‘Not always safe for motorist to stop after hitting animal’: MHA

MHA’s decision to not include more animals in Road Traffic Act disappoints rights groups
Joy Fang Today Online 16 Oct 14;

SINGAPORE — The police have rejected calls to penalise motorists who negligently run over any kind of animal, a move that has upset some groups here which have been lobbying for such changes.

Animal welfare activists who have been clamouring for more animals to be covered under the Road Traffic Act have expressed their disappointment, after the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) told this newspaper yesterday that it had decided against changing the Act which, among other things, requires motorists to stop and help certain animals if they knock them down.

At least two groups — the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) and Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (ACRES) — have indicated they will be appealing against the MHA’s decision.

The activists’ hopes for the Act to include more animals under its purview were raised in April last year, when the Ministry of National Development said it had accepted all 24 recommendations made by the Animal Welfare Legislation Review Committee, which included Members of Parliament, community leaders and industry representatives.

One of the recommendations was to align the definition of “animals” under the Road Traffic Act with that of the Animals and Birds Act, which states that an “animal” means any mammal (other than man) or fish, and includes any other living creature that is prescribed as an animal.

But the MHA said yesterday it had reviewed the Road Traffic Act and will not proceed with any amendments.

Its spokesman told TODAY: “In the recent review of the Road Traffic Act, the MHA decided against adopting the proposal of the Animal Welfare Legislation Review Committee after careful consideration. Our main concern was that it is not always safe for a motorist to stop his vehicle (e.g. when travelling along a busy expressway) after hitting an animal.”

Currently, if a motorist knocks down a dog, horse, ass, mule, sheep, pig, goat or cattle — which activists describe as animals with farm value — the Road Traffic Act states that failure to stop and help the animal could be a crime and the driver could face a S$3,000 fine or a jail term of up to a year. However, the Act is silent on other animals such as cats, monkeys, birds and rabbits.

The MHA’s decision comes after several Members of Parliament tabled a Bill on Oct 7 to amend the Animals and Birds Act to include harsher penalties for those convicted of acts of animal cruelty.

Several animal welfare groups told TODAY that they are disappointed with the MHA’s decision and hope that the authorities will reconsider.

ACRES founder Louis Ng said the society has been responding to “an increasing number of hit-and-run cases for a variety of animals, including macaques”.

“It would seem inconsistent that cruelty to a cat and other animals defined in the Animals and Birds Act is illegal, however, if you run over one, you do not need to stop to provide assistance. Both pieces of legislation should be in sync,” he said.

Action for Singapore Dogs (ASD) president Ricky Yeo suggested that even if the laws remain unchanged, it will be beneficial for the Government to educate the public on what to do, especially in the industrial areas, where the group has come across many hit-and-run cases involving animals.

The animal welfare groups agree that a balance has to be struck between safety and stopping for an injured animal that has been hit.

“But what is important is that the person who is responsible takes the responsibility by stopping later to check on the animal or rendering medical aid at the vet,” said Mr Yeo. He plans to work with the other animal welfare groups to engage the relevant authorities privately on this issue, to “see how receptive they are”.

The MHA spokesman said motorists who hit an animal on the road should stop and provide help only when it is safe to do so, adding that it encourages such drivers to contact the SPCA or Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore for assistance.

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Cautious welcome for animal protection Bill

David Ee The Straits Times 15 Oct 14;

ANIMAL welfare groups and pet owners have cautiously welcomed the tougher animal protection Bill introduced in Parliament last Tuesday.

But they warned that while the long-awaited move was historic, it remains to be seen whether the proposed law will be effectively implemented and enforced.

The Bill requires pet owners to provide reasonable care for animals under their charge. Those who neglect their pets will, for the first time, face a fine and/or a jail term.

Under the proposed amendments to the Animals and Birds Act, penalties for animal abuse will be increased, especially for repeat offenders and animal-related businesses. Staff working with animals in relevant businesses will be required to be trained in animal care and handling.

The Bill will also let the authorities adopt a code that sets new standards on animal welfare. Ang Mo Kio GRC MP Yeo Guat Kwang, who chairs the Animal Welfare Legislative Review Committee (AWLRC) driving the Bill, said the recommendations came from the ground, through the various stakeholder groups represented in the committee and from public consultations.

