Friday, October 26, 2012
Govt urged to re-evaluate national public transport policy
KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 25, 2012): Working Group on Public Transportation in Malaysia, coordinator, A. Sivarajan, urged the government to re-evaluate the national public transport policy in order to provide a more effective and efficient system to consumers.
Among the main problems identified by the Working Group were bus services being mostly concentrated within Kuala Lumpur, Light Rail Transit (LRT) stations located far from housing estates and bus stops at unsafe locations, he said.
"There are also places with bus stops but without buses passing through. Furthermore, the network connectivity is poor whereby passengers have to walk a distance to LRT stations after taking a bus from their homes," he said at a press conference to announce the Public Transport in Malaysia Forum, here today.
He also highlighted that there are still cases of taxi drivers taking advantage by charging exorbitant fares and not using meters.
Sivarajan urged the government to take over the country's entire public transport system as a Government Linked Company. The Forum will be held on Nov 3 and is expected to pass several resolutions on public transport issues. – Bernama
Source : http://www.thesundaily.my/news/525380
Friday, October 5, 2012
Transport master plan up for scrutiny
Patrick Lee |
October 5, 2012 | Free Malaysia Today
PETALING JAYA: The final draft of the National Land Transport Master Plan, aimed at solving Malaysia’s transport woes, is out and up for public scrutiny and feedback.
It covers six areas categorised under historical perspectives, opportunities and realities, objectives and policies, institutional framework, regional perspectives and land freight.
The 107-page document is available on the Land Public Transport Commission’s (SPAD) website: http://www.spad.gov.my/sites/default/files/national-land-public-transport-master-plan-final-draft.pdf.
SPAD had worked on the document over the past year, having consulted various stakeholders (including
government agencies) before coming up with a final version.
It is a first of its kind in Malaysia, as government ministries and agencies had to rely on ad hoc policies by traffic and transport planners since Independence.
Last year, a SPAD spokesperson told FMT that the master plan would have a 20-year lifeline.
Members of the publics can e-mail their feedback to SPAD at: nor.fanim@spad.gov.my, shafarizam@spad.gov.my,hazwani@spad.gov.my.
Drafts of the Greater Klang Valley/Kuala Lumpur Masterplan can already be viewed on the same website.
PETALING JAYA: The final draft of the National Land Transport Master Plan, aimed at solving Malaysia’s transport woes, is out and up for public scrutiny and feedback.
It covers six areas categorised under historical perspectives, opportunities and realities, objectives and policies, institutional framework, regional perspectives and land freight.
The 107-page document is available on the Land Public Transport Commission’s (SPAD) website: http://www.spad.gov.my/sites/default/files/national-land-public-transport-master-plan-final-draft.pdf.
SPAD had worked on the document over the past year, having consulted various stakeholders (including
government agencies) before coming up with a final version.
It is a first of its kind in Malaysia, as government ministries and agencies had to rely on ad hoc policies by traffic and transport planners since Independence.
Last year, a SPAD spokesperson told FMT that the master plan would have a 20-year lifeline.
Members of the publics can e-mail their feedback to SPAD at: nor.fanim@spad.gov.my, shafarizam@spad.gov.my,hazwani@spad.gov.my.
Drafts of the Greater Klang Valley/Kuala Lumpur Masterplan can already be viewed on the same website.
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
Car prices in M'sia to drop gradually?
Revised NAP likely to include policy to reduce car prices over next 3-4 years
PETALING
JAYA: The revised National Automotive Policy (NAP) will include a
policy that will address the gradual reduction of car prices in the
country, said an industry source.
“The Government, through the
Malaysia Automotive Institute (MAI), had engaged us in the past few
months to discuss on the matter,” he told StarBiz.
“There
will be a policy that will tackle the gradual reduction of car prices in
Malaysia. Details of this policy are expected to be made public in the
near future,” he added.
The source said the policy would outline a structure to gradually reduce car prices over the next three to four years.
What happens to second-hand cars?
Naza Group of Companies joint executive chairman SM Nasarudin SM
Nasimuddin was quoted in a recent report as saying: if prices dropped,
the resale value of a car would then plummet but the loan amount owed to
banks (on cars already bought) would be unchanged.
The
Government has been considering it (the reduction of car prices) in the
revised NAP and it was only a matter of time for this issue to be
addressed,” said the industry source.
It is a known fact that the prices of cars are high in Malaysia compared with Thailand.
However,
it has been argued that the cost of vehicle ownership in Malaysia is
still among the most competitive in the Asean region, primarily due to
the subsidised fuel prices, cheaper road tax and insurance premiums.
In a recent news report, MAI chief executive officer Madani Sahari was quoted as saying that Malaysia had the second lowest cost of vehicle ownership in the region after the Philippines.
According
to him, the cost of vehicle ownership in Malaysia, compared to Thailand
and Indonesia, was lower by 39% and 12% respectively.
In terms
of petrol prices, Thailand was the highest, followed by Singapore,
Indonesia, Vietnam and the Philippines, Madani said in the news report.
Meanwhile,
on the point of car prices being slashed overnight via the reduction of
vehicle excise duties, industry observers argue that the impact would
be negative for existing buyers rather than first-time ones.
“If
you're a first-time buyer, it would be like a dream come true as it
means you can now afford to buy a car that was too expensive
previously,” said one industry observer who requested anonymity.
“For the existing buyer, it would mean that the resale value of the car would have diminished overnight,” he added.
It is also argued that the sudden drop in vehicle prices would have a severe impact on second-hand car dealers.
Those servicing existing car loans will also be severely affected.
In a local news report recently, Naza Group of Companies joint executive chairman SM Nasarudin SM Nasimuddin was quoted as saying that if taxes were scrapped, consumers would have to overpay bank loans taken for their vehicles.
In
the report, Nasarudin claimed that if prices dropped, the resale value
of a car would then plummet but the loan amount owed to banks would be
unchanged..
Source- the Star Online
Saturday, June 16, 2012
Diesel fumes cause cancer, says WHO
Official label of 'carcinogen' means exhaust emissions should be treated in same league as passive smoking or UV radiation
Associated Press
A diesel commuter train at Preston station: the WHO study said as so many people breathe in diesel fumes action needs to be taken. Photograph: Keith Morris/Alamy
Diesel exhaust causes cancer, the World Health Organisation has declared, a ruling it said could make exhaust as important a public health threat as passive smoke.
The
risk of getting cancer from diesel fumes is small, but since so many
people breathe in the fumes in some way, the WHO's science panel said
raising the status of diesel exhaust to carcinogen from "probable
carcinogen" was an important shift.
"It's on the same order of
magnitude as passive smoking," said Kurt Straif, director of the IARC
department that evaluates cancer risks, on Tuesday. "This could be
another big push for countries to clean up exhaust from diesel engines."
Since
so many people are exposed to exhaust, Straif said there could be many
cases of lung cancer connected to the contaminant. He said the fumes
affected groups including pedestrians on the street, ship passengers and
crew, railroad workers, truck drivers, mechanics, miners and people
operating heavy machinery.
The new classification followed a
week-long discussion in Lyon, France, by an expert panel organised by
the International Agency for Research on Cancer. The panel's decision
stands as the ruling for the IARC, the cancer arm of the WHO.
