FT | Cigarette Warning | 12/12/2011

Cigarette warning

WE are all familiar with the dangers and harms of smoking.

The cigarette packets contain these warnings on them so the consumer can take heed.

Some of these cautioning labels include: Smoking harms unborn babies, smoking causes cancer and smoking causes heart diseases.

The astounding thing I have noticed is that people purchase their cigarette based on the health warning that appears on the packets.

While sitting in a shop with a friend I noticed customers coming in and asking for "one packet cancer".

There is a belief that the packet with the cancer label is stronger than the others.

Can someone from the relevant authority please shed some light on this situation?

ALZIMA ELISHA BANO
Suva

FT | Thank you driver | 15/10/2011

This was published in the Fiji Times on 15th October, 2011 (Saturday)

Thank you driver

I CAUGHT the bus one morning to work and it began to drizzle.
Three school kids were walking along the pavement and the bus driver stopped.
He asked the kids to board the (slightly vacant) bus and dropped them closer to the school just so they were not caught in the rain.
Vinaka driver. We are proud to have such people in the midst of us.

Alzima Elisha Bano
Nabua

PS: This letter won letter of the week in Fiji Times :) :) 

FT | men's Crisi Center | 02/08/2011

FT | Men's Crisis Center 
Women have been fighting for equality for a long time now. In most places (communities, families, schools, institutes and organizations) the value for women are being recognized but Feminist are still working around the clock to ensure that women are treated equally (with dignity and respect), that they receive equal opportunity and that they are able to work and live in a safe and secure environment. 

I found this letter (below) in our daily newspaper called the Fiji Times:
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Equal rightsI believe in equal rights be it for woman or for man. One thing that come to my attention is while we have woman's crisis centre, social welfare centre's for woman and children but not a single organisation for man. Why the injustice?
Ashneel Prasad Lautoka28/07/11
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I could not help but wonder, If men feel strongly about this so-called injustice then why don't they do something about it. Women did. So i decided to post a reply and here is my 5 cents. 

Mens Crisis Center 
When women saw a need for a Women's Crisis Center they got together the relevant resources and established one.I suggest for concerned men like Mr. Ashneel Prasad (FT 28/7) to do the same. If he thinks men require a crisis center he should consult with the relevant authorities and establish one.I am sure their is no rule against not having a center for men. 
Alzima Bano | Nabua. 
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But than again this my 5cents worth!!

FT | No Humor | 28/07/2011

No Humor | FT 28/07/2011

Our local dailies Fiji Times Newspaper has a section called the Letters to the editor and i have develeoped a sudden interest in voicing my opinion here. On 13th July 2011, Mr. Aisake Delai wrote in to the letters saying:

 
CANT UNDERSTAND. 

Fifteen year old boys are strong, healthy and fit and they should be able to defend themselves against any kind of attacks by 70 year old's.Unless the 15 year old boy who accused his 70 year old father of raping him (FT 8/7) is a cripple or mentally retarded. I cannot understand why he could not defend himself against his 70 year old father.Well, there you go coach, Samu Domoni. In case you run out of firepower and energy in the forward pack, why not take in 70 year old's? 

Aisake Dekai | Nasinu.

 
Upon reading this letter i couldn't help but feel a rush of anger inside my head. How can you suggest a sports team to take on an elderly member of the society who has just been accused of RAPE!!! In the course of my studies i have learnt of a theory called "Fight, Flight or Freeze" - basically when a threatening situation presents itself to us we either: Fight the situation, Flight (run away) from the situation or Freeze (whereby our brain shuts down and we are unable to do anything). For people to consider such sensitive matters (like rape/abuse) as humorous is very pathetic (to be honest). Here we are trying our level best to ensure our children are protected from sexual perpetrators and than we have people like Mr. Delai who consider it a joke. The thought was still jumping around in my head and so i decided to post a simple reply to his not so humorous letter.Please find below my reply:

No Humuor.
What I fail to comprehend is the thinking and reasoning competence displayed by Mr. Delai (FT 13/11) in his letter about a 15 year old boy being raped by his 70 year old father..Did it occur to Mr. Delai that the fifteen year old boy might have threatened?Or that he might be a frail, petite boy who is weak (health wise)?Or he simply went through a freeze mode (refer to fight, flight or freeze theory by Walter Bradford Cannon).I doubt any coach in his or even her right mind would not want a perverted, immoral, disrespectful person on his or her team.I suggest for Mr. Delai to think twice before dishing such suggestions. 

Alzima Elisha Bano

Nabua.

It is very important for all of us to make a stand against CHILD ABUSE - we NEED to protect our future and create a safe, loving and caring environment for them.