Earth conservationists' sustainable footsteps in 2023
Sustainable steps for Earth Guards in 2023
Between East and West, Homat Al-Earth magazine was - and still is - a platform through which its founders seek to support the goals of sustainable development and environmental preservation in accordance with “Egypt Vision 2030”, and in the ideal way that calls for supporting links and partnerships between the government sector and civil society institutions.
Therefore, the year 2023 witnessed remarkable activity and many achievements for Earth Guards, and these achievements came in the field of preserving the environment and its resources, and achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). These achievements on the ground were nothing but the crystallization and actual implementation of those Egyptian strategies, which seek to improve the lives of the Egyptian citizen.
These achievements - in detail - are diverse and many, and they also reflect the extent of the commitment of those responsible for the Earth Guards magazine to the goals of sustainable development, the intensity of their insistence on supporting environmental projects, and the degree of their belief in plans to improve the lives of Egyptians. Here are some of the magazine’s achievements in 2023:
Year Releases
The issues of the Earth Guards magazine were diverse, as they included realistic topics at the local, regional and global levels. Hence, the special file from the Earth Guards magazine in the first quarter issue of 2023 discussed the topic: Plastic. In it, you highlighted its development indicators and environmental expectations, and it was titled: Plastic is a friend of development and an enemy of sustainability.
In June, the issue’s topic was: Artificial Intelligence and the Path to Sustainable Development. In it, we recounted the history of the development of artificial intelligence, explaining its types, and the extent of its relationship to environmental resources and development goals.
Then, in the third quarter of the year, we turned to the topic: Energy transformation...the basic pillar of sustainable development, looking forward to the future of energy in the whole world, where we talked about what COP28 could achieve, especially after the global movement achieved by the twenty-seventh Conference of the Parties (COP), headed by Egypt, in Sharm El-Sheikh in 2022.
And now we are concluding the year with a topic of great importance in a world that has become burdened by the effects of climate change, which is the topic of the December issue: the circular economy.
Series “What doesmean?”
Facilitating development concepts and environmental terminology was the most prominent goal among the goals of Earth Guards, and to achieve this goal in reality, the magazine launched a video series entitled: “What does it mean?” The time of each episode does not exceed 30 seconds. Aiming to enlighten people about the terms surrounding environment and development.
Honoring pioneering Egyptian women on International Women’s Day
In March 2023, Protectors of the Earth had an encounter with Egyptian women who were able to achieve achievements in the field of sustainability, as the magazine honored on International Women’s Day - March 8 - some of the pioneering Egyptian women in the field of sustainable development. Among them were female ministers and those responsible for sustainable leadership positions in international institutions and companies.
The Protectors of the Earth honored Dr. Nevin Al-Kabbaj - Minister of Social Solidarity - for the contributions and achievements she made in the field of community development and improving the standard of living of Egyptian families, as well as her contributions to developing systems for monitoring and evaluating a large number of the Ministry of Solidarity’s programmes, especially the file of women and their economic empowerment.
The magazine also honored Dr. Rania Al-Mashat - Minister of International Cooperation - who has international experience and economic contributions. Which was able to transform climate pledges into realistic projects, helping developing countries and emerging economies to activate international partnerships, to enhance sustainable development efforts, in addition to its contribution to producing the “Sharm El Sheikh Guide to Fair Finance.”
In view of its effective role and sustainable contributions, the Earth Guards honored Dr. Hala Al-Saeed - Minister of Planning and Economic Development - for her academic contributions to many economic topics at the local and international levels, the most important of which are: studies on international finance, reform of the financial and banking sector, economic reform, and privatization.
The Earth Guards also honored Dr. Nevin Al-Kilani - Minister of Culture - whose achievements in the field of culture were one of the basic pillars of achieving sustainable development in Egypt, as she saw that cultural justice among all segments of society is the essence and foundation of “Egypt Vision 2030”.
In this, Protectors of the Earth honored a number of sustainable women in the private sector; Because of their role and influence in achieving sustainability and community service strategies through their companies and institutions; To highlight a brilliant image of Egyptian women, who were able to crystallize community work in many sectors with efficiency and experience.
Press meetings and dialogues
Protectors of the Earth has spared no effort in highlighting serious steps in the field of development and the environment, which is an area whose cadres and officials must all pay attention to; Therefore, the magazine had press interviews with a number of ministers and many high-level officials, to shed light on the efforts of the public sector and what the state is making to improve the lives of citizens and stimulate the green transformation in all fields.
Our first meeting was with Dr. Hassan Shehata - former Minister of Labor - where we highlighted plans to develop the vocational training system according to conditions of sustainability, and other important topics, such as the topic of the National Employment Strategy, and what the Ministry is doing regarding irregular employment.
