Singapore farmers want more help from authorities

Channel NewsAsia 23 Dec 07;

SINGAPORE: Farmers whose crops were tainted with red dye from an RSAF jet at Tengah Airbase last month are moving on with business after being compensated for their losses.

The authorities had ordered some 200 tonnes of greens to be destroyed after they were stained with red dye from an RSAF (Republic of Singapore Air Force) jet around three weeks ago.

Farmers in Sungei Tengah had to comply because the dye was not approved for use in food.

Liew Yew Fah, one of the affected farmers, started replanting his 0.8-hectare plot soon after the incident.

"I got some seedlings from other farms (and) transplanted them to my farm. It's faster. In over 10 days, I had vegetables to sell in the market," he said.

It is understood that affected farmers received a cash payout of over S$20,000 each from the Ministry of Defence to pay rent and buy new seeds and fertilisers.

Although business goes on as usual for many farmers, one said the incident has turned customers away from buying vegetables from her unaffected farms elsewhere.

And some are pondering over the importance and prospect of agriculture in Singapore as the red dye episode draws to a close.

Bollywood Veggies' farmer Ivy Singh Lim said, "People should understand the whole issue in a broader context, especially now when there's a fear of food production in the whole world. I think the farmers in Singapore should be treasured. We are a lost tribe."

The farmers also want more technical support from the Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority to help them become more productive. A group of them is expected to meet with the Singapore Land Authority in January to discuss about the vision of agriculture in Singapore as well as the terms for renewal of their land leases. - CNA/ac

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Singapore vegetable farms hit by dye get cash payout
Jessica Lim, Straits Times 10 Dec 07;
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Read more!

In the Age of Noah

Thomas Friedman, The New York Times 23 Dec 07;

Jakarta, Indonesia

A couple of weeks ago, The Times’s Jim Yardley reported from China that the world’s last known female Yangtze giant soft-shell turtle was living in one Chinese zoo, while the planet’s only undisputed, known giant soft-shell male turtle was living in another — and together this aging pair were the last hope of saving a species believed to be the largest freshwater turtles in the world.

It struck me as I read that story that our generation has entered a phase that no previous generation has ever experienced: the Noah phase.

With more and more species threatened with extinction by The Flood that is today’s global economic juggernaut, we may be the first generation in human history that literally has to act like Noah — to save the last pairs of a wide range of species.

Or as God commanded Noah in Genesis: “And of every living thing of all flesh, you shall bring two of every sort into the ark, to keep them alive with you; they shall be male and female.”

Unlike Noah, though, we’re also the ones causing The Flood, as more and more forests, fisheries, rivers and fertile soils are gobbled up for development. “The loss of global biological diversity is advancing at an unprecedented pace,” Sigmar Gabriel, Germany’s environment minister, recently told the BBC. “Up to 150 species are becoming extinct every day. ... The web of life that sustains our global society is getting weaker and weaker.”

The world is rightly focused on climate change. But if we don’t have a strategy for reducing global carbon emissions and preserving biodiversity, we could end up in a very bad place, like in a crazy rush into corn ethanol, and palm oil for biodiesel, without enough regard for their impact on the natural world.

“If we don’t plan well, we could find ourselves with a healthy climate on a dead planet,” said Glenn Prickett, senior vice president of Conservation International.

I met one of our generation’s Noahs here in Indonesia: Dr. Jatna Supriatna, a conservation biologist who runs Conservation International’s Indonesia programs. One of his main projects is saving the nearly extinct Javan gibbon, a beautiful primate endemic to the Indonesian island of Java. The Javan gibbon population, decimated by deforestation, is down to an estimated 400, spread out around 20 tropical forest areas in West Java.

Mr. Supriatna helps run the Javan gibbon rehabilitation center, a collection of cages embedded in the mountains of Gunung Gede Pangrango National Park, near Jakarta, where male and female gibbons — which are known for their lengthy courtships, not one-night stands — get to know each other over months. First, they live in forest cages side by side, then together and then, if everything works, they produce a couple of babies.

But the process is so slow, and the species so endangered, we may soon be down to the last few pairs — a great loss. Watching a gibbon swing from tree limbs, ropes and bars is like watching a small ape win the Olympic gold medal in gymnastics.

The only way to head off species loss in Indonesia, the country with the most diverse combination of plants, animals and marine life in the world, is the old truism, “It takes a village.” So much of his work here, said Mr. Supriatna, is trying to build coalitions by melding businesses that have an interest in preserving the forest — the geothermal energy investor, for example, who needs trees to maintain the watershed for his power plant — with local governments, which have an interest in preventing illegal logging, with local villagers who need forests to prevent soil erosion and provide fresh water.

Environmentalists here constantly have to work against corrupt local officials, who get bought off by logging interests, and villagers who don’t understand how important the forests are to their daily lives. One of his recent projects, said Mr. Supriatna, was to pipe fresh water from the forest watershed to a nearby village so people there understood the connection. Lately, he has taken his work to the imams who run the local Muslim schools.

“We teach them that the source of the water comes from the mountain and the park,” he said. “And if the park is gone, they will not have the clean water they need for prayer rituals. If you influence the imam, he will influence all the kids.”

For so many years, Indonesians, like many of us, have been taught that life is a trade-off: healthy people with lots of jobs or healthy forests with lots of gibbons — you can’t have both. But the truth is you have to have both. If you don’t, you’ll eventually end up with neither, and then it will be too late even for Noah.

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Success in saving India's Asiatic lion poses new problems

Elizabeth Roche, Yahoo News 23 Dec 07;

Success in saving the rare Asiatic lion in India has in turn created new challenges to the king of the jungle in its last natural habitat, as problems with human encroachment and poaching mount.

The population of lions in the Gir forests of western Gujarat state has climbed from 20 in 1913 to more than 350 today, experts say.

"The increase in the population of lions in Gir is posing a problem," said Daval Mehta of the Wildlife Protection Society of India in Gujarat. "The lions are dispersing to reclaim their earlier habitats which is bringing them into increasing conflict with humans."

A wake-up call to the growing troubles for the lion in the Gir forests came this year, when more than 30 of the animals died between January and November -- the most lion deaths in one year on official record.

Among one of the biggest threats to lions are thousands of open wells, said Kishore Kotecha, head of the voluntary Wildlife Conservation Trust, noting that 25 of the animals have drowned in wells between 2002 and 2007.

Farmers and residents of the 158 villages that border Gir have dug some 9,000 wells, and to save money, "they leave the wells uncovered, transforming them into death traps for lions and other animals in the reserve," Kotecha said.

Lions have also been killed by electric fences built by farmers to keep deer away from their crops.

Increased traffic -- cars and buses shuttle pilgrims to four Hindu temples inside the sanctuary -- has taken its toll, too, with at least one lion killed by a vehicle this year.

Bharat Pathak, a senior wildlife official overseeing the Gir conservation programme, said work was underway to keep "the sanctuary area free of human encroachments, besides sensitising people to the behaviour of lions to ensure that there is harmony between the species."

Those measures include nature education programmes and allowing more people to observe lions in a controlled manner, said Pathak's deputy, H.S. Sharma.

Genetically different from the sub-Saharan African lion, Asiatic lions are smaller and boast a more modest mane. They have a fold of skin running along the belly -- rarely found in their African cousins.

At least 1,000 Asiatic lions roamed India in the 1800s before hunting took its toll.

