Shameful behaviour
I was appalled to see a violent customer shouting and pushing a salesman in a major electronics showroom recently. Although, "customer is king" is the phrase most commonly used, with the customer having the right to raise objection to poor service or behaviour, no customer can harm sales staff, physically or otherwise. Time and again, that salesman's face appears in my thoughts. Tears had filled up his eyes, after being humiliated in front of a packed showroom.
From Mr Amjad A. Awan
Dubai
Signal please
I use the World Trade Centre roundabout at 6.50am every morning, and often notice that it is a dangerous area for motorists as the traffic lights start functioning only at 7am. Vehicles rush to enter the roundabout, even though cars would still be moving within the circle. For a few days, the traffic lights were switched on earlier than usual and the movement of traffic was very smooth. I request the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) to kindly allow traffic lights to function by 6am, as this would greatly help ease the traffic congestion.
From Mr Deep Aranha
Dubai
Right comparison
In his letter to Gulf News, Mr Daniel Hajjar implies that any comparison between Nelson Mandela and Samir Kantar was unfair ("Stick to facts", Your Turn, Gulf News, July 21). But has he forgotten that just like Kantar, Mandela was also accused of terrorism? In the eyes of millions around the world, Kantar is a hero. He went on a mission to capture Israelis to exchange them for Palestinian prisoners. It is sad that a child was killed in the process, but has Mr Hajjar forgotten how many thousands of children the Israelis have killed in Palestine and Lebanon?
From Mr Sulaiman Zabian
Ontario, Canada
Taking sides?
Gulf News has wrongly compared Samir Kantar to Nelson Mandela. What surprised me more was the Editor's note, which espouses the attack as daring. The note states that it is Israel that claims that a young girl was killed. This cannot be far from the truth as Kantar himself has acknowledged it. Nobody expects Gulf News to toe the Israeli line, or for that matter, anyone's view but its very own, without taking any sides, as the facts speak for itself. Additionally, no one is denying that the Palestinians should not relish their freedom.
From Mr Ganesh Devrajan
Dubai
Not really green
What is the point of biodegradable plastic bags when they are not really green ("Are 'green' bags truly green?", Gulf News, July 20)? This will neither encourage consumers to use fewer bags, nor stop them from throwing rubbish on the streets, beaches, desert and destroying the environment. The biodegradable bags will continue to kill hundreds of camels, goats, turtles and dolphins with each passing year.
From Ms Jessica H.
Dubai
Don't ban old cars
I agree with Mr Peter Krygger's letter urging the authorities to permit old cars on the roads ("Allow old cars", Your Turn, Gulf News, July 21). Maintaining classic cars is work that involves love and devotion. To mark the 100th anniversary of General Motors, a parade was held in Detroit, US, recently. Some of the cars shown were over 100 years old and were still lovingly preserved. If we ban old cars from our roads, we will lose a part of our heritage. Only unsafe cars and trucks should be banned. Age should not make a difference.
From Mr Denes J. Carroll
Dubai
Thorough report
I would like to congratulate Gulf News for a thorough report ("Three-month sponsorship transfer of domestic workers introduced across the UAE", Gulf News, April 30). It answered all my questions. It is unusual for a reporter to be so thorough. She should probably consider becoming a lawyer.
From A Reader
Florida, USA
Full name withheld by request
Cornering culprits
If the RTA is serious about stopping speeding motorists, they should use Salik gates. If a car passes between these gates in less than the allotted limit of time, a speeding notice could be sent to the car owner. The RTA could further move the cameras to neighbourhoods in order to control motorists who try and exit before the Salik tollgate to avoid speeding fines.
From Mr Fred Donham
Dubai
Calling all experts
Over 1,000 people have been killed in the UAE in 2007 ("Accidents in last 6 months claim lives of 147 people", Gulf News, July 21). Traffic related casualties and air pollution, fuel consumption, parking demand and traffic congestion have been on a rise. The authorities should consider appointing a team of qualified and experienced professionals who can produce good results. They must assist the RTA in implementing an integrated, safe, comfortable, viable, innovative, sustainable and affordable transport system in the all emirates, especially Dubai, Ajman and Sharjah.
From Ms Sushama Tiwari
Dubai
No other option
We are living in the Madinat Zayed area, in Abu Dhabi, for the past two years. In April 2007, our room rent was Dh2,200, which increased to Dh2,700 in October of the same year. The rent was further increased to Dh3,500 in April 2008, when a new landlord took over the building. We have been informed that the rent would be increased again and we have to vacate if we were not ready to pay.
We have no other option but to abide by this illegal practice. I truly hope that one day the rent cap is applied as laid down.
