Together we make a difference
International Speech Contest (Area H3) 28March2009
Who holds HSBC shares? At what price did you buy? $50? $73? $125? Wow! $90? Tsk tsk (shake head) yesterday, HSBC shares closed at $43.8, most of us here lost more than half of our investment. Tsk tsk (shake head) Indeed we are all pre-occupied with this financial tsunami. But the good news is, we know the wave will subside one day – HSBC shares will bounce back to $100 or more in 3 to 5years time. Don’t worry too much. However, look out! A new tsunami is coming. A tsunami that is more devastating. A tsunami that will eventually wipe out the whole human race! Pause It’s an environmental tsunami, it’s Global Warming!
(Speak slow) We are digging our own grave! Our own human activities cause Global Warming. We are constantly consuming energy, we build bigger house but make smaller phones. Remember those days when handphone is as big as this water bottle? This is the standard size now. Our great appetite for production activities emit greenhouse gas that is trapped on the earth surface and it slowly warms up the earth.
Imagine after a hard day work, you get home to have a good shower. You turn on the tap to wet your hairs, put on the shampoo. You finish scrubbing all your dandruff, turn on the tap (pause) there is no water! This happened to me last week when the water pipe in my building burst. We can laugh about it now. But do you know (pause) (slowly) water is indeed disappearing from this earth. China is facing its worst drought in decades. Farmers walk miles n miles, only to fetch pails of murky waters. If freshwater continues to disappear, our future is a big question mark.
India was struck with deadly flooding last year. Many homes were swept away, many people passed away. If excess water continues to appear, our future will disappear.
The effects of Global Warming – the drought, the flooding, they will continue, continue to strike us even harder. We cannot just sit and wait for the end of the world. Something must be done to stop this tsunami. But I’m just one person, what can I do about global warming?
Contest Chair, fellow toastmasters, distinguished guests, I’m just one person but (pause) you and me, together we make a difference. This afternoon, I want you to join me in the fight against global warming.
The fight is not difficult. You do not need lots of money like that of Li Ka Shing’s, neither do you need Jackie Chan’s muscular arms! The fight is easy, just 2 letters “R&R” R&R? (pause) Rest and Relax?? No! No! We cannot relax now. R&R – Recycle & Reduce consumption.
We can recycle papers – use both sides. Get yourself a recycle bag, bring it out to collect your shopping, don’t leave it at home to collect your dust.
Guys – how many electronic gadgets do you have? Ladies - How many pairs of shoes, bags do you have? We’ve so many things at home, so much so when we open our wardrobe, things just fall out. We are constantly chasing after the latest & greatest things (pause) but have we ask ourselves – is it really necessary? Can we compete for a new thing that comes out every 6 months?
The 2nd R, REDUCE, reduce energy consumption.
Turn off the lights, television, airconditioner when you are not using them.
How do you feel if the airconditioner in this room is out of order? (Pause) Air-conditioner may be the greatest invention in 20th century. But this great invention is a mass consumption! It consumes 60% of our electricity. Turn on the airconditioner only when you have to and set it at the optimal temperature of 25.5 degrees. Don’t use the airconditioner as a freezer.
Today is Saturday. What are you doing tonight? Are you still thinking what to do and where to go with your girlfriend or boyfriend? I’ve an idea which will surely impress your friend. Do you want a romantic starry starry night where you could count twinkle twinkle little stars ? Do you want to spot shooting stars and make your wish comes true? Yes! Then, come to Victoria Harbour tonight. Tonight at 830pm, over 200 buildings will turn off their lights for 1 hour – they do so to make a powerful statement – Reduce Energy Consumption!
While we sit comfortably in this airconditioned room, let’s take a moment to think about how much we consume – phone, shoes.. (pause) think about the damage we’ve done to the earth..drought, flooding (pause) Ladies and gentlemen, now it’s the time to change the way we live our life. Time to stop competing for new things, time to turn off the lights - Let’s R & R! Recycle and reduce consumption. Let’s save the earth for our children and children of our grandchildren. Let them drink fresh water everyday and count twinkle stars everynight.
