Hey everyone!

I just got back from Germnay yesterday but unfortunately will not be able to distribute the gifts and share the phots now cos I'll be flying off again tml, this time to Japan....

I met lots of ppl there and miss them very much now....

Everyone is so friendly!

See you soon guys and gals in Singapore! I will be back soon...! I will miss you'all!

Hello from Cologne, Germany!

Hey everyone,

Here is Germany, after 14 hours of flight.

I'm safe and sound, the keyboard is very hard to type cos its for german users! Look at this ÄÄÖÖÖ cool huh?

Time to go...

I'm leaving for a week to Cologne and Leverkusen, Germany, then will be back for a weekend, before flying off to Tokyo, Japan.

During this time from 17th to 24th, then 26th to 3rd, I will be away, but there will be internet where I am going so communications should not be a problem, just perhaps a little slow. Email me: fabienrules@hotmail.com.

I have already informed samuel, ming quan, alex, muhd and kephren of ECO about thingsyoucando! and I trust them fully to handle everything better than me.

I am very sorry that I was unable to help out the j1 booklet team because of my schedule and some unexpected events but please understand the former was the reason why I chose programmes and why I wanted registration.

Everything is in place now, finally, and I can leave without worries.

The environment

The press these days have been focusing a lot on the environment. It is indeed comforting that more people are being more aware of the climate change crisis and global warming.

Just a few hours it was reported in the news that Police officers in Thailand have embarked on a new plan to recycle used cooking oil. By handing out tanks to hawkers, restuarants and households, used cooking oil will then be collected and recycled into fuel for powering Police cars. A simple project that saves up to SGD$10,000,000 (ok i think its the figure. I heard it in the Chinese news and I'm not very sure I caught the figure properly but i think its S$1o million. Anyway the thing is they saved a lot of money, and conserved a precious resource - fuel)

It was reported in time a few months ago that Sultana High School in San Bernardino, California, USA, managed to cut its annual energy bill by US$100,000 by promoting basic conservation techniques like shutting off lights and equipment when not in use. Imagine, how many flag days is needed to raise this figure? How many fund raising items need to be sold to raise this figure? How many busking days are needed to raise this figure?

WILL HUMANS BE ENLIGHTENED?

RJC is a large consumer of energy and electricity. Here we are, organising so many fund raising events, CIP activities, so many fund raising here and there, but do you realise that by closing the doors and windows when air con is on, setting it to more than 25 degree Celsius, turning off toilet lights, switching off classroom lights, you save possibly much much more than you can raise?

Imagine that we can save SGD$50,000 a year at RJC. It is not impossible you know.

Can you imagine how much more money the school can give your CCA or you? Can you imagine giving this money to financially deserving students?

Can you imagine that we can actually give this money to build your so called student's den or to fund your national day ceremony at school?

Raffles One Earth does not have many fund raising activities. But we urge people to conserve, and by conserving, we save!

Currently, Raffles One Earth has partnered the 27th Students' Council to bring forth the environmental message in school. Very soon, you will see posters appearing behind the door of every single toilet in school to remind you to switch off the lights after use. Toilet lights (and fans) can be switched off anytime, especially during after school hours. We made sure that the posters are of the highest aesthetic standards and quality.

We are working very hard, negotiating with the estate office and a private company to bring more recycling bins to school, especially in the canteen. A metal can recycled saves the energy required to light a lamp for 3.5 hours. Recycling trays meant specially for paper will be placed in every tutorial room, and they will be cleared frequently.

When the new principal comes into office, I will try to push environmental issues in school up her agenda. With the support of the school administration, i believe that RJ can and will become a greener institution.

We are also planning an IHC game next year. A special committee of dedicated members have been selected to plan and organise the IHC game. I cannot disclose much but I can say that it's gonna be quite BIG, definitely.

Thingsyoucando! will bring forth the environmental message to over 100,000 youths next year. The speakers have been set, the PR department is working very hard (right samuel?) together with ECO Singapore's PR side, the Slides and Scripts are planning the content of the talks, the Research and Design team are working very creatively on their posters, the trailer crew, thinking of ideas and putting them into film.

Earth Week next year will be something BIG as well. In fact, if the council admin and teacher do not disrupt our plans, you will see a major coordinated effort to tie in the IHC game together with Earth Week.

Also, a major conference will be held next year5 in RJC as well, brigning together the leadership of green clubs all over singapore. These youths leaders will come together to share ideas on how to make this isalnd even greener. I believe that if adults do not wish to take the lead, we youths have to step up and take the initiative to show that how things should be done. Conversation for Conservation will be held on April 22nd.

EC networking session will also be continued next year, in partnership with NEA. The J1s will be responsible for EC networking.

.

.
.
.

