Page 50

Page 50

Letter to the Editor

We need trees for better living……..

The number of environmental and social problems caused as a result of our bad habit of constant cutting down of trees without replacement and ignorance about the importance of tree and tree planting are critical and alarming. Trees are our earliest neighbors and best friends, in true sense trees are our real neighbors. Trees have a tremendous value to us. Trees have a major impact on local weather systems and can also affect the amount of sunlight absorbed by the planet. They give us oxygen without which we cannot imagine the existence of lively earth or life. Trees are important part of the biosphere that exist on earth. Because of their longevity and usefulness, trees have always been revered and sacred in various cultures, and they play a role in many of the world’s mythologies.

We plant trees primarily for their beauty and to provide shade but they do create many other benefits. Trees can sooth and relax us and help us connect to nature and our surrounding. The color green is a calming cool color that helps our eyes quickly recovers from strain. By planting and caring for trees we help improve our surroundings, reduce pollution, lower energy costs, improve the appearance of our community and increase the value of our property.

Furthermore, trees can reduce air temperature by blocking sunlight. Further cooling occurs when water evaporates from the leaf surface, a chemical process that removes heat energy from the air. Trees play a significant role in reducing erosion and moderating the climate. A tree can be a natural air conditioner, trees absorb and block noise, they reduce glare. Trees protect the soil and decaying leaves promote soil microorganisms. Trees absorb carbon dioxide and other potentially harmful gasses such as sulphur dioxide, carbon monoxide from the air and release oxygen thereby improving the quality of air, also reducing greenhouse effect. Trees create an ecosystem to provide habitat and food for birds and other animals and are wind breakers, they combat desertification and cause rainfall and prevent drought.

Similarly, trees have a number of social benefits. Trees can be used to separate and define space thus providing a sense of privacy, solitude and security also to create a feeling of relaxation and wellbeing. Trees can screen unattractive views, soften the sometimes harsh outline of masonry, metal, asphalt, steel and glass. Trees provide us with color, flowers, fruits, interesting forms and shapes to look at. We feel serene, peaceful, restful and tranquil in a grove of trees. Trees can add music to our days by attracting birds and other animals.

Workers in offices with trees around report more productivity and less absenteeism, in market areas people linger and shop longer when trees are present. Landscaped houses also have higher value than non-landscaped ones. Trees make community livable; people walk and jog more on streets with trees. Children and adult have a cool place to play or relax, thus increasing their interaction among neighbors and reducing crime.

We must love and start planting trees today, as said ‘’the best time to plant a tree is twenty years ago and the second best time is now’’. We should promise to plant at least one tree for ourselves. That moment when we love and care for trees that moment we will realize life is best with trees. This will go a long way in benefitting the society at large.

Abdullahi Mohammed [email protected]

International Qud’s day

As this Friday marks another International Qud’s day, we join the teeming justice seekers world over in sympathizing with our oppressed brothers in Palestine and other oppressed in the world and condemn all forms of oppression wherever. Imam Ruhullah Khumaini (quddisa sirruh al sharif)- who siezed Iran in 1979 had the privilege of introducing every last Friday of Ramadhan to be the International Qud’s Day in order to sympathize & commemorate with the people of Palestine and call against any injustice on the weak and oppressed world over.

Justice is what the world has been in need of while injustice should be done away with. We therefore believe speaking against injustice is justice itself and being silent on injustice is also an injustice. We call on all the worlds, be it Christian, Jews, Islamic or whatever to always be on the side of oppressed no matter what and whoever they are.

Ibrahim Aboki, a public affairs commentator, wrote in from Azare, Bauchi State [email protected]

Admission adverts in newspapers

I wish to commend our higher institutions in the country that had reverted to the former but better way of advertising sales of admission forms to the public. In the 70s and 80s application forms and lists of successful applicants were seen mostly in the newspapers. But it got to a point that the system changed as a result of the internet which made many applicants have difficulties in getting full access to the admission process. It is cheaper to buy a newspaper of N200 than buying a scratch card of N500 just to check if one is successful or not. Please lets see more of the sale of forms and admission lists in newspapers. Bitrus Wasa, Sarkin Pawa, Niger State 07065598741

Text Messages

New Zakka/Nisab

Dr. Ahmad Gumi on 18th Ramadan 1437 AH announced New Nisab 37/38 Blood Money Diyya is N45,900,000 and above i.e. 1/40 of Rubu’u Dinar; N11,475 for Dowry/Theft minimum. Ambassador Sani KNT Sultan Bello Masjid Foundation 08085147435

Calling Police works dept

The Public Procurement Act clearly stipulated that no government agency should give out contract without cash backing. I renovated a police dilapidated apartment in Bompai Kano to the tune of over N5 million through an overdraft from my bank in 2013. It is over 3 years now but up till date payment has not been effected after several trips to the Works Dept and appeal to the former IGP all in vain.New IG please consider my plight in the name of GOD. B. J. Aesthetics & Associates Ltd. Kaduna 08098111898

Pease pay Aso Villa guards

I hope the federal government will respond to the Presidential bodyguards demand over non-payment of their 13 month special allowance, this is risky and NSA should devise a lawful means of paying such allowances since President Muhammadu Buhari had ordered for the payment therefore the NSA should comply without any further delay. Abdullahi Kabir, Azare, Bauchi State 08035686636

After Post UTME, next Acceptance fee

We the concerned parents do thank the federal governmentover the scrapping of the post UTME from state and federal universities, but we now call on the government to checkmate the money collected as acceptance fee which is another factor that affects the education of our children. If the amount charged is little a lot of our youths will rush back to school. Salim Salihu Ocha, Jos, Plateau State 07030854666

Daily Trust as PR?

Is Daily Trust now doing public relations PR for Electricity Distribution Companies DISCOs? Yesterdays cover story ‘Power firms reel under N44bn military debts’ propaganda sounds more of public relations. Tunde Salman 08035041062