Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue 2 - 2016 i ASIAN Geographic

2015 was the warmest year recorded on the planet, and over the past century, mountain glaciers and ice caps, together with the melting of, or the “calving” off of icebergs, have been contributing to rising sea levels. The increase in extreme weather conditions and the melting of the polar ice caps in the Arctic region may mean that the very homes and livelihoods we have lived by for thousands of years are effectively starting to disappear. Climate change is real and has been happening in front of our eyes for a good part of the last century. With the Earth’s temperatures rising at an alarming rate, scientists have predicted that if this continues, we will face a world that is unfit for human life in as short a time span…

The talks that took place in Paris from 30 November to 12 December 2015 indicate that most of the world agrees that protecting our environment and tackling climate change together is a duty. A key result of the talks was the Paris Agreement, which sees 195 countries agreeing to and adopting the first universal climate agreement. Climate change is a divisive topic. Its proponents say that the Earth’s rising surface temperatures, also known as global warming, is due primarily to human activity, namely, the burning of fossil fuels, which releases carbon dioxide and other – now commonly known as “greenhouse gases” – into the air. Climate change activists and those lobbying for our reduced “carbon footprints” range from the United Nations to the David Suzuki Foundation to secondary school children…

Here intimations of death hang heavy in the air Everywhere there is the stench of decay and despair The river strangled by exigencies of industrialisation is dying…. and nobody cares The fish in the river poisoned by progress’s vomit are dying…. and nobody cares The birds that feed on the fish in the river poisoned by progress’s excrement are dying…. and nobody cares And so a once-proud village sustained for centuries by the richness of this river dies…. And nobody cares To that mammon DEVELOPMENT our high priests sacrifice our customs our culture our traditions and environment and nobody cares…

Over the last few decades, the winds have changed, the weather is erratic and water patterns are strange Long before the sun peeks over the horizon, artisanal fishermen across Malaysia’s Johor Strait gather at their respective jetties and beaches. As they set their nets and lines, check their engines and look up for an indication of the weather, they hope that the day’s catch will be a good one. Some are fortunate enough to be able to fish just off their shores – others burn fuel travelling hours away in their small boats to find a spot that still has fish. Sometimes this even entails sneaking across national borders, risking capture by marine police and violent encounters with human smugglers. Indigenous way of life In the southwest of Malaysia, the…

In his "Around the Maldives" journey, Gabbe' hopes to promote sailing as a sport to Maldivian youths and also boost the island's tourism Atoll, which comes from the Maldivian word atolu, means a ring-shaped reef, island or chain of islands that are formed of coral. Indeed, the name is apt as the island-nation of Maldives, made up of 26 atolls, is now sending its first Atoll Sailor around the country. Abdul Gafoor Ali, also known as Gabbe’ for short, set sail on 31 January 2016 aboard the TOPCAT K1 vessel in what is touted as one of the most ambitious marine adventures in the history of sailing in Maldivian waters. The 43-year-old sailor, who celebrated his birthday in February last month, is the first ever individual to independently circumnavigate the…

“The greatest achievement we can have is to rise above being self-centred” Emmanuela Dewi Shinta is the face of a new generation of Indonesia’s indigenous people, at the forefront of taking an active and peaceful role in preserving their heritage and environment. The 23-year-old confronted, head-on, what was dubbed the greatest environmental disaster of the 21st century to date – the 2015 forest fires in Kalimantan, Indonesia. Shinta is a Dayak, an indigenous ethnic tribe that serves as sentinels for the rainforests of Kalimantan. Every year for the past 18 years, these rainforests have been going up in smoke, mainly due to slash-and-burn techniques employed by companies to clear the land for plantations. Most of the fires are started illegally and during Indonesia’s driest months. The result is massive destruction…

1 NINOY AQUINO MONUMENT The famous Ninoy Aquino bronze statue, sculpted by Peter de Guzman, commemorates the former senator who spoke out against the dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos and was assassinated in 1983. It is built on the spot where many pro-democracy rallies took place in the 1980s and 1990s. 2 NUESTRA SENORA DE GRACIA CHURCH Also known as Guadalupe Church, the Roman Catholic parish church is one of the oldest churches in Metro Manila. Known for its quaint Baroque architecture, it was first constructed in 1599 by Augustinian friars, the oldest religious order in the Philippines. Daily masses are held at 6am in English and 6pm in Tagalog. 3 GREENBELT MALL Greenbelt is a shopping complex of five contemporary buildings, made up of Greenbelt 1, 2, 3, 4 and…

1 LIANG BEACH Located on the north-eastern point of Ambon, Liang Beach is located some 30km north of the city centre, with a picturesque jetty and sand fence. The beautiful turquoise waters and white sandy beaches of the one-kilometre long Hunimua, its local name, is ranked one of Indonesia’s most beautiful beaches. 2 PINTU KOTA AMBON Located 20km south of the city in the Nusaniwe district, Pintu Kota, which translates literally as “city gate”, is a unique beach with a natural rock formation that resembles an archway. A steep staircase takes you down to the rocky bay, with fascinating views of the Banda Sea. 3 AMBON WAR CEMETERY Also known as the Commonwealth Graves War Memorial (CGWM), the carefully-maintained memorial, has two weeping figs in the centre shading the tombstones…

