Date : Wednesday, 5-August-2009
by Hui Luang Peng
When it comes to food, this cat and mouse decided to have a truce after spending the entire day chasing each other.
This image was taken from: The Star Online:Thumbnails, 5 August 2009
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Article: Muffy the dog reunited with family 9 years on
Published: Tuesday August 4, 2009 MYT 3:44:00 PM
BRISBANE, Australia (AP) - Nine years after vanishing from outside her Australian family's home, Muffy the dog was reunited with her eager owners Tuesday after completing a mysterious journey of 1,200 miles (2,000 kilometers).Inspectors with the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals found the fluffy white mutt last month sleeping on a scrap of cardboard in the backyard of a home in the southern city of Melbourne.
A microchip in Muffy's neck identified her owners - who hadn't seen her since she disappeared from their backyard in the eastern city of Brisbane nine years ago.
On Tuesday, 17-year-old Chloe Rushby cradled her long-lost pooch in her arms, marveling at her pet's much-delayed and miraculous return.
"I feel totally overwhelmed," the teen said. "I'm never letting her out of my sight again."
The owners of the Melbourne house where Muffy was discovered said they found the dog about a year ago wandering along a street. But Muffy's whereabouts for the previous eight years - along with how she made the 1,200 mile (2,000 kilometer) journey to Melbourne _ remain a mystery.
Muffy was suffering from a flea-induced skin infection when she was found, but after some love and care from the RSPCA's vets, she is doing much better.
Chloe's father Dean Rushby said the family's two pet dogs both died in the past few months, so Muffy's return came at the perfect time.
"Chloe has everything ready - she has a big bedroom and that's where Muffy will be sleeping every night from now on," the elder Rushby said. "And in the day, there's a lovely sandy beach on the canal where she can play and go for a little paddle."
This article was taken from: The Star Online: World Updates, 4 August 2009
Article: Florida Bay's ecology on the brink of collapse
Published: Wednesday August 5, 2009 MYT 7:18:00 PM
ISLAMORADA, Florida (AP): Boat captain Tad Burke looks out over Florida Bay and sees an ecosystem that's dying as politicians, land owners and environmentalists bicker.He has been plying these waters for nearly 25 years, and has seen the declines in shrimp and lobster that use the bay as a nursery, and less of the coveted species like bonefish that draw recreational sportsmen from around the world.
"Bonefish used to be very prevalent, and now we don't see a tenth of the amount that we used to find in the bay, and even around the Keys because the habitat no longer supports the population," says Burke, head of the Florida Keys Fishing Guides Association.
Experts fear a collapse of the entire ecosystem, threatening not only some of the nation's most popular tourism destinations - Everglades National Park and the Florida Keys - but a commercial and recreational fishery worth millions of dollars.
Florida Bay is a sprawling estuary at the state's southern tip, covering nearly three times the area of New York City.
The headwaters of the Everglades - starting some 300 miles (480 kilometers) north near Orlando - used to end up here after flowing south in a shallow sheet like a broad, slow-moving river, filtering through miles (kilometers) of muck, marsh and sawgrass.
Historically, the bay thrived on that perfect mix of freshwater from the Everglades and saltwater from the adjacent Gulf of Mexico. It was a virtual Garden of Eden, home to a bounty of wading birds, fish, sea grasses and sponges.
But to the north of the bay, man's unforgiving push to develop South Florida has left the land dissected with roads, dikes and miles (kilometers) of flood control canals to make way for homes and farms, choking off the freshwater flow and slowly killing the bay.
The ill effects extend even across the narrow spit of land that makes up the Florida Keys to the shallow coral reefs in the Atlantic Ocean. Many popular commercial fish like grouper and snapper begin their lives in the bay before migrating into the ocean to the reefs.
"If Florida Bay heads south and there's a lot less fish in there, well, when that's done, it's all over down here," Burke says. "When that goes, your reefs are going to go, too, and it'll just be a chain reaction.
"You could argue that the bay has already collapsed," he says.
Algae blooms block life-giving sunlight from penetrating the water's surface. Sea grasses that filter the water and provide habitat for the food chain are dying. And some migratory birds aren't returning.
"The health of Florida Bay is very much tied to the state of the Everglades, and the Everglades isn't improving either," says Tom Van Lent, senior scientist with the not-for-profit Everglades Foundation. "Their fates are one and the same."
For decades, the state has struggled to find a way to restore natural flow through the Everglades and curb the pollution caused by runoff from sugar farms, cow pastures and urban sprawl. It is the largest such wetlands restoration effort ever.
"Having that water coming down from the Everglades is key," says Rob Clift of the National Parks Conservation Association. "It has to be restored."
Attempts to fix the Everglades by constructing water treatment marshes and reservoirs, among other things, have been dogged by politics, funding shortfalls, and contentious, litigation-filled disagreements over the best solutions. And while land has been purchased and some projects completed, key restoration components are undone.
"It's really aggravating," Burke says. "We've seen very little, if any, really ground breaking projects that would help change the flow into Florida Bay."
A litany of lawsuits filed by parties favoring one solution over another are partly to blame, says Carol Wehle, executive director of the South Florida Water Management District, the state agency overseeing Everglades restoration.
Name an environmental group, and the agency has been sued by them.
Wehle calls them "obstructionists." Her agency heads back to court Aug. 6 for closing arguments in yet another lawsuit.
"There are a handful of people that choose not to participate in this process and instead use litigation, and who is losing? The environment is losing," Wehle says.
The Miccosukee Tribe of Indians, who call the Everglades their ancestral home, have sued the water district repeatedly. It's the tribe and a few others who now have the district back in court as part of an effort to block the state's planned $536 million purchase of land in the Everglades from U.S. Sugar Corp.
Tribe spokeswoman Joette Lorion says the deal could end up costing taxpayers billions of dollars, leaving little money to pay for actual projects, and will create more delays as officials figure out exactly what to do with all the new land.
"Meeting upon meeting, and the Everglades continues to die," Lorion says.
