World Earth Day 2009.

The Word Earth Day is observed on 22^nd April this year. In fact World Earth Day is observed the occasion on this day each year, while some people celebrate Earth Day around the time of the vernal equinox.

The April 22 Earth Day, founded by Senator Gaylord Nelson, was first organized in 1970 to promote ecology and respect for life on the planet as well as to encourage awareness of the growing problems of air, water and soil pollution.

Earth Day aims to inspire awareness of and appreciation for earth's environment. It is currently observed in more than 140 countries around the world.

The April 22 Earth Day is usually celebrated with outdoor performances, where individuals or groups perform acts of service to earth. Typical ways of observing Earth Day include planting trees, picking up roadside trash, conducting various programs for recycling and conservation, using recyclable containers for snacks and lunches. Some people are encouraged to sign petitions to governments, calling for stronger or immediate action to stop global warming and to reverse environmental destruction.  Television stations frequently air programs dealing with environmental issues.

The theme for this year is: ‘Clean the Earth, Heal the Earth, Green the Earth’.

REALITY

(a)  Air pollution: due to increase in carbon dioxide caused by industrial activities; smoke from vehicles; use of chemical fertilizer and rubbish dumping;

(b) Water pollution: due to destruction of natural forest causing pollution of clean water source;

(c)  Landslides: Due to destruction of flora and fauna causing landslides.

What should we do?

(a) Physically: keep our environment and surroundings clean; 

(b) Politically: conservation and restoration of the environment.

(c) Spiritually: see and reflect that God exist in His creation; be the hands and feet of God in restoring this earth to become the "Garden of Eden" (Gen 2:8, 15), realize that destroying nature is a sin towards the Creator.

(d) Faith Climate Campaign:educates leaders and members of religious communities to bring climate change education and opportunities for civic activism to those associated with religious life.

 

How can we achieve all these?

We go back to the Sacraments and see how God talks about nature in them:

(a) Baptism: water symbolizes sanctification of sin. Polluted water means death;

(b) Eucharist: we eat and drink with the Lord. Excessive use of pesticides and chemical fertilizer make our daily food unsafe;

(c)  Reconciliation: we need to reconcile with nature and not to destroy it;

Vatican Messages                   

Holy Father's Easter Message Highlights Climate Change. 

 

Our beloved Pope links the threat of climate change with so many other threats to life and dignity in his annual Easter message:

 

At a time of world food shortage, of financial turmoil, of old and new forms of poverty, of disturbing climate change, of violence and deprivation which force many to leave their homelands in search of a less precarious form of existence, of the ever-present threat of terrorism, of growing fears over the future, it is urgent to rediscover grounds for hope. Let no one draw back from this peaceful battle that has been launched by Christ's Resurrection. For as I said earlier, Christ is looking for men and women who will help him to affirm his victory using his own weapons: the weapons of justice and truth, mercy, forgiveness and love. —Pope Benedict XVI, Urbi et Orbi, Easter 2009.

 

The 40th Anniversary of Earth Day in 2010 will be recognized by future generations as a world turning point, and a shift toward global sustainability symbolized by the birth of The Green Generation™.

So why wait? The Churches, the NGOs and the Government should start planning the Earth Day 2010 event now and together we join The Green Generation™!

Fund Raising Dinner by INTI College Students netted RM5,000.00

Some of the Organizing Committee

Standing (L) Victoria O. Cardenas (R) Victoria J. Ongkili

Seated (L) Pang Fui San (R) Michelle Wong

Fabulous MC Adelaide Cornellius as he was introdusing the Main Organizing Committee.

Dr. Alan Lim, INTI College Academic Dean, watering the potted plant to symbolise the function theme "Nurture Nature For The Future" witnessed by Datuk John Sikayun, Batholomew Jingulam, Freddy Ekol, Sylvester Motulis and Ms Sherylnn James.

The VIP Guests Table attended to by the MC Adelaide Cornellius (Blue Shirt)

Batholomew, John and Freddy witnessing the watering of the "Feng Shui" plant.

