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A gateway to Singapore's nature reserves, MacRitchie Reservoir lies in the very heart of Singapore. A popular destination for nature lovers and sports enthusiasts, the 12-hectare green haven borders Singapore's very first reservoir and Central Catchment Nature Reserve.
The turquoise-colored water of the reservoir seemed like a perfect mirror for the lush green scenery that surrounded it. Tranquil and serene, lightly disrupted by occasional ripples caused by small fishes making subtle splashes. The symphony of crickets singing, chatters of the people and their footsteps seemed like musicians part of the MacRitchie orchestra.
Moments into my hike, I felt my loose shirt starting to cling to my back in places, perspiration trickling down my face under the sweltering afternoon heat. As I stood at the entrance of the nature trail, the raw, earthy scent of the mud and the smell of foliage greeted me. Twigs and branches cracked beneath my feet with every step I take. The roots of the trees projected through the soil, twisting like snakes, writhing around the forest ground.
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The sunlight filtered through the spreading canopy of green above me, flowing through the gaps like running water. The gentle breeze made the leaves dance gaily, like a seven-year-old kid skipping excitedly on his first trip to the amusement park. Squirrels scampered and scurried up and down the trees as butterflies fluttered across me, the iridescent glow of their petal-wings bringing a feeling of serenity that holds me as if in a camera flash. They circled and spun, forming knot patterns in the air.
The twittering and chirping of the birds in melodious chorus filled the air. As they flew across the sky, I watched on till they became specks on the horizon, just before they blended into the faraway sky.
The hike up to the Treetop Walk was not for the faint-hearted, but the power of nature pulled me through. Standing on top of the freestanding bridge, the views were breathtaking. If not for the burning curiosity to experience nature's view, this moment would have been a mere pipe dream. Nature's beauty was captivating, but the true meaning I discovered behind it was nothing compared to its beauty. The clear, turquoise blue waters of the reservoir and the forest canopy looked brilliant under the afternoon sun. While admiring those views, I witnessed some people taking selfies while others seemed to be posting stories on Instagram. In my head, I was questioning their purpose of coming here. In this technological age, people are more preoccupied with their phones, social media and online shows, rather than head outdoors to explore the wonders of nature. It is a common theme in most parts of the world, and Singapore is no exception. This led me to ponder, In this technological age, has technology brought us closer or further away from nature?"
Technology has become a disturbance in our relationship with nature. And Mark Boyle concurs with that statement. In Technology destroys people and places. "I'm rejecting it", Boyle posits that technology has "distanced people away from nature, as people now prefer to stay indoors and watch Netflix or just chill on the bed, idly scrolling through social media on their smartphones" (Boyle, 2016). Technology has led us to valuing the natural world less, meaning we protect and care for it less. It has made people less appreciative of the things around them. And nature is something which should not be compromised. The benefits of nature are well-documented, but people do not seem to care, for we have become slaves to technology. In this modern society, whenever we are bored, we unconsciously reach out for our phones. There is so much more to our lives than just pointless scrolling, where we can instead head outdoors into the embracing arms of nature. Nature makes us feel happier and help us find meaning in our lives. But technology has indirectly got in the way. It is adversely changing our relationship with nature, and it is worrying. People value time more on their smartphones, rather than be out in nature and appreciating its beauty. Hence, being able to connect with our loved ones through technology has offered people a toxic substitute for real connection with the outside world with nature especially (Boyle, 2016). Boyle, however, acknowledged that our growing distance with nature is inevitable as technology has become a natural part of our lives.
People seem to have forgotten their roots. We were a species that came of age deeply embedded in the natural world, which has shaped the very architecture of our body, mind and soul. Irregardless of how important technology is, our connection with wild nature is essential for us to flourish. Simply put, our relationship with nature should not be sacrificed at the expense of technology.
Putting it into context, people go to MacRitchie to unwind, relax and spend some valuable time with loved ones. It is a good stress-reliever and a much-needed breather from the regular eight-to-five work week or the constant late-night mugging. However, I feel many people are starting to view nature places like MacRitchie as a place to brag about their lifestyle. Some are going to MacRitchie to perhaps show their friends the long-tailed macaques they have encountered, or to do a vlog to show the amazing views from the Treetop Walk. They are not there to truly experience what MacRitchie has to offer, be it the views, hikes or wildlife. They are using MacRitchie to post updates on their lives.
