A safety hazard
This is going to be an unnecessary headache in the near future unless strict measures are introduced right now regulating not only use of such unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), but also the places where they can be flown (‘Air traffic halted in Dubai due to recreational drones,’ Gulf News, January 24). We need to keep in mind the safety of passengers, properties and the unnecessary follow-up actions if any accident takes place. Reading this news, I am really worried about the safety of everything concerned and I sincerely hope that, after this incident, the concerned authorities are already on the job of avoiding recurrence of such incidents and also necessary warnings through all media would be given for using UAVs and also clear guidelines would be made available so that people interested in buying UAVs will think twice before spending the money.
From Mr Ramani Rajan
Dubai
Website comment
Safety and privacy
For recreational use, drones should only be allowed in parks or open grounds far from airports for safety purposes. At the same time it should be under strict guidance for usage to preserve the privacy of others.
From Mr Naresh Kumar Devra
Dubai
Website comment
A shining example
May God aloft his soul and give a high position in heaven (‘King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia laid to rest in Riyadh,’ Gulf News, January 24). What a remarkable life and death considering how prominent and rich he was, the burial was so simple and exactly as thought in Islam. Others need to learn and follow. It’s really an eye-opener, seeing the grave so simple without being named. Islam teaches us not to raise tombs and this is a clear example. May God make us and all other Muslims follow Islam properly.
From Mr Mohammad Sharief
Abu Dhabi
Website comment
Advancing the Middle East
We lost one of the great leaders of the Arab world (‘King Abdullah will be remembered as a reformer’, Gulf News, January 24). King Abdullah was a philanthropist, a reformer and an able administrator who spearheaded the Kingdom in the forefront of the Middle East. During his monarchy, he utilised the vast opportunities in technological transformations that the world was undergoing, to a great extent, in the field of communications. He implemented several innovative ideas in the Kingdom and I think his most notable contribution was in the field of women’s education as he had realised the fact that richness alone cannot bring prosperity to the nation. He had a large say in the day-to-day affairs of the Middle East and West Asia. The world respected his views also. The Kingdom’s diplomatic relationship with the US was at its peak even though it witnessed some trouble in recent years.
From Mr Girish R. Edathitta
Dubai
Website comment
Let the people decide
With the election campaign peaking in Delhi, India, political temperature is on the rise. Kiran Bedi’s induction and subsequent selection as chief minister (CM) candidate by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has not only surprised many, but given a new twist to the whole campaign. Facing bleak prospects with the lack of leadership and dissent, the BJP was really struggling to get their act together. With the unexpected announcement of Bedi’s induction, which promptly followed by the decision to elect her for a chief ministerial candidate, the BJP is back in the reckoning. It is a master stroke that could not have come at a better time. It is an interesting contest where two former activists who shared the same dais and fought against corruption, are now pitted against each other. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is quite rattled on this development and hence their disturbed and desperate reaction of their leaders alleging Bedi was always a supporter of BJP even when she was in the movement. They don’t know how to take on a woman who comes with a clean track record and has proven to have administrative experience. The decision lies in the hands of the Delhi electorate, who one would hope, will give a decisive mandate to the party who they think deserves to rule Delhi. Certainly uncertainty will pave way yet again to all the drama that was been witnessed in the aftermath of previous election.
From Mr Ganeshan Srinivasan
UAE
Bicycle-mania
There are no official statistics on the exact number of bicycles in Dubai, as there is no system to register them, but according to an estimate, 80 per cent of bicycles are used by restaurant, supermarket delivery boys and laundry personnel and for daily commuting. There is no denying that bicycles are an economical mode of transportation and people particularly in the low income group are benefiting from this cheapest source of conveyance.
The authorities have introduced various modes of transport in the city such as Metro, Trams and buses. In view of these facilities, giving a free hand to the bicycles is unjustified. Since, Dubai is a small city, bicycles or motorcycles are only suitable for mega-cities only. Though the authorities have installed ironed railings to stand bicycles, this facility is not available at every corner and footpath in the city.
