Your Letters 29/03

Safety first
Your cover story Three Weeks in Hell (page 6, March 22) was a cracker. I couldn’t help but read it till the last word.

I also feel it’s a good move on the part of the authorities in Dubai to take the offenders to task as this will only make the roads much safer, especially in the wee hours of the morning when clubs and pubs close for business.

A reader, Dubai

Thanks for the advice
Kudos to your reporter Derek Baldwin for his fantastic prison diary.

I still cringe every time I read his account. Should there be a significant drop in drink driving incidents in Dubai, credit should also go to Derek and XPRESS.

And thanks again to Derek, his review on 300 (Gore and Action, page 38, March 22) made me rush to the City Centre and watch the Spartans’ last stand.

Tina, Deira

Clearing up the mess
Your Booze and don’ts story (page 8, March 22) was excellent. As an expat who’s recently moved to the city, I’ve heard so many contradictory reports on what you can and cannot do in the city with reference to alcohol.

But thanks to your article, everything is a lot clearer now. You need a licence to keep alcohol and consume it at home and you don’t drink and drive. Quite simple, really.

I’ve had a few cheeky drinks at home before, although I haven’t got an alcohol licence, but I am convinced now that getting one seems fairly straightforward and well worth the effort.

Sober and Serious, Bur Dubai

Insightful coverage
Fantastic cover story on XPRESS. I would never, ever, advocate drunk driving but Derek’s piece almost made it worth it.

Insightful without being sentimental, it was journalism at its best. Congrats.

Tom, Mirdiff

All aboard
I am looking forward to the Dubai Metro opening. However, I have a concern that anyone wanting to get on after the first few stations in the morning will have no luck.

I fully expect people travelling to work from Sharjah to drive the shorter distance to Al Qusais and fill up the Metro, making it impossible for people to get on later.

Also, I work on the other side of Shaikh Zayed Road to the Metro station and will not to be able to get across. Are they going to build bridges or tunnels?

I am sure it will help ease the traffic, but I am guessing I will still have to stick to getting a taxi to work.

Kavita, Mankhool

Travelling in the Metro-polis
I loved the way you graphically laid out the Dubai Metro project. You don’t need to read the text as the images are so descriptive.

But there were a few more grey areas that your writer could have filled in.

As a layman, I would be interested in knowing how much it would cost me to travel from point A to B in Gold, Silver and any other class.

Would there be a monthly, half-yearly or annual pass. Will student discounts be offered and, most importantly, if it’s connected to the airport will they have provisions for a luggage compartment?

Weary Traveller, Dubai

A colourful world
Your article by Vikram Singh Barhat on the door policies of clubs in Dubai (Are you being served? page 14, March 22) proves that racism is as prevalent today as it was centuries ago.

Though this piece has exposed a few defaulters, there are many other places where such practices are highly prevalent.

If people heeded the lyrics of Michael Jackson’s Black or White (‘it doesn’t matter if you’re black or white’) the world would be a fairer place to live in.

Discrimination against any caste, creed or colour should be abolished from the face of the Earth as time and again these issues have resulted in hatred and violence.

Aren’t we living in the computer age? If so, why haggle over whether you’re black or white.

A reader, Dubai

Route of racism
Our office boy is very enthusiastic in offering coffee and biscuits to the whites, but hesitant to pass on urgent and important papers to the next cabin.

We are yet to be free from the shackles of slavery; at least mentally. If any racial discrimination is prevailing in the night clubs (or elsewhere), it is the way of the world, but despicable. The fact is that a tinge of ‘colour’ discrimination in some way or other permeated into each society all over the world.

P G Aravindakshan, Abu Dhabi

Name and shame
Thought your article on racism at nightclubs was an excellent piece of journalism addressing an issue many people complain about but I’ve never read about. I’m glad to see my two favourite clubs (Long’s and Zinc) passed your test. Hopefully this will persuade the other clubs named in your article to enforce their door policies fairly.

But why did you limit your test team to Indians and Scots? I’m sure the many Nigerians and Kenyans I’ve met would face similar problems.

English Bob, Dubai

Remember those in need
I’ve heard so many stories of educated people being tricked into working in poor-paying, menial jobs after being promised something else entirely.

And as so many of these people borrow huge sums of money to get here, they are truly trapped. It’s disgusting that the people who run these scams care so little for the lives they ruin just to make a quick buck.

Last year, there were several stories of labourers trying to get run over so their families back home could receive the blood money to pay off their debts. The whole situation is beyond sad and hopeless.

