Tuesday 11 September 2012

WARGA ALAM SEKITAR


RAKAN ALAM SEKITAR (RAS) 
Kementerian Sumber Asli dan Alam Sekitar telah mengambil inisiatif merangka satu program baru iaitu Rakan Alam Sekitar yang dibentuk bagi meningkatkan kesedaran dan menggerakkan anggota masyarakat di setiap kawasan Parlimen dalam aktiviti pemeliharaan dan pemuliharaan alam sekitar serta membantu membanteras kegiatan-kegiatan yang merosakkan dan mencemarkan alam sekitar.
Pogram RAS adalah berbentuk ‘community based’ dan ‘hands-on’; melibatkan penduduk setempat termasuklah generasi muda dan dewasa, NGOs serta juga pihak-pihak industri atau swasta tempatan. Ianya merupakan satu program out-reach yang dijalankan mengikut kawasan Parlimen. Rakan Alam Sekitar adalah saluran yang tepat untuk meningkatkan keberkesanan aduan kerana dengan penglibatan masyarakat tindakan yang segera dapat diambil sewajarnya oleh agensi kerajaan yang berkenaan.
Majlis Pelancaran Rakan Alam Sekitar peringkat Kebangsaan telah diadakan dengan jayanya pada 4 Jun 2009 bersempena dengan World Environment Day 2009 yang telah disempurnakan oleh Y.A.B Timbalan Perdana Menteri bertempat di Dewan Jubli Intan Sultan Ibrahim, Muar, Johor.
            Aktiviti-aktiviti Rakan Alam Sekitar meliputi pelaporan kes-kes pencemaran dan kerosakan alam sekitar kepada agensi-agensi kerajaan yang bertanggungjawab untuk tindakan, program mencegah dan mengawal pencemaran, memperindahkan kualiti alam sekitar (the enhancement of environment) dan kempen pendidikan dan kesedaran alam sekitar.

            Antara program/ aktiviti Rakan Alam Sekitar yang telah dijalankan ialah aktiviti pemantauan pencemaran, pembersihan pantai, kitar semula buangan, pengkomposan, penanaman pokok, pemulihan air tasik dan tanah gambut, River Ranger dan sebagainya.


Gambar 1.0: Program RAS Parlimen Sungai Besat, Selangor


Gambar 1.1: Ahli RAS bersama-sama bergotong-rpyong membersihkan kawasan persisiran pantai


Gambar 1.2: Penanaman pokok bakau di Telok Gong, Pelabuhan Klang.



SAHABAT ALAM MALAYSIA (SAM)
Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) adalah sebuah badan bukan kerajaan (NGO) yang telah ditubuhkan pada tahun 1977. Perjuangan SAM adalah untuk memelihara alam yang dianugerah dan diamanahkan oleh Tuhan daripada dieksploitasi dan dimusnahkan oleh kegiatan manusia dalam pelbagai bentuk atas nama pembangunan dan kemajuan. Dalam mengembangkan wadah perjuangan alam sekitar ini, SAM telah diberi penghargaan dengan penganugerahan Global 500, Honour Roll 1978, Alternative Global Price 1988, Goldman Award 1991, Gonde Nast Travel Enviromental Award 1998 dan The Right Liverhood Award.

Namun, dengan tidak merasa besar diri dengan anugerah ini, keutamaan SAM kini dan selamanya hanya satu iaitu meneruskan perjuangan dalam membina kesedaran kritikal masyarakat dan kerajaan di semua peringkat terhadap tanggungjawab dalam mengawal kegiatan manusia terhadap alam dengan mengembalikan kewarasan kita dalam menguruskan sumber alam demi keharmonian hidup dan untuk generasi masa depan. 

Program Kesedaran Alam Sekitar anjuran bersama Jabatan Pengairan dan Saliran (JPS) dan Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) telah diadakan pada 18.02.2011 bertempat di Tg. Uda River Resort, Kg. Setiawan, Daerah Manjung, Perak Darul Ridzuan. Program tersebut disertai oleh 50 orang peserta yang terdiri dari pelajar Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) Seri Iskandar dan Universiti Perguruan Sultan Idris Shah (UPSI), Tg. Malim. Program ini dikelokakan oleh JPS Daerah Manjung dan Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) dengan pengisian ceramah yang berkaitan dengan kesedaran tentang pentingnya pemeliharaan sungai. Para peserta juga diberi penerangan tentang kaedah pemantauan kualiti air sungai secara biologi dan juga secara kimia.

