Letter to the Editor: Construction of EKVE will have disastrous consequences

LETTER TO THE EDITOR:

CONSTRUCTION OF EKVE WILL HAVE DISASTROUS CONSEQUENCES

It is with dismay and disappointment that right-minded citizens greeted the news that the Ampang Jaya Municipal Council (MPAJ) had given its approval for the construction of the East Klang Valley Expressway (EKVE) today (The Star, 20th Aug 2015). This proposed expressway project would have far-reaching consequences that go beyond the boundaries of Ampang and would adversely affect the water supply and air quality of Selangor residents, as well as destroy and fragmentise wildlife habitats.

The decision of the council, which brushes aside the entirely valid concerns of citizen action groups, environmental organisations and the scientific and conservation community, makes a mockery of the concepts of transparency, democracy and participation in Local Agenda 21, which the municipal council and state government claim to be committed to.

It has often been reiterated that the Ulu Gombak and Ampang forests, which the EKVE will cut through, are vital carbon sinks and water catchment areas. The destruction of even a part of the Ulu Gombak and Ampang forests will result in more dry spells and poorer water and air quality for Selangor residents.

Furthermore, once the state government has gone down the slippery slope of forest degazettement, it will find it easier to justify the degazettement and destruction of a wider and wider area, and inadvertently create opportunities for unscrupulous developers, vandals, poachers and profiteers to enter into, plunder and destroy previously inaccessible forested areas.

The aforementioned forests are also part of the Selangor State Park, gazetted with the objective of protecting air and water quality, biodiversity and local climatic stability. The state government’s readiness to degazette a state park does not bode well for the future of other remaining green lungs and forested areas in Malaysia.

Proponents of highway construction often rely on the argument that highways will alleviate traffic congestion and thus ultimately improve the quality of life of residents and reduce carbon emissions. This logic is ridiculous, because the solution to the problem of traffic congestion is not to build an ever-increasing number of roads and highways, but to improve the public transport system and improve road safety for public transport users, cyclists, and pedestrians in order to encourage people to choose alternatives to private vehicle ownership. We have the infrastructure for an efficient public transport system in Malaysia, but not the political will to make the system reliable, punctual, convenient and safe. Improving road safety and the public transport system will use less public funds and take less time to implement than constructing more highways and roads.

Since the parties concerned have already given their approval for the construction of the dreaded expressway, any objection at this point may be purely academic.

There is apparently a list of conditions drawn up by the Drainage and Irrigation Department, Public Works Department, and MPAJ’s Planning Department to be adhered to in the construction and management of the said expressway. It is hoped that these documents will be made available for public viewing, and there must be a check-and-balance system to enable citizens to determine compliance with these measures and provide feedback on the same.

If the state government is adamant about proceeding with this expressway project, on behalf of all concerned citizens, I request that at least these environmental impact mitigation measures are considered and implemented:

1. That fences, barriers and wildlife corridors (underground or overhead) be constructed to allow safe passage for local fauna;

2. That filters, ideally helophyte filters, be utilized to control and manage toxic runoff from the paved substrates into the soil and waterways;

3. That a regular cleaning and maintenance schedule be established to prevent waste and debris from entering into waterways and forested areas;

4. That construction materials be sourced locally, and as much as possible, from reclaimed and recycled materials to reduce the carbon footprint of the construction project; and

5. That the project incorporates design elements such as solar-powered lighting and the planting of indigenous trees to act as a noise-absorbing wall along the expressway.

It must be admitted, however, that compliance with all the above requirements is still a weak substitute for scrapping the expressway project altogether. The haste with which approval was given, and the betrayal of trust by the authorities when they had previously assured the local residents that the Traffic Impact Assessment would be made available to them, reflect poorly on the state government, contractor and agencies involved in this controversial expressway project, and raise concerns that the parties concerned will just bulldoze through with this project with equal disregard for human residents and the natural environment.

All state and national efforts to encourage and reward environmental sustainability and citizens’ participation in public interest matters amount to nothing more than greenwashing and lip service if projects that cause significant and irreversible harm to the environment such as the EKVE are approved with such outrageous haste and recklessness.

