RRb4R

Sometimes we forget the people (and animals) who worked for us

2011-09-08T11:29:00.000+08:00

More:
The Story of Stuff
Adbusters
Silence of the Bees

Listen to the children

2011-08-30T13:58:00.000+08:00

They live. We don't.

Olivia Binfield's poem on Britain's Got Talent:

Come on, don’t you have a heart?
You don’t want these animals to depart
Forget the X factor and the top 10 singing chart
Look at the most endangered animals and the poison dart
The Amur Leopard, Siberian Tiger and Polar Bear
They are so gorgeous it is just not fair
If I say their Latin name will you listen more?
Oh Louis please don’t say this is a bore
Varanus komodoensis, Komodo dragon by the way
Why does man have to take them all away?
Man you are such a fool
Snakes skinned for handbags? That is just not cool
Please listen to my passion although it may not be in fashion
I cannot sing it; you might laugh
I cannot dance; you would say I was daft
But I am seven and I want these animals to last

Canon cartridge

2011-08-30T13:43:00.000+08:00

I finally took my pack of used cartridges to recycle!

Canon Ink Cartridge Recycling Program

Packaging: stickers

2011-06-09T16:33:00.004+08:00

You know I sell online. To save packaging expense and materials most are recycled. Cardboards, magazine covers and leaflets are great for protection. To fix them in position tape is necessary, but I also collect stickers from other packaging and save them for use.

Leaflet stamped with RRb4R for protection

Sticker reuse

Stickers saved on backing paper from used labels

It's something very small, but the small make up the big (think of mass-produced stickers, hmm?), and they personalise your items, so why not.

If you love it, don't keep it as pet

2011-05-31T20:09:00.001+08:00

"The only reason the loris isn't biting the person holding it in the video is because it has had its teeth ripped out with pliers." — Chris Shepherd

Articles

Slow loris YouTube videos fuel endangered species trade

Adorable loris videos: maimed, tortured, dying endangered trafficked animals on YouTube

Silence of the Bees

2011-05-31T19:40:00.013+08:00

Full video here

This programme made me very sad. All animals are killed by us, leaving us.

Read:

Colony collapse disorder

Capture from Adbusters

Reduce

2011-05-31T19:27:00.003+08:00

Monte-Bianco Toothbrush

Why aren't all toothbrushes designed that way? Very cool, a little improvement on the packaging and it'll be perfect.

Want / Need

2011-05-31T19:14:00.000+08:00

Glass by Alesina Design

Wrong proportion; otherwise, quite clever.

McDonald's is trying to be McGreen

2011-05-24T21:46:00.006+08:00

Isn't it strange to see this book at McDonald's:

《低碳有前途》　陳曉蕾

They're giving this out too:

So it's no coincidence

Packaging

2011-05-24T21:24:00.006+08:00

Some packaging I came across the past weeks

I bought ONE camera, look what I got in the small box. Individual plastic bag for every single item. There may be some importance of protecting sensitive equipment, but paper booklets? If it's to show that my pack is completely totally brand new, thank you very much.

This is a free gift I got from the purchase. Read the text on the plastic bag protecting the plastic folder: tear the bag up and throw it away immediately? So that's what protective packaging is for, being destroyed right after purchase? Not even (mentioning of) recycling, no? There are so many ways of keeping it away from children and so many ways of reusing it. There are so many things that can suffocate children; the folder this plastic bag is protecting, for example. Should we tear it up and throw it away too?

Capsules of capsule toys are a waste, but this one is pretty cool cos the case is the toy: a piggy bank.

Adbusters #93 #94

2011-04-14T17:31:00.003+08:00

Recently got two issues of Adbusters. They pretty much tell what kind of world we're in right now. A bit depressing, good texts for thought. Sharing a few articles.

On their website:

What we have done to bees

Fish won't grow (back)

Time to change

1-minute wallet

2011-04-14T16:25:00.008+08:00

Last weekend I went hiking and camping (rarely) and I had to prepare a light-weight and compact small pack so as to carry around important belongings and things that I may use any time. My wallet is too big for this, so I made a quick one by taping cards from old publication and tag. It's crude but very useful. I still use it because it's so convenient, may not move things back to the original wallet soon!

Folded card, price tag and a few strips of tape

You may recognise it's Artslink cover with Kongkee's illustration

Inside is an organ donation card — you'll never know what happens when hiking!

All things put into a cute bear waist bag from Salvation Army Family Store

Glass

2011-02-16T04:04:00.001+08:00

I took glass bottles over the years to recycle last week. Not many organisations in Hong Kong do this. Do keep track of the Green Glass project and bring your glass waste to them. Please check their website for the most updated collection time and location. Contact: info@greenglass.org.hk / 5316 2907

Reduce & Reuse

2011-01-29T13:06:00.003+08:00

image via Compostmodern 2011: Overheard Yesterday Afternoon.

It's CNY, get your 大掃除 done with this checklist (Hong Kong Directory).

Sunday programme: Human Footprint 食幾多?用幾多? (美國篇)

2011-01-17T01:07:00.006+08:00

Human Footprint

YouTube (while it lasts)

There's film paradox as usual, but this type of programme is always effective in delivering the message, visually. Remind ourselves: the story of stuff.

