Make a promise today!
Today being the National Environment Day, I would like to thank the concerned authorities for spending time, money and resources to make UAE an eco friendly country. Initiatives launched during 2014 Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF) like ‘rent an eco friendly bike to explore Sharjah’, offering healthier public transport option; ‘Market Outside The Box’, which was Dubai’s first sustainable fashion and lifestyle market concept; announcement of the official opening of Al Fahidi Souq in March, which will be Dubai’s first green souq built according to the green building specifications and is said to use 45 per cent less energy are only some examples that show the amount of effort the authorities are putting in to make UAE a sustainable country. The recent opening of organic food Friday market at Safa Park, Jumeriah; the expansion of the green profile of Dubai’s public transport by using bio-diesel fuel in buses and marine transport; the introduction is ‘Smart bins’ that can now track the amount of trash produced by individual households in Abu Dhabi; the placement of colour-coded bins for waste segregation in commercial and industrial establishments are some other important steps taken by concerned authorities. I am writing this letter to request all readers to come forward and make the most of all these initiatives and support the authorities in reducing our ecological footprint and make UAE one of the most sustainable countries in the near future. The Dubai municipality has made it easier for residents to check their ecological footprint by answering few simple questions on their website ‘footprint.dm.ae’. Lets all take a pledge on the 17th National Environment Day of the UAE to work towards conserving the environment. We all know that we need to put in individual efforts to save our planet as there is no Plan B in place for the same. In the end, I want to also thank Gulf News for voicing my message and fulfilling their responsibility towards the environment.
From Ms Arushi Madan
Dubai
Negative reports about India
I have been a Gulf News subscriber since I arrived in the UAE, which is about 10 years ago. I agree that Gulf News is definitely the best newspapers in the UAE. Hence, I renew my subscription every year. However, I have to point out that I am often disappointed with the news reports from India. Being an Indian, it is very disappointing to read majority negative news of my country because I know that there are a million good events and incidents taking place. On January 24, a headline on the front page read, ‘India village council orders gang-rape’. This is news from one of the millions of small villages that India has. I understand that an incident like ‘rape’ is unacceptable and there is a need to awareness and a social uprising against it. However, as an Indian, I felt extremely angry with Gulf News for highlighting this on the front page, as it is tarnishing the image of a country. Has Gulf News thought about what impact this report has on an Indian who sees this headline the first thing at the start of new day? I do not think news like this warrants a front page reporting or for that matter even reporting at all in an international newspaper. I would not read this news even if it was news from another country. My question is - why report only negative news from India when there are positive and newsworthy events happening there on a daily basis. I do hope you will act upon this feedback and make an immediate change to the kind and quality of news reported, particularly about India.
From Ms Sophy Kurian
Dubai
Editor’s note: Thank you for your concern and comments. Gulf News reports news as it happens, whether it is positive or negative. All rapes are crimes, but a village council ordering the gang-rape of a helpless woman is outrageous and hurts the collective conscience of the people. That is why it was highlighted on the front page. You have mentioned in your note that there is a need for awareness and social uprising against incidents like this. That is exactly what we are trying to highlight.
(TO GO WITH A RAG OUT & EDITOR’S NOTE)
Unpleasant picture
The front page picture of Gulf News on January 2, of the violence in Thailand was very repulsive (‘Violence rocks Thailand ahead of polls today,’ Gulf News, January 2). I eagerly wait for the newspaper every morning. This has been my routine for the last 12 years. In my opinion, generally people would like to see or hear pleasant things in the morning. I know Gulf News would like to highlight matters, but putting gory pictures on the front page is very bad. Couple of my friends did not renew their subscription only because of this. Please do not print such images on the front page.
From Mr Raj Sekhar
UAE
Editors’ note:
Teasing women at the corniche
I have been living with my family in Abu Dhabi for the last 20 years. I am writing this letter to raise an issue that my family faces at the Abu Dhabi corniche with the concerned authorities. I go for a regular morning walk by the corniche. My wife recently started accompanying me, but after a few days she had to stop because she was uncomfortable with the way people, especially labourers walking and cycling in the area stare at women exercising. It doesn’t stop at staring; when women are alone these men show them weird signs. This is common by the corniche between 5.30am to 8am. Me and wife use to do some stretching exercises before and after our walk. There are many residents who do the same, but it is awful that ladies no longer feel safe doing their daily exercise. Abu Dhabi corniche is a great place for families to spend their time peacefully. Hence, I request the concerned authorities to take stern action against people teasing women by the walking path. Authorities must make sure this doesn’t happen and encourage more and more women to use the corniche. I want to highlight this issue in Gulf News due to its vast reach.
From Mr Oscar
Abu Dhabi
Full name withheld by request
Editors’ note: Is there a news report that you feel strongly about? Something that has to be addressed in the community and requires resolution? Email us on readers@gulfnews.com. Post a comment on our Facebook page or tweet to us @GNReaders
