UN still at its child hood
As long as the United Nations (UN) is directed and dictated by powerful nations, nobody can expect justice from this world body (‘The failures of United Nations to maintain world peace,’ Gulf News, August 10). The UN is politically, as well as economically not viable at all.
Russia, though a veto member, is the latest victim of unilateral sanctions imposed by the so-called world powers. There is one serious change that could help the UN be a more efficient global political body: any other reforms would be meaningless if it is made without changing to one nation, one vote and no nations can enjoy veto.
From Mr Girish R. Edathitta
Dubai
Need to compromise
Why doesn’t the international community raise their voice considering the critical situation irrespective of caste, creed, race and politics (‘Yazidi lawmaker breaks down in parliament,’ Gulf News, August 8)? Thousands of people have to undergo a lot of sufferings and severe hardships.
First think what is the position if this would have happened to our family members? What is the future and self respect of these people? It is unbearable to hear and digest. Hope the international community will open their eyes and help them to reach a compromise immediately.
From Mr Ashraff Nazim
Colombo, Sri Lanka
Website comment
An event for the country
As an expat, I have no doubt on the financial and organisational ability of Dubai to stage such global event (‘Dubai planning bid for Olympics,’ Gulf News, August 8). After bagging the Expo 2020, one may conclude that Dubai is capable of building facilities and hosting for such events.
Dubai already hosts world class sporting events are annually like golf, tennis, and cricket. Dubai is also home for world class entertainment: the plan to build the Mall of the World will cement that Dubai is a place for grandeur, extravagance and elegance in the arena of infrastructure and tourism.
However, I would suggest that this kind of endeavour be an aspiration of the entire UAE. The magnitude of economics and politics of hosting the Olympics and the FIFA World Cup is different. I think that staging the Olympics in the UAE is more expensive than staging it in some other country, as the UAE will be importing lots of talents and skills for the preparation alone.
But nobody should doubt its capacity. The Expo 2020 is an indicator that, indeed, the UAE is a respectable contender for this kind of event. This should be an aspiration not just by Dubai and Abu Dhabi. It should be an aspiration of all the federal states, its people, the business sector and the expatriates who take pride in being part of this grandeur.
From Mr Carlos A.
Dubai
Website comment
A real treat
Dubai deserves it and I am sure it will be a treat to watch the Olympics being held in Dubai. Dubai will bring glory to the sports world and to the Olympics as well.
From Mr Ejaz Ahmad
Dubai
Website comment
Welcome the news
This is great news to hear. All the people living in the UAE should welcome this happy news.
From Mr Riju
Dubai
Website comment
Promote the idea
I am looking forward to seeing Dubai host the Olympic games. In my opinion, as a UAE citizen, I will do all that is possible within my capacity to promote the Dubai Olympics bid within my friends and colleagues.
From Mr Fadil Khoury
Abu Dhabi
Website comment
Looking forward to it
This is great news. I pray Dubai will win the Olympic bid for 2024. When I was living in London, they won the Olympic bid and now that I am living in Dubai, I expect the same result. Looking forward to see the Olympics in Dubai.
From Mr Emran Qamar
Dubai
Website comment
Dreams coming true
This is amazing news! I hope this will add significant growth in the business world and I am pretty sure this dream will come true.
From Mr Shameer
Dubai
Website comment
Alternate means of travel
Officials and statisticians keep telling the public how safe flying is (‘Do you fear flying? Incidents not helping phobias,’ Gulf News, August 8). How come we never get statistics on the safety of travelling by ship?
One seldom hears that a ship full of international travellers sank, with the exception of overloaded ferry boats plying shores. Safety statistics should be compared based on international travel by sea versus travel by ship. At least ships have lifeboats; air planes do not provide parachutes!
From Mr Louie Tedesco
Dubai
Website comment
Not in religious teachings
No religion teaches to take revenge or hate anyone (‘Hatred breeds more hatred and revenge,’ Gulf News, August 9). Be it Islam, Hinduism or Christianity, they all teach us to give love and accept love. We don’t learn anything worthwhile from revenge and hatred. I am a Muslim and I respect all religions and expect the same from others because this is what I have learnt from my religion.
