'Total Defence' for the environment

Adapt defence strategy for clean and green movement, says PM
Rachel Lin Straits Times 7 Nov 10;

A Total Defence concept - but for the Clean and Green movement?

That is what Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong would like to see here: the adaptation of Singapore's comprehensive defence strategy - which stresses the role of every citizen in protecting the nation - to the environment.

'Taking care of the environment is something which concerns all of us,' he said yesterday. 'Singaporeans understand that national defence is critical to our survival and cannot be left to the Singapore Armed Forces alone and each citizen has a part to play.

'Similarly, we cannot succeed in making Singapore clean and green unless we get corporations and individuals to play their part alongside the Government.'

Mr Lee was speaking at the launch of the Clean and Green Singapore 2011 campaign. The annual campaign, now in its third year, aims to inspire Singaporeans to care for the environment. The theme this year is Promoting Environmental Ownership, and it was launched with a carnival that includes a bazaar selling eco-friendly products. It is sited in Sengkang where it will remain for two days.

In his speech, PM Lee noted that 'Singaporeans are feeling a growing environmental consciousness, especially young Singaporeans'.

However, individuals could do more to take ownership of the environment, even in 'little things in our daily lives', he added. Examples include watching closely the use of water and electricity, keeping Singapore dengue-free and taking care of plants and animals.

Organisations, meanwhile, can also support green initiatives - for instance, electronics company Sony Singapore has adopted Pandan Reservoir.

For its part, the Government 'has to set the right conditions', he acknowledged.

It has to provide a conducive living environment and a 'good mix of green and blue' across the island with park connectors and clean waters. It also has to maintain environmental standards by curbing pollution with stringent regulations and keeping common spaces clean.

And looking forward, 'we have to prepare for the future' by keeping abreast of new technology that can bring 'better, cleaner, more efficient infrastructure and tools', he pledged.

Adding some heft to PM Lee's call for the community to play its part, a $85,000 fund was set up yesterday for individuals and organisations to tap if they launch programmes promoting green causes.

Mr Teo Ser Luck, mayor of North East District, announced a Green Fund for his community development council (CDC). It supplements an existing $85,000 the National Environment Agency (NEA) gives to support the district's green efforts.

To Mr Teo's knowledge, his is the first such fund at a CDC level.

He said: 'Instead of putting money into one big bang event, I'd rather put it into programmes. It's more sustainable.'

Schemes that could be funded include anti-littering campaigns or art projects that spread green ideas, he said. Those interested can approach their grassroots bodies, such as residents' committees, for funding.

Some constituencies have already rolled out such initiatives as part of last year's Clean and Green campaign. Yesterday, their efforts were rewarded with awards from the NEA.

Aljunied-Hougang division received a Best Constituency (Ownership) Award. Young people there designed portable ashtrays and approached smokers in coffee shops to use them. They also knocked on doors to encourage residents not to litter.

Hong Kah North division got the same award for its 'Cash For Trash' scheme, which lets residents exchange their recyclable waste for groceries.

More firms taking up the green cause
Melissa Kok Straits Times 7 Nov 10;

From tree planting to conserving Pulau Semakau's shores, more corporations are making the greening of Singapore their pet cause.

Such corporate-level efforts and initiatives to green the country are increasingly popular, said Professor Leo Tan, chairman of the Garden City Fund, a registered charity of the National Parks Board (NParks).

More companies are practising green corporate social responsibility (CSR) not just for altruistic reasons, but also because they realise that there are economic benefits in going green, such as improving their public image and generating more long-term business, he added.

Yesterday, three corporations and an individual sponsor were honoured by NParks for their contributions to the greening effort, by having a heritage tree dedicated to each of them.

The Garden City Fund - to promote greater community involvement in Singapore's greening - was set up seven years ago with a key goal in mind: to raise $20 million by 2013.

That target has been surpassed this year, with more individuals and corporate sponsors coming on board the programme. When the fund was set up, there were only 40 individual and corporate sponsors; there are nearly 500 now.

The money raised goes towards supporting initiatives such as public education programmes and the conservation of heritage trees.

Prof Tan said he noticed the trend starting three years ago, around the same time NParks launched its Plant-A-Tree programme. Under this scheme, one can not only donate the cost of a young tree, but also plant it as well.

