The Green Screen: MediaCorp’s Green Month Campaign

MediaCorp’s Green Month Campaign continues withshows promoting awareness
Karman Tse, Today Online 16 Jun 08;

THE next time you go to Starbucks, be sure to bring your own mug. And go easy on the serviettes.

Don’t leave the television on when you’re taking a shower, even if it’s “only” for 15 minutes.

And always bring along an eco-friendly bag when you go grocery shopping, because plastic is not so fantastic after all.

These are just a few small ways each individual can start doing their part in a world-wide effort to save the earth from further destruction by pollution, carbon emissions and deforestation — and you can watch some TV, too.

As part of MediaCorp’s Green Month Campaign which kicked off on June 5, Channel NewsAsia will be showing, among other “green” programmes, the second season of Saving Gaia, a six-part series starting tonight.

:Season Two will go on a journey to seek out the most innovative efforts, big or small, to save Gaia — the Greek name for Mother Earth.

:The first season of :Saving Gaia :tackled issues such as global oil supply, the plight of the Ganges and Yangtze rivers, as well as the extinction of animals.

Other initiatives included Today changing its masthead from red to green and Channel NewsAsia presenters donning shades of green on the first day of the campaign.

In tonight’s episode of Saving Gaia, you’ll see why Taiwan took less than 10 years to become a success story in Asia’s Green Revolution: The Taiwanese changed their mindset and everyday habits (you’ll do well to get used to the “trash becomes treasure” concept) and go as far as to return the ashes of loved ones to the earth in what they called a “back to basics” burial.

“I think a programme like Saving Gaia is meaningful and important in raising awareness of what’s happening to the environment.

“There have been so many natural disasters of late, which I think are a result of human being’s negligence,” said MediaCorp artiste Qi Yuwu, who is careful not to chalk up carbon footprints by going on foot instead of on wheels whenever he can help it.

“Saving the earth is a collective effort and doesn’t happen overnight. I hope everyone will start chipping in in their own little way,” the “green-minded” actor added.

Sure, it’s inconvenient, but the truth is, even though you may not see immediate results, every little sacrifice you make counts.

And, hey, if superstars like :Orlando Bloom, Leonardo DiCaprio and Gwyneth Paltrow are willing to trade convenience and extravagance for a greener lifestyle, you have no excuse.

Saving Gaia premieres tonight (June 16),and subsequently every Monday, at 8.30pm onMediaCorp TV Channel NewsAsia.