Being Vocal and Take Action

(unrelated picture: the new prime minister of Japan, Hatoyama Yukio and his wife, Miyuki when they were young. Picture taken from The Independent)

Albeit the fact that I am supposed to write a 2 A4 pages essay for Panasonic Essay Contest, I ended up writing some nonsensical stuff here. Writing in Japanese is quite a new thing for me, considering my shaky intermediate level of the language, especially in kanji/漢字(the Chinese character) and bunpou/文法(grammar). I admit I still have a long way to go in mastering Japanese verb conjugation and bombastic vocabulary.

And I'm dying to read Murakami Haruki pieces in its original language.

I am currently reading the online homepage of Al-Jazeera regarding concern voiced over climate change all around the world. News in Japan has focused on their new prime minister, Hatoyama Yukio speech in United Nation meeting in New York regarding Japan's upcoming 25% CO2 reduction by 2020 compared to 1990 level. Some commented that it is a very high aim for Japan to cut that much, especially with pressure from the industrial sector (like Keidanren/経団連/Japan Business Federation) and current economic condition.

Whether Japan will succeed on its vision to save the earth, it all depends on the succeeding plan and strategy. Japan is known as one of the most energy efficient in the world, just look to their dedication towards hybrid car and energy efficient air-cond.

Putting Japan outside the frame, how about other major emitters that supposed to take similar or stronger action regarding greenhouse gas emission? United States for example, has been criticized globally for their unwilling act on ratification of Kyoto Protocol, despite their image as the sole power in United Nation. China, who is the largest emitter, has made a better move by ratifying the protocol, but response to critic against their energy policy as unjust and not fair, with regards to their gigantic population (they made one-fifth of total human being on this globe).

It is a good news to know that these powers has started to voice their concern regarding the climate change issue and ready to take necessary action on it. On the other note, topics regarding food and energy security and also world peace need further attention as well. Referring to the speech made my the president of Libya, Muammar Gaddafi on recent United Nation meeting, he called for major reformation in Security Council, quoting the 'Security Council' as 'Terror Council' due to his view that the decision taken by Security Council does not reflect the stand point of the other 192 member of United Nation. And as expected, Gaddafi's speech has been lambasted by African and Middle East media for the reason he did not mention anything about climate change in spite of the focus of the meeting.

If we look at Malaysia as another sample study case, comparing the verbal action voiced over and physical action taken with regards to any issues of concern, you will observe a high discrepancy there. Issue regarding illegal immigrants has been in the media for ages, with thousands of response and opinions heard. But I would feel sorry to realize nothing much has been done to solve it.

Being vocal is necessary. Taking action is undeniably would be much better.

Will the great powers unite to tackle the climate issue? Finger crossed.
Will the world be at peace forever like the Snow White ending? I doubt it would be possible in recent years to come.
Will the illegal immigrant issue in Malaysia be solved? A stronger reinforcement would do (I am an immigrant myself now in this foreign land, but at least I'm legal)
Will I manage to complete the essay in Japanese? Maybe I should just translate this thing back to Japanese. Sigh.

Post Raya Thoughts

It is second day of Raya and here I am at lab, connecting to the Internet since I lost my connection at home (serve me right for stealing, sigh). Too lazy to upload Eid pics to Facebook, instead I spend the day reading the news and blogs I missed since last week. Not much of updates, in Japan mostly it's all about the new Hatoyama line up and his plan to cut out CO2 up to 25%. The new environment minister, Sakihito Ozawa would soon pass the basic bill to Diet regarding the emission trading system and environment tax to meet Hatoyama emission vision.

