committee lists

Committee List of Rainbow Society:

Consultant 1: Nicholas Ang Shao Kem

Consultant 2: Hjh. Norbayah

President: See Hui Ling

Vice President: Chung Kui Phin

Secretary: Sia Yee Jien

Asst. Secretary: On Chee Fei

Treasurer: Kho Pei Fen

Asst. Treasurer: Lim Wee Hao

Membership Officer: Lim Lee Wen

Asst. Membership Officer: Dk Lyana binti Pg Hj. Roslan

Chief Newsletter 1: Li En Ru

Chief Newsletter 2: Sia Kao Xiang

Promoter: Sia Yung Sook

Asst. promoter: Yu Sze Tee

RULES AND REGULATIONS OF RAINBOW SOCIETY

RULES AND REGULATIONS OF RAINBOW SOCIETY:

1. Since this society is open to the public in this country, which consists of people of different races and religions, there must be no existence of racialism.

2. Every member in this society must respect each other. Members must not be discriminated and it is very significant to respect every races and religions.

3. The members will need to work as a family and practice teamwork to ensure that this society can run efficiently and smoothly.

4. No disputes will be allowed in this society. If any member is discontented with any of the arrangement in this society, he/ she should refer to the counsellors appointed by the president and resolve it peacefully.

5. Members should try their best and work collectively to achieve the aim of the society in harmony and peace.

6. There will be no sexism or chauvinism in the society. Members should treat everyone equally and prejudice should be put aside to avoid any unwanted or unnecessary arguments.

7. It is a serious offence if a member misuses the name of this society for any purposes. The associated member, regardless committee members or ordinary members, will be instantaneously expelled.

8. Members should not underrate any other members based on their academic performance, prosperity or any other types of comparison. Members are also expected not to boast around of their own success or achievements.

9. Discussion should be carried out amongst committee members for any verdict. Any decision made by the committee members should confer to the President for approval. The final decision will then be made by the President or Vice President.

10. Dishonesty is not allowed in this society. Members who attend any meeting must not lie to any of their guardians of their whereabouts. They should make sure that their guardians know where they are and what they will be doing.

11. Committees in charge with funds are strictly debarred from any act of corruption. Corruption is a serious offence and any associated members, regardless committee members or ordinary members, will be expelled from the society.

12. Discipline must be well preserved. Mannerism is very important in this society.

a. Members are not allowed to use mobile phones during meeting except if he/she has an acceptable or sensible reason.

b. Impolite words and also insults must be avoided and should not be directed to any members to avoid unnecessary disputes and to prevent the loss of harmony and peace.

c. Members should not be subjected to brutality and violence. Peacefulness is valued in the society and the members should always be calm and halcyon in handling all their problems.

13. Every committee members should act as they are told by their respective leaders and the president. Committee members are allowed to discuss with their respective leaders on what they have to and no need to do, but the final decision will be made by their respective leaders.

14. Every committee members should do their own work and must not interfere with any other departments’ working system unless it is necessary for them to do so.

15. There will be at least one meeting in a month and every committee members are required to attend it.

16. Every member should know how to arrange their own timetable for their work/study and the activities of the society because this society will not be responsible for any improvement or declination of their academic/working performance.

17. Members should not be late for any meeting and must come on time for every activities held by the society.

18. If any committee member is absent for more than five meetings continuously, he/ she would be questioned by the president or vice president. If the reason is not accepted, he/ she will have to resign from the committee group.

19. Representative Chairman from every school must attend the meeting held by the committee members whenever it is necessary. It is not a must for every ordinary member to attend every meeting held by the committee members. However, every ordinary member will have to attend all the activities if possible, and will need to inform the Representative Chairman of the society in the respective school if he / she is unable to come.

20. Every committee member must post at least one article per month in the official blog of the society. The article posted must concern about global warming, the earth, or recent disasters occurring around the world.

21. Committee members should take any criticisms as a challenge and make improvements on their mistakes. They should not give up easily no matter what had happened.

22. Every meeting should be taken seriously. Members need to pay attention. They are expected to know what was talked about during the meeting and hopefully make some notes and summary for their own reference.

23. Every member should do their job systematically and must not be lazy. They are expected to be able to fulfil their responsibility and complete the tasks that are given to them. Members who are not serious is doing their work may be chided by either the president or disciplinarian.

24. There will be no last minute work. Members should finish their work before the day they are expected to complete it. It is also very important for every member to do their work willingly. They should not just do it because they were told to; they should be doing it seriously.

25. Members should be friendly and be helpful to anyone who needs the help. They should be helping other people willingly and are not supposed to hope for any rewards.

