Environment, carbon trading and the whole she-bang

http://blogs.theage.com.au/lifestyle/renovationnation/archives/2007/04/carbon_trading.html

I read this article while being bored at work and it reminded my of how important the environment should be on everybody's mind. I dunno how many ppl care about the happenings of australia, but it will surprise me if any international student comes up to me and tell me they don't know how bad the drought in australia is. Or the fact that Australia does not ratify the Kyoto Protocol and has huge nuclear waste problems and has a mining company topping its stock market exchange.

First thing that hit me when i read on was: shit, i have no idea what Carbon emissions mean to me. I remember those black balloons. But does anyone have any idea how much the numbers mean to us? check this out: http://safeclimate.net/calculator/ it calculates your carbon emissions per person, so that you know the CO2 that you produce in your daily activities.

The related question will be: why will Carbon emissions kill the world? All this biz and media about global warming and its debate is getting out of hand. Is it not clear enough to the world that we are the cause of its problems? Animals don't go extinct in the thousands in less than a century 'naturally'. Blame mother nature and her volcanoes and forest fires and floods all you want, but everything worked in a beautiful cycle before we came about. Ying and Yang, death and birth. One cannot happen without the other. None is better than the other, only balance is acceptable. And here we stand on one side of the scales, making the Earth scream like Xiaoyun when i step on her toes. something that starts like "ARRRGHHH!!!!!" to "zzz....hmph..." over time. The fact is, Mother Earth is not less unhappy about the situation just cos the decibels of her screams changes all the time. Having said all that, any noise is good, positive or not. In the end, when the interest level is high, people will find the truth and that is more powerful than what any president or scientist can tell you. So i guess it's a good thing. As the road safety slogans go, so does my environment slogan, "Keeping talking environmental awareness." Keeping talking, guys. Cos it's darn well YOUR problem. (yes u.) (no not the one behind u.) (u.) (yup.)

The other question i think about is the relevant article's debate: how much will legislation help? Is it right to punish people for their daily habits, whether reasonable or not?

- Is it too much of a blanket statement to say everyone is guilty? or is that just the plain ugly truth?

- Is this a legitimate cry to be considerate and broad-minded, or is this just an attempt to exploit the needy in order to cower in your own comfort zone?

This, i really don't know. But i guess some balance needs to happen. Especially a balance achieved with minimal bureaucracy.

My truth lies only in saving some water by showering quicker. Man, it's hard. But at least i'm trying. I blame a certain bad circumstance in my days at College Sq but ahhh that's another story...

peace out. love out. love and peace, out. XD

Looking over my shoulder

Through life, people do/should look back at their lives and think or wonder about how they got to here, to where they are now. Recently, life has been routine, it's not hard for me to block things out completely, something like the quote i learnt today from friends: "Oblivious people lead fulfilling lives." I won't dare to say that fulfilling is an all-encompassing word for the feeling that i get but it's a bit of a summary i guess. Although such blatent ignorance take emotional tolls and reaps all the consequences mercilessly. Such as, no longer calling a friend as often. Someone thick as me (yeah i am thick in some matters) will not take a short time for it to hurt me enough to notice. It will always be too late. Too hard to rescue, too much effort and too little return. It's a joke that i feel lonely and not know why. People say it's not hard, just pick the phone up. But talking to a friend on the phone is not only financially unsustainable, it takes away too much of your regular life time. Which will end up to unwashed dishes and unfolded laundry in my case.

Clown. Yes i have always been one. In primary 3 i was the class clown. I also happened to be the class monitor and top my class regularly. I continued to become a teacher's pet, yet still clowning with the teachers at any chance. Physically i never was quite a big icon, but i never had trouble because i earned respect and friendship throughout the cliques. I learnt that happiness is an attribute that can unite any two persons, that it is most productive. And i want to make a change. To make people smile, laugh, or at least give them something to smile and laugh about. Even if that is me. I guess you can only tell a joke if u owned it, but I do make people feel that they owned me, that i always owed them something, everything.

I watch my dad, as he commands the laughter of friends, clients, children, women young and old. Dad was never a man of great stature, being an elder child in a poor family. But i think he has given me strength many times. To be who I am. To be a clown, but a commanding one. One that knows where he wants to take his audience, that the world is his stage and all eyes are on him. On stage he is the only one. One that leads the hearts of men. Well actually i have no idea how to do that. I've played it dirty too long to learn a proper way. Giving too much, betting on the good side of every person to carry me through when i'm in need. No real charisma, just a feeling that they owe me. That i've owed them and paid my dues, that i deserve something. anything. nothing. Nobody knows. Even i don't. All i know is if they laugh, it's all good.

Years in australia, friends get sick of the jokes, they laugh less, i struggle with the relationships. I try different, i try deep. Mostly i was just boring, too intense at times, inappropriate. Too lame, they call it. I don't know. Fresh guys make the same jokes, they are funny. I laugh. They laugh. Soon that will fade too, and backbiting creeps into that void. But those that have chosen to listen, they stayed, they trusted. I am both blessed and cursed to have a wide social circle.

Truly, for every man, there's something to say about him. Some one thing that's easy to say. Few people stray away from the one word "nice" when it's my turn in the line. I feel too neutral. I do everything, I am good at none. Yet somehow the desire to excel always falls short. No natural talent, the kind tongues say. But i stay content to be enthusiastic about life, i keep trying, new things, different things. It's not easy, being the underdog most times.

But thinking positive, having friendship as my greatest asset hasn't been too bad (except once when it was BAD.) Despite what many people see, I think i lead very naturally, never needing a loud voice or a fierce command. Some don't like it, but they miss it when it's not present.

As usual, it's always too late before people fully appreciate each other. Probably that's the reason why people only get truly famous and honoured after death, when suddenly there is no point in judging no more. Bad fades and good stays.

getting back in line.

My name is Emo

"don't worry I know you're looking out for your friends...and whatever you say if I know that's what it's based on it counts a lot"

You know the times where you're so scared of screwing up that you actually do screw up? yeah, good times. Wish i can just screw up, get fucked and go home to mommy.

Can't help but notice that i'm increasingly emo. Gosh i need a fat slap to the face.

Kinda funny. This morning i woke up and i found that i've become a cynic. And i'm very close to believing in unbelief.

I made it a point to make it a point to learn the lyrics of one song per week. This week's choice is My Love by Justin T.

If only i could play bball, y'all be reading happier posts. Heh. Bball solves the world's problems. You know some people that love to dig their faces in the loveliest ice creams? or to run to the pier and scream/cry to the vast ocean? or take it all out on the person you love and apologise later? Well, bball's ma thing. And having no replacement is freaking zzz. It's like getting divorced and then developing impotence. GG NO RE dude. (non-gamers: read this as-> there's no hope of redemption; hopelessness; the lack of hope; black-hole syndrome)