Capitalism is the unequal distribution of wealth. Communism is the equal distribution of poverty.
I dedicate this post to Keynes and Hayek on this Labor Day. They saved us from socialism and communism.
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Author: Hafiz Noor Shams
For more about me, please read this.
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[336] Of five against three
Hurray!
Malay College 5 – 3 King Edward VII
It has been awhile since I last watched rugby, especially when it concerns my old school. And as I remember, it is always good to see KE loses to us. I wonder how this year team will fair against the Vajiravudh College.
Maybe, we need to reprioritize our wants and needs.
Well, back to econometrics. Wish me luck for the exam.p/s – a major skirmish between the Thai authority and Pattani rebel had just happened, resulting more than a hundred dead. The event occured quite close to the Malaysian border and as a result, Malaysia is beefing up its security up north as to prevent a conflict spillover.
Earlier, Thailand Prime Minister had accused Malaysia of harboring these rebels but that misunderstanding has been solved a few weeks ago amicablly.
But make no mistake (love that cliche), something is really brewing up too close to home.
To come to think of it, it seems that only Singapore, Malaysia and Brunei could be considered safe and stable in the Southeast Asian region. In stark contrast, Indonesia has its Aceh and recently the reemerging Maluku problem while the Philippines with Mindanao and Sulu.
Well, maybe Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar sound stable for the moment but, pardon me, I don’t consider these countries as Southeast Asian. Their politics and cultures seem too disconnect with their archipelagoes friends – I could be wrong though; you could say almost the same thing for France and Cyprus.
Today is Earth Day. It is the 34th Earth Day to be precise and the tree that was planted in front of University of Michigan School of Natural Resources and Environment in conjunction with the 1989 Earth Day is now 15 years old.
Since 1989, a lot of things happened. The Berlin Wall, the fall of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republic, the Earth Summit, the Kyoto Protocol.
Sometimes, despite seeing how we are not doing enough to save the Earth, it is amazing to see how far we have gone. From the discovery of the ozone hole more or less two decades ago, the fight for a greener world has moved from confirming some of the most depressing environmental issues, from discussion among the top scientists to grassroots support and actually fighting it at the highest possible level.
In the US and probably in Europe, the politicians ignore the green lobbyists at their own peril. My only hope is for the same truth to be applicable in Malaysia. My dream is to see Malaysia somehow transforms itself from a conservative society to a liberal one. Until that happened, environmentalism would probably face a hard time garnering grassroots support in my home country.
Other than that, there is really nothing I have to talk about.
I was thinking on writing how to live a sustainable life in celebration of Earth Day but Yahoo! has already done that. I see little benefit in doing a redundant work. I couldn’t agree more with Yahoo!’s 10 big things you can do to make a big different. Most of the things I wanted say is said there. I guess all greens think alike. But I must say, our association with Leonardo Di Caprio is a little bit, umph, unexpected, perhaps. :)
Google is also keeping up with its tradition of Earth Day celebration.
And Ann Arbor, being hotbed for the green movement in the Midwest region, will be celebrating the Earth Day this Sunday. I am planning to celebrate Mother Nature.
You should celebrate Earth Day too. Or at least, turn off the tap, switch off the light, recycle the paper, get out of the car and walk.
Happy Earth Day.
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[333] Of liberty on Earth Day’s eve
Yesterday, an unofficial Naked Mile was organized successfully, dodging the Ann Arbor police’s abuse of power. When I read the victory of these students and alumni – who ran naked for a mile in celebration of the final day of class – managed against the police and the University administration, I can’t help but smile.
Though I do think it is inappropriate for people to run naked in urban area, I strongly support the Naked Mile. For me, supporting the Naked Mile is supporting freedom and liberty. No matter how stupid it is, all of free loving human should cheer for this anarchism triumph.
To be involved in the Naked Mile, to run naked for a mile in the middle of Ann Arbor takes courage. The courage not only about running naked; it is also about having the courage, the guts, the nerves, the valor to go against tyranny, to go against oppression of freedom.
Supporting the Naked Mile is imperative because it is a tradition. And this tradition must be defended at any cost. Michigan has a proud tradition of civil disobedience and for better or for worse it is the Wolverines’ right to defend this right. If the police threatened to arrest us, fight. We must fight for our right and fighting and exercising our right is a right thing to do.
Today is the last day of class and every true Wolverine should know that today is the Naked Mile. Today is the day that we defend that tradition. Today, we fight!
Again! It’s ekologisch, sozial, basisdemokratisch, gewaltfrei!
It’s freewill! Support liberty! Support the Naked Mile!
Hell to the orthodox conservative!
No matter how hard you try, you can’t stop us now
– Renegade of Funk, Rage Against the Machine
p/s – development on religious issue in Michigan. I’m divided on this but it’s an interesting issue nonetheless.
pp/s – there are fliers going all around campus, announcing that the President will be hosting a semester end celebration. However, the President Office is fast to react. The mail reads:
Flyers and email are appearing around campus, announcing a celebration
of the end of classes at the President’s home on Thursday, April 22.
THE ANNOUNCEMENT IS A HOAX. There is no gathering planned.
We regret any confusion or inconvenience this may cause, and wish you
the best as the academic year comes to a close!
I hope nobody reads the email. LOL! The President is screwed!