9 Simple Habits

1. Eat A Plant Based Diet at least once a week. By reducing our meat intake in this way, after one year, we can help to reduce Global Warming gas CO2 equivalent to CO2 produced by 20,000 motor cars!
   
   
2. Use Natural Repellents like 100% citronella oil or other herbal insect repellents from Kampung Senang's Tampines & Aljunied Centres. Do not use insecticide sprays or permit pesticide fogging in your area. It is harmful to Humans, especially children and the elderly, pets and beneficial insects. Use mosquito nets or screens if necessary, and cover up with light loose long-sleeved clothing after dark.
   
   
3. Chemical Free cleaning agents from natural vegetable extracts are now available. Usage of chemicals will get into our drains, underground water and may eventually fall as acid rain. Inhaling and handling chemical detergents are harmful to humans and may cause serious allergies and bronchial problems or even cause birth defects. A range of natural cleaners at very affordable prices is on sale at Kampung Senang's Tampines and Aljunied Centres. Instead of spraying and fogging chemical s which harm our children and ourselves, plant pest deterring plants around your garden.
   
   
4. Grow your own organic herbs in pots or in the ground and get your veggies from organic outlets and farms. Locally grown fresh vegetable and fruits are best for the health of human and Mother Earth. Support local & neighbouring organic farms – many are family run. Join Kampung Senang and volunteer in our Tampines Organic Farm to learn to grow herbs and vegetables and get cuttings and seeds to grow your own.
   
   
5. Exercise in parks rather than aircon gyms. Wear a face mask if walking on busy roads as inhaling vehicle fumes is very hazardous to our health. Note that fumes from the car upholstery is found to be even more dangerous. So air quality could be worse in the car – especially new cars – than outside the car!
   
   
6. Bring back that good old rattan basket mum used to carry for weekly shopping. Use cloth bag for smaller shopping trips. Or if you have a car, ask the shop for a cardboard carton to put your groceries in.
   
   
7. Say ‘No’ to plastic bags and plastic/Styrofoam containers. The process of making these petro chemical byproducts is highly toxic and their toxic gases get into our food/drink. When they are incinerated more toxic pollution is released into our atmosphere.
   Put some old newspapers into your basket when you go to the market. When you buy chillies, limes or other small items, make a cone out of a piece of newspaper and put these in for weighing. Shop at wet markets rather than supermarkets where everything is excessively over-packaged.
   
   
8. If you are a motorist, switch off the engine when parked and waiting. Park in the shade and wind down windows rather than keep the engine and air-conditioner running.
   
   
9. Support And Promote Permaculture, Organic Living. In order to create sustainability, we need to give back to the earth more than taking from the earth from now on to save our health and our planet.
   
   With thanks to Teresa Teo Guttensohn of the Nature Society Singapore who first came out with 7 habits for Nature News.