Mother Teresa at 100 today

When was your last time lending a helping hand to the orphans? the old folks? the handicapped? the needy? the homeless?

Let us touch the dying, the poor, the lonely and the unwanted according to the graces we have received and let us not be ashamed or slow to do the humble work.

Mother Teresa

Finned Whale Shark Left to Die

7.0-mag earthquake collapses Haiti

Haiti, the poorest nation Western Hemisphere which is prone to disaster was strucked by a powerful earthquake on Wednesday, 13th Jan 2010. The strong earthquake demonstrated no mercy to the 2million population of Haitians with deaths amounted to 100,000 people.

It is the first major destructive earthquake documented in 2010, and yet there are ongoing predictions of earthquakes all over the world. With these sequence of tectonic movements, we know that the Earth is constantly shifting and alternating the boundaries down under. Some call these 'The End of the World" or "Armageddon". But scientists have lots to share in terms of environment and Earth's histories.

I'm sure, this has nothing to do with development, just pure natural disaster. We should look back to Earth's histories in order to understand it more.

Let's pray that Haitians have faith to hold on and rebuild their nation.

Disastrous September

Manila Typhoon Ketsana. Padang, Sumatra 7.7-magnitude earthquake. American Samoa earthquake tsunami. Storm hits and landslides in Vietnam, Cambodia.

Mid September kicked started abruptly with some sprinkle of rain and strong wind in the capital of Phillipines. The rain gradually picked up as monstrous wind carrying storm hit Manila and instantly forced the country into a state of calamity as claimed. Typhoon Ketsana swept the countrymen off their grounds and left them to struggle for life, until now. Deaths are still mounting up.

The storm travelled west and demonstrated its supremacy on Cambodia and Vietnam. The typhoon continued to rain floods and destroy houses while uprooting the soils. Deaths ensued.

American Samoa is almost flattened out by a tsunami triggered by 8.0-8.3 magnitude quake. The island remains in chaos and the damage is extensive. More than 90 people have been confirmed dead and the official number is still rising.

History repeats itself in Sumatra after 5 years of silence. The Pacific Ring of Fire reigns it's absolute power once again with a magnitude of 7.7 on Ritcher scale on the south of the island. Indonesia, is once again put to test after the devastating Tsunami in 2004. The earthquake rocked little Padang and show no mercy eventhough a tsunami was not in the picture. More deaths are recorded as people are believed to be trapped under piles of fallen concrete buildings and structures.

The quake force a tremor to be felt in high rise buildings throughout Malaysia. Tension arised.

In memory of tsunami 2004..

And this is only the month of October.

The Day I Met With A Stranger...

Yesterday, I went window shopping at KLCC. I grew tired and sat at a bench. A young lad found an empty seat beside me and decided to join the crowd. Amazingly, this guy change my thought to begin this auspicious year.

He struck up a friendly conversation with me. Dressed smartly in suit and leather shoes, I can hardly imagine he dropped out of school at the age of 15. Good-looking and very honest, he poured out his family histories to me. Shocked, I hesitated at first, and kept myself prepared for the worst. I thought to myself, listening won't bring me any harm. I decided that once he sells his products to me, I'll excuse myself to the loo!

Barely 20, so young but very wise and thoughtful in his choice of words. I studied his expression and body language as he carried on with his adventure embracing life the big city. He was well composed, eager, jolly and extremely positive.

He relate his worst scenarios in the city. His wallet was snatched away on the first day he set foot in Kuala Lumpur. He did not seem angry, but seem to be more keen to share his stories. That incident was mild to him as he had greater things to bear in life. He learned to let bygones be bygones and continue to live life as this is the real reality.

His salary is merely RM800 due to his lack of academic approach. Curious, I asked why he is willing to spend 3/4 of his salary living in the city rather than his hometown? The standard of living is different in the urban and rural areas, and once you've accustomed to life to the city, it has become a norm to you, he said. "I even gave RM500 to my mum too!"

This young man really does not seem to mind. He did not portray innocent or clueless young minds like any other teenagers. He knows what he wants in life and what life can give to him. He realizes he's capable to battle, only at certain arena of work. Impressively, he is willing to go the distance not to prove to others he can do it, but to make sense out of living.

He's young and energized, and believe that he has to work to earn a living. He can't continue depending on his father's business for life. And he wanted to come experience what is painful in life and live with no regrets. I was taken aback, as those came from a thoughtful mind of a teenager.

He asked whether I had experienced penniless days, and I said no. He told me that he once watched a bus traveling back to his hometown pass him by. It is not that he doesn't want to go home, but, his pockets are empty. He reminded me that poor people are willing to spend and are more generous because they know what it feels being poor.

