Listen to the Ocean

Though divided on many issues, the National Unity Government is to stay together at least till 2020, largely for the survival of the two major parties though there will also be benefits for the common good of the people.

Thankfully the UNP and the SLFP have no disputes on one major issue — the restrictions on the use of plastics, silli silli bags and polythene lunch sheets, though some polythene producers protested this week. Over the weekend, media reports said that from more than 50,000 multi-day trawlers fisher-folk are known to be dumping into the ocean tens of thousands of plastic water bottles. They probably are not aware of the calamity they are causing.

The Fisheries Ministry needs to educate them on global warming issues and also help find alternative means for them to carry drinking water. On this issue the Government also needs to educate schoolchildren and other sections of society. These programmes could be conducted in schools and at peak time on State television, cutting down on tele-dramas which are popular and profitable though they have little more than entertainment or gossip value.

The devastating magnitude of the global warming catastrophe was again spotlighted last week.

Scientists first discovered a soup-like rubbish patch of plastic floating between Hawaii and California in the 1980s. But decades on it appears that the Great Pacific Garbage Patch might not be the only one. According to reports, scientists have found yet another collection of marine debris and they say it is about the same size as Mexico.

Nestled between Chile and Easter Island in the South Pacific, the new patch is a collection of small plastic fragments that are tricky to spot with the naked eye. It comes as seafood lovers were warned that they ate 11,000 pieces of toxic plastic every year.

The South Pacific patch was uncovered by a team of researchers and volunteers led by Captain Charles Moore during a six-month voyage aboard the ORV Alguita ship. “We discovered tremendous quantities of plastic,” Capt Moore told Research Gate. “My initial impression is that our samples compare to what we were seeing in the North Pacific in 2007, so it’s about ten years behind,” Capt. Moore said.

Capt. Moore, who has spent years raising awareness of plastic pollution since he saw the North Pacific patch while captaining a racing yacht in the 1990s, believes the patch could be more than 380,000 square miles. Patches like this form around rotating ocean currents which are called gyres. The term “patch” referring to the plastic pollution in oceanic gyres can be misleading. The pieces of plastic are not necessarily floating bottles, bags, and buoys, but tiny pieces of plastic resembling confetti, making them almost impossible to clean up. These microplastic particles may not be visible floating on the surface, but in this case, they were detected after collecting water samples on Capt. Moore’s recent six-month expedition to the remote area that had only been explored for plastic once before.

Henderson Island, located in this South Pacific region, was recently crowned the most plastic-polluted island on Earth, as researchers discovered it was covered in roughly 38 million pieces of trash.

The problem of plastic pollution is becoming ubiquitous in the oceans, with 90 per cent of sea birds consuming it and more than eight million tons of new plastic trash finding its way into the oceans every year.

With such a calamity facing us, the Sri Lanka Government needs to take top measures to prevent pollution of the ocean around us. If we destroy the oceans, we will be destroying ourselves. Recently the Government took major steps to convert garbage or solid waste into electricity. Some contractors are using 5-litre plastic bottles filled with silli silli bags as part of their building foundation along with cement and sand. Similar creative, innovative and imaginative measures need to be reflected on, not only experts but also by families, to stop or reverse the dangerous trend towards global warming.

http://www.dailymirror.lk/article/Listen-to-the-Ocean-135285.html

UNDP predicts ‘Fully Green’ Sri Lanka by 2050

A report has been issued by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) forecasting a 100 percent green energy future for Sri Lanka by 2050.

According to Power Engineering International (PEI), the financial analyst has predicted that the country’s electricity generation capacity will increase from 3.7 GW to 34 GW over the coming decades. Accordingly, it is expected 15 GW is to be generated by wind energy harnessing power plants, 16 GW by solar power plants and the remainder will be generated from hydro-electricity and biomass plants paving the way for a ‘fully green’ Sri Lanka by 2050.

Researches of the UNDP have encouraged this initiative to reduce Sri Lanka’s reliance on fossil fuels. According to PEI the transition from fossil fuels to clean energy generation will reduce the country’s fuel import cost by approximately 18 billion USD.

Sri Lanka boldly pledged to strive towards clean energy when the nation adopted the ambitious voluntary goal at the UN climate change conference in Marrakesh in 2016 after becoming a signatory to the Paris Agreement along with 42 other countries.

