Best of our wild blogs: 13 Mar 10

What do you think about diving in Singapore?
from wild shores of singapore

Orange-breasted Trogon mating
from Bird Ecology Study Group

Don't feed the critters
from The Right Blue

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Bigger role for climate committee in Singapore

Besides international strategy focus, it will oversee home policies
Clarissa Oon, Straits Times 13 Mar 10;

THE inter-ministerial committee that formulates Singapore's position at global climate change negotiations now has an additional role of overseeing policies to be taken at home, Senior Minister S. Jayakumar said yesterday.

It will drive domestic measures to mitigate against climate change, now that the focus of international talks has shifted to what countries must do at home to meet obligations such as emissions reduction.

The Inter-Ministerial Committee on Climate Change (IMCCC), which Professor Jayakumar chairs, will be reorganised to have two working groups: One to focus on Singapore's strategy at international talks, and the other to craft and implement domestic mitigation measures.

Another change: the secretariat servicing the committee, now at the Foreign Ministry, will come under the Prime Minister's Office.

'This is to reflect the important scope of policies to be coordinated, including domestic economic, regulatory and fiscal measures, as well as the ongoing international negotiations,' Prof Jayakumar told Parliament, when replying to a question from Mr Cedric Foo (West Coast GRC).

To strengthen its clout, the National Climate Change Secretariat will be headed by a permanent secretary, who will coordinate the work of the working groups.

Explaining the changes, he noted that the Government has pledged to cut emissions growth by 16per cent below 'business as usual' levels by 2020.

This pledge, made ahead of last November's global climate summit in Copenhagen, is contingent on the world reaching an agreement to fight climate change.

What this means is that Singapore must introduce measures going beyond its earlier target of a 7 to 11per cent reduction in emissions growth below business as usual levels. This was set by last year's Sustainable Singapore blueprint.

'But this is no simple matter. We must formulate climate change policies that strike the right balance between regulatory, fiscal and other measures, and at the same time enable us to sustain economic growth,' he said.

Developing policies and implementing measures need close coordination.

'While our current working arrangements have worked well so far, we need to gear ourselves up to deliver on our domestic commitments, and to tighten coordination between international negotiations and domestic policies,' he said.

Hence the single body to oversee both aspects of climate change policies.

The working group on international negotiations will continue to be led by the Second Permanent Secretary of the Foreign Affairs Ministry. The other working group will be co-chaired by the permanent secretaries of the Trade and Industry and the Finance Ministries.

Other environmental areas not directly related to climate change will continue to be overseen by the Environment and Water Resources and the National Development Ministries. These include water security, air quality, waste minimisation, biodiversity and sky-rise greenery.

Giving his prognosis of the fraught global negotiations on climate change, Prof Jayakumar said that while there was a lull immediately after the Copenhagen talks, the negotiation process has now taken on a sense of urgency, to build up to the next conference in Mexico at the year's end.

Among other things, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon has formed a high-level advisory group on an important aspect - how mitigation measures will be financed.

Singapore has been invited to be a group member and will be represented by Finance Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam and Second Finance Minister Lim Hwee Hua.

Prof Jayakumar said there was still work to be done by negotiators, who have to bridge differences on issues such as financing, and how to measure and verify mitigation efforts by each country.

'I wish I had a crystal ball, but I'm a bit more encouraged now than immediately after Copenhagen, when the pieces were very slow in being picked up.'

National Climate Change Secretariat to be strengthened
S Ramesh Channel NewsAsia 12 Mar 10;

SINGAPORE: Singapore's National Climate Change Secretariat is to be strengthened. It will now come under the Prime Minister's Office and be headed by a Permanent Secretary, said Senior Minister S Jayakumar.

Professor Jayakumar, who oversees climate change policy issues, told Parliament that Singapore has also been invited to serve in a high level advisory group on financing aspects of climate change, formed by the UN Secretary General.

Singapore's representatives will be Finance Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam and Second Minister for Finance, Mrs Lim Hwee Hua.

For a small, low-lying, densely populated island state like Singapore, climate change is a crucial issue. And as the issue cuts across various policy areas, the country set up the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Climate Change in 2007.

Professor Jayakumar said: "The IMCCC, which I chair, is supported by an Executive Committee comprising the Permanent Secretaries of those Ministries and headed by the Second Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs.

"We also have an inter-agency team led by a Chief Negotiator to handle the international negotiations. These bodies are serviced by a dedicated National Climate Change Secretariat, which is currently located in MFA.

"The IMCCC has largely focussed on formulating Singapore's positions and strategy for the international negotiations. Domestically, our mitigation measures under the Sustainable Singapore Blueprint were coordinated by MND and MEWR, co-chairs of the Sustainable Development Policy Group (SPDG)."

But now the country's entering a new phase.

Professor Jayakumar added: "As we get closer to a global agreement on climate change, the focus will shift towards what we need to do domestically to fulfil our obligations.

"Singapore will have to introduce measures that go beyond the 7-11 per cent below "Business as Usual" (BAU) under the Sustainable Singapore Blueprint.

"We must formulate climate change policies that strike the right balance between regulatory, fiscal and other measures, and at the same time enable us to sustain economic growth. Developing these policies and implementing these measures will need close coordination among the various agencies."

Hence, there is a need to gear up to deliver on the domestic commitments and to tighten coordination between international negotiations and Singapore's domestic policies.

