Stop using petrol from Caltex!!!

Are you aware that when you pump petrol from companies like Caltex, you are indirectly supporting the Burmese Junta!!! Below is an email from Avaaz organization.

ABOUT AVAAZ
Avaaz.org is an independent, not-for-profit global campaigning organization that works to ensure that the views and values of the world's people inform global decision-making. (Avaaz means "voice" in many languages.) Avaaz receives no money from governments or corporations, and is staffed by a global team based in London, New York, Paris, Washington DC, Geneva, and Rio de Janeiro.

Far from the headlines, the crisis in Burma continues--fueled, in part, by international oil corporations like Total Oil and Chevron/Texaco. These corporations don't just fund the junta; they lobby on its behalf in capital cities around the world. These are the same companies many of us fuel up with. That means our pressure as consumers has the power to force change—and it's our responsibility to act.

Will you pledge to join the global boycott of Chevron and Total? The boycott will last until the companies withdraw from Burma, or until the Burmese junta begins a genuine democratic transition and frees all political prisoners--including Aung San Suu Kyi. We'll deliver all the pledges and comments straight to the top management of Chevron and Total. You can see what brands to avoid in your country and take the pledge, at:

http://www.avaaz.org/en/burma_corporate

French oil giant Total (which also owns ELF and FINA) and U.S.-based Chevron (which also owns Texaco, Caltex an Unocal) have been operating the Yadana natural gas pipeline in southern Burma since the early '90s.The junta takes in an estimated $450 million a year from the Yadana project alone--and uses that money to maintain its brutal control, while most people in Burma live in dire poverty. To keep their profits flowing, Chevron and Total lobby hard in the U.S. and Europe against government measures to support a democratic transition in Burma.

For companies like this, it's all about the bottom line. We must show them that if they keep backing the Burmese dictatorship, they will lose their customers--by the tens of thousands, the hundreds of thousands, even by the millions.

With enough pressure in the pocket book, we could actually get these companies to switch sides--using their enormous leverage with the Burmese regime to push for the democratic reforms necessary to call off the boycott. It just requires more loss from the boycott than profit from the junta.

Could that happen? Yes--if we act together. That's why we're raising a call for an international boycott of Total and Chevron. The pledge: to refuse to buy fuel from any Total, Chevron, ELF, FINA, Texaco or Caltex station in our home countries and wherever we travel. The boycott will last until the Burmese junta begins a genuine democratic transition and frees all political prisoners--including Aung San Suu Kyi --or until these companies exit Burma completely.

To make sure our voice is heard, we'll deliver all the boycott pledges and comments straight to the senior corporate management of Chevron and Total Oil. You can add your name to the boycott pledge today, at:

http://www.avaaz.org/en/burma_corporate

We've all witnessed the rise of global corporations whose power crosses national boundaries. But today, Chevron and Total are going to witness the rise of something greater: global people power. Today, as consumers and wold citizens, we stand up together to demand justice for the people of Burma – and our voices will be heard.

With hope,

Ricken, Paul, Pascal, Graziela, Galit, Ben, Milena, Sarah, Iain - the whole Avaaz team

P.S. Chevron and Total often try to hide behind the argument that their presence benefits the Burmese population. But the call to target Chevron and Total comes directly from the people of Burma themselves:

"Total has become the main supporter of the Burmese military regime."

-- Aung San Suu Kyi
Nobel Peace Prize winner and last elected leader of Burma

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Gender Jihad

Sorry folks! Been kinda philosophical lately or rather I've always been like that ^_^. I've been reading a travel literature by Maliha Masood called Zaatar Days, Henna Nights. She is born in Pakistan but has lived in the States when she was about 8 year old. This is a book about her journey into seeking her inner self, her connection with her muslim faith and lots of other interesting stories. I recommend this book to anyone who loves to travel and also is a good read on Islam. There has been so many misconception about Islam. Being a Buddhist, I strongly feel that it is our right to seek the truth and not take what is given to you as a total answer.

Here is an excerpt on her conversations with two elderly women she met in Egypt:

Dina spent ten years in Europe teaching Arabic. She loved the openness and curiousity of her students, but she was also dismayed at their one-sided opinions about Muslim world, particularly when it came to gender issues.

"But why should I be surprised?" she scoffed. "Look at what they are learning from the Western media. One day it's honor killings, the next day, wife beatings. I'm not saying these stories are not true. But my students think it is the fault of Islam. They think Islam is anti-woman. And the mass media make it worse. They don't pay attention to the cutural, social and political dimensions that distort religious interpretations. It is so much easier to simply blame Islam."