The
last time the agency considered the status of diesel exhaust was in
1989, when it was labeled a probable carcinogen. Reclassifying diesel
exhaust as carcinogenic puts it into the same category as other known
hazards such as asbestos, alcohol and ultraviolet radiation.
The
US government, however, still classifies diesel exhaust as a "likely
carcinogen". Experts said new diesel engines spew out fewer fumes but
further studies are needed to assess any potential dangers. "We don't
have enough evidence to say these new engines are zero risk, but they
are certainly lower risk than before," said Vincent Cogliano of the US
Environmental Protection Agency.
Experts in Lyon had analysed
published studies, evidence from animals and limited research in humans.
One of the biggest studies was published in March by the US National
Cancer Institute. That paper analysed 12,300 miners for several decades
starting in 1947. Researchers found miners heavily exposed to diesel
exhaust had a higher risk of dying from lung cancer.
Lobbyists for
the diesel industry argued the study wasn't credible because
researchers didn't have exact data on how much exposure miners got in
the early years of the study; they simply asked them to remember what
their exposure was like. A person's risk for cancer depends on many
variables, from genetic makeup to the amount and length of time of
exposure to dangerous substances.
A US group that represents
diesel engine makers said major technological advances in the last
decade have cut emissions from trucks and buses by more than 95% for
nitrogen oxides, particulate and sulfur emissions. Some experts said the
new classification wasn't surprising.
"It's pretty well known
that if you get enough exposure to diesel, it's a carcinogen," said Ken
Donaldson, a professor of respiratory toxicology at the University of
Edinburgh, who was not part of the IARC panel. He said the thousands of
particles, including some harmful chemicals, in the exhaust could cause
inflammation in the lungs and over time, that could lead to cancer.
But
Donaldson said lung cancer was caused by multiple factors and that
other things like smoking were far more deadly. He said the people most
at risk were those whose jobs exposed them to high levels of diesel
exhaust, like truck drivers, mechanics, or miners.
"For the man on
the street, nothing has changed," he said. "It's a known risk but a low
one for the average person, so people should go about their business as
normal ... you could wear a mask if you want to, but who wants to walk
around all the time with a mask on?"
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
City planners eye more public transport users by 2017
KUALA LUMPUR (May 22, 2012): The government and
Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) aim to more than quadruple the number of
daily commuters using public transport in Kuala Lumpur, to two million
by 2017, from about 480,000 in 2010.
Federal Territories and Urban Well-being Minister Datuk Raja Nong Chik Raja Zainal Abidin said this would entail expanding current rail lines with additional coaches, adding bus lanes and instituting 'park and ride' facilities at rail stations.
"The government also has plans to improve existing bus lanes by installing barriers to separate them from the part of the road used by automobiles," he said when opening the Second National Conference on Greater Kuala Lumpur/Klang Valley themed 'Towards A World Class Sustainable City' here today.
In addition, he said the federal government was undergoing a detailed study for a high-speed rail link between Kuala Lumpur and Singapore.
He shared the sentiments of Rio de Janeiro's mayor Eduardo Paes who had said that cities of the future had to be environment-friendly.
"This is why, one of our Greater KL/Klang Valley initiative is to increase shaded areas in the city by planting more trees and introducing more open parks by collaborating with the private sector," said Raja Nong Chik, adding that Kuala Lumpur should not merely be about skyscrapers.
The minister said that holistic city planning often suffered from a sector-by-sector approach across competing jurisdictions.
"Across the major categories, we must look beyond air quality and carbon emissions, going all the way through energy consumption, land use and buildings, transport, waste, water sanitation and environmental governance to ensure that Kuala Lumpur is on the right path to a greener future," he said.
He further stressed that policymakers must not fail to see the city as a single entity.
At a press conference later, Raja Nong Chik urged the Selangor Goverment to give attention to water-related projects in the state.
Often, the approval of development projects were postponed because of water problems, thus affecting the Greater KL Plan, he noted. – Bernama
Federal Territories and Urban Well-being Minister Datuk Raja Nong Chik Raja Zainal Abidin said this would entail expanding current rail lines with additional coaches, adding bus lanes and instituting 'park and ride' facilities at rail stations.
"The government also has plans to improve existing bus lanes by installing barriers to separate them from the part of the road used by automobiles," he said when opening the Second National Conference on Greater Kuala Lumpur/Klang Valley themed 'Towards A World Class Sustainable City' here today.
In addition, he said the federal government was undergoing a detailed study for a high-speed rail link between Kuala Lumpur and Singapore.
He shared the sentiments of Rio de Janeiro's mayor Eduardo Paes who had said that cities of the future had to be environment-friendly.
"This is why, one of our Greater KL/Klang Valley initiative is to increase shaded areas in the city by planting more trees and introducing more open parks by collaborating with the private sector," said Raja Nong Chik, adding that Kuala Lumpur should not merely be about skyscrapers.
The minister said that holistic city planning often suffered from a sector-by-sector approach across competing jurisdictions.
"Across the major categories, we must look beyond air quality and carbon emissions, going all the way through energy consumption, land use and buildings, transport, waste, water sanitation and environmental governance to ensure that Kuala Lumpur is on the right path to a greener future," he said.
He further stressed that policymakers must not fail to see the city as a single entity.
At a press conference later, Raja Nong Chik urged the Selangor Goverment to give attention to water-related projects in the state.
Often, the approval of development projects were postponed because of water problems, thus affecting the Greater KL Plan, he noted. – Bernama
Saturday, March 31, 2012
Saturday, January 14, 2012
How Behavior Programs Can Help Build an Energy-Efficient Culture
www.sustainableplant.com - January 11, 2012
Energy behavior programs aimed at reducing energy use through change in employees' attitudes and behaviors, such as those instituted at The House of Representatives and the Empire State Building, can help build an energy-efficient office culture, according to a report released by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE). These programs also create benefits that extend beyond the workplace, as participants often become more energy conscious at home and in their communities.
One of the case studies examined, “Green the Capitol,” a program instituted by the House of Representatives, was recognized as a positive example of how government can deploy low-cost, low-risk energy initiatives to control its own energy usage through the change of its employees' attitudes and behavior toward energy saving.
The Green the Capital initiative promoted a comprehensive package aimed at reducing energy use, waste and the carbon footprint of the House of Representatives by switching electricity fuel from coal to natural gas, relighting the Capital Dome with compact fluorescent light bulbs, and promoting a series of behavior programs at offices such as turning off computers and other office equipment when not in use, carpooling, commuting by bicycle and recycling. Eighteen months after its launch, the Green the Capitol program had reduced the institution's carbon footprint by 74%.
The report also looked at four other energy behavior case studies across the U.S. and Canada, including the “Tenant Energy Management Program” in the Empire State building; “Conservation Action!” at BC Hydro, Canada; an energy behavior campaign undertaken at a provincial governmental building in Canada; and the “TLC – Care to Conserve” program at the University Health Network of the University of Toronto.
Four common intervention approaches were shared by the five energy behavior programs: (1) setting the tone with the support of upper management and its public pledge; (2) building a team with a project committee and peer champions on board; (3) utilizing communication tools such as e-mails, prompts, Web sites, public meetings and posters to reach target audiences; and (4) engaging building occupants by means of feedback, benign peer pressure and competition, as well as through performance-linked rewards.
