This image was taken from: The Star Newspaper: Star Foto Folder: 26 April 2009
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Article:Don’t let your tanks kill our reefs
Saturday April 25, 2009
Illegal fishing is booming. Scientists estimate that poaching is a US$10-US$23.5bil (RM36.5-RM85.5bil) business that's killing between 11 and 26 million tonnes of fish every year. Strip-mining of coral reefs is particularly rampant.A common technique in South-East Asia is to dump cyanide in the water. This kills two thirds of the fish, but makes it simple for fishermen to bag the rest. Of the third that survive the poisoning, another third die while being transported. The cyanide also kills some of the live coral. But the fishermen don't care because they can hack the reefs into chunks and sell it off alive or dead.
A Foxface and Hawaiian Yellow Tang co-habitating in a tank with artificial coral. — MARIA DANIEL Cyanide fishing began in the 1960s in the Philippines and is now a global pest. Cyanide fishing yields fish for the marine tank hobbyist market as well as lobsters, grouper and other fish sold in restaurants that allow diners to pick live fish from tanks.
"The problem is lack of law enforcement," Hasrizal Shaari from the Department of Marine Studies at the University Malaysia Terengganu points out.
"There are officers in gazetted marine parks but the rest of our reefs have little protection. This is not just a Malaysian problem but a regional one."
Hasrizal recommends checking the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) list to see what fish and corals are protected before buying fish and coral for your marine tank.
Zaa Z-Young points out that respectable dealers supply proper documents.
"I don't buy locally," she says, "Because I can't find out what's proper and what's trafficked. I buy from trusted foreign sources that sell fish and coral bred especially for this market or who use sustainable practices. If you are buying, every bit of coral must come with CITES-approved paperwork while fish need a health certificate from the country's Department of Fisheries."
Find out more
Coral Malaysia
Learn about local coral and how you can help preserve our natural heritage.
Aquarists On-line
http://www.aquaristsonline.com
A huge and rich compendium of how-to articles and information.
RTAW Reefpedia
http://www.masa.asn.au/masawiki
An on-line encyclopaedia run by the Marine Aquarium Societies of Australia (MASA).
FreshMarine.com
It's meant as a sales site but this resource offers tonnes of great info for marine tank fans.
This article was taken from: The Star Online: Lifestyle: Living 25 April 2009
article:The health benefits of aquariums
Saturday April 25, 2009
A series of clever studies that compared the effect of empty and filled aquariums discovered that empty tanks have no real impact on people. But watching fish in aquariums significantly reduces high blood pressure, calms hyperactive kids and reduces the perception of pain for dental patients.In addition, another study discovered that placing aquariums in old folks homes reduces problems associated with Alzheimer's disease. Fish-watching led to significantly fewer temper tantrums. Nurses also reported that patients had a better appetite.
This article was taken from: The Star Online: Lifestyle: Living 25 April 2009
Article:Reefs in your living room
Saturday April 25, 2009
Stories by MARIA DANIEL
Until recently, only specialists could maintain marine tanks. Now, with a bit of planning and know-how, everyone can enjoy the magic of coral reefs at home.
Garden ponds were a feature in ancient Chinese, Mesopotamian, Greek and Indian homes and palaces. But indoor aquariums are a fairly new invention.
The traditional goldfish bowl is said to have been invented by the gorgeous and vulgar Jeanne-Marie Du Barry who became the mistress of King Louis XV in France in 1768. Aquariums made up of sheets of glass glued onto a metal frame appeared in the early 1800s but early models leaked like mad and had to be supervised night and day.
Sohal fish from the Red Sea swimming around coral. Today, leak-proof fish tanks are easily available. Freshwater tanks for guppies and goldfish are relatively easy to set up and maintain. But marine tanks are not so easy. This is because reefs are complicated ecosystems that form the background to some of the world's most fascinating underwater wars.
The weird world of reef life
Reefs are created by tiny sea creatures called coral polyps that live in large groups on the ocean floor. A group of these little animals called hard corals produce a rock hard limestone skeleton that protects them from predators.
Coral reefs are a mix of live coral and limestone skeleton leftovers inhabited by other fish and animals. These reefs act like huge apartment complexes. Even though they cover less than 0.2% of the ocean floor, coral reefs are home to more than nine million species. Coral reefs rival tropical rainforests for biodiversity, hence their nickname Rainforests of the Sea.
Coral reefs are incredibly complicated eco-systems. Although scientists have spent years figuring out how they work, our knowledge of reef ecology is still quite limited.
Toadstool leather coral use chemical warfare to kill their neighbours. As the French pioneer sea explorer Jacques Yves Cousteau pointed, out: "No aquarium, no tank in a marine land, however spacious it may be, can begin to duplicate the conditions of the sea."
Marine biologists are discovering that some of the most common marine tank denizens lead incredibly complicated lives.
The popular toadstool leather coral from Indonesia and Tonga looks pretty and inviting but it is allelopathic, meaning it can harm neighbouring corals through chemical warfare.
Toadstool leather coral eats microscopic algae. When coral feel they have too little space, or too many neighbours, they kill off competitors by leaking poisonous substances into the water.
This coral can also move about. It can detach its bottom from whatever it's stuck to and reattach itself in a place it thinks is a better home.
Luckily, toadstool leather coral isn't aggressive. It is perfectly happy to live in a tank, as long as it has enough space and food.
Spaghetti leather coral from the Indo-Pacific is more aggressive. This gorgeous coral eats algae as well as microscopic animals like zooplankton, baby brine shrimp and phytoplankton. But it considers other coral enemies and will drape itself over neighbours and kill them.
Then there are the fish. In documentaries, there are always shots of angel fish darting in and about the reefs. While they look really pretty, these fish are actually eating the coral. If you put a bunch of these in your tank in the wrong conditions, they will eat up your coral.
In addition, many reef inhabitants use poison as a defence against predators. Box fish are usually quite gentle, but if they are bumped by another fish, or frightened in some way, box fish can release enough poison to kill off a whole reef tank.
Such problems put off the casual fish admirer. But fans contend these challenges are precisely what makes reef tanks such a fantastic hobby.
Source: www.malalaaina.org. The Ocean Eco foundation, www.marinebiology.org
Related stories:
The health benefits of aquariums
Don't let your tanks kill our reefs
This article was taken from: The Star Online: Lifestyle: Living 25 April 2009
Article:Save the sharks
Saturday April 25, 2009
No aquarium, no tank in marineland, however spacious it may be, can begin to duplicate the conditions of the sea — Jacques CousteauResorts World at Sentosa, Singapore wants to import whale sharks for the entertainment of visitors. But these marine heavyweights, listed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as vulnerable to extinction, have never done well in captivity.
In fact, two whale sharks — Ralph and Norton — died within five months of each other at the Georgia Aquarium in the US.
The world's largest fish, whale sharks can grow as large as two city buses. They migrate thousands of kilometres in the wild and can dive down to 980m.
These behemoths of the deep can live up to a hundred years. No man-made environment, no matter how large, can possibly accommodate their needs.
Write to the Singapore Minister of National Development, the Singapore Tourism Board and Resorts World at Sentosa before tragedy happens there.
