save our world/save our ears

http://reducefootprints.blogspot.com/

In the Chinese culture, it is a luxurious sensation for the men to have their hair cut, facial hair shaved and their ears dug to remove the wax. My aunt and uncle had a hairdressing and barber shop, and it was fascinating watching the barbers dig their client's ear. They have a whole set of tools to do it.

The Chinese dig their ears and there is no question about it. My sister used to line us up, we lied down on her thigh, and she dug our ears with a little digger which had a tiny spoon at the ear. When I grew older, and my sister left home, it was my turn.

At the Windsor University, I actually read about this ear digging thing, and some one actually did a study. Chinese ears have dry flaky wax, White people have gluey wax.

The doctors tell us not to dig our ears, or use the cotton buds to poke our ears. If it is necessary, you go to them, and they have a special syringe to flush the wax out with water directed into the ear. But that didn't work for my Dad.

My Dad had so much wax, my sister in law and I performed an enormous job on digging his ears, and I told him, no wonder he was getting deaf.

This January, I was at a relative's house. One of the girls came back with wax candle. We performed the procedure on the Dad. I helped and we giggled at the same time. You lit the candle and stuck it into the ear. When the candle stopped burning, there were residual flakes. I don't know if they were wax, there certainly was a lot from our guinea pig.

Ear candling, also called ear coning or thermal-auricular therapy, is an alternative medicine practice claimed to improve general health and well-being by lighting one end of a hollow candle and placing the other end in the ear canal. According to medical researchers, it is both dangerous and ineffective.[2] Claims that the practice removes earwax are highly controversial.

save the world: No deep sea drilling

http://reducefootprints.blogspot.com/

http://www.greenpeace.org/new-zealand/campaigns/climate-change/Stop-deep-sea-oil/?utm_source=MailingList&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=The+flotilla+is+taking+action


Has the world forgotten the oil-spill disaster in the US Gulf of Mexico ?
Has the people got short term memory?
Have they forgotten that it was only in 2010?
What was the Energy and Resources Minister Gerry Brownlee thinking?
When he issued permits for deep water exploration here?
What's Petrobras’ environmental record?
Did he check that it is terrible?
Isn't it time for more proactive action?

Here is what I received from Greenpeace.

Dear Ann,

Two weeks ago, the flotilla opposing deep sea oil exploration gathered in Auckland, and received a rousing send off.

One week ago, it arrived at the East Cape to an incredible reception from several hundred representatives of local iwi, te Whānau ā Apanui.

Over the past few days, in the tradition of "bearing witness", the Stop Deep Sea Oil Flotilla has been off the East Coast observing and demonstrating its opposition to the oil exploration.

Yesterday we established radio contact with the seismic testing vessel sent by the international oil company, Petrobras, and again asked the Captain to cease operations.

With te Whānau ā Apanui and members of the Nuclear Free Flotilla we peacefully, but directly, placed ourselves in the path of the seismic testing vessel to prevent deep sea oil exploration continuing.

They have received our message loud and clear, and at 2pm Sunday stated to media that they had halted their operations.

Now is the time for action. We cannot allow deep sea oil drilling to put New Zealand's unique and fragile environment and economy at risk.

When other means have failed, Greenpeace and our allies will intervene directly to stop environmental harm, as we have done for the past forty years.

You can see some of the latest footage here, and you can send a message of support to the flotilla here.

Direct action and peaceful protest helped to keep New Zealand nuclear free, and helped stop nuclear testing in the Pacific.

Now it will help protect us from the harms of deep sea oil exploration and drilling.

Please send messages of support to the activists at sea here.

Thank you again for your support.


Steve Abel
Climate Campaigner
Greenpeace Aotearoa New Zealand

Save the world: use natural materials.

http://reducefootprints.blogspot.com/

I bought these organic peaches during our school's Crop for Christchurch. These were lovely juicy peaches which some students and their parents had donated to school.

These tiny organic apples were donated to my church at Mt Albert Baptist Church. I took them to school to talk to my students. I had a supermarket bought apple to show them the comparison. The students had a long way to go. They didn't want the tiny apples. They wanted the big apple. I gave them a lesson of no fertiliser, no poisonous spray. They were not convinced. There is still a long way to go for us to convince children to eat organic food.

