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Juesatta Awakening Foundation

Cassandra Lin – one part cooking oil, one part love

By Compassion
The unexpected hero, Cassandra Lin (image from www.theday.com)

The unexpected hero, Cassandra Lin (image from www.theday.com)

Twelve-year old Cassandra Lin admires “the unexpected hero.” She loves the YouTube story about a young boy from Malawi who created windmills out of bicycle parts to generate electricity for his village.

“I think that was great,” Cassandra says. “Even though he never finished school, he built windmills. He learned on his own. Nobody expected a Malawian kid to generate electricity.”

And nobody expected a kid from Westerly, RI, to create an award-winning recycling program that generates fuel for the needy in her community. But that’s exactly what this sparkly, no-nonsense seventh grader has done.

To Cassandra, it’s all no big deal. It’s what she does with her friends after school.

The recycling program, called Project T.G.I.F. (Turn Grease into Fuel), encourages residents to bring their used cooking oil to the town transfer station to be recycled. There, a contractor picks it up, along with other grease from local restaurants that also donate oil to the program. A biodiesel company then processes it into biodiesel fuel. All of the team’s proceeds are donated to help heat the homes of needy people in Westerly. To make it work, Cassandra and a team of classmates educated themselves about the biodiesel refining process, made their own biodiesel by mixing cooking oil with methanol and lye with proper protection (“It was very safe, don’t worry,” she notes reassuringly), won two separate youth seed grants and convinced an array of community leaders to come on board with the project.

T.G.I.F. is an outgrowth of the Westerly Innovations Network (WIN), a student community service organization started by her father, Jason Lin, in 2002. And Cassandra is quick to credit her older brother, Alex, as a mentor in the project. Alex is a senior member of WIN and serves as the assistant coach to the group’s junior team. Like his sister, he has earned numerous accolades for his own service initiatives.

Cassandra explains, very carefully, how Alex motivates her: “I don’t want to just follow in my brother’s footsteps, but put my footsteps over his. I don’t want people to say, ‘Oh, you’re Alex’s sister.’ I want to make an impact. I want to be better than him, but in a different way.”

As it turns out, a little sibling rivalry has been good for Westerly.

Girl in action: Cassandra Lin - one part cooking oil, one part love (image from www.teenvoices.com)

Girl in action: Cassandra Lin – one part cooking oil, one part love (image from www.teenvoices.com)

The genesis of the T.G.I.F. project is a case study in creative pragmatism, as Cassandra explains it: “We looked at an array of problems to see what we could solve in our own community.” A few important strands came together: she learned about turning cooking oil into biodiesel when she attended the Rhode Island Green Expo in 2008; she knew her local community had a non-sustainable program to provide emergency heating for the needy; and, she heard that local restaurants and residents were pouring fats, oils and grease (FOG) down their drains and clogging up town sewage pipes.

Cassandra and her team puzzled over how to combine these problems to devise a solution. An article she found on Google about SF Greasecycle, a municipal effort in San Francisco to collect and recycle cooking oil, clinched the deal. “All of our problems kind of snowballed together,” she says.

That snowballing is no accident. The different pieces that coalesced to form T.G.I.F. were gathered in by a rare combination of forces: clear-sightedness, logic, and a splash of ingenuity.

Cassandra’s fearlessness lies at the center of these forces. Her mind is eager to apply itself to the world, and she does so with a cheerful, scintillating energy that would motivate the most confirmed nay-sayer.

Innovative people need to be encouraged, she says: “Their family should support them and not inhibit their imagination so that they can be as much as they can be.”

Not surprisingly, Cassandra says her parents have created a nurturing space for her by “cheering from the sidelines, giving good advice, pushing me farther.” She adds, “They also expose me to a lot of things. They always want me to learn something new. My dad gives me articles from Time magazine and the Wall Street Journal to read. We also travel a lot, so our eyes have been open to the world from a young age.”

Cassandra is also aware that her parents have placed limits on certain things, although the reasons are fuzzy.

“I don’t have a Facebook,” she says. “I want one, but my parents won’t let me. And we don’t have cable because my parents think that—. ” She considers for a moment. “I don’t know what they think. They just don’t think that cable is a good thing.”

The mysterious ban on television in the Lin household thankfully doesn’t extend to the Internet, where Cassandra says she gathers important ideas, such as how to make biodiesel.

