HELP US HELP THE ANIMALS
ACRES is a local charity and we depend heavily on public support and contributions to continue our mission of ending the exploitation of all animals.
We need funds to conduct fieldwork, publish reports and educational materials, rescue animals and campaign for a better life for all animals.
ACRES has the Institution of Public Character (IPC) status (Registration no. IPC000559). This means that donations to ACRES qualify for double tax exemption. For example, if you donate $100 to ACRES, $200 will be deducted from your taxable income.
ACRES address:
91 Jalan Lekar, Singapore 698917
Fax: + 65 6892 9721
http://www.acres.org.sg/donate.html
Showing posts with label Acres. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Acres. Show all posts
Monday, December 29, 2008
Friday, September 12, 2008
ACRES takes legal action against wildlife centre contractor
CNA - Work has halted at Singapore's first Wildlife Rescue Centre. Managed by the Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (ACRES), the centre is now embroiled in an environmental pollution lawsuit.
At the heart of the case is the contractor engaged to construct the wildlife centre. It is alleged that A.N.A Contractor Pte Ltd had dumped woodchips onto the site, leading to the discharge of wastewater into the watercourse linked to Kranji Reservoir.
The discharge originates from a site located at Jalan Lekar – in the North-Western part of Singapore – that is meant to house rescued wildlife.
In its writ of summons to A.N.A Contractor and its director, Mr Tan Boon Kwee, who was the clerk of works for the rescue centre project, ACRES alleged that the toxic discharge is the result of A.N.A burying woodchips on the site.
Subsequent tests by environmental consultants, using boreholes dug up to 13 metres underground, showed that contaminants in the ground water included petroleum hydrocarbons and volatile organic compounds.
ACRES will be claiming damages and losses as a result of the actions of A.N.A Contractor and its director.
In a statement to Channel NewsAsia, the National Environment Agency (NEA) said its officers found that the discharge contained high organic content. Its investigation also revealed that ACRES' contractor had used woodchips for the earth works at the site.
NEA has initiated prosecution against A.N.A Contractor, under the Environmental Protection and Management Act, for causing discharge of water with high organic content.
Under the Act, the penalties for discharging toxic substances or hazardous substances into inland waters are a fine of up to S$100,000 and a jail term of up to 12 months. NEA said the prosecution action is still pending the court's judgement.
It added that although woodchips do not contain any toxic chemical or hydrocarbon, it can discharge water with high organic content when it decays. But like any decayed or dried wood, when the decay is complete, the woodchips will no longer give rise to any discharge of high organic content waste water.
As for the hydrocarbons found present in the ground water by environmental consultant ENVIRONcorp, NEA said it is not unusual for hydrocarbons to be present in trace levels in the soil.
The agency added that it is monitoring the site and there has been no such further discharge into the watercourse.
Louis Ng, executive director, ACRES, said: "It's been a long and tiring journey for us and we look forward to ACRES Wildlife Rescue Centre becoming a landmark facility for the protection of animals. But at the same time, we will work tirelessly to rectify all these problems that have arisen.
"These setbacks have not dampened our spirit, our passion and determination to make a difference, and we will learn from this setback. We'll move forward, we'll stay positive and we'll definitely become stronger."
ACRES is now appealing to other construction companies to help in the excavation and rebuilding works. Notwithstanding the delay, it said it would open the front portion of the centre, which includes the Volunteer House, Education Centre and Administrative Building, on Friday.
The Recovery and Rehabilitation Centre will open soon, following further talks with the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority. The opening of the Animal Sanctuary, which needs to be torn down, is delayed for at least another six months.
To date, the work of ACRES has led to the rescue of more than 200 wild animals. ACRES has also conducted more than 280 roadshows and talks in Singapore to create awareness on animal protection issues.
At the heart of the case is the contractor engaged to construct the wildlife centre. It is alleged that A.N.A Contractor Pte Ltd had dumped woodchips onto the site, leading to the discharge of wastewater into the watercourse linked to Kranji Reservoir.
