ECO EXPRESS! 04

The offical e-publication of ECOwww.eco-singapore.org

4th IssueAugust - October 2006

COVER STORYWhere Has All The Water Gone?Man without water is a recipe for disaster, and the sooner we realize this, the better, for us and for the billions of other life-forms inhabiting the Earth.

FEATURING- Ethical Consumption - A Road Less Travelled For Local Youths- Aquaculture v2.0

INTERVIEWS- Reality TV Series: Animal Planet- HSBC/NYAA 2006 Winner: Lim Jun Ying- Local Waste Management Company: SembEnviro

NYEF 2006 Welcomes You As Global Citizens! 01

NEWSEnvirionmental Snippets Around The World 02Special Report: China’s Potential Environment Meltdown 05

FEATUREEthical Consumption 06 A Road Less Travelled By Local Youths 08Where Has All The Water Gone? 10Aquaculture v2.0 12

INTERVIEWSReality TV Series: Animal Planet 13HSBC/NYAA 2006 Winner: Lim Jun Ying 15Local Waste Management Company: SembEnviro 17

LIFESTYLEThe Battle Of The Bags 20Top 10 Energy Saving Tips 21Hybrid Cars 22What Will Happen To The Warmed Globe Of The Future...? 24 Water Conservation 25Recycling The ‘Runway’ 27

KNOWLEDGE CAPSULE Questions & Answers 28

Foreword...

VOLUNTEER EDITOR Ng Pak Shun

VOLUNTEER STAFF WRITERSAhalya Vijayasrinivasan

Amanda LaiBernardine HuangCharmaine Chang

David Ahern Emmulin Wee Firdaus Salim Freda YuinHo Xiu Fen

Jefferson TanJill Yong

Justine ChanLee Xi XunLiao Ying Tan Jia NiWilly Yeo

Yvonne Poon

VOLUNTEER DESIGNER Han

EXPRESS! Newsletter is published 4 times a year by the Environment

Challenge Organisation (Singapore), or ECO for short,

a non-profit youth organisation registered under the Singapore

Registrar of Societies.

INQBUZZ 113 Somerset Road

National Youth Centre #01-02Singapore 238165

Tel: 9147 4541 / 9147 4542 Fax: 6738 1693

Website: www.eco-singapore.org Email: [email protected]

The views expressed in this publication do not necessarily represent those of

Environmental Challenge Organisation (Singapore). No responsibility is accepted

by the organisation or its volunteers for the accuracy of any statement, opinion,

or advice contained in the text or advertisements. All materials appearing in EXPRESS! are the exclusive copyright

property of the ECO. No part of EXPRESS! may be reproduced in any form without prior written consent from Environmental

Challenge Organisation (Singapore).

CONTENTS

EXPRESS! is proud to be the official reading material of the National Youth Environmental Forum (NYEF) 2006. Whereas previous issues revolved around a single subject with regard to the environment, this issue of EXPRESS! focuses on the 5 topics of discussion that have been identified by the NYEF organizing committee: - Energy and Climate Change- Biodiversity and Nature Conservation- Sanitation and Water- Pollution and Ecosystem Management- Poverty and Population Through news snippets, commentaries, interviews and lifestyle articles, EXPRESS! has two important, intertwined messages for you: 1. It’s Not Too Late (to do something for the environment) – More and more people are coming to know why and how we can contribute as individuals, groups, and countries to halt or slow down the environmental destruction and degradation throughout the past decades of rapid industrialization.

2. It’s Not Too Early (to do something for the environment) – armed with knowledge of the why and the how, you and I need to start protecting and preserving our environment through appropriate and effective individual choices, group efforts, national decisions and international collaborations. So, what are we waiting for? Make a difference to our environment today!

Pak ShunManaging Editor

2nd September 20068.00am – 6.00pm

Conference Hall, School of Accounting block, Singapore Management University

81 Victoria Street, Singapore 188065http://www.eco-singapore.org/forum/

*Live8 is a series of benefit concerts held in the G8 nations and South Africa with the aim to pressure world leaders to drop the debt of the world’s poorest nations, increase and improve aid, and negotiate fairer trade rules in the interest of poorer countries.

Global Citizens & the environment:

a Youth PersPeCtive

NYEF 2006 WElCoMES YoU AS GlobAl CitizENS!The world has shrunk. Technological development and communication advancements have transformed our world into a global village, such that we can share the triumph or suffering of people and events half way round the world. Events like Live8* have demonstrated that, though thousands of miles away, we are able to make our voice heard and our choice count for a truly international cause.

We may be citizens of our respective countries of birth, but we are also interdependent citizens of the globe. Being a global citizen means more than just learning about and being aware of issues such as international trade or globalization, it means also to acknowledge a whole new set of responsibilities to each other and the Earth itself. This set of responsibilities involves understanding the global factors in local issues and being willing to act to make the world a more sustainable place.

As global citizens, we realize that the risks to the global environment are now more urgent and pressing than before, and that only massive worldwide efforts can reduce these risks. In line with the theme of the National Youth Environmental Forum 2006, the organizers of the forum hope to create an interactive platform for youth in Singapore to discuss, question, challenge and assess current environmental practices. Through this forum, we hope that the youth in Singapore will have an increased awareness of both local and international environmental issues, which will inspire them to change their lifestyle and assume the responsibilities of being a truly global citizen.

By Aaron Yeo, NYEF 2006 Organiser

Express! 01

By Jill Yong, Bernardine Huang, Liao Ying

around the worldenvironmental snippets

Niagara FallsGrapes-Michaud/Photo Researchers, Inc

Environmental problems span across national boundaries to literally every single corner of the earth. Yes – that’s right. Environmental problems do not just exist in urban areas; rural areas also abound with problems such as poverty and inadequate water sanitation. Needless to say, in areas where environmental health is ignored in the strife for economic advancement, problems such as pollution and climate change become increasing prevalent in the different continents of the world. This issue, we take a closer look at the environmental situations in Africa, Asia, Antarctica and Europe. Next issue, we will delve more into the environmental news on North America, South America and Australia.

AFRICA: POVERTY Protecting the stomach versus the environmentAfrica is by far the world’s poorest inhabited continent, and among its poorest countries, nine out of ten people live on less than $2 a day (in terms of purchasing power). In the 2003 United Nations’ Human Development Report, which ranked 175 countries on their standards of living, the bottom 25 positions were taken up entirely by African nations. Many of the causes of Africa’s economic malaise are also its effects. These include political strife, warfare, misgovernment, disease and corruption. In a continent that struggles with a multitude of pressing problems, environmental protection is unfortunately at the bottom of most Africans’ lists. Farmers who have not eaten for months are unlikely to be concerned about the fate of the forest in their pursuit of new land. Similarly, those facing starvation will naturally find selling timber to the West very tempting without considering the environmental implication to uncontrolled logging activities.

The consequence of such deforestation and overgrazing is an increase in the rate of desertification, demonstrated in the spread of the Sahara southward. Hungry people also rarely consider the rarity of an animal before eating it. To the poor, the illegal poaching of rare animals and the conversion of forest into game reserves serve as their only viable sources of income. In such circumstances, local governments have little money to devote to protecting the environment.

The mining and drilling industries bring the most amount of money to Africa each year, but these industries employ a tiny fraction of the continent’s population, and the profits are often concentrated in the hands of corrupt government officials and large corporations. Not only do these industries cause pollution, they fight over ownership of these minerals and bring civil unrest and other attendant problems to the nations. Angola, for instance, reaps large sums annually from its diamond mines. However, after years of civil war, the African nation still suffers from poor living conditions. To step up environmental efforts in Africa, economic hardships must be alleviated first. The current flow of international aid is not nearly enough to help Africa lift itself out of poverty. Take for example the Ghana Poverty Reduction System (GPRS), which The Economist has praised as “a first-rate analytical effort” that “brilliantly identified the sources of rural poverty”. However, donors felt the plan was “unrealistic” for them to fund and insisted on four more drafts. In the end, the final draft of the plan could only address “a fraction of the country’s real needs”. If more aid can be committed to solving Africa’s economic plight, perhaps environmental conservation can then move higher in the Africans’ list of concerns.

Express! 02

ASIA: POPULATIONToo many people, too few environmentally-concernedThe population of Asia has grown on a scale and at a speed without historical precedent. As of the turn of the 21st century, roughly three-fifths of the total world population reside in Asia. Seven of the world’s 10 most populous countries — China, India, Indonesia, Russia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Japan — are located within the Asian/Eurasian perimeter. The increasing population density is a major contributor to pollution in Asia, with the other cause being the pressures of industrialization. Asian countries such as China and India have just begun the processes of industrialization in earnest, and coupled with their ballooning population, these countries suffer from intense pollution problems. With consumption of natural resources projected to rise, Asia’s participation would be significant in any meaningful effort to tackle global challenges like global warming or acid rain. For instance, global warming in Asia has emerged as a worrying threat to the international environment. As the greenhouse effect is not confined to national boundaries, an Asian commitment to environmental conservation becomes all the more important---no one wants to suffer from the effects of Asia’s pollution. Though Asia’s greenhouse gas emission constitutes a smaller percentage of world gas emissions then Western countries, Asia’s carbon dioxide emissions are rising at four times the world average. A growing population demands more food and this has put tremendous pressure on natural resources to provide the sustenance demanded by the bourgeoning populace. Take, for instance, marine life. Cantonese cuisine emphasizes the freshness of its ingredients, and the economic boom in Hong Kong and China has caused a surge in the demand for live fish. The easiest and most convenient method for fishermen to catch live fish is to squirt sodium cyanide into coral reefs, which stuns the fish into immobility. The cyanide unfortunately also kills coral, and so over the last 15 years coral reefs throughout the Pacific have been severely damaged by cyanide fishing. One reason many Asians are oblivious of the environmental risks, and therefore inclined to add to them, is that much of the region lacks environmental consciousness, and much work can and should be done to raise this awareness through education.

