Throw it in the bin!
Self-designated areas where people collectively throw garbage into heaps have become so common, but it’s still littering (‘Community report: When will people stop littering?,’ Gulf News, September 18). I don’t understand why people can’t be more responsible. The authorities are doing a great job with providing such excellent infrastructure and services to prevent this, but we still take it for granted. It’s not so hard to walk a few extra steps and throw your trash in a bin!
From Mr Radi
Sharjah
Website comment
Easy to stop
I think that these unsafe satellite dishes would disappear if telecom providers reduce their prices (‘Satellite dishes an unsafe eyesore,’ Gulf News, September 18). Some cafeterias openly show ‘dish’ television in public and multiple restaurants that have a black tape on the lower right corner of the screen.
From Mr Mikey
Dubai
Website comment
Expensive
It’s definitely sad that we still use satellite dishes, but it will continue as long as the satellite and cable service providers in the country cannot match the international market prices. What is paid to service providers here for two months is equal to what can be availed from alternative sources for an entire year. I would like to ask the authorities to look into this matter because even with a Dh1,000 fine, many will still feel that it is cheaper to own a dish.
From Ms Jenny Michaels
Sharjah
Website comment
K-pop fans
I am so happy to finally see some Korean pop music news (‘K-pop rivals sport at Incheon showpiece,’ Gulf News, September 19)! For being one of the biggest papers in the Middle East, Gulf News needs to have more K-pop news for all the K-pop fans in the region.
From Ms Nina
Dubai
Website comment
More opportunities needed
There are very few opportunities for securing good employment opportunities with remuneration enough to sustain a decent standard of living and a proportionate saving in Kerala (‘90% of Kerala diaspora are in the Gulf,’ Gulf News, September 18). Hence, an educated person is forced to look outside the state for employment. The next best opportunities lie in states like Maharashtra and Gujrat if you are not into the Information Technology (IT) sector.
So in such cases, it doesn’t make much of a difference if you live with your immediate family in the UAE or live outside Kerala. Being a Non-Resident Indian (NRI), I would love to see good industries setting up in Kerala and having an opportunity to make a living back home where I was born. If I do not have an opportunity in Kerala, then the UAE with all its comforts and quality of life is the next best choice.
From Mr Anand
Fujairah
Website comment
Education quality
It is a sweeping statement to say that job opportunities are better in the Gulf region. For the people who are more educated in a competitive setting, India offers phenomenally good openings. It is sad that Kerala has very few higher educational institutions of quality. With student union politics, dismissive attitudes towards discipline, woeful campus conditions and university authorities putting downwards pressure on standards, these schools are declining. Majority of those with better education migrate to European destinations like Belgium, Holland, Sweden and Germany. It is unfortunate that Kerala politics thrive on finding faults, blocking progress, endlessly criticising those in power without offering solutions.
It has come to a sad pass that the state is only a consumer, thanks to the thousands in the Gulf who sweat it out to make consumption possible. The returnees have no re-orientation assistance and are received with fanfare when troubled times repatriate them.
It is heartening to note that brave young women and mothers venture out as nurses and work in testing conditions. I love this wonderful land of beauty, serenity and charm but feel sad that the directions it sets for itself is nowhere near meeting the challenges of a changing and competitive world.
From Mr Subramaniam Shankar
Koduvayur, India
Website comment
Brain drain
I found this story very enlightening. If 90 per cent of the Kerala diaspora are in the Gulf, what is left of the state? Then complaints and accusations are made towards Keralite women and non-Keralite skilled workers who work to make ends meet.
We all belong to a society where wants and desires go hand in hand.
From Mr Jake
Dubai
Website comment
Better together
Though the figures are correct, I don’t think that the findings are. The UAE attracts a maximum number of Keralites because of the freedom, security and facilities one can enjoy coupled with highly paid lucrative jobs in the GCC. No Keralite feels like the UAE is a foreign country on account of fellow countrymen working everywhere and operating in almost all businesses here in the UAE. The majority of food served at Kerala restaurants in the UAE has become a habitual and delicious food for other nationalities, too.
Unfortunately, I feel that this concept creates the wrong notion among other nationalities that Kerala is a country apart from India. It is impressive to note that when it comes to Keralites abroad, quality plays a vital role rather than caste or religion. The migration of Keralite to the Gulf region is actually a transition of his or her behaviour – from a state which observes a large number of protests to a place where strikes or protests don’t have to happen. The observation that jobs in the Gulf are still a well considered career in Kerala is not correct. The government employees in Kerala living on par or above the living standards of expatriates in any human index. The infrastructure shown in Kerala these days such as airports, telephone connectivity, specialty hospitals, English medium schools, shopping malls and influential media are all contributing to Kerala’s diasporas working in different parts of the world. In fact, systematic education, lack of employment opportunities in our home country and, most importantly, imitating the lifestyle of neighbours all resulted in the migration of Keralites to other parts of the world. Together we are stronger.
From Mr Girish R. Edathitta
Dubai
Problems in policy
I am an Arab and I like America, thanks to their technology our lives have been made much easier and more comfortable (‘The Arab world loves and hates America,’ Gulf News, September 19). Although, I do have certain objections to their foreign policy because their government sometimes shows double standards when it comes to conflicts like Israel. However, in general I find that American people are lovable.
From Mr Naz Esmail
Abu Dhabi
Facebook comment
Things done wrong
I’m an American and I agree with Naz Esmail’s comment. Not only with Israel, but I find that there are many other things that our government does wrong. It’s definitely fair to say that our government is not the same as our people.
From Ms Crystal Coleman
Dubai
Facebook comment
American technology
There is a difference between America and American products. There are a lot of negative sentiments towards America but American products are another story. Why not make use of their technological advancement? I don’t think there’s anything wrong with benefiting from that.
From Mr Talha Ugradar
Lusaka, Zambia
Facebook comment
Don’t hate Americans
I don’t think people really hate Americans. I think to really hate would mean to boycott their products, too. I don’t think we should hate anyone. If something is going wrong, that’s because of some evil politicians, otherwise I find the people are very friendly.
From Ms Shah Naz Mohammad Nawaz
UAE
Facebook comment
Stop the militants!
I think that this is a very good start. We need to let these militants of the Islamic State of Iraw and the Levant (Isil) be killed in order to make life safer for the rest of the population (‘France strikes Isil’s depot in Iraq,’ Gulf News, September 20). Anyone bringing up religion in this issue needs to understand that our beliefs are not in line with those of Isil. These men have been spilling people’s blood of all different religions, including fellow Muslims and then they hide in themselves under the blanket of Islam to confuse the public. This is what frustrates me the most. There is no holy book that allows people to do these sorts of actions. These people are evil who need to be stopped with immediate effect. God protect the innocent.
From Mr Bagambire Ivan
UAE
Facebook comment
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