Globally, failing to learn how to read has emerged as a critical problem, and ending illiteracy is one of the Millennium Development Goals.

UAE government has adopted the cause of supporting this goal by promoting reading and improving the literacy rate. UAE is aiming to become a beacon of knowledge. This is only possible through a nation immersed in the reading culture.

Reading is the basic skill for a new generation of scientists, researchers and innovators, Establishment of a knowledge-based economy and changing the path of development is based on science and innovation. This requires nurturing a generation of readers and fully aware of developments happening around them in the world as well as of and the best ideas and the latest theories.

UAE government has underlined the importance of reading in broadening one's intellect and knowledge, as well as in promoting tolerance, openness and intercultural communication.

Among many steps taken to develop the culture of reading in UAE, the cabinet in Dec 2015 declared year 2016 as 'The year of reading' in the UAE to create a generation of book lovers and consolidate the UAEs position as a global capital for culture and knowledge.

Many schools, colleges, government offices and NGOs are all doing their best to support this and further help in promoting the reading culture.

As youth community group we 'Students for the Earth' also supported the reading campaign by an event. One of our team leader Anagha Rajesh planned an event titled 'Festival of Reading'.  Eminent authors Ms Chandana Roy(author of  "The Good Girl") and Ms Fidha Labeeb (author of  "Florescentia") were the Chief Guests. The agenda was:

Creative Writing competition

Interactive session with the authors

Prize distribution to the winners

I love creative writing so I also participated in it. The topic was given on the spot. The topic for us (senior category) was "How can reading be sustainable?".

I wrote my views and thoughts on it.  My essay included the importance of reading, the ways to make reading sustainable, the need to exchange the books (to avoid wasting them), the fact that paper comes from trees is enough to realise that we must let the book be read by as many people as possible rather than throwing it after one read, books can be given to public library .

I had also mentioned in my essay about  the E-Reader, be it Kindle or iPad, or any other e-reading gadget :  When you think about it, these devices would seem to be more environmentally friendly than our typical paper and cardboard book, even a paperback. It is a misconception people have that e-reading or e-readers are more eco-friendly or sustainable. But that's not always true because of basic tenet of sustainability, life cycle analysis.  We must consider not only the trees needed to make paper versus the manufacturing of electronics products, but the shipping costs, fuel, and ultimately, the energy needed to recycle these materials at the end of the day.  Not to mention, what ultimately happens to e-waste?   Where do the non-recyclable remains end up?

Research shows that unless you're a fast and furious reader, the energy required to manufacture and then dispose of an e-reader is probably greater than what're reading 40 or more books per year on your e-reader, that would be the right choice.  But if you use it only occasionally, probably better to stick to a 'regular' book. Thus e-readers are the more environmentally responsible choice only if you are reading in excess of 23 books per year.

Truly the most sustainable way to read is the good old fashioned public library.  If you have excess of books or the ones you have read, donate them to public libraries.  At library books can be read by dozens of people over their lifetime.  And once they are finally too dog-eared and beaten up to grace library shelves, they can be easily recycled since they are generally all paper (even the leather on deluxe bound editions can be recycled).

I also wrote "Words join to form sentences, sentences join to form paras, paras join to form chapters which like beads of a necklace form a book but the thread of beauty comes only when it is read and appreciated by readers. Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body."

I was glad to hear my name as 2nd place winner.

I was thrilled as I got an opportunity to interact with these renowned authors. It was a learning experience.

I shared with other students about Tunza Eco Generation – how Tunza Eco Gen has helped in honing my reading and writing skills. I meant it as on this forum we get to read so many reports and have to write our own reports which enhances our reading and writing skills.

Fellow Ambassadors,  I am sure all of you agree with me that this forum is the best platform to not only practice your environmental passion but also develop other soft skills like creative writing and reading. So THANK YOU TUNZA ECO GEN !

Sources :

www.unesco.org

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