Let Support Earth Hour 2010
On Saturday, March 27, 2010 at 8:30 p.m. the world will send a powerful message that climate change is a priority that must be dealt with now.
Earth Hour is a global event organized by WWF (World Wide Fund for Nature, also known as World Wildlife Fund) and is held on the last Saturday of March annually.
It help to raise awareness towards the need to take action on climate change.
Hundreds of millions of people, organizations, corporations and governments will come together to make a bold statement about their concern for climate change by doing something quite simple—turning off their lights for one hour.
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Earth Hour 2010 Official video
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By turning off non-essential lighting for one hour—Earth Hour—hundreds of millions of people across the globe will show their support for lasting action to fight against climate change, protecting our future and that of future generations.
We ONLY have one Earth, let working together in making Earth Hour 2010 the biggest effort yet.
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Earth Hour 2010 Commercial
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Let everyone of us show the World, Malaysians are United!
Come together to Fight Global Warming!
Turn off your Lights for One Hour.
8:30 p.m Saturday ,March 27, 2010
Let’s Do A little Today for the Next "Millions" tomorrow.
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Participate in Global Earth Hour 2009
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Group Earth Month concert
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A CAMPAIGN in support of Earth Hour 2010 was recently launched by the IOI Group at Putrajaya Marriott Hotel & Spa on March 1.
Themed “Changing the Climate Together with IOI Group”, the Go Green campaign is aimed at helping to change the current climate trend and fight global warming as well as educating the people on adopting a green lifestyle.
IOI Group executive director Datuk Lee Yeow Chor said at the launch that the Group had designated March as IOI’s Earth Month to give greater emphasis to the issues of climate change and global warming.
The IOI Group will be organising green initiatives throughout the month in which all the companies in the group, comprising its hotels and malls, refineries, factories and offices in Malaysia as well as overseas establishments, will be participating.
Vince Chong: The Akademi Fantasia Season 1 champion will be entertaining the crowd at the lights-out event at IOI Boulevard Puchong on March 27.
At the official launch of the campaign, models dressed in the Group’s specially designed Go Green Earth Hour T-shirts unveiled the IOI Group’s Go Green logo, which portrays a stylised earth that is slowly heating up over an evergreen land mass, signifying the corporation’s call to change the climate trend together with IOI Group and reduce global heat by pledging to “stop wasting time, look around and change your attitude”.
The logo was unveiled atop an Earth Hour pledge cube which sealed the corporation’s official pledge for Earth Hour.
Lee and the Group’s key representatives also personally signed their pledges of support for Earth Hour and Earth Month.
Also present at the event were Malaysian Nature Society executive director Dr Loh Chi Leong and IOI Earth Hour Ambassador Vince Chong.
With the launch of IOI’s Earth Month, the Group aims to involve its staff and the community in helping to tackle global warming.
A staff awareness campaign on environmental conservation and green living was initiated at the IOI headquarters.
The staff will be educated on the 5Rs (Reducing, Repairing, Reusing, Renewing and Recycling) through daily e-mail tips, talks, documentaries, and fruit enzyme and garbage enzyme making demonstrations.
A three-bin recycle system was also launched for staff on March 1.
For Earth Hour, a countdown concert titled Unplugged Earth Show is scheduled to be held from 7pm to 10pm on March 27 at IOI Boulevard Puchong.
The lights-out event will feature a special performance by Akademi Fantasia Season 1 champion Vince Chong as well as other entertaining performances and fundraising activities, such as the sale of IOI Group’s Earth Hour T-shirts and candles.
The Earth Hour T-shirts are available at RM25 each at IOI Mall Puchong, Putrajaya Marriott Hotel & Spa and Palm Garden Hotel. The proceeds of the fundraising activities will be channelled to the MNS.
Meanwhile, the Group’s various leisure and hospitality hotels and malls are also featuring special events promotions this month.
Putrajaya Marriott Hotel has launched its in-room’s two-bin system (for recyclables and non-recyclables) to encourage guests to practise a green attitude.
In addition, the hotel’s in-house guest attending the “Lights Out Cocktail” will receive a special “green” door gift while a green candlelight buffet dinner will be served at the Terrace Café on March 27.
