The Green Chronicles

I think the hit counter is spoilt.

2009-12-11T18:03:00.001+08:00

It's impossible that no one is reading this.

Even Rainwater Harvesting is Possible in Desserts

2009-12-05T00:32:00.004+08:00

It's pretty hard to imagine that somewhere in the driest part of India, rainwater harvesting is possible. And we're not talking about a few hundred gallons of water per harvest, but 3 million gallons of water per harvest. That's the kind of luxury the ancient Indians created in the harshest part of the planet. And this ingenious architecture was conceived 400 years ago and is still used until today.

It's not a question of where is the best place to harvest rainwater, but rather, how to survive when Mother Nature tests your survival skills.

In this inspiring and fascinating presentation by Anupam Mishra, you'll begin to understand that the modern man needs to learn more from his past in order to move forward. Every method used to produce these efficient megastructures to harvest rainwater is truly innovative and resourceful. Something only an astute engineer would think of. Only when this was 400 years ago, these men were not engineers nor were they architects, but merely villagemen. Every build was well-thought out in terms of functionality and practicality. Even the aesthetics was well-crafted.

Watch the video and see for yourself, the legacy of an architecture that surpassed any modern feat in rainwater harvesting. This is proof that a greener world is absolutely possible if we were to learn from our ancestors and their way of sustainable living.

Can CDs be recycled?

2009-11-12T19:06:00.001+08:00

Both CDs and DVDs—which are primarily composed of polycarbonate, a type of plastic—can be recycled or reused. So can the jewel cases, which are made from a hard plastic called polystrene.

*Source: Green Consumer - National Wildlife Federation

Chris Jordan's stark truth about human and birds.

2009-11-12T19:02:00.001+08:00

From Chris Jordan's website:

Midway - Message from the Gyre

These photographs of albatross chicks were made just a few weeks ago on Midway Atoll, a tiny stretch of sand and coral near the middle of the North Pacific. The nesting babies are fed bellies-full of plastic by their parents, who soar out over the vast polluted ocean collecting what looks to them like food to bring back to their young. On this diet of human trash, every year tens of thousands of albatross chicks die on Midway from starvation, toxicity, and choking. To document this phenomenon as faithfully as possible, not a single piece of plastic in any of these photographs was moved, placed, manipulated, arranged, or altered in any way. These images depict the actual stomach contents of baby birds in one of the world's most remote marine sanctuaries, more than 2000 miles from the nearest continent. ~cj, October 2009

--- end of message ---

We've seen a lot of gruesome photos unveiling new ways (every day) on how our inconsiderate thinking and actions have resulted to killings (in every way). Every day is a new story, every day comes with a new discovery. And we applaud individuals like Chris Jordan. We need 'researchers' such as them to reveal 'hidden' consequences such as these that we never thought of at all during point of action. Perhaps then, we learn to 'see' further than just momentarily gratifying our actions.

Change the way we look at sustainability in automotive business.

2009-10-14T10:32:00.001+08:00

The influx of Hybrids and EVs becomes almost every manufacturer's intend in lowering CO2 emission at consumer level. I think it's high time they should look at the total CO2 emission right from the beginning, starting from manufacturing. That should speak more volume about the brand.

Lexus HS 250h claims that 30% of the combined interior and luggage area is made of Ecological Plastics (TM), which is created, in part, using plant-based materials sourced from the fibers of the kenaf plant and oils from castor seeds. Subsequently reducing the reliance on petroleum-based materials which helps to lower CO2 impact of manufacturing.

Carbon reduction should be considered at three different stages of the product-consumer cycle which is at point of manufacturing, at point of usage and at point of disposal. Therefore, to truly claim sustainability, automakers need to consider a holistic approach to the manufacturing process (because this cause the greatest impact on the environment). Putting out products which are kind to the environment will someday be a 'given' because as I mention before, social conscious consumers will 'vote' with their money. Last but not least, manufacturers should not stop there. They should also plan strategies to educate their customers on the disposal of their products. Now that's closing the loop.

Food Inc - Hungry for change?

2009-10-07T15:49:00.000+08:00

Watched Food Inc. An independent documentary on the American food industry ala Michael Moore with better art direction. The big States seems to be always getting the spotlight for their lead role – the tyrant of all sorts when it comes to consumer scandals (whether or not it’s within their shores). Independent filmmaker Robert Kenner strips away America’s packaging without shame to expose some of the most hideous acts and pure selfish motivations of the country in the name of capitalist growth. It may seem insignificant now, but not in the near future.

Not too long ago, we completed the research on ‘The Green Chronicles’ and have been actively pursuing and propagating sustainability by encouraging people to make the right decisions. Not by going against the system but by actually utilizing the same system these capitalist monsters have been using against gullible human and nature, called consumerism. Yes, you can vote every single day for what you believe in and what is right for your family, community, society, country and ultimately the world by spending your dollar wisely, choosing only manufacturers and service providers that put social business back into commerce. Corporations have always been consumer-centric anyway, but it’s increasingly important for us to acknowledge the importance of being crowd-centric instead. Considering communities as a whole before profit, even before the consumer, I dare say... Simply because being consumer-centric only means profit generation. The problem starts when they get all fuzzied vision about it and forget that they too are living in a society spiraling downwards in this era of environmental doom.

Well, vote responsibly with your money and support local industry (I speak for Malaysia – please understand that a lot of the ‘nice imageries of delicious foods and made-up vitamins’ come from packaging design and really smart brand marketing – take it from someone who is from the advertising industry aight’?), so yea… if the quality isn’t too bad then why not vote for local produce the next time you purchase something? Find out more about the slow food movement and collaborate with your local community and perhaps, start food appreciation at home instead of external food establishments.

I’ll be interested to find answers to these questions in Malaysia. Please share if you have them.

1) What are the laws which are protecting consumers and which ones are protecting the food industry and what is the balance?

2) What are we importing and exporting and why are we exporting better goods offshore instead of providing it to local consumers?

