Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Asian Youth Climate Workshop, Bangkok, 2009

The first time to Bangkok.
The first time into a UN meeting.
The first time marching protest for Climate Change.

It's all happen because of 350.org.
NGO fighting for 350ppm of CO2 level in our atmosphere

The most important number in this planet and the upper safe limit for CO2 level according to Scientists.
The workshop is meaningful and we learned some important skills such as media releasing, event organizing.

The most interesting part is the marching towards UN building.
What the Thai police did is protecting the crowd, unlike my country police, they look for the crowd and stop them.

Anyway, it was a fun event, few thousand people march for
a round 1.30hours, drums, banners, world leader masks, traditional costumes, a lot there!
Just received an email from UM friend, is journals that indicate CO2 level of more than 350ppm in the atmosphere is hurting our coral reef by massive bleaching. Current CO2 level is around 387ppm.

350.org is an international grassroots campaign that aims to mobilize a global climate movement united by a common call to action. By spreading an understanding of the science and a shared vision for a fair policy, we will ensure that the world creates bold and equitable solutions to the climate crisis. 350.org is an independent and not-for-profit project.

What is 350?
350 is the number that leading scientists say is the safe upper limit for carbon dioxide in our atmosphere. Scientists measure carbon dioxide in "parts per million" (ppm), so 350ppm is the number humanity needs to get below as soon as possible to avoid runaway climate change. To get there, we need a different kind of PPM-a "people powered movement" that is made of people like you in every corner of the planet.


Monday, October 19, 2009

Hooray! Congratulation dear all!

To all my dear Award of Merit students,

First, I wish to congrats all of you guys did a very good job in yesterday!
Me and Wei Inn were so impressed by you guys! Especially the towing event!
It has been a long time for the training, and almost every training i almost lost my temper.
I have to apologize if I did any 'lost control' behavior or annoying faces to any one of you.

Frankly, is really not easy to train up a bunch of students like you guys to Award level. The gap is quite big. However, the improvement is amazing, awesome and I'm very proud of you guys!

Thanks for all the good and bad memories we all have together, especially my birthday celebration! haha...

Our journey do not end here, is just a beginning, aim for distinction level, then be a good instructor for the future water sapien generations.

I'm so sorry that this time I'm too busy with 350.org and my master. Also, the stupid spotlight causing the pool to close earlier which mean less training time for us.

Although I don't when will the Distinction exam be held, let's dont stop here, fight on and keep up the spirit!

Sunday, October 18, 2009

Why I don't like to swim in USM swimming pool?

I think for most of my same kinds, there are less and less fun to swim in the USM pool.
I still can remember how happy am I during first year, to swim in the pool, after stop my training for about 7 years. That's what I check for after I received offer by USM, wow, there is a pool!

During my time as Junior Exco (S n R), we need to arrange events for outings, need to duty as Lifeguards, check the lifeguard room cleanliness, and of course, help monitor the lifeguard disciplines. But second year I'm still enjoy to do all this stuffs, although my results drop under 3.0.

During that time, we all still happy family.

LAst year, during my 3rd year, is a bad year for me.
Being a vice captain, I need to deal more with the higher authority, the pak cik (guarding the entrance), and also members from lifeguards.

When there are too many things come together, I still able to handle it.
But, when too many politics come together, I feel depressed.

Sports should be just sports! but our dear head of sports unit, is doing a great job to stop the development of student sports.

Let's say about the swimming pool.
This is happen recently.

Case 1, USM lifeguard corps
Unit Sukan hired 3 permanent lifeguards to duty at the pool without inform or discuss with USM lifeguard corps. So one day, 3 lifeguards suddenly pop up! and most importantly, they do not know anything about USM pool rules! They were not informed properly by the unit sukan (I dont think they should be called management nor administration unit).
This is a sign of not respecting students body. As being the most active lifeguard corps in Malaysia, Sports unit USM is trying to stop us from growing, ya, good job, USM lifeguard corps is going down. * And the so call permanent lifeguard is just sitting up at the entrance and look from there, teaching swimming while on duty. This is called PROFESSIONAL! Unit sukan really did a good job!

Case 2, Minden fencers
My friend is the founder of minden fencer, Abe Woo.
I still remember how hard to build it up in the starting point, exam month but every sunday we will gather at unit sukan for training to fence!
That time, our coach is Sir Lim Pei Jing.
he did contributed a lot to build this sports in USM.

