Going Green in Singapore

Hydrogen Peroxide-An Eco-Friendly Solution...

2010-01-03T07:14:00.000-08:00

Hello again :)

Taking a break from typing up a Bio report (Related to hydrogen peroxide), I have found that hydrogen peroxide is our planet's natural 'cleaner'; when water evaporates, it bonds with an extra oxygen atom in the atmosphere thus forming hydrogen peroxide which forms a little amount of the liquid in rainfall...Which then falls on to plants and helps fertilize them, perhaps by killing any harmful bacteria. So, adding a bit of hydrogen peroxide to plants when watering them can be quite beneficial to the plants, or even letting them soak up the rain water. Unless, of course, you are in an area that suffers from 'acid rain' .

Hydrogen peroxide also serves as a 'greener' alternative to chlorine based cleaning solutions- especially if you are allergic to chlorine and have cats and/or dogs around- it is suggested by the source below that chlorine may smell like urine to cats and dogs (Which makes sense as urine generally contains some chlorine).

So use hydrogen peroxide instead of chlorine bleach next time you clean your bathroom :), and hopefully price-wise, commercially bought hydrogen peroxide is not much more expensive than chlorine bleach.

Check out this link>>>>> http://www.using-hydrogen-peroxide.com/

Cheers!

-Allen

Top Eco News

2009-12-29T22:17:00.000-08:00

Hello :)

Taking a break studying for my SATS, I've found this:

http://planetgreen.discovery.com/videos/planet-100/?campaign=th-sky-pl100

Check it out ! And Learn.

-Allen

Artist Imogen Heap

2009-12-29T02:10:00.000-08:00

If you have analysed Imogen Heap's songs such as Hide and Seek especially, you may have noticed her multiple allusions to our planet Earth and our environment.

Here, take at look at the lyrics to her song

(taken fromhttp://www.sing365.com/music/Lyric.nsf/Hide-and-Seek-lyrics-Imogen-Heap/1C15C93FB95800BA48257008000634FB ):

"where are we?
what the hell is going on?
the dust has only just begun to form
crop circles in the carpet
sinking feeling

spin me round again
and rub my eyes,
this can't be happening
when busy streets a mess with people
would stop to hold their heads heavy

hide and seek
trains and sewing machines
all those years
they were here first

oily marks appear on walls
where pleasure moments hung before the takeover,
the sweeping insensitivity of this still life

hide and seek
trains and sewing machines (oh, you won't catch me around here)
blood and tears (hearts)
they were here first

Mmmm whatcha say,
Mmm that you only meant well?
well of course you did
Mmmm whatcha say,
Mmmm that it's all for the best?
of course it is
Mmmm whatcha say?
Mmmm that it's just what we need
you decided this
whatcha say?
Mmmm what did she say?

ransom notes keep falling out your mouth
mid-sweet talk, newspaper word cut outs
speak no feeling no I don't believe you
you don't care a bit,
you don't care a bit

(hide and seek)
ransom notes keep falling out your mouth
mid-sweet talk, newspaper word cut outs

(hide and seek)
speak no feeling no i don't believe you
you don't care a bit,
you don't care a (you don't care a) bit

(hide and seek)
oh no, you don't care a bit
oh no, you don't care a bit

(hide and seek)
oh no, you don't care a bit
you don't care a bit
you don't care a bit"

Imogen highlights the serious depth and the concern we should all feel in regards to the atrocious effects of human industrialization through the phrase 'The dust has only just begun to form', implying that these negative effects will sadly, indeed multiply-very much like our population- if we don't give back to the Earth. This also links to the lyrics in her song Earth as she writes that "You're only what you give back".

Going back to the lyrics of Hide and Seek, through her mentioning of machines invented during the Industrial Revolution (Starting in the 18th Century) such as 'Trains and sewing machines', Imogen confirms that the Industrial Revolution is a theme in her song. Moreover, Imogen begins this stanza with the phrase "Hide and seek" repeated in the title. Through this title where two opposite actions are juxtaposed-'hiding' and 'seeking'- Imogen may allude to Mother Nature who 'hides' her natural resources from those greedy humans who 'seek' them. Additionally, Imogen may also be advocating the issue of native peoples' displacement from their homelands which they have lived on for 'all those years', as a result of industrialization as she boldly states that 'they were here first'.

Towards the end and climax of her song, Imogen forces a spotlight onto those manipulative and indifferent businesses who have placed those 'oily marks' that 'appear on walls' 'where pleasure moments hung before their takeover', or more simply, have removed the Earth of some of its natural beauty; you better appreciate it ;).

