Forever Friends
I adore all the articles in Gulf News on animals and read them with great interest (‘My days with Speedy the turtle,’ Gulf News, October 20). Such articles are really motivating and I absolutely agree with it. The selfless love that we get from pets is unparalleled, and they bring harmony and joy in our lives. I have two cats and they are my family members. The moment I enter my house, they come running towards me and take away all my anxieties. We must not forget that these innocent animals are not just a part of our world, but for them we are the complete world. They give us a lot and in return desire only love.
Gulf News is doing a fabulous job by helping animals get a permanent and loving family. My sincere gratitude to all the volunteers from various organisations who are working day and night for the rights of animals in the UAE. I feel that the pet adoption camps should be organised more often, at different locations and in different emirates so that more and more people can visit them.
They should also work with the schools, so that our future generation gets a fair chance to know more about their furry friends. Children will learn to be more compassionate towards animals and they might get ready to take up the responsibility of keeping a pet at home. Children who grow up with a pet at home are respectful towards living beings. My sincere request to the Sharjah Municipality for allocating a part of parks for pets will be highly appreciated. Animals need rights, too!
From Ms Shikha Dixit
Sharjah
This needs to change!
Thank you Sruthi S. for highlighting the issues faced by many students through loopholes in the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KDHA) inspections (‘Letters to the editor: School inspections,’ Gulf News, October 21). This is especially common in private schools. Since KHDA notifies the concerned school before conducting an inspection, a lot of effort is put into falsifying the standards of education received. The practice of grouping and labelling students based on an exam conducted previously should be discontinued, along with seating arrangements based on their marks. But, the point that stands out is the fact that they look forward to getting an outstanding rating and increasing the tuition fees. I hope the concerned authority looks into the matter and find a solution.
From Ms L. R.
UAE
Full name withheld on request
Bad experience with airlines
Thanks for raising the issue of the lost valuables from an airline; I have also had bad experiences with this (‘‘Airline lost wedding dress and jewellery,’ says reader,’ Gulf News, October 22). One time I handed over my wedding coat to a cabin crew, but I forgot to take it back from the crew when I was leaving the aircraft. Anyways, when I remembered, I contacted the lost and found after I left immigration, and I explained that I had forgotten to take my coat back, but after many reminders and visits, they never got back to me. It wasn’t just a matter of a coat, it was my wedding coat!
Another time, I once left my cell phone in the pocket of the aeroplane and after leaving the aircraft I asked the staff to help me find it. They directed me to customer affairs and you won’t believe this, they did not bother to even reply to my question! I really don’t know what their standard of service was, but I had a very bad experience.
From Mr Jawad Kamak
UAE
Don’t check valuables
I am a frequent traveller, and I never did have any incident where they lost my bags. This situation can occur with any airline, and it is the fault of the passenger for putting her valuables in the checked bag! No one puts jewellery in their bags, it is commonsense! It is unfortunate that she lost her bag, but there is no need to point fingers at an airline, it is not their fault. From Ms Haifa Esmail
UAE
A good plan
Having stiffer fines for Dubai Tram road rules is a welcome move by the authorities (‘Stiff fines for ignoring Dubai Tram road rules,’ Gulf News, October 21). The driving culture on the roads is getting worse with every passing day. This will be good for the safety of the people in the tram and on the roads!
From Mr Addy
Dubai
Website comment
A fenced-in tram?
I feel like the whole concept of having a tram has been totally ruined because of careless drivers! I have never seen a fenced-in tram in this way anywhere in the world.
From Mr John
Dubai
Website comment
Avoiding collisions
How I wish they would install an anti-crash barrier, similar to what you see at the Burj Al Arab main entrance. The one there goes up for unauthorised vehicle entry. It could be the same when the red light is on and the car is in the sensor covered area. If it could activate the system so that there would only be damage to the car, a collision would be avoided with the tram.
From Mr Kanebo
Dubai
Website comment
Stiff fines elsewhere, too!
I think stiff fines for traffic violations are needed for many neighbourhoods. Many drivers don’t seem to even follow the traffic lights. I find this is the case in Al Barsha. The authorities should take a look into this and give stiff fines there also!
From Mr Federico Fratelli
Dubai
Facebook comment
Not a good plan!
Here goes the US again, now dropping arms in Kobani (‘US drops arms, ammunition to Kurds in Kobani,’ Gulf News, October 21)! I fear it will later help the rebels and create another rebel army. It could create a larger war situation to defend against these very rebels once they become a ‘Frankenstein’.
From Mr Raja S.
Sharjah
Website comment
Could make a change
At least the controversy over the woman giving birth outside the hospital is a document for authorities to improve upon (‘Video of woman giving birth outside Egyptian hospital triggers outcry,’ Gulf News, October 21). It shows them and society the lack of respect they had for the woman and the population regarding public health.
From Mr Jose Viera
Dubai
Facebook comment
I love my uniform
We all wear uniforms here in my place of work, and I just love it (‘Work attire - what is appropriate?,’ Gulf News, October 21). The management and the workers together are wearing our branded polo-shirts with branded trousers or jeans. Everyone looks the same, everyone looks appropriate and for me personally, I save a ton of time and a ton of cash. I no longer have to stand around in front of the wardrobe each morning trying to decide what I should wear for that day and constantly having to buy new clothes each month!
From Ms Sarah Louise
Sharjah
Website comment
No place is perfect
I don’t believe that there is any place that is perfect, even with the beauty of the Philippines (‘Philippines: the world’s best-kept secret,’ Gulf News, October 21). Although my country is not perfect, but I am proud I grew up in the Philippines and that I can call it my home.
From Ms March Aemeil G.
UAE
Facebook comment
Nol not cheaper
Although offering discounts to Dubai commuters for Nol packages, as a regular commuter, I don’t think it’s cheaper (‘New Nol packages to offer extra discounts to Dubai commuters,’ Gulf News, October 22). The packages are still more expensive than what I pay recharging the card as it runs out, and I commute for two hours every working day.
From Ms Jana Dobrotkova
Dubai
Facebook comment
Weak sentencing
I think Oscar Pistorius’ sentencing after he shot his girlfriend is too soft (‘Oscar Pistorius begins 5-year sentence for killing Reeva Steenkamp,’ Gulf News, October 22). He should have gotten life in prison. I worry that there is more to him than meets the eye and that the reason he killed her was because he couldn’t control her!
From Ms Fatima Hadi Abdul
UAE
Facebook comment
Double standard
I can’t believe Pistorius only got five years for taking a life. What would have happened if he was the one killed? What would have been that equivalent jail time had he been the one murdered in the same circumstance?
From Mr Aristhotle Dungo
Abu Dhabi
Facebook comment
Tragic circumstances
God bless the little ones who deserve the best the world can offer, yet the world offers them the worst (‘Women, newborns ‘severely’ impacted by Gaza war,’ Gulf News, October 20)! It is sad to see babies and mothers suffering with the lack of infrastructure. The Israeli government and their army will surely get what is due to them!
From Ms Celia Philips
UAE
Facebook comment
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