Mark this in you 2010 Calender: Environmental Campaign @UKM

Recyclers and Environmentalist...this is just in.

There will be an Environmental Campaign Day at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, early next year 9 January 2010. 8:00am-5:00pm. Among the highlights for this one day event are presentation by invited speakers, Earth awareness movie screening, and a forum on Vegetarian vs Halal Food, by panelist of muslim and buddhist perspective.

There will also be exhibition booths and bazaar focusing to the environment. Fun activities like canvas bag painting workshop and eco-themed competitions will take place.

Among the participants for this event are the Government Organization like Jabatan Alam Sekitar, and Ministry of Environment and Resources as well as NGOs such as Malaysian Nature Society, World wildlife fund for Nature, Wildasia, Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Save Our Seahorses, Turtle Conservation Centre etc. ; Companies of evironmental friendly products-such as Ecopak, Melsom, and also traveling agents that offers Ecotourism packages. Small SOHO enterprises that cater eco-friendly products are said to take part in this event that are being partly sponsored by CIMB bank, Digi Communications, and
The Body Shop.

Everyone's invited. School children, teachers, lecturers, undergraduate students, politicians, housewives and everyone that want to make a difference to the environment are all welcomed!

Here are the details to the event:

ENVIRONMENTAL CAMPAIGN
9TH JANUARY 2010
0800-1700 HOURS

TIME EVENT
Auditorium Foyer
8.00-9.00am Offication Ceremony Workshops, Exhibition, Booths and Bazaars

9.00-10.00am
Keynote Address
10.00-10.15am Environmental Shorties
10.15-11.30am Presentation : Invited Speaker
11.30- 12.00pm Undergraduate Presentations

12.00 – 1.30pm
Forum: Between Vegetarian Food and Halal Food Competitions
1.30 -2.00 pm Environmental Shorties
2.00-3.30pm Screening :An Inconvenient truth
3.30-5.00pm Environmental Shorties

For more inquiries pls contact this Raoul from this blog

Taking a new direction

Hello guys, gals, readers of all ages and friends to the environment.

Hey! I am blogging again. It has been quite a while since I blurt out my angst and frustration about recycling. And frankly speaking I have not been recycling that often.(No, I'm not selling out, not just yet). But for the past year, there have been great improvements towards my community. The supermarket that I always shop for groceries is turning 'green' by supplying biodegradable plastic bags. Hooray for OTK! However, you have to be careful though. They'll chase you out if you bring your own shopping bags! My apartment garbage dumpster has been replaced with a new bin,eventhough those are not recycle bins. And I've been answering emails requesting for a biodegradable plastic for herbal soap, Hijau Kembali's Can of Worm and all sorts of positive feedback from readers out there. Thank you again for your support.

For the past 10 month or so, I have taken another direction towards pursuing an environmental act of consciousness. Yes!This urban chick has become country-gal! Yee haa!..Well sort of, in a way. Actually my in-laws have been working on a cattle ranch, at Kg Sepat, Kuantan. My father in law takes care almost 3 acres of napier grass planting to cater supplements food for the cattles. My mom in law helps out and she plants all sort of plants. From banana plants, lemongrass, gingers, brinjals to chilis. My mom in law, or better known as Wan has always been a 'greenthumb'. So far, she managed to gather produce for her daily usage, and now she sells them to the local vegetable seller nearby. I, on the other hand, love to help whenever I can, at the ranch and garden.I usually spend my weekend there. Since my free time is always there, I've decided to blog about it. I've to apologize if the entry has no direct relations with recycling or Malaysia. But at least, my blog will show a urbanite viewpoint of what it is like planting and gardening at a rural area, such as Kg Sepat. Remember, what you are about to read are first hand experience!

Something to ponder about...

This song if from Razzi.muz.ik. Good sounds and vocals. Just listen, contemplate and ponder...

Earth Hour 2009: 60 minutes without electricity.

For Earth Hour, switching off the lights does not mean we all must go in the dark. I created a few mini lantern by using empty dishwashing liquid bottles and some tealights. Just a few of them brightened the room.

For an hour of 'dark' activity at home, we made some shadow puppets using recycled cardboard boxes that I saved for recycling. It does come handy for instant crafts like this one. I asked my daughter to participate by drawing her favourite figure. She really love mermaids and underwater creatures. So we drew the image and cut out the shape.

Some holes were made using a puncher to illuminate the figurine puppet. I attached a drinking straw to hold the puppet.

