Raising awareness of Central America Flooding at Chinatown 到唐人街为美国中部水灾宣导

I was not planning to attend this event as I had a lunch appointment with friends scheduled earlier. However, I happened to be at South Station that morning, sending off my friend back to New York. By the time I left South Station, it was 10 minutes to 9 am and Tzu Chi volunteers are scheduled to meet at Chinatown at 9 am. Hence, I just hanged around.

因为我与朋友约好供进午饭，所以没打算参加这个活动。不过当天早上我正好在南站送我朋友回纽约。离开南站时，差十分钟就早上九点，慈济到唐人街为美国中部水灾宣导的集合时间。因此，我步行至唐人街等等。

At around 9 am, volunteers start appearing. It was a small event and we are just raising awareness and not asking for donation. I took some pictures of our Tzu Chi volunteers giving out flyers and explaining to the public.

早上九点左右，慈济人陆续出现。到唐人街为美国中部水灾宣导是一项小活动，我们只是宣导而不募款。我拿起相机把慈济人发传单及向公众宣导的镜头一一留下。

I left at around 10 am, when everybody was actively involved and hard at work. Many thanks to our volunteers, especially the Tzu Chi University Tzu Ching who just arrived in Boston recently for attachment but still participated with us.

我早上十点左右离开，当时大家正积极地在向大众宣导。感恩师姑们的付出，特别是刚在几天前抵达波士顿实习交流的慈济大学慈青。

Blood Donation 捐血

26 Jun 08 is the second time I donated blood. Both the first and second time was carried out in MIT, during a blood donation drive organized by MIT Red Cross. I remembered that both occasions, the medical personal presented asked me at least 30 health questions and there were plenty of tidbits and drinks for donors after the blood donation is completed. I truly admired their professionalism.

我在六月八日第二次捐血。第一和第二次捐血都在麻省理工校内，红十字会联办的捐血活动上。记得两次捐血，医疗人员向我问了至少有三十多项健康问题。另外捐血后有一大堆点心和饮料共捐血者补充精力。我十分佩服他们的专业精神。

During my first blood donation, I had a very interesting experience. I was lying down on the bed and holding a roller in my hand. Donating blood was a fairly boring experience, laying down doing nothing except rolling the roller in my hand to ensure enough blood circulation. Hence, I started chanting sutra. After a while, I feel a sense of calmness coming over me. I feel like I was in a vast open space without any boundaries. It was a wonderful feeling. I knew that I was not sleeping because I can still feel my hand rolling the roller. However, that feeling was very short as I was interrupted by the medical personal and I realized that the chanting of the sutra was not completed.

我第一次捐血时有一个很奇妙的经历。我躺在床上，手持着滚轴滚动着以确保足够的血液循环。一时无趣，便开始诵起大悲咒。过了不久我感觉心沉淀下来，自己如同身在一处广阔无边的空间，无边无际。这奇妙的感觉，希望是“静寂清澄，志玄虚漠”的感觉。我知道我并没有是睡着，因为我仍然可以感受到滚轴在滚动着。遗憾的是，这奇妙的感觉很短

Another not-so-interesting experience happened after the blood donation. My arm felt sore and my fingertips felt bloated for several days. I guessed my body was still pumping the increased blood flow rate during the donation although that donation was completed. My body must have a long delay response time.

另一个不那么有趣的经验是，捐血后数天，我的手臂感到酸痛以及指尖臃肿。想必身体还没感受到捐血已经完成，仍在增加血的流量。我的身体反应机制因该有一点慢。

The good news was, during the second donation, my arms no longer feel bloated after the donation. The bad news was I no longer experienced that sense of calmness. What a pity.

第二次捐血时好在手臂不再感到酸痛。不过很可惜的是那奇妙的感觉并没有回来。

Sichuan Fund-raising at BCNC 到波士顿华阜社区中心为四川灾民募款

We got an invitation from the Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center (BCNC) to raise fund for Sichuan earthquake victims at their center on both 24 and 25 Jun 08. I helped out on Wednesday 25 Jun. We had 2 stations, one outside their medical clinic and another inside their training school.

