Issue 004/March 2013

FOOTPRINTs

an Earth Walkers publication

SUSTAINABILITY IN THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY

In this months issue of Footprints, we take a look at a module that relates very closely to the mission and objectives of the Earth Walkers HMD 376D or more commonly known as Sustainability in the Hospitality Industry. Led by Dr. Madeleine Cheah-Hevera, this is not just another classroom-based subject. Students get the opportunity to create unique projects that promote the Green cause while learning rst hand, the challenges faced by corporations that are shifting towards Eco Awareness. Besides a short Q&A session with Dr. Cheah-Hevera, we also chose three groups to share their projects with us, and the experiences they gained along the way. 1. What are your views on Sustainability? As I said before in the February issue of Footprints that sustainability is not just about green leaves and prots. It includes all of society that work together to ensure that our future generations will continue to enjoy what we have been enjoying so far. 2. How is this module signicant and relevant for students? HMD 376D is a signicant module because it extends beyond the individual class and requires the attention of everyone in the school. Integrating the objectives, concepts and learning experiences of this module is an important part of education for sustainable development reform that most universities are observing now. 3. Why did you decide to assign students such projects that would not only include those taking the module, but the general public as well? I want to create awareness to all UNLV students, so that all our students can gain an appreciation as to how individuals and societal efforts can help in sustainability. Warren Elliot W Wee

PROJECT 1: Recycle cl Bins at UNLV Singapore

It has been over a month th since the start of the Spring semester, and students from Rebels 14, 16 and 17 have been showing off what they have learnt from the Sustainability module. le Our group from Rebel 16 came up with a project to encourage students to practice recycling. In conjunction with the Earth ve designed and implemented the various eye-catching Walkers efforts, we have recycle bins you see around campus. The frames of these bins are made from cardboard, layered with common trash for added color. Inside each bin are two bags that store either metals or plastics. PHOTO The four adorable UNLV Singapore Recycle Bins Our team came up with the idea of having Artistic Recycle Bins in order to capture the attention and awareness of students. Doreamon, an electronic robot, a pink panda and a frog inspired the designs of the bins. The biggest challenge was coming up with ways to make it stable and able to withstand the weight of the potential materials that would be thrown in. We also summoned all our creative energies to come up with the eventual designs, and put our artistic talents to work in producing the nal products. My group and I are deeply heartened by the initiative other students are taking, to make full use of these bins to recycle their used metals or plastics. We are also especially grateful to the students who religiously clear the bins on a daily basis. Even the faculty and staff have taken notice and agreed to recycle as much as they can, as part of efforts to be environmentally friendly and sustainable. This mini project was a huge learning step for our group and we have enjoyed ourselves thoroughly in the process. We sincerely hope this activity continues beyond the module and that all students will appreciate and contribute to this effort. This beautiful Earth is all we have, and to save it we should create a sustainable culture with sustainable souls. Siddharth Chadha

PROJECT 2: Flea for a Cause

Part of being a responsible adult is giving back to society and I had a great opportunity to do exactly that, thanks to my Sustainability Class HMD376D, lectured by the ever graceful Professor Madeleine Cheah. Our curiculum requires us to plan and engage in weekly activities that would help in sustaining the environment and my classmates and I decided to organize a ea market, aptly named Flea for a Cause. Purchasing pre-loved items from PHOTO Flea for a Cause at HCL a ea market will help in reducing the amount of trash that would otherwise end up in landlls. It also greatly reduces the emission of toxic fumes that result from the biodegrading process. To date, we have raised $211.00 and as previously discussed, we have decided that 80% of our prots will be donated to the Nature Society (Singapore) and the other 20% to fund other sustainability projects. Items that did not sell were donated to the thrift store New2U, run by the Singapore Council of Womens Organizations. For more information on other activities that are in line with Sustainability efforts, be sure to approach the Earth Walkers! Also, be sure to check out New2U Thrift Shop at 96 Waterloo Street. Ian Tan

PROJECT 3: Gardens by the Bay

Gardens by the Bay is one of the latest key tourist attractions in Singapore. Its main features are the super trees and the conservatory, which consist of two dome shaped greenhouses. These greenhouses have to be kept at 16 degrees Celsius and this requires a lot of energy. How then, is this attraction considered sustainable? Well, that is what our team from Rebel 14 has found out.

PHOTO Group shot taken at Gardens by the Bay

First, the glass panels that surround the domes are specially made to allow just enough sunlight to shine through. In addition, automatic shades appear when temperature sensors detect too much heat. To further lower the temperature, a dehumidifying system is used. The air outside is sucked into a chamber where the moisture is extracted, reducing humidity levels from 90% to 30%. This dry air would then pass through coolers before entering the conservatory, hence cooling the conservatory with less energy. Secondly, there is a mini biomass generator in place. Because pruning the vast amount of plants generates thousands of tons of waste every month, this generator helps to recycle the unwanted materials and converts them to electricity. Excess heat from this process is directed to a heat exchanger, which also generates electricity. On top of that, wood ashes are converted into fertilisers In conclusion, the design team managed to overcome all odds, challenged norms and made Gardens by the Bay sustainable, giving it a cutting edge design which meets green principles. This is an icon that proves that going green does not mean going backwards, but is something that is real and here to stay for the future. Jan Lim