3) What agricultural practices are we implementing that take a holistic approach from ensuring farmer’s wellbeing up to consumer consumption education? For example, the UTZ Certified coffee beans in New Zealand that strongly practice sustainability in their coffee, tea and cocoa production supporting local communities.

4) Exactly how sustainable are we? In all our food productions; fisheries, agriculture, etc? And how many graduates are we churning out per year who do not just take over their seniors but to one day, lead and innovate these important but most overlooked industries?

On a separate note, read about this new spot in Manhattan called Rouge Tomato. It’s another one of those posh places where dining is fine art I supposed. But what’s commendable is, it too, is riding the wave of social-consciousness that’s sweeping across America hence providing an alternative to high-end customers. To wine and dine at their place, simply because RT belives in Grass-Fed New York Strip Steak (mind you, not CORN-fed. If you watch the movie, you’ll understand what I mean). Here's a peak:

Switch Off

2009-10-02T19:39:00.000+08:00

This exercise ran a week before the Polystyrene exercise. We've asked everyone in Dentsu Utama to turn off their computer main switches and other switches (i.e. printer and copier) before leaving the office. We've found out that when the main switches are not turned off, we're draining up to 5 watts of unused energy per hour, per switch. Imagine if you multiply that by the number of non-working hours in a year?!

So we've imposed a fine of RM2 if anyone's caught not turning off their main switches. We've seen 80% improvement in the past one month. Though repeat offenders' attitudes are hard to change, but their money is good enough to cover our other 'green' expenses for the office :) At first we have 4 repeat offenders, a week later, it was down to 2. I'm really happy with the progress :)

No Polys Allowed

2009-10-02T19:37:00.000+08:00

About a month ago, Dentsu Utama imposed a ban on Polystyrene food containers. Anyone seen using Polystyrene will be fined RM2. (I think our VP owes us RM10 :D)

It was a tough habit to scrape off but I think it's working out progressively.

We've purchased 10 plastic containers and left 5 of them at the Mamak downstairs, Alai Restaurant, for any delivery order made from Dentsu Utama. The other 5 was left in the pantry for anyone who wishes to 'tapau' food from other vendors in the vicinity.

Though I must say, educating Alai was a pain in the neck. I think it took then nearly 2 weeks to make sure they get it right. I've explained to them more than 3 times to use those containers instead of Polystyrene boxes when sending food to the office.

Another Green Buddy, Daphne, almost vomitted blood and her guts content telling the mamak guy to never ever ever ever pack her food in a Polystyrene container, otherwise the food will not be allowed to enter Dentsu Utama. And I have a pretty good feeling the mamak guys must be thinking that Dentsu Utama is allergic to Polystyrene.

Well, actually not us, but the earth :)

What really goes on in Dentsu Utama.

2009-09-11T17:21:00.004+08:00

An email conversation on any day...

Jeremy>
As many of you know, thanks to Sue Yin’s “Turn off your main switches” and “Polystyrene-Free Office Starting Tomorrow” e-mails, Dentsu Utama is now eco-friendly!
And to add to the list of “Green things to do”, we’re also conducting a “No lights lunch time” initiative. Don’t worry, it’ll be only done once a week, on Fridays.
So, from this week onwards, the office will be in the dark during Friday’s lunch time.
If you must work, and REALLY, REALLY, REALLY (You get the idea) need a light, then you may switch on a light. Only one.
First ‘No lights lunch time’: Friday, 11th September 2009. 1pm – 2pm.
Thanks!

Sue-Anne>
I supply candles la!

Amirrul>
Open BURNING!!!....

Jonn>
Hmm candles huh? Used previously for what ah?

Jeremy>
Dear all,
“No lights lunch time” will commence in 10 minutes… Get ready to sit in the dark….

Sue-Anne>
http://thegreenchronicles.blogspot.com/
Should have taken a photo of darkness…

Amirrul>
Photo of darkness....sue anne...we can still take picture one..i'll switch off the lights for you..want or not? it still looks the same...

Jeremy>
I’m famous! I’m on a blog….
Congrats people. I know this mail is a little late, but….. good one on the “No lights lunch time”!

The Green Buddies' Experiment

2009-09-03T21:50:00.003+08:00

Ok, here's what happened to the second seed. It didn't grow. So we sowed another seed and we had little plant-lets. It's so cool. We were so happy to see them emerging from the soil. And it took a long while to wait.

Now we know how it feels to wait for something to grow.

I learnt that it takes a lot of patience to grow a plant and i think Mother Nature is patient enough to wait a few million years to see her forests grow into green canopies that spread across continents. And only to find out in the end that those canopies are beginning to disappear because of industrialisation and capitalism.

New division launched!

2009-08-18T10:55:00.000+08:00

It's been a crazy week at work. The stuff you do every day and should be doing every day, the stuff that brings in the dough and feeds the mouth, the stuff that lifts morale and sparks passion, the stuff that is right for the nature of our business and nature, period.

We've finally got around launching a new division in my employer's company which is called Sustainability & Change Management. While we're not claiming to be the experts, but this certainly seals a serious commitment for Dentsu to move towards a sustainable future. Not just for ourselves, but our clients and the community which surrounds us. IMPORTANT: This is beyond going green. I think the key word is BALANCE. Our world is too extreme which is why our eco-system is tipped and screwed up.

Get wired here and police us ;) We welcome that. Oh by the way, our new batch of namecards is 100% made from recycled paper. How bout that for a start?

Meanwhile, if you're interested to know more. Get in touch.

A very cute mail ;)

2009-07-27T19:52:00.001+08:00

A very cute email just arrived in my inbox ;)

***

Title: We want your rubbish.

Dear all,

Please bear with the mess behind the creative area for a bit more. I’ve contacted the man in charge of the pick-up schedule (Yes, they actually have such position) from Alam Flora. We’re looking at sometime next Monday or Tuesday. It’s a bit painful to get those guys to call back for confirmation but the promise is by early next week!