波士顿华阜社区中心邀请慈济在六月二十四和二十五日到其中心为四川灾民募款。我于礼拜三六月二十五日当天到场帮忙。我们兵分两路，一组在医疗诊所外，另一组在学校楼内。

Response was slow. It was more than a month after the earthquake which happened on 12 May. Most people who wished to donate had already done so. Furthermore, human traffic was limited and we did not have too much of a chance to explain our cause. Nevertheless, we thank BCNC for their kind thoughts and invitation.

地震发生于五月十二日，算起来已有一个多月。发心捐款的会众大多数已经付诸行动，因此募款反应缓慢。此外人流不多限制了我们向会众解释募款意义的机会。不过我们还是很感谢华阜社区中心的善念和邀约。

There was a bright spot among the 2 days. Inside the training school, one of their staffs noticed that we had English flyers explaining what Tzu Chi are doing. After reading it, she passed us a bunch of notes, explaining that this was cash raised among the staffs many weeks ago. They were looking for the appropriate organization to hand the cash over to. After reading our flyers, she agreed with what we are doing and decided to hand the donation over to Tzu Chi.

两天的募款有一亮点。在学校楼内其中一名员工注意到我们的英语传单，了解慈济的理念后，把一卷纸币捐了给我们。她解释那善款是所有员工的一点小心意，几个礼拜前已募好，不过一直在寻找适当合的组织捐出。她在阅读我们的传单后，很认同我们正在做的事，并决定把捐款移交给慈济。

I am very sure that it is a decision that she will not regret it.

我很肯定地说，这个决定她一定不会后悔。

Sichuan Fund-raising at Jamaica Plains 在牙买加平原为四川地震募款

We got an invitation from a friend who wished to raise some funds for the victims of the Sichuan Earthquake. Hence, we brought our posters, donation boxes and flyers to Jamaica Plains.

祥达师伯的一位朋友想为四川地震募款，诚心邀约慈济。因此我们带来了海报、传单和劝募箱到牙买加平原共襄盛举。

There was a slight miscommunication, the friend was a Chinese restaurant owner but the idea was proposed by the owner of his neighbouring pub. Hence, the venue was held in the pub and the pub owner had his own powerpoint slide shows throughout the evening. The powerpoint slides showed many parents holding up the pictures of their child who perish in the earthquake, using the impression that the government is not doing their job or corruption held to shaggy schools. I personally find the powerpoint slides slightly political and the pub as a venue is not really suitable since Tzu Chi does not encourage drinking.

没想到信息有点误传，祥达师伯的朋友开的是中餐馆，不过是毗邻的酒吧老板想为四川地震募款。因此募款场地在其酒吧内举行，而酒吧老板也自备了PowerPoint短片介绍四川地震灾情。该短片显示许多家长持着往生儿女的照片，给人的印象是政府抗灾不力或是贪污腐败令学校成了豆腐渣工程。我觉得短片稍微地政治化，加上酒吧几乎不太适合慈济，因为佛教第五戒是不饮酒。

However, I must still appreciate the owner's thoughtfulness and sincere concern for the earthquake victims. He allowed us to collect donation in his pub and donated the admission fee of the first few hours.

不过我仍然感恩酒吧老板的邀约及对四川地震灾民的关注。酒吧老板让我们在酒吧内宣导既募款，并且把晚上十点之前的入门费捐了出来。

It was a fairly boring night in the pub and I feel so out of place, wearing the Tzu Chi uniform. Not much people paid us much attention. I was reminded by Linda SG not to take pictures of guests since this is not a public venue. In the middle of the performance, the pub owner invited all of us on stage to show his appreciation of our work and encourage his guest to contribute. Victoria gave a brief introduction of our work and a short 10 minutes clip explaining Tzu Chi was shown.

