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I refer to Mr Chia Hern Keng's letter, "Country's survival comes first" (TODAY, Dec 6) which took to task Mr Howard Lee's comment, "Voice of common sense" (TODAY, Dec 4). Mr Chia begins by saying, "I must admit I do not know much about environmentalism except that there are efforts to save the earth from pollution and species extinction". I cannot agree with him more! Devoting a good half of his letter in reminding us about filthy kampungs of the 50's and 60's, Mr Chia summons us to "give credit to the Government where it is due". Aren't we all bored by this old refrain? One wonders whether Mr Chia is canvassing hard for a National Day Award -- especially when he reminds us that years ago, he "had proposed to the Government to move strongly into the tourism sector as a new economic strategy, before it actually happened". For what it is worth, Mr Chia's dribbling should make the cut for a general election speech. Lacking in any refreshing or meaningful insights to show us what is wrong with Mr Howard Lee's comment, his heckle -- "Unless Mr Lee has a better idea to bring money into Singapore - a land so small and devoid of natural resources I do not see how such environmentalism is going to help the humans and animals in our midst" -- remains terribly feeble and useless. What really do you want to say, Mr Chia? For one thing, you certainly left me with no doubt that you have a serious bias against green voices and that your state of awareness is far removed from reality when you pontificates, "If we think of environmentalism, we also need to consider man as part of nature". "Keeping Pulau Ubin in its current state without letting people appreciate its beauty would be a waste". Who doesn't know that already, not least, all the green voices in Singapore and the rest of the world. We don't have to be Jane Goddall or Al Gore to know that. Be rest assured that the human species is ever-present in our heart and at the tip of our tongue when we speak up about environmentalism, and that the right to live - healthily and happily on earth - for all living beings, includes our children too. As for Pulau Ubin, it is already well visited and cherished and not wasted, unless of course, Mr Chia deem it "wasted" because the tourist dollar is not ringing the register sufficiently loud there. I am afraid we cannot award you brownie points for your suggestion, Mr Chia. Mr Lee wrote earlier "We tend to believe that there is no way the smaller voices of green activists can be heard. Much as we would like to prove this biased opinion wrong, social reality often confirms it". Well, Mr Chia has amplified that "social reality" with surprising speed. Thank you, Mr Lee, for your timely and rational comments. Green voices should take heart and seek each other out for affirmation. The last thing we want to do is giving up the good cause. In the great circle of life that links us to all living beings - known and unknown - the human species is just an infinitesimal fraction of the integral whole. We are not alone. Environmentalism is humanity's approach to understanding relationships within this whole and conditions by which life remains sustainable. Where sciences help, it lends a helping hand. Where unknowns prevail (as is often the case), we dig deep into philosophy to enter even the realm of the universe. In the end, we celebrate and affirm the spirit that makes us truly human - free, humane and encompassing. We do no less. |
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| ©Joseph Lai 2003 |