MAKE TRADE FAIR

FACT #1
15 million Ethiopians are dependent on coffee, and whilst they grow some of the world’s finest beans, they don’t see the rich profits.

FACT #2
For every cup of coffee sold by major coffee chain stores, farmers in coffee-growing countries like Ethiopia only earn about 3 cents.

Every cup counts people,so consider it before you fork out the ringgits for it ;p

Darfur : Episode 3

Look at Darfur situation with both eyes
By SHAHANAAZ HABIB

Journalists on a trip organised largely for the Intelligence Communities of African Countries had Sudanese officials telling them that the situation in Darfur was actually improving - contrary to what the West has been saying.

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2007/6/8/nation/17963942&sec=nation
-The Star Friday,8th June 2007

hmm.i had a chat with a friend the other day and he told me that sometimes what's told over mass media might not necessarily be the truth.They might not be lies either but sometimes we do not get the whole picture of the story,just pieces of what they want us to know.Sometimes what we get on the news are pieces of manipulated stories that are used to somehow benefit a certain party.It is undeniable how bias some television or other form of media networks can be,and for us who depend so much on them for the latest info,well,that is really unfortunate for us.So,how do we filter the things that we get?Hmm

1980. A kid in Uganda about to die of hunger, and a missionaire.

World Environment Day - 5th June 2007

DEFORESTATION, BANGLADESH. Madhupur Forest. Burning forest to extend agricultural land.

UNEP World Environment Day 5 June 2007

With the slogan Melting Ice - A Hot Topic it is obvious that the main issue this year is climate change.With leaders around the country taking up the call to fight issues like global warming it looks like things are actually looking up.But is it too late?Already we are being warned of potential catastrophes,the ice caps are melting,unpredictable weather conditions,etc.But to some global warming is still a myth.I personally feel that everyone should contribute,even the smallest action counts.We are the ones destroying the planet and it is up to us to save it.Already we are dumping our waste into the waters,and just because we've found another habitable planet does not make it ok to pollute and not care about the one we're living on.Personally i feel i have a long way to go to being an environmental friendly person,but i feel that if we could only make it a priority in our lives,then we can all work together to save the Earth.Lets just remind ourselves to take care of what we have right now,rather than regret in losing it in the future.And that future might just be around the corner.

DO’S AND DON’TS TO HELP THE PLANET


Energy Savings at Home
People all over the world are taking measures to reduce the greenhouse gases emitted as a result of the way they live. Using less energy not only helps the planet, but also saves money on household bills.Turning the heating thermostat down, and the air conditioning up, by 1.5°C (3°F) saves around 1 tonnes of CO2 (carbon dioxide) a year. An energy-efficiency refrigerator could save nearly half a tonne of CO2 a year, compared with an older model. Insulating windows, doors, and electrical outlets and adding more insulation to the attic and basement reduces energy consumption.Compact fluorescent, spiral light bulbs are 75% more efficient than standard light bulbs


Energy Savings on the Road
Walking, cycling, using a car pool or taking public transport, all produce fewer emissions than those emitted by a single person in a car.Choosing the most efficient car available, such as a hybrid gasoline-electric model, and keeping any car well maintained, will reduce emissions.Sharing a car and avoiding short journeys by car, saves energy.Keeping tires optimally inflated uses less fuel and cuts down emissions.Driving at 5 mph below the speed limit over an 8-mile commute to work saves 350 kg of CO2 per year.


Reducing Garbage
On average a person throws away 10 times his or her bodyweight in rubbish per year. One kilogram sent to landfill produces 2 kg of methane. The simplest way of reducing this burden is to buy and waste less unnecessary packaging.Recycling paper, glass, aluminum, steel and other materials to produce "new" materials, can make energy savings. Using both sides of the paper and recycling it can save 2.5 kg of greenhouse gases for every kilogram of paper used.


Becoming Carbon Neutral
After reducing emissions as much as possible, people become carbon neutral by "offsetting" the rest. They purchase "carbon credits" to channel their money into projects leading to a reduction in emissions. With details of the activity or fuel use to be offset, the organization calculates how many carbon credits need to be bought. Cost of credits varies, but is around $10/£7.50 per tonne of CO2.


Advocating Change
Individuals can encourage larger communities to act on climate change. For example:
• Workplaces and schools: encourage co-workers or fellow students to adopt strategies that reduce missions;
• Companies and governing bodies: lobby management to invest in energy conservation measures, or renewable energy;
• Pressure groups and local government representatives: advocate local action. See Cities for Climate Protection programme: www.iclei.org/co2/;
• Corporations: encourage evaluation of their contributions to the greenhouse effect and point them to the many success stories and available toolkits;
• Government: lobby ministers to take actions to reduce emissions and plan adaptation options.


