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Penan tribes people protecting their forests. Courtesy of Survival International September 2009.
Protests by the Penan tribe in Borneo have escalated, with twelve villages coming together to mount new road blockades against the logging and plantation companies that are destroying their rainforest.
It is reported that some journalists who were covering the blockades story were intercepted by police with machineguns and taken away for questioning.
Demanding and end to logging
Hundreds of Penan people have blocked roads at three new locations in the interior of Sarawak, in the Malaysian part of the island of Borneo. The protestors are demanding an end to logging and plantations on their land without their consent, and recognition of their land ownership rights.
Logging is not progress
BBC TV presenter Bruce Parry visited the Penan for his hit series, ‘Tribe'. One Penan told him, "It's not true that we Penan do not want progress. Not the 'progress' where logging companies move on to the land. What we want is real progress. What we need is land rights first of all."
Hunter gatherer tribes
The new protests come only weeks after blockades by two nearby Penan villages. The destruction of their forest robs the hunter-gatherer Penan of the animals and plants they eat and pollutes the rivers they fish in. Without the forest, many Penan have difficulty feeding their families.
Palm oil plantations
The Penan have been struggling for more than twenty years against the logging companies that operate on their land with full government backing. In areas where the valuable trees have been cut down, the companies are clearing the forest completely to make way for oil palm plantations.
Samling, Interhill, Rimbunan Hijau and KTS timber companies
The blockades are aimed at forcing the Malaysian timber companies Samling, Interhill, Rimbunan Hijau and KTS to end their activities on the Penan's land without the tribe's consent. One of the earlier blockades, mounted in June at the settlement of Ba Marong, resulted in the withdrawal of a KTS subsidiary from the area - but the Penan fear that the loggers may return.
In another Penan area, the notorious company Samling is advancing on an area of the tribe's forest that has never been logged before. Observers say that the road built by the company is likely to reach the remote Ba Jawi area within weeks.
Survival's director Stephen Corry said, "The logging and plantation companies are preventing the Penan from being able to feed their children. It's no wonder they're taking to the barricades. Penan people in some areas are currently receiving food aid - before the loggers arrived, they would never have needed such hand-outs. The Malaysian government must recognize that this land is theirs and stops sanctioning its destruction."
"In the attitude of silence the soul finds the path in an clearer light, and what is elusive and deceptive resolves itself into crystal clearness. Our life is a long and arduous quest after Truth." -Mahatma Ghandi
When a lion wants to mate, he cannot be stopped. Copulation occurs every 15 minutes for one week straight. Luckily for lionesses, lions only want to mate once every two years.
US President Barack Obama's adviser has stepped down after his past remarks about a government role in the 2001 terror attacks sparked controversy.
The White House said early on Sunday that Van Jones, special adviser for green jobs at the White House Council on Environmental Quality, resigned Saturday.
"I am resigning my post at the Council on Environmental Quality," Jones said in a statement.
Nancy Sutley, chair of the council, said that she accepts Jones resignation and thanked him for his service.
Jones has come under fire in recent days following revelations that he had signed a petition, which claims Bush administration officials "may indeed have deliberately allowed 9/11 to happen, perhaps as a pretext for war" and he once had called Republicans "assholes."
Earlier, Jones said he was "clearly inappropriate" in using a crude term to describe Republicans in a speech he gave before joining the Obama administration.
The resignation comes after White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said earlier that Jones "continues to work in the administration." Jones issued an apology on Thursday for his past statements.
However, his apologies did not stop Republicans' calls for Obama's green jobs adviser resignation.
Rep. Mike Pence of Indiana called for Jones to quit, saying in a statement, "His extremist views and coarse rhetoric have no place in this administration or the public debate."
Missouri Sen. Christopher Bonds urged Congress to investigate Jones's fitness for his White House position.
I admit to being a bit of a conspiracy theorist. I believe that governments around the world are up to things that are not released to the public due to "national security" - a wonderful catch-all phrase that can encompass anything. In Canada, they are broadcasting a documentary regarding 9/11 and how there are many who believe that it was "an inside job" revolving around Bush's desire for Iraqi oil.
The New York Fire Department has begun a hunt for another Muslim chaplain after its new imam had to resign over his views on the 11 September attacks.
Imam Intikab Habib, 30, told a New York newspaper he doubted al-Qaeda hijackers alone caused the Twin Towers' collapse, and suggested there was a conspiracy.
He stepped down hours before he was due to be officially sworn in on Friday.
The FDNY, which lost 343 firefighters in the 2001 attacks, said he would not have served effectively in the role.
