Water; An Issue of Life & Livelihoods

Water is essential for all socio-economic development and for maintaining healthy ecosystem. As population increases and development calls for increased allocations of grondwater and surface water for the domestic, agriculture and industrial sectors, the pressure on water resources intensifies, leading to tensions, conflict among users and excessive pressure on the environment.

http://www.fao.org/nr/water/issues/scarcity.html

Water use has been growing at more than twice the rate of population increase in the last century. Although, there is no global water scarcity as such, an increasing number of regions are chronically short of water.

According to FAO, by 2025, 1 800 million people will be living in coutries or regions with absolute water scarcity and two-thirds of the world population could be under stress condition. The situation will be exacerbated as rapidly growing urban areas place heavy pressure on neighbouring water resources.

Statistic from UN shows that, 26 countries suffered serious water scarcity since 1990 and most of the them are Africa, the Middle East, south Asia, the western United States, South America, China and nearly all of Australia. Sadly, it is up to 3 million people die each year because of water-borne diseases.

Water rather than land shortages are now stopping agriculture expanding in many regions, and the UN fears that water shortages could jeopardise food supplies and trigger economic stagnation.

Globally, water seems to be abundant. And the problem is that, where it is accessible of water it is either being heavily polluted or it is drawn from depleted reservoirs. Malaysia for example, more than half the 400 rivers in Malaysia are polluted according to the Drainage and Irrigation Department and the Department of Environment.

So Malaysian.. wake up..!!! do something and this is the time to help keep our water clean and there are many things we can do to help.

• Be careful about what you throw down your sink or toilet. Don't throw paints, oils or other forms of litter down the drain.
• Use environmentally household products, such as washing powder, household cleaning agents and toiletries.
• Take great care not to overuse pesticides and fertilisers. This will prevent runoffs of the material into nearby water sources.
• By having more plants in your garden you are preventing fertiliser, pesticides and contaminated water from running off into nearby water sources.
• Don't throw litter into rivers, lakes or oceans. Help clean up any litter you see on beaches or in rivers and lakes, make sure it is safe to collect the litter and put it in a nearby dustbin.

And always remember, water for life, water for livelihood. Millions of people rely in one way or another on water for their daily income or food production. Do appreciate our mother nature and conserve the environment for the sake of young generation.

Water for Life, Water for Livelihood...

credit to: FAO, UN, ytlcommunity.com, interestgrouppahang.wetpaint.com, Jabatan Pengairan & Saliran, Guardian.uk

PETA vs CCF

The Centre for Consumer Freedom criticized the supporters of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) in a full page advertisement for endorsing the animal rights group even as it kills thousand of animals in its care.

http://www.petakillsanimals.com

The Centre for Consumer Freedom (CCF) published documents online showing that PETA killed 95 percent of the adoptable pets in its care during 2008. Despite years of public outrage over its campaigns, official goverment records that PETA itself has killed more than 6 animals every working day since 1998.

However, PETA has yet to comment on this case and for the records, this is not the first time they have been accused of such practices. Based on PETA policy, it is stated that they will euthanize the majority of animals surrender to them and for certain breeds of animals such as pit bull terriers.

PETA thru their article on "Animals Rights Uncompromised: Euthanasia" (http:.//www.peta.org/campaigns/ar-euthanasia.asp) claims that there will be never be enough homes for all puppies and kittens in the United States as tens of thousand of them are born every day. Euthanasia according to PETA is a reality because of people who abandon animals, refuse to strelize theire animals, and patronize pet and breeders instead of adopting stray animals or animals from shelters. Eventhough it is difficutl to accept, euthanasia according to PETA is often the most compassionate and dignified way for unwanted animals to leave an uncaring world.

For records, PETA against all medical research that requires the use of animals including research aimed at curing AIDS and cancer. CCF in other hands wondering why people would give money to PETA that opposes all medical reseacrh that uses animals to conquer human diseases like AIDS and lukemia but applying euthanasia to overcome the "surplus" numbers of them.

How about u guys.. are you a PETA or CCF..?








credit to: consumerfreedom.com, petakillsanimals.com, nowpublic.com, peta.org

Earth Hour 2009

On 28 Mac 09, millions of people around the globe will unite for one hour and switch off their lights to show that they care about our living planet. Cities already listed to participate in Earth Hour 2009 include Cape Town, Chicago, Copenhagen, Dubai, Hong Kong, Istanbul, Las Vegas, Lisbon, London, Los Angelas, Manila, Mexico City, Moscow, Nashville, Oslo, Rome, San Fransisco, Singapore, Sydney, Toronto, Kuala Lumpur, Manila, Sydney, Bangkok, Mumbai, Delhi and Warsaw.

