Earth Matters

James T. Cherian, a former Environmental Consultant and an advocate for water and forest conservation, discusses why water conservation is essential even in a country blessed with abundant  rainfall.

James also discusses the need to implement Water Demand Management in Malaysia, a system which advocates efficient use of water in order to maintain vital environmental flows and to reduce dependence on costly infrastructure projects.

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We find out more about the Stratospheric ozone: Halogen Impacts in a Varying Atmosphere or SHIVA project, from Dato' Professor Dr. Azizan Abu Samah and Dr. Mohammed Rizman Bin Idid, both of the Institute of Ocean and Earth Sciences (IOES) University of Malaya.

SHIVA is the IOES of University of Malaya's international collaboration with 11 European universities and institutions to reduce uncertainties in the amount of halogen-containing ozone depleting substances (ODSs) reaching the stratosphere and the resulting ozone depletion.

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The Festival of Wings is held every year to mark the annual migration of birds, who cross seas and continents in search of warmer climates, from their wintry homes.

Organised by the Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) and Kuala Selangor Nature Park (KSNP), we are joined by MNS's Head of Communications, Andrew Sebastian, who talks about the significance of this annual journey, and what we can expect from this year's festival.

We also hear from singer-songwriter Ariff AB, and musician Brendan Teh of the Free Deserters, who are performing at the inaugural Green Aid concert, about their music and their take on benefit concerts.

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Not a new-fangled notion as many assume, organic farming has been around for centuries, and is making a comeback these days.

Anthony Tan and Tan Siew Luang, the Centre for Environment, Technology & Development Malaysia (CETDEM)'s Executive Director and Organic Farming Project Coordinator respectively, discuss the simplicity of organic farming, and how it promotes sustainable living in urban communities.

They also talk about the events happening at the 8th Hari Organik 2011 which happens on the 15th of October 2011.

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Dr. Luis Santamaria, ecologist and head of the Laboratory of Spatial Ecology at the Mediterranean Institute for Advanced Studies in Spain is on our shores to give a talk and in our studios to offer some insight into how we can conserve our tropical forests, especially with the advent of modern development and its knack of fragmenting forests. Based on research and findings from the Amazonian forest, he extrapolates possibilities for us in our own tropical country.

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Marine biologist Dr. Louisa Ponnampalam, a Postdoctoral Researcher at the Institute of Ocean and Earth Sciences, University of Malaya, discusses cetaceans - whales, dolphins and porpoises.

Among other things, she speaks of the work she is doing through the Langkawi Dolphin Research Project, while helping us understand the importance of studying these creatures, and how their wellbeing, or lack thereof, is an indicator of environment health.

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We learn about guerrilla gardening, a worldwide movement of cultivating plants on public or abandoned land - without permission - from london-based Richard Reynolds, himself a guerrilla gardener and self-appointed publicist for the movement.

Learn how to regenerate your neighbourhood from the grassroots up. Literally.

www.guerrillagardening.org

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The Ministry of Energy, Green Technology and Water recently launched the Sustainability Achieved via Energy Efficiency or SAVE programme, which Zaini Abdul Wahab, Head of Entry Point Project 9 (EPP9): Energy Efficiency under the Economic Transformation Plan from the Ministry, joins us to shed light on.

He also speaks about the need to be more energy efficient and SAVE's first initiative, which is a rebate program.

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Biswajit Fahroun Guha Thakurta, the Director of Zoology at the Singapore Zoo, shares his experiences from working at the Singapore Zoo for over 20 years now.

He also gives his views on the role of zoos in today's context, highlighting its shift from mere entertainment spots to centers working towards wildlife conservation and preservation.

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Professor Dato' Dr. Azizan Bin Haji Abu Samah, an atmospheric scientist and Head of the Malaysian Antarctic Research Programme (MARP) explains the rationale behind the implementation of the MARP, while discussing the rapid warming in the Polar regions and its implications to the Pacific region.

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