Mr Habib told Newsday, in an interview published on Friday, that he was sceptical of the US government's version of events. "I've heard professionals say that nowhere ever in history did a steel building come down with fire alone," he is quoted as saying.
"Was it 19 hijackers who pulled it down, or was it a conspiracy?"
Mr Habib, who trained in Islamic law in Saudi Arabia, offered no theories on who else might have been involved and described the attacks as tragic.
He made his comments after Newsday asked whether he thought New York's firefighters would object to an imam with Saudi connections. Fifteen of the 19 hijackers were Saudi nationals.
Fire Department chief Nicholas Scoppetta told reporters Mr Habib, who preaches at a New York mosque, had passed a background check.
But, he said: "It became clear to him he would have difficulty functioning as an FDNY chaplain. "There has been no prior indication that he held those views."
Mr Habib, originally from Guyana, told a local TV station that he had not wanted to step aside but it was "the right thing to do for the department".
New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg welcomed Mr Habib's resignation, his spokesman Ed Skyler said.
"The remarks were offensive and the mayor is satisfied that the chaplain has resigned," he said.
Switch to compact fluorescent light bulbs: These bulbs - now available to fit many light fixtures - use just a quarter of the electricity of regular incandescent bulbs. Plus, they last up to ten times longer, Yarrow says in 1,001 Ways to Save the Earth.
Turn off the lights: If you or others in your household are forgetful, install movement sensors so lights only activate when needed. Another way to save energy is to install automatic timers for lights frequently left blazing in empty rooms.
Set cooling and heating temperatures correctly: Your refrigerator and freezer are probably the biggest electrical energy consumers in your house. Take steps to make sure they're not working harder than necessary. Fridges do their job at around 37°F. Freezers set at -3° keep things nice and frosty. Be sure to close the fridge and freezer doors. Leaving them open for just a few extra seconds wastes a lot of energy. Get an electronic thermostat so your furnace heats your home to a lower temperature while the family sleeps and returns it to a toastier temperature before you get out of bed. In the winter, set your thermostat at 68° in the day and 55° at night. In the summer, keep it at 78°. Water heaters work most efficiently between 120° and 140°.
Get unplugged: Electronic appliances, including TVs, computers, and CD players can consume almost as much energy when in standby mode as they do during the relatively small amount of time they're being used.
Use appliances efficiently: Wait for a full load before turning on the washing machine, dryer, or dishwasher. Clear the lint filter after every dryer load and air-dry clothes when weather allows. Use the air-dry function on your dishwasher. Preheat your oven only when necessary.
Let the sun shine: The cheapest and most environmentally sound heat and light source is just outside your window. Open blinds, drapes, and shutters to let solar energy warm and brighten your home naturally.
Stop leaks: Plug, insulate, replace, repair, caulk, or seal to make your home as leak-proof as possible - and watch your utility bills drop. To gauge how your home stacks up in terms of energy-efficiency, you can conduct an energy audit by visiting www.eere.energy.gov/consumer.
Creating a green and healthy home: Clear the air
Ban smoking: The number one way to combat indoor air pollution is to never let anyone smoke in your home, experts tell WebMD. "It's like inviting a diesel bus into your living room," says Gina Solomon, MD, PhD, a senior scientist at the Natural Resources Defense Council and an associate clinical professor of medicine at the University of California, San Francisco. "Cigarettes are full of toxic chemicals, and secondhand smoke exposure can cause cancer. It's a no-brainer. No smoking at home."
Grow plants indoors: Live plants around your home act as natural air filters, and some plants are particularly effective absorbers of harmful pollutants emitted from carpets, furniture, and electronic equipment. So clean your indoor air and "green" your living space by filling your home with spider plants, Boston ferns, rubber plants, and palm trees.
Install a carbon monoxide detector: Carbon monoxide is an odorless gas and exposure to it can be deadly. To prevent carbon monoxide poisoning, pick-up a detector at your local hardware store.
Check for radon: Radon is a radioactive gas that is naturally present in soil, and it can enter your home through cracks in your foundation. Radon is also the second leading cause of lung cancer in the US, according to the National Academy of Sciences. Radon test kits are available at most hardware stores.
Creating a green and healthy home: Shun toxic products
Choose non-toxic cleaners: Find eco-friendly alternatives to harsh chemical cleaners, which can cause health problems and pollute the environment as well. Several brands of non-toxic, biodegradable cleaning products are available at both natural grocery shops and chain stores. Or make your own: Baking soda is a cheap and effective all-purpose cleaner, scourer, polisher, and fungicide. Switch to natural disinfectants such as tea tree oil or citrus oils. Try borax and white vinegar as a toilet bowl cleaner.
