Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Sustainability - Go green in Singapore
There is another news worth to note from
the Straits Time yesterday, 26 Aug 2008 - Public burst with green ideasSustainable SingaporeThe whole idea about being sustainable is about fully utilizing our resources in the best and efficient way. Our ministry has put in tremendous effort to set up this
website, about a month ago. It serves to gather all the minds of Singapore to brainstorm and feedback on ideas from various perspective like an individual Singapore to the government body. I think this campaign will definitely bring about great impacts to our lives.
(This chart is directly taken from this website)
1) Live and play - Lifestyle
2) Work - how business is run etc..
3) Commute - transport etc..
We have to take into consideration the
people factor - the values and behaviour of our citizens. I feel that at the moment it is extremely crucial to create awareness because I feel that the people in our country are still not taking enough initatives and are quite inconsiderate. An example that I am sure most train riders will face almost everyday - people squeezing hard into the train when half of the passengers are still stuck in the cabin!
The next factor is the
limitation of our current technology and resources. Ms Johannah Soo often mention about being sustainable. This word may seem vague but like the latter factor, we have to consider our inadequate land + resources. Our growth is mainly governed by talents and this means we have to be self-sufficient.
Creating awareness through education could be one of ways. Incorporation of NE and sustainability into our classroom lessons and hopefully our next generation will make a big leap. They will fight skyrocket inflation and greater challenges (
Check out today's straits time here as well on food and transport). Perhaps at that time, who knows... the young and brillant ones might even contribute to our economy when everyone develop new innovative ways and sustainable technology for enterprise.
Getting greener.... Are we? It is not just about going solar and encouraging cycling blah blah blah... but it is certainly one wise step as a nation.
Labels: Environment, News, Singapore, Sustainability
by
Pei Yun @
8:03 PM -
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Friday, August 22, 2008
To the Home Economics teachers - Cooking is our choice, our forte
If you have read the Straits Time yesterday - 21 Aug 2008, you might have come across this article in Life section.
"Cooking is all about girl power."Girl power means the power to choose. We choose if cooking suits us or not. And if you never know this, there is actually politics of cooking - the gender polictics.
Nowadays, kitchen isn't the place anymore for the young as many parents believe that girls should aim high in their professional career instead being a home-maker like my dearest mummy. According to her, mothers of my grandma's generation were dying to be out in the society to work. One example is my mom, she is a wonderful baby-sitter cum a great full-time housewife.
Let you into a secret, I was never allowed in the kitchen all these while, as my mom always define her territory in the kitchen which I hate most, until these recent years when she had to 'baby-sit' my nephew (oh ya... and of course the fact that now I am a home econs teacher!!!). And so she spotted some talent in my 9 year old nephew (Leonard), he is a great boy. When he was 6, he was able to sew his own pencil case for school under minimal supervision. Now, he always takes the initiatives to fry egg in different styles and make little creative breakfast for us in the morning.
Read on.... I feel that these are such great skill to have from mini home economics lessons, don't you agree? It is all about starting and training young. Even for boys, aside from the academics, these skills are worth to acquire such they can help out at home or their own family in the future. Thus, I want to hereby highlight the role of Home economics teachers. We can do wonders - sky is our only limit!
From this little story above, I feel that as much as anybody who can be really a high-flyer at work, there is still a need of fine balance with the importance of family warmth. A simple meal can bring much joy and laughter to the dinning table. Even though people with strong career-mind may argue that they can afford to pay for food instead of spending long hours in the market and kitchen... SO WHAT? They may not appreciate the art and process of cooking and preparation.
SERIOUSLY.. I think we as home economics teachers should really be proud to say that we are successful career woman and yet not limited to just the space in the kitchen! We have a choice and we choose to make a difference! And like the author mentioned, cooking is an indulgence, not a necessity. So hey! To the people out there especially guys, stop assuming that kitchen is for the girls! =D
Labels: Cooking, News, Teachers' Resource
by
Pei Yun @
11:13 AM -
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Thursday, August 21, 2008
Olympics 2008 Highlight : The Fastest Swimmer in the World & Food
Michael Phelps - the reigning 'fish' of the waters is one name familiar to any person of any race and colour on this earth. Talk to anyone about the current Beijing Olympics 2008 and the first topic will be about this amazing man. So, we all know how talented and speedy he is in the pool. Being a sportsman, we assume Phelps maintains a balanced and nutritious diet, and abstains from the junk.
But no. I chanced upon this interesting write up about Phelps' diet and realised he is like any other 23 year old American who loves pizza, pasta and mayonnaise!Yet he looks as awesome and has a body every man desires for! Upon analysis of a typical day's diet, Phelps consumes around 8,000 - 10,000 calories per day! And the only so-called healthy food consumed is enriched pasta. Of course, this may happen to be one of his unhealthy days and so should not be a good gauge of his daily meal plans. Despite the unhealthy food consumption, do bear in mind the frequency and level of trainings and exercises he goes through daily. He definitely has a higher output level than input level.
So all you non-athletes out there, don't think you can start eating and binging like him! If you want to eat that much and (unhealthily), then you had better exercise more than the recommended 3 times a week. Well, my suggestion is to regulate the frequency of junk food (that we all love), eat a good balance of all nutrients we need for our body needs, and to exercise as often as possible. This way we can help prevent the occurrence of undesirable diseases and possibly live longer.
I am still really amazed at how much junk Michael Phelps eats!
Labels: News, Nutrition, Sports
by
Jacqueline @
2:04 PM -
0 comments
Let you into a secret, I was never allowed in the kitchen all these while, as my mom always define her territory in the kitchen which I hate most, until these recent years when she had to 'baby-sit' my nephew (oh ya... and of course the fact that now I am a home econs teacher!!!). And so she spotted some talent in my 9 year old nephew (Leonard), he is a great boy. When he was 6, he was able to sew his own pencil case for school under minimal supervision. Now, he always takes the initiatives to fry egg in different styles and make little creative breakfast for us in the morning.
Michael Phelps - the reigning 'fish' of the waters is one name familiar to any person of any race and colour on this earth. Talk to anyone about the current Beijing Olympics 2008 and the first topic will be about this amazing man. So, we all know how talented and speedy he is in the pool. Being a sportsman, we assume Phelps maintains a balanced and nutritious diet, and abstains from the junk.