Web of Life

Booker destroyed 85,000 acres that form part of the famous Yala sanctuary, a preserve in which elephants fight for land in Sri Lanka. In 1985, the corporation bought the land, only to desert it in 1990 once the land proved not to be fertile for the purposes of cane surger. Unfortunately, greed begets greed: now Booker is demanding another 65,000 acres from the same poverty-stricken Uva province in order to grow cane sugar, in the same site in which a rare herbal forest garden was planted by Buddadhasa, the first Sri Lankan Ayurveda doctor-king.

World leading cane sugar producer, emerging coming from British colonial trade is not An English Patient of declining British tempera but A God of Big Things in foreign investment hungry former colonies was told by a Sri Lankan left wing parliamentarian Samantha Vidyarathne on 02nd December at Feltham Assembly hall at London-Hounslow.

Ex- deputy minister of agriculture and irrigation further said literary award champion Booker Tate International has getting more and more aggressive after globalization started. He linked Booker with VOC [Dutch East India Company] and EIC [British India Company] that colonized Sri Lanka between 16th 19th centuries behalf of Dutch and British imperialism. “European colonizers destroyed half of the rain forest of Sri Lanka with in 350 years for cinnamon, tea, rubber and oil farm plantations. But human history could not stop these kind of criminal activities against nature still even we facing global worming. He him self a native son of Sri Lanka- Vadda community said his community will fight to protect their land until their last man a lived like his ancestors-Uva rebels who fought against British in 1818 to protect their independency and suppressed to last tribal man.

Labels: Bookers Ugly Face Exposed in London

A few minutes drive past the Ratmalana junction in close proximity to the main road overlooking the Lunawa swamp sits the Seth Sevana Foundation on 40 perches of land. I had expected the worst. After all, a garbage dump should have an awful smell but I was pleasantly surprised.

Seth Sevana Foundation deals only with industrial waste and not domestic waste. “Only household garbage smells,” explained Lloyd Fernando the Project Manager of the Foundation.
The Foundations proprietor, D S Ferdinando has made quite a career change since his retirement as a teacher at the School for the Deaf and Blind, Ratmalana. We often talk about ‘making a difference’ in terms of benefiting the country, community and most importantly oneself. Having a re-cycling company helps make the ‘difference’ explained Ferdinando. “I only wanted to secure the future of the physically impaired,” said Ferdinando, who has been able to contribute to the development process of the country while also reaping good profits out of the venture.

The seemingly drastic change in career had taken place gradually. Retiring in the early 1990’s Ferdinando employed his physically impaired students to manufacture metal chairs by using waste metal. Four successful years later the Sri Lankan arena was flooded with plastic chairs leading to the downfall of his project, Fernando said.

“We started in 1996 at a time where re-cycling was unheard of.. “Waste management is not even a subject in our universities to date” Fernando added. Looking into the practicality of starting a solid waste management project was the first move he made. The Community Environmental Initiative Facility (CEIF) a non- governmental organization, helped to set up the waste management project of the Seth Sevana Foundation (SSF).

Degradable waste has the ability to undergo chemical or biological decomposition or rot and is therefore environmentally friendly, Fernando explained. According to research conducted in 1999 by the Ministry of Forestry and Environment, 185 tons of non-degradable polythene and plastic waste are disposed of within the Colombo district each day and 40 tons within Colombo city. “That was the last time a research was conducted on waste” said Fernando.

According to the American Society of Plastics Industry (ASPI) there are about 50 different groups of plastics and hundreds of varieties. All types of plastic are recyclable. To make sorting and recycling easier, ASPI has developed a standard marking code to help consumers identify and sort the main types of plastic.

The types and most common uses are HDPE- High Density Polyethylene – bottles used for milk and washing liquids, LDPE- Low Density Polyethylene – carrier bags and bin liners, PVC – polyvinyl chloride – Food trays, cling film, bottles for mineral water and shampoo, PET – polyethylene terephthalate – fizzy drink bottles and oven ready meal trays, PP – polypropylene – margarine tubs, microwaveable meal trays and PS – polystyrene – plastic egg cartons and plastic cutlery. Other plastics such as melamine do not fall into any category.

A ton in general terms is equal to the weight of a high roof van. This small scale organization takes in 30 tons of industrial waste polythene (polythene bags used in clothing factories) and plastic (empty car battery boxes) per month and recycles it into small tablet sized grey plastic pellets. These re-usable pellets can be used to make plastic products. “We cannot use all polythene, like most washing powder packets due to the cover being laminated”, Fernando said, adding that “the plastic pellets are re-used to produce colorful plastic balls and dolls etc”.

“It is very important for the polythene and plastic to be as clean as possible” Fernando said. A task easier said than done. The beginning of the process involves pain staking hours of hand picking the unwanted tape on polythene bags and washing and drying the bags and battery boxes. Washing takes up a bulk of the time given that advanced technological washing machines are not at their disposal due to financial constrains. Fernando said. “The government should try to provide technological help which will increase our productivity and efficiency”. “Each day we re-cycle one ton, but washing machines can increase it to five tons a day” he added.

