$19m waterfront oasis to be built in Woodlands

Channel NewsAsia 26 Jan 08;

SINGAPORE: Come 2010, Woodlands residents can enjoy seafront recreational amenities right at their doorstops.

The Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) has unveiled a S$19m design plan to build a coastal promenade and park in their neighbourhood.

Woodlands will certainly live up to its name with URA's "Woodlands Waterfront" proposal, where more lush greenery, trees and woods will be planted.

A nine-hectare park will be created from vacant land along the coastline, featuring playgrounds, picnic areas and nature trails to cater to different recreational needs.

Right next to the park is a 1.5-kilometre long promenade that will offer unobstructed views of the Johor Straits.

To allow visitors to be closer to the water, an old jetty connected to the park will be refurbished as well.

On why the waterfront idea was mooted, head of the project at URA, Wan Khin Wai, said: "In Woodlands today, you'll find that this is one of the towns that are located along the coastline. However if you're inside of it, you can't appreciate the coastline. So, this project offers residents (the chance) to get to the coastline and have recreational activities there."

The Woodlands Waterfront proposal is part of URA's overall vision to raise the standard of living here, said its director for conservation & urban design, Ler Seng Ann.

"Singapore is an island, surrounded by water on all sides. The waterfront is an important asset. So, in the planning of parks and waterbodies plan, we have capitalised on all these so that we can generate recreation space for Singaporeans to enjoy."

A Woodlands resident, Mrs Chow, is looking forward to the new amenities. "The plan's very good because so far, we don't have any of these things around our area. If you want to have this kind of places, we have to travel all the way to the east side."

Construction of the Woodlands Waterfront will begin by the middle of this year and is expected to be completed by the middle of 2010.

The Woodlands Waterfront is also something Dr Tony Tan, ex-MP of the area, will definitely look forward to as it was his dream to have it.

"He shared his dream of using the waterfront....bring in water sports, water activities, and let the residents enjoy the waterfront and have a good view of Johor Baru, our closest neighbour. It has been one of his (Dr Tony Tan's) dreams for Sembawang," revealed Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan. - CNA/938LIVE/ir


URA unveils another new waterfront proposal
URA press release 26 Jan 08;

Residents in Woodlands New Town get to enjoy more recreation spaces at their doorsteps

The Urban Redevelopment Authority today unveiled the design proposals for the Woodlands Waterfront, comprising a coastal promenade and a park in Woodlands. The new facilities are part of URA's plans to enhance our living environment by capitalising on our natural assets.

Exciting plans in store for residents in the northern region

Residents of Woodlands and those living in nearby residential estates can look forward to a new waterfront recreational playground, right at their doorsteps.

To improve accessibility to the northern coast and to open up the scenic waterfront, URA will be building a 1.5-km long promenade and a nine hectare park along a tranquil stretch of coastline in Woodlands.

The new promenade is conceived as a linear recreational and fitness trail offering unobstructed, expansive views of the Johor Straits. The landscaped promenade will offer beautiful lush greenery and will be interspersed with rest points and fitness stations. The promenade in the form of boardwalk will be built over the seawall, bringing visitors closer to the water’s edge. Whether you are an avid runner, exercise enthusiast or simply enjoy a relaxing stroll with your family, the promenade makes an attractive recreational facility.

To further capitalise on the sea frontage, a park will be created right next to the coastal promenade. The design of the park leverages on the existing terrain and contours to create interesting spaces and views within the park.

The park is designed to cater to different recreational needs with a variety of amenities. For example, there will be jogging and fitness trail and cycling tracks for fitness enthusiasts; playgrounds for young children; event spaces to hold outdoor community functions; picnic areas for families; and nature trails as a haven for nature lovers. To bring visitors closer to the water, an old jetty connected to the park will also be refurbished to allow for recreational activities.

Realising Plans in Partnership with the Community

The Woodlands Waterfront will form part of the comprehensive network of parks and park connectors in the area. When it is completed in 2010, residents will be able to access and enjoy a large part of the northern waterfront. It will be linked to the new Admiralty Park, which opened last October. In future, it will also be linked to the Woodlands Town Garden via a park connector along Woodlands Centre Road and through the HDB estate.

The idea to enhance the Woodlands Waterfront was first mooted and exhibited as part of the Woodlands Improvement Plan in February 2002. It was then incorporated into the Parks and Waterbodies Plan as part of Master Plan 2003 review.

URA’s CEO, Mrs Cheong Koon Hean, said, “This is another example that shows that our plans do not remain on the drawing board. The new facilities are part of URA’s plans to continually enhance the quality of our living environment and to strengthen Singaporeans’ sense of belonging and identity. We will continue to work in partnership with the community to provide an attractive living environment for all to enjoy.”

Members of Parliament for the Sembawang GRC welcome the plans to activate the coastline to provide an additional recreational destination close to the residents. “This will be one project highly anticipated by the residents. With the new facilities, they can indulge in a greater variety of leisure activities without having to travel very far,” said Mr Hawazi Daipi, MP for Sembawang GRC and Chairman of the Facilities Co-ordinating Committee for Sembawang, Woodlands and Yishun.

Mr Khaw Boon Wan, Minister for Health and MP for Sembawang GRC, will officiate the launch of the “Woodlands Waterfront and the Discovery Map” at Woodlands Civic Centre on Saturday, 26 January 2008. The design proposals for Woodlands Waterfront will be exhibited from 26 to 29 January 2008. Members of the public, including the residents are welcome to give their feedback on the proposals.

JY Huang Associates has been appointed to design and build the coastal promenade and park. Construction will begin in the middle of this year.

In November 2007, the URA also announced the plans for a new waterfront promenade and a park at Punggol Point.