To sign the petition, log on to www.sharkpetition.com
Source: www.sharkpetition.com
This article was taken from: The Star Online: Lifestyle: Living 25 April 2009
Article:Swimming with sharks
Saturday April 25, 2009
Stories by ROSE YASMIN KARIM
Getting into the water with a giant shark sounds like a crazy proposition but not if it's the whale shark, the largest and probably gentlest member of the shark family.
Sitting on the edge of the 9m banca (outrigger canoe), we nervously checked and double-checked our snorkels, masks and flippers.
All six of us — dive instructors and journalists from Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia — were ready to jump into the deep blue of Donsol, a municipality in the province of Sorsogon, the Philippines, for an adventure that Time Magazine rates "as the best animal encounter in Asia: swimming with the whale sharks".
Plunging in at a moment's notice. We had booked our tour through the Donsol Municipal Tourism Council (DMTC), the regulating body for whale shark interaction, at a cost of 3,500 pesos (RM263) per boat, plus a registration fee of 100 pesos (RM7.50) per person.
The WWF guidelines recited to us stressed, among other things, that "touching and riding the whale shark (Rhincodon typus) is prohibited."
That we shouldn't block its course, and maintain a distance of 3m from the head or body of the whale shark and 4m from its tail. Flash photography and any kind of motorised underwater propulsion machine are not allowed.
OK, no playing the fool then.
The boat chugged away from the shore and, a mere 20 minutes later, the guides had spotted a shadow just 60m away.
"Whale shark!" they shouted.
Whale shark lookout. I hurriedly pulled on my mask and tightened the strap. There was a rush of excitement since we didn't think we would see one so soon. The Butanding Interaction Officer (BIO) brought the boat to a stop. We scanned the horizon as we waited anxiously for the cue to jump in.
We waited. And waited. And nothing . . .
"Sorry, it dived down," one of the crewman finally announced, to disappointed sighs all around. The BIO laughed when he saw our faces.
We chatted idly as the boat bobbed along. Every time we passed snorkellers, we couldn't hide our envy. Only six swimmers are allowed per encounter, so we weren't able to tag along on these. Suddenly we heard the BIO yell: "Go! Go! Go!"
I had been told that whale sharks were gentle creatures, but then so are cows — until they charge at you.
It wasn't its gaping mouth or the fact that a full-grown one could weigh up to 15 tonnes that troubled me. No, it was their vision. Would they be able to see us in the murky, plankton-rich water?
But the time for hesitation was over.
The gentle giant (AP PHOTO). I plunged into the water and spent the first few frantic seconds in utter confusion. My heart was drumming away against my ribs. Through the bubbles, I followed the movement of flippers and searched for my first glimpse of the whale shark.
And there it was, 1m below the surface, like a submarine torpedo swimming straight towards me. The gaping pigeonhole shape of the whale shark's mouth was big enough to take me in whole. I frantically twisted myself out of the way while trying to expel copious amounts of saltwater which I had inadvertently swallowed through my snorkel.
Sure, our BIO had warned us to keep our distance, but had anyone told the shark?
Mesmerised, I hovered as it slipped by underneath me, taking in the elegance of its body as it finned through the water. But the thing that awed me most was the size of the fish.
At 9m, it was by far the largest thing I had ever encountered in water.
I began paddling as fast as I could to keep up. That slow-moving tail was deceptive. The shark went up a gear and pulled ahead. I tried to keep up but it was hopeless. Seconds later, it began to submerge. Catching my breath, I dived after it, but my lungs soon protested and I gasped for the surface.
For about one minute, the creature was visible until it finally descended into the sunless depth beyond our reach.
As we climbed back overboard like spirited seals, my limbs continued to tremble and my heart to pound. We settled ourselves back along the edge of the deck. Same grind: spit on mask and rub it around, shove feet into flippers half a size too small, take deep breaths, and back to waiting.
"Okay, go!"
At this next signal, we swam madly in the direction of the shark. This time the whale shark was smaller than the last, at 6m long. I got a great view of the head, broad and flat like a catfish, with leopard spots and stripes over the grey body.
It seemed almost ironic that this fish, which can grow as large as a bus, eats plankton. I finned over as close as I dared, and the creature filled my entire vision.
An entourage of remora and other housekeepers joyrode on its side, feasting on parasite and the shark's leftovers. I badly wanted to touch the shark and feel the texture of its skin but that's a no-no in the rulebooks.
After eight minutes, the whale shark decided it had had enough of us and ducked.
In a moment it had faded into the blue water.
By afternoon, we were all beat. The sharks don't swim that fast, but after six encounters, we didn't have much energy left.
Our three hours of absolute wonder were soon up. Eight sharks had graced us with their presence that day. We got to swim alongside the world's largest fish while doing minimal environmental damage.
All the way back, I was grinning like a village idiot, and I saw my feelings of euphoria mirrored on every face on the boat. It was time to spend some pesos on a celebratory boca (fresh coconut) or eight.
Cebu Pacific Air flies daily to Legaspi from Manila and the flight is less than an hour. From Legaspi, it is an hour's drive to Donsol. Log on to www.cebupacificair.comfor flight schedules.
Related story:
Save the sharks
This article was taken from: The Star Online: Lifestyle: Living 25 April 2009
Friday, April 24, 2009
Article: Wall collapses after rain
Friday April 24, 2009
Liew (right) with Penang Hill residents, looking at the collapsed gabion retaining wall along the jeep track from Penang Botanic Gardens to Penang Hill.
This article was taken from: The Star Online: Metro: North 24 April 2009
By WINNIE YEOH
THE heavy rain on Tuesday caused the collapse of a gabion retaining wall along the jeep track from the Penang Botanical Gardens up to Penang Hill.
The wall, measuring 12m high and about 10m long, fell down the slope but not onto the road.
Bukit Bendera MP Liew Chin Tong said the wall collapsed at about 4.15pm on Tuesday and no one was injured during the incident.
"The wall cost about RM200,000 and was completed in late January to prevent landslides after the heavy rain last September which caused several landslides in the area.
Liew (right) with Penang Hill residents, looking at the collapsed gabion retaining wall along the jeep track from Penang Botanic Gardens to Penang Hill. "I will request the Public Works Department (JKR) to conduct a thorough investigation and the report will be submitted to the Chief Minister as soon as possible," he said when contacted.
He also said the incident should not recur and repair work would be carried out once the report was completed.
A JKR engineer who declined to be named said the land at the lower part of the slope eroded due to excessive rain, causing the wall to fall.
"For now, the affected portion of the hill slope will be covered with plastic sheets and water will be diverted from the slope," he said.
This article was taken from: The Star Online: Metro: North 24 April 2009
Article: Call to ban plastic bags
Friday April 24, 2009
SINCE Penang is first to introduce free Wifi services and to eradicate hardcore poverty, it must also become the first to ban the use of plastic bags.Yeoh Soon Hin (DAP—Paya Terubong) said that almost every other day, people used plastic bags to carry things around.
"It can take between 400 and 1000 years for the plastic bags to biodegrade.
