UAE | Environment
20,000 volunteers expected to take part in UAE's largest clean-up drive
Around 20,000 volunteers will take part in the country’s largest clean-up campaign entitled 'Clean up the World 2008: Start Today ... Save Tomorrow', to be held from November 18 to 21.
- By Syed Bilal Shafi, Staff Reporter
- Published: 15:17 November 12, 2008
Dubai: Around 20,000 volunteers will take part in the country's largest clean-up campaign entitled 'Clean up the World 2008: Start Today ... Save Tomorrow', to be held from November 18 to 21.
Organized by the Dubai Municipality, the four-day event aims to create environmental awareness and encourage people to recycle, reuse, and reduce waste. It also seeks to encourage media to focus on environment protection activities, thereby enhancing awareness of governments and industries with regard to local environment issues such as waste reduction, recycling and safe disposal of waste.
"The municipality is committed to improve public cleanliness in the emirate in cooperation with individuals, government establishments, private firms and non-governmental organizations through effective participation," said Hassan Makki, Director of Waste Management Department.
He said the municipality has been actively participating in this world initiative since 1994. In 2007, more than 18,000 persons participated in removing 4,000 tonnes of waste, including debris and abandoned vehicle from various areas.
The opening day event will include environment-themed stage presentation by school students, air show on Dubai Creek, Dubai Police Band presentation, recreation programs for students through workshops, Think Tank Magazine Awards program for students, marine clean up activities at the creek and distribution of certificates and souvenirs.
On the second day, participants will clean up Nadd Al Hammer. In addition to this, abandoned vehicles removal programme will be held in coordination with the operations unit.
On the following day, volunteers from private schools, colleges, and universities will participate in can collection competition at Ras Al Khor Bird Sanctuary Area. On the same day, pest control companies in Dubai will participate in the campaign by undertaking pest control activities in various areas.
The last day of the campaign will see thousands of volunteers from the general public, including private company staff, non-governmental organizations, community groups and private entities joining hands in cleaning up Nadd Al Shiba Area and various other sites. A clean up will be organized by the Filipino community at Mamzar Beach area.
Some 20,000 T-shirts and more than 10,000 caps, printed with the campaign's logo, will be distributed among the volunteers.
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