Sunday, April 4, 2010
Land fill
What is land fill?
A landfill, also known as a dump or rubbish dump (and historically as a midden), is a site for the disposal of waste materials by burial and is the oldest form of waste treatment. Historically, landfills have been the most common methods of organised waste disposal and remain so in many places around the world.
Pros & Cons
pros-
1. most wastes are biodegradeble
2. containment for our garbage
cons-
1. takes up space
2. poses as environmental threat
3. produces a lot of methane gas (which are harmful and dangerous to the environment)
4. contaminates and pollutes water bodies, killing marine life
In Singapore..
THE PULAU SEMAKAU LANDFILL is located to the eastern of Singapore.
In 1999, when the last remaining landfill on Singapore’s mainland was exhausted, the Semakau Landfill was created by enclosing Pulau Semakau and a small adjacent island (Pulau Sakeng) with a rock bund. All our waste now ends up at Semakau, i.e., ash from the incineration plants and all non-incinerable waste.
During the construction of the landfill, effort was made to protect the marine ecosystem, especially mangroves and corals. 13 hectares of mangrove were replanted to replace those removed during construction of the bund. Wildlife continues to thrive on Pulau Semakau, and the air and water quality remains good.
On 16 Jul 05, Pulau Semakau was opened for nature-related recreational activities. Members of the public can now visit the island for birdwatching, sports fishing and intertidal walks.
In other countries like malaysia, open dumping is practiced and takes place at about 50% of the total landfill. However, Singapore makes a conscious effort to keep waste contained, so that it will not pollute water bodies.
Saturday, April 3, 2010
Land Clearance
Visit Singapore today! Can you imagine many years ago, our ancestors practised land clearance which enabled us to live in proper houses like today.
What are the causes of land clearance?
1) Corruption of the government institutions
2) Inequitable distribution of wealth and power
3) Population growth
4) Overpopulation
5) Urbanization
6) Globalization (though there are cases in which the impacts of globalization- new flows of labour, capital, commodities, and ideas, etc. Have promoted localized forest recovery)
Definition of land clearance
As the population increase, the demand of land will also increase, more land for development, result in massive deforestation projects. Removing of trees, stumps, brush, stories and other obstacles from an area as required the size of the crop producing land base of an existing farm or to provide land for a new farm operation. The newly cleared lands were therefore ready for cultivation, and also the development of the country.
In general…
Land shall not be cleared on slopes above 10% unless it can be fully integrated within an existing erosion control (terracing) conservation system to prevent erosion from the affected area. Land clear adjacent to an existing field shall not increase the overall up and down field row length unless soil conservation practices are implemented as required to prevent an increase in soil erosion from the affected area.
Types and methods of land clearance
There are four types of land clearing, felling and burning (FB), felling and stacking (FSO), felling, stacking and chipping (FSC) and selective clearing (SC). Monthly Carbon dioxide (CO₂) fluxes were highest in FB followed by FSO and FSC.
Clearing Methods Ways and tools of doing the methods
Standing timber Walk-down and pile; the uprooting and pile; or the cutting and pile method
Clear-cut areas Grubbing and pilling; the grubbing, piling, and turning; or the heavy moldboard plow or heavy breaking disc method
Light growth and ground brush Grubbing and piling; the rotary or flail mower; the heavy moldboard or breaking disc; or the rotary plow method
• Whatever the clearing method used debris piles shall be topsoil and mud free (maximum allowance of 10%) and well packed to ensure that they can be easily burned or loaded and hauled off the field.
• Whatever the clearing method used debris piles shall be topsoil and mud free (maximum allowance of 10%) and well packed to ensure that they can be easily burned or loaded and hauled off the field.
• The burning method will be exempt only in designated regions where burning permits cannot be obtained and will be reviewed on a case by case basis.
Pro and cons of land clearance
pros-
1) Fastest way to convert peat land for agriculture
2) Adding more useable yard to existing home
3) Reduce the potential for wildfires by cutting down forest fuels
4) Provides nutrients to fertile the soil
5) Increase the economic
cons-
1) Provide excited Carbon dioxide, result in greenhouse effect
2) Destroy the natural habitat, many species and animals are at risk
3) Brings about soil erosion
4) Affect the hydrologic cycle
In Singapore
Singapore Scenery
In the past, Singapore was merely covered with green-the rainforest. Forest reserves comprising only 0.25% of Singapore’s area now harbour over 50% of the residual native biodiversity. We these sacrifice, we are able to have those high HDB flats everywhere in the city.
