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Eating Chilli Crab in the Anthropocene: Environmental Perspectives on Life in Singapore
In this era of climate crisis, in which our very futures are at stake, sustainability is a global imperative. Yet we tend to associate sustainability, nature, and the environment with distant places, science, and policy. The truth is that everything is environmental, from transportation to taxes, work to love, cities to cuisine.
This book is the first to examine contemporary Singapore from an ecocultural lens, looking at the ways that Singaporean life and culture is deeply entangled with the nonhuman lives that flourish all around us. The authors represent a new generation of cultural critics and environmental thinkers, who will inherit the future we are creating today. From chilli crab to Tiger Beer, Changi Airport to Pulau Semakau, O-levels to orang minyak films, these essays offer fresh perspectives on familiar subjects, prompting us to recognise the incredible urgency of climate change and the need to transform our ways of thinking, acting, learning, living, and governing so as to maintain a stable planet and a decent future.
This book is the first to examine contemporary Singapore from an ecocultural lens, looking at the ways that Singaporean life and culture is deeply entangled with the nonhuman lives that flourish all around us. The authors represent a new generation of cultural critics and environmental thinkers, who will inherit the future we are creating today. From chilli crab to Tiger Beer, Changi Airport to Pulau Semakau, O-levels to orang minyak films, these essays offer fresh perspectives on familiar subjects, prompting us to recognise the incredible urgency of climate change and the need to transform our ways of thinking, acting, learning, living, and governing so as to maintain a stable planet and a decent future.
276 pages, Paperback
First published June 26, 2020
63 people are currently reading
970 people want to read
About the author
Matthew Schneider-Mayerson
6 books16 followersMatthew Schneider-Mayerson is a professor of English and Environmental Studies at Rice University. His research combines literary criticism, communication studies, and sociology to examine the cultural and political dimensions of climate change, with a focus on climate justice. He is the author of Peak Oil: Apocalyptic Environmentalism and Libertarian Political Culture, co-editor of An Ecotopian Lexicon and Empirical Ecocriticism: Environmental Narratives for Social Change, and editor of Eating Chilli Crab in the Anthropocene: Environmental Perspectives on Life in Singapore.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 91 reviews
April 30, 2022
3.2 CRABS, i mean stars.
Disclaimer: I was provided an advanced reading copy of this text.
Fairly researched, passionately argued for the most part. Reasonably nuanced. But like chilli crab, the dense academic prose takes a while to dissect, devour and digest.
A good, hearty start to thinking about Singaporean society & the environment.
SUBSTANCE
This book made me rethink my everyday Singaporean life. From our foods; to fuels and plastics; to our shared cultural mythologies, the articles remind me that nature isn't "out there"; it's woven into the fabric of our daily lives.
Consider the orang minyak: how and when did such an oily ghost invade our imaginations? Yogesh Tulsi's exploration of the orang minyak in modern film was one such richly, deeply researched piece.
I believe in constructive suggestions. And so I enjoyed more the pieces that wrestled with Singapore's difficulties in transforming into a more environmentally conscious, carbon-neutral future, like Aidan Mock's clear-eyed, historically grounded, quietly hopeful piece on fossil fuels and climate activism in Singapore.
I liked less other chapters that call vaguely for systemic change, smirk at apparent state hypocrisy - - but don't really acknowledge the complex geopolitical, socioeconomic webs Singapore remains enmeshed in.
Surely, the answer to everything can't be "we have deep enough pockets to afford change"?
Surely, asking a polity that has styled itself as a "global city state", a "regional transport/commerce/financial hub" to halt its aviation industry is a bit unrealistic?
Engaging and empathising with the state's logic (whatever it may have been) - then dismantling that logic - would have made for a more compelling argument.
Why haven't we transformed? I would have liked to hear a bit more about possible reasons for the Gahmen's apparent inertia. Vague jibes at the Government's supposed greed or myopia aren't satisfying enough, especially in a book so densely researched, that draws from so many disciplines to articulate its viewpoints.
I also wonder if the text could have afforded itself a little self-reflexivity. Are there, for instance, class dimensions to such climate activism in Singapore? Why, why not?
What could explain the possible apathy of the Gahmen, or the broader Singaporean man-on-the-street?
In one essay calling for Singapore to give up the aviation industry, the writer points out his own hypocrisy at flying overseas...but then finishes that section rather half-heartedly with "we should reconsider our reasons every-time we fly", which rather detracted and diluted from the thrust of that essay.
A call to act is indeed commendable - but realistically considering the obstacles these calls may encounter may also be worthwhile.
I fully empathize with the fierce idealism here. But one should not ignore the obstinate elephants in the room.
By seriously contemplating the strongest possible objections to the suggestions raised in these essays, then engaging them, will such initiatives gain more traction in a seemingly apathetic Singapore.
Disclaimer: I was provided an advanced reading copy of this text.
Fairly researched, passionately argued for the most part. Reasonably nuanced. But like chilli crab, the dense academic prose takes a while to dissect, devour and digest.
A good, hearty start to thinking about Singaporean society & the environment.
SUBSTANCE
This book made me rethink my everyday Singaporean life. From our foods; to fuels and plastics; to our shared cultural mythologies, the articles remind me that nature isn't "out there"; it's woven into the fabric of our daily lives.
Consider the orang minyak: how and when did such an oily ghost invade our imaginations? Yogesh Tulsi's exploration of the orang minyak in modern film was one such richly, deeply researched piece.
I believe in constructive suggestions. And so I enjoyed more the pieces that wrestled with Singapore's difficulties in transforming into a more environmentally conscious, carbon-neutral future, like Aidan Mock's clear-eyed, historically grounded, quietly hopeful piece on fossil fuels and climate activism in Singapore.
I liked less other chapters that call vaguely for systemic change, smirk at apparent state hypocrisy - - but don't really acknowledge the complex geopolitical, socioeconomic webs Singapore remains enmeshed in.
Surely, the answer to everything can't be "we have deep enough pockets to afford change"?
Surely, asking a polity that has styled itself as a "global city state", a "regional transport/commerce/financial hub" to halt its aviation industry is a bit unrealistic?
Engaging and empathising with the state's logic (whatever it may have been) - then dismantling that logic - would have made for a more compelling argument.
Why haven't we transformed? I would have liked to hear a bit more about possible reasons for the Gahmen's apparent inertia. Vague jibes at the Government's supposed greed or myopia aren't satisfying enough, especially in a book so densely researched, that draws from so many disciplines to articulate its viewpoints.
I also wonder if the text could have afforded itself a little self-reflexivity. Are there, for instance, class dimensions to such climate activism in Singapore? Why, why not?
What could explain the possible apathy of the Gahmen, or the broader Singaporean man-on-the-street?
In one essay calling for Singapore to give up the aviation industry, the writer points out his own hypocrisy at flying overseas...but then finishes that section rather half-heartedly with "we should reconsider our reasons every-time we fly", which rather detracted and diluted from the thrust of that essay.
A call to act is indeed commendable - but realistically considering the obstacles these calls may encounter may also be worthwhile.
I fully empathize with the fierce idealism here. But one should not ignore the obstinate elephants in the room.
By seriously contemplating the strongest possible objections to the suggestions raised in these essays, then engaging them, will such initiatives gain more traction in a seemingly apathetic Singapore.
August 22, 2020
When I first heard of this book, I did not have that high expectations given that the Anthropocene is a ridiculously difficult topic to write about. This is because everything becomes intricately connected when you bring up buzzwords like sustainability, green growth, or decarbonisation to name a few. One would need extensive knowledge in fields from Sociology, Political Science, Engineering, History, Geography, and basically every field under the sun to be able to accurately paint a picture. I think this book is a real testament to the kind of broad-based education they are doing at Yale-NUS.
In 2011, Ban Ki Moon (then Secretary-General of the United Nations) semi-famously said in his address to the 66th General Assembly entitled "We the People":
In 2019, the co-chair of the The Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), Sandra Diaz, mentioned in her study that
In this, she is referring to urgent transformative change that tackles the root causes: the interconnected economic, sociocultural, demographic, political, institutional, and technological indirect drivers behind the direct drivers.
This book not only highlights many of these drivers, it also provides alternatives and solutions and offers up a platform for discourse on an progressive, inclusive, yet urgent transformation that needs to happen in our island home.
Some quick notes and TLDR:
1. If you don't have time to read all of them, read the final essay:
Another Garden City is Possible: A Plan for a Post-Carbon Singapore by Bertrand Seah.