“It’s really hard to believe that YouTube only started in 2005,” she reminisces. “I was seven. I never really used YouTube until I was like nine or ten.”

Reminded that she herself is on YouTube, speaking as a delegate to the Tunza International Youth Conference held in South Korea last year, she responds like the unexpected hero:

“Am I?”

[source : http://www.businessinnovationfactory.com/iss/innovators/cassandra-lin]

Caging and abuse allegedly increasing in kopi luwak production

By Compassion
The civets are almost exclusively fed coffee berries, which they then excrete. This image was taken on a civet farm just outside Surabaya, Indonesia. (Photograph: guardian.co.uk)

The civets are almost exclusively fed coffee berries, which they then excrete. This image was taken on a civet farm just outside Surabaya, Indonesia. (Photograph: guardian.co.uk)

Producers of kopi luwak coffee, the $150-plus-per-pound Indonesian coffee harvested from the excretions of cat-like palm civets, are now in the sights of animal rights groups that are alleging abuse.

A report from the UK’s Guardian says representatives of the magazine recently visited a coffee shop in Sumatra in which an adult female civet was kept in a small back-room cage and separated from her two young offspring, while many other cages with unknown contents were kept behind the building.

Here’s more from the Guardian:

Animal welfare groups contend that growing numbers of such civet “farms” are emerging across south-east Asia, confining tens of thousands of animals to live in tiny cages and force-fed a debilitating diet. The Asian palm civet is common, but conservationists claim that related species are sometimes used which are under threat of extinction. The binturong, another cat-like species that is sometimes used to produce Kopi Luwak, is classed by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature’s red list as “vulnerable”.

Animal rights issues aside, the increase in caged civets for coffee production could also be having a negative impact on Indonesia’s place in the specialty coffee market. According to a recent Jakarta Post report, the surge in worldwide demand for kopi luwak has resulted in an increase in “farmed” beans, with more than 60 percent of the 40 to 50 tons of the coffee produced annually coming from caged animals rather than wild animals.

“The condition of the luwak affects the taste and quality of the coffee. The caged luwak are often left starving and forced to digest both the unripe green berries and the finest ripe red ones,” Wirawan Tjahjadi, owner of the Bhineka Jaya coffee company in Indonesia, recently told the paper.

[source : http://dailycoffeenews.com/2012/11/26/caging-and-abuse-allegedly-increasing-in-kopi-luwak-production/]

Nature’s most loyal lovers: Magellanic penguins always return to same mate after solo journeys totaling 200,000 miles

By Compassion, Wisdom
Faithful: New research shows how a pair of Magellanic penguins were loyal to each other for 16 years

Faithful: New research shows how a pair of Magellanic penguins were loyal to each other for 16 years

● Penguin couple stayed together for 16 years, smashing all previous records
● New research shows incredible loyalty in spite of the epic distances travelled by the bird

As the UK divorce rate continues to soar, a new study has today shown how marital harmony is thriving in the penguin world.

Research has revealed a pair of Magellanic penguins as among the most faithful in the animal kingdom.

The couple have remained loyal to each other over a 16-year period, in spite of spending thousands of miles apart during their winter trips.

Loyal: A pair of penguins can track each other down among hundreds of thousands of other birds using a distinctive call

Loyal: A pair of penguins can track each other down among hundreds of thousands of other birds using a distinctive call

The findings come after a 30-year study of the breed where researchers placed metal identity bands on the flippers of 50,000 birds on the southern coast of Argentina.

Previously penguin relationships were believed to span a maximum of just 10 years, with many cut short by the unexpected death of birds during migration.

Loving: A Magellanic penguin stays loyal to the same mate, in spite of long periods apart

Loving: A Magellanic penguin stays loyal to the same mate, in spite of long periods apart

‘Divorce’ is also a possibility as couples who fail to hatch chicks will split up and find new mates.

But according to The Sunday Telegraph, biologists have been surprised by the longevity of the relationship between a particular couple.

‘The bond they have is incredible really,’ lead researcher Dr Pablo Garcia Borboroglu, of the National Research Council of Argentina, told the newspaper.

‘It is unbelievable how far Magellanic penguins swim – and each breeding season they come back to the same nest and to the same partner.’

The research was revealed during a lecture to the Whitley Fund for Nature in London, and Dr Borboroglu will set out his findings in a book to be published next year called Penguins: Natural History and Conservation.

