IIUM Solar Energy Site and IIUM Sustainable Energy Projects

Salam everyone

Photo from ulamak.pas.org.my

Firstly, a belated Salam Ramadhan and Syawal to everyone. We hope that this Ramadhan has brought blessings and positive change in everyone in all good ways. Syawal has certainly brought much happiness for many of our greenies - our very own Munira will be tying the knot on the 29th of Syawal (check out her wedding site here ^^) and Mizah will also be seeing her sister down the aisle this 21st of Syawal.

Speaking of change, I just came across an article on the IIUM homepage on some very green advancements by the university. IIUM has recently embarked on several sustainable energy projects, including a solar energy site right in the Gombak campus. Located at the Kuliyyah of ICT building, the site has been built for study and research on sustainable energy, and will be upgraded to a larger-scale solar energy complex for use within the university. IIUM has also signed and Memorandum of Agreement with New Enertech Pte Ltd Korea and Hepahope Pte Ltd Korea to further support the university in implementing renewable energy on campus.

IIUM Solar energy site at Kuliyyah of KICT. Photo from iium.edu.my

Dr. Hj. Mohd Zahid Ismail, CEO of IIUM Advanced Technologies Sdn Bhd  appearing on the South Korean joint-venture partner web sites. Photo from iium.edu.my

All in all, efforts in being more sustainable is showing more and more in IIUM and even though most of us greenies will be long gone before we can see these changes, it is still very encouraging to know that our juniors will be able live in a greener campus and hopefully be more aware of sustainability issues ^_^


Haneesa

Check out our YouTube channel!

Hey guys!

This post is to inform you guys that we have a new YouTube channel.... GreenTeamIIUM! We will be updating videos of our DB1M discussions and presentations, so that you guys can follow the progress of the project.

What to expect from the videos you ask? There's gonna be lotsa presentations, questions and suggestions related to the Teaching Aid we are working on. Feel free to Like or Comment once you've viewed our videos!
(Note: Please be prepared for endless yakking, joking, rambling...basically random noises from our anything-but-normal GT members)

Here's our first video as a sneak peak!
(Another note: The video is in English and Malay so.... sorry to all the monolingual folks out there)

For those who are not sure about our Teaching Aid project, you can click the link below to view our project presentation on TV3's Sejuta Impian. Also, be sure to skip to 11:10 minutes; that's when we come in ;) 

http://everyoneconnects.net/world/?p=3130

Enjoy the videos and have a great weekend everyone!

Haneesa

Bayer Young Environmental Envoy 2012

Hey guys

I hope everyone is doing good :) Today I want to share something that is really familiar to me, and have brought me so many new opportunities. This is the Bayer Young Environmental Envoy program, a competition hosted by Bayer and the United Nations Environment Programme since 1998, beginning in Thailand. This year marks the eight year (if I'm not mistaken >.< ) since Malaysia was first introduced and I was lucky enough to be part of the program a couple years back.

The Bayer Young Environmental Envoy 2012. Click the photo for details :)

So during my year, the organizers introduced a new concept to the competition, which was project implementation. Before the year 2010, envoys need only to present a project proposal to the judges to be selected as a grand prize winner. However when it came to my year, me and my envoy friends had to physically implement the projects we proposed, which earned us the envoy titles in the first round.

From my experience, the selection process begins with an essay submission with an introduction of the project you plan on carrying out. If your essay is chosen, you will be called for a first interview. This interview determines whether you make it as the 7 who will be competing for the Grand Prize Winner title. Once you make it to the top 7, you will continue on to the Eco-Camp. This is when you start getting to know the other envoys and also enjoy the activities in store for you. During my year, we were sent to Bintulu, Sarawak and we were lucky enough to experience walking through Gua Niah, one of the oldest and largest caves in the world. Also during the Eco-Camp, you will have a session with the facilitators and motivators who will advise you on your future project.

