Al Olama: Expo Milano provides fitting platform to promote Arabs' role in human civilisation

Milan, 5th May, 2015 (WAM) -- Expo Milano 2015 provides an ideal opportunity for promoting the pivotal role that the Arabs played in shaping the human civilisation in the past and what they can contribute in the future, said Dr Abdulkareem Sultan Al Olama, the Chief Executive Officer of Al Jalila Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation which aims to promote the UAE as a centre of excellence in the field of medical education and research. ''An international gathering such as Expo Milano remains the best platform where Arabs and Muslims can present their authentic culture and tolerant religion, particularly in the current times,'' Al Olama said in a statement to Emirates News Agency, WAM, during a tour of the UAE Pavilion at Expo Milano. He stated that the UAE, along with Arab and Islamic fellow states, was using such international platforms to correct the misconceptions about Arabs and Muslims in general. He said he was pleased to see the long queues of enthusiasts of different ages who swarmed the UAE Pavilion to learn about the UAE's culture and heritage and its role in promoting the culture of peace worldwide. He said he was impressed with the short film, ‘Family Tree,’ which follows a young girl, Sara, as she learns that the values and experiences of past generations can help in our quest for a sustainable future. The mini-drama highlights the scarcity of water and celebrates the role of the date palm in sustaining life in the Emirates during difficult times. This very special tree provides a window to traditional life in the 1960s and reveals the astonishing development that has taken place in the UAE in a little over 40 years. The UAE, he added, had built a modern society and accomplished stellar achievements in four decades, the latest of them being winning the bid to host the Expo 2020 in Dubai. Hailing supervisors of the UAE Pavilion, he said they are paying back their homeland by serving it in a better way. Expo Milano 2015 is the Universal Exhibition that Milan, Italy, will host from May 1 to October 31, 2015. Over this six-month period, Milan will become a global showcase where more than 140 participating countries will show the best of their technology that offers a concrete answer to a vital need: being able to guarantee healthy, safe and sufficient food for everyone, while respecting the Planet and its equilibrium. In addition to the exhibitor nations, the Expo also involves international organisations, and expects to welcome over 20 million visitors to its 1.1 million square metres of exhibition area. - Emirates News Agency, WAM – http://www.wam.ae/en/news/emirates/1395280130444.html