So the government has decided that it is best to have a single body oversee the climate change policies and coordinate the roles of two work groups - one which deals with international negotiations strategy and the other on domestic matters.

Professor Jayakumar said: "There are some other issues which are not directly related to climate change, but are still very important aspects of sustainable development - such as water security, air quality, waste minimisation, biodiversity, and sky rise greenery. These areas continue to be overseen by MEWR and MND, as the lead agencies for sustainable development."

On the current state of affairs of the climate change negotiations, Professor Jayakumar noted that immediately after the climate change conference in Copenhagen, things were slow at restarting. And he feels there needs to be a bridging of differences, especially among the major economies.

Professor Jayakumar said: "It is well and good for countries to announce various targets and emissions. But one vexing issue is ultimately what will be the method of verifying compliance with each country's announced measures. Another vexing issue is that of financing."

Professor Jayakumar said he is a bit more encouraged now as there seems to be a sense of urgency and negotiators are due to meet again in Bonn next month.

- CNA/sc

One body to coordinate Singapore's climate change policies
Inter-ministerial committee reorganised, secretariat strengthened
Today Online 13 Mar 10;

SINGAPORE - As a global agreement on climate change gets closer to becoming reality, and Singapore gears up to deliver on its domestic commitments, a single body will now coordinate two key aspects - the international and the domestic - of the country's climate change policies.

The Inter-Ministerial Committee on Climate Change will be reorganised to focus both on formulating and implementing mitigation measures at home, and on international negotiation strategies.

Its National Climate Change Secretariat will also be strengthened. Currently located in the Foreign Affairs Ministry, it will be brought instead under the Prime Minister's Office and headed by a Permanent Secretary, to "reflect the important scope of policy matters to be coordinated", announced Senior Minister S Jayakumar.

The inter-ministerial committee was set up in 2007 - comprising Government leaders from six ministries and headed by Professor Jayakumar - to focus mainly on "formulating Singapore's positions and strategy for the international negotiations" on climate change. Its bodies are serviced by a dedicated national secretariat.

In the meantime, domestic mitigation measures under the Sustainable Singapore Blueprint have been coordinated by the Ministry for National Development (MND) and Ministry for the Environment and Water Resources (MEWR).

"But now, the country is entering a new phase," said Prof Jayakumar.

"As we get closer to a global agreement on climate change, the focus will shift towards what we need to do domestically to fulfil our obligations.

"Singapore will have to introduce measures that go beyond the 7-to-11 per cent below 'Business as Usual' under the Sustainable Singapore Blueprint ...

"We must formulate climate change policies that strike the right balance between regulatory, fiscal and other measures, and, at the same time, enable us to sustain economic growth.

"Developing these policies and implementing these measures will need close coordination among the various agencies," he said.

Hence, the reorganisation.

The inter-ministerial panel will now have two working groups instead: One, focusing on international negotiations strategy, to be led by the Second Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs; and the second, focused on domestic climate change mitigation measures, co-chaired by the Permanent Secretaries for Trade and Industry and Finance.

As for other key aspects of sustainable development not related directly to climate change - such as water security, air quality, waste minimisation, biodiversity and sky rise greenery - these will continue to be overseen by MND and MEWR.

Professor Jayakumar also informed Parliament on Friday that Singapore has been invited to serve in a high-level advisory group on financing aspects of climate change, formed by the United Nations Secretary General.

The country's representatives will be Finance Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam and Second Minister for Finance Lim Hwee Hua.

Moving beyond rhetoric
Letter from Kwan Jin Yao, Today Online 16 Mar 10;

I REFER to the report "One body to coordinate Singapore's climate change policies" (March 13-14). The administration is moving in the right direction, but more has to be done to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the measures significantly.

Regardless of the world's progress towards an international consensus and agreement, Singapore must remain committed to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, coupled by related policies that would not compromise the growth of the economy. In fact, Singapore should seize this valuable opportunity to pledge its commitment to move forward sustainably, a stand which would heighten Singapore's diplomatic standing.

Before the reorganised Inter-Ministerial Committee on Climate Change sets its sights on international negotiation strategies, much more has to be done for domestic measures. It is time to move beyond mere rhetoric and engage in tangible, effectual policy-making.

A two-pronged approach should be adopted: Strengthening and coordinating existing awareness campaigns and projects, complemented by initiatives to encourage or compel households and corporations to live and grow responsibly.

The campaigns by various organisations and agencies have either been repetitive or simply ineffective, providing little incentive for Singaporeans to effect the necessary change.

Progressively, Singapore should not be afraid to make its international presence felt. With inertia and tensions evident among the superpowers, Singapore can actively rally middle-power nations to exert effective diplomatic pressures accordingly. Greater participation in global climate conferences and forums would also provide platforms for local non-government organisations (NGOs) to gather new ideas, generate more hype, and create more synergy back home.

It is imperative that Singapore grab the climate bull by its horns, instead of remaining apathetic and lethargic. Change must be the new constant.

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Fishing groups working with PUB on licensing scheme for anglers

Hook, line and a...
Grace Chua, Straits Times 13 Mar 10;

LEISURE anglers may soon have to pay for a licence before they can drop their line and bait into Singapore waters.

Local fishing groups such as the Sport Fishing Association of Singapore (SFAS) and the Gamefish and Aquatic Rehabilitation Society (Gars) are working with national water agency PUB to come up with a licensing scheme for fishing.

