Thrifty ways in the crisis

Thrifty ways in the crisis

This is an additional thought to the letter printed in the
July 16 edition of The Jakarta Post by Ritu Sud, regarding
fasting and the example of the prime minister of India, Lal
Bahadur Shastri. I agree with what Ritu Sud said.

Lal Bahadur Shastri not only called upon Indians to fast once
weekly on every Monday, but also requested them to eat vegetables
instead of rice or wheat. He asked them to grow vegetables in the
back or front of their houses, or wherever they had space. I
continue to do this to this day, growing vegetables like
tomatoes, green chilies, cucumber and Siam cucumber. These
vegetables are easy to grow in the yard. Also, one can raise
fruits like papayas and bananas; papaya grows very fast.

There are so many ways of saving to be had from many different
actions. Cut down or stop smoking, and eat boiled foods instead
of fried. If 50 percent of your daily diet can be shifted to
boiled or steamed fare, you will save on half of your cooking oil
consumption. It is only a matter of will to do so rather than
just sitting back and criticizing others.

President B.J. Habibie has made us aware that each and every
citizen can help the country by fasting. Helping the country
means helping ourselves.

N.S. DORHAILAY

Solo, Central Java