The water district says the deal is a historic opportunity to take sugar out of production and provide land to build much-needed reservoirs and treatment areas to clean and store water.
Back on Florida Bay, Burke just wants something done before it's too late. To the casual onlooker, the area is stunning even today. But Burke knows better.
"In a lot of ways," he says, "it's still pristine and beautiful down here, but it's also on its last dying breath."
This article was taken from: The Star Online: World Updates, 5 August 2009
Article: Koala saved from Australian fires battling disease
Published: Wednesday August 5, 2009 MYT 7:15:00 PM
ADELAIDE, Australia (AP): A koala made famous by a photograph of her drinking from a firefighter's water bottle as wildfires ravaged Australia this year is about to undergo a risky surgery, animal shelter officials said Wednesday."Sam" the koala suffered second- and third-degree burns to her paws in the February fires and is recovering at the Southern Ash Wildlife Shelter in Victoria state.
But shelter spokeswoman Peita Elkhorne said Wednesday that Sam had developed abdominal cysts due to a disease called urogenital chlamydiosis, which affects up to 50 percent of Australia's koala population.
The disease can cause infertility, urinary tract infections and blindness and can be life-threatening.
Sam will undergo surgery on Thursday and the prognosis for surviving the operation is not good, Elkhorne said.
"We're telling the public to brace for the worst-case scenario," she said.
Elkhorne said Sam was "comfortable" but that a decision was made to try to remove the cysts because the disease can kill koalas.
She said Sam's prospects would be known by Friday.
In February, Sam was gingerly making her way on scorched paws past a fire patrol north of Melbourne when one of the firefighters spotted her. The firefighter was photographed holding a bottle of water to her lips.
Record temperatures, high winds and forests dried by years of drought set off infernos that swept a vast area of Victoria state, killing more than 170 people and destroying thousands of homes.
This article was taken from: The Star Online: World Updates, 5 August 2009
Article: Putrajaya hosts nine-day Flower and Garden fiesta
Saturday August 1, 2009
By CHARLES FERNANDEZ
THE federal administrative capital of Putrajaya is showcasing an explosion of colour and design as it proudly hosts the biggest flower and garden show in this part of the region for the second time.
Described by Perbadanan Putrajaya (PPj) president Tan Sri Samsuddin Osman as "a garden within a city", the Flower and Garden 2009 fiesta, or Floria 2009, brings the creativity and passion of the region's top floral and landscape designers to Putrajaya, delivered in stunning displays that also convey a environmental message for gardening in the climate we live in.
Beginning today, the nine-day fiesta gives visitors an opportunity to view more than 400,000 live exhibits, including both flowers and vegetables, in a garden atmosphere.
In line with its theme of "Celebrations of Colour", the Floria 2009 – an international event hosted by the PPj and the Federal Territories Ministry – showcases the exciting and vibrant colours of flowers and plants.
Arranged and landscaped in various settings with dedicated locations for photo opportunities, the intertwining flowers and foliage create a magnificent medley of colours that is bound to enthral visitors.
Site visit: Samsuddin (front) taking a tour of the Floria 2009 site at the Precinct 2 Waterfront. "It is hoped that the festival will inculcate in visitors a respect for nature, love for colours, flowers, plants and gardening," Samsuddin said.
There will be much for visitors to see and do as the 6.07ha site hosts many programmes and activities.
At night, all the attractions will be lit up and visitors can expect a spectacular view of the flowers and gardens that blend well with the lights from the buildings, structures and bridges of Putrajaya.
Samsuddin, who took the press on a tour of the site at the Precinct 2 Waterfront, said beyond viewing these dazzling displays of exotic flowers and vegetables, visitors would be invited to take part in daily seminars that focused on gardening, crafts and others topics that featured family gardening projects and young "green thumbs" and hands-on activity.
Apart from several corporations like Sime Darby, Mardi, Putrajaya Holdings and KLCC Projek, snd educational institutions, like UPM, LimKokWing University, UIA, UiTM and UCSI, 400 students from both the primary and secondary schools in Putrajaya are also taking part in the nine-day floral festival.
The event is open to the public from 9am to 10pm from Monday to Thursday, and from 9am to midnight from Friday to Sunday.
For details, visit http://www.ppj.gov.my//floria/; for enquiries, call 03-8887 7437 or 03-8887 7137.
This article was taken from: The Star Online: Metro: Central, 1 August 2009
Article: Reduce greenhouse gases
Article: Jogger mauled by hunting dogs
Image: Nature lovers
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Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Image: PETA Japan
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Article: Growing Concern
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Article: Energy with a peel
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Article: High usage
Tuesday February 24, 2009
By HILARY CHIEW
There is no solution in sight for the plastic menace as the material is still freely issued, then carelessly discarded, each day.
THE pink bag in the heap of garbage clogging a drain catches your eye instantly. Another one clings to a tree branch in a mangrove swamp. Yet another is blown across across the street as cars pass by.
These are the plastic bag menace that many Malaysians can identify with. Although they are an undisputed modern day convenience, the clarion call to do away with plastic bags have echoed around the world for environmental reasons. Several countries have banned the use of plastic bags or levied a tax on them.
Last year, China which uses three billion plastic bags a day, banned the production of ultra-thin plastic bags. In 2002, Ireland introduced a tax on plastic bags, reducing their use by 90%.
In some countries where the central government has not acted, communities have taken unilateral action to outlaw the bags. San Francisco became the first American city to ban plastic bags from large supermarkets in 2007 and the state of California requires large stores to take back plastic bags and encourage their reuse.
In Malaysia, the call to ban its use has been mooted now and then with little success. The latest is the Subang Jaya Municipal Council's plastic-free campaign launched last August with a declared aim of turning the Selangor municipality into the first place in the country to eliminate the use of plastic bags by 2010. The public is encouraged to switch to paper bags, biodegradable carriers or their own shopping bags.
