Ruangan Interaksi
Para pelajar juga boleh gunakan ruangan ini untuk membuat pengumuman & pertanyaan kepada rakan-rakan lain (i.e. yang berkaitan dengan kursus EIA).
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Thursday, January 05, 2006
Improving the public awareness or strengthening (with implementation) the legislation: which one will lead to a better and healthier environment? Support your arguments with specific examples and cases.
Instruction: This week's task must be written (fully) in English. No other languages are allowed except for Sanskrit and Hebrew. So, if you opt not to post your comments/discussions in English, feel free to choose either one of those two alternative languages. And yes, you are permitted to post more than once.
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Announcement: Registration for tutorial is now ready. Please do so manually by filling in the forms displayed outside BP 9, Tkt 3 (SSS). Choose your own preferable time/group – within the maximum limit of 25 students per-group. The first tutorial (originally scheduled next week i.e. Week 4) is postponed to Week 5. Please take note.
Posted at 08:29 am by geografiums
 | | | Custom Term Papers
November 16, 2009 08:15 PM PST
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| | | Sabda
April 3, 2009 03:48 PM PDT
Manusia diciptakan untuk menjadi khalifah di Bumi.
Jumlah penduduk Indonesia yang beragama Islam adalah kurang lebih 80%.
Jadi permasalahan Kemiskinan, Kerawanan Sosial, Pengangguran, Kriminal, Kesehatan, Pendidikan, SDM dan lainnya yang terjadi di Indonesia adalah orang yang beragama Islam.
Bicara tentang pemimpin, dalam arti pemimpin masyarakat heterogen, Agama Islam mensyaratkan bahwa pemimpin haruslah yang Islam.
Islam Rahmatan Lil 'Alamin.
Islam adalah universal.
Islam mengurusi banyak hal kehidupan manusia
Baik hubungan dengan Alloh, dengan manusia, dengan lingkungan sekitar kita, dengan alam semesta hingga kehidupan setelah manusia meninggal.
Oleh sebab itu, pemimpin harus bertanggung jawab memastikan perkara agama dan akhlak untuk keselamatan bersama di dunia dan akhirat.
Setiap pemimpin di akhirat kelak akan ditanya oleh Alloh Ta’ala setiap orang di bawah pimpinannya, tidak terkecuali pemimpin besar atau kecil, umum atau khusus.
Mereka tidak boleh memikirkan bidangnya saja.
Dalam ajaran Islam, masalah agama terutama di sudut fardhu ain mesti diketahui, dihayati dan diamalkan oleh setiap mukallaf (muslim, baligh, berakal yang telah dapat dikenai hukum).
Insya Alloh, 09 April 2009, bangsa Indonesia akan mengadakan Pemilihan Umum untuk memilih pemimpin bangsa sekaligus wakil rakyat, yaitu:
1. Pemimpin sekaligus wakil rakyat di DPRD tingkat 2 (Kabupaten atau Kota Madya)
2. Pemimpin sekaligus wakil rakyat di DPRD tingkat 1 (Provinsi)
3. Pemimpin sekaligus wakil rakyat di DPR RI (Pusat)
4. Pemimpin sekaligus wakil rakyat di DPD
Sebenarnya mereka dipilih rakyat Indonesia untuk menjadi wakil rakyat di pemerintahan Indonesia.
Jangan terlupakan, yaitu :
Pengalaman ketika RUU Sisdiknas tanggal 30 Maret 2003.
Kontraversi yang diangkat oleh beberapa anggota DPR RI adalah RUU Sisdiknas pasal 12 yang berbunyi,
"Setiap peserta didik pada setiap satuan pendidikan berhak mendapatkan agama sesuai dengan agama yang dianutnya dan diajarkan oleh pendidik yang seagama".
Apa yang salah tentang pasal 12 ini?
Tidak ada yang dirugikan, tapi lagi-lagi beberapa wakil rakyat yang ada di DPR RI tidak setuju yaitu dengan beraneka alasan dan argumentasi untuk menolaknya.
Alhamdulillah, dengan perjuangan, persatuan dan kekuatan umat Islam, UNDANG-UNDANG Nomor 20 Tahun 2003.
Tentang SISTEM PENDIDIKAN NASIONAL pada tanggal 8 Juli 2003 disyahkan oleh DPR RI dan ditandatangani oleh Presiden.
Pengalaman ketka RUU Anti Pornografi dan Pornoaksi yang bertujuan menata dan mengatur kegiatan pronografi dan moral manusia selalu terhambat menjadi Undang-undang oleh beberapa anggota wakil Rakyat di DPR RI.
Dan masih banyak lagi Undang-Undang dan Peraturan Pemerintah yang mendorong bangsa Indonesia menuju kebaikan terhambat oleh ulah beberapa wakil rakyat di DPR RI.
Oleh sebab itu, sebagai warga negara Indonesia yang baik, Jika kita sudah mempunyai KTP, apalagi KTP-nya tertulis beragama Islam maka kita berkewajiban untuk mengikuti Pemilihan Umum yang akan memilih wakil rakyat Indonesia.
Silahkan memilih partai yang sesuai dengan pilihannya.
Partai boleh beda, tapi calon pemimpin yang akan di contreng harus seiman atau se-aqidah Islam.
Jangan pilih partainya saja, karena nantinya pemilih tidak tahu siapa yang akan menjadi pemimpin.
Tapi pilihlah partai yang diinginkan (sehati) dan orang yang akan dipilih menjadi pemimpin.
Jangan GOLPUT. Karena akan mengakibatkan pemimpin kita tidak jelas.
TIP CONTRENG PEMIMPIN (Khusus yang KTP nya beragama Islam):
1. Pilihlah (Contreng) Calon Pemimpin yang beragama ISLAM dan Amanah.
2. Pilihlah (Contreng) Calon Pemimpin yang beragama Islam.
3. Yang lebih aman adalah pilih partai yang berazaskan Islam.
Bila belum tahu calon pemimpin yang akan dipilih (contreng) maka :
1. Cari daftar nama calon pemimpin yang-ber-inisial (nama panggilan) Islam
(Misal: Muhammad, Ahmad, Akbar dll)
2. Tanyakan ke orang lain / tetangga, Siapa calon pemimpin yang beragama Islam?
Semoga bermanfaat.
Sampaikanlah email ini kepada teman, saudara, orang tua yang sudah mempunyai KTP, khususnya KTP yang tertulis beragama Islam.
Kita harus memilih pemimpin yang beragama Islam.
Yaitu sesuai dengan aqidah kita.
Partainya silahkan berbeda sesuai yang diinginkan.
Tapi nama calon pemimpin yang di contreng adalah orang yang se-aqidah.
Sehingga negara Indonesia mempunyai undang-undang dan peraturan pemerintah sesuai dengan penduduk Indonesia yang beragama 80% Islam.
Sekali lagi " Islam Rahmatan Lil 'Alamin"
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| | | hajiyah sirajuddin
April 20, 2006 08:58 PM PDT
In my opinion, strengthening (with implementation) the legislation is a way that can be or has been taken to lead to a better and healthier environment. For example, punishment or license suspend could be reinforce to the factory which break the rules of environment. The government as well could send their environment officer to do check factories which flow up dangerous smoke.
Besides, a rule under the quality of environment act 1974 which has been reinforce in 1979, stated that the entire industries to detach pollutant into a safe temperature before let it flow to the stream or ground.
Even though, how effective the law reinforcement could reduce and control the environmental pollution. So I am seen that public awareness is important before realization of the legislation which has been made by the government to control the pollution. Strengthening (with implementation) the legislation is just to fear those who always pollute environment without knowing that our individual are not capable to take care of our environment.
So, realization campaign has to organize so that the factory owner and society realize about their responsibility to take care of our environment. For example, the Lembaga Urus Air Selongor (LUAS) and UiTM has been cooperate organizing an environmental dialog with theme “Environmental Beauty Our Responsibility’ ON 28th January 2005 and incriminate form 4 and 5 student of Sek. Men. Unwanus Saadah, Kanchong Darat, Banting. Objectives which has been reached are to strengthen spirit of loving environment, to connect the competitor with organization which nurse and cure to environment, to give realization about the important of taking care and give expose and also help care the quality of our environment. So, I insisted that the public awareness is more important than strengthening (with implementation) the legislation.
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| | | ASTINA JAMALUDDIN HT2003-3913
April 15, 2006 09:40 PM PDT
The awareness of environment is more important to lead a better and healthier environment to lead a better and healthier environment. That is because human’s life is close-related with the environment. If people didn’t have awareness in healthier environment, they will be make pollution through the fixed daily activity. For example, illegal oil released at the “Perairan Malaysia”, 32 cases at the China South Sea in 1999 were reported. That was happened because people were out of awareness to care about environment, eventhough legislation was strengthened. | |
| | | Lee Yen Wei
April 11, 2006 12:14 PM PDT
In my opinion, public awareness or strengthening (with implementation) is more important or can lead to a better and healthier environment. Legislation is only a guide or law to prevent people to do wrong, but if people without education and don’t know the advantage or understanding the important behind. He or she will repeat and repeat the same mistake. For example : the education need to be carry out in some rural area / village to educate them and let them know the important of environment friendly (cannot chop down government reserve forest, throw rubbish everyway, wasting usage of water or electric, burn rubbish in open place and etc.) So that, Government plan can be carry out smoothly, pollution can be minimize, can live in healthier environment. If the above mention was not educate to public with implementation, high possibility people will do the wrong thing and the government only can punish the people who do thing wrong. This is not the best way to stop the problem before it happen. Short witty saying : “ To understand the real root cause of the problem and solve it better than only solving problem at the surface area”. | |
| | | Lau Siew Huong
April 10, 2006 10:51 PM PDT
In my opinion, improving the pulic awareness is the most effective way to hava a better and healthier environment.Environmental issue are best handled with the participation of all concerned citizen at the relevant level. At the national level, each individual shall her appropriate access to information concerning the environmental the environment that is held by public authorities, including information on hazardous material and activities in their communities and the opportunity to participate in decision-making. For an example, The Environmental Quality Report 1998 reported that seven river in Sabah had been found to be polluted in term of susupended solid, BOD and NH3-N. So no matter how strict the legislation, if the people don have awareness is useless also! In order to implement an effective protection of our healthier environment, awarness activities had to implemented toward contractors, institution, governmental authorities and the public.This shall for example include an increase awarness with the civil service at state and local government leve as well as in professional bodies and the private sector through road shows, Seminar and training programmes and enchaced mass media coverage natural resource issue. | |
| | | sylvia amin
April 7, 2006 03:43 PM PDT
Hi…In my opinion public awareness is better from strengthening (with implementation) the legislations to make healthier environment. Public awareness to environmental issues are more important because can make people more sensitive and responsibility with environmental.
Public awareness is the good way to protect our environment because it’s so easy to make people to know and understand about the importance of environment. There are many kind to make public awareness. for example the campaign is one way to open the public mind, such as campaign “Kitar Semula” From this campaign, public will be know how importance our environment to our life. | |
| | | Arnold Samih
April 2, 2006 11:54 AM PDT
Improving the Public Awareness or strengthening the legislation???
In my opinion, i prefer improving the Public awareness is the one who lead to better and healthier environment.
This is because, whatever environments that we create (GOOD or BAD), is depends on ourself...depends on our own attitude..
• -erosion
• -deforestation
• -global warming
• -haze
• -flood
• -noisy
• -garbage
Who is rsponsibility to this problem?! Animals? Plants? Hill? Sun??...NO..This is all come from the Human itself....
Maybe some of my friend will not agree with me just because they believe that Man can simply saying ’NO’ to development, greediness and so on..so that they can save the environment. Well may be it’s true but...did man realy can say that????
Think and think again????? Is that the most Coherent Law like ’suspend until dead’ can solve drugs problem????Of course not...
”Drugs Dealer and having additional drugs = Suspend until dead (Mandatory)”
Why each day we heard and see news about drugs dealer, people having addtional drugs, junkie or drugs addict???? WHY??? It’s because the law itself can be manipulation by people.. by simply giving bribe or use ’ORANG DALAM’...It’s so easy to escape by using POLITICAL POWER...
So..if the law itself cannot defend or barricade the ’DRUGS’..well what about the environmental legislation???..Whats happen to environment Quality act?..Penalization like fine RMXXXX.... or so on..THINK AGAIN!!!
So, once again i repeat that to lead a better environment is start from ourself..Just say ’YES’ or ’NO’..Of course it’s hard to increased the public awarenness in a society or organize community but without efforts and sacrifice through environment..Legislation like ’suspend until dead’ is no mean..
Before i end my talk, i leave you all with one Question..
Did you throw your rubbish inside the dustbin OR did you pick any rubbish that you see and throw it into the dustbin??? If YES then a big Congratulation.. but if NO.. well you have to call the Law enforcement and make a confession that you throw a rubbish so that the can sum or fine you..because like some of us saying that only by strengthening the legislation can force man from polluting the environment..
Last but not least..only higher public awareness can lead a better environment....
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| | | Alvira Simon
April 2, 2006 11:53 AM PDT
In my opinion, i prefer that both of increasing the public awareness and strengthening the legislation can lead a better and healthier environment.
It is because, without public awareness the legislation is no use..and without legislation public awareness is also no mean.. so that the combine of this two concepts is much better and better to have a good environment..
For example..in Malaysia the public awareness is to low...it is too much slowmotion.. Just what my lecture Prof. Datin Maryati Mohamed say..Our country did not experience the great disaster yet..that’s why people do not care too much about the environment..Only if Malaysia experience what Japans experience each day..a Tsunami..then people will care and love the environment. When Tsunami attack last 2004, people talk and even our own PM said ’We must conserve our Wetland..but whats happen..all of us can see..people still live and logging our wetland..Even in Sabah there a proposal from a company to plant a Sweet Corn at Klias Wetland.. That’s nonesence..if they destroyed the wetland, then they already destroyed the most sensetive environment...Look whats happen in Kalimantan and Sumatera when they clearenced their forest to plants crop..Haze is everywhere..but.. Thanks God the Government didn’t approve the proposal..
But i believe if we increasing the public awareness in society it will be more better.. For example..some people says that indegenious people is low in awareness compare to those who live in town and have a higher education..but the true is..they have a higher awareness about the environment..it’s because they depends to the environment. The indegenious people is more Sensetive to their environment..i give u some example..in Sabah there’s a place name Togudon Village who fights with one company that already buy their land without their knowledge. The Company is said that they want to build a road but instead buildling a road they logging the forest..The logging activity make the resourses in the forest become less and their water supply is dirty and its also affecting the people who live in downstream like Moyog..the suspended sedimends make the river become thicker. The people in the Kampong now fights for their belongings what they call ”Native Land” whit helps from one NGO called PACOS Trust..this is an example that they do care about their environment..
Legislation?? Strengthening it can’t be a better way to had a healthier environment without public awareness.. For example a few month back, DBKK do a suddenly checking people who throw away rubbish everywhere and give them penalty about RM30..but now look what happens in Kota Kinabalu.. rubbish still everywhere..people do not care..they think RM30 is a small amount..they can pay it..that’s why if the government strengthening the legislation just make sure that they did it well because some departments simply take bribe..Some example again..in the Sabah Cap 86 there a statement that the Native Land is only for the native people but the government will take it if its for development..but in some case, where some department just simply giving a company permit to logging in where the native people live and push them to live their land..This mean that in pratically the statement in Sabah Cap is only a words and not an action..
So last but not least..Government should do a better job in doing and improve their legislation and our society should learn to improving their public awareness. This way will help our environment healthier each day.. The two of this should cooperate so that the environment is safe for next generation....
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| | | MELISA BT MOHD.JOHAN
April 1, 2006 11:24 AM PST
Hi...sorry, but maybe it’s not too late for me for being a part of this discussion. After reading the comment, most of the ‘mamber of the board’ pro to the public awarness. And I’am surely agree of it. This is because public awarness is an efficient method to lead a better and healthiere environment. The public are involved in two-way discussion including serious dialogue about the environment issues like ‘Recycling’. From this issues, we can see there are several campaign that run by the government and the public begin to aware about the benefits of recycling. These campaigns also make the public realize that every ton of paper that is recycled, they save 17 trees, 7,000 gallons of water and 4,100 kilowatt hours of electricity. Besides that, public also can have the economic benefit from selling the items like papers, plastic, bottle and others to be recycle. Through all the campaign, education, talk and others will make the public more aware of the environmental issues and for that public is one and very important method to lead a better and healthier environment.
Peace…(*_*)
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| | | NOORHASFARIZA BT TALIB
April 1, 2006 11:23 AM PST
Hi…I agree with the opinion some friend’s public awareness is better from strengthening (with implementation) the legislations to make healthier environment. Public awareness to environmental issues are more important because can make people more sensitive and responsibility with environmental. It betters because environmental problems become increase to human life. Such as water pollution, air pollution and others. This awareness comes in us. If strengthening the legislation is better, who make environment mistake can use their moneyed to solve their find. For example what happened at Labis, Johor. Toxic from factory throw near the village area. More budgets applied to clean up the toxic discharge. It’s become misspend! So, public awareness is better… | |
| | | Asis Bin Jasa (HT2003-3890)
March 29, 2006 08:34 PM PST
Actually, decrease of environmental quality related close with development. When the development is done, wheter development of land for housing, industrial or agriculture, this is sure the impact of invironment worst. Look at the scenario, do we realize human is an importantn agent which was destroy the environment. Reinfocement of the law or public awareness! Why this issue must be questionig?. For me, Allah created the humans with the perfet attitude. Iven with the wise, to thinking, make humans a leader for lead and guard each all what in the earht, but, what is the sadness, humans also being the greedy to rape the environment. Recent issues, throwing the influence in Johor, exploitation of forest in the National Park Pahang etc, was show us the law is not better altenative in conserve of environmen. Without the awareness inside, sure we can not prevent the destroy of environment. The law of environment was take a long time in reeinforce in cabinet, but why there is still have the environment problems. So, I expected, law is not the barrier but MONEY is the king. By money, law is affordable to buy. But, have we realise, can money buy the awareness?of course not!!!. So, it is clear, public awareness is an important element which able to shape and safe environment. Eventhough,like Malys says “berat sama dipikul, ringan sama dijinjing”. So, law and public awareness need to move together so environment can be reserve. Because without both, it is impossible for us to treasurize in future. Like the house cn’tstand withoutpile!!!!!!. | |
| | | Cathy Mang
March 28, 2006 04:51 PM PST
actually, both are important and must be emphasised if we want to get more better & healthier environment. but in my opinion improving the public awareness is more efficient way. that is because, without awareness we cannot stengthen the legislation. as an example, although we have EIA in order to predict the cause by any project that will be handle by any company. the problem is, some of them did not follow the EIA & ignore the legislation.
the Babagon Dam at panampang as an example, sho that the company call Jetama did not willing to obey the EIA. acording to the EIA on Babagon Dam which the villagers clamed, Jetama Sdn. Bhd. never saw prior to the new villagers resettlement. beside that, the workers did not reveal their true purpose but told the villagers that the survey was related to a health project. in reality the surveying exercise was not related to any health project but to establish the site for building a dam. here we know that the awarrenes about how important to protect the environment among public especially the workers are still narrow. so, public awarrenes need to be improve in order to avoid the speculating job, decieving and also to create better & healthier env.
however, there is no doubt that legislation can be the important way in preventing the environment from being destroyed. acording to Dr Wan Ramlee, Chairman or Bachelor in Sc Environment Techno. at UITM, awarrenes in our society still need to be improve. that is because of the public awarrenes & effort to protect our env still cannot achieve the motive. but, compare to a few years later, Dr wan Ramlee said that changes was happend especially presevering the environment to make a better & healthier environment.
beside that, Dr Wan said human can cause environment damage because they throw rubbish anywhere. environment pollution also come from the industrial. in order to have a better & healthier env. it is important to know that, not only raise up the env awareness among the public but the gov must strengthen the legislation so that our env become more better & healthier.
thanks............. | |
| | | laura
March 28, 2006 04:37 PM PST
I agree with improving the public awareness will lead to a better and healthier environmental. This is because even we have law to protect the environmental without awareness the law is no use. Human have create the law so they can break it, if they don’t have self awareness. Simple example that can support my opinion is even some place have signboard telling that “do not litter’” we still can see litter in that area. | |
| | | Noraidah Suntang
March 23, 2006 08:21 PM PST
Improving the public awareness is the best way to get a better and healthier environment. Why??? Like EIA, and others legislation in this modern world, we can saw that all of the legislation very useless without public awareness and when individual or community still with their own style and very selfish in whatever situation, I think that it’s so impossible to got a better place, a better world. Otherwise, to realization any legislation, we should not delay in taking any action and only with a public awareness in ourselves, any plan to lead a better and healthier environment will be come true.
