I totally support the Selangor government’s decision for extending the “no plastic bag” day to include weekdays as well (reported in The Star yesterday). This means that we will be having “no plastic bag” everyday…..hurayyy. I know this is nothing to cheer about but I regard it a step towards a better Malaysia and better environment. If the government took the environment seriously, then it could mean they care. If our leaders care for our environment, it will eventually lead others to be caring as well. So wish we could go back to our “Bapa Malaysia “(meaning Father of Malaysia) environment. This is the title carried by our first Prime Minister of Malaysia, Tunku Abdul Rahman. Back then we were regarded as a caring society and polite citizens internationally.
After our Prime Minister Abdul Rahman passed away, so was our nation’s morality. You could see selfish people everywhere, rude and angry drivers, poor customer service, the “don’t care attitude”, rising worships for money and power; and rising cases of criminal offenders. I don’t know whether it’s because of bad economy or are we fond of a barbaric culture? You may think I am overstating, but this is how I see it. Maybe it’s only one bad apple that spoils the whole basket. Of course I believe that there are still good people around here, they just need to come out and fend off those barbarians and teach them a lesson.
I sure hope the “no plastic bag” campaign will be followed by the Government’s move to improve public transport facility to encourage lesser usage of mobile cars. Can we reduce to cycling or motorcycle just like in China? I can imagine we will sure melt cycling under the hot sun. Maybe we should plant more trees to absorb some heat then.
I know that politically and economically speaking we are not in very good shape but I am hopeful Malaysia will one day be a viable place to live.
“To win the cause we all believe in, the spread of true democracy all over the world, we need to win by example, not just with speeches but by example; not just with military might but by gaining the respect of the world. “--- Barbara Boxer
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Thursday, May 20, 2010
The silly bandz craze!
I was curious when I saw pictures of silly bandz and didn't know what it was. Turn out they are just rubber bands with all kinds of shapes and colours. It seems that primary school kids use them as bangles, costume jewellery, tie hair, tie to all sorts of things or even exchange them with their friends. They swap them like baseball cards. If i'm still in my primary, I will probably make it into a skipping rope. Skipping is the most popular activity during my primary time.
I think these bandz will be fun since its colourful and affordable. Do check out the glow in the dark bandz to add more fun.
If you have interest to know more, follow this link: Zany Bandz Shaped Rubber Bands Bracelets 24Pack Hollywood Glows In The Dark!
The importance of family dinner for a child’s development
Today I read a news article from ninemsn titled “Families challenged to eat together”, which says that family’s dinner time is important for a child to develop social skills and to learn about nutrition.
I think this is very true and it is a good practice for parents to make an effort to sit down during dinner time and talk to their kids about nutrition, life stories, moral habits rather than watching TV.
I remembered during my primary and teen years, I will always look forward to dinner time. It’s a time when the family gets together and shares their thoughts. I couldn’t see much of my parents during those years because they are mostly busy working. I only get to see them when they pick us up from school but never had a chance to talk to them.
We will spend almost an hour or two catching up during dinner time; they will cover all sorts of topics. My father will tell us about his work, what considers good habits and other peoples’ facts of life that he encountered where we should learn some good moral values. Sometimes he will cite some phrases from the Buddha’s teachings, telling us not to cheat and not to be greedy.
He will also ask us about our life at school, friends and teachers. We will tell him about what we encountered during our school time, he will advise us on what we have to do or maybe it become a topic of discussion whether something we do is right or wrong.
Other times we will talk about our past history that makes us laugh or giggle together. My father and mother will tell about their life when they were young and some history about my ancestors too.
All in all, dinner time is about time to understand each other and to learn from each other.
I see my father as my great life teacher. No other things are more valuable than my father’s stories and teachings.
I think this is very true and it is a good practice for parents to make an effort to sit down during dinner time and talk to their kids about nutrition, life stories, moral habits rather than watching TV.
I remembered during my primary and teen years, I will always look forward to dinner time. It’s a time when the family gets together and shares their thoughts. I couldn’t see much of my parents during those years because they are mostly busy working. I only get to see them when they pick us up from school but never had a chance to talk to them.
We will spend almost an hour or two catching up during dinner time; they will cover all sorts of topics. My father will tell us about his work, what considers good habits and other peoples’ facts of life that he encountered where we should learn some good moral values. Sometimes he will cite some phrases from the Buddha’s teachings, telling us not to cheat and not to be greedy.
He will also ask us about our life at school, friends and teachers. We will tell him about what we encountered during our school time, he will advise us on what we have to do or maybe it become a topic of discussion whether something we do is right or wrong.
Other times we will talk about our past history that makes us laugh or giggle together. My father and mother will tell about their life when they were young and some history about my ancestors too.
All in all, dinner time is about time to understand each other and to learn from each other.
I see my father as my great life teacher. No other things are more valuable than my father’s stories and teachings.
Monday, May 17, 2010
Reuse & Recycle: Don’t throw away your receipts
It took an average of 24 trees to produce a ton of papers. And rainforests which were once covered 14% of the earth’s land is now reduced to 6%. This is an alarming finding.
Can you imagine a world without trees? What about the future of our children? How about our ecosystem?
If our children are still alive then, then they have to go to the museum to see what a tree looks like. I certainly don’t want this to happen. But what strength do I have but to be conscious about the daily living that will have an effect on the environment.
Let us preserve whatever that is still beautiful for our future.
And so I found the usefulness of the receipts that were given when we make a purchase.