Punching bag
"It's not the bag that is the problem but what you do with it after that," argues Malaysian Plastic Manufacturers Association chairman Lim Kok Boon, who felt that the humble bag has been made a punching bag for anyone who professes to be a greenie.
"You want to be seen as green, you go after the plastic bag, nobody will disagree with you," he says, acknowledging that plastic bags, being free, does encourage the "throw away" mentality.
Frustrated by the negative public perception of plastic bags, the industry under the umbrella body Malaysian Plastics Forum is trying to address the problems associated with plastic waste by asking Malaysians to re-examine their attitudes towards the bags. The other Forum members are the Malaysian Petrochemicals Association and Plastic Resins Producers Group.
They launched a month-long campaign at the end of 2007 with six hypermarkets in the Klang Valley to kick-start its 3R (reduce, reuse, recycle) programme. During the campaign, shoppers were encouraged to maximise the use of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) grocery bags in a bid to reduce the numbers dispensed at check-out counters. Each hypermarket assigned one outlet for this pilot scheme.
Employees were told to pass on the message of the campaign to shoppers in the hope that they would support the drive. Customers could also drop off unused plastic bags of all sizes and colours into recycling bins provided by five participating recyclers.
At the end of the month-long campaign, four out of six outlets registered a 25% to 36% decline in dispersion of plastic bags. However, figures shot up for two outlets by 25% to 51%. Overall, a 6% increase was recorded, while 14,630 pieces of bags were collected from the outlets.
Lim explains that the outcome was influenced by the festive shopping period which generally sees an increase of 50% in sales, hence the 6% increase (in bags dispersed) actually marks the success of the campaign.
He is also satisfied with the 2.4% (of the 609,000 bags given out) return rate of plastic bags as he reckons many shoppers will keep the bags for secondary uses, particularly as bin liners.
Still, the bin liners will eventually find their ways into the landfills, where they will remain and not degrade.
Plastics waste
Lim argues that the degradable issue is grossly misunderstood by many.
"Studies in the United States discovered that paper does not degrade at a substantially faster rate than plastic as nothing completely degrades in modern landfills due to the lack of water, light and oxygen that are necessary for the process to be completed. Researchers have pulled out an intact piece of newspaper buried three decades ago in an Arizona landfill," he says in reference to a project undertaken by the University of Arizona.
Lim is also sceptical of statistics that highlight the menace posed by plastics in landfills. He says the official figures that plastics constitute 24% of landfill volume, the second highest after food waste, is questioned even by two waste management concessionaires, which have recorded lower figures.
The National Solid Waste Management Department recognises the discrepancy in the figures and hopes to clear the doubt under the 10th Malaysian Plan with better data collation system.
"It's equally important for us to get the right picture so that we can have an effective waste management plan," says department director-general Dr Nadzri Yahya.
Lim also says distinction must be made on biodegradable plastic – those made from organic material like corn starch, and those that use petroleum like the normal plastics but with an additive that speeds up disintegration.
Ideally, both types of "compostable" plastics should be treated in specialised industrial facilities rather than sending them to landfills. But there isn't such a facility in this country and bio-degradable plastics are not widely used.
"It'll be silly and self-defeating if we dump something that is supposedly biodegradable into the landfill but it doesn't live up to its claim," he warns.
MPMA is also worried that should biodegradable bags gain popularity, it would pose a serious challenge to recycling of the standard HDPE plastic bags.
"The polymer compositions are different and if they are mixed, it could jeopardise the recycling process," Lim explains. To prevent the anticipated contamination, he is seeking the co-operation of retailers to adopt the plastic coding system on their plastic bags to ease identification in support of the 3R programme.
"The retailers, especially the big hypermarts, can instruct their respective (plastic bag) suppliers to print the code on the bags. They can even go one step further by enhancing the visibility of the recycling logo on the bags to drive home the message to the public," he adds.
Nevertheless, the intention of the 3R campaign begs a question: Why would the industry support a programme that will surely affect the bottomline of plastic manufacturers?
Lim says the industry expects to see between 20% and 30% drop in business but the campaign has the support of all 900 members, who account for 80% of the country's total production of plastic products. The plastic bags industry is worth RM1.8bil of which 80% are exported. The local market consumes the remaining 20% valued at RM360mil.
Lim says the industry is helmed by third generation managers who are educated and are aware of the environmental impact of their business.
"They know that it makes business sense to do the right thing, rather than have plastic bags blamed disproportionately, resulting in a ban that will mean the end of the business," he says, adding that Malaysian Plastic Manufacturers Association will take its campaign beyond the Klang Valley this year.
Well, don't take the industry's word for it. Take it up on its challenge – recycle your plastic bags!
Coming March 3
There is no solution in sight for the plastic menace as the material is still freely issued, then carelessly discarded, each day.
This article was taken from: The Star Online: Lifestyle: Focus 24 February 2009
Article: The German experience
Sunday December 7, 2008
By SARAH CHEW
There are 'tricks' to conservation, and it's not impossible to save the world.
THE few things that struck us when we first arrived in Germany were the sausages, beer, punctuality and – as it was autumn then– the cold weather and the red and brown hues of leaves everywhere.
But Malaysian envoys Vigren V. Radha and Chan Sze Meun certainly saw more of the country than these as they were there for the Bayer Young Environmental Envoy (BYEE) 2008 programme held at Bayer's headquarters in Leverkusen, North Rhine Westphalia state.
The BYEE programme was started in Thailand in 1995. Two years after that, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) regional office for Asia Pacific adopted the project and expanded it to include participants from other countries in the region.
Lumbricus founder Ottmar Hartwig explaining the concept behind his ecomobile. Youths who are passionate about the environment and have feasible ideas on how to conserve it get selected from their countries to showcase their projects. From there, finalists are given the chance to visit Bayer in Germany.
This year, 50 envoys from 18 countries were given a crash course on what it takes to conserve water, soil, air and everything else in between.
The learning begins
One can imagine that Bayer, founded in 1863 and known for its work in pharmaceuticals (it created Aspirin), agriculture and materials will have a formidable impact on the environment.