He gives quite a good meta-analysis of many of the points raised throughout the book, and sums up the necessary steps for a decarbonised economy. One gripe I have was how he made some sweeping assumptions about Singapore's geo-political station and our ASEAN influence. What's strange is that he is a pol sci grad.
2. This book can be split into 3 main parts. It sort of goes from a physical/science encounter as metaphors for reality, to a more direct addressal of SG history and inconsistencies, and finally ending with a call to action and perspectives on the future.
If you have the time to read further, here are some first perspectives immediately after I read each essay:
1. Chilli Crabs
- Our disconnect from non-human entities
- Links to our treatment and aversion to facing them
2. Otters
- Deliberated the future status of otters and draws a parallel to how we pick and choose who to help or leave behind (on a regional and national scale)
3. Sand
- a zero sum game
- economic development takes priority over env and social concerns.
- bonus: role of the arts
4. Tigers
- how we consume tigers both literally and figuratively
- the need for space and conservation?
- Does not really address some immediate competing concerns or the role of zoos as champions for conservation
5. Semakau and the Orang Laut
- How our pursuit of economic growth has displaced the local orang laut, their cultures, and traditions
- Link to Singapore's disregard of the valueless (financially)
6. Macaques
- discusses the idea of humans exclusive ownership over space
- the idea of a multispecies urban singapore
- Super lofty ideas here and one of the lesser balanced essays
7. Javan Mynahs
- talks about nativity and how our definitions influence our actions (or rather justify it).
- as noted in the macaque essay, the gov is not opposed to using force on a “native” species. regardless, this essay takes a simplistic view of species definitions of nativity in silos, while nativity is highly dependent on the interconnectedness of the rest of the system.
- the use of “oxford dictionary definitions” to prove a point was also kinda lame, like something a JC student would do.
- the essay redeems itself in the second half with the drawing of parallels to immigration, foreigners, and our national identity of vulnerability.
8. Orang Minyak
- this is a highly humanities essay and highlights the similarities in how we approach petroleum in Singapore in the past with how we do it now
- talks about modernity and post-kampong views on our petro-reliant culture
9. Jewel @ changi airport
- A second essay highlighting the inconsistencies in the Singapore approach to sustainability.
- Singapore will make an effort as long as it does not hinder economic development.
- Link to social media was a bit off topic but the concept of flygskam (travel shaming) was new to me
10. Fossil fuels and Singapore
- history of fossil fuel industry in singapore and why Singapore should pivot away
- Delves into advocacy as a tool for change
11. Education and Virtues
- Dominant vs Transitional virtues that Singapore has to begin to teach and imbue our young with to make them more resilient in a more volatile world
- Some generalised sweeping statements especially in “individualism” section. the gov has actually taken many steps to distance personality politics to allow a more robust systems level thinking to proliferate. More than can be said for the political scene in many of our neighbours (mahathir, duterte, jokowi, etc)
12. Post-Carbon
- The failure of our current economic and financial systems, as well as the high inertia of industries to decarbonise
- Possible plans for a new social order of "degrowth"
13. Bonus: jk, there is no essay 13, but if you made it this far, heres a little bonus for you:
Anthropocene by Samsa
In 2011, Ban Ki Moon (then Secretary-General of the United Nations) semi-famously said in his address to the 66th General Assembly entitled "We the People":
"Saving our planet, lifting people out of poverty, advancing economic growth ... these are one and the same fight.We must connect the dots between climate change, water scarcity, energy shortages, global health, food security and women's empowerment. Solutions to one problem must be solutions for all."
In 2019, the co-chair of the The Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), Sandra Diaz, mentioned in her study that
"Only immediate transformation of global business-as-usual economies and operations will sustain nature as we know it, and us, into the future."
In this, she is referring to urgent transformative change that tackles the root causes: the interconnected economic, sociocultural, demographic, political, institutional, and technological indirect drivers behind the direct drivers.
This book not only highlights many of these drivers, it also provides alternatives and solutions and offers up a platform for discourse on an progressive, inclusive, yet urgent transformation that needs to happen in our island home.
Some quick notes and TLDR:
1. If you don't have time to read all of them, read the final essay:
Another Garden City is Possible: A Plan for a Post-Carbon Singapore by Bertrand Seah.
He gives quite a good meta-analysis of many of the points raised throughout the book, and sums up the necessary steps for a decarbonised economy. One gripe I have was how he made some sweeping assumptions about Singapore's geo-political station and our ASEAN influence. What's strange is that he is a pol sci grad.
2. This book can be split into 3 main parts. It sort of goes from a physical/science encounter as metaphors for reality, to a more direct addressal of SG history and inconsistencies, and finally ending with a call to action and perspectives on the future.
If you have the time to read further, here are some first perspectives immediately after I read each essay:
1. Chilli Crabs
- Our disconnect from non-human entities
- Links to our treatment and aversion to facing them
2. Otters
- Deliberated the future status of otters and draws a parallel to how we pick and choose who to help or leave behind (on a regional and national scale)
3. Sand
- a zero sum game
- economic development takes priority over env and social concerns.
- bonus: role of the arts
4. Tigers
- how we consume tigers both literally and figuratively
- the need for space and conservation?
- Does not really address some immediate competing concerns or the role of zoos as champions for conservation
5. Semakau and the Orang Laut
- How our pursuit of economic growth has displaced the local orang laut, their cultures, and traditions
- Link to Singapore's disregard of the valueless (financially)
6. Macaques
- discusses the idea of humans exclusive ownership over space
- the idea of a multispecies urban singapore
- Super lofty ideas here and one of the lesser balanced essays
7. Javan Mynahs
- talks about nativity and how our definitions influence our actions (or rather justify it).
- as noted in the macaque essay, the gov is not opposed to using force on a “native” species. regardless, this essay takes a simplistic view of species definitions of nativity in silos, while nativity is highly dependent on the interconnectedness of the rest of the system.
- the use of “oxford dictionary definitions” to prove a point was also kinda lame, like something a JC student would do.
- the essay redeems itself in the second half with the drawing of parallels to immigration, foreigners, and our national identity of vulnerability.
8. Orang Minyak
- this is a highly humanities essay and highlights the similarities in how we approach petroleum in Singapore in the past with how we do it now
- talks about modernity and post-kampong views on our petro-reliant culture
9. Jewel @ changi airport
- A second essay highlighting the inconsistencies in the Singapore approach to sustainability.
- Singapore will make an effort as long as it does not hinder economic development.
- Link to social media was a bit off topic but the concept of flygskam (travel shaming) was new to me
10. Fossil fuels and Singapore
- history of fossil fuel industry in singapore and why Singapore should pivot away
- Delves into advocacy as a tool for change
11. Education and Virtues
- Dominant vs Transitional virtues that Singapore has to begin to teach and imbue our young with to make them more resilient in a more volatile world
- Some generalised sweeping statements especially in “individualism” section. the gov has actually taken many steps to distance personality politics to allow a more robust systems level thinking to proliferate. More than can be said for the political scene in many of our neighbours (mahathir, duterte, jokowi, etc)
12. Post-Carbon
- The failure of our current economic and financial systems, as well as the high inertia of industries to decarbonise
- Possible plans for a new social order of "degrowth"
13. Bonus: jk, there is no essay 13, but if you made it this far, heres a little bonus for you:
Anthropocene by Samsa
June 27, 2020
Wow! I so genuinely enjoyed this timely collection of essays on the environment. It was very well curated and the themes of the essays well fleshed out.
The essays are written in an empathetic, relatable, and very readable manner, and yet, they made themselves clear that environmental issues are pertinent and very, very time-sensitive. The essays urge for us to think critically about how the country and the state frame the conversation around the environment as well as make decisions regarding the environment.
There are some damning revelations for me as well. I did not know that there were plans for a Terminal 5 written into our 2018 Climate Change Plan, and only to propose a way of guarding Terminal 5 against rising sea levels. It sounds quite ludicrous even as I am typing this out.
When you place this in context of other countries such as the UK, who has a much stronger climate activism movement that has successfully put pressure on the government to halt aviation growth in order to protect our planet, Singapore's intentional step towards Terminal 5 says a lot about what we place importance on. There is already criticism from scholars and international observers towards Singapore for placing "a premium on physical and economic development at the expense of environmental protection."
There are patterns of admittedly familiar ways the state has written the narratives around its decisions as well. Its stance on saving the environment has, like most other things, taken on a paternalistic tone and has placed responsibility on individual actions. The 'Save Semakau' video - Semakau being Singapore's only landfill - insinuated that the selfish actions of individuals is undoing the work that the government is doing to try to manage waste for Singapore.