Pictures from the Eco Camp

From left to right: Farhana, me, Alan, Doria, Aaron, Calista, Hanitha, Jerry, Siao Meng and Lisa <3

Once the camp is over, its time for the serious stuff. You will be given a certain period of time to carry out your project, be it on campus or your local neighbourhood. There will be a final judging process afterwards, which is also during the time you present the results of your project. I can't say for sure who your judges will be, but they will probably be made up of representatives from 1) a government body, 2) the German embassy, 3) UNEP Malaysia, 4) an environment-related body (private sector) and 5) a celebrity judge. All the judges are from senior positions, so for me it was really intimidating to have to see them alone! A reminder; speak clearly, explain the important points of your project and just be yourself.. The judges will also want to see what kind of character you possess and what kind of person you are i.e. open minded, creative, ambitious and so on. This is when they narrow down the envoys to two Grand Prize winners who will experience a study trip to Germany. Now you have reached the end of the torture process competition and all that's left to do is enjoy the award dinner and wait for the final results :)

South East Asian delegates <3

Remember that if you do make it as the final two winners, you will be going to Germany representing your university and the country so people will first know you as a Malaysian student, and nothing more. From then on, you are responsible to color their minds with your character, attitude...basically this is the time for you to shine and show the world the awesomeness in you!

Germany 2010 :)

Also, learn everything and anything you can from the trip itself. Learn everything from the sewers in Germany to why Germans need salt during all of their mealtimes. Learn from the other envoys you will meet from around the world. Learn about the forests in Argentina, or the use of persimmon trees in Thailand....... or how your vocabulary with Filipinos can be so similar, or why Brazilians kiss everyone they meet. Honestly, the experience you will have and the people you meet and the friends you make are just too awesome to put in words. So go ahead, go to the Bayer website and click on the form now. Start writing your essay (the deadline is on the 29th of February!) and take that chance. You will never know what the future has in store for you :)

xx
Haneesa

The Sejuta Impian Experience

Hey guys!

This post is going to be somewhat of an explanation as to why we have been so busy and M.I.A at the moment.

Before I give you the full details of what's happening now, let me start off with a story long, long time ago...

Actually it all only started last year. We heard about an upcoming TV show on TV3 called 'Sejuta Impian' and some of us were curious about the program. Basically it was like 'Nescafe Kick Start' which aired a few years back where the concept was to provide certain individuals, or groups, funds to start off their business / project / club... in other words, helping people out with their dreams or aspirations :)

What happened later was a complete surprise. One of our seniors (Kak Umie, who is now part of the Green Affiliates) had told us she was gonna give it a shot. While totally underestimating how serious the program was or how serious her action was, we moved on with life at the university and immersed ourselves with studies, assignments and such... Little did we know what kind of surprise we were in for.
One fine day, I got the news from Alyaa that we actually got through the auditions o_o Yes, life as we know it was about to change.

Soon followed the proposal-making, strategizing, communicating, document-writing, brainstorming and endless planning of every aspect of the program. We worked our behinds off (especially Alyaa Nabila, Asna, Kak Umie and Bro. Syakirin; HUGE credits to their effort) to plan our presentation to the judges. Additionally, Kak Umie as well as Alyaa acted as the mediators between Green Team and TV3.

When we it was the day of the shooting, everyone was super nervous. Personally, I didn't know what to expect out of the whole event or what the fate of the club would be after the show. The work involved, the responsibility we were about to be given.....everything was running through my mind. All I know is things were going to be very, very different in the club from now on.

That isn't us in the picture, but we were about to go through the same tensed situation.

So there we were, the five of us at the Sejuta Impian set, watching other contestants present their case to the judges. Some were impressive, some touching and some who were absolutely deserving of the money they received...

Then the time came. We were called to stage. Everyone's hearts were pounding like crazy. We then witnessed a moment in history, when Green Team made it's first "TV debut". Kak Umie and Alyaa stepped up to the stage and started to talk about Green Team, and the project we proposed to achieve the funds.......

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Flashforward about 5 months into the future, and here we are working hard on our biggest project yet, the Teaching Aid - a multimedia aid for Primary School teachers to relate certain subjects with the environment. Some of the objectives of the aid is to incorporate environmental awareness into the Primary School syllabus and to normalize conservation into childrens' lives by starting at school.

