HFMD: 1,000 cases a week in Singapore is unusual, says doc

Nur Dianah Suhaimi, Straits Times 20 Apr 08;

The doctor who first identified hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) here 36 years ago is shocked at the recent rapid spread of the viral disease.

Since the current outbreak three weeks ago, more than 2,600 cases have been reported.

Dr Tay Chong Hai, 75, now a skin specialist in private practice, said it was 'unusual' to have 1,000 HFMD cases in a week.

A thousand people were infected two weeks ago.

'When the HFMD virus was first identified here in 1972, there were only 104 cases over three months,' he told The Sunday Times.

Dr Tay was first alerted to the HFMD virus in 1972 when his wife, Dr Caroline Gaw, then a polyclinic doctor, told him she was seeing cases of children with mouth ulcers and rashes.

After studying one patient's stool sample, he realised it was HFMD, which had already been found in the United States, Canada and Britain.

So far this year, 7,050 people have caught the disease. The majority are children. Although no one has died this time, one seven-year-old girl is in hospital with brain damage.

This may be the most serious HFMD outbreak since 2000, when an epidemic killed seven children.

Dr Tay said outbreaks can occur when there is a lowering of 'herd immunity' - that is, there are not enough immune individuals in a community to protect the rest from infection.

This year's spike and rapid spread could be due to more children in childcare centres, more air-conditioned spaces like malls and, possibly, a more contagious strain.

HFMD is a common childhood illness like chicken pox and measles. It is caused by intestinal viruses, the more common strains being Coxsackie virus and Enterovirus 71 (EV71).

Adults may get it as well but children, those under five in particular, are most susceptible.

The EV71 strain, which has infected some 16 per cent of HFMD patients here, is also more contagious, Dr Tay said.

Doctors say there will be outbreaks once every few years. Greater hygiene and isolation help in averting it.

Dr Tay said that unlike measles and chicken pox, there is no vaccine for HFMD. But he had some consolation for those hit by it.

'It's like measles and chicken pox. Once you get it, it's unlikely that you'll get it again.'

Worried families grapple with HFMD
Some childcare centres stand empty, while lives of those hit have been turned topsy-turvy
Nur Dianah Suhaimi, Straits Times 20 Apr 08;

Last week, Mr Frankie Loh drove back and forth daily between Malacca, where he had to attend to business, and Singapore so that he could be by the side of his only son.

Two-year-old Kieran, who had contracted hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD), had been hospitalised.

This meant that Mr Loh, 35, had to spend five hours driving to and fro every day. The marketing executive said: 'Talk about exhaustion. I usually don't return home till my business trip is over.'

Other affected families have found their lives turned topsy-turvy since the current outbreak three weeks ago.

Children are being kept apart in affected households. Some parents have resorted to wearing masks and gloves.

HFMD is usually not fatal, and children make up the majority of the 2,600-plus cases in the recent outbreak.

Housewife Norjannah Mohammed Kamal, 31, and her husband decided to separate their two sons when the younger one came down with HFMD last Friday.

Their elder son is now staying with his grand-aunt in Sembawang while their younger son stays put at the couple's Ang Mo Kio flat.

'I had no choice. I don't want my elder son to get HFMD too,' she said.

In Madam Jessica Tan's case, it was she who came down with HFMD last week. She decided to stay with her parents so as not to infect her two children aged four and one. Her husband is caring for them.

'I burst into tears when I said goodbye to them. I couldn't even hug or kiss them,' said the 32-year-old manager.

IT trainer Zaid Ismail, 38, had to confine his eldest son, Umar Khalid, to his bedroom when the boy fell ill last week. Umar, seven, was also not allowed to play with his two younger brothers.

'His two-year-old brother missed him very much and would stand at the bedroom door asking to play with Umar,' said Mr Zaid, who started wearing a mask and gloves at home.

Despite the precautions, the entire family of five still ended up with HFMD. The youngest, a four-month-old baby boy, has been hospitalised.

Another parent, Ms Cathy Chan, 29, chose to apply for leave to look after both her sons when they came down with HFMD last week. Ms Chan, an administrative assistant, hopes to return to work this week.

Paediatrician Lee Bee Wah said it was a good move to keep young children, especially those below 18 months old, at home for the time being. Younger children fall sick easily, she added.

Meanwhile, some childcare centres, especially those with HFMD cases, are experiencing empty classrooms. At Averbel Child Development Centre in Yishun, the pre-school classes have become quiet since three children got HFMD last week.

Said principal Daphne Lee: 'Parents of the younger kids prefer to keep their children at home because they're afraid of the disease.'

However, Jollies Child Care Centre in Jurong West is optimistic that classrooms will soon be full again. Its classes have been empty after seven children contracted HFMD.

