For a change, instead of writing a health, food and fitness post, I've decided to address something a little more personal today. As a geographer myself, the issue of global ignorance is something that I feel, needs to be raised more to the public.
You'd be surprised that the number of 'well educated' people in the world today (meaning holding a degree or more) are really just educated on one thing: the amount of money in their bank accounts, not giving a second to even reflect on the health of the environment and the rest of their human counterparts, which really ticks me off and in all honesty makes me question how educated they are. Yes, I'm talking about people who doubt the existence of climate change and the extinction of species. It almost seems as though the concept of being 'well educated' is synonymous with selfishness nowadays instead of being well informed. I recently did a university coursework on the report "Tin-mining, the true cost of tin" by Friends of the earth, an international grassroots environmental organisation, who did a study on the tin mining situation and devastations it brought about.
How many of us actually know what goes into the making of our electronic products, both socially and environmentally? Do we ever ask ourselves where our smartphones, tablets and computer come from? Rarely! our response is always going to be something like "oh ya from a factory in China" , "some random warehouse" or even "I don't know, and I don't care". Our ignorance is killing the environment and it is a pity that not many of us know this. Large corporations such as Samsung and Apple have caused massive devastations over at the Tin-mining regions of the Indonesian Islands of Belitung and Bangka.
Tin Mining.. hmm what is that? Many of you might ask. Tin mining is essential to the act of assembling a smartphone. Each smartphone contains a few grams of tin, which is important in the soldering process. But in exchange for this natural resource, we have resulted in heavy metal pollution of surrounding waters, impacting fisheries around the region. We also encourage the raising of the risk of tin-miners drowning or suffering from being caught in land slides on a daily basis. They earn on average, a miserly 5 pounds weekly if they are lucky. Multiple people die daily or get severly injured from these devastations. The coral has been bleached and tourism has fallen. There is no other work out here besides tin mining, and that is ruining the lives of so many people, while we are carrying on with our marketing regimes and business plans through the use of these smartphones and devices that these people have risked their life and safety to help us build. Who are they to deserve to suffer all this?
Interesting isn't it? In such a fast-paced world we tend to be so ignorant about the building blocks of our privilege.
There has been a recent study in 2012 by Friends of the Earth international, under their "make it happen " campaign to fight against these unethical practices. Visit their website to read more on this human geography report.
What can we do to help?
As the world progresses and we're constantly updating ourselves with technology, having plants around the house helps brings us back a step closer to Mother Nature. Though part of the progression also means spending more time on our iPads or Galaxy Notes and never actually having enough time for a proper meal, yet alone taking care of plants.
Fret not! Listed below are 5 easy-care plants for the irresponsible - myself included.
Snake plant: It's name itself can seem appalling and you'd want nothing to do with it. Perfect! Not only does this plant have health benefits, but it can survive for weeks at a time. To top that off, it actually looks pretty and improves the indoor air quality. You practically don't have to take care of it and it does the exact opposite for you.
Echeveria: This right here is a beauty particularly because it grows in the shape of a blooming flower. They come in all sorts of colours that'll easily match with any theme you are going for. All you gotta do for your home to be blessed with one of these guys, is to give them plenty of constant light and keep the soil moist for them to stay healthy.
Aloe: You're probably well aware of the countless medicinal properties the aloe possesses, but these plants make just as wonderful home décor. Like the Echeveria, It’s a succulent, so dry conditions will not be a problem. Tons of indirect sunlight will be a plus for your aloe plant to flourish.
Bromeliad: Who knew the Cousin of the pineapple was such a prima donna. Don't let its looks fool you as this superstar is actually pretty easy to handle. Being drought tolerant, you'll be good even if you only remember to water it once a week.
Sweetheart Hoya: It's pretty blooms and pleasant fragrance are not guaranteed if not coaxed with the right amount of sunlight but it's succulent heart-shaped leaves are to die for. If you're an animal lover, the ASPCA has certified it safe for cats and dogs
Join us this Saturday to celebrate Itto and Lim's 1st Anniversary with these local talents. If you're a fan, come by and meet these inspirational people.
Scroll down to find out more about them.
Kelly, also known as @kllylmrck is known as the crochet fairy of sg. She does a variety of crochet works and art-pieces. Some of which have even been funded by some large organisations in Singapore. Known for her eccentric style and bold fashion tastes, she is definitely someone you can take inspiration from.
more about the artist:
Kelly Limerick is the pseudonym of Singaporean-born artist Kelly Lim.
She picked up crochet in 1997 when she was 7 years old, she then taught herself knitting, and has since been coming up with her original designs for both mediums.
