The Straits Times’ coverage of the Singapore Climate Change Rally that took place over the weekend underwent not one or two, but at least four headline changes after the article was published.
The first headline stated that “Thousands turned up in red at Hong Lim Park for first Climate Change Rally”. This was changed to “Hundreds turned up in red at Hong Lim Park for first Climate Change Rally”.
For some reason, the publication changed the headline to “Greenies turned up in red at Hong Lim Park for first Climate Change Rally”. The headline now states: “Big turnout at Hong Lim Park for first Singapore Climate Rally”.
The organisers of the event, which was attended by Minister for Social and Family Development Desmond Lee and ruling party MP Louis Ng, said that 2,000 people turned up.
The event, saw attendees listening to poignant speeches and participating in community activities like writing to Members of Parliament, seeking stronger government action against climate change.
Participants, who wore red and bore posters lamenting the irreversible nature of climate change, also staged a “die-in” and feigned death as an expression of collective grief over the losses brought on by climate change.
The rally called on the Government and corporations to institute systemic change since individuals action was not enough and there were hopes for more preventive action against climate change.
The event notably saw youth speaking up for their future – one of the speakers was an 11-year-old Primary 5 student while another was a 17-year-old teenage girl. The founding organiser of the event is a 19-year-old Year 2 NUS student. -/TISG