Links

Upping the Wow Factor in Woodlands
in Skyline the URA e-newsletter Jan/Feb 08 issue

Read more!

Congestion will have long-term impact on productivity and health

Channel NewsAsia 26 Jan 08;

SINGAPORE: Congestion is a problem that affects most big cities.

If not resolved, it will have a long-term effect on the economy, loss in productivity as people get stuck in traffic, and even health.

Associate Professor Eustan Quah, an economist, said: "Congestion may mean that people would be more stressed up - they may return from work later than is normal and this in turn may leave little time for whatever time there is for relaxation and leisure and this in turn also affects health and family unity.”

He added: "Congestion is like stationary pollution and if it's big enough, it is going to release more emissions of carbon dioxide and various car pollutants and this is going to have an impact on people living around certain roads."

In Singapore, the solution has been two-pronged.

Get people to use more public transport while controlling vehicle growth and pricing busy roads - where rates have mostly gone up.

But with the benefits of an effective public transport system still some years away, is a never-ending spiral of higher road use costs then inevitable?

"We don't expect this to remain stagnant because people are more affluent, people change jobs, people change neighbourhoods and this is all going to have an impact on traffic volume and whether road pricing works or not at that price. So I don't think there is any one magic formula," said Quah.

An announcement on the review of managing road use - the last of three major policy changes - is expected soon. -CNA/vm

Read more!

Singapore's 'Just Bin It' campaign aims for cleaner parks

Channel NewsAsia 26 Dec 08;

SINGAPORE: 20 per cent of park users have no qualms about littering in parks.

15 per cent also feel that throwing small items, like cigarette butts and tissue paper, does not constitute littering.

NEA's Littering Behaviour Study over the past two years also found that drink containers are the most common litter found in parks.

This is followed by cigarette butts, plastic wrappers, tissue and strips of paper.

So NEA and National Parks has launched the "Just Bin It" campaign at the East Coast Park, West Coast Park, Changi Beach and the Pasir Ris Park.

160 student ambassadors will also help spread the anti-littering message during the year's school holidays.

And to kick off the campaign, students from 20 schools competed in the Paint-A-Bin competition.

Their works will be displayed at the four parks. -CNA/vm

RELATED ARTICLES

Vote for Orchard Road's best dustbin design
Electric New Paper 4 Dec 07;

Tidy Singapore city? It's all down to cleaners
Jamie Ee & Samantha Eng, Straits Times 20 Jan 08;

Hong Kah North residents to compete in biannual 'Litter-Free Block' competition
Channel News Asia 13 Jan 08;

Littering in Singapore: What does it take to solve this filthy problem?
Lynn Lee, Straits Times 12 Jan 08;

Read more!

Another Singaporean hit with Chikungunya fever, bringing the total to 11

Channel NewsAsia 26 Jan 08;

SINGAPORE: The Chikungunya virus has hit another person in Singapore - bringing to 11 the total number of cases so far.

The Health Ministry said the latest case detected on 25 January is a Singaporean with no recent travel history and who spent some time daily in the Little India area.

The first 10 cases of the mosquito-borne disease have all been linked to the Clive Street area in Little India.

And since 14 January, the authorities have screened 1,795 people within a 150-metre radius of the affected section.

Checks were later expanded to cover a larger area and the latest case had spent time within the extended screening area.

More than 3,200 inspections have been conducted so far.

NEA has stepped up its operations to Rochor Road, Race Course Road, Lavender Road and Jalan Besar.

A total of 63 breeding sites have also been found and destroyed.

Of the 11 cases, nine were admitted at the Communicable Disease Centre for isolation and management.

All have been discharged, except for two who are still under observation, including the latest case.

Residents and owners of premises have been advised to check their area daily to remove any stagnant water that may breed mosquitoes.

Persons infected with Chikungunya fever should stay indoors to reduce the risk of further transmission of the virus.

Those who have been in the Clive Street area recently and have developed a fever are advised to consult their doctors. -CNA/vm

Read more!

Environmentalists out on a limb: problems with 'collaboration'

Erica Rosenberg, The Los Angeles Times 24 Jan 08;

For a seat at the negotiating table, they are jeopardizing their true role.

There's nothing wrong with a group of people historically at odds sitting down to find common ground. Or is there?

For decades, our public lands have been a battleground: Timber, wildlife, recreation, wilderness -- which interests and uses should dominate? But now, "collaboration" is all the rage. In collaboration, diverse stakeholders (as they invariably tag themselves) -- environmentalists, developers, off-roaders, timber companies, county officials -- hash out an agreement on how to manage their local public lands and then submit it to Congress for approval.

A few deals already have been enacted, and another half a dozen are in the works across the U.S. Collaboration has been touted as the solution to "gridlock" on our national forests. Timber companies and their allies gripe that the normal process -- extensive analysis, citizen involvement and the right to challenge agency decisions -- has ground all "management activity" (read: logging) to a halt. Western counties surrounded by public land argue that they need room to expand. Others believe lands worthy of protection are still threatened. The new paradigm means everyone sits down with their adversaries.

But these collaborations are troublesome, particularly for environmentalists, who risk undermining their mission as well as the very laws that are the basis of their power, effectiveness and legitimacy.

For example, a bill poised for introduction in Congress would turn into law an agreement reached by one collaborative group on how to manage Montana's 3.3-million-acre Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest. The stakeholders -- Montana Wilderness Assn., National Wildlife Federation, Trout Unlimited and timber companies -- had one thing in common: They hated the management plan proposed by the Forest Service. So they came up with their own plan specifying which areas can be logged, which can be opened up to off-roaders and which should be recommended to Congress for wilderness designation.

