I'm on a haiku roll here. Here's something I wrote on the back on my credit card bill envelope. (Found a good use for something we all don't like.) Had some thoughts about the recent food fight Malaysia had with Singapore not long ago.
Bak kut teh, is it
our dish or Singapore one?
Don't care; don't like pork.
Copyright for food
Ministry seems to not have
much work to do leh.
Chilli or pepper?
It does not matter at all
to the poor, dead crab.
We fight over food
that we all enjoy. Meanwhile,
millions go hungry.
(It's actually a billion, but I couldn't wedge that into a haiku)
Thursday, October 15, 2009
We are willing to help the rich, but not the poor
"World leaders have reacted forcefully to the financial and economic crisis and succeeded in mobilizing billions of dollars in a short time period. The same strong action is needed now to combat hunger and poverty,"
- FAO Director-General Jacques Diouf.
The latest report from the United Nations' Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) says that this year, there are 1.02 billion hungry people in the world.
Jacques Diouf also said,
"The rising number of hungry people is intolerable. We have the economic and technical means to make hunger disappear, what is missing is a stronger political will to eradicate hunger forever. Investing in agriculture in developing countries is key as a healthy agricultural sector is essential not only to overcome hunger and poverty but also to ensure overall economic growth and peace and stability in the world."
"We applaud the new commitment to tackle food security, but we must act quickly. It is unacceptable in the 21st century that almost one in six of the world's population is now going hungry," added Josette Sheeran, Executive Director of WFP.
Poor households have been cutting back on education and other basic needs but it is still too overwhelming for them. In Somalia alone, the cost of food has risen 85% over the last two years.
We had no problem bailing the fat cats of Wall Street and the financial centres of the world. Maybe all that some of them lost were a few penthouses and Lear jets, and maybe the mistresses. But what can be done to mitigate the global food crisis?
Soka Gakkai International (SGI) President Daisaku Ikeda wrote in his 2009 Peace Proposal to the United Nations (UN):
"To ensure secure access to food for all the world's people, we need to design a mechanism to keep a certain amount of grain in reserve at all times as a global public good. These reserves could be distributed as emergency relief during a food crisis or released onto the market to stabilize prices."
He further added:
"I also would like to call for the expanded use of innovative financing mechanisms such as international solidarity levies to raise funds toward overcoming poverty and improving health
care and sanitation in line with the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The effort to develop innovative funding mechanisms can be thought of as a type of humanitarian competition, as various states constructively vie with one another to develop the most effective ideas and proposals."
If economists and financiers can come up with innovative ways to trade derivatives on the global market, surely we can do something about investment and fund-raising vehicles to ensure no one goes hungry.
He further says, "The bottom billion" -the poorest of the poor in fifty-eight countries, who have long been left behind by global economic growth--were one focus of debate at the UN last year. The stark
disparity in the value of human life and dignity, virtually predetermined by where one is born, is an unconscionable injustice in global society that must be corrected. If we are to lay any claim to human dignity--to manifest the feelings of compassion that Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712-78) assures us were at the heart of even the earliest human communities--we must take steps to remedy this situation."
Nobel laureate in economics Amartya Sen astutely pointed out that "Poverty must be seen as the deprivation of basic capabilities rather than merely as lowness of incomes." Poor people are just as human as we are.
The latest FAO report can be accessed at http://www.fao.org/docrep/012/i0876e/i0876e00.htm
SGI President Ikeda's peace proposals can be accessed at http://www.sgi.org/proposals.html
- FAO Director-General Jacques Diouf.
The latest report from the United Nations' Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) says that this year, there are 1.02 billion hungry people in the world.
Jacques Diouf also said,
"The rising number of hungry people is intolerable. We have the economic and technical means to make hunger disappear, what is missing is a stronger political will to eradicate hunger forever. Investing in agriculture in developing countries is key as a healthy agricultural sector is essential not only to overcome hunger and poverty but also to ensure overall economic growth and peace and stability in the world."
"We applaud the new commitment to tackle food security, but we must act quickly. It is unacceptable in the 21st century that almost one in six of the world's population is now going hungry," added Josette Sheeran, Executive Director of WFP.
Poor households have been cutting back on education and other basic needs but it is still too overwhelming for them. In Somalia alone, the cost of food has risen 85% over the last two years.
We had no problem bailing the fat cats of Wall Street and the financial centres of the world. Maybe all that some of them lost were a few penthouses and Lear jets, and maybe the mistresses. But what can be done to mitigate the global food crisis?
Soka Gakkai International (SGI) President Daisaku Ikeda wrote in his 2009 Peace Proposal to the United Nations (UN):
"To ensure secure access to food for all the world's people, we need to design a mechanism to keep a certain amount of grain in reserve at all times as a global public good. These reserves could be distributed as emergency relief during a food crisis or released onto the market to stabilize prices."
