DubaiSat-1 soars into space

BY PMA RASHEED
The Gulf Today, 31 July 2009

Literally reaching for the sky, the UAE added one more feather to its cap when the first earth observation satellite of the country successfully blasted off into space from Baikonur Cosmodrome space centre in Kazakhstan at 4.30 pm local time on Wednesday.

DubaiSat-1 has achieved optimal position in orbit around the earth and has successfully connected with the ground observation station in Dubai being ready for operation, announced the Emirates Institution for Advanced Science and Technology (EIAST).

According to the EIAST, the satellite was launched into space from the Kazakhstan's Baikonur launch pad under the supervision of UAE engineers and scientists, who are responsible for more than a third of the project's implementation. The satellite orbits 14 cycles daily around the earth, 680km above the planet.

DubaiSat-1 was shot out into the orbit by Russian launcher Dnepr, along with five other satellites, including Britain's Deimos 1 and UK-DMC 2, Spain's Nanosat 1B, AprizeSat 4 and AprizeSat 3.

"The UAE engineers and scientists at the Dubai earth observation station were able to stabilise DubaiSat-1 in its 680km orbit at 3:30am local time after the satellite completed two successful orbits of the earth," EIAST has confirmed.

Ahmed Al Mansoori, Director General of EIAST, said, "The team has also remotely deployed the satellite's solar panels, which will power DubaiSat-1 for the next five years. The earth observation team is now working on DubaiSat-1's calibration and data transfer processes before the satellite becomes fully operational."

"DubaiSat-1 is the first remote sensing satellite developed by a UAE entity, in association with the Satrec initiative based in South Korea. The satellite, an authentic addition to the UAE's strategic accomplishments, now carries the UAE's flag into space. The successful launch of the DubaiSat-1 can be attributed to the hard work and dedication of the nation's engineers and scientists," he added.

"The Wednesday launch marks the first time the UAE flag, emblazoned on a panel of the satellite, is in outer space. The achievement will pave the way for additional space projects highlighting the UAE's significant leadership in space technology research," said chief of the EIAST.

According to him, the DubaiSat-1 is a stepping stone in the UAE's attempt to create a sound infrastructure that enables the collection of space and earth observation data to power the comprehensive development of the nation. Observers and analysts described the launch of DubaiSat-1 as a significant achievement for the UAE.

"The satellite is an embodiment of the UAE's efforts in enhancing knowledge and technological development, and embracing the latest achievements to position the nation as the regional hub of the knowledge economy," they said.

According to them, the moon landing was a huge leap for humanity, while DubaiSat-1 is a huge leap for the UAE's science and technology initiatives, and for the nation's aspirations.

Mansouri pointed out that the launch of DubaiSat-1 consists of two segments, including space and ground. The space segment comprises the development, design and manufacture of satellite equipment and components of the measurement and imaging.

"Meanwhile, the ground segment includes the mission control station, image receiving and processing station, antenna and RF sub-system. Images from the satellite can be used for a variety of applications from urban development, scientific research, telecommunications and transportation to civil engineering, constructions, mapping and GIS," he explained.

EIAST will play an instrumental role in creating a knowledge-based economy, and promoting the culture of advanced scientific research and technology innovation in Dubai and the UAE. The institute will also develop an internationally competitive base for human skills development.

Save water now or pay heavy price later

BY PMA RASHEED
The Gulf Today, 31 July 2009

Both public and the authorities should undertake water conservation practices on a war footing ­ in domestic and production activity ­ to achieve sufficient consumption of the resource and to overcome the water scarcity challenges the UAE is facing, an environmentalist has advised. Addressing a community lecture by Emirates Environmental Group (EEG), sustainable development and water resources expert Sarfraz H Dairkee warned: "The status of our water resources are alarmingly in jeopardy. We adopt dangerously managed methods to meet our ever-increasing water demands and the challenges to meet these are therefore ever-increasing for a growing population and an expanding economy."

Safraz Dairkee, a founding board member of the Emirates Green Building Council and its Technical Committee head, delivered a lecture on 'Water footprint: Increasing demand and diminishing resources.'

"Where do we get our water resources? Are we producing and consuming water in a sustainable way?" he asked friends of the environment who participated in the community awareness programme.

According to Dairkee, consumption of water should be done with growing efficiency to serve more people now and in the future. Given the current realities, a new call is therefore being made to conserve water resources by adopting local solutions.

Meanwhile, Dairkee affirmed that the UAE could still achieve sustainability in water production and consumption. To do so, the UAE should manage its water supply and demand more efficiently as its water footprint is among the world's highest.

