The Green Corridor is a former railway while Bukit Brown is a cemetery, so different yet so similar. The Green Corridor and Bukit Brown both connects the past and future, and both involves heritage and the environment. I hope that all of you can support the preservation of Bukit Brown, just as you have actively supported The Green Corridor so far.

I supported The Green Corridor proposal by NSS because I feel that it would improve Singapore’s long-term resilience. The biggest threat to Singapore is apathy, and when Singaporeans do not feel a sense of belonging and are not bothered with what goes on here, then Singapore is in trouble.

For Singapore to survive and prosper in the long term, it is necessary to have more opportunities in preserving our shared memories and creating our shared vision. And keeping the railway lands as a Green Corridor is one opportunity not to be wasted.

Similarly, I feel that Bukit Brown is another excellent opportunity that enables Singaporeans to feel they belong here by remembering our past and creating our future.

Remembering Our Past

Bukit Brown tells the stories of our forefathers who built Singapore, and creates opportunities for history education and discovery. The cemetery connects Singapore’s past and present, and allows us to understand that Singapore’s success is built up by our forefathers’ sweat and tears, and should not be taken for granted.

We should preserve Bukit Brown because it helps us remember our past and keeps us rooted to Singapore.

Creating Our Future

Bukit Brown presents the opportunity for transforming the cemetery into a world-class living outdoor museum or heritage park. If this transformation adopts a bottom-up approach and with stakeholder engagement, it would allow us to come together, plan and work towards a future Singapore where heritage, nature and our economic needs can co-exist.

We should preserve Bukit Brown because it enables us to work together and build bonds and resilience, and to create a space where our children and their children can enjoy and be proud of.

Support Bukit Brown

Singapore is a young nation and needs more common spaces like The Green Corridor and Bukit Brown to remind us how we got here and why this is home, and to create opportunities for building our future social resilience. Support Bukit Brown, just as you have supported The Green Corridor.

Here’s what you can do:

1. Sign the petition to save Bukit Brown 100% at the SOS Bukit Brown – Save Our Singapore website.

2. Join the Heritage Singapore – Bukit Brown Cemetery Facebook Group to understand more about Bukit Brown and keep yourself updated.

3. Spread the message by sharing with your friends about Bukit Brown and urging them to sign the petition.

In the end, our society will be defined not only by what we create, but by what we refuse to destroy. – John C. Sawhill

By Eugene Tay

1) Prepare a proposal reframing Bukit Brown away from a cemetery

The government already has development plans for Bukit Brown, including the current road construction and future housing development. To potentially reverse the decision already made, the alternative option must be of equal or higher value than existing plans (not necessary in monetary terms). In Singapore’s context, positioning or framing Bukit Brown as a cemetery is not persuasive enough.

One possible idea is to reframe Bukit Brown as Singapore’s first outdoor museum (inspired by Skansen, the popular open-air museum in Sweden – http://www.skansen.se/en). A proposal could be prepared to explain the value of turning Bukit Brown into an outdoor museum, which would provide insights on Singapore’s past heritage and natural history in an open-air natural setting. Visitors can explore the tombs of Singapore’s prominent pioneers, which would be combined with stories, customs, crafts, physical buildings, structures and objects that are relevant to understanding our past pre-1965. Biological diversity, especially live native plants and animals, or preserved species found in the past, could be highlighted in the outdoor museum. The outdoor museum would be an unique place for Singaporeans and visitors to understand more about pre-1965 Singapore.

The above idea is only one potential idea and it is up to the campaign participants to come up with the ideas for preserving Bukit Brown in the proposal. Whatever the final ideas proposed, a written formal document highlighting the reasons for preserving Bukit Brown, combined with facts and figures, is necessary for engaging the government and as a tool for further discussion and negotiation. The proposal would be sent to the Prime Minister, all Ministers and MPs, and the relevant government agencies.

2) Consolidate efforts by various groups into a single platform and issue a call-to-action

A campaign website is needed and should be used as the “home base” linking to Facebook and other social media tools such as Twitter, Flickr and YouTube, and vice versa. The campaign objective is to 1) explain about the proposal and why preserve Bukit Brown, 2) unite all supporters and actively engage them, 3) show the government that there is strong support for the proposal, and 4) to archive all stories, photos, videos on Bukit Brown.

There are several existing Facebook Groups and Pages on Bukit Brown, which are doing great work. However, it would be good to consolidate efforts by the various people and have just a single platform to explain the proposal, provide the latest info and events, and engage all stakeholders. This helps to avoid confusion for supporters and to avoid diluting the numbers or duplicating efforts. It is important to note that for campaigning purposes, always use a FB Page and not a Group. The FB Page is better for engaging supporters and for analyzing statistics on usage. If resources are available, manage FB and Twitter accounts separately. If not, just link Twitter to FB, and let FB update the Twitter account automatically.