Have a listen to the meaning of Imogen's other songs, such as Earth and Canvas.

And here's a green solution for you if you can't really sleep without turning the air-con on... put it on a timer mode where it automatically turns off at a certain time, perhaps 3 hours after turning in on? Especially during the holidays where we can sleep in, this should help decrease your carbon footprint.

Thanks for reading!

-Allen

The Green Bible

2009-12-26T20:46:00.000-08:00

Hello Again :)

Recently, I came across this book at Boarders- which I traveled to using the MRT, although, until Singapore starts using electricity produced only by zero carbon emission methods, such as through solar panels, I can't say that I traveled to boarders without creating any carbon emissions. But then again, I'd also have to take into account the energy necessary to manufacture the capital necessary to provide rail transit and solar energy. However, in the long run, all these 'eco-friendly' products and machinery should be manufactured via 'sustainable' and 'green' energy.

Now back to the title of this post, here's a quote from The Green Bible (Although you may not be Christian, it doesn't hurt to study the Bible):

"We must act now and wake up to our moral obligations. The poor and vulnerable are members of God's family and are the most severely affected by droughts, high temperatures, flooding of coastal cities, and more severe and unpredictable weather events resulting from climate change. We, who should have been responsible stewards preserving our vulnerable, fragile planet home, have been wantonly wasteful through our reckless consumerism, devouring irreplaceable natural resources. We need to be accountable for God's family. Once we start living in way that is people-friendly to all of God's family, we will also be environment-friendly."

Now don't forget to but your beliefs into practice too !

Cheers,

Allen

Time Magazine's Top Ten Most Polluted Cities

2009-12-25T19:04:00.000-08:00

http://www.time.com/time/specials/2007/article/0,28804,1661031_1661028_1661025,00.html

Take a look...some cities aren't so surprising. But it is interesting to note that the majority of the nations that these cities belong to are some of the largest in the world. Talk about human greed and size? Just because you're so big a powerful doesn't mean you can pollute the world :|.

Electric Vehicles...A Christmas Note

2009-12-25T18:24:00.000-08:00

Hey Fellow Environmentalists!

I'm pretty excited for this coming summer...we're bringing in the Nissan Leaf from Japan to Singapore; Nissan's all electric five seater hatchback mpv. In the next month or so the company will also be shipping in a couple of Sanyo's Eneloop electric bikes, known in Japan as the 'Enacle'...And yes, they are pretty retro and awesomee.

On another note, it is somewhat disheartening to me that many shoppers are still out and about even on Christmas Day in Singapore. In essence, Christmas is not about shopping and/or fulfilling the materialistic wants of others! Although, this influx of shoppers on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day in Singapore is beneficial to those businesses in particular and also generally in favor of the Singapore Economy, the true meaning of Christmas-pardon the cliche- is buried within the hoards of shoppers on these two days.

Instead of getting some retail therapy down, which may also not be quite so enjoyable when done in crowded shopping malls for some, we humans, particularly those who are most able, should dignify ourselves even more by perhaps getting the whole family to volunteer and help those less fortunate than ourselves.

A more subtle alternative to more respectively celebrate Christmas may also be for shops to donate a certain percentage of their revenues to charitable organizations instead of having so many sales. Do people really need to go shopping on Christmas Day and Christmas Eve?

Cut down on unnecessary Christmas shopping and save our Mother, Earth. Relax with family or friends at home, read verses from the bible. Volunteer; dignify yourself.

Here's the environmental quote of the day:

You must teach your children that the ground beneath their feet is the ashes of your grandfathers. So that they will respect the land, tell your children that the earth is rich with the lives of our kin. Teach your children what we have taught our children, that the earth is our mother. Whatever befalls the earth befalls the sons of the earth. If men spit upon the ground, they spit upon themselves. ~Chief Seattle

2009-12-19T03:02:00.000-08:00

http://www.manilatimes.net/index.php/component/content/article/45-features/5168-singapore-opens-first-zero-energy-building-in-region

I'd really like more buildings like these!

or perhaps, even made out of bamboo :).

Recyling in Singapore

2009-12-19T02:51:00.001-08:00

I have always wondered if Singapore actually recycles. At my school, I have heard that the items that go into our recycling bins are taken away by someone whom the school must pay?

It is also known to me that HDB flats do not have common recycling bins.

Singapore, please start recycling more! Although, recycling water is wonderful.