WONG EE LYNN

COORDINATOR,

GREEN LIVING SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP,

MALAYSIAN NATURE SOCIETY

Non-Toxic Air Fresheners

PENCINTA ALAM SEPTEMBER 2015
GREEN LIVING COLUMN
NON-TOXIC AIR FRESHENERS
By Wong Ee Lynn
<wongeelynn@yahoo.com / gl.mnselangor@yahoo.com>

Clever advertising makes us believe that commercial 'air fresheners' and deodorisers can make a room smell fresh and clean, but there is nothing clean about the butane, propane, dichlorobenzene, phthalates and other toxins found in most store-bought air fresheners. These products do not actually improve the quality of indoor air, but merely masks other unpleasant scents, and can contribute to a host of ailments including breathing difficulties, headaches and nausea.

Chemical-free alternatives are available in natural and organic food stores, but are usually too expensive for the average homeowner. If you are going to use air fresheners often, it is best to make your own air fresheners and experiment with the recipes and ideas below until you find one or several that suit your needs and purposes.

1. Use good quality, natural essential oils (such as tea tree, eucalyptus, lavender and peppermint) in an aromatherapy diffuser to create an inviting and calming indoor atmosphere. You don't even have to buy a diffuser. Boiling some water in a saucepan and then adding a few drops of essential oils or some lemon peel, mint leaves or lavender flowers to the boiling water after you turn off the heat would serve your purpose just as well. Do not buy cheap essential oils such as those found in RM5 stores, as they have usually been adulterated with petrochemical products or alcohol

2. To eliminate bathroom smells, leave a little box of matches in your bathroom cabinet. Strike a match after flushing. The smell of sulphur from the burning matchstick (admittedly not perfect but still less harmful than hemical strays and fragrance gels) will mask and eliminate other unpleasant smells.

3. A freshly-unwrapped bar of soap (choose natural and phosphate-free soap whenever possible) will work wonders in deodorising a room, closet, bathroom or car interior, so consider doing this right before guests arrive. As a bonus, if you are using lavender or citronella soap, it will also repel insects and roaches. Once the soap has lost its initial fragrance, you can still use it in the shower or at the washbasin.

4. Many houseplants, including spider plants (Chlorophytum comosum) and aloe vera, have incredible air-purifying qualities, so be sure to add living and not artificial plants to every window and area that receives natural light. Read up on the plants in advance to ensure that they do not pose any danger to pets and children. Plants with a pleasant natural fragrance such as pandan, lemongrass, musk lime, mosquito plant and potted herbs are also good additions to a home.

5. Make your own vinegar-based air freshener spray by mixing 1.5 cups of water, half a cup of white vinegar (natural, not artificial or 'cuka tiruan') and 12-15 drops of pure essential oils in a spray bottle. Shake it up and use the solution to spray a room before guests arrive, or to eliminate smells near pet litter trays, rubbish bins and in bathrooms.

6. Alternatively, make a baking soda-based air freshener spray by pouring 1 tablespoon of baking soda and 5-6 drops of pure essential oils into a spray bottle and topping it up with water. Shake it up and spray it to freshen up a room, fabrics, shoes and car interiors.

There are many ideas online on how you can make your own potpurri, orange and clove pomanders, beeswax candles, scented cloth sachets and even scented gels. There are no limits to what the human imagination can think up when we are determined to do the right thing for Mother Earth and human (and animal) health.

Event Announcement: Visit and Volunteer Session at the TTDI Edible Project Garden

PENCINTA ALAM SEPTEMBER 2015
EVENT ANNOUNCEMENT

Green Living SIG's Visit-and-Volunteer Session at the TTDI Edible Project Garden

(Photo credits: Susan Tam of the TTDI Edible Project)

Need ideas for your own balcony or kitchen garden? Keen to find out more about composting, mulching, vertical gardening and natural pest control? Come join us in a hands-on session at the TTDI Edible Project Garden!

Date: Saturday, 26th September 2015
Time: 10 a.m. until 12 noon.
Location: The garden space next to the TTDI Community Centre tennis courts, Jalan Athinahapan, Taman Tun Dr. Ismail, 60000 Kuala Lumpur.
Itinerary: Guided tour of the garden and Q&A session followed by a hands-on gardening session.

