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