#1 | May Stories and Mother's Day
Kaleidoscope is a series on posts about the interesting (and sometimes trendy things) I discover on social media. This column provides some tips for making our lives and our net surfing experience more convenient, as well as commentary on the stories that are making their rounds on social media. The social media platforms I visit and feature here include Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and occasionally, Telegram and some less well-known social platforms.
Safe distancing ambassadors in Singapore
You need a "super thick skin" to deal with rude folks. But as a safe distancing ambassador, you also meet some really nice Singaporeans.
Posted by CNA Insider on Saturday, 9 May 2020
Being a safe distancing ambassador kills two birds with one stone. First, it helps people become more socially responsible by promoting safe distancing and mask wearing. Second, it provides a means of employment for workers who are the hardest hit by the Circuit Breaker measures, such as the tourist guides, like in this video.
This video is quite useful to me because I can see myself going to approach people for surveys when I embark on projects and research work at the university level. There are a bunch of tips inside on how to deal with people that are not nice - explain things to them patiently, take a deep breath to calm down, and be grateful for the good things kind people do for you (so that you can remain happy).
Nothing is wasted in the natural world
In Singapore, we are still quite far away from achieving a circular economy, where most, if not all materials are recycled and repurposed instead of going to waste. At this time, when half of the world population are placed in lockdowns to different extents, the demand for takeaway food has skyrocketed as many would like to enjoy good food from the comfort of their home, since they are unable to step out of home. As a result, much waste is generated.
Out in the wild, everything serves a purpose - even elephant urine! The urine is a lifesaver in the sense that it contains minerals that enable the Sulphur Butterflies to survive. Although Singapore already has NEWater to recycle clean water out of urine and industrial waste, we still have no clue what to do with the materials mixed in the sludge and sewage, asides from using some of them as compost or fuel for energy generation.
Nature continues to enchants us with its wide variety of species of organisms, each serving some kind of purpose on this planet. It is time for us to examine our role in this planet and do what we can to avoid its demise. Standards of living is important, yes, but it will only be a mere dream if it cannot be sustainable.
Out in the wild, everything serves a purpose - even elephant urine! The urine is a lifesaver in the sense that it contains minerals that enable the Sulphur Butterflies to survive. Although Singapore already has NEWater to recycle clean water out of urine and industrial waste, we still have no clue what to do with the materials mixed in the sludge and sewage, asides from using some of them as compost or fuel for energy generation.
Nature continues to enchants us with its wide variety of species of organisms, each serving some kind of purpose on this planet. It is time for us to examine our role in this planet and do what we can to avoid its demise. Standards of living is important, yes, but it will only be a mere dream if it cannot be sustainable.
Mask on? No, thank you... But why?
▪︎ Some think it infringes on their civil liberties— CNN (@CNN) May 10, 2020
▪︎ Some think it could make them look weak
▪︎ Some find the guidance confusing
▪︎ Some find it uncomfortable https://t.co/YQnrj7H5CN
Now, things are very different from what we are used to. People worldwide have to make some adjustments in order to help contain the COVID-19 pandemic. Still, we should never forget how stubborn some people can be, and how difficult it is to change our lifestyles.
Many reasons are provided by opponents of mask-wearing. However, I see many flaws in their arguments.
The first point on civil liberties... Yes, freedom of movement is a very big deal in the US, since immigration is part of the country's DNA, but this pandemic has showed us that our individual freedoms and selfishnesses are not everything. The Americans tried to maintain their own ideals and way of life, but look at how many lives they jeopardised because of the virus spreading. At a period of time where cooperation is much needed, there are unfortunately many people who are plagued by misinformation, confusing business policies with state legislation, and trample upon the goodwill of others who tried to help them adjust to the mitigation measures by visiting violence on them. I believe these people might have seen freedom as an entitlement, but freedom is more of a right that should be fought for, and they are fighting the wrong opponent. Their enemy should be the root cause of it all - the coronavirus, not the people who are assisting them to defeat it.
Masks = weakness? Viral infections and a worldwide pandemic can be scary, but pretending that we are not scared of it by refusing to wear masks is really not doing anything other than showing some personal pride going too far. The coronavirus is not a predator that is going to be intimidated by our mask-free face, and being fearless is not going to increase our immunity against the disease. If anything, not wearing mask is seriously inviting trouble, like keeping the gates of your home open so that burglars can help themselves to anything valuable in the house.
I can still understand a bit if people claim that their guidance from the authorities is confusing and are not physically comfortable. Still, let us spare a thought for the health workers and those running essential services who are still at the frontlines. The nurses, doctors and volunteers are continually exposing themselves to the virus as they continue to handle every case of the coronavirus. They also have to put on their masks and protective equipment for extremely long hours, and deal with the relentless barrage of information coming from their patients and the authorities. All of this are to save lives. Us wearing a mask (and maybe a thumbs-up or "thank you" for them) is the least we can do to help.
