Abu Dhabi, April 25th, 2011 (WAM) -- The Kalima project, affiliated to the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage, has commenced distribution of the "Abu Dhabi Alternative Energy Bag" to top students at a number of schools in Al Gharbia (the Western Region) in Abu Dhabi.

The initiative, under the sponsorship of His Highness General Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, comes as part of efforts to promote love for reading among students and enhance the culture of protecting the environment, under the slogan of "My Environment illuminates my Home", besides commemorating the World Book Day and to follow up the initiative of "Abu Dhabi Bag for Children and Juveniles".

The Sunday Kalima tour in Zayed City in Al Gharbia covered: Zayed Al-Khair Model School for Boys, Al Dhafra Basic Education for Girls. On Monday, Kalima will visit Al-Tafawuq Model School for Boys, and Al-Faw'ah Basic Education for Girls in the City of Al Ain.

During the tour, the "Abu Dhabi Alternative Energy Bag" was distributed to outstanding students at the schools. The bag contained the alternative energy series, which includes eight books translated into Arabic: How to Reduce your Carbon Footprint; Building a Green Community; Hydrogen: Running on Water; Geothermal Energy: Using Earths Furnace; Ocean, Tidal, and Wave Energy: Power from the Sea; Harnessing Power from the Sun; Generating Wind Power; and Biomass: Fueling Change.

The Zayed Al-Khair School and the Al Dhafra School were presented the biggest children's book in the world, published by Kalima and is entitled "In the Land of Tito". The book is distinguished as it carries the child between its covers. The little reader can physically sit inside this book during reading, in an experiment that is quite different from what is familiar in children's Arabic books. The book is 94cm long and is 35cm wide. In shape and content, the book introduces a new world to the child, accompanying him on a journey of colours, words, and magic to the land of Tito.

The "alternative energy" series explores the various renewable energy sources and how to use them, and calls for changing our way of life to save energy and reduce waste by cutting consumption, re-using and recycling. The series points out that that there are two types of energy sources: renewable and non-renewable. The sources of non-renewable energy, such as oil, coal and natural gas, will run out in the future, and they emit carbon dioxide and other gases that cause pollution and global warming, and harm the environment, the series explains.

For this reason, the renewable energy sources must be exploited and their techniques must be improved to preserve the environment, taking into account the running out of other fuels. Kalima has recently published a new book entitled "Les Energies Renouvelables" by Jacques Vernier, which addresses the issue of energy as the driving force and backbone of human civilisation.

Dr. Ali bin Tamim, Director of the Kalima, stressed the importance of this initiative as part of the cultural strategy of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, and the rapid efforts to encourage the young generation to read and promote their environmental culture.

He emphasised that the initiative comes in line with the UAE's interest in renewable energy, and establishes Abu Dhabi as the headquarters of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA). It is also taking place amid rising calls to move away from non-renewable energy sources.

"The value of the book in human life is great, and human development cannot be achieved in isolation from knowledge and science. Since reading is important in human life, looking after the generation of children and young people underlines this significance, and contributes to increasing the numbers of readers in the future," said Abdul Aziz Ali Al Mansouri, the Deputy Director of the Educational District in Al Gharbia.

"We, therefore, thank the sponsor of the Kalima translation project initiative at the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, for his interest and support for culture, education and his sponsorship of scientific and educational projects . Such projects contribute to supporting the cultural movement in society and enhancing the usefulness of education," he added.

Copyright Emirates News Agency (WAM) 2011.