Earth Matters
Episodes
Permaculture Power Pt 2: How to Start a Permaculture Garden
10 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The three guiding principles of Permaculture can be summarised as such: People Care, Fair Share and Earth Care. Described as a philosophy of working w...
Permaculture Power Pt 1: Why Start A Permaculture Garden
05 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Bill Mollison, who was credited for developing and promoting the theory and practice of permaculture, described it as such: "Permaculture is a philoso...
Is Malaysia Prepared for Extreme Weather Events?
03 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
If one thing is clear from the recent flood disaster, it's that Malaysia isn't prepared for changing weather patterns, and extreme weather events. Gab...
Best of Earth Matters 2021: All About Conservation Heroes
29 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
We look back at some of the issues and stories covered on Earth Matters in 2021, this time focussing on conservation heroes, namely Pua Lay Peng and t...
Best of Earth Matters 2021: All About Plastic Pollution
27 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
We look back at some of the issues and stories covered on Earth Matters in 2021 concerning the plastic pollution crisis, focussing on three stories in...
Best of Earth Matters 2021: All About Wildlife
22 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
We look back at some of the stories and issues covered on Earth Matters in 2021, concerning the protection of our wildlife. In this look-back episode,...
Best of Earth Matters 2021 - All About Forests
20 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
We look back at some of the issues and stories covered on Earth Matters in 2021 concerning the protection of forests, focussing on three stories in pa...
Clearing the Air on Your Rights to Clean Air
15 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In early December 2021, a broad alliance of civil society organisations filed a pioneering complaint at the Malaysian Human Rights Commission (SUHAKAM...
Macaranga Wrap-up: 2021
13 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
It's our final wrap-up of the year with the folks from local journalism portal Macaranga, Wong Siew Lyn and Law Yao Hua. On the show today, we have a ...
The Highs and Lows of Development in Fraser's Hill
08 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
There are lots of movements happening in the usually sleepy highlands of Fraser's Hill, with the Raub Draft District Local Plan 2035 proposing to revi...
World Soil Day 2021: Vermicomposting
06 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Worms are highly underrated, and their services to humankind goes unnoticed below the surface, and are therefore unappreciated. But not so for advocat...
Layar Liar - Hey Babe, Take a Walk on the Wild Side
01 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
From monkeys to millipedes, Layar Liar is a 52-episode online documentary series, aimed at getting more Malaysians to know and love our natural herita...
Macaranga Wrap-up: November 2021
29 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Wong Siew Lyn and Law Yao Hua, the Co-Founders, Co-Editors and Writers from online journalism portal, Macaranga join us again for a round-up of big en...
Macaranga Wrap-up: November 2021
29 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Wong Siew Lyn and Law Yao Hua, the Co-Founders, Co-Editors and Writers from online journalism portal, Macaranga join us again for a round-up of big en...
1StopBorneo Wildlife
29 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Founded in 2012, 1StopBorneo Wildlife aims to conserve the rainforests and the rich biodiversity of Borneo through education, wildlife rescue, eco-to...
The Kuala Langat North Forest Reserve - Just Regazette It, Already!
24 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The fate of the Kuala Langat North Forest Reserve (KLNFR) is still hanging in the balance. Though the Menteri Besar of Selangor announced back in Sept...
Missing Voices - Why COP26 Failed Women from the Global South
22 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
"Gender and climate are profoundly intertwined." This was asserted by Alok Sharma, the COP26 President. But were the voices of women, especially those...
Sabah - A Slice of Tropical Paradise
17 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Jacques Cousteau, the late world-renowned oceanographer, once described Pulau Sipadan as an untouched piece of art. But Sipadan is just one of the man...
COP26 - Fruitful or Failure?
15 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The COP26 climate summit was arguably one of the most important diplomatic meetings in history. Were the negotiations to ensure action to deal with th...
COP26 - Fruitful or Failure?
15 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The COP26 climate summit was arguably one of the most important diplomatic meetings in history. Were the negotiations to ensure action to deal with th...
Cuti-cuti in Pangkor Island!
10 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Pristine white beaches, jungles, mangrove forests, mountains, charming fishing villages, amazing local delicacies - Perak's Pangkor Island has so much...
The Climate Crisis is a Child Rights Crisis
08 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
There's a saying: We do not inherit the Earth from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children. Sadly, we seem to be poor borrowers, giving back a p...
A Guide To Breaking Up With Plastic
03 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Think of this sobering thought - every piece of plastic you have ever touched is still on Earth. Whether intact or disintegrating, it's here. The plas...
Budget 2022: How Will We Protect Malaysia's Environment and Biodiversity?
01 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In tabling Budget 2022, the government has said it is committed to strengthening the nation’s sustainability agenda. We look at what has been pr...