During the Earth Month, Palm Garden Hotel is featuring a candlelight buffet every Friday at the Courtyard, and the eco buffet at the Palms Café until March 26. It will also be organising a compost heap to reduce biodegradable garbage that can be used to produce fertile soil.
At IOI Mall Puchong, shoppers can redeem IOI Group’s “Going Green, Living Clean” non-woven reusable shopping bag with each purchase of RM50 and above .every Saturday, in conjunction with its “No Plastic Bag” campaign. To create awareness of Earth Hour, an exhibition entitled Co-Exist with our Mother Earth by Tzu Chi Foundation will be held until March 27. An arts and crafts workshop to encourage children to use recycled items will also be held on March 27
fe:thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2010/3/11/central/5788479&sec=central
Join Us In Observing Earth Hour 2010, SMC Says
The Sibu Municipal Council (SMC) wants greater participation from both the public and private sectors here in observing the Earth Hour 2010 on March 27.
Its chairman, Datuk Tiong Thai King, said today that in its debut participation in the event last year, the public response had not been encouraging.
“This is probably because not many were aware of it.
“I hope this year more will participate by switching off more lightings in their premises for one hour from 8.30pm to 9.30pm,” he told reporters.
Tiong said the World WildLife Fund initiative was important as it helped to raise awareness of climate change issues.
“Earth Hour 2010 will continue to be a global call to action to every individual, business and community.
“This is a call to stand up, to take up responsibility and to get involved and lead the way to a low-carbon future,” said Tiong who is the Sibu member of parliament.
He said that the counsil, on its part, would dim or switch off some external lightings in its public places like gardens, the Sibu gateway and the Town Square.
He hoped the same could be done in commercial buildings like hotels, business complexes and offices and government departments and private dwellings.
fr:bernama.com/bernama/v5/newsindex.php?id=481527
One Hour Of Darkness To Support Earth Hour 2010
World Wide Fund for Nature Malaysia (WWF Malaysia) is urging all Malaysians to come together again during Earth Hour 2010 to show their support for the fight against climate change.
The public is asked to switch off all non-essential lights between 8.30pm and 9.30pm on March 27.
Climate change is a threat not only to humans but wildlife and nature as well, a WWF-Malaysia statement here says.
Climate change will badly affect turtles, one of Malaysia’s most endangered species, due to increased frequency of storms that will erode beaches and reduce their nesting habitats, it says.
“The temperature of the nest determines the sex of the hatchlings. Warmer nests produce mostly female hatchlings. As the climate warms, it is predicted that turtle nests too will be warmer, resulting in fewer male hatchlings.
This situation will have an adverse impact on future turtle populations,” it adds.
Over six million Malaysians participated in Earth Hour 2009.
fr:bernama.com/bernama/v5/newsgeneral.php?id=479108
Sunway Pyramid goes green
EARTH Hour is back and for the second year in a row, Sunway Pyramid is going green.
Every last Saturday of March, the world around celebrates Earth, an international cause against climate change.
With the earth experiencing global warming such as rise in temperature and sea levels, drought, famine and changing landscape, this climate awareness campaign serves as a significant reminder to the community about the challenges faced.
Sunway Pyramid is all out in educating the public and invites all to be a part of this event.
For just an hour, beginning at 8.30pm, the shopping mall joins the rest of the world in switching off its lights.
Doing so will effectively reduce electricity usage hence, lesser greenhouse gas emission – one of the main causes of climate change.
“Even though it is a highly participated campaign, in reality, it is still just a small effort to reverse climate change,” said Sunway Pyramid chief operating officer Kevin Tan.
“There’s so much more that needs to be done.
“What is of importance right now is getting the crowd’s attention and mobilising them to make a stance against this issue,” Tan added.
“We are finding ways to engage the public in taking this cause seriously. Local celebrities such as Daphne Iking, Xandria Ooi and Chermaine Poo will be making their appearances at the event.
As a special treat to all music lovers, Earth Hour at Sunway Pyramid will also feature ‘Battle of the Bands’, in collaboration with the Leo Club of Tropicana.
Ten bands from various colleges in the Klang Valley will battle it out to see who tops the table at the Orange Entrance.