From Ms Rabia Jalees
UAE
Facebook comment
Religion, a sensitive matter
I’m a Hindu. We are taught to rever and love all living beings created by God. No religion teaches hate, therefore there is no logic in this hatred. Many people have started to hate people from a certain religion, but I think religion is being used as an excuse by politicians to divide people. Religion is a personal matter and it is very sensitive to any individual. Unfortunately, these leaders have used it to propogate hate and we are too falling prey to it.
From Mr Ashwin Amin
UAE
No hatred between us
Firstly, hatred is too strong a word to be used. No religion on Earth ever taught us to hate. Hatred is man-made and not sent from God. I’m a Christian who has grown up with Hindus, Muslims and Jews. We had a lot of families in our building and not once were we taught to hate or disrespect any of them.
In fact, it was always told that “Jews and Muslims are your cousins”. Thankfully, to this day, I enjoy a lovely friendship with all. My best friends are Hindus and Muslims, and no hatred on this earth can ever come between us.
It’s about time we all got it straight in our head. Whether we are Christians, Jews, Muslims, Hindus or any faith that we belong to, we are all created by a supreme being who may have made our skins white, black, brown or yellow, but still kept the colour of our blood red in all of us. Peace for all.
From Ms Christina Scurville
UAE
Vulgarising Islam
These comments on what Islamist militants are should be printed in every newspaper in the world (‘Islamists can’t be speaking for Muslims,’ Gulf News, August 9). The writer makes a clear and cogent case, calling out the so-called Islamic warriors for what they are: non-practicing Muslims who have vulgarised the faith.
From Mr Brian Meegan
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Resistance Won
Wars are fought with weapons, but they are won by sacrifices. Evidently, Israel’s strategic defeat is in sight (‘RCA aid materials arrive in Gaza,’ Gulf News, August 9). More and more innocent victims have not helped Israel winning on ground. On the contrary, Gazans’ resistance has appeared invincible.
Amazingly, billions of dollars of military aid to Israel has gone in vain. Knesset members on both the right and left have censured the security cabinet’s decision to withdraw from Gaza without sealing any agreements with Hamas. The Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, is in trouble. No other option is left on the ground except agreeing on withdrawal.
Ariel Ilan Roth, the Executive Director of the Israel Institute, in his analysis of ‘How Hamas Won’, published by the Council on Foreign Relations, writes: “War is not an exercise in fairness, but in the attainment of strategic objectives. And, on that score, Hamas has already won. It has shattered the necessary illusion for Israelis that a political stalemate with the Palestinians is cost-free for Israel.”
The entire world’s condemnation of Israel’s actions and its solidarity with Gaza is evident. Latin American countries have cut diplomatic ties with Israel. Even, pop stars like Madonna, Rihanna and actress Selena Gomez are promoting a ‘Free Palestine’ movement on twitter.
Despite banning pro-Gaza protests, France’s foreign minister, Laurent Fabius, found himself compelled to say that Israel’s right to security does not justify the ‘massacre’ of civilians. Even, Netanyahu’s Likud Party has agreed that the unilateral withdrawal marked a victory for Hamas.
Therefore in the near end of conflict, it seems rather clear that Israel’s aggression lost the ground.
From Mr Nasser Farooq
Karachi, Pakistan
Not accurate
The comment on Nigeria’s human rights violations were done without any homework done at all (‘Nigeria must stop its human rights violations,’ Gulf News, August 7). As someone who has lived in that country for eight long years, I know the mind set of the Nigerians.
Unless dealt with firmly, the crime elements cannot be subdued and that is why both the Nigerian military, as well as the police are dealing tough with the terrorists who have been wreaking havoc in the country. Please allow the Nigerian police to their own way of working – their methods need to be left alone.
From Thomas Matthew Parackel
Kerala, India
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