E-cigarettes can help
I strongly believe the UAE should not ban e-cigarettes (‘Are e-cigarettes perpetuating addiction?’, Gulf News, June 17). A number of my friends in the UK have tried to quit smoking many times, using different methods without success, but they have succeeded with the help of their e-cigarettes, which weaned them off their addiction.
E-cigarettes do not smell toxic, but the toxic smell of smoke when I visited a hospital recently was overwhelming. There was a young man dressed in his hospital gown, standing outside, smoking a cigarette. He told me he was using e-cigarettes as a weaning tool to stop smoking, but it was confiscated at Dubai International Airport. He went right back to smoking 20 cigarettes a day and has now given up trying to quit.
From Ms Holmes
UAE
Website comment
Target all killers
I read with interest Gulf News’ article regarding smokers, which mirrors the vast efforts by other governments. But please tell me why these interested parties don’t spend as much effort targeting weapons manufacturers? After all, it is an industry that makes instruments purely designed for killing.
We have nothing but death and destruction all around us and yet more focus is put into this subject.
My last point is, many governments take vast sums of revenue from the tobacco industry and they are happy to take it. Just my thought.
From Mr John Sellers
Dubai
Regulate, don’t ban
With regards to Gulf News’ article on smoking addictions, I quit smoking three years ago using e-cigarettes and have never looked back. I started using liquid with nicotine, but stopped this after about three months. I now use the liquid with zero nicotine. I still use the e-cigarette when I’m out socialising as it helps stem the cravings, by keeping my hands busy. My 70-year-old mother also quit smoking by using an e-cigarette after more than 50 years of smoking and she has never felt better. Banning them in the UAE is not the answer! They need to be regulated, but not completely banned.
From Mr John Ennis
UAE
Hazardous
People continue to smoke and pollute the environment, despite knowing better.
From Mr Raj Kumar Jalan
UAE
Facebook comment
Why waste when there is hunger?
There is no point in acting as if God does not see everything we do (‘Waste not, want not’, Gulf News, June 17). Instead of helping a fellow human being in need, who may be homeless or poor, people are deciding to throw away eatable food? Remember, we all come from God and to Him, we will all return to answer for our actions. Be good, start this Ramadan.
From Mr Rafael Celis Al Andalusi
UAE
Facebook comment
Solution is to order less
People are never happy though! Would they eat bread, which was first served to someone else? These are leftovers from customers. It’s the customer’s job to finish what they order. In my 24 years of life in the UAE, I have never seen a person in a residential area who is so poor that he would agree to eat leftovers. On another note, no one has time to deliver leftovers to the needy. A better solution is for customers to finish what they order.
From Mr Shahzaib Arshad
Sharjah
Facebook comment
No one wants leftovers
It’s a shame that’s what you think, Mr Shahzaib Arshad. But I do think you’re right. I’ve been in Beverly Hills, US, and no one needs leftovers.
From Mr Karl Lecroix
Sunland, US
Facebook comment
Many would accept food
There are many people who have financial problems, and who will accept what is given to them. And, they will do so with gratitude and thanks!
From Mr Badar Alam Seddiqi
UAE
Facebook comment
Rampant food wastage
This article is about how restaurants make excess food, which ends up getting wasted. Sorry to say, I have seen many restaurants, not only in the UAE, but in many places, waste a substantial amount of food! I have seen such wastage in just the past week.
From Ms Jenvita Castelino
Sharjah
Facebook comment
Food is precious
I accept one point from Mr Shahzaib Arshad: yes, consumers who order food from cafeterias or restaurants must order just the right quantity that is enough for them. If they do not, they should realise there is no one present to finish the remaining food from their plate. But, the point is that the cycle begins right from the eatery, when people sit down to order. Remember that there are thousands of people who have had nothing to eat for weeks. Food is precious, never ever waste it.
From Mr Mohammad Ashraf
Dubai
Facebook comment
Do good this month
Let’s welcome Ramadan, the holy month of forgiveness and mercy — the month in which, the Quran was revealed to our beloved Prophet Mohammad [PBUH]. It’s the month where the rewards for our good deeds are multiplied. Let’s celebrate this month with good deeds. Feed the poor and needy. Share food with neighbours. Let’s keep away from bad deeds that stain our souls and do good deeds that bring us closer to God.
From Ms Mariam Jinnah
Ajman
Bus shelters are crucial
The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) have done a great job installing air-conditioned (AC) shelters at various bus stops. However, they have not reached all bus stops. Some of the ACs are not working properly in certain places. Even if there is no AC, at least comfortable shelters are there, thanks to the RTA. I would like to point out that there is no bus shelter near Lulu Village, a very popular pedestrian area, and also near the park, in Al Nahda 2 area of Dubai.
Commuters are perspiring in the hot weather while waiting for buses and sometimes, they feel as if they are going to faint. Can the concerned authorities look into this and provide comfortable journeys to bus commuters of these areas?
From Mr Thottikamath Balaraman
Dubai
Overreaction on Rohingya
Bangladesh isn’t all that bad towards the Rohingya (‘Anti-migrant protests in Myanmar’s troubled Rakhine’, Gulf News, June 15). Already, Bangladesh is struggling to manage its own people. Yet, because of the irresponsible acts of the Burmese government, as well as extremist monks, people are fleeing Myanmar and taking shelter in Bangladesh. This is causing a huge strain on the country’s economy, as well as social instability. Yet, its government is kind enough to allow them space and a chance of a normal life in the country. The new step is just a relocation of the Rohingya — nothing else.
The world should be thankful to the people and government of Bangladesh, for their kind-hearted concern in giving shelter to the Rohingya, towards whom the rest of the world has turned a blind eye! At least we Bangladeshis are letting them stay in our territory.
From Mr Jahan Sayed
UAE
Facebook comment
It’s their home, too
In response to Mr Jahan Sayed, you have highlighted a large reason why the Rohingya are in such turmoil. The Rohingya have inhabited areas of Bangladesh and Myanmar for centuries, yet both countries won’t claim them as citizens. Sure, there are Rohingya fleeing Myanmar to go to Bangladesh, but many have lived there for generations. It is completely inappropriate for a democratic country to simply relocate those who are unfairly being denied citizenship. In my opinion, many Rohingya have a right to live in Bangladesh, and they are simply not being allowed to stay.
From Ms Lili Maria
Dubai
Facebook comment
Reputation obviously damaged
How can Nestle deny concerns over consumer trust after what has happened with Maggi Noodles (‘Nestle dismisses concerns that consumer trust is damaged’, Gulf News, June 16)? Saying that their trust is damaged is having a keen sense of the obvious. I think that it’s also only the beginning of discovering what companies are doing to people’s health!
From Mr David Lewis
UAE
Facebook comment
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