IRAQ

Baghdad and Halabja
To commemorate World Environment Day, two celebrations were organized. An event was held in the north of Iraq. The main topic was: the effects of chemical weapons on the environment in Halabja City. The second celebration took place on 5 June in a big hall in Baghdad. More than 200 people, including representatives of different ministries and media, attended the celebration, which focused on the issue of marshlands. In addition to this, three presentations were given in HE Othman ward. The first presentations dealt with the meaning of World Environmental Day, its history and purposes; the second focused on the role of the Ministry of Environment to rehabilitate the marshlands; and the third one discussed about the situation of marshlands in the past and present. During the event, pens and the informative booklets sent by UNEP were distributed. The role of UNEP in supporting different environmental projects in Iraq, especially the marshland project, was mentioned by all the speakers.

KINGDOM OF BAHRAIN

Manama
EURO University, Kingdom of Bahrain, the first University in the Middle East specialized in Environmental Sciences, is organizing a special event on 5 June, to mark World Environment Day. In addition, a three-day environmental symposium, entitled "Water Management: European and Regional Experience", will be held from 6 to 8 June, to facilitate interaction between concerned partners, and to discuss and offer solutions to the problem of water management.

Manama
A NEW 500-kilogram steel monument was erected at the King Faisal Corniche in Manama, Bahrain on Thursday, 3 June. The 18-foot symbolic structure was installed to mark World Environment Day, and depicts eight individuals carrying the globe. The sculpture is made almost entirely of scrap steel except for the continents, which are made out of recycled aluminium cans. The Hussaini Drawing Society for Islamic Arts was behind the project and received approval from the Manama Municipal Council and the Manama Municipality. The Atlas Construction and Transportation Company made the sculpture for free on behalf of the society, according to project co-ordinator Adel Abbasi. The project was completed in a record three weeks time.

For more information, please contact:
Mr. Adel Abbasi
Tel: 39623774
Email: Adel.AlAbbasi@arabbanking.com

Bahrain
The Bahrain Women Society (BWS) under its Environment Citizenship Program celebrated World Environment Day with a series of activities starting from mid-May for one month, including:

• Two workshops about Earth Charter; one for societies interested in environment issues and the other for high school students. Both workshops aimed to ensure that this document is brought to the attention of the public in a simplified way.
• World Environment day festivity took place in those kindergartens that use the Environment Education Unit.
• Focus the daily running ten-minute family radio series performed by BWS to promote and understand the UN theme for this year Green Cities.
• Conducting two training workshops representing "RAED" (The Arab Network for Environment and Development) as the National Coordinator implementing the network activities in line with the green cities theme:

KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA

Jeddah
On the occasion of World Environment Day, the Arab NGO Network for Environment and Development (RAED) -Saudi Arabia, is planning a number of initiatives which emphasize the Green Cities Concept and Principles. The programme action plan focuses on educational and awareness events. Community participation will be ensured by involving educational organizations, the private sector and NGOs. There will be various scientific lectures and workshops and they plan to involve youth and school organizations in activities such as beach cleaning and a painting contest.

KUWAIT

Ahmadi
Wood Group ESP Inc. celebrated World Environment Day 2005 through the following activities:

1) A meeting, conducted to create awareness among all employees.

Kuwait city
ASSE-Environment & OH Forum commemorated World Environment Day on 5 June 2005. Activities included essay, painting and photography competitions for school children and general public, focusing on the theme Green Cities. The winners were given prizes. The commemoration took place at Hotel Radisson SAS, Ball Room. Capt. Awadh Saeed, Manager Environment of M/s KPC was the Chief Guest. There was a presentation by Dr.Majda Khalil, Associate Research Scientist, KISR (Agriculture and Greenery Department) on the significance of greening the cities. The ongoing Kuwait National Greenery Project and its benefits to the State of Kuwait was also illustrated.

LEBANON

Beirut
To commemorate WED 2005, Environment & Development magazine is organizing a School Artistic Festival at the UNESCO palace in Beirut on 6 June. Schools from all over Lebanon will present artistic shows that reflect several environmental issues in the form of a song or a play. The Festival will be accompanied by a free-style art show of drawings and figures exhibition portraying the "Greener City" theme of WED 05.

Beirut
To mark World Environment Day, the American Community School Student Council is organizing an event that will take place from 30 May to 3 June. Activities will include: an exhibition, an environmental awareness campaign, a presentation of the Water Project by GLOBE students and a clean-up of the beach.

Beirut
Round Table hosted by Al-Bia Wal-Tanmia (Environment & Development) magazine on the subject: ENVIRONMENT BETWEEN NATIONAL PRIORITIES & INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMMES
Panelists:
Tarek Mitri, Minister of Environment, Lebanon Khaled Irani, Minister of Environment, Jordan Habib El-Habr, Acting Director and Regional representative, UNEP/Regional Office for West Asia
Moderator:
Najib Saab, Editor-in-Chief, Environment & Development
Place:
West Hall, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon Date/Time: 6 June 2005, 18:00 hrs
WED Week on Future TV (the leading pan-Arab network). Jointly organized with Al-Bia Wal-Tanmia (Environment & Development) magazine. A 25-minute programme at 7:30 GMT every morning between 6-10 June on the theme of Green Cities. Distinguished guests will be hosted every day.

