Why do some dump rubbish so carelessly?

A reader urges people to dispose of rubbish more correctly. Courtesy Emirates Environmental Group

It was a commendable effort by hundreds of volunteers who collected two tonnes of waste as part of the 14th Clean Up UAE drive by the Emirates Environmental Group (Clean Up UAE has hundreds out to help in RAK, December 12). However, it wouldn't need to be done if some people weren't so utterly selfish as to just throw their rubbish on the ground in the first place.

Dave Pryce, Dubai

One of the most agreeable places to walk in Abu Dhabi used to be the beach area between Yas and Saadiyat, adjacent to the Sheikh Khalifa highway. There were always lots of birds to look at and, from time to time, some energetic kite surfers plying their exotic trade.

Sadly, they are no more as this area has turned into a vast municipal rubbish dump with mountains of discarded plastic bags, bottles, half-eaten meals, burnt out barbecues and all the detritus of the modern beach goer’s selfish lifestyle. The scale of the disaster has to be seen to be believed – I hadn’t ventured this way until this weekend for over a year – and I was astonished at how an agreeable beauty spot had been utterly trashed.

There is absolutely no excuse for the campers, party goers and picnickers who leave their rubbish behind. There is also no excuse for Abu Dhabi Municipality’s cleaning department that has clearly chosen to ignore the problem.

Diane Wilkinson, Abu Dhabi

Focus on Arabic teaching

I refer to Nathan Toronto's opinion article Simple ways to help expatriate pupils learn Arabic (December 9). It is sad and a matter of shame that despite being born and raised in the UAE and having studied the Arabic language for 11 years in school, I am unable to communicate in Arabic. I blame my inability to speak the language on the teaching methodology that ensured nothing except students being able to read and write Arabic. Some expatriate children had great difficulty in reading text in Arabic or correcting their pronunciation. I hope more is done to teach Arabic to students enrolled across schools in the UAE so they can better connect with the tradition and culture of the country.

Fatima Suhail, Sharjah

I agree that schools need to put more focus on the parents of foreign non-Arab students. The few worksheets I do see have Arabic only, without any English explanation or elaboration on how to sound out the words.

Nicole Reischl Hughes, Abu Dhabi

Trump must be stopped

I am writing in reference to the news article Dubai's Landmark Group suspends sale of Trump products after presidential candidate's Muslim outburst (December 10). It's about time someone stands up to Donald Trump. Clearly you can't hurt his feelings, but someone can surely hurt his wallet.

Patricia Cooksey, Dubai

Mr Trump’s words will only influence people who are ignorant like him. While they wallow in his pool of ignorance, maybe he can tell them what he plans to do with the American Muslims who are currently protecting him and the rest of the country – Muslim American servicemen and women, Muslim American police officers, Muslim American firemen and women, doctors, paramedics, government officials, sports figures, actors, musicians. The list is endless.

John Saf David, US

Just removing the billboards is not enough (Damac removes Trump billboards from Akoya project in Dubai, December 11). Any businesses ties with Donald Trump should be severed. All across the globe, countries and business people are distancing themselves from him. The businesses in the UAE ought to do the same.

Name withheld by request