Happiness Council is a praiseworthy initiative
The establishment of a World Happiness Council with twelve international experts as its members, by His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, is a testament of the UAE government’s care and concern for the well-being, stability and progress of citizens (“Happiness parade spreads smiles”, Gulf News, March 20). UAE’s leadership has always shown magnanimity and benevolence towards its people and kept their progress and happiness at the heart of its policies, plans and strategies.
Creating the position of a Minister of State for Happiness, the first of its kind in the region and one of the few in the world, whose primary mission is to harmonise all government plans, policies and programmes to achieve a happier society, the country has proven that happiness is the basis of society and the country’s advancement solely depends on its people. In addition to spreading happiness, youth, knowledge and community development, building skills among people, and providing excellent services are some of the vital factors that are being looked into. The new World Happiness Council will surely add a coveted feather to the UAE’s already brimming cap.
From Ms Jayashree Kulkarni
Abu Dhabi
Let’s paint the town red
International Day of Happiness is observed on March 20 every year. The United Nations (UN) has been celebrating this day since 2013 to recognise the importance of happiness in the lives of people around the world. Happiness is related to sustainable development, which aims to achieve zero hunger, equal treatment and protection of Mother Earth. We need a world that is full of happiness and smiley faces – be it in the workplace of private and government institutions, on the streets or at home. The UAE has set an example for the world by having a Minister of State for Happiness – Uhoud Khalfan Al Roumi. Let us make this world a happier place.
From Mr Eappen Elias
Dubai
Intimidated by women in hijab?
Anybody who sees a woman wearing a hijab and says she is oppressed is delusional (“The hijab ruling is a ban on Muslim women”, Gulf News, March 17). A Muslim woman chooses to wear it as it forms part of her culture and also as a sign of her modesty. It will be a heart-breaking decision to force a Muslim woman to remove her hijab or head scarf under any circumstances, unless it is what she wants to do! I fully agree that in the workplace the burqa and the niqab or face veil should be banned but certainly not the hijab. And if any person says he is intimidated by a woman wearing a hijab, then we may as well be intimidated when Western women wear large hats on their heads!
From Ms Cathy Burn
Muscat, Oman
Facebook comment
Touching gesture
This is so great that he was helped and not treated with suspicion (“Tourist who had memory loss in Dubai gets help from police to return home, Gulf News, March 16). Wow. Well done to Dubai Police!
From Ms Deidre Vermeulen
UAE
No sense of reason
Where did the whole world go now (“42 dead in Syria mosque air strikes”, Gulf News, March 16)? Terrorists do not belong to any religion. Thousands of innocent people have been killed in air strikes. And we call ourselves humans? Where is humanity?
From Mr Mansoor Pasha
Dubai
Debilitating debt
In developing countries like Nepal, banks charge big interest rates when borrowing money, even after the evaluation of your property (“Fed rate increase probably won’t boost your savings account anytime soon”, Gulf News, March 18).
From Mr Bhasker Thapa
UAE
Facebook comment
No new tax
It is not a good idea to tax the GCC economy as businesses and expats may not stay and, without them, the economy might decline (“Kuwaiti expert warns against tax on remittances”, Gulf News, March 19). It creates a ripple effect. There are other ways to grow the economy.
From Mr Jeevan Toprani
UAE
Facebook comment
Hold them accountable
Ask the biggest carbon dioxide producers of the world – US, China, India and others – why are we suffering due to the carelessness or negligence of these countries (“In March 2002, a part of this Antarctic ice shelf collapsed, it can happen again”, Gulf News Facebook, March 20)?
From Mr Tahir Omar
Dubai
Facebook comment
Situation heating up
This is an inevitable chain reaction. Today or tomorrow, it can happen again. Every year, we read about the rise in temperature and how it is breaking previous records.
From Mr D. Robin
UAE
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Riding discomfort
You require two things - lots of money and lots of patience (“Expat Guide: Getting your driving licence in Dubai,” Gulf News, March 16).
From Mr Boox Max
UAE
Facebook comment
Cruel intentions
There is no light whatsoever in Sharjah Industrial Area (“Gang held in Sharjah for car thefts using copies of keys, Gulf News, March 18). Once my car broke down, I prayed that I’d see it again the next day.
From Mr Falah Khalid
UAE
Facebook comment
They get tired
Yes, at least this is fair for us, especially when it comes to overworking (“UAE seeks to boost rights of domestic workers”, Gulf News, March 18). It is as if the bodies of housemaids are made of metal! Working for over 16 hours is really too much!
From Ms Matovu Sylvia
Muscat, Oman
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Shrinking memory?
I agree with author Simon Garfield, who said in a Gulf News interview that our brains are shrinking thanks to new technology. I remember only a few important mobile phone numbers, belonging to my family members. I don’t even take note of my friends’ phone numbers because they appear in my contact list, WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger and other apps.
From Ms Veronica Jill
UAE
Live and let live
In Pakistan, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif recently announced a 500 million rupees (Dh17.52 million) fund for the betterment of the Hindu community in Karachi. As a citizen of this nation, this news brought a smile to my face. Even though I have spent very little time in the country, having been raised in the UAE, every time I have visited, I have witnessed a lot of discrimination based on religion. My extended family has been living in Pakistan for years, and they constantly point out a person’s faith, which would leave me very confused. How does it matter what people’s beliefs were? For a change, Sharif is doing something that is worth praise. I commend his actions and hope that more people living in this beautiful nation open their eyes and minds to the possibility of coming across someone who may or may not believe in the same things that you do. Their belief system does not take away their rights of being called an equal citizen. It doesn’t take away from their patriotism or love for their country. In this day and age, when many countries around the world are facing troubles in the form of civil wars, the least we can do is accept each other for who we are. Live and let live.
From Ms Rabia Shahid
Sharjah
It’s getting hotter on the pitch
Kudos to Australian skipper, Steve Smith, for his unbeaten partnership with Glenn Maxwell, which has enabled his team to be in the driver’s seat (“More banter as Maxwell mocks Kohli”, Gulf News, March 18). No doubt Smith had a temporary inattention at Bangalore, but his willow had no such problems at Ranchi. This new venue seems to be docile and playing to the tune of Aussies and Smith will have no complaint about the pitch this time. However, as our boys have bounced back at Bombay and Chennai against Cook and company, who too had scored 400 plus in their first innings, we are confident that Virat Kohli and company would also reap the dividends at Ranchi to force a decision.
Keeping our fingers crossed!
From Mr N. Mahadevan
Chennai, India
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