PUB's director of catchment and waterways, Mr Tan Nguan Sen, told The Straits Times in an e-mail: 'By controlling the number of anglers, it is hoped that the ecosystem will not be affected while sustaining sport fishing as a popular recreational activity.'

Cases of illegal fishing escalated last year. A total of 488 summons were issued, up from 399 in 2008 and 336 in 2007. Most of these were for fishing beyond designated areas and for using pollutive live bait such as chicken liver or worms.

Fishing groups say such indiscriminate fishing impacts the ecosystem, although the exact extent of the damage to fish species has not yet been studied here.

A proper licensing system, explained Gars president Tan Tien Yun, 28, would regulate the size and number of fish caught per angler.

Licensing programmes overseas often have catch-size limits. Fish that are too small must be put back and fish that are too big are those likely to breed. Usually, specific species such as salmon or bull trout require a separate licence, while other threatened species cannot be fished at all.

Currently, there are no rules on how many fish an angler can take here or of what species.

In New Zealand, a Quota Management System has been in force since 1986. The scheme controls individual fishing numbers for more than 90 different marine species, and the methods in which they are caught. Similar systems have been introduced in Australia and Canada.

Such a licensing system would mean administrative and enforcement costs for the PUB, or the agency which administers licences.

Anglers here say they are willing to pay to fish, if it means that Singapore's waters are kept clean so more fish can survive.

'It would be like buying a golf club membership,' said fishing enthusiast Saravanan Elangkovan, 34.

Anglers in Sydney can purchase a three-day licence for about A$6 (S$7.60), while a three-year licence costs A$75.

Sport fishing here has been catching on over the last few years through clubs such as the NTU Anglers' Club, Fly Fishing Club and even on online forums such as Fishing Kaki.

There are no official figures on the number of anglers here, but the Fishing Kaki forum has more than 5,000 registered members. SFAS chairman Chin Chi Khiong, 50, said more tackle shops have sprung up in recent years to meet demands.

The PUB, which manages freshwater fishing spots, has said it will open up more legal fishing areas by the second half of this year. There are now legal sites at MacRitchie, Bedok, Kranji, Upper and Lower Seletar and Lower Peirce reservoirs, and Jurong Lake.

In future, fishing will be allowed at most parts of reservoirs except in designated no-fishing zones.

Meanwhile, SFAS and Gars are trying to teach anglers to fish without harming Singapore's waters.

'We want to promote a 'we own the waters and need to take care of them' mentality - rather than exhausting fish from one area and then moving to the next one,' said Gars vice-president Yusfiandi Yatiman, 39.

The society has conducted several workshops on sustainable fishing, covering things like how to catch and release fish gently and how to use artificial lures.

But preventing overfishing will be an uphill task, said Mr Chin, adding that it is greed that drives anglers to take home more fish than they can eat. Currently, taking home one's catch is not illegal.

Mr Chin said: 'The main reason they take the fish home is to show off.'

Read more!

My Waterway@Punggol

Water World
tay suan chiang Straits Times 13 Mar 10;

Imagine walking along a horseshoe-shaped bridge on a Sunday morning, catching the first glimpse of the sun as it rises from a waterway.

Or in the evening, heading to another similarly shaped bridge, but this one with a shaded dome, where you can see the setting sun reflected in the water. And best of all, there is no need to travel overseas to enjoy these scenes.

By the end of the year, all this will be possible when a 4.2km waterway at Punggol is completed.

Besides viewing sunrises and sunsets, visitors to the more than $25 million waterway, called My Waterway@Punggol, will be able to kayak or canoe as well as dine alfresco.

Four footbridges will provide access to both banks of the promenade. Two of them will be prime spots to enjoy sunrise and sunset views.

Construction of the waterway is underway on an empty field in Punggol that is parallel to Punggol Drive. The waterway is being built by damming two rivers at the east and west of Punggol, the Sungei Serangoon and Sungei Punggol, to form two reservoirs to meet Singapore's increasing water needs.

When completed, the waterway will link the two reservoirs to transfer water from one to the other.

Mr Alan Tan, principal architect and a deputy managing director at the Housing Board (HDB), which is in charge of the project, says that together with national water agency PUB, they saw that the waterway could 'complement the housing parcel for waterfront living'.

In May 2008, a landscape masterplan competition for the waterway was announced.

Local firm Surbana International Consultants and its Japanese partner Sen Inc were named winners in December that year.

The winning proposal not only showcased what could be done along the waterway, but also featured four distinctive footbridges that were both functional and reflective of the surroundings and Punggol's history.

'We want to give visitors an experiential journey from one end of the waterway to the other,' says Mr Tan.

Surbana's senior architectural associate Bonita Tan says the bridges are about 1km apart, helping give easy access to both sides of the 20m- to 60m-wide, and 4m-deep, waterway.

She adds that the two footbridges where the waterway meets the two rivers are designed to project out into the rivers, so visitors can fully enjoy the views of the sun rising and setting.

Another bridge, which resembles stilts on water, has been nicknamed the 'kelong' bridge.

'We wanted to bring home the idea of old Punggol,' says Ms Tan.

Back in the early days, Punggol was a fishing village and there were many kelongs that dotted the area. 'Walking on this bridge gives the experience of walking on water, like on a kelong,' she adds.

The last bridge, which will lead to a future commercial centre, has a more modern look. 'But it will have an undulating form that reflects the nature of the landscape,' says Ms Tan.

To make the bridges blend in with the surroundings, she says materials such as composite timber and steel, which will be painted for a more rustic look, will be used.

