Do taxi drivers have reduced work hours and reduced quotas during Ramadan (Workplace Doctor: Do non-Muslims have to work full hours during Ramadan in the UAE?, May 24)? It’s really important that anyone who drives for a living rests and eats well.
Lisa Kereliuk, Dubai
There is a purpose behind every rule. Reduced work hours in Ramadan are meant to make life easier for workers who are fasting. Those who don’t fast need to ask themselves whether they deserve that privilege.
It is not about Muslim and non-Muslim, because there are some Muslims who don’t fast for some reasons.
Asim Hamdan, Dubai
If none of the employees observes Ramadan, then I personally see no harm in the employer asking them to work a full day. In large companies with a more diverse workforce, there are restrictions on where non-fasting employees can eat, so that can pose a challenge. But in small, non-fasting companies, I think it would be business as usual.
Samia Iftekhar, Abu Dhabi
Many things can trigger a stroke
I don’t think unhealthy eating habits and sedentary lifestyle are only to blame for premature strokes (Half of UAE stroke victims are under 45, May 22). The weather here is really a challenge, compared to other places on the planet. Perhaps dehydration also plays a role.
Western people have, if anything, an unhealthy lifestyle and diet. I don’t think the answer lies there.
D Gert Ditlevsen, Dubai
No ‘science’ behind iceberg
I have read Jonathan Gornall’s piece The solid science behind the dream of floating icebergs to Fujairah (May 26). Please refrain from using terms such as “solid science” to explain an article in which no scientific explanation has been provided with hard evidence.
Musarat Ali, Dubai
Why waste so much energy and time by even thinking about bringing iceberg to Fujairah coast to make premium drinking water for the richest?
This seems to be a marketing drive by a drinking water brand. It is just nonsense.
Rajeev Rajapalan, Dubai
Red-tape affects businesses
A great many things in this country are dulled by red tape and exorbitant set-up costs, including business (Solar panel demand in Dubai dulled by red tape, May 18). Ultimately that is to the detriment of the country's economy and the UAE at large.
Dave Pryce, Dubai
We must defeat the dark forces
The cold-blooded murder of cop nearly 30 Coptic Christians in Egypt is unbelievable.
What’s worse, the incident took place just before the start of the holy month of Ramadan. It underlines that these terrorists, who always talk about religion, purity and piety, have no religion at all. All they have is a tremendous urge for bloodshed and an unfathomable contempt for human life.
All countries must leave their differences aside and come together to defeat these forces of darkness.
Nations that think they are safe and stay aloof must remember that it’s just a question of time before they are swept away by these dark forces.
There was a time when extremists used to abstain from killing and attacking during the holy month. That’s no longer they case. These days these bloodthirsty people do not see any reason to do so. Their sole aim is to kill. There is no purpose behind it.
It’s sad that no one is able to defeat these evil forces. The way they are carrying on with their activities, I am sure the end of the world is not far.
I am increasingly feeling hopeless.
Shahid Ashraf, India
