green witch/bitch

3R – REDUCE, REUSE & RECYCLE

June 12, 2008 · Filed under 3R, environment · Tagged recycle, reduce, reuse

This is the 3R logo I did for a project about 3r sometime early this year for a children exhibition. I’m sure many of you have seen some form or another of this recycle logo. What is 3R ? And are anyone truly practicing them ? I’m happy to say that in Ipoh there’s a company that is promoting 3R and encouraging Perakian to be more environmentally conscious of their surrounding. To know more about this company and their recycling programme please click here.

Let’s get back to 3R. Many website and blogsite explained about 3R. But there are still alot of people who are ignorance or stubborn or couldn’t be bothered. See…. from my way of thinking…. the older generation couldn’t be bothered because they ain’t gonna be around much longer, the mid-age are stubborn because they are too busy making MONEY by destroying the environment and the younger generation is ignorance because they were never taught by their parents or teachers about 3R. Asked around you and I’m sure you will see a pattern appearing of Malaysian who are too BUSY shopping (adding to the rubbish), making MONEY(using up more natural resources) “I’m not against anyone making money but be more environmentally conscious-lah” . You say enough liau-lah, I say no-way. Doesn’t it feels terrible when someone bitch about something you know YOU can do a difference ? Remember what Mahatha Gandhi said, “be the CHANGE you wish to see in THE WORLD” It doesn’t have to be creating or inventing anything to do something for the world, small gesture of managing you waste with 3R makes alot of different. Think about the future generation. This earth/world do belong to them.

Below is the copies I wrote for “A family guide to 3R” brochure. It’s to help every individual to do 3R – REDUCE, REUSE & RECYCLE.

BE GREEN, BE RESPONSIBLE
A FAMILY GUIDE TO 3R – REDUCE, REUSE & RECYCLE

The issues of pollution and the state of the environment have become worldwide concerns. Every time we turn on TV or read the newspaper we are treated to the latest environmental disaster. Issues like water pollution, the Greenhouse Effect, ozone depletion and acid rain are discussed in every corner of the globe. This new awareness brings hope for the future. We need to work together to keep our planet clean and free of toxic wastes. Remember, earth is our only home.

3 GREAT WAYS YOU CAN BE A HERO AND SAVE OUR EARTH

Waste when thrown into bin, becomes a part of the environment – that’s YOUR environment, everything that surrounds you including air, land, plants, water and man-made things. You need a healthy environment for your own health and happiness. Effective waste management is important, the waste we create has to be carefully controlled so that it does not harm your environment and your health.

What is waste ?
Waste is anything discarded, throwaway, rejected, surplused, abandoned or released into the environment.

If you love your home (earth) than NOW is the time to step up and take action. Be green, be responsible and think of your family’s future.

HOW CAN I HELP ?

You and your family can help by practising the 3R’s of waste management : Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. Practising all three of these activities everyday is important for a healthy environment. Take a few minutes right now to learn more about waste and waste management, so that you and your family can be key players in making our world a safe and healthy place.

Why do you need to use 3R’s ?
* Saving space
* Saving natural resources
* Save energy
* Reduce pollution

REDUCE

A key part of waste “reduction” is CONSERVATION.
You and your family can practice reduction by selecting products that do not have to be added to landfills.
* Buy and use less
* Wise packaging selections – precycle by purchasing products in packaging that’s recyclable, buy in bulk, refuse to buy over-packaged products, buy unpackaged or “bare” items when you can.
* Buy 100% recyclable products ~ recycled paper, recycled glass etc.
* Avoid man-made fibers
* Refuse store bag, bring your own shopping bag
* Use durable products
* Avoid buying disposable items
* Buy local
* Cut down on can and frozen food
* Cut down on takeaways
* Avoid aerosol sprays (contain CFCs that deplete the ozone layer)
* Avoid buying styrofoam prepackaged items
* Start a garden, consider planting bamboo (stores more CO2 and generate 35% more oxygen than an equivalent stand of trees)
* Save water ~ take showers instead of baths, don’t leave water running when cleaning your teeth, fix dripping taps
* Save energy ~ replaced a light bulb with Compact Fluorescent (CFL) because it last up to 10 times longer than traditional bulbs; only lights rooms you are actually occupying; use a laptop; wash clothes in cold water
* Carpool, ride a bicycle or take public transportation
* Unplug electrical appliances when not in used
* Drive smaller, more energy-efficient car & use lead-free petrol
* Never pour toxic substances like insecticide or kerosene or cooking oil down the drain

