Mandarin - Chinese Language

In Malaysia, we can read lots of issues involving the Chinese Language schools. It's always about lack of chinese language medium schools or insufficient fundings for such schools. Some of this schools are privately owned or a semi-government sponsored.

Opposition MPs will create a pandemonium in the parliament whenever such schools were overlooked in the annual budget or Ministry of Education's plannings. The present government would either keep quiet or state that they have done this or that in response to those outcry.

Not surprisingly, our previous invaders where we have gotten independence from i.e. Britain has embarked and acknowledge the strength and future of Mandarin, the Chinese Language. The same is happening in USA too where even primary schoolchildren are being exposed to the Chinese Language.

Just look at the statistics pertaining to the Chinese Language in Britain:-
* 27% rise this year in pupils sitting the version of the GCSE (SPM equivalent)
* 1st stage of the new Asset Languages qualifications system, where entries have gone up 900%
* few independent schools, among them Wellington College and Brighton College, have attracted headlines by making Chinese a compulsory subject for new entrants
* 400 state schools in the country where some Chinese is taught
* Specialist Schools and Academies Trust, which works closely with the government and represents more than 85 per cent of secondary schools, has signed an agreement with the Chinese government to bring teachers from China to help in British classrooms

United Kingdom could see the future and that's why they are a powerful country in terms of economics & financial. They see the needs and implement it fast enough wherelse in Malaysia the Chinese Language could be taken as a racial issue. See how backwards my country could be at times.

On 31 Aug, Malaysia would be celebrating its 50th year of independence. Are we just celebrating that we are free from British colonial rules OR should we look at how high can we achieve after all these years.
Tags: Chinese Language, Mandarin, United Kingdom, British, Britain, Specialist Schools and Academies Trust

Change of World's Richest Man

Bill Gates, the founder of Microsoft had been the world's richest person for a number of years now. Really respect a Harvard dropout who could make almost every single pc/laptop to adopt his product. What a brainy!

Forbes has also listed Carlos Slim as the 3rd richest person in the world. But recent news have stated that Carlos Slim from Mexico has overtaken Bill Gates in the ranking.

Recent share price hike in Carlos Slim's company - America Movil has pushed him up the ranking. Did he manipulate the share price? Hey, it's not surprising that such manipulation could happen. Besides this company, he also owns also owns the Inbursa financial group and the Grupo Carso industrial conglomerate.

What's the difference like between this top 2 guys? Carlos Slim is reported to have a fortune of US$67.8bn (£33.6bn) compared to Bill Gates' US$59.2bn. gOoDnEsS mE!!!!!!!
Tags: Bill Gates, Carlos Slim, Billionaires, America Movil, Inbursa, Grupo Carso, Microsoft, Mexico, USA, Wealth, Richest Person

International Justice Mission

International Justice Mission's History
Founded in 1997, IJM began operations after a group of human rights professionals, lawyers and public officials launched an extensive study of the injustices witnessed by overseas missionaries and relief and development workers. This study, surveying more than 65 organizations and representing 40,000 overseas workers, uncovered an early unanimous awareness of abuses of power by police and other authorities in the communities where they served. Without the resources or expertise to confront the abuse and to bring rescue to the victims, these overseas workers required the assistance of trained public justice professionals.When the poor are hungry, homeless or alienated, the Church has come to their aid by providing food, shelter and missionaries to meet the pressing needs. But when the poor have been oppressed, treate unjustly and suffered under the hand of someone more powerful, little was done on their behalf.

Accordingly, IJM was established to help fill this void, acting as an organization that stands in the gap for victims when they are left without an advocate. IJM staff members (human rights experts, attorneys and law enforcement professionals) receive case referrals from, and work in conjunction with, other non-governmental organizations and casework alliances abroad.

Knew of a Malaysian blogger - Rachel Loo - who blogs under "The Good Life", a lawyer by profession, is also an Associate of International Justice Mission, which is based based in Washington DC. IJM has many christian lawyers, investigators and social workers who brings Good News about Injustice to a Hurting World.
Tags: International Justice Mission, Human Rights, Injustice, Abuse of Power, NGO, Non-Governmental Organisation, Hurting World, Washington DC, The Good Life, Social Worker

MySpace Man Utd

In a bid to reach the masses, Manchester United has even created a official website under MySpace at www.myspace.com/manutd.

