Get children involved in community projects
Kudos to the youth group of Green Hope for giving the gift of education to orphans in Nepal (‘Dubai-based youth group visits Nepal’, Gulf News, July 11). It’s so gratifying to see the younger generation getting involved in educating the underprivileged. They deserve applause. I hope to see more and more schoolchildren coming forward to take up such noble causes. Parents should encourage their children to shoulder such responsibilities.
From Ms Prema Venkat
Dubai
Not meant for profit
These hippos should be in the wild (‘Hippos are the stars of a Siberian circus show’, Gulf News, July 13). They aren’t meant for profit or personal interest. Like humans, they have friends and families, too. They need to be free.
From Mr J. C. Mandap
UAE
Facebook comment
Silly tricks for humans
Wild animals should be free, not forced to perform silly tricks for humans. This is unethical. Why is this still allowed to happen?
From Ms Laura Al Albani
UAE
Facebook comment
Can’t domesticate
They should be in the wild. They are not the type of animals to become pets that are domesticated.
From Ms Lioba Hassan Robiso-Lotfi
UAE
Facebook comment
Don’t belong in circus!
I hope people don’t go and see them. Hippos don’t belong in a circus!
From Ms Siv Marie-Louise Persson
UAE
Facebook comment
How is this entertainment?
How can anyone have fun watching these creatures perform in a circus? No one should ever pay to see this.
From Ms Vanessa Jansen
Sao Paulo, Brazil
Facebook comment
Deadly animals
Wild animals can never be pets. They deserve to live in the wild and not be enslaved for human entertainment. Besides, if any one of these hippos loses its calm, it will become a deadly situation.
From Mr Amad Al Deen
Dubai
Facebook comment
Hoping for peaceful solution
It’s good that The Hague ruled in favour of the Philippines, but China hasn’t considered the decision as legitimate (‘China has ‘no historic rights’ in South China Sea: tribunal’, Gulf News, July 13). Instead they see it as null and void. We need to keep calm, as there are a lot of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) in China that need to be considered. I hope it will end peacefully.
From Ms Mar Marie
UAE
Facebook comment
Political timing
Meanwhile, the Chilcot report that was released only days ago determined that the UK and the US illegally invaded Iraq. The timing of this ruling from The Hague is incredibly convenient, don’t you think?
From Mr Cam McDonald
UAE
Facebook comment
Destroying resources
This is good news because China has damaged the natural resources in the area badly. Now it belongs to Nature-loving people.
From Ms G. S. Lachica
UAE
Facebook comment
Respect UN decision
China should be ashamed if they still insist that the entire South China Sea belongs to them. The United Nations (UN) backed court already decided in favour of the Philippines. The whole world is watching China.
From Mr Mark Cruz
UAE
Facebook comment
Case by case basis
Some people just do the wrong thing in the heat of the moment, as it presents an irresistible opportunity (‘Philippines’ top lawyer urges more killings’, Gulf News, July 12). It is, therefore, our job as fellow human beings to guide them to the right path.
But, I also believe that the death penalty should exist for extreme cases and those who repeatedly go against the law. Say we provide them with treatment, but they keep doing the same thing or move on to worse acts? That’s the government’s money wasted.
Their life is not for us to give or take, I know that. However, sometimes we need to weed out the bad seeds.
From Mr Rizqi Fairuz Wahyudin
UAE
Facebook comment
No other way
This is the right move by the Philippines government. The world doesn’t see how these criminals destroy or kill innocent people. The country’s government officials often protect them and they are brutal. In my opinion, this is only the way to stop them.
From Ms Allondra Mace
Abu Dhabi
Facebook comment
Can’t let it continue
I agree! I would rather see these criminals die than let the crimes go on against the good and innocent people of the Philippines. These criminals were given time to surrender and rehabilitate their lives, but they refused because of greed. We will not let them go on with their evil ways.
