Ignore global warming at our own peril BorneoPost Online | Borneo , Malaysia, Sarawak Daily News » thesundaypost - New 2 Borneo |
- Ignore global warming at our own peril
- Exploring eco-tourism potential of Ulu Katibas
- Keeping the Christmas spirit alive
- Is Your Child Ready for Kindergarten?
- In the realms of Pluto
| Ignore global warming at our own peril Posted: 14 Dec 2013 02:20 PM PST GLOBAL warming or climate change is here to stay. In fact, it is manifesting its Sahara-like presence sooner than anticipated. But what does this drastic change in global weather patterns mean to the general public? What has triggered the onset of this atmospheric phenomenon and are there ways to mitigate its impact? In essence, what is global warming? Shedding light on the subject, Datu Dr Penguang Manggil, permanent secretary to the Local Government and Community Development Ministry, said in layman's term, global warming is the increase in average temperature of the Earth's near-surface air and oceans – since the mid-20th century – and its projected continuation. "During the last 100 years, ending 2005, the global surface temperature has increased by 0.74 to 0.18oC, attributed mainly to the increase in anthropogenic greenhouse gas concentrations such as carbon dioxide, methane and ozone. "These gases in the Earth's atmosphere act like a greenhouse roof, letting in enough of the sun's heat to keep the Earth warm for humans, animals and plants to live. Human activities over the last hundred years had greatly increased the concentration of these gases, causing the atmosphere to hold in too much heat. "Based on the climate model projections, the global surface temperature will likely increase by further 1.1 to 6.4oC in the 21st century," explained Dr Penguang, who holds a PhD in sustainable forest management. "Climate change, on the other hand, is the long-term significant change in the expected average mweather patterns of a specific region or more relevantly, to contemporary socio-political concerns of the Earth as a whole over an appropriately significant period of time," he added. Dr Penguang reiterated that global warming is caused by increase in the concentration of anthrogenic greenhouse gases – most significantly carbon dioxide (CO2) which is released when coal, oil, gasoline, natural gas and other fossil fuels are burnt to produce electricity, heat and cool buildings and power vehicles. C02 in atmosphere has increased exponentially According to Dr Penguang, the concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere has increased exponentially from 280 parts per million (ppm) in the beginning of the Industrial Revolution in Europe to about 390 ppm today, and is rising by 1.5 to 2 ppm annually. The Inter-governmental panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Special Report on Emissions Scenarios gave a wide range of future CO2 scenarios, ranging from 541 to 970 ppm by the 2100, he said, adding that reputable scientists had emphasised CO2 concentration must be kept below 450 ppm otherwise the costs of adapting to a warmer world "will not be bearable." "The other greenhouse gas is methane, which is released to the atmosphere when wastes in landfills, plants and other biomass decompose. The increase in the concentration of GHGs is also caused by land use, land use changes, and clearing of green areas, including those at your backyards." What are the effects of global warming on humankind? Dr Penguang reckoned the phenomenon would have serious impacts if nothing were done to halt or even reverse it. "Among some of the effects on both the natural environment and human life are changes in rainfall patterns – like what we experienced when we had more rainfalls and more rainy days in 2007 and 2008. Other worrying signs include increasingly intense and frequent hurricanes; floods, droughts and other weather events; lowering of ocean pH; oxygen depletion in the oceans; spread of diseases such as malaria, dengue fever, lyme disease, plague and cholera; reduction in ozone layer; food and water scarcity and possible submersion of low-lying cities and coastal land," he said. In the Malaysian context, the recent floods in Johor and Sarawak, and the typhoon-like winds and storms are tell-tale signs that global warming is coming – and now. Dr Penguang warned the tropics was expanding pole-wards and this would have far-reaching impacts, notably in intensifying water scarcity in the Mediterranean and the US "sun belt" as well as Southern Africa and Southern Australia. "The general agreement among climate scientists that global temperatures will continue to increase has led some nations, states, corporations and individuals to implement responses – that is adapting to the effects of global warming and reducing or even reversing global warming itself. The latter is referred to as mitigation and includes both emissions reduction and speculatively geo-engineering." Kyoto Protocol The World's primary international agreement on combatting global warming is the Kyoto Protocol,an amend-ment to the UNFCCC negotiated in 1997, whereby the Annex 1 Countries (Developed and Industrialised Coun-tries) are required to reduce their GHGs emissions by five per cent that of the 1990 levels through a greenhouse gas emission trading scheme known as the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), impose a quota on world-wide fossil fuel production, increase energy efficiency and move towards use of alternative environment-friendly fuels. Dr Penguang said the Kyoto Protocol has more than 160 member states globally and covers over 55 per cent of the world's greenhouse gas emissions. Only the US, historically the world's