Said its spokesman: 'All the children are expected to turn up this week. The entire centre has been cleaned up.'

Additional reporting by Samatha Eng and Aw Cheng Wei

What is HFMD?
Straits Times 20 Apr 08;

HFMD is an illness caused by intestinal viruses, the more common strains being Coxsackie virus and Enterovirus 71.

The usual symptoms are:

Fever for two to three days

Sore throat and runny nose

Rash (flat or raised red spots, some with blisters) on the palms of hands, soles of feet, or buttocks

Mouth ulcers

Poor appetite

Vomiting and diarrhoea

Tiredness and weakness

Does HFMD affect only children?

No. Both adults and children can be affected, but children, particularly those under the age of five, are most susceptible.

What is the treatment?

No specific treatment is available, except medication to relieve the symptoms of the disease.

Can someone die from HFMD?

Most cases are mild. Occasionally, serious complications involving the nervous system, heart and brain can occur, which may lead to death.

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Madame Butterfly of Alexandra Hospital

Mrs Rosalind Tan wants to create another butterfly garden.
Straits Times 20 Apr 08;

Called Madame Butterfly by colleagues at Alexandra Hospital (AH), where she has created such a garden, she hopes to repeat the feat at the hospital's new site in Yishun in 2010.

The senior operations executive started a butterfly garden in AH's current location in Alexandra Road in 2002, and it now draws 101 species.

It is a commendable achievement given that only about 282 species have been spotted in Singapore.

Mrs Tan, 67, had been an occupational therapist in various hospitals for 12 years before she joined AH in 1982.

Drawing from her experience as an occupational therapist, she knew that a project like a butterfly garden could help in a patient's recovery.

'Butterflies have so many colours and patterns. Seeing them gives patients optimism and distracts them from their illnesses,' she said.

Her husband, Mr Tan Wee Lee, 74, a retired senior principal architect, helped with the landscaping of the 12ha garden.

Set up from scratch, it has trails for people to walk along.

'We wanted to have a healing environment for patients. We wow them, destress them and distract them from their illnesses by using butterflies.

'There has been positive feedback from patients, so we know we are on the right track,' she said.

She had scant knowledge of botany before she embarked on the project. One of the challenges was to identify the different types of plants that would attract butterflies.

Reading up on the subject and getting in touch with butterfly enthusiasts helped, said the mother of two.

Patients are encouraged by the hospital to explore the garden.

The hospital staff also take wheelchair-bound patients there.

Read more!

Why he chooses to study monkey antics in Singapore

Chang Ai-Lien, Straits Times 20 Apr 08;

'Singapore does such a great job of living with our cultural diversity, maybe now we can start learning to live with our biodiversity too.'

Who says humans are the only species to pay for sex?

Monkey business abounds with long-tailed macaques, whose frisky males use grooming as currency for a romp.

According to work by a researcher here, the less available females are, the greater time a male will spend grooming them during courtship.

'It's an exchange, and grooming seems to increase the likelihood that sex will occur,' said American primatologist Michael D. Gumert.

Assistant Professor Gumert reported these results in a paper, Payment For Sex In A Macaque Mating Market, which was published in the journal Animal Behaviour.

The 32-year-old, who joined Nanyang Technological University's division of psychology in August last year, believes that monkey behaviour can be used to understand the abstract underpinnings of human behaviour.

'Studying macaques allows us to see and investigate many facets of social behaviour, such as kin selection, dominance, social markets, and even culture,' he said.

'To watch monkeys is to watch a never-ending soap opera - you find yourself sucked in.'

Indeed, the monkeys' behaviour bears uncanny similarity to that of their human counterparts.

Adolescent males, for example, are the most unpredictable and the biggest trouble-makers. 'They're just like unruly teenage boys,' he said.

His PhD work involved a 15-month stint, supported by a Fulbright Graduate Fellowship, spent traipsing through the jungles of Indonesia's Tanjung Puting National Park in 2003 and 2004. Before long, he could recognise every one of the 50 troop members, from the high-ranking alpha female Helen (the prettiest - he named her after Helen of Troy) to her nephew Caesar, a feisty juvenile male.

His time there was not just spent battling mosquitoes, angry monkeys and snakes to spend some quality time with his study subjects. He also picked up Bahasa Indonesia, found a love for South-east Asia, and met his Indonesian wife Indah, 30.

Dr Gumert grew up in rural Pennsylvania and obtained his PhD at the University of Georgia. He came here from Hiram College, a prestigious liberal arts institution in Ohio.

A life-long love for primates, coupled with a desire to work outdoors and a keen interest in wildlife photography resulted in him combining all three loves to become a primatologist.