The highly territorial male lion needs at least 20 square kilometres (eight square miles) of land to survive, experts says. Under a 2005 census, Gir had 87 fully grown males fighting for too little space.

"It is necessary to increase the reserve area to protect the lions," Mehta said, noting the Gir Reserve area had not been expanded since the 1970s.

The traditional threat of poaching also remains a major concern for the lion. In March, eight lions were killed by poachers in three separate incidents.

"We have arrested them and registered cases against them," Pathak said.

Once found from Macedonia to Yemen and the subcontinent via Iran, "today, the Asiatic lion ... survives only in India," said Pathak. "That is why it is imperative to continue conservation efforts."

"The species is recovering," Pathak said. "But the lion is not yet off the list of endangered species of the World Conservation Union, which means we still have some way to go."

Given that the revival of the Gir lion population has created many of the problems, the Wildlife Protection Society of India has suggested re-location of the animals -- an idea the India government is toying with.

"It is important not to fritter away the results achieved so painstakingly over the years. A second unconnected population of lions is essential" to ensure survival," said society head Belinda Wright.

Read more!

Tree planting mandatory, cutting prohibited in Indonesian action plan

Adianto P. Simamora, The Jakarta Post 22 Dec 07

The government has released a report on a plan of action covering the mitigation and adaptation efforts for climate change. President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono officially launched the report during the recent climate conference in Bali. The plan of action on mitigation and adaptation covers the forestry, energy, agriculture, water resources, infrastructure and health sectors. Below is the first article focusing on the forestry sector.

The Forestry Ministry wants the government to issue a policy making it mandatory for each Indonesian citizen to plant a tree every year to store more carbon.

In its action plan, the ministry said anyone who wished to cut down a tree with a diameter of more than 10 centimeters had to secure a permit issued by the government.

"And anyone who fells a tree has to plant two more trees," the action plan stated.

The director general of the forestry research and development agency, Wahjudi Wardojo, said planting trees was one of the most effective ways to mitigate climate change.

"We hope local administrations set a rule requiring local citizens to plant more trees," he told The Jakarta Post on Friday.

The ministry has set five targets for its mitigation action plan until 2009.

The targets are; to combat illegal logging, rehabilitate forest land and conservation areas, restructure the forestry sector especially for industrial aims, empower local communities living near forests and improve institutions monitoring forests.

The action plan states the ministry will rehabilitate 11 million hectares of damaged forests until 2009, 4,8 million hectares until 2012 and 16 million hectares for 2025.

"The remaining will be rehabilitated until 2050," it says.

The ministry also aims to reduce the deforestation rate.

"We have targeted to reduce deforestation by 23.63 million hectares until 2009, 6.15 million hectares until 2012 and 10 million hectares until 2025," the action plan stated.

The ministry has targeted to reduce forest fires by 50 percent by 2009 and 75 percent by 2012.

Wahjudi said in order to meet the targets, the ministry needed a national and international funding mechanism.

"Without financial support from the international community, it will be difficult to reach the target," he said.

The Kyoto Protocol on climate change is an international binding treaty aimed at reducing greenhouse emissions to combat global warming.

The protocol allows developing countries to host afforestation and reforestation projects to reap cash under the Clean Development Mechanism.

The Bali climate conference agreed to adopt the reduction of emissions from deforestation in developing countries (REDD) mechanism, which is aimed at providing financial incentives for protecting forests.

Climate experts have long admitted the importance of trees in storing carbon dioxide (CO2), the main contributor to global warming, from being released into air.

The United Nations' report on climate change said deforestation contributed to around 20 percent of global emissions in the 1990s.

The report said global forests covered 4 billion hectares, or around 30 percent of the Earth's surface in 2005; containing about 638 gigatons of carbon.

Indonesia -- the world's biggest forest country after Brazil and the Republic of Congo -- has 120.35 million hectares of forest.

The ministry predicted the country's forests could stock up to 115 gigatons of carbon in 2005.

However, due to rampant illegal logging and land conversion, the country's forests have released a significant amount of carbon into the air.

The ministry estimated that with a forest degradation level of 53.9 million in 2005, the forests 'suffered a loss' of up to 2.1 gigatons of carbon stocks.

The ministry said rampant degradation was mainly due to the creation of new regions, agricultural areas, plantations, illegal logging and forest fires.

Wetlands International, an international environmental NGO, has listed Indonesia as the world's third-largest carbon emitter, due to a high level of forest degradation and the large number of forest fires in the country last year.

Read more!

Volunteers needed for Christmas Cleanup@Orchard on 24 Dec (Mon)

Make a difference this Christmas!
Instead of adding to the trash, help clean up.

This email just in from ZengRong from ECO Singapore
"Hi I am ZengRong from ECO Singapore , I have just gotten approval from PURECHEM VEOLIA , the cleaning contractor for "Celebrate Christmas in Singapore" to join them in their clean up operation after the party at orchard.

Our aim is to experience and observe the cleaning operation and also the magnitude of the littering problem. We also hope to a write up on the event and also a discussion to improve the situation after the event. They are allowing me to bring along anyone who is interested to join in the operation.

This is a rare chance, and due to the short notice , i am sending this invite to all interested volunteers.

Attire: T-shirt, long pants, covered shoes
Also bring along: drinking water, towel and change of clothing.

Sign up asap with ZengRong hengheng84@yahoo.com.sg by 24 Dec (Mon) 5pm, or call him 97941914 so that he can send you the exact details and indemnity forms for anyone under 21 years.

Tentative details are
Time: 11pm (24 Dec) to 3am (25 Dec)
Venue: Meet at Orchard MRT Control Station (11pm)
Contact: Heng ZengRong hengheng84@yahoo.com.sg or call 97941914
Website: http://www.eco-singapore.org
Transport home: Via Nite owl or Night Rider at own expense

Read more!

Best of our wild blogs: 23 Dec 07

Singapore port expansion: impact on Labrador Nature Reserve?
"extra steps to minimise the ecological impact of the project",
what does this mean? on the wildfilms blog

Taking out the trash: Belayar Creek, Labrador
The Naked Hermit Crabs tackle abandoned mega nets on the wildfilms blog

Dwarf Reed Snake
spotted on the johora singaporensis blog

A Christmas story of the Magpie on the Caterpillar
pleading out of being breakfast on the bird ecology blog

Chek Jawa intertidal walk
sea bird snatch theft attempt and more on the tidechaser blog

A Christmas butterfly: Singapore's own Painted Lady
on the butterflies of singapore blog

Read more!

Tree lovers' lobbying saves Albizias from chop

Only 13 Albizia trees in South Buona Vista Road, instead of 63 originally, will be felled now
Shuli Sudderuddin, Straits Times 23 Dec 07;

THE actions of several tree-loving residents of a South Buona Vista condominium may have saved 50 trees from the chop.

The Singapore Land Authority (SLA) and National Parks Board (NParks) had earmarked 63 Albizia trees in South Buona Vista Road to be cut down after one of its species at the Bukit Batok Nature Park toppled onto a dental assistant and killed her in May.

But after receiving a circular from the two bodies about their plans, Madam Chong Kuan Mui, 54, and several other residents of the Buona Vista Gardens estate sprang into action. They wrote to the authorities urging them to re-consider the decision and asked for a thorough inspection of the trees before felling them. Madam Chong also wrote to The Straits Times Forum, which published her letter on Dec 6.

