We went for the Singapore World Water Day (Re)Cycle ride and it was well organised and a lovely morning ride. It’s a pity I didn’t have time to persuade more friends to join us.
We got Kok Min Yee to ride his new Tern bicycle, which is excellent.
After the event, we did agonise over the practise of handing out impractical-sized goodie bags filled with unsustainable items even during resource-sensitive events. No mention of water conservation. We need to fix this.
I ran down the barrier at my neighbourhood when I tried to slip through the gap which they have widened recently after I asked. I put the barrier aside and called the company to fix it – both barrier and myself were unscathed but there is a need need to widen the gap further for cyclists!
I tweeted the afternoon mangrove cleanup with this tag #WorldWaterDay.
“Cycling downstream along Sungei Pandan to NUS Toddycats & friends at the World Water Day mangrove cleanup!”
Runkeeper thought I was an otter swimming downstream.
“Reached the Sungei Pandan site; it’s not a pretty sight amidst the mangrove, downstream of this precious river.”
“Sungei Pandan mangrove, a precious fragment of a once extensive forest. ”
“In the mangrove, reflections of a throwaway culture; no mangrove, beach, sea or ocean is spared #WorldWaterDay”
“Most common trash: plastic bottles, plastic bags, straws, styrofoam pieces – single use items”
“Alongside the cleanup, a Nature Society (Singapore) survey of Sg Pandan mangrove for ancient horseshoe crabs”
“Mangrove cleanup and surveys must balance between impact and benefit; so slow and steady does it”
“Keeping one eye on the sky for lightning threat”
“What lies underfoot in Sungei Pandan mangrove? Red berry snails, Sphaerassiminea miniata my favourite!”
“Insult of plastic eliminated. Since 2006, regular cleanups have reduced trash load at Sg Pandan”
“On the way to the cleanup – six otters in Sungei Pandan!”
“Tallying data and cleaning up as the storm blows in”
“Thanks for an excellent and sensitive job! Sungei Pandan mangroves is a less polluted habitat!”
Ng Kai Scene shared on LINE that working with Independents in the mangrove is balm to the soul of ICCS Otters. A motivated bunch, they inspire us always for sure, and did so again today. Kai Scene has been tasked to elaborate on the News from ICCS blog.
Back home through the rain, I looped Pandan Reservoir then watched the river fill up with water and sediment (and some litter) and had most of the PCN to myself.
It was torture waking up to Google Hangout with an honours student. And I’ll have more of that tomorrow, so I can’t ride – it’s that time of the year, the honours poster oral exam.
Otterman speaks... 