Haze and forest fire – do we care?

Every year in Malaysia without fail we are familiar the haze episode and we always talking about this issue when haze coming, but after that we will forget about it.

However, we never focus on what is the solution to resolve it, but we focus on about the mask, which brand mask is the best for us.

Impact of fire and haze:
• The total economic losses for the 1997/98 fire episode was estimated to be US$10.3billion
- Indonesia – total losses in forestry, health, tourism and others estimated to be US$9.3billion (CIFOR)
- Other countries (Malaysia and Singapore) – total losses in forestry, health, tourism and others estimated to be US$1billion.

• This does not take into account the estimates US$5billion lost through emission of carbon into the atmosphere

• 1997/98 fire episodes
- School in Sarawak closed for 3 weeks
- Agriculture sector recorded an estimated yield reduction by 30%
- Malacca strait experienced several cargo ships related accidents
- 90% reduction of tourist arrivals and cancellation of flight recorded

• 2005 – Malaysia declared state of emergency on 12th Aug

• 2006 – Malaysia and Singapore badly affected where Ministers of Environmenthad to convene emergency meetings in Pakanbaru, Indonesia (Oct) and Cebu, Philippines (Nov)

Can we provide solutions to ensure reduction in forest fires and haze emission? Answer is yes, the solutions are as below(more info at Global Environment Centre):

• Stop destructive practices
• Prevent or control fires
• Stop further drainage and restore hydrology
• Develop alternate livelihoods for local communities
• Stop illegal/uncontrolled logging and encourage rehabilitation
• Introduce sustainable management options
• Block or control existing drains
• Encourage re-growth of vegetation
• Integrated management for multiple use
• Prediction and monitoring

 

Thailand Today

After the Coup d’etat in 2006, Suan Dusit Rajabhat University (SDU) has conducted a poll to get public’s response. The findings showed that 83.93% agreed with the military intervention and 75.04% felt that the situation would be improved. Some of the people shortly realised they have perhaps created another necessary evil.

As result of the Coup d’etat, the Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand 1997 was abrogated and the Senate, House of Parliament, the Council of Ministers and the Constitutional courts – the Council were abolished.

A Constitutional Drafting Committee is responsible to draft a constitution. After 4 weeks of the releasing of the New Constitution, a referendum will be held. People are responsible either to vote NO to endorse on the New 319 Articles’ Constitution and the Military Government or to vote YES to support Thaksin and will delay election.

If the referendum succeeds, the junta can then justify the coup that ousted the elected but corruption-prone former Prime Minister Thaksin and claim credit for honoring its promise to implement political reform and restore democracy BUT Thaksin supporters could take street protest. If it fails, the military could impose its own constitution and before holding elections, which would cast doubt on the legitimacy of the polls.

Major changes in the 2007 Constitution in comparison to the 1997 Constitution

• The new constitution bars a prime minister and any spouses or children from owning major stakes in private companies and from having a stake in media groups.
• The entire cabinet and all lawmakers would have to disclose all of their assets and would also make it tougher to pass free trade deals.
• The Senate house is consists of 76 selected and 74 appointed, total 150 senators.
• Senators have the power to expel senior political officials.
• The New Constitution limit the Prime Minister to two four year terms.
• 80 party list MPs will be elected through eight clusters of provinces.

 

Who we are & how do we engage with the world?

Our country, Malaysia is an active member of various international organisations, including:

the Commonwealth of Nations,

the United Nations and many of its specialized agencies, including

• UNESCO,
• World Bank,
• International Monetary Fund,
• International Atomic Energy Agency;
• General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade,
• Association of Southeast Asian Nations;
• Asian Development Bank,
• Five-Power Defense Arrangement,
• South Centre,
• East Asia Summit (EAS),
• Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC),
• The Commonwealth,
• Non-Aligned Movement, and
• Organization of the Islamic Conference.

Under the leadership of Tun Dr. Mahathir bin Mohammad, Malaysia’s foreign policy stance began to take a much greater economic orientation that before.

Coupled with a strong and nationalistic defence of the rights, interest and aspirations of developing countries and the advocacy of south-south co-operation and also a program of outreach to Islamic countries through the OIC.

