Daily Green Actions: CNY Special

Was asked to speak on a mandarin radio interview tomorrow on what "green" things people can do for Chinese New Year during spring cleaning, shopping or visiting. It's a recorded phone interview but nonetheless I went about asking a few friends for their input as well as threw in a few of mine.

If you have more ideas, feel free to leave a comment. Remember, creativity is boundless!

• buying new clothes? don't throw out the old clothes - donate them or make them into new clothes! check out the Little Brown Dress Project for creative inspiration http://tinyurl.com/2xr2rk
• wenhua suggests: spring cleaning? remember to sort your waste and recycle!
  
• instead of buying tons of packet drinks for house guests during CNY, how about brewing jugs of homemade drinks for them? cut down wastes about 2 hours ago
• oh yes @evehow reminds: do not eat / buy facai moss (Nostoc flagelliforme). It's overharvested and banned http://tinyurl.com/m52hn about 3 hours ago
• suggestion from @evehow: don't buy more than needed, don't buy too much food that end up throw away and check if your seafood is sustainable about 3 hours ago
• suggestion from koksheng: no eat sharks fin and carpool with relatives when going visiting! about 3 hours ago
• recycle your angpow packets! use it as an envelope, birthday angpow, rough paper or make a lantern! about 3 hours ago
• bake your own cookies to reduce on packaging waste. otherwise reuse the cookies/love letter containers for food storage! we put bakua in 'em about 3 hours ago
• what green things can people do for chinese new year? use biodegradable or reusable instead of disposable plates/cutlery during parties about 3 hours ago
  

More daily green actions from 15 January 2007 in the full article.

• ever since I started daily green actions, people have been asking me for green tips. Dont they know I'm struggling along just like everyone? about 3 hours ago
• tomorrow im getting a radio interview about "green things" people can do for Chinese New Year. Any suggestions? Help! about 3 hours ago
• wrote up some responses for an email interview regarding minimization of plastic bags - look out for me in My Paper on Monday 21 Jan about 3 hours ago
• I've decided not to turn on my office light as well since I sit beside the window! Lights out doesn't just apply to 7-9pm! about 13 hours ago
• Went to find a lecturer in her office and found that she didn't turn on the lights and allow sunlight to illuminate her office! inspiring :) about 13 hours ago
• we should be looking at whole ecosystems and not just single endangered species. they are just indicators screaming "engine overheated!" about 14 hours ago
• species conservation alone is short-sighted and narrow minded. nonetheless, we SHOULD be responsible for our impacts. it will backlash later about 14 hours ago
• feeling "green" and having apple-starfruit juice for breakfast but then it got me thinking where the fruits are from. occupational hazards about 15 hours ago
• i really enjoy walking to the MRT in the morning where you can feel the morning mist and dewdrops on grass. then the car exhausts kills me. about 15 hours ago

Read full article here

Daily Green Actions: 14 Jan 2008

• a My Paper reporter called asking what I think Singapore could go one step further in reducing plastic bag use. Any suggestions? about 9 hours ago
• spent lights out in the school library researching, reading, learning and then proceeded to kill a few trees photocopying. yes im guilty about 9 hours ago
• I've been super "green" today - first I brought my own mug to the meeting at a cafe and had lunch in my own lunch box! happy about 17 hours ago
• spent lights out reading in the jurong west community library. was planning on walking there but got blister on my foot so took bus instead 09:02 AM January 14, 2008

Read full article here

Daily Green Actions: 13 Jan 2008

• think i shall spent lights out today hanging out in the public library :) it closes at 9! how convenient about 21 hours ago
• used my portable chopsticks for the 2nd time at Ken's Ramen on Friday but I still haven't washed them! Being "green" means being hardworking about 21 hours ago
• wait, im sure somebody's going to tell me a movie is not very environmental about 22 hours ago
• already thinking about what i would do for lights out tonight. it takes that much determination to do this. sigh. movie / dinner anyone? about 22 hours ago
• @evehow: the problem is i would have easy access to a car. i must resist the temptation! about 22 hours ago
• im wondering how long i can withstand not using airconditioning. It's been about 2 months. about 22 hours ago
• sick of people egging me on about how i would not be able to resist driving once i know how to. must. prove. them. wrong! :o 11:02 AM January 13, 2008

Read full article here

Daily Green Actions: 7-12 Jan 2008

Daily Green Actions has been going on since November 9, 2007. It has been 2 months and 4 days! Sadly I was not exactly welcoming in the new year with green actions, but twitter messages resumed on 7 January and below is the compilation from the last week with a few highlights before the fold

