September News Letter - Billion Tree Campaign
September News Letter - Billion Tree Campaign
September News Letter - Billion Tree Campaign
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<strong>September</strong> 2007<br />
EMIRATES ENVIRONMENTAL GROUP<br />
EEG NEWSLETTER<br />
Together for a better Environment<br />
EEG IN LOCAL<br />
CORPORATE CITIZENSHIP<br />
INITIATIVE<br />
EEG actively networks with<br />
local and international bodies<br />
to promote corporate citizenship<br />
and environmental responsibility<br />
among the business<br />
and corporate sectors.<br />
One of these is the Dubai<br />
Centre for Corporate Values,<br />
a local initiative that was set<br />
up by Dubai Technology and<br />
Media Freezone Authority,<br />
Dubai International Financial<br />
Centre Authority and Dubai<br />
Airport and Free Zone Authority.<br />
DCCV formed a committee for<br />
Corporate Social Responsibility<br />
which comprises of key<br />
representatives of diverse<br />
organizations, including the<br />
EEG...<br />
(Continued on page 3)<br />
Inside this issue:<br />
Chairperson's Note 2<br />
EEG <strong>News</strong> 3-4<br />
Local <strong>News</strong> 5<br />
Local and International<br />
<strong>News</strong><br />
International <strong>News</strong>, Upcoming<br />
Events, Outreach &<br />
Links<br />
Mailbag/Members Update 8<br />
Monthly Report 9<br />
6<br />
7<br />
EEG RECYCLING PROGRAMS<br />
IN FULL SWING!<br />
After the successful conduct of the Prize Giving<br />
Ceremony last June 5, EEG embarks on another<br />
cycle of the Can Collection <strong>Campaign</strong>.<br />
This serves as an open invitation to everyone<br />
who cares for the environment to be involved<br />
and start saving aluminum cans. All collected<br />
cans after June 5 2007 shall be credited to the<br />
next cycle which will culminate with EEG’s Can<br />
Collection Drive in May 2008.<br />
All other EEG recycling campaigns start in<br />
January and end in December. The top collectors<br />
are recognized and rewarded in EEG’s<br />
Prize Giving Ceremony held in commemoration<br />
of World Environment Day.<br />
(Continued on page 3)<br />
Important Notice!!!<br />
To provide added convenience to the community<br />
and due to numerous requests, we are moving our<br />
Thursday collection of recyclables to Saturday<br />
beginning 15 <strong>September</strong>. We are also extending the<br />
collection time from 8:30 AM to 3:00 PM at the<br />
back parking lot of Crowne Plaza Dubai<br />
EEG UNVEILS ITS NEW<br />
POSTER TO SUPPORT ON-<br />
GOING CAMPAIGNS TO<br />
COMBAT DESERTIFICATION.<br />
The UN Convention to Combat<br />
Desertification announced<br />
this year’s theme<br />
as “Desertification and Climate<br />
Change-One Global<br />
Challenge”. EEG has<br />
themed the poster below<br />
and some of its events<br />
around this topic. For copies<br />
of this poster please<br />
visit the EEG office.<br />
Upcoming Events<br />
CSR Workshop: Communication<br />
on Progress<br />
5th <strong>September</strong><br />
Student Workshop:<br />
Global Climate Change<br />
22nd—24th October<br />
7th Inter College Public<br />
Speaking Competition<br />
21st—22nd November<br />
Read more on page 7
CHAIRPERSON’S NOTE<br />
<strong>September</strong> 2007<br />
These are the toughest and rarest creatures on<br />
earth, in their natural habitat, and they are in fact in<br />
our own backyard.<br />
Missing the Local Wildlife<br />
You will probably be back in school or the office by<br />
the time you receive an electronic copy of the <strong>September</strong><br />
edition of EEG’s newsletter. It may be hard to<br />
believe that summer is over and you are still bargaining<br />
in your mind for another day at the beach or another<br />
hour of sleep. There will be enough time for<br />
doing that---in your next summer vacation!<br />
To everyone, we say welcome back!<br />
I sincerely hope that you had a significant break as I<br />
did when I visited two countries having an amazingly<br />
different eco-system compared to that in the UAE.<br />
You can just imagine the thriving flora and fauna in<br />
these countries’ lush forests. There was greenery all<br />
around, while a cacophony of colors moving about<br />
from tree to tree represent the numerous varieties of<br />
birds and other forest creatures. There was a sound<br />
of flowing water at day time and at night the gentle<br />
shower of rain. It was almost always wet in the morning,<br />
yet you couldn’t complain as it nourished everything<br />
overnight, washing away fallen leaves and<br />
making sure there was ample supply of water underground.<br />
You felt a deep chill in your body every time<br />
