Save the World: Be careful when you release your balloons.

There two two balloons up on the ceiling.




I had wanted to do this post two yeas ago, I was privileged to be invited to stay in a private island at a private waterway. What I found that was not so private was the invarsion of a released balloon. I was frolicking with my son and nephews when I saw a shimmering coloured object in the shape of a fish. I quickly grabbed a net to try to catch what I thought was a fish.

In stead, to my disappointment, and anger, it was the remains of a non biodegradible balloon. Had this balloon ended in a whale, you can imagine what will happen to the whale. The balloon also have strings that can tangle the beaks of birds, or turtles.

These days, there are biodegradible balloons for people to release, but they are expensive. Unless you are passionate about the environment, it is hard to persuade people to buy these balloons.

I was at the Auckland International airport, waiting for my husband to come back. I was watching a woman with a toddler who was holding one of these balloons. Before you can say boo, the child had accidentally let go, and the balloon floated to the celing. It was hullabaloo, as the child wanted another, and the mum wasn't getting another , as these balloons are not cheap.

I looked up the ceiling, there was another one. Fortunately, in this case, the balloon was released indoors. But how many balloons escape when there is a party outdoors. I was at an outdoor function, people cheered when a balloon floated away. I was sad.

What can you do other than releasing balloons, especially mass release, why not save the money and plant a tree instead. Or you can donate books to the library.

Sorry if you think I am a kill joy. I happen to be a silent partner of Green Peace.







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Save the world: Don't waste

This is my own "Christmas tree" aka plum tree. At this time of the year, the tree is laden with red baubles. I can't use all of them, so I pick some to give to friends. I also invited the neighbouring kids who are also my students to come and pick them.

If the fruits are not picked, they would go to waste by dropping and and eaten by birds.

http://annkschin.blogspot.com/2011/12/save-world-share-your-excess-fruit.htmlyear
Relying on an expanding team of volunteers, assistance is always appreciated and most definitely needed; businesses as well as individuals are welcome. Di is currently seeking assistance in the construction of a website, to better promote Community Fruit Harvesting, and transportation to permit the distribution of fruit to a larger number of charitable organisations.

Click here for more information, to register as a volunteer, or request fruit picking services. Alternatively, email Di at: pickfruit@xtra.co.nz .





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Save the World: Fill up your Ute

photo courtesy my cousin Ambrose in Sarawak.

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In many parts of the world, it is a common sight to see vehicles fully utilised. How safe is this? It is debatible.

When I was in high school, we went on a long boat trip to visit a farm. From the jetty, we had to walk another long distance. It was humid and hot. When the farm truck came, and stopped for us, we were just glad to have a ride. We were hauled up the back of the truck and pack. We joked that we were pigs led to slaughter. The truck driver drove quite fast and at each swerve, we slid forward. But as teenagers, we didn't care. We laughed.

On arrival, the farm manager apologized for the rough ride. He asked if we wanted the same ride back, We all shouted Yes in unison.

But now, at a half a century, you won't get me in a truck unless I park myself in the cab.

Save the world:Stop fleas with natural methods

We have an infestation of fleas. All three of us have been bitten by fleas.

The first question friends ask is, " Do you have a cat or a dog?"

We don't have pets, but every so often, we get bitten by fleas. When we get bitten, we get bitten so badly. It is itchy, it is pinful and gives the chills. We don't want to use chemicals or flea bombs as they are toxic.

I googled for a natural herb, and found out about Pennyroyal. I went to my local garden centre and I bought two plants .

It didn't repel the fleas, but they look and smell lovely. Pennyroyal leaves, both fresh and dried, are especially noted for repelling insects.[4] However, when treating infestations such as fleas, using the plant's essential oil should be avoided due to its toxicity to both humans and animals, even at extremely low levels.[6]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pennyroyal

Does anyone know a herb that will repel fleas?