Yes indeed environmentalist/environmental activists/campaigners face a hell lot of setbacks and challenges. In my school alone the pressure to deliver is mounting. Some teachers dun even know that an environmental club exists. If I call them ignorant, would I be rude or honest? Some CCALs have no respect for us. If I dish out some justice, would I be ungentlemenly or valiant? It's time to shout out loud!


And we face a hell of bureaucratic challenges. The authorities who disapprove something so simple, something so beneficial, something so clear, because of... politics? Dammit I'm sick sick sick of politics. Paperwork, totally redundant and time consuming.

Once I remembered li jian and I attended this FOSL workshop and there was a point in time during the workshop when the entire class was listening to me and the teacher mr k debating abt the environmental movement in RJC. Come on man, it's not as if I'm the principal la. Please la... please wake up. You think it's so easy why dun you be an environmentalist yourself? Take some initiative la...

I hate people who argue with me for the sake of arguing. Bloody hell.

It is indeed disappointing to see all these happening but if I were to give up now, or anytime soon, would I be proud to call myself son of my father, father of my sons?


The going is tough but we will not give up.


The nature with most environmentalists are that they are soft hearted, kind and gentle. People tend to exploit these characteristics. I am none of the above. If anyone dares exploit me, hohoho...

.
.
.
.
.

Environmental concerns are for real. Global warming is for real. You think your oil can burn forever? You think the snows on the Swiss Alps will forever be there for you to ski? You think polar bears can swim forever? They need icebergs to rest on. And ice bergs are melting...

Act now. Start with the 7 Easy Green Habits:

1. Reject Plastic Bags. Tell the person behind the counter, "no thank you!"

2. Recycle Paper. Print both sides. Dun throw away paper, put in a tray and recycle the stack of waste paper. Use paper that has already been printed on to do your physics practice.

3. Reusable Stationery. I use only refills.

4. Open that window and use a fan instead of an aircon. If you turn the aircon on, set it at above 25 degree celsius

5. Do not leave the heater on for too long before you take a shower.

6. Turn off your TVs, PCs after use. Standby mode sucks energy from the mains, and money from your pockets. Make sure that little red LED light is not lighted on.

7. Public transport. You only need 45cents for a trip.

Also fill up a 500ml bottle with water and put it into the water tank behind your toilet bowl. It saves you 500ml of water everytime you flush.

It is this simple.

Poster design: Fransisco Chandra, another talented member of 08SO6Q and thingsyoucando!

They say absence make the heart fonder.

Very true indeed.

After close to one year since I left Chinese Orchestral music, I miss it a lot.

I think perhaps I would be unable to perform now, given that I havent touched the zhongruan or sanxian for close to a year already.

Those times...

from sec 1, playing with that tennis ball...

wise words from seniors

mr yeo

malaysia-penang

concerts

syf

malaysia-melaka

bad performances

good performances

sightreading when coming late for practice

getting scolded a million times

talking back to ___

practising till the finger skin turns red and peels

coming back from breaks wet and sweaty

AWOL for CO camp after getting through the bloody auditions (one of the biggest regrets in my life, only 2 people know the true story)

the backstage of SCH

the performing stage of SCH

Practice, diligence, hard work, is key to a successful performance.

December 14th concert: a tribute to mr yeo.

Arrival hall

trying to look retarded...
skinny gangster...lol
Yix, satay please...
at the arrival hall...

And samuel, Head, Public Relations, Thingsyoucando! campaign, at the headquarters of ECO in Bugis, being very professional in an important phone call with a school official.

This is not emo, but rather reflective.

_____

Being introduced to the theories of Malthus and Structuralist Geography (opposing theories) have perhaps been my most enjoyable experience in academics this year. I have always believed that Structuralist Geography, coupled with enlightened political leadership, education and human ingenuity will one day relieve, and heal the world of pressing issues, which, in my humble opinion, are environmental problems, poverty, disease, and an unequal playing field.

____


In hindsight, I am also grateful of the 2 opportunities which I was given.

____


I also took the personality test, and I can testify that it is very true. My personality type comprises only 3% of the entire human population, they said. Recommended career choices came as a pleasant surprise.

____


I am off to watch Castaway, one of my favourite movies of all time now. It's a fantastic film which showcases the purest essence of human society and love. A classic.

Hey everyone,

Just to inform everyone that I am still in Singapore and that this blog is not out of service. I have enjoyed the class chalet thoroughly despite having to leave at 6 30 with yix the following morning.

I will continue to blog after I become less busy, calm down and recover my emotional health.

Till then,

Thanks everyone for your care and concern.

If I appear quiet or distant or unfriendly or unable to reproduce my humour, may I ask for your understanding and forgiveness.

I have many things on my mind right now. I need to spend more time with my family also.

Some unexpected events have rocked my life but I am positive that Hu Ching will be back.