Why are the beaches gone?

A reader rues the disappearance of some of Abu Dhabi’s beaches due to construction activity. Other topics: child custody, Djibouti, petrol stations

A reader rues the disappearance of some of Abu Dhabi’s beaches due to construction activity. Ravindranath K / The National

I refer to the story Aldar to launch sales of Reem Island apartments aimed at mid-income residents (June 4). It's sad that natural beaches are disappearing in Abu Dhabi because of high-rises and hotels. When I first came here, the Intercontinental Hotel and what used to be Khalidya Palace Hotel (now the place where Etihad towers and other hotels are) had the best beaches. Free flowing ocean and natural beaches are not what we have got on the Corniche now. The sand feels like concrete under your feet.

Christina Murphy, Abu Dhabi

Static electricity can cause fire at petrol pumps

One of the most common causes of fire at petrol pumps is static electricity, which is caused by the friction when fuel flows from the nozzle or from drivers and passengers rubbing against the car seats (Dubai petrol station blaze likely caused by poorly maintained car, June 5). Hence, it's advisable that drivers remain in their car while fuelling to avoid static discharge.

Also, it is imperative that the grounding and bonding system is implemented and intact so that the discharge could be directed to the ground. Such fires can also occur during offloading from tanker wagons where static discharge is likely.

Randall Mohammed, Dubai

Child custody is not so simple

I have three beautiful children with an Emirati husband. Upon reading the article Non-Emirati mothers should not be granted child custody to 'protect national identity' (June 3), many emotions ran through me. It is important to note that I am the one who gave up living in my own country for the sake of love. Men like Ahmed Al Shamsi fail to realise that women (and men) who decide to give up their countries of origin for love nonetheless suffer from homesickness and culture shock.

To think that love and kindness is less important than cultural identity is to throw us back into the dark ages. Further, contrary to Mr Al Shamsi’s claim that women flock to Emirati men for material benefit, most women desire a good man rather than a rich man.

In choosing to have children, I am not only the parent who gave birth to them, I am the one who goes through the usual struggles of a mother in being the emotional mainstay of her children. Perhaps this is why Islamic tradition holds mothers in such high esteem.

Lastly, much of modern Emirati culture is the result of the country being a melting pot of cultures. This has made the UAE a tourist hot spot. So I think Mr Al Shamsi and the male ministry members who agreed with his proposition should honour those mothers who are helping to enhance the UAE’s culture from within. I think it is important to remember and honour traditional Emirati culture, but a law that would break the hearts of mothers and their Emirati children will create much bigger problems than the ones that Mr Al Shamsi is so concerned about.

Tiffany Malnar, Dubai

Djibouti has vast potential

Djibouti would have prospered long ago and could do so even now with good governance (Djibouti, a safe harbour in the troubled Horn of Africa, June 4). The country receives enormous subsidies and has a huge competitive advantage in trade and services. It has enormous geothermal potential as well as other natural resources.

Even thes mall area of fertile land or wadi could easily meet the food needs of much of the population (at least in terms of value), especially when combined with huge fishing potential. The nomads are largely self-sufficient on account of their camel herds.

The only thing that prevents Djibouti’s people from achieving even a basic standard of living is poor leadership, which is sponsored by French and other neocolonial interests (just as in the rest of Africa).

Saying that Djibouti lacks resources or needs time would mean sacrificing yet another generation and it is exactly the refrain that the French and other outsiders exploit over and over again.