The Teaching Aid (T.A.) is planned to be in the form of a CD or DVD, and we are currently in the stages of compiling data for the T.A. The next step would be to produce the animation and design of the CD content (hint to those designers, animators etc. out there!) Personally speaking, I think we have made quite a progress with the T.A. so far. From an insider's point of view, the materials we have now are a result of a handful of hard working, dedicated individuals who sacrifice a whole lot of their time for something a lot of other people would not do. We have about a year to finish the project, which we will mostly dedicate our time to the making of the T.A.... so I would like to apologize in advance if we go missing for too long >.<

So there you have it folks, a long and winded justification for our absence in the virtual world. We hope it burnt your eyes a little, and made you miss us even more :P Thanks for keeping up with our blog and don't forget to to comment and rate too (Some feedback from our audience would be nice :) )

Love and peace!
Haneesa

Photo credits to :

http://whynottri.wordpress.com/2011/05/27/missing-in-action-my-departure-and-planned-return-to-my-journey/

http://www.tupai.com.my/2011/03/pencarian-peserta-sejuta-impian-kini.html 

http://nurulafiqah.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/sejuta-impian.jpg

2012 Happy Chinese New Year!

Hey greenies and blog readers alike :)

I say this every time I make a post, and I regret it ever so much- I'm really sorry for disappearing for such a long time and yes, this blog post is long overdue..
Ironically enough, we are just entering the Lunar New Year, so this post isn't overdue! :P

You see how I am the master of lame jokes?

That aside, let me start off this post. So this year is the Year of the Dragon. I have a sister born in this year, and from what I see in her, I would say that those born on the year of the Dragon are driven and ambitious - important qualities if you want to be involved in business or economics, which she is in. They are also kinda fiesty, and are more likely to be the no-nonsense type. Pretty intense I would say.. You gotta respect Dragon people for their achievements.

Also born on this year are celebrities like Bruce Lee, Sandra Bullock, John Lennon, Salvador Dali... and an interesting Mexican actor I just found out about named Raul Julia-Levy. Turns out he is a strong supporter of animal rights and is pretty well-known for his philanthrophy, besides his acting.

So anyway, on to the important part of this post.. the wishes. From myself and from Green Team, I would like to wish everyone a Happy Chinese New Year and may this year bring more peace and success to everyone! My hopes are that we have a better environment policies in Malaysia, stronger law enforcements and a society that is more concerned about living consciously.

Picture from http://zymora-tech.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/dragon2.jpg

Here's hoping for a better future for the environment in Malaysia and a healthier planet for everyone around the world ^__^


xx
Haneesa

S.O.S Animals in Bangkok

Hey guys

I know I haven't blogged for some time now, mainly because I'm swamped with uni work (yada yada yada..I know..) but also because I've been wanting to write about a specific topic, but haven't had the right information to do so....

..so I finally found my source of inspiration thanks to SPCA and I'm gonna be talking about helping the animals in Bangkok who have become victims of the flooding. 

Photos from the SPCA Newsletter

Remember my post about the Japanese tsunami? And the superhero dog who made international news? I posted some links on how to help the animal victims back then, and its more than just for me to do the same now.

SPCA Malaysia is helping out with the critical conditions of the animals in Thailand through an organization called the Soi Dog Foundation and the Soi Dog and Cats (SCAD Bangkok). I've just watched the rescue video and it's heartbreaking to see all the lonely dogs swimming aimlessly in the floods. Its tough work even saving the dogs because they can be really aggressive! And after these poor dogs have been rescued, they are sent to a bridge where all the dogs are temporarily placed where you can see the volunteers feeding them too.

Photo from the SPCA Newsletter

There are three ways to help out SPCA/SCAD Bangkok; either donate, volunteer or contribute medical supplies. Most of us are probably looking to donate :) but I can't tell you how tempted I am to volunteer myself. In case you are thinking of volunteering (which makes you cooler than me BTW) they need help mostly at the animal shelters. They are severely lacking in manpower and the jobs include documenting and caring for the animals, as well as helping vets with the treatments.

I really hope we can all contribute, if not a lot, a little to this organization. If you guys know of any other ways we can help out, please share them in the comments below. I always feel like it's an achievement to help our furry friends, no matter how small we think our effort is. Maybe it's because sometimes, animals can appreciate people more than people themselves...

Links:
SPCA Newsletter http://www.enewsletter1.com/newsletter/N2937.html
Soi Dog Foundation: http://www.soidog.org/
SCAD Bangkok: http://www.scadbangkok.org/

Take care,
H

Happy Eid-ul-Adha

Happy Eid-ul-Adha to Muslims around the world. May you have a peaceful celebration :)

- Haneesa

Image credit to http://noor-ul-ainhanif.blogspot.com