'There will also be plenty of greenery on the bridges,' she adds.

The team is also working on creating a heritage trail along the waterway to remind visitors of Punggol's transformation.

For example, photographs of Punggol during its early days will be put up along the waterway.

On a 280m-long wall at Punggol town centre, there will be panels depicting the old Punggol.

'It could be motifs of fishing villages, or even chilli crab, since the dish is well-known here,' suggests Mr Tan.

My Waterway @ Punggol is the first of its kind to be built in Singapore. It is part of the transformation plan to turn Punggol into a waterfront town.

Catching the sunset at Punggol

Plans for Punggol's makeover were first announced in 1996, by then Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong. But the Asian financial crisis halted the town's development.

Developments have accelerated in the last two years since Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong offered a new vision for it in his 2007 National Day Rally Speech.

Today, the town has a population of about 53,600 and this is projected to grow to 70,000 by next year.

The Government aims to build an extra 21,000 homes along the waterway, comprising 60 per cent HDB flats and 40 per cent private homes.

Last November, the HDB unveiled the winning design for the first batch of flats that will line the waterway.

Designed by international architectural firm Group8asia and local firm Aedas, there will be 1,200 flats featuring sky terraces, roof gardens and panoramic views of the Punggol Waterway.

The HDB hopes to offer these flats for sale this year and residents are expected to get their flats by 2014 or 2015.

While Punggol resident Tan Bee Bee, 24, is not living near the waterway, she is excited about it. The tertiary student lives a five-minute drive away.

'I can imagine it will be so scenic then and I won't have to travel to East Coast Park to view the sunset,' she says.

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NTUC Income quits car-sharing business

Car Co-op liquidated but will live on as a smaller outfit renamed Car Club
Christopher Tan, Straits Times 13 Mar 10;

NTUC Income has quit the car-sharing business it pioneered here more than a decade ago.

Its move follows two other car-share operators which have closed shop in recent years.

The cooperative-based local insurance giant cited the need to focus on its core business as a reason for liquidating the profitable 13-year-old Car Co-op.

The divestment is another in a series of moves by Income to get out of non-insurance activities since 2007, when leadership at the insurance cooperative passed from Mr Tan Kin Lian to Mr Tan Suee Chieh.

Income has since pulled out from Snow City, fitness centres, a call centre, NTUC Income Travel & Recreation Club and student-care centres.

Car Co-op will, however, live on as a pared-down operation following a management buyout by its former employees.

Renamed Car Club, the outfit has 22 cars shared by 300 members, down from its peak, when it had almost 190 cars and 4,500 members.

Car Club director and majority shareholder Lai Meng, who used to head Income's non-core businesses and who set up Car Co-op, said: 'We believe in car-sharing and we believe it has great potential.'

Going by its last audited accounts, Car Co-op was a little over $500,000 in the black in 2008.

Car-sharing was raised in Parliament on Thursday, when MPs Lim Wee Kiak and Ahmad Magad called on the Government to look into promoting it.

Responding, Transport Minister Raymond Lim said: 'From an overall transport perspective, more people sharing a car in effect increases the use of that car.

'But we recognise that there is a niche market for such services, and we will leave it to private enterprises.'

But those enterprises have dwindled. In 2007, transport giant ComfortDelGro Corp pulled the plug on its CitySpeed car-sharing firm after five years, explaining that falling car prices had made the business less viable.

The following year, Japanese carmaker Honda said its then six-year-old car-sharing scheme had become too big and unwieldy for it to maintain service standards.

The scheme continues today with a fleet of Civic Hybrids on a much smaller scale at Honda agent Kah Motor. From 100 cars and 2,500 members, it now has close to 50 cars and 300 active users.

Kah Motor seems to be managing the downsized business fairly well. It has added other models to the fleet and is looking to set up a new port in Toa Payoh this month, bringing the total to 17.

Observers say there are two main reasons car-sharing has sputtered and stalled. Transport researcher Lee Der Horng of the National University of Singapore said: 'It has much to do with car prices which have been comparatively low in recent years. So the savings you get from car-sharing are insignificant.

'Also, the system is not all that friendly. It is better than renting a car, but not better than having your own car.'

Still, long-time Car Co-op user David Yeo said he will carry on with Car Club.

The technical officer said he sold his car in 2003, when he moved near Aljunied MRT station.

'But occasionally, I still need a car. Car-sharing is more flexible than taking a cab, and I've had fairly easy access. I'm able to get a car more than 90 per cent of the time I book one,' the 44-year-old father of two said.

There are about 200 car-sharing schemes around the world. Interestingly, the IT system many of them use was devised by Income's Car Co-op and German solutions provider Invers more than 10 years ago.

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Water heater that cools rooms, dries clothes

Seven undergraduates and three PhD students will receive grants from NUS Enterprise to develop creative ideas into prototypes, start-ups or commercially viable products. Lester Kok looks at two of these projects.
Straits Times 13 Mar 10;

HOW would you like a two-in-one machine that heats up your water as well as cools your rooms with cold air?

This is the proposed prototype that two students from the National University of Singapore (NUS) came up with based on existing research done by their professors.

If they succeed, commercial businesses as well as households could slash their water-heating electricity bills by almost 75 per cent.

The duo, who call their group Soleil Water, are now using a grant from NUS to build a scaled-down version of their commercial prototype, a three-in-one system that heats water up to 60 deg C, cools a room down to 20 deg C, and dries 1.5kg of wet clothes in less than an hour.

