"Ingat Bungkus; Ingat Bekal...PART TWO"

After the success of the first public campaign on "NO (NEW) PLASTICS" which was on 30th March 2011, both of us agreed that this effort must continue on. One campaign is never enough to create an effective impact to change the lifestyle and habit of people asking for new plastic bags.

Here we go again...Kudos to Kak Zuraidah! She is making this happen. This time, she is targeting the Ramandan Bazaar in Kuah town.

Good spot, Kak Zuraidah! A lot of plastics and polystyrene are being used and thrown around there.  

WHEN?

MONDAY, 8TH AUGUST 2011

TIME?

5:30pm

WHERE?

TAPAK RAMADAN, KUAH TOWN

MEETING POINT?

Front of JAI CAFE, KUAH TOWN 

(directly across from the Tapak Ramadan)

 EQUIPMENT TO BRING?

Lots of Food Containers and of course, $$$

A simple suggestion, the first priority is to REDUCE usage of new plastic bags and polystyrene materials. By reducing, then REUSING is possible by bringing your old plastic bags or any reusable bags (eg cloth bag). Lastly, "RECYCLE" those existing plastic or glass materials once their usage are exhausted.

As easy as All Bring Containers (ABC). Please spread the words/emails around for the benefit of making Langkawi a greener island to live. Keep these in your car; old reusable plastic bags, 

food containers or cloth bag or anything you can use to take-away your lunch/dinner. It is not easy to change one's habit or lifestyle, I know. Remember, "Ingat Bungkus, Ingat Bekal".  And this time will be Part 2. 

See you all there for the yummy, delicious food (kuih muih, ikan bakar, ayam golek, murtabak, roti bom, etc), along with your containers.

Link:

"Ingat Bungkus; Ingat Bekal..."

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Langkawi's Rainforest Not Important?

Having to witness how our local people here in Langkawi are allowing their rainforest to be cut, burned, cleared and developed, I can conclude that they do not love their land anymore. 

Semenanjung (Mainland) people (and that includes me as well) are not as courageous as the Penan communities to protect the precious rainforest they love. When our daily lives are not affected by the loss of something, we tend to take things for granted or become bystanders or even complaining among ourselves. When will we have the courage to fight back (and that includes me too) ? ...sigh...

Malaysia's Penan fear police crackdown against logging road blockade

25th July 2011

(LONG WIN, Sarawak, Malaysia). Indigenous Penan communities in the Malaysian part of Borneo are fearing a police crackdown after having staged a logging road blockade near Long Win in Sarawak's Apoh Tutoh region. The blockade was set up to defend the communities' last remaining rainforests against logging by Rinpark Sdn Bhd, a Malaysian logging company linked to the family of Sarawak Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud ("Taib").

According to the Penan, the Malaysian police have sent a number of police officers to the blockade which had been set up in May 2011 by the villagers after Rinpark failed to live up to promises made to the community during an earlier blockade. The blockade was dismantled by the police and forestry enforcement officials yesterday (Sunday 24 July 2011) but re-erected by the locals this morning. 

While the forests of Long Win, Long Bangan and nearby native communities have been logged several times already, the locals are fearing that their last forests will be cut down in order to make for oil palm plantations. "Please alert the international community on what is happening to our forests", a Penan spokesperson said to the Bruno Manser Fund. "The situation is very tense now as the police and forest department staff have set up a camp near the blockade site".

The involved logging company, Rinpark Sdn Bhd, is closely linked to the highly corrupt Malaysian Taib family. One of its directors is Azerina Mohd Arip, the first wife of Taib's late brother Arip Mahmud. Rinpark shareholder-cum-director Patrick Embol Anak Undi is also a main figure within the Taib-linked Lanco group of companies that is involved in controversial land deals in Sarawak's Balingian region.

For three decades, the Penan have struggled to defend their rainforests against logging. While the Taib family and a handful of logging tycoons have made a fortune from the cutting down of Sarawak's forests, the Penan have seen suffering from the negative consequences of the destruction of their natural environment. 

Link:
1. Bruno Manser Fonds

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My Fat Biawak!

Once again, I now publicly declare myself as a typical  city person. It is not about me not having to see a biawak (Monitor lizard) in my life before. It was about that biawak on that same tree for more than twenty four hours in this such awkward position...

This photo was taken at night, low flash

...until I pressed the panic button ... Silly me. Yes, you will agree with me after reading this... click on please

On this day (Day 1) at 8:00am: 

A tourist staying in a resort took a picture of this biawak hanging in the mid-section of a tree.

Day 1 at 7:00pm:

I was informed by the tourist about this biawak and he told me that the biawak was on the same tree since morning. He was asking about the awkward foreleg. It was motionless. 

