The Daily Star is pleased to provide a forum for debate on a range of subjects, from local cultural activities to international politics.
Dozens, sometimes even hundreds, of letters fall into the editor's mailbox daily. In order to keep the letters timely, The Daily Star generally produces a special letters section. When the influx of letters is particularly large, extra space is made available accordingly.
If you would like to submit a letter for publication, please remember to include your full name (first and last) and address, including city. The Daily Star only publishes letters under 400 words, and these are subject to editing. The Daily Star will not acknowledge unsolicited submissions.
Rami G. Khouri
"Fight fiercely for peace, for a change"
March 8, 2008
Israel exists for better or worse. This is not Northern Ireland.
From my view (which is very distant), the leadership for displaced Palestinians has been very poor, self-serving and ineffective for a very long time. Keeping a group of people in poverty, bondage if you will, seems to serve some perverse purpose for the above leadership. Perhaps for profit. I appreciate and respect your point of view. By the way, the leadership for Israel is inept at best.
Walt Reed
Oklahoma City, USA
Agence France Press
"Cyprus seeks to import water
from Lebanon"
March 8, 2008
Cyprus is a wealthy island and is a member of the European Union. It has a flourishing economy based mainly on tourism. Its tourist Industry uses huge amounts of water for pools, hotels and flats. It is high time that the Cypriot government impose some restriction on its population for the use of water. Importing water might be a solution, but Cyprus must pay for the value of the water it imports.
Lebanon is in turmoil and its economy is wrenched by a turbulent and unstable political situation. The Lebanese are known for their generosity in all fields. This explains why so many countries and regional powers eye this country. But when it comes to water, it is scientifically established by all water assessments run by UN agencies that water is scarce. If Lebanon is blessed with more water than its neighbors, it's a commodity that Lebanon must sell, like any other, for the price it deserves. Lebanese are also known for their trade since the Phoenicians; they could again establish themselves in the water business. Unlike Israel, which steals Lebanese water Cyprus can pay for the Lebanese water and even work with Lebanese scientists on water issues, as it does with Israel.
Water is life and is not for free.
Joey Zugh
Sao Paulo, Brazil
Diyana Ishak
"Go to Iran and discover the familiar"
March 10, 2008
It is refreshing to get news from outside the US. I have no confidence that we in Oregon are getting news that is true. We in the US get no news about how things really are in the Middle East.
Khadija Gwen Boucher
Portland, USA
Reader's opinion
We were deeply touched and impressed by Maher Zeineddine's article entitled "Activists call for control on bird hunting," published in your respected newspaper on March 4, 2008.
However, we would like to draw your attention to the fact that hunting is not just a leisure pursuit for pastime, but it is also and above all a healthy physical and spiritual activity. People working under stress feel immensely relieved when they are in nature's proximity.
Hunting is not a career, and, as we all are supposed to know, the Lebanese law forbids the selling of hunted birds. Regrettably, we see them out in the open for sale in the streets, shops and even in some restaurants.
Real hunters love nature and try to protect it. They are against chopping wood. Real hunters are against insecticides and chemicals imported to Lebanon without any strict government control; we are talking here about chemicals that are forbidden in developed countries.
Real hunters are against all unlawful ways of hunting, for instance: hunting at night on the roofs using projectors, which can be easily stopped by the government if it wanted to. Real hunters are against any immature hunters to hunt alone with no adult supervision, as well.
A new hunting law has been already developed and elaborated which could be very efficient and beneficial; oddly enough, it is still buried in the drawers of the responsible parties.
Khalil Abu Khalil
Lebanon
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