REUSE EMPTY TISSUE BOXES AS USEFUL STORAGE BOXES! - In Conjuction with EarthHour2014

Many items found around the home can be reused for different purposes. So before you throw those items away, think about how they can be reused. Items like glass containers and boxes can be reused as a fantastic storage container to keep various  things and this habit also helps to conserve natural resources, saves energy and reduces the greenhouse effect.

Here is a suggestion on how to reuse empty tissue boxes to make useful storage boxes for plastic bags and multipurpose storage bins that can be used to keep other things like stationery items for kids too!

Step 1:
- Collect empty tissue boxes. 

Step 2:
-   Use it as it is to store plastic bags! You can decorate it if you like.

Step 3:
-  If you would like to make storage boxes for other things like stationery items, you will need to trace the outline of where you would like to cut with a marker then proceed to trim (be careful doing this).

Step 4:
- Wrap up the boxes with old gift wrapping paper. If you don't have one, be creative as you may wrap it using magazine paper or old calendar paper. Do reuse wrapping paper as they are often hard to recycle.

Step 5: 
- Paste or arrange the boxes on a table or affix them to a wall, where it’s convenient for use.

Now, the tissue boxes are ready to use!

By having these practical storage boxes, it will indirectly encourage us to keep used plastic bags in it. Reuse them when going shopping as often as possible. It can be reused several times before it. By reducing the amount of plastic grocery bags in the environment, we are also contributing towards a greener planet! 

#earthhour

Posted by Ayu
Learning Specialist, Petrosains

KEEP OPENED BAGS OF FOOD FRESH BY CREATIVELY USING PLASTIC BOTTLES - In Conjunction with EarthHour 2014

Almost everyone buys a drink, whether it’s a soda, water, or perhaps iced tea. But what do we do with the plastic bottles they come in? The next time you grab one, be sure to hold on to the empty plastic bottle. With just a few simple steps, you can reuse an empty plastic bottle and help food keep longer! 

When we open a bag of food like chips, cereals, or bread, we often reseal them a with rubber band or a store-bought clip. If improperly sealed, the food may lose its crunch, spoil faster, or attract unwanted pests. But why hassle over fussy rubber bands or spend money buying fancy clips when you can make one yourself!

With an empty plastic bottle, a cutter, and your creativity, you can make your very own sealer for opened bags of food! It is easy to use and practical, with the ability to seal most kinds of  bags. Here’s how it looks like:

Want to make one? All you need is an empty plastic drinking bottle that's washed and dry, a marker pen and a cutter (be careful using this). Here are 3 easy steps to make a  sealer. 

Step 1:
- Prepare the bottle by cleaning and drying it. Any plastic bottle with a screw on cap will work.

Step 2:
- Trace the outline of where to cut with a marker. We will only use the top part of the bottle. Be creative with the second half!

Step 3:
- After that, carefully cut along the lines. Be careful while cutting. Adults should be doing this. Decorate the sealer if you like using leftover materials like ribbons. Decorating isn't necessary as you may immediately use it after it is cut.

Here you go! A sealer for an opened bags of food is ready to use! Just slide the opened bag of food through the top of the bottle, then seal it by screwing the cap on tightly.

So reuse and extend the lifespan of the items we have. This helps minimize waste and indirectly we are contributing towards a greener planet

#earthhour

Posted by Ayu
Learning Specialist, Petrosains

MAKE YOUR OWN PHONE CHARGING HOLDER WITH REUSABLE ITEMS! - In Conjuction with EarthHour 2014

We are often reminded of the 4-R’s – Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle. These 4 habits if practiced regularly can go a long way towards keeping our environment healthy. Oftentimes though, we simply toss things into the trash without fully extending its lifespan. Among the many things that are disposed, empty plastic bottles rank high on the list.

Here’s an idea on how you can reuse an empty plastic soap dispenser and perhaps even make your home safer! We tend to leave our phones on the floor while charging it, but doing so means someone might  trip on the wires, potentially causing damage to the phone and charger, not to mention harm to the person. Children especially are susceptible to trip over wires that are spread out around the floor. 

The solution, a simple DIY with an empty plastic soap dispenser and you can have your very own phone charging holder which keeps the phone and wires off the floor! Here’s how it looks like:

This is just but one of many variations that you can design, depending on the shape and size of your plastic container. You can also decorate them in various ways, just be sure to keep away conductive or flammable items away from the power outlet. Want to make one? All you need is a clean plastic soap dispenser that’s washed and dry, a marker pen, a cutter (be careful using this!), and your creativity!

Step 1:
- Prepare the container by cleaning and drying it. Be sure the size of the container is big enough for your phone.

Step 2:
- Visualise the shape that you like and trace the outline of where you want to cut with a marker. Make a square at the back that is approximately the size of your power outlet.

Step 3:
- Once done, carefully cut out the unwanted pieces. You can use a file to soften the edges. Be careful as some plastics are rigid and may be hard to cut. Adults should be doing this.

Step 4:
- Decorate the container if you like using leftover materials like ribbons or just apply stickers. You can also label it using a permanent marker.

