OZONE DAY
2010
Ministry of Housing and Environment
Male’ Maldives
MALDIVES CELEBRATES INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR THE
PRESERVATION OF THE OZONE LAYER 2010
World Ozone day is celebrated every year on 16 September since 1995. This Day marks the
importance of Ozone layer and its role in the environment. The theme of celebration is
"Ozone Layer Protection: Governance and Compliances at their best"
This year is a significant year for us as we have embarked our journey into the phasing out
of HCFC 10 years ahead of the actual date set by the Montreal Protocol. Therefore, various
activities were conducted on 16th September 2010. Among the many things a school debate
amongst the students of the Centre for Higher Secondary Education and Faculty of
Educations was held on Ozone Layer Protection Vs Economic Developmet. An
Environmental Awareness session for all the schools in the capital, Male’, was conducted on
18th September 2010 to create more awareness among school children. This one-day
session includes presentations on Environmental Health, Climate change, Ozone layer and
Biodiversity. In addition to these activities, schools have taken the initiative to conduct
school level activities among students. These include; essay writing, a drawing competition,
etc. Additionally, a special edition of “Phemphis”, an Environmental Newsletter, was
released with a special message from UNEP and the Minister of Housing and Environment
Mr. Mohamed Aslam. A booklet ‘25 Important Questions & Answers everybody should
know about the Ozone Layer’ was also released on 16th September 2010.
OZONE DAY BICYCLE RACE
The Ministry of Housing and Environment conducted various activities to mark this year’s
Ozone Day. One of the most significant events of this celebration was Ozone Day Bicycle
Race held on 8th October in Hulhumale’. The race was organized in collaboration with
Maldives Olympic committee. The “Ozone day bicycle Race” aimed at creating awareness
about the harmful gases the vehicles releases into the atmosphere and create more
understanding about the Ozone Layer was participated by more than 100 participants from
different age categories. The ‘Ozone Bicycle Race’ conducted with support from Maldives
Olympic Committee was categorized into 5 groups; Under 12 mixed, Under 14 mixed,
Under 19 mixed, Above 19 female and Above 19 male. The race also broke a National
record in bicycle race which is the youngest participant ever to take part in a bicycle race 7
year old Mohamed Human Hussein. 1st, 2nd and 3rd were selected from each category. Prizes
to the participants were delivered by the Honorary Chairman of the Maldives Olympic
Committee Mr. Mohamed Zahir Naseer, Vice Chariman of the Olympic Committee Dr.
Hussain Haleem and Senior Administrative Officer of Housing Development Co-operation
Ms. Khadheeja Mohamed. The first prize from each category received Certificates, medals,
MRF2000/- and a brand new bicycles.2nd and 3rd places also received certificates medals
and many other prizes all of which was sponsored by different organizations in the
Maldives.
OZONE DAY SCHOOL CHILDRENS DEBATE
MNBC one (Television Channel in Maldives) aired the School Children’s debate on 16th
September to mark the world Ozone day the debate was held amongst the students of
Centre for Higher Secondary Education and Faculty of Educations. The topic of this debate
was “Ozone Layer Protection Vs Economic Development”. It was aimed to create awareness
to students on ozone depleting substances its protection and the how it is linked with
economic development of the country and its contribution towards the carbon neutrality
goal announced by the president of Maldives. The arguments brought to table from both
the schools were very valuable both to students and the audience who went to watch the
debate live. With the success of this debate we hope to hold further more debates like this
one amongst other different schools in the Capital Male’ as well as other Schools in islands
of Maldives on Ozone related topics.
ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS SESSION FOR SCHOOLS
International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer may seem simply like another
one day affair on the calendar which passes like so many others, but the fact is that this day
is aimed to educate and encourage environmentally friendly activities on a daily basis. It
reminds us that it is our responsibility to take action for our planet. It is our hands to
choose to accept this huge mission. In a world that only seems to be growing, and people
becoming more isolated due to technological advances.
SPECIAL ADDITION OF NEWSLETTER “PEMPHIS”
Minister of Environment H.E. Mr. Mohamed Aslam, in a special message to mark this year’s
Ozone Day has said that the steps that the Maldives is taking with regard to the environment are
bold and unconditional and hope to be inspirational to other nations as well. Minister in his
message also said “We are again reminded of the great challenge ahead of us in saving the
planet. The road ahead is not easy, but with continued support from the associated agencies we
have no doubt about achieving our targets”. He further went onto say that “The Our commitment
to mitigate climate change underlines how crucial it is especially for low lying island states and
other vulnerable nations to ensure that action is taken in time to avoid wiping out of entire
civilizations in small island states and many other vulnerable countries”.
In his message to the special edition of the Monthly Newsletter “Phemphis” published by the
Environment Ministry Mr. Atul Bagai, Senior Regional Coordinator, UNEP DTIE OzonAction
Programme said “The Maldives is in the frontline of the global environmental issues. It is
perhaps the most vulnerable country in the world as a number of scientists have warned that if
nothing is done to reduce global carbon emissions, the country would soon sink beneath the
rising seas”. He further stressed on Maldives’ decision to stop the consumption of HCFCs
earlier than the phase out deadline is considered the first major concrete step to make the carbon
neutral declaration a reality.
OZONE BOOK
A special book “25 Answers on Ozone Layer” was published and released on 16th September 2010, the
book was written by our own staff Muhusina Abdul Rahmaan. It consists of 25 questions with easy
answers for anyone to understand easily. The main purpose of this book is to create a basic
understanding of the ozone layer to anyone who reads it the book was distributed freely to almost
everyone who came to the ozone bicycle race.