REUSE

Do not throw away things that are still usable, pass on to others who can use them. ” One man’s waste is another man’s treasure.”
* re-use disposables like plastic cups, plates, utensils and plastic food storage bags, etc.
* take along lunchbox or tiffin when buying takeaways
* repair rather than replace
* donate to charity
* hold a garage sale or give-away
* Use canvas or cloth bags when shopping
* reuse plastic bags
* buy washable cotton diapers
* use empty plastic water or soft drink bottles as drink bottle for school and office
* buy product in refillable containers e.g. washing powder, coffee, tea etc.
* reuse old envelope
* use both sides of paper
* scrap paper use to make own paper
* rent or borrow items you don’t use very often
* save old egg cartons, toilet rolls, margarine and ice-cream tubs for art & crafts
* use refillable pens instead of disposable
* use rechargeable batteries and refillable print cartridge
* used egg carton to plant seedlings
* find creative way to reuse your waste before throwing it into the bin

RECYCLE

Recycling occurs when you save and take reusable materials to places where they can remade it into either the same product or new products. Recycling means turning something old into something new.

Just about anything in your home (or office or school etc.) that cannot be reused CAN be recycled into something else. Set up a system of separating your waste for recycling.

* Paper ~ tie into bundles
* Beverage carton ~ FLIP : open the top side flaps of the carton; FLAP : open the bottom flaps; FLAT : flatten it.
* Aluminium can ~ empty contents, rinse, dry and crush & metal containers ~ empty contents and clean
* Glass ~ empty contents and clean
* Plastic : drinking bottle ~ remove cap, empty bottle, rinse and crush; plastic containers ~ empty contents and clean
* Organic (food scrap) ~ pour into compost heap in your garden to be turn into fertilizer.

Deposit them at the various recycle centre. Make sure you put the waste in the correct bin.

Remember, recycling is a great way to conserve resources – but even better is not to create
the waste in the first place.

Now, isn’t that easy ? There is so much YOU can do with very little effort. And the best part is you will probably save yourself a lot of money while you are at it.

I hope the above do help some of you who are still mong cha cha about 3R. It’s very simple. Start doing it today. You can even collect points and exchange it for Jusco voucher at the link above.

greenie

Wow…since this is the most popular post, I’ve decided to bring it up front. To see the actual brochure, you can visit my design site .

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IT’S A PLASTIC PLASTIC WORLD

July 11, 2009 · Filed under 3R, conservation, creative, environment, garden, green, home · Tagged 3R, environment, garden, green, Repurpose, reuse

bottle rubbish

Today, every which way you turn, you will be aware of the many usage of plastic in our life. Just about everything we use has plastic in them. They are also the many source of problems that are plaguing the environment nowadays. When Leo Baekeland invented Bakelite in 1909, he could not have realized what a profound effect this and other plastics were going to have on the future of earth. The very virtues that make plastics so useful (strength and durability), are also the what make them such appalling problem. The problem is that we use plastics (long-lasting materials) to make objects which we promptly throw away. E.g. take-away carrier bag ~material used can last for centuries but we discard it right after we reach home. We have many plastics objects that have useful lives that are measured not in hours but in minutes or even seconds(foam polystyrene). Although all plastic is similar, chemically they may be as different from me and you. So….what is plastic ?

Here’s a quick breakdown of plastic resin types:

plastic symbols

#1 polyethylene terephthalate (PET or PETE) = Product examples: Disposable soft drink and water bottles, cough-syrup bottles

#2 high density polyethylene (HDPE) = Product examples: Milk jugs, toys, liquid detergent bottles, shampoo bottles

#3 polyvinyl chloride (V or PVC) = Product examples: Meat wrap, cooking oil bottles, plumbing pipes

#4 low density polyethylene (LDPE) = Product examples: Cling wrap, grocery bags, sandwich bags

#5 polypropylene (PP) = Product examples: Syrup bottles, yogurt cups/tubs, diapers

#6 polystyrene (PS) = Product examples: Disposable coffee cups, clam-shell take-out containers

#7 other (misc.; usually polycarbonate, or PC, but also polylactide, or PLA, plastics made from renewable resources) = Product examples: Baby bottles, some reusable water bottles, stain-resistant food-storage containers, medical storage containers

Safer Plastics = #2HDPE, #4LDPE and #5PP

These three types of plastic are the healthiest. They transmit no known chemicals into your food and they’re generally recyclable; #2 is very commonly accepted by municipal recycling programs, but you may have a more difficult time finding someone to recycle your #4 and #5 containers.