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| | | NASARUDIN MOHD BASRAN
March 23, 2006 12:51 PM PST
Public awareness and legislation are two important was to protect our environment. However, my opinion says that improving public awareness will be more efficient in order to protect our environment. The reason why I say this is analogically although a strict legislation is implemented, it will be useless if there is no public awareness.
Regarding to this, I would like to touch about the pollution phenomenon of Lembah Klang river . Lack of awareness among residents and industry company in the vicinity of Lembah Klang river han caused more pollution to the river. According to the author (Azidan Nahar) in internet, Lembah Klang river is now severely affected due to lack of public awareness.
The author also stated that although a lot of campaigns have been carried out, some of the residents still dump their rubbish into the Lembah Klang river. Surveillance in areas of Brickfields, Pantai Dalam and Hulu Klang shows that nearby area that was formerly a squatter area is still being polluted although many of squatter houses has been run down by the local authority.
He alsoadded that the situation gets worse when Indah Water Konsortium Sdn. Bhd is accused for dumping their waste into Pantai Dalam. This evidently proves that’s lack of public awareness is the culprit in deterioration of environment. Lembah Klang river which in the past is the main source of water, has become polluted nowadays as a result of ignorance attitude by the residents and the industry company. Recently rubbish traps which are built by DBKL has turned into mice nest due to excessive accumulations of rubbish and food residues at the traps. Because of that, let’s , improve public awareness together to make sure a brighter hope is there for this gift from nature, our beloved environment.
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| | | Ruslinie Lasupin
March 15, 2006 04:42 PM PST
Assalamualaikum and good day for everyone. Firstly, I am so sorry for my broken English.
In my opinion for discus today about which one can lead to a better and healthier environment either “Improving the public awareness or strengthening the legislation” are same important. However, we are already known between public awareness and legislation policy by government, the winner exactly is government!
Why I am saying it, because although people aware about healthier environment are good but they always not give an attention and make a bedlam on environment. That why, government are prepare more policy, legislation, condition and so on to increase public awareness. So don’t blame if them doings an aggressive actions.
To support my fact, better I want you all to looking back around 10 or 20 years ago, our environment still healthier but nowadays many areas either in air, water body, forest an so on are more polluted because people are not practice what they know about importance to save environment healthier. The activities like logging, harvesting, houses project, and embankment and so on contribute a pollutant in environment. Environment is not only for human being, but for all including flora and fauna either small or largest organisms.
For example, strengthening the legislation by government, we can save many natural environments. In Sabah, Malaysia the Crocker Range Park is the largest protected land. It was established in 1984 to protect watershed of Major River and the rich biodiversity. Stretching from near Kundasang in north to Tenom in the south, the Park covers 139,919 hectares and is managed by Sabah Parks. Crocker Range Park is one of Sabah’s great natural assets. The conservation effort in the Park aims at keeping the natural resources pristine for future generations. A large number of animal species live in the Crocker Range Park; the three most endangered species are the orang utan, the sun bear and the clouded leopard. The park has several different types of forests. Two species of Rafflesia found in Sabah grow in the park. Other important plant species include pitcher plants, gingers, and bamboos, as well as a large number of orchids and rhododendrons.
Back to the question, I corroborate legislation because if we are hoping a public awareness only, I think it wrong answer. But meaningless public awareness is not important. I just look for situation today that legislation more effective as guide to save our environment!!
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| | | Then Siang Yiin
March 11, 2006 01:47 PM PST
In my opinion, improving the public awareness and strengthening the legislation are very important strategies to lead a better and healthier environment. Both of the actions are equipped to shape a sustainable environment.
Nowadays, government agencies always organize some activities to improve public awareness, such as campaign, education, speech, and other events. For example, recycle program are one of the effort which taken by Environment Department to protect environment and reduce the waste and pollutions. Many effort had been taken to promote concept ‘recycle, reduce, reuse’, such as ‘Green Tips’ printed in brochure, booklet or pamphlet to improve public awareness. Actually, we can do many efforts to protect our environment easily on our live. For example, on the fan and lamp only when necessary; benefit the source of light by open the window to reduce the use of electricity; Use both sides of the paper to benefit the paper and reduce the waste of paper; Use our own handkerchief to reduce the use of tissues which lead to less waste production. Many action can be taken to reduce the production of waste and pollutions; support ‘recycle and reuse’ by real action but not only aware and no any helpful action been taken. Reality, public awareness already been ‘planted’ in our mind but how many percent of us really take effort and right action to protect our lovely environment…However, no matter how many audience would benefit the public awareness programs, this effort still need to be taken because we need to protect our environment, even only one audience would benefit the program (change he/her mind and attitude to protect the environment).
Beside that, effective implementation of environmental management and conservation programs depends on education, awareness raising and training in the relevant areas. Without an understanding of how to conserve their natural resources, or indeed, why they must do so, few communities would be motivated to participate actively in programs on environmental conservation. For example, ‘Sustainable development’ (pembangunan mapan) and Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) puts into perspective the need for education with respect to environmental management. It is a matter of high priority to strengthen national educational and training mechanisms in order to facilitate the flow of information on sustainable development issues, enhance public awareness of the environment and encourage participation in the implementation of effective solutions.
On the other hand, improving public awareness should equip by strengthening of legislation with implementation. Strengthening of legislation must be enforced in order to reach a healthier and better environment. Our government legislate many environmental laws to lead a sustainable environment. EIA is one of the important effort to form a sustainable environment. However, implementation of EIA is very important to avoid manipulation of developer. Experienced government consultant should be trained to enhance the obedience and ensconce of EIA through supervising the development project. Environmental legislation should be strengthening with implementation through collaboration of government agencies. Manipulation of the enforcement environmental laws always happen as many break legislation cases still ‘under progression’. This situation indicated that our implementation of enforcement law still not appropriate. Beside that, the situation shows that government still needs many efforts to equip the weakness of enforcement laws.
Strengthening the legislations (with implementation) is very important. The enforcement laws played an important role as guidance to guild the development progression and form a sustainable environment. Strengthening the legislation and improving public awareness, both of the actions are needed to form a sustainable environment. For example, The Environmental Quality Act (1974) provides for setting up an Environmental Quality Council that would involve the participation of the public and private sectors as well as interested individuals who could contribute to improving the environment throughout the country. While that objective is admirable and fulfils the need for public and NGO participation in environmental issues affecting the country, the Council has no executive authority and only acts in an advisory role to the Minister. Some NGOs have been included in other consultative bodies on environmental issues which played a very positive role in bringing environmental issues into open discussion and articulated the national position on environmental issues at international forums.
As conclusion, strengthening the legislation and improving public awareness are important. Both actions will lead to a better and healthier environment.
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| | | Phan Mee Kie
March 10, 2006 11:05 PM PST
Between the public awareness and strengthening with implementation the legislation. I only have one comment: Different problem need different way to setter it. Just like in this world have too many people and they are different with which other, so if want conquer or apprehend some one, must need some skill which are suitable for him. So we need really understand something before the action. Today, our earth and our environment are sick and need for a help. So, we as a human who are make the earth to get the negative change, so must be find some new way to cover and save it from the danger.
Before this have many conferences said about the problem of our environmental for example, Montreal Protocol, 1987, Basel Convention, 1989, Convention on Climate Change, 1992, and Biological Diversity, 1992. All the conference agree is better if have one set of law to deficient the stress and problem of environment global. Today, the human’s attitude in our economy global society are more focus the advantageous like producing more money and always no take the attention for the warning from our environment. So, from this identification already tell us if we have a implementation the legislation because is better and impressive also more suitable for health environment. (Kadaruddin Aiyub). So, our government must to take action for implementation and enforce the legislation. As we known there is many act that the government has doing like Land Conservation and Environmental Quality Act 1974 and Forest Enactment 1935 so all the law need be enforced. I agree with opinion my course mate Mohd Shafie Mohd Khalid:” Most of us are fear with the law (legislation) especially when the government strengthen the legislation. This is a chance to the government to develop the interconnected laws……“ In addition, I also think like that because human are fear with law and our environment can be saved by law. But, the result will be more effective compare if with the public awareness.
For improving the public awareness also is a good idea for our health environment. In my opinion there have many way to improving the public awareness for example increase awareness within the civil service at both federal, state and local government levels as well as in professional bodies and the private sector through courses and training programmers, recognize the role of non-organizations (NGOs) in the conservation and sustainable utilization of biological diversity, enhance mass media coverage of biological diversity issues and incorporate the study of environment and field into the curricula of school and institution of higher learning and so on. For example, the proposed Kota Kinabalu School Recycling Program 2004’s objective is to create awareness and still recycling habit at early age. The rate of our public awareness is very low so we are need to do something to improve it.
By the way, just like our friend, (Tan En Tze) said: “In our life, we should do many choices. “ So at this stage, I want to point out that we must to think more than one way to save our environmental now a days always famous with something product which is 2 in 1 or 3 in 1(“,). Because the human believe it can give the double good effect for some produces. So, to save our environmental also need the produces which 2 in1 (public awareness and strengthening with implementation the legislation). Maybe only like this our environmental can be saved and successfully to improve the environment‘s problem.
As a conclusion, public awareness and strengthening the legislation is the best way to save the environment just like I said in first paragraph: Different problem need take different way to setter it and the result will be more effective if both of improving the public awareness or strengthening with implementation the legislation be compared.
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| | | Name KAMISAH ARIFFIN @ ENDUNY
March 8, 2006 02:42 PM PST
Which one is more important, public awarness or strengthening the legislation...
In order to tkae care of enviroment, public awarness is the most important key. Beacuse without public awarness laws and regulations cannot change society's atitude. For example, if littering is an affense, should we be watched for 24 hours a day by the 'authority? so, the awarness to take care of the enviroment must begin from the society itself.
Let us take an example of family, as families, considered together constitute a society. A family is on their way to a destination by a destination by a car. If the father eat a candy and he throws the candy wraper into a dustbin when they reach the destination. The children will watch their father and they conclude that they should not litter.
So, the awareness to take care of the enviroment begin within the family and the law enforcement only strengther it. So, the people will think ever to imporve the enviroment for the next generation.. Sory this is my new idea about for this blog...k | |
| | | EVEN JAMILIH
February 28, 2006 03:08 PM PST
1st of all i want to tell yau that strengthening the legislation is better than improving public awareness to lead a better and healthier environment.
Maybe 30 years ago we can say that improving public awareness will lead to a better and healthier environment because our country still have a good place. means we have a lot of forest..but now!!!!maybe we can tell the people that we must save our place but how about the others...
now strengthening the legislation will lead to a better and healthier environment. the government must punish the people who not follow the truth rules about the environment. whenever they're punished they didn"t do it again.
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| | | Dg.Selinah
February 22, 2006 04:06 PM PST
A’kum & nice 2 see ya again....
I’m so sorry coz late 2 join this blog....busy bah....
Okay... back 2 the discussion,
I’ve already read the comments in this blog..so, congratulation to u all coz give the ‘wonderful’ idea and opinion... Bagus bah...
i agree with who said the public awareness is important to make environment is better and healtier. Without the public awareness, who else will care about our environment...so like Miss Masitah said that the awareness of society towards the protection of environment can be increased by estabilshing some campaigns such as "Cintai Alam Sekitar","Cintailah Sungai Kita' and the other agencies especially (NGO) and 'Pencinta Alam' should also contribute to protect the stability of the environment...so what i can say here, without public awareness pollution will be happen and danger for human. We can give awareness to public with make some programme or campaign so that they can know how important to keep our environtment..and i agree with Miss Lydiawati that said “melentur buluh biar dari rebungnya”. We must teach human to appreciate and keep environment from child..
But....the question is ???...how many peoples can give attention and take part in this programme???...i think not many peoples can give hundred persent their attention in any programme or campaign about environment.....
So..what else we can do besides public awareness???...of course strenghtening (with implementation) the legislation....although man have awareness about environment but i think legislation also important to make environment is better and healtier. Bcoz...not yet all of man have same thinking...and man can change!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!. With legislation, goverment can get the ‘pocket money’ and extra income or tax to the government. With that money, we can do anything especially to overhaul or improve our environment as well as we can. In the same time, it will give a lesson to the society to make sure they take care of the environment properly. There are many legislation of environment that implementation by Malaysia’s Government like Forest Enactment 1935, Land Conservation and Environmental Quality Act 1974. For example, with Forest Enactment 1935..it can help government to protect forest from illegal logging that can destroy our forest……
Ok….in conclusion and last word from me, I think both public awareness and legislation is important to make environment better and healthier….so, let’s us together to keep our environment…
See ya next discussion….Chal gaseyo!!!!!!
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| | | Asmah Mahmud
February 20, 2006 08:17 PM PST
With enforcement law, actually its can to rise to public or society. In this case, a government is really important to use a process of doing something specially about the environment, thus impose action to someone guilty so that they aware with they having done wrong. Beside that, government also doing monitoring to industry activity like industry of toxic or poison management and licence production to contractor, must be close.
Today……..
The public awareness by government is really deficient….for example..., on 3 June in last year, environment department has been to do one campaign is “The Malaysia Agenda For Waste a Campaign of Reduction”. Eventhough, the case of dismissal illegal on pickings still happen although this campaign is in use……………
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| | | lojeria lantubon
February 17, 2006 09:07 AM PST
Of course improving the public awareness first. Legislation is no longer usable when people just continue to destroy our environment. Even us, if we haven’t awareness about to protect our environment we just throw away our rubbish in everywhere, not in the dustbin!. So, awareness began and should be teached since people learn to walk. Children in their early years are more teachable than the older one. When people growing up, they make so many rubbish or may be doing something that cause the environment destroyed. The legislation during this time is no longer usable because there are so many people outside who made the environment changed and destroyed.So, what shall we do? In the end of this,awareness is more lead us to a better and healthier environment.
For example, we have an act about plant systems which is every factory must managed their waste into the plant systems before throw it into the river or sea. But, many of them just throw their waste directly to the river or drainage. This may cause so many effect to the living aquatic but if they have awareness to protect the environment, they should not make like that.
For a conclusion, people should have awareness more than just strengthening the legislations. We’re apart of the environment, when the environment destroyed, we also being affected.
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| | | Rasistha Alwarince
February 15, 2006 08:58 AM PST
For me, both of them are very important and can lead to better and healthier environment. It’s because:
-Public Awareness :
1) Awareness has been taught since childhood.
2) More cheap than another alternative to make healthier environment.
3)Easy to make people understand about how important are healthier environment for nature balance.
-i.e. Recycle Campaign & “Love Our River Campaign”.
-Legislation :
1) Will be punishing the people who destroy our environment.
2) Legislation will make people afraid to make any activity can cause the environment abuse.
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| | | CHANG YAN SAN
February 14, 2006 03:25 PM PST
Rising material expectations and increasing populations are placing considerable pressure to the environment that we are living in. Development and resource extraction have in many instances taken place without proper planning or thought for long-term effects. Consequently, issues of solid waste management, water conservation, soil erosion and so on become widespread in many regions of the world. Unsafe practices in toxic waste disposal like currently occurred, anticipated climatic and sea level change as well as species depletion are now adding to the environmental concerns. So, improving the public awareness or strengthening (with implementation) the legislation: which one will lead to a better and healthier environment? For this,
Honestly, I do believe and agree that both improving public awareness and strengthening legislation are equally the efforts we can practice on to protect our environment into a good and healthy circumstance. But then, if to lead to a better and healthier environment, improving public awareness will be my preference. Reason why I am choosing improving public awareness is based on its effectiveness in leading a better and healthier environment.
According to my understanding, public awareness is more like a civic consciousness or realization that exists wholehearted concern to one occurrence while strengthening legislation is refers to an action of constructing or enforcing a law to become more strictly on behalf of putting an end to one happening.
As proclaimed by Tang En Tze, public awareness is going AUTOMATICALLY while legislation is going by FORCE. Therefore, human behavior is playing the most crucial role in the issue of generate a better and healthier environment. If people do not change their own perception toward the importance of protecting environment, what the legislation can do is just to force people with the intention that they will not breaking the rules without any guarantee that people will behave in long term when they are out of observation. In fact, when someone are jailed for damaging environment according to the law, there will be other people continuously go against the law for there is no any awareness from them to protect the environment.
Long time ago, legislation is not that much needed for environmental conservation because there is less of development by the time. Nowadays, as stated by Wong Hie Kiong, a lot of legislation such as Sabah Forest Enactment 1968, Convention on International Trade in Endangered Special of Wild Fauna and Floral 1973 (CITIES), National Policy on Biological Diversity 1988 have been executed to conserve our environment because of rapid uncontrolled development. These implemented legislations therefore, actually should be the very effective manner at first to ban any of irrational development or action which will soon destroy the environment. But what we can see is those legislations still can’t successfully overcome the matter of environmental abuse. Why? I would like to dedicate this question to Jeff Crayton. If strengthening the legislation with implementation the best solution to protect our environment for it will make people realize the need of preserving the environment, then why there are no endless of cases of environment abuse (case at Johor: a factory from Melaka dare to throw the toxic waste far away to Johor illegally, as the result, water and air pollution have been occurred).
In this case, it is most seems like the powerless of legislation. I do believe that all people are welling to know about punishment or fine they will face of for the action that lead to damaging of environment. Do they scare with this kind of law? Perhaps some people do, but has this panorama reflects any awareness of them about the importance of environment? “When there were strengthening in legislation, the public awareness of environment will increase”, is it true? For me, of course people will alert with the law that had been established in order to protect our environment, but the thing that catches most of their attention about the law, perhaps is the sort and degree of punishment so with the fine they will encountered if they act to destroy the environment. In the other word, people scare for they realize that the punishment will keep them into jail for a long time and the fine will cause them loosing money, instead of environmental awareness. Therefore, people do no more environmental abuse? NO, as a result, they are trying so hard to find another way that out of authority’s sight to damage the environment. For this, I am in the same opinion with Wong Ang Na, “ Legislation can’t completely control the actions of human being…intelligent people always have their own ways to protect themselves to escape from being punished by legislation…without public awareness, people may repeat their wrong doing again after being punished.” For me, the main point for the questions above is, the lack of public awareness is the main issue for nowadays.
Thus, I am agree with Zalila who pointed that if we are only depend on law without awareness in ourselves, not all the people will follow the rules that been implemented. The example of her was referred to gas ammonia solution case in kg Sg. Gatom. They know it is dangerous for people and environment but they still do that case. Why this thing happen although they knew they will be punished according to Environment Quality Act? Again, it is because of less awareness to environmental conservation inside of them.
“To increase public awareness, a long period of time is required,” pointed by Jaidi Kamis, and thus he disagrees with the efficiency of public awareness in issue of environmental protection. In my point of view, if the solution do work as what it should be, perhaps we should not mind that much about how long the process take time to because it is worth and that is why so many activities or campaign had been organized for the purpose to increase public awareness about the importance of taking care of our environment. In fact, we should think about the efficiency of the action or solution we taken for the good of environment in long term because life goes on not just for us, but also for our next generation. People might stop from destroying environment when in jail (because they have no any opportunity to do so by the time), but is there any assure that those people who had being punished by law will not repeat the same mistake, perhaps in the coming one or two years’ time? I believe that cases of environmental abuse will not be happened if people do have awareness in their own mind because awareness exists automatically and therefore, it will continuously keep remaining people to take care of environment whenever and wherever they are.
Indeed, don’t want to be fined or jailed does not means that we are aware to promote a healthier and better environment. Like what did Nagendran said, people will behave so well during an observation (perhaps the same when in prison), but there is no any guarantee that people will do the same when they are out of observation for they are not regret from the bottom of their heart (actually, they are in force to correct their mistakes). Without environmental awareness which should come up by heartfelt, that means the harder job to the government to create a more strict law to judge all the ‘killers’ of environment, and again, there is no guarantee that people will regret for their guilty.
Hence, I am truly disagree with the statement “We have to accept the truth that ANYTHING ONLY CAN BE IMPLEMENTED BY STRENGTHENING THE LEGISLATION and NOT DEPENDING ON THE PUBLIC AWARENESS…The LEGISLATION IS THE ONLY WAY to lead for a better and healthier environment, ” stressed by Sharon Pasco. Ok, I accept that Singaporean never split and throw rubbish anywhere because these attitudes are considered as an erroneous being by law and for the vision to be “the world’s cleanest country”. But why should they concern that much with the law? For what they must care much with the title “the world’s cleanest country”? For they will have one great achievement to proud of? I believe there is no such simple philosophy that sufficiently drives them to behave like what is actually been expected by the law. There must have some kind of concealed power that approaches them to conduct themselves in such way. What is the power that so secretly hidden behind? It is “Public Awareness” I believe. It seems to be so secretly hidden behind because it is subsist wholehearted inside of oneself that we can’t simply come across it from one’s exterior personality. And that is the power of public awareness. When people are motivated to appreciate their environment, they will always be concerned about environmental abuse. Hence, they will only bring forward an attitude and action which is appropriate with sustainable development and attempt to protect environment without the enforcement of law as possible.
