i love my 18th birthday..!
<3
i gain my courage to move on.
stop sticking in the mud.
get life moving again.
:)
i m such a bitch
bcos i attempted to get some guy's attention cos i noticed tt she seems interested.
i m such a bitch
bcos i attitude and left chalet in the middle of the night.
i m a nobody
bcos whateva i said does not make any impact on anyone.
i m a nobody
bcos i suck.
suck in academics
suck in leadership
suck in EQ n IQ
i m a nobody
bcos despite making an abrupt decision to left silently in the middle of the night.
no one.
NO ONE showed concern at all.
none.
i m a nobody
bcos i lost confidence of myself.
i cant seem to raise my head anymore.
i m a nobody
bcos i know tt i m a nobody in his eyes
i del all his sms.
ended this hopeless dream
this is not a sudden decision.
this may be triggered by her.
but eventually i come to conclusion tt i m definitly foolish enough to wait
so.
so long.
i m free!!!
at times i wondered.
i must be so so so much more inferior compared to her.
i must be so un lovable.
tt's why i m never in love.
maybe i shouldn't tink tt much
i shall jux focus on my studies.
met with floatyl.
realise tt book wans a bf.
i told her me too.
i cant see why someone with her qualities cant get a bf.
although she have lots of admirers
haha.
i dun even have one.
sad to say
haha.
once a senior describe me as a flower in the wild.
waiting for ppl to discover.
sound so wonderful.
but come to think abt it.
there are definitly more than 1 flower in the wild.
so.. i m like a common flower.
waiting for some passer-by to step on.
the reason for leaving chalet tt night.
partially it's bcos of her.
mood swing.
rare for me to have mood swing i guess
i hate crowded places.
maybe the reason is tt i cant blend in
i cant fit in.
i cant be part of this place.
i don't fit in at all!
2ndly it's bcos of someone else too.
i was shocked by her action.
she actually instructed me to move somewhere else.
if i suspect she like him.
i guess it's like i m brainless.
cos anyone would have predicted tt
except me
so when they were talking to me.
i pretend tt i m sleeping.
actually i couldn't sleep at all.
i sat near the window.
staring into space.
i started crying.
i started to feel very lonely.
it feels like no one would care abt whether i m alright a not.
i looked at the time.
then i tot..
why not i wait ill 6am and leave this place quietly?
then i sat at the side and wait.
i started packing at 5.30am
i went to put on my socks. at 545am
then i went to put on my shoes at 6am.
i look back at them.
thinking.
it wun make a difference even if i m around or not.
they wun even realise tt i m gone.
then i walked home silently.
i was very depressed at tt time.
i wished tt someone would call me to ask why did i leave.
but no one did.
not even a sms
i m insignificant.
then i started crying on the bus.
am i just emo?
or it's just my wishful thinking tt they would care abt me.
guess wat. finally someone sms me.
jus to remind me to collect money from those who went to chalet.
what else can i feel?
i have no idea
i asked whether anyone asked why i left so early? then she told me tt he knew i left tt morning.
i din tell anyone tt i m leaving.
especially someone who sleeps like a log like him
would know tt i left tt morning?
this feeling is too..
i dunno how to describe at all.
i m tired.
i feel like containing myself in a bottle.
after the event, jas,pam,jf,mari,sj and me went to the post parade party!!!
we were dancing in the MOST ridiculous steps and move.
with the cha-cha element within!
then some foreigner took video cam to shoot us. OMG
the song change to :"HEY MICKEY YOU SO FUN!"
LOL
then we started doing CAN CAN!!!!!!!!!!
at first it was just us.
and the foreigner videoing us. duh
then SUDDENLY the whole parade is doing CAN CAN!!!
COOL SIA
ohh. the funniest part.
an unknown guy->chingay volunteer stand next to me and said,"TOGETHER!"
and hand in hand the whole parade doing the CAN CAN!!!!
lol.
great fun isn't it!
back to sch.
redecorated my phone.
it's furry pink now.
lol. seasonal change
inspired by an unknown gal on mrt with pink lace hp! PRETTY!
Dr rahman is really fierce but somehow i stil he's quite funny as well.
but i tink he's effective at teaching compared to the previous teachers we had. lol. but seriously the bio teacher is...special in her own way. i tink her style of teaching is like..not making the mark as a teacher. she doesn't emphasize on the important components but simply go thru the whole lecture notes again. w/o us knowing wat's the most important concept in that topic.
cool down. i need to find a mentor!
and.. seriously i hav difficulty in understanding maths lesson. probably is the teacher. or it's just me.
not that i dislike her till the extent that i heck maths.
but i dun like her way of revealing her fresh to us.
i can see the boys face turning red everytime she bend down. COME ON!
acting bimbo is the worst thing i hav come across with.
ever since the japan incident had happened. i doubt i can treat her like a normal vain teacher. more of a selfish and vain and REVEALING teacher.
OMG.
sorry abt the somalia essay. i will del it now. got gp essay to handle mah.
happy birthday to WENJIA!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
I WAS JUST TRYING MY BEST TO DRAG THE TIME TO 12 MIDNIGHT SO THAT YOU CAN HEAR MY VOICE!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY DEAREST WENJIA!
MUACKS! <3
at least i enjoyed the trip
the homestay
the shopping
the weather
the atmosphere
the experience
the people
feeling lost
maybe hols feeling cant get out of my head
i guess i wanna live there forever
i dun give it a damn abt communication problem
but at times i really hope i was born a jap
haha
one thing i hate abt the trip is..
teachers
they are totally irresponsible
top on the list:
karen lim and ann koh
the bathing issue
one is like a lil kid who die die mux bathe and never kill
shoot ppl with chimology eng
another one is like a BIMBO
who dress as if she's going for prom?
or shopping in paris?
complaining abt cold when she's wearing the most
we can see the no. of zero/decimal pts found from her clothing
i tot teachers are supposed to reach the hotel first/last?
i tot they are supposed to ensure every students' welfare?
