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Al-Ahram Weekly 25 February - 3 March 1999 Issue No. 418 
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Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Al-Ahram Weekly 25 February - 3 March 1999 Issue No. 418
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| Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Egypt Region International Economy Opinion Culture Features Travel Living Sports People Time Out Chronicles Cartoons Letters Celebrating green efforts
By Mahmoud BakrLast week, Minister of Environment Nadia Makram Ebeid and Minister of Social Affairs Mervat Tellawi inaugurated celebrations of National Environment Day at the Cairo Stadium. The celebrations, organised by the Arab Office for Youth and Environment (AOYE), were attended by around 1,500 university students.
In her address, Ebeid emphasised "the important role played by youth in protecting the environment", and called upon young people to present their views and participate in the "nationwide environment plan" initiated by her ministry. "Already there are many environmental projects in which young people must take part," she noted.
Mervat Tellawi stressed that her ministry is concerned with "social development"; therefore, "a priority for us in 1999 is the protection of the environment". She also pledged her "full support" for the 158 NGO working in environmental affairs.
From top: Minister of Environment Nadia Makram Ebeid with Minister of Social Affairs Mervat Tellawi; Fatma El-Batoul, wife of the late journalist Salah Galal, with head of the AOYE Emad Adli; Al-Ahram Assistant Chief-Editor Wagdi Riad with Ibrahim Abdel-Gelil, head of the EEAA
photos: Adel Ahmed
Former United Nations Environment Programme head Mustafa Tolba called on all ministries concerned with the protection of the environment to present a "clear and precise plan showing what was accomplished in the past year and future environmental strategies".
AOYE Director Emad Adli presented the environment minister with a symbolic "written oath to protect the waters of the River Nile", and announced that the 'Egyptian House for Culture and Development' project is on the verge of completion. Adli also honoured the late journalist Salah Galal on the eighth anniversary of his death, "for his immense efforts with AOYE and the environment".
Mohamed Mahmoud El-Sayed, the environment minister's press adviser and the secretary-general of AOYE, said that celebrations coincide with the anniversary of the Environment Law, passed in 1994. Ebeid was honoured for "her efforts to stop industrial waste polluting the Nile last year", El-Sayed noted. Tellawi and Minister for Cabinet Affairs Talaat Hammad were also honoured for their work "on the protection of the environment".
A group of scientists and journalists were also recognised for their role in preventing pollution. These included AOYE director Adli, director of the Social Fund for Development Hussein El-Gammal, environment expert Mohamed El-Ra'i, Al-Ahram assistant chief editor Wagdi Riyad, Al-Akhbar's Mohamed Abdel-Maqsoud, director of Egyptian Television Soheir El-Etribi and Radio director Hamdi El-Konayessi.
El-Gammal noted that the government is especially concerned with projects initiated by young people and aimed at achieving environmental preservation and development.