He admitted that he had started out just like many other primatologists - keen to study the glamorous apes, and his passion was the orang utan.

That is, until a stint at a small Pennsylvania zoo during his college days in his early 20s redirected his path.

It took him just three days to discover the joys and intricacies of the long-tailed macaques' behaviour, and he was hooked.

Singapore is the ideal place to continue his studies, he said, because it is easy to track and observe macaques here. He has ambitious plans, and hopes to track and study as many of the country's 1,400 macaques as he can over the next few years.

Although recent incidents of monkey mischief in Singapore have thrown the spotlight on the clash between the two primate species, Dr Gumert said that the human-macaque conflict here is probably the best-managed in the world.

'Compared to other countries, there is much less direct contact, and the risk of harm by the macaques is very low,' he said.

To keep the level of conflict down, the National Parks Board has been making sure that people do not feed the macaques - the root cause of nuisance behaviour - by putting up signs and advising in pamphlets against the practice.

In addition, cameras have been installed at selected spots along Upper Thomson Road to deter feeding of monkeys.

The agency is also working closely with managing agents of condominiums near nature reserves on how they can discourage monkeys from entering their compounds, by say, not planting fruit trees and ensuring litter bins are covered.

NParks is exploring the use of other methods, such as sterilisation, to control the monkey population here.

'We are in the process of conducting a trial on a small troop of monkeys to understand if there are any behavioural changes in the social structure, and to assess if there is any long-term impact on the overall monkey population,' said Ms Sharon Chan, NParks assistant director of central nature reserve.

Nonetheless, the number of monkeys being culled has gone up, in tandem with complaints and subsequent trapping efforts by residents.

Humans who live on forest fringes complain of monkeys stealing their food and picking their fruits. But to the monkeys, there's no pilfering involved because according to monkey rules, any object that is not being held by anyone is fair game, explained Dr Gumert.

Trapping is not the long-term answer, he added.

'In the United States, game commissions won't come and set traps in your yard just because a deer wandered into your garden. Singaporeans are lucky to have such a responsive park service for nuisance wildlife. It seems a pity to kill a monkey just because it did something like take a cupcake from your window sill,' he said.

Rather than having to respond to every call and complaint from the public, agencies such as NParks and the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority should focus on 'hot zones' where human-ma-

caque conflict is high to develop resolutions, he added.

'It is important for people to know that every time you call to make a complaint, it's a monkey death threat as trapped monkeys are never released,' he said.

He hoped that Singaporeans could begin to learn more about their macaque population and find ways of living together.

'Singapore does such a great job of living with our cultural diversity, maybe now we can start learning to live with our biodiversity too.'

Read more!

Capitol Theatre: Unwanted child of Singapore conservation?

Will recent reports of fresh plans for the Capitol Theatre finally happen - after almost two decades? I'm not holding my breath...
Warren Fernandez, Straits Times 20 Apr 08;

For too long, the once-lovely Capitol Theatre has stood forlorn and forgotten, the unwanted child of Singapore conservation.

Newspaper reports once held out hope of it being transformed into a performing arts centre for musicals, plays and ballets.

That, alas, was in January 1996.

Even then, the report quoted government officials as saying that the plans were 'still being studied'.

Never mind that the site had been earmarked for development in 1984, and acquired by the state in 1987, nearly a decade earlier.

More delays followed. In 1998, Capitol screened its last movie and the cinema was shut down amid much sadness and hopeful talk of plans to put it to better use.

The project was handed over to the Singapore Tourism Board to pursue in 2000. But in 2006, it decided not to proceed and handed it back to the Singapore Land Authority. Last year, it was finally declared a conservation area.

Sadly, over the years, nobody seemed either to own the project or to care all that much about it.

So, pardon me, but I could not help being more than a little sceptical when I read a report earlier this month which talked of fresh plans for the Capitol Theatre and the structures around it - Capitol Building, Capitol Centre and Stamford House.

The report raised as many questions as it answered: Just what do the authorities now envisage for the site, which they say will be sold as an 'integrated one' next year? So far, officials have said only that the area has not been 'fully maximised to its development potential' - indeed! - and the 'timing and details' of their plans 'are being finalised'.

Why has it taken decades for any progress to be made on conserving this area? What is the cost of leaving Capitol idle all these years, allowing it to crumble away to a dusty death? And just who will ensure that the plans are realised this time?

These are legitimate questions, not least since the buildings concerned are very much part of Singapore's architectural heritage.

Capitol Theatre turns 80 next year. The neo-classical style building was built in 1929 by M.A. Namazie, an early Singapore pioneer of Persian origin. The accompanying four-storey building, where the popular Magnolia Snack Bar once stood, was completed in 1933 and called the Namazie Mansions back then.

