Grace + Hian-Kim = j.u.s.t. m.a.r.r.i.e.d.

By Photography
Congratulation to Grace Lee and Hian-Kim!

Congratulation to Grace Lee and Hian-Kim!

We’ve just finished Grace and Hian-Kim’s photographs from their fabulous wedding at Melaka in early March.  On the fourth day of March, Kenn-Wai, Fred, Steve and I were invited to document the wedding for our friend, Bear Lee’s sister, Grace and her charming man Hian-Kim.

We started to photograph early morning at Grace’s place. Grace just looked gorgeous with the great work of Nini the markup artist.

The evening reception was held at Hotel Equatorial Melaka. Stunning environment, joyful guests and wonderful bands just made the dinner very special.

Both Grace and Hian-Kian are very sweet couple. We were honoured to capture their big day. Thanks and congratulation to the both of them.

May all beings be happy.

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Earth Hour 2012 Malaysia

By Involvement
Earth Hour in Malaysia (image from http://smksripermata.wordpress.com)

Earth Hour in Malaysia (image from http://smksripermata.wordpress.com)

Hundreds of millions of people, businesses and governments around the world unite each year to support the largest environmental event in history – Earth Hour.

More than 5,200 cities and towns in 135 countries worldwide switched off their lights for Earth Hour 2011 alone, sending a powerful message for action on climate change. It also ushered in a new era with members going Beyond the Hour to commit to lasting action for the planet. Without a doubt, it’s shown how great things can be achieved when people come together for a common cause.

On Earth Hour hundreds of millions of people, organizations, corporations and governments will come together to make a bold statement about their concern for climate change by doing something quite simple—turning off their lights for one hour. Earth Hour symbolizes that by working together, each of us can have a positive impact in the fight against climate change, protecting our future and that of future generations.

Set Your Clock 

On March 31st at 8:30 p.m. local time, Earth Hour will cascade around the globe—from time zone to time zone—uniting the planet under a single, simple, call to action.

How does climate change occur?

A continuous flow of energy from the sun heats the Earth. Naturally occurring gases in the atmosphere, known as greenhouse gases, trap this heat like a blanket, keeping the Earth at an average of 15 degrees Celsius – warm enough to sustain life. Carbon dioxide (CO2) is the most significant of these gases. The amount of naturally produced CO2 is almost perfectly balanced by the amount naturally removed through photosynthesis and its dissolution in oceans. However, the overuse of fossil fuels is leading to increased CO2 in the atmosphere, trapping more and more heat and warming the Earth.

As a result, we’re seeing more dramatic weather patterns across the globe. 
The effects of Earth’s changing weather not only causes devastating natural disasters but shrinking of the world’s ice shelves and glaciers due to warming sea water. Because ice acts as a solar reflector, the less ice there is, the less heat the Earth reflects.

Did you know? A bicycle is a marvel of engineering efficiency, one where an investment in 22 pounds of metal and rubber boosts the efficiency of an individual mobility by a factor of three (Lester Brown, EPI)

Did you know? It takes 200 litres of water to produce one latte.

Did you know? 78% of agricultural land is used for livestock production.

[source: www.earthhour.org]
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George Clooney arrested in Sudan protest

By Compassion
Clooney has handcuffs attached by a security official after being arrested outside the Embassy of Sudan today. (photo: Getty Images/Win McNamee)

Clooney has handcuffs attached by a security official after being arrested outside the Embassy of Sudan today. (photo: Getty Images/Win McNamee)

Police arrested actor George Clooney and others Friday during a protest at the Sudanese Embassy in Washington.

The arrested protesters included congressmen, human rights activists and faith leaders.

“We are here really to ask two very simple questions,” Clooney said moments before his arrest. “The first question is something immediate — and immediately, we need humanitarian aid to be allowed into the Sudan before it becomes the worst humanitarian crisis in the world.”

The second thing, he said, “is for the government in Khartoum to stop randomly killing its own innocent men, women and children. Stop raping them and stop starving them. That’s all we ask.”