Sounds reasonable enough. So what's wrong? To start, as owners of the public lands, all Americans have a stake in their management, and they have not designated these representatives. Even the most inclusive collaboration can go bad: Outliers who pose a threat to consensus are either not invited or made to feel unwelcome. And ultimately, decisions are being made behind closed doors. But Congress loves a done deal. With a local sponsor, Congress is inclined to rubber-stamp these initiatives, overlooking the fact that they are an end-run around the suite of laws that safeguard public lands and keep land-management decisions an open process.

The Beaverhead bill, for example, triples the acreage where logging can take place from what was in the Forest Service's plan. It requires an environmental analysis only for individual logging projects rather than the plan as a whole, thereby waiving the bedrock U.S. environmental law, the National Environmental Policy Act. It also allows logging in roadless areas -- a radical departure from the Roadless Area Conservation Rule that environmentalists championed during the Clinton era. Other deals have sold off vast acreage of public lands in exchange for wilderness designations.

The collaboration prototype -- the 1998 Quincy Library Group legislation -- illustrates the problem. That group, named for the California town library where it met, came up with a plan for three national forests in the Sierra affected by endangered-species listings. The proposal increased logging while protecting pristine areas. When it landed in Congress, California Rep. George Miller insisted on adding one provision: All environmental laws would apply. That meant the Quincy Library logging plan had to go through the same environmental analysis a Forest Service plan would.

The Quincy Library proposal, held up at the time as a model of local, consensus-based decision-making, has never been fully implemented. Why? Primarily because it didn't jibe with Endangered Species Act guidelines protecting the California spotted owl. In other words, it did not pass scientific or legal muster.

That environmentalist "stakeholders" signed on to the Quincy Library agreement in the first place highlights the danger of the collaboration fad. After years of being tarred as obstructionist ideologues, some environmental groups now have a seat at the negotiating table -- indeed, are seen as crucial to legitimizing any deal. Enjoying their newfound popularity, these self-appointed decision-makers become heavily invested in reaching an accord, regardless of the science, the law or the long-term effect on the land.

For decades, environmentalists fought to get a more level playing field and establish transparency and accountability in public-lands policy; they continue to fight the Bush administration's relentless efforts to dismantle these policies. How ironic it would be, then, if in their eagerness to embrace the new paradigm, they craft and push through Congress deals that undercut the very laws that got them to the table in the first place.

Erica Rosenberg directs the program on public policy at Arizona State University's law school and served as counsel to the House Resources Committee from 1999-2004.

Read more!

Bitter harvest: UK honey supplies run short after wet summer upsets bees' routine

Michael McCarthy, The Independent 26 Jan 08;

If the washout summer was bad for us, for honey bees it was much worse. The record rains frequently prevented bees from foraging, stopped hive expansion and meant that honey production levels were often sharply down across the country, according to the British Beekeepers' Association (BBKA). "The summer of 2007 was an awful one for British honey bees," said the BBKA president, Tim Lovett.

"Some of the flowering, such as the flowering of the lime trees, which is important for the bees, coincided with periods of heavy rain, so in some places the bees will have missed it entirely." Bees do not forage when it rains, he explained, because in the wet weather they lose body temperature, grow sluggish, cannot get back to the hive and eventually die.

The soggy conditions also meant that it was difficult for beekeepers who had lost bees during the winter – to disease, for example – to rebuild their stocks in the summer months. And when autumn arrived and some beekeepers took their hives up onto moorland for heather honey, the situation was also found to be bad.

Although the picture varied across the country, the general trend was down, according to Mr Lovett, by a minimum of 10 per cent compared with the supply in previous years.

Mr Lovett suffered significant losses himself. He would normally expect to get about 160lbs of honey from his four hives at his home in Esher, Surrey, but last year only harvested about 100lbs, he said. "I think British and local honey will certainly be in shorter supply than normal in outlets such as health food shops," he added.

Mike Brown, head of the National Bee Unit, which is run by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, said that honey yields were definitely down. "Although strangely, some people had a very good year, others produced absolutely nothing," he said. "We estimate that in 2006, beekeepers produced a total of about 6,500 to 7,000 tonnes. Last year it was more like 4,000."

Beekeepers in Wales have been particularly hard hit. John Tayler, secretary of the Welsh Beekeepers' Association said that 2007 was one of the worst harvests he could remember. Worker bees which foraged for nectar had a strong dislike for inclement weather, he said, and he blamed a lack of sunshine for the failure of plants to produce enough nectar for the bees to forage anyway.

There was a shortage right across Wales. Mr Tayler said: "Generally across Wales it was a poor honey harvest last year for the vast majority of beekeepers,". He added that he had 16 hives near Llandovery in Carmarthenshire which, in a good year, would normally produce up as much as 600lbs of honey, but last year the harvest plummeted to just 40lbs. "There's bound to be a shortage of what I call gourmet honey – privately produced – in the shops," he explained. "Last summer's bad weather certainly had an affect on production."

Read more!

Warning over salmon parasite that can be fatal

Charles Clover, Telegraph 25 Jan 08;

Wild salmon caught in Britain are carrying increased amounts of a parasite dangerous to humans, the Food Standards Agency has warned.

The Agency has issued safety guidelines to people who eat their own catch or sell it locally after increased levels of the parasite, anisakis simplex, known in the United States as herring worm, were found.

The parasite can cause severe anaphylactic reactions in some people, with symptoms including erratic heartbeat and respiratory failure. These can, in some cases, be fatal.

The Agency says cases are rare but there were two last year and one the year before.

The salmon pick up the parasite when feeding on krill at sea. It causes the fish's vents to swell and bleed, which it is feared could lead to a collapse in the numbers of salmon spawning successfully.

The Agency says that people must freeze wild salmon for at least 24 hours to kill the parasite at a temperatue of - 20°C or colder if it is to be eaten raw or almost raw.
advertisement

This advice applies to salmon that are to be smoked cold or eaten after marinating or salting, as in Gravadlax.