Highlights of my favourite Actions

• have you studied your household utilities bill recently? it sure helps to identify a strategy for daily energy/water conservation. 11:55 AM January 12, 2008
• Driving is tiring and knowing how to drive enable people to carpool and share responsibilities. But we DO NOT each need a car of our own! 03:02 PM January 11, 2008
• how far do you think one should go in influencing the actions of your friends and family? Kick a fuss or simply suggest and let them decide? 11:06 AM January 11, 2008
• in addition to lightsout USA, in canada, WWF started an initiative called Earth Hour that also aims to turn off lights for 1 hr on 29 Mar 08 03:17 PM January 10, 2008
• do you flatten your drink cartons or cans before throwing them away? In a minuscule way, this helps save energy used to compress them later 03:05 PM January 10, 2008
• but in the first place, should we even buy packet, canned or bottled drinks? how about brewing your own and using a reusable jug or bottle! 03:07 PM January 10, 2008
• Even little birdies goes green in light of climate change! http://tinyurl.com/yrprh2 a lil inspiration for myself and us all to persevere! 03:55 PM January 09, 2008
• cheers to @juanicths for offering to help me with lightsout by inviting me to healthy activities like exercising and simply time with frens 01:44 PM January 09, 2008
• finally used my portable chopsticks for the first time today when we ate sushi for dinner! I was so happy when I returned the disposables :) 12:49 AM January 08, 2008

12 January 2008

• spent lights out yesterday at dinner with @evievie. friends are such wonderful activities. Lightsout should be spent as a group activity!
• have you studied your household utilities bill recently? it sure helps to identify a strategy for daily energy/water conservation.
• interesting to note that my household water consumption is way below national average but electricity is struggling around the average
• trying to determine if lights out has indeed reduced my household electricity consumption but there was no meter reading in Dec! frustrated

11 January 2008

• Driving is tiring and knowing how to drive enable people to carpool and share responsibilities. But we DO NOT each need a car of our own!
• just had my 2nd driving lesson and already my dad is planning to buy a car! Grr! Knowing how to drive is not a bad thing but buying cars is!
• how far do you think one should go in influencing the actions of your friends and family? Kick a fuss or simply suggest and let them decide?
• Taking a lesson from feedback I got this morning, do not make a fuss about others' un-green behaviour or they will think i'm just angsty

10 January 2008

• That makes a total of about 4 countries that I know so far that has a similar initiative under a different name - Japan, US, Canada, Taiwan
• in addition to lightsout USA, in canada, WWF started an initiative called Earth Hour that also aims to turn off lights for 1 hr on 29 Mar 08
• further reflection: whats the point of having lights out if i proceed to spend the next 22 hours on the computer?
• today lights out will be spent learning how to drive. not exactly the best activity in the world. the driving school doesnt use hybrid cars!
• but in the first place, should we even buy packet, canned or bottled drinks? how about brewing your own and using a reusable jug or bottle!
• do you flatten your drink cartons or cans before throwing them away? In a minuscule way, this helps save energy used to compress them later

9 January 2008

• 30 minutes more to lights out and i've decided to spend it on the bench outside my house, enjoying the cool breeze and company of giant wasp
• while at botanical gardens, met vilma and prof wee! what a wonderful place. must hang out there more often!
• spent lights out today at botanical gardens, planning my environmental education and capacity building initiative which organizes workshops
• indulged in a bit of consumerism and bought a new laptop bag. necessary evil - consumerism.
• Even little birdies goes green in light of climate change! http://tinyurl.com/yrprh2 a lil inspiration for myself and us all to persevere!
• cheers to @juanicths for offering to help me with lightsout by inviting me to healthy activities like exercising and simply time with frens
• forgot to switch off power sources at home before i left! this is precisely what i mean about being out of sync. it takes conscientiousness
• why am i finding it so hard to get back to daily green actions after 20 days in USA? I was so inspired after 6 mths in santa barbara in '05!
• may have another blogging workshop lined up for nparks volunteers. that makes it the 2nd confirmed blogging for nature workshop in 2008!

8 January 2008

• alas i spent lights out being on the laptop playing scrabble online. i really need to find activities away from electronic items.
• got a phone call earlier from a friend asking me to give a talk about what one can do for environment and community outreach. should be fun!
• haven't done lights out in almost a month and now at a lost with 7 oclock ticking pass me! scampering to turn computer off. cya at 9!
• Found an old resume where I wrote my objectives as "...sustainable community resource management through research, outreach or planning"
• After a long chat with my professor (the one who's in IPCC), I've realized that my niche is in community engagement, NGO mgmt & strategies
• I got approached to be involved either as a TA or guest speaker in the new Environmental Sustainability module offered by my department. Yay
• finally used my portable chopsticks for the first time today when we ate sushi for dinner! I was so happy when I returned the disposables :)

7 January 2008

• lights out today will be spent having dinner with friends so no electricity consumed. i made sure everything was turned off before leaving
• lights out yesterday was spent sleeping. sadly I was so jetlagged, I comatosed and hit the bed without turning off the computer!
• having a hard time adjusting back to being green but taking taxis is out of the question these days due to the price hike. yay!

Read full article here

Daily Green Actions: 17-30 Dec 2007

I'm Back!

Apologies for my lack of posting while I was away. In fact, I have faithfully, as much as possible, continued with my Daily Green Actions on Twitter. I've simply not had time to compile them every day on the blog. Unfortunately I was not able to do lights out while living in others' home.

Nonetheless I have put all my Daily Green Actions from the last 26 days into one post. More after the break in the full post.

