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| Lecture - Madoka Rakani ('Muna') |
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| 'Zero Waste' environmental advocate Muna Rakani spreads the good word about eco-friendly living |
Muna Rakani, an environmental consultant from South
Africa, was spotted at the World Summit on Sustainable Development
(WSSD) in 2002 and asked to introduce the 'Zero Waste' philosophy
to Peace Boat. Muna provided a comprehensive overview of what the
Zero Waste approach entails. He also put forward an incredibly persuasive
case as to why it is important to change our existing patterns of
consumption and disposal, not only for the sake of the environment
but also for economic, health and efficiency driven reasons. Muna
alerted participants to the fact that our actions (such as driving
cars or using plastic bags) generally tend to have a negative impact
on the environment, and that the international community is currently
using 20 per cent more resources than what the Earth can supply us
with. Stressing that zero waste is not just a target, but about the
way we think and how we live, Muna urged participants to start to
look at products in such a way so that we do not create waste in the
first place. He guided participants over the path that materials and
energy flow through society, and made known the various stages from
processing, production, wholesale, retail, consumption, recycling
to landfill / incineration in which waste is created. Not only did
our greening consultant open people's eyes as to how society and its
constituent sectors can work towards zero waste for its own benefit,
he also proposed ways in which individuals can implement practical,
eco-friendly adjustments to their own choices and actions. For example,
make consumer choices with regard to a product's raw materials, packaging,
design and manufacture, emissions to environment and general waste.
In this way, purchasing a glass drink bottle would be preferable to
a plastic PET bottle. Muna's genuine concern for effecting positive
change in a world that so desperately needs to focus on its environmental
condition, no doubt inspired participants to reassess the impact of
our lifestyles on our planet. |
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| Event - Tai Chi |
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| Tai Chi enthusiasts demonstrate their graceful movements at sunrise |
As the sun rises over the ocean every morning,
up to fifty participants gather on the rear deck to awaken and harmonise
their minds and bodies with tai chi exercises. Since the first week
of the 40th cruise, a committed mass of followers has been waking
up, sometimes soon after other participants have gone to sleep, to
learn the traditional Chinese movements. The devoted 'tai-chi' instructor,
'Ushi-chan', also doubles as the ship's masseur, and understands the
importance of trying to find peace of mind during a three month voyage
with 600 other people in a confined space. The 6:10 - 6:40am schedule
appears to be suiting the older generation somewhat more favourably
than those in their twenties and thirties, who prefer to sweat it
out on the basketball courts or 'boxercise' indoors in front of a
Tai-Bo video. The graceful tai-chi movements are beautiful to watch,
as dozens of bodies move in synchronization to the sound of meditative
music. As one participant comments, 'I enjoy the fresh air and invigorating
exercise, it's the best way to start each day. I find that the exercise
doubles as a massage for my feet, as they are given a real workout
since when the ship is rolling and pitching for it becomes more difficult
to keep balance.' Most suitably, the ship's kiosk has even started
selling special tai chi shoes! |
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| Peace Boat's
40th Voyage index |
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PEACE BOAT is an NGO in Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations. |
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