Rationalising a crisis

I have never come so closed to being implicated in a life endangering crisis, other than SARS in 2003. Compared to those days of SARS, I feel greater insecurity and dismay over the current situation in Japan, due to lack of reliable and transparent information.

For a week, devastating news from Japan have monopolised airtime on every TV news channel. The images and photographs published on various media were no more encouraging. As time goes by, it becomes increasingly difficult to distinguish fact from fiction. The sensationalist rhetoric employed in news reporting have impaired truth. I am perplexed in deciding when to stay calm, when to raise an alert, when to summon my family member home even.

Rumours and unverified comments are flying. They are not just foolish but vicious in times of crisis like this. My own family members have circulated the fake SMS purported to be issued by BBC, warning that radiation from Fukushima has spread to other Asian countries. This has stirred up unnecessary fear and panic amongst the family, followed by endless phone calls of inquiry and reassurance. In my mind, the ones who circulated this SMS are no less guilty than the Chinese people who swept the supermarket shelves clean of salt, when they heard rumours that consuming iodised salt reduces the effects of radiation.

I was in Beijing last Thursday when China's salt scare occurred. It happened rather quickly, as rumours started going on in the morning, the supermarkets were already out of salt by noon. My colleagues fretted a little as they could not get a packet or two of the precious salt. But I knew they were half bantering. A taxi driver I spoke to on my way to the airport was really optimistic. I asked if he would be scared to pick up passengers arriving from Japan and he replied not at all. He told me that if they (Chinese) have survived SARS, nothing else can be more fearful. I am not sure if the driver meant every word he said, but I admire his courage and positive attitude just for saying that. So, don't be too quick in passing judgement or criticism, there are people who are still sober amidst the frenzy.

Besides pledging a donation, the next best thing we can do to help the Japanese endure this crisis is to be rational and not spread untrue rumours that will shake someone's confidence. Above all, hope for the worst to be over soon.

In 2008, a Japanese lady walking towards a donation box set up in Meiji Shrine for the Sichuan earthquake. Will kindness be reciprocated by the Chinese in similar manner?

Are there not enough reasons to help?

What if the day comes, when we are no longer sympathetic of the sufferings of people in the rest of the world? Are we then relieved from the obligations to care or to help?

Many of us in this part of the world will never understand the true meaning of an earthquake or typhoon. Yet we have heard so much about them... without getting a scratch or becoming wet, without being blown away, without losing someone we loved. But I do wonder how badly the news of a disaster and the casualty report have an impact on us. We may have frowned, we sighed, made a few sympathetic comments, and then most of the time we resort to doing nothing. They are mere interludes in our comfortable and egocentric lives.

Sometimes, it may be that our cynicism towards the mass media got the better of us. News reports are often exaggerated, sufferings amplified and our sentiments toyed with to boost viewrship. I am not trying to use these as excuses to justify an indifferent attitude. But it is no wonder many of us would rather exercise more discretion and careful assessment before rushing into actions.

Typically, the first things to happen after news of a disaster is a fund raising campaign. I know it is hard to be convinced that donations raised for disaster relief will be fully utilised for the benefits of the victims, especially when the disbursments of funds are often not transparent enough. But I believe that there is hope, if we choose to do something now. We should not let our skepticism prevent us from doing good, even if we can reach out to those in need in only a very small way.

Like many others, I have been trained both in my personal and professional life to look at "the bigger picture". There are very few occurrence like Cyclone Nargis and the Sichuan earthquake, whereby the destructions were so devastating and casualty rates so alarming that they instantly got the whole world's attention. In this respect, events of smaller scale tend to be overlooked. It may seem that the 500 lives lost to Typhoon Morakot so far is small, compared to 70,000 deaths in Sichuan and even smaller in comparison with almost 150,000 fatalities from Nargis. But imagine you were one of those 500 casualties... wouldn't you ask, "Why me", if the chances are indeed so remote?

Last Monday, the death toll in Taiwan from Typhoon Morakot was 100. Today it is 500. Thousands of others are still trapped in villages in the mountainous area. Other than praying for their safety, a small donation might be a good way to start helping. Afterall, it is also a blessing that we have the ability and are in the capacity to help those in need.


Help with Typhoon Morakot's disaster relief now!

Ethiopia 20 years later

Several years ago, I read an article in World Vision's magazine on the 20th anniversary of the famine in Ethiopia. Although I was already a WV child sponsor for a couple of years back then, it was only until I read this article that I became fully convinced and committed to the program.

