Security and Peace… Do We Have It?

What makes us feel secure?  What makes us feel afraid?  Are we more motivated by hope, or by fear?  We know all too well that our lives are always changing at an alarming rate sometimes, and so on one level we know that there really is no security, nothing we can really hang onto except the fact of change.  But there are things that we can do personally, and that our government can do, to bring basic security into our lives such as adequate food, shelter, clothing, health services, employment, education.  Every person on the planet is entitled on that level of security.  Every person should and could have it.

A big concern when we talk about security is terrorism.  All people are clearly at risk, and some things have been done to protect us.  But have we sufficiently addressed the root causes of terrorism?  What causes people to commit acts of violence?  What makes terrorism necessary as a political strategy?  Osama Bin Laden apparently wants the US to have less influence and control over Saudi Arabia.  We have refused to even speak with the man.  Can we possibly get anywhere in making peace with adversaries if we refuse to talk?

We have seen recently that the environment is not only unstable, but increasingly destructive.  Are we doing all we can to increase environmental security?  Obviously not.  Our leaders are doing frighteningly little to address the question of ecological stability.  Refusing to cooperate fully with the Kyoto Accord on climate change, and undermining regulations that curb carbon emissions.  Financial profitability is a higher priority.  But isn’t it obvious that an unstable environment is bad for business? Witness the destruction of business in the Gulf after hurricane season, and the enormous cost to repair the damage.  Some of the destruction could have been avoided if existing coastal wetlands had been preserved as the buffer to the city.  Our environmental security is also increasingly eroded by toxic pollution.  Environmental health is also a basic security issue.  Many people are now realizing that our global economic system is causing much of the insecurity that we are seeing both environmentally and socially.  It is a system that creates gross inequity, over-consumption, waste, environmental degradation, health problems, exploitation and terrible insecurity for us all.  We have created a disposable rather than a sustainable civilization, a dead-end system of production and consumption that is clearly, absolutely degrading and destroying people’s lives and the ecosystem on which we depend.  The current bottom line establishes the supremacy of money and power, materialism and selfishness, over taking care of our human and natural resources.

We will have no security without peace, and no peace without security.  Do we feel more or less secure as a result of going to war?  Has war ever brought us lasting peace?  We hear our leaders talk about peace but don’t see a great deal of effort toward that end.  We continue to have an astronomical military budget and continue to build and buy more weapons.  America has the large amount of budget to continue building more nuclear weapons and at the same time saying that other countries can’t have them.  Why are they not working toward nuclear nonproliferation instead of violating those treaties?  Why not have a counterpart to the Department of Defense?  Peace is something we have to work for all the time.  That’s why the Dennis Kucinic proposal for a Department of Peace in the Administration has such resonance: it would acknowledge that Peace is a full-time job.  We could also divert a fraction of our military budget to measures that would increase peoples’ basic level of security.

We also tend to forget that global peace can only be achieved when we bring peace into our own lives, into our relations with family, co-workers, and community.  As the prayer song goes, “Let peace begin with me; let this be the moment now.”

Shared Values and Common Dreams

It’s important to remember that we actually do have some shared values and common dreams.  It’s easy to focus on what doesn’t work, how different we are, how bad things have gotten.  The media feeds on conflict and loves to describe any difference as “war”.  The media talks about the culture war, the war between red and blue states for example.  But what if we also paid attention to the things we have in common, the things we agree on?  Let’s take values for starters.  Here’s a list of values that I think most people share:

• Honesty and Openness
• Responsibility
• Trust
• Fairness
• Tolerance
• Ecological Sensitivity
• Generosity
• Respect and Care for all life

And here are some of dreams that we all might share in common as well:

• Equal Opportunity and Equal Protection for All.
• Quality of Life: time for personal pursuits, family, friends, community, creative work, recreation, fulfilling and meaningful employment, adequate income.
• The same good and sustainable life for ourselves and our family and future generations.
• Personal Security
• Freedom and Liberty
• Healthy Environment and Environmental Security
• Peace, Nonviolence, Democracy.
• A world where beauty, the arts, and music is considered essential to the human heart and spirit.

In short, a world centered on people, not profits; on spiritual not financial values; on international cooperation not domination.  We are more than just consumers supporting wealthy corporations; we are individuals, spiritual and human beings, family members, citizens…

The Beijing 2008 Olympics and the Philippine Coverage

Okay, so I have been a fan of the 2008 Beijing Olympics ever since I was amazed by the unbelievable and almost surreal Opening Ceremony a week ago.  When China promised a spectacular show for the said ceremony, they were definitely not joking around and they more than delivered on that promise.  Heck, even critics could not say anything negative about the event (although some did say that it made China even more polluted, but hey, compare China to Los Angeles and the later would prove to be more polluted than our sister Asian country).  If there is a common complaint around the world on the airing of the opening ceremony, it would have to be the stupidity of the stations airing the said event placing countless of commercial breaks — something that they should have done during the march of the athletes rather than the dance numbers, song numbers or the fireworks display since those parts of the opening ceremony are certainly something that would never happen any time soon and something worth watching.