a cool wind passed by while an army of tiny ants<br />
scaled your toes.<br />
However a week or more in this environment make<br />
you miss and appreciate more the kind of environment<br />
we have here in the UAE. It is dry, hot and hostile<br />
yet never lacking of life. It is barren on first looking<br />
but is teeming with creatures big and small. They<br />
are there under the sand, behind a bush or clinging<br />
on a tree branch.<br />
I now have a deeper understanding and appreciation<br />
of how our desert animals live and why we need to<br />
protect them. They don’t have much to live on yet<br />
they survived with what they have. They have<br />
roamed our deserts for centuries and managed to<br />
improve their species despite the encroachment of<br />
people. But now, many of our desert animals are in<br />
danger of becoming extinct. I wonder how many of<br />
us have had the chance to see how magnificent<br />
these creatures are in the wild. They may not live in<br />
lush forests nor benefit from regular rain, yet they<br />
survive in this place they call home - the very environment<br />
that we share with them in the UAE.<br />
I always believe that we could still live comfortably<br />
without threatening the habitat of the local wildlife.<br />
We are not asking to stop or to slow down the pace<br />
of economic growth. However, it is our responsibility<br />
to yield to the caution signs of fast paced growth.<br />
The environment should never be compromised for<br />
the sake of economic growth. We must prove that<br />
the two could be combined. Environmental protection<br />
is one of the pillars of genuine development. It is up<br />
to us to fuse the strategies of environmentalism with<br />
industrialization. This is the challenge to our thinkers,<br />
planners and to us. How much comfort and luxury do<br />
we need? Is it worth sacrificing our natural treasures?<br />
As fellow residents of this land, we must learn<br />
to share the UAE with all its inhabitants.<br />
Friends we have much to celebrate about as we return<br />
to the regular grind of life. We are excited to announce<br />
a series of activities in the coming months<br />
that offer opportunities for environmental involvement<br />
to different sectors. This October we will be<br />
having our Students’ Workshop on the 22 nd to the<br />
24 th , our Inter-College Public Speaking Competition<br />
in November 21-22. We shall also have the second<br />
of the series of CSR training in the last week of November.<br />
We are also gearing up to accept another<br />
round of pledges for our One Million <strong>Tree</strong> <strong>Campaign</strong>.<br />
I am sending out an open invitation to all to be involved<br />
in these activities as a way of showing your<br />
concern for the environment.<br />
Let us show that we are doing our share in protecting<br />
the environment in this corner of the world.<br />
Habiba Al Mara’shi<br />
Page 2<br />
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EEG <strong>News</strong>letter
EEG NEWS<br />
<strong>September</strong> 2007<br />
Continued from page 1<br />
EEG RECYCLING PROGRAM IN FULL SWING<br />
...EEG encourages the community to submit as many cans as they possibly can<br />
to the program. In this cycle, EEG would like the community to be its partner in<br />
reaching 10 tons of cans or more by the end of the campaign period. Can Collection<br />
is a campaign launched by EEG 15 years ago and still going strong.<br />
With the Can Collection <strong>Campaign</strong> in full swing, EEG extends the invitation to<br />
the community to join all its recycling campaigns. EEG collects recyclable materials<br />
which include papers, aluminum cans, plastics, glass and empty ink cartridges<br />
and toners. EEG also developed and provided special bins for collecting<br />
used batteries. This project is still in the pilot stage. EEG has recycling centers<br />
located in selected companies and schools allover the UAE. These recycling<br />
centers collect papers, cans and plastics. EEG also has smaller paper collection<br />
bins for offices.<br />
EEG invites all its members and the community at large to practice proper waste management and help in conserving<br />
the nation’s precious resources. Recycling also contributes to safeguarding health and safety. It will require<br />
a small effort from the people to create big difference in environmental protection. A simple act of segregating<br />
papers from cans, plastics and organic garbage would contribute in the preservation of forests around the<br />
world and save oil used in the process of manufacturing, transporting and packaging paper. Another opportunity<br />
