THE Minister of Development (MOD) yesterday encouraged the public to start practicing recycling lifestyle and also to get hold of the copy of the recently-launched “Recycle 123 Handbook” for tips. “The information in the handbook is meant to provide the public first-hand information and tips on what to do with their domestic rubbish,” said Yang Berhormat Pehin Orang Kaya Indera Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Hj Suyoi Hj Osman on the sidelines of the planting of 150 tree saplings at Muara Beach yesterday to mark World Environment Day. The “Recycle 123 Handbook” launched by the Department of Environment, Parks and Recreation (JASTRe) last week is in support of the department’s initiative to promote recycling in the country. The handbook can be downloaded from JASTRe’s website at http://www.env.gov.bn . It contains simple…

LOWER Six students of the Sengkurong Sixth Form Centre (PTES) cheered as spectacular pictures taken by their peers were displayed at the Green Wave event held at the centre’s Multimedia Theatre yesterday. The event was aimed at raising awareness on environmental issues that impact the nation, and to enable the youth to cultivate an interest in environmental protection. It also gave the students an opportunity to utilise and hone their skills in photography and descriptive writing. As part of the event, an Instagram photo competition was held earlier where students were invited to post photos that carry the themes on deforestation, eco-tourism, pollution, population and wildlife. Over 100 entries were received and students with the top five photos and the most likes were asked to give a short presentation to…

OPEN burning is so common that it has become “a culture” in Brunei, despite repeated warnings and laws to deter people from burning their garbage. Dk Haryanti Pg Hj Petra, environment officer and head of Belait branch at the Department of Environment, Parks and Recreation (JASTRE), said officers even get threatened when they advise offenders not to practise open burning. Advisories were given to prevent open burning in all four districts, but the bad habit still occurs frequently, she told The Brunei Times. The environmental officer said open burning has already become “part of Brunei’s culture”, and most of the open burning violators were senior citizens. “It is understood that we live in a society where disposing crops and grass by burning is considered normal as our parents and their…

THE United States (US) Embassy in Brunei Darussalam yesterday hosted an outreach event for local Non-Hovernment Organisations (NGOs) and Bruneians who have actively participated in the US government-sponsored cultural exchange programmes. Titled ‘Conversations’, the public diplomacy programme was aimed at encouraging dialogue and the exchange of ideas on volunteerism in the Sultanate. Present at the event was the co-founder of Green Brunei, Khairunnisa Ash’ari, who shared her experiences as a participant in the recent International Visitor Leadership Programme (IVLP) in the US. Khairunnisa’s recent three-week trip focused mainly on volunteerism and youth. She said that the IVLP programme gave her a better understanding of the volunteering culture in the US. “The program itself was beyond exposure to the work of various nonprofit organisations; it was also about understanding the service-learning…