In reference to the story Top tips for saving water aim to change attitudes on consumption in the UAE (January 2), those who clean restrooms at shopping malls use water like there is no tomorrow. I also see many visitors using water irresponsibly. Taps are often left open and no one bothers.
Yulia Hulia, Dubai
One of the major barriers to any plan to increase water recycling and solar power generation is that a large portion of the population is transient and the rented sector is a large segment of the housing supply. This means that landlords will be hesitant to instal solar panels or water-saving devices (because they’re not paying the bills) and tenants won’t want to invest their capital as they are highly unlikely to get a payback on their cash.
I’m keen to instal water recycling and solar panels, but it’s simply not financially viable for me as I rent my property.
Michael Dowds, Dubai
I often see gardeners washing the street with a running hose.
Start by educating people on environmental issues. They will then be responsible.
Name withheld by request
We have a bucket by our kitchen sink. When we rinse out plates or wash vegetables, the water goes into this bucket and on to the garden. It saves more than 30 litres of water a week.
Leaking pipes in some areas is really shocking. Our house has a leaking pipe underneath it. We can’t access the pipe so we can’t fix it. We isolate it as much as we can.
Daniella How, Abu Dhabi
I can’t understand why water recycling within buildings is virtually non-existent. That would save millions of litres each year.
Also, solar power needs to be promoted on a massive scale.
Michael Dowds, Dubai
Stopping the subsidies for water would encourage people to save water.
Chris Reid, Dubai
Make people pay the market price for water, just like petrol. Everyone should pay what they use, so nobody is upset.
Guglielmo Molteni, Dubai
Duterte doing a good job
The Philippines' president, Rodrigo Duterte, is not as mad as the media portray him to be (Despite its heavy cost to the poor, Duterte won't stop his war on drugs, December 30).
Many people don’t know what it’s like to live around drug addicts. I think he is trying to cleanse society of drugs, thereby saving his people.
Gob Samiah, The Philippines
Turkey should be careful too
I agree with Faisal Al Yafai that Vladimir Putin's policy won't work in Turkey (Why Putin's iron-fist policy will not work in Turkey, January 3). But let's just hope things don't go too hot between Russia and Turkey. Remember, Turkey is only strong militarily on paper.
Kari-Pekka Lankinen, Dubai
Mariah Carey was graceful
Mariah Carey was graceful about her poor performance (Watch Mariah Carey botch her New Year's Eve show in Times Square, January 2). I'd say this is actually good press for her. Imagine how Kanye West would have handled a similar situation.
Logan DelaFish, Dubai
I still love her. I will never ever regret having bought the VIP ticket for her Dubai show.
Alex Tayde, Dubai
I would say “watch Mariah Carey’s sound engineers botch her performance”.
Gianmaria Vidale, Dubai
I don’t understand why people are being so cruel about this. Things go wrong for everyone, and it’s not nice when others mock or criticise us when they do. Wouldn’t it be amazing if everyone’s new year’s resolution was to be kinder to one another?
Ben Adamson, Dubai
