• About Us
    • Fact Checking Policy
    • Ownership & funding information
    • Volunteer
  • Subscribe
  • Letter submission
    • Submissions Policy
  • Contact Us
The Online Citizen Asia
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Commentaries
    • Letters
    • Comments
  • Current Affairs
    • Singapore
    • Malaysia
    • Indonesia
    • China
    • ASEAN
    • Asia
    • International
  • Finance
    • Economics
    • Labour
    • Property
    • Business
  • Community
    • Arts & Culture
    • Consumer Watch
    • NGO
    • Lifestyle
    • Travel
  • Politics
    • Civil Society
    • Parliament
    • Transport
    • Education
    • Environment
    • Health
    • Housing
  • Law & Order
    • Legislation
    • Court Cases
No Result
View All Result
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Commentaries
    • Letters
    • Comments
  • Current Affairs
    • Singapore
    • Malaysia
    • Indonesia
    • China
    • ASEAN
    • Asia
    • International
  • Finance
    • Economics
    • Labour
    • Property
    • Business
  • Community
    • Arts & Culture
    • Consumer Watch
    • NGO
    • Lifestyle
    • Travel
  • Politics
    • Civil Society
    • Parliament
    • Transport
    • Education
    • Environment
    • Health
    • Housing
  • Law & Order
    • Legislation
    • Court Cases
No Result
View All Result
The Online Citizen Asia
No Result
View All Result

Getting Singaporeans excited about conservation

by onlinecitizen
29/03/2009
in Uncategorized
Reading Time: 4 mins read
0

 

Report by Teng Jingwei / Pictures by Damien Chng

Singapore marked its inaugural participation in Earth Hour on Saturday 28 March with a Green Carnival cum concert event at the Esplanade Park. Earth Hour, which was also being observed in other parts of the world, saw a turnout of a few hundred people. Families and friends gathered to have picnics on groundsheets, taking up the best spots around the stage. Tourists and passers-by were also attracted by the lights and sounds of the carnival.

They were entertained by performances which included an interpretive dance item by Down Syndrome Association Singapore, a Miss Earth eco-fashion show as well as local acoustic bands and singers. Radio personalities such as Brian Richmond and Hamish Brown shared personal “green tips” while engaging the crowd with their banter.

At 8.30pm the lights at the park and of nearby buildings like Suntec City Mall and even those at the construction sites for the Integrated Resort, were turned off for an hour. It was a symbolic statement on combating climate change and global warming. [Correction: The lights at the IR were not turned off. They were, ironically, very bright.]

The concert carried on while the venue was illuminated by candles brought by some of the participants.  Volunteers from WWF Singapore were also seen distributing candles to the crowd. 

Cindy Lee Lai Mun, a 44 year-old Administrative Officer found out about the event through her grassroots leaders.  She commented that the event is “for a start, good for raising awareness and cultivating a ‘save the earth’ mentality”.

Indrani Barua, 32 year-old volunteer at WWF, feels that “a lot of people have taken a keen interest” in energy conservation because of the event.

While holding a carnival to conserve energy might seem ironic to some, The Online Citizen understands that The Green Carnival, which received good support from corporations and schools, was powered by generators using “green” biodiesel from 5pm until the blackout at 8.30pm.  The biodiesel had been made from recycled waste cooking oil collected from more than 90 restaurants all over Singapore.  

Several corporations and schools were present to raise awareness about their corporate social responsibility programmes on environmental sustainability.      

Henderson Secondary School Environment Club presented a Micro-Wind Turbine installation purchased from Hong Kong University to power the LED lights in the school’s “green space” named NECO Garden.  Wint Wah Kyaw, 17 year-old President of the club, impressed with her extensive discussion on the exploration of alternative sources of energy in Singapore.  She hopes to promote student-monitored Micro-Wind Turbines to cluster schools.

Keith Ong, 27 year-old bassist with local band Reverie, said he was performing at the concert for “exposure, but also because it is very meaningful”.

Ms Carine Seror, Director of Corporate Responsibility WWF Singapore and campaign manager, said that she was overwhelmed by the response to the event.  Ms Seror is optimistic that Earth Hour has a substantial impact on raising awareness over climate change. “If we can get Singaporeans excited about saving energy for one hour,” she said, “hopefully, we can get Singaporeans excited about saving energy every day.”

The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) organised this global effort to make a statement on energy conservation. Organisations such as WWF; initiator for the event; Nature Society of Singapore, Singapore Scouts Association, Jane Goodall Institute and the environment co-curriculum societies of Henderson Secondary School and Woodgrove Secondary School were present to raise awareness on environmental sustainability. Other prominent corporations at the event included SingTel; main sponsor of the event; Phillips, Nokia, Coca-Cola and Starbucks Coffee.

Worldwide, this year’s event is much larger than in previous years with the participation of more countries across the globe.

———-

For just US$7.50 a month, sign up as a subscriber on The Online Citizen Asia (and enjoy ads-free experience on our site) to support our mission to transform TOC into an alternative mainstream press.