Indonesia still practice land clearance
The rich forests of Indonesia have helped fuel the island nation's fantastic economic growth. The tropical woods were turned into pulp for paper and hardwood furniture - finding ready markets around the world.
Indonesia is the third largest emitter of greenhouse gases and 85 percent of that comes from cutting down trees - largely in the lush lowlands on the island of Java. Data shows, deforestation rate estimated from 1982 to 1993, have reached 2.4 millions hectares per year. This rate was considered higher, compared to the rate estimated by Forestry Department and FAO in 1990 ; which was expected to be 900,000 to 1.3 millions hectares per year. The deforestation rate in Indonesia was also higher than the average rate of tropical forest in the world which was only 987,000 per year.3 Primary forest coverage left nowadays are only 53 millions hectares or 37% of total forest area before (WALHI, 1998).
Resources (Land clearance)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xwV9qXBe_J0
http://www.birdspiders.com/gallery/photos/med_15AFF88FKD0B7KAEC2K14E151E12C24CCE4.jpg
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deforestation
http://www.gnb.ca/0173/30/0173300007-e.asp
Explore 2 Geography Textbook
http://www.pri.org/world/asia/deforestation-in-indonesia.html
http://www.wrm.org.uy/deforestation/Asia/Indonesia.html
http://seadb.science.nus.edu.sg/pdf/nature2003_0724.pdf
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PvmfLRV9UNQ
Labels: Teng I-Ling
Increasing price of land
What price of one piece of land these two plots should be? Expensive? Cheap?
Why the prices of land increase?
Why the prices of land increase?
Monty Python - Money Song
Yes, the world we live now is all revolving around the money.
A piece of land gets its market price as a whole, affected by all its external factors (government, public policy, environmental concern, sizes of land, etc.) In the past, it affected by the productivity on farming land, with or without productive tools and technology will both result in the increasing in the market value of land. Now that the population increase sharply, more people wanting to move to the same plot of land, competitions the land for different purpose, raising the demand of land, the price of land increases, and the one whom able to purchase with more money get the land.
Pros and cons of the increasing price of land practiced
pros-
1) Landowner gets more benefit out of the land
2) Lands will be used for better purpose, thus increase the economic
cons-
1) Young couple and singles might not be able to deal the increasing price of land
2) Widens the already high levels of inequality that exist in many poor countries
In Singapore
According to government data, Singapore´s population has grown to almost 5 million, this affect the public flats continuously increase in value as the country’s economy continues grows. Researches show on the Housing Development Board (HDB) that the Resale Price Index (RPI) has continued to climb even further, posting a record 145.2 points for the third quarter, which is 3.6 percent over the previous quarter. The property boom means HDB up graders made at least S$200,000 in profit when selling their flats, which upgrade to mass market condominiums.
Ibase (the city of Allen) is also another city where the price of land increase continuously
Due to the problem of land speculation, many plots are being held out the market in anticipation of a rise in price. It is how spectacularly on how the price had increase, as they claim that "the average price of land in São Paulo quadrupled between 1964-1978, and in Rio rose by three and three quarter times its value."
Video!!! Let’s Wendell Fitzgerald and Peter Melton discuss the history of how land comes to have a market value and the implications for the economics of land, public policy and environmental concerns with you.
Economics of land value
Enjoy~~
Resources (Increasing price of land)
http://frogandprincess.files.wordpress.com/2009/10/destination_15_singapore1.jpg
http://pottersvillage.org.uk/images/kisoro03.jpg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7sNJhX0x7yI
http://www.unu.edu/unupress/unupbooks/uu23me/uu23me0d.htm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HrPUK8o6ZPk
Labels: Teng I-Ling
Reflection - THINK! O-O?
Is it Inevitable?We think that IT IS ABSOLUTELY INEVITABLE
It is unfair to blame countries such as Singapore to have little amount of land and lot of immigrants who wish to stay in Singapore due to the high standards of living and many job opportunities :)
It is also unfair to blame countries to want more land to develop their country further to rise the standards of living there.
Who wins and loses in the changes?
win-
If its anyone who wins in the change for land, it is the people. If land supply is increased, the land used is for the benefit of the people. (for example: recreational purposes (Parks) or even housing (HDB))
Not only will the people have more facilities, they will have jobs too.THINK! Who reclaims the land? Who tends the hydroponic farms? (which too, will decrease human labour) PEOPLE! The change of land offers jobs.
lose-
People too lose out in the change of more land. They lose out in a nature experience. As i have posted in an other post, a lady had wrote in to TODAY between the difference of East Coast Park and Pulau Ubin.ITS NOT THE SAME.
