#265 rebuilding haiti

For one living the other side of the globe, I glean understanding from the actual footage of catastrophe or apocalypse through the media — read, hear and see from videos and pictures.

In the US, since 911, the rebuilding on the former World Trade Center site is yet complete. I shudder to think about this situation in Haiti.

To rebuild Haiti from scratch is a monumental task. Who will take the initiative? Who can come up with a masterplan to help in the rebuilding? Which comes first? The infrastructures or housing? Or both these got to be built at the same time?

Accordingly, funds are available to help those survivors. How are these funds managed?

BBC’s journalist, Rupert Wingfield-Hayes gave a candid and factual record of the situation today on — Haiti’s ‘ghost’ tent villages:

 http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8488728.stm.

One thought struck me: Since tents are not available for all the survivors, why not supply the basic building material for the Haitians who live in the outskirts of the city to rebuild their own homes?

Offer alternatives…not just suggest building temporary tents to tie Haitians over the forthcoming monsoon period!

Ask the Haitians how they can help themselves?

Surely the Haitians want to help themselves. They know how to build for their own survival. Many had survived before the quake, surely given whatever raw material to help these folk to help themselves through — which might cost just as much as for those NGOs to building interim tents. Or, am I a little naive?

Let’s help the Haitians to help themselves to their feet. I’m sure many are still in state of shock but when there is something to fix their minds and hearts upon — when they are able to build their own temporary quarters, miracles might happen — there will be greater self-respect and hope.

#264 possible quake predicted 2 years ago

No one expected an earthquake to break out in Haiti even though she was warned 2 years ago by scientists a quake was possible. No one believed this could happen as there was no quake for the last 200 years in its natural history. No one was prepared for this tumultuous magnitude.

The 7.1 magnitude Richter scale earthquake literally wiped away the capital of Haiti, Port-au-Prince — its infrastructures and all government buildings; presidential palace, justice palace and the churches and cathedrals and the 5-star hotels…many, many others. These buildings were supposed to withstand the quake but… Naturally the loss of human lives outweighs all — the nationals (an estimate of 150,000 or more dead in a city of 3-4 million people without mentioning those homeless and missing), foreigners and peacekeepers.

Haiti is the poorest nation in the West, if not in the world. This is the result of greed and corruption of governing leaders who thought of themselves rather than the people. Is this one ugly face of democracy?!

The aerial view of the island is made up of Dominican Republic and Haiti. On the Dominican Republic, it’s green but on the Haiti side, it’s brown, little vegetation. Were the people in Haiti so poor that they exhausted that they could find in order to survive? Interestingly, the quake whose epicenter struck close to the Haitian capital did not affect the Dominican Republic.

However the Haitians are resilient. One witnesses those surviving are grateful they are alive.

Children as young as a few years old were rescued from the rubble after several days without nourishment or liquid; a few elderly in 70s and 80s; and the one in his 20s after 11 days! One cannot underestimate the will and  inner strength of man…

Looting was evident in all places of tragedy when aid was slow in coming after several days fled by.

Though the promised aid was forthcoming but food and water was slow…so very, very, very slow in reaching the people in need…naturally a hungry man is an angry man.

How do you survive and keep sane and good when your loved ones are missing or dead? Dead bodies strewed everywhere. The stench in the air. People are in state of shock. Rubbles strewed all around. Buildings collapsed. No home to return to. Literally nothing!

My impression of Haiti was Haitians practised voodoo which is one black magic or dark forces which even seeped into the churches – the Catholic cathedral and the Episcopalian cathedral! Can this quake wipe out this voodoo practice?!

Can Haiti start from ground zero? I know the people have the ability but… Will the necessary aid and billions of funds raised get to the people there?  (I hope NOT those American contractors assigned to build Haiti though!) Are there good and able leaders who are willing to sacrifice themselves for nation-building?

On Russia Today Spotlight tv program, I heard an interview where this young Haitian student working on his postgraduate in Russia is very articulate in his understanding of his own country and insight into the devastation.