26. Every member is expected to behave like a civilised person. For every meeting or activity, vandalism and other immoral practices should be avoided in order to preserve the name of the society.

27. Commercial businesses are not allowed in this society no matter what the reasons are.

28. Members should not only promote "Practise Green" to other people, but they themselves must also practise recycling and conserving the nature. Members, especially the committee, are expected to be the role model to the public.

29. Members are expected to wear suitable attires when attending the activities held by the society. Committee members are also expected to wear the society t-shirt when attending the meetings and activities.

30. Committee members who abandoned their given tasks for two or more times will be questioned. If a suitable and acceptable reason is given, the member will be excused. However, if the given reason is unacceptable, the member will be warned and might lose his/her position in the committee.

31. Any official matters discussed during a Council Committee Meeting should not be told to anyone who is not a Council Committee Member of the Rainbow Society.

Lawmakers to ban toxins in kids’ products

MSNBC.com


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lawmakers to ban toxins in kids’ products
White House, chemical lobby say health concerns over phthalates unproven
By Lyndsey Layton
The Washington Post
updated 12:08 a.m. ET July 29, 2008
Congressional negotiators agreed Monday to a ban on a family of toxins found in children's products, handing a major victory to parents and health experts who have been clamoring for the government to remove harmful chemicals from toys.

The ban, which would take effect in six months, would have significant implications for U.S. consumers, whose homes are filled with hundreds of plastic products designed for children that may be causing dangerous health effects.

The rare action by Congress reflects a growing body of scientific research showing that children ingest the toxins by acts as simple as chewing on a rubber duck. Used for decades in plastic production, the chemicals are now thought to act as hormones and cause reproductive problems, especially in boys.

It also signals an important crack in the chemical industry's ability to fend off federal regulation and suggests that the landscape may be shifting to favor consumers. The movement to ban the toxins accelerated last year when California prohibited their use in children's products.

White House may veto ban
Earlier this year, the country's largest retailer, Wal-Mart; the biggest toy seller, Toys R Us; and Babies R Us told their suppliers that they will no longer carry products containing the chemicals, known as phthalates, as of Jan. 1, 2009. Toys containing these chemicals, however, will still be on many retail shelves during the holiday season.

White House spokesman Tony Fratto said that President Bush opposes the ban but that it is too early to say whether he will veto the measure, which is part of popular legislation to reform the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Among other things, the legislation would ban lead in children's products and would give consumers access to a new database of complaints or accident reports for goods. The measure also allows stiffer fines for violations and enhanced enforcement of consumer safety laws.

Under language finalized yesterday, House and Senate lawmakers agreed to permanently ban three types of phthalates from children's toys and to outlaw three other phthalates from products pending an extensive study of their health effects in children and pregnant women.

Phthalates make plastics softer and more durable and also are added to perfumes, lotions, shampoos and other items. They are so ubiquitous that in one 1999 study, the Food and Drug Administration found traces in all of its 1,000 subjects.


Chemical industry has resisted regulation
The measure had wide support in the Senate, but it bogged down in the House, where the chemical industry waged a costly battle to defeat it. The campaign was led by Exxon Mobil, which manufacturers diisononyl phthalate, or DINP, the phthalate most frequently found in children's toys. The company spent a chunk of its $22 million lobbying budget in the past 18 months to try to prevent any ban.

Daryl Ditz, senior policy adviser at the Center for International Environmental Law, said industry viewed the ban as a benchmark that might signal a shift in Congress's willingness to toughen restrictions on toxins.

"The great fear is that if a big, established chemical like this can be driven from the market, what's next?" he said.

Said Andy Igrejas of the Pew Charitable Trusts: "The debate over this one set of chemicals is a referendum on a broken system. Congress saw just how screwed up the system is in protecting people from chemicals, especially children."

Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), who sponsored the measure, said yesterday that the action is a first step toward moving the United States closer to the European model, where industry must prove the safety of a chemical before it is allowed on the market.

"Chemical additives should not be placed in products that can impact health adversely until they are tested and found to be benign," she said.

U.S. companies manufacture $1.4 billion worth of phthalates annually, and less than 5 percent of that is used in children's products, according to the American Chemistry Council, which represents chemical makers.


Congress putting children at risk?
Sharon Kneiss, a vice president at the trade group, said Congress acted prematurely. "There is no scientific basis for Congress to restrict phthalates from toys and children's products. With over 50 years of research, phthalates are among the most thoroughly studied products in the world, and have been reviewed by multiple regulatory bodies in the U.S. and Europe," she said.