"I hope the state government will impose the ban in two to three years' time,'' he said when debating his motion of thanks to the Yang Di-Pertua Negri Tun Abdul Rahman Abbas's speech yesterday.
He also urged the assemblymen to emulate him by carrying their notes and other items in a recyclable bag. Yeoh was seen holding a bright green recyclable bag.
Earlier, Komtar assemblyman Ng Wei Aik in his motion of thanks said he had suggested that the Penang Municipal Council allow citizens' arrest of illegal parking attendants.
He also said he knew of jobless people who do not mind being parking attendants to earn a living.
"These jobs can be made available,'' he added.
This article was taken from: The Star Online: Metro: North 24 April 2009
Article: Stop, look and learn more about the tapir
Friday April 24, 2009
KUALA LUMPUR: If you spot a man stopping traffic with "Stop! Tapir is crossing the road" in Bukit Bintang or KLCC, do not be alarmed.Rest assured, no tapir will be crossing the road; the man is a volunteer who will be at the nearest zebra crossing distributing flyers with information on the endangered species during a four-day campaign organised by Zoo Negara and KL Hop On Hop Off.
The volunteers will also be at Menara Hap Seng, Central Market, Chinatown and KL Sentral.
The campaign, which started yesterday, is in conjunction with World Tapir Day celebrated worldwide on April 27.
Environmental cause: Activists promoting public awareness on tapirs in Kuala Lumpur yesterday ahead of World Tapir Day next Monday.According to Malaysian Zoological Society director Dr Mohamad Ngah, there are four species of tapir left on the planet, including local species tapirus indicus or its common name Malayan Tapir.
"The tapir is often overlooked because of its more 'high-profile' peers like the orang utan or the tiger, yet all these animals are equally important," he said at the launch of the campaign at Zoo Negara yesterday.
Other "attractions" by volunteers include tapir mascots and a man sporting a sandwich board with relevant information on the species.
One flyer will entitle an individual to a RM2 discount for a Zoo Negara entrance ticket if the ticket is bought on KL Hop On Hop Off buses on Sunday.
The ticket enables the person to take the bus at the Bintang Walk bus stop next to the Lot 10 Shopping Complex at 11am on the same day. The buses will then ferry the passengers to the zoo for a World Tapir Day celebration.
Dr Mohamad said tapir-related activities have been lined up for visitors on the day including art exhibitions, a puppet show and "Tapir & You" 3D photography.
KL Hop On Hop Off managing director Syed Azhar Syed Nazir said that beginning April 18 until May 18, a ringgit off each bus ticket sold would be donated to the Zoo Negara Tapir Fund.
This article was taken from: The Star Online: Nation 24 April 2009
Image: Monkey tricks
Seems like the monkey wants a piece of the action ... er... I mean, antenna.
This image was taken from: The Star Online: Thumbnails 24 April 2009
Image:Time for a snooze
Date : Friday, 24-April-2009
by Geraldine Albela
The hard work of hauling this big whopper to the market has taken a toll on this fishmonger.
This image was taken from: The Star Online: Thumbnails 24 April 2009
Image: Kerbau country
Date : Friday, 24-April-2009
by Chin Chon Len
This image was taken from: The Star Online: Thumbnails 24 April 2009
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Thursday, April 23, 2009
Image: Bird’s nest skirt
Date : Thursday, 23-April-2009
by K.K. Moey
The things coming out of a washing machine can be as mysterious and baffling as vanishing socks.
This image was taken from: The Star Online: Thumbnails 23 April 2009
Image: Woofer cruiser
Date : Thursday, 23-April-2009
If you blow in a dog's face he gets mad at you. But put him in the car and he does this!
This image was taken from: The Star Online: Thumbnails 23 April 2009
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Image: Going Green
This image was taken from: The Star Newspaper: Star Foto Folder: Nation 22 April 2009
Article: Friendly Crawlers
Wednesday April 22, 2009
Home for useful wigglers
By ANTHONY TAN
WHAT are some 80,000 earthworms doing at the premises of the Consu-mers Association of Penang (CAP)? A lot it seems.
While many of them are busy reproducing, others are feeding on organic matter to produce vermicast which is used as an organic fertiliser.
CAP started breeding earthworms and producing vermicast, which is actually worm poo, since three years ago as part of its programme to promote sustainable agriculture and organic farming.
Its education officer N. V. Subbarow estima-ted that there were now 80,000 worms at the earthworm breeding and vermicast producing section at CAP’s premises on Jalan Mesjid Negeri in Penang.
The section, which is called Vermihome, doubles as a training centre for those interested to learn about earthworm breeding, vermicast production and natural farming methods, including setting up a compost bed and recycling kitchen and garden wastes.
These earthworms feed on organic matter to produce vermicast which is ideal as organic fertiliser. Paying tribute to the earthworms in conjunction with World Earth Day today, Subbarow said the wriggly creatures were friends of farmers.
“As they tunnel through the soil to search for food, they render farmers a great service by turning over the soil and aerating it,” he said in an interview.
He said CAP sold the earthworms, at RM1 each, to farmers and individuals who used them to produce their own vermicast or even for breeding.
Subbarow said CAP had also given the worms free to schools for their organic farming projects.
He said five schools whose students and teachers visited Vermihome for training had started their own organic farming projects, adding that CAP staff members visited these schools periodically to monitor the progress of the projects and provide advice.
Subbarow said Vermihome produced some 10kg of vermicast daily which are bought by regular buyers at RM3 per bag of one kilogramme.
Don’t mistake the vermicast for black- coloured soil though and dump the whole bag into a pot. Remember, it’s a fertiliser!
Worker K. Acuran Mano tends to the worms at CAP's Vermihome. “All you need to do is scatter a handful of the vermicast on top of the soil around your plant once a week,” said Subbarow while espousing the effectiveness of the fertiliser.
He said the fertiliser contained 19 types of minerals including nitrogen, calcium, manganese, sulphur and iodine which are absorbed easily and used by plants.
He said vermicast was a cheaper and healthier alternative to chemical fertiliser, adding that a lime farmer from Kulai in Johor who had been spending RM500 a month on chemical fertiliser reduced his cost to just RM150 a month when he switched to vermicast.
Subbarow said the worms bred and used to produce vermicast at Vermihome were the eisena fetida (red worm) and eudrilus eugeniae (African night crawler).
Besides vermicast, Subbarow said Vermihome also produced vermiwash, a foliar spray, which is prepared by letting water percolate through a column of soil containing earthworms active in their burrows as well as feeding on organic matter and coverting it into vermicompost.
The water, which trickles through these burrows and compost, gets collected at the base of the barrel as vermiwash.
Subbarow said some 2,000 farmers, teachers, students and members of the public had visited Vermihome where they learnt about organic farming, vermicast production and the advantages of natural farming methods.
Vermihome is the brainchild of CAP president S.M. Mohamed Idris. CAP has been promoting pesticide-free farming since the early 1990s.
And the association practises what it preaches. Its staff grow chilli plants in pots the organic way at the association’s compound.
Subbarow said schools and teachers were welcome to CAP’s Vermihome for study and training purposes. Those interested can call him at 04-8299511.
