Nature's Remedy for a Smiling Way to Work

It's hard to imagine going to work with a smile on your face. Unless you're one of those lucky few who earn your living doing something you enjoy and/or are passionate about, chances are as you head to work you'll have a list of reasons to put on a grouchy face every morning that warn others to stay the heck away from you.

While I don't have a quick fix solution to work stress and a daily war mask, personal experience has taught me that the mind is a powerful piece of equipment that evolution has armed us with to help us cope with life. I would even go so far to say that our mind decides our reality.

Henry Ford, the founder of the Ford Motor company, once said:

"whether you think you can or whether you think you can't, you're right."

So what natural remedy do I use to help set my mind each morning to help me face my day with a smile on my face? 

The answer: Nature itself. 

Unfortunately, in our routine rush to work, it's easy to ignore or overlook nature. When a precious gift is given constantly, it's human to forget its value and take it for granted. 

How many times have I woken up to the annoying buzz of my alarm clock only to be struck by the calm that only the wee hours of the morning can bring. Or to find myself momentarily mesmerized as I'm leaving the house by the dramatic palette of colours painted in the sky by the morning sun peaking her head out over the horizon. 

Even wet or gloomy days have their treats. Lightning displays, aerobatic swifts snatching their breakfast in mid-air dances and the cool breeze that chills the face and prevents me from sweating. We don't get that much cool breezes here in hot-hotter-hottest Singapore, so hey, I always enjoy them when I can.

Yes, to me, dawn is beautiful. It's a great smile-pill to take each morning.

So I strongly encourage everyone to start popping them pills and become a nature-addict today. They're great! Just like what Tony the Tiger said in his commercials back in the 80s and 90s, if anyone remembers them.

And the best part? It's free!

(Not like that cereal)

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Have you experienced a beautiful work morning before? Why were you smiling? What makes your day awesome? Have you found your smiles in nature too as you go to work? Are you a nature-addict? Pls feel free to share your morning experiences and/or thoughts below. 

Thanks for reading!

Cheers,

~Kerry

Stand Up and Be Counted

Taking a stand requires guts. I'm learning about this as I sit in the dark. The only light source flickers from a television screen - all in order to recreate a cinematic experience. Too bad I don't have any BOSE speakers for sense-surround.

The crowd cheers as the hero squirms in his shackles. His face contorts in agony as medieval scythes work furiously to open up his abdomen to display his bloodied innards, disemboweling him. He muffles his grunts. His eyes shuts tightly. The scene becomes too cruel for the spectators. A lady shouts out for mercy. The crowd agrees.

"Just say it," prompts the inquisitor. "Ask for mercy."

The hero breathes heavily, frequently gasping, as if each breath taken holds a dose of anesthetic to relief the pain. The crowd continues to mummer amongst themselves. Mercy.

His friends and brothers-in-arms who look on helplessly mutter the same. Mercy. Mercy.

"The prisoner wishes to say a word." announces the inquisitor to the crowd.

They fall silent, listening. Our hero struggles to speak; to breath. His pain is immense. Excruciating. The inquisitor listens intently, eager to make out the word. Mercy.

And then with a final deep breath, our hero bellows a message for his countrymen. A message he fought hard and long to uphold. A message that would forever change the destinies of England and Scotland.

"FRREEEDDDOOOMMM!"

The inquisitor shakes his head. There is a brief look of defeat and resignation. He signals to the executioner, who brings the heavy axe down with brute force. Mercy.

Too bad I don't have BOSE speakers indeed.

***

In the pages of history, litter many names of ordinary people who had the courage to stand up to injustice and for what they believed in. Names like Mahatma Gandhi who led India to independence from their British masters, and Martin Luther King Jr. and Nelson Mandela who fought to end racial segregation in America and South Africa respectively. These names have forever altered the course of humanity. Never again does it look like we'll ever tread the same path.

As these revered personalities have proved, taking a stand can indeed be a very powerful decision. A decision that could lay the foundation for greater things to come even if the future lies unknown. What matters is the belief.