The Olympics is an event that comes but once every four years and the stupid stations decided to pummel the viewers who could not go to Beijing and watch it live with countless upon countless of annoying advertisements.  I mean, come on, although I know that said advertisements are the only way the stations could get some money, they could have at least minimized it or shortened it. (Yes, despite the ceremony having been aired a week ago, I am still not over the stupidity of the broadcasts).

Another annoying thing that Solar Sports (yes, I am not about to hide what channel it is) did is that, although it is a long-shot (hey, let’s admit it) for our athletes to actually DO win a gold medal seeing as we are one of the smallest contingents in the said event, they could at least show their support or even let the people know what is going on on the events that our athletes are a part of.  I mean, they never, not once, aired any event that the Philippine Athletes were taking part of and the only way we would know what happened to them is via the newspaper the next day or the news that night.  Annoying.  Simply Annoying.

I am not really a fan of sports save a couple of sports such as BBall, Tennis, Table Tennis, Archery, Soccer and Baseball… but still, it wouldn’t hurt to air something that our athletes are competing in.

Well, this is just a rant and ramble since it’s already too late as, without much of a surprise, we have yet to achieve that long sought after gold medal.

Oh yeah, another stupidity is the coach for one of our athletes who dared not let his athlete train because he thinks Beijing is too polluted, and because of which, we lost.  Stupid coach.

*Ahem*

Well, that’s about it.  I just wanted to update this almost dead blog. lol

The Past, Future, and the Present

Have you ever thought back to the time when you were little?  To the time when nothing else seemed to matter except for you to have fun and play all day long under the sun?

Do you remember those days when you have no cares or worries in your mind?  Do you remember how you felt in those days — how you felt that each day lasted an eternity, filled with newness, fun and excitement?

Do you remember those days when, despite how sweaty you were or how far the sun has already set, that you would not wish to part with your playmates, your friends?

Do you look back to those times when you were still a kid?  Do you have that inkling feeling sometimes that you want to find the secret to "time traveling" and just travel back in that particular time when you were just a "young one"?

Most people I know think of those times when they have some very daunting task within their midst — when they are faced with problems and burdens, cares and worries, that would have otherwise been thought of as far-fetch when we were younger, when we were kids.

But the fact is, no matter how much we look back in those years that have gone by, nothing will change.  We won’t be able to go back and relive those days, after all, that part of our lives is what we call "the past".

Have you ever wondered what your life would be like several years from now?  If you would end up successful, rich, popular, and all those other stuff?

Do you think often of your dreams for the future and wonder if you would be able to ever attain them?  Do you promise yourself of what you would be?  Do you fear what lies ahead?

Most people I know now-a-days, believe that dreams are over-rated.  If you dream of something big and you somehow let that dream slip, there would be those who would criticize you for whatever idealistic dream you have.  The bigger the dream, the harder the criticisms would be.  I know that, I’ve experienced being criticized for dreaming BIG dreams that people seem to think I would never be able to accomplish.
People seem to think that there is no need to aim higher and dream bigger since all we need to do is settle for the okay, for the "passing grade" in everything we do.

Call it idealistic yet again, but I really do not like that way of thinking.  Maybe that’s the main reason why I always find myself able to associate with the lyrics on the song "Dream Big" or why most of the lyrics that I, myself, write are all about dreams (well, dreams and love that is).

"If you don’t dream big, what’s the use in dreaming?" That’s one of the lines in the song "Dream Big".  And, "Reach for your dreams, it’s not that far." is a line from one of my compositions, "Your Star".  If you ask me, the future is all about dreams — big or small and the path to reach them.

The "past" and the "future", that’s what’s always on people’s mind.  Regrets and Hope, that’s what looking back and looking forward can bring.  At least, that’s what I think they bring.  Regret, if you have some businesses, some things that you would rather have not done or should have done.  Hope, for the future that lies before you.  However, sometimes, hope becomes hopelessness.  Sometimes, because of our past, we seem to think that our future is already decided… that we can’t rise up from the mistakes that we have done… that we can’t make things better.

The bad news is that we can’t change these things.
The good news is that it’s not hopeless… yet.

Defeat is not the worst of failures.  Not to have tries it the true failure.  I know of a man who personified this, and the story goes as follows:

There was once a young man who lived a most miserable life.  Orphaned before he was three, he was taken in by strangers.  He was kicked out of school, suffered from poverty, and as the result of inherited physical weaknesses, he developed serious heart trouble as a teenager.  His beloved wife died early in their marriage.  He lived as an invalid most of his adult life and he eventually died at the young age of forty.  By all outward appearances, he was defeated by life, and doomed to be forgotten by history.  Even so, he never gave up trying to express himself and to achieve success over the twenty years of his active work life.  And in that period, he produced some of the greatest and brilliant articles, essays, and criticisms ever written.  His poetry is still read widely and studied by virtually all high school students in the United States.  His short stories and detective stories are famous.  One of his poems, on display at Huntington Library, has been valued at more than $50,000, which is far more than the young man earned in his entire life time.  His name?  Edgar Allan Poe.