"But this is what we must challenge. We must show that Islam honors women. Remember what the Prophet said. Paradise lies at the feet of mothers. We have to rediscover and relearn what our religion says. We must use this knowledge as a source of strength and power."

(Maliha) It occured to me just how odd (sad) it was that the very religion credited for empowering women had also developed a reputation for shackling them.

"You are right," I said. "But how can Muslim women seek justice through Islam when Islam is used by some to silence their voices?"

(Asma) "My dear girl, God has given each of us the means to use our intellect to promote justice and compassion. Islam is our conscience. But we have deviated from its ideals."

Asma's convictions were based in the Quran, the primary source of Islamic principles and conduct. Now if every individual (Muslim and non-Muslim) on earth thought the same way as Asma, there would be no disagreement in Islam's attitude regarding women. But the question of who will interpret the Quran and in what context is crucial. It cuts across one of Islam's most divisive debates - official, literalist readings versus inwardly drawn interpretations of the scriptures. Depending on one's viewpoint, Quranic versus can be perceived as restrictive or derogative (in relation to women) or liberating and respectful toward women's honor and dignity.

Asma took out one of her thick books and mentioned that as early as 7th century, Muslim women had the rights to inherit, own property, choose their husbands, and even to divorce. Dina said that when a Muslim woman marries, she retains her maiden name, and that according to Islamic law, a married working woman is entitled to keep all her earnings to herself. It is obligatory only for the husband to be the breadwinner. The wife gets to take it easier! I was confused. Surely something went horribly wrong when women's progressive status in Islam gradually eroded in practice.

Read the book to find out more about her adventure.

Wasteful habits

I was having lunch the other day and I saw this man carrying a box of food and sat down at a table beside me. I had seen him earlier buying rice from a stall next to the one that I was queueing. I thought he had packed lunch back home or the office but in fact he packed in and ate it at the foodcourt. That makes me wonder why is there a need for him to pack his lunch when he could've just use the plates and cutleries there available from the food stall. Was it because he is afraid that the plates and cutleries from the stall are dirty or is it just a wasteful habit of his (and many others that I've seen previously) to use the disposable packs and plastic spoons and forks?

If it's because of hygiene, then eating food cooked by someone else doesn't make the food any cleaner as well. He could still catch any diseases or bacteria from there too. If it's a habit, then it is just wasteful! Quoting from an article from the National Environmental Agency, Over the past three decades, the solid waste disposed of in Singapore has increased 6-fold. Domestic waste increased about 3-fold. Non-domestic waste increased even more by about 8-fold mainly from the high growth in the manufacturing and services sectors. For a small country like Singapore, we are generating so much waste!

We should make every effort to reduce waste. We can certainly make use of the three Rs. Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. If we know in advance that we are going to pack our lunch, bring along your own containers to keep your food. Bring your own reusable grocery bag when you go to the markets. Separate your waste into those that you can recycle (glass, papers, plastics), those that you can generate as a compost for your plants in your garden (vegetable peels, egg shells, etc) or even use that beautiful glass bottles and give them a new life by painting them or decorating them and make them into vases! Buy household products that are biodegradeable and that they do not pollute our waters. I recommend reading up on this book about "NO WASTE LIKE HOME - THE PLAN THAT WILL CHANGE YOUR WORLD" by eco expert Penny Poyzer. There are loads of useful information and tips on how to reduce your waste, cute your household bills, etc.

It is all a matter of being socially responsible. If everyone do their part, then we can all prolong the existence of our home, the earth.

Have mercy and stop the killings!!!!!

Will both the Israelis and Hezbollah stop the killings!!!! Please! Taking the lives of innocent won't solve your problems! Violence begets violence! Please have mercy and stop the killings! Surely your holy books do not preach killings...so please have mercy and stop the killing! Does it please you once you have wiped out the entire human population in Lebanon? Please have mercy and stop the killing! There is already enough suffering on this planet and why must you aggravate the situation! Please have mercy and stop the killing!

Wants and needs

buttnaked baby
I've always been a spender before I got married. I would spend my pay on shopping and dining. I don't save and neither do my parents *so that explains how I end up like this*. Now I'm not only a wife. I'm a mother too so I have to learn how to plan my finances well. And I would say I do a pretty good job! *well, I'd better be!*

Whenever I feel the urge to buy something, I'll ask myself this question. Do I need it or want it? If I need it, I'll buy it. If I want it, most likely I'll not buy it unless there's extra for that month's allowance. It worked for me and I strongly recommend it to anyone who wants to learn how to control your finances. Of course it's easier said than done but if you put your heart into doing it, you'll not only succeed and you feel better and you have better control over your mind!

