The Orang Asli need help, not insults

The forest means many things to the Orang Asli, but first and foremost it is home. For timber merchants and greedy politicians, on the other hand, the jungle is just another money making machine, to be used until all reserves are exhausted.

When all useful timber, including trees which are hundreds of years old, with tree trunks that would take several grown men to encircle, are cut, the politicians and their cronies move in again. The rape of the land continues in this second phase of economic creativity.

The land is flattened for oil palm cultivation. The Orang Asli along with the plants and wildlife which depend on the jungle for survival are driven out, or starve to death because their food sources are depleted.

It is therefore disingenuous of Perak Menteri Besar Ahmad Faizal Azumu to scold the Orang Asli community and tell them to improve themselves before seeking aid from the government.

“The government is ready to help, but we are asking them to forget about the culture of expecting outsiders to provide items and help them,” Faizal said.

This is a true measure of the double standards espoused by the government. The ICERD will not be signed because its implementation would stop the aid for certain segments of society.

Is Faizal aware that the so-called progressive, modern men who live in towns and cities invaded Orang Asli territory and displaced them? They forced the Orang Asli into resettlement camps far from their hunting grounds, where the soil is poor and unsuitable for cultivation, and where water sources are inadequate. The Orang Asli did not invade the villages. The town people encroached onto Orang Asli land.

The Orang Asli are one of the most independent communities in Malaysia. They do not need supermarkets like you and I. They hunt for their food and take only what they need. They know which herbs and plants are medicinal, and have no use for pharmacies. There is very little waste.

Townies meanwhile are dependent on plastic which pollutes the environment. The Orang Asli are not. They use large leaves or hollow bamboo to store their food, or weave baskets to carry items. They do not pollute the air, water or land. If they practise slash-and-burn to clear sections of the forest for cultivation, they do not destroy vast acreages like some palm oil plantation operators.

The Orang Asli do not disturb anyone and they have great respect for the forest, which gives them life. The jungle has supported the Orang Asli for centuries. Certain parts mark their graves or other significant aspects of their lives.

Faizal cannot know much about the Orang Asli. He needs to change his adviser to gain better insight into their lives, and to meet them on their own turf instead of speaking to village elders in his office in Ipoh.

Had he visited any Orang Asli villagers, talked to the people, asked the children and the teenagers about their aspirations, or addressed their concerns before making public statements?

Is he aware that schools do not cater to the needs of the Orang Asli children? Some children have to walk for hours to reach their schools, or cross rickety bridges over rivers. Did he read about the children who got lost and died in the jungle at Pos Tohoi in 2016?

The relocation of the Orang Asli communities has resulted in a people struggling to maintain their cultural and economic survival. Their physical and mental health alike are affected. Meanwhile, businessmen in cahoots with VVIPs and politicians vie for the treasures of the jungle.

Faizal also said: “If they feel their village has potential to be a tourist attraction, then I suggest that they improve their settlements first, then we might consider approving the help they require.”

Such arrogance!

A few months ago, the Perak menteri besar wanted to convert the official menteri besar’s residence into a tourist attraction and charge people to take selfies there and admire ugly blocks of concrete, paving stones and tiles.

Today, he wants to do the same for the Orang Asli, yet he moved out of the menteri besar’s residence because he felt that his privacy would be spoilt by the neighbouring skyscrapers at one end of Brewster Road, near the Ipoh fountain. He decided to sell the official residence and moved into an old government building in another part of town.

He is practising double standards. He suggested that the Orang Asli make their settlements into tourist attractions and allow hordes of people to gawp and stare at them, but he will not entertain any invasion of his own privacy.

With a vote of no confidence brewing thanks to questions over his competence as menteri besar, this latest outburst has weakened his position even further. He has put on full display his arrogance and complete lack of empathy for the Orang Asli. This is especially sad as his own constituency of Chenderiang encompasses around 45 villages, which is 24% of the Orang Asli population.

A great article by Mariam Mokhtar - kudos.
Yes, the Orang Asli are a maligned lot, previously the Umno/BN treated them with contempt, and now the PH leader/s are following suit. Issuing stupid statements like that. The MB ought to be replaced ASAP as he even failed to help the OA, who should be given more priority than bumis as the were here n Malaysia before anyone's else. PH govt better buck up.