Circumstances doesn’t affect our chances for success nearly as much as the level of effort we put in all the things we do.  After all, no matter what a man’s past may have been, his future is spotless.

Just as our past and future are important, so too is our present.  The now.  The here.  They are important because what we do today will shape who we will become tomorrow.  I am not a believer of "Destiny" in a sense that what we will be in the future is already predetermined, which is a reason why I do not take notice or read horoscopes (although I do know how to do fortune telling, another secret skill I have… which is no longer a secret, lol). 

In my novel, "Star Frontier", I wrote this question: "Does fate determine the choices we make, or do the choices we make determine our fate?"

My answer to that question, is the latter.  The choices we do now — the choice on how to live our life, the choice on what we are to do at this moment, and every single thing we decide on a daily basis shapes our destiny — what we would be several years from now.  We choose what happens with our lives and in doing so, we have to take responsibility for the choices we make and not put the blame on some ‘entity’ called "Fate" or "Destiny". 

"The future is ours for the taking." is a line from the last page of the last book of my novel, "Star Frontier"… and that is basically what I believe myself.

Are You A “Tuesday Person”?

Well, as much as this post was delayed — as this was supposed to have been what I was to post several days ago instead of the Polar Icecaps thing, I still cannot let this particular thought go just like that… despite the fact that the ecosystem is something note-worthy at the moment, it’s still nice to rest for a while from that topic and instead post something of a reflection I had while I was watching a particular movie after reading a particular book.

Tuesdays with Morrie.  I wonder how many know of this short albeit wonderful book by Mitch Albom.  It, like the rest of Mitch Albom’s novels managed to touch the hearts of those who, not just read it, but grasp the full meaning of his book — all of its lessons.  It is certainly one of those books that readers end up getting more than they bargained for.  Oprah seems to be one of those people who were touched by the said book — a book that recounts the events that took pace as Mitch Albom’s old college professor was dying.  Although, admittedly, I do not like Oprah, I applaud and commend her in producing the movie based from Mitch Albom’s best selling book.

I am, in all honesty, not a fan of tear-jerkers or sappy stories.  However, this movie — although a certified tear-jerker, is something I can’t seem to get enough of no matter how many times I watched it — all of those times it made me cry.  One reason for this is Morrie’s (the old professor’s) words — his lessons on life and his conversations with Mitch Albom, on what they called in his deathbed, his and Mitch’s "Final Thesis together".

Morrie spoke of a lot of things and Mitch Albom shared all, if not most, of this things with his readers.  All the things Morrie spoke of were all about life, death, love — everything that would mostly make people go quiet.  The first of the many things that he said to Mitch, and which seemed to have found itself echoing in my head, was this: "If you know how to die, you’d know how to live.".  He said this as he wanted to show Mitch (and everyone else) what it’s like to be dying.  He wanted, as he would put it, to be a "human textbook" on the subject stating that, "I’ve been teaching all my life.  Why would I stop now?"  I don’t think anyone who’s dying would even think of that.  I know I wouldn’t.  I’d probably fear everyday wondering if that day would be my last.  Death — that’s a subject everyone is so uncomfortable of, after all.  Morrie’s comeback on it?  What did he say?  He said this to Mitch when Mitch fell silent on the mention of death: "No one wants to die, but we will all die anyways."

Another thing that struck me, in terms of the old Professor’s words was a story Mitch Albom recounted about a college basketball competition that he and his friends had attended while still in their college days.  He said that during the competition, they were all chanting: "We’re Number One!  We’re Number One!" over and over again.  Then Morrie, who was seated several rows from them, looked right a them with a confused face and asked, "What’s wrong with being number two?"

"What’s wrong with being number two?"  Such a simple question but… at such a question, what could you possibly answer to justify the notion of being the best?  What would everyone say about it?  I can only imagine myself mimicking that same question to my friends and I am sure that they’d all look at me like I’m crazy.  After all, in our world today, everyone and everything is so competitive.  We, as much as we would deny it, are only thinking about our selves with the rule "Survival of the Fittest" being used in our everyday life.

The mention of that line, "Survival of the Fittest" made me remember something quite contradictory to its message.  The words, "No man is an island, no man stands alone" are words that no longer have any meaning as what seems to be quite popular these days is the "Crab Mentality".  Everyone wants to be the best, even if it means stepping on others to get what they want.  Everyone wants to rise above others even if they need to use such means as cheating, extortion, corruption, or whatever.  No one wants to help others and because of that, it creates a cycle where everyone is expected not to help and not to ask for any help — it’s what people seem to think of being Independent… a misconception of the meaning of the word.