OUR MOTHER EARTH IS DYING. we are killing it further as we are destroying land (land reclamation) and forests (land clearance)
The government also loses out as it costs a lot of money. It isnt a small sum. The government is spending millions-billion of dollars to have a small plot of land.
Who/What is responsible for the change?
I think that humans are responsible for this change as i have said before, they want to improve the lives of the people and develop their country further.
By: Toh Wen Feng
Source:
MY HEAD :D
Conserve our land :) Its not the same.
This is a letter from a lady named Liana Jeffrey to TODAY:Today Online, 3 May 05
Do not allow Pulau Ubin to become another East Coast Park
Letter to Today by Liana Jeffrey
MY HUSBAND and I are adventure lovers. We have always enjoyed being out in the wild, surrounded by nature and away from the bustle and conveniences of the city. The only place we can find such tranquillity and independence is on Pulau Ubin.
In the city, everything is made for our convenience. The most popular camping spot is the East Coast Park. Yet, it is the most crowded place to be during the weekend or holidays. Though there is a barbeque pit at every shelter, starting a campfire is not allowed. Because bicycles and pedestrians don't really stick to their paths, collisions happen all the time.
As soon as we arrive at the jetty on Pulau Ubin, however, the ambience is totally different. We start our campfire and cook our food in mess tins. We make use of the salt water to boil and wash. We can ride our bicycles and stroll into the jungle and the mangroves. We could get lost, but that's part of the thrill.
Where is the adventure now if we are walking on man-made trails? Having a campsite and a bicycle park will make the place like East Coast Park.
Why can't Pulau Ubin be preserved? Why must it be turned into an attraction? The island is the last rustic spot in Singapore.
Source:
http://www.wildsingapore.com/news/20050506/050503-1.htm
My HEAD :D
As Liana had mentioned, the "feel" isnt the same. That is why we need to conserve our land. If everything was a tourist attraction, what would happen?
We need to conserve our land and save the environment so that land reclamation and other methods which affect nature doesnt happen!
Its not only for the benefit of the world but YOU as individuals as well.
Wen Feng(17)
Friday, April 2, 2010
High Density Buildings :)
What is the difference between the 1st type of building and the 2nd?
What is a HDB?
Due to the advancement in technology, it has enabled us to have taller buildings. They are called High Density buildings as they have many people in the building (the people are "dense" per unit square.)
Google Definition: /- NONE :O
Pros & Cons of High Density Buildings
pros-
1) More people can live on a small piece of land.
cons-
1) Result in traffic of people and vehicles (as more people want to get to one place) (VIDEO!!! http://tinyurl.com/ye5kmer)
2) Squeezy [apartments are usually small and the buildings are very close together] (VIDEO!!!
HDB in Singapore.
In Singapore...
In Singapore majority of the people live in High Density Buildings which we all know as HDB's or Condo's :D This enables many people to live in Singapore.
Hong Kong is another place which is famous for using HIGH DENSITY BUILDINGS :D
By: Toh Wen Feng (17)
Sources:
EARTH OUR HOME 2nd edition textbook
MY HEAD :D
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Mixed Land Use ^^
What do you think this picture and video is for?
Planning? Thats right! This picture shows planning in the land. This is called LANDUSE PLANNING.
What is Mixed Land Use?
Mixed Land use is where different areas of land are assigned for different purposes. Usually, when they do this, it is called LANDUSE PLANNING
Google Definition: /- NONE :(
Pros and Cons of Mixed Land Use
pros-
1)Because everything is planned out, many people can go to places within walking distance of their homes. (eg: shopping centers)
cons-
1) It can be costly (because it requires construction and reconstruction of new and old buildings)
2) Leads to traffic congestion. (as houses are near shopping centers etc, there will be a lot of noise and air pollution as there is more human and vehicle traffic)
How Does it help?
"If you fail to plan, you plan to fail" Have you heard of this quote before? It is true. Sometimes though, failure may just simply mean little errors. The quality of life of the people may not be as great.If you fail to plan,a certain industry may have too much land while others too little. Hence, less problems arising in land later if you plan as it may be too expensive to demolish.
You would be able to use the land more effectively if you plan.
In Singapore...
Suntec City is an example of Mixed Land use in Singapore. It has a variety of shops, offices and hotels within walking distance of one another.
SUNTEC CITY:
London uses Mixed land use too.
By: Toh Wen Feng (17)
Sources:
EARTH OUR HOME 2nd edition textbook
MY HEAD :D