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Malaysia Environmental Sustainability Youth Movements!
400 cyclists expected for Ride of Silence
May 16th
Newsfeed via Borneopost
KOTA KINABALU: Members of the public are invited to participate in the Ride of Silence global movement to raise awareness for cyclists tomorrow night (May 16). The Ride of Silence is an annual movement to raise awareness among drivers of motor vehicles that cyclists also have rights to public roadways. This ride is also a chance to honour the lives of cyclists who have been killed or injured on the road. The event consists of a 20km slow-paced ride of no more that 20kph on public roads. It is a free event that simply asks cyclists to remain silent during the duration of the ride and adhere to all road safety rules. Adults including those with children aged 12 years and above are encouraged to participate. There is no registration fee.
Participants are invited to meet at Hyatt Regency Kinabalu’s Shenaniga’s Terrace on Wednesday. There will be a registration counter open for participants from 7pm to 7.45pm before the flag-off at 8pm sharp. Cyclists will make their way to the Federal Government Administrative Complex along Jalan UMS before turning back to its starting point. Traffic police will be guiding the cyclists along their way to avoid mishap. Last year, the event attracted almost 300 cyclists. As the number of cyclists in Sabah increases, organizers are hoping around 400 cyclists from around the state will come to support the event. Interested participants are asked to secure their own helmets and make sure there are front and back lights or blinkers and they are in working condition for safety purposes.
For more information, please contact David Hee, Paul Lajumin or Tunku Farazil at 088-221234. Read more: http://www.theborneopost.com/2012/05/15/400-cyclists-expected-for-ride-of-silence/#ixzz1v0apy3FL
SHAH ALAM river & trees FOR LIFE. 27/5/2012
May 11th
Dear Green lovers,
It’sTreeTime
Subj: Tree planting event on 27th May 2012 , at Taman Tasik, Kota Kemuning, Seksyen 31, 40460 Shah Alam, Selangor
WORLD BIODIVERSITY DAY is celebrated on May 22 every year. To commemorate this year’s BIODIVERSITY Day, the Organising Committee of ‘SHAH ALAM river & trees FOR LIFE’ is organizing a tree planting event on 27th May at Taman Tasik, Kota Kemuning, Seksyen 31, 40460 Shah Alam, Selangor. Please come along with your family members, friends and colleagues to make this event a success. Please confirm your participation with the name list of volunteers by 24th May 2012.
Location map, program of the day and what to bring, are attached for your kind reference. On behalf of the Organising Committee, I would like to thank all those Volunteers who donated their valuable time in planting trees on 29th Apr 2012 at Space U8,Persiaran Pasak Bumi, Taman Bukit Jelutong, Seksyen U8, 40150 Shah Alam, Selangor. We look forward to you joining us on 27th May 2012 to help address global warming and making the world a greener place. More >
Waste not the palm oil biomass
May 10th
Newsfeed from THESTAR 27/3 Here
The palm oil industry generates a fair amount of biomass, which the Government feels should be put to better use rather than just be left in the field as fertiliser.
FOR a long time, planters would spread the biomass that is left over after palm oil has been extracted from the oil palm fruit bunches, as a form of cheap soil conditioner. However, the Government is of the opinion that such low-value material could be put to better use rather than just be left to decay in the field, even though it still serves a useful function. There is now a concerted effort to push for a more thoughtful utilisation of biomass, and the most concrete manifestation of this was the unveiling of the National Biomass Strategy 2020 (NBS2020) last November.
Burning mill residues to fuel boilers is a long-adopted practice here. Empty fruit bunches are burned and their energy value is recovered in the form of heat, which is sometimes used to generate electricity.Biomass is defined as organic matter available on a renewable basis, and these include forest and mill residues, wood wastes, agricultural waste, domestic garbage, as well as livestock wastes. More >
GREEN FASHION Competition – Anugerah Hijau
May 10th
The Green Fashion competition is a sustainable fashion design contest for Malaysian youths wherein participants are stimulated to think about societal responsible fashion designs in the fashion industry. The passion and the deep–rooted love for fashion are now being complemented with consumers saying “no” to conventional dyes and pesticide-doused fabrics that are harmful and wasteful to the environment. There are also many kinds of current sustainable fashion designs which utilizeds used and upcycled materials. The new currency is to unite everyone’s efforts in switching to recycling clothes, and to use natural alternatives of health and environmental sustainability and still being “fashionably trendy”.
