Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06JEDDAH598
2006-09-09 14:49:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Consulate Jeddah
Cable title:
SAUDI ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOCIATION: ENVIRONMENTAL
how-toVZCZCXRO5965 PP RUEHDE DE RUEHJI #0598 2521449 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 091449Z SEP 06 FM AMCONSUL JEDDAH TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9501 INFO RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHAM/AMEMBASSY AMMAN PRIORITY 0251 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 1528 RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS PRIORITY 1607 RUEHRH/AMEMBASSY RIYADH PRIORITY 6820 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/DIA WASHDC PRIORITY RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
UNCLAS JEDDAH 000598
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
RIYADH, PLEASE PASS TO DHAHRAN; DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/ARP;
PARIS FOR WALLER; LONDON FOR TSOU; AMMAN FOR WHITTLESEY
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON KISL PGOV PREL SA SENV SOCI
SUBJECT: SAUDI ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOCIATION: ENVIRONMENTAL
WATCHDOG FOR SAUDI ARABIA?
UNCLAS JEDDAH 000598
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
RIYADH, PLEASE PASS TO DHAHRAN; DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/ARP;
PARIS FOR WALLER; LONDON FOR TSOU; AMMAN FOR WHITTLESEY
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON KISL PGOV PREL SA SENV SOCI
SUBJECT: SAUDI ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOCIATION: ENVIRONMENTAL
WATCHDOG FOR SAUDI ARABIA?
1. SUMMARY: Pol/Econ Chief met with the director of the
newly registered Saudi Environmental Association. The
organization will promote environmental issues in planing and
decision-making at all levels of Saudi government. Within
its mandate, the organization will accept and investigate
environmental complaints from individuals. The Association
will also publicize environmental awareness and
environmentally friendly ideas within Saudi society. The
management is interested in developing relationships with
U.S. environmental organizations. END SUMMARY.
THE SAUDI ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOCIATION
2. Recently, Pol/Econ Chief visited the newly established
Saudi Environmental Association. Like many civil society
organizations and NGO's springing up in Saudi Arabia, the
organization was founded by a number of public-spirited
officials, academics, and businessmen, under the patronage of
the late Prince Majid, who foresaw the need for an
organization to advocate for sound environmental policy in
Saudi Arabia. The Saudi Environmental Society, as it was
then, established its headquarters in Jeddah at the Prince
Majid Development Center, which houses a number of other
organizations which found favor with the late Prince.
3. In March of this year the Saudi government formally
recognized the Society and registered it as an NGO under the
name of the Saudi Environmental Association. The
organization was announced to the public on April 10 at the
Jeddah Hilton, during which Prince Turki, President of the
Presidency for Meteorology and the Environment and other
senior officials from environmental organizations were in
attendance.
ROLE OF ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOCIATION - PLANNING AND INFORMATION
4. The Association will interact with all levels of Saudi
government: national, provincial, and local as an advocate
for sound environmental planning. The Association hopes to
have branch offices in all governorates and many cities in
order to monitor environmental conditions and influence the
planning process. The first objective of the Association is
to promote environmentally rational and sustainable
development policies. The Association is also working on an
environmental awareness campaign aimed at the Saudi public
and especially school children to educae them about
conservation, efficient use of resorces, and sustainable
development.
REGULATIONAND REMEDIATION
5. The staff also expects to wrk to rectify environmental
problems, such as oilspills, industrial accidents, and other
issues of interest to the public. In response to a query,
the director said that individuals will be able to lodge
complaints concerning environmental issues with the
Association which will then press the complaint with the
appropriate national and local agencies. This is a very
important innovation in a rapidly developing nation in which
threats to public health and the environment are becoming
increasingly common. In fact, the Association director
admitted that more than 50% of all environmental problems in
Saudi Arabia are caused by government actions.
6. The Saudi Environmental Association employs women. Among
the officials met by Pol/Econ Chief during his visit was the
female Executive Manager, Dr. Amal Najar. The Director also
expressed an interest in forming links with U.S. government
and private sector environmental organizations.
Gfoeller
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
RIYADH, PLEASE PASS TO DHAHRAN; DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/ARP;
PARIS FOR WALLER; LONDON FOR TSOU; AMMAN FOR WHITTLESEY
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON KISL PGOV PREL SA SENV SOCI
SUBJECT: SAUDI ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOCIATION: ENVIRONMENTAL
WATCHDOG FOR SAUDI ARABIA?
1. SUMMARY: Pol/Econ Chief met with the director of the
newly registered Saudi Environmental Association. The
organization will promote environmental issues in planing and
decision-making at all levels of Saudi government. Within
its mandate, the organization will accept and investigate
environmental complaints from individuals. The Association
will also publicize environmental awareness and
environmentally friendly ideas within Saudi society. The
management is interested in developing relationships with
U.S. environmental organizations. END SUMMARY.
THE SAUDI ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOCIATION
2. Recently, Pol/Econ Chief visited the newly established
Saudi Environmental Association. Like many civil society
organizations and NGO's springing up in Saudi Arabia, the
organization was founded by a number of public-spirited
officials, academics, and businessmen, under the patronage of
the late Prince Majid, who foresaw the need for an
organization to advocate for sound environmental policy in
Saudi Arabia. The Saudi Environmental Society, as it was
then, established its headquarters in Jeddah at the Prince
Majid Development Center, which houses a number of other
organizations which found favor with the late Prince.
3. In March of this year the Saudi government formally
recognized the Society and registered it as an NGO under the
name of the Saudi Environmental Association. The
organization was announced to the public on April 10 at the
Jeddah Hilton, during which Prince Turki, President of the
Presidency for Meteorology and the Environment and other
senior officials from environmental organizations were in
attendance.
ROLE OF ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOCIATION - PLANNING AND INFORMATION
4. The Association will interact with all levels of Saudi
government: national, provincial, and local as an advocate
for sound environmental planning. The Association hopes to
have branch offices in all governorates and many cities in
order to monitor environmental conditions and influence the
planning process. The first objective of the Association is
to promote environmentally rational and sustainable
development policies. The Association is also working on an
environmental awareness campaign aimed at the Saudi public
and especially school children to educae them about
conservation, efficient use of resorces, and sustainable
development.
REGULATIONAND REMEDIATION
5. The staff also expects to wrk to rectify environmental
problems, such as oilspills, industrial accidents, and other
issues of interest to the public. In response to a query,
the director said that individuals will be able to lodge
complaints concerning environmental issues with the
Association which will then press the complaint with the
appropriate national and local agencies. This is a very
important innovation in a rapidly developing nation in which
threats to public health and the environment are becoming
increasingly common. In fact, the Association director
admitted that more than 50% of all environmental problems in
Saudi Arabia are caused by government actions.
6. The Saudi Environmental Association employs women. Among
the officials met by Pol/Econ Chief during his visit was the
female Executive Manager, Dr. Amal Najar. The Director also
expressed an interest in forming links with U.S. government
and private sector environmental organizations.
Gfoeller