Judy (fourth left) and some of the working committee members holding the WOD 2017 banner showing the various activities to be held that require public participation.
MIRI: Miri City is celebrating for the first time the World Oceans Day (WOD) which falls on June 8 joining millions of people in over 100 countries to remind everyone of the major role the oceans have in everyday life. The oceans are the lungs of the planet, providing most of the oxygen that human breathe in.
A working committee for the WOD 2017 in Miri has been formed by a group of volunteers and advocates of sustainable environment. They comprised professionals from the various public and private agencies, members of non-governmental organisations, NGOs and individuals who are determined to get Mirians to play active roles towards the global efforts of ensuring healthy oceans.
Renowned social worker and the Second vice chairman of Malaysian Red Crescent MRC Miri Chapter Datin Judy Wan Morshidi has been tasked to be the Organising Chairman, assisted by young super volunteer, Iqbal Abdollah, an assistant director of Miri Inland Revenue Board (IRB).
The three advisors are Associate Professor Dr Dominique Dodge-Wan, a senior lecturer at Curtin Malaysia; Musa Musbah Chairman of the Malaysian Nature Society, MNS Miri Chapter and Dr. Loh Yunn Hua – general practitioner who pioneered the idea to have the WOD after getting inspiration from a friend in Selangor, S L Wong – professional writer specialising in environment and travel.
The other exco members are Kho Yok Chong (Secretary), Dr. Uma Deva (MRC and former director of Miri Hospital), Cr. Karambir Singh, Cecilia Sman, Loh Kiun Shin – both journalists, Sofina Tan and Lilian Baun both from Pustaka Negeri Sarawak Miri.
At a joint press conference yesterday, Judy said six main public oriented activities will be held in July instead of in June which is a fasting month. Collaborating with them are the Miri City Council (MCC), MRC Miri Chapter, MNS Miri, Pustaka Miri, Society of English Writers Northern Zone (Soswe), and Miri Toastmaster Club.
The celebration will kick off with a beach cleaning “Save the Ocean – Lets Clean Up at Marina Bay on July 1 from 8-10am to be followed by a symposium: Sarawak’s World Oceans Day Symposium 2017 on July 2.
There will be an essay writing competition on July 15; speech contest – Speak Up on July 8, art and craft competition exhibition – Let’s UPSCLE! on July 23 and 29 which is also the closing ceremony for all of the events from 1 – 5pm, all to be held at Pustaka Miri.
“We started the WOD 2017 in a small way but we hope that all these activities will have great impact on the ocean in the long term. But for it to happen, strong support from the people is required as the health of our oceans and the environment is everyone’s concern, otherwise the people and all living things will have to suffer from the degradation of the environment,” stressed Judy.
She said other activities to be carried out are talks on WOD and its importance over Radio Television Malaysia, RTM Sarawak and Miri fm in addition to setting up a facebook page, where the people could contribute in ideas towards achieving healthy oceans.
For further details on the events, contact MRC Miri Chapter at 085-428032 during office hours or call Judy, Kho or any of the event’s coordinators or the committee members.
World Oceans Day, WOD is the official UN-designated international day of ocean celebration. Held on June 8 each year since 2009, WOD is to provide an opportunity to all to combat the current challenges spoiling the ocean cycle.
WOD 2017 themed “0ur Oceans, Our Future” main conservation focus will be on plastic pollution prevention and cleaning the ocean of marine hazards. These include human pressures like destructive fishing, marine pollution besides climate change and ocean acidification which are taking a significant toll on the world’s oceans and seas.