However, Fu Xiyao, the author of this chapter, calls the landfill inherently unsustainable. The notion of personal responsibility to reduce and be mindful of consumption is also laughingly incompatible with Singapore's longstanding priority of economic growth, where more consumption is better. Companies thrive while consumers are both encouraged to partake in and blamed for overconsumption.
Let's not forget, as the elections draw close as well, that institutions and individuals in power should be held to a much higher bar for their actions and what they can or cannot do, given their massive influence over the population, of which a significant portion is made up of voiceless, vulnerable individuals. That said, ground up efforts and the pressure that people can put on governments can be powerful, and we have the right to let the policymakers know what we want to see for the environment, given that we only have one planet to call home.
The essays are written in an empathetic, relatable, and very readable manner, and yet, they made themselves clear that environmental issues are pertinent and very, very time-sensitive. The essays urge for us to think critically about how the country and the state frame the conversation around the environment as well as make decisions regarding the environment.
"When an appreciation for wildlife is founded only on its potential economic and symbolic value, the commitment to co-existence is tenuous at best."
There are some damning revelations for me as well. I did not know that there were plans for a Terminal 5 written into our 2018 Climate Change Plan, and only to propose a way of guarding Terminal 5 against rising sea levels. It sounds quite ludicrous even as I am typing this out.
When you place this in context of other countries such as the UK, who has a much stronger climate activism movement that has successfully put pressure on the government to halt aviation growth in order to protect our planet, Singapore's intentional step towards Terminal 5 says a lot about what we place importance on. There is already criticism from scholars and international observers towards Singapore for placing "a premium on physical and economic development at the expense of environmental protection."
There are patterns of admittedly familiar ways the state has written the narratives around its decisions as well. Its stance on saving the environment has, like most other things, taken on a paternalistic tone and has placed responsibility on individual actions. The 'Save Semakau' video - Semakau being Singapore's only landfill - insinuated that the selfish actions of individuals is undoing the work that the government is doing to try to manage waste for Singapore.
However, Fu Xiyao, the author of this chapter, calls the landfill inherently unsustainable. The notion of personal responsibility to reduce and be mindful of consumption is also laughingly incompatible with Singapore's longstanding priority of economic growth, where more consumption is better. Companies thrive while consumers are both encouraged to partake in and blamed for overconsumption.
Let's not forget, as the elections draw close as well, that institutions and individuals in power should be held to a much higher bar for their actions and what they can or cannot do, given their massive influence over the population, of which a significant portion is made up of voiceless, vulnerable individuals. That said, ground up efforts and the pressure that people can put on governments can be powerful, and we have the right to let the policymakers know what we want to see for the environment, given that we only have one planet to call home.
August 9, 2020
In this era of climate crisis, we can no longer afford to be ignorant about the environmental issues that plague our societies and communities. As long as we live on Earth, we are already causing an impact on the natural world around us through our behaviours and habits. Eating Chilli Crab in the Anthropocene is an exceptional collection of essays that expresses the urgency of these environmental issues.
“From chilli crab to Tiger Beer, Changi Airport to Pulau Semakau, O-levels to orang minyak films”, the essays in this book explore the disquieting ramifications our actions have on the environment and share the ways in which we can all work towards a future that is more sustainable and attuned to the natural environment.
I enjoyed this book so much, because of how eye-opening and thought-provoking it was. The smartly-sequenced essays show how environmental issues are intertwined with our society, culture and politics (amongst others). To mitigate these problems, we have to employ a multifaceted approach that involves everyone in the society.
These essays really make you think a lot and I believe one of the reasons why they are so engaging is because they are extremely relevant to life in Singapore. A perfect non-fiction book that makes you think deeper about the world you live in and sharpens your critical eye, this is definitely a book I’ll recommend, especially to Singaporeans! Glad to have had the opportunity to discuss with @tanvisreadventures, @gothookedonbooks and @michiryuaquila_reads some of the essays in this book! 😆😊
5/5
P.S. The cover artwork is so beautiful and chillingly good! It covers all the essay topics and implants them into the person’s head, just like, I believe, what this book aims to do!
“From chilli crab to Tiger Beer, Changi Airport to Pulau Semakau, O-levels to orang minyak films”, the essays in this book explore the disquieting ramifications our actions have on the environment and share the ways in which we can all work towards a future that is more sustainable and attuned to the natural environment.
I enjoyed this book so much, because of how eye-opening and thought-provoking it was. The smartly-sequenced essays show how environmental issues are intertwined with our society, culture and politics (amongst others). To mitigate these problems, we have to employ a multifaceted approach that involves everyone in the society.
These essays really make you think a lot and I believe one of the reasons why they are so engaging is because they are extremely relevant to life in Singapore. A perfect non-fiction book that makes you think deeper about the world you live in and sharpens your critical eye, this is definitely a book I’ll recommend, especially to Singaporeans! Glad to have had the opportunity to discuss with @tanvisreadventures, @gothookedonbooks and @michiryuaquila_reads some of the essays in this book! 😆😊
5/5
P.S. The cover artwork is so beautiful and chillingly good! It covers all the essay topics and implants them into the person’s head, just like, I believe, what this book aims to do!
June 22, 2020
Eye opening. Thought provoking. Exceptional. And a must read for everyone who calls sunny Singapore home!
January 16, 2021
Would have been one star if not for the fact that I learnt something.
I have nothing against this book, I believe it's an important one in terms of introducing the wider public to the environmental issues in a Singaporean context. However, I'm appalled at how whingey the entire publication is. None of the essays really gave a sort of proposed plan of action beyond "do better, Singapore", which is one of the biggest failures of the book. It really feels like the authors are repeating "this is what we are doing and we are doing bad" and no real "this is concrete things that will happen if we don't stop, or if we don't take these alternative steps". And frankly, I felt like a lot of the information was presented to us in a way that makes me go - okay, but I can't do jack about any of these issues in a meaningful way besides pressuring the government. And for me, that was part of the failure. You're writing this book in part to speak to the layman; and yet all you do is basically dump carefully curated information like a massive wikipedia page. Where's the call to action? Singapore buys sand and terraforms our city. They also have massive oil refineries. What can I, as a citizen, do about it in my day to day life? Nothing. So... what's the point of this book?
Props to the chilli crab and the otter ones - those are the ones that specifically gave me pause. Food sustainability and the intrinsic value of animals is something I can get on board with. The rest... not so much. I thought the orang minayk one was particularly ridiculous. Petrohorror? I think the author just ran out of things to write.
I have nothing against this book, I believe it's an important one in terms of introducing the wider public to the environmental issues in a Singaporean context. However, I'm appalled at how whingey the entire publication is. None of the essays really gave a sort of proposed plan of action beyond "do better, Singapore", which is one of the biggest failures of the book. It really feels like the authors are repeating "this is what we are doing and we are doing bad" and no real "this is concrete things that will happen if we don't stop, or if we don't take these alternative steps". And frankly, I felt like a lot of the information was presented to us in a way that makes me go - okay, but I can't do jack about any of these issues in a meaningful way besides pressuring the government. And for me, that was part of the failure. You're writing this book in part to speak to the layman; and yet all you do is basically dump carefully curated information like a massive wikipedia page. Where's the call to action? Singapore buys sand and terraforms our city. They also have massive oil refineries. What can I, as a citizen, do about it in my day to day life? Nothing. So... what's the point of this book?
Props to the chilli crab and the otter ones - those are the ones that specifically gave me pause. Food sustainability and the intrinsic value of animals is something I can get on board with. The rest... not so much. I thought the orang minayk one was particularly ridiculous. Petrohorror? I think the author just ran out of things to write.
December 31, 2020
An essential read for anyone who cares about our shared future (which should really be everyone). I learnt a lot about Singapore's environmental history - both recent and pre-colonial - which often feels invisible in our national narratives. Very sobering to realise that our nation is a 'greenwashed' state, green on the surface but heavily reliant on the fossil fuel industry, our rapid development at the expense of our natural biodiversity.
Gave this 3 stars because the writing could have been a lot more accessible. I do think this is a book more Singaporeans need to read to realise the importance and urgency of the issue, but I suspect the academic prose (and title) would mean that only certain groups would pick this up.
