Readers' letters

19 November 2007 00:00  [Source: ICB]

Readers give positive feedback on our coverage of Central and Eastern Europe, as well as to short, punchy elements such as Quotes of the Week. But one takes offense to our Endpoint on children.

Kudos on Eastern Europe coverage

Great report on Eastern Europe in the October 29, 2007 issue of ICIS Chemical Business!

Linking the transformation of the Czech company Unipetrol with the scene in Romania and the fine chemical opportunity in Central and Eastern Europe, gave me a good picture that showed many signs of growth since my last visit in 2005.

And speaking of pictures, that cover graphic was yet another excellent graphic - test tubes ready to conquer the world!

Neil Gussman, communications manager, Chemical Heritage Foundation, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US

Praise for short, punchy elements

We like the wider variety of short, punchy features in ICIS Chemical Business, especially the Quotes of the Week and the sidebars with key factsand figures.

Also, in an industry as global as ours, it makes a lot more sense to put out a single edition as you do now.

If we had to criticize anything, it would be the visual treatment of the now more varied ­material, which sometimes has too many elements competing for attention.

Thank you for making reader feedback a centerpiece of the new magazine.

Valerie Chase, media relations manager, Ciba Specialty Chemicals, Basel, Switzerland

Every child left behind

My anger gradually grew while I was reading the Endpoint article titled "Every child left behind" in the September 3, 2007 issue of ICIS Chemical Business.

It is an insult to all those parents who are doing all they can to educate their children to become friendly and caring personalities instead of the "little monsters" you call them.

It is my experience that as parents, it is all in our own hands. Give them the attention and affection that they deserve and they will be great company to everyone.

Spoil them with material things instead, and they will behave like little monsters.

I am the very proud father of a little boy who will be forever seven years old. Only once in his short life has he been on a flight - from holiday back home to rush him to hospital where his leukemia treatment started.

Like always, he behaved calmly and told his parents, who were going through the nightmare of the idea of losing him, that the flight was "great fun."

His behavior through his illness was exemplary to most adults in a similar situation.

Jan Lauwers, OCI Chemical Europe, Geel, the Netherlands

Editor's response

Dear Mr. Lauwers,

Thank you for your letter. We are truly sorry for your loss and cannot imagine the pain you and your family have gone through.

We certainly did not intend to cause offense. We offer your family our condolences.

Joseph Chang, global editor, ICIS Chemical Business

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