He further added:
"I also would like to call for the expanded use of innovative financing mechanisms such as international solidarity levies to raise funds toward overcoming poverty and improving health
care and sanitation in line with the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The effort to develop innovative funding mechanisms can be thought of as a type of humanitarian competition, as various states constructively vie with one another to develop the most effective ideas and proposals."
If economists and financiers can come up with innovative ways to trade derivatives on the global market, surely we can do something about investment and fund-raising vehicles to ensure no one goes hungry.
He further says, "The bottom billion" -the poorest of the poor in fifty-eight countries, who have long been left behind by global economic growth--were one focus of debate at the UN last year. The stark
disparity in the value of human life and dignity, virtually predetermined by where one is born, is an unconscionable injustice in global society that must be corrected. If we are to lay any claim to human dignity--to manifest the feelings of compassion that Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712-78) assures us were at the heart of even the earliest human communities--we must take steps to remedy this situation."
Nobel laureate in economics Amartya Sen astutely pointed out that "Poverty must be seen as the deprivation of basic capabilities rather than merely as lowness of incomes." Poor people are just as human as we are.
The latest FAO report can be accessed at http://www.fao.org/docrep/012/i0876e/i0876e00.htm
SGI President Ikeda's peace proposals can be accessed at http://www.sgi.org/proposals.html
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
My own haiku
What is a haiku? See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haiku
Inspired by the NYC schools' haiku, I also wrote some of my own corrupted from of haiku:
Malaysia as One
Will it be a dream come true,
or wishful thinking?
Oh dear Ministers
just how many of your words
are known to be true?
Objective questions
if I answer a thousand
that's education?
Oh clever people,
Human Resource I am not,
just Human Being.
Oh dearest brother,
please see not my skin colour.
My blood is red too.
Oh dearest sister,
we love the same food, don't we,
mee goreng mamak
...Just got back from lunch ;)
Inspired by the NYC schools' haiku, I also wrote some of my own corrupted from of haiku:
Malaysia as One
Will it be a dream come true,
or wishful thinking?
Oh dear Ministers
just how many of your words
are known to be true?
Objective questions
if I answer a thousand
that's education?
Oh clever people,
Human Resource I am not,
just Human Being.
Oh dearest brother,
please see not my skin colour.
My blood is red too.
Oh dearest sister,
we love the same food, don't we,
mee goreng mamak
...Just got back from lunch ;)
Haiku from New York City school students and teachers
I found this rather brilliant haiku collection written by students and teachers from New York City, in response to the New York City's Department of Education's Schools Report Card. Most of them contains criticism against the school system, particularly agains NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg and School System Chancellor Joel Klein. Here is a selection of the haikus:
A, B, C or D -
Who cares? It's all meaningless.
How existential!
-MDS
Who cares? It's all meaningless.
How existential!
-MDS
Bloomberg, Klein, Liebman
Masters of the universe
Have you ever taught?
-Anonymous 5:12 PM
Masters of the universe
Have you ever taught?
-Anonymous 5:12 PM
Work harder or else
My kids are not a letter
A smile on its side
-Anonymous 11:57AM
My kids are not a letter
A smile on its side
-Anonymous 11:57AM
I am too angry
to write a haiku today
they should all resign
to write a haiku today
they should all resign
-Leonie Haimson
You can download the whole collection at http://eduwonkette.googlepages.com/NYCSchoolReportCardHaiku.pdf
Sunday, October 11, 2009
The Greatest Love of All
I had problems falling asleep when I wrote this. Well, I was already asleep, when a large explosion awaked me. Turns out, the explosion was in my dreams. So I thought maybe some writing would help me sleep.
Yesterday, I attended the 15th graduation ceremony of Tadika Seri Soka (TSS). Tun Jeanne Abdullah was the guest of honour.
Seeing the bright, joyous faces of the children that graduated yesterday, I wonder how the road of life would be like for them from now. Looking at their faces, and at the photo of my baby nephew’s entire hand gently clutching my finger, I pray that we, as adult members of society, have the will to make this world and safe and happy place for them.
The first president of the Soka Gakkai , Tsunesaburo Makiguchi said, “Rather than devise complex theoretical interpretations, it is better to start by looking at the lovely child who sits on your knee and ask yourself. What can I do to assure that this child will be able to lead the happiest child possible?” ‘’
This word from Whitney Houston’s great song, The Greatest Love of All, perhaps sums it up best:
I believe the children are our are future
Teach them well and let them lead the way
Show them all the beauty they possess inside
Give them a sense of pride to make it easier
Let the children's laughter remind us how we used to be
Teach them well and let them lead the way
Show them all the beauty they possess inside
Give them a sense of pride to make it easier
Let the children's laughter remind us how we used to be
To all the princes and princesses who achieved a great victory yesterday, may you be happy and victorious throughout your lives! Do not let the thrashing waves in the sea called life defeat you.
