World Environment Day can be celebrated in many ways. The following are a selection of inspiring examples of how World Environment Day was celebrated in 2004 with the theme/slogan: Wanted! Seas and Oceans – Dead or Alive?; in 2005 with the theme/slogan: Green Cities: Plan for the Planet!; and in 2006 Deserts and Desertification: Don’t Desert Drylands!
Baghdad and Halabja
In 2005, an event was held in the north of Iraq where the main topic was The effects of chemical weapons on the environment in Halabja City. A second celebration took place on 5 June in Baghdad where more than 200 people, including representatives of various ministries and the media, attended the event, which focused on the issue of marshlands.
JORDAN
Amman
In 2006, UNDP and the Ministry of Environment launched Jordan's national strategy and action plan for combating desertification in the country at a special event on 5 June. The event featured statements by the Minister of Environment and a presentation on the strategy.
KINGDOM OF BAHRAIN
Manama
In 2005, a new 500-kilogram steel monument was erected at the King Faisal Corniche in Manama on 3 June. The 18-foot symbolic structure, depicting eight individuals carrying the globe, 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 support from the Manama Municipal Council and Municipality. The Atlas Construction and Transportation Company made the sculpture for free on behalf of the Society.
LEBANON
Beirut
In 2005, Environment & Development magazine organized a School Artistic Festival at the UNESCO palace on 6 June. Schools from all over Lebanon presented artistic shows that reflected environmental issues in the form of a song or a play. The Festival was accompanied by a free-style art show of drawings and figures portraying the Green Cities theme.
PALESTINE
The Environmental Education Centre (EEC) has been celebrating World Environment Day since 1992. In 2004, EEC celebrated this occasion with the Bethlehem Peace Centre (BPC). EEC and BPC had an open day on 5 June with lots of environmental and recreational activities. Their target was students from 12 different schools in the Bethlehem area. The students were chosen from the environmental clubs EEC and BPC established in their schools. The programme began with a presentation about biodiversity, followed by group discussions on local and global environmental problems.
QATAR
In 2004, the Kainat Foundation in Doha, Qatar – a non-governmental organization working with young people to raise environmental awareness – organized a mock world parliament on the environment; a poster and photography competition; an essay writing competition; a tree planting exercise; and a clean up campaign.
SYRIA
Homs
The Syrian Red Crescent Organization Homs Branch invited photographers from around the world, amateur or professional, to participate in its 2005 World Environment Day Photo Gallery, which was exhibited in the Museum of Azzehrawi Palace on 5-9 June.
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
Abu Dhabi
In 2005, the Arabian Construction Company observed World Environment Day on 5 June at its work sites with a clean-up drive; a display of banners on recycling, minimizing and reusing waste; an environment awareness talk; a sapling planting activity; and waste segregation. Posters on energy conservation were displayed throughout the work site, and a prize presentation ceremony to individuals who took initiatives to raise environmental awareness was organized.
Dubai
In 2005, the Emirates Marine Environment Group and the Dubai Municipality held an environmental award event for children, who have been supporting the Marine & Wildlife project on a conservation beach area in Dubai. The children had been planting mangrove trees, cleaning beaches and learning the importance of marine and wildlife conservation.
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