***

Today, many of us face another threat that needs to be fought, mainly the threat to our Earth. A threat to our environment. A threat to our home.

Already, we can feel the effects on our planet from what scientists have come to term: climate change. Due to vast amounts of carbon dioxide flooding the atmosphere, released from the massive energy consumption of our many activities, the Earth's temperature is rising resulting in unpredictable weather patterns. As I write, New Zealand is experiencing its worst snowfall in 50 years. The irony is when you realize the winter season ends in August.

Even in Singapore we can feel this change in weather. For starters, perhaps some you have noticed that it's definitely hotter than a decade ago? I have. I sweat bullets as soon as I’m out of the shower.

In fact, from 1987 - 2007, temperatures here have increased by 0.6°C. The 2008 report published by Dr. Ho, also cautioned of the likelihood of extreme rainfall and winds associated with tropical cyclones to rise as well. (Flash-floods ring a bell, anyone?) Meanwhile, the Intergovernmental Panel of Climate Change (IPCC) in 2007 has projected a rise of 2.5°C by the end of the century.

0.6°C? 2.5°C? That’s it? I can practically hear your thoughts of ridicule. I’m psychic that way.

Imagine yourself running a fever at 37°C. That’s just 0.1 degrees above 36.9°C but yet it makes a difference. Your body starts feeling lousy, your eyes begins to heat up. You just don’t feel too good. Now think back to when you were down with a 39.5°C fever - that’s 2.5°C above body temperature. Horrible wasn’t it? Exactly. Our Earth is sick and in need of treatment. Fast.

***

"In pushing other species to extinction, humanity is busy sawing off the limb to which it is perched."

~Paul Ehrlich

The last mass extinction occurred some 65 million years ago. The victims were the dinosaurs. In these last few decades, history has begun repeating itself once more.

The National Wildlife Federation states that "every day an estimated 100 plant and animal species are lost to deforestation [and] a conservative estimate of the current extinction rate indicates that about 27,000 species a year are being lost."

Despite some disagreement to the exact figures, Stephen Hopper, director of the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew, London, said "we cannot sit back and watch plant species disappear - plants are the basis of all life on Earth, providing clean air, food and fuel. All animal and bird life depend on them, and so do we." The research released to prompt such a statement indicated that some 20% of the Earth's 380,000 species of plants face extinction. For those without a calculator or who never got through primary school, that's 76,000 species.

How's that for scary?

In the summary of Dr. John Lawton's research paper published in 1994, the main point is this: if we lose one species, be it plant or animal, we may well lose an entire ecosystem, and we may never get it back. Fair warning.

***

With the swell of the global population sprinting exponentially higher each year, we are now walking on thin ice for the survival of our own existence, depending on a finite amount of resources that are running low. 

Despite the temptation to exploit - to claim all the remaining resources for ourselves - we must beware of one thing: all life is interconnected; in part, even non-life. Maybe now it makes sense that Saint Francis of Assisi gently addressed everything in life as either his brother or sister. Guess he wasn’t as loopy as everyone thought huh?

To selfishly cause the extinction of one species is to cause a domino-effect that ripples through the ecosystem eventually reaching, and harming, us. It is for this reason that it becomes necessary to take a stand today - to minimize or stop our contribution and to let our home heal.

We are all interconnected - the planet, the animals, the plants. And that includes us. The sooner we acknowledge it, take responsibility for our actions and make amends, the sooner we can begin to save ourselves.

So screw up your courage. Have some guts. Take a stand. And change the destiny of our planet. You can do it.

Mother Earth, our home, needs you.

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NOTICE:

On Sunday, the 28th of August '11, the Animal Concerns Research and Education (ACRES) society is hosting a free concert at Hong Lim Park (Speaker's Corner) at 4.30pm to raise awareness for 25 wild bottlenose dolphins that now face a life of boredom, stress, claustrophobia and even death as part of Resorts World Sentosa new attraction. To date, out of the 27 wild-caught dolphins, 2 of their members have passed away. There is still time to save the remaining 25 from a life of captivity and exploitation. You can find out more details about the concert at this link; to read more on the campaign, click here.