Many times we have too many stuff that we DONT really need at home. Just because it was on sale or we feel that we might need it, we buy them. In the end, these stuff end up as white elephants.

So if any of you wants to improve your control of spending, try the method mentioned above. Or if you really feel the urge to spend some money, why not give it to someone who needs it most? Donate your money to charities. You'll feel good and you've also helped someone. Think about it.

If only...

I am appalled to find that youth these days have absolutely no social responsibilities. They are totally absorbed in their own world and are oblivious to what is happening around them. I feel that parents have a major role to play in instilling these values to their children. All these have to start from young. The moment they begin to have greater understanding about their environment, we parents have to get cracking.

There was this particular incident on the train from Dover MRT station. This SP student, young man, and his friends were boarding the train which was pretty packed to the door. An old man was sitting beside the door and this student was making all sorts of nasty actions at him. He was doing the kicking in the air to the old man and saying that he was blocking the doorway and this carried on till the next train station. Does it ever occur to this student that the old man could have been not feeling well and simply had no strength to stand? He must remember that he will grow old someday, and he better not be surprised if he gets the same treatment he gave to that old man.

Everyday you'll be able to see students eating or even drinking in the train. It seems like they do not understand instructions. They do not give ways to elderly, pregnant women or mothers with children in the arms. They'll scowl at whoever gets in their way. Social graces are lacking in them and if they do not see a need to have more values, they'll lose out in the long run. 'Try not to be a man of success; but rather try to be a man of values - Albert Einstein'. This quote from Einstein makes so much sense. As more and more people are striving to achieve the biggest house, fanciest cars, luxurious holidays, values are slowing being left behind. They become ruthless in getting what they want. They lose relationships or rather they are very poor in maintaining relationships even though they are good or excellent in work or studies. Things have got to change big time before they 'ruin' themselves.

Even government officials are not setting example of showing social responsibilities. Any or no actions by them will result in consequences. Take for example the Tsunami in Java on Monday, it was reported that more than 300 were killed while many were displaced or injured. It was reported in today's Straits Times that the Indonesian officials did indeed receive warnings of Tsunami from the Japan Meteorological Agency but they did not sound the warnings. As quoted 'What if there was no Tsunami?' one official said. The 'What if' has killed so many of its people! Haven't they learned anything from the previous Tsunami. And they blamed that there isn't enough funds for the resources to warn the residents about it. And you'll see that their government is spending money on their government buildings! It's definitely better to be safe than sorry. My hearts go out to all the victims and their families. If only these governments have social responsibilities, the victims might have a better chance of survival. If only...

Somebody's children

I was really saddened by the recent London blasts. My heart goes out to the victims and their families.

Those that are responsible for the bombings will be condemned forever in their hearts. Those that have perished are somebody's children. Even if there is a suicide bomber involved, he or she is also somebody's child. However did they ever think about what their mother's would feel when she learnt that her child has volunteered to be a suicide bomber, I guess not. The hurt that they have inflicted on others and also onto themselves and their kins are unforgivable. On the other hand, they might be vulnerable victims to the dictators who have recruited them and brainwashed them to become suicide bombers or to take part in terrorism.

Their mothers would definitely lament on themselves for not teaching good to their children. It's a natural instinct. Whether or not it's their mother's fault or the terrorists' fault, we are all our mother's child. If only they knew...

Stroller freak accident

We were on our way to the shopping mall when I saw a granny fell down while pushing her grandchild in a stroller. The toddler flew out of the stroller and landed on the floor with scrapes on his forehead. That was the usual stroller with the safety belt secured around the waist. I find that this system is rather unsafe as this incident clearly indicates. I have 2 strollers with this kind of seatbelt. Many times Georgia would try to stand up and she always manages to free herself although the belt was securely tightened around her waist.

Stroller brands like Chicco, Maclaren, Mothercare have 5 point belt harness system which secures not only the waist but also the shoulder region. I find that this prove to be quite effective in child safety. I'm considering getting a stroller which has the 5 point harness system though I've already had 2 for Georgia. I guess there's a lot of experimentation with parenting. A lot of items that we usually get for our child might end up being a white elephant because of certain reasons i.e. safety aspect.

So for new mothers to be or mothers who's thinking of getting a new stroller, I strongly recommend getting a good stroller with the 5 point belt harness system. It's for your child's safety. If possible, also get the same belt harness for high chair.