Looking Back in Time - Kizuna

They say time flies when you're having fun but on the flip side, it stops when tragedy strikes. Does it really? Depends on how you perceive it.

This photo greeted me on TMI

It's been a year already. For many, it was news. And it was difficult. But for victims of the March 11 quake and tsunami, it truly is. Whether it's a minute's silence or a daily revisitation, the events of 2011 and others that followed should cause many to stop and reevaluate the course of their life.

I did.

Kizuna: Kanji of 2011, story on BBC News Asia (STR/AFP/Getty Images)

As for looking back, it's very much up to an individual how he or she wish to make of it. To some, bad fortune hardens their resolve to push on. Personally, I'm beginning to learn that the woulda-coulda-shoulda sentiment won't do me any good.

For every other things, a moment's pause is all it takes to realign and try again.

And oh, it's also been a year since the "unofficial first lady of Malaysia" aired her unadvised * opinion on the disaster,

(*grossly understated)
     

What the Fff--? TOL?!

TOL as in temporary operating licence for Lynas. You know, the Australian company that really admires Malaysia so much that they're willing to come all the way here; bringing along their glow-in-the-dark playthings.

Earlier in the day I read about a chemical firm bailing out on Lynas [1]. The issues follow and earlier report from the New York Times last year [2]. Later on just before time to turn in, news of the issuance of the TOL broke [3]. Damn!

Why Malaysia?

According to them,

• Gebeng is a well established and well designated industrial park with access to good port facilities, high grade chemicals, a well educated and skilled workforce. 
• Gebeng also has reliable power and utility supplies and very good infrastructure. 
• Finally Malaysia was chosen because the investment climate here in Malaysia is favorable and competitive.

Well, I'm flattered. Malaysians are (at least those in support of the plant). There are plenty of skilled workers here with a pool off 700 000 to tap from around Gebeng. Who cares if they glow later or mysteriously die off? As for reliable power, we're known to be very efficient wherein problems (big or huge) are solved with a few phone calls and some tugging (at what, I don't know). Lastly, with a 12-year tax exemption, how can the climate not be favourable? Heck, even the environment is ready for some devastation! You feel me?!

Whilst it's true I could never feel exactly like the folks over in Kuantan, but anyone would (I would!) be angered by the illogicality of all these upshots! I am!

1. Key contractor pulled out of Lynas plant due to safety concerns, says NYT
2. The Fear of a Toxic Rerun
3. Lynas gets temporary licence to start Kuantan plant

Argh!!!
     

Kitchen's Still Smoking

Now, it makes more sense when I learn it in Malay: ...dapur masih berasap. I won't go into the shaggy dog story of why the kitchen smokes and why nobody uses non-stick pans or a gas stove instead of firewood. Moving on, I was plotting graphs all day yesterday (not on Excel mind you, hence the long hours making my way around the program) and I do my blogroll update this morning.

I must admit here, like most living outside the area, the mention of Lynas first reminds me of the government's dealing and secondly, the people directly affected by it. Still, I try to do what I could and being penniless to travel (to KL for the march to the Australian Embassy or to Kuantan for that matter), I keep abreast of the latest development and spread the word around.

Coming back to the post, here's a video titled "Masakan Cinta (Love Dish)". The fight's still on. Yes! Bon appétit!

Last Sunday, the folks over at Kuantan had the "1311 For Our Family - Whack a piñata" event. Visit Antares' WE'RE DETERMINED TO STOP YOU, LYNAS! GREEDY PIGS! for pictures.

Till then

   

Stopping Lynas 2: The Walk

It's great to know the people did what they wanted to do today. Also, it's good to know the police didn't round people up and throw them into lorries. We all know that the men in blue aren't known to always remember their oath and answer their real call of duty.

Stop saying "Australia doesn't have the infrastructure..." Source: TheStar Online

Read more:
Rain fails to dampen anti-Lynas protest

Too bad, Australian hands are tied on Lynas don't you think?
Skip to 1:55 for the interview.

Stopping Lynas

Will the issue of stopping Lynas pan out? With good money, filled pockets and a 12-year tax break, everything seems to favour Lynas. Greed is god for some.

The Save Malaysia Stop Lynas Group will hand over a memorandum to stop Lynas from exporting hazardous materials to Malaysia

Solidarity Walk (from KLCC to the Australian embassy)

May 20, 2011
Friday 2.30pm

Source: This post

I'm embedding a video providing an "all angle" to the whole affair here.

