The Earth from Above (II)
The Earth From Above Exhibition, in Sydney.Where will Chinese White Dolphins go to?
WWF worries further reclamation of Chinese white dolphins habitats
WWF is dismayed about the Hong Kong Government's plan to reclaim up to 100 hectares of sea off northern Lantau for the construction of Boundary Crossing Facilities ("BCF") for the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge.
The proposed reclamation, a new idea clearly not included in the Revised Concept Plan for Lantau ("the Plan") published in May 2007 by the Government's Lantau Development Task Force. WWF worries that such uncoordinated proposal not only will deviate from the conservation intentions set by the Plan, but is incompatible with the sustainable development of Lantau, particularly to the Chinese white dolphins.
Cumulative impacts on Chinese white dolphins
The Chinese white dolphin has already been subject to intense disturbance to its habitat in Hong Kong . In the past 12 years, over 1,700 hectares of sea have been reclaimed within the relatively small area inhabited by the Chinese white dolphin ("CWD") in Hong Kong's western waters. Reclamation has not only caused a direct loss to the CWD's habitats, it also removes habitat for the fish on which the dolphins feed.
The cumulative impacts incurred by the past, present and future projects to the Chinese white dolphin are alarming. In addition to the Bridge, as well as CLP Holdings's proposed LNG terminal at Soko Islands, WWF is seriously concerned about the cumulative impacts of other large proposed engineering projects in dolphin habitat including a third runway at Chek Lap Kok airport, Container Terminal 10 and others.
WWF calls for a conservation strategy to protect Chinese white dolphins from further encroachment of habitats
"Our Government currently lacks a comprehensive strategy to assess impacts of development projects on CWD to ensure the continual survival of CWD in Hong Kong waters," said Dr. Alan Leung, Senior Conservation Officer of WWF Hong Kong. "The Government also lacks an overall policy to assess the cumulative impacts on CWD when considering reclamation works from infrastructure projects," he said.
If we continue to increase the disturbance to the long-lived animals such as Chinese white dolphins, at some point their population will go into serious decline in Hong Kong from which it may never recover. For a long-lived species such as CWD, a decline may not be easily noticeable. But once such a decline is discovered, remedies may be too late. Such a phenomenon has already happened to green turtles in Hong Kong.
WWF calls on the Government to:
- avoid and minimize further reclamation of seas inhabited by CWD;
- swiftly formulate a conservation strategy to protect CWD, a mascot of Hong Kong, from the various threats pushing them towards extinction;
- adopt strategic planning for any development or reclamation work to be constructed within CWD habitats and assess potential cumulative impacts on CWD.
All information comes from WWF Hong Kong. More actions to save dolphins here.
Going black to save the planet!
Have a green holiday! (II)
*Keep your showers short, and shut off the water while you're brushing your teeth.
*When you leave the room, turn off the air conditioning, heat, television, lights or any other electric devices.
*Reuse your sheets and towels instead of having them changed every day. Many hotels will not replace your towels if you leave them hanging up neatly; if you're not sure, write a note for the housekeeping staff or notify the front desk.
*Bring your own toiletries and drinking cup rather than using the prepackaged ones provided. If you do use the hotel's toiletries, take them with you and use them at home or during the rest of your trip.
*Know your hotel's recycling program and sort your trash accordingly. If your hotel doesn't recycle, consider taking your empty bottles or other items home with you to recycle them there. *Give your hotel feedback. Express your appreciation for any eco-friendly programs it currently offers — or if it doesn't, encourage the management to go green in the future.
Transportation — particularly air travel — is where most travelers have the biggest environmental impact. According to USA Today, a flight from New York to Denver produces as much carbon dioxide per passenger as an SUV produces in a month. To minimize your environmental footprint, try the following steps:
*Offset the carbon emissions produced by your flight.
*For shorter trips, take the train instead of flying — especially in Europe or other regions where train service is fast and frequent.
*When renting a car, choose the smallest vehicle that can comfortably accommodate you. *Decline any "free" upgrades (which will cost you more in gas).