As some of our friends argued earlier that programme like “Cintailah Sungai Kita” fail to improve public awareness in order to promote a healthier environment, thus strengthening legislation is considerable the best way to generate a better and healthier environment. For this, I would like to point out my disagreement. When this kind of programme fails to reach its point, it doesn’t means that strengthening legislation is the best, but perhaps we should say that there is still considerable lack of public awareness in the society in protecting their environment. Although legislation had been strengthened, people maybe, even don’t actually understand why such strict law is needed for they are not been enlightened in the law about impact that will arise toward environment if they damage it and reason why environment is so much meaningful to human. People still not entirely understand of how to conserve environment, or indeed, why they must do so. Without this understanding, thus, few communities would be motivated to participate actively in environmental conservation.
Yet, it is still not the weakness of public awareness when debating the issue of failing to generate a better and healthier environment, possibly, it is more suitable to say that it is the weakness of approach that we carry on the public awareness in order to create a better environment. Some might say that giving a speech or organizing a campaign can’t efficiently awake the public community concerned to environmental protection. It is because effort that been showed to hold on such activities is not comprehensive enough; a speech is just a simple talk in a few minutes that not even specify any significant associated cases of environmental abuse and its impacts. A campaign is just, not other than a simple activity that take a little quality of time to invite public to join some cleanliness activities, for instance, collecting rubbishes, clean up the drain, recycle the wasted newspapers, aluminum tins and plastics and so on. Public communities participate in such activities without any detail explanation or exploration about the chief purpose of holding such activities. There is no any continuing associated activities or programmes launched after the given speech or cleanliness campaign. The efforts ended within a day as well. As a result, it will definitely cause to unsuccessful of the campaign in order to improve public awareness and hence public will not be motivated to appreciate their invaluable environment. Therefore, the suggestion here is, public should be enlightened about activities, or even legislation that had been organized or executed, so that they can really understand more deeply the aim of activities or legislation. Besides, there must have a non-stopped programme or planning to be held more frequently to ensure that public is always aware with their environmental problems, as well as to improve the way of enhancing public awareness to be more effective for environmental conservation. This kind of understanding and consciousness toward the activities or legislation followed by a continuing effort will definitely foster the public awareness of environmental protection.
Further, developing countries in particular lack relevant technologies and expertise. Thus, there is a need to increase public sensitivity along with a sense of personal environmental responsibility and greater motivation plus commitment towards better and healthier environment. Followed by this difficult task, education had been highlighted as an essential effort in environmental conservation. Why? For it is indispensable to change people’s attitudes so that they have the capacity to assess their environment concerns, for it will elevates public’s environmental and ethical awareness, skill and behavior consistent with sustainable development, as well as for the effective public participation in decision-making. According to the article of Breaking the vicious cycle of poverty and environmental degradation in Africa, environmental education or information is the key element to inform the public that irrational exhaustion of natural resources is destroying the basis of prosperity for future generations. The lack of community awareness and understanding as probably the most significant barrier to sustainable development and are hampered better quality of environment. But, once awareness is raised, the essential values and attitudes so with behavior can change and skills can be developed to create a better and healthier environment. To conclude, public awareness in the issue of protecting environment can be increased via environmental education which is including school level (primary and secondary) and university, as well as non-formal environmental education which is learned from parents or through other kind of references. Having subject such as Geography, Environmental Club and EIA can educate young generation to be aware and realize the importance of protecting our environment.
I am in the same opinion with Yusri Abd Hadji for the statement that public awareness should begin from the very beginning of one child followed by responsibility from parents as well to implant knowledge about better environment to their children. It is because young children are like a white clean paper that can easily being influenced by surrounding. So, if their parents or teacher when in school did educated them the way to express their love and appreciation to the environment since they are still a little kid, they will maintain a deep impression inside their mind about the importance of conserving environment. Meanwhile, signpost, advertise brochure, banner and poster concerned about environmental protection in order to create a better and healthier life living especially are very practical to place in or nearby school surrounding. When these things are successfully foster a little children’s appreciation toward natural environment, as well as strengthen their attitude, value and action since they are young, they will definitely keep practicing the accurate attitudes when they grows up.
More campaigns can be held through media, school, exhibition and programme like Cintai Sungai Kita, Kitar Semula and so on should be, as being mentioned above, practiced more frequently and meaningfully to awake public to protect our environment. Besides, generate a website is a great idea to improve public awareness because it can request an extensive participation from the global communities to converse about environment without the limitation of region and time. People can access to the website for the needed environmental information and give any of their comments anytime they wish to. Perhaps less involvement from all of the society is another factor that causes the failure of public awareness for the aim to create a better and healthier environment. “Clamp a hand can’t make sound”. Therefore, cooperation among government, non-government organization, private agency as well as individual is playing a significant role in the effort to improve public awareness concerned to environment.
Overall, how influential public awareness is? We can simply find the answer by reviewing to the efforts that had been taken by numerous of countries in the world for the purpose to prevent our environment from the long-lasting damaged. For instance, HKPC woks to enhance public awareness on environment. The two-year long Reducing Air Pollution Programme was introduced in 1998 by the Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC). This programme was focused on two main sources of air pollution in Hong Kong, which are oil mist from restaurant and exhaust emission from diesel engine vehicles. Why such programme launched for? It is for the reason to enhance public’s awareness on the importance of air pollution control. Besides the development of pollution control technology, training courses and site visit had been structured for the target group of this programme. “Through this effort, HKPC was able to assist industries to minimize air pollution problem resulting from their operations. Under this programme, over 200 mechanics from 150 garages attended training courses on vehicle maintenance. In addition, a slogan competition and a road show were organized o promote the programme,” said by C.M.Lin, general manager of HKPC. See the success of Hong Kong in controlling air pollution? Isn’t it the result of public awareness via the programme? See what a great participation of society involved in this programme? Hence, awake society of Hong Kong to alert with environment protecting issue.
Events scheduled in China to raise public awareness of environment, another example that make use of spirit of public awareness as an appropriate choice to improve environmental quality. China’s environmental authorities are planning a series of educational campaigns over the next 2 months with the aim of enhancing public awareness of the importance of environmental protection. A week of various activities to be held around World Environment Day on June 5, will highlight China’s environmental problems and its efforts to tackle these problems, in the same time, maintaining sustainable development. Environmental protection in China is a difficult task since pollution is still a chief crisis and the deterioration of the ecological system has not been brought under control. According to State Environmental Protection Administration (SEPA), all society should be made aware that because of rapid industrialization and urbanization, environmental conservation will be a long and complicated task in China. Therefore, organizers of the activities in Chengdu plan to raise the apprehension about environment deterioration by stage performances, forums, exhibitions and broadcast of television documentaries. China, well-known with its large countryside and huge-size of population, consider public awareness as the first preference rather than strengthening legislation in the effort to tackle environment problems. So, why should we refute public awareness is the better way that will lead to a better and healthier environment if compare with strengthening (with implementation) the legislation?
Allow me to catch your attention to the final example of case, that is the tacis environmental awareness raising. In October 1995, over 40 environment ministers from across Europe met in Sofia, Bulgaria, to review the environment for Europe process, a set of initiatives they had launched 4 years before to catalyze environmental reform. As an outcome of the meeting, ministers concluded that the best way o achieve permanent improvement of healthier environment was, whenever possible, to involve public directly affected. In the other word, the concluding statement of meeting called for public participation in environmental decision-making. This call was heard by European Union. On 1 February 1997, the European Union’s Tacis Programme had organized a comprehensive ECU 2.9 million project for 18 months to raise environmental awareness across the New Independent States of the former Soviet Union and Mongolia. This programme has its one overall goal, that is to raise the status of environmental issue in everyone of Tacis’s thirteen partner countries and simply to involve as many people in the discussion of environmental issues as possible. This programme shows very visibly that countries in the world rather to choose to raise public awareness than strengthening legislation in order to promote a better and healthier environment.
To be successful, for sure we cannot rely on our own perceptions of conserving our environment. We need to learn about those of our societies. That is why this programme will use interviews, telephone polling and focus groups to learn how environmental problems and decision-making are really perceived in the district. Further, all donor-funded environmental projects in European Union will be researched while model of environmental legislation will be identified so that these informations available to decision-makers through the World Wide Web. TV documentaries and radio magazines also will be produced and broadcasted. Last but not least, there will be a group of experts convened to identify and collect the world’s best environmental films as well as documentaries. These findings will be dubbed into local language and make them available through video lending libraries. To conclude, as the result of the meeting, cooperation between government, NGO, public and media is strongly required to bring to the successful of the programme aiming for raising public awareness toward a better and healthier environment. The question here is, has strengthening legislation been highlighted as the concluding statements of the meeting? NO, because they (over 40 environment ministers from across Europe) practically believe in public awareness the better solution to create a better and healthier environment.
By the way, some of our friends as well as Sharon Pasco did support their arguments, which is strengthening (with implementation) the legislation will lead to a better and healthier environment by using the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). In my opinion, I don’t think that it is a good idea to support that argument. It is true that EIA is used to predict or assess the impact occurred followed by development project. It forbids all the development projects when more negative impacts are founded in the assessment. But, according to Prof Datuk Dr. Sham Sani (expert of geology), Environmental Quality Act 1974 acknowledged that EIA is only compulsory to be applied on development project that take place more than 50 hectares. In the other word, development project that required small land use area (50 hectares and below) will be out of EIA’s sight or procedure. There is problem coming then. Furthermore, when money and interests are all the only matter that playing non-stopped inside the mind of developers, definitely they will less concern with the consequence faced by environment while they will keep running on their uncontrolled development projects. As claimed by Prof, EIA is needed to be applied on small development projects because these are actually causing more great effects (perhaps in negative form) compare with large land use development project. This reflect the weakness and incomplete of EIA, a procedure that having a close connection with law or legislation. Some developers even separate their large land use project into several phases so that the project will be approved and can be run on quickly. So, is it legislation really worth it?
As a conclusion, pressure for environmental change is most powerful at the grassroots level, which I consider that is human being. Without awareness which should be subsisted truthfully and by public, it is a difficult task for legislation to produce a worthwhile result in environmental conservation because intelligent human being will always attempt to find the weakness of legislation. HOWEVER, I don’t mean to refuse totally the importance of strengthening the legislation when in necessary circumstance. In my opinion, public awareness should come first then supported by legislation (when necessary) in issue of conserving environment. Public awareness might require the dedication of time, funds and personnel, but it assist to ensure widespread consciousness and knowledge will strengthen the capacity of public to manage a better and healthier environment over the long term. Lastly, “apathy (less awareness) is the worst enemy of change (a better and healthier environment)…Change is possible if you get involved (improving public awareness)”.
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| | | Tai Fui Vun
February 8, 2006 12:37 AM PST
The environment is in a severe state because of man’s activity. Today problems such as air and water pollutions are part and parcel of our lives. Can we just stand there and do-nothing? Of course not! Government has taken many steps to control these problems especially through environment law. How about public awareness? Yes, of cause have. For example, campaign from Department of Environment like “Cintailah Sungai Kita”, “recycle bin” and also exhibition. However, people nowadays are still not aware that it is important to protect our environment and they keep on abusing our environment day after day. For example, according to the WWF-Malaysia’s survey and research, it was reported that only seven marine turtles have survived until today. Of these, only four species choose to nest on Malaysian beaches. Two of these species (the Leatherback and the Olive Ridley) are close to extinction. Why does this scenario occurred? This is because of Commercial exploitation of eggs by local communities. It is also about the pollution of marine waters by off-shore and land-based industries that pollute marine turtles feeding habitats. Actually, government and some society strive very hard to raise people’s awareness about the importance of loving out environment. However, the main problem is that our people still choose to neglect or doesn’t take any attention about environment’s issue.
So in my opinion, strengthening the legislation will lead to a better and healthier environment. This is because law is a rule that people cannot break and every guideline in law has their punishment. People will get more attention if environment is protected by law. People will also keep themselves away from breaking on the acts and laws that have been introduced in Malaysia. For example, in Section 40 (1) of Enactment Environment Protection 2002 (Enakmen Perlindungan Alam Sekitar 2002), says that if anyone believes that break the laws of environments, the people in charged are given permission to arrest those who break the rules without warrant and they will be taken to the police station in vicinity or Magistric under “Kanun Acara Jenayah”. In section 51 says that if whoever fail to follow the law in section 12(5) will be fined for not more than RM100 thousand or jailed for not more than five years of both of them.
Lastly, I argue that, strengthening the legislation will lead to a better and healthier environment.
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| | | BORHAN TAHERE (HA 2003-1237)
February 6, 2006 05:05 PM PST
I think strengthening (with implementation) the legislation will lead to a better and healthier environment because legislation had a power to hinder the environment’s crimes to do a something negative impact to environment. For example, issue about open up the forest at Hulu Langat, Selangor. The forest was gazette a Hulu Langat’s forest reserve, but the activities to open up the forest still happened, it is because a man irresponsible only want to take a beneficial without think the effect from the open up the forest. With the strengthening legislation, the crimes cannot escape and incurred penalty. Although already the signboard build near the forest was inform about the reserved the forest, but the problem still happened. From that, we can say awareness cannot to lead to a batter and healthier environment. | |
| | | Dymson Zeno
February 5, 2006 11:44 AM PST
Hello everyone…….
Direct to our topic, improving the public awareness or strengthening (with implementation) the legislation: which one will lead to a better and healthier environment? Well, I definitely agree that by improving the public awareness will lead to a better and healthier environment compare with strengthening the legislation.
Why awareness? The first thing I want to say is it easy to execute it and it’s also an effective step to get a better and healthier environment. There is variety of activities which can be done by awareness. For example, activity like an exhibition, campaign and recycle. It also can be done through the education, information from media (mass or electronic) and also through the internet. Awareness also can be done anywhere; public place like shopping centre, school and etc. So it’s easy for people from any stage of category; from children to adults to take part whatever activities which connected to environment protection. Through the education, we can teach students especially the children about environment education. I think this is the basic knowledge need by children’s so that they can realize why it’s important to take care and protect the environment. Compare with strengthening the legislation, I don’t think it can lead to a better and healthier environment. I want to remind you that we already have strength legislation. There is so many act and law which done by the government to protect the environment like Environment Quality Act 1974 and etc but it’s still can’t give a batter and healthier environment for us. Why? Most of legislation is written in the books as act or law and we know that some people rarely read any books about it. It’s also not impossible that there is a person who can’t read, so how the legislation can work effectively. Let us look in Sabah interior district like Nabawan, Tambunan, Sook and etc. Majority of people from this district are farmer. They need to open the new land and of course the forest for agriculture. Logging and open burning are their normal activity. Maybe they didn’t know the effect of their activity. They didn’t care about the act and law and there is no punishment from government. This problem maybe caused by the lack of information about environment protection, act and law. In this case, awareness is so important. We can go to this place and tell them why it is important to protect the environment and the effect if they still opened the forest for logging and agriculture. This can be done by campaigns or met with their community leader. We also know that some of them can’t read and didn’t know about legislation. So it’s better to solve this problem with awareness than strengthening the legislation. Like I said earlier, improving the public awareness is more practical to a better and healthier environment than strengthening the legislation.
So, think about it…………….
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| | | Hajawati Ambas
January 30, 2006 01:45 PM PST
as we know, both of improving the public awareness and strengthening the legislation are quiet important to make our environment keep clean and become better and healthier. in my opinion, legislation only can't change anything. but the most important way is improving the public awareness about our environment. nowadays, there are a lot campaign and activities to improve the public awareness but it is still not enough. as we can see, all of the mass media give us a lot of information about pollution around us. some of us maybe dissappointed with the situation but they still didn't do anything to solve the problems. campaign 'love our rivers' in 1993 shows that public awareness about the important of caring our rivers still lack. although some of us knows that they will fund RM100,000 ang 5 years jail but they still throw the rubbish into the river and make a pollution everywhere. in Malaysia, there are a lot of polluted rivers such as Klang river, Sepang river, Pahang river, and also Tuaran river. all of these rivers are contains components like cadmium, plumbum, zinc and etc because of factories activities around it. it is shows that our societies still not alert and beware about environment. so all of us should work together and give the cooperations among each others to improve the public awareness.we must know our responsibilities to encourage the society to be more carefull about how treat the rubbish while raising the public awareness about the need to set up the recycle such a system. | |
| | | mohamad hir ramli
January 28, 2006 03:00 PM PST
Public awareness is more important than law enforcement. It is because the society actually is the major cause of many environmental problem. The society can help to preserve the nature or they can actually destroy it. If majority of the society leads to negative impact rather than the positive impact, it means the destruction of the nature will continue to occur.
But, in Malaysia, majority of the society is more concern of the effort to care and preserve the nature rather than destroy it. With the existence of a society who realize the importance of nature, the destruction act of irresponsible private or company can be stop. A society who has high civic concousness towards nature destruction will act as a block to the culprit from continue destroying the nature. They will become the eyes of the authority and report to them about nature harassment. Today, the media, whether electric or electronic, show many incident of this nature harrassment. For an example, the illegal pig farm at Tuaran and Papar, which cause the river that once were the source of clean water to to the villagers, become polluted.
Instead of an action of as reporter, civic concousness in the society will also help to change individual behaviour to preserve the nature. This changing individual behaviour to recycle unused item such as plastic, glass, iron and paper will help to reduce the output of raw material and also reducing the rate of pollution. Some of the item such as furniture, tyre, clothes, etc, can be reused by modifying or upgrading them. If public awareness in the society didnt reach civic level, then program like recycling, reused of unused item, will never succeed. And the nature will become the victim.
Law enforcement will fail without the public support who concern about the nature. Altough many act has been introduced and enforced, the enforcement cannot be done transparently. This occured because lack of enforcement staf or enforcer to stop or block this nature crime from occuring. Hence, it is important to have public involvement in fighting this nature harrassment crime. The intrution of Hulu Selangor Reserve Forest and Hulu Langat Reserve Forest shows that the law enforcement only cannot stop this crime. It is the effort and awareness of the public which reported it and giving the information to the authority about the intrition. As the conclusion, the society will play the most important role to save and preserve the nature altough a certain act or law become the blocking mekanisme to convict the culprit.
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| | | CONNIE TING KIAT WEE
January 27, 2006 11:52 AM PST
Today, environmental issues remain to be popular and often we witness public discussions about them. In other words, we may state that Public Awareness on environmental problems in Malaysia has been developed and it is a key to environmental protection.
Firstly, Public awareness of the environment means the ability to emotionally understand the surrounding world, including the laws of the natural environment, sensitivity to all the changes occurring in the environment, understanding of cause-and-effect relationships between the quality of the environment and human behaviour, an understanding of how the environment works as a system, and a sense of responsibility for the common heritage of the Earth, such as natural resources - with the aim of preserving them for future generations.
Here, I would like to say that, improving the public awareness will lead to a better and healthier environment. That’s why im really supported with Melissa Thomas’s statement “Realize that warning board that warn people to NOT throw their rubbish at that particular place or you will get penalty..but tell me what you see around it? RUBBISH. Even you strengthening the legislation year after year, there will be NO USE”. This is because nowadays, almost of the citizens are not going to obey the rules or legislations even the government strengthening the legislation.
Im also definitely agree with Pet Jun by saying “strengthening the legislation is not an ideal method to create a healthy environment. It is hard to implement the action of reinforcing the laws if there is no public awareness”.
In the area of sustainable development, Malaysia agrees that public awareness will lead to a better and healthier environment. As we know that, Malaysia has implemented several programmes including the Environmental Awareness Plan of the Department of Environment to enhance the level of environmental awareness of Malaysians. .These programmes covered all aspects of the environment, including the inculcation of an environmentally based ethics and value system with the intention of creating an environment-friendly society. Besides, The Education Ministry also introduced an environmental education course for teacher-trainees to enable them to emphasise the critical importance of environmental issues to their students. The Ministry has also published a guidebook on environmental education, which was circulated to all schools. All of this are the programmes to enhance Public awareness.