Hotel Clover 33 Jalan Sultan is a veritable oasis in the heart of town. With its nature-inspired features set in a heritage neighbourhood, there’s no better place to find refuge after a hot and humid day of sightseeing around Singapore. One of Hotel Clover’s suite of five boutique properties in Singapore, the hotel is housed in a row of 17 double-storey heritage shophouses. Located in the vibrant Bugis enclave, the area is home to Arab Street and the Sultan Mosque that are known for its colourful past, rich history and charming tea shops. With its interiors and exteriors kept original, the simple yet luxurious property has a total of 88 rooms and suites to choose from, all of which feature warm wood interiors and intricate designs. Enter the lobby and…

SRI LANKA ACHALA ABEYSINGHE Climate change is now evidently the world’s most pressing issue, but female voices are still few and far between when it comes to climate warriors. But there is probably no one more clued in on the legal issues that surround international climate change negotiations than Achala Abeysinghe. Hailing from Sri Lanka, Achala is currently the legal and technical adviser to the Chair of the Least Developed Countries (LDC) within the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The LDC group of countries prove to be the poorest nations that are most susceptible to the effects of global warming. Her interests run into equity and fairness issues and she works on policy frameworks surrounding climate change as well as financial mechanisms under the UNFCCC regime. She…

As the planet warms, the harsh conditions of the alpine zone are shrinking; where there was once ice, now there is green life. This process, analogous to the movement of vegetation towards the poles, is one direct manifestation of climate change. In the highest mountains of the world, these changes will fundamentally alter the ecosystem that we have become familiar with over the last few millennia. Forests invade the alpine tundra as the Earth warms, like rising ocean flooding an island SHIFTING LAYERS A mountaintop can be thought of as an island in the sky, surrounded by a gaseous ocean of atmosphere. The vegetation and wildlife on the mountainside change with the temperature across different altitudes. At the low altitudes, conditions are warm and the forest dominates, but in the…

When I climbed the top of Indonesia’s highest volcano, Gunung Kerinci (3805m) in West Sumatra, I was first gasping for oxygen. Then as I neared the top’s crater, the smell of rotten eggs hit my nose. Who was the culprit of this terrible odour? It came from a column of steam, constantly rising from the crater and wafting over the edge towards us hikers. The mucus membranes of our eyes, mouth and ears were simply itching. WHAT’S THAT SMELL? In chemical terms the cause of this smell and itch is hydrogen sulphide (H2S). Minor quantities are simply irritating, but – and this may come as a surprise – in large volumes H2S becomes odourless as it numbs the receptors in our noses and becomes lethal within a matter of seconds.…

The planet at present is sustaining a total of seven billion human lives, meaning energy consumption is at an all-time high In the last two centuries, the advent of the burning of fossil fuels for human development has resulted in the Earth’s temperatures rising at an alarming rate. Scientists have predicted that if temperatures continue to rise at the current rates, we will face a world that is unfit for human life in as short a time span as the next 100 years. Already, we have seen an increase in extreme weather conditions such as some of the most ferocious hurricanes. The melting of polar ice caps have also resulted in the sinking of small island states like the Maldives and Kiribati. If temperatures are to rise another 2–4°C, who…

A record number of parent-and-child teams bonded at this year’s SAFRA AVventura™, the largest cross-terrain adventure race in Singapore. Organised by SAFRA Yishun Country Club, which is an organisation that provides for the social and recreational needs of National Service men and their families, the event was held on 10 January 2016 around the Yishun estate. In celebration of its 10th anniversary since its inception in 2006, a total of 104 parent-and-child teams competed in this year’s Families for Life (FFL) Challenge, up 28% from last year’s 81 teams. FFL was first introduced in 2011 to promote stronger family ties and to build strong and resilient family units. Separated into Super Kids (ages 7–10) and Ultra Kids (ages 11–14) categories, the challenge was divided into stations with activities like charades,…

1 PEARLS Natural pearls are abundant in the Philippines and one of the highest quality in the world. Harvested by divers and crafted by expert jewellers from the surrounding islands, pick up a string of pearls in the many jewellery and pearl shops in Makati’s markets or malls, be it bracelets or necklaces or earrings. 2 SEASHELL ITEMS Part of the summer paradise that is the Philippines, it’s no wonder that seashells feature in abundance in local handicrafts. From fashionable faux jewellery like earrings and necklaces to keychains and photo frames and seashell jar displays, it’s easy to find seashell souvenirs from the city’s trendy markets and malls. 3 TOY JEEPNEYS There’s no better way to add some fun and colour to your souvenir collection than miniature jeepneys – a…