*Rent a hybrid car.
*Taking a long road trip? If your personal vehicle is large and not very fuel-efficient, consider renting an economy car instead. You'll save gas and avoid putting miles on your own vehicle.
*Whenever possible, use public transportation instead of a taxis or rental cars. Better yet, walk or bike.
*Travel with a tour operator that's environmentally responsible. Before you book, be sure to ask about group size (smaller groups tend to make less of an environmental impact), whether the tours are led by locals, how the tour operator gives back to the community, and what kind of lodging is included.
*When hiking, always stay on marked trails and maintain a safe distance from any animals you encounter. Deposit your trash in marked receptacles or take it with you when you leave. Light campfires only in established fire rings and be sure they're completely extinguished before you leave.
*When snorkeling, do not touch the coral or stir up sediment, as these actions can damage the reef's fragile ecosystem.
*Try to buy local products whenever possible instead of those that have been flown or shipped in from overseas. You'll support the local economy and get a taste of native cuisine. Do not, however, buy souvenirs or other products made from endangered animals or plants — in most cases you can't get them through Customs anyway.
*Treat the locals with respect. Learn a few words in the native language, be open to cultural differences, and read up on the area before your trip so you're sensitive to issues of dress and behavior.
*Consider taking a volunteer vacation to give back directly to the place you're visiting.
Have a green holiday! (I)
Summer holidays have arrived, everybody going on vacation. The winds of change also have come to our holidays. Not just at home or work, but we can also have a green attitude on holidays and still enjoy them!
What is green travel?
"Green travel" is one of many catch phrases — like ecotourism, sustainable tourism and responsible travel — that are bandied about with increasing frequency these days. But what exactly do these terms mean?
There are various shades of difference among all these terms, but at the heart of the matter is the importance of protecting the natural and cultural environment of the places you visit. That means conserving plants, wildlife and other resources; respecting local cultures and ways of life; and contributing positively to local communities.
Why go green?
With nearly 1 billion tourists crisscrossing the globe every year, it's more important than ever for travelers to minimize their individual impact on the earth's natural and cultural treasures. The potential negative effects of tourism are both local and global; oceanfront hotels contribute to beach erosion in Hawaii, rising numbers of visitors threaten the fragile ecosystems of the Galapagos Islands, and carbon dioxide emissions from planes are a growing contributor to global warming.
Taking a green approach to travel is an easy and essential way to protect the places you love to visit, not just for yourself but for the travelers who come after you and for the people who will continue to live there long after you've flown home. As an added bonus, it often makes for a more rewarding, authentic travel experience, encouraging deeper connections with the people and places you visit.
Contrary to popular belief, you don't necessarily have to pay more in order to travel green. While offsetting the carbon emissions from your air travel will set you back a negligible amount (usually between $10 and $40 per flight, depending on the length), you can find green lodging options in all budgets, from hostels to luxury hotels. And earth-friendly transportation options like biking, walking and taking public transit are often cheaper than taking a cab or renting a car.
Choosing a green hotel:
There are a number of Web sites that list environmentally friendly hotels, B&B's and lodges around the world; these are a good place to start. Keep in mind that each site has its own guidelines for rating properties, so you'll want to do your homework to make sure that the hotel meets the standards you're looking for.
A few questions to ask before booking your hotel:
Is the hotel locally owned and operated? If not, is it at least staffed by local employees?
What kind of recycling programs does the hotel have (aluminum, plastic, paper, gray water, composting)?
Do guests have the option to reuse towels and sheets instead of having them changed every day?
What programs does the hotel have to reduce consumption? Examples include energy-efficient lighting, low-flow toilets and showers, and alternative energy sources like solar or wind power.
How does the hotel contribute to the local community?