for involvement is by planting trees for EEG’s One Million <strong>Tree</strong> <strong>Campaign</strong>, undertaken in support of UNEP’s <strong>Billion</strong><br />
<strong>Tree</strong> <strong>Campaign</strong>. By doing so, the UAE will be helping in the preservation and expansion of existing forest covers of<br />
the world while contributing to the mitigation of carbon emissions which cause further global warming.<br />
The EEG program is accompanied by education and awareness building activities. EEG publishes the top collectors<br />
of its recycling campaigns in its monthly newsletter while informing the public of news on the environment and<br />
other EEG activities. EEG also offers the opportunity for people to come out and display their concern for the environment<br />
through its clean up campaigns.<br />
Continued from page 1<br />
Recycling tip: Do not throw away empty card board boxes. Re-use them for collecting papers, cans,<br />
plastics or empty toner cartridges. You can also use them for storing old shoes and toys.<br />
EEG IN LOCAL CORPORATE CITIZENSHIP INITIATIVE<br />
… The committee had its second meeting recently, on the 6 th of August in the premises of Standard Chartered<br />
Bank in the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC). The agenda of the meeting included a brief<br />
round up on a local CSR model that is being created by DCCV and a session on the issue, - “Women in the<br />
Workplace.”<br />
DCCV’s Executive Director Mr. Najeeb Al-Ali opened the meeting with a short description of the Dubai CSR<br />
model. The highlights of the discussion were broad elements and methodologies related to the implementation<br />
of CSR through this model.<br />
The session on gender issues within CSR focused on several questions and concerns, like the workplace<br />
challenges faced by women in Dubai, policies or practices that discriminate between genders, role of companies<br />
in addressing these issues and possible conclusions or recommendations. Attendees spoke about improving<br />
gender related recruitment and workplace policies and practices, gender in Emiratisation issues,<br />
strengthening the knowledge base and capacity of professional women in the Emirates, mentorship and role<br />
models, equal opportunities for genders in the workplace, the need for accountability mechanisms within<br />
companies, need for easy, on-line information and data, etc. The EEG Chairperson Habiba Al Marashi spoke<br />
about the need for more participation of national women in the private sector, enhancement of the quality of<br />
national work force with respect to gender, and the imperatives for linking education with market needs. The<br />
meeting ended with a round of thanks from Mr. Al-Ali.<br />
Dioxins are toxic chemicals and are highly hazardous to health. The combination of fat, high heat and plastics<br />
releases dioxin into the food and ultimately into the cells of the body.<br />
Avoid heating food in the microwave using plastic containers (John Hopkins Hospital)<br />
Page 3<br />
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EEG <strong>News</strong>letter
EEG NEWS <strong>September</strong> 2007<br />
DEWA saves millions through water and energy conservation<br />
\<br />
Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) has undertaken practical<br />
measures to save water and electricity in mosques. DEWA in cooperation<br />
with the Islamic Affairs and Charitable Services Department is implementing<br />
a comprehensive consumption reduction program in<br />
mosques around Dubai. Air-conditioning units account for around 70% of<br />
over all power consumption of mosques according Saeed Mohammed Al<br />
Tayer, CEO and Managing Director of DEWA.<br />
The following measures were undertaken bringing about enormous savings<br />
from water and electricity conservation: low quality lighting systems<br />
were replaced by energy-saving lamps, old air-conditioning units were<br />
replaced by modern energy-saving cooling systems, and ordinary taps<br />
were also replaced by water-saving taps. This measure has so far reduced<br />
water usage by 40% of 30 mosques allover Dubai.<br />
Technicians from DEWA and the Islamic Affairs were trained to undertake regular maintenance check on the airconditioning<br />
units and monitor daily, weekly and monthly electricity consumption.<br />
The Emirates Environmental Group congratulates DEWA and the Islamic Affairs And Charitable Services Department<br />
for leading the way in energy and water conservation in Dubai. The two agencies have shown practical<br />
measures that almost instantaneously brought outstanding results in water and power savings. EEG calls on other<br />