On the 21st of May this year, the Central Environment Authority (CEA) initiated the solid waste management campaign to combat the adverse effects of non-degradable waste on the environment, said Rizvi Majid, Project Manager, National Post Consumer Plastic Waste Management.

“Before getting down to meeting the re-cycling companies and increasing their productivity, we want to set up a system like bottle and paper collection centers for plastic and polythene collection” he added..

A similar project is in the pipeline for the rapidly growing Kaduwela Pradeshiya Sabha area. This will be carried out along with an awareness programs aimed at educating the student population on the negative outcome of non- degradable waste. The main objective of the project “is to train villagers to collect polythene and plastic in a bag and get the Pradeshiya Sabha to store it in a warehouse before providing it to the re-cyclers to be re-used” Majid said.

According to Jayawilal Fernando, Director of Hazardous Waste Management at the CEA “lunch sheets and old bags were not thick enough to be recycled.”. The islandwide ban on manufacturing and using polythene with a thickness of less than 20 microns was imposed on January 1 this year but later extended to the April 1, 2007, Fernando said.

“We don’t have facilities to transport the required raw material” said Fernando. He hopes that the government will be able to implement a system similar to the Kaduwela Pradeshiya Sabha in Ratmalana…

In April 2007 Engineers for Social Responsibility (ESR) held a meeting in Auckland, New Zealand which was addressed by Sean Finnigan who spoke of work being carried out in developing solid waste management (SWM) processes in Sri Lanka. ESR found that the waste composition in Sri Lanka is mostly compostables with only 10-12% of recyclables.

In developed countries meanwhile only 50% is compostable and 30-40% is recyclable waste Finnigan said. As Sri Lanka becomes more urbanised and the economy grows, waste generation is expected to increase and surely the challenges facing society to recycle will become bigger.

(http://www.dailymirror.lk/2007/07/14/feat/02.asp)

Labels: Facing the recycling challenge - Sethsevana on an ambitious green project

There has been quite a bit of controversy regarding Genetically Modified (GM) food in the past with unresolved issues, myths about the nutritional value circulating but what is the story behind organically produced food? If it is understood correctly this is food grown with absolutely no added chemicals, no sprayed pesticides and no synthetic fertilizer. Compare this with the vegetables available today appearing fresh, bright with colour except for the knowledge that all these are full of poisons. “The farmers themselves acknowledge that the food they feed their children is full of chemicals,” added Sustainable Agriculture Co-ordinator, M Nimal Kumaratunga of the Green Movement of Sri Lanka.

The fields are constantly sprayed with a variety of pesticides which eventually leak in to the surrounding lakes and streams, “there are many cases of kidney failure and other diseases due to toxins in the water,” said Bandula Senadeera, Sarvodaya in the farming districts as Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa. Unable to pay loans and the price of fertilizer, which has now become an essential component of farming, escalating they are facing a very bleak future. “Our first organic farm was in Saliyapura in Anuradhapura,” began Mr. Senadeera continuing that the ample amounts of hay and cow dung available was going to waste or sent to Vavuniya while the farmers here used synthetic fertilizer on their farms. “The farmers from the northern sectors don’t use synthetic fertilizer,” he said.

The project started on Sarvodaya land fortunately located within the farming community on a very small scale using all natural products. “Hay, Giniseeliya (Sapium rigidus), cow dung fertilize is readily available in these areas and using these we slowly showed the farmers a good yield can be obtained and at a very low cost,” he explained. Of course this is as yet done on a very small scale and the Sarvodaya has introduced organic farming for home gardens. To take maximum use of natural factors as sunlight they have considered the stratification of plant communities and grown thibbatu as a ground layer, banana as a under story layer and coconut, jak or butter fruit as an emergent layer. “This reduces the competition for light, natural fertilizer applied provides all the necessary nutrition,” this form of farming also encourages the growth of symbiotic micro-organisms that are naturally present and help the plants obtain nitrogen, vitamins and minerals from the soil and atmosphere.

“Today’s practice of using chemicals and the latest oils (thel beheth) destroy these organisms, the micro-organisms, worms even the beneficial insects that help the farmer,” said Mr. Kumaratunga expressing that our ancestors with a complete knowledge of this relationship between the animal world and human had farming practices that encouraged their growth. It is the loss of these symbiotic organisms that stand as the primary reason for the infertility of our soil he expressed.

“We don’t have funds to give the farmers to promote this type of farming,” said Mr. Senadeera and so with the help of voluntary workers the practice has been spread among home gardens to grow mango, coconut, various vegetables and such. “We have traveled to such places as Thanamalvila and Matale where this practice has been taken up with interest,” soon awareness programmes will be conducted in schools to promote the advantages of organic farming he informed. Mr. Kumaratunga through the Green Movement is approaching women and children to promote home gardens.

“The techniques used are not the latest farming practices introduced with the advancement of science but the traditional techniques and agricultural knowledge that has pasted down to us,” he said using a forest as an example to explain that synthetic fertilizers and pesticides are not required to get a good yield. “No one adds fertilizer to a forest floor but the soil is healthy. Synthetic products kill this natural recycling property of the soil, the texture changes with more and more of the nutrients being washed away,” explained Mr. Senadeera. “Eventually the yield reduces and the quality of the product drops.”