This year’s Anugerah Hijau 2012 sustainable fashion competition has a theme and it is “Wildlife and its Habitat“.
This simply means that the creative and styling of the design must be related to wildlife. You could create a design from newspaper or plastics in tiger stripe colors for instance.
The designs will be judged on creativity and how well it encourages young Malaysians to choose sustainable options within the fashion industry. Design submittals should be uploaded along with the registration form before Friday, May 18th 2012. See the competition communication materials, competition guidelinesand registration form to enter the competition. More >
GREEN FILM Competition – Anugerah Hijau
May 10th
The Green Film competition is designed to encourage youths to think about environmental conservation and protection (e.g., water conservation, energy efficiency, wildlife protection, no to plastic bags, etc) in Malaysia. Anugerah Hijau 2012 is seeking for contestants to produce 1-2 minute short videos to be featured on its website,www.anugerahhijau.my and to compete for the video with the BEST STORY or ENVIRONMENTAL MESSAGE. The contest is open to high school and college students between the ages of 14 and 29 enrolled in a school/college/university located anywhere in Malaysia.
Videos will be judged on creativity and how well it encourages Malaysians to preserve and protect Malaysia’s wildlife and its habitat. Film submittals should be uploaded to YouTube by October 1st, 2012. See the competition poster, competition guidelines and registration form to enter the competition.
If you think that people need to appreciate and protect Malaysian wildlife, if you think that a short film/video can inspire people to change the way they behave and if you think that you can make a great short film/video then bingo – you should enter the Anugerah Hijau 2012 Green Film competition and win glory, fame and other such stuff including a work experience placement with EcoKnights. More >
GREEN SPACE Competition – Anugerah Hijau
May 10th
The Green Space competition is designed to inspire Malaysian youths to think about creating “Liveable Spaces” within urban poor areas, particularly the low-cost flats and housing areas, where underprivileged youths have to live within the constraints of physical living and activity spaces. Anugerah Hijau 2012, in collaboration with myHarapan – The Youth Trust Foundation, is seeking for contestants to design an environmental friendly space within a given dimension for the urban poor youths to be able to use for educational or training or leisure or business opportunities or sports or botanic – any activities that will make a difference and bring value to their lives.
As part of myHarapan’s Liveable Spaces Programme and drive to empower youths to make a change, Anugerah Hijau and myHarapan wishes to be able to bring the winning design(s) to the next level – to implement it and physically built it in a selected urban poor area.
The contest is open to high school and college/university students between the ages of 14 and 29 enrolled in a school/college/university located anywhere in Malaysia.Designs will be judged on creativity and practicality in usage of space, fixture and furnishing materials, and the kind of activity proposed for the space.
Design submittals should be uploaded along with the registration form before Friday, May 18th 2012. See the competition communication materials, competition guidelines and registration form to enter the competition.
If you have the desire to make a difference in some one’s life, if you have a vision of how the lives of these urban poor youths can be improved, if you have a passion for designing an environmentally friendly activity space, YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES! So register as an individual or team (maximum of 3 members) for the competition now! More >
Free Hugs – HUG M.E. FOR MOTHER EARTH ANTI LITTERING CAMPAIGN
May 9th
Organized by Waterfall Survivors, From an idea that Webby got from the youtube, he trial run an act of kindness by giving FREE HUGS around KL with a few friends.
This act has gave us the idea of spreading it to an environment awareness. ANTI LITTERING CAMPAIGN.
We will go around with a place card “HUG ME IF YOU SUPPORT ANTI- LITTER”. And we will pick up litters along the way around town!!! WALK THE TALK and CREATE THE AWARENESS!!!
The whole process will be recorded and to be shared in YOUTUBE and to be spread around the social network to create awareness and instil the consciousness among Malaysians.
