Wet cleaning for clothes is a greener alternative to dry cleaning

Channel NewsAsia 10 Jun 08;

SINGAPORE: Dry cleaning clothes is touted to be gentler on delicate fabrics. But a local company is now offering another greener alternative called wet cleaning which uses less water and electricity.

It has even received a grant of S$11,000 from the National Environment Agency to develop its technique.

Four years ago, Mr Balraj Gopalkrishnan heard about wet cleaning from his friend. Since then, he has been paying S$7 to wet-clean a jacket. But he also continues to use the dry cleaning option.

He said: "With wet cleaning, you get your clothes a little more cleaner. But when I want to have more delicate material clothes washed, I usually use dry cleaning."

The washing machine that uses the wet cleaning technology takes only 15 minutes to complete the wash. And for the dry cleaning option, it takes about 45 minutes.

Besides consuming less electricity, the wet cleaning technology also uses less water. Chemicals used are also vegetable-based.

And the wet cleaners said they spent a few months to develop the wet cleaning technique as they had to understand how various fabrics react to different wet cleaning chemicals.

Now that they've developed the technique, the company hopes that more laundry shops can adopt this greener option especially as the cost of a wet cleaning machine is about S$10,000 compared to S$50,000 for a dry cleaning machine. - CNA/vm

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Forecast: Dead zone off US coasts to grow

Yahoo News 9 Jun 08;

Researchers predict a "dead zone" of oxygen-depleted waters off the Louisiana and Texas coasts could grow this summer to 10,084 square miles, making it the largest such expanse in at least 23 years.

If the preliminary forecast holds, the researchers say, the size of the so-called "dead zone" would be 17-21 percent larger than at anytime since the mapping began in 1985 — and about as large as the state of Massachusetts. Another forecast is planned next month.

The report Monday from scientists at Louisiana State University and the Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium is based on May nitrate loads on the Mississippi River at Baton Rouge.

Excess nutrients can spur the growth of algae, and when the algae die, their decay consumes oxygen faster than it can be brought down from the surface. As a result, fish, shrimp and crabs can suffocate, threatening the region's commercial fishing industry.

R. Eugene Turner, who led the recent modeling effort, said in a statement that intensive farming — including working land for crops used to make biofuels — has contributed to the high rate of nitrogen loading.

Researchers say the largest dead zone measured was 8,894 square miles in 2002. It was about 7,900 square miles last year.

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US second to China in illegal wildlife trade: official

Yahoo News 9 Jun 08;

The United States is second to China as the biggest market for illegal wildlife and wildlife parts, with demand fueled by interest in traditional medicine, a US official said Monday.

"The biggest market for illegal wildlife and wildlife parts is China," according to Assistant Secretary of State for Environment, Claudia McMurray. "But the number two market is the United States."

Wildlife trafficking is worth an estimated 10 billion dollars a year, according to Interpol figures she cited. But she did not have individual estimates for how much goes to China and the US.

Consumers were buying while traveling, on the Internet or in shops in the United States, McMurray said at a news conference highlighting a public awareness campaign launched by US embassies around the world against the illegal wildlife trade.

"In most cases, they think the products are perfectly legal. We consider it our job in the US government to tell Americans that that is not the case," she said.

McMurray said interest in traditional Chinese medicine was fueling demand for illicit wildlife trade in the United States and that it was coming not just from people of Asian origin.

She added that there was also growing demand in the United States for live exotic pets.

Actress Bo Derek, who is US special envoy for wildlife trafficking issues, said "it was very embarassing for me to find out that the US is number two in consuming endangered wildlife."

She said China had been helpful in boosting public awareness about wildlife trafficking.

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Scientists warn G8 of climate peril to food

Yahoo News 9 Jun 08;

Scientists from Group of Eight countries and the five biggest emerging nations urged next month's G8 summit to ratchet up action against global warming, warning that climate change threatened food and water supplies.

The 13 academies called for leaders to commit to a goal -- sketched in the 2007 Heiligendamm summit as something they would "seriously consider" -- that would halve global emissions of carbon gases by 2050.

They also demanded urgent action to improve energy efficiency and expand renewable energy and for a timetable, to be drawn up by 2009, for building "carbon capture" plants to snare carbon dioxide from power stations and other big emitters.

"Progress in reducing global greenhouse gas emission has been slow," they said. "Climate change is a pressing issue for today."

"Key vulnerabilities include water resources, food supply, health, coastal settlements and some ecocystems, particuarly Arctic, tundra, alpine and coral reef.

"The most sensitive regions are likely to include the Arctic, Africa, small islands and the densely-populated Asian mega-deltas," the statement added.

In a press statement, Martin Rees, president of Britain's Royal Society, said: "Food and water shortages are now a dangerous reality particularly in many developing countries.