Furthermore, according to the Rohana Ramli (representative of Malaysia on agenda item 100: Environment and sustainable development), Malaysia also places critical importance of public awareness on the environment. That's why, Malaysia cooperation with Non-Governmental Organisations and the private sector to educate the public on environmental and conservation. In the other cases to enhance Public Awareness, in April 1999, ASEAN adopted a “zero-burning” policy and urged all member countries to enforce the laws and regulations on this policy. Following this, ASEAN convened dialogue sessions with plantation companies as part of the effort to promote the zero-burning policy among plantation owners and timber concessionaires. The First Dialogue Session with Plantation Companies in Sumatra was held in January 2000 in Pekan baru, Riau province; the Second Dialogue Session, in July 2000 in Jakarta. These sessions sought to raise awareness of zero-burning practices and techniques among plantation companies, and to establish a regular forum for sustaining the dialogues with them. Then, to increase public awareness of environmental issues and programmes, ASEAN Environment Year 2000 also been launched in Bandar Seri Begawan on 4 April 2000.
In addition, The Ministers commended Brunei Darussalam for the ASEAN Environment Year (AEY) 2000 launching that preceded the IAMME and stressed the importance of raising public awareness on environmental matters. Based on the theme of "Our Heritage, Our Future", it is hoped that the AEY 2000 activities that will be undertaken by each member country for the rest of the year, will increase the public's sense of stewardship towards protecting their environment, which would in turn support a region wide effort to promote environmental protection and sustainable development.
For example, Transboundary Haze in Kalimantan. Transboundary haze pollution arising from land and forest fires has been the most prominent and most pressing environmental problem facing ASEAN in recent years. Recurring large-scale fires that cause transboundary haze are often deliberately set by small farmers or large plantation companies to clear land at minimum cost to them. There have been several large-scale fire-and-haze episodes since the early eighties-particularly during the dry seasons of 1982-83, 1987, 1991, 1994 and 1997-98-that have caused severe damage well beyond the destruction of forest land and ecosystems. The smoke haze created by the fires has polluted the air, endangered human health and set back the economic well-being of millions across the region. In addition, the impact of the haze on greenhouse gas emission and the loss of tropical forests and their associated biodiversity have worsened global environmental problems. Here, can we using legislation to control or to handle this problems?? Absolutely, NO!! According to En. Ramzah, we cannot involved in their legislation to handle this problems. So what can we do?? Through the “PUBLIC AWARENESS”.
In the other cases, Mangroves, sea grasses and coral reefs are now threatened by pollution, exploitation and overdevelopment of coastal areas in the region especially in Sabah. Coastal and marine pollution is caused by land- and sea-based activities, which are increasing at an alarming rate. Studies show that most marine pollution comes from land-based sources, such as sewage discharges, agricultural run-offs, domestic and industrial discharges, and land erosion. Tankers dislodging oil spills are the major source of sea-based pollution. In my point of view, by strengthening the legislation, it also cant changed all of this phenomena. So, there should be a public awareness such as “Cintailah sungai kita”and recycle bins programmes. At the same time, where public awareness of the environment can be formed and shaped?? It can be formed and shaped in the family, schools, churches, religious organizations, professional environment, workplace and associations. Besides, I would like to suggest that, public awareness should be increase in messages transmitted through mass media, school, internet, films and including documentary films, newspaper advertisements, makes use of radio and television for the advertisement of short educational clips, and for broadcasting a number of reports and talk shows.
That”s all from me!
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| | | azman usman(HT03-3893)
January 25, 2006 02:17 PM PST
Assalamu alaikum w.b.t,
in this topic, we should be choose which one is better to lead a better and healthier envoriment. I more agree with implementation legislation compare improving public awareness.
In my opinion, implementation legislation is a better if compared wtih improving awareness because, even a lot of strategy have done for improving public awareness, but a the pollution still happen today. for example, a lot of campaign, pamphlet, seminar, enviroment education was implement by goverment especially Enviroment Department(Jabatan Alam Sekitar), School Side and Jabatan perlindungan Alam Sekitar, but a river and air still polluted....This condition was happening because a lot of peoples, Private sektor and individual sektor still not responsible about enviroment. such as throw enfluen industry and rubbish to river. so, they should be given with high punisment and compaund for give warning to their.
In cases at Pinang River, Geogretown, water Quality index for Pinag River is polluted in Ogos 2005. Pinang River to face pollution from enfluen industry that was produced by five factories are nearly. According Assistant Director by State Enviriment Department (Jabatan Alam sekitar Negeri), Marzuki Mokhtar, he said, that five factories was accused at Court in period January until July in 2005 year. it is because, that five factories fail obedient Enviroment Department Standard as conditon that have done by Akta kualiti Alam Sekeliling (1974). after was accused, WQI's Pinang River already to increase if compared with condition before this. therefore, ED(JAS) was implemented a lot of programme for controlling Enviroment Quality include air pollution index and land protection. even many peoples already aware about enviroment protection, but still have people who not responsible to make a bad enviroment. so they was punished for awareness not only that peoples, but to all peoples who stay in the world. thats all. TQ | |
| | | Azlan Hj Baharuddin(HT03-5013)
January 24, 2006 07:53 PM PST
…….Just choose one?????????? which one is better to lead a better and healthier environment….? For me, both a necessary and important to lead it….but if I ask to make a choice, I guess I will choose strengthening the legislation as a healthier environment…..why????surely I will said that strengthening the legislation is better than public awareness to lead a better and healthier environment….(^_^)…like we know and see, public awareness just like talking and do nothing….although people aware about the healthier environment, but for how long???...do they aware anytime or till they death?? Maybe just for a day, few days or few weeks…are this public awareness can lead better and healthier environment?!!!off course not, wright??........there are lot of campaign that gov done for make public awareness since 1993…..but, until now, we still can see a lot of pollution and damage of our environment….. People only alert to the problems when bad effects occur. Only those who are the victims will start thinking about the essential of environment…… so,for me, to get the healthier environment, the best way is through the strengthening legislation. The legislation is like a panel for any development. Besides, the legislation also can make awareness for a public about the healthier environment….. | |
| | | Noor Baizurah Binti Nawawi
January 24, 2006 07:47 PM PST
In this case, I would like to choose improving the public awareness to lead a better and healthier environment. Public awareness is the good way to protect our environment because it’s so easy to make people to know about the importance of environment. There are many kind to make public awareness. The campaign is one way to open the public mind, for example campaign “Kitar Semula” and “Sayangi Sungai Kita”. From this campaign, public will be know how importance our environment to our life. We must open our mind to know our environment, why must we take care our river? Why must we support recycle programme? Let’s see the case of Pulau Pinang river 2 years ago, there are a lot of rubbish where flow on the river. The pollution of that river give some spoilt view. So, as a good human we take this case and love our river. Awareness to public can we do from “gotong-royong” programme. This programme can make our people aware about healthier environment can give them a long life. This programme had been 1 years ago at Kampung Sembulan. The residents make a “gotong-royong” to clean their residence because that area had so many kind of rubbish. From that programme, can give some aware how to take care of healthier environment. So, for me improving the public awareness can lead a better and healthier our environment | |
| | | Joity Joilom
January 24, 2006 11:57 AM PST
In my opinion, public should be aware but the importance of environmental. It should be learn into all types of people either children, teens or adult. on the other side regulations and laws should be created day by day and public should know and understand the consept and the direction to protect our environment.
The discussion about environmental as it was been done at Rio Jenairo, Brazil on Jun 1992 was one of the prove regulation and low should be use to protect our environment will be safe.
By the way, the important is regulation should be legis to raise public awareness to protect and guard environment.
Sorry for my broken English.........
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| | | nurul huda lai
January 23, 2006 01:34 PM PST
Public awareness is important than streghthening with implementation the legislation. It is because the law is being by the public awareness, for example the endau-rompim issues about the lodging activities near by the national park. The lodging activities causes the wildlife in the forest become extinct. the phenomena effectuate the villager complain for the goverment to find the way to settle this problem. With the complain, the goverment legislate the law to control the lodging activities and the act of the environment as a guide to protect the environment. | |
| | | Helen James Ming
January 21, 2006 12:03 PM PST
Personally, I do believe that there are suppose to be a joint effort between all group either it is a community, government, and private sector to ‘create’ a better environment. By working together a lot of thing can be done to improve the environment. Campaign about the important of the environment, about the city cleanness and other campaigns should be done for example campaign about KK city without rubbish, and trust me without co operation from the public and also effort from the government and private sector this campaign wills not achieve the purpose.
And it appears that with all the Environment Quality Acts such as an Environment Impact Assessment, Delegation of Powers on Marine Control and other Acts, it can control the environment from being attack by irresponsibility individuals. And every development that directly includes the natural environment is necessary to follow a guideline that provide in the Environment Quality Acts. It is because with all this guideline, hopefully the entire group will do their work according to the guideline and that mean that they are not doing anything that can harm the environment and also the laypeople | |
| | | Norliati Binti Tamrin
January 19, 2006 08:23 PM PST
To get the healthier environment, the best way is through the strengthening legislation. The legislation is like a panel for any development. Besides, the legislation established is to give awareness for a public about the healthier environment. For example, there are so many act and enactment formed like Environmental Quality Act 1974, National Land Code 1965 and also Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and so on. All the legislation has a motive to encourage the development besides it takes the important part in our environment. The example case is the development for settlement, agriculture activity, industrial and etc. which have done for human requirement. Nevertheless, all the development activities must be take a part in the strengthen legislation such a condition and prohibition the development in a floodplain areas or near the river to avoid the hazard. Totally, the strengthening legislation is a way to improving the public awareness. “Law is an indicator for a decision-maker for our environment”. | |
| | | Hii Ming Toh HT2003-3912
January 19, 2006 09:00 AM PST
In my opinion, I think that strengthening the legislation is better than public awareness to lead a better and healthier environment. It’s because the public awareness just like talking and do nothing!!! For example, how long the public awareness can be in people mind? For a day, few days or few weeks? After that, they forgot it already! Example, the campaign “Cintailah Sungai Kita” had already been launched on year 1993. Until now, we still can see the rubbish in the rivers. Why it still like this? It’s because people think that is not their business and not important to them. They are not victim in the case so they don’t feel that. People only alert to the problems when bad effects occur. Only those who are the victims will start thinking about the essential of environment.
Let see about the implementing the legislation. Imposing the fine is not a good idea to solve the environment problem. Nowadays, people are not afraid about the fine again! It’s because ‘money’ can buy everything. For example, imposing the fine is not the problem to the people who are involved in illegal lumbering. It’s because they earn so many $$$ from that illegal activities. So, the best way to solve this problem is giving them the heavy penalty such as jailed for whole life!!!
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| | | Zalila Madalin
January 18, 2006 06:01 PM PST
Environment is a important thing. So, I think public awareness is the best way to protect the environment. Because if we are only depend with the law without awareness in our self not all the people follow the rules were given. For example, the gas Ammonia solution case in kg Sg Gatom. They know its dangerous for people and environment but they still do that thing. They will get a punishment according to Environment Quality Act but why this still happen? Its because they don’t have a public awareness. | |
| | | LAI CHEW FONG
January 18, 2006 08:50 AM PST
After viewing comment from other coursemates, I found most of them just giving a common examples and case studies without specific data to support their ideas. IMPROVING THE PUBLIC AWARENESS OR STRENGTHENING (WITH IMPLEMENTATION) THE LEGISLATION: WHIGH ONE WILL LEAD TO A BETTER AND HEALTHIER ENVIRONMENT? For me, improving the public awareness and strengthening the legislation are very significant to shape a better and healthier environment effectively. Anyway, I think improve public awareness will lead to a better and healthier environment compare with strengthening the legislation.
There are few reasons why I said that improving the public awareness would generate a better and healthier environment. One of the reasons is public awareness going automatically. Normally, public awareness is more effective to create a healthier environment. During public aware the important of a good environment condition, they will take an appropriate actions to create it.
There are many effective methods to improve public awareness like campaign, education (formal and informal), speech, recycle programme and so on to protect environment and reduce the pollutions. For examples, as I know on Friday, 22nd September 2000, 760 European towns jointly organized the "IN TOWN WITHOUT MY CAR!" event.
IN TOWN WITHOUT MY CAR event is aimed at raising collective awareness of the need to reduce environmental impacts caused by the increase in vehicular traffic in urban areas. In fact, it is not only about reducing air and noise pollution, but it is also about improving the quality of life in towns and cities. So, this event focuses on types of action:
1) Encouraging the use of alternative modes of transport to the single occupancy private car.
2) Making citizens aware of different approaches to mobility in urban areas and the environmental impacts of their modal choice.
3) Presenting the town in a different light for a day by restricting motorized traffic in certain areas.
This event has provided all the participating towns with the opportunity to show how matters related to the environment concern them. This enabled the demonstration of interest, commitment and support for, measures aimed at improving the quality of life in urban areas. Providing other means of travel involves, by definition, rethinking how we use public roads. IN TOWN WITHOUT MY CAR event provides an opportunity for local authorities to pilot more permanent measures for sustainable mobility.
IN TOWN WITHOUT MY CAR event involved many ordinary citizens, in small towns, province centers and capital cities, and reached millions of people. In ten of the countries involved (Spain, Ireland, Iceland, Austria, Slovenia, Switzerland, Italy, Greece, Finland and Denmark), over a quarter of the national population were given an opportunity to participate in this event. Spain holds the record, with over 45% of the country's population represented in the 215 participating towns. But the Irish event, with just five participating cities and towns, targeted 40% of all inhabitants. This following is show the data of participation from ten countries:
1) Spain (215 towns, 45.5% citizens)
2) Ireland (5 towns, 40% citizens)
3) Iceland (1 town, 34% citizens)
4) Austria (71 towns, 31.4% citizens)
5) Slovenia (11 towns, 31% citizens)
6) Switzerland (15 towns, 29.7% citizens)
7) Italy (160 towns, 28.8% citizens)
8) Greece (61 towns, 28% citizens)
9) Finland (15 towns, 27.9% citizens)
10) Denmark (10 towns, 25.2% citizens)
According to the record, 9 out of 10 Italians identified developing public transport as a priority in the fight against contamination. There was also an average 20% increase in the use of public transport on 22nd September 2000. In Austria, 15,000 people were involved in the event and a 42% increase was recorded among workers arriving at their work place without their car.
As an impact of that campaign or event was limiting car use in town centres to reduce air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions and also to tackle noise pollution. It is a strong initiative, impacting on public health and quality of life. According to recent measurements, the road transport sector contributes:
1) 42% of volatile organic compounds
2) 77% of nitrogen oxide emissions
3) 13.5% of sulphur dioxide emissions
4) 60% carbon monoxide emissions
The first three gases are precursors in the formation of ozone, which is a powerful greenhouse gas. Reducing these emissions means improving the environment both locally and globally.
Impact 1: Decrease Air Contamination:-
To assess the direct benefits to air quality of the event, participating towns took measurements before, during and after the event, with a view to comparing measurements under the same climatic conditions. As an effect after event, these measurements reveal that the levels of certain pollutants (CO, NO2) were reduced, but with wide variations across cities and towns.
Establishing car free areas obviously led to reduced car traffic in town centres. On the other hand, outlying areas often suffered from very heavy traffic. Karlstad (SE) achieved record traffic reductions in car numbers of as much as 95%, the normal traffic flow of 60,000 vehicles was reduced to 3,000 on 22nd September 2000. Ireland and Germany also experienced reductions in overall traffic, and in Spain an average drop of 12% was recorded on the day. In towns located on the outskirts of large cities such as Rome (IT), Barcelona (ES) or Athens (GR), a reduction in emissions was noted, due to the decrease in road traffic.
Impact 2: Decrease Noise Contamination:-
Besides reducing air pollution, limiting or banning traffic in the town centre has a considerable impact on noise: this was found wherever measurements were taken. Traffic creates an acoustic background that eclipses all other noise in the town. As happened in Villeurbanne (FR) for example, where a decrease of 3 dB(A) was found in the car free area, it was the festivities that were responsible for the noise and not the vehicles! In Montreuil (FR), a town in the Paris area, the inhabitants said they were aware of the lack of noise, with long periods of silence only broken by passing public transport. The decrease recorded was of the order of 5 dB(A), which is a reduction of almost half of the sound level. This is enough to give residents a sense of difference and improvement.
In France, noise reduction was, on average, between 4 and 5 dB(A) within the car free areas, and 3 dB(A) in the immediate vicinity. In Italy, 75% of towns recorded a reduction of at least 10% in the noise level compared with other working days. In Portugal, the reduction was of the order of 40% inside the reserved areas.
The most interesting measures occurred in Greece, particularly in Athens, where a team of acoustic experts from the Ministry of the Environment carried out noise monitoring throughout the day. The streets in this city are often particularly noisy, and motorised traffic is largely responsible for this. An average reduction of 10 dB(A) was recorded on a very regular basis and at the noisiest times of day, when maximum readings of a normal day may reach 90 dB(A). The highest noise reductions were achieved by the Athens municipalities of Halandri, which managed to reduce the sound level by 22 dB(A), and of Maroussi with a reduction of 17 dB(A).
As a conclusion, the limiting or banning traffic in the town centre has a considerable impact on air and noise. IN TOWN WITHOUT MY CAR event not only reduce the environment contamination, but also towards healthier and more friendly cities. My suggestion is the event should involve all Europeans offenly, so that the impact is better. With this, I would like to say improving the public awareness is an effective step to clean up the environment. So, public awareness is able to lead a better and healthier environment for all biologies (living things).
Besides that, the reason why I think improve public awareness will lead better and healthier is the weakness of legislation. The action take by legislation is very slow. That is because a lot of time had been use for procedure make a decision to punish delinquents. Instance, in 1999, 48 cases are reported about the oil spillage at irrigation area in Malaysia. 32 out of 48 oil spillage cases are occur illegally or illicitly, but just 5 cases had punished and fined successfully. This condition is showing the regulation not effective to prevent the water contamination in Malaysia. So, strengthening the legislation can not lead to a healthier environment totally.
Furthermore, human beings are not fear regulation. Sometimes, strengthening the legislation can not become effective without awareness from public. Human beings do not aware before punished. It is because they are unscaring with the regulation until punished and fined. So, I definitely disagree strengthening the legislation will lead to a better and healthier environment compare with improving the public awareness.
That's all from me. Thank you for viewing my points. | |
| | | Jeff Crayton
January 17, 2006 09:18 PM PST
I think, strengtening the legislation (with implementation) is the best way to create a good condition of environment.
Why i say so??because i think that it's a perfect way to make people realize and wonder why environment need to preserve. A little kind of punished sometimes made people realize about the mistakes that they have done...There is no other effective way i think to increase public awareness other than this.
I want to take you back to 90s about scraps of toxic that had been abandonded in a 'perfect' place that had been taught by irrresponsible person which is called RIVER. I think that it's a hot topic during that time. They don't think about the effect of their action but just thinking about their own business. In addition, they leave a great numbers of drum that contain toxic scraps in the river. They just do it with all their 'heart' without thinking the effect later to acuatic living. I salute the government because of their alert, that irresponsible person had been caught and keep them in jail for a few years as a punishment. So, it can be a prove or example for others in orders for not doing the same case. It also made their think that throwing the scraps of toxic in the river can polluted the water and kill the living.
As a conslusion, i think that public awareness rise from the implementation of the legislation . I think i wanna add something here that should be consider by government or by us all!!!! For those who crossover the rules, i suggest that an aggresive punishment like CANING was a good sentence...but that was my own idea.
Last but not least, the strengthening of legislation must be enforce in order to reach an healthier and better environment. Thank you.... (",)
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| | | mohamad razi bin abd rahim
January 17, 2006 08:01 PM PST
in my opinion, public awareness that is one choise which will promote a good environment. when public has the awareness, environment will be persevere. i think, public awareness that is step for good to persevere environment. compare to legislation if it is not upruled strictly, it cannot help to stop environment abused. for example, bukit cahaya, selangor, consequence do not public awareness, the people will annihilate environment. | |
| | | JAIDI KAMIS
January 17, 2006 12:23 PM PST
Before I proceed with the theme of my talk today, I want to respond the comment that been uttered by Mr. Asmin. He said that each student is compulsory to choose one question because the question is in debate format. For me, those questions forms are not main point to be questionnaire but the specific concept, idea, proof and the examples are more important and that is the main thing to reflect in other state. The rights to choose and unite the choice are based on their reading, understanding and experienced of individual. Right Mr. Asmin?
Refer to the discussion question number three, I am interested to choose the law implementation than increased the people awareness. This is because the implementations of law are more effective compare to civil awareness. It can be prove by the conservancy of the environment in the stage of international that have to face the constraint from the many side. In this level, the development of economy will always overcome the conservancy of environment. This scenario can only be improved by the implementation of laws that relate to it. The laws combination with the innovative economy instrument will used to generate the desirables quality of environment.
Other than that, long period times are needed to increase the civil awareness and this is the frailty of this choice compare to the implementation of laws that is more coherent. This is been emphasize to us in the class that since independent, the government already accomplish many program to increased the civil awareness among the society but until now our society are still throw the rubbish everywhere. Instead, many of our society still thought that environment conservancy is only government responsibility. Of course we don’t want to see the disaster such as the collapsed of Highland Tower (1993) and Dipang Pos flood (1993) happen again. All these disaster can be avoid by the accomplish the4 coherent laws.