Exxon Mobil contended that banning phthalates may inadvertently expose children to greater risks, because manufacturers will be forced to use substitute chemicals that may be even more hazardous.

"What's at stake is, in fact, children's safety," said Elissa Sterry, a vice president at Exxon Mobil Chemicals. "If DINP is replaced by alternative products, that's a potential risk to children."

The industry's position was repeated by Keith Hennessey, director of Bush's Economic Policy Council, who wrote to the Senate saying that a ban could hurt children.

"Banning a product before a conclusive, scientific determination is reached is short-sighted and may result in the introduction of unregulated substitute chemicals that harm children's health," he wrote.

Most research on phthalates has been performed on rodents, and chemical makers say there is no evidence that humans are similarly affected. They also contend that children are exposed to phthalate levels far below the doses administered to laboratory rats.

Studies link chemicals linked to cancer
But the first study involving human babies in 2005 raised questions about those arguments. Federally funded research by the Center for Reproductive Epidemiology at the University of Rochester Medical School, found that male babies born to women with high levels of phthalates in their blood exhibited changes related to low sperm count, undescended testicles and other reproductive problems. In that study, the infants were exposed to phthalate levels way below the doses administered in rat experiments. Other studies have connected some phthalates to liver and kidney cancer.

Health experts argue that dangers may be more significant from cumulative exposure, because phthalates surround babies not only in toys and products but also in breast milk if the mother has been exposed to the chemicals.

The European Union banned six phthalates from children's products in 1999 and more than a dozen other countries have done the same.

California's ban has been followed by legislation in Washington state and Vermont.

Staff writer Annys Shin contributed to this report.


© 2008 The Washington Post Company
URL: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25893316/

Tropical Trees Cool Earth Most Effectively

A new study finds that tropical trees are better at combating global warming than trees in higher latitudes.

"Our study shows that only tropical rainforests are strongly beneficial in helping slow down global warming," said study team leader Govindasamy Bala of Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California.

Forests affect the climate in three different ways:
1) By absorbing carbon dioxide (a major greenhouse gas) to help cool the planet;

2) By evaporating water which forms clouds, helping to keep the planet cooler;

3) By absorbing sunlight with their dark leaves. This warms the Earth.

Trees in snowy places absorb sunlight that would otherwise be reflected back to space by the bright white snow.
However, tropical rainforests trap larger amounts of carbon dioxide and evaporate more water to produce clouds that reflect sunlight back to space.
"Tropical forests are like Earth's air conditioner," said Ken Caldeira of the Carnegie Institution of Washington, Bala's colleague.

By simulating the effects of deforestation in different parts of the world, the study, published in the April 9 online issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, found that deforestation in the tropics is more destructive to Earth's climate than deforestation in higher latitudes, and that trees in mid- to high-latitudes could actually cause warming.

The scientists warn that these findings don't mean it's time to take out the axes and cut down all the trees outside of the tropics.

"A primary reason we are trying to slow global warming is to protect nature," Caldeira said. "It just makes no sense to destroy natural ecosystems in the name of saving natural ecosystems."

Source from: http://www.livescience.com/environment/070409_deforest_cooling.html

By: CeSCaDVL (A.S)

global warming?together, global warming is nothing:)

The above video was captured and done by Akinari ( Elly See's friend).
Special thanks for his video and support on rainbow society:)

www.youtube.com/akinari

TO THOSE WHO WISHED TO HAVE CHILDREN IN THE FUTURE

At least leave something for them, don’t take everything we can use and destroy what we couldn’t take. Those excess water, fuels, uranium, low temperatures, they need not be wasted. Leave for your descendant.

You know about global warming, you know about pollution. So let’s cut the story short here: water is in a crisis too. We are facing water shortage. Not the overall water, but the clean water. There’s only 3% of earth’s water that’s drinkable. And only 1% is available to us, these 6 billion life forms that have selfishly take what they need and return what they don’t to Mother Nature.

How much important water is, you ask? Everything we depend on needs water. Every activity has a connection to water. Your food needs water. Without water, you don’t have KFC; you can’t clean and make yourself appealing to your girl/boyfriend. In some third-world countries, water is fought for. They don’t get water facilities like us, and they fought for water more dirty than what you make after bathing.

What we have been doing to “appreciate” this small amount of water (even clean water) is to throw rubbish into the rivers, wasting the purified water supplied to us by the government, destroying pipes and taps (causing water leakages) and such.

