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

World Environment Day

It is world environment day..
But, all seems normal to me..what so special about it?
Maybe the general public weren't even realize it is a special day.
People goes to work with their cars as usual, polluting industry carry on..

SO WHAT?

perhaps it is true wat Dr Lee said,"Too many days la.. earth day la, world environment day la." MinFey even said we should have "White Coffin Day". Then the 'motorolans' will come anc chase us out!

ChernChung, MinFey, ChinYee and me got lost finding our way to a housing estate development area in the south of Penang island. Searched almost 45 minutes. Is it difficult to find the place? Sure is when u catch the wrong information. No big deal, call Charlie's Angel! in this case is LikMeng's Angel (her name really is ANGEL!). With the help of Google.. TADAAA we are there.

There is a small celebration to mark World Environment Day by the land developer. Crowd prescence? 100-150.. Good? they said there will be 500! talk big eh? Dr Lee was invited to speak.. what else? White Coffin lo...zero waste lo...then ultimately choosing a greener life.. Heard that the projector was shitty..have to present only oral and a few flinging packaging!


Still can talk without slides...and sweating!


At the end of the ceremomy, guess what? I had cultural shock. Hey! Should I? They are giving away free plants. Can u imagine the scene? ya..your right... people rushing like mad to the place to collect them..can even see children and their parents racing each other.. how pethatic eh. Cant blame.. it is already rooted in our culture of taking whatever is free.. shamful! wasteful! too much consumption for me. Then after taking the gift..what's next? of course...FREE FOOD! nothing else attracts the crowd most eh.

Then we had the famous beef noodle...Dr Lee checking? what else...what type plastic lo the bottle is..give ChinYee a fright! hehehe



By the way, heard from the radio that Penang government BANNED plastic bags every Monday..Chief Minister Lim said it is the first effort ever in the country to do so and gettin cooperation from major departmental stores..
So what is your comment?

How about other small stalls selling stuffs? No ban? Other days revert to the dirty habit using plastic? Or worse take more plastic as they missed Monday's thrash bag?
Start small? In hope to ripple the effect to other days? What kind of inforcement? Are the people ready? Are they given ample time to switch? Enough information sent to get people really understand?

ill wait and see their next move.





abe

p/s: CM lim already signed the white coffin pledge..check out the pictures.. USM will keep an eye on him. Better mean what he says!


the evidence..looking good there CC.

USM did it again?

Well...looks like USM once again in the 'blue ocean'.
The first ever university to screw up admission name list.
For me, there is too much of hidden processes and stories kept floating.

Firstly, such blunder cannot be accepted. NO WAY! How can you mess up such an important job? Maybe the officer or clerk givent the task of uplaoding the list didn't even care to pay attention or just not competent to think before their actions. This is in the sense that i presume the namelist should have pass through a lot of officers and departments for screening before it is released (then again, i dont understand why everything must be done so secretive!)

This is not about APEX or not. Is about competency. It is not that crucial whether this mistake was done by an APEX university or not, but no one should have did such 'obvious' and 'silly' mistake. A complete open target for people to shoot!

Now USM is under enormous pressure and monitoring. This event had sparked a lot of quetions again. I HAD confidence when USM embarked on the APEX journey. A journey of transperancy, profesionalism, competency and equity. Now incoming student is distressed, parents distrust the university's system, other university making us a laughing stock, poor Prof Shukri facing pressure to step down. Where is our mighty Tan Sri VC? Being Silent is not good enough.

He once said that blue ocean strategy is about the future. i agree totally.
He said we shouldn't be struggling and solving issues of the past. i agree.
But see what is happening now? Is this not enough to tell him that solving these current issue is prior before we can even think about the future?

Secondly, does USM deserve a second chance? Can the university given a chance to really explain themselves? YES! they must! Failing is a way of learning. No matter how messy it is, there is always something to learn about. I think this event is really big enough to give a wake up call for USM that things must be change if you really wanted people to convinced that you are the APEX university. No one in the university can be excluded. Down right to the most junior clerk to the most senior registrar. The whole concept of APEX is about paradigm shift. Working the way we are doing it like the pass 40 years isn't gonna take us to APEX. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH! When are we seriously going to focus?

All talking and waiting for documents to emerge is only all on papers. Enough of talking. Enough of searching where we want to put ourselves.
Am thinking..if USM is not under the APEX programme, will we get so much attention with such blunder? Will we make it in the frontpage of the mainstream papers with such blunder? i wonder! Im still with you USM..

abe

Abe is disgusted!

Disgusted on what happened in Perak..
There you go..democracy buried alive
The people of whole Malaysia ignored and brushed away..
Am dissapointed wit Raja Nazrin..
i expected more from him..
The people cant get to the assembly hall..
The very centre of the peoples power and right..
Denied and stripped!
how long shall this prevail?
1Malaysia? my foot.. i hope he secured one coffin for coming election!

abe

Abe is touched by these videos..

So much realization upon watching these videos..
Reminded on what is important in life..
Why such pride in oneself..
Judgement over judgement..
Kill all the prideness..
Treaseure people around you..
Dont look at one side of everything only..



