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Sharjah 24
09-08-2025
- Health
- Sharjah 24
Al Qasimia University fosters student growth through programmes
Human development and social support As part of its focus on human development and psychological and social wellbeing, the Student Happiness Council took part in the seminar 'Life Has Taught Me', addressing key topics such as understanding emotions, managing relationships, and strengthening the concept of social support. The session equipped students with tools for mindful handling of everyday challenges. Academic enrichment Several students joined the specialised 'And Allah Teaches You' course in Sharia sciences, which earned praise for its depth of knowledge and clear presentation of fundamental religious concepts. Students from the design department participated in a project to design the pulpit of Al Zubair Mosque in Al Dhaid, as part of a comprehensive plan to refine artistic skills in Islamic design and ornamentation. Self-awareness and personality development The University Guidance Department organised an interactive session titled 'Your Personality… Passion and Secrets' for female dormitory students, featuring personality analysis tests and motivational recommendations to help them discover and develop their strengths. Environmental awareness A workshop on 'Recycling' highlighted the importance of sustainability and individual responsibility towards the environment, with hands-on training in reusing materials for creative projects. Artistic creativity The university's art studio launched summer courses in Arabic calligraphy and acrylic painting, led by expert artists, covering landscape and academic scene painting to develop students' aesthetic sense. Students also took part in two distinctive workshops — 'Coloured Woodworks' and 'Bracelet-making Art' — where they learned wood-painting, metal-shaping, and jewellery-making techniques, producing high-quality artworks. Environmental responsibility In collaboration with the Environment and Protected Areas Authority, the 'Terrarium' workshop was held at Sharjah's Islamic Botanical Garden, including an educational tour on plants mentioned in the Holy Qur'an, followed by a practical session to design miniature glass gardens. Health and safety training The Student Activities Department, in cooperation with Kuwait Hospital, organised an advanced course in first aid and CPR, addressing fainting, fractures, and burns, with extensive practical training. In partnership with the Emirates Creativity Society, the Deanship of Student Affairs held an interactive workshop titled 'Creativity and Innovation', giving students an open space for creative thinking, teamwork, and the development of entrepreneurial ideas. Health awareness campaigns The deanship launched the 'Step Towards Health' initiative with the Student Clinic, featuring a sports race and health-awareness activities, while a health platform run with the Ministry of Health and Prevention addressed heat exhaustion risks and balanced nutrition, offering free medical check-ups. A group of female students joined the 'Cultural Message' event at the Holy Qur'an Complex in Sharjah, part of Sharjah Public Libraries' Centennial of Libraries programme. They discussed Islamic civilisation's contributions, participated in Arabic calligraphy and geometric art workshops, and presented works that embodied authenticity and innovation. University vision in action Her Excellency Ahlam bin Jarsh, Assistant Director of Al Qasimia University for Female Students' Affairs, stressed the importance of these integrated programmes in supporting the university's educational and social mission. She noted that the diversity of activities aims to achieve balance between academic, psychological, and social development, directly supporting the university's strategic plan to build an aware, cultured generation that is committed to its values and capable of actively contributing to community development.
Calgary Herald
24-07-2025
- Business
- Calgary Herald
Program aimed at innovation, emissions reduction will create 1,600 jobs, province says
The province's latest injection into an industry-funded program promises to create hundreds of jobs while protecting the environment. Article content On Wednesday, the Minister of Environment and Protected Areas, Rebecca Schulz, unveiled Alberta's plans to invest up to $49 million from the industry-funded Technology Innovation and Emissions Reduction program. Article content The funding will support 18 new projects, create almost 1,600 jobs and add $233 million to Alberta's economy by 2027, according to the province. Article content Article content 'Alberta has the resources, the expertise and the entrepreneurs needed to create some of the most advanced materials in the world. This $49 million investment is incredibly important to accomplishing that,' said Justin Riemer, CEO of Emissions Reduction Alberta, at a press conference. Article content If successful, the 18 projects, which are scattered across Alberta, could reduce annual emissions by over 155,000 tons, or a cumulative 3.4 million tons by 2030, according to Riemer. Article content He noted that each project is unique, but there is a common theme. Article content 'Each support(s) the extraction, the production, the manufacturing and the circular life cycle of new and existing material products for Alberta,' said Riemer. Article content 'This funding supports technologies that make better use of our resources while cutting costs. It's a win for both the economy and the environment,' he said. Article content Article content Calgary-based Nova Chemicals was among the recipients, receiving $5 million to advance its $25 million plant. When complete, the facility will divert over 36,000 tons of single-use plastics annually from landfills and incineration. Article content 'We've been focused on creating value through Alberta's natural resources and driving innovations (to) reshape how plastics are designed, made, and incorporated into different structures,' said Rocky Vermani, Nova Chemicals' senior vice-president of innovation, sustainability and strategy. Article content Article content 'Nova is well-positioned to lead the transition to a circular economy,' said Vermani. Article content A circular economy refers to a system where materials never become waste and nature is 'regenerated'. Article content 'Nova is just one great example of the many incredible companies that put Alberta on the map as a global leader in manufacturing,' said Schulz.
