I am writing in reference to the picture gallery of the Amazon Indian tribe taking matters into their own hands against illegal logging in Brazil (September 5). I support those people completely as they are tired of what they say is a lack of sufficient government assistance. Their land, history and livelihood are taken away by greedy politicians and individuals.
Brigitte von Bulow, Abu Dhabi
Modi chose to ignore teachers on Teacher’s Day
Teachers’ Day is marked on September 5 in memory of the former president of India, Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan. Teachers are honoured on this day for their contribution to the nation and their services in shaping the future of children.
Narendra Modi, the prime minister, decided to address schoolchildren and interact with them on this occasion. He taught the children some good values and prodded them to work hard to become good citizens. But Mr Modi needed to be reminded that it was Teachers’ Day and that he should have interacted with teachers, addressed their problems and concerns.
Acute shortage of teachers, their low salary, lack of infrastructure and facilities in schools are the problems that could have been addressed by him. Teachers would also have liked to ask him some questions. But they were completely ignored. Dr Radhakishnan’s name was not mentioned even once in his address.
The government had ordered the schools to make special arrangement for Mr Modi’s speech despite lack of resources and the schoolchildren were forced to sit through his speech. The day looked more like a prime minister’s day, as the whole focus was on Mr Modi himself. The entire exercise was an example of personal aggrandisement, unbecoming of a leader of a democratic country.
Muneer Ahmad, Abu Dhabi
To mark Teachers’ Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed schoolchildren through live telecast. More than 10 million students from across the country participated in the event. Although the prime minister communicated with them in Hindi, which is not the mother tongue of all of them, the enthusiasm among them was palpable. The question-and-answer session was free and lively. It is a matter of pride for a country like India to have made an ingenious use of television, invented in a developed country, to reach the next generation.
CS Pathak, India
Pros and cons of a Feline Park
As someone with almost 20 years' experience in animal rescue, and currently a volunteer with Animal Action – Abu Dhabi, I agree with the owner of the animal shelter quoted in the article (Feline Park plan in Dubai will be the cat's whiskers, September 7). Cats are territorial animals. Confining up to 5,000 of them in a space which sees only 10 square metres per cat will encourage instinctive behaviour, not all of it positive.
Cats put into such an environment in such a high number have a high chance of reverting to wild or semi-wild behaviour, which will neither benefit the animals, nor the “feline tourists” visiting them.
How will visitors who want to adopt one of the cats be vetted? What happens if the adopter then changes mind?
The answer, I feel, is not a cat park. The answer is education about responsible pet ownership. Animal Action – Abu Dhabi, like other animal rescue organisations, is currently struggling under the weight of abandoned animals.
Sarah Bartlett, Abu Dhabi
Something needs to be done with all those starving creatures in Dubai, but this will need to be thought through, taking into account the animals’ needs and not the need for attracting tourists.
Haj Oberbergisch, Dubai
It sounds like a good idea. Perhaps separate areas for a smaller number of cats instead of one large area will be good. How will they tackle the hierarchy of the cats?
Jen Bishop, Abu Dhabi
Extremists have disturbed mind
I refer to your article From Coldplay to jihad, meet the Scottish girl Aqsa Mahmood who joins ISIL (September 4). Anyone who supports religious extremism has a disturbed mind. Love, compassion and tolerance is what we should strive for, not hatred, harm and dominance of people who are different from ourselves.
Maritha van der Walt, Dubai