Use cloths instead of cleaners: Skip the cleaning products altogether and switch to micro fiber cloths designed to attract dirt on their own. Used damp, the cloths clean most surfaces like glass, stainless steel, brass, wood, and ceramics. When dry, they give off a natural positive charge, which attracts dust. Simply wash the cloths after each use, and you can reuse them again and again.
Give bug spray the flick: "You want to minimize the use of pesticides in your home - and that's what insect repellents are," says Philip Landrigan, MD, chair of the Department of Community and Preventive Medicine at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York, and co-author of Raising Healthy Children in a Toxic World: 101 Smart Solutions For Every Family. Instead of using repellents, Landrigan says to keep insects out by sealing cracks and holes around doors, windowsills, and baseboards. And keep food stored away and kitchen and eating areas as clean as possible.
Creating a green and healthy home: Grow a greener garden
Plant an edible garden: Grow your own salad greens, veggies, and herbs. A garden can help reduce soil erosion and reduce air pollution. Aim to plant a plot that doesn't use a lot of water and tend your garden without using toxic pesticides or chemical fertilizers. Instead, purchase organic and earth-friendly garden products at your garden store.
Compost kitchen scraps: Eggshells, tea leaves, coffee grounds, fruit and vegetable peelings - pretty much any organic matter can find a home in a compost pile or bin. Mix with yard trimmings and add water and presto - you have a nutritious soil enhancer, and you're doing your part to reduce landfill waste.
Water wisely: Water your garden in the early morning or evening when it's cooler - water evaporates more slowly when it's cool. Water that's been used in sinks, bathtubs, showers or the washing machine - known as gray water - can be used again to water the garden, if it contains only biodegradable soaps.
Leave grass clippings on the lawn: Grass cuttings act as natural fertilizer when they decompose. So take advantage of them.
Creating a green and healthy home: Beyond paper, plastic, and glass
Use durable goods: Ditch disposable razors for reusable ones. Swap plastic cups and paper plates for ceramic ones. Choose reusable food containers over plastic wrap. Choose rechargeable batteries over the conventional single-use kind.
Buy recycled products: Look on labels for products - like writing paper and toilet tissue - with the greatest percentage of post-consumer recycled content. Choose food items like cereals and crackers packaged in recycled cardboard.
Find creative ways to recycle household goods: Donate used toys to a worthy organization, or start a toy library in your community, rather than tossing them in the trash. Host a clothing swap for grown-ups, and set up a kids' clothing exchange.
Do the same with books. Before you toss that cardboard box in the recycling, let your child turn it into a space ship, robot, dollhouse, or secret hiding space for hours or even days of earth-friendly fun.
Create a green and healthy home: Conserve water
Wait for a full load: Don't turn on the washing machine or dishwasher until it's full. Each washing cycle uses more than 25 gallons of water; make sure that every drop counts.
Save baths for special occasions: A shower uses about half as much water as the average bath - as long as you keep it to less than 5 minutes. An egg timer suction-cupped on the shower wall is a good way of keep track.
Fill the sink to do dishes: You'll use a fraction of the water that's used by leaving the faucet running. Ditto on the rinsing front. If you don't have a double sink, use a tub for rinsing.
Think before flushing: Don't waste water flushing tampons, condoms, or flushable wipes down the toilet, where they can block the sewage system. Dispose of these items in the trash, and save flushing for when you really need to (hint: not after every pee). Up to a third of the drinking water that comes into the typical Western home goes straight down the toilet, says Yarrow, which is a terrible waste of this precious resource.
Create a green and healthy home: Household hazardous waste
Inside nearly every household's garage, basement or kitchen sink cupboard lurks harmful substances like old paint cans, used motor oil, garden pesticides and weed killers, used batteries, old computers or electronics, harsh cleaning chemicals, or pest killers. If you dump this noxious stuff down the drain, you'll pollute the water supply. And if you dispose of it in landfills, they'll leak dangerous chemicals. Instead, do some research to find the best way to dispose of your household toxic waste. Some cities or counties have monthly or annual pickups. Others have special drop-off sites. Call your local government to learn more.
The toxicity of plastics is not fully understood or adequately tested. What we do know is that most plastics contain chemical additives to change the quality of the plastic for its intended use (examples are to make it softer or resistant to UV light). Some of these ingredients or additives we know are harmful, like the plastics chemical bisphenol-A (BPA) and the plastic softeners called phthalates. Others, we just don't know enough about.