WRONG
they throw us with a map and expect us to find our own dinner and breakfast
and most of the lunch are paid by the jap ppl
and thru out the trip
we keep paying unknown money
like 15000 yen for hotel
1000 yen for entrance fee
lots of 230 yen for subway
no wonder they expect us to bring lots of money and get ROB LA
-.-
but on the whole i enjoyed the trip
i love saori
:)
i love mikako
i love sayo
i love sumika
i love erika
i love haruka
i love nozomi
i love tomomi
i love HOMOya
i love fukuda
i love ayano 1
i love ayano 2
i love eri
i love all the newcomers! ~
i love jap!!!!!
devote my graduation time on it!
saveMEfromSORROWS
floatyl outing.
neverdlessly memorable
no matter how boring it is.
it will always be exciting to me
a lil dinner
a lil teabreak
or jus fate brought us tog to meet on streets/in malls
haha.
material girl
2/5? okok.
i wun be so mean
i give a 3/5 for the chemist guy!!
haha.
hilary duff looks sweet in this movie
and truly bimbo
LOL.
need to plan lots of things
finally share my secret and bitter to floatyl
HAHA.
i m not that cheerful as i look
i just prefer to hide it in my heart
preferbably locked and the keys lies in floatyl.
gaga over david aw-
saveMEfromSORROWSi know it's a great news that 4 of us promoted. congrats to pam, jas, shin and me.
but the sad thing is my click lost a member.
and click.
and gang click.
why cant we promote together?
sad because i didn't push u?
sad because we didn't get the chance to enjoy the last moment in sch?
i only know that we gonna make the last few moment together as a class a smashing one
depressed
i m both physically and mentally tired
i miss floatyl.
saveMEfromSORROWSor stuff 100 sleeping pills down my BIG mouth..
-died-
or
i dunno..
jux try not to eat/sleep/breathe/drink for 1 week..?
tat's too long.
i wan an immediate one.
i guess pills the best.
need to plan my will as well..
let's start from my parents.
whatever i have belongs solely to my mum
next..
my whole closet belongs to my sisters.
my stuffs belongs to my da jie
send all my neoprints to my floatyl.
give all my softtoys to floatyl as well.
buried my dog- shinya with me.
hmmm..
burn all my paperworks..
give away all texts, wb, ws..tys..
whatever.
give all my chinese things to xiaobao n xx or their a's
my will:
i love my family
i love floatyl
i remember every single ppl who crossed my path
i love MJCSB- saxtion
i love AHBAND- saxtion
i hope preserve my memories.
remember only the best of me
the smiling one.
thanks to..
all my sch teachers.
all my mentors
all who help me in mastering sax.
goodbye.
don't miss me
| You Are The Wheel of Fortune |
 You represent the cycles of life, death, and rebirth. You embrace change, the the ups and downs of life. Fate is something you accept, even when you could possibly change things. Big things tend to happen to you more than other people. Your fortune: Something huge is about to happen in your life, and you have little control over it. |
get this over and done with.
head off to study
| You Are 20 Years Old |
 Under 12: You are a kid at heart. You still have an optimistic life view - and you look at the world with awe. 13-19: You are a teenager at heart. You question authority and are still trying to find your place in this world. 20-29: You are a twentysomething at heart. You feel excited about what's to come... love, work, and new experiences. 30-39: You are a thirtysomething at heart. You've had a taste of success and true love, but you want more! 40+: You are a mature adult. You've been through most of the ups and downs of life already. Now you get to sit back and relax. |
| Your Birthdate: May 26 |
 You lucked out the the skills to succeed in almost any arena. Put you in almost any business or classroom, and you'll rise to the top. You're driven and intense, but you also know when to kick back and cooperate. Your ability to adapt to almost any situation is part of what's going to make you a success. Your strength: Your attention to detail Your weakness: You can be a little too proud of your successes Your power color: Turquoise Your power symbol: Arrow pointing up Your power month: August |
sucks! i hate i. cant imagine if i din pass promos
and having the bio tutors stressing us
with ...
MORE THAN 100 OF YOU WILL GET RETAINED
i was like.....My gosh!!
why not you might as well retain the whole level till everyone excel in all subjects
no wonder MJC is a three-year course
=(
hope i get promoted
and..
i wanna jalan after promos
and finish up my wire art
kinda obessed over it
thanks fab for the chem tys !
i MUST..die die MUST pass promos.
and All the saxes.. sooks yijun they all.
=)
mugging time
let the battle begin.
1st thing on the list
buy a xtra strong concealer
ehh.
for covering HEI YAN QUAN!
lotsa luck for me and my gang so that we can be in the same class again!!!!
muacks
xx commented that Kitch is pretty.
SUCKS!
i mean Kitch not XX
i mean i love xx mah.
but i hate it when she's pretty.
I HATE IT!
i dun like the way she fake as though she dunno me
and the way she give me that smirk on her face.
once i heard of a story
it goes:
there was once a boy who hated everyone who bullied her.
she wished that they will vanish into thin air.
then her wish came true when..
a visitor from another dimension came..
he claimed that jux by clicking the remote
anyone you wish to delete will gone from earth forever.
he dun believe it.
and the visitor left him leaving the remote behind.
he decided to experiment on it.
he tried it on the heaps of leaves in the backyard.
"beep!"
everything was gone.
he was astonished.
then his neighbour, A, who always bullied him came over to disturb him.
"stop it or i will click this remote!"
the neighbour keep hiting him.
"beep!"
he wished that A will be gone.
"poof"
he's gone.
one by one he deleted all those people who bullied him before.
then he realised that he deleted the whole world.
leaving him in misery
he realised that he do not really hated them.
the moral of the story is..
no such thing as hatred.
maybe it depends.
P.S i haven receive the photos, but i am sure that it gonna be great! =)
love floatyl.
book mux take care of yourself. or i will guard at teppan to block your view!
