Food for thought, vegetables for consideration
Rooting and uprooting.
Hello everyone,
We’ve had an exciting month being able to be part of SG Climate Rally and The Conscious Festival–it was nice to meet old and new friends to share our story, and be inspired by all the amazing things that everyone in the sustainability world and other civic groups have been up to. It is relieving knowing that we are not alone in this fight and that many more of you are out there rooting for a more liveable future together. We also had a chance to be part of NLB’s human library experience, where we got to share our work and meet people from all walks of life - in a speed dating style.
On the same note, we would like to share some happenings around the world that have caught our attention:
Australia has rejected a proposal on the recognition of indigenous people in the constitution, which included the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island people, who make up 3.8% of the country’s 26 million population. The majority of the nation had voted against the creation of an indigenous advisory body in a 60-40 ‘no’ to ‘yes’ divide, signifying that the nation is not ready to move forward in reconciliation efforts with its First Peoples. This was an unexpected turn of events, as mentioned by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
At Orang Laut SG, we are familiar with the community’s sentiments of having little to no say in matters such as resettlement and access to our ancestral spaces. In the spirit of protecting and preserving livelihoods and culture, we stand in solidarity with the groups who are advocating for indigenous rights.
In last month’s newsletter, we outlined the situation that was ongoing in Batam, as the Indonesian state is dislocating over two thousand indigenous Malay families and taking over Rempang Island for the construction of the world’s second-largest glass industrial complex.
Earlier in July this year, it was announced that Indonesia and Singapore would be jointly developing a floating solar farm on Batam to meet Singapore’s low-carbon electricity import targets. Other parts of Batam’s Eco-City project have been allocated to green tourism, with most of Batam’s tourists coming from Singapore. As such, it is important to recognise that Singapore’s green energy goals have direct implications for Batam’s indigenous community and efforts to transition to green energy should not be made at their expense.
Indigenous and human rights organizations within Indonesia have been supporting the struggle on the ground. So far, 34 protesters have been arrested and efforts to provide legal assistance are ongoing.
Students for a Fossil Free Future (S4F), a coalition of students from various Singaporean universities who demand an end to fossil fuel consumption, is looking to raise a total of $2,000 for AMAN and its subordinate organization PPMAN, a mass organization of pro bono lawyers. Funds will be used to support the activities of these pro bono lawyers, specifically to cover transportation, accommodation, food, and other organizational costs related to the solidarity station on the ground.
If you would like to make a contribution of any amount, you may find out more below:
On a lighter note, the team at The Black Sampan is having another Atap Assembly session to end the hectic month!
This time, we’re casting a spotlight on vegetables from a Southeast Asian lens. There is so much to discover from the colourful, flavourful world that begins when vegetables take centre stage. Hence, we are inviting two of our well-loved culinary powerhouses, cookbook writer and founder of Singapore Noodles, Pamelia Chia, and chef and culinary creator, Azfar Maswan, to join us in our discovery.
Pamelia would also be launching her latest cookbook, Plantasia: A Vegetarian Cookbook Through Asia, which comes after the much-celebrated Wet Market To Table, and Azfar will be treating us to a live demonstration of a much-beloved Nusantara dish, "Nasi Pecel", a dish of Javanese origins.
Food and drinks will be provided at the event, and tickets are still available here.
See you soon!
Firdaus