She said she has enjoyed the lush greenery provided by the Albizias from her fourth-floor apartment for 18 years. 'They provide so much beauty and shelter... These trees have provided a habitat for animals and birds. Where will the animals go if they are cut down? We should not simply fell them in a knee-jerk reaction to the incident in May.'

The Albizia is a shady, fast-growing species that is native to Indonesia. It is a pioneer species, meaning that it thrives on the edges of tropical rainforest that has been disturbed. Albizias regularly grow to heights of 30m.

On Wednesday, the SLA and NParks said, in an ST Forum letter, that only 13 trees - perceived to be dangerous due to their proximity to residential areas and roads, poor condition or leaning position - would have to go.

A spokesman for NParks told The Sunday Times that the change was made after considering feedback from the public. She added that the other trees would be monitored and may be felled if necessary.

Although happy with the small victory, Madam Chong is still concerned about the 13 trees. She has written to the SLA again with her latest objections.

Madam Chong is not alone in her fight. At least two of her neighbours have also written to the authorities. Mr Nick Jacobs, 36, does not think the trees are in danger of falling or they 'would have toppled in the recent spate of storms''.

The communications manager said he moved into his first-floor unit in September because of the greenery. 'We should have a management plan that is sensitive to the needs of people and nature. The branches could be pruned regularly, for example,' he suggested. He is also planning to find out how many residents are in favour of retaining the trees.

NParks horticulturist Anton Van Der Schans has a more practical reason for not felling Albizias in bulk. 'Large gaps in the foliage created by felling will be quickly colonised by more pioneer species,' he said. 'As these grow quickly, they stunt the growth of surrounding vegetation.'

Mr Schans suggests progressively removing and replacing the Albizias with 'longer-lived species' that will not threaten the surrounding plants or fall during storms or strong winds.

But Madam Chong still feels the Albizias should be left alone. 'They are the only trees here and they provide beauty and shade.'

RELATED ARTICLES

Not all Albizia trees in Zehnder Rd will get chop
Reply from SLA and NParks, Straits Times Forum 19 Dec 07;

Is there no place for our very own Albizia?
Letter from Yap Yang Ming, Straits Times Forum 10 Dec 07;

Retain scenic trees in South Buona Vista Rd
Letter from Chong Kuan Mui (Ms), Straits Times Forum 6 Dec 07

Read more!

Young voluntourists prefer to volunteer oveseas than in Singapore

Young voluntourists say: Volunteer at home? No thanks
Students feel voluntary work in Singapore is more demanding, but volunteering overseas is exciting
Shuli Sudderuddin, Straits Times 23 Dec 07;

UNDERGRADUATE Winnie Lui has been on three overseas trips to do charity work in the past three years.

In Cambodia, she conducted English lessons, and in the Philippines, she helped to renovate a youth centre and paint its walls.

But once back in Singapore, the 22-year-old did not continue with any volunteer work. Instead, she becomes like any regular youth here - spending her time attending gatherings with her friends and shopping.

'I go overseas for such trips because I get to meet different people and experience a completely different culture,' she said.

Miss Lui is just one of a growing number of young people who turn to overseas expedition projects to fulfil their desires to serve the community, but choose not to lift a finger when back in Singapore.

These overseas trips, known as 'voluntourism', span roughly three weeks and involve serving a foreign community through education or physical labour.

The new chairman of the National Volunteer and Philanthropy Centre (NVPC), Mr Stanley Tan, raised this concern in a recent interview with The Straits Times.

Mr Tan, 51, urged young Singaporeans to help their country rather than engaging in 'superficial activities'. He said: 'Giving is also about helping an elderly lady to cross the road, to take photographs of events for a charity here and helping it to archive its history.'

However, it does not seem likely that more youths will start turning to home ground to spread charity.

Undergraduate Lee Nuan Xin, 21, is a member of the National University of Singapore Students Union Volunteer Action Committee (NVAC), and has been an active volunteer since junior college. She noted that she has seen the number of overseas projects increase dramatically in the past three years.

Miss Lee estimates that NUS organised seven trips to Cambodia this year, compared with one in 2005.

'Students want to see the world. At home, they feel like they are doing compulsory school work with nothing special to it,' she said.

An avid social worker, she volunteers at the National University Hospital every week.

Miss Karin Ke, 21, who spent three weeks in Bago City in the Philippines in May, agrees that community service overseas feels less commercial than activities like flag-selling in Singapore.

'It is a great way to meet like-minded people who are also interested in travelling and helping poor communities, and to see unique places,' said the student, who managed a home stay with a Filipino family, where she learnt about their lifestyle. 'That it is for a good cause is the icing on the cake,' she added.

Mr Glynsen Wong, 23, joined Miss Ke on the trip and helped fed malnourished children and painted a school.

He said: 'Overseas, there is an immediate benefit, and the results are more concrete because you can see what you build or paint.'

'Here, you visit old folks or children, and you have to give them 100 per cent commitment. You have to go for a long time before you can even tell if you are helping them.'

Parents have mixed feelings about 'voluntourism'.

Miss Ke's father, Mr Kuoh Seh Seng, 55, said: 'I told my daughter, if you want to help, help Singaporeans. But when she returned, she was more appreciative of Singapore and the privileges that she enjoys here.'

Miss Lui's mother, Ms Margaret Lui, 54, said she wanted her daughter to leave her sheltered home and learn about poverty.

'She could learn these lessons better in an environment where people are less spoilt,' she said.

Schools have also encouraged students to participate in these trips to achieve greater awareness.

National serviceman Lim Qi Han, who went to Myanmar two years ago when he was in National Junior College, said: 'I feel that my school encouraged it for the learning experience.'

The 19-year-old felt that volunteering overseas and locally were equally meaningful, but said the overseas trip was more memorable than merely selling flags.

Ms Jenny Ong, the founder of Blossom Training, which trains leaders for Youth Expedition Projects, said leaders are trained to show participants economic and social issues through their services.

'Going overseas is a great platform for character development and service-learning,' she said. 'Participants enjoy it because it is exotic.'

However, the NVPC still advocates volunteering at home as the proximity of the location facilitates sustainable engagement.

Seasoned volunteers such as Miss Lee also continue to hope for more help on the community service scene in Singapore.

'We are so well-to-do and have so many resources. We should use some of them to help our people,' she said.

Students such as Miss Ke feel inspired by committed volunteers, but admit they would have trouble following in their footsteps.

'To be effective at home, you would have to volunteer every single week, no matter what. And I just don't have the stamina to do that,' she said.

Read more!

Malaysia: ill-thought development contributes to flooding

Flood Mitigation Projects To Be Made Priority - Abdullah
Bernama 22 Dec 07;

The Prime Minister admitted that development which did not take drainage into consideration also contributed to the flooding. "There are rivers that are too shallow and others clogged with litter. This also contributes to the flooding,"

ALOR STAR, Dec 22 (Bernama) -- Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said today flood mitigation projects will be made a priority under the Ninth Malaysia Plan (9MP) to address the perennial problem of floods in the country.

The Prime Minister said the matter had been discussed by the Cabinet and that implementation of the projects would be speeded up.

Speaking at a news conference after visiting a flood relief centre at Sekolah Kebangsaan Gunong near here, he said the flood mitigation projects needed to be given priority as the government spent a huge amount of money each year in providing aid to flood victims.

Last year the government spent over RM1 billion to provide flood assistance in Johor and millions more in other flood-hit states.

"We need to speed up (the flood mitigation projects). Floods also cause a lot of damage which require huge sums of money to rectify," he said.

