Published on: Friday, August 21, 2009 Daily Express, East Malaysia
Kota Kinabalu: The State Government expressed disappointment, Thursday, that many palm oil mills in the Kinabatangan floodplain continue to discharge effluents into the Kinabatangan River.
State Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister, Datuk Masidi Manjun, said these owners were not honouring their promise to comply with existing regulations and rules to treat the waste from their mills.
He said this after attending a presentation by an environmental consultant appointed by the Department of Environment (DOE) to do a comprehensive study on the causes of pollution and its impact on the Kinabatangan River as well as proposing strategies and action plans to improve the water quality of the floodplain.
The findings showed that 29 palm oil mills discharged their wastes into the Kinabatangan basin, mostly in the middle and lower basin area. It also revealed that poor maintenance of effluent ponds is one of the reasons for the pollution problem affecting the Kinabatangan River and compliance rate on effluent discharge is only between 40 and 73 per cent.
Other major contributors are loading of sediments from logging and agriculture activities. The Kinabatangan river plain hosts a variety of wildlife, including the highly-sensitive proboscis monkeys, orang utans, elephants, crocodiles and birds.
"I am sad and disappointed that many palm oil mill owners in Kinabatangan failed to abide by the regulations and rules.
"In fact I have met all the owners twice, if I am not mistaken, and they promised to address the effluent problem immediately. I have given them good time to do the necessary.
"But after I heard about the result of the consultancy findings, I see that many (mill owners) are not serious. Even the East Malaysian Planters Association (EMPA) gave assurance that all its members will take immediate action to treat the effluents," he said.
Masidi was launching the 2nd Stakeholder Consultative Seminar for the Study on Prevention of Pollution and Improvement of Water Quality of Kinabatangan River, Thursday. Also present was Department of Environment (DOE) Sabah Director, Abdul Razak bin Abdul Manap.
A total of RM2 million is allocated to DOE to carry out the comprehensive study on pollution problems in the Kinabatangan and to propose strategies and action plans to improve the water quality. The study which started nine months ago will end in November.
Masidi hoped all the mill owners in Kinabatangan would honour their promise as he would prefer not to take grave action against them.
He said there is a need for the owners to have a high sense of self-awareness and responsibility towards the environment, people and nation.
"This is not only to show their responsibility É we are talking about the interest of the entire country. If we are true and very responsible Malaysians, then we should not quarrel or question about the costs to spend in making the improvement as we are doing it for the country."
Furthermore, Masidi said addressing the effluent problem would benefit the mill owners in the light of the imminent full implementation of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO).
The owners would not be able to sell their products to the European Union (EU) if there was no RSPO certification.
"A lot of planters and palm oil mill owners may face problems if they do not have the RSPO certification on good practices on environment sustainability in producing their products.
"Hence, I believe it would be best for those involved in palm oil production to immediately make sure they fulfil the required EU standard so that their products can still penetrate the EU market. Failing to do so, they would not be able to export the palm oil," he said.
The implementation of the RSPO is being carried out in stages and so far only four palm oil mills in Sabah have complied with the RSPO certification, including one in the Kinabatangan area.
Masidi also concurred with one of the findings that penalties under the Environmental Quality Act are not a deterrent to errant players in the industry.
Also, it highlighted the shortage of enforcement personnel to oversee activities in the Kinabatangan floodplain.
"Since I took over the Ministry two years ago, 14 new posts were created and it is still insufficient. We could keep adding more enforcement officers but until then and unless the owners start to comply, I believe things will not go anywhere.
"When looking at the national scenario, for instance, bear in mind that Sabah is a quarter of Malaysia and the sheer size of Kinabatangan, which is equivalent to four states, is already a logistical problem.
The presenter of the findings was right when he mentioned that it is easier said than done," he said.
On a proposal to increase the penalties under the Act, Masidi assured that he will liaise with the DOE to seriously look into the matter. He would also be looking into creating a reward system to recognise the efforts of planters and mill owners who regulate themselves without being told to comply.
For instance, he said, at the recent Sabah Environmental Awards one plantation company was given the "Special Minister Award" for practising good environmental practices.
On serious encroachment on riparian reserves, Masidi said he has directed the Land and Survey Department to take action against those planting oil palm close to the banks of the Kinabatangan River and jeopardising the free-movement of wildlife from one area to another.
