A dam by any other name is still a dam

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The state government's announcement of a man-made lake in the RM115 billion Gaur Eco City project in Kota Belud follows its pre-election decision to abandon construction of the contentious Tambatuon dam.

KOTA KINABALU: Kota Belud does not need a dam. And camouflaging a dam under the guise of a man-made lake is not only irresponsible but manipulative and misleading, said local NGO Himpunan Hijau.

Said its chief Wong Tack: Why do we need a man-made lake? It is a dam that theyre talking about. We dont need a dam in Kota Belud.

They are using the term man-made lake to mislead and to manipulate the people.

Wong Tat said the whole concept of building a RM115 billion Gaur Eco-City in Kota Belud was questionable.

You can see quite clearly here, this is a project that was proposed without a proper study, without consulting the people, without looking at the concept as a whole at regional and also as a state.

Eco development is basically you working with nature without destruction and in a sustainable manners. It should not just bring benefits to the people of this generation but future generations as well, he said.

Wong said the project will threaten the existing natural forest and asked why such project was being sited at foothill of Mount Kinabalu.

According to the proposal, the envisaged eco-city will boast various facilities which will all be linked with a cable car system. An integrated transport including a monorail will be built around the man-made lake reminiscent of Venice in Italy. The lake will be dotted with hotels, housing, hospital and a golf course.

Responding to the proposed development, Wong tack asked where in the plan was the eco and sustainable concept.

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A dam by any other name is still a dam

New 52 Cyborg Superman and Other Changes – "Great Scott" 144 (Nov. 1st, 2013) – Video

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New 52 Cyborg Superman and Other Changes - "Great Scott" 144 (Nov. 1st, 2013)
In the 144th episode of "Great Scott," I discuss the new origin of Cyborg Superman in the New 52 from DC Comics. Controversy was nigh when people discovered ...

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New 52 Cyborg Superman and Other Changes - "Great Scott" 144 (Nov. 1st, 2013) - Video

Injustice – Gods Among Us: Cyborg Superman Super Attack Moves [Ultimate Edition] – Video

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Injustice - Gods Among Us: Cyborg Superman Super Attack Moves [Ultimate Edition]
Injustice - Gods Among Us Ultimate Edition - Cyborg Superman Super Attack Moves Review Justice League, Justice, League, Injustice, Gods Among Us, Injustice G...

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Injustice - Gods Among Us: Cyborg Superman Super Attack Moves [Ultimate Edition] - Video

In defence of the cyborg cockroach

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University of Otago bioethics lecturer Mike King discusses remotely controlled ''cyborg cockroaches''. Photo by Gregor Richardson.

Those comments were made last week by University of Otago bioethics lecturer Mike King, who spoke on ''Remotely controlled cyborg cockroaches: wrongful encroachment?'' at the New Zealand Bioethics Conference in Dunedin.

United States firm Backyard Brains sparked some controversy last year by promoting the creation of ''remote-control'' cockroaches.

US youngsters can follow an information kit and surgically implant electrodes into cockroaches, enabling them to be controlled by smartphones.

The firm said this would have educational benefits, by teaching youngsters more about neuroscience.

And researchers from North Carolina State University have also suggested a useful purpose for such ''biobots''.

A swarm of cyborg cockroaches carrying electronic sensors could be used to map dangerous areas, such as the interior of buildings which have collapsed after an earthquake.

Dr King said that many people found cockroaches repellent.

And it was also ''quite understandable'' that many people would, at first view, find it ''repugnant'' for children to be undertaking surgery on such insects.

But many of the claimed ethical objections to creating ''biobots'' were unconvincing, and evidence, in fact, suggested that cockroaches did not feel pain.

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In defence of the cyborg cockroach