Now, he resigned from USM. Why?
Sports unit accept another coach by just looking at the letter and never never consult the team.
This is another similar case, never respect others.
What a loss for Minden Fencer.

Don't think what University can do for you, think what you can do for the university!
bullshit!


Saturday, October 17, 2009

How USM faces her students?

First, I need to clarify that I do love USM.

What I mentioned here is what my friends facing,
From undergraduate to post graduate.

Case No.1, How Sport Unit USM, handle us?

Just the key point, staff frame up student, then student been scolded by head. When defense, head will believe students or staffs? Usually staffs, I feel student is not their assets in their mind yet...

Case No.2, How Faculty staff, handle us?

When there is a whistle blower, the whole school staff will follow what our beloved P.M said, '1 Malaysia', but they are '1 school'. How to do that? but setting up the whistle blower as enemy. warn him/her, threaten him/her, give him/her problem when they need approval from school.
Another case that students are not treated as students.

Case No.3, How Supervisor for post graduate, handle post graduate?

When you finish your project, he/she will add on more work for you, and promise to publish a paper for you. Let say there is another P.H.D student under same supervisor. After you get all your works done and happily want to proceed to publication. your supervisor give all the work result to the P.H.D student to publish. AND no acknowledgement for you, althought you are the one did all the work, while the P.H.D did not.
Oh, this is very very unethical, as researchers, publication is very important. In order to become co-author, you need to involved in the projects, not just sit there and wait for the results.

There were other cases that I cannot remember, even as lifeguard duty in USM swimming pool, the 'professor' who came to swim will try to show off that he is a prof. Lifeguards want to make sure the safety and hygiene of the swimmer, so have to check and ask him politely. he ask lifeguard name, and say i'm a professor from KANITA. So what?

Even when high level people suggest an idea, the higher authority reject, but after sometime, the project idea have been used and never acknowledge the idea giver, some more took all the credit for it.

USM, you should treat students as your assests, not your burdens.
And Please don't use APEX to threaten your students anymore! You think student activists don't have any credit for getting the APEX status? Where are you when the judges ask students opinions? Where are you when the judges interviewing student activists?

I cannot see any sight that USMers want to change their ways of thinking, look at the attitude of some security guards towards students and those who drive nice cars, you can spot the differences!

Think of some scenes while I became as vice captain of USM swimming pool... I think should put up a post about why I dont like to go USM swimming pool next time... hehe...

USM wake up please!

Friday, October 16, 2009

What does Best Instructor Award means?

Best Instructor Award (BIA) by USM Lifeguard corps is a encouragement for me to take on more challeges in becoming instructor of higher level of life saving.

But, is my ability match the qualification of becoming an instructor? a best one?

Something is struggling in my head, among candidates for the real examination.

Attendance VS speed, which one should i choose? or should I let them decide themselves?

is the class that having worst attendance in my 2 years teaching. I wouldn't ask for more, is the student self initiative. As university students, you should be aware and be disciplines. As a USM lifeguard, you should be more self discipline.

As instructor, there are a lot of dissapointment on myself. I cannot fullfill my responsibility.
I cannot complete my task. I dissapoint my students who always attend the class.

2 more days to the real exam, I praying and craving for miracle.

Thanks to those who always attend the class on time and absence with a reason.( you know you are who)

All the best to all...

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Greenpeace volunteers occupy Parliament to save the climate

Update, Monday 7pm: after nearly 28 hours on top of the Palace of Westminster, the remaining 31 volunteers have been been taken into police custody after ending their protest peacefully. Thanks to everyone who's been supporting them!

Update, Monday am: 31 volunteers are still ocuppying the roof this morning, 24 came down last night and were arrested and all have been bailed to return.

Fifty-five Greenpeace volunteers scaled the walls of the Houses of Parliament and are now occupying the roof to call for a new style of politics in Britain, one capable of rising to meet the challenge of climate change.

Tomorrow MPs return from their summer break and the government's own Committee on Climate Change will publish a progress report on UK carbon emissions. They make it clear that Britain is not doing enough to meet its commitments, and insist that a "step change" in emissions cuts is needed. With just 60 days go until the critical climate summit in Copenhagen - which faces a very real chance of failure as things stand - Britain has yet to show true commitment to making the process a success. We need politicians who are thinking about the next generation, not just the next election.


Taken from http://www.greenpeace.org.uk/


This is not possible in Malaysia....... yet.....

kekeke...