"When we were infants," says Morrie, "we depend on our mothers to survive.  When we lay dying, we depend on others.  But you know what, in-between, we also need to depend others.  Love one another or die." (This is quoted from the movie based from the book).  People think that dependency is a very bad thing, but Morrie seems to think otherwise.  It seems, for him, it’s okay to be dependent.  It’s okay to need others.  Doing so doesn’t make one weak, contradictory to what most people believe now-a-days, but rather, it makes one quite strong.

Out of the things that Morrie may have said or done that, whenever I read or watch "Tuesdays with Morrie" would always make me cry is that on their final Tuesday together — When Mitch broke down and cried saying he didn’t want to accept that Morrie was dying on which Morrie replied, "But I am.".

Such a strong answer for someone who was dying — who can not move by himself, who can no longer do anything by himself — a frail, old man.

But despite his strength, Morrie did admit that he does fear and wallow in self-pity, wondering what he could have done to deserve such fate.  Every morning he questions this and cries.  But the amazing thing about him is that he stops and tells himself, "that’s enough of that for today".  Morrie also felt regret for the things that he did not do rather than the things that he did.

Moving on with the scene of their "good-bye" that is so heart-wrenching….

Morrie, amusedly notes on how Mitch still does not know how to say good-bye.  I think anyone would agree that saying good-bye to a loved one, especially a dying loved one, is hard.  Very, very, hard.  What Morrie taught Mitch on their final Tuesday together was how to say "Good-Bye" — it was rather a surprising way to say "Good Bye" too for it was quite quiet.  Quiet in a sense that what he said for a "Good Bye" did not even reach ten words!

Normally, I think, if you’re placed on such a predicament, you’d say millions upon millions of things — I don’t even think millions upon millions of words would suffice to say everything you want to say.  But for Morrie, silence, a hug filled with love, and the words: "I Love You" was more than sufficient.  Maybe they found saying anything more than that just plain hard.  Maybe they do not know what to say.  Maybe they did know what to say but Mitch Albom decided not to mention anything more of it perhaps as it was a very hard subject to tackle.  But whatever reason it may be, that final scene with Morrie, that final Tuesday was a "touchy-feely" moment — a moment that could always make me cry.

Tuesdays with Morrie became a best selling novel.  Morrie may seem idealistic but, his ideals and those last bits of knowledge he imparted to Mitch Albom and to the millions who read the novel, change a lot of lives… I am certain of it.

Somehow, it makes me think if there is such a person like Morrie in my life.  Is there a "Morrie" who can teach me so much in just a short while?  And even, I wonder if I could write as good as Mitch Albom one day — write something that can touch the hearts of the readers and make readers think and even change their lives.  Whenever I think of the possibility that I could become such a writer, it makes me feel happy.  I guess, apart from really enjoying myself whenever I write, wanting to help change the world through written words and through my novels is another reason why I continue to write (even though I have no idea if people actually read anything besides my fanfictions, lol.)

The greatest thought that I had come across with when I finished re-reading the book and re-playing the movie?

Well, my greatest thought is this:

At this moment, there are perhaps 7, 647,818, 617 people in the world — give or take a few.  Some are running scared.  Some are running home.  Some are lost and confused while some know exactly where they are and what they want.  Some with nothing but their lives while others have more than they can possibly use in one lifetime.  Some tell lies to make it through the day, others are now just facing the truth.  Some are evil men at war with good, and some are good struggling with evil.  Some people live lives with happiness, other live their lives with regret.  Some take it slow while others have life rushing by them so fast.

7, 647,818, 617 people in the world.  7, 647,818, 617 souls… and sometimes, it only takes one person to change your life for the better — like how Morrie touched the life of Mitch Albom and the rest of the world who knew and read about him as his life was being drained out of him, or change your life for the worst.

7, 647,818, 617 people in the world. 7, 647,818, 617 souls… and sometimes, all you need is one.

The Polar’s Gone Hot?

Okay, so I was about to post some reflection I had whilst watching "Tueday’s With Morrie" — a novel-turned-movie by Mitch Albom (also writer of Five People You Meet in Heaven, For One More Day, and the likes) when, just as I was about to go ahead and type said reflection, a news got my attention as my father increased the volume of our TV set.

My father was watching CNN and as I was about to type the words ‘Tuesdays with Morrie…’ and start on that reflection, the headlines on the said News Network (the only news network that I would actually watch… yep, I am NOT a fan of ANC as much as I am NOT a fan of the Kapamilya Network).

It was a shocking headline.  One that I had hoped never to hear in my lifetime or on the next generation’s lifetime.  It was the news concerning the Polar Icecaps — the one in the North Pole in particular.

48 hours.  That’s what the scientists have announced as the ‘time limit’ before all the Ice melts on the northern end of the world.  48 hours.  That’s what the scientists have announced as the ‘time limit’ before islands that have a lower altitude get drowned by the rising waters from the melted Icecaps.  48 hours… that’s just two days. Two days…

I don’t know how true that is, the whole 48 hours-thing.  I remember several other coverages where scientists make predictions and CNN covers them but not all of their predictions come true.  However, if you avidly read news whether in its printed form, online or simply watch the news, you may have heard how this is the first time in the history of the world (as we know it) that the Arctic would be potentially Ice-free — a stark sign of global warming.

