World Silent Day...!?!?

http://worldsilentday.org/blog/

This report came out in The Star paper just recently:

"PETALING JAYA: All Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA) staff will turn off all their electronic appliances for two-and-a-half hours today ."

I wonder what is the significance of World Silent Day. Apparently its a 'golden moment to provide the mother earth a day of rest from the assault of humankind'

Alamak.

I do agree every now and then we should take time to examine our role on this planet as caretaker of it. That is a fine thing to do as it realigns our priorities not only to suit ourselves, but also to our surroundings.

However I believe there are proper ways to do so. Perhaps the proper way the MQA could pay homage to this day would be to stick up posters about the cause all over their office board space. Or perhaps if they honestly strongly believe in honoring the day, they could encourage their friends to take a step back and think.

Shutting off all electrical appliances for two and a half hours? How does that equate to providing mother earth with a day of rest? I can foresee workers taking the extra 2 and a half hours time off to minum kopi at the nearest mamak. Most likely to be chatting their time away. I don't think anyone would retreat into solitude and reflect man's position on earth.

And how does electrical appliances equals the assault of humankind? Are you saying that technology, including your computer, calculator, fax machine and what nots, is mother earth's bane? Now every GP student would jump at the direct assumption here and point out that its the USE of technology and ultimately the USER of technology that is hurting mother earth. Perhaps if we really wanted to raise awareness of our 'assault' it'd be better if we could, perhaps, use less paper? Set up a recycling area?

How does silence help to preserve mother earth anyway. I always thought what we needed was louder voices to knock some sense into some polluter's head, or to pressure them at least. Perhaps they are seeking a new angle? Instead of noisy demonstrations, do the opposite? Be silent? Perhaps that will catch their attention? However the outcome of such is unmeasurable. How do you know your two and a half hours of silence has managed to help raise environmental awareness? In my opinion, all turning off your machines manages to accomplish is a lost of productivity for those two and a half hours.
I think this approach is entirely more symbolic than anything else. Sadly, another case of a noble goal with a silly plan to achieve such.

However having said all that, I believe that every action taken to promote environmental responsibility, no matter how silly or how small the action is, should be encouraged. After all, turning off your machines to respect mother earth is better than not giving a damn about mother earth at all.

And to digress a little, I also believe silence, or more specifically solitude, is a virtue to be practiced by everyone once in a while at the proper time in the proper manner.

In solitude, we are least alone.
Lord Byron

The Olympic way to save the environment

Beijing bans smoking in cabs in run-up to Olympics
Beijing has banned smoking in the city's 66,000 cabs amid efforts to help create a "non-smoking" Olympics Games in 2008. The ban effective from Oct 1, imposes a fine of 100 yuan to 200 yuan on drivers if they are caught smoking in cabs. Passengers are also prohibited from smoking in cabs...The Star, Malaysia

The Olympics have a great way of imposing on hosting nations to be more co-operative in human affairs which may influence the world. I just got back from Beijing 2 weeks ago and the smog and smoke in the city is terrible. It is one of the worst cities I have ever been. The cleanest air in only found in air-conditioned places like your hotel or some department stores. Other than that, the whole atmosphere is equivalent to a fuming chimney.

The other thing that I noticed and I made mentioned to Lai Ngan was that almost everyone that we met is either holding a cigarette in their hand or in their mouth. Almost everyone puffs and puffs! It's incredible! They will be puffing in buses, cars, subways and even while cycling or walking. The government do not place much emphasis on warning their people about the dangers of cigarette smoking, because nowhere did we see any warning signs not to smoke. This is unlike Malaysia, where the warning sign is even placed on the cigarette box itself.

Now, with the Olympic Games due in Beijing next year, there is an anticipation in the atmosphere that China wants to prove to the world that she can do an excellent job and even rival past hostesses in every level of class, glamour and prestige grounds.

Hopefully, we can presume that after the Olympics, the general population, at least in Beijing, will take heed that smoking is bad for individual's health as well as for the environment.

Upon talking with the Beijing taxis while we were there, we discovered that not only are they curbing cigarette smoking in public transport vehicles, they are going to reduce the amount of traffic going into the inner city of Beijing beginning next year. On certain days, only vehicles with odd registration number plates can enter the city while on the other days, the even numbered vehicles can enter. That would mean that half of all the vehicles you see on the road will disappear next year. Hallelujah! Thumbs up for the environment.

What is your opinion? Do you think these measures taken by the China's government in 2008 will have a lasting effect in 2009 and beyond? Would the people take heed to the advice of the authorities to reduce the smog in the city?

Volcanoes everywhere even on islands

In these days of uncertainty, we hear of tsunamis and earthquakes of enormous proportions. Many hinterland are unsafe because of the locality of fault lines and shifting continents. What about remote islands far from these dangers?

Volcano erupts on Red Sea island. Volcano eruption on Jazirat al-Tair. Lava spewed hundreds of metres into the air, witnesses said. A search for survivors is under way after a volcano erupted on a Yemeni island in the Red Sea, killing at least four people. The western part of the tiny al-Tair island, used as a military base, collapsed following the eruption, the defense ministry said. Four bodies were recovered from the sea and two soldiers are missing...

Is there a safe place in this world where there are no natural disasters? Maybe there is no such thing as natural disaster - because scientists would tell you that most disasters are indirectly man-caused and man- induced.

The volcanic fault line in Sumatra has shifted so much that a small tremor on the western side of Sumatra can be felt thousands of miles away in Peninsular Malaysia. We in Malaysia used to boast of our paradise as free from typhoons, tsunamis, earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes etc. Not any more. Period.

The last tsunami claimed several lives in Penang, where lives were lost and properties destroyed by the great waves. Many people were called to leave high rise buildings last week when the earthquake in Sumatra was felt in our land.

If truly the disasters are happening because of the burdens of mankind on the motherland, then what should be our personal contribution to avert such calamities in the future?

Can a person say that he is not personally responsible, if the least he or she can contribute is to voice out against global warming? What is your contribution towards environmental protection?

How can you help to make this earthly home a better place to stay in for everyone today and also for your future generations? Can we have a greater consensus to alleviate this urgent danger from the overhanging sword that threatens to deliver its deadly blow any minute?