That said, I particularly enjoyed the chapters that traced the cultural icons/motifs we're so familiar with to environmental issues we need action on today:
- Lovable Lutrines
- Consuming Tigers
- Dumpster Diving in Semakau
- Javan Mynahs
- An Oily Mirror (this was fascinating)
- Changing Course
- Singapore on Fire
Kudos to the team behind this book - it fills me with hope that young Singaporeans are informed and passionate about challenging the status quo.
Gave this 3 stars because the writing could have been a lot more accessible. I do think this is a book more Singaporeans need to read to realise the importance and urgency of the issue, but I suspect the academic prose (and title) would mean that only certain groups would pick this up.
That said, I particularly enjoyed the chapters that traced the cultural icons/motifs we're so familiar with to environmental issues we need action on today:
- Lovable Lutrines
- Consuming Tigers
- Dumpster Diving in Semakau
- Javan Mynahs
- An Oily Mirror (this was fascinating)
- Changing Course
- Singapore on Fire
Kudos to the team behind this book - it fills me with hope that young Singaporeans are informed and passionate about challenging the status quo.
May 31, 2020
[Review] Eating Chilli Crab in the Anthropocene is an essay collection by people born in 1993-1998 on S’pore’s role in the climate crisis. These expert reviewed essays were edited by Yale-NUS’s Matthew Schneider-Mayerson.
What’s anthropocene? To me, it refers to the current epoch characterised by human activity on Earth.
These thought-provoking, carefully and intelligently crafted essays connect the dots between climate change and local icons like Tiger Beer and Jewel.
I learned a lot, from the commonness of crustacean cannibalism (when a crab moults and becomes soft shell, another may devour it. Mud crabs enjoy eating each other almost as much as Singaporeans relish their taste) to better understanding our otter obsession (6 day rescue mission for sick otter pup makes news). In “Lovable Lutrines”, the writer shows how our fickle attention and preference determine whether creatures live or die and the effects of urbanisation on our natural heritage; only 5% of forest remain. We pay attention to the otters but forget the threatened species of Mandai who become roadkill or will have their habitats destroyed to make way for resorts.
In “Consuming Tigers”, tigers once roamed the region but now number <4,000 in the wild. Ironically, they are everywhere - bubble tea, Netflix but “are we the meteor, the angel of death which threatens tiger populations and futures?” I learned a Swedish word, flygskam (or flight shame). Advocates stop posting about travelling and use social media to shame travel influencers. Even in small ways, our lifestyle choices inform our carbon footprint.
To me, the essays on S’pore fossil fuel & aviation were the most important. These industries contribute significantly to the economy and climate emergency, determining whether we face extinction.
These topics are real and complex (relationship between man and sand, destruction of habitats) and needs a Part 2, maybe on how we can live more sustainably. There’s no easy solution but the G plays a big role in prioritising the climate - I wish to add, key players like ExxonMobil play a crucial role in determining whether future generations will inhabit Earth.
Thanks @ethosbooks for the ARC!
What’s anthropocene? To me, it refers to the current epoch characterised by human activity on Earth.
These thought-provoking, carefully and intelligently crafted essays connect the dots between climate change and local icons like Tiger Beer and Jewel.
I learned a lot, from the commonness of crustacean cannibalism (when a crab moults and becomes soft shell, another may devour it. Mud crabs enjoy eating each other almost as much as Singaporeans relish their taste) to better understanding our otter obsession (6 day rescue mission for sick otter pup makes news). In “Lovable Lutrines”, the writer shows how our fickle attention and preference determine whether creatures live or die and the effects of urbanisation on our natural heritage; only 5% of forest remain. We pay attention to the otters but forget the threatened species of Mandai who become roadkill or will have their habitats destroyed to make way for resorts.
In “Consuming Tigers”, tigers once roamed the region but now number <4,000 in the wild. Ironically, they are everywhere - bubble tea, Netflix but “are we the meteor, the angel of death which threatens tiger populations and futures?” I learned a Swedish word, flygskam (or flight shame). Advocates stop posting about travelling and use social media to shame travel influencers. Even in small ways, our lifestyle choices inform our carbon footprint.
To me, the essays on S’pore fossil fuel & aviation were the most important. These industries contribute significantly to the economy and climate emergency, determining whether we face extinction.
These topics are real and complex (relationship between man and sand, destruction of habitats) and needs a Part 2, maybe on how we can live more sustainably. There’s no easy solution but the G plays a big role in prioritising the climate - I wish to add, key players like ExxonMobil play a crucial role in determining whether future generations will inhabit Earth.
Thanks @ethosbooks for the ARC!
June 14, 2020
I was pleasantly surprised to find that I enjoyed reading this book even more than I thought I would. Eating Chilli Crab is a collection of essays by young environmental activists in Singapore. Each essay zeroes in on a quotidian element or symbol of Singapore’s identity, be it chilli crab, otters, Pulau Semakau, or even Changi Airport. Most of these essays open with an anecdote, and then launches into a critique of Singapore’s unsustainable practices and the state’s insistence on prioritising the nation’s economic growth and development over everything else. I learnt about the way Pulau Semakau - boasted as the place where Singapore’s waste gets incinerated so that recycling practices are almost non-existent here - was once the native home of the Orang Laut people, who were uprooted and displaced to mainland Singapore so their home could be used for the nation’s development, the landfill that lets the country forget about its high volumes of waste by literally destroying it. I learnt about the double standards between the treatment of cute otters as compared to other wildlife, the slipperiness of trying to protect a “native” species from an “invasive” one in the context of this changing world and climate.
More than one essay critiques Singapore’s “garden city” image and its incongruity with the nation’s disregard for nature, sustainability practices, and its disproportionate contribution to environmental deterioration, from the continuous expansion of Changi Airport to its fall-back defence on not being able to “afford” to fall behind in the capitalist global world order of rapid development.
Every essay was so well-written, with a touch of the author’s personal experiences, and despite most of these students having been from Yale-NUS, you can’t dismiss them as being too “removed” from the way things work in Singapore. Maybe we need a bit of the “out-of-touch” in order to really distance ourselves from the immediacy of the everyday in order to really see what is wrong and what can be improved about the things we’re so used to. This essay is such an important and eye-opening read, particularly if you’re a Singapore resident, but I think some of the larger concerns these writers are highlighting could be translated into other contexts too.
More than one essay critiques Singapore’s “garden city” image and its incongruity with the nation’s disregard for nature, sustainability practices, and its disproportionate contribution to environmental deterioration, from the continuous expansion of Changi Airport to its fall-back defence on not being able to “afford” to fall behind in the capitalist global world order of rapid development.
Every essay was so well-written, with a touch of the author’s personal experiences, and despite most of these students having been from Yale-NUS, you can’t dismiss them as being too “removed” from the way things work in Singapore. Maybe we need a bit of the “out-of-touch” in order to really distance ourselves from the immediacy of the everyday in order to really see what is wrong and what can be improved about the things we’re so used to. This essay is such an important and eye-opening read, particularly if you’re a Singapore resident, but I think some of the larger concerns these writers are highlighting could be translated into other contexts too.
May 30, 2020
“This world is increasingly being termed “the Anthropocene,” the epoch of humans.”
Since the Industrial Revolution the environment we live in and climate we share has been influenced more and more by human activity, often to the detriment of other species and the planet itself. And at the same time causing senseless damage to our own human future.
How timely then, is a book such as this.
Every chapter raises important issues, unpacking the place we find ourselves in and the attitudes, values, hopes and needs that have brought us here, the circumstances and discourses that have shaped both our success and our predicament.
And every chapter engages with our imagination, to help us ask the hard questions and give shape and substance to what we want/need the future to look like if we - and our non-human neighbours - are to thrive. There may be a myriad of ideas about how we might get there, but the point is that we need those ideas humbly on the table and on the agenda, along with a will and urgency to act before it is too late.
I found this book profoundly moving. It was accessible, enjoyable and incredibly grounded. It was situated right here, inescapably, in Singapore. Every page offered recognition - I’ve seen that! I’ve heard about that! I know that! - Ooh, I didn’t know that! My goodness is that the story behind xyz? wow that’s interesting!
It started with things we all know, our beloved otters, our food, our beer, our movies, our successes, our showpiece innovations, and then disturbed what we know with uncomfortable questions that resonate right where we’re standing, and cannot be kicked down the road or across the water to be someone else’s responsibility.
I feel very encouraged to encounter these young voices, to read such animated, creative and gracious thinking, and to feel the passion and urgency that is clearly stirring in the communities of Singapore.
I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this book. I hope lots of people read it and lots of imaginations are stimulated by it, and motivation stoked by it.