A bus tour of the ChemPark, where Bayer's factories are located, showed just how much effort is put into waste management and reducing pollution.
"This is how waste water coming in from the factories are treated," said our 'tour guide', pointing to ponds of frothy muddy water with aerating machines in the middle.
"Milk alkali is mixed in the water to neutralise it, then it is sent to these 25,000 cubic metre mixing tanks for the bacteria to purify. Then it goes into the purifying tanks where air is pumped in and sludge is filtered, dried and burned. The ashes of the sludge goes to the landfills, about 70,000 tonnes a year," she added.
These painstaking efforts, as well as those by various governments and agencies, have paid off.
Dr Babette Winter from North Rhine Westphalia State Agency for Nature, Environment and Consumer Protection revealed that "in the 1970s, people realised that they couldn't go on with bad air and dead water, so environmental legislation was established."
Since the Rhine River borders Switzerland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Austria, Germany, France, Luxembourg, Belgium and Netherlands, it is essential for factories, food and even drinking water for some countries. That prompted the countries to put measures in place, such as sponsoring small- and medium-sized companies which re-use the water, making consumers pay for the amount of waste water produced, and getting international cooperation to monitor water quality.
"Salmon became extinct in 1935 because of the pollution in the river, and tonnes of eel died when pesticides and herbicides spilled into the river in 1986," Dr Winter said. "But now, the salmon is back."
Sze Meun presenting her project at the Bayer Young Environmental Envoy 2008 programme in Leverkusen. The envoys also had an eye-opening session with Dr Ulrich Bornewasser from CURRENTA environment who spoke about the concept of "water footprint".
"Water is used in washing, feeding and irrigation during the production of goods. This is called 'virtual water', whereby it is used in production but does not remain in the product," Dr Bornewasser explained.
For example, 365 litres is needed to produce a typical German breakfast comprising one cup of expresso coffee, a slice of bread, a slice of cheese and one egg. After explaining that one kilogram of a meat product uses 15,000 litres of virtual water, he noted that people could save water by eating less meat and drinking more tea!
Hands-on
It wasn't just all talk and no action for the envoys, as site visits and experiments were aplenty.
A talk and tour around AVEA (Leverkusen Municipal Waste Management) showed how various waste items like glass, plastics, paper, solid waste, electronics and others are separated and either recycled, used for power generation, composted or sent to be burned.
In fact, every house in Germany is expected to separate its waste by law and nearly every district has deposit points where residents can dispose their rubbish.
Vigren looking at the computers which monitor processes at the Burrig incinerator. Another 'hot' site, literally, was the Bürrig incinerator, which burns about 180,000 tonnes of solid waste which cannot be recycled.
Amidst the thousands of pipes and a splendid view of the city on top of the facility, our tour guide explained that the waste is channelled to a rotary kiln, where the organic wastes are incinerated. The ashes are then dumped into landfills. After about 70 years, plastic foils and earth would be used to cover the landfills and the area would be turned into a park.
It is known that Bayer produces pharmaceuticals, herbicides, pesticides and chemicals like polyurethane and polycarbonate ((used in bathtubs, footballs and mattresses).
So the envoys were given a glimpse of what goes on behind the scenes in terms of research, testing, technology and the concept behind the products.
They also conducted an experiment to separate the DNA of rice and collected soil aboard lab ship Max Prüss.
Sze Meun, 24, had an inspiring encounter during the visit to the ecomobile Lumbricus, a mini bus that has been modified to contain tables, microscopes, a television and lab equipment.
Lumbricus founder Ottmar Hartwig revealed that to instil the love of nature in children, he would make them collect soil and pick out insects, which he then showed them under the microscope.
"We want to reduce the distance between people and nature as we're working mostly with city children," said Hartwig. "And to widen our influence, we have the children make videos of the insects they find in the soil with voice-over and music, for them to show their family and friends."
"I was very inspired by the Lumbricus because I like children and this is a creative way to combine the environmental passion and children," Sze Meun said. "I'll probably dabble in this concept when I get home - but perhaps not soil because I'm not fond of worms!"
Vigren and Sze Meun viewing the factories around them from the top of the Burrig incinerator In between the numerous talks, site visits, singing on the bus and tucking into German food, the envoys shared jokes, and learnt about each other's country and culture.
"Envoys from South America asked me why did Chan and I look so different," said Vigren, 23. "I had to explain to them that Malaysia has different races."
Many participants also found the discussions on project ideas useful and enlightening.
Sze Meun presented a recycling project that she hopes to start at her workplace, using the five Rs - rethink, refuse, reduce, reuse and recycle.
Engineering student Vigren, whose project is to organise a solar-powered car competition in his university, attended a discussion that was more technical.
"I found out the participants had very advanced ideas, on things to do with biogas and using algae in photo-bioreactors," he said. "I have made some contacts and since my university project is on biodiesel, I could have a joint venture with them."
Singaporean envoy Rebecca Yong Jia Hui plans to create a digital environmental syllabus; Simon Sizwe Mayson from South Africa aims to reduce transport emissions, and Venezuela's Enrique Pacheco wants to put story-tellers on buses to create awareness on the environment.
Jemuel B. Garcia Jr, 20, from the Philippines, staged dance-dramas in schools to tackle environmental issues! "It's great that we can share information with each other and compare practices in our country with that in others," said Sze Meun.
Participants also had a chance to hang loose during a walking tour of Cologne city, which was capped by a visit to the Gothic-inspired Cologne Cathedral, commonly called 'Dom'.
The cathedral was built in 1248 but work on it has not stopped since. It houses what is believed to be the bones of the three wise men who brought gifts for the baby Jesus. "I adore this city!" gushed South Korean envoy Cha Wha-Young, 24. "I have always wanted to come to Cologne because of the beer and since I'm Catholic, I enjoyed visiting the cathedral."
Lasting impressions
Spending five packed days together with passionate youngsters from all over the world certainly had an impact on the Malaysian envoys. "I wish we could stay longer!" said a wistful Vigren, en route to the airport. He had always wanted to visit Germany, and had been studying German vocabulary on his own since Form Four.