Needless to say, I will be attending the event to take a stand against their capture and in support for the movement.

It's time to let the dolphins go.

What about you? Will you show them mercy by indirectly putting them to the axe or will your mercy be shown by your courage in taking a stand to set them free?

Perhaps I'll see you there.

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Have you ever wanted to or ever taken a stand for something you strongly believe in? What current campaigns are you interested in? Do you have any thoughts on the article? What ideas do you think ACRES could use in their bid to free the dolphins? What are your experiences with global warming? Do you think we are all interconnected? Feel free to share your thoughts, experience or opinions below.

And thanks for reading!

Cheers,
~Kerry


References

1. Associated Press in Wellington, 2011. New Zealand blizzards 'heaviest in 50 years'. Guardian.co.uk. Accessed 16th Aug '11.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/aug/15/new-zealand-snow-heaviest-years
2. Ho, J., 2008. Singapore Country Report - A Regional Review on the Economics of Climate Change in Southeast Asia.
3. IPPC, 2007. Climate Change 2007.
4. Chapter 3: Climate Change and Its Impact: A Review of Existing Studies. pp. 23 - 57. Accessed 16th Aug '11.
http://www.adb.org/documents/books/economics-climate-change-sea/Chapter03.pdf
5. Discovery News, 2010. 20 Percent of Plant Species Face Extinction. Accessed 17th Aug '11.
http://news.discovery.com/earth/plants-threatened-with-extinction.html
6. Web of Creation. Problem: Extinction of Plant and Animal Species. Accessed 17th Aug '11. http://www.webofcreation.org/Earth%20Problems/species.htm
7. Lawton, J. H., 1994. What do species do in ecosystems?
OIKOS 71 (3), pp. 367 - 374.
http://biophilosophy.ca/Teaching/4040papers/Lawton.pdf

The Case of the Abandoned Slider

She eyes me with bestial intelligence as I hover above her. She's anticipating. Her head begins to slowly inch out of her study olive brown shell stained with thick black ink drop markings. Her scaly green legs extend next - webbed feet equipped with tiny curled barb-like claws - stretching in search of a firm hold of the rock she's been lying sunbathing on. She knows why I'm standing there. It's breakfast. As I open the lid of her plastic domain she cocks her head to look directly at me.

"Where is it?" her look demands. "Hand it over."

"Yes maam," I oblige and tip the metal spoon to let drop her vegetarian pellets. She attacks the floating spheres with gusto.

***

Oscar has been living with me for more than four years now. Found abandoned by my father walking along the side of a main road, she was in immediate danger of being run over and therefore understandably very agitated. She snapped at everything; her grumpiness earning her her name. Even nipping off the skin from my right forearm when I stuck my arm into her new home to adjust the rocks. How's that for emphasis? I'm pissed. And here's the proof. Snap!...YEOW!

Deprivation of food, water and a peaceful place to retreat to brings about a troubled mind for many. When coupled with the continuous confrontation of the deafening cacophony of automobiles zooming past and a scorching sun overhead while she dragged herself onwards, each step causing her immense pain from the burning granite stones of the road that had soaked up the midday heat, the experience must have left her traumatized beyond comprehension. Had my dad not picked her up, Lord knows how many more days she would have to endure this pointless pilgrimage to nowhere. By chance she may have made it to a reservoir. In reality, she would probably have either died of dehydration or been run over and killed - a victim of her previous master's thoughtless behaviour.

A month later, Oscar was joined by another shell-bearing relative. I named him Grover. If it ain't obvious by now, I grew up with Sesame Street. As his name hints, he was lanky, timid and looked awkward. My dad - the turtle saviour - found him scurrying about in the carpark of a country club. Instinctually, I suggested Grover must have escaped from the golf course pond.

