Young NTUC holds green race on Ubin

Jeremy Au Yong, Straits Times 20 Mar 10;

THE number 350 holds little meaning for the average man but Young NTUC hopes to change that - through running.

The youth wing of the National Trades Union Congress has organised a mass run, named Run 350, to make people more aware that there is too much carbon dioxide in the air.

The number 350 refers to the upper limit of carbon dioxide, measured in parts per million (ppm), that should be in the air. Scientists have determined that it needs to be below 350 ppm to avoid runaway climate change and problems such as melting ice caps and widespread drought.

Current levels, however, stand at 389.91 ppm and have been above the limit since 1988.

Run 350, which has drawn 1,000 participants, will be flagged off at 3.50pm on Pulau Ubin today by labour chief Lim Swee Say.

Runners will complete either a 5km or 10km route around the small island located north-east of Singapore. It is the first mass run to be held on Pulau Ubin.

Participant Mohamad Haidir Basri, 27, said one reason he joined was that he had never run on Pulau Ubin.

'Moreover, Run 350 is one of the few runs in Singapore that have an environmental cause,' he added.

Apart from spreading the 350 message, all proceeds from the the day's event will also be donated to the Garden City Fund's Plant-A-Tree programme. It was set up in 2002 to preserve Singapore's image as a garden city.

Through the run and other green-themed activities, Young NTUC aims to raise $35,000 by its fifth anniversary at the end of next month.

The sum would fund the planting of 350 trees on Pulau Ubin. As of yesterday, more than $20,000 had been raised.

Young NTUC has embraced the green message this year and the run is the latest in a string of environment-themed activities.

In recent months, it held climate change dialogues and free screenings of movies with green messages.

More details about the event.