Voicing her worry, dog owner Gail Sethi, 50, said: "You can have all the laws in the world, but no enforcement."

Ms Verou Lau, vice-president of the Cat Welfare Society, hailed the Bill as historic, but said her biggest concern, which is shared by other animal welfare activists, is whether the enhanced law will be enforced.

The last major review of animal welfare legislation was in 2002. Cases of animal abuse handled by the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority grew from 377 in 2008 to 484 in 2012, according to AWLRC's report last year. Cases reported to the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals rose from 870 in 2007 to 1,027 in 2011.

However, just 13 cases were prosecuted during this time, partly due to difficulties in gathering evidence. This challenge was acknowledged by the review committee, made up of MPs, animal welfare activists and industry representatives.

Mr Ricky Yeo, president of Action for Singapore Dogs, expects "a long road ahead" in changing mindsets.

"The way I see it, it is still very business-oriented, where pets are still part of the commercial landscape.

The balance is still very much skewed towards pets being a commodity, rather than a marginalised group that needs protection," he said.

He also called for the new laws to be enforced "with a strong moral conscience rather than just from a legal perspective".

Mr Marcus Khoo, 40, executive director of pet grooming and boarding services firm Petopia, also raised a practical point. He noted that ensuring that staff are trained would reduce the risk of negligence, but the industry finds it hard to get qualified workers.

In a statement last Tuesday, Mr Yeo said the road to raising animal welfare standards is certainly not over. "I hope that this Bill will be an important first step in strengthening animal welfare in Singapore and making it a shared responsibility by all stakeholders," he said.

MP Gan Thiam Poh (Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC), a member of the committee, told The Straits Times he expects the question of enforcement to be "debated in detail" in Parliament during the Bill's second reading on Nov 3.

"Of course, we want to make (the laws) practical and enforceable.

There's no point having a law we can't enforce," he said. But he cautioned that change cannot be expected "overnight".

Stiffer Penalties

AMENDMENTS to the Animals and Birds Act, to strengthen the protection of animals, were introduced in Parliament last Tuesday. The Bill, which included new and harsher penalties, will be debated in Parliament on Nov 3. Among the amendments:

- For the first time, pet owners who do not take adequate care of their pets will be slapped with fines of up to $20,000 and/or a two-year jail term.

- Animal abusers will face fines of up to $30,000 and/or a three-year jail term, up from fines of up to $10,000 and/or a one-year jail term.

- Animal-related businesses that contravene the Act face fines of up to $100,000 and/ or a three-year jail term, up from up to $10,000 in fines and/or a one-year jail term.
- See more at: http://news.asiaone.com/news/singapore/cautious-welcome-animal-protection-bill#sthash.clwCsJW8.dpuf

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To cut waste, FairPrice may drop prices of more food items

Siau Ming En Today Online 16 Oct 14;

SINGAPORE — Supermarket chain NTUC FairPrice is looking at extending marked-down prices — which currently apply to seafood and chilled meats after they have been displayed for a day — to other categories of food, without compromising quality and safety, as part of a series of initiatives to reduce food wastage.

Other possible measures under its food waste reduction framework, which will kick in early next year, include educating customers that fruits and vegetables that may not be aesthetically appealing, and which are often left unsold, can still be wholesome and safe for consumption.

Announcing its plans for the new framework yesterday, FairPrice said it would donate more unsold but safe-for-consumption products to charity.

FairPrice chief executive officer Seah Kian Peng said the framework would help the cooperative clearly define its goals and systematically track its progress towards reducing food waste.

“While we already have some initiatives in place, we need to find a more effective and sustainable approach to reduce food waste,” he said.

Based on statistics from the National Environment Agency, Singapore dumped 796,000 tonnes of food waste last year — a 13.2 per cent increase from 2012.

With a network of more than 120 outlets around the island, FairPrice contributed to about 0.3 per cent of total food waste generated last year. It said the key categories of food that go to waste at its supermarkets are vegetables and fruits.

Last year, FairPrice set up a working committee to review its processes and look into new approaches to better manage food waste.

An ongoing study has found that apart from food that is aesthetically flawed and left unsold, quality control, the trimming during packaging, damage caused during transport and storage as well as mishandling of products by customers have contributed to the supermarket chain’s food waste.

FairPrice said that, currently, about half of its 122 outlets donate their unsold products, which can still be consumed, to more than 30 charities on an ad-hoc basis.

