Letters: February 20, 2012

Different priorities
Drug trafficking and use have to be dealt with sternly (‘Cobra venom drug popular on Delhi party scene', Gulf News, February 17). But why would you want to protect and conserve all the venomous cobras and other snakes? If it is for academic purposes then keep a few in captivity. The so-called animal lovers should be more concerned about the many poor villagers, who die of snake bites in India every year.
From Mr Mathew Philip
Sharjah
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Coexist
In response to Mathew Philip's letter [above — online comment], should any animal that poses a potential threat to humans should be eradicated from Nature? It is the thinking like this that caused the extinction of so many species before vipers. Vipers are living fossils; they have lived on this planet for millions of years before humans. Like any species, vipers are an important link in the circle of life — even for humans. All species of this planet coexist in a delicate balance, yet humans managed to disrupt and permanently damage this order of life in just over a century, and in many cases for the sheer greed and fun of it. No earthly species has the exclusive right of existence; none can exist on its own. It is the responsibility of humans as the most dominant and powerful life form on Earth to protect its hosting planet and all species that inhabit it.
From Mr Beno Saradzic
Abu Dhabi
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Unbelievable
I can't believe this (‘Jail term of man who raped child reduced', Gulf News, February 16). How can the judge in the UK reduce the culprit's sentence? Imagine what the girl went through and the victim's family too. I am a mother of a seven-year-old child and I can't stand the thought of this.
From Ms Nishi
Dubai
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No mercy
I agree with the grandmother, who was interviewed in the report, that this is outrageous. I am a mother of a three-year-old child and could understand what would be going through the entire family's mind about the girl. The suspect does not deserve mercy.
From Ms Gowri
Abu Dhabi
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Wrong sentence
If this violent person were in my country he would have actually been given the fitting punishment he deserves. For committing a crime so grave he has been given 15 years of rent-free life with food and water on the house. This sounds more like a warm home for such people. What a shameless character.
From Mr Abu Saeedi
Abu Dhabi
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Nowhere in sight
I have faced this problem multiple times in Dubai Metro (‘Prayer rooms required', Gulf News, February 16). This is also an issue at the bus stations. Apart from Bur Dubai (Al Ghubaiba), none of the bus stops I use has a mosque or a praying area. I salute the community reporter for highlighting this issue.
From Ms Rubina
Sharjah
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Not enough is done
I am sure Lakshman's family is looking for him (‘He desperately hopes to be found', Gulf News, February 16). I am very surprised that the company he worked for or his colleagues did not show up or appeal for his whereabouts. Why didn't the hospital contact his embassy and push for the search further with the immigration authorities? I think they could easily find his employer and his home. Please help him.
From Mr Shan
Abu Dhabi
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Thinking of others
For many like me, sleeping without reading Gulf News is a nightmare. So surely someone will read this report and recognise him and come forward, which will then become a light for his future. Being a patient, it is very sweet of him to give his time to make other patients comfortable. His doctor should be rewarded for taking care of him.
From Mr Gaston Alfred Dias
Abu Dhabi
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Other options
I fail to understand how Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) could book passengers' tickets knowing that there weren't enough seats in their aircraft (‘Pair offered place in packed flight's toilet', Gulf News, February 16). However, after receiving word that there weren't any more seats for two passengers the captain should have allowed them to use the cockpit jump seats — not the toilets!
From Mr Savio
UAE
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Possible reason
It can often happen that aircraft are changed at the last minute with new ones having different seating capacities. However, I am not condoning what the captain did. In case of turbulence or a crash landing, these passengers would not have anything to protect them. I was once offered jump seats from another airline but I am thankful that there were normal passenger seats on the plane so I sat there instead.
From Mr Abhilash
Goa, India
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I will always love you
I grew up listening to Whitney Houston's music (‘Houston mourned in hometown', Gulf News, February 19). It was with the song from the movie The Bodyguard that I started to admire her.

She occupies my number one spot for favourite pop divas, along with Celine Dion and Mariah Carey. Now she's gone but her music and legacy will never be forgotten. Whitney was a very talented woman — no drama and no auto tunes. I will always love Whitney and she'll be in the hearts of millions of fans. May God be with her.
From Mr Anwar
Dubai
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