Whether you are a Christian or not, that is irrelevant here. It is enough to know that our effort and money have helped and will continue to help someone. Perhaps, for many of them, their stories will never be made known to the world. But I believe, that they are out there, those whose lives changed, because we care!

This article touches my heart, I hope it does the same to you.

Summer 2005

It was the children who broke our hearts. Their pain reached through TV screens and photographs and compelled us to care. What happened to these small victims of the Ethiopia famine?

World Vision magazine tried to find out. We searched for specific children who had received care at World Vision feeding centers, their plight captured by visiting journalists. As a general rule, tracing people in relief situations is difficult because families congregate at aid centers far from their homes, and after they receive help, they disperse.

Finding the children of the Ethiopia famine was even more complicated. The Marxist government's resettlement policy - designed to quell rebellion - uprooted many families. Fighting in the north displaced others. Twenty years later, locating such transient targets seemed nearly impossible, especially in communities without official citizens records.

Miraculously, our local staff found one. In Antsokia Valley we met Yohannes Taye, 22, a young man with a winning smile. Though short and slight, he's strong enough to support eight members of his family by farming sorghum in a hillside community. He has his eye on a girl he'd like to marry.

When Yohannes was 18 months old, his father brought him to World Vision's feeding centre. The frail, sick child seemed likely to follow his mother to the grave. "Even those who were treating him thought he wouldn't recover," recalls his father, Taye Shawl. Thanks to intravenous feeding and the close attention of a British doctor, the boy survived. After such a dramatic beginning, he has settled into an ordinary life - but one he knows is blessed.

"I praise God in the highest," says Yohannes, a Christian. "It is through God that people stretched out their hands to save my life."

Finding the children of the famine proved largely fruitless. But Yohannes' story - just one of thousands - confirms that the act of helping a suffering child never is.

Our new big brother

So, the US President's inauguration is now passé. 2 days later, the world is pretty much the same.

The soaring viewership of the inauguration ceremony suggests that the world are all eyes on our new big brother, one who claims that he and his country are ready to lead once more.

Good.

Let us remind ourselves that making empty promises is not the vice of a white man only. The blacks, the reds and the yellows are equally capable of the same misdeeds. As PM Putin has said, the biggest disappointment is derived from big expectation. Call me "the cynics" by all means; prove me wrong and earn your respect.

At the end of the day, it is not an earth moving speech that will change the world, but the actions behind those words that will determine how history will remember this man. And even though the colour of his skin marks significance today, it is the content of what lies within that will (or will not) earn him greatness.

As far as I am concerned, all these excitment and celebrations are prematured. But if there should be one reason to celebrate, it is that we can finally say bye-bye to Mr Bush!

He'll never feel lonely, never be forgotten, with all the songs written about him.

No More Sorrow

Are you lost
In your lies
Do you tell yourself I don't realize

Your crusade's a disguise
Replace freedom with fear
You trade money for lives

I'm aware of what you've done

No more sorrow
I've paid for your mistakes
Your time is borrowed
Your time has come to be replaced

I see pain
I see need
I see liars and thieves
Abuse power with greed

I had hope
I believed
But I'm beginning to think that I've been deceived

You will pay for what you've done

Thieves and hypocrites
Thieves and hypocrites
Thieves and hypocrites

Your time has come to be replaced
Your time has come to be erased

We will not be defeated

Life is unpredictable as it is and when disaster strikes, it once again reminded us how helpless we can be at times. Not only do I feel helpless for the victims and families of the Sichuan earthquake, but also helpless myself for not being able to do more than just pledging a donation.

I stood on the 28th floor looking far out into the city of Tokyo, a place also troubled by risk of earthequakes. All the high and low buildings and lights released from their windows made the city skylight a unique one; neon signboards, headlights of cars caught in heavy traffic... the whole city was glowing brightly.



Imagine that within seconds, all these turn into rubbles and darkness befalls, when the land beneath is torn apart. Haruki Murakami wrote in one of his books published after the Kobe earthquake in 1995: "I had a nightmare that I was trapped in a refrigerator. I could see faint light seeping through the gaps and the air inside gets thinner and thinner until there was no more, until I could see no light...".

Maybe we will never know how it feels to be buried under rubbles, struggling with one's last breath to keep alive while hopes are vanishing.... but I am sure we can relate to the feeling of being trapped in a refrigerator and the air gets thinner and light slowly fade away. I saw video clips of lifeless bodies with twisted limbs being carried out from the rubbles... gosh how do I imagine the devastation at the scene of the disaster?