‘An Honest Mistake’ will be making a guest appearance during the night while performances by the students of Sunway University and Kolej Damansara Utama and ‘Stack Me Up’ game by Tupperware are aplenty.
fr:/thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2010/3/19/central/5880901&sec=central
YTL to show its commitment for one-hour lights-off event
AS PART of its commitment to environmental protection, YTL Corporation will continue with its support for Earth Hour 2010.
The group’s 30 establishments in Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and Thailand such as Bintang Walk’s Lot 10, Starhill Gallery and The Ritz-Carlton to Wisma Atria in Singapore, Spa Village in Tembok Bali and The Chedi in Phuket, will go dark for one hour in this lights-off event, joining the global collaborative effort to send a message of hope and action against climate change.
The group’s director of Investments, Ruth Yeoh said climate change was a real phenomenon.
“In its message of hope and action, Earth Hour underlines the simple fact that every individual should take responsibility for the impact they create on our precious environment. Earth Hour sets an excellent example of how simple it is for every individual to contribute towards saving our planet,” added Yeoh.
YTL’s Earth Hour celebrations on March 27 will be held from 8pm to 9.30pm on the rooftop garden of Lot 10, where shoppers and diners can enjoy its “Forest in the City”, which includes a view of the KL city as it goes dark.
Hosted by Deborah Henry and Henry Golding, the celebrations will feature acoustic performances by 39 Touch, young environmentalist and performer Jes Ebrahim, Elvira Arul, up-and-coming singer-songwriter Najwa, and rising star Atilia.
Further to cozying under the starlit skies, shoppers and diners will also be treated to stargazing with telescopes provided by the Astronomical Society of Malaysia.
During this hour, YTL’s hotels and restaurants will be serving candlelight dinner, with various activities for the guests.
fr:thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2010/3/22/central/5889507&sec=central
120 countries to join Earth Hour on March 27
MEXICO CITY: Some 120 countries have expressed their interest in joining the “Time of the Planet” to be hosted on March 27 at 8.30pm local time, the World Fund for the Nature said in Mexico.
This will be the third consecutive year that this initiative is promoted at world level, the Fund’s general director Omar Vidal, cited by Xinhua news agency, as saying.
Vidal said the initiative is aimed at making people aware of and showing concern for the global warming, which is an issue affecting all the world.
“The Time of the Planet” is about turning off the lights for one hour in the houses, offices and buildings,” Vidal said.
He noted that “we know that even if all the world would turn off the lights for one hour, the energy supply problem will not be solved, but it is a strong message for more people to join this civil initiative.”
The initiative seeks that the message reaches to the top leaders of the world during the next Climate Change Summit to be hosted in Cancun, Mexico, to make them take urgent measures to face the problem, Vidal said.
He told that in 2009, a total of 4,100 cities in the world joined the activity, and according to him it was the largest massive participation registered at any environmental issue.
“All the people who participated in showed their concern for the climate change and they turned the lights for one hour,” Vidal said
fr:thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/3/25/nation/20100325102132&sec=nation
Tune Hotels.com’s Earth Hour to shut down external, lobby lights
In conjunction with Earth Hour, Tune Hotels.com, the limited-service hotel brand, will be shutting down its main lobby and exterior lights this Saturday, March 27, from 8.30pm to 9.30pm at its hotels in Kuala Lumpur, Kota Kinabalu, Kuching, KLIA-LCCT Airport, Penang, Legian and Kuta in Bali, Indonesia.
“This is just a small part of our ongoing ‘Less Waste, More Earth’ green initiatives, in which we try to do our part to encourage everyone to make smarter choices about the use of resources,” said Tune Hotels.com Group CEO Mark Lankester in a statement on Thursday.
He said Tune Hotels.com utilised a pay-as-you-use system for major energy consuming amenities like air-conditioning. Optional air-conditioning is programmed into guest keycards via affordably priced “credit units” of 12 hours for RM13.49 and 24 hours for RM21.
“Guests find the small charges very reasonable, yet as with everything, when you are fully aware of what a resource costs you, you tend to be more careful with how you use it,” said Kishore Suppiah, regional head of operations for Tune Hotels.com.