The whole system, invented by Dr M.N.A. Hawlader from NUS' department of mechanical engineering and his PhD student Mohd Amin Zakaria, works on the idea of heat transfer where heat is extracted from the surroundings and used to heat up water.

Co-founder Darrell Zhang said the group hoped its project would use energy efficiently and reduce the carbon footprint.

'We feel that heating up water is a waste of electricity, when it can be better used for other devices,' said the 25-year-old engineering student.

'That is why we came up with an efficient way to utilise waste heat from air-conditioners and ambient heat from the air. In this way, we are using electricity as an engine to draw upon renewable and recyclable sources of energy.'

His partner, business student Bryan Lee, cites the example of a four-star hotel with almost full occupancy requiring about 150,000 litres of hot water daily.

The operating cost of producing hot water using a fuel boiler is estimated at $2.23 per 1,000 litres of water.

'With our system in place, we can potentially reduce the operating costs to less than $1 for every 1,000 litres,' the 27-year-old said.

For now, the domestic model has yet to make it to the drawing board, but the commercial prototype will be installed in a nursing home for a pilot test.

Read more!

Raptor watch returns to Tanjung Tuan, Malacca

Martin Carvalho and Alicia Yeoh, The Star 13 Mar 10;

TANJUNG TUAN: Bird lovers are in for a treat during Malaysian Nature Society’s (MNS) Raptor Watch at Tanjung Tuan this weekend with the spotting of a large number of migratory birds this season.

Some 21,613 raptors were spotted by MNS volunteers at the Tanjung Tuan’s lighthouse over a 13-day period from February 23 compared to 37,176 birds spotted over a 65-day period last year.

MNS head of communications Andrew Sebastian said that more migratory birds were expected to fly over Tanjung Tuan this season as they make their way from the colder northern region to warmer climates in the south.

“We would like to see a spike in the number of birds this year and hope avid bird watchers will join us during our weekend programme here,” he said during the unveiling of MNS’ Raptor Watch t-shirt here recently.

Local and foreign bird watchers will take part in the two-day programme starting today which includes talks by professional bird watchers from the Philippines, Thailand, China and Japan.

Members of the public would have the opportunity to participate in activities such as nature walks up Tanjung Tuan, arts and crafts workshops, games and lucky draws, he added.

Present during the ceremony was MNS Raptor Watch ambassador Maya Karin who urged locals to volunteer for worthy causes such as environment- and nature-conservation programmes.

“I am glad to bring these magical and beautiful creatures to the attention of many and be able to talk to kids about nature and the environment,” she said, adding this was her third year running as ambassador for the MNS programme.

Meanwhile, it was double delight for 18-year-old Joyce Kua Poh Ying of Satio College, Petaling Jaya, when she bagged the Best T-shirt Design award for this year’s Raptor Watch.

Joyce, a nature lover who has a keen eye for birds, was glad to contribute towards creating better awareness for MNS programmes particularly among the younger generation.

Her design emerged tops from 30 designs submitted by college students from around the country.

Her colourful creation showed the outline of a large raptor in a collage of a variety of birds.

“It took me a few days to think of a suitable design. I initially thought of creating a circle of a flock of birds but my lecturer suggested that it would be better if my motif was that of a bird in flight,” she said.

Read more!

In Malaysia: Water shortage

Drought forcing states to start water rationing
Teo Cheng Wee, Straits Times 13 Mar 10;

KUALA LUMPUR: One plastic water tank and eight colourful pails crowd the porch of Mr Mohammad Insani's home in Negeri Sembilan these days.

His taps ran dry two weeks ago, and he has had to make do with this system for his family of 12 since.

This state - and others including Johor, Malacca and Kedah - has been suffering from a month-long drought. Affected states received half the average rainfall for this time of year, causing crops to fail and forcing some areas to start water rationing.

Nilai town, where Mr Mohammad lives, is 45 minutes from Kuala Lumpur and one of the areas where water is being rationed. Water supply in KL city and its suburbs has not been affected.

Almost 20,000 people in Nilai are affected and water-filled pails can be seen in many houses in Mr Mohammad's estate. Tap water runs only from 8pm to 8am daily. The state water agency, Sains, imposed that timetable when water levels at the district's treatment plant plunged last month. Sains said this was caused by the unprecedented drying up of a river that supplies water to the district.

'We try not to cook, clean or wash clothes at home these days,' said Mr Mohammad, 25. 'Everyone just showers once a day.'

On Thursday, the government said it was prepared to implement a 'drought contingency plan' involving water rationing and cloud seeding if the dry spell persists.

Serious droughts hit Malaysia every few years. Extreme weather and El Nino are being blamed for the latest bout of dryness. It has affected other South-east Asian countries too, and is expected to last till at least the end of the month.

In the past, people have also blamed rapid urban growth and pollution, as well as the weather for contributing to the problem. But activists and politicians are now focusing on another problem - the wasteful nature of Malaysians.

When the dry spell hit his state last month, Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng announced that his government was 'seriously considering' imposing a severe fine on those who waste water.

According to the latest water statistics, the average Malaysian uses 25 per cent more water than what the United Nations recommends.

The biggest culprits live in Penang. People there use 286 litres a day, much more than the UN's 165-litre mark. By comparison, Singapore's daily domestic usage is 158 litres.

