Go green this week

It's time to celebrate nature and its bounties with the Nature Surprises week which opens formally this evening with a glitzy ceremony at the Mall of the Emirates. Organised by Dubai Police the Nature Surprises week starts today and will run up to August 2. It is the sixth theme week of Dubai Summer Surprises (DSS) 2006 and addresses a very vital area of modern day life i.e. environment conservation. The week as the name suggest will encompass a series of events and activities that emphasise on the importance of nature and environment. It's a unique initiative by Dubai Police to educate youngsters about judicious use of the natural resources and maintaining a balance in the ecosystem.

The opening ceremony this evening hosts an entertaining extravaganza 'Palm of Life' for everyone to enjoy. The lively half hour programme will be performed by an Italian troupe who have won people's hearts with their exciting performance at the new Millennium celebrations in Rome. This show is based on the four elements of nature like water, air, fire and sand and marks the beginning of the theme week. Members of the public are also welcome to join the inauguration of the week which will also host a laser show.

The weekly event's main sponsors are Gargash Enterprises, Wild Wadi Water Park, A.A. Al Moosa Enterprises, Al Yousuf Motors LLC while the co-sponsors are Emirates Bank, Xerox, Wonderland Theme and Water Park, Kodak, Yemenia- Yemen Airways, Grand Optics, Etisalat and Juma Al Majid. Dubai Police's mascot Mobda and their Golden Jubilee Celebrations logos form part of the Nature Surprises promotion.

Dubai Police music band will welcome the guests who will be there to attend the ceremony. Students from various local schools will present a march which will then continue at other venues through the week. The Nature Bride will be seen walking the alleyways of the mall to start a treasure hunt competition for children. The winner of the competition will receive a prize and a piece of advice from the bride.

The other programmes that will continue through the week will take place at different shopping malls daily from 5pm to 10pm. Deira City Centre will host a Butterflies workshop, the Great Bird Spectacle and Marine Environment exhibition throughout the week. The Great Bird Spectacle is a unique activity where children will be provided with binoculars and allowed to watch bird specimen from around the world in a simulated forest.

The Garden Corner and Fun Island Workshops take place at Ibn Battuta Mall while a special presentation on Natural Disasters takes place at Mercato. An Anti-Aids campaign takes place at the Ibn Battuta Mall from Thursday to Saturday which will continue at Al Ghurair City from Sunday until Wednesday. Al Ghurair City hosts Camping for kids and Fun Corner Workshop. Camping teaches children about animals and plants in the wild and how to preserve the natural balance.

Dubai Trees will speak to the children and invite them to enter a competition that gives them fabulous prizes in the end. The participants will plant a sapling and then qualify to win a special gift from the Mother Tree. Apart from this, Burjuman also hosts Fun Island Workshop, Water World and Life Box. All these events spread the message of environment conservation among children.

The Drops of Water event takes place at Reef Mall. This activity will teach children about the vitality of water for life on earth as well as how to preserve water for future generations, all in a fun, entertaining and educational atmosphere through a theatrical play, animations, games, workshops and gallery.

'I love Nature' and Fun Corner Workshop take place at Lamcy Plaza throughout the week. Besides these several other entertaining activities make up the weeklong events schedule. Take a picture with Kodak and Hocus Pocus games are two such events that are sure to win over the hearts of the little ones.

Free eye tests by Grand Optical are also being offered to visitors at various shopping malls as part of the Nature Surprises week.

The 10-week long DSS, which opened with the Ice Surprises week on June 21, celebrated the Art Surprises, Food Surprises, Adventure Surprises, Cartoon Surprises and continues with the Nature Surprises, Knowledge Surprises, Flower Surprises, Heritage Surprises, and concludes with Back-2-School Surprises on September 1.