Tune Hotels.com said it also reduced water consumption and the flow of laundry effluents into the environment by renting towels (RM5 per towel inclusive of complimentary toiletries), and soon, allowing guests staying for more than one night to choose to have their bed linens changed on alternate days instead of daily.
Other ongoing efforts include incorporating “green principles” into hotel design, eg experimenting with open concept corridors that minimise air-conditioning requirements and placing recycling bins separating metal, plastic and paper in the hotels.
fr:theedgemalaysia.com/business-news/162378-tune-hotelscoms-earth-hour-to-shut-down-external-lobby-lights.html
Go the extra mile to save Mother Earth
Go beyond switching off your lights for an hour today to mark Earth Hour, WWF Malaysia chief executive officer Datuk Dr Dionysius Sharma urged the people.
He said all Malaysians, be it individuals or corporations, should take the opportunity to make a resolution to change their lifestyle and help save Mother Earth.
“Live Earth Hour every hour. People are getting more receptive about Earth Hour but it goes beyond switching off the lights.
“It is not too late to start changing your lifestyle – to conserve energy, minimise wastage and encourage sustainability,” he said yesterday.
Earth Hour will be held simultaneously worldwide at 8.30pm today as millions of people including Malaysians make a stand against climate change.
The Earth Hour started in 2007 in Sydney, Australia which saw 2.2 million homes and businesses turn off their lights.
Over 4,000 cities in 88 countries took part in the global event last year.
Over 126 countries and territories have pledged their commitment for this year.
Homes and businesses including hotels, restaurants and shopping malls would be switching off their non-essential lights for an hour this year including Suria KLCC and Menara Kuala Lumpur.
About six million Malaysians took part in last year’s Earth Hour with Tenaga Nasional Bhd recording a 550MW drop in electricity usage, which was equivalent to the usage of about 14 million 40-watt fluorescent bulbs.
In Johor Baru, state International Trade and Industry, Energy, Water, Communication and Environment Committee chairman Tan Kok Hong also asked the people to switch off their lights during Earth Hour.
He said the state government, as well as all of its agencies, would officially participate in the programme this year.
“We hope everyone can participate and show support to an effort to preserve the environment,” he said when launching the Earth Hour Environment Awareness Campaign in Kota Iskandar near here yesterday.
fr:thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/3/27/nation/5949072&sec=nation
Hotels also playing a role for the environment
TO celebrate Earth Hour, hotels in the Klang Valley have lined up a series of activities for guests during the period.
Grand Dorsett Subang Hotel will be organising an exhibition and charity sale of decorative items made of recyclable items as well as a pledge tree on its premises. A big surprise will also be the presence of Datin Paduka Sharifah Mazlina Syed Abdul Kadir, the first Asian woman to solo ski-sail across Antarctica.
Other than shutting off non-essential lights, the Putrajaya Marriot Hotel & Spa has planned an Earth Hour mini-garden formation and lights out cocktails with guests artiste performances by Dafi (AF 5), Adam and Anding (AF 2), Adeline and Ryzal (KRU Studios) at the lobby lounge.
Guests, management and employees of The Federal Hotel Kuala Lumpur will light up a globe with energy generated by peddling a trishaw non-stop for an hour.
Meanwhile, the Holiday Inn Kuala Lumpur Glenmarie will be auctioning art and handicraft at The Gazebo and poolside during Earth Hour. The proceeds will be channelled to the WWF–Malaysia and Rumah Amal Cheshire Selangor.
Shangri-La hotels and resorts worldwide will turn off non-essential lights and the group estimated that it could save up to 60 megawatts of electricity, which is equivalent to providing the lighting energy requirements of a city of 500,000 residents for 24 hours.
Guests at The Westin Kuala Lumpur will receive a complimentary signature Terrior cocktail when they dine at the restaurants, and a 60 Earth Hour T-shirt if they opt for a Signature Steak and Wine Tasting Plate at Qba Latin Bar & Grill.
Hotel Equatorial Kuala Lumpur will celebrate Earth Hour at Flo Lobby Lounge by serving drinks at 60% of their normal prices and drinks during Earth Hour last call will be available at RM1, excluding champagne and bottled wines.
