WWF’s first Asia Panda Ball
A Colorful Soirée in Support of the Coral Triangle
Singapore, 21 November 2008
WWF’s inaugural Asia Panda Ball held at the St. Regis Singapore, John Jacob Ballroom on 21 November 2008, was a resounding success. The gala evening enthralled an audience of 400 guests with a colourful marine paradise setting that was aligned to the evening’s theme ‘The Coral Triangle’.Jointly organized by WWF International and WWF Singapore, and supported by TES-AMM (Singapore) Pte Ltd, the Asia Panda Ball was attended by Guest-of-Honour, Professor S. Jayakumar, Deputy Prime Minister and Co-ordinating Minister for National Security and Climate Change. WWF also had the privilege to welcome Her Royal Highness Princess Laurentien of The Netherlands, who has been a strong supporter of WWF for many years.
This prestigious gala evening offered a unique opportunity to highlight the work WWF is doing in the region to protect a fragile transboundary area and its extraordinarily rich biodiversity; to reach out to an elite group of individuals; and to catalyse action at all levels to ensure that the oceans and costs of the Coral triangle remain vibrant and healthy, providing food and livelihoods for generations to come.
The funds raised at the ball support the WWF Singapore Conservation Fund and will be allocated to a Singapore-based project, more specifically, the development of a seafood guide which recommends consumer choices that encourage sustainable fisheries management. At the Asia Panda Ball, MSC-certified Rock Lobster and Leopard Coral Trout from a sustainable source in Queensland were on the menu.
The evening’s programme featured an array entertainment highlights including a specially choreographed dance segment, a live band performance and a charity auction featuring a unique panda gown donated by Ms Charlene Wittstock, former South African Olympic swimmer and model, at the previous Panda Ball in Monaco. The greenhouse gas emissions associated with the Asia Panda Ball is measured and offset with Gold Standard carbon credits through Climate Friendly.
The Coral Triangle
Partnerships For Sustainable Solutions
The Coral Triangle spans across the seas of South East Asia and Western Pacific and is the world’s epicenter of marine life abundance and diversity. The richness of species is so high that the region is sometimes referred to as the “Amazon of the Seas”.The Coral Triangle covers all or part of the seas of Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Solomon Islands, Timor-Leste and Fiji.
The Coral Triangle is straining to directly sustain more than 120 million people living within this area, and benefit millions more worldwide.
WWF is working with partners in the private sector, governmental agencies and civil society in the Coral Triangle - from conducting cutting-edge marine research and policy reform, to pioneering community-based management and large scale marine protected areas. WWF is building on its experience with traditional conservation practices, partnering with industry on chain of custody issues and promoting best management practices.
As a non-profit organization, WWF’s main purpose in organizing the Panda Ball is to enroll support and raise funds for the organization’s vital nature conservation activities focusing on the beauty of the Coral Triangle.
Help us protect the beauty, magnificence, value and benefits of the Coral Triangle for future generations by joining us at the Panda Ball.
Asia Pacific has some of the fastest growing economies and yet nearly 670 million people continue to live on less than US$1 a day. Achieving a balance between pursuing development and conserving natural resources presents the greatest challenge facing the region today.
Quotes of the evening
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"Singapore is honoured to be the first Asian country to host the Panda Ball, a prestigious gala event in aid of nature conservation. This dovetails well with Singapore’s longstanding sustainable development efforts to address environmental issues such as climate change, cleaning of waterways, water resource management, reforestation, marine conservation, and many others.” said Professor S. Jayakumar, Deputy Prime Minister and Co-ordinating Minister for National Security.
