The Dubai Municipality has launched a 10-day desert clean-up campaign under the slogan, "Keep the place clean... for others to enjoy", which will continue until March 12.
Engineer Hussain Nasser Lootah, Director General of Dubai Municipality, who launched the campaign at Al Warqa area, said the first-of-its-kind campaign in the UAE is closely linked to the main functions of the municipality.
"The campaign will shed light on one of the important environmental issues in the UAE and intensify efforts to raise awareness of the negative impacts of the issue and publicise the efforts made by the authorities concerned in the country in facing it, and protecting the environment and its development in general," he said.
"In the spring season the desert areas witness a high turnout of picnickers from all segments of the society, and the hills, sandy areas and the roadside areas experience a lot of activities, individually and collectively, such as mountain biking and camping," he said.
By Gulf News
MENA unrest speeds need to switch from oil: UK minister
The unrest in the Arab world makes it "all the more urgent" to wean Britain off oil and onto greener sources of power, its energy minister said Sunday. Britain has no other.
The unrest in the Arab world makes it "all the more urgent" to wean Britain off oil and onto greener sources of power, its energy minister said Sunday.
Britain has no other option but to speed up efforts to move away from oil towards other energy sources, Energy and Climate Change Secretary Chris Huhne told The Observer newspaper, as prices at the petrol pumps soar.
Britain will launch a new national "Carbon Plan" this week aimed at getting government departments to shake up their operations and make their projects less dependent on fossil fuels. "Getting off the oil hook is made all the more urgent by the crisis in the Middle East," Huhne said.
"We cannot afford to go on relying on such a volatile source of energy when we can have clean, green and secure energy from low-carbon sources.
"The Carbon Plan is about ensuring that the whole of government is engaged in a joined-up effort to lead us into a low-carbon world."
The Carbon Plan will be launched this week by Prime Minister David Cameron, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg and Huhne.
Non-governmental organizations will be asked to play a monitoring role to ensure progress across departments, The Observer said.
It is being published in draft form ahead of a final version before 2012. It will be updated annually, with progress being published quarterly on the Downing Street website, the weekly said.
Public anger is mounting at the cost of petrol in Britain -- most of which goes to the Treasury.
Finance minister George Osborne hinted Saturday that in his budget later this month, he might drop the one penny above inflation tax rise in a bid to ease the pressure on motorists.
Alan Duncan, Britain's junior international development minister and a former oil trader, warned Saturday that the price of a barrel of crude could top $200 (140 euros) if the unrest worsens.
