Gulf News
Keeping children safe
I feel it is advisable to have regulations for seat belts continue to be applied for all seats in the school buses that are on our roads (‘New drivers to get two-year licence, starting from July 1’, Gulf News, April 17). The advantage factors I find behind such an enforcement of safety regulation are many. First and foremost, at any given point in time, the student is safeguarded from impacts due to sudden braking.
Secondly, when it is normally enforced on a daily basis it will become an automatic habit, which will be carried on to their private travel with friends and family. They will be leading the way as ambassadors of road safety.
It may also reduce the driver distractions that happen often in the school buses where children run around or jump on the seats, ignoring the request of the supervisors and drivers. It may thus reduce the bullying that might be happening in some cases.
Safety education is something children should be reminded of every moment. It is because we tend to take some small points lightly, thinking that we know it or “it will not happen to me” that many accidents occur. So, why do we miss out on the opportunity of a road safety education opportunity for children? Teach them young and travel with them safely throughout!
From Mr Ramesh Menon
Abu Dhabi
Read more on the subject:
Draft seat belt law does not cover school buses
Seat belts on school buses should be made mandatory
‘Instant fame’ is not worth endangering yourself
Readers write to Gulf News about issues affecting them and their community
‘Instant fame’ is not worth endangering yourself
Readers write to Gulf News about issues affecting them and their community
Published: 14:02 March 25, 2017
‘Instant fame’ is not worth endangering yourself
This is an extremely important move from Dubai’s Environment, Health and Safety Control Authority (“Local order against daredevil selfie takers”, Gulf News, March 21). They are curbing the recent craze of ‘selfie-adventurists’ doing dangerous stunts on top of high-rise structures. Not only is this a death-defying act, but also creates negative motivation for others to follow and receive ‘instant fame’ on social media.
In fact, people don’t just perform these kinds of stunts in Dubai alone – it happens everywhere. In one of my trips to Jebel Jais in Ras Al Khaimah, I witnessed a family encouraging children to jump repeatedly from the guard rails for a picture-perfect opportunity, while someone else kept clicking pictures on their camera. This happy excursion could have become tragic any time one of them fell down the side of a steep slope. I hope there will be more awareness programs to constantly alert and remind people of any imminent danger. Safety should be our priority at all times.
From Mr Ramesh Menon
UAE
Strict rules required to punish those who take dangerous selfies!
The trend of unauthorized and unprotected stunts and filming them and publishing them for fame has increased recently and become a menace. Authorities should come out with strict rules to punish those who do such dangerous acts without appropriate protections and approval and supervision of necessary protective authorities. These photos and videos may encourage youth to follow them without a second thought about the impending danger if they fail or falter. Safety should never be compromised and this indeed is an unsafe situation, which should never be encouraged.
To read it, visit Gulf News online
Read the corresponding article related to this comment.
Daredevil Russian couple climb Dubai highrise
Hold her accountable!
It is a highly unbelievable and a one-off situation what the people of the state as well as those who love the Tamil people are witnessing now (‘India’s top court shows the way in fighting graft’, Gulf News, February 15). First and foremost, we are living in an era that should have freedom to express our constitutional rights and thoughts and not just follow the whims and fancies of anyone who claims to have confidence or power or even access to power.
Wonder why the educated Tamil people, men and women, sit quiet and say nothing on this issue. They had more of a voice and mass to express and unite themselves for the Jallikattu Festival issue than for a situation like these pseudo rulers.
Who is forcing Vivekanandan Krishnaveni Sasikala to remain in politics, if she feels that it’s hard for a woman to survive in politics? Sit quiet and be comfortable at home and enjoy the money that has been quietly earned over the years rather than perish with more greed.
Without strong sentencing and monetary punishment, which surprisingly was not handed out in this case, the process may continue to happen considering the timeframe for such verdicts.
From Mr Ramesh Menon
Abu Dhabi
To read it in original, visit:
Hold her accountable! – Letters to the editor Gulf News Dt 21 February 2017
The good and the bad – Letters to the editor – Gulf News 20 February 2017c
The good and the bad
I am impressed by the quality of the news content coming out these days. In terms of the The Views, the editorials always stand out. Community reports of Gulf News have to be given a special mention as it reaches the issues addressed by dedicated residents that reach the authorities and achieve results. Gulf News should devote a day or two to encourage young writers from schools in the UAE to address the issues they feel important.
Kudos to the cartoonists and photographers of Gulf News as they do a good job to portray the message with intended effect. Weekend Review is so elaborate that one may need more than a full weekend to complete the contents. Of course, there are some negatives, too.
When it comes to major events related to the sub-continent, we tend to see the responses of a select few from the business community, which is becoming an overkill. Please do also try to cover more news from Abu Dhabi and other emirates so that readers from these areas do not feel they are left out.
The online version of Gulf News is highly attractive, however, updates have to be consistent and up to date. Indexing and tagging of the news items has to be accurate so that readers can search and obtain them quickly.