agencies, both public and private to share their conservation measures and other environment-friendly programs<br />
and practices.<br />
UAE Water Challenge<br />
\<br />
Water consumption is normally up during the summer months for obvious<br />
reasons. It is a puzzle though how residents of the UAE still enjoy continuous<br />
and abundant supply of water considering it is located in a water<br />
scarce region of the planet. In fact water availability in the UAE stands at<br />
-0.91 thousand cubic meters per person. It is ranked as one of the lowest<br />
in the world or 138 th from 141 countries. The UAE also has one of the<br />
lowest water replenishment rate projected at 0.2 cubic kilometer for 2007!<br />
The main source of water of the UAE therefore is desalinated water. The<br />
UAE in fact ranks third in the world’s list of countries with the largest desalinated<br />
water production with Saudi Arabia topping the list with a daily<br />
production of 440 million gallons every day. According to Dubai Electricity<br />
and Water Authority, tap water comes from largely desalinated water<br />
mixed with a small percentage of natural water. It is not surprising to<br />
know therefore that the demand for bottled water in the UAE is very high. The per capita consumption of bottled<br />
water in the UAE at 256 liters per person per year is believed to be one of the highest in the world. The market for<br />
bottled water is growing at 6% per year attracting more and more companies to set up business in the country.<br />
It is a focus of concern since production requires huge amounts of energy and the corresponding emission of carbon<br />
during the process. This does not take into account the carbon emission that goes with plastic bottle production<br />
and the potential waste problem that it poses.<br />
Masafi Mineral Water, with a market share of 37.9%, sources its water from the village of Masafi in Ras Al Khaimah<br />
then puts it through several filtration and sterilization processes to meet international standards of health and<br />
safety. It produces 28,000 1.5 liter bottles per hour. Masafi recently launched a recycling program together with<br />
EEG to properly recycle plastic water bottles. This is an excellent example of corporate social responsibility as it<br />
provides solution to the environmental concerns tagged with bottled water consumption from cradle to grave.<br />
Support EEG’s One Million <strong>Tree</strong> <strong>Campaign</strong>. Pledge a <strong>Tree</strong> Today!<br />
Call EEG at 04 331 81 00 for more details and how you can be involved.<br />
Page 4<br />
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EEG <strong>News</strong>letter
LOCAL NEWS <strong>September</strong> 2007<br />
Joint Effort to Conserve Houbara Bustard<br />
The United Arab Emirates and the People’s<br />
Democratic Republic of Algeria have<br />
recently signed a Memorandum of Agreement<br />
covering 5 years of joint cooperation<br />
in the field of houbara bustard breeding<br />
and conservation.<br />
Houbara<br />
The agreement aims to bolster UAE-<br />
Algeria relations in economic concerns and beyond. The signing<br />
of the MOU was part of the agenda of the official visit of HE<br />
Shiekha Lubna bint Khalid Al Qasimi which included Mr. Majid Al<br />
Mansouri, Secretary General of Environment Agency Abu Dhabi,<br />
who signed the MOU together with his Alegrian counterpart, Mohammed-Seghir<br />
Mellouhi, Director-General of the Directorate of<br />
Forestry in the Algerian Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.<br />
Under the MOU, a committee will be formed to set the<br />
terms of cooperation and development between the two parties<br />
through a concrete action plan.<br />
The Committee also looks at the establishment of a protected<br />
area in Naama, near the Moroccan border where captive-bred<br />
houbaras will be released in the future.<br />
Regional Strategy to Conserve Arabian Oryx<br />
In line with the objective of conserving<br />
and re-introducing the Arabian Oryx<br />
into its natural habitat, a Regional<br />
Strategy to conserve this unique species<br />
was drafted and will be adopted.<br />
This was declared after the conduct of<br />
a workshop of the Coordinating Committee<br />
for Conservation of Arabian<br />
Arabian Oryx<br />
Oryx (CCCAO) in cooperation with the Environment Agency Abu<br />
Dhabi held from 2- to 22 August 2007.<br />
The regional strategy centers on the conservation of Arabian<br />
Oryx in range states “through developing regulations and enhancing<br />
law enforcement of wildlife legislations”. This also involves<br />
review of existing conservation programs which includes<br />
