PM Lee Hsien Loong posted on his Facebook page after the event that he learnt from Tzu Chi volunteers how to construct a self-watering planter from recycled bottles. (Photo by Chua Teong Seng)
As a small country with limited natural resources and a major reliance on imports, Singapore has been very concerned with environmental and sustainability issues since its independence. From the early days when public hygiene was a concern to the “Garden City” image that it has now, the clean and liveable city that Singapore has become is the result of the efforts of the people and government of Singapore.
The National Environment Agency (NEA) of Singapore organised a two-day Clean & Green SG50 Carnival which began on 31 October 2015 and showcased the combined efforts of the people and government in maintaining the cleanliness of Singapore’s environment, greening the parks, and keeping the waterways clean. Held at the open space beside the Punggol MRT station, the large-scale event attracted some 20,000 people. The NEA invited Tzu Chi to help out in the exhibition zone on the topic of national parks and water resources, as well as to help promote food waste prevention at the meal consumption area.
Gardening the Water-Saving Way
In his opening speech, Guest of Honour Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong commented that apart from improving our environment, planting trees is a way of reminding us that everyone has a part to play in keeping Singapore clean and green for our next generation.
He emphasised that if we continue to nurture our trees and tend our gardens year after year, it will beautify our environment and conserve it; we will also be able to enjoy coolness and shade within the lush greenery. In his Facebook post, PM Lee also wrote that Tzu Chi volunteers shared a handy gardening tip in showing him how to create a self-watering planter with recycled PET bottles.
The self-watering planter is a water-saving method, and at the carnival, many members of the public were attracted to the zone where they could try their hand at making their own water-saving planters. Yan Chan was one such person; she had many plants growing in and outside her home, and would use up a lot of water in tending to them every day. She would often tune in to gardening programmes on the radio or television in the hope of picking up useful tips but was not successful in doing so.
“Today I’ve learnt this water-saving method of gardening, (and I’m) very happy. In future when I travel, I don’t have to worry that there is no one to take care of my plants,” said an excited Yan after learning how to construct the environmentally-friendly planter herself.
At the NParks & PUB exhibition zone, the results of the greening of Sungei Api Api canal, which Tzu Chi has adopted alongside four other organisations, were on display. At the commencement of 2015, the NEA engaged in a discussion with Tzu Chi volunteers about how to promote recycling, and even visited the green charity bazaar organised by the latter. The NEA subsequently invited Tzu Chi to participate in the Clean & Green SG50 Carnival. Tzu Chi recycling team leader Liu Ming Huang gave PM Lee a short introduction about Tzu Chi and mentioned to him that the NGO had organised a green exhibition by the side of the canal in August.
Tzu Chi Promotes Food Waste Prevention
As the prospect of global warming looms ahead, mankind is faced with frequent natural disasters that threaten global food supplies. The Singapore government wished to promote the “zero food waste” and “tray return” initiatives, and thus at the meal consumption area, there were many such signs placed atop the tables urging non-wastage of food and reminding diners to return their utensils after use. A few Tzu Chi volunteers shuttled among the crowds, prominently displaying their posters with the message to keep food wastage at bay.
“Don’t waste food, finish up every grain (on your plate)!” Peng Li, a member of the public, told her two young children. She supported the campaign and felt that this was one way in which one could reduce wastage and do one’s bit for the environment.
If every one of us can live simply and frugally, implementing the concepts of recycling and environmental conservation in our lives, we can build an environmentally-friendly world through our green lifestyle choices.
This year’s Clean & Green SG50 Carnival was held at the field beside Punggol MRT station. (Photo by Chua Teong Seng)
Recycling team leader Liu Ming Guang introduces Tzu Chi to PM Lee, telling him that Tzu Chi is one of the five organisations which have adopted the Sungei Api Api waterway. (Photo by Chua Teong Seng)
Yan Chan (in pink) learned from the volunteers how the self-watering planter works and was pleased to have found a water-saving way to grow plants. (Photo by Chua Teong Seng)
Peng Li (first from right) feels that inculcating a mindset of not wasting food in children is a way to do something for the environment. (Photo by Chua Teong Seng)
Bilingual volunteers with their posters shuttle among the crowd, promoting the concept of not wasting food. (Photo by Chua Teong Seng)
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