Tough Mount Waverley crowd greets Tony Abbott

Posted to Monash Weekly (9/2/2013) on 10/2/2013 at 7:59 PM
Commenting on "Tough Mount Waverley crowd greets Tony Abbott"
http://www.monashweekly.com.au/story/1412219/tough-mount-waverley-crowd-greets-tony-abbott/

John Nguyen had tried once to challenge Anna Burke and lost by around 10,000 votes in Chisholm. Since then, what has he done to show the people of Chisholm electorate that he is a genuine, suitable alternative?

There is nothing wrong to run as an Asian candidate as well as a Liberal candidate. In fact this will give him a greater competitive edge against Anna Burke. I am always proud to call myself an Australian of Chinese descent, still use my Chinese name in full. When President Obama won the presidential election, he declared that he was the first black President in the White House.

One must not forget that the American dream is NOT the same as the Australian dream, and working five years would not make John Nguyen a know-all of what Australians want. Based on his experience of only five years can help people achieve their dreams, Anna Burke would have known better for she has lived much longer in Australia.

Tell us more, John, who you are and what you can do for the people of Chisholm and Australia at large; typically an Australian who is not a asylum seeker or refugee!

Asians in Monash

Posted to Letters to Editor, Monash Weekly on 2/7/2012 at 9:00 PM (Not yet published by Newspaper)
Title: "Asians in Monash"
http://www.monashweekly.com.au/content/letterstotheeditor/

Some of the 2011 Census data has been released. The make up of Monash leads to my following observation and raise some questions.

Asian population is definitely on the increase in the City of Monash. It is of interest to me to find out what attracts them to come to the City? What is the City going to do about the changing demographics in terms of their needs and wants, promotion of social integration, discouraging Tower of Babel building, etc.

Unfortunately, there is lack of proportional representation of Asians in the Council. I sincerely encourage all Asians to take an active role in Council matters, stand as candidates for the forthcoming Council election and be counted.

With such high Asian background population, predominantly from very competitive ethnic origins such as Chinese and Indian, also explains why City of Monash enjoy high employment rate.

Will ratepayers at City of Monash learn from Queensland state election?

Posted to Letters to Editor, Monash Weekly on 25/3/2012 at 4:50 PM (Not published by Newspaper)
Title: Will ratepayers at City of Monash learn from Queensland state election?

The number of Labor Councillors in the City of Monash is 9 out of the total of 11. I am deeply concerned about local council being used as a training ground of future state and federal politicians for candidates backed by political parties with financial and other resources. This deprives other non-politically aligned candidates the opportunity to contribute towards the good of the City and the ratepayers.

This may sound like the voice of a sour grape, but then this is a statement of fact. It is unlikely for quality and genuine independents to sacrifice their time and livelihood (including money) to campaign for a position, only to find out there is Buckley’s chance to even get back their deposit money, unless there is a level playing field. Those who have burning desire to contribute will likely pack up their boxing gloves after a number of attempts.

Better resourced and influential candidates have running mates; some are even dummies who do not supply contact details to the electoral office. The purpose of having these dummies that are unlikely to win is to preference their votes to their mates to boost the count. Unfortunately, the existing preferential voting system and non-contact disclosure cannot be amended.

Some decisions made by the City executives are just being rubber stamped by the Councillors. The Council meetings can be described as more than courteous. There are insufficient scrutiny and accountability. To name a few, these include annual rate increase, council expenses including Councillors', use of technology and most laughably the curtain at Clayton pool.

While many items seem transparent, nonsensical transparency is worth as much as the nonsense itself. It is important for ratepayers to learn more about the candidates before casting their votes this October council election. The City’s future – rate collection, development, open space, traffic management, business mix, social harmony, community health services, etc. must be discussion topics and subject to more vigorous scrutiny.

Will ratepayers at City of Monash learn from Queensland state election held on 24/3/2012?

Chinese New Year Celebration 2012 at Kingsway, City of Monash

Posted to Monash Weekly on 7/2/2012
Title: Chinese New Year Celebration 2012

Compare with previous years, the attendance was much lower. Even close to 1 pm, Kingsway was not packed. Some stalls were not open for business, and the queues at the food stalls were short and not as "deep". Conspicuously missing were the popular DVD stalls, but there were two "traders" selling DVDs in the pavement.

