The Bakun Dam Project in Sarawak Essays

The Bakun Dam Project in Sarawak Essays The Bakun Dam Project in Sarawak Paper The Bakun Dam Project in Sarawak Paper For more than 30 years, there have been discussions concerning the development of the Baku Dam in the East Malaysian state of Karakas. If built, the dam would be the largest in South-East Asia. The Baku Dam: A Case Study indicates that generating 2400 megawatts of power, it would provide electricity for all of Karakas, and for industries and cities in mainland Malaysia, through a cable under the South China Sea. At 650 kilometers, this would be by far the longest cable in the world. The Baku Dam has been a highly controversial issue spanning over three decades as its validity and use to the people of Malaysia have been questioned. For the cost that involves producing this dam, at seven billion dollars and rising, is there a need for so much power at all? The main environmental issue here is whether Karakas should sacrifice forests in order to promote the economic growth of its country or cease construction to preserve the traditional environment and standards of living. It is essential to the people of Malaysia that the construction of the dam continues, as it will benefit them in the future through industrialization. This dam can be seen as a source of employment for the nation, the creation of international interest, and increased economic growth. There are also many negatives to the completion of the dam; which include the displacement of natives, increased foreign debt, and the gradual deterioration of the dam after many years. There are many other factors that contribute to this issue, however, the above three positive components are fundamental to the further growth of Malaysia. The main stakeholders involved in this area of interest include Malaysian non- governmental organizations opposed to the project, indigenous peoples affected, non-governmental organizations outside Malaysia opposed the reject, Malaysian State and Federal governments, Koran Bernhard (the developer), and international corporations contributing to the project. The Baku Dam has had an uncertain, highly controversial history. The project is of importance to Malaysian political and business leaders as there is a promise of abundant electricity and a lever by which Karakas could be lifted out of its backward state. It has been said that for environmentalists and the native people, the project would flood tropical forests and force the resettlement of approximately 10 000 people in order to generate high cost electricity, for which no market might exist (Dams Initiative). These contrasting perspectives on the Baku Dam make it valuable as a case study to identify the best power solution for a nations economic problem. There have been many complications regarding the Baku Dam since its introduction. Bevies (1 995, p. 65) stated that after initial surveys in the early asses, in 1 986, a decision by the national government was made to construct the dam. In 1 990, official postponement of the project was made due to protests and doubts about the dams economic viability. In 1 993 however, he project was renewed with the catalyst being Malaysias desperate need for power. It was said that in 1 994, the awarding of the project contract to Koran Bernhard cemented the importance the dam was for the Malaysian government to address its financial issues (Bevies, 1995, up. 101-102). But nevertheless, further problems mounted and in 1 997, the project was deferred in the face of the Asian economic crisis. In recent years, the project has been rehabilitated with last year being the set date for the completion of the project. Clearly however, the completion of the Baku Dam will not take lace for a further few years. There are many advantages to the completion Of the Baku Dam for Malaysia. Proponents of the project argue that the dam has several benefits, and minimal impacts. For the native residents of the region, it would be a source of employment during construction, and would indirectly stimulate creation of other employment opportunities. It has been stated that increased cash income for these residents was advocated as the only means to change the backward status of this region, and to address poverty (Chocolates, 1993, p. 163). These are the initial steps to consolidating Malaysias economic and environmental future. Even after the project had been shelved in 1990, lobbying by its proponents continued, particularly by the Karakas government, which urged the federal government to revive the project. Finally, in September 1993, the Malaysian cabinet approved construction of the Baku Dam. In reviving the project, Malaysias need for power was most often invoked as justification. By 1993 the Malaysian economy was growing by more than 8 percent per year, with electricity demand expanding even faster. The Borneo Bulletin affirms that lockouts in 1992 and 1993, and a predicted doubling of demand by 2000, were indications of a power crisis, justifying extraordinary efforts to expand supply. Project proponents also believed the Baku Dam could help reduce dependence on fossil fuels, especially oil. Most evident however, was that this project was consistent with an energy policy relying almost entirely on supply. In Hardens argument, he referred to the quote from environmentalist Grit Sings (1995) to prove his theory: The concept of energy conservation and certainly its implementation is virtually absent in Malaysia. This is why Malaysia needs to complete the dam, to enhance its economic and environmental status on the worldwide scale. Furthermore, the Baku Dam has attracted the attention of numerous international engineering and construction companies, with experience building dams elsewhere. The IRON Baku Campaign specifies that this is a means of attracting investment to Karakas, of fostering its