Drainage and Irrigation Department (DID) director-general Datuk Paduka Keizrul Abdullah said recently that a total of RM21 billion would be spent on flood mitigation projects nationwide.

On the floods, blamed by some as the result of unhindered development, the Prime Minister admitted that development which did not take drainage into consideration also contributed to the flooding.

He was disappointed because there were development projects which did not take into account the risk of natural disasters such as floods and landslides.

"There are rivers that are too shallow and others clogged with litter. This also contributes to the flooding," said Abdullah.

He said there were also areas that had not experienced floods before but this time were hit because development in their localities was not managed properly.

Asked to comment on a statement by the Muslim Consumers Association of Malaysia (PPIM) that Malaysians were more inclined to assisting victims of natural disasters in other countries than in their own country, Abdullah said this reflected the compassionate nature of Malaysians.

He said the government also provided similar assistance but continued to give priority to what was taking place in the country.

Earlier the Prime Minister spent an hour to visit 371 flood victims at the centre before attending a briefing on the flood situation by Kedah police chief Datuk Syed Ismail Syed Azizan.

A total of 3,066 victims were evacuated from their homes throughout Kedah since floods hit the state on Dec 15.

Syed Ismail said that a total of 3,502ha of padi fields managed by the Muda Agricultural Development Authority (Mada) and another 5,176ha outside Mada were affected by this latest round of floods.

This is the third time that Kedah was hit by the floods since September.

-- BERNAMA

Malaysian floods retreating in 4 states
More evacuees allowed to return home, but weather experts warn of threat from high-tide phenomenon
Straits Times 23 Dec 07;

KUALA LUMPUR - FLOOD waters in four Malaysian states continued to subside for the third day running yesterday, with more people allowed to return home.

But the Meteorological Department continued to be cautious, saying the high-tide phenomenon - which it earlier predicted would occur between last Thursday and yesterday - could worsen between today and Wednesday.

There were concerns earlier last week that heavy monsoon rains, when mixed with an 18-year cycle of high tides caused by the moon's movement, would create flood havoc in Malaysia and parts of Indonesia. But there has been little impact from this phenomenon so far.

However, there is another danger from the waters. Health Ministry parliamentary secretary Lee Kah Choon said typhoid, cholera and hepatitis A increases during or after floods, caused by drinking contaminated water.

'Parents should also see that their children do not play in flood waters as it will increase risk of wound infections, dermatitis, conjunctivitis and ear, nose and throat infections,' he said.

The number of evacuees in Pahang, Kelantan, Kedah and Johor dropped further yesterday.

Up to 4pm yesterday, a total of 16,487 victims remained huddled in relief centres in the four states.

This compared with 20,356 people on Friday evening and 27,189 on Thursday evening.

The areas around the town of Pekan in Pahang - the worst-hit district in this year's flooding - had the most number of evacuees, with 9,100 people.

A Pahang police spokesman said the road joining Pekan to the state capital Kuantan was still partly closed as it remained under water.

The government has been pouring in aid in the form of fresh and canned food, blankets and personal hygiene items, including air dropping supplies to Pekan.

Aid from private organisations has been slow, leading to a criticism yesterday from the Muslim Consumers Association of Malaysia.

Its project director, Mr Noor Nirwandy Mat Nordin, said Malaysians will donate to disaster victims in foreign lands but do not offer much help for local flood victims.

'They are not doing much for the local victims as they feel that the government will take care of them,' he told reporters.

The association, with private company SCS Communication, is distributing RM100,000 (S$46,000) worth of items including boat engines, life jackets, blankets, disposable diapers and food items to flood victims in Pahang.

Bernama

Read more!

New Species Found in Mysteriously Diverse Jungle

Chris Austin, Louisiana State University, LiveScience.com Yahoo News 22 Dec 07;

This Behind the Scenes article was provided to LiveScience in partnership with the National Science Foundation.

Chris Austin’s fieldwork takes him to some of the most inaccessible places on Earth in the pursuit of knowledge about the diversity of the world’s amphibians and reptiles. He serves as assistant curator of Herpetology and assistant professor of Biological Science at the Louisiana State University Museum of Natural Science and Department of Biological Science. This story relates some of the trials, tribulations, and triumphs of field work in remote New Guinea.

The island of New Guinea, located just south of the equator and north of Australia, is the world’s largest and tallest tropical island. New Guinea’s steamy lowland jungles give way to montane moss forests, cloud forests, alpine grasslands and finally tropical glaciers that cap the mountain peaks that exceed 16,400 feet (5,000 meters).

The myriad habitat zones, packed into an area one-tenth the size of the United States, harbor some of the most diverse and exquisite life on Earth: from kangaroos that live in trees to lizards with green blood.

The diversity of life on the island is so varied it has been called megadiverse and it is so vast and unspoiled it has been identified as one of the world’s five High Biodiversity Wilderness Areas.

One of the mysteries about New Guinea’s megadiversity is that it is thought to be relatively new. The main mountain range that provides the diversity of habitat types is only 5 million years old, a geologic and evolutionary blink of an eye. How the high levels of diversity arose in New Guinea in such a short evolutionary time scale is what I am trying to figure out.

Flying into the jungle

In order to collect data to address this question I led a small expedition into the pristine lowland rainforest area of the Sepik Basin in north central New Guinea. Along with me are CJ Hayden (a PhD student in my laboratory), Chris Dahl (an honors student at the University of Papua New Guinea), and Jim Anaminiato (a researcher at the Papua New Guinea National Museum).

The extremely limited road system in Papua New Guinea means that we flew to our destination. I chartered a little single engine Cessna to fly us into a small grass airstrip near the Gedik river, a northern tributary of the Sepik river. The Sepik is the longest river on the island and possibly the largest uncontaminated drainage system in Australasia with a catchment of approximately 30,900 square miles (80,000 square kilometers).

At this location we conducted a survey of amphibians and reptiles, identifying what species occur in this part of the island as well as trying to discover species new to science. We collected genetic material that we will use to examine fine-scale patterns to better understand the underlying processes that have been responsible for generating so much diversity in such a short biological time scale.

Working day and night

Herpetological fieldwork is neverending. We worked in the day collecting lizards and snakes and we worked by night collecting frogs.

Frog collections and identifications add an additional level of difficulty. Many frog species are distinguished by male mating calls. Therefore, working on frogs requires extreme patience and stealth as well as specialized recording equipment in order to collect, identify, and describe frogs. With the help of Tano, the village elder, and many eager young men to help us in the field, we conducted a survey of the primary rainforest that surrounds the village.

Our expedition has been a great success. In about two weeks we documented 79 species of snakes, lizards, and frogs representing 40 genera from 11 families. This includes at least 10 species I believe are new to science. In addition to our scientific pursuits I’m very interested in the conservation of the fauna and flora of this wonderful island.

At the end of the field season, complications arose for our scheduled airplane pick up. Via a static filled satellite phone conversation with our airbase I learned the plane was in need of repair to its single propeller and we could either choose to leave two days early or wait two weeks until the small Cessna would be back from repair. Through static filled Aussie idiom, the expatriate pilot assures me that the propeller is ‘quite functional’. Given that our survey work was close to complete I decided for the group to leave two days early on the shoddy propeller.

Read more!

Australia welcomes Japan whaling U-turn but lodges protest

Yahoo News 22 Dec 07;

Australia welcomed Saturday Japan's backdown on plans to hunt humpbacks but said it had still lodged a formal protest with Tokyo calling for an end to all whaling.

