Shining World Protection Award: Emirates Environmental Group

Today, we travel to Dubai, United Arab Emirates, to meet Mrs. Habiba Al Mar’ashi, Chairperson of Emirates Environmental Group (EEG), a non-governmental organization working on environmental issues over the pass three decades. Developing educational programs for grade school students up to college level, EEG is able to turn environmental challenges into action programs, while teaching participants the importance of protecting our environment. The EEG Action program ‘Plant UAE’ was first introduced in 2007 as a way to repopulate the United Arab Emirates with native trees and the program has increased understanding of the local environment. As a way to encourage recycling and tree planting, Mrs. Al Mar’ ashi would ask participants to collect recyclable items such as cans and exchange them for saplings to plant. For more than a decade, their annual planting event has seen growing participation from the government, private sector and academia. Our Beloved Supreme Master Ching Hai, upon learning of Mrs. Al Mar’ ashi’s noble efforts, “cheerfully present the Emirates Environmental Group (EEG) the Shining World Protection Award, with high praises and big salute in Allah’s Love and Grace.”