#1 PET

#1 bottles and containers are fine for single use and are widely accepted by municipal recyclers. You won’t find many reusable containers made from #1, but they do exist. It’s also best to avoid reusing #1 plastic bottles; water and soda bottles in particular are hard to clean, and because plastic is porous, these bottles absorb flavors and bacteria that you can’t get rid of.

PLA

PLA (polylactide) plastics are made from renewable resources such as corn, potatoes and sugar cane and anything else with a high starch content. The starch is converted into polylactide acid (PLA). Although you can’t recycle these plant-based plastics, you can compost them in a municipal composter or in your backyard compost heap. Most decompose in about twelve days unlike conventional plastic, which can take up to 100 years.

Plastics to Avoid

#3 PVC

#3 polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is often used frequently in cling wraps for meat. However, PVC contains softeners called phthalates that interfere with hormonal development, and its manufacture and incineration release dioxin, a potent carcinogen and hormone disruptor. Vinyl chloride, the primary building block of PVC, is a known human carcinogen that also poses a threat to workers during manufacture.

#6 PS

Extruded polystyrene (#6 PS; commonly known as Styrofoam) is used in take-out containers and cups, and non-extruded PS is used in clear disposable takeout containers, disposable plastic cutlery and cups. Both forms of PS can leach styrene into food; styrene is considered a possible human carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer. It may also disrupt hormones or affect reproduction.

#7 PC

#7 Polycarbonate (PC) is found in baby bottles, 5-gallon water bottles, water-cooler bottles and the epoxy linings of tin food cans. PC is composed of a hormone-disrupting chemical called bisphenol A, which has been linked to a wide variety of problems such as cancer and obesity.

Source : National Geographic ’s The Green Guide

What prompted me into writing this article is the many messages I’ve gotten regarding cancer and also melamine. The term “melamine” may also be used to refer to the plastic melamine resin. The recent milk scare and just about everything that contain milk has gotten alot of people work up. Women are advice not to leave their water bottle in car under the sun because according to singer “Sheryl Crow” she got cancer by drinking water from plastic container that she left in her car. Then the scare of “BPA” especially used to make drinking containers and also milk bottles. Hence, the research on explaining the difference types of plastics. Is plastic a good invention ? I believe the answer is “YES” but the reason for it’s bad reputation to the environment is because human did not think of the consequences when they used the substance to create other objects like plastic bottles, bags etc.

plastic bottles

Some fast facts about water bottles

“1.5 million barrels of oil are used every year to make plastic water bottles for bottled water. This is enough oil to fuel 100,000 cars for a year.
36 billion bottles are sold each year, only 7 billion make it to recycling. The other 29 billion bottles end up in landfills, incinerators, litter in streams, oceans and rivers.”

When you throw away your plastic product, those that are buried which contain cadmium as pigment will get wash away by rain water into groundwater that may end up in the public water supply. Even in our homes, building materials do contain plastic like PVC that gives off vinyl chloride gas that are found to cause liver cancer. Rubbish burning or some that catch fire can sometime burn for weeks aspecially if PVC and polystyrene foams are involved. Anyone who has breathed the smoke from this 2 substances knows how acrid it is (hydrogen fluoride), very poisonous and contributes to acid rain. Getting rid of plastics is not so easy. As long as we use petrol in our cars, plastics will be with us. The sooner we learn to reduce or refuse, reuse then more prudently and find some way of re-using(re-purpose) them, the better our life will be.

POSITIVE ACTION : How to cut down on waste plastic

Don’t buy fresh food pre-packed in plastic
Refuse plastic containers for takeaway food
Choose natural materials in clothing
Avoid disposable plastic in the kitchen
Ask for biodegradable packaging

Doing research for this post was really an eye-opener for me in term of the devastation of plastics to the environment. Education is key. Teach the young about the pros and cons of plastic products so that they may in future think before they create a short-life product using plastics.

Bottomline : as long as there is demand, there will be supply. greed will destroy this planet.

” THE WORLD CAN FEED EVERYONES NEED, BUT NOT EVERYONES GREED.” `~ GANDHI

green witch

Below are some photos of plastic products being reuse or repurposed.

waterpot maggipot repurpose-gdnpot

mini-pots

I use my plastic waste mostly in the garden.

plasticbag ball

Plastic bag turn into a ball.

bottle-repurpose Plastic_Bottles_Sparking_Stars

Below are more professional looking products by designers and artists who embrace the RE-CREATE, RE-DESIGN, RE-PURPOSE and incorporate them in their work. Enjoy.

