Tribute to the 80-year-old Angsana Tree along Braddell Road

As much as I would like to talk about the new LG LCD tv at home, the recently redeemed LG Chocolate phone and my all my other current activities, I am compelled to make this post in regards to the recent turn of events concerning the 80-year-old Angsana Tree along Braddell Road.

According to the reports in last Thursday's Straits Times, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) and the National Parks Board (NParks) said they have decided to cut the tree down after receiving feedback from motorists involved in 'near-accident situations' along the stretch of road. The tree was saved in 2005 because studies had shown that a forked road between the tree would be safe as long as motorists observed the speed limit of 40km/h. Due to its size, authorities have claimed that it would be impossible to transplant the tree.

What does this move by the authorities represent? In my opinion, are they implying that it is all right to flaunt speed limits? If motorists do not make an effort to abide by traffic rules, and should accidents occur, then they rightfully deserve to be in hospital... or some other realm. Why should the tree be made to bear the brunt of the responsibility? When a consumer purchases an electrical product in perfect working condition, only to use it with wet hands, even when the manual clearly advised him against doing so, thus resulting in eletrocution, who is to be blamed? Definitely not the electrical product, and in the above scenario, the tree.

Countries and organizations all over the world have realized the importance of saving our earth. Less than 2 weeks have passed since the "Live Earth" concert and Mediacorp, the local broadcast station, is going green this month in order to raise awareness among Singaporeans. Shouldn't conservation and preservation of nature be part of the agenda too? By chopping down the 80-year-old Angsana Tree, what message are we sending out to the world, as well as future generations? Are these "green movements" just an act or gimmick to get into the spotlight?

I am currently 1 hour and 9 minutes into 15 July 2007, Sunday. Plans to remove the tree will begin today, if the current decision is not overturned. If I did not remember wrongly, removal of the tree will take a few weeks, so as to minimise inconvenience to motorists. Trees are supposedly non-sentient, but if they could experience pain and emotions, then this particular one must be feeling terrible. For it to be saved from the "gallows" two years ago, only to be proclaimed guilty now... for a crime it did not commit.

Here are some photos I took to commemorate the tree before its demise:

As seen from the opposite side of the yet-to-completed expressway


As seen from the stairs of a nearby overhead bridge


Rear view from the point of motorists


Oncoming view

I will be heading for my low key In-Camp-Training (ICT) this coming Monday, but once I am done, there will be another issue to tackle, the survival of the existing park, and what I deem to be a "mini nature reserve", beside Blocks 101, 102 and 104 of Bishan street 12... Wish me, or rather Mother Nature, luck.