'Green Shaikh' promotes Bu Tinah campaign

Shaikh Abdul Aziz Bin Ali Al Nuaimi has visited the dome titled "Bu Tinah Experience", a replica of the Bu Tinah Island in Abu Dhabi. Shaikh Abdul Aziz is known as the "Green Shaikh" for his keen interest in environmental issues . He made the visit to the capital to support the UAE's bid for the Bu Tinah Island to become one of the new 7 wonders of nature, said a press release issued by the Environment Agency -Abu Dhabi (EAD) on Tuesday. Shaikh Al Nuaimi began his tour at the reduced-scale model of Bu Tinah Island, showing particular interest in each of the Island's species such as the Socotra Cormorant, Osprey and the Dugong. He expressed his gratitude to the EAD for its marine conservation efforts which are helping preserve such species and their habitats, as well as the activities of Emirates Wildlife Society in association with the World Wide Fund for Nature (EWS-WWF). Ali Al Saloom, EAD's Environmental Awareness Ambassador and the popular UAE cultural consultant and columnist, was at the Dome to brief the Shaikh about ‘The Environment Show with Ask Ali, the UAE's first nature documentary series . Shaikh Al Nuaimi praised the efforts being taken to engage and educate the public on the importance of conserving our biodiversity and how this impacts the overall preservation of the UAE's heritage. He expressed the view that ‘education and changing the perception of children was the only way forward.' Razan Khalifa Al Mubarak, Secretary General of EAD, said the endorsement by Shaikh Al Nuaimi during his visit to the ‘Bu Tinah Experience' reaffirms that this campaign has gained the interest of the entire nation. "We're so proud that Bu Tinah is the only finalist representing the Gulf region, so with only 12 days to go before voting for Bu Tinah draws to a close, we're urging the nation to act now to show their commitment to their environment. A vote for Bu Tinah is a vote of pride in our natural heritage, a vote of confidence in our work to protect it, and a vote for conservation of the environment for present and future generations," she said. People can show their support for Bu Tinah by sending an SMS with the word ‘BuTinah' to 3888, as many times as they like. Supporters in the UAE and around the world can also take less than two minutes to place a vote online on www.butinah.ae.