Unite to save the environment

His message: 'Be the change you want to see'

In recent times the world has witnessed the growing effects of global warming. The first major event that brought the issue to the forefront of our minds was the tsunami that hit Indonesia and other parts of South-East Asia in December 2004. Since then the world has been watching a series of devastating events unfold, such as heatwaves in Europe that have been claiming live, and Hurricane Katrina, which hit New Orleans, taking approximately 1,836 lives.

Jamal Al Falasi was recently elected to the United Nations Environment Project (UNEP) Youth Advisory Council as one of two representatives from West Asia. The environmental awareness officer at the Knowledge and Human Development Authority is the first UAE national to be elected to the body. So Notes decided to speak on this issue.

As I approached the small meeting room, I could see a young man waiting for me. Dressed in local attire, he stood up to greet me and flashed his big smile. As we began the interview, you could tell he was in his element as he passionately spoke about the environment. His passion is contagious, which gives the world hope.

How it began

"Since I was a child I was always interested in the environment. I have always known what I wanted to do — my masters and PhD," said Al Falasi.

It is key that parents set a good example for their children. By doing so they are securing their children's future. Al Falasi's parents played a role in influencing his environment-friendly lifestyle by encouraging him to conserve energy, by switching off lights when leaving a room, not littering and to generally care for the environment that he lives in.

His new role

"It's overwhelming and a big responsibility. There are a lot of upcoming events. The key issue is networking between the other two representatives from Jordan and Bahrain," said Al Falasi.

"For example, Arab Environment Day is happening on October 14. Instead of doing something by myself, we can all unite and produce a stronger event.

"A Civil Social Forum will be coming up. Governmental heads will attend the conference, and I will represent the West Asia youth at this council, after visiting Bahrain and Jordan to get the opinion of the people there," he added.

Main environmental concern

"Most of the people know about global warming. But what people don't know much about is global dimming, which is the visible air pollution. Dimming is hiding the full effects of global warming," he said. "I reckon this is a very important issue."

Sulphur aerosols put into the atmosphere by us is what causes global dimming.

"What is happening now is that the bad ozone is getting thicker and trapping the heat, while the good pure ozone layer is getting thinner," said Al Falasi. Therefore, these aerosols and other particulates are helping to reflect sunlight back into space, which means we are not getting the full effects of the sun.

Reducing the negative effects

"The key issue is awareness. There's no point in telling people to switch off their lights, if they don't fully understand why they are doing it.

"What I want to do is concentrate on awareness, starting with the youth," he said. "The youth can change the future, especially since the future is for my generation and generations to come," Al Falasi said.

"The strongest way is word-of-mouth and action. When we did a school survey most schools believed that awareness starts within oneself," said Al Falasi.

People have to change

"People have to change themselves, and set a good example for the rest. You should be the change that you want to see in the world. By doing simple things like not littering and recycling, my friends have followed in the same path," he added.

Al Falasi hopes to organise fun school activities through which he will raise awareness among children, whereas for adults the awareness campaign will be different. There will be workshops and awareness campaigns to explain the dangers of certain things that people do, and why change is needed.

What do you do to protect the environment?

"I always turn off lights and the air-conditioning when there is nobody in the room. I have also started to recycle things."
— Nadia Baidawi, business, American University in Dubai (AUD)

"Our roads and public areas should be kept clean, so I make an effort to not litter in the streets."
— Loulia Tahle, business, AUD

"I don't leave the tap running while I wash up, and when the weather is better I don't use air conditioning."
— Sara Meslmani, business administration, AUD

"I don't do anything major, but small things like printing on both sides of a paper to not waste paper."
— Zainab Hard-warewala, graphic design, AUD

"I try not to litter on the streets, and try to remember to switch off the light after I leave the room."
— Yamin Darwish, finance, AUD

"I recycle as much as possible. I will recycle paper, bottles and any bio-degradable material."
— Hussain Al Fardan, Business Administration, Alhosn University

"I buy paper products, switch off the air-conditioner when I am not in the room and don't waste water."
— Anu Bala-subramanian, international business administration, University of Wollongong in Dubai (UOWD)

"I don't think we can do anything to conserve the environment. But I never litter and I never keep a light on for too long."
— Sonia Kham, BBA, UOWD

"I throw my rubbish in bins. I don't use my car too much, instead I use the university bus."
— Fahd SEddiqi, BBA, UOWD

"I don't really do much, but sometimes I use recyclable products, but not all the time."
— Dalia Ashour, Bachelor of Commerce, UOWD

"I try my best to use recyclable items, switch off all lights and other electrical things."
— Dina Bader, Bachelor of Commerce, UOWD

"I don't waste water at all. I read a lot about the environment and get involved in campaigns."
— Parveen Qassim, bachelor of Commerce, UOWD

Al Falasi's profile:

The KHDA green tree

... who spearhead the environmental initiatives at KHDA

Ebrahim Zubi – Head of Environmental Education
Jamal Al Falasi – Environmental Awareness Officer
Majid Khalfan – Technical Officer

Environmental products

One of the Knowledge and Human Development Authority initiatives is products like specialised bins and special water filters help towards protecting the environment. "After we provided the Knowledge and Human Development Authority ( KHDA) with the bins, we provided universities in the area with them and wanted to give them courses on awareness," Al Falasi said.

"On World Water Day, March 22, people bought a product that would save water.

"It is an attachable piece that goes on the nozzle of the water tap. It aerates the water, so you are using less water but with the same pressure," he added.

The Task Force: Dubai Electricity and Water Authority, Municipality of Dubai and Ministry of Education joined hands in order to become one united task force. The task force will work with the United Nations which will help train public school teachers and help members of KHDA to become trainers.

Special thanks

Jamal Al Falasi said he credited his family and their support for his success. He sent out special thanks to his sister May, for all the times she had encouraged him when he was ready to quit.

Al Falasi also thanked Ebrahim Zubi for thinking of him for the role at the UNEP Tunza Programme, particularly for helping work around Al Falasi's study schedule.

UNEP

Tunza is Swahili and means 'to treat with care and affection'.
The UN Environmental Youth Programme brings together youth from around the world with similar interests in order to understand the different issues around the world, to make networks, take small actions that will affect the world globally.

Safeguarding the environment

Programmes

Enivornomental Children's conference to be held in Norway in 2008. Three people will be selected from the West Asian area for it.

Activities

KHDA Environmental education project
Awareness: Showing people how they are helping or harming the environment.

UN Train the Teachers – March
Public school teachers to attend.
Seven public schools will be chosen to be pilot schools, who will then go on to educating other teachers.

Recycling bins
The recycling bins, which are provided by Tadweer, will be located in public schools. They will be very hygienic and safe for the children to use. The bin will be two metres underground and one metre above ground.

The bins will be labelled with big stickers and be colourful. The children can inform their parents about these bins, and they can come and recycle too.

"Therefore, instead of Tadweer having to increase awareness home by home, we are doing it community by community," said Al Falasi.

Environmental websites

Environmental Agency of Abu Dhabi
www.ead.ae

Emirates Diving Association
www.eda.ae