To introduce organic farming in a big scale, large amounts of the natural fertilizer and funds are needed which Sarvodaya is in no position to acquire. Home gardens however are in their capacity. The Green Movement has gone a step further and is promoting storage of the fruits and vegetables so grown. “The yield is packed directly from the field in to the lorry bound for the market,” said Mr. Kumaratunga, and except for some rice the ones at home don’t even see the product. “The farmer has been reduced to depend on the shop-keeper.”

Working closely with the farming community the Sarvodaya utilizes the practical knowledge of the farmer which academics lack. “This knowledge is so vast and by asking them to help we make them part of what we are doing,” said Mr. Senadeera building a connection between the commercial farmer and the person who feeds us all. 90% of the home gardens established by the Green Movement are successful informed Mr. Kumaratunga, but it is slow work. They have so far approached 14 districts in which a small village is chosen based on climatic conditions explained Mr. Kumaratunga. “Our aim is to up lift health and nutrition of a family,” and they focus on women, children, environmentalists and the farmers.

“We have not yet submitted a proposal to the government or asked for assistance,” said Mr. Senadeera but the authorities have not yet taken an initiative either. “We have opened the doors for international students who want practical experience and those completing research to come here,” there is an exchange of knowledge and practices between the local and foreign participants through which much is learnt.

“So far it is just the Sarvodaya, the universities and the farmers that are involved in this project,” said Mr. Senadeera eager for government assistance in the future. The Green Movement on the other hand has submitted a few ideas that had room to grow but Mr. Kumaratunga informs that the authorities had changed these to suit the shop keeper and not the farmer before implementing.

“At the beginning the farmers were not at all co-oporative but with time they have come to see the benefits of organic farming,” the first two to three years was a lone struggle for Sarvodaya, but slowly even the farmers managing large farms came home in the evening to tend his organic home garden. “Talking about it is not practically feasible but you have to show them what it is all about,” advised Mr. Senadeera. The society and farmers must be convinced. So far they have been successful in 54 home gardens and have gathered a vast knowledge where synthetic chemicals play no role. “After visiting three farms we found that kohila grows well in places not supplied with ample water,” he gave an example; such facts would not be known if not for the small investigations.

“It is not an easy thing to promote,” agreed Mr. Kumaratunga, who for the past twenty odd years has been working with the farmers. There is no point trying to promote agricultural practices of the western countries in a humid tropical country he said but instead embrace the practices of our ancestors which have for centuries succeeded in producing a large, nutritious yield. He also blames the rise of disease on the present condition of our food, “there is not a house in a village that doesn’t suffer from the ‘Colombo 7 diseases’,” referring to diabetes, pressure and heart disease.

There are several misconceptions about organic farming, “many think that using compost is organic farming, others still spray the food products,” explained Mr. Kumaratunga which just makes the public mistrust the organic food label that is meant to be more nutritious and healthy. “This method has been coming since the 80’s but is yet not a success because each one tries to invent his own system of growing organic food,” he said, in the end they are all stranded for the practice soon fails and the farmer goes back to using chemicals. Comparing today’s man to the broiler chicken and our ancestors to the village hen (gam kukula) Mr. Kumaratunga airs his concern about the future populations that will have to survive with a dead soil, polluted air and toxic waters.

(http://www.dailymirror.lk/2007/07/14/feat/01.asp)

Labels: From village hen to broiler chicken- Organic farming; the way forward

Ecotourism also called ecological tourism appeals to the ecological and socially conscious; it focuses on local culture, wilderness adventure and learning new ways to live in this planet—or even a search for peace that comes with that simmering desire to discover a past way of living amongst the biodiversity of this planet?

Whist conventional tourism is at times seen as destroying environment by pollution and carelessness, ecotourism is directed to promote recycling of products, water conservation, electricity generation, local crafts, opportunity for folklore etc, thus creating self employment for the community in and around ecotourism sites enhancing their cultural integrity, and sustainable development; it is certainly promoting a less stressed out way of life, increasingly sought by those caught in the rat race of the urban city by enabling an escape into an oasis of peace away from the world of turmoil!

Ecotourism is an attempt to maintain pristine ecological sites-an attempt to make people discover sites that have to be preserved for the nation’s pride. It seeks—conservation of biological diversity-this being the theory and techniques of describing, naming and classifying living and extinct organisms on the basis of similarities of features and structure, a natural phenomenon attracting tourists—sustainable use of such biological diversity—sharing of such socio/economic benefits with the local community, and increase of environmental /cultural knowledge.

This attempt could turn out to be a degradation of the ecology with commercialization, unless carefully planned with proper guidelines. Exposure to commercialization with no consideration for the beauty and fragility of nature in its original state is described by critics as ‘green-washing’, among many other terms; this can eventually deter genuine ecotourism-a consequence following the loss of pristine ecological settings.