The Director of ADB’s South Asia Energy Division Priyantha Wijayatunga stated that ADB would continue to enhance Sri Lanka’s transition to Green energy. He stated that proposals of a rooftop solar programme and large scale wind power projects illustrate the commit shown by ADB towards Sri Lanka. It was further stated that the report formulated is a shining global example on how to decentralize the governance of clean energy services.

Source – 22/08/2017, Ada Derana, See more at – http://www.adaderana.lk/news/42635/undp-predicts-fully-green-sri-lanka-by-2050-

Fire at Batticaloa garbage dump doused

The fire that erupted at the Thirupparenthurai garbage dump in Batticlaoa has already been brought under control.

A fire erupted early this morning at the Thirupparenthurai garbage dump. Our correspondent reported that as result a chaotic situation surfaced among the people of the area.

It is reported that the fire has been doused by the Batticaloa Municipal Council Fire Brigade Unit.

Source – 22/2017.ITN, See more at – https://www.itnnews.lk/local-news/fire-at-batticaloa-garbage-dump-doused/

Sri Lanka to meet its current and future electricity demand by use of renewable energy by 2050

Sri Lanka would be able to meet its current and future electricity demand by use of renewable energy by 2050, according to a joint study by the UN Development Programme and Asian Development Bank, the Public Finance Report International reported.

The report, titled Assessment of Sri Lanka’s Power Sector—100 percent Electricity Generation through Renewable Energy by 2050, noted that by then Sri Lanka’s installed electricity generation capacity needs would increase from the current 3,700mw to about 34,000mw.

Of this, 15,000mw would be wind energy and about 16,000mw solar. The remainder is expected to be met from hydroelectric and biomass power plants.

The study also identified a need to ensure stability of the electricity grid by introducing electricity storage capable of the instantaneous provision of 3,600mw and energy storage capacity of 15,000mw hours.

A long-term switch from fossil to renewable fuels would reduce Sri Lanka’s fuel import bill by about $18bn cumulatively but found the country would need investment of $50bn.

Priyantha Wijayatunga, director in the ADB’s South Asia energy division, said: “ADB has expressed its continuous support to low-carbon development of Sri Lanka.

“Recent proposals including a rooftop solar programme and a large-scale wind power project demonstrate ADB’s commitment in this regard. This assessment report can serve as a comprehensive example for future utilities globally on how decentralised clean energy services can be governed.”

Source – 22/08/2017, Tomes Online, See more at – http://www.sundaytimes.lk/article/1029967/sri-lanka-to-meet-its-current-and-future-electricity-demand-by-use-of-renewable-energy-by-2050

Cost of natural disasters and climate change taking a heavy toll on Sri Lanka

This year, yet again, flooding caused by heavy monsoon rains came and receded. Meanwhile, this year alone, more than one million people have been hard hit by the worst drought in 40 years.

The following report was first published on the World Bank Blog
 
The media, with few exceptions, have moved on to other topics and a sense of calm pervades. 
 
We are in the eye of the storm — that misleading lull before mother nature unleashes her fury once again. 
 
In Sri Lanka alone, costs from natural disasters, losses from damage to housing, infrastructure, agriculture, and from relief are estimated at LKR 50 billion (approx. USD 327 million).  The highest annual expected losses are from floods (LKR 32 billion), cyclones or high winds (LKR 11 billion), droughts (LKR 5.2 billion) and landslides (LKR 1.8 billion). This is equivalent to 0.4 percent of GDP or 2.1 percent of government expenditure. (#SLDU2017). Floods and landslides in May 2016 caused damages amounting to US$572 million.   
 
These numbers do not paint the full picture of impact for those most affected, who lost loved ones, irreplaceable belongings, or livestock and more so for those who are back to square one on the socio-economic ladder.
 
Even more alarming, these numbers are likely to rise as droughts and floods triggered by climate change will become more frequent and severe. And the brief respite in between will only get shorter, leaving less time to prepare for the hard days to come.
 
Therefore, better planning is even more necessary. Sri Lanka, like many other countries has started to invest in data that highlights areas at risk, and early warning systems to ensure that people move to safer locations with speed and effect.
 
Experience demonstrates that the eye of the storm is the time to look to the future, ready up citizens and institutions in case of extreme weather.
 
