Set up green bank!

Malaysia has proposed the setting up of a Clean Energy Development Bank to boost eco-sustainable efforts by developing countries of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC).

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said the country was ready to spearhead the initiative, which would help accelerate the development of clean energy-related industries.

Speaking at the 6th World Islamic Economic Forum (WIEF) here, Najib said it was important to make the green agenda central to policy-making.

“The current reality must be recognised: we stand accused of doing too little too late. We need to do more to develop alternative energy sources that address growing requirements and prevent further degradation of the environment,” he said.

Najib said more inter-government collaboration was required to formulate policies and initiate programmes that promoted renewable energy options, such as biofuels.

Leaders at the forum included Brunei's Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, Senegal President Abdoulaye Wade, Indonesia President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Kosovo President Fatmir Sejdiu, Maldives President Mohamed Nasheed and Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Najib said he hoped the proposal to set up the Clean Energy Development Bank would be discussed during the forum's Special Leadership Dialogue Session on Climate Change.

“As clean energy is being pursued by governments and security of energy supply is becoming a priority for countries with few, if any, hydrocarbon resources, there is tremendous potential for the development of alternative energy sources,” he said.

Najib also proposed that funds be set up to develop education infrastructure and support teacher training and academic research.

“No Muslim country can aspire to be a leader in any field without investing in education. Properly structured, managed and utilised, such funds can help reduce the educational gap that exists between the Muslim and non-Muslim world,” he said.

He also proposed that the OIC hold an economic summit, in collaboration with the Islamic Summit Conference.

“This way, we can focus on pressing economic issues and ways to expedite decisions and actions on behalf of the Muslim world.

“A dedicated, issue-oriented summit of this type would breathe new life and meaning into the OIC and overcome any cynicism towards it,” he said.

Wash clothes the green way sans detergent

THE public should make it a point to wash clothes the ‘green’ way.

And what better way to do it than to use naturally effective microorganism (EM) solution instead of harmful chemicals at home for the sake of the environment.

Junior Chamber International (JCI) Tanjung Bungah secretary-general Tan Seng Chye said the versatile EM solution or enzyme made of forest humus could be used for almost everything, including scrubbing the floor, washing clothes and bathing.

Tan added that the method for using the EM solution varied for different usage.

“The EM solution can be used solely for heavy usage such as cleaning the drain and washing clothes while diluting the EM solutions is for light usage such as bathing,

“It is possible to stop using detergent and use only EM solution to wash clothes,” he said, adding that the sourish smell would disappear once the laundry was dry.

“We use 6,000 EM mud balls every month for our four-month programme to rehabilitate Linear Park (better known as Taman Jajar) near the Air Itam river until May 29,” he said at the JCI-MPPP Community Project — ‘I Can Live Green’ campaign press conference at G Hotel on Tuesday.

Tan said one of their major projects would be to rehabilitate Taman Jajar (behind the Sri York Condominium) and part of Sungai Air Itam with 6,000 mud balls this Saturday.

The mud ball throwing activity is part of the Happy Family Day with Mother Nature event to be held at Taman Jajar between 8am and 11am that day where the public could also bring empty bottles to take home EM solutions.

The event will be packed with exciting ‘green’ educational activities including replacement of harmful chemicals at home with natural solutions, musical performance by St Nicholas Home for the Visually Handicapped, guided nature walks and an aerobics session.

“The purpose of this event is for both adults and children to gain educational experience to practise green living,“ said Tan, who will lead a talk on washing clothes the ‘green’ way at 9am at the Penang Municipal Park this Sunday.

Tan, who is the event’s organising chairman, said the aim of the project was to educate the people on living a green lifestyle.

He also called on as many volunteers as possible to help run the four-month environmental campaign.

Those interested can call him at (016-426 4008) or Sue Yie (016-4108388).

In supporting the campaign, St Nicholas Home executive director Daniel Soon said the home was starting to switch from using detergents to EM solutions for domestic usage.

He added that the home had been working closely with Tan for a month now to support the mud ball-making project and usage of EM solutions

The sun is the perfect alternative to power homes

The effort to promote green technology and encourage the use of alternative energy source got a boost here recently when more than 200 captains of industries and public bodies attended a special briefing on solar energy.

