Zuckerberg shows maturity

Zuckerberg shows maturity

It is a fact that Facebook blundered by letting its data be misused by Cambridge Analytica (“Remove apps you don’t want, Facebook asks users”, Gulf News, April 16). However, the Facebook CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, has shown remarkable maturity, courage and leadership at the age of 33, in handling the US Congress hearings. His comment, “It was my mistake, and I’m sorry. I started Facebook, I run it, and I’m responsible for what happens here,” is an exemplary admission of personal and corporate responsibility. Very few leaders in the corporate world or governments globally, will have the courage to take personal ownership of their mistakes or of their institutions. Leaders are quick to seize credit for success, but slither away in times of distress. I salute Zuckerberg. When President John Kennedy started his Presidential campaign, decades ago, he was asked what he would do as President. He replied, “I hope to be responsible.” Zuckerberg has also been a responsible corporate leader. I would not be surprised if he makes a bid for the US President’s job, sometime in the future.

From Mr Rajendra Aneja

UAE


Disappointed with delay

We are disappointed with the Supreme Court’s verdict, giving further time till May 2 to the Centre to form the Cauvery Management Board (CMB) monitoring authority (“#GoBackModi becomes top worldwide trend on social media”, Gulf News, April 12). With the ensuing elections in the state of Karnataka, we are afraid whether the government would stick to this date too. At this juncture, it would definitely be in the interest of all Cauvery states, if the verdict is accepted and water is shared. But still I feel like only the ‘rain deity’ can save the Tamil Nadu farmers from these self-cantered political leaders in our states.

From Mr N. Mahadevan

India

Heart-breaking crimes

It was heartrending to watch one of the videos that is being circulated on social media. Samina Sindhu, a struggling singer, and her unborn child were shot dead in Larkana, Pakistan, by an intoxicated influential man. According to reports, she refused to oblige her assailant’s wish, to stand up and sing. It was evident that she ultimately did stand up helplessly. We are living in a dystopia where we have diabolical landlords who kill someone innocent and get away with blood money. The authorities concerned are required to give a harsh punishment to the murderer in no time.

From Mr Nasir Soomro

Pakistan

Junk food is a killer

I strongly believe that new culture has greatly contributed to the current epidemic of obesity and bad health (“New app to keep a watch on Dubai eateries”, Gulf News, April 13). Most of the parents of this generation have literally lost total control of their children, even from a very young age. They have no voice when it comes to what their children want to do, where they want to go, whom they want to meet, what they want to wear, if they want to learn and last but not the least what they want to eat. As kids mostly live in the virtual world, they see themselves as global citizens who do not have to follow any particular patterns be it in the case of religion, culture, language, norms, clothing or even food habits. When it comes to food, we all know that our traditional food is always healthier than the fast food. But as parents succumb to their children’s whims and fancies, the calorie ridden junk foods become a part of the daily diet. Parents even provide junk food as a treat, as a bribe or just to pacify them in some cases. They fail to realise that this fast food can have a negative effect on the health of children, not only in the form of being overweight and causing obesity due to the high calorie content, but also as a trigger for many other serious diseases. The presence of the numerous chemicals in such foods is harmful to the human body. Most of the junk food available cannot be classified into the category of food, they are just ‘ultra-processed factory products’. My humble request to parents is to realise the fact that children have no wisdom and limited knowledge when it comes to such matters.

From Ms Sajida Kamal

Abu Dhabi

Fines for bus drivers

I stay in the Al Nahda area of Dubai and I have seen all motorists give way to school buses (“Not giving way to school buses? Dh1,000 fine, 10 black points”, Gulf News, April 9). But what do the bus drivers do? They stop buses in the middle of the roads to pick up children and block traffic. They don’t move and neither can other drivers. They try to change lanes at the end of junctions and drive rash themselves. They need to get fines, not the motorists.

From Ms Farida Fatehi

Dubai

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