protection of habitats. The regional strategy will also call for<br />
closer coordination and exchange of information between the<br />
participating countries. It will also establish education and<br />
awareness program for the community.<br />
EEG congratulates EAD and CCCAO for their timely initiative to<br />
preserve the Arabian Oryx and offer future generations to see<br />
this beautiful creature roaming the wild.<br />
UAE one of the top dates exporter in the world<br />
UAE accounts for 20% of dates production in the world. Over 100 varieties of Dates are produced in the UAE with the<br />
Ikhlas variety being the most popular. In the UAE, half of the harvested dates come from Liwa.<br />
From a recently concluded dates exhibition, the UAE displayed the latest technology in date farming to boost production.<br />
Modern technology in fact enables production of 70 saplings from a single plant. Summer time is the time for harvesting<br />
dates. People can choose from other popular varieties of dates found in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain, which include majdoul,<br />
shishi, khaneezi, khallas, lulu, halali and jabri to name a few.<br />
Date farming is part of the UAE’s cultural heritage and it is important for people to know the economic and cultural value of this<br />
commodity. Ranked as one of the top exporters of the world, the UAE has around 41 million palm trees across the UAE.<br />
EEG under its One Million <strong>Tree</strong> <strong>Campaign</strong> is encouraging the community to plant indigenous varieties of trees in the UAE<br />
including Date Palms. This initiative is part of UNEP’s campaign to plant one billion trees worldwide.<br />
Hottest Summer ever Recorded in the UAE<br />
People are warned to prepare for the effects of what may well be the hottest<br />
summer ever recorded in the country. At the moment the average<br />
minimum temperature has been recorded at 32.5 degree centigrade, or<br />
half a degree higher compared to last year. The maximum temperature<br />
recorded this year has reached to 45 degrees and still rising.<br />
Exposure to the heat at prolonged periods could cause severe exhaustion,<br />
heatstroke and major inconvenience for diabetics and people with<br />
heart ailment. People are advised to take the necessary precautions like<br />
keeping themselves hydrated and staying out of the heat if possible.<br />
Workers who are exposed to the sun are benefiting from the government’s<br />
ban on work during mid-day. This type of weather is also ripe for outbreaks<br />
of fire, incidents of all sorts including car trouble on the road. Residents<br />
and drivers are likewise advised to take precautionary measures.<br />
Photo courtesy of www.ase.org<br />
The phenomenon is speculated to be caused by the heat island effect due to the expanding urban area of the country.<br />
Due to fast paced growth that the country is undergoing, the built environment is also rapidly expanding characterized by<br />
more buildings, roads and paved areas. More concrete and pavement absorb heat, causing temperatures to climb.<br />
Saving a ton of waste paper is equivalent to saving 17 full grown trees. Start recycling paper now!<br />
Page 5<br />
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EEG <strong>News</strong>letter
LOCAL & INTERNATIONAL NEWS<br />
<strong>September</strong> 2007<br />
Solar taxi arrives in the UAE<br />
Adventurer and travel editor Louis Palmer will arrive in the UAE on board his<br />
solar-powered vehicle- the solar taxi. His mission is to travel around the world<br />
covering more than 50,000 kilometers, through 50 countries in 5 continents. Mr.<br />
Palmer’s project aims to ”find solutions to combat global warming”. The taxi has<br />
a space for an additional person and gives passengers a ride along the way.<br />
The solar taxi is made up of a solar vehicle and a trailer of solar cells. The vehicle<br />
is powered by 100% solar energy produced by the solar cells of the vehicle<br />
and by power grids produced on the roof of the Swisscom building in Koniz which is accessed by power sockets<br />
along the way. The taxi therefore runs on 100%renewable energy.<br />
The solar taxi will be in Dubai and Abu Dhabi this <strong>September</strong>. Once completed,<br />
the project will set a new world record for the first motor vehicle not<br />
powered by fossil fuel to drive around the world on normal roads. This will<br />
also push forward the campaign for the use of renewable energy as a viable<br />
solution to the global warming phenomenon. For more information on the solar<br />
taxi, please log on to www.solartaxi.com.<br />
INTERNATIONAL NEWS<br />
