Italian economist Vilfredo Pareto's 80-20 principle states that 80% of the world's income is within the hands of 20% of the world's population. Also, the 80-20 principle is apparent in other areas, for example, 80% of the world’s Nobel laureates are only represented by 20% of the world’s countries, and in America, 80% of grains are used to feed livestock while the remaining 20% are allocated for human consumption.
However, for VERO, the 80-20 principle is a different concept from Vilfredo’s. VERO’s concept is linked to Master Cheng Yen’s teaching of having a lighter meal by only eating till 80% full, so that money intended for the 20% of food can be donated to the needy.
On the 23rd of March 2013, 49 youths in neat white t-shirts were seen playing games at the supermarket and various food stalls in Tampines Mall. The aim was to get the youths to reflect on their spending habits. VERO, which is short for Veggie Heroes, is a campaign launched by Singapore Tzu Ching to promote vegetarianism among youths. The Veroes have organized such an event for the third time, this time, in conjunction with the launch of the third season of the campaign, VERO 3.0.
Playing games at the supermarket and various food stalls in Tampines Mall. The aim was to get the youths to reflect on their spending habits. (Photo by Cai You Liang)
Senior Huang Xuquan (far right) shared his personal experience on how he is required to attend non-vegetarian meal gatherings. at work, he is still able to hit off well with others while not giving up on his own principles. (Photo by Wong Kang Rui)
Unlimited Possibilities within a Limited Budget
Participants playing the interesting ice breaking game, human bingo. (Photo by Wong Kang Rui)
After an ice breaking game, the participants were ready to jump into the first part of the VERO 2/8 Principle, which was a snack-buying mission. The 6 groups of participants received different food categories to shop for, and were limited to $2 per person for their budget. However, there was a catch, the money allocated was to be divided into half. Half of it was to be spent in a supermarket, while the other half was meant to be spent at the stores in the mall. With the tight budget assigned, the participants were thriftier than usual, in order to meet the criteria of buying at least a beverage and a snack.
The topic the first group had to work with was “Exotic Flavor”. Even though they had more members and hence, a slightly larger budget than the other groups, reality still fell short of expectations. The group members had expected a variety of food on the table; however, after they were done with placing the food on the table, the table was still rather empty. With the help of a worksheet, the group members balanced their account and were greeted with a surprise. A drink costs $6.85, chocolate cookies cost $5 and green apples cost $2; the cheapest item among the three was actually healthier and fed more people in the group!
One of the event organizers, Qiu Qing Yong shared:
“During the process of shopping for food, by comparing prices between the supermarket and the food stalls in the mall, we hope that the participants can see how much money you can save just by reducing your desire for fancy and expensive food. Sacrificing the brands does not mean you have to sacrifice quality, and the money you save can be used in more meaningful ways.”
Balancing their spending during the snack-buying mission, while reflecting on whether they had cut down on their desire for good food during the shopping process. (Photo by Cai You Liang)
With the tight budget assigned, participants had to be thriftier than usual in order to meet the criteria of buying at least a beverage and a snack. (Photo by Ye Jian Kang)
Reducing 20% of one’s appetite
According to statistics, 60% of Singaporeans eat out and among these people, only 23% finish their meals completely. Furthermore, a survey showed that Singaporeans enjoy eating at buffet restaurants whenever there are special occasions, partly contributing to the fact that 1 in every 10 Singaporeans suffer from obesity. Alarmingly, with evidence from Da Ai News “The East Africa’s Famine”, as of 2011, out of every 8 people in the world, there is 1 suffering from starvation. Senior Bernard Ng Jia Han expressed his disappointment as he presented the great disparity between obesity and the famine issues each country is facing.
After Senior Jia Han’s sharing, Zhu Ya Da from Kaplan Higher Education Academy reflected on himself and shared that even though he constantly advocates that everyone be kind and helpful, he had never really practiced what he preached. He felt guilty and realized that he still had a lot of room for improvement.
Yang Zhi Peng from the same school mentioned that he enjoys indulging in buffets. However, after his first participation in the VERO event and after watching the video about famine-stricken countries, he was reminded that there is a need to save on unnecessary expenses. Apart from Zhi Peng, Chen Xiao Qing from Nanyang Technological University also realized how fortunate she was after watching the video. “I would occasionally gripe that my mother’s cooking is not delicious, but what I should actually do is to count my blessings and appreciate what I have right now.”
Despite being a vegetarian for 8 months, Chan Swee Yee would still waver at turning vegetarian due to her friends’ taunts. Nevertheless, frequently attending VERO events has helped her to be committed to being vegetarian. “We must have a compassionate heart, because to humans, not eating meat doesn’t mean we have to die; but to the animals, once we eat them, they would have to face death”. She admitted that there were times when fish and meat were tempting, but she would not feel satisfied if she had eaten them. “This is a good training for our self control!” said Swee Yee with a laugh.
增两分善行
A group of crabs gathering to resist the attack of a seagull; a colony of ants amassing together to prevent becoming an anteater’s prey; a flock of penguins unite to prevent the attack of a whale. While these adorable images resulted in participants roaring in laughter, yet the message behind it was clear and self explanatory, like its title, “Union is Strength”.