Jamal Khashoggi case - too much ado over a known terrorist or ex terrorist

Jamal Khashoggi case

Top Democrat on House intelligence committee says US president not telling truth in his response to journalist's murder.

Saudi Arabia has admitted Jamal Khashoggi was killed inside its consulate in the Turkish city of Istanbul.

Khashoggi - a Saudi writer, United States resident and The Washington Post columnist - had entered the building on October 2 to obtain documentation certifying he had divorced his ex-wife so he could remarry. 

After weeks of repeated denials that it had anything to do with his disappearance, the kingdom eventually acknowledged that its officials were behind the gruesome murder. The whereabouts of his body are still unknown.

Members of US Congress disagree with Trump on Khashoggi murder 

Adam Schiff, a Democratic senator who is set to lead the House intelligence committee when the US Congress returns in January, accused President Donald Trump of not telling the truth in his response to Khashoggi's murder.

Trump said earlier this week that a CIA report lacks evidence to blame Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for the killing of the Washington Post columnist.

"I think the president is being dishonest with the American people," Schiff said during an interview with CNN.

"It would be one thing if he said 'this is what has happened but nonetheless we need to maintain a relationship with the kingdom, but that is not what he is doing," Schiff said.

"It telegraphs to despotes around the world they can murder with impunity and that this president will have their back as long as they praise them or do business with him."

Schiff's comments were echoed by Mike Lee, a senator from Trump's Republican party, who called on Congress to take action

Lee said on NBC's Meet the Press that he disagreed with Trump's allegations that information from US intelligence services do not implicate Prince Mohammed in the killing.

"I disagree with the president’s assessment. It’s inconsistent with the intelligence I’ve seen," Lee said during the interview.

"I don't know why he's siding with the Saudis, but I think there are things we can do to change our relationship with the Saudis notwithstanding whatever his personal motivations might be," Lee added.

"But again, I think Congress has to take some ownership of US foreign policy."

Lee added that he was certain that the next US Congress, which will be inaugurated in January, will look into Trump's alleged ties to Saudi Arabia.

Senior Saudi prince cast doubt on reported CIA findings

A senior Saudi prince cast doubt on the reported CIA finding that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman ordered the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in Istanbul last month, saying the agency could not be counted on to reach a credible conclusion.

"The CIA is not necessarily the highest standard of veracity or accuracy in assessing situations. The examples of that are multitude," Prince Turki al-Faisal, a senior member of the royal family, told journalists in Abu Dhabi on Saturday.

The prince, a former Saudi intelligence chief who has also served as ambassador to the United States, said the agency's conclusion that Iraq possessed chemical weapons before the US invasion in 2003 showed it could be unreliable.

"I don't see why the CIA is not on trial in the United States. This is my answer to their assessment of who is guilty and who is not and who did what in the consulate in Istanbul," he said.

Jamal Khashoggi case - too much ado over a known terrorist or ex terrorist. Time to move on. Erdogan Turkish PM has repeatedly press for this case. What is he - a Judge, Jury, Executiner, he himself is beset with injustices done to his people since the crackdown after the 'coup'. How many Turks, innocent ones been jailed, lost heir jobs, just so he a e dictator.  The crimes, atrocities, injustices he has done along with his cronies, family members (illegal activities, smuggling, crimes, etc)  ought to be investigated! Thinks he is a do-gooder.

Mischievous political gimmick to proceed with anti-Icerd rally

Anwar: Mischievous political gimmick to proceed with anti-Icerd rally

Published: 24 Nov 2018, 9:54 pm  |  Modified: 24 Nov 2018, 9:57 pm

     

Plans to proceed with an anti-Icerd rally is a "mischievous political gimmick", says PKR president Anwar Ibrahim.

"We have held rallies to reject the Internal Security Act, to ask for clean and fair elections, and to reject cruelty.

"So if you want to rally, let it be for a reasonable purpose... Because this (anti-Icerd rally) is a mischievous political gimmick as the government has rejected the matter," Anwar was quoted as saying by Bernama.

