Environment Malaysia

Encouragement

2009-05-30T15:08:00.002+08:00

For the longest time, I have TRIED to bring reusable cloth bags when I go shopping. And for the longest time, I kept forgetting to bring the bags, or left them in the car, or ran short of the things. Lately, with everyone jumping on the bandwagon, i find myself so well-stocked with reusable bags that I can leave some in the car, stuff one in my handbag and have extras to give away things in. It's nice not to be the "weird" person who refuses to take plastic bags and spoons. All my regular stall owners are used to my refusal to take plastic spoons. Some ask where my container was if I don't bring one to tapau in. I've seen some guys bring their own containers too, what a comforting sight! It's true that change can be hard to implement, but as long as it's for a good cause, we should encourage it. Here's to a safer, cleaner planet. Amin...

Midnight Marauder

2009-03-25T19:46:00.002+08:00

Heard a commotion outside the house a few nights ago. It sounded like something fell through the ceiling on to the roof! Peeped outside but couldn't see anything. Shrugged it off as the cats fighting and went back to playing Scrabble. Sometime past midnight, there was more commotion and heard the cats come inside through the upstairs window. I switched on the staircase lights and what do I see if not a common palm civet! At first it looked like a tabby cat, but the head belied its identity. And such a handsome specimen it was too! I was so chuffed to meet a wild visitor in my home.

By then my sis had also come out of her room and we went to look for it at the back. We tried to let it out but Leo was in the way and of course spooked the visitor. It ran off into the kitchen. We found it frantically trying to escape through the back windows, but the louvres were opened too narrowly. When I came near to open them wider, it went and hid itself behind the storage cabinet. We left him alone and shut the kitchen door so that the cats won't get into a brawl with the bigger animal. Vet bills are expensive, you know. Anyway, it was gone the next day, so I hope he's safely on his way. Good luck, pal. Nice to see you around!

The No Plastics Challenge

2008-12-18T11:03:00.002+08:00

I know this is virtually impossible, since everything we buy is either encased in plastic or contains plastic. But then, belum cuba belum tau, right? Since the plastic bottle freak-out a few weeks back, I've been storing my drinking water in an old Nescafe bottle. It has been used as a vase since two days ago, and this morning I was tempted to go back to my previously beloved "space bottles" to tapau my water supply. In the end I decided not to and utilise the smaller Firefly bottle for my hydration needs.

Looking back, glass bottles are not as fragile as we often assume. They're not so heavy if you're only carrying one. So why depend on plastic for everything? Recycling plastics is not a real option, as most of them just end up wasted anyway. So I now pledge to avoid buying plastics unless it's necessary and for long-term use. Anyone joining me?

Tetra Pak now recycleable

2008-10-27T21:30:00.002+08:00

Ok. I've left this blog unattended for more than a year. I have good reason. And in the meantime, technological advances has allowed the formerly indestructible Tetra Pak packages to be recycled. Thank goodness for that! All you have to do is to flatten your drink boxes and send for recycling. Someone else will tear them apart and recycle the separated parts, just like any other recyclable materials. Good news, eh? Start doing it now!

Bush's take on Climate Change

2007-06-03T11:57:00.000+08:00

Oh My Poor Sharks...

2007-04-08T03:13:00.000+08:00

I claim to be an environmentalist and therefore I frown upon the consumption of shark's fin soup. But sometimes, holding on to your faith is more difficult than most.

I don't often get served shark's fin soup, which is a relief to me. And when I do, it becomes very difficult for me to say no. Reason?

1) It's possibly an occasion like a wedding. My poor friend had forked out a fortune to pay for it. The fish is already dead and cooked and served in front of me. It is an occasion to celebrate with my friends and I don't want to be a spoilsport.

2) Someone will point out that there is more crab meat than shark's fin in it. Again, fish is already dead and cooked.

3) Mercury content is very high, but then... you know... a bit hard to explain to everyone at the table why you refuse to eat the soup.

I have tried a few times to refuse the soup, but somehow I do end up ingesting it anyway, mercury and all. As it is, there is a very strong cultural link to it, which makes it hard to refuse the dish without being out of place and even rude! I so wish people would just stop serving the darn thing and save me this misery.

What I find most disturbing is the growing trend of non-Chinese ordering the dish which makes matters even worse. Something must be done to curb the demand. Anyone has any ideas on how to deal with this?

Answer to Pop Quiz

2007-02-08T01:47:00.000+08:00

Very Good!! Though Loret doesn't really count as she's a pro.. He he.. Thanks for being a good sport, peeps :-) Details of the mammal is pasted below.

Source: http://ecologyasia.com/verts/mammals/colugo.htm

Colugo or Flying Lemur

Adult, probably female, Bukit Tinggi, Singapore.

Order : DERMOPTERA
Family : Cynocephalidae
Species : Cynocephalus variegatus

Head-Body Length : 34-38cm
Tail Length : 24-25cm
Weight : 0.9-1.3 kg

References : M2

Colugos are mammals from an ancient lineage, with just two species comprising the Order DERMOPTERA. Confusingly they are also called 'Flying Lemurs', though they are not closely related to the Lemurs of Madagascar. They can glide long distances, however, as they possess a thin membrane stretched to the ends of the tail and each limb.

Generally they are mottled grey or green-grey in colour, with dark banding, but some specimens are reddish. Their diet includes leaves and young shoots. During the day they rest high in the trees, clinging to trunks or hiding in tree holes. At dusk they become active, gliding from trunk to trunk like sheets of paper blown on the wind. The young are carried clinging to the flight membrane.