This act of kindness start with you and I… Can you help us make a difference today for our future generation??? WE BELIEVE YOU CAN!!! Bring your family and friends and join us for this!!!
We will start from 18/5/2012 till 20/5/2012. FACEBOOK EVENT PAGE HERE
Date: 18/5/2012 (Friday)
Time: 11.30am Meet Up Location: Api Api Centre Mcdonald’s
Date: 19/5/2012 (Saturday)
Time: 11.30am Meet Up Location: Old Town Coffee Jalan Gaya
Date: 20/5/2012 (Sunday)
Time: 11.30am Meet Up Location: Jesselton Point
OUR CONTACT: Joe :019 6787460
GIVE US A HUG IF YOU SEE US AROUND!! TO SUPPORT OUR ANTI LITTER CAMPAIGN!!! PICK UP A RUBBISH OR 2 AROUND TO SHOW YOUR CARE TO MOTHER EARTH!
Talk to Nature, Have a Break from Humans 28/4/2012
Apr 26th
28/4/2012 – 1/5/2012 WEEKEND , Organized by Permaculture Perak at Lenggong Perak
Seeking to recharge over the weekend? Let the sounds of singing birds, flowing waters, singing gibbons and rustling leaves push your reset button.
While you rest & relax, you will be served wholesome and freshly cooked breakfast, lunch and dinner. Come for a night, two or even three! Join any of our activities in this weekend’s program :
1. Observe the sunrise (7.15am) and sunset (7.30pm) to receive its energy by participating in our morning and evening purification ritual for the body and mind based on an ancient Indian healing practice.
2. A 500m walk to our private and exclusive waterfall with the “Best Massage in the World” as described by many visitors.
3. Join us in our daily farm activities of taking care of our animals, plants and trees. Simple, meaningful acts such as planting, watering and weeding can be a moving meditation. Talk to nature, have a break from humans. More >
Permaculture Farmstay Perak
Apr 25th
Our vision for this farm thrives on multitudinous potentials that are born out of a noble philosophy of sustainable existence. It is organic and applies the principles of eco-friendliness, farming without pesticides or fertilizers, reducing carbon emissions by harnessing local natural resources and renewable energies (including hydro-power), and reducing household waste through composting and recycling.
It is essential here to form a symbiotic relationship with the environment, which becomes something of an art requiring creativity, intuition and an emotional connection with Mother Earth. The general focus is towards developing the land in a sustainable manner fostering a harmony with the local environment, and employing the principles learned from nature. On the slopes, terraces are being created to control soil erosion and irrigation. Along the edges, various trees are being planted to bond with roots in order to strengthen the edges, and also to provide shade.
Our Philosophies
We exist at the juncture of several main principles and ideas which become the basis of our actions, plans and directions.
Eats, Shoots & Roots – Growing Community through Growing Food
Apr 25th
Eats, Shoots & Roots is a social enterprise that believes in the power of food as a binding force between people. Our mission is to grow communities through growing food; we do this through educational programmes and through establishing food gardens where people actually live.
What We Do
Using ecological design and permaculture principles, the crux of our work is based on the 3 tenets of Earth-Caring, People-Caring, and Surplus-Sharing. We work with communities, schools, businesses and institutions to develop sustainable agriculture, as well as resource and waste management systems, whilst encouraging social and ecological diversity and resilience. We collaborate with a wide range of people to develop solutions that address issues of sustainability, food security and nutrition. We also deliver sustainability education as per request and offer design, implementation and support of community gardens.
As the very first permaculture initiative in Malaysia, Embun Pagi was founded in early 2009 by Sabina Arokiam. Juergen Soecknick later joined in the course of its development. With the foundation of a strong pioneering spirit and the vision of an abundant, healthy and sustainable future; an abandoned kampung house and it’s surrounding land soon evolved into a center for learning, exchange and hands-on solutions. Although resources were sometimes seemingly scarce, thoughtful observation, creativity and common sense led them to see potential where others only saw waste; and solutions where others saw problems. A tight budget and limited means became the fuel for creative solutions and resourcefulness, and laid out the experimental grounds for ideas to become realised.
