Ong Kian Ming of Penang Institute has revealed eyebrow-raising figures for Johor property sales to foreigners and unsold homes in projects undertaken by developers from China.
Our addiction to growth and tech fixes spells doom
I read this thought-provoking article the other day, which confirmed my gut feeling about the source of our environmental problems.
The source of our biggest problems isn’t climate change, greenhouse gas emissions, pollution or deforestation. It is economic overshoot – our addiction to economic growth at all costs – without considering the damaging effect it has on our surroundings. Simply put, we are probably consuming too much that we will need a few planets to sustain our lifestyles.
Technology will not save us. It can mitigate the impact for a while.
Solar panels, hybrid cars, electric cars etc will not solve the problem of resource depletion, deforestation, air and sea pollution. Climate change is a major symptom of our addiction to unsustainable consumption – and growth.
There is a limit to ‘growth’. We cannot go on the same way: there is no way we can have infinite growth in a finite planet – unless we want to move to another hospitable planet a zillion miles away. If we are to change the system and save Planet Earth, there must first be a moral awakening in this world, as this article exhorts from EcoWatch.com exhorts us: Systemic change driven by moral awakening is our only hope
Update: Fourth silent awareness walk in Penang to stop cruelty towards animals
A fourth walk in Penang will be held on Sunday, 3 September starting at Sunrise Tower at 5.00pm.
Who’s attending Najib’s ‘record-breaking’ feast in Permatang Pauh? (updated)
Some 20,000 to 25,000 people are reportedly expected to attend a record-breaking nasi kandar feast while seated cross-legged in Permatang Pauh later this morning (17 August).
Provocateurs disrupt Mahathir’s forum
Mahathir’s Nothing-to-Hide forum took a disturbing turn when provocateurs threw projectiles and flares inside a packed hall today.
Aliran celebrates 40 years of struggle for justice, freedom and solidarity
More than two decades before the reformasi movement was unleashed, a small group of Malaysians came together in 1977 to launch a multi-ethnic, multi-religous movement.
Transport mega projects: MIT researcher highlights failure of Penang government’s ‘top-down’ consultation
The so-called upgrading work on the College Square field has now been put on hold following an outcry among local residents. Apparently they were not consulted over the ‘improvements’. Do residents really want the grass to be dug up and paved over or to have metal railings put around their small neighbourhood greens (as has been done elsewhere)?
Residents upset over concrete work in College Square green
Residents around College Square in Pulau Tikus, Penang are upset over plans for some sort of “jogging track” on this neighbourhood green. The issue was revealed by a Facebook user and has now spread on social media.
New documentary on hazards faced by Penang pedestrians just released
A new documentary Road Wars: Pedestrian Strikes Back by Farhana AS has just been released in Penang highlighting some of the obstructions and hazards faced by pedestrians in Penang.