More on Wildlife Conservation Society

Concerning paper rolls

2010-11-19T14:09:00.001+08:00

(Focus on the concept, not the practicality.)

Humorous paper towel drawing by Marc Johns

Square redesign of toilet paper by Shigeru Ban

Only the most beautiful music matches Mother Nature

2010-10-01T00:00:00.001+08:00

music by Yann Tiersen, footage from Planet Earth, video by Psyeraph

IamSamSammIam: Before I die, I will listen to this song one.last. time...

Before I die, I will look at the planet Earth one last time...

Dear deer

2010-09-30T01:00:00.002+08:00

Who will be the deer?

Evergreen by Axelle Renoir, animation by Yoann Lemoine

Anteaters and sloths

2010-09-18T15:02:00.011+08:00

Drawing giant anteater. See the finished T-shirt.

Dave having "fun" with a tamandua (aka Lesser Anteater).

Anteaters are in the same order Pilosa as sloths. Guess that's why they're equally odd and strangely adorable.

Love this YouTube comment by flowerpod: That's the sweetest thing after the platypus. Evolution has a good sense of humor.

Animal appreciation: Tapir 貘

2010-09-17T15:40:00.011+08:00

Just when the adult Malayan Tapir (aka the Asian Tapir) is weird enough, I thought this cute little juvenile was a hybrid of Pumbaa and Bambi, but it is in fact the Brazilian Tapir (aka the South American Tapir). Tapirs of all species have the remarkable humbug stripes when they are kids.

Let's see how they move:

Here's a more informative introduction:

Sadly like any other species except Homo sapiens, tapirs are endangered.

Things don't come from nowhere

2010-09-11T18:34:00.002+08:00

They don't go nowhere too.

What we call love

2010-09-11T16:31:00.001+08:00

Scientists have found the first evidence to suggest that zooplankton, tiny creatures that inhabit the ocean in their billions, choose their sexual partners. Despite being blind, the plankton try out and reject sexual advances of others, reserving their affections for bigger mates. This means sexual selection plays a key role in plankton evolution. Details are published in the journal Oecologia. Photographer Spike Walker was awarded the Royal Photographic Society's combined Royal Colleges medal for his 'outstanding contribution to photography and its application in the service of medicine'.

— The week in wildlife from The Guardian

Exchange

2010-09-10T21:32:00.007+08:00

Reblog? Exchange!

I had some photographic paper and film left untouched for 2 years since graduation. They were bought for a photography class but as always, things came in surplus, you know how wasteful education is. Since I'm no photographer, I've always wanted to give them to someone but darkroom and B&W photography is quite a rarity so I wasn't sure who to give to. THEN some of my (Facebook) friends set up a group for exchanging our unwanted things with one another, and I happily exchanged these for two books from Ron (who's one of the group admins). Thanks!

Please check and join and use the group
圍威喂以物易物小組

Sometimes the world works fine in non-monetary terms, and we don't always have to consume to take what we need/want. Remember:

poster design by Ivan Orin Vrkas & Bojan Kristofic

T-shirt folding

2010-09-02T19:43:00.012+08:00

I've always found T-shirt folders to be pretty stupid, and wasteful. But then, if you could make one yourself with used cardboard, OK.

Step-by-step guide to make your own T-shirt folder

So that saves plastic. But hey, why bother spending all the time when you can fold by hand in 2 seconds?

Stories of plastic bag

2010-09-01T13:13:00.008+08:00

If plastic bags had lives...

The romantic

Futurestates

The funny

Heal the Bay

The classic

American Beauty

Rage the movie

2010-08-30T14:44:00.008+08:00

by Sally Potter

Rage looks into fashion in the form of murder. Part of it reminds me of Branded. A great film around the absurdity of the fashion industry and commercialised world.

Thank you Daniel

2010-08-30T12:18:00.005+08:00

Spoof ad for fresh air brought to you by Daniel Wu and Clean Air Network (and yea', Diesel). Remember when water was free?

吳彥祖支持健康空氣行動，以反諷提醒你空氣污染問題嚴重。還記得水應該是免費的嗎？

Packaging Green Sleeves

2010-08-27T03:59:00.010+08:00

I'm making packages of Green Sleeves for a flea market. Remember the RRb4R stamp?

"We didn't create this world, please don't destroy it."video by jesserussell

Mom handmade

2010-08-24T19:21:00.006+08:00

Allow me to advertise a bit. Mom made these cute bags with leftover fabrics. With some care we can reduce a lot of waste and make the useless useful again, adding uniqueness at the same time.

Handmade products available at sinstuff

Check also: Green Sleeves and the DIY template

Message from the Lion King

2010-08-18T15:47:00.005+08:00

via timmyarm

我們死後身體會化成草，所以我們全都連繫在一起

Jason Mraz - I'm Yours

2010-08-14T19:41:00.001+08:00

The Nature Conservancy

The Story of Stuff

2010-08-14T16:22:00.008+08:00

The Story of Stuff Project is an ongoing series of extremely well-presented facts by Annie Leonard, an X-ray of the invisible links between the environment, society and economy. Watch, for yourself.