Sumber:http://jpsperak.gov.my/web/page/Default.aspx?Page=Kesedaran
                          Alam Sekitar



FEDERATION OF MALAYSIAN CONSUMERS ASSOCIATIONS (FOMCA)




FOMCA adalah sebuah pertubuhan sukarela, tidak mementingkan keuntungan, bukan politik dan pertubuhan sivik. Ia menjadi payung bagi persatuan pengguna gabungannya. FOMCA bekerja rapat dengan kerajaan dan badan bukan kerajaan di peringkat kebangsaan dan antarabangsa dalam memberikan maklumat, pendidikan dan perlindungan pengguna.


Keutamaannya bukan sahaja nilai untuk wang tetapi juga nilai untuk manusia. FOMCA berusaha untuk mempertingkatkan melalui kuasa beli pengguna, pembangunan berasaskan keperluan yang memastikan keadilan sosio-ekonomi dan alam sekitar bagi mendapatkan kualiti hidup yang lebih baik untuk semua rakyat.

Objektif FOMCA
FOMCA ditubuhkan dengan tujuan untuk mencapai objektif-objektif berikut:
  • Untuk memperkuatkan perkembangan pergerakan pengguna di Malaysia.
  • Meneliti isu-isu dan masalah pengguna dan berjuang untuk hak-hak pengguna.
  • Untuk berjuang menerusi kuasa beli pengguna demi mendapatkan satu orientasi pembangunan yang akan menjamin keadilan sosio ekonomi dan kualiti alam sekitar yang lebih baik bagi semua.
  • Menyelaras dan menjadi badan perunding bagi organisasi pengguna yang lain di Malaysia
Falsafah FOMCA
FOMCA bukan hanya sebuah pertubuhan pengguna, tetapi juga sebuah pertubuhan pembangunan. FOMCA inginkan mewujudkan keadaan-keadaan seperti berikut:
  • Mewujudkan sifat berdikasi di kalangan para pengguna iaitu " - "Perlindungan Paling Berkesan ialah Perlindungan Sendiri."
  • Mewujudkan pembangunan berorientasikan kepada menunaikan keperluan asas manusia melalui kuasa beli kita sebagai pengguna bagi mewujudkan satu kebudayaan hidup yang sesuai, bahagian dan tidak membazir.

Peranan FOMCA
Demi mencapai falsafah-falsafah di atas, FOMCA mengamalkan empat pendekatan penting iaitu:
  • Sebuah badan yang memberi dan menyebarkan maklumat.
  • Sebuah badan pendidik yang memberi pendidikan kepada semua pengguna.
  • Sebuah badan bertindak yang memberi perlindungan kepada pengguna.
  • Sebuah badan yang menyiasat, membuat kajian dan ujian untuk memperolehi maklumat yang benar.

Kempen Konsumer Kebangsaan (3K)
Pengguna perlu melihat semula gaya hidup mereka dan bersedia untuk melakukan perubahan yang besar kepada gaya hidup mereka mengikui kesesuaian keadaan yang berlaku pada masa ini.

Banyak cabaran berbentuk  struktur yang berlaku di peringkat dunia yang memberikan kesan negatif kepada pengguna di Malaysia. Sebelum ini, isu global adalah berbentuk putaran, namun kini isu pengguna lebih berbentuk struktural, yang akan sentiasa wujud. Oleh itu, pengguna perlu melakukan perubahan gaya hidup bagi membolehkan mereka menyesuaikan diri dengan cabaran-cabaran baru ini. Berikut adalah beberapa cabaran baru dunia, iaitu:

  • Peningkatan harga minyak dan gas – peningkatan ini memberi kesan kepada semua sektor ekonomi, termasuk pengeluaran makanan dan pengangkutan.
  • Peningkatan pengambilan bijirin – khususnya berlaku di negara China dan India. Pengambilan bijrin yang meningkat ini berikutan daripada bertambah ramai golongan yang berkemampuan;.
  • Makanan kepada bahan api bio – di kalangan negara membangun dam kian meningkat juga di negara sedang membangun, banyak bahan makanan telah digunakan untuk menghasilkan bahan api bio. Oleh itu menyebabkan kurangnya pengeluaran makanan. Makanan untuk menghasilkan bahan api lebih tinggi harganya berbanding makanan untuk kegunaan manusia.
  • Perubahan iklim – banyak kawasan tanah yang sebelum ini mengeluarkan bahan makanan yang melimpah ruah, kini tidak lagi mengeluarkan hasil akibat daripada perubahan iklim.
  • Masyarakat McDonaldisasi – semakin ramai golongan muda yang mengamalkan pola pemakanan cara barat dan nilai ini menyebabkan wujudnya ramai masyarakat yang bersifat materialistik, sehingga berlaku banyak pembaziran dan masalah psiko-sosial.

