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  Straits Times Forum 9 Dec 06
Get families and firms to join hands and keep S'pore clean.
Rebrand the exercise
Letter from Andrew Wee Hwee Seng Vancouver, BC, Canada

Today Online 9 Dec 06
Litter ends up in our drinking-water sources
Letter from S Satish Appoo Director, Environmental Health Department National Environment Agency (NEA) and Tan Nguan Sen Director, Catchment and Waterways Public Utilities Board (PUB)

Today Online 9 Dec 06
A week's break for cleaners? We'd drown in our own mess – just look at failure of tray-returning system
Letter from Maryanne Maes Reading

Mr Rick Lim's comments on littering in Singapore ("Clean up your mess!", Dec 8) reminded me of the time when I patronised the Zion Road Hawker Centre, and was surprised that a tray-returning system was in place for customers. There was even a pre-recorded reminder played over the PA system to encourage customers to return their trays but, sadly, I didn't see any difference at all.

Customers continued to leave their mess behind for the cleaners. I believe the tray station is now defunct.

We have all heard stories about how the maid culture in Singapore has affected our kids. Our economic growth has failed to eliminate one social ill: Singaporeans' peasant habits.

We, as individuals, have failed to take ownership of this country or to appreciate the hard work put in by our cleaners. If we can be embarrassed by someone literally wiping our backsides after we visit the toilets (as one letter-writer earlier said the maids were doing), we should be just as embarrassed about leaving behind huge piles of chicken bones on the tables in hawker centres.

I wish for a day when the authorities throw in the towel in sheer frustration and declare a week's break for all cleaners. Imagine what a day of reckoning it would be: We would all be drowning in our own filth within a day and truly appreciate then the speed at which our cleaners work.

Most Singaporeans have lost the basic notion of living decently as mature humans. No anti-littering programmes or stiff fines will be able to lift them out of their peasant ways.

Having a fat wallet and wearing clothes that scream Chanel or Louis Vuitton do not mean a person is educated enough to be socially responsible. A person who litters simply does not understand what class is all about.

Today Online 9 Dec 06
Litter ends up in our drinking-water sources
Letter from S Satish Appoo Director, Environmental Health Department National Environment Agency (NEA)
and Tan Nguan Sen Director, Catchment and Waterways Public Utilities Board (PUB)

We refer to the letter, "I love (dirty) Singapore" (Nov 27).

The littering problem is still present because of the anti-social behaviour practised by some people here.

The NEA has stepped up enforcement this year against these litterbugs, and managed to nab 4,818 of them for the first 10 months of this year. Besides enforcement, public education remains a key thrust in our continued efforts to promote environmental-friendly behaviour.

To ensure that Singapore's waterways remain clean, the PUB, the national water agency, has also introduced new programmes to help the public better appreciate our precious water resources.

Under the Active, Beautiful, Clean Waters programme, Singapore's water bodies will be transformed into aesthetically pleasing community spaces, making Singapore a city of gardens and water.

Through the introduction of activities such as kayaking, people can get closer to water and develop a better appreciation of it. Individuals and organisations can "adopt" reservoirs and waterways under the Our Waters programme, while the Friends of Water awards recognise those who have contributed towards ensuring the sustainability of Singapore's water resources.

With the three upcoming reservoirs at Marina, Punggol and Serangoon, water catchment will increase from half to two-thirds of Singapore. Most people will be living or working within a water catchment and it is imperative that we understand the importance of not littering, as it could find its way to our reservoirs, a source of our drinking water.

We hope that all residents will come to realise that our goals of keeping the environment clean and maintaining a high standard of public health can only be achieved with each individual's personal commitment and the collective efforts of all.

Should the public have feedback on cleanliness or littering problems in public places, they can call the NEA's 24-hour Call Centre at 1800-CALL NEA (1800-225 5632) for our follow-up.

Straits Times Forum 9 Dec 06
Get families and firms to join hands and keep S'pore clean.
Rebrand the exercise
Letter from Andrew Wee Hwee Seng Vancouver, BC, Canada

I urge the Ministry of Environment and Ministry of National Development to consider building a culture of loving and respecting our environment.

Such a culture can be fostered by nationwide programmes on a monthly basis in which families, private companies and public organisations come together to clean the beaches, parks and residential estates.

Keeping the environment clean should be rebranded as a common civic responsibility of every citizen and resident, rather than leaving the work to the cleaners.

By involving family and organisations in the clean-up, the right values are more likely to be imbued in everyone. Moreover, it is a meaningful and fulfilling family activity.

By creatively integrating the existing campaigns with new and redefined programmes, this will foster environment-friendly attitudes and practices on a regular basis. This will keep Singapore clean.

The recent publicity on Singapore's worsening littering problem presents an excellent opportunity for the relevant ministries to launch a rebranding and education exercise.

Last but not least, may I suggest that the word "campaign" be replaced with something that creates more buzz and excitement.
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