Watani launches Watani.tv

Watani.tv aims to create an on-line archive of the country's heritage and lifestyle as memories fade. It will open up to everyone, living in or visiting today's UAE, a platform to share views and life experiences.

Through this initiative Watani aims to provide an opportunity for the people in the UAE to collect the country's past and present treasures. These will include social and cultural customs, arts, traditional recipes, herbal remedies, tales and family stories and crafts for the generations to come. The TV portal is designed to capture a large number of sound bites, video clips, images to preserve the memories and experiences of the country and its people.

In the informal context of video, the users will have the opportunity to film almost anything they wish with the use of digital cameras and mobile telephones and to upload their own personal everyday experiences onto the website. Watani.tv will also be an on-line heritage reservoir that will be the reference for anyone searching for information about the country.

Ahmed Obaid Al Mansoori, Coordinator General, Watani Programme, said that "the "National Treasures" is an ambitious initiative, but it is not a project that can be the responsibility of a single organisation. It is the responsibility of the people of the UAE. Recording and archiving the various elements of our heritage and national identity, which is our most precious treasure, should be the responsibility of each and every individual.

"Heritage is never a hindrance to development and as we stride into the 21st century, this electronic treasure chest is living proof of how development can help to preserve traditions".

The "National Treasures" initiative will include categories such as 'UAE Pride', 'Sports', 'History & Culture' and 'Everyday Living in the UAE', and it will allow users to upload audio, visual and multi-format materials into a variety of different fields relating to the heritage of the nation. Users will be encouraged to register on the website and share with others their film and still images, audio and commentary about special events that have touched their hearts.

Al Mansoori added that watani.tv has a dedicated space that celebrates the signing of the Union treaty as the UAE celebrates its 36th National Day. It already holds dozens of memories and testimonials of people who attended, experienced or heard about the events related to that historical day. He said "by launching "National Treasures" on the occasion of the National Day, we hope to uphold the practices of good citizenship every day of the year."