Penang has the cheapest water rate in Malaysia, at 31 sen (13 Singapore cents) per cubic metre. Singapore's tariffs are seven times higher, said Mr Lim.

That has prompted some to propose higher rates for water. But raising the prices of necessities is a sensitive issue and several politicians have spoken out against it. So the government is looking at other ways to minimise water shortages in the future.

One suggestion is tapping into groundwater, extracted using wells. But financial concerns have been raised, with each well estimated to cost US$2 million (S$2.8 million).

Rainwater harvesting could also be made compulsory, a minister said recently. This means residents are required to install tanks on their roofs to collect rainwater. This is used for non-essential cleaning purposes and studies have shown that this can reduce water consumption by about 40 per cent.

But opposition MP and water activist Charles Santiago feels the country needs to embark on a major sustained campaign: 'Malaysians have a perennial carefree attitude towards water. This is why some people don't fix leaks, or leave their taps running. We need to educate them about such behaviour.'

As for Negeri Sembilan, Sains said it is fixing the problem by channelling water from another source to Nilai, and building a new treatment plant. By 2012, Nilai should be less prone to droughts.

But all that seems distant to Mr Mohammad. His family has to continue rationing water until the shortage eases. 'I can't wait for this to be over,' he said.

Malaysia wilts in the heat
Straits Times 13 Mar 10;

# Johor: A month-long water rationing exercise affecting 25,000 residents in central Kluang district was recently extended by another month, until mid-April. The popular Kota Tinggi waterfall has dried up. The state government has set aside RM500,000 (S$211,000) for cloud seeding.

# Sarawak: Dry weather has caused rice shortages in the rural farmlands of interior Sarawak, as harvests plunged by 70 per cent. Emergency rice supplies had to be delivered to several settlements. Rivers in the mountainous, remote regions of Bario and Bakelalan have dried up.

# Negeri Sembilan: Water is being rationed in Nilai, with the unprecedented drying up of the Batang Benar river that supplies the area. Water levels plunged to half of the normal level, triggering water rationing that has affected almost 20,000 residents.

# Kelantan: The state government held prayers for rain yesterday, as some 26,000ha of padi fields in Kota Baru, Pasir Puteh, Bachok and Tumpat districts have been affected by the drought. The authorities estimate possible losses of up to RM52 million if the drought persists.

# Sabah: The lucrative palm oil industry here is struggling to deliver as its fruits wilt in the heat. Sabah produces a quarter of Malaysia's palm oil and experts worry that the country may not meet its target output this year if the bad weather persists.

El Nino's impact felt elsewhere
Straits Times 13 Mar 10;

# Thailand: Rice production in the world's largest rice-exporting nation is likely to suffer as drought is spreading in 36 of Thailand's 76 provinces, mostly in the north and north-east. The Mekong river is at its lowest level in 30 years near Thailand's border with Laos, Bloomberg reported.

# Vietnam: Vietnam's severe drought - possibly the worst in a century - has hit the country's electricity sector as reservoirs run out of water to feed hydropower plants. Fires are burning throughout the country's bone-dry north and tinderbox conditions threaten the south, Time Magazine reported.

# China: More than 11 million people and eight million livestock are facing a shortage of drinking water in southern China's worst drought in 50 years, CCTV reported last month. Many reservoirs have all but dried up.

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In the Philippines: Power shortage

Blackouts of up to 12 hours a day
Alastair McIndoe, Straits Times 13 Mar 10;

MANILA: In a covered area on the enormous Payatas garbage dump, mother-of-four Jane Tolentino plugs her electric iron into a row of power points and spreads a T-shirt onto a rusting ironing board.

Above her hangs a sign: 'Powered by methane'. The gas is extracted from rotting garbage and converted into electricity that powers the dumpsite's operations - and an ironing centre for ragpickers.

'We won't be getting brownouts,' says Ms Tolentino, as passing trash-filled trucks churn up clouds of dust.

Drops in the supply of electricity known as brownouts are spreading across the Philippines. A heatwave linked to the El Nino weather pattern has caused water levels in hydroelectric dams - which supply around a third of the nation's electricity - to fall to critical levels.

Repair work on several key power plants has worsened the situation.

Power cuts of up to 12 hours a day have hit parts of the main southern island of Mindanao, which is heavily dependent on hydroelectricity. Peak demand on the island with its population of 20 million is 1,450MW. But its power grid is supplying less than half that amount.

Unless it rains in the coming fortnight, the huge Magat Dam in the parched northern Philippines will be forced to shut down until the water level rises.

Last week, parts of metropolitan Manila were hit by two-hour rotating power cuts caused by breakdowns at three coal-fired plants. The electricity distributor Meralco has warned of further cuts.

'Businessmen are very apprehensive,' Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Francis Chua told reporters.

While new power plants are under construction, concerned groups say these will not be sufficient to meet future demand. Energy officials estimate the country's power needs will double to around 16,500MW over the next 20 years.

'The larger picture is worrisome,' said Mr Alberto Lim, executive director of the Makati Business Club, which represents big business in the Philippines.

'It takes between three and five years to put up a new power plant so we have to start attracting investments in this sector soon, but the climate is not inviting.'

He was referring to investor concerns on governance and corruption.

The Philippine Star daily said in a recent editorial: 'The El Nino weather phenomenon is merely an aggravating factor.'

Right now, the energy authorities are grappling with their most severe power shortage since the early 1990s, when blackouts lasting 12 hours a day hit the capital.

