A women's bill of rights, all right

Written by betakappa on 6/05/2006 09:56:00 PM

Ah Hwa: How la, like this, with the debates in parliament disintegrating to "gatal divorcees", "soft men", "urut batin", we're never going to get anywhere!

Eyenie: Well, fear not, pessimistic one -- there's still hope! The Cedaw review for Malaysia is today, May 24, in New York. International mechanisms are at work to advance women's rights and the MPs' sexist remarks will definitely be noticed.

Ah Hwa: What's Cedaw?

Eyenie: Cedaw is the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women. It's an international UN human rights treaty that guarantees women substantive equality and non-discrimination. It obligates all states that have ratified it to take action to ensure that this happens. What's great about it is that it contains standards for women's rights that can be used as a guide to improve and strengthen constitutional and legal provisions for women in Malaysia. In fact, it's lauded as the most authoritative bill of rights for women, and with 182 countries that have ratified it, I think this is a sure sign that Cedaw is accepted by governments worldwide.

Ah Hwa: Why do you say "substantive equality"?

Eyenie: Substantive equality means real equality; equality that goes beyond providing women with the same opportunities as men, to include equality of access to these opportunities, and equality of results. It goes beyond amending a few laws and signing a few treaties to look good on paper but on the ground, the attitudes and systems in society at large remain discriminatory against women. Very Nato, No Action, Talk Only.

Ah Hwa: Ya, typical isn't it? The general impression is, now that women graduates are out-numbering men, women should shut up because equality is achieved. Most of the women I know who are now home-makers used to lead successful careers before children came along. It's as if it is a natural women must stay at home to fulfill the nurturing role. As much as I respect a woman's choice to be a home-maker, I really do wonder what influences are at play when decisions of who stays at home are made. If this continues, I think, we won't reach the 30% target for women's representation in decision-making that the government has specified in the Ninth Malaysia Plan. And don't get me started on the pressures to have children! Gosh, it's as if we owe it to the world to produce babies or we'll be lesser women!

Eyenie: Breathe in, breathe out ... well, gender roles affecting women's rights in terms of reproductive health is recognised as an issue affecting women's lives in Cedaw's Article 12. Under Cedaw, it is recognised that if a woman can't bear children due to reproductive health issues, or won't due to personal choice, and yet she is forced to, it is a violation of women's human rights. This kind of thinking has even been put into practice in Colombia. There, to eliminate discrimination in all areas of public health, the Health Ministry worked with women's groups to implement a national health policy for women. It's fantastic because now, through this, Colombian women have the right to access information and counseling to exercise their right to a free, gratifying and responsible sexuality that isn't solely based on them being mere baby-making factories!

Ah Hwa: Wow, so Cedaw does get implemented at the local level! How about countries that haven't ratified Cedaw?

Eyenie: Well, fortunately only a handful of countries remain as 'renegades'. But even then, Cedaw can still be used as a tool to advance women's rights at the local level, subject to the political context la. Interestingly. For example, although the US hasn't ratified Cedaw, and I shall refrain from making snide remarks ...

Ah Hwa: How very big of you,

Eyenie: Yes, um ya, although USA hasn't ratified Cedaw, San Francisco's Board of Supervisors passed an ordinance to implement the principles of Cedaw within the city. This was the result of 18 months of political campaigning by women's groups and their allies at the local level. On the other hand, not all governments that have ratified Cedaw become beacons of human rights overnight. It's another journey to ensure that they live up to their obligations under Cedaw.

Ah Hwa: Always an uphill battle...

Eyenie: Um, I think it boils down to us citizens ensuring that CEDAW is alive! We have a big role to play by claiming our rights. We have to take responsibility in ensuring social justice is achieved in the society we are in at all levels, if we don't do it, we can't expect others to do it for us. See, like in India, CEDAW is very much alive and they managed to successfully set a precedent to protect women from sexual harassment by using CEDAW to interpret national law, because at that time there was no explicit law against sexual harassment.

Ah Hwa: OK, OK, apathy, bad. Activism, good. But what can we do? It's all the high-powered politicians, civil servants, and NGOs who know about Cedaw. I'm just little me.

