I received a phone call from a stranger purportedly based in China, trying to interest me into investing in fuel oil futures.
He claims that fuel oil prices in the USA is bound to rise given the higher and bigger demand for winter heating because of the anticipated colder winter, low stock levels and higher crude oil prices.
I protested to him that with people like him speculating in the fuel oil futures and with no viable alternatives in sight, fuel oil prices will have no other way but to go up, unless of course the US government releases it stockpile to drive down market prices.
Heating oil to keep alive in the winters in countries is a necessity. It is like water in desert climates. Withholding or profiteering in basic commodities to can mean life or death to people is the greatest crime anyone can commit.
If I make money at the expense of someone else suffering, is this humane?
What is the root objection to usury, precisely because it enslaves the poor to poverty when to the contrary, we ought to help the poor to feed, clothe and keep themselves warm when they are not able to.
If fuel oil prices become unaffordable to many in the cold countries, be prepared to see a rise in the number of deaths and all thanks to the hike in oil prices exacerbated by speculators in commodities.
We all know that fossil fuel is not sustainable but the harsh reality that in the short run there is no real alternatives to it but to gain at someone else losses is to me, adding another misery on suffering people.
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Wednesday, August 8, 2007
Sin & the Sinner
I received an appeal from one Pastor Allen Tan urging Christians in Malaysia to "nib the problem of starting a gay church in Malaysia at its bud".
Apparently there is one Pastor Oyoung Wen Feng commissioned by strong American support is tasked to starting a gay church in Malaysia.
Pastor Allen Tan is urging Christians from various denominations to unite to stop it from happening, even to the extent of urging the government of Malaysia to intervene on the basis that homosexual activities subvert the government's efforts and millions of ringgits investment in stemming out the HIV-AIDS problem because, according to Rev Tan, AIDS-HIV is caused by homosexual acts.
Pastor Tan seems to have taken it upon himself with crusading fervor to eradicate the budding of any gay church in Malaysia to the extent of using any ways and means to achieve his end believing he had a mandate from God to eradicate the ungodly from the face of the earth, phew, with fervor reminiscing those of the infamous Taliban!
While I am in agreement with the Bible that homosexual acts like other sexual sins e.g. bestiality, fornication and adultery is forbidden to all, Christians or non-Christians alike, we ought to be realistic and acknowledge the fact that as redeemed sinners, we are still on the way towards holiness and are still continuing to struggle with sin, whether we confess it to our other fellow brethren or not.
Do we grant church fellowship to people only if they are "good enough" to be associated with us, or do we accept people in good faith and based on face value that they have, like us, have taken a step of faith in following Jesus Christ though confession, repentance, desiring and working diligently on becoming a disciple of Christ even though we by faith are already Christ's disciples?
What if one day, someone we know as a brother or sister, with whom we have fellowship approach us with a confession of a sexual sin that he or she is struggling with and seeking our help to overcome it?
Do we push him/her away like lepers or do we weep with them and extend that hand of support to carry our brother through because he is our brother that we ought not to abandon in his hour of need?
There would not have been a place for any gay church had the conventional churches provide a place in their congregation to rehabilitate people who repents and are working towards overcoming their specific areas of weaknesses in their lives.
People like Oyoung may have the agenda to establish some kind of a church that runs contrary to the basic teachings and values of the Bible, maybe like a Jewish sect that advocates the eating of pork, but to then pressure a secular government to intervene in what is precisely a religious matter is inviting a "kick-me" ridicule.
What ought to be our response then?
The criminal laws of Malaysia, inherited from the British, which relied upon the values of the Church of England provides for the specific punishment of homosexual acts (acts of carnal knowledge).
This is the same law that Dr. Mahathir, the retired Prime Minister of Malaysia used to get the courts to convict and fire his deputy, Anwar Ibrahim.
But this is a matter of the law and their are sufficient provisions in the Penal Code to punish people who practices homosexual acts in Malaysia, be it committed privately or publicly.
Even if Oyoung or some others manage to get his gay church established, ought we be ashamed because he claim it to be a Christian Church?
Labels ought not trouble us, decent people know what decency is and rubbish smells like and the substance of garbage no matter how it is masked or disguised.
People will be able to discern the truth from falsehood by reasoning.
If truth cannot be established by reasoning; then truth it ought not be.
We cannot forbid religious freedom (no matter how contrary it is to our own liking) in Malaysia because it is enshrined in our secular Constitution that protects all, us included.
We can only attempt to enlighten people on the love of God that desires us to lead happy, healthy and fulfilling lives and for that, He guides us through His wisdom, precepts upon precepts, a little here, a little there.
Let us build our communities to be strong and true to our Lord.
An abundant life in Christ Jesus experienced needs no other distraction, even of the strange kind like same sex acts.
Below is my reply to a concerned brother:
Dear Bro. Lim,
Thank you for forwarding the two emails regarding the same issue.
My first reaction is "Wow"! Seems like the "vernacular" Chinese newspapers are more current than the mainstream English and Bahasa Malaysia newspapers in Malaysia in covering such "hot issues" like "gay churches" that will help sell their newspapers and benefit their shareholders and employees!
I think the attempt to stop or ban people from discussing or establishing churches, temples or any other institutions of religious or moral persuasion other than ours is utmost condescending at best and bigotry at worst.
I am not acquainted with one Rev. Allen Tan, but I could literally smell that blood thirsty sword of judgment in his hands to mete out "God's justice" like the famous Justice Pow of Kaifeng of old and ala maybe the Taliban of modern day Afghanistan trapped in their 7thCentury archaic time frozen mindset.
Malaysia's Constitution is secular and thank God it is.
This same Constitution that guarantees religious freedom for all is like a double edged sword that cuts both ways, it is impartial and a respecter of no persons, this is the essence of the Rule of Law, a tenet of modern civilization so sacred that without which the foundation of justice cannot stand.
If we start to poke the government to ban what we think is "unchristian", we are writing a blank cheque of precedence for our own persecution.
Ponder for a moment, do we forbid churches that preaches a different gospel other than ours, even one that denies the deity of Christ?
Churches that teach us to abstain from eating and drinking certain kinds of food and drinks because the Bible (Old Testament) records for the Jews that those are forbidden but the New Testament clearly records for us in the Council of Jerusalem that we Gentiles need no further yoke for what Jesus Christ has emancipated us from?
Churches that still believe in the Apostolic Succession and the continuous practice of the speaking in tongues when it ought to have ceased as a feature of God's intended dispensation for such a phenomenon tagged with an expiry date?
I could go on and on, but I think we ought to have got the point by now.
Leave these people alone but educate our own people on the ways of the Lord.
If we know that homosexual acts is wrong before the sight of God just like any other sexual sins like adultery, fornication and masturbation (?), talk and walk our personal life to match our talk.
By the way, HIV and AIDS is caused by a virus spread by the transfer of body fluids, not necessary exclusive to homosexual acts. It can be transmitted by blood transfusion, sharing of needles, toothbrushes, razor blades and even heterosexual sex.
Recent medical discoveries seem to indicate that HIV transmission amongst circumcised males is less vis-a-vis uncircumcised, so does it mean that we all ought to be circumcised to help slow down the spread of HIV-AIDS and be wanton with our sexual appetite?
No! ABC is still the message: Abstain, Be Faithful to your Spouse and if you cannot be either, wear a Condom!
The beauty of the Christian Church is in its diversity and the tolerance within the ecclesia that had allowed the diversity to blossom.
My take of the situation is simple.
If we are Christ's disciples first and church members second, it does not matter which church I go to or if I go to any church at all.
Church as an organization is supposed to serve society, touch lives and points people to Jesus Christ to also be their Lord and Savior through their own free will.
But alas, look around us and we see the ubiquitous self serving ends of the people with power running the churches and the unbelievable dirt and abuses of pastors and yes man and yes woman leaders lead by their noses.
My own life is a tragic story of church abuse.
I was ex-communicated by a Charismatic Church because I asked:
1. For the church accounts to b externally audited and also published.
2. For open membership to be practiced as stipulated in the church's constitution and
3. For the election of the pastors and office bearers, all these stipulated in the church's constitution but never practiced and forever denied to the "church members".
The biggest joke to silent me was the senior pastor, with help from his cronies, hastily set up a kangaroo court, made up of an equally hastily set up "Elders Board" and "Discipline Committee Board" to hear and judge me in absentia and finally excommunicated me and my family, even though we were not members in the first place!
Not members even after attending the church as pioneers and for more than 20 years.
Not members not because we did not want to, but because the senior pastor deceived us into believing that there is no need for "paper membership", so long as you attend the church, you automatically are members.
How romantic and naive we all were!
How cunningly deceptive this "man of god" is!
I can go on and on about the shameful cover-up, way up the church hierarchy, even way up to Springsfield, Missouri, USA, but I think this should suffice.
Those who knows the truth, will be set free by the truth, although it first has to hurt.
My two sen advise on the matter: the gays and lesbians may not be people we like to associate with, but they are people who Christ died for too.
If we are not prepared to minister to them because we would not touch the uncleaned, let those who have a heart to reach out to these special people do so without our inhibitions.
If Jesus Christ were to be here today, how would he had treat the gays and the lesbians caught in the act and brought by the modern day Pharisees for His judgment?
Would He command them to be condemned with decapitation or would he challenge us (you and me, the onlookers): Let those without sin cast the first stone?
Would you cast the first stone when the He Who knew no sin simply says, "Go and sin no more".
Grace, Amazing Grace that saved a wretch like me, freely we receive, let us also freely give.
Shalom,
Alex Kee
Apparently there is one Pastor Oyoung Wen Feng commissioned by strong American support is tasked to starting a gay church in Malaysia.
Pastor Allen Tan is urging Christians from various denominations to unite to stop it from happening, even to the extent of urging the government of Malaysia to intervene on the basis that homosexual activities subvert the government's efforts and millions of ringgits investment in stemming out the HIV-AIDS problem because, according to Rev Tan, AIDS-HIV is caused by homosexual acts.
Pastor Tan seems to have taken it upon himself with crusading fervor to eradicate the budding of any gay church in Malaysia to the extent of using any ways and means to achieve his end believing he had a mandate from God to eradicate the ungodly from the face of the earth, phew, with fervor reminiscing those of the infamous Taliban!
While I am in agreement with the Bible that homosexual acts like other sexual sins e.g. bestiality, fornication and adultery is forbidden to all, Christians or non-Christians alike, we ought to be realistic and acknowledge the fact that as redeemed sinners, we are still on the way towards holiness and are still continuing to struggle with sin, whether we confess it to our other fellow brethren or not.
Do we grant church fellowship to people only if they are "good enough" to be associated with us, or do we accept people in good faith and based on face value that they have, like us, have taken a step of faith in following Jesus Christ though confession, repentance, desiring and working diligently on becoming a disciple of Christ even though we by faith are already Christ's disciples?