largest GHGs emitter, and Kazakhstan have not ratified the treaty which expired in 2012. He added that international dialogues had already begun on a future treaty to succeed the Kyoto Protocol. On what local governments can do to help mitigate the effects of global warming, Dr Penguang said environmental protection is everyone's responsibility because whatever each individual does will have some impact on environmental quality – that is carbon foot print, be it in the air, water or soil media. "The local authorities, being the captains of the community in each district or municipality, have a very important role to play in that they act as the drivers of change as well as an agent of the government to initiate and implement the policy framework which could have serious impacts on our environmental quality. "As custodian of our environment and promoter of environmental protection and management at the ground level, the local government can put in place some green initiatives and measures to help mitigate the effects of global warming. "In fact, a few local authorities in Sarawak have implemented some of these initiatives either on their own or under the directive of our ministry. Among them is Green Your Fleet whereby the local authorities can improve energy efficiency of vehicles by retiring old and underused ones, enact orders or rules to re-purchase fuel efficient vehicles and promote car-pooling as well as mass-transit travel for employees of big corporations/companies." Switch to LEDs Dr Penguang suggested local authorities switch to Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) fixtures for street lightings, traffic signals, stadiums, public parks and the like. "LEDs consume 80 to 90 per cent less energy than conventional lights. For example, an 18-watt LEDs can emit as much light as a 150-watt standard incandescent bulb. LEDs also last six to 10 times longer, hence further reducing costs through decreased maintenance." He believed government buildings were perfect "energy efficiency" candidates as they could be retro-fitted with new ventilation, and cooling systems, energy-efficient lightings and better insulation. This, he pointed out, would help reduce electricity bills and maintenance costs – and improve comfort. On green power, Dr Penguang said the local authorities could use electric utility deregulation to produce less polluting renewable power such as solar energy, power from landfills and hydro electric power. He suggested the local authorities turn their landfills into an economic asset by recovering landfill methane and converting it for positive use such as electricity production. Reiterating that increased greenhouse gas concentration stemmed from land use, land use changes and clearing of green areas, including those at one's backyard, Dr Penguang said paper, plant and food materials as well as other organic wastes produced methane gas as they decomposed and capturing landfill gases would help eliminate this pollution, "and as a bonus, methane can be used to generate electricity." "This is being done at the Mambong Integrated Waste Management Park near Kuching, and the closed Air Hitam Sanitary landfill in Selangor which produces two megawatts of electricity. Besides, properly closed and rehabilitated landfills can also be converted into playgrounds and recreational parks," he noted. No clear-cut policies Meanwhile, asked if the Sibu Municipal Council (SMC) would consider such an initiative, its deputy chairman Daniel Ngieng said generally, there were no clear-cut government policies to convert landfills in the Division into integrated waste management centres. "The Mambong Integrated Waste Management Park is categorised as a private initiative – and we also don't have any technical input and engineering structure to do the same thing. Of course, the council is concerned about the impact of greenhouse hazards on society. As such, the council will continue to effectively play its role, especially in turning Sibu into a livable place," Ngieng assured. According to Dr Penguang, the Reduce, Reuse, Recycle (3R) initiative has also been implemented. "Malaysians generate about 20,000 tonnes of household solid waste daily, of which 4,000 to 5,000 tonnes are plastic and they produce a lot of greenhouse gases. Hence, recycling is encouraged as it will reduce the GHGs in two ways – first, goods made of recycled materials use less energy and secondly, if more household wastes are recycled, the landfills will produce less GHGs, and cleaner air as a result," he said. The Sibu Municipal Council (SMC) has revealed plastic made up 14.5 per cent of the total waste dumped at the Kemuyang Landfills. Other recyclable items such as paper and paper cartons made up 10.51 and 8.8 per cent respectively. Ngieng noted: "While recyclable items make their way there, the contractor in charge manages the segregation of waste for recycling." Asked whether the "Say No To Plastic Bags" campaigns on Mondays were living up to expectations and if so, what was the percentage of reduction, he said there was actually no such statistic or data right after the launch but assured in future, the council would work out the monthly usage of plastic bags at commercial outlets and analyse plastic use reduction based on the recycling report of the Kemuyang Landfills at its monthly standing committee meetings on public health, environment and municipal services. He also disclosed there are now 33 participating outlets. Other green initiatives include garbage enzyme DIY, waste segregation campaign, Takakura-Bokashi Composting Method and "Say No To Styrofoam" campaign. As for styrofoam, the SMC is taking the lead in banning the use