And a definite must-read: the book

Dear knickers

2010-08-14T15:30:00.006+08:00

Handmade knickers by TouchMeNot

I indulged myself a bit recently by purchasing these lovely knickers from Mary of TouchMeNot. Yep, surprise, I took the Buy Handmade Pledge long ago but this seems to be my first real purchase of handmade goods. Not that I don't possess any handmade things, I've always lived in a home full of papa-made furniture and mama-made clothes — only that technically I don't buy those. This time I really did, forbidding myself from buying any more Sloggi, and browsed the wonderful undies on Etsy to replace my oldies. They may be slightly more expensive and take slightly longer to reach, but sparing the expense on identical mass-produced corporate products for supporting unique items personally made by individuals is a merry thing. If it doesn't cost a fortune, I will try to buy handmade whenever possible.

Don't you love this toilet?

2010-07-30T17:55:00.005+08:00

The concept of "sink + toilet" may not be new, but this Roca integration comes with a sleek appearance that makes you feel good about dirty greywater. Check more at the W+W website.

A time for you, Starbucks

2010-07-30T15:38:00.004+08:00

Starbucks claims to be a responsible company. Starbucks sells tumblers so you can reduce waste while purchasing more of its products. Starbucks slowly picks up recycling. Starbucks knows it needs improvement. Well then improve quick cos the planet can't wait! Let's even ignore, for the moment, the main problem (paper cups) cos you can always eliminate that by bringing their cherished product (tumbler) or avoiding takeaway. But why are the juices always in plastic bottles even when we drink inside the store? If you bother to offer mugs, please bother to offer glasses too. Anything non-reusable used inside the restaurant is of no excuse. I don't care what green things are happening at other Starbucks'. When it's not happening in my city it's not happening.

If you're McDonald's it's a different matter, but you're Starbucks. You build the entire brand on being green. It's nothing too much to ask from you, for you should do a lot more than now. The Body Shop I'm talking to you too.

5 Mistakes Businesses Make Trying to Go Green

Create a Proper Recycling System at Starbucks!

My Starbucks Doesn’t Recycle. Does Yours? (Read the comments)

Ecological business card

2010-07-30T01:55:00.003+08:00

Andrea Romani: Rubber stamp

There is the handwritten version of recycled business card for a second-hand shop, and here is the stamped version for an environmental consultant. Not only do they succeed in being eco-friendly, the company identity is reinforced. These are examples of how green design with affordable execution can be applied in context.

Please also read and click every link of this Inhabitat article.

Hong Kong Directory

2010-07-25T16:53:00.018+08:00

The following are charities and other organisations that collect useful "waste" to be redistributed or recycled. Many of these charities donate them to people in need, while selling a portion at low prices to fund their causes. Besides benefiting the receivers, programmes such as Caritas' computer workshop and HKCTU's recycling centre offer training and working opportunities to the unemployed. They help not only the environment but also the community. Some of them pick up items from your home for free, please check their websites or call them for details.

I will keep adding names to the list. Please tell if you know more.

Glass bottles:
Green Glass Green 玻璃再生璀璨
Hong Chi Association Glass Bottle Recycling Campaign 匡智會玻璃樽回收行動

Clothes, shoes, handbags, soft toys and home appliances:
Christian Action Used Clothes Programme 基督教勵行會環保回收行動
HKCTU Workers’ Support Recycling Centre 職工盟回收助人中心
The Oxfam Shop 樂施商店 — sell donated designer clothes and accessories at low prices to support their charity projects

Various items:
The Salvation Army Recycling Programme 救世軍循環再用計劃
Po Keung Kuk 保良局
Crossroads 國際十字路會 — unwanted quality items (new or in good condition) to be redistributed to people in need, both locally and internationally

Computer-related:
Caritas-HK Computer Workshop 明愛電腦工場 — collect and repair computers/ computer-related equipment such as printers and scanners (also do home appliances)
Friends of the Earth recycling programmes 地球之友回收計劃 — recycle CDs/DVDs and toner/ink cartridges (also do expanded polystyrene and used clothes)
Canon Recycling Programs 佳能環保回收計劃 — recycle toner/ink cartridges (also do rechargeable batteries)

And yes, there's always the government website if you find it any useful. Since the EPD doesn't even support public glass recycling and the recycling bins don't guarantee, I pretty much gave up checking it.

Tiger tiger

2010-07-13T23:13:00.014+08:00

Among the twelve Chinese zodiac animals,
only one should be non-existent (dragon), not two.

[composite image: painting by Jason Morgan, zodiac characters from chinesecalligraphystore.com, manipulated WWF logo and added text]

Link:
Wild Tiger Population Dropped by 96.8% in 20 Years
PETITION
SaveTigersNow.org
WWF on Facebook
Saving the World's Endangered Species

Make a clear book

2010-07-13T22:01:00.019+08:00

Last Sunday I went to a flea market to sell some handmade/hand painted goods. For that I wanted to have a clear book to group on-demand samples as a catalogue of some sort. I already have many clear books but all of them are occupied due to my obsessive compulsive habit of categorising, pretty much like my usage of websites. I've tried rearranging and taking out contents of certain folders for temporary use but this can't work too often for it may wear them. So this time I really needed another one, and struggled whether or not to buy one cos it seems quite unnecessary to buy something new, and there were just several pages to hold. Finally I decided to fight laziness and make one myself from unused materials at home.

