PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENT of Tawau

Human beings are by far, the most powerful species on earth. We rule countries, design rockets and cure diseases. With our power and knowledge we strive to improve our own living standards. We build bigger houses and buy faster cars. But while trying to create a world fit for humans , we have, in the process, destroyed the world of nature.

Everything we do comes with a price on our environment. Factories emit toxins into our ecosystem while development goes hand-in-hand with deforestation. In recent years, our government has made stricter laws and regulations to protect our environment Companies are made to be responsible for their businesses. They have to obey these laws and lower their impacts on the environment. We can also do our part as individuals to minimize our impacts on the environment. After all, we all use electricity, take long showers and throw away recyclables.

Someone once said to Peter Parker (a.k.a. Spiderman), "With great power there must also come great responsibility". We have the power to improve the way we live through innovation and development. Now, it is time for us to be responsible for our own actions and use this power we have to save the environment. But unlike Spiderman, we don't have to be a superhero to save the world. Each and every one of us can do something, big or small, to help in saving the world from pollution, extinction and destruction.

Today, let us start with something small. The following articles give you some easy-to-follow ways on how to be environmentally responsible in your home, when you go shopping and also towards other animals.

To be "green" means to be an environmentally responsible person. There are many environmental problems today. On the news, you see people suffering because of floods, droughts and fires. There are debates about climate change, greenhouse gases and nuclear power. More and more species are becoming rare or extinct. There are less and less trees to produce rain and oxygen. Smog, toxic rivers, oil spills and the list goes on. These are worldwide problems. And you think to yourself, "How can I help to reduce the damage to our environment?"

There are many easy ways to be "green". There are many choices we make every day that affect the environment. When we make the correct choice, we help in reducing the harmful effects on the environment .

Here are some easy ways :

1 Turn off electrical appliances when not in use.

This may sound easy, but many people prefer to leave lights, televisions, the air-conditioner and water heaters on just because they think it is more convenient to do so. This is wasting not only your own money, but also our precious natural resources. For example, leaving the computer monitor on overnight wastes enough energy to print 800 sheets of A4 paper using a laser printer! The more electricity you use, the more greenhouse gases will be emitted into the atmosphere.

2 Conserve Water

There are many ways to conserve water. For example, make sure your taps are not leaking. A tap that leaks a drop per second wastes 4 liters per day. Secondly, you can take shorter showers and not leave the taps running with water while you brush your teeth. Another way to save water is to wash vegetables and your dishes in a basin of water instead of cleaning them under a running tap.

3 Use rainwater outside the house

Outdoor chores such as watering the garden, cleaning the driveway and washing the car can use up a lot of water. Have a rainwater tank installed in your home and you can save money, save water, and make use of relatively clean water that would have been washed away.

4. Protect our waterways

What you put down the kitchen sink may affect our waterways. Do not pour oil or milk into your kitchen sink or toilet. Oil floats on the surface of water When oil is poured into the kitchen sink, it flows into our drainage system and ultimately into our rivers. The oil on the water surface cuts out oxygen and sunlight which are both important to living things in our river systems. Milk has a very bad effect on our waterways too because it curdles (turns sour and into solid). It produces Phosphorus which helps algae grow in our drains and sewage system. Algae in our waters will mean that it competes with other living things such as fish for oxygen and sunlight. The better way to throw away oil or sour milk is to pour it into a used plastic bottle, cap tightly and throw it into your rubbish bin.

5, Do not burn your waste

It is illegal to burn your rubbish* There are many reasons for this. Open fires emit toxic gases into the environment. It releases carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxides which are all greenhouse gases. Greenhouse gases are gases that degrade our ozone layer and form the "ozone hole" in our atmosphere. This "ozone hole" lets in heat from the sun into the earth surface and also traps the heat in our atmosphere. This results in a warmer temperature on earth. Secondly, burning rubbish in residential areas affect other people. Open fires emit poisonous gases that cause cancer (known as carcinogens). People with difficulties breathing, pregnant women, small children and elderly people are most at risk.

So you see, it is easy being green. Tell your friends and neighbors to do the same and everybody can help save the environment in these small but effective ways.

Have you ever wondered about what happens to the plastic bags after you throw them into your rubbish bins? It is easy to forget about what is in our rubbish once we throw them away and the collection trucks come and go. However, plastic bags and plastic packaging are creating a big problem to our environment.

Every year, the Malaysia uses billions of plastic bags. These plastic bags end up in our landfill, in our rivers and beaches. The biggest problem with plastic bags is that they take 20 to 1000 years to biodegrade (break down and decompose). Just imagine: the plastic bag you use today will still be around in year 3000! Plastic bags also clog our drains. This creates stagnant pools of water in our drains so mosquitoes breed, and cause flash floods in our town areas during rainy season. Bags also strangle and kill wildlife such as birds and fish. Sea turtles think plastic bags are jellyfish and will try to eat the bags. They cannot digest the bags and may become very sick from it. Malaysia is a major exporter of plastic bags. While it helps our country's economy, factories making plastic bags are also releasing toxic chemicals into our environment.

Here are a few simple ways you can follow to help reduce plastic waste.

1- Refuse a plastic bag

When you go shopping, refuse a plastic bag. Many things we buy, such as pens or notebooks, do not need to be in a plastic bag. Many countries (e.g. Ireland) discourage shoppers by charging them money for each plastic bag they use. Instead of using a plastic bag when you purchase something, put it into your handbag or schoolbag.

Signs and notices in other countries educate and discourage people from using plastic bags. This sign is from New South Wales Waste Board, Australia.

2. Buy in bulk

It means to buy in larger quantity. For example, buy the biggest bottle of shampoo. Use a smaller bottle when you wash your hair and refill from the big bottle when the small bottle is empty. This way, you save money too, because large-sized packs are cheaper by weight. You can do this with almost anything in the house, from washing detergent to mouthwash.

3. Choose product with less packaging

Did you know many brands are actually very similar to each other? Some brands may be more expensive than others. This makes people think the expensive brands are better than other brands, but this is not always true. Companies make their products more expensive because they want you to think their brand is better! Sometimes, you are paying more only because you are paying for extra and better looking packaging and also advertising. Therefore, to save money and the environment, always choose products with the least fussy packaging and also with recyclable or recycled materials.

4. Re-uses plastic bags

Sometimes, when you buy more than a few things, you need a plastic bag to carry all that stuff home. But you can always re-use the plastic bags instead of throwing them away. The most common way to re-use our plastic bag is to use it to line your rubbish bins. You can also re- use your plastic bags by bringing the used bags with you when you go shopping.

5. Take a shopping bag with you when you go shopping

Other than bringing used plastic bags when you go shopping, you can also bring light but strong cloth bags with you. Cloth bags can be reused many times, doesn't tear easily like plastic bags, and can be washed too.

6. Do not buy water

Plastic bottles are also a problem for our environment. Instead of buying water or soft drinks in plastic water, form a habit of using a water bottle.

You don't have to do or change your lifestyle completely in order to do your part in saving the environment. These tips are easy to follow. When everybody else around you sees your effort, they will follow your example. Start refusing a bag today. Say "No" to a plastic bag.