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Zayed International Prize for the Environment, Gro Harlem Bruntdland

United Arab Emirates and United Nations singing from the same page on climate change



HH Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed awarded “the world’s most prestigious environment award”, the Zayed International Prize for the Environment, carrying prize money of US $1 million, to Gro Harlem Bruntdland of Norway, yesterday. But isn’t the Nobel Peace Prize awarded in 2007 to Al Gore and the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change “the world’s most prestigious environment award”? Reading media releases “The Zayed International Prize for the Environment is now recognized internationally as one of the most important contributions of the United Arab Emirates towards global efforts to promote sustainable development.” (Italics CFP’s).

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“It reflects the great concern of its leaders and people about the environmental issues at all levels,” said Dr. Mohammed Ahmed Bin Fahad, Director General of Dubai Police Academy and Chairman of the Higher Committee of the Zayed Prize. The United Arab Emirates and the United Nations are on the same flight path with little fear of collision when it comes to saving the planet. “Founded in 1999 by HH Sheikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates and ruler of Dubai, the Zayed International Prize for the Environment recognizes and encourages environmental achievements supporting and promoting the implementation of Agenda 21 Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation for Sustainable Development, in line with the vision and philosophy of the late Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, Father of the United Arab Emirates.” Zayed International Prize for the Environment 2008 winner, Dr. Gro Harlem Brundtland is a Norwegian politician, diplomat and physician and an international leader in sustainable development and public health. She is a former Prime Minister of Norway and has served as the Director General of the World Health Organization. She now serves as a Special Envoy on Climate Change for the United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon. The apple never falls far from the tree in United Nations sustainable lands. According to Saudi newspaper Al Bawaba, Dr. Brundtland “became Norway’s first and to date only-female Prime Minister.” That’s an opportunity not available to the female population of the United Arab Emirates. Agenda 21 Millennium Development architect Maurice Strong, a personal friend of Dr. Brundtland is also on the Al Bawaba board of directors. Under Dr. Bruntdland’s leadership, WHO was one of the first major employers to require freedom from tobacco addiction as a condition for employment. Dr. Brundtland was recognized in 2003 by Scientific American as their Policy Leader of the Year for coordination o a rapid worldwide response to stem the outbreak of SARS, which included blacklisting the City of Toronto as a travel destination. Even as the Zayed International Prize for the Environment was being bestowed upon Dr. Brundtland, some environmentalists worried about the carbon footprint of the United Arab Emirates. Of concern to the environmentalists is the infrastructure known as “The World”, an ambitious $14 billion endeavor consisting of 300 individual islands, built in the form of palm trees, and fashioned to mimic the shape of the globe’s landmasses. “The Palm Islands are artificial islands in Dubai, United Arab Emirates on which major commercial and residential infrastructure would be constructed. The islands are the largest land reclamation projects in the world and will result in the world’s largest artificial islands.” (Wikipedia) UN-inspired money prizes for environmental leadership come with a lot of clout. Al Gore’s film, An Inconvenient Truth which won an Oscar last year, will now be made into an opera. Perhaps members of the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, who share the Nobel Peace Prize with him, will be some of the warbling stars.

'Finishing touches' delay world's tallest building

Construction of the world's tallest building, the Burj Dubai, has been delayed and will be completed only in September next year, the developer was quoted on Tuesday as saying. The tower, which is expected to reach a final height of 900 metres (2,953 feet), was due for completion in the bustling city state at the end of 2008. "The luxury finishes that were decided on in 2004, when the tower was initially conceptualised, are now being replaced by upgraded finishes," developer Emaar said, according to the Gulf News. The Burj Dubai had already become the tallest man-made structure on the planet, when Emaar announced in April that it has surpassed the 629-metre (2,063-foot) KVLY-TV mast in the United States. Many building projects in Dubai, which is going through a construction frenzy, have been facing delays caused by shortage of building materials and skilled labour.


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Judi McLeod -- Bio and Archives -- Judi McLeod, Founder, Owner and Editor of Canada Free Press, is an award-winning journalist with more than 30 years’ experience in the print and online media. A former Toronto Sun columnist, she also worked for the Kingston Whig Standard. Her work has appeared throughout the ‘Net, including on Rush Limbaugh and Fox News.

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