The discharge originates from a site located at Jalan Lekar – in the North-Western part of Singapore – that is meant to house rescued wildlife.
In its writ of summons to A.N.A Contractor and its director, Mr Tan Boon Kwee, who was the clerk of works for the rescue centre project, ACRES alleged that the toxic discharge is the result of A.N.A burying woodchips on the site.
Subsequent tests by environmental consultants, using boreholes dug up to 13 metres underground, showed that contaminants in the ground water included petroleum hydrocarbons and volatile organic compounds.
ACRES will be claiming damages and losses as a result of the actions of A.N.A Contractor and its director.
In a statement to Channel NewsAsia, the National Environment Agency (NEA) said its officers found that the discharge contained high organic content. Its investigation also revealed that ACRES' contractor had used woodchips for the earth works at the site.
NEA has initiated prosecution against A.N.A Contractor, under the Environmental Protection and Management Act, for causing discharge of water with high organic content.
Under the Act, the penalties for discharging toxic substances or hazardous substances into inland waters are a fine of up to S$100,000 and a jail term of up to 12 months. NEA said the prosecution action is still pending the court's judgement.
It added that although woodchips do not contain any toxic chemical or hydrocarbon, it can discharge water with high organic content when it decays. But like any decayed or dried wood, when the decay is complete, the woodchips will no longer give rise to any discharge of high organic content waste water.
As for the hydrocarbons found present in the ground water by environmental consultant ENVIRONcorp, NEA said it is not unusual for hydrocarbons to be present in trace levels in the soil.
The agency added that it is monitoring the site and there has been no such further discharge into the watercourse.
Louis Ng, executive director, ACRES, said: "It's been a long and tiring journey for us and we look forward to ACRES Wildlife Rescue Centre becoming a landmark facility for the protection of animals. But at the same time, we will work tirelessly to rectify all these problems that have arisen.
"These setbacks have not dampened our spirit, our passion and determination to make a difference, and we will learn from this setback. We'll move forward, we'll stay positive and we'll definitely become stronger."
ACRES is now appealing to other construction companies to help in the excavation and rebuilding works. Notwithstanding the delay, it said it would open the front portion of the centre, which includes the Volunteer House, Education Centre and Administrative Building, on Friday.
The Recovery and Rehabilitation Centre will open soon, following further talks with the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority. The opening of the Animal Sanctuary, which needs to be torn down, is delayed for at least another six months.
To date, the work of ACRES has led to the rescue of more than 200 wild animals. ACRES has also conducted more than 280 roadshows and talks in Singapore to create awareness on animal protection issues.
Sunday, June 08, 2008
Acres gets Law Minister's thumbs up
When Mr Louis Ng set up a welfare group here to improve the lot of wild animals, he was labelled a fanatic.
Some thought he had a screw loose.
Seven years later, he is no longer a voice in the wilderness.
Acres, short for Animal Concerns Research & Education Society, has 12,000 volunteers and donors, Government funding and - this is crucial - status as an institution of public character, which allows donations to it to be tax-exempt.
Mr Ng, 29, said: 'I was always told, 'You're a small fry' and 'You can't change big organisations'.'
He has not only made the authorities sit up and take notice, he now works with them to nab those in the illegal wildlife trade.
Acres is also building a shelter in Sungei Tengah big enough to house and give medical treatment to at least 400 animals; it even works with other animal welfare groups to give out grants to students for their own animal-protection projects.
His secret: Perseverance.
A baby chimpanzee named Rhamba started it all for him in 2000.
Then a 21-year-old volunteer photographer for the zoo, he said he saw a keeper punch Rhamba in the face to discipline it.
He said: 'She ran to me and hugged me. I knew then that I had to speak on her behalf.'
He tipped off The Straits Times, which reported the incident and started a groundswell of support from animal lovers who successfully campaigned for Rhamba to be returned to her family.
The zoo denied this was a problem, but following the media publicity, it stopped isolating baby chimps from their families.
