National Day Parade: Packaging the fun - in an eco-friendly way

Goodie bags made from recyclable material, fewer plastic water bottles and stage to be re-used
Tania Tan & Sumathi V. Selvaretnam, Straits Times 4 Jul 08;

A GROUP of artists aged between 12 and 16 are doing their bit to paint this year's National Day Parade a distinct shade of green.

Their work adorns the goodie bags to be given out to parade spectators - bags which, for the first time in parade history, will be made from recyclable material.

The handsewn and re-usable 'funpacks', as they are called, come from Tetra Paks, from which most drink cartons are made.

Laminated to make them waterproof, they can withstand loads of at least 3kg, said industrial designer Terence Woon, 26, who conceptualised the funpacks.

The bags, to be distributed to the 135,000 people at the parade, its preview and the National Education Shows, will hold an assortment of snacks, drinks and items such as a mini Singapore flag and temporary tattoos.

The artists who created the 'skin' of the funpack hail from Very Special Arts Singapore - a group of artists with disabilities - and the School of the Arts, a pre-tertiary arts school.

The artists came up with 10 paintings, which were then digitally stitched together to form a mural on the theme 'Singapore Spirit'.

The funpacks are each clad in different parts of this mural.

It was Mr Woon's idea to bring together these two groups of artists 'whose paths do not normally cross'.

The environmentally friendly bags are only one way the parade is pushing the 'Reduce, Re-use and Recycle' message in ways big and small.

A close eye is being kept on the trash, for example, said the parade's logistics and finance chief, Lieutenant-Colonel Lim Siong Tiong.

The target is to ensure that at least 10 per cent of the trash from the parade makes it into recycling bins, he said.

For the third consecutive parade, the recycling effort will extend to spectators, who could win prizes for using the trash bags they will be given and depositing them in designated bins.

Of the trash swept up by cleaners at last year's parade, 4,000kg was recycled. This year's parade organisers hope to top that.

Lt-Col Lim said he hoped spectators will not forget 'the environment is a crucial part of our show, and to keep it clean'.

Even the plywood used to build the three-tier stage, the size of nearly 11/2 football fields, will be re-used, for example, at the SingTel Singapore Grand Prix in September.

Sitting atop the Marina Bay - which itself is testimony to Singapore's efforts to manage its water resources - the stage will also have a green twist.

It has been designed in a way that keeps its waiting areas ventilated - only fans are needed to keep parade participants cool, not air-conditioners.

Yet another pro-environment move: slashing the number of plastic bottles of Newater given out to participants by half to 160,000. Instead, water points will be set up where bottles can be refilled.

Lt-Col Lim said: 'It takes some doing for such a big event to be green, but it's not impossible.'

Singapore has made several efforts to go green this year, including running 'save-energy' drives requiring retailers to slap household power guzzlers with energy-efficiency labels.

All eyes will be on the goodie bags
Straits Times 4 Jul 08;

MORE than 100,000 people will walk away from this year's National Day Parade, and its associated shows, with a goodie bag featuring paintings by disabled and mentally challenged artists like Muhammad Noh Arjuna.

The 16-year-old, who has autism, used his thumb and paintbrush to create an artwork of bursts of bright pinks, purples and greens entitled Fireworks. The painting has been reproduced on the goodie bags that will be handed out to mark Singapore's 43rd birthday.

Even before his paintbrush hit paper, Muhammad Noh brushed up on his skills by watching a British documentary about art. And once the painting was done, it was touched up on the computer, said Muhammad Noh, who has won numerous art competitions.

Another of this year's artists is 14-year-old Daren Leslie, who is hearing-impaired.

He chose to capture the National Anthem with a drawing of a musical notation - the treble clef. He is excited by the prospect of thousands of spectators carrying his design.

'It makes me feel like a famous artist,' said Daren.

The students created their artwork at a printmaking and digital darkroom workshop held by Cultural Medallion-winner Chng Seok Tin and digital artist Tan Haur.

Meanwhile, organisers of this year's parade gave a sneak peek yesterday of the treats to be found in this year's funpacks.

One highlight: a giant inflatable glove that can be lit up for the night-time segment of the Aug 9 festivities.

The six light-emitting diodes in the glove will blink for six seconds every time the glove is shaken or hit. It also doubles as a noise-maker.

'It will be a sea of red hands representing Singaporeans united together,' said former Nanyang Polytechnic student Fu Huifen, 20, who designed the item with four others.

There will also be the usual party favours, including the customary Singapore flag and temporary tattoos.

Organisers will also hand out caps to block out the sun and ponchos to keep out the rain.

Snacks, sweets and drinks, including Newater, will keep the hunger pangs and thirst away. And should the roar of the jets lead to a headache, there is even medicated oil for instant relief.

Bargain hunters will also get some post-party fun: There is a 90-page booklet full of discount coupons for everything from restaurant meals to beauty treatments.