It is important to decide on the call-to-action for supporters. It should be easy and simple for supporters to show their support for the proposal. The call-to-action could be ‘liking’ the page and signing a petition, which should be posted prominently on the website. The numbers would be presented to the relevant government officials on a regular or monthly basis to show them that there is public support for the proposal. It is also necessary to encourage supporters to write in to their MPs and the media on the proposal. A written letter to the relevant Minister or MP would be best. It would help if a letter template and the MP email contacts are made easily available on the website.

3) Engage and communicate with stakeholders both online and offline

All stakeholders whether government, businesses, organisations and the public should be engaged actively online and offline. There should be one email for enquiries. Always link online and offline together, one can’t do without the other.

All offline events should mention the call-to-action and about spreading the word. A special walk involving ‘connectors’ who are people who know lots of people or have a significant online influence, should be organised to let them appreciate the value of Bukit Brown, and hopefully they would help spread the word further. Regular public walks must be organised to keep the momentum and interest going. Event info should be clear and directions or meeting points given. Maps of Bukit Brown should be prominent and easily accessible on the website.

Online engagement through FB should be on a daily basis, involving 80% content relevant to the campaign, and 20% fun and interesting content not necessary relevant to Bukit Brown. Make use of photos, videos, questions and polls to engage FB supporters. It is necessary to just trial and error, and see what works, and change accordingly and be flexible. Reply to every FB comment where possible, remove spam posts immediately, and tag government FB pages when necessary. Always post long articles on the website and place link on FB. Don’t write essays on the FB status updates, it’s only for short sentences. If you have a lot to write, use Notes.

GAIA is Singapore’s first sustainable living mook (magazine book), published by Green Future Solutions. This free publication is for consumers interested in news, ideas, tips and products that benefit people and planet.

The first Sep issue of GAIA covers:

• NEWS
• FEATURE: Die Die Must Share – The Idea of Collaborative Consumption
• INTERVIEW: Carpooling 2.0 – Interview with MyRideBuddy
• HOME: Give It Away – 10 Ways to Clear Your Stuff
• HEALTH: Choosing a Healthy Dinner – 2 Tasty Vegetarian Recipes
• STYLE: Playful Elegance – Organic Clothing Mix and Match
• LEISURE: Simply Ling Kai – Supporting Local Music
• BOOKS
• DEALS

Download your free copy of GAIA now!

We would like to thank all of you for supporting The Green Corridor through the Facebook page since Nov last year. It’s now 3 months to the closure and return of the railway lands on 1 Jul. Time is running out as we wait for the government’s reply on the proposal.

Today, we are stepping up our efforts and launching a new campaign website for The Green Corridor at http://www.thegreencorridor.org/. The website serves to:

1. Gather support for The Green Corridor and unite supporters (broadening the support base to include non-Facebook users, businesses and organisations)

2. Show the government that there is public interest and support for The Green Corridor (sending monthly updates to key government agencies on number of supporters and news)

3. Archive stories, photos and videos on the railway and The Green Corridor (allowing the community of supporters to share their experiences and vision)

You can help us to gather more support for The Green Corridor. We hope to reach 10,000 supporters by 1 Jul. Visit the website now at http://www.thegreencorridor.org/ and find out the various ways to show your support, spread the message, and share your stories.

Thanks.

Cheers
Eugene

The Green Corridor is not a dream but a responsibility to nature, our heritage and our children.

With the theme “A Beautiful Connection” it aims to reconnect people to the land while inspiring them with art, music and cultural mediums orchestrated by artists.

This event is free of admission to the public. It will be a full-day event at Bottle Tree Park, in Yishun, with creative workshops, art performances and a market place consisting of merchandise (organic, natural and eco-friendly) and plant-based food stalls.

These activities are designed to put across the message of environmental sustainability and the importance of sustainable practices. From engaging human senses in appreciation of Nature to participating to hands-on activities, everyone will get to play a part, no one will be a bystander!

Title of Event: Party for Earth
Date: 22nd April 2011 (Good Friday)
Time: 09:30 – 18:00
Venue: Bottle Tree Park, Yishun, at 81 Lorong Chencharu Singapore 769198 (10min walk from Khatib MRT station)
Cost: Free Admission
Website: http://earthdaysg.blogspot.com/
Contact: earthdaysg@gmail.com or Kian Seng 91120517

Event Objectives:

• To promote sustainable practice & educate on environmental sustainability and universal connectedness
• To sow the seeds of love, respect, ownership and responsibility in children and adults towards our unique planet
• To have fun, party and create inspiring experiences as we celebrate your efforts in making a difference for the planet

The day will kick off with ‘yoga circle’, ‘Walk for Earth’ and ‘Eco-heroes’ followed by artist-led community installation, a series of workshops such as puppets, drums, handicraft-making out of scraps, ‘Upcyling jewellery making’ and many more nature-orientated creative activities. The day’s program also includes theatrical and music performances by local artist, to name a few, Moody Theatre, Juz-B Accapella, Amanda Ling with Thunder Rock School, etc.