Sarah Schlichter, Independent Traveller
Kite on wheels
Forget biodiesel and fuel cell-powered vehicles, how about a whip that doesn't require any fuel whatsoever? The Venturi Eclectic, touted as an "autonomous energy vehicle," gets its charge from wind gusts and 8.2 square feet of solar cells atop its roof. The four-person ride boasts a 22-horsepower purely electric engine, is powered by liquid-cooled NiMH batteries, and can reach a (yawn-inducing) top-end speed of nearly 32mph. While it's no Wrightspeed X1, the designers had "daily driver" in mind when the Ecletic was crafted, but considering it'll only roll 31 miles on a full charge, you best take the scenic (read: sunny) route to work if you're facing a long commute. The car does sport an option to recharge via AC power, should you face darker (and calmer) than expected conditions, but since it weighs just 772 pounds, a foursome shouldn't have too much trouble using the tried and true "push method" if worse comes to worst. Scheduled for production in June 2007, this oh-so-green automombile will run you €24,000 ($30,511) -- if you can manage to score one of the 200 that'll be built, that is.
Give me a call, says the leopard.
India Uses 'Mooing' Ringtones To Catch Leopards
The wild cats in the state of Gujarat often roam into villages near forests in search of food, say officials, adding that this results in attacks on people.
But rather than use methods such as live bait like goats tied to trees to lure the leopards, which then fall into large pits dug by guards, officials say they have found a safer method to trap the cats.
"The moos of a cow, bleating of a goat from the phone has proved effective to trap leopards," said D. Vasani, a senior forest official in Gujarat. "This trick works."
Vasani said forest guards have downloaded the sounds of over a dozen animals as ringtones on their mobiles which they attach to speakers and fix behind a cage.
They then play the ringtone continuously for up to two hours until the curious leopard appears and moves into the cage looking for its easy meal.
Five leopards have so far been lured from villages since the new ringtone method was introduced a month ago. The cats have all been released back into forest areas.
Wildlife activists welcomed the new initiative saying that previous methods of trapping the cats using pits often resulted in the animals getting injured.
A pause for famous thinkers
George Farnum
"We need a moral philosophy in which the concept of love,so rarely mentioned now by the philosophers, is made central."
Iris Murdoch
Sustainable solutions for a healthy planet - RECYCLE
Third and last: Recycle
There is a reason why "recyle" comes last in the mantra "reduce, reuse, recycle". Most people tend to forget that the processes involved in recycling including collection, transportation, processing and conversion. All require energy- often derived from oil! That's why REDUCE and REUSE are the best preventive way to avoid waste!
1. Recycle Bins: Create designated holding "bins" for each type of recycled product and place in convenient locations in your home/garage asdgadgafgadgxcvgasdfgadsgadfgjal'ksdkghas;hgajksdhgak;sjhga;jksdhgalk;shgalksdhfgal;sjhgad;fg
*glass
*paper products
*plastic grocery bags (better yet - use cloth bags)
*plastic - including 1 - 7 identification codes
*aluminum
*cardboard
*tin cans
*scrap metal
*motor oil (one quart of oil can kill fish in thousands of gallons of water)
*ink cartridges
*household appliances such as refrigerators
*computer equipment and other electronic devices
*aseptic packaging (square boxes used for liquids)
*styrofoam
*tires
*athletic shoes (contact a local sporting goods or athletic shoe store - some donate used shoes, others recycle them)
6. Composting: Start a compost pile with yard trimmings and food scraps. Learn more at Wikipedia's Compost page.
7. Pack-it-Out: If you are traveling and no recycle bins are available, pack your recyclables home with you whenever possible.
8. Eco-Friendly Burials: For the ultimate in recycling, consider the growing movement in eco-friendly burials that allow the body to recycle back into the earth and help to restore the land.
*Building Materials - paint , varnish, paint thinner, solvents, rust remover, wood preservatives and driveway sealer
*Automotive products - gasoline, transmission oil, brake fluid, kerosene, charcoal lighter fluid, power steering fluid, used motor oil,used oil filters, used antifreeze
*Household cleaners - spot removers, rug cleaners, metal cleaners, bathroom cleaners, oven cleaner, drain cleaner
*Pesticides - insect killers, weed killers, flea products, moth crystals, fertilizers with weed killer
*Miscellaneous - photographic chemicals, acids and corrosive chemicals, pool chemicals, fluorescent light bulbs, Ni-Cd batteries.