It is becoming harder and harder to document any green actions. I put my reusable shopping bag to use yest and walked outdoors at lights out 01:24 AM December 30, 2007

interesting that disneyland has more stalls selling fruits and have recycling bins with every wastebin. still the amt of litter is amazing 05:58 AM December 27, 2007

spent the whole day yesterday in disneyland. is it not permissible to enjoy the xmas lights even though i think its wasting energy? 05:52 AM December 27, 2007

im beginning to think its impossible to have any green actions here in SD, living in others' home on holiday 05:51 AM December 27, 2007

My friend working as a LA County Planner reminded me of plans to dim the skies of LA for the wildlife. If only Urban Singapore would do that 02:02 AM December 25, 2007

lightsout in the full moon here would be much better as the moon lights up the sky! Somehow I think N Am is better, not as lighted as S'pore 02:01 AM December 25, 2007

Experiencing full moon in the temperate latitudes never cease to amaze and awe. The moon is so big and bright. Moon in the equator is tiny! 01:59 AM December 25, 2007

yesterday went to the chula vista nature center which is a marshland area of the tijuana estuary. animals in tanks were not v nice though 01:56 AM December 25, 2007

merry christmas! sad to say I've not really been able to engage in "green actions" other than the usual rejection of plastic bags 12:51 AM December 25, 2007

despite the freezing cold, i still turn off the shower while soaping my hair even though it would be warmer for me to stand in the hot water 03:14 AM December 23, 2007

Went to the Griffith Observatory and coincided our visit with the Winter Solstice Celebrations. Saw the sunset on the hills. Happy Winter! 04:38 PM December 22, 2007

Being in downtown LA gives me mixed feelings. On the one hand it's the only non-sprawl but it makes the sprawl so obvious by standing out 04:36 PM December 22, 2007

was in Los Angeles today. Spent lights out at dinner, playing with puppies and taking the Greyhound back to San Diego 04:35 PM December 22, 2007

when living in other people's home, its harder to implement lifestyle choices against the host's wishes but at least recycling is convenient 09:32 AM December 21, 2007

happily used my shopping bag instead of plastic bags while shopping for groceries but mama drove from shop to shop around a strip mall argh! 09:30 AM December 21, 2007 from web

went to a taco shop today and they only serve in styrofoam boxes and cups and it almost gave me a cardiac arrest. such misery 04:49 PM December 20, 2007

lights out has been permanently put on hold while on holiday. It gets dark here at 5pm! Yesterday spent lights out at dinner. Today? dinner 04:38 PM December 20, 2007

its very difficult to be green in another country, on holiday, dealing with another set of culture, practices and excuses. painful :( 04:37 PM December 20, 2007

As the plane approached Los Angeles yesterday, I felt depressed as I looked at the lights and traffic. Not a place I want to live in. 11:29 PM December 18, 2007

first morning in san diego. suburbia life makes me very angsty constantly. all that lightbulb for xmas decor and driving to get around. RAWR 11:28 PM December 18, 2007

making sure all my electrical appliances are turned off at the source before I leave town for a month 09:41 AM December 17, 2007

Read full article here

The Monkey's Land Dilemma

View of Los Angeles from the plane landing at LAX

It's been 26 days since the monkey checked in with her daily green action. Despite having been back in Singapore since Sunday, almost a week ago, I've been struggling to keep up with school, work and friends. Blame it on jet lag or just culture-lag but I'm trying to adjust back to regular programming again.

Can't say I have been particularly green while in Suburbia San Diego. It was particularly difficult and frustrating. Just about the only positive thing I noticed is that the toilet paper used is particularly environmental while back home, thick luscious toilet paper makes me cringe at the thought of virgin pulp. And honestly if I have to resort to comparing toilet paper, you know there hasn't been much else to focus on. Environmentally, of course.

While I haven't been exactly shopping my days away, drowning myself in materialist consumerism, it was particularly frustrating to drive from strip mall to box mall. Living in a suburban sprawl, visiting the sites where the San Diego fire has taken its toll, looking at burnt slopes made it very difficult for my sense and sensibilities.

Suddenly, visiting downtown Los Angeles felt like a reprieve and haven despite the fact that I've always hated it. I realize it's not the city itself that was unsustainable but the urban sprawl in the greater LA county and its commuting culture in said suburban sprawl that was critiqued.


The Lost Angels and its sprawl can be seen very clearly in this photo taken from Griffith Observatory near the Hollywood sign. Photo taken on the 2007 Winter Solstice.

Within the city itself, it was really much better in terms of walking, public transport and even mixed use housing! Unfortunately, my friend who is a LA county planner informed me that it's very much gentrified within the downtown area now. Read: expensive housing for rich executives. Pretty much the same as Singapore's downtown area I suppose.

Perhaps it is due to Singapore's space constraint that we have planned our land much better. However, this nagging thought will always lingers at the back of mind if Singapore had the land, would we also be crying out for single-family residence with a backyard for the kids and dog? In Singapore, owning a landed property is very much a status symbol. If more houses and land were available, surely we will all be scrambling for one. Sadly, who would want to live in high rise buildings then?

