28.10.08

Are you part of the cause or part of the solution?


I was going to talk about my half-moo'd plans but hubby and I saw something over the weekend that moved me so greatly I decided to blog about it instead.

We went to an open air exhibition that showcased pictures from 'Earth from Above' by Yann Arthus-Bertrand. The focus of the exhibition was to promote sustainable living and highlight how beautiful our earth is. There were 120 different photographs of the earth, its people and various animals.


There were all these facts that accompanied the pictures that made me feel such disappointment towards the human race. I couldn't help but wonder...if God made us, and if we were 'intelligently designed', why were we intelligently designed to destroy the planet? How is it that a loving God would allow for us to destroy His loving creations? How could that possibly be called intelligent design?

It was very heart wrenching to find out how destructive we human beings are. There were points where I was so moved by the pictures that I could feel tears prickling my eyes. It's amazing how we can be so cruel and selfish. We pillage and plunder and take whatever Mother Earth provides and leave her bleeding and raw with big gaping wounds. We take and take and when she's barren and wasted, leave her to fend for herself, abandoned and desolate.

But the one thing that made me feel an even greater sense of despair was if we continue down this path, what will the earth be like for future generations? Will there even be an earth? Will it become a wasteland that sci-fi movies seem to depict? Will our children's children end up living underground, never able to feel the sun warming up their skin? Will they never be able to experience the smell of freshly cut grass, feel the sand beneath their toes, see a magnificent sunset, hear the sounds of a rushing waterfall, or taste vine-ripened fruit? Will everything have to be artificially manufactured or genetically modified?

And so, I asked myself. Am I going to be part of the solution? And even before I finished the question, I knew beyond a doubt that yes, count me in! Because I am so inexorably linked to this planet that any injury this earth sustains will only hurt me too. And that I wouldn't be able to live with myself knowing that I could do something...but didn't.

So what can you do? Well for starters, pause for 2 seconds and ask yourself:
  • Do I really need to spend another 2 minutes under the shower?
  • Do I really need to leave the TV, radio, computer, Xbox and all the lights in the house switched on?
  • Do I really need to order more food that I know I won't be able to finish just because I'm feeling greedy?
  • Shouldn't I change to energy efficient light bulbs and appliances?
  • Shouldn't I try to recycle as much as I can?
  • Shouldn't I find out how I can reduce my carbon footprint?
You too can be part of the solution. All you need to do is decide that you love this earth enough to be part of the solution. And tell everyone that you can to get them on board as well.

If you want to find out more, simply Google 'Sustainable Living' and you'll find heaps of tips and hints on how you can make a difference. You may also want to check out the 'Earth From Above' exhibition that we went to or have a look at Yann's non-profit endeavour - 'Good Planet'.

I know you'll choose to do the right thing. I trust you will.

Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to log off and turn off my computer before I use up anymore energy. Nite!

12 comments:

Minah Melayu said...

I saw a similar exhibition a couple of years ago in Amsterdam. It was pretty cool.

I can write a lot about things that everyone could do... but we live in an ipod and throw away generation. No matter how hard I try to find something that last, things are not made to last anymore... everything can be thrown away and replaced... sad...

anyway... back to work!

pugly said...

Hey, I have that book. I think it's still buried in a box somewhere in the store room :-P

Some prat told me once that I shouldn't be buying books so much. He said it's not eco-friendly, as they'd have to cut down lotsa trees to produce those books. I told him to read more books & get himself properly educated, too much Internet is bad for the brains.

izso said...

Hmm.. I do everything but recycle garbage. I do try to recycle plastic and tins. But my electricity bill can still amount to RM90 a month even with this minimalistic usage with energy savers and all.

How much can we really do? Cuz in the end, it'll still damage the earth.

izso said...

And more importantly - if the government isn't encouraging the people, what makes you think the few of us will make a difference?

NinJaMoo said...

bee: You're so right. Its the fight between selling and lasting long enough. Another thing that my design friend brought up is that designers are now making people want the latest design and thus people are purchasing what they don't need.

I just think it all comes down to waste...

NinJaMoo said...

pugs: That's one helluva bug squasher. There's another book on the Earth that's a major bug squasher as well and I read somewhere that there's a collector's edition going for $5k!!! And that collectors' ed has a 2m rollout inside. Insane or what?

And as much as I love new books, it may be time to change that habit and buy used so that it doesn't just become waste...

NinJaMoo said...

izso: If everyone thinks like you, how do you think we're going to make a difference? And some people are ignorant, you have to show them the way. Failing that, I think we should enrol them for kamikaze terrorist training.

izchan said...

Ninja,

All for saving the world.
But more for saving it one starfish at a time.

I do my part but I don't believe it will work.

I agree with izso on this.
If the one in power are not helping, the strength of the people in this won't be strong.

We are not the major cause of the destruction. We as in the general public.

Did we not ask for more efficient fuels to be release?
Where is it?

Did we not ask for a more controlled building of residence?
Where is it?

Did we not ask for better management of power utilities?
Where is it?

Sorting out garbage is good and fine.
Turning off electricity when not in used is fine.
Walking instead of driving is fine.
But will that save the world?
Seriously?
Not by a long shot.

It takes a consortive effort on EVERY party (not just small fries like us).

There is no way around it.

verification code : sormavi

izso said...

Kamikaze terrorist training leaves a bigger carbon footprint than my house does :P

And what's the big plan that you postponed la?

izchan said...

has the cow come home yet?

NinJaMoo said...

izchan:
Little drops of water,
little grains of sand,
make the mighty ocean
and the beauteous land.

And the little moments,
humble though they may be,
make the mighty ages
of eternity.

Little deeds of kindness,
little words of love,
make our earth an Eden,
like the heaven above.

NinJaMoo said...

izso: Thanks for the reminder ;P

izchan: Which home?