without irony.

boycott list

This is the list of companies I am currently boycotting. By that, I mean I'm actively avoiding them, even if it means inconveniencing myself. So, you won't find any cigarette companies up there because I don't smoke; but that doesn't mean they don't require boycotting.

social awareness tips

I don't consider myself an activist, but I do consider myself socially conscious. I'm guessing there are many others like me who might be upset by the way the world is but isn't sure how to react or fight back. Here, I offer some suggestions. They'll vary from the mundane to the borderline psychotic, but they're doable things. Sometimes, you just need to take baby steps towards changing yourself and others.

This site is dedicated to Lum Chai-Ping (林彩屏), who was a great mentor to me. She was my housemaid when I was growing up in Malaysia. I was around three when she came into my life. Being the youngest child, I ended up spending a lot of time with her. I recall spending a lot of time fighting with her about silly things, but as I grew up, I began to learn about how we were stuck in a social hierarchy that made no sense. I fully appreciate the irony that, if she didn't come to us as a housemaid, we may never had met. And yet I couldn't help feel that we were part of the problem, or exploiting her circumstances, even though we were really nice to her and we paid her well.

She returned to China when was about to go to college, but came back soon later after she wasn't able to adapt to the living conditions there. She spent a few more years in Malaysia, during which sometimes I would secretly call her from the United States. I had the privilege of spending more time with her than anyone else, even more than her own son, who was in China. But even now, I miss her and feel that our time together was too short. She passed away in 1997.

I dedicate this site to her because you should never believe that you are too insignificant to make a difference. You don't have to be rich or educated or powerful to be considered important.

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