The very hot weather could have turned a lot of the people away. It could possibly due to this being the last Chinese New Year (CNY) celebration around Melbourne - CNY celebration fatigue.

Beads of sweat rolled down my face, and the day was hot! I played safe to have my lunch at a Grand Tofu cafe/restaurant, which I hoped the food hygiene standards were better observed.

The ground outside the Monash Library seemed to be the real cultural hub. Chinese Association of Victoria conducted several activities including lantern painting, origami making, calligraphy demonstration, and the good old tradition of solving the classical riddles written on strips of paper hung from the tent "ceiling". Other Chinese schools and associations were there as well. This patch was a lot more crowded than the food stalls.

I took a few photos of the non-Chinese dance performance on stage. The dancers wore red - the only thing that was close to Chinese tradition!

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2834859783541.2123412.1020578094&type=3&l=0f8b69dada

It was very difficult to "shoot" the lion in action because there was hardly any room to move about, let alone trying to get to the front of the crowd to capture the lion's movement close to the ground. I don't have a good camera, and cannot capture the action well at high speed.

The Lion went from shop-to-shop. It moved about on the ground, leapt in the air, lifted high to get the red packet containing money tied together with a complete lettuce to a beam above the pavement. The Lion "drank" a bottle of beer, and was likely exceeded .05. Its tail moved about like a real drunkard; it also rolled on the ground and "laughed" - well it did open its mouth flap wide.

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2834912664863.2123414.1020578094&type=3&l=8af6596af4

Suddenly, the Water Dragon arrived in the City of Monash in its true form, brought along buckets of rain. Astrologically speaking, Lunar New Year began on 23/1/2012, but the Year of the Dragon actually started on 4/2/2012. This year is the Year of the Water Dragon, and it is a Black Dragon.

http://www.facebook.com/notes/sin-fong-chan-the-teacher/lesson-on-chinese-new-year-and-the-year-of-dragon/196474710450530

By now, Kingsway was deserted, and one could roll a bowling ball down the street without knocking down any pedestrian. The street was wet, and the Dragon leader asked his team members to stay put in the pavement until the rain stopped.

There were activities in the Century Walk, including the Vietnamese spring roll demonstration. I got in just at the right time; I had the last piece of spring roll from the demonstrator!

Depressed sales drove some of the more “dynamic” stallholders go round taking orders from anyone and everyone they could approach, and delivered them freshly cooked from the stalls. Eat your heart out online ordering, this is human-base customer service.

I had enough for the afternoon, and left at 4:45 pm. The sun was still hiding behind the clouds, and for more than an hour. I wanted to return to Kingsway for more fun and action, but I suffered from CYN celebration constipation! And so, I leave the reporting to someone else who attended the later part of the celebration.

Until next time, have a wonderful year. May the Dragon bring you lots and lots of water or its equivalence – wealth!

Warnings are written on Glen Waverley streets, take heed!

Posted to Letters to Editor, Monash Weekly on 22/11/2011
Warnings are written on Glen Waverley streets, take heed!
http://www.monashweekly.com.au/content/letterstotheeditor/

One of the determining criteria of an address of residence is NOT to be next to or within walking distance to commercial area, particularly where alcohol is served, sleazy entertainment provided or dim dark lanes only rodents would dare to roam at night.

I had written to local papers when they approved the construction of a new six-storey Karaoke bar with licence to open to 3 am warning that more trouble would be looming and organised gangs would flourish.

Unfortunately, peace has been around since the founding of Glen Waverley, and most people have never experienced what life is like when gangs start to carve up their turfs in an area. Basic instinct of wild animals is after all territorial, or rather the urge to occupy and own territories.

Brawl outside the Glen Waverley Karaoke club

Posted to Letters to Editor, Monash Weekly on 20/11/2011
Brawl outside the Glen Waverley Karaoke club
http://www.monashweekly.com.au/content/letterstotheeditor/

I posted to Letters to Editor on Friday, 7 January 2011 regarding the Proposed Monash 6-storey Development.

I was looking into a crystal ball then. I was not scare mongering about the potential harm that could happen in the region if planning was not well thought out, allowing perceived city prosperity came before social harmony. The brawl outside the Glen Waverley karaoke club at 3 am 20/11/2011 that left six people injured is just the start.

Glen Waverley may be considered fairly affluent, and the good image can be tarnished easily in the future if drug traffickers use these commercial and entertainment venues to prey on the patrons and thugs start to claim their turfs. It is most unfortunate that cities in Melbourne metropolitan suffer from such fate and no solutions in sight!