That was fixed when former president Fidel Ramos used emergency powers to contract private companies to provide electricity from diesel-run portable generators called power barges. It was an expensive solution, however.

The government is looking at this option again for Mindanao.

But plans to hold a special session of Congress to vote on giving President Gloria Arroyo emergency powers to tackle the power problem were dropped on doubts that a quorum could be reached.

This is election season and many lawmakers are out campaigning in their provinces for re-election in the May 10 polls.

'We will do everything we can to prevent power-related concerns getting in the way of an... orderly election,' Energy Secretary Angelo Reyes told reporters.

Mr Lim said local and foreign companies are looking to the next administration to improve the business climate to spur much-needed energy investments.

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Chinese medicine societies reject tiger bones ahead of CITES

WWF 12 Mar 10;

Doha, Qatar – WWF and TRAFFIC welcome a World Federation of Chinese Medicine Societies (WFCMS) statement urging its members not to use tiger bone or any other parts from endangered wildlife.

The statement was made at a symposium Friday in Beijing and notes that some of the claimed medicinal benefits of tiger bone have no basis. The use of tiger bones was removed from the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) pharmacopeia in 1993, when China first introduced a domestic ban on tiger trade.

“Tiger conservation has become a political issue in the world. Therefore, it’s necessary for the traditional Chinese medicine industry to support the conservation of endangered species, including tigers,” said Huang Jianyin, deputy secretary of WFCMS.

Illegal trade in Asian big cat products is a key issue at the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) Conference of Parties meeting at Doha, Qatar. China is among the 175 countries that are signatories to this international treaty governing wildlife trade.

“CITES governments should be encouraged by this statement and use the opportunity they have at this meeting to pass measures, that if properly enforced, can help put an end to tiger trade,” said Dr. Colman O’Criodain, Wildlife trade analyst, WWF International.

The statement also calls on all WFCMS’ members to promote tiger conservation and encourages them to abide by all relevant international and national regulations on wildlife trade.

“The Societies’ public declaration is a clear signal that the traditional Chinese medicinal community is now backing efforts to secure a future for wild tigers,” said Professor Xu Hongfa, head of TRAFFIC’s programme in China.

As an international traditional Chinese academic organization, the WFCMS stated that it had a duty to research the conservation of endangered species, including tigers.

“We will ask our members not to use endangered wildlife in traditional Chinese medicine, and reduce the misunderstanding and bias of the international community,” said the WFCMS’ Huang Jianyin. “The traditional Chinese medicine industry should look for substitutes and research on economical and effective substitutes for tiger products, which will improve the international image and status of traditional Chinese medicine and promote TCM in the world.”

The WFCMS is an international academic organization based in Beijing, with 195 member organizations spanning 57 nations where traditional Chinese medicine is used. It aims to promote the development of traditional Chinese medicine, which is a primary form of healthcare delivery in China, and widely regarded as an important part of China’s rich cultural heritage.

WWF and TRAFFIC are calling for a permanent ban on all trade in tiger parts and products, and for a curtailment of commercial captive breeding operations.

Wild tigers are especially in the spotlight as 2010 marks the celebration of the Year of the Tiger in the Chinese lunar calendar. This year is seen as a unique opportunity to galvanize international action to save this iconic species.

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7 Cat Species Found in 1 Forest - A Record

National Geographic News 12 Mar 10;

Caught by a camera trap, a leopard prowls under the dense canopy of the Jeypore-Dehing lowland rain forest in the northeast Indian state of Assam (map).

Released in February, the picture was taken during a two-year survey by the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS). The research found seven cat species in a 354-square-mile (570-square-kilometer) range—the highest diversity of cat species yet photographed in a single area.

Partly funded by WCS, wildlife biologist Kashmira Kakati had been studying the gibbons of Jeypore-Dehing and became curious about the predator tracks she kept finding on the ground.

"I said, I need to find out what's there," Kakati told National Geographic News. "Nobody had any clue. People who had been in the forest 30 years didn't know."

With 30 digital camera traps, Kakati captured not only the cats but a number of other rare forest animals between 2007 and 2009. "Even I was surprised by the result," she said.

—Dan Morrison

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Siberian tigers die at China zoo

Michael Bristow, BBC News 12 Mar 10;

Eleven rare Siberian tigers have died over the last three months at a zoo in north-eastern China.

The local authorities believe that a lack of food contributed to their deaths, according to media reports.

The news is bound to raise concerns about the treatment of captive tigers in China, which is this year celebrating the year of the tiger.

China has only about 50 tigers left in the wild, but it has about 5,000 in captivity.

The tigers died at the Shenyang Forest Wild Animal Zoo in Liaoning Province. That fact was confirmed by a worker at the zoo.

But there are discrepancies about how they died.

A local wildlife protection official, Liu Xiaoqiang, is reported to have said that malnutrition was one cause.

The tigers were apparently fed cheap chicken bones.

Mr Liu also said that the tigers had been kept in very small cages, restricting their movement and lowering their resistance to disease.

A manager at the zoo, which is currently closed, said the animals simply died of various diseases.

But however the tigers died, their deaths will inevitably raise questions about how the animals are treated in China.

Animal campaign groups say there is simply not enough protection for tigers held in the country's zoos and farms.

A spokesman for the International Fund for Animal Welfare in Beijing said: "[The government has] given too many credentials to groups that do not have the capability of taking care of these animals."

Tiger trade

In China there is also still a trade in tiger parts, which are used in traditional Chinese medicine.