From Mr Ai Olayvar Cruzado
Dubai
Facebook comment
Bloodshed doesn’t help
Killing criminals is not a viable solution, in my opinion. This is absolutely unfair and brutal. The best way is to provide these criminals assistance in order to reform them into respectable citizens. Bloodshed is not going to solve the issue.
From Ms Fatima Suhail
Sharjah
Facebook comment
Resisting arrest
No one is being urged to kill all criminals. The current Philippines government is asking them to surrender so that they can be rehabilitated. Thousands have already surrendered to the police. These particular criminals were killed during an encounter and they actually resisted arrest. They were also armed with guns.
From Ms Jodie Khawand
UAE
Facebook comment
Making criminals worse
Philippines cannot afford to fill up its prisons with drug lords, rapists, murderers and drug pushers. The prisons in the Philippines are like universities. You enter as a thief and you leave with an education in drug dealing or arms dealing. If the death penalty is not the answer to this, then what is?
From Mr Pangkay Ortega
UAE
Facebook comment
Happened to my neighbour
This happened to my neighbour, where the wheels were stolen right off his car (‘All four of my car’s wheels were stolen’, Gulf News, July 11)! He had a brand new car at the time. It was parked in the underground parking of his building. Some people are so brazen.
From Ms Sruthi Harikrishnan
Dubai
Facebook comment
Made someone angry?
It looks like a hate crime to me. This person might have ticked someone off.
From Mr Sausan Martinez
UAE
Facebook comment
Got lost in my old neighbourhood
Yes, the new exit on Hadiqa Street beside Al Safa Park is confusing (‘New exit on Hadiqa Street confuses motorists’, Gulf News, July 11). I used to live in Jumeirah near Hadiqa Street and the other day, I got lost just trying to reach there. Everything has changed, the roads are closed and construction is still going on. I hope it will be better soon.
From Ms Malika Boucif
Dubai
Facebook comment
Don’t miss your turn
When driving along this road one morning recently, I became confused and went onto the wrong road. This simple mistake cost me 20 minutes, as I tried to get back on track.
From Mr Mohammad Anees
Dubai
Facebook comment
Complicated
It’s complicated. The middle lane goes right, the right lane goes left and the left lane goes straight.
From Ms Sara Yaghoubi
UAE
Facebook comment
In the hands of the people
The Dallas attack in the US highlights the intolerance in the country (‘America caught in a web of violence’, Gulf News, July 13). The attack created a big ruckus in US. Racism and gun culture has been increasing in recent months, which is a sad state of affairs. The US is known for its multicultural nature, but with more expatriates residing permanently there, and this issue not being tackled properly, it is becoming a disappointing situation, to say the least. Despite US President Barack Obama’s appeal to his people, racism has become a tough issue to tackle. Will this issue be eradicated completely? This is in the hands of the people. I pray for the victims and a speedy recovery for the injured.
From Mr K. Ragavan
Bengaluru, India
A fat tax won’t help!
Imposing 14.5 per cent fat tax on some food items by the Kerala government in India is not going in the right direction (‘Will a ‘fat tax’ save the world?’, Gulf News, July 13). Children and adults eat pizza, sandwiches, burgers and much more at least once a month, on a weekend or holiday. The prices of such fast food items are exorbitantly high, apart from an additional fat tax. This tax system will never keep people away from eating the wrong things. People eat whatever they like and while eating, they do not look at the price. Before implementing the tax, the Kerala Finance Minister should have checked the hygiene standard of each restaurant. I feel the tax is just a way to come up with more revenue for the Indian government. Instead of bringing in such taxes, the Finance Minister should have come up with something that wouldn’t affect the cost of food. If he had imposed a fine on restaurants for keeping unhygienic and expired food items, he could have collected more revenue than he would through a fat tax.
From Mr Thottikamath Balaraman
Dubai
Editor’s 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. You can also post a comment on our Facebook page or tweet to us @GNReaders.