Europeans don't run the world

The European Union's pushy airline emissions tax is going to backfire on them; the days of unilateral European decision-making are over, a reader says. Other letter topics: the Eagles, accidents, teaching, parking, and India-Pakistan.

Anger with the EU's decision to levy a carbon tax on flights through its airspace reminds one reader that the era of European dominance in world affairs is over. Chris Ratcliffe / Bloomberg

I refer to the article Forget parallel parking, the new way to store your car is vertical (April 13).

I don't think it is necessary to introduce robotics into the simple process of parking a car.

But it would be great if planners could at least ensure that new buildings, whether big or small, have some floors below or above for parking.

The biggest problem in the capital is that most high-rises do not have parking facilities inside the building.

Mohammad Fuad Mustafa, Abu Dhabi

Eagles show good but not great

The Eagles Live show landed well in my heart (Crowd of 20,000 'take it easy' with The Eagles in Dubai, April 13).

On a 10-point scale, this show was a 7.5, I think. Don Henley cost them some points for his cold and characterless mug.

Also I was puzzled by the lack of even a hint of a mention of Dubai in the welcome address, the interludes, or at the end of the show.

Finally, I can't accept the fact that I wasn't able to carry home a souvenir, such as the concert ticket or a wrist band with Eagles branding and the date. We could take away only a band from Hard Rock Café, a sponsor; I threw mine away.

Reuben Smile, Dubai

India and Pakistan can get along

It is extremely pleasing to see India and Pakistan coming closer together, as we saw in the visit of President Asif Ali Zardari to India (Lunch meeting provides food for thought on India-Pakistan ties, April 9).

Good sense now seems to have prevailed. It has now dawned on leaders of these neighbours that the future of the 1.4 billion people cannot be held hostage to the contentious issues of Kashmir and terrorism.

They have decided to increase trade and ease visa restrictions to make business trips easier. Good relations and trust can eventually lead to the resolution of all the issues that have afflicted them for decades.

Muneer Ahmad, Abu Dhabi

We can do more about safety

The improvement reported in Traffic accidents 'cost nearly 3% of GDP' (April 11) is good.

It is possible to reduce the number of traffic deaths and injuries by 50 per cent in the next five years.

To prevent and reduce the number of road crashes, innovative strategic approaches are a must. This requires additional sustainable funding, an action plan, training, a road-safety audit and special efforts to deal with particularly dangerous "black spots".

Kailash Tiwari, Australia

Base schooling in Arab values

Teachers say mistrust slowing down education reform (April 11) was an excellent report.

There is conflict inherent in the ideas of centralised decision-making and a more inclusive decision-making approach.

Adec and its sponsors want control to ensure that everyone is in on the "same page". Experts, mainly western expatriates, may protest but do see their mission as inculcating the western way of education, in which teachers provide leadership, and parent/teacher engagement is stressed.

But the ancient Arab culture is thousands of years old, and has value. Education policy should start with including Arab values.

Tom Pattillo, Canada

Europe is bossy on plane emissions

It's interesting to see how much trouble Europe's sanctimonious approach to CO emissions is causing - for Europe itself (India warns EU it may shun talks on climate, April 12).

Despite all the lessons of the postcolonial era, Europe still thinks it can dictate to the world. Maybe in 1912 but not now.

The sooner Europe gives up its arbitrary tax on the world's airlines, the less harm it will do.

M Belhassan, Dubai

Restraint yes, but not punishment

I was sorry to read the point of view expressed in the letter Is Norway's killer crazy or not? (April 12).

If Anders Breivik is psychotic or otherwise seriously disturbed (not the insulting word "crazy", please) then he may very well need to be restrained in the public interest. But that is not the same as "deserving" to be "punished".

Mental illness is illness. I don't know enough to have an opinion about this case but some killers who commit crimes are not "guilty" and don't deserve to be "punished" any more than a lightning strike is "guilty" if it starts a fire.

Jamal Gharbi, Norway