Embracing and respecting culture
It is Friday noon at Jumeirah mosque. The prayer congregation has just ended and worshippers are leaving. Just past the mosque she slowly treads on her heels. Much of her is exposed to the sun and to all. As she embraces Dubai's aura, she fails to notice the many lowered gazes of men exiting the mosque. Dubai has embraced many faiths and respects people's freedom in practising their religions. However, this is not to be confused with dressing in a revealing manner. We can dress smartly and trendily, yet with professionalism and respect. Hot weather? Why not dress in modest garments made of cool fabrics such as linen and cotton? In fact, it is medically advised to protect skin from direct sun rays in order to avoid melanoma and sun damage.
From Ms Mira Roberts
Dubai
One of the best
I have been reading Gulf News for the past one year. I must admit that it is undeniably one of the best English newspapers in the region. The report on why using hands-free phone accessories while driving can be dangerous, was a good read. The coverage on the Metro project in Dubai has been remarkable, too. I would like to congratulate all Gulf News employees for giving the readers a really good newspaper every day.
From Mr Rajjat Sagar Jain
Sharjah
Added load
I congratulate the concerned developers for the proposed building of 300 villas to house a population of 90,000 in Al Furjan ("Nakheel awards Dh600m contract to Al Shafar", Gulf News, July 2). I also hope that the authorities have some proactive plans to make sure the road network is capable of handling the added load. Living in the area adjacent to the new development, we (current residents) know only too well the traffic snarls that we endure. It would be really helpful, and reassuring if the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) would make its road expansion plans easily accessible to the public ahead of time.
From Mr Rick Advano
Dubai
Safety first
I cannot believe this is the second such incident in the past week ("Young girl dies after 11-storey fall in Sharjah," Gulf News, July 3). It is advisable to install safety grills at all windows and in balconies. In order to avoid any such tragedies, we had the grills in place before shifting to our new flat, which is located on the tenth floor. It should be made compulsory for all buildings under construction to avoid featuring open windows, especially if they are unsafe.
From Ms Aparna P.
Dubai
Looks don't matter
It doesn't matter if a building looks good or has the best facilities. What's more important is how secure, stable and safe it really is. All windows should have safety grills. If not, more tragedies such as these might continue to occur.
From Mr Sanjay Kumar
Sharjah
Meeting standards
Regular accidents of children falling from the building can be stopped only if the concerned authorities change construction laws. It should be made mandatory for the contractor to provide safety barriers with windows. At the moment, almost all windows are sans safeguards, with only a small lock system installed. These locks are very easy to open, even by children. No occupancy certificate must be issued to building owners unless they meet specific and strict safety standards.
From Mr Zia Ul Khan
Dubai
What will it take?
I am a resident of International City for more than a year now. I keep wondering why despite the environmental hazards posed by the sewerage processing plant; no serious step has yet been taken to rectify the situation. This is a problem that affects the health of 60,000 or more people. Week in and out, we inhale the noxious stench that seeps through our air conditioning system even when doors and windows are closed. Will it take an epidemic before some solutions are sought? We have the right to live in safety.
From A Reader
Dubai
Name withheld by request
No room for waste
International City is wonderful, except for the sewage factor and the floods caused by the overflow of sewage. The main cause of the overflow could be the sewage disposal trucks that offload effluent on the main road crossing England, Russia, Spain, and France clusters. They used to offload on the stretch when International City was vacant and unoccupied. Now almost all buildings are occupied and the sewerage system can only accommodate the sewage that is produced by residential buildings.
From Mr Mohammad A.
Dubai
Health hazards
The overflowing manholes and sewage spills are not an occasional occurrence, it happens every single day of the week ("Residents fume at fines for parking off roads due to sewage," Gulf News, July 4). On weekends, it simply floods the roads and car parks and laps at the entrances to buildings. If I owned an apartment I would not be very happy to find a sewage treatment plant right in front of my apartment. The current situation is a health hazard! We have to endure the acrid yellow smoke and foul smell of the main sewerage plant processing the rest of the city's raw sewerage at the back of International City. I have spent hundreds of dirhams on drain cleaners and scented items to try to overcome the constant sewage stink.
From A Reader
Dubai
Name withheld by request
