Land pollution (Tabitha, Kimberly, Evangel)

Hypothesis

East Coast Beach is polluted due to human activities such as picnicking and camping.

2) What I need to find out:

· Is it really people whom are the culprits of littering?

· Take photographs of people littering, of litter(big and small)

· Interview shopkeepers and cleaners (below are sample questions we came up in advance)

§ Have you ever seen anyone litter in this area? How often?

§ What kind of litter?

§ What time of the day does this usually occur?

§ Does this affect your business?

§ Do you see birds eating the litter?

§ Have you ever seen animals die from eating the litter?

· Find evidence – Rubbish : glass, bottles, cans, matches, condoms, chicken bones, food waste

3) Methodology

1. Search for people littering and take photographs of them littering.

2. Take photos of litter found

3. Interview shopkeepers and cleaners there.

4) Results

1. Piles of ashes on tree roots

· People leave charcoal behind probably because they are either lazy to clear it or because charcoal is biodegradable.

· However, if it rains, the chemicals from the charcoal will pollute the underground water.

2. The tides affect the amount of rubbish collected on shores (high tide – more rubbish, low tide – less rubbish)

5. There is a lot of leftover food from the barbeque pits.

6. Rubbish is also present around the benches.

(Peanut shells and other litter under benches)

7. There were also no littering signs which shows that people littered in the area.

8. Types of trees may also affect the amount of pollution in an area. If a tree has many branches, birds are able to perch on it and may litter. If it doesn’t have any branches such as the coconut tree, birds will not be able to perch on it and litter.

8. Land may become barren due to camping activities as it is burnt to start a fire.

5) Statistics

1. There were 4 garbage bins every barbeque pit, and 2 barbeque pits every 100m, each 4-5m apart.

2. We interviewed the cleaner picking rubbish by the coast

· Qn How much bags of rubbish do you collect a day?

Ans: If there is little rubbish, 100 bags a day. If there is a lot of rubbish, 600-100 bags are collected a day.

· Qn When is a lot of rubbish is collected?

Ans: In the later part of the year. (June to December)

(size of bag)

3. We also interviewed a cleaner who was picking rubbish around the barbeque pits, shelters and jogging/walking paths.

Qn: How many bags of rubbish do you collect everyday?

Ans: About 60-70 bags a day. If it is more crowded, such as on weekends or public holidays, about 100 bags are collected.

Reflection

I felt that this trip was quite beneficial and pretty fun tooJ. This project opened my eyes to the present state of Singapore. I did not realise that Singapore was so dirty and polluted. It makes me quite embarrassed to say that Singapore is ‘clean and green’; it seems that we can no longer uphold that slogan we were once proud of. Besides that, there were a few obstacles the group faced. For example, the first cleaner interviewed was a Chinese national. Therefore, we struggled to translate our questions, which was not an easy feat. However, Evangel and Kimberly did a good job of translation, thus solving the problem. Another one was the questions which Miss Lim asked us. In my opinion, it was not really that easy to come up with an answer easily. According to the evidence we collected, our hypothesis is proved correct. All in all, this trip was enjoyable and educational, an eye-opener for me (seriously!). ^_^

Tabitha Chiam ;)

I felt this trip was quite fun and educational. It made know more about how the beach is polluted based on evidence we found. I did not know East Coast Beach was so polluted as I have never really taken the time to observe the things found on the beach or even take notice of what is on the sand and in the water. Next, our group also faced difficulties communicating with people who spoke different languages. However, we overcame the language barrier and got the answers we needed to our questions. (: It was also a rather interesting experience when we had to infer how a certain area is polluted based on evidence.

Kimberly Kiong

I think this trip was very fun and enjoyable and I also learnt many things. I also saw that the beach was actually much polluted and there was a lot of litter. And even though Singapore is known as the ‘clean and green city’ worldwide, there is still quite a lot of litter at the beach and in Singapore. I feel that the biggest obstacle was asking the cleaners who were picking rubbish questions because one of them only spoke Chinese, so we had to roughly translate our questions to Chinese. We also had difficulty when they did not understand our question. I think that even though littering is illegal in Singapore, some people still litter and I hope that most Singaporeans will develop the habit of not littering even if there isn’t a rubbish bin nearby so that Singapore can live up to its name of being a clean and green city.