Water recycling

"Several innovative ways could be adopted to address the water challenges as an individual and as a society. Simple conservation measures for families and homes and hi-technology co-generation plants for recycling are some of the solutions. Water recycling should also be practiced at homes, buildings and factories," he outlined.

"Government authorities, individuals and business communities must realise the situation that the world's most precious resources are dwindling," Dairkee advised.

He also discussed the present paradigm of increasing demand for water in the country and the challenge of dwindling resources.

"The UAE has the highest per capita water consumption rate in the world. People of the UAE consume more water than people of all other countries of the world, and it's 10 times higher than they were consuming before the country's economic boom," he revealed.

"The daily water consumption of a single person in the UAE was about 40 litres before the economic and lifestyle revolutions witnessed in the country. But, the per capita consumption has jumped up to 460 litres after the developments, making it the highest in the region and three times higher than a European's average water consumption rate, which is 160 litres per day," Dairkee detailed.

"Population and fast economic growth have pushed up demands for water significantly over the last few years. The challenge now is to meet these demands adequately given the fact that the country sits in an arid zone and water resources are diminishing," he noted.

"Less than one per cent of the global water resources are actually fresh and renewable. The UAE is in an arid region, which is challenged to meet its growing water demand each and every single day," he added.

Water neutrality'

Dairkee explained the concept of 'water neutrality, is an idea that is being explored by business, NGOs and policy makers as a way forward.

He said: "However, the concept of water neutrality is not a simple one as it still needs to be firmed up. The criteria for water neutrality in fact remain a subject of debate. Our concept relates water neutrality loosely to the ecological footprint concept, while another concept introduces the idea of 'water offsets'."

He also defined the concept of 'water footprint', as is related to the 'carbon footprint' in the production and delivery of water.

"The magnitude of production of water in the country to meet local demands could not pass without having a corresponding impact on the environment as the process depends on fossil-based energy and huge amounts of brine are dumped in the sea," he mentioned.

Clean water, a right

According to Habiba Al Marashi, chairperson of the EEG, it's our right to get clean and adequate water every time we open the tap in our homes but we do not see the process of producing it. "We do not hear the humming of huge desalination plants. Certainly we do not feel the pinch of the extra cost of getting water ready and available when we get our bills," she said.

