Masdar hosted “The Festival” on January 18 & 19, 2019 with a series of fun and educational activities related to sustainability and recycling against the backdrop of one of the world’s most sustainable cities at various zones such as “The Greenhouse” and “The Arcade Alley”. This event was a forward thinking approach to sustainability and its commitment to furthering our understanding of the major technologies that our shaping the world today. 

This year’s festival aimed to encourage UAE residents to live more sustainably. It featured themed educational zones plus local exhibitors promoting sustainable living solutions, organic produce, a variety of workshops for children and family, music and food stalls.

Myself and my sister Sai Sahana Manikandan enjoyed the 2 days at the event. We presented and raised awareness regarding the importance of recycling along with my innovation “Marine Robot Cleaner”. The main intention for developing this prototype was to collect wastes from floating surfaces as around 8 million tons of plastics ends up in our seas and oceans and causing enormous threats to our marine ecosystem.

As Drop It Youth Ambassadors we conveyed the message to the visitors that “Plastics are not our body’s best friend”. We raised awareness about single-use plastic pollution and encouraged individuals and organizations to reduce their carbon dioxide emissions through simple everyday choices. We gave presentations and pep talks and captured the attention of the visitors and requested them to take an online pledge to reduce their single-use plastics at www.dropityouth.org. My objective is to change our practices into green and sustainable solutions using the latest technologies through my PEPC Campaign.

Let’s all align with UAE Vision 2021 and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) and show our support to Masdar’s Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week #WeAreCommitted campaign which is a global campaign for sustainability. We, the global citizens, can try our best to adopt and lead a more sustainable life by following these simple tips:

1. Carry a refillable water bottle

2. Refuse plastic food packaging

3. Refuse plastic straws, plates, cups….

4. Take your own shopping bags (cotton/jute bags)

5. Save water and electricity

6. Plant trees

7. Walk or use public transport whenever possible to your school or office to reduce air pollution