Shisha culture bad in every way

Readers say there is no way to support UAE's shisha culture. Other topics: saving, HIV/Aids, internet, Iraqi culture, wildlife

Readers say shisha should not be encouraged in the name of culture. Paulo Vecina / The National

What a dangerous message to put out there (Flavoured tobacco is not why we smoke shisha, March 9). It's surprising that despite the evidence from hundreds of professionals who have spent years trying to promote healthy lifestyles and fixing the human body when it breaks, someone can expound such an opinion.

You know what else the UAE loves? Fried chicken and Mcdonald’s. Yes, the British love their pubs, but there is also a serious problem with alcoholism in the UK. Just because something is “traditional” doesn’t make it good or worth holding on to.

Shisha may be traditional, but it doesn’t require allegiance.

Name withheld by request

Do you know how bad sugar is for you? It is addictive, can cause diabetes, hashimoto’s thyroiditis and other autoimmune diseases as well as contribute to cancer. It also rots your teeth and causes bad breath – yet there are no warning signs above pattiseries. I agree that there needs to be stricter controls on allowing children into shisha places, but there has been so much published research into the ill effects of smoking shisha that you could make the assumption that the public is informed enough to make the decision to sit down and partake or not.

Nela Lukic, Abu Dhabi

Saving is a tough task

If the majority of expatriates do not plan or save for their retirement, it is mainly because of the rising expenses that leave them with nothing to set aside (The 'good life' ... We're spending like there's no tomorrow, March 8). Most people are living a hand-to-mouth existence with all that is earned being spent on basic necessities.

There is also a section of people who get so immersed in flashy lifestyle that saving plans never materialise for them. They end up spending more than their means to keep pace with the luxuries that the country has to offer.

Name withheld by request

Most of us realise the importance of saving, yet we fail to save mainly because our incomes do not increase even when the cost of living goes up. The only solution is to work as long as you can. That’s what many expatriates do when they return to their countries after retirement.

Ravi Sharma, Sharjah

Wrong to punish HIV/Aids patient

The article on the HIV patient Nasser Al Mazrouei horrified me (Help me find a wife, pleads sufferer, March 4). You can punish him if he knowingly had relations with a non-infected person without their consent or knowledge, not just because he caught a disease through no fault of his own.

Sylvia Moore, Dubai

Fix the internet problems first

I refer to your editorial Web must be more worldwide (March 8). Saying that the UAE needs to ensure the internet is available to everyone is a little bit too brave, considering that on du networks you lose 3G connection inside your house, and Etisalat has internet way below standard, in speed, service, accessibility and reliability.

Valeriu Crainic, Dubai

Iraqi culture will not diminish

I don't agree with Irina Bokova, the head of the UN's cultural body Unesco, who said that the survival of the Iraqi culture and society is at stake (ISIL continues destruction of Iraq's cultural heritage, March 7).

Iraqis are proud of their culture and society. They are beautiful. ISIL might destroy figurines, which is indeed terrible, but the actions of this pathetic group will not diminish the people, society or culture of Iraq.

Daud Al Nugaidi, Dubai

Emirates has beautiful wildlife

The newly discovered tarantula spider is a beautiful creature (My hairy moment in a Hatta wadi, March 8). The UAE has lots of amazing wildlife, but it's a shame that the majority of people don't appreciate it.

Emma Schlegel, Abu Dhabi

Spiders are scary and freak me out. I would never volunteer to look out for them or collect specimens. However, I appreciate the effort of the photographer Priscilla van Andel, who has been successful in her job despite her fear of spiders.

Fatima Suhail, Sharjah