Welcome!!!

Some info about our group:


We are a group of 
Hwa Chong Institution High School students 
who are working on making known 
the efforts put in by the Singapore government & private companies.
We intend to create self-awareness about 
Singapore's plans on being a green city through this project.

Members:
Law Tong Ye Matthew Edward
Low Hong Jin
Ong Ka Shing
Lyncam Edviano Loo


Our posts can be found in the blog archives:
13 August: Government efforts
12 August: Private company efforts
11 August: Information

Bring your own bag day {private}

CAUTION STILL UNDER CONSTRUCTION!!!

Green Carnival {government & private}

CAUTION STILL UNDER CONSTRUCTION!!!

Born in Singapore, don't let them go {private}

NSS Seeks committed and dynamic nature lovers for the following positions :
1. Member Programme & Outreach Officer
Working on member-led nature appreciation, restoration
and conservation activities.

2. Project Officer for Butterfly Trail at Orchard
Working extensively with the Project Consultant, NSS
Project Manager and other companies, applicants should have
a keen interest in nature and work or training experience in
community-based projects and able to support delivery of
projects on tight schedules.



BUTTERFLY TRAIL at ORCHARD PILOT PLOT LAUNCH 



The Butterfly Trail at Orchard is a strategic partnership project between National Parks Board NParks), Singapore Tourism Board (STB), Orchard Road Business Association (ORBA) and the organizers, Nature Society (Singapore) (NSS), initiated by NSS.

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Kranji Reservoir Adoption Programme Update (April 2010)
After much  restoration work to the Kranji Marshes, as part of NSS’


adoption of the Kranji  Reservoir, the uncommon Common Moorhen was spotted at the marshy pond on two  occasions. This is good news as the Common Moorhen, which was  supposedly common at one time, is hard to come by nowadays.


Their quote: Born in Singapore, don't let them go!!!
For more info:NSS
Publisher: Law Tong Ye Matthew Edward

Changi Airport Terminal 3 [Government]

CAUTION STILL UNDER CONSTRUCTION!!!

Heritage Trees [Government]

Singapore Government has begun worked on preserving Singapore plants by placing special trees of a certain age as "Heritage Trees". Those trees are protected by the government law and is not to be cut down.

The government takes into consideration, the location of the heritage trees when developing areas. There was also once when the government redirected a road so as to prevent the falling of several heritage trees.


Publisher: Law Tong Ye Matthew Edward
For more information, please visit: Nparks' website
For full view of the list, visit Heritage Tree List
There are also several different classification of the trees. To see them please proceed to  http://www.arthurleej.com/a-heritagetrees.html

Teaching Young Athletes About Green Initiatives [Government]

Young athletes here in Singapore are learning more about green initiatives & the environment during Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games. The Singapore Youth Olympic Games Organising Committee (SYOGOC) & HortPark to share green initiatives and good environmental habits with the young athletes.

HortPark will organize activities under "Exploration Journey". Athletes will explore HortPark’s themed gardens, learn about unique plants, and find out the possible impact of human intervention on the ecosystem.

"Through the activities at HortPark, youth athletes will develop a greater appreciation for plants and understand the importance of caring for the environment. They will go on to become peer motivators to raise the awareness of environmental issues in their own communities," said Mr Kong Yit San, Director of Parks, National Parks Board. Young athletes - aged between 14 and 18 years - will compete in 26 sports and take part in the Culture and Education Programme.
About Clean and Green Singapore

The year-long Clean and Green Singapore campaign is led by the National Environment Agency (NEA) and emphasises living an environmentally-friendly lifestyle, through three thrusts:
Clean Environment - Maintaining a clean environment, which is the basic foundation for a Clean & Green lifestyle. It is a reflection of NEA's long-standing efforts.

Publisher: Law Tong Ye Matthew Edward
Source: Singapore 2010

Green Bus [Government]

Background-info:
In order to ride on the crest of the technology wave, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) has been embarking on a number of trials and test-bedding programmes on new green transport technologies. For example, in February this year, the LTA has began a trial on the use of Diesel Particulate Filters (DPFs) on a range of diesel-driven vehicles, including some SBS Transit buses, to test out their efficacy in reducing fine particulate matter emissions.


Fuel cell vehicles have zero pollution at the tailpipe. For instance, vehicles powered by the hydrogen fuel cell do not emit any CO2, SO2 and NOX (nitrogen and oxygen compounds). While fuel cell technology, when adopted on a commercial basis, can potentially translate to significant reduction in vehicular emissions, the cost of using the nascent technology is still very high.

Launch of Diesel-Hybrid and Fuel Cell Buses
The collaboration between SBS Transit and local and foreign academics, as well as foreign bus manufacturers to test out new technologies in our local context is a step in the right direction.


To encourage other private sector players to also come forward to drive innovation in the land transport sector, LTA has also provided partial financial support for the development of this fuel cell bus through the Land Transport Innovation Fund.


Diesel hybrid buses are set to make an impact as well. These buses are able to reduce fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions by converting energy normally wasted in braking into electricity and using it to help power the vehicles. These buses can achieve up to 30% reduction in fuel consumption and lower emissions compared to conventional diesel buses.

