The speech of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, may God preserve him, on the necessity of spreading the culture of rationalizing consumption and abandoning the habit of wastefulness, which does not conform to the teachings of our Islamic religion, was not a passing talk in a lecture through which he listened to officials of the food security file in the state, Rather, it was a deliberate and focused talk, through which he sent a clear message to all, the necessity of eliminating one of the most negative customs of society, which is the habit of wasting food!

His Highness said it clearly: “We must tighten the belt to this habit.” He even gave the best option and a successful alternative that does not contradict religion, generosity, and good habits. He said: “If the increase and the multiplication to do good, we support and bless it, but if it is to show off This is unacceptable. The culture of preserving our resources, of all kinds, from water and food sources, and others, is an essential part of the food security strategy in the country.

Extravagance and food waste reached unacceptable levels. The number is shocking, unfortunate and painful, as specialists estimated the value of food wasted in the UAE at 10 billion dirhams annually, and unfortunately 30% of this painful number comes during the blessed month of Ramadan, the month of mercy and worship, the month that must That the rich feel hungry for the poor!

There is no doubt that it is a very negative habit, which is not related to generosity or generosity, as it is prohibited by Shari'a, and is not socially or economically unpopular, not even humanly. Perhaps that is what provoked His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, and made him send his direct message to the whole society, with the necessity Stop wastefulness, and avoid flaunting too much food and wasting it!

There are efforts made to try to spread the culture of rationalizing consumption, and spread the concept of "management" instead of "waste", and the competent authorities in the state have drawn up their plans to reduce food waste by 15% by 2021, within the strategic plan to achieve food security, but the absence of societal culture regarding consumption Ideal for food is the obstacle and the biggest reason behind the high rate of waste, and reducing this percentage to a minimum begins with changing this culture, and inculcating the values ​​of preserving grace, and this is a great responsibility that requires all efforts to achieve it.

The individual in the Emirates annually wastes 179 kilograms of food annually, according to the latest official data and statistics, and this is a very high number, and is very strange, and is directly related to human behavior, and the absence of a culture of the importance of preserving grace and non-wastefulness. Will we recalculate our calculations in the next stage? A blessing on us if he can change the concept and behavior of passive extravagance, and make people more careful, and more aware, in preserving food and rationalizing consumption ?!

Everyone in this society must be convinced of the need to rationalize food consumption, as the world is undoubtedly on the verge of major crises, and the crisis of providing food is one of these future crises, it is true that we do not suffer now, thanks to the efforts of our leaders who made a pledge to provide food and medicine to all A citizen and a resident, but this does not mean that we, the members of society, deal with this pledge negatively and indifferently through the excessive purchase of food, then waste it and not use it. It is indeed a crime against the soul first, then against society, and it is undoubtedly contrary to the directives and instructions of our wise leadership, and this is totally unacceptable!

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