With yarn as her most familiar medium, Kelly often designs without set patterns to produce unique, one-off designs that are almost impossible to replicate.
Combining her various techniques with the abstract images in her head, Kelly hopes to breathe life into her art, giving each piece a personality of its own.
Check out her online profile and her works here
Instagram: @kllylmrck
Website: http://www.kllylmrck.com/artist/
Teresa lim is an artist who is interested in illustration, embroidery and surface pattern design. Teresa's personal design philosophy fuses three of her interests, Illustrations, Embroidery and surface pattern design together. Her designs seek to blur the lines and boundaries between being an illustrator and a textile designer.
more about the artist:
Her works are largely inspired by themes revolving around gender and womanhood and has showcased her works in Singapore, Hong Kong, Bangkok and Japan. Some of her international clients include H&M, Swarovski, Gucci, Coach and Olympus to name a few. She absolutely loves reading and catching up on tv shows on netflix.
check out her online profile and her works here
Instagram: @teeteeheehee
website: http://www.teeteeheehee.com
Joanne trained as a graphic designer but she picked up the art of calligraphy whilst on holiday in New York. These lessons had a great impact on her having an eye for art; upon returning to Singapore she felt drawn to writing with her hands instead of gadgets and gizmos, and she slowly steered away from designing with the computer.
More about the artist:
It may seem like it's taking a step backwards but calligraphy has taught her so much about perseverance, becoming more human and working more with her heart than head. She believes that words are powerful and that art can change an atmosphere of a space. Currently running The Letter J Supply, Joanne makes customised pieces for clients, and retails her work at lifestyle shops in Singapore.
Her studio is located at 30A Seah Street. Singapore.
check out her online profile and her works here
Instagram: @theletterjsupply
Website: https://www.theletterjsupply.com/
Tyla Lim is a local calligraphy artist and illustrator.
Check out more about her profile and her works here.
Instagram: @Worthawhile.sg
Website: https://www.behance.net/tylalim
YT Tommy Lee is a freelance illustrator based in Singapore.
more about the artist:
She works with both digital and traditional mediums to create visuals that carry a sense of quiet contemplation.
Check out more about her profile and her works here.
Instagram: @whitelightchase
Website: http://yttommylee.com/
Aiwei Foo is a local artist, designer, illustrator and musician.
check out her works on her online profile here
Instagram: @awfoo
Website: http://aiweifoo.com/
Ying Nuo is a local illustrator with a unique sense of style.
check out her works on her online profile here
Instagram: @n.uo
Website: https://www.instagram.com/n.uo/
Tea infused desserts are beautiful to look at and wonderful to taste. Whether it’s a hint of orange and chamomile tea or chai tea in your food, the flavours never fail to disappoint your taste buds. There are many tea-infused desserts out on the Internet but many recipes make use of the classic tea flavours such as white tea and the likes – sure, the benefits of green tea are undeniable, but there are many more flavours out there that are equally beneficial and delicious!
Nilufer offers you unique organic tea with flavours that are different from your usual brands like yogi tea – even the packaging is an artwork by itself. Say goodbye to searching for green tea benefits or looking up recipes for chai tea or white tea or other yogi tea options because things about to become a whole lot flavourful!
So, why not start small and check out some simple tea infused desserts that are out of the tea cup and beyond the search for green tea benefits? For the following dessert recipes, it isn’t necessary for you to have a tea infuser, tea set or even green tea extract – just grab a tea cup and Nilufer’s tea bags.
Shortbreads come in a variety of shapes, sizes and now flavours as well! It could go well with a cup of tea or coffee in the morning or snacks at a party. Put aside your white tea or chai tea because ginger rooibos tea is the new shortbread flavour to taste and challenges the benefits of green tea. Less bitter than white tea and other herbal teas, ginger rooibos tea will come out to be a whole new world of delicious-ness!
Madeleines are delicious and we’re infusing rose tea into them so they become delicious as well! Forget about having to use green tea extract or white tea or chai tea because rose tea infused madeleines will be on another level. Almost everyone would know the benefits of green tea by now but did you know that rose as an ingredient can help restore peace to your mind? Leave your yogi tea flavours and green tea benefits list aside because Nilufer’s rose tea will make fragrant and delicate-looking madeleines that will go hand in hand with a glass of cold or warm milk.