Posted by : Caylie
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Cadbury in New Zealand Stop Using Palm Oil
Published on: Monday, August 17, 2009 News Straits Times
WELLINGTON, Mon: Cadbury in New Zealand has bowed to consumer pressure and agreed to stop using palm oil in its chocolate, it has been widely reported here.
The move comes after the confectionery giant received hundreds of letters and emails of complaints after it revealed a new recipe substituting cocoa butter with vegetable fat, including palm oil, TV New Zealand said in a report.
The report said palm oil had been linked with the clearing of native habitat in countries such as Indonesia and Malaysia.
Cadbury products had been banned from Auckland Zoo and a facebook group boycotting the company because of the change, swelled to almost 2,000 members. Cadbury New Zealand managing director Matthew Oldham told TVNZ their recipes would now only use cocoa butter.
He said Cadbury was really sorry and the change was a direct response to consumer feedback.
"At the time, we genuinely believed we were making the right decision, for the right reasons," he said. "Cadbury Dairy Milk's quality is what's made it one of New Zealand's most trusted brands for many years. Changing the recipe put that trust at risk."
Auckland Zoo said it was delighted with Cadbury's decision to remove palm oil from its dairy milk chocolate range. -– BERNAMA
Posted by : Caylie
WELLINGTON, Mon: Cadbury in New Zealand has bowed to consumer pressure and agreed to stop using palm oil in its chocolate, it has been widely reported here.
The move comes after the confectionery giant received hundreds of letters and emails of complaints after it revealed a new recipe substituting cocoa butter with vegetable fat, including palm oil, TV New Zealand said in a report.
The report said palm oil had been linked with the clearing of native habitat in countries such as Indonesia and Malaysia.
Cadbury products had been banned from Auckland Zoo and a facebook group boycotting the company because of the change, swelled to almost 2,000 members. Cadbury New Zealand managing director Matthew Oldham told TVNZ their recipes would now only use cocoa butter.
He said Cadbury was really sorry and the change was a direct response to consumer feedback.
"At the time, we genuinely believed we were making the right decision, for the right reasons," he said. "Cadbury Dairy Milk's quality is what's made it one of New Zealand's most trusted brands for many years. Changing the recipe put that trust at risk."
Auckland Zoo said it was delighted with Cadbury's decision to remove palm oil from its dairy milk chocolate range. -– BERNAMA
Posted by : Caylie
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Our Future Plans
After all the efforts , this campaign had to come to an end. I am really sad to accept this as I really enjoyed this campaign very much. Although what we had done weren't that much , but I hope what we did does make a difference to the life of orangutans. At first , I never thought that this campaign that we were promoting end up so well. I really wanted to thank all the supporters who supported our campaign. Without them , our campaign might not be so successful. Therefore , THANK YOU to all of you !!
Although this campaign was about to end , however I will still continue to spread out the message to recruit more people to save the orangutans. I will print out even more blog address cards and distribute it to the people around us. Besides that , I will also make more Life & Hope ribbons to distribute. This Sunday , we plan to go to have a healthy morning walk. We will be walking around a forest and enjoy the clean , fresh air there. Our purpose is to remind ourselves the importance of trees to us.
Posted by : Caylie
Although this campaign was about to end , however I will still continue to spread out the message to recruit more people to save the orangutans. I will print out even more blog address cards and distribute it to the people around us. Besides that , I will also make more Life & Hope ribbons to distribute. This Sunday , we plan to go to have a healthy morning walk. We will be walking around a forest and enjoy the clean , fresh air there. Our purpose is to remind ourselves the importance of trees to us.
Posted by : Caylie
A Day In Children's World Montessori
These are the colored orangutans and palm printing by the children and teachers. Wasn't it beautiful ??
Posted by : Caylie
A Day In Children's World Montessori
Ruby
Caylie
The children were coloring the orangutan pictures with effort and concentration
Here she is ! Our guardian , Miss Rave !!
The teachers of Children's World Montessori also fully support our campaign.
Posted by : Caylie
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Signature Drive & Ribbon Distribution
We approached the parents with greetings and smiles. We handed the Life & Hope ribbon to them and had them pen down their signatures. We asked for their permissions to take their pictures which they gladly agree.
Posted by : Caylie
Our Efforts Our Materials
Gift packs for the children.
The orangutan coloring paper.
A simple newsletter I made.
