GPS Sumatra (May-June)

Earlier on in May this year, Becky and I spent 16 days with 13 schoolmates from SOTA and 2 teachers in the Sumatran rainforest, learning from and working with the Restoration team there, doing Reforestation work as well as conducting environmental based programmes for primary schools there.
This was part SOTA's Year 5 Global PerspectiveS (GPS) program.

Click on the link below to read more about my thoughts as the 16 days progressed.
It was a very meaningful and musical journey, learning about the forest, the issues with oil palm plantation encroachment, and the most important discovery - learning about ourselves and our connection with our natural environment.

Read about our journey here

Have a very happy new year!

~Almira, Green Beans.

The simple act of eating fish

View from the Moon Rock

Taken by Ms Kong

In early November, Almira and I went on a school expedition to the Anambas Islands 1 day from the coast of Batam. For a period of ten days on the South China Sea, we sailed on Captain Blake's Four Friends with 12 other students. During the expedition, we spent out time kayaking and snorkelling in the crystal blue waters as well as combing the white beaches of uninhabited islands.

Having participated in many environmental activities in 2013 such as starting the environment group, the Green Beans I have had frequent opportunities to preserve nature. However, my participation in this expedition has prompted me to reflect on the environmental friendliness of outdoor sports and expeditions such as these.

Firstly, my hesitation for such outdoor activities was seeded when we hauled our kayaks across an extensive live coral bed due to the low tide on the third day. This accident which culminated in a brief bout of night kayaking was unforeseen but bore profound effects on many corals.

Lugging our kayaks across the coral bed

Taken by Ms Kong

 This was compounded on the third day of the expedition when we "scrambled" up a 30 m high black rock. In the process, Almira and I began identifying the types of forest on the island. Interestingly, the medium sized island foliage was similar to that of Singapore and would probably have been the same if the islands were inhabited. Nevertheless, the island betrayed that it was indeed a secondary forest as seen by the well trodden paths. Why was that so? A shorter, mowed undergrowth of sprawling plants soon betrayed the old marks of mankind’s hands, probably for agricultural purposes.

Emerald Lagoon, Pam's Island (centre) and Sobreno Island (right) at Pulau Bawa

Taken by Amrita

At the top, the Captain told us a short story about the future of the island. In approximately 10 years or even less, Pulau bawa would be transformed into a resort for tourists to immerse themselves in the natural beauty of the island. Often, throughout the trip, the Captain would wax lyrical about how we should have been born 40 years ago to see the bustling marine life. For instance, turtles and whales were once spotted frequently in the serene, rippling lagoon from the rock that we had just climbed.

The white, lifeless smoke snaking in the distance, eating away at the dense trees could only mean one thing. People. Material laden boats would soon follow shortly into the tranquil lagoon bearing their toxic, metal cargo. The pristine, colourful corals we had snorkelled in yesterday would probably crumble sooner or later under such an unnatural load. Upon reflection, I recalled the beach resorts that I had visited and wondered if the value of mankind’s temporal pleasure for a short 5 days was valued over the potentially marine life that probably once was much more abundant than the few we ‘ooh and ah’ over.

Whilst descending the rock, I realized that we were also chopping down the very plants we claimed to protect. Every little action we created killed one plant (as insignificant as that may sound). But the plant is more than a plant. It is a young tree that will take another 5-10 years to grow again to where it was or maybe never grow again.

Were we much better than the men building the resort? Were these outdoor expeditions creating their own tiny environmental impact instead? This led me to realize the importance of ‘ecotourism’ and an environment ethos when travelling. Often, it is easy to forget the implications of our actions when we possess the ‘I want to have fun’ mentality. If we want to protect the beautiful wildlife that we encountered and ensure that 40 years down the road our future generations can enjoy the same crystal, aquamarine seas, our actions to minimise impact is a prerogative. I realized that it is not about being anal but being considerate.

A scared clownfish (not Nemo) at Turtle Reach, Pulau Bawa

Taken by Ms Kong

Another issue eating and environmentally consciousness was raised once again during the trip when a group of us decided to eat oysters and sea urchins in an uninhabited island on the 9th day. Previously, we had learnt to pluck coconuts and catch sea urchin the day before around Rainbow Cracker Beach and Pulau Acah in the SOTA archipelago. That day we began to consume large quantities of oysters clammed to the rocks and hunting for sea urchins. However, some people were clearly disturbed by this action and brought it up later that night. Upon the reflection, I realized that I had caught a sea urchin with the same ‘I want to have fun’ mentality. If no one had eaten the sea urchin, I would have killed out of excess. Thus the lesson was learnt that just because these creatures don’t have large eyes and fur doesn’t mean that they deserve to die.

Nevertheless, I personally think that being careful when eating doesn’t equate to completely rejecting meat when it is offered. During a discussion with friends when we were stranded amidst the coral beds on the second day, we concluded that rejecting the meat resulted in more food wastage if no one was willing to eat it. This would mean that the animal’s life which was sacrificed for the meal was wasted. In the one of the later days, we experienced this when we killed fishes caught by the locals (one of them was a rainbow fish). Initially, many of us felt irked at the idea of consuming a life. Mutely, we watched the final, painful breath of a beautiful brown and black striped fish as one of us hacked it apart. However, not eating the fish also mean that the fishes were killed in vain. Almira's philosophy (which I fully agree) is that it is more worthwhile to consume and appreciate the value of the fish's life instead.

The meal before the chopping

Taken by Ms Kong

Living in an industrialized city like Singapore often disconnects us from the roots of food. I too find myself forgetting that the soya sauce doused steamed meal decorated with fried garlic on the table was not just a frosty ice block in the supermarket but a live, flopping fish in the sea. After the bloody incident, many people expressed that they will not eat fish for a long time after witnessing the death of one fish. How ignorant we must appear to be in the eyes of the locals! However, this points us to a larger problem that we Singaporeans lack the practical experience of basic skills. This is probably the reason why we conduct outdoor activities like these. Through this experience, students are able to appreciate nature which is unobstructed by concrete towers or muddy waters. Nevertheless, we must also remember that our actions inevitably impact environment and enjoy the breathtaking views with restraint (e.g refraining from overconsumption of sea urchins or the amount of plastic waste generated). But aside from making resolutions to be environmentally conscious in the future during expeditions, why not start now from home and start reducing the amount of waste thrown away? 
Credits: All the photos in this entry were taken by members on the trip (Ms Kong and Amrita).
Note, the contents may not be approved by the Grammar police as this was adapted from a reflection.

Written by Qing