Gulf News
My Letters – Gulf News – Dt. 07.04.2010 – Move smokers away from UAE mall entrances
My Letters – Gulf News – Dt. 07.04.2010 – Move smokers away from UAE mall entrances
Shoppers are being forced to inhale second-hand smoke at malls and near designated smoking areas causing health fears
By Bashir Mohammad Hijas, Gulf News Reader
I have been noticing a problem which I think should be highlighted in a community report.
My issue is with the “designated smoking area” in shopping malls. The entrance from the parking lots to the malls is often dotted with smokers, who fill up the air with exhaled smoke and endanger passers-by.
The designated area is in a place where [it affects everyone], including women and children. Often, this location is either not adequately ventilated or not ventilated at all, and the low roofs of the parking areas prevent the exhaled smoke from rising up in the air.
Passive smoking
Thus, the exhaled smoke and its smell lingers in the area for a long period of time.
Most importantly, this smoke endangers the health of passers-by due to the passive smoking effect.
There are several suggested remedial actions:
• Relocate the designated smoking area to a secluded place, away from the exit and entrance gates, so that it does not affect non-smokers.
• Build a glass wall around the smoking area to contain the smoke.
• Install heavy-duty smoke suckers, to trap the exhaled smoke. This would prevent others from inhaling exhaled smoke.
— The reader is a business analyst, in Dubai.
Be a citizen reporter. Tell us what is happening in your community. Write to us at readers@gulfnews.com
My Comments as follows:
I thank Mr. Bashi Mohammed Hijas for highlighting this issue of smokers crowding the entrance of the malls. It is a common scene, not only for malls, but other office buildings, whether you are in Dubai or Abu Dhabi. I had highlighted a similar situation happening in Abu Dhabi through one of Community report dated 06 April 2009 (strange!!). I followed it up vigorously with the authorities including mall managements and replies received were not promising as they had to find solution for a separate smoking area, rooms etc, which are costly. Rather than the amount of smoke inhaled while one pass by, I was concerned about the temptation, the younger generation gets by watching grown up men and women smoking away fumes waiting in front of the malls. It is a dangerous precedence and it will create an instinctive attraction to try for a cigarette in young minds. Authorities have to find solutions to these exhibitionism outside the premises as and when they introduce control measures to stop smoking inside malls and building.
Ramesh Menon, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
To read this letter in original, please visit GULF NEWS online
My Letters – Gulf News – Dt. 04.04.2010 – Lazy pet owners must be more considerate
My Letters – Gulf News – Dt. 04.04.2010 – Lazy pet owners must be more considerate
Lazy pet owners must be more considerate
we donated some of our valuable time to certain aspects of our surroundings, the rewards we reap would be plentiful.
Obviously, these aspects are not about humans and the reward is not money.
I refer to animals and Nature as a whole and the prize is happiness.
However, such creatures demand a great deal of patience and perseverance.
That is why everyone from experienced environmentalists to nature-loving individuals, veterinarians and pet owners deserves applause!
Especially when the topics of major discussions [in political arenas] are to do with climate change and species extinction, conserving certain breeds of pets without depriving them of their natural habitat is the best service rendered to nature.
In distress
But when such services are done, it surely does not mean that other people living in the same community are put into distress.
Many lazy pet owners in Dubai have found a convenient place for their pets to relieve themselves usually in nearby gravel areas. This results in unclean and unhealthy surroundings. Surprisingly, these pet owners do not even realise that the same areas are constantly being used by many [other people].
Unless such areas are privately owned, this immoral attitude is [inconsiderate] and quite disturbing to others. There is nothing wrong in allowing pets to relieve themselves in open areas, provided that they are sandy and the area is suitably cleaned before leaving.
Finally, while performing a good deed, it is not appreciable to cause an inconvenience to the wider community
My Comments as follows:
Its really interesting to read the Community report on a simple but highly unhygienic issue. Well done to Meghna Tony. The children are suffering from shortage of play grounds and areas nearer to their home, and whatever available, should be kept aside for them with special care and should not be allowed to be encroached by their four legged friends and owners. Why not devote some time and give them proper training? Or why not authorities let a designated relieving area for pets? Well, it is too difficult to find solution to install and implement the automated public toilet facilities in place for moving public and so, let our four legged friends and owners enjoy for the time being.