ANTARCTICA: NATURE CONSERVATIONPreserving the Last Vertiges of the Untouched Mother EarthThe Antarctica is a region of vast untracked wilderness, fascinating natural features, and incomparable scenic beauty. However, despite its remoteness and limited exposure to the modern world, its environment is still not immune to human impacts. Even in Antarctica, environmental folly has played its part. Cutting edge technology has brought with it mineral exploitation, habitat destruction and pollution issues. On top of these already pressing environmental issues, global warming and ozone destruction are also present in this relatively untouched continent. There is little doubt that a great deal of Antarctic science and research has global significance. Most humans in Antarctica are involved in some type of scientific undertaking, either related to research or logistical operations. In the past, some scientific bases have been criticized for their lack of environmental awareness. However, during the last decade, attitudes have changed dramatically. Scientists recognize the value of a clean Antarctica and are taking steps to avoid contaminating it. Today, the Antarctic Treaty and its accompanying amendments do an admirable job of protecting the continent’s environmental riches. The protection of the Antarctic environment had its foundations in the Antarctic Treaty in 1959. The main aims of the treaty are to avoid international disputes – those that commonly involve the haggle over natural resource allocation and several environmental groups are promoting the idea of an Antarctic world park. Perhaps in the near future, we foresee a visionary Antarctica, one with environmental issues addressed at a socially optimum level.

Express! 03

EUROPE: ENERGYLooking Forward to the Hydrogen FutureWith all the hype about greenhouse gases and global warming, the European Commission has recently proposed a radical change to fend off the evils of air pollution and carbon emissions: hydrogen powered vehicles.

While there are many substitutes to traditional fuels available, hydrogen is one of the more viable alternatives. Hydrogen propelled vehicles can reduce the emission of greenhouse gases – when used in combustion motors, hydrogen does not produce any carbon emissions (carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, unburned hydrocarbons or particulates). In addition, using hydrogen will significantly contribute to the improvement of air quality in cities as no greenhouse gases are produced from motor vehicles. Detractors of hydrogen-powered cars may argue that hydrogen powered cars pose high-risk safety problems during vehicle collisions. However, the only real danger is posed when hydrogen is released in a confined space. The build-up of hydrogen in a ventilated area does less harm than any other gasoline car accidents. Other reasons which are fettering the use of hydrogen cars in Europe include the cost issue and the efficiencies generated from the hydrogen powered vehicle. While these issues may pose future problems, they should not immediately negate the benefits which hydrogen powered cars can bring. A hydrogen-burning engine creates no carbon dioxide (CO2), it does not need the ultra-pure hydrogen a fuel cell demands, and it is a cheaper substitute to high cost petroleum. Currently, the European Commission is grappling to resolve the drawbacks of hydrogen-powered cars. For the hydrogen enthusiasts among us, we’ll just have to wait (hopefully a little longer).

The transport industry in Europe is heavily dependent on oil; statistics have shown that 98% of the industry use large amounts of oil everyday. Hence, to curb this inelastic demand for oil, the Commission has set itself the objective of substituting 1/5 of the traditional fuels with environmentally friendly alternatives by 2020.

“Hydrogen vehicles offer significant environmental benefits through lower pollution and zero exhaust pipe greenhouse gas emissions. The European Union Commission wants to encourage and speed up the introduction of such cars.” http://europa.eu/index_en.htm

Express! 04

The phenomenon of global warming has been troubling governments and environmentalists the world over for the better part of the last quarter of a century.

With China being the most populous nation in the world, and whose economy is developing at breakneck speed, this phenomenon is especially prominent there. Researchers from the Georgia Institute of Technology have reported that the mean surface temperature of Southern China has risen by 0.05 degrees Celsius per decade since 1979. In the Tibetan Plateau, wherein lies the source of both the Yellow and Yangtze rivers in China, overall temperatures have risen by nearly 1 degree Celsius within the past three decades.

This rise in temperature has resulted in the shrinking of the highland glaciers in China at an astounding rate. According to Chinese state officials, an amount equivalent to all the water in the Yellow River is lost every year. This roughly translates to about 7% of the country’s glaciers that vanishes annually. Glaciers are recognised to be one of the most sensitive indicators of climate change, advancing substantially during climate cooling and in this case, retreating during climate warming.

The melting of the glaciers might have been seen as a welcome source of additional water for China’s arid North and West. However, due to global warming, most of the glacier water evaporates before it reaches the farmers in these drought-stricken areas. Leading glacier expert Yan Tandong predicts that by 2050, as much as 64% of China’s glaciers may disappear. The repercussions may be severe as nearly 300 million people live in West China, and depend on glacial water for their survival.

By Amanda Lai

CHINA’S POTENTIALENVIRONMENTAL MELTDOWN

One major source of the region’s temperature climb and subsequent glacial effects is the surge in greenhouse gas emission. The International Energy Agency in Paris estimates that the increase in greenhouse gas emission from China between 2000 and 2030 will equal the increase from the rest of the industrialized world. As it stands, China is the second largest emitter of greenhouse gases in the world, after the United States, with India also showing strong growth in the last few years.

The surge in greenhouse gas emission in China can be attributed mainly to increasing coal use and escalating car sales. Despite state-owned enterprises reporting more efficient energy use and official statistics showing a steep drop in coal production and consumption, new reports from the Chinese government have confirmed the fears of energy experts worldwide – coal use in China is actually climbing faster than anywhere else in the world.

This is a major environmental problem, as the burning of coal releases more greenhouse gas than using oil or natural gas to generate the same amount of electricity. The estimate of Chinese coal industry experts have put the rise in coal consumption in China to be well over 10 % a year. Already, China is the world’s largest coal consumer, and has to rely on imports from Australia to sustain herself.

Apart from the high consumption of coal, rising household income levels, the sudden expansion of automobile factories in China, as well as the easy availability of auto loans, have allowed more Chinese to afford cars. General Motors predicts that China will account for 18% of global new car sales from 2002 through 2012, with the United States at 11%, and India at 9%.

The increased amount of vehicles on the already congested roads of China’s cities will be another strong growth area of greenhouse gas emissions. Should China’s economy sustain her 8% annual economic growth, the car market is likely to have parallel growth. 2003 figures already show a 73% increase in car sales. One can only predict bigger increases for the last three years.

As China’s economic development progresses at such pace especially throughout her many cities, one cannot help but feel that it is doing so at the expense of the rest of the country. It is important to remember that a large expanse of China is still rural, agricultural, and dependant on the climate and the environment. The effects of global warming brought about by China’s industrialization are threatening her own continued development. Global warming is undermining China’s water supply that has for the past two millennium, been sustaining the majority of the population. It is therefore crucial that, while focusing on achieving high levels of economic growth on par or even better than their industrialized neighbours, China remains mindful to strike a balance with the conversation of their natural resources.

Express! 05

SPECIAL REPORT:

Living in a small cosmopolitan city where we are surrounded everywhere by affluence, we often know little about pressing social issues such as poverty and ecological sustainability, especially when these global problems are almost non-existent in Singapore. Without clearly identified and easily executable mechanisms, the average Singaporean youth offers neither solutions nor enthusiasm to support efforts in poverty alleviation, sustainable energy creation and other ecological issues in the world. However, with globalization, rise of transnational brands and increase in consumer spending, a viable mechanism in the form of ethical consumption appears, which gives us the power as an individual to contend with such issues on a day to day basis.

Simply put, ethical consumption encourages ethical purchasing behaviors by consumers. Capitalising on the wave of consumer culture, ethical consumption has enormous potential to dictate market trends and profitability of any product according to the ethical objectives in mind. Sadly enough, to cut costs, some unscrupulous trans-national companies resort to unethical practices such as the pervasive use of child labour and the exploitation of workers in developing countries. Besides unethical labour use, these corporations also often ignore the impact of their decisions on the environment by using environmentally harmful materials that contribute to global warming and water sanitation problems. Such unethical behaviours of the producers can be curbed if the consumers support and insist on ethical consumption. An effective example of ethical consumption would involve consumer education with regards to products containing CFC, and thereafter producers have to manufacture aerosol spray cans with the “no-CFC” logo in line with the new consumer consciousness.

By Firdaus Salim

Ethical consumptionthE nEw agEnda of Economic activity

The growth of consumerism in affluent countries is a trend to stay. Retails sales in Singapore averaged S$8,067.8 million in the first quarter of 2006, and marketers are increasingly targeting the youth market with products and services specifically tailored to their lifestyle. Hence, ethical consumption provides us youth with an effective economic tool to curb producer behaviours detrimental to our society and planet.