industrialization, so that it could develop to the same extent as, or even beyond, mainland Malaysia. Originally, Germany, Mexico and Brazil were major participants in a consortium to bid to have privileges to build the dam. The dam was used as a connection to develop close ties between Malaysia and associated countries. Spires (1 995 p. 135) reported that recent contract an announcements have included Europe, Latin America and certain parts of Asia to add to the increasing number of foreign firms constructing the dam. This is beneficiary for the Malaysian economy as there is more money coming into the nation. Beyond the economic viability of the project itself, the Baku Dam has been justified in terms of the overall economic development of Malaysia. In 1991 Malaysia established Vision 2020, a plan that envisages Malaysia becoming fully developed and industrialized nation by 2020. Within this context, the IRON Baku Campaign informs that the Baku Dam could contribute in several ways to Vision 2020 through the supply of electricity, needed by manufacturing. In recent years, demand for power has increased by up to 13%/year. In addition, the project would be a model of close partnership between the state and federal governments, and the private sector. Furthermore, Vision 2020 can be achieved through gaining access to advanced power technology, such as turbines and transmission lines, provided by foreign engineering firms. The role the dam plays on Vision 2020 can progressively contribute to Malaysia becoming industrialized in the future. However, the Baku Dam has been the focus of intense controversy as well. Human implications included the displacement of approximately 10 000 native people to the Karakas region. The displacement and resettlement of these people in effect involved the loss of their way of life, and the acceptance of a modern lifestyle. Most people are now subsistence farmers, supplementing their income through cash crops or jobs in timber companies. These native people once valued their autonomy, as one indigenous person dated in a Friends of the Earth press release (1995): We are poor only insofar as we have little money. In fact, we are rich, because we have all we need to feed ourselves and house ourselves. Rice is free, fish and meat are free, vegetables are free, water is free, and lumber is free. After the relocation these natives no longer have their own land, and have to seek work instead on large plantations to survive. Malaysia: the progress bought by the Baku Dam in Karakas states that the project had long been criticized for the possibilities of a dam collapse, earth remorse, new waterborne diseases, deterioration of the reservoir, disruption of downstream water quality, salt water intrusion, loss of fish habitat, and sediment accumulation behind the dam that would render it useless within fifty years. Construction of the dam would also result in loss of approximately 23 000 ha fertile agricultural land. These were some of the many environmental effects cited that would one day harm Karakas. There were also questions about the economic costs of the project. The Lira Monthly (1 995, p. 71) assumed that in the asses, much of the necessary UAPITA would be raised through loans from international agencies such as the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank. These loans would substantially increase Malaysias foreign debt. It was even unclear whether the nation, then in recession, needed so much electricity. However in todays society, research shows that the need for electricity would aid in the industrialization of the nation. There have been many alternating perceptions on the Baku Dam issue. Many people believe that the Baku Dam is just the start of the transformation of Malaysia. Private investors from all around the world live that their investments will bring them great financial returns. One investor from Belgium stated: There has been so much controversy over this dam. I chose to invest in it because I believe it has great potential. The Baku Dam will be the means Of a new and improved Malaysia, all it needs is some financial assistance. Is there any controversy in financial assistance? As part of an international lobbying effort, Friends of the Earth along sent letters to hundreds institutional investors and fund managers in February 1997 warning them of the financial, environmental and social risks involved in he Baku project. Sarah Tack of Friends of the Earth said: It is clear that major institutional investors and financial analysts are beginning to realizes that an investment in this Baku Hydroelectric project is not only unethical but carries a high financial risk due to overly optimistic performance forecasts. Koran must take this Luke warm response from potential foreign investors as a reflection Of the lack Of confidence in this project There is a great need for private intervention on the project to assist in its completion. In the projects incarnation in the asses, funding for the dam was to discussed in any detail publicly. It was the assumption that Malaysia would seek loans from international sources. However, in the 1 sass, there were strong intentions from the federal government to avoid funding from multilateral sources. In a recent newspaper article published by the Borneo Bulletin (2001 a statement by Prime Minister Mathis helps explain his governments effort to avoid involvement of the World Bank: We in the poor countries would like to have some cheap hydroelectric power. But all manner of campaigns are mounted against our proposals the World Bank will be used to deprive poor countries of cheap hydroelectric power. And all this after the rich have developed most of their hydro potentials. Instead, funding is being sought through domestic private and government sources, as well as international private investors. While domestic sources are