Ringkasnya, masa bagi harga minyak yang rendah dan makanan yang murah telah berlalu.

Harga beras telah meningkat sebanyak 141%, manakala gandum pula 120% semenjak beberapa tahun ini. Terdapat  37 buah negara yang sedang menghadapi masalah kekurangan makanan. Selain itu, lebih daripada 100 juta orang di seluruh dunia yang berada pada paras kemiskininan jika harga makanan terus meningkat.  Pertubuhan Bangsa-bangsa Bersatu juga telah menyatakan dengan jelas bahawa pengeluaran makanan hendaklah meningkat sebanyak 50% bagi memenuhi peningkatan kepada permintaan bahan makanan.

Bagi pengguna di Malaysia pula, kesan peningkatan ini bermaksud:
  • Peningkatan kos hidup
  • Kualiti hidup kian berkurangan
  • Hutang semakin meningkat
  • Bankrap
  • Isu kesihatan mental
  • Masalah jenayah semakin berleluasa

Perlunya perubahan minda di kalangan pengguna di Malaysia.

Masyarakat pengguna di Malaysia perlu memberikan reaksi yang berbeza terhadap cabaran-cabaran ini berbanding pada masa lalu. Mereka perlu melihat semula gaya hidup mereka dan bersedia untuk melakukan perubahan yang besar kepada gaya hidup mereka mengikui kesesuaian keadaan yang berlaku pada masa ini.

Bagi menghadapi cabaran baru ini, salah daripada kekangan besar ialah minda rakyat Malaysia. Lantaran rakyat Malaysia telah terbiasa dengan kehidupan yang selesa, yang disebabkan jumlah subsidi yang besar diberikan oleh kerajaan, maka mereka terus beranggapan bahawa ini merupakan hak mereka. Oleh itu mereka terus berharap, malah mendesak agar kerajaan campur tangan bagi memastikan harga barang berada pada paras rendah.

Pengguna di malaysia perlu mengambil tanggungjawab dalam menghadapi cabaran ini. Mereka perlu mengubah gaya hidup berdasarkan harga pasaran sebenar. Sekiranya harga sebenar minyak adalah RM3.00 seliter, maka pengguna perlu membuat keputusan, apakah jenis kereta yang ingin mereka beli, ke mana mereka ingin pergi, berapa kerap mereka ingin pergi. gunakan pengangkutan awam dan beberapa keputusan lain yang berasaskan kepada harga sebenar. Pembuatan keputusan yang berdasarkan kepada subsidi adalah tidak mampan pada jangka panjang.

Begitu juga dengan makanan. Apabila harga makanan di pasaran antarabangsa meningkat, walaupun apa juga alasannya, pengguna tidak boleh menjangka kerajaan akan menyerap kenaikan harga tersebut dan mengekalkan harganya pada paras yang rendah. Ini juga tidak bersifat realistik. Pengguna perlu membuat perubahan terhadap gaya hidup mereka yang mencerminkan situasi semasa.

Kerajaan sudah semesti turut mempunyai tanggungjawab untuk membantu golongan yang berhadapan dengan kesulitan hidup, melalui sistem keselamatan sosial yang menyeluruh. Bagi kebanyakan pengguna, peningkatan harga barang bermakna mereka perlu memikirkan semula gaya hidup dan keutamaan hidup mereka.

Sumber:http://fomca.org.my/v2/index.php/program-fomca/kempen-konsumer
                           kebangsaan-3k



ABOUT WWF-MALAYSIA


WWF-Malaysia is a national conservation trust affiliated to the WWF global network.

Working to promote harmony between human beings and nature for four decades, the organisation to date runs more than 90 projects covering a diverse range of environmental protection and nature conservation work in Malaysia.



WWF-Malaysia has come a long way since its coming into being on the 13th of January 1972. In the early days we had solely focused on wildlife conservation such as saving endangered species like the tigers and turtles, today our work has extended to encompass marine and forest conservation as well; from to protecting our highlands and forests, and also our rivers and seas.



We now also undertake scientific field research, public awareness campaigns, business and industry engagement, environmental education as well as policy advocacy. WWF-Malaysia works hand in hand with local communities to improve their livelihoods while enabling their participation in conservation as well as training and supporting other environmental protection organisations in Malaysia.


We are privileged to have more than 70,000 supporters who interact with us on Facebook; about 52,000 individual supporters who fund 34 critical projects; and even more financial backing from the corporations. 

