To take forward UNEP?s One Billion Tree Campaign in the UAE ,  Kehkashan Basu , Academy Coordinator for Plant-for –the-Planet United Arab Emirates and the Global Coordinator for UNEP?s Major Group for Children and Youth had conducted UAE?s first ever academy on  22^nd September,2012 which was a resounding success. Encouraged by the response and the demand it generated amongst students, she organized UAE?s second  academy on 23^rd March 2013 in Dubai .

23^rd March was coincidentally the day when millions across the globe observed Earth Hour. Kehkashan chose this day for the academy to raise consciousness about conservation to a new level. Kehkashan became a Climate Justice Ambassador during Rio+20 and she in turn ordained 64 students as Climate Justice Ambassadors during the inaugural UAE academy. Some of these climate justice ambassadors, who are also members of Kehkashan?s youth organization, Green Hope UAE, were instrumental in conducting this latest academy of the UAE.

The turnout of this academy exceeded all expectations and was much higher than the inaugural academy. The sponsors supported Green Hope UAE in moving to a larger venue, the prestigious Taj Palace Hotel, to accommodate all the participants. After introductions and the ice breaker, the group embarked on the most important activity of the day – tree planting.

 100 saplings planted were planted in one day.

The happy and satisfied group of tree planters, thereafter, plunged enthusiastically into a presentation which dealt with the founding history and philosophy of Plant-for-the-Planet . They learnt about climate change , greenhouse gases , carbon footprint and how a simple activity like planting a tree can positively impact the survival of our planet.

This was followed by the popular World Café sessions . The first session was an interactive quiz on the environment . This was followed by a unique Art from Waste session where groups were given various waste products, such as cans, CDs, cardboard boxes, plastic bottles  and newspapers and they created models out of them with environmental messages.

Green Hope believes in the power of music as a medium of expression and as in the inaugural academy, group members composed and rendered a song on the theme of Climate Justice.

The academy concluded with the certificate presentation ceremony and a group photograph. The duration of the academy was for seven hours but all the participants were unanimous in their opinion that it was the most engrossing and enjoyable workshop they had attended.

Green Hope UAE has now inducted over 150 climate justice ambassadors in the UAE though the two academies held till date and vows to carry on its mission of creating awareness about climate justice by spreading its message with the effective slogan ?STOP TALKING, START PLANTING?.

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