Green Aside

Since 20th April 2013, streets, public place, garden and junctions throughout the cities in Malaysia have been decorated with new facade. A facade that is not green, peace or pleasant or even at time danger to the motorists and road users. Many of the road signs have been blocked because the buntings and banners or boards have been erected too close to the signs. Trees and plants are not spared from this. The vegetation have been victimised with too many buntings nail on them. I presume, the notion of loving the trees and protecting our environment has been put aside. Is this our value or we can temporarily shelve our value for bigger picture at the national level? Well, the arguement will go on until 5th May 2013 and repeat again every 5 years. Can we come out with better idea of doing publicity? Pre-requisite is not to damage the hard or soft landscape we have.

Biodiversity

The 2012 Urban Nature Forum concluded half an hour ago. It is a call of conserving biodiversity, sustaining the use of biodiversity as well as reducing the risks of climate change through biodiversity conservation. While science and local action have bee emphasized over and over again, participants acknowledged that much to be done prior to the COP 11 on biodiversity, a subject that has been overshadowed by the climate change and green sustainable issues. There are no such fund or technology related to biodiversity unlike the climate change. The participants responded that for those people talking biodiversity, they will have at least love, or if not to understand the birds, wild animal, flora and fauna or else how can you have the passionate to prepare an effective action plan. Further to that, CEPA or communication, education and public awareness specifically targeted to right audience is important. And it must started young and with good leadership. Many might not realise important of biodiversity because food is always put on table, unlike climate change that can see the effect typhoon and tsunami in seconds. Are we back home still have narrow inpretation about biodiversity? Are we not widen the planting of trees and parks for greater impact of bringing nature back to the city? Are we not looking into landuse plan and landscape plan with more input on biodiversity.? I presume we should and must. Next meet on this challenge will be at the Cities Of Life Summit in Hyderabad, India from 15-16 October 2012.