And my fingers not really in the mood of typing. In my mind now:
1. internet connection at home (thinking of NTT Flets Hikari),
2. English teaching certification,
3. Copenhagen and aurora trip (watching aurora in front of my eyes is one of my life must-see list and I always want to backpack to Scandinavian country albeit its crazy super expensive cost), 4. Olympus Pen EP-1 (oh, that Panasonic GF1 looks good too),
5. autumn peacoat at Hanjiro (definitely must buy),
6. United Arrows's Green Label Relaxing chronograph (surprised to know their sunglass and wrist accessory collection are not that expensive),
7. walk around Ochanomizu neighborhood (to look for sax and some cheap CD title include My Favourite Ennio Morricone presented by Junichiro Koizumi) and Ueno.
8. Panasonic essay contest (still deciding what to write though, sigh)

On another note, Murakami Haruki's Norwegian Wood is awesome. Still few chapters more to complete, what a difficult book to put down. Murakami Haruki definitely one of my favourite author to date, especially in modern Japanese literature. Really can't hardly wait to be able to read his pieces in Japanese though I know that need a lil bit of hard work (kanji, and so on, sigh again)

I'm trying my very best to stop listening to Raya songs this few days, but still can't stop listening to Amy Mastura's Setahun Sekali



and Black Dog Bone's Cahaya Aidilfitri.



And the new Yuzu's Niji comes in between.



Have a lovely day everyone.

City of Cyclist

Sunday is always on lazy mode for me, and I believe for everyone else too. The cloudy, rainy and windy weather here in Kashiwa make the feel even stronger. I love sipping the coffee at home and watching the minutes go by, just like that. Unproductive, you tell me, but somehow I feel good doing that.

I had a busy and full of activity last week where I need to present two papers in my lab's seminar. The first one is about McKinsey&Co.'s Pathway to Low Carbon Economy paper and the second one os International Energy Agency's Carbon Capture and Storage paper. The former paper is all about economic terms and et cetera, so I had a tough time wiki-ing and googling all those terms. Both presentations went well though. Praise to Allah.

My university campus ground supposedly had a BBQ party last week but it was canceled due to crazy wind in Kashiwa. God, I never feel this windy before. It almost made me change the lane in my bicycle ride. Oh yes, I have the bicycle now. Just like I want it, slightly smaller 20-inch type. So cute, just like the rider.

I found the video about Copenhagen City of Cyclist promo and I find it absolutely cool. Bicycle is a normal transportation here in Japan although everyone knows Japan is one big leader in automotive manufacturer. I certainly feel it is good if Malaysia should be the same, everyone cycles to work/school everyday, less traffic congestion and lesser carbon emission, of course.

Copenhagen - City of Cyclists from Colville Andersen on Vimeo.

Oh I'm listening to the free tracks of Coldplay from the album of Left Right Left Right. Awesome tracks and it's free! Download now from here. Can't wait to watch them in action if they come here in Tokyo.


May is already halfway and it means my time for preparing for the entrance exam is getting less and less day by day. I really need to focus and getting my nerves back on math.

ps. My June want list grows to Levi's skinny jeans, Muji yoga mat and clothing, francfranc laundry basket, and stuff from ettusais men and Lush handmade cosmetics!

pss. Kansai region (specifically Kobe prefecture) has their first H1N1 influenza case. Don't you dare to hit Kantou, Mr. Influenza. Please.

Updates

No, I am not busy. Maybe not yet. But to post something about what's on my mind is somehow kind of complicated. There are so many things in my mind right now that not easily composed in one complete essay. So, for the time being, let list it down to few points:

1. I love shinkansen (the bullet train). Contrary to popular belief and my own otherworldly mind, it is not really feel fast inside the train. Yes, you can still see the view from the window and read the letters from sign board and so on. But I believe the train runs fast from outside view.

2. I love Land Rover bicycle and I want it for my ride. Forget about Freelander folks. They are too pricey for my current financial flow right now, and I am going environmental. Not talking about saving another whales, but living eco-friendly life and stop releasing another CO2. Yeah, and I didn't even bother to switch off the light during Earth Hour campaign because I was totally forgotten that campaign. Sigh.

