Environmental Education and Awareness

I was invited by the Ai FM RTM's Lifestyle Program yesterday to be interviewed over the environment and sustainable development challenges. Ms Wong Mun Meng, the senior broadcaster was there to talk to me for an hour. This was the first time that i attended to the studio of a radio station after appearing at the RTM's TV morning talk show program seven years back.

We have a casual talk on the definitions for environment and sustainable development. To many, environment simply means the nature such as forest, river and mountain. Some might relate the rubbish and pollution to environment. Environment is definitely more than that. It covers everything, be it the Earth, Human, nature creations, built structure, animal and wildlife, flora and fauna, air, water, land etc. By having a wider and overarching scope, it means we have no choice but to protect everything in our surrounding or else the problem of pollution and survival will keep occurring.

I did mention about the need for tri-partie partnership and also the importance to integrate the 3 dimensions of development. Without one or intentionally to ignore any one of them is a disaster. Although the definition about sustainable development is still vigorous and many do not understand and skillful enough to strive a balance between the above, it is nevertheless not becoming a reason of not doing so. We are, either continue finding the solutions and act on it or moving towards the self destruction due to the sickness of this Earth. The Earth as a natural purification system for pollutants, an ecological system and food chain for resources is no more capable of providing the necessities as sufficiently as we like to have.

Most of the problems are created locally and thus solutions shall be also started from the local level. So, individual actions for sustainability are vital as collectively it will create a great impacts. So, what can individual do? I suggested that to start with, everyone should raise their awareness and understanding; then followed by acquiring the skill and knowledge; finally to ACT on it.

Of course, becoming a smart consumer is helpful to the environment as well. For example, instead of changing fashionable items such as hand phone and dressings so often, why don't do it if necessary? After all it will save our pocket as well.

I hope to have chance to share more...