在酒吧劝募是相当沉闷的事，穿着慈济制服，再加上没有太多人注意我们。Linda师姑提醒我这里不是公共场所，酒吧的顾客可能不希望上镜。酒吧表演至中场，酒吧老板邀请我们所有慈济人上台，显示他对我们的敬意，并鼓励顾客捐款。鈺梅简扼地介绍了四川地震募款的进展。我们也播放了十分钟的短片介绍慈济。

We left after 10 pm and I was surprised when the owner passed us some cash. At the bar counter, he managed to encourage his guests to contribute to the victims. It was an exceptional experience.

我们在晚上十点离开时，酒吧老板交了一卷纸币给我们。原来他在酒吧柜台成功地鼓励顾客们捐款。酒吧里劝募，的确是别开生面、与众不同。

心理干预一场传奇 A miracle in emotional care

记得一位师伯曾经与大家分享过一位红十字成员和他的对话。那位红十字成员说，在灾区是很容易找到慈济人的，只要跟着歌声走。

I remember that a SB once told us that a member of the Red Cross commented to him that it is very easy to located Tzu Chi volunteers in disaster area, just follow the sounds of singing.

心理干预一场传奇 - 应磊（作者为新明／晚报联合新闻部记者）

5月，对置身中国大陆的人们来说，敲打神经最猛烈最频密的黑色字眼非“地震”莫属。对我而言，多数日子都在国内度过的这一个月，我已经无法数算读到多少情感激越的新闻特稿，看过多少让人单单一瞥就无法从脑海里抹去的电视画面……然而回到岛国，《亚洲周刊》一篇关于慈济的救灾故事却以新的视角给我带来一番别样的触动。

据报道，慈济最初展开救援行动的地点在四川罗江的金山镇，一个安置规模600人、灾情只能算中度的地区。除了运送救灾物资，慈济志工兵分三路：一组带小朋友玩游戏、教手语，让他们回到帐篷后可以和更多长辈互动；一组探访市民；另一组则准备热食——慈济人相信，医疗与热食是快速建立救援体系最主要的两种方式，借助温暖的食物安定人心。从洗菜、煮饭这些最平常的劳作开始，富有经验的救援者将灾民组织起来，帮助他们向重寻“生活步调”、重建信心迈出第一步。

慈济的尝试与众不同，而且耐人寻味，一如那篇报道也不同于成篇累牍催人泪下的文字：慈济的努力旨在为孤凄灰冷的心注入一股暖流，同时给焦灼怨怒的心送来阵阵清凉；要在余震未息之前先遏止心灵的梦魇，让废墟边惊魂甫定的幸存者重新体尝日常生活的平实滋味。当证严法师透过长途连线鼓励志工时，她强调：“你们要把他们的心引领出来！”具体地说，如救援队发言人薛明仁所言：“有行动才有互动，有互动才有感动，有感动才有撼动，最后才能引众。”

其实，慈济的团队是在救灾的“第一时间”来到了一个已进入“第二时间”的灾区。若说十几天前，我们还没有这份奢侈来谈热食和手语，那么如今，随着时间的推移，随着“第一时间”紧张抢救的势必结束和“第二时间”的逐步来临，我们就不能不回头咀嚼慈济的努力所凸显的两点重要信息：首先，给内在的精神创伤止血，与清理外在满目疮痍的家园同等重要，心理愈疗与生活秩序的重建本就互为表里；其二，心理干预不能简单地与苍白的聆听和耐心的劝慰划上等号，这里包含一套复杂的理念和技巧，其实践应从明确的生活细节入手。

