Twistable bottle to save space

Source: Youtube, CScout

"Sure or not, like that also can?" That was definitely my first thoughts when I came across this product. I Lohas, from Coca Cola Japan, came up with this bottled water whose bottle can be twisted after drinking to reduce the waste space. But while I was thinking of how to blast these "marketing gimmicks", a thought came to me, "it might really help, you know." Though it's not going to cut down much on the PTE bottle used, think of the number of garbage bags you will save if every plastic bottles were compressed to neat little tubes. Guess every little effort counts. But is this trying too hard? You decide.

Finding the direction

It's been a while since my last post and I must admit I haven't been very regular in my posts. Truth is, I have been trying to find a direction for myself since resigning from my engineering job. So which path I should take? Go back to a 9-5 job? Change industry? Property agent? Become a eco-preneur? It has been quite a depressing period, given that I used to be very busy and did not even much time for a good night sleep, yet now I find myself free enough to do catching up on the Hong Kong and Taiwanese dramas. Borders has also become my best friend.

But now, I must say, the path has become clearer. Tofubox is back!

Are we too late?

If you have read the Straits Time dated 11 Aug 2009 on "Artic ice cap could reach record low", you would probably have the same question in your mind. Are we too late?

According to the article, the rising temperature, most probably due to the manmade greenhouses gases, has resulted in the extensive melting of the Artic ice. The Artic sea ice is disappearing at an alarming rate of about 106,190 sq km per day- equivalent to three Belgiums daily. For more detailed analysis of the extent of the melting of the ice, please refer to the National Snow and Ice Data Center. What is being done now?

Come this December, there will be an international climate treaty held in Copenhagen and the man leading the charge, Yvo de Boer, will need to address this issue fast with all the world leaders. Enough of developing countries disagreeing on whether its their responsibilities to reduce emissions or rich countries pondering on how much they're willing to help fund developing ones' struggles against climate change. We need to do something fast.

Photo from National Geographic

Will we be in time to save the polar bears?

Happy Birthday, Singapore!

Best wishes from the team from Tofubox

Tofubox's First Assignment

Yay! Our first assignment!

Tofubox was tasked to help out in a corporate's "save the environment" activities.

The day began with the members from the corporation cleaning up West Coast Park by raking the leaves and clearing up the rubbish. Everyone was pretty enthusiastic at first but I guess the novelty died down pretty fast as people start to hang around and chitchat.

Raking leaves in West Coast Park

After the cleaning up, there was a little lecture on how to save the earth. Members of the corporate took turns to present and they did a pretty good job with all the charts, puppet and other visual effect.

A "penguin" giving his views on how to save the earth

Then comes the games segment. We introduced a game called "Water is precious" where everyone's gotta top up a glass from a bottle of water without having their hands on the bottle. The game is meaningful because it really requires everyone to work together. We had plans to make it more difficult by making everyone throw the bottle into the recycling bin before they can proceed to the next bottle but seeing so many kids around, we had to modify.

Having fun

The day was hot but we hope everyone had a good time.

Earth Hour 2009 Singapore

It has been a month since my last entry. I took a bet, lost and was banned to pen any entry. Ok, kidding. I was simply too busy, lazy and tired to write.

Anyway, Earth Hour 2009, which was on the 28 Mar, has passed. So how did Singaporeans fare?

A trip down Orchard Road did not show any difference from the other days(or nights). But we had a pleasant surprise at Tiong Bahru Plaza. Shops like The Pasta Shop and Coffee Bean actually made the effort to switch off their lights durin Earth Hour.

The Pasta Shop at Tiong Bahru Plaza

We proceeded to the neighbourhood, hoping to capture on video the effect of many lights turning on after Earth Hour. It didn't turn out the way we were hoping for though, but still we did managed to catch a few households switching on their lights after the clock struck 930pm. Probably some of the households got so used to having their lights off that they couldn't be bothered to turn them back on.

Lights off at Jalan Membina

Proud of my mum and dad too. They also did their part for Earth Hour.

Verdict of Singapore Earth Hour 2009:

6/10 marks = Not bad but could have been better.

See ya next year in Earth Hour 2010.

Should Environmentalists Live Like Cavemen?

The Caveman

Picture source: Fatih YILDIRIM

It started when Colleague A wanted to buy a car. He was considering a Honda Civic Hybrid as he claimed he wants to help the environment. Colleague Q argued that if A truly wanted to help, he shouldn't buy a car at all(and also to quit smoking :p) But A argued that human needs to progress but just have to do so more efficiently to minimise the harm done on our earth. Q felt progression will definitely affect the environment and both cannot co-exist, citing that if China and India are to become more developed, they will only leave more carbon footprint on the environment.

So is Q being an extremist? Can progression and protecting the environment co-exist? Should environmentalist and people who cares about the environment live like a caveman? Makes me wonder how do those hardcore environmentalists live...