The War and the Environment

By: Omar A. Jassim

Who is the victor in the war? The burden of the war is not only harmful to man but to the environment. Like it or not, today, most of our tax money goes to the US war on Iraq. Everything green has turned into toxins or ashes because the environment is the last thing to be protected.

During the occupancy of the US soldiers in Iraq in 2003, they had chopped off a lot of trees for the war. Baghdad and most of the cities in Iraq appeared like a barren desert and suffered too much because it lost the important element of the environmental balance.

Iraq has a vast desert, especially in western regions, which has remained for hundreds of years, rock dirt static. But the result of inhuman activities by the movement of aircraft and the tanks of the US army, led gatherings of the sand dunes, fragmentation of rocks. The wind swept the cities to contribute to increasing desertification of the cities, the rapid spread of diseases and covering of agricultural land.

Also, the U.S military used chemical weapons such as uranium, phosphate and anthrax, that poisons killed the man, polluted the rivers and farmland. This is inhuman because environment was destroyed totally. Therefore, most Iraqis are stressed with the polluted environment that they have to live in.

Worldwide is talking about conserving environment, but Iraqis are suffering from it. This is all because of ignorance of some people who are claimed to be the world leaders. As long as the war continues, there is nothing Iraqis can do about their environment.

photo by: Omar A. Jassim

www.omaralmansoury.com

Baghdad Sinks by the Waste

By: Omar A. Jassim

If you go to Baghdad, do not surprise to see the city is flooded by household waste, various food cans, second hand clothes, plastic, glasses, minerals, food debris and waste paper. It is a real crisis facing by the Baghdad citizens because it affects human health, the most.

No doubt human activities are the main cause of this phenomenon. This habit leads to the spread of more diseases, which eventually affect humans. In Baghdad, the kind of diseases rampantly found are like spread of bacteria, fungi, many types of insects, and vectors of disease such as typhus, malaria, cancer, abortion, infertility and genetic damage to dyes.

The impact of this phenomenon is very dangerous at all stages. Not only the people of Baghdad are experiencing unpleasant odors wherever they go, but often times they are visited by unwelcomed visitors such as rats and cockroaches. The waste has also contaminated the air which comes from landfill sites and decomposition process.

In spite of all these, most of the areas in Baghdad are not in operations for collection of the waste. The people just burn their waste within their areas. This open burning activity contributes to global warming by releasing more of harmful gasses such as methane, carbon oxide, nitrogen oxides and hydrogen sulfate.

Therefore, it is very important to create awareness to people on how to treat the household wastes. Enforcement of environmental laws and regulations should be in place.

photo by: Omar A. Jassim

www.omaralmansoury.com

Threats of Death to Fallujah

By: Omar A. Jassim

The non-conventional weapons used through out Fallujah city by the U.S. military during the battle of Fallujah in 2004 contained varying ratios of depleted uranium and white phosphorus.

These chemicals contributed to high toxicity which led to significant pollution of the Euphrates River base and all agricultural areas.This then lead to a significant easy spread of the toxin from earth and water.This in return affected agricultural environment.

Through grass and fruits and vegetation the toxic was transmitted to grazing animals and humans.Toxicity is very strong and they exists very long causing disaster to nature.It also contributes to a lot of serious illnesses as it it has the ability to mutant the human genes which leads cancer incidences and abnormal babies being born.

According to the organization of IRIN of the UN, about 65 percent of the cancer patients are children of 5 years old and below. The beginning of emergence of many diseases rose only after 4 years upon the battle of Fallujah as the U.S. army used uranium and white phosphorus.The most affected ones were the born babies and women.

The war continued for 19 days in 2003 before the occupation of Baghdad by the US. They dropped more than 13000 bombs, which are nearly 88500 tons of bombs, which is equivalent to 4425 times as powerful as bombs dropped on Hiroshima. However, the war against Fallujah continued for more of 30 days on 2004 and certainly the US army dropped more many thousands of bombs on Fallujah.

Under the pretext of killing the combatants, the dangers were extended to women and children, so much so that the newly married were afraid of giving birth the abnormal babies.

