12,000 to join hands to clean up key sites

Abdullah Rafee, Assistant Director-General of the Municipality for Environment and Public Health Affairs, cut the ribbon heralding the official start of the four-day voluntary clean-up initiative, in which more than 12,000 volunteers will join hands to clean up various key sites in the city.

Also present were Hamdan Al Shaer, Director of the Environment Department, Hassan Makki, Assistant Director of the Department and Head of Waste Services Section, Reda Salman, Head of Environment Protection and Safety Section, representatives of Ministry of Education and Youth and private firms that sponsor the campaign.

Students from Dubai Centre for Special Needs and Rashid Paediatric Therapy Centre have paid tributes to the late Father of the nation, Shaikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, hailing him as a man who championed green issues during his 33-year reign as the country’s president.

The students, led by young singer Majid Al Janahi, dedicated a special song to the late president noting that he attended to the environment with much concern and tried his best to keep the country green and tidy.

The male students have also put on a breath-taking acrobatic show.

The enthusiastic participation of Special Needs Children turned the opening ceremony of Clean Up the World campaign a memorable one.

The opening ceremony featured other several activities including, address by Australian Embassador, a speech by Mr. Rafee, an operetta on clean up the world by students from Dubai Rehabilitation Centre for people with Special Needs, as well as environmental workshops and competitions.

During the ceremony the recycling centre of Emirate Petrol stations was also inaugurated by Mr Rafee who said in his speech said that Dubai Municipality’s environment policies and legislations, environment monitoring programmes, public cleanliness services, studies and researches in the field of the environment, and education and awareness programmes have contributed a great deal to preserving the environment not only in the emirate of Dubai, but also throughout the county.

He said that the preservation of environment requires the cooperation of individuals as well as government and private establishments.

The Australian embassador hailed the efforts of DM in preserving the environment through its massive activities that are being recognised by the people of the UAE throughout the year.

He also praised DM’s role in enhancing awareness of outstanding and sustainable achievements in improving the living environment.

Makki said that a clean up campaign will take place in Hatta today, adding that individuals can still register for participating in the campaign. “Friday, 14 December, will see the single-most clean up drive along Shaikh Zayed Road. We will set up a large tent on the area close to the Burj Dubai site, opposite Mazaya Centre, where various contests will be organised at the end of the clean-up drive.

Whoever comes back with a bag full of trash will be given entry to a raffle draw that offers prizes worth Dhs50,000 including costly perfumes, desert safaris and free stays in major hotels,” he explained.

Another feature of the campaign is a used clothes collection drive, undertaken in cooperation with the Red Crescent Society.