Recycling. Its the new black

FROM FOOD WASTE TO FOOD SOURCE

I was fortunate to be one of the few university students selected to participate in the Japanese Government Cultural Exchange Programme: Kizuna. One of the places that we visited was Takanezawa Town, an agricultural city famous for their strawberries. Their strawberries are by far, the best that I have ever tasted; but of course this article is not about my experience but to introduce a very noble initiative which their town adopts wholeheartedly Soil Composting. The Takanezawa Town Soil Compost Centre is not your typical soil-composting centre. It runs its operations with the concept of sustainability in mind - powering all the machines, soil composting equipment and even street lamps on natural energies such as solar and wind power. The process is simple yet effective. All the waste is collected from each household via biodegradable bags purchased from the soil compost center. The types of waste include solid kitchen and farming waste such as food scraps and rice husks. They are then sorted (by each household), processed and converted into a domestically produced odourless soil, affectionately called Tan Tan-Kun. So they not only pay for the bags, but they would have to do their own sorting as well. Why then, are they willing to do all this? The answer, given by one person, and loosely translated to English, is this: Urbanization and PHOTO Compost Soil h resulted in inferior crops and produce as compared to the industrialization has caused stress to the land which has past. We want our children and future generations to enjoy the t good food that we have now. That is why we are spending so much money on this project. I was, and still am, Sing g moved by this because such a philosophy does not exist in Singapore. Besides just paying for the biodegradable bags and sorting their own waste, the whole town contributes r It is such a simple yet noble act; something that many advocates of sustainability have been trying to proliferate money to build this environmentally friendly soil compost center. and it is somehow being practiced in this small town. I believe part of the reason we do not share such a mentality is because we have been brought up in a society that is so economically driven, where we put the self before others, that we forget the simple act of giving back. I believe that sometimes we need to take time to slow down, and reect on how we can give back to society and the environment that A we so frequently abuse. It starts small, it always does. Alvin Wong * (FYI) Special biodegradable trash bag cost: 3L bag 50 pieces for 300 Yen. 15L bag 30 pieces for 350 Yen

AFTER THOUGHTS - a normal life: CHRONICLE OF A SUMO WRESTLER

I recently chanced upon a rather interesting documentary about Sumo Wrestlers and I decided to share my thoughts on this amazing sport that is so revered in Japan. SUMO - A WAY OF LIFE Sumo wrestlers are known as Rikishi, which means strong man in Japanese. Yes, just like the WWE superstar. Q: How does the life of a rishiki start? The life of a rishiki starts when a boy nishes high school at the age of 18. Sponsors are sourced in order to allow him to train in a heya () or room. Q: What does a junior Sumo need to do? The life of a Sumo abides closely to traditions and hierarchy in Japanese culture; the youngest or most junior Sumo has to do all the chores for his seniors. This includes washing their clothes and belt and PHOTO Ex WWE Superstar, Rikishi even cooking for them. New Rikishis attend a special Sumo school and are taught Japanese calligraphy and culture. They are also trained in the ne art of Public Relations. This allows them to respond in a professional manner when reporters, spectators or even fans ask questions. The Rikishis should follow a very strict way of life as per the directions of the Sumo Association and any slight changes in this way of life will disqualify them from future tournaments. One such guideline is that they are not PHOTO Video Screenshot - Junior Sumo vs. Senior Sumo allowed to consume breakfast in the morning. They begin each day with an intensive training regiment followed by a massive 10,000-calorie meal before an afternoon nap. I gained a new found understanding about this select group of individuals and I hope that by sharing this, you will have a deeper appreciation for this sport. I would like to end with a quote made by one Sumo, which applies not only to the sport but to life as well. I would do my best, even if I know there was only one person who is supporting me at the tournament. Kyokutaisei Takuya Priscilla Foo

kokodema
As I spend a bulk of my weekends removing cobwebs from unknown corners of my house, I took the chance to spruce things up in my humble abode. Scouring the web for inspiration, I chanced upon the Japanese Gardening Technique Kokodema. In its most basic form, Kokodema is a green moss covered type of bonsai. Made popular during the Edo era (AD1603 - 1868) in Japan, Kokodema has a relatively short history as compared to other bonsai forms. This bonsai is rst grown in a pot, allowing the soil to take its shape. The pot is subsequently removed and the bonsai is now set to stand, with its soil and roots tightly maintaining its shape.

PHOTO Design Sponge

In recent years, Kokodema is being reinvented and is making a come back following a plant art installation by Dutch artist/botanist Fedor van der Valk. His suspended potless plants, ranging from shrubs, orchids, small trees and even carnivorous plants, have caught the curious eyes of many. Move away, rooftop gardens! Suspended string gardens are now taking over. With the g simple use of cotton thread, packing strings and a pair of scissors, it is time to fully exploit h new spaces. Living in an urban environment where land space is scarce, suspended plants seek to open up p countless possibilities to better utilize space. Research from NASA concludes that having at home are benecial for its inhabitants. Plants help make g plants p nc breathing easier by increasing the oxygen levels by removing up to 87 percent of volatile organic compounds every 24 hours, thus purifying the air in a room. They also help in ev humidifying a room with the release of water vapor as they perform photosynthesis. A study at the Royal College of Agriculture in Circencester, England found that students also show 70 percent greater attentiveness when they are taught in rooms containing plants. Besides looking fabulous hanging in mid-air, these art works are also a great way to introduce some plant life at home. Although these plants can be imported from Europe, I say save the money and start a DIY project yourself this month. For a simple tutorial, check out designsponge.com! Pang Wei Rong

FOOTPRINTs

EDITORIAL Managing Director Aiden Eng Ruhan Editor-in-Chief Warren Elliot Wee

ART & DESIGN Creative Director Victoria Tan Creative Designer Edith

Writers Alvin Wong, Ian Tan, Jan Lim, Pang Wei Rong, Priscilla Foo, Siddharth Chadha
www.facebook.com/unlv.earthwalkers unlv.earthwalkers@gmail.com

Recycling. Its the new black