In the said MySpace, you could see the friends added with their many pictures. You could view Man Utd fans' pictures in their favourite jersey. You could give your view on the happenings in Man Utd, e.g. their recent signings.

Facebook and Friendster next in line???

Tags: Manchester United, Man Utd, MU, Football, MySpace, Facebook, Friendster

Doctors in India Arrested

Malaysian top students fought, argued, criticised and demanded for places in the medical faculties of Malaysian universities. Few doctors have been arrested and questioned in United Kingdom and Australia respectively in relation to the intended bombing of Glasgow's airport recently.

To India now, an Indian couple who hails from Tamil Nadu, southern state of India and are medical doctors as well have gone cuckoo lately. In whatever fit that was going through their brilliant brains on 25 June, they actually allowed their 15 year old son, Dileepan Raj, to perform a caesaraen surgery on a 20 year old pregnant patient in their own clinic.

When I first read it, I was thinking how come they allowed him to do it. What sort of surgical experience he has? Never thought of blogging about it but when I read that the authorities were going after them, the thought of "Why they did boast to the world in the first place?"

EGO? Definitely! For ego's sake and a topic to boast to their friends/relatives/medical fraternity. They even gave a title for their son - the world's youngest surgeon! I'm very sure Guiness World of Records would not accept their request as anything illegally done would not be admitted. Guessed the parents didn't know about this term.

When the parents knew that the authorities were coming after them, the parents had decided to change their tone of voice. That the son was helping out due to insufficient medical staff? Even the video recording of that surgery purportedly done could not be found.

Pity this type of people who wanted to be famous sooooooooooooooooooo much. Indian Medical Association said they were against the surgery calling it "shocking and extremely unethical". The parents would face disqualification as well. They deserved it.

What's happening to the doctors lately?
Tags: Tamil Nadu, India, Surgery, Caesaraen, Medical Doctor, Doctor, World Record, Youngest Surgeon, Surgeon, Ego, Guiness World of Records, Indian Medical Association, Dileepan Raj, Glasgow Airport, Glasgow

New Seven Wonders of the World

Have you voted for the New Seven Wonders of the World? You must be wondering if this is the new ones, which were the old ones? Well, I have blogged about Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. You see, it's too long already since the last one has been decided.

Besides this Ancient World listing, there are also the Seven Wonders of the Medieval Mind and Seven Natural Wonders of the World. This list doesn't end here, in the Seven World Wonders' website you will see the full listing.

Today is the last day you can vote for the New Seven Wonders of the World. The New 7 Wonders of the World will be announced during the Official Declaration ceremony in Lisbon, Portugal on Saturday, July 7, 2007 - 07.07.07.

As from now this hour, you have 8 hours left to leave your mark on this voting process. Decide for the generations to come.

How to Vote:-

You can vote online or by phone. You can vote online either by becoming a member of New7Wonders and choosing your seven candidates once during your registration or by buying a personalised certificate and voting for one candidate of your choice. You can also vote by telephone. Voting is possible from anywhere in the world. You can vote by telephone or by buying a certificate as many times as you like.

Your vote counts! Help make history...

Leading contenders with 90 million votes being taken into account (votes are still coming in and the list could still change):-

1) Great Wall of China;

2) Colosseum in Rome;

3) Peru's Machu Picchu;

4) Acropolis in Greece;

5) Chichen Itza Pyramid in Mexico;

6) Eiffel Tower in Paris;

7) Easter Island;

8) Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil;

9) Taj Mahal in India; and

10) Jordan's ancient city of Petra.

Tags: New Seven Wonders of the World, Seven Wonders, N7W, New 7 Wonders, Lisbon, Portugal, Official Declaration

Killing of 10 Lions

Animal lovers, where are you? The world is already faced with many endangered species that are disappearing due to poachings, environment, destroyed habitats and climate change. And yet, 10 lions would be killed soon. Hopefully the International Organisation for Animal Protection can do something about it. Already the world is filled with weird animal, we don't need the originals to be extinct.

Reason was these 10 lions mauled a 10 year old boy to death..... but why kill those 10 lions when it was negligence caused by the farm workers. Congress of South African Trade Unions is looking forward to press charges against the farm owner actually as the farm owner should have taken precaution steps. The authorities are going for the wrong source then.....kill the lions???? Not looking at the root of the problem. Am I right to say that?

The unfortunate incident happened at the North West Province, South Africa.
Tags: Lion, Congress of South African Trade Unions, COSATU, North West Province, South Africa