A man disposing of organic waste at AVEA (Leverkusen Municipal Waste Management). Despite having to sit for his university examinations upon his return and feeling feverish for part of the trip, Vigren said it was all worth it.
"I tried not to think about my exam during the field trips. There is a proverb that goes, 'The greatest luck comes with the greatest hardship.' So I think things will turn out alright."
Other envoys enjoyed the trip as well, for a variety of reasons.
"The discussion groups were good because they helped me analyse the sustainability of my project," said Jemuel, adding that he is staging more dance and drama concerts and had convinced seven theatre groups to do the same.
Simon, 20, said: "I really enjoyed the chance to meet other environmentally-conscious people and was surprised about the envoys' level of critical thinking." Enrique, 23, revealed that he was interested in implementing some ideas shared by the others in his country.
Inspired by what they saw in Germany, Sze Meun and Vigren have some ideas of how Malaysia can become environmentally-friendly.
"I think having legislation in place can change the mindsets of people," she reasoned. " In Germany, not everyone wants to recycle. But because of law enforcement and the fact that they have to pay for their waste, people started to be conscious."
For Vigren, the main problem is the lack of awareness and the technology needed to have an effective waste management system. His sentiments were echoed by Rebecca.
"What I learnt was how complicated Germany's waste management system is, even though the country is so big! I wonder when Singapore can reach that level."
Of course, for the envoys, the real work starts when they return home.
"We've been in a fantasy world for about six days because everyone here is so passionate about the environment. Now we have to return home and face the reality," said Sze Meun. "But I believe it can be done because we've seen people how have done it."
This article was taken from: The Star Online: Education 7 December 2008
Article: Upgraded model
Tuesday August 4, 2009
The Civic Hybrid, introduced in 2002, come with a 1.3L engine coupled with a third generation Auto Stop/Start and Assist/Regenerative braking system known as Integrated Motor Assist (IMA). Honda launched the second generation Civic Hybrid in 2006, with an improved iVTEC and fourth generation IMA system. A facelifted version of this model was introduced in Malaysia in March. The car is touted as the most economical and environment-friendly Civic to date.At first glance, it looks and drives very much like a conventional car but is said to deliver output of 115PS which is comparable to a 1.8L sedan. It runs on the fourth generation IMA system which consists of an ultra thin electric motor mounted between the petrol engine, the CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission) and the IPU (Intelligent Power Unit). The IPU stores electric power in a compact battery box and controls the flow of electricity to and from the electric motor.
This engages as you accelerate or go uphill, boosting engine power until cruising speed. The motor then adds the necessary additional power to accelerate. At lower cruising speeds, the car runs on power from the motor alone.
As you accelerate, the engine switches to a higher power output to give a stronger more powerful acceleration. When decelerating, the battery will be in recharge mode.
The display panel exhibits usual information such as speed, fuel level, instant fuel mileage and a tachometer along with IMA battery level. No additional servicing or maintenance is required, neither does the Hybrid need to be plugged in to be recharged or special alternative fuel.
Apart from the stylish details and aerodynamic shape of the Civic, the Hybrid has a spacious interior that seat five adults comfortably, driver and front passenger airbags and ABS (Anti-Lock Braking System).
In Japan, the competition is stiff for eco-friendly cars and manufacturers battle it out by offering better deals and prices.
In March, ANN reported that Toyota Motor Corp slashed Toyota Prius hybrid model prices to counter Honda Motor Co's latest hybrid, Insight, which has been enjoying brisk sales due to the low price tag of US$19,190 (RM68,000).
International reviews have not been favourable, however, citing ride quality, handling, interior noise, acceleration and rear seat access as some of Insight's disadvantages. The Civic Hybrid fared better in terms of fuel economy, emissions and performance, not to mention rave reports on its looks.
Nonetheless, orders of the Insight in Japan rose to 18,000 units by end-March, surpassing monthly sales of the new Prius model. The Insight is not available in Malaysia.
Global hybrid vehicle sales stood at 1.04 million units last year, according to the Nomura Research Institute, and sales are expected to more than double to 2.17 million units next year.
This article was taken from: The Star Online: Lifestyle: Focus 4 August 2009
Article: Harvesting rainwater
Tuesday August 4, 2009
FOR the last 4,000 years, rainwater collection has been widely used around the world. Even though we live in a fairly wet country with 990 cu.m of rainwater annually, let's not forget we went through a tough drought in 1998.Things have yet to reach a critical stage in Malaysia where people have no choice but to rely on rainwater although from time to time, the country has faced water shortage. Racing towards curbing the environmental dangers that we are facing today, the Government and many private institutions are jointly doing their part in creating a sustainable living environment to ensure a better future for our next generation. One of these green initiatives is rainwater harvesting.
Under the banner of Myhomepalm Integrated Sdn Bhd, GE Water & Process Technologies (General Electric) and Rain Harvesting (Australia) Pty Ltd have come together with a complete solution in rainwater harvesting that is suitable for factories, commercial buildings and residential properties. Common problems can be addressed with this system, such as pests (particularly mosquitoes breeding), blockages (such as leaves), water contamination, acidity level and alternative water switching.
The components used are mostly energy efficient and fulfil the stringent requirements of NSF/FDA and the government of Australia/New Zealand for safe drinking water. With GE Water as one of the largest players in water processes and Rain Harvesting as one of the key players in rainwater harvesting in Australia, Myhomepalm Integrated provides fully fledged services, including technical calculation of efficiency, system design, procurement and commissioning of projects. Myhomepalm Integrated is currently working with various housing developers in the implementation of the rainwater harvesting system.
Myhomepalm Integrated is the only GE Water Platinum Dealer and exclusive distributor for Rain Harvesting Australia in Malaysia.
For more information, visit www.myhomepalm.com or call Edward Chew at 016-330 5683 or Alvin Lam at 016-209 5683.