Ecotourism, responsible tourism and sustainable development have become synonymous terms since the late 1980’s; ecotourism has had a very fast growth from then on by way of increased environmental awareness and the natural desire to explore this. Due to the great potential for environmental protection the UN has named an International Year of Ecotourism.

Reportedly many of the eco-tourists come from the United States, Western Europe, Canada and Australia; there is a high potential of tourists from India.

Every attempt must be made by the government in conjunction with tourist stake holders and other concerned academics to show a heritage that the rest of humanity has a right and also the anxiety to see, without letting this heritage be buried under a bushel due to infighting over academic disputes; a way out has to be discovered by discussion and compromise: in no way should a-Dog in Manger policy be followed!

It has over the years become a serious problem in many parts of the world where pristine ecology still exists, as to whether commercialization of sites and its consequences far outweigh the benefits of ecotourism proper for the host country. This is due to controversies prevailing among environmentalists, tourism stakeholders and governments. This requires that basic element of dialogue for compromise and a keen sense of moving forward to exhibit our resources and at the same time generate much needed income and job opportunities.

It is the contention of environmentalists that ecotourism is nature based conservation supportive and also environmentally educative; however they should compromise on ecotourism ventures if these could be sustainably managed.

On the other hand certain governments and tourism stakeholders’ focus more on the product aspect treating ecotourism as equivalent to any other tourism based on nature; they must realize that haphazard commercialization would eventually cause degradation of the ecology-a long term loss to the country.

Lack of proper definition and understanding of ecotourism has led to confusion among tourist stakeholders, academics and governments, thus causing public controversy and an inability to find a via media for ecotourism ventures.

Some opine that insensitive commercialization is environmentally destructive, economically exploitive and culturally insensitive, thus manipulating tourists’ concerns for environment observation.

Critics of haphazard commercialization also point out an example in a country where the so-called green-washing has converted an ancient habitat, naming it, ‘Nature’s Paradise’ with age old inhabitants dislodged, thus violating their fundamental rights; this debacle has been made worse by keeping endangered species of animals in captivity to attract visitors; all this is inimical to maintaining the balance of bio diversity.

If not carried out with well guarded and internationally accepted guidelines, highly commercialized ecotourism can disturb fauna/flora and its biodiversity: even harmless but haphazard nature hikes and jeep drives could become ecologically destructive.

The United Nations has declared a World Environment Day; this is incidentally celebrated in Sri Lanka this year: UN must lay down an international code of conduct to be adhered to by both host countries and visitors in this fast trend for globalization.
Generally it falls on the government of the country to administer and enforce environmental protection, but it is learnt that they lack the commitment and capability to manage ecotourism sites effectively; also their decisions can be politically motivated; it is also evident that private enterprise could mange it better because stakeholders will have a self interest in arresting environmental degradation, as tourists will pay more for pristine environments.

It is however evidenced that even private enterprise can prove futile when more and more entrepreneurs enter the field outdoing each other for higher profit margins-unless these enterprises are controlled by a Regulatory Authority set up by the government; this Authority can include other stakeholders of the industry.

Ecotourists who are expected to follow that eventual international code of conduct must be educated on cause-and-effect of their actions on the environment with incentives for such awareness and environmental sensitivities. Tour guides are the best medium for this and for this to be successful tour guide training programs should be conducted and certificates granted to those coming up to standards expected.

In developing ecotourism, a matter to be guarded is a new form of imperialism that may set in, if multinational corporations are invited for improvement of ecotourism. These companies may try to siphon profits away from the company at the expense of the degradation of the local environment.

However even for small scale tourism ventures foreign investments may be needed for promotion and initial set up; it is best in such a situation to find a company or non-governmental organization that reflects the philosophy of ecotourism over a search for profit only, which however is a must for any venture.

In such a set up it is best that ecotourism is given to local entrepreneurs to conduct ecotourism under Regulatory Authorities in small scale enterprises, on the premise that local people have a vested interest in the well being of their communities and environments. Moreover such small local enterprises with economies in scale arising from deploying local products, material and labor should be more conducive to sustainable ecotourism development.

In pursuit of local small scale entrepreneurs for ecotourism projects, the Grameen Bank concept may be utilized to initiate projects among those in and around ecotourism sites; their website is-www.grameen-info.org It provides credit without any collateral to deserving people who are industrious and lacking financial resources; it also encourages the overall development of socio-economic projects.

Environment and Tourism Ministries could jointly form a Regulatory Authority to initiate small scale projects and develop these with standard international guidelines, to suit tourists who should preferably visit the sites from hotels situated away from the ecology to be preserved.

It is noted that such small scale ecotourism ventures have been initiated in Sri Lanka with the good offices of the Sri Lanka Ecotourism Foundation-SLEF set up recently by the Minister of Tourism; this could be the nucleus of that Regulatory Authority with other diverse representations.

Sri Lanka is reportedly one of the 25 Biodiversity hot spots in the world and has the highest biodiversity per 10000 square km in Asia. It has 15 distinct bioregions in an area covering only 63,860 square km in the Indian Ocean, each offering different landscapes and wild life.