The main ingredients are a cardboard for backing, a magazine cover for front cover, piles of clear pockets that sit there forever just because I got too many once for one single project (again only several is used this time), and a bunch of file fasteners that I have no idea when I got them (only one is used this time).

It should be quite easy to understand the making without instructions, but for a read I'd share a few tips.

One thing that people may not like about reused/recycled paper matter is unwanted text. Why not cover them with scrap, or remove them by cutting — this created a window. (On the corner is an RRb4R stamp)

And have fun with existing images. (Tape dress added, following TWONTW)

Reusing and recycling with your own hands makes things special and unique. Someone spending much on Freitag because it looks "cool"?

Consider this:

2010-07-13T13:36:00.004+08:00

Cool isn't it? Smart use of old business card for a second-hand shop.

Source:
Business card designs

szymon.tumblr.com

2010-06-23T22:43:00.020+08:00

I'm currently addicted to a Tumblr blog, inspire me now, by Szymon Błaszczyk. Not only are there real inspirational (the adjective is used too often on things that don't have anything to do with inspirations, y'know) materials related to arts and design, lots of them are politically and environmentally conscious/correct. What's best, is that Błaszczyk painstakingly records the original sources, something that's difficult in blogs these days. I love almost all entries. They put a smile on your face. Don't forget to follow it on Tumblr or like it on Facebook. Easy browsing at archive.

The following are a few products noted by the blog. Not all are practical in real situations but they are certainly thoughtful, and promote awareness and possibilities.

josselinz.com

nikarams.com

rethinkconcepts.com

ecoincorporated.com

Some messages

2010-06-22T15:16:00.013+08:00

bigask.be

wwf.fi

prowildlife.de

www.enpa.it

www.wdcs.org
petition

Source:
40 ads using animals
Ads of the World

THE COVE

2010-06-11T04:31:00.014+08:00

WATCH THIS MOVIE

We heard what people say. Most criticism points at the American heroism in another nation's land and the sentimental argument of killing an intelligent species. Please, this is no politics. This is about the animals, and about people too if you're so concerned. The movie made it very clear: dolphins are killed for no good reason but money, for the lucrative business of selling them to parks for entertainment — or if you consider animal gymnastics "education". Captivity is unsuitable and fatal for them because of their body structure and mind. Their meat is only the by-product that's often disguised as something else. People talk about the cows we kill and the unfair privilege of dolphins, which is rebutted in the movie: dolphin meat is seriously poisoned with mercury. Are cows poisonous? In this world now probably, but more probably not as much (though if not poisonous still no good). By saying it's OK to eat dolphins you're not only putting dolphins' lives at risk but also humans' (unless there is an assured way of making Homo sapiens extinct for a better world, it's still better to keep us healthily alive). It's not even a tradition as claimed because most Japanese don't know about dolphin consumption.

And people say it's a useless movie because this only happens in Japan, and that we in other parts of the world cannot help at all because we don't eat dolphins. The truth is, we are highly involved. Do we go to animal theme parks? Do we eat sushi or sushi grade fish? We're all related and partly the cause of it. As living creatures it's inevitable we have to consume other living beings (vegetarians, plants are living organisms too), but we can avoid eating what is unnecessary. WE CAN DEFINITELY HELP.

More specifically for dolphins, sign the petition, buy a legal copy of the movie and donate to the cause.

Video:

The Cove special feature: Mercury Rising

Link:

The Cove Movie

TakePart

What you can do even at McDonald's

2010-05-05T16:46:00.020+08:00

We hear about the evil M® and we try to avoid it, but sometimes when our McUrge calls we can't help but McDevour. Not talking nutrition for now. We know they produce a lot of waste, but does it mean we can't do anything at a McRestaurant, or any other restaurant? Let's see what we can do:

- Don't take the straw, unless you really have to drink while walking to avoid a face of coke — but really, this is no Starbucks for your chic look, what good does it do to hold and drink out of that container in the streets?

- They usually give more napkins than necessary. Don't use all, split a single one if possible. How big are your lips and fingertips? Keep the remaining for future use.

- We're not sure whether the plastic-mounted cups and packages can be recycled, and we're not sure how much of the stuff we collect is actually recycled, but at the very least, we can try to recycle the matt tray paper or the paper bags. At least, we can try to recycle the plastic components, the lids, the forks the spoons and the knives. There's no recycling bin inside the restaurants, but do we ever bother to take them away and throw them into the suitable bins outside?