Diners will receive a certificate that marks their participation when they order the special salad, which is made of local produce and has a very low carbon footprint, at either Etoile Bistro and Flo Lobby Lounge.
Parkroyal Kuala Lumpur’s guests will be celebrating Earth Hour with a Happy Earth Hour by candlelight at KLix Lounge where a one-for-one beverage offer will be extended for all house pours.
Hilton Kuala Lumpur will be offering guests with special dinner offers, including organic cuisine at Senses, Barbecue at Boardwalk and Sushi Delights at Iketeru.
Holiday Villa Hotel & Suites Subang summed up its participation with one line, “We may be switching off the lights, but our hospitality does not stop.”
fr:/thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2010/3/27/central/5929668&sec=central
Spoof on TNB has some riled up
PETALING JAYA: A spoof about Tenaga Nasional Berhad planning to sue the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) for organising the Earth Hour campaign posted on a website has riled some people who are unaware that it was a fictitious news report.
The entry, posted on nose4news.wordpress.com, which contains fictional news articles, claimed TNB would be suing WWF for organising the worldwide campaign that was costing the national power provider “millions in unrealised revenue.”
The banner of the site carries a disclaimer stating that articles posted on the site were fiction and most people who visit the site are aware that posts on the site are spoof.
However, there were some who appeared to be taken in by the article based on the unflattering comments they left about the national power provider.
The article was also posted on the social media Facebook, drawing more negative comments about TNB from people who were unaware about the nature of the website that first carried the article.
The article was posted on Thursday but was removed from the site Saturday afternoon.
The author has also issued an apology for “making his fake news sound too real.”
Meanwhile, TNB issued a statement supporting the event and called on its customers to use energy prudently.
The Earth Hour campaign that started in Sydney in 2007, encourages households and businesses worldwide to switch off all non-essential lights for an hour to raise awareness on climate change.
fr:thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/3/27/nation/20100327200817&sec=nation
The hour the lights went out
It was lights off by 8.30pm at the Petronas Twin Towers and the buildings around it as Malaysia observed 2010 Earth Hour.
All non-essential lights at Suria KLCC, including the retail centre’s facade, were turned off for a full 60 minutes.
Many retailers and restaurants also joined hands in the global conservation effort and patrons were seen dining by candlelight.
By 7.45pm, thousands of people had already converged at the compounds of Suria KLCC eagerly waiting for the lights of the twin towers to be switched off.
There was a loud cheer as the lights went off section by section, starting with the upper section of the towers.
A group of six college students who were among the thousands who came to observe the moment carried tea-light candles, arranged in the shape of the figure “60” to symbolise the Earth Day hour-long lights-out.
Meanwhile, in support of the effort, TNB is advising its 7.6 million customers to switch to energy-efficient appliances.
Its chief executive officer Datuk Seri Che Khatib Mohammad Noh urged consumers to switch off electrical appliances when not in use.
The 2009 Earth Hour saw a 550MW dip in nationwide electricity consumption.
The amount is sufficient to light up 14 million 40-watt light bulbs.
Another organisation which joined the 2010 Earth Hour was Petronas. It switched off non-essential lights during the hour.
In George Town, thousands of bulbs lighting up City Hall were switched off, but the Esplanade was alight with flames from 10,000 flickering candles.
Hundreds of people gathered at the field to celebrate the green initiative while others participated by turning off non-essential lights at their homes and businesses.
Crowds also gathered at several different spots in the state to participate in the global Earth Hour.
The lights at the two iconic triangular structures at the mid-span of the Penang Bridge were also switched off.
fr:thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/3/28/nation/5951841&sec=nation
KL not dark enough during Earth Hour
SATURDAY night was the second time Malaysia participated in the Earth Hour programme.
From what I observed from Look Out Point in Ampang, some high-rise buildings like KLCC, Menara Maxis and KL Tower switched off their lights.
We should commend such efforts. Kudos to the respective authorities.
Generally however, Kuala Lumpur was a letdown because the city was still bright.
Other cities like Sydney, New York, Tokyo, Paris, Moscow, Johannesburg and London were much darker than us.
What is wrong with us Malaysians?
How can we pledge to reduce carbon emission by up to 40% come 2020?