This article was taken from: The Star Online: Lifestyle: Focus 4 August 2009
Article: MNS: There are many organisms yet to be named
Tuesday August 4, 2009
KOTA KINABALU: The world needs more taxonomists to identify and name new species of plants and animals, said Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) president Tan Sri Dr Salleh Mohd Noor.He said the naming (nomenclature) and classification of new plants and organisms was vital in managing the forests.
"Malaysia, considered one of 12 megabiodiversities in the world, has many plants and organisms which are yet to be named.
"Until we name the plants or animals, we cannot proceed to study our ecosystem in greater detail," he said during the Merdeka Award Lecture at University Malaysia Sabah here recently.
Salleh was presenting his 2008 award-winning lecture entitled Sharing the Environment: Global Problems, Local Solutions.
Ways to name: File photo of Tan Yee Shin, a student pursuing a masters in the taxonomy of mushrooms, identifying specimens of fungi collected in Langkawi. The species are differentiated by their look, colour, size, microscopic features, spores and gills. Noting that taxonomy was a boring subject, he said it was, nevertheless, important for the public to understand the lives of other species that shared the ecosystem with the human race.
Salleh called upon universities to ensure that taxonomy was taught not only as a subject but also that its importance be infused into all scientific courses.
"The variability of genetic diversity is nature's way of protecting itself.
"The biodiversity of animals, plants and the human race not only adds colour to the world but also provides protection against disease and epidemics," he noted.
Salleh also said that people should be patriotic towards the country as a basis towards looking after the environment.
"Patriotism is a foundation for us to love our country, and when we love our country, we will want to take care of it.
"We, as custodians of biodiversity, must ensure its protection and survival," he added. — Bernama
This article was taken from: The Star Online: Metro: South & East 4 August 2009
Article: Balling mud for good cause
Tuesday August 4, 2009
By CATHERINE CHONG
IT was a messy job but it was all done in the name of saving Mother Earth.
Forty teams had loads of fun making some 10,000 EM (effective micro-organism) mud balls in the EM Mud Ball-Making Contest organised by the Auto-City Group in Penang on July 27.
Each group was given an hour to produce as many of the EM enriched mud balls as possible. Everyone tried to stay clean in the process but it was a tough task with streaks of the mud getting onto clothes and faces.
The team led by Yeoh Yee Hong, which made 446 mud balls, won the top prize. They collected a RM500 food voucher. Second and third placing went to teams headed by Head Ai Khee (415) and Fong Ling Shin (412) respectively.
Group managing director Gary Teoh said the event was held to inculcate public awareness on the importance of environment conservation.
He said the event was also part of the company's eco-tourism preservation project.
"A total 50,000 mud balls are required to clean up one section of the stream, a tributary of Sungai Juru, which is adjoining to our Shop-In d'Park.
"We then have to produce another 15,000 mud balls every month to maintain this particular section," he said.
He said the stream, classified as a Class 4, would be maintained section by section.
The company has even invested in a reactor used to multiply the EM solution.
Teoh said he also hoped that other factories, especially those in the vicinity, would help to play a role in keeping the water there clean.
EM mud balls are known to inhibit the growth of algae and break down any sludge or slit in rivers, drains and ponds to produce beautiful clear and healthy water.
Made up of a combination of earth, EM treats rice-rinsed water and Bokashi, a fermented organic matter made using sawdust and bran.
Teoh said the e-solution could also be used to water plants and clear dish traps at the many restaurants in Auto-City.
The mud balls, which will be left to ferment and dry for several days, will be thrown into the stream, nicknamed 'anak Sungai Juru', on Saturday.
This article was taken from: The Star Online: Metro: North 4 August 2009
Article: Housing for the birds
Tuesday August 4, 2009
By RASLAN BAHAROM
A single storey low-cost unit turned into triple storey swift hotel is causing anxiety among residents in Kuala Sepetang. A FISHMONGER and his 80-year-old father have moved out of their home following the arrival of swiftlets which have built their nests next to their low-cost house in Kuala Sepetang, Perak.
Beh Ah Keong (pic) and his father are believed to be the first residents in Malaysia to have moved out of their house due to swiflet problem.
A single storey low-cost unit turned into triple storey swift hotel is causing anxiety among residents in Kuala Sepetang. Perak has been listed as having the biggest production of swiftlet nest.
According to Beh, he decided to move out when large cracks appeared on the walls and floors of his house in Aulong after a neighbouring unit was turned into a three-storey house for swiftlet nest farming.
"When it rains, water seeps through the cracks and floods my house. We cannot open the doors and windows for fear that the swiftlets will fly inside our home," claimed Beh, 46.
He also alleged that fellow tenants in the low-cost housing scheme, which numbered about 55 units, were also facing noise pollution because of the swiftlets.
Commenting on the matter, Taiping Municipal Council president Omor Saad said the setting up of swiflet nests was prohibited in public housing schemes.
"My officers will investigate the matter,'' he said.
The council may need a court decree to demolish the premises housing the swiftlets if the owner or operator was found to have violated the local building by-laws, he said.
In the meantime, Beh and his father are staying with friends and relatives while waiting for the outcome of the investigation.
This article was taken from: The Star Online: Metro: North 4 August 2009
Article: Outdated cultural practice
Tuesday August 4, 2009
I WISH to express my appreciation to Jane Ragavan for her article Culinary cruelty (July 27) which featured the famous Suckling Pig, a popular delicacy in Chinese weddings.I am not a vegetarian but I believe to a certain extent in controlling the degree of cruelty in killing animals to feed ourselves. I have chosen not to consume many of the delicacies in understanding of how the animals were killed to feed man's natural interest in food.
For the same reason, I have never picked up a single piece of the Suckling Pig served during Chinese dinners. I often get asked why I refrain from partaking in such a delicious dish. Because it is a wedding, I try not to be too serious and fend off the queries with some jokes.
