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Published: Fri 11 Sep 2015, 12:00 AM

Last updated: Fri 11 Sep 2015, 9:36 AM

Saving the world, one good deed at a time (Best Letter)
Impossible is not something that cannot be achieved; it's simply something that hasn't been achieved before. If we believe in this, and live by it, we could do just about anything we set our minds to - including keeping our environs clean, green and healthy.
The spirited group of youngsters in From Trash to Treasure (Sept 4) deserve all the accolades they can get for their creativity in making art out of discarded scrap. Holding full-time jobs doesn't seem to deter them from putting their heart and soul into this honourable initiative either.
It was rightly said that there is an inherent desire in every human to do good and be charitable. It only needs to be ignited in order to shine through. In a self-centred society, where there are no free lunches, it is indeed refreshing to come across a thoughtful gesture of getting to pick a free gift in turn for a good deed. Encouraging one good deed for another is a beautiful initiative, and one that will bring about love and understanding in a busy world.
The first step towards saving our planet is to be the change you want to see in the world. If everyone changes their attitude and takes a leaf out of the books of these motivated youth, we may be able to protect our world. Rethink, reduce and recycle - and let love lead the way.
Congratulations on your winning entry, Sagar K! We will be in touch with you shortly.

» Upcycle your life

The article From Trash to Treasure (Sept 4) spoke about two important aspects - a much-needed reminder to all of us on recycling (or upcycling, as the article called it) trash, and the very important aspect of paying it forward. The article shows how we can make a start on both fronts.
Simple things like recycling your newspapers or milk cartons or reducing the number of tissues we pull out help reduce waste. Paying for the next person's item at a stall or paying the toll for the person behind you (as mentioned in the article), or just smiling and saying a genuine thank you to your cashier at the grocery shop, paying someone's parking meter which is about to run out, bringing your secretary coffee in the morning, helping someone move their groceries to their car etc are all random acts of kindness, which will bring you more happiness than the receiver. The youngsters in the article are doing a great job in leading by example and I'm happy that the world is in such safe hands. - Chaitra Sushil Deshpande, Dubai

» Micky Mouse and his friends are still around!

Walt Disney and His Magic Kingdom (Sept 4) was a very interesting read, but I would have to disagree with Vir Sanghvi's notion that nobody cares about Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck and the host of other adorable characters we grew up with. It's true that Disney has made some smart investments, but that is not what Disney is all about to us.
For me, personally, old is gold, and these characters will live on forever as a golden memory, at least in my mind, and the minds of countless people from my generation who were fascinated by these immortal characters. I am sure that the ingenuity of Disney Corporation will help reinvent the wheel of characters. Who knows? Maybe they will showcase Mickey and his friends in a new light and entertain us again. The old Disney is not dead; it will reinvent itself. Long live Disney! - Bishal Rai, Dubai

» Literary passion

This wknd.'s article How to Write A Debut Novel (Sept 4) was a delightful - and inspiring - read. I have been writing for a very long time and I still remember my first 'publication' - a 50-word letter to the editor in the wknd. in 2007. I woke up really early that Friday, searching for my name on the Letters page in the magazine. It was a huge honour for the then 13-year old me to see my words in print and, for the next couple of weeks, I carried the magazine to school with me everyday.
Starting to write is simply that easy. It is the passion for writing that you build, which drives you to keep going. As is the case with any other activity, you start out small and eventually move on to bigger things. And I totally agree that no matter how much you write, every piece is a new challenge. Even after a couple of years of moving to India, despite the academics, I kept writing and eventually became student editor of my college magazine.
So, no matter where you are or what you are doing, you can always take out time for your passion, even in the face of rejection - which is nothing more than a necessary step in the pursuit of success. Today, my laptop is filled with bits and pieces of short stories and essays that I have written, and writing a novel is a top priority on my bucket list. Hopefully, one day, I will write my novel and have a great story to tell too! Omar Ghayas Rizvi, Dubai