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| photo credits: 123rf.com |
Let Christmas be truly a time of giving!
Merry Christmas everyone!
Thursday, 24 December 2015
Christmas and why it is more than just presents and food
Its that time of the year again, the season of giving will witness the frantic shopping of toys and presents, and streets all around the world will be decked out in yuletide decorations. Enter any shopping mall, and the sound of Christmas carols will greatly soothe one's ears. Indeed, Christmas is the time of giving and for families to bond together and relative to come together. Turkeys, log-cakes, the idea that Santa will enter via the chimneys to deliver his highly anticipated presents are all that will serve to accentuate the Christmas fever.
While it is all love and cheer for many celebrating this beautiful event, we should not forget the essence of what it really should be, a season of giving. While we are celebrating Christmas and enjoying the juicy chunks of turkey, or joyously tearing apart the wrappers of our presents, someone on the other side of the planet is struggling to meet his daily food needs, or even fighting for his life. To truly spread the love and message of Christmas, lets celebrate it this year by helping someone in need, it can be as simple as helping an old lady cross the street, or donating some of our money to charity, or even offering a slice of turkey to the homeless man just across the street. All these small, seemingly insignificant gestures could actually go a long way in making someone else day.
Let Christmas be truly a time of giving!
Merry Christmas everyone!
Let Christmas be truly a time of giving!
Merry Christmas everyone!
Wednesday, 23 December 2015
The Blat and Plat Saga - and why justice prevails
Perhaps one of the darkest moments in the history of football, the recent announcement that FIFA president Sepp Blatter and UEFA boss Michel Platini would receive eight year bans from all football related activities were met with mixed reactions from the footballing world, but this was nonetheless, a step in the right direction in the name of justice.
So basically, Sepp and Platini were complicit in a disloyal payment to Platini made in 2011 which involved around 1.3 million euros. The FIFA ethics committee, which ironically is under the control of the FIFA president found Blatter and Platini to have demonstrated an abusive execution of their positions. Though both men have remained adamant that they did no wrongdoing and have decided to appeal, the results of this independent investigation does hold a modicum of truth. Football aside, this saga more importantly reveals why justice will prevail, even in the higher echelons of society. We often hear justice not served, and the victims always suffer in silence, and sometimes how the rich and the important get away with their mischief with the money they have. However, in this case involving the beautiful game, it is heartening to note that independent investigators together with the FIFA ethics committee could work together and put forth charges against two of the most powerful men in football.
Indeed, football can and should stay as the beautiful game so long as it is rid of corruption and strife and remains a clean sport. When we talk about football, we talk about the teamwork, the friendships and the cheers, not the money!
So basically, Sepp and Platini were complicit in a disloyal payment to Platini made in 2011 which involved around 1.3 million euros. The FIFA ethics committee, which ironically is under the control of the FIFA president found Blatter and Platini to have demonstrated an abusive execution of their positions. Though both men have remained adamant that they did no wrongdoing and have decided to appeal, the results of this independent investigation does hold a modicum of truth. Football aside, this saga more importantly reveals why justice will prevail, even in the higher echelons of society. We often hear justice not served, and the victims always suffer in silence, and sometimes how the rich and the important get away with their mischief with the money they have. However, in this case involving the beautiful game, it is heartening to note that independent investigators together with the FIFA ethics committee could work together and put forth charges against two of the most powerful men in football.
Indeed, football can and should stay as the beautiful game so long as it is rid of corruption and strife and remains a clean sport. When we talk about football, we talk about the teamwork, the friendships and the cheers, not the money!
Saturday, 19 December 2015
How to deal with the aftereffects of a holiday/overaseas trip
The final months of the year are always welcomed by many, and its not hard to understand why, given that they also mark the start of the long awaited holidays. This time of the year also commences the beginning of overseas trips, much to the delight of kids all around. However, while the trips itself may be fun, it is when the trips are over that really hurts them the most. Imagine, having enjoyed 10 consecutive days of fun and laughter, and then all of a sudden, all of this comes to an abrupt end, and almost immediately, you snap back to reality, which always pales in comparison to the vibrant and exciting walks down the streets of LA. What's more is the fact the school is about to begin, and the sight of having to sit through boring lessons and cope with the stress of tests and exams. this is definitely not for the faint hearted.
Disclaimer: you might say that I am over-exaggerating this, but I am merely just amplifying it. Definitely, some people will be able to handle this better than the others, but surely, there is still a modicum of truth in what I'm saying!