Traders spruik plan for new group (12/9/2011)

Posted to Letters to Editor, Monash Weekly on 1/9/2011
Traders spruik plan for new group (12/9/2011)
http://www.monashweekly.com.au/content/letterstotheeditor/

It is unfortunate that Mt Waverley Village (MWV) appears to be a poor cousin of City of Monash compared with the more prosperous Glen Waverley and congested Clayton Shopping Centres.

I always believe that MWV has very unique characteristics that the others lack - it's like a sleeping beauty requires a Prince Charming to give her a kiss of revitalisation.
After the above being said, MWV lacks an identity - a theme or image. Glen Waverley has The Glen as an icon, and Clayton has a new pool housed in the modern Community Centre.

Shops and offices at MWV are spread out in ad hoc manner, and the train station is tucked away in a rather not so prominent position. Visitors to Mt Waverley can be excused not knowing the existence of MWV if they just drive along Stephenson Road.

There are so many real estate agents, "gurus" in marketing, along the Stephenson Road; they should be able to provide some positive input in improving MWV and overcoming some of the issues the traders might have.

It is the same in most clubs or associations that only a core group of interested people will attend meetings. The root problem generally stems from whether the management group / office bearers are perceptive and receptive to the voice of the initial attendees. The apathy is also a reflection of the traders' negative mentality and the lack of business knowhow.

If the business owners or operators are actually hands on running the businesses, the situation will be different. Unfortunately, many shops are managed or tended by employees whose attitude is nothing more than just earning a quid or two.
How many people notice the pamphlets, let alone reading the content? Will the business owners get to read the pamphlets before being disposed off by the receiver in the shops?

Survival in difficult time like now must be the paramount consideration. Ian Rusch should be complimented for his desire to form a Village Business Development group. Good luck!

Now to 2015

Posted to Letters to Editor, Monash Weekly on 1/9/2011
Now to 2015
http://www.monashweekly.com.au/content/letterstotheeditor/

On the negatives, this is what will happen:

1. Gillard will step down;
2. Early election before next budget when Australia's financial blackhole will experience massive blowout;
3. Bob Brown will stay but the rest of The Greens will be pulverised;
4. Rudd will return as leader of opposition;
5. Housing downturn will continue until March/April 2013;
6. Official unemployment rate will reach 6.5%, but unofficial should be around 18%.
7. Many online shoppers will get badly burnt by cheats and unethical traders;
8. Online shopping sourced from overseas will be subjected to GST plus a new tax called custom handling tax.

Will Australians learn a lesson? Many will but some will still live in la-la land.

On the positives:

1. Both Upper and Lower Houses will be back in control of one Party;
2. There will less talk and more action to "move" Australia forward;
3. More satellite surveillance will be deployed for international water border control to curb illegal boats coming;
4. Boat people and asylum seekers when accepted to remain in Australia will be duty-bound for a fixed term to develop Christmas Island or similar places. This is not dissimilar to many immigrants to Australia who have work in country towns;
5. Reform and revitalise international education industry worth $18b just prior to sudden collapse in July 2010;
6. Reform higher education to ensure the degrees / certificates are up-to-scratch;
7. Sale of productive farm land to overseas investors will stop;
8. Coal seam gas production will not proceed;
9. Provide more research grant on combining carbon dioxide and salt;
10. Work towards a balanced model for primary industry, secondary industry and tertiary industry;
11. Savings will become a norm;
12. People are more cautious in spending including choosing among home-cook meals, frozen food, dine-out and takeaway foods.

If there is a will, there is a way!

Posted to Letters to Editor, Monash Weekly" on 29/7/2011
Title "If there is will, there is way!"
http://www.monashweekly.com.au/content/letterstotheeditor/

Many people are experiencing financial hardship, small business operators facing business closure and house owners will hand the houses back to the banks.

I understand very well because I worked 3 jobs to support myself through university. I later owned and operated a small business and hit the 80's downturn. With determination, I survived those tough times.

Keep calm or else you won't be able to see clearly, even if there is light at the end of the tunnel. Seek advice, seek help - don't just think about it, you must talk about it or no one will know that you are doing tough and need assistance.

