 |
Al-Ahram Weekly 14 - 20 October 1999 Issue No. 451 
|
||
Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
| ||
|
Al-Ahram Weekly 14 - 20 October 1999 Issue No. 451
|
||
| Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
| ||
Egypt Region International Economy Opinion Culture Books Features Profile Travel Living Sports People Time Out Chronicles Cartoons Letters A green corner for the children
MRS SUZANNE Mubarak attended on Monday an Arab League celebration marking the Arab Child Day. Rania Khallaf was there.The celebration, which took place at the Arab League headquarters, was only a part of a larger schedule. The five-day activities included lectures and musical shows performed by children from various Arab countries. The theme of this year's celebration is "the Arab child's right to a safe environment."
"I am pleased to meet you once again under the umbrella of the Arab League to celebrate the Arab Child Day," Mrs Mubarak told the audience at the ceremony. "I am keen on affirming the necessity of providing a safe and clean environment for Arab children. This only reflects our awareness of the connection between a clean environment and the growth of children's physical and psychological health conditions, which is one of our cherished goals," Mrs Mubarak said.
The starting point, she added, is the promotion of environmental awareness in all societal sectors, especially among children, in order to make environmental problems a common responsibility shared by all citizens. "We have achieved many goals in this field. However, there is still a lot to be done. Children's awareness of the importance of preserving the environment can be enhanced through various activities, such as documentary films, publications, scientific books, seminars and cultural competitions," she said.
The "Green Corner" experiment, advocating spreading greenery in the environment, which was initiated in the framework of the "Reading for All" festival, may serve as a model to be followed throughout the country, she added.
"We need a new generation that would work in close cooperation for a country blessed by a clean environment... So, I call upon children to effectively participate in preserving the environment and to show commitment in this respect," she concluded.
In a short speech, Esmat Abdel-Meguid, secretary-general of the Arab League, hailed the efforts made by Mrs Mubarak to raise the social, health and cultural state of Egyptian children. "We have prepared a draft declaration on the rights of Arab children and a working plan for the first decade of the new millennium. This declaration should help in dealing with the challenges of the new era in all Arab countries," he said.
