For Earth, Go Beyond the Hour!

By Joey Low

So, did you switch off your lights during Earth Hour?

            Earth Hour is an annual global ‘lights out’ event organized by WWF (World Wildlife Fund) and is held on the last Saturday of March annually, asking households and businesses to turn off their non-essential lights for one hour.

            It is undeniable that Earth Hour has attained its aim which is to raise awareness among public to join the event and switch off their lights for a period of an hour.

             But, does it really help on the environmental issues that the Earth is facing by switching off lights during that particular hour? What we have to understand is, Earth Hour is more than switching off lights for an hour once a year!

            That is why the theme for Earth Hour 2011 has been focusing on urging people to switch off lights around the globe and most importantly, commit to actions that go beyond the hour.

            My friends, turning off your lights for Earth Hour does not matter. What matters most is the commitment to living a sustainable lifestyle.

            Now that the lights are back on. What you have to do is think about what you can change in your daily life that will benefit the planet. As mentioned by the organizers, “Earth Hour is not about immediate energy impact. Rather, it’s about demonstrating commitment to change and serving as a jumping-off point for everyday action.”

            Never belittle every single, small, environmental-friendly actions! Your small efforts are believed to make a positive difference.

Earth Hour encourages people to not just turn off their energy for an hour, once a year, but gets everyone to think about the energy they use and be more aware of the resource consumption on day-to-day basis.

                                                                                                

We need to commit to consuming wisely and living sustainably starting from this very moment. In doing so, we are not only showing our symbolic support, but proving that we are committed to living a sustainable lifestyle!

Remember, everyone has the power to make change. So let’s save the Earth together by treating every hour of everyday as Earth Hour!

Earth Hour 2011: These two combo photos show Malaysia's downtown in Kuala Lumpur, having their lights turned off to mark Earth Hour on March 26, 2011 at 8.30p.m.

Tesco, Your Choice for Healthy Eating

By Ivy Kho


Eating healthily should be a major part of student life by the means of cooking own meals at home. Most of the students have no time to be squeezed out for preparing their home-cooked meals and would just have a bite on breads or grab a can of Nescafe to give them energy in pursuing their degrees programme. By preparing meals oneself, you will not only spend less money on eating out and takeaways.

          Utarians and Ktarians, do you prepare your own meals at home? Do you face difficulties in buying ingredients from the nearer grocery shops when you want to cook at home? You do not need to worry because Tesco is the best solution for the doubts. Tesco has longer working hours compared to market which is only available in the morning. This is flexible because students can go and buy ingredients whenever they wish.

          Tesco, Kampar is just within a stone’s throw distance from Eastlakes and Westlakes. A wide range of variety fresh vegetables and juicy fruits are provided in an affordable price to the consumers especially students. Tesco is changing their stocks everyday in order to maintain the hygienic level and to keep the fresh stocks on the racks. The stocks are well-arranged according to their types and names.
   

Tesco Kampar: A wide variety of vegetables can be found.

          “I go to Tesco for grocery shopping once in three days with my housemates. We usually refrigerate and cook those vegetables within two days. This is because we do not want to keep them for long time. Tesco is just very convenient for us to live healthy lifestyle,” said Moi, a Year Three Student from Chinese Studies course.

          “I prefer to prepare my own meals at home even though I have a busy schedule. The food outside is really oily and high in sodium. If we cook by our own, we can cut off unhealthy ingredients. It is our decision what goes in a meal,” said Qian, a Year One student from Biomedical Science course.

Tesco Kampar: Fresh and green leafy vegetables are well-displayed on the racks.

          So, what are you waiting for? Start your grocery shopping at Tesco and prepare your own meal to live a healthy lifestyle today! Tesco is always being there for you.

       

The Glee of UTAR Convocation!

By Wong Yin Mun

KUALA LUMPUR: Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR) held its 12th convocation on the 19 and 20 March 2011grandly at Dewan San Choon, Wisma MCA, Jalan Ampang, Kuala Lumpur.

           The convocation indicated a significant moment in the records of the UTAR for the conferment of degrees to their first PhD graduates and first batch of degree graduates from UTAR Perak campus. 

          This group of people has consisted of 1,195 graduates of 22 Bachelor’s Honours degree programmes as well as 17 pioneer graduates of Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) Mechatronics Engineering.

          The entire convocation ceremony was divided into three. The guests of honor being invited were the Deputy Minister of Education and National Chairman of MCA Youth, Datuk Ir Dr Wee Ka Siong, Member of UTAR Council, Dato’ Dr Mohd Aminuddin Mohd Rouse, as well as Member of the Board of Trustees of UTAR Education Foundation and UTAR Council, Datuk Leong Tang Chong.

                                          Bok Yee Peng(left) and Cheong Sing Hoong (right)

          “I feel so glad and excited since last night!” said Cheong Sing Hoong, 23, a Bachelor of commerce (Honours) Accounting graduate. He also said that “It is not an easy path all the way to this building. I would like to thank my lecturers, friends, family members, especially my mother for all the supports that they have given to me along the road of success.”