101 East - Toxic profits?

"The End is Nigh"

, they said.

Supposed to meet a friend at McD, Sungai Dua and I reached the place an hour and a half earlier. Then the sky opened. The rest - as they say - is history. And I must add: self explanatory. At least Sungai Dua lived to its namesake.

I suppose if nothing gets in the way of the rainwater then we wouldn't see this?

Jalan Sungai Dua heading towards USM

Car park of Sri Saujana apartment, TheStar Online

Reports elsewhere:
Floods cause traffic jams in Penang
Floods submerge parts of Penang

Climate Summit: Make it Count

11 days to go before all the attention shifts to Copenhagen for the climate summit but I sure hope that all these preparations, demonstrations, hype do make a change for the foreseeable future. The one impediment remains, though: "small" and "developing" countries say that they need more time to adopt any stance on the betterment of the environment whilst the "big" and industrialized ones refused to take a clear stand; always steer clear of the one subject - reduce carbon emission.

Need We Do More?

For the environment? Yes. Much more. And we don't need Blog Action Day to remind us.

Sarcasm works, the first time

O Ye Faithful, Love the Animals!

Preachers in some Malaysian mosques will urge worshippers to help stop the poaching of tigers, elephants and other endangered animals after similar sermons on turtle conservation were well received, an environmentalist said

-The Star, March 16

Ah, isn't that something? To remind people, regardless of religion, the importance to love God's creations and that includes the animals and of course the environment. Let us not stop at tigers, elephants, or any other endangered animals.

Broaden the subject to commonly seen animals: the dogs/cats, as well as the environment. Apart from man-God relationship and practicing some religious routines, it'd be great if mosques, temples and churches do a little more for the aforementioned. After all, aren't we stewards of His creation?

So beloved ones, remember to turn off your lights on the 28th this month.

Lights Out, People!

Lesson Umpteenth: Here we go again

See what I said? Now tragedy struck (fortunately not in Penang) but haven't we heard this phrase before: "Enough is enough, no more permits. Immediate stop-work order." What's next? Everyone quieten down and the bulldozers are alive again. Come to think of it, I still hear rock-blasting nearby my place.

Lessons are painful aren't they? But it hurts more when similar tragedies repeat and show us how little we, or rather, the ones giving out permits learnt from the past. Then the developers come; having dollar signs all over the place but refusing to accept that they're killing the environment and the balance thereof. Not to mention, majority of hillside/seaside projects doesn't undergo the Environmental Impact Assessment.

It's belated, overdue, "expiry-dated" that any developments by the hills/seas/or anywhere else that threatens the environment and ecosystem be stopped and future ones flushed down the toilet.

We'll see this time if all these are no-action-talk-only.

Wireless Fidelity or Fatality?

There's been much fuss lately over the plan by the Penang government to provide free wifi service in the state. For a start, I'd welcome it and may even pay for the Wimax though I don't think I'm going to fly by using that free service; too high a contention ratio. But then, it'd be useful to lookup on some stuff and check mails.

Studies into the risks posed by this technology isn't conclusive, yet. As long as there's no concrete proof, then all that remains are hypotheses and theories.

If the "health conscious" critics are so passionate about the wellbeing of themselves or their children, then speak up and take actions against smoking in public places. While they're at that, take steps to protect the environment - ozone, hill cutting, and anything that would kill the world. Proven facts I may add.

Are there harsh and effective penalties against all these? We can't just speak up against something but in reality, we're guilty of other crimes against "wellbeing and the environment". Is it because of necessity, then pollution (by means of, for example vehicular emission) is a-ok? Artic has become an island and soon, also, people will get stricken by radiation-related diseases.

What was done to lower the number of fatalities on the road? And you think those imbecilic mat rempit isn't a menace and a safety threat to the public as long as you stay away from them? There are many things which we fail to do to safeguard the environment i.e. the place we live in, the natural biosphere; which will ultimately result in our doom.

Gurney Drive

On the other hand, the state government should not be too eager to accept proposals in the name of "making Penang modern". I'd rather have a slow but a sure method to make Penang a better place to live in. Think long term. Does anyone in the present administration thinks that these developers are sincere and care a whole lot about the wellbeing of the people or the environment? Money is what they care about. Look at Gurney Drive/Tanjung Tokong. Drive up to Batu Feringghi and observe, beginning at the last traffic light. To attract investors, permissions are given to destroy? If they have their way, they'll level the hills to build more "sea view" abode for the rich and where the beaches are, they'll create a "gated beachside community"!