Essay 1: Greenpeace in the UAE

Greenpeace, an independent organization that fights to maintain a healthy environment and preserve what wildlife and greenery we have left in this world, was started in 1971 in Vancouver Canada, by a group of activists whose passion was to make our world last as a beautiful, tranquil place.  Greenpeace ultimately fights to create a better world for human beings and strives to achieve its goals by operating globally. They would say, “Only when the last fish is gone, the last river poisoned, the last tree cut down...will mankind realize they cannot eat money.” (Greenpeace,1980). In its endeavor to achieve this, it has now spread to 40 countries around the world. 

Greenpeace’s ideas have been implemented in Bu Tinah Island, off the coast in the western region of Abu Dhabi UAE, with the aim to protect and preserve the wildlife of the Middle East. Bu Tinah Island was recognized as an established reserve in 2001. In the early stages of globalization, Bu Tinah Island was not well-known. However, the island is now an official finalist in the “New 7 Wonders of Nature”. In the Khaleej times, it was said, “Bu Tinah Island has earned its place in the final of this competition because of the way we in this country have chosen to protect it.” (Jaber,2011). Being in this competition has made Bu Tinah become recognized around the world and it is now part of Unesco within the Marawah Marine Biosphere Reserve.

Bu Tinah Island is a collection of small islands that are joined together and is home to an exotic variety of animals. Some of these animals are Dolphins, Sea turtles, Dugongs or the “Sea cow”, Flamingos, and Ospreys. This cluster of islands has made the shallow water in-between them a safe haven for many different species of animals and is a natural reserve for endangered species. Over 600 out of an estimated total of 3,000 Dugongs in the Middle East can be found in and around Bu Tinah Island. There is also a variety of different species of Dolphins. Flamingos can be found feeding in the shallow waters, as well as Ospreys hunting for fish. All these species are only some of the species that can be found at Bu Tinah. In addition to the variety of animal species, there is also a variety of different types of coral, which surprisingly, are thriving in these warm waters. Corals typically live in water that is a maximum of 28°C, but the warm waters of the UAE exceed that, and can reach up to 35°C, which makes this island an intriguing place for scientists to study.

The idea of competing in the New 7 Wonders of Nature is a great move on behalf of the island, as this will make it easier to protect as it has been recognized around the world. All these species and more are thriving thanks to the fact that it is protected from fishermen and hunters. It is our duty to see to it that Bu Tinah Island remains forever protected, in order to preserve what wildlife we have left, not only in the Middle East, but around the world.

Word Count: 524

Saleh Al-Menhali

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