Embrace Earth Day and a difference!
Today, we celebrate Earth Day, to inspire awareness and appreciation for the environment. It’s a day to reflect on our planet, our surroundings and what we can do to help keep it healthy.
Children have the most important stake in ensuring our planet’s wellbeing. They’ll still be the caretakers long after their parents and grandparents have passed away. So, I request parents to make their children aware of Earth Day, its significance and their role in protecting the environment. I would like to request all readers to demonstrate support for environmental protection, this Earth Day, by adopting green habits, by recycling in their homes, using public transportation or shared cars, by pre-setting air conditioner temperatures to 24 degrees Celsius, by planting trees and by disposing the waste mindfully. The most important realisation we need to have is that if we protect and take care of Nature, it will also protect us. Embracing Earth Day, I am participating in Bee’ah Earth Day walkathon today to show my support and solidarity towards environmental conservation. Such small efforts collectively lead to a big impact. Nothing is more powerful than the collective action of many.
The UAE government is investing in sustainable infrastructure and green technologies, but the public needs to cooperate to achieve this mission of becoming one of the most sustainable nations in the world.
From Ms Madhu Madan
UAE
A force to be reckoned with
For over a week, Marib tribes have been fighting in a heroic epic in the defence of their area. The city of Marib, mentioned in history books, is the capital of the ancient Kingdom of Sheba. Now, it is better known for its oil refineries, producing up to 25,000 barrels of oil daily and its position as the beginning of an oil pipeline, with a capacity of 200,000 barrels per day.
For several months, Al Houthi militants have tried to open the front of Marib, but all of their efforts have failed because Marib tribes, with the Yemeni army, have cleansed the area of Al Houthis and their allies.
What happened in Marib indicates that the army and tribal cooperation is important to defeat the forces of darkness. These days, tribes have shifted from defence strategies to attack. This is happening in Aden, Taiz, Al Hudaydah and all regions of Yemen.
The morale of Al Houthi and its allies is in total collapse.
In my opinion, the support of these tribes along with the joint force led by Saudi Arabia, has been key in driving forward medical aid, oil production and the instruction of a legitimate government in Yemen in an act of official support. These heroes are necessary to return Yemen back to normality.
From Mr Mohammad Al Hajeri
Al Ain
Preschool is necessary
I feel sorry for the child, but are there not any kindergarten classes in Saudi Arabia to leave a child during the day, while parents are at work (‘Maid to be executed for child murder in Saudi Arabia’, Gulf News, April 16)? I am a teacher myself and I know of several studies that have stated that going to kindergarten is necessary for the child before he/she goes to school.
From Ms Manana Murtiko
UAE
Facebook comment
Employers must be watchful
Helpers or domestic staff can be good or bad, regardless of ethnicity. Unfortunately, domestic staff get abused and also have been known to be negligent and abusive of those they are supposed to be taking care of. It’s up to the employer to keep a vigilant eye.
From Ms Shivi M.
Dubai
Facebook comment
Treat employees like family
Even if you have to employ a maid, treat that person well, like they are part of the family. Then, they are less likely to think of harming your family. I fear that if maids are treated inhumanely rather than as people like you or me, these incidents are more likely to occur. May the soul of the little girl rest in peace.
From Ms Chanty V. Ngam
UAE
Facebook comment
Can’t be rationalised
I’m appalled by the people who judge those who decide to hire maids! Isn’t the need to have a helper at home justified and in turn, offering employment to some people who need the money, alright? In every country, there are privileged people and this is a fact that just needs to be accepted. We can’t continue looking at it as if it’s a bad thing.
If two parents work, and they don’t have relatives who can care for the child and for whatever reason, a nursery isn’t an option, then some people naturally hire someone to help. There is no rationalising the maid’s crime!
From Ms Leena Amiri
Dubai
Facebook comment
Politics and hypocrisy
The sudden disappearance and dramatic resurfacing of Rahul Gandhi was aimed at getting maximum media attention, but has actually resulted in a counterproductive effect regarding his charisma and his party (‘Has Rahul Gandhi shot himself in the foot?’, Gulf News, April 18). As the leader of a national party and a Member of Parliament, he failed miserably to take the public, especially the voters of his constituency, into confidence. Elected representatives must be accountable to the public. But, the undeniable fact is that in the absence of consistent leaders like the Gandhi family members, the Congress party will disintegrate or be hijacked by some influential leaders within the party. The leaders who consider politics as a profession do not want such a scenario.
From Mr Girish R. Edathitta
Dubai
All parties want the majority
This is in reference to the Gulf News editorial about Indian political alliances rarely standing the test of time (‘Credibility big test for new Indian alliance’, Gulf News, April 18). Gulf News is completely right in this analysis of the new alliance to float a secular party in India. It is a very well-known fact that there are no permanent enemies in Indian politics. All of them are opportunists and this alliance too, has formed mainly by keeping in view the coming elections in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh states.
Presently, each and every party is keen to see the downfall of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which is ably led by Narendra Modi. Hence, there is uncertainty in whether these six so-called secular leaders will stick together for long, as every leader is keen to eat the majority share of the cake.
Apart from that, each one of these leaders is famous for expressing one’s own views to get maximum mileage during the elections. Hence, by the time the elections for these states are announced, it could break on one count or another.
From Mr N. Mahadevan
Mylapore, India
Hoping for an exciting match!
The world’s boxing fans are going to witness a deadly fight between two fierce bulls: the great Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather (‘Mayweather too smart for Pacquiao’, Gulf News, April 18). The experts predict that the American fighter will win the bout, but this is the world of boxing and no one can make a truly accurate prediction. Of course Mayweather is as clever as a fox and as deadly as a cobra. He has been so smart that he has promoted this fight for the past five years now. One thing is for sure: there will be no knock outs and, ultimately, Mayweather will grab the winner’s purse without shedding too much sweat.
In other words, Manny Pacquiao is not an ideal opponent for Mayweather, but sometimes, it can end anti-climatically. Anyhow, one has to wait until May 2 to know whether this fight will be exciting or if it will turn out to be boring. Since I am an ardent lover of boxing, I am keeping my fingers crossed!
From Mr Sunny Joseph
Mala, India
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