DEALING WITH GOVERNMENT AGENCIES

Dealing with many government agencies in order to get the genuine information during the EIA (Environmental Impact Assessment) research and is one of the major task for Environmental Scientist. That's why being an Environmental Scientist is not like you sit on the pc all the time. Good PR and communication is also require to ensure the effectiveness of work.

Environmental Auditing

One of my favorite work task is doing environmental auditing at the construction site. Depends on the site, weather it conducted fortnightly, monthly or quarterly.

I'll explain the scope of auditing later but anyway doing the environmental auditing required important person from the site to present during the auditing session to explain the current construction stage.

So far I experience doing environmental auditing at

1- Road upgrading construction site
2. Utilities Installation
3. Building
4. Earthwork
5. Port

Video

Watch the glan canyon issue

Is the nuclear energy the answer?

Depending what you useit for, nuclear energy can be good (or bad). If you use it for peaceful purposes, then I am all for it. If it is making weapons, missiles and other things, then this is the wrong use for it.

My only concern is with nuclear energy itself and all the hazards associated, environmental and health, and the cost involved. Today with the climate change, nuclear energy is not the answer. Renewable sources of energy, changing lifestyle and sustainable development is part of the answer as well the energy efficiency and energy conservation

Nuclear energy is not a clean source. That is a terrible fallacy. Why? The use of nuclear energy is what do we do to dispose of radioactive waste, which lasts for thousands and thousands of years. Plutonium has a half-life of 24,000 years! What is that? 240 centuries, 24 millennia. If prehistoric man started out with nuclear energy, today we would still be managing his waste. Here we are talking about radioactive waste forever

My greatest concern is the disposable of radioactive waste. Secondly, there are so many fallacies about the cost of nuclear energy. Nobody can say it cheap.

To have an energy mix between all sort of energy is must as depletion of fossil fuel, we will not have the energy we need. Of course we can reduce the pressure of the demand for energy through prudent use and becoming more efficient.

Water Crisis - We Are Running Out of Water

It is worrisome that we would be talking of water crisis, scarcity or problems when two-third of our world is composed of water. Of the whole bulk of water on earth, only 2.5 per cent is fresh and suitable for human and agricultural use. This makes usable water a finite resource. Of this 2.5 percent, 99 per cent is held up in icebergs, glaciers or underground. Only 1 per cent of freshwater is therefore available to the nearly 7 billion human population and a countless other forms of life.

This tiny fraction of freshwater is unevenly distributed throughout the world. So, some people have much, while others have almost none. In some countries like Nigeria and Mali, quantity is not a problem, but distribution and quality are. This is commonly so in developing nations.

Each year, about 3.575 million people die from water-related disease. Million of people die globally from poor sanitation and contaminated water. Ninety per cent of the victims are children. Over a third of the world's population is seriously affected by water and sanitation crisis.

While the world's population tripled in the 20th century, the use of renewable water resources has grown six-fold. Within the next fifty years, the world population will increase by another 40 to 50 %. This population growth, coupled with industrialization and urbanization, will result in an increasing demand for water and will have serious consequences on the environment. Thus, the water crisis would continue to heighten.

People Lacking Water
More than one out of six people lack access to safe drinking water, namely 1.1 billion people, and more than two out of six lack adequate sanitation, namely 2.6 billion people 3900 children die every day from water borne diseases. One must know that these figures represent only people with very poor conditions. In reality, these figures should be much higher.

As the resource is becoming scarce, tensions among different users may intensify, both at the national and international level. Over 260 river basins are shared by two or more countries. In the absence of strong institutions and agreements, changes within a basin can lead to trans-boundary tensions. When major projects proceed without regional collaboration, they can become a point of conflicts, heightening regional instability. The Parana La Plata, the Aral Sea, the Jordan and the Danube may serve as examples. Due to the pressure on the Aral Sea, a good proportion of the water has disappeared

Towards A Way to Improve the Situation
The water crisis witness today is not about having too little water to satisfy our needs but rather a crisis of bad management of water.

With the current state of affairs, corrective measures still can be taken to check the worsening situation. There is an increasing awareness that our freshwater resources are limited and need to be protected both in terms of quantity and quality. This water challenge affects not only the water community, but also decision-makers and every human being.

