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Green Corner

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Green Corner

Have you ever had to throw away books in good condition or a half empty bottle of detergent because you had no further use for them? The general trend of discarding items in good condition after a user has no need for them is prevalent in NTU “!s Halls of Residence, which is even more noticeable towards the end of semesters. The items abandoned include electronics such as printers, chargers, kettles etc., books such as textbooks and novels, stationery items such as post-its, lecture pads etc., as well as cloth hangers and detergents. These items may no longer be useful to you in the near future, however they might be of use to others.

In order to revolutionize this trend to encourage the eco-conservation principle of reusability, Earthlink NTU is introducing a SGreen Corner in central locations of every hall of residence, which is essentially a stand-alone cubby hole system that would provide the residents with an alternative location for residents to deposit items in working order that they no longer require which can subsequently be withdrawn by anyone who would be interested in putting them to good use.

In accordance with this new campaign, SGreen Corners will be placed in Hall of Residence 3 and Hall of Residence 16 from the 1st February 2013 in prime locations. At Hall 16, they would be placed near the prepaid card recharge kiosk in block 16B and at Hall 3, they would be placed near the Function Hall. The primary objective of this green initiative is to promote a culture of reusability among the NTU population as well as prevent disposal of items in good working condition, which would be tremendously beneficial to the residents of NTU. Therefore, we hope the residents will actively support this new green initiative and use the SGreen Corner as a means of procuring and depositing items in good condition which could be reused.

Bring Your Own Bag Campaign 2013

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Bring Your Own Bag Campaign 2013

Pioneers of several campaigns have stressed that facts and figures drive people to pay attention to several practices that could result in dire consequences. In accordance with this well established practice, I would like to state the following statistics. Each year, an estimated 500 billion to 1 trillion plastic bags are consumed worldwide which comes out to over one million per minute. Billions end up as litter each year or in landfills. In addition, almost 3 million tons of plastic are used to bottle water each year worldwide out of which 80 percent are not recycled. In conclusion, we are drowning in plastic, people! If I am not mistaken, that could be an inconvenience.

The Bring Your Own Bag Daily campaign is back and invites students to participate in a movement to reduce plastic consumption among the student population. The campaign consists of Bring Your Own Bag Daily Week, an attempt to enforce the importance of reducing the use of plastic bags and the overall objectives of the campaign via exhibition booths with interactive games and Green Ambassadors at the various stores from 28th to 30th January 2013 at Canopy N, in addition to the collection of 10 additional cents from students for the provision of plastic bags for purchases from the various supply and grocery stores on campus.

Students are aware that the ever-increasing consumption of plastic may prove detrimental for the environment. However, sheer laziness and convenience lead students to ignore the consequences of using plastic bags on a daily basis. We, at Earthlink NTU believe that increasing awareness on the significance of bringing your own bag or using a reusable bag as well as stressing them to take a glimpse into a world where plastic bags replace flora and fauna could help bring a positive change in students “! mindsets. The main objective of the campaign is to encourage the practice of bringing your own plastic bags for shipping and to advocate the usage of re-usable bags among the NTU population.

Nevertheless we also believe that education must be fun. The BYOBD Week includes information booths, interactive games, a photo taking booth and a lucky draw for participants which would impart knowledge as well as be engaging. Hence, we hope the NTU population actively supports this campaign and aids us in eliminating plastic bags which would result in NTU being the first university to achieve this phenomenal feat.

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Striding Towards A Greener Future – NTU Recycling Drive

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Striding Towards A Greener Future – NTU Recycling Drive