Perhaps after 2 generations of living in highrise apartment buildings, we have lost the call of the land. While it has disconnected us from nature, at the same time I doubt the suburban dwellers in san diego are very much more connected to nature. It's all a dilemma for me.

I tried to argue that nature should be kept apart from cities. Despite my love for nature, I rather live in the city. Not because I love living in cities. In fact, I abhor cities. However, if it means keeping myself from encroaching on wilderness, nature reserves and other rural or "wild" spaces, I would gladly suffer it.

How many people would be willing to do that? Not many I would think. If given the choice we all want the peaceful, tranquil, close to wild open spaces for our kids to run freely. I wouldn't want to raise a kid in New York City for example. It's really a headache thinking about these questions.

Yet watching the news in San Diego about cougars (mountain lions) running into the suburban towns in California made me toughen my resolve. There is a difference between living in the suburban area and living in a suburban SPRAWL. I think the motivations of planners and developers, population wanting to serve their own desires and crazy monkeys like me who cares more about the environment than my own desires are wildly different.

In Singapore, we don't have much say about suburban sprawl. In fact, we have sprawled beyond control. Jurong West extension, Punggol 21, were they not all "wilderness" before? The government says we need land for housing and goodbye mangroves and forests. Private developers (and the government that allocates land to them) continue to encroach on the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve with condominiums at the edge of the forest. Likewise, the selling point of these developments is to be "close to nature". Yet how many of these Bukit Timah residents complain about snakes coming into their homes? I know a few. Another case in point of the cougars.

So are we much different from the sprawl in US or any other countries? My only consolation perhaps is that our planning applied the key features of the new urbanism concept which is to have things within walking distance and to reduce car use and building a sense of community. Well, it's debatable. Besides there have been critiques who thought that Singapore may do a better job at conservation if we never build satellite towns scattered around the island but focused on growing the city in one concentrated space.

Do we ever think about what we are doing to satisfy our selfish desire to be "close to nature"? While we love nature, do we want to destroy nature just for us to have a piece of it? Or should we "sacrifice" our selfish desire and suffer the urban populace so that we can still have a piece of nature to go enjoy on the weekends?

And that is my monkey land dilemma and honestly I still do not know what the "right answer" is. Nor so I have an answer for myself. What do you think?

Read full article here

Daily Green Actions: 16 Dec 2007

• I'm leaving Singapore in a few hours on a 20 hours flight. Will not be updating for while. See you all in USA! about 11 hours ago
• Sharon Au was just on tv saying that she wants to be an environment ambassador. how nice. about 11 hours ago
• went to return projector at ECO just now and found that they've kept the electricity use to minimal. kudos! about 11 hours ago
• i refused sharks fin soup at the wedding dinner. still innocent sharks have died. got others to eat so it wldnt die to be flushed down drain about 18 hours ago
• unfortunately family coming over to my house tonight so no lights out but it'll be worthwhile. we try to minimize lights if we can. hard tho about 18 hours ago
• have been away from computer all day yesterday and spent lights out with family at my cousin's wedding is good way to celebrate lightsout about 18 hours ago

Read full article here

Daily Green Actions: 14 Dec 2007

• i could write a whole essay on this but taking flights r harmful for environment, especially frequent flights to nearby places on budgetair 05:29 PM December 14, 2007
• Feeling less guilty for flying to California on Monday because @evehow says that long distance flights less harmful than short dist flight 05:28 PM December 14, 2007
• Pop quiz - which is the best way to travel to (for e.g.) Kuala lumpur - By flight? By Train? By car? By Bus? The ans could be by motorbike! 05:26 PM December 14, 2007
• A most interesting conversation with @evehow. Cld it be possible that 30 lightweight motorbike has less emissions than 1 bus carrying 30pax? 05:22 PM December 14, 2007
• i've stopped using air conditioning for about 2 months now. mainly fan or natural monsoon winds to cool the monkey down. how about you? 05:06 PM December 14, 2007
• spending lights out today at holland village, planning an environmental education eco-camp for the shortlisted potential BYEE candidates. 03:47 PM December 14, 2007
• what are you doing to combat climate change? 03:20 PM December 14, 2007
• Now my sister thinks I'm a climate change skeptic only because I'm sick of emissions talks when more real action needed to be done! RAWR! 03:20 PM December 14, 2007
• "Our blinkered focus on reducing carbon emissions has led us to look in the wrong place for answers to other challenges." - Lomborg 03:19 PM December 14, 2007

Read full article here

Daily Green Actions: 13 Dec 2007

• Can we eliminate air travel altogether? What's worse? "flight sharing" or "single occupancy" lear jets? At what point do we draw the line? about 18 hours ago
• I'll be contributing to carbon emissions by flying across the pacific ocean on Monday. But it's not just a holiday. I'm visiting my husband! about 18 hours ago guilty of taking a taxi to driving school 2 days in a row. sin upon sin. sigh. public transport home of course. must stop being lazy about 18 hours ago
• moved my lounger to the balcony and spent lights out reading a book illuminated by the lights streaming in from the corridors. cooling too! about 18 hours ago
• Will I be doing more good for the environment actually spending lights out doing my "NGO" work instead of cutting emissions? What u think? about 22 hours ago
• Since ill, I drink a lot, pee a lot. Therefore I've been practicing selective flushing at home. Would you? Its been saving me gallons of H2O 11:23 AM December 13, 2007
• First there was free rice, play online game to donate food, and now there's Feed Bag http://tinyurl.com/38rg8f buy a bag and feed a child 11:21 AM December 13, 2007