And not just in Singapore, as it is an accessible primer on these issues wherever we may be.
Thank you, Ethos Publishing, for letting me have this advance book for review.
Since the Industrial Revolution the environment we live in and climate we share has been influenced more and more by human activity, often to the detriment of other species and the planet itself. And at the same time causing senseless damage to our own human future.
How timely then, is a book such as this.
Every chapter raises important issues, unpacking the place we find ourselves in and the attitudes, values, hopes and needs that have brought us here, the circumstances and discourses that have shaped both our success and our predicament.
And every chapter engages with our imagination, to help us ask the hard questions and give shape and substance to what we want/need the future to look like if we - and our non-human neighbours - are to thrive. There may be a myriad of ideas about how we might get there, but the point is that we need those ideas humbly on the table and on the agenda, along with a will and urgency to act before it is too late.
I found this book profoundly moving. It was accessible, enjoyable and incredibly grounded. It was situated right here, inescapably, in Singapore. Every page offered recognition - I’ve seen that! I’ve heard about that! I know that! - Ooh, I didn’t know that! My goodness is that the story behind xyz? wow that’s interesting!
It started with things we all know, our beloved otters, our food, our beer, our movies, our successes, our showpiece innovations, and then disturbed what we know with uncomfortable questions that resonate right where we’re standing, and cannot be kicked down the road or across the water to be someone else’s responsibility.
I feel very encouraged to encounter these young voices, to read such animated, creative and gracious thinking, and to feel the passion and urgency that is clearly stirring in the communities of Singapore.
I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this book. I hope lots of people read it and lots of imaginations are stimulated by it, and motivation stoked by it.
And not just in Singapore, as it is an accessible primer on these issues wherever we may be.
Thank you, Ethos Publishing, for letting me have this advance book for review.
August 8, 2020
Eating Chilli Crab is a collection of twelve essays on the environment, with each zooming in and analysing the different narratives of Singapore that many of us citizens are familiar with. These subjects range from our beloved otters and tigers to land reclamation, and also touch on more hot topics like Semakau Island and Jewel Changi.
True to the blurb's word, all of these well-crafted essays provide fresh and modern perspectives of the topics brought up while also giving historical and cultural context. Additionally, rather than simply categorising these issues as environmental, these essays collectively highlight the complexity and connection of such issues to a country's society and political scene.
Reading this has not only taught me a lot about Singapore-specific environment issues, but has also showed me how important it is to think more critically about the things we have come to accept as the norm; e.g. we're marketed as and proud to be called a Garden City, but do our core values reflect it as such? What about land reclamation, or our national landfill? We know about them, but do we truly understand the effects they have on both local and overseas ecosystems? What is the reason behind our apathy towards these issues?
If I could I would love to expand on all the things brought up in each essay, but I think that would make this too lengthy of a review—all I can say is that each essay gives us valuable insight on things we have never deeply thought about; they are evidently written with a lot of passion on the writers' part, but not at the cost of objectivity. They also give us room to reflect, while suggesting ways in which society can proceed and work together as a whole to truly be more sustainable. Moreover, these essays are cleverly arranged so that central themes (Singapore's core values) are introduced and then brilliantly intertwined into later topics to showcase how these themes affect the way we see these issues.
This is another book that I'd highly recommend all Singaporeans to read and reflect on, regardless of whether you consider yourself an environmentalist or not.
True to the blurb's word, all of these well-crafted essays provide fresh and modern perspectives of the topics brought up while also giving historical and cultural context. Additionally, rather than simply categorising these issues as environmental, these essays collectively highlight the complexity and connection of such issues to a country's society and political scene.
Reading this has not only taught me a lot about Singapore-specific environment issues, but has also showed me how important it is to think more critically about the things we have come to accept as the norm; e.g. we're marketed as and proud to be called a Garden City, but do our core values reflect it as such? What about land reclamation, or our national landfill? We know about them, but do we truly understand the effects they have on both local and overseas ecosystems? What is the reason behind our apathy towards these issues?
If I could I would love to expand on all the things brought up in each essay, but I think that would make this too lengthy of a review—all I can say is that each essay gives us valuable insight on things we have never deeply thought about; they are evidently written with a lot of passion on the writers' part, but not at the cost of objectivity. They also give us room to reflect, while suggesting ways in which society can proceed and work together as a whole to truly be more sustainable. Moreover, these essays are cleverly arranged so that central themes (Singapore's core values) are introduced and then brilliantly intertwined into later topics to showcase how these themes affect the way we see these issues.
This is another book that I'd highly recommend all Singaporeans to read and reflect on, regardless of whether you consider yourself an environmentalist or not.
March 10, 2021
It cannot be a coincidence that I'm reading this book while 2 major local environmental issues happened in the last one week. Just last week reports showed Singapore had "accidentally" bulldozed down 8-hectares of wild forest in Kranji since March 2020. Now satellite images show parched patches of land post-deforestation. Trees, vegetation uprooted. Mass murder of an entire ecosystem in this forest: homes and lives of birds, reptiles and small animals surely didn't happen erroneously. How the relevant parties responded to this mass murder was even despicable. Flippant response, no redressal, no one arrested, swept under the carpet.
27th Feb, last Saturday, the northern parts of my island experienced polluted air quality. PSI levels peaked to about 108. This was not haze from neighbouring Indonesia. Instead harmful Ozone forming a smog along with higg ultraviolet rays at the ground levels. Clearly carbon emissions are skyrocketing in Singapore.
A sense of discomfiture is getting to me now that I learn from abominable truths behind the relentless land reclamation, "greenwashing" the city to give the always rosy, picture-perfect garden city mirage to the rest of the world, the brutal wipeout of indigenous communities from our islands displacement and culling of non-human animals and the clandestine operations of bringing in sand for land reclamation, low carbon taxes and yes the major beast of all- the oil refining in Pulau Bukom.
Some of these have been covert operations in Singapore not known to the common locals here and underreported mainly to conceal the political undercurrents at hand. I'm becoming desensitized to the climate change repercussions we are facing now. I'm not even sure anymore if anything can be done to save the planet and the rest of the innocent non-human lives we have been wiping out since our existence.
I'm ridden by guilt, a lot of guilt to know that the local ecosphere in my island is being tampered with or destroyed just to make our lives viable and urbane and continuing to contribute to the façade that we are a clean, green country and the perfect host for our multi-national investors. It's a vicious greed.
Eating Chilli Crab In The Anthropocene has served me revelations. And I've swallowed these bitter pills. This is a book all youths of Singapore need to read and discuss. To fight for a system change to protect whatever else that's left in nature.
Yogesh Tulsi's essay was brilliant. The connotations of the infamous Orang Minyak to the greed for oil (petrohorror) was remarkable. His story stays with you for a long time. And his was single-handedly a stark prose among all the essays compiled in this book.
5 stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
#EatingChilliCrabInTheAnthropocene #igreads #bookstagram #bibliophile #libby #overdrive #nlbsg #nationallibraryofsingapore #publiclibrarysg #readingnationsg #singaporereads #Singaporewriters #Singaporeauthors #singaporebooks #sgclimaterally #climatechange #globalwarming #yogeshtulsi #orangminyak #petrohorror
27th Feb, last Saturday, the northern parts of my island experienced polluted air quality. PSI levels peaked to about 108. This was not haze from neighbouring Indonesia. Instead harmful Ozone forming a smog along with higg ultraviolet rays at the ground levels. Clearly carbon emissions are skyrocketing in Singapore.
A sense of discomfiture is getting to me now that I learn from abominable truths behind the relentless land reclamation, "greenwashing" the city to give the always rosy, picture-perfect garden city mirage to the rest of the world, the brutal wipeout of indigenous communities from our islands displacement and culling of non-human animals and the clandestine operations of bringing in sand for land reclamation, low carbon taxes and yes the major beast of all- the oil refining in Pulau Bukom.
Some of these have been covert operations in Singapore not known to the common locals here and underreported mainly to conceal the political undercurrents at hand. I'm becoming desensitized to the climate change repercussions we are facing now. I'm not even sure anymore if anything can be done to save the planet and the rest of the innocent non-human lives we have been wiping out since our existence.
I'm ridden by guilt, a lot of guilt to know that the local ecosphere in my island is being tampered with or destroyed just to make our lives viable and urbane and continuing to contribute to the façade that we are a clean, green country and the perfect host for our multi-national investors. It's a vicious greed.
Eating Chilli Crab In The Anthropocene has served me revelations. And I've swallowed these bitter pills. This is a book all youths of Singapore need to read and discuss. To fight for a system change to protect whatever else that's left in nature.