The cinema was Singapore's very first, where the likes of Charlie Chaplin and Douglas Fairbanks performed to promote their silent movies. In the 1960s, the Capitol hosted variety shows featuring performers like Sakura Teng and Rita Chao.

The adjacent Stamford House has an even longer history. It was designed for commercial use in 1904 by R.A.J. Bidwell, the man behind other outstanding buildings such as the Raffles Hotel and Goodwood Park Hotel.

Few seem to recall the furious debate that broke out in 1991 over whether Stamford House should be saved instead of Eu Court, built in the 1930s, across the street.

Then National Development minister S. Dhanabalan declared that Stamford House would be preserved as it had a 'more outstanding architectural style'.

I was prepared then to give the minister the benefit of the doubt, and wait to see if the ramshackle Stamford House of those days would indeed be transformed into the conservation gem he envisioned.

So, when the Victorian facade of the building was unveiled three years and $13 million later, I had to concede that it did look splendid, as the minister had said.

But sadly, it never quite lived up to his promise of becoming 'an active and successful commercial centre', given its motley collection of furniture shops, galleries and eateries, several of which came and went.

The wider issue here is this: Just how does Singapore go about conserving its architectural heritage, saving grand old buildings and giving new life to them?

Of course, given the space constraints on this tiny island, I have never believed in keeping buildings as museum pieces, or standing in the way of development.

But, in these days of globalisation and rapid change, a sense of place and continuity is needed if Singaporeans are to remain rooted to this country.

Indeed, at the moment, Singapore is undergoing another spurt of redevelopment. Just as in the 1980s and 1990s, when familiar sites like the modest C.K. Tang store or the huge open field where Ngee Ann City now stands gave way to skyscrapers, the Ion Orchard and Orchard Central are rising rapidly from the ground in Orchard Road. These, and the redevelopment of the Asia Hotel site in Scotts Road, as well as the new St Regis Hotel in Tanglin Road are transforming the face of the downtown area as we know it.

So how to ensure continuity in the face of such change?

Well, to be fair, there have been quite a few success stories in conservation over the years, such as the Fullerton Hotel, Raffles Hotel, the National Museum, the old Parliament House, and the old St Joseph's Institution building.

In these cases, the buildings' structures were painstakingly conserved, even as their interiors were retrofitted to allow for new uses, commercial or otherwise. Sure, the purists moaned, but the conservation purpose was served.

There have been some bad misses too. Orchard cinema and the National Library were both razed to the ground despite fervent public protests.

Or ponder this: Just what is the difference between the ghastly named Orchard Cineleisure and the supposedly conserved Cathay building?

Precious little, actually. The former was built after tearing the old cinema down completely, while the latter was simply erected around a sliver of the facade of what was Singapore's first skyscraper, as a sop to the conservationist lobby.

Clearly, there are lessons to be learnt from these hits and misses over the decades to help ensure that the re-development of the Capitol area turns out right.

To do so, the authorities need to:

* Spell out their Capitol conservation plans in much greater detail.

While they are at it, they should consider redeveloping the SMRT HQ building across the street. Why a public transport operator needs such a large prime site, all walled up and uninviting, has always been a mystery to me.

There is much potential to liven up the entire area on both sides of Stamford Road, with an array of streetwalk dining, retail and entertainment options.

* Engage the public, both to get ideas and foster a sense of ownership of this historic district.

Surely, Singaporeans should not wait until plans are announced to demolish an old building before taking an interest? Nor should they be left to bemoan conservation efforts gone awry after the fact.

* Announce a timeline to make clear how and when the authorities will ensure that the area's 'development potential is fully maximised', at long last.

It would be a pity if Singaporeans have to wait another decade to read the next report on new plans 'being studied' for Capitol.

Read more!

KL allots $1.7b to boost food security

Govt wants to turn Sarawak into Malaysia's new 'rice bowl' as prices of staples and fuel escalate
Straits Times 20 Apr 08;

Kuala Lumpur - Malaysia is allocating RM4 billion (S$1.7 billion) to increase food production, including a plan to grow rice on a massive scale in Sarawak amid fears of shortages caused by the global food crisis.

The funds allocated for the plan would also be used to build food stockpiles and increase cultivation of fruits and vegetables, Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi said yesterday.

The plan, he added, is part of efforts to make the country completely self-sufficient in rice. It now produces 65 per cent to 70 per cent of the rice its people consume and imports the rest.

A high-level panel has also been set up to deal with food security and inflation, which is expected to hit 3 per cent this year, up from 2 per cent last year.

To achieve self-sufficiency, the government plans to take up rice cultivation on a massive scale in Sarawak, making it Malaysia's new 'rice bowl'.