"In the coming years, they will be aggravated by rising populations, and climate change. These threats must be properly assessed and solutions identified if we are to avoid costly mistakes from investing in technologies and infrastructure that do not take climate change into account."

The joint statement was signed by the heads of the national academies of science of the G8 countries and of Brazil, China, India, Mexico and South Africa.

It is the fourth appeal on climate change issued by the 13 academies ahead of the annual summit of the G8, which comprises Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia and the United States.

The first appeal came ahead of the 2005 summit in Gleneagles, Scotland.

This year's summit runs from July 7-9 in Toyako, a lakeside resort on the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido.

Capture carbon to avert catastrophic climate change, say world's scientists

Chris Smyth, Times Online 10 Jun 08;

The world must have a clear plan to fit power stations with facilities to capture carbon dioxide within a year to prevent "catastrophic" climate change, the world's leading scientific bodies said today.

But the warning came as Britain's support for the technology was blasted as "woefully inadequate" by experts.

The Royal Society, along with the scientific academies of the eight leading industrial nations and of five other countries including China and India, says that millions will be at risk from food and water shortages if action is not taken.

They are calling on next month's G8 summit to begin action now to halve global emissions by 2050. The scientists say this will not be achieved without the ability to capture to capture and store carbon from coal-fired power stations.

Carbon capture technology works by separating and liquefying carbon dioxide emitted by power plants. This is then stored deep underground, often in depleted coal or gas fields. Some technologies can also use the injection liquid carbon dioxide to force out more gas.

"Coal will continue to be one of the world's primary energy sources for the next 50 years. If coal burning power plants and industries continue to pump out carbon dioxide unabated we face a growing risk of triggering a dangerous and irreversible change in the climate. Techniques for carbon capture and storage must therefore be developed urgently," said Martin Rees, President of the Royal Society.

"So much is at stake that current efforts are quite inadequate. The nations at the G8 summit should commit themselves to a much expanded and coordinated programme. The sooner this technology can be proven and widely adopted, and annual carbon dioxide emissions stopped from rising, the lower the risk of catastrophic climate change."

But Britain is falling behind the pace on this technology – which could on its own cut global emissions by up to 50 per cent – because of failing government policy, according to a report for the Policy Exchange think tank.

Half of the commercial schemes planned in Britain have fallen through because the Government has refused price supports needed to make the experimental technology viable, the report claims. It recommends that carbon capture technology be given the same price guarantees as wind power.

"The industry is currently way ahead of Government. An electricity market is needed which enables this new industry to see a fair price for decarbonised electricity, take risks, grow rapidly, and build not one, but a suite of clean power plants in the UK,” said Stuart Haszeldine, Professor of Geology at the University of Edinburgh and co-author of the report.

“If Government takes heed and acts now we can ensure that CCS does not become just another missed UK opportunity. The UK was first to industrialise and now can be first to decarbonise.”

The report estimates that fitting carbon capture technology to all large UK coal and gas-fired power stations would add GBP60 a year to average household bills, less than most other renewables.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change estimates that global temperatures will rise by 0.2C to 0.4C over the next 20 years and that to stabilise the climate emissions must be reduced to less than half current levels.

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China consuming twice what its ecosystems can supply: WWF

Yahoo News 9 Jun 08;

China is now consuming more than twice as much as what its ecosystems can supply sustainably, having doubled its needs since the 1960s, a new WWF report said Tuesday.

China now utilises 15 percent of the world's total biological capacity, said the report, which is published jointly by the WWF and the China Council for International Cooperation on Environment and Development.

The report found that the Chinese had an average ecological footprint of 1.6 hectares in 2003, the most recent year for which figures are available.

This means that each person needs 1.6 hectares of biologically productive land to support their lifestyle demands.

While this is still lower than the world average of 2.2 global hectares per person, it "nonetheless presents challenges, considering China's large population and the robust economic development," said the report.

"If China were to follow the lead of the United States, where each person demands nearly 10 hectares of productive area, China would demand the available capacity of the entire planet.

"This is likely to be a physical impossibility for China, and for the other nations of the world," said the report.

If on the other hand China could, in its development, also balance environmental needs, it could "lead the way for the world as a whole," the report added.

"It's a critical period in the coming 20 years for China to realise its sustainable development, which is determined by important indicators including the balance between the utilization efficiency of natural resources and the Earth's regeneration capacity improvement," said Zhu Guangyao, secretary general of the Chinese council.

China using up natural resources fast: report
Robert Evans, Reuters 9 Jun 08;

GENEVA (Reuters) - China is drawing on natural resources such as farm land, timber and water twice as fast as they can be renewed in its drive for development, a report from Chinese and international environmentalists said on Tuesday.

