Littering fines may help restore our pristine beaches

In reference to No butts: if you drop litter, you will be fined (June 19), most tourists coming to Dubai choose the country because of its hot climate, beaches and clear blue water.

But these beautiful beaches are so often marred by rubbish and cigarette butts.

People think it is perfectly acceptable to sit down with their family or friends and have a takeaway meal and drinks and then leave all the wrappers and plastic cups lying in the surf.

On early morning walks along the beach, I often pick up armfuls of rubbish in a bid to prevent it being washed out to sea.

Maybe the introduction of fines would be a way to deter the litterbugs.

Jo Kearney, Dubai

Praise for Model School initiative

It is always a joy to read about more money being invested in education (Sharjah adopts Model Schools, June 21).

I applaud the Government of Sharjah for spending Dh90 million on improving facilities and, more importantly, the quality of the learning experience at 46 schools.

Reading about these Model Schools and how they operate, with multimedia presentations and group activities, also made me realise how far education has come since my own school days many years ago.

I believe the end result of these more enlightened practices will be that students are better equipped for the workforce and more able to help drive their nation even further forward.

J Johannson, Abu Dhabi

Rule of law must be respected

Nobody is above the law: that is the clear message sent out by the verdict of the Supreme Court of Pakistan dismissing Yousuf Raza Gilani from the post of prime minister (Pakistan set to choose new PM, June 21).

The judgment has come at a time when the rule of law in Pakistan was at stake after the refusal by Mr Gilani to obey the order of the highest court in the country.

And later, he chose not to resign after being convicted for contempt of court.

How could he be the head of government under these circumstances? It is a landmark judgment that has restored respect for the rule of the law. Some people argue that the judgment may derail the democratic process in Pakistan, but hiding behind democracy for all kinds of misdeeds is definitely not in the interest of any nation.

The people of Pakistan can now hope to see the dawn of a new era based on respect for the courts.

Muneer Ahmad, Dubai

Syrian people need a solution

I refer to UN admits its mission in Syria has failed (June 21).

What next for the people of Syria who have suffered so much? Will the rest of the world put this into the "too hard" basket - or, worse still, the "not important enough" basket - or will all parties work together to find a solution that puts an immediate end to the killing and ensures a sustained peace?

Let us hope it is the latter.

Charles Bryant, Abu Dhabi

How to deal with invisible borders?

Invisible borders cut both ways (June 21), about foreign workers feeling unwelcome and Emiratis feeling overwhelmed by expatriates, was a good article.

What interests me is whether Jane Bristol-Rhys's book also has suggestions to solve the problem.

I can understand both sides, but the situation has existed for many years and I haven't heard of any way to solve it.

Tobias Speer, Dubai

I think it's like this all around the world, not just in the UAE.

Paul Smith, Dubai

Price difference baffles shopper

Regarding Why handbags and glad rags cost more (June 1), some items in a UAE branch of a popular British clothing store have a 100 per cent mark up. I know this because I have checked.

I spoke to someone at the company and they said it was because they did their buying two years in advance. It also has something to do with the pricing structure in this country. It means people in the UAE are paying high prices for something that is cheap in the UK.

I told them this is very wrong.

Carol Barber, Al Ain

A great way to defeat the heat

Being indoors, Summer in Abu Dhabi (June 21) sounds like it will be cool in both senses of the word.

Colin Richard, Abu Dhabi