Caylie Ruby
We are posing with our materials. See how lovely the ribbons are !!
Posted by : Caylie
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Campaign at Children's World Montessori
Yesterday (24/8/2009),my friend and I had our campaign at Children's World Montessori preschool.I woke up at 7 in the morning and reached there around 8 o'clock.I was nervous that day because I've never do the activities in preschool with the young children like this.When we were ready to begin our campaign,we waited outside the preschool for every of the children's parents to support our campaign.We talked briefly about our purpose of this campaign to them and asked them to pen down their signature to show their support for this campaign.While the parents signing the signature drive,we also asked for their agreement to let us take their picture as a prove that we do and work hard in this campaign.Besides that,we also give them our life and hope ribbon and our blog address card.But unfortunately,we had already miss out some of the parents to sign up for the campaign because they had to rush to work.
After the signatures had done,the childrens there had a small picnic at just outside their classroom.All of them were really excited and can't wait longer for the picnic to begin.We had been asked to join them together with the picnic.
Our next activities had started just after the picnic is over.The childrens sat down around the circle on the floor and listen to my friend's talk quietly.They were curious to see us present that day.After that,we are divided into two group.I handle the older childrens which are between 4-6years old by showing them the pictures about orangutans while my friend handled the others childrens which are between 2-3 years old.She showed the puzzle to the childrens which contains the picture of orangutans.I explained briefly to the childrens about the facts of orangutans and what can we do to save the orangutans from being extinct.After we had completed our work,we exchange our place with the opposite group to continue our work.It's my turn to show the pictures to the 4-6 years old childrens.
After we had completed doing all that,the childrens had been asked to pair up with their friend for the next coloring activity.We gave them the pictures which prepares by us before this and they all started to coloring it.They were really enjoy their coloring.Some of them can't stop to draw the background by different colour of crayon and colour pencil even they already finished their coloring.All of them were having a lots of fun with the very nice colorful orangutans.
The palm printing begin after it.I helped the childrens to paint up their right hand and cop it on the white cloth one by one.It was really fun and great.The teachers there also very enjoy this activity.
At last,the activities had finished.We distribute the gift packs to each of the childrens before they went home.They gave us a big hug and say thank you to us.They said that they are very happy that day and they had a lots of fun.
I'm very very happy that I had a very wonderful day in my life.I hope that I'll have another chance like this in the future.
Posted by : Ruby
After the signatures had done,the childrens there had a small picnic at just outside their classroom.All of them were really excited and can't wait longer for the picnic to begin.We had been asked to join them together with the picnic.
Our next activities had started just after the picnic is over.The childrens sat down around the circle on the floor and listen to my friend's talk quietly.They were curious to see us present that day.After that,we are divided into two group.I handle the older childrens which are between 4-6years old by showing them the pictures about orangutans while my friend handled the others childrens which are between 2-3 years old.She showed the puzzle to the childrens which contains the picture of orangutans.I explained briefly to the childrens about the facts of orangutans and what can we do to save the orangutans from being extinct.After we had completed our work,we exchange our place with the opposite group to continue our work.It's my turn to show the pictures to the 4-6 years old childrens.
After we had completed doing all that,the childrens had been asked to pair up with their friend for the next coloring activity.We gave them the pictures which prepares by us before this and they all started to coloring it.They were really enjoy their coloring.Some of them can't stop to draw the background by different colour of crayon and colour pencil even they already finished their coloring.All of them were having a lots of fun with the very nice colorful orangutans.
The palm printing begin after it.I helped the childrens to paint up their right hand and cop it on the white cloth one by one.It was really fun and great.The teachers there also very enjoy this activity.
At last,the activities had finished.We distribute the gift packs to each of the childrens before they went home.They gave us a big hug and say thank you to us.They said that they are very happy that day and they had a lots of fun.
I'm very very happy that I had a very wonderful day in my life.I hope that I'll have another chance like this in the future.
Posted by : Ruby
Busy August life
We started the "Save The Orangutans Campaign" project a couple of weeks ago.I would say it is far too challenging for me to run this campaign because it requires creative thinking and outstanding ideas.August is exceptionaly a difficult month for me to fully concentrate on this project because I have a lots of things that I needed to do.My test in August,a drama competition that I am dying to win,and a lots of practice!!Besides that,how can a sixteen years old girl oversight her housework and duty as a daughter and sister?How I wish there is 48 hours in a day!