However, for ethical consumption to be effective, three parties need to work together: the consumer, the government, and the company.

child labour

Consumer Citizenship A movement in UK, known as the co-operative bank (http://www.co-operativebank.co.uk), lobbies consumers to support ethical consumption. To facilitate consumer participation, the co-operative bank has constructed an ethical purchasing index to measure trends in the UK market of various ethical consumer goods and services. Through collating and analyzing sales data of the companies listed, the index has shown a clear growth and profitability of the “ethical market” and helped to provide the economic impetus for both producers and consumers to jump onto the ethical bandwagon. Given that ecological lobbying in Singapore is at its infancy, initiatives such as the ethical purchasing index could be driven by the government together with the various ecological organizations in Singapore. Such social initiatives are not only economically advantageous to Singapore, they also enable Singaporean consumers to be responsible citizens in the global community. Furthermore, the economic opportunities are aplenty in this “ethical market” for Singapore. By creating a socially beneficial consumer culture, we are able to draw more niche consumers and investors from around the world to invest in this market and hence increase employment and entrepreneurial opportunities for our country.

http://www.co-operativebank.co.uk

Express! 06

Eco-label is another scheme that encourages business to market

greener products and helps consumers choose the best environmental options. There are at least 24 official nation eco-label schemes operating worldwide.

Singapore has embarked on the green-labeling scheme since 1992,

making an important step towards environment conservation. The green

label is awarded to products that have met stringent requirements, and the local scheme is recognized as a member of the global eco-labeling network. However, more work could be done to ride on its success.

While economic incentives are essential in promoting ethical consumption, consumers need to be educated to create and sustain the necessary cultural climate for ethical consumption to thrive. As youth consumer spending is increasing steadily, ethical consumption education campaigns should be targeted at our youth to cultivate and raise their level of social awareness. Ethical consumption is hence able to introduce the ideals of social responsibility to the youth through an effective medium, shopping!

the (ethiCaL) CorporationEthical practices are of immense benefit to a firm in the long run. In most affluent economies, price is no longer the prime factor that dictates consumer choice. As a recent Straits Times article (on 22nd July 2006) mentioned “…research finds that future generations of consumers will have more discretionary income, less time and more choices and will display wholly new spending patterns…” Consumers are getting savvier and every company must position itself well to capitalize on new trends. Ethical Consumerism is an uprising trend that is poised to grow and not to be ignored.

Incorporating ethical messages into products and engaging in ethical marketing practices are not all about condemning mass production and broadcasting the ethical consumption message in an apocalyptic and fanatical manner. For instance, many fair trade companies in the world, such as cafédirect, have embraced more mainstream and sustainable marketing methods, such as reinforcing the “pleasures of consumerism” and emphasizing the gratification available to consumers in purchasing an ethically produced product. Hence, engaging in ‘ethical marketing’ and encouraging ethical consumption is an effective tool that even mainstream companies can leverage on. An example of successful corporate ethical messaging would be Bodyshop, which with its unfaltering stand against animal testing is able to transmit the correct environmental message and translate them into profits.

For us by usFinally, ethical consumption must come from the end-user, the consumers themselves. Consumers in Singapore, especially the youth, need to be aware of the myriad of issues that is happening around the world. The tide of globalization is upon us, and we must realize that our actions can and will impact others elsewhere.

Leading major fashion-industry multinationals shift their production work to developing countries to benefit from tax breaks, more flexible legislation and lower labour costs. Ultimately, this translates to factory workers who earn low wages and work in poor hygiene and health conditions. Among the 200 million child labourers worldwide, most of them are deprived from the education that they sorely need, and more often than not, they are condemned to the appalling condition in the factories they work for as long as their livelihood requires. In the case of women, who represent between 60% and 90% of the workforce in such “sweatshop” factories, they have to face possible sexual harassment and wage discrimination as well.

As informed individuals, consumers can then support responsible actions. Take for example the Seikatsu club movement, which was started by a Japanese housewife in 1965. That year, Seikatsu club members contributed an initial investment of 1,000 yen and paid a similar amount every month. One of the fundamental principles of the club movement is to create a new lifestyle to protect the environment and to stop wasteful habits. As of today, the club has 259,000 members armed by their belief that housewives can begin to create a society that is harmonious with nature by ‘taking action from the home’. With a turnover of 23,100 million yens, the success of their scheme is irrefutable. Such examples should be applauded not only because of its effectiveness, but more importantly, because they exemplify the possibilities for normal citizens like us to engage in worthy social initiatives.

Truth be told, we live in a time where we cannot afford to be passive. We need to participate actively as consumers to make ethical consumption a success.

The myths and excuses for non-participation in social issues have now been debunked. Ethical consumption can and will enable us Singaporeans to do our share for the world and its many problems. All of us have the power to make a difference, the question is, what will we do with it now?

The Seikatsu Club Consumers’ Cooperative (SCCC) of Japan is a unique organisation of its kind, combining formidable business and professional skills with strict social and ecological principles and a vision of a community- and people-centred economy which provides a radical alternative to both socialist and capitalist industrialisation.

Express! 07

By Willy Yeo

A BIG STEP IN THE UN, WITH MANY MORE STEPS AHEADA ROAD LESS TRAVELLED FOR LOCAL YOUTHS:

If you still hold the outmoded view that Singapore is a country without any form of a strong civil society, think again. If you are still stuck to the belief that our youths can say nothing that can rouse distinguished government officials all over the world to a standing ovation, you must either be living in the wrong era, or you are not in the know that this perception is rather out-of-date.

For the first time in its 40 years of history, the environment NGO community in Singapore represented the country in the United Nations Conference by the Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD). The team of five youths, comprising largely volunteers of Environmental Challenge Organisation (Singapore), attended the 14th such conference since its inception at New York City from 28 Apr to 13 May 06.

The CSD is an annual conference that alternates every year between the implementation of policy and the review and sharing of best practices amongst member states and organisations in the UN. The themes for CSD-14 consist of renewable energy, industrial development, climate change and air pollution, but the youth team chose to focus on the former two, arguing that their mismanagement often leads to the problems of climate change and air pollution.

As ECO representatives, we decided to participate as youths from Singapore with something important to say to the various UN delegates. Being part of the UN CSD Youth Caucus, each ECO member in the team reached out to governmental and non-governmental officials of a particular country, region or focus. Views were exchanged as we sought to understand perspectives, interests and best practices embraced by these different personalities. In turn, we also shared with them Singapore’s unique conditions regarding the main issues tackled during the Conference and what ECO might be able to do about them.

Express! 08

EXPRESS!ALL ABOUT ENVIRONMENT

ECO went to New York City with the hope that we could firstly provide a new dimension to those interested in what Asia in general, Southeast Asia, and Singapore in particular were like as players in the larger scheme of conservation, energy and industrialisation. We went as a youth NGO alongside the presence of Singapore governmental delegates, seeking to forge closer ties with interested partners and NGOs.

The trip is over, but our work isn’t. Mindful of the need for long-term planning after this invaluable networking opportunity, as well as the benefits of building closer ties between ECO and the Singapore and/or regional governments, we know we need to maintain links to facilitate future collaborative projects. Currently, ECO has an International Affairs Department that serves as the key facilitator of two regional networks. Nevertheless, we are constantly looking out for more means to further the goals of youth empowerment in the issue of environmental conservation, not just in Singapore, but also in line with similar projects for youths in the region.

These are actions that perhaps most of us Singaporeans do not think are within our grasp. Still, without any doubt, we had the support of our government while we were there, and the lessons learnt and contacts garnered proved to be both humbling and honourable. Never did we expect that suddenly we would have attracted the attention of other delegates and even a UN journalist, who sought us for our views. We may be a small country, but much is in store to be explored as youths in this country. The sharing of these opportunities and experiences is precisely what we wish to do in ECO, for the youths in Singapore who wish to have a stake in the future of this world and the country that all of us call home.

Express! 09

Human beings have been l iving comfortably on Planet Earth for billions of years, with all necessary resources at his fingertips. Most are confident that life on Earth will be as comfortable as life in the future – the local supermarket will provide his food, the multitude of trees and plants will provide his supply of cool, fresh air and all the various water bodies in the world will provide the water that he needs.

Or will tHey?However, scientists foresee heavy water shortages in the near future – serious water crises will hit many parts of the world as soon as the year 2025. These predicted water shortages are closely linked to the accelerated population growth. This link is of major concern to many experts in the field, as it means that a fast decreasing amount of water will be used to meet the demands of a rapidly increasing population. This also means that the cost of producing and delivering a unit quantity of water will increase to

maintain the present levels of service.

According to UN Population Predictions, over the next two

decades, population increases will result in an upward of 48 countries,

containing a staggering 3 billion people, facing severe water shortages.

This prediction is a frightening prospect to a vast proportion of these people, many of whom are very used to procuring water with the turn

of a tap.

By Ahalya Vijayasrinivasan

A troubling question in the futurewhere hAs All the wAter gone?

A BleAk OutlOOkPeople living in developed countries might be breathing sighs of relief, in the vain belief that they are immune to water shortage problems now and even in the upcoming decades. Unfortunately, UN estimates state that the scarcity of water resources is a problem that hits countries regardless of whether they are developed, developing or underdeveloped.