If it is to be cooked, the salmon should reach 70°C for at least two minutes.

As the larvae of the parasite cannot be identified and removed, this advice is particularly important for elderly people and pregnant women.

Fish which are obviously contaminated should not be consumed, according to the Agency.

The Environment Agency has said that record numbers of salmon were found to be carrying the parasite last year. On the Itchen in Hampshire, as many as 30 per cent of salmon had the disease.

It was also found in the rivers Exe, Dee, Taff, Camel, Tamar, Eden Tyne, Ribble, Wye and Lune and in a number of Scottish rivers.

Officials from the agency say that the evidence is at present inconclusive whether the parasite could bring about the collapse of salmon populations.

David Browse, head of the Hampshire Salmon Trust, said: "I hope we're wrong but we have already found dead salmon that haven't spawned."

Luckily, the parasite has struck the Itchen when it has three times the usual number of salmon coming into the river. Anglers think this is due to the winding-down of drift netting for salmon in the Irish Sea.

Read more!

Best of our wild blogs: 26 Jan 08

Seashore blogging workshop for young people
another International Year of the Reef event on the singapore celebrates our reefs blog and nie green club blog

Price tagging of nature? Outrageous!
comments on Euston Quah's views on the flying fish friends blog, see also more comments on the nature scorned blog

Chek Jawa survived the monsoon this year!
on the cj project blog

Changi Beach after dark
more marvels on the manta blog

Caterpillar in a cocoon
to avoid scaring the heartlanders, cocoon rescue conducted on the budak blog

The Simple Life
looking back on the postcards from seletar blog

Daily Green Action
500% electricity bill reduction from lights out! on the leafmonkey blog

Common tailorbird
a failed nesting on the bird ecology blog

Pholcid in my parlour
a spinner found on the budak blog

Read more!

More energy efficient air-conditioners, refrigerators now available

Channel NewsAsia 25 Jan 08;

SINGAPORE : Consumers looking to buy new air-conditioners and refrigerators now have more options to choose those that are more energy efficient.

Such models are available in the market, thanks to the "Mandatory Energy Labelling Scheme" which came into effect on 1 January this year.

The National Environment Agency (NEA) said that so far, 312 air-conditioner and 235 refrigerator models have been registered and labelled under this scheme.

These models carry labels that contain information on energy efficiency. And to make it simple for consumers, the more ticks a label has, the more energy efficient the appliance is.

For example, a three-tick refrigerator can help consumers save about S$80 in a year, compared to one-tick model.

A three-tick air-conditioner saves consumers about S$400 over a one-tick model.

Air-conditioners and refrigerators are the first two appliances covered under the scheme.

NEA said this is because using these items can account for about 50 percent of the total electricity bill of a typical household.

It added that manufacturers, such as Daikin and Mitsubishi, have shown strong support for the scheme.

These two brands alone have more than 20 air-conditioner models, which have earned four-tick labels. - CNA/ms

Read more!

Asia: Green, growth or maybe both?

Christie Loh, Today Online 26 Jan 08;

BETWEEN immediately providing a better life for the people and tackling environmental issues that could take centuries to unfold, it is obvious which route a country would take. Therefore, no government or person should expect Asia, at a high point in its development, to crimp economic growth by reducing production.

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong articulated this approach by Asian nations towards climate change, during a discussion at the World Economic Forum on Friday.

Mr Lee, justifying why Asia needs to pursue growth now, said the region's economic dynamism has contributed to stability and world prosperity. Furthermore, Asia is reluctant to limit energy usage since current greenhouse gas woes arose from past emissions by developed nations, he said.

Still, he sees three ways for Asia to strike a balance between immediate needs and longer-term environmental concerns.

One, countries should start helping themselves regardless of climate agreements — China and India would fare better economically if they removed energy subsidies that lead to waste.

Two, pursue eco-friendly measures that are economically viable.

Lastly, the world should put into practice the principle of "common but differentiated responsibilities" laid out in the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.

This, said Mr Lee, means developed nations should take the lead in cutting emissions while helping developing countries, which should make commitments appropriate to their situation. It is also crucial to get major emitters, such as China and India, to sign the Kyoto Protocol. Otherwise, America will not join in.

On the sidelines of the forum, when asked by Reuters if sovereign wealth funds should reveal more of their intentions, Mr Lee said Singapore's were already "quite open". Each year, Temasek Holdings publishes a report on its financial performance.

While the Government of Singapore Investment Corp (GIC) has been "much more circumspect about its disclosure", it will likely "do more", he said.

GIC, however, will not reveal its investments in particular sectors or its financial performance, GIC chairman and Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew had said earlier this week. He also said Singapore, Norway and Abu Dhabi had been invited to help the International Monetary Fund draw up disclosure guidelines.

Asia's dilemma: Go green or pursue growth
PM Lee moots ways to help countries balance current growth needs and longer-term concerns about the environment
Warren Fernandez, Straits Times 26 Jan 08;

DAVOS (SWITZERLAND) - ASIAN countries are pressing ahead with the urgent task of growing their economies to raise living standards and reduce poverty and cannot be expected to forgo this to curb global warming, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has said.

Instead, practical steps to help them grow in an environmentally friendly way should be pursued, such as pricing energy correctly and pursuing sustainable development, he suggested.

PM Lee was giving an Asian perspective on the challenge of climate change at an informal leaders' meeting on the subject. Others on the panel were United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon and Latin American, African and European leaders.

Climate change and the environment have been major topics at this year's meeting, with several panel discussions on how best to fashion a new agreement on reducing greenhouse gas emissions after the Kyoto Protocol runs out in 2010, as well as others on water shortages and poverty alleviation.