Anne, Deira

A dog’s life
To the person who was looking for a leash for her chihuahua puppy: try using a cat collar with one of those extendable cord leads – make sure you get one with a plastic clasp, or it might be too heavy for such a small dog. You can buy both in the pet sections of most supermarkets. Or try online.

Jayne, Umm Suqeim

Haunted trees
I recently moved to Al Barsha and was intrigued by the presence of two isolated trees along Road 329, standing out from the razed ground on individual mounds of sand.

I was told they are ‘djinn’ trees and bad luck would befall anyone who cut them down.

Does anyone know anything more about these trees? I found the concept of a djinn tree quite fascinating and would like to know more.

Jane, Al Barsha

Living legally
A young entrepreneur from Karama
Fancied himself a sales charmer
He offered me fakes
(He had ‘em in crates)
But I buy legit and feel calmer.

Tony, Bur Dubai

Nothing is free
How will journalists survive without their freebies (No gifts for journalists, page 2, March 22)? Every hack I have met has thrived off press trips, goody bags and expense-account perks.

They will lose one of their major sources of chattel if the Journalists’ Association passes their draft code of ethics. And how will it be enforced?

Anthony, Mirdiff

A great country
This is only an addition to the letter from Proud Filipina concerning Amylliane Liamzon’s exaggerated description of the Philippines.

I was really disappointed after reading that article (No place like home, page 6, March 15) wherein she mentioned how horrible our country is. I am so thankful to have been raised in the Philippines.

Thanks to you Proud Filipina.

Mitchell, Sharjah

A great homeland
It’s a pity that you selected Amylliane Liamzon to represent the more than 200,000 Filipinos living in the UAE.

In the first place, she looks more Chinese or Singaporean than the average Filipina. And most Filipinos won’t speak ill of their home country. We love our homeland. It may have its flaws and shortcomings, but the Philippines is far from being “dirty” and “chaotic”. I’m beginning to wonder if she really is a Filipina.

J P, Satwa

Enjoy your wealth
Mariam from Dubai (Remember those in need, March 22), wrote to complain that we are “worried about what to wear to the world’s richest horse race” rather than social issues.

Perhaps we are, but there is little we can do to sort out these issues ourselves.

So why should we punish ourselves with a guilt trip over poverty when we should be enjoying our wealth.

If the poor people had money, they would be spending it too. So we should all just enjoy what we have.

Jenny, Bur Dubai

Running around
I enjoy road running and was upset that I missed out on this year’s Dubai marathon due to injury, but I plan to run in 2008.

However there was something that occurred to me as I followed the coverage in the media, an ideal way to prepare for a marathon is to compete in a half marathon about a month before, but the RAK half marathon was a month after the Dubai marathon!

If these two organisers could get together and arrange for their 2008 races to be switched around to make it easier for competitors to run in both, I am sure it would lead to more successful events.

Road Runner, Dubai

Event of the week
I have been missing a good daily paper for a while now – a free paper used to be read from cover to cover until Emaar banned it from our complex (Arabian Ranches).

Imagine my surprise then when I found a copy of XPRESS left on my doorstep this morning.

I am still only halfway through – there is so much to read. Yes, there are some improvements to be made (not sure about the hand-drawn pictures illustrating some articles for instance) but I for one like the tabloid look, the way it’s crammed with snippets of information and that it’s free! I only hope the deliveries continue!

Lesley, Arabian Ranches

What did you say?
What exactly are you trying to tell in your How poor is poverty? story (page 25, March 22)? All numbers, not all your readers are economists.

Mario, Sharjah

Coming to Bahrain?
I checked your website today, and I think it is an excellent effort. Hope to see the print edition of the paper in Bahrain soon.

Sivakumaran, Bahrain

A job well done
Congratulations. A job well done. I like the layout, size, etc. I specially liked the issue on racial discrimination. Keep it up.

Raybeena, Dubai

Bachelor pads
Authorities are cracking down on bachelors living in ‘family’ villas here in Satwa. Why are they so harsh on bachelors who are just here to earn a living for their families back home?

Renz, Satwa

Match report
How hard was it to see the England-Israel game? Are the TV providers here really petty enough to pull sports matches for political reasons? Is that really the impression UAE broadcasters want to present?

Terry, Green Community

Green from The Greens
I wish more people would recycle. Every day I see masses of papers in the rubbish when it takes next to no time to go by the nearest recycling plant.

Billy, The Greens