We can’t make liquid H2O air from because Hydrogen is explosive and Oxygen support combustion. Making enough water to be of any use will be highly hazardous. We can’t think of using cloud-seeding for a source of freshwater as well. The risk of causing severe flood when playing with the force of nature can be shown in Britain. Inventor Max Whisson has invented the Whisson Windmill and although it is environmentally green, the number of this Windmill is still too small to make enough difference to the world.

So maybe you can start learning not to waste and start now. If everyone says “what can one person do to change it?” then no one will be doing anything.

by your beloved newspaper-boy,
en,
0.o

Tropical Trees Cool Earth Most Effectively

Tropical Trees Cool Earth Most Effectively
A new study finds that tropical trees are better at combating global warming than trees in higher latitudes.
"Our study shows that only tropical rainforests are strongly beneficial in helping slow down global warming," said study team leader Govindasamy Bala of Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California.
Forests affect the climate in three different ways:

1) By absorbing carbon dioxide (a major greenhouse gas) to help cool the planet;
2) By evaporating water which forms clouds, helping to keep the planet cooler;
3) By absorbing sunlight with their dark leaves. This warms the Earth.

Trees in snowy places absorb sunlight that would otherwise be reflected back to space by the bright white snow.
However, tropical rainforests trap larger amounts of carbon dioxide and evaporate more water to produce clouds that reflect sunlight back to space.
"Tropical forests are like Earth's air conditioner," said Ken Caldeira of the Carnegie Institution of Washington, Bala's colleague.
By simulating the effects of deforestation in different parts of the world, the study, published in the April 9 online issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, found that deforestation in the tropics is more destructive to Earth's climate than deforestation in higher latitudes, and that trees in mid- to high-latitudes could actually cause warming.
The scientists warn that these findings don't mean it's time to take out the axes and cut down all the trees outside of the tropics.
"A primary reason we are trying to slow global warming is to protect nature," Caldeira said. "It just makes no sense to destroy natural ecosystems in the name of saving natural ecosystems."


Source from: http://www.livescience.com/environment/070409_deforest_cooling.html


By Cesca On

Man Jiang Hong, Frankie yu

Special Announcement

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT:

To all Rainbow society members and readers;

I am the president of Rainbow society, Elly SEE HUI LING.
I would like to announce that starting from today; registration or application for new member of our society will be FREE of CHARGE ...This means that we wont ask for any application fees for members, this also not include the event's fee. Members are ask to pay joining fees for events which will including the prizes and refreshments.

For those who had already paid the member fees to our membership's officer (AUDREY LIM), you can collect the refund from her starting from tomorrow 24th July 2008 to 1st August 2008
*please bring your receipt, if possible!

Well regarding to the member cards,
I would purchase the first 100pieces of member card personally. So, just collect the member card once there is further announcement/news been announced.


Thanks you.

Elly SEE
(president)

Greenhouse Effect

The greenhouse effect is the rise in temperature that the Earth experiences because certain gases in the atmosphere (water, carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, and methane, for example) trap energy from the sun. Without these gases, heat would escape back into space and Earth’s average temperature would be about 60°F colder. Because of how they warm our world, these gases are referred to as greenhouse effect.

Have you ever seen a greenhouse? Most greenhouses look like a small glass house. Greenhouses are used to grow plants, especially in the winter. Greenhouses work by trapping heat from escaping. This causes the greenhouse to heat up, much like the inside for a car packed in sunlight, and keeps the plants warm enough to live in the winter.

The Earth’s atmosphere is all around us. It is the air that we breathe. Greenhouse gases in the atmosphere behave much like glass panes in a greenhouse. Sunlight enters the Earth’s atmosphere, passing through the blanket of greenhouse gases. As it reaches the Earth’s surface, land, water and biosphere absorb the sunlight’s energy. Once absorbed, this energy is sent back into the atmosphere. Some of the energy passes back into space, but much of it remains trapped in the atmosphere by the greenhouse gases, causing our world to heat up. The greenhouse effect is important, without the greenhouse effect, the Earth would not be warm enough for humans to live. But if the greenhouse effect becomes stronger, it could make the Earth warmer than usual. Even a little extra warming may cause problems for humans, plants, and animals.

Elly's view

Video/pic by Elly See

Arctic is starting to melt

A General Article Related To Global Warming:

On 2nd of February, 2007, the United Nations scientific panel studying climate change declared that the evidence of a warming trend is "unequivocal," and that human activity has "very likely" been the driving force in that change over the last 50 years. The last report by the group, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, in 2001, had found that humanity had "likely" played a role.