On this special night, the world will witness some of the most recognisable landmarks on the planet dim the light in support of decisive action on climate change. Icons switching off include the world's tallest hotel building in Dubai (The Burj Dubai), the CN Tower in Toronto, Moscow's Federation Tower and many more. The Earth Hour 2009 campaign aims to have more than one billion people in 1000 cities turn off light for one hour in a graphic demonstartion of support for determined international action on climate change.

As far as we concern, 2009 will be a crucial year in the fight against climate change, leading up to the UN conference in Copenhagen, Denmark in Dec. It will be here that world leaders will come together to agree on a new global climate deal that will replace the Kyoto protocol, and define how we deal with climate change in the future. And for the first time in history, people of all ages, nationalities, race and background have the opportunity to use their light switch as their vote. (**switching off the lights is a vote for Earth or leaving them on is a vote for global warming.

WWF are urging the world to VOTE EARTH and reach the target of 1 billion votes, which will be presented to world leaders at the Global Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen 2009. This meeting will determine official goverment policies to take action against global warming, which will replace the Kyoto Protocol.

It is the chance for the people of the world to make their voice heard. Switch off your lights for Earth Hour. Show your support. YOUR LIGHT SWITCH IS YOUR VOTE.

credit to: WWF and voteearth2009

Can bovine burp slow global warming?

Burping cows and sheep are being targeted by U K scientists to help bring down Britain's soaring levels of greenhouse gas pollution. The grass that cows eat is hard to digest and broken down by bacteria in the animal's four stomachs. In the absence of oxygen, the bacteria turn it into methane.

Farmed ruminant animals are thought to be responsible for up to a quarter of man-made methane emissions worldwide though, contrary to common belief, most gas emerges from their front, not rear, ends. (*sigh..)

A study last year found that the average dairy cow belches out about 100 to 200 litres of methane each day. And suprisingly, researchers did not expect that a cow weighing 550kg could produce 800 to 1000 litres of emissions each day.. and imagine there is more than 55 million cattle worldwide.!! (oh nooo..!!!)

In conjuction to tackle methane emissions, Cadbury is encourage its cows to burp less to reduce the carbon footprint of its milk chocolate. The company is working with its 65 dairy farmers in Wiltshire to reduce the emissions of their animals.

Studies by Cadbury found that the production of one litre of milk produces the equivalent of 900g of CO2. More than half of this is down to methane. The everage cow emits between 80kg and 120kg of methane a year, equivalent to the annual carbon emissions from an average family car.

So Malaysian.., are you ready to strapped plastic tanks to the backs of cows in order to collect their belches..?? The answer is in your hand.. play a part and do your role.. If it is not now, WHEN? and if it is not you, WHO?

Burrrppp...

extra reading: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/science/article2051364.ece

credit to: guardian.uk, timesonline

Ban Free Plastic Bags; Are You Ready?

There is an old expression, if you want to correct something that others do, you should first correct it youself. It's an expression the Chinese goverment can claim it is following in its efforts to tackle one of the world's most significant litter problems, the plastic bag.

January 2009, China's ban on free plastic bags drew a mixed response from shoppers and store owners. Beijing Evening News reported, one day after ban kicked off, authorities in Beijing fined a shop 10,000 yuan for "secretly using ultra-thin plastic bags".

Under China's new anti-plastic bag laws, filmsy bags under 0.025 mm thick are banned and shopkeepers must charge for carrier bags. Those found breaking the law face fines and could have their good confiscated.

As we know, plastic is fantastic. It's versatile, durable, waterproof, convenient and cheap. But, with all benefits of plastic bags come along a list of nagging problems, and the most problematic of all is their sheer persistence. Plastic bags take between 20 and 1000 years to break down in the environment.

China consumes 37 million barrels of crude oil each year to manufacture more than one trillion plastic bags. It is following in the footsteps of countries such as Ireland, Rwanda and Bangladesh to introduce a ban.

How about Malaysia? Are we ready to conserve our environment by using a paper bag as an alternative? The answer is in your hand.. play a part and do your role.. If it is not now, WHEN? and if it is not you, WHO?

extra reading: http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/01/09/asia/plastic.php

credit to: International Herald Tribune, Daily Express and Guardian.UK