My daughter love the whole experience of playing shadow puppet behind a candle light. For me, it reminds me of my childhood years. Using creativity and our imagination for such times like this is the most memorable moment of our lives. But most of all, it reminds us to appreciate what we take for granted for: electricity and energy.

How was your Earth Hour? Do share your thoughts.

Earth Hour 2009: Countdown.

With the Earth Hour just hours away, I planned the day clearing out the recycle materials. I got an idea for tonight. If you have the materials that I have, I think you still have time to do this instant recycled craft.

First, get some empty dishwash liquid bottles. Tear out the labels.

Cut the top quarter of the bottle diogonally, like you see in this pics.

Place a candle stick in the center of the bottle. Remember to put melted wax on the base. Before that I inserted a small tomato puree can to stabilize the base.

Voila! Instant candle holder. Have a dozen of them placed on the table top and against the wall and you'll have a very chic candle lit room for a special occasion for Earth Hour.
Happy Earth Hour, everyone!

Call For Submission! Design for Reusable BAG

Do you like reusable bags? Do you want your to design your own reusable bag? Check out this competition that allows you to do that.Organized by BECOME, in lieu with The KL Design Week the dateline is on Feb 20th, 2009. So Hurry! Do your part, crank on something and send them online or snail mail. The Maximum size is only 43cm x 43cm.

More details in Artkami™ » “we love to support local scene”

2009 GREENER RESOLUTION

Hello to all my readers. Hope it's not too late to wish a very Happy New Year 2009, and Gong Xi Fa Cai to the year of the Ox. I've been quite occupied lately, ending the year by spring cleaning and planning for the new year, and not to forget incorporating recycling and green living in my life. I've got to tell ya, it's not that easy activating the recycle campaign to all my family members. I have a mother in law that still burns her garbage in the backyard. And men in my life that still litter cigarrette butts. As for me, I still have the habit of bringing home the red plastic bags. But rest assured that this year of 2009 marks a better resolution for a healthier, greener life, or at least a more active recycling habit. We'll just have to see, won't we?

Be sure to keep reading my postings, and give feedback ya! I also want to know how you guys are recycling too.

Peace to the World, especially in Gaza,

Ophie

The Cloud Appreciation Society

Have you ever looked up in the sky on a bright clear day and look at the clouds?

Aren't they fascinating? The ones in the picture hides the sun, and sun rays beaming out from behind. Such a spiritual sight and also inspirational.

This one looks like a mermaid leaning to the right.

I check out the web and I found the Cloud Appreciation Society website at http://cloudappreciationsociety.org/ I never know such society exist. But after just a few minutes browsing this website, I was already taken....and amazed by the beauty of the clouds photos and as well as their manifesto:

"WE BELIEVE that clouds are unjustly maligned
and that life would be immeasurably poorer without them.

We think that they are Nature’s poetry,

and the most egalitarian of her displays, since
everyone can have a fantastic view of them.

We pledge to fight ‘blue-sky thinking’ wherever we find it.
Life would be dull if we had to look up at

cloudless monotony day after day.

We seek to remind people that clouds are expressions of the
atmosphere’s moods, and can be read like those of
a person’s countenance.

Clouds are so commonplace that their beauty is often overlooked.
They are for dreamers and their contemplation benefits the soul.
Indeed, all who consider the shapes they see in them will save
on psychoanalysis bills.

And so we say to all who’ll listen:
Look up, marvel at the ephemeral beauty, and live life with your head in the clouds!"

---

I read an article on the Star online, not too long ago, about a lady and her children who collects items to be recycled at her apartment. I was impressed by that story and I would like to share it with you.

Nature’s helper at apartment block

By OH ING YEEN

WHILE some of us are still deep in slumber, Chin Chu Lin is up and about at 6am every day, pushing her trusty trolley from unit to unit to collect recyclable items at the apartment block where she lives in Damansara Utama, Petaling Jaya.

“There are three blocks and 18 floors per block. My friend gave me the trolley to ease the burden of carrying things around. Before this, I carried all the recyclable items and walked to and from my apartment unit.

“It’s just a daily exercise for me. If I see something that can be recycled, I’ll pick it up. I’m used to it as I’ve been doing it for the past five to six years,” said Chin, a member of the Taiwan Buddhist Tzu-Chi Foundation Malaysia.

She collects the items and sends them for recycling every third Saturday of the month. The proceeds are donated to charity organisations.