The hour-long briefing was presented by US-based solar experts SunPower Corporation who are investing some RM2.3bil to set up their solar cell fabrication plant in Rembia, Alor Gajah.

SunPower Malaysia’s managing director Robert Vinje said the sun was the most constant and readily available energy source that could be tapped to power both homes and industries minus carbon pollution.

With current concerns about global warming and increasing price of energy, solar power is one of the most efficient and affordable energy alternatives available today, he said during the briefing held at Renaissance Hotel Malacca recently.

Go green: Vinje impressing upon the audience that solar power is one of the most efficient and affordable energy alternatives

“People are looking for alternatives to power their lives and the planet for both economic as well as environmental reasons.

“For a tropical country like Malaysia, utilising the frequent sunshine it gets is the right thing to do.

“It is free after all,” he said.

Solar energy, he noted, was non-polluting as solar cells have no moving parts that need to be fixed, hence required very little maintenance.

He also said solar energy was relatively environmental friendly compared to the burning of fossil fuels that releases carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases and carcinogens into the air.

“Compared with the noise from the machines that are used to drill and pump oil, solar cells are totally silent.

“Energy can be extracted from the sun without making a peep,” quipped Vinje.

Later when addressing questions from the floor, he said utilising solar power helped save money in the long run although solar panels or lights may be expensive to buy at the beginning.

“We are aware of the rising cost of oil yet energy from the sun is something one does not have to pay for,” he said, adding that solar-powered lights and other similar products were also very easy to install.

The fabrication plant in Rembia, is expected to create about 7,000 jobs.

To date, Malaysia has attracted several foreign direct investments including SunPower, worth up to RM13.8bil, to set up solar panels manufacturing facilities in Malaysia.

These include US-based companies First Solar Inc at the Kulim Hi Tech Park (KHTP), the China-based ReneSola in Johor Baru, the German company Q-Cells in Selangor Science Park 2, and the Japanese firm Tokuyama Corp in Sarawak.

Save Temengor, Sign Petition

Temengor is facing threats from logging and poaching of its wildlife. MNS in conjunction with its 70th Anniversary celebrations this year, is collaborating with The Body Shop Malaysia to “Save Temengor”.



(Temengor video by Dr Chan Kai Soon)

The objective of this campaign is to advocate for protection of the Temengor Forest Reserve, in order to preserve the integrity of the BTFC as an intact forest landscape as well as to increase enforcement on wildlife hunting and trade. For more information, please go to Secretarial Website

Volunteers The Saviours Of Turtle

It is most unfortunate that the turtle that has survived since the Jurassic era, about 145 to 208 million years ago, is now on the verge of extinction.

It is among the creatures that can live up to 100 years but nowadays its lifespan has been shortened due to natural threats and the threats caused by humankind.

The turtle eggs is relished by humans and other animals and new turtle hatchlings are easy prey for monitor lizards and birds before they can make it to the sea.

In the sea, the fishermen's nets are the main contributor for turtle fatalities. But there are some who care for the turtles and are taking the efforts to boost the turtle population.

GENERATING AWARENESS

In Malaysia, the Sea Turtle Research Unit (SEATRU) of Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT) is among the agencies entrusted with the task to conduct studies and conservation activities since 1993.

Through the Turtle Volunteer programme the public, including foreigners, have the opportunity to be directly involved in conservation activities.

The unit was established by two UMT lecturers, Prof Dr Chan Eng Heng and Associate Prof Liew Hock Chark, but since both have retired it is now being headed by Dr Juanita Joseph.

Juanita, 36, from Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, who is also a lecturer with UMT's Faculty Of Maritime Studies and Marine Science noted that the turtle volunteer programme is also conducted by other conservation centres of the world.

"This programme is to create awareness and provide a chance for the public to take part in turtle conservation efforts, and to help finance the turtle conservation programme in Chagar Hutang," she told Bernama, recently.

STANDARD CONSERVATION ACTIVITIES

The activities under this programme are considered standard activities in conserving turtles all over the world, with the volunteers monitoring the turtle's nest, keeping the preying beasts at bay and analyze the hatchlings, clean up the beach and assist in research work.

The four turtle species that land in the country are the Green turtle (Chelonia mydas), Hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata), Olive Ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea) and the Leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea).