The report said the next 20 years would be critical to correct the situation and put the Asian giant's burgeoning economy, with a rapidly growing population, on to a sustainable path.

"China's average ecological footprint has doubled since the 1960s and now demands more than two times what the country's ecosystems can sustainably supply," said a summary of the report, issued by the Swiss-based WWF International.

It said China's "footprint" -- a measure of how much productive land and inland water resources are used up to satisfy the average current lifestyle of each member of the population -- was running at 1.6 hectares per person.

This suggested that for China's current 1.2 billion people -- one sixth of the world population -- to sustain this rate, it would need to either double the land and water area it uses or cut back to nearer the available 0.8 hectares per person.

The report was commissioned jointly by the WWF, formerly the World Wide Fund for Nature, and the China Council for International Cooperation on Environment and Development (CCICED) in Beijing.

CHINESE EXPERTS

It was drawn up with the help of Chinese experts by a U.S.-based group, the Global Footprint Network, which works with the WWF to produce reports on the global, regional and national ecological impact of use of resources.

The Network reported with the WWF on Monday that many African countries were running down their natural resources in the drive for development as their populations grow, but were still using only 1.1 hectares per head, compared with the 1.3 hectares available.

It said the global average footprint was 2.2 hectares per head -- significantly more than the 1.8 hectares available.

By 2050, the whole world's current rate of drawing on natural resources and disposing of waste will require an entire extra planet, Monday's report said.

CCICED Secretary General Zhu Guangyao, an author of the later study, "Report on Ecological Footprint in China", was quoted by WWF as saying the next 20 years would be "a critical period ... for China to realize sustainable development".

WWF said the report presented two strategies to tackle the Chinese problem, starting with "easy" and "slow" measures that would be simple, cheap and popular, such as investing in clean technology and changing to energy-efficient light bulbs.

After that, it said, China could implement a wider approach focusing on compact urban development, individual action, reducing hidden waste flows, carbon reduction strategies, land management and efficiency increases.

(Editing by Kevin Liffey)

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Best of our wild blogs: 10 Jun 08

Dolphins and low tide surprises
amazing encounters during the latest series of low tides on the singapore celebrates the reefs blog

Resorts World Sentosa and sharks fins
compilation of recent comments in the media on the wildfilms blog

Zoanthid hunts
a round up of zoanthids on the nature scouter blog and other amazing marinelife seen.

Raffles Lighthouse
the lighthouse and its history and marine life there on the mountain and sea blog and tidechaser blog

St. John's Island
on the tidechaser blog

Ubin shore sightings
flying fowl on the wildfilms blog and shore flies and crabs on rock and under stone on the budak blog

How Much Nature is Enough?
Does humanity need 2,000-pound jellyfish-chomping turtles that almost no one will ever see? on the New York Times blog

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One man’s efforts to keep chainsaws away from 17-year-old mango tree

Out on a limb
Gabriel Tan, Today Online 10 Jun 08;

IT IS heartening that the media has been providing greater issues about mother earth, issues which were once only the realm of “fringe fanatics” environmentalists.

As a result, more people are practising a environmentally-conscious lifestyle. Companies are also making an effort to go green. Phrases such as “global warming” and most recently, “Saving Gaia” are now being used more frequently in the conversations of people in the street.

The importance of trees in the fight against global warming cannot be understated. Yet among us, there are still many who will not hesitate to cut down a tree for whatever immediate benefits the action may bring.

I am trying to save a 17-year old-mango tree from being cut down by the management committee in Bedok Shopping Complex. I am running a business in this complex and the mango tree is right behind the shop unit that I occupy.

The tree has been providing shade for visitors and the shophouses next to it for a long time. In recent years, it had also begun to bear fruit, providing delicious refreshment for whoever cared to pluck them.

About a month ago, the management sent a contractor and two workers with chainsaws to cut down the tree. At that time, my vehicle was parked under the tree. I refused to move it to stop them from cutting down the tree.

When I asked the management why the tree was being cut down, a few reasons were given, but none that would warrant cutting it down. My vehicle stayed under the tree that day.

After many appeals, emails and letters to anybody who might have had an influence on the matter, and a legal letter from the management to me, the tree is still standing.

However, I do not know how much longer I can keep the chainsaws away. The management committee claims to have the legal right to cut the tree down as it is standing on its land.

I am appealing to them to do the right thing.

In the eventuality that the mango tree is cut down, it will be another sad testimony to what is happening to millions of trees all over the world — cut down in the name of progress.

One tree may seem insignificant but my cry is “Save Gaia, one tree at a time”.