With an ancient civilization contemporary to that of the Greeks and Romans and numerous cultural sites of antiquity, including six world heritage sites, Sri Lanka is considered having an exotic and vibrant resource base of Ecotourism.

Singharaja forest is the most famous rainforest of the country. This tropical rain forest is a living heritage. Bio diversity of the forest is very high and a large proportion of the flora in this forest is endemic to the country and some endemic to the Singharaja Forest itself.

The jungles of the country abound in a variety of wildlife, surprising for an island of this size. Ecotourism sites available are;

National parks in-Horton Plains-Yala-Uda Walawe-Wasgamuwa and Minneriya-Wildlife sanctuaries in-Peak wilderness and Pallekele-Nature Reserves in-Hakgala and Ritigala-Forest range in Kitulgala and Knuckles-Sinharaja-World heritage Site-Bird Sanctuaries in-Bundala-Kumana-Bellanwila-Attidiya and Kegalle Kurulukelle vegetation-Wetlands in-Muthurajawela-Negombo and Bolgoda Lake-Botanical Gardens in-Paradeniya-Hakgala and Gampaha-Zoological Gardens in Dehiwela-Museum and Natural Museum in Colombo 7-Elephant orphanage in Pinnawela.

The island abounds with 103 rivers and streams radiating from the central hills, rushing down rocky precipices forming a number of roaring waterfalls of various shapes and heights, all ending up in the Indian Ocean.

Here are some of the most picturesque waterfalls, out of which only a few can be viewed with ease; others can only be seen by penetrating thick forests and tea plantations;

Bambarakanda Ella, the highest waterfall in Sri Lanka (865 feet); this is at its peak capacity during September and October-Diyaluma, the 2nd highest waterfall around 13 Km towards Koslanda on the Wellawaya Road; Diyaluma means watery light-Dunhinda; to see the breathtaking beauty of Dunhinda falls(210 feet) one has to travel about 5 Km from Badulla along the Mahiyangana road, and walk for another 2 Km (trekking) away from the main road-St. Claire, the widest waterfall in Sri Lanka, about 265 feet high-Laxapana Falls, 377 feet high-Aberdeen Falls, 322 feet is 5 Km away from Laxapana-Aberdeen Falls-Devon Falls 318 feet can be best viewed from the 20th mile post of the Talawakele-Nawalapitiya highway-Rawana Falls, visible from the Ella-Wellawaya road, near Udunuwara village-a popular stopover for travelers.

Further falls are:

Alupola Ella, 200 feet is seen 25 Km away from Ratnapura in the Wewalwatte village-Bopath Ella,100 feet falls in the shape of a Bo leaf seen along the Colombo-Ratnapura-The Lovers Leap, 100 feet and begins its journey as a fountain at the Southern slope of Sri Lanka`s highest mountain Pidurutalagala-Mawanella Ella, 35 Km from Nuwara Eliya towards Udupussallaw-Bakers Fall, discovered by Sir Samuel Baker-Elgin Falls, 75 feet between Nanu Oya and Ambewela- Elgin Falls.-Bridal Falls resembling a bridal veil, while dropping over the rock face-Perawella Falls, 90 feet and Ramboda Falls, seen from the Ramboda Bazaar on the Nuwara Eliya-Ramboda road.

Tourist sites so mentioned are only the tip of the iceberg, in comparison to all that is available for tourists to feast on!

All tourist sites in Sri Lanka are no problem as regards time and space, being situated within the 63,860 square km area of the country, and where various trips could be planned out from the main city of Colombo the commercial hub of the country; little wonder the heavy influx of tourists both in good and bad times, in a world full of unforeseen mishaps—at least in Sri Lanka it is intensely confined to only a part of the country, with sporadic incidents outside!

This article is a contribution by the writer to the United Press International UPI Washington, associated with the Universal Peace Federation UPF New York.

(http://www.asiantribune.com/index.php?q=node/6221)

Labels: Sri Lanka: Ecotourism for self employment through Regulatory Authorities.

Rajkot (Gujarat), October 13, 2005

A young woman in Rajkot district of Gujarat has developed an innovative method to provide a solution to hazardous polythene waste disposal by weaving decorative items out of it.

Dolls, wall hangings, fancy purses and pouches, mobile covers, tea coasters and table mats, all made out of discarded polythene bags of various colours, are just a few of the items on her list of knick knacks.

Parul Desai, the innovative lady, is determined to fight the ever-looming threat of polythene- -pollution finding a use for plastic bags that would otherwise be dumped. Working with knitting needles she embarked on a quest to save the environment from the ecological menace of the toxic, non-degradable plastic bags.

"It's an effort from my side towards the society and environment. I want everyone to do the same with plastic bags. It will not only help in checking the pollution levels but a number of animals be saved as many of them die after consuming plastic bags," says Parul.

The items prepared from plastic waste look very attractive and durable.

Many want to learn the skill from Parul which she happily imparts free of cost. Today her students include housewives faced with the problem of plastic bags disposal.

Kalpana Shah, a housewife from neighbouring Baroda said Parul has shown the way to dispose off plastic bags and also a chance to earn some money. "I'll go to Baroda and teach others about this art. It is a very good way of disposing plastics. This way the waste will be utilized and it will also create opportunities for women to make some money. Therefore I'll teach the art to others after I learn it," says Kalpana.