Qatar extends aid to combat desertification<br />
Qatar is donating $48,767 to Mauritania to co-finance a project that will plant native tree saplings in Qasram,<br />
an area 50 kilometers away from the capital of Nouakchott. The three year program is a response to the<br />
growing threat of desertification. The trees will be good for soil erosion and could contribute in micro-climate<br />
change in the area. The project is also sponsored by the governments of Mauritania and the Netherlands.<br />
As a local counterpart, the local authorities planted windbreakers along the perimeter of the project area and<br />
secured ample water supply to sustain a nursery capable of 6,000 saplings per month.<br />
The project also aims to draw international attention to the growing threat of desertification in the area. Qatar<br />
is a signatory to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification and contributes to international efforts to address<br />
this growing threat.<br />
Change of Guard for the UNCCD<br />
Mr. Hama Arba Diallo has resigned from his post as Executive Secretary of the United<br />
Nations Convention to Combat Desrertification in accordance with United Nations<br />
Rules and Regulations and will be joining the National Assembly of Burkina Faso. UN<br />
Secretary General Ban Ki Moon has accepted Mr. Diallo’s resignation effective 19<br />
June 2007 and has designated his Deputy, Gregoire de Kalbermatten, as Officer-in-<br />
Charge.<br />
The Seceretary General expressed his appreciation for the valuable service rendered<br />
by UNCCD under the leadership of Mr. Diallo. The UN is now in the process of<br />
searching for suitable successor before the next Council of Parties meeting in Madrid<br />
HE Hama Arba Diallo, UNCCD<br />
which will be held from 3 to 14 <strong>September</strong> 2007.<br />
Prior to his post as Executive Secretary of UNCCD, Hama Arba Diallo served as the Special Representative<br />
of the Secretary General of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) during<br />
the preparations for the Rio Summit. He was also in charge of the preparatory process for UNCED in Africa.<br />
He also served 24 years as a top official in the state and foreign ministries of Burkina Faso. In 1983, he<br />
became Minister of Foreign Affairs and served as Ambassador of Burkina Faso to China, India and Japan.<br />
Hurry! We are still accepting pledges for our One Million <strong>Tree</strong> <strong>Campaign</strong>.<br />
You can still be a part of this national campaign to plant one million trees as our contribution to the world wide campaign to plant one billion trees.<br />
For more information call us up at 04 331 81 00<br />
Email at eeg@emirates.net.ae<br />
Page 6<br />
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EEG <strong>News</strong>letter
INTERNATIONAL NEWS / UPCOMING EVENTS /OUTREACH/LINKS<br />
<strong>September</strong>2007<br />
World Water Week Concludes in Stockholm<br />
Over 2500 participants from 140 countries attended the 2007 World Water Week held in Stockholm, Sweden from the<br />
. 12 th to the 17 th of August. The conference calls for a better coordination and deeper commitment from governments<br />
around the world in managing their water resources and improving sanitation. The event also calls for decisive action to<br />
address climate change and contribute in eradicating poverty.<br />
Anders Berntell, Executive Director of host Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI) pointed out that poor people<br />
suffer the most as a result of man’s lack of response to pressing social and environmental issues. Berntell further asked<br />
why “water is still not high enough on the political agenda?”<br />
Climate, sanitation and hygiene, water management, ecosystems and biodiversity, technology and business issues were<br />
prominent topics during the event. One of the highlights of the event was a presentation from China which reiterated that<br />
it “remains the face of industrialization” and that it “will work to harmonize resources saving, clean production and integrate<br />
management into sustainable social and economic development” The event featured break up groups focusing on<br />
different development and environment related topics. This provided the chance for participants to meet other delegates<br />
and listen to a variety of topics from invited experts. It was also an opportunity for the people to ask their own questions<br />
and air their views. Water Week 2008 will be held on August 17-23 2008 at the Stockholm International Fairs Centre<br />
under the theme “Progress and Prospects on Water: For a Clean and Healthy World”.<br />
UPCOMING EVENTS<br />
