Overseas study pays off when students return
I was interested to read Universities open world to youth (November 14), about the higher education open day held at Al Nahda National School for Girls on Monday.
It is obvious that universities in the UK, Canada, Australia, Malaysia, the US and Europe see this part of the world as a great source of fee-paying students, and no doubt they all made convincing arguments as to why studying abroad is better than going to a university here in the UAE.
While I encourage every young person to get the best education they possibly can, it is important for this country that, no matter how far afield they travel to study, they eventually come home to put their skills into practice.
Kevin Jones, Dubai
Robot cleaners may save lives
I am writing regarding These are not the droids you're looking for, say window cleaners (November 14).
I can understand the lack of enthusiasm for a mechanised window cleaner on the part of those companies that do the job by hand.
However, surely machines such as the Robo Clean are the way of the future.
As a recent tragedy in which two men died demonstrated, washing windows on high-rise buildings is one of the most dangerous and least desirable jobs around.
I don't want to see people put out of work, but I don't want to see more deaths either.
J Rogers, Dubai
Water park would attract bird life
I am not an ecologist but I must disagree with the ecologist Brigitte Howarth, who says in The lake that came and went (November 14) that "a habitat takes thousands of years to recover".
Flora and fauna habitats adapt according to the environment. That is the power of nature.
High salinity in water doesn't stop it attracting birds. A good example of this is the Australian salt pan that is filled with high-salinity water once every five to six years, when it attracts thousands of migrant birds.
I would suggest that the Al Ain authorities consider creating a park such as Dubai Pond Park, which was created with drainage water and a reed bed.
J Lee, Dubai
Minimum wage call stirs debate
I agree with the Philippines ambassador, Grace Princesa, as she is quoted in Employer ignoring wage law for Filipinos (November 13).
Keep to the $400 (Dh 1,470) minimum wage; if employers can't afford that, then they should employ fewer staff.
L Zaal, Dubai
There's just so much to say about this that I don't know where to begin.
However, I think I speak for a large number of people working in the UAE when I say I sure wish my embassy could make my employer pay me much more than the average US salary for my job - and provide accommodation, food, utilities, airfare, visa fees, insurance and so on.
I'm sure that, realistically, that's asking too much. Market forces are doing just fine. If they weren't, people would just go elsewhere.
Donald Glass, Abu Dhabi
Sentence change seems generous
I am writing regarding Jail terms cut for woman and policeman who beat maid to death (November 13).
The law must take its course, but I haven't heard of such generosity from the courts before.
U Ubaid, Abu Dhabi
Support for child protection law
I applaud the decision by the Federal Cabinet described in Wadeema's Law to curb child abuse and neglect (November 14).
Nothing will bring back eight-year-old Wadeema, who was tortured and starved to death, but I hope this law ensures it will never happen again.
Mary Morris, Dubai
No surprise over Salem's accounts
Regarding Egyptian corruption unit investigates private jet sale (November 14), of course they only found small amounts of cash held in Hussein Salem's name in Egypt.
Guys like that don't keep their money in one account in their own country. I bet the jewellery and gold coins are the tip of the iceberg.
Gold is about $1,728 (Dh6,347) per ounce. Who knows how many ounces of gold are out there. H Peterson, Dubai
I was at Sharm El Sheikh in December 2010, and Mr Salem appeared to be greatly loved.
They told me he had created jobs for many thousands of Egyptian citizens.
M Levine, Dubai
