SEARCA PHOTO CONTEST 2009

Community-based Climate Change Adaptation: Best Practices in Southeast Asia

“As KC3 embarks on a journey to prepare Southeast Asians for the impacts of climate change, let us look through the camera lens and see how people have adapted with our changing climate.”

GUIDELINES

1. The photo contest is open to all Southeast Asian nationals except SEARCA employees and immediate family members.
2. The theme will center on Community-based Climate Change Adaptation: Best Practices in Southeast Asia.
3. Each contestant may submit as many entries as he/she wants provided that said photos have not been submitted to previous photo contests.
4. Entries must be submitted in 8” x 10,” full color prints (digital or conventional camera). Digital entries should be in either JPEG or TIFF format and at least 3,000 pixels wide for a horizontal image or 3,000 pixels tall for a vertical image at 300 dpi. There is no maximum file size or resolution as long as it can be sent by e-mail or via file upload.
If submitting a print from a digital file, please include an e-copy. The print should match the quality and character of the original file.
If submitting a print using conventional camera, please include the negatives and indicate settings used (aperture and shutter speed).
5. All entries must be original. Photos must not be digitally altered and/or enhanced in any way other than simple cropping.
6. Each entry should include the following details: name, country, brief statement/description of the photo, where the photo was taken, when it was taken, and the equipment used in taking it.
7. All photos may be used by SEARCA but proper credit will be given to the photographer. Submitted entries may be used by SEARCA for all advocacy and promotion activities, including but not limited to photo exhibits without liability on the part of and fee to be paid for by the contest organizers.
8. Photos will be judged based on the following criteria:

35% Relevance to the theme
20% Regional flavor
20% Originality/Creativity
15%Composition
10% Sharpness
100% TOTAL

DURATION

The photo contest will run from August 3 (Monday) to October 2, 2009 (Friday). Screening will be on the first week of November 2009.

Winners will be notified via e-mail. SEARCA has the right to offer the prize to the next winning entry if and only if, the winner does not initiate any contact. Likewise, winners are requested to be present at the awarding ceremony on SEARCA’s 43rd anniversary -- celebrated during the last week of November. If he/she could not attend the ceremonies, SEARCA shall be notified on how the price shall be transmitted.

DEADLINE

All entries must be postmarked or e-mailed on or before October 2, 2009 (12 midnight, Philippine time).
Mail or deliver entries to:

SEARCA Photo Contest 2009
SEAMEO SEARCA, College, Los Banos
Laguna 4031, Philippines

Or send by email to fotos@agri.searca.org.

Note: SEARCA cannot be held responsible for entries that are lost, damaged or delayed during transportation.

PRIZES

First Place $500
Second Place $300
Third Place $200

Note: Transportation cost of winners for attending the awarding ceremony shall be borne by the winner.

RATIONALE

Dr. Juan Pulhin, Filipino scientist in the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) once said, “While we can’t stop the effects of what we’ve done in the past, we can influence the future. Tackling climate change starts with understanding why we need to.”

Indeed, the world’s climate is changing -- at present, some countries are experiencing longer wet season while others face continuous drought. Climate change is upon us; and it is considered as one of the most serious threats to sustainable development. Its adverse impacts can affect human health, food security, economic activities, physical infrastructure, and the environment as a whole.

Slowly, people have learned to cope with the changing climate. Likewise, plants and animals which were also adversely affected by climate change developed certain mechanisms in order to survive. In biology, this concept is more popularly known as “adaptation.” Adaptation is the process wherein a certain species become accustomed to a change in its environment for survival. It may take time and usually entails a change in behavior, appearance, and/or practice of the affected species.

As SEARCA embarks on its new initiative, the Knowledge Center on Climate Change (KC3), adaptation is one concept that often arises. In certain parts of the world, people have already developed best practices on how to abate the negative impacts of climate change. But some people are still caught unaware of what is to come. It is likewise important to prepare the rest of the world for the worst; to teach them of what has worked best in other areas.

Aside from publishing scholarly articles and documenting Community of Practices, another effective and creative way to communicate a message is through the use of photographs. An old adage says that “a picture can say a thousand words.” Thus, on its first year, KC3 is launching a Southeast Asian wide Photo Competition centered on adaptation measures practiced and used by Southeast Asians in the fight against climate change.

This photo competition builds up from the 2008 photo contest also organized by SEARCA themed “Coping with Climate Change: Finding Solutions.” Recognizing that solutions are already being practiced in some Southeast Asian communities, it is time to look once again through the camera lens and see how these adaptation measures translate into solving the problem on climate change.

more info http://www.searca.org/web/photo-contest/

Dear friends,

For once, this email isn't asking you to do anything at all. It's merely sharing the news--the amazing news--that arrived about 45 minutes ago at 350 headquarters.
Rajendra Pachauri is the U.N.'s top climate scientist. He leads the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), which every five years produces the authoritative assessment of climate science. Their last report, in 2007, helped set the target of 450 ppm (parts per million of CO2) that many environmental groups and national governments have adopted as their goal for Copenhagen.