Of course, an improvement in coverage is seen these days, but expect more from Gulf News.
From Mr Ramesh Menon
Abu Dhabi
To read it in original, visit GULF NEWS online
WhatsApp: Use with care -Letter to the editor Gulf News Dt 09 Jan 2017
You will find at least 20 to 25 unread messages out of which, you will get a minimum 15 pictures or video forwards! What do you do if you are travelling or if you have a huge contact base in your phone? The odd members who don’t think about the inconvenience that can be caused to the receiver when he forwards pictures and videos. It spoils the significance and benefits of using the platform.
If a person is so fond of disseminating information through WhatsApp, my suggestion is to first upload the voluminous files to either a blog or YouTube channel and then share the link. The receiver can, at his convenience, look at them and it remains there permanently for later referrals. Whereas, if you end up sending too many photos or videos, imagine the situation of someone who is traveling and has limited connectivity and storage capacity? The inconvenience caused will prompt the receiver to exit from such groups or block the sender.
For me personally, WhatsApp is an efficient communication medium, but people are not using it diligently. So much so that recently I had to prepare a warning poster and share it as my keynote on phone and social media to inform my contacts to be considerate on their WhatsApp messages. I also had to exit from four important groups due to the excessive volume of non-relevant pictures and videos being shared to members by some individual members.
From Mr Ramesh Menon
Abu Dhabi
To read it in original, please visit Gulf News online
Share what you know – Letters to the editor Gulf News Dt 05th January 2017
I am just an ordinary expatriate who came to the UAE with lots of hopes and dreams in 1987. Life has evolved and revolved over the years of my stay in the UAE. I am happy to say that I lived most of my life here. The journey has not been easy for me all these years. I am worried about the number of people, close family members who have been affected by cancer. Some have already left this world and some are fighting it out. I want to support all those who are affected by cancer in some way or another.
Also, it’s important to me to promote talent and knowledge through my own initiative for sharing talent or knowledge from within us to others. What is the point of having a skill within you, if you are not willing to share it and pass it on to someone who is willing to propagate it? It is a challenge and many people who are talented hold on to it without passing on the skills to a second or third person. We have to share our skills, talents or knowledge to those around.
From Mr Ramesh Menon
UAE
To read it in original, visit Gulf News online
Excited for the Olympics
It is a time of anticipation and excitement as India, my home country, and UAE, my home away from home, field their largest contingents to the Rio Olympics. From the Indian team, expectations are high on the 12-member shooting contingent, badminton, wrestling, tennis and archery team members along with boxing and the men’s hockey team all set to keep the Indian flag flying high at least a few times through their wins. Meanwhile, for the UAE it is all the more prestigious as there is a woman athlete representing the country in swimming along with the overall 13 athletes who will represent the country in six different disciplines like cycling, judo, weightlifting and athletics. Best wishes for the safe conduct of the event and let peace and harmony prevail with everyone enjoying the individual and team events.
From Mr Ramesh Menon
Abu Dhabi
Congratulations to EK521 Crew & Dubai Airport Emergency Response Team
My sincere congratulations to Emirates Airline EK521 Captain and Crew for handling the Crisis exceedingly well. Highest level of praise also goes to the Dubai Airport Emergency Response Team, who handled the situation and made sure the incident was brought under control. As regards to Emirates Airline Crisis Management and Communication Team, this is an excellent example for all global Comms/Crisis Management Teams to observe and follow how effectively and efficiently a major crisis can be handled and communicated. Everyone will agree and accept that this is not an easy task these days, when all are on social media and dissemination of information is just within the press of our fingers. The airline also came out with timely developing statements to avoid any rumors and feed stakeholders with right information. Emirates Airlines ranked Number 2 in terms of safety and the plane involved was a Boeing 777 which has a track record of safety. In addition the airport involved was Dubai airport, which is considered as one of the safest airports in the world. All the passengers and the crew were fortunate and blessed to have these three lucky combinations i.e, of a safe airline, airplane and a first rate airport, involved in this unfortunate incident from which they all survived! The country is proud of the brave firefighter Jasem who lost his life. May his soul rest in peace.
Letters to the Editor/Gulf News:
Stopping speeders
Stopping speeders
The move by Abu Dhabi Police to remove the discount on traffic tickets will give more strength to reinforce the traffic safety plan drawn up by the Abu Dhabi municipality and the Urban Planning Council (‘Abu Dhabi Police to stop discount on traffic fine’, Gulf News, July 25). It should also reduce accidents and traffic deaths. The method of giving a discount on traffic fines, especially speeding fines, was not welcomed by many as people remain relaxed even when fined. A system that could be introduced to gain more control on speeding may be to have a fine system that raises the fines with each ticket.
From Mr Ramesh Menon
Abu Dhabi
Letters to Editor / Gulf News on:
Abu Dhabi Police to stop discount on traffic fine
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