Pandan Beach: 45 volunteers, 229 kg of rubbish and 52 biodegradable bags.

IN THE PAST FEW MONTHS, many have lamented that awareness and concern for the environment have slipped. Research has shown otherwise. Using Google Analytics and analysing the trends as research has shown otherwise, i.e. there is greater awareness and concern for the environment (https://esajournals. onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/ pdf/10.1002/fee.1962).

This academic exercise is most interesting especially when we also see increased participation in the Wildlife Conservation Society’s public education events, be it the most recently concluded Run for The Wild (https://www.pressreader.com/ malaysia/the-borneo-post/20181128/ 281865824528740), the conservation education workshops conducted with teachers from throughout the country, held at Swinburne University of Technology, Sarawak Campus (http://www.theborneopost. com/2018/11/06/swinburne-sarawak- partners-wcs-to-run-workshop-for- english-teachers) or the Wildlife Conservation Swinburne Sarawak English MicroFiction Challenge (http://www.theborneopost. com/2018/12/01/evelyn-alyssa- govind-win-top-awards-in-creative- writing-challenge).

Some feedback after these events include: (a) I did not realise or was not aware of the extent of the environmental issues we face and (b) now, I know how to personally help to reduce the environmental issues either by myself or with my family.

The extent to those wanting to contribute has been most encouraging. In fact, between 2017 and 2018, we saw an increase from 295 to 470 participants (60% increase) taking part in our annual Run for The Wild in Kuching and a corresponding increase from 320 to 1,765 Virtual Runners or runners participating away from Kuching (~450% increase). The increase was partially due to the teachers who participated in the workshops. Learning how they could take positive action to help the environ- ment, the teachers returned to their schools and galvanized their students to learn and care more about their environment, arranging for students and teachers alike to participate as virtual runners.  A parallel occurrence was observed as the corporate partners engaged in environmentally-friendly activities (http://www.theborneopost. com/2018/08/16/sarawak-energy- team-sets-weekend-to-help-clean- up-lundu-beachfront/) after gaining a greater understanding of how they can help with conservation.

What are the initial new tangible results of the increased participation to help conservation? According to our compilation, the output or effects of such participation are varied. For example, one beach clean-up at Pandan Beach Lundu resulted in 180kg of rubbish collected (40 bags) within a beach front of 1.5km in about 1.5 hours.  Eighty volunteers took part.  In other instances, the number of volunteers ranged from 40 to 100.

Another question to ask is: what can we do with the rubbish? Some of the waste is converted into ‘art-work’ to display the myriad plastic and polystyrene items thrown into the sea. The art is then used as an educational tool for teachers and students as well as members of the public to absorb and learn ‘what not to do’ and ‘what to do’. The ‘what to do’ ranges from reducing con- sumerism by refraining from pur- chasing items that are not needed and re-using and recycling goods to proper and appropriate disposal of plastics and purchasing natural products instead harmful pollutants such as micro-beads.

In the latest Superhero movie Aquaman, humanity is shown its polluting excesses, using the seas as a huge dumpsite for plastics as well as for toxic chemicals. Unfortunately, there are no superheroes to save our world for us. However, each one of us can and must do our part to live sustainably.  We certainly cannot proceed with consumerism and pollution unabated. We need to care and nurture our inner consciousness and release the superheroes in all of us to care for the environment.

1 – Wildlife Conservation Society, Malaysia Program
2 – Swinburne University of Technology, Sarawak Campus

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“I cried because it was so beautifully touching”. Malika, Germany

In a show entitled Sarawak: Mystical Chants of the Rainforest, the performance wove a story, eloquently narrated by Karen Shepherd, of Sarawak’s ancient indigenous culture and cosmology in which master weaver Helen Manjan anak Atong of Rumah Garie in Kapit performed her Sanggai, an ode to the weaver of such skill that she has the power to transform anything into thread, to the accompaniment of Borneo instruments, notably the keluri and the nose flute, from At Adau, and a backdrop of stunning visuals of Sarawak landscapes and scenes with amazing wildlife images by award winning photographer Chien C. Lee, compiled by John Paul Davies. Then Sarawak’s own band, fresh from their triumph at Rainforest World Music Festival 2019, wowed the crowd with their chanting, dance and traditional tunes, bringing the melodies of the rainforest to the summer chill of the Edinburgh stage, before the audience were able to enjoy classic Sarawak snacks and a shot of tuak to the sound of the Ooh ha!

At Adau later took to the streets of Edinburgh town in three exciting busking sets at the Mercat stage, sharing their contemporary Borneo sound with the diverse passing crowds who clapped and danced and wondered aloud where these performers had come from! Perhaps most touching, however, was the private CSR programme in which the band performed for residents at a local nursing home, bringing happiness to some of Edinburgh’s elderly in a show that was still being talked about the following day.

“…What an evocative performance… it was magical. The traditional music mimicked the rain forest wonderfully and images on the screen were excellent…” Judy Arrowsmith, London

“PURE JOY” a Sarawakian based in London

The response was overwhelming with at least one group visiting the show twice and many more attending the m o r n i n g performance after being inspired by the busking. The show was described by one audience member as the best they had seen that year and another who attended on the final day wished openly that she had discovered the show earlier. A video of the show will now form part of the permanent archive of Edinburgh Fringe events and, in fact, the pua kumbu and loom created by master weaver Helen will now be added to the collection of the Scottish National Museum.

“And then (through the magic of the Fringe Festival), I happened upon this treasure: Sarawak: Mystical Chants of the Rainforest – Dreams of the Weaver – Music, dance and weaving – with tribal tastings, toasts and tipples of rice wine – honoring and celebrating nature, spirits and human communities old and new… (Where else have we encountered this?)…I learned a lot – about Sarawak, culture and humanity!” Joseph Proskauer, New York

“We have seen 53 shows starting from the very beginning of the festival, we have not seen anything like this. It was so moving. We loved it”.  Ellen & Michael, Florida

“Sublime.  We attended twice”.  French family from Paris

“So amazing,  the instruments.  We loved it”.  Musicians from Argentina  who play the Siku (panpipe),  a Bolivian traditional  instrument.

With over 3,800 performers, the Edinburgh Fringe is one of the biggest celebrations of arts and culture world-wide, drawing 1,000 of the world’s media who describe it as one of the UK’s number one unmissable travel destinations. The performers and organisers were all truly proud and humbled by the opportunity to bring a touch of Sarawak to the world at this festival and the world to Sarawak.

“I would like to express utmost appreciation towards the event. We had so much fun there and it made us feel like home, away from home. It was also educational to us as well, and we learnt more about Sarawakian culture just from that 1 hour alone. I hope this event can become a constant in the future for the Fringe Festival so that more people are able to experience such rich culture that is Sarawak. Who knows, maybe it could be even bigger too –  Adrian Lee (and his friends from West Malaysia) living in Scotland

“We took the day off to see the show and it was really well worth it. The instruments shown on the brochure were what interested us but the entire music and images were simply incredible. Now we want to save money and visit Sarawak!”.  Maria & Manu, Spain

The entire programme was curated by Marian Chin of KINO magazine and sponsored and supported by the Sarawak Tourism Board.

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