No fee charged and no registration necessary. Open to the public. Just show up in comfortable outdoor clothes. Bring any gardening tools you may have, drinking water, sunblock and insect repellent. Refreshments will be provided. For more information, please email Ee Lynn at wongeelynn@yahoo.com

Eco Kids Column: Helping Out Tired Bees

PENCINTA ALAM SEPTEMBER 2015
ECO KIDS COLUMN
HELPING OUT TIRED BEES
By Wong Ee Lynn

(Compiled from rspb.org.uk and Bumblebee Conservation Trust. Photo credits: moralfibre.co.uk)


Bumblebees feed on the nectar and pollen made inside flowers. Nectar is a sugary liquid that gives bees energy.

Pollen is full of protein which helps the body  of bumblebees to grow. It is well-known that bumblebees are great pollinators, and therefore have a key role in producing much of the food that we eat. Bumblebees are disappearing all around the world because there are fewer flowering plants to provide nectar and pollen for them. Also, pesticides and other chemicals sprayed onto plants are killing bumblebees in large numbers. If bumblebee and other insect pollinator declines continue, people would have to find new and artificial ways to pollinate the crops that we grow. These artificial ways may not always be as safe or efficient as having bumblebees as natural pollinators. It could also make fruits and vegetables a lot more expensive for people.

Bumblebees also help pollinate many wildflowers, allowing them to reproduce. Without this pollination, many of these plants would not produce seeds, resulting in declines in wildflowers. As these plants are often the basis of complex food chains, it is easy to imagine how other wildlife such as other insects, birds and mammals would all suffer if bees disappeared.
 
We can all help save bumblebees by growing bee-friendly flowers in our gardens and not using any pesticides, insecticides or herbicides in our homes, gardens and schools. If you see a bumblebee that has lost its way and is trapped indoors, please switch off all the fans and any other devices that may inadvertently kill bumblebees and insects, and open the nearest window or door to let the bumblebee escape. You might have to gently catch the bumblebee using a box, jar or glass and a piece of paper and card, and then release the bumblebee outside.

Sometimes you might find a tired-looking bee in your house or garden. It might be crawling or struggling, and you might think that it is about to die. However, a simple solution of sugar and water may help revive exhausted bees.  To create this energy drink to revive tired bees, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) of the UK suggests mixing two tablespoons of white, granulated sugar with one tablespoon of water, and placing the mix on a plate or spoon.  Do not add any more water, otherwise the bee could drown.  Place the bee on the plate or spoon, where it will have a little drink, hopefully this can help it gather the energy it needs to fly back to its hive.

You can also add the same quantity of water and sugar to a small container, such as an egg cup, and leave it amongst a patch of flowers in your garden or window box, so that bees can have a drink on the go before they get to the exhaustion stage.

Don’t be tempted to offer tired bees honey – in most cases the honey isn’t suitable as a lot of honey is imported and may not always be right for native Malaysian bees. Some honey may also have sugar and other additives added into it. Only ever offer white granulated sugar – never offer demerara, brown sugar or any artificial or diet sweeteners.

Leave the tired, thirsty bee to drink up and fly back to its hive. If you keep nudging or pushing the bee, you might stress the bee further or end up getting stung. If your exhausted bee fails to pull through, please don't feel too sad or guilty. You tried your best. Plus, the bee may already have been injured or is beyond saving. The important thing is that we all now know that there is a little something we can do to help bee populations and individual bees.

Greener Alternatives to Wet Wipes

PENCINTA ALAM JULY 2015

GREEN LIVING COLUMN

GREENER ALTERNATIVES TO WET WIPES

By Wong Ee Lynn

<wongeelynn@yahoo.com / gl.mnselangor@yahoo.com>

 

Disposable, single-use wet wipes are so convenient and ubiquitous that most people find them hard to give up, especially when travelling or after outdoor adventures that leaves one covered in dirt that has to be removed before one can enter a vehicle or building. However, the Marine Conservation Society reported in 2014 that wet wipes flushed down toilets resulted in clogged sewers and an increase in beach and river litter. Also, wet wipes, including those marketed as 'flushable', are wasteful and polluting, as are most disposable items that are not reusable or recyclable.

