The East Asian Seas Congress 2009 – Friendship and Partnership
Text by Neo Mei Lin
The recent hype about climate change, environmental issues and management is now the main spotlight for many international events. One such recent event that served as a platform for facilitating discussion and implementation of environment-related matters was held in Manila. I spent my last week of November 2009 as a youth forum participant in the Third East Asian Seas Congress (EAS) 2009 hosted by the Government of Philippines and co-organized by PEMSEA (Partnerships in Environmental Management for the Seas of East Asia) and DENR-Philippines (Department of Environment and Natural Resources). A triennial event, this year’s event brought participants (coming from national agencies, local governments, policymakers, legislators, financial institutions, private sectors, scientific institutions, universities and non-governmental and community-based organizations) from 46 countries, of which 12 countries were from the East Asia region. With the main theme, “Partnerships at Work: Local implementation and Good Practices”, the EAS congress hopes to use this international stage for capacity-building, strategic action planning, and cooperation for sustainable development of the Seas of East Asia. The EAS Youth Forum is running for the second time as a side-event in this congress, with 63 youths from 18 to 25 years of age coming from Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Japan, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste and Vietnam. In 2006, youth participants then came up with the Youth Agenda for the Seas of East Asia¾Inform ´ Inspire ´ Involve = Empower. With some recommendations put in place by the 2006 batch, youths from this year’s forum will take up the challenge to come up with feasible projects that can be implemented back in their respective home countries.
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Many people would most probably question the government first on what they have done for the environment before they question themselves. In fact, one key message learnt would be that protection of our environment starts with us as an individual, before we ask the government or developers. I must admit that I am one of the guilty participants who always ask what the government can do for the environment and not ask myself first. A common criticism is that there are much limitations of what an individual can do for the environment, for example: So what if I recycle this sheet of paper, how will it save more trees? Within my circle of friends, this is the same answer that I received 80% of the time when I try to encourage the act of recycling and reducing. I suppose one main reason for the poor enthusiasm and initiation of eco-friendly activities is the lack carrying them out as a habit. Habituation is a behaviour that can be induced with repetition. Similarly, by repeatedly carrying out 3Rs, every individual will be able to do their part for the environment. Sadly, however, in our fast-paced society with high consumerism, much of what we do is more detrimental to the environment than helping to alleviate the effects of climate change. Though, I still strongly believe that even if I am just one, it is the stepping-stone to help minimize the effects of climate change.
Another problem I see is that scientists and government don’t click together well. Scientists are just focus on writing and publishing papers, which are only to be read by other scientists! As for the government, they plan big projects without largely considering the environmental impacts on the land or seas. One key point is to link up this connection between the scientists and government. Scientists should actively make their research known to the legislators or members of the government and encourage them to make use of their research data to make their urban and environment planning more effectively and efficient, and at the same time environmentally friendly! Of course, saying is always easier than it being done. But there’s always a first time and someone to take the first step to incorporate such information into planning. Otherwise, publishing so many papers in renown journals serves no purpose if the information will not go up to the higher levels to be useful, because some day the reefs or land will be taken away.
Recently I asked myself, “Is it ok for Singapore to sacrifice our coral reefs for the supposed greater good of the country’s development?” We boast of our technological advancements, top military defense system, our green garden city, or desalination plants and many others. How is it not possible for Singapore to conserve and protect our rich and vibrant reefs? The oceans are huge and we are very privileged to be located so near to the Coral Triangle, yet ironically we are not considered part of this Coral Triangle (and our neighbour Malaysia is within the Coral Triangle). I think our reefs are terribly under-appreciated and not known to many avid divers because of the low visibility and mucky waters. To everyone’s surprise, Singapore’s reefs are indeed rich and hardier than you expect! So much of research in Singapore’s reefs has shown the persistence and adaptation. That only goes to show how much these living creatures want to survive, their will to survive and thrive here. We cannot lose all these to foreign fishers and reclamation. If they can tolerate 40 years of land reclamation, these animals will show us how much more tolerable they are. Hopefully the idea in my head will materialize and these reefs will continue to thrive for the future generations to appreciate and protect our own heritage and unique reefs.
