Where are the handkerchiefs?

Have you ever noticed that most of the rubbish bins are filled with tissue papers and tissue towels? What is the rationale behind of those piles of tissue waste? Obviously it is the effect on the transmitting 3R via Reduce, Reuse and Recycle on protection of our environment.


Our kids are taught and made to bring tissue papers or tissue towels along with them for outings as they have been instilled with the concept of 3R as in their minds for cleanliness. That those tissues materials are easily replaced and dissolved with little negative impact on our environment is now deep rooted in their mind. Undeniably, too much emphasis on the concept of 3R ignoring the primitive use of customary linen cloth called handkerchief or face towels has been neglected and sidelined.


The campaign of 3R has been inclining towards “recycle “by sidelining “reduce “ and “reuse”. In the end, our children forget the use of handkerchief and face-towels with some of them not having these clothing wares at their house. Nowadays, it is a norm that children are not carrying with them handkerchiefs and face-towels when outings instead they are given tissue papers and tissue towels. These slinging materials are easily disposable but not reusable nor recyclable and at the end, our bins full of thrown tissue papers and tissue towels.


It is opined that bringing back the culture of using handkerchiefs and face towels for children may help to alleviate the existing ugly scene of bins and tongs stuffed with tissue papers and tissue towels en route to cleanliness of our environment. Are handkerchiefs and face towels made easily available and reachable for children at home? The answer is definite “No” as these items are now scarcely kept in our houses. Incidentally, sales of handkerchiefs are hard to find either as the demand for these items are relatively low. It is not an exaggeration to say that if this trend is to continue there is a possibility that, sooner, handkerchiefs may become extinct and unknown to our children.


Gone was the day when restaurants and eateries would provide hand towels for the guests and in substitution packets of tissue papers are given. When the feasts end, tissue papers and tissue towels are scattering and being thrown onto the tables. How to end this trend? Of course, the time to ignite the use of handkerchiefs!

厕所，适用性还是展览性？

最近，我国政坛的闹事，争论，趣事的确是五花八门，令人目不瑕给；连厕所都被 挂上BMW的标志之事都成了新闻，试问是不是令人哭笑不得还是啼笑皆非？《厕所》也被视为新闻，这也许是一般人所谓的在政治领域里有势无力时，只好利用无奇不有的话题和故事来转移人民视线的障眼法吧！


谈到厕所，它在公众场所的存在性是必然性。有鉴以此，必然性质就必有应针对性的《需》与《须》的因素为根基。有了《需》与《须》为根基，适用性就提高和存在；反之，如以美观性为根基，《需》与《须》就被边缘，展览性是重点了！人有《急》才上厕所，也很快完毕其《急》事而离厕；但在具有展览性或BMW的标志的厕所，游览倾向的存在，较久的逗留在厕所的时间肯定会耽误有《急》的人！


何谓适用性的厕所？不久前，与家人到越南北部的沙坝旅游，在某个购物中心游览时，偶尔看到了一间贴上以英语书写的Family Toilet《家庭厕所》。这间厕所位于男厕与女厕之间。为了明白此厕所的运作， 我站在不远处观看。男的进男厕，女的进女厕；但假如男的带着小女孩，女的带着小男孩，他们是一同进入《家庭厕所》。原来，这《家庭厕所》是有针对性的功能，适用于家庭成员尤其是上厕时需要护助的小孩，男带女孩还是女带男孩进入时，尴尬情况是非不会发生！ 顿时，我恼海里以BMW的标志厕所来跟这《家庭厕所》比一比，厕所的运作和其功能是依据适用性还是展览性，还是针对性呢？

感恩你对无残障环境的付出！

大年初一早上与一位来自沙巴州的同学也是多年以前级长级的朋友喝茶时，突然收到一个短讯告知同学陈环湖往生。短讯中通知同学陈环湖在年三十晚与家人共餐时，身体不适，在年初一清晨安详地与家人永别。

陈环湖，在三岁时因多日的高烧不退而导致小儿麻痹症，被逼永远地坐在轮椅上。但让他终生坐轮椅上，双腿无力，无任何感觉的麻痹症并没有挫败和压制他的劲儿，反而让他在逆境中荡然的面对残酷的现实。

长期坐在轮椅上的时光，让他理悟到残障人士在现实生活所面对的迫切问题。那就是教育和自立。虽然面对身体的障碍，行动不便，意志强盛的他，在家人的支持和鼓励下，读完高中学课程，也上了大学，毕业于理大。家境富裕的他，也与普通人一样，大学毕业后，找工作，上班。陈环湖的举动很明显的带出很强的信息！教育和自立更生在日常生活中是重要的；在《饭来张口，钱来伸手》的互动中，本身能够自主，靠自己学历和本事，《得和赚》才是明智。

工作不久后，陈环湖就出任槟州残障人士协会的会长，而是连任三届。担任协会的会长的职务，可说是槟州残障人士的好倾向。因为从他自小至踏入社会工作所累积经历和配合他的教育背景，陈环湖可说是最佳日选。担任协会的会长后，对於一却残障人士行动不方便的环境设施，交通问题，无障碍环境的落实，都亲自亲为，亲临有关的问题地点，写文章，发文告，上政府部门，找官员，国，州议员等申诉有关对行动不便者所面对的问题，甚至联络国外的无障碍环境专家和有关人士，在到访我国时顺便一起巡查问题的场所。犹记得，我也曾被陈环湖邀请与一位无障碍环境专家共同巡看槟州市区的街道的行人道。

陈环湖对于残障人士的教育也特别关心。为了帮助残障人士提升他们的教育水平，陈环湖联络上我要我协助他们，要我为一些有意学习，自修，上课的他们补习。陈环湖是希望通过教育来提高他们的对事物分析力和理解，因为在上课时，我可以与他们分享生活中面临的问题和每天发生的事情。很多的残障人士是年青的，因为行动受限制，学习方面是有顶点和局限；如有上门的义务导师，对他们的未来肯定会有帮忙。自那年那日起，通过陈环湖的推荐和介绍，我开始上门为不少的残障人士补习上课；更令我欣慰的是当中有一些是肯自立的，尽量减少他人的扶助！
虽然陈环湖离我们远去，但从他的言行我们可以学习到他留下来的人生的实际应用步骤。那就是：“内心有怎样的思考，本身就会以此心态来生活，心念的运作是塑成自已在人生中《成与败》的重要因素。”。轮椅只是锁住了身体，但心态没有被锁，是还可以飞翔的！