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PENCINTA ALAM JANUARY 2013  ECO KIDS COLUMN   LAUNDRY SCOOP WHEELBARROWS  (Idea and image from StorkNet Kids' Crafts ) What can do you with all the laundry scoops that come with each new box of laundry detergent? Here is a simple craft idea that repurposes laundry scoops into seed starter kits that you could give out as gifts or party favours. YOU NEED: 1. Laundry scoops 2. Acrylic paints, permanent markers or stickers. 3. Buttons or round wooden or metal discs. (Two for each laundry scoop) 4. Glue 5. Potting soil 6. Tiny plants, e.g. ferns, or seeds.  8. A corkscrew for drilling a hole with. INSTRUCTIONS: 1. Drill a hole at the bottom of your laundry scoop to allow excess water to drain out. You may need an adult's help for this. 2. Decorate your laundry scoops with paint or markers to make them resemble wheelbarrows. A gardening or floral theme would work well with this craft idea. 3. Decorate the buttons or discs with a black marker or paints to make them look li...

LETTER TO THE EDITOR: THE CHALLENGES AHEAD: SAFE & SUSTAINABLE VEGETABLE FARMING ( Image reproduced from The Star, 13 Dec 2012, without permission but in accordance with the principles of fair use ) Once every few years, the media will report of rampant land clearing, water pollution, use of banned pesticides and environmental degradation in the Cameron Highlands as a result of intensive agricultural activity ( Cameron Highlands in terrible shape due to land clearing and water pollution , The Star, Dec 11 2012 ). This draws attention to the challenges of reconciling food security with environmental integrity. In their research paper published in 2009, Drs. CJ Barrow, Chan Ngai Weng and Tarmiji Masron had pointed out that the expansion and intensification of farming in the Cameron Highlands had seriously polluted streams and groundwater with sediment, manure-enriched runoff, agrichemicals and sewage. The same report found that large numbers of vegetable growers were reported to be u...