Related links

You Can Help Gabriel Save a Tree
on the flying fish friends blog

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Singapore has best living in Asia: Survey

Alicia Wong, Today Online 10 Jun 08;

The Urban Redevelopment Authority’s (URA) new Leisure Plan could be a panacea. “Singapore could further improve its standing by enhancing its socio-cultural environment, recreation options, and natural environment. (The URA’s plan) aims to address precisely some of these issues.”

SINGAPORE has improved when it comes quality of living, but would this be enough to offset the rising cost of living for expatriates?

This year, Singapore emerged tops in Asia, excluding New Zealand and Australia, for quality of living and climbed two notches higher globally to 32nd, according to Mercer’s annual quality of living rankings.

Singapore also topped Asia for personal safety, followed by cities in Japan and Hong Kong. Covering 215 countries, the survey acts as a guide for governments and companies placing employees on international assignments.

However, in a survey last year, the same firm also noted Singapore’s rise from the 17th to the 14th most expensive city in the world for expatriates, due to rising housing and transportation demands.

This could remain a problem, :Mercer’s managing director of Asean Su-Yen Wong told Today, citing the lack of specific expatriate housing in the long term and shortage of international school vacancies as causes for concern.

But, beyond rising costs, Singapore’s only issues with respect to quality of living would be the hot and humid climate, and socio-cultural environment, she said.

The Urban Redevelopment Authority’s (URA) new Leisure Plan could be a panacea. “Singapore could further improve its standing by enhancing its socio-cultural environment, recreation options, and natural environment. (The URA’s plan) aims to address precisely some of these issues.”

The plan aims to ensure that “even as we continue to grow, we can still enjoy a very good quality of life”, URA chief executive Cheong Koon Hean had said last month.

Singapore’s improvement this year shows her :strength, relative to other cities, in quality of living in terms of political and social environment, medical and health considerations, public services and transportation, and housing.

Mercer is also monitoring the: rise in dengue fever cases and Chikungunya fever here, as expatriates have started to consider these infectious diseases as an issue for expatriation, added Ms Wong. But “it is still not an alarming situation and globally, Singapore is still seen as extremely enticing city for international assignments”.

Singapore ranked 2nd in Asia, 4th in the world as key centre of commerce
Channel NewsAsia 9 Jun 08;

SINGAPORE: Singapore ranks second in Asia after Tokyo as a key centre of commerce, according to a study by MasterCard Worldwide Research.

The study ranks the top 75 centres of commerce by comparing how they perform critical functions that connect markets around the world.

Globally, Singapore takes fourth spot ahead of Hong Kong which is sixth in this year's index.

According to the study, Singapore shines as a financial hub for its ease in doing business, economic stability, as well as legal and political framework.

Phillip Overmyer, Chief Executive, Singapore International Chamber of Commerce, said: "The things that we consistently hear are that people want quality and stability in business decisions from the government. They want predictability and stability and those are the kinds of things that are rated in this study and show Singapore with very high rankings."

But analysts said the city-state must not be complacent as ratings for Tokyo, Singapore and Hong Kong are very close to one another. They added that ASEAN integration may help Singapore break into the top three.

Manu Bhaskaran, CEO, Centennial Group, Member of Research Panel, said: "If the ASEAN region were to enjoy a sharp acceleration in economic growth over the next few years, then the sheer volume of activity that will be generated, will gravitate towards Singapore and that would help us move up the rankings."

The study also showed Asia and Eastern Europe's growing importance in the business world, with eight Asian cities in the top 25 list.

And experts said ongoing urbanisation means that economic activity will be increasingly city-oriented. As a result, cities in Asia will make a play for a greater share of such activity.

Shanghai jumped eight notches to number 24 from its 32nd spot a year ago.

London was number one in the global ranking, followed by New York, Tokyo, Singapore and Chicago. - CNA/vm

Singapore is easiest city in the world to do business
It is also top in region for economic stability and legal/political framework: Survey
Michelle Tay, Straits Times 10 Jun 08;

SINGAPORE has leapfrogged rival Hong Kong in a ranking of the most influential commercial centres around the world.

The Republic is now the second most influential centre in Asia, just behind Tokyo, according to the survey, which is said to be used by multinationals to help guide investment decisions.

Singapore sits in fourth spot globally in the MasterCard Worldwide Centres of Commerce Index, up two places from last year. Hong Kong fell from fifth to sixth.

Although the Republic trails London, New York and Tokyo, it beat them in terms of a key criterion used to compile the ranking - the ease of doing business.

In last year's inaugural ranking, Singapore came in fourth in this area, which covers a range of factors, including quality of life, investor protection, health and safety, and corporate tax levels.

Mr Mark Ellwood, the managing director of recruitment firm Robert Walters Singapore, attributed the high score to how easy it is to set up a business and to hire foreign talent here.

Mrs Mildred Tan, the managing director of Ernst & Young Associates, said: 'Singapore is very pro-business, and institutions gravitate towards environments that are open and welcoming.'

