Tracing the Italian Alps

Readers comment on the dying age of etiquette, Canadian immigration rules, Khalifa Port and police behaviour.

A reader points out details about the geological formation of the northern Italian Alps. Getty Images / Aurora Creative
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I agree, to a certain point, with Rym Ghazal's column The age of chivalry is dead? Only if you insist, madame (December 13).

I have female friends in Dubai who, like the columnist, experienced what I can only call selfish rudeness. An example is a British chap with his wife who ignored my female friend struggling to put a flat-pack table into the boot of her car. The column made me wonder why that man's wife did not ask him to help my friend.

I am a British man; my friends of all nationalities have stories of stopping to help a granny on the stairs, the blind man at a train station and the overburdened young family struggling with a staircase.

Some people have been raised to help out in such circumstances, and some have been raised to not notice.

Gregory Irgin, Doha

Most men I know are cautious about doing small favours for women in public.

Western women sometimes react to simple helpfulness with a curt refusal, or worse, because they see kindness as condescension.

And western men are naturally prudent about approaching Arab or Muslim women. It's tricky.

John Keems, Dubai

Canada right to tighten the rules

I refer to UAE residents expected to apply for Canada visas after ban lifted (December 14).

It was about time for Canada to become more strict about visas, citizenship and passports.

I have even heard of people from this region heading to Canada, becoming citizens and coming back here and being hired as "Canadian" on a bigger salary.

It would be great to see more people from this region heading to Canada to open businesses and such. But Canada should weed out anyone from anywhere who just wants to live off the system.

Chris Murray, Abu Dhabi

New port will be a national asset

Thank you for Project Abu Dhabi: Piecing together the emirate's future (December 13) and other coverage of the opening of Khalifa Port.

I believe that this planning and the construction of the port and the industrial park near it are prudent steps that will serve well the future generations, not only in Abu Dhabi emirate but of the whole country.

Abu Dhabi is playing a pivotal role in building a sustainable economy for the UAE

Naeem Ul Fateh, UK

The reports about the opening of Khalifa Port were very detailed and very good. As a resident of the Abu Dhabi Mina Zayed area, I am looking forward to an end to the use of our crowded roads by large goods lorries.

Fritz Brenner, Abu Dhabi

Dolomites don't look their age

Thank you for the excellent travel article Italy skiing: our guide to the mighty Dolomites (December 14).

However, I want to clarify a couple of points. The rocks that form the Dolomites were largely deposited around 250 million years ago, and began to be formed into the present day mountains around 50 million years ago, not around 12,000BC.

Also, these mountains were named for the 18th century French geologist Déodat Gratet de Dolomieu.

But the main point was completely correct - the Dolomites are indeed spectacular scenery.

Steve Peacock, Abu Dhabi

Police should show their own ID

Your report Two nights in jail for man who refused to hand over Emirates ID (December 12) was very striking.

This incident took place in a car-park, at a mall.

I too would have asked someone not in uniform why he was asking to see my ID card.

I was pleased to read that there will be an appeal in the case.

Monica Carver, Abu Dhabi

I thought we have the right to ask a policeman to show some identification before we respond to his orders.

Arian Ines, Dubai

I think I have seen in The National and some other media reports, over recent months, of people pretending, for criminal purposes, to be police officers.

So it is only normal that when someone not in uniform and in an unmarked vehicle asks to see my identification papers, of course I would be very prudent about giving them; I might even ask to see his, first.

Anyone pretending to be with the police should be punished for fraud. Real policemen, I am sure, understand that, and most of them probably realise without any coaching that there is a legitimate need for them to identify themselves properly when they are asking people for cooperation.

VJ Mehta, Dubai