用这把无形的标尺去衡量，进入灾后“第二时间”的中国令人喜忧参半。

就心理干预这一课题，并非独有慈济值得我们鼓掌。在我的印象里，近年来似乎还没有一场天灾人祸，把中国社会对心理治疗的重视提高到如此程度：从关注部队什么时候能进入重灾区、搜救生还者的几率还有多大，到越来越多目光聚焦在获救者的情绪状态，“心理干预”、“情绪疏导”、“二度伤害”等词汇很快频繁出现在各路媒体上。没有记错的话，地震发生后仅三天，就有一位嘉宾在中央电视台的演播室里谈起灾后的“心理治疗”——与滚动新闻里“夺取抗震救灾斗争的全面胜利”的激昂话语暗暗形成对照。这句仿拟革命时期调调的批示无意间透露，长期以来，中国政府和传媒多么习惯将每一次大自然的浩劫提炼成一则人定胜天的神勇传奇，并以集体想象的英雄情怀来掩盖、消解个体生命的创痛；然而，这场罕见的天灾让人们不得不直面现实，承认所谓“克服万难”、“化悲痛为力量”从来就不是一件轻易的事。

如何给一场多面向的传奇提供恰如其分的心理干预？举例来说，台湾有慈济，为什么在天灾人祸连年不断的大陆，却没有这样一个深谙心理引导的艺术、同时成熟高效的救援组织？救灾行动中所显露出来的，新闻自由、信息透明与记者访问过程对幸存者可能构成的二度伤害之间的矛盾应如何调和？又由谁来关心在第一时间深入灾区的部队、医护人员和新闻工作者的心理冲击？有多少领导人能够说出像温家宝那句“我们的幸福生活就是对死者的最好安慰”这样睿智又体贴人情的话，而又有多少人支持余秋雨的观点，认为罹难学生家长此刻有责任“顾全大局”？……帐篷可以连夜赶制，抚慰心灵的艺术却无法速成。此刻中国人意识到，我们仅仅站在一个单薄的起点，离真正的目标还很远很远。

联合早报 - 2008年6月22日

Chinatown Parade and Charity Sale 唐人街义卖

This Sunday, Boston Chinatown had their annual Chinatown Parade and Tzu Chi had our annual Charity Sale along with the parade in Chinatown. Before the actual charity sale, we had a discussion among ourselves what should we sell in our booth. When Tzu Chi first started the annual charity sale in Chinatown, we mainly sell handmade decorations by our very own members. It was very successful and our sales were very good. But recently, due to various reasons, we now concentrate on selling our own Tzu Chi publications, although sales were not as good. Hence, there was the discussion whether to return to the initial successful decoration sales or continue with the present not-as-good Tzu Chi publication sales.

这个礼拜天是波士顿唐人街一年一度的义卖活动，而慈济波士顿及如以往地共襄盛举。义卖之前，我们讨论了应该以什么为我们义卖的主题。当年慈济刚加入唐人街义卖时，义卖的主题是慈济自己制作的福慧红包及装饰品。那时义卖非常成功和销售非常的好。但是由于种种原因，近期义卖的主题改成了慈济静思刊物，而且销售并不是很好。因此，讨论范围成了我们是否该返回到最初成功的福慧装饰品或是继续目前怠销的静思刊物。

My own personal view is, initially when we first joined the annual Chinatown Parade, the aim should be to introduce Tzu Chi to everybody and hence we sold decorations that were easy to be purchased by all. Now that most Chinese knew about Tzu Chi (we were one of the 4 organizations selected for leading the Boston Sichuan Earthquake fund raising, among the hundred over organizations), our next aim should be to introduce Master's teachings to the public.

我个人的看法是，最初参加唐人街义卖时，目的应该是介绍慈济给整个华社。因此我们用的是方便法，出售大众所爱的福慧装饰品。现在，慈济已经取得华社的认同（波士顿为四川地震赈灾时，慈济是一百多所机构公认的四所领头机构中的一所） ，我们下一步应该是宣导正法，把上人及慈济的法脉介绍出去。

Hence, our Charity Sale concentrated on 3 parts: introducing the concept of having a good thought everyday with our bamboo bank, Tzu Chi publications and non-disposable utensils. Response was good. People like the idea of our bamboo banks and we managed to encourage several public to bring them home.

