My photography assignments in Pulau Ubin Cleanup (September & October 2023)

Post-cleanup event group photo taken opposite Kelichap Hut along Jalan Durian on 16 September 2023, in celebration of World Cleanup Day 2023

Having volunteered as a photographer for the Pulau Ubin Cleanup events conducted almost monthly over the past year, I am always inspired by the amazing difference made to the landscape by our environmental heroes and heroines who set aside time to visit the island and pick up litter at the beaches, campsites and forest trails.

Beach next to Sungei Durian: Before and after the cleanup on 16 September 2023

Also impressed with them is the cleanup event co-organiser, Joseph Tan, who thanked the participants as follows:

“Thanks to everyone who made it to today’s World Cleanup Day event!

528 kg, that’s really a fantastic achievement! We won’t be able to remove this much waste without 53 of you 🙂 Truly appreciate spending your afternoon with us.”

Dusky-gilled mudskippers looked on curiously by a stream while the participants were cleaning up the beach next to Sungei Durian.

The trash collected by the participants at Sungei Durian area includes plastic bags/sheets, plastic ropes, plastic food containers (Styrofoam), plastic food packaging/wrapper, fishing nets, takeaway wrapper, shoes and lingerie, picnic/camping chair, umbrella, fishing equipment, boat components, bike inner rubber tube, and batteries (vehicle battery and small devices’ batteries).

Similarly, on 14 October 2023, I witnessed how the landscape at Jelutong Campsite at Pulau Ubin was transformed beautifully after the cleanup event despite having fewer participants taking part.

As a saying goes:

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world: indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”

– Margaret Mead, anthropologist, recipient of the Planetary Citizen of the Year Award in 1978