They are used to treat rheumatism and to strengthen bones.

The BBC recently found that the Siberia Tiger Park, based in Heilongjiang Province in the northeast of China, is selling a "tiger bone wine" that contains three small tiger bones.

These issues have been discussed for some time, both inside and outside China, but they are being given extra prominence this year - because this year is the year of the tiger.

China investigating zoo over dead tigers
Yahoo News 15 Mar 10;

BEIJING (AFP) – Authorities are investigating a Chinese zoo where three dozen animals including 13 rare Siberian tigers died recently, amid charges it was harvesting their parts, state media said Monday.

The probe of the zoo in the northeastern city of Shenyang will look at whether the animal parts were being used as ingredients in Chinese medicine and other products, Xinhua news agency said.

China banned the international trade in tiger bones and related products in 1993, and is a signatory to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), which also bars such trade.

But such transactions exist as many tiger parts, such as penises and bones, are commonly believed to increase sexual potency or cure certain illnesses.

Xinhua quoted a manager at the Shenyang Forest Wildlife Zoo as saying that the carcasses of the dead tigers, 11 of which starved to death and two of which were shot after mauling a worker, have been cut up and put in cold storage.

But another unnamed zoo worker said the bones had been used to make tiger-bone liquor that was used to "serve important guests".

The deaths, which came to light as China celebrates the Lunar Year of the Tiger, have been blamed on a combination of inadequate funding, an unusually cold winter and poor general conditions at the facility, the China Daily said.

Zoo workers fed the tigers cheap chicken bones in recent months as funding dried up. On Sunday, the Shenyang government announced that it had allocated one million dollars to save surviving animals and fund the zoo.

Besides the tigers, 22 other animals have died, including rare species that are protected in China, among them a red-crowned crane, four stump-tailed macaques, and one brown bear.

The Shenyang government has a 15 percent share in the zoo, which is mainly privately owned.

China says it has nearly 6,000 tigers in captivity, but just 50 to 60 are left in the wild, including about 20 wild Siberian tigers.

In the 1980s, China set up tiger farms to try to preserve the big cats, intending to release some into the wild. But conservation groups say the farms are used to harvest ingredients for traditional Chinese medicine.

China's Shenyang Zoo closed after tigers starve to death
Employee accuses bosses of making drink from bones of endangered animal
Clifford Coonan The Independent 18 Mar 10;

It is the Chinese Year of the Tiger but it has been far from auspicious. China's Shenyang Zoo has closed after 11 Siberian tigers died of starvation or were shot this year amid murky tales of body parts being used for traditional medicinal remedies.

The government has ordered an inquiry into the deaths of the rare Siberian tigers, of which there are only an estimated 300 left in the wild, 50 of them in China. But what has already played out before an enraged Chinese audience is a story of terrible neglect and poorly financed zoos.

The 11 tigers died after they were fed nothing but chicken bones at Shenyang Forest Wild Animal Zoo, according to Chinese media reports this week. Another three listless big cats are shedding fur and have lost their appetites, the Xinhua news agency reported. A further two were shot dead after mauling a zoo worker in November 2009. The tigers are not the only victims of a cash crisis at the mainly privately owned zoological park. Twenty-six animals from 15 species have died this year, including four camels, a lion, a brown bear and a Mongolian horse. In all, the number of animals in the zoo has dropped by half in a decade, according to Xinhua.

Rumours swirled immediately that the tigers had been killed for their bones, which are prized in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Every year there are widespread illegal sales of tiger bones, penises and other parts because many believe that tiger parts can increase potency or cure diseases. A zoo worker, quoted by Xinhua, said the remains of the dead animal were used to make tiger-bone liquor that "was used to serve important guests".

But the zoo's managers denied anything untoward had happened and had allowed in experts to carry out tests and report the results to the authorities. "The tiger meat, skins and bones are kept in storage freezers," said Wu Xi, manager of the zoo. Officials ordered the zoo to close pending the result of an investigation, according to China's Global Times.

China banned the harvesting of tiger bones in 1993 and mentions of them were deleted from traditional medicine dictionaries. But tiger parts remain highly prized as an exceptional medical resource – tiger urine is used to treat eye infections, for example, and bones to treat rheumatism.

More than 5,000 tigers are held captive on farms and wildlife parks across China and there is an ongoing argument about allowing their bones to be used on a commercial basis.

Tigers are one of the most threatened large beasts on the planet, having slipped in numbers from over 100,000 in the early part of the last century to less than 3,200 remaining in the wild. Conservationists say they continue to be poached for their skins, and almost every part of a tiger's body can be used for decorative or traditional medicinal purposes. Tigers now survive in tiny areas and their plight is one of the main topics being discussed by conservationists at a meeting in Doha of signatories to the 200-member Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (Cites). China signed the pact in 1981.

"Although the tiger has been prized throughout history, and is a symbol of incredible importance in many cultures and religions, it is now literally on the verge of extinction," said Cites secretary general Willem Wijnstekers in a statement this week.

"2010 is the Chinese Year of the Tiger and the International Year of Biodiversity; this must be the year in which we reverse the trend. If we don't, it will be to our everlasting shame," he said.

Shenyang's local government pledged seven million yuan (£680,000) to help save the remaining animals after news of the tiger deaths broke last week. Zookeepers have cleaned and installed heating in the tiger cages, given the animals nutritional supplements and started feeding them 2.5kg of beef and two hens per day, Xinhua said.

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