THE IMPACT OF NO IMPACT EXPERIMENT!

We all know that right now, Mother Earth is not the way it used to be. A lot of people take everything for granted. They throw garbage in the wrong places. They used chemicals that affect the soil. Some even waste our electricity and use our water inappropriately. Now that we live in the world where everything is fast pase and always on the go, where everything you need is almost at your hands, that because of technology, everything is made possible, we forget how to care for the environment. 

Because of these, Asian Development Bank come up with an idea of having a lesser impact on the Earth as they launch their project which is called “NO IMPACT EXPERIMENT!”. The objective of this project is to reduce an individual, group and organization’s environmental impact and make its operations and personnel more carbon neutral. This project would be for one week, starting January 14 up to January 18. Basically, the goal of the project is to let people see that we could make a difference and save mother Earth.  We could change our bad habits and start living a life which is healthy and eco-friendly.

Today, January 16, 2013 I am privileged to witness how can I help the Earth and be healthy at the same time. The focus of the program for the day is about foods, “Eat local, Eat less meat”. As the title implies, the program promotes the local products and the lesser consumption of meat. 

Langka Luya Cheesecake

Chef Chris Leaning in
 his demo cooking

Langka Luya CheeseCake

The activity start as Chef Chris Leaning made a cooking demo about how to make Langka Luya Cheese Cake (Jackfruit and Ginger Cheese Cake). He used all local ingredients that he could find in the Philippines.  He promotes the local products that we have and refrain from using all those imported products. I never realized that Langka and Luya which is common here in the Philippines would be delicious and appropriate to make a cheesecake. He is an eye opener that we don’t need to always go imported and utilize our very own products

Me and Chef Leaning

THE "MACRO-BIOLOGY"

Ms Michiko discussing
 Macro-biology

Finish productsmade 
out of grains

The second activity tackles about “macrobiology”. At first, you would think that it is something that deals with science and biology. Or it may be related to microbiology. And it never occurred into my mind that it deals with food. Macro-biology as discussed by Ms Michiko Katagami is an alternative for meat or meat substitutes. It is not processed, no sugar foods. They use grains such as amaranthus, buck wheat, soy grain and millet to make a product that tastes like meat. It is very healthy and beneficiary for us. The grain is very helpful in flushing out all the bad things in the stomach and intestines that prevents cancer. This activity shows that we can still enjoy our food, eat whatever we want but be innovative and health

conscious. 

GOURMET FARM INC.

Representative from Gourmet Farm Inc

Lastly, the last part of the activity is to listen to a talk by the Gourmet Farms Inc. It is about their company and how they make organic vegetables and products. Also, they promote the quality of our very own roasted coffee. And they showed us the facilities they have which are eco-friendly. I am really fascinated by the company because of their ideals and awareness about our environment. They don’t use chemical and fertilizers to grow a vegetable. They use all organic materials as pesticides and fertilizers. Also, I never thought that our very own coffee and tea would be in such a premium quality that it could be exported and compete with other products globally. Gourmet Farm Inc is indeed successful in helping in the restoration of Mother Earth. 

In relation of what I have learned. I checked my daily routine. On a regular basis, I woke up in the morning, take a bath and prepare myself then drink my tea and grab a sandwich or bread before I hit the school. At lunch, I look for fast food or restaurant where I can eat. And most of the time I usually chose something that has meat and prefer less vegetable. And during evening, I would have my tea again and cook something to eat. If I have no time to cook, worst case scenario, I would try to open any canned goods and eat it. By doing so, I never realized that I leave a great impact on the Earth. I didn’t realize that by eating canned goods, I affect the earth by the chemicals that is produced to make cans. Also, the chemicals and fertilizers used to the vegetables had a great impact on the soil. And I don’t even know if my tea is made from fresh and organic leaves. Without having any idea about these, I am part of the majority that destroy the Earth. I am GUILTY about this! Thanks to ADB “No Impact Experiment” that I became aware of my bad habits and have a chance to start living a new healthy and eco-friendly lifestyle. And at the same time help my fellow countrymen. How about you? What change could you make to save Mother Earth?