This article was taken from: The Star Online Newspaper: Metro: North T1 & T4, 22 April 2009
Article: Green On Screen
Wednesday April 22, 2009
THESE movies and songs will get us all in the right frame of mind, and strengthen our resolve to be good to Mother Earth.
This eye-opening and much talked about documentary is former US vice president Al Gore’s personal project to save Mother Nature. It captures viewers’ attention from the start with its predictions on the catastrophes waiting to befall humanity as a result of global warming.
The Inconvenient Truth explores climate change and how it affects humans today and in the years to come. Great lesson from this movie – don’t take too long to conserve Earth. Start now.
We may be a little tired of Eddie Murphy and his crazy antics but credit should be given where it’s due. Dr. Dolittle 2 has a strong message to share. Eddie reprises his role as Dr. Dolittle, the vet with the ability to talk to animals, who in this movie are preparing to launch a strike to save their woods.
Zainal Abidin’s hit song, Hijau, has become a local ‘green’ anthem. Dolittle works with the animals to stop land developers bent on destroying the jungle and comes up with a brilliant plan to save the animals’ homes.
Who can forget this movie? Not only did it show the world that Julia Roberts has a great cleavage, it also tackled some serious environmental issues.
Based on a true story, Julia plays Erin Brokovich, a single mother who takes on a gas company which she believes is responsible for polluting the town’s water supply. She goes on to bust a cover-up that had taken place and almost single-handedly brings the gas company down.
Melting ice, rising waters and flooding are the issues this movie tackles. Manny the Mammoth, Sid the Sloth and Diego the Sabretooth Tiger discover that the ice wall surrounding their valley is melting and will soon flood their home.
The trio embark on a journey to save their lives and learn why their world is ‘melting’ around them. Okay, so we don’t have mammoths and sabretooth tigers roaming the Earth anymore, but what they face relates to the animals today nonetheless.
Leonardo DiCaprio has long outgrown the love-struck boy in Titanic. Now, the environmentally-conscious actor does movies that don’t necessarily make money but are educational.
Ice Age 2: The Meltdown The 11th Hour is a documentary, hosted by DiCaprio, featuring prominent scientists and environmental experts looking into how humans can stop destroying Earth and undo the damage we’ve inflicted upon it.
Okay, so the movie basically tells you not to dump pigs’ waste into lakes, but hey, that’s a lesson there. Springfield’s lake is so polluted that when Homer drops his pet pig’s poo container in it, the town becomes a dangerous zone.
The vengeful townsfolk, angered by Homer’s stupidity, descend on the Simpsons and wouldn’t rest until they see blood. The United States Environmental Protection Agency comes to the rescue and cleans up the town in a dramatic and dictatorial manner.
It’s up to Homer to save the town and reunite with his family ... and pet pig.
Unusual hailstorms and tornadoes hit Earth and the entire northern hemisphere is covered with a sheet of ice. Life as we (okay, the characters in the movie) know it ends, and the only one genuinely worried is scientist Roland Emmerich (played by Dennis Quaid).
The movie tries to scare us into taking global warming seriously, but unfortunately, it just comes out looking illogical at times.
Nevertheless, it’s a great step towards making people more aware of global warming and its consequences.
Also, check out these earth-friendly tunes that teach us a lesson or two about keeping nature they way it should be.
This tween queen discusses what most songstress her age don’t. Wake Up America, asks America(ns) to do just that – wake up, and see the destruction that they’ve wreaked on Earth. A catchy tune loaded with Earth-friendly messages, this song should definitely be on everybody’s MP3 playlist.
Our very own wake-up call song, Hijau is still remembered for Zainal Abidin’s smooth voice and its educational lyrics. Hijau bears a conservation message telling us to love our lush and green environment before we lose it all. Yikes!
Jacko is not only wacko for gloves and monkeys but also for the environment, apparently. This 1995 hit song got us all charged up about saving the Earth and watching its video clip still brings a tingle down our spine. Good job, Michael!
Jay Kay has always been passionate about the environment and this song (featured in the movie Godzilla) in particular, pokes fun at people’s indifference when it comes to environmental issues. Don’t let the funky music and beat fool you, this is a real save-the-Earth-now kind of song.
This article was taken from: The Star Online: Youth2, 22 April 2009
Article: Showing the way
Wednesday April 22, 2009
Students and participants of Project Daily Million showing off their orange wristbands that serve as reminders to cut down on plastic bag usage in their daily lives. 
(From right): Students Ayesha Hannah Amer and Goh Yee Yin volunteering at a booth selling potted plants and reusable shopping bags. 
Geology student Kiret Singh with the poster he designed to encourage students to plant trees and reduce purchase of unnecessary items.
Everyone can do their bit to save the Earth. You can hold an environmental awareness event, design a poster or sign a petition to save endangered animals.
ONE Earth. Environment First. Action Now.
OK, fine, you figured out where that came from – it’s inspired from Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak’s slogan for his team of cabinet ministers.
But consider the above slogan again. With climate change, depletion of natural resources and loss of habitats for animals happening around the world, we really need to take action now and make conscious decisions to protect this planet we’re living on.
Students and participants of Project Daily Million showing off their orange wristbands that serve as reminders to cut down on plastic bag usage in their daily lives. You don’t have to be a scientist, researcher or activist with expertise in environmental issues to get started. At the Generation Green event in Sunway University College last week, students took part in big and small ways to conserve and protect the environment.
The two-day event was jointly organised by the Sunway Alumni Office and the Canadian International Matriculation Programme (CIMP) in conjunction with Earth Day today.
“Generation Green was organised to raise funds to help an environmental organisation. We also wanted to raise awareness of environmental issues and ways to solve the problems,” said CIMP student Ayesha Hannah Amer, 19.
(From right): Students Ayesha Hannah Amer and Goh Yee Yin volunteering at a booth selling potted plants and reusable shopping bags. According to her, the students stepped up to volunteer for the project. They also designed and voted for the best brochure to be used for the event.
At Generation Green, students stopped by to check out the exhibition booths set up by various NGOs and environmental groups. At the booths, they discovered composting techniques, learnt about water pollution and were made aware of the threats that coral reefs are facing.
Grace Sim found out about the conservation and community programmes held by Raleigh International Kuala Lumpur in Sabah, while her friend Sarah Chong took part in a signature petition to call for comprehensive federal laws to protect turtles, at the WWF Malaysia booth.
“This is something that everyone could do. It didn’t cost a thing to sign it,” said Sarah, 19.
Others pledged to cut down on plastic bag usage at the Project Daily Million booth and purchased reusable shopping bags and T-shirts with green messages such as “I do my part. Do yours too!”. There were also food sales, games, forums and screenings of documentaries and animated films such as The 11th Hour, The Story of Stuff, Kilowatt Ours, The Man Who Planted Trees and An Inconvenient Truth.
Geology student Kiret Singh with the poster he designed to encourage students to plant trees and reduce purchase of unnecessary items. Ayesha, who had watched The Story of Stuff previously, now thinks carefully before buying an item. The videos screened showed how much impact each consumer has on the environment when seen collectively, and she hoped they will help students, as consumers, make better choices that will benefit the Earth.
