Readers' corner
Palestinian Facebook
Sir-- Leaders of the July 1952 Revolution made their position very clear from the start. Their interest was in Egypt and its development. But their plans were faced with many difficulties. Explosions in towns across the country in 1954, restrictions on importing weapons, occupation of the land in 1956, and the refusal to fund Egypt's interests. All these were crowned by the occupation of Sinai in 1967. For the last three years of Nasser's era and all of Sadat's, our first priority was in restoring lost land.
It was expected by the commencement of Mubarak's era that we would be able to refocus on our original priorities. But dealing with the chronic Palestine crisis occupied first place of our interests. However, even this goal has not been achieved. It has simply become negotiations about a road and a number of surrounding towns.
With the start of the post-Mubarak era, we have to start from where we stopped but our recent experience suggests that we cannot rely on Camp David alone for securing our national security. During forthcoming meetings, Egypt must be represented by the Higher Council of the Armed Forces when dealing with Israel and the Palestinians. Palestinians abroad must also be represented. The Palestinians are highly educated and what was achieved by Egyptians by the use of Facebook could be used by the Palestinians who are currently under the authority of Israel's government.
Ahmed El-Tawil
Cairo
Egypt
Uncertainty in Japan
Sir-- Re 'The devil we don't know' ( Al-Ahram Weekly, 24-30 March) I think that by writing this article, which makes a defence of nuclear energy, it seems that nothing happened in Japan, or little, only a partial fusion of the nuclei of some reactors at the Fukushima. Although the information that reaches us through the media is fragmentary and contradictory, it can be described as a nuclear catastrophe, with unpredictable consequences, without knowing how to tackle this serious problem. We cannot be assured that there will be a slight increase in cancer, when we know that in other places such as Chernobyl, or the radioactivity produced by depleted uranium bombs used in Iraq, and elsewhere, have boosted the incidence of cancer among the population and birth defects among children graphically. And the radiation levels are much lower than those currently registered in some areas of Japan. In addition we must consider the displacement of a huge number of people and the contamination of food and drinking water. I think we should not minimise the consequences of using nuclear energy, especially at times when we are experiencing the serious effects it produces and we see them directly.
Rafael Guerra
Madrid
Spain
Backstabbers
Sir-- People write here that the US should assist the rebels with the downfall of Gaddafi. Why? These are the same people that just a few months ago were demonstrating for the downfall of the US. If we help those people they will accept the help with one hand while trying to stab us with the other.
Lance Perry
California
USA
Do it yourself
Sir-- Why does the US have to run to their rescue? Do the Arab nations want the Americans to do their dirty work? I do not see any Arab nation running to their aid. Our government cannot save the planet.
Ray Moss
Florida
USA
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