World Consumer Protection Day
Clean Energy for a Healthy Environment. The celebration was held at the Rashid Diab Arts Center, in collaboration with the National Consumer Protection Agency, and was sponsored by Kenana Sugar Company Limited. The event marked World Consumer Protection Day, which is observed on March 15 every year. The theme for this year’s celebration was “Clean Energy for a Healthy Environment”. The event aimed to raise awareness about the importance of using clean energy sources and promoting sustainable development practices in Sudan. The celebration included speeches by experts in the field of energy and environment, as well as musical performances by local artists.
Eng. Rashid Ali Abdullah from Sepco discussed ways to find solutions to environmental problems in Sudan and emphasized the importance of raising awareness about the dangers facing the environment. He stressed the need to prioritize the use of alternative energies and finding solutions that go beyond just using clean and renewable energies. He described such energies as unfinished and lacking in endings, unlike solar energy, which has a limitless potential. Engineer Rashid Ali Abdullah’s speech highlighted the importance of adopting sustainable development practices and investing in clean energy sources to protect the environment and ensure a better future for Sudan.
Mr. Abdullah explained that World Consumer Protection Day is one of the UN’s initiatives that aims to raise awareness about the importance of protecting the environment and its impact on consumers. He emphasized the importance of using bioenergy as a way to treat solid waste and produce gas, electricity, and manure.
Regarding the government’s efforts in providing alternative energy, Engineer Rashid Ali Abdullah pointed out the weakness of such efforts. He stated that energy usage has two aspects: the individual side and the collective side, and highlighted the uses of each aspect. He called on the government to establish energy stations with large capacities to meet the growing demand for energy and to prioritize the use of renewable energy sources. Engineer Rashid Ali Abdullah’s speech emphasized the need for collective action to address environmental challenges and promote sustainable development practices in Sudan.
Dr. Omar Kabashi, in his speech, emphasized the importance of protecting the consumer’s rights and advocating for them. He stated that this can only be achieved through concerted efforts with relevant authorities. Dr. Kabashi also called on consumers to boycott goods that do not meet safety and quality standards.
Dr. Kabashi highlighted the formation of the National Consumer Protection Agency, which is the result of great and painstaking efforts that began in 1997 by the Consumer Rights Association. He explained that the Association was granted the right to intervene in consumer protection matters through the development of an article that is now protected by law. This, in turn, led to the creation of the national consumer protection system, which is superior to all existing devices in the country. Dr. Kabashi’s speech emphasized the importance of protecting the consumer’s rights and the need for collective action to ensure their safety and well-being.
On his part, Taj al-Sir Muhammad Ali, he spoke about clean energy sources generated from various sources, including wind and solar energy. He discussed the challenges faced by solar energy generation and the development of parallel devices to generate this energy.
He mentioned that one of the biggest challenges for consumers is the lack of batteries in the Sudanese market that meet the necessary specifications. He highlighted the importance of having batteries that are compatible with the devices and their energy usage, and noted that the high cost of these batteries is also a concern.
Dr. Abdulrahman Al-Amin Abdulgadir emphasized the significance of clean energy as a human right. He highlighted that green plants are a source of solar energy, and stated that “you can make fire from a green tree if you burn it.”
Dr. Abdulgadir pointed out that logging is one of the biggest environmental disasters in Sudan. He suggested that the best solution to this problem is to use alternative energy sources, such as ethanol made from sugar cane. He noted that despite Sudan being one of the countries most affected by climate change, there is a significant imbalance in the energy system in the country.
Dr. Muntaser Ibrahim believes that climate change in Sudan presents a great opportunity for the country. He called on the government and relevant authorities to take advantage of this climate and its changes by investing in alternative energy sources instead of relying on polluting energies. He cited the Chinese experience in this field as an example to follow.
Dr. Ibrahim also highlighted that the sun is one of the largest energy sources in Sudan and can be harnessed effectively with the right technology and infrastructure.
Dr. Rashid Diab in his comments said that believes that the real problem in Sudan is not related to knowledge or technical issues, but rather lies in people’s ideas and their approach to creating future projects. He stated that the Sudanese have an intellectual defect that needs to be addressed. In his speech, Dr. Rashid conveyed three community messages. The first message was a call to use clean energy from clean minds. The second message emphasized the importance of reviving the Sudanese spirit. The third message stressed the need to activate dormant energies and tap into the real potential of people.
Rami Omar, a popular musician and singer, added to the evening’s ambiance with a number of beautiful songs that were well-received by the audience at the center.