“We don’t know how much we waste until we see it through a third person’s life (in documentaries),” she said.
Student Goh Yee Yin, who also volunteered at the event, said that while they can’t stop their friends from shopping, campaigning and having such an event on campus will raise their awareness and convince them to adopt good habits. For that to happen, students need incentives, geology student Kiret Singh suggested.
“They can introduce programmes such as giving some money to customers who return soda cans or giving bonus points to shoppers who reuse plastic bags in malls. Hopefully, people will make it a habit to reduce, reuse and recycle (3R) and less resources will be used,” said Kiret.
His poster on 3R and 3P (Plan, Play, Plant) was among those exhibited at Green Generation. Its tagline “Reduce as priority, reuse as a back-up and recycle as an alternative” encouraged students to cut down on unnecessary consumption of resources and keep recycling of the unwanted items as a last resort. The 3Ps, meanwhile, were about planting trees to make our world greener.
This generation of youths play a role to help make the Earth a better place for themselves and the generations to come, Ayesha believed.
“We have to take the initiative to learn about the various issues. There is information everywhere. We can make a difference.”
Event listing
If you are organising an event taking place at your college or university, why not publicise it on R.AGE Online? We have a Campus Listing section for you to put a shout out on any happenings on your campus. And guess what? It’s free! All you need to do is log on to rage.com.my.
This article was taken from: The Star Online: Youth2, 22 April 2009
Article: What is Earth Day?
Wednesday April 22, 2009
First Earth Hour, now Earth Day, what next? Earth Week?
Hate to break it to you, but in many countries, it really IS Earth Week now.
Don’t worry, it’s not about turning off electricity for a whole day. Earth Day is simply an event to remind everyone about the importance of protecting and appreciating our planet.
This year, the US-based Earth Day Network will be starting a Green Generation campaign which will slowly build up towards Earth Day’s 40th anniversary next year.
According to Wikipedia, the theme 40 years ago was overpopulation. In spite of that, world population has almost doubled since then, so imagine what would happen if we ignored the current themes of sustainability.
To find out more about the Green Generation campaign and how you can get involved, log on to earthday.net/node/13475.
In conjunction with Earth Day, R.AGE is dedicating its pages to green issues today.
This article was taken from: The Star Online: Youth 2 , 22 April 2009
Article: In celebration of the Good Earth
Wednesday April 22, 2009
Stories by OH ING YEEN
THE GREAT GREEN CONCERN - Eddy Lim from Rollin' SixersTHE first Earth Day celebration was held on April 22, 1970, in San Francisco and was subsequently declared an annual event by the United Nations.
In Malaysia, various local communities and NGOs organise all sorts of green activities to commemorate the annual event as part of their commitment to promote the preservation and maintenance of Mother Earth.
They demonstrate their love for Mother Earth by making small changes in their lifestyle, such as abstaining from using harmful materials like detergents and by using eco-friendly cleaning methods.
The following are some examples of their efforts in caring for and preserving the Earth:
Community forest
The Friends of Kota Damansara (FoKD), a volunteer group comprising residents associations and community groups, has been in the forefront of supporting and campaigning for the protection of the forest reserve at Kota Damansara that is now known as the Kota Damansara Community Forest (KDCF). The KDCF is an 800-acre green haven offering a sanctuary where city dwellers can step into a tropical forest with twisting lianas, gentle flowing creek, whistling birds and hanging vines.
Relaxed green sanctuary: A father and his son enjoying the green view at the Section 10 forest in Kota Damansara. According to FoKD committee member Raja Teh Maimunah, among the activities carried out in the area are guided walks, mountain bike rides, fishing and hash runs.
The FoKD will host an Earth Day celebration at the KDCF this Sunday to commemorate the continued efforts by volunteers in the preservation, conservation and sustainable recreational programme of the forest.
Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim is scheduled to open a 2km-lomg multi-purpose trail at the celebration.
There will be guided trail walks, mountain bike rides, kayak rides and the annual Hash Run. There will also be food stalls, fun activities and performances.
“The multi-purpose trail built by volunteers is a joint project among the FoKD, the Trail Association of Kuala Lumpur and Selangor (Traks) and the Bangsar Zone Scouts,” said Teh, who is also the Bangsar Zone Scouts chairman.
“The trail was mapped out and designed by Traks and named The Scouts Trail in tribute of the Bangsar Zone Scouts for their contributions and continuous support throughout the project, which took six months to complete,” she said.
Teh said since completion of the trail, the FoKD had been organising guided hikes and encouraging outdoor lovers to explore the trail.
The FoKD, in collaboration with the Traks, plans to create a network of trails and hope that the Earth Day event will help educate the public to appreciate and promote the need for conservation.
The FoKD is also discussing with various parties to undertake eco-related programmes such as tree- planting and recreational initiatives.
The volunteer group is seeing encouraging support from the corporate sector with The Scouts Trail having been adopted by a local organisation, facilitating its maintenance, upgrading and ensuring its continued usability.
The FoKD hopes that other corporations will also lend support to the preservation and eco-recreational development of the KDCF.
For details, visit kd.communityforest.net.
Community composting project
In October 2008, a group of residents in SS14, Subang Jaya, took part in a community composting project with the aim to create awareness and to have the children in the neighbourhood play an important role in doing their part for the environment.
According to SS14 resident T.K. Lee, who helps to coordinate the project, there are more children taking part in the project now.
However, due to too much ventilation in the compost bins, the composting process is progressing slowly.
“The process is slow as it is too dry in the bins. We are thinking of adding more vegetables to create a damp environment in the bins,” Lee said.
“After the composting is completed, there are plans to pack the compost into 1kg packs and sell it. The Mydin supermarket chain has agreed to provide us a place to set up a booth. The children, who will help to sell the compost, will decide if they want to donate the proceeds to charity or use it for the compost project,” he said.
Garbage enzymes
Three months ago, the Petaling Jaya Section 17 Community and Hawkers Association came up with an affordable yet effective and eco-friendly way to clean the market using garbage enzymes.
Tan Yew Leong, who heads the association’s hygiene committee, hopes that hawkers in other areas would try using the enzyme.
“All you need is a bin, water, brown sugar/molasses as well as vegetable and fruit scraps, which we get free of charge from the hawkers. The mix is then kept in a bin for three months to ferment,” Tan said.
“Only one litre of enzyme is needed to clean the entire stretch of the market. As a result, there are fewer flies and no odour. It also reduces litter as the leftover vegetables and fruits are used to make the enzyme,” he said.
Tan said he was willing to share his knowledge with anyone interested in making and using the enzyme.
According to Tan, since the story on “Garbage enzyme used to clean market” appeared in StarMetro on March 11, he has received many calls from the public asking him to teach them how to make the enzyme.
The enzyme also doubles up as a natural household cleaner. It can be used as an organic fertiliser, dish wash and shampoo. To make your own garbage enzyme, the ratio is 1kg of brown sugar and 3kg of vegetables and fruit scraps to 10 litres of water.
