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Clean and Green Week

Launched in November 1990, the Clean and Green Week (CGW) is a week-long campaign that runs in November each year. It is administered by the Education & Partnership Department, National Environment Agency (NEA). It aims to promote awareness and appreciation for a clean and green environment.

History
In 1990, the government launched a week-long programme (from 4 to 10 November) to get Singaporeans to appreciate their surrounding more. To be held every November henceforth, the "Clean and Green Week" (CGW) comprises activities and events that let Singaporeans experience hands-on how to care for the environment as well as explore themes and issues relevant to the environment. To facilitate the involvement of organisations in environment-related activities, a Clean and Green committee was even formed in 1990 by the Environment Ministry which acted as a communication channel between the Ministry and parties who were interested to participate in the CGW.

The subsequent years' campaign adopted different themes to reach to a wider audience and propagate the many messages about the environment. A major theme has been waste recycling which has resulted in the proliferation of recycling centres at petrol stations and other public areas. The support from private companies since the early years of the campaign had been a welcome endorsement of the messages behind the campaign in addition to making the campaign visible to the public. Reaching to the young through schools has also been a good strategy to buttress the right attitudes towards the environment from an early age. In 1991, for example, 30 companies lent a hand in the CGW with three oil companies sponsoring educational video and books for children.

Description
Today, the CGW is administered by the Education & Partnership Department of the National Environment Agency (NEA). One programme that has made an impact on the environment and public awareness is the Cleanest Estate Competition. This programme encourages residents of housing estates to stop littering and keep their surrounding clean. Another environment-friendly programme is SCIC's (Singapore Chemical Industry Council) Responsible Care Programme that emphasises pollution prevention and high standards of health safety measures among employees in chemical industries. Other traditional programmes that have continued since the beginning of CGW include the Tree-Planting campaign and guided tours and walks at the nature reserves jointly organised with the National Parks Board. Recycling is also a popular and ongoing theme spurred by programme like the Green Office Label which recognises organisations that are committed to reduce wastage in the consumption of paper and power.

Since the recent outbreak of SARS in 2003 and other infectious diseases like the Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease (HFMD), the role of CGW in promoting responsible public health and environment-friendly habits has gained in importance. In 2003, the NEA working closely with the SARS Task Force started the 'Singapore's OK' campaign to step up the level of general hygiene and to educate the public on the individual responsibility of mitigating the spread of SARS. 134 hawker stalls were given a good scrub in a massive post-SARS clean-up operation in November 2003. A scriptwriting contest with a hygiene theme was held for school children.



Author
Naidu Ratnala Thulaja  & Nor-Afidah Abd Rahman



References   
Chew, B. (1990, September 26). Annual Clean and Green Week to be held from this year. The Straits Times, p. 32.

Sharmilpal, K. (2002, November 3). Anti-litter efforts to go beyond fines; Agency will try to educate people so that they will keep environment clean because they want to, and not because they might be punished. The Straits Times, Singapore.

Sharmilpal, K. (2002, November 2). 'Recycling family' gets new member; Sexy glass bottle is the latest icon to be launched to raise awareness that glass can be recycled. The Straits Times, Singapore.

Sharmilpal, K. (2003, October 17). All food centres to get another good scrub; Second clean-up of hawker centres after Sars outbreak, it'll be a major event of Clean and Green Week. The Straits Times, Singapore.

Call for S'poreans to help keep own backyard clean. (2001, August 7). The Straits Times, p. 4.

Clean and Green committee formed. (1990, December 5). The Straits Times, p. 27. 

Clean and Green Week gets a lift from private sector. (1990, November 3). Business Times, p. 2

Cleanest estates keep clean record in spot checks. (2001, November 4). The Straits Times, p. 17.

Environment: Play your part. (2000, November 9). The Straits Times, p. 8.

Safety-award scheme for chemical firms. (2001, March 29). The Straits Times, p. 2.


Further Readings
Khalik, S., & Vijayan, K. C. (2000, November 6). What price a clean and green city? The Straits Times, p. 4 

Ma, G. (1999, November 8). Green Leaf winner prefers real plants, not fake ones. The Straits Times, p. 19.

Nathan, D. (1999, November 3). Planting of 2,000 trees to kick off campaign. The Straits Times, p. 47.

Sharmilpal, K. (2001, August 22). 10-year plan to keep S'pore green. The Straits Times, p. 3.

Won't litter go away? (1999, November 14). The Straits Times, p. 42.

National Environment Agency. (2002). Campaigns and programmes. Retrieved January 13, 2004, from app.nea.gov.sg/cms/htdocs/category_sub.asp?cid=40 

The information in this article is valid as at 2004 and correct as far as we are able to ascertain from our sources. It is not intended to be an exhaustive or complete history on the subject. Please contact the Library for further reading materials on the topic.

Subject
Events>>National Campaigns
Special weeks--Singapore
Environmental policy--Singapore
Law and government>>Environmental protection

Librarian Recommendations
>> The Cleanest Estate Competition and the Cleanest Block Competition
>> Tree Planting Day


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