Eyenie: Well for start, we can talk to our friends and family about the existence of Cedaw and how it can affect our lives. Going deeper into it, have a read of both the Malaysian government's report, and the NGO shadow report to this, and write a letter to the editor or to your MP to express your views about what's been said. The more prominence Cedaw gets here in Malaysia, the more citizens can hold the government accountable to its promises at the international level. Must make sure that we walk the talk!

The writer hopes that these sites will soon receive hits:

Malaysia's Cedaw Shadow Report at http://www.iwraw-ap.org/resources/pdf/Malaysia_SR.pdf and the Malaysian government's report, at http://www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/cedaw/35sess.htm

Ng Tze Yeng

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Muslims and Christians today

Written by betakappa on 6/05/2006 01:49:00 AM

Every once in a while I come across an article that begs me to share it with the world. And share it I shall.


The followers..

*MUSINGS
By MARINA MAHATHIR*

A FRIEND was relating how after her daughter had read the /Da Vinci
Code,/ she had wanted to read the Bible. Which is not in itself a bad
thing except that she was concerned that an impressionable young mind
would not be able to differentiate fact from fiction. Also it seemed
that perhaps what was needed is a Da Vinci Code-type book for Muslims to
spark off the same level of interest in young people in their own religion.

Except that if anyone tried to write a similar thriller based around
Islam, they’d be hounded and pilloried and threatened with death,
thousands would riot in protest and people who would never have been
able to read the book either because they are illiterate or can’t afford
it would have died.

Such is the difference between our religions. While there are many
Christians who are upset about the book and movie, they are countering
it with seminars and other educational events to balance what is being
said in the book, even if the book is only fiction. There have not been
Da Vinci Code-related riots or deaths thus far. Which speaks volumes for
the adherents of the faith.

It would be nice if everyone could brush off similar challenges and say
“we are strong enough to withstand any attack”. Even if a book or a
movie becomes a runaway hit, compared to the total number of any faith’s
followers, the numbers sold can never match it. Books are by nature, in
a world where illiteracy is still common, a luxury item. As are American
movies, no matter what arguments people make about cultural imperialism.

I remember when there were riots over Salman Rushdie’s book /The Satanic
Verses,/ President Benazir Bhutto commented wryly that the people who
were dying over the book were those who would never have read it, or
possibly even heard of it if someone hadn’t whipped them into a frenzy.
A similar situation arose with the cartoons. As insensitive as they
were, they were still not worth dying over.

The point is that people’s impressions of a religion are often related
to the behaviour of its adherents. Some religions are thought of as
simply kooky because its followers behave strangely. Some are viewed as
benign and peaceful because its followers resolutely will not harm a fly.

But when people, supposedly in the name of religion, riot, burn and
kill, it can’t help but give the impression of a religion that advocates
this, no matter how much we point out that nowhere in religious texts
itself does it say you should do this. And unfortunately we get the
whole spectrum, from men who publicly insult women on a daily basis
without censure to the real crazies.

Recently in New York I had to suffer the embarrassment of having to
listen to a Muslim man say to a non-Muslim woman at a forum, “Don’t mess
with Muslims, we have nuclear weapons!” There I was trying to dispel
stereotypes about violence-prone Muslims and in one fell swoop, this
nutcase confirmed every stereotype there was.

I think the only people who can dispel stereotypes about Muslims are
women. While there are certainly some conservative women, even when
these speak out they will naturally change perceptions because in a
world where Muslim women are perceived to be perpetually hidden behind
curtains, their sheer presence and articulateness will be noticed. What
more if they are able to argue rationally in a calm manner.

Thus far there have been very few Muslim men in the international media
who give a good impression. We might argue that the Western media
selects who they interview in order to perpetuate stereotypes, which is
true and that is a problem for all of us. A man or woman who looks like
the archetypal wild-eyed conservative is far more telegenic than someone
who looks like everyone else. Channel surfers are far more likely to
stop at the sight of someone they think of as alien to their culture
than if they see someone too similar to them. To stop this means having
to make a concerted effort to come together as one community and decide
on a sophisticated media strategy. But sadly coming together as one
united community is a challenge in itself.

If we do manage as a global community to change other people’s
perceptions of us, the benefits would be many. Our own people might
think more kindly of each other so peace would reign within. And because
within ourselves, we respect diversity, we can do the same with others.
Then peace would truly have a chance.