The report suggests that the key benefits of energy behavior programs extend beyond the workplaces that undertake these programs. Often a change in participants' thinking and behaviors follows, and after participation in the program they may become more active in their own energy-saving practices.
“Participants in these programs may reduce their home energy use, or actively participate in or even organize energy conservation programs in their communities,” said Dr. Shui Bin. “They may act as agents for change within and outside of the organization, spreading energy-efficient behavior in other settings, leading to direct and indirect reduction of energy expenditure, energy use, and carbon emissions.”
One of the case studies examined, “Green the Capitol,” a program instituted by the House of Representatives, was recognized as a positive example of how government can deploy low-cost, low-risk energy initiatives to control its own energy usage through the change of its employees' attitudes and behavior toward energy saving.
The Green the Capital initiative promoted a comprehensive package aimed at reducing energy use, waste and the carbon footprint of the House of Representatives by switching electricity fuel from coal to natural gas, relighting the Capital Dome with compact fluorescent light bulbs, and promoting a series of behavior programs at offices such as turning off computers and other office equipment when not in use, carpooling, commuting by bicycle and recycling. Eighteen months after its launch, the Green the Capitol program had reduced the institution's carbon footprint by 74%.
The report also looked at four other energy behavior case studies across the U.S. and Canada, including the “Tenant Energy Management Program” in the Empire State building; “Conservation Action!” at BC Hydro, Canada; an energy behavior campaign undertaken at a provincial governmental building in Canada; and the “TLC – Care to Conserve” program at the University Health Network of the University of Toronto.
Four common intervention approaches were shared by the five energy behavior programs: (1) setting the tone with the support of upper management and its public pledge; (2) building a team with a project committee and peer champions on board; (3) utilizing communication tools such as e-mails, prompts, Web sites, public meetings and posters to reach target audiences; and (4) engaging building occupants by means of feedback, benign peer pressure and competition, as well as through performance-linked rewards.
The report suggests that the key benefits of energy behavior programs extend beyond the workplaces that undertake these programs. Often a change in participants' thinking and behaviors follows, and after participation in the program they may become more active in their own energy-saving practices.
“Participants in these programs may reduce their home energy use, or actively participate in or even organize energy conservation programs in their communities,” said Dr. Shui Bin. “They may act as agents for change within and outside of the organization, spreading energy-efficient behavior in other settings, leading to direct and indirect reduction of energy expenditure, energy use, and carbon emissions.”
Friday, January 13, 2012
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
To the Peope of Japan - Our Thoughts and Prayers are with You
We wish you strength and resilience in over coming this great tragedy. God be with you.
Japan earthquake: £100bn bill for costliest disaster in world history
The Telegraph - 15 March 2011
The tsunami is expected to be the world’s most expensive natural disaster, with predictions that the repair bill will top £100 billion.
Japanese rescuers search for the victims of Friday's tsunami in Miyako Photo: AP
Hurricane Katrina holds the record, having caused damage estimated at £77 billion to the Gulf Coast of America in 2005.
But the company Credit Suisse predicted yesterday that the total cost of Friday’s earthquake and tsunami would be at least 14 trillion yen (£106 billion).
The disaster caused a 6.2 per cent drop in Japan’s Nikkei share index, wiping £90 billion off stocks and shares traded there. That in turn dragged share prices to a six-week low in many countries.
In Britain, the FTSE 100 index closed almost one per cent or £15 billion down, while the Dow Jones suffered a similar slump in early trading.
Andre Bakhos, the director of market analytics at Lek Securities in New York, said: “The earthquake could have great implications on the global economic front. If you shut down Japan, there could be a global recession.”
Other experts suggested that the tragedy would at least hinder worldwide recovery from the economic downturn. The Bank of Japan responded by pumping a record £113 billion into the banking system to prop up confidence and meet demand for borrowing in the aftermath of the disaster. Japan was already struggling, with its national debt standing at twice national income and its economy shrinking in the last three months of 2010.
Dozens of factories were unable to open yesterday and many companies could not predict how long it would take to repair damage and restore supply lines.
Among the major businesses that could not operate factories were Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Canon, Nestle, Sony and Panasonic.
Dozens of factories were unable to open yesterday and many companies could not predict how long it would take to repair damage and restore supply lines.
Among the major businesses that could not operate factories were Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Canon, Nestle, Sony and Panasonic.
Friday, February 25, 2011
Malaysia Hopeful World Oil Price Will Stabilise Soon, Says Awang Adek
BACHOK, Feb 24 (Bernama) -- Malaysia hopes global oil market will stabilise soon so that the impact of the current volatile situation is not significantly felt in Malaysia.
Deputy Finance Minister Datuk Dr Awang Adek Hussin said it was the fervent hope of the international community that the political turmoil and civil unrest in several oil producing countries like Libya would come to an end soon.
"Oil price is very sensitive, the price can go up and come down based on certain indicators (like conflicts).
"If what is happening in certain countries like in Libya continues unabated, it will cause oil price to spiral," he told reporters after giving cash aid to fire victims of Ladang Kampung Kuau Besar/Beoh in Jelawat here Wednesday.
Fourteen people received RM3,000 each.
The latest report from Paris said one-fourth of the total crude oil production from Libya has been stopped following continued violent street demonstrations in that country, prompting oil companies to issue a warning that oil supply in the third largest oil producer in Africa would be disrupted.
Oil companies like Total, Repsol, Eni and BASF as well as OMV from Australia had warned that they would downsize or stop oil production in Libya.
This latest development will have a serious impllication on oil supply from Libya which produces high quality oil as much as 1.6 million barrels per day or two per cent of the total world oil production.
Responding to the heightened tension following widespread civil unrest and continuous street protests in Libya, Awak Adek said it was still premature to say Malaysia would be adversely affected by the political turmoil in that country.
"It is still too early for Malaysians to feel the impact here (Malaysia). Nonetheless, we hope the political conflict in Libya will not prolong as the crisis will also give a blemished image to Islamic nations worldwide," he said.
Two days ago, the government said it was examining several options not to raise petrol prices in the near future though several countries have raised fuel prices twice in three months following spiralling world oil prices.
Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob had said his ministry and the Finance Ministry were jointly studying other options to avoid an increase.
-- BERNAMA
Deputy Finance Minister Datuk Dr Awang Adek Hussin said it was the fervent hope of the international community that the political turmoil and civil unrest in several oil producing countries like Libya would come to an end soon.
"Oil price is very sensitive, the price can go up and come down based on certain indicators (like conflicts).
"If what is happening in certain countries like in Libya continues unabated, it will cause oil price to spiral," he told reporters after giving cash aid to fire victims of Ladang Kampung Kuau Besar/Beoh in Jelawat here Wednesday.
Fourteen people received RM3,000 each.
The latest report from Paris said one-fourth of the total crude oil production from Libya has been stopped following continued violent street demonstrations in that country, prompting oil companies to issue a warning that oil supply in the third largest oil producer in Africa would be disrupted.
