6-22 Sep: "SEAs The Day" by WWF at the National Library

"SEAs The Day" is WWF-Singapore's inaugural marine-themed public outreach event (6 - 22 Sep). Interactive experiences and educational opportunities, and discover how you can play a part in protecting our oceans.

Sign up here https://go.gov.sg/seastheday-wwf

24 Jun (Mon): Chasing Coral - Public Screening & Discussion Forum

Coral reefs around the world are vanishing at an alarming rate. Chasing Coral, an award winning documentary, follows a group of divers, photographers and scientists on their thrilling ocean adventure to record the recent devastating effects of coral bleaching.

FREE public screening and discussion forum happening on 24 Jun (Monday) at the Function Room, Botany Centre (Singapore Botanic Gardens)! No registration is required.

IYOR 2018 End of Year Report - Singapore's collective efforts

The International Coral Reef Initiative just released the IYOR 2018 End of Year Report on the various activities held across the world! You can download the report here: https://www.iyor2018.org/news/iyor-end-year-report/

Taking this opportunity to thank all of our partners, supporters, friends, and volunteers for supporting Celebrating Singapore Shores! In the past year, our FaceBook page has reached out to almost 1500 likes and 1500 follows! Thank you so much for your support, and we hope to continue using this platform to Connect, Respect, and Protect our marine environments. You can also follow our blog page for events: https://celebratingsingaporeshores.blogspot.com/

Let's take a quick recap on Singapore's efforts!

16 Mar (Sat): Celebrating Singapore Shores at Berlayar Creek

More than 20 marine community groups are offering an evening of fun. FREE, no registration required. Specially for kids and the family with games and prizes, nature walks and films.

As International Year of the Reef 2018 comes to a close, the community launches Celebrating Singapore Shores forever!

Celebrating Singapore's Shores on the road: September - December

In the months of September to December, Celebrating Singapore Shores was on the road once more to raise awareness for the secret shores of Singapore!

This FREE talk "Secret Shores of Singapore", accompanied by FREE panels and brochures that are kindly sponsored by the National Research Foundation, is offered as part of Celebrating Singapore Shores and International Year of the Reef (IYOR) 2018. Yi Feng is one of the many outstanding youths who have stepped up as an IYOR intern. 

Yi Feng shares about his time as an intern with Celebrating Singapore Shores in the past few months leading to the end of the year:

8-9 Dec: Kids' art workhop and film screening

Free screening of "Acid Ocean" on 9 Dec (Sun). Learn about threats to coral reefs and how to turn the situation around. On 8-9 Dec, "Fun Prints with Marine Debris" specially for kids by Dr. Wang Ruobing.

These activities are held in conjunction with International Year of the Reef 2018, and as part of Beneath Tide, Running Forest — An art and science exploration of marine biodiversity.

[Spotlight on IYOR Interns!] Our Seas, Our Legacy by Nathaniel Soon

When you think of Singapore, the word 'marine conservation', 'marine biodiversity', and 'marine biology' would not be part of your lexicon. Growing up in highly urbanised Singapore, it is hard to imagine that we have much to see around Singapore waters (plus it's kind of murky and all!).

Quietly working over the years, a group of unsung marine heroes have been raising awareness of this unique natural heritage of Singapore waters. And one filmmaker is determined to make their voices and actions heard.

As part of the celebrations for International Year of the Reef 2018 in Singapore, the community initiative Celebrating Singapore Shores hosted young interns to platform their voices and ideas. Meet Nathaniel Soon, a 21-year old filmmaker, diver, and college freshman, who founded 'Our Seas, Our Legacy'.

This is what Nathaniel has to say:

24 Nov (Sat): 'Chasing Coral' - FREE screening at the Singapore Botanic Gardens

This weekend, come for a FREE outdoor screening of 'Chasing Coral'. In conjunction with International Year of the Reef 2018, witness a journey to reveal how the greatest impact on earth’s changing climate may be hidden beneath in our ocean.

Chasing Coral has bagged many awards since its release in 2017, including the Environmental Advocacy Award at the Philadelphia Environmental Film Festival 2018 most recently.

More details on the NParks website.

Date: 24 Nov (Sat)
Time: 7.30pm - 9pm
Venue: Singapore Botanic Gardens, Eco Garden

21 Nov (Wed): Diving into citizen science - Marine chit-chats

Meet a local marine film-maker who documents work on Singapore shores, learn about coral reef restoration work, and more! FREE with registration.

Join Our Singapore Reefs, Our Seas, Our Legacy, Sea Communities and local marine biologists for a night of marine chit-chats!

[Spotlight on IYOR Interns!] The Bottled-Up Truth: Singapore's Plastic Problem

Over the past year, there has been an overwhelming response from the global communities to tackle the problem of plastics. In Singapore, there has been an increase in the number of players both in the commercial markets and independents who have stepped up to campaign against the excessive use of plastics and organise clean-ups.

As part of the celebrations for International Year of the Reef 2018 in Singapore, the community initiative Celebrating Singapore Shores hosted young interns to platform their voices and ideas. One pair: Jia Min and Fangyi worked hard to produce the following short film to highlight Singapore's excessive use of plastics and where they end up around Singapore.