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Coca Cola Hates Islam? Idiocy.

Written by betakappa on 6/03/2006 04:55:00 AM

Claim: Coca-Cola's script logo was designed to reveal anti-Islamic messages in its mirror image.

Status: False.

Origins: No one is quite sure how this rumor got started, but many in the Middle East are now turning the Coca-Cola logo towards a mirror to examine it for anti-Islamic statements. According to the current bit of misinformation being touted as truth, the backwards script reads: "No to Mohammed, No to Mecca."



Although a backwards, fuzzy image of the Coca-Cola script logo does vaguely resemble some phrases in Arabic script, there's nothing to the claim that this phenomenon is the result of intentional design. The elegantly-written "Coca-Cola" trademark was invented by Frank Mason Robinson in 1886 when he wrote the first label in flowing Spencerian script. Robinson was a partner with pharmacist John Pemberton (who made the first syrup), and it was also Robinson who gave the beverage its name.

It's ludicrous to imagine far back in 1886 a back-room chemist and his partner were evilly plotted to work a hidden anti-Muslim statement into a soft drink label. Those early Coke men had no reason to suppose that their concoction would someday come to be marketed internationally, in far-flung lands they'd never themselves visit, or that the dashed-off script of one of them would continue to adorn the product more than a century after it was first penned. Yet to give the rumor any credence, one has to believe all of that.

In May 2000, the Grand Mufti Sheik Nasser Farid Wassel, Egypt’s most senior religious figure, gave his opinion on the matter. The artwork was also closely scrutinized by researchers and linguists at the Ifta’a Institute, a scholarly authority on Islamic law. All found no harm.

"The trademark does not injure Islam or Muslims directly or indirectly," the mufti ruled. In an official statement, he found that "the trademark was designed 114 years ago in the state of Georgia and was written in a foreign language, not in Arabic," and that "no one had objected until now."

Coca-Cola officials believe the lie started on the Internet. However it began, leaflets calling for a boycott of the U.S. on the basis of the rumor's premise have been distributed in schools and mosques in various regions of Egypt. In early 2000, the rumor was afoot in Saudi Arabia.

Such rumors are horribly damaging to any company they attach to, with Coca-Cola being no exception. In Egypt, a country where Coca-Cola is said to hold a 54% share of the soft drink market, Big Red has seen sales drop 10 to 15%. The company employs more than 10,000 workers in Egypt, and plummeting product sales over this lie mean those jobs are now at risk.

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Why the Jews are the "Chosen" people

Written by betakappa on 6/03/2006 04:49:00 AM

God came down and first he went to the Germans and said, "I have Commandments for you that will make your lives better."

And the Germans asked, "What are Commandments?"

And the Lord said, "Rules for living."

"Can you give us an example?"

"Thou shalt not kill."

"Not kill? We're not interested."



So He went to the Italians and said, "I have Commandments."

And the Italians wanted an example, and the Lord said, "Thou shalt not
steal."

"Not steal? We're not interested."



He went to the French and said, "I have Commandments."

The French wanted an example and the Lord said,

"Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife."

"Not covet my neighbor's wife? We're not interested."



He went to the Jews and said, "I have Commandments."

"Commandments? How much are they?"

"They're free."

"Good then, we'll take 10!"

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Heaven is Hotter than Hell

Written by betakappa on 6/03/2006 04:21:00 AM

The temperature of Heaven can be rather accurately computed from available data. Our authority is the Bible: Isiah 30:26 reads, "Moreover the light of the moon shall be as the light of the sun and the light of the sin shall be sevenfold, as the light of seven days." Thus Heaven receives from the moon as much radiation as we do from the sun and in addition seven times seven (49) times as much as the earth does from the sun, or fifty times in all. The light we receive from the moon is a ten-thousandth fo the light we receive from the sun, so we can ignore that. With these data we can compute the temperature of Heaven. The radiation falling on heaven will heat it to the point lost by radiation is just equal to the heat received by radiation. In other words, Heaven loses fifty times as much heat as the earth by radiation. Using the Stefan-Boltzmann fourth-power law for radiation (H/E)^4 = 50, where E is the absolute temperature of the earth - 300K. This gives H as 798 K (525 degrees Celcius).
The exact temperature of Hell cannot be computed, but it must be less than 444.6 C, the temperature at which brimstone or sulphur changes from liquid to a gas. Revelations 21:8: "But the fearful, and unbelieving ... shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone." A lake of molten brimstone means that its temperature must be below the boiling point.

