Letters: May 04, 2012

Alternative uses
The tobacco industry has engaged in bullying tactics (‘Health ministry plans tough measures to curb smoking’, Gulf News, April 30). Don’t let them anywhere near the health sector and don’t allow them to bully. It’s a game based on money and they know that sooner or later they will be on the losing end. They will argue that they employ thousands, especially from developing nations where unemployment is high. They need to reinvent themselves — find alternative uses for tobacco. Maybe we could use the tobacco leaf as biofuel or for medicinal purposes. Let them take their profits and reinvest them in research and development.
From Mr Randall Mohammad
UAE

What a relief
I kindly request the authorities to ban smoking in public areas. At least it would help the non-smokers from inhaling it. It’s banned in India and has a good effect — a great relief to non-smokers.
From Mr Mohammad
UAE

My thoughts
Why try to curb smoking habits and make life difficult for smokers when they are one of the most easily available products? From gas stations to tea stalls to supermarkets — everyone stocks cigarettes. Reducing smoking never happens. It’s just an illusion for discussions.
From Mr Ajit
Dubai

Money down the drain
According to news reports, Indian President Pratibha Patil’s foreign trips have cost the public exchequer Rs2.05 billion (Dh142.9 million), surpassing the record of all her predecessors (‘Child labour: A sordid tale of exploitation’, Gulf News, April 28). India’s government is busy with such issues even though they know about and see child labourers or people begging or starving — the former is what they find important. They only show off to others that they did this and that. Visiting other countries for mutual cooperation is required for an economy, but spending this much money for such issues is not accepted by Indian citizens like myself. Couldn’t they have used this money to provide continuous support for the poor?
From Ms Salma
Abu Dhabi

Just stop making it
Drawing graphics or printing pictures are failed ideas. In the Subcontinent it is double the price and out of reach of the people and the authorities print clear pictures of mouth cancer and lung cancer, but all in vain. So it is better to come up with new ideas. Otherwise the only other way is to simply stop making cigarettes.
From Mr Mohammad
Dubai

Waste of money
I agree that it’s essential to have a sticker to stop non-residents getting access to the parking lots (‘JBR residents fume over expensive parking stickers’, Gulf News, April 30). However, Dh50 is extortionately expensive for a small piece of paper. I completely disagree with being ripped off for it when it should be included in the maintenance charges. Some people are happy to throw Dh50 around like it’s nothing, but not me.
From Mr Andrew
Dubai

Moving out
This is on top of the inconvenience caused by traffic congestion during weekends when it sometimes takes you 30 to 40 minutes to get out of your building and just a bit less to get to your parking lot. No one is controlling this. I am seriously considering moving out.
From A Reader
Dubai

Not alone
This is probably one of the most optimistic and inspiring comments about Somalia that I have ever read (‘Oil can be a boon for Somalia’, Gulf News, April 30). I knew that we Somalis were the cause of the 20-year-old civil war. However, I couldn’t figure out who else was fuelling this man-made disaster. Now this comment gave me some insight to why we are failing every day. We are obviously not alone in Somalia — the US, UK and the neighbouring countries all have different agendas for this country. Can the world come up with a joint plan to share their share of the Somali natural resources and give us what is left over instead of destroying us and letting us become an endangered species?
From Mr Abdirisak Ishak
Adelaide, Australia