30
June
2008
Our next dive is on 27 July!
For reservations and enquiries, contact us by email only*. RSVP with the following:
1. Your name,
2. IC/Passport number,
3. Your email address,
4. Your handphone number, and
5. Equipment required^ including weights
*Phone calls and text messages will not be entertained
^Please list size of BCD and wetsuit in S,M,L and shoe size for fins
Join the The Hantu Bloggers Yahoo Group to read the trip itinerary, and to be informed of future dives.
Posted: Notices, Blog Dives
25
June
2008
Where: Toa Payoh Amphitheatre (In front of Toa Payoh Community Library)
When: 11:00AM - 8:00PM Saturday, June 28th & 29th
What: The Hantu Blog will have a booth at Envirofest’08. Come down to meet our volunteers and get first hand accounts of what it is like to dive in Singapore waters! We’ll be there to answer all your questions about what you can expect to encounter in local waters, and give you tips about what you can do in your everyday life, in your school, or at work, to help protect our very unique Singaporean environment Bring your friends along too!
The event is expected to draw a crowd of some 5,000 - 6,000 visitors.
The other nature and environment groups will be there as well, including the Naked Hermit Crabs, Toddycats, NParks and Waterways Watch as well as the Animal Welfare groups. So you can catch up and get to know some similarly passionate friends from the community!
When: 2:30PM - 3:00PM Sunday, June 29th
What: Hantu Blog diver, reef volunteer, and nudibranch enthusiast, Chay Hoon, will be giving a talk to share her experiences and knowledge of the local seas with the audience at Toa Payoh HUB on Sunday!
She will showcase her photos gathered from her tireless hours and days spent on reef walks and diving! Chay Hoon has amongst her collection species that have only recently been recorded in local archives so come down and be one of the first few Singaporeans to see some of the amazing creatures that share our waters with us!
Chay Hoon is among the most dedicated and regular guides at Chek Jawa, a volunteer with Beach Fleas, as well as a volunteer crew member with WildFilms.
Posted: Talks, Notices
16
May
2008
Paul Hawken is an environmentalist, entrepreneur, journalist, and author. Starting at age 20, he dedicated his life to sustainability and changing the relationship between business and the environment. His practice has included starting and running ecological businesses, writing and teaching about the impact of commerce on living systems, and consulting with governments and corporations on economic development, industrial ecology, and environmental policy.
In this speech at the Bioneers Conference, Hawken delivers an inspiring presentation about the worlds largest movement - the hundreds of thousands of grassroots organizations that address social and environmental justice. The movement that you and I are a part of.
Posted: Talks, Notices, News, Videos
6
May
2008
Tuesday, 6th May 2008
Seagrasses: Not just for Dugongs!
Siti Maryam Yaakub
11am, Function Hall, Botany Centre, Singapore Botanic Gardens
Mention ‘Seagrass’ and most people think: Food for dugongs! Seagrasses have long lived in the shadow of other more charismatic marine habitats like coral reefs and mangroves. But did you know that Singapore is home to extensive seagrass meadows and more than half the species of seagrasses found in the Indo-Pacific? Learn more about the role seagrasses play beyond that of ‘dugong food’. Join Siti for an insight into what seagrasses are really about and the wacky people who have embraced these green wonders of the ocean.
About the speaker: Siti Maryam is a Senior Biodiversity Officer with the Biodiversity Centre of NParks. She is a marine biologist by training and was one of the co-founders of TeamSeagrass, a volunteer group that monitors the health and status of Singapore’s seagrasses. When she is not counting seagrass, Siti enjoys reading, tennis, experimental cooking and swimming with fish.
Saturday, 10th May 2008
The status and biology the Singapore Freshwater Crab, Johora singaporensis
Sivasothi N
2pm, Function Hall, Botany Centre, Singapore Botanic Gardens
True freshwater crabs have evolved to be completely independent of the marine environment and possess unique characteristics as a result. Many large freshwater streams are home to endemic species and Singapore Island is no exception. The freshwater crab diversity here has been well reported as a result of Peter Ng’s studies in the 1980’s. One crab in particular, was especially celebrated – the endemic Singapore Freshwater Crab, Johora singaporensis. Since that taxonomic examination, little else has been revealed about the crab, partly due to concerns about impacting the small but endangered population. In a recent study, aspects of the population biology, distribution and status of J. singaporensis were studied. This talk discusses the historical discovery, reports highlights of the recent study and discusses conservation implications for the future.
N. Sivasothi is an instructor at the Department of Biological Science more interested in otters and mangroves but inadvertently spent a lot of time in freshwater and peat swamp habitats in the early 90’s on zoological expeditions with Peter Ng. This recent examination of the freshwater crabs in Singapore by both was due to the supervision demands of honours student Daniel Ng.