These are not difficult steps and we can all do them, at least some of them. They may be geeky, but do you want to be geeky or guilty? When I was in secondary school, I used to stuff McRecyclableWaste into my bag and take it all the way home to pack it with the other materials to be recycled, even when I had meals with my friends. Then I realised it was weird and geeky and didn't do this anymore, not when I'm with friends. Have we ourselves created a peer/self pressure that makes being green geeky? You may say McDonald's should be responsible for encouraging the utilisation of usable waste (if they really have to produce that much waste), but if we do not do it ourselves, the responsibility lies on us. It's out fault, too. Imagine everyone taking the trash away and leaving little for their staff and rubbish bins to do, what should/will they do next? Besides, McDonald's is not the only and it's not the worst. It replaced some plastic packaging with paper, that could be a comparatively green attempt. I'm not trying to say anything good for Mc but a lot other environmental horrors happen every day and we're partly the cause of them and we become accustomed to them. What makes expanded polystyrene food containers still legal today in the twenty-first century? Why do we order takeaways when we can have meals at the restaurant? Why do restaurants use disposable cutlery even when we eat inside the place? We should repent, we should criticise both corporations and ourselves.

Nerdy mug

2010-04-29T23:58:00.008+08:00

I got a new mug — no, I didn't throw an intact cup away. The old mug was broken into pieces, and I wasn't even the person who broke it. The new mug didn't come in unnecessary package, no package actually — though I wished for years the old one would break so I could consume a new one, this purchase should be quite legitimate. Yep so I got this white thing, with "Love the World" and "It's our only one" unbearably lovingly arcing the top and bottom of a cartoon planet earth. I know, it's all so geeky-green-cliché-happy-Sunday-perfect-world-love-and-peace-hallelujah-Obama-hopey-dopey but anyway, I have it alright. Well it's a pretty cute awareness-raising tool, after all.

飲水思源

Avoid milk

2010-04-25T20:20:00.014+08:00

Statistical studies show that milk and high animal protein diets are related to serious health problems. “People who ate the most animal-based foods got the most chronic disease … People who ate the most plant-based foods were the healthiest and tended to avoid chronic disease. These results could not be ignored,” said Dr. T. Colin Campbell.

"Cows' milk is for cows, it's good for the calf. It's not good for humans. Why would we want to eat the food we should not be eating, and waste the land we should not be wasting, and creating environmental problems that we should not be doing [] either? It makes no sense."

More at:
The China Study
T. Colin Campbell Foundation

A Lion Called Christian

2010-04-13T18:07:00.006+08:00

It may be ignorant for a city to allow the import and sale of wildlife without any foreseeable suitable environment for them, and almost too arrogantly human-centric to consider the taming of any living creature possible; but the young Londoners John and Ace took full responsibility for their rash adoption of the Harrods-purchased lion Christian and transcended the human-versus-animal relationship. They had respect for Christian as Christian had for them, and turned the power relationship into a loving friendship that is equal and mutual. This is a truly amazing story of animals (no more "humans and animals") without boundaries.

Stop

2010-03-06T18:45:00.011+08:00

SCMP clipping

The ban is "too drastic"? Imagine 100 million Japanese, 5.4 billion people in the whole world are gone (without replacement otherwise known as birth) in less than 50 years and you know what drastic means. Perhaps if we're lucky, we'll understand the word peace too.

Stop eating them.

Not just bluefin tuna, let's eat less sushi and sashimi. They're delicious, but we love nature more, don't we?

Lord of the Flies & The Drifting Classroom

2010-02-25T21:14:00.029+08:00

Ignoring patriarchal undertone, Lord of the Flies by William Golding and The Drifting Classroom by Kazuo Umezu are two excellent works, and they make good complementary reading to each other. While the latter speaks directly on environmental issues, it's not difficult to find relevance to the same subject in the former because it deals with human nature at the time of critical danger and potential rescue. Without disregarding the original thought of the author, it's very helpful for us to read Lord of the Flies in environmental context, for it's a powerful reminder of what we should do and warning against what we should not do. We should never be blinded by lust and neglect the core, for that we're endangering both ourselves and the others. It's like Al Gore's illustration of placing money and planet on a balance in An Inconvenient Truth — if we don't have the planet in the first place, money?

*If you haven't read the books, please never start with their movies.

"Who destroyed the world? We're left with nothing!"

"Don't you understand still? Our parents and friends are responsible for all this!"

AND OURSELVES, OF COURSE.

The adults have rescued them, but who will rescue the adults from the world that they have created?
(wording source)

JAMES KEATING: In the end the question is, who will rescue the adult and his cruiser? This seems to me a little fatalistic; it conveys the notion that there isn't really any hope.

WILLIAM GOLDING: Yes, but there again you can take...there are two answers here; I think they are both valid answers. They first one is the one I made before, and that is that the quotation there is what I said is intellectual fatalism. It's making the thing a sort of series of Chinese boxes, one inside of the other. The other thing is to say that as the fabulist is always a moralist, he is always overstating his case, because he has a point he wishes to drive home. I would prefer to say if you don't curb yourself, then this is what will happen to you.

Who buys palettes?