From Mr Ramon Bravo
Abu Dhabi
Traffic analysis
As a traffic control systems engineer, I noticed a few things that I think cause traffic congestions in Dubai and Sharjah ("Welcome to the Sharjah-Dubai traffic battleground", Gulf News, June 23). There is a lack of proper planning in Sharjah. Construction of residential towers and buildings in various areas in the city are built without taking into consideration the traffic-handling capacity of the existing roads. Additionally, limiting the roads by permitting construction right at side of the roads eats up land that could potentially be used for road expansion. Finally, the greatest issue is that there are insufficient alternative roads to connect Sharjah to Dubai. The existence of bottlenecks in both directions at the points of entry and exit causes traffic to build up. Moreover, the expensive nature of public transport makes private vehicles a cheaper alternative. I also think that high rentals in Dubai push people to move to Sharjah, which is why there are traffic jams every day.
From Mr Omar Al Radaideh
Dubai
Too blind
I was really surprised when I read the article about US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice ("Rice: I am proud of US decision to invade Iraq", Gulf News, July 6). She stated that she was proud of the US's decision to invade Iraq and that the Middle East has improved since President George W. Bush took office. She further added that the US is proud of the liberation of 20 million Iraqis by getting rid of Saddam Hussain. I find this statement quite amusing considering the number of US military officials and Iraqi civilians who lost their lives since the US invasion of Iraq. Additionally, the damage done to properties during and after the invasion amounted to billions of dollars. With such self-explanatory facts and figures, I do not think this can be dubbed as an achievement.
From Mr Nasser Riaz
Pakistan
A short problem
I think the recent rule introduced by the authorities is indeed very strange and serves no purpose ("Short visa runs set to end, says UAE official", Gulf News, June 27). This can, in a way, hamper economic growth — mainly in the form of reduced visa processing revenue, lesser number of visitors to the country and reduced consumer spending. Additionally, many of us are confused about who this rule applies to: those entering the country on an employment visa, mission entry visa or any other form of visa. I think the authorities should further clarify this matter and if possible, consider a revision of this rule.
From Mr Rajesh Aryajeet
Dubai
What a shame
I was shocked to hear the final results of this year's Wimbledon ("Rafael Nadal beats Roger Federer in Wimbledon final", Gulf News, July 6). I was sure of tennis player Roger Federer's victory, especially after reading the poll result in Gulf News. Now, I am not so sure if Federer will keep his number one title in the future or if Rafael Nadal will succeed in taking it from him. It is obvious from the Gulf News poll result that the majority of people expected Federer to win. Although Nadal is a great player, I think Federer should have protected his title better. We can no longer be certain that Federer will remain the reigning champion. As a big Federer supporter, I hope he gets back his magic touch.
From Ms Fatima Siyab Al Deen
Abu Dhabi
It's for the good
I think Kuldip Nayar's views are outdated ("Why Singh insists on nuclear deal", Gulf News, July 4). Nuclear deals should be viewed as the light of intermittent power shortages throughout India. Nuclear power plants are white elephants without the fuel to run them. The US and the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) should help guarantee these fuel supplies. Safeguards for nuclear plants should also be accepted, as nuclear weapons will hopefully never be used. I think that the testing of atomic weapons is becoming more acceptable than having no electricity for a nation. Our need for energy security is much greater than our need for a nuclear umbrella.
From Mr Edmund Moraes
India
The hectic wait
As the world waits with bated breath about Iran's fate amidst the nuclear controversy, there is a lot at stake ("United States to send envoy to Iran nuclear talks: official", Gulf News, July 16). However, it is highly unlikely that Israel will attack Iran, given its strategic location and military capabilities. If Israel does attack Iran, I think the US would surely be dragged into the war. If the current state of the US economy were any indicator, opening a third front would undoubtedly send the country into a recession. US car sales hit a 15-year low in June, oil prices have shot to a record $144 (Dh529) a barrel, the US dollar is not the most favoured currency, the burden of a failed Iraq war is beginning to show and the country is still reeling under mortgage and credit crisis. A war at this stage would be suicidal for the US. These are troubled times and so, I think, a peaceful resolution to the Iran issue is in global interest.
From Ms Inam Abidi
Dubai
Such a sad view
I was shocked to read the article by Kuldip Nayar on the nuclear deal ("Why Singh insists on nuclear deal", Gulf News, July 4). It is sad that a lot of learned and respected journalists do not see the simple ground reality: that the poor people in India will only benefit when there are increased job opportunities. For this to happen, India needs power, which it is presently starved of. Should we not be concentrating more on what benefits the nuclear deal will bring to India, rather than shunning the deal because of its benefit for others? I would appreciate if Nayar would shed more light on 'the common man' he talks about and clarify the details of the deal. Beating around the 'Singh bush' would only create further misconceptions about it.
From Mr Atul Sanghavi
Sharjah
