Singapore tops index measuring food security, but vulnerable to trade and climate-related risks

VICTOR LOH Today Online 17 Oct 18;

SINGAPORE — In a first for Singapore, the Republic has topped the Global Food Security Index, which measures the affordability, availability, quality and safety of food sources in 113 countries.

This is an improvement from its fourth position last year.

However, the index by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) highlighted Singapore's vulnerability to climate-related and natural resource risks, which is not reflected in the overall ranking.

Taking risks such as exposure to climate change (temperature rise, drought, flooding, etc) and the health of land and water resources into account, Singapore ranks 16th among the 113 countries, with Switzerland at the top.

“Singapore’s strong food-security score is largely attributable to its status as a high-income economy,” said the report, noting that the country’s GDP per capita has risen by nearly 30 per cent since 2012, and the percentage of household expenditure that is spent on food is the second-lowest in the index.

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PUB takes contractor to task for polluting Bukit Timah canal with silt from construction site

Tee Zhuo Straits Times 16 oct 18;

SINGAPORE - A contractor will be taken to task for polluting a canal in Bukit Timah with silt, PUB said on Tuesday (Oct 16).

In its statement, Singapore's national water agency said that it had investigated and confirmed the material discharged into the canal after a heavy downpour last Wednesday was silt.

"We have traced the silty discharge to a nearby construction site that had failed to provide adequate earth control measures on site," PUB added.

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Burger King Singapore to stop providing plastic lids and straws for drinks

Channel NewsAsia 16 Oct 18;

SINGAPORE: Burger King announced that it will no longer provide dine-in customers plastic straws and lids for their cold drinks at its 42 outlets in Singapore.

The initiative began on Monday (Oct 15).

Replying to Channel NewsAsia's queries, Burger King said that customers can however still request for the plastic lids and straws at the counter.

"We understand that some guests with children will still require straws, so we are happy to accede to their request," said a spokesperson, adding that the lids and straws will still be provided for takeaways and deliveries.

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Best of our wild blogs: 16 Oct 18

JOB OPPORTUNITY: Management Assistant Officer, Visitor Services/Casual Visitor Services Officer
Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum

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World's largest rice science conference opens in Singapore, to discuss challenges facing rice production

Jose Hong Straits Times 15 Oct 18;

SINGAPORE - The production of rice, one of the world’s most important crops, is facing major problems, such as slow growth and climate change, which could increase its price by more than 30 per cent by 2050.

“We need major changes to our rice and food production systems, to make them more resilient to weather disruptions, and also to reduce their emissions and their impact on the environment,” said Minister for National Development Lawrence Wong on Monday (Oct 15).

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Indonesia: Floods affect 24,321 people in Aceh Singkil District

Antara 15 Oct 18;

Illustration. Farmers are drying the rice which is submerged by floods in the rice field area of Blang Leuah Village, Samatiga District, West Aceh, Aceh, Saturday (10/13/2018). (ANTARA PHOTO/Syifa Yulinnas/aww.)

Banda Aceh, Aceh (ANTARA News) - The Aceh Singkil Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) reported that the floods that inundated 24 villages in the eight sub-districts of Aceh Singkil Districts, Aceh Province, affected 24,321 people.

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Protecting nature the best way to keep planet cool: report

Marlowe HOOD AFP Yahoo News 15 Oct 18;

Paris (AFP) - The best -- and fairest -- way to cap global warming is to empower indigenous forest peoples, reduce food waste and slash meat consumption, an alliance of 38 NGOs said Monday.

Restoring natural forest ecosystems, securing the land rights of local communities and revamping the global food system could cut greenhouse emissions 40 percent by mid-century and help humanity avoid climate catastrophe, they argued in a 50-page report based on recent science.

Approximately half of the reduced emissions would come from boosting the capacity of forests and wetlands to absorb CO2, and the other half from curtailing carbon-intensive forms of agriculture.

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Best of our wild blogs: 15 Oct 18

Our Crazy Rich Shores: Pulau Sekudu
Celebrating Singapore Shores!

4th November 2018 (Sunday): Herp Walk @ Bukit Timah Nature Reserve
Herpetological Society of Singapore

16 Oct: Connecting the Dots between Haze and Palm Oil
Green Drinks Singapore

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Keeping Pulau Ubin alive

More needs to be done to ensure Singapore's last remaining offshore community - Ubin - goes on as a living kampung
Kok Yufeng The New Paper 15 Oct 18;

In 2014, the Ministry of National Development (MND) launched The Ubin Project to preserve the 10.2 sq km island's cultural and natural heritage and sustain its unique identity.

For the islanders though, Ubin's charms mask challenges.

Village chief Chu Yok Choon, 73, told The New Paper in Mandarin that while it would be best if the island was preserved, it does not take away the fact that daily life can be tough.

He said: "On this island, to get anything we want is difficult."

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Malaysia: Our rivers not healthy and need serious attention - Minister

vijenthi nair The Star 15 Oct 18;

KUALA LUMPUR: Rivers in three states are the most affected by the effects of deforestation and opening up of new logging areas, says Dr A. Xavier Jayakumar.

The Water, Land and Natural Resources Minister said the three states were Kelantan, Pahang and Kedah.

“The failure to have a proper integrated system for forest management has serious effects on rivers.

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Indonesia: Floods submerge 1,070 houses in Bengkalis, Riau

Antara 15 Oct 18;

Flooding in Riau - documentary photo. (ANTARA FOTO/Pandu Hari Santoso)

Bengkalis, Riau (ANTARA News)- Floods triggered by incessant heavy rains, have submerged 1,070 houses in Bantan and Bengkalis sub-districts, Bengkalis district, Riau Province, Sumatra Island.

In Bantan, some 360 homes were inundated, Jamaluddin, secretary of the Bengkalis disaster mitigation office, said here, Sunday.

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Indonesia: World Bank to provide US$1 billion for Lombok, Palu reconstruction

Antara 15 Oct 18;

World Bank Chief Executive Officer Kristalina Georgieva while visiting earthquake-hit Palu, Central Sulawesi, on Oct 12, 2018. (M Arief Iskandar)

Nusa Dua, Bali (ANTARA News) - The World Bank is committed to providing US$1 billion for the reconstruction of demaged facilities in the earthqauake-affected Lombok (West Nusa Tenggara/NTB) and Palu (Central Sulawesi).

"The government`s efforts to restore affected areas have been very good. We provide this assistance to give support needed by Indonesia," said World Bank Chief Executive Officer Kristalina Georgieva in Nusa Dua, Bali, on Sunday.

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