Oil companies like Total, Repsol, Eni and BASF as well as OMV from Australia had warned that they would downsize or stop oil production in Libya.
This latest development will have a serious impllication on oil supply from Libya which produces high quality oil as much as 1.6 million barrels per day or two per cent of the total world oil production.
Responding to the heightened tension following widespread civil unrest and continuous street protests in Libya, Awak Adek said it was still premature to say Malaysia would be adversely affected by the political turmoil in that country.
"It is still too early for Malaysians to feel the impact here (Malaysia). Nonetheless, we hope the political conflict in Libya will not prolong as the crisis will also give a blemished image to Islamic nations worldwide," he said.
Two days ago, the government said it was examining several options not to raise petrol prices in the near future though several countries have raised fuel prices twice in three months following spiralling world oil prices.
Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob had said his ministry and the Finance Ministry were jointly studying other options to avoid an increase.
-- BERNAMA
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
RON97 Petrol Price Rises By 10 Sen Per Litre Effective Midnight
January 31 2011
KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 31 (Bernama) -- The price of RON97 petrol will rise 10 sen to RM2.50 per litre effective midnight tonight, said the deputy president of the Petrol Dealers Association of Malaysia (PDAM) Datuk Zulkifli Mokti.
He said the increase was due to the rise in the price of crude oil to USD105.00 per drum this week compared with USD100.00 previously.
"The consumption of crude oil in the United States and Europe rose significantly due to the extremely cold weather there which had raised fear about the shortage of crude oil," he said when contacted by Bernama tonight.
Zulkifli said the price of world crude oil would drop again as soon as the summer season arrived in June and the petrol price would remain stable then.
On Jan 4, the price of RON97, which was floated according to the prevailing oil market price, rose 10 sen to RM2.40 per litre.
-- BERNAMA
Monday, January 17, 2011
Economists doubt fuel prices can go lower
freemalaysiatoday.com
G Vinod | January 13, 2011 Even at RM1.90 per litre, Malaysia's fuel price is still considered the cheapest among oil-exporting countries.
PETALING JAYA: Several economists cast doubt over views presented by two academicians that Malaysia can lower its fuel prices to as low as 30 sen per litre.Professor Hamid Yeop and economist Amir Hussin Baharuddin on Monday said that as a petroleum-producing nation, Malaysia rakes in higher profits due to the rise in oil prices.
They said most oil-producing nations fixed their domestic oil prices lower than the international market price, and Malaysia can also easily follow suit.
“A research in 2008 showed that while world fuel prices are determined by market forces, in Malaysia, prices are not adjusted accordingly and has never fallen,” they told a Malay daily.
Economist Yeah Kim Leng said the government has in fact moved to adjust domestic oil prices, citing the two separate schemes for RON95 and RON97 fuel.
“While the RON97 price is determined by the global oil market, the government is subsidising between 30 and 40 sen per litre for RON95,” said Yeah.
He added that currently, Malaysia’s RON 95, which is sold at RM1.90 per litre, is still ranked among the top 20 cheapest in the world.
“Countries that offer RON95 prices for less than a ringgit per litre are among the world’s top oil- producing countries with huge oil reserves.
“However, our oil reserve only stands at 0.3 % of the world’s oil reserves compared with 29% for Saudi Arabia.”
He said that Malaysia’s higher returns from soaring fuel prices are channelled into the oil and gas industries.
“The government, therefore, would still need to fork out money to subisidise its domestic oil prices,” said Yeah.
He agreed with the government’s recent subsidy rationalisation move, saying it would not only help the government to cut cost but also promote energy efficiency among consumers.
To alleviate the burden of the lower-income group due to the fuel price hikes, Yeah suggested that the government channel subsidies directly to this group.
“The government is working on a mechanism to help them. Currently, only the middle- and the higher-income groups are benefiting from the subsidies,”he said.
Market trend
Another economist, Cheong Kee Cheok, of Universiti Malaya, cast doubts on the two academicians’ research findings.
“The market price for petrol (unsubsidised) is made up of the cost of extraction and the cost of bringing what is extracted to the market as petrol.
“The extraction, refining and transport costs have to be added on even if oil companies do not make profits from doing all these. I hope the professors took into account all this in their research.”
He added that he was unconvinced by the argument that other oil-producing nations charge their consumers very low prices as justification for Malaysia to lower its domestic fuel prices.
“Take, the US, a major oil-exporting nation. It sells its domestically made cars cheapers than we do. Any economist must know that the point is how we manage our limited resources,” said Cheong.
Asian Strategy and Leadership Institute chairman, Ramon Navaratnam, said oil prices in Malaysia should move in tandem with the international market trend.
“It is basic supply and demand (situation). Malaysia has lower fuel prices due to its subsidies and the two experts cannot expect Petronas to sell fuel domestically at cost price if that was what they meant.
“In addition, you cannot increase subsidies anymore as the government needs to tackle its budget deficit which currently stands at nearly 6%.
“The best way to offset soaring petrol prices from affecting the lower-income group is to provide better infrastructure funding for the lower-income group,” said Ramon.
“The government should channel subsidies to provide better housing, healthcare, education and public transport.”
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Petrol prices forcing parents to share school run
Nearly half of parents are thinking of sharing the school run in an attempt to cut down on the cost of running their cars, after petrol prices hit a fresh record.
The average price of a litre of unleaded petrol climbed higher on Tuesday from 127.80p to 127.88p, edging ever closer to the equivalent of £6 a gallon (132p a litre).
The price has climbed steadily since the New Year, when first fuel duty was increased, and then a few days later the increased level of VAT came into force.
Consumers have been cutting back on driving – as they did during the fuel price spike of 2008. According to a poll by Halfords, the retailer, 44 per cent of parents say they are talking to friends about sharing the school run.
The survey also suggested that 78 per cent plan to drive less, with daily short trips to local shops the biggest casualty of the attempt to save on transport costs.
Figures from HM Revenue and Customs suggest that fuel consumption falls when the price of petrol increases. During December 4.28 billion litres of fuel – either unleaded petrol or diesel – was released for consumption, a fall of 4.48 billion in November. - The Telegraph
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
A Daily Snapshot Of Carbon Usage In Figures
 Graphic showing the consumption of CO2 per person per year in various regions around the world, ahead of an IPCC report on climate change. Graphic courtesy AFP. |
Paris (AFP) Jan 23, 2007
Greenhouse-gas pollution, the driver for dangerous global warming, is all around us -- and almost as invisible are the huge disparities in individual emissions around the world and carbon cost of the things we buy. For instance, the average American, whose lifestyle is based on profligate burning of oil, gas and coal, causes nearly 10 times more carbon pollution than the average Kenyan. And a bottle of champagne costs 1.7 kilos (3.75 pounds) in carbon -- the pollution emitted by machinery to cultivate the vines, grow and treat the grapes, produce, fill and store the bottle and transport it to a shop where it is sold.
The world's biggest single polluter is the United States, which by itself accounts for about a quarter of global emissions of greenhouse gases, followed by China.
