A reminder for South Africa

Readers says South Africans should try to wipe out the legacy of apartheid. Other topics: Arabic, wastewater, UAE airlines

A reader says South Africans should try to wipe out the legacy of apartheid that fuels violence and erodes the values of the freedom struggle. Nick Bothma / EPA

With reference to Joseph Dana's opinion article Apartheid economics divides the rainbow nation (April 22), on April 27, 1994, the first democratic election was held in South Africa. This day is marked as Freedom Day in South Africa – freedom from colonialism and apartheid.

Apartheid “officially” began in South Africa in 1948, but colonialism and oppression of the African majority had plagued the country since 1652. After decades of resistance, a stalemate between the Liberation Movement and the Apartheid government was reached in 1988.

Freedom Day therefore serves as a reminder that the guarantee of freedom requires us to always remain vigilant against corruption and erosion of the values of the freedom struggle. It’s a reminder that South Africans should work towards wiping out the legacy of racism and inequality.

Samaoen Osman, South Africa

Apartheid was first and foremost a diabolical and racist ideology. It was the supposed superiority of one race over another that was at its heart, not a selfish economic agenda.

Haaike Barnard, Abu Dhabi

Arabs should motivate expats to learn Arabic

I refer to your editorial Arabic lessons would bridge culture gap (April 20). Over the past seven years that I have spent in this country, I have learnt to read and write Arabic and continued to develop my oral skills. In my personal experience, this is particularly challenging on two fronts: the many Arabic dialects spoken by the broad expatriate population and the propensity of Arabs to speak English even when addressed in Arabic.

Most Emiratis and expatriate Arabs have a good command of the English language, but if a foreigner makes an effort to learn their language, they should encourage it. Such enthusiasm can be considerably dampened when there is no effort to engage on the part of the Arabic speaker.

This is not the case in my workplace. There are many of us studying Arabic and at varying levels, yet our Iraqi, Jordanian, Egyptian and Syrian brothers and sisters at my workplace are all prepared to slow down and listen. It is a lot of fun and has a very positive effect on the culture and morale of the business.

If this philosophy extended to the wider society, then surely the Arabic language would benefit in the long term. Yet, for that positive interaction to multiply, we first need Arab children with a passion for their language and a willingness to share it in conversation with willing expatriates.

As in other countries, maybe it would be beneficial for all expatriates to have a basic ability in spoken Arabic before a residency visa were issued.

Mark Rix, Dubai

We can save more water

I appreciate Dubai's wastewater initiative (Wastewater irrigation for Dubai's gardens, April 22). But what about utilising the condensate from air conditioning?

An air conditioning unit in an average 10-storey block will produce 300 litres of pure water per day. And it all goes straight down the drain. Now think how many buildings there are in this country.

How many millions of litres of water are being wasted in this way alone?

Dave Pryce, Abu Dhabi

Our airline needs an Emirati face

Regarding your story Finding famous faces that fit: the UAE's brand ambassadors (April 17), I like Nicole Kidman very much, but I wonder why we can't consider famous Emirati personalities instead of Hollywood actors.

Why should a person who has little to do with the UAE become a brand ambassador of the country’s national carrier?

I am sure that an Emirati brand ambassador would boost the airline’s image. The UAE should be proud of its own people.

Brigitte von Bulow, Abu Dhabi