| * Noah's ark: monkeys need not apply |
PTM
10 Apr 2006
|
| Did
you see Prime Time Morning's live interview with the under-secretary
for Singapore Underwater Federation (SUF) today? It was painful to watch! The last question by Suzanne Jung, in particular, revealed just how out-of-the-element SUF is in the area of marine conservation. When asked 'what can ordinary people do?', the under-secretary rambled incoherently to the effect that 'we have to KNOW before we are able to APPRECIATE the rich sea-life'! It was obviously not the answer Suzanne wanted to hear. She promptly repeated the same question again. But can you imagine it? He gave the same answer again!! I was |
 |
Of course, the answers waiting to be broadcasted throughout the nation are:
1) Live an environmentally friendly lifestyle (Reduce, Re-use, Recycle),
2) Don't buy direct marine products such as decorative corals, shells, etc.,
3) Discourage keeping marine fishes / organisms in marine-tanks at home. (This should help reduce poaching and illegal animal trade.)
And lastly, he could have added that ordinary people can:
1) Sign up as volunteers with conservation groups working actively in Singapore
2) Or donate money where funds are sought for conservation works.
But that's not all. What happened next really knocked me off the ground! Just as Suzanne and her co-host were wrapping up the interview, the under-secretary of SUF offered a joke uninvited. Going by any standard, it must have appeared a defining moment for SUF. (applauds please!!)
'I always tell this joke to my diving trainees', he offered. 'What would you do if you see some dangerous animals at sea (to this effect)?' Suzanne couldn't help it but asked how. He replied (as a joke) that he advises them to 'close their eyes, and they are gone!'
O' SUFfering children! I can't imagine greater degradation than marine conservation falling into such hands as these!!
Yes, if I can, 'I will close my eyes, and wished them GONE... extinct too!' The Noah's ark certainly looked more like an empty-vessel full of holes. I think SUF should just stick to enjoying their dives, and leave the serious business of marine conservation to the honestly-passionate.
* NOAH is the name given to a project by SUF to construct an artificial coral reef within the lagoon of Pulau Hantu -- a southern island off Singapore.
See Threat to Pu Hantu's Lagoon [urgent updates by Ria Tan, wildsingapore.com]
See The Farside of Fritos