tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-78841244610820861472024-03-13T12:20:50.578+08:00Green Little Red DotAn Environmental Blog!Thng Yong Jiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10508638013647085847noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7884124461082086147.post-75858789171500248562015-09-21T01:56:00.001+08:002015-09-21T01:57:59.805+08:00Hazy Days<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-SG; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">In the past few weeks, Singapore has been struck
by haze and to lift the mood of the gloomy days, a friend of mine even came out
with a joke: “Do you know we just received free ice-cream? The brand is ‘HAZE-</span><span lang="ZH-CN" style="font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-SG; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">跟</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-SG; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">-DUST’
[<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">HAZE-GEN-DUST, ‘</i></span><span lang="ZH-CN" style="font-family: SimSun; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-SG; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">跟</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-SG; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;">’ means ‘and’</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-SG; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">]”…
We burst out in laughter but it was not long before we had to stop. The
laughing made us breathe in more of the polluted air and we started to feel the
choking sensation. Nevertheless, this matter is not one that we can laugh it
off and treat it as a joke. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-SG; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">The country started
to feel the effect of the haze with some people falling ill and others have
their major outdoor activities cancelled. During the period, the Pollutant
Standards Index (PSI) went up to a 3-hr PSI of 249, at 2100hrs on 14<sup>th</sup>
of September 2015 (Channel News Asia, 2015), which is within the very unhealthy
air quality category. The PSI value and the air quality description are as seen
below:</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-SG; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXcE1MYSs3w0mtRzXkNswPCTXFN4D0uI8nwQWLMyUL2vYEtfK26l4EaT0qa7TBkPH2JAn9AkVqe5E1Tzqw_6wpqI-xscc64hbnaIxzJq-5w3sWI8TFU7sOMtFicKF4A_ZmIKqFvRKuWxFW/s1600/PSI.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="317" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXcE1MYSs3w0mtRzXkNswPCTXFN4D0uI8nwQWLMyUL2vYEtfK26l4EaT0qa7TBkPH2JAn9AkVqe5E1Tzqw_6wpqI-xscc64hbnaIxzJq-5w3sWI8TFU7sOMtFicKF4A_ZmIKqFvRKuWxFW/s400/PSI.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-SG; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">PSI and its respective air quality description (</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-SG; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">NEA, 2015</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-SG; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">).</span></div>
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<b></b></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-SG; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-SG; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">So how bad was it at the source? In Pekanbaru of
Indonesia Sumatra island, it even went up to PSI of 984 (The Straits Times,
2015). Can you imagine that PSI at 900+???? How do you even live there! </span>The haze actually contains many harmful
substances to the body, examples like carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide, ozone,
nitrogen dioxide and particulates… In the case of PM<sub>2.5</sub>, it refers
to particulate that are of size smaller than 2.5 microns. How small is it? It
can enter the alveolar space of the lung and get stuck in there and also possible
to cause inflammation in the lung tissue.</div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-SG; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-SG; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Vatx27dqHY0MSNRGDduH2esDmv8PXcXSoS2m3g_z5KaIRYFD20xssbZDB7nYY_VVgqxTA5J6CPY8SwE2eDNIyK7W3M1NAhOzrO73iUwzNVc51h2UJvmfqoFX-tHhQo2WB2RbuOFtfHGs/s1600/Forest+Fire.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Vatx27dqHY0MSNRGDduH2esDmv8PXcXSoS2m3g_z5KaIRYFD20xssbZDB7nYY_VVgqxTA5J6CPY8SwE2eDNIyK7W3M1NAhOzrO73iUwzNVc51h2UJvmfqoFX-tHhQo2WB2RbuOFtfHGs/s400/Forest+Fire.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-SG; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-SG; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-SG; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-SG; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-SG;">Helicopter releases water over fire in Sumatra, Indonesia
(Reuters, 2015).</span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-SG; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-SG; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-SG; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-SG; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-SG;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-SG; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-SG; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-SG; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">What caused the haze?</span></span></span><b></b></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-SG; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">The fire were set, as a form of slash and burn
practice, to clear land mainly for agricultural use. This method allow the rapid
discharge of nitrogen that can be used as fertiliser for the crop and also at
the same time burning and killing any pest or weeds that is present on the plot
of land (Quah, 2002). However, this practice creates much more negative impacts,
like haze, biodiversity loss, health problems, other economic loss (eg. in
tourism) and expenditure to counter the wild fire, that affect not only the
locals but also regional countries. Therefore, the local authorities should put
in effort and do something about it to stop the irresponsible arson which causes
extremely large area of lands to be burn down uncontrollably. On our part, we should
condemn these actions, which are irresponsibly carried out by individuals or
organisations, and on the other hand, support those that adopt the strategies