UAE releases 20 Arabian Oryx in Jordan's natural reserve

BY PMA RASHEED
The Gulf Today, 30 July 2009

The UAE hosts the largest group of Arabian Oryx in the world today. The country’s wild life wealth can boast of with over 4,000 numbers of the Oryx species, according to a statistics revealed by Abu Dhabi Environment Agency (EAD).
“In an initiative to reintroduce the Arabian Oryx into their natural habitat, the UAE has released 20 Arabian Oryx, including 8 males and 12 females, to Jordan’s Wadi Rum nature reserve on Wednesday on Wednesday,” said Mohammed Ahmed Al Bawardi, Secretary-General of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council and Managing Director of EAD.
He said: “Reintroducing the Arabian Oryx into its natural habitats in Jordan is part of the UAE's efforts to conserve the species, which is not only endangered but also an important part of the Arabian Peninsula's heritage.”
“A similar programme is being developed to reintroduce the extinct species into its natural habits in Iraq, as part of this initiative. Countries in the region have adopted a Regional Strategy to Conserve Arabian Oryx, with plans to enhance coordination in safeguarding the Oryx species,” he added.
Al Bawardi noted that the strategy aims at facilitating the conservation of the Arabian Oryx in the range states with a long term objective to establish a viable population that will roam the Arabian Peninsula.
Monitoring
“The release of Oryx came after 8 decades of extinction of the animal in Jordan. The animals were transferred earlier this year to Jordan after administering medical check-ups and the necessary vaccinations by Al Ain Wildlife Park and Resort,” he pointed out.
According to Al Bawardi, the 20 animals are the first herd to be released into Wadi Rum, were placed in enclosures to give them opportunities to adapt to the desert habitat. They will be monitored by satellite to track their movements and behaviors to further ensure the animals' safety.
Wadi Rum Natural Reserve
Al Bawardi explained: “Wadi Rum is a protected area covering 720 square kilometers of dramatic desert wilderness in the south of Jordan, with huge mountains of sandstone and granite emerge, sheer-sided, from wide sandy valleys to reach heights of 1700 meters and more.”
“Narrow canyons and fissures cut deep into the mountains and many conceal ancient rock drawings etched by the peoples of the desert over millennia. The Bedouin tribes still live among the mountains of Rum and their large goat-hair tents are a special feature of the landscape,” he added.
The Arabian Oryx
“In general, there are five species of Oryx, including scimitar-horned Oryx, Arabian Oryx, and Gemsbock, Addax and Bisa Oryx. The Arabian Oryx is the only Oryx that exists in the Middle East region, while the other four species exist in African region,” Al Bawardi said.
He went in to details: “The Arabian Oryx was officially declared as extinct in the wild in 1972 in its last location in Jiddat Al Harasis in Oman. Its long thin horns curve backwards slightly, and may reach up to 90 centi metres, while its hooves are adapted naturally towards living in sandy areas. The feeds on grasses and young shoots of shrubs, and they are able to derive their nutritional water needs from the morning dew on desert plants”.
“The herds are led by a dominant female, while bachelor males usually lead a solitary life on the fringe of the main herd. Arabian Oryx animal is expected to live 13 to 19 years,” he added.
UAE’s Commitment
According to him, the Arabian Oryx has received a large share of the UAE wildlife protection and sustainable development strategy, as part of the UAE’s long term commitment to conserve its precious biodiversity.
“In the early 1960s, the late Sheikh Zayed Al Nahyan directed to capture two breeding pairs of the Arabian Oryx for the nucleus of a captive-breeding programme in Al Ain. Hunting and habitat destruction were the main reasons behind the Oryx's disappearance after it had once roamed the Arabian Peninsula,” he remarked.
The Abu Dhabi Environment Agency (EAD), chairing the Coordinating Committee for Conservation of Arabian Oryx, had signed a sponsorship agreement in April 2007 with Al Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority Aqaba Special Economic Zone, towards launching the project.
EAD sponsors the three-year project, with an estimated cost of $1.100 million. The project also entails rehabilitating the habitat and helping local residents to improve their living standards, apart from reintroducing the Oryx into the Wadi Rum wildlife protected area.
During the first phase of this project, a management committee was set up to oversee implementation of the programme.
The initiative has been taken by His Highness Sheikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces.
The committee is composed of representatives from EAD, Al Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority and the Jordanian's Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature.

Drowned man's body flown back to India

BY PMA RASHEED

The Gulf Today, 16 July 2009

The body of an Indian expatriate found dead last week in Jumeirah beach has been repatriated to his native place on Wednesday night.
Dubai Police had found the body of 31-year man Renup Kuttappan in Jumeirah beach last Thursday.
Renup hailed from the Kollam district of the Indian state of Kerala and his body was earlier identified by his relatives and colleagues.
The body has been transported to Thiruvananthapuram International Airport on Air India IX-540 on Wednesday, said his employer.
Renup, a sales person with Chungath jewellery located in Karama, was living with his wife in a flat in Deira.
The manager of the jewellery outlet Shony Pappachan told The Gulf Today that Renup went missing since Thursday. "He left the shop after it closed on Wednesday night and we didn't see him after that."
"As Renup was absent from work on Thursday, we tried to get in touch with him, but we couldn't. So we went to the police station to lodge a report," he said.
"We came to know from the police that his body was found dead on the beach. All our staff members are in a state of shock," he added.
"We saw the postmortem report and it stated accidental death while drowning in the sea," said Pappachan.
He noted that Renup had returned after his annual vacation recently and joined the outlet on the sixth of this month. He had been employed with the jewellery outlet for 18 months.
"Renup's wife had already gone back to India following his death. We came to know about it from the police. However, there is no evidence or confirmation whether the man had committed suicide," said Pappachan.
Meanwhile, the incident happens within a couple of days of the warning that came from Dubai Police that beachgoers should take extra caution while venturing into sea water during summer. Drowning incidents have been increasingly reported at this time of the year.
The police had warned beach-goers against ignoring weather changes while swimming in the beaches during the summer's poor weather conditions.

