The way forward
The horrendous force of the tsunami in Japan has ruined entire townships. The pictures in the press and on the television are vivid, astonishing and chilling. Large ships, tall buildings, manifold trucks and cars have been tossed around as if they were small toys.
The Japanese people are undergoing severe trauma. I offer my deepest sympathies to those who have lost their families, friends and homes. Due to the intensive and advanced preparations of the Japanese government and people and their responsible and dignified post-disaster management, many lives must have been saved. I saw on television live images of how calm the evacuated people were when given packets of food and blankets.
The entire mission is being accomplished with great calm and stoicism. I would like to congratulate the Japanese people for the responsible manner in which they are managing this great crisis. I hope everyone in the world will do their best to help Japan during this critical time.
From Mr Rajendra K. Aneja
Dubai
While the world watches
The whole world is watching while military might is being imposed on peaceful protesters, which is forcing them to take up arms. The United Nations, Arab League, and other organisations are just watching. Hats off to France for being bold enough to recognise the peaceful Libyan people for what they are doing.
They never wanted to take up arms but now they are forced to call themselves rebels. Where is the US? Why aren’t they actively intervening? People are dying. It is time to wake up and do something about it.
From Mr Rajeev Cherthedeth
Dubai
Where was the media?
The recent rebellions in Tunisia and Libya must have been brewing for a while, mainly due to unpopular rule of dictators. As a reader I had no inkling that these countries were indeed mismanaged. Why? This is because the media have failed to give us the real picture.
Now that there has been an uprising there are many reports on the swindled money and anti-ruler sentiments. So, was no journalist in the Middle East aware of these issues before? What I would like to emphasise here is that newspapers can play a crucial role to prevent such anti-public rule.
Reporting the facts and economic reforms at the end of the year would make these leaders think twice about committing these deeds. Also, their reputation outside their own country would be known. I think this would be true journalism.
From Ms Roopa Bhat Jacob
Dubai
Big problem
Some people feel that schools are the main cause for a student to go into depression while others say they help students grow a future and a better life. Nowadays I feel that the latter is effect is disappearing. Many a times boys are bullied because they are overweight and called derogatory names. Why are they bullied? Just because they are chubby or fat or weak?
Furthermore, why do the thin boys have an attitude towards others and use their so-called power against the weaker ones? This seems to be the standard. Not to forget that many of these boys steal the books of the well-mannered boys. Why is this happening? Many of the boys who are overweight have a genetic problem while some eat more to release their desperation to be noticed.
He or she then finds refuge in eating more, thereby compounding the problem. Sometimes parents are also the reason because they equate love with overeating. We have to collectively remove this stigma and see the problem for what it is – a dangerous trend that has to be corrected and not treated as a schoolyard joke.
From Mr Suvank Rout
Sharjah
Turn it off
If the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) says that Salik is in place to ease traffic during peak hours then why don’t they shut it down at night when the roads are empty? This happens with the Al Maktoum Bridge tollgate after 10pm.
This should have been followed for all the Salik gates — at least after midnight. If Salik is operational all the time then the petrol consumption of each car that takes alternative routes would affect the environment. I would suggest the RTA consider this as a very serious issue.
From Mr Mohammad Tarek
Dubai