We also know that plastics chemicals routinely migrate, or leach, into the food and water they contain. While the amount may be small, it has not been proven safe. As EWG senior scientist Dr. Anila Jacob told Web MD recently,
Although most of the chemicals making the culinary crossing are considered "safe," Jacob tells WebMD that's generally not because they've been proved safe, but rather they haven't been proven to be unsafe.
"There is very little published research on the potential adverse health effects of chemicals that leach from plastic food containers, so it's difficult to say they're safe with any degree of certainty, especially with long-term use," says Jacob.
BPA and phthalates, however, are better understood. They are both potent hormone disruptors that are increasingly linked to health effects like brain and behavior changes, cancer, and reproductive system damages.
Plastics are continually changing and there are unknowns. Use them with caution, especially those that are commonly found in our households and have contact with our food and our bodies.
CHOOSE AND USE SAFER PLASTICS -- WHERE IT MATTERS MOST.
Because plastics are ubiquitous today, choose them carefully to minimize your exposures. Avoiding them altogether isn't practical, so we suggest you focus on those that are likely to come into contact with your mouth -- the most common way chemicals in plastic consumer products enter the body. Plastic chemicals touch your mouth in a number of ways: from your hands and your food and drink. This is especially important for young children, who frequently put hands and objects in their mouths.
Plastics to avoid:
•Stay away from toys marked with a "3" or "PVC" (PVC stands for polyvinyl chloride, commonly called vinyl). PVC is often mixed with phthalates, a toxic additive that makes plastic more flexible. While phthalates were recently banned in new children's toys, they may be in toys made before February 2009 when the ban went into effect, as well as in shower curtains, inflatable beach toys, raincoats and toys for children older than 12. •Avoid polycarbonate containers (sometimes marked with a #7 or "PC"), especially for children's food and drinks. These plastics are rigid and transparent, like plastic food storage containers and water bottles, among other things. Trace amounts of BPA can migrate from these containers, particularly if used for hot food or liquids. Soft or cloudy-colored plastic does not contain BPA.
A recent study from Harvard University found that college students drinking their cold drinks from polycarbonate bottles had 93% more BPA in their bodies than during the weeks that they drank liquids from other containers.
We recommend the use of glass over plastics. When you have no choice, plastics marked with a #1, 2, 4, or 5 don’t contain BPA and may be better choices.
How to handle plastics:
When you do use plastics, handle them safely. We suggest that you:
•Don't microwave food or drinks in plastic containers -- even if they claim to be "microwave safe." Heat can break down plastics and release chemical additives into your food and drink. Microwaves heat unevenly, creating hot spots where the plastic is more likely to break down. •Use plastic containers for cool liquids -- not hot. •Don't reuse single-use plastics. They can break down and release plastics chemicals when used repeatedly. •Avoid old, scratched plastic water bottles. Exposures to plastics chemicals may be greater when the surface is worn down. •Wash plastics on the top rack of the dishwasher, farther from the heating element, or by hand. This will reduce wear and tear. •Don't allow your baby or young child to handle or chew on plastic electronics (the remote, your cell phone) because they may be treated with fire retardants (learn more about fire retardants and how to reduce your family's exposure in a previous Healthy Home Tip). •Wash children's hands before they eat.
SOME SAFER ALTERNATIVES:
Where mouth contact is likely, stay away from plastics. There are a wide variety of safer alternatives available to meet your family's needs. Some ideas are:
For the kids
•When bottle feeding infants, choose glass or BPA-free baby bottles with a clear silicone nipple. See our 1-page Guide to Baby-Safe Bottles and Formula for more on safe bottle feeding. •Give your baby natural teethers like frozen washcloths or natural, uncoated wood. Plastic teethers could have harmful additives that leach when chewed. •Look for toys made of natural materials, like wool, cotton, and uncoated wood.
In the kitchen
•Ceramic or glass food containers (like Pyrex) are better to store and heat your food and drink. •When using an electric mixer, choose glass or Pyrex instead of plastic to avoid chipping bits of plastic into your food. •Carry a glass or stainless steel water bottle without a plastic or "epoxy" lining. •Lay natural flooring instead of vinyl. •Use wooden cutting boards -- but care for them properly to minimize bacteria. •Cover food in the microwave with a paper towel instead of plastic wrap.
In the bathroom
•Pick a cotton shower curtain instead of vinyl. •In the tub, play with cotton washcloths, finger puppets, wooden toy boats and lightweight aluminum cups instead of soft plastic bath toys and books.
A bill recently passed the Massachusetts senate giving the government a little too much power. The bill is being hurried along due to fears of a Swine Flu pandemic this flu season. While I agree that the intentions may be well-intentioned; the method of delivery leaves much to be desired.
