While The National'stake on our survey was interesting (Nuclear plans 'focused on safety', April 16), it's important to be clear that it was not Al Aan TV's intention - nor, we imagine, The National's - to criticise the UAE's civilian nuclear programme.
The motivation for conducting the survey was to investigate perceptions on Iran's Bushehr reactor. There is a clear research objective and a topical editorial angle behind this: the disaster in Japan took place in an active earthquake zone. The Fukushima reactor was built in a populated area and near one of the world's most dangerous seismic fault lines.
A parallel situation exists with respect to the Bushehr reactor. The Iranian reactor lies in a populated area and next to a major fault line. Al Aan's own coverage of the Nabd al Arab (Arabs' Pulse) survey focused almost entirely on this angle, and said nothing of the UAE's nuclear programme.
Unrelated to this particular survey, Al Aan's past coverage of this issue has always emphasised the state-of-the art nature and the world-class safety measures of the UAE nuclear programme. In fact, experts speaking on Al Aan have said the UAE sets a shining example to all other countries for developing civilian nuclear technology and applications.
We very much appreciate the coverage of our poll by The National; however, we believe the above details are important to put things into proper context.
Dana Shadid, Media Development Manager, Al Aan TV, Dubai
Proud flag-waver for UK monarchy
I am writing with regard to the news article Monarchy opponents say wedding is another example of royal waste (April 21). The vast majority of the British people are proud of our royal family and support them 100 per cent. The Queen, who celebrated her 85th birthday yesterday, is still actively working. She has been the best ambassador the UK has ever had. Prince Philip, who will be 90 in June, is Warden of the Royal Parks and attends his duties daily.
This is not just another royal wedding, this is our future king. The monarchy is a tourist attraction in its own right in the UK, bringing in vast sums of money. The anti-royalists should get their facts right and leave Prince William and Kate to enjoy their wedding day. I, for one, am proud to wave the flag.
Tracy Thorpe-Willett, Al Ain
Crack down on road bullies
I agree with Ziad Q in his letter Slow drivers are also at fault (April 20). It is not necessarily speed that kills, but rather reckless driving. However, the term "reckless" is a relative one. The truth is that not all drivers who speed are reckless, and not all slow drivers are at fault. As a law-abiding expatriate with a clean driving record, I cannot count the number of times I've almost been pushed off the road by a speeding SUV or a luxury sedan car.
The drivers who choose to obey speed limits face a dilemma. Travel in the left lane and be a victim of tail-gating; travel in the middle lane and be flashed constantly by those behind you; or travel in the right lane and be tail-gated.
Again, speeding is not solely to blame, but rather the combination of speed and reckless driving, and both seem to go hand-in-hand. Many times I have seen near misses caused by speeding cars that weave in and out of traffic, neglect to use their indicator lights and overtake on the right side.
I follow the speed limit signs yet still feel at risk of becoming a victim of some other driver's mistakes. Just as the police need to crack down on "lane hoggers", they also need to crack down on road bullies. I fully support the new speed limits.
Philippa Charnaud, Abu Dhabi
The food is the important thing
Thank you so much for Emily's Shardlow's story Unadorned Fun (April 21) about the down-home fish restaurant Bu Qtair in Dubai. We need more food stories like this in The National. Real food for real people at non-inflated hotel prices. Enough with the celebrity chefs! You used to run a wonderful weekly column in Arts & Life called Cheap as Chips. It's most desperately missed. While Shardlow writes that Bu Qtair is "not a place to get dressed up for or visit when amuse bouches and petits fours are the order of the day ..." that is exactly the point. The order of the day for the majority of us here is something a lot more basic, more affordable and, I might add, probably more delicious. More please!
Denise Roig, Abu Dhabi
A question of Khalidiya parking
The news article Paid parking expanding in Khalidiya (April 19) reported that an additional 1,650 parking spots will come under Mawaqif management. I live in Khalidiya. I note that paid parking ends at 10:00pm, after which time the parking area is for residents only. Where can evening visitors to residences and cafes park their cars?
Anita Calcraft, Abu Dhabi