You notice the basket that I have put the peaches it? It is made of the New Zealand Flax. When I was volunteering in the Zero waste management in Okahu Bay on Waitangi bay, I was very impressed by the stall holders who were dishing their food in these containers. I asked a man if I could have his empty basket.
He looked at me, "You want my empty rubbish basket?"

I smiled, I said, "I want to recycle it."

I didn't tell him I wanted it to feature in this post.

The world will be a better place if we practice: No fertiliser, no pesticides and use natural resources and of course recycle and reuse.

Sunday Stills: Letter P

Sunday Stills, the next Challenge: The Letter P
Posted in Sunday Stills with tags Sunday Stills on March 6, 2011 by Ed

So anything that starts with the letter “P” this week, including people, places and things..Hava great week…Ed

http://sundaystills.wordpress.com/

Thank you Ed, Letter is just the right letter for me this week. P is for Point Chevalier School where I work. This Friday, our teachers Nicole and Keren organised our first Crops for Christchurch to raise funds for the victims of the earthquake in Christchurch. P is for peaches, parsley, produce and parents who donated the produce and who bought the organic herbs and vegetables and fruits.

My World Tuesday/Thursday Theme song: International women's day

http://showyourworld.blogspot.com/

Today is the 100th anniversary of International Women’s Day, 1911-2011 , 8 March 2011.

Women's Day events honour and celebrate the achievements of women all around the world, ranging from small random informal gatherings to large highly organised events.






The Mt Roskill War Memorial Park was a sea of beautiful people in their beautiful clothes.


I am very proud of Kate Sheppard. Her image appears on our ten dollar note. She is mainly responsible for New Zealand to be the first country to give women the vote in modern times.

Katherine Wilson Sheppard (10 March 1847 – 13 July 1934) was the most prominent member of New Zealand's women's suffrage movement, and is the country's most famous suffragette. Because New Zealand was the first country to introduce universal suffrage, Sheppard's work had a considerable impact on women's suffrage movements in other countries. During one of the protest movement, she led a whole group of ladies to lie down on the road and the police couldn't do anything.

Sheppard played a considerable part in getting the women's suffrage bill was successfully passed, granting women full voting rights. Sheppard herself was widely acknowledged as the leader of the women's suffrage movement.

An elderly friend in her 80s told me that when she was growing up, the girls wanted to be like Kate.

Sheppard is considered to be an important figure in New Zealand's history. A memorial to her exists in Christchurch.




hootin--anni has a new meme.
IT'S ALL ABOUT MY NEW MEME THAT I HOPE SOME WILL FEEL LIKE JOINING IN ON THE CHALLENGE AND THE FUN [at least I hope the weekly challenge will be fun!]. It's loosely based on song lyrics [recorded songs since the beginning of time to today] and associating them with photos of yours...as I've done in the past...If you click on the link above, it'll take you to the Meme's Homepage for rules and buttons. There will be a Mr. Linky Widget for each individual week also. Do consider joining me sometime. Hope to see it flourish in time.

http://hootin--anni.blogspot.com/


In 1975, I was a young impressionable 20 year old when I went to Canada and heard Helen Reddy sing. This song was chosen by United Nations as the anthem for the International year of women. Together with my girls friends in the Laurier Hall, the hostel for women only in Windsor University, we sang this song with gusto. That year, I became aware of women's rights and women's lib. I became a champion for this cause. Some of the boys accusedd us to be lesbians.

I am woman, hear me roar
In numbers too big to ignore
And I know too much to go back an' pretend
'cause I've heard it all before
And I've been down there on the floor
No one's ever gonna keep me down again

CHORUS
Oh yes I am wise
But it's wisdom born of pain
Yes, I've paid the price
But look how much I gained
If I have to, I can do anything
I am strong (strong)
I am invincible (invincible)
I am woman

You can bend but never break me
'cause it only serves to make me
More determined to achieve my final goal
And I come back even stronger
Not a novice any longer
'cause you've deepened the conviction in my soul

CHORUS

I am woman watch me grow
See me standing toe to toe
As I spread my lovin' arms across the land
But I'm still an embryo
With a long long way to go
Until I make my brother understand

Oh yes I am wise
But it's wisdom born of pain
Yes, I've paid the price
But look how much I gained
If I have to I can face anything
I am strong (strong)
I am invincible (invincible)
I am woman
Oh, I am woman
I am invincible
I am strong

I am woman
I am invincible
I am strong
I am woman

Save the world: When new technology may not be the best

http://reducefootprints.blogspot.com/

what is the difference between digital telephone and analog telephone?