Ramesh Menon, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
To read this letter in original, please visit GULF NEWS Online.
My Letters – GULF NEWS – Dt 09 March 2010 – Energy efficiency for a better tomorrow
My Letters – GULF NEWS – Dt 09 March 2010 – Energy efficiency for a better tomorrow
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My Letters – GULF NEWS – Dt 03 March 2010 – Prepare for Emergencies
My Letters – GULF NEWS – Dt 03 March 2010 – Prepare for Emergencies
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My Letters – GULF NEWS – Dt 01 March 2010 – World Cup hockey: England surprise Australia, India beat Pakistan
World Cup hockey: England surprise Australia, India beat Pakistan
New Delhi: James Tindall struck twice to enable European champions England pull off a surprise 3-2 victory over tournament favourites Australia on the opening day of the men’s hockey World Cup on Sunday.
Olympic silver medallists Spain beat South Africa 4-2 and India defeated arch-rivals Pakistan 4-1 in the day’s other two pool B matches at the Dhyan Chand National Hockey Stadium.
World number two Australia, who won a record 10th Champions Trophy in December, dominated the first half with speedy forays but failed to convert any of their five penalty corners.
Captain and forward Jamie Dwyer finally put them in the lead through a penalty stroke before Ashley Jackson equalised through a penalty corner after sone solid goalkeeping by England’s James Fair.
Tindall the converted a penalty corner and made it 3-1 when following up for an opportunistic goal.
Dwyer cut the lead with four minutes remaining through a penalty corner but England defended well in the final minutes for their first win against their traditional rivals in World Cup since 1975 and only their fifth in 52 meetings.
Spectacular victory for India
India’s penalty corner specialist Sandeep Singh inspired the hosts to a spectacular victory in the clash between two former powerhouses with two goals, four years after suffering an accidental bullet injury that threatened to scupper his promising career.
Olympic champions Germany begin their campaign for a third straight world title with a pool A match against South Korea.
Results on Sunday on the opening day of the field hockey World Cup:
Pool B
Spain 4, South Africa 2
England 3, Australia 2
India 4, Pakistan 1
To read this in orginal, please visit GULF NEWS online.
My comments as follows:
Congratulations to Team India Hockey. The hockey team need more support from the nation. Readers where are you all. Cheer them, especially yesterday, the team played brilliant hockey and the margin of victory would have been even more. Surprisingly, there was no live telecast of the match. More matches to play in this tournament and let this win be an inspiration for Team India to get the championship.
Ramesh Menon, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
My Letteres – Gulf News – Dt 25 February 2010 – An eye opener
My Letteres – Gulf News – Dt 25 February 2010 – An eye opener
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My Letters – GULF NEWS Dt 24 February 2010 – Nine killed in blaze at Bangalore high-rise office complex
My Letters – GULF NEWS Dt 24 February 2010 – Nine killed in blaze at Bangalore high-rise office complex
The deaths were caused either by choking in smoke or due to injuries suffered when some tried to jump from the seven-storey building, fire officials said.
IANS
Bangalore: Nine people died and around 50 were injured when fire broke out in a high-rise office complex in Bangalore on Tuesday. The deaths were caused either by choking in smoke or due to injuries suffered when some tried to jump from the seven-storey building, fire officials said.
“Nine – six men and three women – have died and around 50 are injured. The condition of seven injured is serious,” D.G. Chengappa, director of fire services, told IANS.
The fire broke out in the fifth-floor office of an IT firm around 4 p.m., trapping several hundred people in the seven-storey Carlton Towers, an office and commercial complex on the busy old Airport Road in Bangalore’s central business district.
Visuals caught on cell phones and telecast on TV channels showed a woman trying to jump to the sixth floor from the seventh, slipping and falling to the ground. Another showed a man jumping to the ground from the top floor.
It is feared they are among the nine dead.
Fire brigade officials said 16 fire tenders battled the fire for about an hour and all were evacuated after about two hours.
Inspector General of Police P.S. Sandhu told reporters at the site that the fire appeared to have started due to electrical short circuiting.
People broke open glass panes with bare hands and any other material they could lay hands on to let out the smoke.