Day 1 at 9:15pm:

The biawak was still on that same tree. Two other tourists joined me watching it in the dark. It moved! Yippee! It was moving its head away from my strong torchlight which was shining towards it. Great! it was still alive.

My action taken: 

Informed the manager of the resort to get help from the Wildlife Department.

Day 2 at 11:30am:

Followed up with the manager with a call if the Wildlife Department was contacted. Yes, it was contacted and the Wildlife people suggested to use a long stick to push the biawak off the tree. No one knows what happened next.

Day 3 at 10:00am:

I returned to the resort to check the tree if the biawak was still there. Another manager informed me that the tourists complained to the big boss of the resort that the biawak was still left hanging on the tree on Day 2. The staff went to the tree, had a look and reported that the biawak was happily sitting there. Well, this biawak was not on the tree now and no one knew what happened to it.

Today (Day 3) at 1:30pm:

Over our plates of char koay teow, I asked my pet expert friend, Jeff, if it is normal for a biawak to stay up on a tree for more than twenty four hours. To my surprise, he said "Yes".

And then I saw this coming from Jeff. It was a huge roaring laugh smacked on my face. 

Ok! OK! I have never seen a biawak stayed up on a tree for so long. Unlike Jeff, he has seen biawak doing such in his kampung house. From Jeff's observation, a biawak in his garden would stayed up on the same spot for days, usually to wait for prey, to hide away from predator or being lazy after having a large meal. Then he said, "No wonder my kittens went missing".

I bet the resort staff would laugh at me now... gee... I never said that I am a wildlife expert or a biologist anyway.

Finally, Jeff admitted that a long time ago he had the similar thoughts like me when he saw a biawak in such condition. He was proven by a vet that the biawak he encountered was not dead. The vet set up a video camera and it recorded the biawak moved away after four days.

Jeff corrected me by explaining the actual position of a biawak stuck on a tree. If the biawak's body is on the tree with its head and all the limbs hanging in the air, that would mean the biawak is STUCK for real! For this case as shown on my pictures, this fella was just hanging out.

An unexpected wildlife education for me over a plate of char koay teow. Not bad, huh? Hey, Jeff, I googled for facts related to this experience as you suggested. I cannot find any. Perhaps you can google this for me then.

Gee... I have to spend more time in the "kampung" life now and Damn! I was tricked by a biawak.

Biawak curry, anyone? 

Just kidding-la.

Before I left the resort, I greeted my little darling here, for she will never trick me by hanging out on a tree like this.

A lovely female Colugo 

One more last note, Jeff. Now you know a Colugo is a mammal. We are even...muahaha! But seriously, thank you for the free education, Jeff!

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Can Langkawi Learn From Hulu Langat's Landslide Incident?

The landslide tragedy in Hulu Langat on May 21st 2011 which led to unnecessary death of sixteen people was another consequences of our Malaysian government's lackadaisical attitude and their greed. Since the Highland Towers collapse incident on 11th December 1993 in Ulu Klang, Selangor, Malaysia; hillside developments continue on through out the nation until this day because they had never learned the lesson from the past and they never will.  

The landslide tragedy on Saturday which claimed 16 lives has been blamed on indiscriminate cutting of a hill side behind the orphanage.

I enjoy reading this piece written by Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye, a Malaysian politician and a social activist.  

What were his comments?

AS the nation comes to terms with the latest tragedy which claimed 16 lives after a landslide which hit the Madrasah Al-Taqwa Orphanage in Hulu Langat, all factors seem to point to another man-made tragedy, aided by changing weather patterns. 

Geologists believe indiscriminate cutting of a hillside to build the orphanage was the main cause of the landslide.

As expected, whenever a tragedy occurs, there are calls for a thorough probe to find out the actual causes.

Other quarters would claim ignorance of the existence of the problem or try to evade responsibility.

I have stated many times that in anything we do, it is essential for all Malaysians to take heed of one important lesson for humanity -- civilisation could be destroyed if it does not make peace with our environment.

The fact that landslides are a frequent occurrence in the country points to our failure to come to terms with the environment as well as to make the culture of maintenance and safety a way of life.

When landslides occur or buildings collapse, we cannot simply blame Mother Nature. We have to realise that any action which results in the degradation and destruction of our environment will have disastrous consequences.

It is necessary for us to step back, give thought and ask what we need to do to deal with the future and the environmental threats facing life on earth.

In Malaysia, we have experienced flash floods and landslides and yet the lessons of previous disasters have not been learnt or absorbed.

We have heard of numerous investigations and reports made in respect of all the previous tragedies but the question which needs to be answered is what and whether we have learnt from these disasters to avoid future tragedies.