And voila! Your very own phone charging holder made out of used plastic containers. 

Other bottles that also work for this purpose are shampoo bottles, lotion bottles, softener bottles and detergent containers. Everything really depends on the size of your phone.  Just be sure to find a plastic container that’s sturdy enough – some plastic containers such as soda or water bottles may be too soft for this purpose.


So reuse and extend the lifespan of the items we have. This helps minimize waste and indirectly, we are contributing towards a greener planet. Better still, switch off the power mains when the phone is fully charged to avoid wasting unnecessary electricity, even though it’s minimal. A little bit goes a long way.

#earthhour

Posted by Ayu
Learning Specialist, Petrosains

Part 7/7: What Should We Do?

Keep Our Beaches Clean

Since I was little, I have always wanted to walk on white sandy beaches with waters a deep blue, where you can see the fishes from above. Given that I could only see them on television, I have always thought that these paradise-like places are far away – in other countries. So when I saw a picture of Semporna Island – it was stunning! And when I realized that it’s in Sabah, I was very surprised! Never in my mind did I imagine such an idyllic paradise was here in Malaysia.

Stunning Cenang Beach in Langkawi. By Rohan Waghmare (Own work) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Although blessed with such natural beauty, regrettably most public beaches that I have visited in Malaysia are becoming an eyesore. Plastic bottles, food wrappers, polystyrene cups and even cigarettes are everywhere, some buried in the sands, others floating on the water. People are sometimes advised not to walk barefoot while on the beach as well as in the waters as the debris is not just an eyesore, but can be dangerous as well. Swimmers, beachgoers and tourists might get injured from stepping on broken glass bottles. Sea creatures such as turtles might mistake plastic bags for food or become trapped in the ropes or nets (which can be fatal). Even for the fishermen, the debris could do damage to their boats and impact their livelihood.

Trash at Pulau Perhentian. By Colocho (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-2.5 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5)], via Wikimedia Commons

These past few years we have heard some efforts made by local authorities, corporations, as well as NGOs to keep the beach cleaner and safer. One of the efforts made are beach cleanups where volunteers gather and together they collect the debris along the shores, under the waters and sorted them out for recycling. This effort however does not promise a long-term solution. It is more important that we change our littering habits. When you go to the beach, you can do whatever you want – play, rest, run, jump – but the one thing you should not do is litter!

Petrosains PlaySmart recently organised a beach cleanup at Kuantan.

 The ocean is more than just a vast pool of water for sea creatures and humans to swim around. The ocean supplies oxygen, food and water to us. Therefore it is important for us to ensure our ocean is always clean and healthy so that we, too, are always healthy. Let’s be the change today and help clean up the shores for a start for a safe beach, pristine waters, and the continued preservation of the natural beauty of our oceans.

Join Petrosains in “Our Earth, Our Home” Weekend Special on 23^rd -  24^th March 2013. Join us for fun activities throughout the science centre. Our artistic face-painters  and energetic science buskers will be around to ensure that you have great fun too!

On 23^rd March 2013 there will be a special performance entitled, “Inspirasi Haiwan” at 11.30am and 2.30pm. This performance is about dance movement inspired by animals which will incorporate beautiful music and choreography as interpreted by ASWARA (National Academy of Arts, Culture and Heritage).

Shared by Iman, Communications Intern at Petrosains

The Under Appreciated Mangroves

Kuala Gula (Perak), Umbai Baru (Malacca), Pasir Penambang (Selangor) – These are some of the popular places where Malaysians travel to for a taste of fresh and scrumptious seafood delicacies. My parents are among those food enthusiasts who are willing to travel far and wide for food.  Me? As long as crabs and shrimps are around, I am all set!

By megawatts86 (originally posted to Flickr as More Chilli Crab) [CC-BY-SA-2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

No matter where you go - Perak, Johor or even Sabah –the restaurants are mostly located by the shores, some even ‘float’! As you enjoy your hand-picked crabs, shrimps, clams and fishes, you can see fishermen maneuvering their boats- some are heading back to shore, while others are heading out to the vast sea. The one thing that these places have in common (other than the freshly caught fishes) is the mangrove.

Even for nature aficionados, the mangrove is the quite under-appreciated. Most of us, myself including, are biased to things that are beautiful and postcard-perfect – such as scenes of sunset at the beach, soaring mountain peaks, lush rainforests, and fields of flowers. Although I have been to the less photogenic mangrove forests a few times, the mangrove never caught my eyes – being just rather plain blanket of trees and roots anchored on wetlands.

By kakna's world (http://www.flickr.com/photos/kakna/6985181102/) [CC-BY-SA-2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

At HotScience, Petrosains’ bustling area in its lobby that communicates current and relevant science, I was quite surprised to see the variety of products developed by researchers from Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT) that are made from mangrove trees. Apparently, the most ‘utilized’ mangrove tree is Nypa fruticans or simply known as Nipah. The leaflets are woven onto hats, mats and rooftops, while the sap collected from the flower stalk is made into drinks, ice-cream, soft candy and pudding. In addition to that, mangrove barks make the best quality charcoal and most cosmetic companies from Japan and South Korea import mangrove-based charcoal to be developed into cosmetic products such as facial wash. 