of sustainable development and also care about the environment.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-SG; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-SG; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><u>References</u></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-SG; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Channel News Asia, 2015. </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">Singapore reiterates
offer of assistance to Indonesia to fight forest fires</span></i><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">
[Online]. Available from: <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><a href="http://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/thousands-flee-pekanbaru-as-haze-hits-record-high">http://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/thousands-flee-pekanbaru-as-haze-hits-record-high</a>.</span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">[Accessed 20 September 2015]</span><br />
<div>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">NEA, 2015. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">PSI</i>
[Online]. Available from: <span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-SG;"><a href="http://www.haze.gov.sg/haze-updates">http://www.haze.gov.sg/haze-updates</a></span>. [Accessed
20 September 2015]</span></span><b></b></div>
<br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Quah, 2002. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-SG; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">Transboundary
Pollution in Southeast Asia: The Indonesian Fires. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">World Development </i>[online], March 2002, 30(3): 429-441. Available
from: <span style="color: #2e2e2e; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-SG; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-SG;"><a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0305-750X(01)00122-X" target="doilink">doi:10.1016/S0305-750X(01)00122-X</a></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-SG; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">.
[Accessed 20 September 2015]</span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-SG; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-SG; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Reuters. 2015. </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-SG; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Indonesia expects to control haze from forest fires within 30 days</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-SG; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"> [Online]. Available from: </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><a href="http://in.reuters.com/article/2015/09/18/indonesia-haze-idINKCN0RI13W20150918">http://in.reuters.com/article/2015/09/18/indonesia-haze-idINKCN0RI13W20150918</a></span>.
[Accessed 20 September 2015]</span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-SG; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-SG; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">The Straits Times, 2015. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thousands flee Pekanbaru as haze
hits record high</i> [Online]. Available from: <span lang="EN-GB" style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><a href="http://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/thousands-flee-pekanbaru-as-haze-hits-record-high">http://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/thousands-flee-pekanbaru-as-haze-hits-record-high</a></span>.
[Accessed 20 September 2015]</span></span></span></div>
<br />Thng Yong Jiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10508638013647085847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7884124461082086147.post-89092776191779913812015-09-12T18:16:00.000+08:002015-09-12T20:43:13.649+08:00Article Discussion<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">The following is a personal review of the
article, “The effects of urbanisation on
coastal habitats and the potential for ecological engineering: A Singapore case
study”. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Article Link: </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2014.11.006">http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2014.11.006</a> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">In the article, Lai <i>et al.</i> (2014) mentioned that during the expansion of cities, like
Singapore, land reclamation may be exercised to provide sufficient space
required for developments. However, they also mentioned that the anthropogenic
activity take place at the expense of the natural coastal habitat and the
biodiversity available at these locations. As lands are being reclaimed, these
natural coastlines are replaced with artificial shores and coastal defence structures.
In cases whereby conservation is not viable and development is inevitable, ecological
engineering can be implemented in these man-made features in order to help to reduce
the magnitude of the environmental impacts. As Singapore is a small island
country surrounded by waters, the additional lands needed for development are
acquired through reclamation and it will be feasible to adopt such an approach
that can attain the economic interest and yet minimising environmental impact
and also able to help maintain biodiversity.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Tropical marine species are observed to have assembled
at the artificial coastal defence structures, like the seawalls, in Singapore,
but the diversity of the species present on these synthetic sites were less diverse
than that of the natural shores (Lee<i> et
al., </i>2009). The availability and distribution of the species were limited
by the lack of habitable conditions. The construction materials, gradient of the
slopes, complexity of the surface and physical conditions, like wave exposure, are
attributes that affect the habitability of these artificial structures (Chapman
& Underwood, 2014). Ecological engineering looks into these areas of
constraints and facilitate the design and construction of these artificial
structures to be more accommodating for the biological communities and less detrimental
to the environment. In addition, transplantation of nursery-reared reefs onto
these infrastructures can further assist in the recolonisation of the reef species
that were loss during development or land reclamation and hence, enhancing the
structures’ ecological value (Ng <i>et al., </i>2015).