 

Here are some ideas on how to reduce (or completely give up!) the use of disposable wet wipes, how to make your own reusable wipes and how to make less wasteful baby wipes:

 

GREENER ALTERNATIVES TO DISPOSABLE WIPES:

1. Stop purchasing and using disposable floor-cleaning wipes and kitchen or bathroom wipes. Cloth and microfibre cleaning cloths, cleaning rags and washable microfibre mopping pads are durable, inexpensive, reusable and much kinder to Mother Earth. Use them together with non-toxic biodegradable cleaning solutions such as white vinegar, castille soap, Murphy oil soap or any liquid organic cleaning agent. When the cleaning cloths are dirty, give them a little scrub in the bathroom or kitchen sink and dump them into the washing machine, where they will take up hardly any space in a full load of laundry. If you are travelling, cut up a few pieces of rags out of old t-shirts or towels and bring a little bottle of cleaning solution with you. Even in a campsite or budget hotel, you will be able to dampen the rag with a little water and cleaning solution and clean up after yourself. Throw the rag away if you really can't rewash and reuse it.

2. Instead of buying facial wipes or makeup remover wipes, use olive oil or any gentle facial wash solution to clean your face with water. Pat your face dry with a towel or piece of flannel. Although some may argue that this method uses water, manufacturing, packaging and transporting makeup remover wet wipes uses a lot more water, fuel and resources! Also, you should use a basin while washing your face and turn off the tap when you are soaping and scrubbing, so you won't need to use more water than is necessary. When travelling, pack a little makeup remover in a small tube, jar or spritz bottle and put it in an airline-approved resealable waterproof pouch to get it past flight safety checks.

3. Ditch antibacterial wipes altogether. The excessive use of disinfectants and antibacterial agents can contribute to the growth of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and lead to antibiotics becoming less effective. Soap and water is good enough a cleaning agent.

4. Wipe down dirty outdoor clothes and shoes with a rag before putting the said clothes into a bag to bring home for washing.

 

MAKE YOUR OWN TRAVEL WET WIPES:

1.  Keep a few microfibre or terrycloth handkerchiefs or face towels in your backpack, car or entryway of your house. Prior to messy activities and trips, fill a spray bottle with water and a few drops of tea tree (antifungal and antibacterial), citronella (mosquito repellent), lavender (antibacterial) or peppermint (calming and deodorising) essential oil. You might want to refrigerate the spray bottle or add a few ice cubes to the spray before taking it along with you for a trip or activity. To clean up, spritz the mixture of water and essential oils onto the abovementioned face towels and clean yourself up with it. Put the dirty face towels into a plastic bag or carry-all to bring home for washing.

2. Alternatively, pre-dampen or soak the handkerchiefs or terrycloth face towels in a solution of water and essential oils. Put them into a freezable watertight/airtight container and freeze or refrigerate them overnight. Take the container of chilled cleaning cloths with you along on your trip or activity and hand one to each participant to clean themselves up with. Bring the container and dirty/used cloths home in a bag for washing.

 

MAKE YOUR OWN BABY WIPES:

1. The best alternative to disposable baby wipes is always to wash with water and a mild baby soap, and pat your baby's bottom dry with a towel or soft cloth.

2. The second best alternative (because it requires a little more washing) is to use old unbleached cotton diapers as washable wipes. Mix a solution of one part baby shampoo and 3-4 parts water in a spray bottle. Moisten the cotton diaper with the spray solution and use it during diaper changes.

3. If travelling or if  you have no other choice but to use disposables (e.g. in the event of illness and infections), make your own disposable baby wipes using compostable/biodegradable paper kitchen towels. Buy thick, good

quality paper kitchen towels that will not tear easily. Cut the roll in half, width-wise, using a sharp knife. For every half-roll of kitchen towels, you will need:

- 1 cup of water;

- 1 tablespoon of mild, preferably organic, baby soap or shampoo; and

- 1/2 - 1 tablespoon of olive oil or baby oil, preferably plant-based and organic.

Mix the liquid ingredients together.

Put the paper towels in an airtight, watertight container (e.g. an old baby wipes bin, perhaps?) and pour half the mixed liquid over the paper towels. Let the mixture soak through for approximately 10 minutes. Turn the roll of paper towels upside down, pour the remaining half of the solution over the paper towels and allow it to sit for another 10 minutes.

