2023-07-24

The National Library and Archives Organized a Seminar on Zayed’s Sustainable Legacy and the Next Fifty Years

Within its 2023 cultural season 
The National Library and Archives Organized a Seminar on Zayed's Sustainable Legacy and the Next Fifty Years
The National Library and Archives organized a Seminar entitled: "Zayed's Sustainable Legacy and the Next Fifty Years" which highlighted the Founder and Builder, the Late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan’s vision reflected throughout the United Arab Emirates, and which served as a solid foundation to the UAE establishment, and witnessed development, and progress under its wise leadership who followed in Sheikh Zayed’s footsteps to resume his glorious march.
Several Researchers and Experts participated in the symposium and documented aspects of the late Sheikh Zayed's keen interest in giving, benevolence and human resources’ development, in his belief that they are the real wealth and asset of any country, and that their role is essential to establishing and building all the facilities of the state with its distinctive experience and status on the world map. 
The symposium started with a speech delivered by Dr. Husniya Al-Ali, Educational Programs Consultant at the National Library and Archives, who also moderated the symposium, in which she stated that Zayed's sustainability approach is reflected in the various economic, social, environmental and cultural fields, noting that the factors that influenced Sheikh Zayed’s sustainable approach stemmed from his upbringing in an environment with a distinctive climate, and cultural and human heritage.
 Dr. Wadima Ghanem Al Dhaheri from Mohamed bin Zayed University for Humanities discussed the witnessed developments during Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan’s reign in the vital economic, agricultural, educational and health sectors. She also highlighted Sheikh Zayed's political role, and the special interest he dedicated to women, to advancing their societal role, and to social development and his relentless efforts in environmental preservation or protection, and in promoting tolerance.
Al Dhaheri stressed that the development of any country stems mainly from its citizens or human resources’ development. Thus, the state provides its citizens with the necessary care, rights and freedom, since citizens are the supporting pillar of any state, and it is their role to defend its land, safeguard and maintain its values, and positively interact with its progress and development. She praised the UAE’s wise leadership’s keen interest in citizens and residents, and in achieving their happiness.
Dr. Ali Al-Amoudi, Sustainability Expert, tackled the miracle of transforming the desert to green land at the hands of the late Sheikh Zayed, who achieved the impossible by challenging agricultural experts’ decision on the impossibility of agricultural success in the UAE environment, whereas current statistics indicating the number of trees, gardens, parks testify to Sheikh Zayed’s strong-will and genius in agriculture, and his sustainable legacy continues to amaze the whole world.  
 Al-Amoudi pointed to the late Sheikh Zayed's keen interest in environmental sustainability, as indicated in his quote: «We pay take great interest in our environment as an integral part of our nation, its history and heritage. Our fathers and forefathers have lived on this land and preserved it simply through utilizing its elements according to their needs, to preserve it to future generations», he also addressed Sheikh Zayed's role in combating desertification, and providing water necessary for agriculture, and his keen interest in providing endangered animals a proper environment. 
The seminar’s concluding speech was delivered by Mr. Ahmed Al Kaabi from the Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority, who tackled the prevailing life aspects prior to Sheikh Zayed’s reign, and discussed the various key stages of his life, pointing out that his green fingerprints which effects are witnessed in Sir Bani Yas Island bears testimony to this since it is considered one of the largest natural reserves. Zayed's sustainable legacy earned the UAE its advanced rank according to various international standards and indicators, and his great interest in the environment was evident through his strict directives prohibiting tree-cutting during performing road changes. 
It is noteworthy that the National Library and Archives documents important aspects of Zayed's sustainable legacy through the Arabian Gulf Digital Archive (AGDA) which provides a huge number of authentic historical documents and photos in their original copies, to be employed free of charge by researchers on the history of the UAE and the Gulf region.
 

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