issues around us

"There has to be an end to this war. I can't help but ask why there is war in Mindanao while people in the malls in Manila seem oblivious to the suffering of many people. Why, despite the war, is there such glitter at Rockwell, Eastwood, and many other places for the rich, who spend large amounts of money for expensive food, clothes, cars, cell phones and many more luxurious things?" Queenie Sicangco Padilla, 17.

She was one of 50 people who distributed 500 food packs to the evacuees at the school grounds of Bulagawan in Pikit, North Cotabato.

Renewal of clashes in the south have killed hundreds and displaced half a million people after three renegade leaders of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front attacked 20 civilian villages in August.

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Thousands of people sharing villas across Dubai have been told to move out of their homes within one month. Officials from Dubai Municipality are checking villas across the emirate and evicting any groups sharing houses that aren’t families. And landlords will be liable for fines of up to dhs50,000 if their villa is found to be let to numerous tenants.

“It is illegal to share a villa and partition rooms. This adds pressure on the service amenities like water, electricity and sewage leading to health and environment problems. We have given enough time for landlords and people to comply with our rules. If they don’t follow our instructions, we will be forced to disconnect the water and electricity in villas and stop all dealings with the landlord.” - Omar Abdul Rahman, head of the Building Inspection Department at Dubai Municipality.

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Dear Dubai,

Can I please ask you a question or two? Who sweeps your streets, who takes away your daily rubbish, who serves you in the local supermarket, who delivers your food when you order a takeaway, who brings you your coffee at the local coffee shop? The low paid thats who.... but now you have made them homeless. The majority can not afford the rents you are now charging so there only option is to leave Dubai for either their home countries or other states around the Gulf. I am sorry but if you keep doing these types of things then this paradise you are trying to build will end? I am am one of the lucky ones that can afford to rent my own place (just) but not for much longer with the ever increasing costs of living here in Dubai. After 13 years of calling this place home I am sad to say that I am moving away shortly because I didn't come here to get into debt just to be able to live. Good luck to you... you are going to need it.

Thanks for making your paradise a living hell! – Anon (Dubai)

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“I am seriously reconsidering staying in Dubai after this, it’s getting far too expensive.” --- fareed.rahman@7days.ae

"Me too!" - Gracie