The Corals Are Dying-Let Them Heal

The Corals are dying due to global warming. Today's news reported that several diving sites at marine parks in West Malaysia including the leading diving destinations in the world — Pulau Tioman in Pahang and Pulau Redang in Te­­rengganu – have been temporarily closed due to coral bleaching.


Divers and snorkellers are not allowed to the diving sites until the end of October, 2010 to protect the corals which have turned white due to global warming.

It was reported that about 500,000 tourists visit the marine parks every year, including foreigners.

Environmental groups have welcomed the move to close the dive sites temporarily, saying there is a need to allow the country’s corals to heal and recover. Preventing humans from visiting the corals would reduce the negative impact of human activities.

I just hope that the time frame given is enough for the corals. This decision however, would not go down well with the tourism industry as it would affect their projected financial performances. Tourists who have already confirmed their tourism packages to these sites would not be pleased either.


Update- read comments by Universiti Sains Malaysia marine biologist Prof Dr Zulfigar Yassin.

Dr Zulfigar said closing down the marine parks would certainly help the corals to recover. Since global warming is not a localised phenomena, the corals may take longer to revive. Reducing additional stress caused by sewage from chalets, oil and grease from motorboats and abuse by tourists also help.

New Regulations for Garbage Disposal

http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2009/4/29/central/3782260&sec=central

Beginning June, 1st 2009 the Kuala Lumpur City Hall will make it mandatory for all households in Kuala Lumpur to have 2 garbage bins. One for organic and the other for inorganic materials. This is very interesting. As my house in just a few metres away from the City Hall boundaries, it does not come under City Hall's purview. Thus, I am not directly affected.

I am happy to note that Alam Flora, the Solid Waste Management Company, will provide the 2 bins. It only needs a little initiative for you to separate your garbage. Failure to do so will result in your garbage being left uncollected. As Alam Flora only collects your garbage, it is up to City Hall to enforce the ruling. I can only imagine the wrath of the people when they discover that their garbage is not being collected and dogs and cats having a field day foraging through them.

In the meantime, it is up to City Hall to send fliers to educate City folks on the new ruling.

For those who are still in the dark on how to identify between organic and inorganic waste; here's some tips:

Organic wastes are those that rots and turns bad very fast naturally. In a normal household, it include kitchen wastes from food preparations:

• vegetable scraps; stalks and leaves
• fruit peelings (banana skins, potato skins, etc)
• onion peelings,
• egg shells

Inorganic Wastes are:

• styrofoam containers
• plastic materials
• disposable diapers
• aluminium tins
• steel cans
  
• leather shoes
• stockings
• clothes
• newspapers
  

Inorganics, except for styrofoams and certain plastics and used diapers and sanitary pads, can also be recycled if there are separated and sent to Alam Flora collection centres.

Once the new ruling sets in full swing, most of the garbage problem in Kuala Lumpur can be solved with every one's cooperation. Some cities in the US have made it compulsory for its citizens to separate their garbage. It is now up to the Kuala Lumpur City Hall to lead the way in Malaysia so that other cities will follow soon.

For Kuala Lumpur, the scarcity of land for landfill within its borders is a serious problem. It cannot continue to rely on neighbouring States to provide land for it to dispose the garbage discarded by KLites.

City Hall already has a composting facility. Thus, the organic wastes from homes together with the city's garden wastes can be used as raw material feedstock for this facility. This is short of getting the city dwellers to make their own compost themselves.

I can hardly wait for Alam Flora to get the Selangor local government authorities to follow City Hall's initiative. Complying the separation of garbage ruling is no problem for me, as I am already selling my inorganics to Alam Flora and composting my organics. In fact, the local authority should give me a rebate for not contributing so much garbage to their landfill.