"Amazing race" participants use public transport to spread green message

Asha Popatlal, Channel NewsAsia 10 Jan 10;

SINGAPORE: You can reduce your carbon footprint by as much as 91 percent if you opt to take the MRT train instead of your car. That's according to the South West Community Development Council.

And to spread the message of going green, some 500 youths took part in an "amazing race"-type event using public transport.

While having fun, they also raised money for charity.

Every kilometre they travelled was sponsored by South West CDC and public transport operator SMRT, raising $30,000 for the transport expenses of the needy elderly.

Sunday's event comes against a background of a drop in the number of Singaporeans using public transport - from 63% in 2004 to 59% in 2008.

- CNA/ir

Destination: A greener Earth
Straits Times 11 Jan 10;

Some 100 youths including 23-year-old Brian Kek took to the streets yesterday to persuade people to reduce their carbon footprints by taking public transport more.

Through this campaign, the South West Community Development Council and SMRT hope to get more Singaporeans to use public transport instead of driving.

The two-week campaign also aims to raise $30,000 to help 300 needy senior citizens with their transport expenses.