MyFourRabbits: December 2010

   All year long, for the past few years, I mainly travel for work. I travelled to the point where I've become a very regular customer to Mr. Taxi Driver. He is so sure of seeing me again, he doesn't say goodbye but see you next month!
   However, I do try to make a personal trip to somewhere at least once a year. This year, I visit the spiritual home of Tzu Chi, the Jing Si Abode in Hualien. I was there for a five day camp for new volunteers. It's so inspiring to see and listen first hand, from senior volunteers who have done humanity work all around the world. Most importantly, I get to listen to the founder of Tzu Chi, Master Cheng Yen's dharma talk. I am truly humbled by her wisdom and compassion.
  There are many memorable talks given by the speakers. But there is one in which sent chills to my spine. What is it that's so horrifying? It's actually a talk on environmental protection. The speaker showed us some statistics on the rate of destruction. It is rapidly increasing at an alarming state! Every 1.7 seconds, trees from areas of the size a football field are being felled. It may take years of recycling to reuse back the papers that are from these trees. Destruction is working a lot faster than saving & protection.
   Plastic bags & Polystyrene carriers that takes AGES to disintegrate or NOT AT ALL are clogging our drains & filling up our landfills. Goods that are still in working conditions are being thrown away and also filling up our landfills. Foods are being wasted when there are hungry people who do not have enough to eat or to feed...The list goes on and on....
  I used to use a lot of plastic bags and use papers like nobody's business. I was aware that it does nothing good to Mother Earth and always felt guilty of it. But, I didn't act. I didn't play my part. I wanted to but I see no one's doing it, so I don't too. However, after being a recycling volunteer, I decide to change my ways. And I find it very easy after making the decision.
  Nowadays, I am more mindful of the things that I use. Now, every time I leave the house I always make sure I have foldable recycling bags, my own chopsticks & spoon, a water tumbler & a handkerchief with me. My family has become very environmental friendly as well. We recycle whatever that can be recycled and do compost. We manage to minimize our garbage to just one bag.
  I believe that every step one takes starts with a single decision. I do hope more friends will join me in protecting this ONE EARTH we live in, for our future generations...

Waiting at KLIA

An educational display of the recyclables

At the exhibition hall

I helped a volunteer took a picture of her hugging this globe. Once taken, she told me that since she has hug the world, she has the responsibility to take care of it. I felt so touch by her remark...