Secular and free
On one hand, Turkey fights for secularism, while on the other, it is responsible for driving an anti-Islamic agenda and making a big deal out of it ("Turkey lifts headscarf ban", Gulf News, February 10).
Secularism should encompass freedom of religion as long as it does not hurt anyone. I wonder why they cannot grant their own people simple civil liberties.
From Mr Omar Khan
Dubai
Safe choice
The next president of America will play a crucial role, not just for the US but also for the world ("Voters turn out for historic Super Tuesday", World, Gulf News, February 6).
I think Hillary Clinton should be the Democrat candidate for President.
She is more experienced in the senate and foreign affairs; she displays maturity, has a record in public service and is known to be credible and reliable.
Barack Obama, on the other hand, has taken no clear stand on the slaughters in Kenya and is naive in foreign affairs. The world will be safer with Clinton as president.
From Mr Rajendra K. Aneja
Dubai
Gulf News Readers Club member
Drastic change
The last time I visited Dubai was for the Dubai Shopping Festival about 10 years ago. Needless to say, I was amazed when I returned recently.
The plane landed at Dubai International Airport, which has become gigantic and very beautiful.
The city is a pleasant place to visit; especially because its people are kind and the service everywhere is excellent.
Dubai has changed drastically in a decade and it continues to develop wonderfully every day.
From Mr Shahnawaz Saleh Mohammad
Dubai
Bank timings
It would be great if banks could introduce evening timings in all their branches, in consideration for the people who work.
During office hours, employees have to take leave for a few hours for personal transactions, which can be an inconvenience.
Operating in the evening, for instance from 6 to 9pm, will help reduce traffic on the roads and increase work hours at the office.
It would also help if banks were open for a few hours on Friday.
From Ms Amita Ritolia
Abu Dhabi
Travel ordeal
It has become an ordeal to reach Sharjah from Dubai. Passengers, especially males, have to wait in the shivering cold for a minimum of one hour before boarding the bus, while travel time takes another two hours.
The whole day is spent in this manner, and being with family has become a weekend affair.
I request the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) to increase the frequency of buses to Sharjah.
From Mr Ganesh G.
Dubai
Full name withheld by request
Pay for the future
Children are our future and teachers play a big role in shaping their lives. If teachers are not paid well, how can we expect them to provide quality education?
They should be rewarded for their efforts. Fees and salaries seem to be disproportionate in the region's schools.
Rising rents and other factors may contribute to this difference, and I think more focus needs to be given to the subject, along with workable solutions.
Perhaps more schools can be subsidised and salaries of teachers could be increased.
From Ms Roopa Jacob
Dubai
Roundabout chaos
Would the authorities kindly attend to the traffic issues at the National Paints roundabout in Sharjah?
I think installing a traffic light under the bridge would be a big improvement. Right now, it is just too chaotic.
Whenever someone needs to get to Emirates Road from the Kalba-Dhaid road, it takes a minimum of 30 minutes just to cross the roundabout.
From Mr Nirmesh Tiwari
Dubai
Lane issues
Daily commuting from Jebel Ali to Dubai is becoming extremely difficult these days. It might help if temporary signals are placed on merging lanes.
While coming from Deira towards the Karama area, six lanes converge into four.
From Mr Khalil Ahmad
Dubai
Save power
Dubai can certainly do better in its efforts to go green. While new eco-friendly developments are being announced, a reduction in power wastage can benefit the existing construction sector.
I live in Al Barsha and at night I always see a neighbouring building with all its lights on, signifying that it's ready for occupation.
No one is living in there, so why the wastage of power?
I'm not suggesting shutting down electrical power altogether for all buildings at night, but I think some common sense should prevail.
From Mr Saurabh Dhall
Dubai
No change
I have been a daily commuter on the road from Sharjah to Dubai since 1976 and have been seeing traffic jams for so long that I don't believe there will be any improvements in the traffic situation.
If anything, it just keeps getting worse. The beautification projects on roads do not help in smooth driving.
I really wish authorities would take serious measures and do something about this problem.
From A Reader
Sharjah
Name withheld by request
More chaos
The new proposed law that bans bachelors from sharing accommodation in Abu Dhabi will add more chaos to the existing housing problem ("Bachelors say they have no place to call home," Gulf News, February 4).
There is already a shortage of houses and those that are available are very expensive. Most bachelors cannot afford such spiraling costs.
From Mr Syed Aamir Hussain
Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi, naturally
Thank you for the wonderful features about Abu Dhabi ("Special coverage: Abu Dhabi from the sky", Gulf News, February 1).
