World against hunger

As we have all heard, food prices have been increasing dramatically in recent months. In Malaysia, the price of rice nearly doubled, as well as the price of cooking oil. For myself, living in the US doesn't mean that I don't experience all these problems. The price of rice here has doubled too in just 4 months, from $6 to nearly $11. For other Americans, the rising price of corn has affected their behavior in consumption. No one can escape this global turmoil, but the most affected group is the bottom 50% of the world population, the middle and lower class group. Before anything else, we should question ourselves, why suddenly the chronic inflation creeps into our food?



Well, everything relates to each other in the world with no boundaries. Due to the rising gas prices, people feels that biofuel is the next best thing to make gas more affordable, but in reality, we are left indifferent than before because of the increasing demand of food (especially corn, the primary source of biofuel) drives the food price loco. For our staple food, rice, it has some major issues too. In Vietnam, the primary rice exporter, the crop is getting affected by diseases and also mother nature, drought. While in India, their population is booming and of course they need to feed themselves too. China, the small group of farmers can't cope the rising population, which most of them works in the industrial sector. In Malaysia, as one of the major palm oil producer in the world besides Indonesia, is facing hard time since it is more profitable to feed the car (as the biofuel) than to feed our own mouth!



According to the statisticians, the total food that we are producing today can feed more than 10 billion people, which is way more than the world population which now stands at 6.55 billion. The question is, where is the food? Of course the food is with the 1/6 part of the world population, the developed nations, that consist of 57 countries. In poor countries like the African countries, 16000 children died everyday due to hunger, which is approximately 1 child in every 5 seconds. The problem doesn't end there, World Bank targeted that the food price will steadily increase in the future, which I assumed that the hunger problem will be getting worse and worse. In developing countries, there is a check and balance, since they get to enjoy the invention of cars and transportation, living in a wealthy environment, thus having a price increase in food doesn't matter much to them. However, in poor countries, where they can't even get to ride a bus, living in dirty condition, thus experiencing a food price increase due to global energy crisis is just unfair.



Therefore, I urge all my readers to be engaged in humanitarian issues, and the least you can do is to donate to make food more affordable. Even if you feel that this issue is not affecting you in any way, this is a borderless world we are living in, and global economy affects everyone. It will affect us in a certain way but we won't realize about it. Let us all be thankful with what we have!

Fitna

Sorry for not being able to update this blog frequently this past few weeks. I have been very busy lately since before the spring break, due to exams and tons of homeworks, and I was out of town for the break, doing some volunteer work in western Michigan. Well, 'nuff said! Today, this article caught my attention:

Dutch Lawmaker Posts Anti-Islam Short Film on Internet



Geert Wilders, the Dutch right-wing politician, has kept his promise of publicizing his anti-Islam movie titled "Fitna," which translates in English as "ordeal." The short film is 17 minutes long and has been posted on video sharing site www.liveleak.com. Wilders allegedly had problems finding a host willing to post his movie.

Liveleak.com accepted but maintains that it does not agree with the movie's message and several of its staff were offended by Fitna. However, "our being offended is no reason to deny Mr Wilders the right to have his film seen," Liveleak wrote on its website.

"I make a distinction between the ideology of Islam and the Koran and Muslims. My problem is with the ideology not with the people.... I have nothing against Muslims," Geert Wilders told, per AFP. He is a member of a far-right party, Freedom, which holds 9 of the 150 seats in the Dutch parliament.

"Fitna" is "not a provocation, but ... it's five minutes before midnight and this is the last warning as far as I'm concerned," he said, AP further reports. Thus, Wilders appears to believe he is on a crusade to save the world from Islamization which will otherwise bring about doomsday.

While many in Netherlands and elsewhere live under the terror of a wave of attacks from extremist Muslims, triggered by the film's release, Muslim scholars have been less impressed by the movie. Maurits Berger, professor of Islam in the West at Leiden University, told AP that he found the movie less disturbing than he had expected. Instead, it is a series of "images and photos, headlines from recent years which we already know," he said to AP.

The movie's message is double-edged: it asks Muslims to "tear" away hatred from the Koran, and it asks non-Muslims to stop Islamisation. The short film ends with the caricature by Danish cartoonist Kurt Westergaard of the Prophet Muhammad wearing a bomb in his turban.

