GrEen calCulator!

Recycled Calculators?

The first question that crosses my mind is “are these calculators for real?” But after a few minutes, (..reading and checking Canon website), I realized that Canon Malaysia has done one step further by producing these Environmental Series Calculator. Besides, Canon itself has established name in producing their good quality printer, camera, copier, scanner and etc. So, these recycle calculators series are sure for real and trustable too..right? (I guess I need to buy one to prove this). For me, these calculators show the continuously effort of Canon to sustain our resources so that we don’t have to sacrifice our generations resource.

According to this article, the calculator are made from discarded machines and the wholly unit can be recycle back too, including their manual, labels and packaging. Let us see how actually these environmental series calculator can protect the environment. First, it helps to conserve our natural resources by used discarded machine. Secondly, the whole unit can be recycled, so, it will help to cut down on waste and avoid lands needed to contain such waste (our landfill no need to suffer more..). Thirdly, in some ways, Canon has created awareness among the public and educate them (especially the young) about the importance of recycle. To educate, is one of the best tools to create awareness on environment. This is done by collaborating with Buena Vista’s movie, Wall-E. (Environment related movie). So, parents out there, since this week is school break week, why don’t spend some time to watch this movie? (Especially K.Aini.hahaha).

Canon’s effort must become an example to other business manufacturers to produce environmental product. Sometimes, manufacturers are aware that environmental issues are important but if they are planning to do something that can save the environment, let it come from genuine concern. Not for profit motives or to upgrade their image alone. Nowadays, we can see many manufacturers are trying to produce green products. For an example, shopping bag, I just realized that Tesco also has produce environmentally friendly shopping bag besides Jusco, Cold Storage, Giant and Carrefour. It is a good thing but hopefully the manufacturers are producing the bags because they are really concern about the environment, not just ‘what they do, we must do also’ attitude.

After going though their website, I realize that Canon’s R & D has continuously inventing environmentally friendly products such as :
• Compact Digital Camera (PowerShot G9)
• Inkjet Multifunction Printer (MFP) MP 610
• Color MFPs iR C3880/C3380i
These products were produced with lower consumption of energy, natural resource or some of their parts are recyclable. From their continuously effort, of course they can consider themselves as ‘Champion’ in global efforts to protect the environment! So, let us support these environmentally calculator or at least let us watch Wall-E! *wink*

Losing Our Precious! (Comment on Article - Losing Our Mangrove)

I always proud to be malaysian because Malaysia is so unique. There are many features that make Malaysia unique and special. These include our diversity of people, peacefulness, variety of foods, and unique environment that we had. One of the unique environments that we posses is our wonderful wetland. The wetland of Malaysia can be divided into ten major categories including mangrove, mudflats, freshwater swamp forest, peat swamps and lakes. As the wetland is considered as the environmentally sensitive area, we must think not twice, but hundred times for any development project that require us to sacrifice our irreplaceable wetland.

Wetland such as mangroves can serves us in many ways without we actually realising it. Among of the ‘unpopular’ roles they plays are they provide many ecological services. They regulating stream flow, for our water supply, water purification and flood control. Peoples are easy to forget the tragedy that happened to our country 4 years ago, Tsunami. Well, it is surely not mangrove’s false alone, but that tragedy highlighted the critical need for maintaining mangrove forest as they can serve as a buffer between sea and land which acts as shoreline and storm protection This time, if Tsunami happens again (not that I wish it to happen), we can consider ourselves as stubborn because we learn nothing. The Tsunami that devastated some parts of Southeast Asia but still humans are easy to forget. The area is also important breeding ground for both freshwater and marine fishes and heaven of flora and fauna.

The development that will take place at Sungai Pulai will also affect local communities there. Many of them depend on this mangrove area for their livelihood. They are primarily involve in fishing and very much depend to the mangrove and rivers there. How we can pay back them in order to feel the development? How much is enough to pay them back? What are alternative options that they will have? These questions may remain unanswered if it involves us to sacrifice our natural heritage.

Although Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the development was approved, I always wonder does EIA can really measure the real impact of any development? It is always difficult to get public opinion to involve in the process EIA. Because of that, I think EIA sometimes will not reflect what really will happen and it doesn’t mean communities there can accept the development. What if they don’t aware of the development that will happen and worse, if they do realize that development will happen, but not aware of what that will they lost in along run? Well, not many people are environmentally educated right? In another article related to this issue, it has been said that survey has been done to inform communities there and 63% of the villagers welcomed the project. What about the other 37%? Are these percentages really reflect number of people there? Are they really getting consulted with the right facts?

Although the EIA approval came with 62 conditions to safeguard the environment, is there any authority that will check if these 62 conditions will be done or not? EIA can be considered as a tool to blend administration, planning, analysis and public involvement in pre-decision assessment crucial to environmental management and the drive for sustainable development. So, if EIA is a some kind of planning tool that took place before any development, then who actually check the impact after the development take place? Who cares if their mitigation measures that they propose in their EIA report are being done? Is there any continuous monitoring in 5, 7 or 20 years to come to that developed area? I think that is what EIA lack of, or in other word, continuous assessment.

For me, the better way to manage the mangrove is to leave them alone or manage it so that it can attract tourist as it has characteristics for ecoutourism potential. Maybe we should seek other ways such as better use of areas already developed. No matter what mitigation that developers will which involve replanting the cleared mangrove, there are absolutely not the same with the exist one. Why we don’t appreciate what we got? If human know how to appreciate and be thankful for what they had, our mangrove forest or in a larger scale our mother earth will no need suffer because of men’s greedy. Isn’t that so?

Don’t it always seem to go
That you don’t know
What you've got

Till it's gone..