Magellanic penguins can only be found around the Falkland Islands and South America.
Argentina has the highest population, with 900,000 breeding pairs in Argentina, while there are 800,000 couples in Chile.

But their numbers have dropped dramatically since the turn of the century due to oil pollution and falling fish numbers and there are thought to be around 1.2 million left in the world.

Dr Borboroglu’s project also used satellite tracking to identify the movements of the birds, showing the enormous journeys they travel each winter to the warmer waters of Brazil.

Every year, the penguins arrive at their summer nests in the southern hemisphere and find their partners using a distinctive call.

After reuniting and mating, the female usually lay two eggs, which each partner takes turns guarding while the other goes out to sea.

After they hatch, the parents spend a month caring for their young before heading off to their wintering area.

The penguins join a roll call of other animals that undertake loyal relationships, including the albatross, French angelfish and black vultures.

Mates for life: In spite of long distance flights, albatrosses always return to breed with the same partners

Mates for life: In spite of long distance flights, albatrosses always return to breed with the same partners

Jealous: Like the Magellanic penguin, black vultures are strictly monogamous

Jealous: Like the Magellanic penguin, black vultures are strictly monogamous

[source : http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2234755/Magellanic-penguins-return-mate-solo-journeys-totalling-200-000-miles.html]

Free to roam: Female elephant fitted with a new prosthetic leg

By Compassion
Seledang using its prosthetic leg at the Kuala Gandah National Elephant Conservation Centre in Temerloh yesterday. (Pic by Mohd Rafi Mamat)

Seledang using its prosthetic leg at the Kuala Gandah National Elephant Conservation Centre in Temerloh yesterday. (Pic by Mohd Rafi Mamat)

TEMERLOH: A company’s kind act in providing a prosthetic limb for female elephant Seledang has enabled the animal to roam freely again within the gated area of the Kuala Gandah National Elephant Conservation Centre, here.

The 7-year-old’s left foreleg was severed at the ankle after it was caught in a wire mesh, here, a year ago. It was discovered by a plantation worker, who alerted the Department of Wildlife and National Parks (Perhilitan).

Head of Kuala Gandah National Elephant Conservation Centre Nasharudin Othman said they had fitted Seledang with a prosthetic leg but after more than a year, it was found to be unsuitable. He said Seledang’s leg had grown bigger and a more comfortable artificial limb was needed.

Nasharudin said the company, an international shoe manufacturer based in Kuala Lumpur, had offered the help as part of its corporate social responsibility programme. He said the company had helped Perhilitan save the cost of buying a new prosthetic leg, which cost more than RM20,000.

He said the company would examine Seledang’s prosthetic leg soon to make minor adjustments.

“After wearing the prosthetic leg for a few weeks, Seledang kept dislodging it as it was uncomfortable.

“The company said it would examine Seledang’s artificial leg to make the necessary changes.”

Nasharudin said it was the first time a local elephant had been fitted with a prosthetic leg as compared with Thailand and Myanmar, where the use of prosthetic legs among elephants was common because of accidents.

Seledang is one of 10 elephants, aged between 1 and 7, under the Kuala Gandah National Elephant Conservation Centre’s young elephant management programme, which is supported by Perhilitan. It is aimed at protecting animals that are separated from their herd.

“Sometimes, they are found stranded in forests or oil palm plantations in Pahang, Perak and Terengganu,” Nasharudin said.

Under the programme, the young elephants are fed twice a day and allowed to roam for three to four hours within the 1ha electric-gated area, under the close monitoring of Perhilitan staff.

When the animals reach the age of 4 or 5, they are released into the forests, either in groups or pairs.

“Since the Kuala Gandah centre was set up in 1985, we have released six adult elephants into Taman Negara’s forest reserve,” said Nasharudin. “This is important as it allows the animals to live in their natural habitat.”

[source : http://www.nst.com.my/nation/general/seledang-on-its-feet-again-1.163898]

马来夫妇养600流浪猫狗‧灵犬河边救主

By Compassion
狗儿看到米伯走进范围內,都热情的趋近他。(图:星洲日报)

狗儿看到米伯走进范围內,都热情的趋近他。(图:星洲日报)

(吉打‧亚罗士打19日讯)无怨无悔照顾600只流浪猫狗,住在亚罗士打的马来夫妇米伯和哈丽查的爱心让动物也铭感於心,更上演义犬救主的感人情节。

米伯夫妇3年前目睹猫狗无人照顾,一路接收“领养",迄今,夫妇俩收养的猫狗已从数十只,增至逾400只狗和200只猫!