In the meantime, the Green Buddies could use more of your contribution. *BIG GRIN* If everyone in the office brings a small bag of recyclable rubbish. Imagine how much we can recycle as a group. I’ll spare you the nagging if you would be so inclined to give us your rubbish from your house. Papers, cans, plastics, glasses….send them over this way please.

So, you know the drill: Gather your rubbish and place them accordingly into the bags, dump them into your car, and put them at the Recycle Corner behind the creative area (If you see Erman then you’ll see it) He’s in charge of giving you the right direction. And if ever you need assistance to carry your stuffs, he’d be happy to help you. Hey, anything to help that new daddy to reduce his waistline.

Remember, you have one week to contribute. Thank you in advance for reading this and your kind consideration to recycle.

Don’t be lazy,
The Green Buddies

***

Hey guys at Alam Flora! Buck up yo!!

Responsible seafood consumption.

2009-07-26T18:10:00.006+08:00

About a year back, I questioned if we're depleting our protein source faster than we can say fish. Because of our disgustingly huge appetite for all things natural and swimming, our grandchildren may really think all fishes look like Nemo in decades down the road. Here's a really interesting article which I'd like to share. Snippet originally from TimeOut KL, July issue: All you can't eat, pg30.

***

“Eating a bluefin tuna is like eating a rhino,” claims WWF Hong Kong conservation director Dr Andy Cornish. Extreme as this might sound, the comparison is accurate. The world’s relentless demand for seafood has pushed many fish to the verge of extinction.

Humans rely on seafood as a source of nutrition and as a livelihood. According to London-based international charity the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), established by the WWF and Unilever in 1997, the diets of 2.6 billion people depend on fish as a source of animal protein. They estimate that 52 per cent of fish stocks are ‘fully exploited’, which means they are being fished at their ‘maximum biological capacity’.

Human consumption of fish has risen from 93.6 million tonnes in 1998 to 100.7 million tonnes in 2002. The MSC doesn’t want people to stop eating fish. Instead, it wants people to ensure consumers source their seafood from a well-managed fishery, which in turn guartantees a future for the industry and all those who depend on it for their livelihood. Shoppers who want to minimise the environmental and social consequences of eating fish should look out for MSC-certified products, which display a distinctive blue fish on the packaging.

Nevertheless, there are other ways to reduce your impact on the the world’s fish supplies. A few years back, WWF survey released a pocket-sized guide (visit http://www.wwf.org.hk/ to download it for free) that categorises 60 types of fish according to their sustainability. Alaskan Pacific salmon, North American black cod and Western Australian rock lobster (which are also availale MSC certified) are fine for consumption because they are not over fished. But shoppers should steer clear of Chinese shrimp, Hong Kong grouper and orange roughy (which share the endangered list with the bluefin tuna).

But with so little MSC-certified fish in our supermarkets, and even fewer restaurants serving it, the onus still lies with the consumer. But experts believe that even though change must come from the consumer, it is also the restaurant’s job to make sustainable food appealing and to supply their customers with information about the source of their seafood.

It is recently discovered that people are slowly becoming more proactive. In Hong Kong for example, it’s the younger Chinese generations that place around 60 per cent of the orders for MSC fish. Similarly in KL, with more youngsters refusing to consume shark’s fin, it’s a matter of time before we move our environmental consciousness up another notch.

***

(Bold mine)

Statistic from: http://www.dof.gov.my/

Also just to give you a clearer picture of where your fishes are coming from if you're living in Malaysia. Just remember, aquaculture good. Overfishing bad. We're not saying you should stop eating. But hey, keep your knack for exotic endeavours somewhere else perhaps?

The Green Buddies support responsible seafood consumption.

The Buddies' Entertainer

2009-07-24T18:39:00.001+08:00

It's amazing how the Buddies' have talented friends...particularly this one :D

The Green Experiment

2009-07-23T20:23:00.003+08:00

This is probably our first experiment. Well, our paper supplier was kind enough to supply us with it.

We thought that this so called green paper technology would never arrive here in Malaysia. But it did. And we were thrilled. What the supplier did was to fabricate a few pieces of recyclable paper and crush a few packets of seedlings in the midst of the process. The result, you get a few sheets of paper with crushed seedlings in it. And the good news is, you can plant that piece of paper after you've used it. So the more paper you use, the more trees you'll be planting. Isn't it brilliant.

The Greenbuddies decided to experiment with this piece of paper that the supplier gave. We got ourselves a small flower pot and planted the paper. And so it began, the Buddies' first experiment.

We watered the plant for 2 weeks and we saw its tiny little leaves sprouting from the soil (well, actually there were only two tiny leaves). We were thrilled. And it felt good to have grown something. At least for some of the Buddies.

Sadly, a certain Buddy forgot to water the plant for 3 days. The plant died.

So we're starting the experiment again. Hopefully this time, no one forgets to water the plant.

We'll be updating you on the progress of the experiment.

Thank You Conqueror paper for supplying us with the paper. Now we know how it's done, we'll spread the technique to other eco-conscious citizens.

The Green Chronicles.

2009-07-15T10:49:00.001+08:00

The Green Chronicles 2009

View more presentations from createsparks.

We've got the kind permission from our employer to share the findings of our social research on environmental awareness and conservation efforts in Malaysia. One of the biggest reasons why we've decided to share this openly is to spark thoughts and discussions on really how to design effective 'green' strategies, for we all know that this is a global or in a smaller scale, nationwide cause. It's not a battle that can be fought (and won) by one single company, and definitely not a single agency. So, please feel free to share your thoughts if you have any.

And please. Respect intellectual property. Read. Don't rip.

Green Buddies Drinks.

2009-07-14T18:51:00.014+08:00

Happy green people.

That simply looks wrong...

Green Buddies DRINK.

Cute Ali and friends.

Before.

During.