Adding that zookeepers have come a long way since then, Mr Ng still considers the episode 'the best thing that happened in my life'.
Inspired to do more for animals, he and eight friends started what would become Singapore's first wildlife protection agency, scraping together less than $1,000 in combined savings.
The National University of Singapore-trained biologist was then doing his masters in primate conservation part time with the Oxford Brookes University in Britain, but through sheer will and support from friends, he got Acres up and running on a shoestring in 2001.
He and his team began by fanning out to give talks in schools.
Public education is on-going.
In the past seven years, Mr Ng estimated, Acres has reached out to over 200,000 people about animal abuse and how animals can be better protected.
The group's efforts here have so impressed Law Minister K. Shanmugam that he agreed - on short notice - to speak at Acres' seventh anniversary celebrations last month.
Some thought he had a screw loose.
Seven years later, he is no longer a voice in the wilderness.
Acres, short for Animal Concerns Research & Education Society, has 12,000 volunteers and donors, Government funding and - this is crucial - status as an institution of public character, which allows donations to it to be tax-exempt.
Mr Ng, 29, said: 'I was always told, 'You're a small fry' and 'You can't change big organisations'.'
He has not only made the authorities sit up and take notice, he now works with them to nab those in the illegal wildlife trade.
Acres is also building a shelter in Sungei Tengah big enough to house and give medical treatment to at least 400 animals; it even works with other animal welfare groups to give out grants to students for their own animal-protection projects.
His secret: Perseverance.
A baby chimpanzee named Rhamba started it all for him in 2000.
Then a 21-year-old volunteer photographer for the zoo, he said he saw a keeper punch Rhamba in the face to discipline it.
He said: 'She ran to me and hugged me. I knew then that I had to speak on her behalf.'
He tipped off The Straits Times, which reported the incident and started a groundswell of support from animal lovers who successfully campaigned for Rhamba to be returned to her family.
The zoo denied this was a problem, but following the media publicity, it stopped isolating baby chimps from their families.
Adding that zookeepers have come a long way since then, Mr Ng still considers the episode 'the best thing that happened in my life'.
Inspired to do more for animals, he and eight friends started what would become Singapore's first wildlife protection agency, scraping together less than $1,000 in combined savings.
The National University of Singapore-trained biologist was then doing his masters in primate conservation part time with the Oxford Brookes University in Britain, but through sheer will and support from friends, he got Acres up and running on a shoestring in 2001.
He and his team began by fanning out to give talks in schools.
Public education is on-going.
In the past seven years, Mr Ng estimated, Acres has reached out to over 200,000 people about animal abuse and how animals can be better protected.
The group's efforts here have so impressed Law Minister K. Shanmugam that he agreed - on short notice - to speak at Acres' seventh anniversary celebrations last month.
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Animal Concerns Research & Education Society
The ACRES Wildlife Rescue Centre (AWRC) will be the first wildlife rescue centre in Singapore and will help save and improve the lives of vast numbers of animals.
The 2 hectare AWRC will be located in Sungei Tengah Agrotech Park. With your support, the AWRC will:
Help end the cruel illegal wildlife trade through serving as an educational facility. The AWRC will create awareness on the illegal wildlife trade and other animal protection issues. Provide a safe haven for animals rescued from the illegal wildlife trade. Serve as a platform to promote volunteerism in Singapore and globally. Complement and assist the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority’s enforcement efforts to tackle the illegal wildlife trade.
ACRES has obtained the piece of land for the AWRC from the Singapore Land Authority and construction began in January 2007. The AWRC is scheduled to begin operations by early 2008.
They Are In Business!
Monday, September 10, 2007
Better conditions for Animals
The sprawling enclosures lush with greenery and tender care will be a welcome respite from the confines of their previous homes tiny cages and cramped tanks.
But funds for the first rescue centre that will house seized illegal animals set up by the Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (Acres), have been slow to come in.
According to Acres president and executive director Louis Ng, the Acres Wildlife Rescue Centre (AWRC) is almost complete and is slated to open in the middle of next month.