Foreign Minister Stephen Smith, whose centre-left government has stepped up pressure on Japan over whaling since it was elected last month, said Australia would continue to urge Tokyo to end its whaling program.

"The Australian government strongly believes that there is no credible justification for the hunting of any whales and will vigorously pursue its efforts, announced earlier this week, to see an end to whaling by Japan," Smith said in a statement.

Smith said Australia's ambassador to Japan on Friday night presented a formal diplomatic protest -- known as a demarche -- in Tokyo to mark the start of Japan's whaling season.

He said the protest, signed by 30 countries and the European Union, represented the largest international protest of its kind against Japanese whaling.

"The strength of international support for the diplomatic protest led by Australia shows that there is strong international concern over Japan's whaling program," he said.

Smith this week announced the government would honour an election pledge to try to stop whaling by sending a patrol boat and plane to monitor Japan's whaling fleet in the Southern Ocean.

Amid international concern led by Australia, Japan announced Friday that it was dropping plans to hunt up to 50 humpbacks, the first time Tokyo has backed down over one of its whaling expeditions.

Japan had planned to harpoon 50 humpback whales on its current expedition, the first time since the 1960s that Tokyo would have hunted the species, which are major attractions for Australian whale-watchers.

But chief government spokesman Nobutaka Machimura vowed the fleet en route to Antarctic waters would go ahead with its hunt of nearly 1,000 other whales, saying Australia and Japan had basic cultural differences on the issue.

Smith said that while Australia and Japan disagreed about whaling, it would not affect the continuing strength of the "warm and productive" relationship between the countries, which are military allies and major trading partners.

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Whaling: The Japanese position

BBC News 21 Dec 07;

Amid criticism over Japan's whaling mission in the Southern Ocean, officials explain to the BBC why they continue to sanction whaling.

In November the Japanese whaling fleet set sail for waters off Antarctica to begin its annual hunt. Over a six-month period, it will kill 1,000 whales as part of what it says is a scientific research programme. Western nations and environmental groups have roundly condemned the move, calling the programme a front for commercial whaling.

But deputy whaling commissioner Joji Morishita told BBC News that Japan's position was hugely misunderstood.

What drives Japan is a belief in the principle of sustainable use of resources, whatever they might be, he said.

"Many countries support sustainable use of resources, but somehow they exempt whales from this principle, because they think whales are a special animal.

"But there are many special animals - the cow in India, for example - and if each nation tries to impose its own special animal on other countries, you can see the problem."



Whales should be treated just like any other resource, he said, but this does not mean that Japan would act irresponsibly.

"We are not saying that we want to utilise endangered or depleted species.

"People say they want to preserve whales for future generations and we agree. We want to preserve whales as a resource, so we have a mutual goal."

And Japan's research programme is about fulfilling this goal, he said.

"The reason for the moratorium [on commercial whaling] was scientific uncertainty about the number of whales. It was a moratorium for the sake of collecting data and that is why we started scientific whaling. We were asked to collect more data."

'By-product'

This year, the programme will involve killing more than 900 minke whales and 50 fin whales - meat from which will end up canned, in school dinners or on the menu in restaurants across Japan.

The mission was also due to kill 50 rare humpback whales, but Japan has now backed down on this, in response to pressure from the International Whaling Commission (IWC).

"Whaling and whale cuisine are part of Japanese culture, but the purpose of the research programme is science," said Dan Goodman, councillor to Japan's Institute of Cetacean Research.

"The fact that the whale meat - which we call by-product - is sold is because the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling specifically requires that the by-product of research be processed. It is a legally binding obligation."

The ultimate aim of the research, he said, is a properly managed resumption of commercial whaling.

"It is just like any fisheries - tuna, salmon, for example - the proper way to conduct the fisheries is to do the science to work out how best to manage the resources."

Mr Goodman rejected criticism that the same research data could be obtained using non-lethal techniques.

"More than 100 measurements and samples are taken from each whale and there are some bits of information that you can only get from lethal research."

"For example, you need ovaries to determine pregnancy rates, which you can't get by simply observing these animals."

'Issues of principle'

Speaking before the Japanese took the decision to drop their humpback hunt, he said expanding the programme to other whales - including humpbacks - was necessary because their numbers were increasing dramatically and it was important to see how that would affect ecosystems.

"More criticism is directed at the humpback part of the programme, because humpbacks form the basis of the whale-watching programme in Australia," he acknowledged.

Both officials are aware that, in some countries and among environment groups, anti-whaling sentiment is running high.

Mr Goodman said plans by Greenpeace and Sea Shepherd to try to disrupt the hunt were cause for concern.

"We are concerned for the safety of our crew and scientists on board, and concerned about the dangerous and irresponsible actions on the part of these organisations that we have seen in the past," he said.

There was less concern over the possibility that the whaling programme could be triggering anti-Japanese sentiment in places like Australia and New Zealand.

"It would be good if we were not causing any bad feelings," said Mr Morishita.

"But sometimes issues of science and principle might be more important than simple issues of emotion, especially if they are based on misunderstandings."

"We need to spend more energy on giving a balanced picture of this issue."

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What to do with 3,798 tonnes of whale meat stockpile?

So much whale meat left over
New Paper 23 Dec 07;

WHAT do you do when you have 3,798 tonnes of whale meat stockpile?

Answer: Turn it into dog food, school lunch or dishes for white-collar workers.

The Japanese government is desperately trying to reduce stockpiles from last season, encouraging public schools and the food industry to increase whale meat consumption, reported The Australian.

Since the International Whaling Commission imposed a ban on commercial whaling in 1986, the Japanese have seldom been able to eat whale meat.

But backed by the government's initiative to reduce stockpiles, more Japanese schools have now started serving whale meat for children's school lunches.

In Japan, whale meat jerky has also been sold as dog food - although the company denies that this has continued.

Another company, Asian Lunch, which runs street vendors in Tokyo's central district, last month introduced whale mince curry for white colour workers. It has been serving 600 dishes of whale curry a day in 14 places in Tokyo.

'We hope to attract young women, as well as middle-aged workers to the taste of whale meat,' said the vice-president of Asian Lunch .

Under strong protests from the international community, especially Australia, Japan has abandoned its plans to kill humpback whales, reported The Telegraph.

Japan had planned to harpoon 50 humpbacks on a current expedition in Antarctica, the first time since the 1960s that Tokyo would have hunted the species.

But at a news conference yesterday, Japan's chief government spokesman said: 'Japan will not hunt humpback whales.

'As a result, I hope that this will lead to better relations with Australia.'

Humpbacks support a multi-million-dollar whale-watching business in Australia, New Zealand and some South Pacific countries.

But a manager in a popular whale meat restaurant in Tokyo had other sentiments:

'Eating whale meat is a part of food culture in Japan, which should not be disturbed by other countries' people such as Australians,' he said.

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Cities finding novel ways to fight climate change

Toxicity no more
Responsible for 80% of the world's greenhouse gas emissions, cities are finding novel ways to fight climate change and curb its dire impact
Arti Mulchand, Straits Times 23 Dec 07;

IN WHAT seems like a throwback in time, horses-drawn carriages ply the streets in the Cuban capital of Havana along a specially created transport route complete with coach stops.

It is not for tourists but a system that takes care of some 40 per cent of local transport needs, proving that motorised transport is not the only solution to getting around.

It is one of many novel ways in which cities around the world are joining in the fight against climate change and its catastrophic impact, including rising sea levels, extreme weather events, droughts and disease.