Protesters had begun gathering in the street before the protest began and converged on the Embassy once Clooney and the others arrived, holding signs reading “Stop Bombing Civilians Now!” and “End the silence stop the violence.”

Those arrested included United to End Genocide President Tom Andrews; Democratic Reps. Jim McGovern, Al Green, Jim Moran and John Olver; Martin Luther King III; and NAACP President Ben Jealous.

Jealous directed a message to the Sudanese president: “This is what beginning of the end looks like.”

“We are protesting to make sure the Sudanese government knows that the world is watching,” McGovern said. “The United States Congress is watching. And we will be back again and again until they stop using food as a weapon; stop slaughtering innocent men, women and children; and stop spitting in the face of the world community.”

After speeches by several of the protest leaders, a police officer told the group she was giving them a third warning, after which they would be arrested.

A few moments later, the arrests began. The group stood calmly as they waited for the police to apply plastic handcuffs as the crowd of protesters chanted “al-Bashir to the ICC,” referring to the International Criminal Court, where Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir has been indicted.

Clooney was charged with disorderly crossing of a police line, a misdemeanor, Secret Service spokesman Max Millien said. The Secret Service is responsible for security at foreign diplomatic missions in Washington.

He paid a $100 fine, choosing to forfeit that money to avoid a court appearance, said Gwendolyn Crump, a spokeswoman for the Metropolitan Police Department.

Clooney met with President Obama on Thursday to discuss his concerns about Sudan.

Flanking Clooney in this picture are Congressman Jim Moran (D-VA) (L) and his father Nick Clooney. (photo: REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque)

Flanking Clooney in this picture are Congressman Jim Moran (D-VA) (L) and his father Nick Clooney. (photo: REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque)

Clooney is surrounded by the media after being arrested for protesting the escalating humanitarian crisis in Sudan. (photo: REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque)

Clooney is surrounded by the media after being arrested for protesting the escalating humanitarian crisis in Sudan. (photo: REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque)

Clooney testifies during a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing next to John Prendergast, co-founder of the Satellite Sentinel Project, regarding Sudan at the Dirksen Senate Office Building in Washington Wednesday. (photo: REUTERS/Benjamin Myers)

Clooney testifies during a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing next to John Prendergast, co-founder of the Satellite Sentinel Project, regarding Sudan at the Dirksen Senate Office Building in Washington Wednesday. (photo: REUTERS/Benjamin Myers)

Sudanese from the war-torn Blue Nile state collect muddy water, in order to avoid the 12-hour queue at a water pump, in South Sudan's Doro refugee camp in December. More than 80,000 Sudanese have sought refuge in South Sudan from clashes between government forces and insurgents on the northern side of the poorly-marked and tense border, according to the United Nations. (photo: REUTERS/Hereward Holland)

Sudanese from the war-torn Blue Nile state collect muddy water, in order to avoid the 12-hour queue at a water pump, in South Sudan's Doro refugee camp in December. More than 80,000 Sudanese have sought refuge in South Sudan from clashes between government forces and insurgents on the northern side of the poorly-marked and tense border, according to the United Nations. (photo: REUTERS/Hereward Holland)

[source: http://articles.cnn.com/2012-03-16/us/us_washington-clooney-arrest_1_sudanese-embassy-sudanese-president-omar-al-bashir-ahmad-harun?_s=PM:US]
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Do something

By Photography, Wisdom
fire scene search

fire scene search

A man distraught by all the pain and suffering he saw all around him broke down and banged his fists into the dirt.

His head turns upward and he yells at his God.

“Look at this mess. Look at all this pain and suffering. Look at all this killing and hate. God. Oh God! Why don’t you do something!!”

And his God spoke to him and said, “I did. I sent you.”