However, the Chagar Hutang beach in Pulau Redang only receives the Green and the Hawksbill turtle. Pulau Redang is one of the 10 most beautiful islands of the world and declared a turtle sanctuary in 2005.

From 1993 to 2004, SEATRU had spent RM500,000 to purchase turtle eggs from licensed sellers with the green turtle eggs costing RM120 per nest and RM150 for hawksbill.

GOOD RESPONSE

Hitherto, SEATRU has received 3,000 volunteers from Malaysia, Singapore, German, United Kingdom, France, Australia and China since the program began in 1993.

For this year, SEATRU's Turtle Volunteer Programme is from April 3 to Oct 2 with all the 30 slots offered already taken up by foreigners and locals.

"The response for this programme is very encouraging though the programme was not widely publicised. Many become keen to participate after learning of the programme from their friends or relatives who have volunteered.

"I was surprised that we received more than 200 emails an hour after online registration was opened on Feb 14 through SEATRU's website," said Juanita adding that those keen to participate had to be above 18.

Each volunteer is to be on the island for a week during each slot with each slot having eight volunteers.

NOT ALLOWED TO GET CLOSE WITH NESTING TURTLE

The volunteers, who will be assisted by research assistants, will start work at 7 pm beginning with beach patrol and when a turtle lands to lay eggs they will be observing from a comfortable distance.

"Normally, the tracks left by the turtles while getting on shore indicates their presence.

"When the turtle finds a suitable place to lay its eggs, it will start the body pitting before it starts digging the nest. The egg laying process takes between 3 and 5 hours," she said.

Volunteers can only get near the turtle after the reptile has completed laying eggs.

As the turtle is highly sensitive to light, the use of light at the beach is not allowed including the camera's flash.

PATROLS TO PREVENT ENCROACHMENT

After midnight, volunteers patrol with SEATRU staff in shifts up to 6 am.

During the day, volunteers will take turns to patrol to make sure the turtle nests are not disturbed or the eggs eaten by preys.

In the evenings, volunteers are to inspect the nests and the hatchlings or eggs that have been incubated more than 45 days to determine the hatching rate and see the reasons why the eggs have yet to hatch.

"Based on the studies conducted in year 2000, we learned that the turtle's gender is determined by the incubation temperature, with the males coming from nests under shade while the females coming from nests in the open," noted Juanita.

However, based on the observation in the sanctuary, the mother turtle that lands is the one that chooses the nest under the shade or in the open.

"At Chagar Hutang, the male and female turtles that hatch are almost in equal numbers. The hatching rate of 77 to 89 percent is also encouraging and since 1993 about 350,000 Green turtle and 7,000 Hawksbill have hatched here," she said.

A CHANCE TO SAVOUR THE BEAUTY

Other than conservation activities lined up by SEATRU, volunteers will have their own time to indulge in some interesting activities.

"There is the chance for the volunteers to savour the beauty of nature, without the disruption from telephone or Internet...there were also some who grumbled because they missed Facebook but soon they overcame their disappointment," she said.

Other than turtles, Chagar Hutang is also the home for wildlife like mousedeer, squirrel, moths and butterflies, bats and birds.

"The Chagar Hutang bay area is also known as 'Turtle Bay' that is rich in coral species and beautiful fishes. Volunteers often love to snorkel here," she said.

Volunteers also take the opportunity to climb up the 'Turtle Rock', the rock that resembles a giant turtle, which the locals believe attracts turtles to land there.

They can also test their pain endurance by allowing their legs to be 'cleaned' by the shrimps at the 'prawn spa'.

The facilities at Chagar Hutang is minimal to retain the natural environment and beauty that the volunteers will appreciate.

Apart from wildlife conservation, SEATRU also helps to clear up pollution by turning biodegradable waste to composite. The other waste will be sent to the waste collection centre in Redang Island before being shipped to the mainland.

Only limited use of soap and shampoo are allowed and the use of toilet paper is forbidden.

THE VOLUNTEER PROGRAMME

The volunteer programme imposes a fee for the wonderful experience awaiting those who are keen.

Local students have to pay RM300 while international students US$150, adult locals have to pay RM500 and other foreigners US$250.

As for next year, Juanita noted that SEATRU will open the avenue for the corporate sector to volunteer and bookings will open in June.