Thus, before the third Saturday, her house is filled with old newspapers, old clothes and unwanted furniture. Even the walkway outside her apartment is filled with recyclable items.

Starting young: Twins Qi Fong (right) and Qi Ee helping load recyclable items on Chin’s trolley at the apartment block in Damansara Utama, Petaling Jaya, recently.

“At first, my husband was not happy with what I was doing as it cluttered the house. So, I did it secretly. But now he understands and even helps,” she said, adding that her 15-year-old daughter helped her sort out the items.

“At first, I had to explain to neighbours what I was doing as they thought I was making a profit by selling the items.”

Many now understand she is just doing her part for the environment.

Some residents even place recyclable items outside her unit the night before.

In the past four years, Chin’s neighbour Anna Lim has been setting aside old newspapers, bottles and plastic items for her to collect.

Lim supports Chin’s cause as it is for charity and creates awareness on preserving the environment.

“As a teacher, I tell my students to conserve the environment. Recycling helps save trees,” she said.

Aside from collecting recyclable items, Chin’s efforts are a way to create awareness on the importance of environment conservation.

Children at her apartment block are influenced by her green efforts and help her sort out the recyclable items.

Among them are twin brothers Tan Qi Fong and Tan Qi Ee, both seven, who always help load old newspapers on Chin’s trolley.

“They help sort out the recyclable items and pile them up,” said housewife Chan Fong Ping about her twin sons.

Chin is glad that youths in her apartment block are helping her out.

“I hope more people will recycle to conserve the environment. It is just a small effort to aid Mother Nature,” she said, adding: “I’ll continue doing what I’m doing for as long as I can.”

PLASTIC FREE UNIVERSITY!

Hooray for Universiti Sains Malaysia for the their campaign to stop using plastic bags. What better way to practice environmental consciousness beginning from young and bright minds, like this university's students. I think this is one of the many activities that parents should encourage their children to take part in. ( This kind of activity shows more action rather than just only words).

The students found that a campaign to recycle plastic bags was ineffective and opted to not use plastic bags at all in the campus. So to replace the plastics bags to buy groceries and take-away food, the students promote greener ways of shopping like carrying a reusable shopping bag and bringing your own container to 'tapau' food. Good job USM!

I found this very interesting blog from the Healthy Campus Coordinator himself. Read on for the insights of their sustainable campus life at Kampus Sejahtera @ USM

Kilowatt Ours- Trailer. Full Movie in Eco Film Fest 2008

Eco Film Fest 2008 - 1 and 2 November!

If you are not doing anything this weekend, why not attend the Eco Film Fest 2008. This two day event features FREE international and local film screenings, 100% local music performance, expo on latest industry that are environmental friendly. The fest is about empowering Malaysians to be greener and eco-friendly in their daily lives. I cannot write anymore cause I need to experience it myself. So let's take a step to a greener life.

Venue:ASWARA ( National Arts Academy), Jalan Tun Ismail, Kuala Lumpur

Date:1 and 2 November 2008

Time:10 am -7 pm

For more information, check out the EcoKnights website!

Upcoming Event - ISWA 2008

This November, Singapore will be hosting ISWA/WMRAS World Congress 2008. This very important event is organized by WMRAS, the Waste Management and Recycling Association of Singapore. Basically the event is the place to share the latest tech, trends and business oppurtunities especially for waste management sector throughout Asia, as well as international.

The best thing about the event is that it will be attended by decision makers, policy makers, engineers, consultants, and representatives of community organization and also experts from the waste management factors.

My only hope is that Malaysia would benefit this event, and it could come up for a better solution for the environment especially the waste management sector.

For more information, check out the website. Click here.

Plastic Ice Cream Tubs

Don't you love ice-cream! Mmmmm..yummy...

Having a kid in the house, I always have to make sure that I have some sugar loaded snacks in the kitchen pantry or in the fridge. One of my favourite treats for my kid is some cool ice cream. I usually buy the 1 litre tub to stock in the freezer. Whenever I chose to buy ice-cream, I usually think of of what flavour that I want, which brand is better, a reasonable price, and last but not least the shape of the tub. The ice-cream tub is reusable and is quite useful to store food in the freezer of in the fridge. So I usually choose the ones that has a lasting lid. Other than storing food, some design can be made as a plant container. Or instant organizing box. Just think of fun ways to make use of this versatile container. Keep on saving those plastic tubs, wash them out well and stack them by size.