The roasted suckling pig was originally served to symbolise the bride's virginity. But many cultural practices are no longer observed in this modern age. As such, why do we sacrifice the baby pigs to maintain one minor aspect of a cultural practice, when the symbol of origin may no longer exist for many premarital couples nowadays.
Say No To Suckling Pigs, Kuala Lumpur
This article was taken from: The Star Online: Lifestyle: Living 4 August 2009
Article: Saving energy at home
Tuesday August 4, 2009
PANASONIC recently announced the release of its new energy-saving bulb in Malaysia, the New Spiral Light Capsule, which has a lifespan of 15,000 hours and reduces energy consumption by 80% compared to incandescent bulbs.Electricity consumption for lighting in households takes up about 19% of total household consumption. This means that reducing electricity consumption through the use of an efficient light source is quite effective in helping to reduce global warming.
Let there be light: The New Spiral Light Capsule has a lifespan of 15,000 hours. The bulb's ultra long life is the result of Panasonic's new quadruple coil in electrode, which can sustain a bigger volume of emitter. Thanks to this new technology and innovation, the Capsule's lifespan is 15 times longer than that of an incandescent bulb.
Besides raising efficiency, its high-density bending technology for spiral arc tubes also makes the bulb more compact.
Many brands of energy-saving bulbs have until now been unsuitable for certain applications (lighting fixtures) due to the large dimensions of the lamps. However, Panasonic's high-density bending technology can increase the replacement of incandescent bulbs to energy-saving ones, thanks to its ultra small size, promoting further energy savings.
Panasonic's energy-saving lamps have always been well-received in the Japanese lighting market and holds the No.1 market share for this category.
Panasonic Malaysia Sdn Bhd is a sales, service and marketing company for the Panasonic brand of electrical and electronic products. All Panasonic products are available through authorised dealers nationwide.
For more information on the Panasonic brand and products, visit www.panasonic.com.my or call the Customer Care Centre at % 03-5543 7600.
This article was taken from: The Star Online: Go Green Live Green 4 August 2009
Article: User-friendly paper pallets
Tuesday August 4, 2009
Protecting the environment is De Frazer's top priority, and it has done so by introducing Green Pallet, a compressed paper pallet manufactured in Malaysia that is user-friendly, durable and can handle loads as heavy as four tonnes.While traditional wooden and plastic pallets are made from wood and non-renewable resources, Green Pallet is made from 100% recycled paper. Paper pallets are 67% lighter than those made of wood. This means lower freight costs.
A wooden pallet weighs a minimum of 25kg, a plastic pallet between 12kg and 35kg, while paper pallets weigh from 10kg to 15kg. One of the most important advantages of using the Green Pallet is that it does not need to be fumigated. Traditionally, wooden pallets are fumigated for import and export purposes to prevent the transfer of micro-organisms. Usually, a colourless, non-flammable, highly toxic gas called methyl bromide is used. This toxic gas is hazardous to health and when inhaled in high concentration for a short period of time will cause headaches, dizziness, nausea and vomiting. The gas is also highly harmful to the ozone layer.
Heat treatment is another option but most exporters do not use this method as it is costly and time-consuming.
Furthermore, wooden pallets are disposed of by burning them or are left to rot. This will increase the level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, which leads to the greenhouse effect.
According to the US Forest Science and Department of Agriculture, almost 40% of hardwood in the US is used for wooden pallets. Another study found that 6.16 million tonnes of wooden pallets ended up at the municipal solid waste and construction demolition landfill facilities in 1995.
Plastic pallets are made from non-renewable resources like oil and this has considerable impact on the environment. With the increase in export and import around the world, large volumes of wooden and plastic pallets have piled up in landfills. The use of Green Pallet will help reduce this wastage.
This article was taken from: The Star Online: Go Green Live Green 4 August 2009
Article: Educating children
Tuesday August 4, 2009
AS part of BonusLink's corporate social responsibility initiative, BonusKad Loyalty Sdn Bhd (programme manager for BonusLink) and the Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) recently joined forces to organise an ecocamp at the Forest Research Institute of Malaysia in Kepong, Selangor.At the Green Explorers camp, 30 pupils, all active members of the MNS-run Kelab Pencinta Alam or Nature Club from schools in the Klang Valley, learnt about Mother Nature and participated in exciting activities. The Kelab Pencinta Alam was established to instil environmental values in school-going children. To date, there are 373 such clubs in schools nationwide, with about 15,000 student members.
Start 'em young: The Green Explorers camp saw 30 pupils learn about Mother Nature recently. During the three-day camp, the participants learned about forest and water ecologies, as well as the significance and impact of climate change. The schoolchildren were taught ways to make an impact, such as by inculcating changes to their lifestyles and spreading awareness on climate change to people they know through the creative use of the 3R concept – reuse, reduce and recycle.
The pupils also showcased ideas on how to ease global warming, while taking part in interesting outdoor activities such as the canopy walk, night walk and nature hunts. Captain GreenEarth, the mascot for BonusLink's GreenEarth programme, made an appearance too to explain the causes of global warming and how it affects everyone.
"As we all know, children are our future generation and the leaders of tomorrow, hence they play an important role in saving the environment. BonusLink is giving them an opportunity to discover nature effectively through creative and fun ways that will eventually leave a lasting impact on them," said Victor Goon, general manager of BonusKad Loyalty.
The BonusLink GreenEarth programme has initiated various environmentally friendly projects within the loyalty rewards company, including the introduction of the e-Statement to reduce the use of paper, participation in the Earth Hour initiative on March 28 this year, as well as organising school programmes where staff members spread the message on global warming in primary schools.
This article was taken from: The Star Online: Go Green Live Green 4 August 2009
Article: Fascinating facts
Tuesday August 4, 2009
The Rhino With Glue-on Shoes Author: Lucy Spelman
Publisher: Delta, 336 pages
A moray eel diagnosed with anorexia, a herd of bison whose only hope is a crusading female doctor from Paris and a vet desperately trying to save an orphaned whale by unravelling the mystery of her mother's death – this fascinating book offers a rare glimpse into the world of wild animals and the doctors who care for them.