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;">Nevertheless, more research needs to be done
to better understand the consequence of these enhanced artificial habitats,
like the interaction between species within the new habitat or any possible
undesired effect from unnatural assemblages (Chapman & Underwood, 2014). As
different species have differing sensitivity and susceptibility, not all
species of the original habitat will be able to accommodate to the new
artificial habitat. Therefore, the conservation of the natural habitat is the
better approach while ecological engineering of artificial structures is an
alternative in the effort to reduce the environmental impact and to retain a
certain level of biodiversity.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<u><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Reference<o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Chapman, M. G. & Underwood, A. J. 2011. Evaluation of ecological engineering of
“armoured” shorelines to improve their value as habitat. </span><i style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology</i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"> [online], April
2011, 400(1-2): 302-313. Available from: </span><a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jembe.2011.02.025" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;" target="doilink"><span style="text-decoration: none;">doi:10.1016/j.jembe.2011.02.025</span></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"> [Accessed 12 September 2015].</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Lai, S., Loke, Lynette H. L., Hilton, M. J., Bouma, T. J.
& Todd, P. A., 2014. The effects of
urbanisation on coastal habitats and the potential for ecological engineering:
A Singapore case study. <i>Ocean &
Coastal Management</i> [online], January 2015, 103: 78-85. Available from: <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2014.11.006"><span style="text-decoration: none;">http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2014.11.006</span></a><span class="MsoHyperlink"> </span>[Accessed 11 September 2015].<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Lee, A. C., Tan, K. S. & Sin, T. M., 2009.
Intertidal Assemblages on Coastal Defence Structures in Singapore I: A Faunal
Study. <i>The Raffles Bulletin of Zoology 2009</i>
[online], Dec 2009, 22: 237-254. Available from: <a href="https://lkcnhm.nus.edu.sg/nus/pdf/PUBLICATION/Raffles%20Bulletin%20of%20Zoology/Supplements/Supplement%2022/s22rbz237-254.pdf"><span style="text-decoration: none;">https://lkcnhm.nus.edu.sg/nus/pdf/PUBLICATION/Raffles%20Bulletin%20of%20Zoology/Supplements/Supplement%2022/s22rbz237-254.pdf</span></a>
[Accessed 12 September 2015].<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Ng, C. S. L., Lim, S. C., Ong, J. Y., Teo, L.
M. S., Chou, L. M., Chua, K. E. & Tan, K. S., 2015. Enhancing the
biodiversity of coastal defence structures: Transplantation of nursery-reared
reef biota onto intertidal seawalls. <i>Ecological
Engineering</i> [online], September 2015, 82: 480-486. Available from: <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoleng.2015.05.016" target="doilink"><span style="text-decoration: none;">doi:10.1016/j.ecoleng.2015.05.016</span></a> [Accessed 12 September
2015].</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Thng Yong Jiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10508638013647085847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7884124461082086147.post-18444261432456534832015-09-06T19:18:00.000+08:002015-09-11T12:46:46.327+08:00Sustainable Development<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; text-align: justify;">We
would have come across or maybe at least heard of the term “sustainable development”.
</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; text-align: justify;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; text-align: justify;">In Singapore, this term has been
introduced in 1960s by the leaders of the pioneer generation (MEWR, 2015). It
is what which was done progressively since then that give rise to what we have
in the current modern society of Singapore. In order to achieve sustainability,
none of the three pillars – economic, social and environment (MEWR, 2015) –
should be underestimated and neglected of its values. However, as learned, I would like to emphasise that the economic and social capital that one is able to achieve are built upon the environmental capital that are available for us. Therefore, the environment forms the basis for sustainable development.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Though
Singapore contributes to less than 0.2% of global carbon emission, our small size
of only 718.3 km<sup>2</sup> <i>[compared to
the whole of our planet Earth’s surface area of 5.10006 x 10<sup>8</sup> km<sup>2</sup>
(NASA, 2015)] </i>and the dense population of more than 5 million have landed
us at the position of 27<sup>th</sup> out of 137 countries based on the International
Energy Agency 2011 data for carbon emission per capita (National Climate Change
Secretariat, 2014). This reminded us that regardless of size, it is important
that we reduce the amount of carbon emission in an effort to ensure a
sustainable and liveable environment.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I
strongly believe that having a sustainable development is the key to ensure that
there will be a liveable environment for us and also for our future
generations. To achieve sustainability, there should be more exposures of the communities
to green programmes and, at the same time, education needs to be provided for
the people of the current generation with regards to the importance of
protecting and conserving the environment. The realisation of the importance of
the environment is a significant step for individuals to hold the
responsibility to play their part, like reducing wastage and conserving energy
and water.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I
trust that integrating greeneries to living areas can bring us closer to the
environment <i>[though still man-made]</i>
and constantly remind us of the importance of conserving the natural
environment. Such integration can be through the construction of “green”
buildings and creating more “green” spaces especially in the heartlands where human
population are dense. It needs to be noticeable and of sufficient scale in
order to achieve the desired effect.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">SUGGESTION: Maybe we can
have “green” bus stops and “green” playgrounds?</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Note: all green
mentioned here is definitely not referring to the colour green, but rather it
refers to having plants that make them green…</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">References<o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, MEWR (2015). <em>Sustainable
Singapore Blueprint 2015</em>. [Online] Available at: </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://www.mewr.gov.sg/ssb/">http://www.mewr.gov.sg/ssb/</a>.
