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People
Reese Fernandez: Filipino Social Enterprise Rags2Riches Provides Decent Work for Women
Rags2Riches is a Filipino brand that turns scraps of cloth into high-end fashion accessories and in the process provides jobs, dignity, decent wages and financial training to women from some of the poorest communities in the country. Michael Switow chats with Reese in this special Gaia Discovery podcast.
Sanjeev Sanyal on Sustainable Urban Environments
Sanjeev Sanyal, an author, strategist and founder of the Sustainable Planet Institute, talks to Michael Switow about urban development, improving livelihoods and making the urban jungle a bit more environmentally friendly.
James Anak Bali: Conserving Borneo's Sea Turtles Creatively
Where once sea turtle population took a dive for the worse, one man introduced unusual methods to revive the numbers on Pulau Talang Talang, part of Talang-Satang National Park, Sarawak. Michael Switow talks to Sarawak Forestry official James anak Bali.
Unn Sophary: Waste Plastic, Glass Bottle Re-used to Art
Casting light on a longstanding problem is only part of what bar owner and eco-campaigner Unn Sophary (Pari) does. She takes waste plastic and glass bottles, turns them into practical and elegant accessories – and educates her community too. Mallika Naguran chats with her to find out more.
Celia Gregory: Regenerative Coral Reef Sculptor
Celia Gregory has a dream of creating a living sculpture under the waves. She is making it come true with the Coral Goddess, an innovative mix of eco-responsibility and intriguing art. Mallika Naguran finds out more about the sculptor's work.
Places
Showcase Eco-Resort: Frangipani Langkawi Resort & Spa
Beyond green, this eco-resort in West Malaysia shows how organic methods can be applied to address environmental problems and tourism impacts to produce amazing results. Mallika Naguran checks it out.
Mekong Responsible Travel E-Guide Launched
A new e-guide describes over 185 responsible holiday activities in the Mekong river region of Southeast Asia. It is to boost demand for the many responsible businesses in the Mekong region that now cater to all budgets and types of holidaymakers.
Eco-friendly Amarela Resort's Boholano Heritage
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Committed to heritage and low impact hospitality services, Amarela Resort is a charming eco-resort perched on the Panglao Island coastline of the Philippines. An old Visayas art form - Boholano - is revived here, and the environment is given tender loving care as well. A resort review by Mallika Naguran.
Sukau Rainforest Resort's Eco-friendly Building Materials
As part of a 2million ringgit upgrade, the Sukau Rainforest Lodge has just opened the impressive Gomantong Hall, modelled on the nearby Gomantong caves. By Jeremy Torr.
Thailand’s Green Routes Boost Eco-tourism, Sustainability Standards
Travellers looking for an eco holiday in Thailand can now rest easy. Thai Tourism offers planned environmentally-friendly tours, from central Thailand to the northern tribal enclaves of Chiang Mai, and Chiang Rai to Isaan in the northeast region. Mallika Naguran reports.
Planet
Virgin Coconut Oil Health Benefits
Coconuts - merely a great source of sweet chocolate bar and dessert ingredients? There is much more to this versatile fruit than that, especially when virgin coconut oil is extracted. Henrylito D. Tacio reports.
Bicycle Hire Service in Hangzhou, China - World's Biggest
With over 50,000 bikes available to rent, Hangzhou in China is aiming to reduce pollution, cut congestion, and keep its people healthy – all while making a profit! By Jeremy Torr.
Google Researches Clean Energy Generation, Reveals Solar Patent
Not content with not being evil, Google wants to be clean too. It has revealed it is to invest in clean energy R&D with the aim of active clean power generation - cheaper than coal. By Jeremy Torr.
Singapore's Cleantech R&D in Energy & Water Gets More Funding
Cleantech will drive economic growth as such Singapore has pumped in even more funds to nurture specifically the energy and water sectors. And Singapore is poised to offer global cleantech companies a combination of four key ingredients. Mallika Naguran reports.
Aussie 'Bike' Fundraiser to support Project Aware and Springboard Foundation
Two dive professionals and bike enthusiasts - Allan Nash and Tommy Soderstrom - will ride all around Australia starting from August 2011 to raise funds for charity. Read about what motivates them. By Sarah Joseph.
