On June 5 of each year, humanity celebrates World Environment Day in an effort to raise awareness and encourage environmentally-conscious efforts. This year’s theme is “Only One Earth”.
Before getting into the theme and what message it hopes to get across, first we must understand the history behind World Environment Day. In 1972, the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) led the effort in dedicating a day each year to highlight the need to live sustainably and in harmony with nature. The program then began to raise environmental awareness, clarify the dangers that surround nature, and take all measures to preserve our environment.
If you are curious about the different ways you could celebrate nature and make a difference, you came to the right place. Keep reading to get inspired by the initiatives taken by countries and organizations in the region to celebrate mother earth.
Workshops for Children at the Bibliotheca Alexandrina – Egypt
The Bibliotheca Alexandrina, a major library and cultural center on the shore of the Mediterranean Sea in the Egyptian city of Alexandria, organized a series of workshops for children to celebrate world environment day. These workshops will focus on the entire ecological balance between plants, animals, and the climate, as well as identifying the imbalance when one of these elements disappears.
Also, the workshops will teach children the practices through which the environment can be preserved. Each child will draw the elements of the environment around them, identify the imbalance and suggest ways to reduce them.
Finally, a presentation will be given to highlight the experiences of children from around the world in preserving the environment. The goal of these workshops is to promote the adoption of new ideas to equip future generations with the necessary means for them to be able to live in harmony with nature as well as promote environmental awareness. Whether you are an adult or a child, learning about the environment can always be fun.
Beach Clean Ups at the Red Sea – Egypt
What says environment more than a beach clean up especially if you are looking for a hands on experience to make a difference.
In celebration of world environment day, the General Administration of Environmental Affairs in the Red Sea governorate is completing a series of beach clean up campaigns. They aim to free beaches of plastic and reduce the damage caused by plastic to the marine environment.
On Friday the first beach clean up has taken place at Felfela beach in Hurghada. The administration also created training sessions for 50 young women and men representing civil society. After the training session, the participants organized a field awareness campaign on the tourist walkway in Hurghada.
The campaign aimed to educate citizens about the importance of the natural environment of the Red Sea and the way to preserve it for the development of the tourism environment.
Al Ain Zoo – The United Arab Emirates
Al Ain zoo is a 400-hectare zoo located in the foothills of Jebel Hafeet in Al Ain, Abu Dhabi. Perhaps paying a visit to the zoo is all you need to get in touch with your environment. The zoo celebrates world environment day through reviewing it’s set of achievements which spanned more than 50 years in the field of wildlife, nature conservation, and sustainability. Starting with the establishment of the first reserve for the propagation of the Arabian Oryx and the participation in its re-release to its natural environment.
Al-Ain zoo’s efforts to extend to include the breeding programs of other animals including the Arabian sand cat and the protection of the African dama gazelle from the threat of extinction.
Additionally, visitors can also plan a visit to the Sheikh Zayed Desert Learning Center to take an educating and entertaining tour of the sustainable building. Compared to similar buildings, the center provides 66% of the carbon footprint. It acquires renewable energy from solar panels, with an annual average of 19,600 kilowatts. On this day, you can be extra kind and appreciative of animals whether at the local zoo, shelter, or even on the streets.
Museum of the Future – The United Arab Emirates
Located in Dubai, the Museum of the Future is an exhibiting space for futuristic ideologies. This institution represents a platform for creating a better future for humanity by supporting global sustainability goals; the most important of which are raising awareness of the dangers of climate change, investing in clean energy projects, and accelerating innovation in sustainable agricultural practices.
Today, the museum invites its visitors to spend world environment day at its premises. The exhibits teach everything about sustainability from using plastic-free packaging to providing charging stations for electric cars. As part of its efforts to support SDGs, preserve nature, and protect the planet’s resources, the museum has dedicated an entire floor to its “Rehabilitation of Nature Laboratory,” which provides visitors with a unique insight into the workings of ecosystems, the effects of climate change, and human activities through digital simulations.
Wildfire Prevention Effort – Lebanon
From impacting global temperatures to releasing toxins into the atmosphere such as carbon oxides, wildfires undoubtedly have a devastating impact on our environment. Lebanon is amongst the countries in the region that has previously battled with wildfires.
On the occasion of World Environment Day, the Ministry of Environment in Lebanon is implementing the national strategy for the prevention and reduction of forest fires. The Ministry has announced the launch of a national week for the prevention of forest fires from June 5-11, 2022, with the participation of both non-governmental organizations and civil bodies. The goal here is to raise awareness at a national level about the importance of forest fire prevention and reduce areas burned this year by at least 25 percent. Those participating in the campaign will tour the Akkar region on Sunday, June 5, starting from the burning site of Qobayat forests which took place last year.
This is a series of community activities and campaigns that will run through the whole week and continue throughout the fire season in the coming summer and fall in various Lebanese territories.
Whether you pay a visit to your local zoo or you participate in a beach clean up be sure to take part and make a difference on World Environment Day. Remember it all comes down to the little steps we take to shape the future of our world and protect our environment.
WE SAID THIS: Happy World Environment Day!