Cities cover just 1 per cent of the earth's surface, but are home to more than half the world's population, and can be blamed for most of the world's warming through their emission of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide.

They consume about 75 per cent of the world's energy and are responsible for 80 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions.

And as the world continues down the path of rapid urbanisation - urban populations are expected to grow by another two billion people over the next three decades - the problem is set to grow worse.

This is especially so because it is expected that cities in developing countries will account for 95 per cent of that increase.

By 2020, for example, it is estimated that about half the world's projected 1.3 billion cars, trucks and buses will be barrelling through the streets of developing countries, and the World Health Organisation predicts that, by that time, road accidents will be the world's third leading cause of death.

No wonder, then, that addressing the role that cities play in the climate change problem has risen to the top of the agenda for many. The challenge is to make cities liveable and, at the same time, minimise the impact of their development on the environment.

This year saw the launch of the C40 Large Cities Climate Summit in New York, which brings together leaders of the world's largest cities to discuss the positive roles cities can play in tackling climate change.

Next year, Singapore will cast the spotlight on managing urban development while considering environmental consequences and the impact on life at the World Cities Summit, Liveable and Vibrant Cities. The event is part of the Singapore International Water Week in June.

It will address the related issues of urbanisation, climate change, energy and the environment.

As United Nations Environment Programme executive director Achim Steiner put it: 'As champions of the climate cause and centres for innovation, efficiency, investment, and productivity, cities are poised to play an increasingly prominent role in the international climate change debate. It is in cities that climate and sustainability solutions for more than half of humanity will be found.'

He was speaking at the launch of a new report showcasing examples of successful urban environmental planning, on the sidelines of Bali's climate change conference earlier this month.

'A modern city can only be truly successful if it can convincingly demonstrate its green credentials by recognising its natural assets, creating efficient water, energy and transport infrastructure and protecting its citizens in the face of present and future impact of climate change,' he said.

Not only that, but environmental management can prove to be a strong marketing tool for attracting investors and contribute to public health and poverty eradication, he added.

The report, Liveable Cities: The Benefits Of Urban Environmental Planning - published by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), Cities Alliance and ICLEI - Local Governments For Sustainability - showcases 12 cities around the world.

Bangkok, for example, is struggling to cope with the effects of population growth and the impact on the environment, including serious air pollution causing respiratory disease and deteriorating waterways.

It has put in a multi-pronged approach - Bangkok Agenda 21, initiated in 1998.

This blueprint for development over the next 20 years includes the development of mass transit, vehicle-emissions testing points and promoting the use of bicycles and alternative fuels such as ethanol and natural gas.

Community-level projects, including its Communities Love Canals project, ropes in the public to clean up the city's deteriorating waterways. Residents are encouraged to plant trees in their front yards, and containers provided to separate trash help the city cope with the 9,742 tonnes of garbage it generates each day.

Over in the province of Bohol in the Philippines, known for its eco-tourism attractions such as the famed Chocolate Hills, initiatives centre on preserving biodiversity and alleviating poverty by providing employment opportunities.

It now uses a tool called ecoBUDGET, an environmental management system that puts a price tag on natural resources and environmental goods so they can be incorporated into budgeting cycles.

In Yangzhou, China, which faces numerous environmental problems including damage to its wetlands, water shortages and deteriorating water quality, a conscientious decision to create an eco-city was taken in 1999 to encourage development that is socially, economically and ecologically balanced.

The multi-level approach, which earned it the UN-Habitat Scroll of Honour last year, targets several key areas, including water management, the preservation of historical sites and an eco-centre to raise environmental consciousness.

It also includes an Eco Industrial Park, where industries will be required to reduce the environmental impact of production and use clean energy and renewable materials.

And in Cuba, besides innovative solutions in urban transport, there has also been an ambitious cleanup of the main river flowing through 20th-century province Bayamo and improvements to solid-waste management.

Its successes will be replicated in at least three secondary Cuban cities.

All of these cities turn the environment into a key asset and ensure it is properly integrated into urban-development decisions, providing 'significant benefits in every area of urban life, cutting across issues such as health, poverty, security and economic development', the report states.

Failing to do so can have worrying consequences, exemplified by a survey done last year by the American Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong and cited in the report.

Hong Kong's skies are often heavily polluted by its two coal-burning power plants, marine and road traffic and factories over the border in mainland China.

Over the last few weeks, its pollution levels have prompted Dr Anthony Hedley, professor of community medicine at the University of Hong Kong, to say that cleaning up the city's air was a 'medical emergency'.

Almost four out of five professionals based in Hong Kong were either thinking of leaving or knew others who had already left because of the quality of the natural environment.

Of those interviewed, 95 per cent were worried about the air quality and the potential long-term impact.

More than half also said they knew of professionals who had turned down jobs in Hong Kong because of the quality of the environment. Some 94 per cent ranked quality of the environment as the top or second most important factor in selecting a place to live.

'As society and the economy marches inexorably towards globalisation, cities across all regions must compete with each other to attract enterprise, investment and employment. The quality of life, of 'liveability', which a city offers is important in ensuring its future economic performance,' the report concludes.

This is especially important because even as cities try to gear up for a lower-energy future, they will also have to cope with the impact of climate change in the coming decades, Mr Steve Howard, chief of global environmental organisation The Climate Group, told The Sunday Times.

'It's about future proofing... We're running out of places to put carbon because the atmosphere is saturated. So our energy choices start becoming really important. Cities that invest in good public transport, smart buildings, they will have the competitive advantage.... So the planning needs to start now. The scale of the challenge is massive,' he said.

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Britons seek greener Christmas and a planet-friendly new year

Three-quarters of us aim to celebrate the festive season with less waste. Four-fifths of retailers pledge to improve energy efficiency in their stores
Geoffrey Lean, The Independent 23 Dec 07;

Britain is embarking on its greenest Christmas, according to an astonishing series of studies.

Four separate surveys show that most people are promising to make their celebrations more environmentally friendly to reduce the impact of what are traditionally the most polluting three days of the year – and to make green resolutions for the new year.

Three-quarters say that they are actively trying to reduce the amount of waste they generate over the holiday, four in five mean to dispose of their Christmas tree in an environmentally responsible way, and nine out of 10 intend to recycle their Christmas cards and wrapping paper. More than 80 per cent say they have decided to live greener lives in 2008.

The festive season has a vast impact. Research at York University estimates that the days from Christmas Eve to Boxing Day can generate a carbon footprint as great as almost three weeks of normal life.

The study, by researchers from the Stockholm Environment Institute based at the university, concludes: "Our total consumption and spending on food, travel, lighting and gifts over the three days of festivities could result in as much as 650kg of emissions of carbon dioxide per person – equivalent to the weight of 1,000 Christmas puddings" (see graphic).

It adds that this amounts to "5.5 per cent of the UK's average carbon footprint of 11.87 tons per person a year" – equivalent to 20 days of normal consumption.

Britons send some 750 million Christmas cards a year, spend an average of £435 each on Christmas presents and encase them in enough brightly coloured paper to gift wrap the entire island of Guernsey. Eight million real trees are temporarily installed in people's homes and 10 million turkeys are consumed, along with 20 million parsnips, 30 million carrots, 105 million potatoes, 175 million mince pies and 240 million Brussels sprouts.

