CoCo Lee 李玟与美国 R&B 巨星 Ne-Yo 尼欧演唱迈克杰克逊的经典歌曲 [Earth Song]，尖叫值破格. CoCo Lee invited US R&B superstar Ne-Yo to perform MJs 'Earth Song' in 'I Am A Singer 4' finals singing session. Co-operation went well and the treble and transition were precise. In the history of Chinese pops, Ms. Lee had successfully integrated urban and western music, opening up new opportunities n spreading Chinese pop music internationally. Comments welcome. [Hunan TV International]

Plastics, Plastics, Plastics, Get Rid Of Plastics In SG

Browsing through the blog backward in time, I discovered many useful pieces of information. Here are two comments from good friends, Horace and Henri, who have contributed many articles about SG music from the 60s. Here are two but different i.e. about SG and Plastics. 

The Beach Boys song, 'Don't Go Near The Water', was written in 1971, that long ago:

(1) Horace Wee says:

Those ocean-going vessels from container ships, tankers to cruise ships. Are you telling me these vessels store their garbage till they can dispose of them responsibly when they are in port? Correct me if I'm wrong - I think not! They have scheduled dumping days! What control is there? 

Let's start in our own backyard. The only store here that stopped using plastic bags is IKEA and encourages BYO reusable bags. All the other supermarkets, stores, food outlets, other establishments - it's plastic bags for everything. With only a half-hearted effort by NTUC probably now long ignored or forgotten.

To wait for someone to tell you to stop using plastic bags is wrong. One should start doing this voluntarily as it is the responsible thing to do.
Unfortunately, the method here that only works is to impose a fine on people in order for them to do anything right. Quite pathetic.

(2) Henri Gann says:

Glad that your blog is venturing into environmental awareness. 

Plastic goods are definitely an issue as it has a half-life of 100s of years. In simple terms, it doesn't go away easily. Now many cities, counties, and countries around the world are dealing with it. Singapore should too if it has not.

Discharge into the ocean has been a way of disposing of our garbage for many years. It was out of sight, out of mind. Singapore should stop doing it if it has not including the discharge from the many ships for the protection of its clean waters. And, we can go on and on with climate change, etc.

I often wondered as a kid why there were corals and clear blue ocean water around Kusu Island but not at Marine Parade and why there was garbage swept up to the beach of Katong. 

Many Millennials and Generation X in America like my kids are sensitive to the above issues here. Now they are reminding us of environmental awareness and will even go to the extent of telling us what presents we can buy for their kids. Just think, what presents can you buy for the kids that are not made of plastic. Now we buy only paper reading books which are healthy for the environment. 

Don't Go Near The Water: Beach Boys.

(4) The Beach Boys:
Oceans, rivers, lakes, and streams
Have all been touched by man
Poison (Plastics) flowing out to sea
Now threatens life on land...
(By Mike Love, Al Jardine).

(3) Andy Young Says:
Yes, I am guilty. Still using plastic bags to throw my garbage. A very bad habit that's killing our creatures.

Horace Wee and Henry Gann have contributed articles on this blog. Horace was with the Radio and TV station (RTS) at Caldecott Hill - MediaCorp today - and has written two articles in a book called, 'On Air'.

Henri Gann is an unselfish, kind-hearted and successful businessman who came all the way from California USA, to meet me in Singapore. He used to be with a winning guitar group called The Trekkers here.

Disclaimer:
There is no intention to discredit any business or point fingers at anyone or any organization. Truth hurts but truth tells.

John Gerald BT Tan 
observes plastic on seasides, in garbage dumps and other areas of rubbish as pieces of art after he does some magic tricks with his expertise as a media artist. Here are four pieces of these deadly but beautiful killers caught by natural light. He has names for them.

Many, many thanks, John.

The Swan

Serpent

Humming Bird

Whale Rising

Thank you, Horace, Henri, and John. What would I do without all your help?
Images: John Gerald BT Tan and Google.

Moby Dick The Whale & Sea Life Struggle On: No Killer Whale But Killer Plastic

Save The Whales And Sea Creatures: Ban All Plastic Bags.

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"Thar she blows..."

Coming from Captain Ahab whose leg was bitten off by Moby Dick, the creature was, "an accursed white whale that razeed me made a poor pegging lubber of me forever and a day (1)."

The book Moby Dick, a classic novel by Herman Melville, has brought to mind the plight of these sea mammals and other ocean creatures, victims again, not of whale hunters like Captain Ahab but by irresponsible people who use the ocean as a huge rubbish dump to discard their garbage. 

Most of these waste matters are placed in plastic bags and swallowed by the poor whales and other forms of marine life. Whales have also been killed for food by some communities. In time they die, like Moby Dick and those in the story, "Oh, lonely death on lonely life! (2)."

Michael Bangar (image right), Singapore guitarist and musician has this comment to make, "Andy, the biggest culprit is mankind, as with a lot of other problems throughout the globe. Rubbish that has been thrown overboard from seafaring vessels over many, many years are swept out to sea from rivers, streams, canals and drains worldwide.  Many countries don't set control laws and throw their waste into the oceans.

It is a huge but unseen problem that needs massive cooperation from all nations to rectify. The poor sea creatures suffer. We just don't know how many more of them have died from this catastrophe. Like the poor innocent whale, thinking that rubbish-filled plastic bags was food. So sad!"

In the song, made popular by Frankie Laine in the mid-fifties, the whale was a symbol of fear: 

Oh Moby Dick was so big and slick
There was never such a whale
He'll take a ship with the slightest whip
Of his mighty, mighty tail...

We know today that the whale is not the aggressor. Man is. Merlin Lim (image below), the former guitarist for pop band Silver Strings, roamed the world in large ships after he decided to work at sea. Here's what he said:

"Andy, I saw the video sometime back and have been thinking about how the whales and other sea life suffered because of the human being's lack of respect for these creatures. 

I recalled the time I served on board ships. All rubbish, food waste, plastics included, were dumped overboard while the ship was at sea. Seagulls would hover over the garbage, pick up bits and pieces of food and debris while the rest sink into the ocean. 

These remains will eventually end up in the stomachs of the bigger fishes as 'food'.  The practice has been going on for years from way back in the early 70's.

Sad to say, I am also guilty of this big mistake we have all made." 

Indeed Michael and Merlin. And as we, "Sink all coffins and all hearses to one common pool (3),"  we are all guilty as hell.

An Original Article (Copyrights Reserved).

I thank contributions from Michael Bangar and Merlin Lim, both rhythm guitarists from The Silver Strings.

1,2,3: Quotations from 'Moby Dick' by Herman Melville
Images: A Personal Collection; Google.