With your continued support, we stand the best chance of saving our biodiversity as well as achieving the sustainable management of our natural resources, to safeguard our good quality of life, and that of our children and future generations. WWF-Malaysia thanks you for your valuable support. 


WHAT DOES WWF STAND FOR?
WWF stands for World Wide Fund For Nature. It was formerly known as the World Wildlife Fund but adopted its current name to show that it also works on other environmental issues, and not just wildlife.

Who We Are


Established as a national conservation trust on 13 January 1972, WWF-Malaysia began as a humble two person-organisation. Today, we have close to 200 people working for us – from Kedah to Sabah. Also known as Tabung Alam Malaysia, we are governed by a Board of Trustees. 

" In the face of massive, unprecedented threats to the natural world – especially climate change and unsustainable resource management – WWF will focus on truly global conservation priorities which can achieve real and lasting change. "

     - James P Leape, Director General, WWF International

WHAT IS WWF?

WWF is one of the world's largest conservation organizations.



It was conceived on the 29th April 1961.



Its first office opened in September 1961 in the Swiss town of Morges.

The central secretariat for the network - called WWF International - is now located in Gland, Switzerland (organizational structure)

WWF is an independent foundation registered under Swiss law.

The organization has offices in more than 80 countries around the world.

It employs around 2,500 full time staff ...and values the support of more than 5 million people.

Over the 50 years since it was founded, WWF invested almost US$10 billion in more than 13,000 projects.



What We Do


WWF-Malaysia’s early work focused on scientific research of wildlife and important natural habitats. This later expanded to the management of protected areas. Today, our work covers the broader issues of the natural environment, incorporating such aspects as policy work, environmental education, public awareness and campaigns.



Read more about the work we do at WWF-Malaysia as well as how we are involved in other WWF Global Initiatives.

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR CONSERVATION WORK:-

Where We Work


WWF-Malaysia is headquartered in Petaling Jaya, Selangor in Peninsular Malaysia, with programme offices in East Malaysia in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah and Kuching, Sarawak. 



WWF-Malaysia also has a number of site offices in various parts of the country at locations where our conservation projects are carried out. 



Sumber: http://www.wwf.org.my/about_wwf/



COMSUMERS ASSOCIATION OF PENANG (CAP)


The Consumers Association of Penang, based in Malaysia was founded in 1970. Its activities are conducted from its office in Penang which is run by a staff of dedicated people, who are engaged in education, community organizing and mobilization, research and advocacy, litigation and publications. Its primary aim is to ensure a sustainable model of development that meets the basic needs of the poor and is also socially just and sustainable.



Unlike consumer organizations in the western world that advice consumers on the value for their money, CAP stresses ‘value for people’. 



CAP is indeed a unique organization that focuses on sustainable and ethical consumption and challenges current aggressive advertising industry that is unfettered and shapes peoples consumption to lifestyles and behavior that is unsustainable, unethical and inequitable.


In emerging economies like Malaysia, CAP challenges the unsustainable model of production and wasteful consumption patterns. It has a wide array of popular publications that teach the wider public to be ethical and rational consumers.  Using health as a major entry point, CAP educates consumers to change their habits to simpler and more meaningful lifestyles, while at the same time advocating for appropriate policies and laws to be in place.

Through the years, CAPs work has lead to the exposing unethical business behavior in sectors like chemical products, food, pharmaceuticals and health etc. CAP’s advocacy has led to some improvements in the laws to regulate these practices.

In the past 2 years, CAP has also intensified its work in training NGOs in the region such as from China, Myanmar, Vietnam and Laos, which are not exposed to unethical business practices of companies, the changing of consumption patterns and the advancing of unsustainable production systems etc. In the newly emerging markets, it is important that advocacy and education efforts are undertaken to prevent the repeat of the unsustainable models of the North from being replicated. Many of those who have come for our training have begun to translate our publications to their own languages and are interested in undertaking activities similar to that of CAP  for a more sustainable and equitable society.

Consequently, CAP has a strong program on education, which also reaches the schools and starts from the young to be good and responsible consumers and citizens.

Objectives
1.    To educate consumers, balance consumer needs and degree of protection and to provide   relevant consumer rights and entitlements.
2.    To advice individual consumers and protect their rights.
3.    To ensure prices of goods are fair and appropriate with relevance to its quality and value.
4.    To work with the existing laws in order to protect consumer’s interest and general health.
5.    To encourage the involvement of society and citizens (consumers) in the consideration, standardization and basic provision of their rights.
6.    To work towards ensuring production of high quality products.
7.    To study the fluctuations in the market with regards to the factors affecting it, and to advice or make suggestions to the ministry and organizations involved in the business and commercial sectors.
8.    To carry out activities such as the publication of bulletins and ceiling price lists, as well as forming market organizations and consumer clubs.