"The Arctic sea could break apart completely at the North Pole this year, allowing ships to sail over the normally frozen top of the world." That was the opening lines of the news.

If I were an "alien", a "time-traveler", an "ESPer" or any of those "out-of-the-ordinary-beings", the next bit of news would really make me say, "Human World Leaders are really an idiotic bunch of people."  How so and why would I go so far as to say that?

You would have thought that such news would alarm every single country, kingdom, or whatever on this sole planet capable of holding all sorts of life form… But No.  Guess what countries such as Russia are doing?  They are arguing.  "Of what?" you may ask?  Well, not on finding any solution to the potential drowning of the world but rather arguing over who has the rights to the region’s resources, including potential oil reserves!  I know for a fact that oil price has soared to $150/barrel and it would only take a couple of years before oil reserves are depleted, but…

Just when you thought Countries and World Leaders could not get greedier… they would just prove you wrong.  Instead of fighting over resources that would eventually vanish unless humans change their ways, shouldn’t leaders be more concerned about the survival, not just of their country or of themselves, but everyone in the planet as well?

The "funny" thing about this is that when the scientist found out about the 48 hours thing, they called for a meeting… Okay~ so, just what do they think they can accomplish in an emergency meeting just 2 days before their prediction?  Shouldn’t they have also moved before hand?  Why wait before it’s too late? 

Powerful countries have all the resources, all the man power, all the leverage in the world to protect this planet or start to act and be the "examples" for the other countries that are not as powerful as them.  But instead, they just think of making more, and more, and more, and more money.  Yep, money makes the world go round… a stupid notion that should never have been thought of.  If you ask me, I would wish that there was no such thing as money (though I have a vague and almost-fairytale-like idea on how things would turn out).

I can somehow figure out what those Global Leaders who should be leading everyone to a brighter, more secure future are thinking.  "It has nothing to do with our country, so why bother." or perhaps, "There’s always next year and the year after that, we can help then."  or maybe, "Global Warming would not affect us, why waste resources?  Let other countries deal with it…"

Well, I got news for them.  The rapid loss of sea ice can trigger widespread changes that WOULD BE FELT ACROSS THE REGION.  Every year, things get more out of hand with regards to global warming.  I would rather not wait for it to go way out of hand before I would act… at least, that’s what I think.  Call it idealistic and laugh at me if you will, but unlike most people I simply cannot put it off and brush it aside for later.

The thought of delay reminded me of a story — an old legend, that I had once read.  The legend recounts how Satan once called together three of his top aides so that he might make a plan about how to stop the effective outreach of a particular Christian group.  One of the aides, Rancor, proposed, "We should convince them there is no God,"  Satan sneered at Rancor and replied, "That would never work.  They know there’s a God."  Bitterness then spoke up, "We’ll convince them that God does not really care about right or wrong."  Satan thought about the idea for a few moments but then rejected it.  "Too many know that God cares," he finally said.  Malice then proposed his idea.  "We’ll let them go on thinking there is a God and that He cares about right and wrong.  But… we will keep whispering that there is no hurry, there is no hurry, there is no hurry."  Satan howled with delight!  The plan was adopted, and Malice was promoted to an even higher position in Satan’s malevolent hierarchy.

Who can tell how many souls have been lost or lives sorely wounded or regrets made because someone has held to the acceptable notion: Delay is OK?  Would it be better to adapt the saying: "The wise does at once what the fool does at last."?

Just how too late are we to save the earth from the impending doom brought by Global Warming and man’s unending desire for more and man’s greed?  Can we still make a world that is not painted in gray — a future where no flowers or trees or any other floras and faunas exist?  Can we still make a world that is not painted in gray — a future where the beautiful, lush mountains filled with all sorts of life, pristine blue waters filled with mystery and wonder, clear skies that would bring awe to all those who look at it in daytime or in the blackness of the night with millions of bright stars visibly shining as far as the eye can see, not something that could only be read on books or maybe viewed at in an LCD screen — another one of those fantasy worlds created for entertainment?

Just how too late are we?

The answer… well, that depends if you are one who probably got engulf and enchanted by Malice’s words and Satan’s plan (as recounted in the above mentioned legend), then perhaps it is already too late.  But if you are one of the few who "Dream Big", if you are one of the few who believes that a small act can help change the world, if you believe in that unseen force that would aide humanity, if you believe that it IS time for a change and that another day should not be wasted, then the answer is… "you’re just in time" and "we can make it".

Maybe I am way too idealistic believing in such things that we can make a difference in our small ways.  Maybe, in a world where the most important things are "I", "Me" and, "My"… maybe I am beyond idealistic in thinking this thoughts and everything else I’ve written in this blog (and all my other blogs) to this point in time.  Maybe I will just be disappointed believing in "the power of humanity"…. Maybe, maybe not.  Who knows?  But I don’t plan to just sit around and do nothing about the things that I know not only would affect my life but those that are around me and those that would go after me… after all, I’d be more disappointed of the things I didn’t do than of the things that I did.