Marine Life
Fish Depletion, Marine Habitats Destruction in the Philippines
A report by Henrylito D.Tacio on the state of fishery in the Philippines and the threats to marine environments such as coral reefs, mangroves and seagrass.
Marine NGO Problems: Financing, Local Empowerment & Economics
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Benita Yue, a marine environmentalist, looks at how NGOs manage their operations with funding from various sources based on different business models. She also makes useful suggestions on the long-term sustainability of these non-profit organisations.
Gaia Discovery Partners Big Bubble for Coral Reef Restoration With Biorock® Technology
The Gili Eco Trust will be the main beneficiary of this partnership to help the Indonesian islanders of the three Gilis cope with environmental stresses and threats. Gaia Discovery embarks on coral gardening and assisted reef restoration programmes and seeks the participation of scuba divers from around the world.
Tuna Handline Fishing in Philippines to Meet Marine Stewardship Council Sustainability Criteria
WWF announces a four-year pilot with the Philippine Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources to address the socio-economic conditions of local fishermen while addressing fishery crises. Tuna handline fishers in the Philippines now have a better chance at competing in European markets.
Reef Fish Decline: Seafood Restaurants Contribute to Declining Grouper, Wrasse, Snapper Numbers
Dining at a fish restaurant is a nice way to relax with friends, but it pays to makes sure your dinner doesn’t contribute to the catastrophic reduction in reef fish species numbers. Allen To reports.
Adventures
Review of Panglao Island Diving with SeaQuest: Balicasag and Coastal Dives
There is more to Panglao island than Balicasag - a famed dive destination in the Philippines that has earned honorable mention in most dive guides, even clinching top ten rankings in reviews. Mallika Naguran explores the underwater world.
Wicked Diving on Ethics, Responsible Tourism and Organic Products
Divers may be pleased to know that dive centres are going big on ethics and translating their principles into action. Mallika Naguran travels to Thailand to meet Wicked Diving.
Andaman Freediving Championship 2011, Koh Lanta: Skills, Spills and Thrills
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Taking part in a freediving competition is a test of mental and bodily strength, as Mallika Naguran finds out at Blue Planet’s annual event in Koh Lanta, Thailand. Gaia Discovery was a proud media partner of the Andaman Freediving Competition.
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Timor-Leste First Adventure Race Through Dili, Christu Rei, Dare to Comoro – with Sweat!
Timor-Leste’s first Adventure Race in December 2010 was an odd mix of dashes, dunks and dirt. But the one-day race offered sights, sounds and smells that were uniquely Timorese. Mallika Naguran reports from a dry, respectable distance.
Disabled Scuba Divers in Bali Overcome Stereotype Prejudices
Avandy Djunaidi is the owner of Bali International Dive Professionals, a scuba diving operation in Sanur, Bali. Simon Pridmore finds out how Avandy, together with the Senang Hati Foundation, is inspiring a sea change in attitudes towards the disabled in Indonesia.
Festivals
CausewayEXchange: Lit Up KL, Plays, Film, Poetry Slam
Singapore and Malaysia got together for a unique cultural programme, CausewayEXchange 2011, where Mallika Naguran joined fellow Singapore travellers to enjoy the weekend's literary affair in Kuala Lumpur.
14th Rainforest World Music Festival a Wonder
From 'pathos in purity' to 'high-wire energy', Borneo's famed world music festival is all of this and more, describes Mallika Naguran.
Rainforest World Music Festival 2011 Showcases Record 22 Performing Acts
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Once again the magic of Sarawak's iconic Rainforest World Music Festival has begun. World music lovers can look forward to an incredible line-up of world class acts among the 22 bands - the highest so far. Mallika Naguran tunes in.
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Rondalla: The Festival that Rocks the Philippines
Tagum City has no natural attractions to speak of – so it is making up for the deficit with a year-round list of attraction, events and festivals. By Henrylito D. Tacio.
Timor-Leste’s First Ramelau Music Festival 2010 Features Ethnic Folk and Modern Fusion
Timorese folks travelled a long distance from their villages across the country to Hatu Builico to be part of the first Ramelau Festival of Culture and Music. In spite of the chilly climate in the mountains, Adam and Louisa Butler report.
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