Yogesh Tulsi's essay was brilliant. The connotations of the infamous Orang Minyak to the greed for oil (petrohorror) was remarkable. His story stays with you for a long time. And his was single-handedly a stark prose among all the essays compiled in this book.
5 stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
#EatingChilliCrabInTheAnthropocene #igreads #bookstagram #bibliophile #libby #overdrive #nlbsg #nationallibraryofsingapore #publiclibrarysg #readingnationsg #singaporereads #Singaporewriters #Singaporeauthors #singaporebooks #sgclimaterally #climatechange #globalwarming #yogeshtulsi #orangminyak #petrohorror
February 23, 2021
1) I am so glad to finally be done reading this book
2) WHAT a collection. Exploring environmentalism from an anthropological point of view was such a mind-blowing concept! Each essay focused on a specific cultural idea that revealed the lesser-known interplay between what we know to be Singapore and the environment. Maybe I'm just such a product of the system that I've never been able to think critically this way about issues for myself, but I found my assumptions thoroughly and satisfactorily challenged, facet after facet - which only clues me in to the myriad other ways there must be to connect the daily experience of living here to its implications for our future. (This is a bad summary, I know. Time to go read other people's reviews to see how they've digested it.)
Notable essays included... all of them, really. Some essays were stronger than others, but maybe I should have taken notes as I went along so I would remember the strengths of their arguments better. I've just looked through the contents page and remember every single essay hitting decently hard, even if some took me a lot longer to get through than others. But for the benefit of future me who won't be as fresh, here's the list:
-chilli crab
-otters
-sand
-tigers
-semakau
-monkeys
-invasive species
-oil in film
-aviation
-fuel and fire
-education
-post-carbon singapore
Other thoughts/questions that I have are about balancing the idealism?activism? within these pages with the constraints and messiness of our current social and economic structures. I don't know enough about these industries to know how full of a picture the essays captured, because they very deliberately painted the actions of the government in a negative light, mainly by highlighting various hypocrisies in our environmental policy. I get that it's meant to be an awareness-raising book, much like This Is What Inequality Looks Like (which was produced by the same publisher. Coincidence?), and accordingly includes many compelling calls to thought and action. In that sense, I would say it has definitely achieved its purpose.
3) Now the challenge that remains is talking about it
2) WHAT a collection. Exploring environmentalism from an anthropological point of view was such a mind-blowing concept! Each essay focused on a specific cultural idea that revealed the lesser-known interplay between what we know to be Singapore and the environment. Maybe I'm just such a product of the system that I've never been able to think critically this way about issues for myself, but I found my assumptions thoroughly and satisfactorily challenged, facet after facet - which only clues me in to the myriad other ways there must be to connect the daily experience of living here to its implications for our future. (This is a bad summary, I know. Time to go read other people's reviews to see how they've digested it.)
Notable essays included... all of them, really. Some essays were stronger than others, but maybe I should have taken notes as I went along so I would remember the strengths of their arguments better. I've just looked through the contents page and remember every single essay hitting decently hard, even if some took me a lot longer to get through than others. But for the benefit of future me who won't be as fresh, here's the list:
-chilli crab
-otters
-sand
-tigers
-semakau
-monkeys
-invasive species
-oil in film
-aviation
-fuel and fire
-education
-post-carbon singapore
Other thoughts/questions that I have are about balancing the idealism?activism? within these pages with the constraints and messiness of our current social and economic structures. I don't know enough about these industries to know how full of a picture the essays captured, because they very deliberately painted the actions of the government in a negative light, mainly by highlighting various hypocrisies in our environmental policy. I get that it's meant to be an awareness-raising book, much like This Is What Inequality Looks Like (which was produced by the same publisher. Coincidence?), and accordingly includes many compelling calls to thought and action. In that sense, I would say it has definitely achieved its purpose.
3) Now the challenge that remains is talking about it
August 27, 2020
Simply giving a 5-star review would not give this book the justice it deserves. The writers and their content pieces put forth the urgent need to discuss, question the status quo and exact the changes they are pursuing in our current society and the familiar yet unsustainable ways of doing things.
To give the book the justice I believe it deserves, I would like to jump on the "environmental and sociocultural justice" bandwagon and get the ball rolling in our courts. The ball is always, and has always been in our courts. The thing is, who do we pass the ball to, to ensure that the ball goes through the net and scores that desirable goal we have been pursuing?
I'll respond to these critical and reflective pieces by thinking and writing about my own experiences, encounters and struggles being "pro-environment" despite knowing that my current actions are not enough. Not enough to "save Mother Earth" from going down that negative spiral at the rate things are going.
However, what I believe is this: If there is a collective will, there will be a systemic change in the current state of affairs. For any form of activism, there will always be naysayers. And to all the naysayers and critics, as well as people who remain stubbornly unconcerned, I will also be stubbornly optimistic and believe that one person is enough to exact that change we want to see in the world.
To all the climate activists, present and in the future, we are in this together. Environmentalism is a multi-disciplinary affair. It involves every sector of the economy, people of all ages and it requires generational change in attitudes. Even if we can't influence everyone else on board this journey of going green and reducing our carbon footprints, let's just do right by the environment on our own in the littlest of ways. Change begins with ourselves.
To give the book the justice I believe it deserves, I would like to jump on the "environmental and sociocultural justice" bandwagon and get the ball rolling in our courts. The ball is always, and has always been in our courts. The thing is, who do we pass the ball to, to ensure that the ball goes through the net and scores that desirable goal we have been pursuing?
I'll respond to these critical and reflective pieces by thinking and writing about my own experiences, encounters and struggles being "pro-environment" despite knowing that my current actions are not enough. Not enough to "save Mother Earth" from going down that negative spiral at the rate things are going.
However, what I believe is this: If there is a collective will, there will be a systemic change in the current state of affairs. For any form of activism, there will always be naysayers. And to all the naysayers and critics, as well as people who remain stubbornly unconcerned, I will also be stubbornly optimistic and believe that one person is enough to exact that change we want to see in the world.
To all the climate activists, present and in the future, we are in this together. Environmentalism is a multi-disciplinary affair. It involves every sector of the economy, people of all ages and it requires generational change in attitudes. Even if we can't influence everyone else on board this journey of going green and reducing our carbon footprints, let's just do right by the environment on our own in the littlest of ways. Change begins with ourselves.
October 14, 2020
This was well-written, thoughtful, and compelling. I was so excited to finally see our interactions with nature being examined with new perspectives, and it did not disappoint. The essays highlighted the pressing issue of climate change through accessible and meaningful language and research while placing it in a broader context of our nation’s development. I also appreciate how parallels were drawn between our engagements with our non-human counterparts and other sociopolitical issues. A must-read for anyone who wants to understand the inextricable relationship between humans and the environment around us in our tiny city-state and the world at large.
Some of the essays I found to be more interesting: Eating chilli crab in the Anthropocene, To build a city-state and erode history, Learning to thrive: Educating Singapore’s children for a climate-changed world.
Some of the essays I found to be more interesting: Eating chilli crab in the Anthropocene, To build a city-state and erode history, Learning to thrive: Educating Singapore’s children for a climate-changed world.
January 30, 2021
Not the biggest fan of the writing as every chapter took on the same structure. Each author’s personal voice was drowned out by all the similarities in style across the book. I could not go through more than 2 chapters in one sitting as it would have bored me to death. Nonetheless, I felt that this was very needful to kickstart all the important climate conversations. Would be perfect for individuals who might not be familiar with the environment in Singapore, but definitely nothing very insightful for someone who is well read.
May 24, 2020
Excellent collection of essays by youth authors aged between 22-27 years old. A must-read for anyone keen on environmental issues in Singapore.
April 27, 2021
What an eye opening read in terms of Singapore's take on the global environmental crisis. Many new insides to many aspects of SG's role in climate change. Though there are some essays that may lean more towards making you feel guilty on how you live life (however a strong motivator).
Definite recommend, especially for Singaporeans.
Definite recommend, especially for Singaporeans.
July 10, 2025
Well-researched and ambitiously scoped essays on nature and environmentalism in Singapore. It was great to read such thoughtful and grounded perspectives, compassionate of other Singaporeans while wielding intellectual weight.
The blueprint is laid out and fundamentally all it takes is a desire to engage seriously with this content in politics and society. Hopefully this collection helps to do so.
The blueprint is laid out and fundamentally all it takes is a desire to engage seriously with this content in politics and society. Hopefully this collection helps to do so.