Evangel Teo

Water supply

Definition

Water constraint is the problem of water shortage.

Reasons

Limited supply of fresh water

Only one percent of the total amount of water on the Earth is fresh water that is readily available for human consumption.

Uneven distribution of water

Some countries have an abundant supply of fresh water, whereas some suffer from a lack of it. What worsens the situation is the fact that some of the countries with a larger population have less a supply of fresh water than those countries with a smaller population(eg. Canada & India). This may be due to the differences in climates.

Water pollution

Fresh water is increasingly polluted by human activities in the world today. Thus, The water is no longer clean from consumption.

Population growth

With more people, there is a greater need for water. Thus, more fresh water has to be shared between more people.

Growth of agriculture

Throughout the world, there is an increasing need to feed the growing populations, thus more water is needed to water the crops.

Growth of industries

Water is an important factor in the daily operation of factories. As these industries expand, more water will be needed.

Changes in lifestyle

As a country becomes more developed, people can afford to buy more items which offer convenience. (eg. air - conditioners, washing machines)

Responses

- increase the price of water

- increase supply of water

- Increase number of catchment areas

- International agreements

- Uses of technology like desalination and NEWater

- Conservation of water

Reflection

To me, water is extremely water. However, there are times when I try to help conserve water and other times, I just cannot be bothered.

Tabitha Chiam

Summary on Land supply

Definition

Land constraint is the limited amount of land to be developed for various uses.

Causes

Rising demand for land

Firstly, there is population growth. As the number of people increases, the available resources would have to be shared among more people, thus adding pressure to the land. This results in demands for more land. Then, there is housing. A growing population will require more houses, thus more land will be used to build more houses for people. Also, providing jobs are extremely essential for a growing population. One way is to expand industries, which will require more land. Furthermore, as the country develops, more roads and railways have to be built as a good transport network is important for the movement of goods, materials and people. In addition, the production of food increases due to increasing populations, thus more arable land is needed. Lastly, with more people, more recreational spaces have to be provided for pleasure and relaxation. Thus, more land needs to be set aside for these.

Limited land supply

Land makes up 30 percent of the Earth but not all are useful. Areas like swamps, marshes and coastal areas are constantly water - logged and deserts are too dry to be of any use. Besides these, there are also lands that are ruined by mining and old farming practices. Even areas which can be used are set aside for other uses, such as water catchment areas and military training grounds. This means that what little is left for housing and industries.

Responses to rising demand for land

- increasing cost of land

- Increase supply of land

{ Done through land clearance, development, land reclamation, empoldering, reclamation of derelict land, maximisation of use of existing land and agricultural land use , mixed land use, terracing, soil - less farming and conservation of land}

Reflection

Personally, this chapter has got me thinking about my future in Singapore. One day, Singapore will eventually run out of land. If this should happen, what am I to do? I might possibly inherit our family's house but that is not certain. Well, I'll think more about when I get my first pay^_^

Tabitha Chiam

Alternative source of energy (2)

In the post above, I gave an example of an alternative source of energy which Singapore is taking into consideration. Now I will give one which Singapore has already executed.

This alternative source of energy is solar energy. The Government has funded the use of solar energy through money for research and development. Generally, Singapore makes use of its tropical climate and high-rise buildings to her advantage. Solar panels can be installed on the top of such buildings like HDB flats, industrial buildings and condominiums, and can receive sunlight easily without any obstruction. Solar cars my be used, but it is not advisable as such cars usually cost a lot. It has been stated that the use of solar energy could be big if not for the use of oil and petrol for cars.

In conclusion, solar energy is something which can be used more often in the future, if we still have one, that is. Which just goes to show why we should start or continue using solar-powered appliances.

Tabitha Chiam^_^

Alternative energy sources in Singapore

One of the alternative sources of energy in Singapore is biofuel. This is produced by processing biomass to generate energy sources like diesel oil (biodiesel) or alcohol (ethanol). Biodiesel and ethanol can be used in diesel vehicles and specially designed engines respectively.