I am not a very technical person, but about ten years ago, my husband changed our phone from an analog phone to a digital one. The children thought it was fantastic. It was cordless and they could use it anywhere, from upstairs to downstairs. Then One day, the euphoria came crashing down.We had a power cut for a whole day. The phone was out of use.

This scenario is repeated right now in 21st century New Zealand. With the earthquake came power cut and the digital phone failed. People were asked to look for their retired anaolg telephones to send them down to Christchurch. Analog telephones still work.

Save the world, don't be too quick to junk still use-able equipment.

Ann, its not whether the phone is analogue or digital, its the way that they connect - analogue to a line and digital by wireless connection. The wireless needed mains electricity to make it work, while the analogue worked from batteries when the power went off - Dave

Addition:5.34pm March 2 2011
More than 5000 analogue phones have been distributed to quake-affected Christchurch residents - and more are on the way.
Telecom had a "fantastic" response after asking New Zealanders to donate their old telephones so those without power were still able to make phone calls, Telecom chief executive officer Paul Reynolds said.
Meanwhile, more than 55,000 calls have been made from 260 free Telecom payphones around Christchurch.

Sunday Stills: cups or mugs

Everyone enjoys a good cup of Joe or Tea in the morning, so what is your favorite mug or cup?

You can also include antique cups, or odd coffee mugs you might have for a bit of fun..:-)
http://sundaystills.wordpress.com/

Hi Ed,
I was busy with a project that I forgot to check what the theme was. I thought it would be great to photograph the odd shapes and sizes of the fifty mugs in the staff room. But I am at home, and it is the weekend. I could wait until our Monday, your Sunday.

Then right in front of me, on my computer is this very special mug. No one has drank a drop from it. It's a souvenir cup. The girls were eleven and seven. We were at this tourist place at Clarke Quay in Singapore. There was a promotion. You could have a photo taken and printed on the mug. You choose the reverse print. It was quite expensive and I was quite reluctant to pay for it. Now I am glad I did. The girls have grown and left home. I look at the mug and think how quickly time has flown.

Save the world: Use organic pesticides

http://reducefootprints.blogspot.com/
www.jonathanandmelanie.blogspot.com/

My elderly immigrant neighbour planted some cabbage plants. Sadly, some were infested by aphids. I asked him if he wanted to spray his sicked plants with a diluted vinegar spray. he was happy to try. I gave him a spray bottle and some vinegar.

I just went over and found the aphids had gone. He was so happy.

You make a solution of 10 % vinegar, and 90% water. It should be strong enough to kill the aphids and not burn your plant.

I used to grow a lot of vegetables until I got bitten by the blogging bug. LOL

Vinegar is very good for cleaning too, to my dish washing detergent, I add 2 spoon of vinegar and baking soda. My son likes this as the dishes don't smell of detergent.

You can save the world by using less of the pesticides that can be toxic to humans, animals, plants and the soil.

My World Tuesday: Doctors' waiting room

http://showyourworld.blogspot.com/
In a Doctors' waiting room in Three Kings, Auckland New Zealand. children do not feel bored because they have this play house to while away the time. Sometimes, children even play with other children as though they are old friends. I wish there were such play houses when my kids were young.

save the world: Vegetable crisp bags

http://reducefootprints.blogspot.com/
I do not endorse products, but when I was on the Goldcoast of Australia, where the summer is really hot, my brother C uses these bags. It seems a good idea as the veg and fruits stay fresher than if left on the bench or in the fridge.

Lately, I have been wasting a lot of fresh vegetables as I on on the computer a lot. I must check with my supermarket if they are available in New Zealand.

Fresh ‘n’ Crisp
It`s Fresh ‘n' Crisp storage bags
Fresh fruit and vegetables continue to ripen after they`ve been picked. This means that they can spoil very quickly once they reach you. A solution is Fresh ‘n' Crisp storage bags. Let`s see how they work.

How Fresh ‘n' Crisp work
Microscopic holes in Fresh ‘n' Crisp storage bags allow the produce to breathe, but at a decreased, controlled rate.

The result?
This slows ripening and preserves freshness, vitamins and flavour of your fresh produce.

