Tigers ready to roar

A reader defends the record of the Bangladesh cricket team. Other letter topics: pool chemicals, construction standards and staying healthy.

All-rounder Shakib Al Hasan on strike. A reader says the Bangladesh team are on the ascendancy. Prakash Singh / AFP
Powered by automated translation

Keeping healthy can stave off the need for medicine

I agree with columnist Taryam Al Subaihi's comments in An epidemic of overmedicating is making parents sick (September 30).

In addition to seeing the Government regulate drug company interaction with doctors, I would love to see a major campaign teaching the value of breastfeeding and proper nutrition.

Many illnesses could be avoided if the public were better educated about these issues.

Oral health is another issue that needs to be addressed, as many studies are now showing links between good dental health and the overall health of the body.

Medication is a fantastic addition to the modern world; no one would dispute the point. However, there is much we can do on a preventive level to promote a healthy lifestyle and make medicine a choice of last resort.

M Whitaker, Dubai

Collapse proves need for survey

Tenants forced out of homes after courtyard collapses (October 1) highlights a case of poor quality building construction in Abu Dhabi.

I am amazed that the story says this is an isolated incident.

Until a full structural survey of the city has been completed, no one will know.

The whole incident makes you wonder whether cost, rather than quality, is the main consideration in the construction industry.

C Davey, Abu Dhabi

Bangladesh team are getting better

In Tigers must wait in line (October 1), writer Ahmed Rizvi says Bangladesh's automatic inclusion in International Cricket Council events is being questioned.

But who has asked the question?

There is no doubt that the team's performance has been disappointing, but it is not as bad as your writer says.

Even against New Zealand, Bangladesh have scored more runs than Pakistan scored against India this week.

In the match against Pakistan, the outcome could have been different had they not dropped Nazir.

I'd also like to point out that Bangladesh hav not been involved in any sort of inappropriate behaviour such as gambling, unlike some other teams.

Do Zimbabwe and Ireland have a better chance than Bangladesh? Both of those teams have played and lost against Bangladesh in warm-up matches.

The question for Bangladesh is no longer about improvement but maintaining consistency.

This year's Asia Cup was an example where Bangladesh defeated both India and Sri Lanka, and Pakistan had to wait until the last ball for a lucky win.

My final question: how many years did it take for Pakistan to get to its current stage?

Things are definitely not rosy right now, but for Bangladesh things are looking up.

MD Islam, Dubai

No evidence of a mall smoking ban

Takings stubbed out at mall cafes after smoking ban (October 1) has me very confused.

I have seen nothing to suggest that this ban is being observed in any of the major malls I have visited in Abu Dhabi recently.

At every cafe I pass - and I do go past, because of this fact - customers continue to puff away.

James Peterson, Abu Dhabi

Confusion over pool chemicals

Recent comments concerning the production of chlorine in swimming pools (Warning over pool chemicals, September 28) refer to the chlorine dioxide technology of yesteryear.

Generators produce chlorine dioxide using acids and liquid precursors and, as a result, they produce chlorine dioxide that is not 100 per cent pure, resulting in byproducts.

The two-powder technology as described in the earlier article, Warnings on chemicals used o clean pools (September 26), is actually an extremely advanced process, producing the purest form of chlorine dioxide, resulting in no byproducts.

Just because chlorine dioxide has the word "chlorine" in it does not mean it is related to chlorine in any way.

That's like saying table salt (sodium chloride) has chlorine in it and is dangerous. Chlorine dioxide has nothing at all to do with chlorine.

I hope the UAE starts addressing the issues like potential legionella outbreaks in malls and hotels air-conditioning systems before it's too late.

M Gilmore, UK

Danger in sense of entitlement

Regarding Fit to work ... but not seeking a job (October 1), the same thing happens worldwide.

Any entitlement programme will produce apathy.

John Adams, UK