As the only Asian leader speaking at yesterday's high-level, closed-door discussion, Mr Lee sought to put the region's economic challenges and environmental concerns in proper context.

Economic growth, he said, had helped Asian countries to grow and raise living standards for billions of their people. It had contributed to the stability in the region, as well as prosperity in the global economy.

Should Asian economies falter, there would be political and security implications for the rest of the world, he noted.

'Domestically, the drive among Asian peoples to improve their lives is tremendous,' he said, pointing to the rise in car ownership in China and India as symptoms of the push for a better life. Some 7 million cars are sold in China a year, he noted.

The same applies to South-east Asia, with pressures to exploit fully the region's natural resources, from minerals to timber and forest land.

'It is impossible for anyone or any government to stop this.

'Between providing for the welfare of billions today and addressing a problem that will happen gradually over a century or more, it is obvious which people will choose,' he said.

This push for rapid economic growth would mean more pollution, he said, adding that 'realistically, emissions are bound to increase...this is a human and economic reality'.

PM Lee said Asian countries were reluctant to constrain energy usage when the current greenhouse gas problem was the result of past emissions by the developed countries and, as Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh noted recently, they could not be expected to do more than their richer counterparts to tackle the problem.

'This is the only morally correct position to take,' PM Lee argued.

So how to balance Asia's immediate growth needs and longer- term concerns about the environment?

Mr Lee threw up three suggestions. Firstly, take practical steps which are in countries' own interest. One of these would be to price energy properly. Subsidising energy in China, India and South-east Asia has led to over-consumption and waste, he noted.

'If they phase out these subsidies, their economies will perform much better, and greener,' he said.

Secondly, countries should pursue sustainable development. China, he noted, has set targets to make more efficient use of energy and cut down carbon emissions by 2010, while Asean was also taking steps to make wider use of clean and renewable energy technology, and protect its forests.

Singapore, for its part, was also making sustainable development a national effort, he said. On Thursday, he had announced the setting up of an inter-ministry committee to develop a comprehensive strategy to enable Singapore to continue to grow economically in an environmentally sound way.

Thirdly, add substance to the mantra of 'common but differentiated responsibilities', he said.

This means developed countries should take the lead in cutting emissions, while helping developing ones to do so too through technology transfer or financial incentives.

Noting that the Kyoto Protocol agreement was 'flawed' as it did not include all major emitters, he said it was imperative to get China and India on board. Otherwise, the global warming problem would not be solved, and the US would not join the effort to do so.

Concluding, he said: 'We must each contribute our fair share towards a realistic, workable global solution.'

PM Lee says Asia should sustain growth, address environmental concerns
Channel NewsAsia 25 Jan 08;

DAVOS, Switzerland: Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has said Asia needs to sustain its growth, but at the same time address environmental concerns, for the long-term.

Mr Lee was speaking at a session on Climate Change during the World Economic Forum meeting in Davos, Switzerland.

Pollution, if left unchecked, is set to worsen with higher growth.

However, Mr Lee noted that Asian countries are reluctant to use less energy as they feel the current greenhouse gas problem is caused by developed countries in the past.

So Mr Lee suggested three ways Asian governments can strike a balance between tackling immediate development needs and protecting the environment.

Firstly, countries should take steps that will benefit them directly, regardless of any climate agreement.

One major initiative is to price energy properly.

Mr Lee noted that many countries like China and India are subsidising energy, and this leads to waste and over-consumption.

Mr Lee said "their economies will perform much better and greener" if they phase out these subsidies.

Secondly, the Prime Minister encouraged Asian nations to pursue sustainable development.

For example, he said that China has set definite targets to reduce major pollutant emissions by 2010.

Mr Lee added that ASEAN too is "working to reduce energy intensity, deploy clean and renewable energy, and protect the region's forests and biodiversity.

Singapore is also making a national effort.

Mr Lee had announced on Thursday that a new inter-ministerial committee will be formed to study sustainable development strategies for the country.

The third strategy is for developed countries to "take the lead in reducing emissions, while helping developing nations to do likewise".

This can be done by offering financial incentives or technology transfer.

On their part, Mr Lee said developing countries should make use of the help and commit to resolve their specific needs.

On the Kyoto Protocol, Mr Lee said it is flawed.

The treaty does not include all major emitters. So Mr Lee said some developed countries want to scrap it and start from scratch.

However, Mr Lee said that won't be done.

Instead of starting from a blank slate, Mr Lee said countries have to start from Kyoto and move forward from there.

Mr Lee noted that it is also "crucial to get China and India on board. Otherwise, the problem will not be resolved."

Mr Lee acknowledged that the US too refused to participate in the Kyoto Protocol.

He said that is something that "has to be discussed and negotiated."

The Kyoto Protocol requires developed countries to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions below levels specified for each of them.

These targets must be met within a five-year time frame between 2008 and 2012.

Mr Lee pointed out that effective steps must be taken now to achieve environmental sustainability.

So he called on every nation to do their part in coming up with a realistic and workable global solution.

Mr Lee said that with better knowledge and technology today, countries must revise their strategies to tackle this long-term climate change problem for the sake of the future. - CNA/ms

Read more!

Integrated project with casino on Bintan

Bintan's game
Landmarks to open integrated project with casino on Bintan
Tan Hui Leng, Today Online 26 Jan 08;

Soon there will be more options for gaming in the region, with Malaysia-based Landmarks developing an integrated project with casino on the Indonesian island of Bintan, less than an hour's ferry ride from Singapore.

Landmarks is 30.3-per-cent owned by Genting, which is also developing the integrated resort with casino on Sentosa, expected to open for business in 2010, a year after the Marina Bay Sands. Genting officials declined to comment on the Landmarks development.