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| | | Kieu Lee Lee
January 17, 2006 11:18 AM PST
With the current events in our environment like the impacts of flash floods, drought, water and air pollution are mention a few of people have never been this concerned about the earth we live in. As we know, human activity affected life on Earth to a much greater extent than ever before. Besides that, population growth and the constant development and application of new technologies are also the reasons for this change.
In ralation to these concerns, i think strengthering with implementation the legislation by the government has addressed these issued by developing measures that will protect and lead to a better and healthier environment. Some of the regulations formulated include Environment Quality Regulation 1978 that mainly for industries and Environment Quality Regulation 1996 that control of emission from petrol vehicles and motorcycles. As the demand of energy grows steadily in all sectors, the impact of energy use on the environment becomes a major issue for Malaysia not only in some specific areas but for the country as a whole with impacts on health, acid rains, and greenhouse gases.
Finally, i think strengthering with implementation the legislation in Malaysia is essential to succeed in salvaging the Earth we live in from the destrution otherwisw posed by humanity. In addition to these legal frameworks, we also should have increased the public awareness on conservation issues like reduction in the consumption of energy by encouraging citizens to use smaller cars, smaller buildings, less air conditionings and patronize the use of public transport to lead a better and healthier environmnet. | |
| | | PATRICIA NE MEE LING HT03-3885
January 17, 2006 10:54 AM PST
Environments are an inescapable part of our lives, providing the resources to sustain life. We need to aware of our role in conserving and in degrading them. Degradation is manifest everywhere, as environments are transformed by farming, transport, built development, tourism, industry, mining, waste disposal and dereliction. There are also the less visible, but potentially overwhelming, threats present in global climate change, in ozone layer depletion and in the development of weapons of mass destruction.
Since the late 1960s there has been a marked shift in how the world’s industrial nations have approached issues of protecting environments: increasingly, there has been a shared recognition that if environmental policy or implementation of the legislation is to be effective it has to concern itself far more with preventing future harm and avoiding potential problems, rather than merely dealing with harm after it has already occurred.
In environmental matters at a policy level, actions are almost always taken light of imperfect, incomplete or unclear information. That why failure of environmental legislation also causes endangered species recently becomes extinct besides the environmental problems.
Thus, public awareness campaign can be used positively to convey information about a development, clear up misunderstandings, allow a better understanding of relevant issues and how they will be dealt with, identify and deal with areas of controversy while a project is still in its early planning phases.
The public can be broadly classified into two main groups. The first consists of the voluntary groups, quasi-statutory bodies, or issues-based pressure groups, which are usually concerned with a specific aspect of the environment or with the environment as a whole. The second group consists of the people living near the proposed development two may be directly affected by it. People living locally, instead, may lack the technical, educational, or financial resources and familiarity with relevant procedures, they are the ones who will be the most directly affected by the development.
For example, public concern about the environmental problems associated with nuclear energy was again evident at Bardwell, Britain in 2000/2001 when proposals to incinerate low-level radioactive waste from the plant aroused local apposition. The harmful effect of radioactivity and a series of accidents increase the awareness of the public.
Anyway, these are not matters that can be left to others to deal with, to politicians, scientific experts or environment professionals. They are issues in which we are all, inevitably, involved. But, if we are to act responsibly, we need to know the consequences of our actions.
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| | | Wong Hie Kiong
January 17, 2006 10:51 AM PST
Awareness can be defined as having knowledge or fact. It also can be defined as something you realize that it is present or is happening because you hear it, see it, smell it, or feel it. But, today how many of us realize that the importance of our environment? The answer is just a few of us! Why? Because of it’s economics values? Yes, of course! Although, today many of legislation such as Sabah Forest Enactment 1968, Convention on International Trade in Endangered Special of Wild Fauna and Floral 1973 (CITIES), National Policy on Biological Diversity 1988 have been done, it didn’t successfully overcome the matter. No awareness or lacking awareness in people is the main issues of today. For example, the flood. According to Chow, V.T. 1956, a flood is a relatively high flow which overtakes the natural channel provided for the runoff. A flood also can be defined as any level of flow that exceeds the natural carrying capacity of a river and inundates the adjoining low-lying land which is ordinarily dry. The major factors influencing flood such as undevelopment scheme, industrial effluents, agricultural point sources, combined sewer overflow, pollutant washout, soil erosion and else into river. Flood effects a long list of societal cost including human life, illness, emergency response, property and crop loss and interruption of business and social activities. According The Borneo Post News, 8 April 2005, Sarawak have been flooded. School were closed, business was badly affected and traffic virtually came to standstill as flood waters hit the central region. Farmers suffered huge losses after acres of vegetables and other crops were destroyed by flood. In contrast, public awareness will lead to a better and healthier environment compare with strengthering with implementation the legislation. Without public awareness although good and impressive legislation is not change the situation but harmful the environment impact human being. As a conclusion, public awareness is most effective way in conservation.
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| | | LAI CHEW FONG
January 17, 2006 09:12 AM PST
After viewing comment from other coursemates, I found most of them just giving a common examples and study cases without specific data to support their ideas. “Improving the public awareness or strengthening (with implementation) the legislation: which one will lead to a better and healthier environment?†For me, improving the public awareness and strengthening the legislation are very significant to shape a better and healthier environment effectively. Anyway, I think improve public awareness will lead to a better and healthier environment compare with strengthening the legislation.
There are few reasons why I said “improving public awareness†would generate better and healthier environment. One of the reasons is public awareness going automatically. Normally, public awareness is more effective to create a healthier environment. During public aware the important of a good environment condition, then they will take the appropriate actions or play their roles and responsibility to create it.
There are many effective methods to improve public awareness like campaign, education (formal and informal), speech, recycle programme and so on to protect environment and reduce the the pollutions. For examples, as I know on Friday 22nd September 2000, 760 European towns jointly organised the “In town without my car!†event.
The “In town without my car!†event is aimed at raising collective awareness of the need to reduce environmental impacts caused by the increase in vehicular traffic in urban areas. In fact, it is not only about reducing air and noise pollution, but it is also about improving the quality of life in towns and cities. So, this event focuses on three types of action:
1) Encouraging the use of alternative modes of transport to the single occupancy private car.
2) Making citizens aware of different approaches to mobility in urban areas and the environmental impacts of their modal choice.
3) Presenting the town in a different light for a day by restricting motorized traffic in certain areas.
This event has provided all the participating towns with the opportunity to show how matters related to the environment concern them. This enabled the demonstration of interest, commitment and support for, measures aimed at improving the quality of life in urban areas. Providing other means of travel involves, by definition, rethinking how we use public roads. The “In town without my car!†event provides an opportunity for local authorities to pilot more permanent measures for sustainable mobility.
The “In town without my car!†event involved many ordinary citizens, in small towns, province centres and capital cities, and reached millions of people. In ten of the countries involved (Spain, Ireland, Iceland, Austria, Slovenia, Switzerland, Italy, Greece, Finland and Denmark), over a quarter of the national population were given an opportunity to participate in this event. Spain holds the record, with over 45% of the country’s population represented in the 215 participating towns. But the Irish event, with just five participating cities and towns, targeted 40% of all inhabitants. This following is show the data of participation from ten countries:
1) Spain – 215 towns, 45.5% citizens
2) Ireland – 5 towns, 40% citizens
3) Iceland – 1 town, 34% citizens
4) Austria – 71 towns, 31.4% citizens
5) Slovenia – 11towns, 31% citizens
6) Switzerland - 15 towns, 29.7% citizens
7) Italy - 160 towns, 28.8% citizens
8) Greece – 61 towns, 28% citizens
9) Finland – 15 towns, 27.9% citizens
10) Denmark – 10 towns, 25.2% citizens
According to the record, 9 out of 10 Italians identified developing public transport as a priority in the fight against contamination. There was also an average 20% increase in the use of public transport on 22nd September 2000. In Austria, 15,000 people were involved in the event and a 42% increase was recorded among workers arriving at their work place without their car.
As an impact of that campaign or event was limiting car use in town centres to reduce air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions and also to teckle noise pollution. It is a strong initistive, impacting on public health and quality of life. According to recent measurements, the road transport sector contributes:
• 42% of volatile organic compounds
• 77% of nitrogen oxide emissions
• 13.5% of sulphur dioxide emissions
• 60% carbon monoxide emissions
The first three gases are precursors in the formation of ozone, which is a powerful greenhouse gas. Reducing these emissions means improving the environment both locally and globally.
Impact 1:
Decrease Air Contamination:-
To assess the direct benefits to air quality of the event, participating towns took measurements before, during and after the event, with a view to comparing measurements under the same climatic conditions. As an effect after event, these measurements reveal that the levels of certain pollutants (CO, NOx) were reduced, but with wide variations across cities and towns.
Establishing car free areas obviously led to reduced car traffic in town centres. On the other hand, outlying areas often suffered from very heavy traffic. Karlstad (SE) achieved record traffic reductions in car numbers of as much as 95%, the normal traffic flow of 60,000 vehicles was reduced to 3,000 on 22nd September 2000. Ireland and Germany also experienced reductions in overall traffic, and in Spain an average drop of 12% was recorded on the day. In towns located on the outskirts of large cities such as Rome (IT), Barcelona (ES) or Athens (GR), a reduction in emissions was noted, due to the decrease in road traffic.
Impact 2:
Decrease Noise Contamination:-
Besides that, limiting or banning traffic in the town centre has a considerable impact on noise: this was found wherever measurements were taken. Traffic creates an acoustic background that eclipses all other noise in the town. As happened in Villeurbanne (FR) for example, where a decrease of 3 dB(A) was found in the car free area, it was the festivities that were responsible for the noise and not the vehicles! In Montreuil (FR), a town in the Paris area, the inhabitants said they were aware of the “lack†of noise, with long periods of silence only broken by passing public transport. The decrease recorded was of the order of 5 dB(A), which is a reduction of almost half of the sound level. This is enough to give residents a sense of difference and improvement.
In France, noise reduction was, on average, between 4 and 5 dB(A) within the car free areas, and 3 dB(A) in the immediate vicinity. In Italy, 75% of towns recorded a reduction of at least 10% in the noise level compared with other working days. In Portugal, the reduction was of the order of 40% inside the reserved areas.
The most interesting measures occurred in Greece, particularly in Athens, where a team of acoustic experts from the Ministry of the Environment carried out noise monitoring throughout the day. The streets in this city are often particularly noisy, and motorised traffic is largely responsible for this. An average reduction of 10 dB(A) was recorded on a very regular basis and at the noisiest times of day, when maximum readings of a normal day may reach 90 dB(A). The highest noise reductions were achieved by the Athens municipalities of Halandri, which managed to reduce the sound level by 22 dB(A), and of Maroussi with a reduction of 17 dB(A).
As a conclusion, the limiting or banning traffic in the town centre has a considerable impact on air and noise. “In town without my car†event not only reduce the environment contamination, but also towards healthier and more friendly cities. My suggestion is the event should involve all Europeans offenly, so that the impact is better. With this, I would like to say “public awareness†is an effective step to clean up the environment. So, public awareness is able to lead a better and healthier environment for all biologies (living things).
Besides that, the reason why I think improve public awareness will lead better and healthier is the weakness of legislation. The action take by legislation is very slow. That is because a lot of time had been use for procedur make a decision to punish delinquents. Instance, on 1999, 48 cases are reported about the oil spillage at irrigation area in Malaysia. 32 out of 48 oil spillage cases are occur illegally or illicitly, but just 5 cases had punished and fined successfully. This condition is showing the regulation not effective to prevent the water contamination in Malaysia. So, strengthening the legislation can’t lead to a healthier environment totally.
Furthermore, human beings are not fear regulation. Sometimes, strengthening the legislation won’t be effective without awareness from public. Human won’t aware before punished. It is because they are unscaring with the regulation until punished and fined. So, I definitely disagree “strengthening legislation†will lead to a better and healthier environment compare with “improving the public awarenessâ€.
That’s all from me. Thank you for viewing my points.
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| | | Azlina Alih
January 16, 2006 04:30 PM PST
The public awareness and the legislation is the best way to care our environment. Both of this value have the important role to protect and care of our environment quality. But from my opinion, the public awareness is the best choice to protect our nature environment. However, in reality life our community is don’t care to the law that establish by government.
That is way the public awareness is not exist in our community. Then, the bad affect to our nature environment. It is always occur currently, the news at TV3 was report that throw away of left-over toxic into Sungai Katong at Muar, Johor. It cause the fishes is dead. And also about emancipation the ammonia gases at Kampung Lapis, Johor is cause the residents at that area should be move for impermanent. Whatever, low from government to protect and care our environment but any problem about environment always occur. So, value of public awareness it’s not only to care of our environment but also give protecting the face environment nature and our community.
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| | | GEJED ANAK NGAUN
January 16, 2006 01:23 PM PST
Nowdays, we can see a lots of information about the environmental awareness. As example, sign board, brochure and television advertisement.
I choose this topic about improving the public awareness with implementation better and healthier environment. If compared to the laws, our public nowdays is more easy to cope with the public awareness with implementation rather than strengthening with implemention. This is because a lot of problems still occured when using the laws to control public behaviours and it is not easy for public to obey all of this rules. This laws strengthening seems forcing our publis to obey the rules because they're forced to do so.
There ia a lot of strategy that can be taken to improving the public awareness. This strategy can be held in different category such as school category and international category. At school, club such as Environmental Club plays an inportant roles to help the student to keep aware about our environment. Besides that, education information also can be held.
At district, state or country awareness campaign about environmental also can be held within the motivation course and many others. This planis more easy for public to followed and goverment can give their cooperation to make this campaign succed.
There are lot way that we can take to help to enchance public awareness about environment. Newspaper, television, magazine, brochures all included to electronic information is the best way to improved puclic awareness. | |
| | | Cheristinna Dalus
January 16, 2006 11:04 AM PST
Inborn environment is one of the physical elements which we need to keep in existence. According to the question, I think both of improving public awareness and strengthening (with implementation) the legislation will lead to be a better and healthier environment.
This is because through public awareness will to avoid people to damage and make corrupt the environment. Public awareness can be done through environment education in school, IPTA and IPTS, campaign such as ’love our rivers’, ‘keep our country clean’, recycling campaign and so on. This all will make people to realize the important to perpetuate the environment.
Besides, public awareness can be more strong and effective with existence strengthening (with implementation) the legislation. It is because through legislation society can not do anything on their way. For example, to strengthening the legislation, government make a law such as Forest Enactment 1935 to avoid who the people or company that irresponsible to make the forest investigate with illicit.
Apart than that, the example at Sabah, government through Dewan Bandaraya Kota Kinabalu (DBKK) make taxation with back out the shopkeeper licence and permit which encroach the existence law. DBKK also punish by a fine who the people throwing the rubbish and stump of cigarette anyplace they want with the amount RM 30 and above.
Lastly, both of improving public awareness and strengthening (with implementation) the legislation are need and interconnected to each other. The most important is the cooperation from government, private sectors and public are needed to keep our environment…
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| | | Helly Helly Sauki
January 16, 2006 10:56 AM PST
Hi everybody...
As we know, healthy environment is very important to human and nature. It's because both of this elements are support each other. but now, in our developed country there are many cases that can show for us that there are no more better and healthier environment.
So, what now?..
According to the question, i think that strengthening (with implementation) the legislation is more effective. Although i choose this, that's not mean that public awareness is not important to lead to a better and healthier environment. When I read Bernadette's opinion, I agree with her by saying that both of public awareness and strenghtening the legislation will lead to a better environment, because strenghtening (with implementation) without public awareness is not effective.
So, that's why EIA were use as a society's guidelines and to protect the environment. They will became afraid and fear about the punishment. For an example, a major river bank erosion opposite the Telibong plant's intake point diverted water away to the side of the river resutling in a sudden 80pc drop in water production from 64 million litres per day to just 30 million litres. This shouldn't happen because it affects to tourism industry. Tuaran is also notorious for erosion of riverbanks due to widespread sand-dredging activities, but it have been odered stopped by the goverment.
See, whitout legislation, society can do anything that they want, and doing environment abuse. So, don't let the unresponsible people abolish and spoiled this nature. It's a reality.... Let them aware and realise their responsibility to keep this healthier environment will lasting forever.
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| | | Robianah Amin (HA031233)
January 16, 2006 07:59 AM PST
hello everybody...i think hard to write in english but i'll try my best...for me, to lead a better and healthier environment, improving the public awareness and strengthening the legislation is the answer. but, among this two of kind, i prefered to choose improving the public awareness. i choose this topic because everybody know about the some news today. any legislation that'll improving by the government but the result is still the same. for example, most place have been damaged by company or private property although government has make strengthening (with implementation) the legislation. if we want a better and healthier environment, improving the public awareness can achieve that point. to execute that, government can make some campaign that focused on future time impact....i have no idea la sir...i do it again tomorrow...see ya everybody...sorry sir | |
| | | md. haszami zaini HT02-4576
January 15, 2006 06:41 PM PST
This is on attractive issue to be discussed since lately; too many cases of destroying environment are happened without prevention. Amongst the two ways of conserving environment, my choice is on strengthen the legislation as the most effective way which lead to better and healthier environment.
I choose to strengthen the legislation because:
Most of problems that caused by environment that occur nowadays is not at first being awarded of. We become alert to the problems only when few bad effects occur. Or instance is the case of developmental project that conducted next to the area of Taman Pertanian Bukit Cerekah, Shah Alam Selangor The efforts of the development project only been darker because of mud that comes from the developmental area nearby. Public awareness is not enough to solve the negative effects that come from it and only can be solved by the enforcement of law, and so can stop the project.
The main problem why there is many parties still continuing on their project without prevention is because of the involvement of “big parties”. Public awareness generally cannot handle the power of this “big parties”. That’s why, only the law can stopped this “big parties” from working on the project.
To conclude, base on both of my argument above, the way of strengthen the legislation is the most proper way of maintaining the environment. However, I am not deny the important role of increasing the public awareness because the law enforcement will be more effective if it go together with the campaign of increasing public awareness. However, in my point view, the factor of human behavior plays the most important role in this issue. No matter how good the law is or no matter how effective is the campaign but if the people do not change individually on their perspective toward the environment, both of this ways does not means anything.
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| | | more@mohd.faizal saha
January 15, 2006 05:38 PM PST
Between improving the public awareness by campaign or strengthen (with implementation) the legislation, in my opinion the right step that lead to a better and healthier environment is strengthen (with implementation) the legislation because it could be improving public awareness than raised up the public awareness by any campaign. By held the awareness campaign it maybe not concerned by the public but by strengthen the legislation it would be concerned by public where they are carefully to do litter. Of course, everybody does not want to be punished by the legislation enforcement.
For me, with strengthening the legislation, punishment should be imposed to them who caused the pollution in the term of fine. For example, penalty like RM 300 for those do littering is much enough to give them regret about their guilty. So, in another time it could be prevent them to not do the same things. If they still do the same things, heavy penalty should be given to them again such as jailed.
Who wants to be jailed? Everyone appreciates his or her life so why must they jail caused by their stupid attitude. In this situation, the implementations of legislation lead up to its effectiveness on improving our environment | |
| | | KAMISAH ARIFFIN@E HT2003-3881
January 15, 2006 12:35 PM PST
Hello my friends... In my opinion, "Improving the Public awareness will lead to be better and healthier enviroment compare to strengthening the legislation". This is beacuse, the action from the human can cause our enviroment has changed. If the human have their public awareness to consent our enviroment so that, there have no more pollution now a days. From this situation, no need to strengthening the legislation to settle the enviroment problem.. | |
| | | Stanley Anak Suab
January 14, 2006 02:38 PM PST
I have read the comments that u guys have come up with. 'semua hebat belaka (",)'. Statistically, 8 person who do agree that strengthening (with implementation) the legislation: will lead to a better and healthier environment. Mean while 18 do agree that improving public awareness and others tend to be neutral in the middle of the arguements lah. Seems that most of us do agreee with improving the public awareness. Let see what happens next... | |
| | | Nagendran Thangavelo HA2003-12
January 14, 2006 02:09 PM PST
Man has been created as steward to develop and manage the environment. It is therefore the responsibility of man to manage and care for the environment and its wildlife. Unfortunately, the steward becomes puppeteer in environmental degradation. This goes unnoticed for some decades (especially during the process of rapid development).
Suddenly the whole world forced to face the natural disaster continuously such as soil erosion and flash flood. Moreover, we must aware that the nature can be cruel as well as kind. Natural disaster can devastate or claim many lives, destroying in hours or even in minute(s) the labor of lifetime. At the end, the steward has to responsible for all the damages.
