Dubai: Environmental groups and youngsters across the UAE are lending their support to Earth Day 2008.
A wide range of activities are taking place across the UAE tomorrow as part of the worldwide initiative to increase awareness of the planet and the dangers posed to it.
The Emirates Environment Group (EEG) is holding the second day of its eighth Inter School Environmental Public Speaking Competition (ISEPSC).
The event, held under the patronage of Minister of Education Dr Hanif Hassan, aims to spread youngsters' environmental message to the wider community.
Pupils at the Al Mizhar American Academy for Girls (AAG) have joined forces with Ikea to promote Earth Day.
The home furnishings manufacturer donated 500 of its trademark brown paper bags to the school and pupils decorated them with environmental themes.
Mile Franicevic, General Manager of Ikea in the UAE, said: "We are delighted to support the girls in educating our community about the importance of protecting the environment."
The Earth Day Groceries Project was initiated in the UAE by third grade teacher Mona Abinader, who presented the project to the elementary and middle school section of the AAG.
It is the first time the UAE has participated in the project, which reaches out to thousands of schools worldwide through the internet.
The International Association of Human Values (IAHV), as part of its ongoing My Bag My Earth campaign, is conducting an awareness drive against the use of plastic bags to mark Earth Day.
The IAHV is hosting a lecture and activity session for 300 students at the American School of Dubai in Jumeirah.
The event is being organised by the Global Awareness and Inner Awakening (GAIA) parents group based at the school.
Free jute bags are being distributed to the children by Kraft Foods as part of the campaign.
Sandhya Prakash, Creative Director of Projects at IAHV, told Gulf News educating young children was vital if people were really serious about saving the environment.
"It is crucial we stress the urgency for change at an early stage in people's lives," she said.
What is it?: Grassroots initiative
US Senator Gaylord Nelson announced in September 1969 there would be a nationwide grassroots demonstration on the environment.
Denis Hayes, a leading environmental activist and proponent of solar power, was named the coordinator for the first Earth Day.
Earth Day marks the anniversary of the birth of the Earth Day movement.
On April 22, 1970, 20 million Americans demonstrated for a healthy, sustainable environment. Hayes and his team organised massive coast to coast rallies.
More than half a billion people participate in Earth Day campaigns every year.
Earth Day 2007 was one of the largest ever with an estimated billion people participating in cities including Kiev, Caracas, Manila, London and New York.
By Kevin Scott, Staff Reporter