"Children died while napping in schools"; "British tourists escaped with helicopter"... how these 2 headline news read in contrast with each other. Life always seems to be harder on the weaker ones. Though it is hard to stay high-spirited in times like these, I believe the Chinese will prove to the world that they are no weak nation. Together, they will stand strong and surive this crisis.



As for me, though I don't share the same land, don't share the same nationality, I share the same blood and the same pain. Though there is little I can do, I will still do what I can. So will you.

Tibet, a slice of heaven at stake

The death toll to-date is at 19, as announced by the Chinese government in Beijing. Although the Tibetan government in exile has claimed that more than 80 were killed, earlier this week.

While I followed the media coverage of the unrest in Tibet as closely as I can, I came to a point of frustration on the 3rd or 4th day after the riots broke out as the news reports were confusing and contradicting; the Chinese media's limited footage on violent acts of the Tibetan mobs in streets of Lhasa and the Western reports of largely exaggerated witness accounts. No one will, or perhaps is capable of telling the whole truth. As if high altitude is not a big enough challenge, the high-handed measures taken by Chinese government to deny entry of foreign journalists into Tibet and block some internet access, suffocated more truth than the thin level of oxgyen in the Himalayas did.

The only clarity so far is that the riots started out with peaceful demonstrations by monks on 10 March 08, which marked the 49th anniversary of Tibet's failed uprising against the Chinese government (the event that led the Dalai Lama to fleed Tibet and go into exile in India). It is unsure what sparked the violence as stories diverged. Some said that the police injured/killed monks while trying to put down the protestors, although the Chinese government suggested that monks slashed their wrists and deliberately injured themselves and then accused the police of initiating violence.


The colourful streets of Lhasa now totally transformed as shops are burnt and security personnels stationed everywhere.


Sorry sight at the sacred Johkang Temple and once bustling Barkhor.

Tensions and grievances have been brewing between the Han Chinese and the Tibetans, probably from the day the People's Liberation Army (PLA) marched into their sacred homeland in the 1950s. Tibetans claimed that with the influx of Chinese immigrants into Tibet, job opportunities are being taken away and traditions are eroding. More importantly, many Tibetans felt that the real autonomy that the Chinese Communist Party have promised (when Tibet was "liberated") was never delivered.


Source: Phoenix TV. Read reports here.
This sign was said to have appeared outside shops in Lhasa on 10 Mar. It was initially thought of as meaningless grafitti by children. However, after the riots broke out, people recalled that this sign appeared on most shops that have later been burnt down.

I don't know much about autonomy, but while in Tibet last year, I witnessed the disparities in lifestyles of the Han Chinese living in Tibet and the local Tibetans. I often think of my Sichunese driver, who owns a Toyota Land Cruiser and my Tibetan tour guide, who owns nothing but his motherland; and the Chinese family who runs a large souvenir shop having dinner in a restaurant frequent by American tourists versus the elderly lady mending her small stall at the Barkhor and the way she prayed and thanked the Buddha after we spent a mere Rmb100 on some cheap jewelleries. I will also never forget that Tibetan boy who grabbed our ankles and was crying, whom we dragged as we tried to walk away, and who evenutally let go of us after being told off by the Tibetan lady I asked help of.

The completion of the Qing Zang Highway in the 1980s and now the new railroad which connects Qinghai and Tibet have made the mystical kingdom more accessible to the outside world than ever. I recalled having long discussions with my Tibetan cabin mate on board of the Lhasa Express, for a 36 hour ride from Lhasa to Xi'an, about the damages (to my Tibetan friend, he sees benefits) that would be brought onto Tibet as it opens up to the world. I was concerned about the negative impacts of modernisation on the landscape, traditional values and ways of life as we have seen in many developed cosmopolitan cities. But my Tibetan friend(1), who is a teacher, is more optimistic. He has a vision, which is one that the Tibetan children could see and know the outside world, instead of just having to imagine it. And these, he believes are only possible with economic and social developments and better education. To keep up with the rest of the world, Tibet has to change, he said.

I reflected on his words long and hard. At first, it was hard to embrace them completely but eventually, I relented. For the better future of children who now have to walk many miles everyday to attend school, and for that bottle of Coke, in the hands of the granddaughter of a restaurant keeper, as well as other modern comforts to make way to the Tibetan people, it seems like progress and thereby changes are inevitable. I thought Tibet would just have to find ways to deal with the "side effects".