拉回岸上集体狂吠唤救人

米伯收养的猫狗,当中不少是患病的,太多猫狗要照顾,哈丽查曾因操劳过度,晕倒在河边。

庆幸的是,当时在场的狗只,竟齐心协力把她拉回岸上,让哈丽查免於溺水。

犬群过后更不寻常地集体狂吠,召唤米伯前来救妻。

这起义犬救主的美事让两夫妇津津乐道,也让无怨无悔为猫狗服务的两人备感安慰。

阿玆米(54岁,人称米伯)说,太太约5个月前,在为狗住所进行日常打理工作时,因太劳累头晕累倒河边。

哈丽查(64岁,人称为丹姐)回忆说,她当时想爬起来,但有心无力,所幸狗儿发现后群起救她,否则河水水位若提昇,就可能被淹死了。

米伯说,他听到狗儿狂吠,走过去看个究竟,才知道太太出事了。

他补充,自己过去15年患有哮喘病,须用气雾剂,近三四年忙於照顾猫狗,已忘了哮喘和气雾剂这回事;这或是他爱护並照顾小动物而来的福气。

这只狗走路时只能用两只前腿,后腿则是交叉並拖着走。(图:星洲日报)

这只狗走路时只能用两只前腿,后腿则是交叉並拖着走。(图:星洲日报)

流浪狗受伤被虐
都收留照顾

早在1990年,住在花园民宅的米伯和家人,看到无家可归、经常挨饿的流浪狗,心里萌起了怜悯之心,总在晚上邻人没留意时,煮东西给这些流浪狗吃。

因为怜悯之心,米伯开始接触狗只;约3年前,米伯和太太搬到区內一河岸旁,並將常餵食的逾30只狗一块带来,同行的还有约40只猫。

阿玆米和太太原本主要收养患病、生疥癣或残障的狗只,此外每次看到在外流浪、受伤、被虐或被车撞倒的狗只时,都会带回来照顾。

后来演变到公眾自行將猫狗带来让两人收留。

米伯说,他並非富有人,全职照顾狗並不是为了要出名,纯粹出於对狗的怜悯和爱心。

他强调,他的目的並非让狗儿繁殖,而是照顾受伤、残障的狗儿。

义工们忙着搬下檳州K9 Pets有限公司赞助的一些狗粮来移交给米伯。(图:星洲日报)

义工们忙着搬下檳州K9 Pets有限公司赞助的一些狗粮来移交给米伯。(图:星洲日报)

热心人纷提供狗食
不赞同猫狗安乐死

阿玆米说,他和太太清早就將狗粮分给狗做早餐,下午时分就到附近餐饮店討鸡骨,再和米煮成狗儿的食物。

他感谢免费提供鸡脚和鸡头的小贩、赞助23只狗儿结扎手术费用的人士、免费提供药品的兽医诊所医生、赞助米粮和款项的热心人士等。

米伯受SOS询问时,不赞同让猫狗安乐死,相反的希望政府理性解决问题,如將狗儿送往收留中心並结扎。

他认为,若每人都愿意收养狗只,就能轻易解决流浪狗问题。

米伯说,目前该收留地並没有水电供应,若能获资源来安装水电供应,將让中心更好运作。

“唐氏症狗"
包纸尿布

其中一只名叫Kechik(意即“小")的狗包上纸尿布,丹姐说牠是“唐氏症狗"(Down Syndrom),头斜斜,走起路来也稍微歪斜,吃喝需要他们逐口餵。

还有一只是过去曾被车撞、没获適当照料而残缺,走路时只用两只前腿,后腿交叉並拖著走,以及另一只瘫痪而行动不便的狗。

米伯说,患上疥癣和生病的猫狗、患皮肤癌的猫等,都被安置在他们住的货仓旁,和其他猫狗隔离照顾,其余则分散在两个围栏內。

左图:丹姐说,这只狗的智力些许受损。右图:岑爱玲手上抱着包上纸尿片的唐氏症狗。(图:星洲日报)