Related Posts

WHO panel in talks on COVID emergency status
AFP

WHO panel in talks on COVID emergency status

27/01/2023
AFP

Two years after Myanmar coup, UN says situation ‘catastrophic’

27/01/2023
Grab driver supposedly earned $5,227.82 in a week prior CNY, netizens voice worries over his health
Community

Grab driver supposedly earned $5,227.82 in a week prior CNY, netizens voice worries over his health

27/01/2023
Philippines to appeal ICC resumption of drug war probe
AFP

ICC grants new inquiry into Manila’s deadly ‘war on drugs’

27/01/2023
Minister refutes claims of Malaysia consulting Singapore on housing policy due to its inefficient civil service
Housing

Minister refutes claims of Malaysia consulting Singapore on housing policy due to its inefficient civil service

27/01/2023
457 civil society organizations call on ASEAN to move beyond the Five-Point Consensus
AFP

Myanmar junta sets out tough new rules for political parties

27/01/2023
Subscribe
Connect withD
Login
I allow to create an account
When you login first time using a Social Login button, we collect your account public profile information shared by Social Login provider, based on your privacy settings. We also get your email address to automatically create an account for you in our website. Once your account is created, you'll be logged-in to this account.
DisagreeAgree
Notify of
Connect withD
I allow to create an account
When you login first time using a Social Login button, we collect your account public profile information shared by Social Login provider, based on your privacy settings. We also get your email address to automatically create an account for you in our website. Once your account is created, you'll be logged-in to this account.
DisagreeAgree
0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

Latest posts

WHO panel in talks on COVID emergency status

WHO panel in talks on COVID emergency status

27/01/2023

Two years after Myanmar coup, UN says situation ‘catastrophic’

27/01/2023
Grab driver supposedly earned $5,227.82 in a week prior CNY, netizens voice worries over his health

Grab driver supposedly earned $5,227.82 in a week prior CNY, netizens voice worries over his health

27/01/2023
Philippines to appeal ICC resumption of drug war probe

ICC grants new inquiry into Manila’s deadly ‘war on drugs’

27/01/2023
Minister refutes claims of Malaysia consulting Singapore on housing policy due to its inefficient civil service

Minister refutes claims of Malaysia consulting Singapore on housing policy due to its inefficient civil service

27/01/2023
457 civil society organizations call on ASEAN to move beyond the Five-Point Consensus

Myanmar junta sets out tough new rules for political parties

27/01/2023
Thai ruling party names deputy PM as main election candidate

Thai ruling party names deputy PM as main election candidate

27/01/2023
Mrs Teo says SG continues to invest in training local talent while MNCs transfer staff to work in SG

Mrs Teo says SG continues to invest in training local talent while MNCs transfer staff to work in SG

27/01/2023

Trending posts

Two Indian nationals paid about S$330 and S$730 respectively for forged certificates submitted in their S-Pass application

MOM found issuing EPs meant for foreign PMETs to PRC waitress and general worker

by Correspondent
26/01/2023
35

...

Ho Ching breaks silence over Temasek’s write down of its US$275 million investment in FTX, says it “can afford to be contrarian”

US regulator questions VCs’ due diligence work prior to investing in FTX; Ho Ching says Temasek can afford to be contrarian

by The Online Citizen
24/01/2023
28

...

Indian rupee falls 60% since signing of CECA while Singapore becomes top investor in India

by Correspondent
25/01/2023
55

...

Earning only S$400 a month, delivery-rider turned hawker threw in the towel after two years of running a rojak stall

Earning only S$400 a month, delivery-rider turned hawker threw in the towel after two years of running a rojak stall

by Yee Loon
26/01/2023
22

...

Temasek and GIC reportedly in talks with Adani Group accused of “brazen” market manipulation and accounting fraud

Temasek and GIC reportedly in talks with Adani Group accused of “brazen” market manipulation and accounting fraud

by The Online Citizen
26/01/2023
46

...

Getting Singaporeans excited about conservation

by onlinecitizen
29/03/2009
0

...

March 2009
M T W T F S S
 1
2345678
9101112131415
16171819202122
23242526272829
3031  
« Feb   Apr »
  • About Us
  • Subscribe
  • Letter submission
  • Contact Us

© 2006 - 2021 The Online Citizen

No Result
View All Result
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Commentaries
    • Comments
  • Current Affairs
    • Malaysia
    • Indonesia
    • China
    • ASEAN
    • Asia
    • International
  • Finance
    • Economics
    • Labour
    • Property
    • Business
  • Community
    • Civil Society
    • Arts & Culture
    • Consumer Watch
    • NGO
  • Politics
    • Parliament
    • Transport
    • Education
    • Environment
    • Health
    • Housing
  • Law & Order
    • Legislation
    • Court Cases
  • Lifestyle
    • Travel
  • Subscribers login

© 2006 - 2021 The Online Citizen

wpDiscuz