Saving Gaia Forum aims to raise environmental issues

By Dominique Loh, Channel NewsAsia
26 July 2007

SINGAPORE: The planet's environmental troubles have taken the spotlight in the media in recent weeks and MediaCorp's Channel NewsAsia is putting the issues in perspective with a new series called "Saving Gaia".

Besides airing the educational series, MediaCorp has also gone one step further by organising the Saving Gaia Breakfast Forum at the Shangri-la Hotel on Thursday to engage the business community in a meaningful dialogue on the benefits of going green.

In sharing the purpose of this eco-initiative, Woon Tai Ho, Managing Director of MediaCorp News, said: "This breakfast meeting is to focus on Gaia's biggest dilemma and that's business. We want to ask what it means to save Gaia for your company – from big decisions to personal ones... how do they hit the bottom-line? How do you turn every dollar green?

"The ideas that came out through the media were very good. We're going to use a lot of the ideas that were discussed and try to incorporate them into our programmes."

Due to rapid growth and consumerism, Singaporeans have, at one point, thrown away some 14,000 tonnes of garbage daily.

The National Environment Agency (NEA) said only half of the waste gets recycled and serious environmental problems such as carbon dioxide emissions remain.

Chang Yeng Cheong, Deputy General Manager, VivoCity, said: "VivoCity, being the largest retail and lifestyle destination, has more than 3 million visitors a month, so the challenge has always been to give everyone a cool shopping environment. But we only switch on the air conditioning 45 minutes before the official opening hours."

NEA said it has made some progress with companies that are willing to try its energy audit scheme.

Lee Yuen Hee, CEO, National Environment Agency, said: "When we introduced the scheme, there were a lot of hesitation by companies on the costs they would have to incur by implementing these energy efficiency measures. But once they have completed the study, they realised that the energy savings they can achieve are very significant. Companies under the scheme have achieved annual savings of about S$15 million."

Through the forum, it is hoped that the message of convincing companies to be earth-friendly would come across loud and clear.

Howard Shaw, Executive Director, Singapore Environment Council, said: "Going green does not have to be a big investment, it does not have to be a great inconvenience to management. If the right steps are adopted from the start, the company will see returns eventually."

Experts say a company's green efforts may have to come from the top management, but in the long run, educating the young may be the key in changing old habits from an older generation.


- CNA/so

MediaCorp Ch 5 to show highlights of Live Earth concerts

13 July 2007 (CNA)

Missed the message first time round?

Fret not.

If you weren't one of the one million Singaporeans who caught Channel 5's exclusive 24-hour broadcast of Live Earth's global concert last weekend, you can do so, albeit in an edited show.

On July 22, Channel 5 will be airing a three-hour highlight show, featuring a select line-up of some of the biggest stars who performed.

The programme starts at 4 pm.

More than 100 artists took part in concerts in nine different locations around the world, in an effort to raise aware- ness about the global warming crisis.

Organised by former United States Vice-President Al Gore, Live Earth staged concerts in London, Sydney, Tokyo, Shanghai, Johannesburg, Hamburg, Rio de Janeiro, New York and Washington DC.

Some of the stars that will be featured in the highlight show include Linkin Park and Rihanna rocking from Tokyo; Shakira shaking her hips in Hamburg; classic bands The Police and Bon Jovi bringing down the house in New York; and popular acts Black Eyed Peas, Madonna, the Red Hot Chilli Peppers and the Pussycat Dolls wowing the crowd in London.

Fans can also look forward to catching performances by Jack Johnson, Pharell Williams, Alicia Keys, Lenny Kravitz, Kanye West and a host of other musical acts — all in a bid to trigger a movement towards solving the environmental crisis.

The Live Earth concerts drew an estimated 19 million viewers in the US and 4.5 million viewers in the UK, along with eight million users who streamed the concert live on MSN.

MediaCorp organises green party to fight climate change

By Wong Mun Wai, Channel NewsAsia
11 July 2007

SINGAPORE: Buy a drink, save a tree. This is what guests at MediaCorp's "The Gaia Party" on Wednesday evening were encouraged to do, to help save the environment.

The event was organised to raise funds for a conservation project in Singapore.

For one month, party-venue provider Hacienda is donating the money used to buy Martinis, to plant trees to help mitigate climate change.

Three Martinis, at $10 each, buys one sapling tree.

Despite critics who argue that energy is wasted whenever events such as this party are held, organisers believe the investment is worth it.

