Singapore Government Press Release

Media Division, Ministry of Information and The Arts

36th Storey, PSA Building, 460 Alexandra Road, Singapore 119963.

Tel: 3757794/5

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Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen

A very good morning to all of you. I am happy to see so many young people here this morning to witness the inaugural HongkongBank/NYAA Youth Environmental Awards Presentation Ceremony. Indeed, each time I look at a sea of young faces, it is like looking into the future through a crystal ball.

In the last few decades, increasing attention has been paid to environmental issues all over the world in the wake of various crises and disasters. The oil crisis in the early eighties sparked off concern over the depletion of our earth’s limited resources. Various environmental disasters such as the Minamata poisoning in Japan depicted in real life the effects of unbridled environmental pollution. More recently, the discovery of a hole in the ozone layer has been blamed in part for global warming and changing weather patterns, such as the recent El Nino that wrecked havoc on both sides of the Pacific.

What does the future hold? Peering through the crystal ball, if our youths, who are our future pillars of society, are callous, selfish, uncaring, ignorant and myopic, then we may continue to witness many more instances of damage to our fragile living biosphere. However, looking at the crowd today, I am proud to say that there is at least this many of you who care enough to make a difference and I believe you can make a difference!

The HongkongBank/NYAA Youth Environmental Award that is being awarded today was established with the support of the Ministry to recognise youths such as you for your outstanding contributions, achievements and commitment towards environmental protection and nature conservation in Singapore. It is my hope that this award will serve as further motivation for the advancement of the environmental cause by young Singaporeans such as yourself, not just in Singapore, but also in the region and beyond.

During the recent and ongoing haze episodes, one thing at least is clear - that environmental issues have no national boundaries. Whilst we undertake all these efforts to imbue in our youths a greater sense of responsibility for the environment, we must not neglect to fit them with glasses to see things from a wider perspective. In an increasingly integrated world, we cannot afford to be irrelevant to the global community. Indeed, our survival as a nation depends on our continued contributions to the region and beyond, in the trading of goods and services and increasingly, in the exchange of knowledge and expertise.

I am therefore pleased to note that the organisers, HongkongBank and the NYAA Council have arranged for the award winners to be sent to the UNEP’s Headquarters for Asia and the Pacific in Bangkok, Thailand and to be taken to view some Thai environmental projects. This meaningful trip will be an invaluable opportunity for our young leaders to be exposed to regional and international efforts in environmental and nature conservation work. I certainly hope that our award winners will treasure this eye-opening experience and return with a greater commitment to the environmental cause in the region.

Last but not least, I wish to commend HongkongBank and the NYAA Council for their active role in developing youth potential in Singapore and in providing opportunities for our youths to be involved in various environmental projects annually. Today’s events will further enhance the existing strong partnership and co-operation between HongkongBank Singapore and the NYAA Council. I hope other private enterprises will take a leaf from HongkongBank’s example and similarly step forward to lend their support to the environmental cause.

In conclusion, my congratulations to the winners of the HongkongBank/NYAA Youth Environmental Awards and to all schools and tertiary institutions who supported the Award by nominating your students.

Thank you.

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