Help orangutans, avoid certain foods
One of the main reasons is because the forests, the orangutans’ homes, are being cleared to make way for palm plantations (‘Bornean orangutan, whale shark sliding towards extinction: conservationists’, Gulf News, July 10). Palm sugar and oil is used by big companies worldwide, who in turn pay farmers a meagre wage to grow this crop. The farmers are so poor that they do this without thought for the environment and the animals displaced or killed off. There are more sustainable ways to get alternate sweeteners and oils. Don’t add to this problem by eating certain popular foods with palm sugar and oil in it. Check the ingredients before you buy and save an orangutan’s life!
From Ms Maxene Dodds
UAE
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Queen of centre court!
Kudos to Serena Williams for finally breaking the jinx and equalling Steffi Graf’s record of 22 Grand Slams (‘Serena relieved to keep her date with Graf’s tally’, Gulf News, July 10). That, too, at her favourite Wimbledon centre court. Now the monkey is off her shoulders, she is in line to surpass the overall Grand Slam title of 24 held by Margaret Court. With her seventh Wimbledon, she has proven that she is the queen of centre court. With her winning the doubles crown with her sister, it was a double delight for the Williams sisters!
From Ms Janaki Mahadevan
Mylapore, India
Buying cheap glasses
I think if she simply finds people who can donate money for glasses, she can make a lot of donations easily (‘Dubai student on mission to give better vision to poor patients’, Gulf News, July 9). In some local markets, a frame costs about Dh3.5 and getting glasses fixed will cost as low as Dh10. I got mine for this price in Karachi, Pakistan. If she arranges cash, she could ask some shops to distribute glasses for free in Pakistan instead of getting used ones. Just an idea!
From Mr Shaheen Aziz
UAE
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The UN won’t help
If the United Nations (UN) comments on this type of collective punishment at all, it will almost have no meaning (‘Call to destroy homes of Palestinian’s killers’, Gulf News, July 10). There is no better example of how the world accepts double standards, ignores the land grab of Israel and, the worst of all, no one stops the blockade to allow medicine and building materials into Palestine. I feel ashamed to observe this kind of thing happening in the 21st century.
From Mr Markus Setz
Dubai
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US intolerance emphasises UAE diversity
The highly condemnable arrest and abuse of an Emirati in Ohio, US, unfailingly drew criticism from all corners. The authorities just steered clear of the controversy by apologising, but no monetary reparations can ever compensate for the trauma inflicted on the man.
How can donning a kandoura be mistaken as a sign of allegiance to Daesh? No doubt, hate crimes against Muslims in the US has soared in the wake of recent acts of terrorism. Such racial attacks the consequences of spewing of hateful rhetoric against Muslims. It is really hard to believe that such incidents occur in broad daylight and not many bat an eye, in a nation that takes pride in boasting itself as a nation of immigrants. Just like how a bee flits from flower to flower and gathers nectar, many racially diverse groups, too, have contributed to this nation’s history and success. Each of these racially diverse groups have their own culture, but if barring one from wearing their traditional attire isn’t discrimination then what is? Such acts not only project the notion that the West disregards Muslims. Persecuting all Muslims for the actions of a few miscreants going about painting the town red is a dire celebration of ignorance at its prime.
These people who commit such acts need to pay a visit to the UAE. It is truly a country that can be cited as the most culturally diverse country. Societies struggling to incorporate Muslims in them should look up to this nation that strives on its multicultural society. Tolerance and peace are so woven into the fabric of people’s lives. Just a walk down any busy street and one will see it speak volumes in itself.
From Ms Syeda Amena
Dubai
Paying for the prime minister
The farce of our Pakistan’s prime minister ruling the country from abroad over months through skype and without installing a responsible replacement, even for the time when he was sedated during surgery, has shown how important Pakistan is in the eyes of the prime minster (‘Pakistan PM returns home after surgery in London’, Gulf News, July 10). Pakistan is in the first place a power seat that has to be secured. What about the people and their security in any untoward incident or even the budget of a failing economy? All these are of secondary importance in his eyes.
Now after over a month of his absence he is bringing his entourage back to Pakistan. Because of their huge numbers, a full aircraft has been chartered for them instead of using from his own fleet of aircrafts for heads of state and government.
The question arises: Who will foot the bill? He could have had his surgery in Pakistan, which has no dearth of good medical facilities and surgeons, at least for those who can pay for it. In case he still wanted to leave the country that was a private decision and in such cases a temporary replacement had to be installed. No entourage was needed.
But knowing our prime minister, many believe that he would make the Pakistani people pay for the expenses of his foreign stay and return from there. All that while half of the Pakistani population lives on and below the poverty line and even middle class people had to swallow hard while paying two hundred rupees for a kilogram of tomatoes during Ramadan. Given this state of affairs, it would really be appreciated if our esteemed prime minister would foot the bill for his own extravaganza and voluntarily present himself to face the allegations linked with his family in the Panama papers and other investigations for closing the on-going blackmailing drama in Pakistan.
From Mr Ali Ashraf Khan
Crawley, UK
Stop racism!
It’s very sad what our world has become nowadays (‘Snipers kill five Dallas police officers during US race bias protest’, Gulf News, July 9). All lives matter regardless of who you are or what colour you are. We all should live together and respect each other. We should not repeat the same mistakes that our ancestors have done in the past. Stop racism.
FROM MS SHERYL CARDINAL
UAE
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Officers doing their job
If there aren’t any police officers, this world be in chaos. Police officers were at the US race protest in Taxes, US for a reason – to secure innocent lives. If you don’t want to be shot, just stay away from trouble and be a law abiding citizen. I still salute the officers who did their job.
FROM MR L. M. DESTURA
Abu Dhabi
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Laws aren’t working
And how does Texas’ “open carry” benefit anyone, but the shooter? Texas’ laws regarding guns protect no one. Eleven individuals sworn to protect the very people protesting against them have either lost their lives or been seriously wounded. Five police officers are dead. A person of interest openly carried a weapon. How did our gun laws protect them?
FROM MS BARB MUELLER
UAE
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Retaliation isn’t the answer
Killing people in retaliation is not the answer and gun laws do not protect people fully. The gun does not kill the person, it’s the person behind the gun who makes the decision to pull the trigger. Education is the key in addition to stricter access to guns.
From Ms Maxene Dodds
UAE
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Bangladesh needs to act
Bangladesh was struck again by terrorists (‘Bangladesh reels from new deadly attack’, Gulf News, July 8). In the second attack, at least three people were killed and many were injured. Days after a mass murder of hostages in Dhaka, Bangladesh, the authorities said two policemen and a civilian woman were killed in explosions and gunfire. One of the attackers was also shot dead and four of his suspected accomplices were arrested after hand bombs were hurled at police manning a checkpoint just outside the main prayer ground. It seems that terrorists find Bangladesh’s government weak and a fertile land for terrorism.
From Mr Sunny Joseph
Mala, India
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