FWD: Work together to keep the fireflies brightly lit

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This article is from The Star Online (http://thestar.com.my)

URL:

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2004/8/29/focus/8781474 & sec=focus

 

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Sunday August 29, 2004

Work together to keep the fireflies brightly lit

The Sunday Star says........

 

ALL state executive councillors and department heads have been directed to spend

three days in Kampung Kuantan, beginning today, to seek answers to the

area & #146;s dying colony of world-renowned fireflies.

 

This should be heartening news, yet there is a nagging thought that such

efforts should have been made years ago. Still, any move to give officials a

more hands-on approach between rounds of golf must be commendable.

 

Meanwhile, many Malaysians share the disappointment of the Sultan of Selangor

at some lackadaisical official attitudes. For at least four consecutive days,

the Depart- ment of the Environment, for example, could not be reached for

comment on the environmental degradation.

 

It would have been good to know that public bodies could be accessible to the

public on matters of public interest. But some individuals were only too busy

pointing fingers at one another to pass the buck and the blame.

 

The wondrous, synchronous flickering of the firefly community in Kuala Selangor

is our nation & #146;s natural heritage, and said to be only one of just two of

its kind in the world. Yet we have already allowed 60% of it to die out over the

past 15 years, and the rest seems set for extinction.

 

This is not only a matter of aesthetics or tourism potential, important as

these dimensions are as well. The health of the firefly community is also

indicative of the water quality in the area, on which the populous Klang Valley

depends for its water needs.

 

In Japan, the health of fireflies is used intelligently as an early warning

system of water quality for human communities. If we are to & #147;look

East & #148; meaningfully beyond city skylines, we should learn from this and take

every care in nurturing the health of our environment.

 

It seems that we can travel abroad to admire how other countries maintain their

natural heritage, yet learn nothing when we return home.

 

Pollution in Sungai Selangor is a known problem plaguing the area, but what

effective action has been taken all these years? Public officials should be more

pro-active and imaginative beyond the paltry fines which commercial offenders

simply absorb as & #147;costs & #148; in their wanton operations.

 

It is also futile to call for more in-depth studies when earlier studies have

been completed only to be shelved. More studies may only duplicate previous

work, taking more time and witnessing more destruction, while giving vested

interests more opportunity to massage away the findings.

 

Just spending three days in Kampung Kuantan will not equip anyone to solve the

problems. Will anyone after Wednesday address the studies already done by groups

such as the Malaysian Nature Society?

 

Comprehensive problems need to be solved with a comprehensive approach. This

will require, among other things, sitting down with all the concerned parties to

expedite an action plan for swift and effective implementation.

 

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