Kseniya Simonova’s haunting sand animation evokes painful memories of the tremendous Ukrainian suffering and loss of life during World War II.
Ukraine is believed to have lost more people in World War II than any other European nation as a result of the brutal Nazi occupation, followed by the Soviet reoccupation.
Tanjong Bunga residents are alarmed by inconsistencies in the Penang Structure Plan for their area that could lead to more congestion and construction projects. They claim that, under the previous administration, the diagram in the Plan was unilaterally re-zoned as a high-density ‘Primary Corridor’; the Plan had earlier been displayed for public scrutiny with the diagram showing Tanjung Bunga as a ‘Secondary Corridor’.
This distinction is crucial as the permissible density for a Secondary Corridor zone is 6-15 (max) homes per acre whereas for a Primary Corridor, there is no limit, say the residents. They assert that this classification is a policy matter which the present state government could easily rectify.
The Tanjung Bunga Residents Association points out the following:
… trying to make sense of what is happening in the world around you and wondering how you can participate in issues that matter to you? Then this event is for you.
Aliran is organising a one-day interactive workshop in Penang this Saturday (26 September) for young adults (19-35 years of age) to raise awareness of their role in good governance and how they can shape the world around them. More information here.
Do we really need Porr and more highways if we have a bus rapid transit system like in Bogota?
A bus rapid transit system can carry as many passengers as a subway system, as the city of Curitiba in Brazil has shown.
I like this quote in the above video clip: “The problem is not the people who use the buses but the people who use the cars.”
Sarawak Chief Minister Taib Mahmud has delivered a special message to mark the festive season. Among his comments is a comical demand which will no doubt add to the merriment: stop criticising the government!
According to Bernama:
“If there are (sic) chaos in the country, it will be impossible for us to celebrate any festivity. We should therefore take stock of what the government has done for us,” he said in his Hari Raya message.
He also said that Malaysians were fortunate to have a prime minister “who has the qualification and a leader who cares for the people’s well-being”.
These remarks coming from a Colombo Plan Australian-trained lawyer, no less.
If Seoul can courageously dismantle a highway carrying 180,000 vehicles a day and revitalise a stream in the city centre, there is no reason why we cannot restore Prangin Canal in Penang.
Today’s guest writer is Chau Loon Wai:
A good city always provides local residents and visitors alike with quality public realms that invite people to be there – people opt to be there, instead of being there out of necessity. The Prangin Canal is one very important water body in George Town, which had unfortunately been transformed into an open sewer, then conveniently covered, which then led to it being forgotten for too long a time; perhaps many young Penangites may not even be aware of its existence.
Jaime Lerner, the former mayor of Curitiba who transformed the Brazilian city, says budgetary constraints can force urban planners to think more creatively about sustainable development.
According to Unctad’s World Investment Report 2009 released last night, Malaysia experienced a net FDI outflow of US$6.0 billion in 2008, more than double the US$2.7 billion net outflow posted in the previous year.
Inward FDI fell to US$8.1 billion (18.4 per cent of GDP) in 2008 from US$8.4 billion (20.6 per cent of GDP) the previous year. Outward FDI, on the other hand, soared to US$14.1 billion from US$11.9 billion in 2007.
In response to the official investigative report confirming the sexual abuse of Penan women and girls, the Sarawak Women and Family Council appears to be ready to take action – and carry out another probe!
This from The Borneo Post:
Council ready to probe Penan women rape claim
KUCHING: Members of the Sarawak Women and Family Council are prepared to go to the ground to investigate claims that Penan women were raped or sexually exploited following the findings of a taskforce set up by Women, Family and Community Development Ministry.
Council chairperson Datin Fatimah Abdullah said yesterday she was still waiting for the taskforce report from the government and the police.
The taskforce report has indicated that Penan women and students were indeed sexually exploited by timber workers because they are very vulnerable and also partly due to consequences of imbalanced development.