And so, they are staring at us blatantly today, some of the "side effects". Who could have guess that the very means of connecting Tibet to the world would become the cause of the discords and rifts between the Han Chinese and Tibetans? Is this a price too much to pay? Or someone needs to be blamed for forcing changes on Tibet faster than it could sustain?

Photos from Reuters

It is a pity to see the unique characteristics of Tibet slowly fading away as the Han Chinese population replace Tibetans as majority in Tibet, introduced ways of life in great contrast to the traditional values of the Tibetans and stifles the deeply entrenched Tibetans' Buddhist faith - where portraits of their respected spiritual leader are not allowed, where monks are forced into exile leaving holy monasteries deserted, where Panchen Lama is still missing after being held in "protective custody" by the Chinese authority... these are sad events and no wonder the Dalai Lama talks about a "cultural genocide".

As an on-looker, a tourist, Tibet is a place where my city drenched soul calls a paradise. To me, these series of events did no more than put my slice of heaven at stake. But to the Tibetan people, it is their pursue for greater freedom, for their future and for a country they will like to see. Yet irregardless of what is at stake, violence should never be the way to resolve issues. And boycott the Olympics, I say no no, at least for now. I look forward to the day when the Olympic torch reaches the summit of Mt Everest. That will be a great pride to all Chinese people and me alike.


A video clip released on YouTube in the early days of the riots. It is one of those few that have more than the official images released by CCTV.

(1)Ami won a teacher's award presented by Intel. He wrote a touching speech which I heard him rehearsed several times on the train. Watch video about Ami and hear part of his speech here. (Warning: Takes a long time to buffer)

We are ALSO the world (Part 2)

Bear Farming

When I first learnt about the cruelty of bear farming and watched a video presentation on it, I was left speechless. I heard the bears whined and the sound of their heads banging against the metal cages... I grabbed my chest as my heart felt pain beyond words.


From You Tube. Only 2 mins, view it!

I found another clip on You Tube today, and after watching it, I literally had tears in my eyes. Can you see that the bears are suffering? Can you feel the sorrow in their eyes? Can you hear their cries of distress? If the bears could only speak, how could we as human beings live to face these? The bears have done nothing to deserve such cruelty.

It is beyond my comprehension how some human beings have the heart to resort to such means. Bears kept in tiny cages, with tubes inserted into their bladders PERMANENTLY and dripping their lives away. And for how long? Many many years, probably a whole lifetime of the bear. Alas, what do all these mean?! I... I... do not know how to continue.

Please do not think that this is a problem far away from us, which only happens in China, Vietnam or Korea. In 2006, the Animal Concerns Research & Education Society (ACRES) found that 20% of the 115 Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) shops surveyed in Singapore were selling bear bile and other bear products. Outrageous!

I like to think that people who consume bear products are unaware of the process they are being obtained, the utmost cruelty associated with bear bile farming, because who can still swallow these things after seeing how the moon bears are suffering? Maybe we can do something to raise the awareness: Tell your family and friends, tell your friends' friends, never never buy bear bile or other bear products. Why? Because it is illegal and the process of obtaining them is extremely cruel.

We can also do our part by not patronising TCM shops which offers such products. Look out for this label when you next visit a TCM shop. ACRES and the Singapore TCM Organisation Committee (STOC) have developed a scheme whereby TCM shops which have committed not to sell products from endangered species will be awarded this label to be displayed in their shops.



Here is a list of TCM shops who have signed up for the scheme:
ACRES & STOC "ENDANGERED SPECIES-FRIENDLY TCM LABELLING SCHEME"

Together, we can make a difference, because "when the buying stops, the cruelty stops too"!

Am I being naive? No, I believe that there will be a day when bear farming will completely vanish. Afterall, there are only 10,000+ more bears to be rescued and if we work hard enough, we'll all live to see this day comes.

The moon bears are part of our world, we can love them like one of us, if only we try! Spread love, love the moon bears, love our world!

* Ring is also against testing on animals. Read my previous post here.

We are ALSO the world (Part 1)

The Polar Bears

On the last day of 2006, when I read in the papers that our very own polar bear, Inuka, will be leaving us for a zoo in Germany, I felt really sad. At that time, I had a lot of misgivings about the decision as I could not understand why we would want to give up our little precious, the only polar bear born in the tropics! In fact, I was even a bit angry with the animal welfare organisation, which lobby hard to get our bear to move... and that is so unlike me.


Inuka (meaning "Silent Stalker") less than a year old, with mother Sheba (from The Straits Times). Inuka was borned on 26 Dec 1990.

