A campaign to educate people on how to properly dispose of waste will help (Rubbish revolution, or just a waste? March 30). After all this country is our second home. So why not live like a good citizen in this first class country? I urge people to be more responsible.
Theresa Maria Cecilia, Abu Dhabi
Serious effort needed to end bullying
My heart goes out to the beautiful girl, Lujaine Hussein, who is recovering from a horrendous act of bullying (Ordeal revealed scourge of bullying, March 30). May the Almighty Allah bless her.
Serious efforts must be made to end acts of bullying and children should have no excuse for indulging in those acts. Those caught bullying should not be allowed to get away.
My son was a victim of it at school for four years. I complained to the teachers but to no avail. Then I took it on myself and emailed the parents of my son’s classmates (including those of the bullies). I told them that I would not tolerate any such activities and that if their children continued to bully him, I would report them to the Ministry of Education.
But the problem is that on many occasions a child can’t recognise bullying and suffers silently.
There should be workshops at schools where pupils can learn about their basic rights. I regret not having intervened earlier in my son’s case and letting him suffer for so long. Unfortunately, schools are often casual about this issue.
Bullying is a serious issue because it leaves emotional scars on the victim forever.
Zahra Khan, Abu Dhabi
Vote will decide Erdogan’s fate
I was interested to read the front-page article Turkey votes in crucial election test for beleaguered Erdogan (March 30), which highlighted the anti-government unrest and corruption allegations against Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his family.
It’s not just a municipal election that will determine which political party will get another term to serve the community on the basis of performance, but also the first real test that will determine the political destiny of Mr Erdogan and his Islamist Justice and Development Party (AKP).
Mr Erdogan has tried to become Turkey’s most powerful leader after Ataturk, who founded the modern republic from the ashes of the Ottoman Empire in 1923. However, Mr Erdogan has not done justice to the country. He does not seem to believe in democracy, he is not open to dialogue at all.
The vast majority of Turks would prefer Mr Erdogan and his party to go away completely from the public sphere.
Turks are Muslims but we love leaders who will help us to harmonise our religious practice with the modern world we live in.
Some degree of “separation” of the places of worship such as the mosque, church and temple, and the state is absolutely necessary in the 21st century.
Gaye Caglayan Budak, Abu Dhabi
I am happy for my Turkish friends who were not given a chance to talk, to protest and to live in a modest way since Mr Erdogan came to power, but will have the last word about Mr Erdogan’s destiny today.
Mr Erdogan and Silvio Berlusconi, the former prime minister of Italy, share many similarities.
It’s not surprising that Mr Erdogan chose Mr Berlusconi as the witness to his son’s marriage.
I am happy that any possibility of Mr Berlusconi leading a party was dashed last week when Italy’s highest court slapped a two-year ban on him from holding public office.
I hope the same will happen to Mr Erdogan following the municipal elections today and presidential elections in August.
Gabriela Lombardi, Abu Dhabi
Why are Indian cinemas popular?
I am commenting on the article Bollywood craze grows ever stronger with audiences in the Middle East (March 11). This does not come as a surprise.
I have been an ardent follower of Indian movies. My day isn’t complete without watching an Indian movie. I have been following Bollywood for quite some years now and have never felt bored watching it.
Fatima Suhail, Sharjah
I am not a fan of Bollywood films, soap operas and reality shows. I think they are a waste of good air time to educate or present great movies or shows to inspire.
The Middle East is filled with amazing historical facts and I, for one, would relish shows about this area in English until my Arabic is better.
Jen Bishop, Abu Dhabi