What if one day, someone we know as a brother or sister, with whom we have fellowship approach us with a confession of a sexual sin that he or she is struggling with and seeking our help to overcome it?
Do we push him/her away like lepers or do we weep with them and extend that hand of support to carry our brother through because he is our brother that we ought not to abandon in his hour of need?
There would not have been a place for any gay church had the conventional churches provide a place in their congregation to rehabilitate people who repents and are working towards overcoming their specific areas of weaknesses in their lives.
People like Oyoung may have the agenda to establish some kind of a church that runs contrary to the basic teachings and values of the Bible, maybe like a Jewish sect that advocates the eating of pork, but to then pressure a secular government to intervene in what is precisely a religious matter is inviting a "kick-me" ridicule.
What ought to be our response then?
The criminal laws of Malaysia, inherited from the British, which relied upon the values of the Church of England provides for the specific punishment of homosexual acts (acts of carnal knowledge).
This is the same law that Dr. Mahathir, the retired Prime Minister of Malaysia used to get the courts to convict and fire his deputy, Anwar Ibrahim.
But this is a matter of the law and their are sufficient provisions in the Penal Code to punish people who practices homosexual acts in Malaysia, be it committed privately or publicly.
Even if Oyoung or some others manage to get his gay church established, ought we be ashamed because he claim it to be a Christian Church?
Labels ought not trouble us, decent people know what decency is and rubbish smells like and the substance of garbage no matter how it is masked or disguised.
People will be able to discern the truth from falsehood by reasoning.
If truth cannot be established by reasoning; then truth it ought not be.
We cannot forbid religious freedom (no matter how contrary it is to our own liking) in Malaysia because it is enshrined in our secular Constitution that protects all, us included.
We can only attempt to enlighten people on the love of God that desires us to lead happy, healthy and fulfilling lives and for that, He guides us through His wisdom, precepts upon precepts, a little here, a little there.
Let us build our communities to be strong and true to our Lord.
An abundant life in Christ Jesus experienced needs no other distraction, even of the strange kind like same sex acts.
Below is my reply to a concerned brother:
Dear Bro. Lim,
Thank you for forwarding the two emails regarding the same issue.
My first reaction is "Wow"! Seems like the "vernacular" Chinese newspapers are more current than the mainstream English and Bahasa Malaysia newspapers in Malaysia in covering such "hot issues" like "gay churches" that will help sell their newspapers and benefit their shareholders and employees!
I think the attempt to stop or ban people from discussing or establishing churches, temples or any other institutions of religious or moral persuasion other than ours is utmost condescending at best and bigotry at worst.
I am not acquainted with one Rev. Allen Tan, but I could literally smell that blood thirsty sword of judgment in his hands to mete out "God's justice" like the famous Justice Pow of Kaifeng of old and ala maybe the Taliban of modern day Afghanistan trapped in their 7thCentury archaic time frozen mindset.
Malaysia's Constitution is secular and thank God it is.
This same Constitution that guarantees religious freedom for all is like a double edged sword that cuts both ways, it is impartial and a respecter of no persons, this is the essence of the Rule of Law, a tenet of modern civilization so sacred that without which the foundation of justice cannot stand.
If we start to poke the government to ban what we think is "unchristian", we are writing a blank cheque of precedence for our own persecution.
Ponder for a moment, do we forbid churches that preaches a different gospel other than ours, even one that denies the deity of Christ?
Churches that teach us to abstain from eating and drinking certain kinds of food and drinks because the Bible (Old Testament) records for the Jews that those are forbidden but the New Testament clearly records for us in the Council of Jerusalem that we Gentiles need no further yoke for what Jesus Christ has emancipated us from?
Churches that still believe in the Apostolic Succession and the continuous practice of the speaking in tongues when it ought to have ceased as a feature of God's intended dispensation for such a phenomenon tagged with an expiry date?
I could go on and on, but I think we ought to have got the point by now.
Leave these people alone but educate our own people on the ways of the Lord.
If we know that homosexual acts is wrong before the sight of God just like any other sexual sins like adultery, fornication and masturbation (?), talk and walk our personal life to match our talk.
By the way, HIV and AIDS is caused by a virus spread by the transfer of body fluids, not necessary exclusive to homosexual acts. It can be transmitted by blood transfusion, sharing of needles, toothbrushes, razor blades and even heterosexual sex.
Recent medical discoveries seem to indicate that HIV transmission amongst circumcised males is less vis-a-vis uncircumcised, so does it mean that we all ought to be circumcised to help slow down the spread of HIV-AIDS and be wanton with our sexual appetite?
No! ABC is still the message: Abstain, Be Faithful to your Spouse and if you cannot be either, wear a Condom!
The beauty of the Christian Church is in its diversity and the tolerance within the ecclesia that had allowed the diversity to blossom.
My take of the situation is simple.
If we are Christ's disciples first and church members second, it does not matter which church I go to or if I go to any church at all.
Church as an organization is supposed to serve society, touch lives and points people to Jesus Christ to also be their Lord and Savior through their own free will.
But alas, look around us and we see the ubiquitous self serving ends of the people with power running the churches and the unbelievable dirt and abuses of pastors and yes man and yes woman leaders lead by their noses.
My own life is a tragic story of church abuse.
I was ex-communicated by a Charismatic Church because I asked:
1. For the church accounts to b externally audited and also published.
2. For open membership to be practiced as stipulated in the church's constitution and
3. For the election of the pastors and office bearers, all these stipulated in the church's constitution but never practiced and forever denied to the "church members".
The biggest joke to silent me was the senior pastor, with help from his cronies, hastily set up a kangaroo court, made up of an equally hastily set up "Elders Board" and "Discipline Committee Board" to hear and judge me in absentia and finally excommunicated me and my family, even though we were not members in the first place!
Not members even after attending the church as pioneers and for more than 20 years.
Not members not because we did not want to, but because the senior pastor deceived us into believing that there is no need for "paper membership", so long as you attend the church, you automatically are members.
How romantic and naive we all were!
How cunningly deceptive this "man of god" is!
I can go on and on about the shameful cover-up, way up the church hierarchy, even way up to Springsfield, Missouri, USA, but I think this should suffice.
Those who knows the truth, will be set free by the truth, although it first has to hurt.
My two sen advise on the matter: the gays and lesbians may not be people we like to associate with, but they are people who Christ died for too.
If we are not prepared to minister to them because we would not touch the uncleaned, let those who have a heart to reach out to these special people do so without our inhibitions.
If Jesus Christ were to be here today, how would he had treat the gays and the lesbians caught in the act and brought by the modern day Pharisees for His judgment?
Would He command them to be condemned with decapitation or would he challenge us (you and me, the onlookers): Let those without sin cast the first stone?
Would you cast the first stone when the He Who knew no sin simply says, "Go and sin no more".
Grace, Amazing Grace that saved a wretch like me, freely we receive, let us also freely give.
Shalom,
Alex Kee
On 8/6/07, SER SHING LIM < lifatt@gmail.com> wrote:
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Bene Toon < benetoon@gmail.com>
Date: Aug 6, 2007 5:44 PM
Subject: Fwd: Gay church issue
To: chian.chomfon@taylors.edu.my, chom_elle@hotmail.com, fuat.sadewa@yahoo.co.id, joseph_thana2001@yahoo.com, kennyltc@yahoo.com, kingjamesmy@yahoo.com , mark_kwan@hotmail.com, mingfei_tan@yahoo.com, nancy@skklog.com.my, pl-sanko@ntti.net.sg, poonpc@yahoo.com, set_success@yahoo.com, yinghui0925@hotmail.com, zephaniahpee@calvary.com.my, zephptk@yahoo.com, Aaron & Vivian ONG < arong@streamyx.com>, Afred Ng < arcpro@tm.net.my>, amos lee <amos_ltc@yahoo.com>, Amy Ding < amyding@a-freight.com>, "Andri DO (Rica Jkt)" < andrido-mkt@ricakusuma.co.id>, andy chua < jb_andychua@yahoo.com.sg>, annabelle chian < annabelle0205@hotmail.com>, Anthony Ong <ong188@gmail.com>, Ban Huat < limbanhuat@yahoo.com>, BK < boonkeat21@yahoo.com>, Bro Dav <jayadev@mmhe.com.my>, Bro Ken < ah_naige@yahoo.com>, Bro Soong Kok Tiong < soongkt@yahoo.com>, Bro Tony <ar9311@hotmail.com>, Bruce & cathie < cathie1@tm.net.my>, Cha Yong < uchayong@tm.net.my>, Chen Long <tansl@miracle.com.my>, Chloe Teo < chloeteo112@yahoo.com>, CqLeong < brightimber@gmail.com>, Daniel Sin <danielsinhf@gmail.com>, Danny Eng < dannyengseetian@yahoo.com.tw>, davidson lawrence < kingjamesmy@gmail.com>, desmiond leong < desmond@flexitrans.com.my>, Doulos Tan <iamdoulos@gmail.com >, Eileen Chee <eileen.chee@csflogistics.com>, en cheng < tiffanym@streamyx.com>, forrestgump forrestgump < ahnaige@hotmail.com>, heo ty < centia40@yahoo.com>, irene Ang <cccjohor@tm.net.my>, Jimmy Chan < jabez.marketing@gmail.com>, joseph dowd < joseph.dowd@gmail.com>, Joshua Lim <arthome@pd.jaring.my >, Joshua Lim <thteokk@streamyx.com>, Kelvin Ng < kelngtop1@gmail.com>, LARRY < larrylms@pd.jaring.my>, Lau Kui Min Usana <dssmin@yahoo.com.sg>, Mark Kwan < sojournm@gmail.com>, matthew soon < wecare777@yahoo.com.sg>, nelson peter <nelson.shalom@gmail.com>, nelson peter < shalomnps@yahoo.com>, Ninan < cninan@gmail.com>, Paul Rajan <apexrecycle@yahoo.com.my>, "Ps. Shi Shin" < kennethchwa@yahoo.com.sg>, " Ps.Daniel Chow" <ccctampoi@yahoo.com>, "Ps. Ernie" < ernie_4jc@hotmail.com>, "Ps. PeiSan" < cccsuria@time.net.my>, "ps.Thomas fang" <ysfang@tm.net.my>, "Rev. Allen TAN" < yhjohn@streamyx.com>, Ricky Lim < ksljulie@hotmail.com>, Rudi Senjaya < senjaya@telkom.net>, Rui Fu <jleedavid@yahoo.com>, samuel Tan < samuel17@tm.net.my>, sathis nair < superb_sn2003@yahoo.com>, simon ho <hermerz@streamyx.com >, sis malini <mr9311@hotmail.com>, SSLim < lifatt@gmail.com>, Tan Boon Joo <bjtan_jb5@yahoo.com.sg >, Tan Guan <tg@ecoprint.com.my>, Timothy Siow < ica2000@tm.net.my>, victor eng < xxlgreenpower@gmail.com>, vincentia <yyan63@yahoo.com>, Vivian Ai fen < aifen_tng@yahoo.com.sg>, Wee Yong Fook < livingstone@pd.jaring.my>, wenchi <kohboonchee@gmail.com>, wenshiong < mhyap@dailyfresh.com.my>, wong et yong < etyong2002@yahoo.com.sg>, yap choon ping <yapfrance@yahoo.com>
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Allen Tan <yhjohn@streamyx.com>
Date: Aug 6, 2007 2:50 PM
Subject: Gay church issue
To: NECF <editor@necf.org.my>, Wong Kim Kong < necf@po.jaring.my>
Cc: Ding Mee Heyong < gracedmh@hotmail.com>, Nancy Lai <nancy_seowkian@hotmail.com>, "Amy Lee (Antioch)" < amamy@tm.net.my>, Andrew Wong < holisticteam@yahoo.com>, Christopher Mun < chrismun@pd.jaring.my>, Edward Chui < rev.edward.chui@gmail.com>, elizabeth <elizabeth@hktt.com>, Lum Chee Wah < cheewah_l@bursamalaysia.com>, Joshua Lee < fct@po.jaring.my>, Susan Tang < admin@station-of-life.org>, Tryphena Law <trylaw@hotmail.com >, Tracy Ng <tracynkc8@yahoo.com>, Bene Chian < benetoon@gmail.com>
Aug 6 2007
Dear Rev Wong Kim Kong,
Thank you for replying me through Sister Sandy via a sms. Since you are not taking actions, I will work with some others to pursue the matter. Many churches and ministers are looking up to NECF for help. They still think the best party is NECF. What for NECF organizes praying and fasting for 40 days for the nation, and now when this crucial issue propped up which required your prompt action, you are not willing to do anything? I am sure that such gay-agenda being propped up was the result of our Christians' prayers. You know God chose to expose them right in the period of your 40-day fast so that you can take a prompt action! As such, Pastors are disappointed with your reply.