For almost 17 years, Inuka has been the pride of the Singapore Zoo. I remembered the polar bears were my favourite when I visited the zoo as a kid; the big white belly, the giantic paws and eyes and nose which are too small in proportion.... I was almost sure that they were smiling at me.

I went back to the zoo a few months ago, more than 10 years since my last visit, to bid Inuka farewell. Has Inuka grown too big? Or his enclosure shrunk? It looks like a place too small for him to feel comfortable. Though it was a cloudy day, I could still feel the intense heat and humidity of the tropical weather. I cannot imgaine how an animal meant to live in sub-zero climate can ever get used to this weather. What have we been doing to our bear?


Photo courtesy of Stanly on Multiply

Inuka looks brilliant in this picture. I love the way he splashes out of the water... so refreshing! But you should also notice the black patches on his skin, which are caused by absorbing heat from the tropic climate. It has also been reported that Inuka suffers from heat stress, is inactive half the time and developed abnormal behaviours.

When I compare Inuka to those white majestic creatures I saw on Discovery Channel, I realise that Inuka is in a pathetic state. It is obvious to me now that we are unable to provide Inuka with a home he deserves and moving him to a zoo in temperate zone is only in his best interest. An online poll of the Singapore zoo suggests that almost 65% of the participants did not want Inuka to leave. Why? Maybe it's time for them to pay a visit to the zoo and see for themselves how Inuka is suffering. So what if we have one less fuzzy creature to call our own, if Inuka will have a better life after he leaves us, we should gladly let him go.

While we may be able to save Inuka today, there is a bigger problem for the polar bears as a whole. Scientists believe that if the global warming trend continues, the north pole will have no snow in summer by 2040. When that happens, not only will the polar bears gradually become extinct, it will also pose a great threat to the human population from the flood resulting...

"Imagine the North Pole without snow, only barren land and vacant space remain. Imagine there is only one season in this world, when summer seems like eternity. And Venice becomes a myth in history, like the lost city of Atlantis. These, we may no longer have to imagine, when they become reality by 2040."

Be it the polar bears or our gentle mother nature, they are part of the world we live in. Men need to stop being selfish and start thinking about the other inhabitants of our planet and not just of ourselves, not about how to feel comfortable at the expense of our environment and the weaker species.

Our earth is sick! Let us all resolute to go green from 2008 and save the only planet we can call "home". If not, we can start counting down to the number of sunrise and sunset we will see... maybe not in this lifetime or the next, but eventually, our earth will go into complete destruction, and there will be no home, no trees, no polar bears, no children, no human beings...

Now's the time to be engaged

I read this article from the Straits Times after I finished the whole week's reports on the situation in Myanmar. I was so touched by it that I thought I should share this article with you all. Enjoy!

* * * * * * *

3 October 2007

Now's the time to be engaged
By Keane Shum, For The Straits Times

SIX weeks ago, before the protests in Myanmar began, I was into the 14th hour of my train ride from Yangon to Mandalay when the compartment went dark. I stared at the light bulbs and fans swaying from the carriage ceiling several times during the day, wondering if they would be operational after dusk. They were not.

But it made for a glorious night skyscape, one of the few times in my city-bred life when I have looked up at the sky and seen stars so dense that it felt like I was looking at entire galaxies.

Late that night I headed into a town with no confirmed lodging reservations and not an English speaker for miles. Hungry from munching on only bananas all day, and my back aching from a reclining seat that could not un-recline, I felt slightly disorientated. In the dark and on my own, I could not remember why people do this travelling thing, this lonely dance to uncomfortable rhythms.

The next day, the monks of Mandalay reminded me, the same way they reminded the world that Myanmar exists.

U Bein's Bridge is why I travel. It is a 200-year-old teak pedestrian bridge that stretches across a lake in the former royal city of Amarapura, near Mandalay. And it blows away the bridges of Golden Gate, Sydney Harbour, Brooklyn, whatever.


BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATERS: U Bein's Bridge (above) provides the perfect backdrop to rural life in Myanmar. It is a stage for all, from monks taking time off from their religious duties to ordinary folk just going about their business.

You name any bridge, this one is more photogenic. Because more than just making a pretty picture, it is a stage, teeming with characters acting out parts cast just for them. Life is always a bit of a show, but sometimes it picks gorgeous backdrops, and this was one of those times.

Here was this postcard sunset over a gleaming bridge on a glittering lake, and everyone was happy to be there. People who were walking through just walked on. Couples and families were there together just to be together, picnicking on life.