The ordinary citizen never seems to bother about such events.
We might think that nothing much can be achieved by switching off lights for an hour.
It’s not the time that counts, but the togetherness and the will to do something to make this Earth a better place.
What happened on Saturday might be due to the lack of promotion by the organiser, the WWF.
We must have a will to preserve and conserve the environment for our future generations. We must discard our selfish attitude now.
If you think switching off lights and staying home is boring and stupid, why not hang out with family or friends during the hour?
That way you can kill two birds with one stone.
You can save the planet and enhance your bond with each other.
The people in power, corporate figures and the NGOs should set an example by doing the same thing and asking everyone to switch off their lights.
I am very supportive of Earth Hour and feel we should make Kuala Lumpur the darkest city during that time.
Remember, everything is possible as long as we think of Mother Earth.
It would be good if other cities such as Putrajaya, Ipoh, Petaling Jaya, George Town, Miri and Kota Kinabalu join Kuala Lumpur in such an important event.
CHUAH PING SHIEN,
Kuala Lumpur.
fr:thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/3/29/focus/5954399&sec=focus
Smaller drop in power demand
KUALA LUMPUR: Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) recorded a small drop in demand during Earth Hour on Saturday night with a load reduction of 203MW.
In a statement yesterday, the company said in the same energy conservation campaign last year, TNB posted a bigger drop in electricity usage – 550MW.
High power consumption during the current hot weather might have contributed to the lower reduction in energy consumption during this year’s Earth Hour, it added.
A new maximum demand of 14,890MW was registered on March 25 beating the previous peak of 14,740MW on March 14.
TNB also said that it fully supported Earth Hour which calls for the switching off of non-essential lights and electrical appliances for one hour to raise awareness towards the need to take action on climate change.
fr:thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/3/29/nation/5954455&sec=nation
Light shines brightest when it is darkest
SO, did you turn out the lights on Saturday, from 8.30pm to 9.30pm, in celebration of Earth Hour?
I did. And how I wished the whole country did as well.
Yes, the cynics may say that this is nothing but a publicity gimmick, but I believe that if more people participate, it opens up opportunities for the environmentally-conscious citizens to impart their knowledge to those who are still in the dark.
After all, it has been said that light shines brightest when it is darkest. So what better time to shed light on the green agenda?
They are those who still do not have a clue about climate change but they will be interested to know why our country is committed to getting rid of the traditional light bulb by January 2014, or why shopping malls are starting to restrict the use of plastic bags.
To understand a major issue, we often need to create smaller conversation pieces that the ordinary person can understand.
This is something that policy-makers need to embrace when they talk about subsidies, goods and services tax, New Economic Model, or whatever.
The language of the people is never technocratic or bureaucratic. The bottom line is always: “What does this mean to me personally?”
You can tell them that saving energy is good for the future of the planet but the message will come across better if you say that they will be paying much less to Tenaga Nasional Bhd, and the money saved can go towards getting an iPhone for their UK-bound son. Or something like that.
Like many major cities around the world, there is just too much lighting at night in the Klang Valley. What is sad is that our buildings are built in such a way that they even need to be illuminated in the daytime.
With all the artificial lighting, how can we appreciate the lights of nature? The stars are there but we just cannot see them.
A dear friend who is currently doing humanitarian work in Chad wrote to me recently.
She said: “Nowadays I have the privilege of looking up at the night sky and seeing a multitude of stars – the heavens spread out like a canopy, resplendent with tiny points of light.
Recently, I’ve had the chance to lie on a mat and contemplate them properly.
“The wonderful thing about spending time gazing up at the carpet of stars is, after awhile, the impression you get of how very big God is.
“God is bigger than you, the sky seems to say. Our challenges, our personal and collective problems, seem so small compared with the quiet and eloquent witness of stars above. Having this realisation take hold, slowly but surely, as I look up, is an immensely comforting experience.”
I had hoped, on Saturday night, that enough lights would be switched off in my neighbourhood to allow me to look at a carpet of stars and contemplate life afresh. Just like my friend in Chad.
Perhaps, it will happen next year.