=)
 |
| 'What will your obituary say?' at QuizGalaxy.com |
1. Full name: AwShiYing .
2. Name backwards: gniyihswa .
3. Were you named after someone: hopefully no .
4. Meaning of name: poetic & light(obviously not!) .
5. Nickname: xiaomei, lao da/laoda de nuren, jenjen, awxel( a.k.a hao xiao), ayumi/hamasaki. LOL
6. D.O.B: 260589
7. Place of birth: singapore
8. Nationality: sama sama .
9. Current location: MJ library .
10. Star sign: twins .
12. Religion: free thinker .
13. Height: approx. ? < 170
14. Weight: double of urs .
15. Shoe size: round up to 8
16. Hair colour: black+copperred+red+purple. mixture = brown black
17. Eye colour: black brown or blue .
18. Who do you look like: someone said ju-on .
19. Innie or outtie: hav spilt personality .
20. Leftie or rightie: beta with right .
31. Favourite online guy: sung june .
32. Favourite online girl: book .
33. Craziest friend: fab? <- clumsy i meant.
34. Advice friend: everyone .
35. Loudest friend: to many to name .
36. Person you cry with: anyone .
37. Any sisters: 2 who dont look like me .
38. Any brothers: uh- no .
39. Any pets: 2 fat turtles. but 1 ran away from home .
40. Any disease: no idea. hidden? .
41. Pagers: generation gap .
42. Personal phone line: for personal frens
43. Cell phone: for everyone .
44. Lava lamp: not interested .
45. Pool or hot tub: hot tub .
46. A car: 4 years later
47. Your personality: spilt .
48. Driving: i hav the tendency to kill someone
49. Room colour: blue turning yellow .
50. What's missing: from the pocket($) to the hand(ring)
51. School: DPS ; AHS ; MJC
52. Bed colour: green or purple or pink .
53. Relationship with parents: great .
54. Believe in yourself: definitely .
55. Believe in love at first sight: someday .
56. Good listener: confirm + chop .
57. Get along well with parents: sama sama .
58. Save email conversations: yea .
59. Pray: once in a while .
60. Believe in reincarnation: i will comment when i die.
61: Makes fun of people: always .
62. Like to talk on the phone: to a certain extent ( direct to the one on the other side of phone) .
63. Want to get married: at 26 yrs old
64. Like to drive: YEA .
65. Motion sickness: never .
66. Eat stem of broccoli: yea .
67. Eat chicken with fork: and knife .
68. Dream in colour: wat the heck is tt? .
69. Type with your fingers on home role: no link
70. Sleep with stuff animals: fill with them .
71. Next to you: u mean now ah. shihui lor.
72. On the walls of your room: kik kik kok kok.
73. On your mousepad: mouse la .
74. Dream car: no idea .
75. Dream date: xuan bin
76. Dream honeymoon spot: deserted island .
77. Dream husband or wife: ah san=xuan bin
78. Bedtime: anytime .
79. Under your bed: still bed .
80. Single most important question: what qns?
81. Bad time of a day: 3.33am?.
82. Your worst fear: flying cockroaches .
83. The weather is: sunny like wat liddat .
84. Time: 1410h
85. Date: 110906
86. Best trick did on someone: i m such a nice gal .
87. Theme song: first love .
88. Hardest thing about growing up: the process .
89. Funniest experience: more than the cockroaches .
90. Scariest experience: trapped in bugis on bdae .
91. Silliest thing you have ever said: like now? .
92. Most desperate and funniest thing i have done to get the opposite sex: slap him while i spin and fell .
93. Scariest thing while you are with your friends: the same thing.
94. Worst feeling: when i saw cockroaches .
95. Best feeling in the world: when i surrounded by frens .
96. AND NOW THE SABOTAGING BEGINS!!! CHOOSE EIGHT TO DO THE QUIZ!!! anyone who reads this .
waa la..
saveMEfromSORROWSgot to go.
v tired.
jux done with the WR 2nd part
my part la.
so happy! cos my sia compliment me!
haha.
consider going back ahs on teacher's day....
hmmm...................
p.s david is NOT my bf
never had
never intended
saveMEfromSORROWSall of us end up in the mac
including jer n co.
we did that on purpose.
to make him guilty
he doesn't seem to notice that we did that on purpose
nevermind.
and he doesnt get the hint that we are kind of irritated that he keep pangseh us for the co.
while our conclusion that night is..
we hate...._ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _!!!!!!!!!!
while being with the sax is truely enjoyable.
but last fri.
we are totally amused by cliff for being sooooooooooooo weird.
he was talking to his fingers
the problem is..
he was looking at his finger when talking to us.
LOL.
he's really weird.
gosh!
i lost faith for the section.
but ya.. i will go and wash photoS to decorate the cupboard.
=)
cheerio shin!
saveMEfromSORROWSand there are always others who are really irritating.
act as those they are the
SWEEEEEEEEEEEEETEST thing on earth
jus that 1 bite and ur teeth ROT
the incident during prom.
is a good example.
NEVERMIND.
IT'S JUX THE PAST
saori email me again!
really happy that she welcome me to stay at her house when we are going japan this DECEMBER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
HURRAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
mux mux DIE DIE mux pass promos.
and ya..
another test failed.
kinetic.
i m such as idiot!
mux buck up le!!!!!!!!!
and maths vectors-- i tink it's all abt luck
and i shld finish up the letter to alice with all those small comic strips. =)
I LOVE XIUXIAN AND SHIHUI
BUT I LOVE XIUXIAN MORE
AND I LOVE SHIHUI MOST
NO
YEAH
nevermind.
jump on to my life.
this morning.
from 10-2
sell HEARTS OF GOLD
indirect meaning..
actually orange balloon la
helium-filled.
which means.. can fly
ya.
me n xx encountered a weird china uncle.
who keep asking us abt any fun places to shop in tm
er..not really much place u know
ya. and a kind uncle bought 5 balloon from us. =)
xx let a balloon fly away while saving another.
LOL
we managed to get help from the public and saved 2 balloons
=)
we took neos!!!
gorgeous!
=)
refer to either sh, xx's blog
cos i dunno how to upload
=p
i dunno whether gwen got blog a not
i met 3 frens while selling and after selling.
marcus came to rescue and bought a balloon
THANKS A LOT!!
met fab and gf.
and yihao--> botak
then went to meet xt and wj!!!
like so long neva see each other le!!!
study at starbuck for 3 hours.
i tink they studied for 6 hours le.
haha.
then went for lunch and shopping time!
NEOPRINTS!
we took some real artistic neoprints!!!
with the superimpose and deletling.
gorgeous!
ask me to take a look.
next sat we are meeting again.
then we went to bugis street to shop.
so many pretty stuff.
HEARTACHE!
i bought a shirt.
with the help from wj.
haha.
we bargained! 35 to 30!
hurray!
diva have a transverse counter guy/gal
haha.
home at 10pm.
sleeping time.
chatted with lili.
destress on someone's blog.
decided that complaining to best fren is better
comment to yihao abt his lack of hair
wanwei.
crushes list can be endless.
haha.
but true love only one.
yang cheng lin's true love is coming at the age of 26.
cool.
when's mine? hmmmmmmmmm....
comtemplating like xiao bao. tsk tsk
and before tat was a class outing
had a separate lunch
a bit japalan
yeah
we played at the SAME playground
spinning
yeah!~
and a small group of us went to watch movie----> CLICK!
a great show i mux commented
i teared.