Whatever the use of freshwater (agriculture, industry, domestic use), huge saving of water and improving of water management is possible. Almost everywhere, water is wasted, and as long as people are not facing water scarcity, they believe access to water is an obvious and natural thing. With urbanization and changes in lifestyle and attitude, water consumption is bound to increase. However, changes in food habits, for example, may reduce the problem, knowing that growing 1kg of potatoes requires only 100 litres of water, whereas 1kg of beef requires 13 000 litres.

Trans-boundary Cooperation
As far as trans-boundary conflicts are concerned, regional economic development and cultural preservation can all be strengthened by states cooperating on water-related issues. Instead of a trend towards war, water management can be viewed as a trend towards cooperation and peace. Many initiatives are launched to avoid crises. Institutional commitments like in the Senegal River are created.

Water Crisis Facts
43% of water-related deaths are due to diarrhea.
84% of water-related deaths are in children ages 0 - 14.
98% of water-related deaths occur in the developing world.
884 million people, lack access to safe water supplies, approximately one in eight people.
The water and sanitation crisis claims more lives through disease than any war claims through guns.
At any given time, half of the world's hospital beds are occupied by patients suffering from a water-related disease.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Fortune_Ihunweze

Storm Drain Seal Covers

Storm water (air hujan) can be a serious threat to the environment. That's especially the case if the water is draining from areas like parking lots, car repair shops, or any type of industrial facility, where hydrocarbons, oils, or chemicals might have leaked and are sitting on the ground. During a storm, oily and chemical residues will be swept up in the run-off, which then drains into the ground water - Unless something is done to prevent that from happening.

And what can be done to keep the groundwater safe? The storm drains in the critical areas can be covered. And now, a new generation of storm drain seal covers make that task very easy and economical.

A new generation of storm drain seal covers:

For example, there's the new Drain Cover Seal & Spill Stopper and Blocker II, which has a feature that makes it even more versatile and easier to apply than the regular kind: It's reversible.

These covers are made out of tough and tacky polyurethane without any fillers whatsoever. It's the fact that they're tacky on both sides that makes them reversible - and with that they can create a durable seal no matter which side you're using.

Easy to keep handy:

They're also much lighter in weight than traditional products, so you can keep them handy and use them at a moment's notice in the event of chemical spill emergencies.

Can be reused:

But their useful life doesn't end with one use. After washing them and replacing the plastic film they originally came with, you can roll them on the tube and put them right back into their original container. And with that, they will be ready for action when another spill should occur.

Resistant to chemicals:

Rubbers and plastics can disintegrate when they come into contact with certain chemicals. Polyurethane is resistant to a much wider range of chemicals, solvents, and oils. That makes seal covers made out of polyurethane the ideal solution for protecting the environment from solvents, oils and chemicals.

Drain cover seal protectors are also available in a range of sizes, from 18 inches all the way to 48 inches, to provide customized protection for any size drain covers. They are available in round as well as in square versions. In addition, customized seal protectors are also available.

How large should storm drain seal covers be? A good rule of thumb: Seals should be 6" larger than the drains they are designed to cover. So do a little survey and tally up the sizes you'll need to be prepared.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Travis_Zdrazil

Environmnetal Career

Graduates in environmental science can appear for either work with both governmental and non-governmental organizations. Working with NGOs will give you rewarding exposure in the study of specific projects, issues, places and people. At an NGO you can be employed as Project manager, project officer, environmnetal manager, environmental scientist/engineer/consultant. Entry level positions (degree level)will fetch you a salary of RM1800-RM2500 per month. Government also recruits environmental officer (Pegawai Kawalan Alam Sekitar) from to time in different especially for Department of environment.

Working in environmental related sector required you to have strong interest in environmental and public health issues. You must also be passionate about building a career in environmental advocacy and organizing. You should be highly motivated and capable of leading a team. Not only that, you also have to deals with a variety of issues like pollution, oil spills and toxic waste. They are also involved in designing recycling or waste management systems. anyhow this career not required you to have qualification in Environmental science, the most important thing is you passionate about wildlife and committed to the conservation of the environment. The truth is that only specialized individuals can understand the issues involved in the protection and preservation of the environment!

Water Pollution

Water pollution is the contamination of water bodies such as lakes, rivers, oceans, and groundwater caused by human activities, which can be harmful to organisms and plants that live in these water bodies. It occurs when pollutants are discharged directly into water bodies without treating it first.

