Being green is difficult

I once proposed a suggestion to my friend as we got ourselves drained in a heated debate about global warming and the fate of environment in Malaysia. I asked, what if all these conflicts are simply a cycle every nation has to go through? What if it is a necessary hierarchical development for us to climb; from being a war-torn and illiterate, to industrialized and finally an eco-concious country as a result?

What if right now we are simply not there yet?

I had, of course, concluded my idea with a hint of sarcasm and defeat, in submission to our failure of contributing fruitfully to environmental cause during our student days.

So, imagine my surprise to find the idea being supported by a Dr. Ulrich Bornewasser during his talk about the evolution of clean industrial process in Germany. Perhaps not in its entirety, but as Dr. Bornewasser describes about how the Germans tolerated the toxic-laden Rhine river in early 70s because the issue of environment was not as important as how industries provide the nation their bread and bacon, I tried to match their condition to ours. A question arise in my mind, are we Malaysians today where the Germans were 50 years ago?

If my theory is correct, it means I can only see Malaysia the way Germany is now when I am almost 70 years of age!

Despite our enthusiasm towards being environmentally-sound citizens, living green in Malaysia is still difficult. Conventionality, convenience, economic - the reasons to resist our effort in being eco-conscious are manifold. Changing our habits is one thing, encouraging others is a different challenge altogether. Separating the garbage in my house for instance, requires additional chore on my part, because I would be grateful enough if the leftover foods on the table go straight to the bin or it becomes my duty to dispose the fermented variety if I come home later. Composting? Our house doesn’t have a lawn. Cooking organic food and fair-trade ingredients? Only if we get lucky, because in my family, cooking at all is considered festive. Plastic bags? Mom says there are thousands use for it as a reason for us to hoard the plastic bags at home after our grocery shopping, only what the use are, I suppose mom never really finds out (she suggested once, I could make a coaster out of the colorful plastic bag, I forgot to answer her, mom, we don’t use coasters in our home).

I am talking still about trying to save the world in our limited personal space, not yet touching the issues of nature conservation and fighting for the cause of threatened species. My brothers spends their free time finishing the last bits of electric power to win their Need for Speed match, mom and dad works almost 24/7 in front of their little notebook. How on earth could I ever persuade my family to spend a screen-free weekend camping by the river? Only if I rich enough to sponsor everyone to experience the soothing dawn with the hornbills at Taman Negara, but the last time I volunteered, I burnt a hole in my scholarship pocket money and my Kancil tyres suffered a considerable injury after a proud attempt to follow the PERHILITAN’s four-wheel drive vehicle up the hill of Genting. As of now, I am broke, jobless, and severely anxious for not being able to live up to my green living expectations. At the rate I am going, being green seems as far unattainable as living luxuriously celebrity-like. Then again, who drives the hybrid Toyota Prius and supports the use of solar energy but the likes Leonardo DiCaprio and Edward Norton? Enough said.

Moreover, it is not helping that green living is not endorsed by our system. Imagine going to a supermarket where no plastic bags are given out (like the moment I fumbled at a grocery store in Cologne for being so used to plastic bags, I was embarrassed but glad!) and where our garbage will only be collected if they are separated according to their material types, surely it would make me feel a lot better. Imagine the kitchen basin with a complete grinding system for organic waste, which will be flushed straight to the composting system. Imagine!

So, I am honestly partially glad at the news given by Dr. Bornewasser, I try not to feel too bad and too guilty for living like a bum at home for now. The fault couldn’t be mine alone. I certainly hope, as Germany 50 years ago, Malaysia right now is moving ahead towards equipping herself bits by bits, to be a sustainably-developed country. Perhaps it’s unfair, to expect things to be done all at once. Even human developed progressively, even Rome wasn’t built in a day. We are, all of us, I hope, moving in the right directions.

The time will soon come, when I work with the United Nations earning a five figure salary, dividing my time between my homeland and South Africa, working on various conservation and community projects. The time will come, when I am engaged with my comrades from other countries, the way we were acquainted years before, fighting for a cause we all believe in. The time will come, when I pioneer the practice of nationwide domestic recycling and composting in every household.

For now, forgive me - for dreaming excessively - because living green is difficult.