Prayers for victims of Turkish mine accident

A reader expresses sympathy for the victims of the Turkish mine disaster. Other topics: pharmacies, working hours, South Asia and solar technology.

A reader expresses sympathy for the victims of the coal mine disaster in western Turkey. Yilmaz Saripinar / Ihlas / Reuters

I was saddened to read More than 200 killed in Turkey coal mine disaster (May 14).

I hope that if any miners are still missing, they will be found alive. May those who have died rest in peace.

Tatania Efremova, Dubai

Chemists should be penalised for breaking the law

I refer to Prescription drugs for sale over the counter (May 14).

Having worked in pharmacy in the UK, I am really worried by this.

There is a reason these medicines are prescription-only; they can be dangerous. Also, conditions such as diabetes need regular monitoring by a doctor.

The fact that some pharmacies are selling these drugs to minors is disgraceful. People doing so should be banned from working in pharmacies.

Lisa Justice, Dubai

All the pharmacies in Dubai except for one run by an international company will give you everything apart from controlled medicines without a prescription.

Is it different to Abu Dhabi or is this illegal in Dubai too?

Jennifer Hardie, Dubai

Working hours must be limited

Vehicles transporting labourers to and from work will continue to be involved in serious accidents unless some changes are made (Survivors of Dubai bus crash recall horror, May 12).

Some companies make their drivers and labourers work very long hours, which does not allow them to have enough rest – hence the fact that bus drivers can end up falling asleep while behind the wheel.

I believe that some companies make their employees sign two different contracts – one from the Ministry of Labour that limits their working hours within the law and another one that requires them to work longer hours and overtime.

SHK, Dubai

There have been too many accidents like the one on Saturday despite the safety and security measures that have been put in place.

It is extremely disappointing to see repeated incidents despite all the warnings. It seems that people do not learn from past incidents. Ramachandran Nair, Oman

India began race for nuclear arms

Strategic calculations for South Asia are highly magnified by the tit-for-tat manoeuvres between India and Pakistan (Tactical arms race raises the prospect of a nuclear dispute, May 14)

India was the first to introduce nuclear weapons in the region and Pakistan later followed suit. We can now see very clearly how both countries are responding to each other’s strategies.

Pakistan’s development of tactical nuclear weapons is intended to deter India from implementing its cold-start doctrine, thus paving the way towards regional stability.

Name withheld by request

India was the first country to introduce nuclear weapons to South Asia, and it is India’s cold-start doctrine that has given rise to the notion of a limited conventional-weapons attack on Pakistani territory.

In such a situation, Pakistan would respond, as it is the inherent right of every state to protect itself from threats.

India is establishing a strategic disequilibrium by modernising its military on a daily basis, and it must be stopped.

Natalia, Dubai

Cell technologies are compatible

I disagree with the approach of the article Solar colours set to shine (May 12).

It’s great to hear about the advances of dye-sensitised solar cells (DSSC) but why does the writer have to put them in competition with silicon or thin-film solar?

Clearly, DSSC have their own competitive advantages and manufacturers can create market opportunities that complement conventional solar panels.

However, we should all be speaking about the numerous ways solar technologies can displace fossil-fuel power generation.

T Neron-Bancel, Dubai

Charges should not be confused

It is disappointing, and offensive to me, that the writer of the letter, Deal with sexual crimes at all levels (May 13), conflated consensual acts between two individuals and the rape of a 13-year-old boy in Dubai.

T Taylor, Abu Dhabi