Geert Wilders, 44, was raised a Roman Catholic and his wife was allegedly a former believer of Islam. He has close ties with Israel and was suspected of being an Israeli agent, Dutch newspaper Telegraaf reported in May 2007. [via eFluxMedia]

Well, what do you guys think? For me, I am pissed for the wrong message he brought into the video especially when he quoted the Quran in a way that is misleading, and turned it into a hateful message. For example, he quoted Surah 4 (An-Nisa'), verse 56:

Those who have disbelieved our signs, we shall roast them in fire, whenever their skins are cooked to a turn, we shall substitute new skins for them, that they may feel the punishment: verily Allah is sublime and wise.

Which the real meaning is to be quoted from the previous verse, Surah 4 (An-Nisa') verse 55-56:

Some of them believed, and some of them averted their faces from him: And enough is Hell for a burning fire. Those who reject our Signs, We shall soon cast into the Fire: as often as their skins are roasted through, We shall change them for fresh skins, that they may taste the penalty: for Allah is Exalted in Power, Wise.

This is the complete meaning, which is about the torture in the day of resurrection for the non believers. It is not something that is to be carried out now. I highlighted the word "soon" which was left out by Wilders to instill the hatred meaning into the video. Another one, he quoted Surah 8 (Al-Anfal), verse 60:

Prepare for them whatever force and cavalry ye are able of gathering, to strike terror, to strike terror into the hearts of the enemies of Allah and your enemies.

But, the real meaning is to be quoted from verse 60-61:

Against them make ready your strength to the utmost of your power, including steeds of war, to strike terror into (the hearts of) the enemies, of Allah and your enemies, and others besides, whom ye may not know, but whom Allah doth know. Whatever ye shall spend in the cause of Allah, shall be repaid unto you, and ye shall not be treated unjustly. But if the enemy incline towards peace, do thou (also) incline towards peace, and trust in Allah. for He is One that heareth and knoweth (all things).

Which really means that you have to fight if you are being treated unjustly, but if your enemies want peace, then we shall give them peace. See how misleading his meaning is?? He said, "I make a distinction between the ideology of Islam and the Koran and Muslims. My problem is with the ideology not with the people.... I have nothing against Muslims." Pardon me, the ideology is perfect, the meaning is perfect, he misquoted the Quran, he twisted the meaning, and the root of the problem is the people.. not the religion. The message in the Quran does not approve Muslim going against the others, which can be found in Surah 109 (Al-Kafirun), verse 1-6:

In the name of God, most gracious, most merciful.
Say : O ye that reject Faith!
I worship not that which you worship.
Nor will you worship that which I worship.
And I shall not worship that which you are worshiping.
Nor will you worship that which I worship.
To you be your religion, and to me my religion.

Gnome sighting in Argentina

A TOWN in South America is living in fear after several sightings of a 'creepy gnome' that locals claim stalks the streets at night.

The midget - which wears a pointy hat and has a distinctive sideways walk - was caught on video last week by a terrified group of youngsters.

Teenager Jose Alvarez - who filmed the gnome - yesterday told national newspaper El Tribuno that they caught the creature while larking about in their hometown of General Guemes, in the province of Salta, Argentina.

He said: “We were chatting about our last fishing trip. It was one in the morning.

“I began to film a bit with my mobile phone while the others were chatting and joking.

"Suddenly we heard something - a weird noise as if someone was throwing stones.

"We looked to one side and saw that the grass was moving. To begin with we thought it was a dog but when we saw this gnome-like figure begin to emerge we were really afraid."

Jose added that other locals had come forward to say they had spotted the gnome.

He said: “This is no joke. We are still afraid to go out - just like everyone else in the neighbourhood now.

"One of my friends was so scared after seeing that thing that we had to take him to the hospital.” [The Sun, Mar 11]

Mukhriz: PM, please resign

PETALING JAYA: Umno Youth has distanced itself from Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir’s call for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to resign.

Its chief Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein said in a statement sent via SMS that Mukhriz’s call was made on his own accord, and did not represent the stand of Umno Youth.