Then our second meeting was with Dr. Hani Sweilem - Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation - where we were able to introduce readers to Egyptian strategies in the field of water management. This was followed by a dialogue with the General Coordinator of the National Initiative for Smart Green Projects - Ambassador Hisham Badr - who spoke in detail about the “National Initiative for Smart Green Projects,” and also talked about ways of cooperation between the Earth Guards and the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development. Pointing out the importance of strengthening such efforts in the field of sustainable development, in accordance with the national agenda “Egypt Vision 2030”.
Then we had a dialogue with the Minister of Youth and Sports - Dr. Ashraf Sobhi - in which we explained the role of the Ministry of Youth and Sports in supporting the development sector, especially since the Egyptian youth are one of the most important pillars of Egypt’s development. Not only that, but the magazine had interviews with: Professor Dr. Tariq El-Arabi, “President of the Waste Management Regulatory Authority,” and Dr. Khaled Sofi, “President of the Egyptian General Authority for Standardization and Quality.”
Also, our special dialogue that we conducted with Dr. Ghada Labib, “Deputy Minister of Communications and Information Technology for Institutional Development in the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology,” and this was on the sidelines of the activities of the second conference of the National Initiative for Smart Green Projects, where I discussed with Dr. Reham Farouk, “Chairman of the Board of Directors of the magazine,” ways of cooperation between Earth Guards and the Ministry of Communications; To increase awareness of sustainable development and its goals, and the importance of digital transformation and its tools.
The conclusion of the meetings in 2023 was with Ambassador Mohamed Nasr, “Director of the Department of Climate Change, Environment and Sustainable Development at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,” who spoke about Egypt’s efforts at COP27, and how the Egyptian presidency of this global climate conference was able to gather the word of the world to establish the Climate Loss and Damage Fund.
Ain Shams University honoring the Earth Guards magazine
In May 2023, Ain Shams University honored the Earth Guards magazine. Because of its achievements that help achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This came during the celebration of the College of Graduate Studies and Environmental Research on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of its founding, where the Protectors of the Earth received a shield of honor from Dr. Noha Donia, “Dean of the College.” Given the compatibility between the magazine and the college in goals and strategies, and their extensive cooperation; To implement the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and steps to preserve the environment.
We can say: The Earth Guards Shield Competition is the most important achievement of the magazine, and the one most capable of shaping the nature of its goals. This is due to its strong belief in the importance of community cohesion and its ability to achieve development achievements, which make the life of the Egyptian citizen more sustainable.
It is the competition launched by the magazine in cooperation with the Ministry of Social Solidarity. To honor institutions and individuals who take into account environmental indicators and recommendations related to sustainable development and its goals. The month of July witnessed the first ceremony of this competition, and the shield was won by: Vodafone Corporation - CEMEX Cement - Sir/ Magdy Yacoub. All of this was in the presence of a group of community men, parliamentary leaders in the House of Representatives, a number of artists and media professionals, and some businessmen and financiers.
Earth Guards Seminars
Among the efforts made by Earth Guards is its work on awareness and education, as it is interested in holding seminars that raise awareness of environmental and development issues. An attempt to shed light on ways to develop and stimulate the transition to clean energy in all sectors.
Perhaps one of the most important of these symposiums was the symposium held by the magazine in cooperation with the Academy of Scientific Research and Technology, which came under the title: Energy Security and Sustainable Development. This is headed by Dr. Muhammad Al-Khayyat, “President of the New and Renewable Energy Authority,” Dr. Reham Farouk, “Chairman of the Journal’s Board of Directors,” Dr. Mahmoud Saqr, “President of the Academy,” Dr. Islam Abu Al-Majd, “President of the National Remote Sensing Authority,” and others.
Strategic Partnerships
The Ministry of Social Solidarity was not the only partner of the Earth Guards magazine. The magazine had other very important partnerships, such as the partnership between it and the Ministry of Youth and Sports, where both parties aspired to support development work, which aims to deepen awareness of the sustainable future among Egypt’s promising youth.
Accordingly, the vision of Homat Al-Ard magazine coincided with the vision of the Ministry of Youth and Sports, and this is within the framework of “Egypt Vision 2030”, and through participation at the media level; The Ministry published on its various electronic platforms the “What does it mean?” series, as a type of youth support in the field of environment and sustainable development.
“What...?” Series
Protectors of the Earth - as we mentioned before - worked to create a unique visual series, which is the “What Does It Mean?” series, and like this series - especially after the interest in it and its acceptance in the media - the magazine saw the need to create a series of articles in an easy manner, introducing Egyptian citizens to the concepts of environment and development. It is the “What...?” series, which was published to meet the needs of its readers and reflect their interest in the field of development and the environment in a more comprehensive way, and closer to all Egyptians.
These were examples of what Earth Guards magazine achieved in the year 2023. These are achievements that express the magazine’s vision and its ambitious pursuit of achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). They are also important achievements in preserving the environment and developing its resources, ensuring for us and future generations a healthy life and a green world.