Much of locally-grown rice now comes from Kedah, which accounts for some 40 per cent of Malaysia's rice output.

PM Abdullah said he had discussed the plan with the state's Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud, adding: 'I have approved the allocation for the project upon his request for funds.'

He did not, however, give details of the plan.

Still, the RM4 billion is but a fraction of what Malaysia needs to boost food production. The Agriculture Ministry said recently it needs RM6 billion to cultivate new rice fields and improve infrastructure to boost rice production.

Yesterday's announcement by Datuk Seri Abdullah comes on the back of other moves that the Malaysian government has made in response to the rising threat of food shortages and soaring prices.

Earlier, it had announced the setting up of a national food stockpile, and also clamped down on staples being taken out of the country.

The rising cost of living was cited as one of the reasons for the Barisan Nasional's losses in last month's general election, and the government is continually facing pressure to raise subsidies of necessities, especially fuel. It expects to spend at least RM70 billion on food and fuel subsidies this year.

Yesterday, Indonesia's National Development Planning Agency also called for a national food strategy, saying that funding was needed for the procurement of land, seedlings, fertilisers and marketing.

Bernama, Reuters, AP

Read more!

Twelve new springs appear around Buyan Lake, Bali

Antara 19 Apr 08;

Denpasar (ANTARA News) - At least 12 new springs have appeared suddenly around Buyan Lake, Buleleng District, which is located around 55 km north of Denpasar.

Local farmers are now using water from the new springs for irrigation, Bali provincial forestry service head Made Sulendra said here on Saturday.

Some 4.93 sq km wide Buyan Lake is one of four lakes on Bali Island which have become tourist attractions.

Sulendra said it was believed the new springs had formed thanks to the massive regreening programs launched by the Bali provincial administration last year. Bali planted at least seven million trees last year, including in areas surrounding Buyan Lake. (*)

Farmers in Banyumas turn to organic fertilizer
Antara 19 Apr 08;

Banyumas (ANTARA News) - A number of farmers in Banyumas district, Central Java, have started using organic fertilizer after finding out that it can increase their paddy crop.

"Unlike non-organic fertilizer, organic fertilizer can increase paddy crop," Suwarto (61), a farmer in Kemutung Lor village in Baturaden sub district, said on Saturday.

Suwarto admitted he had used organic fertilizer for two seasons and the result was satisfactory.

He started to use organic fertilizer after he had been advised by agriculture counselors and a team from Purwokerto Muhammadiyah University to do so.

The farmer added that when he used non-organic fertilizer on 0.25 hectares of his rice field, the got only 5 kilograms of paddy but when he turned to organic fertilizer, he got 5.5 kilograms of paddy.

He said after finding out that the result was satisfactory, a number of his colleagues started to follow his example in using organic fertilizer.

"Their eagerness to use organic fertilizer is not only because its result is satisfactory but also because it is more efficient and less expensive in comparison with no-organic fertilizer," Suwarto said. (*)

Read more!

The Big Question: Why is the world so slow to produce environmentally-friendly cars?

Sean O'Grady, The Independent 17 Apr 08;

Why are we asking this now?

Because Britain's first hydrogen filling station opens today at the University of Birmingham. Researchers there will be assessing alternative fuel vehicles in search of greener motoring.

Is hydrogen the answer?

The hydrogen fuel cell is revolutionary. It supersedes the internal combustion engine and does away with fossil fuels. So there are vested interests involved. That said, it isn't so much a question of conspiracy as cost. Some of the world's leading energy and motor companies are developing alternatives to the conventional car. If the world wants hydrogen it will have to invest in it, scrapping existing technology, factories, refineries, infrastructure and know-how. That means consumers would have to pay for the leap forward. Will they? Besides, not everyone is convinced about the hydrogen fuel cell.

What's so good about hydrogen?

Hydrogen is green at the point of use. Hydrogen-fuel-cell vehicles emit no carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide or carcinogenic particles. All that emerges from the exhaust is water vapour. The hydrogen fuel, stored in pressurised tanks, is used to create a chemical reaction using catalysts. That is converted into electric power and drives a motor which moves the vehicle along. It is quiet, and performance is acceptable for many purposes; in any case it is early days yet. After all, we've had a long time to get from Karl Benz's 1886 Patent Motorwagen (top speed: 11mph) to today's Formula 1 wonders.

Do hydrogen fuel cells work?

Yes. Buses powered by hydrogen fuel cells have been judged "really successful" by Transport for London. Californian and South Korean authorities have tested fleets of Honda and Hyundai fuel cell cars satisfactorily. Mercedes-Benz and General Motors are two other companies who've produced running everyday fuel-cell models (Mercedes A-Class and a Vauxhall Zafira, respectively). The Honda FCX Clarity, a "proper" executive fuel-cell car, will be available for lease in the United States this summer.