of food containers, made of this polystyrene material,at food outlets to protect the environment. The council has decided to implement the green initiatives full swing from Jan 1, 2014, following the successful trial implementation at the recent Borneo Cultural Festival (BCF), Ngieng said. Taking the challenges in his stride DATU Dr Penguang Manggil is a forester by profession. He holds a bachelor's degree in forestry, MSc in resource management and PhD in sustainable forest management. He has been working in various capacities with the Forest Department for 28 years; two years 10 months as the controller of Environmental Quality of the Natural Resources and Environment Board (NREB) Sarawak before his present appointment as permanent secretary to the Local Government and Community Development Ministry in October 2009. Over the years, he has been very much involved in a wide range of disciplines – forest administration and management; enforcement activities; biodiversity and trans-boundary conservation initiatives; environmental protection and conservation as well as being in the administration and management of the Local Government (Local Authorities) in now. In the Forest Department, he was appointed as director for a number of bilateral and multilateral international projects, the most important of which include (1) Sustainable Forest Management and Trans-boundary Conservation projects of the International Tropical Timber Organisation (ITTO) based in Yokohama Japan; (2) the Joint Working Group Malaysia, the Netherlands projects at Maludam National Park in collaboration with the Altera of Wageningen of the Netherlands; (3) the UN Development Progra-mme/Global Environment Facilities (UNDP/GEF) project at Loagan Bunut National Park; (4) the Joint Malaysian-German Technical Cooperation Project on the Forest Management Information System and (5) The DANIDA conservation project at Niah National Park. In his capacity as director of these projects, he presented papers and participated actively as a Member of Malaysian Delegation in many important in fora as well as multi-lateral environmental agreements (MEAs). These include the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) in Johannesburg, South Africa in August/September 2002; the UN Forum on Forest (UNFF) from 1999-2002; the UN Framework Conventionon Climate Change (UNFCCC); the International Tropical Timber Council (ITTC) from 1999-2005; the World Park Congress in Durban, South Africa (Sept 2002); the UNESCO World Heritage Convention (WHC); the Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species of Flora and Fauna (CITES); the UNESCO GRASP Scientific Commission; the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD); the Convention on Wetlands of International Significance as water fowls habitat, known as the Ramsar Convention and others. Dr Penguang's involvement in these internationally funded projects, conventions and fora has broadened his experience and knowledge and changed his perception and outlook on the protection, conservation and sustainable management and utilisation of our valuable natural resources. It has instilled in him the more pressing needs to protect and manage our living environment holistically and move along with the rest of the world in adopting international norms and standards. Dr Penguang sees his current job as a very challenging one, doing almost everything under the sun and the moon, and more so, at a time when the demands and expectations of informed societies are at their heights and environmentalism has never been treated with such importance before, dominating the agenda of almost all levels of international fora and conventions in the likes of climate change, global warming, loss of biodiversity, cleanliness, pollution, environmental degradation as well as the well-being of civil society. As a signatory to more than 200 Multi-lateral Brown and Green Environmental Agreements, Declarations, and many other emerging soft laws, Malaysia, the state of Sarawak and hence the Local Authorities, have a strong moral obligation to ensure compliance to such Agreements, at least at the ground levels. This is where his vast experiences are very useful in helping the LAs mitigate and address public concerns over environmentalism and the need to keep our surroundings likeable and livable. "What I can see today is that we are in the midst of profound "civilisational" changes. There has been heightened awareness of, and debate over, the compelling needs for actions by all quarters of our society onto a new pathway to a more secure and sustainable future. "Being in charge of the third level of the government and closest to the people, and when something goes wrong, the local authorities are always at the receiving end. Sometimes, we get blamed for something which is not within our functional jurisdiction. "Mind you, the LAs will not be able to perform their tasks effectively and efficiently on their own without the support and cooperation of other agencies and the private sector, NGOs as well as other stakeholders, including the local communities," Dr Penguang said.  To enable your comment to be published, please refrain from vulgar language, insidious, seditious or slanderous remarks. This includes vulgar user names.  |