In its statement to the Malaysian stock exchange, Landmarks said that its subsidiary, Bintan Treasure Bay, had signed an agreement for the zoning of its site for gaming, medical tourism and technology hosting. Buoyed by the news of the agreement, Landmark shares rose 22 sen ($0.10), or 7.4 per cent, to RM3.18 on Bursa Malaysia yesterday, valuing the property group at slightly over RM1.5 billion.

Landmarks said the zoning and collaboration with a company incorporated in Indonesia "will greatly enhance the development potential of Treasure Bay, Bintan, as a leading tourism destination in the region." Landmarks had been in talks with the island's authorities to legalise gambling. It is estimated that the gaming industry could raise the island's annual income tenfold to US$132 million ($187.7 million).

Located in the Lagoi area of the island, the Bintan Treasure Bay site occupies 342 hectares. The project, which should be fully developed in eight years, will comprise 13 lots of estate island villas; 745 units of luxury island and deluxe villas with berthing facilities; 1,700 units of marina and hillside condominiums; commercial shop lots; and a six-star resort and wellness centre.

Read more!

Species in Singapore

Straits Times 26 Jan 08;

Scientists estimate that millions of plant and animal species remain unknown, especially those in this region - with a vast number constantly being discovered. The National Parks Board and the Raffles Museum of Biodiversity Research reveal what they have uncovered here.

AN INCOMPLETE specimen of a Paraleonnates, a very large class of segmented worms whose segments have fleshy protrusions with bristles, was found on Pulau Tekong during a survey of Singapore's mangroves.

Its graphite black body and sheer size - 1cm in body width, which is about double the size of most members of its family - make it very distinctive in the family Nereididae.

When viewed under a microscope, it is almost alien- like, with red eyes, massive jaws and an armoured tubular sucking organ, or proboscis.

There are two known species in the genus Paraleonnates - the Paraleonnates uschakovi, which is endemic to the coast of China and the Paraleonnates bolus, which is found in Australia. But this particular specimen does not fit the description of either and could be a completely new species awaiting description.

Alternatively, because sexually mature nereids do develop changes to their looks, this may be the case for the specimen from Pulau Tekong.

The discovery of Paraleonnates represents a new record for the genus occurrence in Singapore waters.

Coupled with the finding of several other new records of worm species, these highlight the immense biodiversity that remains in Singapore despite our urbanisation.

PROJECT OFFICER WILSON CHAN, BIODIVERSITY CENTRE, NPARKS

Read more!

Shame that plastic day pass used at Sentosa Express not recycled

Letter from Lai Nam Khim, Straits Times Forum 26 Jan 08;

I VISITED Sentosa recently and was disappointed with the apparent lack of environmental consideration by Sentosa's management.

I took Sentosa Express which uses a plastic day pass, very much like the ez-link card.

I thought the pass would be reused just like the ez-link single trip tickets. But when I returned to VivoCity, I found that the card was not collected back.

I checked with the service attendant and was told that the card is not reused or recycled.

I was appalled. Given the number of visitors to Sentosa, if every card is thrown away at the end of the day, it is a huge waste of resources.

Is there any reason why the pass could not be reused, or designed to be reused like the ez-link card?

At the Songs Of The Seas, the entrance ticket was a similar thick plastic card. Again, I am puzzled at the wastage. Why is a thick plastic card used, when a simple thin paper ticket would have sufficed? A paper ticket would probably be cheaper and less demanding on the environment. Furthermore, it is impractical as I found the ink came off the plastic card easily and stained my fingers.

At the very least, Sentosa Corp can provide recycle collection bins for these cards so that visitors who have no intention of keeping the cards can deposit them for recycling.

Read more!

Global warming prompts some lifestyle changes in the UK

Reuters 25 Jan 08;

LONDON (Reuters) - Britons are starting to change their lifestyles in response to global warming, but few are making the tough choices and in many cases the motivation is fear of punishment, according to a new survey.

Top of the list of environmental activities is recycling, with 90 percent of the people surveyed saying they were doing it more than a year ago.

But the reasons given were mostly connected with council schemes and punishments rather than altruism, according to the survey by advertising firm Euro RSCG.

"While people from all walks of life now see climate change as one of the key challenges that they face, for many the motivation to reduce their environmental impact is directly related to cost savings - or local councils prompting them into action, said Russ Lidstone of Euro RSCG London.

Second most popular activity was switching off electrical appliances rather than leaving them on standby, followed by switching over to low energy light bulbs and turning the central heating thermostat down slightly and using less water.

But when it comes to the tougher lifestyle choices, action was far less popular.

Only 33 percent said they were driving their cars less than a year ago and half that number had decided to take fewer international flights -- a booming source of climate changing carbon emissions.

(Reporting by Jeremy Lovell; editing by Paul Casciato)

Read more!

South Africa: Ban May Push Abalone to Extinction

Miriam Mannak, Inter Press Service (Johannesburg) 24 Jan 08;

South Africa's decision to suspend commercial fishing of wild abalone, a large marine slug, from Feb. 1, could drive the species further towards extinction. Conservationists fear the ban will fuel poaching, currently the most criminalized wildlife trade in Africa.

Announcing the ban in November 2007, Martinis van Chalky, South Africa's minister of environmental affairs and tourism, said the steps were absolutely necessary.

"We are unfortunately at a point where the commercial harvesting of wild abalone can no longer be justified, as the stock has declined to such an extent that the resource is threatened with extinction," the minister said.

Abalone (also known as preemie), a prized sea delicacy and aphrodisiac in Southeast Asia, has been overexploited for decades.

In the 1960's, approximately 2,800 tonnes of abalone were harvested annually. With the introduction of seasonal quotas in 1970, a maximum of 700 tonnes per year was set. In 1995, the quota was bought down further, and for 2006 and 2007 the annual limit was decreased to 125 tonnes.