Though the gays in the talk do not practice the act, don't you see that this is the budding time? And soon it will come out with the fruits. If we could foresee that they are bad fruits, should not we do something now? Which way is easier, to nip the buds now, or to tend to sick people who consumed the fruits later?
Yes, it is good to see the Muslims taking action against homosexuality. But I feel that we Christians should be the first person to be aware of the deadly sting of it. We should be the first to take initiative to work with government. I am sure the government is very pleased with us to alert them of the vice being taking place in the country. The government is spending billions of Ringgits in treating the HIV and sex-related diseases! They are definitely not willing to see youths involved in all these perversions. I hope that you are not upset with me over my opinion. I only see that upholding the principles of the Bible is important when the society needs us.
Thank you. God bless you.
P.S. Aug 7 at noon, some pastors would meet up and see what to do next.
Rev. Allen Tan
Aug 5 2007
Dear Pastors, Bro & Sis,
Updates on Gay Church in Malaysia
Shalom!
Thank you for your concern about the gay church. Prior to his two meetings on Aug 11 & 12 at Grand Olympic Hotel (near Merdeka Stadium KL), Oyoung Wen Feng is having a road-show for 5 days from Aug 5 to 9 at Penang, Johor Baru, KL & Singapore. Again Sin Chew Jit Poh made the publicity on Aug 5. This shows that Oyoung is aggressive in pushing through the Gay-agenda in Malaysia.
If we do not stop him now, pretty soon Malaysia will have many gay churches. A pastor told me that Rev. Troy Perry has planted 200 gay churches in America. Is it true? Could anyone give us the answer especially those who are in America? Their church is Metropolitan Community Church – New York. By the way, Troy is not the senior pastor, but the founder of MCCNY. The senior pastor is Rev Bumgardner. Please check Oyoung's website about his road-shows:
http://www.o-young.com/html/activity.htm
Very soon, our friends and relatives would be invited to attend the weddings of their members. Alamak, their spouse is of the same sex! Very soon, all our true churches will have real struggles with youth ministry. We pray that youth pastors would work harder because we are fighting for souls with gay churches.
Some of you asked me about two things: 1. Who Joseph was. 2. Getting NECF to help. Here are the answers:
1. I called Joseph and he is a Christian. When asked which church he attends, he was evasive. This shows that he has no confidence to face the public about his church membership. I exchanged sms with him asking him to repent. But he was upset with me, and he said that we Christians have no guts to do something to the unjust in our country, and instead we all prevent sinners to build relationship with God. It is obvious that he was misled by Oyoung.
When Christians spoke against homosexuality, Oyoung will accuse the church for persecuting them. The church welcomes all gays and lesbians, but we don't condone their actions. These people do not face the reality to have their lifestyle changed. Instead they set up gay churches because they have the wrong ideas that churches as whole persecuted them.
2. I sent a letter to NECF, Rev Wong KK, he replied through sms: 'Rev Allen Tan, this is Sandy from NECF, Rev Wong KK has read and understood your letter. His response is that NECF will help churches to educate their members but is unable to push the govt to ban the talk. The reason is that NECF's stand to the govt is in support of religious liberty. Asking for a ban based on our own beliefs goes against this and may have other repercussions. However, the homosexual act is a criminal offence in Malaysia so you may want to report the matter to the police. (Only that no actual act is committed during the talk, so it may not work.) Rev Wong hopes that you understand the situation and thank you for your concern for the Body of Christ. Thank you.'
I want to thank those who responded to me through calls and emails expressing their supports. And at the same time they are forwarding my mail to some Christian groups which practiced justice. Some gave me some suggestions. I hope we will come out with some solutions. Stopping gay-ministry is a long-term wrestling with Oyoung and his group. Though we may not be on-time to stop his two meetings now, we hope that his work would not be established in Malaysia.
Thank you and God bless you.
Rev. Allen Tan
Friday, August 3, 2007
Affirmative Action, Sustainable?
The STAR on 03Aug2007, reported UMNO Youth deputy chief Khairy Jamaludin accusing Anwar Ibrahim, "A traitor to the Malay cause":
========================
Anwar a traitor to Malay cause, says Khairy
KUALA KANGSAR: Umno Youth has labelled Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim – who was once head of the movement – a traitor to the Malay cause.
In making the declaration, Umno Youth deputy chief Khairy Jamaludin said: “The (coming) general elections is not about politics but the future of the Malays.”
Among the 5,000 people present were the wing’s former chief Datuk Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who is also Deputy Information Minister, and Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mohd Tajol Rosli Ghazali.
Khairy said the movement was angered by Anwar’s persistence in wanting to do away with the New Economic Policy, a cause close to the hearts of the Malays.
“He wanted to abolish it simply because he wanted to win the support of the non-Malays,” he said.
==========================
While we all know how dirty real politics can be and let it be known on the onset that I side nobody politically, my business is in sustainable development, I am deeply perturbed by the intellectual caliber of a purported Oxford U graduate.
The context of the NEP (New Economic Policy) was a time sensitive affirmative action program to eradicate (Malay) poverty and restructure (Malaysian) society, an aftermath of the racial riots of 1969, and not a subject of the social contract negotiated at the promulgation of the Malayan-Malaysian Constitution at the founding of independent Malaya in1957.
The NEP which sets out to help the poor as classified by race (exclusively the Malays) was supposed to be for a limited period of 20 years i.e. 1970 to 1990. It was never intended to be for eternity, but it now looks like the people who benefits directly from this convenient conduit of financial wealth are bent on perpetuating it.
When Anwar Ibrahim insisted NEP to be abolished, it presumable caused such a stir, at least on one UMNO member Khairy Jamaludin, the son-in-law of PM Ahmad Badawi.Well, it did not moved me a bit.
I am more interested in what Anwar Ibrahim propose the NEP be replaced with.
Affirmative action has its place in every nation and at anytime, because abject poverty is a respecter of no color but of class and the station of life.
Technically, anyone is a candidate for abject poverty, so affirmative action ought not be bias towards race but class: if you are poor enough and qualify to receive aid, you ought to be helped, not because you are poor AND belong to a certain color, but because you are poor, period.
By insisting the NEP be abolished (and hopefully be replaced with a EOEP: Equal Opportunity Economic Policy?), Anwar Ibrahim, in my humble opinion is not fishing for non-Malay votes.
He instead is being true and honest, walking his talk as an authentic Malay Warrior: Keeping his word: "Kata Mesti Di Kota".
Lest we forget, UMNO, through PM Tun Razak had promised that the NEP is for a fixed time period of 20 years and ought to have lapsed by 1990.
Alas, Tun Razak has passed away long ago, otherwise it will be interesting to know what he thinks about extending the NEP forever, when it has matured.
By renegading on its words, UMNO not only dishonors the honesty of the Bangsa, it also implicates the integrity of what the Ugama preaches versus what is practiced by its Ummah and therefore the Negara as the other citizens watches the leaders of that Bangsa in the way they walk their talk.
It is already difficult under normal circumstances for one to do the right thing, and to do the right thing even when it hurts, that is the mark of a Hero, peers of great leaders like Mahatma Gandhi and Abraham Lincoln.
Anwar Ibrahim is taking a big gamble by insisting on abolishing the NEP, because he will certainly lose the affection of most bumiputras without even the slightest assured support from the non bumiputras.
Afterall, the non-bumiputras in Malaysia have got so used to relying only on themselves and thanks to self-reliance, they need no clutches to stand or walk.
Anwar Ibrahim is a Visionary.
He knows, the very aid that is supposed to help can turn out to be that very bait that entraps.
Imagine for a moment, if your one year old child could only babble, crawl and need to be fed and cleaned, well, that is normal.
But this very child of yours, who is not an invalid still expects you to feed and clean him like a one year old child when he is already 37 years old, is that still cute especially when he still crawls and not walk? When is he going to grow up and be independent?
Affirmative Action, to be sustainable in the long run, needs justification and justification on helping the poor regardless of color, religion or creed.
Anwar Ibrahim knows what it is like to have dignity (maruah).
Even if today Anwar Ibrahim is a pauper, poor in money; he is rich in dignity.
Anwar Ibrahim, you have done your ancestors proud and I hope many of us will emulate you.
I salute you!
Monday, July 30, 2007
Blind Men Versus One Eye Man
In the land of the blind, the one eye man is King!
This old but wise adage still rings true today because sight and insight to problems even in this day and age is still lacking as the masses are still trapped in their mindset, incapacitated by their own paradigm paralysis.
Today, most of us ought to be aware as well as be concerned about human caused global warming and climate change, yet only a few of us are taking positive and practical actions to walk our talk because we are not prepared to be inconvenienced.
We love our energy guzzling and waste creating lifestyle and while we pay great lip service to the cause of tackling climate change and global warming, we, if anything at all, do very little to match our words with deeds.