| Exploring eco-tourism potential of Ulu Katibas Posted: 14 Dec 2013 02:15 PM PST IT was pouring as soon as our expressboat reached Song one early Friday morning – a letdown of sorts since we had been looking forward to fine weather in our quest for the ultimate adventure in Ulu Katibas. Our coordinator Tengku Gruna who had been planning the trip to explore the eco-tourism potential of this locale for almost a month, was naturally disappointed but he quickly put damper the behind him by taking us to breakfast at Song's only café, built on stilts atop a fish pond. After a hearty breakfast of fried kuay tiaw and bee hun, we were shown to a teacher's house where we made final preparations for spending a whole night deep in the jungles of Ulu Katibas. At that point, Tengku did not say much about the trip other than telling us to bring along basic necessities such as jackets, sleeping bags, long-sleeved shirts and a good pair of trekking shoes. He had informed me much earlier he was not supposed to disclose the details as doing so is considered taboo among the Ibans – especially when it comes to hunting and fishing in the jungle – for fear the trip may end in failure. And as Bidayuhs, we too have similar unwritten rules. After a short briefing, the 13 of us were divided into two teams packed into a 4WD vehicle each. Our destination was three and a half hours away via logging road to Ulu Katibas plus another two hours drive to the furthest longhouse adjacent to the renowned Lanjak-Entimau Wildlife Sanctuary. On reaching our rendezvous point, we again split into two groups – one taking the right junction and the other the left. My group took the right junction. Tengku then informed us we would meet up with the rest later that night. My group consisted of Tengku himself, one shooter, the 4WD driver and Tengku's three engineer guests from Kuching – TKY Consultant Sdn Bhd's director Ivanson Kwee, Chua Yan Heng and Su Kwok Tung. As the 4WD backseat was too cramped for four persons, I opted instead to sit next to the shooter on the uncovered bedding, and held on to the side bars. For obvious reasons, the shooter sat at the back – he needed a clear view of his targets that may suddenly emerge from the dense vegetation on both flanks. Along the way to the furthest longhouse in Ulu Katibas and of Song District, our shooter missed two chances of bringing down his quarries. The game he was hunting were very alert and fast and would disappear into the jungle in a flash – with the shooter in pursuit. Each time he missed his chance, he would apologise to us. After a two-hour journey, we stopped for a break and had a dinner of white rice and two cans of preserved food. The meal was simple, yet tasty and satisfying. "This kind of adventure – to experience the wilderness and explore the eco-tourism potential – is what I want to do here in Ulu Katibas so that tourists will have the chance to see live animals in the wild," Tengku finally broke his silence on the purpose of the trip. As we were quietly having dinner, someone in our midst said he was hoping to have exotic meat for the next meal. It was perhaps wishful thinking because deep down, we knew the chances of getting anything like that were pretty slim. And true enough, at 1am on Saturday, after hours of hunting, we all felt exhausted and decided to call it off and returned to our rendezvous point to set up camp for the night at an abandoned logging garage. Except for two small mammals, there wasn't any exotic meat to be had. So for most part of the meal, we settled for instant noodles – before bedding down. It was very cold and windy in the spacious abandoned garage despite a burning campfire. As my clothing, especially the jacket, were wet due to the drizzle on the way back to camp, I was not having the best of nights, waking up twice in a span of two hours owing, I suspect, to hypothermia. However, I managed to bear with it and didn't wake anyone up because I knew all of them were tired and fast asleep. Trying to stay alive, I flashed two decades back to a survival-training stint at an outward-bound school at Pulau Ubin, Singapore, where I was a trainee-instructor. In retrospect, it was the application of the handy life skills I picked up at the time that saved me from the cold and damp that night. The other group comprising experienced hunters decided to go hunting and fishing and only returned at about 3am. They too told us about their many missed chances at bringing back to camp the exotic meat we were hoping (against hope) to have – how they came close to shooting a huge deer and some wild boars. But they made up for drawing a blank in the jungle by catching more than 20kg of fish, mostly semah, in the crystal clear river. The next day, we woke up at first light and a teacher named Nawang Budi from SMK Song was kind enough to prepare breakfast for us. After breaking camp, we regrouped at our rendezvous point and before pushing off, had a cold morning dip in the nearby river – which was, indeed, refreshing after a day and night without a wash. While we were having our bath, a companion volunteered to cook a big semah for us while a few others prepared to barbeque the smaller fish. The experience of having freshly cooked semah and barbequed semah provided some consolation to a very frustrating and unsuccessful hunting trip. Surprisingly, Tengku's three guests from Kuching whom I interviewed before we departed for Sibu Airport all gave the thumps up for the trip. Su (Kwok Tung) said although exhausting, the trip was "quite adventurous." "I will recommend this kind of adventure if a proper sleeping place could be arranged. Moreover, the hunting trip which lasted until early morning, was a bit too long," the 24-year-old pointed out. On the other hand, his superior (Ivanson) Kwee described the trip as actually quite fun, saying he had gone through worse while conducting preliminary studies on the Bakun HEP project in the early 90's. "This is my first hunting trip and I found it very exciting, especially having fresh semah cooked with just salt and water. Overall, I think