All this produces an extra 750,000 tons of waste – or an average of five extra sackfuls a household – which, the Government calculates, is the equivalent of emitting an extra 1.4 million tons of carbon dioxide, the main cause of global warming.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs says that if everything recyclable in the rubbish was indeed recycled, this would save greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to 352,000 tons of carbon dioxide – "or enough energy to fly Santa in a plane around the world 64,500 times on Christmas Eve".

The surveys show that Britons want to do more than just dream of a green Christmas and at least intend to do something about what the environment minister Joan Ruddock yesterday called "the massive impact that Christmas has on our carbon footprint".

A poll of 1,000 people carried out by online market researcher Lightspeed Research found last week that 91 per cent of them intended to recycle their cards and wrapping paper – and that 31 per cent were sending some electronic cards as well as paper ones.

Nearly two-fifths of respondents said that they were reducing their use of Christmas lights compared to last year, mainly because of environmental concerns. And 81 per cent planned to dispose of their tree in an environmentally responsible way, with 52 per cent either shredding or composting it themselves or taking it to the council to be shredded, and 29 per cent planting it in the garden.

Nearly two-thirds intended to buy locally produced Christmas food, with 44 per cent opting for free-range meat and 35 per cent insisting on Fairtrade products.

A second survey, of 1,922 adults, carried out by Tickbox.net for Sainsbury's, concluded that "nearly three-quarters of people (72 per cent) say they will actively try to reduce the amount of waste and packaging they generate during Christmas".

Judith Batchelar, the supermarket chain's brand director, hails "the greenest Christmas yet, with more customers buying Fairtrade or organic items, and the greater use of reusable bags for shopping".

Both the Lightspeed survey, and a third one – of 1,000 people by TNS for Deloitte – report that about a half of shoppers are trying to cut down on their use of plastic bags and take reusable ones with them.

Deloitte also broadly confirmed the Lightspeed finding on ethical shopping, with four-fifths of its respondents claiming to buy more Fairtrade and environmentally friendly products.

Deloitte, in a second study, also questioned 350 retailers and found that more than four-fifths of them pledged both to improve store energy efficiency and reduce packaging.

Last night, Tony Juniper, executive director of Friends of the Earth, said: " The surveys suggest that people are up for change, and ready to do their bit. It is a seasonal reminder to the Government that it needs to do far more itself."

Is this the nation's greenest family?

Meet Merlin Matthews and Carina Westling. They, and their children, can lay claim to be Britain's greenest family. This year they will be one of a fast-growing number celebrating an eco-friendly Christmas. In their home, wooden toys and rattles are lying under a living Christmas tree; reusable ribbons decorate the walls. On Christmas day they'll be tucking into a vegan Christmas lunch. Remarkably, their three children aren't complaining.

"The kids don't pester us for tons of presents", said Carina, 42, a Swedish website editor. "They know we don't live like that. I couldn't cope with being howled at for the latest toys. If children are taught to expect less, and be responsible about the environment, they are more grateful."

Merlin's daughter, Achala, nine, Carina's daughter, Katla, seven, and their son Cai, nine months, will be given gifts wrapped in no-frills brown paper and tape made from cellulose, which can be recycled. The seasonal salvaging is just an extension of the way the family live all year round.

Merlin, 34, is the chairman of the Brighton Peace and Environment Centre, and also runs the charity re-cycle.org, which has sent 26,000 reconditioned bikes to be reused in Africa.

"There will be a lot of pain if we don't make big changes now," said Merlin. "But I know we are trying, that my family is doing its bit. "

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Lavish decorations on shopping malls in Singapore

Deck the malls...
Christmas would not be the same without the lavish decorations on shopping malls
June Cheong, Straits Times 23 Dec 07;

The mall is decked out with 18,000 pieces of decorative ornaments and strings of pearls which incorporate elements of Victorian and Renaissance styles. The elegant decorations cost $400,000 to produce and set up.

HERE comes Santa Claus. In a styrofoam sleigh.

What is Christmas in any cosmopolitan city without the miles of glittery tinsel, twinkling fairy lights, larger-than-life Nativity scenes and thousands of plastic baubles?

It's no different here.

Every November, retailers and building owners across the island compete to attract year-end shoppers with lavish Christmas decorations.

No theme, locale or era is off-limits as long as the festive trimmings encourage shoppers to gawk, stop and spend.

In 2001, for example, Tangs department store in Orchard Road decided to evoke the spirit of old Shanghai. This year, Paragon went with a lavish Whimsical Christmas theme.

Ms Lau Chuen Wei, executive director of the Singapore Retailers Association, says: 'Building decorations are not just for Christmas now but whatever season or occasion we encounter, like Chinese New Year or Valentine's Day.

'It puts people in a good mood and makes them merrier. People are reminded it's Christmas. But whether that translates into hard sales, I don't know.'

The trend for buildings and malls decking themselves in festive finery started in earnest in the early 1980s.

The incentive came when the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) launched its now-defunct Best Decorated Building competition in 1984 to coincide with its inaugural Christmas light-up.

At the height of its popularity in 1988, the contest drew 30 entries.

But in 2001, there were only 16 submissions and the plug was pulled on the contest the next year. Despite the competition being called off, the practice of festooning buildings for Christmas had caught on and shopping centres around Singapore still spent between $60,000 and $250,000 to decorate their buildings that year.

The competition was briefly revived by Japanese imaging company Konica Minolta and supported by STB in 2003.

But the rivalry and rush for fir and tinsel among hotels and malls remain entrenched.

Some malls, like Central in Eu Tong Sen Street, which opened in January this year, do so to brand themselves into shoppers' consciousness. Central spent more than $300,000 on its Christmas decorations with the theme A Moonlit Christmas, By The River.

Others like Raffles Hotel and Paragon deck up their facades and interiors to channel the 'spirit of spreading love and joy'.

Ms Ina Se, advertising and promotions manager of Paragon, which spent $400,000 on Christmas decorations this year, says: 'Paragon's signature 40ft Christmas tree has been an iconic highlight over the years and is a good photo opportunity for locals and tourists.'

Then there is plain old tradition for that feel-good family photo. The other Christmas tree stalwart belongs to Takashimaya, which has erected a 15m-tall tree at its atrium for the last 10 Christmases.

A robust economy has also loosened the purse strings of retailers and building owners.

A spokesman for Bugis Junction says that it is spending more than $120,000 on decorations this year, 15 per cent more than last year. Bugis Junction bagged STB's Best Decorated Building award in 2000 and 2001.

And it's not just buildings that get into the spirit of transforming Orchard Road into a brighter, livelier place. This year, the three-year-old charity Celebrate Christmas In Singapore spent $800,000 on its Christmas programmes in the Orchard area which include a large-scale Christmas village in front of Plaza Singapura, five stages, seven floats and a Christmas Day concert.

STB also organises its own Christmas light-up along the 5.6km stretch from Tanglin Road to Raffles Avenue, although it declined to reveal production costs. Its theme this year is A Fairytale Christmas.

With so much to dazzle the senses, it is no wonder that an STB survey last Christmas found that almost 5.3 million people visited the Orchard Road area during that period, of which more than 757,000 were foreign visitors. One in five of those came primarily for the Christmas festivities here.

For those who have yet to make a trip to town to catch the lights, here's LifeStyle's pick of the 10 best decorated buildings.



Let it snow
THE JEWEL BOX
109 Mount Faber Road

-- ST PHOTOS: NG SOR LUAN, DESMOND WEE, SHAHRIYA YAHAYA

Theme: Winter Wonderland

Highlights: A nightly snow show entertains families while the light-up of a 61m-tall white and blue Christmas tree makes for a romantic setting. The choreographed lighting of the tree provides an enchanting spectacle for those seeking a night out with a view.

