Thursday, October 19, 2017

The longest relay in Commonwealth Games history. The 230,000 km route of Queen’s Baton Relay (QBR) began at Buckingham Palace on Commonwealth Day (13 March 2017), then continues with 70 Commonwealth nations in 388 days and will finally end at Gold Coast for the Games’ Opening Ceremony. The QBR has been the traditional curtain raiser to every Commonwealth Games since the Cardiff 1958 British Empire and Commonwealth Games. Of course, it has made a stop at Malaysia too! Raja Muda Peat Swamp Forest is one of the stop as one of the international recognition in conserving the peat swamp forest.

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We cannot work alone if we really want to solve the illegal logging, land clearing and to protect and conserve Raja Musa Peat Swamp Forest. We can see the positive progress in protecting and rehabilitating the forest. We need to improve the condition. One of the ways is collaboration with the universities. We can get support from the lecturers to do research and the students in their practical training, research and volunteering work. Government agencies and private sectors can support the activities.

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Important peat swamp forest in Selangor. Raja Musa Forest Reserve supporting water supply for agriculture and domestic usage. More recognition needed in order to protect and conserve the source of water.

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We have rules and regulations, we have culture and civic, we have religion, we have knowledge and respect others BUT we still doing what we like on our own land without thinking that heat and smoke will go to the air beyond ours. Burning in peat swamp areas is still happening. NEED more education and enforcement. May be community involvement is more effective compared to government officers who have power in educating the owner.

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Now many universities are fighting hard for ranking BUT how far the ranking of our universities benefiting the public? especially to increase the incomes and fulfilling the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).

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Even though we have enough or may be excess water for rice fiends activities BUT we do not have enough and regular clean water for daily activities. Many ideas including pumping underground water were introduced. BUT whats next is question by the public. They were grown up with water from tap in the kitchen and bath rooms. NOT from the well and underground water or rain water. Therefore source of water in the catchment areas is important and we need to protect and conserve it, NOT just foe water but wildlife.

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water is a need for our life. Many agencies promoting and education public on water. Water vision, water for life, save water and many more. BUT not many are focusing on the source of water. We try to look closely and carefully on ULU MODA forest reserve to protect them not only for water catchment areas for drinking water but agriculture and industry. We need more ideas and technologies to support the government in protecting the reserve forest and at the same time they have sustain incomes for the states..

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Fo those who like to eat mango may be thinking of good and sweet and cheap fruits. BUT for the farmers may be have to think of the trees producing fruits. Here in Chuping, Perlis. The farmers must be taught on how to keep healthy trees for better production. I am not the expert and have no authority to help the farmers. I think state government need to be proactive. If Harum Manis is the product of Perlis and high price therefore serious actions need to be taken.

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We need to educate the locals to help in reporting wildlife sighting and at the same time safety precaution and conservation of the wildlife. Wildlife conflict is an important aspect in conservation.

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Congratulation to those actively involve in planting trees. BUT we must remember, planting trees is not just a ceremonial. We must plant the right trees at the right place and someone must take care or manage the trees planted. If possible we plant the trees in the forested areas or in the area that the authority can manage it such as university's campuses or permanent park in the local authority.

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We need more research on the interaction between wildlife and oil palm before we can make a general statements on wildlife, oil palm, deforestation and reserve forest.

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For those who are in UPM, UKM, UTHM, UPSI and USIM do not forget this banner. Keep practice recycling and manage your plastic waste.

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We need to do more studies related to elephants. If people from other country can come to Malaysia as a volunteers, why not we have our own people doing research on elephant.

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We need more activists and scientists in wildlife ecology. Malaysia as one of the top 17 MegaBiodiversity countries in the world must show leadership in biodiversity. Every species or group of wildlife must have a good group of scientists.

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From Left Dr Lim Bo Liat, Prof. Ahmad Ismail, Mr. Salman (Wildlife Department), Prof Mashhor, Mr Mohd Khan.

Festival, fire works and air pollution. How pae we are educated enough???

