Our earth is sick!
What should we do?
My Pledge To Mother Earth
1. To demand that my country join an international treaty within the next 2 years that cuts global warming pollution by 90% in developed countries and by more than half worldwide in time for the next generation to inherit a healthy earth;
2. To take personal action to help solve the climate crisis by reducing my own CO2 pollution as much as I can and offsetting the rest to become "carbon neutral;"
3. To fight for a moratorium on the construction of any new generating facility that burns coal without the capacity to safely trap and store the CO2;
4. To work for a dramatic increase in the energy efficiency of my home, workplace, school, place of worship, and means of transportation;
5. To fight for laws and policies that expand the use of renewable energy sources and reduce dependence on oil and coal;
6. To plant new trees and to join with others in preserving and protecting forests; and,
7. To buy from businesses and support leaders who share my commitment to solving the climate crisis and building a sustainable, just, and prosperous world for the 21st century.
Why?
For a better future. =)
Sunday, April 25, 2010
My Pledge To Mother Earth
Posted by Edna Lai at 6:21 AM 0 comments
Saturday, February 27, 2010
CNY In Malaysia. How about Korea?
I have celebrated my Chinese New Year 2010 happily. Today is the 15th day of Chinese New Year. My exhausted body is beginning to complain. My throat feels like sandpaper. I go through a dreadful torture. I am sick! However, I have no choice. I have to sit in front of the computer and complete my homework.
How I celebrate Chinese New Year this year? Actually it is almost the same with last year. There are some traditions that we should pay in mind. First, clean your home. Doing so will supposedly "sweep away the bad luck" accumulated over the past year and get ready for the good luck to come in. You could also put away dustpans and brooms so the good luck may not be swept away. However, keep fresh and hygienic; maybe even a haircut will do.
Decorate your home. That most recommended is to use lots of red, since red is a color or symbol of good luck in Chinese culture. The number "8" also symbolizes good luck and wealth. In Chinese it rhymes with fortune, or wealth. Decorate as much as you can, but do not overdo it. Remember the meaning of the decorations, to bring life and fortune from the bright and colorful decorations. You may also place flowers through the house, like lotuses. These symbolize rebirth and new growth.
Do not clean your home during the New Year, such as sweeping or wiping the windows. Doing so will "sweep away" the good luck that you received during the New Year. Yes, not cleaning for 13 to 15 days may be a dirty business, but it is part of the tradition and it is important to follow it.
In Korea, in the morning of Seollal, people get up early to wash and put on their
‘Seolbim (new clothes prepared for Seollal)'. Many people wear Hanboks. Then the families gather to perform ancestral rites, paying their respects by offering them food. According to Korean traditions, it is believed that ancestors return to enjoy the holiday food prepared for them. An ancestral tablet is placed on the rites table along with all the dishes and drinks. This is to show appreciation and respect for late ancestors. The ancestral rites also symbolize the descendants' prayers for a good new year.
After the rites have been performed, everyone shares the holiday food together. Tteokguk is also prepared without exception, made of thinly sliced tteok (rice cakes) cooked in beef soup. According to tradition, eating tteokguk on Seollal adds one year to your age. Therefore, the children ask each other ‘how many servings of tteokguk did you have?' and they calculate their age according to the number of serving they had just for fun.
After finishing their meal, the younger generations pay their respects to the elders of the family by bowing to them. The elders offer well-wishing remarks such as ‘have a healthy year' or ‘meet someone nice' as they give the young people ‘New Year's money'. Children especially like Seollal because they can receive money as a New Year's gift. Lately, an increasing number of Christian families are choosing not to perform the ancestral rites due to their religious beliefs. Instead, their family members gather to share food and stories, and spend quality family time during Seollal.
Posted by Edna Lai at 10:06 PM 0 comments
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
My blog!
I have created my own blog! First of all, my friend Bong Paul Kim( she is a girl), who has helped me to create a new g-mail account, her assist is highly appreciated.Dawn broke over SMK Gapor. It was a special Tuesday.Why? It is the birthday of my blog.At 11 o'clock in the morning, when it was pouring down outside, I sat in my school's computer lab.I had never think of having my own blog.But, my English teacher with high-heels and super tight skirt has allowed a group of 5 Alpha monkeys to go blogging. And, because of her, I had the chance to use the new computer in the lab.It was too good to be true that I had a chance to create blog with all my classmates. However, we didn't have a huge row to use the computer although there is only 20 computers. This meant that, we are patient to wait for other friends, definitely.So, I wish I could have a great improvement in my language after start blogging. And, we could run into Madam Florese to tell her that actually we are serious in English to become a doctor, an engineer or an accountant with proper English. Now, I am in the jungle. Pak Kia faces the challenges to have a new life in Janda Baik. I face the problem to improve my English. I wish I could pass my English exam with flying colours. >.<
Posted by Edna Lai at 6:14 AM 0 comments