The same UN estimates predict that approximately 460 million people (more than 8% of the world’s population) live in countries using so much of their freshwater resources that they can be considered highly water stressed. Additionally, a further 25% of the world’s population live in countries approaching a position of serious water stress.

Unfortunately, the gravity of this situation is lost on the majority of the human race. Faced with this rapidly approaching, inevitable problem, people at large are still unsure of what they are actually up against. Many are still asking the same question – what is going to happen?

CAugHt Between A rOCk And A HArd plACeEveryone is, naturally, aware of the importance of water in this world. There are many competing uses of water, including recreation, hydropower generation, navigation, domestic purposes, municipal and industrial supplies, irrigation in agriculture, the list goes on. Water is also, ironically, used to clean polluted water.

Niagara FallsGrapes-Michaud/Photo Researchers, Inc

Due to our heavy dependence on water, many countries are stuck in an uncompromising position – on the one hand, there is growing demand for fresh-water due to the growing population; and on the other, there are increasingly limited and polluted supplies of water. As any economist can tell you, this is a classic case of limited resources meeting unlimited needs and wants.

However, even while many remain skeptical about a miraculous turnaround in the fate of this planet, experts still remain hopeful. They maintain that appropriate responses at national levels (reallocation of water supplies and population policies to curb population growth) and international levels (international co-operation in areas where water sources lie across international borders) can still, possibly, save us from a miserable future without water.

A water crisis is an extremely potent enemy – it can destroy even the strongest Superpower. Man without water is a recipe for disaster, and the sooner we realize this, the better, for us and for the billions of other life-forms inhabiting the Earth. We have to start accepting the consequences of our actions. So, the next time you leave the tap running while brushing your teeth in the morning, think about the grave responsibility that lies on your shoulders – many drops make a mighty ocean, and in the same way, what one person does can and will make a difference, no matter how inconsequential his/her action might seem.

A HypOtHetiCAl View Of tHe future – it’s nOt pretty, But tHere’s A lArge CHAnCe it will HAppen.Normally, the repercussions of a problem like water shortage would be extremely obvious – or so a person like you or me would think. However, it is in the human nature to avoid thinking about negative situations – we prefer to procrastinate. Thus, what would have been apparent knowledge about the persistent problem of water shortage remains unknown to many.

Here is a possible scenario of what humankind could be facing in a water-starved world:- rampant and unchecked spreading of water-related diseases like typhoid, diarrhea and malaria- unsightly mountains of waste, piling up over-ground and contributing to land, air and water (what’s left of it) pollution- increasingly vast numbers of poverty-stricken people struggling to live in a world where there was once no job, no food, no money and now, no water- water will become as endangered as the Siberian tiger, which will potentially lead to widespread political corruption and skyrocketing water prices - increasingly desperate conflicts between nations over scarce water resources

Clearly, none of the above serves as a representation of what we hope to experience in the future. If we hope to prevent these scenarios from occurring, we have to collectively work together to stem the loss of freshwater.

Sahel Desert Drought (worst drought in the 20th Century)Bruce Coleman, Inc./P Ward

A Desalination Plant in Yuma, Arizona, USACalvin Larsen/Photo Researchers, Inc.

Express! 11

“Integrated fish farming is a diversified and coordinated way of farming or producing agricultural items in the fish farms with fish as the main product. The items produced are to be used either as source of feeds and fertilizer, source of additional income or both. The wise integration of these items in a fish farm promotes the full utilization of its land area and recycling of wastes and by-products, minimizes the operation expenses in feeds and fertilizer, improves the living conditions of the workers due to the increases of income and maintains a balanced ecosystem.”

The above statement appears in the Back-to-Office Report of one of the trainees, Mr. KapaLa’a from Papua New Guinea, who participated inthe second training course (1982) on integrated fishfarming at the Asian-Pacific Regional Research andTraining Centre for Integrated Fish Farming in Wuxi,JiangsuProvince,China.

In layman language, integrated fish farming,otherwise known as polyculture or integratedaquaculture,benefitsboththeorganismswithinthefarmand the environment as a whole. By housing diverseand appropriate organisms in a single locality, theseorganisms create symbiotic relationships that maximisethe use of available aquatic resources. Polyculture andintegratedaquaculturethuscanreduceproblemsarisingfromintensiverearingofsinglefishspecies,which isalsoknown as monoculture. For example, the integration offishfarmingwiththecultureofalgal/shellfishspeciesshowspotential inreducingtherisksofeutrophication*,asthealgal/shellfish species will feed on the waste producedfromthefish.

Polycultureisnotanewconcept.Infact,Chinahasalonghistoryofintegratedfishfarming.Sincethe1950s,

By Yee Ling Chang

polyculture to

the Chinese government has placed much emphasison the development of freshwater pond culture andits integration with agriculture and animal husbandry.Various integrated fish farming models have evolvedaccording to different geographical and climaticconditions,aswellas localagriculturalcharacteristics,socio-economic conditions and traditional practices.Hence, most Chinese fish farms have establishedcomplexintegratedfarmingandmanagementsystems.Forinstance,Chinahasevolvedaremarkablyefficientfish polyculture using four types of carp that feed atdifferent levels of the food chain, in effect emulatingnatural aquatic ecosystems. Silver carp and bigheadcarp are filter feeders, eating phytoplankton andzooplankton respectively. The grass carp, as its nameimplies,feedslargelyonvegetation,whilethecommoncarpisabottomfeeder,livingondetritusatthebottomofthepond.

China’s aquaculture is often integrated withagriculture,enablingfarmerstouseagriculturalwastes,such as pig or duck manure, to fertilize ponds andstimulate plankton growth. Fish polycultures typicallyboostpondproductivityoverthatofmonoculturesbyatleasthalf.Althoughstillexperimental,othersystemsthatinvolve the integration of seaweed, fish and abaloneculture,andthepolycultureofshrimpandtilapia,haveprovedtobeecologicallyefficientmethodsingrowingavarietyoforganisms.

Ultimately,polyculturecouldincreaseprofitsatfishfarms because resources are better utilised! Hopefully,suchanaquaticfarmingmethodwillbeadoptedaroundtheworldmorereadily!

*A condition where a body of water holds excessive richness of nutrients, which causes a dense growth of plant life and consequent death of animal life from lack of oxygen

Express!12

AquAculture v2.0:

preserve biodiversity

By Lee Xi Xun, Justine Chan, Jill Yong & Jefferson Tan

ANIMAL PLANETTAKES ACTION

To show TV viewers how they can help the conservation cause, the global television network, Animal Planet, together with WWF, the global conservation organisation, present PLANET ACTION, an eco-reality series that takes on today’s ecological crises in a new way. The

PLANET ACTION series follows an international team of seven enthusiastic amateur environmentalists as they immerse themselves in six different WWF conservation projects. Under the pressures of strict deadlines and tight budgets in remote locations, the team works together to accomplish different ecological missions. In this interview, we correspond with Tanya Petersen, Head of Television at WWF International, who was involved with PLANET ACTION right from the start of the series.

PLANET ACTION was certainly a novel approach at reaching out to the masses; do you think this approach was successful in achieving the objectives of the show, and the greater objectives of WWF?Initial figures show that the PLANET ACTION series rated extremely well in the territories in which it has so far been broadcast. It will be some time before we will be able to properly monitor and evaluate the impact of the series,

but we have had some very positive initial feedback and many requests and questions to our PLANET ACTION website. Organizations such as WWF are often very good at communicating with audiences already interested in conservation, but are not always as good at reaching out to new demographics. This series was our first attempt at crossing these boundaries to communicate with people who might have an interest in conservation, but haven’t had much of an opportunity to be exposed to it. More than 225 million households can access Animal Planet International globally, making this a sizable audience for an organization like WWF.

How do the writers choose which problems to showcase? There were many factors taken into consideration when choosing the problems to showcase. Firstly, it was important to look at the most endangered species and key issues that WWF works on. Secondly, we needed to make an assessment of the filming locations to ensure that it was feasible to have a large team there. Safety issues and accessibility were also considered. The challenges and missions had to be realistic so teams could solve them. Nothing in the series was ‘set up’ – it was “real” reality TV. We also wanted a variety of animals and the issues and problems they face. It wouldn’t have been a very interesting series if all six of the episodes were about marine mammals or forests disappearing.

“Nothing in the series was ‘set up’ – it was reality TV.”

ANIMAL PLANET CONSERVATION PROJECTSPanama – Leatherback Turtles

Belize – American Saltwater CrocodilesBorneo – Orangutans

Malaysia – Eco-tourismNorthern Malaysia – Malayan Tigers

Cambodia – Irrawaddy River Dolphins

The Team in CambodiaPhoto courtesy of http://www.animalplanet.co.uk/

The endangered leatherback turtle. Photo courtesy of WWF

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TAKES ACTION

What was it like for the producers to work together with such a diverse range of individuals? Are there plans to extend participation in the show such as accepting requests to join in the filming of the second season?It was a pleasure working with such a diverse group of participants who worked extremely well as a team and had a genuine interest in conservation. All of the team members applied to join the series – in fact there were thousands of applicants – and if there were a second series the application process would probably be the same.

