Workshop on Cruel "Animal Liberation"

Birds caught for mercy release outside a temple in Bangkok. Many of the released birds are then caught again for the next round of release. Photo taken in 2006.

After the last workshop on Wiping out the trade in Wildlife with Louis of ACRES, we now continue on the flip side of the coin by examining the issue of releasing invasive and exotic animals into our ecosystems. We are most grateful to have Ms Karen Teo from NParks to join us at our upcoming workshop to talk about the subject.


Many of the animals released into the wild also do not survive long. Find out why at the workshop.

In 2006, I wrote about NPark's Operation No Release which tries to reach out to those practising "mercy release" or "animal liberation". However, over the years, we've begun to hear more about animal release into our nature areas throughout the year, and not just on specific religious holidays such as Vesak Day alone. Mercy release has been said not to be so merciful in reality. Find out more about this issue and how it affects the animals and our natural habitats in Singapore. For the 40th anniversary of Earth Day or perhaps even for Vesak Day, find out how you can really help the animals!

Please do join us if you would like to find out more about what we as nature volunteers can do on this issue!

Operation No Release
Date: 30 Apr 2010, Friday
Time: 7.00pm - 9.30pm
Venue: Civil Service College
31 North Buona Vista Road Singapore 275983
Register now at: http://tr.im/register2010

ABOUT THE WORKSHOP
This workshop focuses on the impact of exotic and invasive animals on our natural ecosystems in Singapore. Topics covered include:
(1) What is animal release? mercy release versus pet abandonment
(2) What are the impacts of animal release?
(3) How can you help?

This workshop is likely to be useful for anyone interested to do more about the release of animals into our natural habitats. It would be especially useful for anyone interested to volunteer for or would like to find out more about NPark's efforts on tackling this issue. The workshop requires active participation and includes role playing activities and is not to be mistaken for a public talk.

SPEAKER
Karen Teo, NParks
Karen Teo is a Senior Outreach Officer of the Central Nature Reserve Branch (National Parks Board). An ex-teacher by training, Karen is passionate about conserving Singapore's natural heritage. She did her Master thesis on Bukit Timah Nature Reserve at the Australian National University. Currently, she develops, facilitates and organises outreach and educational activities/programmes at Bukit Timah Nature Reserve and Central Catchment Nature Reserve. In addition, she gives talks on nature conservation issues of Singapore to schools, organisations and the universities and conducts training workshops for teachers on fieldwork activities in the nature reserves and nature parks.

For more details, visit
http://leafmonkeyworkshop.blogspot.com/2010/04/operation-no-release.html

Read full article here

Butt Watcher's Workshop - A New Perspective

Join the Leafmonkey Workshop in gaining new perspectives to watching butts... butterflies that is... with Khew of Butterfly Circle. We are most grateful to have Khew to share with us on the local butterflies in Singapore despite his very busy schedule!

Date: 5 March 2010, Friday
Time: 7.00pm - 9.30pm
Venue: Civil Service College
31 North Buona Vista Road Singapore 275983

Register now at: http://tr.im/register2010

For more details, visit The Leafmonkey Workshop website.

Read full article here

Crabby Tales: No Chili Required, Fri 15 Jan 2010, 7pm

The Leafmonkey Workshop is celebrating its 1st anniversary with its 13th workshop on Crabby Tales. But not to worry, no chili will be required! All you need to do is sign up and brace yourself for crabby tales accompanied with our birthday cake, good company and plenty of fun.

Thank you for supporting the Leafmonkey Workshop over its past year. We'll love to see familiar (and new faces) at our birthday celebration. Hope to see you there!

Date: 15 January 2010, Friday
Time: 7.00pm - 9.30pm
Venue: Civil Service College
31 North Buona Vista Road Singapore 275983

Register now at: http://tr.im/register2010

For more details, visit The Leafmonkey Workshop website.

Read full article here

Wet and Wild in Sep-Oct 2009!

As some of you may know, this monkey is no longer a full time graduate student but is now a gainfully employed member of the workforce since August 2009. Still, that is no excuse for my silence on the blog front. Just some updates on what I have been up to since my last post!

