Dear Tunza Friends ,

I want to share with you an innovative campaign by Dubai to highlight water conservation.

A giant inflatable duck was set afloat on Dubai Creek yesterday(1^st Dec) to raise awareness about saving water. The 18-metre-tall inflatable yello duck— an enormous version of the classic ?rubber duck? — was launched by UAE mobile car wash company GeoWash and is being taken by to surprise locations in UAE to teach lessons on water conservation.

Onlookers, on shore and in boats, took pictures as the giant duck floated past. It was set afloat from a platform near Dubai Municipality.

The air-filled duck is a part of water conservation campaign, but its launch was also meant to celebrate UAE National Day and the country?s recent winning bid to host Expo 2020.

Using ropes, boats have been  guiding the duck through the waters. For the next two months, it will tour ?surprise locations? elsewhere in the UAE, docking occasionally where GeoWash staff will distribute handouts and tips on responsible water use.

The gigantic duck, which has been globally accepted as a symbol of joy and happiness, is something new in Dubai. As UAE residents enjoy the arrival of the duck, it also reminds them of the importance of water conservation.

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To further increase the reach of message , GeoWash will be giving away prizes for the best pictures of the duck tweeted by UAE residents with the hashtag #UAE_GiantDuck. People will see it and talk about it, the message behind it. There will be lots of pictures and comments on social media.

 I think it?s a new idea and nice way of getting the word out there.

In the UAE, the average individual water use rate is 500 litres per day, compared with the international rate of 170-300 litres. So it really needs everyone's attention here in UAE to save water. Such campaigns would really be meaningful.