About 9,000 trees have since been pledged and planted, including 2,008 trees planted by ST Engineering, and 1,000 trees sponsored by Citibank.

Companies contacted said the national greening effort is now a popular sponsorship choice.

Ms Esther An, City Developments' head of CSR, said increased eco-education and public awareness, coupled with strong support from industry players, government agencies and research institutions, have translated into greater corporate support. Examples of such companies include HSBC, Kikkoman and Keppel Group.

For instance, HSBC recently collaborated with the Raffles Museum of Biodiversity Research for Project Semakau, a three-year volunteer-driven project to promote and conserve the island's intertidal shores.

In 2007, Keppel Group sponsored $250,000 for a coral nursery project to conserve the coral cover in Singapore, and got its volunteer divers to help restore the coral reefs along the coast of Pulau Semakau.

Other companies such as United Engineers Limited adopted part of the Singapore River under the PUB's Active, Beautiful, Clean Waters programme, to be the 'caretaker' of the waterway located next to the firm's offices at UE Square.

The job includes alerting the authorities to any litter found floating in the river or any inappropriate activities that could pollute the water.

Heritage trees in Singapore
Straits Times 7 Nov 10;

There are 178 heritage trees in Singapore maintained by the National Parks Board (NParks).

Such trees - earmarked for conservation by NParks - are nominated by the public, and evaluated by a 10-member Heritage Trees Panel comprising NParks officials and representatives from educational institutions.

The panel, in selecting a tree to come under NParks' Heritage Trees Scheme, will look at criteria such as its girth, rarity, historical significance, and cultural, social and educational value.

NParks introduced the scheme nine years ago to conserve mature trees like angsana, kapok and rain trees that are considered part of the natural heritage of Singapore.

The trees are thoroughly inspected every 12 months, and are installed with metal conductors to protect them from lightning strikes.

NParks also puts up educational signs to share interesting information about the trees with the public.

Examples of heritage trees here include a more than 80 years old umbrella-shaped rain tree (Samanea saman) at Fort Canning Park, and a more than 70 years old kapok tree (Ceiba pentandra), known for its large straight trunk and buttresses, at the Botanic Gardens.

Green message taking root among youths
Hoe Yeen Nie Channel NewsAsia 6 Nov 10;

SINGAPORE: It seems the green message is taking root among Singapore's youths.

In a recent survey by the National Environment Agency (NEA), four in five believed that they can make a difference.

The growing involvement of youths was highlighted by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong at the launch of the Clean and Green Singapore 2011 campaign.

Everyone, he said, has a part to play.

"Taking care of the environment is something which concerns all of us. We don't all have to take on global causes, but each of us can contribute locally by keeping Singapore our island clean and green," said Prime Minister Lee.

Many say it is important to get kids started on the green movement from young.

At Punggol Primary School, students have turned old bottles into flower pots, showing that you can easily reduce, reuse and recycle so long as you put some creativity into it.

At Jurong Primary School, students have created bottle gardens, the idea coming from teacher, Mrs Wendy Looi. On Saturday, she received an award for sharing her love for recycling and gardening with her students.

Mrs Looi said: "We've got children who love insects, and they enjoy catching caterpillars. We also have those who are so nervous at the sight of an earthworm they'll scream. So, as teachers, we'll tell them, these are the harmless ones, those are the garden helpers. In fact we take them to gardens so they can see the beautiful flowers, and we remind them of all the beautiful creatures that are the garden helpers that help in the growth of the plants."

Mrs Looi is one of six Community In Bloom Ambassadors recognised by NParks this year for going the extra mile to spread the gardening bug.

Another award winner is 51-year-old Anjalai Ammal, a senior horticulturist with Tampines Town Council, who helped create 36 community gardens in the housing estate.

And to get more people to explore Singapore's biodiversity, NParks has created four new trail guides. You can just print them off the website, and you're good to go on your exploration.

NParks' director of Streetscape, Simon Longman, said: "They will come to appreciate how sustainable it is, and how we help to sustain the biodiversity."

Guides are available for Botanic Gardens, Changi, Pulau Ubin and Fort Canning.