We are, generally, blind and being blind, we perceive the whole picture of the dire state of the environment only in parts; not the whole.
Just like as in the famous Sufi story of the blind men and the elephant, every blind man perceive the unfamiliar animal according to their own "feelings", the one who felt the elephant's trunk insisted that the elephant is like a snake; the tail, a snake; the belly, a wall and the leg, a tree.
Even if we combined the collective intelligence of the blind men towards the attempted deciphering of an unfamiliar animal (problem), we will never get any wiser or further.
What is needed is a sighted person, even half a sighted person will do: with just one eye or a pair of partially sighted eyes, to see the whole picture.
Today's problems call for new solutions, not those of yesterdays but of visionary caliber.
The vision that the whole Cosmos is built upon the twin foundation of sustainability and renewal-ability, without which, the system will self implode and collapse
The Earth sustains and renews itself, with or without human beings and really, human beings are redundant to the Earth in so far as the long term viability of the Earth is concerned.
Imagine planet Earth devoid of homa sapiens, plants will continue to thrive, animals will continue to survive on the thriving plants and other animals that feed on plants.
Take away the plants and there will be no animals and humans.
We need just one, not, two eyes to see the dire state of the environment we are in, but the good news is that, we still have hope to turn the environment around, if we act very tough and act now.
This old but wise adage still rings true today because sight and insight to problems even in this day and age is still lacking as the masses are still trapped in their mindset, incapacitated by their own paradigm paralysis.
Today, most of us ought to be aware as well as be concerned about human caused global warming and climate change, yet only a few of us are taking positive and practical actions to walk our talk because we are not prepared to be inconvenienced.
We love our energy guzzling and waste creating lifestyle and while we pay great lip service to the cause of tackling climate change and global warming, we, if anything at all, do very little to match our words with deeds.
We are, generally, blind and being blind, we perceive the whole picture of the dire state of the environment only in parts; not the whole.
Just like as in the famous Sufi story of the blind men and the elephant, every blind man perceive the unfamiliar animal according to their own "feelings", the one who felt the elephant's trunk insisted that the elephant is like a snake; the tail, a snake; the belly, a wall and the leg, a tree.
Even if we combined the collective intelligence of the blind men towards the attempted deciphering of an unfamiliar animal (problem), we will never get any wiser or further.
What is needed is a sighted person, even half a sighted person will do: with just one eye or a pair of partially sighted eyes, to see the whole picture.
Today's problems call for new solutions, not those of yesterdays but of visionary caliber.
The vision that the whole Cosmos is built upon the twin foundation of sustainability and renewal-ability, without which, the system will self implode and collapse
The Earth sustains and renews itself, with or without human beings and really, human beings are redundant to the Earth in so far as the long term viability of the Earth is concerned.
Imagine planet Earth devoid of homa sapiens, plants will continue to thrive, animals will continue to survive on the thriving plants and other animals that feed on plants.
Take away the plants and there will be no animals and humans.
We need just one, not, two eyes to see the dire state of the environment we are in, but the good news is that, we still have hope to turn the environment around, if we act very tough and act now.
Saturday, July 14, 2007
Broga Incinerator is Off: Good News or Bad News?
The Broga Incinerator project is now officially, "Burnt", thanks to unsustainable cost, that's the official reason from the Malaysian government.
While the people, especially those in the vicinity of the proposed project cheered and breathed a sigh of relief, ought others follow suit?
The problem of waste disposal is faced by every community and nation globally and the more "modernized" and "industrialized", the bigger and more complex the problem.
While incinerating waste is one of the many alternatives in waste disposal, it has it's very serious residual waste and gas emission problems.
It is a fact that burning common plastics like PVC releases toxic and carcinogenic substances like Dioxin and the concentrated residue at the end of the incineration process needs disposal too, and more often that not, these are concentrated toxic waste.
My take of the situation is that the Malaysian government finally woke up to the fact that they themselves may not be able to meet the strict environmental standards they have legislated, so better to abort now then face the inevitable embarrassment down the road.
However, if we look at the solid waste disposal problem in Malaysia, we cannot escape from the fact that continue the "business as usual" basis is going to bury us all in waste.
If we continue to generate and landfill waste at the rate we are doing now, sooner or later, we are going to ran out of land.
Looking across the Causeway, in land scarce Singapore, they are even running out of land to bury the dead, let alone rubbish!
Singapore had gone the incineration route for more than two decades already and had it not been so, she would have another hill, Bukit Sampah, besides Bukit Timah.
It is true that incineration always cost more, ton for ton of rubbish, but buried rubbish is not something that will go away within a generation or two; it will come back to haunt our future generations.
The only long term viable and sustainable way out seems to lie in the 4Rs: Review, Reduce, Reuse and Recycle.
If the net total of necessary waste can be reduced to its absolute minimum, whether it is incineration or burying, either one will be equally viable.
Waste sorted at source is the way to go.
Organic waste ought to be composted and returned to the land as food for other organism. Reducing, reusing and recycling will help but the best of all is for all of us to review our consumption habits: Do I really need to consume this, in this wasteful manner?
Eventually, when we waste not, we want not!
While the people, especially those in the vicinity of the proposed project cheered and breathed a sigh of relief, ought others follow suit?
The problem of waste disposal is faced by every community and nation globally and the more "modernized" and "industrialized", the bigger and more complex the problem.
While incinerating waste is one of the many alternatives in waste disposal, it has it's very serious residual waste and gas emission problems.
It is a fact that burning common plastics like PVC releases toxic and carcinogenic substances like Dioxin and the concentrated residue at the end of the incineration process needs disposal too, and more often that not, these are concentrated toxic waste.
My take of the situation is that the Malaysian government finally woke up to the fact that they themselves may not be able to meet the strict environmental standards they have legislated, so better to abort now then face the inevitable embarrassment down the road.
However, if we look at the solid waste disposal problem in Malaysia, we cannot escape from the fact that continue the "business as usual" basis is going to bury us all in waste.
If we continue to generate and landfill waste at the rate we are doing now, sooner or later, we are going to ran out of land.
Looking across the Causeway, in land scarce Singapore, they are even running out of land to bury the dead, let alone rubbish!
Singapore had gone the incineration route for more than two decades already and had it not been so, she would have another hill, Bukit Sampah, besides Bukit Timah.
It is true that incineration always cost more, ton for ton of rubbish, but buried rubbish is not something that will go away within a generation or two; it will come back to haunt our future generations.
The only long term viable and sustainable way out seems to lie in the 4Rs: Review, Reduce, Reuse and Recycle.
If the net total of necessary waste can be reduced to its absolute minimum, whether it is incineration or burying, either one will be equally viable.
Waste sorted at source is the way to go.
Organic waste ought to be composted and returned to the land as food for other organism. Reducing, reusing and recycling will help but the best of all is for all of us to review our consumption habits: Do I really need to consume this, in this wasteful manner?
Eventually, when we waste not, we want not!
Friday, May 11, 2007
A Bridge Too Far?
PM Ahmad Badawi believes that in the future, there will be many bridges built to link Malaysia and Singapore just as there are more than 2000 over bridges in New York and over 20 over the Han River in Seoul, Korea, the STAR (May12, 2007).
While we can only speculate the basis to the PM's belief (since beliefs need no factual foundation), I would beg to differ if bridges per se are the solutions to the actual problem of process bottle necks arising from he necessary and unnecessary CIQ (Customs, Immigration and Quarantine) processes and procedures, given the sovereignty and pride of both nations to symbolize it through their separate CIQ processes: Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore are TWO different countries, they used to be together as ONE, albeit for a brief moment in history in the 1960s.
One of the common basis on the need for another bridge is the perennial traffic congestion, but the question is what causes the congestion on the Causeway in the first place and what is it that a bridge can solve that a causeway could not?
Is there magic in a Bridge that a Causeway has not?
The so called "Second Link", a bridge built more than 15 years ago as the answer to the traffic congestion problem on the Causeway hardly even ever solve an iota of the problem on the Causeway; it only solve the problem on the Bridge because commuters found Bridge's toll too expensive and also too out of the way for most people on either side of the Straits.
The Second Link remains under utilized, even up till today, no surprises though. But what baffles me is that certain people see Bridges as the solution to traffic congestion: build a bridge and there will be no congestion on it; build a causeway and it will be a sure way to ensure congestion!
What logic!
Sigh! On the other hand, in Bolehland, even the absurd is plausible!
The Second Link costs more than 10 times more, is inaccessible unless you are prepared to drive.
The congestion on the Causeway is in juxtaposition to the Second Link Bridge because of economics and convenience, nothing magical in that a bridge will somewhat chase all the congestion away!
The other causes to the congestion is the necessary CIQ clearance on both sides of the Causeway, a problem inherent in linking two countries together, because each country wants to stamp their sovereignty through at least some form of rudimentary CIQ clearance.
Therefore, unlike New York or Seoul where the bridges are within the same domain and need no CIQ clearance, the bridges that are believed by the PM to be built in the future, can only be pipe dreams, unless of course, he is not saying that Singapore will in the future be part of Malaysia again.
It sometime baffles me as to what material or the lack of it that politicians are made up of.
They get elected to office not because they are people of substance and integrity, but because they know how to play the political game well and be popular rather than effective.
Where are the JFKs and Indira Ghandis of Malaysia?
Alas, I hope there is still hope for Malaysia, for if our leaders could not even see the clear black and white issues about a simple logistics problem over two domains but continue to hallucinate and dream in fancy rainbow vividness, will Malaysia ever be able to be lead out of its current murkiness?
God, have mercy on the people of Malaysia!
While we can only speculate the basis to the PM's belief (since beliefs need no factual foundation), I would beg to differ if bridges per se are the solutions to the actual problem of process bottle necks arising from he necessary and unnecessary CIQ (Customs, Immigration and Quarantine) processes and procedures, given the sovereignty and pride of both nations to symbolize it through their separate CIQ processes: Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore are TWO different countries, they used to be together as ONE, albeit for a brief moment in history in the 1960s.
One of the common basis on the need for another bridge is the perennial traffic congestion, but the question is what causes the congestion on the Causeway in the first place and what is it that a bridge can solve that a causeway could not?
Is there magic in a Bridge that a Causeway has not?
The so called "Second Link", a bridge built more than 15 years ago as the answer to the traffic congestion problem on the Causeway hardly even ever solve an iota of the problem on the Causeway; it only solve the problem on the Bridge because commuters found Bridge's toll too expensive and also too out of the way for most people on either side of the Straits.
The Second Link remains under utilized, even up till today, no surprises though. But what baffles me is that certain people see Bridges as the solution to traffic congestion: build a bridge and there will be no congestion on it; build a causeway and it will be a sure way to ensure congestion!
What logic!
Sigh! On the other hand, in Bolehland, even the absurd is plausible!