About Ground-Up Initiative (GUI)

GUI is a community-based and volunteer-driven non-profit organisation that brings together people who value reconnecting with and nurturing the land. Since April 2009, we have progressively built a Sustainable Living Kampung (SL Kampung), based at Bottle Tree Park, Yishun, where we promote environmental awareness and responsible practices by encouraging more people to come together to work, learn, play and in the process, care for humanity and the earth. SL Kampung is open to the public. Visit us at http://groundupinitiative.org/

Eco labels and certifications for products, services and facilities provide a certified green trustmark for consumers and businesses who wish to choose more environmentally-friendly alternatives and make the right choice.

There are hundreds of eco labels in the global market. In Singapore, we have about 10 different eco or green labels:

1. Eco-Office Label
2. Eco-Foodcourt Certification
3. Eco-Hotel Certification
4. Energy Label
5. Fuel Economy Label
6. Green Label
7. Green Mark
8. Singapore Green Building Product Certification
9. Sustainable Manufacturing Label
10. Water Efficiency Label

Here’s a guide to the eco labels in Singapore by Green Business Times:

1. Eco-Office Label

The Eco-Office Label is a certification managed by the Singapore Environment Council (SEC), which is based on the Eco-Office Rating System. Companies can do an online self-rating first before deciding to apply for certification.

Companies would be rated on their office activities such as: Environmental Policy and Commitment; Purchasing Practice; Paper Use; Printer, Photocopier and Fax Cartridges; Waste Reduction Measures; Recycling; Office Kitchen; Office Furniture; Energy Conservation; Water Conservation; Indoor Air Quality; Signs; and Travel.

2. Eco-Foodcourt Certification

The Eco-Foodcourt Certification by SEC is for food courts that are environmentally friendly and employ sustainable practices.

The key assessment criteria include having an environmental management system, the efficient use of energy and water, waste management and recycling, communication and education to stall vendors and patrons, and the use of environmentally-preferable resources such as non-styrofoam packaging, reusable or sustainable packaging or utensils.

3. Eco-Hotel Certification

The Eco-Hotel Certification by SEC provides guidelines and assessment of the environmental performance of hotels.

The certification looks into environmental practices such as energy, water, waste management, and guests and community outreach. Hotels can achieve different certification levels depending on how well the hotel performs, including Platinum, Gold, Silver or Bronze.

4. Energy Label

The Energy Label is issued by the National Environment Agency (NEA) and is mandatory for registered suppliers of air-conditioners, refrigerators and clothes dryers to affix the Energy Label on their appliances.

The Energy Label shows the energy efficiency rating and the energy consumption of the appliance. The energy efficiency rating is expressed in green ticks: 0 ticks (Low); 1 tick (Fair); 2 ticks (Good); 3 ticks (Very Good); and 4 ticks (Excellent). The appliance with more ticks is more energy efficient.

The public can check the green ticks for different brands and types of appliances from this database of registered goods. From Sep 2011, the Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS) will be implemented for air-conditioners and refrigerators. All 0-tick appliances and some 1-tick and 2-tick appliances will no longer be available.

5. Fuel Economy Label

It is mandatory for registered suppliers of motor vehicles to affix a Fuel Economy Label (FEL) on their vehicles. The FEL is managed by NEA and shows the fuel consumption of the vehicle, which indicates how much fuel is needed for traveling a certain distance (L/100km, kg/100km or Wh/km).

For cars with similar engine capacity, a higher fuel consumption means that the car is less fuel efficient. Check the fuel consumption of all the motor vehicles from this Database of Registered Motor Vehicles.

6. Green Label

The Singapore Green Labelling Scheme (SGLS) is managed by the Singapore Environment Council (SEC) to certify environmentally-friendly consumer products and services.

Green Label Products have to undergo an independent third party assessment of product environmental attributes based on a life cycle analysis approach.

The product categories include: Batteries, Building Materials, Cleansers and Detergents, Electronics, Home Appliances, Lighting, Office Machines, Office Products, Organics, Others, Packaging, Paints and Surface Coatings, Paper Products, Personal Electronics, and Personal Hygiene.

Search for green products in the SGLS Directory.

7. Green Mark

The BCA Green Mark Scheme was launched in January 2005 by the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) to encourage more green buildings and sustainability in the built environment.

The Green Mark is a green building rating system to evaluate a building for its environmental impact and performance based on five key criteria: Energy Efficiency, Water Efficiency, Environmental Protection, Indoor Environmental Quality, Other Green Features and Innovation.

