A couple from Germany, regular visitors to Penang, won’t be coming back again after seeing the northern coast of the island turning into a concrete jungle.
This letter is from today’s Sun:
May 242011
Apr 202009
More people are now talking about the need to reduce our carbon footprint. But the discussion is largely focused on improving public transport, avoiding plastic bags (a commendable move which the Penang government is now implementing) or recycling and re-using.
But that is not enough. A study of the population in Cardiff, Wales has shown that the biggest impact on the environment comes from the choices we make in the following areas (in this order):
- the food and products we buy
- the energy we use
- our mode of travel
- the infrastructure which surrounds us
- the waste we produce
Of course, underlying all this is our oil-guzzling profit-driven corporate economy, which does not factor in environmental losses.
The Natural News website insists that “you are not green unless your food is green”. It says our philosophy on food should be: “Eat LOCAL food. Not too much. Mostly plants.”
This is why it is absolutely vital for each state in Malaysia to grow as much of its food requirements locally, preferably organically. We don’t have to wait for the government to see the light. We can do what we can locally by exerting pressure through the choices we make.
Natural News suggests five ways we can go about this:
Dec 132008
Before: Majestic trees provide shade for weary pedestrians next to the concrete jungle that is Komtar Photo by a concerned George Town resident
After: Going, going… and gone before you know it
They just can’t stand the sight of any greenery.
This was the scene at 3.30pm today outside Komtar, where about half a dozen trees lay mutilated while around them a crane and a bull-dozer snorted and grunted.
From what I understand, even simple tree pruning – let alone hacking and chopping – requires prior approval from the Penang Municipal Council. And from what I hear, an application was received by the Council last week, but before it could be approved… well, you can see what has happened.
Can the council and the state government confirm if they had given approval for the tree-cutting at their door-step?