Endangered animals deserve a new lease of life

BY PMA RASHEED

The Gulf Today, 18 July 2009
Pix by Prashanth Mukunthan

A collection of endangered wild fauna of the UAE is on display at Al Qasba in Sharjah. The show titled "Envirozone," aimed at raising awareness among the young generation on the wildlife of the region, has been hosted by Sharjah National History and Botanical Museum, as part of summer festival "big house of fun."
The Sharjah Natural History and Botanical Museum (SNBM) participates in the environment awareness zone, where different types of local plants and seeds have been displayed to educate visitors about their benefits and uses.
Also, visitors to the zone are able to take part in daily activities such as drying plants and creative shell workshops as well as viewing rare photos of hawks and animals that face extinction.
The SNBM is also holding a special lecture on protecting the natural environment and how to preserve animals and hawks native to the UAE.
According to Zeina Alniaimi, activities and exhibitions officer at SNBM, the most endangered animals of the region are sand or rheem gazelle, striped hyena, Ethiopian hedgehog, hare cape, oryx, flamingo, caracal and Dhab.
She said: "Sand or rheem gazelle (Scientific name: Gazella subgutturosa marica) is a very rare animal, absent from the mountains. This species of antelope favours open sand areas and gravel plains. Herds of up to 100 animals once reamed great distances in search of food. It is principally a browser taking a range of bush, shrub and herb parts. It will also eat grass occasionally. Females give birth in spring and autumn, frequently to twins."
"Meanwhile, Striped Hyena (Scientific Name: Hyaena hyaena sultana is seen in dry and desert areas, except the central sand areas. It also occurs on the coast where it scavenges along the beaches. The Striped Hayena is the largest carnivore in Southern Arabia, although some male Arabian leopards may approach a similar weight. A female hyena will give birth to one to four cubs in den or burrow excavated by another species," she added.
Alniaimi pointed out: "Ethiopian hedgehogs (Scientific name: Hemiechinus aethiopicus) are found in the true desert and semi-desert areas of the Peninsula. In common with other hedgehogs, this species eats insects, spiders, young birds, reptiles (including snakes), frogs and toads. Young and helpless hedgehogs are born after a gestation period of 40 days. This is the most common hedgehog in the Arabian Peninsula. It can live up to 10 years."
"Hare capes (Scientific name: Lepus capenisi L.) are the versatile mammals that can be found in desert habitats throughout all of the Arabian Peninsula. Herbivores feed on grasses, seeds, roots and leaves. This hare is a mainly nocturnal animal and well adapted to living in areas with little vegetation," she said.
According to Zeina, Flamingo (Scientific name: Phoenicopterus rubber) are filter feeders, as they feed on small organism with their filtering beak. In the UAE, they are found along the coast and in some small inland water bodies.
She explained: "Caracal (Scientific name: Caracal caracal schmitzi) are the second largest wild cat in the UAE, although not as rare in the mountains of the Northern Emirates as is generally believed. It prefers semi­desert areas, including hill ranges, the lower slopes of mountains and broken rocky plains. Their prey consists of mammals, ranging from mice to gazelles, birds and occasionally reptiles."
"Dhab or the spiny-tailed Agamas are a kind of lizards living in burrows that they excavate in gravel plains and scrubby deserts. Burrow entrances can be identified as semicircular opening with scattered droppings in the vicinity. Adults are mainly herbivorous but eat insects, while juveniles consume a much greater proportion of insect prey," she noted.

Swine flu-free certificates not required, says MoH

BY PMA RASHEED
The Gulf Today, 29 July 2009

The UAE Ministry of Health (MoH) has denied reports that appeared in a UAE English daily (Not The Gulf Today) that resident expatriates who had gone for vacation abroad should produce a swine flu-free medical certificate upon returning to the country.
The State news agency WAM has released the ministry's denial which stated that the National Supervisory Committee for Combating Swine Flu (H1N1 virus) had not issued any decision demanding a medical clearance certificate, from the resident expatriates who went outside the country, to prove that they are not infected with H1N1 virus before entering the country.
The news report published on Tuesday in the newspaper had said that the decree will be implemented from August. Attributed to a source from the National Committee for Combating Swine Flu, the newspaper said that instructions had been given to the entire airports, seaports and other entry points in land borders in the country, to quarantine suspected H1N1 infected patients upon their arrival.
Meanwhile, Dr Ali bin Shuker, Director of the Ministry and Chairman of the Technical Health Committee for Combating Swine Flu has emphasised that the news about the issue is “completely untrue.”
He said: “The National Supervisory Committee for Combating Swine Flu is chaired by the Health Minister Dr Hanif Hassan, and in fighting the H1N1 virus in the UAE, the body is committed to implement the standards outlined by the World Health Organisation (WHO)”.
“The swine flu combating committee has not issued any resolution demanding resident expatriates to prove that they are not infected with H1N1 virus by producing a medical clearance certificate upon their return to the UAE after vacation abroad,” he added.
The newspaper had quoted the source as saying that anyone with symptoms of swine flu trying to enter the country without the specific medical certificate would be prohibited from getting access to the country. Any company or establishment can take actions against a worker who conceals an infection intentionally. The company would have the right to cancel his sponsorship.
Dr Ali bin Shuker also denied findings of the newspaper that the committee to combat swine flu had also taken decisions to provide all shopping malls in the country with thermal scanners to detect people with high fever, before quarantining them.
“The committee had not at all taken such a resolution to install thermal scanners at shopping centres in the country. The idea was not even included on the agenda of the two committees,” affirmed the top health official.
Meanwhile, he noted, the competent authorities are currently determined to launch a public awareness campaign to be worked out in cooperation with other government authorities such as the ministries of education and higher education and the General Authority for Islamic Affairs and Endowment.
“The national supervisory committee for combating swine flu has been handling H1N1 infected cases with transparency and clarity aimed at providing maximum safety for the health of the public,” stressed Dr Shuker.
According to him, the committee keeps the public opinion updated with the latest developments on H1NI issues through its weekly update issued every Monday.
“The committee also provides information through interviews of its officials on TV and Radio channels or other media outlets,” he added.