左图:丹姐说,这只狗的智力些许受损。右图:岑爱玲手上抱着包上纸尿片的唐氏症狗。(图:星洲日报)

SOS到访带来狗粮
促政府“停止杀,开始结扎"

这对夫妇和猫狗的故事,引起相关组织关注。

檳城拯救流浪狗联盟(Save Our Strays简称SOS)发言人岑爱玲和多名义工德薇、马哈斯瓦仁、凯特霖、米雪、峇拉和苏峇希妮一行人昨日探访米伯夫妇俩。

岑爱玲呼吁政府在流浪狗课题上,採取“停止杀,开始结扎"的方式。

她说,米伯是她看过收养最多狗的穆斯林,希望能借此鼓励穆斯林养狗,因为马来同胞若能养狗,流浪狗的问题就已解决一半。

她和义工们也为米伯带来了由檳州K9Pets有限公司赞助的其中四十多包狗粮。

她说,SOS会研討给予米伯其他援助,並继续和米伯密切合作。

她呼吁要为米伯提供协助和支持的人士,可联络她(012-4708308)。

星洲日报记者在场採访时,適巧来了一位华裔女子林慧毅(28岁),她说,她通过面子书发现米伯收留狗时难以置信,亲自来查看后终於相信,因此有空就会到访,看能给予米伯和丹姐甚么协助。

米伯准备把狗粮盛在盘子,一些狗已在旁“预备"要用餐。(图:星洲日报)

米伯准备把狗粮盛在盘子,一些狗已在旁“预备"要用餐。(图:星洲日报)

“穆斯林摸狗没罪"
虐狗吃狗肉才是罪恶

针对穆斯林对狗的避忌,阿玆米认为穆斯林触摸狗、养狗、照顾生病的狗並没罪;若虐待狗、吃狗肉,那才是真的罪恶。

他强调,不管在乾或湿的情况下触摸狗,重点是在祈祷之前,必须用泥水或河水来清洗,就没被禁止了。

他本身曾对太太说,假若一天自己被狗咬死,也不要把狗杀掉,因为狗儿若真如此做,一定有其原因,何况狗儿並不像人类般拥有思考能力。

“我们应该尊重生命,就算是一只狗的生命也应被尊重,不应受鄙视。"针对並非所有人能接受狗时,阿玆米认为,穆斯林最重要的是勿教导孩子怨恨狗,因为狗也是一条生命。

[source : http://www.sinchew.com.my/node/265353?tid=1]

10月16日世界粮食日‧全球粮食荒‧大马酒肉臭

By Wisdom
中国连云港市天使家园幼儿园开展认识粮食活动,通过对各种粮食的辨认,培养孩子们爱惜粮食的意识,迎接10月16日世界粮食日的到来。图为江苏省连云港市天使家园幼儿园的小朋友在课堂上学习辨识五穀杂粮。(图:新华社)

中国连云港市天使家园幼儿园开展认识粮食活动,通过对各种粮食的辨认,培养孩子们爱惜粮食的意识,迎接10月16日世界粮食日的到来。图为江苏省连云港市天使家园幼儿园的小朋友在课堂上学习辨识五穀杂粮。(图:新华社)

世界正面临粮食短缺危机,庆幸的是大马人仍过著丰衣足食的生活。正因如此,大马人严重缺乏对粮食危机的醒觉意识。

据统计,大马人每天丟弃约1千500万公斤的食物残渣,其中的10至15%是还可食用或被浪费的食物,等於丟掉300至450辆罗里的食物。

这里不缺蔬果鱼肉,食物供应充足,粮食短缺对我们来说似乎是非常遥远的事。

然而,粮食危机是有连锁效应的,它牵一发而动全身,对全世界影响,危机离我们並不远。

10月16日是世界粮食日,今年的主题是“农业合作社:养活世界的关键"(Agricultural Cooperatives : Key to Feeding The World)。

配合世界粮食日,我们来探討饥饿与粮食荒和我们有甚么关係。

汤礼聪:全世界正面临粮食短缺危机,但大马民丝毫未曾察觉其严重性。(图:星洲日报)

汤礼聪:全世界正面临粮食短缺危机,但大马民丝毫未曾察觉其严重性。(图:星洲日报)

