A wise move on animal welfare

I was delighted to read the story Royal gift for UAQ animal shelter (June 16). I thank Sheikh Saud bin Rashid Al Mu'alla, the ruler of Umm Al Quwain, who gave 90,000 square metres of land to the Animal Welfare Project in the emirate. This is a big thing. Amanda Kalmbach, Abu Dhabi This news is awesome. I congratulate Dr Louise Mitchell and Barbara Carstens, founders of the Animal Welfare Project, for all their hard work. Finally they have this fabulous land to keep the animals safe. Simon Buckerfield, UK This is fantastic news. I hope it sets an example for the other emirates. Annette Waddington , Abu Dhabi A time to reflect on life and break with bad habits With the holy month of Ramadan upon us, it’s worth remembering that this is not just the time for Muslims all around the world to fast and refrain from worldly pleasures. It is also a time to reflect on our own life, break with bad habits and strengthen ties with people we love. For those who are far from home or would simply like to spend time with their family or friends: some activity groups host iftar dinners for Muslim and non-Muslim members. I wish all Muslims worldwide a blessed Ramadan. Samaoen Osman, Abu Dhabi How Israel views Magna Carta Provisions of Magna Carta have been observed in Britain and in the constitution of the United States, but not in Israel (800 years of freedom: UK marks the anniversary of Magna Carta, June 16). In Israel, the rights of an indigenous population have been trampled by successive right-wing governments over the past decades. Magna Carta has had a profound effect on the democratic countries of the free world. Only Israel among the claimed democratic states has made a mockery of the rights and provisions of this seminal agreement that protects the human and civil rights of the individual. Anthony Bellchambers, UK A school that serves as model Peter Hellyer's opinion article Principal serves up some lessons for his audience (June 9) was inspiring. I would be interested to know what school this is. It sounds like they have a great philosophy. Encouraging children to think for themselves about how they want to change the world is what we all should encourage, too. Plastic surgery: issue of concern I was heartened to read that people in the UAE are being made aware of such practices being carried out by unqualified practitioners ( Plastic surgery patients must choose wisely , June 16). I recently read about the same topic in the UK, where a qualified GP and dermatologist has opened a clinic in Windsor as she was fed up with cowboy plastic surgeons doing botched jobs on the unsuspecting innocents. I hope Health Authority Abu Dhabi will also step in to regulate this area that can ruin the looks and lives of many, and only allow properly qualified doctors to undertake such practices. I congratulate The National for highlighting this issue. Mike S, Abu Dhabi How did Turkey build a palace? News that Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan needed to build a multimillion-dollar presidential palace because his old offices were infested with cockroaches is funny (' Cockroaches' led Turkey's Erdogan to build new $615m presidential palace , June 7). Turkey was crying its lungs out that it didn't have money to accommodate any more refugees. That was four years ago when their numbers were only 20,000. So, where did Turkey find that kind of money to solve a very simple problem as the cockroaches? Yasser Al Chamli, Dubai

A wise move on animal welfare

Readers thank Sheikh Saud bin Rashid Al Mu'alla for giving land to the ANimal Welfare Project. Other topics: Ramadan, school, plastic surgery, Turkish palace