"There's no pond" was my dad's reply.

***

As you may have guessed, Oscar and Grover are two individuals from a species of turtles called red-earred sliders (RES). More commonly known as terrapins, RES get their name primarily from the distinguishing red-stripe that glides across both sides of their faces making them extremely easy to recognize. 

With our native species of turtles and tortoises either being labelled critically endangered, endangered or vulnerable, the RES is the only turtle and/or tortoise wisely allowed by Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) to be sold at pet stores and to be kept as pets in Singapore. As such, about 40,000 RES are imported each month - making them the only species in Singapore with the conservation status: common. Yes, you read that right - 40,000 and imported.

Though successfully thriving in our local ponds and reservoirs, RES are not native to Singapore. An invasive species, they come all the way from North America. As they are more aggressive than our native species such as the spiny hill tortoise or the forest soft-shelled turtle, RES pose a danger of outcompeting the local species for food, habitat and other resources, even attacking them if crossed. This in turn increases the risk of us losing our local biodiversity of turtles and tortoises and in no way improves global conservation efforts. The abandonment of a pet RES further exacerbates the issue.

***

Ever so often we see television programs of lost pets being reunited with their owners and the joy felt by them. When we stumble upon advertisements in newspapers or printouts stuck onto lampposts notifying the public of a lost dog or cat, we feel sadden by the event. It is therefore hard to imagine anyone consciously choosing to abandon their pets. What kind of people must they be?

Perhaps one reason for the abandonment of pet RES is the ignorance of owners who do not understand the commitment or the nature of their pet. In most pet shops, RES are often seen as cute little cuddly green things with pouty shiny eyes and a thin smile clinging vulnerably to a dried wooden log stuck in a tank with an inch of water for recreation. Pestered furiously by their children, spouse or partner, the transaction takes place and the little green munchkin with the yellow underbelly is brought home - the only concern at the time of purchase being the food and how many times one needs to change the water. 

Fast forward a couple of years and what ambles about is a saucer-sized greedy minion with the capability to grow into a dinner-plate-sized behemoth all in good time. No one told them that.

The olive-shelled bumbling machine, scratchy claws, a messy eater and an even messier house-keeper far from looking anything as cute as their post-egg-hatch days. No one told them that.

A complicated blend of necessary living conditions - heat, sun, water, temperature - and a varied diet consisting of a mix of vegetables, shells and pellets for shell development and optimal digestion to avoid any medical issues. Keep this up for 50 to 70 years or hand it over to your children. Remember to include this in your will. No one told them that.

No one told them anything.

***

While it is easy to play the blame game, I believe the key to our efforts in conserving our local turtle and tortoise populations and maintaining our native biodiversity lie in education and legislation. 

Though there is no simple one-size-fits-all solution, one idea is to allow only licensed shopkeepers who have undergone certified training in RES care and conduct to sell RES to the public. These shopkeepers should be held responsible in ensuring that potential RES owners are equipped with the knowledge and are aware of the commitment before purchasing them as pets. Surprise spot checks conducted by the authority i.e. AVA or National Environmental Agency (NEA) will help to ensure compliance with penalties imposed should the shops sell the RES without educating the purchaser appropriately. 

An introduced species from abroad, red-earred sliders are beautiful and complex creatures that deserve far more respect than the thoughtless actions of abandonment that may lead to their tragic deaths or the demise of their native counterparts. Care, love, and life-long dedication of all pets should be encouraged. By enforcing responsible ownership and distribution as well as ensuring proper dissemination of RES education, this I feel, will help to reduce the number of abandonments which will indirectly lessen the impact on our native shell-bearing species.

We have only one chance at preserving what we have. Let us work together to keep it that way.

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Have you heard about people abandoning their pet turtles before? What are your thoughts on the subject of red-earred slider abandonment? What other ideas could help prevent such things from occurring? Do you have a pet turtle? Feel free to share your experience and opinions below.

