A group of dedicated students have been out and about looking for suitable recyclable materials to build their boats for the 2nd Annual Whatever Floats Your Boat race at the Festival Marina, Dubai Festival City on Friday, November 13.
The hard-core evangelising environmentalists who have clubbed themselves under the pennant E-Cubed are recycling bottles, old plastic drums, used T-Shirts, plastic bags, etc, to build their Al-Futtaim Electronics sponsored crafts for the event organised by Dubai Festival City Festival Centre, IGY Marinas and InterContinental Hotel Dubai Festival City.
Four teams comprising four Deira International School students each under Panasonic, Sanyo, Toshiba and Aftron pennants will row boats constructed completely from recycled material. These boats will be on display at the Marina promenade prior to the race which begins around 1pm.
“Students are recycling water bottles, old plastic drums and anything that can be of use. Our E-Cubed recycling group at school is very conscious that nothing is wasted,” said Allan Hare, CAS coordinator, Deira International School, Dubai Festival City.
While proactively going about ensuring the environment is protected through viable recycling programmes in their school and community, this committed group of students has addressed students in RAK and Abu Dhabi on this burning issue and their influence is developing a wonderful awareness among students.
“The race not only is a wonderful weekend social event but it also addresses the issue of recycling, pollution and the effects on our eco system. All these issues are interrelated and without the continuous support of companies like Al-Futtaim, this dissemination of knowledge throughout the community would not happen,” Mr. Hare continued.
Vishesh Bhatia, Group Director – Electronics, Engineering & Technologies, Al-Futtaim said: “Ultimately, everything we consider throwing away can and should be recycled. We are extremely glad to be associated with Deira International School students’ project and this race. These students have shown us that with just a little extra effort, we can reduce landfill waste and pollution, and find innovative ways to highlight the positives of recycling.”
Mr. Hare said the students have gone one step further with their recycled electric goods. ”They are creating useful articles and art pieces, again helping our environment. Bits and pieces not wanted are used in their recycling for jewellery group. Even used T-shirts etc are being turned into bracelets and other art pieces.” The students have also set up a plastic and recycling programme within the school and have visited the Union Paper Mill to see where cardboard and paper waste ends up.
The Whatever Floats Your Boat race aims to raise the level of awareness towards recycling in the city and encourage people to proactively use recycling methods. This year’s race is in support of Emirates Marine Environmental Group. The event last year attracted hundreds of spectators of spectators and helped raise AED 100,000 in support of Emirates Environmental Group and the ‘Clean the Creek’ campaign.