On deadly ground — Experts stress the need to raise awareness on threats to environment

Saudi Gazette report Experts say the majority of Saudi population is unaware of the importance of keeping the environment clean and not littering. Many people do not care about their environment and dump trash on streets and in parks without caring about the effects of their actions. Al-Riyadh daily spoke to several experts on the importance of raising public awareness on the issue. Environmental expert Dr. Salih Ali said man’s irresponsible behavior has disrupted the ecological system and undermined its ability to maintain equilibrium. “Sometimes human beings can be careless, selfish and ungrateful to the environment. They have caused so many problems, contributing to the destruction and deterioration of the elements of our environment,” he said, adding that the environmental problem caused by humans is a global phenomenon. Several international conferences on the environment have concluded that man’s irresponsible actions have caused extensive destruction and governments need to exert serious efforts to raise public awareness about the importance of preserving the environment. Falih Al-Dakhnan, an environmental activist, said reckless human actions have destroyed vegetation, expedited extinction of many species of animals and plants and worsened the overall state of the environment. “Although the Saudi Wildlife Society has exerted immense efforts to raise public awareness on the issue of environmental protection, people continue to commit violations against wild plants and animals,” he said while adding that the private sector and the government should join forces to make environment protection a part of mainstream culture. In agreement was Falih Al-Jabal, a volunteer and activist, who said parents need to teach their children at an early age how to protect the environment and view it as a place that should always be clean and preserved. “They should instill these values in their young minds and live by them so that their children emulate them,” he said. Omar Al-Obaisi, a learning difficulty expert, said the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) urged Muslims to keep their environment clean. He also agreed that parents can help spread awareness by explaining to their children how the Prophet treated the environment and called upon his companions to follow in his footsteps. “It’s a gradual process. Parents should grow the love of environment in their children’s hearts and the children will love the environment and even pass it down to future generations,” Al-Obaisi said. According to Dr. Muhammad Al-Sufiani, president of Taif University’s Al-Khurmah branch, most families are unaware of the important role the environment plays in people’s lives. “They view it as unimportant; consequently, their children will grow up with similar views,” he said. “A child adopts cultural values and traditions from his parents. If parents take their children out for a picnic at a public park or a desert area, they should teach them to keep the place clean and explain to them that all elements of environment depend on one another and are equally important.”