Firstly, given the lessons of history, and the commitment to prevent anything like the tragedy and atrocities of previous wars ever happening again through the forum of the UN, how is it that invading an independent sovereign country that does not have the capability (let alone the wish) to threaten its much more powerful neighbour, can ever be considered right and just? 

Recently, Russia appeared to promise humanitarian corridors for the safe evacuation of civilians (‘non-combatants’) out of the cities which it is now committed to flattening.  However, it appears that hostilities continue which makes these corridors anything but safe.  Also, it appears that the safe corridors did not go to as yet unoccupied Ukraine, but only to Belarus and Russia. 

WHAT?  How can that be? 

Given that many civilians are taking up arms against the occupying forces, there is surely a risk that, at a whim, their status as refugees might be changed to that of Prisoners Of War (POWs) and as such they may disappear into the waste of Siberia never to be seen or heard of again.  Or they may be used as bargaining chips, or even as human shields.  So their choice is actually ‘stay here and be shelled into submission, or go into ‘captivity’ where you know we will show you no mercy (this does not equal safe refuge). What about these insane attacks on nuclear plants?  Why would any sane commanders take this step and risk causing global contamination, starting with Europe?  That might have political potential which may well suit the Russian leadership, but the human cost? Or is that the plan – to make Europe uninhabitable without using a single atomic weapon?

In this latter context, at least we can clearly see the dangers of developing energy policies based on nuclear power…..can’t we?

Has Russia Ever Engaged Within The UN?

Russia has never (in my view, and I am 70years old) engaged within the UN in the spirit of the UN’s mandate.  This is evidenced by its frequent use of its veto in the Security Council, and not being a signatory to so many treaties on the use of inhumane weapons such as cluster bombs and thermobaric weapons which it is now using as a matter of course to subdue centres of population.  Now, we have even seen the indiscriminate destruction of hospitals, and more than 2 million refugees so far making it the largest and most rapid displacement of refugees since WW2.  These are crimes against humanity and I pray that those responsible will not be spared the justice these crimes deserve.

Yet, the Russian people appear to be unaware of the reality of this war with President Putin’s stranglehold on social media and free press reporting.  Russians are told the state-controlled media (and sadly believe) that this is ‘military operation intended to liberate oppressed Russian speaking people in eastern Ukraine’.  They do not see the destruction, nor the casualties piling up in the streets of Ukrainian cities, very reminiscent of Nazi atrocities in WW2. 

But surely this is a conflict to free Russian speakers (but not all Ukrainians) in eastern Ukraine from the Neo-Nazi oppression driven by a Jewish President.

Where will this insanity, this barbarism end?  Will we (especially the Russian people at this time) ever learn that this scale of violence, destruction and inhumane behaviour towards our fellow humans can only bring about our collective downfall?  It is a disgrace to all of us, on both sides of the conflict.

Russia’s Stranglehold

I said at the beginning that I did not wish to go into why and how we got here, but there are important lessons that our leaders everywhere need to learn.  Most importantly is our total over-dependence on fossil fuels for our energy.  In answer to the current crisis, and to reduce the stranglehold Russia has over current supply sources, it is being said in many quarters that we need to seek to produce more oil and gas (O+G) from other sources!

WRONG!  Clearly, this is going to be tough for a while, but the Climate Crisis is looming ever closer now.  So, this might be considered a unique, even ‘god-given’ opportunity for us all to get real.  Instead of boosting alternative O+G production, we absolutely should be looking to boost alternatives to O+G and ratchet down our demand.  There is absolutely no point in lamenting the increased prices at the pumps – let’s try using less and save money that way AS WELL AS addressing the Climate Crisis by reinvesting in cleaner energy!

Seriously, why not?

Lastly, I have long thought that Politics is a dirty business – any challengers?  Sadly, most politicians seem only to operate on the basis of securing power, influence and self-interest.  A word we rarely see today is ‘Integrity’ – which basically means doing the right thing, even when it hurts!  Perhaps we do not respect enough those few who still have it; perhaps because they are not popularly supported by ‘funders’ who are also without this attribute; perhaps because we expect too much from our politicians and punish the slightest indiscretion.  While most of us have a moral compass, we are all capable of making mistakes, right?  But, there are limits.

