War on beach litter
Dear Sir,
It was heartening to read the story of the many people who turned out to clean a beach from litter recently. Congratulations to them on their efforts and to Gulf Times for reporting on their initiative.
As a new arrival in Qatar, I visited the Singing Dunes and was dismayed by the rubbish left there. I made a decision there and then that on every visit I make to the beach or desert in future I would take with me a large bin bag, fill it with garbage and dispose of it properly. My friends all laugh at me. “You will never clean Qatar up like that,” they say. They are right, of course. But just like the story of the stranded starfish thrown back into the water by a young boy, each bag will make a difference to the spot from where it is collected.
Perhaps someone will join me and we will become two, then two become four and eventually people will start to take notice. Maybe, soon everyone who goes to the beach or the desert will not only take home their own rubbish but will want to collect another bag too. If we grow – we can awaken a conscience, taking care of this beautiful country, having a pride in a wonderful environment.
We can change perceptions. We can change attitudes. Just maybe it will become socially unacceptable to damage the environment by leaving rubbish behind.
Maybe our biggest and smallest companies will join the challenge?
Will you join me? No membership forms required. Just a roll of black bags in your vehicle and a desire to make a difference. Simple.
Peter
(e-mail address supplied)
Communal agenda
Dear Sir,
After reading the report, “RSS chief’s remarks on Teresa spark outrage” in one of the India pages (Gulf Times, February 25), one feels that the chief of the right-wing Hindu nationalist Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), Mohan Bhagavat, has no knowledge about the life of Mother Teresa, who had dedicated her entire life to the poor. Mother Teresa had worked assiduously for the welfare of the underprivileged. Even today - 12years after her death - the face of Mother Teresa remains a symbol of kindness to many people.
The Missionaries of Charity group, started by Mother Teresa, runs hospitals and orphanages in several countries. That is why she was called a “saint of the poor”. Even if at a point, she had converted people to her religion, it is not by force but by showing love and affection. Instead of criticising Mother Teresa, the RSS organisation must do some soul-searching to know why it had failed to go the same slums where she had gone and did the same service to the poor as her.
It is clear that various controversies springing from India recently are all having a communal agenda. The motive is to divide people. But communal organsiations must know that the Indian constitution stands for secularism and pluralism.
Everybody, including organisations, whether belonging to minority or majority communities, must learn to respect India’s constitution and its values.
Haris Muhammed
[email protected]