Arctic is starting to melt, due to the increasing temperature of the earth. Scientists are unnerved by the polar ice melt, its implications and their ability to predict it. The melting of Arctic is putting the polar bears and other inhabitants of Arctic into danger. The animals now face another threat: a changing climate.

Several countries and companies had tried to improve the situation. The Ontario provincial government of Canada had said that it would conserve a huge swath of its forest to protect polar bears and other animals and help fight climate change on the 15th of July 2008. On the same day as well, Exelon, the electric company based in Chicago, promised to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 2020 by an amount larger than its total emissions in 2008.

The sad thing is that while some countries no longer deny the science of climate change, they still insist on putting the concerns of industry over the needs of the planet. If this continues, the planet might continue to experience global warming, and a lot of innocent lives, especially the animals, might be in danger.

We might not be able to stop global warming completely, but at least we can try our best to reduce it. Just remember that while we are reducing global warming, we are increasing our own future comfortableness.

Can you imagine how will the future be like if global warming continues? You can’t, because there will be no future if it continues.


Source from: http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/science/topics/globalwarming/index.html

Article By: Jessyca, Rainbow Society Secretary

Plastics and styrofoam

Plastics + Styrofoam and bottle drinks~

How many polythene plastic bags have you used today?
How many paper bags have you used today?
How many bottle of drinks have you bought and threw in your life?
How many boxes of Styrofoam have you threw in a month?

Lets have a read the article below.

Do you know??
According to some online references which I read before,
paper bags have the highest global warming impact compared to other types of bags.
There is a fact ..according to the US EPA, 70percent more global warming gasses are emitted making a paper than a plastic bag!!!
They cause 50times more water pollution, as well as deforestation!!!!
Believe or not...
10billion paper shopping bags= 14million trees!!!

Some research make by environmentalist have noted that ..the petroleum used to make 14 plastics bags is enough to drive a car a mile
( THIS MEANs THAT 140 plastics bags can drive for 10miles, oil's prices have hiked to USD 141...)

Americans alone throw away 380billion of plastic bags which mean that they have already thrown the amount of plastics which equal to millions barrels of petroleum. This really contribute to global warming, depleting oil supplies and driving up the costs of petroleum based products.


Styrofoam never break down completely to the ground..
Sea animals like eating this plastic foam and it usually kills them and chemicals in Styrofoam cause global warming
; the manufacturing of Styrofoam involves many polluting chemicals harmful to life. Styrofoam is a notorious environmental pollutant and a non-biodegradable substance.


SO??
You guys still want to use those non-biodegradable products?









By Elly See

Elly's report

Last days, the committee members and I (Elly) had been gone for a short video shooting for our society. We planned to make the videos as a reference part on our presentation which we are going to have in our launching day in SMSBT (may god bless our society could run smoothly in SMSBT).
* I will post the video up here ONCE we have finish doing the mastering progress and others.:)








Well, the day before the shooting...
I have go around Brunei, looking for some common "mistakes/careless/foolish actions" which always been done by us in our daily life. I could point out more than 10 examples which we done in our daily life within my 1hour walk around the market which found here.
Plus recently I have heard a lots of complains from my friends and teachers about the HOT temperature.





Picture no.1:
I was inside the car actually when I took this picture.
It was 32 degree Celsius!!!
Compare to the past temperature reading of Brunei...which was 28degree celcius...
It is very obvious that...the temperature has sometimes been rise up to +4 due to some solar radiation factors as well as...THE signal/signs from our sun that ...our earth is now on the border of its limit. GLOBAL WARMING IS ON RISK!!!!!

PLEASE DO SOMETHING TO COOL DOWN OUR EARTH.

According to some research reports which I read, hot temperature/condition make humans feel frustrated, anger, moody and lazy.




Picture no.2:
If we stop agriculture now..COULD WE supply with all these rich food products?
Could buildings feed us?
Could those iron/lifeless buildings provide us oxygen for breathing?







Picture 3: Plastic/polythene made sheet?
well for some sheltering purpose I agree them to use it. but why a broken one? HRm..if they could replace it with some environmental friendly materials..I guess it could make Brunei=nicer ..WHO KNOW can bring out another tourism BOOM here?this could increase our country's wealth as well as SAVING our environment...
If our ancestor could live without polythene in the past..Why cant us? We have the technology for creating MORE Better Environmental friendly products..Why dont we use them instead of making some harmful/danger products?


