From: rezal@leland.Stanford.EDU (Rezal Adzly Abdul Rahman)
Subject: The ecosystem and the malays
Organization: DSG, Stanford University, CA 94305, USA
Date: Sat, 11 Apr 92 19:07:47 GMT

In article <1992Apr11.173121.4639@csc.canterbury.ac.nz> chuah@elec.canterbury.ac.nz (DanC) writes:
>In article <1992Apr10.190320.15469@athena.mit.edu> zam@athena.mit.edu (Nor Aazizam Mohd Aasif) writes:
>
>>	We will always have tropical climate with or without our
>>rain-forest.  
>
>It has been proven that the tropical rain forest is a climate stabiliser.
>In fact, and forest for that matter is a climate stabiliser.  If we
>lose out trees, the land dries up.  Go read up before you post.
>

	Agreed. A tropical climate is called so not because of its
	geographical location at the earth's eqautor but due to its
	humidity and warm temperature. The current conditions of
	the earth place these conditions that define a tropical forest
	in precarious balance.

	Same message to Aazizam, if you refuse to believe the facts given
	by one of the people you so fondly label as PKM, then please accept
	the advice from a fellow Malay. Open your eyes and utilize the
	wealth that MIT has got to offer and seek the true answers to your
	statements above. Bear in mind, college is not limited to a paper
	degree, other values in life can be gained from within the ivory
	tower.

>>Singapore has been without any significant rain forest
>>for a long time, you don't see it changing into a desert.
>
>That is because Singapore has Malaysia to thank.  We still have 
>our rain forest ... but for how long I don't know.
>

	The effects of a tropical rain forest is not localized.
	In fact, one of the reasons that Singapore still has a tropical
	climate may not only be attributed to the Malaysian and Indonesian
	forests but also the Amazon jungle half a  world away.

>>>c) The roots of the trees provide a good support against soil erosion
>>
>>	That's what replanting supposed to do...
>
>If the loggers have been replanting, I would not be complaining here.
>The fact is most of them do not (and are not required by the law) to
>replant whatever that has been cut down.  Furthermore, research has 
>shown that a replanted forest can never grow as good as the primary
>forest.  The young seedlings need the protection of the larger 
>trees during their young years.  The researchg also shows that 
>young seedlings are more likely to grow along fallen tree stumps
>as they "feed" off the stumps.  When the loggers have wipped out 
>the trees, the young seedlings can no longer grow.  So much for
>replanting.

	The Forestry Institute of Malaysia does indeed have a law that
	requires replanting. There is a specific quota of the area to
	be logged and the logger must initiate replanting to repair the
	damage that he has done.

	There are many factors that contribute to overlogging in Malaysia.
	Besides corruption within government agencies, there have also
	been cases of illegal logging with highly efficient methods of 
	operation.

	Last summer, a politician went in personally to investigate what was
	reported as illegal logging within a few hours away from KL.
	His four-wheel drive vehicle was nearly pushed into a ravine by
	one of the tractor operators. What followed then was a full coverage
	article in the Malay Mail and several other papers that resulted
	in a public outcry and a full scale investigation was launched by
	the government to apprehend the criminals. Another investigation
	was also held to apprehend government officials who have been 
	aiding the criminals in thwarting the enforcement agencies.

	So, as you can see, the government does make an effort to control
	logging and retain the dynamic ecosystem of the tropical jungle.

>
>>>d) It contasins *A LOT* of species which may be of use to mankind
>>	
>>	I don't see any reason for saving the animal species if it
>>means restricting the country of its possible income...
>

	This is one bloke who'll rather see pictures of animals in the
	book rather than watching them alive in their natural habitat
	or at the zoo.

	Allow me to drive my point in.
	There are perhaps thousands if not millions of species of flora
	and fauna that have yet to be cataloged. Who knows what medicinal
	properties and other benefits these organisms can provde us.