After. That should how Green Buddies eat. CLEAN.

The first one.

The last one. Happy birthday Sue Yins!

After party.

Without the crowd. T'was a good night ;)

And it's a wrap!

2009-05-17T17:25:00.004+08:00

Was supposed to meet up with the guys from Waste Association Malaysia last Friday but it got cancelled last minute. Anyway, this project is a wrap. We're done and we're ready to share. If anyone out there is interested in finding out about Environmental Communications and Motivations in Malaysia, mail us.

But this blog I reckon, will still go on. I think it's good to just have a continuation in sharing some green initiatives that have been happening. Especially, in Dentsu U, where The Green Buddies is still active ;)

By the way, we've just had our first GB Drinks last Thursday. Although we only spoke about KPI for er.. what, 5 minutes? The rest of the time, peeps were just trying to relax and get used to calling each other buddy. But it's good. Looks like everyone's got something that they'd like to work on. Ali, Sue and I might be considering the trip to Simpang Pulai with the Waterfalls Survivors this weekend (yo guys, you still up for it?). We'll see. 3 campaigns running is. NOT. funny... I may just jump off the cliff on Saturday and call it a day :S

On transition to become 'greener'.

2009-05-06T15:56:00.005+08:00

So what happens if my favourite colour is not green? You're gonna discriminate me?

I've decided to list down some of the things which I realised that I'm consciously doing to be more environmental friendly (lately). I am sorry but I'm loving 2.0 performance cars. I try not to pollute too much nor use too much fuel by voting for the best fuel-efficient power-packed engine technology with my dollar. But I'm willing to trade my carbon footprint with some of these habits:

1) At a restaurant:
- I tell them to clear all the unused plates/cutleries so that they don't have to wash it unnecessarily even though it's still clean after my meal.
- No garnishing is needed. Except for some strange stalks, I believe they're all food. I don't eat my garnishing so, don't waste. Give it to those who do.
- Don't over use tissue papers even though they're free.
- I finish everything in my glass because water is precious (something I learnt from Kenya).

2) At home:
- I don't charge my e71 every day because it's new and the battery sustains for a good couple of days even after fairly extensive talk time and accessive SMSes.
- Turn off the electricity at the powerpoint because electricity do still trickle into appliances even when not in use.
- Think twice before I buy anything. Buy something I need even though it's expensive, so that I don't have enough money to buy other stuff that I don't need.

3) At work:
- Reduce, reuse and recycle papers. And everything that falls under the 3R campaign.
- Revving everyone up to be more environmentally friendly and trying to incorporate this (however informally and whenever I can) into the company's policy.
- Organising 'Green Drinks' session so that the Green Buddies committee can be more relaxed while updating each other on the eco-projects we're currently working on.

4) With friends
- Give a dirty look to those who are 'dirtying' the place
- Joined the 'Waterfalls Survivor' group to get people to start appreciating our country's natural gems

So far, that's what I've been doing. I don't know if it's good enough for me to trade off the carbon footprint of my car (by the way, I'm not driving a GTi, in case you're wondering. (Yet :)). But I think it's hard to get everyone to care for the environment in the same way since none of us are manufactured in that way in the first place :P

Green weekend

2009-05-04T14:09:00.003+08:00

T'was a long weekend and I attended the 'Pachamama' Symposium so kindly organised by the Eco Warriors. Before you say 'patch whurt?', it's native language for 'Mother Earth' for the people of Andes. The symposium was designed to 'open the floodgates of environmental awareness as well as providing empowerment to its attendees'. It was a cross between Al Gore and Asiaworks if you ask me. It's not good and not bad, just how it was delivered. I think to people who have voted for Green but not know what to do, this is something which they can participate to gain that little nudge to push them forward. As for the people who may not have voted for Green entirely, I think it puts them on a mild guilt trip more than creating that positive energy for change which I'm sure was what the symposium intended to do. However, having said that it was the first trial and I think Eco Warriors did a fantastic job at that. I'm interested to see how things will evolve and what will happen when the numbers snowball and become bigger. Could this be the 'tipping point' in Malaysia? I don't know but let's see.

Perhaps something which we could study from?

2009-04-28T16:48:00.003+08:00

Our neighbour is serious about becoming a sustainable city state. And looks like they've got their vision in place and all the little that make up the big steps in achieving it. As I was studying the various ministries in Malaysia and how each one is fighting their own green war, in some cases, even rivalling with one another to achieve their own KPIs, I realised that this particular war can only be won if there is synergy and common understanding amongst the different ministries, themselves. Little did I know what was actually missing from our big picture of things is what Singapore has already kicked start in January last year. They've set up a working committee called the Inter-ministerial Committee on Sustainable Development which comprises of ministries of National Development, Environment and Water Resource, Finance, Transport as well as Trade & Industry - all the key players of environmental economics that is crucial to sustainable urban growth, if you noticed.

In a nutshell, their vision is crystal which is to boost resource efficiency, avoiding market failure at all cost by putting the greatest emphasis on expanding renewable resources which protects social welfare while achieving economic growth:

Achieve a 35% improvement in energy efficiency from 2005 levels by 2030.
Make optimum use of land.
Attain a recycling rate of 70% by 2030.
Ensure adequate supplies of water for future generations, and we aim to reduce domestic water consumption to 140L per person per day by 2030.

The above was tabled from extensive consultation with businesses, community leaders as well as the general public.

With Malaysia awakening to the importance of Green Technology, I'm sure it's just a matter of time we realised that we cannot fight isolated wars on climate change. Throughout the entire economic chain, the environment is hugely affected and it will not make any difference if one party decides to downplay the impact on environment over economic gains. It's time we look at not just what kind of battle we're in but how we're fighting it. But is the strength in numbers enough?

Locating ministries.

2009-04-27T14:14:00.002+08:00

It's been some time now since we've uploaded something on our Green Chronicles. Anyway, work has resumed after a short pause of putting together overflowing information.