I don't know why I take up courage to participate in this campaign.Most probably I was guided by my subconscious mind,my gentle and caring heart.To be frank,I guess I just don't want to miss the great chance to do something for our nature and to save the orangutans.Besides,somebody has to start from somewhere,right?
This is the first time that I participate in this kind of group campaign.I could have never imagined it requires a lot of effort and determination to get it started.My classmate and I work very hard to get ideas on how to start and what to do to get this caampaign up and running.
We prepared a brief but informative and touching speech targeting the primary students at SJK(C)Subang.We even plan a colouring contest for them .Unfortunately,due to my constrained,our request has been rejected.I felt a bit dissapointed when the teacher I approached told me we weren't able to run our campaign at the primary school.I know that it is impossible to request any other school to give us chance as it is the last week of school day.Plus,the dateline for submission is end of this month.But i believe that we can still run the campaign somewhere else.
I blamed myself for not following up on the status earlier.I could have just call and find out and I was giving myself reason to postpone the action because I have to study for th test,I have to attend drama practice,I need to help my mom in housework and etc.
The ,we decided to concentrate on our signature drive at our school,SMK Seksyen 10,Kota Damansara.We targeted both students and teachers in our school.We received overwhelming results from the students however we do not get full support from the teachers.
Besides the signature drive,we also create "save th orangutans" awareness throught "put on a ribbon" to show their support for this campaign.There is a meaning behind our ribbon that we create.We hope that by doing so,we can actually spread out the message of how important it is to let the world know tha the dangers of orangutans going into extinction.The ribbon's colour,green and purple are not just a nice combination.The green colour stand for 'Life' and the purple colour means 'Hope'.We wanted the world or at least people around us to know that there is only life when there is hope.
I was suprised when a lot of people actually supported our ribbon drive.It was not only joy the filled in my heart but it has also given me hope to change the life of orangutans.
We are going to a preschool next week to run this campaign.I hope that we can create awareness amongs the younger children and hope that this will change our future,and also the orangutans' future.
Posted by : Ruby
I don't know why I take up courage to participate in this campaign.Most probably I was guided by my subconscious mind,my gentle and caring heart.To be frank,I guess I just don't want to miss the great chance to do something for our nature and to save the orangutans.Besides,somebody has to start from somewhere,right?
This is the first time that I participate in this kind of group campaign.I could have never imagined it requires a lot of effort and determination to get it started.My classmate and I work very hard to get ideas on how to start and what to do to get this caampaign up and running.
We prepared a brief but informative and touching speech targeting the primary students at SJK(C)Subang.We even plan a colouring contest for them .Unfortunately,due to my constrained,our request has been rejected.I felt a bit dissapointed when the teacher I approached told me we weren't able to run our campaign at the primary school.I know that it is impossible to request any other school to give us chance as it is the last week of school day.Plus,the dateline for submission is end of this month.But i believe that we can still run the campaign somewhere else.
I blamed myself for not following up on the status earlier.I could have just call and find out and I was giving myself reason to postpone the action because I have to study for th test,I have to attend drama practice,I need to help my mom in housework and etc.
The ,we decided to concentrate on our signature drive at our school,SMK Seksyen 10,Kota Damansara.We targeted both students and teachers in our school.We received overwhelming results from the students however we do not get full support from the teachers.
Besides the signature drive,we also create "save th orangutans" awareness throught "put on a ribbon" to show their support for this campaign.There is a meaning behind our ribbon that we create.We hope that by doing so,we can actually spread out the message of how important it is to let the world know tha the dangers of orangutans going into extinction.The ribbon's colour,green and purple are not just a nice combination.The green colour stand for 'Life' and the purple colour means 'Hope'.We wanted the world or at least people around us to know that there is only life when there is hope.
I was suprised when a lot of people actually supported our ribbon drive.It was not only joy the filled in my heart but it has also given me hope to change the life of orangutans.
We are going to a preschool next week to run this campaign.I hope that we can create awareness amongs the younger children and hope that this will change our future,and also the orangutans' future.
Posted by : Ruby
As We Continue Our Challenge ...
Phew ! Our second batch of Life & Hope ribbons were done !!
These are our blog address cards to get friends from all walk of life to support and know more about orangutans through our blog.
Posted by : Caylie
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