The show has stressed an important point (especially the episode filmed in Ulu-Muda, Malaysia, concerning the Asian elephants) that environmental conservation and economic sustenance for the locals are closely related issues. How can this show help bridge these issues to develop a common solution for the environment? A television programme, by itself, doesn’t magically achieve conservation. However, television has the power to communicate crucial issues that affect certain species and local communities to millions of people all at once. If a small percentage of these people then get involved in conservation, donate to organizations like WWF, change their consumption patterns and even start doing small things like recycling their rubbish, it will be a step in the right direction. Essentially, series like PLANET ACTION highlight the connectivity of all conservation issues in this world. For example, the timber that one buys in a hardware store in North America or Europe may well have come from a tropical forest in Asia. It therefore has an impact on the rainforests, Asian elephants and lives of the local people.

Four out of six episodes of PLANET ACTION were filmed in Asia. What would you say is the single critical problem that Asian countries currently face in their efforts at conservation?On-going, human induced, climate change! Glaciers are melting in the Himalaya Mountains; corals are bleaching in the oceans. We must immediately find and implement solutions to reduce climate change, such as making use of more solar, wind and hydropower for electricity and pressurising our industries into becoming much more energy efficient.

How can viewers like us, with neither an in-depth knowledge of wildlife conservation, nor the chance to actively volunteer for major conservation activities, play a role in conserving nature?First measure your ecological footprint at http://ecofoot.org. Take simple steps to reduce the footprint, such as by taking public transport, biking more frequently, reducing the air conditioner usage at your homes etc. Tell your friends about how they can also reduce their footprints.

The reality backdrop of this show was certainly an eye-opener, and in a way it has awakened the adventurer in me. What do you think is the best way to channel such newfound enthusiasm?Get involved. Everyone can make a difference, no matter how small. Even for those who cannot go out into the field or volunteer, become an online activist or donate or make whatever positive changes you can in your daily life. The official WWF website is a good resource for all this information. It can be found at http://www.panda.org/

Can we expect a second season anytime soon?It is too early to say whether there will be a second series but WWF and Animal Planet have a close working relationship and will continue to collaborate on conservation programming.

Further updates of the show can be viewed at: http://www.panda.org/news_facts/multimedia/planet_action/index.cfm

“… programmes like PLANET ACTION highlight

the connectivity of all conservation issues

in this world”

The endangered American saltwater crocodile. Photo courtesy of WWF

Some useful informationWWF is an organization that has been working actively since 1961 to conserve the environment as a whole, showing the interdependence of all living things.

An ecological footprint is the impact of an entity on local, regional and global ecosystems. It is a measure of direct and indirect consumption of resources and production of wastes.

The endangered Malayan tiger. Photo courtesy of WWF

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GettinG to Know Lim Jun YinG2006 HSBC/nYAA

The HSBC/NYAA Youth Environmental Awards are presented annually to recognise Singapore youth between 14 and 25 years for their commitment, outstanding contributions and achievements in environmental protection and nature conservation. Jointly administered by HSBC and the NYAA Council, the award winners this year were Lim Jun Ying from National Junior College, and Surya Darma from the National University of Singapore. The merit winners were Chye Shu Yi from Raffles Girls' School, Goh Koon Jeow, Oliver from Ngee Ann Polytechnic, and Tan Peng Ting from the National University of Singapore.

Our subject for this interview is Lim Jun Ying, a Year 2 student at National Junior College. He is actively involved in environmental projects, gives talks on the environment to students at secondary schools, and even volunteers as a tour guide on nature walks. EXPRESS! decides to find out more about his passion for the environment.

What ignited your passion for environmental conservation? How and when did you start being actively involved?My love for nature has persisted since young. I did not gain all my experience from joining a society or club, but rather, found nature on my own. Documentaries were my main source of information, followed by independent observation. In fact, I read up and learnt all I could about biodiversity around the world through various media. When I was still in secondary school, I would sometimes ask my friends out on nature walks, where I played the guide. It was only until I entered NJC and joined Greenlink, a well-established Green club, that I became very involved in environmental conservation. Greenlink was affiliated to Green Volunteers Network (GVN) of the Singapore Environment Council. It was no surprise that I started working very closely with GVN, in bridging communications between the club and GVN. I also began to initiate numerous projects of my own.

So, what have you done with your CCA? Upon joining in 2005, I got a good idea of what the club was about and how it was run. I acted quickly. The first of my projects was plastic recycling in NJC, considering that drink bottles and bubble tea cups were recyclable and were thrown away by the hundreds, everyday. Till now, I have encountered rather poor response from the school admin, but I’m going to kickstart the programme again.

I gave birth to the Friends of Greenlink emailing list in late 2005. The aim was to have a more convenient avenue of transmitting news to both members, teachers, anybody who signs up, information on latest conservation projects and activities, such as mangrove cleanups by GVN and Greenlink alike. I have been pushing the boundaries further in recent months, involving even those from other colleges.

Do you continue with your conservation efforts outside school? How so?I believe that one should not set boundaries for oneself with regard to conservation. Currently, I am starting a blog to archive, showcase and exhibit all the mangrove activities organized by GVN and Greenlink. The blog features photos, pictures, reflections of the cleaning and restoration of the mangroves flanking Sungei Tampines and Sungei Api Api. I think it would only be apt to showcase the hard work and satisfaction gained by the many volunteers who sacrifice their time to conserve local habitats. I am also writing a nature guidebook on native fauna, but with a clever twist. The fauna in the book would be classified according to colour, rather than the traditional classification by taxonomical means. This would make it easier for the everyday layman to appreciate and check up on local wildlife easier. “Hey, what’s that yellow bird over there?” Just one look into the section on yellow fauna and voila. It’s really a simple and quick reference. There are even notes on commonly misidentified birds and close resemblances.

Strength in numbers! More people should be involved to create an even bigger positive impact to the environment! To all aspiring environmentalists out there, you know what to do!

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By Lee Xi Xun

Express! 15

YoutH environmentAL AwArd winner

How does it feel to win such a prestigious award?I am rather glad that my efforts are recognized. But it was highly unexpected, considering my short working experience. Being awarded has also given me more confidence in what I do and invaluable contacts which have certainly opened new doors and potential partners in my work.

What do you think is the most serious environmental problem now and do you think enough is being done to rectify the problem?I’ve always believed that all environmental problems stem from only one source – Man. The human footprint should be what we should be tackling in general. Man must strive to find and adopt a lifestyle that is in harmony with his surroundings. Environmentalist efforts are never enough. I have always believed that Man and Nature are on two opposite sides of a set of scales. Man pushes down on one end (our footprint). Nature will try to accommodate us through nature’s equilibriums and checks. But this is never enough. Man’s efforts to reduce deterioration are merely reducing the pace of adding weight onto his side of the scale, not removing weight. We should work to reverse Mankind’s impacts on the Earth. This unfortunately takes time, which we do not really have, no matter how much we delude ourselves.

Do you think local youths are apathetic towards the environment and conservation? If so, what do you think the government or the individual could do?It is tempting to say that we are apathetic, but that is an unfair statement. This question should extend to include the whole public, and the answer would still be the same.

How are you going to further this passion for the environment after you graduate from JC, and even after you start working?I am going to work towards producing films and documentaries, and hopefully hosting them myself. That is still a dream of mine. My future work is going to involve many aspects of zoology. I want to show the world how much there is to learn about the Earth and its denizens, other than our own kind.

Any advice for youths who want to do something for the environment but have no idea where or how to start?Don’t just sit there! Go join in a nature group of sorts. Start learning! Sign up with mailing lists and be updated. A good place to start would be www.wildsingapore.com and www.gvn.com.sg or even www.nss.org. If you are really interested in marine life, Singapore’s very own reefs and marine wonders, check out the Blue Water Volunteers (www.bluewatervolunteers.org). There are many activities to suit different tastes and skills. While others could be more comfortable with helping raise funds or awareness, you could be better at nature guiding and enriching the lives of countless others. And last but definitely not least, inform your friends, get them involved!

Now that you’ve heard the green man, get cracking and do something for the environment!

A picture of the nature group I guided, enjoying the sight of a Greater Raquet Tailed Drongo after an exhuasting climb up Bukit Timah

Air pollution in Bangkok

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Express! 16

Sembenviro:What you really need to knoW about recycling

Have you ever wondered where those cans, bottles and even clothes you dump into those recycling bins go and what they become? Well, wonder no more. This issue, we bring to you the recycling industry, probing into the work done behind the scenes by companies such as SembEnviro Environmental Management (SembEnviro). We met up with Ms Florence Teoh, the manager of SembEnviro’s materials recovery facility in Tuas to find out more about this entire recycling business.

How does SembEnviro manage waste?There are four main steps: collection, recovery of recyclables from the waste, treatment and downstream processing. We cater to more than 400,000 households and 1,000 industrial and commercial customers daily.

What has SembEnviro done to increase awareness in the public sector on waste recycling? SembEnviro tries to educate the public on waste recycling through several ways. We set up booths to raise awareness over the ‘Clean and Green week’ and welcome visits to the Material Recycling Facility (MRF) at Tuas on a case-by-case basis. We also hand out plastic bags with environment-related messages printed on them, to residents for the collection of recyclables.