I also realized that I was old enough to be their father...
Friday, October 9, 2009
The Perfect Hostage - part 3
She returned to Burma
When she returned, she discovered first hand the suffering that her people were going through, and how the despotic generals (who are ironically supported by the so called “leaders of the free world”) had destroyed Burma Burma
Her work in restoring democracy to Burma University Avenue
Despite the suffering that she personally gone through, and the sufferings of her people she had to witness, The Lady remains indomitable. She once told Steven Gan of the Bangkok Nation, (yes, the Steven Gan who is now the editor of Malaysiakini.com) that she wants to reach an understanding with the junta. “All sides have to realize that the impasse is not doing anybody any good.” That was in 1998.
While international media has highlighted the plight of The Lady from time to time, leaders of the world, especially those of ASEAN, seem to approach the matter at arm’s length. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, you have not been forgotten.
This book is well-researched and it tells a compelling story. If there is one book that will help you make sense of the tragedy called Burma
Thursday, October 8, 2009
The Perfect Hostage - part 2
The early history of Burma is wracked by endless conflict and bloodshed, which somehow seems to foretell the fate that has befallen Burma today. Since ancient times, Burma has never existed as a peaceable homogenous whole. Even today, some minorities in Burma like the Shan and the Karen people do not recognize the rule of the majority-Burmese governments.
Late in the 19th century, after Burma had endured yet another bloody post-succession purge, the British, under the pretext of a “moral cause for regime change” (yes, the White Man’s Burden), made the country a part of the British Empire, the Evil Empire of its day.
When the Japanese came, the British absconded and left the Burmans to the mercy of the Japanese, just like they did in Malaysia. When the Japanese left, the British just waltzed in to reclaim sovereignty over the nations they had left in the lurch when the going got tough.
Burma’s independence movement was born before the Japanese occupation, and the leader was The Lady’s father, Aung San. His political genius won Burma’s independence, and he was well on the way to becoming Burma’s first prime minister at the young age of 32. He was to institute a democracy in Burma after more than a thousand years of autocratic rule.
It looked like Burma was to have a peaceful society at last after a long history of conflict. However, enemies of Aung San killed him and members of his provisional Cabinet on 19th July 1947. The Lady was two years old.
His widow, Daw Khin Kyi, sad as she was, did not dwell on his death and strived on her own to bring up The Lady and her two brothers, one elder and younger. She always told them about how great their father was. After all, it was he liberated Burma from the British.
Daw Khin Kyi began to take up a variety of posts within the government, ending with ambassador to India in the 1960s. By then, the country had fallen into the hands of a military dictatorship under the corrupt and superstitious Ne Win. Daw Khin Kyi was disgusted at the prospect at working for a dictator who had lied to his people about eventually restoring democracy to the country.
Thus, for most part of her teenage and adult years, she lived outside Burma. She later went to Oxford, where she was to meet her husband Michael Aris. She had seemed content to spend her life outside her birth country, though she kept a watch on what was happening there.
(to be continued...)
Late in the 19th century, after Burma had endured yet another bloody post-succession purge, the British, under the pretext of a “moral cause for regime change” (yes, the White Man’s Burden), made the country a part of the British Empire, the Evil Empire of its day.
When the Japanese came, the British absconded and left the Burmans to the mercy of the Japanese, just like they did in Malaysia. When the Japanese left, the British just waltzed in to reclaim sovereignty over the nations they had left in the lurch when the going got tough.
Burma’s independence movement was born before the Japanese occupation, and the leader was The Lady’s father, Aung San. His political genius won Burma’s independence, and he was well on the way to becoming Burma’s first prime minister at the young age of 32. He was to institute a democracy in Burma after more than a thousand years of autocratic rule.
It looked like Burma was to have a peaceful society at last after a long history of conflict. However, enemies of Aung San killed him and members of his provisional Cabinet on 19th July 1947. The Lady was two years old.
His widow, Daw Khin Kyi, sad as she was, did not dwell on his death and strived on her own to bring up The Lady and her two brothers, one elder and younger. She always told them about how great their father was. After all, it was he liberated Burma from the British.
Daw Khin Kyi began to take up a variety of posts within the government, ending with ambassador to India in the 1960s. By then, the country had fallen into the hands of a military dictatorship under the corrupt and superstitious Ne Win. Daw Khin Kyi was disgusted at the prospect at working for a dictator who had lied to his people about eventually restoring democracy to the country.
Thus, for most part of her teenage and adult years, she lived outside Burma. She later went to Oxford, where she was to meet her husband Michael Aris. She had seemed content to spend her life outside her birth country, though she kept a watch on what was happening there.
(to be continued...)
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