Recycling for Charity » Green

Green Tax

kadraoui — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 05:24:22 +0000

MANAMA: Developers, who destroy marine life and the environment through reclamation, will have to pay a “green tax”.

The penalty would be used to fund green projects to either restore or protect other areas of Bahrain’s environment. Developers would then have to carry out “green” rehabilitation projects themselves or pay towards the cost through the tax. It is hoped the National Assembly will approve the “green tax” by the end of the year, said Public Commission for the Protection of

Marine Resources, Environment and Wildlife head Shaikh Abdulla bin Hamad Al Khalifa. He said that the public commission was not against development, but it shouldn’t be at the expense of the environment. Shaikh Abdulla said that a “green tax” fund would be set up soon to fund remedial projects, once it is approved by the National Assembly. “We want to reach sustainable development, but this should include safeguarding the environment, which shouldn’t be the duty of only the government, but the private sector too,” he said. “However, those who believe they are above the law and want to continue destroying the environment only have themselves to blame.”

alaali@gdn.com .bh

Green Initiatives Praised

kadraoui — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 09:33:44 +0000

KRAFT Foods honoured its staff at a ceremony for their support to the company’s environmental efforts. The Kraft Food Green Awards acknowledged the employees’ creativity, innovation and resourcefulness in successfully carrying out various environmental projects. A team of employees, including five Bahrainis, has spearheaded a series of key projects that have helped the plant to achieve reductions (per tonne) of 25 per cent in energy consumption, 50pc in water consumption and 16pc in waste last year. This year, the company’s plant at the Bahrain International Investment Park saw a further 5pc reduction compared to last year’s average. “The employees are exemplary individuals who have embraced the company’s environmental values and made it their own so that we can all live in a better world,” said plant director Andrew Trevis. “Throughout the world Kraft Foods employees are changing the way we do business so that the world we leave behind is better than the one we live in today. “

Think Green

kadraoui — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 11:24:56 +0000

Green Audit Success For Bapco System

kadraoui — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 11:26:20 +0000

Airline Goes Green For New Image

kadraoui — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 11:34:07 +0000

GULF Air is hoping that going green will help it climb out of the red. The airline yesterday committed to improving its environmental record and admitted it feared losing business if it didn’t. It made the pledge as it signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Bahrain’s General Directorate for Environment and Wildlife. “It (the MoU) has to be done now because if we leave it any longer then we will lose business; it’s as simple as that,” Gulf Air head of corporate social responsibility Sameer Hassan Al Saeed told the GDN. “We believe we have to have a clean ecology and that this is our social responsibility.

“Gulf Air has a good market, not only in Bahrain but we also take people from China to London and from America to Singapore. “We have customers everywhere and these customers, with new awareness, demand that we must be environment friendly and also have a good waste management system or else they will choose another supplier.” The MoU is intended to be a declaration of the airline’s intention to protect the environment, while at the same time creating positive change in Bahrain.

It was signed by Gulf Air chairman Talal Al Zain and General Directorate for Environment and Wildlife general director Dr Adel Al Zayani in a ceremony at the latter’s offices in Salmabad. Mr Al Zain told a Press conference soon afterwards that it was Gulf Air’s responsibility to protect the environment. “Gulf Air recognises that social, economic and environmental responsibilities are integral to its business and believes in the importance of the interrelationship with the local community and the environment in which it operates,” he said. “We endorse the fact that environmental protection has a direct impact on the overall well-being of society and, therefore, it is out responsibility to find ways to protect our environment through constructive measures – both medium and long term.” Meanwhile, Mr Al Zayani described the signing as a step towards meeting both organisations’ goals, while “sharing a responsibility towards the nation’s economy, environment and society”.

“We are obliged to strike a balance between maintaining a safe and healthy environment and enabling our national carrier to achieve success and prosperity with an eco-compliant work policy,” he added.

Gulf Air is now in the middle of a major rebuilding exercise following the departure of former president and chief executive Björn Näf at the start of the month. He has been replaced by Samer Majali, former head of Royal Jordanian and the son of former Jordanian prime minister Abdelsalam Majali, who officially starts work on Saturday. The GDN reported yesterday that Bahrain’s national carrier was now seeking advisers to help turn it around. Mr Näf predicted last November that the airline would return to profitability by 2010, but MPs claimed earlier this year that Gulf Air was haemorrhaging as much as $700,000 (BD264,600) a day. The airline announced in 2007 that its losses stood at more than $1 million a day at the time. The General Directorate of Environment and Wildlife is a subsidiary of the Public Commission for the Protection of Marine Resources, Environment and Wildlife.

