Friday, 5th June 2009.
6.22 pm.



Its Environment Week, and I'm at a week long Go Green campaign at Great Eastern Mall, Jalan Ampang.

Its surprising how multi tasking has never been something I could do well, and it surprises me even more when I am forced to multi task in times when I have to be at two places at once.


So here I am, sitting at GE Mall at our organisation's booth, talking to shoppers who stop by to enquire about the environment, and at the same time finishing up some urgent work at the office which requires my immediate attention.

Funny how you work better under intense pressure.


Over the past few days, I've met so many different characters, its quite amusing to a certain extent, and also lets you think about human relations and interactions more.


Since I now know so many insurance agents from Great Eastern, thanks to the freelance emceeing I do for their dinners and seminars, I managed to talk a substantial number of them to drop by our booth. Even before I start talking about what we do, they swipe out RM1o and pass it to me, saying its their contribution for the Adopt A Tree campaign. Without asking questions. Needless to say, many of them dropped by and did that just to show support for me, and not really asking much questions about the cause.


I'm not sure if thats a good thing or a bad thing.


And then, the urban stay-at-home moms, all dolled up for a day out at the mall with their young children. They walk around, but stop and listen attentively at every booth, and even inquire with concern about the condition of water in their homes. One mom actually came back the next day with a water sample from her home so she could do a water test for impurities and discharge from toxic wastes!


Of course, you have the sceptics. The most common statement and remarks I've heard from these guys are " So why are the NGOs doing all the work? What about the Government?"

I refrain to comment. However, as surprising as it may sound, the government does actually do quite a substantial amount of conservation and preservaton of our environment. But that discussion is for another day.


Then there are the GE Insurance Agents who stop by just to see if they can recruit new agents. Funny how the conversation starts off with the state of the environment today, why we end up working with NGOs, and how we should be working for ourselves because then we can earn tons of money. Hmmm.


I have a pretty wide circle of friends in the industry now, and I'm happy to say that once they know I'm not interested, they don't ask again.


Of course, there are the genuinely concerned ones who really want to know what is happening to the world, why climate change is so alarming, and how they can help to restore rivers, wetlands and peatlands. One kind soul even brought back more of her friends just so they could adopt trees in the forest.


Occasionally I get one or two who stop by to ask all about what we do, but after explaining, the conversation is all about how their day was, and how frustrated they are with kids nowadays who care less about elders, environment and manners. I end up listening to them, empathising and thinking....she probably just needed someone to listen for a while.


With that said, it has been one long learning experience. Besides being able to spend time to get to know our interns Mi Ling and Ellie better, I also got to meet new friends from WWF, and the charming host/emcee for the campaign, Amir.

I shall now count the balance I have in my wallet, and pray 730pm arrives sooner than expected.

Over and out.