Besides the one diesel hybrid bus in action today, they understand that SBS Transit is planning to put one more of such buses on our roads. If this technology is found to be suitable for our local context, we can expect to see even more of such green buses running on our roads in the near future.

Publisher: Law Tong Ye Matthew Edward
Source: Speech by Mr Gan Juay Kiat

Cheap and extensive public transport [Government]

In the Sustainable Singapore Blueprint released last year, Singapore government outlined their vision for our transport sector, which is to achieve a cleaner, greener and more convenient transport system. This will be done by enhancing our Public Transport system to meet the commuting needs of a growing population.


We can achieve a more sustainable transport system if more people travel by public transport. It is, by far, the most efficient mode of transport, both in terms of land and energy use. Their overall goal is to achieve a modal share of 70% of journeys made during morning peak hours via public transport by 2020.


They have been working hard to improve the quality and connectivity of our public transport so as to make it a choice mode for commuters. This includes improving the headways for buses, introducing bus priority measures, increasing bus and train trips, especially during peak hours and opening new rail lines and extension. For example, the building of the circle line and reduction of $0.45 for a ride to $0.44.


Author: Law Tong Ye Matthew Edward
Source: Speech by Mr Gan Juay Kiat

National Parks Board [information]

National Parks Board (NParks) is responsible for providing and enhancing the greenery of the Garden City.  NParks is also committed to enhancing the quality of life through creating memorable recreational experiences and lifestyles.

NParks manages 10% of Singapore's total land area, comprising over 50 major parks and 4 nature reserves. Adding to this is the extensive street scape, or roadside greenery, that forms the backbone of our City in a Garden. An island-wide Park Connector Network is also being developed to link major parks and residential areas.

NParks monitors and coordinates measures to ensure the health of Singapore's biodiversity. This supports the overall thrust of our urban biodiversity conservation model, which aims to conserve representative eco-systems in land-scarce Singapore for future generations.

NParks is also the lead agency in the efforts to continually upgrade the Landscape Industry in Singapore. It works closely with industry partners to promote good work practices and create a thriving, innovative and professional industry that will support Singapore’s aspirations of being a City in the Garden.

For more information, visit NParks
Publisher: Law Tong Ye Matthew Edward

Green Plan 2012 [information]

 Objectives & Goals of the plan


o To ensure Singapore’s environmental sustainability till 2012.


o 6 focus areas

Clean Air & Climate Change

http://app.mewr.gov.sg/data/ImgCont/1342/1.AirClimateChange.pdf


Water


http://app.mewr.gov.sg/data/ImgCont/1342/2.Water.pdf


Waste Management


http://app.mewr.gov.sg/data/ImgCont/1342/3.WasteMgmt.pdf


Public Health


http://app.mewr.gov.sg/data/ImgCont/1342/5.PublicHealth.pdf


Conserving Nature


http://app.mewr.gov.sg/data/ImgCont/1342/4.Nature.pdf


International Environmental Relations.


http://app.mewr.gov.sg/data/ImgCont/1342/6.InternationalRelations.pdf



What can we do?



o Individuals


 Use less electricity and water, waste less and choose cleaner ways to travel,
you save money and protect the environment too.



o Companies


Companies save money when they use less energy and water and reduce
unnecessary packaging



o Government


The Government will walk the talk, make our public services more
efficient, and promote environmental awareness.



Beyond 2012


o Continue to maintain and improve on the efforts made in past years to meet the
targets set under the SGP2012 and ensure a high quality environment in Singapore



o There is a need to do even more for sustainable development as both the
international and domestic contexts have changed



Within Singapore, higher economic and population growth will exert
pressures on our limited land resources and our environmental quality in
the years to come.



Global environmental challenges such as climate change are also key
concerns on the international agenda.





References:
o http://app.mewr.gov.sg/web/Contents/Contents.aspx?ContId=1342
o http://app.mewr.gov.sg/web/Contents/ContentsSSS.aspx?ContId=1034
o http://www.mewr.gov.sg/sgp2012/
For the whole package please go to:
http://app.mewr.gov.sg/data/ImgCont/1342/sgp2012_2006edition.pdf
http://app.mewr.gov.sg/data/ImgCont/1342/sgp2012.pdf
Writer: Lyncam Edviano Loo

Conservation [information]

What is conservation?

• Who conserves?
• The people who can afford time and money

• Developed vs Developing countries

• Scientific conservation vs community-based conservation

• Why conserve?

• “ I want to save the planet!”

• Or are we really saving humankind?
• Conservation in Singapore
  
  
  • Conservation vs Use
  • Public awareness vs recreational overuse
  • Conservation vs poaching
  • Poaching for sale/collection vs food
  “ The Bailer snail ( Melo melo ) is listed among the threatened animals of Singapore. We have never seen a living Bailer snail besides at Beting Bronok. He [the poacher] allowed some people to take a photo of it. They asked about it and he said he was going to eat it. They tried to explain that it was rare and asked him to leave it behind, but he just walked away. He wouldn't show them what else he had in his bag.” http://wildfilms.blogspot.com/2007/07/mone-not-enough.html
  
  
  Publisher: Law Tong Ye Matthew Edward