The article, “Concern Over Rare Rhino Rouses Clean Energy
Drive in Malaysia” by Jeff Smith of National Geographic, hits points of animal
extinction, renewable energy and energy issues in poorer nations. Initially the article explains how
renewable energy such as hydropower, geothermal and waste from the region of
Malaysia’s abundant oil palm mills is just as costly as coal. However, despite
the high cost, animal activists won the battle against the government from constructing
a new coal fired plant in the area.
By doing so, the activists are saving the area from deadly pollution but
have yet to set up a renewable energy source, leaving the area depleted of
needed energy. Malaysian officials
such as Masidi Manjun have argued the importance of utilizing natural gas in
its accessibility and abundance.
This is why the Malaysian government will go with natural gas to fuel
their immediate energy needs while making moves towards renewable energy,
opposed to using coal fueled plants. Natural gas is highly abundant around
Malaysia, typically offshore. Gas is a clean fuel and the plant will be in an
industrial area far from the ecosystems that ignited the coal dispute. However, debates are still discussing
controversy as many areas of Malaysia have come to be known solely for their
biodiversity and beauty. The coal plant that was planned to be built along
Sabah’s coastline is where the endangerment of the Sumatran rhinoceros comes
into play. The Sumatran rhinoceros
is the world’s smallest rhinoceros at around 4.3ft. Currently, they are the
most critically endangered species on Earth with roughly around 200 remaining,
alive. In Borneo alone, poachers,
hunters and encroaching habitats have trimmed the number of rhinos down to a
mere 30 to 50. Fortunately, the people have fought for the small species of
rhinos and have saved the survivors from sure death due to the horrible
pollution of coal-operated facilities. Although making steps to cleaner and
safer energy, fossil fuels still account for about 90 percent of the power
capacity in Sabah. The real
challenge now is the mixing of green ideas in an economically viable way.
This
article is very relevant to issues abundant today, not just in poorer countries
but also in industrialized and wealthy countries such as our own. As our world wide population steadily
rises as well as the demand for food and goods, pollution has become more and
more of an issue that it endangers our well being as a whole. This is why steps for green energy and
ideas are a necessity in order to sustain the earth and keep our plant from
plummeting into certain doom. The
protesting of coal burning power plants to save animals dependent on the
ecosystem around them is just the first step in a long journey in committing
our world to smarter and greener ways of renewable energy. Ultimately, this article should act as
a example of what needs to be done worldwide and what kind of actions the
people should start taking in order for our world to be sustained.
Overall,
I think this article did a great job summarizing the issue in Malaysia, in both
the energy crisis as well as the endangerment of the small rhinoceros
species. However, I do feel more
time could have been spent on getting into greater detail about the rhino, such
as how they are affected and why they are affected, as the article is key on
them specifically. If greater care was given the species of rhinos the article
is named about, I think that would truly complete the article and give the readers
an overall sense of satisfaction on what they came for to read.
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