Suzanna Pillay, The New Straits Times 29 Jun 09;
IF you’ve always wanted to do your bit for conservation, here’s your chance to step up to bat. Malaysia’s turtles need your help. All you need to do are two simple things: support WWF-Malaysia’s “Egg > Life” campaign and stop using plastic bags for your shopping.
Poorly-planned coastal development, marine and nesting beach pollution are taking its toll on dwindling turtle populations here. Even the deep blue seas which were formerly a refuge for these gentle giants are becoming increasingly hazardous. Thousands perish from accidental ingestion of plastic bags which they mistake for jellyfish, while fishing gear used by fishermen to catch fish, ensnare turtles and cause mortalities.
Compounding the problem are illegal activities like poaching and smuggling which flourish because of inadequate turtle protection laws. Comprehensive federal laws, additional resources and heightened enforcement are needed to effectively protect our turtles. Current federal laws on turtles are limited. Moreover, under the Constitution, states have the authority to make laws on turtles, meaning that these laws vary from state to state and have loopholes.
Need a better picture of how badly the turtle population is declining? Perhaps this will put some perspective on things: the leatherback turtle has already been declared functionally extinct in Malaysia.
In the 1950s, there were 10,000 leatherback nests in Rantau Abang each year; now there are fewer than 10.
Some students and corporations here have already done their bit to support the “Egg>Life” campaign by collecting 1,000 or more signatures. These include Taylor’s University College Environmental Club (Subang Jaya campus), Multimedia University (Malacca campus) and Taylor’s College (Sri Hartamas campus).
Meanwhile, Intel Malaysia Berhad has pledged to collect 5,000 signatures and have already obtained 1,500.
Here’s how you can help save the turtles:
Support “Egg>Life” campaign
1. Sign up to support WWF-Malaysia’s “Egg > Life” campaign and pledge to support laws that will ban the sale and consumption of all turtle eggs throughout Malaysia and the call for comprehensive and holistic federal legislation to conserve marine turtles.
Each signature will lend weight to efforts aimed at improving turtle protection legislation in Malaysia.
Readers can sign up using the pledge form inserted in today’s issue of the New Straits Times.
Just send it back to the WWF (postage is paid.). Alternatively, readers can also sign up at www.wwf.org.my.
Students and business leaders who would like to emulate these socially responsible individuals and organisations mentioned above can email contactus@wwf.org.my for details. Students and corporations that collect 1,000 or more signatures in support of the “Egg>Life” campaign will be recognised as a supporter on WWF-Malaysia’s campaign website.
2. Use shopping bags instead of plastic bags
You won’t only be helping to protect turtles by using shopping bags instead of plastic bags; you would also be helping thousands of other marine life such as whales and seals, that die from accidentally eating plastic bags which they mistake for food. An added incentive — you’d also be helping to mitigate climate change. Plastic is a petroleum product. Using fewer plastic bags will reduce our use of fossil fuels and help reduce global warming!
If you send a contribution of RM100 or more to WWF-Malaysia by Sept 29, you will receive two FREE WWF Shopping Bags as your special gift. To find out more about donating to WWF-Malaysia, email contactus@wwf.org.my or call 03-7803-3772.