Unlike petroleum diesel, biodiesel is non-toxic and biodegradeable. Particulate, carbon dioxide and sulfur dioxide emissions are reduced, although there is an increase in nitrogen oxide production. The odour of its combustion is also less pungent.

A strategy for biofuel use in Singapore might include:

Tax breaks to encourage transition. Diversifying the domestic energy profile involves managing what economists call externalities. If biofuel-friendly vehicles cost more and are less convenient to use, then the average driver would not want to purchase one, whatever the broader benefits to the environment or economy. There have been tax breaks for ‘green’ cars in the past. If not already the case, these tax breaks should be extended to biofuel vehicles. In addition, government vehicles such as a proportion of police, ambulance and military vehicles should be biofuel-compatible hybrids.This will act as additional insurance in the event of a fuel crisis.

Cultivating agricultural nations and biofuel exporters. If biofuel becomes prominent in the world energy market, nations rich in agriculture will gain an increase in influence. While continuing our links with The Middle East, we should also maintain good relations with these biofuel producers. We can build a second level of protection against dependency, by obtaining biofuel from multiple sources, spread across more than one geographical region. The two largest producers of biofuel today are Brazil and The United States , both having domestic agriculture as a source of raw material. Closer to home, Thailand is a world - class exporter of sugar (used in ethanol production), and Malaysia is a major producer of palm oil (used to produce biodiesel).

Research. Biofuels are biotechnology-intensive in their production. Enzymes are required to prepare the raw material biomass, followed by fermentation and processing. Some of Singapore’s R & D investment should go towards biofuel research.

Biofuel-hub. Singapore can start a biofuel-hub, specializing in efficient conversion of raw material to fuel. This would dovetail nicely with an ongoing research programme, and generate more employment for life science graduates. Raw palm oil could be obtained from Malaysia or Indonesia to make biodiesel. Ethanol could be produced using sugar from Thailand. There would undoubtedly be competition, as other regional players try to join the bandwagon (Malaysia has mentioned becoming a biodiesel hub), but this is not very different from setting up an oil hub, which Singapore has successfully done.

Sources:http://www.singaporeangle.com/2006/10/energy-security-for-small-island.html

Tabitha Chiam

Global Warming

Definition~

What is global warming? it is the observed and projected increase in the average temperatures of the Earth's atmosphere and oceans. It is a phenomenon, which has been on the rise but in the last century, the increase has been rather alarming. The average temperature of the atmosphere has risen by 0.74-0.18 deg. celsius during the last century. Studies have shown that this increase was due to the increase in greenhouse gas concentrations.

Problem~

One of the main problems in the world is the negative effects of shifting cultivation. In the process of shifting cultivation, the burning of trees is required. This causes an increase in temperature and greenhouse gases(produced during the burning) as well as forest fires which can lead to haze. The haze produced in turn travels to other countries like Singapore and can cause health problems. The main country which shifting cultivation is implemented is Indonesia.

Solution~

Malaysia used to have shifting cultivation. However, it was banned after the government realised its bad effects. This ban caused many farmers to lose their jobs as shifting cultivation was their 'life'. However, the Malaysian government was able to make up for this through alternative employment(solution). They also aimed to preserve their country's virgin forests and beautiful mountains. The farmers took up the roles of tourist guides as they knew the area well. Thus, all was well. However, this solution did not work in terms of implementation for Indonesia. Why is this so? Well, the natives in Indonesia were used to shifting cultivation and so they were unable to give up their jobs. The government thus have to sent down officials whom are passionate about saving the ecosystem to convince the natives about the above solution.

Tabitha Chiam^_^

With many thanks to...

http://ezinearticles.com/?Definition-for-Global-Warming&id=538535

My own knowledge

parents

Hydroponics

To be honest, this project did not involve much work. The only part which needed much attention was the planting. As this project was hydroponics, we did not need to water it daily, so we left it alone for it to grow. We did not check on it often, but luckily we received moderately good results. The kang kong and spinach could be harvested and the cucumber even produced flowers! Unfortunately, our chilli is still a small plant.

Tabitha Chiam