From the blog post at Celebrating Singapore Shores, the girls said:

This video was created to raise awareness on the issue of plastic pollution in Singapore, while featuring the marine wildlife that we have on our very shores.

We sincerely hope that this video will enlighten everyone to play their part in small ways to effect a big change together. Reducing the use of single-use plastics may inconvenience us just a little bit, but the impact that we can create through these small efforts could make a world of a difference from the environment, for the wildlife, and for future generations.

Well-said and well-done! :D

Further reading:

• The Plastic Backlash: What's behind our sudden rage - and will it make a difference?
• Plastic Oceans, Plastic Seafood
• Pesky plastics, microplastics, and now nanoplastics too!
• Consequences of plastic waste end up in YOU and ME...
• RWS stops providing single-use plastic straws at attractions, eateries
• Zero plastic bags or zero waste? In defence of Singapore's rejection of a plastic bag ban
• Commentary: Dear Singapore, a plastic future is not fantastic

Our Seas, Our Legacy - a visual storytelling platform for Singapore's shores

Announcing the launch of Our Seas, Our Legacy, a documentary collective celebrating Singapore's marine environment and biodiversity through visual storytelling.

Join 21 year-old Nathaniel Soon as he shares about his passion for the oceans and how he uses visual storytelling as a means of advocacy through his journey with marine conservation here in Singapore!

1-4 Nov: Singapore Eco Film Festival 2018 celebrates IYOR and Singapore shores

Come for the Singapore Eco Film Festival! Nathaniel Soon will share about Singapore shores and people who care about them. Films about Pulau Ubin and the efforts to restore mangroves there, as well as other marine issues will be screened. And International  Year of the Reef 2018 will be highlighted too.

Check out the Singapore Eco Film Festival website for free tickets and more details.

Seashore fun for the family during the September school holidays

Lots of exciting seashore happenings for kids and the family this holidays!

There are free screenings of marine films, a nature camp in the mangroves, night walk at Pasir Ris, family trip to Pulau Ubin, a family workshop on shorebirds who are just returning to our shores now, or get muddy in the mangroves. Here's highlights of activities specially for kids and the family...

1 Sep (Sat): Beneath the Waves - films, art, talks and more!

Come for a day of marine films including Chasing Coral, Remember Chek Jawa, Birth of a Marine Park!

A great opportunity to meet a broad range of marine folk: advocates, artists, scientists, agencies and social enterprises. And learn more about marine and sustainability issues in Singapore.

Celebrate World Oceans Day in Singapore

8 June is World Oceans Day! In 2018, the Action Focus is preventing plastic pollution and encouraging solutions for a healthy ocean.

Around this Day, happenings on Singapore shores include Chek Jawa Open House, screening of a film about Sungei Tampines and plastic pollution, and walks at Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve and  Coney Island, and a public talk by seagrass scientists. Here's more details...

"The Untold Story of Sungei Tampines": 8 Jun and 22 Jun

A small river running through the Pasir Ris mangrove boardwalk, Sungei Tampines is bursting with wildlife!

An otter seen during a public walk
at Sungei Tampines.

Nature Society (Singapore) member Kwan Hun shares videos of the wildlife at Sungei Tampines and discusses how plastic pollution and feeding are impacting them. Come for this two-part free screening to join in the discussion.

11 May (Fri): "Albatross" film screening and talk

Midway Island. Located more than 2000 miles from the nearest civilisation, this sanctuary is home to the world’s largest colony of albatross. During nesting season, more than 1.5 million birds occupy almost every corner of the island, where they will raise their chicks. Only one thing challenges this bird’s reign: plastic.

Join us on this eye-opening, heartbreaking adventure and witness the impacts that our actions have on our environment.

21 Apr (Sat): Free screening of “A Plastic Ocean” at the Singapore Botanic Gardens

The theme for Earth Day 2018 is “End Plastic Pollution”. Plastic is threatening our planet's survival, from poisoning and injuring marine life to disrupting human hormones, from littering our beaches and landscapes to clogging our streams and landfills.

A Plastic Ocean documents the newest science, proving how plastics, once they enter the oceans, break up into small particulates that enter the food chain where they attract toxins like a magnet. These toxins are stored in seafood’s fatty tissues, and eventually consumed by us.

Celebrate Earth Day on Singapore shores!

Next week is Earth Day with the theme "End Plastic Pollution". The Earth Day website has more info on how you can end plastic pollution as an individual, organisation and educator.

This Earth Day weekend, there's lots happening on Singapore shores! Clean up plastics from a shore at Lim Chu Kang, watch a free movie about marine plastics at the Botanic Gardens, rescue horseshoe crabs at Kranji, get muddy at Sungei Buloh, join shore walks at Chek Jawa and the Sisters Islands Marine Park, explore the heritage of Pulau Ubin or kayak to St John's Island.

17-18 Mar: 'The Fun Odyssea' - community launch for kids and the family

For kids and families! This March school holidays, join Captain Patty Parrotfish and its supportive sidekick, Izzy Isopod, on their journey discovering treasures of the sea!

click on image for larger view

Admission into Sentosa is FREE from 10 - 18 March for ALL locals and local residents! For entry via Sentosa Express, tap your EZ-link card to enter while locally registered IU vehicles can just drive through!