Although natural phenomena such as volcanoes, storms, earthquakes etc.

also cause major changes in water quality and the ecological status of water, these are not deemed to be pollution.

Water pollution has many causes and characteristics.

Increases in nutrient loading may lead to eutrophication.

Organic wastes such as sewage and farm waste impose high oxygen demands on the receiving water leading to oxygen depletion with potentially severe impacts on the whole eco-system.

Industries discharge a variety of pollutants in their wastewater including heavy metals, organic toxins, oils, nutrients, and solids.

Discharges can also have thermal effects, especially those from power stations, and these too reduce the available oxygen.

Silt-bearing runoff from many activities including construction sites, forestry and farms can inhibit the penetration of sunlight through the water column restricting photosynthesis and causing blanketing of the lake or river bed which in turns damages the ecology..

Air Pollution

Air pollution is the introduction of chemicals, particulate matter, or biological materials that cause harm or discomfort to humans or other living organisms, or damages the natural environment, into the atmosphere.

The atmosphere is a complex, dynamic natural gaseous system that is essential to support life on planet Earth. Stratospheric ozone depletion due to air pollution has long been recognized as a threat to human health as well as to the Earth's ecosystems.

Smoke is one of the source cause the air pollution. Smoke is a suspension in air (aerosol) of small particles resulting from incomplete combustion of a fuel.

It is commonly an unwanted by-product of fires (including stoves and lamps) and fireplaces, but may also be used for pest control (fumigation), communication (smoke signals), defense (smoke-screen) or inhalation of tobacco or other drugs.

Smoke is sometimes used as a flavouring agent and preservative for various foodstuffs.

Smoke is also sometimes a component of internal combustion engine exhaust gas, particularly diesel exhaust. Smoke inhalation is the primary cause of death in victims of indoor fires.

The smoke kills by a combination of thermal damage, poisoning and pulmonary irritation caused by carbon monoxide, hydrogen cyanide and other combustion products..

Landslide Bukit Antarabangsa.. Malaysia never learn

The quiet in Taman Bukit Mewah and Taman Bukit Utama in Bukit Antarabangsa was shattered by the sound of strong wind and an explosion just before the landslide hit the neighbourhood in the wee hours of the morning, according to an eyewitness.

Businessman Hassan Saad, 48, said he was watching television in his sitting room at 3.30am when he heard what sounded like strong wind but when he looked out, the air was still and the trees were not swaying.

He returned to watching the TV but suddenly he heard an explosion like that of a bomb. He ran out of the house and saw the earth sliding down the hillslope and hitting his neighbour's house in front.

Hassan said he shouted to wake up his family and alert his neighbours to run for their lives. His family of 10, including his mother-in-law and two cousins managed to run to safety.

Hassan, who has been living there for 15 years, said it was the first time that such a thing had happened in the area.

"Last month, eight trees fell on the hillslop about 20m behind my house and I informed the Ampang Jaya Municipal Council (MPAJ) about it.

"They came and chopped the trees. I thought that everything was okay then," he told reporters at the scene.

Another resident, Lian Wan Jian of Taman Bukit Mewah, said he heard two loud noises and thought that it was an earthquake.

He said he was still awake at that time but his wife and two children were jolted from their sleep by the noises.

When he opened the door to run out, he and his family saw the force of the earth movement lifting the cars and felt his house being pushed towards the neighbour's house.

He and his family, however, managed to run to safety.

"Maybe we we were able to save ourselves because our house is at the end (of the row)," he said at the centre for the victims at the Addinniah surau in Taman Bukit Mewah.

Meanwhile, a man who wanted to be known only as Chong, said his daughter and two-month-old grandchild were buried alive in the landslide while his son was still missing as at 9am.

He said he visited them last night and had gone home at 11pm but was told by a neighbour's son that his son's house had been buried in the landslide.

The place was in chaos and hundreds of residents were unable to get out of the area because the only road leading out was jam-packed with buldozers, fire engines, ambulances and trucks and the security forces invovled in the search and rescue operation.

Residents trying to flee the area also contributed to the jam. - Bernama

Look out for sign of slope failure

There are four main types of landslides, namely slides, which are most common in Malaysia, topples, rock falls and debris flows also known as mud flows. Factor can trigger landslides are intense and prolonged rainfall as well as shocks or vibration such as seismic activity.