EPIC Home
Apr 25th
EPIC Homes is a product of EPIC Collaborative that focuses on building sustainable housing for underprivileged Malaysian communities, currently the indigenous people (Orang Asli). We are building homes for our fellow Malaysians, not just houses. We realize that the act of building a home together with the disadvantaged encourages relationship building and give us a deeper understanding into the real needs of these communities. We hope then that this will be the beginning of bigger plans to provide assistance with regard to socio-economic improvement, providing a clean source of water, education, sustainable farming, micro-finance methods and so much more.
The major focuses of the project is to :
- Improve basic rural infrastructure in the area of housing; providing clean water and electricity.
- To cultivate long lasting relationships that support personal and professional growth and development for both volunteers and recipients.
- To empower volunteers and recipients to be fully responsible for their community and to work together for a greater cause. More >
Meet Tom Szaky ,The Garbage Mogul
Apr 24th
“In looking at waste as an entirely modern, man-made idea, I stopped viewing garbage as garbage and instead slowly started to see it as a commodity.” – Tom Szaky
The business of Recycling works everywhere, and it all starts when one would see a wastage to be wealth, garbage to be gold, such examples have been all around the world. Zhang Yin, one of the world’s richest business woman resulted from the recycling business is one of the example, while there are a lot more other examples, here’s one, Meet Tom Szaky with Terracycle. Sourced from Pitchyourtalent.wordpress.com
Everyone experiences those formative “A-ha!” moments when a scene or image strikes us in a profound way. Many spend their lives building beliefs and passions stemming from that very moment. Inspired by the success his friends had using red wiggler worms to process compost, Szaky felt there could be a business in commercially producing and distributing a product he would call ‘Worm Poop’. Szaky, 30, is founder and CEO of Terracycle, which sells consumer products made from recycled waste. He was named “Best CEO under Thirty” by Inc. magazine in 2006, beating out Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg. More >
Going Green in Serdang (TheStar 24/3/2012)
Apr 24th
THE Subang Jaya Municipal Council (MPSJ) and its synergy partner Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) took a step forward in the green movement with the launch of Serdang Green Town. MPSJ president Datuk Asmawi Kasbi said the Serdang Green Town programme was aimed at making Serdang a sustainable township through green initiatives that created a positive impact on the preservation and conservation of the environment.
“The Serdang area was chosen because it is a town that was planned and developed based on achieving sustainable development in the long run,” he said. The project is part of the three-year Serdang Biomass Town pilot programme, an initiative by the National Solid Waste Management Department, which is under the Housing and Local Government Ministry, Japan’s Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Ministry, MPSJ and UPM. More >
Earth Day @ Sunway Pyramid. Think Act and Save! By Miracle AIESEC UPM
Apr 21st
Feel boring? Nothing to do at home/hostel? Wanna know more about environmental issues? Wanna have fun with public?
Come on, bring your family or hang out with your friend in to Sunway Pyramid !!! More >
Green Drinks April 2012
Apr 21st
Green Drinks April Facebook Event Page. For more info about Green Drinks, please join their FB Group This month at Green Drinks we have our first Pecha Kucha and Open Mic evening! The first Pecha Kucha evening ever was devised in Tokyo in February 2003 as an event for young designers to meet, network, and show their work in public with 20 slides lasting 20 secs each. Its a fast-moving fun format which has, understandably, caught on elsewhere.
So we have a smorgasbord of topics from forests and oceans to carbon foot printing, fracking, cycling, sun bears and more!
The usual rules of Open Space Groups apply:
1. Whoever comes are the right people
2. Whatever happens is the only thing that could have
3. When it starts is the right time
4. When its over its over
5. You are responsible for your own learning! More >
Cloth Pads in reducing waste!
Apr 20th
Newsfeed from TheStar HERE
THE SHOPPER stopped in her tracks while walking past Qhatijah Mohd Said’s stall at the weekend bazaar at The Curve in Petaling Jaya recently. “What are these?” she asked, referring to the colourful fabric pads laid out on a small table. To explain better, Qhatijah lined a pair of pink underwear with one of the pads and buttoned the “wings” together, clearly showing their function. “I have customers asking me if these are sleep masks, covers for fridge door handle and even insoles for shoes!” the 34-year-old Qhatijah said.