As you all know, that number is out of date. When Jim Hansen and other scientists looked at phenomenon like the Arctic ice melt of the last two summers, they produced new data demonstrating that 350 is the bottom line for the planet.

But it's been hard to get that news out to the powers that be.

So today it comes as enormous and welcome news that Dr. Pachauri, from his New Delhi office, said that 350 was the number.

"As chairman of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) I cannot take a position because we do not make recommendations," said Rajendra Pachauri when asked if he supported calls to keep atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations below 350 parts per million (ppm).

"But as a human being I am fully supportive of that goal. What is happening, and what is likely to happen, convinces me that the world must be really ambitious and very determined at moving toward a 350 target," he told Agence France Presse in an interview.

It's your work that has made this breakthrough possible. In fact, Pachauri specifically cited the last big piece of news for 350: the decision of 80+ small island nations and less developed countries to endorse the 350 target.

"I think this is a good development," said Pachauri. "Now people -- including some scientists -- see the seriousness of the impacts of climate change, and the fact that things are going to get substantially worse than what we had anticipated."

This news makes it much easier for all of us to push hard leading up to the International Day of Climate Action on the 24th of October (signup to start or attend an event at www.350.org) , and the UN Climate Conference in Copenhagen this December.

It's clear now that science is powerfully on the side of the 350 target. Now we need the political world to follow suit. You will make that happen in the next two months. Oct. 24 is officially 60 days away, and we're building just the momentum we need to make it count.

Thanks for all you do,

Bill McKibben

Read more about Dr Pachauri here. http://www.rkpachauri.org/bio.php

350.org needs your help! To support our work, go to http://350asia.wordpress.com/

Eco-towns – No walk in the park by Goh Ban Lee

TWO words are certain crowd pullers: free and new. As it is not possible for businessmen to use "free" too many times, they often use "new" to attract customers.

Lately, they have found two new words: green or eco. For instance, the following terms have been appearing in newspapers lately: "green homes", "green hotels", "eco-refrigerators" and even "ecofun parks". Then there are "eco-towns" and "eco-cities".

The businessmen and their consultants are aware that many Malaysians want to do their part for the environment, thanks to the many documentaries on global warming and the melting of ice caps. If the predictions materialise, not only will those living in the Arctic region lose their habitats, inhabitants on the islands in the Pacific and Indian oceans will lose their countries altogether.

Of course, if that were to happen, a large part of the many coastal settlements in Malaysia would also be submerged.

Unfortunately, there is no restriction on the use of green or eco as a prefix in Malaysia. As such, one is not certain whether the advertised "green homes" are really ecologically friendly and have smaller carbon footprints than comparable "normal" houses.

Equally important, even if the houses have smaller carbon footprints, the housing project might be designed in such a way that every trip to the nearest convenience store or school needs the use of private cars.

It is, therefore, time for Malaysians to pay serious attention to building eco-towns or eco-cities. But what makes an eco-town or eco-city? According to an article by British based BioRegional Development Group and Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (2008), "Eco-towns must demonstrate real and measurable sustainable living. They should encourage and allow people to live within ecological limits whilst enjoying a high quality of life in an attractive environment."

While the above definition is useful, there is a need to draw up standards for various components of a town or city suitable for each country.

It is, therefore, timely that a stakeholders’ roundtable consultation on the "Development of Eco-town Policy Framework" was held in George Town yesterday. It was organised by the Socio-economic and Environmental Research Institute and Invest Penang on behalf of Penang Island Municipal Council, Penang State Government, United Nations Environmental Programme and Global Environmental Centre Foundation, both based in Osaka.

Apart from discussing eco-city standards and guidelines, examples of eco-cities in Japan and China were also presented. There was also a proposal to build an eco-town in Batu Kawan, Seberang Perai.


However, while any effort to undertake sustainable development should be encouraged and supported, building eco-towns or eco-cities is no walk in the park.

For example, a project was initiated in 2003 to turn Huangbaiyu in Northeastern China into a model eco-village comprising "eco-dwellings" – solar-powered houses built from hay and pressed-earth bricks. The 370 households scattered over several kilometres would all be moved into the green houses so that their land could be consolidated for bigger farms or other development. Six years down the line, despite the involvement of "experts" from the United States, the model eco-village is "a complete failure".

Then there is Dongtan, the much touted "first eco-city of the world". The project called for transforming a marshy backwater island near Shanghai into a gleaming community of energy-efficient buildings. Waste was to have been recycled as fuel and the waterfronts were to be lined with sleek micro-windmills.

Planned to be the showcase of China’s commitment to sustainable development during the Shanghai Trade Exposition in 2010, the project has been abandoned. Even the visitor centre is now shut.

On the home front, what has happened to the Green Manufacturing Hub in Penang? Besides justifying the tax ringgit spent on study tours, Penang, needs to demonstrate that it is still the leader in development planning and implementation.

