Its Clean the Desert initiative aims at raising public consciousness of the littering problem in the desert, the grave consequences it has to local wildlife and the importance of a clean environment.
On Saturday (March 17), the three companies will take teams of volunteers out into the desert to clear an area of trash, disposing of it in a safe and environmentally friendly manner.
Stefan Mecha, MD, Volkswagen Middle East, said: “The Clean the Desert project focuses on preserving the desert and actively taking care of local wildlife. It is great to team up with Siemens and Rotana on this initiative as both companies share our concern about the serious issue of littering and the need to do something about it.”
Erich Kaeser, CEO of Siemens Middle East said: “Wildlife is greatly affected by the changes in the ecosystem of the desert and through this initiative Siemens and Volkswagen are reinforcing their commitment to a cleaner and safer environment in the desert."
Thomas Tapken, area VP, Rotana Dubai & Northern Emirates, added: “Everyday a tragedy is taking place in our deserts, along the beaches, and in the mountains of the UAE. Camels, sheep, goats and cattle, as well as the protected Arabian Onyx, the Sand Gazelles and other wildlife are dying after ingesting plastic and other waste materials that are being dumped in the desert.”
Tapken added: “Rotana has a longstanding commitment to sustainable practices and environmental awareness for the aim to maximize benefits and minimize harm to our earth.”
The campaign will be supported by the PlasticNotSoFantastic initiative, the online community expataktuell.de, averda international recycling, KTM and Uschi Musch’s camel farm.