Susan Boyle

Abe is 'grey' hearted

So much of appreciation night..
Sometimes do they acknowledge the rightful people..
Do not meant to discredit those who earned their respectful awards..
How about those who really worked hard and gave up so much?
It is hard when your works weren't appreciated..
watever la..
I dont know i dont care..
watever that makes you all happy!

abe

Abe questions himself

Why am I so stuborn?
Why am I a perfectionist?
Why do I need to control everything?
Why can't I just let go of things?
Why can't just say "whatever la"?
Why am I pushing everyone to the limits?
Why do I think everything must go according to my way?
Why being so selfish?
Am I?

I'll continue to change..
I'll continue to learn..
I'll try my best..
I'll not give up..
I'll persevere..
I'll not turn back..
I'll move forward..

Till I become a new man
Till I am humbled
Till I be someone

Forgive my trespass
We'll go through this
together
I won't let go
I promise

abe

Abe watched movies with a cute girl

2 weeks since the last post..
hmmm..really signifies something i think..
Lost of inspiration for that short time of period..
There is on friend who read my blog..
Said that im a very secretive in my feelings..
Im not sure...perhaps..
But this is one place that i really dont hide myself i guess..
I just write wat croses in my mind..
No 2nd thoughts..No censorship..

It seems the melody is back..
Inspiration that i lost is back to stay..
I couldn't appreciate more your honesty n truthfulness..
That makes you someone very special..
I guess you yourself cherish the moments..
I do..
But, who knows wat is the road ahead?
No one can guarantee the future except Him..
Of course..
We will try our best to make it happen..
I surely will..
No past mistake shall i permit to reoccur..
Into His hands i still surrender..

2 movies past..
I love the feeling..
Not many words needed..
Just time and gesture shows it all..
A perfect journey in the making..

abe

Abe lost melody, music and words tonight

Abe hiked to Monkey Beach

The plan to hike to Monkey Beach at the Penang National Park was almost ruin. Thanks to Ching Wen we were able to 'safe' the trip.

A note on Penang National Park:

It is surprising how sometime Penang take pride in the tagname World Smallest National Park.

I mean is that even a statement to boast about?
We should have much larger areas of greenery with protected forest reserve to keep Penang alive. Then again, not just boasting about the 'smallest' thingy, hikers can get in and out of the park so freely that sometimes i thought it is damaging the park itself. It is, of course, all right to have visitors every now and then to the park. The point is that these 'invaders' will bring along so many 'unnatural' things into the forest and pollute them. Plastic bags all aroun, plastic bottles, wrappers, and all sort of things u can imagine. What is it for declaring it a national park when we are unable to maintain them?

Anyway, i had a wonderful time at the beach. OHHH...i really missed the beach. Though it is not the best, but at least i can feel the sand and hear the pounding waves. Excellent getaway. Except for those annoying amount of rubbish dump by the beach. Hope you all enjoyed it too. At least i know me and eang bee did.

Thanks xin yun for the excellent organizing.

Minden Fencers Roar!

abe

Abe dreaming a fairytale

The sun was shinning,
Walking under the umbrella,
Talked, laughed, giggled, played,
Hand in hand, step by step,
The breeze was somehow strong,
Sea was wavy,
Rays bouncing off the surface of water,
Sets the perfect view,
Across bay viewing a place frequented,
Clicking of camera,
Caught still the time,
"Where is he going?",
She has no idea,

Beautiful scene,
No clean beach to play on,
Stuck in our foot in muddy grass,
Bare footed all the way,
On the swing and jongkang-jongket,
Sitting by the beach, talking and enjoying,

Till the sunsets the moon rises,

Thank Lord is full moon, perfect!

Back with cold winds,

Perfect journey.

Abe is pondering about time

Time..
A relative measurement..
24 hours in one day. This is translated into 1440 minutes. Which is translated into 86,400 seconds. Is that a lot of time? Just calculate at a relax pace to the number 86,400 needs a day..
Tats pretty short.

Being in 3rd year last semester, I felt i don't have much time left.
My days are numbered. My days with you are numbered.
I treasure each minute and second spend together.
I dont know whether i will have the chance or the frequency to meet in future.
who knows what the future holds?

I wish for something
is simple yet very complex.
is easy yet difficult.
is not much yet a lot.

But i appreciate what i have now..
I know you tried your best..
I'm touched.

is still a new journey, a long journey.

there is much yet to be discovered.
No one wants to walk alone, i don't.
Now i have you walking as well.

thank you for being with me,

for walking this journey, eang bee.

abe

Abe blogging at the wee hours

At last i heard the decision..
Am i happy and glad?
i will be lying if i said no..
Am i worried and afraid?
Of course i do..
But why?
Afraid of dissapointing you..

i am not perfect..
Nor am i the best..

Will i give the best?
Definitely..
Will i try my very best?
Of course..
Will i appreciate you..
Surely..

It's dawn of a new beginning..
Can i have this dance?
Together or not..
We will keep on dancing..
This i promise

abe

Abe BBQing on New Year's eve

Happy New Year..

The very first post for this year.

Every new year's eve was celebrated with family BBQ

This year I celebrated at my labmates at 'uncle's' house.

Thanks ya Jantzen for the perfect hosting.

Abe