Under the Green Mark assessment system, buildings are awarded the Platinum, Gold Plus, Gold or Certified rating depending on the points scored.

8. Singapore Green Building Product Certification

The Singapore Green Building Product Certification Scheme was launched by the Singapore Green Building Council (SGBC) in September 2010 to support the BCA Green Mark Scheme, and help the building industry move towards sustainability.

The certification will provide consumers, building industry stakeholders, and government procurement system a listing of assessed and certified green building products in the following categories: Mechanical, Electrical, Facade and Roof System, Concrete and Structural, Interior System, Finishes, Recycled Material, and Renewable Energy.

The products are assessed on: Energy efficiency, Water efficiency, Resource efficiency, Health and Pollution Control, and other requirements such as environment quality management system, technical performance, and innovation. The score would include: Certified (1 tick), Good (2 ticks), Excellent (3 ticks), and Leader (4 ticks).

9. Sustainable Manufacturing Label

The Sustainable Manufacturing Label Programme was jointly developed by the Singapore Manufacturers’ Federation (SMa), SPRING Singapore and the Singapore Environment Council (SEC). The programme is for manufacturers to establish a baseline on their current sustainable practices and to guide their sustainable manufacturing strategies.

The scoring criteria for the Sustainable Manufacturing Label includes: green corporate policies, product life cycle development, manufacturing processes, operations and facilities, and power and utilities usage.

10. Water Efficiency Label

There are 2 types of Water Efficiency Label for water-efficient water fittings and appliances under the Water Efficiency Labelling Scheme (WELS).

The Label under the Mandatory WELS is managed by PUB and includes shower taps and mixers, basin taps and mixers, sink/bib taps and mixers, flushing cisterns, urinals and urinal flush valve.

The Label under the Voluntary WELS is managed by PUB and the Singapore Environment Council (SEC), and includes showerheads and clothes washing machines.

The Water Efficiency Label shows the water consumption and water efficiency of the appliances and fittings. The water efficiency is expressed in terms of ticks: Zero Tick; 1 Tick (Good); 2 Ticks (Very Good); and 3 Ticks (Excellent). The more ticks shaded on the Label, the more water-efficient a product is.

Check out this list of water efficient products with the Water Efficiency Label.

New Eco Labels

Watch out for new upcoming eco labels such as the Eco-Retail and Eco-Community Club certifications by SEC, and the Singapore Carbon Label by the Singapore Institute of Manufacturing Technology (SIMTech) and SEC. Green Business Times will update this guide when the new eco labels are launched.

If Green Business Times missed out any eco labels in Singapore, do let them know through their contact form. Thanks!

Image credit: Eco-Office Label via SEC; Eco-Foodcourt via SEC; Energy Label via E2 Singapore; Fuel Economy Label via NEA; Green Label via SEC; Green Mark via BCA; Singapore Green Building Product Certification via SGBC; Water Efficiency Label via PUB.

The fourth episode in Portugal features:

• Bike paths around the Tejo River in Lisbon displaying the poetry of Portuguese writer Fernando Pessoa
• Designer Pedro Campos Costa and his glue-free cardboard creation, which acts as a seating unit, a shelving unit and is a remarkable work of art
• Stone House in Portugal, which is wedged between four large boulders in the mountains of Fafe, Portugal

Click here to view the embedded video.

The third episode in Spain features:

• The Beach Garbage Hotel in Madrid’s city center, made entirely of waste
• The Forum’s photovoltaic pergola, one of the most popular symbols of Barcelona’s new urban architecture and an emblem of the city’s commitment to renewable energies and sustainability
• Eco-Architect Enric Ruiz Geli and how he incorporates green engineering into his modern buildings such as the Media-TIC building
• The Robotic Fish

Click here to view the embedded video.

The second episode features:

• The spectacular living wall on the Musée du Quai Branly
• French eco-artist Mathilde Roussel-Giraudy
• Paris’s FedEx bike powered fleet

Click here to view the embedded video.

Empowered by Mercedes-Benz, Eco-Trek producers will be en route with the Mercedes F-CELL World Drive 2011 and circle the globe in 125 days in three of Mercedes-Benz’s emission free B Class Fuel Cell vehicles.

In partnership with CCM News, AsiaIsGreen will be showing weekly Eco-Trek episodes. The premiere episode features the first leg of the F-CELL World Drive from Stuttgart, Germany to Paris, France, and includes:

• Launch of Mercedes Fuel Cell World Drive
• The first fuel cell aircraft, the Antares
• The first electric unicycle
• German artist Ralf Schmerberg, who created a fridge igloo out of 322 old refrigerators to show the importance of energy conservation

Watch the first episode of Eco-Trek below:

Click here to view the embedded video.

Source: CCM News. Image: Eco-Trek video screenshot