According to the bill, if there is a Swine Flu pandemic and you don't get the Swine Flu vaccine, you can be ordered into quarantine. If you refuse the quarantine, you can face a fine of $1,000 per day that you resist. Pretty draconian considering it's someone else's body they want to vaccinate.
Trusting in the doctors, many people are blindly lining up to receive their jab; however, there are many alarming facts about the Swine Flu vaccine.
Doctors have begun to give their patients the Swine Flu vaccine without studying how this vaccine works in humans. If there is something wrong with the vaccine, it could be too late for those who have received the injection. The production of this vaccine was so rushed that there was not time for human testing; and, the vaccine went straight to the market.
Human testing will not begin until after the Swine Flu vaccine has already been administered to many unsuspecting patients. Too little, too late in my mind.
This is the same Swine Flu vaccine that the government itself is unsure of the vaccine's safety, yet they are issuing penalties if it is not taken.
Government officials would also have the right to enter private property to assess the status of the pandemic. I see plenty of opportunity for misuse of authority under these circumstances.
These first three photos are my own. They are not to be used in any way that profits the person using them. If you would like to use one of these, please leave a note in the comment section letting me know. Thanks.
This is where I was this afternoon - taking photos of the water feature two blocks away at the skytrain station nearest me. It was wonderfully cool under the shade tree; and, water always has the ability to soothe my soul.
The use of water in this way; while beautiful, restful and desirable was NOT the best use of this precious resource; and, I thought about those who don't even have enough clean water to drink.
I came home and started looking for a place to start my blog. I read about the water riots in Yemen and just had to share what will become a worldwide catastrophe if climate warning does not stop soon.
The focus keeps getting placed when discussing the impact of global climate change on world water supplies: Oxfam highlights the effect of water shortages and declining crop yields in Nepal; IPCC chairman Dr Rajendra Pachauri comments on how thirsty Africa could become; and, Reuters writes from Yemen on a growing population depleting water sources. The article is tough to read - these people are enduring unimaginable hardships.
Oxfam characterizes the situation in Nepal with the name of their new report - "Even the Himalayas Have Stopped Smiling". in their new report [PDF]. Already changing weather patterns are causing decreasing crop yields, higher temperatures and water shortages.
The drought last winter left more than 3.4 million people requiring food assistance -- with 31% of its population living below the poverty line.
Oxfam claims the solution for this nation which is responsible for a mere 0.025% of global carbon emissions is to get communities more engaged in reducing their own vulnerabilities to climate change. They also say getting Nepal's national government to prioritize climate change mitigation and adaptation at a national level is a vital component of recovery. Financially, they will be a generous portion of aid from the wealthy nations of the world.
The Economic Times quotes Dr Rajendra Pachauri as saying that 25% of Africans will face water shortages due to climate change. By 2020, somewhere between 75-250 million people will be suffering from water stress, the IPCC chairman added.
Keep in mind, that the upper range of the figure is the equivalent of about two-thirds of what the US population is likely to be by the same time period.
Aden, Yemen; Photo: Raphael Faveau
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon alluded to civil unrest on a scale which has never been seen before. There are some skeptics out there; but, if you are in Yemen, this to are something over the horizon. If you're in Yemen they are right on top of you.
According to a recent Reuters report, in Aden one person was shot dead and three wounded in riots over water shortages August 24, 2009. Two of those wounded were police officers.
In the capital, Sanaa, only 80 of the the city's 180 wells are operational due to the fast falling water table -- in some places residents only get city water once every nine days; and, some not at all.
The per capita availability of water in Yemen is now under 100 cubic meters a year; the UNDP considers the "water poverty line" to be 1,000 cubic meters per year.
That's just the tip of that story though: Rural to urban migration, unsustainable irrigation practices and a general lack of government authority only causes the problem to snowball.
Here's a video made to encourage Yemenites to conserve water. It's really quite cute.
An eye-opening video on the water shortage in Egypt.
I'm fortunate to have several passions in my life. I am absolutely an eco-nut. I am always trying to find new ways to reduce, reuse, recycle. We, as a species, have done more harm to this planet in the short time we have been here, than any other catastrophe or happening ever has. It's up to us to fix it.
I care about the environment whether it is as small as a single cell or as large as the universe.
I adore creativity and think we can all do more with much less. This earth has enough resources for us all to live comfortably if we all learn to share. Wasn't that a lesson we were supposed to learn in kindergarten?
I also love the bizarre, unusual, the weird and the strange. Be prepared for the odd "different" blog.
Penan armed with blowpipes block road as Shin Yang logging trucks approach. © Survival
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