Related stories:
Creative initiatives to protect our planet
Green crusaders
What is Earth Day?
Green on screen
Showing the way
This article was taken from: The Star Online: Metro: Central 22 April 2009
Article: Creative initiatives to protect our planet
Wednesday April 22, 2009
GREEN business has become the trend of the century. While the Earth Hour was a short-term effort to create awareness about the environment, or as critics claimed, a mere publicity stunt, some organisations are going green by making long-term changes for sustainability.
The following are some examples of green business initiatives by several companies:
Waterless urinals in men’s washroom
At the Sunway Pyramid, there is no more need to flush at the urinals in the men’s toilets as each urinal is coated with BioCare liquid, a special chemical that breaks down urine into environment-friendly components without using water.
“This is part of the mall’s effort to conserve water and reduce wastage to help the environment. As the breakdown of the urine takes place immediately upon contact, this system ensures the urinals are always hygienic for use,” said the mall’s leasing and marketing general manager Kevin Tan.
Waterless urinals: There is no need to flush at the urinals in men’s washroom as each urinal is coated with BioCare Liquid, a special chemical that breaks down urine into environment-friendly components without using water According to Tan, the chemical is changed weekly to ensure its effectiveness.
Other green activities by the mall include a car park guiding system, the Alam Flora Recycling Buy Back Centre, and the Bring Your Own Bag campaign.
The parking system uses red/green LED (light emitting diodes) light to guide motorists to the nearest available parking bay.
“This system helps drivers to save time in locating available parking bays and reduces the time spent on finding available parking bays means less carbon monoxide emission from running vehicles,” Tan said.
“Shoppers and tenants can also recycle old cardboard boxes, newspapers, can and hard plastic for cash at the Alam Flora Recycling Buy Back Centre (BBC), which is open daily from 10am to 5pm except Thursday,” he said.
“A recycling buyback centre in the mall encourages not only the public but the retail outlets to trade in recyclables for cash as well.
In addition, the Sunway Pyramid will be rewarding shoppers with free parking every Tuesday (except public holidays) for supporting the environment. To qualify for the scheme, shoppers need to bring their eco-friendly bags (paper or plastic bags are not allowed) and buy product-based goods worth a minimum of RM50. They then have to present their receipts to one of the concierges and exchange their parking ticket for a free ticket.
Recycling help: Shoppers and tenants can recycle old cardboard boxes, newspapers, can and hard plastic for cash at the Alam Flora Recycling Buy Back Centre (BBC) in Sunway Pyramid. “The main message of the campaign is not solely about the mall going green for the long-term, but that its shoppers take ownership and do their part for Mother Nature,” Tan said.
100% PCR PET Bottles
The Body Shop, known for its environment-friendly initiatives, is no stranger to the concept of green business.
According to The Body Shop marketing communication manager Jennifer Chan, one key value at The Body Shop is to protect the planet.
“Early last year, 100% recycled plastic bottles were introduced. That’s because some people still discard the packaging the usual way even if there’s a recycling centre or the option to return it to our outlets. The bottles are also 100% recyclable, from the cap to the label, even if it ends up in a landfill,” Chan said,
She said The Body Shop paper bags were made from 100% recycled paper with printing using water-based ink that did not harm the environment.
For the Green Office concept, the company’s workers are encouraged to practice the 3R — reduce, reuse and recycle.
Recycle bins are placed in the office for used paper and empty bottles.
Employees are advised to switch off all electrical appliances such as lights, air-conditioners, and computers when not in use, print emails or documents only when necessary and print all documents double-sided where possible, as well as publish, distribute or copy documents electronically.
As for reuse, the workers are encouraged to use scrap paper for taking notes and printing, re-use envelopes from internal mail and use own coffee mugs or water bottles for water and beverages instead of plastic/paper cups.
Up next is the “Kick The Bag Habit” on World Environment Day on June 5. Launched on Earth Day last year, the campaign raised RM91,953 towards the protection of the Temengor rainforest and over 77,000 paper bags saved over the period of the campaign.
For each shopping bag declined by every customer during the campaign, The Body Shop donated 50 sen to its campaign partner Malaysia Nature Society (MNS). Customers who requested a bag donated 50 sen towards the campaign.
“The concept is same for this year, but customers can now have the choice to purchase a limited edition tote bag at RM5, where RM2.50 will be donated to the MNS for the Save Temengor campaign,” Chan said.
Reducing carbon dioxide emissions
Panasonic Malaysia Sdn Bhd is committed to reducing carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from its production activities by 300,000 tonnes globally over three years from fiscal year 2008 to 2010.
According to its assistant general manager (corporate communication and branding), Azizah Wahid, as part of the company’s environmental sustainability management activities, it will focus on three initiatives: Eco ideas for manufacturing, Eco ideas for everybody and everywhere, and Eco ideas for products.
Internally, the company has adopted a series of activities such as “no overtime” day, saving energy by switching off air-conditioners and lights, “no driving out for lunch” day to save petrol and reduce carbon footprint as well as recycling and office cleaning to maintain a clean and healthy work environment and work culture.
Azizah said the company was also striving to develop technologies for resource conservation while improving product functions.
To reduce CO2 emissions in the group’s activities, Panasonic will improve productivity in all manufacturing processes, including product planning, procurement, marketing, logistics and recycling.
“Reducing resources will reduce the amount of material used; reduce the rate of non-circulating resources over their life cycles; use more recycled resources; and increase recyclable resources. At the same time, Panasonic will reduce CO2 emissions,” Azizah said.
For the Clean Factories initiatives, Panasonic emphasises preventing global warming, reducing total waste, and reducing the release and transfer of chemical substances.
The company is endeavouring to minimise all input and output and to make all their manufacturing sites into Clean Factories.
Panasonic also promotes green logistics and recycling waste to help prevent global warming and reduce air pollution.
Panasonic will expand its eco- activities to local communities around the world. The company is promoting awareness-raising activities such as Love the Earth Citizens Campaign to encourage employees and their families to be active participants in eco-initiatives at home, the workplace and local communities.
Panasonic is aiming to establish factories co-existing in harmony with local communities and societies.
In addition to giving environmental consideration to materials and promoting recycling-oriented designs, Panasonic will accelerate development of energy conservation technologies while eliminating products with low energy efficiency.
Related stories:
In celebration of the Good Earth
Green crusaders
What is Earth Day?
Green on screen
Showing the way
This article was taken from: The Star Online: metro: central 22 April 2009
The videos were taken from: Youtube
Second video link: Youtube
Article: Green crusaders
Wednesday April 22, 2009
FROM rearing their own chickens to adopting lightbulbs, the young people of Malaysia have sure risen to the challenge of preserving our planet.
It’s one thing to turn off your lights for an hour every year to reduce your carbon footprint as was done in the recent Earth Hour global campaign, and another altogether to spend your weekends saving the natural habitats of turtles, or cleaning up waterfalls.
But that’s exactly what some young people have been doing; and in conjunction with Earth Day today, R.AGE checked out some of the activities our youth are getting involved in to help protect our little blue planet.
Can’t adopt a tree? Try a lightbulb!