There are, of course, success stories. A good example is Kawasaki City in Japan. Long known as a polluted city it is today a shinning example of sustainable development. It even has a Zero Emission Industrial Park.

There is no choice but to push for more ecologically sensitive lifestyle in eco-towns and eco-cities. After all, despite all the money spent, earthlings have not found another planet suitable for humans.

Dr Goh Ban Lee is interested in urban governance, housing and urban planning. Comments: letters@thesundaily.com.

Article Source

Sugar-less world - Food security threat!

7 Woodstock-Era Songs Just as Influential Today

Sometimes the drama of Woodstock overshadows one basic fact: In the beginning, it was all about the music. The songs of the time were powerful tools in the '60s' movement toward social, political, and environmental change and they're as relevant, important, and effective today as they were then. Whether you heard them at the festival or yesterday on the car radio, there's no doubt that these tunes has and continue to have an impact. We've listed seven, but feel free to chime in with your favorite Woodstock-era global-change tunes in the comments below.

1. Mercy Mercy Me by Marvin Gaye


Released in 1971, Marvin Gaye's album What's Going On tackled more than just environmental issues, but the hit "Mercy, Mercy Me (The Ecology)" remains one of his most powerful works, and has been covered by artists including Robert Palmer, Grover Washington, Jr., and The Strokes. Sample lyrics: Ah, things ain't what they used to be, no no/Where did all the blue skies go?/Poison is the wind that blows from the north and south and east...Oils wasted on the ocean and upon our seas, fish full of mercury/Ah, oh mercy, mercy me.

2. Big Yellow Taxi by Joni Mitchell



Joni Mitchell's 1970 ode to trees, "Big Yellow Taxi" was reportedly inspired by a trip to Hawaii, where she saw that "The natural beauty of Hawaii had been rudely interrupted by a slab of pavement;" hence the refrain, "They paved paradise and put up a parking lot." The song also references DDT, the expansion of the pink Royal Hawaiian hotel, and the Foster Botanical Garden, which Mitchell calls "a tree museum." Sample lyrics: Hey farmer, farmer, put away that DDT now/Give me spots on my apples/But leave me the birds and the bees/Please/Don't it always seem to go/That you don't know what you've got/'Til it's gone.

3. Alice's Restaurant by Arlo Guthrie

Arlo Guthrie Alice's Restaurant
Uploaded by shawshawshaw. - Music videos, artist interviews, concerts and more.

Inspired by his famous dad, Woody, Arlo Guthrie made it big with the 1967 hit, "Alice's Restaurant," which--despite its 19-minute running time--became an almost instant classic for the, according to Guthrie, "anti-idiot" message. Primarily a protest against the draft, the song also describes the dangers of garbage dumping--and though it wasn't part of his Woodstock set, it's still one of Guthrie's most famous works. Sample lyrics: And that's what it is, the Alice's Restaurant Anti-Massacre Movement, and all you got to do to join is sing it the next time it comes around on the guitar.

4. Out in the Country by Three Dog Night

More about a love of nature than environmental ethics, "Out in the Country" by Three Dog Night has the kind of melody that calls up sunny picnic days and spring afternoons. The song, released on 1970's It Ain't Easy, was written by Paul Williams--who also wrote songs as diverse as "The Rainbow Connection" and the theme to The Love Boat. Sample lyrics: Before the breathin' air is gone/Before the sun is just a bright spot in the nighttime/Out where the rivers like to run/I stand alone and take back somethin' worth rememberin'.

5. We Shall Overcome by Joan Baez

Joan Baez wasn't the first person to use "We Shall Overcome" as a call for social change--the song was first published in 1947, and grew in popularity as Pete Seeger taught it to his audiences. It was already an anthem for the Civil Rights Movement when Baez performed it at Woodstock, and since then it has been adopted by everyone from Lyndon Johnson in a 1965 speech to anti-apartheid activists in South Africa in the 1980s. Sample lyrics: We are not alone/We are not alone/We are not alone someday/Oh, deep in my heart/I do believe/We shall overcome someday.

6. Let's Work Together by Canned Heat



Though their song "Going Up the Country" became the unofficial theme song to the Woodstock film, it's one of Canned Heat's other performances--"Let's Work Together"--that became the band's biggest hit. It's also an important reminder that global change requires a global effort--whether your goal is peace, human rights, or clean air. Sample lyrics: Together we'll stand, divided we'll fall/Come on now people let's get on the ball/And work together, come on, come on/Let's work together now, now people/Because together we will stand/Every boy, girl, woman, and man.

7. Love City by Sly and the Family Stone


Sly and the Family Stone made a name for themselves with a lineup of songs promoting "peace, love, and understanding,"--and their Woodstock performance of "Love City" tied all those elements together during a turbulent era. Sample lyrics: Look into the future/Tell me what you see/Brothers and sisters holding hands/And you sitting next to me, now...All these wonderful people singin'/All these wonderful songs, yeah/Love city, love city.