REDUCE, REUSE and RECYCLE are essentially three simple ways we as students can contribute towards managing waste efficiently while preserving the environment. An average person in Singapore generated 1,330 kg of waste which summed up to a whopping 6,898,300 tons in 2011 according to the National Environment Agency. However only 59% of this waste was in turn recycled which is just a 1% increase over the previous year. Nevertheless, it is indicative of an emerging positive trend in the attitude towards recycling and we as students have been taking initiatives in order to support this move towards a sustainable future and must continue to do so.
How did we make a meaningful contribution?
The Recycling Drive by Earthlink NTU was held from 1st December to 12th December 2012. During this event, large wheeled recycling bins were placed at various strategic locations around campus. All we needed to do was to locate these bins and deposit our recyclable waste. Recyclable waste essentially comprises of dry clothes, paper and books. The Recycling Drive 2012 was a phenomenal success with students contributing as much as 870 kilograms of recyclable materials which consisted of 800 kilograms worth of paper and 70 kilograms of clothes. These materials were procured from the strategically placed recycling bins as well as via door to door collection done at the halls of residences. The figures indicate a 30% increase in collection over the previous recycling drive which is synonymous with a remarkable positive change in the attitude of students towards inculcating sustainable methods and their willingness to contribute and make a difference.
How can we do this in future?
The easiest step would be to actively contribute recyclable materials during the Recycling Drive held by Earthlink NTU. It is a biannual event primarily held during the end of the examination period in both semesters, making it an ideal avenue for students to rid themselves of their unwanted notes and papers. In addition, the duration of the event coincides with the start of the vacation where many residents withdraw from their rooms, making it a convenient means of disposing undesirable clothes and accessories. The main objective of the Recycling Drive is to encourage students to sort their waste and contribute to recycling. In short, it aims to increase awareness regarding the significance of incorporating waste management practices in our day to day lives.
The Recycling Drive presents an opportunity for students to involve themselves in recycling as well as to adopt environment-friendly habits. To summarize, waste and how we choose to handle it can have a direct impact on our immediate surroundings and hence, it is paramount that we make an effort to understand and implement the recommended waste management practices.

Bukit Timah Hill: We Came, We Saw, We Learnt, We Conquered

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Bukit Timah Hill: We Came, We Saw, We Learnt, We Conquered

EarthLink NTU “!s members went on a recreational trip to Bukit Timah Nature Reserve on Saturday, the 27th of October. We gathered at the EarthLink outing headquarters-the Chinese Heritage Center, at 8 30 am, only to be surprised by being handed indemnity forms to sign, making the imminent trip feel as thrilling as scaling Mount Everest. It was a magnificent experience.

The bus journey from NTU to Bukit Timah Nature Reserve was eventful as ever, as the members, munching on delicious cream rolls and muffins, learnt about how Singapore, one of the greenest cities on the planet, has a forest cover of only 2%.

Greetings by a stuffed tiger at the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve “!s visitor center foretold the nature of a roaring expedition to be undertaken by the member “!s of EarthLink NTU “!s subcommittee: a trek to the highest point above sea level in Singapore. The expedition group was split up into smaller groups, each with its own expedition leader- a newly recruited Nature Guide.

Having expertly prepared for the trek, the Nature Guides stopped regularly along the path to educate other members about the exotic plants that grew in the reserve, including the sky-high Seraya trees, the Rattan, the figs and the Macaranga. In spite of the large number of trekkers and joggers on the path, the atmosphere was suffused with serenity, as we basked in the dense foliage, and played a game that involved marking the various rainforest layers.

Only after we reached the summit of Bukit Timah hill, did we realize that our eagerness to trek to the top had clouded our minds: we had not introduced ourselves to our own group members. A brief introduction and a photo-session later, we headed down; the path was surprisingly steep, with many of us having to walk backwards to keep our balance.

At the foothill, it was concluded that a group photograph was in order. In keeping with EarthLink NTU “!s eventful group photography sessions this year, a rather hungry crab-eating macaque joined us, just as the picture was about to be clicked. We didn “!t mind of course, as we at EarthLink NTU believe that every being on Earth is an integral part of our ecosystem. Or perhaps the macaque wanted to acknowledge our commitment to the environment by posing in the picture with us. Either way, it ensured that the outing ended on a humorous note.

Sub-committee Outing 2012

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Sub-committee Outing 2012

EarthLink NTU “!s newly recruited Subcommittee members were welcomed to the club with an excursion to HortPark on Saturday, 29th September 2012. The trip was to familiarize the new members with members from other portfolios, as well as members of the Main Committee. But even by the lowest definition, everyone went home with more than just a few new friends.