Here is a snapshot in figures of emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2), the principal greenhouse gas, according to lifestyle, product and sector:
PER CAPITA CO2 (Source: International Energy Agency, IEA. Figures are in tonnes of CO2 per person per year)
- North America: United States 19.5 tonnes; Canada 17; Mexico 3.7
- Europe: Germany 10.2 tonnes; Britain 9.1; France 6.4
- Asia-Pacific: Australia 17.1 tonnes; New Zealand 8.3; China 3.2; India 1; Bangladesh 0.2
- Middle East-North Africa: Saudi Arabia 13.3 tonnes; Algeria 2.5
- Africa: South Africa 8.2 tonnes; Kenya 0.2
POLLUTION PER ACTIVITY (On the basis of a western Europe lifestyle, where one litre of petrol, or gasoline, causes 2.7 kilos (5.9 pounds) of CO2. Source: Jean-Marc Jancovici, French climate and energy consultant)
- One year of car driving (14,000 kilometers, 8,750 miles): 3.78 tonnes of CO2
- Return flight Paris-New York, second class: 1.6 tonnes of CO2
- One year's lighting for average-sized home: Depends on energy source, varying from four kilos (8.8 pounds) of CO2 for hydro to 400 kilos (880 pounds) for coal-fired plant.
- One year's heating oil for 100m2 (1,076-square-feet) dwelling: 4.86 tonnes of CO2.
- One kilo (2.2 pounds) of beef, cooked and ready to eat: 3.7 kilos (8.14 pounds) of CO2. Figure includes proportionate cost of making tractor and agriculture chemicals, does not include greenhouse-gas emissions from cows and fertilisers.
- One kilo (2.2 pounds) of locally-caught fish: 1.6 kilos (3.5 pounds) of CO2
- One kilo (2.2 pounds) of ocean-caught tuna: 3.2 kilos (7.04 pounds) of CO2
- One kilo (2.2 pounds) of prawns (shrimp): 8 kilos (17.6 pounds) of CO2
- One bottle of champagne: 1.7 kilos (3.75 pounds) of CO2
- US- or Asian-made flat screen for computer: 1.3 tonnes (2.9 pounds) of CO2
FOSSIL FUEL USE: EMISSIONS PER SECTOR (Source: IEA)
- Power production: 40 percent
- Transport: 21 percent
- Industry: 17 percent
- Buildings: 14 percent
- Other sectors: 8 percent.
Source: Agence France-Presse
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Report calls for radical redesign of cities to cope with population growth
guardian.co.uk,
Megacities on the Move report says authorities must start planning their transport infrastructure now for a future when two thirds of the world's population will live in cities
Moving away from car ownership, using real-time traffic information to help plan journeys and having more virtual meetings will be vital to prevent the megacities of the future from becoming dysfunctional and unpleasant places to live, according to a study by the environmental think tank Forum for the Future.
The report argues that authorities must begin to plan now in order to create easier and more sustainable ways of accessing goods and services in the world's ever-growing cities. Citizens must also be encouraged to change their behaviour to keep cities liveable.
By 2040, the world's urban population is expected to have grown from 3.5bn to 5.6bn. The new report calls for a radical re-engineering of cities' infrastructure to cope. "The future is going to look pretty urban ... with more and more people shifting to cities to the point that, by 2040, we're going to have two thirds of all the people in the world living in cities," said Ivana Gazibara, senior strategic adviser at Forum for the Future and an author of the report, Megacities on the Move.
"If we go on with business as usual, what happens is unmanageable levels of congestion because personal car ownership has proliferated," she said. "Cities could be a pretty nasty place to live for the two-thirds of the global population in the next 30 years if we don't act on things like climate change mitigation and adaptation, smarter use of resources and sorting out big systemic things like urban mobility."
The report looked at transport, but not just moving from A to B. "It's about accessibility and productivity and interaction," said Gazibara. "Those are things you can do through physical interaction but you don't have to.."
One issue is to integrate different modes of transport: citizens will want to walk, cycle, access public transport, drive personal vehicles or a mixture of all modes in one journey. "Information technology is going to be incredibly important in all of this, in terms of better integrating and connecting physical modes of transport," said Gazibara. "But we're also going to see lots more user-centred ICT [information and communication technology] so it makes it easier for us to access things virtually."
She said there are already cars that have integrated hardware allowing them to communicate with each other and central traffic hubs. By collecting and centralising information of this kind, city authorities could manage traffic information in real time and help speed up people's journeys. And better "telepresence" systems for virtual meetings could remove the need for some journeys altogether.
The trickiest part, though, could be getting citizens themselves to take part. "We have the technological solutions, whether it's alternative drive-trains for vehicles or sophisticated IT – the real challenge will be scaling it in a meaningful way," said Gazibara.
City planning will also be important, she said, creating self-contained neighbourhoods where everything is accessible by walking or cycling.
The report also highlights examples of good practice that are already in use. Vancouver, for example, has recognised that many of its inhabitants will use several modes of transport in one journey, so city planners have widened pedestrian crossings, built more cycle lanes and provided cycle racks on buses.
For the future, Gazibara pointed to innovative car-sharing schemes such as the CityCar concept, developed at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, with "stackable" electric cars lined up near transport hubs. These could be rented out for short journeys within city limits. They could also store power at night, when renewable sources might be generating electricity that would otherwise have to be dumped.
Friends of the Earth transport campaigner Richard Dyer agreed that action was needed now to make cities more sustainable. "Tackling climate change must be at the heart of building a greener, fairer future – and local people must have their say. New technologies will be part of the solution, but rising populations and the urgent need to cut carbon emissions mean that we also need policies that reduce the need to travel, cut car use and make walking and cycling the first choice for short journeys. Alongside green energy and better insulation for our homes, this will make our cities healthier, more pleasant and vibrant places to live – and will create new jobs too."
Gazibara said city authorities needed to start taking the issues more seriously. "[There are] far too many places where cities that are acknowledging climate change as a threat continue to build more roads, continue to provide incentives to more car ownership and more driving. That's something that will fundamentally need
guardian.co.uk © Guardian News and Media Limited 2010
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Nations again try to bridge rich-poor climate gap
29 November, 2010. Associated Press
An aerostatics balloon of the environmental group Greenpeace is seen next to the Mayan ruins of Chichen Itza in Mexico, Sunday, Nov. 28, 2010. - AP
(AP) -- World governments begin another attempt Monday to overcome the disconnect between rich and poor nations on fighting global warming, with evidence mounting that the Earth's climate already is changing in ways that will affect both sides of the wealth divide.
During two weeks of talks, the 193-nation U.N. conference hopes to conclude agreements that will clear the way to mobilize billions of dollars for developing countries and give them green technology to help them shift from fossil fuels affecting climate change.
After a disappointing summit last year in Copenhagen, no hope remains of reaching an overarching deal this year setting legal limits on how much major countries would be allowed to pollute. Such an accord was meant to describe a path toward slashing greenhouse gas emissions by mid-century, when scientists say they should be half of today's levels.
Eighty-five countries have made specific pledges to reduce emissions or constrain their growth, but those promises amount to far less than required to keep temperatures from rising to potentially dangerous levels.
The recriminations that followed the Danish summit have raised questions over whether the unwieldy U.N. negotiations, which require at least tacit agreement from every nation, can ever work.