August 16, 2020
This review is long overdue. Thank you to Ethos Books for providing me with an advance reading copy.
Eating Chilli Crab in the Anthropocene is a collection of essays written by twelve of Singapore’s new generation of environmental warriors.
The editor Matthew Scheneider-Mayerson points out that most people, including those in Singapore, tend to think of the environment as something out there, separate from us. “It’s exhibited in Gardens at the Bay, preserved in Sungei Buloh, photographed on a beach in Thailand or appreciated in a jungle in Borneo.
Very rarely has environmental activism been able to to convey the inextricable interconnectedness between man and nature in a compelling argument. Through the twelve essays that make up this book, our young authors provide a different perspective using Singapore as their case study.
This book shows Singaporeans how all facets of our lives are environmental. From tiger folklore and the displacement of Singapore’s indigenous people the Orang Laut, to the new urban realities of otter sightings, macaque feeding and mynah culling, to Singapore’s technological and policy wonders at Semakau landfill, Jurong Island, and Jewel Changi. We learn that the tradeoffs we have been made on the environment for the sake of economic development has impacted and continues to impact all of us.
Human beings are only one in a multitude of species inhabiting this wondrous planet of ours. All 7.7 billion of us represent just 0.01 percent of all living things on Earth. And that’s not even accounting for the 57 percent of bacteria, fungi and archaea using our living bodies as hosts.
How is it we have caused so much destruction in our wake? Approximately 60 percent of all mammals, birds, fish and reptiles have disappeared since the 1970s. Large swathes of tropical rainforests and coastal ecosystems alike have been destroyed.
Yet, it is not the environment that needs to be saved. The Climate Generation, the generation of our children and grandchildren, will suffer the worst consequences of climate change despite contributing almost nothing to the problem.
Schneider-Mayerson underscores that there is pain in the pages of this book. “There is frustration, disappointment, anger and even despair”. But there is also hope, in way that hope can only be conveyed by the younger generation.
We often think of the environment as something we can save every time we choose recyclables over single use plastic containers, or when we switch off the tap whilst brushing our teeth, or when we choose to travel by train instead of flying. The sooner we realise we are an inextricable part of the environment we are complicit in destroying, the better. This book helps open our eyes to what that reality looks like for Singapore. For that, I highly recommend it to everyone who calls Singapore home.
Eating Chilli Crab in the Anthropocene is a collection of essays written by twelve of Singapore’s new generation of environmental warriors.
The editor Matthew Scheneider-Mayerson points out that most people, including those in Singapore, tend to think of the environment as something out there, separate from us. “It’s exhibited in Gardens at the Bay, preserved in Sungei Buloh, photographed on a beach in Thailand or appreciated in a jungle in Borneo.
Very rarely has environmental activism been able to to convey the inextricable interconnectedness between man and nature in a compelling argument. Through the twelve essays that make up this book, our young authors provide a different perspective using Singapore as their case study.
This book shows Singaporeans how all facets of our lives are environmental. From tiger folklore and the displacement of Singapore’s indigenous people the Orang Laut, to the new urban realities of otter sightings, macaque feeding and mynah culling, to Singapore’s technological and policy wonders at Semakau landfill, Jurong Island, and Jewel Changi. We learn that the tradeoffs we have been made on the environment for the sake of economic development has impacted and continues to impact all of us.
Human beings are only one in a multitude of species inhabiting this wondrous planet of ours. All 7.7 billion of us represent just 0.01 percent of all living things on Earth. And that’s not even accounting for the 57 percent of bacteria, fungi and archaea using our living bodies as hosts.
How is it we have caused so much destruction in our wake? Approximately 60 percent of all mammals, birds, fish and reptiles have disappeared since the 1970s. Large swathes of tropical rainforests and coastal ecosystems alike have been destroyed.
Yet, it is not the environment that needs to be saved. The Climate Generation, the generation of our children and grandchildren, will suffer the worst consequences of climate change despite contributing almost nothing to the problem.
Schneider-Mayerson underscores that there is pain in the pages of this book. “There is frustration, disappointment, anger and even despair”. But there is also hope, in way that hope can only be conveyed by the younger generation.
We often think of the environment as something we can save every time we choose recyclables over single use plastic containers, or when we switch off the tap whilst brushing our teeth, or when we choose to travel by train instead of flying. The sooner we realise we are an inextricable part of the environment we are complicit in destroying, the better. This book helps open our eyes to what that reality looks like for Singapore. For that, I highly recommend it to everyone who calls Singapore home.
March 28, 2021
Clarion call to action.
Thank you Joy! for providing me the hope to continue. I convinced myself that even if I'm not (yet) doing anything that can help others, I'm acquiring this knowledge for myself. (Must continue to learn, even if the cynical, upset, weak-at-managing feelings side of me wants to change something. It wants more than what it has.)
That pessimistic note aside, I would like to praise the writers. They display resilience and boldness. This book is a good wake-up call that severely illustrates the depth and urgency of our climate situation.
Those who pride themselves on being good listeners, I'll recommend you this book.
Thank you Joy! for providing me the hope to continue. I convinced myself that even if I'm not (yet) doing anything that can help others, I'm acquiring this knowledge for myself. (Must continue to learn, even if the cynical, upset, weak-at-managing feelings side of me wants to change something. It wants more than what it has.)
That pessimistic note aside, I would like to praise the writers. They display resilience and boldness. This book is a good wake-up call that severely illustrates the depth and urgency of our climate situation.
Those who pride themselves on being good listeners, I'll recommend you this book.
May 20, 2024
Great to read about environmental issues from a Singaporean perspective for once. The essays were much more academic focused than I'd hoped. A little bit more prose from the authors would have made the book much more engaging.
July 2, 2020
I have been SO excited to get my hands on this one!! Eating Chilli Crab on the Anthropocene is a collection of essays about environmental conservation in Singapore, and how we all need to restructure our thinking and play our part.
I'll be the first to admit that I'm not the most environmentally conscious. I think a big part of that is definitely because of how urbanised and "concrete" most things in Singapore are - as the introduction succinctly posits, most Singaporeans see the environment as something you "visit" (such as parks and reserves) instead of something you 𝐞𝐱𝐢𝐬𝐭 in, and we have the tendency to think of "life in Singapore" as referring solely to humans, instead of all biological life. This is definitely not a Singapore-specific issue—many other urban cities share the same sentiments—but it's extremely prominent here nonetheless.
This book consists of 12 essays, each a short and digestible piece that tackles different issues in Singapore. From our overconsumption of crab, to our fixation on local otters (and neglect of other vulnerable animals), to our ever-increasing land expansion through reclamation...these all serve to remind us that our actions and choices have consequences, and probe us to be more mindful of this fact. That everything we are surrounded by IS "the environment" - everything we touch, everything we see.
All writers included in this book are born between 1993-1998 - another great testament to how the youth of today has power and is actively trying to make our world a better place.
There's no denying that this book is veryyyyy Singapore-specific and may not really cater to a wider, international audience - but I think this type of specificity is exactly the wake-up call many Singaporeans (myself included) need. You want clear, concrete examples of how to be environmentally conscious in Singapore? Here - this book is a great place to start.
Find my other reviews here: instagram.com/lavelle.reads
I'll be the first to admit that I'm not the most environmentally conscious. I think a big part of that is definitely because of how urbanised and "concrete" most things in Singapore are - as the introduction succinctly posits, most Singaporeans see the environment as something you "visit" (such as parks and reserves) instead of something you 𝐞𝐱𝐢𝐬𝐭 in, and we have the tendency to think of "life in Singapore" as referring solely to humans, instead of all biological life. This is definitely not a Singapore-specific issue—many other urban cities share the same sentiments—but it's extremely prominent here nonetheless.
This book consists of 12 essays, each a short and digestible piece that tackles different issues in Singapore. From our overconsumption of crab, to our fixation on local otters (and neglect of other vulnerable animals), to our ever-increasing land expansion through reclamation...these all serve to remind us that our actions and choices have consequences, and probe us to be more mindful of this fact. That everything we are surrounded by IS "the environment" - everything we touch, everything we see.
All writers included in this book are born between 1993-1998 - another great testament to how the youth of today has power and is actively trying to make our world a better place.
There's no denying that this book is veryyyyy Singapore-specific and may not really cater to a wider, international audience - but I think this type of specificity is exactly the wake-up call many Singaporeans (myself included) need. You want clear, concrete examples of how to be environmentally conscious in Singapore? Here - this book is a great place to start.
