Simple Pleasures

The food crisis seems to be the next looming problem next to oil price hike. President Bush blames India and China for the shortage of food supply. Vietnam is cannot keep up with the demand of rice across Asia. For something closer to home, rice prices has increased roughly about close to 50%.

There are so many things that led to this consequence. With the consumer market ailing for lower prices on basic commodities whilst petrol price increase, farmers bear the burden to keep up with what the supply chain. From middle men who haggle prices before supplying the produce to the public who also had to consider cost buildup and margins, there is little left for them as income to continue their livelihood.

Another cause would be the increase of demand for bio-fuel which consumes our natural resource aside from food alone. Bio-fuel are by-products of corn and sugarcane. And as such, it requires enough land to keep a bio-fuel plantation. And given with such little land space for agriculture with increasing advancement on industrialization, our priority for generating food and fuel are divided. If we cannot feed people with what we have now, how can we feed now that we have to compete with bio-fuel industry.

Personally, it all boils down to scarcity on energy which the human population are largely dependent of. Without fuel, we cannot live our comfortable lives and the convenience that is available around us. And if we chose to conserve in our own little way, maybe we can still stand a chance to "postpone" the imminent until we find better solutions.

First thing is to conserve energy. Turn off electric appliances that are not used. Use power efficient appliances and fixtures. I am guilty of this but I try my best to turn off outlets when I see it before leaving the house.

You can also conserve energy but taking public transport. I like the way new SMRT marketing strategy which encourages people to take public transport more than taking out their cars that eats up petrol. Owning cars may indicate stature and success but what will that do if your gas guzzling machine can consume petrol more that it should.

If public commute is not possible, opt for fuel-economic cars. A lot of car manufacturers, particularly Asian brands, are producing cars that provide high mileage with less gas consumption.

Conservation is not for energy alone but also for food. At your local hawker, try to eat as much as you can finish even if it is going to cost you. I would usually ask to have my food servings reduced as I'd hate to leave unfinished food on my plate. I would think of a thousand hungry children who I can feed with it.

In our own little way, we can create a big change when done together. It’s time to get conscientious with what we do and maybe our children doesn’t need to suffer the things that we have took for granted.

Celebrated by monicai at 8:29 PM

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