Ms Mary Sherylnn James, the Organizing Chairperson, delivering her welcoming address.

Kota Kinabalu March 29, 2009: The Fund Raising Dinner organised by the final year 2009 students of the Diploma in Tourism Management from INTI College at one of the well-known Sea Food Restaurant in Kota Kinabalu last night far exceeded the INTI College Academic Dean’s expectation. It was well patronised by about 250 diners and well wishers including invited VIP guests.

I was one of the invited guests in the VIP Table and, on the insistence of my fellow VIP guest, agreed to sing a popular Chinese song entitled “Yue Liang Dai Piau Wo De Xing” meaning “My heart represents the Moon”. Perhaps most of the diners present were surprised by the fact that I am a Kadazan and yet I could render a Chinese song for the purpose of fund raising.

In the name of Charity, the organizers managed to collect from the enthralled guests who generously donated totalling RM1,500.00, thus raising the organizers’ total Nett collection of RM5,000.00 during this function in aid of WWF.

The students were given a task to carry out a management project from which they would be assessed – a requirement from the College Board of Examiners for the final year students to qualify themto pass their final examination and for the award of the Diploma Certificates in Tourism.

How apt it was for them to choose this Fund Raising Dinner as their final project. The project itself was not only related to Tourism industry but also to assist the WWF, a non-profit and non-governmental organization, in its effort to carry its various global conservation projects.

The Organizing Chairperson, Ms Mary Sherylnn James, together with more than 20 of her fellow final year students, had barely one month to organize the function timely to coincide with the Earth Hour which was observed globally on 28^th March from 8.30pm – 9.30pm local time.

The function was launched by the INTI College Academic Dean, Dr. Alan Lim by symbolically watering a potted plant (see pix) in reflection of the function theme, “Nurture Nature For our Future”.

The function would not have been so successful if not for the mastery of the MC, Mr. Adelaide Cornellius who was appointed by the event advisor cum Head of the Program, Mr. Sylvester Motulis. 

Notable VIP guests at the function were Datuk Marcel Leiking, President of Kadazan Society Sabah; Datuk John Sikayun, President of Sabah Law Society; Datuk Lawrence Sinsua, a prominent KL based businessman; Batholomew Jingulam, KSS SG; Freddy Ekol, a prominent local based businessman as well as KSS VP; and yours truly.

Earth Hour is a mere publicity stunt

Marcus writes ... 

I READ with amazement and irony the efforts of WWF Malaysia to latch on to the Earth Hour event and all the celebrities, media and corporations that have come up in support.

It is amazing that people are so easily taken in by a mere publicity stunt that fails at the very essence. Turning off our lights for one hour on one designated day of the year to save our planet surely is a PR event at best.

It shames the thousands of devoted people, government bodies, scientists and environmentalists that have for years been working on finding real solutions to address this global concern. Malaysians should see past this gimmick by international NGOs and start changing their lifestyles. Surely we can be more proactive and not be fed by an agenda of international bodies.

Why don’t we implement power conservation programmes, ride public transport on certain days in a month, car pool, etc?

It is also ironic that the organiser, WWF Malaysia, up until very recently, did not even have a climate change programme to begin with when all others (even local groups and individuals) have been persistent in their pleas for Malaysians to take action.

Remember, our leaders signed the Kyoto Protocol and there has been concerted movement towards reaching solutions. Please let us all be enlightened and move away from celebrations and gimmicks.

MARCUS,

Petaling Jaya.

Linundus comments: In Sabah, there is already an irregular power failure. Recently, SESB has already issued a statement in the local paper to warn the public that there will be a power shedding execise before the end of this month to facilitate maintenance and repairs to the Tenom Pangi Hydro damaged by heavy rainfall that caused the Padas River to swell. To be fair to all, let SESB turn off the Power from Tenom Pangi Hydro for one hour from 8.30pm when we observe the Earth Hour. After all, we have gotten used to power failure anyway.