CSR Workshop: UN Global Compact Communication on Progress , <strong>September</strong> 5th. Pacific Controls Building , Dubai Techno<br />
Park. The workshop is part of EEG’s campaign to broaden support for the UN Global Compact and CSR in the region.<br />
Student Workshop, October 22-24th. Rashid School for Boys’ auditorium from November 22 to 24. The workshop for<br />
Classes 5-6 (Junior) will be conducted on November 22nd, Classes 7-9 (Sub-senior) on the 23rd and Classes 10-12 (Senior)<br />
on the 24 th. The topic for this year is “ Global Climate Change”<br />
7th Inter college Public Speaking Competition, Dubai, 21st—22nd November. Every year EEG throws an open challenge to the<br />
student community. They are invited to build and present strong cases on different contemporary issues and questions relating to the environment.<br />
The event is now open to the GCC region with past participants from Kuwait, Bahrain and Qatar. Please contact EEG to register.<br />
OUTREACH<br />
IUCN New Learning for Sustainability in the Arab Region, 30th August—1st <strong>September</strong><br />
Bibliotheca, Alexandrina, Alexandria, Egypt<br />
UNCCD Conference COP 8 , Madrid, <strong>September</strong> 3-14th. The Eight Session of the Conference of Parties of the United<br />
Nations Convention to Combat Desertification will be held at the ‘Palacio de Congresos de Madrid’ in Madrid, Spain.<br />
8th World School Milk Day, <strong>September</strong> 26th<br />
Join schools allover the world in celebrating World School Milk Day to promote the benefits of drinking milk and staying healthy<br />
Asian Forum 2007: CSR – A Driving Force for Growth and Development<br />
Sheraton Saigon Hotel and Towers,Ho Chi Minh City, Saigon, 27 and 28 <strong>September</strong> 2007<br />
Carbon Finance Europe 2007: Risks Opportunities in Emissions Markets<br />
London, UK, 11-12 October 2007. For more information email info@environmental-finance.com<br />
United Nations Environmental Program—Financial Initiative, 24th –25th October<br />
Global roundtable, Melbourne, UNEP-FI ‘Awareness to action’: Sustainable<br />
Finance for Today’s Global Markets.<br />
Environmental Considerations for Lending, 29th—31st October<br />
Stockholm, Sweden. For a brochure, please click the link http://www.regarlexchange.com<br />
LINKS<br />
Sustainable pastoralism is part of the coping mechanism of people in dry lands, deserts and areas affected by desertification<br />
phenomenon. Read more about sustainable pastoralism and communities combating desertification . Log on to http://<br />
www.iucn.org.wisp/. There are also free publications at http://www.iucn.org/wisp/wisp-publications.html/<br />
Manual linking Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEA) formulation and civil society participation is available for free at<br />
www.unep.org/delc and /or www.unep.org/civil_society/index.asp. The manual aims to strengthen multi-stakeholder participation<br />
and increase political momentum for effective MEA development, implementation and enforcement.<br />
Dubai International Financial Centre announces its tie up with the Queen’s School of Business of Ontario, Canada, in offering<br />
an Executive Development Program. Read more about DIFC’s executive educations programs by logging on to http://<br />
business.queensu.ca/execdev/DIFC_Dubai/index.php<br />
Page 7<br />
Together for a Better Environment<br />
EEG <strong>News</strong>letter
MAILBAG and MEMBERS UPDATE<br />
<strong>September</strong> 2007<br />
We welcome your views and opinions. Do write in to us on eeg@emirates.net.ae<br />
MAILBAG<br />
Thank you very much for your efforts to help us manage<br />
our waste papers in an efficient and environmentally<br />
sound manner.<br />
Best regards,<br />
Rebecca Boston<br />
Hyder Consulting Middle East<br />
I am so impressed with the EEG pledging one million<br />
trees within the UAE. That’s great! Keep up the good<br />
work. Thanks!<br />
Kathy Marshall<br />
Jebel Ali Golf Resort and Spa<br />
Thank you once again for a most encouraging newsletter<br />
from the EEG. I do share your concern for<br />
making our vacations eco-friendly. Holidays are a<br />
good time to take stock of our ecological footprint. At<br />
the very least we should use our time out to meet<br />
new people who have an environmental friendly outlook<br />
on life, learn from them and perhaps pass on a<br />
thought or two of our own. Our meeting with you in<br />
2004 was one such fruitful encounter.<br />
Yours sincerely,<br />
Barrie Oldfield OAM<br />
EEG MEMBERS UPDATE<br />
EEG warmly welcomed 14 new individual members, 4 renewed members, 1 new and 6<br />
renewed corporate members in the month of July 2007<br />
Student, Individual Membership<br />
Hassan Al Kannani<br />
