TimeOut Dubai, 25.02.10
[...]
In November 2009, when Khalifa Al Murar and Haakon Rist, two students of the University of Wollongong in Dubai (UOWD), began a campaign to help Bu Tinah win votes, the island was ranked at the bottom of all entries.
By December, when they had finished some of their grassroots marketing, the island was heading the entries.
[...]
As the UAE has 80 percent expatriate population, Khalifa and Haakon decided to use this to their advantage to raise awareness of Bu Tinah.
Norway-native Haakon Rist added: “I think it is crucial that we get the message out that it’s not just about voting for Bu Tinah because it’s a naturally beautiful place anyway. The fact that marine life is surviving in harsh conditions – be it high salinity or higher temperatures than their normal eco-system – that is the real ‘wonder of nature’.”
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