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Young Activists want action on Global Warming

Timber debris won't be burnt inside Bakun reservoir: Developer

By STEPHEN THEN and JACK WONG

Ecologikal notes: I really do not understand our friends at "Sarawak Hidro Sdn Bhd", why burn? The timber can be used for many other reasons. The BIGGEST joke of all, "burning would only be carried out during clear weather when the air pollutant index was low." Like my uncle used to say, "You ada sekolah-ka?"

145km x 6km of timber area will be burnt and it is a VERY HUGE area. Just to illustrate, imagine our PLUS highway, from Duta Toll all the way to Tapah Toll, that's 145km. It is already a VERY HUGE area. But don't stop there, the width of our highway is only about 56m (10 lanes), so we have to times 107 to achieve 6km (+/-). OMFG! Do the maths.

Delay No More! Stop the open burning! ACT NOW!

BAKUN: The burning of timber waste in Bakun will only be done along the 100km fringe of the dam’s reservoir, not inside the reservoir proper, according to Sarawak Hidro Sdn Bhd.

“We have no choice but to burn the debris because there is a danger that it may be washed into the river and sucked into the turbines of the power-generation plant,” the dam’s developer said.

It was commenting on The Star’s report that environmentalists were concerned that the burning of timber waste might spark an environmental crisis.

The developer said it had explained to Bakun folk chief Pemanca Umek Jeno the reason for burning the timber waste.

“The developer has assured us that there will be no environmental crisis. The burning will not be done inside reservoir area but only along the fringe,” Umek said.

“It has hired 400 of our folks to carry out the clearing and the burning because we know the area well,” he said.

Umek added that the burning would only be carried out during clear weather when the air pollutant index was low.

“Not all the logs will be burned. We will salvage some for our own use,” he said.

The dam reservoir measures 145km from one end to the other and is about 6km wide.

Umek also said that Sarawak Hidro had formed a company for the Bakun natives so that they could get involved in trading, services and support industries once the dam was commissioned.

He added that the Natural Resources and Environment Board NREB had given a permit for the burning to be carried out in Bakun, but under strict control and over a few months.

Ulu Rejang MP Datuk Billy Abit Joo said Tuesday Sarawak Hidro had explained the situation to him.

“There is a need to get rid of the timber debris properly, but the burning will be done in a controlled manner,” he said.

Meanwhile, NREB environmental quality controller Dr Penguang Manggil said at a press conference that the state government had decided to direct Sarawak Hidro to carry out complete biomass removal for selected areas.

“They are along the 100km fringe within the 15km radius of the Bakun dam, between elevation 180m and 228m, and on slopes more than 30 degrees, covering an area of 455ha in nine parcels,” he said.

He added that open burning ought to be done in stages.

Article Source

Reprieve for rhinos

By MICHAEL CHEANG

Isolated rhinos in fragmented Sabahan forests will be captured and placed in a new rhino sanctuary in a last bid to multiply their numbers.

AS you head into Tabin Wildlife Reserve, there is a massive tree that stands tall and proud beside the road. The tallest tree in the reserve, it seems to stand guard against the advancing hoard of oil palm trees across the road that also serves as the border between protected and developed land.

Tabin Wildlife Reserve is in need of such guardians, symbolic or otherwise. Located 48km from Lahat Datu in south-east Sabah and spanning 120,500ha of the Dent peninsula that forms the northern headland of Darvel Bay, it is one of the largest remaining protected wildlife reserves in the country; and crucially, the last major stronghold of the Bornean rhinoceros (Dicerorhinus sumatrensis harrissoni).

Tam, a mature male found wandering in an oil palm estate a year ago, will be the first resident of a new rhino sanctuary in Sabah.

The Bornean rhino is a sub-species of the Asian two-horned rhinoceros, more commonly known as the Sumatran rhino. It is also the most endangered species in Malaysia, and will probably go extinct if there is no active human intervention, according to Junaidi Payne of WWF and Borneo Rhinoceros Alliance (Bora). Bora is a non-profit organisation and a joint effort between government and non-governmental groups that focus specifically on saving the rhino in Malaysia.

“In the past, rhinos were threatened by poaching, loss of habitat and so on. But now they are mostly threatened by the simple fact that there just aren’t enough of them around in one place anymore,” said Payne. “Tabin is the only place left in Malaysia where there is hope of saving the rhino because there are a few breeding individuals and we know the habitat is good because historically they were here.”

It is estimated that only 30 to 40 Bornean rhinos remain in Sabah, with the last survey in 2006 locating at least 13 individuals within Tabin. Consisting mostly of secondary regenerated forest (the area was heavily logged in the 1970s and 80s), Tabin has been a secure wildlife reserve for the past 25 years. It is categorised as a Class Seven forest reserve in Sabah – meaning its primary purpose is to conserve wildlife, and the forest cannot be logged anymore. It is also in no danger from being encroached upon by the surrounding oil palm estates.