Read full article here

Daily Green Actions: 12 Dec 2007

• met the guys from SunTechnic again at CNN filming. When they heard about lights out, they were happy to give tips on solar alternatives! about 23 hours ago
• I do turn off the tap when I am brushing but instead of using a mug, i use running water to rinse. This is really bad. Must. Get. Mug. about 23 hours ago
• Do you leave the water running when you are soaping your hair, body or when you are brushing your teeth? Turn it off and you save gallons! about 23 hours ago
• i admit, when Richard Quest ask who leave the water running when brushing teeth, I was too embarrassed to raise my hand. I must get a mug about 23 hours ago
• On 18 Dec, you will see the monkey ridiculed on CNN as lights out 365 is being described as me "sitting for 2 hours in the dark everyday" about 23 hours ago

• spent lights out at the CNN Future Summit filming. Met the Skeptical Environmentalist, Bjorn Lomborg. Woot! about 23 hours ago
• i've been excessively taking the taxi recently. this. must. stop! 01:26 PM December 12, 2007
• what's the point of me doing lights-out when i then proceed to turn on the room lights from 9pm to 6am reading a book when I shld be asleep! 01:26 PM December 12, 2007
• going for the CNN Future Summit tonight. The theme this round is the environment. Maybe you'll see the monkey on CNN soon 01:18 PM December 12, 2007

Read full article here

Daily Green Actions: 11 Dec 2007

• Instigated by ignorant attacks on conservation in general on the wildsingaporenews blog and wrote essays in reply http://tinyurl.com/2szl8x about 19 hours ago
• Spending lights out tonight with my cousin's wedding party, dinner outside. Hope I remember to turn off all electrical outlets before leavin about 19 hours ago
• Quoted in a straits times article about the charging of guided tours on Chek Jawa. Article will be out tomorrow. Hope it's good about 19 hours ago
• finally pin down on a description for my research interest - the social ecology of conservation & development dhttp://tinyurl.com/22r923 about 23 hours ago
• with the new uber taxi price hike, perhaps that will finally dissuade me from ever taking taxi again. even if it doesn't stop others from it 12:48 PM December 11, 2007

Read full article here

Daily Green Actions: 10 Dec 2007

• how far should we go minimizing plastic use? just rejecting plastic bags or even rejecting products with multitudes of plastic packaging? about 13 hours ago
• refused useless plastic bags for just buying 2 lemons at the supermarket but got paper bag when buying clothes and vacuum packed bakwa about 13 hours ago
• lights out was spend outside the house watching movie, running errands at the mall. save energy but wasted on consumerism? about 13 hours ago
• running out of fun and interesting but practical things for a sick monkey to do during lights out. any ideas? Lights Out is 51 days old! 11:16 AM December 10, 2007
• having a flu results in excessive use of tissue paper. lucky we buy 100% recycled material-made tissue paper. still, hanky unhygienic lah! 10:54 AM December 10, 2007

Read full article here

Daily Green Actions: 9 Dec 2007

• it's really not easy trying to enforcing an ethical lifestyle. while not practical, lights out 365 is really an exercise of self-regime about 14 hours ago
• i cheated. today's lights out was spent playing computer games. *sigh* about 14 hours ago

Read full article here

Daily Green Actions: 8 Dec 2007

• spent lights out sleeping away my flu. sadly it's still with me about 10 hours ago
• yesterday at the ramen restaurant, i forgot to bring my new portable chopsticks so i asked for fork instead of using their disposable ones about 16 hours ago
• learnt a lot during the coral workshop. I think I can finally identify some of these corals! Very happy albeit being utterly sick with flu about 17 hours ago

• right now at the coral workshop at raffles museum, conducted by the blue tempeh who is visiting in town. learning a lot about 23 hours ago
• first thing i saw out the window this morning was a new set of recycling bins right outside my apartment! very excited! about 23 hours ago

Read full article here

Daily Green Actions: 7 Dec 2007

• Potenco (makers of the pullcord generator) replied me that the PCG is not yet available for general distribution or purchase about 15 hours ago
• spent lights out with @evievie and @budak at the ACRES Wild Green and Rouge about 15 hours ago