National Observer
14-07-2025
- Business
- National Observer
Alberta won't increase oil sands monitoring funds to keep pace with industry expansion, inflation
Indigenous representatives of an oilsands monitoring program say Alberta won't increase funding to keep pace with oilsands expansion and inflation — and the shortfall risks compromising monitoring work, according to a letter obtained by Canada's National Observer. The joint oilsands monitoring group, composed of industry, provincial, federal and Indigenous representatives, was created in 2013 to monitor the environmental impacts of oilsands development in Alberta. The budget for 2025 is $54.5 million, paid for by industry, but the monitoring program received requests for roughly $76 million worth of monitoring work plans, leaving roughly $21.5 million of work requests unfunded. On March 20, Indigenous representatives on the oversight committee wrote a letter to the provincial and federal co-chairs warning that the budget is not keeping up with inflation or monitoring demands created by oilsands expansion, and this will negatively impact the quality of work. The funding formula that requires industry to pay up to $50 million annually for the program was developed in 2013 collaboratively by the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers and the Alberta government. Accounting for inflation, what cost $50 million in 2013 should now cost about $66.5 million, the letter signatories write; 'Thus, the overall purchasing power of oilsands monitoring has shrunk roughly 25 per cent, while the oil sands industry has nearly doubled in size.' The signatories added that this runs contrary to the polluter-pays principle. This principle in Canadian law says companies or people that pollute are responsible to pay the costs they impose on society to protect the public from the cost of pollution, for example, oil spill cleanup and lasting impacts. In 2018, royalty revenues were $3.2 billion. In 2023, that number reached a staggering $16.9 billion, according to the letter. 'Arbitrary cuts to monitoring programs, such as the proposed major reductions in wetlands and biodiversity, put the effectiveness of the monitoring at risk,' according to the letter. Why the oilsands needs monitoring The Indigenous representatives pushed to prioritize fully funding community-based monitoring programs and core monitoring programs which meant cuts to other important programs. 'Arbitrary cuts to monitoring programs, such as the proposed major reductions in wetlands and biodiversity, put the effectiveness of the monitoring at risk,' according to the letter. 'For severely compromised programs, we would rather that no monitoring occur instead of poor monitoring. Poor monitoring does not provide any value to the communities, nor to the public, but instead provides a veneer of having addressed concerns in these areas.' Ryan Fournier, press secretary for Alberta Minister Environment and Protected Areas Rebecca Schulz, said it is 'misleading' to describe it as programming cuts because the request for $73 million in funding encompassed '53 different work plans, including requests that are duplicative, overlapping or even potentially conflicting.' Fournier did not provide specific examples of duplicative or conflicting work plans. There is a $3 million discrepancy between the amount of requested funding Alberta provided and the figure cited in the letter. When asked to respond to the fact that both inflation and oilsands expansion are outpacing the available funding, Fournier said the oil sands monitoring program 'is the biggest program of its kind in the world,' and said its budget 'has risen over $5 million since 2022, and has the funding needed to continue delivering for Albertans.' According to Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) spokesperson Hannah Boonstra, the funding was increased by $4.5 million this year "to utilize surplus funds accumulated from underspending in previous years.' The historic underspending is due to a range of factors, including COVID-19 and associated slowdowns on work plan approval, hiring and contracting delays, overestimating costs, consolidating work, approval delays and more, according to the annual reports. ECCC and Alberta Environment and Protected Areas co-chair the oil sands monitoring program but the federal government was in caretaker mode for the 2025 election and did not sign off on the final annual monitoring plan to avoid delays, Boonstra's statement noted. 'Since the Government of Alberta is financially accountable for the program, the province approves the financial elements of the monitoring plan,' Boonstra said. Last year, nearly $540,000 went to Cold Lake First Nation for community-based monitoring to examine how the oilsands industry is impacting a variety of factors, including water quality, berry abundance, fisheries health, muskrats and pitcher plants, to name a few. Interest in community-based monitoring like this is growing, the letter noted, and 'as new communities are onboarded, this forces us to choose between existing Western science initiatives and the needs of Indigenous communities.' This interest will likely keep growing while funding remains stagnant and 'we cannot offer a path forward for those programs and encourage communities to submit proposals, but then largely ignore the requests,' the letter reads.
