Cruel choice
Sir — There are arguments both for and against veganism. But surely the trend of pet parents forcing their carnivorous pets to eat vegan food is not conscionable. This does not fulfil their nutritional requirements, leading to poor health and, in some cases, even an early death. While every individual has the right to make dietary choices for himself or herself based on moral or other considerations, one must not force these choices down the gullets of those who cannot object, such as a pet cat or a dog. The health of pets must be of foremost importance to humans who have opted to take care of them. In an attempt to alleviate cruelty towards certain animals, we must be careful not to unwittingly subject other animals to cruelty by depriving them of their natural diet.
Ameera Fazal, Calcutta
Against all odds
Sir — The Indian contingent at the Paris Paralympics has performed with great zeal (“Bigger haul, better results show India’s medal mettle”, Sept 9). India managed to clinch 29 medals, including seven gold, nine silver and 13 bronze. India has successfully surpassed its performance at Tokyo Paralympics. Some noteworthy performers were Avani Lekhara, Yogesh Kathuniya, Nishad Kumar and Sumit Antil. India is lucky to have such talented athletes.
Kirti Wadhawan, Kanpur
Sir — India’s para-athletes have made the nation proud. These athletes have been able to transform adversity into strength. Behind every medal won there are countless hours of practise, numerous setbacks, and a tireless pursuit of excellence. Their success is a beacon of hope for thousands. Perseverance, dedication and talent can overcome the greatest of challenges.
C.K. Subramaniam, Navi Mumbai
Sir — India’s differently-abled athletes have bagged more medals than their counterparts did at the Paris Olympics earlier. The government should make efforts to promote sports for athletes with special needs. This would not only boost their morale but also give their life a purpose. The impressive showing of India’s para-athletes speaks of their indomitable spirit. Acknowledging their talent will inspire them to continue to train harder.
Shovanlal Chakraborty, Calcutta
Licence to kill
Sir — It is unfortunate that in spite of the International Court of Justice ruling that it is plausible that Israel is carrying out a genocide in Gaza, India has granted licenses for the export of arms and munitions to Tel Aviv (“Plea to stop arms supply to Israel”, Sept 5). India has some legal obligations under the Genocide Convention of the United Nations to which it is a party. It thus should not export weapons to Israel when there is a serious risk that these might be used to commit war crimes. The companies involved in these exports include public sector enterprises under the Union ministry of defence as well as private companies. A petition against such exports has been made to the Supreme Court. Besides violating the Genocide Convention, an export of arms goes against India’s policy of non-alignment. It also belies the statement of the prime minister, Narendra Modi, that India is on the side of peace.
Gopalaswamy J., Chennai
Endless plight
Sir — The indifference of the world towards Rohingyas is shameful (“Thousands of Rohingya flee to Bangladesh”, Sept 5). One fails to understand why the United Nations has not been able to prevail on Myanmar to stop its atrocities on the Rohingyas. The Indian government cannot remain a silent spectator to such ethnic cleansing in its neighbourhood. It must exercise its influence in the corridors of power to rein in Myanmar. The global diplomatic community has a moral responsibility to stop the systemic and systematic oppression of Rohingyas in Myanmar.
Brij Bhushan Goyal, Ludhiana
Potent threat
Sir — Besides flash floods, landslides and cloudbursts, shooting stones are yet another natural hazard that will be intensified with climate change-induced rainfall. Shooting stones are basically huge rocks or boulders that roll down mountain slopes crushing everything in their paths. Besides causing traffic disruptions, they also pose a threat to life and property. Continuous rains, landslides and sudden tremors can cause shooting stones. It is high time that the authorities take steps to prevent such accidents. Stabilising the slopes and taking steps to prevent soil erosion can reduce the threat posed by shooting stones. The installation of early warning systems would also help alert the authorities and the public about potential threats.
M. Pradyu, Kannur, Kerala
Crisis management
Sir — While presenting the Union budget this year, the finance minister, Nirmala Sitharaman, announced a slew of initiatives aimed at skilling the youth and creating jobs. Such schemes, with an outlay of rupees two lakh crore for a five-year period, are also an acknowledgement of the crisis of unemployment in the country. Unemployment in India is not simply owing to a lack of opportunities but also because many people lack the right skills.
C.K. Ramani, Chennai
Help at hand
Sir — It is a relief that Anant Ambani’s Vantara Foundation has reached out to the Namibian government to extend a helping hand in the face of the severe drought in that country which is threatening the wildlife there. Namibia has sanctioned the culling of over 700 animals because of the food shortage caused by the drought. The Vantara Foundation’s offer of help is thus a godsend. One hopes Namibia accepts this help and decides against killing animals.
T. Ramadas, Visakhapatnam