Anyone walking past the Chinese Heritage Centre at 8 am on Saturday would have noticed a large group students sitting on the steps, as the Nature Guides attempted to make everyone rote-learn everyone else “!s names. After this brief memory exercise, the members were treated to cakes and bread, which rapidly disappeared down everyone “!s throats

At HortPark, the members, along with their assigned group were given a tour around the gardening hub, guided by an experienced researcher. They learnt in detail about the various plants that grew in the gardening hub, all explained humorously. From the unpleasant durian tree to the diabolical strangling fig to the Indian lizard that was somehow introduced into Singapore, the members felt their heads getting fuller with gardening related information every minute.Of course, the highlight of the park was the butterfly enclosure. Not only was it cooler, with the heavy leaf cover, but also it was an amusing sight to see butterflies landing on human heads all around.

The groups played an ingenious game before lunch, in which each player had to draw the image of an environmental issue, and the next one had to guess what it was. Though tiring to play under the scorching sun, it was hilarious to see what well-drawn images had deteriorated into when it reached the Sartist at the end of each line of players.

As all good things must end, the members were rounded up and sent back to their buses, after refilling their stomachs with a sumptuous meal. Just to highlight the member “!s eco-mindedness, the cardboard covers and the polystyrene food carriers were separated before they were thrown.

Just before boarding, the Club “!s president Alex suggested that a group photograph be taken. With no photographer in sight, the camera was balanced precariously on the edge of a staircase railing and self-timed, as EarthLink NTU “!s new and old members squeezed into the picture. After all, we are Sone big happy family.

Main-Committee Outing 2012

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Main-Committee Outing 2012

25 people from different cultures, schools and ideologies but with a common passion for the environment were elected as the office bearers of the 20th Management of Earthlink NTU. Thus, an outing was organized to create and foster a bond of trust, friendship and co-operation among the members of the newly formed committee.

The outing to Gardens by the Bay on the 15th of September was organized by the Nature Guidance Officer and the Education and Welfare Officer. It was a potluck dinner, where each committee member would bring in some food and we would have a picnic as well as games to get to know each other better.

We set up a picnic spot along one of the paths and started our first game, Human Bingo. Each of the committee members was given a sheet of paper with a set of personality questions that they had to answer by finding someone else within the committee who fit the description. It gave the members a great chance to find out more about each other “!s preferences and characteristics.

The game was followed by the dinner where everyone enjoyed a taste of all the different kinds of food brought by the committee as a whole. After the potluck picnic, the entire committee proceeded towards the garden “!s signature Supertree Grove to bask in the array of lights in the evening as the Supertrees come to life with mesmerizing lights and music. This enchanting spectacle brought what was a fruitful and merry outing to an end.

I think I can speak for the entire committee when I say that we had a wonderful time and are eagerly anticipating working together over the next one year as Earthlink NTU embarks on a new journey.

Sub-Committee Recruitment Drive

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Sub-Committee Recruitment Drive

SI want to be an Earthlinker . These were common words heard during the recently held Sub-committee Recruitment Drive, spread over two days, the 5th and 6th of September 2012 in the North Spine. The main objective was to call out to environment enthusiasts in NTU and provide them with avenues to voice out their opinions and ideas which would contribute towards the greater good of the environment.

Students were free to choose from a variety of portfolios, being a part of which they could aid to increase awareness as well as learn about environment friendly practices. They were eager to grab an opportunity to be a part of a large organization and improve their leadership and communication skills and at the same time contribute towards the bigger picture of having a positive influence on the NTU community by propagating the notion of an environmentally sustainable lifestyle.

It was a wonderful opportunity for us at Earthlink NTU whereby we got the chance to interact with several bright minds with great care for the environment and a drive to make a difference in every way they could. Together, we hope to induce the same passion towards the environment in those around us and take a step forward into a greener and brighter future.

Bring Your Own Bag 2011

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Bring Your Own Bag 2011

Shouts of SBYOB! pierced the silence of a Monday afternoon at study benches along the North Spine. No one so much as lifted his or her head from studying. That did not deter 13 Earthlink members from shouting to raise awareness for their cause.

