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

It's a Kampong Life !

I love the feel residing in a kampung [village].

This kind of satisfaction is ultimate and relaxing, far away from all the neverending buzz in the city.

So old and mystical, charming in their own aesthetic ways.

Each village, has got it's own story, waiting to be shared.

A great place to capture un-uttered beauty as well!

It gives me a sense of overwhelming comfort, a sense of belonging.

I will never grow bored travelling to villages and rural areas, it's actually a fun outing for me!

And, it will always be.

Turning PINK for October

I am turning PINK !!!

You can join us too!

Say "NO" to Turtle Eggs!

I need help and participation from everyone, and yes, you too. (",)


Prof Chan, who studied about turtles initiated a campaign to stop the selling and consumption of turtle eggs. Say "NO" to Turtle Eggs is an effort to help retain the critically endangered population of turtles in Malaysia. Leatherback turtles are already extinct! Do we want to wait until Hawksbills, Greens, Olive Ridleys and terrapins to perish as well?

" Many domestic tourists who arrive in Terengganu buy and eat turtle eggs out of curiosity. Even tour guides help sell this activity by saying that it is a “must do” when tourists come to Terengganu. Fueled by an increasing demand, an ever-increasing supply of turtle eggs have found their way into the markets of Malaysia, especially along the east coast. Many of the eggs have been smuggled over from East Malaysia (Sabah and Sarawak) where the sale of turtle eggs have been banned by law. A recent report from Manila has revealed that thousands of turtle eggs are also being smuggled from the Philippines into Malaysia.....[more]"

Here's what you can do :-

1. Be a turtle ambassador - just download the pledge form and send the signatures back to address stated at the bottom of the page.
2. Email turtle@umt.edu.my with your full name, MyKad no. (for aunthentication) and the message, "I pledge NOT to eat turtle or terrapin eggs for the rest of my life".
3. Put up a poster as above in your site and spread the word.
   
4. Make this a noble duty for nature club/societies that you join.
5. Gain signatures & pledge from friends & families.
6. The more the merrier. Make photocopies of the pledge form!!!
   

If we manage to get 1 million signatures by Malaysians, we are en-route to prohibit the selling and poaching of turtle eggs. At the mean time, we only manage 5000. The success of the campaign will halt the unruly demand for turtle eggs in Malaysia. Visit TRRG for more detailed information.

Say "NO" to Turtle Eggs!

Pulau Upeh Turtle Nesting Site

This is a continuation from my visit to Turtle Management Center in Melaka.

Pulau Upeh is one of the main nesting site for Hawksbill turtles in Melaka. This is Pulau Upeh in daylight. The water is murky and dirty. This island also used to be a popular tourist attraction for Melaka a few years back. But, the industry died quickly after the government refused to supply freshwater to the resort. Therefore, you can see there's an abandoned resort situated in the island in the pictures below. The sofas, cupboards, tables and bed were taken out from the resort to the jetty by fisherman who take refuge there.

Thankful I must say, those are the only things that the volunteers and wwf staffs relied on upon arrival every single night. The island was deserted, and we were the only people visible there. In case of emergency, we are equipped only with cellphones. I must salute their endurance for allocating themselves at such dangerous positions. Their working hours span from 10pm to 6am during fasting month to give way to their Muslim boatman.

Upon arrival, all I can see is this...

a single lamp at the broken jetty.

At first, pitch-dark had me experiencing nyctophobia a little but, I got a hang of it after a while. I realize that the absence of light and disturbing inhabitants at the island had actually made it an absolute nesting site for turtles.

Hatchling hatched from the eggs taken from the island were released back at the island to make them commemorate their place of origin. As we waited for the hatchling to find its way to the water, mosquitoes and sand flies (hamar) were happily surrounding every part of our body which is exposed [eventhough we were already 'coated' with insect repellent].

Patrolling on a rotational basis was exhilarating with only the torch light as our companion and lightning making its mark now and then. We were almost too sure that is was going to rain that night.

As the dawn breaks, a storm was visibly seen approaching the island.

It started with strong winds and slight drizzle of rain.

And then, the storm was paving its way to make the shabby jetty look more frightening as things begin flying around. We can barely see the mainland from the jetty by then.

Scary!

There are a lot of faeces enroute to the beach due to the fact that there were cats roaming in the area. The cats can become a threat towards the turtle eggs as food are scarce in the island. As you can see, the resort is located by the beach.

The resort by the beach.
A daily paid assistant, seen here with a book in her hands. All the furniture are taken from the abandoned resort.
A glimpse of the broken jetty that is visibly battered from strong waves and started to wear off without any maintenance.

The speedboat that brace all the strong waves.

To be frank, I've never been this near to a storm in the middle of the sea. The storm halted our journey back the mainland for merely 3 hours before we wade our way back in the rain. I was already soaking wet upon reaching the mainland. Whoa!

This is what I called, an adventure.
Certainly worth experiencing!