Budget 2022: Is Environmental Sustainability on the Agenda?
01 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
We dissect Budget 2022, and discuss if conservation of the environment was prioritised in this year's budget with Sharan Raj, a Central Committee Memb...
Budget 2022: Is Environmental Sustainability on the Agenda?
01 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
We dissect Budget 2022, and discuss if conservation of the environment was prioritised in this year's budget with Sharan Raj, a Central Committee Memb...
The Wildlife Conservation (Amendment) Bill 2021
27 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The Wildlife Conservation (Amendment) Bill 2021 was tabled for the first reading in the Dewan Rakyat earlier this month, and will include new provisio...
Macaranga Wrap-up: October 2021
25 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
We discuss some of the biggest environment-related news from October, with Wong Siew Lyn and Law Yao Hua, the Co-Founders, Co-Editors and Writers from...
Bats For Malaysia!
25 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
It's Bat Week this week, an international, annual celebration created to raise awareness about the need for bat conservation. In line with that,...
Adopting the One Health Approach in the Tropics
20 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The “One Health” concept isn't something new. It's been described as an idea that had been known for more than a century; that human...
Taman Tugu - From Dumping Ground to Public Park
18 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
A public park, run by a public trust, in perpetuity - that's the plan for the very popular Taman Tugu, a 66-acre rehabilitated and regenerated forest ...
Permaculture - Farming For the Future
13 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Most of us understand that our relationship with the planet isn't great, and that for humanity to survive, we need to make some changes, and fast. It'...
Combatting Conservation Crimes
11 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Live hornbills, dead green sea turtles, live gibbons, horns from dead rhinos - just some of the seizures made by authorities, over the past two months...
An Expedition to the World's Hornbill Capital
06 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
It's that time of the year again, when plain pouched hornbills migrate from their breeding grounds in Thailand to Malaysia, and if you're lucky enough...
Malayan Rainforest Station - Conservation through Empowerment
06 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The Malayan Rainforest Station believes in conservation through empowerment. The environmental NGO which is based in Merapoh, Pahang - a unique landsc...
On a Road to Nowhere
04 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
It's been over a year since the Shah Alam City Council proposed to build a road right across the Shah Alam Community Forest. Two hectares of pristine ...
The 12th Malaysia Plan & Environmental Sustainability
29 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
With the recent announcement of the 12th Malaysia Plan, we dissect the key points of the environmental agenda under the blueprint with Meenakshi Raman...
Macaranga Wrap-up: September 2021
27 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In this month's roundup of environmental news with Macaranga's Wong Siew Lyn & Law Yao Hua, we celebrate the success of Kuala Langat North F...
30 Days to a New Zero-Waste You!
27 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Our good friends from Zero Waste Malaysia return, this time to talk about the 30 Day Zero Waste Challenge which will encourage Malaysians to adopt mor...
Hunter/Hunted - Malaysia's Last Tigers
22 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The message is clear - we only have a small window left to save the Malayan tiger. More than just a national icon, tigers play a critical role in main...
Hunter/Hunted - Malaysia's Last Tigers
22 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The message is clear - we only have a small window left to save the Malayan tiger. More than just a national icon, tigers play a critical role in main...
Gibbon It All They've Got
20 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Gibbons provide one of nature's most enchanting concerts - welcoming the sunrise with their songs, as a way to mark their territories, celebrate union...
Bornean Elephant Conservation - No Easy 'Tusk'
15 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
As far as Dr Nurzhafarina Othman is concerned, to ensure the survival of Bornean elephants, people need to understand that we need to co-exist with th...
SOS for Seahorses
13 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
They have a head like a horse, a tail like a monkey, possess the ability to change colour like a chameleon, and to grow weed-like appendages on their ...
Live Spawn, and Prosper!
08 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Project Reef Spawn was a winner of the North American Association for Environmental Education 30 under 30 Changemaker Grant 2021, and was develo...
TTDI vs DBKL: Appeals, Land Conversions, Unmeaningful Public Consultation
06 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The mission to keep Taman Rimba Kiara as a park that benefits all continues, as the Federal Court has allowed DBKL and the other parties involved to a...
No Hope for Hutan Simpan Kuala Langat Utara?
01 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Over 45,000 formal objections, over 130,000 online signatures in protest, a huge turnout at the public hearing against the move, clear and unmistakabl...
Macaranga Wrap-up: August 2021
30 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In this month's roundup of environmental news with Macaranga's Wong Siew Lyn & Law Yao Hua, we remember and pay tribute to the late Balu Perumal, ...
Merdeka 2021: Young, Restless, and In Pursuit of Climate Justice
30 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
It's becoming clearer that there are connections between democracy and climate change - climate change is impacting democratic governance with its eff...
Malayan Tigers - Living on a Prey-er?