envisaged as the dominant sources of funding, funding from foreign private sources is also clearly a priority for project proponents, perhaps because of the credibility such funding would provide. However, the effort devoted to obtaining private funding illustrates the obstacles encountered in financing such a project without subsidies. It has often been argued by dam opponents that such projects could not survive without large subsidies from governments or multilateral development banks. Difficulties that Koran has encountered in soliciting interest from foreign private investors suggest that this is also the case in this project. Malaysia: the progress bought by the Baku Dam in Karakas reports that in July 1 996, Delphi International, a British consulting firm, warned its clients and potential investors in the project that the Baku Dam promised far greater kiss than is typical of power projects, and lower returns. This has presented an additional obstacle to Sarans efforts to attract foreign investment. The extent to which the Baku Dam represents prevarication of power generation is ambiguous; while Koran Bertha currently holds the largest stake in the project and is actively seeking private investment, the Karakas state government and Cosec are also major shareholders. (Spires, 1995, p. 139-140). Evidently, although there are firms that are currently investing in the Baku Dam, more needs to be done to attract further investors. Koran has also agreed to sell much of the power to the national public utility, at rates that may involve considerable subsidy of the project by Malaysian electricity consumers. This is an important process towards providing for a more advanced and Industrialized Malaysia. There is certainly a way the Baku Dam can be built with minimum impact on the environment and the Malaysian economy. Initially, there are uncertainties concerning the technical details of project. These include variations in rainfall and stream flow at the dam site, and the design and stability of the dam itself. One of the most significant technical worries relates to the cables that will deliver power to the Malaysian mainland. They are, in effect, an unprecedented experiment. Dams Initiative studies show that at 650 km, they are far longer than the longest existing undersea power cables, beneath the calmer waters between Denmark and Sweden. No reliable estimates of how much these cables will cost, how long they will last, or how much power will be lost as it travels through the cable, are available yet. The Baku Dam project is definitely manageable, and a positive step to consolidating Malaysias economic and environmental future. The design of the Baku Dam has evolved since the initial studies carried out in the early asses, taking into account developments worldwide. The design of the dam has incorporated features that will ensure the highest degree of safety and economics. The project certainly yields more positive outcomes with respect to the use of local resources and employment, promotion of regional development and industrialization, savings of fossil fuel, and river regulation. Negative ecological effects include the deterioration of the water quality (although temporary), displacement of natives, and high foreign debt. However, with proper planning of precautionary measures, these negative outcomes can be kept under control. The main recommendations in consideration are to constantly monitor water quality, provide to the natives essential needs, and maintain appropriate foreign debts. Ultimately, the negative outcomes are only temporary. Although environmental conditions may not be positive and debt will mount during construction of the dam, these situations will diminish over a period of time and these impacts will lessen. Malaysia will benefit greatly from the Baku Dam in the not too distant future.

What Is the SAT Waitlist Should You Get on It

What Is the SAT Waitlist Should You Get on It SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Did you miss the registration deadline for the SAT test date you wanted? Don't fear- you still might have a chance to take the test if you get on the waitlist. In this article, we give you instructions on how to register for the SAT waitlist, followed by some advice on whether it's the right choice for you. Requesting SAT Waitlist Status You can request waitlist status between the late registration deadline and five days before the test date.This request must be made through your College Board account. There, you can choose only one test center and test type (either the regular SAT or any SAT Subject Tests without listening sections). Here's a table of theSAT test dates for 2018-19 along with the latest dates you can sign up for the SAT waitlist: Test Date Waitlist Deadline August 25, 2018 August 20, 2018 October 6, 2018 October 1, 2018 November 3, 2018 October 29, 2018 December 1, 2018 November 26, 2018 March 9, 2019 March 4, 2019 May 4, 2019 April 29, 2019 June 1, 2019 May 27, 2019 Source: The College Board Waitlist registration works almost the same way as normal registrationdoes. You'll need to pay for test registration ($47.50 without the Essay, $64.50 with the Essay), upload a photo of yourself, and print out your Waitlist Ticket,which will be delivered to you via your online account. SAT Waitlist: What Happens the Day of the Test Students on the SAT waitlist are admitted to the test center on a first-come, first-served basis. If there are enough materials left in terms of test booklets, staff members/proctors, and seats after all the normal registration students have been accounted for, you will be able to take the test. You'll need topay awaitlist fee of $51if you're admitted to the test center on the test date you request. Unfortunately, fee waivers are not accepted for the waitlist fee. The good news is that if you're not admitted to the test center on that date, your registration fee will be refunded. Make sure youbring an acceptable photo IDand your Waitlist Ticket,along with other supplies you’ll need for the SAT.If you need to test with accommodations, you'll still be able to do so as long as your situation doesn’t involve any special equipment. For example, if you need extended time or extended breaks, you should be able to test with those conditions, provided they're confirmed by your Waitlist Ticket. However, anything that requires extra setup or coordination, such as a computer for the essay, a scribe, a magnifier or other seeing accommodation, or a readerwon't be available if you test with waitlist status. The Waitlist Ticket provides you with an all-access tour of the College Board factory- if you are pure of heart, you just might inherit the factory from Dr. S.A.T. College Board! 