I received a comment from Iva, who describes herself as a baby environmentalist, about my recent post on Bag for Life. She told me that green bags (as it is known in the Philippines) are becoming an in-thing in Manila, which is a good thing as it helps our environment. I am glad to know about this development. When I was still in Cebu in 2002 I do not seem to recall seeing green bags sold in supermarkets. I already know about the promotion of the use of jute bags.
I am interested to know if the Philippine government has a policy on green bags/bags for life. Obviously, there is one here in the UK but I have to do some research on that. I will write a blogpost about the results later on. In the meantime, let me just describe the use of bag for life here in the UK from a user's viewpoint.
Bags for life have been in the major supermarkets here for a few years now. They come in different types and sizes, for example, jute bags and recyclable plastic bags. The featured bag in my earlier post is the cheapest type (10 pence each) and the most commonly used by consumers.
Encouraging consumers to use bags for life when they go shopping requires a change in their behaviour, which does not happen overnight. Most people still prefer to use the small but free carrier bags. Why? What could be more convenient than just going to the supermarket empty-handed. I should know as I am guilty of doing it at times. Even though I have a bag for life in my back pack for a little shopping after work, I also sometimes end up with an extra carrier bag of shopping.
I buy most of our family's food shopping during weekends. Even with the three or four bags for life that I brought, sometimes it is not enough. However, it is not entirely bad as it seems. Regular carrier bags nowadays are mostly made in part from recycled materials; besides I do reuse them at home in our small bins.
The "carrot" approach of encouraging consumers to use bags for life for their shopping needs to be complemented with a "stick" approach. Presently, UK consumers are now slowly being forced to pay for the carrier bag if they want to use them when shopping. Marks and Spencer supermarkets are already doing it since early this year, charging 5 pence for every carrier bag you use. However, all proceeds from its sale goes to local environmental projects the store supports. Later this year, Sainsbury's will follow suit. My family will be more affected by this change as we do most of our food shopping in a nearby branch. I will have to plan better when the time comes.
As consumers, it is not enough to be aware of the effects of plastic bags on the environment. We need to make individual action no matter how small to reduce, reuse and recycle the use of plastic bags when shopping for groceries. I am consciously doing action already but still need to improve on my behaviour until this becomes a natural thing for me to do. How about you? Have you done your bit?
Iva blogs about the environment at http://greenphils.com/
30 September 2008
28 September 2008
What's For Breakfast, Dad?
I gave "tsamporado" to my sons for their breakfast today. Using only dark chocolate powder (the younger one has milk allergy) and a little sugar on their rice porridge, the boys ate a bowlful each. They must have missed tsamporado that much since it has been awhile since we made them one. Our sons, Pinoy pa rin!
21 September 2008
Remembering Martial Law
Today, the Philippines marked the 36th anniversary of the declaration of martial law by the dictator Ferdinand Marcos. This ushered in the darkest period of my country's modern history. I was nearly two years old when martial law was declared in 21 September 1972.
The only thing I remembered martial law affected us was when my mother gave birth to our youngest brothers, who are twins, in 1975. At that time, a midnight curfew was in effect. When mother delivered the twins, she lost a lot of blood. She needed blood transfusion quickly or she will die. Father rang for his nephews to proceed to the hospital for blood typing and eventually, blood donation.
On their way to the hospital my cousins ran into a military curfew. Obviously, they were interrogated. Fortunately, the military personnel believed their explanation and they were allowed to proceed to the hospital just in time.
Although martial law's most famous victim was the late Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr (assassinated post-martial law in 1983), there were hundeds more little known martyrs (those who disappeared and died before 1986) of this draconian rule. I am glad to know that there is now a museum that puts a face on little known martial law martyrs.
There are more than 170 of them - youth, educators, farmers, activists, artists and public servants, and many, if not most, of them are little known. I am particularly struck that many of them were young. As the museum director puts it, "It's clear many of the martyrs were the young ones. In Philippine revolutions, many of our heroes were in their teens."
On this very important day, I pay my respects to the martyrs and heroes (those who survived beyond 1986) of martial law. If not for their sacrifices and struggle, the Philippines we now know today would not have been as free and democratic. I and the millions of fellow Filipinos in the country and outside are the better because of them. Remember the past!
The only thing I remembered martial law affected us was when my mother gave birth to our youngest brothers, who are twins, in 1975. At that time, a midnight curfew was in effect. When mother delivered the twins, she lost a lot of blood. She needed blood transfusion quickly or she will die. Father rang for his nephews to proceed to the hospital for blood typing and eventually, blood donation.
On their way to the hospital my cousins ran into a military curfew. Obviously, they were interrogated. Fortunately, the military personnel believed their explanation and they were allowed to proceed to the hospital just in time.
Although martial law's most famous victim was the late Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr (assassinated post-martial law in 1983), there were hundeds more little known martyrs (those who disappeared and died before 1986) of this draconian rule. I am glad to know that there is now a museum that puts a face on little known martial law martyrs.