Dealing with the after effects (or so you can call it) of an overseas trip may be emotionally challenging, but after all, it is all about the battle of our minds. Yes, in just one day, one has to go through two radically different experiences, walking the sandy beaches of the Gold Coast to unpacking the clothes from the trip. We will definitely start reminiscing the good days we had overseas, and still wish we could stay there longer, or even not want to return home. But, like I said, its all in the head, just treat this whole trip as an event in your life this year, an event that has its starts and ENDS and that the end of this event will mark the start of the other, just like how the end of this trip to China would mean the start of another to the USA next year. Tell yourself that you have enjoyed a great deal there and that everything has to come to an end. Doing this will make you feel better, as you will stop seeing those wonderful trips overseas as what your life should be. See your life as a concoction of the great times, the normal times and the bad times, and that should do. If you are still not convinced, tell yourself that everyone around you, including your friends have had to go through it and that you are not alone in this battle, after all everyone should return to where they rightfully belong, their one and only home, which is the country they are born, which is the place they can call home right?
Disclaimer: you might say that I am over-exaggerating this, but I am merely just amplifying it. Definitely, some people will be able to handle this better than the others, but surely, there is still a modicum of truth in what I'm saying!
Dealing with the after effects (or so you can call it) of an overseas trip may be emotionally challenging, but after all, it is all about the battle of our minds. Yes, in just one day, one has to go through two radically different experiences, walking the sandy beaches of the Gold Coast to unpacking the clothes from the trip. We will definitely start reminiscing the good days we had overseas, and still wish we could stay there longer, or even not want to return home. But, like I said, its all in the head, just treat this whole trip as an event in your life this year, an event that has its starts and ENDS and that the end of this event will mark the start of the other, just like how the end of this trip to China would mean the start of another to the USA next year. Tell yourself that you have enjoyed a great deal there and that everything has to come to an end. Doing this will make you feel better, as you will stop seeing those wonderful trips overseas as what your life should be. See your life as a concoction of the great times, the normal times and the bad times, and that should do. If you are still not convinced, tell yourself that everyone around you, including your friends have had to go through it and that you are not alone in this battle, after all everyone should return to where they rightfully belong, their one and only home, which is the country they are born, which is the place they can call home right?
Sunday, 29 November 2015
Paris Climate Conference 2015 - Meeting unmet expectations
As Paris prepares for the climate conference which will be held today, environmentalists and climate change activists alike are hoping for a more efficient conference, a conference that will yield real results, a conference that will meet previously unmet expectations.
The propensity of expectation that some 150 world leaders have to meet, including India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as well Chinese President Xi Jinping cannot be understated as estimates put as many as hundreds of thousands of climate change activists dominating streets in major cities around the world demanding real action.
Indeed, these protesters' efforts are not without cause, scientists estimate that only a further 2 degree celsius rise in global temperatures can be afforded. Anymore would mean megacities like Manila and Shanghai and even New York submerging under water.
Truth be told, climate issues have definitely taken a backseat, amidst a global crisis where terrorism has been making headlines ever since. The host city for this year's climate conference, is coincidentally also reeling from one of its worst terrorist attacks ever recorded, where multiple bombs exploded in several locations, all happening in the same day. Nonetheless, the climate issue has been knocking on the doors of world leaders, and world leaders cannot afford to wait for another year or so before they can come to a consensus with regard to a resolution to protect mother earth.
With the Paris Climate Conference set to last till 11 December, it will be a hectic 12 days or so for world leaders, as they have to cope with mounting pressure from all over the world, as well as making compromises which would definitely be at the expense of national interests. Less developed countries are hoping to use this conference to demand compensation from more developed nations for the natural disasters their countries have faced, alleging that these catastrophes were a result of the more industrialised nations and coincidentally more developed nations being the main contributors of global warming.
Nonetheless, some 170 nations have already filed their carbon curbing pledges to underpin the climate pact, a step definitely worthy of plaudits, but a pact alone, should it actually really pull through in the first place, is insufficient, real concrete measures action on the part of world leaders need to be undertaken. And ultimately, the fate of planet earth remains in the hands of world leaders, who will have a tough time balancing national interests together with international interests.
Let's hope that this conference will truly be a conference where previously unmet expectations are met!
The propensity of expectation that some 150 world leaders have to meet, including India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as well Chinese President Xi Jinping cannot be understated as estimates put as many as hundreds of thousands of climate change activists dominating streets in major cities around the world demanding real action.
Indeed, these protesters' efforts are not without cause, scientists estimate that only a further 2 degree celsius rise in global temperatures can be afforded. Anymore would mean megacities like Manila and Shanghai and even New York submerging under water.
Truth be told, climate issues have definitely taken a backseat, amidst a global crisis where terrorism has been making headlines ever since. The host city for this year's climate conference, is coincidentally also reeling from one of its worst terrorist attacks ever recorded, where multiple bombs exploded in several locations, all happening in the same day. Nonetheless, the climate issue has been knocking on the doors of world leaders, and world leaders cannot afford to wait for another year or so before they can come to a consensus with regard to a resolution to protect mother earth.
With the Paris Climate Conference set to last till 11 December, it will be a hectic 12 days or so for world leaders, as they have to cope with mounting pressure from all over the world, as well as making compromises which would definitely be at the expense of national interests. Less developed countries are hoping to use this conference to demand compensation from more developed nations for the natural disasters their countries have faced, alleging that these catastrophes were a result of the more industrialised nations and coincidentally more developed nations being the main contributors of global warming.
Nonetheless, some 170 nations have already filed their carbon curbing pledges to underpin the climate pact, a step definitely worthy of plaudits, but a pact alone, should it actually really pull through in the first place, is insufficient, real concrete measures action on the part of world leaders need to be undertaken. And ultimately, the fate of planet earth remains in the hands of world leaders, who will have a tough time balancing national interests together with international interests.
Let's hope that this conference will truly be a conference where previously unmet expectations are met!
Friday, 10 July 2015
The Bare Minimum
At the very least.
We would often hear people mentioning this phrase, either when they are about to admonish, or plead with the other party to at least give their bare minimum. Indeed, in this world where society recognizes efforts and talent, the bare minimum definitely isn't quite enough.
In fact, the bare minimum reflects a lot about who you are as a person. Whether you are willing to dedicate your 110% to a certain task. And often than not, it very much hinges on how much of a stake you think you have in that particular project. Humans are naturally selfish, and we can't help it. But at the very least, when you have taken up the job, or when others have placed their trust on you to finish the job, we should take some pride in our work. Because, it not only shows how much you respect others, but more importantly, show how much respect you have for yourself as a person.
That's why, I guess, the phrase "the bare minimum" should only be practiced sparingly.
Give it your best shot! You never know what you can achieve! Go for it
And in the meantime, can you guys show some support for me, by at the very least, sharing this post to your peers?
We would often hear people mentioning this phrase, either when they are about to admonish, or plead with the other party to at least give their bare minimum. Indeed, in this world where society recognizes efforts and talent, the bare minimum definitely isn't quite enough.
In fact, the bare minimum reflects a lot about who you are as a person. Whether you are willing to dedicate your 110% to a certain task. And often than not, it very much hinges on how much of a stake you think you have in that particular project. Humans are naturally selfish, and we can't help it. But at the very least, when you have taken up the job, or when others have placed their trust on you to finish the job, we should take some pride in our work. Because, it not only shows how much you respect others, but more importantly, show how much respect you have for yourself as a person.
That's why, I guess, the phrase "the bare minimum" should only be practiced sparingly.
Give it your best shot! You never know what you can achieve! Go for it
And in the meantime, can you guys show some support for me, by at the very least, sharing this post to your peers?
Tuesday, 30 June 2015
Humans are the cause of their own misfortunes
Today, we are witnessing, and living in a very volatile, and somewhat dangerous world.
From news of thousands of foreigners travelling to the Iraq and Syria to aid ISIS who teaches a rather slanted and radical form of Islamic fundamentalism, to cases of discrimination against the Blacks surfacing every now and then, and to dreaded news of people under increasing temperatures, and on a much larger scale, countries' inability to get along with one another, we are seeing an increasingly volatile and unstable event happening on a global scale. The list goes on.
In the midst of world leaders and politicians seating down to discuss the solutions to circumvent these global problems, a closer look would enable you to see that all of these problems can be avoided, or at least, not happen if people could get along better with one another.
Making headlines these few days is the Euro-zone crisis, where European countries are at loggerheads with Greece on austerity measures, It seems that so far, neither is willing to make concessions, each fearing for their own nation's survival as well as the implications they may face should they compromise. On the other side of the negotiating table, we see newly elected Greek Prime Minister Alex Tsipras, who too is insistent on propagating his ideals, hoping that the other nations could relent under his pressure, but so far, not much headway's been made.
This current deadlock that we see polarizing the Europe group of nations is emblematic of a much pressing issue at hand, which is that humans don't seem to be able to get along with one another, and also being unwilling to make concessions or at least give in.
