June Editorial
Wednesday, 20 May 2009 00:00
If in last month’s issue of AsiaLIFE Guide we came out, this month we have most definitely gone to ground. Gone have the sequins and mascara to be replaced by solar panels and biogas. Green is the new Pink.
Jun. 5 is World Environment Day. To mark this event the first week of the month is Environment Week. A series of events around town aims to increase awareness of issues that affect all of us living in the Penh. The end of the month will see a carbon-trading workshop, organised by French NGO Geres. Climate change has received much attention in the press over recent years. Cambodia is a country highly vulnerable to climate change according to many observers, including the prime minister. Certain parts of the country are susceptible to drought and others to flood, according to the catchy “National Adaptation Program of Action to Climate Change.” While drought threatens rice production, flood increases the prevalence of water-borne diseases such as malaria.
So what is Cambodia doing to combat climate change?
In our cover story, Johan Smits interviews various players from corporations to NGOs who are doing their bit to meet the global challenge. Although potentially calamitous, climate change is not the most obvious environmental issue concerning people in the Penh. When asked about the negative side of life here, many would point at the impromptu piles on the side of the road awaiting the arrival of Cintri rubbish trucks. The capital has a particular odour that, especially during the dry season, is far from pleasant. However, as AsiaLIFE Guide discovers, rubbish is not just a smelly business, it can be a profitable one.
One organisation that is doing its bit to reduce its carbon footprint, perhaps somewhat surprisingly, is the British Embassy. Winner of the ‘Foreign Secretary’s Award for Greening the Foreign and Commonwealth Office’ – has a bureaucrat ever come up with a pithy title? – the embassy has introduced measures such as paper recycling and compost in order to reduce its carbon footprint. As her Royal Highness was unavailable for comment, Nora Lindstrom had a cup of tea with the embassy’s green ambassador, Rob Bateson.
Nor do you have to be green with envy. In our cover, we provide some tips on what we can all do to help save the planet. In Food, we highlight some restaurateurs who are trying to minimise waste, by using eco-friendly packaging for their delivery services. Finally in shopping we feature some accessories made from re-cycled and re-used products.
As you read this issue, we hope that you will want to get involved in green projects. The first way to do this is to enter the debate on our website’s Forum. Whether you know other companies that are being green, or just want to know what you can do to help, click on the website – www.asialifeguide. Last month’s debate on being gay in the Penh certainly provoked views from both ends of the rainbow spectrum.
Jun. 5 is World Environment Day. To mark this event the first week of the month is Environment Week. A series of events around town aims to increase awareness of issues that affect all of us living in the Penh. The end of the month will see a carbon-trading workshop, organised by French NGO Geres. Climate change has received much attention in the press over recent years. Cambodia is a country highly vulnerable to climate change according to many observers, including the prime minister. Certain parts of the country are susceptible to drought and others to flood, according to the catchy “National Adaptation Program of Action to Climate Change.” While drought threatens rice production, flood increases the prevalence of water-borne diseases such as malaria.
So what is Cambodia doing to combat climate change?
In our cover story, Johan Smits interviews various players from corporations to NGOs who are doing their bit to meet the global challenge. Although potentially calamitous, climate change is not the most obvious environmental issue concerning people in the Penh. When asked about the negative side of life here, many would point at the impromptu piles on the side of the road awaiting the arrival of Cintri rubbish trucks. The capital has a particular odour that, especially during the dry season, is far from pleasant. However, as AsiaLIFE Guide discovers, rubbish is not just a smelly business, it can be a profitable one.
One organisation that is doing its bit to reduce its carbon footprint, perhaps somewhat surprisingly, is the British Embassy. Winner of the ‘Foreign Secretary’s Award for Greening the Foreign and Commonwealth Office’ – has a bureaucrat ever come up with a pithy title? – the embassy has introduced measures such as paper recycling and compost in order to reduce its carbon footprint. As her Royal Highness was unavailable for comment, Nora Lindstrom had a cup of tea with the embassy’s green ambassador, Rob Bateson.
Nor do you have to be green with envy. In our cover, we provide some tips on what we can all do to help save the planet. In Food, we highlight some restaurateurs who are trying to minimise waste, by using eco-friendly packaging for their delivery services. Finally in shopping we feature some accessories made from re-cycled and re-used products.
As you read this issue, we hope that you will want to get involved in green projects. The first way to do this is to enter the debate on our website’s Forum. Whether you know other companies that are being green, or just want to know what you can do to help, click on the website – www.asialifeguide. Last month’s debate on being gay in the Penh certainly provoked views from both ends of the rainbow spectrum.
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