Pull out the centre cardboard core and put the lid on the container. Your homemade baby wipes are now ready for use. Ensure that the wipes are disposed of with rubbish instead of flushed down the toilet, where it can clog up the plumbing.

 

FOR QUICK CLEAN-UPS:

For pet waste, spilled paint and other household 'accidents', use a sheet of old newspaper folded over and dampened with a little water. Wet newspaper picks up and is able to absorb a surprising amount of liquid. Use a second sheet of newspaper dampened with water and a little white vinegar or other non-toxic household cleaning solution to clean up the spot. Newspapers are compostable and biodegradable and thus will cause less harm in landfills than bleached, antibacterial and packaged wet wipes.

Activity Report: Ampang Recreational Forest Cleanup Programme

PENCINTA ALAM JUNE 2015

GREEN LIVING SIG ACTIVITY REPORT

EARTH DAY CLEANUP PROGRAMME AT THE AMPANG RECREATIONAL FOREST

By Wong Ee Lynn

The Green Living SIG subcommittee coordinated a cleanup programme at the Ampang Recreational Forest on 25 April 2015 in conjunction with Earth Day to encourage urban dwellers and nature enthusiasts to be stewards of green spaces. The Earth Day weekend was the perfect opportunity to get members of the community involved in cleaning up a popular recreational forest without leaving town. Leave No Trace Malaysia, a local chapter of an international initiative to leave environmentally-sensitive sites litter-free, collaborated with us and made a generous offer to sponsor prizes for a contest we would be organising on that day.

 

Based on our past experiences coordinating and participating in cleanup campaigns, we made the following preparations for the Ampang Recreational Forest Cleanup:

1. Contacted the local authorities (MPAJ) and the Selangor State Forestry Department for permission to organise and hold the said activity; 

2. Purchased or collected rubbish bags, reusable cotton gardening gloves (we washed the ones from previous cleanup campaigns) and sturdy sacks for recyclables or sharp items (we used the large outer sacks of pet food bags);

3. A First Aid Kit and natural mosquito repellent spray for all

4. A large bottle of drinking water for refilling everyone's water bottles with, and bananas and oranges for a waste-free breakfast.

 

To create social media hype for the event and to encourage and reward participants, all participants are eligible to participate in a Facebook photo competition, in which prizes would be given for the following categories:

i. Best Before and After Photo;

ii. Best Cleanup Action Photo

iii. Most Creative Photo;

iv. Funniest Photo;

v. Weirdest Item Found.

 

 

The photo contest and zero-waste breakfast constituted the 'goodies' for our 15 cleanup participants in lieu of wasteful goodie bags and t-shirts, as everyone agreed that the focus should be on protecting the environment and reducing waste.

 

The cleanup session was kicked off after a basic safety briefing and a signature campaign to object to the EKVE and save the Ampang Forest by TREES (Treat Every Environment Special Sdn Bhd). Our plan was to walk to the picnic site first and clean the recreational forest from the inside out, instead of dragging heavy bags of litter into the picnic area and back out again. Dee Lu of Corezone Malaysia joined us at this point and we were grateful for her help in transporting the rubbish out with her pickup truck.

1. Volunteers waded into the stream, went behind scratchy bushes and climbed up hill slopes in order to pick up litter left behind by irresponsible picnickers.

(Photo credits: Eddie Yap)

2. Annieson spotted a sarong in the stream. I hope this doesn't mean that someone went home naked. How could you forget a sarong?

(Photo credits: Annieson Au)

3. Herlinde of Yellow House KL found a bucket in perfect condition, as well as some plastic bags.

 

4. Jon found a TV remote control in the stream. Did someone decide to take their TV along on a picnic?

(Photo credits: Eddie Yap)

5. Our hardworking volunteers removed litter chucked carelessly behind bushes, probably by the local council contractors who do not know any better.

(Photo credits: Yadz Harudin)

 

6. Our youngest participant, Zhang Hui, worked hard at removing cigarette butts and sweet wrappers using her steel tongs.

(Photo credit: Yadz Harudin)

7. Never underestimate the power of small groups of committed and enthusiastic individuals in changing the world for the better!