Air pollution

According to a study done by Barman et al in Lucknow India, the amount of fine (PM2.5particulates in the air can worsen following firework celebrations, but not during it. High accumulations of particulates produced from fireworks can remain suspended in the air for around 24 hours after their use. Another study indicated that ground-level ozone pollution is also generated by fireworks; their dispersal and decay times is also about one day.
On 9 October 2017, the Supreme Court of India banned the sale of fireworks in Delhi, but not their use.The court acted on the belief that banning festive use of fireworks would substantially improve the air quality of Delhi. (2016 Diwali celebrations saw PM2.5 levels easily exceed 30 times the safe level.) Critics state that this decision was a judicial overreach (as one could purchase their fireworks outside of Delhi instead) and that it is a bias against the Hindu culture, while supporters state it will improve public health (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diwali)
Diwali

Fear Of Toxic Smog Leads India To Limit Diwali Fireworks

http://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2017/10/17/558067395/fear-of-toxic-smog-leads-india-to-limit-diwali-fireworks

Diwali or Deepavali is the Hindu festival of lights celebrated every year in autumn in the northern hemisphere (spring in southern hemisphere). It is an official holiday in Fiji, Guyana, India, Malaysia, Mauritius, Myanmar, Nepal, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago. One of the most popular festivals of Hinduism, it spiritually signifies the victory of light over darkness, good over evil, knowledge over ignorance, and hope over despair. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diwali)

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Diwali or Deepavali is the Hindu festival of lights celebrated every year in autumn in the northern hemisphere (spring in southern hemisphere). It is an official holiday in FijiGuyanaIndia, MalaysiaMauritiusMyanmarNepalSingaporeSri LankaSurinameTrinidad and Tobago. One of the most popular festivals of Hinduism, it spiritually signifies the victory of light over darkness, good over evil, knowledge over ignorance, and hope over despair. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diwali)

Tuesday, October 10, 2017

Why Whale on the beach? must be something wrong with them. We need to understand more about whales behaviour. Usually we know their problems after their death. Malaysia have no experts in whale(?).

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https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2017/10/289248/beached-whale-cherating-rescued-members-public

May be thinking alone is not effective enough to solve solid waste problems. BUT without ideas people do not know what and how to do it. in fact no knowledge and awareness how to practice it. We have no more time for telling the story what had happened BUT now we have to react to avoid another story.

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looking forward to see effective education activities for better products towards sustainability environment. This time we focus on Pulau Ketam. Very interesting and challenge society and environment.

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Another serious discussion on the Trans Borneo, Trans Sumatera and our Highways crossing our Forest, how the infrastructures will disturb wildlife. Why this concern was initiated by James Cook University NOT our local universities???

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With Representative from indonesia Prof jatna from UI.

after more than 2 years you can see the forest already. We can make quick forest for better environment. Plant more trees around us.

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We really need to change the approach of teaching at the university levels especially in the research universities. Theories and applied must go along together. hands on activities attract more interest among the students. The benefit of the research grants are not just publication and buying equipments and chemicals BUT training post graduates and undergraduates.

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Students collecting samples at Research plot in Chonnam National University Korea

The East Asia/Australasia Flyway extends from Arctic Russia and North America to the southern limits of Australia and New Zealand. It encompasses large parts of East Asia, all of Southeast Asia and includes eastern India and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The scale of avian movement along the flyway is awesome, with over 50 million migratory waterbirds, including 8 million waders, using the route annually. Flyway population estimates for migratory waders include 2.88 million Oriental Pratincole Glareola maldivarum and up to one million Marsh Sandpiper Tringa stagnatilis. Many waders travel all the way from their high arctic breeding grounds to spend the northern winter in the temperate latitudes of the southern hemisphere. For the Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica, this can entail an 11,000 km non-stop flight from Alaska to New Zealand. Some species, such as Rednecked Stint Calidris ruficollis and Spotted Greenshank Tringa guttifer (EN) also cross Bangladesh to spend the winter in eastern India.

http://www.birdlife.org/sites/default/files/attachments/8_East_Asia_Australasia_Factsheet.pdf