What is World Environment Day?
World Environment Day is an annual event sponsored by the United Nations designed to promote environmental protection awareness and action. After being established in 1972 by the UN General Assembly, the event was first held in 1974 and is held annually on June 5. Much like Earth Day, World Environment Day focuses on raising global awareness for a variety of critical environmental issues and enlisting the public’s support in addressing them, including climate change, clean energy, oceanic pollution, conservation, water pollution and the impact of economic development on the world’s environment.
2018 World Environment Day in Malaysia
The theme for World Environment Day 2018 will be ‘Beat Plastic Pollution.’ According to a 2015 study in Science Magazine, Malaysia is the eighth worst country worldwide for plastic waste. The study, which named China, Indonesia and the Philippines as the top polluters, estimated Malaysia produced almost one million tonnes of mismanaged plastic waste (waste not recycled or properly disposed of) in 2010.…Earlier in March, some 500 people, led by Reef Check Malaysia, cleaned up 15 Malaysian beaches. On Pulau Tioman, this extended to all villages. Volunteers collected nearly 14,000 plastic bottles, 6,200 plastic bags and 1,700 straws from the effort.
What can we do?
As a family guy who always go to market to buy grocery, I will avoid using single-use plastics and always use my own recycling bags. I also encourage my daughter who is 5 years old to stop using plastic straws and replace it with cups or bottles. One way I help my family to connect with nature is by learning to appreciate real and organic homemade fruit juice.
As a facilitator in Breakthru Enrichment Station (http://breakthru.com.my), I lead a maintenance team made up of children with learning disability (ADHD, Autism, and Down Syndrome).
Recycling can be a big idea for these kids to wrap their heads around. I introduced recycling through fun activities. I asked them to draw the pictures of the recycling bins, colour the recycling logo and sort the recycled items into correct bins.
In the midst of rebuilding the nation, we sincerely hope that Pakatan Harapan will not forget the importance of protecting our country’s natural resources, biodiversity and environment for the rakyat’s well-being and as heritage for our future generations. …Thus, we call upon the Prime Minister and Pakatan Harapan to maintain and strengthen a dedicated environmental portfolio within the cabinet. Placing the portfolio of environment management into other ministries will dilute efforts to conserve and protect our natural heritage. We also call upon Pakatan Harapan to place a high value on this portfolio, and choose a Minister with genuine interest in protecting our environment. This is to help the current government deliver their election manifesto which includes the pledge to balance economic development with environmental protection.
I have signed this petition and shared with you. What about you?