Dozens of office-goers were seen coughing as they were caught in the smoke.
Rescue hindered
Rescue operations were hindered as hundreds of people gathered on the busy street restricting the free movement of fire brigade vehicles and fire personnel.
Sandhu said the narrow road and the evening hour traffic did cause a delay in fire tenders reaching the site of the blaze.
To read this article in original, please visit GULF NEWS ONLINE
My comments as follows:
I refer to the above news item. It was one of the most horrific scenes I have witnessed on TV in the recent times. While I offer my prayers to all the victims of yesterday’s fire at Bangalore, I wish to highlight this serious presence of mind issue during a crisis to our readers. In Bangalore, psychologists say it as the fight or flight response and call it as the acute stress response when a normal person loses his sense of balance and presence of mind. Eyewitnesses report that neither could they save them nor stop them from jumping, which we all watched on TV helplessly and horrendously. This situation can happen to anyone in a stressful situation. Let us take it as an opportunity to educate necessary life skills training in educational institutions and organizations. It is true that all of us do not have the presence of mind to handle every situation. Necessary life saving skills and presence of mind techniques should be made available to general public through TV and press to act safely and spontaneously in case of a safety or security situation such as this one that took life of many in Bangalore.
A debate or a news feature informing such techniques are highly appreciated through your column at the earliest for the benefit of our readers.
Sincere regards,
Ramesh Menon
GNRC Member
Strict Penalties – My Letters – GULF NEWS Dt 24 February 2010
My Letters – GULF NEWS Dt 24 February 2010 – Strict Penalties
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My Letters – GULF NEWS – No outstanding Pakistani or Indian schools: KHDA – Dt 17 February 2010
My Letters – GULF NEWS – No outstanding Pakistani or Indian schools: KHDA – Dt 17 February 2010
Of the 23 schools inspected, seven were rated ‘good’, five were ‘unsatisfactory’ while two of the three Pakistani schools received ‘unsatisfactory’ grade
Dubai: No Indian and Pakistani schools have received an ‘outstanding’ grade upon the first Knowledge and Human Development Authority’s (KHDA’s) inspections.
Of the 23 schools inspected, seven were rated ‘good’, five were ‘unsatisfactory’ – two of the three Pakistani schools inspected received the ‘unsatisfactory’ grade.
A full 20-page report on individual schools will be available on the KHDA website on Thursday 18 February.
To read this news, please visit Gulf news Online
My Comments:
It is very surprising to note that none of the Indian or Pakistani schools got the Outstanding rating by KHDA. Especially as this list includes the schools run by the famous educators of the country, who owns several schools within UAE and also the Indian School series directed under the guidance of Embassies and consulates. What has happened to adherence of standard set by KHDA by these elite schools? Were they not prepared to match them or is it an eye opener to the readers that there exists several limitations and drawbacks which may or may not be complied upon by them as per the required regulations?. The detailed list of schools and their drawbacks, if any could be listed to reach the rating are eagerly awaited to get a clear picture for the parents.
My Letters – GULF NEWS – Student clocks up Dh356,000 in speeding fines
My Letters – GULF NEWS – Student clocks up Dh356,000 in speeding fines
Dubai: A Saudi Arabian student has clocked up fines totaling more than Dh356,000, a traffic official said on Sunday.
The fines started being issued in early 2008 until the present day, and the student was issued with more fines on a daily basis, according to Major General Mohammad Saif Al Zafein, Director, General Department of Traffic, Dubai Police.
Mostly issued for speeding, the student didn’t take the 400 fines seriously, and consistently ignored them.
He was located and called into the Traffic Department, whereupon his vehicle and license were confiscated. He will have to pay Dh100,000 to release his vehicle.
To read the original news, please click here to visit Gulf News online
My online comments as follows:
Amazing to read this news. It is strange that there was no system to check and control his driving around until he accumulated such a huge fine. Well, he or rather his parents are generous to set aside a special budget for Traffic offense for their son. I am sure, there may be more such drivers around averaging either more or less his record. I hope the authorities do initiate a control measure to monitor fines getting accumulated to car registration plates and licenses and to put hold on their driving immediately and cease the cars and their licenses along with other measures to make sure he never sits behind the wheel here in UAE.
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