“If it is true that Mukhriz has asked for the Prime Minister’s resignation, then it is not the stand of Umno Youth, as our decisions have always been made collectively.

“As I have stated before, Umno Youth’s loyalty belongs to the leadership of the Prime Minister and his deputy.

“If the statement has been made of his (Mukhriz) own accord, it is my personal stand that his call was made at a time and in a method that is not appropriate,” he said in his text message.

Yesterday Mukhriz, who is Umno Youth executive council member, wrote a letter to Abdullah pressuring him to step down after the ruling coalition’s dismal showing in the 12th general election, describing the move as the honourable thing to do.

Hishammuddin's SMS, however, did not mention if any action would be taken against Mukhriz.

Mukhriz had also caused headlines in July last year when rumours spread of his intention to contest for the movement’s top post.

He had then pledged to give his full attention to helping Hishammuddin and Umno Youth.

When contacted in ALOR STAR, Mukhriz expressed surprise that the personal letter dated March 12 had ended up on the Internet.

“It was a personal, heartfelt letter addressed to the Prime Minister,” he said, adding that carbon copies of the letter were sent to top Umno leaders, namely deputy president Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, vice-president Datuk Wira Ali Rustam, vice-president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and secretary-general Datuk Seri Radzi Sheikh Ahmad.

Mukhriz said the Barisan’s colossal defeat in its strongholds showed that even party members had betrayed the coalition.

“If Datuk Seri (Abdullah) does not step down in the near future, I am really worried that the trust of the rakyat, especially the Malays, in Umno and BN would diminish,” he added in the letter.

Mukhriz acknowledged that the letter would anger Abdullah and other Umno members.

“However, in the interest of the Malays and Umno, I am willing to accept reactions to this appeal,” he said.

Mukhriz ended the letter saying he was confident Abdullah would do the right thing for the sake of both race and nation.

[The Star, Mar 15 2008]


This is the copy of the letter:

12th March 2008

Dato' Seri,

Let me take this opportunity to thank you and the party's leadership for the faith in me and the chance to contest in Jerlun as a Barisan Nasional candidate. With the blessing and hard work of the party's leadership and machinery as well as the people of Jerlun, I have won the elections and am now a new Member of Parliament.

However, sadly enough, my victory is rendered meaningless in view of the defeat that Umno and the Kedah BN suffered in the hands of the opposition. Apart form Kedah, four other states as well as the Federal Territories also received similar humiliation in defeat.

In fact your own state of Penang was wrested by the DAP from the BN. Kelantan is again under Pas rules. In other states, the BN also suffered a similar humiliation when the level of BN support by the people has tremendously reduced. This, Datuk Seri, has never happened in the history of BN rule.

The sole intention of my letter to you is meant to save UMNO and BN from being rejected further by the people and from being no longer relevant to our religion, race and nation.

Dato' Seri, the people are unhappy and the message from them is very clear, and that is they have rejected you as the nation's chief executive.

Contrary to your claim that you still have the support of Umno and other component parties, the reality is that even our own party members had reneged in their voting pattern by supporting the Opposition and inflicting the BN its defeat.

Dato' Seri, when the people held street demonstrations you openly dared them to resort to the ballot boxes to demonstrate.

They took your challenge by coming out, especially tho people in the Peninsular, and they demonstrated their feelings by voting us out at the BN at State and Parliament levels.

It is therefore clear that your leadership and your handling of the issues faced by the people and the nation are no longer accepted. Let's not deny the truth just for the sake of keeping your seat as Prime Minister.

For the love of this country and the people, I beg that you take responsibility for the defeat. We can save UMNO, the BN and the nation only if you relinquish your positions as Prime Minister and the President of UMNO.

Dato' Seri, I hope you will understand that I make this plea with the intention of salvaging a very dire situation. A move has been made to woo the BN representatives to join the Opposition. The enemy needs just 35 seats more to topple the government of your leadership.

If you do not resign in the near future, I fear that the situation will become untenable and that the Malay support for Umno and BN will be a thing of the past.

This plea I make without malice, and I am aware that your reaction and that of other UMNO members could very well be hostile.

But come what may, I am prepared, for the sake of the Malays and UMNO, to face the consequences of my action. With all humility, I leave my fate to Allah SWT.