What we had done to the environment until it acts violently? For centuries we make used the environment for our own benefit without a little concern about the environment. Just after we lost our property and the beloved one in natural disaster, we begin to regret about our previous mistakes. For an example, a terrible landslide in Genting on 1999 claimed many lives including children and women. The News Strait Times reported on 19th November 1996 (the next day of the tragedy) that uncontrolled development on hill slope was the lone factor of the unhappy event. The Pos Dipang landslide in August 1996 still fresh in our mind and the cause of this tragedy which destroyed the whole village is clearing land for development. So far there are many studies have been done on environmental problem (for an example: soil erosion) throughout the country to identify the primary factor or driving force of the event.
Apparently, now everybody are talking about better and healthier environment, even the term “environment friendly” was so friendly to our ears nowadays. I do think that both improving the public awareness and strengthening the legislation are very important in our attempt to have a better and healthier environment.
I’m intensely not agreeing with some of our friend’s opinion (deliberately don't wants to pin point their identification). I don’t know how they can have a separate look at both factors. This is because both factors rely to each other, or in other word they relate directly with one another (I wish to be a neutral person always, that’s why I love pH 7 rather than pH 1 or pH 14). That means when there were strengthening in legislation, the public awareness of environment will increase. It’s very vital we doing something because our willingness and not simply because of constraint from third parties. For an example, when somebody is being ordered to not throw the rubbish into the river, maybe he/she will not throw the rubbish during an observation or if there are somebody but we can’t hope that he/she to doing so for a lifelong. We can punish them by fined or even put them in prison for years but we can’t sure they aware of their guilty. Without public awareness I don’t think the strengthening and implementation of the legislation can produce fruitful result. Surely the government cannot send its officers to every part of the country at the same time, so its down to the public to take care about the environment.
When we talk about the strengthening of the legislation, the government can come out with a new legislation which enable them to punish the public those pollute the air intentionally (as an example) with hard punishment so that it can be a good lesson to others.
In mean time, the government should arrange many campaigns on environment friendly theme. This is because the campaigns will play an important role as suitable field to face to face the public. The campaign “Cintailah Sungai Kita” which was launched on 1993 by the Agricultural Ministry of Malaysia at that time was a huge success. This campaign is launched with a main objective to bring awareness among public about river and its importance to human being. Apart from that, the environmental studies should introduce in schools to make sure the students are well aware of environment by the time they leave the school.
Most of all, the attempt to bring public awareness and the attempt to strengthening the legislation depend on each other.
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| | | Fadilah Sarbi
January 14, 2006 12:33 PM PST
When we are talking about the way to improve our environment to a better and healthier way than what we have now and before, i would like to choose the first suggestion, that improving the public awareness to lead, to better and healthier environment.
There are some reasons for why I am more preferred with this way to improve the environment. From my point of view, improving the public awareness is the most important way than strengthening the legislation. It is because that even though the government has strengthening the legislation with the implementation, there is no meaning at all if the peoples in the country didn't have their own awereness to keep the environment in a better and healthier way. Plus, peoples will just feeling fear of the punishment that they will get if they broken the legislation in a short term only and the government will not getting profit from it.
Moreover, it will take a very long time process to punish the guilty party that broken the law while the others will continouesly breaking the rules that is used to protect and improving the environment. These kindsof thingswill happen because the public didn't have any awereness in protecting their environment.
For the example, Singapore has been acknowledge as the one of the cleanest country in this region. This country has succeeded in improving their quality of environment by improving their public awereness. This country also has many campaigns to arise the awereness in their peoples. One of the campaigns that they have organised is "recycling campaign". This campaign is not focused n recycling plastics, papes, and bottle but also water recycling.
*That all from me this time, see you again in another blog, bye... muah, hehe*
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| | | Wong Ang Na (HT2002-4597)
January 14, 2006 09:41 AM PST
Public awareness and strengthening the legislation must be gone along if we want to live in healthier environment. So, I agree with what Elvina Thomas had said that she doesn't agree if we stand on one point only. We look for both of them to create a healthier environment.
Public awareness is very important. Our global society and the global environment continue to change at a quickening pace. With the beginning of the third millennium, we are indeed entering a new age of increased environmental awareness among all people. Humankind can no longer be insensitive to environment issues – for if we do not take concerted action to address environment, they will quickly overwhelm us.
As Margaret Mead once said, “Never doubt that a small, highly committed group of individuals can change the world, indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” Every individual, family, organization, business enterprise and government has a critical role to play. We Can, if we will, awareness encourage us to take appropriate actions for safeguarding the environment. As E. F. Schumacher once said, “think globally but act locally.”- that is, only with awareness, can produce actions.
For example, public awareness can hold through the student organizing group is the network of Public Interest. Research Groups active one most campuses in the United States. While not focused exclusively on the environment, the PIRGs usually include environmental issues in their priorities for research. We can introduce environmental concerns to everyone in society.
Besides, to overcome the deterioration of air pollution, public are encouraged walking or the use of small, low-speed, energy-efficient vehicles (micro cars, motorized tricycles, bicycles) for many local trips, creating special traffic lanes, and reducing the number or size automobiles. One way to decrease the number and use of automobiles is through car sharing. As of 2001, approximately 126,000 people worldwide, with 113,000 in Europe, participated in car sharing organizations and car sharing is expected to increase dramatically in the next decade. Currently bicycles are being produced at a rate of about 90 to 100 million per year globally. Indeed, in many parts of the world, bicycles greatly outnumber cars.
Although public awareness plays important role for overcoming the environmental problems, we must not forget the regulation or legislation. As strengthening the regulation must go along with public awareness if we want to solve the environmental problem definitely.
Not all people will aware before they get punishment. However, people will afraid if have penalties and punishment. Just like each country need legislation or law to keep its society in order or make sure peaceful and stable. So, strengthening the regulation must held, like modern countries, two way to success 1 vision, Environment law, at both national and international levels, can be viewed as protecting the fundamental right of all humans to live in a healthy environment. Water legislation is credited with radically improving water quality such as regislation including the Clean Water Act.
Water pollution can be reduced and mitigated by source reduction, wastewater treatment, and remediation. In the United States, the Clean Water Act and Safe Drinking Water Act have been instrumental in addressing water pollution issues.
The Clean Water Act along with the Safe Drinking Water Act of 1974, has already played an enormous roles in improving water quality and these laws and their modifications will largely determine how water pollution is controlled in coming years.
This is one of the most significant and effective pieces of environment legislation ever passed by the U.S. Congress. It also is an immense and complex law, with more than 500 sections regulating everything from urban runoff, industrial discharges, and municipal sewage treatment to land-use practices and wetland drainage.
Government regulation restricts depletions and pollution by passing laws. Regulations is deceptively appealing. It is most direct way to prevent environmentally damaging activities, ban plastic, require pollution controls, fine people for littering, close polluting factories and so on.
Regulation has been successfully used during the last few decades by many industrial nations, especially the United States. Regulation is most useful where there are few violators and each violator can do great harm to the environment. Nuclear waste disposal fits both of these criteria and is thus probably best controlled by regulation. Sustainable
I would like to see strict enforcement of existing regulations, mandatory minimum penalties for violations, more effective community right-to-know provision sand increased powers for citizen lawsuits against polluters.
Since the environmental problems arise from individuals, the solution must also arise from each of us. Global change will occur, the global society of the future will not be the society we know today. The collectives actions of all of us will determine the future. When global society consists entirely of people who care about the environment and future generations to act accordingly, we will finally be able to solve our environmental problems. We look forward to a society that is at peace with the environment
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| | | Wong Ang Na(HT2002-4597)
January 14, 2006 09:04 AM PST
I agree both are important but the public awareness must be emphasized even the legislation being implemented may also aimed at educated the public and not just meant for punishment. In my opinion, improving public awareness on environment is more efficient way to a better and healthier environment if compare to strengthening legislation. Public awareness can be cultivated through activities such as campaign, education, Environment Conservation Movement/organization and also information about the significance values place on environment widespread via mass media. Public awareness have on the environment will certainly encourage public volunteers (not by force) to participate in safeguarding the environment. For example, public with environmental awareness will willing to take part in the recycle and reuse campaign.
The public should be educated to reuse and recycle paper. This can be done by make double sided copies, save office paper and use the back for scratch paper. They are encouraged to purchase recycle paper and store information in digital form and avoid printing message such as use e-mail in communication rather than writing letters. Businesses are rushing to invent and market environmental technology and “green” consumer goods. As consumers, we have to look carefully at the claims made for “environmentally friendly” products. Furthermore, the natural resource such as water can also be saved by using recycled water for lawns, house plants, car washing, use water conserving appliances low –flow showers, low flush toilets and aerated faucets.
I believe public awareness is a better way to create a high quality environment than make it strictly reinforcement through legislation. The spirit of public awareness can be raised up if the public had realized their responsibilities and duties to protect the environment. Every individual, family, organization, business enterprise and government has a critical role to play. We Can, if we will, awareness encourage us to take appropriate actions in everyday life to conserve our Earth. As E. F. Schumacher once said, “think globally but act locally.”- that is, only with awareness, can produce actions.
Therefore, information about methods to protect environment must be distributed to all walk of life in society either through environmental education in school or informal education on environmental issues. One of examples that Environmental Department has done is to enhance public awareness on environmental tissues such as Green House effect, global warming, and flash flood through advertisement, brochure and poster.
Another famous environmental education is the National Environmental Education Act Congress had passed in 1990 consists of two broad goals, 1 to improve understanding among the general public of the natural environment and the relationship between humans and their environment including global aspects of environmental problems ,and 2 to encourage postsecondary students to pursue careers related to the environment. Specific objectives proposed to meet these goals include developing an awareness and appreciation of our natural and social/cultural environment, knowledge of basic ecological concepts, acquaintance with a broad range of current environmental issues and experiences in using creative thinking and problem solving skills in solving environmental problems. Several states including Pennsylvania, Maryland, Florida, Arizona, Minesota have successfully incorporated these goals and objectives into their curricula in school. All of these examples have shown to us the great efforts put on by global society to enhance the public awareness to lead a healthier environment.
However, there is no objection that legislation can also help in preventing the environment from being destroyed by human being besides the public awareness. But some restrictions have to be considered here on implementations the legislation, that is strict legislation must accompany by meant of education or cultivate the public awareness. There is of no use if public haven’t gained any knowledge about the existence of law or act related to environment conservation such as Environment Quality Act 1974.
As we know, our natural environment was damage by human activities to develop their welfare and better quality of life. These activities include industry, agriculture, resettlements, transportation network, and land opening. The public awareness may make the human being to realize what they have done to environment on behalf of development actually bring harm to human life in future undertaking. The advantage we obtain from exploitation of environment nowadays will turn to be a disaster in future if the developments are not properly planned. Through awareness of bad impact of that, people will think first before greedily rush for development. For example, the Tsunami is seemed to be caused by the nuclear exploration underneath the sea by developed countries, causes many casualties to be killed or injured and also the destruction of house, land, property and lots more. As saying by THEN PET JUN, “Flood was merely happened in Kuala Lumpur as the drains system in town areas were blocked with garbage and other waste materials. Why this incident happened? Of course, it is caused by the lack of environmental awareness among the public. So, public awareness is very important in keeping a pleasant environment.” The disaster always comes after an improper development project. Public awareness lets the public realize of the cause-effect circumstance before the disaster happening. It’s cry of no tear if something bad already happened.
I strongly agree with Elvina Thomas state: The legislation implemented have to been make familiar to public and not only written in paper and known by a small number of authorities or government officers. How could the community take actions if they know nothing about the laws and regulation concerning the environment? I meant here the legislation is needed but the most important one is the awareness to make sure the public obey or responsive to the legislation. So, the public should be mentioned about any law that was legislated or has been amended, to make the public understand the purpose of the laws, that is, why they are implemented. This kind of awareness toward the existence of legislation is ultimately crucial to increase the public awareness on environmental. Other than that, the implementation of legislation must be strict enough to the person who breaks the law. This is important to make sure the legislation is being taken serious by public.
Actually, to my point of view, the public awareness itself is another type of ideal legislation on the innate mind and altitude of public toward environment. Public awareness is focus on the fostering of appreciation to the natural environment and its resources to make it an essential part in strengthening values, and behavior for valuing environment which are compatible with sustainable development and then promote greater involvement of all the society. The successfulness in nourishing public awareness will certainly bring more advantages to environment.
Besides that, I support what LEE SHUK YEN said: Legislation in other way is far from complete. Human being is able find the weakness of the legislation. It is no doubt that implementation of legislation only is not enough to create the healthier environment. Legislation can't completely control the actions of human being in make used of the environment and cause many harm to it. People realize the punishment they will encountered if go against the legislation, but the benefits they will get from it made them ignorance to the legislation. For instance, restriction on land use of the coast and the coastal hinterland are part of the legislation. But, let we see what happened is the construction of Sutera Harbour, Anjung Selera and other seaside resorts on the zone protection although there has legislation to forbid the any development allowed under protection zone (100 metres off shore).
May be what the Esther mentioned is correct… Legislation can be manipulated by some people which are had the power to do anything they wanted to do, for example able to do corruption, dare to pay compound than to lose their high income of development project. It is fair to say that intelligent people always have their own ways to protect themselves- to escape from being punished by legislation whenever they break the Environment Act or Ordinance. Therefore, I keenly support the improving of public awareness as better way to protect environment than strict legislation.
May be someone may say the society is lack of order without strict legislation. It is true that strengthening the legislation is important to avoid people who are not responsible destroying or exploiting our environment. But without public awareness, they may be repeat their wrong doing again after punishment either penalization or imprisonment. So, improving public awareness is more practical way in educating and makes public aware of the importance of environment and the way of conservation.
Thanks for reading my view of points!
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| | | Tang En Tze (HT2002-4593)
January 13, 2006 03:04 PM PST
Welcome to everyone who kindly to read my opinion dan sharing with me! Nice to meet you all……
In our life, we should do many choices. In this globalization world is still same. We should think this issue deeply and make decision correctly: Which one will lead to a better and healthier environment? Improving the public awareness or strengthening the legislation? It is a hot topic that many geographer like to talk about it. Me, who will be a geography teacher also don’t want to leave myself behind others. So I want to use this good chance to give my opinion. Hope that it will be our focus to learn from each another. Thanks……
After read coursemates’ opinions, I realised that many of us chit-chat simply without analyse this topic carefully. Actually, before we give opinion, we should understanding the differential between “public awareness” and “legislation”? After I think them deeply and analyse them carefully, I know that the largest differential between them are public awareness is going AUTOMATICALLY but legislation is going with FORCING. So now, which one will lead to a better and healthier environment? I believe that you can make decision yourself!!!!!
Since 1980s, EIA has been established in many countries but still many environmental problem can’t be solved until nowaday! WHY???? Do you know? It is because…….many countries decided to establish EIA as an LEGISLATION, element of environmental policy and a legal requirement for proposed development activities. Again, many countries elected to insert EIA provisions within their framework environmental legislation (e.g. Algeria, Costa Rica, Cuba, Guatemala, India, Pakistan, Palau, Senagal, South Africa, Togo, Turkey), while other also elaborated EIA requirements within a complementary decree or regulation (Brazil, Congo, Indonesia, Mexico).
Actually, EIA should be established as an exclamation to inclease PUBLIC AWARENESS. EIA should been looked as a tool used to identify the environmental, social and economic impacts of a project prior to decision-making. It aims to predict environmental impacts at an early stage in project planning and design, find ways and means to reduce adverse impacts, shape projects to suit the local environment and present the predictions and options to decision-makers. By using EIA, both environmental and economic benefits can be achieved, such as reduced cost and time of project implementation and design, avoided treatment/ clean-up costs.
Nowadays, the key elements of an EIA has been improved to be: (a) Scoping: identify key issues and concerns of interested parties; (b) Screening: decide whether an EIA is required based on information collected; (c) Identifying and evaluating alternatives: list alternative sites and techniques and the impacts of each; (d) Mitigating measures dealing with uncertainty: review proposed action to prevent or minimise the potential adverse effects of the project; and (e) Issuing environmental statements: report the findings of the EIA.
In this way, I am very support Mr. Roslan Md. Rejab and Miss Masitah Juakim’s opinion that use campain to inclease public awareness. (e.g. Cintailah Sungai Kita!) So Datuk Eric Juin as a director for Environment Protection Department said that we have attempted to make the report as readable and non-technical as possible so that everyone can take part in looking after our environment. It shows us the state of the environment now – what is happening, why it is happening and what we are doing about it. It is a snapshot in time against which future changes can be measured. The Environment Protection Department is working together with communities, industry and business to make improvements, but no one agency can deal with all of the issues or manage all the problems. The environment is everyone’s business!!!! It is our responsibility to let our children and their children enjoy and benefit from this same spectacular environment, isn’t it???? Please try to think it deeply!!!
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| | | Name Fadillah Bin Dewa
January 13, 2006 02:28 PM PST
Between improving public awareness and strengthening legislation, the letter play more important role in bringing a pleasant and healthy eivroment. i would personally agree with this opinion based on the case that i started here. This case refer to the dumping of sewage by Indah water konsertium (IWK) Sdn. Bhd. into Klang river at Pantai Dalam has result in water pollution in the river.
If i is not because of the concience of Siti Rahmah Yahya, a villager aged 52, the culprit activity would not be able to reach the authority for immediate inspection and further avtion.
Based on this case, it support the idea that psocial conscience brings about a distinctive paradigm shift in presevering the enviroment. in this regard, both goverment and non-goverment sectors (NGO) as well as the native lovers play an important role in planning and executing programs pertaining to the important of presevering the enviroment. it will in return help them to increase social conscience among the siciety.
Th effect of individal conscience on the negative impact of enviromen pollution has eventuly formed a large community conscience network.
The development of individual conscience starts from home. It is where a person as an individual society member program whether they do it seriously or not.
Due to the increment of society conscience in keeping the enviroment, it is expected that the opportunity to disclose some culprits exploitation because of pursuing lucrative profit will never be neglected anymore.
The exposure by the society as well as individual report from the villagers with the medium of mass media has eventually brought the irresponsible people to the justice.
In conclusion, increasing social conscience or improving public awareness in presevering the nature is more efective than strengthening legislation alone. | |
| | | Bernadette Bernard
January 13, 2006 12:49 PM PST
Hello everyone...I'm here again to post comment...emm after reading all the comments..I can assume that most of you say that improving the public awareness can lead to healthier environment... emm..for me I still argue that both of it should be improve in different ways according to a plan...I totally agree with Elvina Thomas "we look for both of it to have our healthier environment ".....Here I would like to share my experience. Based on my experience, I have for see that
Government is trying to implement the law by adding up some public awareness. For an example, The Environmental Local Plan (ELP) This plan consisting of four district that is Tuaran, Kuala Penyu, Sandakan and Beaufort. In this plan, the Government is helping the local Authorities to create a plan that is reliable and involving public participation in the context of environmental plan. Why that it is involving the public participation??? Emm..for those who had already knew about ELP I think you can answer my question..but for those who never heard of it I think you better search about it..but I know some of you maybe too lazy to do that…Here are the answer.
The District and Local Plans will have an impact, directly or indirectly, on everyone because
1. Your comments will be taken into account during the planning process.
2. Your input may help to avoid costly land use and other environmental mistakes.
3. You can become more aware of local planning issues.
4. By making comments on issues covered by the Plans.
5. By taking part in the many discussions being organized at the town or district council, balai raya, schools etc.
6. By continuing to take an active part in the development of your area, even after the Plans have been adopted.
After we involved with this plan we are actually building up our awareness about the important of our environment. When we are aware about the environment we surely will care our environment and this surely lead to healthier environment.This plan show us that beside focusing with LAW and LEGISLATION .... PUBLIC AWARENESS needs to be improve...
I don't agree with Shafie's opinion saying that
"Most of us are fear with the law (legislation) especially when the government strengthen the legislation" emm.. I don't think that the irresponsible authority fear with the law..This is because many law have been implemented but WHY there is still people ruin our environment...Think about it..