The Second Link costs more than 10 times more, is inaccessible unless you are prepared to drive.
The congestion on the Causeway is in juxtaposition to the Second Link Bridge because of economics and convenience, nothing magical in that a bridge will somewhat chase all the congestion away!
The other causes to the congestion is the necessary CIQ clearance on both sides of the Causeway, a problem inherent in linking two countries together, because each country wants to stamp their sovereignty through at least some form of rudimentary CIQ clearance.
Therefore, unlike New York or Seoul where the bridges are within the same domain and need no CIQ clearance, the bridges that are believed by the PM to be built in the future, can only be pipe dreams, unless of course, he is not saying that Singapore will in the future be part of Malaysia again.
It sometime baffles me as to what material or the lack of it that politicians are made up of.
They get elected to office not because they are people of substance and integrity, but because they know how to play the political game well and be popular rather than effective.
Where are the JFKs and Indira Ghandis of Malaysia?
Alas, I hope there is still hope for Malaysia, for if our leaders could not even see the clear black and white issues about a simple logistics problem over two domains but continue to hallucinate and dream in fancy rainbow vividness, will Malaysia ever be able to be lead out of its current murkiness?
God, have mercy on the people of Malaysia!
Monday, May 7, 2007
Pipeline PipeDream?
I have just heard on Channel News Asia (07May2007) that the Prime Minister of Malaysia, Ahmad Badawi has just announced that Malaysia will be building a couple of billion Ringgit worth pipeline to channel crude oil carried on ships from the Middle East at a point on the western side of northern Peninsular Malaysia to another point on the north eastern side to be processed into refined petroleum for export to the Far East (China, Japan, Indo-China, Taiwan etc).
News had it that this is in response to the increasing unease about security in the Straits of Malacca, ranging from piracy, terrorism and treats to the environment in the event of an accidental of man made oil spillage.
If and when the project materialises, the implications are major for member ASEAN countries bordering the Straits of Malacca, chiefly Singapore, who in one way of another benefit from ships transiting at en route to the Far East.
We may recall that way back in the late 1800's, there was already a plan proposed by one English gentleman R.W. Duff to build a canal ala the Suez and Panama to cut shipping time by omitting the Straits of Malacca: the Isthmus of Kra Canal.
Three years back, while searching on the Internet for information about the Isthmus of Kra, I was pleasantly surprised that the idea of a canal is not new, it even predates that of Duff's.
It was in fact promulgated by a King of Siam (King Narai the Great, 1677) long before King Mongkut. (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kra_Isthmus)
The Kra Canal never got off the ground because the British were dead against it, for it will spell the death of Singapore, their revenue center at the tip of Asia where all sea traffic sailing West to East and vice-versa has to pass through it and pay toll.
The death of the Kra Canal was sealed when the British got the Siamese to sign a treaty in 1897, agreeing never to build a canal that could threathen the survival of Singapore.
Once in a while, the idea of a Kra Canal will pop up but somehow, the Thais show no passion about it though it was first mooted by a Thai King long ago.
The Isthmus of Kra is actually a very narrow strip of land, no more than 50km at its widest and given the technology we have today, building a canal to handle even the biggest of the super tankers will take no more than 1 year.
Of course cutting the Kra is like cutting the umbilical cord that connects Bangkok to the restive south, not a good idea when Bangkok is at wits ends on how to win back the breaking away southern territories.
But on the other hand, making a cut is also tantamount to containment, sending a message that Bangkok is containing the south so that it can be better controlled.
Rationally, the Kra Canal is better idea, economically, logistically, strategically etc as not only oil tankers can use it, but all kinds of sea going vessels.
With an area less than 50km long, it is also easier to secure.
It will be interesting what will conspire these coming weeks.
Will Singapore gang up with Thailand to build the Kra Canal with US blessings, since if you are going to lose business, you may as well mitigate potential losses by sharing future profits?
From the point of conservation, sustainable and renewable development, the Kra Canal is long overdue. Everyday, needless travel have to be done by thousands of ships sailing from the West to the East or to the South by passing through the narrow and pirate infested Straits of Malacca and if traffic continues to increase, it is a matter of when, not if a major oil spill will occur, impacting on the environment and life here in at least three countries: Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore.
Well, for all we know, the PipeLine Project could well be just a PipeDream Project but we can be certain that Singapore will not be sitting pretty...something is in the pipeline...and will be happening soon.
News had it that this is in response to the increasing unease about security in the Straits of Malacca, ranging from piracy, terrorism and treats to the environment in the event of an accidental of man made oil spillage.
If and when the project materialises, the implications are major for member ASEAN countries bordering the Straits of Malacca, chiefly Singapore, who in one way of another benefit from ships transiting at en route to the Far East.
We may recall that way back in the late 1800's, there was already a plan proposed by one English gentleman R.W. Duff to build a canal ala the Suez and Panama to cut shipping time by omitting the Straits of Malacca: the Isthmus of Kra Canal.
Three years back, while searching on the Internet for information about the Isthmus of Kra, I was pleasantly surprised that the idea of a canal is not new, it even predates that of Duff's.
It was in fact promulgated by a King of Siam (King Narai the Great, 1677) long before King Mongkut. (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kra_Isthmus)
The Kra Canal never got off the ground because the British were dead against it, for it will spell the death of Singapore, their revenue center at the tip of Asia where all sea traffic sailing West to East and vice-versa has to pass through it and pay toll.
The death of the Kra Canal was sealed when the British got the Siamese to sign a treaty in 1897, agreeing never to build a canal that could threathen the survival of Singapore.
Once in a while, the idea of a Kra Canal will pop up but somehow, the Thais show no passion about it though it was first mooted by a Thai King long ago.
The Isthmus of Kra is actually a very narrow strip of land, no more than 50km at its widest and given the technology we have today, building a canal to handle even the biggest of the super tankers will take no more than 1 year.
Of course cutting the Kra is like cutting the umbilical cord that connects Bangkok to the restive south, not a good idea when Bangkok is at wits ends on how to win back the breaking away southern territories.
But on the other hand, making a cut is also tantamount to containment, sending a message that Bangkok is containing the south so that it can be better controlled.
Rationally, the Kra Canal is better idea, economically, logistically, strategically etc as not only oil tankers can use it, but all kinds of sea going vessels.
With an area less than 50km long, it is also easier to secure.
It will be interesting what will conspire these coming weeks.
Will Singapore gang up with Thailand to build the Kra Canal with US blessings, since if you are going to lose business, you may as well mitigate potential losses by sharing future profits?
From the point of conservation, sustainable and renewable development, the Kra Canal is long overdue. Everyday, needless travel have to be done by thousands of ships sailing from the West to the East or to the South by passing through the narrow and pirate infested Straits of Malacca and if traffic continues to increase, it is a matter of when, not if a major oil spill will occur, impacting on the environment and life here in at least three countries: Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore.
Well, for all we know, the PipeLine Project could well be just a PipeDream Project but we can be certain that Singapore will not be sitting pretty...something is in the pipeline...and will be happening soon.
Saturday, April 28, 2007
Jeffrey Sachs, Al Gore, Global Warming, Climate Change & Sustainable Development
I have been following Prof. Jeffrey Sachs' 2007 Reith Lectures on the BBC Radio and had just watched two life changing movies: Al Gore's "An Inconvenient Truth" and another Sundance's movie "Who Killed the Electric Car".
Really, at the way we are "developing" by raping the Earth reminds me of a scene in the Lord of the Rings' movie where Saruman's war campaign spike up the production of weapons that sucks up vast amounts of energy from felled timber.
The scene is one of utter environmental devastation: destruction of the eco-balance.
Are we already in or at the brink of the no return road of unsustainable development?
I honestly think so.
Look at the pressure on fresh water.
Next it will be food, shelter, services and even the very air we need for survival.
The law of Nature is Equilibrium, Nature will sustain to the point of sustainable balance.
In other words, when we tip the balance, death and destruction will naturally occur until a new balance is attained.
If we take a moment to think, Earth is a self contained sustainable and renewable entity floating in sterile Space.
The eco-system of the Earth is self sustainable and renewable: the hydrological cycle, carbon cycle, nitrogen cycle or death to sustain life of one's organism waste as another organism's food etc and the original source of energy powered by the Sun.
If, say at an instance all human life on Earth is wiped out, will other life forms continue to prevail on Earth. The answer is a resounding "YES".
But not the other way round.
The Earth needs no Homo Sapiens to keep it viable and sustainable, but we need the Earth to live.
Strange that even when we know there is no other Earth near us that we can shift to in case life on planet Earth becomes unsustainable and yet we keep on destroying it for short term economic gains.
Unless we are of the persuasion that we need to destroy Earth to hasten the advent of Heaven, we ought to preserve the only heaven that we know of that exists on planet Earth.
The Kingdom of Heaven will come in God's perfect timing, it is the sole prerogative of God, as for us mortals, we are to be His good and faithful stewards in managing Earth well, which is our duty and responsibility.
Really, at the way we are "developing" by raping the Earth reminds me of a scene in the Lord of the Rings' movie where Saruman's war campaign spike up the production of weapons that sucks up vast amounts of energy from felled timber.
The scene is one of utter environmental devastation: destruction of the eco-balance.
Are we already in or at the brink of the no return road of unsustainable development?
I honestly think so.
Look at the pressure on fresh water.
Next it will be food, shelter, services and even the very air we need for survival.
The law of Nature is Equilibrium, Nature will sustain to the point of sustainable balance.
In other words, when we tip the balance, death and destruction will naturally occur until a new balance is attained.
If we take a moment to think, Earth is a self contained sustainable and renewable entity floating in sterile Space.
The eco-system of the Earth is self sustainable and renewable: the hydrological cycle, carbon cycle, nitrogen cycle or death to sustain life of one's organism waste as another organism's food etc and the original source of energy powered by the Sun.
If, say at an instance all human life on Earth is wiped out, will other life forms continue to prevail on Earth. The answer is a resounding "YES".
But not the other way round.
The Earth needs no Homo Sapiens to keep it viable and sustainable, but we need the Earth to live.
Strange that even when we know there is no other Earth near us that we can shift to in case life on planet Earth becomes unsustainable and yet we keep on destroying it for short term economic gains.
Unless we are of the persuasion that we need to destroy Earth to hasten the advent of Heaven, we ought to preserve the only heaven that we know of that exists on planet Earth.
The Kingdom of Heaven will come in God's perfect timing, it is the sole prerogative of God, as for us mortals, we are to be His good and faithful stewards in managing Earth well, which is our duty and responsibility.
National Disgrace
I have the utmost respect for Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye personally and for his leadership to the team of people running the Malaysian National Service (NS), but what he wrote and was published in the STAR today (Sunday, 28Jan07) perturbs me to the core!
What is the matter really with the whole NS concept, planning, implementation and review?
