2 Hours with motorized vehicle, trouble or sustainable?

Is just barely 30 mins since the USM's 2 hours without motorized vehicle started when i wrote this. Am looking down through the window from my apartment that happens to be facing the 'Sungai Dua' gate (one of the main gates in USM)

Scenario:
3 person holding a big banner shouting and chanting slogans of no motorized vehicle at the gate to those who brought their motorcycles and car into the campus. Regardless a mail delivery to random people that has bisness with the university.

Some are 'shoo'ed away and turned back and went out of the university. Wondering how would they feel and think about USM. One surprising thing is i saw even security guards with their fleet of motorcycles arranged at the guardhouse too were 'shoo'ing people off. Wonder if this programme weren't organized by the student council would they be that helpful. Ah! A rubbish collector truck just came by.

In the campus, car are still rampant! Moving or not there are just TOO MANY cars around. Even parking spaces are scarse!

This makes me wonder, is this troubling people or are we doing something right?
We are discouraging people not to use motorized vehicle, then? What are these people going to commute? Bus system that sucks, building arregement that is impossible to walk from one office to another, no cycling lanes, walking spaces aren't that comfortable. What are we thinking?

Do you expect one of our elderly workers or even OKU (disabled) workers to 'walk' from the gate up the hill to chancellory? or even students who stays at RST (across the road) to walk to lecture complex everyday? If the systems were good i have nothing to say. But with current systems that we have it is pretty impossible!

Dear USM student council.

I applaud your efforts in introducing the no motorized vehicle experience to the campus community during this 2-hour havoc. I also know you have done a lot of effort in promoting this event including printing LARGE bannerS, flyers everywhere and even all the students are dressed in same t-shirt today (think about consumption huh!)

Please do continue to educate the people. People might not see the point of doing this or they will have a reverse phsycology effect that this is all just troubling and never would revert and rethink about not using a vehicle.

Chanting slogans only will not work. People needs to know why no vehicle? They need alternatives too. Correct our systems are flawed and hampered the efforts!
ALL THE BEST!

Btw, i walked everyday to USM.

abe

Grieving for Malaysia!

Will this be another 'angry' post by abe?
I hope past posts didn't sounded that im very angry.
I'm just a little bit troubled and distresssed.
More nonsense emerge in our country.
Am not going to talk about politics here because it is already a joke.

look at the news line: Green light for coal-fired power plant
Why are we moving backward? Using technology of 30 years ago?
Or perhaps Najib is too IGNORANT about the scienc of climate change and global warming.
Or maybe Minister Peter Chin is sleeping!
What is the point of having a ministry of green tech and bla bla (whatever name la)
Cause who cares la..name only ma...Not reflecting anything with this high profile portfolio.

Once the Pandora's Box is open, no way we can recontain the things out! even shutting the box. the evil is still out. why are we opening more of the box?

PM Najib,

you have failed environmentalist and the rakyat again!
You seem to be left out in the world's concern on global warming and climate change.
That threatens even the survivorship of human race.
Or you only concerned about how much money you can tap with this project?
Don't we have enough fossil fuel power plant?
What about renewable?

VC USM,
Please Tan Sri, we cannot fail in our role to educate the people about sustainability.
Looking at the development, I said we fail to warn our leaders.
Keep on enlighten the people out of ignorance.
Why are we not doing anything? Not even a single advice given?
Is CETREE in the shelf? Or just for show only?

I am going to send following protest email to the PM and Minister.
Please do copy this and email too. I know it will not change the outcome.
But i cannot just sit and see it. Join me by sending them:

Dear PM Najib:

I, concerned citizen of Malaysia are troubled with the recent announcement by the government giving the green light to the coal-fired power plant at Lahad Datu.
I strongly disagree with the decision looking at the impact to the environment it does.
There is no more debate on the issue of climate change and global warming.
Are you not concern as well?
Coming UNFCCC meeting in Copenhagen will witness a new wave of actions, adaptations and mitigations to combat climate change by world leaders.
What is Malaysia's stand?

Thank you for the time reading this.

Abe Woo
Concerned Citizen of Malaysia
USM Penang

send to: http://www3.pmo.gov.my/emaklum/PMFeedback.nsf/logv1?openform
I have sent it. Let's see what will happen.
Do send them too to voice out our concern

abe

Merdeka Day Present!

Happy Merdeka Day.

1) Read on the TheStar paper at the opinion section. There is one writer wrote how he is dissapointed that there are lesser Jalur Gemilang flown this year during Merdeka Day. He claimed that the spirit of Merdeka had eroded. Then he starts comparing with people in America flying their Stars and Stripes.


2) I couldn't understand. I really can't. How does flying a flag can show that i'm patriotic or not. Is it just that simple? To me it is a joke. In fact, i'm dispised to see people flying the flag recklessly, without respect and even putting our flags as shirt and headgear! that is the value of our 'patriotism'! Making the whole car covered with 'respectable flags'. How am i going to appreciate flying MY nation's flag when it is used abusively!


