CAMERONS CAMEL CAMPAIGN
DON'T LITTER
OUR STORY
After reading an article in the Gulf News paper that 1 in every 3 camels are dying from eating plastic and litter left in the desert by us humans, I decided to have an ongoing campaign starting with my exhibition at school to make people aware of what littering is doing to our camels - We are killing them! We need them and yet we are killing them...?
THE START
To start my campaign I visited Dr Ulli. Wernery Scientific Director of the Central Veternary Research Laboratories in Dubai.
Dr Ulli also wrote an article called "Fatal Pollution" http://www.cvrl.ae/ about how campers, picknickers and endurance riders leave their bags, bottles, caps, lids, plates, containers, cutlery, ropes, loops of can holders and even tyres in the desert. Litter does not stay just where it is thrown, it blows away with the wind from the villages and cities landing in the desert, clinging to trees and shrubs, lying covered in sand, polluting the desert.
Every year hundreds of animals face agonizing deaths by plastic ingestion in seas, in the desert, even the cities. The young nibble on the litter, swallow only to choke and die. Some may survive longer until their intestines are blocked, suffering is prolonged with excruciating pain before death.
Dr Ulli has visited Ras Al Khaimah desert where owners had dragged animals to that have died from plastic ingestion. Dr Ulli found more than 30 carcasses and has since that sight called this place "DEATH VALLEY".
UAE this kind of pollution has reached "EPIDEMIC" proportions. The picture taken by Dr Ulli speak for themselves.
The campaign will not stop until our Camels stop dying because of us! I want my children to see live camels, not read about them in books!
The campaign has lead to alot of media attention, which I really have appreciated their continued support and the highlights thus far are the following:
Gulf News:
http://www.gulfnews.com/articles/08/12/23/10269479.html
http://www.gulfnews.com/articles/08/03/26/10200361.html
http://www.gulfnews.com/articles/09/01/31/10280481.html
The National:
http://thenational.ae/article/20081223/NATIONAL/379027420
http://thenational.ae/article/20080727/NATIONAL/585831655
Abu Dhabi Week
Friday Magazine - Gulf News
The Beeld - SA Publication
The Star - SA Publication
Al Ittihad - Newspaper
Wildlife Middle East
Aquarius Magazine
The Connector
Reuters TV documentary that covered the campaign and travelled the world.
Dubai 1 TV "Her Say"
Radio 1 & 2 live interviews
Nightline Dubai Eye 103.8fm
Abu Dhabi 4x4 Club - desert clean up
School Presentations - Al Yasmina International School
Emirates National Boys School
The American Community School
Time Out Magazine - Abu Dhabi/Dubai
The Dubai Mall
DubaiKidz
Schoolrecycling
Plastic Planet - Abu Dhabi Film Festival
BBM Creations - www.bbmfashion.com
Royal Society of St George's Abu Dhabi - kind sponsorship from their proceeds from their annual ball 2009.
The above is what I can recall, if I have not mentioned any other media coverage, I must apologize however do value your support!
