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  Straits Times 18 Nov 06
'S'pore will practically disappear'

Two icons of the natural world, who were in Singapore recently, spoke about the drastic measures needed to curb rampant environmental problems. Tessa Wong talked to primatologist Jane Goodall and naturalist David Attenborough.

TELEVISION icon and naturalist David Attenborough has sounded the alarm - global warming is bad for Singapore's environmental future.

The 80-year-old TV presenter, who was in Singapore recently for a shoot, said that if the world does not reduce carbon emissions soon, 'we will change the face of the planet'.

Over the longer term, 'Singapore will practically disappear', he said ominously, referring to how carbon emissions from burning of fossil fuels directly contribute to global warming, which in turn leads to rising sea levels.

This is dangerous for an island like Singapore which has low-lying coastal areas that can be susceptible to flooding. Indeed, a recent British government report has warned of devastating droughts, flooding, epidemics and famines, because of global warming.

Sir David said that the biggest environmental problem in the world is the human population.

'We're devastating the planet, the atmosphere, the forest and the sea. It's time we changed,' he declared. His remarks are in line with his recent efforts at preaching the gospel of environmentalism.

Sir David, whose 20 nature shows have educated and entertained millions around the world for 52 years, started speaking out on such issues in May this year.

He took time out for an exclusive interview with The Straits Times during a shoot at Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve. It was his 53rd stop in an ongoing series of film shoots for his latest, and last, television show.

Called Life In Cold Blood, the BBC nature series will feature creatures from more than 60 locations in 11 countries. Sir David started filming in May last year and is due to finish shooting in January. Life In Cold Blood will be his last television show, although he plans to continue writing wildlife books.

'One just can't go on like this past the age of 80,' he replied wryly when asked about his retirement from television.

He and his crew spent three hours shooting footage of crab-eating water snakes here. He then briefly met a group of fans and volunteers from the wetland reserve, the Raffles Museum of Biodiversity Research and the National University of Singapore.

One of his avid fans was Mr James Gan, a conservation officer with Sungei Buloh. His mother had given him a copy of one of Sir David's books, The Living Planet, when he was 14. Reading its brilliant descriptions of the natural world inspired him to become a wildlife warrior, he said.

Mr Gan finally met the man who had changed his life, and got Sir David to sign the very book which had set him on the path towards conservationism. 'It felt so unreal. I never thought I would have the opportunity to meet him in person. I feel so privileged,' said the 36-year-old.

Straits Times 18 Nov 06
Lifestyles 'costing earth dearly'

IF 'PRIMATOLOGIST' gets you all tongue-tied, just call her 'chimp champ'. Dr Jane Goodall, the renowned British wildlife champion and primate expert, was in town recently to interest potential sponsors in setting up a Singapore branch of her environmentalist organisation.

If realised, a local branch of the non-profit Jane Goodall Institute (JGI) will be the 25th set up worldwide.

A major initiative of JGI is a youth-oriented programme called Roots & Shoots, which ties in with Dr Goodall's mission to educate as many children as possible on pressing environmental issues.

'We're losing biodiversity, there's soil erosion and we're damaging the quality of our air and water. There's cruelty to animals, and we don't tend to think about the sacrifices made for our unsustainable lifestyles,' Dr Goodall, 72, said.

She spoke to The Straits Times before her talk on Roots & Shoots at National Junior College earlier this month.

The programme is currently practised in 90 countries, with 9,000 groups involved, spanning preschool to university levels. The groups come up with projects to promote issues like the environment and animal protection, with activities such as tree-planting, encouraging the use of reusable bags and collecting donations for less fortunate people.

In Singapore, only the Singapore American School and Hwa Chong Institution are currently implementing Roots & Shoots. Dr Goodall hopes there will be more takers - hence, the idea of a local JGI.

On this trip, Dr Goodall also met Education Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam to discuss the proposed institute and its programmes.

'He was very anxious that we should do it, and would like to give us every support,' said Dr Goodall.

She is known for her groundbreaking work with chimpanzees, which revolutionised the way people thought about humans and monkeys. She found out that some monkeys create and use tools to gather food, changing the notion that man is the only tool-making species on the planet.

Dr Goodall still remains one of the most respected experts in her field, even after retiring from research in 1986; and has received countless awards and honorary doctorates.

She now devotes more time to campaigning for the environment and human rights causes. She travels regularly, about 320 days a year, and is never without her beloved stuffed toy monkey Mr H.

'I would love to go on a magic carpet, but I can't,' she responded when asked about the resulting carbon emissions from her travels.

She explained that Roots & Shoots groups are planting the right number of trees to offset the emissions from her travels.

What is more important is not taking modern conveniences for granted while cutting down on their unnecessary use, she added.

'The waste of water in today's world is just simply wicked.'

She then politely asked if the lights in the interview room could be switched off and curtains opened further, to save electricity. 'That's much better isn't it?' she said, smiling, as daylight streamed into the room.
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