3 tissue paper
who went?
me!
shihui
xiaobao
xx
gladys
anna
derrick
me xb sh xx gl took some artistic neoprints
with one xb leg on my face
and i got the "huh" face la
and superimpose lots
and princess neos
haha.
great fun
with the..
WHO PRESS? WHO PRESS?
XB:MY HAND NOT LONG ENUFF
SH: I PRESS I PRESS
and she fall off the formation
and came back with wobbly leg
haha
neoprints are always fun
and we suan a "ACT CHIO"LIAN at the cs neos shop
sh was like emphasizing all the WORDS
as u can see we are much older.
like 2-3 years older than them
they dare not do anything
great to bully
do tat sometime. =)
relive stress
=)
tat's all.
got to do the WR le.
k-ing someday
=)
i m awaiting wednesday
FLOATYL shall be the most! Patriotic ppl!!!
red n white is a MUST
good news i need not go taf on tues!!!
celebration!!
AND tokyo juliet tat show rocks!!!
have been following it on youtube
but dun have much time to watch
yesterday went to grandma's house for dinner.
my cousin kieron --> pri 5
KPO!
take my hp and read my archive
ok..
i save some of my feelings in it.
one of them goes:
i m in love with a guy call valentino.
he's cute n shuai
he's born on vade
he's from chung cheng
in trumpet
he speak to me on 12 dec at bedok bus interchange at bus 38
he IP to Tj.
which means he's younger than me by 2 years old.
but i still love him
i hav put too much feelings on him.
N get nothing in return.
i really like him lots
miss him lots
but he seems 2 overlook everythin i hav done for him.
i felt like a fool
bcos i fall in love with him.
annd my kieron KPO read the whole thing.
and ask me.. u got bf ah? still tog?
i was like. never started how to be tog?
then he went.. i got gf also! we are still tog! pri 5.. scandalous!
but he din read the next haf of the sms
it goes:
2218
21 feb
i del his photo
ha
one week from now
i'll recover from it
it's not worth it
one week later i will blog abt me living happily
del him from my memories
i hate u
psychological
u make me split personality
from now on,
i will never like guys younger than me
let the fate decides
who's my mr right...
[ x ] del his pic
[ x ] del his msn
[ x ] del his hp. no.
[ ] del him from memories
this is the next half of sms
guess why i cried on my bdae
sorry
fabian, sookun, yijun, elaine, isabel, weiling, jeremy, pangyu
1st cry : i read his blog
he's got a gf-- aida-->malay i tink
2nd cry : he dare to be so close with me giving me hope
3rd cry : no one celebrate bdae for me
4th cry : fab noticed that i m sad
5th cry : sax celebrated bdae for me
there's always a time for u to recap what happened in the past.
for the fact tat i pondered upon his friendster yesterday again
saw that gf again
seriously
what on earth happen to me at that moment i fall in love with him?
blank life.
hay wire jen at the age of 17
stop baking strawberry cheesecake
stop loving someone younger than her
stop having silly tots
stop staying at home waiting him to come online
trying to note how many crushES i have
DPS: 3( chenfeng,alvin,---)
AHS: 2 (louis,jianrong)
MJC: 0 (pathetic)
TJC: 2 (valentino,TZ)
Aichi meiden: 1 (shinya!)
isnt tat bad
no. of ex: 0
no. of dates: 2
time of first kiss: -nil-
no. of ppl who woo me: 3
it's scary!!
15 yrs old: stanley - ns guy. eeks! for 2 weeks
acts: bombared sms + phonecalls
16 yrs old: cher young - trombone guy from queensway sec 3.
acts: bombared sms + phonecalls, ask fren to persuade me as well- galvin
for 1 months
16++ yrs old: david - ri-vj-nus
freaking clever vj guy. trying to impress me with his intelligence.
20 yrs old guy who is SHORTER than me
treat me to bugis swensens. phobia
took neoprints. date once. freaked out!
neoprints cutted to pieces. hidden under drawer.
guess i can never be in love.
This article discusses about the benefits of organic food, its impact and the significant increment of Singaporean going organic food in recent years. It is relevant as our project focuses on the impact of organic food in our lifestyle.
This article, published on 24/07/2005, is may not be the most recent. However, there are journal and internet articles critiquing on the low demand of organic food, and it only appeal to middle class and above public. The author’s arguments are based on his own knowledge and experience, and may not be representative of the entire ground picture.
Regarding the argument regarding the opinions of Dr Liew which says: 'Not everyone is convinced that organic food is better. Such foods generally cost a lot more and this has caused skeptics to question its worth in view of the lack of hard scientific data to prove its benefits.’, I think that this is an unfair generalisation to food in general that they only emphasize on a small group of the public who are unaware of the difference between organic food and non-organic food based on this particular case. The author has no clear evidence to show that the remaining public feel the same as the lecturer mentioned in this article. Even then, we cannot conclude that the public is inclined towards non-organic food instead of organic food.
It is undeniable that all seem undeterred by the fact that organic food costs on average 30 per cent more than the non-organic equivalent, sometimes up to three times more. Furthermore, even if there is no mention of other aspects of the expenses of growing organic food, but the fact that the more 'natural' it is, the more it can cost the farmer. For instance, organic feed for animals can cost up to three times more than conventional feed and not other aspects. And that is the reason why organic food cost 2-3 times more than non-organic food.
Does organic food taste better than non-organic food? Or organic food is actually contaminated like non-organic food? Although it is important to understand that organic produce cannot be totally uncontaminated. Pesticides have been in use for well over 50 years and linger in our soil and water. But while eating organic food does not completely eliminate exposure to pesticides, it does greatly reduce it. This point seems to suggest that Organic farmer is to be blamed for the author’s assumption that organic food is pesticide-free. It is indeed there are still traces of pesticide contaminating the soil.
However, to be fair, lots of Singaporeans are also more aware of their well-being. These are people who are not health-obsessed but who do not want to degenerate into old age and want to remain fit and we are moving towards healthy lifestyle. If one takes a closer look at the lifestyle in Singapore, one will notice that there is an increasing emphasis on going organic. We have six organic vegetable and fruit farms, located mostly in the Lim Chu Kang and Neo Tiew Road areas which deal with local home delivery of organic food. This is of important relevance to our project as we have proposed some ways to maintain this development in the local going organic momentum, in order to provide the young with a healthier diet, with less chances of getting sick..