And the monks - the very ones later protesting - were the happiest of them all, climbing up and jumping off trees, wrestling and bathing and posing for their spanking new Japanese digital cameras. There were a couple dozen of them, and in a comforting, telling reversal of the usual backpacker request, they asked me if I could take a picture with each of them, one by one.



The kids of Myanmar are why I travel. There are loads of kids in Myanmar. It sounds basic, but it is true. According to Unicef, more than a third of the population is under 18, and it is a generation that has grown up apart from the world most of us know.

They are not unhappy kids. They squeal and run and jump and laugh and cry like any other kids do. But right now, their lives, like their taxi drivers, are racing ahead in a beat-up car without seat belts.

Myanmar's military rulers have been in control for so long - longer than any other in the world - that they know how to suppress their people without resorting to absolute barbarity. And if you want to know how the next Darfur starts, this is how. The ingredients are all here.

A crippling dictatorship that keeps itself in power and in style by exploiting the country's natural resources; violently deep ethnic divisions that have raged for centuries; endemic poverty; a forced isolation from the outside world, one with which its rulers are only too happy to comply.

And when the US says its companies and tourists should not go to Myanmar, Myanmar says 'thank you, we do not want you here anyway'.

And so this generation of kids, like the past few (it has been 45 years since the country last saw civilian rule), will grow up thinking this is how things work. There are good intentions behind the suggested travel boycott, but at some point it becomes neglect too.

Today, Myanmar is on the cusp. The military is either cracking down or breaking down. Now is not the time to antagonise the regime with more sanctions or more boycotts. Now is the time to engage Myanmar, to go there and see more, understand more and, with some luck, contribute more.

The writer is a law student at Georgetown University. He interned for the South-east Asia office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights this summer.

http://www.straitstimes.com/Free/Story/STIStory_163545.html

When I was away, something happened in Myanmar

When I travel, the picture of the world in my mind always becomes more beautiful. Being captivated by all the beautiful scenery througout my journey, it becomes somewhat easier to forget the other ugliness that exist in this same world. Obviously, it helps when I am tuning in to TV programs in a language that I do not understand and reading newspapers that contain nothing but trivial local news and reports about the stock exchanges.

While I was in Tokyo admiring the beauty of Tokyo Tower and the mountains of Hakone, the uproar and protest in Myanmar continue to rampant. When I returned home and flipped through the newspapers for the past week, I realised that the latest development of the pro-democracy protests in Myanmar hit headlines day after day.... how big scale the protests have become, how many were killed, what is ASEAN and UN doing to salvage the situation, etc. I had no idea that the country is in such dire conditions.

Myanmar came under military rule since the 1960s. It is an era synonymous with corruption, oppression and food shortage. Over the years, Myanmar's military junta did ridiculous things, including cold-blooded murder of student protestors, shooting at participants of peaceful demonstrations (for democracy), annullling results of democratic elections and putting leader of opposition party under house arrest.... One of the most significant event in recent history was the 8888 Uprising (8 Aug 1988), which was a protest led by university students in Myanmar against the military's decision to withdraw some of the Burmese currency. At that time, the General gave an order that "Guns were not to shoot upwards", implying that gun shots should be fired directly at the people. Thousands were killed as a result, pure cruelty.

Just like a hit movie will always have a sequal, the history of violence has repeated itself in Myanmar. Weeks ago, the military government in Myanmar raised the prices of fuel by 500%. This was not announced to the public, and was only discovered when car owners tried to top up petrol for their cars. Instantly, the people became alarmed and feared that escalating prices of food and other necessities will soon follow suit, thereby creating a frenzy amongst the people to stock up on daily supplies. Outraged by the military dictatorship, the monks of Myanmar started out on a peaceful pro-democracy demonstration, which subsequently developed into the bloodshed and violence we see today.

I find it hard to imagine that the Buddhist monks of Myanmar are the ones who are leading the fight against the military junta ("junta" is Spanish for committee). Buddhism is a religion that embraces compassion and tolerance. Throughout history, we have seen Christians' sacred battles, Muslims' radical activities, but violence associated with the Buddhists... I never thought this could be possible. Maybe the monks (as well as the people of Myanmar, majority of whom are Buddhists) have been suppressed too long and the anger which has built up inside their hearts just had to be released. As it is now, the familiar sights of serene Buddhist monks, clad in maroon coloured robes, were no longer visible on the streets of Myanmar, instead we see only their fury and their bodies covered with blood from being beaten and shot at by the military.