And thanks a lot for reading.

Cheers,
~Kerry

References

1. Red-Earred Slider Abandonment - SPCA:
    http://www.spca.org.sg/redsliders.html

2. Native Flora & Fauna - NParks:
    http://florafaunaweb.nparks.gov.sg/Home.aspx

3. Red-Earred Slider Info & Care - Animal Planet:
    http://animal.discovery.com/guides/reptiles/turtles/slider.html

4. Singapore Red Data Book
5. Cadi A. and Joly P., 2003. Competition for basking places between the endangered European pond turtle (Emysorbicularis) and the introduced slider turtle (Trachemys scripta elegans). Canadian Journal of Zoology (81) pp. 1392 - 1398.

The Unnecessary Necessary Storms

The wind howls while the drops rain down. Lightning strikes in the distance. Thunder roars. You're trapped just as you were about to go out. To make your way to town now means risking squeezing buckets of water from your jeans and walking in squishy squashy shoes. You grumble and wish you had left earlier. You look for any signs of the sun but all you see are massive clusters of dark clouds blanketing the sky - no gaps between them; no hint of the sun coming out any time soon. The storm is going to last for awhile.

So you plop down on your sofa deciding to wait it out. You switch on the television and flip channels, groaning aloud that each program is a bore. There's nothing to watch. And then like a ray of hope, you stumble upon an interesting show. You put the remote down only to see the end credits roll and hear the theme song play. So you sigh and reach for the remote once more and flip again. There still isn't anything worth your time. Eventually you settle for the least boring program - a cooking show perhaps.

And just as you settle in, one eye still scanning the gloom for any hope that the rain could be easing up, the power trips. The culprit: a lightning strike. The TV immediately flicks off with a cracking pop in imitation of the lightning that struck. You let out an expletive. Stumbling out of the sofa and looking for the circuit breaker, you know fully well that if you don't reset the breaker you're going to be eating slimy ham and drinking soured milk for breakfast tomorrow. It's a good thing you didn't go out.

You find the circuit breaker, pry open the panel and reset the switch. The TV remains cold and black-faced, its standby light lit red - a sign of mechanical life. You stroll back to the sofa but decide to walk over to your balcony instead. You want to assess the outdoor situation.

People are scuttling across the roads. The lucky ones are armed with umbrellas. The rest make mad dashes from one shelter to another. Cars plow about a little slower than normal, their windshield wipers waving from side to side as if signaling the scuttling crowd to get out of the way. A driver emphasizes with a crescendo of horn blasts.

Another lightning bolt races across the sky, caressing the clouds that hang heavy and weeping. You can't help but be startled at the sudden onset of intense neon blue across grey. The violent luminosity burns a sharp shearing image into your mind's eye that you repeatedly see each time you blink. The deafening roar of thunder follows. Thankfully, you're still left with your ability to hear. You conclude that the storm isn't going to break any time soon and stand resigned that your plan to head to town is ruined.

As you continue looking out over the balcony, your mind begins to drift. Unaware, you relax. You think about recent happenings. You think about issues left unthought from your busy week, maybe month. You start to daydream. Things you wanted to say but didn't and things you wanted to do but couldn't swim through your mind. Soon, you forget you're standing. Your train of thoughts break at the unexpected yet amusing sight of the occasional dog running for shelter with his master.

The lightning strikes yet again. An uncanny resemblance to what the roots of plants must look like below the soil. You can't help but admire it - even wishing it would last longer so you could scrutinize all its intricacies. It's majestic. You are awed by it. A miracle of nature. You think of taking a picture of it and run to grab your DSLR camera or whip out your iPhone. You position yourself. And you wait for the next one - impatiently this time.

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Do you admire lightning storms when they occur like me or are you indifferent? Have you ever found yourself in this situation before or experienced something similar? What was it like? Share you story below in the comment section or feel free to leave any feedback.

Thanks for reading.

Cheers,
~Kerry