Recycling paper
Another summer vacation has ended and thousands of children are going back to school. As usual tonnes of books are going to end up in landfills. In India, handing down text books, tearing blank pages from note books to keep aside for practice, and putting old note books, answer sheets and even circulars for recycling is the norm rather than exception. I find it hard to believe that Abu Dhabi does not have proper facilities for recycling paper. School authorities are also guilty of the fact that they make it compulsory to buy the set of text books and note books they are selling even if we have the same at home or can buy one from somewhere else. In my opinion, schools should encourage students to bring back undamaged text books after their use so that people can buy them at a much lower price. I also kindly request the authorities to put separate bins where we can put paper for recycling in various convenient locations around the city.
From Ms Sajida Kamal
Abu Dhabi

Reusable bags
While shopping at the airport, I chanced upon very cute cloth bags. I saw a small pouch with a zipper around it and on opening it found a colourful cloth bag inside. I picked up a dozen and distributed it to many of my friends and relatives. Everyone liked the handy bag so much that I wished I had bought some more. The small pouch can be easily carried in a small hand purse. I carry these bags along with the Gulf News jute bag when I go to the supermarket.

Recently after my return from India, when I went shopping for essentials at my regular supermarket, all my bags were full and there were some more items left. When the man at the counter took a plastic bag to fill the remaining items, the manager of the supermarket asked him to wait for a minute. He soon returned with a Gulf News jute bag and asked him to fill up the items in that bag. He told me that he had observed that I generally refuse plastic bags and carry my own reusable bags. I try my best to avoid taking plastic bags and if at all I end up taking them, I reuse the same and finally line my waste bin with it.

Many of my friends and relatives have also reduced the use of plastic bags. People just need more options and more awareness campaigns would definitely help!
From Ms Naina Nair
Sharjah

Informed decision
We’ve all been in the grocery store at one time or another and been asked, “paper or plastic [bag]?”

Do you remember which you chose? Was it an informed decision? In our era of ecological and environmental awakening, the question of paper or plastic bags should be considered seriously.

Everybody has this choice. It is a question of environmental impact and it should be our responsibility to make the most ecologically aware and sound decision.

The making of plastic can waste thousands of gallons of water, as can the recycling of paper. The human and mechanical efforts and costs are very high. Paper is, by comparison, efficient and [requires] low energy to produce and recycle. It is my unbiased opinion that paper is indeed more beneficial to the environment, in that it is less harmful.
From Ms Vrunda Atul Shah
Sharjah

More than just transport
Dubai Metro is a boon to many of us. My daughter and I took our first ride in the Metro the very first week it opened and got hooked on it. Over the past year I have been a regular Metro user. Apart from a very comfortable ride, I do not have to worry about the traffic or the elusive parking space. The trips are economical, time saving and hassle free.
I believe that Dubai Metro is much more than a mode of transport. It is a strong symbol of what can be achieved when vision meets determination and planning. The Metro shows us the way to move forward. I congratulate the team that worked on this dream and the team that makes my local travel a pleasant experience.
From Mr C. Sunil Roy
Dubai

Exorbitant fees
Most of the banks charge Dh400 to Dh500 to issue a “No Liability Letter”. This is exorbitant! It must be governed by the Central Bank of the UAE and should logically be in the range of Dh20 to Dh25.

When the person has honestly cleared all his dues like car loans, personal loans and credit card bills and needs the letter for the sake of records, or for transferring his or her account to a different bank, charging a fee of Dh400 for the letter is very high.
From Mr Lalit Kumar Jain
UAE

Empty nest
The chances of a working mother getting over the ‘Empty Nest Syndrome’ are much higher (“Stress-busting tips for empty nesters”, Gulf News, September 14). I always wished I’d got a qualification but I was pressured into marriage at 18 and then had five children. So I experienced the full impact of the empty nest.
From A Reader
London, United Kingdom
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