3. I have Konosuke Matsushita: His Life and Management Philosophy book to review (and to write report to Panasonic as well) and Kafka on the Shore by Murakami Haruki to read now. Finally. I have been hesitating to read Murakami's for almost 2 years because there's too much to read in my reading list and I just don't bother to read in train sometimes (back in my working life back then).

4. I listen to Ayumi Hamasaki new album, Next Level and Koda Kumi's Out Works and Collaboration recently. They're good.

5. I just downloaded Okuribito, the Japanese film who won the Oscar. Some of the cinemas here is still rolling it but I don't want to watch it alone and I don't want to spend another 1500 yen for it. And please somebody upload Talentime as soon as possible because I am desperately want to watch it too.

6. Another so called sustainability stuff. I love it when the bus driver here turned off the engines when they stopped in traffic light. That's super awesome. Malaysian (and the rest of the world too) should follow this good move.

I am extremely exhausted. Off to bed people. Have hanami date tomorrow.

The War on Plastic

Nick Schonberger from Selectism had posted something about the canvas tote bag as the replacement for paper or plastic from grocery stores. As part of the campaign to use more recycled paper and a sustainable biodegradable world, all of us knows that plastic is a hell no-no. But to fully eliminate plastic in our daily lives would be bollocks.

I think the idea of cooler canvas tote as your grocery bag is awesome (although I haven't got any, shame on me). Remember the Anya Hindmarch's 'This is not a Plastic Bag' ridiculous queue for the free giveaway campaign? People loves fashion and cool stuff, and a bonus when it is free. But sadly the Anya Hindmarch campaign initially wants to promote the use of canvas tote as the substitute of plastic when you do your grocery shopping, not as your normal handbag. I've seen a lot of people here in KL use those totes as handbags, and still use plastic when they go to Tesco. The campaign has gone meaningless then.

Definitely the canvas totes are easier to handle, cooler and simply more fashionable than the normal grocery plastic bag. The plastics are annoying, unbiodegradable (although I read somewhere the biodegradable plastics is a great solution) and a mess sometimes (I remember my mom used to keep the plastic bags from grocery stores and use it over and over again).

There are a lot of cool design for canvas tote bag out there, and you can check some of the list here in Design Observer. I found one in which by Lovegrove and Repucci's. It is lime green in color, functional (you can crumple it in the size of a bomb; how cool is that?) and cheap (sells at USD16).

Shop your shopping bag now!

The Israelis Product Boycott Campaign

If you're living in Malaysia, you will heard the same news headline everyday, the Gaza (it is actually pronounced as Ghazzah in Arabic) crisis. Not just the printed news material, but also the prime 8.00 pm news on telly. We even had special parliament meeting to present the stand of Malaysia in this issue, and of course, to show the world that our congressman, regardless of political side, has ability to unite and voice out their stand and opinion to the world.

Despite thousands of ringgits had been funded to Palestinians funds all around the nation, there is one more campaign I believe is getting popular, which is the boycott of Israel and US products that is known to support the Israel attack on Palestinians. If you seen the list, I am very sure you will let out a sigh. It is almost impossible to boycott all, since the products listed are not a rare products, and we have been using those in our daily necessities (although some don't).

Boycott is not new. The boycott against Israel products has been started since the Arab-Israel war in 1941. Although Israel's economy is known to be relatively well along that period until now (perhaps with the support of US economy and the grooming capitalist market), the boycott has made significant impact towards Israel economy and international trade.

There was a call for boycott renewal after intifada, but since Gaza crisis in 2005, the boycott has weakened its support from the Arab countries. It is too early to predict what will the effect of boycott this time after the Gaza 2008 crisis, since there is no certain consensus by the Arab world against the Israel. Nevertheless, I have seen people starts boycotting the product in Malaysia, and I believe if not major, it will seen minor significant results to Israel.