The most common litter we found were plastic drinking straws, plastic bags, styrofoam picnic ware, disposable diapers and sweet wrappers. This serves as an important lesson to all of us. Items such as straws and wrappers are so light that they are often carried away by wind and rainwater even after we have placed them in rubbish bins. We therefore hope that all MNS members will pledge to do the following, if this is not being done already:

- To stop purchasing, using and accepting plastic drinking straws, Styrofoam packaging, and plastic bags;

- To switch to cloth diapers if you have babies;

- To reduce unnecessary purchases, especially of unnecessary items that come in non-biodegradable packaging, e.g. sweets and junk food.

- To bring your own reusable food containers, cloth shopping bags and refillable water bottles whenever you leave the house.

- To bring rubbish bags along on picnics and nature trails in order that you can clean up after yourselves and others and take your rubbish out with you.

Following this cleanup session, Green Living also intends to contact the local council to discuss the issue of cleaning contractors dumping rubbish into the bushes, and the lack of macaque-proof rubbish bins in a recreational forest overrun by macaques.

 

 

We had to transport all the rubbish out to a nearby apartment complex for proper disposal, and the recyclables were later transported to a recycling centre. The breakfast fruits were duly handed out, and Green Living merchandise (booklets and stickers) distributed to volunteers upon request. 

Green Living would like to thank all the dedicated volunteers who braved the heat, humidity, dirt, mosquitoes and leeches to clean up our little piece of the world. Little things done with great love can and do make a huge difference. 

 

 

 

Eco Kids Column: Strawberry and Pineapple-Inspired Pots

ECO KIDS COLUMN

PENCINTA ALAM JUNE 2015

STRAWBERRY AND PINEAPPLE-INSPIRED POTS

By Wong Ee Lynn

Here is an arts & crafts project that would give your plant pots a makeover, as well as use up the acrylic paints from your Paint-Your-Own Mug/Photo Frame/Fridge Magnet/Piggy Bank kits before the said paints dry up.

MATERIALS NEEDED:

1. Leftover acrylic paints from your arts &crafts DIY kits.

2. Small plant pots (Please wash and dry them thoroughly if they had previously held soil and plants)

3. A paintbrush.

4. Painters' tape, cheap washi tape or any kind of adhesive tape that is not too sticky. 

5. A cotton bud.

6. Pebbles and potting soil.

7. Any small plant with spiky or pointed edges. Succulents, aloe vera plants and spider plants would work very well for this project.

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Line your work surface with newspaper.

2. Paint the pots white as an undercoat or primer. This is especially important if the pot is dark-coloured. Do not wet or dilute the acrylic paint. Just apply the paint on thickly.

3. Let the undercoat dry completely. Once it is dry, paint one pot bright red and the other pot bright yellow. 

4. Let the paint dry completely. If the pots' original colours can be seen through the paint, you may wish to apply another coat of paint. A second coat of paint would give the pot an opaque, glossy look and make it more attractive.

5. Once the paint is dry, use painters' tape or cheap washi tape to mark out the areas you wish to paint patterns on, to make sure the patters are evenly spaced. If you do not have painters' tape or washi tape, use strips of paper and tape the two ends to the pot. Alternatively, use cellophane tape but stick it to your shirt or some other surface first and peel it off to make it less sticky before applying it to the pot. If the tape you are using is too sticky, it might lift the paint off and cause damage to your masterpiece.

6. Paint strawberry 'seeds' onto the red pot. The seeds should be white or pale yellow in colour. 

7. Paint pineapple 'thorns' onto the yellow pot by making upside down 'v's in bright green.

8. If you find it difficult to control your brush strokes due to the fact that the acrylic paint is too thick sticky, you might wish to use a cotton bud to paint the seeds and thorns onto the pots instead. 

9. Wait for the paint to dry before removing the tape. Now you have neatly patterned rows on your fruit-themed pots.

10. Fill the bottom of the pots with pebbles or gravel to improve drainage. Top the rest of the pot with potting soil. 

11. Make a small hole in the centre of the soil and put your little plants, root first, into the hole. Fill up the hole and cover the roots of your plant with more soil. Give your plant just a little water so as not to drown the roots. 

12. Have fun with your pineapple and strawberry-inspired plant buddies!