World Environment Day to be celebrated in UAE

Movies, tree planting and corporate initiatives are taking place on Friday in the UAE to celebrate World Environment Day.

Movies, tree planting and corporate initiatives are taking place on Friday in the UAE to celebrate World Environment Day.

Time is running out and lifestyle changes need to be made promptly, said Habiba Al Marashi, Emirates Environment Group (EEG) Chairperson.

"We hope that environmental protection will be a top agenda among governments, companies and individuals. We have much to learn from indigenous peoples around the world who know that the extinction of forests would spell their own demise. The same fate awaits all of us if we continue the way we live today. We share the belief that the time to act is now," she said

The Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) is hosting activities from 2 to 6pm at Dubai Mall.

Emirates Diving Association (EDA) members will scuba dive in the Dubai Aquarium with a banner reading, 'Let the Ocean be our Aquarium,' tonight at 5pm and on June 7.

EDA will show a documentary at Mall of the Emirates Cinestar from the Journey to Planet Earth series, called The State of the Ocean's Animals which looks at why many marine species are disappearing. Tickets are on a first come basis.

In Sharjah the Al Qasba Development Project Authority is planning a two-day event which started with a clean up on Thursday and will continue on Friday at Abu Shagara Park from 5-7pm.

Other activities include an Art Out Of Waste competition, Save Energy campaign, and charity auctions where the proceeds will go to the Red Crescent. Two auctions will be held and paintings by local artists can be bought, from 9pm.

"The technologies we are developing, the massive production, usage and disposal of several items worldwide, are the main reason for destroying our own environment.

"From the UAE, we are uniting with the world to spread awareness of critical environmental causes such as global warming, waste disposal, desertification, water pollution, air pollution, and energy loss," said Dina Al Nakhi, Events Manager for the Al Qasba Development Authority.

The Emirates Marine Environmental Group (EMEG) will hold a scavenger hunt and mangrove planting as part of activities from 2 to 7pm at their Ghantoot reserve to address environment threats and educate children.

To attend the fun day by EMEG free of charge contact info@emeg.ae or call EMEG office at 04 363 0582 to register. EMEG is asking all participants to bring plastic bottles to the event in order to help make a giant Orca.