Dear Friends,
OVERVIEW
“More Urban Blue Green Spaces”
Last week, we did up the vegetable garden, this week we cleaned up the Biodiversity Pond! Our members came back during the New Year holiday to do just that. Yes, through these little acts Waterways Watch Society is doing its part to address the loss of biodiversity and to restore natural ecosystems in our urban setting. This is in line with the COP15 UN Biodiversity Conference which has approved ‘a deal to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030, hoping to put nature on a path to recovery for the benefit of all the world’s people.’
Singapore has embarked on this task for some time already. Today we have more than 300 parks on the island in addition to nature reserves. NPark and other related agencies have worked to ‘increase the area, quality and access of green and blue spaces by integrating biodiversity with urban planning.’ We will have ‘500 km of park connectors by 2030, so all households are within a 10-minute walk of a park’. (Straits Times, 9 January 2023, pB5). All this is well and good as it allows our people to enjoy and enhance their overall health and well-being through connecting with nature.
A Disgraceful Start for 2023!
Last weekend, our patrols witnessed what seems to be the norm in our parks; litter by the dozens! (see photos below). The patrols collected a total of 96 kg of litter. The danger these litter found under the foliage not only pose as a hygiene issue but certainly an environmental problem too. If they are not cleared in time, they would affect the natural resources too. As one environment writer puts it, “In society, the state of cleanliness of a society represents the mindset.” Our challenge is how we can change the mindset of our people. It is certainly not with talking only!
Summary of Activities conducted for the Week
In summary, the following activities were done for this week:
- We conducted 2 CSR programmes (a Bike and a Boat clean-up) which were attended by a total of 64 participants and together they collected 76 kg of litter.
- An On-the Job Orientation was conducted for 16 new members on their roles and responsibilities when doing patrol.
- This week a total of 109 members were involved for CSR/VIA programmes, talk, patrols, administration, housekeeping duties and training and, the total trash collected = 172 kg.
- Boat Patrol. A total of 5 Boat patrols were carried out; 1 at Marina, 3 at Punggol and 1 at Lakeside.
- Bike Patrol. A total of 3 Bike patrols were carried out; 1 each at Marina, Punggol and Lakeside.
- Foot Patrol. We conducted 3 Foot Patrols were carried out; 1 at Pang Sua and 2 at Lakeside
- Pedal boat Patrol. 1 Pedal Boat patrol was conducted at Marina.
- Physical Bike and Boat Clean Up Orientation for New Applicants. This was conducted for 16 new members at Marina
Once again, we thank all members and volunteers, who came for patrol or for facilitating the CSR/VIA programmes, for your time and dedication to the task.
ACTIVITIES AND REPORT
- Educational Programmes
- Volunteer Patrols & Activities
a. Marina
b. Punggol
c. Lakeside
d. Pang Sua Pond
e. Yishun Pond Patrol
