Saudi Arabia is joining the world to celebrate Earth Day on April 22. It is believed to be a most memorable Earth Day as it comes amid serious concerns of climate change. The Earth's average temperature will almost certainly rise by 1.8 to 4C (3.2-7.2F) during this century, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's (IPCC) Fourth Assessment Report. Sea level rises, storms, floods and drought would force millions of people from their homes. And our planet's biodiversity would face the greatest extinction since the dinosaurs were wiped out 65 million years ago, the IPCC said. With such alarming concerns in mind, the Kingdom has prepared to face the challenge as the situation is not beyond remedy. For seven years, the Saudi Environmental Society has been active in Earth Day. In celebration of the Earth Day 2008 and in partnership with the Presidency for Meteorology and the Environment and the United States Consulate General in Jeddah, the Saudi Environmental Society (SES) is holding a 3-day event and essay and poster contest, said Dr. Amel Al-Naggar, executive manager of the Saudi Environmental Society in Jeddah. The 3-day event starting April 22 will include cleaning and planting home gardens and public parks, and mangrove rehabilitation and conservation, she said. “Since its foundation some 11 years ago, the SES has been active in environment protection in many fields including promoting awareness of environment protection and development among school students and the public through the Friends of Environment groups,” she said. She added that the Kingdom has joined a campaign to plant a billion trees in a single year launched at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Nairobi, in November 2006. The Plant the Planet campaign in the Kingdom, sponsored by president of the Presidency of the Meteorology and the Environment Prince Turki Bin Nasser Bin Abdul Aziz, has set a target of one million trees planted a year, she added. Earth Day contest begins for young writers and artists In partnership with the Presidency for Meteorology and the Environment and the United States Consulate General in Jeddah, the Saudi Environmental Society (SES) is holding an essay and poster contest for Earth Day. For the essay, contestants are required to write between 500 to 750 words addressing one of the following topics: “What does Earth Day mean to you?” Or “A plan to protect the environment in Saudi Arabia that offers every citizen and resident a chance to contribute.” The essay contest is open to participants in the following age groups: 10-13, 14-17, and 18-21 years. Essays may be submitted in Arabic or English. They will be judged on creativity and writing style. To participate in the poster contest, contestants need to think of their own local community when answering one or a combination of the following questions: “What are the most significant environmental issue in Saudi Arabia?” and “How does my local environment relate to the global environment?” and “How can I make a difference in protecting my environment?” The poster contest is open to participants in the following age groups: 4-6, 7-9, 10-13, and 14-18 years. Contestants should submit posters on A3 paper using various art materials that give clear colors and lines such as coloring ink pens and pastels. Wooden pencils are not recommended. Posters will be judged on creativity and thoughtfulness in depicting environmental issues that are significant in Saudi Arabia. All submissions must be the sole and original work of the contestant. They may not contain copyrighted images or text from any media source. All entries will become the property of the Saudi Environmental Society for any purpose. A Committee made up of representatives of the Saudi Environmental Society, the Presidency for Meteorology and The Environment, and the US Consulate General in Jeddah will select the winning entries. Prizes will be awarded to the first and second place winners in each age group. Essays and posters may be submitted via email at [email protected] or at the following address: Earth Day Contest Saudi Environmental Society P.O.Box 53072 Jeddah 21583The deadline for submission is April 16. For more info, please call 02-665-1832. __