Those Haitians studying overseas will not be able to receive funds from home any more…

I pray for God to raise good, upright and able leaders who are willing to sacrifice for the new breed of Haitians.

#263 cosmetic appearances

I gather the new young generation is going for cosmetic surgery to look better – beautiful or handsome — in order to clinch a job OR get (clinch??) a spouse! If this is true, they’re bucking the trend of the Koreans or the Japanese or the China Chinese!

What a sad state! But then someone has to make money from the naivettes!

Since the recession, even though this has not impacted that much in this part of the world, there is the ‘frugalista’ (from Investopedia) group where these keep up their appearances by buying from 2nd-hand stores for clothes or going for the less expensive trendy cheaper range of clothes but going for expensive haircuts.

Often times I wonder about keeping up with appearances.

I certainly have experienced when I decided to do some real shopping, I’d dressed down. Guess what? I’m NOT served. The salesgirl would look me up and down, and decided to move away. I smiled to myself. I am the queen here as I have the money! If these salespersonnels have jobs of their choice, they would not be in this line.

This experience proves why some salespersonnel bring in more sales. However the sales manager might pitch to them that they need to know which customer would bring in a sale. Psychology or otherwise, it’s the personableness and persuasiveness of the salespersonnel who  brings in a sale.

However when I decide on window-shopping, I would dress better and, well, well, well, I received attention. I smiled to self as I enjoy watching the reaction of the salespersonnel when they could not persuade me.

You see salespersonnel do not know the real value in making money. A sale is a sale so long as the cash register tinkers. By selecting the better-looking and better-dressed customers, one might just lose a sale to a less-dressed customer who had entered!

Job-selection: looks might be important but at the end of the day, it is performance that works the miracle. So whether better-looking or less, it’s one who can deliver the quota or rake in more money for the company that counts. If the company did not make money and go bust, would the staff continue?!

As the proverb goes: Never judge a book by its cover.

Besides, cosmetic surgery makes one look plastic!

Beauty comes from the heart — a gentle and quiet spirit (New Testament Bible) – NOT outward appearance as fashion suggests!

#262 the new year

What shall year 2010 bring?

Since the subprime and economic crunch — many lost their homes and jobs in the US and the stock markets plummet affecting the world economy– that appeared without warning in 2008 brought uncertainties and economic recession through to 2009, hoping 2010 will be better and brighter economically, politically and socially.

 

That which beyond my control, I shall not worry.

That which I can, I shall be mindful of – 

that is, in specific areas of attitudes, relationships and responsibilities.

#261 singapore idol 2009

The Singapore Idol gives the wanabes the experience of a journey and gain insights to what it means to becoming a celebrity star. Many celebrity stars in the US actually have to work very hard to get to where they are.

The late Michael Jackson is an example in point. He would perfect his art and one can actually feel his passion in that he did and his hard work evident from his live performances.

This year’s Singapore Idol saw a crop of some most talented wannabees. Thus far, the media have not produced good standard celebrities.

Singapore Idol is not about having talent but there must be likeable or connectedness factor with the audience. This was evident in the 22-year-old winner, Sezairi Sezali, awaiting national service who actually put the judges’ critique into his final performance. He was a better performer overall and he has that connectedness with the audience which I thought Sylvia lacked though vocally, she was better.

Ken Lim, one of the three judges (Florence Lian and Dick Lee), remarked to Sylvia Ratonel (whose father is a Filipino and a hotel secretary) that she is a winner but did not say she would be the Singapore Idol at the final!

If the finalists were Tabitha and Sylvia, I believe Tabitha might have won, simply she is a more candid performer. This, we shall never know.

What I didn’t understand or appreciate why the media decided to hype Sylvia’s background. Glad that didn’t garner sympathetic votes though.

This season is not a battle of the sexes either.

It is about what it means to be a celebrity. Celebrity stars are not just about talent but that X-factor which is not describable or one can actually fake or work hard at. It is either you’ve got it or not!