[Accessed 6 September 2015]</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">NASA (2015). <i>Earth: Our Home Planet.</i> [Online] Available at: <a href="http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/planetary/factsheet/earthfact.html">http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/planetary/factsheet/earthfact.html</a>.
[Accessed 6 September 2015]</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">National
Climate Change Secretariat (2014). Singapore’s Emissions Profile. [Online]
Available at: </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="https://www.nccs.gov.sg/climate-change-and-singapore/national-circumstances/singapores-emissions-profile">https://www.nccs.gov.sg/climate-change-and-singapore/national-circumstances/singapores-emissions-profile</a>.
[Accessed 6 September 2015]</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Thng Yong Jiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10508638013647085847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7884124461082086147.post-43099087666620025612015-08-29T17:57:00.002+08:002015-08-29T18:03:34.713+08:00A Part We Can Play!<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This
week, I came across an article of a speech
given by Ms Grace Fu, Second Minister for the Environment
and Water Resources, during the Singapore Green Hotel Award ceremony held on 27
August 2015 (Ministry of Environment and Water Resource, 2015). In her speech,
she discussed the importance of creating a sustainable and liveable environment
in Singapore. She also mentioned the practices that hotel managements have
adopted to become more eco-friendly. This rings a bell in my mind that we have
stayed in hotels before and we could have done our part as well. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Hotels provide many items which are disposable, like toothbrush,
toothpaste, comb, shaver, shower cap, body soap and shampoo. We as guest of the
hotels can reuse some, or in fact all, of these items. We do not need these
items to be replaced every single day. For example, back at home, we use our personal
toothbrush for 6 months before changing it and we don’t throw our combs away
after use. <i>[Change only when required]<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The unnecessary disposal of such items can create a large amount
of waste. If a hotel had 200 occupants who stayed for 3 days and had these
items replaced each day, at the end of the 3<sup>rd</sup> day, a total of 600
sets of these items were disposed. The usage could be reduced significantly by 400
sets if each guest were to play their part in reusing these items. Furthermore,
the lifespan of these disposable items are usually beyond the accommodation
period and guests should bring them home rather than leaving it behind to be
treated as trash.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">(Of course do ensure these are reusable complimentary amenities
and also take note that some items are “pay when used!)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This reminded us that we can play a part in reducing wastage
through the little actions that we can contribute.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Reference<o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources (2015). <em>MEWR,
News</em>. [Online] Available at: </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://www.mewr.gov.sg/news/speech-by-ms-grace-fu--second-minister-for-the-environment-and-water-resources--at-the-singapore-green-hotel-award-presentation-ceremony-on-27-august-2015--230pm-at-parkroyal-on-pickering--william-pickering-ballroom--level-2">http://www.mewr.gov.sg/news/speech-by-ms-grace-fu--second-minister-for-the-environment-and-water-resources--at-the-singapore-green-hotel-award-presentation-ceremony-on-27-august-2015--230pm-at-parkroyal-on-pickering--william-pickering-ballroom--level-2</a></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">. [Accessed 29 August 2015].</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Thng Yong Jiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10508638013647085847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7884124461082086147.post-52932333119545991532015-08-26T00:31:00.000+08:002015-08-26T00:43:58.295+08:00The Green Little Red Dot<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Singapore, a country with land area of 718.3 km<sup>2</sup>,
total population of more than 5 million and Gross Domestic Product of S$390.1
billion (Singapore Department of Statistics, 2015), is where I call home. The
little island is located in the Southeast Asia, just south of West Malaysia and
east of Sumatra, Indonesia. This region of Asia is also the place where the tropical