Leafy lure: A Sabah Wildlife Department ranger providing leaves for the rhino at the oil palm plantation.

As such, it is only fitting that Tabin was chosen to be the site of a new (and some say, final) hope for the Bornean rhino – the 4,500ha Borneo Rhinoceros Sanctuary (BRS) where a small population of the animal will be left to roam free in the hope that they will mate and breed.

The initiative is jointly set up by Sime Darby Foundation and the Sabah Government. Foundation chairman Tun Musa Hitam and State Wildlife Department Director Datuk Lawrentius Ambu signed an agreement on the initiative on June 30 at the Tabin Wildlife Resort located inside the reserve.

According to Musa, the project is part of Sime’s Big 9 campaign to protect nine endangered Malaysian animals – the Sumatran rhino, orang utan, hornbill, sun bear, banteng (wild cattle), clouded leopard, pygmy elephant, proboscis monkey and the Malayan tiger, all of which (with the exception of the tiger) can be found in Tabin. Apart from the rhino reserve in Tabin, the foundation has funded the Malaysian Nature Society conservation project on the plain-pouched hornbill in Belum-Temenggor forest in Perak.

“We are providing RM7.3mil, including RM5mil for the infrastructure, to build the 4,500ha sanctuary for the rhinos in Tabin,” Musa said, adding that the funding will continue for three years until 2012.

A bulk of the funding will go towards upgrading existing infrastructure like volunteers’ living quarters and roads, as well as encircling the sanctuary with an electrified fence, which will make it the first such project involving a large fenced up area in a tropical rainforest.

‘Tabin is the only place left in Malaysia where there is hope of saving the rhino,’ says Junaidi Payne.

The sanctuary is also unique in the sense that it is a “hands-off breeding programme.” Learning from the painful lessons of past rhino captive breeding programmes in Malaysia where most of the animals died in captivity, the rhinos in the Tabin sanctuary will be confined area and it is hoped that nature will then take its course.

However, this does not mean that all the remaining rhinos in Sabah will be herded up into the area to breed. Payne said wild rhinos that are already within Tabin wildlife reserve would be left alone. What the sanctuary is setting out to do is to capture “doomed” rhinos in isolated forests all over Sabah, and put them in the sanctuary. .

“There are pockets of forests all over Sabah where individual rhinos are living with no hope of ever meeting a mate and they will never contribute to the species’ survival. The sanctuary aims to bring these so-called ‘doomed rhinos’ together in the hope that they might mate,” said Payne.

The sanctuary already has its first resident – a mature bull called Tam, who was found wandering around an oil palm plantation 48km from Tabin last August.

“We found Tam in an oil palm plantation, and monitored him for two weeks until it was apparent that he did not want to go back to the forest. No one really knows why. The feeling is that he was injured by a trap in the forest. Finally, the Wildlife Department decided to catch it and bring it here instead,” said Payne.

Tam was put in a 2,500ha fenced area where he is free to roam. There is also a makeshift paddock in the area where Tam is fed and where volunteers conduct medical check-ups on him. These are just temporary lodgings for Tam though. Once the sanctuary is ready (hopefully in a year’s time), he will be put there to mingle with the other rhinos to be captured.

“We are targeting to catch another four or five other rhinos, in the next few years,” said Payne.

He reckons that with funding from Sime for at least three years, the sanctuary has a chance to work. However, the success or failure of the initiative may not be known for at least 10 years or so.

“Even if we catch a small number of rhinos and they don’t breed within three or four years, it still doesn’t mean the project is not successful,” he emphasised.

While the main priority is saving the rhinos, the sanctuary initiative will also draw attention to the importance of protecting and preserving a wide array of biological resources within Tabin. These include trees and plants from primary and secondary forests, as well as a large number of animal species inhabiting the forest. Besides the rhino, it is also home to the pygmy elephant, tembadau, deer, orang utan and other primates, carnivores such as the honey bear and the rare clouded leopard, birds, reptiles, amphibians and different species of river fish.

“Hopefully, the higher profile that the project brings will help elevate the status of Tabin to the level of iconic sites such as Sipadan Island, Danum Valley or Maliau Basin,” said Payne.

Tabin Wildlife Reserve is home to many of Malaysia’s most endangered species, including the Bornean Pygmy Elephant

Still, the ultimate goal is to ensure the survival of the rhino, which Payne reckons deserves a higher profile that matches that of the orang utan or the elephant.

“To put it in context, let’s compare the rhino to orang utans, which receive a lot more attention from the world. There are at least 11,000 of them in Sabah now, which is still not a very high number but it at least means that the numbers are high enough that there is no risk of orang utans going extinct in our lifetime.

“Now compare that to the rhino, which we think there are only 40 left in Sabah. Their situation is definitely more critical. So we need to give them a lot more attention now or risk losing them forever.”