*Well for your information..
actually I got something to share here..
well hrmm...no no no..NOTHING funny:
Just now..while I was shopping with leewen around the Mall...
Instead of carrying the goods we bought with polythene plastics bags...we put them into our own bags We asked the shop assistant whether We could buying those goods without packing them into plastics bag (because the things we bought werent that necessary for us to use/place into plastics) sooo..YUP! with the payment receipts...we placed those goods into our own bags by the witness of shop keeper:p

Funny?
Why dont I use recycle bag?
I have forgotten to bring my recycle bag..Thats why.. Plus I couldnt find any recycle bag in the store (sad things...so far I only know Supa Save and Giants do offer their customers to use non polythene recycle bags...they might cost around 79cent to $1 each ***they are valuable to buy!!! Believe me!)

well well well...
Along our shopping trip...there were alots of people distributing some commercial catalog ...*I think majority of them are wasting the papers
because..I could see the catalog which they gave to the publics/past-by were end up in...the floor and rubbish bins..

I think it would be a good idea for them to display their products/advertised them online (since it is cheap and free+fast) . We have to suit into this IT world!!!

***LEE wen and I didn't collect any of the catalog just now... haha
It doesnt mean we are rude ..but we are more onto the logic's state as we know..we wont need those botox/laser/slimming treatment.
Plus even I asked them some professional questions on the products..they couldnt give me a good+logic answer.. They just remain BLUR there and silent( the most common replied Im not sure)...This means that ..even themselves not even sure about the safety of those products.





By: Elly SEE

'Global Warming Causing California Glacier to Grow'

From the "You've Got To Be Kidding Me" department: "Global Warming Causing California Glacier to Grow, Scientists Say."

What? Hasn't Nobel Laureate Al Gore and every climate alarmist in the media been warning us that global warming is causing glaciers to melt, and that we're all going to die if we don't do something about it?

Well, not so fast, because according to the CBC, much like climate change can cause droughts AND torrential rains, it now seems the tricky little devil can make glaciers grow too (emphasis added, better stow fluids and sharp objects):

The glaciers on Mount Shasta in California are growing because of global warming, experts say.

"When people look at glaciers around the world, the majority of them are shrinking," said Slawek Tulaczyk, a University of California, Santa Cruz, professor who studied the glaciers.

But the seven glaciers on Shasta, part of the Cascade mountains in northern California, "seem to be benefiting from the warming ocean," he said.

As the ocean warms, more moisture evaporates. As moisture moves inland, it falls as snow — enough on Shasta to more than offset a 1 C temperature rise in the past century.

Hmmm. That's not what NASA said in March, as reported by Green Daily (emphasis added):

Researchers with NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory studying temperature changes in the world's oceans are finding no evidence of heating up in the last 5 years or so.

Scientists have been working with a program called Argo, which looks at ocean temperatures using robotic buoys which dive down to three thousand feet to collect data. Since the study began in 2003, measurements have not only failed to find evidence of warming, but in fact have picked up a slight cooling trend.

Well, maybe the Banana Slugs of Santa Cruz hadn't heard about this NASA study...or didn't care.

Update: NBer danbo rightly states in the comments section that the average yearly temperature has declined in the Mt. Shasta area since the '90s

Isn't it also interesting that the temperature in Shasta for the past three years has been lower than some of the years prior to WWI?

—Noel Sheppard is the Associate Editor of NewsBusters.

from: http://newsbusters.org/blogs/noel-sheppard/2008/07/09/headline-global-warming-causing-california-glacier-grow

Committee tshirt

Well remember that I have mentioned about Rainbow Society's committee tshirt?
Now they have done..(I mean the Tshirt)
Below are the pictures of the tshirt. (Elly)
***I will try my best to take our committee's group photo with the t-shirts:)