People use plastic bags because it is convenient and comparatively cheaper to the available alternatives like paper, jute or cloth bags. The non-biodegradable materials carelessly disposed off are often found hanging from trees and floating in ponds.

Strewn polythene bags have dire consequences on the soil, choking it and degrading its quality. They prevent the seeping of water into the soil, preventing recharging of groundwater.

Environmentalists say the plastic bags can take up to 1,000 years to disintegrate and pose a threat to marine life, birds and other animals.

(http://www.hindustantimes.com/onlineCDA/PFVersion.jsp?article=http://10.81.141.122/news/181_1517930,000900040003.htm)

The single-celled organisms were the first to thrive on earth. Though some of them evolved into multi-cellular life forms, the microbes never left the face of the earth. Even today they are spread among us and in places unreachable in many other creature. Microbes have been found in some of very hostile environments. These ‘tough’ microbes have kept the hopes of astrobiologists alive in finding life elsewhere in the solar system in similar harsh environments. But the resistant organisms have now posed a new problem for space scientists.
Mars has been a likely candidate to detect life outside the earth. The recent succession of space missions to Mars have brought us closer and closer to the answer. But according to a report submitted by the National Academies’ National Research Council to NASA which is sponsored by NASA, the scientists have to be extra ‘careful’ not to contaminate Martian soil with earth microbes. The National Research Council is the operating arm of the National Academy of Sciences and National Academy of Engineering in United States.
Data from the recent missions are suggesting the presence of liquid water in many locations on Mars. These discoveries have supported the idea that Mars could be or has been a hospitable place for life. If microbes that can survive the extreme conditions on Earth hitchhiked their way to Mars, they might survive on Mars and probably multiply. Such an accident would give a false positive for the existence of life on Mars. So the report calls for a stricter microbe control in spaceships going to Mars. The presence of liquid water close to the surface is yet to be confirmed. Also there is lack of knowledge about the kind of microbes living in the ‘clean’ rooms assembling the spaceships. NASA already has taken steps to eliminate microbes from the spaceship components. A variety of methods are used and some components are ‘baked’ in dry heat. But even this is not calibrated to wipe out all types of microbes. Another drawback is that certain spaceship materials are unable to withstand high temperatures. Certain microbes produce spores which are more resistant than the organism. These spores can later revive the organism when conditions are healthy. The resistant capabilities are posing a challenge to the existing methods of cleaning spaceships.
The report has advised NASA to sponsor research which will introduce new tools that can make the future missions free from the risks of microbe contamination. Newer methods for speedy detection of microbes need to be made available. Detecting biological molecules without time-consuming laboratory cultures will help better sterilization of spaceships. Better cleaning methods like radiation and vapour disinfectants will be useful for the different components of the space vehicles.
The testing of new cleaning methods are expected to begin in three years. And the whole system be ready by 2016. NASA is willing to adopt a modern approach for planetary protection. These methods and the search for life on Mars should have to be completed before the first human visit to the Martian surface. Under present circumstances there is no way of eliminating all the microbes inside a human body. So the contamination can only be prevented till the arrival of humans.

(http://www.dailymirror.lk/2005/10/01/life/5.asp)

Fish in the Attidiya Lake are dying in their hundreds and nobody knows why. But the residents in the vicinity aren’t surprised.

The Attidiya Lake and Bellanwila-Attidiya wetland, despite its well known status as a Wildlife Reserve, has always being the victim of encroachment, irregular land filling, garbage dumping and pollution.

Repeated attempts have been made by the Wildlife Department to improve the status of the wetland but the encroachment, land filling and garbage dumping have continued up-to-date.

According to the residents of Lake Crescent, the situation has gone from bad to worse with a large number of dead fish -nearly 500 found floating in one area of the Attidiya lake near Lotus Grove.

“Some of the fish were up to one foot in length and were large and looked healthy,” says Professor Kumar David, a resident of the Lotus Grove, Hill Street, explaining the situation.

“It was around 7 in the morning and I was shocked to see a large number of dead fish in the lake at the extreme north western cove of the water,” he said adding that all the dead fish were gathered around the area which had been cleared a few days ago by the management of a water park in one of the islands in the lake.

According to Professor David, the dead fish were found only near the grounds cleared of vegetation and many are wondering whether the management had mixed a poisonous chemical like a herbicide, which also killed the fish.

“If that was the case it could be risky for many people who consume the fish from the lake,” says Romany Rasquinho of the Lake Crescent Environmental Group.

According to Rasquinho, the lake, even before the death of the fish, was in “bad shape” as the Attidiya Wet Park Project owners had blocked the waterways going in and out of the lake.
“The lake water is stagnating as there is no circulation of water and the lake has started to smell like never before,” she said.

Although it looks like just a matter of dead fish, the conflict between the neighbours and the Attidiya Wet Park Project management over the management of the lake environment, has been a long one.

