Balloons - NOT worth celebrating!

Thanks to Rachel Mark and Cassandra Chai for highlighting the deadly impact of balloons on our marine life!

They share more about the harmful effects of balloons, some misconceptions and alternatives to balloons for your party and celebrations!

FREE Talks and Tour on Ocean Plastic Pollution (7 Dec 2018, Friday at 7pm)

FREE Talks and Tour on Ocean Plastic Pollution!

7 December 2018, Friday

Function Hall, Botany Centre, Singapore Botanic Gardens

7.00-8.30pm

Walk-in registration! First-come, first-served for tour!

Talks:

Three eminent international scientists are here as part of the International Conference on Plastics in the Marine Environment, organised by NUS, SCELSE, Cefas, and NParks!

• Professor Richard Lampitt, National Oceanography Centre, UK
• Ms Rhiannon Moore, Ocean Wise, Canada
• Ms Ellie Jones, Oregon Institute of Marine Biology, US

Tour:

A specially curated tour of the Beneath Tide, Running Forest art-science exhibition by Dr Wang Ruobing.

[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

Volunteers needed for Nov 2018 marine litter survey

Here's a chance to visit some of our shores and make a difference for the marine litter issue! Volunteer for the NUS-NParks Marine Debris Monitoring Programme in July.

Photo by Liz Lim

Professor Richard Thompson's talk on Marine Litter - Plastics aren't the enemy. It is how we choose to use plastics.

We had the pleasure of hosting Professor Richard Thompson OBE from the University of Plymouth to speak about marine litter! He has dedicated the last 25 years of his career examining the issues of marine plastics, and even coined the term "microplastics"!

Thank you to everyone who had attended the talk yesterday evening, and we hoped that you had learnt more about our interactions with plastics, and feel inspired to live more responsibly with them! In case you missed out on this talk, here are some key messages from his talk.

International Conference on Plastics in the Marine Environment (IC-PME 2018), Singapore

Save the Dates! 5-7 December 2018

Celebrating Singapore Shores is proud to be an Organising Partner for this upcoming exciting international conference that will touch on a hot topic for the year - Plastics in the Marine Environment.

25 Jul (Wed): Research talk by Professor Richard Thompson (Marine Litter) [UPDATE!]

In conjunction with the International Year of the Reef (IYOR 2018), the British High Commission Singapore, National University of Singapore, and the National Parks Board jointly bring to you the following talk:

“Marine Litter: Are there solutions to this global environmental problem?” by Professor Richard Thompson OBE, University of Plymouth, UK.

Details of the talk:
Date: 25th July 2018 (Wednesday)
Time: 6:30 - 8:00 pm
Venue: University Town, Stephen Riady Centre, UT-AD2 (Level 1), NUS

How to get there: http://utown.nus.edu.sg/contact/getting-here/

The talk is FREE by registration is required here by 20 July 2018.

Please help circulate the announcement to any one interested. And we hope to see you there!

Best regards,
Organisers at BHC, NUS, NParks
Supported by Celebrating Singapore Shores

Volunteers needed for July 2018 marine litter survey

Here's a chance to visit some of our shores and make a difference for the marine litter issue! Volunteer for the NUS-NParks Marine Debris Monitoring Programme in July.

Photo by Liz Lim

"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.

12 May (Sat): Lazarus Island dive cleanup with Our Singapore Reefs

Grab your friends and join volunteers of Our Singapore Reefs to discover marine animals that live on the seawall and help save Lazarus Island from marine trash and plastic waste! In celebration of 2018 International Year of the Reef!

Volunteers needed for May 2018 marine litter survey

Here's a chance to visit some of our shores and make a difference for the marine litter issue! Volunteer for the NUS-NParks Marine Debris Monitoring Programme.

Photo by Liz Lim

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.

"Waves of Change" Poster Design Competition for kids and youths: Closing date 6 July

Inspire change and win prizes! Submission period 19 March to 6 July. Open to ages 7 to 25 years old!

To increase public awareness of marine litter, impacts brought by marine litter and encourage members of the public to contribute in the protection of our marine environment by making changes in their daily lives, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) is launching the Waves of Change Poster Design Competition as part of Singapore’s commitment to develop a maritime industry that is not only competitive but also efficient, responsible and sustainable.

Download submission guidelines and information kit.

For more information, please contact MPA via training@sec.org.sg or +65 6337 6062.

3 Apr (Tue): Action Against Plastic Workshop for Educators and Students

For teachers and students! The Action Against Plastic workshop will involve hands-on activities and share resources to help teachers and students take action to mediate the problems of plastic in our society.

Aquarius the Otter, injured by a plastic band.
Photo by Abel Yeo. Full story here.

This workshop is in support of International Year of the Reef 2018 and Singapore's Year of Climate Action, and organised by Jane Goodall Institute (Singapore) and supported by Singapore Chinese Girls’ School.

Volunteers needed for Apr 2018 marine litter survey

Here's a chance to visit some of our shores and make a difference for the marine litter issue! Volunteer for the NUS-NParks Marine Debris Monitoring Programme.

Photo by Liz Lim

FOLLOW US! - Instagram Our Singapore Reefs

In this series of 'FOLLOW US!' we want to highlight interesting Instagram pages about Singapore's marine biodiversity and seashores that are worthy of following!

Here, we have Our Singapore Reefs (@oursingaporereefs). Affectionately called OSR, a group of passionate advocates started this not-for-profit initiative that is fuelled by the love of the oceans and its inhabitants.

Volunteers needed for Feb 2018 marine litter survey

Here's a chance to visit some of our shores and make a difference for the marine litter issue! Volunteer for the NUS-NParks Marine Debris Monitoring Programme.

27 Jan (Sat): Workshop on microplastics at St John's Island

Now open for registration! The FREE Microplastics Analysis Workshop will be held at St John's Islands and includes a hands on experience of field surveying for microplastics. As well as a panel discussion to learn about impact of marine trash and community efforts to address them.

Volunteers needed for Jan 2018 marine litter survey

Here's a chance to visit some of our shores and make a difference for the marine litter issue! Volunteer for the NUS-NParks Marine Debris Monitoring Programme.