|
|
 |
 |
 |
| Wednesday, 27 March 2002 |
 |
|
 |
Letters | |
| News Business Features Editorial Security Politics World Sports Obituaries
|
Please forward your letters to [email protected] in plain text format within the e-mail message, since as a policy we do not open any attachments.
In all three English newspapers, the Island, Daily News and Daily Mirror, the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission has inserted advertisements calling for comments on the draft telecommunication policy. Anyone reading these full page adverts would wonder who pays for them. On page 22 of the Daily News of March 20, the date on which these advertisements appeared, there is an article entitled "Bring all regulatory bodies under one umbrella SCG Bank CEO". Also the Director General of the Securities and Exchange Commission, Dr. Dayanath Jayasuriya has stated that the proliferation of regulatory authorities was a major constraint on the efficient functioning of business enterprises. He states that a single regulator was recommended by a Committee appointed by the Treasury Secretary. I have brought this matter to the attention of the Hon. Minister of Finance and the Hon. Minister of Economic Reform, Science and Technology and suggested that the system in Australia where the Australian competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) regulate all industries in the public sector be adopted. If a committee appointed by the Treasury Secretary has recommended the same system, one fails to see why each industry e.g. telecommunications, should continue to have a separate regulator. F.D.C. WIJESINGHE-Kotte.
Is man created to eat meat? - a reply Dr. D. P. Atukorale in his article (DN March 13, 2002) has come out with some interesting reasons as to why man was not anatomical and physiologically created to eat meat. I disagree with his flawed comparison. Dr. Atukorale started off by claiming that vegetarians have a healthier and longer life compared to non-vegetarians. To support his claim, he goes on to say that there are roughly 9 million vegetarians in the United States. It looks like a very large number but when you consider the population, vegetarians represents less than 0.5% of US, an insignificant percentage. On the contrary, the remaining 99.5% of meat-eaters has made US to be one of the healthier nations in the world. Dr. Atukorale also claims that India has the highest concentration of vegetarians. If that is true, how is that India is one of the most mal-nourished nations in the universe? According to United Nation Population Fund statistics, more than 30% of India's population is under-nourished, compared to less than 10% in US. It stands to reason that poor eating habits along with poverty is the cause. Therefore, vegetarianism does not automatically equate to good health. It can cause mal-nourishment. Carnivorous and Herbivorous are two extremes in a wide spectrum of eating habits in the animal kingdom. Animals eat their food raw (uncooked) and their capacity to make choices are very limited. For e.g. Tigers don't eat raw vegetable and cows don't eat raw meat. The choice to cook and choose what to eat is unique to humans, not to animal species. The power of reason is a human trait. Therefore, to compare human eating habits with animals is ludicrous. All the 15 reasons Dr. Atukorale had listed out to prove that humans are similar to herbivorous animals is an exercise in futility. One comparison I take offense (pardon my pun) is when he claims that flesh eating animal pass putrid excreta unlike vegetarian animals whose excreta is not offensive. I know that mine is not putrid, and I am sure Dr. Atukorale will deny his either. It is offensive from whose perspective you look from. For swine it is food. The good doctor should know that all waste matters are offensive if you stick your nose right into it, literally! Dr. Atukorale illustrates by example why humans are different from carnivorous animals - humans sip water whereas flesh-eaters laps water. Therefore he concludes that all humans are by nature vegetarians. From the planet I come from, herbivorous animals like cows lap water too. Even then, we meat eaters are not willing to be compared to a cow, unless of course when in a moment of temporary insanity we are inclined to call our wives one. Meat and fish are part of a healthy diet and so is vegetable. This is a basic dietary guideline issued by every nation in the world. To compare apples with oranges and because of their dissimilarities conclude that apples are like pineapples is not a credible reasoning. They are 3 different fruits each with their own unique qualities. Human, herbivorous animal, and carnivorous animals each got it's own dietary habits. It's futile to compare them. Tuan Riza Rassool - USA
Several recent articles in the newspapers said that a reasonably large number of schools have already been closed down due to various reasons and several more schools are to be closed down soon or later. There may be rational reasons for this closure. But the closing down of schools is definitely not going to solve the country's burning problems. We have to admit that due to some reason the English education of our country has already declined to a very low standard and as a result a very large number of educated youth have selected as their employment, driving of 'three wheelers' and operating machines in garment factories. On the other hand, out of those who have received the opportunities of becoming doctors and engineers, another very large number has already been left the island and selected other countries to give their services. So, both ways our country has not only already lost but also loosing still. Another recent news item confirmed that the negotiations are presently taking place with United Kingdom to get down English teachers to train local English teachers. This will be happy news for many and if these negotiations end successfully. No doubt, it will help this country to a great extent in the longrun. H.H. SHANTHA DE SILVA-Kegalle.
A clear mandate ,but more work to be done It is clear from the recent local government elections that the masses have given a clear mandate to Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe in his pursuit of peace and prosperity for the struggling masses of our country. In recent years our politicians have let us and our country down in no uncertain terms. There actions have strengthened the hands of the LTTE in their pursuit of a separate state. But recent world events have bought about an unique opportunity for us. The PM seems to have grasped this opportunity and looks genuinely interested in solving the problems we face as a nation. It would be sad to see his efforts felled by a few misguided members of his government with their reckless disregard for the laws of civil society. It is abundantly clear that we as a society blatantly disregard rules and regulations placed before us. Politicians who are elected by the vote of the ordinary citizen turn around and violate the rights of the people who elected them. The blatant wastage of state resources, lack of commitment to work for the betterment of our country, corruption, and violation of state laws are few areas where the present government can improve the health of our nation. Even though the number of incidents of vote rigging and voter harassment have been much less than what we have experienced during the last seven years, it is still too much. If the PM can get the authorities to successfully crack down on perpetrators from his own party, he would have set an example for all future leaders to follow. The appointment of independent commissions to regulate the police, election commission, and judiciary are steps in the right direction. But actual functioning of these commissions as independent bodies will be the true test. Our people have been waiting for an honest leader who will truly put the country before petty party politics, we hope we have found that person in Mr. Wickremesinghe. Rohitha Ganegoda - USA |
|
News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security
Produced by Lake House |
