Girl guides told to protect and conserve environment

Tawau: Girl guides celebrating World Thinking Day were told to play their role to protrct and conserve the environment.

Malaysian Girl Guides Association Tawau Branch chaiperson Datuk Chua Soon Bui said for the past few years, people all over the would had witnessed extreme weather changes, very cold weather and heavy snow in the northern hemisphere, extreme floods, earthquakes and tsunamis which are clear signs that the planet is ‘sick’.

Chua said although we have not encountered any extreme disaster yet, the extreme heat has indicated that global warming is an unavoidable part of the planet.

“With the theme this year ‘We Can Save Our Planet’, it is indeed very meaningful that we as individuals or groups must play our roles to understand the causes of pollutions, contamination of air and water and the increase of carbon dioxide emissions as the source of global warming. We must  understand how we can be responsible to carry out our duties and play our role in conserving our environment in terms of cleanliness, both on land and in rivers and seas,” she said on Sunday.

Chua said everyone must realise the importance of planting trees and greening the encironment with vegetation, and the importance of ‘zero destruction’ to marine lives, corals and the food sources.

“We must carry out protection of our forest as Sabah is now left with 15 per cent of its virgin jungle. Many people are still ignorant about many other issues related to environment protection and conservation,” she said.

 

She said since environmental issues had now become an important issue of discussion between countries, it was also important that our children, the future leaders of the nation be aware of the fact that we are all responsible in protrcting our environment rather than merely pointing fingers at the authorities.

“It is important that we inculcate the very vital knowledge and values in environmental protection and conservation among school children too,” she said.

“The awareness about environmental protection and dosen’t end here today. I hope that the girl guides will work hard to help promote this awereness to all communities and will practise healthy lifestyles, friendly to our environment. It is just the beginning that I hope we girl guides can contribute to save our planet earth,” she said.

The Borneo Post

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

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