Tuesday, 13th May 2008
Life - To Give or Not To Give
Karen Teo
11am, Function Hall, Botany Centre, Singapore Botanic Gardens
Acts of compassion turns sour. Come May every year, domesticated animals are illegally released into the nature reserves and reservoirs in the hope of giving them life. But little do many realised that 90% of these domesticated animals end up tragically dead. In an urbanised society like Singapore, the existence of our native flora and fauna hang on a very thin thread. What can we do, as inhabitants of this planet, to save the extensive biodiversity that Mother Earth has so lovingly nurtured over millions of years?
Karen Teo works as a Senior Outreach Officer in Central Nature Reserve, National Parks Board. As an ex-teacher, she is passionate in nature conservation and marrying her teaching skills to share with all the importance of protecting what little natural heritage we have left, through talks, exhibitions, workshops etc.
Saturday, 17th May 2008
Mad About Moths for Kids
Cicada Tree Eco-Place
2pm, Tanglin Core Information Counter, Singapore Botanic Gardens
*This interactive session is limited to 30 children. Please RSVP to lim_wei_ling@nparks.gov.sg by 9th May 2008.
Cicada Tree Eco-Place will conduct Mad About Moths for Kids to share its fascination with our less-known friends, moths. We will offer two concurrent 1.5 hour sessions on moths called Mad about Moths—one for adults and one for kids.
Mad about Moths for Kids will teach kids aged between 5 and 9 how to recognize moths, the differences between moths and butterflies, the life cycle of a moth, why moths are important members of our living planet, and what we can do to make a difference to moths! Children will also get a chance to take quick walk in the Gardens to see some butterflies so as to learn the major differences between moths and butterflies. This session will be fun and engage a young learner.
Cicada Tree Eco-place is a new non-profit, non-governmental organization that promotes nature, culture and eco-living through environmental education. Founded in Singapore in 2007, and managed by volunteer educators and environmentalists, it is named after a native freshwater swamp plant whose habitat is locally endangered, Ploiarium alternifolium (Cicada Tree or Riang Riang).
Saturday, 17th May 2008
Mad about Moths: Emperor Moths & Friends from SE Asia & the Amazon
Dr Preston Murphy
2pm, Classroom 3, Botany Centre, Singapore Botanic Gardens
Dr Preston Murphy will talk about “Mad about Moths: Emperor Moths & Friends from SE Asia & the Amazon” to highlight the beauty of moths in Asia as well as in South America. This talk, targeted at adult nature lovers, will focus on the diversity of large moths and dispel the myth that all moths are dull in colour and unattractive.
Dr Preston Murphy is former President of Lectret Precision Pte Ltd., Singapore, and continues to consult with the company on communications products. He and his wife Mireille are avid eco-travellers and have been to places as wild as Papua New Guinea to look for the birds of paradise. He is a passionate nature photographer, specialising in moths and butterflies.
Posted: Talks, Notices
21
April
2008
This year’s mass coral spawning in Singapore is estimated to fall over the next few days, from 23 - 25 April, 2008. As this period falls over Earth Day week, we’re making this dive a part of our Earth Day 2008 activities!
If you’d like to join us for this dive, you have at least be an advanced open water diver or its equivalent. You are required to have a camera and your own slate. Divers will be paired up and required to survey a designated zone around Hantu Island. Details of the spawning (should it happen! there’s no guarantee!) such as the time, depth, species, and it’s location should be recorded. This data will be collated with surveys being done in other areas of Singapore, and will help scientists in understanding the factors that influence coral reproduction in Singapore and the nearby regions.
Time: 1800 - 2200 hrs
Venue: Pasir Panjang Ferry Terminal
Cost: $95.00
Registration for this dive has closed.
Posted: Notices, News, Blog Dives
21
April
2008
DATE & TIME : Saturday 26 April 2pm – 1pm
VENUE : Function Hall Botany Centre, Singapore Botanical Gardens.
Synopsis: Pulau Hantu is one of Singapore’s most renowned Southern Islands. Despite its prominence, it is constantly left to cope with a relentlessly changing coastline and marine environment. For a long time, the threats to Pulau Hantu have avoided the scrutiny of the public and the brilliance of its marine habitat gone unheralded. Debby Ng will bring clarity to the usually murky waters of Pulau Hantu with her underwater photos and videos.
About the speaker: Debby Ng is a full-time environmental journalist. She began her work in film and moved on to television, but eventually realised that she gained the most satisfaction from communicating her concerns on the environment through her photography and writing. Her work has been published in several regional and international magazines, including the award-winning Lebanese magazine, Environment & Development. She has also worked with numerous Asian and international non-government organisations such as the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), and the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA). In 2005 she assisted the Indonesian government in their assessment of fisheries, a project funded by The World Conservation Union (IUCN), the only conservation organisation with official observer status at the United Nations. Debby Ng is founder of the Hantu Blog, an education and awareness project powered entirely by volunteers and utilising free electronic media. She is also a volunteer dive guide and a freelance nature guide with Creative Kids.