The conflict started when the Sri Lanka Land Reclamation and Development Commission (SLLRDC) leased the islet in the middle of the Attidiya Lake for 50 years.

Although the Cabinet Paper which authorized the transaction, talks of an islet of two acres, the wet park owners today have demarcated the whole lake to their use, prohibiting the neighbors of the use of the lake.

Moreover, they have also stopped the in and out flow of water to and out of the lake ending the natural circulation of water and killing the natural habitat and the eco cycle of the lake.

“Despite the fact that the Wet Park Project is supposed to be an environmental development project and the management of the park is being paid Rs. 500,000 by the SLLRDC to manage the lake, all they have done is to destroy the lake,” Ms. Rasquinho said.

According to Ms. Rasquinho despite the duty of maintaining the lake, the Wet Park management has failed to grasp the real responsibility behind maintaining an eco system.

“All they have done is to take some short term attempts to improve the scenic beauty like filling the lake to create a jogging path around the islet, creating an artificial lawn, cutting trees and disturbing the natural flow of the lake,” she said adding that most of these steps have ended in environmental disaster.

The Lake Crescent Environmental Group is also blaming the wet park developer of trying to replace a natural habitat with a manicured environment and destroying fringing areas of weeds, reeds and marsh earlier inhabited by various forms of birdlife.

Meanwhile, Central Environment Authority (CEA) reacting to the complaints by the neighbours have taken immediate steps to suspend the functions of the Wet Park till a mandatory Environmental Impact Assessment is done.

CEA Chairman Thilak

Ranaviraja, said that the Wet Park management does not have the right to demarcate the lake for their sole use since the agreement signed between the developer, the Urban Development Authority (UDA) and the SLLRDC has leased out only the islet.

He further pointed that the Attidiya Lake had been dredged by the SLLRDC as a flood retention area, at a cost of Rs. 5,500 million of public funds for the use of the general public.

“The development and maintenance of the lake was handed over to the developer under a payment made by the SLLRDC for his service and he cannot claim the ownership over the lake but can only use the lake for recreation just like all the neighbors,” Ranaviraja further said.

According to CEA officials, the present environmental laws do not provide for the privatization of a public water body and pointed out that the developer is receiving a payment in compensation for the maintenance of the lake.

Moreover, the CEA officials and

environmentalists are wondering as to how SLLRDC and Urban Development Authority leased an islet with environment importance without an Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) or an Initial Environment Assessment (IEA). The project monitoring committee, chaired by the UDA with members from the CEA, SLLRDC, Board of Investment (BOI), and the Developer comprise no representation from the residents and independent environmentalists.

The CEA and the SLLRDC have a

history of conflict over the lease and sale of land with high environmental importance and CEA officials are pointing out that the long pledged legislature to bring all the state owned land under one agency to curb the conflict between government agencies is yet to be introduced.

<>(http://www.dailymirror.lk/2005/09/21/life/1.asp)

The Sri Lankan government is awaiting a date from India to hold the 2nd Expert Level Meeting, to discuss issues regarding the ecological changes associated with the Sethusamudram Canal Project.

The meeting was scheduled to be held before the end of this month.
The 1st Expert Level Meeting between India and Sri Lanka discussed various ecological and environmental issues, and the 2nd meeting aims to focus more on the issues presented in the first meeting, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Himalee Arunatilake said.

The Sethusamudram project was set into motion on the second of this month, but the Sri Lankan Government has yet to give consent, according to Ms. Arunatilake.

In early October last year, Indian Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh assured the then visiting Sri Lankan President Kumaratunga that, ‘any issue that may have adverse effects for Sri Lanka will be resolved in Sri Lanka`s favour’.

“The meeting is aimed at reaching a common understanding on the environmental concerns and on addressing those concerns” Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar stated in Parliament on July 7.

According to Rohan Abeywickrema, director of maritime company Sathsindu Ltd., the Sri Lankan Government is yet to be informed about where the dredged silt is to be deposited.

Although the canal itself is dug on the Indian side of the Indo- Sri Lanka maritime boundary, its effects percolate into Sri Lankan waters.

Oceanographers and environmentalists warned that the dredging would make half the Jaffna peninsula go under water. The project is expected to destroy the coral reef in the area that serves as a habitation for more than 750 fish varieties.

(http://www.sundaytimes.lk/050724/news/7.html)

Being a desk jockey weighs heavily on workers, according to a study that finds the more a man sits at his desk, the more likely he is to be overweight.

The finding suggests office work may be an important factor in the obesity epidemic.

"The current findings present the sedentary workplace as a potentially hostile environment in terms of overweight and obesity," conclude the Australian authors of the study, which appears in the August issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine. Researchers at Queensland University examined data on nearly 1,600 male and female full-time workers. They found that workers sat an average of more than three hours a day, with 25 percent sedentary on the job for more than six hours a day.

Higher total daily sitting time was associated with a 68 percent increased risk of being overweight or obese.

Overall, men sat an average of 209 minutes while at work, 20 minutes more than the average for women. Those extra 20 minutes may make a difference: The study found a significant association between sitting time and overweight and obesity in men, but not in women.