We will definitely see the positive results of the implemented healthy diet policies to produce illness free Singaporean. All we need is to give some time for this development to produce results.
However, there is some degree of truth in the continued emphasis of non-organic food, as the below mid-range families are unable to afford these luxuries; the only alternative is non-organic food which are more affordable. Are pricing and low demand led the public to think that “organic food and high end products… are based mainly on this one category”? Perhaps, the pricing and low demand of organic food could have put consideration on certain groups of the public and consequently, the remaining public but it is clearly communicated to the public that organic food is not high end products but a requirement or rather a healthier choice. Organic food is not determined by the price but the benefits it brought about.
However, this “going organic” should be more large-scaled so that more public would get to know the benefits of organic food and not just a small group of Singaporean who are healthy conscientious. Remaining public who are in doubt may then have a clearer sense of how organic food comes into play in these healthy diet policies.
Other Ideas/Insights:
Organic food should promote large scale exhibition to increase awareness of the public, and grab this opportunity to promote home-scale/rooftop organic farming and thus increase the demand of organic food.
Source:
Pub Date: 24/07/2005 Pub: ST Page: 29
Day: Sunday
Headline: Is organic food better?
By: Wong Sher Maine
Page Heading: think
It costs two or three times more than conventionally grown produce on
supermarket shelves. Converts say it tastes a lot better and has health
benefits, but authorities here disagree.
SAME product, same packaging.
The difference: The expensive tomatoes are organic, meaning that they were
grown without pesticides, herbicides and synthetic fertilisers.
The popularity of organic produce and food has been growing in Singapore
despite the higher price tag.
According to a report prepared by a market research firm, it estimated from
interviews with key players in the market that 50,000 consumers here paid $8
million for organic products in 2002.
The figure was estimated through interviews with industry trade respondents
and by checking selected audited revenues of wholesale and retail organic food
companies.
The firm, Converging Knowledge, prepared the report for the United States
Embassy's agricultural affairs office, since the US exports organic products to
Singapore.
The report said that 'Singaporeans are emerging as a growing force in eating
organic food'. Demand is expected to grow by 20 per cent a year, it found.
Locally, there are at least six organic vegetable and fruit farms, located
mostly in the Lim Chu Kang and Neo Tiew Road areas.
In the last three years, more shops offering organic produce and products
have also sprung up, mostly in areas like Holland Village and Sixth Avenue.
Most recently, Singapore's first organic open-air fresh fruit and vegetable
market, L'Organic, started up in Dempsey Road. Up to a tonne of organic produce
from Australia and New Zealand is shipped in every week for the Saturday
market.
Shoppers are undeterred by the fact that the produce costs up to three times
the price of equivalent food sold at NTUC FairPrice or Cold Storage
supermarkets.
Why the love affair with organic food?
Mr Tony Chettle, director of Bunalun, which sells organic food in Jalan
Merah Saga, reckons it is because people now want to know exactly where their
food comes from.
He said: 'Lots of Singaporeans are also more aware of their well-being.
These are people who are not health-obsessed but who do not want to degenerate
into old age. They want to remain fit.'
But what is more significant is the shift from organic food as health food -
boring meals consisting of mainly brown rice - to gourmet food that is
delicious and can be easily prepared at home.
There is a staggering range available in shops - organic beef, chicken and
pork, vegetables like tomatoes and lettuce, and fruit like apples and bananas.
Some shops also stock organic flour, soya sauce, cooking oils and milk powder.
Those loath to cook can dine well at organic restaurants, among them,
Bunalun, which opened in October last year, and Real Food Daily, in Mohamed
Sultan Road, which opened 1 1/2 years ago.
Bunalun's owners emphasise how their organic food tastes better than
ordinary food, rather than how it is better for your health.
Fountain of good health
BUT will you really become healthier if you eat organic food?
Yes, says Mr Chai Kien Chin, founder of the Fire Flies Health Farm in Old Lim Chu Kang Road.
'I can't say the vegetables cure illnesses,' he said. 'But people find, after eating organic food, that they do not fall sick so often.'
Maybe he's right - since starting his organic farm in 1998, he has opened another in Malaysia.
Graphic designer Alexandra Hsieh, who is in her 20s, said her health improved by leaps and bounds in her late teens, after she started eating organic. Gone is the underweight, sickly child she once was.
'Whatever you put into your body, you get the result,' she said.
She stressed, however, that the improvement in her health was not due solely
to organic food. 'The food played a big part but it's also changes in lifestyle
and understanding your own health.'
She now follows a macrobiotic diet, which is based on promoting longevity
via diet.
Madam Ooi Phaik Cheng, 61, a retiree who has included organic food in her
and her husband's diet for the past five years, says eating healthily has made
a difference.
'People tell my husband that he is looking very well,' she said.
The Australian-published McGuire Guide to organic food, entitled Clean Food
Organic, sums up the benefits of organic food: Not only does it contain more
nutrients, like higher levels of vitamin C and cancer-preventing antioxidants,
organic foods are virtually free of pesticide residues.
'Many of the most commonly used pesticides today have been classified as
either hormone-disrupting or cancer-causing,' the book says.
On top of that, it states that organic food is better for children, as they
are more susceptible to the effects of toxins which can come from pesticides
and food additives.
That is why Ms C.S. Chen, manager of organic food store-restaurant Real Food
Daily, feeds her 10-month-old child only organic food.
The bulk of those snapping up organic food in Singapore are expatriates who
ate organic food before coming to Singapore, and a growing number of
Singaporeans.
Ms Chen, who says three out of 10 of her customers are Singaporean, adds:
'People here used to eat organic food for medical reasons, but Singaporeans who
have travelled abroad and are exposed to it are also starting to eat organic.'
The range is improving too.
Organic supermarket Super Nature, located at Park House in Orchard
Boulevard, sells over 1,000 organic products, including soya ice-cream and a
wide range of snacks and cake mixes.
Bunalun also has a range of ready-made food that people can simply heat up
and eat. Also on the menu - organic chocolate cake, barley drink and soya bean
milk. About half its customers are Singaporeans.
They all seem undeterred by the fact that organic food costs on average 30
per cent more than the non-organic equivalent, sometimes up to three times
more.