Article Source

Malaysian gov't urged to promote green energy

Editor: Lin Zhi

(ecologikal notes: this article for some reasons was not seen published in any of Malaysian media)

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug. 5 (Xinhua) -- The Malaysian government should promote the use of green energy in order to contribute positively to sustain the environment, industry players said here on Wednesday.

Saw Choo Boon, Chairman of Shell Malaysia, a petrol company, said that the Malaysian government should do away fuel subsidies as fuel should not be a cheap commodity.

With the subsidies in place, fuel prices would be kept low, and there was no incentives for the people to conserve fuel consumption, Saw said at a roundtable talk which were attended by eight prominent business figures here.

He said that when the government increased the petrol price in 2008, consumption dropped by 10 percent.

Malaysia's prime gasoline price once rose to 2.70 ringgit (0.77U.S. dollars) a liter from two ringgit (0.57 U.S. dollars) in June2008.

Should the government cut down its fuel subsidies, billions of ringgit could be saved for promoting the use of green energy, which in turn benefits the future generations, added Saw.

Going green was not a matter of possibility but something the nation must do, stressed Saw, adding that fossil fuel would go into history after a few decades.

Touching on education, Saw said the Malaysian government should come up with relevant courses to meet the development requirement of the green energy.

He said that providing technology-savvy experts to the industry as well as venturing into starting-up business that acquired high technologies were important.

Johan Dennelind, Chief Executive Officer of DiGi Telecommunications Sdn Bhd, echoed Sam's view, citing a Swedish experience.

Dennelind said that in the 90's, the Swedish government decided to allow energy prices to move towards market prices, reducing the coal and oil generated energy from 80 percent in the 70's to 20 percent currently.

This showed that giving incentives alone was not enough in promoting green energy but other regulations should come in place as a complement, said Dennelind.

Ahmad Hadri Haris, National Project Leader of Malaysia Energy Center, said the exorbitant prices of green energy should not be ahindrance for the people to use it.

Fuel prices looked low but should the external costs such as damages to the environment be incorporated, the real prices of fuel would surge, reminded Ahmad.

He also said that the development of green energy was likely to be incorporated into the Tenth Malaysia Plan, making the industry an important jobs creator.

The Malaysia Plan is a five year plan to develop the nation's infrastructure, education, health care and etc for the well-being of the people as well as for the economy. Currently the Ninth Malaysia Plan is ongoing.

Pian Sukro, Chairman of Energy Commission Malaysia, said that the Malaysian government should consider hydro power as the nation had plenty of the resources.

He said nuclear power should be considered as well and the developed countries should use more of this source to generate energy, leaving the conventional methods for the developing countries.

Tay Kay Luan, Director of Association of Chartered Certified Accountants for ASEAN and Australia, said that utilizing green energy was good for both business and reputation.

When introducing hybrid vehicles, the Malaysian government should capture renewable energies such as hydro, wind and solar power, added Tay.

Lee Chor Wah, President of Malaysian Institute of Architects, said the Malaysian government could give cash incentives for the constructions of green buildings.

However, he admitted that there was limited incentive for consumers to build green buildings as the relatively low technology adopted in Malaysia made going green costly.

Costs of construction could increase by 10 to 15 percent in Malaysia for going green but it only cost 2 to 3 percent more in Australia, added Lee.

Lee Weng Seong, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of PhilipsGroup of Companies in Malaysia, said the people should think that their business might not be sustainable without going green, instead of thinking only about the costs incurred to go green.

He urged the Malaysian government to draw up strict standards for various industries to adhere to and penalize those who failed to comply with the regulations and requirements.

Julian Wynter, Chief Executive Officer of Standard Chartered Bank Malaysia, said education, incentives and regulations must be coordinated in a way to make green energy popular.

On the individuals side, Wynter advised everyone to consume less resources.

He said the bank had embarked on internet banking and phone banking, resulting in less papers being consumed.

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Students show their creativity (with recycled items)

High-Performance Green Buildings, Malaysia

Although green building initiatives in Malaysia are still at infancy stage, yet the awareness of its financial and tangible benefits is increasing. The need for lower operational cost is the main reason for companies to adopt green concepts.

The government is also committed in promoting green concepts with the establishment of Energy, Green Technology and Water Ministry, under the leadership of Datuk Peter Chin. In addition, according to Works Minister, Datuk Shaziman Abu Mansor, future government buildings will be incorporating green concepts. The launch of Malaysia’s very own green rating tool, Green Building Index, has brought sustainability development in Malaysia to a higher level.

High Performance Green Buildings, Malaysia aims to address the current trends, future direction, and the best practices of constructing sustainable buildings. This event also offers an opportunity to promote Malaysia as one of the investment destination for sustainable building.