Agriculture was the main source of income to the people in Fallujah about 45Km west of Baghdad and the Euphrates river contained alot of gases pollution which were dropped by the US.There are high possibilities expected in the increase of diseases and cancer in Fallujah in the years to come
The Ministries of the Iraqi government such as health, environment and agricultural departments are not taking enough precautionary measures facing the threat and increase in the number diseases especially cancer and deformed new borns.

photo by: Omar A. Jassim

www.omaralmansoury.com

The Lead Gas Causing Iraqian Death

By: Omar A. Jassim

Iraq is becoming one of the worlds’ most polluted continent after the occupation of the US army in 2003 for several reasons.All the ministries in iraq stopped

operating after the US occupation especially in areas of environment, health and agricultural departments as many of the cities’ basic needs such as water and sanitation were contaminated.

The war caused a lot of destruction to disruption of work to power stations. The people were deprieved of electricity at homes, work places and at the universities. Therefore they were forced to search for an alternative source of electricity which was essential for their daily needs of life. The only successful alternative choice was the use of generators.

By using the generators the effects were that it contained the gas of lead which is one of the most harmful components in pollution to the mankind and the environment.The impact of lead was on adults and children, but there was greater impact to children below five years as the absorption rate on them was faster.
The emission of lead gas from the generators caused people to suffer from diseases such as poisoning of the nerves, heart disorders, increase in blood pressures and babies born with low IQ. Moreover the generators consumed a lot of oil which in return caused the emission of gases causing even more pollution.

The people in most of the cities in Iraq were using the generators as a substitute to electricity because the Iraqi government didn’t take any initiatives to repair the power stations which were destroyed by U.S army either. Diseases was increasing as polluted gases were inhaled by human being due to emission from the generators.


Photo by: Omar A. Jassim

www.omaralmansoury.com

Selamatkan Hutan Bakau

Oleh:Afra' Fardillah ZaiMustapar

Kemusnahan hutan bakau di kawasan persisiran pantai dikatakan berpunca daripada sikap masyarakat yang sering mengabaikan tentang kepentingan hutan ini. Apa yang perlu disedari umum, hutan bakau adalah merupakan warisan alam yang perlu dipelihara. Hutan bakau sememangnya diketahui menjadi tempat perlindungan pelbagai spesis flora dan fauna seperti buaya, ketam, memerang, beruk, ikan dan pelbagai jenis siput yang masing-masing mempunyai nilai tersendiri. Disamping itu juga hutan bakau merupakan habitat bagi lebih daripada 60 spesies tumbuh-tumbuhan. Terdapat empat jenis spesies utama yang paling di kenali iaitu api-api ludat, bakau minyak, perepat dan berus tumu. Antara spesies bakau lain ialah lenggadai, nyireh bunga, bakau kurap dan chegam.

Di Malaysia, hutan paya laut terdapat di sepanjang pantai Semenanjung Malaysia, Sabah dan Sarawak. Hutan paya laut di Malaysia merupakan yang ketiga terbesar di Asia Pasifik selepas Indonesia dan Australia. Jumlah luas keseluruhan kawasan tersebut adalah lebih kurang 566 856 hektar iaitu 57 peratus terdapat di Sabah, 26 peratus di Sarawak dan 17 peratus di Semenanjung Malaysia. Kebanyakan hutan paya laut di Malaysia terletak di pantai barat ( Persisiran Selat Melaka ) iaitu di Perlis, Kedah, Perak, Selangor dan Johor.

Namun isu-isu kemusnahan hutan bakau semakin hari menjadi semakin kritikal dan jika tidak ditangani dengan bijak dan segera ianya akan memberikan impak negatif bukan sahaja kepada kita, malahan kepada generasi akan datang. Pengeksploitasian sumber biodiversiti yang tidak dikawal sepenuhnya, seperti penerokaan hutan paya bakau untuk pelbagai tujuan pembangunan seperti ternakan ikan dalam sangkar, kolam ternakan udang, perindustrian, perbandaran dan perkampungan nelayan pinggir pantai serta pembuangan sisa cecair oleh kapal dagangan dan bot nelayan secara tidak langsung mengancam ekosistem paya bakau yang amat sensitif terhadap sebarang perubahan guna tanah di kawasan yang berkenaan.