Other issues the are interesting for discussions:

• Relations with Singapore
• Spratly islands and Limbang,
• Foreign migrants (Indonesian and Filipino migrants)
• Malaysia’s Foreign Policy Principle
• Islamic Positions (Palestine, Iraq, Islamic terrorism)
• 9MP on Federal Government Development Allocation and Expenditure for Ministry of Foreign Affairs

 

Concert of Power

We have had some serious stuff while enjoying the sunshine in Bohol – Concert Of Power

One the the topic discussed today was the rising of power:US, India, China, Russia etc including the Non-Sovereign power: EU. These powers formed the multi-polar situation today vs the 2 headed (US vs Soviet) in the cold war days.

The concern raised was on international security as there is no more referee on the playing field, although the sphere of influences has increased and filling in the local vacuum.

Questions of national interest:

• “Pre-emptive strike”
• Nuclear Arm Development in N.K. (DPRK)
• Territorial: China in Palawan
• Smaller countries vulnerable
• Leverage – arms supply access from other power
• unstable – dealing with more bully and hypocrites = harder to monitor

Talking about Sovereignty, this concert of power actually aserts soveriegnty but with a flip side: limitation of assertion.

Would this increase Economic Openness? Yes, but will form into limited trading blocs like cold war. However these blocs are depending on each other: bilateral trades but more choices compare with unipolar fabrics (however, it’s very cumbersome).This way, trade sanctions can actually be overcome.

Sigh, it has revert international politics to the jurassic era.

Globalization does not happen in a vacuum, there is a need to put the political frame work in place – a wrong politics could put everything into drain as it has before.

Anti-globalization movement have to keep in mind what they wished for.

 

No one follow the plan

” No one follow the plan”

This line strikes me most when reading through the introductory materials in a strategic planning seminar organized by the International Academy for Leadership of the Friedrich Naumann Foundation.

Working for the HQ of a party, I have the chance to handle the national strategic planning meetings headed by the party president when all sorts of visionary strategies, policies, plans etc were formed. On the other hand, we can see how things diluted down when visited the grass root members during our national tour.

Handling the daily operations of the party, we often feels the frustration of the tug-of-war between the vision & mission of the top leaders and the bread and butter demand of the grassroots. It is easy to fall into the psychological trap of ‘no one follow the plan’ and take the easy way out by applying short sighted tactics.

It is worse when people take things into their own hands as observed in our government, which is famous for manipulations (of the ‘little napoleons‘, as said by our Prime Minister) in the implementation of visionary plans.

I would opine that when planning strategically, the psycho-graphics of different levels of implementors be take into consideration to ensure the plan is carried out properly.

 

Forces of Globalization

Globalization used to be widely celebrated as a new birth of freedom: better connections in a more open world would improve people’s lives by making new products and ideas universally available, breaking down barriers to trade and democratic institutions, resolve tensions between old adversaries, and empower more and more people (cf. T. Friedman, 1999; J. Mickelthwait/A. Wooldridge, A Future Perfect, 2000).

Just 10 years after, the very SAME term of globalization was used increasingly to express concern about the consequences of global change for the well-being of various groups, the sovereignty and identity of countries, the disparities among peoples, and the health of the environment (cf. Hirst and Thompson, 1996; J. Mittelman, ed., Globalization: Critical Reflections, 1996).

Globalization has thus become an issue in global debate, just like the one that we are havingat our time.

Being reported by World Bank as among the 24 nations the have globalize successfully and benefit from the process, Malaysia have seen the good and bad the powerful effect of the process as she had also been through the invasions and colonial times. The Asian values have kept us in mind to look at things from both sides as everything has its Yin and Yang. (I Ching)

The driving force of globalization is the same like since the Silk Road, the masters of the seas until the colonials: resources, trades and the human nature of adventurous exploration. Not much of the great ancient civilization remained and the most of the great trading nations raised hundred years ago crumbled never to return to their past glory, not to mention the wars that the colonial countries has to fight with their subjects. WHY? None of these globalization ideas worked?

In my opinion, our forefathers are not less clever than us, as we still based most of our system on their foundations. During their time, they have developed and achieved much – have they not able to see the warning signs? If not then, there are subsequently no less analysis and warnings for us to refer to. But, we are good at repeating history.

The syndromes of ruthless globalization venture: exploitation, inequalities and short sightedness as the local sentiments of protectionism, isolationism and even religion radicals does not grow out of nowhere. These are just the manifested mutation of the marginalized people groups being cornered to their desperation.