After a good many years of running the program, anyone would have expected the basic teething problems to have been tackled, yet we see basic failures still persisting, from transport arrangements to food and accommodation blunders.
Also, the recruitment of girls for the NS. What's the basis and necessity? It is challenging enough to keep an eye on boys under group behavior in training, combined this with girls in group behavior, and a pair of eyes is not even sufficient!
The last straw that broke my back and compelled me to write is the Chairman of the National Service Training Council's clever reliance on the Health Ministry's "pointing" that, I quote, "...a majority of our youths are actually healthy (more than 95%)" and that it is why it is not viable to conduct medical examinations on all potential trainees.
How unimaginative, uncreative and lacking in "thinking out of the box initiative" with a tinge of irresponsibility that statement and attitude is, if you like.
Safety, security and the avoidance of sickness, injury or death to any and all participants and trainers ought to be paramount priority because human life is priceless!
Please do not insinuate the caring and compassionate intrinsic attributes of us Malaysians!
Medical examination for all potential NS candidates not only protects the individual participants, it also benefits all, provided the relevant parameters are correctly selected and tested. The last thing any NS participant wants is to catch a high contagious and communicable disease (like tuberculosis, HIV, hepatitis etc) from living and training in very close proximity and quarters where injuries with open wounds makes it viable for diseases to be passed on from one to the other.
For potential participants who already know they are not healthy, this is not a problem, they would have applied for an exemption with supporting medical certificates, the hidden dangers are for those who are not aware that they are not medically fit for NS training and have not the resources to undergo voluntary medical screening.
If we do not have the resources (which all of us know is untrue, we are not a poor country), then we should not even bother to have a half baked NS programs.
There are so many clinics well distributed all over the nation offering medical screenings and I am sure every General Practitioner will be more than happy to be of service for a reasonable fee. I am also confident that if called upon, the medical profession will be more than willing to contribute their part of the national service. I am confident that all doctors are doctors because they first felt a call to serve. With a little "thinking out of the box", I am sure esteemed organizations like the NS Council would have thought of offering opportunities to doctors to contribute their services to the National Service Program. MMA and individual doctors, please feel free to comment.
The point is simple, if something is worth doing, it is worth doing right, can you disagree on this, Mr. Chairman and members of his Board of Council?
What is the matter really with the whole NS concept, planning, implementation and review?
After a good many years of running the program, anyone would have expected the basic teething problems to have been tackled, yet we see basic failures still persisting, from transport arrangements to food and accommodation blunders.
Also, the recruitment of girls for the NS. What's the basis and necessity? It is challenging enough to keep an eye on boys under group behavior in training, combined this with girls in group behavior, and a pair of eyes is not even sufficient!
The last straw that broke my back and compelled me to write is the Chairman of the National Service Training Council's clever reliance on the Health Ministry's "pointing" that, I quote, "...a majority of our youths are actually healthy (more than 95%)" and that it is why it is not viable to conduct medical examinations on all potential trainees.
How unimaginative, uncreative and lacking in "thinking out of the box initiative" with a tinge of irresponsibility that statement and attitude is, if you like.
Safety, security and the avoidance of sickness, injury or death to any and all participants and trainers ought to be paramount priority because human life is priceless!
Please do not insinuate the caring and compassionate intrinsic attributes of us Malaysians!
Medical examination for all potential NS candidates not only protects the individual participants, it also benefits all, provided the relevant parameters are correctly selected and tested. The last thing any NS participant wants is to catch a high contagious and communicable disease (like tuberculosis, HIV, hepatitis etc) from living and training in very close proximity and quarters where injuries with open wounds makes it viable for diseases to be passed on from one to the other.
For potential participants who already know they are not healthy, this is not a problem, they would have applied for an exemption with supporting medical certificates, the hidden dangers are for those who are not aware that they are not medically fit for NS training and have not the resources to undergo voluntary medical screening.
If we do not have the resources (which all of us know is untrue, we are not a poor country), then we should not even bother to have a half baked NS programs.
There are so many clinics well distributed all over the nation offering medical screenings and I am sure every General Practitioner will be more than happy to be of service for a reasonable fee. I am also confident that if called upon, the medical profession will be more than willing to contribute their part of the national service. I am confident that all doctors are doctors because they first felt a call to serve. With a little "thinking out of the box", I am sure esteemed organizations like the NS Council would have thought of offering opportunities to doctors to contribute their services to the National Service Program. MMA and individual doctors, please feel free to comment.
The point is simple, if something is worth doing, it is worth doing right, can you disagree on this, Mr. Chairman and members of his Board of Council?
Bridge Over Troubled Water?
In the Malaysian STAR newspapers of 25Apr2007, the MP for Johor Bahru was reported to have commented that it is a matter of time Singapore would acquiesce to a bridge to replace the Causeway, inter-alia when Singapore has amortized the capital investment in their CIQ infrastructure.
With due respect to one of the wiser and more learned MPs of Malaysia, and speaking from the position of a common citizen who is born and bred in Johor Bahru and also a frequent user of the Causeway, Datuk Shahrir, has missed the point.
The political vision, mission and culture in Singapore vis-a-vis Malaysia is almost in opposition.
Lest we forget, the latest Singapore CIQ was designed and built on the premise of an earlier agreement with Malaysia that the KTM will terminate at Woodlands, Singapore.
Not a single notion was even hinted at having a common Bridge to replace the Causeway.
When Singapore does something, she has to justify her actions with cost and benefit based on purpose, the guidance has always been on the basis of purpose, justification, value, equity, accountability and responsibility.
So what is the whole real purpose of replacing the Causeway?
What is the single most important reason for still having the Causeway when there is already the Second Link Bridge somewhere beyond the yonder from Johor Bahru city itself?
The Causeway is the life-link for hundreds of thousands if not millions of people in Johor Bahru and Malaysia.
Hundreds of thousands of people commute daily on the Causeway, to work, to study, to seek medical treatment, to visit friends and relatives, to shop, to dine, to catch an international flight because our so called international airport in Senai is only international in name! and etc.
To me, I see the whole issue in a very simple paradigm: the purpose of the link be it a bridge or a causeway or even a ferry crossing is communication, transport and logistics.
Therefore, the justification for any changes to the status quo ought to be if the replacement adds value.
What is it in a Bridge (straight or crooked) that can achieve but a Causeway cannot?
Ought not the priority be in the fast and cost effective mass rapid transit of people, goods and services across the Link?
A rethink is needed here.
We need no new bridge, just the will to serve the rakyat better.
Start with a common centralized CIQ processing (common in many European borders), one in JB and one in Singapore where customs, immigration and customs clearance are commonly cleared at a single location.
Another is a Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) system to transport people traffic from JB to Singapore and vice-versa.
All the infrastructure in Singapore is ready to extend its time tested MRT system to Johor Bahru, but as usual, the business lobby in Malaysia will oppose this to protect their own pockets at the expense of the rakyat.
I can clearly see that if the MRT is extended to Johor Bahru, many motorists would give up their motorbikes and cars and take public transport and coupled with the efficient CIQ processing system, the issue of the Bridge to replace the Causeway would be a thing of the pass.
There will be win-win-win for all, the rakyat wins, governments win and the environment wins in terms of the better energy efficiency and less pollution.
Would wisdom prevail? Not, I guess, unless and until Malaysians are ready to change our mindsets and shift our paradigms.
Until then, Singapore will surge forward while we remain stagnated in our own parochial darkness.
With due respect to one of the wiser and more learned MPs of Malaysia, and speaking from the position of a common citizen who is born and bred in Johor Bahru and also a frequent user of the Causeway, Datuk Shahrir, has missed the point.
The political vision, mission and culture in Singapore vis-a-vis Malaysia is almost in opposition.
Lest we forget, the latest Singapore CIQ was designed and built on the premise of an earlier agreement with Malaysia that the KTM will terminate at Woodlands, Singapore.
Not a single notion was even hinted at having a common Bridge to replace the Causeway.
When Singapore does something, she has to justify her actions with cost and benefit based on purpose, the guidance has always been on the basis of purpose, justification, value, equity, accountability and responsibility.
So what is the whole real purpose of replacing the Causeway?
What is the single most important reason for still having the Causeway when there is already the Second Link Bridge somewhere beyond the yonder from Johor Bahru city itself?
The Causeway is the life-link for hundreds of thousands if not millions of people in Johor Bahru and Malaysia.
Hundreds of thousands of people commute daily on the Causeway, to work, to study, to seek medical treatment, to visit friends and relatives, to shop, to dine, to catch an international flight because our so called international airport in Senai is only international in name! and etc.
To me, I see the whole issue in a very simple paradigm: the purpose of the link be it a bridge or a causeway or even a ferry crossing is communication, transport and logistics.
Therefore, the justification for any changes to the status quo ought to be if the replacement adds value.
What is it in a Bridge (straight or crooked) that can achieve but a Causeway cannot?
Ought not the priority be in the fast and cost effective mass rapid transit of people, goods and services across the Link?
A rethink is needed here.
We need no new bridge, just the will to serve the rakyat better.
Start with a common centralized CIQ processing (common in many European borders), one in JB and one in Singapore where customs, immigration and customs clearance are commonly cleared at a single location.
Another is a Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) system to transport people traffic from JB to Singapore and vice-versa.
All the infrastructure in Singapore is ready to extend its time tested MRT system to Johor Bahru, but as usual, the business lobby in Malaysia will oppose this to protect their own pockets at the expense of the rakyat.
I can clearly see that if the MRT is extended to Johor Bahru, many motorists would give up their motorbikes and cars and take public transport and coupled with the efficient CIQ processing system, the issue of the Bridge to replace the Causeway would be a thing of the pass.
There will be win-win-win for all, the rakyat wins, governments win and the environment wins in terms of the better energy efficiency and less pollution.
Would wisdom prevail? Not, I guess, unless and until Malaysians are ready to change our mindsets and shift our paradigms.
Until then, Singapore will surge forward while we remain stagnated in our own parochial darkness.
Monday, March 5, 2007
Helping Hands Without Destroying
One of the attributes of a civilized and cultured person is: Compassion.
Compassion that that is beyond mere words, empirically verifiable by practical and effective actions, one of which is in rendering help to others, a Helping Hand or Two.
Helping Hands not only benefit the recipients, it also blesses the giver, as the saying goes: “It is more blessed to give than to receive”.
The irony of it all is there seems to be a lack of “Blessed Givers” and more wanting Receivers.
Helping others is a universal cross cultural value and there is no culture anywhere in the world, then, now or even in he future, which condemns or denounces the giving of aid to the less fortunate, although there are many cultures that do not encourage and would in fact prohibit helping one's rivals or enemies.
True Helping Hands helps irrespective of creed, class, color, species, race, religion or even relationship or the lack of it.