Icerd is short for the International Convention on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.

A group known as Ummah, backed by Umno and PAS, originally planned to hold a rally to protest ratification of the convention on Dec 8.

However, after Putrajaya pulled the plug on Icerd yesterday, the group has said it would proceedwith the rally as a way to celebrate.

Ratifying Icerd has been a heated issue in Malaysia, with bumiputera groups opposing it as being against the Federal Constitution, which has special provisions for bumiputeras.

Mischievous political gimmick to proceed with anti-Icerd rally. Looks like Zahid is trying to exalt and empower himself. The authorities ought to come down hard on these troublemakers all of them no matter how many! Otherwise they get more embolden to form ore and aggressive RALLLIES. Once for all PUT an END to all this!!!!

Elect Eric Frame (Independent) as state Senator to defeat vaccine zealot Richard Pan

We have an emergency alert for all California voters: Vaccine zealot Richard Pan can be unseated by a victory for Eric Frame (Independent), who has been endorsed by Robert F. Kennedy, Hr., a champion who has fought against Monsanto, glyphosate and the mass vaccine poisoning of children orchestrated by Richard Pan.

If you want to dethrone a corrupt prostitute for the vaccine and pesticide industries, vote Richard Pan out of power by casting a vote in favor of Eric Frame.

He’s running for the CA State Senate, District 6. The fact that he has been endorsed by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. means he’s the real deal. This man will fight for your health freedom and food freedom. Just as importantly, he would replace a truly evil, insidious corporate-run demon who endangers the health and lives of millions of children in California alone: Richard Pan.

Watch the RFK Jr. endorsement here, and share with everyone you know:

Get out and vote. That’s your current best option to affect change for America.

HUNDREDS OF SICK SCIENTISTS SIGN LETTER OPPOSING TRUMP'S PLAN DEFINITION OF GENDER

HUNDREDS OF SCIENTISTS SIGN LETTER OPPOSING TRUMP'S PLAN TO NARROW DEFINITION OF GENDER

ore than 1,600 scientists have signed a letter condemning the Trump administration's reported plan to narrow the definition of gender to the genitalia people are born with.

Members of the scientific community, including more than 700 biologists, 100 geneticists and nine Nobel laureates, came together to sign the letter after a New York Times reportrevealed that the Trump administration sought to change the legal definition of "gender" to reflect biological sex, effectively excluding transgender and nonbinary people.

A memo obtained by The Times suggested that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services aimed to settle any "disputes" about a person's sex using genetic testing, which scientists said would be both unscientific and unethical.

Marchers carry a rainbow flag in the Los Angeles Pride Parade on June 8, 2014, in West Hollywood. More than 1,600 scientists have a signed a letter condemning the Trump administration's reported plan to redefine gender.DAVID MCNEW/GETTY

In their letter, the almost 2,000 scientists demanded that the Trump administration "withdraw" its "proposed policy" and called on "elected representatives" to oppose the plan, asserting that it was "fundamentally inconsistent not only with science but also with ethical practices, human rights and basic dignity."

The letter dismissed the Trump administration's claims that its bid to change the definition would be "grounded in science," saying that "the relationship between sex chromosomes, genitalia and gender identity is complex, and not fully understood."

"There are no genetic tests that can unambiguously determine gender, or even sex," the letter states. "Furthermore, even if such tests existed, it would be unconscionable to use the pretext of science to enact policies that overrule the lived experience of people’s own gender identities."

Scientists warned that the Trump administration's proposed policy could "erase the identities of millions of Americans who identify as transgender or have intersex bodies, or "biologically atypical patterns of male and female traits." 

The letter came as more than 50 companies had signed a statement released earlier this week that supported transgender equality and opposed the Trump administration's reported bid to redefine gender. 

Fifty-six major companies, including Uber, Airbnb, Apple and IBM Corporation, signed the statement, denouncing the Trump administration's plan; the companies represent roughly $2.4 trillion in revenue, according to a news release.

Read more: Trans Lifeline Reportedly Receives Four Times the Amount of Calls After Trump Memo Moves to Define Gender

"We, the undersigned businesses, stand with the millions of people in America who identify as transgender, gender nonbinary, or intersex, and call for all such people to be treated with the respect and dignity everyone deserves," the group said in their joint statement. 