She called the ranking a 'positive reinforcement' for firms considering doing business in the Republic.

'When it comes to relocation, they will look at various things, from tax incentives to telecommunications infrastructure. The study will be another indicator for them whether to start here, to remain here, or to grow here.'

Singapore was also top in the Asia-Pacific for two of the other six criteria used in the ranking: economic stability and the legal/political framework.

The ranking of 75 cities is drawn up by a panel of academics and other experts.

It serves as 'a road map for corporations to identify and evaluate investment and market opportunities in a world where cities, instead of countries, have become the primary economic players', said Dr Yuwa Hedrick-Wong, MasterCard Worldwide's economic adviser.

He said Asia 'is experiencing a renaissance in terms of economic growth and social development'.

Eight Asian cities feature in the top 25 this year, up from five last year. 'The growth performance of China and India has shifted the economic centre of gravity towards Asia,' said Dr Hedrick-Wong.

Mr Manu Bhaskaran, the head of economic research at the Centennial Group and one of the eight members of the Worldwide Centres of Commerce research panel, said that given time, Singapore could overtake Tokyo as the top Asian centre of commerce.

'Tokyo has not opened up the way the US, Europe, Dubai and Singapore have,' he said, adding that Singapore's absolute score of 66.16 points was not far behind that of Tokyo (66.6).

The other four criteria used in the ranking are volume and connectivity of financial flow, reputation as a business centre, knowledge creation and information flow, and liveability.

One of Singapore's biggest challenges appears to be its place in the bottom half of the 75 cities in terms of liveability.

While Vancouver in Canada emerged as the world's most liveable city, Singapore ranked 40th - or fifth in the Asia-Pacific.

MasterCard said a relative lack of personal freedom dragged its score down.

As was the case last year, the top three places in the study went to London, New York and Tokyo, in that order.

First-timers in the top 25 include Shanghai and Amsterdam.

Mr Bhaskaran said the Chinese city could rise further, as it was 'sitting on top' of what is probably the most dynamic economy for the next 20 to 30 years.

Singapore leapfrogs HK as a financial centre
Survey ranks it fourth worldwide but expert says it can't stand still
Joyce Hooi, Business Times 10 Jun 08;

(SINGAPORE) Singapore climbed to fourth place on MasterCard's Worldwide Centers of Commerce Index this year, leapfrogging Chicago and Hong Kong along the way. It is now the number two city in Asia in this ranking of financial centres - with only Tokyo ahead of it.

'The Centers of Commerce Index is a roadmap for corporations to identify and evaluate investment and market opportunities in a world where cities, instead of countries, have become the primary economic players,' said Yuwa Hedrick-Wong, MasterCard Worldwide's economic adviser in Asia-Pacific.

The index surveyed 75 cities using seven key indicators of varying weightages that evaluated a city's legal and political framework, economic stability, ease of doing business, financial flow, business centre, knowledge creation and information flow, and livability.

Singapore's ranking was driven by its strong showing in relation to the ease of doing business and its legal and political framework indicators, in which it ranked first and second overall, respectively.

Manu Bhaskaran, a member of the panel behind the index, attributed Singapore's strength in these areas to prudent government leadership in facilitating commerce,

'The government has made the right decisions in cutting taxes, bringing in talent and focusing on integrated resorts,' said Mr Bhaskaran at the briefing on the index yesterday.

He is, however, quick to caution against complacency. 'Singapore tends to do well in the 'process areas' which are related to bureaucracy. But other people can learn this formula and mimic it,' he said.

Instead, Singapore would do well to shore up its competence in the knowledge creation and liveability areas, he said.

It is currently ranked 40th for liveability - an indicator measuring elements like personal freedom and quality of life. 'To generate more knowledge creation, Singapore should keep adding more universities and encouraging foreign talent,' said Mr Bhaskaran.

Singapore also has its work cut out if it wants to break into the top three, which is illustrated by the fact that the top three positions have been retained this year by London, New York and Tokyo.

'London and New York possess critical mass, having amassed a concentration of analysts, investment banks and the support services that accompany them. Critical mass is something that we lack, especially in the financial flows area,' said Mr Bhaskaran.

The key to overcoming this limitation is cross-border integration and higher levels of economic growth within the Asean region, he revealed. 'Singapore has to be the capital city in the economic sense in Asean, in order for it to be in the top two,' he said.

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Malaysia to examine status of Pulau Pisang

Straits Times 10 Jun 08;

KUALA LUMPUR - MALAYSIA's federal government will consult the Johor state government before engaging with Singapore on taking over the management and administration of the Pulau Pisang lighthouse, said Foreign Minister Rais Yatim.