It is interesting that for the 3 seasons of Singapore Idol, the winners — Taufik Batisah (2004), Hady Mirza (2006) and Sezairi Sezali (2009) – are Malays. Evidently the winners had the support of their community which is a good reflection. More importantly, the winners are candid performers!

What I had observed in this season of Singapore Idol is our NEXT generation of population has broken the Singapore image of being traditional and stiff to one of being less inhibited and less self-conscious. The screams in the audience were quite pleasing to the ear! 

So I look forward to greater competition in the next round of the Singapore Idol.

#260 s.e.a. games

Congratulations to the Singaporean contingent to the 25th SEA Games held in Vientiane for 10 days — December 9-19, 2009. Singapore won most of her medals from the aquatic sports.  

James Wong, the 40-year-old veteran, won gold for the discus event, which is his 8th gold medal for the nation. Will he be honored the best sportsman of the year?

The next SEA Games will be held in Indonesia in 2011. Will a younger discus thrower represent Singapore? Will there be more born-and-bred Singaporeans take up the challenge to future games and sport events in the regional or international scenes?

#259 true champion athlete

After watching the interview of Marion Jones-Thompson on the Oprah Show here in Singapore today, I was moved to tears as Marion stood out a true athlete and a champion.

Yes, she went to prison on March 2008 for six months for lying to Federal agents about UNKNOWINGLY taking performance-enhancement drugs during the Olympic Games in Sydney and she had apologised publicly to the world but in my heart Marion Jones will remain the fastest woman athlete. Sadly she will not return to running again.

She looks as beaming and beautiful today. Throughout the interview she fielded Oprah’s questions rather matter of factly with occasional tears and I could not, for a moment sense slight of bitterness.

From Oprah Show…

Marion says was allowed to bring only a tiny number of personal possessions to jail with her—a Bible, a few photos, and a list of important addresses and phone numbers. Marion says she spent much of her six-month sentence writing to friends and family. “I learned that the only real way that I could communicate how I was feeling, how I was doing, with my family—in particular my husband—was to write long letters every day,” she says. “About important stuff, mundane stuff, my feelings on how I feel about the boys, where I’m at, who I’m meeting, the incredible stories that these women are sharing with me.”

Since her release, Marion says she has a newfound love for her freedom. “I appreciate so much more now the little things—going to the supermarket, being able to buy whatever I want,” she says. “There are days where I drive to pick up my son, and I just thank God that he’s given me the gift to do that. There are so many days when I was in prison when I had wished I could have … just held my kids or picked up the phone and called my best friend.”

While she was disappointed to be sent away, Marion says she believes her sentence was fair. “I believe in the legal system, Oprah, and I didn’t want to go,” she says. “Sure, I can compare my story to recent stories about other athletes or other people who were involved in certain situations and didn’t get much time. It would be easy to do that. It would be easy to point the finger and say, ‘It’s the judge.’ Or it’s that. But you know what? It’s me. I made the bad choice to put my future and my freedom in somebody else’s hands to make that choice for me. I did that. And because of that, I have to live with it.”

Marion says her experience has taught her to question other people’s motives. It has also forced her to realize she can no longer hide behind athletic prowess. “In the past, it was ‘Marion Jones, the athlete.’ And Marion Jones, the person, a lot of times, got to hide behind that. And while I was in prison, I learned that I used the athlete part of it all as a cover for a lot of my weaknesses. I think a lot of the choices that I made in the past were because of those weaknesses,” she says. “Now, of course, I don’t have that cover anymore and I have really had to find out who I am.”

With her life of athletic competition and very public legal ordeals behind her, Marion says she is eager for the future. “I am energized by this next chapter. I think really it’s going to be bigger and better than that last,” she says. “My goal now is to find out how to connect with people on a much bigger level. How can I help young people make certain choices and not make certain bad choices like I did? … What am I going to do with this negative experience and turn it into a positive?”

#258 keeping a soldier in Afghanistan

Staggering! The US administration spends a million dollars a year to keep one soldier in Afghanistan! How true is this?