因此我们的义卖分成三个主题：介绍竹筒岁月及日行一善的概念、宣导慈济静思刊物和提倡使用环保餐具。会众反应良好，都很喜欢竹筒岁月背后的故事。我们也成功地鼓励几位会众把竹筒认养回家。

Tzu Chi publications were slow to warm up. The vegetarian cook-books were fairly popular. There was an elderly who was very interested in Tzu Chi and wanted to find out more. However, due to financial constraints, he bought only a book on "Still Thoughts". But we gave him our Tzu Chi journal and he was very happy. There was another guy from Cambodia. He asked for English publications and we showed him the English version of a book about Master. Without asking for the price or finding out more information about the book, he bought it. I was surprised. My guess was that Tzu Chi must have touched his heart in one way or another in the past.

慈济静思刊物销量较慢，倒是素食菜谱相当受欢迎。义卖时，有一位老菩萨听了我们介绍慈济后，很想更进一步了解慈济。因为生活并不十分宽裕，老菩萨只请购了本“静思语”。不过，我们把握难得的一面缘，多送了几本慈济月刊给老菩萨，令老菩萨喜出望外，满生欢喜而去。希望在不久的将来，能在志工队中见到老菩萨的身影。另一件令人感动的事与一位柬埔寨大德有关。这位柬埔寨大德向我们询问慈济的英语刊物，我们便向他介绍了上人的英文自传。没想到这位柬埔寨大德，一不问书的内容，二不问书的价钱，便买下那本上人的英文自传。那一刹那我真的是即惊讶又惭愧。惊讶于他的果断，惭愧在我身为慈济人，请购上人的书时，还要斟酌。想必，慈济因该曾经感动过他。

For our non-disposable utensils, Yi Fang SG's son is the most hardworking, showcasing to everybody the importance and usefulness of using them. He is very successful with elderly as well as young adults.

环保餐具方面，宜芳师姑的儿子是我们的小小宣导员。他即勤奋又用心，常常以身解法，展示环保餐具的实用性、方便性和重要性（爱护地球、人人减碳）。最难得的是，解说中带有智慧，不管是老菩萨、中年人、少年或小菩萨，都被他成功地隧服。

The whole event ended in the afternoon. I must say that it was very successful in letting people know more about Tzu Chi.

整个义卖活动在下午圆缘。我深信会众有更加了解慈济。希望大家法喜充满，法都入心。

拿出魄力来环保 Using our charisma to advance recycling

上人教育我们，要行方便法门，从方便门入环保门，自要“对机”，做就对了。

Master taught us that there are many ways to encourage people to join us in recycling, as long as we are able to excite their interests.

拿出魄力来环保 - 游润恬

每次电费上涨，妈妈就会问我们少吹冷气行不行、电脑少开行不行？

每次听到“加龙古尼”（旧货商，Karung Guni）用福建话洪亮地喊着“收报纸”，她就会把堆在电视机旁的旧报纸搬到家门口，卖了几块钱就喜滋滋地到楼下杂货店买乳酸奶给弟妹喝。

这是新加坡人可爱的地方。哪怕今年四月电费每千瓦仅起1.26分、一公斤报纸只能卖几角钱，只要能够省钱甚至赚钱，相信大多数人都愿意改变行为。

既然如此，何不系统化地利用新加坡人的这个“先天优点”来进一步提高我国的废物再循环率？虽然人们环保最初是受金钱驱使，但也许几代人以后，人们也能够将珍惜地球和反对资源浪费的价值观内化，真正晋升为富环保涵养的优雅社会。

目前只有再循环纸张或旧电器是可以拿回一点钱的。回收报纸的加龙古尼和购买旧电器的Cash Converter一般不回收塑料瓶、玻璃瓶或铝罐。如果这些也能换得到钱，我相信许多家庭主妇也不会放弃这个“赚钱”的机会。

德新中学的一些学生最近设计了一部自动再循环机，人们投入塑料瓶或铝罐后，也能换取钱币，机器还会把瓶罐的底部切除，让里头的液体留出，进行初步的再循环处理。我最近到欧洲旅游时，也发现当地的超级市场有这类能按重量“购买”废物的自动回收机，许多居民都带着装满空瓶罐的环保袋上超市，先把瓶罐投入机器，拿回一点钱后，再用环保袋把在超市购买的消费品带回家。