Colugos range from Burma, Indochina and Southern Thailand to Peninsular Malaysia, Singapore and the Indonesian islands of Sumatra and Java. They also occur throughout Borneo. A second Colugo species inhabits the southern Philippines.

Juvenile,
Bukit Timah Nature
Reserve, Singapore.

Recycling Centres Run by TrEEs

2007-01-27T17:41:00.000+08:00

TrEES (Treat Every Environment Special) is a local non-profit organisation whose vision is to nurture a generation of Malaysians that is not only concerned about the environment, but has the capacity to manage their resources and lead sustainable lifestyles. They run various programmes to achieve these goals. Please visit their website for more information.

Apart from the centers they run at several charity homes in the klang valley, they also run centers at a number of Giant supermarkets (one in Johor, too) where coupons (redeemable at Giant's) are paid out to customers. They also pay out cash at the recycling center at Taman Jaya, PJ. full addresses and operation hours can be found at http://www.trees.org.my/centres.htm

Info contributed by Iska Hashim. TQ :-)

Pop Quiz! What Animal Is This?

2007-01-26T11:19:00.000+08:00

Photo contributed by Glenda Noramly.

Use the comments facility to post your guess. Answer will be posted next week.

List of recycling centers

2007-01-24T20:21:00.000+08:00

Click here for the list of recycling centers run by Alam Flora in Klang Valley and Pahang.

Recycling Center - PERTUBUHAN AMAL SERI SINAR

2007-01-08T20:44:00.000+08:00

General Location: Cheras

Recycleable items collected:
1. Aluminium
2. Hard plastic & iron
3. Old newspaper & Other paper products
4. Clothes
5. Used electrical appliances e.g. computer, radio, tv, etc.

Collection schedule/ location:
Anytime - Collection boxes in various locations around town.
By calling - for picking up bulky items

Other information:
P.A.S.S has more than 60 recycling centres in the Klang Valley (KL, Bangsar, Ampang, PJ, Subang Jaya, Cheras and others). P.A.S.S even provide free pick up service for bulky collections like usable furniture, household junk, used electrical items etc. You just need to give them a call and make an appointment for pick up. Even on Weekends!

Source: http://www.expat.com.my/Expatriates%20Malaysia%20-%20Recycle%20for%20Charity.htm

Full address and contact details:
PERTUBUHAN AMAL SERI SINAR
No. 1, Jalan Bukit Permai Utama,
Taman Industrial Bukit Permai,
56100 Cheras, Kuala Lumpur.
Malaysia.
Tel: 03-4297 7022, 4297 5022
H/P: 012-686 1633
Fax: 03-4297 9926
E-mail: ching_bob@yahoo.com
Website: http://pass.my.diip.net/

Recycling Center - Lovely Disabled Home

2007-01-08T20:24:00.000+08:00

Location: SS2, PJ

Recycleable items collected:
1. Aluminium
2. Hard plastic & iron
3. Old newspaper & Other paper products
4. Clothes
5. Used electrical appliances e.g. computer, radio, tv, etc.

Collection schedule:
Every 3rd Saturday of the month at SS2/89 & SS2/45 football field from 8 am to 12 noon

Other information:
Any revenue generated from the project will be used for the welfare of the disabled people.

Full address and contact details:
LOVELY DISABLED HOME (711337-D)
1, Jalan SS2/5, 47300 Petaling Jaya, Selangor
Tel: 03-7873 9622, 013-3409 622 (Mr. Lum), 016-5044 590 (Mr Tham)

REDUCE, Reuse, Recycle

2007-01-02T04:16:00.000+08:00

Things that drive me up the wall - disposables!!

Fine, it's necessary for medical items to avoid cross-contamination and infection.

But plastic spoons??? Come on la. How difficult is it to wash a spoon after you eat breakfast in the office? Do you really need to get a plastic spoon to eat the tau-fu-fa you bought to eat at home?

If you're eating at a stall without proper washing facilities OK la. Or if you're travelling and have no access to proper cutlery.

Yes, plastics can be recycled. But how many of us actually do it? It's better to reduce waste by buying goods that can be reused for a long time before being recycled at the end of it's 'life'.

So remember, before you take that free "present", think - do I really need it?

Make a choice. Do the right thing. Say NO to disposables :D

In the Beginning...

2007-01-02T01:25:00.000+08:00

Hi everyone. My name is Azura, and I'm technically a 'greenie'. Why? Because nature is my love, just as some people like sports, music or the theater.

What I'd like to do here is to share details on how you can be a more environment-friendly person just by changing a few of your daily habits and through the choices that you make. You don't have to make huge changes overnight.

And I don't expect everyone to start kissing frogs (no, they refuse to turn into princes) or hug trees, but if anyone is interested in being more active in nature based activities, do visit the Malaysian Nature Society website here.

I decided to blog my thoughts and information because I feel that it's shorter and easier to digest than full-fledged articles. It's going to be pretty haphazard - that's my style. If I try to be mega-organized and put things on a schedule, it probably would die of procrastination in a very short period of time. I'll try to put relevant titles on the postings and hope it would help people to find the information that you need.

I do need help though. Please be so kind as to provide feedback on the postings, either on the tagboard or comment section so that this blog can be as informative, interactive and interesting as possible. Your kind cooperation will be much appreciated.

Happy New Year!

Rgds,
Azura