Monday, October 4, 2010

Going For Clean Energy




From Green SURF:

Fired up by overwhelming public support for its campaign against a proposed coal-fired power plant at the shores of the Coral Triangle, a coalition of NGOs in Malaysian Borneo is commemorating its yearlong journey with global climate change movement 350.org and citizens of the world on 10.10.10.

Green SURF’s (Sabah Unite to Re-Power the Future) Borneo-Global Work Party will feature a clean-up at two beaches – Kampung Sinakut in Lahad Datu on Sabah’s east coast which is ground zero for the proposed 300MW coal-fired power plant, and Tanjung Aru in Kota Kinabalu, the capital of the state of Sabah, Malaysia. Green SURF and Sabahans are proud to be a part of a truly worldwide movement,with 5,000+ Global Work Parties in 175 countries on 10.10.10. In Sabah, we are already seeing the effects of climate change and we fully support 350.org’s efforts to bring global carbon emissions back down to and below the scientifically-determined safe level of 350 parts per million (we are now at 390 ppm).

Clean-up at both locations will start at 10:10 am. Green SURF members will work alongside citizens of Kota Kinabalu and Kampung Sinakut, strengthening the solidarity and self-organizing that has energized the movement in its ongoing campaign against the coal-fired power plant and for clean energy options. Participants and local artists will use the trash to spell out 350 on the shore, and guest DJs will provide entertainment. Green SURF has arranged with a local recycling plant to recycle all of the trash afterward. The beaches were chosen as venues to highlight their vulnerability to rising sea levels resulting from climate change.Green SURF is made up of Land Empowerment Animals People (LEAP), Sabah Environmental Protection Association (SEPA), Malaysian Nature Society (Sabah branch), WWF Malaysia and Partners of Community Organisations (PACOS).

During its campaign to stop construction of the coal plant, Green SURF saw support grow from day to day, and when it mattered most, over 500 people locally and worldwide wrote in to the Malaysian Department of Environment to give their views on a Detailed Environmental Impact Assessment study. The Department subsequently rejected the study done by project-hired consultants. Following the mid-August rejection, it remains unclear if the project will proceed.

1 comment:

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    ReplyDelete