Jan 5, 2008 - Planet Earth

Jan 5, 2008
A year in honour of reefs, Planet Earth and potatoes
By Shobana Kesava
TAKE your pick: 2008 is the Year of the...
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) has declared 2008 the International Year of Planet Earth.

But even the humble potato can have its day, er, year - courtesy of the UN too.

The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation's declaration said The International Year of the Potato is a 'major event', presenting 'many opportunities to raise the profile of the potato among civil society'.

Past UN efforts have indeed created an impact.

The International Women's Year in 1975 led to the creation of the UN Development Fund for Women, to improve women's health, education and job opportunities.

Now, the world body hopes to raise general issues of agriculture through the unassuming tuber, to address issues of hunger, poverty and threats to the environment.

Specifically, it wants to raise awareness of the importance of the potato itself.

The official Potato2008 website said the tuber produces more nutritious food more quickly, on less land and in harsher climates than any other major crop. Also, up to 85 per cent is edible, compared to 50 per cent in cereals.

This year is also International Year of the Reef, according to the International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI). This is the second global campaign to reduce threats to coral reefs and to motivate people to take action to protect them. The first ran in 1997.

Of the reefs in 93 countries, those in South and South-east Asia, East Africa and the Caribbean are among those at greatest risk of destruction.

Explaining its significance, Dr Nigel Goh, assistant director at the National Parks Board's Marine Diversity Centre, said coral reefs absorb carbon dioxide, a key factor in global warming.

'Coral reefs make an impact on climate change, acting as a major global carbon sink,' he said.

Taking a shot at the spotlight this year are frogs and toads too. The Minnesota-based Amphibian Ark, an international non-governmental organisation, has decided it is time amphibians - cold-blooded vertebrates - had their day in the sun.

Meanwhile, the UN's International Year of Planet Earth is the largest global effort to promote earth sciences. It aims to raise US$20 million (S$28.8 million) from industries and governments to co-fund research and outreach activities.

The money will go towards projects like detecting deep and poorly accessible groundwater resources, lowering risks to man from natural and human-induced hazards, and encouraging the young to study earth sciences.

Chief executive officer of Science Centre Singapore, Dr Chew Tuan Chiong, said the move will raise awareness of the subject in Singapore and 'help us understand sustainable actions better'.

He is positive the campaign can work.

'Already, we get calls from Singaporeans asking why we are not more involved in international campaigns,' he said.