Mangroves, due to its muddy and swampy nature, at times can be quite stinky and unpleasant looking, and home to some fearful crocodiles and snakes, which do not help gather much support for mangrove preservation.

Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of United Nations claims that mangrove extinction is at an incredibly high rate, with Malaysia having lost approximately 16% of its total mangrove forest between 1980 until 2005. Mangroves are important breeding grounds for many animals such as crabs, shrimps, and fishes, but in Malaysia, mangroves are mostly being cleared away to make way for man-made shrimp farms.
If this major loss of mangrove continues, soon enough, we might not be able to enjoy our seafood as much as we have today – and as a crab fan, I would be happier to have the crustaceans abundant in Malaysian shores.

Fiddler crab burrows under mangrove roots.

 Yes, it is difficult (for some) to care or nurture some kind of feelings towards mangrove (or plants in general). They do not show facial expressions as other mammals or even respond to you when you talk to them, but they are called living creatures for a reason. So, let us be more appreciative towards mangroves and nurture ourselves into loving them!

Join Petrosains in “Our Earth, Our Home” Weekend Special on 23^rd -  24^th March 2013. Join us for fun activities throughout the science centre. Our artistic face-painters  and energetic science buskers will be around to ensure that you have great fun too!

On 23^rd March 2013 there will be a special performance entitled, “Inspirasi Haiwan” at 11.30am and 2.30pm. This performance is about dance movement inspired by animals which will incorporate beautiful music and choreography as interpreted by ASWARA (National Academy of Arts, Culture and Heritage).

Shared by Iman, Communications Intern at Petrosains

Counting Down to Earth Hour 2013 - Show Your Support!

The Sydney Opera House, the Eiffel Tower in Paris, Taipei 101, the  Beijing National Stadium, and of course the Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur – all these landmarks are often seen lighting up the city skyline but tomorrow, these landmarks and many more will go dark! On this Saturday, March 23rd many iconic buildings both large and small the world over will turn off their lights for an hour in a show of support to the annual Earth Hour event.

Earth Hour is a global movement to raise awareness on climate change. Due to mankind, our planet is going through a critical phase in which global temperatures are rising on average and showing no signs of stopping. However, many are still unalarmed and pay no heed to the dire scientific findings, predicting a disastrous state of events for our environment in the future if nothing is done today.

Earth Hour kicked off in Sydney in 2007, the brainchild of Andy Ridley who is the CEO and Co-Founder of Earth Hour. On 31 March 2007, over 2 million people and 2,000 businesses in Sydney went dark for an hour, and subsequently inspired the world to do the same. Just last year, the wave of support for Earth Hour is almost global, encompassing hundreds of millions of people in over 152 countries, including Malaysia.

Most people would think such simple gestures will not make a difference. That is simply not true. Everyone needs to remember that it is the cumulative effect which makes a huge impact to the environment. Everyone has to play a part for the small efforts to be impactful.

In 2011, Earth Hour changed its logo from ‘60’ into ‘60+’, to indicate that the effort to protect and preserve our planet must move beyond the hour. Through its ‘I Will if You Will’ campaign, the annual event dares people to do more than just switching off lights.

Malaysia is taking up the challenge this year. Recently, the Mayor of Kuala Lumpur, Datuk Seri Ahmad Phesal b. Hj. Talib promised to cycle to work on March 25th if at least 50 buildings in Kuala Lumpur switched off their lights for Earth Hour. The Mayor will also join in the Petronas Twin Towers Lights Out this Saturday from 8.30pm until 9.30pm.

By Lai Seng Sin [GFDL (www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html)], via Wikimedia Commons

So for the rest of us, let us support this global effort not necessarily by switching off the lights for an hour but to always consider the environment in our day-to-day practices. Let’s take up the challenge to make Malaysia and the world a greener, healthier and more sustainable place to live in. It’s the small things that matter most. Small efforts by ordinary people make all the difference. So please never underestimate the power that you have in saving ‘Our Earth, Our Home’.

Join Petrosains in “Our Earth, Our Home” Weekend Special on 23^rd -  24^th March 2013. Join us for fun activities throughout the science centre. Our artistic face-painters  and energetic science buskers will be around to ensure that you have great fun too!

On 23^rd March 2013 there will be a special performance entitled, “Inspirasi Haiwan” at 11.30am and 2.30pm. This performance is about dance movement inspired by animals which will incorporate beautiful music and choreography as interpreted by ASWARA (National Academy of Arts, Culture and Heritage).

Shared by Iman, Communications Intern at Petrosains

Si Belangkas Lapar! 8/8

Belangkas Melihat Dunia! 6/8

Mencari Telur Si Belangkas! 4/8

Jenis-jenis Belangkas! 3/8

Kampung Si Belangkas! 2/8

Cerita Si Belangkas! 1/8