New option: Qhatijah Mohd Said explaining her products to a shopper at the weekend bazaar at The Curve. The mistake is forgivable, since the products — reusable sanitary pads — are not widely used in Malaysia. Qhatijah, a mother of three, first came across the cloth pads about six years ago when she was looking for cloth diapers for her children on the Internet. She wanted to know how a cloth diaper would feel for a baby, so she decided to give cloth pads a try. More >
Tree Planting @ Bukit Jelutong
Apr 12th
“SHAH ALAM river & trees FOR LIFE 2012”
Dear Green lovers,
It’s Tree Time
Subj: Tree planting event on 29th Apr 2012 at 6, Persiaran Pasak Bumi, Taman Bukit Jelutong, Seksyen U8, 40150 Shah Alam, Selangor
Celebrate Earth Day – plant some trees!
The world has lost almost half of the forests that once covered the earth’s surface. Climate change continues unabated. It seems there’s a new ecological disaster happening almost daily. This Earth Day it’s time to mobilize the planet from the ground up to send a message that the Earth won’t wait! Let’s make every day an Earth Day and start planting trees!
Trees provide us with more than just hardwood floors and the paper upon which your newspaper is printed. Like natural air conditioners, trees rid the air of excess carbon dioxide and replace it with oxygen. In fact some mature trees can create enough oxygen in a day to support a family of four. Tree roots act as water filters for groundwater, trapping pollutants and contaminants. Trees also help to prevent flooding and soil erosion. You can no doubt add to the list with benefits of your own. More >
Green turtles in peril (TheStar 6/4/2012)
Apr 6th
KUALA TERENGGANU: The effort to save the green turtles is in peril as at least 11 dead turtles have been washed ashore in the state in the first two months this year.
“We believe the latest turtle deaths were due to them being caught in illegal fishing gear.WWF Malaysia executive director and chief executive officer Datuk Dr Dionysius Sharma said reports from the state Fisheries department as well as from the public showed the carcasses of green turtles washed ashore in the beaches in Marang, Dungun, Kemaman, Kuala Terengganu and Setiu.
“The carcasses discovered had the same conditions and marks consistent of interaction with such gears,” he said in a statement recently. Dr Dionysius said five of the carcasses in Kemaman, which were discovered by a local fisherman, had nylon ropes and rock tied to it. “We believe the turtles had been killed and subsequently sunk to destroy any evidence of the heinous act.
“The placing of illegal nets along the shoreline has also been suspected to attribute to death of many turtles in recent years,” he said. He added that there were also cases where some of the turtles were found with its skulls crushed. Painful sight: The carcasses of green turtles washed ashore on beaches in Kuala Terengganu. More >
Connecting PJ on bikes (TheStar 5/4/2012)
Apr 6th
Newsfeed from TheStar 5/4/2012 HERE
IN AN effort to be dubbed as “a true cycling city,” the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) is coming up with a proposal to build inner and outer dedicated bicycle lanes. The commitment for PJ City Cycleways Network comes in its 2012 review of the city’s transport strategy that hinges on the Special Area Plan and the Local Agenda 21. PJ mayor Datuk Mohamad Roslan Sakiman said the city had a vision to lay out an inter-connected network of bicycle lanes that would allow cyclists to traverse parts of PJ on the dedicated bicycle lanes. “
Our aim corresponds with the PJ urban renewal programme, with emphasis on prioritising bicycles, public transport and pedestrian walkways. With infrastructure such as separate lanes and road management improvements, the safety, convenience and attractiveness of cycling on inner and outer city roads will tap PJ’s major potential as a city of bicycles,” he said. On Monday, Roslan told StarMetro that the council would create 56 kilometres of dedicated bicycle lanes as part of its effort to reduce traffic pollution and promote environmentally friendly transport in the city.