With the increasing trend of cyclists in the city, it is feared that the current difficulties will further increase if precautionary measures are not adopted. The authorities are requested to either impose a ban on cyclists in the city or announce necessary modes of operation for them in order to get rid of the prevailing difficulties.
From Mr Mumtaz Hussain
Dubai
Secure investments for confidence
In the context of the prevailing economic situation in the Middle East following the ongoing civil war-related crisis, the Middle East honestly needs to look into a stabilisation plan to secure the interests of its future generation (‘Arab Stabilisation Plan can help fight unemployment’, Gulf News, January 24).
More than an investment plan, stability should be the key to ensure the effective utilisation of affluence spreading across the region. As the world has already seen the fall of traditional regimes in the region, it indirectly leads to a disorder in the routines and apparently affecting the economic situation in several countries.
The rebuilding of countries under the grips of civil war since past few years is a mammoth task. Therefore, together with convincing the strong community members, a well-founded strategy is needed to bring the society back to a conventional feel. In the past decade several countries in the region have distorted due to insurgency and are struggling to bring normalcy back in every aspect.
Even though the Arab world is not short of capital, the initial focus should be to secure its investment interests that ensure the confidence of the people. Thus it is vital to put together an effective strategic approach to safeguard the very basics of life and living within the Arab community.
From Mr Ramachandran Nair
Oman
Discarding old technology
Many of us talk about landfills, pollution and conduct different campaigns like the paper, glass and can collection campaigns, but very few know about the E-waste, which is mounting up these days. E-waste is a term used to cover almost all types of electronic equipment that could enter the waste stream. Our present world is getting smaller day-by-day with different innovations and replacements. Additionally, the prices for many electrical goods have become low and this has increased the global demand for many products that eventually ends up as e-waste. This waste can prove to be more dangerous than the general municipal waste as it contains hazardous materials. If not disposed properly, it can prove dangerous to the environment and life. In our planet, there is so much E-waste unaccounted for. The problem is a global concern because of the nature of production and improper disposal. If action is not taken, this could prove to be a major threat to our planet.
From Mr Melvin Mariam Scariah
Dubai
The beaten Syrian boy
The article left me disturbed as we were witnesses to their sorry plight in Turkey (‘Syrian refugee beaten for eating leftovers’, Gulf News, January 25). In May 2014, I travelled with my family to Istanbul. On the streets we saw nicely dressed children and women strolling down the roads listlessly. On noticing their clothes and footwear, we were taken aback as they were of good quality. The tiny children were selling packed paper napkins and were not begging. Out of curiosity, my husband asked them where they were from. A little boy answered in broken English that his family was from Syria and his house was completely destroyed. All his family and relatives fled to Turkey. The men were doing odd jobs and the children were under the watchful eyes of the women who were trying to sell paper napkins in the streets. His tired and dull eyes showed extinguished dreams. We were left shaken and we talk about this episode often.
From Ms Shamila Janakiraman
UAE
Cleaning up the board
It is definitely a landmark knockout verdict by the Supreme Court in India. Kudos to the Supreme Court judges for its much awaited verdict pronouncing Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) President in exile.
Barring Narayanaswami Srinivasan from contesting the board elections until he clears himself of commercial interests in the game was a welcome move. More than this, it is heartening that the Supreme Court has forced the BCCI to come under the ambit of the Right to Information Act, which they have been dodging for long. Though past leaders claimed that they were keen to weed out cronies and clean the board, all of them were party in bringing in rule 6.2.4 of the BCCI constitution, mainly to accommodate Srinivasan of Chennai Super Kings. Now all of them talk like saints. Anyway, we are happy that the Supreme Court, like in the case of many scams, have taken steps to clean the board and we hope to see better administration by players of the past and improve the game of Cricket.
From Mr N. Mahadevan
Dubai
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