Category

Involvement

Mar 26

We support earth hour 2011

By Involvement
Earth hour 2011

Earth hour 2011

Kuala Lumpur, 21st February 2011 – Earth Hour 2011 on 26th March prepares to showcase a growing global community committed to taking environmental actions that go beyond the hour. From now until Earth Hour 2012, WWF-Malaysia is urging everyone across the nation to take Earth Hour beyond the hour by signing up at wwf.org.my and pledging to “Live Green: One switch at a time.”

Each month, a simple action towards a more sustainable lifestyle will be highlighted at wwf.org.my. For example, individuals can pledge to switch off their TV and computer, instead of leaving these in standby mode.

“WWF-Malaysia hopes that Malaysians will join the global community this Earth Hour to take action that goes beyond the hour. It is easy to “Live Green: One switch at a time”, and the more people who make this pledge, the more powerful our efforts to protect our living planet become,” said WWF-Malaysia Executive Director/CEO Dato’ Dr Dionysius Sharma.

Two photos show Malaysia's landmark Petronas Twin Towers before, left, and after being turned off its lights to mark Earth Hour in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. (image from www.syracuse.com)

Two photos show Malaysia's landmark Petronas Twin Towers before, left, and after being turned off its lights to mark Earth Hour in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. (image from www.syracuse.com)

From its inception as a single-city initiative in 2007, Earth Hour has grown into a global movement where hundreds of millions of people from every continent join together to acknowledge the importance of protecting our planet.

Earth Hour 2011 will ask Malaysians to:

•  Switch off your lights for Earth Hour at 8.30pm, Saturday 26 March 2011 and celebrate your commitment to the planet with the people of the world

•  Sign up at wwf.org.my and pledge to “Live Green: One switch at a time.”

•  Sustain your actions beyond the hour

Earth Hour 2010 was the largest voluntary action for the environment in history with lights going out across 128 countries and over 4,500 cities worldwide. Earth Hour 2011 will again see hundreds of millions of people across all continents come together to celebrate an unambiguous commitment to the planet by switching off their lights for one designated hour.

The countdown to Earth Hour 2011 has begun, the iconic “lights out” event that has seen some of the world’s most recognized landmarks, including the KLCC Twin Towers, KL Tower, Forbidden City, Eiffel Tower, Buckingham Palace, Golden Gate Bridge, Table Mountain, Christ the Redeemer statue and Sydney Opera House switch off in a global celebration of the one thing that unites us all – the planet.

[source: http://wwf.org.my/?12220/Earth-Hour-2011-Growing-Beyond-the-Hour-Pledge-to-Live-Green]
Mar 22

First transfer of donation for Japan quake relief to IFRC

By Involvement
juesatta awakening foundation logo (draft)

juesatta awakening foundation logo (draft)

Thank you friends for your support, we have made our first transfer of USD 150.00 donation to International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies for Japan quake relief.

Our donation will support the rescue works in Japan. And, we must give a deep bow of immense gratitude to all the volunteers’ efforts to respond to the emergency relief. There are many rescue workers or emergency workers risk their lives and some even sacrificed themselves! Many stories of heroism are reported such as one as reported by Japanese journalist Chie Matsumoto:

“People received the warning through the city speakers that are set up outside. They heard, ‘A big tsunami is coming. You need to evacuate.’ Shortly after, they heard, ‘Run!’

“The announcement was cut off and the people never heard from the speakers, or the people who announced it, again. The few people assigned to announce it were at the disaster prevention center, and they went missing.

“They sacrificed their lives to send everyone else to a safer place. They gave priority to others’ safety. The disaster prevention center is now under the mud brought on by the tsunami.”

Although we are not on the ground to help like them nor to be like them, we can still send out our prayers to give them (both rescuers and victims) hope and strength in the face of this terrible catastrophe.

Thank you again and we will soon to make a second transfer. Friends who wish to contribute, kindly contact us. Sharing some photos taken from Red Cross flickr:

Those who have suffered near drowning are wrapped in blankets and then plastic sheeting to keep them both warm ad dry before being transported to Ishinomaki Red Cross hospital for treatment. (Photograph: Toshirharu Kato, Japanese Red Cross)

Those who have suffered near drowning are wrapped in blankets and then plastic sheeting to keep them both warm ad dry before being transported to Ishinomaki Red Cross hospital for treatment. (Photograph: Toshirharu Kato, Japanese Red Cross)

For some of the youngest patients, who may be particularly vulnerable, special care must be provided, however warm skin and a kind voice, together with a watchful eye can go a long way to ensure a speedy recovery. (Photograph: Toshirharu Kato, Japanese Red Cross)

For some of the youngest patients, who may be particularly vulnerable, special care must be provided, however warm skin and a kind voice, together with a watchful eye can go a long way to ensure a speedy recovery. (Photograph: Toshirharu Kato, Japanese Red Cross)

One week after the earthquake struck and tsunami surged through, a Japanese Red Cross volunteer surveys the damage to Otsuchi in Iwate prefecture. (Photograph: Japanese Red Cross Society)

One week after the earthquake struck and tsunami surged through, a Japanese Red Cross volunteer surveys the damage to Otsuchi in Iwate prefecture. (Photograph: Japanese Red Cross Society)

Technicians scan Red Cross rescue workers for signs of radiation in Nagahama City, Shiga Prefecture in northern Japan, after an earthquake and tsunami struck the area, March 14, 2011. (Photograph: Reuters/Kyodo)

Technicians scan Red Cross rescue workers for signs of radiation in Nagahama City, Shiga Prefecture in northern Japan, after an earthquake and tsunami struck the area, March 14, 2011. (Photograph: Reuters/Kyodo)

Mar 15

juesatta awakening foundation: japan quake relief mission launched

By Involvement
juesatta awakening foundation logo (draft)

juesatta awakening foundation logo (draft)

A huge 8.9 earthquake, subsequent tsunami, and nuclear meltdown struck Japan on March 11th at 2:46 pm, causing immeasurable human suffering and physical damage. Officials say at least 10,000 people were killed, many more are still missing or injured, and millions are without food, water, power in Japan.