Read full article here

Daily Green Actions: 6 Dec 2007

• lights out ended early by 30 minutes today coz i got worried that coworkers was trying to access my office and would freak out abt the dark 11:14 PM December 06, 2007
• was hoping to spend lights out lazing over a cuppa tea but now retreated to my darken office. too bad no owls tonight. must be the rain 07:22 PM December 06, 2007
• met with Ria for dinner and tea at NUS arts canteen, overlooking the southern islands. She confirm that the island I always see is P. Jong! 07:19 PM December 06, 2007
• Crap forgot to switch off electrical sources at the house before leaving just now. Damn! 07:18 PM December 06, 2007
• finished designing the christmas cards and sending it out to friends on facebook and blogging it 03:48 PM December 06, 2007
• Triumph created a bra that is also a reusable shopping bag! http://www.triumphjapan.com... 11:26 AM December 06, 2007
• Making electronic christmas cards for buy nothing christmas. think i'll send some of this out via superwall on facebook 11:04 AM December 06, 2007

Read full article here

Monkey's Yuletide Greetings

Dear Friends and Readers,

For Christmas this year, in support of Buy Nothing Christmas, I've designed a series of cards to send to each of my friends and of course, all of you.

Buy Nothing Xmas is really about remembering the true meaning of giving, sharing and spending time with friends family and loved ones. Instead of buying and lavishing meaningless gifts at the prompting of advertisements and retailers, how about just spending some quality time with your friends?

I will be out of the country from 17 Dec - 6 Jan so here's wishing all of you a very blessed yuletide season in advance. Happy Yuletide!

Much love,
November aka Monkey

Feel free to download and use the christmas cards for your own friends. There are 4 other designs for you to choose from.

Read full article here

Daily Green Actions: 5 Dec 2007

• lights out today (5 dec) was spent at the driving school, attending theory classes. luckily i was able to take public transport mainly today about 12 hours ago
• lights out yesterday (4 Dec) was spent at my sisters home, having dinner then strolling outdoors with the kids in the cool night about 12 hours ago
• Just saw myself appearing on the wildlife stampede HSBC advertorial on arts central waving NHC flag! TV Coverage for Naked Hermit Crabs! about 12 hours ago

Read full article here

Daily Green Actions: 4 Dec 2007

• please don't misunderstand that im not trying to replace power plants by regressing to human powered dynamos but it could be fun! 05:34 PM December 04, 2007
• @evehow suggest the hand powered generator probably couldn't power my laptop but i could use it for other things like charging batteries? 05:33 PM December 04, 2007
• Emailed Potenco to ask them if I could purchase the hand-powered generator. It will be good for lights out and field work! 03:59 PM December 04, 2007
• Walked around the campus with my guest from HongKong and now sweaty & stink but refused to turn on the airconditioning. Foolish or hardcore? 02:55 PM December 04, 2007
• Here's a hand-powered generator for my laptop so I can use it during lights out and get a workout! http://tinyurl.com/2uwu9e 02:54 PM December 04, 2007
• meeting a PhD student from HKU who is researching on SEA civil society groups and urban environment sustainability to give him the sg story 11:01 AM December 04, 2007
• i've been forgetting to turn off the electricity at the source because i'm always late and in hurry to go out. this really takes discipline! 10:45 AM December 04, 2007

Read full article here

Daily Green Actions: 3 Dec 2007

• sadly i had to take taxi to class today because i couldn't tear myself away from the pc and was late for class. laziness is my #1 nemesis about 13 hours ago
• lights out today was spent at my basic driving theory lessons, bus ride home and reading in the cool breeze at the park bench downstairs about 13 hours ago
• Sunday lights out was spent sleeping. Was utterly exhausted after spending 2 days on ubin doing nature guiding and kayaking, etc. 07:40 AM December 03, 2007

Read full article here

Daily Green Actions: 2 Dec 2007

• spent lights out yesterday on pulau ubin, a land with no streetlights. what a wonder. sadly light pollution kept the horizon bright 04:44 PM December 02, 2007
• despite being exhausted and my buses arriving, i walked home. this resolution of mine to not be a lazy urbanite takes lots of determination 04:43 PM December 02, 2007

Read full article here

Daily Green Actions: Offline Edition

No updates on twitter for 1 December 2007 as I spent the whole day offline, away from technology, in "rural" Singapore. I spent the day (and night) on Pulau Ubin. Enjoying lights out in the moonlight. Alright, there was more light pollution than moonlight but relaxing nonetheless.


Sunrise on Pulau Ubin, 2 Dec 2007. Didn't even have time to take photos during lights out on 1 Dec!

Read full article here

Daily Green Actions: 30 Nov 2007

• we walked from serene centre to 6th avenue along bukit timah road instead of taking the bus. it was very enjoyable. resisted taking cab too 07:20 PM November 30, 2007
• spending lights out with @evievie drinking wheat tea and playing scrabble 07:19 PM November 30, 2007
• after almost 2 weeks of lights out, i realize that im getting a hang of taking it easy, away from technology, relaxing, energy-use free! 12:48 PM November 30, 2007
• the wind is so strong these days that theres no need for even a fan to ventilate the room! awesome :) 11:57 AM November 30, 2007

Read full article here

Daily Green Actions: 29 Nov 2007

• wishing i can go for the UN conference in Bali next month. Unfortunately, only the youth representative gets to go. This mentor doesn't. about 14 hours ago
• bought a $10 dress to be the "bridesmaid" and emcee for my cousin's wedding. talk about beating consumerism! yay! about 15 hours ago
• lights out was spend bathing in dark, dinner and errands outside then walked back from the mall. prob din offset anythin but what a workout! about 15 hours ago
• @budak walked all the way from downtown to little india for green drinks and offset all our carbon emission. bravo! i need to walk more. 01:58 AM November 29, 2007
• my sister complaining abt the frustration of her friends not willing to sacrifice comfort for environmentally friendly behavior. how true 01:47 AM November 29, 2007

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"Wildlife trade in Singapore"

The volunteer guides of the Raffles Museum of Biodiversity Research will be holding a one-day charity, gallery guiding event in aid of Acres Wildlife Rescue Center on 8th December 2007 (Saturday).


