With greenhouse effects and increasing sea levels threatening our very survival, global warming has gradually become one of the much discussed topics in Singapore. Volunteers shared with the public that the best mitigation method is to simply “Drive Less, Buy Less and Eat Less Meat”. Photo by Chua Teong Seng

Instant hand sanitizer in full force: Volunteers are not taking the Influenza A (H1N1) lightly as the first case is confirmed 4 days ago and hospital alert level remains at yellow. (Photo: Lim Chee Wah)

Mdm. Feng Xiu Ying (far left) engaging her two nephews with the contents of the poster boards. (Photo: Khoo Chai Ling)

“Come do recycling!”: Everyone stood up and joined in the dance to the lively song – Everybody Does Recycling. (Photo: Chua Teong Seng)

“More Vegetable and Less Meat” is one of the various ways to reduce carbon emission. A vegetarian feast is provided during the seminar to encourage residents to take up vegetarianism. (Photo: Khoo Chai Ling)

When volunteers respectfully offer the vegetarian lunchboxes to the participants, everybody feels like a big family sharing a meal together. (Photo: Chua Teong Seng)

A simple effort goes a long way: Participants take time to read the “Take the Heat Off” card which serves as a reminder for all to spare a thought for the environment and start altering one’s living habits. (Photo: Khoo Chai Ling)

Mdm. Lim Bee Luan (left) with her husband. Mdm. Lim expresses her appreciation to the volunteers for organizing the seminar in the residents’ heartland. (Photo: Chua Teong Seng)

PLKCC’s Assistant Constituency Manager Mdm. Lee Beh Lin paying attention to a volunteer’s introduction of the eco-friendly dining set. (Photo: Alex Tan)

According to population census released by the United Nations, the world’s population has hit 6.5 billions in 2005 and is expected to reach 7 billions between year 2012 and 2013. With that, one question came into mind: How is Mother Earth going to sustain the ever increasing inhabitants?

Sharing correct views with the mass

Keeping in mind the importance of a sustainable environment for future generations, Tzu Chi volunteers from various countries had started conducting eco seminars to spread the importance of environmental protection and lifestyle changes to the public. On 31 May, volunteers from Singapore’s Northeast region held a public seminar in Paya Lebar-Kovan Community Club (PLKCC) to share with residents the various methods to help tackle global warming. 

In recent years, environmental awareness among the young has increased substantially with widespread implementation of environmental class in schools. However, with most adults still continuing their ways of living which they have been used to for decades, how are we going to make them realize that these habits are no longer sustainable and lifestyle changes is the best solution to most environmental problem?

During the seminar, the speaker showed pictures of marine animals choking on plastic carriers and polar bears looking scared on thinning ice to substantiate the fact that human activity is the cause of environmental deterioration and global warming. With the dire situation threatening ecology’s very survival, volunteers shared with the audience that the best mitigation method is to “Drive Less, Buy Less and Eat Less Meat”.

Diet change

Why eat less meat? One may wonder. Dr. Rajendra Pachauri, Chairman of the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change once made that plea with such explanation: Meat is a very carbon intensive commodity – the entire cycle of meat production, transportation, preservation and consumption is hugely intensive in terms of carbon dioxide emissions. “If you eat less meat, you would be healthier and so would the planet!” He said.

Besides showing videos that explain the health benefits of eating less meat, volunteers also cooked and served appetizing, meatless dishes in lunchboxes to the guests after the seminar to assure them that vegetarian meal can be as tasty and as nutritious.    

“It’s very delicious!” proclaimed Mr. Zhuang Chang Kun. When the engineer started to take vegetarian fast following his mother’s passing four years ago, he didn’t expect the short fasting would gradually turn him into a vegetarian. Knowing the benefits of vegetarianism to personal health and the environment, he took a step forward encouraging his friends and colleagues to adopt the “more vege, less meat” diet.