我国的垃圾再循环率从2000年的40％增至去年的54％，七年增加14％，也就是一年仅增加2％。有进步固然好，但进步之慢似乎跟政府、市镇理事会、环保组织的义工们每年投入增添环保设施或进行公众教育的精力和费用之大，不成正比。

除了考虑“利诱”人民多多再循环之外，政府也应该以更大的魄力，把收集可循环废物的设施融入城市规划及居住环境的设计里，为人民提供最大的方便。这么做的好处之一，是可以避免没地方摆回收箱或回收箱有碍市容的投诉。

在显眼、人流高的地方多设再循环物品回收箱，不只能为有心再循环的民众提供便利，也能起到提醒作用。环境局称，本地每五座组屋就有一个再循环物品收集站或回收箱，居民平均只需步行约150米，就可以找到1600个收集站的其中一个。商场、饮食中心和巴士转换站等人潮多的公共场所，也设有2200个回收箱。

其实大多数新加坡人是幸福的，可以享受免费的上门回收服务。环境局在2001年在组屋区和私人有地住宅区推出全国废物再循环计划，要求垃圾承包商跟回收公司合作提供上门收集可循环物品的服务。回收公司也必须为组屋居民提供环保袋，并为有地住宅区的居民提供环保箱，供丢弃纸张、塑料和玻璃瓶子、旧衣物、铝罐等，并至少每半个月一次上门收集。

相比之下，一些欧美国家的人民要走多好几步路，才能到中央废物回收箱，一些亚洲人还得花时间站在路旁等废物回收车开来。一些国家也征收很高的垃圾处理费，同时免费回收可循环物品，由此鼓励人们为垃圾进行分类。别地方的人虽然比我们花费更多的精力和时间，却还是能以平常心接受垃圾回收的必要。

较不方便的是住在共管公寓和单位较少的私人公寓的本地13％或14万9000户家庭。按理说，公寓住户使用的消费品比组屋住户还多，可循环的塑料瓶等废物应该不少，在公寓推展废物回收的效用很大。公寓住户的教育水平也有可能比一般组屋居民来得高，应该较容易接受环保的重要及明白什么废物可以再循环。

但是，由于之前提供收集可循环垃圾设施是非强制性的，至今只有约四成的共管公寓这么做，而另外一两成的公寓在100公尺以内也有公共环保箱。环境局今年宣布将从八月起规定公寓必须提供垃圾再循环设施。

在有地住宅区或共管公寓回收废物所面对的一大阻力，是找不到地方放置回收箱。有人嫌家门口摆个回收箱不好看，有人嫌中央回收箱放得太远很不方便，也有人反对将中央回收箱放得太靠近自己的住家。有了环境局的新规定，希望所有新建或经过翻新的公寓，都能在设计阶段把废物回收设施考虑在内，让所有住户一劳永逸。

来自世界各地的市长、城市规划和水资源专家下周将聚集狮城，出席国际水资源周、世界城市峰会和东亚宜居城市峰会，以讨论如何建设可持续发展和宜居的城市。另外，中国和我国合作展开的天津生态城项目，也正如火如荼地进行。当新加坡忙着与人分享或输出环保硬体建设的知识时，也应拿出魄力来快快提升全民的环保意识，以赶上瑞典或日本等国的发达水平。

联合早报 - 2008年6月21日

菩提心要 - 零八年六月二十日 Puti - 20 Jun 08

上人解释为什么慈济需要那么多人间菩萨，以守护地狱之门。

Master explains to us why Tzu Chi needs living Bodhisattvas, to guard the doors of hell.

Sign Language Practice 手语共修

This Friday evening, I attended my first and last sign language practice in Boston. It was held at Stone SB and Yi Fang SG place and we were leaning how to perform the sign language of the Amitartha sutra as Tzu Chi New York scheduled a performance at the end of the year.

