http://www.voanews.com/english/2008-06-09-voa57.cfm
excerpts:
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The World Health Organization says just breathing the air in Cairo, Egypt, for one day is equivalent to smoking 20 cigarettes. Air pollution and waste management are major problems, but the city has been making some progress. Recently the city co-hosted an environmental awareness day at a new park, that was built over a former waste landfill. Aya Batrawy has more from our Middle East bureau in Cairo.
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In an effort to raise awareness about the problem of pollution and its effects on the environment, local and international organizations celebrated World Environment Day at Al-Azhar park, located in the heart of Old Cairo. Surrounded by slums, this park once stood as a large landfill of waste and harmful debris, but was turned into one of the most beautiful natural sites in Egypt just a few years ago.
One of the many young volunteers at Egypt’s environmental day, Sara Refaat, explained the importance of hosting the event at the park.
“It is an example of how you can turn something that was not pretty and was a source of pollution and mismanagement of waste and how it can be turned into something beautiful and environmentally friendly. At the same time it is a fun place and it is very healthy to be here, there are lots of greenery and open air so there is lots of fresh air,” Refaat said.
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Children from different provinces in Egypt were invited to the park to learn about the environment. One young girl from the poorer town of Beni Sweif shared what she discovered.
She said she learned that cleanliness is part of the Islamic religion and that anything she eats should not be thrown on the ground because it will pollute the area. Plus anyone coming from abroad will see it and then Egyptians look bad, she said.
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It may be difficult to change the habits of older generations about the need to be more environmentally friendly, but children may be the key to turning things around. Volunteers and sponsors say they hope the children visiting Al-Azhar park will be inspired by the greenery and beauty, and will help spread the word about how pollution can harm their city.
Ismailimail 