I once wrote a blog as follows:

Las Vegas is situated on the arid desert floor of Nevada, USA. World Islands of Dubai are artificial islands off the coast of Dubai, built with 386 million tonnes of rock to form the foundations. Eskimos reside in the circumpolar region with sub-zero temperature without being frozen. Man can now fly to the moon without wings.

If there is a will, there is a way!

Good luck, you'll be right mate!

Whose way, Kingsway or My way

Posted to Letters to Editor, Monash Weekly on 27/4/2011 at 4:08 PM
Whose way, Kingsway or My way?

OK, outdoor diners, all civic conscious and sensible people sympathise with your plight. We understand that you are contented to smoke or breathe in second-hand smoke to be lung cancer suffers causing grief to your loved ones; be an inconsiderate nuisance to create hazards forcing parents pushing prams or shoppers with trolleys into the street and get knocked down by cars wanting to park at the bays; an environmental hypocrite wasting valuable energy during winter using very inefficient ceiling heaters; gulp down the dirty and silent carcinogens pumped out from vehicles which do not complement well with the presumably healthy food you are consuming.

Oops, I forget to mention about the filthy mess, including the cigarette butts that scattered on the footpaths. Yes, City of Monash is a multicultural city, I do not mean ethnicity related culture, what I mean is the practice of those who want to be seen as trendy and mindless.

No to pets on V/Line Trains

Posted to Letters to Editor, Monash Weekly on 22/4/2011
No to pets on V/Line trains
http://www.monashweekly.com.au/content/letterstotheeditor/

Whether it is just for Easter or Christmas period to have pets on V/Line, the answer should be a NO! In fact, it should be a blanket NO for pets to be on any public transport at all time.

This should not be confused with having guide dogs accompanying the visually impaired on public transport. The guide dogs are more than just pets, they are instruments used to assist the visually impaired to gain mobility which most people take for granted.

A pet can be as poisonous and small as a spider, and as well-behave and big as a bull. Where do we draw the line? If pets are allowed on trains, be it V/Line or Metro, that is going to set a precedence in allowing pets in food premises, movie theatres, aeroplanes, public swimming pools, workplace and list just goes on.

Hasn't Mulder got better things to do? Perhaps he needs a bit more "training" for his position!

Some people argue that pets are allowed on public transport in many European countries, and that Australia is backward by not following the European example.

We don't need to follow what the Europeans do, because we are Australians NOT Europeans. Economically we are better than many European countries, because we are a better nation. In short they should follow our example. It is sorry to see so many Australians having the me-too mentality.

I do not belong to any union, and I do not like to knock any unionist for the sake of doing so. Train workers have a job to do, and their role is to look after the human passengers. Furthermore, it is not ill-founded that there are risks in handling pets. New sets of laws have to be drawn up for dealing with unruly behaviour of pets on public transport.

Having pets on the train is like asking RSPCA to use pet shelters to accommodate homeless people. There are places for people, and there are places for animals.

Some free advice on real estate matters

Posted to Letters to Editor, Monash Weekly on 9/4/2011
Some free advice on real estate matters

If you haven't read my Real Estate forecast written to Letters to the Editor dated 14/12/2010, check it out now.

Let me I offer some more free advice on Real Estate matters as a community service.

1. We eat everyday yet we don’t need to own a foodstore or restaurant. To live in a house, we don’t need to own one - stay with parents or rent!
2. One basic need according to Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs is shelter NOT ownership of shelter. Ownership of real properties is a privilege, not a right. We need to sacrifice or compromise in every undertaking, to save up for a large deposit ASAP before buying a property
3. An elastic band will finally snap after it has stretched beyond its limit. Many over-commit and over-stretch property owners will snap under mortgage and financial stresses. Damage can be irreparable
4. Climatic fluctuation flip-flops between drought and flood. Economic fluctuation flip-flops between low and high unemployment rates. Single income families stand more risks should the sole bread winner loses employment.
5. Buying off-the-plan is buying a drawing, buying an apartment is buying air space, but buying a freehold house is buying the precious commodity called land!
6. Selling huge areas of rural land to foreigners without sunset clauses is not the smartest to run Australia! Foreigners can occupy our sovereign land without opening any friendly fire!
I'm not telling you how to suck eggs. I'm just trying to help you build your nest eggs and then you can suck them your way.

