Letter from Wang Seow Pang Today Online 6 Apr 10;
TO HELP keep our parks, rivers and reservoirs clean and tidy, and to raise the awareness of the public about the need to conserve and preserve water resources and the environment, we could consider a volunteer warden programme.
Under the programme, volunteer wardens may report to the relevant environment agency and be its eyes and ears on the ground to undertake activities including reporting littering and pollution.
They could monitor footpaths and educate people who litter or dog owners who do not clean up after their pets.
These volunteers may commit to as much time as they want to and choose the area that they want to monitor and they could work in pairs or groups.
They can come from any section of society and whether they are retirees or students, they should be provided with the necessary training and equipped with caps and T-shirts, etc.
Let's try it.
A volunteer programme helps bring people together and instils ownership of shared values.
Besides, it will be a great way to keep one's local area tidy.
Everyone plays a part
Join us in ensuring a sustainable water supply: PUB
Letter from Yap Kheng Guan Director, 3P Network, PUB
Today Online 12 Apr 10;
PUB, the national water agency, thanks Mr Wang Seow Pang for his suggestion to have a volunteer programme to keep our rivers clean and litter-free and to raise public awareness to conserve and preserve water resources and the environment ("Are volunteers the answer to green woes?", April 6).
While PUB has put in place a sustainable supply of water, we also call on everyone to take joint ownership of this precious resource.
PUB's Friends of Water programme recognises individuals and organisations that contribute towards raising awareness about water and what it takes to sustain Singapore's water supply. Organisations can pledge to take care of various waterbodies and waterways by conducting clean-ups and other educational activities under PUB's Our Waters programme. Individuals can also do their part, for example, by looking out for and reporting leaking pipes and taps in public areas, or volunteering their time to promote the water cause.
Over the last few years, PUB has been actively engaging volunteers of various interest groups to value our waters and keep them clean, as well as to advocate the importance of water conservation.
Our volunteers undergo a comprehensive training programme and get opportunities to take part in existing initiatives such as waterways patrols, conducting talks and serving as guides for public education programmes.
PUB also encourages active citizenry by supporting volunteer-initiated projects to galvanise greater involvement across the 3P (People, Private, Public) sectors. The Waterways Watch Society (WWS), a volunteer group with about 200 members from all walks of life, champions the water cause. WWS has been relentlessly patrolling waterways and catchments, reporting pollution activities to PUB as well as educating the public on the importance of keeping our waterways and riverbanks clean.
We welcome Mr Wang and members of the public to join us in the various programmes by contacting us at PUB_VoW@pub.gov.sg. More information can also be found at www.pub.gov.sg/value.