2010-02-25T16:59:00.011+08:00

Biscuits, chocolate, bread, eggs, tea, water...all things are packaged now, sometimes you wonder if there're actually individually packaged beans. You try to resist buying, but inevitably from family members or by yourself, some of them end up hopelessly at your home. If you can't get rid of them, make use of them. I personally think they're the best palettes and cleaning bottles, better than bought ones that're sometimes pretty stupid in terms of design. There're even divisions for different colours!

When function follows form, you can utilise a lot of things.

It's 2010 but

2010-01-01T01:48:00.003+08:00

do you want to turn back the clock?

Life clock - Cai Shi Wei, China

WWF posters

RE-CAMPER

2009-12-28T03:33:00.004+08:00

Sounding similar?

This blog makes more criticism than complement on brands but Camper really caught my eye. They really thought through the whole process of making to not only make the shoes better as objects of use but also fulfillment of a philosophy bigger than products.

The idea of MOM & SIN for a living planet probably came from
Re-Camper Shops:

Camper decided to develop a new channel to complete the lifecycle of those products which for a number of reasons could not be introduced into the normal sales channels — products with minor imperfections, or stock left from past seasons, prototypes, press collections etc.. As these were in perfect condition for use, the “best possible destination” was sought for these shoes, and among the various possibilities, Camper decided to sell them at a reduced price in Re-Camper Shops (outlets).

All these may be constructed for the sake of sale, but at least they make the effort to (say they) maintain the philosophy and they do so fairly convincingly — to me at least. It's also very understandable that despite the reminder to avoid unnecessary consumption they have to sustain their own business by definite sale. It's always paradoxical, in a way.

Fundraising for WWF

2009-12-28T03:01:00.006+08:00

Mom & Sin is having a fundraising event, MOM & SIN for a living planet - Fundraising for WWF, in early 2010. Unsold totes over the years will be auctioned on eBay and all of the final sale price will be donated to WWF. Help is seriously needed to make this work. Please check the event page for details and spread the word.

Update: US$97.28 was donated to WWF

"A dream you dream alone is only a dream. A dream you dream together is reality."

2009-12-27T01:24:00.004+08:00

I only saw this ad once on TV. I guess World Wide Fund For Nature don't have enough fund to get it aired often. Good we have YouTube. Don't waste their effort, spread the message and remind ourselves: Change for the planet.

Also:

Roughly translated below, sorry for any awkwardness in language.

Man says: I have a dream. I dream that everyone turns off lights after meetings. I dream that everyone turns off lights before going out for lunch. I dream that everyone keeps lights off when the pantry is not in use. I dream that everyone remembers to turn lights off after work. / Text reads: His dream is not smaller than that of Martin Luther King, because he wants to save the whole world.

Boy says: The era of change has come. All lights are still on when nobody’s in the classroom. This, we must change! While sleeping, lights on for fear of the dark. This, we must change! Lamp on after doing homework, lights in bedroom on while playing game in living room. This, we must change! Lights on after using the toilet. This, we must change! / Text reads: The change he wants is bigger than Obama, because he wants to save the whole world.

NO!

2009-12-16T23:02:00.003+08:00

It's worse than docking!

I love tattoos and I must admit my affection for sphynx grew a little after Bad Romance, but no, please don't put the two together. Tattoos should not be put on any living animals other than humans, never! (source and source)

Update: OK this type of tattoo is alright, kind of.

Xmas postcards

2009-12-12T18:49:00.003+08:00

Once (upon a time) a teacher told us her daughter asked specifically to buy new toys for donation, saying it wouldn't be nice to give used toys to others. The thinking of this considerate child is very easily understood, and the mother must be very proud. Yet perhaps the modern world (or planet, in case the human "world" means another dimension in space) cannot afford too much of such lavish kindness. Buying less toys (and it's not about money), donating old ones (in good condition, respect) to other children or making them all by yourself (with recycled materials, of course) may be some environmentally correct virtues that we should teach kids.

Keeping the reuse factor in mind I always ponder before throwing away anything. Some things really put you in a dilemma. See the pile of greeting cards from people whom you barely remember if not seeing the mail? They don't seem ready to be recycled. And the wonderful and sweet ones from friends, they're too nice to just sit there. What do I do, I picked some fair ones, cut them and turned them into Christmas (post)cards this year. Friends, if you saw the old cute card you gave me back in primary school being dissected, please don't be upset, I still keep your written message on the other half. I only mail the graphic part with new messages written on it. It's like a cycle of blessing (or recycling, if blessing can be recycled).

Sunday movie

2009-12-07T01:48:00.002+08:00

Not using wood, just paper.

2009-12-02T16:32:00.004+08:00

From their website:

Watami Group switching to Reusable [sic] chopsticks

In 2006, Japan recorded a dispose of over hundred thousand billion [sic] pairs of Wooden and Bamboo [sic] disposable chopsticks, this figures [sic] reflected countless forests are disappearing, and all of us knew [know?] that the speed of consuming disposable chopstick is much faster that [sic] to grow a forest.

The abandonment of disposable chopsticks was applied at all WATAMI shops in July, 2008. As a social responsible corporate [?], we hope this action can help to arouse [hey...don't be sexual, raise is fine] the public awareness of the importance of environment protection. We do care about provide [sic] fine dining and excellent service, meanwhile we do care about environmental protection. [never mind, it doesn't make sense anyway]

Sounding good (ignoring all the grammatical errors), but please say it without paper wraps.