Save the Earth?

On the third planet from the sun, the largest of the inner planets of the solar system, human life has found a cozy home.  That home, in which man has emerged as the most successful species of fauna for 2 or 3 million years now, is composed of an atmosphere, a hydrosphere and a lithosphere.  Air, oceans, and terra firma — all of them are heavily polluted in the course of man’s inexorable conquest and ruthless exploitation of his environment.  That is the reason the earth is an endangered planet.  Its most successful tenant seems determined to destroy it, and destroy himself as well.

How has man endangered the earth on which he lives?  By sheer fecundity, in the first place.  There are over 6.6 Billion human beings on earth today (most of them in Asia), all of them in need of food and shelter that are often extracted directly from nature, all of them producing waste and garbage every day.

For about 200 years now, chimneys of industry have been sending up billowing clouds of toxic gases into the atmosphere while pouring noxious effluents into rivers, lakes, and marine shores that are already poisoned by the fertilizers and pesticides of agriculture.  That is perhaps why red tide blooms are more frequent, more virulent, and more toxic than they have ever been — a super abundance of nutrients that find their way into the oceans.  Whole forests, the lungs of the earth, that produce the oxygen without which human lives would not be possible, have been obliterated in the name of progress.  That is why this country’s mountain ranges are badly eroded, and aquifers have run dry.  For the past several decades, the human race has been sending up chlorofluoro carbons (CFCs) out of spray cans, refrigerators, air conditioners, and hamburger boxes into the atmosphere where they attack the only defense that the earth has against the sun’s ultraviolet bombardment — the layer of ozone cells 10 to 30 miles up in the atmosphere.  Without that defense, we get a lot of problems: skin cancers, eye cataract effect, the heating of the earth that could melt the polar caps and drown whole coastal cities (Metro Manila among the first of them), strong typhoons, and many more social ills.

How much more abuse can the earth take?  No scientist in the world today will claim that he knows, but reason says that, in spite of the Ecclesiastes, given man’s constant assaults against it, the earth cannot abide forever.  During an earlier age, the land, the sea, and the air had an effective defense against man — their sublime immensity.  Man looks puny in the bowels of the jungle; adrift at sea, he is but a dot in eternity of marine and sky blue.  But today, against 6.6 Billion human beings that are reproducing at a tremendous velocity, a jungle is less awesome, and the sea grows vulnerable.  Forests are being burned and converted into something else at the rate of an area the size of a football field per second.  And whole oceans are smothering in the garbage and soil spillages of human civilization.  There are indeed, big patches of dead coastal waters in various parts of the world, incapable of supporting marine life.

No, the earth does not abide forever.  And the only way for her to abide a bit longer is for man to convert from being her attacker into being her protector.

The Greatest Virus

Who here wouldn’t know what viruses are?  Whether you a computer literate person or otherwise, you would have an idea of what these "things" or "beings" known as Viruses are.

For IT Professionals, or those people who knows a mouse from a keyboard or at least has an pinch of knowledge on computers would know that viruses computer programs that can copy itself and infect a computer without the user’s knowledge.  Malicious programs such as these tend to destroy files, corrupt data, and ultimately render a Computer useless.  Everyone who has a computer definitely would do anything, spend a lot of money even, just to ensure that their computers are protected from these Viruses.

Now, if you are clueless as to what Computer Viruses are, you may know of another definition of a Virus that isn’t used in Computers.  This is the virus that can cause your body to "malfunction".  In medicine, these viruses are the cause of sicknesses, infections, and the likes.  If you’re still unclear on what viruses are, then I can only sigh and point you to google and ask you to go and search for it, just so that you can understand what these things called "Viruses" are.

Now, I bet everyone could remember the "I love you" virus which was developed by a Filipino and which caused a lot of computers to malfunction… at least, those computers whose users ended up opening an email without thinking that it could spell trouble, especially if it came from someone whom you do not know. (That’s how most people get infected.  They open up e-mails that they know not who the sender is, or e-mails that state they won something… you guys should be careful or you’ll regret it later).

Everyone would also be familiar of other viruses, which I am not going to name as it would take forever to list them all.  But the thing is, this viruses do not even compare to the virus that I am going to tell everyone about.

The virus which I am going to unveil to the world also has the ability to multiply itself — give birth to another virus, so to speak.  Every day, a virus of this kind emerges in this planet… of course, at that time, this "young" virus wouldn’t be as dangerous as the "adult" ones.

This virus has even greater capabilities of destruction.  Any other virus would not even come close to it.

This viruses can spread an infect others, and can cause deadly effects even to those it does not contaminate… albeit this virus’ effects could take time to show itself.

The thought of what this virus is capable of doing and is doing… that thought is scary.

Do you want to know what this virus is?  What it’s name is?  What it’s called?

This virus is called… the human race.

I can only guess what most readers of this post might think.  Some may think that what I just wrote is stupid.  Others would double back and re-read that sentence again just to ensure that they did not read it incorrectly.  Some would even laugh it all of and think that I am an idiot of some kind who’s just wasting other people’s valuable time telling them that the human race is a dangerous virus.  But just before you close your browser or hit the Back button on your Internet Explorer, Firefox, Netscape, or whatever… just bear with me and listen.  Open your minds and see that what I say is indeed true and does indeed makes sense.

I have already given the definition of what a Virus is — it’s something that tends to destroy its host.  We as humans, are viruses, we tend to destroy this world that we live in.  Just look around you.  Global Warming, Wars, Kidnappings, and all sorts of other crimes.  We humans tend to have the disposition to do whatever it takes to survive…

But…

In order to survive we fight desperately and "devour" those that we defeat.
If you think about it, those wars, those crimes… the pain and the suffering that they bring… Must one kill other living things in order to survive?  Must we destroy our world just to live in a moment of comfort? The wounded in turn wound and torment those who are weaker than they themselves are.  That could easily be seen as the battle between those who are rich and those who are poor; those who have power and those who are powerless.

Right now, that’s how the world is divided… The "killers" and those who are "killed". The sinners who are judged, and the victims that do the judging.  What meaning is there to such a world?

Why can’t we humans live in harmony with nature like our ancestors did?  Why do we continue to act the way we do without a care for our mother planet?  Do we not see what the outcome of our choices will be in the future?  Can we not hear the woes of the planet, the cries of the Earth — the strong typhoons, the almost endless drought, the almost endless rain, the confusing weather, the earthquakes, the thunderstorms, the hurricanes — the anger and wrath of nature… of the very same nature that we have abandoned and cared nothing of?

In the end, we really do seem like viruses, don’t we?  We can’t call ourselves "parasites" since even parasites care about their hosts — which they do not destroy, after all, if their host dies they too will perish.  We on the other hand only care about the now.  We only care about the betterment of our lives even at the cost and expense of others and of the planet.

In the end… we are the same as Viruses.  Destroyers.

Is it not yet time for us to change?  Take a look around.  Close your eyes, and open your heart’s eyes…

Each of us are given with the freedom to choose.  But we should choose not to be selfish.  Our generation is not the last.  There are others who will be born.  We should care much about them, about the world that they would live in the same way we care about our nows and futures.

Each of us must take responsibility for the choices we do make.  We have to do something about the way we go on hurting and killing one another!  Isn’t it time to close this chapter and create a brighter future for our generation and for the next and the whole of mankind and nature?

Love to hate… Hate to love… Why are we born?  Why do we die?  The "survival of the fittest"?  What is there to be achieved from harming one another… Killing one another?

We alone, as one person, do not have the power to heal the world’s woes or solve all of its problems and mysteries… but, if we all work together, I am certain that there would be a way to save our "dying" planet.

I for one, do not wish to be remembered as a Virus, by the generation that would follow me.  I for one, do not wish that the beauty of Earth be only read about or thought of as a myth by the future generation.  I for one care about the world and even in the smallest, simplest ways try to show it and do something about it.

I may only be a voice — a single voice in the roar of the thunderous noise of today’s lifestyle.  But, as my belief states, even a single droplet of water can cause a wave.

Let this be a new wave.

Learning…

Well, I haven’t been able to update any of my blogs/profiles/websites for a while now since I had so much to do.  Luckily, I am able to do that at this moment.

Anyways, vacation is almost over, with just a couple of weeks left, I am left to wonder if I can finish the game I am working on, plus other jobs I have been hired to do.

Since vacation started a month or so ago, I had been hired by a blooming, gaming company to make sprites (those things you see roaming around the gaming world, e.g the characters) for a game that they are developing.  Of course, since my goal is to become a game designer/developer/spriter/animator and so on, I decided to take the job.  I am currently working on about a hundred characters — NPCs (non playable characters) and PCs (playable characters) for this game.

Also, apart from my work as a "Spriter" (that’s what we call people who makes the sprites), I am also composing several songs, of course, half of these songs are only just lyrics and waiting for me to find and create a suitable melody to it. One of my best works is probably the song, "Traces" which I have managed to create a melody to and asked someone to sing it for me and record it, which turned out pretty good.  Another song, one that I have already posted several times before which is, "Face to Face" has also been integrated with a melody and like Traces, it (not sounding biased) sounds well and good.

At the moment, I am working on my contest piece for an international writing competition.  Yes, once again I am going to compete in this prominent writing competition. Hopefully, I’ll do even better than I did last time.

What else have I been doing?  Well, for one we went to Manila and to Ocean Park. Can’t really say much aside from the fact that though the place is still in the works, it was still an amazing and unforgettable day for me.  Also, I managed to watch Don Moen’s concert, days prior to the end of the second semester — another unforgettable event in my life.

