'Go Green' Children’s Painting Competition launched in UAE to Help Combat Global Warming

Under the Patronage of the Ministry of Education and Dubai Investments Park, Coral International Hotels, Resorts & Spas in association with Hamriyah Free Zone Authority, Philips, Western Union and AGMC - BMW today launched its popular annual painting competition in an effort to generate awareness about the damaging effects of global warming and the urgent need for environment conservation.

Titled “Go Green”, the competition is targeted at all school children between the age of 6 and 11 years in the UAE and for the first times brings together 35 top-notch companies under one umbrella to show their concern and responsibility towards the environment.

Said His Excellency Sheikh Mohammed bin Faisal Al Qassimi, Vice-Chairman, Coral International Hotels, Resorts & Spas, and CEO Manafa LLC. “Through this campaign we wish to address some of the issues posed by climate change which is one of the biggest challenges facing mankind. We all need to change for better our relationship with nature and think like environmentalists. As a result we have to work harder to get our message across and declare an immediate war on carbon in order to hand over a clean world to our children.”

This competition is being held in conjunction with Just a Drop (the only global travel and tourism industry charity dedicated to providing clean water to children). The Grand prize for the competition, sponsored by Etihad Holidays, is a 3-day trip to the Pyramids in Egypt for the winner and two adults. The second prize is sponsored by Emirates Computers and the third prize by Guerlain Paris. In addition to this there are over 100 consolation prizes sponsored by Toy World, Catimini, Pampolina, Boboli, Girandola and Palm International. There is also a special prize by Philips. The support sponsors for the competition are Manafa, Reef Real Estate, McDonald's, United Arab Bank, Dreamland Aqua Park, Coca-Cola, Ajman Seaport and Igloo Ice-Cream. After the campaign McDonald’s will host the 5 top winners along with their families and paintings at one of its outlets.

Laila Ahmed Al Thawadi, Director of Cultural Activities and Art, Ministry of Education said, “Any small initiative can make a significant contribution in protecting the environment and balancing the ecosystem. Collectively we have a responsibility to protect the environment and human life. The Go Green Children’s Painting Competition is designed to educate and inform participants about the importance of environment conservation while giving them an opportunity to express their ideas on the subject. And we are proud to associate with it.”

The Go Green competition will run from September 27 to November 4, 2006 and has as its Media Sponsors City 7, Khaleej Times, Young Times, Channel 4 Radio Network and Emirates Parent Plus Magazine.

Over a 100,000 entry forms will be distributed in all participating schools in the UAE from today, September 27 onwards. The last date of receiving back entries is November 5, 2006. Out of these entries will be selected the winners by a panel of judges headed by the Ministry of Education. The Grand Award Ceremony for the winners will be held on November 23 at the Coral Beach Resort, Sharjah.

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