How is the response from the general public to the recycling programme, bins etc launched by SembEnviro? What else can we, as the public, do? Over the years, we have witnessed an improvement in the recycling rate, but there are a number of households who have yet to catch up on recycling. We provide free door-to-door collection fortnightly in the sectors we serve (City, Clementi, Houngang-Ponggol & Woodlands-Yishun). Residents in HDB flats receive green bags while landed homes are distributed with a 120 litre blue lidded bin. In addition to the above, we have placed central depositories in convenient locations for residents to recycle. From what we see, there’s a lot more that can be recycled at home, offices and in schools. Except for food waste, a large portion of the products we use daily can be diverted from the landfill or incineration plant, such as packaging used for cosmetics, tissue boxes, cereal boxes etc. Even the paper receipts we get from our purchases can go into the recycling bin!

What are the common difficulties faced during recycling?The usual problem we encounter is when residents do not segregate their waste and recyclables. When recyclables are bagged together with wet wastes such as food cans, recyclables are contaminated from the oil and moisture from food wastes. So sometimes, these resources become un-recyclable due to contamination.

How cost effective is recycling in comparison to the normal modes of treating unwanted waste (landfill/ incineration)? For instance, manufacturing companies can look into their production processes where they can reduce their raw materials and generate less waste or seek means of converting their wastes into resources such as energy. This will help them to be more cost-effective.

What do you do with the recyclables at the MRF? At the MRF, paper, glass, plastic and metals are sorted and baled for sale to overseas markets. To view a video clip of the recovery and sorting operations at the MRF, you can go to www.gowaste.com.

By Jefferson Tan, Tan Jia Ni, Lee Xi Xun

Express! 17

There are many forms of waste that undergo treatment by SembEnviro, from municipal to industrial types. Which forms of waste do you think can be reduced? Which is the most difficult to handle or recycle?Well, both municipal and industrial waste can be reduced significantly. We need to take ownership of the environment as our resources are finite. As a consumerist society, we generate vast amounts of recyclables in the form of magazines, brochures, plastic bags, beverage bottles and drink cans. All these are resources that being landfilled or incinerated. Companies across various industries can contribute equally. From recycling their general waste such as paper, they can look into producing less waste or consider converting their wastes-to-resources.

What do you think is the most pressing environmental problem faced by Singapore today?Looking from a waste management perspective, there is a lack of awareness and ownership in keeping our surroundings litter-free. We have yet to understand the importance and the need for recycling and generating less waste in our land scarce city, especially with only offshore landfill in Pulau Semakau. What do you think is the best way to address that problem?One way in addressing the problem is to educate the public via media and in schools. The NGOs, green groups together with the private, public and people sectors (3Ps) must continue to work together.

How has SembEnviro tapped on biotechnology and other forms of new technology in waste treatment?In cleaning services for commercialized industries, SembEnviro employs new technology to remove odour, while on the waste collection front, the pneumatic system, whereby waste is sucked down the rubbish chute quickly and effectively, has been put in place to speed up the waste collection process.

How is SembEnviro involving the youths in Singapore with regards to recycling and conservation?SembEnviro is involved in recycling programmes, together with some schools. Generally, the response to such programmes is good. Recycling bins are placed in schools and the students would then bring recyclables from their homes to the school, in order to participate in the programme. In addition, SembEnviro also holds talks in schools to educate the students on the importance of recycling. Other community programmes, like the collection of old newspapers, are also held on an ad hoc basis.

Express! 18

a closer look at the MrF

After gathering all the recyclables from the collecting points, these trucks are then weighed on a weighbridge to estimate the rough bulk of waste that has been collected.

The recyclables is later unloaded at the holding area before they are lifted into the sorting area

Power suction machines siphon glass, plastics and aluminum from sorting chutes into hoppers (cages).

In addition, high power electromagnets are employed to separate iron-containing products into the hoppers.

As the items move down the belt, sorters pick out items made of a particular material and deposit them into chutes.

During this conveyor belt of material classification, these experienced workers separate objects in this order: Textiles (e.g. clothes), Paper-related (e.g. cardboard, newspapers), Glass, Plastics (e.g. polyethylene)

Over at the sorting area, an entire array of activities goes on. It starts with the front loader gathering the recyclables and dropping them into hoppers. These hoppers spread the items, making it easier for sorting.

Finally, the sorted materials are compressed in a process called baling. Each package or bale is then secured using metal wires. The bales are now ready for sale overseas.

HERE ARE SOME uSES OF THE RECyCLED MATERIALS:Paper: Sold to companies to be processed into recycled paper.

Plastics: Sold to both overseas and local markets. This is one of the few materials required locally for further processing.

AFTERTHouGHTSWASTE MAnAGEMEnT - how many people care or even think about it? After all, for most, waste is gone and done with once it is disposed of in rubbish bins, a case of ‘out of sight, out of mind’. However, after interacting with the Operations Manager of SembEnviro’s MRF, Ms Florence Teoh, I realized that waste management is really an underrated service. What caught my attention during the visit was the extremely laborious process of sorting the recyclables according to their material. It made me realize how much the workers have to work to make recycling a success. Though labour is without doubt a limited resource in Singapore, we continue to retain this labour-intensive industry of recycling, as waste has to be reduced in some way to cope with problems of diminishing landfills and depleting natural resources. Therefore, we should always be mindful of the 3Rs - reduce, reuse and recycle - so as to play our essential role in waste management!

Express! 19

In addition, reusable bags are user-friendly. They are affordable to most, if not all consumers. These bags are also washable, and made of cloth or jute, environmentally-friendly materials that are light and non-toxic. These hardy bags also make shopping a hassle-free experience, since shoppers would not have to worry about these bags tearing apart while holding one’s purchases. Reusable bags even come in different colours, catering to different consumer tastes.

Although using reusable bags is advantageous, this alternative to plastic bags is not popular currently due to several reasons. Firstly, shoppers’ entrenched mindset and habits cannot be changed overnight. Most are used to the convenience of plastic bags and might not bother to change their consumption habits by bringing a reusable bag wherever they go. Also, some retailers might not welcome the idea of reusable bags, because they consider their company plastic bags as ‘walking advertisements’ of their brands. However, these problems can be overcome by educating the masses on the importance of environmental conservation. Well-designed, cool and unique reusable would also boost their popularity, especially amongst the youths.

Therefore, the environmental-friendly alternative to plastic bags – reusable bags - does have great potential to go far in this battle of the bags. Use of resusable bags signals a stop to the excessive consumption patterns that most of us consumers adopt nowadays. Hopefully, in time to come, the majority of shoppers will be convinced of the advantages of reusable bags, and these bags will become part and parcel of the shopping experience. However, this happy state will only be possible if reusable bags are given enough exposure and hype. Every little action counts, so do start showing your support for reusable bags now and play your part in protecting the environment!

Plastic bags…Can we make them things of the past?

100% cotton canvas bags available from www.bringyourownbag.ca

By Tan Jia Ni

THE BATTLE OF THE BAGSREUSABLE BAGS VS PLASTIC BAGS


In this modern society, plastic bags are commonplace in every shopping experience, especially during grocery shopping. While plastic bags bring much convenience, their disposal certainly proves to be a huge environmental problem. However, shoppers among us can tackle this serious problem by conscientiously reducing our demand for plastic bags.

The Singapore government and local retailers have taken several measures to address the problem of excessive plastic bag usage. Besides training cashiers to ask if a customer would actually require a plastic bag for small-scale purchases, the National Environment Agency (NEA) has begun to educate shoppers to use reusable bags instead of single-use plastic carrier bags whenever possible. The participating retailers include Carrefour, Cold Storage, Giant, IKEA, and NTUC FairPrice, just to name a few. These retailers sell reusable bags at reasonable prices, ranging from approximately $1 to $3. Shoppers themselves also have many good reasons to switch from using plastic bags to reusable bags. Use of reusable bags reduces unnecessary wastage of energy and raw materials channeled to produce the plastic bags. In Singapore, these plastic bags are typically disposed of immediately after use. They are often then incinerated, thereby releasing much carbon dioxide and exacerbating the problem of global warming through the release of carbon dioxide. Hence, by using less plastic bags, valuable resources are saved and carbon dioxide emission is reduced.

TIP 7Practical: In hot weather, park your vehicle in a shady spot so you don’t need to blast the air conditioning as soon as you get back in your car. Clueless: Bring extra large umbrellas to create your own artificial tree. Who really wants to wrangle over parking spots anyway? They’re already hard enough to find as it is without being picky.

TIP 8Practical: When you get in the car, adjust the mirror and fasten the seat belt before starting the engine. Millions of gallons of gasoline are wasted each year by starting the car first.Clueless: Don’t offer to give people a lift. They’re just added weight that will force you to consume even more petrol than ever.

TIP 9Practical: We’re all fit, healthy people — or would like to be. Try walking or cycling short distances instead of driving.Clueless: Create a mandatory segment of NS where our boys in green use their combined strength to push around all our vehicles for a week or so. I mean, that would –truly- be National Service, and we get to save on petrol too. Just make sure camouflage looks good with your car colour scheme.

TIP 10Practical: Use green technologies like the hybrid car, which turns the kinetic energy of a moving car into electricity for propulsion. Clueless: Harness the kinetic energy of all the world’s hamster wheels!

