Dr. Abdulaziz Ali Rashid Al Nuaimi is a contradiction in terms. A member of the Ajman royal family in the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Abdulaziz is correctly addressed as His Highness or His Excellency, but the former chemical engineer turned environmental activist is known internationally, and affectionately, as the Green Sheikh.
It is a well-earned nickname. Speaking to a packed house in a lecture hall in the Humanities Centre on Thursday, Sheikh Abdulaziz held the audience captive with his impassioned conversation about environmental stewardship, sustainability and global leadership. The lecture was hosted by Petrocultures, a Faculty of Arts/Campus Saint-Jean initiative that researches the social, cultural and political implications of oil and energy use on individuals, communities and societies around the world.
It is an area of research that aligns with the sheikh's mission, which above all is about impact. His presentation - One World One People: Leadership in Energy, Sustainability and Transition - speaks to global effort and connection, but the Sheikh also makes a case for individual responsibility, reminding us that what we do matters, that the impact of our over-consumptive, oil-addicted mindset has global consequences. "We need to measure not just our carbon footprint," he says, "but our attitude footprint."
Drawing upon his experiences with international green initiatives (including a visit to NutrAponic here in Edmonton), videos, music and a variety of statistical presentations, the soft-spoken Sheikh paints a hopeful but realistic picture, stressing collaboration as a vital feature of global transformation. The Sheikh met with acting Dean Lise Gotell and senior officer international Sherilyn Trompetter to share information about the strengths of the U of A arts community, as well as potential partnerships with Petrocultures and After Oil. Earlier in the day, in recognition of his international efforts on behalf of environmental stewardship, Edmonton Mayor Don Iveson proclaimed Oct 10 (the Sheikh's birthday) Green Sheikh Day in Edmonton, now and in perpetuity.
The Sheikh attributes his dedication to environmental preservation to the time he spent as a young boy learning to train falcons with this father, which opened his mind to the interconnectedness of the world. It is a legacy that he hopes to pass on to his own children.
"One day my son will be known as the 'Blue Sheikh'," he says, "because we will have a fight with water. On the day of judgement, you will be asked, where did you get it, where did you spend it, and how did you spend it? The planet has been given to us as a trust, and we are its stewards."