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A BRUNEIAN environment proponent earlier this month took part in the Young Southeast Asian Leadership Initiative (YSEALI) Sea and Earth Advocates (SEA) Camp in the Philippines. The US Embassy here had nominated Firdaus Ismail to attend the international environmental camp at Aklan, Boracay Island. During the camp from June 6-12, Firdaus joined 25 other youth leaders from the Philippines for an intensive environmental education and leadership training programme that saw participants engaging in panel discussions, outdoor activities and workshops. The participants also learned about mass tourism and unsustainable development that could threaten the oceans. “The region produces 55 tonnes of waste per day and that’s not much different in Brunei with 1.4kg per capita and other parts of ASEAN”, Firdaus was quoted as saying in a press release. “During a…

GREEN Brunei is looking into the possibility of getting alternative sources of funding, such as securing annual grants for more effective and worry-free activities. Green Brunei president Khairunnisa Ash’ari told The Brunei Times recently that the alternatives would replace their present efforts of sourcing for funds on a project to project basis. “We face financial challenges. Although our projects have mostly been funded by generous sponsors, we feel too much time had been spent on seeking sponsorship instead of focusing on the real issues,” she said. Discussions on suitable alternatives have already started among their core team members, said the environmental advocate. “It will take time given our respective responsibilities outside of Green Brunei but I’m looking at within two or three years before we can see significant changes. In…

LOCAL environmental organisation Green Brunei is calling on all relevant agencies to zero in on waste management issues in light of the growing population and housing areas in the country. Green Brunei President Khairunnisa Ash’ari told The Brunei Times it is imperative to look even more closely on managing waste which can be tied to recycling, so that the country’s waste management system will run more efficiently in the long run. “Waste management can potentially be a bigger problem in the future if not tackled effectively today. We often read about illegal dumping issues, water pollution and open burning in the media and these are all part and parcel of waste management,” she said. Khairunnisa said there are many success stories which Brunei can learn from with regards to tackling…

TWO youth activists were awarded the Pingat Indah Kerja Baik (PIKB) or Excellent Service Medal by His Majesty’s government yesterday for their leadership and contribution to youth issues. Khairunnisa Ash’ari, 28, and Iswandy Ahmad, 31, were recognised for their advocacy in environmental issues and HIV/AIDS awareness respectively, making them among the youngest recipients to receive the PIKB medal. HRH Prince Hj Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office, presented the duo with the honorary medals during a ceremony at Istana Nurul Iman yesterday. “It’s pretty exciting. Honestly I did not expect to get it. I’ve always assumed it was for government servants,” said Khairunnisa, who founded the environmental NGO, Green Brunei, in 2012. “It’s quite empowering being acknowledged as youth volunteers.” She said she…

THE president of Green Brunei said the non-government organisation will be organising a Heart of Borneo Youth Seminar to bring together youth participants from the region to discuss the challenges and opportunities of the Heart of Borneo initiative to promote sustainable development. The seminar, organised in partnership with the Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism, will be held from July 8 to 10. Green Brunei president Khairunnisa Ash’ari told The Brunei Times that climate change will be one of the core topics in the seminar. “The seminar will provide a platform for youth from Brunei and around the region to learn and share their ideas with fellow participants on, not just the issue of conservation, but also how Heart of Borneo (HoB) can contribute towards national development including identifying economic…

DESPITE many cleaning campaigns conducted by government and non- government agencies as well as the Kampong Ayer residents, floating rubbish still remains an eyesore at Brunei’s iconic water village. A senior citizen from Kg Saba Darat B, Hj Matassan Kassim, reminisced the good old days when plastic bottles and plastic bags did not litter the waters. “We used to always swim in the water as that was our method of taking a bath. We never had showers in our toilets. In the 1950s, there were only be glass bottles (and nobody threw them out as) we would take the initiative to collect and sell to local companies for extra income,” the 80-year-old said. “It wasn’t until the 1980s when rubbish comprising mostly plastic bags and bottles really started showing on…

CHARGING shoppers for using plastic bags is seen as an unfeasible option for commercial establishments to take. In an interview with The Brunei Times, Martinah Hj Tamit, head of the Environmental Planning and Management Division under the Ministry of Development said that charging the use of plastic bags to customers will not deter Bruneians from continuing its usage. “For example, if we charge 20 cents per bag, Bruneians will still be willing to pay for the plastic bags and use them when they shop,” she said. This, she added, will result with only a limited impact towards ‘reducing waste generation in Brunei’ and ‘does not serve the purpose of reducing the amount of plastic bags or plastic waste in Brunei.’ She went on to say that however she was not…

IN AN aim to promote the awareness of the growing issues concerning improper waste management and the degradation of the environment, Green Brunei held the ‘Waste 2 Art Exhibition’ yesterday at Freshco, Batu Satu. According to a press release, the exhibition involved the submission of artwork from students under three categories: Category ‘A’ was colouring competition for primary schools, Category ‘B’ was painting competition for secondary schools, and Category ‘C’ was sculpting competition for sixth form and tertiary schools. The winners were announced at the closing ceremony in the afternoon of the same day where the guest of honour, Martinah binti Haji Tamit, Head of Environmental Planning and Management Division under Department of Environment, Parks and Recreation of the Ministry of Development, presented the prizes to the winning students and…

BRUNEIANS should use electricity and water economically and efficiently at home to reduce their monthly utility bills instead of waiting for the government to raise rates or cut subsidies to control energy and water consumption, said a leader of an environmental NGO. Green Brunei’s community engagement director, Khairunnisa Ash’ari(pic), said choosing energy saving and even solar-powered technology can help mitigate the effects of climate change. “Choosing (these alternatives) always begins with small steps that lead to waves of action. Remember that climate change is a cross-boundary issue, so we need everyone to contribute solutions,” she said. Speaking to The Brunei Times, Khairunnisa said more efforts should put in to reduce wastage in the country. “Lights and air-conditioning left on when there’s no one in the room is a common habit…