Beirut
On the occasion of WED, 4D Club organized the following activities:

• Exhibition related to different environmental topics.
• Presentations regarding protected areas in Lebanon.
• Seminar entitled: “Understanding Biodiversity: Towards a Better Future “
• DVD presentation.
• Opening Ceremony of the "Green Balcony"

PALESTINE

Gaza Strip
As they have done for a number of years, the General Union of Non-Governmental Environmental Organizations (GUN-GEO) in Palestine will implement various activities in the Gaza Strip on World Environment Day, including: workshops on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) and the Stokholm Convention; a clean-up campaign on Gaza beach; and a tree-planting campaign in the Middle Area of Gaza Strip schools. These activities will be extensively publicized in the Palestinian Media in order to let the people of Palestine know the importance of WED and ecourage them to participate.

QATAR

Doha
On the occasion of The Kainat Foundation - a non-governmental organization dedicated to raising environmental awareness by involving youth and children in schools and colleges - is organizing a series of events, in collaboration with governmental and non-governmental organizations, including the environmentally active institution MES Indian School in Doha. They include: a mock Parliament on Environment; a bicycle race to raise environmental awareness; a tree planting; and Poster, Slogan, Poetry, Essay, Web Designing, Photography, and Drawing competitions for GCC school children.

Doha
Speakers at a workshop on environment protection organised by Pravasi Doothan International Magazine on the occasion of the World Environment day have called on the individuals and communities to play their role in the environment protection drive for ensuring human dignity and social progress. They urged the humanity to join hands together to build a healthy respect for our planet and to sustain our planet as well as the people.
Inaugurating the workshop K.V.Abdulla Kutty, an official from the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Agriculture observed that if all individuals and families care for the environment we can minimise the pollution and other environmental problems. He lauded the efforts made by the State of Qatar in ensuring environmental safety while executing developmental plans and projects and opined that development , if materialised properly will never raise any challenge to the environment. It is our duty to protect our earth, our seas and our atmosphere for our living and for our future generations, he said.
Presenting a paper on the message of World Environment Day P.A.M.Sheriff, the acting general manager of World Trade Center Doha said that the World Environment Day is the United Nations flagship environmental event celebrated every year on 5 June all over the world. The purpose of this day is to focus worldwide attention onto the importance of the environment and stimulate political attention and action. The event seeks to give a human face to environmental issues , empower people to become active agents of sustainable and equitable development , promote an understanding that communities are pivotal to changing attitudes towards environmental issues and advocate partnership which will ensure that all nations and people enjoy a safer and more prosperous future.
The theme selected for this year’s world environment day is “ Green Cities: Plan for the Planet highlights the challenges raised by one of the major trends of our times, the rapidly increasing proportion of people who are living in urban environments, he said.
Banna Chennamangalloor, president of the Confederation of Alumni Associations of Kerala ( CAAK) said each hand each plant idea to be practiced and promoted for a better and green environment as the decreasing number of plants, trees and forests are major cause for many serious environmental issues.
Molly Abraham highlighted the role of families in preserving the environment and said if we all bother to set up home gardens and love to see green plants around us, the result would be wonderful. Ahmed Tuneri was of the opinion that we have to take the message of the day to the public and implement various activities with the active support and participation of the mass in order to make the drive a success. Shahida Abdul Jaleel asked every one to set practical examples for environmental protection and motivate others by our deeds and actions. It is painful to see that man has become serious threat to the environment due to his unhelthy lifestyles and attitudes and it has to be changed immediately, she added. Shukkur Kinaloor, managing director of the magazine welcomed the gathering and Valsa Babu, the coordinator proposed a vote of thanks.

SYRIA

Homs
The Syrian Red Crescent Organization, Homs Branch, invites photographers from around the world, amateur or professional, to participate in its 2005 World Environment Day Photo Gallery which will be exhibited in the Museum of Azzehrawi Palace, Homs on 5-9 June 2005. Further information is available at http://wed.4eco.com

For more information, please contact:
Mr. Abdulhadi Najjar
Syrian Red Crescent Organization, Homs Branch
Ghota district
Homs
Syria
Tel: (96 331) 487385
Fax: (96 331)486583
E-mail: wed@4eco.com
Website: wed.4eco.com

To celebrate WED, UNEP YouthXchange Project has organized a series of activities, including:

For more information, please contact:
Ibrahim N. Al-Zu'bi
West Asia Coordinator,
UNEP YouthXchange Project
Director of Environment Dept.
Emirates Diving Association
Tel.(office) +971 4 3939390 - (mobile) +971 50 7748844
E-mail: edadiver@eim.ae
Website: www.youthxchange.net, www.emiratesdiving.com

Abu Dhabi
This year, the Arabian Construction Company in Abu Dhabi, observed World Environment Day on 5 June at its work sites. The following events took place: a clean-up drive; display of banners on recycling, minimising and reusing waste; environment awareness talk by Project Manager; sapling planting activity; waste segregation; posters on energy conservation displayed all over the work site; and a prize distribution ceremony to individuals who took initiatives to raise environmental awareness.

Dubai
To commemorate WED, the Environmental Department of Dubai Municipality and the Emirates Marine Environmental Group (EMEG) will award hundreds of Marine Environmental and Conservation prizes. Scouts, guides and local schools students will receive prizes for their personal involvement in marine conservation activities, for planting and cleaning mangroves, for learning about beach and wildlife conservation, and for understanding the importance of Arabian flora, marine life, wildlife protection and water conservation. Environmental issues are among the main concerns of a modern international and multicultural city such as Dubai.

Dubai
To celebrate WED, Emirates Marine Environment Group and Dubai Municipality will be holding an Enviromental award event for the children of Dubai, who have been supporting the Environmental marine & Wildlife on a conservation beach area in Dubai. The children have been planting mangroves, cleaning beach areas and working with the environment, learning the importance of marine & wildlife conservation.