But it is still in dire need of funds. The centre has raised S$627,000 since October last year and needs another S$460,000 to cover operations costs.
But while donations from the public have amounted to 46 per cent of the money raised so far, corporations have not been as forthcoming.
"Most (corporations) have declined funding because the project does not fall under their funding criteria or they have an existing adopted charity," Mr Ng said.
"We are confident, however, that if the public and corporate (sectors) learn about our predicament, they will contribute to the AWRC," he said.
In spite of these challenges, Acres is determined to continue its efforts and has resorted to taking loans worth $110,000, free of interest, from its members. "If we don’t set up this centre, no one else will help these animals," said Mr Ng.
The centre, which can house up to 400 animals, will provide a temporary home for prohibited creatures that have been confiscated or given up, such as star tortoises, gibbons, pythons and leopard geckos.
At the moment, seized animals are given to the zoo, the live turtle and tortoise museum, or the Chinese Gardens. But this is not ideal, he said.
"They’ve lived so long in cages, so it is time to live in open air enclosures," he said. But ultimately, the aim is to repatriate as many of these animals home as possible. For those who are unfit to go home, the AWRC will be their permanent home.
The AWRC will also serve as an educational centre that will raise the awareness of the illegal pet trade.
An Acres survey of 100 shops in 2005 found one in five selling animals facing extinction. And between 2001 and last year, about 4,000 wild animals have been confiscated or given up by the public.
Mr Ng hopes the AWRC will be able to help create the much—needed awareness on the illegal wildlife trade and environmental protection issues.
"We hope that the corporates will play an increasing role in the contributing to this growing movement," he added.
To mark World Animal Day, Acres will be celebrating Singaporean’s support for animal protection efforts with a three—day festival from October 5 to 7 at The Atrium @ Orchard (beside Plaza Singapura).
Log on to www.acres.org.sg to donate or to find out more about the AWRC.
But funds for the first rescue centre that will house seized illegal animals set up by the Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (Acres), have been slow to come in.
According to Acres president and executive director Louis Ng, the Acres Wildlife Rescue Centre (AWRC) is almost complete and is slated to open in the middle of next month.
But it is still in dire need of funds. The centre has raised S$627,000 since October last year and needs another S$460,000 to cover operations costs.
But while donations from the public have amounted to 46 per cent of the money raised so far, corporations have not been as forthcoming.
"Most (corporations) have declined funding because the project does not fall under their funding criteria or they have an existing adopted charity," Mr Ng said.
"We are confident, however, that if the public and corporate (sectors) learn about our predicament, they will contribute to the AWRC," he said.
In spite of these challenges, Acres is determined to continue its efforts and has resorted to taking loans worth $110,000, free of interest, from its members. "If we don’t set up this centre, no one else will help these animals," said Mr Ng.
The centre, which can house up to 400 animals, will provide a temporary home for prohibited creatures that have been confiscated or given up, such as star tortoises, gibbons, pythons and leopard geckos.
At the moment, seized animals are given to the zoo, the live turtle and tortoise museum, or the Chinese Gardens. But this is not ideal, he said.
"They’ve lived so long in cages, so it is time to live in open air enclosures," he said. But ultimately, the aim is to repatriate as many of these animals home as possible. For those who are unfit to go home, the AWRC will be their permanent home.
The AWRC will also serve as an educational centre that will raise the awareness of the illegal pet trade.
An Acres survey of 100 shops in 2005 found one in five selling animals facing extinction. And between 2001 and last year, about 4,000 wild animals have been confiscated or given up by the public.
Mr Ng hopes the AWRC will be able to help create the much—needed awareness on the illegal wildlife trade and environmental protection issues.
"We hope that the corporates will play an increasing role in the contributing to this growing movement," he added.
To mark World Animal Day, Acres will be celebrating Singaporean’s support for animal protection efforts with a three—day festival from October 5 to 7 at The Atrium @ Orchard (beside Plaza Singapura).
Log on to www.acres.org.sg to donate or to find out more about the AWRC.
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