But Christiana Figueres, the top U.N. climate official, said world capitals are aware of both a growing environmental and political urgency. "Governments need to prove that the intergovernmental process can deliver," she said Sunday.
"They know that they can do it. They know that they need to compromise. I'm not saying it's a done deal. It's still going to be a heavy lift," she said.
About 15,000 negotiators, environmental activists, businessmen and journalists are convening at a resort complex under elaborate security precautions, including naval warships a few hundred yards (meters) offshore in the Gulf of Mexico.
While delegates haggle over the wording, timing and dollar figures involved in any agreement, scientists and political activists at the conference will be offering the latest indications of the planet's warming. Some 250 presentations are planned on the sidelines of the negotiations.
Meteorologists are likely to report that 2010 will end up tied for the hottest year globally since records began 131 years ago.
The U.N. scientific body that won the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize for its climate change report, which called global warming "unequivocal" and almost certainly caused by human activity, is expected to tell the conference its findings and warnings of potential disasters are hopelessly out of date.
Agronomists are due to report on shifting weather patterns that are destabilizing the world's food supply and access to clean water, and that could lead to mass migrations as farmers flee drought or flood-prone regions.
As often during the three-year process, attention will focus on the United States and China, key protagonists representing the industrialized and developing world.
U.S. negotiators may feel further constrained from showing flexibility toward the Chinese after the Republican swing in this month's congressional elections, which brought dozens of new legislators who doubt the seriousness of climate change.
The U.S. has insisted it will agree to binding pollution limits only if China also accepts legal limitations. China, now the world's biggest polluter but also the biggest investor in renewable energy, rejects international limits, saying it still needs to overcome widespread poverty and bears no historic responsibility for the problem.
But Figueres, the Costa Rican diplomat who became head of the U.N. climate secretariat in July, said the public argument may appear more bitter than it really is. At the most recent round of talks last October, "they were working very constructively with each other inside the negotiations," she said.
©2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Mayors sign global pact to tackle urban emissions
By Matthew Knight for CNN
November 22, 2010 -- Updated 1539 GMT (2339 HKT)
World mayors met in Mexico City on Sunday to commit to regular reporting of urban emissions data and mitigation strategies.
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
* World Mayors Summit on Climate commits city leaders to coordinated climate fight
*138 mayors have signed the "Mexico City Pact" to combat urban emissions
* Pact "shows national governments that it's possible to have commitments"
* CNN iReporter interviews Mexico City's secretary for the environment
London, England (CNN) -- Mayors from around the world have signed a voluntary pact committing them to reduce urban greenhouse gas emissions at a climate summit in Mexico City.
The "Mexico City Pact," which was signed at the World Mayors Summit on Climate, has attracted the signatures of 138 mayors from some the world's largest urban areas including Buenos Aires, Johannesburg, Los Angeles, Paris, Vancouver and Jakarta.
Marcelo Ebrard, Mayor of the Mexico City and chair of the World Mayors Council on Climate Change said in a statement: "The world's cities must join together and put their data in the same pot."
With over half the world's population now living in cities, Ebrard says "mayors and urban leaders are on the frontline of the planet's fight against a changing climate."
"Mayors and urban leaders are on the frontline of the planet's fight against a changing climate
--Marcelo Ebrard, Mexico City Mayor
A key component of the pact is the creation of a monitoring and verification mechanism called the "carbonn Cities Climate Registry" (cCCR) which will be operated by Germany's Bonn Center for Local Climate Action and Reporting.
The cCCR is designed to create uniformity in reporting of urban greenhouse gas emissions as well as keep track of local projects which combat climate change. City residents will be able to track how their city is performing and compare the results against other cities around the world.
Elizabeth Gateau, secretary general of United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG) said in a statement: "The cCCR is a platform wherein cities can work together. Cities are ahead of the game of nations and are leading the global process combating climate change. The cCCR will be the official reporting mechanism of this leadership."
Speaking at the Mexico City summit Christiana Figueres, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC), welcomed the new cCCR mechanism saying it would "facilitate transparency and accountability of local climate actions and help local governments to demonstrate leadership in climate action."
She added that subjecting cities to open and independent reviews is a "critical step for monitoring and evaluating the implementation of emission reductions over long-term lines."
Five "pioneer" cities, including Mexico City and Cape Town, South Africa, have already begun reporting some of key actions, commitments and performances. Sample reports can be viewed here.
The summit, convened by the World Mayors Council on Climate Change, ICLEI (Local Governments for Sustainability) and UCLG, took place just days before U.N. climate talks get underway in Cancun, Mexico.
On the eve of the mayors summit CNN iReporter Percy von Lipinski interviewed Martha Delgado, Mexico City's secretary for the environment.
"Last year in Copenhagen we realized that cities have a lot of opportunities and a lot of political will to fight against climate change. The Mayor of Mexico, as chairman of the World Mayors Council, asked his colleagues how to fight climate change and they decided to organize the World Mayor Climate Summit," Delgado told von Lipinski.
"Everyone is very excited to participate in this summit because they think that they are going to show national governments that it is possible to have commitments," Delgado said.
Cities have a great capacity to address climate change, despite the absence of a legally binding global treaty between nations, Delgado says. By convening the Mexico City summit mayors from all over the world are demonstrating leadership and their commitment to lowering emissions.
November 22, 2010 -- Updated 1539 GMT (2339 HKT)
World mayors met in Mexico City on Sunday to commit to regular reporting of urban emissions data and mitigation strategies.
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
* World Mayors Summit on Climate commits city leaders to coordinated climate fight
*138 mayors have signed the "Mexico City Pact" to combat urban emissions
* Pact "shows national governments that it's possible to have commitments"
* CNN iReporter interviews Mexico City's secretary for the environment
London, England (CNN) -- Mayors from around the world have signed a voluntary pact committing them to reduce urban greenhouse gas emissions at a climate summit in Mexico City.
The "Mexico City Pact," which was signed at the World Mayors Summit on Climate, has attracted the signatures of 138 mayors from some the world's largest urban areas including Buenos Aires, Johannesburg, Los Angeles, Paris, Vancouver and Jakarta.
Marcelo Ebrard, Mayor of the Mexico City and chair of the World Mayors Council on Climate Change said in a statement: "The world's cities must join together and put their data in the same pot."
With over half the world's population now living in cities, Ebrard says "mayors and urban leaders are on the frontline of the planet's fight against a changing climate."
"Mayors and urban leaders are on the frontline of the planet's fight against a changing climate
--Marcelo Ebrard, Mexico City Mayor
A key component of the pact is the creation of a monitoring and verification mechanism called the "carbonn Cities Climate Registry" (cCCR) which will be operated by Germany's Bonn Center for Local Climate Action and Reporting.
The cCCR is designed to create uniformity in reporting of urban greenhouse gas emissions as well as keep track of local projects which combat climate change. City residents will be able to track how their city is performing and compare the results against other cities around the world.
Elizabeth Gateau, secretary general of United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG) said in a statement: "The cCCR is a platform wherein cities can work together. Cities are ahead of the game of nations and are leading the global process combating climate change. The cCCR will be the official reporting mechanism of this leadership."
Speaking at the Mexico City summit Christiana Figueres, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC), welcomed the new cCCR mechanism saying it would "facilitate transparency and accountability of local climate actions and help local governments to demonstrate leadership in climate action."