By Yvonne Poon & Ho Xiu Fen

THE PRACTICAL & THE CLUELESS:TOP 10 ENERGY-SAVING TIPS


TIP 1Practical: Install your air-conditioner in a shady spot. It will work more efficiently. Clueless: Air-conditioning is really expensive. Sigh. Perhaps we should all move to Antarctica…

TIP 2Practical: Thaw frozen food and cut vegetables into small pieces before cooking. This will shorten cooking time and save on gas too.Clueless: Go on a diet! That way you save money, food, and time spent before the stove. As an added plus you look svelte too. Mmm-hmm.

TIP 3Practical: Over-inflate your tires slightly, by up to 5% of the manufacturer’s recommendations. This cuts back rolling resistance and can save up to 20% of fuel.Clueless: Petrol is expensive. Get out and start your car by pushing it.

TIP 4Practical: Remove old and unused items from the refrigerator regularly. This minimizes electricity use in keeping them cold all the time.Clueless: If you decide to clear the refrigerator and realize that everything is unwanted junk, just pull the plug. You don’t even need the refrigerator. Alternatively, steal the leftover ice from your beverages and bring them home to cool down the poor refrigerator so it doesn’t have to work so hard. TIP 5Practical: Use low wattage or energy saving lamps, or fluorescent rather than incandescent bulbs. This saves up to $39.98 per lamp in electricity cost per year. Clueless: Use candles – they are so much more romantic.

TIP 6Practical: Fix leaky faucets, especially hot water faucets that waste both electricity and water with every drop. One drop per second can add up to over 2000 litres a month—that’s enough recommended drinking water for a person for one thousand, one hundred and eleven days!Clueless: Go primeval. We don’t need to bathe –that- much; our ancestors just made do with a quick dip in whatever body of water was handy. Au naturel, that’s the way!

(for the discerning and the desperate among you)

Note: The suggestions below the actual tips were created

purely for entertainment. We will not be responsible if anything

goes wrong in the course of you heeding any warped ideas...

Express! 21

Sounds simple? Well, not really. The array of choices available to the consumer can be frighteningly mind-boggling, and much of the general information available to the public can be misleading. First of all, most hybrid vehicles today have not completely put off the shackles of petrol—the means for their propulsion is derived only partially from kinetic-energy-derived electricity. Second, the vehicle in question is indeed slightly pricier than the average petroleum engine vehicle. So, how then can one as a consumer make an informed decision? Let us help…

By Yvonne Poon, Tan Jia Ni & Ho Xiu Fen

HYBRID CARS -YOUR NEXT RIDE?


Isn’t it strange how the price of oil seems to go up… and up… and up… and up — despite all the promises of decreases as soon as the price of that precious black commodity drops? The way the situation looks now, the chance of that prospect happening any time soon is looking bleaker and bleaker. So — perhaps it is time that we take pre-emptive measures to treat the problem at its root before oil burns a larger hole in our pockets.

Natalie Portman has one. Prince Charles has one. Hey, even Minister for the Environment and Water Resources, Dr Yaacob Ibrahim, has one. Yes, we’re referring to the hybrid vehicle. Thanks to the hybrid, the words “environmentally-friendly car” will no longer be an oxymoron. And, of course, it has the potential to save many a pretty penny from going down the bottomless pit of the petrol pump.

What, exactly, is a hybrid vehicle? Wikipedia defines the hybrid vehicle is “a vehicle using an on-board rechargeable energy storage system (RESS) and a fueled propulsion power source for vehicle propulsion”. In layman terms, this simply means that the vehicle in question may have alternative energy systems that can partially or fully replace the conventional car engine. Usually, most hybrid cars available on the market today use the petroleum-electric hybrid vehicles, also known as hybrid electric vehicles. These hybrids make use of the kinetic energy that would otherwise be given off as heat during braking to recharge electric batteries, which can be used to power the electric component of the car engine.

THE GOOD1) Hybrid vehicles have smaller, lighter and far more efficient internal combustion engines than those in conventional cars. These hybrid vehicle engines are also able to achieve better torque and maximum efficiency at a larger range of speeds.

2) Furthermore, hybrid vehicles enjoy greater fuel economy, both due to their lighter weight as well as their efficiency in combustion. Less fuel burnt means that vehicular emissions will also be

substantially reduced — composite driving tests have shown that the reduction may be up to 80-90% of carbon monoxide and hydrocarbon emissions.

3) Kinetic energy is recaptured for propulsion by the electric engine instead of being wasted as heat.

4) Noise pollution is reduced as the far-quieter electric engine kicks in at low speeds.

5) Increased driving range without having to refuel or recharge.

6) Green Rebate of 40% off the Open Market Value of the vehicle is offered by the Singapore government.

Bottomline: Fuel economy and a better, more convenient drive, which is comparatively environmentally-friendly as well.

Honda Civic

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THE BAD1) Not all hybrids use the electricity generated from kinetic energy for propulsion purposes — some manufacturers have chosen to use this option to give the car extra thrust instead.

2) The hybrid car needs to carry two engines — the electric and the conventional. Unless the car is properly designed, this design could result in problems in acceleration and aerodynamic efficiency. (Thankfully, however, most of the more popular models — like the Toyota Prius — do not suffer from such negative effects)

3) The increased complexity of the cars’ mechanical make-up generally translates to higher repair costs.

4) Disposal of the electric battery, which contains highly reactive chemicals due to its power density, can be a problem. However, all hybrid cars are sent for recycling upon disposal, and most mechanics and dealers have been trained to deal with the issues involved.

Weighing the ScalesModel Honda Civic Hybrid Honda Civic 1.8 Vti-S MT

Price $ 80,500 $70,000

* all quotations obtained from www.honda.com.sg

In conclusion, the hybrid car is irrefutably more expensive than a conventional automobile — at least on face value. Depending on the mileage and the number of years one uses the vehicle, the initial investment can conceivably be recouped in the form of fuel savings. Economic factors aside, surely one can afford a little more out of the pocket for the greater good of our planet. After reading this, perhaps the hybrid car might be your next ride in the near future?

Toyota Prius

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What Will happen to theWarmed globe of the future...?

By Ho Xiu Fen

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Many people around the world face water shortages, many of which are life-threatening. In recognition of the severity of this problem, the United Nations has declared 2005 to 2015 as the Decade of “Water for Life,” and it has identified water scarcity to be of major importance in this decade.

According to Population Action International, based upon the UN Medium Population Projections of 1998, more than 2.8 billion people in 48 countries will face water stress or scarcity conditions by 2025. An area is experiencing water stress when annual water supplies drop below 1,700 m3 per person. When annual water supplies drop below 1,000 m3 per person, the population faces water scarcity.Information and Graphic from UNEP Vital Water Graphics, http://www.unep.org/vitalwater/index.htm

By David Ahern

Water Conservation:an argument that holds Water

According to a speech by Mr. Kofi Annan, the Secretary General of the United Nations, 60 percent of the world population will live in urban areas by the year 2030, putting tremendous pressure on natural resources such as water. Singapore, with a combined landmass of just 682 square kilometers and a limited natural water supply, has already been forced to acknowledge the urgency of water scarcity much sooner than other countries in the developed world.

SINGAPORE: THE DIRE NEED FOR MORE WATERThe issue is no doubt close to many of our hearts; many in Singapore would have heard the government’s repeated calls for prudent water usage. Few, however, know that rainfall collected in reservoirs or water catchment areas currently accounts for only approximately 50% of Singapore’s water. Singapore has to import the remainder of this precious resource from Malaysia. With one of the two water existing agreements with Malaysia expiring in 2011, the Singapore government has long recognised the need to increase Singapore’s water self-sufficiency.

NEWATERThis recognition has resulted in concentrated investment and research into alternative means of supplying water, such as reclaiming water from purified water waste or sewage, creating what we know as NEWater. Such water recycling efforts have proved to be successful thus far; and by the end of 2006, when a fourth water recycling plant opens in Ulu Pandan, most of the water used by local industries will be supplied by NEWater.

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Bottled NEWater made its first public appearance at the National Day Parade celebration in 2005, and is now regularly distributed in goodie bags at schools’ open house days and in gift packs for various events in Singapore. This publicity drive has resulted in increased public awareness and acceptance of NEWater. The introduction of similar recycled products in America and Australia has shown that it is very important to overcome people’s psychological resistance in order to gain greater acceptance in the consumption of recycled water.

Water reclamation is becoming big business, and according to Professor Claus Weyrich, a member of the Research Innovation Enterprise Council. “Water will be, in this century, at least as precious a resource as oil and gas.” Many other experts have suggested that Singapore could become the world’s hub for water recycling and desalination technology, and could potentially export this technology and know-how to the world. The Singaporean government is aiming for a market share of 5 percent of the global water market by the year 2015. According to Professor Weyrich, “Singapore is well prepared since first of all, they started R&D 30 or 35 years ago.”

TARGETS STATED IN THE GREEN PlAN 2012 INcluDE: (1) Increase the water catchment area from 50% to 67% of Singapore's land surface. This initiative has resulted in the green light for the construction of the Marina Barrage, which will turn Marina Bay into a freshwater reservoir by 2009. This means that one-sixth of the most built-up area of Singapore will be turned into a water catchment area.

