Before the environmentalist and all start flaming me, allow me to share one event I've been to not too long ago...
It was a major event - a "chingay-liked" parade where participants make floats and parade during the event. The event also aims to promote being environmental friendly by practising the 3Rs - Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. The materials of the floats, costumes and props of the performancers should be done based on the 3Rs principles.
The event sounded like a very meaningful one. However, after the event left a whole ton of rubbish lying around the compound - most likely even more than what the recycled materials the participants collected. After the prize presentation, most of the participants only remember to bring their own floats and props back leaving the rubbish behind for the cleaners to clear away for them while the supporters went off. Only a few participants/supportors (most likely less than 10%) helped with the cleaning up. The VIPs and judges failed to see that, unfortunately.
Talking about the materials used, I highly doubted that they are truely made from collected recycled materials because the materials are in a condition that looked too good to be wastes and the quanities of the materials are amazing. While I do not have any evidence that the "supposedly to be recycled" materials are actually being purchased, it does raise my doubts.
While the intention of having this campaigns and competitions are good to encourage people to practise the 3Rs and be more environmental friendly, typical Singaporeans with the "Kiasu" genes sees the "must win and cannot lose" more important than the actual meaning of the event itself.
If these events cause more damage than really helped to conserve the enviroment, then I think that we really shouldn't have these type of events.
Added poll question: Are such events really helpful in conserving the environment or causing more damage?
It was a major event - a "chingay-liked" parade where participants make floats and parade during the event. The event also aims to promote being environmental friendly by practising the 3Rs - Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. The materials of the floats, costumes and props of the performancers should be done based on the 3Rs principles.
The event sounded like a very meaningful one. However, after the event left a whole ton of rubbish lying around the compound - most likely even more than what the recycled materials the participants collected. After the prize presentation, most of the participants only remember to bring their own floats and props back leaving the rubbish behind for the cleaners to clear away for them while the supporters went off. Only a few participants/supportors (most likely less than 10%) helped with the cleaning up. The VIPs and judges failed to see that, unfortunately.
Talking about the materials used, I highly doubted that they are truely made from collected recycled materials because the materials are in a condition that looked too good to be wastes and the quanities of the materials are amazing. While I do not have any evidence that the "supposedly to be recycled" materials are actually being purchased, it does raise my doubts.
While the intention of having this campaigns and competitions are good to encourage people to practise the 3Rs and be more environmental friendly, typical Singaporeans with the "Kiasu" genes sees the "must win and cannot lose" more important than the actual meaning of the event itself.
If these events cause more damage than really helped to conserve the enviroment, then I think that we really shouldn't have these type of events.
Added poll question: Are such events really helpful in conserving the environment or causing more damage?
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Anyway.. :thumbsup: for your considerations towards the environment..