Such was their perseverance as they marched from Canteen B to Canopy K near LT1A wearing cumbersome sandwich boards advocating environmentalism. These walking advertisements pulled out all stops to attract attention. One particularly creative one had a picture of Justin Bieber, and a caption that read, “Okay, now that you’ve been captured by Justin Beiber’s intense yet soulful gaze, let’s talk about disposing waste responsibly!”

After the parade, they settled down at Canopy K and set up a booth featuring a quiz area to engage passers-by and a projection screen which displayed informational videos about the harmful effects of plastic bags on the environment.

At the booth, Campaign Management Officer Srivathsan Murali gamely dressed up as a mascot to draw eyeballs for the campaign. His costume, made up of plastic bags in various neon shades, did indeed garner attention for the cause.

At the quiz area, passers-by were quizzed about their knowledge of the environment. The toughest question involved answering which things were made from reusable materials. No one could guess correctly, from the photograph shown, what reusable materials a Buddhist temple in Thailand was made of. The surprise they express when the material was revealed to be beer bottles was interesting to behold. It also highlights the fact that materials we encounter in our daily lives are more useful than we think. As a reward, participants were given pin badges with positive environmental messages like SGo Meatless printed on them, as well as notepads.

This BYOB Roadshow kickstarts the BYOB Awareness Week which seeks to inform people at NTU about the new BYOB initiative that will continue until the end of 2011: 10 cents will be charged for plastic bags used at each purchase at retail outlets in NTU. Throughout the week, Earthlink ambassadors were also stationed at the cashiers of these locations to inform customers about the initiative.

The ambassadors also try to convince customers who habitually use plastic bags to think twice and consider the harmful effects of plastic bags: plastic bags take centuries to biodegrade, thus taking up space in landfills. Also, in seas and oceans, they are a hazard to the wildlife which mistake plastic bags for food. Plastic bags also go through a photodegradation process in which they are broken down into small toxic substances which pollute the environment. Thus, while plastic bags are may seem convenient now, we will actually have to pay a high price for our use of them in future.

International Coastal Cleanup Singapore 2011

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International Coastal Cleanup Singapore 2011

260 million tons. The amount of plastic used worldwide every year. 1 trillion. The number of plastic bags consumed. 1000 years. The time it takes for a plastic bag to degrade. 180. The species of marine wildlife affected by ingestion of plastic waste. These numbers are not merely statistics but the indicators of a problem of massive proportions. The International Coast Cleanup (ICC) is an initiative that takes concrete steps towards minimizing, documenting and generating awareness for this pandemic.

The ICC is an annual event where volunteers collect waste and collate data on the garbage and debris accumulating on shorelines of the world s lakes, rivers and oceans. It is conducted simultaneously in about hundred countries, coordinated by a non-profit US-based agency, The Ocean Conservancy and in Sinagpore, it is organized by volunteers from the Raffles Museum of Biodiversity Research. It was held on the 17th of September and Earthlink NTU participated in the event for the eighth time, continuing to support the cause this year as well. Earthlink s contribution to ICCS is being awarded at the Biodiversity of Singapore Symposium III, presented by Minister of State for National Development, BG (NS) Tan Chuan-Jin.

The group, comprising of NTU students from different schools, reached the site, Pandan Mangrove, at eight in the morning. After a briefing by the zone manager about the safety measures and data collection method, the volunteers got down to clearing the trash from the allocated areas. Plastic bottles, bags, styrofoam and other different kinds of trash material were gathered, while each group kept counting and categorizing the collected items on data cards to ensure a proper records. These go on to influence laws and policies governing the management of waste in different parts of the world.

The coastal cleanup was both a fun and a fruitful experience for everyone involved and after two hours of hard work, Earthlink managed to collect 96.5 kgs of waste, contributing to the total 1,977 kgs collected in the South Zone. The club hopes that this adds to the cumulative effect of the entire movement and goes a long way in ensuring and maintaining the purity of coastal areas in Singapore.