'The federal government will have to do its homework with Johor first. We have not consulted Johor officially yet,' he told reporters yesterday. Dr Rais was asked to comment on calls to take over the management and administration of the lighthouse on the 154ha island from Singapore for fear of losing the island.

This was despite a statement by Johor Menteri Besar Abdul Ghani Othman that ownership of the island was based on a treaty between Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Abu Bakar and the British in 1900, which clearly stated that Malaysia had sovereignty over the island.

Dr Rais said there were at least 110 islands within Malaysian territory near Sabah, Sarawak, Johor and Kedah that required mapping and determination of their status.

'That is why people say you only become wiser after an event. If we look at the history of Phuket, it is historically named Bukit (hill in Malay), but Thailand claimed ownership of it. History has shown that we did not do anything about it,' Dr Rais said.

He said he instructed the relevant authorities to carry out homework on the 110 islands and prepare a report for the Cabinet for further action to determine their sovereignty.

On May 23, the International Court of Justice ruled that Singapore had sovereignty over Pedra Branca and Malaysia over Middle Rocks.

Meanwhile, Datuk Abdul Ghani said that the Johor state government was open to discussing the federal government's proposal to take over the management of the lighthouse.

But he said several measures had already been taken to consolidate the state's rights over the island, including requiring the personnel managing the lighthouse to register with the Kukup marine department.

THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK

Malaysia Should Start Talks To Take Over Lighthouse On Pulau Pisang, Says MP
Bernama 8 Jun 08;

PULAU PISANG (Pontian), June 8 (Bernama) -- Malaysia should start negotiations with Singapore to take over the administration and management of the lighthouse in Pulau Pisang from the republic, said Pontian member of parliament Ahmad Maslan.

Ahmad said he had made the request to Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim to initiate immediate discussions with the island state on the takeover.

"I hope Pulau Pisang will one day be handed over to Malaysia through diplomatic negotiations. The lighthouse can be a tourist attraction to the island.

"Datuk Seri Rais was receptive to the suggestion," he told reporters at the 53-metre high Pulau Pisang lighthouse, currently managed by staff of the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore. It is about 1,000 metres above sea level.

Earlier, Ahmad led a 60-member delegation comprising representatives from various government agencies, Umno and the mass media to the 178.4ha Pulau Pisang, located 8km off the Pontian coast.

Though Pulau Pisang is located in the Malaysian territory, the lighthouse is managed by Singapore following an agreement between Sultan Ibrahim of Johor and the British government in 1900.

Following the International Court of Justice's decision that Singapore had sovereignty over Batu Puteh, concerns have arose on the future of Pulau Pisang, which also has a lighthouse run by Singapore, that it would receive the same fate as Batu Puteh.

Pulau Pisang is strategically located at the "southern shipping route of the busy Straits of Melaka.

"We will not allow history to be repeated. Losing Batu Puteh to Singapore is bad enough," said Ahmad, adding that negotiations on Malaysia taking over the management of the lighthouse should not involve the ICJ.

"We need to re-visit the 1900 agreement allowing Singapore to manage the lighthouse on Pulau Pisang," he said.

He said plans to develop Pulau Pisang should be executed as soon as possible to ensure Malaysia's sovereignty on the island would not be challenged by others now and in the future.

In a symbolic gesture that plans to develop Pulau Pisang had started, he said, a surau, costing RM50,000, would be built on Pulau Pisang soon, with Ahmad contributing RM25,000.

He said the federal and state governments had agreed to develop Pulau Pisang for eco-tourism.

"What we need to do now is to promote the potentials of Pulau Pisang as a tourist spot to local and foreign investors.

To spur development, I will propose Pulau Pisang be placed under the development plans of Iskandar Malaysia.

"I believe investors from oil-rich Middle East countries will be interested to develop Pulau Pisang," he added.

-- BERNAMA

Federal Govt Will Confer With Johor Govt On Pulau Pisang Takeover, Says Rais
Bernama 9 Jun 08;

KUALA LUMPUR, June 9 (Bernama) -- The federal government will confer with the Johor state government on the taking over of the management and development plans for Pulau Pisang, Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim said Monday.

He said the government also planned to do mapping, surveying and research on the 110 islands in the country whose status had not been specified.

Rais said he believed the Johor government was gamed for the kind of development Pulau Pisang should be endowed with.

"With the consultation and consent with the Johor state government, we will work with Singapore to find out the best solution. As I've said after the Batu Puteh and Middle Rocks issue, we would like to charter a continuous passage of harmony and friendship with our neighbour, a statement which my counterpart in Singapore had shared publicly.

"We will do some homework first in respect of the agreement (between Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar of Johor and the British government in 1900 over the management of the lighthouse on Pulau Pisang). The situation is bound by history.