I think that its for now...As a conclusion I strongly saying that
both of it will lead to better and healthier environment...:)
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| | | stella Gindin
January 13, 2006 12:46 PM PST
hai, to all's...
n...this case..i believe that all's of us have a different opinion. n for me...i think we must take care n support both of this issue because there have a many different advantage that we can use to a better and healthier environment.
so, accoding to doreas opinion, i disagree with her because i not believe that this program can help us to save money, energy, and time because as we know, goverment already take some step for example organized so many campaign (Cintailah alam sekitar, Cintailah sungai kita etc) but these still not help to improved aweranness in our community. so, do u means this help goverments to save money, enery and money?
so, This is because public awareness without government strengthening is not effective. so, i really agree with Sharon that strengthening the law also can lead to healthier environment. and that way..our government take both of this approch for improve awarenness in our community.
but..in the other part, i agree with dories about using 'pendekatan agama/religion approch) for improve awarenness in our community because i believe that all religion push us to keep our enviroment for the future because this is one of our responsibility. and i think..this is one way more effective to improve awerannsess in our community.
ok...lastly, like sharon n memel i also want to say...really sorry for my broken English. hope u all dont mind...ok ("=)chayo..chayo..it's in your hand.. | |
| | | Melissa Thomas
January 13, 2006 12:01 PM PST
Im someone who believe in you yourself as an individual can make any legislation in this world work as it have to be or not. So i go to improving the public awareness to lead a better and healthier environment. I do not have an exclusive example but as i confront this in my daily life so my example is,just look around you...you will realize that warning board that warn people to NOT throw their rubbish at that particular place or you will get penalty..but tell me what you see around it? RUBBISH. See what i mean. Even you strengthening the legislation year after year, there will be NO USE. I agree with what En.Ramzah said at kuliah the other day, about stigma. If only there will be some miracle that can make all human have stigma about ruining our motherearth in any angle, we do not need any legislation. p/s sorry for using english rojak he he | |
| | | Esther P HT03-3901
January 12, 2006 06:33 PM PST
in my opinion, improving the public awareness is more practical to abetter and healthier environment. This can be done through an activity such as an exhibition, campaign, education, and information spreading through (media) mass/electronic. Other than that, any association or club member (Environment Conservation) can catch people interested into environment protection campaign. People from any stage of category; from children to adults people can take part and gain some advantage through any participation of environment protection campaign. For example; Recycle adn Reuse campaign.
But...
there is no objection that legislation and rules is too important in order to prevent the environment from being damaged by human activity. But there is a restriction to implement the legislation, that is;
1) Some people did not know the existence of any act or ordinance about environment conservation )Env.Quality Act 1974 Act 127.
2) Legislation can be manipulated by some other people which is had the power to do anything they wanted to do, for example able to do corruption, dare to pay compound than to lose their high income of development project.
3) Duplication or overlapping in term of department function and responsibility.
4)Influence by the politics issues which make the imcompetence management of development project.
5) Out of date legislation, ordinance or rules.
6)Low coordination between the involved departments.
7)Contradiction between land development and other human development activity.
For example, theres is a development in front of seashore (Waterfront Restaurant, Anjung Selera n so on) even there is legislation allocation that there should be no development project around 100 meters in front of beach.
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| | | THEN PET JUN
January 12, 2006 05:37 PM PST
In my opinion, I definitely agree that by improving the public awareness can lead to a better and healthier environment compare with strengthening the legislation. For me, the reinforcement of legislation is consider as a force to the public and they need to under go the laws in order to get rid of the penalties. So, by strengthening the legislation is not an ideal method to create a healthy environment. It is hard to implement the action of reinforcing the laws if there is no public awareness. As a result, public awareness should be nourish through effective way. I keen to agree with Stanley opinion that “we human being who actually cause environment damage…so, raised up the environmental awareness is important because human being has a big power against the corrupt and evil personals who’s becoming the threat of the environment…”
The spirit of public awareness can be raised up if the public had realize that it is their responsibility to save the environment. Firstly, the public should take the appropriate actions. For instance, they should support the campaigns or programmes that related to environment conservation. Such as, recycle campaigns, “Kempen Cintailah Sungai Kita” and “Gotong-royong” campaign. Flood was merely happened in Kuala Lumpur as the drains system in town areas were blocked with garbage and other waste materials. Why this incident happened? Of course, it is caused by the lack of environmental awareness among the public. So, public awareness is very important in keeping a pleasant environment.
In addition, public awareness can be improved through environmental education. The target groups for environmental education are diverse, ranging from children through youth, public groups, community leaders and politicians. Environmental education should be widespread in school. “Recycle” programme is one of the programme that had been implemented in school and usually members in this organisation will establish one recycle center for them to carry out their annual activities. Through this center, information on environmental can be distributed to the target groups effectively.
In order to have a pleasant environment in the future, it is important to raise up the knowledge of environment and participation among the society. Therefore, authorities have to increase their efforts to raise up the environmental awareness among the public. As an example, JAS should put more efforts in enhancing the public realization on environmental issues (example: advertise brochure and poster). Furthermore, SIRIM Berhad had enhanced their efforts to store up and spread widely the information about technology as it can help to keep our environment clean and healthy. For this purpose, IKS (Industri Kecil dan Sederhana) have been given the opportunity to use the equipments and facilities that provided by SMIDEC (Perbadanan Pembangunan Industri Kecil dan Sederhana) in order to implement some activities that related to environment. In addition, industries sectors had implemented ISO 14001 to ensure all operations which have been carried out are protecting and conserving the environment.
Public awareness can be raised through variety of activities. Although those activities may require the dedication of time, funds and the involvement of personnel, it can ensure the impart of awareness and knowledge to public. Consequently, I agree that by improving the public awareness, it will lead to a better and healthier environment.
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| | | Elvina Thomas (HA 031229)
January 12, 2006 01:20 PM PST
Helo...everyone, i was afraid if im the last person to write my commen in this blog but....gladly i'm not the last..
Ok i just read your opinions about public awareness and strengtnening the legistlation..... i don't agree if we stand on one point only... we look for both of it to have our healthier environment.
Our physical environment were damage by human activity to develop their welfare. These activities include resettlements, transportation network, agricultural and land opening for a new project. Although this activities brings alot of good to human deing,but the impact of this activities also causes harm to human life. Through awareness of the bad impact, legislation was made to ensure these no any development on the sensetive area such as shoreline or water catchment.Legislation was good and its work effectively if it has shown to yhe public. And the community understand what its mean. I dont agree with sharon Pascol when she said that strengthening the legislation were good to the better environment.
Just one cases, sometimes the legislation only wrote in paper or books but its never been use in public because this law only known by the government officer but the community know nothing about it. how should the community take an action if they never know the legislation?And in other hand there were 2 department were responsible to one cases, such environment department and fishery department. let we talk about Likas Lagoon. This cases is near to our ear and our country..
orang kampung still fishing on that lagoon even theres notice board stand near the lagoon said that no one allowed to fish there. What wrong with that legislation?? do government take silent with that cases? maybe there no public awreness? or the 2 department said that it is not they responsibility?? And sometime there no stricly punishment to the person who brake the law... law just on the books not in action.
So whenever a law was legislating or has been amend even a little issues, it must shown to the public and make the community understand its mean and why it were used. Its its true legislation is one step to increase public awareness but not all...
Legislation implemenration need to be balance. it must not disturb the community economy, brinngs good to government and stilll stable the ecosystem.When the community understand the legislation automaticly they have awareness about they environmental quality.
But the best way if the law was made because the awareness of the people...Doraes said it save money, save time and save energy... and i agree with her. because.. the people not fear with the punishment but they were understand why they must use to follow the law or rule isnt??? Don't just find the wrong about the bakun project... Let we look back to our old generation. They themselve have a high awareness about they environment then we still have our flora and founa till today.. Great thanks to them. Just like CRP (Crocker Range Park..) we know that there were a indigenous tribe resettlements site in that are, but how they can balance they needed and the natural resources, They know.. because the awareness to their next generation needed. When the government know the esthetic values of this area, they only discuss with the indigenous people how to improve they way of conservation. So isnt its right it save money... time... and energy....
just collaboration...with the community and add to strethening the adat law..
So Both public awareness and legislation implementation is important to generate the better and healthier environment...
So its were useless to follow the rule just because u afraid of it punishment.... but follow the rule because you know what its mean to your life... A better life isnt it ?? agree wit me.... Tq | |
| | | LEE SHUK YEN
January 12, 2006 08:54 AM PST
From my point of view, improving the public awareness will lead to be better and healthier environment if compare to strengthening the legislation. The reasons are public awareness focus on the fostering of an appreciation for the natural environment, to promote broad public awareness as an essential part to strengthen attitude, values and actions which are compatible with sustainable development. Finally, to promote greater involvement of all of the society.
Further, regulation is far from complete. Intelligent human being will find the weakness of legislation. For example, councils housing policy approve any housing construction in limited space. But the housing constructor will planned the construction into different phases. At the end, all construction will be approved.
Restrictions on land use of the coast and the coastal hinterland are part of the legislation. Issuing the setback line, on the seaside of which no development is allowed under protection zone (100 meter off shore). Let us have a look on Sutera Harbour, Sutera Harbour being constructed on zone protection although there have restriction on legislation. Refer to this point, I strongly agree that improving public awareness can lead to be better and healthier environment. Public awareness is basic step let public especially decision makers know about the important of our environment toward a sustainable future.
I strongly disagree about opinion Mohd Shafie, “it is very difficult to come close to the society and then we give speech to them”. Nowadays, we live in a technologically advanced society, many of the information can easily convey to each other especially through internet. For example, Environmental NGO’s would use media to expose the issues to the public and calling for the involvement of people all economic and social level. Public awareness should be heightened, not only depend on speech giving to public. There have other alternative such as media campaigns, meeting with key community leader, exhibition, site visit and guided tours, signposts, banner and poster.
Thanks for view my opinion!
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| | | Stanley Anak Suab
January 11, 2006 10:03 PM PST
Wah!! looks like Mr. Ramzah is looking for me! I hope he doesn't hunt me to like a payau after this.
So, back to our topic of arguement; Improving the public awareness or strengthening (with implementation) the legislation: which one will lead to a better and healthier environment?
Well i will definitely emphasis more to improving the public awareness rather than strengthening the legislation alone. Why awareness? Well its simple we human being who actually cause environment damage. How we are the cause? Because most of the citizen around the globe especially the under developed country doesn't have the basic education of conserving the natural environment. Mean while, in the developing country they has bring up to a high level of environment awareness towards a sustainable developments. Example in Australia, environment education has been teach as an unformal schooling. Environmental education develops skills, knowledge and values that promote behaviour in support of a sustainable environment. -according to its official web site-http://www.deh.gov.au/education/.
Why im highlighting to the education?? Well, may be for us who is "educated" looking at the basic knowledge of conserving the environment such as; recycle, reforestation, and so on as a simple matter. But, for such communities like in the remote area have no idea at all about all about the conservation stuff. Example, the case of protecting the ancient forest in the interior of Sarawak by the Penan's community is in full action when a man named Bruno Manser a Swiss nationality came to Sarawak in the late 1980s and reveal to the world of the endangered ancient forest of the indegineous penan. Bruno Manser stays for 7 years with the penan he learnt their language and does teach them about the environment. In 1990s he manage to take the the penans to fight for their rights in Federal court. Many of Burno Maser writings succesfully influence the authority around the globe also the NGOs to banned over th forest procducts from illegal exploitations. Recently, in May 25, 2000 Bruno Manser is reported missing into the jungle after departed in Sarawak. For u guys wish to know about Bruno Manser can log on the web site- http://www.bmf.ch/en/en_bruno.html. Why im telling this story? Actually i think most of us doesnt know about this unique case happens here in our country. Thats why i think up lift the awareness is important because the people has a big power againts the corrupt and evil personals whos becoming the threat of the environment... | |
| | | YUSRI ABD. HADJI
January 11, 2006 08:33 PM PST
Improving the public awareness or strengthening (with implementation) the legislation : which one will lead to a better and healthier environment? Support your arguments with specific examples and cases.
Environment is the physical, chemical and biological conditions of the region in which organisms live. Organisms and their environment constantly interact, and both are changed by this interaction. Human population growth may be seen to be at the root of virtually all of the world’s environmental problems. Increasingly large numbers of people are being added to the world every year. As the number of people increases, more pollution is generated, more habitats are destroyed, and more natural resources are used up. Even if new technological advances were able to cut in half the environmental impact that each person had, as soon as the world’s population size doubled, the earth would be no better off than before.
Improving the public awareness or strengthening (with implementation) the legislation : which one will lead to a better and healthier environment? On my opinion, improving the public awareness is the most efficient way to a better and healthier environment. The public awareness should begin at the early age followed by responsibility and parents should play an important role to implant basic knowledge about better and healthier environment to their children. Education also play an important way in generate public awareness trough reveal an important information about better and healthier environment. In school, form 5 students are taught about environment and ecology subject. Besides, there are a lot of programs and campaigns for improving public awareness among the communities. The government, private agency, individual and others should play an important role in improving public awareness.
In Malaysia, there are a lot of efforts that have been done by government to improve public awareness about the importance of better and healthier environment. The efforts consists ‘earth greenness campaign’, briefing about the importance of better and healthier environment, generate website about environment and others. Researches that have been done by government shows that 90% of communities know and realize about the importance of better and healthier environment. From the amount, only 25% of communities that involves in conservation program.
Besides, strengthening (with implementation) the legislation also plays an important role to a better and healthier environment. Through legislation, communities cannot do anything on their own way. In 1970 the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was established, and attention began to shift toward pollution control and the establishment of national environmental quality standards. The EPA was responsible for the environmental well-being of the country as defined through numerous specific pieces of legislation.
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| | | Wahida Tawasil
January 11, 2006 01:48 PM PST
A'kum and good day to all my friend. According to the question which one will lead to a better and healtheir environment, whether improving the public awerenees or strengthening (with implementation) the legislation?? In my opinion, both are very important. Strengthening the legislation is important to avoid people who is not responsible destroying our environment. But without public awereness, they may be will do it again after penalization or imprisonment. So improving the public awareness is another alternative to educate and aware them to realize the important to make a better and healtheir environment because "prevention is better than cure". There are many public awareness implemented by the goverment such as "Kempen Cintailah Sungai Kita". Environment education including school level and university can be done to educate young generation conprehend the important of protecting our environment. For instance, learn about EIA and this can improve the student awareness.. | |
| | | Siti Aisah Razali @ Jali
January 11, 2006 01:26 PM PST
In my opinion, implementing the legislation is the best way to overcome the problems concerning with our environment. Campaigns for public awareness organized by the government has effect for-the people in Malaysia. The government has invested so much in carrying out Campaigns such as Recycling Campaign, Love our Rivers Campaign and lot more. But still, most of our rives in Malaysia are still dirty and polluted. The recycling dustbin were not used properly. A very strict rules and regulations given by the government is one of the best way to discipline our nation citizens. We would be more careful in doing things related to development because we are afraid of given penalization for breaking the rules. With this enforcing the law that concerns with environment should be done by the government for the public awareness. Other than that, in the global stage we need to standardize(keseragaman) our law and ask for cooperation from our neighbouring country such as Singapore, Brunei Darul Salam and Indonesia. The central level should also be standardize with the ‘kampung’ level. This standardization is to prevent from ‘penyelewengan’ where an illegal development project is being approved where it should not. For example, the Bakun case project where it was not approved by the central level but were approved by the state level. This shows that the objective between these two is not the same and in the end, our environment would be destroyed physically. | |
| | | Wagimin Bin Rosimin
January 11, 2006 12:59 PM PST
Environment have four important components, there are physical chemical, Biology, Humanity and aesthetic environment. Four of the component are necessary to deliberate for different way for avoid impact negative to environment.
The nature is very important for alive especially for humans. The forest are giving for provide and oxygen, to equipoise of temperatures, to prevent any erosion, consolidate of the land structure in the escarpment, source of water, keep flora and fauna who have much of benefit for the alive such as humans.
But, several days before, destruction environment issue are increased discussion in news paper, electronic media and everywhere. The discussion issue is a forest destructions and phenomenon of erosion. What the moment of sorrowful to say are many party in our country are accusing for each other. But they are never to involve and discussion to find out an alternative to prevent on this problems.
The burning of the forest who has been in Brazil are damage ten of thousand jungle hectares. There are giving bad implication for the “green house effect” and source of flora and fauna is. The phenomenons like this are making biggest damage and never paid with the money.
Such as an others country, our management in this country is not except to look on the situation like this. For example, the collapse land incident that has been happened at 11Oct 2004 at 302 kilometers at Lebuh Raya Utara Selatan nearly by Gua Tempurung Perak. There are opened eyes for all parties realize that important to keep the universe around at our country.
Probably, several parties are considering that the incident is one of the phenomenons which it influences the moist climate. Inside that, there are over 22000 pre-years and it are heavily rains and not usual. But, the expert of Geography said that it not just the fact (upstairs) but it also beginning 2 factors. There are out side and in side factor. The out side factor is increased of pressure and different of water, whenever in side factors is implicated of strength pressure shear. The presented of these factors to be more festered human’s activities at high land.
Within the theory Geography like this, to advice for all party those make sure to get a better ways to avoid and solve these problems.
When we are looking for awareness for the environment, Malaysian is one the better and modern country in the world. Government is so seriously to protect the environment. When we are prepare to laws in this country, Malaysian have two laws for guidance there are act and enactment. In addition to the local government also are making almost act. There are Protected Land (1960) and Province and Town Planning Act. Beside that, there have 40 Act who interconnected environment 1974 (moving 1985).Whenever all about environment management are contained in (EIA).
Dr. Ekhwan Toriman (UKM) in his article at Dewan Masyarakat,February 2005, said that the environment Act must be prepare critically and need to standardize and increase in centre and state level. For the country level especially does not making regulation that followed their mind, it is therefore given bad implication for (JAS).
Meanwhile, the government in our country must to make use of awareness with education system. Actually, environment education for in primary school, IPTA and IPTS are very important for helps Government project. For example, cam pens, discussion, and competition that has “Loving Environment” themes which constantly for brings our young generation to understand that what the means and importance of environments in our life.
Hence, the cooperation for government and private sector are needed to consolidate together for keep our environment. One skill to do is making of environment building project. There are never getting any negative implication for four components in the above.
Conclusion, both of this is elements for each other. The awareness of society public for keep environment is very important. The laws of this country must to be guidance for keep the nature life. Actually, humans and animals are needed to alive in the better and clean situation……...
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| | | RDambul
January 11, 2006 10:41 AM PST
For those who have participated in this discussion, BRAVO. Don’t worry too much about the language. And, I don’t think that you should be apologetic. Why should you? To most of us, English is not even the second language (may be the third or fourth ones). If we (read as ‘Malaysians’ – yes, including some reputable academics, politicians, etc) are allowed to write poor BM (yes, the so-called NATIONAL language) without facing any stigma – why it’s any different when it comes to English?
So far, I haven’t heard anyone dies from writing some grammatically-corrupted comments (in English). And I’m sure none of you here will become the first! However, don’t take this is as an excuse to write (even more) terrible English in the future. I’m just trying to encourage everyone to appreciate the spirit of “learning through practices and mistakes” (and, that includes myself!).
Writing bad English is not wrong. But having a stagnant mentality (i.e. denying the importance of English and making no effort to improve) is wrong.
PS: Stanley, where are you? You promised to come back with a proper comment. Everyone is eagerly (and excitedly) waiting for it! | |
| | | Masitah Juakim HT2003-3903
January 10, 2006 08:38 PM PST
In my opinion,public awareness is an effective alternative compare to the power of legislation. the awareness of society towards the protection of environment can be increased by estabilshing some campaigns such as "Cintai Alam Sekitar","Cintailah Sungai Kita' and the other agencies especially (NGO) and 'Pencinta Alam' should also contribute to protect the stability of the environment.
From the power of legislation aspect in detail, it is seen that there is still a debate exist, for example, the controversion Hidro Bakun Project that been implemented in Sarawak had been greatly critisized by non-government Organization (NGO) adn Pencinta Alam. These groups forces the government to ensure the importance of validity and safety of the billion dolar project.The government had aproved the project in September 1993, although the judge of the court had decided that the project is not valid even though the government is strict to continue the project that higly coast to establish campaigns in order to assure the public toward the inteligence of the project.
The judgement of the court might expose one matter; it might also return the faith of society to the country legislation system that been very poor all these while. There are so many rumours have been spred widely the government officers interfere in legislation and about the corruption of judges. At the same time, there is an opinion that believes that Deparment of Environment will approve any EIA reports that will be proposed by some parties. These matter shows the weakness of the Deparment of Environment and they should ensure each and every project that been established are not causing any negative impact on the environment.
