Of earth and all them living things

How much do you care? 60 minutes earth hour? Is that it? A concerted effort to highlight the plight of the planet, but many still choose to distance themselves from such happenings. Seriously though, the entire city lights cannot be switched off. Think of the criminal minds, with hands rubbing in glee, waiting to pounce on the unsuspecting. Just read the papers today, about a boy and a girl waiting at a bus stop together with two other motorcylists. A car stopped, two men got down and held all at knife point ("parang"), robbed them, then took the girl away and violated her. Then, ram into the cars of single woman drivers, and further robbed the poor victims. Such is the state of crime in the city, getting more and more rampant as economic dysfunction continue to pressure some to the darker unsavoury life.

My point? Yes, do the duties to protect the earth. Do your bits for charity. But how often have you walked away when someone said, "Please help. Am raising funds for this or that charity home?". How many can one help? Is it a crime to help one but not another? It made me think, because I myself am not immune to such indecisions. Was at a mall earlier, and someone came up to me asking for a donation for a welfare home, should I have given? Am I expected to give to one and all who come a knocking? Where does charity begin, and where does it end?

I seem to be digressing, but ultimately, we cannot help everyone. We can merely do our best to alleviate the pain of others, and do our fair share to prolong the life of the planet. Seriously though, an awareness is just the beginning. Good if one and all had switched off those lights between 830pm and 930pm today. But how many plastic bags do you have at home? How many non-earth friendly things do you unconsciously hoard? Are we then really united to show the world we care, or merely paying lip service, and said, "Done that! I switched off those lights. Have done my share. That's it!". An awareness, yes. But surely more will come from that. We can only hope.