Source: The Atlas of Climate Change – Mapping the World’s Greatest Challenge


"The day's agenda is to give a human face to environmental issues; empower people to become active agents of sustainable and equitable development; promote an understanding that communities are pivotal to changing attitudes towards environmental issues; and advocate partnership, which will ensure all nations and peoples enjoy a safer and more prosperous future. World Environment Day is a people's event with colourful activities such as street rallies, bicycle parades, green concerts, essays and poster competitions in schools, tree planting, as well as recycling and clean-up campaigns."

31st May 2007 - World No Tobacco Day

Tobacco is the second major cause of death in the world. It is well known that half the people who smoke regularly today – about 650 million people – will eventually be killed by tobacco. Equally alarming is the fact that hundreds of thousands of people who have never smoked die each year from diseases caused by breathing second-hand tobacco smoke - taken from WHO

There are things that is totally out of our hands,things that we cannot control like natural disasters,which could cause severe catastrophes.And then there are things which we can control,choices we can make.We control the hand which lights up the cigarette or stub it out.Even if you love smoking so much,then think of the loved ones around you.Girlfriend,wife,daughter...because of you they've become smokers too.Noone can force anyone to do anything cause it's all about choice.So choose to put out that cigarette ;p

Darfur : Episode 2

Will Sanctions End the Darfur Killing?

"Despite the sanctions announced Tuesday by President Bush, the coming months will see more horrifying news of massacres from Darfur, more wrenching refugee tales, more urgent calls for action".Won't sanctions make it worse for the people in Sudan?Shouldn't the international community give aid to Sudan instead of cornering them and potentially worsening the conditions there?Humanitarian conditions are worsening there,is placing a sanction really going to help Sudan in any way at all?I guess it is one way to control the violence taking place there but the Sudan people are already deprived of so many things,and the innocent are usually the victim here.Even with sanctions,the rebels would find ways to get firearm supplies easily if they wanted to.It's the people of Sudan that should be the main concern.The innocent men,women,children who just happened to be stuck smack in the middle of everything.The international community should instead work harder to help out with the peace agreements,if we really do want to help out.Violence sure as heck does not solve anything,and the examples are still here for us to see (Iraq.duh) Sure,discussions have long been going on and it doesn't seem to be going anywhere but that's the thing,if for once,just for once,we were to think of the welfare of the country actually in the deepest part of the muck,anything is achieveable.It's wishful thinking but can actually be reality if we only stop thinking about gaining profit for ourselves and for once,think of the people of Sudan,who by right,should have all the say in this thing.Their voices can't be heard,and they are the victims of the situation.Think of them,and not of ourselves.Save Darfur,but also respect their independence.Help them,but don't expect anything in return.Give aid,not create more violence.They've suffered enough.

*all of the above are the author's own thoughts,with certain excerpts taken from other sources.The author would like to apologize for her ignorance and believe that although she does not have much say in this matter,she believes that spreading the information around would,somehow,help.how?beats her.but she would greatly appreciate comments or opinion,if anyone would like to enlighten her and everybody alse on this issue.thank you

"In Darfur, it would be better to help the Sudanese get over the crisis so their country is pacified rather than sanctions which would push them back to their misdeeds of old," junior Foreign Minister Renaud Muselier told French radio.

Darfur : Episode 1

SaveDarfur.org has a post called "Background" that's worth checking out...

DOWNLOAD: Policy Talking Points (Updated 3/30/07)Darfur has been embroiled in a deadly conflict for over three years. At least 400,000 people…

How did the conflict start?

The conflict began in the arid and impoverished region early in 2003 after a rebel group began attacking government targets, saying the region was being neglected by Khartoum.
The rebels say the government is oppressing black Africans in favour of Arabs.
Darfur, which means land of the Fur, has faced many years of tension over land and grazing rights between the mostly nomadic Arabs, and farmers from the Fur, Massaleet and Zagawa communities.
There are two main rebel groups, the Sudan Liberation Army (SLA) and the Justice and Equality Movement (Jem), although the peace talks were complicated by splits in both groups, some along ethnic lines.
The groups opposed to May 2006 peace deal with the government have now merged into the National Redemption Front led by former Darfur governor Ahmed Diraige.

What is the government doing?

