The International Coastal Clean-up (ICCS) is coordinated by US-based The Ocean Conservancy and involves thousands of participants from nearly 100 countries cleaning up the world's beaches. The collected debris will be categorized by type and amount and weighed before disposal. Such data gathered is collated into a national total, and submitted for an international record.

Singapore has been participating in ICCS since 1992. In 2007, more than 3,000 volunteers collected and categorized nearly 110,000 items weighing almost 10,000 kg from the beaches of Singapore in one day alone. NSS fielded a 70-strong contingent in the cleanup of Chek Jawa at Pulau Ubin. Log onto http://coastalcleanup.nus.edu.sg/ for more information.

NSS will again be cleaning up the beaches and mangroves of Chek Jawa on 20 September 2008 from 7 to 11 am. Our contingent will include members, collaborating organizations, corporate sponsors, schools and friends of nature. Join us for this worthy effort! Experience first-hand the consequences of carelessly discarded items and their impact on our marine environment.

Email Dr Hsu at hsu_chia_chi@hotmail.com if you can help. Meet at Changi Jetty at 7am for the boat ride to Pulau Ubin ($2.50 per head at own cost). On arrival, taxi-vans ($2 per head at own cost) will be arranged for the ride to Chek Jawa. Washing facilities are available. After the clean-up, you might want to stay behind for a picnic or head back to Ubin Village for a seafood lunch.