I use the back of the receipts which are mostly blank to write down my grocery list. Sometimes, I also use it to write meaningful quotes or reminders and keep it in my purse.
“The earth we abuse and the living things we kill will, in the end, take their revenge; for in exploiting their presence we are diminishing our future.” ~Marya Mannes, More in Anger, 1958
Thursday, May 13, 2010
KLM Charity Tulip Sale 8th May 2010
I have always love tulips but never seen the real one. So,last saturday, I had the opportunity to participate for the first time in the KLM charity tulip sale. I arrived at the concourse, sungai wang with my husband and baby about 10.30am and the queue was already very long.
Maybe I should make it very very early next year if I plan to go.
It took us about one hour to queue, to make donations and queue somemore for someone to attend to us and finally time to choose tulips.
Each tulip costs RM 5 each and RM 10 for the limited edition dark purple "Black Hero".
Rabobank and Dutch Bank will each contribute RM1 for each flower so as to make it affordable for us to purchase at RM5. The proceeds from the sale will be donated to UMMC Children's Cancer Fund.
When my turn comes, most of the beautiful tulips are already taken. The ones that were left looks like they need some freshen up with water. I took the last stalk of Black Hero (that was what the staff told me) and chooses a few stalks. All the colours are beautiful but I especially like the white ones.
Once I got home I took this picture and send it to my friends to wish them Happy Mother's Day. I've got 3 bundles of those tulips.One for myself and the others,i've given them each to my mother-in-law and my mother.
The flowers seems to be a bit exhausted....
Instantly those tulips look fresh when I place them in a jar of water.
They still look pretty on Monday but today they all withered away. I Googled over the internet and found that Tulips generally means perfect love. Black tulips on the other hand, symbolizes power and strength.
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
How to deal with materialistic children?
He will cry, scream and wail. Sometimes he will throw things to show he is angry when his mommy didn’t give him raisins or bread that he wants. When he is picked up by his mommy he will stop screaming and quickly point his little index finger to either biscuit, raisins, bread or his favourite banana.
When it comes to food, I will mostly give my 17th month old son whatever he demanded. I don’t want him to starve. But there are times when I refuse his demand for treats because it’s very near to his meal time.
All these cries and demands got me into thinking of what will happen when my children grew up demanding things that their schoolmates have. Although I didn’t remember pestering my parents for things that my schoolmates have or demand for branded stuff but I believe children in this century is different from my time.
I would say children in this time are more competitive against each other for branded stuff or academic results. A prove of status, either gaining the status of the affluent or the einstein category. To sum it all, children nowadays turn materialistic in order to be acceptable by their peers. The question is how do I teach them to overcome this kind of materialistic pressure? Shall I give in to their demand so as to ease them from such pressure but turn them into a materialistic spoiled brat?
I would have this to say to my children that:
1) Fulfilling demands easily may spoil a child. In future, if he faces difficulty in life it will be very hard on him because he is so use to getting things easily. Money doesn’t come easily, we need to work and get paid. Then only we get to spend. I will tell my children that if they want to buy things which I consider a luxury, then they have to earn it or learn to save money or use their brain but never go into crimes.
2) There are faces of life that are more important than things. They are such as parents’ love, family’s relationship, friendship and doing good to the society. Do you think children in poverty who are starving will think of branded goods? Obviously not, we have to think of people in poverty in order to be grateful for what we have now.
3) Things are only bought for a reason. It is no excuse that they want to buy a particular brand of shoe or bag just because schoolmates have it.
4) To love is to teach them to differentiate and to analyze things. Things that are of necessity, things that are of quality, things that are valuable for money, things that are a favourite either because of the designs, the designers profile or for other reasons.
5) I will tell my children that we are not a cow which follow the crowd but a cow who knows the reason to follow. That makes us an individual with identity and pride.
When it comes to food, I will mostly give my 17th month old son whatever he demanded. I don’t want him to starve. But there are times when I refuse his demand for treats because it’s very near to his meal time.
All these cries and demands got me into thinking of what will happen when my children grew up demanding things that their schoolmates have. Although I didn’t remember pestering my parents for things that my schoolmates have or demand for branded stuff but I believe children in this century is different from my time.
I would say children in this time are more competitive against each other for branded stuff or academic results. A prove of status, either gaining the status of the affluent or the einstein category. To sum it all, children nowadays turn materialistic in order to be acceptable by their peers. The question is how do I teach them to overcome this kind of materialistic pressure? Shall I give in to their demand so as to ease them from such pressure but turn them into a materialistic spoiled brat?
I would have this to say to my children that:
1) Fulfilling demands easily may spoil a child. In future, if he faces difficulty in life it will be very hard on him because he is so use to getting things easily. Money doesn’t come easily, we need to work and get paid. Then only we get to spend. I will tell my children that if they want to buy things which I consider a luxury, then they have to earn it or learn to save money or use their brain but never go into crimes.
2) There are faces of life that are more important than things. They are such as parents’ love, family’s relationship, friendship and doing good to the society. Do you think children in poverty who are starving will think of branded goods? Obviously not, we have to think of people in poverty in order to be grateful for what we have now.
3) Things are only bought for a reason. It is no excuse that they want to buy a particular brand of shoe or bag just because schoolmates have it.
4) To love is to teach them to differentiate and to analyze things. Things that are of necessity, things that are of quality, things that are valuable for money, things that are a favourite either because of the designs, the designers profile or for other reasons.
5) I will tell my children that we are not a cow which follow the crowd but a cow who knows the reason to follow. That makes us an individual with identity and pride.
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