The litmus test is helping others in need even when the other party is your enemy or an animal, all because True Helping Hands are intrinsically altruist in object and motivation.
It therefore should not surprise us why many people in the Twenty First Century CE still treat animals like we treat other people groups then, who may appear to differ from us, as animals.
True Helping Hands helps because help is needed at that exact point of time and space where the Helping Hands happen to be the neighbor where help is needed and could be rendered without any peril to the life and limb of the Helping Hands, or even at the risk of it, because Helping Hands care enough to support compassion with action.
The Teacher of Love and Compassion said some two millennium ago, “Love thy enemy as thyself”, always lending a helping hand to heal, to set free and to empower individuals to achieve their up most best, Jesus Christ of Nazareth, while hanging and dying being crucified on the Cross for crimes he did not commit, not only did not utter an unkind word to his enemies and accusers, but asked God to forgive them, because they were ignorant.
As the whole purpose of extending a pair of Helping Hands is “empowerment” and not mere “aid” per se, extending aid ought to be what the Chinese Sage, Confucius advocated more than 2000 years ago: “Give a man a fish and he eats for a day, Teach him to fish and he eats a lifetime”.
Helping Hands can also come full circle, we help wherever we can, for who knows we may have unknowingly helped angels in the process. But whatever it is, when we have the opportunity to be Helping Hands to our neighbours, we are all blessed, the giver, the receiver and also the Creator of both.Monday, February 19, 2007
Frugality for Sustainability
The Confucius ideal of frugality probably stems from the entrenched Chinese Cultural Value of conserving resources as a contingent against possible future natural calamity like floods, earthquakes, famines etc that constantly plaque China of the old and the now.
The idea of not lavishing one's wealth but saving for the future, makes no coincidence the nations in Asia with a majority ethnic Chinese population the nations with the biggest propensity to save and therefore to invest: Singapore, Taiwan and even China itself.
In a setting that is beset by the uncertain vagaries of Nature, the inhabitants of that peculiar habitat have disciplined themselves to make do with little and be contented to postpone present consumption and gratification for the sake of the future and their future generations.
Nothing is wasted and nothing is put to waste.
Imagine a people who is able to feed itself and with very little arable land vis-a-vis the huge population at hand and even before the advent of the so called modern agricultural methods, systems and processes: chemical fertilizers and mechanization.
The secret? No secret, only the philosophy of Harmony and the conscious effort in maintaining a harmonious balance (homeostasis) between Man and Nature, between using the land and returning to the land, what we have taken from her, between taking and also giving.
In the whole philosophy of the Way (Tao) of Harmony, the waste of one organism becomes the food of another and the cycling of Nature to and fro is maintained within the Cycle of Life, Death, Renewability for Sustainability.
For example, the return of human waste to the vegetables field is a long held successful farming practise and this has successfully allowed China to feed her millions upon millions of people and be in self sufficient in food production for thousands of years and without the use of chemical fertilizers.
Look what we have put ourselves into in the name of "modern farming methods".
We lock up our own excreta in expensive sewage systems and uses huge amounts of good potable water to maintain it, only to mine more minerals to make fertilizers and burn more green house gases fuel to create energy to manufacture them, at the expense of the environment so that we can continue to pollute the Earth with our necessary sustenance activities. A loss-loss-loss situation that we have trapped ourselves in: Loss for the people, loss for the environment and loss of scarce resources.
The only winners in this so called "modern agricultural movement" are the people involved in the mining, manufacturing and distribution of chemical fertilizers.
Honestly, if there were to be sustainability, there must be renewability and the cutting down of consumption to a basic frugal level that we use up Earth's resources only up to the very basic minimum so that the Earth can recycle itself, before we tip the balance to the point of no return.
Being frugal in the context of sustainability, even when there is renewability is a wise habit of choice because really, we don't own the Earth, past, present and future generations are co-stewards of the Great Planet Earth and if we are wanton enough to destroy the Earth to satisfy our own selfish present gratifications with no regard whatsoever for other people or now or the future, we ought not the right to live here on Planet Earth.
The only way to a sustainable future to me is the Way of Frugality, the cutting down of consumption to the barest minimal and the conservation of resources through and deliberate sustainable and renewabilty lifestyle choices and let it start today, even, not tomorrow, next week or next year. For procrastination is indeed the thief of time.
The idea of not lavishing one's wealth but saving for the future, makes no coincidence the nations in Asia with a majority ethnic Chinese population the nations with the biggest propensity to save and therefore to invest: Singapore, Taiwan and even China itself.
In a setting that is beset by the uncertain vagaries of Nature, the inhabitants of that peculiar habitat have disciplined themselves to make do with little and be contented to postpone present consumption and gratification for the sake of the future and their future generations.
Nothing is wasted and nothing is put to waste.
Imagine a people who is able to feed itself and with very little arable land vis-a-vis the huge population at hand and even before the advent of the so called modern agricultural methods, systems and processes: chemical fertilizers and mechanization.
The secret? No secret, only the philosophy of Harmony and the conscious effort in maintaining a harmonious balance (homeostasis) between Man and Nature, between using the land and returning to the land, what we have taken from her, between taking and also giving.
In the whole philosophy of the Way (Tao) of Harmony, the waste of one organism becomes the food of another and the cycling of Nature to and fro is maintained within the Cycle of Life, Death, Renewability for Sustainability.
For example, the return of human waste to the vegetables field is a long held successful farming practise and this has successfully allowed China to feed her millions upon millions of people and be in self sufficient in food production for thousands of years and without the use of chemical fertilizers.
Look what we have put ourselves into in the name of "modern farming methods".
We lock up our own excreta in expensive sewage systems and uses huge amounts of good potable water to maintain it, only to mine more minerals to make fertilizers and burn more green house gases fuel to create energy to manufacture them, at the expense of the environment so that we can continue to pollute the Earth with our necessary sustenance activities. A loss-loss-loss situation that we have trapped ourselves in: Loss for the people, loss for the environment and loss of scarce resources.
The only winners in this so called "modern agricultural movement" are the people involved in the mining, manufacturing and distribution of chemical fertilizers.
Honestly, if there were to be sustainability, there must be renewability and the cutting down of consumption to a basic frugal level that we use up Earth's resources only up to the very basic minimum so that the Earth can recycle itself, before we tip the balance to the point of no return.
Being frugal in the context of sustainability, even when there is renewability is a wise habit of choice because really, we don't own the Earth, past, present and future generations are co-stewards of the Great Planet Earth and if we are wanton enough to destroy the Earth to satisfy our own selfish present gratifications with no regard whatsoever for other people or now or the future, we ought not the right to live here on Planet Earth.
The only way to a sustainable future to me is the Way of Frugality, the cutting down of consumption to the barest minimal and the conservation of resources through and deliberate sustainable and renewabilty lifestyle choices and let it start today, even, not tomorrow, next week or next year. For procrastination is indeed the thief of time.
Thursday, January 25, 2007
Third Wave Warning for Johor and Reflections on the Environment
Thursday 25January2007, The STAR Headlines: 'Third wave' warning for Johor:
What a cruel joke, I thought to myself, but on the other hand this is plausible and therefore only reasonable and proper for the Meteorological Services Department to warn us of impending disasters when the root cause of the problem remains untackled.
I am not pertaining to the impact of climate change, nor of distractive cloud seeding but what we have neglected to our own peril: drainage maintenance.
Through years of neglect and abuse of the environment from human activities like logging, construction, manufacturing, agriculture etc that exposed the top soil to erosion that silted the rivers, we have literally turn the lower lying areas (where rivers in their natural life cycle flows slower) into premature flood plains.
Really, the solution is simple, either we spend lots of money and other resources in tackling the root problem by preventing and getting rid of the silt through dredging etc or alternatively, we just adapt and hope to survive.
So long as the rivers and drains remained silted and clogged, floods recur and something we just have to live with, unless we are prepared to pay more taxes or have less of other services, so as to pay for the clean up of the rivers because governments all over the world face the common identical problem: balancing the budget of expenditure with income through taxation and money creation.
With hind sight, we may realize how wise our forefathers who live by the riverine areas were.
Where flash floods are not uncommon at the riverine areas that provided them with the needed transport network, they simply adapt and thrive.
They are prepared and ready anytime for flash floods: building houses on high stilts and a boat they used for daily transport, ready to evacuate at a moment’s notice.
They adapted well and the testimony to that is the survival of their descendants to this day.
As Man builds, Man destroys as well and unless we are prepared to amend our ways to show some due respect to the conservation and protection of the environment, the environment will soon have none of us.
Think for a moment, we need the environment more than the environment needs us.
Should we all perish from the planet Earth in one instance and provided the Sun still shines, life of other form will continue to flourish and thrive: the plants will continue to live and provide sustenance to the other flora and fauna that depended on them.
Let's stop treating the Earth like dirt and whilst it may be too late to reverse some of the effects of human caused climatic change, we still have the opportunities to do something constructive for the environment, by first doing no harm.
Also, we can adapt to survive; perhaps stilted buildings will soon be a common sight in places like flood prone Kota Tinggi?
Why not? Buildings on stilts have character and reflect the tenacity and the humble wisdom of the human spirit to survive through adaptation.
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
The Key to Survival: Adapting, Flowing Along
In December 2006 and January 2007, many parts of Johor, the southern most state of Malaysia received a record of more than 100mm of rainfall over a period of 3days continuous rain.
Many towns and even the capital city of Johor Bahru, hitherto unaccustomed to such floods caught many a unprepared crowd, not once, but twice in an interval of less than 3 weeks.
Many theories were put forward by experts, laypersons and politicians trying to explain and even exonerate responsibilities and many found the perfect scapegoat: "Mother Nature" and "Acts of God". Poor Mother and Poor God, what blaspheme and what scandalous convenience!
Whilst it is true that the rain that fell was exceptionally high in deluge, not all areas where the deluge of rain fell was inundated and this begs the question why?
The cause of floods is simple.
When the desired level of water in a targeted area is above the desired threshold, the relevant place is considered undesirable flooded.
Flooding therefore occurs when the net inflow is more than the outflow of water in a given area.
It is now almost conclusive that the recent flooding whilst primarily caused by a lethal combination of heavy rainfall and high tides, badly maintained drainage system is also to be blamed.
Many of the major rivers: Kota Tinggi, Segamat, Kluang and Muar where heavily silted through years of neglect and it was a disaster waiting to happen.
There is now a warning out there to expect a possible "Third Wave" of flooding and the unease could be felt everywhere and every time when rain is a little heavy and longer than usual
But heavier and longer rainfall as a result of green house effect climate change will be it and not the exception from now onwards.
What then are the options available for us to ensure that flooding does not adversely affect us?
From cloud seeding to adopting sustainable development strategies and dredging the rivers to get rid of the silt, none is more cost effective and viable than to flow with Nature: ADAPTIVE SURVIVAL.