Getting workers up and exercising may favourably affect their bosses' bottom line, the researchers added. "Time and productivity lost due to chronic diseases associated with overweight and obesity may make it financially worthwhile for employers to be more proactive in the health of their employees by promoting physical activity at work," they wrote.

(http://www.dailymirror.lk/2005/07/26/life/02.asp)

The pile of bananas on the back of his bike is so big that the rider is hardly visible. In the heat, this Sri Lankan farmer is bringing his produce to the local market. That is possible since a new bridge was built across the Kuda Oya in Uda Walawe.

Constructed with money that came from Amersfoort in Holland, the bridge was opened in January this year. “People can now take their harvest to the market. The children can go to school and patients to a doctor,” says Jayantha Jayewardene.

Jayewardene is Managing Trustee of the Biodiversity and Elephant Conservation Trust (BECT) and an authority on Asian elephants. Four years ago this Sri Lankan trust started a project with the Majro Hoedemaker Elephant Foundation from the Amersfoort Zoo. The Amersfoort Zoo set up this foundation in 2001 in recognition of Marjo Hoedemaker, manager and elephant keeper on completing forty years with the zoo.

Struggling against poverty, the villagers of Uda Walawe find nature in their way: the torrid sun, the rough jungle that has to make way for arable land, and the elephant, that –in search of water and food- leaves the park and comes to their villages. Located on the borders of the Uda Walawe National Park, six hundred families live in these villages. Children walk for 30 to 60 minutes to school every day.

In the last ten years more than a hundred families have suffered in incidents where elephants have damaged or destroyed their crops, mainly rice and cassava.

The Biodiversity and Elephant Conservation Trust and the Marjo Hoedemaker Elephant Foundation are now working to try to reduce the dependence of the farmers on agriculture for their income by training them in other fields and also finding markets for their other produce.

“If their dependence on agriculture for their income is reduced, they will be more tolerant towards the elephants. This would help our efforts at conserving the elephants,” says Jayewardene, explaining the main objective of their project.

In former times, the almost 400 elephants in the park were the undisputed masters of the area. It was no problem at all when they set ‘foot’ outside the national park: the jungle was everywhere. Today the animal has to share its habitat with the fast growing human population. When the elephants leave Uda Walawe they are immediately confronted with sugarcane plantations, army camps and villages.

In most cases male elephants come looking for food in the evening. The park is only partly surrounded by an electric fence. “Humans and elephants do not dislike each other. It’s just that the elephant doesn’t know any better and the humans –most of them already in debt- are not going to roll over and play dead when an elephant comes to destroy their crops,’’ explains Jayewardene.
“People now think of the elephant as a threat. What if we can convince the villagers of the fact that the elephant can be worth money to them,’’ says Marjo Hoedemaker.

That’s why Jayewardene made an inventory of what people near Uda Walawe needed. A bridge over the Kuda Oya was what the villagers desired most. The reason? During the high water season they were unable to go to market, school or a hospital. “ The bridge is of no direct effect on the lives of elephants,’’ admits Jayewardene, “but it is something that the villagers needed desperately and so we decided to build the bridge first.’’ Costing about Rs. 3,500,000, the bridge was completed in three months and was declared open in January of this year.

New projects for the well-being of the elephants and humans are in the pipeline, focusing on the creation of employment and income generation by furthering ecotourism. The villagers are enthusiastic. “Ever since we got together to build this bridge our sense of being a community has grown,’’ says a local farmer.

A Gramasevaka from Pottuvil district was Monday (25), remanded by the Colombo Chief Magistrate for allegedly soliciting a bribe of Rs. 20,000, to release tsunami aid, granted to a homeless tsunami victim.

Colombo Chief Magistrate Kusala Sarojini Weerawardena remanded the suspect Adamlebbe Mohamed Haroun of Area 15, Kalapukattu, Pottuvil, who was arrested by the Bribery Commission while allegedly accepting the bribe.

Police Sergeant Chandrasiri of the Commission to Investigate into Allegation of Bribery or Corruption informed court that the suspect was arrested following a complaint by Pallithambi Kapul of Pakyawatte, Pottuvil, who had been recommended to receive relief.

According to investigations, the complainant had been made homeless by the tsunami. Later, he had built a temporary house with Rs 30,000 given by the mosque in the area. Last April, the suspect Gramasevaka along with the Pottuvil Divisional Secretary, had visited his house and informed him that Government relief had been received but, was not eligible, as he already had a house. The complainant had petitioned the Divisional Secretariat and was recommended to be granted the relief.

Following this recommendation, a person working under the suspect Gramasevaka had informed the complainant that Rs. 100,000 had been allocated for him and that he had to give Rs. 20,000 to the Gramasevaka, for the release of the funds. The complainant had handed over the necessary documents, with Rs 5,000 as bribe, when he was informed that he would have to give the rest of the bribe, to receive the grant.

The complainant had informed the Bribery Commission and, using a decoy, the suspect was arrested while accepting the bribe.

The court refused to grant bail to the suspect and ordered him remanded till August 1.

(http://www.dailymirror.lk/2005/07/27/news/1.asp)