What can you store in Fresh ‘n' Crisp bags?
As you`ve heard here, they're perfect for fresh produce, especially broccoli, carrots, lettuce, capsicum and much more. They're also just as great for fresh herbs like basil and parsley.

Fresher produce, less wastage
We`ve probably all thrown out vegetables that have been kept for too long and spoiled. Storing your vegetables in Fresh ‘n' Crisp bags means you`re enjoying fresher fruit and vegetables and also reducing the wastage.

Look for Fresh ‘n' Crisp storage bags in your supermarket today.

Sunday stills: Letter S

This is a man made spider, and I am sure it is this spider who frightened Little Miss Muffet. Spiders own a tiny room in the children's Sunday school room at Mt Albert Baptist Church.

We went to the Takapuna beach, the weather was still cold and raining occasionally. Mr. Coffee man wasn't getting much business. He was demonstrating throwing up a stick with two sticks to his lady friend.

We treated our Singapore guest to a Chinese dimsum lunch. This visitor travels all over the world. We were very happy to hear from him that Auckland's dimsum is even better than Singapore's. Grand Harbour Chinese Restaurant has become Auckland’s premier source for fine Chinese dining. We enjoyed the Steamed dimsum and I thought of my mum who used to make our fav, HARGAU.

We drove past this, and I snapped it in the car. So the photo isn't the best. In the old days, a bar usually had rooms upstairs.
Lone Star Café and Bar is situated in an iconic general store that dates back to 1910 on Hauraki Corner, the Takapuna branch of the popular Lone Star Café and Bar chain has a great kids' menu and also allows BYO wine. The perfect spot for sunset watching and great, no nonsense comfort food.

My guest heard that Auckland is known as a city where there are four seasons in a block, which is worst than what I had been told as four seasons in a day. Here is one sole sail boat in the harbour.

Auckland is known as the city of sails. But yesterday, except for the lone sail boat, the marina showed that the sails were down, and yachties were no where to be seen.

At Windsor Reserve, they were building shelters for the Dog's big day out. 1500 dogs turned up.

These two seagulls sashayed to attract my attention knowing I was going to make them famous.

When I was growing up in Borneo, Sibu town is ninety miles from the sea. I always dreamed of going to the sea side and picking up sea shells. Now, I am so fortunate that the sea is just twenty minutes away,
http://sundaystills.wordpress.com

I figure since its the last challenge for September we can do a letter challenge for next week. The only rule this week is that it has to be THINGS that start with the letter “S’ and NO ARCHIVES. Have fun and I’ll see ya’ll next week. Ed

We had a visitor yesterday. The weather had been kind, and we went out to the beach and took lots of photos. Thanks Ed, for an easy challenge.

Save the world: Have you made the change?

http://reducefootprints.blogspot.com/

I watched the news yesterday with interest. GE just closed their last light bulb factory in the US. They manufactured incandescent bulbs.

It was 1876 when Thomas Alva Edison opened a laboratory in Menlo Park, New Jersey, where he could explore the possibilities of the dynamo and other electrical devices that he had seen in the Exposition. Out of that laboratory was to come perhaps the greatest invention of the age - a successful incandescent electric lamp.

On September 24, General Electric will close its lamp plant in Winchester, Virginia. It's the company's last U.S. factory producing plain, old incandescent light bulbs.

New energy standards will phase out the old bulbs by 2014, and eventually they'll be all but banned in this country. Millions of Americans will be forced to switch to compact fluorescent bulbs, or CFL's, most of which are made overseas.

Seems the invention Thomas Edison perfected and patented 130 years ago is flickering and fading. What would the famous inventor think about that?

"I think Edison would have had two reactions," said Paul Isreal, a professor at Rutgers University who has devoted his life to studying Edison. "I think on the one hand he would have been disappointed that we were losing the incandescent light as the primary lighting in the United States. "

"On the other hand, Edison was always somebody that was looking forward," Isreal added.

In February 2007, then Climate Change Minister David Parker announced a similar proposal to ban the incandescent light to the one in Australia, except that importation for personal use would have been allowed.

My friends joked that when they went abroad, on their return, their suitcases are full of these incandescent light bulbs because it was so much cheaper there.

The Green party is very angry when the new proposed ban was scrapped by the new government in December 2008.

For our family, the water engineer has long made the switch. He likes the bright light. When friends come to our house, they LOL at our fusion of old and new. The old chandelier and the energy saving light bulbs.