The story gracing the front pages of several local papers this week was the World Wildlife Fund's 2006 Living Planet Report, which claims that people living in the United Arab Emirates are placing the most stress per capita on the planet, ahead of the United States, Finland, and Canada. Having lived here for the past six months I can't say I'm at all surprised by that conclusion. From the constant hum of air-conditioners 24 hours a day 365 days a year, to the ridiculous amount of water used to keep the city's green spaces ... well ... green, to the heaping piles of trash produced with sadly limited recycling program, it's an ugly state of affairs that no amount of palm-shaped islands or seven star hotels can hide.
What was surprising was the UAE government's feeble attempt at a response. After dismissing the report "inaccurate" and "ridiculous", Majid Al Mansouri, the Secretary General of the Environmental Agency - Abu Dhabi (EAD) questioned why the report was focused on a per capita model and went on to tell Gulf News "The UAE has contributed to projects in Pakistan, Morocco and other countries building, roads, hospitals and schools. Look at our involvement in the rebuilding of Lebanon. Millions of dirhams go out of the UAE, with expatriates supporting their families back home. Why don't they focus on our global contribution."
Well, thank you. That's a weight off my mind. Shame on the WWF for writing a report about the precarious state of the environment without first examining the UAE's international road-building programs. I bet they also didn't take into account the fact that we have the world's biggest shopping mall.
What was surprising was the UAE government's feeble attempt at a response. After dismissing the report "inaccurate" and "ridiculous", Majid Al Mansouri, the Secretary General of the Environmental Agency - Abu Dhabi (EAD) questioned why the report was focused on a per capita model and went on to tell Gulf News "The UAE has contributed to projects in Pakistan, Morocco and other countries building, roads, hospitals and schools. Look at our involvement in the rebuilding of Lebanon. Millions of dirhams go out of the UAE, with expatriates supporting their families back home. Why don't they focus on our global contribution."
Well, thank you. That's a weight off my mind. Shame on the WWF for writing a report about the precarious state of the environment without first examining the UAE's international road-building programs. I bet they also didn't take into account the fact that we have the world's biggest shopping mall.