May 31, 2012
Muscat: Five Omani women presented their research work on environmental concerns to the Majlis Al Shura, thanks to the Environment Society of Oman (ESO) Women's Empowerment and Environmental Education Project.
The women were part of the second phase of the project, which aims to raise environmental awareness among Omani women. Sixty women from Sur, Ibri, Khasab and Yankul participated in the project. Five winners received awards from ESO patron Sayyid Tarik bin Shabib Al Said at the closing ceremony on Tuesday evening.
"This is a pioneering project of ESO in two phases, which joined the efforts of government authorities and civil society organisations towards the achievement of the common goal of environmental protection across the Sultanate. It is with interest and pride that I followed the progress of the Omani women across different phases of the project,- said Sayyid Tarik.
The women learned how to conduct background research, gather data and finally document an existing environmental problem in their respective communities. ESO chose the best research report from each region that documented an environmental concern and suggested plausible and practical solutions. The Majlis Al Shura will be approaching government authorities to find solutions to the environmental issues voiced by the local women.
Some of the problems the women studied included polluted drinking water in Wadi Bani Jaber in Sur, the health and environmental impacts of gold mining in Yankul, and the environmental impacts of burning domestic waste in Khasab.
"I witnessed the problems from the gold mine in Yankul. The agriculture, water, animals and people were affected with disease,- said Buthaina Al Alawi, a winner from Yankul.
She said the people with business interests in the gold mine only cared about profit, not the effects the mine had on the local population or environment.
"When they open these mines, they only think about gold, not about the people who live there,- Al Alawi said.
Project leader Nida Helou said working with the Omani women was wonderful, because she found out how much they actually know about the environmental problems in their communities and want to make changes.
"I was impressed with these women because the issues they tackled are very important for their communities,- said Helou. "Women in Oman are knowledgeable and can make change happen.-
The project funded by the US Department of State in collaboration with the US Department of Interior and in collaboration with Majlis Al Shura and the Omani Women's Association (OWA), gave women the opportunity to voice an environmental concern affecting their communities and share mitigation measures with decision-makers.
"On behalf of ESO, I would like to thank all the stakeholders for their efforts which made this project a resounding success for two successive years, and particularly the winners of the best research reports for their dedication and hard work highlighting environmental issues of importance in the various regions,- said Sayyida Tania bint Shabib Al Said, President of ESO, at the ceremony
© Times of Oman 2012