Dato' Seri, I am sure that you will do the right thing for the sake of the people and the nation. May Allah SWT bless you for the sacrifice you make by stepping down.

Wasallam

Yours Sincerely

Mukhriz Mahathir
Jerlun Member Parlament

Pilihanraya Umum ke-12

The heat is on!! Get the latest info for the election by clicking the icon above. The result will be out and covered through this live portal from 5.00AM - 1.00PM CST. You can know who wins the parliamentary seat for your area, and most importantly, the voice of Malaysians. Will Barisan Nasional (National Front) have the 2/3 majority they have been aiming for? Will Barisan Alternatif (Alternative Front) win big this time? You can have all those infos through this live portal. I will keep you posted if I find a better portal. Stay warm~


Click the TV3 icon if you wish to watch the live broadcast of the event. However, it only works on Internet Explorer! It takes time to load and buffer, probably because everyone is watching it right now... funny part is, I got hooked up watching Panggung Sabtu (hindustan) while writing this post...lol! The program will stop if your computer is idle.

TV3 Programs on Pilihanraya Umum ke 12

1. Buletin Utama - 6.00AM (CST)
2. Siaran Langsung Keputusan Pilihanraya - 7.00AM (CST)
   

[Updated] Many of the local websites are down at the moment. Click here to get the latest news on PRU 12

Undi Tok!

Despite all the anti-blog campaign by the government, limited media exposure for the Alternative Front, here comes one of the most tech savvy election candidate in Malaysia! Tok Maimun Yusuf, 89 year old candidate for P 036 K. Terengganu. She has her own blog, YouTube videos and even her own Facebook profile! Even Pak Lah doesn't have a blog, shame on you~ No wonder TMnet is so slow. I do respect the people who have been helping Tok getting through with the election. Show her some love people!!

Blog
Facebook
YouTube

Selamat berjaya, Tok!

[UPDATED] Tok Mun lost in the fight for the Kuala Terengganu parliamentary seats with only 685 votes, compared to Razali Ismail (BN), winner of the seat with 32582 votes. No matter what the result turned out to be, she will always be remembered as the gutsiest candidate of all time!

Dulu, kini, selamanya

Well, this is a list of BN's achievements in A WEEK! Pretty impressive uhh? Not a single government in this world can be this efficient when it comes to the "hal ehwal rakyat". They have solved a lot of problem, in just one week. From pig farmers to save someone's life! What can I say, they are the best, always be the best... Dulu, Kini, Selamanya! Now and forever, until the time is through, I will stand with you~ yeahh!!!

PSD: It’s only for those whose family income is RM1,500 and below
New link to ease traffic
BN pledges to write off taxes
Promise of more jobs in the IDR
Aqua-tourism plan for village
MB: Land lease method to legalize fish breeders
RM550mil for new villages
Asahan state candidate listens to plight of the needy
Chinese community happy with Government’s move to build SJK (C) Kulai 2
Solution to drainage problems
RM26m district hospital
On a mission to ‘heal’ hearts
Contractor no stranger to Bukit Gantang residents
Farmers’ labor bears fruit finally
Kuala Langat also set to become an education hub
Malacca pig farmers thankful for MCA’s efforts
Free tuition classes
Help reach out to drug addicts, NGOs urged
MCA’s Gan wants a caring community
Help for Indians in Bukit Bintang
Putting the shine back in Kinta Valley
Goh on a mission to help others
MCA in venture to bolster economic contribution
Samy: Govt has given Indians RM430 mil
Allaying a Seri Delima concern
Through sickness and health
RM400,000 for associations, NGOs
RM10,000 for old folks home
Do your best, candidates told
MCA to set up task force on land issues for Kulai folk
Fu resolves more than 2,000 public complaints
Candidates respond to floods
Mohd Ali gives proof

There are more, but to list each and every single one of them is making me insane... whatever it is, I want to wish the very best of luck to BN! ;D

Parliamentary seats with RM400M tag

MP Sibu threatens not to allocate RM 400M for flood fund in Sibu if he is not reelected. This is an article in a public newspaper in Sibu, which I think is a brave and daring move in Malaysia. Click the jump to read the whole article. Read more