Save Marine Lives

Close to 1/3 of the planet’s fish stocks are overfished and 1 in 4 species of sharks, rays and skates are threatened with extinction. In just 4 decades, marine species have declined by 49%, according to one of the most extensive surveys of marine life ever compiled. In less than a human generation , we see a dramatic loss of ocean wildlife — they have declined by half and their habitats have been degraded and destroyed . 

<Adapted from Seeker.com> 

There is no better time to save these marine lives from overexploitation and pollution. Our demand for fishes have caused many other species of fish to be caught in the process and end up being waste because they simply do not have any market value. Corals are suffering from poor water quality due to deforestation and coastal agriculture , along with increasing fishing pressure. Corals are now dying at a unprecedented rate, they are also being bleached. Despite some coral reefs having the ability to bounce back from bleaching and other ocean disturbances, the rate in which ocean acidification is happening, definitely is not a favourable situation as it slows down their ability to do so.

Keeping in mind how important oceans play a vital part in our economy, it is imperative that we take immediate action. If you’re thinking that you are just a small drop in the ocean, there is an opportunity in which you can contribute to saving these beautiful marine creatures while at the same time shop till you drop.

June 28, 2016 by gooyokers Categories: Motivation, Pleasures of Life, Vegucation Leave a comment

Dealing With Low Self-Esteem

I believe that everyone at some point in their life would have dabbled with the issue of low self-esteem. It is inevitable to lack confidence in something. I personally struggled with acne and weight. My acne was just rampant especially over my forehead while I kept having this image that I was fat when clearly by society’s standards I wasn’t. No one is perfect, we’d all have to face this issue and go through these roller coaster of emotions. However, in order to ensure things still follow through and that the ride is a smooth one despite ups and downs, I’ve complied some tips on how to deal with low-self esteem.

June 22, 2016 by gooyokers Categories: MotivationTags: Motivation, self esteem Leave a comment

The Anatomy of a Lover

‘If they cut me open, would they find a lion-heart beating in tandem with yours (lub-dub-lub-dub) sorrow flowing through the vena cava nostalgia fermenting in the left ventricle or an irregularity of euphoria granted permission to bypass tricuspid and bicuspid because too much of a good thing can kill. 

I am not a scientist but I know chemistry when I see it and not the strafer pink or celestial blue sediments in test tubes, but the crippling explosion of fireworks under the ribcage beneath my sternum up to the clavicle and down to the tailbone when your fingers dance between mine. ‘

–Wong Su Ann

<adapted from equatorial sunshine>

June 20, 2016 by gooyokers Categories: Pleasures of LifeTags: beautiful, couples, heart, love, lovers Leave a comment

Vegan Celebrities and Influencers

Part of why we eat meat is due to society’s influence. Celebrities, Politicians and nowadays Instagram famous people, are setting the trends and whatever they eat or do will have some sort of impact on their audience. They have shaped our perception on things. They have set the standards as to what is normal. This is why many of us are afraid of attempting something different. To be bold and courageous to have our opinions. I find this particularly prevalent in Asian communities where we are taught to just follow instead of having a mind of our own to make decisions and have our own opinions. Fortunately, we have Vegan celebrities and Instagram influencers that are bold and brazen, going against social norms to promote what they believe is right for themselves, the animals and others. That’s right, promoting Veganism.

June 18, 2016 by gooyokers Categories: Motivation, VegucationTags: celebrities, healthy, influencers, vegan, youtubers Leave a comment

Vegan Saves The Environment

We are fully aware of the damage that mankind has inflicted on this Earth. From deforestation, extinction of species to global warming and the depletion of our ozone layer. Such environmental devastation calls for immediate action from government bodies and NGOs. Its heartening to see many countries actively making an effort to reduce industrial carbon emissions, especially China. However, there is a huge misconception that the leading cause of greenhouse gas emissions is due to transportation and exhaust. We are all misled into thinking that as an individual the most we can do is to save electricity, reduce, reuse and recycle, take public transport, ride a bike. Did you know that animal agriculture is responsible for 18% of greenhouse gas emissions, more than the combined exhaust from all transportation (13%) ? Methane, given out through the belching of livestock, is 25-100 times more destructive than co2 in a 20 year period. And it doesn’t stop there, at the rate that we’re going, methane emissions are said to increase by 80% by 2050.

