Full steam ahead for QE2

A cruise enthusiast welcomes the news that the QE2 will sail to Asia to be finally be fitted out as a hotel. Other topics: water recycling, respect for women and justice for Syrians

A reader is pleased to learn that the QE2 will soon set sail for Asia to be refitted as a hotel. Pawan Singh / The National

True justice must prevail after the Syrian war ends

I am writing in reference to David Tolbert's article After war, Syrians will need justice and forgiveness. It will not be easy (January 19).

The fact is that the conflict is taking an enormous toll on this generation of Syrians, in terms of the economy as well as the precious lives of a large number of innocent people.

With the increasing death count, it is uncertain how justifiable it would be for deals to be made in regard to any future war-crimes process in the international court.

Syrians will have to wait for years for justice.

It is imperative that the bloodshed ends quickly and that offenders are brought to justice with no delay.

Ramachandran Nair, Oman Nair

Women must be shown respect

An overindulged son turns into an over-aggressive man (January 17) is an excellent article that hits the right note.

I share Rym Ghazal's concerns about the way in which boys are brought up.

Men: you need to change; you need to learn that all women must be respected.

Moiz SA, Sharjah

More to be done on water recycling

Water conservation is an important issue in the UAE.

According to the statistics mentioned in Ground-water rescue bid (January 17), it seems very clear that there is still a lot to be done on water reuse.

Tertiary wastewater management could cater for much of the irrigation in this country. Pedro Revilla, Dubai

Appreciation for efforts of police

I drive about 5,000 kilometres around the UAE every month as part of my job, and I am extremely grateful for the hard work of the traffic police in ensuring we all travel safely.

However, I am concerned that some police officers hide behind road bridges, walls and even bushes with their speed guns.

Also, given the recent blustery weather, I'd like to see police stop truck drivers who haven't secured their cargo to their vehicles. Stephen Rhea, Dubai

Smooth sailing ahead for QE2

As somebody who is unashamedly seduced by the romance of travel by ocean liner, I was pleased to read QE2 preparing to set sail for facelift in Asia (January 18).

I was getting concerned that the ship's conversion into a hotel was never going to happen and that it would be quietly sold off for scrap.

There are many cruise ships out there - more than ever before, in fact - but none with the prestige and colourful history of the QE2. Jane Rogers, Dubai

Netanyahu plays a dangerous game

The government to be elected this week in Israel - expected to be under the leadership of the incumbent prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu - seems likely to continue on a collision course with the United States and Britain.

Mr Netanyahu has just called for tenders for 198 more illegal units to house citizens from Israel in the occupied Palestinian West Bank in continued violation of international law and the demands of the US and UK governments.

This raises the question as to the consequences of this deteriorating situation, which could lead to the UN Security Council authorising sanctions and even military action against Israel.

It is also still a possibility that war-crimes charges could be made against various Israelis, should they step foot on British soil, in relation to the killing of hundreds of civilians in Gaza in 2008.

Perhaps it would be prudent to limit the issue of UK visas to Israeli citizens until such time as Mr Netanyahu deems it convenient to comply with the will of the United Nations and the demands of international law.

Douglas Reed, UK

Disconnect in getting internet

Getting a home internet connection in Abu Dhabi has been a bad experience for me.

I received almost zero customer service. The help number was no help at all; they kept losing my order.

It took seven weeks, phoning 14 times and going to the company's main office four times just to get them to come to my apartment to finish connecting my service.

On my fourth visit, the complaints representative tried to blame me because I hadn't come into the main office every time in person instead of phoning.

T Adams, Abu Dhabi