Michael Jackson - Earth Song (1995)

2009-11-01T23:50:00.004+08:00

A time for you, PolyU

2009-10-24T19:51:00.004+08:00

Irony:

No (rubbish) newsletter should come in plastic bag, period.

The 11th Hour case fail

2009-10-10T00:37:00.002+08:00

The 11th Hour in plastic case - WRONG!

Geotag: Hong Kong

Hourglasses of our civilization

2009-10-08T01:42:00.003+08:00

by Victor van Gaasbeek

by *pepey

It's already too late..

Are you sure? "Combustible ice"?

2009-09-27T03:24:00.002+08:00

The positive story

The negative story

Countries are working insanely on alternative ways to solve GW (what, global warming! It's so frequently used we should reduce it to two letters when we reuse). New methods appear scarier than ever. We're not sure if they are to help ease or heighten GW in the speed of light. It seems to take infinite intelligence to avoid the straight path to hell. Scientists and decision makers, we know it's a very tough issue and solution is extremely difficult, but please, do not risk the planet to save it. It's so vulnerable now it cannot stand any failures, esp when they can be so severe.

Also: previous entry

Why don't they just send carbon dioxide to space?

2009-09-25T04:50:00.002+08:00

/text on manipulated clipping/

“It doesn’t matter to me if a scientist says it may or may not leak,” said Elisa Young, an anti-coal activist who lives nearby on the Ohio side of the river. “That’s not going to stop it from leaking when push comes to shove.”

Refitted to Bury Emissions, Plant Draws Attention, by Matthew L Wald

Feeling like sweeping rubbish underneath the carpet?

Long body

2009-09-17T20:05:00.003+08:00

It's not the first time I talk about (The Body Shop) receipts. It seems that they make progress by replacing plastic bags with paper bags (sure, not taking is the best), but what's happening to their receipts? They are becoming longer than ever.

I only bought two things, and the receipt measures 33cm long, longer than my forearm. What information is included? A large name of the shop (otherwise known as brand or logo), address, items and prices, discounts and total of discounts, totals before and after discounts, payment and change. OK this first part is fairly acceptable, except maybe they can minimize some text and space.

It continues with total number of units (after all calculations? If it's necessary please add another column at the items instead of opening a row!) Then assistant's name (thanks for telling, she already introduced herself). Then a very detailed list of customer code and name, points earned and redeemed, membership expiry, et cetera et cetera - all that can be found on the reward card which came along with a plastic membership card in a plastic protection.

On the back, The Body Shop repeatedly tells us Nature's Way To Beautiful and goods are not refundable - I don't mind them add this once on the already long front, and save some ink.

Green safe sex

2009-09-13T16:48:00.010+08:00

We know safe sex is important. Make it green too! (via Planet Green)

DIY Sunday!

2009-09-13T15:39:00.003+08:00

Checking Etsy handmade goodies turned my crafty instinct on so I entertained myself by making SpongeBob with old socks and scraps.

If you need some inspirations for recycled fun(ctional) crafts, the following may help:

The imadeit SHOP

plumpudding craft

Get your hands busy!

Tote is not green

2009-07-13T12:41:00.003+08:00

/after Yoko Ono's "WAR IS OVER! IF YOU WANT IT"/

The cheesy totes hanging near cashiers say BUY ME louder than (RE)USE ME. They are expected to be bought every time a person forgets a tote in replacement for plastic bag. Companies that make totes for profit and claim to be green are dishonest or stupid (parties that make slogan totes for environmental awareness are hypocritical or stupid). As long as you want to sell more you want people to buy more, use more instead of reusing more. This is why Mom & Sin's I Hate Plastic Bags bag was soon limited because it doesn't make sense to sound green on a product (see, I even told you not to have the bag — though I want the opposite).

*But hey, Mom & Sin is actually pretty green, because all bags are made from spare fabrics that would otherwise be of no use. (Am I turning a criticism into a promotion? This happens when you are sitting in the branded chair!)

Shit proved

2009-07-11T22:58:00.003+08:00

/HK Magazine clipping/

So the stuff we throw in those colour monsters are really not recycled...at least not entirely recycled. That is something we always heard about but couldn't find proof. This article seems one, but what can we do? Even if only 1% or less than 1% of our carefully sorted rubbish can be recycled, or none at all, do we not bother? I feel helpless because I can't start a recycling firm. What else could you do? This government is not doing anything constructive.

Economically friendly, environmentally unfriendly

2009-07-11T21:12:00.002+08:00

That sale-crazy brand.

Turning trash into treasure (for Hong Kongers)

2009-07-04T18:31:00.004+08:00

/SCMP clipping/

This is two/three years ago but they should still be doing the same - a list of organizations that collect your unwanted materials and turn them into something useful for other people.