Howard Shaw, Executive Director, Singapore Environment Council (SEC), said: "They would be at home maybe with the air-conditioning on, maybe somewhere else at some other venue. It's good to see vendors like Hacienda adding value to what they do and carrying a message, in addition to providing this great environment."

Trees are estimated to be able to absorb about 20 kilogrammes of carbon dioxide each, per year.

The SEC wants to plant a species of raintree, similar to the Samanea Saman found at the Singapore Botanic Gardens.

The number of trees planted will depend on the number of Martinis sold.

The Council hopes to plant about 500 trees around Dempsey Road and other areas.

The Gaia Party is one of the events under the MediaCorp Saving Gaia - or Earth – initiative, held in conjunction with a six-part documentary airing on Channel NewsAsia this month. - CNA/yy

MediaCorp aims to do its part to protect environment

By Wong Siew Ying, Channel NewsAsia
06 July 2007

SINGAPORE: MediaCorp is using its various media platforms to spread the message on the importance of protecting the environment, as the organisation feels climate change and its potential for disaster calls for a more concerted effort from the society.

This is the first time that the broadcaster is launching a month-long Green Campaign across its television, news, radio and print platforms.

From 23 July, Channel NewsAsia will screen a six-part documentary called "Saving Gaia" ('Gaia' in Greek means 'Earth'), which looks at how countries in Asia are addressing environmental issues.

Woon Tai Ho, Managing Director, MediaCorp News, said: "It is, if you like, our inconvenient truth – the earth is not in such a good shape. The topics discussed in the documentary range from what happens when rivers dry up to what happens when cities start to sink.

"The matter is actually more urgent than we give it credit for. In fact, the consequences of the climate change can actually happen within our life-time. When we asked movie star Joan Chen to narrate it, she said 'yes' because she knows it's for a good cause."

Members of the public can also chip in to help ease climate change.

MediaCorp will launch a "Saving Gaia begins with me" online campaign from 7 July where the public can pledge to protect the planet.

The first 5,000 to do so will receive a reusable shopping bag from sponsor Singapore Petroleum Company.

MediaCorp is also encouraging its staff to bring their mugs to the cafeteria so as to cut down on the usage of styrofoam cups, which are not biodegradable.

Channel NewsAsia plans to invite business partners to a "Saving Gaia Breakfast Forum", which will touch on the practice and value of going green.

MediaCorp Channel 5 will be screening the round-the-world Live Earth! concerts, which will last for 24 hours, from 7pm on Saturday, 7 July, to promote the fight against global warming.

MediaCorp Channel U will also be broadcasting the full version of the Live Earth! Shanghai concert from 9.30pm on Saturday.


- CNA/so

Environmental issues hit S'pore screens as MediaCorp goes green

By Margaret Perry, Channel NewsAsia
04 July 2007

SINGAPORE : MediaCorp is going green this month in an effort to make Singaporeans more aware of environmental issues.

The green programming starts on Saturday with a 24-hour worldwide concert.

"Live Earth" will hit Channel 5 at 7pm on July 7 and last for 24 hours.

Channel U will also telecast Live Earth from 9:30pm on July 7.

Countries from seven continents, including Japan, Brazil and the US, will be hosting concerts featuring over 100 stars and bands committed to saving the environment.

They include Madonna, the Black Eyed Peas and the Police.

Two billion people are expected to watch the event worldwide.

Hollywood's finest are also lending their support, offering green facts and tips.

In Singapore, the MediaCorp television logos will go green for the day.

The broadcaster is also calling on the public to show their support too.

"We hope that by encouraging Singaporeans to wear green on July 7 and 8, it will bring a new level of awareness in Singapore, and for people to show their support for the environment in a highly visual manner," said Joy Olby-Tan, VP of Programming, MediaCorp TV.

As part of Arts Central's month-long celebration of Earth, the channel will air "Life in the Undergrowth" - a documentary that exposes the private lives of creepy crawlies such as spiders, worms and insects. It also includes the mating rituals of the leopard slug.

From July 23, Channel NewsAsia will start screening "Saving Gaia" - a six-part documentary series examining how countries in the region are tackling climate change.

Gaia in Greek means "Earth" and is synonymous with "Mother Earth".

This is the first time MediaCorp is launching a month-long Green campaign across its television, news, radio and print platforms.

The decision follows its signing of the UN Global Compact, with the pledge to support four key principles - human rights, labour standards, anti-corruption and the environment. - CNA /ls