# Deputy executive editor Soo Ewe Jin is thankful that he does not have to switch on the light in his office since there is a big window letting natural light in.
fr:biz.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/3/29/business/5926906&sec=business
The untold truth about Earth Hour
Earth Hour is a global event organised by World Wildlife Fund and is held on the last Saturday of March annually. Households and businesses are requested to turn off their non-essential lights and other electrical appliances for one hour to raise awareness towards the need to take action on climate change.
However, by turning off the lights and electrical appliances for one hour does not contribute to the environment if Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB) and Independent Power Producers (IPPs) are not involved.
TNB purchases electricity from IPPs in Malaysia under certain agreements. It transmits and distributes electricity to almost all houses and premises in Malaysia.
To achieve uninterrupted electricity supply, TNB always produces more electricity than the usage by the public so that there will be no power failure due to insufficient supply. That unused electricity generated is known as electricity reserve margin.
Malaysia had a high reserve margin of 42% in the year 2009. This simply means that we are wasting 30% of produced electricity every second as the unused energy can’t be stored and will just be lost.
Nations like Japan have only single digit of electricity reserve margin. Why should Malaysia need 42%? I didn’t understand until I found out that it is mainly because of the contracts between TNB and the IPPs.
TNB has to purchase a certain amount of electricity at a contracted price, whether it uses the electricity or not. TNB has no choice since the contracts have already been signed. So our precious energy resource is wasted.
How much coal or petroleum is required to produce such a big amount of electricity, all of which ends up wasted?
Back to Earth Hour. We are asked to switch off our lights for one hour. The claim is that we can help to conserve the environment. Is this possible in Malaysia without the cooperation of TNB and the IPPs?
You might be switching off the lights and not using electricity, but the same amount of electricity is still being produced each and every second. The same amount of coal and petroleum is being burnt and the same amount of waste gases is being produced.
The only difference is that your electricity bill will be a little lower. But you have done nothing for the environment.
I am not against the protection of the environment and conservation of energy, but please do it in the right way. Why doesn’t the WWF talk this over with TNB and the IPPs and get them to participate in the project?
The objective is right, but the message the public is receiving is misleading. People believe they have done their part to conserve the environment by turning off the lights for one hour, but the truth is not that.
WWF should focus more on instilling the right positive attitude towards Mother Earth instead of making this event seem like entertainment, with people doing as asked merely because it is trendy.
ANG YEN,
Kota Tinggi.
fr:thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/3/31/focus/5962509&sec=focus
Earth Hour is to shed light on environs
WWF-Malaysia would like to respond to “The untold truth about Earth Hour” (Star Online, March 31).
We wish to clarify that Earth Hour does not purport to be an energy or carbon reduction exercise. WWF recognises that the energy reductions brought about by a one-hour lights out campaign is not going to have a significant effect on energy consumption and is certainly not enough to turn the tide on rising global carbon emissions.
Rather, Earth Hour is an initiative to encourage individuals, businesses and governments to take accountability for their carbon footprint and show leadership in climate solutions. Through Earth Hour, WWF hopes to create the necessary political momentum for enacting national climate legislation and a global climate treaty.
Earth Hour is a symbolic event and is meant to unite people, companies and governments around the world.
We hope that through events like Earth Hour, people, governments and businesses will be aware of, and concerned enough about, the climate crisis to start making the necessary changes to be more carbon-efficient. Earth Hour is an important first step.
By participating in Earth Hour, you are agreeing that strong action needs to be taken to find a solution to the climate crisis.
WWF hopes that people continue to demonstrate their concern about climate change by taking steps towards achieving energy efficiency and avoiding wasteful consumption.
DATUK DR DIONYSIUS S.K. SHARMA,
Executive Director/CEO,
WWF-Malaysia
fr:thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/4/6/focus/5997083&sec=focus
Golden Arches go green in Penang
GEORGE TOWN: Support for the state’s “No Plastic-Day” campaign is growing with the latest to sign up for the drive being the global fast food giant, McDonald’s.
McDonald’s 18 outlets in Penang will replace plastic bags with paper bags every Monday to Wednesday. It has also started to use paper instead of foam for its beverage cup from last month.
Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng who launched McDonald’s “Go-Green” campaign at its outlet in Jalan Mesjid Negri, praised the company, saying that the outlets in Penang are the first in Malaysia to participate in the green initiative.
“Support is growing as most of the hypermarkets and supermarkets are already taking part in our campaign. Many other enterprises including the state sundry shop owners association have also indicated they will support it.
“As for mini markets and single ownership outlets, they will have to comply with “No Plastic-Day” every Monday or else their permits may not be renewed or in some cases, revoked,” he said.
Later, Lim, who was accompanied by state Health, Environment and Caring Society committee chairman Phee Boon Poh, said the state had extended the campaign’s grace period, which was supposed to end in June, by another two months.
Phee said that the state’s priority was to create a high awareness level of the importance of not using plastic bags.
“Enforcement and penalties are the last resort. We want to raise awareness among the people,” he said.
McDonald’s Malaysia senior director Daniel Chan said a soft launch of the campaign began a month back and the response has been encouraging.
McDonald’s has 194 outlets nationwide, and employs about 8,000 workers. It plans to increase its outlets to 300 within the next five years. In Penang, McDonald’s plans to add another 15 outlets in the next five years.
fr:thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/4/8/nation/6010041&sec=nation
Earth Day fun for all
TO create further awareness on the environment, Teratai MP Jenice Lee’s office is organising an Earth Day celebration in the area next month.
The event, which will take place from May 7 to 9, is the first of its kind held by Lee and features many activities, including games, a treasure hunt and environment-related talks and seminars.
The highlight will be a carnival on May 8, during which a concert will take place in the evening. Lee will be performing in the concert, belting out a few songs including English, Malay and Chinese numbers.
A live band and the Ampang Jaya Municipal Council (MPAJ) choir will also be there to spice up the evening.
Although tickets for the concert are priced at RM10 per person, visitors can earn a free entry by registering for a talk or by taking part in one of the games.
Lee said the event hoped to educate the public on the many alternative ways one can preserve the environment, as recycling was just a fraction of it.
She said recycling was a very well-promoted way to help save the environment but it was not the only way, and the public should learn about methods as well.
“We are trying to encourage people to re-use and reduce as well. There are so many things that can be re-used after repairs, but many prefer to get new ones. New is good but it means the old adds to the rubbish.
“If we can teach people to reduce, it will be great,” she said during a walkabout at the Taman Maju Jaya market on April 26 to promote the event.
There will also be a corner at the carnival, where people can bring their old but re-usable items so others can have them.
There will also be exhibitions by non-governmental organisations such as the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) and some colleges to promote the idea of a greener Earth.
“We hope that with these exhibitions, we can reach out to more people in a bigger way,” Lee said.
There will also be free shuttle services in the Pandan area for those who want to make their way to the celebration at the MPAJ community hall in Jalan Pandan Ilmu.
Pick-ups at various points are scheduled every 30 minutes and about 6,000 people are expected to visit on each day of the event.
fr:thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2010/4/29/central/6133924&sec=central
Standard Chartered to plant 8,000 trees nationwide
KUALA LUMPUR: Some 8,000 trees will be planted under Standard Chartered Bank’s “GreenFingers” eco-project.
Standard Chartered Bank’s managing director and chief executive officer Osman Morad said the trees would be planted nationwide to bring further awareness on environmental sustainability.
“This is in line with the Government’s nationwide campaign to plant 26 million trees by 2014,” Osman said during the launch of the project at Menara Standard Chartered here yesterday.
Osman said the trees were planted on behalf of every Standard Chartered customer who went paperless by signing up for online banking, and every client who participated in the bank’s Corporate Challenge programme and pledged towards the Standard Chartered Trust Fund.
Trees would also be planted for all employees and their family members who took part in its Standard Chartered KL Marathon, and every 10th participant in the marathon.
Osman said the “GreenFingers” eco-project was recognised as part of a global environmental initiative under the UN Environment Programme called The Billion Tree Campaign.
Standard Chartered Bank has also created a Facebook fan page for the project with an application called “Treeville”, which is an interactive tree planting game.
present at the event was Deputy Natural Resources and Environment Minister Tan Sri Joseph Kurup.
fr:thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/5/15/nation/6270448&sec=nation