畜牧业是粮荒罪魁祸首之一
汤礼聪:鼓励吃素救地球

绿色生活协会(Green Living Society)主席汤礼聪说,在极端的天气条件下,全球暖化、气候转变,全世界正面临粮食短缺危机,但本地人丝毫未曾察觉其严重性。

他指出,人类一年吃掉4千亿只动物,世界人口不断增长,基於人类的需要,畜牧业不断扩大。而大部份的种植品,如玉米和大豆都用来餵养动物。因此,畜牧业是世界粮食危机的主要的罪魁祸首之一。

“为了紓缓粮食短缺问题,人类必须减少肉类消耗。联合国也鼓励人们吃素食拯救地球。"

马每4儿童一人超重

汤礼聪指出,全世界每隔5秒就有人死於饥荒,其中75%是儿童。而在东南亚国家中,大马最多孩子有肥胖的问题。

根据马来西亚肥胖儿童儿科工作小组研究的调查显示,大马每4名儿童就有一人超重或肥胖。

“全世界有三分之一的人足够温饱,有三分之一的人食物不足,剩余的三分之一人口处於挨饿状况。

“大马人被归为首个部份(足够温饱),他们的健康问题都与食物有关,但非並挨饿,而是营养过剩、肥胖问题。"

从小没养成珍惜食物习惯

“新生代的肥胖问题源自於父母纵容孩子吃垃圾食物多过日常正餐。这导致孩子们在用正餐时,吃不下而浪费不少食物。父母允许孩子浪费食物,並没有教育他们,因此孩子们从小就没有养成珍惜食物的习惯。

他说,大马人在舒服的环境太久,从未经歷严重的环境灾难或粮食危机,所以在这方面的意识相当低。

他补充,年长者因曾体验艰难的生活,比较懂得珍惜食物。到了年轻一代,生活条件提高了,人们的购买能力也相渐提高,往往毫无节制地消费,特別是年轻人和小孩子对食物不懂得感恩,从未意识到浪费食物的问题,这种情况令人感到担忧。

反对以木薯製塑胶袋

他指出,除了浪费食物造成全球粮食荒恶化,有些市场上的產品是以食物为原料,如木薯製成午餐盒、以淀粉製成塑胶袋,这些產品叫做“可分解物"。

他非常反对这类產品,他说,这些生產商完全面向业务,也不瞭解整个世界粮食危机的情况。世界上很多人正在挨饿,但他们用食物来生產日用品,而且市场上仍有一部份人在使用,確没意识到这些產品的存在,无形中对饥饿者造成“迫害"。

“生產商解释说,他们使用原料是第三级的木薯,不能食用。我的问题是:一些非洲国家的小孩饿得只能吃树叶和泥土,那么难道第三级的木薯不可以吃吗?"

每年扔掉75万吨好食物

从事废弃物管理的汤礼聪指出,我国每一天產生约3万吨的垃圾,一年则有1千万吨,当中50%是食物浪费,意即每年產生500万吨食物浪费。

他把食物浪费分为4类:

1:厨余,在准备食物前,淘汰的菜头菜尾和果皮等。

2:食物的残渣,这些剩余的食物已不能再食用,如骨头、鱼头、海鲜蚌壳类、水果种子外壳等。

3:消耗不完的食物,可能因挑食、不珍惜食物或点过多食物消耗不完,而扔掉质量良好,但还能被食用的食物。

4:没好好策划而过期的食物,购买者因没好好策划食用时间,以致错过食物的赏味期限而被迫丟掉。

汤礼聪指出,第一类和第二类的食物浪费是无可避免的,无论如何,这些食物浪费都是我们造成的。

“不过,第三和第四类的食物浪费是可以避免的。从我的研究,大约有10至15%的食物浪费属於第三和第四类。这也意味著马来西亚人每年扔掉或浪费约50万至75万吨的好食物。"

他补充,传统佳节或民俗习惯造成更多不必要的食物浪费,比如说主人家可能因为面子问题,不愿减少订食物,视桌上食物的多寡为招待宾客週到与否。

宴会30%好食物弃垃圾桶

“你可否想像一个活动结束后,如宴会,有多少的食物被丟弃?从我的研究中显示,宴会上有30%的食物最后將倒入垃圾桶,而且皆是100%好的食物。"

