MICA (P) 195/08/2006
Volume 9, Issue 3-06/07 - October 2006
A Singapore American School community service publication
NewsFlash
The International Coastal Cleanup By Julia Knight, HS Student Photos by Steve Early, HS Faculty and Marissa Leow, HS Student
I couldn’t help but think that nature must be taking her sweet revenge. My left shoe nearly perished in a battle against an expanse of foot-deep mud, and the mosquitoes perceived me as a walking blood bank. In turn, I fought back to the bitter end with tight shoelaces, and skin saturated with Off! spray. All right, I exaggerate: there was no “bitter end,” and I doubt that I have the literary license to personify nature, anyway. However, the question of my impact on the environment did not leave my mind throughout the International Coastal Cleanup in Singapore (ICCS). This annual event, held on the beaches and mangroves of the world, engages the local community in removing waste from nature and taking data on what is collected. Over 100 SAS students, faculty, and parents met at school on the morning of September 9th to see what could be done for the mangroves at Kranji Nature Reserve. After a briefing on safety, hydration, and data collection, we departed from the SAS campus. The enthusiasm of the participants was palpable, as was the smell of mosquito repellent and sunscreen. Looking down at my old, white sneakers, I wondered if the diving boots and other high-tech footwear of some of the other participants were a harbinger of the mud to come. continued on page 18...