Public Consultation and Participation in EIA

Article 5:


http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2008/10/13/central/2258356&sec=central

In Malaysia, as in the maybe the case of other countries, it is still a challenge to ensure adequate and useful participation in the EIA process. This is probably because public participation is accorded the lowest priority in the EIA process, in certain developing countries, including Malaysia.

The aim of public participation in to get public opinion on a wide range of issues arising from a proposed project and also to educate the public. But, the most important is to avoid or reduce the conflict between economic and social developments. In the Malaysia context, the EIA guidelines defines public participation as an approach of:

• identifying the material or psychological impact of a proposal
• measuring and promoting the social acceptance of a project
• monitoring community needs and ensuring that development continues to meet those needs
• monitoring changing environmental values in the community

In Malaysia, the public is encouraged to participate as early as in the preliminary assessment and in detailed assessment. The public is notified through the mass media and the homepage of the DOE as to when and where the detailed EIA reports will be available for review and comment. Public opinion help define the kind of development that is compatible with a particular society and the environment. But, the effectiveness of this practices can be questionable.

Therefore, by identifying potential alternatives and adverse impacts, nations can better achieve goals for sustainable development, avoid or mitigate adverse environmental, social and cultural impacts, reduce costs, better plan for needed infrastructure and avoid loss of irretrievable resources. Obviously, the move should be toward greater sharing of responsibilities in planning and decision making and ultimately major power should be vested in the public to make decisions about their environment.

TAPPING POWER FROM TRASH

Article 4:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/14/nyregion/nyregionspecial2/14Rmethane.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&ref=environment

Trash is often defined as something worth little or nothing such as junk and rubbish that has no economic value. However, increasing trash or waste is beginning to be seen as a resource with a certain economic value for another users. Energy from trash can be generated in two possible ways, namely through the decomposition process and combustion of waste or trash.

In many countries including Malaysia, its quite often represents jobs, financial opportunity, raw materials for new products as well as an economic lifeline for some people. Possible wealth can be generated from various kinds of trash with appropriate technology available.

Energy from waste can be generated in two possible ways, namely through the decomposition process and combustion of waste. The bacterial activities in the decomposition process of organic substances in the waste will generate biogas such as methane, which is a source of renewable energy. A common example for waste-to-energy from biogas is landfill gas which can be captured and used to generate electricity and heat.

As scouring for alternative energy intensifies, landfill methane is getting more attention from the public, together with private energy and waste-management companies, landfill owners and energy entrepreneurs. EPA has indicated that, if it is not captured, landfill methane becomes a greenhouse gas at least 20 times more potent than CO2, the principal greenhouse gas, when it rises into the atmosphere. The agency estimates that landfills account for 25% of all methane releases linked to human activity.

As a result, capturing methane at former and active landfills is a global housekeeping benefit as well as an important alternative energy niche. For example, power from landfill methane far exceeds solar power in New York, while power from landfill methane surpasses both solar and wind power in New Jersey. Experts has described that the methane production depends on the type of garbage; organic-laden municipal solid waste is the best producer; how old and how tightly bundled it is, the quantity and, especially, weather conditions. Landfills in dry, hot climates produce less; those in steamy, rainy places do best because moisture hastens the decomposition that produces methane.

Energy generated is both a source of income, and an entitlement to carbon credit under the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), which was established under the Kyoto Protocol. CDM allows governments or private entities in the industrilised countries to implement emission reduction projects and received credit in the form of “certified emission reductions” or CERs.

In summary, the growing attention of the generation of energy from waste such as methane worldwide is offering opportunities in Malaysia. Waste is no longer something that is unwanted. Waste now regarded as resources for businesses that generate income. Turning waste into wealth not only make good environmental sense, but also turns TRASH into CASH.

Environmental Education and Awareness

Article 3:

http://markets.on.nytimes.com/research/stocks/news/press_release.asp?docKey=600-200806261100PR_NEWS_USPR_____LATH026-3GACMU9S952KKVDAFCVBC9EA75&provider=PR%20Newswire&docDate=June%2026%2C%202008&press_symbol=US%3BTM&scp=14&sq=environmental%20education&st=cse

Environmental issues are becoming more and more important for other fields of education too. Given the negative effects of environmental degradation and pollution on people’s health, environmental questions can be dealt with in health education programs. Environmental topics can also be an important component of community education programs. Such programs can provide a frame for linking environmental issues with social and political problems of the community. Linking environmental and social issues and locating environmental problems within the context of our daily lives and action are important challenges for environmental education.

The component of environmental education, as listed by the United Nations Environmental, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) , are awareness and sensitivity to the environment and environmental challenges; knowledge and understanding of the environment and environmental challenges; attributed of concern for the environment and motivation to improve or maintain environmental quality; skills to identify and help to resolve environmental challenges; and participation in activities that lead to the resolution of environmental challenges.

