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Saudi Ministry of Culture Launches Camel Studies Grant

Saudi Ministry of Culture Launches Camel Studies Grant
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Saudi Ministry of Culture Launches Camel Studies Grant

Saudi Ministry of Culture Launches Camel Studies Grant

The Saudi Ministry of Culture, in partnership with the Ministry of Environment, Water, and Agriculture, launched the Camel Studies Grant, which aims to shine a light on the vital role camels play in Saudi Arabia's cultural, social, and economic fields through scientific research.

The grant welcomes proposals exploring various aspects of camel significance, encompassing historical, cultural, social, economic, environmental, and health dimensions, reported the Saudi Press Agency on Monday.

The historical field encourages research that preserves the rich cultural heritage surrounding camels. This includes studies comparing the importance of camels across civilizations, historical and ethnographic analysis of camel-related traditions, and exploration of archival methods for safeguarding this heritage.

The cultural field focuses on the artistic and literary representation of camels. Researchers can delve into critical and literary studies on camels in Arabic and Saudi literature, including children's books. The field welcomes studies on camel-related vocabulary and their portrayal in various artistic mediums, from visual and cinematic arts to engravings and sculptures.

The social field investigates the place of camels in Arab and Islamic societies. Research can explore the local significance of camels, their social impact, traditions associated with ownership, and the influence of national camel events on communities, both locally and globally.

The economic field examines the economic contributions of camels and products derived from them. Researchers can analyze the use of camel wool and leather in fashion and furniture industries. The field encourages studies on sustaining the economic viability of camel products and measuring the financial impact of camel festivals and related institutions.

The environmental field focuses on the impact of camels on the environment. Research can explore sustainable land-use for camel grazing, analyze carbon dioxide emissions, and investigate the role of camels in maintaining ecological balance in arid lands.

The health field delves into the potential health benefits of camel products. Researchers can investigate the medical and therapeutic applications of these products. The field welcomes studies on developing technologies for measuring camel meat quality and projects focusing on camel breed preservation and genetic mapping.

The launch of the Camel Studies Grant coincides with the UN declaration of 2024 as the International Year of Camelids. It also celebrates the Kingdom's designation of 2024 as the Year of the Camel.

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Australia Bans Uranium Mining at Indigenous Site

A view shows a sign at the Energy Resources Australia (ERA) Ranger Project Area in Kakadu National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Northern Territory, Australia, July 11, 2024. (Reuters)
A view shows a sign at the Energy Resources Australia (ERA) Ranger Project Area in Kakadu National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Northern Territory, Australia, July 11, 2024. (Reuters)
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Australia Bans Uranium Mining at Indigenous Site

A view shows a sign at the Energy Resources Australia (ERA) Ranger Project Area in Kakadu National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Northern Territory, Australia, July 11, 2024. (Reuters)
A view shows a sign at the Energy Resources Australia (ERA) Ranger Project Area in Kakadu National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Northern Territory, Australia, July 11, 2024. (Reuters)

Australia moved Saturday to ban mining at one of the world's largest high-grade uranium deposits, highlighting the site's "enduring connection" to Indigenous Australians.

The Jabiluka deposit in northern Australia is surrounded by the heritage-listed Kakadu national park, a tropical expanse of gorges and waterfalls featured in the first "Crocodile Dundee" film.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the national park would be extended to include the Jabiluka site -- which has never been mined -- honoring the decades-long desires of the Mirrar people.

"They were seeking a guarantee that there would never be uranium mining on their land," Albanese told a crowd of Labor Party supporters in Sydney.

"This means there will never be mining at Jabiluka," he added.

Archaeologists discovered a buried trove of stone axes and tools near the Jabiluka site in 2017, which they dated at tens of thousands of years old.

The find was "proof of the extraordinary and enduring connection Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander have had with our land", Albanese said.

"The Mirrar people have loved and cared for their land for more than 60,000 years.

"That beautiful part of Australia is home to some of the oldest rock art in the world," he added.

Discovered in the early 1970s, efforts to exploit the Jabiluka deposit have for decades been tied-up in legal wrangling between Indigenous custodians and mining companies.

It is one of the world's largest unexploited high-grade uranium deposits, according to the World Nuclear Association.

Rio Tinto-controlled company Energy Resources of Australia previously held mining leases at Jabiluka.

The conservation of Indigenous sites has come under intense scrutiny in Australia after mining company Rio Tinto blew up the 46,000-year-old Juukan Gorge rock shelters in 2020.

Australia's conservative opposition has vowed to build nuclear power plants across the country if it wins the next election, overturning a 26-year nuclear ban.