During the three days of October 17, 18 and 19 2008, all UAE residents are invited to come together and stand up, to make a nation-wide pledge to pursue policies that encourage sustainable living and help drive sustainable environment in the emirates as part of a unique 'Mission Green Earth – Stand up and Take Action 2008' campaign.

The campaign will be held under the patronage of UN Messenger of Peace HRH Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein, Wife of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, Ruler of Dubai, with the support of UNDP, UNEP, the International Humanitarian City (IHC). The campaign is organised by the Art of Living (AOL) and the International Association for Human Values (IAHV), with the support of Barclays Bank PLC and aims to mobilise and inspire people through a variety of activities planned in schools, organisations and institutions across the emirates.

The `Stand Up’ campaign, occurring simultaneously all over the world, stems from the United Nations Millennium Campaign (UNMC), a UN entity advocating at a global scale the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) - an eight-point road map with measurable targets including ending poverty and achieving a safer, more prosperous and equitable life for all - to be accomplished by 2015. Re-affirmed each year, the 'Stand Up' challenge involves millions of people all over the world standing up in solidarity for a cause.

Last year in UAE, 98,000 people stood up to end extreme poverty and hunger. This year, the organisers have chosen the seventh Millennium Development Goal - ensuring environmental sustainability – as their cause for the Stand Up and Take Action challenge. The campaign, called ‘Stand Up & Take Action: Mission Green Earth’ will focus on addressing the issue of sustainable environments and encourage action by commitment to a sustainable lifestyle by intelligent management of water, energy and waste in personal, official and public lives. The ‘Mission Green Earth’ international campaign will also be conducting a giant tree plantation drive around the world. The challenge targets 100 million people standing up between October 17, 18 & 19 and 70 million trees planted up to mid-July 2009.

In the UAE, it is even more important that the campaign is carried out in a realistic and efficient manner, especially taking into consideration the region’s particular environmental and climatic conditions and constraints.

Accordingly the MISSION GREEN EARTH campaign aims to mobilise and engage UAE residents, collectively and individually, in support of a sustainable environment through two challenges:
1>> For at least a million people to Stand Up in support of the Millennium Development Goals and to commit to a sustainable environment through effective management of waste, energy and water.
2>> To plant trees that support the local climatic and ecological conditions.

Activities proposed as part of the UAE campaign this year include...
• Stand Up sessions organised all across the UAE.
• Distribution of seeds to interested participants.
• Tree plantations organised by local municipalities, government and corporate organizations and institutions.
• Media awareness campaign, advocating the need to address sustainable living and landscaping.
• School activities on the theme of sustainable environment/landscaping.
• Green Forum on Sustainable Landscaping aimed to foster a debate and generate solutions among decision-makers. It will involve the business community, real-estate companies, government officials as well as environmentalists.
• VIP closing ceremony on October 19th, with prominent dignitaries and media attending during which the final tally of people who stood up in the UAE will be officially announced.


JOIN THE CAMPAIGN AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

All UAE residents are invited to take part in the campaign and register to the STAND UP and/or PLANT A TREE challenges.

Whatever is your age or nationality, you can register your family, group of friends, school, university, company or club to one or both of these two challenges and take a pledge in support of environmental sustainability.

No money is required from participants… just a few minutes of their time and a commitment to improve their daily habits for more sustainable living and environment.

To register and learn more about MISSION GREEN EARTH, go to www.missiongreenearth.ae.

If you have any questions about the campaign call: (+971)-4-3680219 or (+971)-050-4520969 or email: info@missiongreenearth.ae.

If you are a member of the media contact Sunila Muzawar, (+971)-50-6576014 or email: media@missiongreenearth.ae.