	Allow me to give you a simple example. Much research has been done
	at Stanford on the drug taxol which has had promising results
	in the treatment of breast and ovarian cancer. 
	Unfortunately, taxol can only be derived naturally from the bark
	of the Pacific yew tree and due to the decreasing number of yew trees
	which are also homes to the spotted owl and an inherent part of the
	Pacific coast ecosystem, taxol cannot be obtained directly from
	these trees. 

	So far, researchers here have had promising results insynthesizing
	the drug and have managed to produce part of the molecule.
	Fortunately, the properties of taxol were discovered before the 
	Pacific yew tree was made extinct.

	The Malay culture which we defend zealously against attacks also
	promotes the interaction of man and nature. Our bomohs seek the
	healing powers of various plants found deep in the jungle. 
	Research is being conducted now in local universities in determining
	the drugs used by the bomohs in the treatment of various diseases.

	You, who so strongly defend the Malays against the accusations of
	other races, also deny the traditional harmony that our forefathers
	have established with nature.
	You deny the caring and love of nature that the Malay culture
	advocates.
	You deny the wisdom of our grandfathers who used to be able to tell
	time from the position of the sun and sense danger by the movements
	of other creature around them.
	Yet, you claim yourself to be a full blooded Malay?
	
	Being a Malay goes beyond the color of one's skin and roots.
	Being a Malay also means embracing the values and traditions
	of the Malay culture and one of the values that the Malays uphold
	is the simbiotic relationship of man and nature.
 

>As I have said, income for whom.  For the rich fat loggers?  For the
>govt?  What about the poor people who lose thsir home (the Penans).
>How much do they get?  Zilch.
>
>>>e) It is a source of food.
>>
>>	The country is not on the brink of starvation.  We have enough
>>agribusiness to handle the 18m population in Malaysia.

	Although we are no longer scavengers who seek to satisfy their
	hunger by foraging into the jungle, there may be many other
	delicious fruits which have not been found and may still lie
	waitng to be discovered by humans.

	The only question is whether their first contact with technology
	is with a biologist's gentle hand or a logger's powerful chainsaw.

	Durian was never the culture fruit we see today with its numerous
	hybrids ranging from the first D1 to the sweet and fleshy D24.
	It was native to the jungle and man discovered it. Man then
	assisted the durian in its evolution by combining science and
	nature. 

	Applied to a macro scale, this is how we should live. A fruitful
	relationship between science and nature.

>>	There have not been any referendums taken on this issue; so I
>>guess the practise should go on until such a time that the majority
>>wishes to stop it...
>
>I am one of the majority who says loging ought to be stopped.

	While I do not support the complete abolishment of logging,
	I support every effort to maintain nature while still being
	able to export wood. One simple solution would be specific
	plots which can be rotated on a 10-15 year basis to provide
	a continuous source of wood while letting our virgin jungle
	remain virgin.

	Dear Aazizam, 
	I am extremely disappointed with your view of nature and the role
	of man. Even though being an engineer, we are also scientists who
	have the greater responsiblity of safekeeping this earth as a legacy
	for the future.
	
	MIT maybe better than Stanford or Princeton. Then again maybe not.
	Regardless of its position relative to Stanford or Princeton, it
	still is a premier institution in the world. While you may remain
	satisfied with the degree MIT will eventually award you, I cannot
	but express frustration in your attitude that seems to allow other
	aspects of your MIT education to slip by your fingers.

	While being a Malay with an MIT degree may seem admirable, the
	mentality and attitude that one holds after graduating from it
	should be able to convey the maturity and respectability of such
	and institution.

	My advice is entirely sincere for I bear no prejudices as for I am
	a Malay like you and have therefore remained untouched by your 
	previous racial slurs. This article is not a retaliation to any 
	attack but a gentle advice to a fellow Malaysian technocrat.


>
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>Dennis Chuah  | "Pencangkul Matahari"  email:   
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-Rezal Adzly Abdul Rahman
Stanford University. Home of the NCAA champions...

"We did not inherit the earth from our fathers but borrowed it from our
children."