When the new framework is launched, FairPrice will start a long-term partnership with voluntary welfare organisation (VWO) Food From The Heart, which conducts monthly distribution of food goodie bags at various schools and corporations, among other activities.

Separately, the supermarket chain will support the VWO’s series of initiatives held in conjunction with World Food Day today.

This includes a Clean Plates campaign to encourage more than 10,000 students not to waste food.

NTUC FairPrice introduces measures to tackle food waste
Channel NewsAsia 15 Oct 14;

SINGAPORE: NTUC FairPrice on Wednesday (Oct 15) announced that it will address food waste through a structured framework, in commemoration of World Food Day on Thursday.

In a media release, NTUC FairPrice said plans to reduce food waste include enhancing and implementing internal processes that are "preventive in nature" and engaging its customers on greater awareness of food waste. It also hopes to reshape mindsets towards “imperfect-looking but perfectly safe” fruits and vegetables.

The supermarket chain added that it will also work with suppliers and charities to reduce food waste, and the framework will kick in early next year.

NTUC FairPrice CEO Seah Kian Peng said: “While we already have some initiatives in place, we need to find a more effective and sustainable approach to reduce food waste. Through the FairPrice Food Waste Framework, we are able to clearly define our goals and systematically track our progress.

“Everyone needs to play a part in dealing with this growing issue and we are optimistic with a structured approach and through collective effort, we can make a difference,” he added.

In 2013, Singapore saw a record high of 796,000 tonnes of food waste, NTUC FairPrice, citing National Environment Agency's (NEA) findings, pointed out. This was a steep increase of 13.2 per cent from a year ago.

While food recycling rates rose for the second consecutive year in 2013, NTUC FairPrice said it was still below the 16 per cent of food waste recycled in 2010.

Additionally, NTUC FairPrice said it plans to work on a long-term partnership with charity organisation Food from the Heart (FFTH). When the framework is launched next year, all FairPrice stores will donate “unsold but still wholesome food products” to the community through FFTH on a regular basis. The initiative will aid in reducing the total amount of food waste while increasing the donation of products to charities, it explained.

Commenting on the new initiative, FFTH Executive Director Anson Quek said: “It will enable FFTH to collect food on a regular basis and will further enhance our capacity to reach out to more families and individuals as well as other charities in our community.”

- CNA/xk

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Indonesia: Persistent haze grounds flights, shuts schools

Rizal Harahap, The Jakarta Post 15 Oct 14;

Several flights from Batam in the Riau Islands to Jambi and Pekanbaru in Riau were canceled on Tuesday as thick haze was still covering the airports in both cities.

“Almost every airline wished to avoid the risk and preferred to delay and cancel their flights. This has had an impact on incoming and outgoing flights in Batam,” Hang Nadim International Airport’s flight safety head Indah Irwansyah said in Batam on Tuesday as quoted by Antara news portal.

The haze also caused uncertainty to the education system in a number of regencies in Jambi. The West Tanjung Jabung regency administration for example, has suspended school since Monday because of the poor air quality in the regency.

When contacted on Tuesday, West Tanjung Jabung Education Agency secretary Hartono said his office had not yet decided how long the suspension period would last because it was still coordinating with the local Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) and the Health Office, according to Antara.

“We are waiting for instructions. If the conditions improve, school activities will resume,” he said.

Separately, Batanghari Regent Sinwan also instructed that school be suspended on Monday and Tuesday.

In a desperate move to tackle the haze, thousands of residents wearing masks performed the Istisqa prayer to ask for rain at the South Sumatra provincial administration office in Palembang on Tuesday.

Governor Alex Noerdin said the prayer was performed since the haze in the province was worsening despite various efforts to extinguish forest fires, including by using aerial water bombings and weather modification technology. The haze in the province, which recorded a record number of hotspots in Sumatra this week, was believed to have recently caused a fatal road accident on the inter-province highway in Musirawas regency.

Musirawas Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Nurhadi Handayani on Tuesday said motorist Budi Santosa of Muara Kelingi subdistrict collided head-on on a straight stretch of road with a Daihatsu Xenia van driven by Fazni Zehan, 25.

Budi died on the way to the nearest community health clinic from severe head injuries.

As the haze started to cover the Padang Pariaman regency, West Sumatra, police in the region also urged motorcyclists and motorists to be cautious while driving.

