Large repercussions for nuclear tests
Is it an uncanny coincidence that during February 2013, North Korea detonated its third nuclear device, causing an earthquake in the north east of the country (‘A sharper focus on North Korea’, Gulf News, September 19)? Its latest fifth underground test caused a 5.2-magnitude earthquake in nearby South Korea, just days later.
Earthquakes and fluctuations of the Earth’s axis have a direct cause and effect relationship with the testing of nuclear devices. Underground nuclear tests are the probable cause of abnormal polar motions of the Earth. In a 150-kiloton explosion, the position of the pole could radically slide. During 1978, the former Soviet Union conducted 10-megaton nuclear tests at Semipaltinsk, a seismic laboratory in Upsala, Sweden, and recorded the underground test. After 36 hours, an earthquake in Tabas, Iran, occurred, killing 25,000 people.
A catastrophic 8.2 earthquake struck Tangshan, China in July, 1976, killing 800,000 people. Five days earlier, the French tested a bomb at their Murotoa Atoll in the Pacific Ocean. Four days earlier, the US tested a nuclear device in Nevada, 24 hours before the earthquake in China. Nuclear testing has the potential to trigger the adverse movements of tectonic plates, whilst nuclear weapons have the capacity to obliterate all life on Earth.
From Mr Farouk Araie
Johannesburg, South Africa
Clean the Philippines!
Even if the Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte asks for a year and kills 10,000 more, I still believe that he is doing the right thing (‘Duterte to extend drug war, says ‘cannot kill them all’, Gulf News, September 20). This is the only way to deal with these criminals. Please understand he is not killing saints or Nobel Prize winners. I think the Filipino people should support him to clean the country.
From Mr Ali Asgar Ladhani
Dubai
Facebook comment
Criminals protected
Yes, our enforcer in the Philippines cannot shoot all of the criminals down because they were protected by our other corrupt senators.
From Mr Arnulfo Cuizon
UAE
Facebook comment
Not logical
But, do you actually believe that killing is the only solution? Most importantly, do you really believe you can kill them all? I think that’s really strange.
From Mr Sam Ham
Dubai
Facebook comment
Other methods, too
The government offered help to drug addicts with rehabilitation centres and such, and they have other strategies to win the fight against drugs. Unfortunately, this does not make international news.
From Ms Kristinne Jade Maglantay
UAE
Facebook comment
Doesn’t work!
Those other methods for coping with drugs issues is something that most countries in the world use. It’s not news, so it’s not publicised. That’s the difference. Rehabilitation centres work, what’s not proven is whether a violent war on drugs works. Actually, by the US’s history, a war on drugs has been proven not to work.
From Mr Joseph Cline
UAE
Facebook comment
Don’t need to kill people
How can you kill people without a court, a judge and evidence? Maybe treatment is a better option. There are countries who manage without running around killing people.
From Ms Kiru Koha
UAE
Facebook comment
Bandage on a severed artery
Some of you want him to continue the killings and that is wrong. How can you call yourselves human beings? If a man is addicted to drugs, he deserves help, not death. The war on drugs is clearly failing in the US, so it will inevitably fail in the Philippines.
When will you succeed and not need to kill drugs users? Never. There will always be drugs and there will always be drug abusers. We need to use a different approach. Instead of the “kill them all” method, try throwing those who need help in hospitals and put people in jail if their crimes deserve it.
People calling for the killings are the reason why this world will never see peace. Would you put a bandage on a severed artery? Stop blaming the drugs and start blaming the people. At least in the US, most drug offenders are in jail because of non-violent crimes. People will commit atrocities no matter what stimulated them. A “drug war” is only initiated by incompetent leaders that don’t deserve leadership titles.
From Mr Mike Schmidt
UAE
Facebook comment
Can’t let them go
You might be right at some point, Mr Mike Schmidt. But how can you explain a child who was killed and raped by her own father who happened to be a drug addict? Innocent people who were robbed and killed by drug addicts?
From Ms Janice Castro Kingrey
UAE
Facebook comment
Fighting back
Most of the killings related to drugs were by bust operations and they fight back. Police are also dying. So tell us, if the people involved pointed a gun at the police, what should they do?
From Mr Ray Manansala
UAE
Facebook comment
Not the only stress
It’s not just low salaries causing stress, but also the delay in receiving that low salary, working extra hours for free, no recognition for low profile jobs, unprofessional behaviour of superiors, abusive words due to work pressure (‘Low salary: Top cause of stress for workers in UAE, other Mena countries’, Gulf News, September 20).
Low salary is not the only reason for stress, but a key component of stress.
From Mr Shaikh Rizwan Ahmad
UAE
Facebook comment
Compensate employees
Low salary is the key factor in our stresses, but the important part is that companies ignore loyal employees and employees slowly become disinterested - low compensation and no benefits. Employees are not interested in the company’s goals and objectives. Many surveys show that good compensation systems are key motivators that help companies achieve their goals and objectives.
From Mr Suhail Abdul Wadood
Dubai
Facebook comment
Working all the time
This is absolutely right. Especially to those who are really working hard. Some people are working 12 to 15 hours a day with one day off. One more stress is when your salary is delayed.
From Mr Raymond Ronquillo
Dubai
Facebook comment
Protecting healthcare providers
In the UAE, we have plenty of Third Party Administered (TPA) health insurance companies (‘Medical liability law protects rights of all’, Gulf News, September 18). During the last 10 years, several such companies have vanished from the healthcare industry, depriving huge amounts to the healthcare providers. Such TPA companies do not settle the claims of the providers well within the stipulated time frame and outstanding payments would accumulate in several thousands. Ultimately, the claims are partially settled/rejected or the TPA company would itself vanish. This is causing heavy financial loss and constrains to the healthcare providers who are falling under small and medium-size categories. There is no specific agency to protect the overall interests of the healthcare providers.
Under these circumstances, I would suggest the concerned authorities to introduce and implement a law that would protect the healthcare provider as well in order to maintain a healthy healthcare industry.
From Mr K. C. U. Unni
Sharjah
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