thanratty@gdn.com.bh

Green Treasure Hunt on Way

kadraoui — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 12:00:27 +0000

Green Ideas Taking Root

kadraoui — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 12:53:12 +0000

A PRESENTATION will be conducted by Diyar Al Muharraq at the Bahrain Society of Engineers (BSE) tonight. The presentation on environmental monitoring and management initiative will be given by international design and engineering consultancy Scott Wilson Bahrain principal environment scientist Justine Carr. It will begin at 7pm and will detail how to put together a comprehensive cutting-edge environmental plan in urban developments. Diyar Al Muharraq chief executive officer Aaref Hejres said that its mixed-used development project was a story that deserved to be told to benefit industry specialists and others because it involved the best international consultancies and local expertise. “The presentation will showcase an advanced water quality monitoring system designed by Scott Wilson specifically for Diyar Al Muharraq,” he said. “We have allocated over BD3 million for our environmental programme.” The event will be open to the public free of charge

Green Guide for Students

kadraoui — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 13:25:49 +0000

A CHILDREN’S guide to protecting the environment could become part of the curriculum in all Bahrain schools. It is already being used in some private schools, thanks to funding by HSBC. The bank gave $30,000 (BD11,340) to the Bahrain Women’s Society for Human Development’s Environmental Citizenship Programme (ECP) to publish the book, titled Be’ati Unit. It is aimed mainly at children aged four to six, consisting of environmental concepts and interesting exercises that help enhance the protection of environment. “It is at this young age that children build their character and habits. So we think it is important to impart it to them, so that they grow up with this information and act accordingly,” says bank marketing manager Mahmood Qannati.

The bank’s contribution last year enabled the ECP to bring out copies of the book, which is now a part of the studies in some of the private schools in Bahrain. “We are having discussions with Education Ministry to include this in the curriculum of all the schools in Bahrain. Thus we can see a greener and cleaner Bahrain in the future,” said Mr Qannati. ECP manager Fatima Frutan and society board member Mina Kathemy visited the bank to thank officials for their support. They met HSBC Bahrain chief executive officer Majed Najm and Mr Qannati to present a shield of acknowledgement.

Bahrain to Probe Green Challenges

kadraoui — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 13:36:26 +0000

A CONFERENCE will highlight challenges facing Bahrain’s environment later this month. The ‘Environmental Protection, Water and Power Conservation – Critical Challenges, Solutions and Opportunities’ at the Banyan Tree Desert Spa and Resort, Al Areen, will also highlight solutions and opportunities. It will be held on June 20 under the patronage of Public Commission for the Protection of Marine Resources, Environment and Wildlife president Shaikh Abdulla bin Hamad Al Khalifa. “It will highlight concerns and issues related to the protection and conservation of the environment,” said Canadabased organisers Crystal International chairwoman and president Mina Leonora. “It aims to increase awareness, open the line of better communication, raise the level of commitment and highlight policies, methods and steps to preserve and protect the environment. “The idea is also to address the global issue seriously and with commitment for the welfare of present and future generations.” Foreign Ministry bilateral relations director Dr Dhafer Al Umran will be among 20 peo ple from around the world to address the conference. He will highlight the need to strike a bal nce between development and environmental protection. The conference theme is ‘Ways to a Better Life’. Other speakers include Royal Charity Organisation general secretary Dr Mustafa Al Sayed, Bapco chief executiveAbdulkarim Al Sayed, Bahrain International Circuit chief executive officer Martin Whitaker and Gulf Air chief executive officer Björn Näf. Ms Leonora said with the right support from industry, Bahrain could control pollution, reduce carbon emissions and maintain its environment. “The impact of climate change all over the world cannot be taken for granted and Bahrain is not the only one facing the same environmental situations.

“With the involvement of all parties and their commitment, it could lessen the repercussions

Date Set For Green Treasure Hunt

kadraoui — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 13:33:17 +0000

THE sixth annual Environmental Treasure Hunt will take place in Bahrain later this year. It aims to raise awareness about environmental issues such as water shortages, pollution, land reclamation and its effect on marine life, beach pollution and desertification. The event, on Friday November 6, will be held under the patronage of Public Commission for the Protection of Marine Resources, Environment and Wildlife head Shaikh Abdulla bin Hamad Al Khalifa. Teams will compete to solve clues, leading them along a pre-determined route to a wide spectrum of locations, all the while being monitored by traffic police to ensure they adhere to traffic laws. Bahrain-based events management, public relations and marketing communications company T & M Eventscom announced the date yesterday. Chief executive officer Zahraa Taher said the event hoped to create a cleaner and greener Bahrain. “By changing people’s everyday habits and making them realise one person’s actions can make an impact, we can create a more sustainable clean and green Bahrain,” she said.