E-Paper
Sign In
Clean Up Arabia drive is all set for kick-off
DUBAI - Clean Up Arabia, an exciting annual voluntary campaign aimed at cleaning up debris and rubbish from the beaches of the UAE, is all set for launch from Khor Fakkan in Fujairah tomorrow.
- PUBLISHED: Thu 16 Sept 2004, 9:49 AM UPDATED: Thu 2 Apr 2015, 2:46 PM
Being held for the ninth time this year, the Clean Up Arabia campaign, is being organised by the UAE-based Emirates Diving Association (EDA) in collaboration with the United Nations Environment Programme - Regional Office of West Asia (UNEP-ROWA).
The campaign is also backed by the Australian 'Clean Up the World,' campaign and the US-based 'International Coastal Cleanup' and Padi Project Aware.
Recommended For You
The campaign aims to make beaches and dive sites in the UAE, on the east and west coast, clean by removing and recycling the rubbish that is spoiling them. The focus areas are Fujairah, Khor Fakkan and Abu Dhabi.
"The annual Clean Up Arabia event is an ideal opportunity to make a difference to the marine environment by removing rubbish that clogs our beaches," said Essa Al Ghurair, Vice Chairman, Emirates Diving Association. "It has the unique ability to make people aware of the various environmental issues surrounding them and it provides them with practical and fun-filled ways of making a difference," he added.
The Clean Up Arabia campaign is actively supported by Dubai Internet City, Dubai Media City and Knowledge Village. The campaign's corporate sponsors include Dubai Duty Free, Majid Al Futtaim Group of Companies, EMAAR, Philip Morris Services S.A., HSBC, Shell, Le Meridien Al Aqah Beach Resort, Fujairah and Chevrolet, the Official Transportation Sponsor of EDA. Dubai Immigration is an Official Partner of the campaign.
The campaign will be driven by the participation of volunteers with a passion for environmental causes. Several hundreds of people are expected to join the launch event in Fujairah. Volunteers will be provided with all the tools necessary to ensure effective clean-up.
Through the event, the EDA hopes to raise consciousness about environmental issues and the need to keep our marine environment clean. The campaign also seeks to inculcate practices that will help maintain a clean and sound environment. Overall the campaign seeks to engage people to remove trash and debris from the UAE's beaches and dive sites and change the behaviours that cause pollution.
The EDA will record the quantities and types of garbage collected by individual groups to assess the pollution. Where possible, the collected garbage will be recycled. As part of its longer-term mission, the EDA seeks to campaign for regulations that stop pollution.
To register for the launch event or for media enquiries, please contact Emirates Diving Association (EDA) on 04-3939390.
Ms Laura Bates (projects@emiratesdiving.com) is the East Coast Coordinator of the campaign while Mrs Kathleen Russell (marinesports@masaood.com) is the Abu Dhabi Coordinator.