Medical benefits of a spiritual practice
It was exhilarating to read Dr Rupal Merchant’s write up to know that the Nobel Prize for medicine went for the progress in a concept that is practised by Muslims worldwide religiously every year (‘Readers Views: Science catches up with ancient India’, Gulf News, October 16). Those people living in the UAE are well familiar with the month of Ramadan and how Muslims fast for 30 days, from dawn till dusk. As a child, I was always taught of the spiritual education fasting imparts of not wasting food, sharing with those who have less and feeling and relieving the pain of those who don’t have plenty. A scientifically beneficial perspective to something I have practised since my childhood has me joyous.
From Ms Fatima Sarwar
Dubai
Fight world hunger together
World Food Day was observed on October 16 and this year the theme was ‘Climate is changing, Food and agriculture must too’ (‘Social media trend report: One in nine people live with chronic hunger’, Gulf News, October 17). One of our biggest challenges will be food security and the most affected will be farmers/fishermen and the deprived portion of society who are far away from the mainstream. The global goal is to achieve zero hunger by 2030 and without addressing climate change, we cannot reach this target. Rising greenhouse gas levels result in changes in the climate and environment. This brings about an increase in temperatures, which adversely affect crops and aquaculture among other things.
We often read and talk about energy conservation and the 3 R’s (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle), but do not always comply. Unless immediate positive steps are taken towards energy conservation, this will continue to affect climate, resulting in failed crops and barren lands.
According to the report, one in every nine people in the world can’t find a proper meal a day. Globally the agricultural programs at universities should work on developing hybrid plants and seeds that should adopt for the present climate change and affordable for our farmers.
Severe drought has led to the shortage of food, water and energy across the globe. Let us not waste our food and make sure to share and care for the needy and together we can fight world hunger.
From Mr Eappen Elias
Dubai
Pray for Syria’s children
It is heartbreaking to read of how these Syrian refugees struggle to arrange money to save their sick children (‘Syrian refugees scramble for money to save sick babies’, Gulf News, October 16). It is very sad that so many Syrian children are in dire need of medical help, with some of them clinging to life and others having lost their battle. It is difficult to imagine the mental state of such parents who are unable to afford two decent meals a day for their families and worse even, are burdened by rising medical costs. To be unable to provide for their families especially children, or to see them die due to lack of finances or delayed treatment can force many sane people into depression or to commit suicide. I sincerely hope that the cries of these children and their helpless parents are heard by charitable organisations around the globe and developed countries who must come to their aid, rather than being mute spectators. For parents, there can be nothing more agonising and painful than to see their children die while they watch helplessly. I pray that no parent would ever have to endure the loss of losing their beloved child.
From Ms Fatima Suhail
Ajman
Facebook comment
Safety of citizens
There are thousands of drug addicts in the Philippines (‘China backs Philippines’ anti-narcotics campaign’, Gulf News, October 16). There are a lot of robberies and rape and other crimes just because many of these suspects are under the influence of drugs. There are the other citizens of our country that our president is thinking about in terms of safety.
From Ms Rahel Mae
UAE
Facebook comment
Language and its importance
Today people’s migration is very fast from one country to another for better living and status. Many people learn the language of the country where they are migrating to. Language plays an important role in the global scenario.
When you communicate with another person in their own language they will be very happy. Language makes understanding between people. English is accepted in much of the world.
The UAE is one country that is accepting of various languages like English, Hindi, Malayalam and Arabic. Language is the one and only thing that can give a person a better position in his profession, but also in society.
Many parents are keeping this in mind and encouraging their children to study different languages in their earlier years. Today’s children are very much interested in learning different languages, too. It helps people to travel from one country to another. Language is something that has many advantages and one should understand and utilise them for better living.
From Mr K. Ragavan
Bengaluru, India
Where is the punishment?
It is really painful to know about the luxury car hitting two students on a bike in Chennai, India. Though we are happy that there weren’t any deaths this time, it is a worrying matter that time and again elite people, who knock down people, are getting away from the clutches of the law. If we go by the past records, it is the drunken drivers who cause such accidents.
Unless and until the law enforcing authorities come out with some stringent punishment for such careless drivers, we will have to face such fatal accidents in future, too.
From Mr N. Viswanathan
Virugambakkam, India
A marathon in your mind
Organisations need to stay competitive and cope with internal and external business’ environment challenges, therefore management and employees will have high pressure on them on how to work as one team. They need to meet their business’ objectives effectively and efficiently or even to go behind their expected objectives and that will make their mind tired, because they are running marathons in their minds every day. Thinking about things to do, what’s been done, what should have been done, what others did, are doing, should do is exhausting. Tiredness makes the mind even more restless.
Generally speaking, an organisation cannot run fast if its employees feel tailed. It is like when you are trying to run a marathon but your feet are hurting from the activity. So why not take break? A thought break. To slow down your thoughts and let your mind go from restless to restful, take time to go away from this thought marathon to recharge your powers and release tiredness so your mind can think better.
From Mr Ali Al Aradi
UAE
IT crimes grow
The recent Thane, India call centre arrests serve up a shock given the number of young people who either were deliberately involved or duped to take part in the sleazy business of cheating seniors in the US out of their money by devious means (‘Indian police, FBI seek call centre fraud kingpin’, Gulf News, October 15). It is quite puzzling to grasp how such an activity has been going on without being noticed by US authorities. The modus operandi adopted by the call centre agents to wangle money out of the hands of the purported US tax defaulters seems to be relatively simple which worked well to the scammers’ advantage. The calls the agents made from India by impersonating the officials from the US Internal Revenue Services (IRS) went undetected until huge sums were siphoned out of those accused of defaulting taxes.
However, this incident raises concerns over the moral degradation of the youth in India, especially those who possess IT qualifications and start their career with high ambitions, yet end up falling into the hands of those who run companies with wrong motives. The IT revolution brought in a paradigm shift in the financial aspirations of the youth in India where many of them set their eyes on the US, Europe or Australia to start their career. But in recent times the reverse migration has created a huge crisis and I guess this must have drawn some of them setting up bogus companies with the intention of resorting to devious means to earn quick bucks by cashing in on the know-how they had acquired working within the industry.
From Mr Esmail Mohammad
Dubai
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