the arrangements could be improved to make the trip more enjoyable and memorable." He suggested encouraging visitors to go fishing as it would give them more excitement, especially over the first-hand experience of harpooning a fish. Meanwhile, Chua (Yan Heng), who is also a consultant, said at first, he thought the trip was boring but after the experience of sleeping out in the wilderness and joining the hunting trip, it turned out to be a real eye opener. "Tourists will have a more enjoyable experience if given the chance to either fish or hunt instead of just sitting in the 4WD," he said. He is happy to see for himself the pristine flora and fauna during the trip and hopes to bring along his friends and even family members in the future. Tengku who is also a political secretary to the Chief Minister, hopes to tap the eco-tourism potential of Ulu Katibas as he believes the area has immense possibilities for exploring culture, adventure and Nature. And he intends to incorporate them into his future plans for Ulu Katibas. "Why not? After all, CAN (culture, adventure and Nature) is already a well-known acronym for a special brand of tourism that lures visitors to the deep interior of the state. "We have beautiful and crystal clear rivers where we can fish for semah and other exotic species. We also have beautiful scenery of mountains and forests where we can still hunt wild animals. "This will definitely be a big plus. And I intend to cap it with the cultures of the local longhouse community so that they too will benefit from this kind of activities," he enthused. Tengku also hopes to start rafting activities in the Katibas River soon to further boost the eco-tourism potential of Song. As for local residents such as Nawang and his friend Antai Boing, a teacher from Kampung Segong, Singai, Bau, but has lived in Song for the last 20 years, they have made hunting and fishing a favourite weekend pastime. "At times, especially when the weather is fine, we can catch as many as 200 to 300kg of Semah. We consider this trip unsuccessful because we only caught slightly over 20kg," he noted. Asked what were they going to do with so many fish, Antai said they would normally share them with friends and relatives. "We never sell our catch because whatever we catch is only for our own consumption. We never tire of having semah for our meals," he confessed. To enable your comment to be published, please refrain from vulgar language, insidious, seditious or slanderous remarks. This includes vulgar user names. |
| Keeping the Christmas spirit alive Posted: 14 Dec 2013 02:00 PM PST by Chang Yi. Posted on December 15, 2013, Sunday
WHEN she first came to Miri more than 30 years ago, she found it was just a small town with probably the biggest happening place called The Gymkhana Club. She looked forward to every weekend when she could bring her two kids to the pool and enjoy some civil conversation with other mothers. Parties in the Club were like celebrity events. "The Gymkhana Club Miri lighted up my life," exclaimed Ivy who now lives overseas. Miri has grown by leaps and bounds since 1980 and even after the 1997 economic downturn, it expanded with facilities being added and huge hotels and arcades set up, turning the oil-rich town into a resort city. As the population increased over the years, so too did the social lifestyle change in many different ways. We cannot pinpoint what is really "Miri Life" or what are the city's main social events. There are just too many different people and events! And all have a niche of their own. Although the Gymkhana Club celebrated its 100th anniversary in October this year, not many people seemed to have noticed it as there were so many other places holding social functions at the time. This is the situation after 100 years. The Club's membership has decreased and it's no longer the most happening place in the city, according to a long-time club member. Club members — in fact the whole of Miri — used to look forward to the Gymkhana Musical Night every year since the 1960's but it was not happening this year due to unforeseen circumstances. "Then there was the Miri Amateur Dramatic Club (MADS) which used to stage a great play every year. It wasn't happening this year either after Shell's re-engineering exercise and many expatriates who loved music and drama had also left. It seems as though a chapter of Miri's social life has closed," noted Selina, another long-time GCM member. A musical staged by MADS was like a gala night in the past! Interesting traditions Undeniably, however, over the past 100 years, GCM has created some very interesting traditions for Miri, especially in celebrating Christmas. There is the Piasau Boat Club which has offered its premises to some interesting Christmas events over the years. The Miri Petroleum Women's Association also holds a Christmas Charity Sale each year. And since their inceptions, all the hotels have had their Christmas charities too – and the biggest was the Miri Christmas Parade on Dec 7. Interestingly, some small but sustainable Christmas traditions could have started in a small way. For example, the Miri Ladies' Christmas Dinner has been kept alive for more than 30 years. Indeed, it started at the Gymkhana Club — organised by the ladies and for the ladies. It's always nice to know a town or city has traditions that make an event such as the Miri Ladies' Christmas Dinner so special. And I strongly believe such a lovely tradition must be maintained to allow GCM lady members to get together for a Christmas dinner and exchange gifts – something they have been doing since the 1970's. Many of the ladies would look forward to the event as apart from