Right now I am waiting for the Violin lessons to start so that I can learn how to play the violin and maybe add that to my lists of talents in music.  Basically, my vacation was all about enhancing my "artistic" talents.

Oh yeah, I am also enhancing my knowledge with Ruby Scripting, a very powerful scripting language that is mostly used now-a-days in Japan.  I am also doing well in regards to 3d animations and Video Editing, having learned the advance techniques used in various well known 3d applications and Video Editing softwares.

Well, that’s about all for today.  I have so much to do and so little time.  Hopefully, though, the list of things that I am able to learn and do within the short span of this vacation would pile up.  I really enjoy learning at my own pace, maybe that’s why I feel that I have learned much more during times of vacation than when there’s school or other events.

Oh yeah, I would also like to extend my congratulations to the Axis of Evil (lol) — my sister, Geneva, Den, and Nikki who won yesterday’s Street Painting competition.  Woot! They were amazing, especially Geneva.  My hat’s off to you and your ‘nakama’ for winning first place!

“American” Idol?

I have always watched American Idol since the start of the fourth season, at that time, I was so amazed at how the competition was brought up to be.

I admired the judges for the fair and unbiased comments. Yep, even Simon’s criticisms that are sometimes regarded as "below the belt".

I watched as the underdog yet favorite contestant, Taylor Hicks battle it out with the almost-always-bashed-by-Simon, Katherine McPhee in the finale. I was awed and inspired by Taylor’s remake of "Do I Make You Proud" and was as giddy as a schoolgirl when he was announced as the American Idol of that season. I watched as the extremely popular beatboxer, Blake Lewis made it to the finale outsinging the crowd favorite Melinda Doolitle to have a vocal bout with Jordin Sparks with Jordin becomming the victor and the newest American Idol.

I may not be a veteran AI viewer but I do recognize infairness when I see one and this season is very controversial in that aspect. The controversy of having contestants who already had record deals and being allowed to joined was the first to errupt in the Cyber World, real world and even newspapers and television news as well. People saw it unfair to have experienced singers against those who are only just aspiring to be one. The controversy was shortly followed by some of the contestants "dark pasts" and many anti-fans of these contestants used these stories to lower the popularity and credibility of the other contenders.

It wasn’t fair as I have said before, "The past does not determine our future." Fans were acting like racist pigs making unnecessary and dirty comments against the other contenders which is not of their liking. It’s pretty pathetic and honestly, disturbing especially to Americans whom a lot were respecting.

A lot of Ramiele fans, including myself, were shocked by the result and the aparent Racism in the competition. It shows when some of the judges, or rather one of them, bash half-americans. I also took note of this in the forums where the Netiquete have been laid forgotten and people just flame the other in hopes of eliminating votes from the other party.

Randy was, as noted by someone in the forums, not very happy when Ramiele got to the Top 24. He voiced his dislike of her in several occassions while not trying to be mean.

Paula, like always, stays in the middle of things. Sometimes giving compliments while other times the opposite.

Simon, well, Simon is Simon. We can’t change that. Sometimes I agree with him while other times I do not, especially that time when Ramiele sung "Alone".

They said it was pitchy when in actuality the back-up singers were the one who were screeching.

I have always seen AI as giving a fair chance to any Americans - pure blood or half blooded. But it seems American Idol officials are manipulating it so that only AMERICANs, pure blooded Americans, win the competition. Honestly, it’s disappointing. They should look at talent and nothing else. People vote but, how can we be sure that they are not manipulating it? Ramiele voiced her being a Fil-Am and wanting to be the first Asian-American Idol constantly. She was proud of her race being half Filipina and American. However, it seems that people did not welcome her as warmly and with respect as they should. I watched how she was voted off of the show and how the people including Paula rose from their seats and applauded her commending her courage and talent as well as her charisma and her attitude. She is lovable, but some people seem to be afraid of Asians or whatnot. Racism seems to be the issue and the root. Check the forums if you do not believe me. American Idol, is it just meant for pure bred Americans?

I swore to continue on supporting Ramiele and now that she is gone from the competition, I will continue to be her fan. This is, by any means, NOT just a rambling of a Ramiele Fan but of an Asian who held high respect for the competition, a respect that is now wavering because of the racists pigs in the show.

I don’t know if I will continue to vote (because I am also a Brooke and David C. fan) or not. I don’t think however, as of the moment, that I will waste my time and money on voting for a competition that has racism problems and a judge who obviously dislikes Asians. What I can surmize and guess is that any Asian no matter the talent would have a 10% chance in winning the competition. I pray that this issue would be answered with fairness and justice. I note, however, that I do not have any dislike on Brooke, Kristy or any competitors. I actually respect their courage for joining the competition (except for Sayesha or however her name is spelled because there is just no way that she could sing with no voice in the morning like she did in Hollywood week. I should know, all my cousins and my parents are doctors. She’s a little lying, actress, that’s all).

So I applaude all seven remaining contenders. Goodluck to them and to those who are half bred Americans!

Asian-haters beware, the age when Asians will be known worldwide has come…