Uniform building by-laws review to promote green technology

The Housing and Local Government Ministry is reviewing the Uniform Building By-Laws in promoting the use of green technologies in buildings to create a more sustainable living environment for homeowners.

Minister Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha said many developers had yet to embark on, or to seriously consider the potential of, sustainable development in using the green technologies in buildings.

"In tandem with the government's commitment to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emission by as much as 40% compared with the 2005 levels, the Green Building Index (GBI) was launched by the Malaysian Institute of Architects (PAM) and the Association for Consulting Engineers Malaysia (ACEM) last year to encourage green building development," he said.

He told reporters this after opening "The Green Solutions for Porperty Development 2010" conference organised by the Eastern Regional Organisation for Planning and Human Settlement (EAROPH Malaysia) and the Real Estate and Housing Developers' Association Malaysia (Rehda) here Monday.

Apart from GBI, the government also introduced monetary and non-monetary provisions toward green technologies, as well as tax incentives last year to stimulate the industry, said Kong.

Kong said the Malaysian Standard or MS 1525 Code of Practice on Energy Efficiency had yet to be fully adopted and incorporated into buildings at their design stage.

The GBI rating tool could also be construed as a substantial undertaking as it required a good energy-efficient design, indoor environmental quality, site planning and management, materials, resources, water efficiency and innovation, he added.

He hoped EAROPH and Redha would collaborate with the local universities to develop green technologies for the benefit of the industry, "because by leveraging on the advanced facilities and expertise provided by these universities it will produce locally-made green products."

Kong said the government would continue to drive the green initiative and create solutions that would enable its broader implementation. - Bernama

The 3 Best Going Green House Products That Get the Job Done Now

The status of our environment has made consumers become more conscious of the products they purchase. Instead of cleaning products filled with chemicals, smart consumers now opt for going green house products that are safer and earth-friendly. Adding green products on your shopping list gives you numerous benefits including more savings. Here are a few of the best green products that you can use to clean your home.

One of the companies that have top-quality going green house products for cleaning is Clean Solutions. They have an alternative cleaning solution called the HydrOxi Pro which can be used for all your cleaning needs. This product is a much safer green alternative to the standard toxic cleaning products normally used. The quart size starter kit costs $26.50 and already includes: 2 sprayers, measuring aid, a quart of HydrOxi Pro and a microfiber cloth. A quart of the concentrate can fill around 130 spray bottles. The concentrate is made of natural ingredients like orange oil and surfactants that easily penetrates soil and eliminates it. This product also carries the Green Seal certified logo, which guarantees it is free from toxic chemicals and safe to use.

Green living has numerous benefits to offer a household. Your indoor air quality will dramatically improve while at the same you are also able to help out the environment. Eliminating rusts from bathtubs, toilets and kitchen sinks is one of the hardest things to do. Most people resort to using industrial strength cleaners filled with harmful chemicals to do this but going green house products like the CLR Calcium, Lime and Rust Remover can also do the job. This product is made of powerful but organic ingredients that get rid of rust stains and calcium deposits. It is safe to use around kids and pets as it doesn't contain any phosphates, bleach or ammonia which are harmful and can trigger certain allergies to act out. A 28 oz. bottle costs $7.99 at Walgreens.

Carpets can also be tough to clean. A lot of people do steam cleaning in carpets to ensure effective cleaning. The Bissell Little Green Proheat Carpet Cleaner model # 1425B is on sale at Amazon for $99. It is very compact and only weighs about 15 lbs. The dimensions are 19.1 x 13.9 x 10.1 in. It features a wet vacuum that does deep carpet cleaning and a spray and suction system for quick drying. The product makes use of hot water and a cleaning agent to remove dirt buried deep in carpets. It comes with a built-in hose, a tough stain tool and a rotating TurboBrush for easier spot cleaning. Like other going green house products steam cleaners, this one also still requires the use of electricity but do away with using hazardous chemicals. Instead of using chemicals and suds, it uses hot steam to reach stains and loosens debris and dirt. Aside from carpets, it can also be used to clean car seats, upholstery and many more.

Going green house products are becoming the more preferred cleaning method in households. When you have your loved ones living with you at home, it is important to create a safe environment around them. Using chemically filled cleaners can produce a very harmful indoor environment that you don't want your kids to be in.

written by Fay Salmons (www.greatgreenreport.com)