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The president of Khartoum University "We should educate the citizens and urge them to protect their environment"

The activities of the First Saudi Conference for Environment - "Sustainable Exploitation of Natural Resources" - organized by King Khalid University - continued its activities by holding a number of lectures with the participation of group of international scientists interested in environmental matters from around the world.

A British Scientist, Jeremy Ian Buyten - who is one of the official spokespersons of the Conference - participated in the subject of removing contamination from heavy metals in contaminated sites, by biological chemical methods, and by using some of the vital ways to know about contaminants and heavy metal elements in the soil.

Mr. Jeremy clarified that the global interest in those items increased over the last 20 years due to the environmental pollution to some of it, and its importance for the life to some of the others. He continued, that was due to the continual growth in the organism body, and those elements were characterized by gathering in the living organisms bodies. They lack the ability of the geological and bacteriological shatter in the environment, so they get in the drinking water, or in the food chain through absorbing the plants to them by the roots and up to the crops, before finally such fruits are eaten by the organism. Amounts of heavy elements, which include cadmium, copper, nickel, lead, and zinc, move into the global environment each year.

Dr. Jeremy stressed that there were some wrong uses, that pollute the agricultural environment, and the wrong uses in the use of pesticides in attempt to combat some agricultural pests. Such actions might cause poisoning as a result of the low level of guidance on how to use them properly, creating health and environmental hazards. Water pollution as a result of such pesticide can cause damages to fisheries, and can diminish the density of the aquatic microorganisms that have a significant role in balancing the proportion of dissolved oxygen in the water.

On the other hand, An Indian Scientist, Dr. Soumitra Makhraji, talked about the use of remote sensing systems by the satellite images in the field of water resources, natural resources and in the technology of remote sensing, as well as the geographic information systems, to effectively contribute in the research and various studies, which in turn, will contribute in the protection of the environment in general. This is arrived at by analyzing satellite images. Presently, information related to all monuments, objects, and earth elements could be obtained, and that, by recording and measuring energy, and by the polarization of electromagnetic radiation, we can reflect the inherent existing elements and features of earth, of the ocean and of the air surrounding the terrestrial crust. It was found scientifically that each body has its radiation value, which distinguishes it from other objects, so the imprint of radiation of an object distinguishes it from the rest of the other objects. And hence it is possible to identify the nature of these objects without direct contact with it, or by the possibility of analyzing it remotely.

The friend, Dr. Ahmad Mustafa, the President of Khartoum University previously talked about the sources of pollution, and the extent of damage caused by pollution in the world, adding that the pollution sources are natural and human, and he emphasized that the importance of focusing on the environment, and its protection programs by the urban management authorities should be concerned with taking into account the results of the environmental studies, and especially those that focus on the humanitarian aspects, as well as the required environmental levels.

Preventive and remedial procedures should be taken through the planning devices for the present and future, taking into account the needs, according to reality to get rid of garbage, to provide parking spaces and safe transportation networks in the cities, to provide traffic sites where congestion and traffic jams are avoided, and the creation of information systems and data on the environmental pollution. Dr. Mustafa clarified that those were necessary to be able to analyze the incidents caused by chemicals substance and radiation, and so on, in the cities life, and especially the larger ones, taking care of the suburbs by applying the manner of comprehensive, integrated planning for services to local facilities. Ways must be created to coordinate and to establish continuous communication channels between the authorities and agencies concerned with the environment and urban services. There should also be support for educational  programs of citizens to urge them to protect their environment and to avoid all the negatives things that lead to pollution, and other behaviors that result in environmental degradation. Specialized personnel and devices concerned with the environmental issues must be put together to coordinate with government agencies, with the private sector, and with the non governmental organizations, which work in the field of the environment in all developmental, industrial, agricultural, commercial and service projects. Together, they will develop domestic laws to protect the environment, taking into account the international and regional laws associated with effect to the environment.