3 Reasons to Get on the SAT Waitlist Is the SAT waitlist the right choice for you? Remember, you only have until five days before the test date to sign up for it.If one of the following three situations applies to you, you should think about getting on the SAT waitlist. #1: This Is Your Last Chance to Take the SAT If it’s your senior year and you just missed the late registration deadline for the December SAT test date, you might consider getting on the waitlist. Many colleges won’t accept test scores from SATs taken later than December of your senior year.If you’re still unsatisfied with your scores and believe you could do better if you took the test one more time, sign up for the waitlist so you have that chance. #2: It’s Important to Your Game Plan That You Take the SAT at This Time If you've been planning for this date for a while and know it’s the best time for you to take the test when considering your overall college application plan, consider getting on the SAT waitlist. For example, if this is a test date in the spring of your junior year and you want to use the results to study over the summer for your last chance at the SAT in August or the fall of your senior year, the waitlist is a good option. In general, if this was supposed to be a benchmark test for you (your first test junior fall, your second test junior spring, or your last test senior fall) but you forgot to register, you would be smart to consider going on the waitlist to keep yourself on track. #3: You Want to Get the Question-and-Answer Service (QAS) The Question-and-Answer Service (QAS)is the SAT’s most comprehensive score review resource. It gives you a copy of your test booklet and provides details for all questions you answered correctly and incorrectly (and for any you skipped- though you should always answer every question!).It is only available for theOctober, March, and May test dates. If you know that you won’t get another opportunity to use the QAS as a study tool should you miss this test date, you should consider signing up for the SAT waitlist.Remember, on other test dates you can still order the Student Answer Service (SAS), which is essentially a less in-depth version of the QAS. Your final scores are just the tip of the SAT iceberg. You'll need to plunge into the watery depths with the QAS to find out how to improve them. 2 Reasons to Wait for the Next SAT Test Date Sometimes it’s not a good idea to get on the SAT waitlist. It’s a lot of extra money, and you might not absolutely need to take the SAT on this test date.Here are a couple of reasons to hold off. #1: Waiting Until the Next Date Won't Impact Your Plans Much For example, if it’s your junior year and you missed the October registration deadline, it might not be a big deal for you to take the test in November instead.You would still get in one SAT during your junior fall and have time in-between that test and other test dates in the winter and spring to study. #2: The Waitlist Fee Is Too Large of a Financial Burden As mentioned above, you can’t get a fee waiver for the waitlist fee.If you think it’s going to be a big strain on you to pay the extra $51, don’t go on the waitlist unless it’s really your last chance to take the SAT and you're counting on a higher score to get into your dream college. The Bottom Line: Getting on the SAT Waitlist You can put yourself on the SAT waitlist up to five days before a test date.It’s a $51 fee, but this is only charged to you if you're admitted to the test center. You'll also need to pay the registration fee for the SAT; however, this will be refunded to you if you aren't admitted to the test center. The SAT waitlist works on a first-come, first-served basis, so get there early! It's a good idea to consider getting on the SAT waitlist if you're relying on a particular test date to stay on track with your SAT study plan or if it’s your absolutelast chance to take the SAT before your college applications are due. On the other hand, it's probably not worth getting on the SAT waitlist if you can take the test on the next date without suffering any major consequences. Ultimately, you can avoid putting yourself in this waitlist situation by being aware of upcoming SAT test dates and registering for the test far in advance! What's Next? Still trying to decide whether the next SAT test date is a good fit for you? Read this article for our expert advice. If you're coming up on your senior fall, check out this in-depth guideto find out more about the best test dates for seniors. Already took the SAT and are waiting for your scores? Or perhaps you're trying to figure out how to interpret your results. Learn more about this process with our comprehensive guide. Concerned about or confused by your SAT scores?Get tips on how to order the Question-and-Answer Service and Student Answer Service or, for more extreme cases, Hand Score Verification. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points?We've written a guide about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now: