startling lessons

i learnt a couple of new things regarding Punjab (Pakistan) while I was there...

There is a potential of 15 Billion dollars worth of trade between Pakistan and China. Currently the trade dollars amount to 5 Billion dollars only.

The economy has been growing at a steady rate of 8 to 9% anually for the last 5 years.

Poverty reduction has been reduced by 15% for the last 5 years and will reach the Millenium Development Goals by 2013, and by 2015 the poverty rate would be reduced to a single percentage digit.

Some startling facts:

85% of solid wastes in Punjab is not disposed of properly

Only 58% of Punjab have proper toilet facilities. And in some cases the toilets are used to store grain like wheat as there is poor irrigation and drainage facilities, and most of these toilets have no access to water and are too dry to be used, except as a handy storage area.

48% of hospital patients are treated for waterborne diseases

Only 48% of Punjab residents wash their hands before eating.

Only 58% wash their hands after using the lavatory.

And most shocking:

85% of baby deliveries/births are conducted by un-trained mid-wives.

Maternal Mortality is very very high in Pakistan. 1 in 120 women are victims of Maternal Mortality.

And...

Untrained midwives have been known to inject women with an injection meant for cattle to induce delivery. Obviously the injection is not suitable, and often is too strong causing the uterus to rupture almost immediately.

the next time you call a woman a fat cow...think about it a little.

guns and bobby

i was pretty disturbed about this entire Virginia tech massacre...when i left for Lahore last Saturday...i was still thinking about it...and spent my time on the aircraft mulling over articles on 'The Economist' edition on 'America's tragedy'.

The article discussed the assault-weapon ban which President Bill Clinton approved in 1994 (covering semi-automatic rifles plus high capacity magazines for handguns). The year before, the Democrats passed a bill imposing a requirement for background check. 'But the democrats believe they paid a high price for their courage: losing the House of Representatives in 1994 and the presidency in 2000. Bush has caused it to be much worse- he's let the assault weapon ban lapse.

The interesting thing the article pointed out, though, was that Americans are increasingly becoming more uncomfortable about gun possession, although they don't support a complete ban on weapons as there are too many weapons are out there already, and most of the public feel the need to own one to defend themselves.

I think strict gun-controls are a must. It would, at least, restrict access of young children/adults to guns.

I also watched Bobby on Krisworld. And the movie certainly struck a chord with me on the topic of my last entry. My favourite quote from the movie, and from his speech at the California Primaries...the last speech...before his assasination..

' Some look for scapegoats, others look for conspiracies, but this much is clear: violence breeds violence, repression brings retaliation, and only a cleansing of our whole society can remove this sickness from our souls.'
-Robert F Kennedy, Speech in Ohio, 05 April 1968

massacre, carnage & plastic bags

in the bus this morning. my book stayed in my bag. i was transfixed with the news about cho.

it started over breakfast. over my bowl of cereal, i read of how an Indonesian family's life was, in one fell swoop, altered forever. their son, a Virginia tech PhD student's life was taken. His family sold their house, car and god knows what to send their son to the 'land of the free' not knowing that they'd never see him alive again.

the next article that caught my eye was about how South Koreans from Korea were ashamed and disgusted that they were ethnically connected/linked/associated to this murderer named Cho.

typical. typical. we can expect that the debate will now not centre on whether one man's freedom to protect himself in the land of the free means 30 men's lives could be taken away in an instance? , but instead, on whether Asian's are pre-disposed to depression, insanity and aggression, etc. etc. I think we can certainly expect this from a great proportion of white-trash in the mid-west.

Koreans should hold their heads up high. I bet if that Korean boy stayed put in Korea, he would have been a happy bunny now. Ok, realistically- he may not be too happy, but i'm sure he wouldn't have been slinging a gun around taking photos of himself for a manifesto which clearly showed his discontent. He was a victim of alienation...someone revisit Marx pls?

back to the bus... CNA's next headline for its next new piece was- Carnage in Baghdad. 200 dead. 30 opposed to 200. One instance, the result of an alienated boy certainly disturbed, the other a result of a 'legitimate' orchestration of men in suits, i think- clearly disturbed too.

so what, another 200 in Baghdad, who cares?

I do.

And all the way across the continent, Singaporeans brought their own bags to NTUC and other major grocers.

Save the planet. Save humanity. Save ourselves.

it's been a funny week

it's been a funny week.

took the day off on monday and spent it with iman. that was lovely.

went to catch 251 the annabel chong based play on tuesday. dinner was absolutely delicious. we chilled at Harry's- that was nice. play was ok. i was a little upset that the play seemed to portray CHIJ Opera Estate students as either lesbians or Catholic hard-core fanatics who think exorcism will dispel the evil spirits that result in lesbian, sex-addicted behaviour. ok ok...maybe i'm being sensitive cos i am an ex- CHIJ Opera Estate student. But believe you me, non of us experimented like that...at least not that i knew off.

wednesday. had terrible migraine slept the whole day. until 11pm at night, when i took clarinase and proceeded to count sheep, read, watch tv till 5 am.

Thursday. Showered at 5am. had breakfast at 5.30 and was in office at 6 plus. and i was looking as radiant as a freshly plucked strawberry. all the way till 6pm. Met iman, had dinner and went home.

Crashed.

Friday. Woke up at 8.45 am. *&%T! Got into the office at 10am. Feeling ok but terribly upset that I was so so late. Luckily no fuss in the office about my arrival. Day went well. Went to Liang Court for dinner, had ice-cream and chilled with NPL and Fly...and Iman of course... went home before midnight.

Crashed.

Saturday. Dad woke me up to go for breakfast. Showered. Packed up lap-top and dressed up with intent of heading to the office after breakfast. During breakfast. Felt completely groggy. Went back home at 9.3oam and crashed.

It's now 2.24pm.

it's been a funny week.

is that seat taken?

three quarters through the flight, a tall ang-moh came to my seat and asked in an ozzie accent

Ang Moh: Is that seat next (next) to you taken?
Me: No (very politely)
Ang Moh: Is it ok if I sit there?
Me: No problem go ahead.
Ang Moh: Thanks. (he goes around, takes the seat, takes out his magazine and reads)
i continued to watch 'Pan's Labyrinth'.
Ang Moh: I had to move cos there was a huge BO problem in the area where I was seated.
Me: Oooohh...really? (beginning to be interested)
Ang Moh: oh yes! it was a mix of dried sweat, curry and stale smoke!
Me: Oh gosh that's bad (recalling a time when I went through the same ordeal)
Ang Moh: it wasn't so bad in the beginning but 3 hours ago, it started to stink real bad! It's worse than being in a curry restaurant!
Me: Yeah, cos then at least the curry smells fresh! (ba da bing!)
Ang Moh: HAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHA! You're funny!

So that's how i struck up a conversation with Ed from Sydney who's a leather trader and Energy advisor. Cool huh? He's really funny and we had a good time chatting!

Anyhow, later when I resumed watching my movie, I suddenly got hit with a terrible odour. I turned and saw a lady. I turn to look at him, and he was nodding his head vigorously signalling that that was her! Man..he was NOT joking.