pieces of me

on the environment

saw something that is extremely disheartening in NTUC just now: the family in front of us at the queue used plastic bags like nobody's business, every single item they purchased have a plastic bag on, even for dry food items like Sunshine bread.

why is this happening?

the report on global warming was issued just not long ago. if we do not cut down on the usage and consumption of plastic bags in this world, the end of days is not far from us; who knows, it may even take place in our life-time.

SM Lee once said that Singapore will move and change with the world, but always a few steps behind the rest. well, i agree that Singaporeans are generally more conservative than people in the other side of the globe and hence, certain policies can't be implement because people maybe upset or unhappy.

however, for issues regarding the environment, i feel we should not wait for the rest of the world to "do something" first, as this is not something we can afford to wait.

i am not saying that the government is not doing anything for the environment. i think the "plastic bag- free" day that take place on every first Wednesday of the month is a good start, and the trees along the roadside not only help to lower the amount of carbon dioxide in the air, they also help to lower the temperature by shielding and absorbing some sunlight. however, i feel that there is so much more the government can do to help to protect the environment. for example, i learnt that Hong Kong is going to implement this "plastic bag tax", whereby consumers are taxed if they use plastic bags, i think this is a very good idea- not only it helps to increase the government's revenue, this policy also discourages consumers from using plastic bags excessively. or maybe we can learn from japan, where they only collect rubbish that have been categorised.

i am not a politician, i don't know about politics, i don't know the difficulties in implementing a new policy or new law, i only know that we are all human and should play a part in saving the earth.

but of course, even with the presence of all the necessary "hardware", nothing will work if the "software" are absent. i don't know how others think, maybe people think that (saving the environment) is not their business; the government will solve the problem for us. or maybe they think that the scientists released this report to scare us only. or maybe they think that their participation are insignificant.

without the right mindset, nothing is going to work. if people are not cooperative, any policy will still fail.

i don't know about others, but i am, and will continue, to contribute my share of effort in saving in environment. it may be insignificant, but i believe in 团结就是力量. it may sounds a bit cliché, but i really believe in it.


*phew.. sounds like a GP essay? i think it does.. but well, that is what i really feel, everyone has a part to play in saving our Mother Earth, she gave us the resources to live, so we should return by protecting her from further harm.. this is call 饮水思源.. hoho.. this hot and humid weather make me write this post, i not for global warming, Singapore will not be so hot~!!!*

save the environment!

posted by +abrac[A]dabra+ @ 18:16