Rewarding awareness
Supermarkets and shopping centres should give each of their customers a free shopping bag that could be replaced if lost, torn or damaged ("Supermarkets start charging for plastic bags", Gulf News, February 5). This would help reduce the huge consumption of plastic. Additionally, the authorities should reward shopping centres that display consistent environmental awareness. Instead of sharing the cost for plastic bags, customers who opt for bags made of materials other than plastic should be given special discounts on products and surprise gifts. This would help create better awareness. Sharing the costs of plastic bags will only aggravate the frustration and not change the attitude, especially due to the cost of living.
From Ms Margaret Roy
Sharjah
Pricing plastic
I do believe that it is a drastic measure to charge for plastic bags as the cost of living is increasing daily and this would be an additional burden for consumers. I am sure people would switch to recycled paper bags if given a choice. Reducing the prices of goods for customers who use jute or cloth is also a good and inspiring suggestion. I hope that hypermarkets will come up with an environment friendly solution instead of burdening people with the extra cost.
From Ms Rekha Pramod
Dubai
Wasteful use
Often, while shopping at a supermarket, I find almost as many bags used as the number of items purchased. I assume this is to make my burden - items to carry - look much bigger. I can only assume the reason for this is so that I will agree to let the packer assist me to carry it to my car or home, and receive a tip. Maybe they need to supplement their pay! However, this is a wasteful use of bags and whatever is proposed, most people will not re-use or carry the same bags the next shopping.
From Mr John Barrett
UAE
Done away with
As easy as it may sound, charging for use of plastic bags can only marginally reduce the problem until people get used to the idea of having to shell out a little more money. Therefore, it may not be a sustainable solution. Instead, plastic bags should be completely withdrawn by promoting alternatives like paper bags or bags made of recycled plastic.
From Ms Neeraja Sankar
UAE
Act now
I am appalled by the rash use of plastic bags. I am sure it pains any environment-conscious person at the thoughtless use of plastic. I have personally been a victim and witness to the death and devastation that can occur due to horrendous use of plastic. Though unprecedented rains triggered the 2005 floods in Mumbai, in India, I believe the major reason for the flooding and stagnation of water were the plastic bags, which choked the already overloaded drainage system. This is just one of the many negative effects of plastic bags. If anything needs to be done, it should be done now. A conscious decision by all supermarket chains to stop the plastic bags usage will have a major impact in its reduction.
From Ms Kenny
UAE
Full name withheld by request
Reconsider prices
Each day, more expatriates move to Dubai. All such people need affordable places to live in. How can Dubai accommodate a growing population, which will hopefully lead to a growing economy, if the cost of living continues to skyrocket?
This seems to be a problem especially when it comes to renting houses. Perhaps landlords and landowners need to reconsider their prices in order to house more families in this growing metropolis.
From Ms Hannah Parks
Dubai
Specific categories
The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) fines drivers who by using public or company transport provide car-pooling facilities. This rule should be made applicable only for individuals using their personal cars for pooling facilities. Additionally, the rule should be relaxed in areas that have no transport service.
From Mr Nasser Usmani
Dubai
Criteria confusion
Recently I applied for admission for my three-year-old daughter at an Abu Dhabi school's kindergarten section. There were almost 275 children present for the interview. My daughter's interview took 20 minutes, after which she was failed. I am still confused about the criteria they look at when interviewing children. Is it the language proficiency or IQ levels? With respect to everyone, I would like the authorities to look into the criteria for conducting such interviews, as otherwise the children could be psychologically affected.
From Ms Blesson C. J.
Abu Dhabi
Speed limits
The different speed limit signboards on Shaikh Zayed road are very confusing, especially from the World Trade Centre underpass all the way up to Defence Roundabout.
The flashing boards say 80 kilometres per hour, while a road sign says 60 kilometres per hour. Most drivers in Dubai know the allowed speed limit on the highway is 100 kilometres per hour. Ambiguity regarding something so important should not exist. People complain about how irrational certain drivers in Dubai are and also about the number of accidents that occur daily. However, if the signs were uniform and not so vague, Shaikh Zayed road would run much smoother.
From Ms Amanda Phillips
Dubai