Sometimes, the more 'natural' it is, the more it can cost the farmer. For
instance, organic feed for animals can cost up to three times more than
conventional feed, says Dr Liew Oi Wah, a lecturer at Singapore Polytechnic's
Technology Centre for Life Sciences,.
For plants, in order to supply the same amount of nutrients as 45kg of
chemical fertiliser, an organic grower may have to use about one tonne of cow
manure.
But, as Ms Chen puts it: 'By investing a little more now, it will go a long
way in protecting your health.'
All hype, no substance?
YET, the authorities here see organic food as being no different from those
grown conventionally.
Mrs Yong-Ho Siew Yee, who heads the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority's
plant regulatory branch, said: 'As far as we are concerned from a regulatory
point of view, organic products are treated the same as non-organic products
produced through conventional, hydroponic or aeroponic methods.
'All fresh fruit and vegetable products, regardless of the method of
cultivation, are subject to AVA inspection and they should meet our safety
requirements.'
She adds that Singapore has no plans to put in place any regulatory
framework for organic produce. The first priority remains making sure that food
is safe - organic or otherwise.
Dr Liew says: 'Not everyone is convinced that organic food is better. Such
foods generally cost a lot more and this has caused sceptics to question its
worth in view of the lack of hard scientific data to prove its benefits.'
Mrs Kalpana Bhaskaran, who lectures in applied food science and nutrition at
Temasek Polytechnic, says there is no evidence to prove that organic foods are
more nutritious.
'Conventionally grown produce, when properly regulated, is also a healthy
choice. And the benefits of eating lots of fruit and vegetables probably
outweigh the risks of ingesting traces of pesticides,' she said.
Added Dr Leong Lai Peng, a food science and technology lecturer at the
National University of Singapore: 'Looking at the traditional nutrients, you
can hardly tell the difference between organic and non-organic vegetables.'
While the produce may contain more of certain nutrients, do those extras
have any advantages for human health?
Not always.
Said Dr Liew: 'As far as I know, there has not been a large body of research
carried out comparing food grown organically and non-organically or
hydroponically, to unequivocably confirm which growing system offers
nutritionally superior produce. But more is never always or necessarily
better.'
For instance, she said that some work has shown that hydroponically grown
lettuces contain higher levels of some elements like potassium, calcium and
nitrates, but excessive levels of nitrates in vegetables can pose health risks.
The bigger part of organic food's allure, however, lies in how it is
supposedly free of pesticides and other synthetic ingredients. The question is:
Is organic food really 100 per cent natural?
Said Mrs Bhaskaran: 'It is not unknown that low levels of fertilisers and
herbicides are used sparingly when required. Even organic produce may have some
pesticide in it, as these chemicals can persist in the soil for decades and can
travel in the air or on equipment.
'It is important to understand that organic produce cannot be totally
uncontaminated. Pesticides have been in use for well over 50 years and linger
in our soil and water. But while eating organic food does not completely
eliminate exposure to pesticides, it does greatly reduce it.'
Passes the taste test
THE science means little to those go organic.
Financial consultant Rose Siow, her husband and four-year-old twins eat
organic food at home. The family's food bill is now about three times higher
than it was before.
She says it makes sense to her to avoid food grown with pesticides, since
'it has to be poisonous to kill the creepy crawlies'.
Asked if she has noticed any difference in her health after eating organic
food, she said: 'I feel better, but that could be psychosomatic. I prefer
organic food because it actually tastes better than conventionally grown
vegetables.'
And this might well be the deciding factor. Even those who do not believe
that organic food is better for health might be persuaded to buy the produce if
they think it tastes better.
No fan of organic food will be surprised that the organic cherry tomatoes
mentioned earlier are a little sweeter than the supermarket ones.
Others who remain unconvinced can still take steps to make sure their
non-organic fruit and vegetables are just as safe to eat.
Temasek Polytechnic's Mrs Bhaskaran says they should simply scrub or peel
off the outer skin of fruit to remove wax used to prevent dehydration during
transportation, and soak vegetables in water to get rid of pesticide residues.
'That should be good enough,' she says.
shermaine.wong@gmail.com
Pub Date: 01/02/2006 Pub: ST Page: 18
Supplement: Mind Your Body
Headline: Cleansing the body of toxins
Page Heading: Health Help
Picture Caption:
You know what they say about apples and doctors. These organic apples are from
SuperNature, a supermarket in Orchard Boulevard.
ASK ... IF THERE'S FOOD FOR THOUGHT
It is that dreaded time of year - when we purge our holiday sins through
virtuous resolutions to be healthy. To detoxify is the first step.
The range of detox options is astounding. Most of these are pricey cocktails
of herbs, vitamins, minerals and fibre on our pharmacy shelves, promising a
quick fix. It seems to me that while the detox-in-a-bottle approach is fine -
it will not harm and might help - it is a short-term solution.
Similarly, a browse in the health section of a bookstore shows that
detoxification diets can range from simply giving up alcohol for a few days, to
demanding a liquid-only fast.
My concern about detox diets is simple - what often remains unaddressed is
what happens when you come off them.
A few days of herbs, teas and juices simply cannot scrub away toxins our
bodies have accumulated over months, if not years. Detoxification is a complex
process, and a more comprehensive approach is necessary for lasting changes.
Why? Because toxins are widespread. Pesticides are found on our vegetables
and fruit, mercury contaminates certain fish while processed food can be loaded
with sugar, trans fats and chemical additives.
Added to that are numerous environmental chemicals that surround us on a
daily basis. While our livers and kidneys are constantly at work cleaning out
toxins, this is no easy task. One study shows that even people with a healthy
lifestyle have an average of 91 potentially harmful toxins in their systems.
The last generation has seen close to a tripling in the risk of getting
breast cancer and researchers suspect that toxins are involved in this sharp
rise. Over the last 20 years, more than 40,000 food products - including
margarine, cookies, and potato chips - containing damaging trans fats have
found their way onto our plates. We now know that trans fat is thought to raise
the risk of heart disease.
These highly processed items also contain other chemical additives. Food
additives have been linked to childhood asthma, allergies and even behaviour
problems, and recent experiments in Britain suggest that a combination of four
common food additives might interfere with the nervous system.
