Archive for the ‘Environmental’ Category
Today - World Environment Day and Launch of The Film “Home”
Today, 5th June like many other 5th June, signifies an important date in the world calendar. It is World Environment Day.
“We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children.” ~Native American Proverb.
Hence, for the sake of the environment and for the sake of our children and their future generations, I feel that parents play an important role in setting a good example for our children in practising that Eco Action, not only today but also in our daily lives.
Some eco tips of how we and our children can help protect and contribute to the sustainability of the environment”
1) Turn off the lights and fan when not in use
2) Turn on the fan instead of air-conditioner unless necessary
3) Avoid the use of disposable cups, cutleries and bottles
4) Bring along reusable bags
5) Do not keep water running
6) Do not waste paper and recycle them
7) Turn off the main power switches when not in use
8 Turn off electrical appliances when not in use
9) Many others
It may not be easy to ensure that our kids appreciate the true value of environment at their young age. As parent, I am just putting in a little more effort, to remind and remind my kids and domestic helper and perhaps, posters at home might help.
Today also marks the launch of the much awaited film about the environment, HOME. Do watch it on YouTube http://www.youtube.com/homeproject and at the same time it will also be made available in DVDs and cinemas (at least in France), and it will be shown as a primetime broadcast on France 2.
Directed by Yann Arthus-Bertrand and produced by Luc Besson (Producer of The Fifth Element), this is the first time that a full-length movie makes its debut both on YouTube and in theaters.
Meanwhile, enjoy the movie trailer.
Go Green Episode 2
Here I continue my Go Green Episode 2. These are some ways that you may consider encouraging your family members to also do their parts in reducing the utility consumption:
1) Reduce Electricity Consumption
- Turn on fan instead of air-conditioner
- Turn off main power switches when not in use
- Switch off lights and electronic products when not in use
- Use energy-saving lamps and equipments
- Configure PCs to energy-saving mode
2) Reduce Water Consumption
- Do not leave water flowing unnecessarily during bath and when washing utensils
- Use half flush in toilets whenever possible
- Turn the tap off after filling pails with water
- Use water use for rinsing clothes for other purposes like floor washing
- Use watering cans to water plants instead of using a hose
- Fix leaking faucets
A little effort means so much…….
1) Stick friendly stickers, posters to remind family members and domestic helper to constantly reduce utility consumption.
2) Introduce tips in the forms of quiz questions and children get to remember the tips better in the process of thinking
3) Play the “penalty” game with the children if they do do not cooperate
Go Green
I support environmental protection and believe we can all do our parts by practising “Green” actions at home and at workplace. Build the environmental awareness in our kids and lead them to follow the good examples and the effort can go a long way.
Something meaningful by David Haahr (extracted from www.aforestry.com):
“We have borrowed this planet and the RIGHT TO LIVE HERE from our children and we owe it to them to take care of their planet and give it back to them better then we found it.”
Would like to share some recycling and reusing efforts that are worth practising at home in this Go Green Episode 1. Thanks to my mum as some practices are passed down from her. The benefits are many like environmental protection, cost savings, setting good examples to the kids, promoting some creative ideas along the way and…… So why not?
1) Paper boxes (eg. tissue boxes, game boxes, electronic product boxes)
exercise art and craft skill here to create i) handy boxes for storage of jewelleries, stationery items, toys etc. ii) “piggy” banks iii) magazine holders iv) friendly signages at home v) bookmarks vi) cards vii) compartments in drawers and others
2) Used plastic/glass containers
i) contain salt, sugar, flour, sweets, cookies, sauces, liquid toiletry items and others ii) paint on glass containers and create self-designed vases and others
3) Old clothes
used as rag and colourful old pieces can be cut as materials for artwork
4) Tin containers (eg. mooncake boxes)
used to contain sewing kits, cards, small items like toy figurines etc. and as compartments in drawers and others.
5) Old torned blankets
cut out the beautiful cartoons and pictures on the blanket to create beautiful artwork
6) Ice cream sticks
painted and used for kids’ art and craft and as base of reused boxes
7) Traditional calendars, old diaries and one-sided used copy papers
for the kids to take down notes, draw etc and to jot down my daily instructions for my domestic helper, always practise printing on both sides of paper (wherever possible)
8) Water for rinsing handwashed clothes
wash balcony and compound outside the house
The examples can go on and on and so just let your imagination go creative! Will continue in Episode 2…
So next time before you discard these items, think twice on how you could recycle and reuse them. Before you depart for your next shopping trip, you might want to bring along your reusable bags:)
Most importantly, REMEMBER, our children, their children and grandchildren and so forth will benefit from our thoughtful practices.