Words are needless....The image speaks for itself...Do you care?
Sustainable solutions for a healthy planet - REUSE
The media has done a wonderful job of selling us on the attractiveness and benefits of buying "new", "improved", "special", etc. products. However, we already collectively own so much that we could all survive for quite a while on the existing products - if we just reused them a few times!
1. Garage Sales: Shop at and hold garage sales - this is a great way to reuse products.
Reusables: Switch from disposable to reusable products: food and beverage containers, cups, plates, writing pens, razors, diapers, towels, shopping bags, etc.
3. Donations: Donate your old:
*household items - clothes, furniture, dishes, books, sports equipment, magazines, appliances, electronics, business attire, wedding attire, etc. (to charity)
computer equipment
*building material (to companies who specialize in selling used material)
*cell phones and ink cartridges
*eyeglasses
*extra hangers (to your local dry cleaners)
*art materials (to a school or cultural organization)
*unwanted boxed/bagged/canned food (to homeless shelters, food banks, or soup kitchens)
etc.
4. Buy/Sell Used Items: Buy and sell your items on sites such as:
*Ebay
*Local second hand stores
5. Community Swap: Organize a community swap program (i.e., designate a place where people can leave unwanted items for others to use).
6. Buy Durables: Buy products that will last and take care of them.
7. Teach Thrift: Teach your children the value of being thrifty (the wise economy in the management of money and other resources; frugality).
8. Frugal Printing: Use both sides of each piece of paper -- for note taking or printing documents from your computer (at home or work). Create note pads by stapling together once-used paper.
9. Kitchen Reuseables: Instead of buying these items new, save and reuse all: paper bags, rubber bands, twisties, boxes, and packaging material. Reuse your plastic bags with a handy bag dryer.
10. Library: Pick up books from your local library or used book store. The library is also many times a great place for finding magazines, CDs, books-on-tape, and videos.
11. Rechargeable Batteries: Purchase rechargeable batteries and a battery recharger (some battery rechargers will also recharge regular alkaline batteries).
Unplug them
Yes, it's true, so please unplug all charging devices - laptops, mobile phones and others, after charging is complete! It's only a simple gesture that is worth a lot!
SAVING ENERGY REDUCES GLOBAL WARMING!
Sustainable solutions for a healthy planet - REDUCE
The critical first step of waste prevention has been overshadowed by a focus on recycling. Please help to promote a greater awareness of the importance of the "Reduce" part of the Reduce-Reuse-Recycle mantra.
To reduce is the first priority in the waste reduction heirarchy. Using less in the first place, sometimes called source reduction, is the easiest way to solve the world's mounting garbage problem. Source reduction means reducing the amount of material that enters the waste stream. It avoids disposal and pollution problems right from the start, and it conserves natural resources and energy. Reducing waste at the beginning means there will be less waste to be recycled or landfilled. Try some of these ideas at home, school or work today!
1. Simplify: Simplify your life as much as possible. Only keep belongings that you use/enjoy on a regular basis. By making the effort to reduce what you own, you will naturally purchase less/create less waste in the future.
2. Tree-Free Home: As much as possible, create a tree-free home:
*replace paper napkins with cloth napkins
*replace paper towels with a special set of cloth towels/napkins - store the used ones in a small container in your kitchen and just wash and reuse
*purchase bleach-free, toilet paper that is made from the highest post-consumer waste content you can find (80% minimum)
*if you print documents, print on once-used paper and/or bleach-free, recycled paper with the highest post-consumer waste content available (or hemp/alternative-source paper, if you can afford it)
*create and use note pads from once-used paper
*leave messages for family members/roommates on a reusable message board
*make your own cards/letters from once-used products or handmade paper
3. Reduce Purchases: In general, think before you buy any product - do you really need it? How did the production of this product impact the environment and what further impacts will there be with the disposal of the product (and associated packaging materials)? When you are thinking about buying something, try the 30-Day Rule -- wait 30 days after the first time you decide you want a product to really make your decision. This will eliminate impulse buying.
