JEDDAH, 25 April 2006 — The Egypt-based green group, Arab Environment Association, is planning to establish a regional office in Jeddah this year, according to Magdy El-Sharkawy, chairman of AEA. He did not mention a specific date for the establishment of the office but said that a final proposal would be delivered to Saudi authorities this week.
Abdullah Nasir, environmental activist and a professor at King Abdul Aziz University, was chosen to head the new office, he said, adding that they would request the honorary presidency from Crown Prince Sultan.
El-Sharkawy spoke to Arab News yesterday during an environmental-preservation seminar and exhibition, which took place for the benefit of high school students at the Jeddah Science Innovation Club.
El-Sharkawy said the new AEA office would play a big role spreading awareness and environment education.
“The association has many experts who would constantly formulate workshops, seminars and many environmental activities that would help in creating better understanding on how to preserve the environment,” said El-Sharkawy.
He said with the help of the AEA the first Arab academy for science and environment would be laying its foundation stone this year in Egypt.
“This new academy would help developing new generations of environmentalists and scientific innovators,” he said.
Haitham Saleh, scientific relations manager of Modern Industries Company, sponsors of the event, said awareness is the main key for the solution. “When people understand various aspects of the problem they would naturally react to fix it,” said Saleh.
He called on the private sector to be more active in environmental issues by holding awareness campaigns and sponsoring environment-related community events.
Students were asked to make recommendations. One student suggested the traffic violators be required to do environmentally active community service as a punishment.