celebrating, it was also a time to welcome new expatriate wives and new lady transferees to Miri, especially when they had to adjust to a new kind of Christmas away from home. However, with recession and folks moving out of Miri over the years, the number of ladies attending this special Christmas Dinner has dwindled to just 20 or 30. The closure of the GCM restaurant a few years ago was another reasons for the lack of attendance. But bonds are hard to break and the "cell group" have been organising the Dinner at various restaurants in the city – thanks to the unstinting support from Florence Enau, Lesley Linggod, Jill Lampan and a few others. Soul of the party Collette Mohan from France has made Miri her "winter home" for the last 18 years, spending six months in Miri and six months in France to escape the cold winter of her homeland. "I love Miri – it's warm and pleasant. The people are very nice and I go a wonderful church here too. I feel very welcomed. Believe it or not, I'm 84 this year. Take any photo of me as you like, I'm okay with my looks," she laughed. Collette is the soul of the party when it comes to dancing. She has lived in Bali and Singapore but chosen to put down her roots in Miri. Her children are back in France and she has a number of great grandchildren. Dominique Dodge-Wan is another long-time resident of Miri. Twenty years is not a short time to stay in one place, especially when it's not your birth place. She brought up her two children (Berawan—English) locally and although they can adjust to Great Britain at the drop of a hat, she is happy to be here in Miri with them and for them. Dominique is a senior lecturer at Curtin University and holds a doctorate in geology. "I love this kind of Christmas party as I can celebrate it with good friends, drink a little and dance a little. I won't miss this Ladies' Dinner for the world," she enthused. There are Christmas dinners for ladies only all the over the world. In Irving, Texas, USA, a traditional Christmas dinner is organised for ladies every year. The ladies to look forward to a delicious meal, unique tablescapes and an exceptional Christmas concert. The womenfolk in Irving turn out in full force for the function. This year, $7,000 was raised from raffle proceeds for a conference to help women in the Congo who have been victims of rape and violence. "God's love and the message of healing, redemption and reconciliation will be shared with women in the Congo," wrote the editor in their newsletter. Another unique Christmas tradition started in 1922 in Finland. One can really be in awe of the Women's Christmas Fair in Helsinki. The beauty and uniqueness about this Fair is that it is an all-women show. The women display and sell their own hand-made products — textile art, Christmas ornaments, knitwear, jewellery, candles, pottery, leather, woodwork, products from recycled materials as well as Christmas treats. Started in 1922, the Fair gathers over 370 exhibitors every year. So to obtain home-like, unique, high quality, eco-friendly gifts and Christmas treats, the Fair is a must- visit for everybody. And finally, on Jan 6, the last day of Christmas in Ireland, a unique tradition treats women like "royalty."Irish women would go out together and have fun all day long. If Christmas decors were taken down before the "Little Women's Christmas," the Irish believe it would bring bad luck. But this is not happening in Ireland per se for the "Little Women's Christmas" has been enjoying a revival in Irish communities in England, the US, New Zealand, Australia and Canada. Most restaurants and bars will be filled to the brim by women — mothers, aunts, sisters and best friends. Jan 6 is also recognised as the Celebration of Epiphany in other cultures and marks the end of the Christmas holidays. The menfolk dutifully prepare a fine meal for their wives, mothers and daughters to show their gratitude for their tireless work throughout the busy Christmas season. Christmas is a special season for both Christians and non-Christians alike. It celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ, the Saviour. The festival brings a message of love and goodwill to mankind. And it is in this spirit that the Miri Ladies Christmas Dinner is held for women who love to share and, at the same, time celebrate the passing of another good year. They come together for laughter, warm hugs and good cheer in a safe place while remembering their sisters in different kinds of situations the world over. It's a Dinner to celebrate good relationship among women who are far away from their homeland, and to extend a warm welcome to those who might otherwise be unable to have a big celebration on their own, across racial, political, social, and religious barriers. It's hoped this tradition will upheld in Miri in the years to come. Hope you all have a wonderful Christmas from the bottom of my heart. To enable your comment to be published, please refrain from vulgar language, insidious, seditious or slanderous remarks. This includes vulgar user names. |
