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UTC2402/UTS2402 

ENVIRONMENT AND CIVIL SOCIETY IN SINGAPORE
   2018/2019, Semester 1
   Non-Faculty-Based Departments (College of Alice & Peter Tan)
Modular Credits: UTC2402 ( 4 ) / UTS2402 ( 4 )
  Tags: --

Synopsis

TopHow ‘green’ is Singapore and how should we preserve biodiversity on this island?
 
This GEM explores the rise of the conservation ethic in Singapore. It traces the scientific, social and economic conditions that gave rise to the global environmental movement, and to its various expressions in Singapore.
 
Students will engage with stakeholders (scientists, officials, civil society) to understand the conflicts and collaborations between advocates of development and conservation. They will initiate their own conversations and give feedback.
 
The class will make field trips to evaluate state-civil society partnerships, learn about the history between environmental CSOs and the Government, and debate choices and dilemmas for the future.

Learning Outcomes

Top

By the end of the module, students should be able to

  1. Discuss the evolution of Civil Society in Singapore — structure of Singapore governance, role of civil society in shaping Singapore’s political landscape. 
  2. Explain Civil Society from different perspectives — government, people. (What happens in a country with NO civil society.)
  3. Outline — Various governmental agencies in SG, and their interactions with Civil Society
  4. Establish conditions that lead to the problem of the commons, apply the concept to a variety of real world scenarios, and suggest solutions. 
  5. Interpret environmental law and public/case studies and discuss the role of Environmental CSOs in shaping public perspective and awareness. 
  6. Achieve basic eco-literacy on environmental issues relevant to Singapore (esp. biodiversity, water resources, and conservation/development)
  7. Appraise news articles of environmental news happening in Singapore and around the region, and to understand how it affects the nation
  8. Communicate and compose feedback to various agencies and decision makers. 
  9. Debate by taking positions of stakeholders (scientists, researchers, civil society, members of the public, and policy makers) in scenarios concerning space use in Singapore. 
  10. Identify the economic, social and political contexts of ‘development vs. conservation’ debates

Prerequisites

TopThere is no pre-requisite for the module. 

Teaching Modes

TopSmall group lectures, combined lectures, tutorials (group discussion, team projects, case studies), IVLE.
 
There are weekly seminars, up to four guest speakers, and field visits spread out over the semester
 
There is no textbook for this seminar. Aside from the reading list, students are expected to be actively engaged in following environmental news and debates pertaining to Singapore and the region (both green and brown issues) through resources such as ‘WildSingapore News’ (http://wildsingaporenews.blogspot.sg).
 
Students will also be organized in by Week 2 to smaller groups (of 3 to 4 students) for group projects and assignments. These include researching the interests and perspectives of various stakeholders (conservationists and civil society [e.g., Nature Society of Singapore], government [LTA, URA etc etc. ], scientists and academics. This will enable them to go deeper into the positions, values and metrics held by each stakeholder.
 
Individual assignments are also given out through the course of the semester (see Assessment).

Schedule

TopEnvironment and Civil Society in Singapore
 
UTC2402/UTS2402
 
CAPT AY 2018/19 Semester 1
 
Wk 1 Introduction  14/15 Aug
Wk 2 Introduction to Civil Society 
Readings:
Koh and Soon 2015
George Yeo 1991
 21/22 Aug 
 
 
Wk 3  Civil Society Organizations in Singapore
Readings:
ST - Wild about nature
ST – Activists breathe life into civic society
ST - When activists cross a line
ST - More debate within civil society good for Singapore
 28/29 Aug
 
 
 
 
Wk 4  Global governance and the tragedy of the commons 
Readings:
Hardin 1968
Today – NGOs Take up fight against haze

Combined session 1: Mr. Laurence Lien, Lien Foundation
 4/5 Sep
 
 
 
 
 6 Sep
Wk 5 Local governance and agencies in Singapore 
Readings:
 
Tan 1997 (further reading: Lye 2008)
ST - Who you gonna call
Reading Quiz 1 (Week 5)
 
Combined Session 2: Marine Trash
 
Field Trip 2: International Coastal Cleanup
 11/12 Sep
 
 
 
 
 
 13 Sep
 
 15 Sep 
Wk 6  Environmental History of Singapore and State of Singapore's Environment (1) 
Reading:
Corlett 1992
 18/19 Sep
 
TERM BREAK 
Wk 7 
  Environmental History of Singapore, and State of Singapore's Environment (2) 
Readings:
ST – 480 new species discovered in Singapore
ST – Sustainability still key, with challenges ahead
 
Combined Session 3: Mr. Tony O Dempsey, Nature Society Singapore
 2/3 Oct 
 
 
 
 
 
 4 Oct
Wk 8 Conservation battles in Singapore
Readings:
Wee and Hale 2008
ST – Anatomy of a U-turn
 9/10 Oct 
 
 
 
Wk 9  The Law and public opinion (1)
Readings:
Tan and Tan 2013
 
Combined session 4: Mr Louis Ng, MP Nee Soon GRC
 16/17 Oct
 
 
 
 18 Oct
Wk 10 The Law and public opinion (2)
Readings:
TODAY – Company MD charged with illegally importing rosewood
ST – Judge throws out case of illegal import of rosewood
 23/24 Oct
 
Wk 11 Feedback and active citizenship  30/31 Oct
Wk 12  Social media, interactions and advocacy
Read: Low and Lim 2012
Reading Quiz 2 (Week 12)
 6/7 Nov
Wk 13  Module Roundup  13/14 Nov
 
  • Grp 1 = Tue, 10.30 am to 12.30 pm; Venue = CAPT Seminar Room 3
  • Grp 2 = Tue, 4.30 pm to 6.30 pm; Venue = CAPT Seminar Room 3
  • Grp 3 = Wed, 10 am to 12 nn; Venue = CAPT Seminar Room 3
  • Grp 4 = Wed, 4.30 pm to 6.30 pm; Venue = CAPT Seminar Room 3
  • Combined Sessions = Thurs, 6 pm to 8 pm, Utown Auditorium 3
 

Field trips

Top
The module includes two fieldtrips.
The date for Field Trip 1 is fixed and compulsory. 

Do not read this module if you are unable to go on the following field trips.
  1. Field Trip 1. Week 4: International Coastal Cleanup (15 September 2018) (0700h to 1200h)
  2. Field Trip 2. Week 3 to 9. You are to attend a nature walk/talk /activity offered by any environmental group in Singapore. There is a group report due after the conclusion of field trip 2. 

Assessment

TopThere is no final examination for this module. Students are expected to submit individual and group assignments throughout the semester that will contribute towards their final score for the module. 
 Assessment  Weightage (%)
 Group Assignments
 Field trip 2 report -- 20%
 Reading Quiz 1 -- 10%

 
             30
 Individual Assignments
 News Roundup (individual grades, but present in group) -- 20%
 Reading Quiz 2 -- 10%
 Written assignment (feedback for News outlets, media) -- 15%
 Final reflection -- 15%
 Attendence and meaningful class participation -- 10%
             70
 

Preclusions

TopThis module is currently open only to students of the College of Alice & Peter Tan, University Town

Workload

Top2-1-0-4-3

Workload Components : A-B-C-D-E
A: no. of lecture hours per week
B: no. of tutorial hours per week
C: no. of lab hours per week
D: no. of hours for projects, assignments, fieldwork etc per week
E: no. of hours for preparatory work by a student per week

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