8/3/2019 A Heart of Green

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May 201128

Its been 15 years since I last worked for the UK

National Health Service. A little retrainin would be

required before I et my hands on a scalpel aain,

she says.

Qatars green scene

Oriinally from Walkerinham, a small villae in South

Yorkshire, Kate says Qatar is a lot dif ferent from her

villae there is less of reen here, for one. But

shes content with the steps the country is takin in

terms of environmental protection. The Ministry of

Environment is pro-active within the country. One

only has to look up newspapers to see what new

initiatives have been implemented daily or what

conferences and exhibitions are takin place relevant

to the environment, she says.

Its been seven years now in the Middle East for

Kate. Adjustin to a new place is never an issue for

her. I nd it interesting to learn how others live, she

says.

Back at home

Currently on her maternity break, Kate is ecstatic

with her new born bundle of joy. My husband and I

are lucky to have a beautiful baby irl, she says.

Like most women, bein a workin mother is

dauntin for Kate but she is hopeful. I am look-

in at workin from home for a while. Most women

do not et a choice anymore and have to o back to

work, even back in the UK. But thins will work out

I am not the rst woman to be in this situation,

she says.

Now that she is a mother, Kate is keen on ensur-

in that her child would follow her reen principles

too. The key for people to realise the importance

of implementin ood environmental practices is to

explain why they are important. It is our responsibility

to ensure that riht principles and morals are instilled

in our future enerations.

And with Kate, we too anticipate a cleanertomorrow!

Kate has initiated several projects

in and around tpQ such as:

Environment protection trainin sessions as

part of an induction proramme by the HR

team.

Educational prorammes for home owners

and public t hrouh specialised publications

and short lms.

Installation of a UNESCO specied recycling

system.

Blanket ban on plastic bas. Retailers can

only sell a re-useable or deradable alterna-

tive.

Implementation of a hih-tech ENVAC vacu-

um waste disposal system.

Encourain and protectin avifauna and

marine life.

Beach clean-up includin a riorous rock

revetment clean-up.

Green Job

e

D

bru

org

p

Wr

Swito

Swi

wi

the

You recYcle:

Plastic, paper, cardboard and e-waste

Slogan You carrY at work:

Reduce, re-use, recycle

thing cloSe to Your heart:

My amily

Your philoSophY in life:

Smile alwaysto be a woman iS:

To have a choice to be anything you wantmake a difference bY:

Treating people the way you want to be treatedenvironment:

It is our uture and we need to look ater it

hobbieS:Painting, reading, socialising and now being a

mother

QuicktAkes

worldwidewomen

As far back as Kate remembers, she has always been fascinated with the environment.

Perhaps because she was always tauht to protect it, she says. At the ae of four, she learnt

about the Keep Britain Tidy Campain. I was also tauht not to throw away litter, instead

re-use them or pass it on to someone. But thins seem to be more disposable nowadays,

she says.

And it annoys her when people throw litter carelessly, especially out of their car windows. I have in the past

picked it up and iven it back to them throuh the window, takin them by surprise.

Kates team at UDC echo her environmental sentiments. Toether they are committed to reduce the envi-

ronmental impacts of their operations carried in and around TPQ. Despite bein one of the larest water-found

urban developments, the Island adheres to an environment-friendly corporate culture.

A lot of marine life and birds nd a home in and around TPQ, and many steps have been taken to ensure

their well-bein. In fact, we once collaborated with the Ministry of Environment to save the life of a rare reen

turtle, which was found injured in the sea and f ound shelter at one of our rock revetments. It is currently recu-

peratin at a clinic in Dubai, she says.

Surprisinly Kates career didnt start off as an environmentalist; it was in podiatric medicine. I loved work-

in as a Podiatrist and met many interestin people; however it just wasnt the profession I wanted to be in

for the rest of my life.

rememBer lessons in primary and middle school

when we were taught to keep our planet clean?

projects, charts, activities that aim to drill

eco consciousness in us. out of school, for

many the lessons perish. for those who

have learnt it well, it Becomes their

joB!

Cassey Oliveira CATCHES UP WITH

Kate FletCher, ENVIRONMENTAL SPECIAL-

IST AT THE PEARL-QATAR (TPQ) WHO IS

KEEN ON MAKINg THE EARTH A CLEANER

PLACE TO LIVE IN.

AheArt of

Green