Attend this informative event and gain practical insights into:

• Discovering the methodologies and strategies to build a GBI certified building
• Identifying techniques of constructing a cost-effective green building
• Gaining insights on successful international and local case studies of green buildings
• Leveraging strategies maintaining sustainable buildings
• Increasing the efficiency of renewable energy
• Exploring the vast array of green technologies

The High-Performance Green Buildings, Malaysia is structured to be a one-day conference and one-day training. The event will feature ground breaking presentations and case studies:

• Mastermind of green building: Is it the government, developer, designer, or supplier?
• Green Design and Planning : The five strategies
• Shading for sustainable cities – A new range of opportunities
• Strategic exploration of greening existing building
• Plus a special masterclass on constructing green building for certification

Speakers who have confirmed speaking at the event are:

• Derek Swift Group Sustainability Manager Al-Faara Group, Dubai
• Martin C Hay RIBA Manager – Architecture GHD, Doha
• Dato’ Dr Ken Yeang Principal TR Hamzah & Yeang Sdn Bhd (Malaysia) and Llewelyn Davies Yeang (UK)
• Silas Chiow Director Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, China
• Gieto Sugianto Director- Projects Architects 61, Singapore
• CK Tang Director IEN Consultants

Contact Ms. Alexis Nair at +603 2035 5682. Alternatively, you can also e-mail at alexis@myevents-intl.com or visit http://www.greenevents.com.my/.

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Official Event Website

Climate Change Convention 2010 targets 600 participants

KUALA LUMPUR: About 600 people from the tourism, education, engineering and architectural industries, from both the government and private sectors are expected to attend the inaugural Climate Change Convention 2010 to be held in Langkawi from May 19 to 22 next year.

The convention, which is organised by the Asia Overland Tourism and Hospitality Group (AOTHG), will begin on an Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) platform, focusing on regional environmental issues, as biodiversity and the tropical climate are being affected drastically.

The main objective of the convention is to raise public awareness on environment through conservation of energy and water, recycling, waste reduction and innovation.

Anthony Wong, group managing director of AOTHG, said the organisation aimed to raise at least RM1 million from the convention through registration fees and ticket sales.

“Proceeds from the event will be channelled to the Save Our Earth Trust that will include NGOs and universities to assist in funding their environmental projects,” said Wong. He added that the convention will take a larger platform in the following year to include Asia-Pacific countries.

The Climate Change Convention will introduce the 4Rs — Recycle, Reduce, Reuse and Rethink Music Fest, which will feature bands and performers who utilise instruments made from recycled items such as trash cans, pails and cooking utensils.

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It's green politics for Zainal

By June Ramlee

KUALA LUMPUR: Will there be a "Green" Party in Malaysia?

Singer Zainal Abidin, whose most famous song is Hijau, is not happy with the way environmental issues are being handled in Malaysia and wants to do something about it.

He and his friends intend to set up a political party which concentrates on environmental and humanitarian issues.

"We don't want to rule the country. What we want is just one seat in Parliament to make a difference and the necessary noise to make a change in such issues," he said at the launch of the Climate Change Convention 2010 themed "101 ways to save and make a change", to be held from May 19 to 22 next year in Langkawi.

Zainal and actress Maya Karin are both ambassadors for the event.

"Yes, I know there are several ministries in charge of such matters but the ministers change so often that even policies that are almost completed are abandoned. In such instances, how can you see a proper change?"

Zainal said he and his friends -- environmentalists who did not want to be named -- were dead serious about setting up the political party.

He said the group was concerned that the authorities "could not even take the simple step of banning the use of plastic bags".

Maya Karin echoed Zainal's sentiments, saying the government should issue fines to those who used plastic bags.

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Tck Tck Tck - It's time for climate justice

The clock is ticking.

In December of this year, the United Nations will meet to decide on the replacement of the Kyoto protocol, a defining agreement that will determine the future of our planet in the face of the climate crisis. People around the world are dying today as a result of climate change and without our collective action, this will continue.

We have a collective opportunity to stop the clock. Become a Climate Ally, by recording and uploading yourself saying 'tck'. This will register you as someone who wants to see climate justice delivered. Our aim is to create the biggest online petition ever, that will be targeted at the world leaders attending the Copenhagen talks, demanding that they make fair and robust decisions that deliver a just climate deal.

Every way you engage registers you as an ally, so get everyone you know involved, pass the message on to your friends and family to do the same. You can get even more involved by purchasing climate tags and other apparel, or simply spreading the message in your area (see our downloads section for more easy ideas).

Together we can deliver justice.