So, how do we reduce our exposure to harmful toxins? I would like to suggest
sustainable changes that gently cleanse the major systems, without extreme
dietary restrictions. The idea is simple - consume as few toxins as possible to
ease the body's burden while nourishing it with health boosting substances that
will support its cleansing activities. And keep doing it.
It is easier to add something new than it is to remove what is familiar.
Start by adding fresh fruit and vegetables and other whole foods. You know the
mantra: Fresh, preferably organic, whole foods such as whole grains, nuts,
seed, fruit and vegetables are good for you.
With research showing that as many as 95 per cent of fresh foods might carry
pesticide residues, people are moving towards organic products. A child's
developing nervous system is particularly vulnerable to chemicals. Parents
might want to note that feeding children organic food reduces their exposure to
pesticides by six to nine times. The L'Organic market in Dempsey Road has a
good selection.
And, for those of you who still think that healthy food taste likes
cardboard, the best way to re-educate your taste buds is to have lunch at
Synbiotics Health Optimum at 15 Stanley Street.
Drink 2.5 litres of water. Adding more water - about a glass of water,
herbal or green tea an hour - helps limit the amount of coffee, tea and other
drinks you take. What is most damaging is fizzy drinks. Stay away from them as
much as possible.
Sugar is comforting - and addictive. We are genetically programmed to crave
it, and it seems to stimulate the same brain receptors as morphine.
Concentrated sugars - such as white and brown sugar, honey, white bread, and
white rice - are fast-releasing, which means they cause a spike in blood sugar
levels.
This causes a surge in energy, but soon after, a drop in sugar (and energy)
follows, which brings on another craving. Reduce sugars from the diet to stall
the addiction cycle. Opt for a healthier fix that includes fruit, along with
cinnamon or vanilla, both of which help ease cravings.
A good rule of thumb is to increase intake of foods close to their original
state. For the processed foods you do eat, get into the habit of reading food
labels to look out for hidden sugars, trans fats (look out for vegetable
shortening and partially hydrogenated fat) and chemical additives.
Sugars can be listed as fructose, sucrose, dextrin, dextrose, corn syrup,
and malts. Since ingredients are listed in order of concentration, pay close
attention to the first few items on the list.
Choose cookware carefully. Non-stick Teflon is thought to release a
dangerous chemical into food, so it is best to avoid over-heating it, and throw
it away if it is scratched or damaged.
Similarly, do not microwave food in plastic containers that are not designed
for heating, especially one-time use containers, or with cling film touching
food.
SOURCE: POOJA VIJ
The writer, a qualified microbiologist, has worked in health care for 12 years.
In addition to being the founder of BioEdge Consulting, a strategic adviser to
health care and biomedical companies, she is pursuing a degree in nutritional
medicine.
Pub Date: 15/02/2006 Pub: NP Page: 35
Headline: Organic bazaar to offer 300 types of items
By: Yeoh Wee Teck
Page Heading: Guide
Picture Caption:
If you are health conscious, organic food is what you should seek.
FOOD
ORGANIC food is all the rage for the health-conscious.
Eating healthy is always a priority, but there is just so much food out
there.
If the concept of organic living scares you, you can ease into it on 24 and
25 Feb, from 10am to 6pm.
Living Space (17, Hong Kong Street, across the road from Clarke Quay MRT
station and opposite Boat Quay) is holding its first monthly Organic Bazaar.
You'll get a chance to sample organic goods, pick up food preparation tips
and ideas and get yourself a pampering hand spa.
There will be more than 300 varieties of produce and products, including
fresh fruits and vegetables, beans and grains and condiments on display.
There will also be samples of household cleaners and skincare items.
To entice you to buy into the organic lifestyle, the first 100 visitors
making any purchase will get an organic apple.
And if you spend above $45, you'll enjoy a Peaches and Cream hand spa
treatment worth $45. This consists of an intense cream moisturiser and a warm
peach beeswax masque.
If cooking is more your thing, Living Space's health food bistro will
demonstrate the preparation of butternut squash stew as well as carrot and
ginger soup, while the Vegetarian Society will showcase its Meal-In-A-Drink.
Feeling hungry? Try Living Space's organic dishes and refreshments ranging
from juices, soups, salads and sandwiches to main courses such as its organic
soba tossed in tahini.
So if you're planning to change your lifestyle, you might as well start
here. - Yeoh Wee Teck.
When you hear the word "organic", the first thing to come to mind is gardening and farming. While these are large aspects of an organic lifestyle, organic today reaches much further to the clothes we wear and the things we use in our homes. The interesting thing is that prior to the 20th century, the foods grown and animals raised were done so essentially without chemicals. However, agricultural and livestock practices began to change, which wrecked havoc not just on the foods being eaten but also the soil and water supply. If you look around, you will see people everyday walking around miserable, feeling tired, nervous, exhausted, dealing with aches and pains, disease, and looking prematurely old - maybe you are even one of them.
The thing is that many of these people could live vibrant, healthy lives simply by changing the way they live. The key is to choose organic foods that will not clog or obstruct your arteries; to choose furniture, fabrics, and even apparel that do not emit chemicals; and to stop polluting the air you breathe through inorganic cleaners.
Start to create your very own garden that is filled with wonderful, fresh foods that are completely void of pesticides and other harmful chemicals - you'll be amazed at how much better you and your family feel after you start eating your own homegrown vegetables.
Find the five components of organic farming and how each component contributes to producing a healthy finished product - you may be very surprised to see what steps are taken to ensure the quality of organic food.
Before starting living a organic lifestyle you have to know how to determine if meat and dairy farms are "100% organic" - not all organic foods are equal, find out how to separate the true healthy products from the scams.
As you begin transforming your life to include only organic, you will find the levels of toxic poisons diminishing while the healing begins. Soon, you will have:
More energy, Be free from headaches, Notice fewer wrinkles, And overall feel like a brand new person.
You will also notice that:
Your eyes are brighter, Your skin softer, And your muscle tone firmer! I know because I was once in that very situation. But now I have never felt better!
Organic Food: Truth or Fallacy?
Margot B
Every food scare - about chemicals, additives, and genetically modified
ingredients and mad cow disease, is followed by a rise in organic food
sales.
In most supermarkets we are able to find organic food; fresh produce,
milk, eggs, cereal, frozen food, and even junk food. I prefer organic
food, assuming it to be safer, more nutritious.
But, notice that the label on Organic Cow has changed - now it is
"ultrapasterized," - this ensures that the milk will stay fresh,
allowing it to be shipped all over the country.
