Guest Blogger 4: Charlene Goh on Green
December 31, 2009Let’s face it.
Malaysians aren’t known for their concern for the environment. Our trucks and busses pump black smoke (literally) into the air like nobody’s business, we drive to the store one block away, and we sit in air conditioned rooms all day. In an ideal world, in order to be kindest to Mother Earth, everybody would be vegetarian, everybody would ride bicycles everywhere, and everybody would use reusable everything.
However, in this modern age of consumerism, that is not the case.
Having lived in the United States for 4 years, I would say that Malaysians are one step ahead of Americans in reducing waste. American households are a fan of disposable everything. They use paper towels to wipe and clean things, disposable mops, even disposable toilet brushes. Most food establishments use disposable silverware and plates, too. Malaysian frugality has its benefits. Let’s keep it up!
How can we even think about helping the environment when there are so many other things on our plate?
It’s simple, really.
Below are a few everyday things that everyone can do to reduce waste:
Hello, Anya Hindmarch!
- Bring a canvas bag when you know you’re going to do some major shopping to avoid countless paper bags that end up in the trash anyway. You don’t need those bags.
- Always print on both sides.
- Switch off the air-conditioning when you’re not home. Try not to leave it on when you know you’ll be out for 2 hours just “so it will be cool” when you get home (like I used to do :P)
- Bring your own reusable bags when grocery shopping. Or tell the lady not to double-bag everything.
- Walk or bike, if possible (Read: If you’re in a secure, gated community with security guards). We are not known for our safe streets, either.
- If you must drive, drive a hybrid car.
- Bring your own container when tapau-ing food.
These are just few of many adjustments we can make. Try different things out, and find changes that fit your lifestyle, changes that can become a part of your lifestyle. There is no sense in going green just because it’s trendy and it’s what celebrities are doing.
With some practice, we can do what we can for the environment, and feel better about ourselves.
this is such a great post. something totally different from the norm on proudduck, but still totally relevant. now with all the global warming becoming more and more noticeable, i think we are behind on saving the planet and should be doing extra to make up for lost time.
are we really gonna wait till places like fiji and mauritius to be buried underwater for us to do something about it? this post just scrapes the top of the iceberg, but its definitely a good start for proudduck.
i’d like more green posts, the greener the better!!! hehe
p.s. that anya hindmarch bag is totally in. who says being green isn’t fashionable! kudos Charlene
i’ve been living in the uk for 6 years now but im from malaysia. i can say for sure that you can notice the effects of global waring in london. so thats why ppl there are a lot more active towards it, as opposed to malaysia where its sunny all year long and ppl dont notice except for the occasional ‘waah so hot today la, must be all the extra traffic jam in kl’.
but really we are very much in danger, maybe not us but definitely our children considering how we live in a penninsula and the water will suck us down fast like ice cream on a sunny day. and on that day we’ll only be known as a diving hotspot for the guys living on mount kinabalu.
global warming is a made up theory for the westerns to continue using their technological advantages against the developing countries. note that developing countries are still living in poverty, yet money is spent to curb global warming (which is again, a theory). till today there isn’t solid proof of global warming, just instilled fears. being green has been considered “cool” in today’s community and it’s seen as a generous and unselfish character to have. fear is the most powerful thing in the world and global warming is one of them and could just be the biggest hoax in world history, next to jesus being born on christmas day. just something to ponder upon…
Lol is jen Jeremy Clarkson in disguise?
yes, because obviously Jeremy Clarkson reads my blog.
yeah i agree with jen,
in copenhagen, it was only the developing countries mainly china which were disagreeing with the westerns’ requests. it is china’s turn to be the superpower, and obviously the US is afraid of that. many countries such as africa have hugeeee potential due to their abundant resources and could even be a wealthier country than australia, the world’s leading commodity country.
check out:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6TqqWJugXzs
And no 8, plant your own vegggie.
😉