“The haze has blanketed Padang Pariaman, so members of the public must be careful while driving their vehicles on the road,” said Padangpariaman Traffic Police chief Adj. Comr. Teuku Heri Hermawan in Pariaman on Tuesday.

In Riau, despite the poor quality of air, acting Riau Governor Arsyadjuliandi “Andi” Rachman has not declared a health-related state of emergency in the province.

Riau Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) head Said Saqlul Amri said that, as a preventive measure, the Riau provincial administration would set aside Rp 31 billion (US$2.6 million) next year for the procurement of firefighting equipment and pay the salaries of the members of the Disaster-Alert Society (MSB). According to the plan, each village and district will be equipped with five MSB members.

“The MSB members are recruited especially to act in response to the haze disaster. They will be posted in all the districts and villages in Riau to prevent and extinguish even the smallest fire,” said Said.

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Indonesia: Giant Sea Wall to inflict losses on Jakartans: Groups

The Jakarta Post 15 Oct 14;

The Giant Sea Wall, a Rp 600 trillion (US$49.07 billion) construction project in the Masterplan for the Acceleration and Expansion of Indonesian Economic Development (MP3EI) that started on Oct. 9, poses serious problems for Jakarta’s residents, NGOs have said.

The People’s Coalition for Fisheries Justice Indonesia (KIARA) and the Indonesian Traditional Fishermen’s Association (KNTI) said in a joint statement on Wednesday that the Giant Sea Wall would not only remove thousands of local people and fishermen from their homes but was also unlikely to be effective in resolving the flooding and water crisis that had long disrupted the lives of Jakarta’s residents.

Moreover, the project violated laws in that, for instance, it did not have environmental permits and was not based on the results of a regional strategic environmental assessment (KLHS).

Abdul Halim of KIARA said the MP3EI was a new method of natural resource destruction, which could trigger ecological disasters and remove people from their places of residence.

The Giant Sea Wall had been included in the MP3EI scheme after the Jakarta administration failed to protect settlements and warehouses in coastal reclamation areas he said.

“The government has never paid close attention to the rights of traditional fishermen in Jakarta,” said Halim in a press release made available to The Jakarta Post on Wednesday.

During the implementation of the Jakarta coastal reclamation project on a 2,500­-hectare area in 2000-­2011, as many as 3,579 fishing families were forcefully removed from their homes.

In the Giant Sea Wall project, at least 16,855 fishermen will be removed from where they live and make a living.

“The project is destructive to the ecosystem in Jakarta Bay,” said Halim.

He said damage to mangrove forests and coral reefs would cause larger ecological disasters, such as the disappearance of fish in northern Jakarta waters and the decline of maritime tourism potential from a damaged marine environment and abrasion at Banten Bay and along the northern Java coast due to ongoing sand mining for the reclamation. (ebf)

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Best of our wild blogs: 15 Oct 14

Container ship runs aground near Pulau Sebarok on 14 Oct 2014
from wild shores of singapore

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For birds, skyscrapers can mean fatal collision

Lim Yi Han The Straits Times AsiaOne 15 Oct 14;


The carcasses of a blue-winged pitta (left) and chestnut-winged cuckoo, both migratory birds, spotted in Jurong.

Singapore's skyline may be revered by tourists but it is spelling death for scores of migratory birds.

The Nature Society (Singapore) has found that every year, many of these birds die after hitting skyscrapers here.

While millions of birds worldwide also die in this way, many studies have been done to mitigate the problem overseas. The society, however, noted that such a phenomenon is "chronically understudied" in Asia.

With the avian migratory season under way, the Nature Society's Bird Group has started a survey and is asking for those who have witnessed dead or injured migratory birds here to come forward.

It plans to collect information from now until next May and release a preliminary report by late next year. There are plans to run the survey for at least five years to observe short-term trends.

Mr Yong Ding Li, 30, a coordinator of the project, said such crashes may lead to a loss in the bird population, which is already in decline due to habitat loss, hunting and climate change.

"If we know which species are more affected, and what settings increase their risk of crashes, we might then be able to make recommendations to mitigate this," said Mr Yong, a graduate student specialising in ecology and bird conservation at the Australian National University.

