Taiwan News: 「資源回收，節能減碳」-103年媽祖遶境 臺灣乾淨 (14 April 2014)

「資源回收，節能減碳」-103年媽祖遶境 臺灣乾淨

        環保署於103年4月6日結合大甲鎮瀾宮的媽祖遶境，辦理103年「媽祖遶境、臺灣乾淨」資源回收宣傳活動，搭配定點宣傳站，沿途宣傳信眾資源回收觀念，以鼓勵民眾落實垃圾分類，做好資源回收工作。

        「媽祖遶境」是臺灣重要宗教活動之一，其中以途經臺中市、彰化縣、雲林縣及嘉義縣等4縣市，歷時9天8夜(103年4月6日至15日)，沿途跋涉280餘公里的大甲媽祖遶境進香規模最為盛大，參與之中外人士多達數十萬人。

        環保署表示，自97年起以「媽祖遶境、臺灣乾淨」為主題，實地結合源頭減量、垃圾分類及資源回收進行宣傳。遶境沿途經過之宮廟，大部分已不再使用免洗餐具，改為可重複使用之容器，可見資源回收觀念已深植民眾心中。該署呼籲民眾在參與遶境過程中，所產生如：寶特瓶等可回收之資源物，應投擲於各縣市環保局所設置之資源回收設施，讓媽祖在遶境過程中，能充分感受到民眾的環保意識。

        另外，民眾只要收集廢塑膠、廢紙容器20個，或廢乾電池0.5公斤，即可至臺中市大甲文昌祠、沙鹿青山宮、大肚永和宮、大肚天和宮及清水朝興宮，兌換口袋扇、束口背包及環保餐具組等宣傳品。另彰化縣、雲林縣及嘉義縣等3縣市環保局也準備了環保清潔用品、工具組及環保杯碗等宣傳品，有關各縣市資源回收兌換時間、地點等活動訊息，可查詢環保署資源回收網（http://recycle.epa.gov.tw）或逕洽環保署資源回收專線0800-085-717詢問，亦可查詢臺中市、彰化縣、雲林縣、嘉義縣等環保局網站，歡迎大家一起做環保。

source from : 

http://ivy5.epa.gov.tw/enews/fact_Newsdetail.asp?InputTime=1030406151427

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World News: Think Differently for Asia's Water, Food, and Energy Security - ADB President (6 Feb 2014)

Think Differently for Asia's Water, Food, and Energy Security - ADB President

NEW DELHI, INDIA – It is critical that Asia’s precious but increasingly scarce water resources are managed in a coordinated way to ensure the region has not only sufficient water but also enough food and energy to meet its needs, Asian Development Bank (ADB) President Takehiko Nakao said today.

“We need to think differently about water and its uses for food and energy production—and take action,” Mr. Nakao told delegates in a keynote speech at the 14th Delhi Sustainable Development Summit in New Delhi.

Asian Water Development Outlook 2013 notes that 36 of ADB’s 48 Asian member countries, including the People’s Republic of China and India, have poor water security, with some nations facing imminent water crises that threaten their food and energy security. ADB’s Food Security in Asia and the Pacific publication calls for a new approach in addressing malnutrition while theEnergy Outlook for Asia and the Pacific looks at the policy, social, infrastructure, and technology issues affecting energy demand.

Mr. Nakao said it is critical to look at the links - or nexus - between water, food, and energy.

Excessive groundwater has been extracted in some places because subsidized energy allows for unrestricted use of electric power pumps. This in turn threatens water shortages for farmers and a lower power supply to other users. Such distorted pricing must disappear.

Meanwhile, rising energy use will squeeze already scarce water resources since large quantities of water are needed for extracting energy and refining fuels.  As 80% of water use is for agriculture, water shortages lead to food shortages. The region must change its mindset to understand that “food wasted is water and energy wasted,” Mr.  Nakao said.

He said river basin organizations that gather users, utilities, and government representatives are key to resolving competition between different uses for water. ADB is working with such organizations to encourage collaborative water management, set up new institutions with better data and information, and encourage innovative technologies. These activities are helping improve water security for more than 400 million people in around 30 rivers basins in the region.

The annual Delhi Sustainable Development Summit gathers policymakers, experts, and leaders from business, academia, and civil society to discuss sustainable development. The event is organized by The Energy and Resources Institute, based in New Delhi.

source from: http://www.adb.org/news/think-differently-asias-water-food-and-energy-security-adb-president

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