It is as is now that these places that flood are now becoming "flood plains" and this be so, adapt to the changes by adopting appropriate flood plain systems and processes.
The Stilted Malay House, once a feature for houses located at or near rivers to accommodate the seasonal floods need to be revived as our adaptive response to the change in the behaviour of the climate brought about by our wanton heartless treatment of the environment through our selfish gratification consumption behavior.
If we fail to adapt, by Darwin's Law, we will be overwhelmed by outside forces and perish to the pages of history as species that failed.
At the end of the day, it is the Survival of the Fittest, like it or not and the fittest survives primarily by their witty adaptation.
Adapt and Flow Along until something better comes along.
Many towns and even the capital city of Johor Bahru, hitherto unaccustomed to such floods caught many a unprepared crowd, not once, but twice in an interval of less than 3 weeks.
Many theories were put forward by experts, laypersons and politicians trying to explain and even exonerate responsibilities and many found the perfect scapegoat: "Mother Nature" and "Acts of God". Poor Mother and Poor God, what blaspheme and what scandalous convenience!
Whilst it is true that the rain that fell was exceptionally high in deluge, not all areas where the deluge of rain fell was inundated and this begs the question why?
The cause of floods is simple.
When the desired level of water in a targeted area is above the desired threshold, the relevant place is considered undesirable flooded.
Flooding therefore occurs when the net inflow is more than the outflow of water in a given area.
It is now almost conclusive that the recent flooding whilst primarily caused by a lethal combination of heavy rainfall and high tides, badly maintained drainage system is also to be blamed.
Many of the major rivers: Kota Tinggi, Segamat, Kluang and Muar where heavily silted through years of neglect and it was a disaster waiting to happen.
There is now a warning out there to expect a possible "Third Wave" of flooding and the unease could be felt everywhere and every time when rain is a little heavy and longer than usual
But heavier and longer rainfall as a result of green house effect climate change will be it and not the exception from now onwards.
What then are the options available for us to ensure that flooding does not adversely affect us?
From cloud seeding to adopting sustainable development strategies and dredging the rivers to get rid of the silt, none is more cost effective and viable than to flow with Nature: ADAPTIVE SURVIVAL.
It is as is now that these places that flood are now becoming "flood plains" and this be so, adapt to the changes by adopting appropriate flood plain systems and processes.
The Stilted Malay House, once a feature for houses located at or near rivers to accommodate the seasonal floods need to be revived as our adaptive response to the change in the behaviour of the climate brought about by our wanton heartless treatment of the environment through our selfish gratification consumption behavior.
If we fail to adapt, by Darwin's Law, we will be overwhelmed by outside forces and perish to the pages of history as species that failed.
At the end of the day, it is the Survival of the Fittest, like it or not and the fittest survives primarily by their witty adaptation.
Adapt and Flow Along until something better comes along.
Saturday, January 20, 2007
Washing Ones Dirty Sins in the Publicly Dirtier Holy Rivers
Karl Marx said, "Religion is the Opium of the People".
If one were to ponder wide and deep into the meaning of this statement against the most atrocious, illogical and even lunatical deeds done in the name of religion, it is not difficult to see why religion is indeed a drug that sedates, hallucinates and causes mankind to stray into unreality and trapped in addiction.
Human sacrifice, superstition, suicide bombing to attain a piece of paradise in the sky, spending one's lifetime savings on a single pilgrimage, penance, bathing is dirty holy rivers to rid one's multi past life sins, feng shui, bazi etc are the outrageous things people will do in the name of religion.
Take for example the forgiveness of past life(s) and present life sins by dipping in polluted so called holy rivers, to what logic is this?
Millions went ga-ga to dip into the Ganges and Ramuna in the belief that there past and present sins will somehow be "washed" away by the holy waters because at his special auspicious moments when the cosmos align once in half a decade or so, the "nectar" of the gods poured into the waters of these rivers will perform these sin erasing miracles.
Hey, wait a minute, what about the many other millions Hindus in India and elsewhere who are laden with sins but have not the means to travel to this place? Will they die only to be recycled back to an even lower caste through the "law" of karma tic reincarnation?
A God or gods who stipulate that only by going to a certain place to perform a certain ritual before his or her sins are forgiven, to me, deserve not the reverence nor respect of man.
The Jews worship in Jerusalem, yet the Samaritans worship in the mountains, but Jesus Christ said more than two thousand years ago that it will come a time, when time and place is of no relevance when the worship of God is concerned. For, it will come a time when we shall worship God in spirit and in truth, because God after all is Spirit.
If God is Spirit, He is not confined to time and space and further, the Kingdom of God is within man and no where else.
If we cannot revere God in our daily living in our home town, but found it necessary to burn away good money in making a long journey to some place to wash away our sins, this seems ostensibly silly to me.
If we could just be more conscious and committed to walk our talk in our daily life, religion would no longer be addictive opiate but medicine to heal a world burdened with sin and death.
Let's take this first step of faith in this long journey of life of walking our talking, for indeed there ought to be less talk and more walk for walking is visible even from afar, whereas talking is audible only within a small radius.
If one were to ponder wide and deep into the meaning of this statement against the most atrocious, illogical and even lunatical deeds done in the name of religion, it is not difficult to see why religion is indeed a drug that sedates, hallucinates and causes mankind to stray into unreality and trapped in addiction.
Human sacrifice, superstition, suicide bombing to attain a piece of paradise in the sky, spending one's lifetime savings on a single pilgrimage, penance, bathing is dirty holy rivers to rid one's multi past life sins, feng shui, bazi etc are the outrageous things people will do in the name of religion.
Take for example the forgiveness of past life(s) and present life sins by dipping in polluted so called holy rivers, to what logic is this?
Millions went ga-ga to dip into the Ganges and Ramuna in the belief that there past and present sins will somehow be "washed" away by the holy waters because at his special auspicious moments when the cosmos align once in half a decade or so, the "nectar" of the gods poured into the waters of these rivers will perform these sin erasing miracles.
Hey, wait a minute, what about the many other millions Hindus in India and elsewhere who are laden with sins but have not the means to travel to this place? Will they die only to be recycled back to an even lower caste through the "law" of karma tic reincarnation?
A God or gods who stipulate that only by going to a certain place to perform a certain ritual before his or her sins are forgiven, to me, deserve not the reverence nor respect of man.
The Jews worship in Jerusalem, yet the Samaritans worship in the mountains, but Jesus Christ said more than two thousand years ago that it will come a time, when time and place is of no relevance when the worship of God is concerned. For, it will come a time when we shall worship God in spirit and in truth, because God after all is Spirit.
If God is Spirit, He is not confined to time and space and further, the Kingdom of God is within man and no where else.
If we cannot revere God in our daily living in our home town, but found it necessary to burn away good money in making a long journey to some place to wash away our sins, this seems ostensibly silly to me.
If we could just be more conscious and committed to walk our talk in our daily life, religion would no longer be addictive opiate but medicine to heal a world burdened with sin and death.
Let's take this first step of faith in this long journey of life of walking our talking, for indeed there ought to be less talk and more walk for walking is visible even from afar, whereas talking is audible only within a small radius.
Friday, January 19, 2007
Of Physics and Metaphysics
Lately I have been wondering about the claims of many a Feng Sui, BaZi and Tao Masters that their practise is "scientific" and "logical" as opposed to quackery.
Whilst I can accept that not everything factual can be experienced and verified by our five senses, it also does not make sense that we can claim something to be scientific just because we could chart out its paradigm.
Take for example gravity, magnetism and electricity. Before these we discovered, its proponents were ridiculed. Yet till today, while we accept gravity exist although we cannot touch, taste, see, feel or smell it, the same cannot be claimed for something like Feng Sui. Gravity may not be verifiable by our senses, but it can be scientifically proven to exist by repeatable experiments that yield predictable and consistent results.
The same cannot be said about Feng Sui and the likes.
Feng Sui is not scientific because its outcome is never consistent nor predictable.
The Feng Sui Master will always take the easy escape route when his recommendations fail to yield result: "Lack of Faith".
If Science relies on faith, that it is no science for Faith is not required in a sure thing as Fact.
If the outcome of an event depends on faith, "If you believe it will come true, if you don't it will not" kind of premise, you can safely chuck it out as unscientific.
When was the last time your physician told you to have faith in him and/or the medicine he is prescribing you as the prerequisite to your healing? This only comes from a "witch doctor" not a qualified physician who knows that diseases is primarily caused by germs; not charms.
I make no apology, let the charlatans have their own clientele, but please do not insult the intelligence of people who understands what Science and being scientific is.
A Science that does not have predictable Cause and Effect Results is no Science and people who practise something that had to depend on faith to achieve the desired result and not on the law of Cause and Effect alone, please at least be honest and admit that theirs is no Science.
There is no shame to be honest, even when people wants to follow you in spite of knowing that you are a fraud and what you have to offer is a lie.
If people wish to feed their superstition appetite, so be it, you don't have to dishonestly mislead them, be honest about your dishonesty, this is the least you can be.
Honest dishonest Chinese Meta-Physics Masters, any takers?
Whilst I can accept that not everything factual can be experienced and verified by our five senses, it also does not make sense that we can claim something to be scientific just because we could chart out its paradigm.
Take for example gravity, magnetism and electricity. Before these we discovered, its proponents were ridiculed. Yet till today, while we accept gravity exist although we cannot touch, taste, see, feel or smell it, the same cannot be claimed for something like Feng Sui. Gravity may not be verifiable by our senses, but it can be scientifically proven to exist by repeatable experiments that yield predictable and consistent results.
The same cannot be said about Feng Sui and the likes.
Feng Sui is not scientific because its outcome is never consistent nor predictable.
The Feng Sui Master will always take the easy escape route when his recommendations fail to yield result: "Lack of Faith".
If Science relies on faith, that it is no science for Faith is not required in a sure thing as Fact.
If the outcome of an event depends on faith, "If you believe it will come true, if you don't it will not" kind of premise, you can safely chuck it out as unscientific.
When was the last time your physician told you to have faith in him and/or the medicine he is prescribing you as the prerequisite to your healing? This only comes from a "witch doctor" not a qualified physician who knows that diseases is primarily caused by germs; not charms.
I make no apology, let the charlatans have their own clientele, but please do not insult the intelligence of people who understands what Science and being scientific is.
A Science that does not have predictable Cause and Effect Results is no Science and people who practise something that had to depend on faith to achieve the desired result and not on the law of Cause and Effect alone, please at least be honest and admit that theirs is no Science.
There is no shame to be honest, even when people wants to follow you in spite of knowing that you are a fraud and what you have to offer is a lie.
If people wish to feed their superstition appetite, so be it, you don't have to dishonestly mislead them, be honest about your dishonesty, this is the least you can be.
Honest dishonest Chinese Meta-Physics Masters, any takers?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)