Keeping mature aged workers in jobs

Posted to Letters to Editor, Monash Weekly 8/4/2011

Keeping mature aged workers in jobs

The biggest problem why many qualified mature-age workers can't find jobs is that many recruitment companies and human resource departments are run by people who don't know about the nature of the positions advertised. They look for perfect match. Whoever can write an application with lots of BS that match the selection criteria will stand a chance for an interview, otherwise the application will be thrown into the non-Recycle bin.

There is no joy for a grey-hair applicant after getting a phone call to go for an interview. The next hurdle is to face a younger, feeling insecure manager who doesn't want anyone that can present a threat to his/her promotion or even replacing him/her in the future.

Many job advertisements are written by graduates who have just finished a TAFE / uni course, using terms or jargon that many people can't understand.
How many of these terminologies can a mature-age experienced person including managers who have been working for decades with small companies "decode"? e.g. 2IC, ICC, CCT, CO, MO, L&D, L&M, PD, KPI, KRA, 360 Degree feedback, 6 Thinking Hats, etc.

Who wants to appear like an idiot in front of an interviewer bombarding the applicant with these out-of-the world terminologies? How many courses do we expect the mature-age unemployed to attend to upgrade their qualification or to re-train? Who do you think the trainers are and what sort of qualification do they trainers have?

Do I sound cynical? Sure I do, I'm one of the unfortunate candidates.

To add salt to the wound, I'm more qualified and experienced than my students and yet if one of my students and I apply for the same position, guess who will get the job? Not me, for sure! Unfortunately, I'm over qualified – haha!

Will you take a Jack of many trades, and master of some like me? I love to hear from you!

Millions behind on basic skills

Posted to Letters to Editor, Monash Weekly 4/4/2011
Millions behind on basic skills

The education system fails Australia! Too much emphasis is placed on training instead of teaching, and competency instead of quality.

In the name of being a developed, affluent English speaking country, we have a misconception that we are more superior than our neighbouring Asian countries - poor, underdeveloped or developing.

Whatever we do in Australia, we do it the most expensive way, because we are bound by many legislative requirements such as equal opportunity, anti-discrimination acts. Our system produces half-baked Rolls Royce instead of quality T-Ford learners.

From early childhood days, children are brainwashed to take things easy, not to be overloaded with knowledge - the key to future success. Instead of building solid foundation based on language, literacy and numeracy LLN skills, children are forced to learn things that even adults have problem in grasping such as social responsibility, global warming, bullying, etc. Children are encouraged to think and debate without the underpinning knowledge, and hence grow up to be unreasonable and arrogant - Jack of all trades, and master of none.

My motto is "being good is not good enough, my minimum standard is excellence!"

Stop releasing balloons, stop killing the defenceless

Posted to Letters to Editor, Monash Weekly 3/4/2011
Stop releasing balloons, stop killing the defenceless

On Saturday, 2 April 2011, many balloons were released at St Kilda to mark the autism week. This also marks the death of many defenceless animals and marine lives. Why?

These people are no different from many who release hundreds of balloons in "celebrating life" (for the deceased) events at funerals.

It is important to understand that once the helium gas has escaped from the balloons, they will fall into the rivers, streams, paddocks, etc. and pollute the environment and suffocate birds, small animals and marine lives.

Stop releasing balloons, stop pollution NOW!

Curtain falls, what’s next?

Posted to Letters to the Editor, Monash Weekly 21/2/2011
Curtain falls, what’s next?

Who is going to pay for the on-going up-keep and maintenance of the curtain at the Clayton Swimming Pool? The ratepayers, of course!

Every dollar spent on the curtain is a dollar sacrificed on other items such as maintenance of roads, street lighting, tree pruning, rubbish collection, etc. Now that this matter is so publicised, the flow-on negative effects will outweigh the benefits. There will be additional financial cost on security in addition to cost stated above, and social cost such as racial/religious harmony.

The next DEMAND will be prayer room and special toilets in all public facilities in the City of Monash. Some larger organisations have bowed to pressure to provide special prayer rooms, and companies must make allowance for workers to pray during work hours. Some religious believers DO NOT use toilet paper, but wash the soiled bottoms with water instead.

While I was assisting in a project in a middle-eastern country, my colleagues and I were advised to be sensitive not to eat in front of fellow colleagues at lunch break during the fasting period!

City of Monash welcomes Year of the Rabbit

Posted to Letters to the Editor, Monash Weekly 18/2/2011
City of Monash welcomes Year of the Rabbit

City of Monash celebrated the year of Rabbit with another successful, colourful, eventful, foodful (a new word) and playful celebration at Kings Way on Sunday 13/2/2011.