Through the video “Union is Strength”, Senior Tai Ming Hang shared “There would of course be challenges, but what in life doesn’t come with challenges? Unity is strength, so it is important to associate with people who pursue the same goals as yourself. (Photo by Ye Jian Kang)
“Is it difficult to be a vegetarian and be only 80% full?”, asked Senior Tzu Ching, Tai Ming Hang. Though it was a sensitive and serious topic, he managed to discuss it in a rather relaxing manner. “There would of course be challenges, but what doesn’t have challenges in life?” He encouraged everyone by saying, “If you believe what you are doing is correct, just give your all. Remember, unity is strength, so it is important to associate together with people pursuing the same goals. Togetherness makes challenges more bearable.”
After which, Senior Ming Hang drew analogies from the construction of the Tzu Chi Hualien Hospital and the story of Myanmar’s rice bank, to show how the power of love, through the accumulation of small acts of kindness, can be spread among the community to benefit others and could even change society. Tzu Chi Foundation stands tall today, from charity relief work spanning across 74 countries, and 6 hospitals across Taiwan, it all started from 30 housewife volunteers, who saved 50 cents from their grocery money everyday. For more than 40 years, Tzu Chi Foundation was the collection of not only money, but also hard work, from people from all walks of life. Master Cheng Yen once recalled, “If only kindness had a physical form, every single brick of the hospital is made from kindness from the public.”
After the Typhoon Nargis in May 2008, the citizens of Myanmar who have received long-term help and companionship from the Tzu Chi members willingly contributed their own share of kindness. The people there are not rich, yet they started the practice of saving up a handful of rice from their daily consumption, into a “rice bank” that will be eventually donated to those who needs more help than them.
So, what can we do in our daily lives to make a change? Zhang Jiao, a Tzu Ching, recounted the experience he had from the previous snack-buying mission and said, “For example when buying beverages, we can refuse plastic bags. Also, we can order one less dish for every meal and takeaway leftover food to reduce food wastage. Big changes start from making small changes.” Everyone involved in the sharing session had also encountered similar experiences.
Zhang Jiao shared that when buying beverages, we can refuse plastic bags or order one less dish for every meal and takeaway leftover food to reduce food wastage. Big changes start from making small changes daily. (Photo by Cai You Liang)
Senior Huang Xu Quan encouraged everyone using his personal experience. Though he is required to attend non-vegetarian meal gatherings at work, he is still able to hit off well with the others while not giving up on his own principles. He specifically reminded the participants that, everyone should have the confidence and be determined in the mission of saving the Earth. He said, “If we try to maintain a friendship by eating meat against our will, then that friendship would already defeat its purpose. Being a vegetarian is not as difficult as everyone thinks; vegetarianism in other countries has been gaining popularity too isn’t it?”
Seeds of Hope Programme – A Chance to Give Back
The daily accumulation of small acts of kindness can generate the cycle of love to everyone. Chen Xizhi, leader of the charity mission in Northern Singapore, used an example from the Seeds of Hope programme. This is a programme launched to help needy primary and secondary school students around Singapore, by subsidizing their lunch and transport expenses. So by saving money from buying food, and donating to the charity mission of Tzu Chi Singapore, portion of the money goes to helping these students. In the recent 2 years of the distribution ceremony, one of the recipient students, Rakin, sang a Tzu Chi song “We are Family” on stage in Mandarin, even though he couldn’t understand the language. That is because under the care and concern of Tzu Chi members, he has felt the warmth of a family. He has even encouraged the other students to not diminish a small thought of kindness as this small act of kindness may create a big impact on others.
Chen Xizhi used an example from the Seeds of Hope Programme, to encourage everyone not to dismiss a small thought of kindness as it may create a big impact on others. (Photo by Cai You Liang)
One of the group leaders, Tan Hui Earn previously received a bamboo bank quite a long time ago. She shared that in the beginning, she found it hard to discipline herself to donate daily in the bamboo bank. However when her sister told her that if she was unable to keep to such a small commitment, it would be even harder to overcome greater difficulties in the future. Upon hearing her sister’s words, Hui Earn managed to keep the habit. Not only that, she would pray for a good day whenever she dunks in a coin, so the positivity would keep her going for the day.
Tan Hui Earn shared how she changed from a person who buys food on impulse, to a person who lives frugally. (Photo by Ye Jian Kang)
At the end of the event, Tzu Ching mentors presented each participant with Vege Passes and bamboo banks, hoping that the participants can not only protect Mother Earth through cutting down their food consumption, the money saved can be accumulated and donated for charity purposes. Cut down 20% of your eating desire, instead, donate the money intended to buy that portion of food. Never underestimate the power of an individual, remember, Tzu Chi Foundation was founded with 50-cent coins from housewives.
With the Vege Passes and bamboo coin banks received, not only can participants protect Mother Earth through cutting down their food consumption, the money saved can also be accumulated and donated for charitable purposes. (Photo by Ng Sher Lin)
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