I agree that fast-food restaurants are feeding the public appetite, as Rafic Fakih, the managing director of McDonald's, said (McDonald's: it is your choice, April 7). One could surely be a lot healthier by abstaining from fast food. It's a matter of choice.
Diana Phelps, Dubai
Iran deal is a victory for diplomacy
The Iran nuclear deal is something to celebrate for diplomatic solutions ('Decisive step' taken at Iran and West talks, April 3). I hope it will help restore peace in the region.
For more than three decades, Iran and America have been enemies. Their hatred towards each other has framed the Middle East’s alliances and fuelled terrorism and war. The interim deal has not undone that. But through the keyhole it offers a glimpse of a different, better Middle East. It is a vision worth striving for.
Doing anything with Iran is a gamble, but in the short term there is not much for the West to lose. The big face-saving concession for Iran is that the regime is still permitted to continue enriching uranium. But the enrichment will be only to the 5-per-cent civilian level, and Iran has agreed to daily inspections of its nuclear facilities. If the regime makes a dash for a bomb, the world can find out soon enough to take action. If the talks break down, Iran will not be much closer to having a bomb than it is today.
If it changes its outlook, the whole of the Middle East will change with it.
Israel and Saudi Arabia are at once troubled by the prospect of a redeemed Iran and also convinced that the whole idea is a dangerous illusion. Yet the real fantasy is to imagine that more sanctions or harsher negotiations could have produced a deal that was much better than this one. The alternative was not for Iran to abandon its nuclear programme, but for America to abandon diplomacy.
Samaoen Osman, South Africa
Questions about plastic surgery
I refer to the article Girls as young as 13 requesting plastic surgery in UAE (April 6). Girls as young as 13 should not be allowed to even consider or request this sort of surgery. They are below the legal age of consent. Besides that, where would they get the money to pay for this?
Phil Jones, Dubai
Do away with gas cylinders
Why do we have gas cylinders in this day and age (Gas blast residents still waiting to go home, March 27)? They scare me. All buildings should be forced to provide gas through a line. But then again, many developers don't follow the code of construction anyway.
Majdel Musa, Abu Dhabi
Gas cylinders should be banned. We have a central gas provision in our building, which is safe. The gas automatically switches off when not in use.
Name withheld by request
Pilot indiscipline was shocking
I was shocked to read the news that two Air India pilots fought just before take-off (Pilots suspended following brawl, April 7).
Why did the commander decide to fly soon after a brawl with the co-pilot? If he had any common sense, he would have called the flight off and explained to the passengers the situation, apologised and got off together with the co-pilot. Then perhaps people would have respected him. More importantly, the flight should have been cancelled to ensure safety of the passengers. The errant pilots should be fired.
Brigitte von Bulow, Abu Dhabi
Time to bridle landlords
With regard to the article Rent increases in Abu Dhabi lead to call for new cap (April 6), landlords have been taking far too much money from people for a long time and it is time for everyone to simply refuse to pay and have the places sitting empty until they lower them. The economy suffers as a result of this greed. It's time for it to stop.
James Magee, Abu Dhabi
