Special reports

Abstract

The title of this report can be translated as ‘Let Singapore Flourish’. The Singapore Government is probably doing more than at least 90% of the other governments of the world, developed and developing nations combined, to ensure that the environment is respected, so that the little island‐state does indeed flourish. In a way, this is both ironical and necessary: both because there is comparatively little nature left on the island. What there is must be preserved, at all costs. Obviously, 26 million inhabitants concentrated mainly in Singapore City makes this an enormous field of reinforced concrete, albeit with some magnificent parks and other green spaces. Even some of these are oriented towards tourism and are more man‐made than natural. The island of Sentosa, a cable‐car or 10 minute ferry ride from the world's busiest harbour, is one of Singapore's playgrounds, but this is 85% touched by man's hands. Even the ‘Nature Walk’, purporting to be through primeval tropical rain forest, is a wide beaten track through mainly secondary jungle with a dearth of wild life. To the north of the city, there is some real rain forest—thankfully in a nature reserve—but the area is so small that one wonders whether it can be self‐sustaining in its natural state. To visit natural, uninhibited rain forest, a car ride across the causeway to the neighbouring state of Johore in Malaysia is probably necessary.

Citation

(1991), "Special reports", Soldering & Surface Mount Technology, Vol. 3 No. 1, pp. 58-69. https://doi.org/10.1108/eb037744