Bamboo , also known as black diamond is fast becoming an indispendable part of our modern day lives. With pollution giving rise to climate changes, it is important that we continue to look for more sustainable ways of co-existing with nature instead of depleting it with massive forest logging; giving rise to desertification (i.e making deserts out of more land each day). Imagine EARTH as a whole desert, devoid of water with no shade from the blazing sun. How can humans continue life as it is now if the world is racing to shave Mother Nature off from the face of the earth in the name of modern day conveniences.Ever since reading an article in READER'S DIGEST on how the bamboo plant absorbs more carbon dioxide than any plant and gives out plenty of oxygen back into the air, I have begun to take notice of bamboo plants in general. It's great that Singapore is already a garden city with an abundance of trees and foliage around the whole island. But still, the city centre region can do with a little bit more shade and temperature control from more leafy trees to take the heat out. I am glad that local farm BOLLYWOOD VEGGIES has some varieties of bamboo cultivated in their Kranji farm. I do wish that more bamboo can be planted islandwide to improve air quality. It is one of the fastest growing plants but i suspect the high maintenance of its shedding leaves makes it quite a challenge to upkeep the clean roads we are so used to seeing everyday.
While relaxing to the weekly episode of SAVING GAIA - The Green Reapers, now shown on Channelnewsasia every Saturday, it struck me that bamboo can be as strong as concrete, if not even stronger when utitilsed properly as a construction element in architecture. It was quite amazing to learn that a company in Hunan,China has come up with a new composite material called "Glubam". It is a remarkable material made from strips of bamboo bonded together very securely. It has been used increasingly in building relief housing for natural disasters such as the Sichuan Earthquake and more is being explored for used in temporary showflats, which can be torn down and recycled for another showflat. If only these can be used for the numerous office cubicles in Singapore which get torn down like lego bricks with frequent office renovations. Read more about GLUBAM here - http://www.glubam.com/
Bamboo has myriad more uses when burnt into charcoal. In charcoal state, it makes a great vessel for absorbing unpleasant odours and humidity in the air. No wonder I have spotted more eateries placing bowls of charcoal in kitchens like those in CEDELE DEPOT and cafes like Tea Bone Zen Mind. How many times have you stepped into an eatery only to be unwillingly perfumed by food vapors released into the air with open area cooking. Air purifiers might remove some smells temporarily but nothing quite beats charcoal absorbing excess moisture in the air which might smell damp in an enclosed room after long periods of high humidy. Not only does it make the air smell better without adding more pollutants like man-made perfume to mask bad odours, it can also be used to diffuse the harmful effects of electromagnetic waves from electrical appliances like our computers, handphones, microwave ovens, etc... Read more about the wonders of bamboo charcoal here - http://www.blacktonature.com/
So for those of your who have the luxury of a little garden in your private houses. Or huge parcels of lands in your name, pay it forward and plant some bamboo plants in your backyard today. Your generations to come will enjoy the fruits of your labour as Earth continues to be a haven with suitable conditions for nuturing life.
"Bombastically Bamboo-fied"
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