Blog Action Day '09

In conjunction to Blog Action Day today (October 15th) which focus on climate change (Check out more details on Blog Action Day here), I like to post up what are the action each individual (myself included) can do on Climate Change issue.

What WE can do Climate Change issue?

1. Adopt Plant-based/ Vegetarian Diet (even if it's twice a week)
2. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle (Everyone should have heard of this 3Rs)
3. Stop using Aerosol and other CFC products(No explanation required the its harmful effects)
4. Go for Organic/ Natural Produce and Products (reduce carbon footprints)
5. Promote and Support Environmental Campaign (via daily action,blogs,community work, etc)
6. Invest in energy-saving products like light-bulbs, washing machines, refrigerator,vehicle/automobile, etc(it helps to save the environment and our wallets ;) )
7. Turn off the lights and electricity when not in use (not just for an hour during Earth Day campaign)
8. Use less disposables (diapers, utensils like fork, spoon,cups, containers) and bring own reusable containers for food packing
9. Stop using plastic bags (Reusable bags are the trend now!)
10. Car-pool, cycle,walk, buy groceries in bulk , reduce traffic congestion and carbon emission (simple steps which is good for the environment,out pockets and our health!)

Enough said, these are all very simple action EVERYONE can take towards contributing positive effect on Climate Change!

So,what are we waiting for? Let's Do It NOW!

Cheers!

Green Ways we can impart to our children

Today, 5th June is World Environment Day, lately I stumbled upon some really interesting articles and people who are doing their bits to conserve the earth.

You can check out some of these articles here:

1) Start 'em young, says filmmaker in Parenthots

2) Little deeds that add up in The StarOnline

3) Rules not in place in TheStarOnline

4)Climate-saving tips in TheStarOnline

Indeed, I agree with one of the interviewee, Mr. Lu Chen Pin said, we have a lot to learn from our parents and older generation on conservation efforts. 

Before this the Reverse-Osmosis(RO) water disposal(the filtered waste water) in my house is left to flow away when my small bucket is full and we did not replace another bucket to refill the water, then my dad suggested why not get a bigger bucket for this purpose...little things like this..I am sure many of us would have thought of it..but how many of us really put it into act.

I think many of us(myself included) needs a lot of constant reminders, ideas, and innovative campaign etc to really be in the "green: mode automatically...we are far behind compared with many western countries like Sweden, Germany and etc in this field...but slowly or steadily(hopefully quickly) we Malaysians shall pick up and play our part as well.

For me, what I have practice or make it habit:

1) Power off, and pull out the cord as well(for me) the unused power outlets (no more standby mode)

2) Full load laundry or handwash for urgent(soiled or stained clothes for e.g.) laundry

3) Switch off the air-cond after the room is cool or don't use it at all during cooler nights

4) Not using the hot water pot(erm after it got spoilt from frequent on and off :P ), but boil as and when I need

5) Buy local products/vegetables and fruits

6) Use Reusable shopping bag (put it in my office drawer, in the car and at home) whenever possible

7) Read, read and adopt more green efforts ( I think this is important..there are just so many innovative and clever green ideas adopted by many people)

8) Go paperless as much as possible, read newspaper online, use double-sided and two pages in one printing etc

And which I like to do soon:

1) Grow some herbs(basil, mint) and plants(chilli etc) at my small balcony- I used to grow mints, basil and pumpkin and believe me...it's pesticide-free and TASTE REALLY GOOD!

2) Separate the bins- paper, plastic, glass -label it and get DH and KY do the same

Note: KY is good at picking up our action now..she would switch off the fan herself (without being told) after she wake up and throw rubbish at the designated place

3) Bicycle..hmm..perhaps in our city drivers it's bit hard..but hmm..this can be one good outings with kids

4) Experiment with DIY household non-toxic cleaners (using baking soda, vinegar and etc)

What other green ways we can practice and thus impart to our children? Care to share?

Hear from you folks!

Cheers! Have a green day everyday!

 

Reduce first. Then reuse, followed by recyle…..so there’s a meaning in the sequence…

Today after reading the article on TheStar Online on “Climate-saving tips” (http://thestar.com.my/lifestyle/story.asp?file=/2009/5/5/lifefocus/3819859&sec=lifefocus) really brings more understanding for me on how to be more earth-friendly.

 

So, the first thing we should be doing is to reduce. This is the keyword!

1. Reduce from purchasing unnecessary items, check our pantry/stock first. Even better challenge ourselves to have a near zero spending month and used up what we have in our pantry and fridge. I tried it last month and it does helps to reduce my trip to bank to take out more cash from ATM(that is what I always do when I am running out of cash as I do not carry a lot of cash around)
2. Reduce travelling alone unnecessary, plan our trips in advance, car-pool, combined same route tasks. Or even better pay bills and buy stuff online, reduce travelling and parking expenses!
3. Reduce usage of disposable – diapers, chopsticks, styroform, plastic etc
4. Reduce electricity usage, off the power before going to bed, from electric thermopot, lights, standby mode (for tv, laptops, washing machine etc).

 

Reduce, reduce, reduce…any other “reduce” ideas you guys can share?  The above is what I have been trying to do for the past few weeks…

 

Watch out for my next posting about my Reuse and Recycle adventures!

 

Dear Earth, I love you! And I hope my children get to enjoy a better you in years to come!

 

Cheers to Earth and all my friends!

Earth Day…

Something was in my mind for sometime…something we have been encouraged to do for sometime now… USING recycled bags when we do our shopping…

But something which my DH often asked me “hey no more plastic bags for throwing rubbish?” ..yep my DH is often the one who helped to throw our daily rubbish….and yep we still use plastic bag to contain the dirty diapers, etc.

Of course we would like to heed the call to use recycle bags..in fact I have collected quite a few of them in different sizes(see picture below) and I used them as well especially when I go wet market and organic shops for shopping BUT sometimes at hypermarket I would turn back to using plastic bags …yea ..just sometimes..when I am buying too many stuffs….

 

 

One thing also bugs me…we still need to use plastic bags to contain our rubbish before throwing it..either we buy those black or blue ones or we used those from what we got when we purchased our goods…

So it does defeats or delay the cause of using recycled bags? I wonder how does other countries who promote recycle bags does with their Bandaraya or Refuse collection? How and What can we do if not throwing the items in plastic bags? I heard people reuse their rubbish and turned into useful washing detergens or something….I ponder on doing that too..but I fear my kids might play with it…eiks..

I really do hope to learn some alternatives people are using at rubbish management…how does our rubbish collection agency doing to help in reducing the plastic bags people are using?

I learnt that in Germany and some other countries they have specific days whereby they will collect glasses, papers and other dispose items…and people have to separate their rubbish properly…

I think I should also do this..separate them into different bins..but what about the plastic bags to contain them..anything else I can use?

What are you folks practicing? Care to share?

Hear from you all while I do some research on it :)

 

Cheers to our Earth!