To be a better Steward of the Earth that God has given me

If you still haven't done so, go watch Annie Leonard's Story of Stuff, an awesome video on consumer goods.

I told HL just now, the key words are "Sustainability" and "Buy Less". As mentioned in the video, recycling is great, but not enough. Consumers may recycle as much as they can, but organisations and factories in the production step and retail step are not or may not be doing enough in recycling, reducing and reusing. So BUY LESS, and they'll make less, hopefully.

Further reading on how to do your part for our Earth.

More to integrate into my family's lifestyle:
1. Less expenditure on toys, especially cheap plastic ones.
Plastic is generally toxic to us and the environment, and a lot of plastic cannot be recycled properly.

2. Do not be a slave to fashion.
Thankfully Singapore's climate is not seasonal, we don't have to get new clothes unless old ones wear out. I'm actually fine with wearing old clothes for CNY.

3. When we get our new home, keep as much of our current furniture as possible. Functionality is more important than look and style.

4. Avoid bottled drinks- soft drinks, fruit juices, teas, mineral water. Does Bunderberg count? Those are glass bottles. We love our Root Beer (and I my Ginger Beer).

5. Avoid drinks and foods sold in Tetra-Paks and similar packaging - packet drinks eg. fruit juices, UHT milk, Vitasoy, teas.
Tetra-Paks are made of plastic (not again!) and Al-coated (there's Al in my green tea?!) paperboard and according to the video, are virtually impossible to separate (I've read about this someplace else a long time ago too). However, I just found this, but we don't know how much exactly comes out recycled or reused at the end (and how much gets trashed after all), AND I don't know whether our recycling companies here in Sg are able to do that yet.

6. Less TV!!!
And less brain-washing to go out and buy that new toy, that new snack, that cool new gadget.

7. Drive less, walk more.
Fossil fuel depletion, fuel emissions, more road and carparks, less green spaces. 'Nuff said.

8. Less shopping!!!