"We would like to do some homework," he told reporters after delivering his welcoming remarks at the Third International Conference themed "The Muslim World and The West: Bridging The Gap".

Rais was responding to the call by Pontian MP Ahmad Maslan on Sunday that Malaysia should start immediate negotiations with Singapore on taking over the management of the lighthouse on Pulau Pisang.

Ahmad had said though Pulau Pisang was located in Malaysian territory, the lighthouse was managed by Singapore under an agreement between Sultan Ibrahim of Johor and the British government in 1900.

Rais also said Malaysia must be aware of the status of her surrounding islands and had asked for a report to be tabled in the Cabinet to decide on for further action to be taken, be it in Sabah, Sarawak, Johor or in Kedah.

"For instance, if we look at the history of Phuket, we owned the island at one time, but history has taken away the island from us. We didn't do anything about it.

"So, we will do our homework for the 110 islands throughout the country. I've asked for a report to be prepared for the Cabinet to decide on further action to be taken on every island owned by Malaysia," he added.

-- BERNAMA

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Malaysia plans to determine status of 100 islands

Channel NewsAsia 9 Jun 08;

KUALA LUMPUR - Malaysia plans to determine the sovereignty of 100 islands around the country after an international court handed neighbouring Singapore a strategic islet, a minister said Monday.

The International Court of Justice last month affirmed Singapore's sovereignty over Pedra Branca, while the sovereignty of Middle Rocks was awarded to Malaysia. This has triggered fears that more unoccupied islands could be up for grabs.

"There are about 100 islands and formations in our country which need to be mapped and have their status determined," Foreign Minister Rais Yatim told reporters.

He said the islands were located in seas off Sabah and Sarawak states on Borneo island -- which Malaysia shares with Indonesia -- as well as off the coasts of northern Kedah state near Thailand and Johor which lies near Singapore.

"I have asked for a report to be submitted to Cabinet on the issue and that action be taken to verify each island as Malaysian property," Rais added.

The ICJ found that the Malaysian sultanate-turned-province of Johor had held the original title to Pedra Branca, but had not taken any action on Singapore's lighthouse operations there for more than a century.

Rais' comments came after newspaper reports aired fears that other islands such as Pulau Pisang, located in the strategic Malacca Straits, could also be claimed by Singapore.

Singapore also operates a lighthouse on that island as part of an agreement signed by the state's ruler and earlier British colonial authorities in 1900, although the island remains in Malaysian territory.

Rais said the government would investigate how it could take over administration of the facility.

He said: "We will do some homework first regarding the agreement prevailing over the lighthouse because as you can imagine, the situation is bound by history and we would like to do some homework." - AFP/vm

Malaysia moves to verify claims over 100 islands: Minister
Today Online 10 Jun 08;

KUALA LUMPUR — Malaysia plans to determine the sovereignty of 100 islands around the country after an international court handed Singapore a strategic islet, a minister said yesterday.

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) last month affirmed Singapore’s sovereignty over Pedra Branca, known as Batu Puteh in Malaysia, triggering fears that more unoccupied islands could be up for grabs.

“There are about 100 islands and formations in our country which need to be mapped and have their status determined,” Foreign Minister Rais Yatim told reporters.

He said the islands were located in seas off Sabah and Sarawak states on Borneo island — which Malaysia shares with Indonesia :— as well as off the coasts of northern Kedah state near Thailand and Johor which lies near Singapore.

“I have asked for a report to be submitted to Cabinet on the issue and that action be taken to verify each island as Malaysian property,” Mr Rais added.

The ICJ found that the Malaysian sultanate-turned-province of Johor had held the original title to tiny Pedra Branca, but had not taken any action on Singapore’s lighthouse operations there for more than a century.

Mr Rais’ comments came after newspaper reports aired fears that other islands such as Pulau Pisang, located in the strategic Malacca Straits, could also be claimed by Singapore. Singapore also operates a lighthouse on Pulau Pisang as part of an agreement signed by the state’s ruler and the British colonial authorities in 1900, although the island remains in Malaysian territory.

Mr Rais said the government would investigate how it couldtake over administration of the facility. “We will do some homework first regarding the agreement prevailing over the lighthouse because as you can imagine, the situation is bound by history.”

Citing Mr Rais, The Star newspaper reported yesterday that the government would consult the Johor state government before negotiating with Singapore about taking over the administration of the Pulau Pisang lighthouse. — AFP

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Fans take the plunge, swim with sharks

Leon Stafford, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution 9 Jun 08;

Not everyone is pleased. Some animal researchers worry the new program could do more harm than good. They say the fish already have a small space in which to swim so why throw in a bunch of Jacques Cousteau wannabes.

Thirteen-year-old Evan Strawn now knows what a whale shark feels like.