(2) Increase supply of water from non-conventional sources, such as desalination and water reclamation, to at least 25% of Singapore's water demand.

PERSONAl RESPONSIBIlITYIn light of the water situation in Singapore, what can individuals do to ensure that water is not wasted? The answer is simple – increased awareness. Be aware of your surroundings so as to reduce water wastage. Below are a few simple steps to get you started.

(1) Use basins and containers as mini-water catchment areas whenever it rains. The water collected can be used to wash the family car or the bathroom floor.

(2) Collect the leftover water from washing uncooked rice and use it to water plants. Not only do you save water, you also give your plants extra sustenance from the nutrients in the water.

(3) Fix any leaky taps as soon as possible, and if you happen to see water wasted in public (i.e. an untended hose or a broken pipe), inform the relevant authorities.

Many governmental and grassroots campaigns have been created to increase people's awareness on the importance of water conservation. These campaigns suggest many methods that we can use to reduce our daily water consumption.

The Singapore government has recognised the economic urgency of this issue and has started the ball rolling through initiatives such as the Singapore Green Plan 2012 and the introduction of NEWater. While these aims are a step in the right direction for the country, the onus is now on all levels of society to recognise our own particular part to play in water conservation, and to determine how we can improve our water usage habits.

As the saying goes: “water is life”. Only by encouraging all levels of society to act as a cohesive whole now, and by recognising our shared responsibility to each other and to the environment, can we hope to share the simple pleasure of affordable clean drinking water with subsequent generations.

GREEN PlANDue to Singapore’s precarious water situation, the government has increased penalties for pollution offences, and implemented several initiatives to improve the domestic water supply and ensure environmental sustainability. One such initiative is the Singapore Green Plan 2012, which is Singapore’s 10-year blueprint detailing Singapore’s response to the increasing challenges of sustaining a quality environment. This report, which is revised every 3 years, also includes many targets for increasing Singapore’s domestic water supply.

DO YOu KNOW?Bottled NEWater contains a mixture of both natural water and NEWater. Refined NEWater is said to taste somewhat bland as a result of the comprehensive filtration systems that are used to ensure purity. The filtration techniques employed systematically remove impurities, but also remove minerals and vitamins present in natural water that give its familiar taste. Bottled NEWater thus presents a more palatable alternative for consumers accustomed to the taste of natural water.

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In the sixth episode of the third season of the hit series ‘Project Runway’, designers rummaged through recyclables to create their competitive outfits. The results – some stunning pieces, some on the edge of revulsion. This episode on recyclable materials is not the first time designers on the show were told to make your everyday objects glamorous and worthy of the red carpet. The ‘Runway’ series has also asked designers to use plants, and even things you could buy at a supermarket, to design outfits for models.

By Jefferson Tan

Recycling the ‘Runway’

Such adventurous use of clothing material represents how the fashion industry has become an increasing advocate for recycling in recent years. Traditional textiles, such as silk, wool, and cotton, are progressively replaced with eco-friendly alternatives. These include ingeo, which is made from corn sugar, and sasawashi, a Japanese leaf. This trend is a far cry from the early days of promoting cotton and hemp, when environmentalism in fashion first started; in fact, more and more people are hearing and heeding the green cry.

Some highlights from past runway shows. Clothes made of vinyl plastic (polyethene).

More and more environmentally friendly blogs are also set up by teens to show how one can live a sustainable yet stylish lifestyle. Summer Rayne Oakes, a model and environmental activist cum blogger (www.eco-chick.com), notes that even just five years ago only 10 or 20 designers “were doing interesting things” with recyclable materials. Now, the number has increased to more than 500 worldwide, and you can find a list of these designers on her site.

Design lines and magazines are also responding to these changes today. Elle recently devoted an entire issue to green fashion, even printing the magazine on recycled paper. Greenloop (www.greenloop.com), a boutique in West Linn, Oregon, carries popular eco-friendly brands like Nature vs Future and Undesigned, and the store caters to an international clientele.

Environmentally friendly materials do not only serve women’s fashion. Green accessories, footwear, bags and clothing for men are also becoming commonplace. Howie’s and Crafts Council, based in UK, also features lines producing stunning pieces for the male consumers.

Whether it is recycling or using organic material, the fashion industry is experiencing a significant change in mindset. Sure, the prices of the green products are a little steep. Nevertheless, using organic material rather than regular cotton would already cost designers a startling 30% more. We’re hence essentially paying more for the environmentally friendly fabric. Therefore, regardless of what happens in the future world of fashion, let’s hope that more and more environmentally friendly options become popular for mass consumption.

Runway Pictures are taken from the Official Site for Project Runway on BravoTV.com.

A T-shirt found at www.howies.co.uk A recycled football watch from

Refinding.com

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Can you tell me more about the harmful effects of using plastic bags, other than their detrimental effects on the environment?Since plastic takes a longer time to decompose, plastic products provide breeding places for bacteria. Such bacteria often pave the way for the advent of new diseases. Likewise, researchers have long known that plastic contains high levels of a toxic substance called phthalates. Phthalates are used to make plastics more pliable, but they have gender-bending effects on male animals, making them more feminine and leading to poor sperm quality and infertility. A new study suggests that even normal levels of phthalates, which are ubiquitous in plastic products, can disrupt the development of male babies’ reproductive organs.

Humans often panic when new-found diseases start spreading and infecting us, but we seldom play our part to prevent such crisis. As the saying goes, “prevention is better than cure”; we should all perform our role to protect our environment before it fails us.Source: http://scholarforum.com/node/22 & http://dir.salon.com/story/news/feature/2005/05/27/plastic_and_boys/print.html

By Emmulin Wee and Freda Yuin

KnowledgeCapsule

We are all busy Singaporeans. What can be done to reduce waste management besides the 3Rs?1. Switch off your computer when it is not in use. Leaving it on all the time does not mean you are taking advantage of the unlimited usage; you are wasting your money and threatening the health of our environment at the same time with the unused and wasted energy.

2. Buy locally — it saves time and energy, since products have not traveled across the oceans to reach you.

3. Furnish your home with furniture made out of natural fibres and wood. It’s now highly fashionable, and these materials are biodegradable too.

4. Use reusable mugs, containers, batteries and stationeries. It saves you money and time!Source: http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AkVDgVQe7zwppSCSvGk81v3zy6IX?qid=20060709180033AAVfQL9 and http://www.yptenc.org.uk/docs/factsheets/env_facts/recycling.html

Can greenhouse gases be removed from the atmosphere?Greenhouses gases, once released into the atmosphere, do not remain there eternally. These gases can be removed from the atmosphere, but the process takes time. The lifetime of an individual molecule of gas in the atmosphere is frequently much shorter than the lifetime of a concentration anomaly of that gas. An individual CO2 molecule may last only a few years in the air, on average; but the calculated lifetime of an increase in global atmospheric CO2 level can last hundreds of years. Aside from water vapour near the surface of the earth, which has a residence time of few days, most greenhouse gases take a very long time to leave the atmosphere. Source: http://www.answers.com/greenhouse%20gases

What would happen if the Polar Ice Caps melt completely?Global warming may cause some floating icebergs to melt. Icebergs are chunks of frozen glaciers that break off from landmasses and fall into the ocean. The rising earth temperature may be causing more icebergs to form by weakening the glaciers, causing more cracks and making ice more likely to break off. As soon as the ice falls into the ocean, the ocean rises a little. In 1995, the International Panel on Climate Change issued a report, which contained various projections of sea level changes by the year 2100. The report estimated that the sea will rise 50 centimeters (20 inches) on average, with the lowest estimates at 15 centimeters (6 inches) and the highest at 95 centimeters (37 inches). This rise will come from thermal expansion of the ocean, as well as melting glaciers and ice sheets. Twenty inches is no small amount -- it could have a big effect on coastal cities, especially during storms. Since most land areas in Singapore are no more than 15 meters above sea level, rising sea level will certainly affect us.Source: http://science.howstuffworks.com/question473.htm

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Volunteering Opportunities at ECO:We are looking for volunteers to become a part of our team in the following positions;Volunteer Marketing OfficersVolunteer Human Resource OfficersVolunteer Liaison OfficersVolunteer Staff WritersVolunteer Forum CoordinatorsVolunteer AdministratorVolunteer Web Designers

Visit our website to find out more about us, and be sure to come down for our induction program before you start your volunteer journey with us at “Buzz the Bus”. This induction program is conducted monthly! The aim of this program is to align both our expectations of each other and be able to have a better experience together.

Drop us an email at [email protected]

Environmental Events/Activities Coverage:We are starting to cover local environmental activities in our publication so that more people can participate. If you have an event, please contact us one week in advance so we can try to schedule our volunteer journalists to cover it. Should you have your own write up, please feel free to email us for editorial arrangements.

The publication team can be contacted at [email protected]

Knowledge Capsule:This column covers environmental issues in a “question & answer” format. Readers that write in can choose to disclose their names or stay anonymous. We will provide and include any pictures or illustrations if possible to make the column more informative. We will use “layman” instead of technical terms for readers to understand specific environmental issues better. If needed, we will include explanations for technical terms used. We will use games and interactive approaches to aid readers in remembering and understanding the issues raised in the questions.

Drop your questions and feedback to [email protected]

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ECO EXPRESS! 04

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