Each year, some 2,000 migratory birds from countries like Russia, Mongolia, China and Japan arrive in Sungei Buloh in August and September for a respite from harsh winters, said the National Parks Board.

Some fly off again, heading to Australia or Indonesia, while others live in Sungei Buloh and surrounding areas till the next March or April.

Mr Yong explained that migratory birds crash into buildings because many fly at night. They are often attracted to, or disoriented by, the lighting from buildings, as they navigate using star patterns of the night sky.

They may also be confused by the reflection of trees and sky on the buildings' exterior.

Strix Wildlife Consultancy director Subaraj Rajathurai, 51, noting that the study was interesting and worthwhile, said: "We know this is happening but we don't know on what scale. "But it's not an easy study to do because we have such an efficient clean-up system in Singapore... Our clean-up crew may sweep away the dead birds before anyone wakes up."

Bird Ecology Study Group co-founder Wee Yeow Chin, 77, said: "In other countries, there are architectural adaptations so that birds don't crash. This study can help us find out the extent of the tragedy and whether we need to take some steps to crack down on this."

Visit http://tinyurl.com/SGBirdCrash to help in the survey.

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Marine conservation veteran continuing passion after retirement: Prof Chou Loke Ming

Audrey Tan Straits Times AsiaOne 15 Oct 14;



HE HAS been scarred by sharp coral, pricked by a sea urchin, and twice he had close brushes with death when he ran out of air under water.

Yet, his passion for the sea and the urge to protect all creatures in it - dangerous or not - could not be easily doused.

When he retires at the end of the month, National University of Singapore (NUS) marine biologist Chou Loke Ming, 67, can look back on three decades of effort to advance marine conservation.

Along with other active marine conservationists, such as lawyer Francis Lee, 68, Professor Chou had led calls for the establishment of a marine park. A 40ha patch that includes the Sisters' Islands and reefs off nearby St John's Island and Pulau Tekukor was finally set up earlier this year.

In 1987, Prof Chou and Mr Lee also started the Singapore Reef Conservation Committee, training 200 ecology specialist divers to survey the southern reefs, which were affected by extensive land reclamation works.

But even as he prepares to drop the sails on teaching, Prof Chou has packed his post-retirement schedule with more plans to contribute to marine biology.

Just last week, he jetted off to Bali, Indonesia, to prepare for two books on coastal management that he plans to co-write when he retires.

He will also take on an adjunct role at the Tropical Marine Science Institute - spending eight hours each week managing a reef restoration project.

Prof Chou also hopes to nurture a similar love for the ocean in his grandsons, aged two and three, by taking them to the aquarium and on snorkelling trips.

"I just hope to expose them to (the sea), not indoctrinate them, they will still be free to pursue their own dreams," said the soft-spoken professor, who is the principal investigator at NUS' Reef Ecology Lab.

His love for the sea, Prof Chou said, is anchored in his childhood. As a child growing up in a fishing village in Siglap with a younger sister, he spent his days swimming frequently in the sea and mixing with fishermen.
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As a pre-university student at Victoria School, he went on field trips to the Southern Islands.

Back then, the waters were much clearer, said Prof Chou, and a far cry from the heavily sedimented waters that surround Singapore today. "It was easy to see the whole reef, up to 10m under, from the surface," said Prof Chou.

He later went on to research house lizards for his doctorate in zoology at NUS, where he met his wife, Renee, and picked up the electric guitar.

He and his wife, a retired aquaculture officer at the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority, have a daughter in her late 30s.

In 1977, he fulfilled his aspiration of becoming a university lecturer. "At that time, the only opening at the university was for the role of a vertebrae zoologist, and house lizards were one of the easiest vertebrates to study," he said.

But Prof Chou could not resist the call of the ocean. Three years later, in 1980, he switched his field of study back to the marine realm and started to do research on nudibranchs - the colourful slugs of the sea. In 1986, his laboratory - originally a hub for studying reptiles - was renamed the Reef Ecology Laboratory, with research in areas such as coral reef biology, reef restoration and intertidal ecology.

Prof Chou's former student, Dr Neo Mei Lin, 28, said: "He has always been a father figure in the lab, and his charisma draws many students like myself to join marine biology.

"I will always remember his words of wisdom on marine conservation in Singapore... It's not about how much change we make, but how that small difference can lead to something bigger."

