ABU DHABI - There is, perhaps, no better time to start helping the planet we are living on than during Ramadan, a month of holiness, purity and soul-searching.
A reminder of what climate change is doing to us and future generations, as well as a rare cinematic experience is planned during this month by the Emirates Wildlife Society – World Wildlife Fund (EWS-WWF).
Three documentaries from Animal Planet’s series “Animals’ Guide to Survival� will be screened at major cinemas in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
The odds of survival for many animals have been greatly reduced due to recent erratic and changing climate conditions and the series is looking at how these conditions are affecting animals all over the world.
Ranging from iconic mammals such as jaguars and hippos, to tiny corals, insects and birds, each of the seven one-hour documentaries highlights how climate change is impacting upon the planet’s biodiversity — freshwater, marshes and mangroves, sea and sand, forests, mountains, plains and savannahs and ice.
The chosen three films screened during Ramadan are “Marshes and Mangroves�, “Freshwater� and “Melting Ice�.
“Each of these films tackle their subjects from a global point of view, but we are going to have a short presentation, just before the movie, to explain how these problems affect UAE directly.
For example, when we will show the ‘Melting Ice’ film, we will explain all the impacts of the Polar ice melting on the UAE�, Ida Tillisch, director of Business Development and Marketing at EWS-WWF, told Khaleej Times.
Each talk will be about 10 minutes and there will also be a short (two minute) film presentation from EWS’s campaign “Heroes of the UAE�.
The “Marshes and Mangroves� documentary tries to answer the question of whether wetlands, which are all about life balance, can still be saved, as climate change is causing saltwater to inundate fresh water, and marshland to dry up completely.
Freshwater, the subject of another film, is considered the most precious resources on the planet, and can mean the difference between life and death for all animals.
The movies will be shown at CineStar in Abu Dhabi Marina Mall as well as in CineStar at Mall of the Emirates in Dubai, from 9pm with the doors opening at 8.30pm.
“Melting Ice� will be shown in Abu Dhabi on August 25 and Dubai on August 26; “Freshwater� will be shown in Abu Dhabi on September 1 and Dubai on September 2; and “Marshes and Mangroves� will be screened in Abu Dhabi on September 8 and Dubai on September 9.