1 NUTMEG Maluku is not known as the Spice Islands for no reason, for it is precisely in these islands that nutmeg and cloves were originally found, sparking colonial interest. The nutmeg fruit can be eaten fresh with a dash of kecap manis (sweet soy sauce), otherwise it comes in a variety of forms like dried fruits slices, syrup drinks and even medicinal oils. 2 IKAN ASAR Stop by and pick up the ikan asar, or smoked tuna fish, an Ambonese culinary delight. The tannin brown colour is a result of the smoking process, after which vegetable oil is spread and the fish halved with a bamboo. It is eaten with a special sambal sauce known as colo-colo and can be packed up for your flight home. 3 EUCALYPTUS OIL…

“The planet can provide for human need, but not for human greed”– Mahatma Gandhi There are two camps in the climate change debate – one that believes its cause is natural, like variations in the sun and the altering of Earth’s orbit. The other believes it is a result of human activity, like deforestation and our increase in consumption as we modernise. In this issue we explore both causes – Arctic icebergs melting (p.10), sulphuric volcanoes erupting (p.58) and Cambodian villages wiped out because of a hydropower dam construction (p.46). All these seem to paint a grim picture of a deteriorating world, but herein lies the principal of stewardship. Stewardship is the managing and looking after our home on planet Earth, and it always begins with us. There is no…

In 2014, New Delhi was declared by the World Health Organisation as the most polluted city in the world At the start of 2016, India’s capital city implemented yet another breakthrough initiative in a push to lose the reputation of being Asia’s most polluted city. In addressing concerns that surround the issue of environmental pollution within India, the government has taken the stance that quick solutions are needed. As a result, over the last few years, New Delhi is fast becoming a city that has some of the most revolutionary greening initiatives. Among the latest of these initiatives within the transport sector in the city is the selling of an eco-friendly alternative to diesel fuel, Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) at a discounted rate during off-peak hours in and around the…

An old woman slowly climbs down the slope from the village that leads to the water of the Srekor, one of the main tributaries of the Mekong river in northern Cambodia. Wrinkles dig deep into her skin marked by the sun as she slowly leans on a wooden canoe, one of many docked along the river banks, and she starts to wash herself. It’s late afternoon and until a few months ago the wooden canoe would not have been there. The men from the village would have used it to go fishing but this has not been happening for a long time now. Children play in the river, lulled by its current, unaware that these will be their last carefree games in the waters that for generations have welcomed and…

In a country like Nepal that has endured long-term political hardships, there’s nothing more devastating than for the 2015 earthquakes to rock the nation. Over 80% of Nepal's population live in rural mountainous regions that lack access to electricity At a magnitude of 7.8 that hit on 25 April, then 6.3 on 12 May – just two weeks apart from each other – the disastrous impact left close to 9,000 people killed and tens of thousands injured. A further 850,000 homes were damaged and over 2.5 million of the population were left without homes. This inevitably meant that healthcare and education facilities were left in tatters, with local agriculture suffering from lack of power to operate water pumps and irrigate crops. As the country continues to struggle with the effects…

On 12 December 2015, the much-anticipated United Nations’ Paris Agreement for Climate Change was signed. Alarmingly, it also happens to be the warmest year ever recorded on the planet. One very important consequence of this new agreement is that each nation, no matter its size or economic status, will endeavour to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The big question; is it too little too late for a warming planet? There are some encouraging signs as close to 200 countries recognised that a threat exists from man-made greenhouse emissions, and by declaring consensus, the first steps towards resolving this fatal issue may have begun in time. What about the Kyoto Protocol? Previous climate change conferences such as the 1997 Kyoto Protocol were often viewed as a failure or disappointment, because nations lacked…

There was never a time in history again when the horizons of Kuwait blazed for close to a year. 25 years ago in the wake of the Persian Gulf War, the retreating Iraqi military forces, led by Saddam Hussein, set fire to hundreds of oil wells in Kuwait, an event that is now known as the Kuwaiti oil fires. This “parting shot”, part of a scorched earth policy, would last for nearly all of 1991, creating immediate and lasting effects, environmentally and otherwise, in the Persian Gulf and the eastern half of the Arabian Peninsula. The first of the fires began in January and February 1991, in an attempt by the Iraqi forces to weaken Kuwait. By the time the last fire was extinguished in November 1991, an estimated one…

The Filipino language as we know it today is derived from Tagalog, the native language of the Tagalog peoples, an indigenous group of people living in the Philippines. The word Tagalog comes from the words “taga” meaning native and “ilog” meaning river, and is today spoken by about 60 million people in the country, particularly in Manila, the islands of Luzon and Mindoro. But the history of Tagalog goes much deeper than that. Categorised as part of the Western Austronesian group in the same family as the Javanese, Indonesian and Malay languages, Tagalog was first written in the baybayin script, an ancient writing system thought to have descended from the Buginese script of the Bugis people of Sulawesi, now part of Indonesia. An inscription dating as far back as 900…