Letters: September 15, 2012

Highly unlikely
In Europe it is common to eat raw meat as tartar – a delicatessen (‘Cats spread silent disease’, Gulf News, September 6). It is normal to eat a raw or medium-prepared steak. People travel around the world and have milk products or eat salads, vegetables and fruits that might have been washed in contaminated water. Toxoplasma is protozoan parasite that inhabits the intestines of animals. People can be infected with Toxoplasma gondii while cleaning a cat’s litter box, gardening or even playing in a sandbox. To get Toxoplasmosis from a cat is very rare as you have to either feed the cat with raw and infected meat or person cleaning the cat’s litter box has touched the faeces and have their fingers in contact with their mouth, or had eaten the cat, which is highly improbable!
From Ms Petra Mueller
President of Middle East Cat Society
UAE

Improvements needed
Why are there so many accidents on the road to Salalah (‘Dubai-Salalah: Driving down the highway of horror’, Gulf News, September 9)? It is very sad to know that this Eid many of the deceased people were those going to Oman to enjoy the holidays. I think the authorities in Oman have to improve the highway that connects to the UAE.
From Mr Aqil Khan
Dubai
Website comment

No one’s fault but yours
Every time there is an incident that happens on the road people ask the authorities to do something to minimise or to avoid future accidents. Come on! Go out and drive carefully and then you won’t encounter any problems.
From A Reader
Dubai
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Loved it
Please don’t call it ‘Death Road’. If you are a responsible motorist then it is a drive that can be enjoyed. I went to Salalah with my family two years ago and we loved it. It’s the reckless drivers who endanger other people’s lives.
From Mr Arun C.S.
Abu Dhabi
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There’s nothing for you
I just took a trip to Salalah two weeks ago and I believe that the unavailability of proper facilities on the way there is what makes it dangerous. The only fear on the way is if something goes wrong with the car. There are no workshops, no police stations and the single road is not equipped with lights for hundreds of kilometres. There are also no proper rest areas. It was a very scary experience and the next time I go to Salalah I will definitely travel via airplane. In the UAE we are so used to the facilities and quality services offered.
From Mr Kamran
Al Ain
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It’s the drivers
The 1,300-kilometre road from Dubai to Salalah in Oman is not as bad as what is mentioned in the report. There is a part of about 150 kilometres that is under construction. The problem with the UAE drivers is that they are not used to driving on roads that do not have any streetlights. Also, they are used to driving at a minimum speed of 140km/h, when they should not be driving more than 120km/h on these roads.
From Mr Othman
Dubai
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The final battle
The standoff between India and China should be averted at any cost (‘India-China: Facing off on the roof of the world’, Gulf News, September 8). The neighbours are not only powerful in their economies but also in their military. The race to find who is stronger will eventually lead to a full fledged conflict in the region, which will be a challenge to humanity worldwide. In the end no international body will be able to do anything to stop this. Think about the citizens (a substantial portion of world population) and think about their ambitions.
From Mr Girish R. Edathitta
Dubai

An accessory
The way the Opinion comment begins – “Poor old Manmohan Singh!” – one would know at once, before it even provides any plausible justification, that the author wants to justify the actions of the Indian Prime Minister whom many thought, like the author, was above corruption and other sinister machinations of Indian politics (‘Under attack from all quarters’, Gulf News, September 9). The Prime Minister, now it seems, was allegedly involved in the so-called “coal-gate” scandal, awarding contracts to questionable companies, raking billions of dollars. Besides, by shutting his eyes to the widespread corruption around him, he has, unwillingly, become an accessory to many of the wrongdoings we hear about.
From Mr Ashwin Roy
Mumbai, India
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