Birds and Trees

The bird photos are taken from Google images because I couldn't capture the birds in photo. They simply flew away.

(This is my rambutan tree. The fruits are really fabulous.)

(This tree was planted by my late father. It is a nearly extinct species.)

The birds have had it. The report in today's Star says it all.

Lowland birds are flying to higher grounds. This is an indicator that their habitat has been destroyed by deforestation and climate change.

Consultant naturalist on birds, wildlife and bio-diversity Mike Chong said lowland birds such as magpie robins (burung murai) and spotted doves have been spotted in Cameron Highlands.

Chong said temperatures in the mountain had also increased due to global warming, and this had allowed lowland birds to adapt easily to their new habitat.

These lowland birds would then have to compete with highland species if they shared the same food source, habitat and nesting habits.

This could lead to the extinction of either species in the next 10 to 20 years. “There are about 674 bird species in the country. I hope more studies will be conducted on the migration of the lowland birds so that we can properly gauge the effects of climate change,” Mike Chong said in the report.

Meanwhile, Zoo Negara director Dr Mohamad Ngah said birds lose their food source when trees are cut.

“We cannot totally stop development from taking place but as scientists, we can monitor the situation and try to breed endangered species to ensure they do not become extinct,” he said, adding that there were close to 100 bird species observed in the zoo.

The birds are welcomed to my dwelling. Lately, I have had birds chirping happily when my 'jambu bol' and rambutans trees were full of ripe fruits. I do not consider them a menace as I enjoy seeing them flying around my trees. I also have some tree shrews permanently living in my backyard.

As I believe that these creatures are also God's creatures and they can help us get merits for good deeds. Moreover, our fruit trees bear too much sweet fruits that we have to deliver them to our relatives, friends, and neighbors to help us finish them. I also believe that by spreading the bounty, we will be bestowed more in the future and more fruits will be borne, thus adding more goodwill for us.

Brace up to pay 20sen for a plastic bag

Two weeks ago, my daughter, Zayye came home and complained that she had to fork out 20sen at IKEA for a plastic bag after paying for a study lamp. Zayye normally says no to plastic bags when she shops for small items and she was not aware that the campaign to use the reusable green bags had started.

Penang has started the "No plastic Bags Day" on Mondays. More than 300 hypermarkets, mini-markets, department stores and other participating shops are charging 20sen for a plastic bag.

Tesco hypermarkets gives 2 extra bonus club points when customers bring their own reuseable shopping bag. Customers with reusable bags are allowed to use the expressed check out lane at Giant Bayan Baru. Boxes were provided for customers who shopped a lot and did not bring their own bags on the day. Customers are encouraged to drop plastic bags to a special bin so that these bags could be reused by other customers.

Other stores have also started the save on plastic bags campaign. Parkson Grand at Gurney Plaza will give one free tote bag for purchases of Rm2oo and above and customers can also buy these bags for RM2 each.

This is what I have been waiting for. Once the big stores start the ball rolling and educate the customers giving them no choice, then only would the campaign be effective. The time will come when everyone will accept that plastic bags are not to be wasted and thrown anywhere they like.
I remember that one of the reasons that the hypermarket Makro failed was because customers did not accept that there were no packaging to their purchases. Maybe the timing for Makro was not right and Makro did not try to educate its customers.

I notice Jusco and Tesco have also started a mild campaign in the Klang Valley. Customers are encouraged to bring their own bags on certain days voluntarily, but at present there is no charge for the plastic bags yet.

Only a concerted effort by every hypermarket and supermarket will the campaign work. An irate woman left all her groceries at Tesco Penang, when told that she has to pay 20sen for a plastic bag, reported today's Star. She will soon realise that she would have to toe the line next time when everyone starts bringing their own bags to Tesco or lose out on Tesco's offers.

Meanwhile, customers' education must continue. The media has a lot to do, to contribute to the success of the campaign.

I understand that proceeds from the sales of the plastic bags will go to the "Partners Against Poverty Campaign"

I just hope that the "Say No to Plastic Bags " will become a common feature in the future and not one off campaigns soon to be forgotten.

(Look up for other incentives to go green at the link shown)