| Is Your Child Ready for Kindergarten? Posted: 14 Dec 2013 01:35 PM PST KINDERGARTEN can be an exciting time for you and your child because it sets the stage for his entire school career. You will look on in wonder as he grows into a more capable, confident, and enthusiastic learner. In kindergarten, your child will learn many of the basic skills needed to read, write, and do math. He'll also learn to get along with others and to follow rules. The German word kindergarten means "a child's garden" and this first year of formal school will be filled with opportunities to plant seeds of learning for your child. But sending your child off to kindergarten can be rough. As the day approaches, you will probably experience a mix of feelings ranging from relief to fear. And your anxiety will be rooted in some specific questions that nag you. Here are some answers to some of the most commonly asked questions. How Can I Tell if My Child's Body Is Ready? Five-year-olds come in all shapes and sizes. Some students are "off the chart" for size and physical dexterity. Others face severe challenges. There are, however, certain traits you may see in a typical five-year-old. These traits include ability to manage his own bathroom needs and increased poise, coordination, and stamina. He can hop, skip and jump and favours one hand over the other. He begins to lose baby teeth and get secondary teeth. He learns to tie his shoes, button his buttons and zip his zipper. He climbs stairs using alternating feet and can throw and may be able to catch a ball. What Kind of Physical Activities or Sports Are Best for Five-Year-Olds? Most children love to try different sports and activities at this age. The secret is to help your child view them as fun. Any five-year-old who jumps, plays outdoors, and does other things that help develop large muscles is getting the exercise he needs. All learning starts with play. You can best prepare your child for kindergarten by providing play experiences that challenge him and that he enjoys. Also, set a good example — remember to play yourself! Should My Child Have a Physical Before He Starts School? Entry into kindergarten may require a checkup. Be sure to tell your child's doctor about his physical and learning accomplishments and whether he is healthy year-round or (like many children his age) gets a lot of colds, sore throats, stomachaches, and ear infections. A yearly dental checkup is also in order, both to teach good home care and to detect early dental problems. You may want to find a children's dentist, who has had extra training in child behavior and dental health. Remember: If your child has ever had a medical problem, or has one now, it is important that you contact the school. A child who is on medication may exhibit unusual behavior in the classroom that the teacher needs to understand. How Much Sleep Does Your Child Need? After a busy day in kindergarten, your five-year-old may find it easier to fall asleep at night than he has in the past. However, getting up in the morning may be more difficult. Night waking is rare among five-year-olds, perhaps because children this age do not typically take naps. If you establish a routine and stick to it — bath followed by a story, for example — bedtime usually goes well. In fact, it may be his favorite time of day. Begin to adjust your child's bedtime and nap schedule several weeks before school starts. That way, he will not have too many changes in routine to contend with at the same time. Can he handle being separated from me? Your child will likely have an easier transition to kindergarten if he is comfortable away from you for several hours at a time. Some children can handle the separation easily, while others may be overly clingy or tearful as the first day of school approaches. Notice how he typically reacts to new and different situations. Encourage him to put his feelings into words. He may be reassured with such statements as "I know you miss me when you're at school. I miss you, too, and when you come home, we'll have a snack and read a story." Know yourself and your own family pattern. Are you a worrier? Do you tend to overreact and overprotect? If so, this could give him the subtle message that he can't really be independent. Practice before school starts. For example, leave him with a baby-sitter or with a friend for a play date. Gradually increase the amount of time you are away from him. Tour the classroom together and meet his teacher and principal in the days before school starts. Call ahead to make sure they are available to visit with you. On the "big day," make your good-bye firm when the teacher indicates that it is time for you to leave. If you linger, he may feel that he can't handle this new experience without you. Give him a big hug and kiss, and tell him how proud you are of him. How Can I Help Him Manage His Own Behavior? Learning self-discipline requires a childhood filled with patience, love and limits provided by adults consistently and repeatedly. Your child is more likely to be successful in kindergarten if he knows how to follow certain rules, obeys authority figures, treats objects and people with care, and understands that it is never okay to hurt anyone on the inside or the outside. His self-management skills will continue to grow throughout the year; for example, he will improve his ability to express his emotions in an appropriate way, listen to a story without interrupting, and stay calm even when he is frustrated or disappointed. Good behavior provides more opportunities for learning. You can help your child understand that he must obey certain rules and respect authority figures by modeling the behavior you wish to see from him. Do not allow him to boss you or talk disrespectfully to you. This is important if he is to understand, accept, and respect authority figures at school. What If My Child Expresses Fears About Going to School? Most kindergarten teachers plan special activities involving parents and children for the first week of school. Try to attend these events. They offer the perfect opportunity for your child to feel comfortable in his new setting, meet his classmates, and get to know his teacher. Some children are excited and make the transition to kindergarten with amazing ease. Others are uneasy: "Will I make friends? Will