Evan and 11 other regular folk were among the first to swim or dive with the "gentle giants" and thousands of other fish as part of a new program at the world's largest fish tank.

"One of the whale sharks touched me," Evan said in disbelief after the swim.

Divers and swimmers are not allowed to touch the fish, but whale sharks go where they want to and one of them brushed up against the boy. Three dive masters guided the swimmers around the tank and tried to keep them out of the way when the behemoth fish came by.

The swimmers wore wet suits and breathed compressed air as they snorkeled next to whale sharks Trixie and Alice as well as acrobatic mating cow-nosed rays.

The divers and swimmers emerged from the tank with the awe of children and used words like "incredible," "unbelievable" and "awesome."

"I remember being on the other side of the glass thinking 'wow.' I never want to be on the other side again," said Mike Strawn, who swam with his wife, two children and two friends.

Brothers Daren and Dale Newfield did the dive portion of the event.

"Did you see the hammerhead circle?" Daren said excitedly to his brother. In case you're wondering, all the fish were fed about an hour before the divers took the plunge.

The event has attracted tourists from outside Georgia. Marlene Gillrup traveled from Jacksonville for the dive.

"It's a lot of species in a very small area compared to when you dive in the open," Gillrup said smiling. "I'm running short of words."

The experience is a move that aquarium officials hope will educate visitors about marine animals and help the aquarium continue to attract big guest numbers.

"It's the only place where you are guaranteed to swim with whale sharks," says Dave Santucci, aquarium spokesman. "We want to engage people with animals and help them make a connection."

Not everyone is pleased. Some animal researchers worry the new program could do more harm than good. They say the fish already have a small space in which to swim so why throw in a bunch of Jacques Cousteau wannabes.

"I have numerous concerns with this," said Lori Marino, a senior lecturer in neuroscience and behavioral biology at Emory University. "The first is that they have lost two of them already. And secondly, we don't know a lot about whale sharks, so this just seems risky."

Ralph and Norton, two of the attraction's original whale sharks, died last year. Ralph died in January of complications from peritonitis.

Norton was euthanized in June 2007 after months of declining health. Aquarium officials suspected a pesticide used to treat the tank for parasites may have contributed to his demise.

"They are already confined in captivity and now you are adding people to the mix," she said. "I don't see what it has to do with teaching people about whale sharks. It seems more about entertainment."

So far, the program has proved popular.

Already, 1,500 people have signed on through 2008, Santucci said. Space

for the next three months is almost completely booked.

There will only be a maximum of six swimmers and six divers a day. Each will be allowed in the water for 30 minutes. The program is open to anyone 12 years old and older, but those under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. And divers must be certified. Videos of swim/dives are available for participants for $50.

"We really wanted to do something that would bring people in from all over the country and all over the world," Santucci said.

He said he understands concerns about protecting the animals' well-being, but thinks fish fans have nothing to worry about. The animals' health will be closely monitored and the swim/dives will be guided.

"Safety is our first priority," he said, noting that the facility has already invited V.I.P.s to swim without incident. "It's a guided tour. It's not a free for all. Touching the fish is not allowed."

And for those worried that the fish may bite, he shakes his head no.

"They don't eat anything bigger than a quarter," he said.

Chris Reinolds contributed to this article.

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Animal rights: Lead the pack in voicing concerns

Letter from Marie Hogan (Ms), Straits Times Forum 10 Jun 08;

ANIMAL rights group Peta (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) recently criticised Singapore Airlines for using the image of a rodeo in one of its advertisements.

But the sometimes cruel exploitation of animals for commercial and entertainment value is nothing new. Note the following:

1. A full page ad by SilkAir showing two men in a river forcing open the mouth of a crocodile - the animal was probably tame and used to being manhandled; nonetheless, the message sent out was wrong.

2. Prudential Insurance's use of the matador to symbolise its strengths.

3. HSBC's particularly cruel one of a live fish being dragged across gravel then stepped on by a bear and eaten (did Peta get this one and if they did, was there anything done about it?)

4. An episode on a popular entertainment programme which showed a fish sliced, garnished and served up live, while the host giggled and made inane remarks.

5. An episode on a cooking show on cable TV that showed a live octopus thrown into a pot of boiling soup and the host making insensitive remarks as the creature flayed about.

Who is at fault for perpetuating these cruelties? Companies, public relations firms or consumers?

Clearly, all.

It does not take much to curtail this perpetuation. Companies have influence, so they need to take more responsibility with their advertising content.

Consumers need to be more discerning about what they watch. And if a programme is clearly offensive, say something about it.

If consumers demand better treatment for animals, all related and even non-related services will have to clean up their act.

But until that happens, associations like Peta, even if at times overzealous, will be vital to monitoring the welfare of animals.

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