Earth Day thoughts about our shores

Today is Earth Day. Although called Earth, our planet is mostly ocean.

And today seems a good time to review what we think about our shores, the place where earth meets ocean for ordinary people.

Singapore's shores are very much alive! As the many entries in this and other blogs attest.

It is thus with dismay that we read recent proposals to utilise our shores for large scale development including: building a strip of hotels at the East Coast (21 Apr), a huge artificial dam across Pulau Ubin and Pulau Tekong and the mainland (18 Apr), a Disneyland Sea in Singapore (9 Apr).

These proposals don't appear to embody an understanding of the impact of these developments to the quality of life for those who live nearby and to our natural heritage. And a true appreciation of the price and value of our shores.

What can be done about this?

Explore!

Visit your shores while you can. Join many of the activities and efforts to raise awareness of our reefs (see the exciting list below).

Express!

Speak up when proposals are made that don't seem to take full account of the situation. This is an opportunity to highlight all the critical issues. For example, Ivan's and other responses to the Tekong-Ubin proposal.

Act!

There are many groups working hard to raise awareness of our rich and living shores.

Last weekend, there was a turnout of many volunteers at ADEX to share our shores. Last Sunday, the Naked Hermit Crabs went on the Rouge talk show to highlight our shores. To highlight the imperiled Cyrene Reefs, a special reef in Singapore's port, last week November started the Cyrene Blogging Carnival to highlight blog entries about Cyrene Reef.

And upcoming this week, to celebrate Earth Day, the Hantu Bloggers will do a dive at Pulau Hantu to check out our coral spawning (yes, our reefs are not only very much alive, but also having great sex!).

While the NParks Conservation Division is launching a series of talks on our biodiversity, answering questions such as "Are there coral reefs in Singapore?" and sharing about Pulau Hantu.

The Naked Hermit Crabs meanwhile are doing a free public walk at the Chek Jawa Boardwalk.

Here's more Earth Day activities for our shores.

As part of International Year of the Reef, a great many groups and individuals are putting effort into highlighting our reefs and shores this year. Up ahead, Joseph Lai has put together the Dugong Ambassadors at Chek Jawa a fabulous events for kids to paint a mural at Chek Jawa and share about our shores.

Don't want to get your feet wet?

Support our shores from your armchair!
You CAN make a difference with a click!

Leave a comment about our shores on the International Year of the Reef guestbook. Every voice counts!

Join the facebook group called "I want to go Cyrene Reef!" started by November, which at last count has 129 members. To show that there are people who care enough to want to learn more about our reefs.

Our shores are wonderful, there is much to do for them!
More links
More on explore, express and act on the wildsingapore website.