4. Bulk Purchases: Avoid products that are packaged for single use (i.e., drinks, school lunches, candy, cat and dog food, salad mixings, etc.). Instead, buy in bulk and transfer the products to your own reusable containers. Many health food stores have bulk bins where they sell everything from grains to cereal to cleaning products.
For additional ideas, read the Precycling information page.
6. Avoid Trash: Avoid creating trash wherever possible: when ordering food, avoid receiving any unnecessary plastic utensils, straws, etc. (ask in advance), buy ice cream in a cone instead of a cup, don't accept "free" promotional products, buy products with the least amount of packaging, etc. Every little bit of trash avoided does make a difference!
7. Shopping Bags: While shopping, if you only buy a few products skip the shopping bag. For larger purchases, bring your own.
8. Junk Mail: Find the way to avoid junk mail in your hometown.
9. Green Hotels: When staying at a hotel, motel, or bed and breakfast let the management know that you like to support businesses that adopt environmentally responsible practices (including reducing waste). Print out and drop off the Sustainable Solutions for Green Hotels list. To locate environmentally friendly hotels, search on the Internet under "ecotourism" and/or visit Green Hotels Association.
*Mug-to-Go: Carry a mug with you wherever you go for take out beverages.
*Protect Children: Protect your child from mindless consumption.
And more tips for REDUCING waste go to here!
Baby diapers facts
Your baby will spend about 25,000 hours in diapers and need about 6,000 diaper changes during the first years of life. Since your baby will spend so much time in diapers, let’s take a closer look at disposable diapers. On the market since the early 60’s, the disposable diaper changed from a plastic diaper with a lot of paper fluff to a diaper constructed of a waterproof plastic outer layer, an absorbent pad with super absorbent chemicals, and an inner liner. The super absorbent chemical, sodium polyacrylate, absorbs and holds fluids in the diaper. This chemical has been linked to toxic shock syndrome, can cause allergic reactions, and is lethal to cats if inhaled. This chemical is toxic. Dioxin, the most toxic of all cancer-linked chemicals, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), is a byproduct of bleaching paper. The disposables also use dyes, potencially harmful. The Food & Drug Administration (FDA) received reports that fragrances caused headaches, dizziness, and rashes. Problems may arise if plastic parts of diaper are torn by the babies and taken to the mouth or nose!
About 5 million tons of untreated body excrement, which may carry over 100 intestinal viruses, is brought to landfills via disposables. This may contribute to groundwater contamination and attract insects that carry and transmit diseases. In 1990, 18 billion disposables were thrown into United States landfills. Is it wise to use 3.4 billion gallons of oil and over 250,000 trees a year to manufacture disposables that end up in our already overburdened landfills? These disposables are not readily biodegradable. The paper must be exposed to air and sun to decompose. Thirty percent of a disposable diaper is plastic and is not compostable. Even if the rest of the diaper could be composted, these plants could only handle 400 of the 10,000 tons of diapers tossed in landfills EACH DAY, assuming they didn’t have to process any other compostable garbage. Biodegradable diapers have cornstarch added to the plastic to break it into tiny pieces. The pieces still end up in landfills.
And the good news are:
Nowadays there are several alternatives to normal disposable diapers. You may find organic diapers (biodegradable, without bleach or other chemicals that may harm the baby's skin and the environment, you may even order with amazon.com) or you may turn to old-style reusable diapers. Don't be scared right away! These diapers don't need to be tied with pins or anything. They already come in the shape of the disposable diaper, with elastics and attachable strips, and experienced mommies say it's easy to clean....
It's cool and easy on your purse, your baby's skin and spares the environment ;-)
And if you are a mommy-to-be in Macau, it will not cost you a thing to take a peek at THIS! It may sound strange at first, but the info may be useful!