A spokesman for Mount Faber Leisure Group says: 'The visual landscape of lush conifer trees against a white snowy mountain scene provides a very 'white and wintery' feel.'


Christian scenes
CHRISTMAS VILLAGE
In front of Plaza Singapura

Theme: Christmas Is All About Love

Highlights: The village was created by the charity Celebrate Christmas In Singapore, which was set up in 2004 to organise community events and to 'encourage Singaporeans and foreign guests to spend Christmas here'. The larger-than-life structure features traditional Christian scenes like the three wise men travelling to Bethlehem.

It is part of a $800,000 Christmas extravaganza which culminates in a float parade and concert on Christmas Day. More than 1,000 volunteers from churches here will also put on music and drama performances here until Christmas Day.


Moon river
CENTRAL
6 Eu Tong Sen Street

Theme: A Moonlit Christmas, By The River

Highlights: More than $300,000 was sunk into transforming the mall by the Singapore River into a golden wonderland of baubles and lights which shimmer in the water at night.

Among the highlights are a giant golden Christmas tree comprising baubles of various sizes which 'draw inspiration from bubbles in the water', and ice skating musicals performed by Australian ice- skating champions whom the mall invited here. The creative whizzes behind the project are Mr Andy Goh from outdoor advertising contractor Rich-Art Enterprises and the mall's consultant, Mr John Tong.


Musical fantasy
BUGIS JUNCTION
230 Victoria Street

Theme: Larger Than Life Christmas

Highlights: A giant musical box measuring 3.4m by 3m. Billed as the largest musical box in Singapore, it features a ballerina mannequin on a rotating platform wearing a pearl and diamond tiara worth nearly $14,000 and a diamond-studded corset worth more than $125,000.

The musical box will play Christmas songs throughout the mall's operating hours. A Bugis Junction spokesman says of the more than $120,000 spent on the festive decor: 'The decoration was inspired by the epic fantasy adventure movie The Golden Compass. The idea was to create a fantasy mood for shoppers.'


Whim and fancy
PARAGON
290 Orchard Road

Theme: A Whimsical Christmas

Highlights: The mall is decked out with 18,000 pieces of decorative ornaments and strings of pearls which incorporate elements of Victorian and Renaissance styles.

The elegant decorations cost $400,000 to produce and set up.


Sparkling Christmas
VIVOCITY
1 Harbourfront Walk

Theme: A Sparkling Christmas At VivoCity

Highlights: Beautifully sculpted topiaries of snowmen and reindeer are scattered throughout the mega-mall, and crowning it all is a 101ft-tall artificial Christmas tree at its rooftop Sky Park. Ms Wendy Low, general manager of VivoCity, says: 'This year's theme depicts VivoCity as a 'sparkling' destination in conjunction with its first anniversary.'

Taking 11/2 months to assemble and five days to decorate, the tree is strung with more than 600 baubles and lights and was done by Mr Edward Tang from graphic design firm ModernAge Design & Communications.


Eco friendly decorations
RENDEZVOUS HOTEL
9 Bras Basah Road

Theme: Red And Gold

Highlights: The understated charm of the hotel is underscored by the light Christmas touches of mistletoe and fairylights. The hotel's housekeeping and engineering teams took two weeks and just $5,000 to adorn the lobby. Environmental and cost concerns mean the decorations will be recycled for use in staff areas next year, says a spokesman.


Carrying on with tradition
RAFFLES HOTEL
1 Beach Road

Theme: A Traditional Christmas

Highlights: The 120-year-old hotel prides itself on being elegant, and this applies to its Christmas decorations. The housekeeping department has decked the grand old lady with traditional ornaments like garlands, boughs and bows in red, green and gold. The centrepiece is a 20ft fresh noble fir tree from Oregon in the United States at the lobby. The hotel did not want to reveal how much it spent.


The glitter-ati
THE CENTREPOINT
176 Orchard Road

Theme: A Season Of Glitter And Sparkle

Highlights: Gold leaves and fairy lights wrap the pillars and windows outside the mall while giant pots of Christmas trees speckled with shiny bows and baubles float above shoppers inside.

Mr Raymond Chan, senior manager of advertising and promotions at The Centrepoint, says: 'We added a touch of glitter and sparkle to create and set the mood for shoppers and children alike. We wanted to create a warm ambience and spread the spirit and good cheer of this magical season.'

It took decoration contractors Q's Advertising and Rich-Art Enterprises one week to put up the festive ivy and sparkling lights, which will be recycled and converted for use in future campaigns.


Storytelling by lantern
TANGS ORCHARD
310 & 320 Orchard Road

Theme: The Christmas Story

Highlights: The brainchild of Tangs' marketing and visual merchandising team, the store's Christmas decorations were made locally and took three weeks to set up.

The highlight is a whimsical, graphic depiction of the Nativity story told via an automated rotating lantern. As the various scenes scroll in front of the lantern and screen, the story of the birth of Jesus unfolds. The store's glass panels are also decorated with a stunning stained glass effect.

Ms Lin Pei Hua, senior manager of marketing and communications at Tangs, says: 'Such decor is normally seen only in churches and this represents Tangs' very own story of what Christmas means to a Christian store like Tangs.'


Five quirky photo spots

TIRED of bugles and baubles dotting the Orchard Road landscape? LifeStyle points you to five quirkier spots across the island where you can pose for that magical Christmas photo.

Takashimaya (above)
391 Orchard Road

If it ain't broke, don't fix it. And this applies to cheesy poses with the requisite Christmas tree. If you're not sick yet of smiling wanly against a backdrop of fake fir while harassed shoppers bustle in front of you and ruin your shot, aim for the 15m-tall tree.

We recommend an extreme top-down or bottom-up angle. Traditional, yes, but then classic never went out of style.


Anchor Point
370 Alexandra Road

Fairies and pixies take centre stage at this suburban mall whose tribute to Christmas is an impressive two-storey feature wall. With winged fairies and giant potted plants stacked upon one another in dark, wooden shelves, the wall is an enchanting blend of bookish grandeur and secret gardens.

Plus, you can take a picture with good old Santa Claus without the lap-sitting.


Lucky Plaza
304 Orchard Road

Kitsch, tacky and borderline eerie. Six white reindeer? Check. A Santa-less sleigh? Check. The large setpiece, strung up above Lucky Plaza's too-small taxi stand, chills as much as it thrills with its misaligned proportions. American film director David Lynch could not have dreamt up a better Christmas display than the folks at Lucky Plaza.


Singapore Discovery Centre
510 Upper Jurong Road

The 'edutainment' centre gets jiggy with Christmas to appeal to children and the inner child in everyone. Outside is a two-dimensional, 10m-long backdrop of a castle shrouded in snow. So far, so retro. Inside is a cosy Santa corner replete with Santa and fake fireplace.


Singapore Airlines aircraft
In the friendly skies above you

The national carrier is not just a great way to fly but also a festive one. The entire current fleet of 98 planes is decked with mistletoe and holly bunches come Christmas and the $50,000 operation takes two weeks.

A Singapore Airlines spokesman says: 'This process is not an easy one at all, given the tight security at the airport and the very tight schedules the aircraft have when they're not flying.

'Very often it's about close coordination, dispatching a team very quickly and making sure they get the decor up in the shortest possible time.'

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