25 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
They're a symbol of national pride, of bravery, courage and regalness. The Malayan tiger is prominently featured in our national coat of arms, and Mal...
The Great Apes of Wrath
23 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
When visiting Sabah for the first time back in 1994, Dr Marc Ancrenaz, together with Dr Isabelle Lackman, realised that many orangutans were han...
The Great Apes of Wrath
23 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
When visiting Sabah for the first time back in 1994, Dr Marc Ancrenaz, together with Dr Isabelle Lackman, realised that many orangutans were han...
IPCC Report: Are We Headed for Hell on Earth?
18 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
It's being called a Code Red for Humanity. The latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report, which was prepared by 234 scientists fr...
World Elephant Day 2021 - Far from ‘Irrelephant’
09 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
They're the largest land mammal on the Asian continent, a keystone species, invaluable ecosystem engineers, and cute to boot. Decades ago, the Asian E...
#GenerationRestoration - Examples from Malaysia
04 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Back in January of this year, scientists devised what they called the "10 golden rules for reforestation", around ‘right tree, right place&rsquo...
TCS Malaysia - Focussing on Community-centred Conservation
02 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
As we've seen, pandemic or not, a conservationist's work carries on, as threats to the survival of wildlife continue. The same is the case for Dr Chen...
Grooving to the Mangrove Beat Part 2: Protecting and Preserving Mangrove Ecosystems
28 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
It was International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem On Monday – celebrated annually on the 26th of July - and on Monday's ep...
Macaranga Wrap-up: July 2021
26 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
For July's look-back, the Co-Founders, Co-Editors and Writers of Macaranga.org, Wong Siew Lyn & Law Yao Hua, have plants on their minds. First up,...
Grooving to the Mangrove Beat Part 1: Mangroves Matter!
26 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Mangroves are described as rare, spectacular and prolific ecosystems on the boundary between land and sea, which contribute to the wellbeing, food sec...
Grooving to the Mangrove Beat Part 1: Mangroves Matter!
26 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Mangroves are described as rare, spectacular and prolific ecosystems on the boundary between land and sea, which contribute to the wellbeing, food sec...
Time to Reimagine Plastic
21 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Social enterprise Hara Makers have been working towards reducing plastic pollution, and started the Reimagine Plastic Project as a way of working towa...
A Pat on the Back for Traditional Ketupats
19 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
A staple Hari Raya dish, there is little research on the origins of the ketupat, though academics date its beginnings to 14th and 15th century Java. T...
The Continued Spread of Illegal Plastic Recycling Centres in Malaysia
14 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Pua Lay Peng received death threats, had her home splashed with red paint, her work and life disrupted, and was accused of having nothing better to do...
The Links Between Plastic Pollution and Corruption
12 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
From January to July 2018, Malaysia became the world's top destination for plastic waste exports. Even today, we are still reeling from pollution and ...
A Handbook To Go Zero Waste in Malaysia
07 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
From a Facebook group to a full-fledged movement and organisation, the folks behind Zero Waste Malaysia are keeping up the good fight to get more Mala...
World Firefly Day 2021 – Watch us, don't catch us!
05 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
World Firefly Day is observed annually during the first weekend in July, and is a global celebration of these fascinating and amazing creatures that i...
Time Spent in Nature is Never Time Wasted
30 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
We've all been living through a traumatic year, both in relation to this public-health crisis as well as the social-justice crossroads we face as a co...
Macaranga Wrap-up: June 2021
28 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In this month's round-up, we first look at all the news surrounding old and new environmental extractive projects - the Penang South Islands reclamati...
Small-scale Solar Solutions through KampungKu
28 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
KampungKu is a series of renewable energy projects dedicated to resolving the energy-related needs of Orang Asli communities across Malaysia, by provi...
Safeguarding and Supporting Setiu Wetlands
23 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Setiu Wetlands is one of the largest natural wetlands in the East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia, and is the only wetland in Malaysia with nine – ...
Safeguarding and Supporting Setiu Wetlands
23 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Setiu Wetlands is one of the largest natural wetlands in the East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia, and is the only wetland in Malaysia with nine – ...
The Perils of the Penang South Islands Project
21 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The Penang South Reclamation (PSR) megaproject is a massive reclamation project to create three islands off the southern coast of Penang island. The s...
Bridging the Nature Gap
16 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
As we stay home to stay safe, our disconnect with the outside world could also be resulting in a disconnect with nature and the natural world. Even pr...
Ada Apa Dengan Chini?
14 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Tasik Chini is one of only two natural freshwater lakes in Malaysia, and is a UNESCO biosphere reserve. Since the late 1990’s though, Tasik Chin...
Coral Triangle Day 2021: Coral Rehabilitation through Projek Pulih
09 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Coral Triangle Day is observed every year on the 9th of June, and is a celebration to raise awareness of ocean conservation and protection, especially...