In fact, it was a day full of noise and smoke - yup, the rhythm of the drums and gongs that the dragons and lions danced to, and the noise of the firecrackers which was supposedly for driving away any evil spirits from the City of Monash. Unfortunately, the smoke from the firecrackers, deep-frying and barbequing in the open air was not very green for the environment.

There were activities keeping the kids entertained from castle jumping which I don't think was very Chinese at all, to lantern painting. It was really great to see so many non-Chinese performing cultural dances on stage, and participating as the dragon legs.

The aroma from the fried crumbed calamari would wet anyone's appetite. There were also the popular satays stalls, and rice cake cut into cubes that pan-fried with eggs.

Stalls selling DVDs were doing booming business. There were at least three tents and two carts offering DVDs at bargain basement price.

The highlight of the day was the lion dance performance. It was awesome that the lions hopped around so playfully or shall I say mischievously on the long steel columns, as though they were just dancing on level ground.

It's another year, another celebration! Well done and thanks to the organisers, City of Monash and sponsors. I enjoyed it thoroughly!

Monash Council's move opens the Pandora Box

Posted to Letters to the Editor, Monash Weekly 15/2/2011
Title: Monash Council's move opens the Pandora Box

I have written in various papers including this about my views on segregation, whether it is on businesses in Kingsway or the use of swimming pool.

Multiculturalism is not a one-way traffic. Australians are asked to be patient, tolerant, and acceptant with other’s cultures, and expected to learn about them, and yet many immigrants do not reciprocate. Unless there is a common unifying force to bind them together, the Australian social fabric will be torn.

Just on language alone - as myriads of immigrants from different races and ethnic backgrounds reach our shore grow by the day, and more and more indigenous Australians joining the mainstream society at large, Australia will soon become a Tower of Babel. Not only does this create misunderstanding and suspicion among people, but also bring forth many workplace and road safety problems.

There are cases whereby expensive construction projects are delayed because initial design plans did not include facilities for certain religious groups and needed to be rectified. Many public hospitals have to provide special meals, not because of health reason, but of religious origin. Cultural and religious diversity will only increase, and segregation, special treatment and privileges have to stop now before they multiply like cancer cells.

Should Australia give special privileges to the indigenous Australians since their fore-parents were here before Captain Cook founded Australia? Neither an indigenous Australian nor an immigrant should be given special privileges. However, Australia has an obligation and responsibility to provide the opportunity to lift the standard of living of all Australians including indigenous Australians and immigrants.

Former Singapore Prime Minister, Lee Kwan Yew once said, “give a beggar a gold coin, he will ask for a second one”. In some countries where special privileges were given to a specific group, they soon rise to become a force that can exert strong political influence to topple any government attempting to remove the privileges. Do we want this to happen in Australia or in your City like Monash?

I firmly believe that multiculturalism should make way for uniform practice in many publicly funded organisations.

Climate Change / Global Warming

Posted to Letters to the Editor, Monash Weekly 31/1/2011
Title: Climate Change / Global Warming

Our life span is not that long, so we don't really know whether this is a regular phenomenon.

One thing I am sure of, Earth / ocean warming is due to the trillions of joules of Sun energy pouring onto the Earth each day, which is absorbed by the ocean.

Don't let idiots spread the rumours that the dinosaur's farts, shits or burps emitted enough carbon dioxide or methane gas to cause atmospheric pollution resulting in Ice Age!

We have to accept the fact the temperatures will rise with time, and we must learn to adapt to the environmental changes. If we fail to recognise the importance of living with prevalent conditions, we will experience the same consequence as what had happened to the dinosaurs. On the contrary, if we are smart, we will live forever more like the insects.

Think about it, before the next raindrop falls

Posted to Letters to the Editor, Monash Weekly 30/1/2011
Title: Think about it, before the next raindrop falls

Many new residential blocks are small, and the house, drive way and garage occupy most of the land, leaving very little room for plants.

Although earlier subdivided land sizes are bigger, many people have turned the non build-up areas into rock gardens or concreted outdoor area due to busy life style. Rain is not absorbed, and goes down to the drain literally.

With fewer plants, absorption of carbon dioxide is reduced, and in the meantime, emission of oxygen is reduced as well.