So what's the snag?

The greenness of hydrogen does depend on how much energy is inefficiently expended in generating it and moving it around. If, at one extreme, a much more efficient method of making hydrogen could be discovered, and if the energy used in it s manufacture and transport was sustainable (like from a power station using solar energy), then it might well be the greenest option. At worst there isn't much advance on fossil fuels. Storing hydrogen requires pressurisation or cooling, which can be troublesome. Hydrogen also tends to vaporise, so there can be losses in transit. Some, with the tragedy of the Hindenburg airship in mind, wonder whether this highly combustible fuel can ever be safe.

How about just using hydrogen as fuel?

Simply replacing fossil fuels with hydrogen in a conventional internal combustion engine can be done. BMW's Hydrogen 7 is almost as quiet and refined as its petrol-powered cousin. However, it needs a huge tank for the (unpressurised) hydrogen, and that tank of fuel can evaporate in as little as 10 days.

Are biofuels any use?

Biofuel versions of Saabs and Fords can be bought now, though there are few filling stations. This technology is also controversial. In theory, biofuels are carbon neutral, as the carbon dioxide used in producing them is "absorbed" by the plants grown to make create the biofuel. So-called first generation biofuels do suffer from drawbacks. First, they can displace food crops. Biofuels, even their best friends would agree, have had some effect on rising food prices. The EU wants to see monitoring systems to assure consumers that biofuels are not damaging the environment or food supplies, but those safeguards are yet to be implemented . Second, they can reduce biodiversity, as witnessed in the Indonesian rain forest, where palm oil crops for biodiesel have done much damage.

Third, critics point to the energy expended in producing and transporting the biofuels, the artificial fertilisers used, the western subsidies to grow them in Europe and the US, and so on. More defensible are second, third and fourth generation biofuels, which become progressively greener, though none are commercially available. The next stage will be to find ways to use the waste product of crops rather than the nutritionally valuable seeds and grains in biofuel production. One day, the scientists promise "carbon positive" biofuels – enzymes that can save the planet.

Why aren't there more hybrids?

Toyota's Prius leads the field, although Honda and Ford and General Motors in America are also on the scene. Using power wasted, for example in braking, and recycling that via an electric motor to supplement a petrol engine is a clever one. But many manufacturers say small, efficient diesels engines are just as effective and a lot cheaper to make, with no problematic batteries to dispose of. Japanese and US makers tend to favour petrol/electric hybrids because their main markets have very little appetite for diesel; European makes such as Mercedes and Peugeot are more traditionally committed to diesel. "Plug-in hybrids", where energy direct from the mains can add to the cars' range, are a step forward.

What happened to the electric car?

Nothing especially, though GM did can one of its more promising projects on the grounds of cost. However, the motor-show concept Chevrolet Volt (a "plug-in" hybrid) promises much, and GM are committed to making it. Electric cars can be extremely green, but again much crucially depends on how their power is generated. They used to be slow and fragile; mainstream makers are working on that. The Modec van is a fine example of a practical vehicle.

What can I do now?

Drive more carefully; downsize; use public transport more. There's an argument for keeping an old car on the road for longer, thus saving the resources and energy used in producing a new one. A Morris Minor Traveller even uses renewable ash in its bodywork. The car makers are doing their bit, too. Modern cars are much greener than their predecessors (see chart). Ford and Volkswagen are tuning existing models to return exceptional economy and low emissions, the VW Polo "Bluemotion" being an outstanding example. But manufacturers such as VW and Citroë*do tend to price their green or diesel cars on the high side compared to the equivalent petrol models.

Will cars be greener any time soon?

Yes...

* All new cars are greener than their ancestors, so it is a process of evolution

* Small diesels are the way forward at the moment, and there are plenty on sale now

* Everyone is downsizing anyway. That might be the immediate means of cutting vehicle emissions

No...

* The car makers and oil companies will try to protect their old 'brown' technologies

* Consumers aren't demanding them loudly enough, giving makers no incentive to crank up production

* 'Green' technologies aren't as clean as they say. A real solution has not arrived yet

Read more!

Smoke cloud engulfs Argentine capital for fifth day

Jorge Otaola, Reuters 19 Apr 08;

BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) - A thick cloud of smoke covered Buenos Aires for a fifth day on Saturday, the fallout from field burning by ranchers that has forced the closure of highways, flight delays and traffic congestion.

The smoke started to appear over the Argentine capital more than a week ago, but visibility deteriorated considerably in the city on Friday and Saturday, with an acrid smell pervading homes and causing watery eyes and sore throats among residents.

Visibility downtown was barely 500 yards (meters), and residents' tempers began to fray.