Beautiful and new campaign, sad and old subject
Singapore Veterinary Authority launched a new and spectacular "Responsible Ownership Campaign" for protection of pets, on a postcard format. New, modern, true and the image gets inside us. This campaign was awarded with the most popular advertisement prize!
It appeals to pet owners to think before they adopt an animal, and that all creatures, great and small deserve to be treated with respect and dignity, and can't be filed or shelved as we please or as best suits us.
The advertisements' deliberate attempt to juxtapose the animals with toys and memorabilia brought across the message that pets cannot be shelved away but require their owner's lifelong commitment and care.
Still, in Singapore, the city of rules and progress, hundreds and hundreds of pets, from hamsters to dogs, are abandonned and finally put to sleep.
Sadly, and despite all the efforts, people still don't think twice before getting a new pet into their lifes.
It is, after all, a commitment with another life. It's not just for the fun of it.
And in the end, it all should be simple as this: If you don't like them, just don't get one! End of story!
Just dropped my questions in the portal of Macau Government.
Deixei as minhas questões aqui.
Bom dia,
Gostaria de indagar junto de vós se existe algum plano para a introdução de autocarros movidos a electricidade em Macau. É uma iniciativa já visível em muitas cidades do mundo e visa acompanhar o desenvolvimento sustentável das cidades e promover uma melhoria na qualidade do ar.
Gostaria igualmente de perguntar quais são as perspectivas e planos de melhoria da qualidade do ar e redução da poluição que existem para Macau, face ao aumento exacerbado do número de carros e motas em Macau.
Uma última questão, gostaria ainda de saber qual a legislação aplicável para a emissão de gases poluentes dos veículos automobilizados visto haver centenas de carros, motas e autocarros que à vista de todos emitem do tubo de escape um desagradável fumo preto, que julgo resultar de falta de vistoria e avarias e que aparentemente sobre eles não há qualquer controlo ou medidas no sentido de serem multados ou forçados a resolverem o problema.
Agradeço e aguardo a vossa resposta.
Atenciosamente,
T.F.
Ficaremos à espera da resposta!
DICA QUE O AMBIENTE AGRADECE / A hint that will help the environment
Animal testing?
The "rivalry" between those for and those against it exists, as much as for the abortion issue and other hot subjects.
But what one should wonder is "What can be reduced for now? In which way I may help?"
Even though arguable, animal testing has opened the path to discover treatment for many diseases and make new discoveries. (Read more)
However, animal models can't always be extrapolated to humans. There are many physiological differences between Man and other animals and even between different species. This is a major factor the ones against animal testing use to support their position. Even Fleming, the father of penicillin didn't use animals for testing, as many products used in animals may be totally ineffective in humans, and even have an opposite effect.
Some non-vital products companies should ban the use of animals in testing their products, like the cosmetics and household products industries, and many others. These experiments are considered useless and this blogger agrees with it, and also with reducing animal use in experiments in general. Even in schools and universities for teaching purposes (I always skipped classes in university where teachers were going to kill mice, rats, frogs and rabbits to prove something everybody knew. And hummmm, actually, after some experiences, some of the poor rabbits ended up in the cooking pot at the assistant's kitchen...)
What we may do to help is to choose products and brands which were not tested on animals over those which have used animals to certify their products.
In those animal-friendly products, the clear indication of that may be found in the packaging. You may find them widespread in the market now. Many animal friendly and also earth-friendly house and body products can be found in New Zealand Products Shops in Macau (another huge problem...chemicals in household and body products...for a future post!) .
Here you may find a list of animal-friendly brands, a shopping guide or here!
One of the dearest things for this blogger here is the respect for all the living creatures. To be ethical and responsible. To teach children how to behave and respect life and the planet.
Laboratory animals, from daphnias to monkeys, deserve our compassion and every effort should be taken to minimize their suffering or to ban their use.