Tck tck tck. It's time for climate justice.

http://timeforclimatejustice.org/

The Most Dangerous Species in the Mediterranean (even the World's Ocean)

Asian Youth Climate Workshop

Asian Youth Climate Workshop
Bangkok, Thailand ~ October 2-5, 2009

Introduction:
This 28 September - 10 October, delegates from around the world will meet in Bangkok, Thailand in one of the final intersessional meetings before the historic United Nations Climate Conference in Copenhagen this December. Traditionally, Asian youth have played a small role in climate negotiations. For example, at the 2008 UN Climate Meetings in Poland only one youth from China attended, compared to the nearly 100 youth from the United States. The meetings in Bangkok are an unprecedented opportunity for youth from across Asia to learn about the international climate process, make their voices heard to world leaders, and lay the groundwork for a lasting climate movement in the region.
350.org looking for partners to help support an Asian Youth Climate Workshop to be held in Bangkok on 2-5 October, in conjunction with the climate meetings taking place there. The workshop will bring together approximately 50 youth environmental advocates from 13 countries in the East Asia region to:

- Take part as youth advocates in the UN Inter-sessional Climate Meetings in
Bangkok;
- Increase their understanding of climate change science, solutions, the international negotiations process, and affect policy development at a national and international level;
- Learn basic campaign skills and how to use new and traditional media in order to become more visible and effective climate change organizers and activists;
- Build support for 350.orgʼs International Day of Climate Action on the October 24th, three weeks after the proposed Bangkok summit;
- Lay the groundwork for a lasting Asian youth climate movement that will continue beyond 24 October and the Copenhagen summit.

The following proposal lays out the background of 350.org and the existing Asian youth climate networks, and the vision for a youth summit in conjunction with the Bangkok meetings. As you will see, there is lotʼs of room for collaboration!

To find out more and to participate, please contact info[at]mycjn.org

EM'POWER' FOR THE PLANET - MYCJN

Hi !

When you go out for your usual mamak sessions, does the conversation ever turn to environmental issues? Do you find words like "climate change", "sustainability" and "youth activism" catching your attention? If the answer is 'yes', congratulations for taking the first step

in the right direction!

Whether you’re hot or cool, hip or trendy, we are THE generation that can effectively determine the state of our planet in the next 50 years. More importantly, we’re also the generation who will suffer from the consequences of the decisions made by today’s leaders if we don’t voice out our concerns and take it upon ourselves to act. The Malaysian Climate Justice Youth Network (MYCJN) was formed to empower youths against climate change and inform young Malaysians about our right to demand a change in the way the world is being run. That is why we’re holding the Environmental Sustainability Leadership Symposium 2009 for people like you who want to do something about climate change, but don’t know how to start as an individual.

This symposium takes place on 28th -30th August and is open to youths aged 18 to 30. You don’t need any fancy job titles or qualifications, all we ask of you is a willingness to learn and work with others, a desire to lead change and most of all BE PASSIONATE! Any experience in volunteerism is a plus, but not a necessary criteria to be selected.

We’ve only got space for 30 young and excited people, so if you are keen, please click this link for more info and to apply: http://mycjn.org/blog . If you’re shortlisted to become a participant, we guarantee you that this symposium isn’t going to be a typical seminar. You will be meeting other Malaysian youths like yourself who are eager to spearhead youth climate change initiatives.

You will also have the opportunity to be trained by an incredibly inspiring young person who has really taken the words "Be the change!" to heart (Visit our blog to read more about this really cool guy!). In addition to learning skills like project management, dealing with the media, fundraising and more, you'll also have the chance to build your rapport amongst important contacts and expand your networks. This is your chance to start voicing your collective concerns to the right people who will listen, and more importantly, ACT on them immediately by putting your newfound skills to the test by implementing your innovative project ideas.

If you are someone who feels strongly about climate change and the state of your own future, come join us and the global youth climate movement in standing up to answer this call to action. The time is now. Are you in?

Act Now!

Facebook us: Environmental Sustainability Leadership Symposium 2009

WildAsia.org: MYCJN Partner for this Symposium

Online Application Form: Online Form

Or contact Kar Lye info@mycjn.org

For more information :

Visit http://www.mycjn.org/blog
Facebook us : MYCJN - Malaysian Youth Climate Justice Network

Logging puts Borneo tribe in peril - 16 Jul 09

The Penan tribe of northern Borneo has spent hundreds of years living in the rainforest, hunting, fishing and using the trees for shelter and medicine.

But as logging by large corporations threaten the area with deforestation, the tribes' way of life is being destroyed.

Al Jazeera's Tony Birtley reports on the human cost of the rainforest's destruction.

DEFORESTATION & CLIMATE CHANGE: Talk by Alberto Goetzl

Public Talk @ Sun 9 Aug, 3pm

Presented by the American Embassy Kuala Lumpur

Admission Free

The American Embassy Kuala Lumpur presents a talk entitled “Deforestation & Climate Change” by Albert Goetzl.

Alberto Goetzl has thirty years of experience in the field of natural resources and environmental policy. An expert on environmental issues, trade development, agriculture and forestry, wood and paper products, strategic planning, and regulatory economics, he will be on a two week road trip around Malaysia beginning August 1st to August 14th this year. His expertise and practical knowledge would be useful to those who are interested in the areas of environmental management, forest certification, farm and forest business, and commodity markets. He will be delivering talks on “Deforestation and Climate Change” at various venues around Malaysia. Mr. Goetzl has worked with international organizations, forest products companies, landowners, homebuilders, trade associations and government agencies. His talks will shed some light on American deforestation and conservation practices and policies.

Alberto Goetzl

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