Fear the filmmaker

OPTIMISTICALLY CAUTIOUS By ERROL OH

Award-winning documentary on dolphin slaughter in Japan should be a wake-up call for palm oil industry

ANYBODY who cares about the palm oil industry should watch The Cove. It's an Oscar-winning documentary that skewers Japan's whaling industry primarily by highlighting the killing of dolphins and porpoises in a town called Taiji. The filmmakers say the slaughter is an annual affair that the Japanese fishermen and authorities wanted to keep a secret. The efforts to film the culling despite the many obstacles, supplies the drama and suspense that make The Cove so gripping.

Fun way to learn about climate change

One of the cartoons that will be featured

KUALA LUMPUR: Come and learn about climate change at the exhibition titled Facing the Climate organised by the Embassy of Sweden in cooperation with the Swedish Institute.  The exhibition will feature 70 cartoons on climate change, drawn by both Swedish and Malaysian cartoonists, including well-known cartoonist Lat. 

The exhibition will be held at the Ikano Power Centre from Oct 11 to 17.

On the first day, Swedish astronaut Christer Fuglesang will give his views about climate change while he was in space. 

Among the activities lined up is a climate change drawing competition for children below 10 years of age.  On Oct 16, the One Academy together with Da Vinci Creative Kids will organise recycling fun craft workshop at the shopping centre, next to ToysR'Us.  Children age five to 12 can explore ways to decorate Tetra Pak cartons to make crafts. 

On Oct 17, students of Saito College will reveal a playground made of cardboard. Children will get to colour the playground while having fun playing. The college students will also be doing caricatures. Tetra Pak will give away a token to visitors who bring as many carton boxes as possible.  A lucky draw session will be conducted daily. 

Meanwhile, a workshop on climate change will be held for invited participants on Oct 14.  Among those to present their views at the workshop are Swedish cartoonist Magnus Bard and Malaysian cartoonist Tan Faezal.   The Swedish embassy, together with Atlas Copco, will also hold a climate message writing session.   Visitors can write a message about their contribution on climate change and stick the message on a board. A lucky draw session will follow this activity.

The exhibition is supported by Ikea, Ikano, Tetra Pak, Atlas Copco, Electrolux and Absolut. New Straits Times is the official media.  For details, contact the Embassy of Sweden at 03-20522550.

Read more: Fun way to learn about climate change http://www.nst.com.my/nst/articles/02climatey03/Article/#ixzz12Ch4MnCP

The Dangers of the Peatland Fires in Indonesia

The Dangers of the Peatland Fires in Indonesia

3 more Redang dive sites shut

KUALA TERENGGANU: Three more diving spots on Pulau Redang have been closed due to coral bleaching.

Redang Terengganu Operators’ Association president Lee Yat Loong said divers had been advised to stay clear of Pulau Ekor Tebu, Pulau Che Isa and Pulau Tanjung Lebah until early next year.

He said the closure was the initiative of the association although all three spots were not on the Marine Park Department’s list of closed dive sites.

“Only Teluk Bakau was on the list but our checks revealed that the other three areas were also affected by coral bleaching and we recommended them to be closed as well.

“We have always been self-regulatory and through a collaboration with Reef Check Malaysia Berhad, we had highlighted the problems with the coral reefs in our area long before the announcement by the Marine Park Department,” he said.

The bleaching was caused by the rise in water temperature and not much could be done about it except for implementing a monitoring system on the condition of the coral reefs.

“It is us against Mother Nature and it looks like we are winning as the average water temperature is currently holding at between 29ºC and 30ºC compared with the 30-31ºC earlier in the year. “We are confident of another one-degree drop in the water temperature soon and chances are the coral reefs will be back to normal in the next few months,” said Lee, adding that the dive site closures would reduce the stress on the reefs. He said human impact on the reefs should be minimum. The closure was necessary for the authorities to conduct their studies, in addition to allowing the reefs to rest.

“But diving enthusiasts and prospective visitors to the island have nothing to worry as we have more than 20 other known diving spots in and around the island.

“Recent news coverage on the closure of dive spots has led people to assume the whole marine park was closed but that is just not true as it is still business as usual with plenty of diving and snorkelling here on
the island,” Lee said.

On July 21, the Marine Park Department had announced the temporary closure of nine diving and snorkelling areas in Pahang, Terengganu and Kedah, in addition to three islands in Pahang, due to coral bleaching.

The affected areas in Kedah are Pulau Payar, Teluk Wangi, Pantai Damai and Coral Garden while the areas in Pahang include Pulau Rengis, Pulau Tumok, Pulau Soyak, Pulau Chebeh and Batu Matang. In Terengganu, Teluk Dalam, Tanjung Tukas Darat and Tanjung Tukas Laut in Pulau Perhentian, Teluk Air Tawar in Pulau Tenggol, and Teluk Bakau in Pulau Redang will remain closed until the end of October.

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Everything You Need to Know About Global Warming in 5 Minutes - As Told by Top Hedge Fund Manager