new<br />
Mike Atkinson<br />
renewed<br />
Varun Iyer<br />
renewed<br />
Kazi Shahid Faruki<br />
new<br />
Tanvi Mohandas<br />
renewed<br />
Angel Torres Castro<br />
new<br />
Sheryl Wu<br />
new<br />
Eisa Al Shamsi<br />
new<br />
Abdulla Al Shamsi<br />
new<br />
Salama Al Shamsi<br />
new<br />
Mahiba Hakim<br />
renewed<br />
Maliba Hakim<br />
renewed<br />
Sanjay Malik<br />
new<br />
Simran Veduyas<br />
new<br />
CSR Founding Membership<br />
Watch out for “The 11th Hour",<br />
a new film co-produced and narrated<br />
by award winning actor<br />
Leonardo DiCaprio. It has been<br />
described by an LA film critic as<br />
a film that “primarily attempts to<br />
describe a critical time in the<br />
Earth's evolution, the last moment<br />
we as a species can theoretically<br />
make a difference.” The<br />
film goes beyond global warming<br />
which was the topic of Al Gore’s<br />
“An Inconvenient Truth”. The film presents a disturbing<br />
account of the planet's current condition, brought about<br />
by man-made and natural causes. The film presents the<br />
issues from social, economic and political points of view.<br />
Lastly the film presents ideas and a range of solutions to<br />
repair the damage. For more information please log on<br />
to www.the11thhour.com.<br />
Corporate Memberships<br />
Dolphin Energy<br />
McDonalds<br />
renewed<br />
renewed<br />
HSBC<br />
renewed<br />
Sabban Group<br />
renewed<br />
EP& T<br />
new<br />
NOT YET A MEMBER? SIGN UP TODAY!<br />
EEG is open for membership. We have more than 1500 individuals, academic institutions, private and public institutions as<br />
our members. And we certainly welcome new members as part of our family.<br />
EEG is a non-governmental organization that provides volunteering opportunities for the community to engage in program and<br />
activities to raise their environmental awareness and contribute to environmental protection.<br />
Page 8<br />
Together for a Better Environment<br />
EEG <strong>News</strong>letter
MONTHLY PROGRESS REPORT<br />
<strong>September</strong> 2007<br />
PAPER COLLECTION CAMPAIGN<br />
In August we collected 7,002 from 11 educational institutions and 56,049kgs from 151 companies and offices, plus<br />
4,125kgs from 25 individual members, and the grand total was 67,176kgs . The collection went down this month. This is a<br />
reminder to everyone to contribute more effort in this campaign! We look forward to your active participation in the coming<br />
months. The top collectors from each category were:<br />
SCHOOLS KG COMPANIES KG INDIVIDUAL KG<br />
Sharjah Women’s College 1620 Sofitel City Centre Hotel 5615 Vinod Kumar 600<br />
Uptown School 1302 JW Marriott Hotel 3980 Tanvi Mohandas 370<br />
Sharjah Men's College 1140<br />
CAN COLLECTION CAMPAIGN<br />
The can collection in August reached only 192.5kgs from 8 participants. There are tons of cans out there waiting to be recycled.<br />
Let us start collecting cans now and help in water and energy conservation. The top collectors were:<br />
We collected a total of 2063kgs of glass from 10 participants during the month of July without the ususal participation of<br />
schools. We can expect a bigger collection once the schools open! The top three collectors were:<br />
PLASTIC COLLECTION CAMPAIGN<br />
The collection of plastic for August reached 1197.50kgs. We are calling on the community to help in reducing the menace<br />
posed by our continuous use of plastics. Let us reduce our usage of plastics! The top collectors this month were:<br />
TONER COLLECTION CAMPAIGN<br />
Department of Economic<br />
DEvelopment<br />
3040 Khalid Al Suwaidi 300<br />
SCHOOLS KG COMPANIES KG INDIVIDUAL KG<br />
Uptown School 30 JW Marriott Hotel 94 Fatma Jassem Al Marri 12<br />
Emirates Academy 10 Sofitel City Centre Hotel 33<br />
Woodsbagot 6.5<br />
GLASS COLLECTION CAMPAIGN<br />
SCHOOLS KG COMPANIES KG INDIVIDUAL KG<br />
Sofitel City Centre Hotel 780 Shaima Al Marashi 28<br />
JW Marriott 600 Ana Sonia Vinatea 15<br />
Oasis Beach Hotel 580 Kevin 4<br />
SCHOOLS KG COMPANIES KG INDIVIDUAL KG<br />
Uptown School 240 ABB 320 Yasmin Haidory 57<br />
Emirates Academy 80 Econosto 130 Shaima Al Marashi 50<br />
SNC Lavalin 100 Sara Baker 40<br />
A total of 204 pieces were collected in the month of August from 9 participants. We would like to welcome the UN World Food<br />
Program for getting on board this campaign and for being the top collector for the month. The top collectors were :<br />
SCHOOLS KG COMPANIES KG INDIVIDUAL KG<br />
UN World Food Programme 90<br />
Dutco Balfour Beatty LLC 60<br />
DLA Piper 16<br />
Page 9<br />
Together for a Better Environment<br />
EEG <strong>News</strong>letter