Recycle Plastic Drop Off

Before the festive month of Syawal, I had a chance to clean up my kitchen clearing up some of my recyclables under the kitchen sink. I decided to give away the plastics since they are the most in my collection.I am saving the rest of the recycle stuff, like aluminium cans to be recycle for cash. Anyways, I packed up the plastics , and surprisingly I had five bags loaded with PET plastic bottles, as well as other plastics as well such as empty rice packs, many unused plastic bags, mostly came from food packaging. I am still not sure whether all the plastics that I collected are recyclable or not, but because I had not much time to think, I loaded those bags in my car boot and off we went to the community recycle bin. This Raya, I did a good deed by recycling. Hopefully God loves me for this.

Welcome to my journey for greener suburban life.

Hi, welcome to my blog. I am Ophie and I would like to share with you my experience of becoming green for Malaysia. I started this blog with a conscience that our urban lifestyle has not been very friendly to the environment. We live in a way that our consumption has contributed to waste- lots of it!! Don't get me wrong, I'm not an eco-freak. Well not yet. What I am trying to communicate is how we Malaysians or anybody reading this can make some difference to the environment by making a few adjustment to our lifestyle.

Here in Malaysia, we are lucky that we have a lot of greeneries to boast about but development will soon take over and transform the greens to concrete walls and turn pristine rivers into murky ones. I hate to see that happen. But the world is constantly changing for progress, so do lifestyles. I wonder what our country would look like for our children in the next 20 years?

Currently, I am not happy with the environment where litters are seen everywhere. Garbage spills creates unbreathable air for residents. Drains are free access for hawkers to throw rubbish into. The cause for such nonsense comes from our attitudes and mindsets, taking for granted that someone else will clean our dirty laundry. As though that the environment needs more litterbugs?!!

Those are a few of the reasons why I started this blog. Another reason is that I would like to lead a very healthy life fill with positive thinking. Through out my whole life I have been whining and complaining of things and people around me and commenting of what should be done. This time around, I will initiate things that I think it should be done.

From the day I started this blog and right until now, I had done little things to make a difference in my life and the environment. I made out a list to track back those little things.

1. Manage domestic waste and recycle. Separate the recyclables from the non-recyclables.

2. Use bio-plastic garbage bag

3. Shopping with reusable shopping bags.

4. Lessen the consumption of polystyrene and plastics.

5. Recycle paper at work. Use both sides before going into recycle bin.

6. Correspond with FOMCA, MPSJ, Nestle and any body that I could discuss about how to clean up our urban mess!

7. Found local eco-friendly products like ECOPAK, SEKOPLAS, BPLAST.


I wish there are more in my list, but now it just have to do. If you like, just browse through my blog and and see whether I can do better. Feel free to comment. Share your thoughts. I would love some feedbacks.

Again, I would like to stress that I am not trying to reverse climate change. But I would like to see that the future generation will adopt lives that are not hazardous the the environment, like how we live right now. Hopefully, I still be around to see these changes, and so does this blog.


Cheers to Recycling and Saving the Environment for Our Children!

Recycle Animation

ART COMPETITION FOR THE ENVIRONMENT

MRCB has just launch an art competition with an environmental theme " Our Environment, Our future". I'm thinking of participating. It is open for all Malaysian, school kids, and OKUs. I think it's going to be great. For more information you can check out the site, mrcb.com.my/seni. or click here

I better start on sketching for ideas.

The Recyclables - Cute Video

Energy Saving- It works! Do your tiny bit...for your household bills

Last month I pledged to conserve energy for the betterment of the planet as well as cutting down on my monthly expenses. I concentrated on my electricity and water usage. To read on the post to pledge click here.







This what I did:

1. Turn off all lights and fans that are not in use or when leaving the room.

2. Unplugging electric appliance like hairdryer, rice cooker, washing machine and phone chargers.

3. Set the air-conditioning timer for half of hour sleeping time, let say for 3 hours. But I'd leave the fan on till morning.

4. Iron all that I can within two hours while watching Private Practice and Desperate Housewife back to back.

5. Sleep early and shut off TV all lights!

6. When cooking, allocate a day to blend stuff like chilli, shallots and garlic and store them in a fridge. On other days, chopped or crush, rather than blend.

7. To save water, I run the washing machine on full load but on quick wash. I pretreat stains before washing.

8. Get quick showers.

By doing only those few little things, I already save on my bills by 20%.