Obviously, we have not.

As trustees of our planet's resources and geo-biological diversity, we have a sacred responsibility to use our natural resources in a manner that ensures conservation.

As trustees, we have to temper our actions with moderation, balance and respect for our environment.

History has an important lesson for humanity and civilisation that disasters can befall us if we do not respect the environment. And no one can deny the importance of the environment with regard to civilisation.

Can something be done to address this fundamental issue? Can we have a new paradigm of development that makes peace with our earth? As political leaders, as community leaders and responsible citizens, we can and must do so for the sake of preventing future disasters.

Thank you, Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye. Very well written. The unethical and ignorance of Malaysia's current political ruling has a lot to be blamed for this.

I am now announcing the indiscriminate hill side cuttings and clearing of forest especially for housing projects and township developments happening on Langkawi currently.

1. Alongside Lebuhraya Langkawi

a) Hill cutting for unknown project

A house is right below

b) Housing project and shoplots

c) Hill cutting and land clearing for possibly housing project

2) On Jalan Padang Gaong
     Suspect will be a house to be built on this hill which is now half-stripped

3) On Jalan Bukit Malut
Hills been stripped away for unknown projects in the vicinity of Bukit Malut. Bukit Malut road is a scenic coastal road overlooking Pulau Dayang Bunting.

Bukit Malut Road

Unfortunately, there are more Bumis here selling their land which are mostly secondary forests to be developed.

Langkawi is now definitely being shaped into Penang Island by our local authorities. The same story and the major cause is the increased of population. However, these idiots failed to recognise what is enough or how much is enough for an island that is so full of biodiversities and yet sensitive to human activities.

If Langkawi is turned into Penang-like, the eco-tourism will start rolling down the hill. That is why tourists flocked to Langkawi for her natural heritage and Penang is not their choice for vacation.

Apart from the impact to eco-tourism and the deterioration of the natural surrounding from the cutting of the hills, the state and federal government will remain ignorant even if lives were lost due to landslides. 

Links:

1. Another Portion of Green Lung Vanished

2. NST on Hulu Langat landslide: Respect the environment

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Shark Attack!

When I first visited Pulau Payar, Langkawi in 2009, I witnessed how tourists were offering bread to those coral reef fishes and there was a session where sharks were fed.  It is a known fact that wildlife feeding will leave an impact to their behavior and diet thus offsetting the balance of their surrounding ecosystem.

I observed some of those Blacktip Reef sharks came very closely to the tourists and I had   the impression that they were not aggressive at all. I was wrong. A recent incident has proven that these sharks are not to be taken for granted.

Some time ago, a guest of mine related her snorkeling experience during the shark feeding session. She was snorkeling and the operator started throwing the food into the water. Seconds later, she was surrounded by those fast swimming sharks. She told me that she was terrified for the fear of getting bitten. Luckily she was left untouched.

For another case, someone really got bitten. It was unlucky for this teenage girl who happened to be a friend of my friend. On 1st June 2011, three Canadian teenage girls went on a snorkeling trip with the Pulau Payar operator, Coral Island. A supposedly fun trip has turned sour when one of them got nipped badly by one of those blacktip reef shark (Carcharhinus melanopterus) during the feeding session. 

What had happened?

The shark feeding session starts after a snorkeling group had their lunch and this is the usual practice of the operator. The reason for this? So that the operator can gather whatever left over food to be fed to these sharks. 

A guide from Coral Island insisted that the teenage girls should have the fun of watching the shark feeding by snorkeling in the water. One of them was doubtful and asked the guide if it was safe to do so. The guide said that it was alright and he went into the water. The  teenage girls thought it was safe after seeing the guide entered the water and they decided to follow. 

Scrap food inclusive of chicken bones were thrown in to feed those blacktip reef sharks. One of them was snorkeling and had her both legs hanging in the water. Five minutes later, an unsuspected shark went directly to her right feet and SNAPPED!

The shark's bite

The bite (zoomed in)

She was immediately evacuated by the operator and straight to Langkawi hospital. A surgery was done on that evening itself. 

First aiders attending to the victim on Pulau Payar before the evacuation

The result of the bite has cost four sliced tendons above the toes and her little toe may require a skin graft operation.

A visit to Langkawi hospital. Victim's feet had a surgery and her tendons stitched up. She will undergo another follow-up as soon as she returns home.

I am not a marine biologist neither a shark specialist and I now know a little more about them, thanks to wikipedia and the resources from the world wide web. A blacktip reef sharks in general is timid and seldom poses any danger to human unless roused by food. People wading through swallow water are at risk of having their legs mistakenly bitten.

