On the return trip from Tibet to Singapore, we had to transit at Chengdu for about half-a-day while waiting for our flight back to Singapore.
We were driven to Chengdu shopping belt to spend the few hours there.
Chengdu is a direct contrast to Tibet : The place was terribly polluted. It was so dusty.
And I understand why.
It was nothing but a concrete jungle.
Everywhere I turned was nothing but buildings, buildings, and more buildings.
Apparently, plant life or trees are not part of their town planning.
There were so few plant life, much less trees.
Imagine my surprise when I removed my mask (which I wore to cover my nose and mouth) in the coach and I saw brown patches!
That's how bad the pollution/air quality in Chengdu is.
I can't say about other parts of Chengdu, but the city is definitely polluted.
It's a good thing that the Singapore Government is finally beginning to be a bit more environment conscious, and starting to plant more trees.
However I hope they do not chop down the 'old dames' - the really huge and tall bushy trees that provide the most shade and oxygen, which they are doing in some places, cos' for trees to grow to that height and size requires many years.
Otherwise, in the near future, Singapore could easily become the next Chengdu, with all the smog, dust and haze (which is already happening now).
Forests, which are the lungs of the Earth absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
When our lungs are ill, we have difficulty breathing.
Our Mother Earth is already having difficulty breathing now. (Read : "Earth, do you know she's in pain" - http://maitre-light.blogspot.com/2007/02/earth.html)
She needs healthy lungs, so we need to plant and protect trees, the rainforests etc.
For Earth to recover, we must be mindful in taking good care of her - Every moment.
Problems and Solutions come hand in hand.
The security of human beings lies in the security of the Earth.
It is people who are heartlessly damaging the Earth, but it is also people who can save and protect her.
We are our own best friends, but we are also our own worst enemies.
We are both the Creator and the Destroyer.
The question is, "We Create this 'mess', so how and when are we going to clean it up?"
"Even though today's scientists may reject the idea, the Earth seems to be in tune with the destructive fury of mankind."
- C. G Jung
"As we create, we destroy.
The creation of technology destroys patience, family time and togetherness etc.
The creation of wealth destroys morals, values and virtues.
The creation of buildings and construction destroys nature;
AND, the creation of economy and industrialisation destroys the environment.
It is Not about not creating.
But about creating with a conscience, in a balanced way, with Morality and in Moderation."
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"The 'end' of the world lies Not in the forces of nature, nor in the hands of some supreme Being (God/s), or any other beings (ETs, UFOs etc).
But in the hands of Human kind.
Human kind alone, through an ignorant, delusioned and selfish mind, can and will destroy civilisation.
It's through the irresponsible and egoistic acts of Human kind that civilisation will be destroyed."
"Everything begins from the mind, and therefore will have to end with the mind - The way in is the way out.
If we don't change our minds (ie. our thinking, altitude, actions etc).
We will self-destroy ourselves."
"The heart (i.e mind) is the principal actor, and the one ultimately held accountable for all actions.
If people's hearts motivate them to act in evil ways, the entire planet can easily be destroyed as a consequence.
Thus, it is essential that our hearts should receive proper training and care so that we can safely look after ourselves and the world we live in.
- Venerable Acariya Maha Boowa NanaSampanno
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"The world comes to ruin only if people's spiritual values comes to ruin first.
When spiritual values deteriorate, then everything people do becomes just another means of destroying the world and subverting Dhamma (Truth)."
- Venerable Acariya Maha Boowa NanaSampanno