It pains me to think of what kind of life the people of Myanmar are going through now. The daily curfew and midnight arrests have instilled much fear in the people. People stay indoor most of the times not because they did not want to miss their favourite TV programs but because they were frightened. Each night, the chants of the monks, who are taken into captivity by the military, become terrifying to those who have heard. Ultimately, even the internet, international phone calls and other means of communication have been barred to stop the transmission of updates and photos of the protests within Myanmar to the outside world. Isolation seems to be the strategy adopted by the military.

Myanmar is a close neighbour of ours and it is hard to understand why the lives of people in the 2 countries are so different, when the distance is so near. While we spend all our time pursuing material pleasures, the Buddhist monks (and people) in Myanmar dedicate their lives to fight for democracy, human rights and some very basic freedom. Are we not, in relative, very fortunate? Maybe tonight is the time to say "Thank You" to our Gods above.

So what lies ahead for Myanmar? I only wish that peace will soon return to the country and that the chants of the Buddhist monks will once again be music to our ears.

No hostage deal with Taleban

Surprise, surprise.... why I am not the least bit surprised?

The US has spoken and this time joinly with Afghanistan. There will be no release of the Taleban prisoners in exchange of the Korean hostages. That is the message at large. The Taleban threatened that "the responsibility will lie with Karzai (Afghan President) and Bush".

Who scare who? Now I have a friend! Reminds me of when I was a kid and wanted to do something naughty, I will never act alone. Always bring along a friend, that's the golden rule. Not only does it help boost my courage but you know, it's always good to have someone to share the blame with when being punished.

Please pardon my insolence, I wonder if this cynicism of mine will ever get me to end up in jail!

Afghan love versus Anguish of the South Koreans

I have been reading articles on the papers lately regarding the South Koreans who were held hostage by the Taleban in Afghanistan since 19 July.

The party of 23 South Koreans was a Christian missionary group travelling in Afghanistan to carry out aid work. Since being captured, 2 of them were killed, including a Pastor, whose body was found to be "bullet riddled".

The US television released on TV last week, an "interview" with one of the hostages, former nurse, Yim Hyun Joo, 32. She pleaded for help saying that, "We are in a very difficult time. Please help us…….Really, we beg you".

The one article that almost brought me down to tears was how Ms Yim’s brother recounted that she insisted on joining the medical aid group to travel to Afghanistan 3 years ago, despite her parents’ objections. She gave her entire savings of almost S$50,000 to her parents before she left for Afghan, as if she had expected that there could be no return. Her brother said, "I hope the Taleban understand that the volunteers truly love Afghanistan". Gosh, I can really cry at this….Imagine being hurt by what you love most, it is like your favourite child stabbed you in your heart!

The objective of the kidnap was to hold the Koreans as hostages in order for the Taleban to negotiate the release of 23 Taleban prisoners. The Taleban have threatened to kill the hostages if their demand is not acceded. Right now, the South Korean leaders are appealing to the US to step in to help. "We ask the US to make a one-time humanitarian action. It would not be a violation of political principles." Hmm… a "one-time humanitarian action"; how many "one-time" can the world tolerate?

You might think that I must have a heart made of stone to say this, but I think it is the harsh truth that none of us are willing to face. We all know that we should not condone terrorism and by agreeing to release the Taleban prisoners, it is like telling the world that violence and threats are the solutions to issues. Therefore, as most would agree, releasing the prisoners would naturally be a wrong thing to do. Yet, none of us dare say the reverse, that sacrificing the Korean hostages to preserve righteous is correct. But tben again, we are hoping that someone else will say it, someone else will become the scapegoat whom we can all blame for being unsympathetic. For some strange reason, we are all looking to the US for giving the answer of "no".

The world is really a messy place. Everyday, crazy things are happening. At times like this, I can't help but feel confused and helpless. There is nothing more that I can do than merely to pretend to be indifferent to all the madness. Day after day, time after time, maybe one day my heart will eventually stop feeling the pain.

Ahoy! India's new lady President

Read in the newspaper today that a new lady President has been elected in India.

Pratibha Patil, a 72 year old lawyer is the new president of the country, first in the 60 years of indepedence of India. It is an irony that while one woman rises and shines today, the general female population in India are still being harshly discriminated and violated.

