Making A Greener Qing-Ming Festival
I feel that China is right as it seeks a more eco-friendly Qing-Ming Festival. Filial piety is one of the most important etiquettes present in Chinese people, and it is also very hard for the social event planners to be both dutiful and carbon-efficient, and in these case, they chose to be environmental friendly. It is a very hard change, as it is a traditional custom, but they are people who realize the need that China has the largest carbon emission in the world, and that flowers are also an alternative method.
To me, I feel and know that filial piety is extremely important, and it is a MUST for all of us to pay out respects properly, but in the case of China, flowers and other, such as simple actions, are other ways to do it, as even though they are doing all that they can, the amount of greenhouse gases contribute largely to Global Warming, and the air in parts of China are so hazardous people wear more than a mask just to go out. Promoting filial piety to young generations are also important, as nowadays, they are so engrossed in their mobile devices they forget their own Chinese roots. The custom of burning paper Ferraris and money cannot be changed over night, just like Rome was not built in a day, but the restrictions and steps the officials do reinforces the fact that China is doing its best to be Eco-friendly. Even though the restrictions are harsh, but people would realize the benefits one day.
I feel that the point of the campaign is not only to pay respects to the dead and be Eco-friendly, but also Instill an environmental protection mindset in Chinese people, and that in many things, the Ming Qing Festival being one, there can be greener ways to do that.
From: Today newspaper, page 21
Yes, I agree that there is no point in burning paper items (based on assumption from carbon emission) since it not only pollute the air but also waste resources. Furthermore, there is no point in burning paper money as so much are burn to the other world in a year which will result in extreme inflation there, meaning that no matter how much you burn, your ancestors might not have enough to spend. And lets not forget, there had been an introduction of paper cars,villas and luxury item to paper money in recent years. They sure will be massive traffic jam and a competition for land there.
ReplyDeleteIt is a custom passed down from the past till now and we still practice it nowadays, it is something that would require time to stop such activity, there might be some problem with the public who believes in the significance of this. Recently, for the profit of businessmen who sells the offerings, they introduced all sorts of offerings where people would buy, they are usually larger in scale and when you burn them there would be more emission. I think we should start small and slowly educate the people on why this should be cut down.
ReplyDeleteThese Chinese customs hold meaning to the people who practise them - an expressions of their filial piety. Instead of eradicating them. could there be some solutions to help reduce the carbon emissions? For the larger purpose of conserving the environment with greener practices, perhaps there are other more massive polluters such as the heavy industries. Could punitive measures be put in place to take the transgressors to task for their illegal emissions?
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