Will we inherit a barren planet?
The United Nations celebrated May 22 as the International Day for Biological Diversity and they seek to draw global attention to the alarming rate of extinction of species and ecosystems. With the global population crossing seven billion, there is immense pressure on natural resources. While rapid urbanisation and economic growth is bringing prosperity, our environment is the casualty. The rate of extinction of species has increased tenfold in the past century and at the current rate, several ecosystems are facing the threat of extinction. As a 15-year-old, I am really concerned about what the future holds for us. Will we inherit a barren planet? It’s time all sections of civil society take urgent measures to halt this biodiversity loss in order to preserve our planet’s pristine flora and fauna for generations to come.
From Ms Kehkashan Basu
Dubai
Making parents proud
Congratulations to all the students (‘Spectacular results for Indian curriculum schools in UAE’, Gulf News, May 22). May God bless each and every one of them to achieve their dreams and always make your parents proud.
From Ms Lulla Vas
UAE
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Get your vitamins
Vitamin D has the power to heal certain skin and bone related diseases (‘UAE one of world’s highest in Vitamin D deficiency’, Gulf News, May 21). It can even help to prevent cancers in some cases. All you have to do is to expose your body for 10 minutes to the sunlight in the early hours of the morning. Make sure the sunlight hits your skin directly and avoid hiding your hands and face.
From Mr Saeed Jeddawi
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Facebook comment
Becoming susceptible
Vitamin D is from sunlight, so please expose yourself to sun for some time and get it free of cost! If you hide yourself inside air conditioned rooms, you will get vitamin D deficiency diseases easily.
From Mr Syed Qamardeen
UAE
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Walk every day, still deficient
I am one of the people who are deficient, too. It’s really ironic. I walk my way to work every day, even in the summer, but I was shocked to see the laboratory test results.
From Ms La Ar Ni Ba
UAE
Facebook comment
Don’t run from the sun
Well, we get our vitamin D mainly from the sun, so if you’re in a very warm place, get that vitamin D. That being said, sometimes low levels of vitamin D can lead to depression.
I was thinking that the people were just running away from the sun and covering up their body, the women mainly, but the weather is all over the place this year. Good to know that the sunlight can be absorbed through window panes.
From Mr Damien O. Kelly
UAE
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Something needs to be done!
It’s time for the Indian government to find a solution for road issues causing all these fatalities (‘India road deaths same as 2 daily plane crashes’, Gulf News, May 22). To the citizens I say it is their responsibility to care for their own life and also abide by the rules. You cannot be always so aggressive on the roads.
From Mr Vector Gandhi
Surat, India
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Will the government react?
The recent statistics revealed that 350 deaths are happening on Indian roads and majority are under 18 years, driving two wheelers was sad. Not following the traffic rules, rash driving, poor roads and, above all, rushing to reach the destination are the main attributing factors for this. The Indian government should monitor this periodically and cancel the licences of reckless drivers for a few years who aren’t following the traffic rules. Most important, the roads should be improved for smoother driving. If this can be taken care of, this strategy may change the future. Will the Indian government take up this call?
From Mr K. Ragavan
Bengaluru, India
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Two bulls fighting
The Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI-(M))-led left front in the India state of Kerala registered a resounding 91-seat victory in the 140 seats in the state assembly election, which was conducted on May 16 (‘BJP’s allegations false, says CPIM’, Gulf News, May 23). The significant moment of this election result was the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) securing a seat in the Namom constituency in the Trivandrum district of Kerala. With this win, the saffron party ended its 36-year-long drought in the state. The Congress-led United Democratic Front secured only 47 seats instead of the 72 seats that it got in the previous election. One of the surprise factors of this election is the emphatic win by the Independent candidate P. C. George in Poonjar. The Congress was reduced to a mere 22 seats from 38 seats while the Muslim League got 18 seats. The Chief Minister Oommen Chandy resigned on Friday and Pinarai Vijay was elected by the State Committee as the eligible candidate as the future Chief Minister. Cabinet ministers will be selected by the Chief Minister by next week and the new government will be sworn in.
In the meantime, violence erupted in Northern parts of Kerala during the victory celebrations by party workers, forcing the police to impose prohibition orders in the areas. If the beginning is like this, what will happen in the coming days? That’s what everyone is afraid of. There are traditional conflicts boiling among both the CPI(M) and the saffron party. When two bulls are fighting, who cares about the grass that gets trampled?
From Mr Sunny Joseph
Mala, India
What a fall, my countrymen!
The Kerala results are out and Chandy’s Congress party was wiped out. The entire cabinet he presided over was deep in corruption and the United Democratic Front (UDF) reaped the wages of their sins. Let it be a hard lesson to all political parties in India. The day of judgement will catch up even with cleverest of the scammers and, at last, the masses will punish the corrupt leaders without any mercy.
From Mr Thomas Matthew Parackel
Muvattupuzha, India
Options limited in Kerala
The landslide victory in favour of the CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) was actually an expression of anger and disappointment of the people of Kerala against the corrupt UDF government led by Chandy. It was anti-incumbency and the tradition of electing alternative parties in governments helped the left parties to register a stunning victory.
The fear of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) getting an upper hand in Kerala resulted in a consolidation of minority votes in favour of left parties. Even though, left parties are in a comfortable position now, the roads ahead will not be as easy as before. Till today, the options before the people of Kerala were limited. The new government cannot show any miracles as the state economy is in poor health.
From Mr Girish R. Edathitta
UAE
A place of tolerance
This opinion piece in Gulf News is one of the best articles to appear in the esteemed daily concerning Indo-Arab relations (‘Rising spectre of diminishing values in India’, Gulf News, November 8). The columnist, Tariq Al Maeena, should become an ambassador for Arabs in India, he would really be able to promote Arab-Indo relations in the right manner.
India is truly a great secular country, which respects people of all religions, castes, creeds, colours and hues. The Parsis who came as refugees from Iran were also absorbed in India so beautifully that they gave us proud Indians like the Tatas, the Godrejs and many more. The Sindhis are the same – millions of refugees came to the region from Sindh and you can see how they have made us better off. India has been hospitable for everyone and our 200 million Muslim population bears a rich testimony to such tolerance.
From Mr Hiro Bachani
Dubai
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