There are always two sides to a coin, however, and technology might actually help people improve their relationship with nature. In Can Technology Help Us Connect with Nature?, Nicole Faires (2017) argues that "technology has helped people reconnect with the natural world, fuelling a new desire to get outside and protect nature's amazing diversity". Technological advancements have meant that people can interact with nature right at their fingertips. For instance, mobile apps like Leafsnap and MyNature Animal Tracks helps people identify plants and animals. Moreover, people can participate actively as a citizen scientist by tracking wildlife numbers using the WildObs Observer app. In today's technological age, there are many nest cams which run livestream videos and capture exciting events like baby eagles being fed and eggs hatching at an eagle's nest. There are also cameras for other animals like the falcons and owls, as well as underwater scuba cams. Therefore, theses apps and webcams do help people get closer to nature, but from the comforts of their homes. The actual experience is undoubtedly different, but it does, in a way, bring people closer to nature.
Technology has become an everyday part of us, and we should leverage on this opportunity to bridge our relationship with nature. Nature is on technology, and we can enjoy the best of both worlds by utilising technology to bring us closer to nature (Faires, 2017). Hence, Faires is in unison with Boyle on the fact that technology has become an integral part of our lives, but she challenges that if used correctly, technology can actually help people connect with nature, rather than losing connection with it.
Nature apps such as SGBioAtlas allow people to share biodiversity sightings, especially in nature reserves like MacRitchie. Besides, MacRitchie even has its own hashtags #mymacritchie and #lovemacritchie, which people can use when posting updates about their personal nature experience on their social media accounts. Thus, these apps and posts promote the wonders of nature and inspire more people to head outdoors to revel in the beauty and wonder of nature.
While Boyle and Faires disagree in their views, they want to convey a similar message; technology is like our oxygen, we cannot live and breathe without it. Our lives have become intricately entwined with technology, rather than with twigs. Technology is like a screen in our relationship with nature. We can choose to let it be the divider between us, creating private confines and keeping us away from it. Or it could be an interface, allowing us to meet and connect with nature, bridging the gap between us and her.
All life began in nature and all life ends there. Nature is key to humanity's survival, and it should not be compromised. But our relationship with nature is deteriorating as we speak, due in part to technology, and it could prove to be our undoing.
It seems to me that technology has brought us further away from nature. Granted, technology does bring people close to nature, but the experience from home is completely different compared to being physically out in nature. To make matters worse, most people have unconsciously prioritised the use of technology over the time spent in nature. In other words, nature is being taken for granted, in favour of technology. And as we continue to spend our time looking at the screens for most of the day, nature is slowly drifting away from us slowly but surely, to our own demise.
(Paragraph - Purpose of Paragraph - Meaning of Paragraph)
1. It is to briefly introduce the place (MacRitchie) to the reader. MacRitchie is a popular and historic site in Singapore.
2. It is to describe the sights and sounds of MacRitchie. MacRitchie is more than just a reservoir. It has much more life to it than initially thought.
3. It is describing the full hiking experience, including the animals, insects and scenery which was witnessed. The hike on the nature trail was filled with many interesting sights and sounds of nature.
4. It is to introduce the topic and the problem: Has technology brought us further apart or closer to nature? Technology has greatly impacted our lives.
5. It is to describe how technology has made people less appreciative of nature, and offering people a toxic substitute for real connection with the outside world Technology is harming our relationship with nature, causing us to become more disconnected from nature.
6. Irregardless of how important technology is, our connection with wild nature is essential for us to flourish. Technology is important, but we need nature to survive.
7. MacRitchie may not be a place where people go to unwind and relax, as it is more about updating their personal lives. People's ideas and perceptions of places like nature reserves has changed.
8. Technological advancements mean that mobile apps and webcams can allow people to become close to nature Technology has brought us closer to nature, but in a different way.
9. It is to summarise the fact that nature is on technology Since technology has become a natural part of our lives, we can maximise this opportunity to help us get close to nature.
10. It is to describe how technology can allow people to become closer to nature, especially in places like MacRitchie. Technological advancements have beneficial impact on our relationship with nature, if utilized wisely.
11. Technology is like a screen between our relationship with nature. Technology can aid or disrupt our relationship with nature, depending on how we view it.
12. Nature is key to humanity's survival. We should not sacrifice our relationship with nature at the expense of technology, for nature will determine our fate
13 In summary, it is to illustrate my viewpoint on the issue, where I feel that technology will be the cause of our downfall. We must continue to appreciate nature and learn to balance it with the use of technology, otherwise, it will lead to dire consequences.
Nature's Oasis or Tech's Prison: Unraveling the MacRitchie Dilemma. (2019, Dec 13). Retrieved from https://studymoose.com/technology-and-nature-essay
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