Public should look out for signs such as water or earth bulging appearing at the base of a slope or retaining wall as well as tension crack at the ground surface.
other sign are small stones falling from the slope surface, tilting the fences, retaining walls, utility poles and even tree. sign to watch for around the buildings are cracks appearing the ground or in the foundation of houses and other structures as well as soil moving away from the foundation. Door and windows that stick or become jammed for the first time are also considered as warning sign as well as appearance of springs, seeps or saturated grounds on the areas that have not typically been wet before

Noise Pollution

Noise pollution is a type of energy pollution in which distracting, irritating, or damaging sounds are freely audible. As with other forms of energy pollution (such as heat and light pollution), noise pollution contaminants are not physical particles, but rather waves that interfere with naturally-occurring waves of a similar type in the same environment. Thus, the definition of noise pollution is open to debate, and there is no clear border as to which sounds may constitute noise pollution. In the most narrow sense, sounds are considered noise pollution if they adversely affect wildlife, human activity, or are capable of damaging physical structures on a regular, repeating basis. In the broadest sense of the term, a sound may be considered noise pollution if it disturbs any natural process or causes human harm, even if the sound does not occur on a regular basis.

The prevailing source of artificial noise pollution is from transportation. In rural areas, train and airplane noise can disturb wildlife habits, thereby affecting the manner in which animals in areas around train tracks and airports hunt and mate. In urban areas, automobile, motorcycle, and even entertainment noise can cause sleep disruption in humans and animals, hearing loss, heart disease (as a result of stress), and in severe cases even mental instability. A notable exception to the rule is the electric, or hybrid-electric, automobile. Hybrid vehicles are so quite, in fact, that legislation is pending to actually make them louder. This is in response to numerous injuries in which pedestrians, unaware of a hybrid vehicle's presence, have been struck by such vehicles in parking lots and pedestrian crosswalks.

My Interview Experience

I was experience attending quite a number of interview for 'environmental related' position in various sectors such corporate, factory, consultant, laboratory. Here some tips that may useful to share with all of you:

1. Normal 1st question will be ask for any interview - Tell me about yourself

2.Why you want to work here.

To answer this question, you will need to have researched the company. Reply with the company's attributes as you see them. Cap your answer with reference to your belief that the company can provide you with a stable and happy work environment--the company has that reputation--and that such an atmosphere would encourage your best work.

"I'm not looking for just another pay check. I enjoy my work and am proud of my profession. Your company produces a superior product/provides a superior service. I share the values that make this possible, which should enable me to fit in and complement the team."

You might continue with "I really liked everything about the job. The reason I want to leave it is to find a position where I can make a greater contribution. You see, I worked for a large company that encourages specialisation of skills. The smaller environment you have here will, allow me to contribute far more in different areas." Tell them what they want to hear--replay the hot button.

3. "What are your biggest accomplishments?"

Keep your answers job related. You might begin your reply with: "Although I feel my biggest achievements are still ahead of me, I am proud of my involvement with . . . I made my contribution as apart of that team and learned a lot in the process. We did it with hard work, concentration, and an eye for the bottom line."

4 "Can you work under pressure?"

You might be tempted to give a simple "yes" or "no" answer, but don't. It reveals nothing, and you lose the opportunity to sell your skills and value profiles. Actually, this common question often comes from an unskilled interviewer, because it is closed-ended. As such, the question does not give you the chance to elaborate. Whenever you are asked a closed-ended question, mentally add: "Please give me a brief yet comprehensive answer." Do this, and you will give the information requested and seize an opportunity to sell yourself. For example, you could say: "Yes, I usually find it stimulating. However, I believe in planning and proper management of my time to reduce panic deadlines within my area of responsibility."

5. "Why should I hire you?"

Your answer should be short and to the point. It should highlight areas from your background that relate to current needs and problems. Recap the interviewer's description of the job, meeting it point by point with your skills. Finish your answer with: "I have the qualifications you need [itemize them], I'm a team player, I take direction, and I have the desire to make a thorough success."

6. "How do you take direction?"

The interviewer wants to know whether you are open - minded and can be a team player. Can you follow directions or are you a difficult, high-maintenance employee? Hopefully, you are a low-maintenance professional who is motivated to ask clarifying questions about a project before beginning, and who then gets on with the job at hand, coming back to initiate requests for direction as circumstances dictate.