Planting trees may not be something everybody can afford to do in the concrete jungles that we have built around ourselves, so why not try something else more creative?
A group of 18 A-Levels students in Kolej Tuanku Ja’afar (KTJ), Negri Sembilan, came up with an idea for people to start living an environmentally sustainable lifestyle. The students organised an “Adopt-A-Lightbulb” campaign as part of their school’s Eco Fair (taking place today at KTJ), and have so far raised enough money to sponsor over 200 energy-saving lightbulbs to various schools and charity homes.
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Energy-saving lightbulbs have a much higher light-to-power ratio and lifespan compared to normal lightbulbs, which is why Kolej Tuanku Ja'afar students like Sheela Ratnam here organised an Adopt-A-Lightbulb campaign to help promote their use. |
“These lightbulbs are actually much more practical,” said Tai Yang, 19, one of the students.
“A Grade A energy-saving bulb can save up to 80% energy, and they have a lifespan of 6,000 to 15,000 hours, while normal bulbs last a maximum of 1,000 hours.
“That’s why a lot of businesses use energy-saving lightbulbs. They’re more expensive, but if you consider how long they last, it actually comes up to about the same price.”
Tai initiated the campaign as part of the Global Debate competition (organised by United Nations Foundation initiative The People Speak), a worldwide project that encourages youth to speak out about pressing global issues.
Tai hopes that the event won’t just impact his fellow schoolmates, but that it will help others beyond the school realise the benefits of even small acts like switching lightbulbs.
He said: “I used to think global warming was a myth. That’s what a lot of young people are still like. They don’t believe it’s a serious problem.”
Rearing to go
While the KTJ students are working on a campaign as a group, others choose to do it their own way.
Take Mah Chong Ee, 25, for example, whose hobby of rearing chickens ensures that he and his friends not only have healthy food to eat but also helps to do away with commercial waste associated with purchasing poultry from say, a supermarket.
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Mah Chong Ee rears his own chickens as he says free range chicken taste better, and the process harks back to an older, more sustainable lifestyle. |
“I just find it sad that we barely know what real chicken tastes like anymore. Once you have tried free range or kampung chicken, you’ll taste the difference. It’s like the birds we eat these days aren’t even real chickens anymore,” said Chong Ee who, together with his father, has been rearing a few small chicks for their meat.
Free range animals are those brought up in a more natural environment, compared to those mass produced in farms.
He was quick, however, to distance himself from those caught up in the organic food trend.
“I’m not some organic food freak. The rest of my eating habits are quite normal. I just feel that it’s a small step I can take to have a better lifestyle. I don’t expect people to start growing their own fruits and vegetables, but it would be great if they could,” he said.
Waterfall Survivors
In July 2008, nature enthusiast Joe Yap established a Facebook group called “Waterfall Survivors”, a group that would unite over 1,000 waterfall lovers in Malaysia.
“I found Kanching Waterfalls in Rawang, Selangor, online while searching for a perfect family outing venue,” Joe, 30, explained.
“I was immediately interested in locating more waterfalls, and decided it would be a good idea to hold waterfall expeditions.”
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The Waterfall Survivors took on Kanching Waterfall in Rawang, where they collected rubbish and rewarded themselves with a refreshing swim after. |
Waterfall Survivors organises regular waterfall exploration trips – day trips as well as overnight trips, where members gather to collect rubbish, socialise and, bathe in, as well as explore, the waterfalls.
Last Sunday’s expedition was the group’s most successful to date as 300 people, made up of the Facebook group members and their friends, showed up to clean up Kanching Waterfalls.
This was the first time Kong Yink Heay, a 25-year-old production executive, had taken part in a collective effort.
“Whenever I picked up a piece of rubbish during that campaign I feel I’ve given back something to nature. After clearing up the rubbish, the waterfall looks more undisturbed.”
Check out the Facebook page at http://tinyurl.com/dhjqe4 or e-mail waterfallsurvivors@hotmail.com for more information about the group.
PENYUinc
Mohd Amzari Abas, 29, last saw a Giant Leatherback turtle when he was a small child, on a trip to Rantau Abang, Terengganu, with his family.
“That was the first and last time I have encountered that mighty creature. From then on I vowed to do something to help preserve these beautiful sea turtles,” said the founder of PENYUinc.
In 2006, Amzari visited Turtle Sanctuary in Cherating, Pahang, and to his shock discovered that the Giant Leatherbacks no longer lay eggs on Malaysian shores. He decided then that he would set up a volunteer group to help the sanctuary out.
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Volunteers at PENYUinc are educated on sea turtles and then release them into the sea. |
“At first it was just me and a few friends, but now we have around 600 members from all over the world who are passionate about saving the turtles,” Amzari said.
At the centre, volunteers clean up the beach, give information to tourists, learn about turtles and release baby turtles into the sea.
“The best part is helping the beach rangers during their night patrols on the beach and coming across sea turtles! The most valuable experience would be watching them lay eggs and learning about the process,” Amzari noted.
“I don’t want my grandchildren to only encounter turtles as figurines in a museum. They should have the same experiences we do,” Amzari added.
Those interested to take part in the programme must be over the age of 18. Visit myspace.com/penyuinc or e-mail penyuinc@yahoo.com.au for details.
Sri KDU River Rangers
At 17, nature lover Richard Liew already knows how to test water pollution levels, and, along, with 30 other students of Sri KDU, has cleaned a river.
Not many 17-year-old teenagers, let alone adults, have experienced anything quite like the River Rangers at the Sri KDU school in Selangor, who recently attended a training session run by the Global Environment Centre.
Prior to the river clean up last month, the students were given theoretical sessions at the school to educate them on the status of rivers in Malaysia, the main sources of pollution and its impact on our drinking water and health.
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The Sri KDU River Rangers learning about river pollution , before proceeding to the cleanup. |
Richard and his peers went to Sungai Penchala in Petaling Jaya and were astounded by the strange things they discovered submerged in the river.
“Apart from regular rubbish, there were bicycles, cables, even a mattress floating in the river!” Richard shared.
“Being a part of this programme makes me feel useful. As a teenager, I have a role to play in society, and I’ve done my part and will continue to do it.”
The River Rangers will continue to carry out periodic checks and river cleanups and in the process learn to appreciate that rivers are the lifeblood of the environment.
This article was taken from: The Star Online: Rage: Stories: Issues 22 April 2009
Article: Green crusaders
Tuesday July 8, 2008
Ecoknights was founded on the dream of making the world a healthier place.
By MAYBELLINE YEO 
Ecoknights conducts youth programmes about the environment. 
The Eco Film Fest 2008 is an attempt to create environmental awareness in a fun and entertaining way.
ECOKNIGHTS. Remember that name for you would probably be hearing more about it in future. It’s tagline “crusading for the environment” aptly sums up what this young green group is all about.
Formed a mere two years ago by a circle of friends with a shared passion for Mother Earth, this organisation is aiming for programmes that involve communities and industrial players.
The knights behind the group are from various backgrounds.
Ecoknights conducts youth programmes about the environment. “Our team consist of biologists, creative designers, engineers and businessmen, to name a few. What brought us together is the dream of making the world a healthier place,” said founding member Yasmin Rasyid, a biologist who used to work at World Wide Fund for Nature.