这个礼拜五晚上，我参加了我在波士顿的第一场也是最后一场的手语共修。手语共修在光伟师伯和宜芳师姑家举行，为年底纽约公演无量义经手语剧而排练。

The practice session was fairly quiet as most of the SG are out of town or on leave. Chiung Wen, Sarah, Dr Zhou and another Tzu Ching were present. Yi Fang SG was the tutor. Stone SB and John hanged around.

这一场手语共修因为很多师姑出差或告假而相当冷清，只有琼雯、于嘉、周医师以及另一位慈青出席。宜芳师姑授课，光伟师伯和John在旁给予精神上的鼓励。

This session, we practiced the 4th section of the 1st chapter of the Amitartha sutra. It was tough, as not all the actions are based on the actual words of the sutra but another word that had the same meaning. Most of the time, I was looking at the "script", acting out the actions but singing the wrong words.

这一场手语共修，我们排练无量义经功德品第四章的经文。手语并不容易学，因为有些词汇必须先转换成同义词，再用手语比出那同义词。很多时候我是看着剧目比对了手语，但是却唱错了字，误把那同义词唱了出来。

But it was also a fun time. Dr Zhou and Stone SB were making all kind of jokes all the time. I was told that last session when Vict SB was present, both of them caused so much laughter that everybody had a great time.

但是我们也有苦中作乐，特别是周医师和光伟师伯不断地制造种种笑话。听说上一场手语共修时，诗白师伯和周医师制造了不间断的笑料，大家都笑翻了天。

I did not know sign language can be so fun. I always got the impression that it is a very formal practice session where everybody sit down and learn the actions one by one. After the practice session, we had supper, gracefully made by Yi Fang SB and chat for quite a while. In the end, it sort of became a farewell supper for Dr Zhou, who is returning to Tzu Chi Hualian Hospital soon, and me.

我不知道手语共修可以那么好玩。我的印象中，手语共修是非常正式和庄严的，每个人正经威坐地学习一个又一个的动作。手语共修之后，我们享用宜芳师姑亲手做的点心，边吃边聊了相当长的一段时间，不自觉地成了即将返回慈济医院的周医师和我的欢送茶会。

From the pictures, it is very clear that we had a great time!

从照片中，不难发现这场手语共修我们玩得不亦乐乎！

Praying for the deceased 为往生者助念

In the morning before meeting Mr Her, I joined Vickie SG and a few other SGs for a funeral ceremony of one of our Tzu Chi member's family. This is my second time, considering Lisa was the first.

在上午会见何主任之前，我跟着金满师姑和几位师姑们参加了一位慈济会员家属的丧礼，为往生者助念。这是我第二次参加助念，理珊是第一次。

At the family request, we chant the Amitabha sutra, hoping that our prayers can aid the deceased to the pure land. This time, due to time constraint, we need to meet Mr Her, Vickie SG and I left early.

在家属的要求下，我们为往生者诵阿弥陀经，希望我们的祈祷可以帮助往生者前往西方极乐净土。这一次因为于何主任有约，时间受到限制，我和金满师姑在助念未完成便提早离开。

I need to find out more about Amitabha sutra and the idea of the pure land. I am very confused as to how come it is so easy to go to the pure land after you died by just chanting the Amitabha sutra.

我想要多了解关于阿弥陀经以及西方极乐净土。我很疑惑，为何诵阿弥陀经便能如此轻易地到达净土。

谁知盘中餐粒粒能发电 Using waste food to generate electricity

利用残羹剩饭来发电是个不错的方法。不过，让大家自动自发地把剩饭从垃圾分类出来，我们还有一段路要走。当然，另一个更大的问题是，全球饥饿不断，为什么还有人在浪费食物？

Using waste food to generate electricity is a good way to save the environment. However, we need to have more public awareness that to separate waste food from the rest of the rubbish. But the greater question is, in the present world where there are hungry everywhere, why are people still wasting food?