Major disasters always require a huge amount of international support to provide relief and long term recovery efforts. Japan, being one of the world’s most generous nations, has always donated when other countries have experienced disasters. In these, their days of greatest need now, we stand ready and are eager to help the Japanese in this time of great trial.

I’ve received calls these two days from friends who  have expressed their sympathy and wish of helping those who are at risk in Japan now. We are getting the assessments by the reputable aid organisations such as Red Cross, Tzu Chi, World Vision, Salvation Army and those already have a presence in the impacted area and their response will likely be faster and more efficinet than other organizations that are not on the ground.

Right now, while waiting and see how the relief situation develops, we express our heartfelt sympathy for the tragic loss and are ready to assist the reputable aid organisations. Friends, you can make a donation to well-known charitable organisations or through us as we are collecting fund and will make the transfer next week to the organisations mentioned that are working on relief and recovery in the region.

A woman cries amid the destruction in Natori, Japan (Reuters photo)

A woman cries amid the destruction in Natori, Japan (Reuters photo)

Residents walk along a path overlooking shattered homes from the tsunami in Kesen Numa, Miyagi Prefecture. (Reuters photo)

Residents walk along a path overlooking shattered homes from the tsunami in Kesen Numa, Miyagi Prefecture. (Reuters photo)

A man surveys the damage in Minami Sanriku, a town in Miyago Prefecture, on Tuesday, March 15. (AFP/Getty photo)

A man surveys the damage in Minami Sanriku, a town in Miyago Prefecture, on Tuesday, March 15. (AFP/Getty photo)

A Self Defense Forces soldier holds a 4-month-old baby in Ishinomaki city in Miyagi prefecture Monday. The child survived the tsunami with her family. (AFP/Getty photo)

A Self Defense Forces soldier holds a 4-month-old baby in Ishinomaki city in Miyagi prefecture Monday. The child survived the tsunami with her family. (AFP/Getty photo)

Jan 28

Year of Rabbit – Chinese New Year couplets for charity

By Chinese calligraphy, Involvement, Photography
Chinese New Year couplets for charity sale

Chinese New Year couplets for charity sale

Malaysian Contemporary Chinese Painting & Calligraphy Association of Melaka are organising Chun Nuan Ren Jian, Jia Jia Tie Chun Lian (春暖人间、家家贴春联) to promote Chinese calligraphy and decoration of New Year couplets for the household. Experienced Chinese calligraphers including children are helping to write the couplets and promote the sale.

Chinese couplets known as dui lian (对联) or “contrapuntal couplets” may be seen on doorways in Chinese communities worldwide. Couplets displayed as part of the Chinese New Year festival, on the first morning of the New Year, are called chun lian (春联). These are usually purchased at a market a few days before and glued to the doorframe. The text of the couplets is often traditional and contains hopes for prosperity.

Chinese couplets are normally written on vertical strips of red paper in the best calligraphic style one can muster. The first (called upper) line is posted on the right side of the front door. The second (called lower) line is posted on the left side of the front door. The couplets should correspond with each other phonologically, syntactically and semantically word for word and phrase for phrase.

This coming Chinese New Year will be the year Rabbit and also the 8th year the Malaysian Contemporary Chinese Painting & Calligraphy Association of Melaka is doing the event. The sale of the Chinese couplets from this event is for charity as fund collected will be donated to the Bachang St John’s Dialysis Center providing treatment for patients suffered from kidney disease.

Unfortunately I am unable to join the team these two weeks for going to school by school in Melaka to promote Chinese calligraphy and the sale of the couplets, however I am doing my best to write as many as I can and pass to the team for sale. So far, I have written about 30 pieces of the couplets and will keep on writing before Chinese New Year.

Thanks to the organizing committee for your hard work and friends for you support. To my friends who are interested in buying the couplets and doing charity at the same time, kindly contact me.

Happy Chinese New Year to everyone! May all beings be happy.

Jan 28

兔年“春暖人间、家家户户贴春联”活动开跑了

By Chinese calligraphy, Involvement, Photography
“八糟”（猫名）在春联中开跑了！

“八糟”（猫名）在春联中开跑了！

由马来西亚书画联盟甲州联委会发起的“春暖人间、家家贴春联”活动开跑了！

推广书法艺术、鼓励农历新年贴春联的文化之余，这活动还为峇章圣约翰洗肾中心筹款，帮助患有肾脏病的患者，十分有意义

我想感谢书法老师刘明亮一年的教导和鼓励，书法班的朋友丽丽时时分享书法的心得，筹委会主席戴桂珠女士不断鼓励我写春联，和宋群礼、邢福兴、蔡天成先生等等的书法家朋友响应这项活动和所肃立的好榜样。

今年由于工作忙碌无法参与这项活动巡回马六甲的一些华小挥毫，我还是会尽力在家帮忙写春联。至今才写了30多对，还要更努力。

有兴趣为家里贴上春联，增加家里的春意的朋友们能联络我义买，让人人在春节感受人间的温情。

祝大家新年快乐，身体健康！