3) I will not fly my Jalur Gemilang as long as there is such nonsense is happening! NEVER. It will only fly in my heart and soul!








I realized that Jalur Gemilang is only worth to be a cloth!

4) Down sized Merdeka celebration this year. The PM used H1N1 and Ramadhan as reasons. I was thinking, since when he is so concerned about H1N1 outbreak. I thought his Health Minister is so busy with his MCA unrest. Having no time to think about the rakyat la.

5) I supposed the got a lot of Ringgit saved due to the smaller scale celebration. Wonder whether the budget for celebration is still the same. Money gone else where. Why not? Maybe one flag that cost RM 10 can be sold at RM 50? Just to fulfill the budget ma (my guess, dont take my word for it)..

6) The biggest present for our 52nd Merdeka day---------->>>>> Jeng jeng jeng!!!

7) let us see again what will rise.. food? sugar? clothes? Congratulation to 'satu lagi projek kerajaan Barisan Nasional'. They just sealed the last nail on the coffin!

abe

p/s: maybe a bit emotional writing this. forgive me! I still love u malaysia!

Stop deceiving the public!

Though many would think this is small case. But for me this is critical. The story goes like this:
Though I personally dont like the design at "Anjung Budi" (alumni building in USM) because of the ugly and "silly" roof design under a wonderful tree. We were having some discussion and tea break there. Nice view.. at first...THEN:

I saw a lady. A respected one.
wife of some high ranking officer.
what's wrong with that you might ask.
This is unbelieveble.
She is tapao'ing' (taking away) food. What's wrong?
using whole lot of guess what...yeah you are right..plastic bags!
I thought she understood very well what is our university's vision and policy.
And yet not showing a good example at all to others.
It is so distressing to look at the scene.
How can this high ranking officer always claiming we are leading sustainability efforts?
He still can internalised the very basic concept that he preached about plastics in his family.

Stop deceiving the public and cheat our way to APEX status for being sustainable only in the outward appearence. Just walk the talk. Stop fooling around!
No one says is easy to be champion. Indeed is a steep learning curve.

abe

p/s: am writing this in frustration..Reminded Dr lee said: stay cool...keep the pressure low! ~~phewwww

Convocation or Pasar Malam?

USM 40th Convocation..
It is also my convocation..
From being oval head (universal) to flat head (mortar board)..
Perhaps it is true wat Dr Lee said, " the more educated we are, the more unsustainable we become".

Let's check out these photos,
Green convo? well..perhaps much more work needs to be done.
No doubt it is a very steep learning curve for us.

This is what the committee claims, No plastic, No Polystyrene


And they claimed there won't be any bottled mineral water for sale.




New way of using polystyrene?

Impressive eh?

but why am i not suprised! We cant really 'read', pics might help?

Have gone opened all the bins..well WORDS really didn't worked!

Now you tell me, this scene looks a academic convocation or a Pasar Malam (night market)

oppss.. good try on the energy saving bulbs.. but this is taken during a sunny and very hot afternoon..sustainability? who are we fooling? Ourself perhaps.

And now...PIC OF THE DAY:

Circled in red is polystyrene container, the upper one are madefrom sugarcane pulp.. is this a joke or what? am convinced we are MOCKING the word sustainability!

Well this is only the first day of convocation.. am optimist about tomorrow..let's see what will happen.. there are more pictures to come..

abe

p/s: Congratulations all graduates!

Be inspired!

Long time since the last post was a video
Well.. this song i encoutered...really meaningful!
There is nothing to fear! Push on! Go on!
And truly life is beautiful..
This is dedicated to my Dear too.. be tough and strong
Will be back soon enough!



Lyrics (really wonderful!):

Dear you,
who's reading this letter
where are you and what are you doing now?

For me who's 15 years old
there are seeds of worries I can't tell anyone

If it's a letter addreswsed to my future self
Surely I can confide truly to myself

Now, it seems that I'm about to be defeated and cry
for someone who's seemingly about to disappear
whose words should I believe in?
This one-and-only heart has been broken so many times
in the midst of this pain, I live in the present

Dear you,
thank you
I have something to tell the 15 year old you

If you continue asking what and where you should be going
you'll be able to see the answer

The rough seas of youth may be tough
but row your boat of dreams on
towards the shores of tomorrow

Now, please don't be defeated and please don't shed a tear
during these times when you're seemingly about to disappear
just believe in your own voice
for me as an adult, there are sleepless nights when I'm hurt
but I'm living the bittersweet present

*clap clap

There's meaning to everything in life
so build your dreams without fear
keep on believing

Seems like I'm about to be defeated and cry
for someone who's seemingly about to disappear
whose words should I believe in?

Please don't be defeated and please don't shed a tear
during these times when you're seemingly about to disappear
just believe in your own voice

No matter what era we're in
there's no running away from sorrow
so show your smile, and go on living the present
go on living the present

Dear you,
who's reading this letter
i wish you happiness

Snapshots on World Environment Day