After surfing the net, I have found that this is not the first incident of people having bitten by a shark in Pulau Payar. Someone had his finger bitten off while feeding the sharks and a tourist nearly had her finger bitten off by a baby blacktip reef shark while feeding the coral reef fishes. 

It is very unfortunate that this has happened to a young girl who now have to go through unnecessary difficulties. My questions are:

1. Do the authorities especially the Jabatan Taman Laut (Department of Marine Park Kedah) is aware of all of these incidents?

2.  If they are aware, what actions have they taken to prevent such incidents?

Who should be responsible for this? 

I vote for the authorities and the operator. They should know that shark feeding poses a risk to the feeder and yet they allowed these innocent tourists to be exposed to danger. There were past incidents related to blacktip reef sharks nipping tourists by mistake and yet they did not take any preventative measures to ensure such incident do not repeat. Are they going to wait for a fatality of a tourist before taking firm action? It will be too late by then.

Links:

http://www.naturemalaysia.com/pulau-payar.htm

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My Rainforest Martyrs

The Amazon Rainforest has recently lost another two heroes and now mourning over their loss.

He predicted his own murder and six months later, he and his wife were gunned down in an interior city of the jungle state of Para in Northern Brazil. It is a very sad news for they were only harmless rubber tappers who simply wished to save the rainforest from being lost forever.

Jose Claudio Ribeiro da Silva (left) and wife, Maria do Espírito Santo

Click for more story and video.

News from Guardian.co.uk:

Six months after predicting his own murder, a leading rainforest defender has reportedly been gunned down in the Brazilian Amazon. José Cláudio Ribeiro da Silva and his wife, Maria do Espírito Santo, are said to have been killed in an ambush near their home in Nova Ipixuna, in Pará state, about 37 miles from Marabá.

According to a local newspaper, Diário do Pará, the couple had not had police protection despite getting frequent death threats because of their battle against illegal loggers and ranchers.

On Tuesday there were conflicting reports from about whether the killing happened on Monday night or Tuesday morning. A police spokesperson said there were reports of a "double homicide" at the settlement called Maçaranduba 2.

In a speech at a TEDx event in Manaus, in November, Da Silva spoke of his fears that loggers would try to silence him. "I could be here today talking to you and in one month you will get the news that I disappeared. I will protect the forest at all costs. That is why I could get a bullet in my head at any moment … because I denounce the loggers and charcoal producers, and that is why they think I cannot exist. [People] ask me, 'are you afraid?' Yes, I'm a human being, of course I am afraid. But my fear does not silence me. As long as I have the strength to walk I will denounce all of those who damage the forest."

Roberto Smeraldi, founder and director of the environmental group Amigos da Terra, who worked with Da Silva in the Amazon, said he had been in a meeting with Brazil's president, Dilma Rousseff, discussingchanges to the forest code when the news broke of Da Silva being killed. "He was convinced he would be killed one day," Smeraldi said. He added that Da Silva had been "very active" in the fight against illegal forest burning and logging. According to Brazilian media reports, Rousseff has asked her chief of staff, Gilberto Carvalho, to offer support to the murder investigation.

"We now have another Chico Mendes," said Felipe Milanez, an environmental journalist from São Paulo, referring to the Amazonian rubber-tapper who became an environmental martyr after his murder in 1988. Milanez said that in a recent phone conversation with Da Silva's wife she had suggested the situation was "getting very ugly". Milanez added: "He knew the threats were very real. He was scared."

A 2008 report compiled by Brazilian human rights groups listed Da Silva as one of dozens of Amazon human rights and environmental activists "considered at risk" of assassination.

A video from ALJAZEERA

Links:
1. ALJAZEERA: Anti-logging activist murdered in Amazon
2. MSN: Brazilian activist shot dead in Amazon

In related to such similar assassination will be the late Dorothy Stang, an American-born Brazilian sister of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur order, who was assassinated in Anapu, a city in the state of Para, in the Amazon Basin of Brazil. Dorothy was outspoken in her efforts on behalf of the poor and the environment, and had previously received death threats from loggers and land owners.

Dorothy was often pictured wearing a tee shirt with the slogan, "A Morte da floresta é o fim da nossa vida" which is Portuguese for "The death of the forest is the end of our life."

Read more on Dorothy Stang:
1. Wikipedia: Dorothy Stang
2. Dorothystang.org

Guns and bullets have killed you but your spirits will live on among the natives of the Amazon Rainforest and all over the rainforest on our planet.

They are my true heroes, my rainforest Martyrs who wished not for power and fame but just to protect a few big trees. 

Will I be brave as them when trial comes? 

Rest in peace my Saints of the Rainforest, our Martyrs

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