TrEES out to spread the green message
A new non-profit organisation wants to
spread the message that people have a moral obligation to protect the environment, writes FAEZAH ISMAILGENERATE awareness and translate it into action — this is what a newly-formed non-profit organisation for the protection of the environment hopes to do.
Treat Every Environment Special Sdn Bhd (TrEES) director Christa Hashim says it plans to do this within communities, schools and even the private sector such as in factories and offices by showing people that all of these are mini "environments" which should be treated specially.
Wastage is discouraged and reduce, reuse and recycle are the key words which people and companies should live by.
At the same time it wants to help people enhance their environment by planting trees and creating gardens which, besides providing shade from the sun, also serve as a refuge for small wildlife.
Christa says the organisation is also trying to drive home the point that people and especially companies/ manufacturers have a moral obligation to dispose of their wastes correctly.
"Not just dumping it anywhere and leaving it all to the government to clean up, especially if the product is hazardous," says Christa.
Even prior to the company’s establishment in January this year, Christa and two other founder members of TrEES have tried to put into practice their ideals.
In February last year, the environmental activitist initiated a recycling programme at Hillside Apartments in Taman Melawati in Kuala Lumpur and with the support of Melawati Developers and the local community, glass and aluminium recycling facilities were established.
"By mid to late April we hope to expand to paper recycling and composting and we have just got confirmation that collection is possible," says Christa.
Aside from this, the threesome together with the Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) marshalled the first annual (1993) and second annual (1994) Clean Up the World, Malaysia.
In 1993 the organisers mobilised 800 people to clean five different locations across the country. The following year, the figure increased to 1,500. With the support of State and national departments of forestry, local governments, volunteers and NGOs, as well as schools and private companies, a total of nine different locations were beautified and nearly 4,000kg of trash collected for recycling and proper disposal.
TrEES founders’ other experiences include arranging environmental awareness workshops for the MNS and other organisations, talks at schools and for private groups on the environment and what individuals can do to protect it.
The encouraging response to these initiatives prompted Christa and her friends to launch TrEES.
Christa, an American married to a Malaysian and who has been living here for the past three years, says TrEES is being run as a non profit, socially-conscious organisation.
She adds that the company was fortunate in securing start-up funding from Canada. This will go towards purchasing a computer, filing cabinets and other office supplies.
But the company hopes to get more local backing and even though there are many highly profitable concerns in Malaysia "so far our success in getting their support has been slow." Still, TrEES is hopeful that these firms will come forward and take part in its community efforts.
To celebrate International Women’s Day, TrEES is organising its first "Women and the Environment" workshop on Saturday from 9.3Oam to 4pm at the Environment Education Centre in Taman Jaya, Petaling Jaya.
Through the workshop, TrEES intends to spread information to women on what they can do to ensure a healthy environment for themselves and their families.
The speakers are ERA Consumer Group founder Josie Zaini, Petaling Jaya Municipal Council urban services director Kamariah Mohamed Noor, Tan Siew Ngoi of CEDEM Organic Farm, and Suzanna George from the United Nations Development Programme.
Those interested in attending the workshop can call Christa at Tel: 03-4051477.
Source : The New Straits Times 31 March 1995
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