However, these obstructing forces of globalization are as dynamic as the driving force and closed door can be opened as opened doors can be closed. The main ingredient is the right intention, political will and strategy. Take the example of Malaysia, now there is a group of people that is hard core supporter of not only goods but culture from Japan, a country that invaded and occupied her before.

The current practitioners of globalization would have to play an active role to address the side effects of globalization ventures, as these world elite holds that power to decide on the faith of the people living in a foreign land they need to have to practice good governance and good world (be it corporate or political) citizenship. Bear in mind an old Chinese saying, “While the praying mantis is capturing the cicada, the oriole is watching from behind”, there are no less rising power that is prepared to seize the opportunity to swing the dynamic forces over just like history has shown us, over and over again.

May the force be with you.

 

Justice in globalization

The film “Blood Diamond” reminded me of the struggles and hardships that the people of the undeveloped countries are going through just to earn peanuts for a living.

Out of desperation they will not think twice of resorting to deceits and murders for they are blinded by the prospects of a brighter future for their families.

The fact that this is still happening in 21st century should be raising the alarm amidst reports of bribery and corruptions involving top countries leaders and certain nations investing millions in their military operations.

If the powers in developed countries can dictate their own terms that inevitably benefit themselves, what are the justifications for the unfair terms of trade between the rich nations and the poor ones? The exploitation of the poor is not unpreventable if the rich nations practice fair treatment to all.

I am eager to share my views and looking forward to hear and discover other opinions on this matter. I am also curious about what actions have been taken so far to rectify this blatant inequity and in justice.

However, despite the gloomy outlook of the situation, I am keeping my fingers crossed that our hope for a more just and equitable world will not remain an impossible dream.

More often than not, the poor are the victims of circumstances and if equity and justice is achieved, there will be a brighter future for all of us.

 

Globalization and Poverty

I have mentioned in earlier post that the players of globalization are the powerful elites. No doubt they underminded the poor, intentionally or not by the way of opportunity cost and entry barrier. The one that needed the access to globalization the most, is the poor.

I am the 3rd generation of the migrant chinese in Malaysia. My grandfather flee the war and famine to this land. We heard about stories of uncles & aunties that came without any money but worked their heart out as a hard labor, then worked their way up to be a store keeper, started a small business which then made the million. Along the way, they made a full layer of middle class and also a strong Small & Medium Industry community.

This, has further grown to spawn international trade back to China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and all nations that have Chinese refugee. A giant flow of returnee investors enriches the market in of the origin country as well like in Vietnam.

You give the opportunity to the rich, they will keep it, because they are able to. You give the opportunity to the poor, they will share it, because they have to.

 

Can Globalization be Managed?

There are no lack of rules and regulations. But there are bullies all around – we have seen none lack of them either.

The best part is, if the rules are made by the bully themselves, it is not hard to imagine the disastrous outcome.

It might sound idealistic, but it all come down to the root: I think one has to see the sincerity of the trading partners and the integrity of the rule maker to be convinced to participate. It could be in the same situation like Al Gore puts it ‘it’s not a political issue, it’s a moral issue’

 

Globalization vs Isolationalism

Due to the working of the force mentioned in my earlier post, the question is not really whether it is a choice or not, but the choice made by who? made for who?

Sometimes, the traders won. sometimes, the manufacturer won. Then the farmers goes to protest. In my country, Malaysia, the government has a clear message to encourage the factories here to ‘go beyond’ and ‘the world is your market’. And even that, some industry players have complained in the news that the government is not doing enough to ‘help’ the industries.

Besides the industry player, the average Joe public is always being ‘protected’ from the unconvenient truth (of Global Competition, not the Al Gore movie) & policies and decisions of the government. This blindness, let public be easily manipulated by radicals (now religion radicals, e.g in one of our opposition state) into anti-what-ever-government-policy mindset.

Should the choices that need to be made be laid out in the beginning, and the decision maker spell out the reasons (tell us the real reason, not lip service excuses) of the decision and have a debate. Tell the people which sector will benefit, which will have to make changes etc i.e. let them be warned of the impact and be ready for it. Or better, make plans to help them change. I am sure, this could be sorted out much better.

Fear of the unknown is what caused the procrastination and all kinds of speculation. Given all the information of the decision maker have, maybe the people themselves would make the same decision as well.