Green days

YOUNGSTERS IN THE Gulf are learning the importance of going green, thanks to a new children's book encouraging environmental awareness.

Omar's Goats follows the story of Omar, a goat herder who witnesses the damage done to his herd by litter on a daily basis. The goats are bouncing on broken bottles, suckling on sickly cigarettes and eating plastic bags, much to Omar’s dismay.

Written by Kathy Hoopmann and illustrated by Donna Acheson-Julliet, the story unfolds as Omar recruits various animals from the region to help him clean the desert. Falcons, spiny mice, genets and chameleons are among the creatures who give their time to save the habitat.

“The book teaches children that one person can make a difference,” said Dubai resident Kathy, “and what a huge difference it could make if they each pick up or don’t drop just one piece of litter.”

The idea for Omar’s Goats stemmed from Kathy and Donna’s love of camping in the desert, but their disgust at the mess people dump there.

“It’s revolting and harmful to animals and people,” said Kathy, who has had 10 other children’s books published in her native Australia and the UK. “The wadis are just so dirty – we take plastic bags with us when we camp and bring the rubbish back with us afterwards.”

However, mother-of-three Kathy praised the attempts being made in Dubai to reduce its carbon footprint, such as recycling efforts and the construction of the monorail system.

“A change for the better is coming,” she said. “There’s some really good initiatives going on here at the moment, and it’s only a matter of time before they all come together to create a greener Dubai.”

This is Kathy and Donna’s second story published by Jerboa Books. Sponsored by international bank HSBC, it will be sent to 150 schools in nine countries – including all those in the GCC – along with a teacher’s handbook to stimulate further environmentally-themed discussion and activities.

More than 900 HSBC employees will participate in the story time sessions, which are aimed at youngsters aged three to eight.

Both Omar’s Goats and An Environmental Handbook for Teachers will be available in English and Arabic. Omar’s Goats is also out now to buy in all good bookshops, priced at Dh42.

adam@khaleejtimes.com