It took 16 days for Reem Bani Hashem to reach Antarctica from the UAE, but only moments for her to realise the importance of the trip.
The International Antarctic Expedition (IEA) was led by the environmentalist Robert Swan, the first person to reach both the South and North Pole on foot.
IEA is an initiative of Mr Swan's company 2041, named in hope of achievements in educating people by the 50th anniversary of the 1991 Environmental Protocol, which banned drilling and mining in the Antarctic peninsula but is due for review in 2041.
Reem, 23, a graduate of the American University in Dubai, had applied online to take part with her older sister Aldana.
The two flew from Dubai to Ushuaia, Argentina, the most southern city in the world, for two days of workshops before setting sail.
"Before going, I can say that I was interested in environmental issues but it's not like I ever took the time to read about them or involve myself more," said Reem.
"I thought experts would take care of everything. I thought, 'Who am I? What can I do? I'll recycle a few bottles but who cares?'"
The feeling was shared by Aldana, 24, who boarded the Sea Spirit for the trip to Antarctica.
"I had no idea about sustainability, being green or what I could do to help, so it was a step I took to educate myself," she said.
Houda Dafir, a 33-year-old Frenchwoman who resides in Dubai, joined the team after she was selected by Mr Swan on a visit to her office, where she works as an environmental compliance manager.
"He said I had to be on the boat and I made it," Houda said. "We have to lead by example. This is not something that comes overnight but if people see your actions, they will follow."
For Reem, learning the effects people's lifestyles have on the planet was an eye-opener.
"We were taught about consumption," she said. "The first thing you realise is that we are constantly buying things we don't need.
"Another thing is taking longer showers than necessary."
Alia Al Khafajy, 25, from Dubai, said the weather in Antarctica provided a sobering lesson.
"The eye-opener for me was actually seeing the effects right in front of our eyes," said Alia, an associate banker with Global Private Banking. "It rained twice while we were there, and it's not meant to rain."
Several times on the trip, the women saw ice shelves shatter into the ocean. Their route was altered after an area of ice at which the ship was due to stop fell into the sea.
"We're in a bubble thinking each country does its own thing and that it can't be that bad, but it is," Alia said.
Having returned to the UAE last week, the women are planning to spread Mr Swan's message.
"We live such a fast life that often we don't take time to live or breathe … we just need to consume, consume, consume," Houda said. "We should appreciate things are happening around us and we need to act."
zalhassani@thenational.ae
This article has been amended since it was first published. Mr Robert Swan's company is called 2041, not 2014.
Company%20Profile
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How much sugar is in chocolate Easter eggs?
- The 169g Crunchie egg has 15.9g of sugar per 25g serving, working out at around 107g of sugar per egg
- The 190g Maltesers Teasers egg contains 58g of sugar per 100g for the egg and 19.6g of sugar in each of the two Teasers bars that come with it
- The 188g Smarties egg has 113g of sugar per egg and 22.8g in the tube of Smarties it contains
- The Milky Bar white chocolate Egg Hunt Pack contains eight eggs at 7.7g of sugar per egg
- The Cadbury Creme Egg contains 26g of sugar per 40g egg
KEY%20DATES%20IN%20AMAZON'S%20HISTORY
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Some of Darwish's last words
"They see their tomorrows slipping out of their reach. And though it seems to them that everything outside this reality is heaven, yet they do not want to go to that heaven. They stay, because they are afflicted with hope." - Mahmoud Darwish, to attendees of the Palestine Festival of Literature, 2008
His life in brief: Born in a village near Galilee, he lived in exile for most of his life and started writing poetry after high school. He was arrested several times by Israel for what were deemed to be inciteful poems. Most of his work focused on the love and yearning for his homeland, and he was regarded the Palestinian poet of resistance. Over the course of his life, he published more than 30 poetry collections and books of prose, with his work translated into more than 20 languages. Many of his poems were set to music by Arab composers, most significantly Marcel Khalife. Darwish died on August 9, 2008 after undergoing heart surgery in the United States. He was later buried in Ramallah where a shrine was erected in his honour.
Adele: The Stories Behind The Songs
Caroline Sullivan
Carlton Books
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
Most sought after workplace benefits in the UAE
- Flexible work arrangements
- Pension support
- Mental well-being assistance
- Insurance coverage for optical, dental, alternative medicine, cancer screening
- Financial well-being incentives
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
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