However, poaching has continued, as abalone harvesting is very lucrative. Over Chinese New Year for instance, the price of 1 kilogramme of dried abalone goes over 1,000 dollars.

To tackle the issue, South Africa in May 2007 listed the marine animal in Appendix III of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). It was the first country in the world to do so.

CITES is an international treaty -- drawn up in 1973 -- to ensure that international trade in wildlife and plants does not threaten their survival.

Shipments of South African abalone meant for the international market are required to be accompanied by a CITES license. Only legally harvested abalone and farmed abalone receive such documents. The idea behind this is to make it easier to track down and confiscate illegal shipments.

In addition to the CITES listing, South Africa started joint patrolling operations, with the South African Police Service (SAPS), the Department of Environmental Affairs and the South African National Defence Force, to curtail illegal abalone harvesting.

Some 70 staff members on a 24-hour-a-day, seven-day-per-week basis, are enlisted throughout the year, using high-speed patrol vessels, navy divers, "sniffer" dogs, unmanned aerial vehicles, helicopters and fixed-wing aircrafts. The cost of deploying these additional forces, which include personnel from law enforcement bodies and nature conservation agencies, has been in the region of 3.2 million dollars per annum.

South Africa's abalone stocks have fallen dramatically. Poaching is believed to be the main cause. According to figures by CITES, the confiscation records of illegally harvested abalone reveal a more than tenfold increase between 1996 and 2006. In 2007, over a million illegally harvested South African abalone -- worth almost 20 million dollars -- were seized, the highest figure to date.

Maria Hauck, a senior researcher at the University of Cape Town's Environmental Evaluation Unit, thinks that the suspension of wild abalone harvesting could further fuel poaching. She fears it could force permit- holders to work under the table. "The government has alienated legal rights holders when it should have partnered with them in managing the resource," Hauck said in an interview with the Cape Town based newspaper The Cape Times.

A total of 302 registered permit holders -- 262 individuals, and 40 closed corporations -- will lose business. Currently, the legitimate abalone industry takes in an estimated 21 million dollars and employs about 800 people.

Markus Bürgener of the international wildlife trade-monitoring network TRAFFIC shares Hauck's opinion. "If you do not provide these fishermen with another viable livelihood option, the danger is that some of them will resort to poaching. This is the industry that these guys know best."

One of the plans adopted by the South African government to assist the registered abalone harvesters is to integrate them into the tourism industry, where they could use their skills in the areas of whale watching and cage diving.

Additionally, the South African government has pledged to invest some 15 million dollars in six marine aquaculture interventions along the coast, such as the establishment of an abalone farm in Gansbaai, an abalone ranch in Port Nolloth and a state hatchery.

The problem with abalone farming however is that it takes five to seven years before the molluscs are ready for harvesting. "We harvest our cultivated abalone when it weighs between 700 and 800 grams," says Christo De Plessis, managing director of the CITES certified Abalone farm, Abagold. In 2006, Abagold, established 21 years ago, exported 180 tonnes of abalone. The company hopes to increase this amount by 230 tonnes this year.

"An abalone farm is very capital expensive. To start a farm that is economically sustainable, you need 3 million dollars," De Plessis says, stressing that, "You require skilled people and back up generators. Abalone start dying after half an hour in case of a power outage!"

Nevertheless, abalone farming is considered a crucial element in the strategy to save the marine slug from extinction while ensuring that fishermen do not resort to poaching. "Not only do you provide fishermen with an income, you also enable them to use their skills to the fullest," said Neville Sweijd, marine scientist at Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR). "In the long run it is the most sustainable way to tackle the abalone problem."

Read more!

Japan says still eating tuna amid US scare

AFP 25 Jan 08;

TOKYO (AFP) — Japanese officials and experts said Thursday they had little concern about the nation's passion for tuna after revelations in New York of dangerous mercury levels.

The New York Times said Wednesday that laboratory tests conducted for the newspaper showed that eight of 44 sushi pieces bought in the city had mercury levels above the legal limit.

Amid a global craze for Japanese food, the newspaper warned that "a regular diet of even two or three pieces a week at some restaurants could be a health hazard for the average adult," based on US environmental guidelines.

But Japan, which eats a quarter of the world's tuna, said it does not plan to review advice to the public.

Japan's health ministry only advises that women believed to be pregnant limit bluefin tuna consumption to 80 grams (2.8 ounces), or about five pieces of tuna sushi, per week.

"We encourage pregnant women to limit the amount of tuna they eat, but it should not be a problem for the average adult to eat tuna so long as it's a sensible amount," a health ministry official said on customary condition of anonymity. "We will go with the standard for now."

The New York Times reported some tuna samples had mercury in excess of one part per million, the level for the US Food and Drug Administration to take action on the market.

According to the Japanese Fisheries Agency, which conducted research on mercury levels of fish in 2004, an average 0.68 ppm of mercury was detected after testing 60 samples of naturally grown and 30 farm-raised bluefin tuna.

"Mercury concentrations differ in various part of tuna meat," noted Junichi Kowaka, director of the Japan Offspring Fund, a non-governmental consumer group.

For example, the red meat of tuna tends to contain less mercury than the more fatty "toro" part, which is more expensive and popular among sushi lovers.

Kowaka, who described himself as usually critical of the Japanese government's food safety standards, was calm.

"It would be different if we saw damage to consumers, but there haven't been any reports on disorders due to tuna consumption," he said.

"Considering that Japanese people's diet heavily relies on fish, I have to say the safety standard is still appropriate," he said. "At least I'd eat tuna if I have sushi for dinner tonight."

