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people: Jen Lee
I have always been impressed by Jen Lee's thoughtful but quietly energetic approach to her work. I guess you have to know Jen Lee to know what I mean. Well travelled with experiences beyond her years, she thinks deeply about issues but is able to express these in simple ways so others can understand. She works tireless on patiently sharing and explaining nature, both biological as well as ethical and philosophical issues. Her charming sense of humour and delightful turns of phrases make her messages so much more powerful. That is probably why she also makes such a great journalist :-) Here is more about Jen Lee in her own words ... How did you first get involved in working for nature in Singapore? I always knew that there are pockets of nature somewhere out there in Singapore worth loving but it took Chek Jawa to bring that message home. Here was where I saw how a place could motivate people to speak out and do whatever they can for something they care for. As a result of their efforts, the government deferred reclamation of Chek Jawa for 10 years in November 2001. When I heard the good news, I decided to be a Chek Jawa guide because I want others to experience this special place too. What do you get out of working for nature? Nature is where you can see life in its most varied forms, and as I let my senses be engaged (e.g. by tuning my eyes to the many shades of green in Chek Jawa's coastal forest) I guess it's natural that I become more alive. This in turn fuels me to read, write and act more on nature-related issues. What is your approach/personal motto in your work? People can't love what they don't know so if I come to know and experience something, I try to share it, or better still, have people experience it for themselves. In whatever forms it takes, this communication is vital to connect people to their natural spaces. This connection is the starting point for communities - groups of committed people who say: "This place means something to us, so we're going to make sure we have a say in whatever developments that could affect it." What are some of your current projects? Adhoc slideshow presentations at home or in school when requested. Pictures taken during studies abroad in US, Costa Rica, UK, Tanzania, India, Philippines, Mexico. Chek Jawa nature guiding Alternative waste management: building dry toilet in Bollywood Veggies (here's an MMS upload of volunteers helping out in Jen Lee's project at Bollywood Veggies), an organic farm in Lim Chu Kang Helping out with research dives in local waters. I also just came back from a dive expedition to Sabah where we surveyed coral reefs to be included in a new national park (Last year I went to Cambodia - I hope to go on such regional trips once a year). Any other comments? Environmental issues require big-picture perspectives so I didn't want to be specialised in the sciences or the arts. Thank God I was able to do a self-designed major in University of California at Berkeley where I took classes in biology, chemistry, anthropology, economics etc while learning how to communicate through poetry and photography. In my final year, I travelled to six countries while on study programme called Global Ecology. Through homestays, field studies, interactions with academics and activists, I came to better understand the importance of community dynamics in development. Jen Lee is 25 and her daytime job is as a journalist. She currently volunteers at a Chek Jawa guide and also does educational articles and photography as a volunteer. You can contact Jen Lee at jenlee@sph.com.sg
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 these blog entries were first uploaded on MoBlog Singapore! Celebrate Singapore NDP 04 website©ria tan 2004 |
