A total of 120 people were present in attendance during the“Waste Minimisation—Recycling and Vegetarianism” seminar, which Tzu Chi Foundation (Singapore) co-organized. (Photo by Ng Beng Chin)
In conjunction with Earth Day, the Master of Science Environmental Management Programme (MEM) Alumni organized a “Waste Minimisation-Recycling and Vegetarianism” seminar at the Shaw Foundations Alumni House located at the National University of Singapore on 29 March 2014. The event’s co-organisers were the Tzu Chi Foundation (Singapore), community organization Participate in Design (P!D) and the Singapore Environment Council (SEC). The event was attended by 120 people, including environmental protection enthusiasts, Tzu Chi volunteers, and various people from each organizing entity.
This was the first time that Tzu Chi Foundation (Singapore) was collaborating jointly with alumnus and non-governmental organizations to host a seminar on the topic of environmental conservationism. It was heartening to note that the organizers had included vegetarianism as a topic. The seminar featured six speakers who presented on the topics of recycling and vegetarianism.
Tzu Chi set up a booth displaying a number of books and eco-friendly products at the seminar venue, and the posters on the same topic also attracted the attention of many participants. (Photo by Lee Kwong Seng)
Professor Li Lian Qing (left) shares with the audience how Tzu Chi directly benefits the cause of environmental protectionism from using eco-friendly utensils. (Photo by Lee Kwong Seng)
Some of the highlights of the seven-hour talks include:
1. "Overview of Recycling in Singapore" by Teoh Soon Kay from the National Environmental Agency, sharing the government's plans on considering waste policies on how to reduce waste and the impact of waste on Singapore.
2. "Recycling at Source- The Essence of Environmental Protection" by Bernard Ng Jia Han, Tzu Chi Foundation
The activities of recycling in Taiwan and Singapore were presented. Singapore has been following in the footsteps of Taiwan to set up 31 recycling points and helping to build humanity values while sorting recyclables in recycling points.
Bernard mentioned that it is important to inculcate these values in the young and in addition to the five commonly known “R”s of “Recycling,” “Reduce,” “Repair,” “Refuse” and “Reuse,” one more can be included, and that is “Respect”. We should respect the earth and coexist with it. In this was, trash can be turned into gold (money), gold into love, love into a purifying force which can be spread around the world (via financing operations of Tzu Chi’s Da Ai TV station).
3. "What's in a Green Label?" by Kavickumar Muruganathan, Singapore Environmental Council (SEC)
The SEC’s “Green Label” certifies that a product meets international standards for sustainability. The “Eco office” certification requires offices to conduct a self-check to ascertain if environmental protection habits are in place. This provides a cost saving for the company, and it is hoped that a cascading effect will result in this habit becoming widespread around the world once people seen it can be done. Other certifications like “Eco shop” and “Eco F&B” are available too.
4. "Consume 80% and Save 20%" by Tai Ming Han, Tzu Chi Foundation
Global warming has resulted in many environmental disasters happening around the world. The carbon dioxide levels in the world has spiked alarmingly over the last decade. Even the IPCC recommends a gradual change to a vegan diet so that the impact to the environment is not as big. A search for a footprint calculator pointedly asks how much meat one consumes. A case study of how the Burmese people have adopted the concept of “consuming of 80% and saving 20% to help others” was also presented.
5. "Upcycling in Communities" by Mizah Rahman from P!D
The P!D collects old furniture that people discard and invites the community to help redesign the furniture. Subsequently, others who want the items would take them. This unique concept is in actuality, “upcycling by community involvement.”
6. "E-Waste— Challenges and Opportunities" by Bu Fan, Vice President of MEM Alumni
Humans use so many different electrical and electronic products, and this has produced dangerous e-wastes over the years. The nature of e-waste has also changed in time, for example CFC fridges have been replaced by those utilising less harmful chemicals. Burning e-waste releases toxic chemicals, thus they are disposed of separately and exported overseas.
Then there are people whose livelihood depends on salvaging electronic equipments for precious metals. Some however, also salvage old data. Even if the data has been wiped clean, sometimes it might still be possible to salvage it as long as the memory board is intact. Thus it presents a security problem as data such as password and credit card numbers can be stolen just by throwing out your old smartphone. Thus it is important to know which channel can get your e-waste to a recycling facility that is comprehensive.
Volunteer Bernard Ng Jia Han shares the concept of “recycling at source” and how it decreases the amount of waste produced. (Photo by Lee Kwong Seng)
To encourage vegetarianism and environmental conservation practices, Tzu Chi provided eco-utensils for use during the vegetarian lunch catered by Greenzilla. (Photo by Lee Kwong Seng)
Finding the Motivation to Save the Earth
When the NEC mentioned that "save the earth" might not appeal to the pragmatic Singaporean mindset, Tzu Chi countered that everyone has love in their hearts and this love can be channelled towards protecting the earth. The general view was that that Taiwan has done much better in the area of environmental protection as compared to Singapore. With no public trash bins in Taiwan, everyone has to bring back their rubbish and pay their own landfill tax.
During the seminar, there was a lively discussion on who should take the initiative to give impetus to the agenda of environmental protection. Some suggested that the government ban plastic bags altogether, to which the reply was that it would not be sensitive to those who use them as trash bags.
Some asked for inclusion and more emphasis on environmental protection in the education system, to which it was felt that teachers have to take the first step in putting forth the request to the Ministry of Education. P!D suggested to use existing facilities, such as the town council halls, as a place to repair old items so that their life cycle can be lengthened.
In conclusion, participants agreed that while alone we can do much, together we can do much more. In this regard, Earthfest Singapore is gathering everyone together to make the process of saving the world more fun.
It was laudable that during this seminar, disposable utensils were not used during the lunch. Simple yet delicious vegan food by Greenzilla was catered for the participants. Though many people had not yet adopted vegetarianism, through this seminar, they were willing to take the first step and attempt to go vegetarian in a gradual manner. After the lunch, there was a delightful presentation of simple sign language songs led by Tzu Chings.
Participant Zhu Wan Ling, a teacher by profession, had long known the relationship between vegetarianism and environmental protection, yet had never thought to be a vegetarian herself. After the seminar, she began to feel the need to protect the Earth, and realised that the step has to start from each individual. Hence, Zhu and her fellow colleagues decided to start the week with a vegetarian day.
At the conclusion of the event, some food for thought was offered by speaker Bu Fan: Singapore’s society at large needs to reconsider the excessive demands of economic development and slow down its never ending consumption fueled by material desires in order to find an equilibrium point between the pressures of economic development and environmental conservation.
Participant Zhu Wan Ling, a teacher by profession, is impressed by Tzu Chi’s disaster relief and environmental protection efforts and is keen to inculcate in students the same love for the earth. (Photo by Chai Juin Hua)
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