Photo by Ng Paik Eng
Many people tend to think that vegetarianism is usually due to religious reasons. However research has proven that vegetarianism not only results in a healthier body, but is also the best way to protect the planet from further destruction. In Singapore, where the economy thrives with rapid industrial developments, majority of enterprises are thinking of ways to expand their businesses but have forgotten that rapid development also speeds up the rate of damage to our Mother Earth.
In response to Master Cheng Yen’s earnest call for everyone to practice Repentance and Vegetarianism, the Tzu Chi Singapore entrepreneur volunteers have set up a group to promote vegetarianism through businesses, tapping on the advantage of the scale of enterprises to cultivate the practice of having a vegetarian meal a day among their staff. Aiming to gather 100 meals within three months, the group hopes that more people will respond to the calls for vegetarianism as a way to slow down global warming.
The group plans to approach businesses to organize a 3-stage environmental awareness campaign once a month. Topics covered would be related to global warming, food shortage and the effects of meat consumption and vegetarian diet on the ecology of the Earth.
Entrepreneurs lead the call for diet change
Malayan Daching Co. Pte Ltd Managing Director Sim Sem Peng, who has been a vegetarian for over two years, said, ”I used to feel tired and sleepy after lunch. Now I feel refreshed and awake in the afternoon, and can still do a lot of things. I am really happy that after more than two months of preparation, the campaign is finally launched.”
Another entrepreneur volunteer Teo Siew Leng, who is the owner of Zero Spot Laundry Services, as well as Agnes Lee, manager of Super Galvanising Pte Ltd, were among the first to respond to the campaign for enterprises to promote vegetarianism. On the 16 and 18 of February, Tzu Chi volunteers were at these two business premises respectively to organize talks to promote vegetarianism, which is the initial stage of the campaign. About 100 employees, including the companies’ management staff, attended the presentation.
Sister Teo Siew Leng thinks that there are too many natural disasters in the past year, and the world is indeed in a state of emergency. “The impact of my actions may be small, but at least I hope to start with the people around me. By taking part in such awareness seminars, I hope that people will start caring more, and grow from being ignorant to having a better understanding and start giving support. The Earth is what it is today all because of what we have done. So, it is also our responsibility to improve the situation.”
Both enterprises will also provide one free vegetarian meal for their staff every week to encourage everyone to practise vegetarianism from once a week to once a day – and gradually becoming a long-term vegetarian. Sister Teo, who feels that all actions should benefit self and others, related, “Vegetarianism is truly good for the body. When I am healthy, I also wish others to be healthy.”
Super Galvanising Pte Ltd is a large-scale electroplating factory run by Sister Agnes Lee and her husband. They have 150 employees, mostly from Bangladesh, India and China, out of which 60 are on the night shift. “These workers usually focus only on work, but I hope to provide them with some new knowledge as well,” said Sister Lee.
“I do not want my workers to be ignorant, and only think of making enough money to return to their homeland. I hope to not only provide my staff with financial stability, but also encourage them to do their part for Mother Earth.” Sister Lee has therefore set up a material sorting area in the company to bring the culture of recycling into the company, and encourages everyone to practise it.
Staff responds to calls for the protection of life
Brother Ong Wee Heng, who is one of the coordinators of Tzu Chi Singapore’s entrepreneur group, as well as Brother Khor Chin Seng, the recycling cadre of North district, were present at these two events to deliver the talk entitled “Global Warming and the Greenhouse Effect” in both Mandarin and English.
The increasingly frequent occurrence of natural disasters, such as the recent 2011 Japanese Tsunami and an increasingly severe food shortage problem has highlighted the case of meat consumption on the damage to Earth’s resources, as well as why vegetarianism can help save the planet.
Brother Ong highlighted that the amount of resources used to raise animals for consumption by a meat-eater (including water, electricity, food, land and so on) can feed an equivalent of 20 vegetarians. The key difference is because vegetarianism removes the intermediate process of growing crops for livestock rearing and instead feeding the grains directly to the human population.
Factory worker Zhang Zi Nan said,” I think when I eat meat in the future, I will think of the images and figures I’ve seen today and I will learn to control myself.”
After the talk, a vegetarian lunch was served. The volunteers then distributed “reminder cards” to encourage participants to keep track of the number of vegetarian meals they take over a 3-month period. Zero Spot staff Liu Mei Yue said, ”From now on I will continue to take vegetarian food because the diet can help to save our planet.” She hopes to have at least five vegetarian meals a week.
Scientists have pointed out that vegetarianism is the natural and quickest way to restore Earth's balance. Hopefully, more enterprises will join in the efforts of promoting the diet choice and do their part to maintain a healthy and sustainable environment for our future generations.
Ms Teo Siew Leng, owner of Zero Spot Laundry Services, believes that only by practising vegetarianism can we help save the planet. Picture shows her addressing her staff after the talk. (Photo by Ng Paik Eng)
After participating in the first vegetarianism campaign, Zero Spot staff Liu Mei Yue (left) hopes to have at least five vegetarian meals a week as an effort to help save Mother Earth. (Photo by Ng Paik Eng)
A Tzu Chi volunteer explains to the workers on how to use the “reminder card” and encourage them to keep track of the number of vegetarian meals they take as an incentive to remind and motivate themselves. (Photo by Ng Paik Eng)
Brother Khor Chin Seng talking about the benefits of vegetarianism.(Photo by Ng Beng Chin)
Ms Agnes Lee, the manager of Super Galvanising electroplating factory, enthusiastically shares the importance of recycling with her staff, in the hope that everyone can incorporate this practice in their daily lives. (Photo by Ng Beng Chin)
After attending the data and video sharing session by Tzu Chi volunteers, Super Galvanising staff Zhang Zi Nan will to watch her dietary habits in the future and practise vegetarianism more frequently. (Photo by Ng Beng Chin)
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