Don't target children
A few days ago, while shopping at a popular supermarket, I was shocked and disgusted to see a massive display of cigarette packets - instead of the usual confectionery - stacked in the lower panel of the display tray, near the cash counter. My children can see and had access to the cigarettes, too. What are the cigarette companies and supermarkets aiming to do - target our young children? How can they display cigarettes in such a manner, thereby introducing the product to young children at an early age? I hope the respective authorities take immediate action against such supermarkets.
From Mr James F.
Dubai

Things that make or break us
Recently, while leafing through Gulf News, I came across a headline that literally struck me like a bolt of lightening ("Thousands denounce Obama's healthcare plan at Capitol Hill," Gulf News, September 14). I was interested in reading the report - which on hindsight was of very little importance for me.

Thereby, I marked page 17 and decided to give the article a good read, after reading through the rest of the newspaper. I am no politician at the moment, so I can't tell you much about US President Barack Obama's health care plan, nor do I have much to say about a country, in my opinion, that has the best health care plan.

However, what I do know is that this report made me think about how greedy some people can be at times. Instead of uniting to protest against poverty, such people unite to spread anger and hatred around the world.

If we can only take the time to think outside the box, we would realise that many of us are very fortunate. Let's try and think about individuals who actually need a health care plan - any health care plan for that matter.

By doing this we might be able to do something that will help us outlive our parents' good deeds. Here I am not referring to a health care plan or more medication. Instead, I refer to things that are far beyond all of this - simple things like spreading a little bit of love or lending a helping hand, whether it's to someone living across the street or all the way in Darfur, Sudan.

It's these things that make or break us. They are also probably the simplest, cheapest and yet the most difficult things to achieve. I understand and accept that "love" might not actually cure a chronically ill patient.

However, let me leave you with a question - how many of the civilians featured in the photo under the aforementioned headline, are actually dying from a terminal illness?
From Ms Maisam Hassan
UAE

Life in the dark
There is one good thing that has resulted from the power outage in Sharjah - at least the lights of the cricket stadium in the respective industrial area are always switched on, allowing the "cricketers" to play all night, without any interruptions ("Power outages cost Sharjah Dh500m," Gulf News, September 15). I am happy for all stadium users. This, while residents in the surrounding areas adapt to life in the dark.
From Mr Syed J. Ahmad
Dubai

Keep the doctor away
I appreciate Gulf News for highlighting the power outage issues in some parts of Sharjah, especially the report on the doctor affected by swine flu. However, I really pity the people who work with her and the patients she sees every day, especially since she is not isolated and has continued working.

She is probably coughing with her mask on. This, despite knowing that if a person is infected with the H1N1 virus, he or she must stay away from uninfected people. How can she be sure that she is not passing it on to anyone else?
From a reader
Sharjah
Name withheld by request

Father, husband, human being
My family and I might have had no issues if we were required to live without electricity for a few hours or even a day for more than six weeks is nothing less than torture.

When Gulf News started reporting on the electricity problem in Sharjah, we expected the issue to be resolved soon. However, this was not meant to be.

We have crossed our limits of patience and our life has come to a complete standstill. We reside in Sharjah's Industrial 3 area and are some of the unfortunate residents who have been affected by the problem from day one.

I would like to invite a representative from the Sharjah Electricity and Water Authority (Sewa) to stay with us for a day. I would like him or her to narrate the experience of having to live without electricity in such unbearable heat.

Maybe they can provide an answer for my otherwise cheerful two-year-old's questions why won't the pedestal fan switch on when he presses the button.

They can also look inside our refrigerator which has been empty for days - we have stopped shopping for fresh produce and groceries, since there is no place to store them.

Maybe they would like to know why we have been sleeping in our car for almost two months, too. Please do what's required, at the earliest. I would like to report to work on time, without getting delayed.

If only Sewa could understand how difficult it is to leave my child and wife at home without any electricity, knowing all too well that the 24 hours to follow might not be any different from yesterday.
From Mr J. Kumar
UAE