Pioneering veterinarians tell real-life tales of daring procedures for patients weighing tonnes or grammes, treating symptoms ranging from broken bones to a broken heart, and life-and-death dramas that will change the way you think about wild animals and the bonds we share with them.
The stories are some of the most moving and unusual cases taken on by zoological vets.
Food, Inc.
Edited by Karl Weber
Publisher: Public Affairs, 336 pages
The powerful documentary Food, Inc shook up our perceptions of what we eat, posing questions such as: Where does my food come from, and who processed it? What are the giant agribusinesses and what stake do they have in maintaining the status quo of food production and consumption? How can I feed my family healthy foods affordably?
Expanding on the film's themes, the book Food, Inc answers those questions through a series of essays by leading experts and thinkers.
If daily headlines about food poisoning, pollution, labour abuse and rampant hunger have left you worried or confused about the foods you eat, Food, Inc provides the facts behind the problems – and shows what you can do to make a difference.
This article was taken from: The Star Online: Go Green Live Green 4 August 2009
Article: The right choices
Tuesday August 4, 2009
Review by TAN CHENG LI
Ecological Intelligence
Author: Daniel Goleman
Publisher: Allen Lane, 276 pages
COTTON fabric is often preferred over synthetic, but did you know that cotton farming is highly water and pesticide-intensive? Some 10,000 litres of water are required to grow the cotton for one bag and cotton crops alone account for the use of about 10% of the world's pesticides.
Cotton yarn also gets bleached, dyed, and finished with industrial chemicals that include chromium, chlorine and formaldehyde, each toxic in its own way, as well as leave behind foul wastewater. And the dyes used might put factory workers at risk of leukaemia.
That's just one of the many illuminating alerts in Daniel Goleman's Ecological Intelligence. He rightly points out that our green thinking is often one-dimensional, focusing on single problems in isolation from the rest. This superficial green awareness can end up doing more harm than good as it ignores the adverse impact of the stuff we buy.
Goleman wants us to know that our world of material abundance comes with a hidden price tag which most of us are ignorant of. It's time to change that if we want to protect our well-being and that of the planet.
Sure, most of us want to make the right choices as consumers but, what are the right choices? We've been told that glass packaging is better than PET (polyethylene terephthalate) plastic since glass can be recycled many times whereas PET is usually discarded. But then when you make glass, you have to heat silica and soda ash at 1,100°C. What's being emitted in the air? What chemicals are people being exposed to? What is the energy use and what is the contribution to global warming? If you knew all that, would you still opt for the glass bottle?
Faced with such dilemmas, making earth-friendly choices becomes tricky. More so when consumers are often left in the dark over the detrimental effects of producing, packaging, shipping, distributing and discarding the goods they buy.
And more often than not, manufacturers themselves too are unaware – and unbothered – about the impact of what they make. But we should be concerned as studies have shown that our bodies carry a stew of chemicals, thanks to a lifetime of exposure to small amounts of these stuff.
To cut through the eco-conundrums, Goleman says we need to train ourselves to think differently and to learn about the environmental cost of everything. He calls this knowledge "ecological intelligence".
To guide consumers along, a new field called industrial ecology has emerged, in which engineers, chemists, physicists, biologists, ecologists and green activists alike have gotten together to compile complete information about all aspects of a product's history.
This is done through life-cycle analyses, which unveil the hidden impact of things from the moment the ingredients are extracted or concocted, through manufacture, packaging, storage, transportation, retail, use and disposal.
Goleman gives an example: one such analysis reveals that a glass bottle requires 1,959 steps from birth to disposal, each of which can be analysed for its impact – from particles emitted in the air, water and soil to the energy footprint and the incidence of cancer.
Not all products have been analysed but many have, and the information on their environmental and health impact is accessible in websites such as www.cosmeticsdatabase.com and www.goodguide.com.
Goleman, who wrote the 1995 best-seller Emotional Intelligence, writes that this "radical transparency" in information will help consumers make smarter purchasing decisions and this will eventually drive companies to change the way they make things.
Goleman also points out that "green" is an illusion once you understand life-cycle analysis. Take, for instance, the current craze for all things green. It can lull us into thinking that we're doing our part for the planet, ignorant of the fact that anything that is made will leave a mark.
As one industrial ecologist told Goleman: "The term 'eco- friendly' should not ever be used. Anything manufactured is only relatively so."
Goleman also highlights that most so-called green products are ecologically virtuous only in some aspects. One example: the office printer claims to be energy efficient but nothing is said about its impact on indoor air quality or its incompatibility with recycled printer cartridges or recycled paper.
That is just one of the many green myths shattered by Goleman. Here's another: imported meat is not always bad. Scientists at Lincoln University in New Zealand calculates that lamb from New Zealand shipped to Britain has a carbon footprint just one-fourth that of British lamb – in part because most electricity in New Zealand comes from renewable sources, and ample rain and sun means pastures need less fertiliser there than in cloudy Britain.
Much of what Goleman talks about is not new, having been espoused by other ecologists. But he has synthesised current environmental thinking into one book. And this is a good book to pick up should you want to expand your green wisdom.
But mind you, it is a tedious read as not only does it brim with information, Goleman does repeat some points and relies a lot on jargon. But this book is certainly thought-provoking and has plenty of interesting ideas – I found myself stopping every few paragraphs to mull them over.
Ecological intelligence is ultimately about more than what we buy. Goleman quotes John Ehrenfeld, executive director of the International Society for Industrial Ecology, who calls for product innovations that "radically reduce the amount of stuff that humans all over the globe use to produce well-being."
So while buying greener is good, buying less is even better. And since it would be impossible for industrial ecologists to do a life-cycle analysis for every single product made, manufacturers should be responsible and design goods based on the "cradle to cradle" concept to prevent fouling up our bodies and our environment. After all, it is their children and grandchildren – not just ours – who will be inheriting this planet.
This article was taken from: The Star Online: Go Green Live Green 4 August 2009
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