Most of these sound commonsensical and have repeated themselves for many times in the news loop. Instead of trying to win over these people through logic, there is something more meaningful we can do.
Just understand that a lot of us are experiencing a breakup with our "normal lives" and are going through the stages of grief. The best course of action, I believe, is to just put up with them and patiently help them.
May we all come to terms with this new normal of masks, being grounded at home and social distancing as soon as possible and unite as one to overcome this pandemic.
Many reasons are provided by opponents of mask-wearing. However, I see many flaws in their arguments.
The first point on civil liberties... Yes, freedom of movement is a very big deal in the US, since immigration is part of the country's DNA, but this pandemic has showed us that our individual freedoms and selfishnesses are not everything. The Americans tried to maintain their own ideals and way of life, but look at how many lives they jeopardised because of the virus spreading. At a period of time where cooperation is much needed, there are unfortunately many people who are plagued by misinformation, confusing business policies with state legislation, and trample upon the goodwill of others who tried to help them adjust to the mitigation measures by visiting violence on them. I believe these people might have seen freedom as an entitlement, but freedom is more of a right that should be fought for, and they are fighting the wrong opponent. Their enemy should be the root cause of it all - the coronavirus, not the people who are assisting them to defeat it.
Masks = weakness? Viral infections and a worldwide pandemic can be scary, but pretending that we are not scared of it by refusing to wear masks is really not doing anything other than showing some personal pride going too far. The coronavirus is not a predator that is going to be intimidated by our mask-free face, and being fearless is not going to increase our immunity against the disease. If anything, not wearing mask is seriously inviting trouble, like keeping the gates of your home open so that burglars can help themselves to anything valuable in the house.
I can still understand a bit if people claim that their guidance from the authorities is confusing and are not physically comfortable. Still, let us spare a thought for the health workers and those running essential services who are still at the frontlines. The nurses, doctors and volunteers are continually exposing themselves to the virus as they continue to handle every case of the coronavirus. They also have to put on their masks and protective equipment for extremely long hours, and deal with the relentless barrage of information coming from their patients and the authorities. All of this are to save lives. Us wearing a mask (and maybe a thumbs-up or "thank you" for them) is the least we can do to help.
Most of these sound commonsensical and have repeated themselves for many times in the news loop. Instead of trying to win over these people through logic, there is something more meaningful we can do.
Just understand that a lot of us are experiencing a breakup with our "normal lives" and are going through the stages of grief. The best course of action, I believe, is to just put up with them and patiently help them.
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| The five stages of grief and what we can do to help for each stage. |
Mother's Day Features
9 Singaporean artists share about their mothers
今天是母亲节，记者访问了9名本地姜，且听他们的慈母经。
Posted by Lianhe Zaobao 联合早报 on Sunday, 10 May 2020
This article gives us a lot of reasons to be grateful for our mothers, and what artistes to do celebrate Mother's Day. Here are some of the descriptions the artistes use to describe their mothers:
This is how the artistes interviewed celebrated Mother's Day:
- Sing for their mothers online (this is quite special, in my opinion. It is not awkward and every mum can have a good time with singing provided that they can sing well 😆)
- Video call to give festive greetings to their mothers
- Cook delicious food, or even create new fusion food such as Hainanese chicken rice cake.
- Flowers and surprises
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| Here is what the chicken rice cake could look like. Although no pictures of the cake were provided on the article, here is one from 13 Stages for illustration purposes. (Photo from their Facebook page) |
This drawing of a mother's life will make you tear up
The selflessness of mothers everywhere to give their all for their children is what makes mothers so great and loving. Mothers seem like they only live for childbirth and their children. It is such a sad but beautiful destiny that awaits them.No love in the world is greater than the Mother's love #MothersDay #motherhood #motherday2020 pic.twitter.com/AZi6xWcqCC— Rakesh K Barupal (@RAKUBARUPAL95) May 10, 2020
I have seen too many stories of mothers sacrificing themselves for their children such that they forget to care about themselves anymore. Life does not have to be this way for them if we as children can continue to be by their side to allay their worries about us, and look out for their health and happiness. Mothers do a lot for us so that we can go chase our dreams. What can we do for them? For me, I am not good at showing my appreciation for my mother, so I will repay her kindness and support by: one, doing my best in everything that I have decided to do; two, spend as much time with her as possible; three, respect her wishes if she requests for anything, and try not to let her down.
My say for Mother's Day
I will like to conclude the very first issue of Kaleidoscope by wishing all mothers around the world a blessed and happy Mother's Day. These mothers do not just refer to the females who give birth to us, but also our origins - planet Earth and all of the natural environment that has provided for us ever since mankind started to exist.
Mothers are great people. If all of us could give to the needy even a fraction of what our mothers give to us every day, the world would be a much, much better place. The following song, "Mother", performed by Carole and Tuesday under the anime bearing the same name, encapsulates this giving spirit the best.
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