He left a phrase for me that day, "Everyday, we encounter possibilities and for sure, nothing is certain until it is proven so."

He's just not the ordinary teen that I met everyday. He had views of a 50 year old and wisdom of a 30 year old.

At the end of yesterday, as I found myself rocking on a bench waiting for commuter, I felt so blessed that I had the chance to pursue my passion and dreams. I realize I have the opportunity to choose. I have different paths to take and all, I believe will have a bright future ahead.

What I learned from the 19 year old?
When we thought the world is hopeless and frail, it is not up to us to judge.

Pledge to help combat poverty!

Take up one of these pledges and make it your own.

(1) I donate useable books/clothes/food/furniture/electrical items to the needy ones so that they don’t have to spend money unnecessarily. They would have money to spare for their family’s healthcare.

(2) I kept recyclable items accordingly and gave them away to poor people so that they can earn some money from selling it.

(3) I snap pictures of poor people and kept them occupied with pleasant thoughts that reminded them that they are not poor in their hearts and souls.

(4) I visit their place and make myself comfortable at home to diminish the awkward boundary between the rich and poor. Visiting rural areas is one of my favourite activities to bond with folks from all walks of life. Keep them reminded that they can create miracles!

(5) I teach them how to manage their savings, recycle and reuse things, maintain their hygiene (sometimes scare them with facts on diseases etc) and invest for a better future. They do not have to be rich to live comfortably in their home.

(6) I guide them on family planning/management to help create a well-fed
family. The proper guidance will help them realize their responsibilities and
lift the extra burden off their shoulders.

(7) I reminded them how important their plantation/farms are to us and asked them not to give up on it. Education is the next tool in helping them to get creative to keep up with today’s modern technology.

(8) I teach young children not to be choosy or waste their food and relate to them just how important each and every grain left in their plates, am to the poor children in Africa.

(9) I appreciate food very much and never fail to finish up my share (and sometimes, other’s as well). When I cook, the servings are enough for my guests and leftovers are stored in fridge to eat tomorrow.

(10) I refuse to make it a habit to buy expensive ingredients to cook because I felt there is no need to do so. And I buy food only when necessary to avoid wastage.

(11) I make cakes/bread/cookies/etc for the poor and let them have a share of my food as well. In return, I’ll taste their food and be reminded of their daily lives.

(12) I regularly support local farmers of their products to encourage the development of a healthy and stable market.

(13) I taught myself not to look down on poor people because deep down inside, they are very rich indeed.

So, which is your pledge?

Blog Action Day : Skyrocketed food crisis

What does POVERTY, FAMINE, POOR, DISEASE and MALNOURISHED have in common?

They are brought about by economic rundown in their respective countries leading to food crisis and poor health status. Countries like Zimbabwe and Africa have been setting the clear cut examples being the center of poverty and famine since decades ago. Food is available in Africa. It’s just that, the people could not afford to buy it. Thus, many Nigerians eat weeds just to keep themselves from starving to death. Same fate falls upon the Haiti people who are feeding on mud as their staple diet.

What happen in the first place?

Lands fertile for farming and plantation were claimed for development, uprising demands for food for world’s growing population, change of weather (drought/flood), crops attack by pesticides etc. Some of the world’s rice production collapse unable to compete with new technology (i.e. Haiti). Illegal trading of harvested crops by traders to wealthier countries. Debts by poorer countries (i.e. Africa) and inflation. Mass urbanization of farmers into cities. [Source : celsias]

What are the consequences?

In these poorer than poor conditions, they couldn’t afford for food, what more to spare any money on healthcare? Diarrhea, malaria, AIDS, dehydration, malnutrition and many kinds of other diseases strike this community of poverty-stricken people. [Source : guardian.co.uk] Hygiene might not be generally practiced by poor people and children are often the victims of the dirty environment.

What is the concern?

The outburst of war, bioterrorism, food fraud and danger of facing famine worldwide. At the hike of the food prices and global economic redundancy, it is feared that food availability is doubted. Even if it is available, people may not be able to purchase the food. When prices of food shoot up the market, poorer ones could not hold on. More than 100 million Asians are expected to suffer from hunger misery due to the rise of staple food – wheat, rice, soya, maize since March 2007. [Source : Asianews]

The existing natural resources are not sufficient to sustain the entire world’s population. Let's face it; the food crisis is inevitable. And China’s melamine food crisis might just be the lesson to be learnt. Perhaps focus on the ongoing debate about GMOs??

I try to blame the internet for being out of service, thus rendering the delay of my entry.

:D