“Coming up with a draft plan on the dedicated cycling routes is the first for Petaling Jaya. It will be a beginning of a new route for people to commute to work, go shopping, cycle for health and to enjoy the green city parks. Times are changing and more people are making a switch to bicycles to reduce carbon footprint, offset the expenditure of using cars and the need to keep in good physical shape,” he said. More >
Join EcoKnights for Earth Week Celebrations (April 15-22) at University Malaya.
Apr 2nd
Join EcoKnights, along with other organizations, such as the Borneo Sun Bear Conservation Centre and UM Cares, in April from the 15th-22nd for a week long of educational and informative programmes.
The UM Earth Week celebration aims to address urgent environmental issues among University Malaya students and at the same time provide some fun and exciting activities for students to be part of on and off campus. An eco run, an electric bicycle demonstration, and even organic farming workshop are just some of the exciting activities planned for this week long celebration.
A series of speakers are also invited to share ideas, and discuss a broad range of issues related to the environment, among them are, Kenny Peavy, the organizer of “Sun Bear Rock for the Environment”, and Wong Siew Te, the Director of the Borneo Sun Bear Conservation Centre in Sabah. More >
DYEA DENSO YOUTH for EARTH Action
Mar 27th
“DENSO YOUTH for EARTH Action” (DYEA) is an international program by a joint effort between DENSO CORPORATION and Japan Environmental Education Forum with the aim of fostering youth who has high level of awareness about coexistence between humans and the environment, and will actively make efforts to create a sustainable society. This is a unique program which focuses on the fieldworks, visiting the site and directly discussing with the people who tackle environmental issues in the communities.
This program aims to cultivate the youth for taking actions and contributing in the communities and not just in theory. In Global Proglam, a multinational youth forms a team and joins together by introducing camp training. In addition, participants can obtain multiple aspects for solving the environmental issues and build a network of the same generations.
After finishing the program, DYEA also provides participants with necessary know-how to conduct participant’s action plan with receiving advice from the experts. We hope that the participants will expand learning and the networks through the program, and take a first step for achieving a sustainable society in your communities.
Click HERE for the APPLICATION GUIDELINES More >
UCSI Earth Hour 2012
Mar 27th
Earth Hour was created to make people aware of the drastic climate change that is taking place everyday, as we write and you read. For one hour, one small community requested commercial businesses to turn their lights off to save energy and give back as much as possible to our only Mother Earth. Ever since then, many more has taken the initiative to do the same and make it a global celebration to raise awareness for the cause. UCSI University, once again has join the global community to create awareness amongst us, the students. On the last Saturday of March, which is the 31st of March 2012, we will all gather in Block A, parking lot to witness the lights being turned off of the campus and celebrate with some magical live music session from our very own talented peers in the university.
Come and and celebrate what the Earth provides for us and look forward to giving back to the only blue planet we call home. P.S. Dear ECA Students, if you’re looking for a fun way to earn your 8 ECA points, this is your chance as we are offering a great opportunity for you all to be more involved in the overall event, and gain the experience of a life time.
Below is the ongoing activities we will be holding through the who month besides 31st March’s Earth Hour celebration itself. Enjoy!
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Ticket price for Earth Hour Acoustic Concert: RM5 ONLY! (Finger-food provided)
To buy tickets or any inquiries regarding the whole event, please proceed to Block A, Student Center Counter.
You can also email here for any info: saimoonquazi@gmail.com
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More >
CETREE Centre For Education & Training in RE & EE & GT
Mar 26th
Centre for Education, Training and Research in Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (CETREE)
This organization was established on the government’s awareness of its role in increasing knowledge and awareness of the role of renewable energy and energy efficiency for professionals, schools, tertiary institutions, schools and also to the public in Malaysia. CETREE establishment agreement is the result of the Malaysian government through the Ministry of Energy, Water and Communications, now known as the Ministry of Energy, Green Technology and Water (KeTTHA) and the Economic Planning Unit, Prime Minister together with the Government of Dato Seri Najib Tun Abdul Razak. The Ministry was established on the government’s awareness results in addressing global issues such as environmental pollution, global warming, ozone layer depletion and other issues related to it. More >