Noktah Hitam has posted one post to explain about the campaign from economic view in a more clear picture. I am today, however, not simply stating that I had start boycotting the products, but I working my best to avoid any questionable product that relates to the issue.

MERCY Palestine Fund

For those who follows the Israel inhuman act in Gaza and would like to do something but can't afford to do it because of work and any other commitment, donate to MERCY Palestine Fund.

Datuk Dr. Jemilah Mahmood and one of the MERCY Executive Concil member, Norazam Ab Samah have flied to Cairo to go to the Gaza border to supply the medical aids through pipeline channel for affected Palestinians in Gaza crisis.

PALESTINE RELIEF FUND

Cheque payable to MERCY MALAYSIA
CIMB Account No : 1424-000-6561053

If you're so busy and almost impossible to reach the nearest bank, Maybank2u will do. If else fails, call MERCY and ask them for anything to help. There's always a way.

May Allah always bless Dr. Jemilah and her team in giving aids and helping hand to those in need in Gaza. Ameen.

Happy Rocking 2009

I hope it's not too late to post the new year wish since I only can get Internet connection in my office and here I am, back at work. I tried to rely on P1 Wimax for connection in my house but it turned out the connection was so slow and unreliable.

And anyway, HAPPY NEW YEAR AND LET'S ROCK 2009! Everyone knows how suck 2008 was and how frightening 2009 will be, just forget the forecast and the downturns for just a moment and blow your wish.

While the world celebrating and cheerful with fireworks and so on, let's pray for the people of Gaza who definitely had unhappy new year moment. They don't have colorful fireworks there, just bombs and carnage. While some of you had new year's eve dinner with kids and family, they're hiding behind walls and crying over their babies death. Some of my friends just watched Schindler's List and I am totally agree with comments and morale from the story. If Israelis campaigning through Spielberg's piece that they're retaliating the Palestinians and Gaza people for what Hitler had done to them in the Holocaust, what make them different fron Nazi now? Retaliating is not the answer.

On the other note, I wish 2009 to be more productive, lovely and peaceful.
-I wish to pass University of Tokyo's entrance exam for Graduate Program in Sustainability Science in August.
-started to learn on how to play oboe
-continue my yoga practice.
-pass Japanese Language Proficiency Test Level 2 in December
-start volunteering and living a green life to make this world a better place to live in.
-be a better Muslim
-excel in TOEFL this February
-own an iPhone
-hope to get a chance to travel more. Since I am going to Tokyo, I hope I can discover Kansai area (Osaka, Hyogo, Kyoto, Kobe, Nara) and Nagoya perhaps (since my fellow Panasonic friend, Ooi, will be heading there)
- be less procrastinate and hope to make more friends around the world. I am known to be the less talker and a bit introvert at first, but I am making effort to change.

The list grows day by day, but after all, it aims on being the better for the world. Let's hope this year it will come true.
________________________________________
Added on 08.01.2009:

I forgot to add that I am seriously want Panasonic LX-3 this year. I want to shoot more awesome pictures and pursue my journey in photography. Let's hope that will come true as well.

The Change We Hope For

I know it is a bit late for this, but I can't resist myself from talking about it. Everyone in this world know about this, and of course, everyone talks about it. The United States of America finally has an African-American elected president for the first time. It is certainly a big thing for America, since racism is a long debated issue, and the new elected president, Barack Hussein Obama II is not white.

It has been a long journey for him, Senator Barack Obama, who represents Illinois, but born in Hawaii. It also has seen a tough competition from Senator John McCain from Arizona, who is more experienced since he used to serve for the army during Vietnam War. But Obama managed to win the vote of people of America, with a history of landslide victory, by winning some of the states that known to side with Republican before.

Winning the US Presidential Election does mean a lot of things for the one who wins. The President of US has the full power and authority to change the landscape and the history of the world. By that means Obama able to get the votes from the people because he tackles major issues facing the people of America like Iraq War, subprime credit slump, economic uncertainties, disciminacy against gay and lesbian, renewable energy, climate change and many more.

