Daily Lessons from Life 06-07 September 2012 - Various Topics

A few things to comment on:

1. Barack Obama's Re-election Efforts

Interesting to listen to the Democrats and, a week earlier, the Republicans, Presidential election nomination convention on CNN and other worldwide news media/TV.

It is simply so American. Most of the invited speakers speak well. The nominees themselves spoke well too. Sometimes the atmosphere is like a Rock Concert, as some commentators had alluded to frequently.

Hopefully the voters get to really THINK about the implication of each of the candidates' election meant to the USA.

Personally, despite having some good USA friends, I feel that the fundamental capitalistic way need to be tinkled with. The 2 parties - Us vs. Them - thingy cannot work. Rational instead of emotional approach to nation building, the American way of life got to change. Is Socially Responsible Capitalism possible? Can the imbalance of power currently where the financial industry/folks wields disproportionate power be righted? Are the values of America still relevant or need to be fine tune?

Let's observe how things develop after these 'inspirational' conventions ended and the countdown to the November 2012 election day begins...

2. Haze returned to Singapore with PSI at 71 triggering health warning

The perpetual annual haze returns to Singapore and Malaysia. It is perplexing for me to understand WHY cannot the folks in Indonesia STOP the environmentally damaging 'slash and burn' method of clearing their land for the next planting season. Some cited costs while others said simply it is the BIG plantation companies colluding with the law enforcement agencies who were supposed to prevent/stop such practices that are the culprits.

Whatever the reasons. One stark fact is: the COST to the human race, especially immediately apparent to folks in Indonesia, Singapore and Malaysia is health risk and the costs associated with all these health risks and environmental damages. Some deeper impacts are NOT obvious in the short term but are irreversible in the long term. That's where the biggest damage will be inflicted.

Is there a will to COMPENSATE the culprits (or 'victims') to abandon this damaging 'slash and burn' practice. The price to 'pay them off' maybe much much smaller than the consequence of this 'slash and burn' will cause. Are we 'rewarding 'bad' behaviour' - well, unless we can eradicate it through them willingly stopping it. We may just have to 'buy' them for now!!

3. Another earthquake in South Western China region. I don't see any reprise as Mother Earth is acting out. Maybe. there is no alternative but to stay clear of these earthquake prone areas. If not, the human being in these regions will simply have to live with the cycle of 'build, destroy and build again' cycle! Wrecking stuffs for soap dramas but not fundamentally resolving the issue.

Another natural disaster. Another charity fund raising. Another charitable heroic rescue, help, reconstruction, etc?