Paying it forward with a simple ‘thank you’!

W e should always thank people. It might mean nothing to some, but for others it really means appreciating them for their help, their service or their kind gesture (‘Community report in-depth: Smile and say thank you!’, Gulf News, December 8). Being thankful to people does have a positive effect on them. It lets them feel they have been successful in helping out the person in need. We must try to instil the habit in our children from a young age to use the golden words - thank you. Using words such as thank you or please does not make or break a person’s status, it shows good manners.

I, on the other hand, always thank those whom I have come across. Be it the attendant at the petrol station, the server at the coffee shop, the promotions staff in the mall – a polite ‘thank you’ never does any harm. It makes people feel happy and good. It’s payback for their services. I make sure my two-year-old says please and thank you, especially to her elders and the people helping her out. From Ms Qudsiya Shafi UAE

Making the world better

T he pillow-case dresses made in Dubai for children in Africa was a very touching read (‘Pillow-case dresses charity helps needy’, Gulf News, December 5). The little children in the article’s picture in Cameroon look delighted after receiving the singlets made from old pillow-cases! And, on the other hand, we shop till we drop and are not happy. So many times I remember the famous story of how much land does a man need. We with our insatiable appetites are literally destroying the world.

The article about how being grateful will make you happier published on December 8 was very true and proves this point.

In another Gulf News article, hats off to Lamis Harib for her venture in BioD for biodegradable and bio-disposable products. The misuse and incorrect disposal of single-use plastic products is harming the environment, but the masses are not bothered. Do we really need so many plastic bags and disposables? The use of such products must be severely restricted. Malls must encourage the use of cloth shopping bags, which we used for so many centuries! From Ms Malvika Dekhane Sharjah

Don’t pollute the ground

I love the UAE for its diversity. I find it is one of the most pleasant and safest places to stay in the world. So, it hurts me a lot when I watch helplessly how

a country that gives us so much is not given back the love and care that it deserves. National Day celebrations were yet another spectacular time and we all witnessed the splendour and joy of the UAE turning 44.

My family and I were all looking forward to a pleasant afternoon at the Ajman Corniche, but far from pleasant, it made me very upset seeing the debris floating around in the water. Juice bottles and chip packets were being picked up by the birds in the water thinking they were food.

People were oblivious of the fact that they are polluting the sea that gives back so much in return. We should never use the sea as a dumpster.

Children and adults alike were throwing garbage into the water without a second thought even though, at arm’s length, there were garbage bins placed diligently by the municipality.

I sincerely hope that in writing this some awareness is created for children and adults alike to keep their surroundings clean.

I love celebrations, but not that which pollute the Earth that we live in. From Ms Asha Mathew UAE

Drug prices are too high

T oday in the global scenario, medical treatment expenses and drug prices are more expensive, especially in India. Both drugs and hospital expenses are more expensive compared to the per capita income.

Common drugs that cost from Rs2 to Rs3 of different brands are what is needed. Hypertensive and diabetes drugs should be taken for a lifetime, but they are not affordable for the common man. Lifesaving drugs such as for cancer, tuberculosis, hypertension, diabetes and antibiotics should be made available in generic names at affordable prices. Inflation of daily commodities is high and interest rates on loans are not encouraging for the middle income group.

Senior citizens without pensions and the common man are the main sufferers on this issue. Medical expenses are an issue that should be immediately addressed by the government. Having spent three decades in the pharmaceutical industry, this is my view on drug prices and medical treatment. From Mr K. Ragavan Bengaluru, India

Modifying fundamental blocks

S ince genetic modification of species has become a reality, it is most likely to dominate the medical field in the not too distant future (‘Facebook debate: The future of gene editing’, Gulf News, December 6). If there is anything in this world that has been untouched and preserved without human intervention, it is the genetic disposition of species including that of humans.

As humans we have altered our physical environment in so many ways, like large structures, buildings, roads and various developments in Nature. Along the way we also had started farming, which was a modification of Nature as to how it should provide food.

Later, the changes went on to translate into improving life altogether. When we learnt how to harness the power of Nature to suit our benefits, sometimes it has been at the expense of our peers.

Now, most recently, scientists have reached a stage where they are capable of modifying the fundamental blocks that characterise each of us uniquely.

The intervention into our biological make-up must be examined in the context how Charles Darwin had tried to explain his theory of evolution. According to his theory, all species have evolved over millions of years and that we will continue to evolve. However, his theory postulates that the evolution of a species happens through natural selection, which may take millions of years. From Mr V. I. Mohammad Sageer UAE

Challenging Nature

F or decades, scientists have tried to develop ways to treat disorders that are genetic in Nature, many of which require simple changes like just watching what they eat, others require taking regular doses of medication and constant monitoring and some are still a mystery, which needs to be taken into consideration.

Gene editing is an answer to all these mysteries and this discovery in the field of microbiology holds great therapeutic promises. If re-arranging, correcting, repairing or fixing genes can treat diseases like HIV, progressive blindness or sickle cell anaemia, is not this discovery a blessing in disguise? We can’t be sure that this ‘gene fixing’ would not lead to problems that pose bigger risks or will be out of the threshold of our scientific advancements.

A fertilised egg with a defective gene could be fixed. This single cell could give rise to an entire healthy human with trillions of cells that all have correct versions of the gene. Yet, will this technology give rise to a new generation of ‘modified’ humans carrying permanent heritable changes to the human germline DNA?

Science and technology have brought us far, but are we ready to alter Nature’s course? It is wise to exercise great caution before we venture into authorising a discovery that is only a decade old to make permanent changes to the DNA of our species. It is only wise to ban genetic editing until we are technically proficient, scientifically knowledgeable and morally wise enough to challenge Nature’s ways. From Ms Pranitha Menon Dubai

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