Ice cream with green tea extract is common, but orange and chamomile tea flavoured ones aren’t! People can go on about the benefits of green tea or yogi tea all day - orange and chamomile tea will challenge it. Orange and chamomile tea infused ice cream adds a little zest in the flavour while helping to calm your body down at the end of the work day. Have a scoop (or two, we won’t judge) in a tea cup while you wind down for the day. While you don’t need a full tea set for this, a tea infuser could help bring out more flavour if you like a little more floral zest in your tea cup of delight!
This isn’t much of a dessert but these are so delightful that I had to share them. It’s one recipe that doesn’t involve classic yogi tea flavours, chai tea, green tea extract or searching for the benefits of green tea. Again, no tea set needed, but a tea infuser can bring out a stronger flavour. Green tea extract and green tea benefits will not be on your mind once you pop these ice cubes in a glass a drink of your choice.
A tea infuser or tea set could be useful if you’re looking to use these recipes for parties, but don’t worry if you don’t have a tea infuser or tea set – just steep those tea bags longer! Green tea benefits are undeniable, but there’re more teas out there that bring relief to the mind or body, and make delicious infusions in many recipes!
Water retention is a common problem faced by many of us, regardless of age nowadays. This has mainly got to do with the type of diets that we engage in and the type of physical activities or the lack thereof of it. Water retention can affect the way you look, most of the time most obviously and this can make some people feel less confident about themselves as they feel a bit of 'weight gain' and the 'rounding' of their faces.
However, there are many ways to beat water retention and get yourself back to where you once were. Here are some easy remedies that you can partake to ease your water retention.
It might be hard to control salt levels in your food, especially if you're in an office all day long and tend to eat out most of the time. The best way to control salt intake is to have Raw food more often. Salads, nuts, poke bowls, fresh fruit etc. Are great lunch alternatives compared to fried rice and your hawker local favourite, char kway teow. Although it may be delicious, the consequence might really not be that worth to be frank.
Floral teas are known for their anti-oxidant properties and their ability to boost cleansing levels in ones digestive system. The compounds found in any sort of floral tea help to aid urinary and bowel movement and has been said to improve the sleep of many as well. This is one of the herbal remedies you can try out! Of course, the more of this your drink in a day, the more frequently you have to visit the bathroom to expel urine as teas are a diuretic and hence, will help fix the problem of water retention overtime.
Try Nilufer Tea's Floral tea, Floral blossom today!
click here to order now.
If you're not keen on taking dietary supplements, don't worry, you just have to increase your intake of food that is rich in magnesium. Magnesium is a very important mineral that is involved in more than 300 reactions that keep the body functioning. Increasing your magnesium intake may help to reduce water retention. Naturally occurring amounts of magnesium can be found in a long list of veggies and fruit. Some examples include: papayas, bananas, kale, wholegrains and sweet potatoes. If you're looking for snack options, then do seek out for dark chocolate and nuts!
Dandelions have been sought as a source of natural medicine for a long time. Just like the floral tea mentioned above, dandelion is another form of natural diuretic that may not necessarily be consumed in the form of tea. Dandelion leaf extracts are used commonly as a herbal remedy for water retention and to help with circulation. Many people have experienced an increase in the amount of urine since they they started using dandelion extract daily, studies show.
Have a go at these tips and herbal remedies for water retention and let us know if they worked for you in the comments!
The hardest part of living away from home for university is adjusting to your new sleeping quarters.
From my personal experience, this being my second year living away from home, I've found that making my new home feel like 'home' is quintessential to my comfort and reducing homesickness. I mean, I’m not one to get very homesick easily because I enjoy living away from home but along the way I’ve discovered many clever hacks to jazz up your room in a cost-effective and non-environmentally damaging way so that it doesn’t get too lonely or empty. Here are some snazzy DIY ideas to save money and the earth!
A common waste item to the university student is glass jars from a homemade pasta dinner. Pesto? Tomato Mascarpone? Honey? Don’t let these treasures go to waste! Here are some ways you can make them decorative.
You’d be lying if you said that you never ordered things online to please your lazy student bum. Instead of letting these boxes go to waste, why not use them as another decorative/ functional piece.
P.S. This is especially good for sticking up important notes, dates as well as photos of your friends and family from home
To keep track of all that sinful goodness, why not collect them and stick them up on your wall as wallpaper? It makes quite a unique and quirky one-of-a-kind art piece.
Cereal boxes make great folders to store your files and textbooks from university, that way you won’t have to waste money on buying actual plastic ones. All you need is a paper cutter or a knife.
Shoe boxes make a great hiding place for a lot of valuable things. The MOST UNSUSPECTING PLACE to hide your passport, important documents as well as money. If you have nothing to hide, they make great organization tools for you to keep your things neat and tidy.