Register for eco card, industries told

BY PMA RASHEED
The Gulf Today, 9 July 2009

THE UAE Ministry of Environment and Water (MOEW) has urged all industrial establishments in the country to register their activities with the authority in order to obtain Environmental Performance Card (EPC) which will be granted by the ministry this year.
The MOEW strongly recommends all types of industrial operators to register for EPC, as the sustainable environmental strategy of the UAE requires industrial sectors to comply with the requirements stipulated in the federal environmental law for the protection and the development of the environment and its regulations, said a senior MOEW official.
Yahya Ramadan Al Balushi, senior environmental researcher and EPC project manager at the MOEW, told The Gulf Today in an exclusive interview that the Environmental Performance Card is a part of overall environmental management system (EMS) and it has been developed to address various environmental issues happening in the industrial sector.
“The EPC guidelines have been issued to encourage establishments of various industrial operations to obtain the EPC certificate, which will help them reach the desired environmental compliance goals on local, regional and international levels,” he added.
According to him, the EPC is provided upon a set of requirements formulated by the ministry. The industrial establishments should obtain environmental permit from the competent authority, including the submission of a comprehensive study on the environmental impact assessment (EIA) in accordance with article 4 of the federal law.
Evaluation process
“The EPC evaluation is based on the geographical location of the facility, as well as the existing services and infrastructures. The establishments should provide a summary of the industrial processes and technologies used, including technical detailed plans and layouts of process stages,” Balushi said.
Awareness
He noted that the information should include a flow sheet diagram, showing inlets of raw materials and outlets of main products and sub-products as well as wastes generation, liquid discharges and air emissions.
“The environmental performance card will help identify and assess significant environmental risks associated with industrial operations and minimise and prevent their impacts on working and public environment,” he added.
Balushi pointed out: “With the EPC, industries can manage their operations effectively and educate themselves towards the protection of the environment. By implementing the best available and cost-effective control mechanisms and procedures supported by sophisticated technologies, the EPC can prevent pollution efficiently.”
“The EPC criteria suggest industrial operators to publish their environmental policies internally and make employees aware of the policies, besides communicating with the environmental authority concerned. They also will have to measure their green performance through regular environmental audits and assessments of compliance with the eco policies, which are relevant to the environmental legislations and requirements,” he explained.
Environment
“To obtain the green performance certificate, the operators should also train their employee in health, safety and environment (HSE) issues and allocate an environmental officer, who is able to coordinate with concerned environmental authorities. The HSE and self-inspection comprehensive manuals should be established to prevent environmental risk impacts in the occupational environment,” noted the EPC project manager.
“Air quality monitoring programme should be carried out in working environment, as well as monitoring system for air pollutants emitted from stationary sources.
Green strategies
Also among the criteria, development of environmental health risk impact strategy with periodic monitoring of different types of pollutants in working environment and implementing biological monitoring system for the employees,” he added.
According to Balushi, integrated waste management programme for waste minimisation, recycling and treatment and ultimate disposal should also be developed.
The sustainability of machineries and equipments should be safeguarded to improve efficiency of industrial processes.
“Fire prevention, adaptation of environmental contingency plan and application of clean production concepts are also must for environmental certificate, in addition to providing with adequate exposure assessment and hazard identification for chemical substances in workplace,” he highlighted.
“The industrial operator shall also meet the requirements demonstrated in the questionnaire designed for preparing Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) report for industrial facility, in accordance with article 5 and 97 of the Federal law,” he said.
The registration form and EPC guidelines are available on the web portal of the ministry www.moew.gov.ae.