RELATED ARTICLE

Tests find hazardous levels of mercury in tuna sushi in New York
Marian Burros, International Herald Tribune 22 Jan 08;

Read more!

Davos discusses how to address climate change, poverty alleviation

Yahoo News 25 Jan 08;

The annual Davos gathering of corporate wealth and political power turned its lofty gaze on the world's poor Friday, with delegates chided over failures to deliver on development goals.

Rock star activist Bono, billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates and UN chief Ban Ki-moon steered the conversation in the Swiss ski resort away from the global economy and geopolitics, towards issues such as infant mortality, poverty alleviation and climate change.

Ban challenged delegates to renew a commitment to the UN Millennium Development Goals, aimed at halving extreme poverty, boosting health and education and further empowering women across the developing world by 2015.

"Too many nations have fallen behind," he said. "We need new ideas and fresh approaches."

The Davos event has long prided itself on showing the caring side of capitalism, although participants have often been criticised for trumpeting big ideas on big issues in public, while actually expending most of their energy on corridor schmoozing and backroom deals.

Bono, decrying the international community's failure to live up to its promises on development, said it was time to go beyond purely "moral" statements of intent.

"I would like to turn our moral compact into legally binding contracts. Then my advice to the developing world? Get a good lawyer and haul our asses into court," the U2 frontman said.

This year's Davos event has drawn nearly 30 heads of state or government, more than 110 cabinet ministers and several hundred leaders of industry who, while applauding the cause of corporate responsibility, stressed the inherent constraints they worked under.

"If we lose sight of our core function of serving our customers and creating shareholder value... we'll be out of our jobs," said Peter Sands, chief executive of international bank Standard Chartered.

Gates, a perennial Davos participant, announced 306 million dollars (208 million euros) of grants to develop farming in poor countries, marking a major push into agriculture by his charitable foundation which has previously focused on public health.

"If we are serious about ending extreme hunger and poverty around the world, we must be serious about transforming agriculture for small farmers, most of whom are women," he said.

For Gates it was his last appearance at Davos as chief executive and chairman of Microsoft. He plans to step down in July and devote his time to running his foundation.

Attending his first Davos as prime minister was Britain's Gordon Brown, who called for major reforms of international institutions.

"The IMF, the World Bank and the United Nations were built for the problems of the 1940s and can't deal with the problems we have in 2008," Brown said, citing the challenges posed by climate change, conflict-ridden states, non-state terrorism and the threat of global pandemics.

"I can't see why we should not move immediately to the World Bank becoming a World Bank for the environment as well as development," he added.

World Bank president Robert Zoellick was also in Davos, urging a greater understanding of the threat posed by sharp food price rises that could drastically increase cases of hunger and malnutrition to create a newly impoverished generation.

"Hunger and malnutrition is not only an effect of poverty, it's also a cause of poverty," Zoellick said.

"Frankly, I hope one of the things that comes out of Davos this year, is not just talking about stocks and financial markets in developed countries, but also about this issue in developed ones," he added.

In recent years the World Economic Forum gathering in Davos has been held against a backdrop of bumper corporate profits, strong economic growth and tame inflation.

But this year, a distinctly gloomy atmosphere has prevailed, amid wild swings on global markets, fears of a US recession and rising oil, food and other commodity prices.

Read more!

Plan to allow logging in Alaskan forest

Matthew Daly, Associated Press Yahoo News 25 Jan 08;

More than 3 million acres in Alaska's Tongass National Forest would be open to logging under a federal plan that supporters believe will revive the state's struggling timber industry.

Environmentalists, however, fear that the proposal will devastate the forest.

The Bush administration released Friday a management plan for the forest, the largest in the country at nearly 17 million acres. The plan would leave about 3.4 million acres open to logging, road building and other development, including about 2.4 million acres that are now remote and roadless. About 663,000 acres are in areas considered most valuable for timber production.

Alaska Regional Forester Denny Bschor, who approved the Tongass management plan, said its goals are to sustain the diversity and health of the forest, provide livelihoods and subsistence for Alaska residents and ensure a source of recreation and solitude for forest visitors.

At more than 26,000 square miles, the Tongass — often labeled the crown jewel in the national forest system — is larger than 10 states.

"There may be disappointment that the (allowable timber sales) hasn't increased or diminished, depending on your viewpoint," Bschor said in a statement. "What is significant in the amended plan, however, is our commitment to the state of Alaska to provide an economic timber sale program which will allow the current industry to stabilize, and for an integrated timber industry to become established."

Environmentalists said the plan continues a Bush administration policy of catering to the timber industry.

"The new plan suffers from the same central problem as old plan. It leaves 2.4 million acres of wild, roadless backcountry areas open to clear cutting and new logging roads," said Tom Waldo, an attorney for the environmental group Earthjustice.

"This plan simply ignores economic realities. Logging these pristine areas makes no sense," said Christy Goldfuss with Environment America, another advocacy group.

The Alaska Forest Association, an industry group, said the plan fell short of industry's needs. If necessary, the group said, it will challenge the plan in court — a threat also made by environmentalists.

"It is critical that the final plan ... allows our industry to survive," said Owen Graham, the timber group's executive director. "Survival means returning to a realistic timber supply level in Southeast Alaska, not a continuation of the starvation level we have been struggling with for the last few years."

The plan released Friday stems from a series of lawsuits filed by environmental groups in 2003, which forced the Forest Service to adjust its timber sale program away from roadless areas to land that can be reached by roads that meander for 3,700 miles through the southeast Alaska forest.

In 2005, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals struck down a 2003 plan on grounds that the Forest Service had mistakenly doubled the volume of timber needed to supply local sawmills and failed to consider better protections for roadless areas.

Tongass National Forest: http://www.fs.fed.us/r10/tongass

Read more!