Best of our wild blogs: 24 Nov 14

30 Nov (Sun): Ubin Day highlights!
from wild shores of singapore

White-crested Laughingthrush tackles hairy caterpillar
from Bird Ecology Study Group

Oriental Whip Snake (Ahaetulla prasina) @ Punggol
from Monday Morgue

Read more!

Eco-knights programme launched to help pre-schoolers keep Singapore clean and green

Today Online 24 Nov 14;

SINGAPORE — Pre-schoolers in the Central District will soon learn how to take ownership when it comes to keeping Singapore clean and green.

Through the “I’m An Eco-Knight” programme, pre-schoolers will find out about the 3Rs of waste management — Reduce, Reuse and Recycle — as well as dengue prevention, personal hygiene and energy efficiency.

The National Environment Agency and Central Singapore Community Development Council will reach out to 30 pre-schools in the first year, and aim to cover all 122 kindergartens in the district over a three-year period.

Each pre-schooler will be provided with an educational package where they will be exposed to tasks of varying difficulties that challenge them to learn beyond the classroom and utilise the content in the booklet.

Students who complete the required tasks provided in the activity cards and accumulate sufficient credits may be awarded a badge by his or her teacher.

Pre-schoolers are also encouraged to be environment ambassadors by sharing simple messages with their friends and families.

The programme was launched yesterday by Social and Family Development Minister Chan Chun Sing, Mayor for Central Singapore District Denise Phua and NEA’s deputy chief executive officer Khoo Seow Poh at the Central Clean & Green Singapore Carnival.

At the event, Mr Chan also presented the Clean and Green 2014 Awards, the Central Singapore O.N.E. Awards and Project Earth Awards to 13 recipients from the Central Singapore District.

Another 38 awards were given to recognise cleaners for their contributions towards environmental sustainability and public health.

Central District preschoolers to learn to go green
Channel NewsAsia 23 Nov 14;

SINGAPORE: Preschoolers in the Central District will soon learn how to take ownership when it comes to keeping Singapore clean and green.

Through the "I'm An Eco-Knight" programme, preschoolers will find out about the 3Rs of waste management - Reduce, Reuse and Recycle; as well as dengue prevention, personal hygiene and energy efficiency.

The National Environment Agency and Central Singapore Community Development Council will reach out to 30 preschools in the first year, and aim to cover all 122 kindergartens in the district over a three-year period.

Each preschooler will be provided with an educational package where they will be exposed to tasks of varying difficulties that challenge them to learn beyond the classroom and utilise the content in the booklet.

Students who complete the required tasks provided in the activity cards and accumulate sufficient credits may be awarded a badge by his or her teacher.

Pre-schoolers are also encouraged to be environment ambassadors by sharing simple messages with their friends and families.

The programme was launched on Sunday (23 Nov) by Social and Family Development Minister Chan Chun Sing, Mayor for Central Singapore District Denise Phua and NEA's deputy chief executive officer Khoo Seow Poh at the Central Clean & Green Singapore Carnival.

"At Central Singapore District, environmental issues are one of the key causes that we champion,” said Ms Phua. “Through our own programmes and partnerships with organisations such as NEA, we hope to instill an appreciation for a more environmentally-sustainable lifestyle and encourage everyone to minimise waste by reducing, refusing, reusing and recycling. Be it collectively or individually, we can all do our part to help make Singapore a livable and sustainable city."

At Sunday's event, Mr Chan also presented the Clean and Green 2014 Awards, the Central Singapore O.N.E. Awards and Project Earth Awards to 13 recipients from the Central Singapore District. Another 38 awards were given to recognise cleaners for their contributions towards environmental sustainability and public health.

- CNA/xq

Read more!

Indonesia: Jokowi to directly observe handling of land, forest fires in Riau

Rizal Harahap The Jakarta Post 23 Nov 14;

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo is scheduled to visit Riau on Wednesday to directly observe ongoing efforts to handle land and forest fires that have triggered a prolonged air quality disaster during the last 17 years.

Jokowi and his entourage are expected to arrive at Rusmin Noerjadin Airport, Pekanbaru, around noon on Wednesday and will directly depart for Sungai Tohor village in Meranti Island regency, one of Indonesia’s outer most areas, which directly borders the Malacca Strait.

Using a helicopter, the President and his entourage will fly to the location through a route that passes across the Tesso Nilo National Park in Pelalawan regency and the Zamrud Lake Nature Preserve in Siak regency.

“President Jokowi has given close attention to the handling of land and forest fires,” Riau administration spokesperson Yoserizal Zein said in Pekanbaru on Sunday.

In Sungai Tohor, Jokowi will speak with the local administration and residents. It remains unknown whether Jokowi will merely discuss issues related to land and forest fires and their handling or if he will also talk about other topics such as impacts of the recent fuel-price increases.

“After the dialogue, the President will fly back to Pekanbaru via Padang Island and the Giam Siak Kecil Wildlife Reserve in Siak,” said Yoserizal.

Before returning to Jakarta, Jokowi is scheduled to visit the Tourism Market, which is popularly known as the Pasar Bawah, an iconic place in Pekanbaru, to speak with market vendors and local residents.

To prepare for Jokowi’s visit, acting Riau governor Arsyadjuliandi ‘Andi’ Rachman, accompanied by Korem (resort military command) 031/Wira Bima commander Brig.Gen. Prihadi Agus Irianto, Riau Police chief Brig.Gen. Dolly Bambang Hermawan and Pekanbaru mayor Firdaus informed the market’s vendors and local residents about Jokowi’s visit on Wednesday.

Andi said he was thankful for the government’s attention to their problems and its commitment to fully resolve land and forest fires and haze problems in Riau.

“Last Tuesday, Environment and Forestry Minister Siti Nurbaya visited areas prone to fires in Riau and on Wednesday the President will visit. This proves the seriousness of the government, encouraging us – the local authorities – to be more enthusiastic in finding solutions so that fires won’t happen anymore in the future,” he said. (dyl/ebf)(+++)

Read more!