Find my other reviews here: instagram.com/lavelle.reads
June 30, 2020
Such a fun book to read especially as a Singaporean. It is an entertaining glimpse into the environmental dimensions of aspects of daily living in Singapore. Highly recommend, a much needed publication to advance environmental consciousness in Singapore!
December 21, 2020
Immersed in non-fiction all my adult life, I hardly read it for pleasure. While stuck in line today, I decided to borrow this on my Libby app.
The premise of this book is a necessary one. I can just imagine editor Matthew Schneider-Mayerson sending out these 20-plus year old scholars, to study the history and impact of varied aspects of our “natural” environment.
To be anthropocentric is to curate, create and cull our nature according to the way we live. Brought to the extreme, it brings to bear that these writers born in the ‘90s now live under this shadow of climate change, already a fait accompli. To understand our impact on our environment in history, is to point our way forward.
Everyone needs to read Schneider-Mayerson’s plea in the beginning, and the essays that follow (including the title essay on chilli crabs) are non-didactic and instructive. I’m thinking my teens need to read this.
The premise of this book is a necessary one. I can just imagine editor Matthew Schneider-Mayerson sending out these 20-plus year old scholars, to study the history and impact of varied aspects of our “natural” environment.
To be anthropocentric is to curate, create and cull our nature according to the way we live. Brought to the extreme, it brings to bear that these writers born in the ‘90s now live under this shadow of climate change, already a fait accompli. To understand our impact on our environment in history, is to point our way forward.
Everyone needs to read Schneider-Mayerson’s plea in the beginning, and the essays that follow (including the title essay on chilli crabs) are non-didactic and instructive. I’m thinking my teens need to read this.
February 5, 2021
Honestly, my favourite essay was Aidan Mock's 'Singapore on Fire: From Fossil History to Climate Activism' because that ending line? Gave me chills (in a good way, obviously).
This book is the full force of climate activism in the written form. I genuinely felt the vigour of every essay, the passion behind the writers and the care taken to research and link seemingly disparate phenomena with the environmental issues in a compelling and insightful way. I'd suggest spreading them out and reading about 2 essays every day since they can get quite information-heavy.
This book has opened me up to a whole new perspective of seeing my world and my surroundings! For that reason alone, I give it 5 stars. It's not often that I come across a book that changes my paradigm so dramatically. I also learned you can visit Pulau Semakau? Wow. But it'll cost you a bomb to get there, according to what I Googled.
This book is the full force of climate activism in the written form. I genuinely felt the vigour of every essay, the passion behind the writers and the care taken to research and link seemingly disparate phenomena with the environmental issues in a compelling and insightful way. I'd suggest spreading them out and reading about 2 essays every day since they can get quite information-heavy.
This book has opened me up to a whole new perspective of seeing my world and my surroundings! For that reason alone, I give it 5 stars. It's not often that I come across a book that changes my paradigm so dramatically. I also learned you can visit Pulau Semakau? Wow. But it'll cost you a bomb to get there, according to what I Googled.
July 26, 2020
A well-written collection of essays which were informative and argumentative in pushing for increasing climate awareness and policy change in Singapore.
While it was quite eye-opening to read about Singapore's various efforts or lack of efforts in multiple spheres, I felt like a bulk of the essays were quite mediocre, but the good ones were very good (I especially enjoyed the essays written about Jewel, the Otters and Singapore's investment in the oil industry).
I might be being overly harsh here, as it is ultimately a collection of essays written by college students (and it must be said that the quality is very solid considering this fact), but I started this right after reading Cherian George and thus came with Great Expectations
While it was quite eye-opening to read about Singapore's various efforts or lack of efforts in multiple spheres, I felt like a bulk of the essays were quite mediocre, but the good ones were very good (I especially enjoyed the essays written about Jewel, the Otters and Singapore's investment in the oil industry).
I might be being overly harsh here, as it is ultimately a collection of essays written by college students (and it must be said that the quality is very solid considering this fact), but I started this right after reading Cherian George and thus came with Great Expectations
December 17, 2020
This is essential reading for us anxious about Singapore's future. It crystallises some of our inherent inclinations into concrete thought lines, well-backed by research. It invites us to reconsider our paradigms in our daily living, economy and industry, and questions what can be done better.
While some essays are denser than others, it is generally well-edited and an enjoyable read that doesn't sacrifice depth to make it accessible.
I'll be glad to lend this to anyone interested.
While some essays are denser than others, it is generally well-edited and an enjoyable read that doesn't sacrifice depth to make it accessible.
I'll be glad to lend this to anyone interested.
December 18, 2021
First, let’s talk about how gorgeous this cover is! I love how the illustration is related to the titles of the stories! Although these short stories are about Singapore, it still made me think about the things we use in our daily lives - from the food we eat to our animal habitats to our indigenous people to fuels and plastics. Everything related to our environment is woven into our our daily lives.
This is a compilation of short stories written by young writers who care about our environment and bleak future. I love how each story is written in an empathetic and relatable way but the message is clear - our environmental issues are here to stay and humans are the main cause for them. I think it’s very clever how each writer picks something very unassuming and linked it to a bigger environmental and social picture!
Here are some of my favourite stories:
- Dumspter Diving in Semakau, where we see how Singapore government’s pursuit to increase economic growth has displaced the Orang Laut (indigenous group) where they lost their cultural identity and traditions. Even though the government had compensated them for their land, it doesn’t mean this minority group can assimilate living in a new environment and lose all that they know.
- Consuming Tigers, where we see how tigers were being hunted to extinction but yet tigers are still heavily celebrated and used in our everyday lives through marketing and branding (ie tiger balms and tiger beers).
- Ottercity, where we are given the choice on which animals we choose to conserve and which ones we choose to leave behind. Hint: the cuter the animal, the higher the chance of them being conserved (like the otter family)
- Javan Mynahs, where the writer talks about what it means to be truly native and how our definition justifies our actions.
- Orang Minyak, where the writer uses the movie to highlight how we approach petroculture and capitalism in the past vs now.
-Learning to Thrive, where the writer talks about teaching kids to be more resilient in a harsh world. I love the concept of Forest School mentioned here. It is refreshing to see a different approach to education as opposed to a rigid one even if it’s just in a short stage of the student’s life.
These stories are very thought-provoking and engaging precisely because they are relevant to us in one way or another. This has definitely opened my eyes to think deeper about how we live.
This is a compilation of short stories written by young writers who care about our environment and bleak future. I love how each story is written in an empathetic and relatable way but the message is clear - our environmental issues are here to stay and humans are the main cause for them. I think it’s very clever how each writer picks something very unassuming and linked it to a bigger environmental and social picture!
Here are some of my favourite stories:
- Dumspter Diving in Semakau, where we see how Singapore government’s pursuit to increase economic growth has displaced the Orang Laut (indigenous group) where they lost their cultural identity and traditions. Even though the government had compensated them for their land, it doesn’t mean this minority group can assimilate living in a new environment and lose all that they know.
- Consuming Tigers, where we see how tigers were being hunted to extinction but yet tigers are still heavily celebrated and used in our everyday lives through marketing and branding (ie tiger balms and tiger beers).
- Ottercity, where we are given the choice on which animals we choose to conserve and which ones we choose to leave behind. Hint: the cuter the animal, the higher the chance of them being conserved (like the otter family)
- Javan Mynahs, where the writer talks about what it means to be truly native and how our definition justifies our actions.
- Orang Minyak, where the writer uses the movie to highlight how we approach petroculture and capitalism in the past vs now.
-Learning to Thrive, where the writer talks about teaching kids to be more resilient in a harsh world. I love the concept of Forest School mentioned here. It is refreshing to see a different approach to education as opposed to a rigid one even if it’s just in a short stage of the student’s life.
These stories are very thought-provoking and engaging precisely because they are relevant to us in one way or another. This has definitely opened my eyes to think deeper about how we live.
August 12, 2023
this book is written by brilliant young researchers, i mean really young (born in btw 93-98). as an ecologist (based in turkey) who has very little knowledge about singapur, i learned a lot! i can understand that it might be introductory for readers who live / interested in the landscape but for me it was very fun to learn about otters, tigers, gardens of singapur & environmental history of them in various aspects. all the chapters are referenced with contemporary environmental humanities scholars which makes it even better. most of them applies environmental criticism in an extraodinarly succesfull way. easy to read (listen in my case), easy to follow yet full of deep knowledge. we need more books like this one from every corner of the world.
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