4 Oct 2009: Really Really Free Market
Been waiting 2 months to give away clothes at the Really Really Free Market, held monthly at Post-Museum, Rowell Road. Everything at RRFM is free and people can freely take and give. There are also a lot of indian workers in the vicinity who takes the clothes to give their family and partners. I brought down 4 big bags of clothes and items which were all taken by the end of 4 hours! There were about 10 pieces of leftovers which were collected by one kind soul who sent them to a disaster relief collection point. I hope all the clothes went to good use and good homes.



3 Oct 2009: Guided GE2221 Nature & Society Students at Chek Jawa
Had a wet and wild afternoon with students from the NUS geography module "Nature & Society" at Chek Jawa, talking about conservation and development in the pouring rain. Despite being drenched, I had a thoroughly good time and I hope they did too! More photos here.



2 Oct 2009: The Naked Truth and other Sluggish Affairs
After a 2 months hiatus, we kick started activities at The Leafmonkey Workshop with Chay Hoon's naked workshop on slugs and other naked molluscs. Read more about what happened on the newly revamped The Leafmonkey Workshop website! Photos can be found here.



Revamp of The Leafmonkey Workshop Website
To celebrate our upcoming 1st year anniversary of The Leafmonkey Workshop, I recently revamped the website to a user-friendly version with a new logo to commemorate our first milestone. One young, tender leaf to mark our first year.



28 Sep 2009: "Kelongs Vanishing fast in Singapore"
I was recently contacted and quoted in a ST article on "Kelongs Vanishing Fast in Singapore" (28 September 2009)

Ms November Tan, who runs environmental workshops islandwide, acknowledges that aquaculture is a popular solution for food sustainability: 'Food security will be easier met with fish farming,' she said, but added that there are environmental problems with aquaculture.

'There are issues with water pollution due to faecal waste and risk of disease due to fish overcrowding.'

The best solution, she said, is to cut down on consumption so the natural population in the sea can replenish itself.

'It boils down to consumer choice,' she said. 'Singaporeans almost never ask where our fish come from. We seem to think there is a never-ending supply. That is not the case.'

Read full article here

Pulau Ubin Stories Workshop, 3 Jul 2009, 7pm

I will be conducting a workshop suitable for nature guides and those of us who frequent Pulau Ubin and would like to share more of the island's history and geography with friends and family. This is not a talk but a workshop with activities that would help to enhance public communication. I am still hoping to invite some special guest speakers who are veterans on the island who would hopefully be able to share stories that even I don't know about!

Vacancies are limited. Only 10 spots left! Do register early to avoid being disappointed.

Date: 3 July 2009, Friday
Time: 7.00pm - 9.30pm
Venue: Civil Service College
31 North Buona Vista Road Singapore 275983

PLEASE REGISTER AT
http://is.gd/16XCb

SPEAKER
November Tan
November is a graduate student in the Department of Geography at NUS as well as an active nature guide on Pulau Ubin amongst others. 3 generations of her family traces their roots back to Pulau Ubin and she traces hers on Pulau Ubin Stories, a blog which archives the stories old and new on Pulau Ubin. She did her undergraduate honors thesis on "Saving Chek Jawa: Social Capital and Networks in Nature Conservation". She has also authored several heritage trails publications for the National Heritage Board. She currently coordinate workshops for nature guides at The Leafmonkey Workshop and writes at the Midnight Monkey Monitor.

Read full article here

Get Web with Singapore Spiders, 5 Jun, Fri, 7pm

A webslinging workshop next Friday on the spiders of Singapore by the Leafmonkey Workshop. Our guest speaker is The Annotated Budak who has wowed many with his photos on spiders. In addition to the ecology, web, food and sex of spider, he will also be talking about how to photograph spiders. Personally am rather excited about this workshop since I know nothing about spiders except that it has 8 legs. I stop at being able to differentiate a St Andrew Cross from a Golden Orb spider! Of course this is also an opportunity for experienced guides and photographers to exchange ideas, tips and stories.

Date: 5 June 2009, Friday
Time: 7.00pm - 9.30pm
Venue: Civil Service College, 31 North Buona Vista Road Singapore 275983 (Map)
Workshop Fees: By Donation
Read our FAQ

Click here for more information about the workshop

Register NOW!
Registration is strongly advised as it allows us to better customize the workshop to suit YOUR needs!

The workshop is limited to 30 participants so please register early.
Closing date: Sunday, 1 June 2009.