I get lost?" If your child expresses fears, listen to him, and then state back to him what you believe he is feeling. This will let him know that you understand, and that he can trust you with his feelings. Try to boost his confidence by remaining positive yourself. Continue to talk about his apprehensions as they arise. There's no perfect formula that determines when children are truly ready for kindergarten. But you can use a checklist to see how well your child progresses in acquiring these skills throughout the year. Don't worry if your child seems to have only a handful of these skills the first time you read the list. Check the skills he has mastered, and then review the list every month to see what additional skills he can accomplish easily. Young children learn so fast! He may struggle with a skill this month but have it mastered the next. You will be amazed to see how many items you can check by the end of the year! To enable your comment to be published, please refrain from vulgar language, insidious, seditious or slanderous remarks. This includes vulgar user names. |
| Posted: 14 Dec 2013 01:30 PM PST by Alan Rogers. Posted on December 15, 2013, Sunday MOUNT Kinabalu, rising majestically to its summit of 4,011 metres at Low's Peak, dominates the Sabahan landscape. What are the origins of this mountain and how did this distinctive landscape evolve? Even today this mountain is continuing to rise at the rate of five centimetres each year. In the Millennium Year, I climbed to Low's Peak and subsequently it has reached another half metre higher, give or take more recent natural weathering and erosion processes. This mountain still rises! Only if we think in geological time can we begin to understand how the beauty of this mountain has slowly evolved. It is difficult to think back one million years let alone 35 million BP (Before Present), when in Eocene times, most of Sabah was below sea level with sandstone, siltstone and other deposits flushed from the land and dumped onto the sea bed. Through plate tectonic (mountain building) movements these deep sea sediments were squashed together and heaved up, out of the sea bed, to create the Crocker Range, which runs through Sabah in a northeast to southwest alignment at an average height of 610 to 910 metres. About 15 million years BP, during the Pliocene period, as one plate slid under another, the heat generated by the friction of one plate diving against another in the subduction zone melted deep seated rock. This molten rock, of less density than the surrounding rocks rose upwards as a huge bulb-like formation to create a pluton. (The very word pluton is derived from the mythological Greek God of the Underworld – Pluto.) This injection or intrusion of molten magma into the base of the Crocker Range pushed up the overlying rock to create the mountain. Subsequently, erosion of the overlying rocks has exposed the cooled granite-type surfaces as we see today. The pluton is still rising and injecting magma into the mountain's base, hence the gradual increase in the height of Low's Peak. Rest assured, the upward movement is imperceptible and at no risk to climbers. In the gradual intrusion process of the granite-type rock into the Crocker Range sedimentary rocks, the latter changed in composition through the great heat of the magma into metamorphic rocks such as quartzites and slates especially on the edge of the granite-type intrusion. Such a contact area between the hot magma and the surrounding rocks is known as a metamorphic aureole (halo) where the adjacent rocks undergo metamorphosis or a change in form. In my home county in the United Kingdom, Cornwall, such granite plutons were injected there 300 million years BP. As in the granite rock in West Cornwall, so around Mount Kinabalu the surrounding metamorphosed rocks cooled and contracted over time. This led to natural contraction cracks in the granite and surrounding rocks thus allowing further upward passage of yet further liquid magma as the deep-seated pluton bulged upwards. Interestingly West Cornwall was once a major world producer of tin, copper, zinc and arsenic as Mamut is today, in Mount Kinabalu's metamorphic aureole, in its copper mining area. Beneath Mount Kinabalu there is a deep-seated granite-type batholith, estimated by the Australian geologist Gerry Jacobsen, in 1970, to cover 1,200 square km. As further uplift of the mountain occurred, some of the molten rock also intruded into the contraction cracks in the granite to create white aplite dykes or veins of white rock readily seen on the mountain between Labuan Rata (the rest house) and beyond to the base of Low's Peak. Radiometric dating, through isotopes, suggests that the cooling of the intrusion of the granitic dome of Mount Kinabalu began between nine to 4.9 million years BP and that a further uplift of the granite pluton through the Crocker Range began relatively recently – only 1.5 million years ago. There is no doubt that Gunong Aki Nabalu, Kinabalu Mountain, is the youngest granitic intrusion in the world and is still rising today. To learn more read: 'The Geology in Kinabalu Summit of Borneo' by G Jacobsen (1978); 'The Geology and topography of Kinabalu National Park' in The Malayan Nature Journal Vol. 24 by DV Jenkins (1970-1971); 'Mount Kinabalu – still rising skywards' by Alan Rogers, March 21, 2010 of thesundaypost; and 'Kinabalu Summit of Borneo' by KM Wong and A Phillipps (1978). The Malaysian Nature Society To enable your comment to be published, please refrain from vulgar language, insidious, seditious or slanderous remarks. This includes vulgar user names. |
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