Street art can make our cities more vibrant

A reader is all praise for the street art movement. Other topics: Coldplay concert, Modi's demonetisation move

Street art will benefit this country in many ways, a reader says. Tom Dulat / Getty Images

It's heartening to know that Al Diyafah Street will be part of the project that will see work from local and international artists displayed across the city (Street art breathes new life into Dubai neighbourhood, December 3).

Street art makes cities vibrant, which is why this movement should have happened here a long time ago.

Despite the bad press street art has received in many parts of the world, it has proven itself to be more than just a public nuisance. In some cases, it has become a positive economic force for a city as graffiti increases the appeal of certain neighbourhoods. In fact, graffiti-hunting has become a kind of tourism. For example, people visit East London or New York’s Lower East Side and Williamsburg or, formerly, 5Pointz, just to see some of the graffiti there.

However, street artists should remain restricted to “legal walls” and should not be allowed to vandalise private property.

I am sure this country will benefit a great deal from street art. It’s good for everyone.

Heather Mills, Abu Dhabi

This is great. Now we need a drive for our schools to pay some attention to the visual and multidisciplinary arts scene. Schools currently pay little attention to the expressive arts side of the curriculum.

Tanya Milbourne, Abu Dhabi

Ticket prices are too high

Fans hoping to see the British band Coldplay's New Year's Eve show in Abu Dhabi are naturally angry that some were able to buy batches of tickets to resell for profit (Coldplay fans irked by inflated ticket prices for New Year gig, December 2).

I was looking for a ticket and someone was trying to sell them for double the price.

Jacqueline Gordon, Abu Dhabi

They were expensive at Dh359 with 20 per cent off. Good luck to the sellers on Dubizzle.

Judith Cooke, Abu Dhabi

Ticketmaster has an email fee of Dh12 for the ticket. This is ridiculous.

Jace Domingo Dela Cruz, Abu Dhabi

Modi’s whims bring misery

The Modi government's decision to suddenly advance the deadline for the use of old 500-rupee notes – with millions of commuters given barely 24 hours to spend the bills they had – is unacceptable (India moves up deadline for use of old notes at petrol stations, December 4).

There is no doubt that the government’s decision to rid the country of corruption is a good move, despite protests and chaos that have erupted following the demonetisation move. But the constant back and forth over the decision has made life miserable for common folks, who seem to have been taken for a ride. No amount of protest, litigation or public inconvenience is able to make the government rethink its decisions on any issue.

One wonders whether this government is bent on altering the definition of democracy for India.

Sunita J, India

It is indeed regrettable that the Indian government has suddenly banned the use of old 500-rupee notes at petrol stations.

The decision to allow people to use old 500-rupee notes at petrol stations was very helpful, especially for taxi and lorry drivers and daily commuters. The new 500-rupee note is not yet available everywhere and the distribution is patchy. The cash put in ATMs dries up within an hour or so.

When anyone visits a petrol pump with the new 2,000-rupee rupee note, it’s hard for the staff at the pump to return the balance.

Many petrol stations have already sought police protection fearing customer wrath.

I hope the government revokes its decision.

Rajendra Aneja, Dubai