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Dear Stan, Your recent correspondents on the Great Plastic Bag Debate all air moralistic and lofty views on the effect of the freebie Supermarket plastic bags on the environment.

Actually, to correct their concerns - or more accurately - enlarge them, consider that it is not only supermarkets that are the source of these handy articles.

Practically every vendor on the globe from London's Harrods to Hamad Town's Souq dispenses them with largesse.

The only exception I have come across recently was in that much-reviled city of New York where both Bloomingdales and Macy's use very attractive disposable paper products.

Let us be pragmatic about it, the principal reasons we like plastics in any form are manifold - they are light to carry, resilient, tough, liquid-proof and malleable, to name a few. We like these so-manufactured bags out of self-interest and economy.

I recycle them, like every other household in my experience, for garbage and various other forms of waste disposal.

I use them as freezer bags, to wrap shoes and toiletries in suitcases, to carry library books, for storage - the list is almost infinite. Why buy containers, made from the same basic polymers I should add, when you can get them for free?

So, I view your high-falutin' readers with scepticism; how many of them I wonder can put their hands up and say they have never done the same?

To change the subject - Dr Mike Diboli starts his contribution to the Literary Plastic Bag War in last week's GulfWeekly and then switches for some indiscernible reason to the island's traffic problems, so can I can I make the same metamorphosis?

I rely upon you to have the courage to print my criticism of that dreadful effort on the same page, my bte noir - The Whisperer.

Rarely have I read such puerile rubbish. You must have some reason for publishing it, but I cannot think what it could possibly be. It seems a very pale plagiarism of the social columns of some western Sunday papers.

The grammar is wanting, and subject matter totally irrelevant.

The last issue included a report on a visit of two ageing expatriate has-beens, one of which apparently couldn't keep her mouth shut, and a weak example of taxi overcharging.

Both of which occur with monotonous regularity. Think of something to replace it, please.

Dr Christopher Chamont, By email.

Dear Stan,

Why don't supermarkets give away a large eco-bag free with every BD20 spent (customers can always say no thanks if they already have enough/their own reusable bags)?

Then set a date, eg January 1, 2009 after which no plastic bags will be given out.

For those of us who are getting forgetful with age, perhaps supermarkets could offer biodegradable paper bags, recycled boxes from their deliveries or the opportunity to buy another eco-bag?

Rhona Welch.

Dear Stan,

Noise pollution ... the plastic bag article set me thinking of how consumers are generally treated in Bahrain.

I don't know if it is my age, but one way of making me leave a shop quickly is the loud almost 'disco' like atmosphere.

I wonder are outlets obliged to play loud, repetitive music or is it the choice of the young employees?

Cherry Chapman,

By email.

Dear Stan,

I am not the least surprised at what Geant went through in their two pennies worth initiative to save the environment.

What more do you expect from the chaps who park their colossal 4 x 4s outside cold stores and blast the life out of their horns to beckon a store attendant to fetch them a packet of cigarettes or a cola.

S Venkateswaran,

By email.

Dear Stan,

With reference to Ismaeel Na'ar's Youth Talk article (June 25-July 1 issue) I agree with his views and opinion.

Although parents have by all means to monitor their children's movements, unnecessary and excessive interfering in their affairs can damage their self-confidence.

Seturam Aspari,

Adliya.

Dear Stan,

I would like to thank GulfWeekly for arranging the family day out to the Lost Paradise of Dilmun Water Park. We all enjoyed it.

Usha, by email.

Dear Stan,

I am just back from vacation and have been scanning through the newspapers that were published while I was away. I spotted the GulfWeekly of July 9-15, 2008 and I loved the picture as well as the story of Sarah Parker with her pet horse. It was beautiful.

Congratulations to your team for the story as well as to the photographer who captured the subjects bonding so well!

Best regards,

Rafat Kazi, Manama.