Participants at youth forum plan to start 'Save Mandai' campaign

Channel NewsAsia 10 May 08;

SINGAPORE: Participants at the National Youth Environment forum, held on Saturday have agreed to start a ‘Save Mandai’ campaign. They hope to raise awareness on the need to protect Mandai's natural beauty when the area is being developed.

Two new ‘nature-themed attractions’ will be built in Mandai to complement the Singapore Zoo and Night Safari.

The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) plans to turn the 30-hectare site into the next luxurious tropical spa retreat and an exotic river-themed development, where visitors can learn about freshwater habitat.

STB aims to turn Mandai into Asia's next top nature spot and double the number of visitors to the area to five million by 2015.

But the people behind the ‘Save Mandai’ campaign have not released details of their action plan yet.

The campaign is just one of the initiatives planned by the over 200 participants at the forum.

The event also encouraged young people to turn their green plans into action. So items such as rhino horns were displayed at one booth by The Singapore Zoo and the Night Safari.

The aim is to bring the message of protecting endangered species closer to the participants at the forum.

That's also the motive of other organisations such as the Vegetarian Society, Nature Trekker, and the Society for the Prevention to Cruelty to Animals (SPCA).

Some displays were more hands-on.

Aaron Yeo, Head, Forum Planning Department, ECO Singpaore, said: "This eco-house that we have erected at the Science Centre is is a prototype of how we should be able to live sustainably with current technologies that we have."

And that ties in with 'Beyond Awareness' which is the theme of this year's National Youth Environmental Forum.

It's organised by ECO Singapore, a non-profit group advocating green lifestyles for youths. This bi-annual event gives youths between the ages of 17 and 30 a chance to speak out on pressing issues.

These include technology, economics, attitude, legislation and the media.

Wilson Ang, President, ECO Singapore, said: "Over the past two years, we've seen a significant increase in the amount of youth involvement in terms of organising it and as well as participating. So we realise that youths do see a value in getting involved with the environment. However, it's more than just awareness, they're starting to take action."

Ong Qun Xiang, ECO Singapore volunteer, said: "The most important thing is that we have provided a platform for the youths in order to present their ideas to everyone and hopefully there will be action plans that follow up so that they may see their actions taking fruit."

And urging participants to take even more initiative in environmental protection is Senior Parliamentary Secretary for the Environment and Water Resources, Dr Amy Khor.

Besides youths, the event also brings together experts, non-governmental organisations, as well as government and corporate representatives. - CNA/vm