Dear Friends,
OVERVIEW
“The litter is not supposed to be here!”
A slow and quiet week, which was expected, as people prepare for the Lunar New Year holidays. Our weekend patrols were closed for the festive holidays. Nevertheless, the few activities we had in the week saw the keenness and dedication of the participants in doing their best to take away the litter from the locations which they (litter) were not supposed to be there.
- At the Beach clean up, the participants saw the environmentally damaging items on the shore; plastic bottles, cans, oil drums and plastic bags lodged in the rocks and or in the sea hibiscus bushes. Other items were pieces of styrofoam, cigarette boxes and butts, party items, a steel shackle, fishing lines and nets and wooden plants with nails just to name a few. In that short period of time, the participants picked up a total of 356 kg of litter.
- At the Kallang-Marina waterways, a total of 93 kg of litter was collected. It comprised mainly the common items being left behind by picnickers or floated down from the housing areas.
- A pleasant surprise came when three young siblings requested a clean-up experience. Two of them have just completed their O level education and are waiting for enrolment into an institution of higher education and the other waiting to be enlisted into National Service. Hence, what a better way to spend available time to learn about the environment and water conservation in Singapore. The takeaway by the young men was encouraging; they reflected that there was still a lot to be done to educate our people and to work on to enforce good and responsible social behaviour. They added, “This litter is not supposed to be here!”
What does the Year of the Rabbit mean for 2023?
According to the Chinese horoscope, 2023 is the Year of the Rabbit and specifically, the year of the Water Rabbit which represents ‘peaceful and patient energy. It is also considered a gentle animal that ‘thinks before acting.’ Waterways Watch society and its members and volunteers will be that Water Rabbit continuously working with that ever patient energy to spread the message of keeping our environment and our waterways clean and safe. In the same light, we hope that through our programmes and exemplary effort our people will be convinced that they should ‘think before acting’ especially with regard to managing our waste disposal. Let us all do our part and make this year a year of abundance of good health n wealth and not of litter.
Waterways Watch society wants to wish everyone, “Xin Nian Kuai Le!”
Summary of Activities conducted for the Week
In summary, the following activities were done for this week:
- We conducted 3 CSR programmes which were attended by 246 participants and together they collected a total of 449 kg of litter.
- This week a total of 47 members were involved for CSR/VIA programmes, talk, patrols, administration, housekeeping duties and training and, the total trash collected = 262 kg.
- Boat Patrol. A total of 2 Boat patrols were carried out; 1 at Punggol and 1 at Lakeside.
- Foot Patrol. We conducted 2 Foot Patrols; 1 at Punggol and 1 at Lakeside.
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
2. Volunteer Patrols & Activities
a. Marina
b. Punggol
c. Lakeside
d. Pang Sua Pond
e. Yishun Pond Patrol
