Dear Sir,

This is in response to the article, ‘Global pollution kills 9mn a year’ on October 21 and the viewpoint, ‘Urgent global action to tackle killer air pollution’ on October 22 in Gulf Times. Both of them were eye-openers. Air pollution has already claimed the lives of several million people, especially in Asia and Africa. The underdeveloped and developing nations of these continents do not give much importance to air pollution control, given that they struggle with their poor economy and population growth. The average life span of the people in such countries is low as compared to the developed nations.
The people too do not take air pollution seriously and they are also partly responsible for its consequences. For instance, even on the last Diwali day which fell on October 18, smoke caused due to the bursting of fire crackers was alarming in Delhi where it was banned by the court. The people of Delhi have failed to take a cue from the alarming air pollution due to the same reason last year. Further, vehicles which belch smoke are still in use in the developing nations.
Owing to air pollution, many premature deaths occur in poor nations. Adults too suffer from lung diseases. China, which has a large number of industries, is also badly affected by air pollution.
It is now imperative to increase efforts to tackle this serious problem. Better late than never. Let  the governments of the affected nations as well as the people living there do all that they can so that air pollution may be contained.

C Robinson, [email protected]

‘Baba Gurgur’ is Turkish, not Kurdish

Dear Sir,
 
With reference to an article published in Gulf Times’s Business section on October 19 under the heading “Fight for Iraq’s future targets 90-year-old Kirkuk oil field”, I would like to point out that the term ‘Baba Gurgur’ is not the name of the oldest well. It is actually the name of the place where the flame shot out of the ground as a result of ignition of escaped gas. It is a place where I personally used to visit when I was a child.
The term ‘Baba Gurgur’ (Father of Fire) is a Turkish term and not a Kurdish term as was stated in the article.
This information is a fact and well-documented by many travellers and historians. I just thought it is appropriate to make this correction for your readers.

Emad Turkman  MBE, Doha

Stray cat menace on Airport Road

Dear Sir,

I live on the Airport Road, opposite Al Mana Tower and I find that there are far too many stray cats in this area. Most of the time there are cats sleeping on my car and there are a lot of cat paw prints on it too.
I had the car washed recently but the very next morning I found muddy paw prints all over the car. A very disappointing sight indeed.   
Could the authorities concerned  take some urgent action regarding this matter. Also, if someone could suggest a place where I could make a complaint about this. 

(Name and e-mail ID provided)

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