Actually I wanted to post about this topic for quite some time, since I was involved in Project Aware[/url], but I never quite got prompted to do it.
Since all this bullshit about handicapped toilets has come about, I think it’s time to address it.
I do wish people would care more, people would stand up for their rights, stand up for what they believe in, look after their planet and have some civic conciousness.
Most people just stumble through life, wasting resources, totally ignorant to the fact they are destroying the planet, and in some cases society too.
One example is littering, during Project Aware[/url] we were picking up litter on the beach, why because dumbfuckers threw it there, instead of in the bin. Why oh why? There are bins everywhere, if not carry it till you see one, or put it in your pocket or something, don’t throw it on the floor.
I see some people throwing tissues out the car window or onto the floor, and they say..
“Oh but it’s bio-degradable”
Yeah no shit, I know that, you know that, but does the 6 year old kid that just saw you drop something on the floor instead of the bin know that?
I don’t think so.
Educate by example, lead by example, care about your environment and don’t just talk about it, if you see someone litter, say politely…
“Excuse me, but there’s a bin just over there”
Honestly some elderly lady said that to me once when I was a youngster in UK dropping litter, and it made a big impact on me, I never did it again.
That’s just a small example, other things are using more organic products, using environmentally friendly washing powder, using environmentally friendly fridges, rated for lower power consumption, and lacking of harmful CFC‘s.
I guess a lot of it comes from my mother, who truly leads by example, she saves all organic waste from our house and makes her own compost to fertilise the garden.
She recycles wherever possible, I’m glad to see in Malaysia more recycling facilities are appearing, the first place I saw segregated bins were in Ikano Power Center, which shows civic conciousness.
In UK now the rubbish collection service provides different coloured bags for plastics, paper and others, to make the sorting easier for them, and to make recycling more possible for everyone.
Another example is caring for society, not just the environment, if the state isn’t fixing something write to your MP.
If there is something wrong with the road, write to who is responsible for it.
If you got bad service in a resturant and were mis-treated, write to the management.
People might say we Brits are known for moaning, but I’d say we are standing up for our rights, that’s why in UK we get top-notch customer service and product quality, because if we don’t we kick up a shitstorm, unlike here, where people are rather lackadaisical and don’t really seem to care.
“Whatever la, it’s normal here”
Yeah but why should it be normal, can you not fight for better standards?
If something is wrong, I’ll write a letter about it, if I get bad service, I’ll fill in the comment card. The sad thing in Malaysia is that nothing happens. Like in UK if I’d filled in the terrible comments I did in the comment card in a Sushi place in the curve, I would have gotten a call next day and an invite back to the resturant for a free meal as maybe I just came at a bad time.
Word of mouth is powerful, that’s a fact.
If you think something is wrong, fight for change, don’t sit and accept it.
An example would be Kimberly[/url], she is a civic minded citizen, I have seen her letters published in The Star regarding various matters from the state of roads in Cheras to the intermittent water supply in the area. She was a responsible citizen before this boycotting campaign and she will be after, I don’t believe it’s a personal vendetta against XiaXue, to be honest she didn’t even mention XX. Those who say so in my mind are rather pathetic.
I personally support her, she is standing up for what she believes is right, more than I can say for most people who just go with the flow and nod their heads, then chastise when the tide changes.
Anyway the point I’m trying to make is people should start caring, they should stop gossiping about small things like XX, and how rude Peter Tan[/url] was and look at the bigger picture of WHY these people said what they said, what is WRONG about it, and HOW we can change it.
In all honestly these are small issues, there are many things that need to be corrected and we should focus our energies on those rather than endlessly pointing fingers at each other.
Make a difference, do something for someone ELSE for a change, for your future children, or the future generation.