Today, we've compiled a comparison of the old and new cabinet of Malaysia (2008 versus 2009) just to look through what are the ministries which are directly linked and contribute to environmental awareness and conservation efforts in Malaysia. What's really interesting is the newly formed Ministry of Energy, Green Technology and Water which replaced Ministry of Energy, Water and Communication. The formation of Green Tech policies will give hope to many in propelling Malaysia forward to join the world in building green sustainable cities that our children can continue to live and breathe in. We have emailed three ministries namely Natural Resource and Environment; Energy, Green Technology and Water; as well as Tourism. Let's see if we can get the support on in-depth green knowledge that we need for this project.

Earth Hour comes to Malaysia

2009-03-11T18:45:00.018+08:00

If you hadn't already heard, Malaysia has now joined the global movement of making your vote count towards taking a stand against global warming. 2009 will be the first year Malaysians will be able to officially participate in Earth Hour, not that we have been missing out too far behind. The Earth Hour was conceived in Sydney, Australia in 2007. In what took only a year, what started out as a Sydney event turned into a global sustainability movement, with 50 million people participating in the following year (source EarthHour.org) – one to spread the word and create the awareness about global warming. In 2009, Malaysia now joins the 70-odd list of countries with the target to achieve 1 billion participants this time around. To cast a vote for Earth vs. Global Warming, what one needs to do to participate and play an active-role is to first sign up and become a part of the Earth Hour movement. For us Malaysians, this can now be done at www.earthhour.org.my. Next comes the fun, interesting, yet oh-so-simple part – come March 28^th, 2009, at 8.30p.m. – turn off your lights for an hour, 60 whole minutes.

pic source: EarthHour.org

But let's not jump the gun here. This does not mean that you reach out for the main power source of the premises you’re in – you only need to turn off a main light (leaving another supporting light left on). Earth Hour is all about simplicity in actions that one could partake without having to heavily compromise on current convenience in our lifestyle choices. It’s an easy enough task for us to do, and an interesting one – one that will be a real conversation starter. Check out the thoughts and intentions of our local celebs on the upcoming Earth Hour on www.earthhour.org.my. The Earth Hour is a harmless exercise that makes an interesting topic of conversation, which in turn creates more awareness which will inevitably be translated into a more pro-active action towards fighting the war against global warming.

With a target of 1 billion names, WWF hopes that this would be an urgent message sent to world leaders during the next Global Climate Change Conference which will take place in Copenhagen this year. The Earth Hour is a movement conceived and sanctioned by WWF with the aim for the names and urgency of the situation to be presented to world leaders at the conference. This conference is crucial in dictating policies that will govern actions with regards to global warming issues. The policies that will be determined in this year’s conference will replace the current treaty, the Kyoto Protocol that will expire in year 2012. It’s one thing that we actually help with minimizing greenhouse gas emissions within that hour alone, but it is the continuous intention and commitment towards being more eco-conscious that has and will continue to be the main repercussion of the success of Earth Hour. Even Google had its take in participating in Earth Hour by “switching off the lights” on its page last year.

pic source: thinkgreenish.com

Come the last Saturday of the month of March this year (and every coming year), turn it into a mini event, wherever you're at, whomever you're with. And remember to take that baby-step of signing yourself up for the Earth Hour.

Quitting it

2009-01-05T15:38:00.004+08:00

It's sooooooooooooooooo hard to go by a day without my rolled ciggie. I guess we were too gung-ho last year that we had no idea what we're getting ourselves into. But then again, we're Green Buddies and we're supposed to be kind to the environment. So it only makes sense to quit this habit and start to contribute to the environment sincerely (-_-)

Well now that i've kicked ciggies aside, next is to go vegetarian once a week. That'll be hard to do i think. First the ciggies then the nice pork and beef. But never mind, i think i'll be able to do it.

As i'm typing this post, i just feel like smoking one, but i know it's just stupid to even do it. So i won't.

I'll be a good Green Buddy :D

Green Resolution

2009-01-02T15:35:00.003+08:00

In a blink of an eye, 2009 has arrived. Do you already have a new year's resolution? If saving the environment is part of your resolution simple things below might help make the world a greener place.

1) Look for things that has minimal packaging
2) Buy organic produce. Because it doesn't use pesticides, it uses less energy.
3) Bring your own bag to the store and fill it with recycled and organic items.
4) ATM machine : Request for a receipt when you really need one
5) Do your banking online. Because you don’t have to waste petrol driving around and get
yourself caught in the jam
6) Unplug all your electric appliances when they are not in use.
7) Buy local and eat local
8) Buy second hand

From bling to bliss...welcome to the new luxury

2008-12-12T22:13:00.006+08:00

This century has seen the bling, ostentatious consumerism of the 90s gradually rejected in favour of all things that is synonymous with terms like organic, natural, eco-friendly, hybrid, homemade and locally-produced, just to name a few. Something peculiar has happened to our concept of luxury in the past few years. Before I allow you to proceed any further with reading, yes, this post may seem biased and that it’s not a fair representation of all demographics across the globe…BUT – if you’re reading this post, then it definitely applies to you. Do not be pointing fingers that it’s been abandoned the situation of the current global economy, but let us at least be enlightened with a sigh of relief in knowing not only what is today’s concept luxury but also that it is so easily attainable by anyone of us.

Social and economic circumstances have colluded for us to change the understanding of the very concept of luxury. Those of you in the urbanized towns of Malaysia, who hasn’t been in close proximity with someone who is toting a Prada bag or Gucci shades? Pardon the decadence in tone but if you’re really interested in luxury today, you won’t find it plonked on the lap of the girl next to your workstation.

