“How to Reduce My Big Fat Carbon Footprint”: a Malaysian eco-discovery cruise

For a green Earth
The Star 6 Jan 09;

ABOUT 120 teenagers boarded a naval training ship recently for a different kind of adventure – a green one. They were onboard for an eco-discovery cruise organised by Yayasan Anak Warisan Alam (Yawa), a non-profit organisation dedicated to instilling love and care for the environment in young people.

The theme for the annual expedition was “How to Reduce My Big Fat Carbon Footprint”. Throughout the five-day sailing trip, the young participants learnt about how they leave carbon footprints (a measure of the amount of greenhouse gases we produce through our daily activities), and how to reduce the negative impact of our actions on the environment.

The participants, teachers, university students and other volunteers sailed on the naval training ship, MV Fajar Samudera, on the Straits of Malacca and Andaman Sea.

They were also treated to a day trip in Langkawi, where they took part in an “Eco-Amazing Race”. During the race, participants were given environmental challenges such as washing a vehicle with limited water and checking their go-green carbon footprint. The winners of the race were selected based on the least amount of carbon footprint emitted throughout the race and how well they were able to apply what they’ve learnt.

Another highlight of the expedition was the talk given by Abe Woo, a Universiti Sains Malaysia undergraduate who shared his experience of working on the White Coffin campaign which aims to eliminate the use of polystyrene food containers in all public universities in Malaysia.

Participants were not only educated on the harmful chemicals used to make polystyrene, but also how to avoid using these containers.

“There has never been a better way to instil awareness about the environment than by isolating youngsters on a navy ship for five days to learn how to work together, educate themselves about the environment, and to just have fun,” says participant Mahirah Ma’som, 16.

All in all, everyone involved in the eco-expedition was truly appreciative of the knowledge and awareness gained.

“I was inspired to start my own awareness campaign among my peers,” says participant Anisa Yasmin, 15.

The eco-discovery trip was organised by Yawa in partnership with Kiehl’s.