H O M E

2009-06-05T18:14:00.003+08:00

Watch it NOW

Nothing is self-sufficient...Sharing is everything...Our earth relies on a balance in which every being has a role to play and exists only through the existence of another being; a subtle, fragile harmony that is easily shattered. — Home

As moved as I am and as much as I appreciate this film, I cannot help but find the paradoxes:

- If it wasn't consumer brands of the PPR group that appear within the first 30 seconds we may not be able to have this film, not to mention to have it on Youtube in different languages in DVD quality without being told we infringe copyright

- If it wasn't technological advancements that grow too fast and exploitation of resources we wouldn't be able to witness the world, its changes, and consequences of our actions in visual reproduction at such impact

It is nonetheless a magnificent film. Keep it in mind and take action.

Repentance

2009-06-05T18:13:00.002+08:00

Why did I buy this just because it's promoted at 7-Eleven? Why did I buy it just because it's "just" 5 dollars? Why did I buy it just because it looks like something new when it tastes only like a sweeter Sprite? Why did I buy it even when I knew the bottle would be thrown away in seconds? Why did I buy it when I don't need it?

Passionately crafted

2009-03-02T17:29:00.004+08:00

/paper and text on cropped ad/

Rarely seen in an advertisement, a way of reusing the packaging is actually suggested - hold a paintbrush in a coffee cup! (remember to have the logo outwards)

Scrap for postcard

2009-01-06T19:05:00.003+08:00

!postapostcard!

Since many prints were made for testing design of a poster, I used them to make postcards, instead of throwing away or keeping them for no use. I don't know if tactile messages give enough meaning for using paper or postal resources, but it should be better than buying mass-produced postcards or greeting cards (though I do buy postcards as collectables, which is another dilemma). There are already a lot of beautifully printed matters ready for throwing away/reusing. Why not spend some time and extend their lives. It's a pity they go directly to recycling plants, worse to landfills. And it's personal message after all, if you choose to write with your hands, consider making the cards with your hands too.

Skinny Puppy - Testure (1988)

2008-12-14T22:10:00.003+08:00

Scrap for case

2008-11-15T16:49:00.008+08:00

Got some "nude" discs but don't want to buy a whole pile of identical boring cases for them? Got some magazine pages you love but don't know what to keep them for? Let's join the two problems together and turn them into one solution. Someone has done it so your work is minimum. Print the disc case onto your scrap page (do not shrink image), cut and fold, glue two sides and leave one open for flap, and you've made it yourself.

If you don't want to make them yourself, I have these Green Sleeves on Etsy — please support handmade and/or recycled goods.

"We do not inherit the Earth from our ancestors: we borrow it from our children."

2008-11-15T16:38:00.003+08:00

/correction fluid on found image/

In fact, none of us owns it. None of us has the right to take control. But the duty is ours.

a morally wounded city

2007-09-03T14:31:00.003+08:00

inspired by a scmp photograph of a dead pig beside river
male figure from eugène delacroix's a mortally wounded brigand quenches his thirst

polar bears

2007-05-28T01:47:00.003+08:00

first picture polar bear (from gettyimages) and words added: idea and background image from novotels ad campaign
second picture words added: background image from national geographic

clean celebration

2007-05-23T14:35:00.002+08:00

ink and correction fluid on magazine clipping

trinity

2007-05-23T14:31:00.002+08:00

postcard to exxon

2007-03-10T09:27:00.002+08:00

correction fluid on clipping from postmagazine

posted.

we challenge the big groups not because we want to blame them, but because they lead and can lead, and should lead the better way.

a pile of shame and regret

2007-02-22T17:04:00.005+08:00

this pile of plastic sheets were gathered from plastic bags accumulated over the years, taken carelessly from any possible shop. there was no way of using them all because there were too many. last year, there was a book binding project in school. i took these and bound them together into a bomb shape, to stress the hazardous side of plastic bags (or plastic).

TOTE BAG IS NOT A TREND

2007-02-22T15:13:00.004+08:00

concept tote bag
34cm x 43cm, for sale

n

for practical use plus a little say to carry around with. but since tote bag (or any other bag) can also be a waste if u dont really need it, dont have it even when it looks green

- same for this bag.

the envelope project

2007-01-10T21:20:00.002+08:00

envelopes were stamped with the logo and strapped with a note in the form of a möbius strip. they were slipped in places for people to take. trials have taken place in libraries. the reader is to cut it along the middle for reading the whole message:

The original recycling symbol had one of the arrows folding the opposite way from the other two, forming a mobius strip (this strip before cutting). Gary Anderson, designer of the symbol, said it was to represent continuity within a finite entity. /PTO/

I made the recycle stamp on this set of envelopes based on Anderson's design. The different arrow was filled to stress the Möbius quality. Simplified arrows indicate the importance of "reduction".

the following are demonstration of the project (special thanks to april kam who made the videos).

Reduce & Reuse before you Recycle!

2007-01-10T20:09:00.003+08:00

the whole thing started with a simple urge to add a mark on envelopes to remind the idea of reducing, reusing n recycling. based on the original recycle sign by gary anderson, the above sign was made.

stamp of the logo. first it was mostly used on used envelopes to be reused.

for practical reasons, it was used on new envelopes sometimes. this gradually led to a small project - the envelope project.