rainforests and the homes of many wildlife species are found. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Given its small size and situated near the equator, Singapore
does not have 4 seasons and the temperature of this tiny piece of land ranges
from 25.3°C to 31.6°C (Singapore Department of Statistics, 2015). It is hot
throughout the year <i>[when compared to countries
with winter and spring]</i> and I believe this can be a reason why we are “red”
<i>[associating red with infrared and heat]</i>.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Hundreds of years ago, this tiny piece of land was covered
with rainforest, but today, it is a bustling city packed with high-rise
buildings for commercial and residential purposes. Singapore did not forget about
the importance of having a “green” environment and spaces were set aside for
nature reserves and the building of parks. These green spaces are situated all
over the island and the total size assigned is equivalent to 0.8ha of parks per
1,000 residents (Ministry of National Development, 2013). Therefore, Singapore is
known world-wide as a Garden City. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjrywPoWiBtH1_ZidUWt-UzQt85IzcD_BDVIf7iAs91C5mxn6iQUB4kIbiJjivH6eFJE11t7Bct8RA6uCfj6L_6QSh53FIdhU91H9enR4cUh7w0mawNA-39XCXNFm30OJspHMrIoGvrYb6/s1600/banner_17_bishan-kallang-river.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" height="331" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjrywPoWiBtH1_ZidUWt-UzQt85IzcD_BDVIf7iAs91C5mxn6iQUB4kIbiJjivH6eFJE11t7Bct8RA6uCfj6L_6QSh53FIdhU91H9enR4cUh7w0mawNA-39XCXNFm30OJspHMrIoGvrYb6/s640/banner_17_bishan-kallang-river.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small; line-height: 115%;">Image of Kallang River @ Bishan–Ang Mo Kio Park
(Public Utilities Board, 2014)</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">According to National Parks Board (2015), Singapore
has 4 nature reserve and more than 300 parks located island-wide under their
care. The 4 nature reserves are Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, Central Catchment
Nature Reserve, Labrador Nature Reserve and Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">This is how I came about with the name of this blog,
Green Little Red Dot.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I strongly believe that urbanisation requires the
inclusion of green areas to make it livelier. Imagine living in a place without
greeneries and that nothing around you is lively and all you see is just concretes.
I don’t think I would be happy living in that kind of environment. Cause it
will also be very HOT!!! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">What do you think?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<u><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">References<o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Ministry of National Development (2013).
<em>More Parks and Park Connectors | A City in a Garden | MND Land Use Plan</em>.
[Online] Available at: <u><a href="http://www.mnd.gov.sg/landuseplan/city_in_a_garden.htm">http://www.mnd.gov.sg/landuseplan/city_in_a_garden.htm</a></u>.
[Accessed 25 August 2015].</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">National Parks Board (2015). <em>Parks
& Nature Reserves - Gardens, Parks & Nature - National Parks Board</em>.
[Online] Available at: <u><a href="https://www.nparks.gov.sg/gardens-parks-and-nature/parks-and-nature-reserves">https://www.nparks.gov.sg/gardens-parks-and-nature/parks-and-nature-reserves</a></u>.
[Accessed 25 August 2015].</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Public Utilities Board (2014). <i>A Fine Balance, PUB Annual Report 2013/14</i>. [Online Image] Available
at: </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://www.pub.gov.sg/annualreport2014/in-focus_s5_where-nature-meets-the-city.html">http://www.pub.gov.sg/annualreport2014/in-focus_s5_where-nature-meets-the-city.html</a>.
</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">[Accessed 25 August 2015].</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Singapore Department of Statistics (2015). <i>Singapore in Figures 2015</i>. [Online] Available at: <u><a href="http://www.singstat.gov.sg/docs/default-source/default-document-library/publications/publications_and_papers/reference/sif2015.pdf">http://www.singstat.gov.sg/docs/default-source/default-document-library/publications/publications_and_papers/reference/sif2015.pdf</a></u>. [Accessed 25 August 2015].<span style="color: #333333;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Thng Yong Jiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10508638013647085847noreply@blogger.com0