On a smaller scale, there is office politics. In the office, colleagues are always secretly trying to overtake each other, in the hope of gaining the approval of their bosses and ultimately to quickly rise up the ranks. Humans seem to be always at a competitive edge, hoping to outrun the other in a never ending marathon. The constant backstabbing that perpetuates in the office setting only serve to portray it as a psychological battle field, where the more evil and merciless one wins. If only office workers could get along well with one another!
If people could get along better with one another, each willing to make sacrifices and compromise for the sake of others. wouldn't the world be a better place to live in?
In this dangerous new world, the human race has faced enough of disasters and catastrophes. We shouldn't try to create more problems of ourselves, which will become our misfortunes. Lets try to get along better with each other,
to make the world a better place!
Peace!
From news of thousands of foreigners travelling to the Iraq and Syria to aid ISIS who teaches a rather slanted and radical form of Islamic fundamentalism, to cases of discrimination against the Blacks surfacing every now and then, and to dreaded news of people under increasing temperatures, and on a much larger scale, countries' inability to get along with one another, we are seeing an increasingly volatile and unstable event happening on a global scale. The list goes on.
In the midst of world leaders and politicians seating down to discuss the solutions to circumvent these global problems, a closer look would enable you to see that all of these problems can be avoided, or at least, not happen if people could get along better with one another.
Making headlines these few days is the Euro-zone crisis, where European countries are at loggerheads with Greece on austerity measures, It seems that so far, neither is willing to make concessions, each fearing for their own nation's survival as well as the implications they may face should they compromise. On the other side of the negotiating table, we see newly elected Greek Prime Minister Alex Tsipras, who too is insistent on propagating his ideals, hoping that the other nations could relent under his pressure, but so far, not much headway's been made.
This current deadlock that we see polarizing the Europe group of nations is emblematic of a much pressing issue at hand, which is that humans don't seem to be able to get along with one another, and also being unwilling to make concessions or at least give in.
On a smaller scale, there is office politics. In the office, colleagues are always secretly trying to overtake each other, in the hope of gaining the approval of their bosses and ultimately to quickly rise up the ranks. Humans seem to be always at a competitive edge, hoping to outrun the other in a never ending marathon. The constant backstabbing that perpetuates in the office setting only serve to portray it as a psychological battle field, where the more evil and merciless one wins. If only office workers could get along well with one another!
If people could get along better with one another, each willing to make sacrifices and compromise for the sake of others. wouldn't the world be a better place to live in?
In this dangerous new world, the human race has faced enough of disasters and catastrophes. We shouldn't try to create more problems of ourselves, which will become our misfortunes. Lets try to get along better with each other,
to make the world a better place!
Peace!
Friday, 2 January 2015
Holidays made me hate school.
As we are celebrating a new year, we are also celebrating the reopening of school, at least for youths around the world. In a blink of an eye, we have to go back to school and what we expected to be a very long holiday has finally come to an end.
Don't you guys sometimes feel that the times you enjoy are very short? Compared to the times where you have to go through lots of hardship? It seems like forever, some people would lament. Another school year has begun, and there comes the homework, tests and exams. But in the blink of an eye........again, the school year has officially ended. Exams are over, no more tests, no more stress. And then, we would suddenly see ourselves missing our friends. At the very least, we can still meet them during the holidays. And after what seemed to be a very short holiday, school has reopened and in a blink of an eye, its the holidays again...
And......, a cycle starts forming in your head. Homework tests exams holiday. Homework tests exams holiday. Homework tests exams holiday. Homework tests exams holiday. ( Ctrl c...Ctrl v. Get what I mean? Every school year, we are doing the same thing, the only thing that actually changes is the toughness of it. As you mature, you are generally expected to know more, and therefore, the higher expectations.
The holidays wasn't just a break for me from the hectic school life( we deserved it), it was as well a time for us to do the things we loved. Playing basketball, going overseas to enhance your perspective of the world, and do things you truly love and have the passion for. And now, before we can really get involved in the things we truly love and have a passion for, school has reopened.
One thing about schooling is that it is fixed and very much inflexible. Everybody does the same thing. If I am good at something else and can actually excel in it, I still have no choice but to excel in the things that the school wants me to do. Maybe supporters of the schooling system may say school is good as it sets the standard. Learning and education is good. Schools shouldn't test on what we have learnt from school. That kills the love for learning.
Youths can enjoy the love for learning, and at the same time do what they love to do in their life.
Then that would be Utopia. I guess.
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