[source: http://www.storiesofwisdom.com/do-something/]
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永远记住你的话

By Compassion
untitled (by Tracy Martin)

untitled (by Tracy Martin)

我读过许多文章,多数是写妈妈,很少写爸爸。

我爸住在山村,靠双手割胶,养活我们9个兄弟姐妹,爸妈辛苦一世人,穷了一辈子。

记得我在就9岁那年,生了一场病,看医生要到四五公里的市镇,所以就没有前往。三更半夜时候,身体突然发冷,冷得牙齿颤抖,爸给我喝了一杯热水,紧紧抱住我,让他的体热温暖著我,可是,我仍然不舒服,放声痛哭,爸一双手轻轻拍著我。现在想起来,当时爸一定很伤心、焦虑,泪水一定落了下来。后来怎样好起来,已经记不起,我能活到今天,算是菩萨保佑了。

在我年轻的时候,心头有一股翻身改政的理想。

不想却在1969年,三更半夜就被人带走,离开了爸妈,兄弟姐妹,放逐到石象城的高墻內。一夜之间,爸就失去一个儿子,可以想象,爸会有多伤心,多痛苦呢!这种痛苦,只有做爸爸才会感受到。现在我当上爸爸,才体会到,爸爸对孩子的爱,是无条件,是永永远远的……爸七十多岁时,我的孩子还小,身边只有一辆70CC的电单车,每天忙著生活打拼,从不会想载爸到较远的地方走走看看,但爸没有半句怨言,守著家,看顾孙子。我知道爸有一个心愿,一直想回去中国乡下探亲,看看他哥哥的孩子们,可是,我的经济无法让他成行,就连吉隆坡和新加坡都没有到过。84岁那年,他很平静的闭上眼睛离开人间,不知爸心中有带著掛碍,遗憾吗?希望他不会,但我却有著对他深深的遗憾,层层的內疚。

当生活上遇到不如意事,我耳畔就会响起爸的那一句:“一个人穷没有关系,最重要誌不能穷”。

当我的经济面对困难时,就会记起爸说的话:“一个人千万不能去偷、抢、骗”。当我在欢乐时,心头就想起爸一句:“人千万不要学会吹(吸鸦片)、喝、嫖、赌”。

爸往生时,甚么也没有留下,只留下了一个叫他早起早睡的闹钟,还有一支红烟斗,清清白白一生人。

送著爸走最后一程时,我双手扶棺木,心痛得发不出声音,眼泪掉不出来……老爸,在人生的路上,我永远记住你的话……

[文:章钦,刊登于星洲日报副刊]
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Christina Perri – A Thousand Years (Chow-Gui violin cover)

By Music and video

This is a very nice violin cover by my friend Chow-Gui. When I first saw his play, I knew I had to share this wonderful cover with all friends here.

This song is originally Christina Perri and written by Christina Perri and David Hodges. The words are magical. It’s about the waiting for someonEE special is often painful, but always worth it as true love endures. If it is meant to happen, if you believe, it will happen.

Heart beats fast
Colors and prom-misses
How to be brave
How can I love when I’m afraid to fall?

But watching you stand alone
All of my doubt
Suddenly goes away somehow
One step closer

I have died every day waiting for you
Darling don’t be afraid
I have loved you for a thousand years
I’ll love you for a thousand more

Time stands still
Beauty in all she is
I will be brave
I will not let anything take away

What’s standing in front of me
Every breath
Every hour has come to this
One step closer

I have died every day waiting for you
Darling don’t be afraid
I have loved you for a thousand years
I’ll love you for a thousand more

And all along I believed I would find you
Time has brought your heart to me
I have loved you for a thousand years
I’ll love you for a thousand more

One step closer
One step closer

I have died every day waiting for you
Darling don’t be afraid
I have loved you for a thousand years
I’ll love you for a thousand more

And all along I believed I would find you
Time has brought your heart to me
I have loved you for a thousand years
I’ll love you for a thousand more

Hope you like this cover. Many thanks again to the wonderful violin play by Chow-Gui and I’m looking forward for his next play.

May all beings be happy.

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