Active participation from corporate sector is important to develop environmental education and awareness programs. One good example is the Toyota's donation to enhances environmental education through contribution of $1 million and three hybrid vehicles to America's most visited national park, Great Smoky Mountains National Park. In support of raising environmental awareness, the donation will enhance and develop a variety of new science education initiatives for students, teachers and families to encourage careers in science and service-learning opportunities

Perhaps, environmental studies as a subject should be taught in secondary schools. For, if we as a people do not sufficiently care for our lands and waters, it will surely turn to WASTELAND. In many ways then, a pristine environment reflects in some measure the purity of our patriotism. Let us redouble our efforts by getting our environmental education and awareness programs into high gear. Then, we as a nation can become among the most environmentally literate people, maybe in the world.

How Green Is Too Green?

Article 2:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/07/world/europe/07solar.html?ref=environment

As we all know, the greenhouse effect refers to the natural phenomenon that keeps the earth in a temperature range that allows life in all forms to exist and flourish. Like so much of the marvels of nature, the right quantities and in the right ratios, the green house gasses miraculously serve to foster the life on the earth. Conversely, their imbalance spells doom!

There are efforts to reduce the causes of greenhouse effect either at the international or national levels. For example, in 1988 the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the World Meteorological Organisation set up the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPPC0 to examine the most current information on global warming and climate change. As the new benchmark, it serves as the basis for international climate negotiations. The scientific understanding is now sufficiently clear to justify nations to take prompt action. It is vital that all nations to identify steps that they can take now, to contribute to substantial and long-term reduction in net global greenhouse gasses emissions.

One interesting examples is Malburg’s law that has attracted attention nationwide as a model for environmentally active politician. Marburg, a historic university town in German with 80,000 level of population, is a model of enlightened energy production and consumption. In addition to the windmills and solar installations, the town’s utility company buys hydroelectric power from Austria, is transitioning its fleet of buses and other vehicles to natural gas and even lights footpaths with solar-powered lamps.

But, the town council decision to require solar-heating panels has thrown the city into a vehement debate over the boundaries of ecological good citizenship and led opponents to charge that their genteel town has turned into a green dictatorship. The ordinance, the first of its kind in Germany which will go into effective on 1st October 2008, will require solar panels not only on new buildings, which fewer people oppose, but also on existing homes that undergo renovations or get new heating systems or roof repairs with 1,000 euros fine, about $1,500, awaits those who do not comply. With relatively few new homes are built there, there will be a serious problems with older homes and other buildings and also the upfront cost of installing the solar systems.

For Malaysia, I think this may not happen as the case in Malburg. There is much we can do now as an individuals that makes sense in terms of the economic bottom line while helping to reduce our impact on the global climate and on our local environment and health. All of this can be done in a cost-effective manner, while creating jobs and new business opportunities

We can and we must re-examine our lifestyles and our patterns of consumption. We can for start look at the car that we drive (but, of course need consider for the price). It is perhaps the most important personal climate decision we can make. Surely gas-guzzlers are out. When we replace our appliances, is it refrigerators, freezers, air conditioners and water heaters, we should purchase those brands which have energy saving logos.

We should unplug electrical devices when not in use. We can change to energy saving bulbs and lights. We must think before we drive, especially when we have more than one vehicle, use energy efficient one (but, maybe not for Proton) for minor chores and long journeys. We should buy wood and furniture from companies, industries and countries that support sustainable programs. We can participate in plant a tree programmes.

Above all we can let our policy makers know that we as individuals are concerned and care deeply about global warming to safeguard earth for future generations.

Individual life exists because of the earth lives! Surely the time has come to steer to an age of environmental enlightenment!

Haze. Haze. Haze.

Article 1: http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/8/3/nation/21994317&sec=nation

Like always, it comes and go and there seems like nothing is done by the government except for the diplomatic talks of persuasions which to a typical Malaysian like me seems painfully slow and ineffective.

Haze has been a perennial problem and periodic nuisance in recent years for Malaysia because of slash-and-burn activities practiced by farmers in Indonesia. Even though there is about 40ha peat forest in Dengkil has been reported burning for the last two days, the majority of the hit spots is in Sumatra, the province that is separated from peninsular Malaysia by the narrow Malacca Strait.

The worst environmental crisis to hit Malaysia is threatening public health and disrupting traffic by reducing visibility, but its impact on the economy has yet to be assessed. A previous haze crisis cost billions. Maybe the haze would have minimal impact on tourism because key destinations such as Langkawi and Penang in northern Malaysia were not so affected.

Maybe under new minister of natural resources and environment, Datuk Douglas Uggah Embas, there will be some changes in term of actions that will be taken between this two neighboring country. Regardless of any offers to send firefighters, disaster-relief teams and cloud-seeding aircraft to Indonesia to fight the hundreds of fires reportedly burning there, there should be a firm decision or actions toward Indonesian.

When haze began blanketing the region in June 2004, Malaysian officials demanded a regional conference on the issue. But Indonesia has refused to sign the Association of Southeast Asian Nations 2002 protocol on Transboundary Haze, saying that Singapore and Malaysia are partly responsible for the haze because of their failure to curb trade in smuggled Indonesian timber.

As a typical Malaysian like me, it is important for the government (maybe together with Singapore government) to take a serious efforts to give a pressure to the Indonesian government to reduce (or even to close down) the unlawful burning of rain forests by farmers and illegal loggers especially in impoverished Sumatra.

Just how bad the problem is in Malaysia remains a matter of opinion for most, however.