Building a habit
This is in response to the higher fines for littering because it’s all about setting a new rule for people who litter and harm the environment in Abu Dhabi (‘Higher fines for littering in Abu Dhabi’, Gulf News, March 22). It is a great thing to see authorities putting in the effort to make the city a safer and healthier environment for its residents. Creating awareness about the effects of littering is necessary, especially when we live in a country that has people who come from different cultural backgrounds. Many might not consider littering to be harmful and so raising awareness and setting clear boundaries will help diminish such acts. This will also encourage people to care more about how the capital is perceived.
This decision will also be beneficial for future generations, as it will allow them to build up the habit of getting rid of their own waste. When considering littering, people only think that it revolves around throwing plastic bottles or things on the streets, when it’s also related to hygiene.
It is always necessary to also focus on the smallest things before they escalate into bigger issues. With such persistence to make a change, the authorities will eventually create a great difference for the environment and its people.
From Ms Fatima Al Habib
Sharjah
Vision and foresight
The Gulf News story about the Singaporeans mourn death of their founding father, Lee Kuan Yew (‘Singaporeans mourn death of founding father’, Gulf News, March 23). The founder and architect, who is responsible for all developments of Singapore, is no more. It is a great loss. Singapore has been the topic of much discussion for the past decade in the Far East region because of Yew’s vision and foresight for trade and tourism. Singapore is one of the few countries that developed rapidly over the years. May his soul rest in peace.
From Mr K. Ragavan
Bengaluru, India
Paying the price
Regarding Shafqat Hussain’s case [charged with murder as a 14-year-old], the current Pakistani government acted with diligence on claims that he was not of legal age when arrested (‘Defending Pakistan may remain a dream’, Gulf News, March 22). One should also take into account the price Pakistan has paid for this mess, which has been supported mostly by foreign elements now.
From Mr Mohammad
UAE
Website comment
Missed the point
I often don’t agree with most of the policies and action plans of the current Pakistani government, as most of their projects are for the short-term and for publicity, which can be encasHed by means of votes from illiterate Pakistanis whereas resources utilised for the reforms are often hard to justify and communicate. But, as the writer tries to explain that Finance Minister Ishaq Dar makes false claims, I don’t find that the writer himself is making any sense out of the issues he is trying so hard to present. Pakistan has a history of combating terrorists, most importantly America’s declared terrorists. Please don’t forget that Pakistan has been chasing these terrorists for decades at the cost of our own blood. Think of a time when these blood seekers were unleashed. After a long time, we were all standing together for the safety of none other than our own and we felt that we will win the battle, rather than this strategy of exiting a war with no results, as others do.
From Mr Awais khan
UAE
Website comment
Still a murderer
Did the writer read the case of Hussain? Did he see the pictures of the day he was arrested? How could somebody from a non-governmental organisation (NGO) just say he was 14? This is all propaganda against Pakistan that we hang innocent people. How about the seven-year-old boy that was murdered? By the way, no one is arguing that he is not the murderer, only that he was young. So, let him get the punishment he deserves and face justice for killing that child.
From Mr Syed
UAE
Website comment
Prioritising security
Pakistan has lost valuable time with infighting and now when there is a window of opportunity for whatever is being spent on the people, the writer is being sceptic about it. Mobility in any country is the first stepping stone to providing business opportunities and a tactical advantage when you are fighting a war. Equally, everyone would like healthcare and education to be prioritised, but before this, there is a responsibility to provide security. Whether somebody likes it or not, we have to do it the hard way now.
From Mr Shahid Butt
UAE
Website comment
Think of future generations
This is in response to the Gulf News Facebook debate on renewable energy potential (‘Facebook debate: Renewable energy potential’, Gulf News, March 22). Renewable forms of energy may be the way of the future but, in my opinion, what really will make a difference is changing people’s attitude towards energy consumption. The need for more energy, finding alternative sources of energy and even the question of whether renewable energy forms are effective will take a back seat if people’s mindsets don’t truly change.
When I was growing up in India, there weren’t water bills because water came from wells and there was plenty of it. Electricity bills were very nominal. Still, what we were taught was that they are precious resources that we had absolutely no right to waste. Thus, a true habit was inculcated and so, to us, saving resources comes naturally. But, I have seen many people waste water and electricity as it is in plenty here.
If our carbon footprint decreases, this world will be a healthier place and the future generations will thank us if we really take this seriously and think twice about unnecessarily spending our natural resources.
From Ms Sajida Kamal
Abu Dhabi
Heating our planet
Climate change is not a myth, it’s a reality. Too long has civil society ignored and been complacent about its detrimental impacts and continued to guzzle fossil fuels, belching out tonnes of carbon laden smoke into the atmosphere every day. Fossil fuels will run out within the next few decades, leaving in its wake a hot planet with a huge carbon footprint. It’s important, therefore, that we adopt a more sustainable pattern of energy consumption by moving to alternate energy sources immediately. The most abundant forms of renewable energy are from the sun and wind. They are easily harnessed, they are clean, they are from Nature and, most importantly, they are ‘carbon free’. It is not really a question of whether we should move towards it. It’s actually a question of: “How soon?”
From Ms Kehkashan
Dubai
Full name withheld by request
A brave woman
Gulf News deserves praise for publishing exemplary exclusive news about the Egyptian woman who lived as a man for 40 years to support her daughter (‘Egyptian woman who lived as man for 40 years to support daughter wins award from president’, Gulf News, March 24). This story will boost the morale of all women across the world. It is understood that she began this life because she had no choice other than to wear loose-fitting male robes and work as a man among her other male compatriots to earn for her and her daughter. She lacked education for an office job. It is hard to imagine in this day and age in Egypt, but 40 years ago, her conservative family did not consider it appropriate for her to work. Her ill-fate continues even now because her daughter’s husband cannot work through his illness, so now she has to look after them. What a fate! This makes me think of an old saying that misfortune comes not in singularity, but in a battalion. In this case, this saying is true and meaningful. Even though she has been selected for the Luxor’s “best mum” award by virtue of having worked and dressed for more than 40 years as a man, she is not going to stop living as a man. She is really a brave woman. Individuals like her make this world meaningful. She is an inspiration for millions of ill-fated women in the world.
From Mr Sunny Joseph
Kerala, India
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