Global News
10-07-2025
- Politics
- Global News
On course to miss emissions targets, Ontario asks feds to repeal climate laws
Ontario's environment minister is feeling the heat after writing to his federal counterpart asking Ottawa to repeal a slew of climate laws, only a few months after briefing documents showed his government was set to miss its own emissions targets. A joint letter from Alberta Minister of Environment and Protected Areas Rebecca Schulz and Ontario's Todd McCarthy asked the federal government to withdraw a series of existing laws to boost the economy. The pair asked the federal Environment Minister Julie Dabrusin to consider scrapping the Impact Assessment Act, clean electricity regulations and the legislation behind the carbon tax. The letter also asked her to change the Species At Risk Act, which gives the federal government the power to intervene when certain habitats are in danger. Those laws, Alberta and Ontario wrote, 'undermine competitiveness' and don't serve an environmental purpose. Story continues below advertisement 'Canada is poised to be an economic superpower, but achieving that potential depends on strong, constitutionally grounded provincial authority over resource development and environmental management,' Schulz and McCarthy wrote. Ontario Green Party Leader Mike Schreiner said, if the feds accepted the recommendation, the province would be left without meaningful climate protection. 'If you remove all the federal regulations and you combine that with the fact that the Ford government is ploughing ahead with these special economic zones, it means basically the Ford government is proposing that we create a province without any environmental protections,' he said. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy The letter comes just a couple of months after civil servants warned McCarthy Ontario was on course to miss its emissions targets. A briefing slide prepared for the incoming environment minister in March charted how Ontario had slipped away from its emissions targets and, according to modelling early this year, will now miss them by around three megatonnes. The latest figures were calculated in January 2025 and obtained by Global News using freedom of information laws. View image in full screen A slide prepared to brief Todd McCarthy in March, 2025. Global News Schreiner said the letter was evidence the province had no intention of correcting course. Story continues below advertisement 'Ontario already isn't going to meet its pollution reduction targets, and this letter confirms that the Ford government doesn't even want to attempt or pretend like it's going to meet our pollution reduction targets,' he said. McCarthy's office did not answer questions asking about the effects of repealing the laws or whether reducing emissions was a primary objective of the ministry. 'The intention of the letter was to make clear the urgent need for the federal government to ensure a regulatory environment that supports economic growth,' a spokesperson said. The same letter to the federal government also urged Ottawa not to reintroduce legislation governing safe drinking water, specifically Bill C-61. The legislation was introduced in the last Parliament and sought to ensure First Nations have access to clean drinking water and can protect fresh water sources on their territories. The bill faced a lengthy committee process but was not passed into law before Parliament was prorogued earlier this year, and Dabrusin said last week that her government plans to reintroduce it. Several First Nations in Ontario have called for McCarthy to resign over the request. Ontario NDP Leader Marit Stiles said she couldn't understand the Ford government's logic for making the ask in the first place. Story continues below advertisement 'Why is the Ford government standing in the way of getting clean drinking water to First Nations? First Nations in Ontario have been under boil water advisories for decades,' she said in a statement. 'In fact, Ontario has the highest number of drinking water advisories in Canada. Clean drinking water is a right, not a luxury.' The government said it 'supported the right to clean drinking water' and that the letter did not represent an 'either-or proposition.' — with files from The Canadian Press
Sharjah 24
10-06-2025
- General
- Sharjah 24
Tree-planting initiative by Dibba Al Hisn Municipality in WED
Leadership involvement Talib Abdullah Al Yahyai, Director of Dibba Al Hisn Municipality, and department directors participated in the project. The action is intended to boost afforestation efforts, improve the area's natural aesthetics, minimise maintenance and water usage, and restore the symbolic importance of the GHAF tree, which has historically given shade and symbolised principles of tolerance and coexistence. Gesture to promote sustainable lifestyles The Agriculture Department handed additional ghaf tree saplings to participating department heads as a symbolic gesture to urge them to implement the project in their workplaces and social contexts, as well as to practice sustainable planting in their daily lives. Ghaf in every institution Khadija Najib Al Nuaimi, Director of the Agriculture Department of Dibba Al Hisn Municipality, noted that the ghaf planting is part of the " Ghaf in every institution" campaign initiated by Sharjah's Environment and Protected Areas Authority. The campaign encourages afforestation at government and private institutions while emphasising the ghaf tree's national symbolism of tolerance, resilience, and a strong connection to the UAE's environment. The ghaf was chosen specifically because of its high adaptation to desert environments. Najib further stated that the effort goes beyond simply giving shade and fresh air; it actively contributes to transforming carbon emissions into clean air for future generations. Municipality's broader sustainability vision According to Talib Al Yahyai, this event is part of a series of environmental events aimed at supporting long-term environmental efforts and making Sharjah a role model in natural resource conservation and ecological balance in the UAE. Al Yahyai emphasised the necessity of community involvement in environmental protection, as well as the value of such activities in increasing awareness and reinforcing collective efforts to conserve the natural environment for future generations. A global call to act World Environment Day, commemorated every year, provides a chance to highlight global environmental challenges and inspire people to take concrete steps to protect the world. In this context, Dibba Al Hisn Municipality intends to take an active role in this global movement by developing meaningful projects that raise awareness and encourage responsible environmental practices.
