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Dow Marine Conservation Program Clears Over One Ton of Waste from Kuwait's Beaches

Volunteers clean beaches as part of Dow-sponsored program to protect coastal habitats
Kuwait City, Kuwait - July 18, 2011 - The Dow MarineConversation Program (DMCP) has helped clear over one ton of waste fromKuwait's beaches since April 2011, in an effort to preserve the country'scoastal habitats and marine ecosystems. DMCP is a sustained, year-long programintroduced by the Dow Chemical Company and en.v as part of Al Yaal, the firstnationwide marine conservation initiative to protect Kuwait's richmarine ecosystem.

An estimated 1,300-kgs of waste, which included metal, paper andplastic, was collected by 97 volunteers who covered 64,000 square meters ofbeach and shoreline during seven beach cleaning events held since the Programwas launched on XX April 2011. Volunteers, along with members from K'S PATH,the Kuwait Diving Team, the Climate Change Project, the Green Target Company,the Kuwait Red Crescent Society (KRCS) and Spread The Passion collectedterrestrial marine waste from Doha beach, Sulaibikhat beach and Umm Almaradimisland. The collected waste has been recycled.

"The Dow Marine Conversation Program is an excellent example of howcooperation, between businesses and responsible citizens, can help make adifference to our environment," said Jamel Attal, Country Managing Director,Dow Kuwait. "As a company with a global commitment to preserving our planet andpromoting sustainable practices, it was only fitting for us to support this initiativeto help conserve Kuwait's valuable coastal habitats and marine ecosystems. Itssuccess so far, in clearing over a ton of waste from Kuwait's beaches, helpsvalidate the need for such a program and we are pleased to have been able toplay a role."

A total of three clean-ups a month are scheduled until the end ofDecember 2011. Efforts are also underway to collaboratewith key government entities for large format clean-ups, signage installationand waste management facilities, in addition to providing additional researchfindings on Kuwait's marine environment.

"Dow's Marine Conservation Program has seen an encouragingand positive response in its first three months. Members of Kuwait's widercommunity have without a doubt, recognized the program's aims and objectives."said Zahed Sultan, Managing Partner and CEO of en.v. "Being the first sustainedmulti-level program of its kind, Dow's Marine Conservation Program has set anexample of how businesses and society can work together towards promotingenvironmental consciousness and making a meaningful difference."

As part of its ongoing efforts, the DMCP has continued to promoteinterest amongst the youth at various local exhibitions and trade forums,including the Proud to Be Kuwaiti Event, the Kuwait Environmental MonthConference, Kuwait Energy, Water and Electricity 2011 and the Kuwait University'sCollege for Women's Vocational Exhibition. Prospective volunteers were signedup on the spot to participate in future clean-up initiatives.

-Ends-

AboutDMCP
The Dow Marine Conservation Program (DMCP) is a sustained, year-long programintroduced by Dow Chemical and en.v under the Al Yaal umbrella. Al Yaal isKuwait's first nationwide marine conservation initiative tomobilize all factions of society to protect Kuwait's rich marine ecosystem.Through preventive and reactive measures such as clean-up activities,education, advocacy and community ownership, Al Yaal aspires to include volunteer groups, non-profitorganizations, companies, government agencies, educational institutions andlocal media in its efforts to preserve Kuwait's coastal environment.

AboutDow
Dow combines the power of science and technology with the "Human Element"to passionately innovate what is essential to human progress. The Companyconnects chemistry and innovation with the principles of sustainability to helpaddress many of the world's most challenging problems such as the need forclean water, renewable energy generation and conservation, and increasingagricultural productivity. Dow's diversified industry-leading portfolio ofspecialty chemical, advanced materials, agrosciences and plastics businessesdelivers a broad range of technology-based products and solutions to customersin approximately 160 countries and in high growth sectors such as electronics,water, energy, coatings and agriculture. In 2010,Dow had annual sales of $53.7bn and employed approximately 50,000 peopleworldwide. The Company's more than 5,000 products are manufactured at 188 sitesin 35 countries across the globe. References to "Dow" or the"Company" mean The Dow Chemical Company and its consolidatedsubsidiaries unless otherwise expressly noted.

About Dow in Kuwait
Fornearly 15 years, Dow and Petrochemical Industries Company K.S.C. (PIC) ofKuwait have shared one successful milestone after another, partnering on sixindustry-leading joint ventures: EQUATE Petrochemical Company , MEGlobal,Equipolymers, EQUATE Marketing Company, The Kuwait Olefins Company (TKOC) , andThe Kuwait Styrene Company (TKSC). As the largest foreign investor, and thelargest private employer of Kuwaiti nationals, through its JVs, in thepetrochemicals industry in Kuwait, Dow has consistently promoted economicdevelopment and prosperity. Dow and PIC's joint ventures combine Dow's strongexisting asset base, technology position and market presence. Dow's partnershipwith Kuwait's noted NGO, LoYAC is in line with Dow's commitment to the communitiesin which it operates. LoYAC is noted in Kuwait for its inspired, innovativeyouth education and activities program, such as Dow's sole partnership of theF1 Schools Challenge, support of LoYAC's award winning Drama Club and otheryouth developmental programs in Kuwait and abroad.

About en.v
en.v (a subsidiary of ElBoutique Creative Group www.elboutique.com) is an initiative dedicated tosocial responsibility in the Arab world. en.v's primary objective is toseek out public sector bodies, private sector and civil society organizationsin the region, document their efforts, and create interactivity between themtowards developing a more thought-conscious society. Using formats that areappealing to the masses, en.v strives to develop mediums that entities canutilize as platforms for communicating their social efforts and engaging theirrespective stakeholder communities.

About'Al Yaal'
AlYaal (www.alyaal.com)is Kuwait's first nationwide marine conservation initiative. Thesustained, multi-pronged initiative seeks to mobilize all factions of societyto protect and restore Kuwait Bay coastline and three islands - Umm AlMaradim, Kubbar and Quaroh. These areas are abundant in marine life, coralreefs and serve as natural nesting grounds for turtles and migratorybirds. These areas also see high levels of indirect and direct man-madewaste. Through preventive and reactive measures such as clean-upactivities, education, advocacy and community ownership, Al Yaal engagesvolunteer groups, non-profit organizations, companies, government agencies,educational institutions and local media.

Visit Al Yaal:
www.alyaal.com

Join en.v online:
www.envearth.com

Join the en.v Facebook Fan Page:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/env/265809271796?ref=ts

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www.twitter.com/env_initiative

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For more information,please contact
The en.v Initiative
www.envearth.com
Tel: +965.2252.4614
Fax: +965.2252.4615
env@envearth.com

Sager Albenali
The Dow Chemical Company
Tel: +965.229.7944

Rosie Muhanna
Weber Shandwick Kuwait
+965.2232.2998
rosie.muhanna@ws-mena.com

Nisreen Sarryeh
Weber Shandwick MENA
+971 4 321 0077
Nisreen.sarryeh@ws-mena.com

© Press Release 2011