It admits mobilising "self-defence militias" following rebel attacks but denies any links to the Janjaweed, accused of trying to "cleanse" black Africans from large swathes of territory.
Refugees from Darfur say that following air raids by government aircraft, the Janjaweed ride into villages on horses and camels, slaughtering men, raping women and stealing whatever they can find.
Many women report being abducted by the Janjaweed and held as sex slaves for more than a week before being released.
The US and some human rights groups say that genocide is taking place - though a UN investigation team sent to Sudan said that while war crimes had been committed, there had been no intent to commit genocide.
Sudan's government denies being in control of the Janjaweed and President Omar al-Bashir has called them "thieves and gangsters".
After strong international pressure and the threat of sanctions, the government promised to disarm the Janjaweed. But so far there is little evidence this has happened.
Trials have been announced in Khartoum of some members of the security forces suspected of abuses - but this is viewed as part of a campaign against UN-backed attempts to get some 50 key suspects tried at the International Criminal Court in The Hague.
What has happened to Darfur's civilians?
Millions have fled their destroyed villages, with many heading for camps near Darfur's main towns. But there is not enough food, water or medicine.
The Janjaweed patrol outside the camps and Darfurians say the men are killed and the women raped if they venture too far in search of firewood or water.

The Janjaweed are accused of 'ethnic cleansing'Some 200,000 have also sought safety in neighbouring Chad, but many of these are camped along a 600km stretch of the border and remain vulnerable to attacks from Sudan.
The refugees are also threatened by the diplomatic fallout between Chad and Sudan as the neighbours accuse one another of supporting each other's rebel groups.
Chad's eastern areas have a similar ethnic make-up to Darfur.
Many aid agencies are working in Darfur but they are unable to get access to vast areas because of the fighting.

How many have died?

With much of Darfur inaccessible to aid workers and researchers, calculating how many deaths there have been in the past three years is impossible.
What researchers have done is to estimate the deaths based on surveys in areas they can reach.
The latest research published in September 2006 in the journal Science puts the numbers of deaths above and beyond those that would normally die in this inhospitable area at "no fewer than 200,000".
The US researchers say that their figures are the most compelling and persuasive estimate to date. They have made no distinction between those dying as a result of violence and those dying as a result of starvation or disease in refugee camps.
Accurate figures are crucial in determining whether the deaths in Darfur are genocide or - as the Sudanese government says - the situation is being exaggerated.

What happened to the peace deal?

SLA leader Minni Minawi, who signed the May peace deal, was given a large budget, but his fighters have already been accused by Amnesty International of abuses against people in areas opposed to the peace deal.
The smaller SLA faction and Jem did not sign the deal.
There has been a dramatic increase in violence and displacement since the deal was signed.
With the peace deal looking unworkable and amid fears of renewed "all-out war", there appears little prospect of people returning to their villages for some time yet.

Is anyone trying to stop the fighting?

About 7,000 African Union troops have slowly been deployed in Darfur on a very limited mandate.
Experts say the soldiers are too few to cover an area the size of France, and the African Union says it does not have the money to fund the operation for much longer.
Sudan has resisted strong western diplomatic pressure for the UN to take control of the peacekeeping mission. The latest plan envisages a more than doubling of numbers and a hybrid force with much greater UN involvement but at present Sudan says it will allow just 3,000 extra troops.
In April 2006, the UN Security Council passed a resolution imposing sanctions against four Sudanese nationals accused of war crimes in Darfur that include two rebel leaders, a former air force chief, and a Janjaweed militia leader.
A dossier of evidence compiled by a UN commission has also been passed to the ICC in The Hague, along with the names of top war crimes suspects.

Will sanctions be imposed?

The US and the UK have long threatened international sanctions against Sudan, unless it agrees to having more UN peacekeepers in Darfur.
But such threats have so far achieved little, as Sudan's allies Russia and China have used their veto in the UN Security Council to block tough resolutions.
The US imposed sanctions on Sudan in 1997 because of its previous ties to Osama Bin Laden. Under these, Sudanese firms cannot use US dollars, making international trade more difficult.
On 29 May 2007, the US announced fresh sanctions targeting Sudanese companies and individuals involved in the violence in Darfur.
It banned 30 Sudanese companies, mostly in the oil business, and three individuals from trading or banking with the US.
On the same day, President Bush also announced a push for new UN Security Council sanctions.

when there is nothing to talk about

there's always something to talk about.i'm just going through a phase where i'm not really sure what it is i wanna talk about.hmm2.is it writer's block?but i'm not really a writer.hmm.wutever.for those who have been reading this blog,might have noticed how there have been no updates recently.because of that i would like to apologize,guess the activist-ism in me went out for a bit.been busy with other stuff.
but nway,i promise i'll be back with the usual things to talk about,wutever that is.so till then,don't litter!

