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SINGAPORE: The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) is bringing its big fund-raising event, known as the Panda Ball, to Asia for the first time.
After five years of being held at top hotels in Switzerland or Monte Carlo, the ball will be held at the St Regis Singapore on Nov 21.
Funds raised by the charity event will go to a Singapore-based project to raise public awareness of seafood consumption, particularly live reef fish, and eco-tourism related to the Coral Triangle, whose rich resources are being threatened.
The latter is an area known as “nursery of the seas” — the world’s centre of marine life — in the waters of Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea.
WWF Singapore will launch a seafood guide campaign to promote a sustainable fish trade. It says destructive fishing practices, such as blast or cyanide fishing, pose a serious risk to the health of reef ecosystems and the long-term future of the live reef fish trade.
The WWF also wants to make travellers and tourism businesses here more aware of opportunities to reduce their negative impact on the region. It wants to promote responsible tourism and travel.
For the big charity event, the St Regis ballroom will be transformed into a mock marine paradise, featuring the rich colours of corals. A one-off Panda gown created by Danish designer Isabell Kristensen will be on display for potential bidders, in an auction that will also feature vintage wines, an adventure cruise and unique timepieces.
Guests will include Deputy Prime Minister Prof S Jayakumar, and Prince Constantijn and Princess Laurentian of the Netherlands, who are noted supporters of the WWF.
- TODAY/yt
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