Posted: Talks, Notices
21
April
2008
While most people are waiting for April 22, Earth Day to do their bit for the environment, nature enthusiast, educator, poet, and naturalist in his own right, Joseph Lai, has already swung into action to help save local reefs a tangle at a time.
Whilst I was at ADEX on Saturday, Joseph was leading a group of young people concerned about the environment and eager to do their bit, into the intertidal reefs of Pulau Hantu to remove a discarded fishing net that had become tangled in the reef. More at Joseph’s Blog.
When fishing nets are discarded they are referred to as ghost nets, so called because they drift carelessly in the ocean, snaring all sorts of wildlife from corals to pelagic and reef animals. Because they are not degradable, these nets continue to harm marine and coastal life throughout their indefinite “lifetimes”.
Remember, you don’t have to wait for an event to do your bit for the environment. It’s way more effective to work little bits of positive acts for the environment into your daily life. But in order to amplify your actions, not only should you passively try to reduce your consumption and try to live sustainably, but you should actively reach out to others and encourage them to live the way you do.
George Monbiot is the author of the best selling books The Age of Consent: a manifesto for a new world order, Captive State: the corporate takeover of Britain, and Heat: How to stop the Planet Burning. In an interview with New Consumer he suggests…
“There is absolutely one cast iron rule and that is that you don’t [make a difference] by yourself. You have to work with other people and in nearly all cases there are already groups which you can join. Never try to precipitate political change by yourself, it’s just not going to work. The lone voice might sound romantic but it’s not effective. For this to work you will have to work with others.”
Before you get all depressed thinking about how many plastic bags you have refused at the supermarket and how this doesn’t make a difference on a global scale, remember, that BEFORE you get to convincing others or working with others, you have to begin by working with yourself. When you’re convinced of your actions, and it’s roll-on effect, only then can you convincingly incur that same belief in others. It really depends on how far along you are, but it’s good to keep Monbiot’s philosophy in mind. If you’re already in the habit of making a difference, why not expand on it and have others make that same difference? But if you’re still getting used to it, go easy on yourself and keep on working at getting that spark to transform into an endearing flame.
Posted: Notices, Blogs, News
20
April
2008
DATE & TIME : Tuesday 22 April 11am – 12pm
VENUE : Function Hall Botany Centre
Join Mr Jeffrey Low as he shares with us the splendor of our local coral reefs.
Synopsis: To start off the Biodiversity Talk series is our very own Mr Jeffrey Low from the National Biodiversity Centre Branch. He will share with us the splendor of Singapore’s coral reefs through an array of beautiful photos. Come join him in the exploration of our local coral reefs in the comfort of your chair.
About the Speaker: Jeffrey graduated from NUS in with a Bachelors of Science degree in 1988, and obtaining his Masters degree in 1999. He has worked on coral reef-related projects as a Research Assistant with NUS, first at the Reef Ecology Laboratory and then at the Tropical Marine Science Institute. He joined NParks in 2003 as a Senior Biodiversity Officer, overseeing development and marine conservation issues in the southern islands of Singapore.
Posted: Talks, Notices
19
April
2008
This year’s Asia Dive Expo will be from 18-20 April at Suntec, Singapore. At the International Convention & Exhibition Center.
The Hantu Blog will be present at the inaugural ADEX Eco Village as part of the International Year of the Reef group of organisations. Join the Hantu Blog along with other local groups and NGOs in bringing the environmental message to the regions largest expo, and one of the several global industries that depend on the health of the oceans in order to profit.
Posted: Notices, Blogs, News
11
April
2008
Pulau Hantu’s iconic sea critter, the Tigertail seahorse, makes its North American debut at Nature Online, the Web site of the popular American public television series Nature. The series is produced by channel Thirteen/WNET New York, the highest-rated public TV station in the US, offering a wealth of programming from the Public Broadcasting Service. The non-profit corporation also operates WLIW21, public television, presenting programming and outreach projects that educate, enlighten and entertain, as well as several digital channels, and on-demand video services. Thirteen/WNET began broadcasting in 1962.
The Tigertail seahorse is part of a Web feature for an article about interesting mating antics. Follow the above link and click “See the answers” at the bottom of the page to be taken to the page where the photo is displayed!
It’s great that The Hantu Blog, a free public education service, is able to contribute to a similar outreach vehicle half way across the planet. Because Nature Online will have an enormous reach not just to people in the US but to people all over the world, we hope our Seahorse ambassador and our Blog will garner the attention that our reefs need in order to survive the next seven generations.
Free public television has been so important in the nurturing of society’s less privileged since the 1970s. In an era where everyone watches cable television, it’s hard to imagine a world without it. But a majority of society still depends on public television to have fun, learn and be influenced. The even better news is that today, there’s more information that can be freely accessed (and delivered!) than ever before. So there’s really no excuse to be misinformed anymore.
Posted: Notices, News