Now is the time to double down on preparing national plans to respond to disasters and build resilience. 

It’s the time to test our systems and get all citizens familiar with emergency drills. But, more importantly, we need to build back better and stronger.  In drought-affected areas, we can’t wait for the rains and revert to the same old farming practices. It’s time to innovate and stock up on critical supplies and be prepared when a disaster hits.
 
It’s the time to plan for better shelters that are safe and where people can store their hard-earned possessions.
 
Mobilizing and empowering communities is essential. But to do this, we must know who is vulnerable – and whether they should stay or move.  Saving lives is first priority, no doubt. Second, we should also have the necessary systems and equipment to respond with speed and effect in times of disasters. Third, a plan must be in place to help affected families without much delay.
 
Fortunately, many ongoing initiatives aim to do just that.

Modeling of river basins under the Climate Resilience Improvement Project (CRIP) will help us better understand water flows; improved information access and analysis by the Department of Meteorology aim to provide 2-3 days warning before a weather-related disaster strikes; NGOs, government and development partners are beefing up their outreach efforts to help alert and prepare communities; and building back better after a disaster is leading to sturdier and more resilient infrastructure. 
 
But more is needed. Investments required over the next 5-10 years for risk mitigation will amount to several billions of dollars. The country needs to keep a close watch on the impact of disasters on its finances and budget. It needs to strike a fair balance between budget support needed for disaster management programs and budget reserves which can be accessed with speed and effect in times of disasters. It also needs to build in insurance mechanisms. A long-term approach is needed while being prepared for short term impacts.
 
So, when you are in the eye of the storm, it’s time to prepare!

Source – 22/08/2017, Times Online, See more at – http://www.sundaytimes.lk/article/1030020/costs-from-natural-disasters-and-climate-change-taking-a-heavy-toll-on-sri-lanka

Dry rations for drought affected in A’pura District

‘Hakka patas’ Animal rights and related matters

by Dr Rohan H Wickramasinghe

Some days ago, I received an article on elephant conservation by Jeremy Hance in The Guardian of August 12th. Much of the piece concerned the ‘Elephant Sanctuary’ in Tennessee, USA, which was established over 20 years ago on 200 acres and now covers 2700 acres. It presently hosts 10 elephants and sightseers, parties and casual visitors are unwelcome and not admitted.

The staff is very experienced in the various aspects of the management of the sanctuary. They are, also, devoted to their charges. One such is Otto Fad, Animal Behaviour and Research Specialist (see below), who notes that ‘elephants have deep psychological needs’.

The article on ‘Elephant Conservation’ was published in support of 2017’s ‘World Elephant Day’ (WED2017). This was co-founded on the 12th August 2012 by the Canadian film director, Patricia Sims and the ‘Elephant Re-introduction Foundation of Thailand’, which was founded in 1996 on the initiative of Queen Sirikit. (The latter Foundation was set up to attempt to re-introduce some of the approximately 2800 ‘domesticated’ elephants in Thailand to the wild.) Patricia Sims was the director of the documentary ‘When Elephants were Young’, which was narrated by ‘Star Trek’ actor, William Shatner. ‘World Elephant Day’ is managed by the ‘World Elephant Society’.

The populations of elephants in the wild have been diminishing significantly in recent years. This is primarily due to poaching for ivory and, also, to human/elephant conflict in areas of increasing human activity. Some estimate that the numbers of African elephants (i.e. Bush Elephants and Forest Elephants) in the wild today approximate 400,000 and those of Asian elephants are 40,000. Others view these figures as grossly exaggerated. Be that as it may, it is indisputable that the numbers are declining.

The concept of doing something for elephants has been spreading rapidly in recent years. Animal rights groups, such as PETA (People for Ethical Treatment of Animals), have been working on different fronts to improve the ways in which people treat these and other animals. This includes the way animals are treated in some zoos and, especially, circuses.