"We oppose any administrative and legislative efforts to erase transgender protections through reinterpretation of existing laws and regulations," the signatories said. "We also fundamentally oppose any policy or regulation that violates the privacy rights of those that identify as transgender, gender nonbinary or intersex."

The 56 companies called for "respect and transparency in policymaking, and for equality under the law for transgender people."

HUNDREDS OF SICK SCIENTISTS SIGN LETTER OPPOSING TRUMP'S PLAN DEFINITION OF GENDER. 
Are these people really sick that they do not know the word - GENDER, what is a MALE and a FEMALE. Even animals know that and as scientists that despicable, they should resign now. God may punish such a nation like He did with Sodom and Gomorrah! 

These foods can help prevent radiation exposure damage

Worried about radiation? These foods can help prevent exposure damage

(Natural News) These days, it seems like we are being bombarded with radiation everywhere we go. It’s not just when you’re flying in planes or getting an X-ray anymore; we’ve also got cell phones and other wireless devices and nuclear energy waste to contend with. If you’re worried about how your body will cope with this onslaught, you might want to consider increasing your intake of foods and nutrients that can help prevent exposure damage.

While no food can block radiation or make you immune to its effects, nutrients have been repeatedly shown in scientific studies to help the body adapt to radiation exposure and speed cellular repair. Here’s a look at some of the best options.

Spirulina

This superfood algae, which grows in freshwater, is one of the top radioprotective foodsyou can find. It gets its deep blue-green hue from a protein called phycocyanin, which binds to radioisotopes and heavy metals to help flush them from the body. In animal studies, spirulina has been shown to promote new blood cell formation and boost immunity in mice with damage from gamma radiation; it can also decrease radiation damage in general.

Miso soup

With its distinctive and delicate taste, this soup can be surprisingly powerful in protecting your body from radiation. It contains fermented soybean paste, which studies demonstrate can protect mice from sustaining damage from radiation with just one dose. It also contains an isoflavone called genistein, which promotes blood cell production after radiation exposure and is being explored for its potential to protect soldiers and civilians from nuclear threats. Miso soup also has a radioprotective enzyme that activates the genes used to repair DNA.

Berries and cherries

With their high amounts of antioxidants like quercetin and resveratrol, organic berries and cherries offer some protection from the free radical damage caused by radiation. Quercetin can protect proteins and lipids from deadly dosages of gamma radiation and shield mitochondrial DNA from damage due to oxidants, while resveratrol has been shown in animal studies to protect chromosomes from being damaged by radiation.

Ginkgo biloba

If you have any doubt about ginkgo biloba’s radioprotective power, consider this: It was used to treat workers who were present for the nuclear reactor meltdown at Chernobyl in 1986. That’s because extracts of ginkgo protect organs from incurring radiation-induced oxidative injury. It reduces the effects of substances like plutonium that can cause damage to DNA and chromosomes. It is also used to protect people with Graves’ disease from cell damage following radioactive iodine treatment.

Green tea

It may not come as much of a surprise that green tea is one of the most powerful radioprotectants among antioxidants, and this is largely due to its high amounts of the polyphenol known as EGCG. The catechins in green tea absorb radioactive isotopes and eliminate them. It can also protect cells from being damaged by radiation therapy; black tea has been shown to have similar effects.

Curcumin

Turmeric always seems to pop up on lists of healthy foods thanks to its active ingredient, curcumin, which boasts an impressively long list of health benefits. Known for anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, and antioxidant properties, this overachiever is also pretty good at protecting from radiation damage. In animal studies, it stopped tumor formation and DNA damage in rats who were exposed to high doses of radiation and improved their survival rates. It has also been shown to reduce the dangerous peroxidation of fats. Keep in mind, however, that it has poor bioavailability; taking it with a bit of black pepper can help.

Unfortunately, our exposure to radiation is only likely to grow in the years to come. That’s why it has never been more important to protect yourself from radiation damage. With so many delicious options, it’s easy to give your body an edge in the face of all this radiation!