Under his influence, his wife too began cutting down on meat dishes. Besides recycling at home, Mrs. Zhuang, who is a primary school teacher, also incorporates Tzu Chi founder Master Cheng Yen’s wise sayings into her teaching, sharing with students the simple and understandable way of life. Both the husband and wife felt the seminar was indeed enriching and inspiring for the public.

Let’s give our children a clean and green earth

When sisters Feng Xiu Ying and Feng Xiu Yun arrived at the venue, the very first thing for them was to bring their nephews to the exhibition corner and explain to them about global warming and the various climate anomalies. The sisters got to know about Tzu Chi and its green effort after visiting the Foundation’s anniversary exhibition a few weeks ago at Jurong Medical Centre with their fellow neighbours from Braddell Heights Community Club. This day, they particularly made an effort to attend the seminar to give their nephews a “learning tour”. Mdm. Feng Xiu Ying commented that the seminar is a great opportunity for the children to learn environmental knowledge, especially as her elder nephew is currently working on an eco project in his primary school, the visit would certainly be educational for him.

As a parent, Mdm. Lim Bee Luan felt that the young generation now grows in an “Era of Disposable” and subconsciously adopt the highly convenient “use-and-throw” habit. Though regretful that she missed the perfect chance to bring her children along to the seminar, Mdm. Lim was appreciative towards the volunteers for organizing the event in the residents’ heartland where the locals find familiar with and hence are more willing to participate.

Mdm. Chen Xi Xiang who does recycling at home is highly surprised that recyclables at Tzu Chi is sorted out to such detailed classification. The resident was delighted to know that her new home in Sengkang is within walking distance from Tzu Chi’s Sengkang recycling point, and that her recyclable items would be better sorted out there. She believed that although her recycling efforts may seem insignificant, “if everybody put in their concerted efforts, the results will be extraordinary”.

Let’s care for the Earth together

The seminar is made possible with the effort by Tzu Chi volunteer Ng Geok Buay. The retired teacher, who is also the vice secretary of PLKCC’s Senior Citizen Executive Committee (SCEC), mentioned the Foundation’s intention to promote environmental awareness and vegetarianism to the CC’s Assistant Constituency Manager (ACM) Mdm. Lee Beh Lin as well as SCEC chairperson Mdm. Ang Hui Lan. The idea was quickly heeded.

“I have never tasted such delicious vegetarian meal!” remarked Mdm. Lee Beh Lin after the seminar. The ACM is full of praises and admiration for Tzu Chi for conducting the successful seminar, especially so when “the event did not offer any door gifts” and “environmentalism and vegetarianism is not an easy topic to tackle”.

Mdm. Lee shares that her family uses tangkat to buy take-away meals instead of the commonly used Styrofoam boxes. At home, she would reuse her children’s old clothes that are no longer fitting as cleaning rags. However, there are still many old clothes piling up as the cleaning rags are so durable she hardly gets to change them. After attending the seminar, Mdm. Lee gladly remarked that she knows where to send the old clothes now – to Tzu Chi’s recycling point!

Mdm. Ang Hui Lan, who arrived early to help with the setting up of the seminar hall, shared frankly that this is the first time she hears about the links between meat and climate change. She pledged to cut down on meat consumption as well as to encourage her friends to reduce tissue paper usage and bring along their own grocery bag when going for shopping.

Upon hearing residents expressing interest in purchasing Tzu Chi’s reusable dining sets, the SCEC chairwoman decided to organize a trip to Tzu Chi centre during the SCEC half-day outing in June for residents to have a deeper understanding of the concepts of recycling and vegetarianism as well as Tzu Chi’s philosophy.

The 250 residents who attended the seminar gave their full support by paying earnest attention to the presentations and showing keen interest to learn about environmental conservation at the exhibition corner. Event coordinator Chong Lee Kiuan commented that her greatest concern prior the event was that residents will leave the hall right after their meal. Instead, many stayed back and interacted warmly with the volunteers. So long the participants got the message that the volunteers set out to convey, the seminar would indeed be a success.