An organic TV dinner in the frozen foods section
advertises its chicken to be raised without chemicals
and allowed "to roam freely in an outdoor yard", the rice and vegetables
grown without synthetic chemicals. The list of ingredients is extensive;
natural chicken flavor, high-oleic safflower oil, guar and xanthan gum,
soy lecithin, carrageenan and natural grill flavor - and with the
assurance that most of these additives are organic, and no doubt are.
The organic food industry has become a $7.7 billion business, the fastest
growing category in the supermarket, and has attracted the attention of
agribusiness corporation, which the organic food movement always
presented as an alternative. The biggest organic farms are owned and
operated by conventional mega-farms.
Agribusiness has sought to re-define the romantic word
'organic' to make it as broad as possible; to make it easier for the big
companies to get into the organic food business by allowing food additives,
ascorbic acid to xanthan gum, and synthetic chemicals to be used in
'organic' food; a cow to feed on pasture; a factory farm to be labeled
organic. These modifications will take effect next year.
The real farm food grown on the real family farm is not always the same food
contained in our frozen TV dinners. Now that agribusiness owns the organic
food companies, is 'organic' on the road to becoming meaningless? The whole
meaning of 'organic' is changing.
The word 'organic' doesn't make any health claims. It is not a health,
nutrition, or food-safety claim. It is a production standard - and we make
our own health claims to this word. We bring our own personal beliefs to
the word 'organic'. The truly organic small family-farmer is going to have
to replace the word 'organic'.
"I don't care if the Wheaties are organic---I wouldn't use them for compost.
Processed organic food is as bad as any other processed food." says Eliot
Coleman, a Maine farmer and writer whose organic techniques have influence
two generations of farmers.
Is "industrial organic" a contradiction in terms?
Resource: L.A.Times, May 13, 2001
http://www.nytimes.com/2001/05/13/magazine/13ORGANIC.html?pagewanted=1
By Margot B/Writer, Editor, & Web Site Developer, June 8 2001
http://www.writers.OrgHQ.com
http://home.talkcity.com/LibertySt/mbumpus
mailto:margotb@wonderport.com
[PRWEB Jun 22, 2005]
Chosing Organic for Health
Marjorie Geiser, RD
Choosing Organic for Health
We come from a society where growing organic and just growing produce and livestock for food was once one and the same. Small, family farms still grow their own food using traditional methods passed down through the generations. As commercial farming became big-business, however, growers and farmers started to investigate methods of increasing crops and building bigger livestock in order to increase their profits. This led to increased use of pesticides and drugs to enhance yield.
In this article, we will look at what is required in order to call a product organic, how choosing organic eating and farming impact the environment and our health, discuss the benefits of eating organic foods, and what research says about the nutritional benefits of organically-grown produce.
Calling it "Organic"
In 1995, the US National Organic Standards Board passed the definition of 'organic', which is a labeling term denoting products produced under the authority of the Organic Foods Production Act. It states, "Organic agriculture is an ecological production management system that promotes and enhances biodiversity, biological cycles and soil biological activity. It is based on minimal use of off-farm inputs and on management practices that restore, maintain, and enhance ecological harmony."
The primary goal of organic agriculture is to optimize the health and productivity of interdependent communities of soil life, plants, animals, and people.
The philosophy of organic production of livestock is to provide conditions that meet the health needs and natural behavior of the animal. Organic livestock must be given access to the outdoors, fresh air, water, sunshine, grass and pasture, and are fed 100% organic feed. They must not be given or fed hormones, antibiotics or other animal drugs in their feed. If an animal gets sick and needs antibiotics, they cannot be considered organic. Feeding of animal parts of any kind to ruminants that, by nature, eat a vegetarian diet, is also prohibited. Thus, no animal byproducts of any sort are incorporated in organic feed at any time.
Because farmers must keep extensive records as part of their farming and handling plans in order to be certified organic, one is always able to trace the animal from birth to market of the meat. When meat is labeled as organic, this means that 100% of that product is organic.
Although organic crops must be produced without the use of pesticides, it is estimated that between 10-25% of organic fruits and vegetables contain some residues of synthetic pesticides. This is because of the influence of rain, air and polluted water sources. In order to qualify as 'organic', crops must be grown on soil free of prohibited substances for three years before harvest. Until then, they cannot be called organic.
When pests get out of balance and traditional organic methods don't work for pest control, farmers can request permission to use other products that are considered low risk by the National Organic Standards Board.
The Environment
According to the 15-year study, "Farming Systems Trial", organic soils have higher microbial content, making for healthier soils and plants. This study concluded that organically grown foods are raised in soils that have better physical structure, provide better drainage, may support higher microbial activity, and in years of drought, organic systems may possibly outperform conventional systems. So, organic growing may help feed more people in our future!
What is the cost of conventional farming, today? The above-mentioned 15 -year study showed that conventional farming uses 50% more energy than organic farming. In one report, it was estimated that only 0.1% of applied pesticides actually reach the targets, leaving most of the pesticide, 99.9%, to impact the environment. Multiple investigations have shown that our water supplies, both in rivers and area tap waters, are showing high levels of pesticides and antibiotics used in farming practices. Water samples taken from the Ohio River as well as area tap water contained trace amounts of penicillin, tetracycline and vancomycin.
Toxic chemicals are contaminating groundwater on every inhabited continent, endangering the world's most valuable supplies of freshwater, according to a Worldwatch paper, Deep Trouble: The Hidden Threat of Groundwater Pollution. Calling for a systemic overhaul of manufacturing and industrial agriculture, the paper notes that several water utilities in Germany now pay farmers to switch to organic operations because this costs less than removing farm chemicals from water supplies.
What About our Health?
Eating organic food is not a fad. As people become more informed and aware, they are taking steps to ensure their health. US sales of organic food totaled 5.4 billion dollars in 1998, but was up to 7.8 billion dollars in the year 2000. The 2004 Whole Foods Market Organic Foods Trend Tracker survey found that 27% of Americans are eating more organic foods than they did a year ago.
A study conducted by the California Department of Pesticide Regulation reports that the number of people poisoned by drifting pesticides increased by 20% during 2000.
A rise in interest and concern for the use of pesticides in food resulted in the passage of the 1996 Food Quality Protection Act, directing the US EPA to reassess the usage and impa