The fixity of ordinan allocation should be applicable to the system politic, social, planning and country's decision making process to ensure the stability of the environment. Awareness of environment is very important not only focused to the society but also to the politicians of our country. | |
| | | Lydiawati Palus
January 10, 2006 07:50 PM PST
hi.. selamat hari raya korban to our EIA lecturer..
back to the question, i very agree with the Doraes opinion. she opinion is agree that for the improving the public awareness will lead to a better and healthier environment. besides, save money, save energy and and save time.
in my opinion,everthing has become are start from the human. legislation is only support the goverment to do their job easily. i think, we know about the "melentur buluh biar dari rebungnya". that mean we behaviour is start from the house.
if the human not has a awareness from the child, it's a big trouble for our fighting the future. we always heared that the slogan "keep the country clean".. it is only the slogan, but people ignore this slogan..
we just not hoping someone to hold on this responsibility to taken the rubbish for our everyday. we must to "berdikari" that we say,to help goverment get the mission come true..
our environment is most important for our healthier.. we gotcha fres air and can release our tension.
for example, bakun dam projet. if the comunity aware that enviroment is important, this project has been cancel early. besides that, EIA for bakun dam project has been problem.
but, i don't deny that the legislation is important to improve the awareness about the healthier environment. goverment can compaund someone to keep the town and space dirty. at the tv news we has known that the toxic gasses at peninsular malaysia has kiiled the human..
lastly, i agree that the public awareness should be come first before we used the legilation.
sorry for the broken english hehe hope you do not get a headache.. tata
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| | | Sharon Pascol
January 10, 2006 04:56 PM PST
hI...
I’m not agreeing with Doreas’ opinion saying that ‘by improving the public awareness is better and easy to do then dealing with legislation due to saving time, money and energy.’
“What is your point to say that by saving the time, money and energy could improve the public awareness to a better and healthier environment?”
We have to accept the truth that anything only can be implemented by strengthening the legislation and not depending on the public awareness. Let just take Singapore for an example, people will never splitting and throwing rubbish anytime and anyplace they want to why??????? It is because the local government has create such a law that splitting and throwing rubbish is definitely wrong and it is dissenting with the government vision in becoming among the world’s cleanest country.
Regarding with Sharon Dodih’s opinion, I am not agreeing and definitely arguing with her point saying that the government’s quotes is enough to prevent people from doing open burning. From my point of view, open burning still can be classified as law because it consist in the “1974 Environmental Acts”.
As what have been mentioned before this, I am fully support my point that by strengthening (with implementation) the legislation is the only way to lead for a better and healthier environment. And that is the bottom line that I am said so.
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| | | Sharon Dodih
January 10, 2006 03:27 PM PST
Natural resources and healthy environment is very important in this world. Human and nature have symbiosis relationship while living in this world. As an easy example that human support carbon dioxide to trees while trees support oxygen to human. Without each of us we cannot live.
In my opinions, public awareness is more important compare to the legislation. This is because legislation is legislation that have been writteen in the paper. If there is no implementation it doesn' have any sense to make our environmant helthy. So this is my reason to choose that public awareness is more important.
The phenomena that happened in the Mexico is an example for this. Even though there is a legislation but a factory that produce chemical and threw away their waste into the river. This is very worst since the river was use by the people who living near the river for daily life. The implication because of the unresponsible factory have killed a lot of people.
From this example, we can see that legislation cannot change people. So public awareness is more important. If the public awareness is increase, no legislation is needed because people know the important the healthy environment to them.
The scenario in Malaysia is the best example for public awareness. The government always say that open burning is not allowed because it can influence towards unhealty air. From the reminder, the people aware of this. Campaign to increase the public awareness is much better compare to legislation.
ok..thats all !!!! | |
| | | Mildah Kasin
January 10, 2006 03:10 PM PST
Improving the public awareness or strengthening (with implementation) the legislation: which one will lead to a better and healthier environment? Support your arguments with specific examples and cases.
As my opinion public awareness and strengthening the legislation are same importrant to lead to a better and healthier environment.
Education, including formal education, public awareness and training should be recognized as a process by which human beings and societies can reach their fullest potential. Education is critical for promoting sustainable development and improving the capacity of the people to address environment and development issues. While basic education provides the underpinning for any environmental and development education, the latter needs to be incorporated as an essential part of learning. Both formal and non-formal education are indispensable to changing people's attitudes so that they have the capacity to assess and address their sustainable development concerns. It is also critical for achieving environmental and ethical awareness, values and attitudes, skills and behaviour consistent with sustainable development and for effective public participation in decision-making. To be effective, environment and development education should deal with the dynamics of both the physical/biological and socio-economic environment and human (which may include spiritual) development, should be integrated in all disciplines, and should employ formal and non-formal methods and effective means of communication.
Governments should strive to update or prepare strategies aimed at integrating environment and development as a cross-cutting issue into education at all levels within the next three years. This should be done in cooperation with all sectors of society. The strategies should set out policies and activities, and identify needs, cost, means and schedules for their implementation, evaluation and review. A through review of curricula should be undertaken to ensure a multidisciplinary approach, with environment and development issues and their socio-cultural and demographic aspects and linkages. Due respect should be given to community-defined needs and diverse knowledge systems, including science, cultural and social sensitivities;
Countries are encouraged to set up national advisory environmental education coordinating bodies or round tables representative of various environmental, developmental, educational, gender and other interests, including non-governmental organizations, to encourage partnerships, help mobilize resources, and provide a source of information and focal point for international ties. These bodies would help mobilize and facilitate different population groups and communities to assess their own needs and to develop the necessary skills to create and implement their own environment and development initiatives.
As we know, there is still a considerable lack of awareness of the interrelated nature of all human activities and the environment, due to inaccurate or insufficient information. Developing countries in particular lack relevant technologies and expertise. There is a need to increase public sensitivity to environment and development problems and involvement in their solutions and foster a sense of personal environmental responsibility and greater motivation and commitment towards sustainable development.
I really agree with Doraes Toimin’s opinions. She said that, public awareness will save money, save time and save energy. It is because, according to the public awareness, our government no needs to waste much money, time and energy to find the way how to improve the environment.
To make the environment better and healthier, of course, I decide to choose that public awareness make the environment better and healthier. But, in the same time the government must strengthening the legislation to make sure that our environment will better and healthier. It is because; from the legislation it will give a lesson to the society to make sure they care the environment properly. Environmental legislation is a body of law which addresses the system of complex and interlocking rules which seeks to protect from destruction or development certain species or favored natural areas thought to be endangered by human encroachment.
Legislation can improve and increase public awareness towards healthier environment. This is because human nature is very greed to exploit the natural resources. So, legislation can control them. As an example the Bacon’s project that had been run in Sarawak. This project can damage the environment conditions. Furthermore it can increase pollutions, landslide and other problems. The problem can be reduce by the monitoring from EIA and governments by implementations from law and act.
For the conclusion, public awareness and strengthening the legislation is the best way to save the environment.
For the last, sorry for the broken English not for the broken heart...
Thank you!
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| | | Pamela Sharon James
January 9, 2006 08:58 PM PST
There were many steps can people do to have a better and healtier environment. Among them are upgrade or improving the public awareness and strenghtening (with implementation) the legislation. Well, both steps are very important because it was unintererruptedly each other. Human made laws to upgrade their life and live..It shows that people cannot run anyway without laws..Laws can change their life and live because laws can show the right things to do and should not do..that's the prove that both are important to use. However, people still have to upgrade themself to protect our environment beside using the laws as a guideline..After one by one development had been done, people beginning to conscious that the enviroment had been disturbed seriously..Then, they started to find the steps or way to less development.. and their made some laws...since that, people use the environment laws in every development. | |
| | | Roslan Md. Rejab
January 9, 2006 07:44 PM PST
Refer to the question, I should choose either improving the public awareness or strengthening the legislation to make environment better and healthier. Of course I choose to strengthening the legislation.
Environment is very important to human being and the animal in this planet. So that why the environment become more poor? In the early year after the independence, environment problems were considered less important. But not for today. By the legislation, many of the guilty were captured.
To improving the public awareness like a campaign as example, it is impossible to success because not many of the public give their attention 100 percent. See, what happen to the “Cintai Sungai Kita” campaign?. How many public take part in this campaign?
Actually, the government have a power to make a law to make sure our environment still in healthier. There is many act that the government has doing like Forest Enactment 1935, Land Conservation and Environmental Quality Act 1974. All of these are the environment- related legislation in Malaysia. As we know, the act can be the guidelines to control the impact of development.
For me, there is many advantages from strengthening the legislation. In the same time, we also can improving the public awareness. So, the is no more question, either improving the public awareness or strengthening the legislation.
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| | | Mohd Shafie Mohd Khalid
January 9, 2006 07:42 PM PST
To make the environment better and healthier, of course, I decide to choose legislation. Why? Of course, with the legislation, we can get the ‘pocket money’ beside the action that the government has been taken. It is an extra income or tax to the government. With that money, we can do anything especially to overhaul or improve our environment as well as we can. In the same time, it will give a lesson to the society to make sure they take care the environment properly.
For me, it is very difficult to come close to the society and then we give speech to them. It is only waste our time. The best way are give a speech to the pupils and do a campaigns. But how far we can go with just give a slow talk to them? How much money should we spend to make a campaign? It is better if we spend the money to do something like overhaul the environment as I said before.
Now a days, the are billion people’s in this world. Many of them are come from a poor family. So that, there are possible to them to explore the environment like forest and the swamp land. They open up new land for cultivation and development.
Most of us are fear with the law (legislation) especially when the government strengthen the legislation. This is a chance to the government to develop the interconnected laws. So that, there is no way to the illegal constructers to escape from their guilty. For example, for this illegal constructers, we can punish them or banish him away from the district or state.
With the formulation and implementation of action plan, I believe that we can get the good feedback from the society to make the environment better and healthier. This is for ensure all of the people especially in this country to give the commitment to environmental protection. That all for now…
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| | | Judy Chiong Kung Li
January 9, 2006 04:18 PM PST
In the time of just one generation, we have witnessed the rape and destruction for our environment. For example, now Sabah’s Lost World “The Maliau Basin” is at threat of being mined for coal on the excuse of economic development and employment opportunities for our people. What have become us? Where is our civic-mindedness? We are still in this “tidak apa” attitude. Is not our problem we say. But let me tell you this, when it becomes our problem, it will be too late for us to do anything. We throw rubbish everywhere, and we expect others to clean the mess we make - If the mess we make is not clean up – we often point a finger to our Local Authorities. We forgot to look at our environmentally bad and damaging habits, and how we dispose our rubbish. It is sometimes impossible to collect.
Public Awareness
How are we going to work together? This is a question - and the people of Sabah need to know how we propose to attack the issues. There is still much lack of awareness of the interrelated nature of all human activities and the environment, due to incorrect or insufficient information. The Environmental Action Committee is ACTION, that have gather together a organization that is structured to allow the participation of all government agencies, non-governmental organizations, private institutions, business corporations and individuals to draw-up effective programmes to wipe out the enemies of our environment. At this stage, I want to point out that the EAC is really a much needed partnership between the Government, its agencies, non-governmental organizations, business corporations and the people. We need to aware that the threats to our environment cannot be handled by the Government alone. We need to know it is just too big a task. It must to include the people because we are the ones responsible for damaging for damaging our environment and as such, we are the only ones who can put everything right. The future for our environment is in our hands. By working together within the public awareness, we can solve the problem.
Implementation the legislation
In addition, no cooperationship of civic problem can achieve it goals if it is no supported with law. Some of our laws will need to be amended so as to make the enforcement of the problem practical and effective. The main reason is because citizens cannot fight with government and LAW. Our enforcement officers need to be educated, trained, disciplined and better equipped to resolve environmental issues. For example The EAC – Legislation and Enforcement Sub-Committee has been given the duty of bringing together the various enforcement agencies to work and act as One Stop Committee against any abuse on the environment, and at the same time to help build a better image for enforcement agencies that can be trusted and respected by the people. Besides that, these offenders will be punish despite of their mistakes. For example an Environment Wardens Scheme will allow our citizens to join a special task force and these individual will be enable to arrest offenders.
Finally, I need to stress that the strengthening (with implementation) the legislation will lead to a better and healthier environment. The main reason is because iw will be more effective compare with the public awareness.
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| | | Stanley Anak Suab
January 9, 2006 02:46 PM PST
It's quite good improvement to see you guys writing in english (",). Perhaps except those who expert in hebrew and sanskrit ?!!? Writing in english is challenging isn't? Especially for us who not very familiar with english.
Looks like every body is pretty though about the arguements. I guess i should arrange my points and idea first ha...ha.
Not very comfortable here at cybercafe E the cashier's music to noisy!! So see ya... | |
| | | Bernadette Bernard
January 9, 2006 12:48 PM PST
In my opinion, both public awareness and strengthening (with implementation) the legislation will lead to a better and healthier environment. This is because strengthening (with implementation) without public awareness is not effective. Although government has implemented many legislation there is still irresponsible authority that had ruin the environment. However, I keen to agree with Sharon that strengthening the law will lead to healthier environment.
As the law implemented, public will be more concern about the environment. For an example case , the river aggregate mining activities.
Existing guidelines are generally adequate for Sabah. However, a considerable tightening in the enforcement of existing regulations is required.
The existing guidelines state:
“No marine aggregate extraction within 1.5 km of the coastline or 10 m water depth whichever is further from the shore unless specifically supported by a site specific Environmental Impact Assessment” i.e. all sand mining within 1.5km of the coast is a prescribed activity under the Environmental Quality Act 34, regardless of size ……”
Extreme care must be taken prior to embarking on any river mouth improvement works. In particular, the impacts on the adjacent shoreline and the sustainability of navigation depths carefully assessed.
If this activities are not being monitor by any legislation I am sure our shoreline will be destroy and also the ecology of the shore will be disturbed. River aggregate mining is presently effecting the characteristics of the flood hydrographs in Sg.Padas, Sg.Papar and Sg.Tuaran and this issue should be addressed as a matter of urgency by the State Government. The impact is arising not only from local modification to the flow resistance, but also from the introduction of local training structures to maximise extraction potential over which there is presently little control
Aggregate extraction in Sg.Tuaran and Sg.Papar is probably the main contributing factor to the shoreline recession observed in the Sabandar Bay and Pantai Manis management units respectively over recent years. It is, therefore, important that illegal river-sand mining is prevented and that the legal operations are forced to maintain accurate extraction records with total yearly extraction being restricted to a pre-defined yearly quota.
Over the past years, government has taken on an increasingly practical aspect in response to heightened public awareness of environmental problems
Core elements of environmental law include the control of pollution from man-made sources and the protection of natural resources such as wildlife and natural landscapes, but the precise boundaries of the subject are difficult to draw, and many areas of law such as health and safety at work, land-use planning, and the protection of the man-made cultural heritage have environmental implication.
As a conclusion, this issue will never successfully solve without public awareness and forceful law. So...both of it should be improve to lead healtier environment...I think that all...hopefully more comments will be post!!!!!!
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| | | Suryani Abd Latif (HA20031230)
January 8, 2006 01:31 PM PST
care about environment is very important among the step of awareness among community and legislation.
in my opinion, legislation related to the environment conservation is better and we can see this by existence of law relating EC early 1974 and the comunity also realise it eventhough the level of awareness is not high enough.
through the law EC's awareness exist steps by steps starting from the goverment until the comunity itself.
as we know, the awareness of EC will exist only when the level of its guidelines is reaching down. Exampel, like the dam build at bakun sarawak. eventough the community aware of its danger to the environmrnt but the dam is still been build.
nevertheless there are certain situation where comunity's awareness that exist can also produced lawas related to the environment. | |
| | | Doraes Toimin(HA20031235)
January 8, 2006 01:06 PM PST
ayooo.... now we're in bi version....("~)
For me improving the public awareness is more better and easy to do then deal with legislation because....
----save time
----save money
----save energy
as we know, there are some way have been done by NGOs to make people more care with environment, such as using 'pendekatan agama'. Lynn White Jr(1967) have written book - Historical of our crisis- according to her, our environmental problems today happened because we ignore God's words about environment in the past.
Zuhdi Marzuki(2002)- religion can be used to save our environment.
But whatever it is, we cant't fight goverment..... when people start to understand and and try to play their role to protect environment and claim their right goverment try to failed it. for exampel The Bakun Hydro-Electric project in Sarawak.
as we know, the bakun are being made just to have extra 8% energy...is it worth it?
jun 19 1996, High Court decide that the projek is running illegaly...but our late PM say that Bakun must procide because it can help the villagers get better lives. in the other hands, Bakun is sponsserd by non-goverment and multi-national with a cost to build it about us$5 billion.
70,000 hectar and 10,000 people have to move from their village to FELDA and other more place.
for all the sweat and blood,
in the end..we only have extra 8% energy just for not more than 50 year? is it really worth it?
we are already aware and try to involved, but watever it is, in the end the winner is goverment. or if we try to fight...our ending -Become ISA prisoner...
to conclude with,
improving the public awareness is more better and effective way to save environment if we can figure out the most ideal way,....more better than using 'pendekatan agama'. | |
| | | jamlin maidin HA2003-1215
January 8, 2006 11:54 AM PST
i think.. in the world we would like seeing anything in the perfect. we a like look beutiful thing,people and anything.but, all of you don't know about in the world not are perfect. so, we must make anything can a perfect if you want make it. no impossible in the world. about like that..i mean about public awareness.many people in the world have are many stress in your life. so, your public awareness can help finishing your stress and your tension if all of you wanted. for example, to day many people want a clean space and have a green tree in the space. the basic wanted make are environment must be protection. | |
| | | Nooraizah Matlin
January 6, 2006 04:55 PM PST
Assalamualaikum and good day to all. The question about which one will lead to a better environment between public awareness and legislation, the answer is definitely by improving the public awareness. This is due to the fact that when people conscious about the environment, then the legislation will be strongly implemented. Sadly the implementation of environmental legislation in Malaysia is quite late compared to other countries. The awareness should start from the very beginning for instance among little children. Campaign can be done thru media, schools, exhibition and so on to make people realize the important of protecting the environment. The government itself launches a lot of programmes to guide the public such as Cintailah Sungai Kita, Kitar Semula, Projek Anak-anak Angkat Sungai and so on. But then still there is the increasing of environmental cases and the numbers are numerous! For instance, the issue of forest timbering in Bukit Cahaya Seri Alam in Selangor. The question is how can such individual owned the land which is full of priceless treasure? Our Prime Minister then wants an investigation made and after a while the issue just fade away and never been brought up until today. Other cases are the import of toxic waste from Taiwan, and the dead of Sarawak¡¦s Department of Environment officer, Rumie Azzan Malie (there¡¦s no further report. The case is still under investigation). The implementation of legislation until today still cannot prohibit and stop people from polluting the environment. What is actually the purpose of all those legal legislation if people are still polluting? So I strongly recommend that the public awareness should comes first in order to make the place we live is a better place.
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| | | Rem
January 6, 2006 07:23 AM PST
Never mind about the 'broken English'. We all are still learning, aren't we? I'm (actually) quite impressed with this comment, point-wise. A well-presented argument and strongly supported by relevant examples.
So, where are all the other 'tikus mondoks'? Get to the ground and show yourself!
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| | | Sharon Pascol
January 6, 2006 12:07 AM PST
For my opinion, strengthening the legalization can lead to a better and healthier environment because it would prevent us from breaking the rules which spoiling our environment such as development project. Each project should be base on the standard of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).
The acts and laws that have been introduced by the EIA were used as a guideline for the high court to accuse those who were found guilty of doing environment abuse. This will cause them to afraid the laws because they will be punished or even being poisoned. The kind of prevention was better than improving their awareness which is more difficult to be proceed without rules and regulations.
For example, to support my arguments is Bakun Cases in Sarawak. The Bakun Hydro-Electric project in Sarawak brings into sharp focuses the gigantic problems posed by political and legal issues in respect of environmental protection. The Court of Appeal had ruled that the respondents are not required to be supplied with a copy of the EIA reports as there is not accrued right for the distribution of the report the public without the public asking for it(Cases from Environmental Law Are the Present Enforcement Laws Sufficient – A Lawyer’s Perspective by Zainudin bin Ismail. After finished the judgment the Bakun Hydro-Electric project case show how state can validly legislate extinguish the respondent’s rights. See…. How the strengthening the legislation will lead to a better and healthier environment. Can u think our country without legislation? Oh…. Maybe that time, our environments will perishable so fast.
By the way, in Malaysia events of recent years have encouraged public awareness and support for the protection of the environment. There is now a general call more active and effective enforcement of the various environmental regulations against all transgressors is they the small farmer or the big corporations. It is pointless merely to say that the enforcement of laws is inadequate. The concept of enforcing a particular law or regulation is dependent upon various extraneous factors beyond control or influence of the enforcer. One can never be far wrong to simply say enforcement of the environmental laws in Malaysia is inadequate. In that case, although I chose strengthening the legalization can lead to a better and healthier environment, our legalization must be increase from time to time (_"). It is because of these collective failures that legislations are made to impose standards and prohibitions against polluters and order to ensure compliance, penalties are made for breaches thereof.
Once again, I argue that, strengthening the legislation will lead to a better and healthier environment.
Sorry for my broken English. That all for now… See u soon Guys... (_")
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