1. http://www.ryterdesign.ch/recycline/frame.htm

recyline

2.http://miwa.metm.org/PET_project/
platic-bottle-repurpose

3.http:// www.michellebrand.co.uk
michellebrand-portfolio

4. Studio Verissimo
spoonlamp2

5. http://www.dezeen.com/2007/12/12/drop-chandelier-by-stuart-haygarth/

drop-plasticbottle-bottom-c

Reuse, Recreate & Repurpose!

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G8 SUMMIT 2009 : MAKE CLIMATE CHANGE TOP OF THE AGENDA

July 11, 2009 · Filed under WORLD ISSUES, conservation, environment, heritage · Tagged environment, earth, climate change, conservation, Michael Jackson, g8, wwf

g8 2009

What is G8 ? Which country is in G8 ?

The G8’s membership comprises the main industrialised countries. It is not an international organisation, nor does it have an administrative staff with a permanent secretariat; it is rather a process that culminates in an annual Summit at which the Heads of State and Government of the member countries hold talks with a view to finding solutions to the main world issues, which are summed up in the “Final Statement.”

The G8’s members are Canada,France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States. The European Commission attends as well.

The 2009 G8 Summit was held in Italy, in the city of L’Aquila. From 8 to 10 July.

To read more here.

WWF website had a campaign about facing the G8. Create a poster and make your stand. Wanted to post this earlier but as usual my internet line was down. Even through the summit has concluded, you can still go to here. Make a decision of what you believe to be good for earth for yourself, your children, your children’s children. Make a stand now. What we do today will determine our tomorrow.

bitch g8

Read ” G8 and MEF climate talks: It’s progress but still not fair”

This world has never been fair. Oppression and discrimination. Money talk!!!!! Most cannot see beyond the $$$ sign. They are selling out earth and all we can do is watch earth losing it glitter. All the talk in the world don’t mean a thing if no one move forward to take action. Remember – Action speaks louder than words. Sad but lets hope and pray for a better earth for our children.

witch g8

While writing this piece I remember the song by Michael Jackson titled “Heal the World”. I pray that we still have time to heal our world. Global warming is a real thing and not make believe as some might want us to believe. Observe the change in our weather daily. It is not a joke. Come together as ONE and try to HEAL our world/Earth.

Thank you MJ for a beautiful song and message.

green bitch

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TRIBUTE TO MICHAEL JACKSON – EARTH SONG

July 10, 2009 · Filed under creative, environment · Tagged creative, earth, environment, Michael Jackson

090629_Michael_Jackson

For the past 2 weeks, we’ve been seeing all sort of reports and stories after the death of Michael Jackson the Entertainer, King of Pop at the age of 50. I grew up listening to his songs. I cannot say that I’m a hardcore fan but I must admit that I do like a few of his songs and the message in those songs. Whatever he was during his lifetime, he was a true entertainer and that is one thing that no one can dispute. To me, he was a grown kid who likes to play and thus the reference to Peter Pan and Neverland. We laugh at all jokes about him and the weirdness but I think weird is only a word that means DIFFERENT. People are always fearful of difference or not norm. Love him or hate him, I’m glad that he has gone to a better place where none will judge him for being weird or different. May you find peace now, when it eluded you when you were still alive. RIP Michael Jackson.

Thank you for all the songs and the messages you try to give to earth but sorry that earthling refuse to listen.

Enjoy Earth Song.

green bitch

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WORLD REFUGEE DAY 2009 – 20 JUNE

June 20, 2009 · Filed under WORLD ISSUES, culture, environment, heritage, home · Tagged Angelina Jolie, chinese culture, earth, environment, Goodwill Ambassador, heritage

Urmm… never knew or heard about World Refugee Day before now. What is a refugee ? The 1951 Refugee Convention establishing UNHCR spells out that a refugee is someone who “owing to a well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion, is outside the country of his nationality, and is unable to, or owing to such fear, is unwilling to avail himself of the protection of that country.”

There seems to be alot of days celebrated by UN that should be put on every single one of us earthling’s calendar. Like everyone else, World Refugee Day came to my attention because of Angelina Jolie (must give credit where it is due).

“The refugees I have met and spent time with have profoundly changed my life.
Today I want to thank them for letting me into their lives.”

– Goodwill Ambassador Angelina Jolie

The United Nations’ (UN) World Refugee Day is observed on June 20 each year. This event honors the courage, strength and determination of women, men and children who are forced to flee their homeland under threat of persecution, conflict and violence.