Clearly, the concept of luxury is far from dead. The luxury goods market was worth more than US$ 200 billion last year, and according to Bain & Co., even in light of the global economic turmoil triggered by the subprime crisis, it only has a projected decline of only between 3 to 7 percent in 2009 (after a steady expansion over the past few decades). It’s just that its rules have changed. Generations ago, luxury wasn’t a product, available to anyone who had the money to purchase it, it was founded on a tradition that maintained quality and integrity. And in the Twentieth Century there was the exclusivity of precious Mikimoto pearls and anything that comes with a wait-list that came along with unjustifiable figures to many like the Birkin bag. Today, ‘luxury’ goods can be found piled in mountains by workers in China gluing away thousands of “Made In Italy” tags to leather goods.

As a result, true luxury today embodies something entirely different. Luxury was once in the form of tangible items. Now, it’s sitting on the sofa with the kids after having a warm home-cooked meal together. Duck confit at the latest “It” restaurant in town, or the ability to go on a weekend getaway to an organic farm tucked away from the urban towns we live in? In our time-poor society, it’s not getting one’s hands on the iPhone but the ability to shut it off for the evening.

The new luxury hinges on originality, traceability, ethics, eco-consciousness and a first-hand experience. Sprouting out from the mega-success of online-auction eBay is etsy.com – a site catered entirely to dwellers of luxury being able to make their own hand-made items and then selling it on etsy.com. You’ve been forewarned that it’s another online empire in the making but who would have thunk that an infinite amount of hand-made items could be so in demand? And never mind the fight for the latest mean machines menacing the roads, Chanel has taken a cue of the change in trends by producing its own line of bikes. Imagine that, never mind the special edition automobiles lining up the driveway – in place of that, a Chanel bike tucked under the stairs. And no silly, if you are thinking that Chanel is solely (and arrogantly) attaching its heritage of yester-years with the bike, it’s them inevitably keeping up with the times of the eco-conscious society. And at $12,400 a pop, believe you me that the bike comes with a price enough to rival its engine-enabled counterparts.

Some new ways to indulge in luxury today ranges from spending an entire day in your PJs, and eating organic ice cream straight from the local farm, or growing your own herbs to even sponsoring an orang utan. With the challenging times that lie ahead for most of us in the coming year of 2009, let us not get carried away in benchmarking against what now constitutes as ‘old luxury’ and indulge whenever we can in nouveau luxury.

Cool Green Gadgets

2008-11-25T12:48:00.010+08:00

I came across some really weird but cool green gadgets. These might not be available locally, but I think it is quite fun to know that these kind of stuff do exist.

Now That's Lawn Furniture!Where better to focus your Earth-friendly efforts than in your yard? Just assemble this eco-friendly chair's skeleton, cover it with soil and seed, add water, and wait for it to transform into a chair.

The FlowerPod Concept designed by Designnord of Denmark, presents you with a full-grown digital flower (right) if your energy use is moderate. If your eco-consciousness lags, so does the flower. The idea is that the reward of a healthy-looking blossom will encourage everyone in your family to do their part to shrink the home's carbon footprint. The FlowerPod also hooks up to an Information Portal, which displays your usage of electricity, heating, cooling and water.

These weird, spaceship-looking, green balls are billed as detergent substitutes. Put them into your washing machine with your dirty clothes, and they supposedly produce ionized oxygen, naturally activating nearby water molecules. This, according to their maker, enables the balls, priced at approximately $70 for a set of three, to penetrate deep into clothing fibers and lift dirt away. Eco balls promise to be chemical-free and environmentally friendly, and the maker says that one set will last for 1,000 washes, which would make them less expensive per use than regular detergent.

In this concept design for the Core77 contest, Jim Mielke of the United States really pushed the boundaries of his imagination. When the cell phone rings, you push a small dot on your arm. A 2-by-4-inch tattoo with the image of the cell phone's digital display then appears. Answer the call by pushing one of the tattoo's buttons. When you're done, the tattoo disappears. And best of all, you'd never leave this phone in your jeans in the washer. The HYmini is a baby wind turbine that can produce sufficient electricity to charge most gadgets, including MP3 players, digital cameras and cell phones. Attach it to your bike handlebars or to your arm as you move about. Just 20 minutes of wind exposure will give the device's internal battery enough juice to support 30 minutes of iPod time. The $49.99 HYmini comes with mini solar panels and extra batteries, too, so you can switch elements to store power. And in a pinch, you can charge it in a regular wall outlet.

Source : http://tech.msn.com/guides/green/slideshow.aspx?cp-documentid=6998573

2008-11-18T12:27:00.008+08:00

Source: DiGi Telecommunications Sdn. Bhd.

Google has been touted as “the most desirable place to work in the United States”. All the way across the globe however, I have discovered that based on aesthetics alone, in my own personal experience, DiGi Telecommunications’ head office, aptly named Digi D’house, is undoubtedly the most desirable place to work in in Malaysia.

It was a good while ago but I significantly recalled reading the newspaper write-up on DiGi’s head office in Subang Hi-Tech Industrial Park. I remember seeing the pictures of the head office and thinking to myself “this can’t be in the country!” but yet I continued ogling at such a marvel of an office place. Needless to say I leaped at the opportunity to see first-hand the place DiGi calls home. I certainly went with my own set of expectations in mind and I must admit that right from the moment I set foot in the lobby, keeping my cool was quite a task in itself.

Indeed, we met DiGi. No, the resort-like workplace is not an urban myth but I digress. When we heard of DiGi’s latest Corporate Responsibility (CR) programme we knew we wanted to know more. Any one of us who has lived in Malaysia in recent years will know that DiGi is synonymous with the colour yellow. So when DiGi announced Deep Green (“DG” – pun intended?) it certainly piqued our interest in wanting to delve deeper into DiGi’s CR initiatives. And upon finally coming to a time that is in agreement with the right people, DiGi graciously allowed us to pick at their gray matter.