Coral Triangle Day 2021: Coral Conservation and Community Resilience
09 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The Coral Triangle Day is observed every year on the 9th of June, and is a celebration to raise awareness of ocean conservation and protection, ...
Not Passive Victims - Youths Planning for their Planet
02 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
With the effects of climate change already being reported, its impact will only intensify over time, affecting the children and youth of today, who wi...
Macaranga Wrap-up: May 2021
31 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In this month's roundup of environmental news, we first discuss Penang's conflicting coastal conservation plans - on the one hand, they aim to gazette...
A New Airport in Pulau Redang?
31 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Reef Check Malaysia has learned of more plans for airport extensions on islands off the East coast of Peninsular Malaysia, this time on Pulau Redang. ...
Kota Hijau Kita
24 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Human survival is dependent on biodiversity, but our activities - supposedly in the name of our survival - are causing biodiversity loss. And now, wit...
Kota Hijau Kita
24 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Human survival is dependent on biodiversity, but our activities - supposedly in the name of our survival - are causing biodiversity loss. And now, wit...
Bite-Sized Climate Action
19 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Bite-Size Climate Action is a series of fun, flexible, and immersive short online modules designed by experts in the conservation field, to inspire Ma...
Solutions to Nature's Dangerous Decline
17 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The estimate is that one million animal and plant species are now threatened with extinction. International Day for Biological Diversity, celebrated a...
The People Protecting Belum Temenggor
12 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The Belum Temenggor forest reserve forms the last and largest contiguous block of natural forest in Peninsular Malaysia. Covering an area of over 300,...
Taking One GreenStep at a Time
10 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
GreenSteps is a community inspired initiative which aims to help communities evolve towards a low carbon society, with a focus on zero waste, healthy ...
What We Waste - Hint: Lots
05 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
A new landmark global report titled "What We Waste" takes an in-depth look at how single use plastic, metal and glass beverage packaging is bein...
Friends of Bukit Kiara
03 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The always popular Bukit Kiara is one of the few large green open spaces found right here in Kuala Lumpur. A much needed space for so many urbanites, ...
Macaranga Wrap-up: April 2021
26 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Wong Siew Lyn, the co-founder, co-editor and writer at local environmental journalism portal macaranga.org is back for another Macaranga Wrap-up episo...
FRIM - Brimming with Forestry Research
26 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Many may think of FRIM or the Forest Research Institute Malaysia as a lovely and popular recreational park set amid a lush rainforest setting, right h...
How the Baram Community Are Protecting What's Rightfully Theirs
19 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
With land in Sarawak under intense pressure from the logging, palm oil and mega-hydro companies, communities in the Baram River Basin are getting toge...
Malaysia - Climate Leader or Laggard?
12 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Was Malaysia snubbed when it wasn't invited to the US-organised Leaders Summit on Climate, which will be hosted by US President Joe Biden? The event w...
Bats - Bane or Blessing?
05 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Unlike many other mammals, bats are often greatly feared by people. There is even a condition for it - Chiroptophobia - or the fear of bats, which may...
Macaranga Wrap-up: March 2021
29 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Wong Siew Lyn and Law Yao Hua, the co-founders of Macaranga.org return for their monthly wrap-up of environmental news, first to discuss several prote...
Malaysia is not a "Garbage Dump"
29 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In 2018, China's National Sword Policy came into effect, which banned 24 types of solid waste imports into the country. This included plastic waste, w...
A People's Revolution to Stop Water Pollution?
22 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The theme for World Water Day 2021 is 'Valuing Water'. Safe to say that for many of us in the Klang Valley, we valued our water most, when we lost acc...
Right Tree, Right Place - 10 Golden Rules for Reforestation
15 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
It's been said that tree planting ‘has mind-blowing potential’ to tackle the climate crisis. Billions more trees, scientists claimed, coul...
Heritage, Health and Hope - Why Bukit Persekutuan must be gazetted
08 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Described as an unassuming patch of greenery, Bukit Persekutuan or Federal Hill, is one of the last sizable forest areas in the Kuala Lumpur city cent...
Forest Files Findings Part 3: Strategies and Solutions for Sustainable Forestry
01 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In 2020, local environmental journalism portal Macaranga.org published four in-depth articles based on their investigation into forest-use changes in ...
Macaranga Wrap-up: February 2021
22 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In our roundup of environmental news for February 2021, Macaranga.org's Wong Siew Lyn fills us in on the 2020 winners of the 5th Asia Enviro...
Forest Files Findings Part 2: Is Sustainable Logging Sustainable?
22 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Last year, local environmental portal Macaranga.org published four in-depth articles based on their investigation into forest-use changes in Peninsula...