28 July 2008
10:07 PM
I'm beginning to get serious about the Environment.
It's scaring me; disasters so serious that we've never seen the like before, Venice submerging yearly (I can't imagine the next generation never being able to sit on a true gondola), S'pore completely submerged should temperatures get 3 degrees celsius higher (no way).
They don' tell you these things. They don't say that sea surges in london are so serious they've built engineering devices on the thames to counter it. That is the only reason why the thames doesn't flood over. I saw the flood lines on the huge hydro banks; it has flooded so often there is actually a film green algae line there.
They don't mention the possibility of a permanent El Nino in the Pacific; droughts in Indo and Australia are just the beginning of the food shortages to come.
The thing is that we have a chance. Humanity has a chance to prolong generational continuation (God willing) now. But because any international effort is only as effective as an individual attempt, I thought I'd begin some personal measures...
- I've stopped taking plastic bags when shopping, and carry my eco-bag everywhere. (Dimly I recall the look of disdain I was awarded from the D perkins lady when I said "no bag please" and shoved the garment into my kiehl's bag. Not cool.)
- I'm not going to learn how to drive because I can always take the public transport (and I am afraid of cars); I walk instead of taking a bus, but mostly for monetary reasons: why pay 67c for a 3 min bus ride when I can walk for 20 min for free?
- My aircon is set on a timer for 1am, and it's only turned on at 11pm. I do wake up feeling marginally uncomfortable, but at least it's better for the skin.
- I have actually shut down my laptop and flipped the power mains. ("Which idiot does that?" This one does.) It's suppose to help conserve, but it's really taking its toil on my patience.
- I reuse heavily. Any plastic used to hold fruit, I wash and reuse for peels / wrapping. Mum is disgusted, but hey it's going to be my world soon, in 50 years' time. I don't want to look back and see that I did nothing to solve the problem, and everything to contribute.
After taking all this down I realise how small the measures are. In the grand scheme of things, it would hardly make a dent in the downward spiral of our world, our Father's world. But because I don't know what else I can do, these will have to suffice. Go me.
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Anyway.
It is comforting to meet seniors who have been there done that. It really adds a whole new layer of Perspective to going abroad, meeting new people from a totally new culture (and I do classify walking almost-naked in a public toilet a New culture).
And, it was extremely comforting to finally finally have met a lit - ucl graduate, because, to be very honest, I wasn't sure they existed in s'pore. (Not many, if any, go ucl because of its oxbridge tutorial system, which I still find intimidating. Really.) But they do, and I've met him, and received an amazing treasure trove of good advice.
I am quite tired after 6 hours of ministry rehearsal, the last of its kind thank goodness. On my final run I made the Unforgivable mistake, the first big one in all rehearsals. While ad-libbing I forgot what I was talking about, too safe in my "comfort zone / stage", so I said something stupid for our final run which the Director watched. Of all times to mess up, I mess up then. Lesson definitely learnt.
I'm going back to The Night Watch; london blitz is exciting from a woman's perspective.
