Better late than never
I appreciate the comments of Saudi Grand Mufti Shaikh Abdul Aziz Al Shaikh calling all Muslims to fight against the Islamic State for Iraq and the Levant (Isil), but where has he been all along (‘Saudi mufti calls on Muslims to fight Isil,’ Gulf News, September 8)? I hope this message is well received - after all, better late than never. I just hope and pray that this miserable event in our time comes to a peaceful end. It is ruining the name of our faith.
I am a Muslim, and I believe that God can make it happen, but we as people, need to do our share. We need to stop being bogged down by politics and divisions within the faith. The bottom line is that nowhere in the Quran and in no words of our Prophet (PBUH) was there preaching of such heinous acts.
From Mr Abdullah
London, UK
Website comment
True necessity of female police officers
The true requirement of women officers has finally been recognised through the initiative launched by Abu Dhabi police (‘Female police officers console women drivers during accidents,’ Gulf News, September 7). This initiative to help female drivers is definitely a significant step towards making roads a safer place for its busy residents.
I think it helps in the efficiency of the investigation process of many of the accidents. I think it allows for women to think and feel confident when they find themselves in the middle of an accident. I also think it will help women to explain and state their points without much hesitation as they might find it easier and more comfortable to explain to another woman.
Not only does this initiative encourage confidence, it also encourages women to step up and take opportunities such as this new employment opportunity. This will increase the number of women employed, which I believe is a social indicator of gender equality.
From Ms Sruthi Rao
UAE
Efforts by residents
Renewable energy and eco-friendly fuels are the need of the hour (‘Solar energy to power Dubai homes,’ Gulf News. September 8). Beyond the efforts of the authorities, individuals and real estate companies too can contribute. Make it mandatory for all buildings to install solar panels according to the size and shape of the structure.
Energy can be harnessed and pooled into the main grid here. This could pave the way for tapping the huge potential of renewable energy.
From Mr Girish R. Edathitta
UAE
Website comment
No need to be mandatory
It may be a good idea to install solar panels on buildings in Dubai, but I don’t think it should be mandatory. If they work well, produce enough energy, repay the investment, stay clean during the sand storms and do not disrupt the grid, I believe a lot of buildings will start using them. There’s no need to force anyone.
From Mr Jarto Tarpio
Vaasa, Finland
Website comment
Prioritising energy
This is a great idea, but first the authorities should be providing solar energy in public areas and then the commercial and industrial areas. After this, we can consider bringing solar energy to residential areas.
From Mr G. K.
Dubai
Website comment
Seeking attention
If Qatar wanted to capture the attention of the international audience and media, they have succeeded (‘Qatar: Britons ‘interrogated’ after probe of World Cup labour conditions,’ Gulf News, September 8). Nothing beats snatching human rights workers and then posting comments from a ministry that they are “being interrogated for having violated provisions of the law”. They do this without elaborating on the case!
While being interrogated may be the regional norm, it is a bit more fashionable nowadays to use the more friendly sounding term ‘questioned’. It sounds so much more harmless. If Qatar expected to draw the attention of the world to admire their World Cup nomination, they should adjust their tone and actions to reflect modern day standards.
From Mr Louie Tedesco
Dubai
Website comment
No mocking happening
I do not agree with the point of view in this story that the ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) ice bucket challenge is a mockery (‘The ice bucket challenge is a mockery of ALS,’ Gulf News, September 7). Firstly, they are using ice and cold water to have the same feeling that patients with ALS have. This water could be coming from the sea directly, it does not have to be fresh water, and therefore I don’t think we can consider it to be a waste. Secondly, it only turned into a funny game when people who didn’t do their research started doing it for the sake of being popular on social networks. The challenge is to drop the ice bucket over your head and pay $100 and then challenge your friends to do the same. We cannot forget that the organisation was able to collect funds for research of this disease.
From Mr Anas
Dubai
Website comment
Ban the challenge!
It’s a waste! There are many other ways to spread awareness about ALS. Why waste water when you can just donate? By wasting water, it completely shows how little efforts are going towards conserving water. It’s high time the ice bucket challenge is completely banned.
From Ms Sana Sanuii
Abu Dhabi
Facebook comment
Donate, or do both!
There is no mockery because the challenge was actually started by a victim of ALS. Obviously, in an area of the world where water shortages exists, commonsense should prevail. Send a donation if you don’t want to pour water. Many of us do both. I don’t think there is any need to spoil a good cause.
From Ms Ro Johnston
UAE
Facebook comment
Nothing more effective
It is not a ‘useless’ waste of water. This viral challenge has helped raise funds and spread awareness of the disease. Yes, there are other ways to help spread awareness, but it will never be as effective as this one. To know more, reading the ALS association’s website in very informative.
From Ms Jennifer Sipin Villanueva
Dubai
Facebook comment
Publicity stunt
I agree that it should be banned. Nobody doing this is actually helping ALS patients. Instead they are only doing it for attention and publicity. This nonsense needs to be stopped now. Why are we wasting so much water while a major part of the world is struggling to obtain clean water?
From Ms Ketan Patel
Dubai
Facebook comment
Ends justify the means
Although it’s a waste of water, it did a great job making the campaign viral, and it made a lot of people all over the world donate to the cause. If other alternatives were used for the campaign, such as celebrity endorsements or just telling people to donate, I doubt people would participate and donate. Sometimes doing crazy stunts wins the crowd more than a well prepared speech. Still, the end justifies the means in my opinion.
From Mr Pim Adia
UAE
Facebook comment
More strict
In my opinion, the ALS ice bucket challenge could be a unique idea to make people aware about this disease, if they suggested that either people would accept the challenge or make a donation to an ALS charity of their choice. It went wrong because they added that people could do both.
People started pouring buckets of ice water on their heads, taking videos and posting them on social media, after nominating others to do the same. After few days, the challenge turned into a game. Then it turned into a gimmick for celebrities. It’s a terrible game to waste clean water. It was a waste because a lot of people did both.
If the challenge was stricter with the guidelines so that people either had to pour ice water or donate money, then there would be no waste since most people would prefer to pay. Ice water was suggested, so that people could feel the same pain as the people who are suffering from ALS. All diseases are painful and we don’t need to feel the pain to be aware about the disease.
There are people across the world to which one glass of clean water is a dream. If people want to donate, they should do so without wasting. An actual donation happens when it does not harm any other person or Nature.
From Ms Archana Sen
Abu Dhabi
Facebook comment
It made me aware
I didn’t know about ALS until my newsfeed started having so many bucket challenge videos. We can’t deny that donations have increased since the challenge began. So, I don’t see how this is a mockery.
From Mr Ahmad Razza
UAE
Facebook comment
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