Can the Afghans appreciate such sacrifice of a life and resources spent?

Is this what it means to police and maintain peace in the world?

#257 transparency?

The US President Obama announced his strategy is to withdraw the US troops from Afghanistan in July of year 2011. This might assure and boost their morale but…

Hmmm…how would the enemies receive this news?

#256 does exercise contribute to arthritis?

Personally exercise is important to me. It’s never crossed my mind  that exercise can have adverse effect on the body. I am glad that HealthBeat of the Harvard Medical School shared this interesting article supported with findings over a period of time.

Does exercise contribute to arthritis? Research says no

If you’re putting off getting into a regular exercise routine because you’re worried that exercise contributes to arthritis, think again. Studies show that exercise can be safe for joints, both in older, overweight folks and in athletes.

The knees of Framingham

In 1948, more than 5,200 residents of Framingham, Mass., volunteered for the Framingham Heart Study, which has produced major insights into the causes of heart attack and stroke. In 1971, scientists began a new study of the children of the original volunteers and the spouses of those children. Between 1993 and 1994, 1,279 members of the Framingham Offspring Cohort enrolled in a study of exercise and arthritis. Their average age was 53.

All the volunteers were free of arthritis when the study began. Each answered detailed questions about their patterns of exercise, including walking, jogging, being active enough to work up a sweat, and their overall exercise level. All the people provided information about knee injuries and symptoms of knee pain and stiffness. In addition, all the volunteers were weighed and measured, and they each had a full series of knee x-rays.

Between 2002 and 2005, the subjects answered the same questions about knee pain and injury, and the x-rays were repeated. All the x-rays were independently evaluated by two experts who had no knowledge of the subjects’ exercise histories.

When the results were tallied, the researchers found no link between exercise and arthritis of the knee. The most active people had the same risk of arthritis as the least active, in terms of both symptoms and x-ray abnormalities.

Exercise was as friendly to the knees of joggers as walkers, even though jogging subjects the lower body to much higher impact and stress than walking. And even though obesity is an independent risk factor for arthritis, physically active overweight members of the study group fared just as well as their slim peers.

Australian knees

Although the Framingham study goes a long way toward dispelling the idea that exercise causes arthritis, it did not confirm a fond hope of exercise enthusiasts: that repetitive exercise could be good for joints.

However, a high-tech Australian investigation of 297 men and woman without knee injuries or disease showed that people who performed the most vigorous weight-bearing exercise had the thickest, healthiest knee cartilage.

Runners’ knees

A 2008 study that compared 284 dedicated runners with 156 nonrunners also found little evidence that exercise causes arthritis. After a remarkably long 21-year follow-up period, the runners experienced significantly less musculoskeletal disability than did their less active peers — and the runners also enjoyed a 39% lower mortality rate.

The research is impressive, and it confirms earlier studies. Former varsity runners, for example, are no more likely to develop arthritis in their legs than former college swimmers, and champion runners are no more likely to end up with arthritic hips than nonathletes.

Exercise as therapy?

Exercise is often prescribed for patients with arthritis. Exercise may be safe for healthy joints — but is it also safe for arthritic joints?

In 2005, British researchers found that both walking and muscle-strengthening were safe and effective, reducing pain and disability in people with arthritis. And in 2006 and 2007, scientists in the Netherlands and the U.K. reported that graded exercise programs are safe and effective for patients with arthritis of the hip or knee.

Healthy body, healthy joints

To prevent problems caused by exercise, be sure your general health is good; older people and patients with heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, or other significant problems should get medical clearance. And all of us should get in shape gradually. Listen to your body as you exercise and report any problems to your doctor.

Warming up and cooling down will help protect your heart and your joints. Stretching exercises, good shoes, and good technique will also reduce your risk of musculoskeletal injuries. With these simple precautions and a dose of common sense, exercise will be safe for your joints.

Next excuse?

I’d wanted to link this page but… For more interesting articles, please go to: www.health.harvard.edu.