Green Volunteer Network update 14 Feb 08

From Grant Pereira, volunteers needed at Ubin Green House, nature guiding at Pasir Ris Park. Help also needed with whale shark campaign, carpentry, topiary, saplings and planting, rat infestation. As well as with Orang Aslis in Johor.

1) ORANG ASLI NEED HELP....

A friend of mine is helping a group of Orang Aslis (about 600 of them) near Gelang Patah, Johor. They live near the mangrove/sea shores so I figure they could be Orang Laut (Sea people).

Because of the pollution they are unable to make a living catching fish and crabs. As since the cutting of mangroves for firewood is banned there is no regular income to speak of.

Many are undernourished and are infected by lice (even their homes). We need canned food, cereals, noodles, mlio/horlicks, coffee, tea, sugar milk, medicated soap/shampoo, lice powder, toothbrushes and toothpaste, vitamins (especially “C”).

No need T-shirt as my friend in Johor is collecting them. Cash would also be appreciated as we can buy lice powder/shampoo at Giant supermarket Johor Baru where its cheaper and we don’t have the hassle of lugging it across the causeway etc.

I do not drive so appreciate very much if stuff can be delivered to our office at Cluny Road. If any of you have a car or van you could help by providing transport to collect stuff and send to our office.

I intend to visit them soon to see how we can help them. Develop some sustainable income (anyone for a very basic Orang Asli homestay? After we get rid of the bugs of course!).

This collection would make a great school project. Eventually would need volunteer doctors/dentists to visit.

2) UBIN GREEN HOUSE NEEDS VOLUNTEERS

We need volunteers to help man our Ubin Green House on Sundays and Public Holidays (10.00 am to 6.00 pm). Please email grace_ang@singnet.com.sg if you can help.

3) NATURE GUIDE TRAINING PASIR RIS PARK

We are starting another nature guide training for Pasir Ris Park. Pasir Ris Park is the 3rd most popular park in Singapore and has a good variety of fauna and flora. There are spice and native tree gardens, mangroves and many interesting species of trees.

Dates: All Saturdays, meet 10.00 am SHARP Pasir Ris MRT station control. March 1st, 15th , 22nd and 29th. You have to attend at least 3 of these 4 walks and after these walks you will owe us 3 walks as nature guides and do 3 pieces of research on Fauna, Flora, cultural or historical (our choice). You will also required to purchase a copy of Dr. Wee Yeow Chin’s “Tropical Tress and Shrubs” at $25 per copy (outside $30 percopy). Its really a good book both for reference and research, I use it often and highly recommend it.

It’s also your way of showing that you’re serious about being a nature guide. Training restricted to 20 participants and first come first served. Email me your full name, DOB and Mobile number if you can commit to the above dates.

4) ADEX 2008 SHOW 18TH TO 20TH APRIL 2008

Volunteers needed 10.00 am to 9.00 pm. (two shifts) 10.00 am to 4.30 pm or 3.30 pm to 9 pm. Check out (www.asiadiveexpo.com). If you want to help, email grace_ang@singnet.com.sg your name, mobile, dates and times you can help.

5) ANYONE KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT TOPIARY

Needed expert to help us design and set up a topiary of a large elephant. Email me if you can help. Thanks.

6) ANY CARPENTERS OUT THERE

At Pulau Ubin we have been given 2 vey old coffee shop tables (more than 50 years old). They are in bad shape and need a good carpenter. Anyone can help? We probably have to cannibalise one table for the other.

7) VOLUNTEERS LIVING AROUND PASIR RIS

Elias Park Primary School is the first primary school to join our S.P.R.O.U.T.S. project. We also have been given a small plot of land near Block 512 Pasir Ris Street 52. If you live around Paris Ris and want to help, let me know.

8) SAPLINGS NEEDED.....

For our S.P.R.O.U.T.S. programmes we are looking for the following saplings: Curry leaf, Weeping willow, Cherry tree, Guava, Java plum. If you have any to spare or know where we can dig up some please let me know. Thanks.

9) A BETTER MOUSE TRAP

We have a major rat infestation at our Ubin Green House. This is because of the dog and cat food we keep in the house (from now on, only canned food donations please).

Besides the bloody snap traps, poisons, gums etc... Do any of you know a less messy (and smelly) way of catching these critters? As we only open the house once a week, we need to trap them alive. Any suggestions? (house locked up so we cannot keep cats in the house).

10) WHALE SHARK EDUCATIONAL CAMPAIGN

In my capacity of Asian Educational Coordinator of Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, we shall be doing an educational project on the whale shark. I need volunteers and researchers to help to put this project together. If you want to help please email me your name, DOB and mobile number, use Whale shark as header.

11) GARDENING TIP

When you boil eggs or vegetables do not throw away the water as its rich in vitamins and minerals. Instead let it cool down completely and use it to water your plants.