So, who has this ‘integrity’ thing?  Certainly not the Russian leadership, not Malaysia, not the UK, and the USA Republican party for that matter, nor many of those in the UN who did not condemn this appalling and unnecessary war.  After all, doing the right thing is not popular, is it?

The US and NATO allies may have unwittingly created this situation in no small measure, but no-one died as a result of that chain of events.  At least, not until now.

As far as this war goes, maybe we can start by condemning it, by applying our own sanctions by buying ‘home-made and home-grown’, and by acknowledging how fortunate we are not to be directly involved.  But be in no doubt, escalation will affect all of us – just like the Climate Crisis. – New Malaysia Herald

……………………….

Dominic has been resident in Malaysia now for three years. From an early age, he has had a passion for nature. He recently trained as a Climate Reality Leader (part of US VP Al Gore’s campaign) raising awareness of the seriousness of the Climate Emergency and what we have to do to address it. He is committed to bringing a common sense perspective to issues that he believes need to be shared and debated. He occasionally writes for the New Malaysia Herald under his own Wake Up! column.

The post LETTER | The Insanity That is The RUSSIA-UKRAINE WAR first appeared on NMH.

Given how serious and totally devastating are the consequences of getting it wrong, are we really prepared to take that risk? Will we glibly bury our heads in the sand and delude ourselves with the idea that ‘all will be well when we get back to normal’?

In my humble opinion, there are no options that will be comfortable, convenient or popular in the decades to come if we are to avoid disaster. But avoid it we can, if we stop for a moment and look at what is really happening around us. We must tell our leaders, employers, and especially politicians, to wake up and adopt the right priorities and make the right decisions, for all our sakes.

This will mean:

• Inconvenience – perhaps a lot!
• Discomfort – changing habits, routines, and even customs.
• Much more RRR – learning to conserve what we have now in all areas of our lives.
• To change our infrastructure to support expanding environmentally-friendly occupations and industries, especially in Energy and Food.
• To enforce existing laws to protect our environment, our future and filling the gaps where needed.
• Harnessing the capacity, enthusiasm and innovation of our youth who stand to lose most if we fail to encourage competent and trustworthy leadership at all levels of society and government.

At a recent Climate Crisis webinar (hosted by MNS to a mixed audience of students and adults), a wide range of steps were suggested as starting points, many of which could readily be adopted immediately by those younger listeners.

Others require major changes in priorities, pace and engagement by our society’s more senior and influential echelons.

The list included

1. Protect the Environment

a. Sign every petition you can in support of preventing environmentally-damaging projects and proposals (or get your parents to do so), as many are not vital, involve damage to forests and rivers that we can ill-afford, and create an unhealthy urban environment. There are plenty!

b. Do not waste water!

c. Push hard for an IMMEDIATE moratorium on deforestation of our rainforest – logging, mining and plantations (according to the latest UNFAO report, we have less than 15% natural rainforest remaining).

2. Reduce CO2 (Carbon Dioxide) and Greenhouse Gases (GHG) at all sources

a. Protest against continued investment in and use of coal-burning power stations (nearly 90% of Malaysia’s power comes from coal-fired power stations).

b. Use the car less – save petrol money too (e.g. one shopping trip per week, car share school runs, switch off the engine when parked, walk to your local shop).

c. Use fans in place of AC, or try opening windows occasionally.

d. Eat less meat, and more fruit and veg (buy more local produce).

e. DO NOT waste food – take only what you can eat! (waste food in landfills is a major emitter of GHGs.).

3. Promote Renewable Energy

a. Replace lighting to LED.

b. Switch Off all electrical items when not in use (incl. Stand-by).

c. Move to Electric Vehicles (EVs).

d. Encourage installation of solar panels at home, at school, at work, in government institutions.