Police said they detained two people in connection with the fire, which spread over a wide area north of the capital, and were searching for a third.

Authorities said ranchers caused the haze by igniting fires across 173,000 acres of pasture. The fires clear vegetation and renew soil nutrients and fresh pasture growth for cattle.

The dense smoke along highways in rural areas north of Buenos Aires caused traffic accidents that killed at least nine people, officials said on Friday.

Emergency services directed traffic in some areas of the city on Saturday, while the capital's Jorge Newbery domestic airport diverted incoming aircraft to the international airport outside Buenos Aires -- where the smoke also caused some flight departure delays.

Schools canceled sports classes, and a rugby tournament was suspended.

Health officials sought to reassure the public the smoke was not toxic, saying the burned material was organic. But the municipality of Buenos Aires issued a "yellow alert" as a precaution.

President Cristina Fernandez flew over the fire-stricken areas in a helicopter on Saturday and huddled with a crisis committee.

"This is irrationality and irresponsibility ... which is affecting the lives of Argentines," she told reporters.

She first had to drive nearly 40 miles north of the capital overland because visibility was too poor.

Satellite images showed wind carrying a swath of white smoke over the capital and across the River Plate as far as Uruguay.

The government said on Friday efforts to contain the fires were failing and that it would prosecute farmers.

"We have been able to contain some areas (of the fire)," Buenos Aires Gov. Daniel Scioli told reporters.

"There has been terrible negligence here," he added. "This can't go on."

The national meteorological service said northerly winds would keep carrying the smoke toward the densely populated Buenos Aires area in coming days. It said there were no rains on the way to help extinguish the blaze.

Setting fire to grasslands is common practice in Argentina, but the smoke cloud shrouding the capital is unusual. Officials attribute the phenomenon to the extreme dryness of pastures coupled with a northerly wind, unusual this time of year.

(Writing by Simon Gardner; Editing by Peter Cooney)

Read more!

West Coast Park's marsh garden to undergo rejuvenation project

Channel NewsAsia 19 Apr 08;

SINGAPORE: Visitors to the marshlands at West Coast Park will soon see more flora and fauna, thanks to a S$100,000 contribution by Shell to spruce up the site.

Together with the National Parks Board and students of Commonwealth Secondary School, the marsh is being re-populated with trees, the first step in the rejuvenation project.

Having adopted the marshes of Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve seven years ago, students of Commonwealth Secondary School are budding experts in wetlands flora and fauna.

Ernest Tang, a student of Commonwealth Secondary School, said: "For these trees, what we have to do is to dig quite deep, probably half a metre down the soil and we also cover it with topsoil which are high in nutrients and all the compost soil."

And for these students, the impact of the project will be long-term.

"After I graduate from secondary school, I will also come back to check on the plants in school and also the mangrove trees in the marshland here" said Tang.

The funding from Shell will not go towards sprucing up the coastal marshlands with the installation of signboards and plant tags, but it also help volunteer guides will undergo training. - CNA/vm

Rejuvenation of Marsh Garden @ West Coast Park through NParks-Shell-Commonwealth Secondary partnership
NParks press release 18 Apr 08;

Public can expect new flora, fauna and infrastructure – an enhanced park experience

Singapore, 19 April 2008 - In a few years’ time, visitors to the Marsh Garden at West Coast Park will be able to see more insects and wildlife thriving at the regenerated mangrove habitat.

Through a collaboration made possible with Shell staff and funds, the National Parks Board (NParks) and Commonwealth Secondary School, the one

Marsh Garden will be given a new lease of life with 200 new saplings planted in phases to rejuvenate the mangrove habitat. These species of mangrove plants were proposed by 20 students from Commonwealth Secondary School (Secondary 1 to 3), who went on-site to conduct research, such as checking the soil, water, temperate and humidity levels, before making their recommendations to NParks. They were guided by Dr Shawn Lum, an expert in plant diversity and ecology, evolution, conservation and environmental education from the Ministry of Education.

The aim of the project is to create an ideal environment that will attract interesting wildlife. As part of this rejuvenation project, new signboards and plant tags will be installed along the existing boardwalk to enable visitors to appreciate the rich biodiversity of the Marsh Garden.

Shell is fully funding the improvements that will cost $100,000, as part of its continuing efforts in support of biodiversity and the conservation of local environment. The launch of the Marsh rejuvenation project is also held in conjunction with Earth Day 2008 on 22 April 2008.

Professor Leo Tan, Chairman of the Garden City Fund, said: "We are glad to have the active support and contributions of Shell and Commonwealth Secondary School, and the expertise of Shawn Lum in this project. The Marsh Garden is one of the few mangrove habitats in the western part of Singapore so it is important to conserve it for both biodiversity and educational purposes, for the benefit of all Singapore residents. Through the involvement and collaboration with the 3Ps – the public, private and people sectors, we can all help to increase awareness of greenery and conservation.”