But the Reef Ecology Lab will be phased out when Prof Chou leaves the department at the end of the month. He said he "will be glad if a suitable candidate decides to revive it".

On retirement, he said: "In a way, I am relieved that I no longer have to do mundane admin work.

"But I am also prepared for retirement... I will be involved in many projects in the region," he added. "For me, marine biology is a form of relaxation."

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Afternoon storm damages golf course, fells trees

Channel NewsAsia 14 Oct 14;

SINGAPORE: Heavy showers on Tuesday afternoon (Oct 14) proved to be costly for All Star Golf Range, as it caused structural damage to the facility that will result in possible closure of approximately two to three months.

Owner of the golf range, Tendy Tsai, told Channel NewsAsia that the thunderstorm and hailstones happened at around 2.30pm and no one was injured. It did cause some of the range's structure to fall, he added.

He is now waiting for the surveyor to assess the damage, and added: "The golf range will be closed for approximately two to three months, and we will incur a loss of about S$300,000."

Channel NewsAsia understands that at least five trees were uprooted and three had fallen on cars. The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said it received two calls for assistance - one at Turf Club Road, and the other at Vanda Link nearby. No one was trapped or injured, a spokesperson said. SCDF also pitched in to help clear obstructions on the road.

Yazi Bandi Ng shared pictures of the aftermath, as well as a video of hailstones which interrupted his coaches' meeting at The Rainforest Sports Hub.

Channel NewsAsia producer Keval Singh was stuck in a traffic jam caused by fallen tree branches that littered the roads. "At least one tree had been uprooted, some others had parts of their trunks or branches broken and were blocking one or more lanes along Dunearn Road. SCDF and police personnel were on site to direct traffic onto Bukit Timah Road where possible. Others managed to squeeze through a single lane to continue towards the city," he recounted.

He said several bus passengers, including students from schools like Hwa Chong Institution disembarked and had to walk, although pavements were blocked by fallen branches as well.

He also saw a brick wall at a property had collapsed. "No sign whatsoever to explain its fall though – not even the tree next to it," he said.

A woman, who declined to be named, sent the following photos and said the storm was "like a hurricane came". She, too, was stuck in slow-moving traffic around Bukit Timah and Dunearn Road, and said there were "lots of police cars" on the scene.

Buildings hit as hailstorm pelts Turf City
Today Online 15 Oct 14;

SINGAPORE — A heavy thunderstorm pelted Turf City with hailstones yesterday afternoon, felling trees and causing damage that could prove costly for some businesses there.

The owner of All Star Golf Range, Mr Tendy Tsai, told Channel NewsAsia that the severe thunderstorm happened at around 2.30pm and caused some structural damage to the facility, but no one was injured.

Mr Tsai said he was waiting for the surveyor to assess the damage.

“The golf range will be closed for approximately two to three months and we will incur a loss of about S$300,000,” he added.

Mr Derrick Tan, operations manager at Sunny Heights, a daycare centre for pets, said he thought the afternoon storm was just going to be like any other. “But about 10 minutes later, we could see our tentages flying around outside our office. There were also small hailstones raining down,” he said. “At that time, from our CCTV, we could see trees falling down. One fell on the edge of our roofs and caused minor dents and cracks on the glasses.

“But our pavilion, where people can relax with their pets, and the walkway leading to it were completely covered by a tree that collapsed.”

The centre’s water pipes have also burst, which means business will be closed for a period of time, Mr Tan said. “But I’m not sure for how long we’ll be closed. Luckily, no pets and nobody were injured.”

Mr Aung Kolatt, 31, who also works at Sunny Heights, said when he arrived at the centre to help clear the fallen trees, he was shocked at the extent of the damage caused.

“We helped to cut and clear the trees,” said Mr Aung. “We have been working for about two-and-a-half hours (but) we haven’t made much progress.” CHANNEL NEWSASIA, with ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY ELGIN CHONG

Car dealership damaged by freak thunderstorm
Loke Kok Fai Channel NewsAsia 16 Oct 14;

SINGAPORE: Car dealers at the Grandstand Car Mall at Turf City are taking stock of the damage from Tuesday's (Oct 14) freak thunderstorm in Bukit Timah. Some people who were at Turf City that day said the storm brought small hailstones, and parts of a golf range was left in tatters.