June 17, 2016 by gooyokers Categories: VegucationTags: animals, environment, saving earth, vegan Leave a comment

Where Vegans Get Their Protein From?

‘If you’re Vegan, where do you get your protein from?’

‘Oh, You’re Vegan, no wonder you look skinny and weak’

I’ve came across such questions and comments countless times. Hence, I shall address these concerns once and for all. Firstly, let me share with you the average daily requirements of how much protein we should consume in a day. According to the World Health Organisation, the daily recommended intake for protein is 0.66g/kg. For ladies it ranges between 30g (45kg/100lb)  to 50g (175b/80kg) . This suggest that your body needs only about 120-200 calories from protein each day. Let’s say me being 45kg, eats 2500 calories per day, this means only 5% of my total calories come from protein. Note that this is not the minimum requirement but the average. 

June 15, 2016 by gooyokers Categories: VegucationTags: plant, protein, vegan Leave a comment

Weight-loss Transformation

I was never considered overweight (other than primary school) nor did I look really chubby. But I struggled a lot with my weight and body image even till this day. As I was scrolling through my photo album (on my phone), I came across my old photos and compared it to my recent photos. I was pretty shocked that I evidently lost weight/fat around my thigh area. When Bryan took photos of me, I’d always ask:

June 14, 2016 by gooyokers Categories: Motivation Leave a comment

Are Humans More Superior To Animals?

We all grew up believing that humans dominate the world, that we are far more superior than the animal kingdom. Personally, I grew up eating meat. Eating meat was considered normal in my society. We kill animals for consumption and for production of apparels/accessories. The notion that Humans are more superior to animals has been entrenched since God knows when. I’m sure at some point we begin to question ourselves if what we’re doing is ethical. However, many people, in order to avoid this cognitive dissonance, either this thought aside or they choose to believe its normal. In general, in order to protect one’s beliefs, most would stick with the status quo. Not to disrupt society’s norms, not actively seeking to find evidence of ‘the truth’ hence the belief remains. We homosapiens perceive ourselves to be the most ‘rational’ species on the planet. The idea that we are capable of abstract thinking and making decisions based on logical thinking. This separates us from those ‘brute beasts’. However, there are several traits in which animals are far more superior than us humans.

June 14, 2016 by gooyokers Categories: Vegucation Leave a comment

The Not So Glamourous Leather

Whenever You walk into a store with leather goods, do you ever wonder how it ever came about? Leather is made from the skins of cows, pigs, goats and sheep. You probably aren’t surprised to hear that. However leather is also made from the skin of ostriches, crocodiles, alligators and even dogs and cats. Every year more than a billion animals are being slaughtered for food, cosmetics and apparels. The leather industry is a byproduct of that. Beneath the glitz and glamour of holding a branded bag or wearing a branded shoe, hid an untold story of the awful torture and murder of innocent animals. The horrors of these slaughter houses that these animals have to endure include extreme overcrowding, deprivation, unanethetized castration, branding, and dehorning. Indian workers are forced to break the tails of cows and rub chilli peppers into their eyes should the cow collapse from exhaustion. Alligators are packed in half submerged tanks, to a regular person it may seem as though it looks at peace however to a biologist, they will tell you that the poor alligator is stressed out in such a confined space (in other words, feeling claustrophobic). Kangaroo skin is usually made into soccer shoes. Workers are told to decapitate its head or to hit sharply on their head to ‘destroy their brain’. This has lead to Super Star Soccer player David Beckham switching to synthetic leather/materials in 2006. In 2012, Adidas as also stopped using kangaroo skins for its shoes too.

June 12, 2016 by gooyokers Categories: Vegucation Leave a comment

Review on Pita Pan and Pita and Olives

Being a Vegan does not mean that you’re restricted to just eating Western cuisine (spaghetti, potatoes, salads). You will also get to enjoy a myriad of other cuisines such as Mexican, Mediterranean, Chinese, Indian, Malay, etc. with Mediterranean being one of my favourite. This means having hummus, chickpeas, falafels, pita breads and many more. Whats best is that its 90% Vegan (I ordered a 100% Vegan one) as they offer meat too (for Pita and Olives). Pita Pan is fully vegetarian while Pita and Olives has a non-veg menu.

June 11, 2016 by gooyokers Categories: Vegan Food Reviews Leave a comment