Myna Population Control in Yishun and Clementi

It was reported in the media that fogging of selected trees will be done to manage the myna population in Yishun and Clementi by AVA, due to residents complain of the noise created by the birds.

The authorities do not think it is a long term solution.  Likely it will not be effective as we have seen how years of culling of pigeons by poison has not work.  It used to be the same with stray cats, with AVA culling them and discouraging feeding, but with limited result in controlling of the strays population. This is until NGO groups actively promotes sterilization of stray cats. The sterilization program has been very effective in reducing the strays population.

Contraceptive bird feed has been found to be effective in other countries. AVA is doing trail run on pigeons at a mosque in Singapore.  AVA should expedite this program and extend it to both pigeon and myna population control island wide.

Fogging will only drive the myna from on location to another.  So peace in this neighborhood results in noise in another. Besides, though fogging does not kill the birds, but it is still chemical involved. Chemical dissipated into the air can land in surrounding locations and caused irritant to human and pets. It may be inhaled and cause health issues.

Must we drive and kill off all other animals (except pets) in HDB ?  Can we learn to be more tolerant towards stray cats and birds in our estate. They add life and colour to our concrete jungle.

LTA on CRL (Cross Island Line)

LTA has written to the media (Today Paper on 22 Feb 16) to say that "Govt studying route impact, has not made decision yet".  Reading what LTA Chief Executive, Chew has written, the conclusion is clear to us who are familiar with govt double talk, - it has already made its decision.  It is just waiting for the ground assessment result before making the announcement that CRL will cut beneath our nature reserve.

LTA Chew kept silent on the negative impact of cutting across the nature reserve, but highlight all the negative impacts should it run along the alternate route - saying it would cost $2 billion more, involve home acquisition which would affect families...etc

Even doing ground investigation has environment impact - that is why they reduce the the number of bore holes.  What more tunneling beneath the nature reserve.  According to the environment impact assessment done - the impact is serious as it is in the 2nd highest adverse category which is term 'moderate'.  This is what govt has been telling us - 'moderate' - so that those who are not familiar with the environment assessment stuff will think it is 'mild'.

Ultimately it is only cost that matters to the govt. Yes, $2 billion may sound like a lot, but Temasek and GIC lost much more than this. Why is our govt silent on their losses - while the concern about the amount which will save our last remaining patch of nature reserve. We can't put a price tag on nature which benefit is intangible and damage is irreversible.

Besides, since when has the govt been sensitive to re-homing residents? They have been doing it for decades - acquiring lands dirty cheap in the past till they are now the biggest landlord of S'pore.

Have they shown compassion when they announced that the 4 blocks of HDB flats at Rochor Center will be torn down to make way for infrastructure development?  Residents in those 4 blocks are mainly from lower income with high percentage of senior folks.

The difference is govt dictate the cost of acquisition in Rochor Center, but the acquisition area for CRL are private residential housing, so they can't get them cheap.

So $$$ is all our govt cares about.  All the other justifications are just excuse.  They are short sighted and irresponsible.

MRT Cross Island Line - another wayang

While the govt is currently in the process of  gathering feedback from the public on the proposed MRT Cross Island Line (CIL) route, it looks like it is just another wayang pretending to listen while it has already made up its mind to go ahead to run it under our nature reserve.

Last night news report over the TV, we have the latest govt propaganda which is indicative that CIL line will be cutting beneath the nature reserve.  In the news clip, first they tell us that the start of the tunneling will be outside the reserve to minimise impact.  Then they said they rather not have it running near residential areas as it will affect residents.  They also mentioned there are elderly around the area and it will inconvenient them. Isn't this a self contradiction - if the impact is minimum why the concern then?

How stupid and lame to use seniors as an excuse!  What is the senior population there?  Are they saying it is exceptionally high?  Are our past and on-going MRT construction all over the island not also an inconvenient to senior residents in those parts of  S'pore?

Which is the greater evil - the possible irreversible damage to the fauna and flora, even dead and extinct of endangered species in the nature reserves OR the temporary inconvenience to residents? What they are really concern with is cost of construction, so please stop all the dishonest lies!

We have seen first hand how underground digging cause so much disturbance above ground. So don't try to bull shit us about minimum impact on the nature reserve.

Only in Spore we have this irony where nature reserve has little meaning as the govt can do what they like with it. Look at the resident housing right at the door step of our Bt Timah nature reserve. No buffer zone. So when folks choosing to live near nature, yet complained when they have monkeys around their homes, - monkeys are culled.  All fauna and flora are protected in nature reserve, but not so in S'pore.

Govt are pushing for the 6.9 million population so they are sacrificing our scarce nature reserve to cater for the foreign influx.  We the citizens and all the fauna and flora in Spore are the sacrifice lambs in our govt political manoeuvres  and GDP growth.

Culling of Pigeons by Poison

Due to urbanization, animals suffer as a consequence of intolerance.  There are animal welfare groups looking out for dogs and cats, but none for pigeons. So these poor birds are made out to be dangerous disease spreading monsters and they are poisoned regularly. 

There have never been any statistic on pigeon transmitting diseases to human locally as far as I know. All animals, human included can spread certain diseases. Pigeons are singled out to spread fear so that it is easier to justify killing them.  Likely our medical profession are more 'dangerous' than pigeons since we have hepatitis link death and possible respiratory transmission just recently in 2 of our established hospitals.

We understand the need to control the pigeon population in housing estate, but more humane method should be used, instead of poisoning.

It is extremely disturbing even for adults to see poisoned pigeons falling off ledges. Children are visibly upset when witnessing such incident. Most of birds though unable to fly are still alive when they are thrown into bags.  

It is very cruel to have them suffered so much pain first by poisoning then suffocation while being culled.

Those pigeons that did not ingest sufficient poison food, flew off and we often see dead birds the next two days at various blocks. If the cleaners do not spot them, the carcass will pose a hygiene problem.

AVA is testing out contraceptive method to reduce pigeon population at a mosque. AVA should expedite on this contraceptive project. Since it has been found to be effective in other countries, they should work with Town Councils to implement it across S'pore.

Sterilization of stray cats has been very effective, thus contraceptive method on pigeons would likely see fruitful results, which years of ruthless poisoning has not.

We are a developed nation, we should stop such cruel culling.  Besides the current method contradicts the spirit of the law of cruelty against animals. It also goes against our national kindness movement and compassion teaching of religions.

PM Lee addressed as Brother ?

On Mon night, the news on TV covered PM Lee's speech at NTUC National Delegates Conference. I was confused to see the large welcome banner behind him addressing him as 'Brother Lee Hsien Loong'.  Why the religious sounding address ?  The common practice is to address him as PM.

I think whoever is in-charge should be mindful to separate their religious belief from public sphere. As it is, we know being human it is hard to do so.  But public servants, politicians, MPs, Ministers....who have influence over our social policies should be cautious and consciously do so.

It is very uncomfortable to have such strong openly religious link address in public forum directed at PM.  PM should lead by example and stop such nonsense.