4. Adopt a Circular Economy and Lifestyle (‘Waste not, want not!’ is an old English saying simply not in use today in our throw-away world)

a. Adopt RRR (Recycle/Reuse/Replace) wherever you can; encourage it where you can – e.g. Batteries, plastics, cans, electronic devices etc.

b. Re-use or exchange clothes with friends (resist the ‘wear once and throw away’ habit).

c. Avoid synthetic materials if you can.

5. Champion Human Rights – they are your rights too!

a. Support Indigenous People – they have much to offer us today!

b. Create opportunities and show compassion for those less fortunate

6. Get Involved – Join a Conservation Group.

a. There is plenty of choices – and it is fun too! (MNS is clearly an option).

b. Form a club with like-minded friends.

c. Perform a Community Service (e.g. river or beach clean-up; food distribution; plant one tree each month).

d. Do you like a particular animal or environment? Sponsor it with time and/or money.

7. Share Knowledge, Wisdom, and Experience about Environmental Matters, and especially the Climate Emergency

a. Talk with friends outside of school about the issues, or about the fun things you can do ? while learning about challenges and finding solutions.

b. Talk with work colleagues too and perhaps arrange a presentation (ref the Climate Reality Project from this site).

c. Take walks in your local forests, especially with family (MCO permitting).

8. FIND, SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGE THE RIGHT LEADERS

a. We really need Champions to lead the way to challenge the business, social and political practices that are threatening us today.

b. Do not hold back on asking others for a view or suggestions on issues that may interest you. We are around.

c. BECOME A CHAMPION!

9. BE PREPARED TO TAKE ACTION! It is your future after all.

Mother Nature created a magnificent home for us and for all life on the planet, and it is has evolved over 4.5 billion years into the stable yet constantly evolving entity that we know as our home planet, or as in this example, the Jenga tower.

If we considered the evolutionary timescale of Earth as a single 24-hour day, then a man appeared just 3 seconds ago.
However, in a short time of less than a century, man has so ‘lost his wisdom’ that he has plundered the resources of the planet and caused it to become dangerously unstable.

Will the removal of the next brick be the one that causes it all to collapse? Will that brick be another pandemic, a massive drought, sea-level rise, crop failure, monsoon failure, pestilence, ocean acidification? Ultimately, it will probably be down to mankind’s greed, self-indulgence and ignorance.

What do we have to do? Well, recovering the stability of nature’s tower will require all of us putting our hands on it from falling over while we try to rebuild it (always harder than taking bricks out).

This restoration process will be much more easily done if those whose activities are destabilising the tower cease doing so immediately – and if you do not know who they are – contact me.

Can you imagine the mayhem if we do not start there?

We have the best chance if we commit to this challenge together. We cannot do it if we remain distracted, disengaged, disunited and unwilling to change. While there are much being done, it is nowhere near enough to change our direction before we pass an irreversible tipping point.

Can We Do It? YES! BUT WE MUST ACT NOW!

In Malaysia, a good start is to demand a deforestation moratorium – logging, mining, and plantations.  Contact your MP, or at least sign a petition.  If those are not doable, then join a Conservation Group that can lobby on your behalf.

If you are not convinced by this article so far, then I urge you to watch David Attenborough’s latest documentary (released 4 June 2021) entitled Breaking Boundaries: The Science Of Our Planet. It is currently on Netflix. – New Malaysia Herald

About the Writer: Retired from a career in hospital management, Dominic has been resident in Malaysia now for three years. From an early age, he has had a passion for nature. He recently trained as a Climate Reality Leader (part of US VP Al Gore’s campaign) raising awareness of the seriousness of the Climate Emergency and what we have to do to address it. He is committed to bringing a common sense perspective to issues that he believes need to be shared and debated.

The post Playing Jenga With Nature, And We Know How That Turns Out – Part 2 first appeared on NMH.

Such a simple question, isn’t it? Yet, so profound! How has the most clever species ever to walk this earth managed to plunder it to the point of destabilising its very foundations?

