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Think Green...!!
Author: SUFFIX on Sunday, December 13, 2009




The world leaders are meeting at Copenhagen, Denmark from 7th to 18th December to discuss on the escalating climate change, we have faced a heavy flood two weeks before here at Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, nobody expected such a rain fall in this region, known as desert country, the rain shook the whole city life with the 3 hours of heavy downpour, hundreds of people lost their life, and the damaged houses, scattered vehicles everywhere, the tunnels are filled with water, the scene was terrible. The expert says due to global warming and overall climate change world wide, the same situation may revert often, for this sudden surge, who is responsible? whom should we blame? developed nations? developing nations? Let the politicians play this blame game. As a member of this planet, let us take some initiative whatever way it is possible either at work or home, small or big, whatever action we do, let us hope it will make our place a healthier.

I read an article published by EPA that paper production is the third most energy intensive of all manufacturing industries. To make one sheet of paper, 13 ounces of water (size of a soft drink can) is required, and also over the third of waste is sent to municipal landfills are papers, among other effects, it breaks down and produce gases like methane.

Reducing paper usage will bring the operations cost and it contributes a lot to our environment. For example, during 2007 Bank of America saved $700,000 by advising their employees to use double sided print, lighter weight paper and using online forms.

Some of the tips to conserve our energy, most of them we already know, hope nothing wrong to remind ourselves.

  • Try to eliminate or reduce printing on papers.
  • If you must print then use double side option.
  • Use print preview before you click, adjust margins, reduce font size, paragraph space etc.
  • Most of the emails are not required to print, if you print them, just select the important pages, most of the emails will have strings of correspondences.
  • Switch off lights and other appliances when not in use.
  • Check for leaking water taps, just it may drips, but in long term it may cost you more (stitch in time saves nine).
  • Try to use natural lighting as much as possible.
  • Fill the kettle with the water you want rather than filling it full.
The energy conservation should be approached not only on cost point of view but also its impact on the environment, because most of the energy resources are available easily and cheaper.
Think Green...........!!
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Picure source : www.bunnings.com.au
Article sources : EPA Australia, RRWR Council

Category: | 17 Comments
An interesting reflection. : Slow Down Culture
Author: SUFFIX on Tuesday, December 8, 2009




Just to share this message i have it in my inbox forwarded by a friend few months back, it is another perspective of how we can approach a task, does everything should be done rapidly? are we more adapted to "doing things faster" culutre? We cant either be too slow but do the things moderately with proper planning:


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It's been 18 years since I joined Volvo, a Swedish company. Working for them has proven to be an interesting experience. Any project here takes 2 years to be finalized, even if the idea is simple and brilliant. It's a rule.

Globalize processes have caused in us (all over the world) a general sense of searching for immediate results. Therefore, we have come to posses a need to see immediate results. This contrasts greatly with the slow movements of the Swedish. They, on the other hand, debate, debate, debate, hold x quantity of meetings and work with a slowdown scheme. At the end, this always yields better results.

Said in another words:


1. Sweden is about the size of San Pablo, a state in Brazil.


2. Sweden has 2 million inhabitants.


3. Stockholm, has 500,000 people.


4. Volvo, Escania, Ericsson, Electrolux, Nokia are some of its renowned companies. Volvo supplies the NASA.



The first time I was in Sweden, one of my colleagues picked me up at the hotel every morning. It was September, bit cold and snowy. We would arrive early at the company and he would park far away from the entrance (2000 employees drive their car to work). The first day, I didn't say anything, either the second or third. One morning I asked, "Do you have a fixed parking space? I've noticed we park far from the entrance even when there are no other cars in the lot." To which he replied, "Since we're here early we'll have time to walk, and whoever gets in late will be late and need a place closer to the door. Don't you think? Imagine my face.



Nowadays, there's a movement in Europe name Slow Food. This movement establishes that people should eat and drink slowly, with enough time to taste their food, spend time with the family, friends, without rushing.


Slow Food is against its counterpart: the spirit of Fast Food and what it stands for as a lifestyle. Slow Food is the basis for a bigger movement called Slow Europe, as mentioned by Business Week.


Basically, the movement questions the sense of "hurry" and "craziness"

generated by globalization, fueled by the desire of "having in quantity"

(life status) versus "having with quality", "life quality" or the "quality of being".

French people, even though they work 35 hours per week, are more productive than Americans or British. Germans have established 28.8 hour workweeks and have seen their productivity been driven up by 20%. This slow attitude has brought forth the US's attention, pupils of the fast and the "do it now!".

This no-rush attitude doesn't represent doing less or having a lower productivity. It means working and doing things with greater quality, productivity, perfection, with attention to detail and less stress. It means reestablishing family values, friends, free and leisure time. Taking the "now", present and concrete, versus the "global", undefined and anonymous. It means taking humans' essential values, the simplicity of living.

It stands for a less coercive work environment, more happy, lighter and more productive where humans enjoy doing what they know best how to do.

It's time to stop and think on how companies need to develop serious quality with no-rush that will increase productivity and the quality of products and services, without losing the essence of spirit.



In the movie, Scent of a Woman, there's a scene where Al Pacino asks a girl to dance and she replies, "I can't, my boyfriend will be here any minute now". To which Al responds, "A life is lived in an instant". Then they dance to a tango.



Many of us live our lives running behind time, but we only reach it when we die of a heart attack or in a car accident rushing to be on time. Others are so anxious of living the future that they forget to live the present, which is the only time that truly exists. We all have equal time throughout the world. No one has more or less. The difference lies in how each one of us does with our time. We need to live each moment. As John Lennon said, "Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans".

Category: | 9 Comments

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