She added that subjecting cities to open and independent reviews is a "critical step for monitoring and evaluating the implementation of emission reductions over long-term lines."
Five "pioneer" cities, including Mexico City and Cape Town, South Africa, have already begun reporting some of key actions, commitments and performances. Sample reports can be viewed here.
The summit, convened by the World Mayors Council on Climate Change, ICLEI (Local Governments for Sustainability) and UCLG, took place just days before U.N. climate talks get underway in Cancun, Mexico.
On the eve of the mayors summit CNN iReporter Percy von Lipinski interviewed Martha Delgado, Mexico City's secretary for the environment.
"Last year in Copenhagen we realized that cities have a lot of opportunities and a lot of political will to fight against climate change. The Mayor of Mexico, as chairman of the World Mayors Council, asked his colleagues how to fight climate change and they decided to organize the World Mayor Climate Summit," Delgado told von Lipinski.
"Everyone is very excited to participate in this summit because they think that they are going to show national governments that it is possible to have commitments," Delgado said.
Cities have a great capacity to address climate change, despite the absence of a legally binding global treaty between nations, Delgado says. By convening the Mexico City summit mayors from all over the world are demonstrating leadership and their commitment to lowering emissions.
Monday, November 22, 2010
Latinos, Asians more worried about environment than whites, poll finds
The survey examined attitudes on such issues as global warming, air pollution and tainted soil and water.
By Louis Sahagun, Los Angeles Times
November 20, 2010
California's Latino and Asian voters are significantly more concerned about core environmental issues, including global warming, air pollution and contamination of soil and water, than white voters, according to the latest Los Angeles Times/USC poll.
For example, 50% of Latinos and 46% of Asians who responded to the poll said they personally worry a great deal about global warming, compared with 27% of whites. Two-thirds of Latinos and 51% of Asians polled said they worry a great deal about air pollution, compared with 31% of whites.
FOR THE RECORD:
Times/USC poll: An article in the Nov. 20 LATExtra section about a Los Angeles Times/USC poll of Latino and Asian voters' views on environmental issues identified the Southern California director of the California League of Conservation Voters as David Smallwood. His name is David Allgood. —
Similarly, 85% of Latinos and 79% of Asians said they worry a great or a fair amount about contamination of soil and water by toxic waste, compared with 71% of whites.
The poll surveyed 1,689 adults by telephone. It has a margin of error of plus or minus 2.4 percentage points.
"Latinos and Asians are far more likely to be registered as Democrats than whites, and Democrats hold these views more closely," said Peyton Craighill, who supervised the poll.
Beyond that, their feelings reflect a fact of life in California: "Environmental hazards are a part of the everyday lives of Asian American and Latino voters who are disproportionately represented in locations with high levels of pollution and contaminants," said Jane Junn, a professor of political science at USC and research director of the poll.
"While these results may at first seem surprising, this survey by the L.A. Times and USC College of Letters, Arts & Sciences allowed voters to answer questions in their native languages — Spanish, Mandarin, Cantonese, Tagalog, Vietnamese and Korean," she added. "And a large number of Asian American and Latino voters were interviewed in order to increase the reliability of the findings."
California has one of the nation's largest concentrations of minorities living near hazardous chemical wastes and air pollution produced by refineries, port operations, freeway traffic and railroads. An analysis of census data by researchers at four universities for the United Church of Christ showed that 1.2 million people in the greater Los Angeles area, 91% of them minorities, live less than two miles from facilities handling hazardous materials such as chrome-plating businesses and battery recycling centers.
Latinos make up 37% of the state's population, Asians are 12.5%, whites are 41.5% and African Americans are 5.8%, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. African Americans were included in the survey, but the number of people questioned was too low to analyze reliably.
The survey's findings are no surprise to environmental organizations, including the Sierra Club, the Audubon Society, the Wilderness Society and the California League of Conservation Voters. The groups' own surveys have shown that Latinos and Asians — two of the fastest-growing ethnic groups in the state — share serious concerns about the environment.
These organizations have historically relied mostly on white constituencies for donations and influence in crafting and promoting legislation aimed at protecting the environment and cleaning up pollution.
Now they are aggressively reaching out to ethnically diverse communities to gain financial support and inspire a new generation of environmental stewards. Because these communities are more directly affected by pollution, the strategy makes sense, the groups say.
"We spend the vast majority of our resources in districts that are dominated by, or have substantial, Latino and Asian populations," said David Smallwood, Southern California director of the California League of Conservation Voters. "Their concerns will help us build broader support for aggressively dealing with global warming."
Dan Taylor, director of public policy for California Audubon, agreed.
"The poll's findings are a clear expression of the direct threat environmental carelessness presents to the health of these families and their communities," he said. "If we are going to get anywhere with an environmental or wildlife-focused agenda we have to partner with the Latino leadership in the Legislature, or we're not going to win. It's that simple."
State Assemblyman Tony Mendoza (D-Artesia) suggested that Latinos and Asians are also concerned about environmental issues because "they either came from countries such as Mexico or China where there are serious pollution issues, or they have relatives who did. They don't want neighborhoods in our country to be like the ones they left back home."
Poll respondents who agreed in advance to be interviewed generally supported Mendoza's basic argument.
"It's getting bad out there when it comes to pollution, global warming and clean water," said Elizabeth Olivares, 24, of Stockton. "We are destroying our world little by little. I have a little brother and two nephews and worry about their future."
About 69% of Latino voters and 49% of Asian voters polled said they personally worry a great deal about having enough water to meet future needs, compared with 40% of white voters, the poll found.
Jason Padilla, 26, of Riverside said he was certain that minorities would become increasingly engaged in environmental issues.
"We're stepping up and saying, 'Hey, we live, hike, camp, fish and play here too,' " Padilla said. "We're getting involved to help make changes that are morally and ethically right and benefit everybody."
louis.sahagun@latimes.com
Copyright © 2010, Los Angeles Times
By Louis Sahagun, Los Angeles Times
November 20, 2010
California's Latino and Asian voters are significantly more concerned about core environmental issues, including global warming, air pollution and contamination of soil and water, than white voters, according to the latest Los Angeles Times/USC poll.
For example, 50% of Latinos and 46% of Asians who responded to the poll said they personally worry a great deal about global warming, compared with 27% of whites. Two-thirds of Latinos and 51% of Asians polled said they worry a great deal about air pollution, compared with 31% of whites.
FOR THE RECORD:
Times/USC poll: An article in the Nov. 20 LATExtra section about a Los Angeles Times/USC poll of Latino and Asian voters' views on environmental issues identified the Southern California director of the California League of Conservation Voters as David Smallwood. His name is David Allgood. —
Similarly, 85% of Latinos and 79% of Asians said they worry a great or a fair amount about contamination of soil and water by toxic waste, compared with 71% of whites.
The poll surveyed 1,689 adults by telephone. It has a margin of error of plus or minus 2.4 percentage points.
"Latinos and Asians are far more likely to be registered as Democrats than whites, and Democrats hold these views more closely," said Peyton Craighill, who supervised the poll.