Thank you every One:)
By Elly See

THE LITTLE KITTEN AND RS

Sorry for posting this late.
HERE IS THE STORY.
Around 3pm on 6thJuly2008, while trying to start shooting on our drama for the lauching day, we (Ke Jing, Hui Ling, Chee Fei, Pei Fen) heard a cat's meowing. At first, we decided not to pay attention, but the meowing didnt stop. Chee Fei decided to check it out. After rummaging through the things, she found a newborn kitten in the drain. All of us huddled looking at the kitten, of course. The skinny members, Ke Jing, Chee Fei and Kui Phin tried to reach the kitten as the the metal covering the drain was permenantly fixed to the ground, so we couldn't just carry the metal thing. So, in that process, somehow, En Ru's handphone fell down into the drain along with one of the props for the drama-Kui Phin's shade. Everyone searched for something that could be used to get the kitten out, Kui Phin found a rusty metal probably 1 + metre long. he bent it so that it was like a hook. The handphone and shades were successfully retrieved. Just the matter of the little kitten was still not resolved. Then, we decided to use a water pipe as a "broom" to push the kitten onto the metal earlier. To make it safer, Hui Ling covered the water pipes with banana leaves and Kui Phin made sure the sharp edges were not pointed towards the kitten with the help of En Ru. Slowly and carefully, Hui Ling and Kui Phin attempted to get the kitten out. For the first time, it didnt work out and for the second time, it finally worked. The only problem was the "sweep" manuveur could only get the kitten as far as half the height of the drain. Ke Jing and Chee Fai literally lend their hands and reached for the kitten. In the end, the kitten was out of the drain and quickly rushed to a nearby water tap. Instead of using the water tap in front of them, Ke Jing and En Ru ran to a water tap which was a few metres away. Ooh yeah, En ru's handphone wasnt damaged but it did smell terrible. The rest of the afternoon was spent on feeding and cleaning the kitten. Unfortunately, the kitten died the next day as Hui Ling texted at the chat box due to the drain water. At least, it lived hours longer than it would have being in the drain.

I do apologise if there's any mistakes in the spelling or anything. ^_^

Leehom wang

Leehom wang's visit to Laos (world vision)

Effects of electronic waste to the environment

E-Waste Poses a Very Real Environmental Threat -Recycling Your Wireless Cell Phones, PDA's, Pagers and Digital Cameras Can Help Protect the Earth

Studies have consistently shown that electronic waste from devices like mobile phones, PDA's and digital cameras contains toxins that are damaging to our environment. That is why recycling charity donations are so important. When you donate your cell phone, you are helping to keep toxic elements out of landfills. Consider the harm you are averting when you donate cell phones to charity:

Element	Use in Wireless Technology	Harmful Effects
Lead	Used primarily in soldering of circuit boards and other device components	Extremely harmful to the human body; damages both the central and peripheral nervous systems; can cause seizures, retardation, high blood pressure, damage to the kidneys and liver; adversely affects child development
Beryllium	Forms significant portions of electrical connectors and battery contacts	Long term exposure can be carcinogenic, especially for the lungs. Extreme exposure can lead to a potentially fatal condition known as Acute Beryllium Disease
Arsenic	Used in some integrated circuits and semiconductors	Arsenic is a notoriously potent poison; causes severe damage to the digestive tract
Mercury	Can be found to a degree in batteries and circuit boards	Attacks the central nervous and endocrine systems; harmful to mouth, teeth and gums; poses risk in the neurological development of unborn fetuses
Antimony	Used in production of diodes and batteries. Pure form used in semiconductor production	Toxic to humans in ways similar to arsenic; fatal in large doses
Cadmium	Used in soldering, semiconductors and chip resistors	Potentially carcinogenic; Repeated exposure can damage the lungs, kidneys and liver

The potential dangers are obvious. Recycling for Charities is committed to preventing such hazards from contaminating the environment

from: http://www.recyclingforcharities.com/Environmental-Effects-of-E-Waste.php

Artists also promote LOVE and concern about global warming

Gary Chaw & rock Unity:






Leehom:



DannyOne










*the english/malay version of artist's contributions on the matter above, will soon been posted (if only I could found some of the examples)


By elly see

RS and cat

The story of the title above..will soon been posted here:)



Below are the pictures which taken by Elly SEE :

watch this

Teens green's tips

Today's teens are more wired up, plugged in, worldly and savvy than ever. Many care deeply about the threats facing our environment, and are committed to making difference. But it's not always easy to know exactly what to do. Here are some suggestions to get started.

* 1. When You're Done Surfing and IMing, Turn Your Computer Off. If you shut your machine off before bedtime, you'll save an average of $90 worth of electricity a year — tell your parents that, and ask for a raise in your allowance! If you must leave your computer on, tell it to go into "sleep" or "hibernate" mode, which saves power. Save even more juice by unplugging your computer (or flip the switch on a surge protector) to stop the "phantom load" problem.


* 2. Put Together a Cool Vintage Outfit. Impress your friends with your fab style sense when you show up to a party in a vintage Betsey Johnson number (you can find gently used clothing for a steal at thrift stores and garage sales). Go glam by raiding your parents' closet for 1970s and '80s pants, vests and jackets.

* 3. Instead of Insisting on Driving, Catch the School Bus. No, it may not be as cool as driving yourself, but it is a lot safer, according to the National Academies of Science and Engineering. Buses are also much more fuel efficient than cars, saving gas and lowering emissions that cause global warming.

