Preserve the culture
As a Briton who has been living in the UAE for over 10 years, all I can say is that this news about drunk tourists affecting Barcelona makes my heart sink (‘Fishing village under siege from drunken tourists,’ Gulf News, August 24). Barcelona is a beautiful city full of culture and life, bustling streets, fantastic restaurants and you can walk just about everywhere as it’s so compact. There are wonderful old tapas restaurants, architecture and markets.
They have every right not to want these English tourists there, and I do hope that these cheap flights stop so as to preserve the wonderful and vibrant nature of this lovely city. I am deeply ashamed by the way these people are giving the UK such a bad name. However, on the flip side there are Spanish who are making huge amounts of money from this as well.
From Mr Matt
Dubai
Website comment
Raise hope
The comments made in this story have great relevance in the context of the prevailing situation in many areas of the Middle East countries (‘We are waging war against a common enemy,’ Gulf News, August 24). The author has given quite an upsetting scenario of Iraq, where thousands in minority communities continue their struggle for mere survival.
Indeed, the crimes being reported from Iraq on a regular basis are highly emotional and leading to further distressing civilisation as a whole. The fact is that the movement of aggression on humanity is crossing the borders and spreading across the region. This is a very alarming situation.
The people of Iraq have been suffering for over a decade and their lives have been facing immense threat from their own lands where they born and brought up. The world seems to be helpless to find a meaningful solution to the agony of the large community, who has been living, for the sake of living.
There seems to be no hope arising from anywhere in the world, and so the horror continues. It is high time the international community wakes up and stands alongside and collectively shows their empathy to a large society with ailing elders, wounded men, helpless youth and children, tortured women and several others before they largely plunge into permanent darkness.
From Mr Ramachandran Nair
Oman
Harmful US attacks
The Islamic State militants have beheaded James Foley, the American journalist. The militants said that his death was revenge for the 90 US air strikes against the Islamist State of Iraq and the Levant (Isil) militants in northern Iraq. They have threatened further action against American citizens if the operation continues.
It is a matter to note that whenever an American is killed, all the international media and world start crying. However, their journalists and intellectuals become deaf, dumb and blind when America and its allies invade peace loving countries to maintain supremacy in the region.
On the search for Osama Bin Laden, the United States invaded Afghanistan. On taking revenge against Saddam Hussain, Iraq was destroyed with all infrastructure, buildings and nuclear plants. Israel, on the behest of the US, is engaged in a war with Gaza – killing many innocent civilians. Also, on the pretext to end the terrorists’ hideouts in Northern Waziristan, Pakistan, drone missiles were fired by the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (Nato) air forces. This resulted in a lot of civilian casualties.
It is time for all Muslims of the world to wake up and realise the nefarious planning of the Zionists who are cruel enemies of Islam. Zionists cannot be friends with Muslims, yet our Muslim countries adopt policies of friendship with them.
From Mr Mumtaz Hussain
UAE
Isil: A long time threat
US troops and allies haven’t been able to defeat Isil since 2004. I don’t think many know that the militant group was formed in 2004, but most of the casualties of the US troops were due to Isil. I don’t know what a few airstrikes will impact them now. The US has given billions of the latest weapons, ammunitions, missiles, and aircrafts to the Iraqi government, which I believe have now fallen into the hands of Isil as war booty. This just made it worse for the US.
From Mr Noumaan Nasser
Dubai
Facebook comment
Threat to humanity
Anyone who does evil work, even if the work is done alone, is a threat to humanity. This must include those who believe in religious violence.
From Mr Roland Chua
Abu Dhabi
Facebook comment
A great achievement
To be considered the brightest students in Britain is a great achievement indeed (‘Indian-origin student brightest in Britain,’ Gulf News, August 28). I offer my congratulations to Asanish Kalyanasundaram and his family in Lancashire, UK.
From Mr Sunny
Dubai
Website comment
Unsubstantiated claim
Without carrying out proper water testing in the UAE seawaters, it is irresponsible to put out unsubstantiated warnings (‘Flesh-eating bacteria: beachgoers warned,’ Gulf News, August 24). Does the author or the doctor have any proof to substantiate their claims? Warm US seawater could be considered cold water at UAE temperature standards. Concerned authorities should kindly verify this report.
From Mr I. F.
Abu Dhabi
Website comment
Unclear
I think this is a strange article as it is unclear whether there actually is any danger. Yes, I agree that we need to be careful, but I don’t think sunscreen will protect us in this case.
From Ms Anna
Abu Dhabi
Protection measures
I would like to know what kind of precautions do beachgoers need to take. I don’t understand how sunscreen will protect us from bacteria.
From Mr J. F.
Dubai
Website comment
Further instruction
There needs to be more awareness regarding how and where to discard expired medicine (‘Do not flush expired medicines,’ Gulf News, August 24). Also there should be easy access to do so for all residents so as to inculcate the habit.
From Ms Rita
Dubai
Website comment
Wasted medication
It is nice to know that I shouldn’t be flushing expired medications. I have only one concern - the doctor prescribed me medicine for five days and two tablets per day. So I only need 10 tablets, but the pharmacy wasn’t ready to give me just the required amount, they sold me the entire box of 20 instead.
Knowing that the additional 10 tablets will be wasted leaves me conflicted, because I have been left with no other choice than to dispose of them. In the case of antibiotics, the doctor prescribes enough for seven days and the pharmacy provides me for 10 days. Three days of medicine is totally wasted. There needs to be steps required to prevent this wastage and to save money.
From Mr Pradeep
Abu Dhabi
Website comment
Spreading panic
The ‘danger’ of expired medication is extremely exaggerated. I believe that the vast majority of expired medication doesn’t cause any harm at all. I bet there are many who keep their medication intact, and I don’t think we should be spreading panic about expired medicines.
From Dr M.
Abu Dhabi
Website comment
Divided on solutions
There is more divide than unity in the Arab world, especially when it comes to critical issues such as the stance on Syria and the role of Hamas in Palestine (‘Saudi Arabia to host Arab meeting on Syria, Isil crisis,’ Gulf News, August 24).
It is apparent that some member countries have better relations with nations outside the Arab world. Hence, the policy decisions of those countries are being formulated with the help of external forces. I don’t think we can expect consensus there.
From Mr Girish R. Edathitta
Dubai
Website comment
Belief in God
I think that religion is good but this makes me wonder whether people are good (‘Unicef urges all parties to protect children in Gaza,’ Gulf News, August 25). It’s better to respect each other’s beliefs so that we can build good futures. We are all from one God and I don’t think that it is important what religion we embrace.
If we love our Almighty creator, if we have love for each other, we must accept that religion is good and blessed. Religion cannot be used to further someone’s cause or to help their own issues. May God bless you all.
From Ms Vernalyn E. Lico
UAE
Facebook comment
Fear and hate
Surely, hatred is the issue here. If we look at only two emotions, love and fear, hatred is based on a lack of one and an abundance of the other. That which we fear, we must hate.
From Ms Caroline K. Morrissey
Dubai
Facebook comment
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