As societies evolved, and as civilisations came and went, we (mankind) became more and more obsessed with self-indulgence, convenience and instant gratification, until we became so driven by greed, so plagued by ignorance, so numbed by indifference, and so complacent at how clever we are, that we ‘lost our wisdom’ (ref Jane Goodall).  

We have become blind to the fact that we are part of the web of life on this planet that Nature (Mother Nature, God…) created, and we feverishly continue to dismantle the stability of Nature’s creation that supports us all.

To use the Jenga analogy, we only look at the bottom layers of the Jenga tower for opportunities to dismantle it in order to pursue our all-pervading desire to build something bigger and better for ourselves. As we continue to look up in admiration of what we have built, we fail to see that we have actually dismantled so much of Nature’s foundation for life that it has reached the point of total collapse – like a Jenga tower; and we all surely know how that turns out!

For decades, scientists have been warning that changes are occurring around us that many cannot see or perceive. However, the undeniable evidence is everywhere and if we choose to see it, the indications are disturbing beyond measure. The evidence tells us that we are killing our planet, as surely as night follows day. The sunset of mankind is racing towards us at such an accelerating pace that, unless we change our ways, we may already be looking at the last generations of our misguided humanity.

I will say that again – we may already be looking at the last generations of our misguided humanity!

Well, let’s look at what we have achieved in less than a century. So far, we have managed to:

> Exceed safe levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide (and other Greenhouse Gases – GHGs) and are rapidly approaching a critical point after which recovery will perhaps be unachievable.

> Deplete the oceans of 90% of their fish stocks.  

> Destroy more than 40% of rainforests globally (perhaps less than 15% of primary rainforest remains in peninsular Malaysia).

 > Reduce 70% of all wildlife populations in the last 40 years, with as many as 50% of all known species likely to become extinct before the end of this century.

> Cause the cooling ice caps to melt, sea levels to rise, and vast coral reefs to die off.

> Bring about the massive disruption of climate, and more extreme weather events, which will soon lead to more droughts, famines, fires, mass migrations, resistance to mass migrations, pandemics and global public health threats, and even more challenges to Human Rights.

The list goes on.

How Many More Warning Signs Do We Need? 

Perhaps we could speak with the elders in our communities and ask what things were like when they were young? Were there water shortages? Was the river water clear and safe enough to swim in, and even to drink from? Was there plenty of fruit in the forests? Was it cooler? Were the rain patterns more predictable? Did they have an aircon? Did they have mobile phones? Did they have big cars, designer clothes, and the latest ‘mod-cons? Is their life so much better now?

I am sure the answers would be surprising to many of us!

But for the most part, they did have clean water, clean air, enough food, adequate clothes, non-polluting transport, and a roof over their heads. Some will say that was enough!

How that has changed! Today’s children are born into a world set in a concrete jungle where everything is a commodity with a price tag, and we are driven to accept the allure of convenience and commodities above all else – including common sense! And this comes at the cost of the destruction of our forests which (were) our heritage to future generations. We choose to shop whether we need it or not, and the debt collector is coming!

YES – It Is That Serious! 

In 2006, USVP Al Gore released his book An Inconvenient Truth. Sadly, we and our leaders (globally) paid little attention. Now, that Inconvenient Truth has arrived, and we are going to be seriously challenged to survive the next few decades. 

Over the millennia, there have already been five mass extinctions (or global extinction events), some brought on by extreme volcanic and climatic changes, some by extra-terrestrial impacts such as that which destroyed the dinosaurs. Until now, none has been brought about by a single species’ reckless destruction of their only home planet to meet their misguided ends, and in such a short timeframe.

The sixth global extinction event is now imminent, and we have brought it upon ourselves. Even so, knowing this, we are all guilty of ignoring the fact. Instead of calling a halt to our greed-driven obsession with money and status, immediate gratification and convenience (compounded by ignorance), and indifference, we continue to consume our already overdrawn natural resources and exacerbate our dire situation.

