Many Drops Make An Ocean

We've all been there before.

"God, this is way bigger than I thought".
"I don't care whatever it is, I just want to fish!"
"Why should I contribute my time and effort for this and get nothing out of it"
"Nah, nobody will ever support this."
"Are you really..really..REALLY sure you want to do this?"

Yes, I am sure.

These statements, as informal and simplistic as it sounds, highlighted our attitude over the past decade, and probably beyond that. What did we get by adopting this wait and see attitude?

We've seen our once pristine rivers dammed. Concretized. Polluted and reclaimed. Our fish had been netted to almost oblivion. Places where you could once see baitfish schools getting chased by apex predators reduced to quiet serene pools, save an odd shellfish and snails. Even those are getting wiped out, thanks to ever increasing number of people collecting them by the bucket load for dinner.

We , from watching , have blamed the people with money. The 'ignorant' migrants from overseas who came to our shores for a better life. We have blamed everything and everyone for the destruction of our home waters which we once held so dear. We blamed them for not listening to us and our complaints, while we ourselves kept insular, and not reaching out. Or giving up early the moment we tried and hit a setback.

Is it really their fault? Or ours? I cannot speak for the rest, but I will say, it is my fault that I didn't see this coming. Or did anything about it.

However, it is not too late. We still have our reservoirs to protect and nurture. The islands to get recognized and protect. And people to educate on our sport and the environment. Yes, we will face obstacles in the face of people too fearful for our revolutionary new ideas, and yes we will face the negativity by people jaded from their past experiences. But this shouldn't stop us. There is too much at stake.

We must try. And we must succeed.

It is this urgency that a group of anglers/naturalists, from all walks of life came together, sat down and form this society. Like a new born, the society faces huge challenges from day one, from gaining acceptance from the government agencies to the local populance, to finding finances to fund the missions we set out to carry. There will be differences, and there will be a time when we need straighten each other ( and our partners) out, but we have to keep focus and the belief we will get there.

GARS purpose is to establish a sport fishery not only as to establish homewaters for our anglers, but to provide financial meaning and support to protect and rehab our aquatic habitats for the benefit for all god's creation threatened by the ongoing pace of development. We aim to show that fishes and their habitats are a resource that could be managed and developed to create a new financially sustainable recreational sport/industry while not endangering the environment. The ideas are decades old, and we are not the first ones to think of it, but we will be the first ones to actively pursue this ideal till the very end.

Others have gone before us. The nature volunteer groups have worked on through the 90's to finally get the green movement gain momentum. However, they still need help and we have to be their ally. The government have initiated their Active, Beautiful And Clean master plans (ABC) and have requested help in constructing a fledgling fishery. We have to be there to carry this forward. What we want could not be accomplished by one single person, or one single group, but if only all comes together.

However, all this starts from one individual to make up his mind that he wants to make a difference, no matter what. Not to stick with the status quo and continue to watch.

And it is with this petition, that I appeal to the readers if they decide to make a difference, please contact our group at GARS.SocietyInfo@gmail.com. We are looking for that many drops to make up an ocean.

Regards
Tien Yun Tan
President
Executive Committee 2009
Gamefish & Aquatic Rehabilitation Society.