All urged to make Singapore greener, safer

Alice Chia Channel NewsAsia 27 May 14;

SINGAPORE: Environment and Water Resources Minister Dr Vivian Balakrishnan has urged all to take responsibility in making Singapore cleaner, greener and safer.

He was responding to suggestions from those who took part in dialogues by the
Singapore Environment Council on how those can be achieved.

Dr Balakrishnan said: “It's not enough to just look after your own home. Your home is part of a neighbourhood -- you don't just live with your family at home.

“You live amongst neighbours, and if your neighbourhood is polluted, if your neighbours are infected, if the air that we all breathe is polluted, or the waters that PUB supplies to us is contaminated, regardless of how well you look after your home, regardless of how much you look after your family members -- well, guess what, you are going to be at risk.

“So this concept of a community, of a neighbourhood, of mutual responsibility, of collective destiny, is also crucial if we are to avoid the big threats that will confront us."

Dr Balakrishnan also noted that participants had identified three areas of focus -- building an endearing home, establishing a community, and a sustainable global city.

He said those suggestions come in the face of threats the nation faces, such as climate change and pollution.

He assured the audience that the government will use the findings as a foundation for the next sustainable blueprint and to generate plans for the future.

- CNA/nd