There is a recently growing trend of scientists aiming to reduce the number of animals used in testings, as many are being substituted by computer models or by those so called lower sensibility animals, like invertebrates. Maybe someday a total ban will come, who knows?
What is the use of insisting on mother-offspring bond deprivation studies in baby monkeys, condemned to isolation since birth, when it is known that they will suffer like hell, become deeply depressed and irreversibly develop stereotypes? There are to many human clinical and real cases from whom scientists may learn and study and be able to help and improve the condition of other patients.
Reduction and regulation of animal testing in all countries should be the key to prevent indiscriminate testing and unnecessary use of animals.
And just a final thought....
Would you feel insecure if you bought a product that has not been tested on animals?
Would you rather buy one that has been tested?
How do you feel about it? Would you take a product with one of these symbols:
(Not-animal-tested (BUAV logo)
logo in Europe,
from here)
I left some tools for now... make your own judgement!
One of the plagues of the century....
Plastic bags are a real plague and a threat to the environment, to life and to all of us.
What some may consider the invention of the century, others feel that plastic bags are finally turning against us and now one may spot one virtually everywhere, even in what we thought was an untouched natural landscape.... !
We find them stuck in the trees, dumped on the street floors, clustering in the corners, flying with the wind, half buried in the beach sand and deadliest sin of all, floating in the oceans. They survive the elements and live way longer than us. It takes 20 to 1000 years for a plastic bag to breakdown in the environment. After they breakdown, small bits of toxic plastic dust will still remain.
Plastics ain't fantastic...
How can a turtle tell: A jellyfish and a coral or a plastic bag stuck in a coral?
Because they resemble jellyfish (a common food for most sea
creatures), when "swimming" in the ocean, thousands of innocent marine animals die each year, as plastic bags block the guts of turtles, dolphins, seals, puffins and many others. And most shocking of all....the same bag becomes a serial killer, as it gets released from the victim's decomposed body, rather unchanged, and ready to strike again.
REUSE and RECYCLE all the plastic bags you have and if you dispose of them, be certain that they are not let free to roam and cause more victims in the ocean. Don't leave plastic bottles or bags or products unattended near the rivers or the sea. If you find one in the beach, please help and take it to the nearest bin, it might make a difference to a passing by sweet dolphin or gentle giant turtle, searching for a meal.
Fortunately, many countries are implementing rules for reducing the use of plastic bags, and in many stores you need to pay for each plastic bag, and so they are not given away so thoughtlessly!
Do search for biodegradable plastics and BYOB!
For those who haven't noticed yet, many shops have reusable bags available, like Hong Kong's City Super, Ikea or in Macau the new collection of Bossini fold and go-bags! It doesn't take that much to keep one in your bag or pocket.
Aluminum cans
Facts:
1. If you throw away 2 aluminum cans, you waste more energy than 1,000,000,000 (one billion) of the world's poorest people use a day.
2. Making a new can from scratch uses the uses the energy equal to half a can of gasoline.
3. Aluminum cans may be recycled over and over again!
What we can do to help:
1. Separate all cans we use (drinks, canned food), give them a wash and put them in the can-reclycling container in your neighbourhood.
2. In Macau you may find these containers all over the city. Or give them to passing by can collectors - they earn money for selling cans to recycling companies!
3. Cans, paper and plastic are taken from Macau and recycled in Guangzhou Province, China.
While we were in Sabah
A few poachers were arrested and 292 marine turtles were aprehended inside Chinese fishing boats, in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysian Borneo.
Marine turtles are listed on Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), which stipulates that no marine turtles may be taken across international borders, except under very special circumstances, with permits, and not for commercial trade. (full article here)
If you are a traveller, and enjoy taking souvenirs from the countries you visit, be aware and don't forget that any product from a protected animal or plant species you take may be liable to aprehension and you may get in deep trouble in the border control (if all detection systems are working and effective...)
Don't purchase products made from turtle shells, ivory, coral and many others /- and if you are not sure about it, please don't buy!