Raffles Museum of Biodiversity Research Public Gallery

The main purpose of this event is to raise awareness on the wildlife trade while raising funds for the only wildlife rescue center in Singapore. The theme for our guided tour is the 'Wildlife trade in Singapore'. The guiding will be focused on the Wildlife Trade and Animal Welfare with guides to enthrall us with the various shady and appalling tricks of the wildlife trade.


ACRES Wildlife Rescue Centre at night

Acres will also be present at this event. This event is being done free-of-charge and so visitors are encouraged to donate whatever they choose to the ACRES Wildlife Rescue Center. This is a special, one time Gallery event focusing on the plight of animals, so do come for a tour of a natural history museum and show your support for Acres (http://www.acres.org.sg/).

This is a free and easy guiding session and visitors are welcome at their own time.

Date: 8th Dec 2007 (Saturday)
Time: 10am- 3pm
Venue: Raffles Museum of Biodiversity Research (RMBR), Department of Biological Sciences, 6 Science Drive 2, #03-01, Faculty of Science, National University of Singapore
Cost: Donations

Please express your interest and RSVP the number of people attending and a contact person by 3rd Dec so that we will be able to make the necessary arrangements. For further queries please contact Nanthinee at nanthineej@gmail.com or 91279479.

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Daily Green Actions: 28 Nov 2007

• resisted taking taxi to sign up for driving class but i made ria drive to bukit batok to pick me up. better than i take taxi to meet her? about 16 hours ago
• spent lights out at the Green Drinks Singapore meeting. Met some readers of the blog. Hello! about 16 hours ago
• last time driving is all about the smog & pollution. these days, people only talk about carbon emissions from driving. spot the trend! 02:01 PM November 28, 2007
• knowing how to drive does not mean that I have to drive everyday from my house to the groccery store. i'm not going to be a c02 emitter! 02:00 PM November 28, 2007
• on my way to sign up for driving lessons now. After resisting for 26 years, i've finally recognize that driving is an essential skill. 01:58 PM November 28, 2007
• attending Green Drinks tonight. hopefully we can get some networking going on here 11:34 AM November 28, 2007
• left the computer on overnight, downloading game. last night left tv on and fell asleep. *sigh* what a waste 11:33 AM November 28, 2007

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Daily Green Actions: 27 Nov 2007

• lights out today spent out of home and office, having a long meeting for IYOR08. i did turn lights/aircon off before i left. its war! about 14 hours ago
• having an aircon war with my office-mate. he left the office lights and aircon on at 22degC today! RAWR! about 15 hours ago
• the weather is perfect for enjoying the cool morning with its refreshing wind and rain. natural air conditioning! 10:55 AM November 27, 2007

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Daily Green Actions: 26 Nov 2007

• Gave up after 10 minutes of stalking the trees where I know the owl hangs out. Next time I shall record the call and get it identified about 16 hours ago
• today's light out I shall go owl "hunting" :) Hopefully I can finally see the owl I hear so often every evening about 16 hours ago
• the time is 7pm and the resident spotted wood owl is out and about, right on time, with its resonating hoot, reminding me its lights out! about 16 hours ago
• resisted shopping at kinokuniya but took a cab to the environment talk which was rather disappointing. about 18 hours ago
• The My Paper article about recycling is out. Sounds ok. Uploaded pdf on server http://tinyurl.com/28v9tm
• Going for a talk by Frank Macdonald, Irish Times Environment Editor on Media and the environment at 12 noon, SIIA House. 10:43 AM November 26, 2007
• Finally turned the aircon on after 2 weeks of abstinence. the weather has simply gotten unbearably hot and humid. sigh 10:32 AM November 26, 2007

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Daily Green Actions: 25 Nov 2007

• there was no lights out today because my whole family was at home from 7-9pm and it's impossible to suggest the concept to them. sigh about 10 hours ago
• spent a productive morning discussing new projects and killing some off to better manage my time and studies. now going to botanic gardens about 21 hours ago
• people have questioned my use of candles during lights out. honestly i would prefer if i have those solar powered lamps I mentioned. about 21 hours ago

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Daily Green Actions: Buy Nothing Day