Mr Rolland Ng, director of ST Carz, sent Channel NewsAsia CCTV footage showing parts of the roofing collapsing amid wild winds and heavy rain at 2:25pm. Metal bars and polycarbonate sheets were dislodged. The dealership is at the basement car park of Turf City.

No one was injured, but Mr Ng estimates the damage at around S$5,000. He said several other dealerships also suffered damage from collapsing roofs, and even falling trees.

While staff from the Grandstand helped clear away the debris, Mr Ng said he thinks the management is unlikely to compensate the dealers.

- CNA/dl

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Malaysia: Going after the big-time wildlife smugglers

victoria brown The Star 15 Oct 14;

PETALING JAYA: It has been largely the small fish who get caught in the illegal wildlife trade.

Wildlife authorities, however, are attempting to change that scenario as they focus on those who are really behind the trade – the large orga­nised criminal network run by kingpins.

“It is tough for us because the big-time smugglers are very smart. Most of the time, they don’t get their hands dirty so it is sometimes hard to find evidence against them,” said Department of Wildlife and Na­tional Parks (Perhilitan) deputy director-general Dr Zaaba Zainol Abidin.

He said his department’s move to nab the kingpins involved deeper in­­vestigation and, for this, undercover operations were on the agenda.

“Our goal is to be one step ahead so that we can pinpoint the illegal activities of the criminal organisation,” said Dr Zaaba.

Perhilitan has strengthened its wildlife crime and intelligence unit, enabling it to expand its network of informants and enhance the intel­ligence received.

“We also work with other agencies, both locally and internationally, in the fight against wildlife crime,” said Dr Zaaba.

He said Perhilitan usually carried out investigations after a report was lodged and, in some cases, officers had to go undercover.

He stressed, however, that it took a longer time to catch “the big fish”.

Traffic South-East Asia regional director Dr Chris R. Shepherd acknowledged that the authorities were “upping their game” against illegal wildlife trade in Malaysia.

However, he felt that wildlife ­traders were still “running circles around us” and the battle was still being lost.

“They (illegal wildlife traders) are really organised criminal organisations and heaps of money are being made.

“You only need to look at the IUCN Red List on species that are listed as critically endangered. That is a big indication that we’re losing,” said Dr Shepherd.

He said not many species listed on the IUCN Red List had recovered, and many were still on the decline, inching closer to extinction.

Notable prosecutions against the wildlife trade include that of Malaysian Anson Wong, known as the “Lizard King”.

Wong was convicted and impri­soned for 71 months in the United States after pleading guilty to trafficking in endangered reptiles in 2001.

This followed his arrest and conviction for attempting to smuggle snakes in his luggage from Penang to Jakarta. Wong was released on Feb 12.

Wong’s wife Cheah Bing Shee has been charged with illegal possession of five elongated tortoises and her case has been fixed for hearing on Dec 11.

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TRAFFIC and Alibaba Group sign Memorandum of Understanding to jointly reduce illegal wildlife trade online

TRAFFIC 14 Oct 14;

Hangzhou China, 14th October 2014—Wildlife trade monitoring network TRAFFIC and Alibaba Group today announced the signing of a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to join forces to address the illegal wildlife trade that is devastating threatened and endangered species of wild plants and animals worldwide.

On 14th October at the corporate campus of Alibaba Group in Hangzhou, China, the organizations signed a MoU to co-operate on efforts to reduce illegal wildlife trade, pledging zero tolerance towards the listing and sales of illegal wildlife products online and working to jointly educate consumers.

Growing demand for illegal wildlife products has taken a toll on many species. According to TRAFFIC statistics, there are only an estimated 3,200 tigers left in the wild, a population decline of almost 97% since the 1900s. TRAFFIC’s analysis also shows that illegal rhino horn trade has now reached the highest levels since the early 1990s, with more than 1,000 rhinos poached in South Africa for their horns in 2013. Illegal trade in ivory increased by nearly 300% from 1998 to 2011.

“Alibaba Group has and will continue to work towards combating illegal wildlife trade over our platforms and is pleased to engage in this extremely meaningful collaboration with TRAFFIC; we welcome co-operation with other partners to explore innovative ways to jointly protect endangered species and also call on our employees, customers and industry peers to work towards reducing the demand for endangered wildlife products and proactively adopt socially responsible policies that drive sustainable development,” said Yu Weimin, Vice President of Internet Security, Alibaba Group.

