I refer to the article Battle to change attitude on recycling (August 19). I am currently travelling in Italy, where recycling and sorting waste is done by everyone.
It’s common practice in every household to sort the different types of rubbish. After spending 12 days in the country, I realised that It’s not hard at all, and you become more aware of what you consume when you have to dispense of it. Strict laws are also in place for residents of towers. We have a lot to catch up on in the UAE, but it can be done if everyone is on board.
Carola Witthoft, Italy
Parking problem lingers in parts of Abu Dhabi
You reported on the troubles Sharjah residents have had with car hire and second-hand car dealers using up public parking spaces (Car-rental clog proves an issue, August 18). I can sympathise. In Abu Dhabi, it is another issue: the planning, or lack thereof, that goes into making road improvements.
In the Adco block on the Corniche, the side directly facing Al Khaleej Al Arabi, they are rebuilding the slip road. This has made 50 or more Mawaqif black parking spaces unavailable for nearly two months. Now, the same road improvement has just blocked off another 20 Mawaqif black spaces for a formally announced “15 days” in order to refurbish another section of the road.
City planners should not allow contractors to make such massive closures without due consideration of residents’ needs.
Can Abu Dhabi Municipality or Mawaqif please help? As a resident of this block in Khalidiya, I pay for the privilege to park here, but I feel my privilege is being shortchanged.
Karen Jannicky, Abu Dhabi
Tax will not hurt the UAE
Dubai has done a good job of diversifying its economy since discovering oil in the 1960s, but despite the oil wealth it has relied heavily on debt financing, of which $7bn (Dh40bn) is due next year (Emirates set for 'soft landing' as the economy diversifies, August 18), according to the report.
It would be interesting to know which entities hold most of this debt and whether the IMF was involved in structuring it. With new fiscal measures in the form of direct and indirect taxation on its way, one could only hope that it would bridge the budget gap, without severely hampering growth.
The UAE has become attractive to many expatriates because of its tax-free environment. The question is this: with the removal of subsidies and introduction of taxes, would the UAE become less attractive? Maybe not, as its modern infrastructure, access to health and education, high tolerance of other cultures and security may outweigh the tax issues.
In light of falling oil prices and fiscal reform, the UAE would have to reassess its strengths and weaknesses and re-evaluate its competitive advantage against other countries and cities within and outside the region.
Randall Mohammed, Dubai
Japan too has used car market
The reason people in the UAE keep a car for about 5.2 years is because the country has a transient economy (UAE's average car turnaround less than half that of the US, August 17).
Expatriates, who constitute the majority of the population, tend to stay no more than three to five years, as opposed to the US where the population is more or less static. Mention should be made of Japan, where cars are kept for approximately three years, due to environmental reasons. Japan has a thriving second-hand car market with most of its vehicles shipped overseas as “roll on roll off”.
Name withheld by request
Let’s know about ‘extra’ charges
I am a victim of surprise charges at Starbucks (Mocha shocker in the coffee shop, August 15). I think it is the lack of transparency. The seller should clearly tell you that there will be an extra charge for your order.
Jayadevi Machaya Palekanda, Dubai
Lorry accident is concerning
The video of a lorry smashing an overhead road sign in Saudi Arabia is concerning (Lorry driver in Saudi Arabia smashes overhead road sign, August 18). Drivers of heavy vehicles are expected to exercise more caution than others, yet they commit offences frequently. Given that the lorry overturned after hitting the signboard, there are slim chances of the driver escaping unhurt.
Fatima Suhail, Sharjah