汤礼聪认为,自助餐比一桌10人的宴席对环境更友善。无论如何,最近几年宴会上的食物浪费已有所改善,他观察到食物的数量已从原本的9道减至8至7道。

他鼓励宾客在宴会上打包吃不完的食物,很多人因为不好意思而没有这么做。他建议主人家通知宾客打包剩余的食物,如果主人家鼓励他们这么做,相信许多宾客愿意这么做,这可减少婚宴上的食物浪费。

“食物浪费是温室气体的排放原因之一,进而引起全球暖化和气候转变。此外,所有浪费的食物都被送到处置场所,而食物的腐化过程会產生沼气和二氧化碳,对环境有害,因此减少浪费食物绝对有必要。"

珍惜食物醒觉仍低
浪费习惯根深蒂固

汤礼聪说,为了提高人们珍惜食物的醒觉,他每次在座谈会时,尝试播放影片或照片,让出席者瞭解有很多人因没有食物而饥饿的情况。

“很多人看了很感动,並且后悔过去浪费食物的行为。然而过了不久,他们又故態復萌。这是非常不幸的,浪费几乎成了人们根深蒂固的习惯,並非一朝一夕能纠正过来。"

他补充,从他的调查所得,除了居住环境有厨余和食物浪费,酒店、餐馆、小贩中心、食物加工厂及巴剎也有不少,然而这些单位都没有好好处理厨余的问题。

汤礼聪指出,有些酒店把处理厨余视为社会责任,但在大马並不普遍。

林德来:在婚宴上大马华人展现节制的美德,一些宾客会要求把桌上剩下的食物打包回家。(图:星洲日报)

林德来:在婚宴上大马华人展现节制的美德,一些宾客会要求把桌上剩下的食物打包回家。(图:星洲日报)

林德来:节制美德减少浪费
鼓励打包婚宴剩余食物

雪隆姑苏慎忠行餐饮业公会总会长林德来受访时认同,国內饮业者对粮食危机的意识普遍不高,不过根据他的观察,华人量人而点菜,不过份舖张。

他说,大马餐馆的厨余一般是“菜头菜尾",在清洗蔬菜过程中,就丟掉腐烂、不新鲜的部份。这些都是不可食用的,至於厨余量多量少,视个別餐馆的使用蔬菜量而定。

“过去我曾到中国,当地人以`客人吃剩菜才有面子,吃完则没面子’,因此单单冷菜近10道,热食又有逾10道,太多佳肴美食难以消受。"

林德来指出,相对之下,在婚宴上,本地华人展现节制的美德,一些宾客会要求把桌上剩下的食物打包回家,这种“打包"习惯是值得鼓励的,不应浪费食物。

他说,宴会上,一般只有至8至10道菜,相当符合一桌人的食量。一个人的食量毕竟是有限的,太多肯定吃不完。

联合国粮食
及农业组织的资料显示

过去50年,人类对肉食的需求激增了500%,为满足增长,全球越来越多农地被用作种植牲畜饲料,中南美洲便有66%的热带雨林因而消失。

●每生產一公斤牛肉,需要16公斤穀物以及1万5千公升食水。单是美国一年餵饲牲畜用的穀物,便能餵饱13亿人口。

●大马人每天丟弃约1千500万公斤的食物残渣,其中的10%至15%是还可食用或被浪费的食物,等於丟掉300至450罗里的食物。

关於全球饥饿:

●全球粮食生產足以让每一个人吃饱,但全球有超过十亿人吃不饱,即是每7个人当中,便有1人挨饿。

●60%饥饿人口是女性,但她们亦是全球粮食生產的重要生力军。

●每年,有大约30万名孕妇因营养不良(缺乏铁质),在分娩时因出血过多而死亡。

●同时间,全球有1亿2千万人有肥胖问题。

关於儿童饥饿:

●每5秒,就有一个儿童死於饥饿或相关疾病;每4个饥饿人口中,就有一个是儿童。

●在发展中国家,60%的儿童死於饥饿,每4个儿童,就有一个体重过轻。

●经济学家指出,长期陷於饥饿会窒碍儿童身心发展,长大后的生计或收入比平均人口低5至10%。

关於饥饿人口:

●约75%来自农村或乡郊地区,25%来自城市。

●10亿饥饿人口中,65%来自以下7个国家,即印度、中国、刚果民主共和国、孟加拉、印尼、巴基斯坦和埃塞俄比亚

[source : http://www.sinchew.com.my/node/264896?tid=67]