I don't think it's all doom and gloom as the banks make it out to be (Euro crisis may 'rattle' Emirates, November 3).
The UAE would be insulated because it has not put all its eggs in one basket and economic ties with India, China, Canada and Russia should help buffer any fallout from Europe.
Now is the time for the UAE to foster further economic ties with emerging markets such as those in Latin America.
Similar to the UAE and the GCC, Latin America is expected to see positive growth for the next several years. Those countries now command one fifth of the world's oil supply. Brazil, for example, has found new reserves. Venezuela and Colombia are stepping up production to five to six million barrels per day.
And Colombia and Peru are now considered major tourist destinations. Opportunities lie in alternative energy, with Brazil being self-sufficient in ethanol produced from sugar cane. This simply means they are going to spend less hard currency to import energy while having the capability to monetise their vast oil reserves for export.
If the UAE is looking for foreign direct investment especially in property, then it should establish a strategic linkage with Latin America.
Randall Mohammed, Dubai
Conferences must speak English too
In refer to the article Mental health awareness forums return to Sheikh Khalifa Medical City (November 1).
It would be extremely useful if some of these events were held in English as well.
Donald Glass, Abu Dhabi
Bad driving is not a cultural issue
The UAE is not the only multicultural society on the planet (Rally legend calls for road safety action after Theyab Awana's death, September 27). So I don't accept that having 200 nationalities living in the UAE should justify breaking the laws of the country.
Also, Theyab Awana was not an expatriate. I don't see the connection to 200 nationalities if police speculate the accident was due to him texting on his BlackBerry.
Manal Alkaaby, Dubai
Palaces inspired by ancient healing
I would like to clarify that the Jiva Spa at Taj Lake Palace, Udaipur, is inspired by ancient Indian healing wisdom (Top 10: Stay in the grandest palaces built to serve, November 5).
Jiva believes that a spa unfolds a holistic path of life that opens channels to nurture one's life force.
Sushmita Sarangi, Dubai
Myanmar article misses local view
I refer to the phrase: "Why does the excitement displayed by foreign cheerleaders not appear to be so widespread in the country itself?" in the article No reason to celebrate as Myanmar marks anniversary (November 4).
Sholto Byrnes relies almost entirely on sources living outside of the country. As a result, this article gives virtually no indication of reactions from normal people in the country itself.
The article was presented as offering the opinions of exiles and remote observers.
As someone who lives in Myanmar, I can vouch for the fact that the views of Maung Zarni (who has not lived in the country for many, many years) do not even come close to reflecting the opinions of people, many of whom (including Aung San Suu Kyi) have expressed optimism about the changes that have occurred in the country in the past six months.
Douglas Long, Myanmar
Unesco unravels worrying trends
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu now feels powerful enough to push an entire nation of Palestinians into economic ruin and starvation while extending illegal settlements in the West Bank in violation of UN directives (Unesco awards membership to Palestine; US to withhold funding, November 1).
John Kidd, UK
The objection to the Unesco membership of Palestine just shows how deep-seated and institutionalised the anti-Palestinian current runs through US society.
A country that vows to halt all Unesco funding if that particular organisation includes Palestine in its family of nations is just despicable. All charades and show of any semblance of the US being an honest broker as far as the Middle East is concerned are just plain hogwash.
What more blatant pro-Israeli, anti-Palestinian expressions need the US show? There is one, actually - the fact that hundreds if not thousands of Palestinians have been killed and injured with weapons stamped with "Made in USA".
Adil Ali, Abu Dhabi