Vision & Mission

Vision
Giving a voice to the little people - that is the objective of the Consumers’ Association of Penang. And that’s what we have been doing since our establishment in 1970. 

CAP is a consumer organization with a difference. Fighting for fair prices and good quality products and services is just one of our many activities. Our main concern is ensuring the right of every consumer to basic needs such as food, housing, health care, sanitation facilities, public transport, education and a clean environment. We want to encourage within the people - especially the poor whose needs often go unnoticed - the spirit and the confidence to represent their case to government, to the public and to the private companies that oppress them.



Through research, educational and representational activities, we hope to influence people at all levels: so that policy makers in government look at how their development policies affect ordinary people, and give priority to basic needs; so that ordinary people think more critically and have the strength to resist trends and practices (e.g.: smoking, gambling) that can only make their lives more deprived.
Mission
To promote and strive for a more ecologically sound and socially just society.

Activities of CAP

CAP is a grassroots non-profit, non-governmental organization registered as a society with the Registrar of Societies, Malaysia since 1970. Through the years, the scope of CAP's concerns has expanded from matters of daily living such as product price and quality to more complex problems of meeting basic human needs, saving the environment from further deterioration, safeguarding human health, advocating for food security and sustainable livelihoods.



CAP has also been actively engaging in human development activities through education, training, capacity building, community based programmes, women’s empowerment, and in advocating a form of development, lifestyle and culture which is ecologically sustainable. As a defender of consumer rights and interests, CAP organizes community awareness campaigns on a broad spectrum of consumer, health, social, economy and environment issues that involves research, education, capacity building, organizing and media work.


In carrying out its activities, CAP reaches out to a wide range of people in the Malaysian society including rural communities such as farmers, fishermen, plantation workers, squatters, urban consumers, teachers, school children, university students, women youth and religious bodies. CAP publishes an extensive range of educational materials such as the popular bimonthly consumer newspaper "Utusan Konsumer", pamphlets used in life-skill training courses and books in four languages. Though based in Penang, CAP’s outreach activities cover the whole of Malaysia.


To carry out the various activities, CAP has the following sections:



Research Section
Has various subsections, each focussing on specific issues such as health and nutrition, food and product safety, pharmaceuticals, basic needs, environmental problems, market malpractices, finance, workers’ rights, unethical advertising practices, culture and lifestyle, and issues related to women.

Studies and surveys on these issues are carried out and sometimes, tests are conducted to check the safety and quality of foodstuff and consumer products.



Community And Rural Section
Works with communities such as plantation workers, fishermen, farmers, rubber smallholders, tenants and squatters, etc and helps them articulate problems related to their livelihood and living conditions
Also provides them with basic consumer education on issues such as food, nutrition and health. This is done through talks, discussions, house-to-house counselling, slide shows and exhibitions. 



Education Section
Provides consumer education for many groups, including school and college students, teachers, women and youth groups, and religious organisations. Organises seminars, workshops, exhibitions and drama competitions on consumer issues.
Attention is particularly given to school students as they are the future parents and policy makers. The section has helped to set up consumer clubs in more than 200 schools in Penang and other states.

Through its consumer education programmes, CAP hopes that a new generation of conscious, concerned and committed citizens will emerge.



Complaints Section
Handles complaints from the public on all kinds of issues (eg: poor quality products and services, food adulteration, tenancy problems). About 3,000-4,000 complaints are received annually through the mail, by phone and personal visits from irate consumers.



Legal Section
Handles public interest cases and represents communities in need of legal assistance.

Works closely with the Complaints Section to provide legal advice to consumers and to monitor laws that affect consumers.





Publications Section
Produces CAP’s news magazine, Utusan Konsumer. The Utusan has four editions — English, Malay, Chinese and Tamil. All editions are published bimonthly.
Produces a bimonthly magazine for primary schoolchildren, called Pengguna Kanak-Kanak.
Works closely with the other sections to produce books, reports and pamphlets on various consumer issues. Also produces educational kits and posters for distribution to the public and for use during CAP’s education programmes. 



Media Section
Produces and maintains audio visual materials (videos, cassettes and slides) for use during CAP’s education programmes.

Coordinates CAP’s major campaigns (eg: the anti-smoking campaign and the anti-alcohol campaign).





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