The people of Iraq deserve a better tomorrow

I refer to your editorial A New Iraq for the next generation (March 10).  This article truly helped me understand the main issues at stake in the country today, and the plight of the Iraqi people.

Decades of conflict have left the oil-rich country scarred by war and religious extremism. The Iraqi people deserve stability and security and I am glad to see the country is slowly but surely recovering from years of internal struggles.

The nation has a significant amount of natural resources and is home to different communities that had coexisted in harmony before the war broke out. Today, Iraqis are ready for a bright future away from the extremist rule of ISIS and the brutal dictatorship of Saddam Hussein.

K.Ragavan, Bengaluru

Fireworks should be banned to stop pollution

I refer to Katy Gilett's article UAE's first fireworks contest to take place at Abu Dhabi's Mother of the Nation festival (March 7). This article caught my attention immediately because I firmly believe fireworks are detrimental to the environment.

We live in a world plagued by rising levels of pollution so it is crucial that we do not encourage activities that significantly contribute to climate change and that we do not even need in our everyday lives. I do not wish to take the fun out of festivities and I am aware that the public enjoys fireworks as a form of entertainment, but there are better and cleaner options for our enjoyment.

Take the Sharjah lights festival. This event awed its audience without having to resort to needless pollution. Fireworks disturb the local fauna at night and release fumes and chemicals into the atmosphere that damage the hard grown greenery of the UAE.

I believe we should ban fireworks in an effort to reduce air pollution and so that future generations can also enjoy the beauty of the UAE.

Hamza Khan, Dubai

Thoughts and prayers to victims of the Ethiopian Airlines crash 

I refer to your article Ethiopian Airlines flight ET302 crashes en route to Kenya with 157 on board (March 9). I was extremely sad to hear the tragic news of the Ethiopian Airlines crash. I wish to offer my deepest condolences to the bereaved families. May God console your hearts in this moment of grief, and may the victims rest in peace.

Asif, Shanghai

Employers should comply with labour laws

I write in reference to Keren Bobker's article "Can my employer keep my basic salary low to avoid a high gratuity payout?" (March 9). I truly hope that one day readers will not need to seek advice for such issues. Unfortunately, some employers continue to have unethical practices. They fail to comply with the UAE labour laws, that exist to protect us, resulting in the poor treatment of their employees. This must end now.

Gianmaria Vidale, Abu Dhabi