• it is really a challenge finding alternative things to do away from television, computer and mobile phone. I actually suffer from withdrawal about 16 hours ago
• Today's lights out was spent bathing and cooking dinner in candlelight; dinner on the bench outside my house and strolling in full moonlight about 16 hours ago
• going offline for lights out today. 1st time in a week that Im finally going to totally not use any electricity! Bathing in the dark is fun! about 18 hours ago
• Thanks to the carnival, I felt so reconnected and decided to take a detour along the river (canalized of cos) on the way home. rejuvenated! about 21 hours ago
• The Lapiz Lazuli Light Carnival was inspirational. I bought portable reusable chopsticks. It's buy nothing day but I dun feel guilty! about 21 hours ago
• Happy Buy Nothing Day. Have you succumbed to black friday yet? I hope not. 09:41 AM November 24, 2007

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Daily Green Actions: 23 Nov 2007

• I have to stop spending lights out every day in front of the computer, even if laptop is batt-powered and not using any direct electricity. about 22 hours ago
• Planning my Buy Nothing Day activities for tomorrow. Going to attend the Lapiz Lazuli Green Carnival and make our own picnic food with evie about 22 hours ago
• almost forgot about light out but now in darkness, listening to the resident owl hooting from nearby trees, playing scrabble on computer about 24 hours ago
• My name is monkey. I am a wasteful consumer, disconnected from production and enjoy urban conveniences without considering consequences. 11:12 AM November 23, 2007
• sadly the first step of any rehabilitation program like alcoholic anonymous is to FIRST acknowledge you have a problem. 11:09 AM November 23, 2007
• sick of thinking about my every move and assessing if its "eco-friendly" but my lifestyle is just too entrenched in wasteful habits. *cry* 11:07 AM November 23, 2007
• the only fallback of not turning on my lights is that my coworkers think im not in the office but leaving window open in empty room! sigh 11:05 AM November 23, 2007
• normally my office lights would be on all day, during daylight hours as well. today it's been off since 7am. Lights out all the way! 10:54 AM November 23, 2007
• It's 7am and I'm in my office after dropping off my guest at the airport. Realized that since I'm going to nap, might as well off the lights 07:00 AM November 23, 2007

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USA Black Friday

Buy Nothing Day is precisely a response to Black Friday.

Black Friday is so called not because of dooms and glooms but because in the US, every retail business would be in the "blacks", making a profit. It is the only day in the whole year where every business is guaranteed to make money.

Why? Just watch the video above and you can guess why. And it is precisely Black Friday that Buy Nothing Day came into existence. To curb this kind of extreme consumerism in ONE DAY. I guess it's like After Christmas Sales for us or perhaps the Great Singapore Sale. One month of consumerism madness. Perhaps there should be a local Buy Nothing Day targeted at our consumer quirks.

Today I will be spending Buy Nothing Day at Fort Caning. Lapiz Lazuli Light is having a Holistic Health Green Carnival called "an ant's endeavor to move a tree". Although it's not a problem for me to resist buying really cool things, I suspect I will be spending most of my time trying to persuade my friend not to succumb to the allure. Unfortunately as she reminded me, we're supposed to be there to support the cause. We'll see. Anywho, we have made a home-made lunch to picnic at the park later. That should be fun :) We've made sure we didn't use any luxurious ingredients. Having an Indonesian food theme picnic later!

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Buy Nothing Day

Tomorrow is Buy Nothing Day in Singapore. A project that started in Canada as an informal day of protest against consumerism observed by social activists. It is usually held a day after Thanksgiving on 23 Nov - a mega shopping date for consumers in North America. A day of cheap sales and buying things you never need.

Sounds familiar?

Internationally, Buy Nothing Day is observed on 24 Nov 2007. Although there are no flash mobs or conspicuous protests organized in Singapore, everybody can participate by not participating.

Resist the taunt and temptation of consumerism on buy nothing day this saturday, 24 Nov 2007! Buy nothing more than bare necessities. Reflect on your shopping habits. Think!

Since Thanksgiving is not celebrated in Singapore, a season for shopping we could relate to more would be the upcoming Christmas holiday. A season of buying and buying. Thus you would be happy to know that in addition to Buy Nothing Day, there is Buy Nothing Christmas!



To be honest, I am, like you, deeply entrenched in our urbanite consumerist lifestyle. I am deeply dependent on buying buying and more buying. We use and we waste without a blink of an eye. Most of us don't know or don't care how our daily essentials are produced. We like our comforts and our conveniences. We buy exorbitantly priced consumer items because the magazine says its now a trendy status symbol and fashionable statement. We buy cute adorable ornaments that serves no purpose. We succumb to advertising. We buy things that we don't need.

Yes I am guilty of all of the above.

My Daily Green Actions project has honestly been very tiring for me because I now have to make myself to face all my every little action. I am making myself more responsible for my own actions. To stop, think and reflect.

But like how alcoholism is treated, combatting consumerism begins with a single step. Acknowledging the problem and taking responsibilities for our own actions!

My name is monkey. I am a wasteful consumer, disconnected from production and enjoy urban conveniences without considering consequences.

Join me in taking this first step! You will not be alone. More than 170 people have pledged their support for Buy Nothing Day in Singapore on facebook alone.

Related News:
End of the High Street hunter-gatherer?, BBC News, 23 Nov 2007

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