Initially, the initiation seemingly appeared as a shift in terms of DiGi’s CR efforts. We have always known to associate DiGi’s efforts to community engagement, with which more often than not, it is in relation to the young and the creative ones. “Why the sudden shift?” we thought. It was then revealed to us that it is not a sudden shift that was conceived out of the inevitable growing affinity towards all things going green. It has been a while now that with much awareness, DiGi recognized that there is an alarming and urgent need for change in the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) industry. The one fact that stood out was that from “a McKinsey report on the environmental impact by various industries revealed that the ICT industry is set to outstrip the aviation industry as the major source of CO2 emissions by 2012” (Source: DiGi Telecommunications Sdn. Bhd.).

This doesn’t just involve the industry makers alone – but this includes consumers, myself included, who depend on the ICT industry that contributes to the alarming statement. It is with this in mind that DiGi has cultivated a stance consistent throughout its organization to ensure the preservation and salvation of the environment. It is with such conscientiousness that has led for DiGi to include Environment as one of the legs of the tripod that forms the CR Strategic Focus. From the preservation of the hillock in its office grounds that was kept and built around down to the concept of the large, wide windows throughout the building to ensure reduction of electricity consumption, DiGi is consistent in that it has clearly incorporated sustaining the environment within its own organization before venturing out into the community.

The tagline under the company’s Corporate Responsibility arm – “Doing Great While Doing Good”. The office culture, working environment and D’House alone, this a reflection and fair representation of the company? I for one definitely wouldn’t mind clocking in the long hours (if necessary) in a working environment like this – if everyone works together a common belief, a common good. And yes, I shamefully admit that claiming a site like DiGi D’House as a second home is an all-too alluring thought.

A Crude Awakening - The Oil Crash (Film by Chris Paine)

2008-11-04T16:03:00.004+08:00

About 2 days ago, during the weekend, I went to Malaysia's first ever Eco Film Fest 2008. It was held at the National Arts Academy in KL. Well it was freaking hot when i got there. But nevertheless, the hall for movie screenings was cold as the Arctic. Then i thought to myself, omg, this is madness. The weather outside is hot as hell and the air-conditioning inside is ridiculously cold. It's not really good for the body, really.

But then again, this is Malaysia and not like anyone would give two hoots about this situation as long as they are comfortable with where they are.

The film on oil crash was an eye opener for me. I think it was an eye opener for the rest of the audience as well. We were so enthused by the commentaries made by the people whom the film director interviewed. And mind you, these are former politicians who served the Bush Sr. administration, Reagan administration and Carter administration. They had points of view that will blow your mind away. And they even had information that will make you want to run for President of the United States just so you could stop the oil crisis.

Americans are addicted to oil. It's sad to know that they produce only 2% of the worldwide oil production but they use 25% of the world's oil reserves. And the figures will continue to rise if whoever's at the administration this year don't put a stop to this oil blunder.

In 1977, Americans used over 8 million barrels of oil per day. In 2000, the barrels now amount to more than 13 million a day. The oil economy will continue to peak and according to Hubbert's theory it happens every 20 years or so. And when it does happen again, there might not be anymore reserves left for us to dig.

It took the Earth 150-200 million years to naturally produce crude oil, and it took humans 200 years to use up almost all of it. I don't think we can afford to wait any longer until the last reserve is discovered. Our grandchildren might not even get a chance to ride an airplane because by then, cars and airplanes will be rides for the elites.

It's really depressing sometimes to know that these big fat capitalists are the ones who have to power to change everything. Unfortunately, greed is all they have in their hearts. Too bad for the rest of us, only a crude awakening will knock them hard in their heads. By then, hopefully all is not too late. Because I believe that human creativity will prevail because we're all inventors. I believe another kind of 'oil' will be contrived for our industries. And i do hope it's friendly for the earth.

4 Eco-Friendly Ways To Repel Mosquitoes

2008-10-30T21:35:00.006+08:00

We know all tropical countries are filled with blood-sucking mosquitoes that are too dangerous for us. We're not safe in our own homes, let alone in the jungle.

I was browsing through the internet and i found this info on how to repel mosquitoes without having to buy mosquitoe or insect repellent. So to not let the mosquitoes make a meal out of you, here's how you can do it in 4 eco-friendly ways:

1. A citronella candle works well to cover an area. Or you can use citronella oil. The oil or the essence comes from the leaves or the stem of a type of plant from the Cymbopogon species. This plant is also known as the 'mosquitoe' plant. Unfortunately, citronella doesn't remain potent for long on human skin. So you'll need to apply the oil every 30 minutes or so.

2. Wear light-coloured clothings. Mosquitoes are attracted to dark-coloured clothings.

3. Remove or cover all standing water near your home. This will induce the varmints to breed elsewhere.

4. Remain unscented. Mosquitoes are attracted to floral smells. Do not use scented soap if you do not wish for the mosquitoes to make a meal out of you.

So here you go. Four simple ways to repel mosquitoes. You can stop buying Ridsects now...hehehe!!!

Protecting the environment an uphill task

2008-10-30T12:04:00.004+08:00

I saw this article titled "10 things to do if I were the Minister of Natural Resources and Environment" and i think that it is very insightful and perhaps if some of the things were to be implemented, it would do the environment more good than harm.

Revenue sharing between federal and state government
I will formulate a scheme that will give the state governments a better slice of government revenue while giving them greater responsibility for caring for the environment.
I will provide performance-linked incentives to the state governments to protect their forests, water catchments, and other natural resources.

Environmental Quality Council
I will revamp and revitalize the Environmental Quality Council. The council, despite being in existence since the enactment of the Environmental Quality Act, 1974, has not made any impact on environmental protection and management. When I say advice, I expect advice at a policy and strategic level, advice on the direction to move forward, advice on how the Department of Environment is doing, and advice on where we are going wrong.

A more visible minister
I will be more visible, more vocal and strive to be the face of the country's environmental management. This sector has a visibility problem. All the key government people keep a low profile. The public has no icon, no champion to look up to.

Better support for NGOs
I realize that many of the effective environmental programmes in this country, particularly those at the community level, have been implemented and funded by NGOs. I will ensure that my ministry appreciates and accepts their independent thinking and constructive criticism.

