Curtin Sarawak supports Earth Hour

Miri – 25 March 2013 – About 60 students and staff of Curtin University, Sarawak Malaysia (Curtin Sarawak) gathered to mark Earth Day 2013 at the university’s Multi-purpose Hall on 22 March 2013.

Organised by student members of the Curtin Environmental Club (CEC) led by its president, Han Yi Chiew, the gathering featured interesting and fun activities such as music and song performances, a mini treasure hunt, signature campaign, glow-in-the-dark nail polishing,   and an ‘Earth Hour Countdown’. Refreshments were served but with a slight ‘eco-friendly’ twist – everyone had to bring their own plates and cups.

It was the first time such an event was organised at Curtin Sarawak in conjunction with Earth Hour and was supported by the Curtin Sarawak Student Council and the university’s Environmental Sustainability Committee (ESC).

To further support Earth Hour, the walkway lights throughout the university’s Prinia, Falcon and Skylark precincts were switched off for an hour.

Prior to the event, staff of the university were advised to support Earth Hour by ensuring all non-essential lights and equipment in their areas were switched off, and doing the same at home during Earth Hour.

Also present at the gathering were Chief Operating Officer Nicholas Ching and Curtin Sarawak’s corporate communications manager and chair of its Environmental Sustainability Committee, Nicholas Leong; as well as Dr. Merlin Franco Francis, a research fellow at the Curtin Sarawak Research Institute and an advisor to the CEC.

The CEC, which was formed last year, currently has about 100 members and is active in organising awareness campaigns and other activities relating to the environment. Through advocating sustainable development, goal-oriented campaigns, activism and environmental education, it aims to establish Curtin Sarawak as an icon in the environmental movement, for the benefit of the university and the local community and world at large.

One of the CEC’s upcoming projects includes a green exhibition in conjunction with World Earth Day on 15 April 2013 being organised with the support of other student clubs at Curtin Sarawak, the ESC and a number of external organisations. More information on the CEC is available at curtinenvironmentalclub.webs.com/.

The ESC, meanwhile, was formed in 2011 to implement and manage Curtin Sarawak’s environmental sustainability initiatives, as well as develop alliances and collaborations with other organisations on sustainability issues. It comprises staff of various schools and departments within Curtin Sarawak, as well as representatives of the Student Council and CEC.

Adorning fingernails with glow-in-the-dark nail polish.

Enjoying music and song performances in candlelight.

Some of the students showing the support for Earth Hour 2013.