Sustainable Singapore

Hi all again. Two days ago, our government announced (following establishment of the Inter_Ministerial Committee for Sustainable Development) they wanted ideas for a Sustainable Singapore and you can put them through their website http://www.sustainablesingapore.gov.sg/

Well, had a look today, and to me it looks like the Singapore Green Plan (SGP2010) reinvented. What do you think?

IF this is supposed to be for a sustainable Singapore, then:

a) I sure hope that this doesn't fade away next year. What's the point then, right? Just look at the Green Plan (what Green Plan? :-p).

b) They (we all know who) should better mean what they say and it's not just some magic show for the international community to be in awe about.

Let's wait and see.....

More stress release

I bought myself a breadmaker two months ago. Actually, it's cos I read in an article about all the additives they add into the factory made bread. It doesn't look healthy and I can't control the sugar.

I bought this one at the major hypermarket at PS :-)

There are some eco brownie points that I think are worth mentioning:
a) I can save on the bread packaging. I usually go through 2 packs of bread a week
b) I can choose to use organic flour
c) Some claim that it can cut down on carbon emissions. I'm not sure, but if the flour goes to the breadmaker and then to my supermarket, perhaps by making my bread I can cut down the trip from the breadmaker to the supermarket.

Actually, yesterday was Resurgence Slow Sunday (www.resurgence.org). Here's what they said about baking bread (well, in UK's context)

· Only 4% of bread is baked in small, neighbourhood bakeries. And almost 90% of bread is mass-produced in factory conditions. Thirteen big manufacturers control bread market in the UK which accounts for £3 billion a year. Nearly ten million loaves of bread are sold in the UK every day; their daily delivery clocking up an enormous carbon footprint. This is bread is full of enzyme-based ‘processing aids’ that by law don’t have to appear on the label.
· Bread diversity is a symbol of cultural diversity. Regional varieties represented grain diversity as well as diversity of style. At one time, this bread was available on your doorstep from your local baker.
· Baking bread is an act of meditation. Through this simple action we are able to slow down, pay attention and reconnect with tradition. It is something to share and to celebrate.

I know of a friend of mine who bakes bread for her family and extended family. She does it every Sunday, and they're HANDMADE. Happy baking :-)

Twirling and twirling

I'm back! Sorry for the long hiatus.... parents came to visit and there some issues with our home helper...but I kept my sanity in check by ripping my clothes and putting them back together again (well, still in the process).

At the moment, I've been twirling and twirling the material off my "it doesn't fit me anymore" skirt. I like the material cos it's black and has red and green print on it. Sorry, folks, no photos as my camera is out of action. All this twirling is producing a very looooong "string" which I'm thinking of either crocheting it into a bag or using as an applique..... I still have more twirling to do and I hope by then I'll have a photo to show everyone....

Lego

Hi all! Do you still have your Lego from your toddler days? Or is the little one just not interested in them anymore?

Well, here's something you can do with your lego! An accessory to match your wardrobe.
I kid you not. Just check it out at http://www.brightestyoungthings.com/style/diy-marc-by-marc-jacobs-lego-belt/

My son has lego but it's the Duplo type, so it would make a very chunky belt :-)

Real Men Eat Veggies

Oh dear... it seems like there aren't that many vegetarians in Singapore! Where are you?
I reckon that there are more lady vegetarians than men vegetarians. I've heard that men get called "woosies" for being a vegetarian and meat is generally for the machos. But, men, did you know that meat is ultra inefficient in generating the calories needed for your six packs?

According to the USDA, "one pound of ground lean beef has 1197.5 calories. The USDA lists one pound of potatoes as containing 288 calories. To get roughly the same amount of calories from potatoes as you do from a pound of beef, you would need 4.15 pounds of potatoes. So that's 249 gallons of water for 4.15 pounds potatoes versus 12,009 gallons for the pound of beef -- in order to get the same number of calories from the two foods. In short, it takes nearly 50 times more water to produce a calorie from beef as it does from potatoes.”

And, do you want to impress the ladies with your intelligence? According to a study published in the British Medical Journal, "Men who were vegetarian had an IQ score of 106, compared with 101 for non-vegetarians". This study was done over the course of 20 yrs with more than 8,000 participants. And start your little uns as well, according to the Southampton University team. They found those who were vegetarian by 30 had recorded five IQ points more on average at the age of 10.

Here are a few famous men vegetarians out there:
a) Sir Paul McCartney
b) Tagore (famous Indian poet)
c) Sir Isaac Newton
d) H.G. Wells
e) Leo Tolstoy