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Surf Boards

This photo is taken at Pt Chevalier Sailing Club. This is taken for J Barr. He posted his photo of a flag staff the same day I saw mine. I went back yesterday to take a better photo. The sailing club was closed and there was no flags.
http://sydney-city.blogspot.com/2011/10/millers-point-sydney-observatory_14.html




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http://www.3news.co.nz/Surf-designer-looking-to-win-accolades/tabid/412/articleID/206331/Default.aspx
A Kiwi student's in with a shout of grabbing what's known as an Oscar of design in New York.

New Zealand AUT Student Mike Grobelny is a finalist in the post-grad section of the international design excellence awards, with an eco-friendly surfboard hewn from locally-sourced sustainable wood. Paulownia is a fast growing, locally available wood.

Mike Grobelny's twin passions for surfing and sustainability pushed him to design his eco-conscious board from paulonia wood and bamboo. It eliminates the use of polyurethane foam, fibre glass and polyester resin.

“Surfers are conscious of the fact that what we ride or the materials we use to make products do affect the environment that we are in, and you know surfers are in touch with the environment a whole lot more obviously, being in the water a lot,” he says.

Veering away from the traditional materials of foam and fibreglass is all very well, but it still has to carve through waves.

So 3 News handed Mike's board to one of New Zealand's hottest surfers, winner of the Raglan super 16, Luke Hughes.

“You've got to fine tune your equipment before it gets out there, but I think no, definitely there's a place in the marketplace for this type of product, good mate,” he says.

Luke's dad Craig has seen it all before - he's been making boards for more than 40 years - but even he sees potential.

“I'm intrigued by the weight, but certainly the durability you know, we make a lot of very light high-performance surfboards but they wouldn't have the longevity that this board obviously has,” he says.

In recent years thousands of cheap Chinese plastic boards have flooded the market, but there could be potential for beautiful wooden boards that are both durable and ecologically sustainable.

The design innovation is the honeycombed interior. And it's easily copied because it's cut by computer, pointing the way for New Zealand to rule the waves in sustainable surfboards.

Win or lose at the design Oscars, Grobelny wants to develop his board and make one for Hughes too.

http://youtu.be/iq3Bww1w_ms

Warmer weather is coming up, it will be great if more surfers will use surf boards that are not made in a toxic environment.

Save the world: Watch the pesticides

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Which foods have the most pesticide residues? Celery, a range of fruit, dairy products and bread are all ranked in the top dozen of foods available in New Zealand which are likely to contain more pesticide residues (

Celery is also likely to contain a fungicide chlorothalonil, which is a probable human carcinogen, and in laboratory studies has caused DNA damage and embryo loss. Chlorothalonil has been included in a list which the EPA in the US intends to study as a potential endocrine disruptor. This pesticide has also been found in groundwater, sea water and air and is toxic to many species, including earthworms. Another fungicide used on celery, mancozeb, has a breakdown product, ethylene thiourea, which has been found to cause cancer, endocrine disruption, goitre and birth defects. Exposure to heat increases the amount of metabolite, so think of that before you add non-organic celery to your soup!


Usually, washing, peeling and cooking reduces the amount of pesticide residues, however some persist. If you think organic food is too expensive, remember that non-organic food does not include the cost of biodiversity loss and other environmental degradation. With organic food you pay the real cost for real food, and you give the grower a fairer return. By having organic food you support a system which better protects our children and the environment.

By Alison White, Safe Food Campaign, http://www.safefood.org.nz/additivesfr.htm

I just bought this bunch of crunchy celery. Some friends tell me that give it a soak in salt water

Human Powered Chariot

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Sorry all, I had not been able to access my internet, so I am combining these memes.

I have often seen this family of human powered vehicles. Mum or dad rides the adult bicycle which has a chariot attached to it. Rain or shine I see them. An older child rides his child size bicycle. This exemplifies what we can do for the environment and teaches the children too to love the world. Inside the chariot are two little ones, all bundled up during the wintery rainy days.