Read full article here

Want to find Treasures in our "Wastelands"?

This is the last week to register for the upcoming workshop by Bian Tan on the Treasures of our "Wastelands". If you are interested to learn more about the pioneer plants in Singapore, their ecological roles and how to share more information about them with others, sign up for the workshop now at http://snipr.com/gtijk.

Experienced guides are most welcome to attend as well to share your stories about these treasures with other workshop participants.


TREASURES OF OUR "WASTELANDS": PIONEER PLANTS WORKSHOP
Date: 8 May 2009, Friday
Time: 7.00pm - 9.30pm
Venue: Civil Service College, 31 North Buona Vista Road Singapore 275983 Map
Workshop Fees: By Donation
Read our FAQ

ABOUT THE WORKSHOP
This workshop is an introduction to pioneer plants and the basic principles of succession ecology. Learn about some common species, and how our “wastelands” are actually important pioneering plant species.

SPEAKER
Bian Tan
Bian graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Ornamental Horticulture and Master’s in Plant Taxonomy. He is the SEA Programme Coordinator for the Botanical Gardens Conservation International (BGCI), and assists botanical institutions with plant conservation, environmental education and the SEABG network. Prior to this, he spent almost 20 years in the USA studying and working at the San Francisco Botanical Gardens, where he pioneered the establishment of their South East Asian Cloud Forest.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE WORKSHOP:
http://leafmonkeyworkshop.blogspot.com/2009/04/pioneer-plants-workshop.html

PLEASE REGISTER AT
http://snipr.com/gtijk
Registration is strongly advised as it allows us to better customize the workshop to suit YOUR needs!

The workshop is limited to 30 participants so please register early.
Closing date: Sunday, 3 May 2009.

ABOUT THE ORGANIZERS
The Leafmonkey Workshop hopes to provide a platform for new and experienced guides to come together to Learn, Share and Do. Our workshops comprise of a short presentation on the topic of the month by our Guest Speakers, followed by activities that aim to facilitate sharing and participation. Activities provide a platform to learn how to communicate scientific facts with everyday language and stories to share with our friends, families and visitors we guide. Also, participants gain opportunities to share guiding techniques, tips and experiences with others. Our workshops are non-denominational and open to all nature groups in Singapore. This is an opportunity to get to know other volunteers, make new friends and share your experiences with one another.

Read full article here

Upcoming The Leafmonkey Workshop Events

After the success of the last workshop on echinoderms, there are now 3 more workshops planned for the coming months. What more, now you can sign up for all 3 workshops via 1 easy form. All interested are welcome to join us! Remember, pre-registration is a must :) Read Workshops FAQ.

5 Dec 2008 . 7pm - 10pm
The Easy (Not Hard) Cnidarians Workshop

9 Jan 2009 . 7pm - 10pm
The Hard (Not Soft) Cnidarians Workshop

6 Feb 2009 . 7pm - 10pm
The Fishy Workshop

REGISTER NOW!

We now also have our very own mailing list where you can sign up to receive updates and announcements via email. Originally I intended it to be for the midnight monkey monitor but there really isn't much I can share. Now, I really have things to share with every one and hopefully every one remotely interested would subscribe to the mailing list. TLW is expanding. We are not just going to be doing workshops but there is more in the works. Stay informed, subscribe to the list! To do so, you can either visit our google group or simply enter your email in the sign up box on the right sidebar of this blog.

You can still join our Facebook Page as a fan to receive updates on upcoming workshops and events!

Read full article here

Upcoming Workshops by The Leafmonkey Workshop

The Leafmonkey Workshop (TLW), my latest "job" and project is essentially an effort at filling in the gap in the local nature community by providing "capacity building" for nature guides and volunteers. As such, we have organized an series of upcoming monthly workshops that hope to provide further content training as well as how to effectively share these information with ordinary people. All interested are welcome to join us! Remember, pre-registration is a must :) Read Workshops FAQ

7 Nov 2008 . 7pm - 9.30pm
The "Star-Studded" Echinoderm Workshop

5 Dec 2008 . 7pm - 9.30pm
The Easy (Not Hard) Cnidarians Workshop

Best of all, remember to join our Facebook Page as a fan to receive updates on upcoming workshops and events!

Read full article here