For us living on the other side of America, we do hope for the change to come soon. The change is not just having the first African-American president who has quite a global family and used to live in Jakarta during his childhood but also it need to be followed by actions, following the campaign that has been promised. It is indeed not an easy road, nor something we can predict in a click of time. But the need to give our mother Earth, the people who lives in this planet a fair chance to improve the critical situation is crucial. We have been living in issues like war, poverty, global warming, disciminacies, energy sustainability, and lots more for so long, let alone with the hassles of war against terrorism after September 11. It looks like just a simple saying, 'Make this world a better planet to live in' but it is actually not that easy. After a long wait, we are so desperate to see the better change to come.

The Last Oil Shock: A Survival Guide to Imminent Extinction of Petroleum Man by David Strahan

I am not a fan on non-fiction and serious stuff in normal days. But when my eyes catch the glimpse of one red book in Kinokuniya in few months back, I know I need to get my thoughts on this one. Besides, I know I am not in my normal state of being so this one might be an exception.

So there goes my bargain.

The Last Oil Shock: A Survival Guide to the Imminent Extinction of Petroleum Man (pheww!)(website; amazon) is actually not really a heavy read albeit it is listed as non-fiction category. In bookshelf normally it placed among other seriously serious matter like Freakonomics and the Jack Welch series of ramblings. While I put a remark that it might not be a heavy read to you, it does have graphs, charts and theories to ponder upon your head while you read it. The main subject of the book is basically about the oil crisis of the world, the theory behind the reality of oil shock that could happen in our globe in near future (the author points out that it could be real soon), consequences and what we should do to get ourselves ready for it. Yeah, it sounds like a grad thesis for me at first, complete with references list and so on. Having myself graduating college with a scroll in engineering, it keeps me wondering why somehow I have problem understanding the technical concept mentioned in the book. But nevertheless, after few chapter, I managed to keep track and enjoy it a lot.

While the book specifically intends to remind the people of the world on how important to get ready real soon for the shortage of hydrocarbons (means that we should be in the state of panic by now), the author seems to act cool about it. There are few thoughts and theories regarding the oil companies exaggerate the oil production and prediction data just to cover up the truth, and yeah, they are all make sense. It getting me on my nerves to realize that the recent oil price hike is not necessarily domestic issues but of course, a global one.

While some people might think that hydrocarbons (petroleum, gas, coal and whatever contains carbons and useful) is basically covers your car fuel tanks everyday, it is actually more than that. The electricity, transportation, daily products, commercial heating/cooling and the list goes on, it just a nightmare to think that we are in shortage of oil real soon. Imagine living your life without electric, without transportation and many else. Sure enough, we'll be dead (or turning primitive again).

Not just the daily necessities and consumption, but the recent global warming and environmental issues also directly related to hydrocarbons. The excess of carbon dioxides in air is one of the main factor of global warming and that's the reason behind Kyoto Protocol. In conclusion, the world need to focus on how to be fully independent from hydrocarbons lifestyle (by renewable energy, sustainable society et cetera) so that we could handle the situation properly.

At the end of the book, the author suggests the reader on how to help to ease the oil shock (yes people, it is not merely the scientist, economist or policymakers job alone). Some of the good suggestions are:

a)Use your own shopping bags and stop using plastic (the time has come for us to get one decent shopping bag, a tote or whatever, be it by Tods or cheaper brands)
b)Use tap water instead of bottled water (not really applicable in Malaysia, utilities people, do something)
c)Get fit, lose weight (ride bicycle to work is said to be faster journey compared to driving your car, due to daily traffic problems)
d)Live within your energy budget (buy all the energy saving stuff, save on your monthly utilities bills)

Well there's lot more, but go read yourself. Mind you some of the book content inclined towards British folks, but since globalization has taken its place, we're after all in the same shoes.