I’m just one person, but
You and me, together, we make a difference! (sing to tune of Beijing Olympics You and me)
Who holds HSBC shares? At what price did you buy? $50? $73? $125? Wow! $90? Tsk tsk (shake head) yesterday, HSBC shares closed at $43.8, most of us here lost more than half of our investment. Tsk tsk (shake head) Indeed we are all pre-occupied with this financial tsunami. But the good news is, we know the wave will subside one day – HSBC shares will bounce back to $100 or more in 3 to 5years time. Don’t worry too much. However, look out! A new tsunami is coming. A tsunami that is more devastating. A tsunami that will eventually wipe out the whole human race! Pause It’s an environmental tsunami, it’s Global Warming!
(Speak slow) We are digging our own grave! Our own human activities cause Global Warming. We are constantly consuming energy, we build bigger house but make smaller phones. Remember those days when handphone is as big as this water bottle? This is the standard size now. Our great appetite for production activities emit greenhouse gas that is trapped on the earth surface and it slowly warms up the earth.
Imagine after a hard day work, you get home to have a good shower. You turn on the tap to wet your hairs, put on the shampoo. You finish scrubbing all your dandruff, turn on the tap (pause) there is no water! This happened to me last week when the water pipe in my building burst. We can laugh about it now. But do you know (pause) (slowly) water is indeed disappearing from this earth. China is facing its worst drought in decades. Farmers walk miles n miles, only to fetch pails of murky waters. If freshwater continues to disappear, our future is a big question mark.
India was struck with deadly flooding last year. Many homes were swept away, many people passed away. If excess water continues to appear, our future will disappear.
The effects of Global Warming – the drought, the flooding, they will continue, continue to strike us even harder. We cannot just sit and wait for the end of the world. Something must be done to stop this tsunami. But I’m just one person, what can I do about global warming?
Contest Chair, fellow toastmasters, distinguished guests, I’m just one person but (pause) you and me, together we make a difference. This afternoon, I want you to join me in the fight against global warming.
The fight is not difficult. You do not need lots of money like that of Li Ka Shing’s, neither do you need Jackie Chan’s muscular arms! The fight is easy, just 2 letters “R&R” R&R? (pause) Rest and Relax?? No! No! We cannot relax now. R&R – Recycle & Reduce consumption.
We can recycle papers – use both sides. Get yourself a recycle bag, bring it out to collect your shopping, don’t leave it at home to collect your dust.
Guys – how many electronic gadgets do you have? Ladies - How many pairs of shoes, bags do you have? We’ve so many things at home, so much so when we open our wardrobe, things just fall out. We are constantly chasing after the latest & greatest things (pause) but have we ask ourselves – is it really necessary? Can we compete for a new thing that comes out every 6 months?
The 2nd R, REDUCE, reduce energy consumption.
Turn off the lights, television, airconditioner when you are not using them.
How do you feel if the airconditioner in this room is out of order? (Pause) Air-conditioner may be the greatest invention in 20th century. But this great invention is a mass consumption! It consumes 60% of our electricity. Turn on the airconditioner only when you have to and set it at the optimal temperature of 25.5 degrees. Don’t use the airconditioner as a freezer.
Today is Saturday. What are you doing tonight? Are you still thinking what to do and where to go with your girlfriend or boyfriend? I’ve an idea which will surely impress your friend. Do you want a romantic starry starry night where you could count twinkle twinkle little stars ? Do you want to spot shooting stars and make your wish comes true? Yes! Then, come to Victoria Harbour tonight. Tonight at 830pm, over 200 buildings will turn off their lights for 1 hour – they do so to make a powerful statement – Reduce Energy Consumption!
While we sit comfortably in this airconditioned room, let’s take a moment to think about how much we consume – phone, shoes.. (pause) think about the damage we’ve done to the earth..drought, flooding (pause) Ladies and gentlemen, now it’s the time to change the way we live our life. Time to stop competing for new things, time to turn off the lights - Let’s R & R! Recycle and reduce consumption. Let’s save the earth for our children and children of our grandchildren. Let them drink fresh water everyday and count twinkle stars everynight.
I’m just one person, but
You and me, together, we make a difference! (sing to tune of Beijing Olympics You and me)
posted by Mae at
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