Giving back to our community

Social causes, not drugs

By LOH FOON FONG

FIQTRY Al Haqimiey plays the didgeridoo and djembe for his four-member band Semira (Seni Milik Rakyat) but on Sundays, the 21-year-old goes to the market, collects free vegetables from the sellers and cooks them for the homeless.

Coordinating an NGO called Food not Bombs Kuala Lumpur (FNBKL), Fiqtry and six other people, including his band members, cook vegetarian food at the FNBKL centre in Robson Heights, Taman Seputeh from 2pm to 5.30pm and then distribute the food to the homeless and destitute at Jalan Bukit Nenas, Kuala Lumpur.

http://thestar.com.my/youth2/story.asp?file=/2006/3/29/youth2/13471869&sec=youth2

(Wednesday, March 29 2006)

I heard about them from a friend some time ago,and it's amazing how dedicated some people are.Charity work will always amaze me as it requires you to put extreme effort in order to make it work and also bring the effects that you want.I don't think people do enough for society because even stories like the above occur only once in awhile.Not that i'm doubting the existence of many good samaritans out there who are ever willing to lend a helping hand to those who need it.But you know how things are,it's never enough.Even the occasional beggars who ask for money from table to table gets turned away.I guess some people think they are putting up a front,'pretending' to be crippled or blind in order to get some sympathy.I guess you could never really be sure,just have faith in the human kind.haha.But anyway,it would be really nice to get involved in any form of charity work.So maybe we could encourage each other to do so! ;p

The idea of recycling has always appealed to me as it offers a solution to the answer of where does all the rubbish go.I mean,i look at the amount of plastic rubbish alone i generate in a day and i shudder.Times that with the whole population of Malaysia,not to mention the whole world and its like wowhh.It's just amazing the amount of non-biodegradable rubbish we produce.So why not recycle?It is for our own good right?I applaud malls which have recycling bins like Ikano Power Centre in Damansara.It actually encourages consumers to practice recycling,even if it's only in the mall but hey,that's a start right?But sometimes there are irresponsible people who do not throw the types of rubbish into their respective bins.I don't know why but i guess not everything can go perfectly.Which comes back to the main question.Why can't our country be more serious in handling our rubbish?I mean,the decreasing amount of space to chuck them away had some people worried a few years back,and i heard about trips being made to countries who successfully carry out their recycling programs.Then nothing.Nada.Nyet.What happened?Is it still in progress?What's going on?A friend says that it's takes a lot of time,cost,technology to start this whole recycling thing but what are we waiting for?Till we finally run out of space and grounds to dig,or till our rivers or lakes or oceans becomes a dumping ground (It is already isn't it?) I mean ,yeah,it's easy to talk about it and all but to carry it out takes a lot more and that is exactly what we don't have.We've achieved so much and yet we still have doubts about doing things that would actually benefit us.Is it because recycling takes too much effort and we can't really gain any profit from it that we think that it is not a worthwhile cause to fight for?For me,i think that recycling is a brilliant idea and if only we are encouraged to recycle more,and also provided with the facilities and also the knowledge,well,wouldn't it be a better world? :) I'm trying it out and mind you i'm not an expert on the subject.In fact,i'm still having trouble identifying a proper recycling center but i don't think that should stop me.Till then,lets try this recycling thing.Once we get used to it it'll probably be a breeze ;p

http://www.kitarsemula.com/RecyclingCentre.asp (it's a dead link!anyone has any suggestions as to where we can check out our nearest recycling center,other information about recycling etc.thanx!) this might be something worth looking into : http://www.reach.org.my/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=22&Itemid=47 (

Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall...

New love-our-river campaign

JOHOR BARU: The 15-year-old “Love Our River” campaign has been declared a failure but there are plans to launch a new RM10mil campaign to educate the public about protecting rivers in the country.

http://www.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2007/4/25/nation/17541919&sec=nation
(Wednesday, April 25th 2007)

Let's hope it will be a well-spent 10mil.....

Why Walls Don't Work in Baghdad


Residents walk past a concrete wall on a street in Adhamiya district in Baghdad April 22, 2007. The U.S. military is putting up concrete walls to protect five neighbourhoods in Baghdad in a new strategy some residents said on Sunday would isolate them from other communities and sharpen sectarian tensions.



http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1614328,00.html
(Tuesday, April 24th 2007)