I tried often to photograph this family but was in vain when I was driving along the road. yesterday, I eyed them going into the community library and gave me this perfect opportunity.

Take your children on environmental holidays

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http://ourworldtuesdaymeme.blogspot.com/I took my son on a boat ride in the Singapore zoo. It went on the Reservoir and we were given a lesson on endangered animals and their poaching for their skins.

Save the world: save the SS Toroa.

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When I travel North West out of Auckland to my friend J & J's house at Massey, I see this giant with with a big banner," Save the SS Toroa." Each time, I whip out my camera, my driver goes too fast for me to get a good photo.

My friend J had gone to live in New York, and I miss her very much. This post is dedicated to her.

Toroa was the last of the eight Albatross-type steam passenger ferries to be built for the Waitemata. She was built at George Niccol's yard at St. Mary’s Bay, Auckland for the Devonport Steam Ferry Company Ltd. and was launched on Tuesday 28th April, 1925. Until her retirement in 1980 she served the North Shore, mainly on the Auckland to Devonport run with Makora, carrying 20,000 or more passengers a day between them at the peak of the passenger service before the opening of the Auckland Harbour Bridge in 1959.



http://www.toroa.org.nz/

http://www.panoramio.com/photo/42374044

http://yardyyardyyardy.blogspot.com/2010/01/toroa-unique-and-worth-saving.html#ixzz12fmItaWr
The Toroa is the only survivor in Auckland, New Zealand of the fleet of Waitemata Harbour double-ended steam ferries that used to run between Auckland City and the North Shore. She is a tangible piece of the history and development of Auckland and she is absolutely irreplaceable. Her restoration to authentic, seaworthy condition is well underway.



The Toroa Preservation Society is registered in New Zealand as an incorporated society under the Incorporated Societies Act of 1908. The Society is registered as a Charity under the Charities Act of 2005.

The primary object of the Society is “to be beneficial to the community by the restoration, preservation, maintenance and operation of the veteran steam ferry Toroa to provide a historic link to the operation of steam ferries on the Waitemata Harbour for more than one hundred years”.

Further objects are to provide during the process of restoration opportunities for training in vessel conservation principles, the restoration of timber vessels and in traditional marine engineering; When operational the Toroa will provide a range of experiences to increase the knowledge of the importance of the ferries in the development of the Auckland region, the history of marine steam propulsion, and provide training in marine engineering and ship operation.

The Toroa is owned by the New Zealand Maritime Trust, a registered charitable trust. The Toroa Preservation Society holds a perpetually renewable lease for the purposes of restoration, preservation, maintenance and operation of the vessel.

Toroa is hauled out at Selwood Road, Henderson, Waitakere City to restore her to authentic and seaworthy condition. This major restoration, beginning with the hull and the engine, is well underway and will in due course return her to the Harbour as an authentic double-ended steam ferry, preserving the history of the ferries, and presenting the story and the phenomenon of steam propulsion to new generations of Aucklanders and visitors.

save our world: Grow your own organic veges

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These lovely vegetables are grown by the children of Pt Chevalier school. They have their worm farms fed with fruit scraps and peels. They also make their own compost.

Save the world/my world Tuesday/outdoor wed: wrapping your fruit

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In many parts of Malaysia and Singapore, fruit growers use paper bags, plastic bags, sacks to wrap fruits to protect the fruits. Hence reduce the need to spray insecticide. These fruits are healthier to eat.

When I was living in Singapore, I was told wrapping the fruit aka saronging the fruits, it reduces another kind of pest, the two legged type. I was living in the staff residence of the Nanyang Technological University. I grew beautiful papayas and bananas and they went walking before I was fast enough to harvest them. A Malay cleaner told me to sarong them. The logic behind this was traditionally, in the kampong, fruit trees were communal. Anyone was free to harvest the fruits. But saronging/wrapping it, this signals to others that this tree is private. I worked. You need only to sarong one fruit.