Cambodia farmers living on the edge

A reader says the Khmers who had earlier faced the onslaught of the Pol Pot regime are now facied with the unbridled forces of the global economy. Other topics: C-section, thorium fuel, flying, The National, Empost

A reader says Khmers in Cambodia are being squeezed by the forces of the global economy. Uong Thai Linh / EPA

I am writing with reference to article Bitter Sweet in The Review section (April 19). From 1997 to 2002, I worked as a consultant on agriculture programmes in Cambodia and in the district of Kampong Speu mentioned in the article.

That included establishing and training the first Khmer media unit within the agriculture department. These internationally funded aid programmes and our media unit concentrated on encouraging sustainable practices in rice farming.

Perhaps we were naive in believing that subsistence farming could be sustainable. However, what is now happening with land grabbing within Cambodia – and not only of agricultural land – is that the lives of the impoverished Khmers are being reduced to serfdom. The Khmers had earlier faced the onslaught of the Pol Pot regime. Now they are facing the unbridled forces of the global economy.

AE Vass, Abu Dhabi

Patient consent over C-section is important

We should look at the way hospitals treat women in labour (Mothers 'risking lives' by choosing to have repeat C-sections, April 17). I have heard from many people that it is the hospital that makes the decision over C-section, in most cases because it is less time-consuming and easier. I think hospitals need to take consent from patients whether they want to go for it. However, that would not solve the entire problem as the majority of patients would go by the doctor's advice.

Moiz SA, Sharjah

Thorium fuel has many advantages

I refer to the news article Australia hopes to lure Emirati students to its institutions while selling uranium to the UAE (April 17). The thorium fuel cycle claims several potential advantages over a uranium fuel cycle, including thorium's greater abundance, superior physical and nuclear properties, better resistance to nuclear weapons proliferation and reduced plutonium and actinide production.

It would be interesting to know if the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation has a development team assigned to nuclear energy from thorium. India leads the commercialisation drive in this field and the UAE government could also explore potential areas of cooperation.

Prodeep Mookerjee, Dubai

Flying economy for long is tough

You have asked on Facebook if it is possible to remain comfortable on a long haul flight (Is it possible to remain comfortable for the duration of a 16-hour flight?). The question is not answered, because you chose first class over economy. Who are you writing for? The 40 or so in first class or the 400-plus in economy? A real review would cater to the economy passengers and mention what is it like being cooped up for 16 hours.

Hans Jacobs, Dubai

More praises for The National

Please accept my compliments for the excellent concept design and execution of the anniversary issue of April 17. It is a unique issue.

Thank you for the wonderful edition, which I will keep with me.

Rajendra K Aneja, Dubai

I would like to congratulate The National on its sixth birthday and am proud to say I have been a loyal subscriber to the newspaper for all these years. I really loved the innovative collector’s edition, which you published on April 17, and have it safely stored away for posterity.

Only one complaint comes from my 87-year-old father who lives with me here in Dubai. He reads the paper from cover to cover every day and was somewhat bemused and puzzled by this edition. It was fun explaining to him to download the QR app on his mobile. Keep up the great work.

Adrienne Doolan, Dubai

Postal services can be better

I am disappointed with Emirates Post. The service for the delivery and collection of posts was better in 1977, when I arrived in the UAE.

In the UK, my home country, for the cost of a stamp the mail you send by post within the country will cover the delivery of the posted item to an address, generally for letters, within 48 hours of dispatch.

Here, as well as the cost of a stamp, there is also the cost for the recipient of renting a post box.

While I have not had experience of packages being lost, I have considerable examples of excessive delays in deliveries, sometimes by weeks for local mail.

It seems that Empost is more focused of developing other lines of business rather than developing and improving its core business.

Jeremy P Weeks, Abu Dhabi