Aktiviti penerokaan paya bakau yang dilakukan secara sewenang-wenangnya sama ada bagi tujuan pembangunan, perumahan, pertanian atau perindustrian tanpa mengambil kira aspek alam sekitar akan menyebabkan hakisan tanah, mengganggu imbangan haba serta keseimbangan ekologi. Kesannya bukan sahaja boleh menyebabkan kepupusan kepada spesies-spesies hidupan yang sedia ada malah boleh membawa bencana yang dahsyat kepada manusia.

Oleh itu sebarang aktiviti yang meyumbang kepada kemusnahan hutan bakau perlulah dipertimbangkan semula dan dikurangkan. Selain itu juga, pelbagai akta dan peraturan yang telah diwujudkan berkaitan hutan paya bakau haruslah dikuatkuasakan dengan tegas demi menjamin kestabilan hutan ini disamping dapat meminimumkan kemusnahan terhadap alam sekitar. Dan apa yang lebih penting badan - badan bukan kerajaan (NGOs) diharapkan dapat bekerjasama dengan kerajaan dalam usaha untuk memberi kehidupan semula kepada pokok bakau.

Kesimpulannya hutan paya laut atau hutan bakau adalah antara hutan yang mempunyai banyak kepentingan dan kegunaannya sama ada kepada manusia, alam sekitar ataupun hidupan lain. Ekosistem yang mudah terjejas ini perlu dipulihara sebagai simpanan alam semula jadi. Banyak usaha perlu dilaksanakan bagi meningkatkan kesedaran awam serta menanamkan rasa tanggungjawab dalam diri setiap orang untuk memulihara warisan bakau semula jadi yang menyimpan sebahagian daripada flora dan fauna dunia yang terancam.

Earth Hour, Apakah signifikannya?

Oleh:Afra' Fardillah ZaiMustapar





Dalam tempoh beberapa minggu ini setiap manusia dari seluruh pelusuk dunia sibuk memperkatakan tentang Earth Hour. Ada diantara kita yang benar-benar mengetahui tentang perkara ini dan mungkin juga ada tidak mengetahuinya. Malah, apa yang lebih menyedihkan ada juga segelintir yang langung tidak mahu ambil peduli apa sebenarnya yang dimaksudkan dengan Earth Hour.

Dalam keadaan persekitaran dunia yang semakin tidak menentu akibat perbuatan manusia yang semakin hari semakin ghairah melakukan kemusnahan ke atas bumi, pelbagai usaha telah dilaksanakan untuk membendung keadaan yang semakin kritikal ini bagi kita memperolehi persekitaran yang lestari. Oleh yang demikian, kempen Earth Hour adalah merupakan salah satu inisiatif yang telah diambil dalam usaha untuk memelihara bumi dari terus diancam kemusnahan.

Earth Hour adalah merupakan satu acara tahunan peringkat antarabangsa yang dianjurkan oleh World Wildlife Fund (WWF) bagi menangani masalah pemanasan global. Acara ini dipercayai telah dimulakan oleh Sydney, Australia pada tahun 2007 dan ia telah menjadi acara tahun antarabangsa sejak dari mula ia dilaksanakan. Ini dilaksanakan dengan menyarankan kepada masyarakat seluruh dunia supaya tidak menggunakan peralatan elektrik selama satu jam. Jika dilihat secara menyeluruh, ada kemungkinan langkah ini sukar untuk dilaksanakan di mana kita akan terpaksa bergelap selama satu jam. Secara tidak langsung akan memberi kesan kepada pelbagai faktor. Namun, kadangkala kita perlu berfikir sejenak kerana kerugian yang kita perolehi kesan daripada satu jam lampu dipadamkan tidak sama dengan kemelut kemusnahan yang telah kita lakukan sejak beberapa dekad yang lalu. Malahan, jika kita sedar bumi sebenarnya semakin hari semakin nazak akibat daripada perbuatan kejam kita sendiri.