"Dowry death" is something I learnt about when reading the internet articles. It is prevalent in India and is an act whereby a bride is murdered by her groom's family when she is unable to pay additional dowry. Let me explain how this works. When a daughter is being married in India, her family usually prepares dowry for her which are often in the form of jewellery, clothings, cash or others in kind (not quite different from our Chinese culture I say). However, when the dowry is deemed insufficient by the groom's family, more will be demanded from the bride. When the bride is unable to oblige, it will translate into harrassment of the bride's family, physical abuse of the bride and "bride burning". Yes, literally burning the girl by pouring kerosene on her and lighting her up. Such cruelty are often disguised as kitchen fires or suicides. And what does the groom stand to gain from this? Probably another wife and another dowry.

In 1961, the Dowry Prohibition Act was enacted in India. However, this does not seem to have deter such brutal crimes from occuring. A sociologist suggested that this has to do with how the worth of a woman is being perceived in the society. It is probably true that women in India have a much inferior social standing as compared to men. The fact that they can be "traded" like commodities (be it in dowry marriage or human trafficking) already sends a clear message. Because of this perception, a woman is expected to bend over and submit to the groom and his family after her marriage and couple with the fact that the bride's family will be unwilling to take her married daughter home, it is no wonder that such acts continued to be condoned in the modern India.

The dowry, as we know, is supposed to be endowed with blessings from family and friends. In olden days, it was prepared for a daughter so that she can be self sufficient and not seen as adding burden to her matrimonial family, like a safeguard to her so that she will not be mistreated in her new home. I cannot believe how these good intentions can transform into tragedies like dowry deaths. According to statics, 25,000 women are victims of drowy death each year and that is about 0.003% of the Indian population. Don't think that's a big number right? Probably that is why it is less of a pressing issue as compared to beggars, dieseases, HIV and other poverty related issues that are rampant in that country. But when you think about innocent young girls being burnt and brutally murdered each day, don't they deserve our sympathy too?

I am grateful that I live in this part of the world where men and women are almost regarded as equals. I can live and breathe freely, go to school or work with the boys, hang out late at pubs without having to worry too much about being harrassed or condemned. I don't think this come at no cost at all, as "blood" must have been shed by my predecessors, who dare challenge the social norms. I wish I have courage like that to pursue bigger things in life instead of simply being contended with balancing my accounts.

It takes a wise person with a lot of courage to want to step forward and lead. Let us pray that more of those wise ones will have the courage to do so and save us from the many absurdity in this world. In the meantime, we should all celebrate the courage of this brave lady and hope that she will do great things for the better of India and for our sisters.

This product is "Not tested on animals"

If you pick up a product today that has "Not tested on animals" listed on its label, how would you feel? Like many of you, I've always felt good and even thought that they are probably better products to buy. Yet, it was never the criteria in which I select my purchases.

But do we really understand the meaning behind these 4 words? Before we answer that question, take a look at the pictures below.

They are laboratory animals used for testing skin and eye irritancy. The rabbit's fur is shaven and substances are applied onto its bare skin to test for allergic reactions; substances are dripped into the rabbits' eyes and they are held on restraint so that the rabbits cannot rub their eyes and researchers can then study the symptoms of redness, swellness and other irritating reactions. It is not difficult to guess what happen to these rabbits in the end...... they are usually killed.

I do not know how you would feel after seeing this, but I am definitely appalled and heart broken. This is how far a human being will go for the sake of a new shampoo, a skin care product or even a detergent. The truth is animal testings in these cases are not even mandatory by law and there are many alternative ways to test for product safety. Even more shocking is that most of the familiar brands like Unilever (Dove), Colgate-Pamolive, Oral-B, Johnsons & Johnsons, Pantene, Olay, P&G and others you name it are said to be testing their products on animals! I'm totally furious!

Human being is probably the only species in this world that can pretend that sufferings do not exist simply by turning a blind eye to them. There is a chinese saying "眼不见为净" which seems so fitting in this case. I am not asking you to dump all your toiletries and household cleaners into bin right away nor am I asking you to start boycotting these manufacturers. All I am hoping is to raise your awareness on what is happening behind the scenes and you can decide how you want to spend each dollar.

So what does "Not tested on animals" really means? It means not keeping animals in barren cages for prolonged periods which drive them to insanity; it means not depriving them of veterinary care when they are hurt; it means not putting them through cruel sufferings just to protect the liabilities of the manufacturers.....

Sufferings don't end just because we don't see them! Be an informed and responsible consumer.

Want to know more about who the "good" and "bad" guys are? Please follow the link:

http://www.caringconsumer.com/resources_companies.asp