Current API at 21:00
06 September 2010

Spare Water Spare Money
River Partner River Fund
Friends of the Earth (HK) comments on the Guangdong Water Crisis


In response to short-term relief measures to help our Guangdong neighbor to overcome its water crisis, Friends of the Earth (HK) urges the Hong Kong Government to consider a long-term cross border water resource management policy, which includes upstream and downstream partnership to guarantee water quality and water quantity affecting 40 million people's drinking water.

Beyond reviewing existing water supply, water transport, water consumption and water disposal happening downstream, it is equally important to think about upstream water source protection endangered by the impact of climate change and midstream water pollution due to rapid urbanization.

Friends of the Earth (HK) proposes to set up a Dongjiang River Eco Trust Fund, to receive the variance of water procurement fee (to buy water from Guangdong) if Hong Kong agrees to draw less water from the Dongjiang River in order to spare water for neighbor cities. Currently, Hong Kong pays the Guangdong Government an agreed sum, in the tune of HK$3 billion a year for drawing water from the Dongjiang River. Under the cross-border contractual agreement, it is fixed price fixed quantity. Less use, same price, no money back.

Friends of the Earth (HK) supports the Hong Kong Legislators' recent recommendation to draw less water from Dongjiang to spare water for drought threatened neighbors. In all fairness, FoE (HK) proposes that the variance in water procurement fee due to the lesser amount of water taken should be accounted for by setting up an independent Dongjiang River Eco-Trust Fund. Provide funding support for cross-border upstream downstream partnership activities to protect the Dongjiang River source ecology and capacity build mid-stream and downstream polluting farmers and villagers to switch to water-safe livelihood and green economy. It is an investment to securing our future water quantity and quality.

In 2008, Friends of the Earth (HK) launched the Dongjiang Upstream Downstream River Partners project, which mobilizes upstream downstream volunteers from Hong Kong and Guangdong to plant trees to enhance water catchment, to clear rubbish, to alert about pesticide and fertilizer abuse, to promote organic farming and incubate green village economy. Its core mission is to safeguard the upstream Dongjiang River source at the poverty Xuwu County in Jiangxi Province, China and to enhance downstream public water awareness and water responsibility.

Friends of the Earth (HK) is ready to work with Hong Kong Water Supplies Department (WSD) to raise public water awareness, to promote water conservation, to publicize water saving labeling.

Friends of the Earth (HK) is partnering with cross-border agency and environmental groups to organize cross-border water awareness campaigns and eco-volunteering services to facilitate public participation to safeguard Dongjiang water quality and quantity.

"Spare Water Spare Money, it is wiser to invest to avoid rain-less days by taking less and giving more to mitigate the worsening climate impact and pollution hazards.

River Partner River Fund, it is wiser to invest in low-carbon, low-water economy to avoid future water conflict and water crisis." Mrs. Mei Ng, Friends of the Earth (HK) Board Member and Dongjiang River Partner Project Coordinator, concluded.

Visit Friends of the Earth (HK) website for info about the Dongjiang River Partner project:

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For enquiries, please contact Mei Ng or Yuan Shuwen at (852) 2528-5588 or email china@foe.org.hk

  
     
 
 
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Reduce paper use and promote paper recycling
If fewer trees are cut down to produce paper, we will have more trees to absorb CO2 which is the gas implicated in global warming.
少砍伐樹木, 幫助減低溫室效應. 據資料顯示, 每公頃森林每日能吸收一公噸的二氧化碳, 放出0.73公噸的氧氣.

Choose electrical appliances with an Energy Efficiency Label
改用能源效益標籤屬於第一級別的電器, 可大大減少電力消耗. 第一級別的雪櫃比普通雪櫃省電35%, 儲水式熱水爐可減少25%耗電量, 第一級別的洗衣機則可以減少用電20%等.

Energy saving
Make sure all your electrical appliances are switched off, instead of just being in standby mode, when you leave the room
睡覺前把不用的電視, 電腦, 微波爐等電器的電源關上, 比起設於備用狀態更加省電.

Keep the room temperature at 25.5 C
Electricity consumption is lowed by 1.5% for every degree Celsius increase in the thermostat
原來每調高1度空調, 一年可以節省1.5%耗電量

When you order a take away,
bring your carrier or reusable container. This helps to reduce non-biodegradable Styrofoam packaging.

Promote paperless office
Promote a paperless office by sending send emails instead of mail and link up your computer network, as this cuts
down on the need for printing jobs which will save paper. Reuse computer print-out paper as memo pads or telephone message pads.

Reduce Water Consumption
When brushing your teeth, use water in tumbler instead of from a running
tap. Take a shower instead of bathing
in a bathtub. Install a dual-action flush in your toilet to reduce
water consumption.

Enjoy natural resource
It's better to rely on natural and ventilation. Leave windows open and switch off the lights and fans which are not in use to reduce energy consumption.

Green consumption
Plan your shopping list to avoid over-consumption, which normally contributes
to household waste. Instead of ending up with many plastic bags, bring your
own shopping bag to hold smaller items. This eliminates unnecessary
consumption of plastic bags and reduces waste.

Say Yes to Public Transportation
Public transport can usually take more people at a time to their destinations,
which reduces your energy consumption. You can also consider
other means of transportation, such as a bicycle or simply go on foot if
possible.

Plants are great!
Growing plants can creat a pleasant working and living space. In additional, they can
also serve as an air purifier and give us all healthier surroundings.