This particular question can also be defined as "How do you take direction?" and "How do you accept criticism?" Your answer should cover both points: "I take direction well and recognise that it can come in two varieties, depending on the circumstances. There is carefully explained direction, when my boss has time to lay things out for me in detail; then there are those times when, as a result of deadlines and other pressures, the direction might be brief and to the point. While I have seen some people get upset with that, personally I've always understood that there are probably other considerations I am not aware of. As such, I take the direction and get on with the job without taking offense, so my boss can get on with their job. It's the only way."

7 "Do you prefer working with others or alone?"

This question is usually used to determine whether you are a team player. Before answering, however, be sure you know whether the job requires you to work alone - then answer appropriately. Perhaps: "I'm quite happy working alone when necessary. I don't need much constant reassurance. But I prefer to work in a group--so much more gets achieved when people pull together."

Interview experience

OK.. for anyone who graduated in environmental science, here some career path for your guideline. This is based on my observation and my past experience. Any lack of information please correct me!:

1) Environmental Consultant
Position: Environmental Scientist or Environmental Engineer
Scope of work: To consult cl1ents (contractor or industry) regarding environment requirement *
I'll explain on this later.

2) Contractor
Position: Environmental Executive
Scope of work: Implements all environmental requirements at site

Position: Safety Officer
Scope of work: Implements all safety requirements at site. Thist position normally
required you to get safety qualification from NIOSH-DOSH

3) Laboratory
Position: Environmental Scientist or Executive
Scope of work: Site and lab work such sampling and lab analysis

4) Safety Consultant
Position: Environmetal Scientist or Executive
Scope of work: To consult cl1ents (contractor or industry) regarding environment
requirement *

How efficient the EIA report

Have we placed undue expectation on the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) system as an environmental safeguard? Rightly or wrongly, many have come to rely on the EIA to be the shield against adverse impacts of development. To a great extent especially for would-be affected communities, the EIA is deemed their only chance of stopping an undesirable project. Department of Environment is the the government agency tasked to enforce Section 34A of the Environmental Quality Act 1974 which gave birth to the Environmental Quality (Prescribed Activities) Environmental Impact Assessment Order 1987 – has unwittingly become the Department of Everything, when its power is so limited.

While many agree that EIA is a planning tool to assist developers to avoid negative impacts on the environment, most concur that project proponents are more concerned about fulfilling a legal requirement to get the project going. From my point of view, EIA did not originate to support a project but to aid informed decision-making. Because the consultant is paid by project proponent maybe its the was to 'jaga the periuk nasi' to make sure their company growing.

There is consultant has suggested unrealistic mitigation measures when there is no proven technology or successful cases to support it.

How to solve this problem? Maybe DOE and the EIA consultant should sign a contract as equal clients that give sufficient clout to DOE to demand for unbiased assessment. Or maybe make it mandatory for project consultants to respond to public comments and publish comments of review panel for meaningful public participation

Landlslide... Malaysia never learn?

Landslide in Malaysia 2008

Dec 4 - 300 people were forced to evacuate two buildings when a landslide caused part of the retaining wall of a car park to collapse in Jalan Semantan, Kuala Lumpur.

Nov 30 - Two sisters were buried alive when a landslide hit their bungalow in Ulu Yam Perdana near Kuala Kubu Baru, Selangor.

Oct 22 - Tonnes of earth came crashing down a hill onto the grounds of the Taman Terubong Jaya apartments in Butterworth where over 1,000 residents were staying.

Oct 19 - Four families evacuated from houses along the banks of Sungai Kayu Ara in Petaling Jaya, Selangor, after landslide there.

Oct 17 - Two Indonesians were killed after they were buried alive by tonnes of sand in a landslide in Ganesan Quarry, Hulu Langat near Kajang, Selangor.

Oct 15 - A landslide after a downpour at Pinggir Bukit Segar, Cheras, Selangor caused a family to move out as they feared for their safety.

Sept 6 - Roads from the George Town to Teluk Bahang and Balik Pulau in Penang were cut off due to landslides and fallen trees.

Jan 17 - Two foreign workers were killed after they were buried in a landslide while working at a plantation in Cameron Highlands.