There are more than 170 of them - youth, educators, farmers, activists, artists and public servants, and many, if not most, of them are little known. I am particularly struck that many of them were young. As the museum director puts it, "It's clear many of the martyrs were the young ones. In Philippine revolutions, many of our heroes were in their teens."
On this very important day, I pay my respects to the martyrs and heroes (those who survived beyond 1986) of martial law. If not for their sacrifices and struggle, the Philippines we now know today would not have been as free and democratic. I and the millions of fellow Filipinos in the country and outside are the better because of them. Remember the past!
20 September 2008
World's Strangest Clock Unveiled
A £1m clock called the "time eater" has been unveiled at Cambridge University by Professor Stephen Hawking.
The author of A Brief History of Time was guest of honour when the unique clock, which has no hands or numbers, was revealed at Corpus Christi College.
Dubbed the strangest clock in the world, it features a giant grasshopper and has 60 slits cut into its face which light up to show the time.
Its creator John Taylor said he "wanted to make timekeeping interesting".
The Corpus Clock will stand outside the college's library and will be on view to the public.More at BBC News
Photo credit - BBC News
17 September 2008
Most Dangerous Man On The Internet
Brad Pitt has been found to be the most dangerous search name of the year. According to McAfee, the film star's name is more likely to direct a user to malicious sites than any other celebrity moniker.
The security firm found that fans who search the name "Brad Pitt" on the web have nearly a 1 in 5 chance of encountering a potentially risky site. 18 per cent of searches lead to wallpaper, screen savers and photos that carried some sort of malware. Searching 'Brad Pitt screensavers' bumps the infection risk up to 50 per cent.
Read more at http://uk.news.yahoo.com
Princess
(I got this funny story from a forwarded email by a former professor of mine at university.)
Once upon a time there lived a king. The king had a beautiful daughter, the PRINCESS. But there was a problem. Everything the princess touched would melt. No matter what - metal, wood, stone, anything she touched would melt.
Because of this, men were afraid of her. Nobody would dare marry her. The king despaired. What could he do to help his daughter? He consulted his wizards and magicians. One wizard told the king, "If your daughter touches one thing that does not melt in her hands, she will be cured."
The king was overjoyed and came up with a plan. Next day, he held a competition. Any man that could bring his daughter an object that would not melt would marry her and inherit the king's wealth.
THREE YOUNG PRINCES TOOK UP THE CHALLENGE.
The first brought a sword of the finest steel. But alas, when the princess touched it, it melted, and t he prince went away sadly .
The second prince brought diamonds. He thought diamonds are the hardest substance in the world and would not melt. But alas, once the princess touched them, they melted. He too was sent away disappointed.
The third prince approached. He told the princess, "Put your hand in my pocket and feel what is in there." The princess did as she was told, though she turned red. She felt something hard. She held it in her hand. And it did not melt!!!
The king was overjoyed. Everybody in the kingdom was overjoyed. And the third prince married the princess and they both lived happily ever after.
Question: What was in the prince's pants?
(Scroll down for the answer)
M&M's of course.
They melt in your mouth, not in your hand.
What were you thinking??
Once upon a time there lived a king. The king had a beautiful daughter, the PRINCESS. But there was a problem. Everything the princess touched would melt. No matter what - metal, wood, stone, anything she touched would melt.
Because of this, men were afraid of her. Nobody would dare marry her. The king despaired. What could he do to help his daughter? He consulted his wizards and magicians. One wizard told the king, "If your daughter touches one thing that does not melt in her hands, she will be cured."
The king was overjoyed and came up with a plan. Next day, he held a competition. Any man that could bring his daughter an object that would not melt would marry her and inherit the king's wealth.
THREE YOUNG PRINCES TOOK UP THE CHALLENGE.
The first brought a sword of the finest steel. But alas, when the princess touched it, it melted, and t he prince went away sadly .
The second prince brought diamonds. He thought diamonds are the hardest substance in the world and would not melt. But alas, once the princess touched them, they melted. He too was sent away disappointed.
The third prince approached. He told the princess, "Put your hand in my pocket and feel what is in there." The princess did as she was told, though she turned red. She felt something hard. She held it in her hand. And it did not melt!!!
The king was overjoyed. Everybody in the kingdom was overjoyed. And the third prince married the princess and they both lived happily ever after.
Question: What was in the prince's pants?
(Scroll down for the answer)
M&M's of course.
They melt in your mouth, not in your hand.
What were you thinking??
7 September 2008
Bag For Life
After work, I sometimes pass by the supermarket and buy food and stuff for the house. I now place them in my Bag for Life instead of the store's small carrier bags. So-called because you only need to buy once and then you can replace it again and again. Costing just under a pound, it is larger and sturdier than the carrier bags. Using this bag is my little way of helping clean up our environment because everytime I use it means one or two less plastic bags not thrown out into the bin. What about you? Get one (or more) now and use it. Let us do our part in keeping our planet clean and healthy for the next generation.
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