You have to watch this!

I came across this video from miss ene’s and spent 20 minutes watching and listening to every word that Annie Leonard said. This video looks at “the underside of our production and consumption patterns and exposes the connections between a huge number of environmental and social issues.”

“From its extraction through sale, use and disposal, all the stuff in our lives affects communities at home and abroad, yet most of this is hidden from view…”

You will be horrified to find out that we are all “programmed” to shop for 99% of the STUFF that we don’t need.

By who and why…watch the video.

I started to recycle stuff when I was living in Australia (because every family in my neighbourhood did so). Every house was given 2 bins – the normal trash bin and the recycle bin. I divided my trash every evening into 2 bins. And the recycle truck came every fortnight to collect it.

It was so convenient that people can’t find excuse not to do so.

I was so glad when Singapore finally launches its “Bring Your Own Bag Day BYOBD)” campaign. But people are still complaining for being so inconvenient and hence, take more plastic bags when they could.

Tell you what I witnessed at the supermarket during the BYOB day. (“During the BYOBD, shoppers who do not bring their own shopping bags can purchase reusable bags available at the participating supermarkets or donate 10 cents for each plastic bag taken at the checkout counters.”)

Simple right? But no. When I was choosing oranges at the supermarket, I saw a few aunties pulling and tearing those little plastic bags (for weighting fruits and vegs). They thought the whole world has stopped producing PLASTIC BAGS!

So being me and myself, I asked:”Auntie, why do you need so many bags??”

She quickly stuffed those crumpled plastic bags into her BIG plastic bag and left.

Amazing, wasn’t it?

The saddest thing is, some people are even willing to pay for the plastic bag for convenience. sake. “Aiyah…10 cents per plastic bag only mah…GIVE LOH!”

These people have forgotten why we have BYOB day at the first place. Very very sad indeed. Read this.

Recycle has become a big word now. But if you think by saving ONE plastic bag a day is enough, THINK AGAIN. May be you can do more by helping the environment and change the consumption patterns.

I don’t think I have done enough either. But you know what, I am going to start today and make a different, regardless how small it is.

Posted under Thoughts & musings | [8] Comments 

I am proud of you because….

you have spent many sleepless nights completing your assignments.

you are humble to seek for improvement and critique.

you have gone extra miles for fulfilling high level of expectation.

you believe in yourself and your work.

you’re hired as a Maya 3D tutor for a student from other polytechnic. (though you’re still attending my class).

you show interest and passion for your work.

you do not intend to fool me with lame excuses for not submitting your work.

I am touched when…

you tell me to relax and smile (though I was fuming).

you try to crack a lame joke to make me laugh.

you believe in me.

you say:”Get well soon” and “Take care”.

you treat your work with respect and dignity.

you help each other to achieve the same goal.

. . .

All in all, you have made my long and tiring teaching hours into fruitful and meaningful ones.

Thank YOUs!

Posted under Work | [4] Comments 

“Cher! What happen to your face??!!”

“Ms Cherry, you had chicken pox ah?”

*With shocking-like-seeing-a-ghost face* “WHAT HAPPEN??!!”

You know..for the very first time in more than 20 years, I have people staring at my face with a shocking look. People have noticed my face more and longer than before.

I am not sure if I could ever get used to such “attention”. I feel like “Ugly Cherry”

Even my mom frowned when she looked at my face. “Why and how did it happen?”

My colleagues looked at me and sigh. “Cherry, you really look very tired..”

One colleauge said:”You look exhausted huh…less pretty now. *chuckled*”

CHUCKLED???

I can’t believe it affected me so much that day. I felt like “marinating” myself in a huge pool of antiseptic cream.

Mom joked that I have just “reached my puberty” because I am still growing, “vertically and horizontally”. I have grown 1.5 cm taller since last year. And my shoe size increased by 0.5.

I used to joke about “reaching puberty” too because I never had pimples before and hence, was never an “adult”.

I joked too early.

Looking at the brighter side, I think it is a phase that I need to go through. I started to feel empathy towards people with LOTS of pimples now. I feel like going to them and say:”I hear you…”

Now my face is undergoing an intensive care by the naturalist with different types of customised essential oil for healing and preventing blemishes.

I hope time will heal me.

Posted under Me! Me! , Random ramblings | [10] Comments