A MONTHLY SUPPLEMENT OF RAKAN SARAWAK BULLETIN (People, events, activities and programmes which make for a total quality-managed Sarawak Civil Service) ISSN 1394-5726

Online Publisher:          Contents provided by:	WHAT ARE THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS?...and What We Can Do To Help 1. Depletion of Natural Resources indiscriminate logging of tropical rainforests. badly cultivated lands. killing of many species of animals putting them on the endangered species list. increase in consumption of coal, oil and gas. Positive action Manage natural resources better and waste less, e.g., recycle paper, plastics and cans, buy recycled products or waste food as compost for the garden.   2. Global Warming (greenhouse effect) build up gases in the atmosphere due to increased production of carbon dioxide (CO2) and other gases from vehicles, industrial processes, fossil fuel for electricity. increase in these gases traps more of sun's heat which makes the world temperature hotter and leads to drought and flooding. Positive Action Use energy efficiently which reduces CO2 emissions, e.g., turn off unused lights and heat water only when necessary.   3. Destruction of Ozone Layer man-made chemicals, mostly chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), in aerosols and fridges can destroy the ozone layer. The ozone layer protects us from harmful ultra-violet (UV) radiation of the sun. UV radiation from the sun can cause skin cancer, eye disorders and can damage crops. Positive action Phase out production of CFCs by the government. Buy environmentally friendly products when shopping, e.g., look for recyclable logos on product packaging 4. Air Pollution build up of concentrations of harmful gases in the air, e.g., sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, from industries and vehicles can result in health hazards. acid rain is produced when these gases dissolve into watervapours and fall to earth. acid rain kill fishes in lakes, damage plants, animals and buildings. Positive Action Control exhaust emissions by the government. use unleaded petrol, car pool or keep the car properly tuned.   5. Water Pollution dumping of waste products into drains, rivers, beaches and other discharges causes water pollution. dirty and unhygienic water can breed germs and bacteria, spread diseases and illness to living things. Positive action Clean up polluted water and prevent further pollution. don't throw rubbish into the drains and rivers. It is normal and human for people to want material gains, profits and success but it should not be at the expense of destroying the very air that we breathe in and the water that we drink from everyday. Indsutrial giants, business conglomerates, small and medium caompanies, hawkers, peddlers, you and I, can go a long way to making our earth better place to live in. And each of us, as individual or a group, can contribute our positive and practical actions into saving the environments: reserve the detrimental effects of global warming, air and water pollution; and improve earth's natural resources, forest and ozone layer. Eventually all of us can enjoy a clean, healthy and balanced life on earth. Sarawak and Mlaysia can enjoy better productivity and sustainable eonomy.
	Main Page | Archives: 2007: December 2007 | November 2007 | October 2007 | September 2007 | August 2007 | July 2007 | June 2007 | May 2007 | April 2007 | March 2007 | February 2007 | January 2007 2006: September 2006 - November 2006 | June 2006 - August 2006 | May 2006 | April 2006 | March 2006 | February 2006 | January 2006 2005: December 2005 | November 2005 | October 2005 | September 2005 | August 2005 | July 2005 | June 2005 | May 2005 | April 2005 | March 2005 | February 2005 | January 2005 2004: December 2004 | Sept 2004 - Nov 2004 | June 2004 - August 2004 | May 2004 | April 2004 | March 2004 | February 2004 | January 2004 2003: December 2003 | November 2003 | October 2003 | September 2003 | August 2003 | July 2003 | June 2003 | May 2003 | April 2003 | March 2003 | February 2003 | January 2003 2002: December 2002 | November 2002 | October 2002 | September 2002 | August 2002 | July 2002 | June 2002 | May 2002 | April 2002 | March 2002 | February 2002 | January 2002 2001: December 2001 | November 2001 | October 2001 | September 2001 | August 2001 | July 2001 | June 2001 | May 2001 | April 2001 | March 2001 | February 2001 | January 2001 2000: December 2000 | November 2000 | October 2000 | September 2000 | August 2000 | July 2000 | June 2000 | May 2000 | April 2000 | March 2000 | February 2000 | January 2000 1999: December 1999 | November 1999 | October 1999 | September 1999 | August 1999 | July 1999 | June 1999 | May 1999 | April 1999 | March 1999 | February 1999 | January 1999 1998: December 1998 | November 1998 | October 1998 | September 1998 | August 1998 | July 1998 | June 1998 | May 1998 | April 1998 | March 1998 | February 1998 | January 1998