Mr Pieter Eijsberg, General Manager, Shell Eastern Petrochemicals Complex, said: “Shell has been supporting various community environmental programmes through the years. This project with NParks and Commonwealth Secondary School will help to raise public awareness of conservation, as well as encourage our staff and partners to play an active role in community gardening. Together, we can all work towards reviving the natural heritage and beauty of Singapore.”

During monitoring of the saplings planted, NParks will set up a training programme for volunteers to increase their expertise in areas such as wildlife management and environment management. They will also be taught on how to conduct guided walks at the nature areas of West Coast Park.

The Marsh Garden has been in existence since the 1980s. Over the years, the native plants such as Avicennia alba and Acrostichum aureum which were originally found at the mangrove habitat, were slowly overtaken by exotic species such as Acacia auriculiformis and Albizia spp. It is currently home to 15 species of birds and 10 species of plants.

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More dengue cases in Singapore this year compared to same period in 2007

Channel NewsAsia 19 Apr 08;

SINGAPORE: The total number of dengue victims across Singapore this year says the Ministry of Health (MOH)is much higher than in the same period in 2007.

Latest figures show that there were 1,400 reported cases of dengue between January and 12 April this year. This is an increase of 47.3 per cent from the same period last year.

One potential hotspot is construction sites.

The number of reported dengue cases at a construction site at Upper Paya Lebar Road continues to climb. And with 41 cases as of 12 April, it is the largest dengue cluster found in Singapore this year.

Since 14 April, seven more cases have been discovered at this hotspot bringing the total to 41.

Most are foreign workers living on-site. The MOH said 20 victims who were warded for treatment have since been discharged.

Officers from the National Environment Agency have been conducting checks at public areas at HDB estates since the beginning of 2008.

And after that, the fight moves into the homes.

Tai Ji Choong, Head of Operations, National Environment Agency, said: "We're approaching the warmer season in June which is also the season for dengue transmission. So if they start doing their work now, then later on in June, we can actually have a better situation then." - CNA/vm

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Singapore's rice supplies safe despite export restrictions

Channel NewsAsia 19 Apr 08;

SINGAPORE: Singapore's rice supplies are safe even as global rice exporters such as Thailand impose export restrictions. This assurance came from Senior Minister of State for Trade and Industry, S Iswaran who added that Thailand has promised it will maintain its rice exports this year.

Other countries like Vietnam and India have also said they will review their export restrictions after the current harvest season.

Speaking on the sidelines of a community event, Mr Iswaran stressed that the main issue affecting Singaporeans is that of price.

But the government is monitoring the rice markets closely.

He said: "Quantity as such, is not a major issue for Singapore in particular, because our rice needs are very small compared to the global market. And even if you compare with what Thailand exports, our requirements from Thailand are only one or two per cent of what Thailand's total exports are."

Mr Iswaran also said his Ministry will be addressing the issue of rising food prices when Parliament sits on 21 April. -CNA/vm

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Asian countries must play bigger part in sustainable development

Channel NewsAsia 19 Apr 08;

SINGAPORE: Asian countries need to take more global responsibility when it comes to sustainable development.

Professor Kishore Mahbubani, Dean of the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy made this point on Saturday at an event on sustainable development.

He added that more alternative ideas are needed as western countries become more “incompetent” in managing such global issues.

The increasing decline of the environment has been a pressing issue on the global front, especially so in the last few years.

But Professor Mahbubani said one can't just blame emerging countries like India and China.

He said: "Global warming today is also because of the stock of greenhouse gas emissions that were put up there by over the past century or more by the western industrialized powers."

He said a solution may be reached if western countries agree to pay for their greenhouse gas emissions as well.

Professor Mahbubani added: "The only way to solve the problem of greenhouse gas emissions is to put an economic price on the new greenhouse gas emissions that are coming. But to be fair, if you want to tax the new developing countries for their gas emissions, you also have to put an economic price on the stock that has been put up down there."

He also said Asian countries need to step up and take more responsibility and provide ideas and possible solutions rather than just rely on the West.

Two students from the NUS Business School presented such solutions and they won the Business Plan Challenge with their proposal to convert waste cooking oil into bio-diesel in India.

Neha Gupta, a student from the NUS Business School said: “We just have to remove the fatty acids from the waste cooking oil. It's a chemical process which converts this waste cooking oil into the bio-diesel."

More than 200 students across the Asia Pacific took part in the competition organised by the Indian Institutes of Management Alumni Associations. - CNA/vm

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