“Convincing action to ‘starve the supply’ of and reduce the demand for illegal wildlife products into the online market is critical if we are to succeed in conserving some of our most charismatic wild species. In this, we are delighted to have Alibaba Group as a partner and are certain the example they set will inspire positive behavioural change,” said Steven Broad, Executive Director of TRAFFIC.


Under the MoU, the organizations will carry out online monitoring and information sharing to enable effective action to reduce illegal wildlife products entering the e-commerce market.

TRAFFIC will provide training and technical support to help Alibaba Group's staff build the capacity to identify illegal wildlife products offered for sale online. Creative messaging will be developed and distributed through online ads, apps and social media channels, to influence both buyers and sellers to reject illicit trade in wildlife parts and products.

About Alibaba Group
Alibaba Group’s mission is to make it easy to do business anywhere. The company is the largest online and mobile commerce company in the world in terms of gross merchandise volume. Founded in 1999, the company provides the fundamental technology infrastructure and marketing reach to help businesses leverage the power of the Internet to establish an online presence and conduct commerce with hundreds of millions of consumers and other businesses.
Alibaba Group’s major businesses include:

Taobao Marketplace (www.taobao.com), China's largest online shopping destination
Tmall.com (www.tmall.com), China’s largest third-party platform for brands and retailers
Juhuasuan (www.juhuasuan.com), China’s most popular online group buying marketplace
AliExpress (www.aliexpress.com), a global online marketplace for consumers to buy directly from China
Alibaba.com (www.alibaba.com), China’s largest global online wholesale platform for small businesses
1688.com (www.1688.com), a leading online wholesale marketplace in China
Alibaba Cloud Computing (www.aliyun.com), a provider of cloud computing services to businesses and entrepreneurs


Alibaba Group also provides payment and/or escrow services on its marketplaces through its contractual arrangements with Alipay (www.alipay.com), a related company of Alibaba Group.
Through China Smart Logistics, a 48%-owned affiliate, Alibaba Group operates a central logistics information system that connects a network of express delivery companies in China.

About TRAFFIC
TRAFFIC, the wildlife trade monitoring network, is the leading non-governmental organization working globally on trade in wild animals and plants in the context of both biodiversity conservation and sustainable development. TRAFFIC was established in 1976 in what remains a unique role as a global specialist, leading and supporting efforts to identify conservation challenges and support solutions linked to trade in wild animals and plants. TRAFFIC’s mission is to ensure that trade in wild plants and animals is not a threat to the conservation of nature.
Website: http://www.traffic.org

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U.S. military lays out plan for coping with climate change

Ayesha Rascoe PlanetArk 14 Oct 14;

Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel unveiled the Climate Change Adaptation Roadmap at the Conference of Defense Ministers of the Americas held in Arequipa, Peru.

"Climate change is a long-term trend, but with wise planning and risk mitigation now, we can reduce adverse impacts down range," Hagel said.

The plan calls for the department to identify and assess effects of climate change on the military, integrate climate considerations and collaborate with other federal agencies and state governments on meeting challenges.

President Barack Obama has made combating climate change a priority of his second term. With climate legislation stalled in Congress, Obama has pledged to use the executive branch to help with reining in greenhouse gas emissions.

Republicans have criticized the Obama administration's focus on climate, saying it has come at the expense of the economy and that taxpayer dollars might be better spent.

While it may not be possible to precisely project all of the impacts of climate change, Hagel said that uncertainty "cannot be an excuse for delaying action."

Rising sea levels, extreme weather events and other consequences of a changing climate could exacerbate "many challenges, including infectious disease and terrorism," the department said.

"The military could be called upon more often to support civil authorities, and provide humanitarian assistance and disaster relief in the face of more frequent and more intense natural disasters," the plan noted.

Hagel warned that the department was already beginning to see some of these impacts.

Climate change can also affect the military at home, they said. The plan warned that areas like the Hampton Roads region in southeastern Virginia, which houses the largest concentration of U.S. military sites in the world, sees recurrent flooding now and could experience a 1.5-foot rise in sea levels in the next 20 to 50 years.

More details on the report can be found here:

http://www.acq.osd.mil/ie/download/CCARprint.pdf

(Reporting by Ayesha Rascoe, editing by Ros Krasny and Gunna Dickson)

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