We have, then, temperature of Heaven 525 C. Temperature of Hell less than 445 C. Therefore, heaven is hotter than Hell.

(as found all over the web)

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Indonesia suffers while Australia keeps on watching Big Brother

Written by betakappa on 5/28/2006 02:18:00 AM

After the devastating tsunami taking 168,000 Indonesian lives in 2004 yet another natural disaster strikes. Barely recovering, Indonesia is struck down again, this time by an earthquake. More than 3700 people killed as of 28 May 2006.

Yet here in Australia, its like nothing happened. Indonesia is practically in our own backyard yet we act like they're a million miles away.

Obsessed with nothings like Big Brother and supposed "heroes" (the 2 miners rescued)

Australia is putting $3m in aid for Indonesia. And that was after tripling their initial planned aid of $1m. Compare this with the $2.75m paid to the rescued miners by Channel Seven for their story.

Talk about a "generous" donation..

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Homosexuality and you

Written by betakappa on 5/27/2006 03:45:00 PM

On a more serious note, what is up with homosexuality? Why are homosexuals being treated so unfairly by society?

I must admit, to me, homosexuality is unnatural. It is not the way nature intended us to be. However, homosexuals are people too. They deserve the right to choose and decide what they want to do with their lives. They must be given the freedom to love, without being forced to suppress their needs or desires.

It is not by choice that they are that way. One cannot choose his/her sexual orientation. Just as one cannot choose who they love.

Surprisingly, my (strongly) Christian friend and (equally strongly) Muslim friend are completely against it. They seem to believe that homosexuals have an active role in becoming homosexual. That they choose to be homosexual. Choose to be bullied and hated by society. These same friends also maintained that they can choose not to indulge in their emotions or desires. But, it is their life, isnt it? We only live once. Why can't it be with the one you love?

Imagine being forced to be alone for the rest of your life. Could you do that? Just because other people think/feel differently.

Its your life. Live it for yourself. Not for others.

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You are GAY if you're reading this

Written by betakappa on 5/27/2006 03:34:00 PM

somehow the idea of people reading this being labelled gay strikes me as amusing.

To avoid any misunderstanding, let me define the term 'gay'.
It may be defined in 2 ways, depending on which category you fit in.

Just so you know, there are only 2 categories (or types of people in this world)

1) People who hate homosexuals [Gay - FREAKS, BUTTF***ING FREAKS!]

2) People who are homosexuals [Gay - people with same sex inclination]


If you don't hate em, or fear em, you must be one of em.

Hopefully my blog becomes really popular so that more people will be GAY! Yes, that means you! Bwahahahaha! (and more women for me! not that I need other men to be Gay so that they'd want me. Its only because I'm lazy)

I am NOT a Gayhater- I LOVE lesbians!

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A blog has to start somewhere

Written by betakappa on 5/27/2006 03:14:00 PM

I bitch. I don't like to but I can't help myself. When I see something I don't like, I make it known. and since I don't care about what people think about me, I can say whatever I want, optimizing my bitching ability

My first (pathethic) attempt at writing a blog failed miserably. It bombed. SUCKED. Why? Maybe its bcos I hate writing about how I feel. or Maybe its because I'm a size 12.

Even if I did like writing mushy, emostuff, I probably don't have a good enough "emo" vocab to express myself satisfactorily.

Besides, emotions are temporary. And, since I have this unique ability to feel strongly about something one minute yet resolutely stand against it the next. My hour to hour emotional statue is irrelevant.

I don't really know where I'm going with this first post, but I've got to admit- this is the first time I've written something (or typed) in a very very long time.

Back to the point. This blog will be more factual, and less (if not emo-free) personal.

Cos I got lots to say,

and

I like to bitch.





p.s. I must have forgotten to mention that I'm perfect and have been worshipped as a demigod - I swear! So here it is: "I'm PERFECT and have been worshipped before."

emostuff is gay and so are you

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