* 4. Get Involved! Most schools have environment or Earth Day clubs, so give them a chance! It's a great way to meet nice people, and you can learn so much from your peers. Many clubs convince their schools to recycle, start a garden or hold an Earth Day fair.
* 5. Turn Off the Lights Behind You. Remember that riddle about the tree falling in the forest when no one is around? Well, why leave a light on when no one is around? It's just plain waste. Your parents may even bug you about it because they have to pay the energy bills, and they know lighting accounts for an average of 11% of that total.


* 6. Join the "Virtual March." Founded by eco-warrior Laurie David, Senator John McCain and Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the Stop Global Warming Virtual March is a Web-based effort to bring people together to take a stand against climate change. So far nearly 900,000 people have joined up to demand that our leaders begin reducing carbon dioxide emissions now.

* 7. Help Lose the Litter. Littering is a blight on our landscape that chokes wildlife and releases toxic chemicals when it breaks down. Plus it's just plain ugly! Many neighborhoods hold regular cleanups, so volunteer! It's an easy way to get some exercise while making a difference and meeting new people.

* 8. Go Veggie Once Per Week. The commercial meat industry takes a huge toll on our environment. It takes 4.8 pounds of grain (fed to cattle) to produce one pound of beef, as opposed to serving those grains directly to hungry people. One pound of wheat can be grown with 60 pounds of water, but a pound of red meat requires 2,500 to 6,000 pounds of water. In a world where water, land and energy are premiums, making a small cutback in the meat you eat is healthy for the planet, as well as your body.

* 9. Instead of Buying Bottled Water, Get a Refill. Ever see an empty water bottle tossed by the side of the road? Less than 20% of those single-use containers make it to the recycling bin. They also waste fuel for shipping — water is heavy! Get a cool metal bottle instead and fill it up when you're thirsty, and cut down on the expense and waste.

* 10. Get a New Shampoo — and Make It Natural! Typical drugstore shampoos can have some pretty scary-sounding chemicals in them (just look at the labels!), but why take the risk of putting all those lab compounds on your sensitive scalp? Lots of companies make more natural shampoos from plant extracts and even organically certified ingredients. They smell great, and are less toxic to make.

* 11. Download (Legally!) the Latest Album from an Eco-friendly Star. John Mayer. KT Tunstall. Dave Matthews Band. Kanye West. A number of today's hottest musicians are also going green in big ways, by running tour buses on clean-burning biodiesel and recycling all their show waste. Do your part by buying music online, which cuts out waste from shipping and all those CDs and cases.

* 12. Ask Potential Colleges About Their Eco-Practices and/or Check Out a "Green Collar Career." College can be the best time of your life, but you don't want to be dragged down by a school that doesn't get your green values. Fortunately, many colleges are leading the way with exciting recycling and reuse programs and even eco-friendly dorms! Whether you seek higher ed or not, think about a career that makes a positive difference: not just park rangers, but also teachers, government workers, organizers and media.

* 13. Buy a Comfy Organic Cotton T-Shirt. Cotton is one of the most pesticide-intensive crops, and millions of gallons of toxic residue runs off cotton fields into rivers and lakes, poisoning wildlife. Plus, why put something that had been treated in harsh chemicals so near your skin? Organic cotton is now widely available (from H&M to Wal-Mart to boutiques), in the cutest styles and graphics.

* 14. Take Friends and/or Family to See The 11th Hour. Leonardo DiCaprio's recent doc is a heavy hitter, but it's also inspiring and gorgeous. It just may be the push to get your dad to start recycling his papers, or your friend to stop littering. And it's pretty entertaining.

* 15. Make Your Next Cup of Coffee Organic and Fair Trade. Coffee may pep you up, but it may have been grown under chemical-intensive conditions that destroy rainforest and poison poor workers. Organic means no industrial chemicals are used, and fair trade means growers are given incentives to protect local forest and tend plots sustainably. They are paid a decent living wage, so you can feel proud about what you're buying.

* 16. Earn Great Grades (Mother Nature Needs Smart People to Help Protect Her). Sure, you've heard it a million times before: it pays to stay in school. Here's one more reason: human population, and consumption rates, continue to swell, while habitat for wildlife shrinks. Global warming, ozone damage and acid rain are scary stuff. Humankind can right a lot of our wrongs and invent new technology to live lighter on the Earth, but it will take a lot of smarts.

* 17. Green Your Boyfriend or Girlfriend. Everyone knows that a significant other can influence our behavior in major ways. So way not encourage your honey to cut down on unnecessary trips, turn the water off while brushing his/her teeth and other common-sense tips? You'll grow closer together as you share in protecting the Earth.



edited by ELLY SEE



from MSN GREEN