The three decades-long battle the animals’ rights groups had with the Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus is a case in point. The Bailey Circus was launched in about 1806 by Hachaliah Bailey and was probably the first in the US. It included an African elephant, a trained dog, a horse, some pigs and a wagon. After ups-and-downs and a merger, a revitalized circus began as ‘P. T. Barnum’s Great Travelling Museum, Menagerie, Caravan and Hippodrome’ in 1871. The circus developed over the years and came to be billed as ‘The Greatest Show on Earth’. Animal rights groups, including PETA, however, took up in court battles the cause of what they claimed was ill treatment of animals, which included elephants, lions, tigers and kangaroos. Eventually the circus withdrew on 1 May 2016 the 11 Asian elephants they had performing with the circus and sent them to join the approximately 31 others they had in their 200-acre Center for Elephant Conservation in Florida. This was the largest herd of Asian elephants in North America. This move was followed on Sunday 21 May 2017 with the complete closing down of the circus after a history of 146 years due to lack of income to meet expenses. The success of the animal rights organizations in this matter is attributable to the public pressure which had been created.

The foregoing brief account of the history and fate of the Ringling Circus demonstrates the growing concern for the way animals are treated. This includes the way livestock is treated and is not confined to the Western and developed worlds. The urge to do something for elephants is growing in recent years and ‘World Elephant Day’ is now observed in numerous countries, including, for example, Australia, Canada, India, Nepal, South Africa, Tanzania, Thailand, UK and USA. As regards organizations involved in activities and events in relation to ‘World Elephant Day’, the 24 listed in Wikipedia are only a few of the many. Activities related to marking ‘World Elephant Day’ included, for instance, a march in Washington, D.C. and the Wildlife Conservation Society arranging for the ringing of the closing bell at the Nasdaq Market Site in Times Square, New York City. The Wildlife Conservation Society also joined with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation in crushing almost two tons of ivory (value: 8 million USD) in a symbolic start to WED2017.

As regards ‘World Elephant Day’-related matters in Sri Lanka, the only event brought to my attention was the launch of a book on ‘elephants’. However, The Island newspaper on Monday the 14th August did carry an elephant-related news item titled ‘Hakka patas injures jumbo calf seriously’. This noted that a young elephant wounded by a ‘hakka patas’ had been found in the Hambantota Port premises. It was noted that the mouth of the elephant is seriously injured. The animal also bears a gunshot wound on its head and it has also lost part of its trunk due to a previous injury. The photograph accompanying the article gives clear evidence that the report does not exaggerate the suffering of the animal.

It is appropriate here to return to the observations of Otto Fad of the Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee. He notes that ‘Welfare is a concept that can be applied to any animal in any situation…….. Does anyone think that a starving elephant who has just had her lower jaw blown off by a hakka pata (a makeshift explosive inserted in fruits and vegetables to injure or kill any animal raiding fields) takes comfort in her ‘wild’ status ?’ It is noteworthy that this observation does not explain that ‘hakka patas’ is a word used in Sri Lanka. In other words, to many if not most elephant lovers worldwide an explanation is already unnecessary that it is in Sri Lanka that this abominably cruel contraption is used.

The excuse will no doubt be advanced that the ‘hakka patas’ (incidentally, a most cynical term which is translated as ‘bang goes the lower jaw’) is used to protect the crops of the farmer. While the writer does not profess to be an authority in the area of protecting crops from elephants, he does not accept that a solution cannot be found, which is more humane than the use of a ‘hakka patas’. The Sri Lanka Wildlife Conservation Society (SLWCS), which has been established since 2002, is working actively in the area of human-elephant conflict, which it estimates has an economic cost of 10 million USD per year in Sri Lanka. Its field work by local and foreign volunteers is conducted around Wasgamuwa National Park.

Fire crackers have traditionally been employed to scare elephants away from crops and human habitations (particularly when paddy is stored after the harvest). However, this technique is less effective after frequent use. The SLWCS also makes use of solar-powered electric fences. A more recent approach introduced by the SLWCS is the use of bee hives in the path of routes taken by elephants. This has been found in African countries to have a useful deterrent effect. However, this is not universally applicable, since bee colonies may abandon their hives during unfavourable conditions. Again, excessive dependence on bee colonies to deter problems with elephants is inadvisable as honey bees are on the decline in many parts of the world due to problems with pollution and disease. (The pollution problems may include disorientation due to the use of radios, TVs and cell phones.) The SLWCS is also experimenting with planting fences of citrus (i.e. orange and lime trees) to deter elephants as well as to provide additional sources of income to villagers. A further novel approach being tried out by the PAMS Foundation (co-founded by the late Wayne Lotter) is ‘Chillie Pepper Fences’ on the outskirts of Ruanda National Park in southern Tanzania to protect crops during the growing season.