People honor the spirit and courage of millions of refugees worldwide on World Refugee Day. It is a day to recognize the contributions of refugees in their communities. Organizations such as Amnesty International and the International Rescue Committee (IRC) often get involved in various activities for the day. They may include:

Activist protests against using former prisons to detain migrants and asylum seekers.
Screenings of films about the lives of asylum seekers living in a western country.
Organization members visiting asylum seekers in detention to offer moral support.
Letters or petitions to governments on the treatment of asylum seekers in detention.

Some communities dedicate an entire week that includes World Refugee Day to encourage people to think about the lives of refugees and the human right to a secure place to that one can see as “home”.

As an expression of solidarity with Africa, which hosts the most refugees, and which traditionally has shown them generosity, the UN General Assembly adopted Resolution 55/76 on December 4, 2000.

In this resolution, the General Assembly noted that 2001 marked the 50th anniversary of the 1951 Convention relating to the status of refugees, and that the Organization of African Unity (OAU) had agreed to have International Refugee Day coincide with Africa Refugee Day on June 20. The Assembly therefore decided that June 20 would be celebrated as World Refugee Day from 2001 onwards. This day was designated by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees to bring attention to the plight of approximately 14 million refugees around the world.

unhcr

The UN Refugee Agency’s (UNCHR) logo is often associated with the day. The colors used are either white on a blue background or blue on white background. The logo features olive branches that symbolize peace surrounding or protecting two hands facing each other, and in the middle a figure of a person protected by these hands. The logo is sometimes featured with the words “UNHCR”, followed by “The UN Refugee Agency” in smaller text to mark the logo.

Who do UNHCR help?
* Refugees
* Returnees
* Stateless People
* Asylum seekers
* Internally misplaced people
* People with disabilities, women, children, older folks

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WWF: EGG = LIFE CAMPAIGN

June 7, 2009 · Filed under WORLD ISSUES, conservation, environment · Tagged climate change, conservation, earth, environment, green

For those of you do not know what WWF stands for….. it is NOT world wrestling federation but WORLD WILDLIFE FUND, the name was later change to “WWF-World Wide Fund For Nature”. Whatever the name stands for, I’m sure most of us have seen the panda logo since young.

wwf_logofinal In Malaysia, WWF are trying to get people to pledge their support to save the turtles. For most Malaysian, we are used to seeing the turtle being use as mascot to represent Malaysia in sport events etc. Other than that, what have we done to see to the conservation of these turtle? I remembered the first and last time I went to Rantau Abang to see the turtle lay their eggs. You would not believe the number of people surrounding the turtle. Imagine everyone watching while you try to give birth. sigh. That was not the worst thing. After the turtle lay her eggs, she tried to get back to the sea. Some youngest climb on the back and started taking photos. It was really disheartening. I was in my teens then and I cried at the cruelty of some fellow human. My group of friends tried to advice them not to disturbed the turtle. But it was no use. We decided to get out of there. The incident make a huge impact on me. I saw how cruel we humans are. Not only to animals but to fellow humans as well.

That incident happened about 24 years ago. I believe/ hope the authority have taken steps as not to allow such behaviour now. The Trengganu government did try some conservation methods and breeding the young. “In 1950s, there were 10,000 turtle nest in Rantau Abang.” The numbers are decreasing by the year. Now there’s only about 1o nests. The demand of turtle eggs from the public are not helping the cause. When the buying STOP!, maybe the killing will too?

flipper

“Turtles play a critical role in keeping marine ecosystems healthy; the same ecosystems which sustain our fisheries and tourism industries that provide food and livelihoods for millions of people. Marine turtles are threatened with extinction due to various factors, including: the practice of consuming turtle eggs, marine and nesting beach pollution as well as illegal trade of turtles and their parts.
Leatherback turtles have already been declared functionally extinct in Malaysia. ” On the 21st April 2009 – WWF-Malaysia today launched the “Egg=Life” campaign aimed at improving the protection of marine turtles in Malaysia.

The campaign, will run from Earth Day 22nd April to 30th September 2009, targets to gain pledges from 40,000 members of the public. People who sign up in support of WWF-Malaysia’s “Egg=Life” campaign will pledge to:

support laws that will ban the sale and consumption of all turtle eggs throughout Malaysia
support the call for comprehensive and holistic Federal legislation to conserve marine turtles
never consume turtle eggs, or trade in turtles or their parts

To read here

So what are you waiting for. Just sign the pledge and you’re an instant conservation hero. You even receive a certificate like below.

wwf-pledge_e-cert1 Let make it possible for WWF to reached the 40,000 pledge signatures goal they’ve set. You don’t have to do great things to make a difference. Just a signature and tell as many of your friends. Make a change with a signature at a time.