Beyond that, their feelings reflect a fact of life in California: "Environmental hazards are a part of the everyday lives of Asian American and Latino voters who are disproportionately represented in locations with high levels of pollution and contaminants," said Jane Junn, a professor of political science at USC and research director of the poll.
"While these results may at first seem surprising, this survey by the L.A. Times and USC College of Letters, Arts & Sciences allowed voters to answer questions in their native languages — Spanish, Mandarin, Cantonese, Tagalog, Vietnamese and Korean," she added. "And a large number of Asian American and Latino voters were interviewed in order to increase the reliability of the findings."
California has one of the nation's largest concentrations of minorities living near hazardous chemical wastes and air pollution produced by refineries, port operations, freeway traffic and railroads. An analysis of census data by researchers at four universities for the United Church of Christ showed that 1.2 million people in the greater Los Angeles area, 91% of them minorities, live less than two miles from facilities handling hazardous materials such as chrome-plating businesses and battery recycling centers.
Latinos make up 37% of the state's population, Asians are 12.5%, whites are 41.5% and African Americans are 5.8%, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. African Americans were included in the survey, but the number of people questioned was too low to analyze reliably.
The survey's findings are no surprise to environmental organizations, including the Sierra Club, the Audubon Society, the Wilderness Society and the California League of Conservation Voters. The groups' own surveys have shown that Latinos and Asians — two of the fastest-growing ethnic groups in the state — share serious concerns about the environment.
These organizations have historically relied mostly on white constituencies for donations and influence in crafting and promoting legislation aimed at protecting the environment and cleaning up pollution.
Now they are aggressively reaching out to ethnically diverse communities to gain financial support and inspire a new generation of environmental stewards. Because these communities are more directly affected by pollution, the strategy makes sense, the groups say.
"We spend the vast majority of our resources in districts that are dominated by, or have substantial, Latino and Asian populations," said David Smallwood, Southern California director of the California League of Conservation Voters. "Their concerns will help us build broader support for aggressively dealing with global warming."
Dan Taylor, director of public policy for California Audubon, agreed.
"The poll's findings are a clear expression of the direct threat environmental carelessness presents to the health of these families and their communities," he said. "If we are going to get anywhere with an environmental or wildlife-focused agenda we have to partner with the Latino leadership in the Legislature, or we're not going to win. It's that simple."
State Assemblyman Tony Mendoza (D-Artesia) suggested that Latinos and Asians are also concerned about environmental issues because "they either came from countries such as Mexico or China where there are serious pollution issues, or they have relatives who did. They don't want neighborhoods in our country to be like the ones they left back home."
Poll respondents who agreed in advance to be interviewed generally supported Mendoza's basic argument.
"It's getting bad out there when it comes to pollution, global warming and clean water," said Elizabeth Olivares, 24, of Stockton. "We are destroying our world little by little. I have a little brother and two nephews and worry about their future."
About 69% of Latino voters and 49% of Asian voters polled said they personally worry a great deal about having enough water to meet future needs, compared with 40% of white voters, the poll found.
Jason Padilla, 26, of Riverside said he was certain that minorities would become increasingly engaged in environmental issues.
"We're stepping up and saying, 'Hey, we live, hike, camp, fish and play here too,' " Padilla said. "We're getting involved to help make changes that are morally and ethically right and benefit everybody."
louis.sahagun@latimes.com
Copyright © 2010, Los Angeles Times
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
RON 97 price hike hits high-end users
The Star Online
November 3, 2010
PETALING JAYA: The five-sen hike of RON 97 petrol to RM2.15 per litre from yesterday has mostly affected a small group of luxury car owners and those who favour its performance capabilities compared to the more affordable RON 95 which is still sold at RM1.85 per litre.
Animation designer Joey Khor, 32, who drives a 3.5-litre Nissan Fairlady sports car, said he might have to sell his car if the petrol cost becomes too hard to bear.
“I am already spending RM150 for a full tank, which will last me around three to four days. That means RM300 in a week, and RM1,200 spent on petrol in a month,” he added.
Car mechanic Novie Ismail, 34, said he spends about RM400 a month on petrol for his three cars: Volvo 24 SE, Proton Satria and Charade Aura.
“I’ll just have to bear with the RON 97 price hike as I feel that RON 95 affects the performance of my cars. The engines sound rougher and generate less power,” he said.
Meanwhile, Petrol Dealers Association Malaysia president Datuk Hashim Othman said the price increase was a natural consequence of rising oil prices in the international market.
He estimated that about 75% to 80% of motorists were RON 95 users and would thus remain unaffected.
“Don’t be too upset by the controlled float (of RON 97), as the Government plays an important role in ensuring that the oil companies do not hike petrol prices drastically,” said Hashim, pointing out that RON 97 sells for around RM3.80 per litre in Thailand.
“The public should be aware that the Government does not impose any tax on the sale of RON 97 but does not subsidise it either,” he said.
The previous petrol price hike, which took effect on July 16, was part of the Government’s effort to save an estimated RM750 million a year.
Deputy Domestic Trade, Co-operatives and Consumerism Minister Datuk Rohani Abdul Karim told the Dewan Rakyat that the price increase reflected the global price increase of fuel and announcements would not be made in the future about price changes.
She added that a committee comprising officials from the Finance Ministry and her ministry would monitor and determine the price since RON 97 was subjected to a managed float.
November 3, 2010
PETALING JAYA: The five-sen hike of RON 97 petrol to RM2.15 per litre from yesterday has mostly affected a small group of luxury car owners and those who favour its performance capabilities compared to the more affordable RON 95 which is still sold at RM1.85 per litre.
Animation designer Joey Khor, 32, who drives a 3.5-litre Nissan Fairlady sports car, said he might have to sell his car if the petrol cost becomes too hard to bear.
“I am already spending RM150 for a full tank, which will last me around three to four days. That means RM300 in a week, and RM1,200 spent on petrol in a month,” he added.
Car mechanic Novie Ismail, 34, said he spends about RM400 a month on petrol for his three cars: Volvo 24 SE, Proton Satria and Charade Aura.
“I’ll just have to bear with the RON 97 price hike as I feel that RON 95 affects the performance of my cars. The engines sound rougher and generate less power,” he said.
Meanwhile, Petrol Dealers Association Malaysia president Datuk Hashim Othman said the price increase was a natural consequence of rising oil prices in the international market.
He estimated that about 75% to 80% of motorists were RON 95 users and would thus remain unaffected.
“Don’t be too upset by the controlled float (of RON 97), as the Government plays an important role in ensuring that the oil companies do not hike petrol prices drastically,” said Hashim, pointing out that RON 97 sells for around RM3.80 per litre in Thailand.
“The public should be aware that the Government does not impose any tax on the sale of RON 97 but does not subsidise it either,” he said.
The previous petrol price hike, which took effect on July 16, was part of the Government’s effort to save an estimated RM750 million a year.
Deputy Domestic Trade, Co-operatives and Consumerism Minister Datuk Rohani Abdul Karim told the Dewan Rakyat that the price increase reflected the global price increase of fuel and announcements would not be made in the future about price changes.
She added that a committee comprising officials from the Finance Ministry and her ministry would monitor and determine the price since RON 97 was subjected to a managed float.
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