The argument that ‘hakka patas’ is used to protect crops and habitations from elephants ignores the fact that the ‘hakka patas’ is also used to procure the meat of the wild boar. This is often offered in a quiet voice by bungalow keepers managing circuit bungalows etc in relevant regions. (As regards consuming the flesh of elephants, Siran Deraniyagala in his authoritative ‘The Prehistory of Sri Lanka’ (1992) notes that there is no firm evidence that the Veddahs hunted elephants for food. This was probably linked to a taboo among the Veddahs. )

Locations in Sri Lanka where elephants may be observed are the Wildlife Parks, Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage, Dehiwela Zoological Gardens and the various Peraheras. Some elephants are privately kept. Reams have been written on elephants in these locations and it is not the purpose of this article to enter into these discussions, which are freely available for reference by those interested.

The purpose of this article is to focus attention on the outright cruelty practiced in our treatment of our wildlife and other animals on occasion. The packed conditions under which cattle are sometimes transported when some of the animals die of suffocation before arrival at their destination and the indiscriminate killing of friendly street dogs are other scandals which need to be addressed effectively. The use of ‘hakka patas’ in Sri Lanka to kill wildlife is evidently becoming widely known internationally. It is fortunate that the recent incident where a live eagle was reportedly skinned in the presence of others in order to satisfy the sadistic instincts of a few did not receive wider coverage in international circles.

We are already having to defend ourselves internationally against charges of being abusers of human rights. If we don’t take effective action against the practice of employing ‘hakka patas’, wildlife organizations around the world will enter into the picture sooner rather than later and, in the first instance, urge their nationals to avoid tourism to Sri Lanka until we set our house in order. Schools, religious bodies and law enforcement agencies could help. The Ringling Circus matter provides ample evidence that once the international animal rights organizations around the world get their teeth into an issue they do not give up. In the matter of taking effective action against the continuing use of ‘hakka patas’ I would be in sympathy with them.

Source – 21/08/2017,The Island, See more at – http://www.island.lk/index.php?page_cat=article-details&page=article-details&code_title=170358

Wildlife officers to be armed

Sustainable Development and Wildlife Minister Gamini Jayawickrema Perera wants Wildlife Conservation Department’s field officers to be issued with weapons, like in the case of Police officers. At present such officers are issued with weapons only if they possess a Watcher’s permit to use firearms.

Watcher’s permits are issued, particularly to those employed in estates, to use firearms (shotguns) whilst the weapon is issued in the name of the owner.

Source – 21/08/2017, Times Online, See more at – http://www.sundaytimes.lk/article/1029932/wildlife-officers-to-be-armed

Rs.10,000 fine, two-year jail term if found using polythene

A 10,000-rupee fine and a two-year term of imprisonment will be imposed if found guilty of using polythene and plastic when the ban becomes legally effective from September, the Central Environmental Authority (CEA) said. It said the production, sale and use of polythene of less than 20 microns would be banned from September 1.

The CEA requested people to use biodegradable and environmental friendly material.

Source – 22/08/2017,DailyMirror, See more at – http://www.dailymirror.lk/article/Rs-fine-two-year-jail-term-if-found-using-polythene-135141.html

Making a killing with poisoned food

The ongoing drought conditions affecting many parts of the country is taking a deadly toll of animals and inland fish.

Wildlife officials from drought-stricken areas reported hunters had taken to poisoning natural waterholes where animals and birds regularly quench their thirst at Suriyawewa, Weliwewa and in 14 tanks found in Hambantota. This has already led to the death of a deer and seven goats in the vicinity of the waterholes.Unfortunately actions of unscrupulous persons attempting to make a fast buck via this sad situation are posing much danger to both man and beast.

What is worse is the flesh is being sold to villagers, despite the health risks involved.

Last week at the Kalawewa tank in Anuradhapura a haul of dead fish was discovered. The reason behind their death still remains a mystery and a foul odour prevailed in the area as a result of the putrefying fish.

However villagers are reportedly collecting the dead fish floating on the surface, for consumption. The product is also sold in the open market, despite the health risks.