The brakes should already be full-on, and reverse gear engaged. Yet, our leaders, here and abroad, do not prioritise our survival. Instead, they are focused almost entirely on protecting the economy (a political imperative) and restoring the ‘money-making systems’ to get back to ‘business as usual’. Yes, that is the same ‘business as usual’ that sits in the driving seat of our bus as it trundles inevitably towards Armageddon.

At this stage, even planning any strategic economic development budget is a wasted exercise if it does not emphasize addressing the Climate Emergency AND the Economy with at least equal determination – politically, socially, and environmentally.

The question is, ‘will our politicians and our leaders face up to that’? Until they do, they are NOT serving us!

As Julia Roberts recounts, Mother Nature is not perturbed at the prospect of the demise of mankind. She (Mother Nature) has been here before, and she will be here even after we are gone.

So – the question is now, what to do? See Part 2. – New Malaysia Herald

About the Writer: Retired from a career in hospital management, Dominic has been resident in Malaysia now for three years. From an early age, he has had a passion for nature. He recently trained as a Climate Reality Leader (part of US VP Al Gore’s campaign) raising awareness of the seriousness of the Climate Emergency and what we have to do to address it. He is committed to bringing a common sense perspective to issues that he believes need to be shared and debated.

The post We Are Playing Jenga With Nature, And We All Know How That Turns Out! – Part One first appeared on NMH.

Late Sunday afternoon.  I woke up, choking!  They are fogging again – the second consecutive weekend.  Fogging is used extensively across Malaysia as a means of controlling mosquitoes, especially in the prevention of Dengue fever.  However, its usefulness and effectiveness are coming into serious question.  A recent exchange with researchers at Monash University revealed some interesting and also alarming concerns regarding its limited benefits, and its potential hazards.

Nature Regulates Itself

In the natural environment, there may be 20 species or more of mosquitoes that mainly feed on sugar/carbohydrate sources from plants.  It is only the females who require a blood meal for egg production.  Mosquito populations are themselves regulated by the presence of large numbers of natural predators such as bats, birds, dragonflies, wasps, spiders, and even insect-eating plants.

The larvae too, being water-borne, are predated upon by fish, dragonfly larvae and others.  But, as the fog mist is airborne, that stage of the life cycle is otherwise protected from fogging.

Urban Environments

The situation in the urban environment appears to be different in many ways.  Here, there is a limited number of mosquito species (principally two) that are both potential vectors of Dengue.  However, there is much less vegetation and fewer natural water sources for egg laying and larvae development.  Instead, the mosquitos resort to any source of residual water for that purpose, and it does not have to be clean.  

Consequently, this includes all manner of man-made opportunities such as bottles, cans, buckets, old shoes, tyres, even coconut husks, anything that will retain even a few centimetres of water. Perhaps due to the often warmer and constant conditions of the city, the urban life cycle of the larval stage also appears to be accelerated compared with that in the wild.

Fogging – A Sledge-Hammer To Crack A Nut

Fogging is at best a sledge-hammer to crack a nut approach to tackling the problem of a disease like Dengue.  The insecticides released (it has to be said, very wastefully) are not as selective as the manufacturers would claim and have harmful effects on nearly all other insects they come into contact with.  They are also fatal against non-insect species, such as spiders, that are themselves natural predators of mosquitoes. Research in other areas has often shown that random, reckless and unregulated use of insecticides can have catastrophic effects on ecosystems by removing other key species that maintain a healthy balance (look at what happened when DDT was introduced).  The drifting fogs deposit their deadly load on vegetation beyond the killing zone which then affects other species and their larvae, and these too become victims of fogging.  This includes butterflies and moths, bees and wasps, stick insects and mantises, and thousands more.

Fogging Chemicals Do Not Discriminate

While this collateral damage can be significant, and potentially catastrophic in the long-term, there is ample and growing evidence that it is not effective in controlling mosquito populations.  It has been shown in many studies that accumulation of insecticides in the bodies of predators higher up in the food chain can lead to reproductive disruption and the subsequent extinction of those local populations.  At the same time, especially if the other species affected are key pollinators (such as bees and butterflies) of a particular tree, fruit or other food plant, then there can be a huge impact on the food chains for humans in the future.

