are part and parcel of a politician’s life, JFK’s assassination has resonated with people. From the slaying of Julius Caesar to Archduke Franz Ferdinand’s shooting precipitating World War I, it is this Dallas shooting that still amazes us.
Commission after commission, countless conspiracy theories, films, books, documentaries — all still trying to get to the bottom of modern history’s coldest case. The elimination of two key figures in that plot, Lee Harvey Oswald, the alleged shooter, subsequently killed by nightclub owner, Jack Ruby, virtually ensured that the case would remain a mystery. Dead men tell no tales!
From Mr A. R. Modak
Johannesburg, South Africa
Children’s safety
This is with regard to the recent actions taken by Sharjah authorities to protect children from falling off high-rise buildings. It is a really great step taken up by the authorities. Yet, many children have lost their innocent lives in this regard and many parents are grieving for their lost little ones. What has happened cannot be undone by any means.
The authorities have realised the seriousness of the matter and have finally taken remedial steps. Now, at least they might apply these rules to all upcoming new high-rise buildings with many more safety precautions at windows and balconies. This should help in order to avoid such disasters in the future.
I don’t think parents can fully be blamed all the time for such incidents, because they think the child is independent in their activities and would not think of opening windows or balconies that are unlocked. Brochures from the civic authorities should be displayed and distributed in all high-rise building flats and security guards should also be taught how to react if such an incident occurs.
From Mr Prasad Warrier
Sharjah
Addictive technology
I would like to bring to the notice of readers, the limitless gadget addictions most people seem to have, in Dubai. It has come to a point where they cannot live without their gadgets. As a result, this addiction has become a serious problem. People use devices for such a long period of time that they could possibly read and complete a whole dictionary in the same amount of time!
Today, it is difficult to imagine a modern teenager without a device of his or her own. This addiction may cause unhealthy lifestyles among children and may also affect their academic performance. Therefore, it is high time we avoid using gadgets. Better to be a book addict than a gadget addict.
From Ms Jewel Prianne Roche
Dubai
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