Mobiles often cause more harm than good

Captive cats need freedom, not training with brush

The article about a self-described "expert" claiming he can make a better life for big cats kept in private collections in the UAE (Can training, and a brush, release the inner beast?, April 5) was troubling.

Can you possibly be unaware of the miserable fates suffered by countless creatures inappropriately removed from their native habitats by misguided individuals who think it's "cool" to keep a large animal as a pet? As the sensible Dr Reza Khan quoted later in the piece notes: "We need to discourage people from acquiring big cats as pets and not encourage them to do so for the sake of wildlife preservation." The story, I fear, is likely to have precisely the opposite effect.

Peter Scarlet, Abu Dhabi

Time for Kim to focus on economy

The news report on North Korea's belligerence towards South Korea is alarming (Inter-Korean factories shut southern gate, April 4).

Kim Jong-un, the 29-year-old North Korean leader, has been in power for just about 16 months. He should focus on improving the economic condition of his people. Instead, he is indulging in unnecessary sabre-rattling and threatening the peace in the region.

South Korea has transformed itself from being an aid recipient to a donor country within a short span of time.

At the end of the Korean War in 1953, South Korea's annual per capita income was a meagre US$67 (Dh246).

Today, the country is one of the world's largest economies with a per-capita income of about $22,000.

South Korea could be ahead of Japan in per-capita income in the near future. North Korea's per capita income is stagnant at $2,000.

Therefore, improving the economy of North Korea should be the main objective of Mr Kim.

The young man should realise that his threats will invite a strong reaction from South Korea and its ally, the United States, which could cripple his country.

If Mr Kim wants to garner some real strength and popularity within his country, he should focus on development.

Rajendra Aneja, Dubai

Celebration time is approaching

On April 17, The National is going to be five years old. It's a date all news lovers in the UAE remember as they received their first copy of the newspaper and saw it online for the first time.

The newspaper stands out by virtue of its excellent content, both local and global, as well as clear presentation.

I am happy to have been a reader of The National from the very beginning. All of us should celebrate this milestone.

I wish you all the best.

Ramesh Menon, Abu Dhabi

School fees must be regulated

I liked the suggestions made in the editorial Education for all must be UAE's goal (April 4). Getting home governments as well as employers to chip in seems reasonable.

However, the more pressing problem is the tuition fee hike. How can a sector that is deemed pertinent for the common good be allowed to indulge in such unfettered rent-seeking behaviour? What exactly are the schools doing better than previously that would make them charge more fees?

I think better regulation of tuition fees (especially of private schools, irrespective of curriculum) should be high on the agenda of the Government.

Nnamdi Madichie, Sharjah

Think before you buy a mobile

The editorial Historic hands free (March 5) mentioned how the mobile phone had become a part of our daily life.

Although the mobile phone has come a long way since it was first introduced 40 years ago, it has been taking away much of the free time of many people.

At the beginning, mobile phones were meant for making and receiving calls.

As technology developed, the device became much more than that. The interesting part is that people buy new handsets without realising how they will benefit from them.

Many of those people may not require all the new and upgraded features in their handsets.

I think some of the features in mobile phones often infringe on our privacy. They cause irritation and disturbances in our lives.

Ramachandran Nair, Oman

Who will punish the guilty men?

I refer to the news article Children jailed with their mothers in visa amnesty (March 31).

These women may be guilty, but what about the men who fathered these children? Who will punish them?

Teri Adams, Abu Dhabi