Singapore
June 2013
Last weekend, Merlion Wayfarer was asked what does "eco living" mean to her?
June 2013
Last weekend, Merlion Wayfarer was asked what does "eco living" mean to her?
It was a head-scratching answer that required loads of reflection, followed by some pondering by the waterfall before verbalization. 'Twas hard, because it is already so much of her lifestyle.
There are lists that one can compile on the 10 things that everyone can do for the environment. Or even 101 things. But if lists are not your way of life, will you do anything out of your normal lifestyle to try save the environment? After all, the end of the world may not happen in your lifetime.
(Source : NDTV)
To Merlion Wayfarer, eco-living means to incorporate green habits into her daily life. It is not an article, nor even a series of articles. It does not require drastic changes. Instead, it is about a way of life, thinking about the impact you create for your environment with each little thing you do.
.A.Way.Of.Life.
.Each.Little.Thing.You.Do.
It often means inconvenience at the initial stage. For example, to walk 10 metres or to take a lift downstairs to the nearest recycle bin to throw a single bottle or a bag of recyclable trash, instead of just dumping it into the wastebasket in front of you.
But in the longer term, it means a lifestyle, a way to be. For us, and the people around us.
.A.Way.To.Be.For.Us.And.The.People.Around.Us.
Because what we do today does not affect only us. It affects people from all over the world...
Sustainability of one's current lifestyle should not be taken for granted.
What if... one day even the humble apple is a luxury to a child in Singapore?
A NatGeo spokesperson once said to Merlion Wayfarer, the "real world" is not about dollars and cents. It is about the environment we live in, the trees that photosynthesize the fresh air that we breathe, and the plants and animals that inhabit the land and water we depend on for food.
True enough, you need to exchange "money" for "things". Yet, money is just a medium of exchange.
With all the money in the world, can an extinct animal be brought back to life?
It is important to protect the world we live in so that our kids can see yet another sunrise.
And not destruction caused by fire, smoke and water...
Or our world today will just be a memory in the dust...
Who is responsible for Gaia?
You yourself. If you believe that the people after you have a right to the same quality of life and resources as you, then
Think.Act.Share the message of eco-living...
It also means ensuring that the next generation grow to love and appreciate the surroundings which we all live in. Merlion Wayfarer ever heard parents tell their children to "Be careful of that komodo dragon at MacRitchie or it will eat you up!". Kids then shy away, or worse still, throw stones and sticks at the Water Monitor Lizard that lies peacefully by the water because it needs to bring up its body temperature in the heat of the day.
When is a living thing more than "that brown butterfly" or "that red dragonfly"?
It is when the children of tomorrow know how to identify these little creatures, and grow to appreciate the fragility of the eco-system that Man is at the apex of.
The children of tomorrow need to be shown how to love their environment. How then do you "teach" them love?
Invoke in them a sense of curiousity about the world around us.
Intrigue them to ask questions.
And show them that Man is just one small part...
Of the whole wide beautiful world we live in...
Merlion Wayfarer feels honoured that she is selected as a finalist for the Singapore Blog Awards' Eco-Challenge category.
(Source : OMY)
Meaning recognized means a lot to her. It means that she is now able to share her messages with even more people.
And with each one shared, change happens - one by one. For a better world tomorrow.