谁知盘中餐 粒粒能发电 - 蔡慧玲

食物废料再循环厂下月开始供电

利用细菌分解有机废料产电的本地食物废料再循环厂稳健成长，正式启用至今已有半年的IUT食物废料再循环厂，计划从下月起供电给中央电力网。

一旦获得新加坡能源公司的审核批准，再循环厂预计初期可提供每小时20至40万瓦的电力。20万瓦的电力相等于约330间四房式组屋用来亮灯的能源。除了售出的电力外，再循环厂也已完全能满足自己的电力需求。这预计将为再循环厂每月省下2万元电费。

IUT国际食物废料再循环厂目前的产量最多每小时可把12.5公吨的有机废料转化为3兆瓦的能源，足够用来供应给5000间四房式组屋。用来生产能源的原料除了来自食阁、购物商场、酒店、军营和大学食堂的食物废料，也包括蓄水池旁的杂草、巴西班让果菜批发中心的蔬菜以及动物粪便等。这些有机废料在经过甲烷化（methanisation）后，会产生可用来发电的沼气(biogas)。

公司董事长邱德福接受本报专访时透露，有机废料再循环这个概念似乎在本地逐渐成型，越来越多食品业者主动表示希望他们的食物废料获得处理。公司也正在同一些区域国家洽谈在该国设立食物废料再循环厂的事宜。新加坡人仍缺乏垃圾分类意识虽然如此，食物废料再循环在本地仍然面对一定的挑战。最让邱德福头痛的是，新加坡人似乎仍缺乏为垃圾分类的意识，但更根本的原因是公众找不到支持他们在家中进行食物废料循环的动力，本地也没有相关的基础设施。

即使有心环保，但由于没有放置食物废料的地方，家庭主妇也只好把原本可再循环的垃圾丢进垃圾槽，否则在炎热的气候下，家里可能不久就会臭气熏天。而本地组屋简单易用的垃圾槽装置给人们带来的方便，也可能成为“阻止”人们进行垃圾分类的罪魁祸首。

邱德福感叹：“在台湾，住在寓所的人需要把废料分成几类，等垃圾车来回收。这需要一定的自律……这是新加坡最大的问题，我们只要打开家里的垃圾槽就可以把垃圾丢掉，非常方便。我们懒得把垃圾拿到楼下去，丢进垃圾箱。这条路还很长。”

他认为，以其他国家的例子为鉴，通过立法和加强公共教育是推广食物废料再循环的最佳途径。本地目前并没有食物垃圾分类的相关立法。

现阶段，新加坡的大部分垃圾，包括食物废料等有机废料都一律送到焚化厂焚烧，然后埋置在实马高垃圾埋置场。国家环境局数据显示，本地的再循环率只稍微超过50%，但前年每天制造7000公吨的垃圾，其中约1400公吨是食物废料。

邱德福指出，人们必须意识到，要真正帮助环境，把食物废料区分出来是重要的。他解释，潮湿的食物废料若被送往垃圾焚化厂，后者就必须浪费额外的能源把垃圾“烤干”；一旦人们把食物废料和可再循环品丢在同一个袋子里，原本可回收的物品被食物废料污染，会变成不可回收的普通垃圾。结果两者都变成零价值。

他说：“在新加坡我们选择焚烧垃圾。大家的概念就是把所有的东西都丢进去烧掉就是了。那是很不负责任的。不过，既然我们已经走上这条（焚化垃圾的）路，我们现在只有尽量提高再循环的效率。其中一个方法就是不让食物废料被送入焚化厂。这也可减少焚化后须埋置的垃圾量，同时也可延长实马高岛的寿命。”

邱德福无奈地表示，原本选择在新加坡设立第一个食物废料再循环厂是希望新加坡能在该技术上成为其他国家的模范，但现在面对种种局限，他认为公司日后在其他国家的业务发展可能比较顺利。

虽然新加坡人的环保意识已在近年提高，但人民仍然欠缺行动，或许新加坡人还需要更多时间把概念化为行动。访问过程中，邱德福多次强调，要取得立竿见影的效果，立法是最佳途径。很多国家就是通过立法，强制人民进行垃圾分类的。

联合早报 - 2008年6月19日