The Star 5 Apr 11;
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah is set to become a player in an exciting people led initiative to unite three of the most bio-diverse eco-systems on the planet - The Coral Triangle, Amazon Basin and the Congo Basin.
The Borneo-Pacific Rim Hub based in Tanjung Aru will become a meeting point for the exchange of ideas on conservation, promotion of indigenous crafts and food, and a myriad of activities including artwork and music.
A sneak peak of the venture was unveiled on Friday evening at the ‘Power to the People Party’, held at the famed Tanjung Aru beach to celebrate Sabah’s bold move to opt for cleaner sources of energy by saying no to a coal-fired power plant.
The hub will also focus on promoting clean energy production, rain-water collection and green architecture, apart from becoming a platform for performances and healthy living through exercise and the importance of organic food.
Land Empowerment Animals People (LEAP) executive director Cynthia Ong said the hub would link three bio-diverse ecosystems at the equator.
“This will become an epicentre for collaboration by engaging with the public, government, industry and politics.
“The hub will connect the different groups at local, regional and global levels. It is an inclusive and transparent initiative,” Ong said.
LEAP and its numerous partners initiated the formation of the hub, having seen how individuals and citizens’ movements were keen to engage with one another to find and offer solutions on issues, especially onenergy production and conservation.
Ong also said Green SURF (Sabah Unite to Re-Power the Future), of which LEAP is a founding member, is taking concrete steps to link different partners keen on pursuing renewable and greener energyoptions.
“We are even looking at the possibility of working with communities who want efficient and sustainable energy.
“The potential for this ishuge,” she said.
Other founding members of Green SURF are Partners of CommunityOrganisations (Pacos), WWF-Malaysia, Sabah Environ-ment Protection Association (Sepa) and the Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) Sabah.
The People Party event offered the public a better understanding of on-going work by citizen movements and non-governmental organisations to make Sabah a better place to live in, and the importance ofsustainable living.
The event which kicked off at 5.30pm, featured a renewable energydisplay, traditional food and a chance for the public to donate to Mercy Malaysia Japan Earthquake /Tsunami Relief Fund.
Over 20 organisations and groups took part in the programme, which drew hundreds from all segments of society.
For details on the Borneo-Pacific Rim Hub, call 012-828 1705 (Ong).