The pictures are very beautiful and show Abu Dhabi from its best angles. However, I have a suggestion - the natural beauty of the Capital city can be added to its portfolio as well.
The water, skies and landscapes of this emirate can hold their own among all its man-made beauty.
From Mr S. Hashmi
Abu Dhabi
Simple living
The recent letter about environment underlines the lack of awareness about nature and its abundant resources ("Environment is the victim", Your turn, Gulf News, Febuary 2).
Modern-day education and media may promote modern amenities and brands indiscriminately, but they do little to bring about awareness of simple, eco-friendly living.
After all, humans had to have used some means for carrying items from one place to another before paper and plastic bags were made.
Jute and palm leaves are some of the natural resources that were widely used in Asia for bags of all sizes.
Industries thrived on making small and large bags from date palm leaves a few decades ago.
But those that processed materials such as jute were destroyed by the arrival of plastics.
If the public and media are sincere in conserving the environment, we must share the responsibility of educating the masses about simple, eco-friendly living.
From Mr Qaisar Khan
Dubai
No more plastic
I strongly support the view of carrying our own paper or cloth bags to the supermarket to bring home purchases ("Ditch plastic to save cash and the environment", Gulf News, February 3).
Supermarkets and hypermarkets should encourage customers to use eco-friendly bags.
In the Middle East especially, I have observed that even for the smallest items, separate plastic bags are provided.
On reaching home, consumers simply throw away these bags. It is a complete waste and does nothing but pollute the environment.
A way to discourage the use of plastic bags is to charge customers for them. Since these plastic bags are provided for free, people tend to use and throw them out.
If consumers are charged for bags however, they will automatically use lesser number of bags and accommodate more items in one bag, thereby reducing its usage.
We must conduct public awareness campaigns on this serious issue.
From Mr P. K. Ashok
Dubai
Full name withheld by request
Plastic is history
By publishing the recent story about plastic bags, Gulf News gave readers an opportunity to think and react by reducing their consumption of plastic ("Ditch plastic to save cash and the environment", Gulf News, February 3).
The extensive use of plastic in the GCC has created an increase in the concern for environmental issues.
To control the usage of plastic, everyone should remember the 'Three R Principle' - reduce, reuse and recycle. Waste minimisation can be achieved in an efficient way by focusing primarily on this principle.
Awareness is a key factor that should be implemented right from the start in schools and universities, and also through the media.
We could easily control the lavish usage of plastic bags in supermarkets.
All supermarkets can produce four different, but suitably strong plastic bags made for fruits and vegetables, toiletries, canned goods and frozen items respectively.
They can then fix a price - for instance Dh2 for each bag. When a customer buys a bag at the counter, the staff can then run the barcode.
When the customer again visits the supermarket, he or she can bring along the bags to carry items without paying again.
Once we pay for plastic bags we should be careful about preserving bags for future use.
If large hypermarkets can save 150 tons of plastic in a month, they could share their savings with customers as a raffle or grand prize.
I request the authorities, supermarkets, hypermarkets and shopping malls to implement this method and reduce the use of plastic to protect our world.
From Mr K. V. Shams Al Deen
Sharjah
Full name withheld by request
Catch up
It would be excellent if the Middle East catches up with the rest of the world, in the issue of conserving the environment ("Ditch plastic to save cash and the environment", Gulf News, February 3).
It would be beneficial to charge for plastic bags at the counter and encourage customers to bring in their own bags or purchase a cloth bag at the entrance.
From Ms Lynette Chase
UAE
Boycott plastic
I was notified last November that my local hypermarket would start charging Dh0.25 for plastic bags, starting from 2008 ("Supermarkets start charging for plastic bags", Gulf News, February 4).
Apparently, the decision was not welcomed but I will try boycotting plastic bags.
When another hypermarket first introduced the big, eco-friendly shopping bag, we bought it.
However, I usually go shopping without it. Supermarkets are already over-pricing their goods, and it's hard to understand their pricing policies.
If their purpose is to save the environment, they would at least promote re-usable bags.
Miesaa Abdul Wahed
Dubai
Salik, a failure
Reports that the Salik toll system has been 'very successful' are almost laughable ("Salik toll system's aim to reduce traffic 'is right on track'", Gulf News, January 2).
Salik has reaped a huge windfall, but has certainly not improved the condition of Shaikh Zayed Road.
The roads remain consistently congested and packed, especially in the evening hours.
Perhaps the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) should rethink their strategy of how to improve and make the roads safer.
After all, countless Dubai residents spend hours in their vehicles on those very roads.
From Ms Hannah Parks
Dubai