What Is The Research Showing?

Apart from all the evidence supporting the earlier paragraphs, I understand that research has also shown that many people who have never been diagnosed with Dengue actually have antibodies in their blood.  Interestingly, this indicates that they have been exposed to Dengue at some time previously, but that perhaps their symptoms were not significant.

{So, not everyone who contracts Dengue is aware of it or even suffers from the disease.  Other studies (relating to bubonic plague and to AIDS for example) have shown that many of us carry a genetic defence against certain potential diseases. This would explain why not everyone is susceptible, and may also explain why not all of us are susceptible even to COVD-19.}

The whole issue of fogging is a scatter gun approach often used to address and allay the concerns of communities where cases have been diagnosed, using a method which was endorsed by WHO (World Health Organisation) many years ago.  However, in a recent article from WHO, ‘fogging’ was not mentioned directly as a recommended deterrent, ‘except in a specific area where Dengue is shown to be present.  The method is often customer-driven; residents complain to landlords or local authorities and the foggers are brought in. 

Suppliers of these services and the chemical manufacturers enjoy benefits in terms of income, but with no responsibility for the actual efficacy nor overall long-term effects of their activities.  Take the case of the fogging contractor in Colorado who was sent to prison under US Clear Air Act violation for his random dispersal of insecticide from the back of a truck.

And It Is Often The Poorest Who Are Most At Risk

Personal observation has revealed fogging on an unprecedented scale taking place in multi-level car parks, below condominiums for example, where there is no vegetation, nor much in the way of artificial reservoirs such as cans and bottles.  The fog is soon dissipated by the breeze but residents are exposed to short-term choking fumes that would appear not to solve their problems in terms of the mosquitoes, and residents on higher floors (like myself) often experience an increased number of mosquitoes as they themselves seek to escape the choking fog below.  Once the fog is indoors, it can take some time for it to dissipate. 

However, other insect populations are themselves also decimated to the point where many children are not able to describe seeing a butterfly or a bee in or near their home which is already devoid of naturally occurring trees and shrubs.  How sad is that?

Is Malaysia Typical In Its Approach To Dengue?

Sadly, like many other countries (and not just in Asia), Malaysia appears to be ‘over-focused’ on developing technical and chemical solutions rather than learning from nature and encouraging natural solutions. These might include improved planting and reforestation in urban areas, and perhaps a more common-sense approach such as improving community awareness, environmental hygiene, and better enforcement of health and safety regulations.   Together, such measures would encourage the role and impact of natural predators, as well as reducing littering and dangerous disposal of ‘man-made’ waste, and generally improving the quality of our living spaces, including the air we breathe.  In time, it may even be possible to develop a host-specific biological deterrent that may render the mosquitos infertile (this has been done before).

Future Challenges and Call to Action

The challenges to taking this road to reduce and eventually eradicate random fogging, while also tackling the incidence of Dengue, include:

• Raising Public Awareness of the risks of poor domestic and commercial hygiene, and to seek opportunities to work with nature to achieve a safer environment (removing nature from the cities is not the answer)
• Challenging the industrial lobby that promotes the production and frequent application of such insecticides to better regulate supply and distribution
• Getting Government support to provide directives to regulate the use of such insecticides, their concentrations and frequency, and to enforce those regulations, and to have a commitment to more research on the potential adverse effects on the human population.

All of the above will require strategies to address them, but simply ensuring better housekeeping and awareness in communities would have a significant impact on reducing the incidence of mosquito-borne disease and keep us safer.  Let’s start there! – New Malaysia Herald

About the Writer: Retired from a career in hospital management, Dominic has been resident in Malaysia now for three years. From an early age, he has had a passion for nature. He recently trained as a Climate Reality Leader (part of US VP Al Gore’s campaign) raising awareness of the seriousness of the Climate Emergency and what we have to do to address it. He is committed to bringing a common sense perspective to issues that he believes need to be shared and debated.

The post Fogging For Dengue: Is The Cure Killing Us? first appeared on NMH.