"What is happening to my country?" a friend of mine says

A friend of a friend recently commented that he hopes I keep updating.Wow.I seriously didn't think anyone would be interested to read this but since there are (or is) and because I am deeply touched because there is at least one person who reads this blog,I shall try to have regular updates ;)

Ok.back to the title of my post.I have this friend,he is actually the husband of my mother's officemate and we knew each other because my mom and his wife had this course at this resort and while they were busy,we were busy also.Gallivanting and enjoying the place.Uncle S is a 60+ year old man,a really2 cool chap and he is absolutely hilarious.He is an Indian.And he also refers to me as his best friend.I do not see him often but when I do,I would always have a good time and also learn some new things.Uncle S,like my mother,used to be a teacher.So when he talks to people,he always had a way of connecting with them.So the other day my mum and I stopped by their house and we had a chat.Of course it started off about the weather,how intensely hot it is nowadays and then he said,

"haihhhhh....what is happening to my country-lah.....it never used
to be like this.everyone was so nice to everyone.Now,look at everyone.
He is saying this person has done this,and the person said he has done that.
Aiyo.what is happening lah.All these people used to work together and
now everyone is hitting out on each other.aiyoyo.what lah"

How can the public be the judge when we can't even tell the truth from the lies?

Faking it?

I was helping this blind guy go to his room in the library (they provided him with a special room,he is a masters student) and while I was passing the entrance,two of the guys working there said that the guy was just faking it.So have I been duped?

he actually asked me for another favour,which included following him to ampang because he wanted to fix his cd player.hmm

For real?

Malaysia's Election Day - 8th March 2008

I was inspired by a column in The Star newspaper written by Koh Lay Chin.It was titled 'Flawed maybe,but the system works here' and her thoughts exactly mirrored mine.

*Koh Lay Chin writes for NST.sorry.my mistake :)

"Voting is a symbolic and physical act of love and commitment to one's nation, a relationship you renew and re-evaluate every four or five years. Whether the love counts or can be trusted, one may never know. But you act on it, you fight, trust and keep your fingers crossed, regardless. Democracy is an excruciating, poetic and sinuous labour of love - one person's vote is an actual act of engagement and a symbolic pact of hope. One must believe that his or her one vote counts"

Now,I do not openly support any political parties and I probably never really will. This Saturday will be my first time voting and how exactly will I come to a decision?Let's make it simple. I am comfortable where I am now.I am able to get an education.I can walk the streets without fear of bombings. My friends who have graduated are able to get good jobs. I am contented with the way things are run now. Do I have faith that if other people were to take charge instead,would they do a better job?No.So that is how I will vote.

What do I know of politics?Nothing.I have no idea of how things are run,regardless of the numerous legislations and procedures to follow but what really goes on up there,I really don't know. Basically what most people have (especially during election time) are just stories being passed from mouth to mouth, and we all know what happens in a game of Chinese Whispers. Fact of the matter is, the situation can get down and dirty. And I will never really know what is real and what is not. Even the voting system is put under the microscope and scrutinized from every aspect. It's a flawed system, but I think they've handled it the best they can. The Election Commission consists of a bunch of people,and just like us,they're prone to mistakes. I read an article about how Malaysians are denied the rights to vote fairly and with justice.Hmm.Truth be told,from what I can see,they are given the right to vote.It's just a matter of whether they want to or not.Some of them did not even register although they are way past the eligible age of voting.So what's the story morning glory?

I do believe in the voting system,and as rational,logical and mature thinking rakyats we are, we should express our feelings through our votes. Not by tearing down or vandalising the posters of those who we do not support.There are always chances of a new government or new faces ruling the country.If there is,then I shall welcome them with open arms.Change is always good.That's the whole point of the voting system.Voice out your opinions there.By forever harping on how screwed up the whole system is,how do we expect to change anything?What makes you think,that in the hands of other people,the system would be better than it is? It's all about thinking things through and analyzing what's good for you, your loved ones and your country.

Till then, Happy Voting Malaysia!

how relevant is freedom of speech in our community today?

freedom of speech (FOS) is forever an issue with several communities around the world.some demand for it,others think it is a recipe for disaster.unfortunately, FOS is not something we can measure or control easily.Even looking up for the meaning of FOS offers thousands of different perspectives,each with its own definition of what it is,the philosophy behind it,and how it is expressed.I define FOS as the freedom to speak your mind,what you think,whatever, with no restrictions whatsoever.FOS in my perspective is being able to say anything i want,for instance,in this blog,without worrying about red-tapes and restrictions so that the public will be able to read everything I am saying and be able to respond in a way they want to.And in a way,I already have my FOS right,noone's telling me to stop it or slap me with an arrest or anything like that right?That's what I mean by how broad the definition of FOS can be,it just depends on how you apply it to the situation I guess.Some might also relate FOS to freedom of expression (FOE) as they are closely related and often used in the same context.Independent newspapers demand their rights to FOS as their publication is controlled politically by the governing party.They demand that the laws pertaining to FOS be amended, if not taken out altogether,so that they are allowed to publish their independent views.Now,for FOS right,it no longer becomes FOS when you control it right?So,when it says FOS is allowed,then there should be no rules,regulations or law for it should it?Because then FOS is given but not after making the speech.Get what I'm saying?So, how relevant is FOS in our society today?Given the peaceful conditions we are living in, it is important to maintain that so there is no way FOS is to be allowed because it can promote uncertainty,anger,instability etc if certain sensitive issues are to be released to the public.Back in the hey-days of activism (you know,everyone was a hippie ,smoked weed and joined demonstrations) it was all about FOS back then.We demanded for our rights and exclaimed our disagreements with how things are back then. But now,is FOS really relevant?what do we hope to achieve with FOS now?is FOS now the same as it used to be before?

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.