They are a young team, with the oldest member aged 38.
“Youths have so much energy and enthusiasm when fighting for something they believe in. We want to utilise that energy towards a common goal,” enthused Yasmin.
Ecoknights offers internships and voluntary jobs to anyone interested in and passionate about the environment.
According to Yasmin, when it comes to the environment, it’s all about empathy. “When you don’t feel it, there’s no need to care for it.”
Hence, the knights are emphasising on awareness programmes, particularly those targeting youths, so as to build more eco-conscious citizens in the future.
Ecoknights is currently holding a film competition, Eco Film Fest 2008, which brings together budding filmmakers, environmental activists, scientists and the government to produce entertaining yet educational documentaries or films about the environment. The festival with the theme “Climate Change – A Call For Action” is open to Malaysians aged 18 and above.
Yasmin assured that video quality would not be an issue for the competition. “The films need not be in high resolution. Our rules are pretty much flexible. It can be anything from animations to scripts, short films, documentaries or even a music video. We are really just interested in the creativity of getting the message across,” she declared.
Five finalists will be selected to attend two workshops. One workshop is on equipment usage, storyboard development, producing, directing and managing the process of filmmaking. The country’s top filmmakers will share tips at the workshop.
In the second workshop, the finalists will analyse current environmental issues so that they get their facts correct in their films. They would eventually become Ecoknights ambassadors.
The winner will walk away with cash prizes, a course at Akademi Seni Budaya dan Warisan Kebangsaan (Aswara) and flight tickets to an international film festival. The winning documentary or film will be submitted to the International Documentary Festival Association (IDFA) based in the Netherlands.
Public screening of the contending films will be held for free throughout October at Aswara at Jalan Tun Ismail in Kuala Lumpur, Palate Pallete Restaurant and Bar at Jalan Mesui in Kuala Lumpur, KL Motopark at Bukit Jalil, Help University College in Damansara, Selangor and Taylor’s College in Subang, Selangor.
The Eco Film Fest 2008 is an attempt to create environmental awareness in a fun and entertaining way. The Eco Film Festival itself will be held on Nov 1 to 2 on the lawn of Aswara. There will be workshops for the public, displays of eco-friendly products and a hybrid vehicle as well as sale of organic food. A special treat is the screening of international eco-films Kilowatt Hours, Who Killed The Electric Car and Crude Awakening.
“We feel that the public needs to be educated as well as entertained when it comes to increasing awareness. We want to make an impact on people’s lives in a fun way,” explained Yasmin.
With a holding capacity of only 800 people per screening, those who are interested in watching these films must register for a spot at the Ecoknights website.
Yasmin is also excited about Ecoknights’ upcoming project, the Sekolah Hijau Award. It is a competition between schools that conduct environmental projects such as a garden plot or a recycling scheme. The winners will be rewarded with a trip to an eco-discovery camp to learn more about the environment.
Lastly, Yasmin has some advice on how individuals can play a role in saving the environment. “Simple things like changing your light bulbs to energy-efficient ones, turning off your plug points when not in use and separating your trash for recycling can all make a difference,” she said.
For more information about Ecoknights and its activities, go to www.ecoknights.com.
This article was taken from: The STar Online: Lifestyle: Focus 8 July 2008
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Image: Friends of the Earth
Article: Action to restore ecology in Raja Musa Forest Reserve
Friday December 19, 2008
Story and photos by SALINA KHALID
ALL access roads into the Raja Musa Forest Reserve in Batang Berjuntai in Selangor will be closed by the first quarter of next year to prevent illegal access to the peat forest. 
Need to be saved: The Raja Musa Forest Reserve in Batang Berjuntai, Selangor, covers 23,000ha, but 525ha of it has been illegally cleared. 
For mother nature: (From left) Volunteers Ricky Yip, Ong Peng Geok and Phoebe Teoh planting a mahang tree at the Raja Musa Forest Reserve.
According to Selangor Forestry Department director Dr Yunus Zakaria, the move is to prevent outsiders from going into the forest to conduct illegal activities.
“At the same time, we will block the drains and canals in the area to contain the water and raise the water table. This will help prepare us for next year’s dry season and reduce the chance of having another forest fire,” he said.
Need to be saved: The Raja Musa Forest Reserve in Batang Berjuntai, Selangor, covers 23,000ha, but 525ha of it has been illegally cleared. He said the department hoped to restore the ecology of the forest.
Yunus said this after a community tree-planting programme at the forest last Saturday.
The community tree-planting scheme is the first of a rehabilitation programme developed by the Selangor State Forestry Department and the Global Environment Centre (GEC).
More than 100 volunteers from several NGOs, including the GEC, Eco Warriors Club and Youth Environment Foundation, joined the department officers and workers to plant 3,000 mahang saplings (macarang species) on 2ha of the reserve. The saplings were provided by the department.
Also present were Kuala Selangor district officer Mohd Misri Idris and GEC director Faizal Parish.
For mother nature: (From left) Volunteers Ricky Yip, Ong Peng Geok and Phoebe Teoh planting a mahang tree at the Raja Musa Forest Reserve. Yunus said the mahang tree was chosen because it was considered a pioneer species in peat forests.
“The mahang tree provides a natural setting for other species of trees to grow,” he said.
The mahang is a fast-growing peat-swamp tree. It can create forest cover rapidly, prevent encroachment and reduce the risk of forest fires.
According to Yunus, the species took 10 years to mature but could reach maturity faster with proper care.
“We can see the results within three years, with the trees providing enough cover for the introduction of other species.
“But we have to make sure there is suitable soil for them to grow,” he said.
Yunus said the department would monitor the forest and make sure its natural ecology was restored.
According to Faizal, peat swamps are like sponges that absorb rain and river water, and they help control floods during rainy seasons and release much-needed water during the dry season.
“Lowering water tables and draining peat forests raises the risk of fire in peat soils,” Faizal said.
Once dried, the peat would oxidise and break down, causing the soil to collapse.
Faizal said the drainage of peat lands led to aeration and decomposition of the peat material and oxidation that triggered carbon dioxide (a global-warming gas) emission.
He said studies had shown that disturbed peat swamps in Indonesia and Malaysia continued to emit carbon dioxide for years even if clearing was stopped.
“Economically, it is not a good idea to develop plantations or townships on peat land due to the high risk of fire,” he said.
Faizal added that Malaysia, with nearly 2.5 million hectares of peat forests, had the second largest area under peat forests in the region after Indonesia.
The Raja Musa and Sungai Karang forest reserves form the North Selangor Peat Swamp Forest, the second largest peat forest in the peninsula covering 75,000ha after the one in Pahang which covers 200,000ha.
The Raja Musa reserve alone covers 23,000ha, but 525ha of it have been illegally cleared.
The largest peat forest in the country is located in Sarawak and measures 1.5 million hectares.
However, substantial areas of peat forests there have been cleared for agriculture and plantation crops such as oil palm and rubber.
This article was taken from:The Star Online: Metro: Central 19 December 2008
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