Letters: May 21, 2012

Busy life
I think the changing lifestyle of people and enhanced living standards have greatly affected their eating habits (‘Fruit and vegetables missing from daily diet, survey finds’, Gulf News, May 16). Today’s busy life forces people to go for ready-made foods from supermarkets or restaurants. Now it has become routine to take food from outside rather than cook at home. Corporate groups are exploiting this situation by providing tasty foods filled with unhealthy ingredients. The large intake of meats and junk food sends them to the hospital to get treatment. Proper awareness is required to tell the public about the importance of maintaining a healthy diet, including the selection of food, eating style and its consequences.
From Mr Mahboob Abdo
Abu Dhabi

Excuses
It is funny to see people complaining about the high cost of vegetables and fruit. Your average kilogram of any fruit or vegetable is less than the price of any given fast food meal. Additionally, a kilogram will last you at least three days while a fast food meal is just one meal. Pound for pound, any vegetable or fruit is many times cheaper than meat. It’s also healthier, helps you reduce weight and cools your body down.
From Mr Avinash J.
Abu Dhabi

Be careful
My heartfelt condolences to the family of the deceased (‘Family sues hospital over woman’s death’, Gulf News, May 16). I underwent the same surgery in India. I weighed 122 kilograms and did a bariatric surgery. There is an intensive post-surgery rehabilitation to be done and there is a protocol to be followed. I did this surgery in January this year and as of today I weigh 89 kilograms and am very healthy. It is a complex surgery, but I was the 250th patient and everything was fine. There could have been a lapse in the post-surgery care that needed to be checked. Again I am sad at the death of this young woman who is a mother of three — May God bless her soul.
From A Reader
Abu Dhabi

Paying for security
The US government provided unparalleled protection and services for its citizens overseas (‘US expatriates urged to seek tax advice’, Gulf News, May 16). So they should be proud to pay taxes for the country. They have no idea about how many people want to pay this tax to get a passport from the US or even a visa to stay there.
From Mr Johnson
Dubai

For my mum
If I look back at the way my mother raised me over the years, I feel dumbstruck. All mothers know the agony they had in raising a child more than fathers would. I am fortunate enough to have a mother who is still alive and taking care of me, nourishing and cherishing me. There are many children who have lost their parents during their childhood and I can’t imagine what they must go through. My mother is a guide, a counsellor and a real mum. She has helped me so that I would grow in life. I can never forget the number of times she punished me for doing something wrong. I also remember how she used to run behind the bus at the last minute giving me a heads up to go through some important notes for my exam that she thought were important. Her attitude and the way she conducts herself is something that others have learned from, especially during work. She is respected by everyone. I have learned a lot of from her on how to be neat, punctual and systematic. Almost everyone thinks that their mother is the best. She was always there for me and took care of me when I was a child. However, the relationship we shared as I got older was more important. We tend to neglect our mother’s advice as we hardly get time to sit down and talk to her.
From Mr Mathew Litty
Dubai

Risky environment
Turning away from the Greece political story that has been such a key driver of risk sentiment recently, the economic calendar last week was stacked with a host of output data — Monday’s industrial production figure for the Eurozone fell 0.3 per cent in March, and this was followed by a flat GDP reading for France and the Eurozone. But the markets took confidence from the German GDP reading, which came in five times above expectations at 0.5 per cent during the quarter (above the 0.1 per cent expected and -0.2 per cent previously). The markets took the German GDP figure with confidence and the euro/dollar has picked up off those monthly lows. Equities, too, have had a nice boost on optimism, and we are seeing the risk-on trade after several negative sessions. Overall, risk markets will remain on the back foot as the Greek situation will keep risk sentiments in check. The markets do not seem to have an answer after three attempts to form a coalition failed, so really we see today’s German GDP as a brief positive in an otherwise risk environment.
From Mr Nahed Ashour
Dubai