Sebagai sebuah negara yang mengambil berat tentang alam sekitar, Malaysia tidak terlepas untuk turut sama menyertai kempen ini secara rasmi pada tahun 2009. Walaupun agak terlewat namun ini adalah merupakan satu permulaan yang baik. Ini jelas menunjukkan Malaysia masih peka dalam usaha untuk memberi sokongan bagi menangani masalah pemanasan global. Pada detik 28 Mac tepat jam 8.30 Malaysia akan menjadi salah satu daripada 35 negara yang turut sama bergelap selama satu jam sebagai tanda keperihatinan kepada alam sekitar. Justeru, bagi memastikan perkara ini dapat direalisasikan, semua pihak seharusnya berkerjasama dan mengambil bahagian dalam kempen ini. Dalam pada masa yang sama, media elektronik mahupun media cetak memainkan peranan penting dalam usaha untuk mempromosikan kempen kepada seluruh rakyat di Malaysia.

Kemelut alam sekitar sememangnya tidak akan berakhir selagi adanya pembangunan yang tidak lestari. Namun, semua pihak harus menerima hakikat bahawa apa yang terjadi selama ini adalah disebabkan sikap manusia itu sendiri. Perlu diingat alam sekitar adalah untuk dihargai bukan untuk dimusnahkan. Mungkin juga dengan turut sama menyertai kempen Earth Hour secara tidak langsung kita dapat sama-sama menyelamatkan bumi daripada terus diancam kemusnahan.

Vermicompost

By: Afra' Fardillah ZaiMustapar

It is becoming increasingly popular for people these days to opt for anything organic over synthetic. Even when it comes to plant fertilizers, gardeners and farmers are choosing organic fertilizers over chemically processed ones. It is said to have a higher nutrient value, easier application methods and no damaging side effects. An important yet simple form of organic fertilizer is vermicompost; which basically is worm cast produced by earthworms after ingesting and digesting vegetative organic matter. These worm casts are rich in nutrients necessary for plant growth and can be produced domestically at almost no costs.

To initiate a vermicompost bin, a large container or bin is first required. Wooden containers are preferred for vermicomposting as it regulates internal temperatures, keeping it cool and suitable for worms. In the container, shredded paper, dried leaves and cow manure is spread across the base to create worm bedding. Composting worms, namely African Night Crawlers (Eudrilus eugeniae) and Red Worms (Eisenia fetida), are placed over the bedding. Periodically, these worms are fed with organic vegetative waste. Such wastes are common in households and can range from fruit peel and vegetable cuttings to used teabags. It is also important that the moisture in the bin be maintained by occasionally sprinkling water onto bedding.

It takes a period of six to eight weeks before the end product, vermicompost, is formed and can be harvested. Harvesting is done by carefully removing worms and their eggs from worm castings. At this end stage, vermicompost resembles loose black soil, and is used by mixing with ordinary soil before planting or repotting garden plants. Vermicompost is not just an organic approach to gardening and farming, but could potentially be the answer to waste management issues of the future. The Economic Planning Unit in the year 2006 had reported that about 58 percent of all the wastes dumped to landfills composed of valuable organic matter. Had this waste been dumped instead into domestic and large scale vermicompost bins, landfills could have been reduced by more than half. At a time when the world is heavy on debate about sustainable development, such a solution to waste management could put a lot of problems at rest. And the result- purely natural nutrient rich fertilizers that could be used even in large scale farms and plantations, contributing towards sustainable agriculture.

As with any case of environmental awareness, the first step is to educate the public. In Malaysia, producing and using vermicompost is still an uncommon practice. To see considerable reductions in the amount of garbage dumped at landfills, we need for every household to separate organic waste and discard it into kitchen compost bins. It could even provide some income for the family, as buyers are wiling to pay RM6 per kilo of vermicompost these days. Several private companies have already dived into this niche, generating income from seemingly inexpensive waste. However, in order to address the mounting problems at landfills, the efforts of such companies alone will not do. Every individual in society should incorporate sustainable living practices into their daily lives. From children in schools to farmers and estate workers, the techniques of vermicomposting should be disseminated, and the importance of going green should be emphasized. It could be the answer for a better tomorrow