National transportation policy
I will cajole, and if necessary threaten, my colleague, the Minister of Transport, that the National Transportation Policy should be jointly formulated by three ministries -- my ministry, Transport Ministry and Ministry of Energy, Water and Telecommunications. Transportation has such great impact on the environment and energy use that it cannot be left just to one ministry to decide. I do not want the Transport Ministry to just invite one of my officers to sit in some committee.

National Biological Diversity Policy
I will reformulate the National Biological Diversity Policy. The present policy is outdated, so obscure that almost no one outside my ministry knows it, sets no targets, provides some vague directions and was formulated without serious stakeholder engagement.

Environmental impacts of the Malaysia Development Plans
It is time that we started looking at how our major policies, programmes and plans are affecting the environment. For example, we can't blame a farmer for opening farm land in Cameron Highlands -- our National Agriculture Policy encourages temperate agriculture. We can't blame TNB for building coal-fired power plants -- our Energy Policy explicitly calls for the use of coal.My ministry will study the environmental impacts of the major initiatives under the 9MP so that we can advise the Cabinet appropriately when the 10th Malaysia Plan is drafted in two years' time.

Biofuel
Although the original intentions were noble, viz to produce more environment-friendly fuel and to rely less on fossil fuels, there is now an increasing body of scientific knowledge that there are unintended adverse consequences. Demand for palm oil and other biofuels is now threatening forest land and many important wildlife species, as well as pushing food prices up to the point where they threaten the welfare of millions of people, especially in the Third World. Given the volume of scientific and economic analysis that is emerging, it is just a matter of time before many developed countries change their biofuel policies, almost certainly reducing demand for palm-oil based biofuels. We need to rethink our strategy now

Water resource management
If you look at our rivers, you will know instantly that we have not got it right.
I will push for a re-examination of these shortcomings, streamline the roles and responsibilities of the various agencies, and push for greater responsibility of state governments in water resource management.I will also give emphasis to the many grey areas such as catchment management and protection, sullage discharges, riparian reserves, quality of surface runoff, and protection of river aquatic life.

Environmental awareness and education
I will work with the Education Minister to infuse greater environmental understanding into the school curriculum.While there is some ongoing effort in this respect, this is not enough. We need to nurture teachers who are "environmentally-sensitive" -- hence the need to expand environmental education in teachers' training.

Source : News Sunday Times October 26 2008

Eco-Living

2008-10-22T16:02:00.016+08:00

Planning to build a new house or looking for some furniture? Check out these eco-friendly houses and eco-friendly furniture!

Chairs and tables designed by a UK designer David Stovell from newspaper that are tightly rolled and bundle up together. The wine racks are made out of sustainable English wood.

This is a house that us made out of aluminum cans. The Paper House is an actual house made from paper. It was built in 1922 by Mr. Elis F. Stenman, a mechanical engineer, who created building block material purely out of newspaper (about 100,000 newspapers were used). The only wood used in the house was for the frame, floor & roofs. The house was built with electricity & had running water but no bathroom.

Hope these will provide some inspiration to all the eco friendly people out there!

The Unsung Heroes

2008-09-26T14:36:00.006+08:00

And so it is. Ingenuity in the green context does pay off. Here are some of the rich greenies who earned enough fortune and deeds to help save planet earth! Well at least to some certain degree - to sustain a livable future.

Some of these rich greenies proved one thing. That being environmental responsible and earning the millions at the same time is possible. I wonder what it’s like to be waking up to the world every day with such complete sense of satisfaction. My business will change the course of the human race. That is big. Surely it is something that anyone can live with for long.

[Source from http://earthfirst.com/tag/renewable-energy/]

John Mackey, Whole Foods

Way back in 1978, John Mackey dropped out of college and borrowed $45,000 from family friends to open Safer Way Natural Foods, a small vegetarian health food store in Austin, Texas. After experiencing some difficulty in his first few years in business, Mackey approached the owners of another Austin health food store about a merger, and together they became Whole Foods, which later became the most successful natural foods chain in the world. Mackey has declined to disclose his personal net worth, but we know that prior to 2006, when he announced that he was no longer in the business to make money and would henceforth only make $1 per year, he was netting $400,000 annually. He reportedly has enough money now to give at least $1 million away to charity every year, and as CEO of such a huge company, we’re sure he’s pretty damn comfortable.

Pedro Moura Costa, EcoSecurities

EcoSecurities is an Irish carbon mitigation firm that has developed more projects than any other similar business, and co-founder Pedro Moura Costa got $10 million richer last year when he sold some of his shares in the firm. Moura Costa knew that the carbon market could be big business, especially once the Kyoto Protocol was established. It may have taken longer than he expected for the market to become very profitable, but he’s done well and will continue to make even more: his remaining shares are worth an estimated $83 million.

When asked by Reuters whether the thought green business was a bubble, Moura Costa said, “It’s become quite obvious we do something now or it will be an irreversible trend with catastrophic consequences. The only chance of it being a bubble is if we lack the political commitment to drive emission reductions worldwide — and if we do that we might as well forget about any environmental effort whatsoever because climate change is hitting us hard and the trend is likely to accelerate. I think it’s very unlikely political support will go away.”

David Scaysbrook, Novera Energy

When David Scaysbrook founded Australian firm Novera Energy in 1998, he was convinced that unlike other forms of renewable energy that were available at the time, wind power had real potential. He became a millionaire when cashing in $7 million worth of shares in the company, and is still a non-executive director on the board. He’s also a founding shareholder of Viridis Energy Capital, a specialist green energy fund with a global focus and a portfolio of investments in landfill gas, biomass and hydro power.

David is confident that we haven’t seen anything yet when it comes to the success of the wind power industry, telling Reuters that he believes fears about energy security, the rising price of oil and growing concerns about the environment will push the scale of investment in wind to far greater proportions, which will undoubtedly continue adding millions to his bank account.