When the big boys talk.

This is the Maldives beach. Very pretty right? It looks a lot prettier on TV, and definitely a lot better if we had a chance to visit the place.

Watched it on Channel U last night. The clear waters (really very clear leh, I suspect you can even drink it) and the white sandy beaches (white cuz it is made of dead, decomposed corals) was really breathtaking. Supposedly, the Maldives will sink in 50-100years' time, due to rising sea levels, global warming, yada yada you know it better. The host of the show asked a few locals how they felt about it. Imagine your home sinking and you and your loved ones dying, your properties destroyed. It would be interesting to listen to their responses.

As usual, a large number of people do not believe it. Despite the tsunami several years back, they refuse to believe what tall waters can do to their home. It's understandable, of course. If some random stranger comes and tell me my home is sinking, I'll probably think it's an evil ploy or something. One of the more educated of the lot said, "We need the world to help us."

Next, think about the Copenhagen talk on Climate Change this year. I don't know much about it, other than the fact that the outcome of the talk wasn't desirable. It just gives me the feeling that when the big leaders come together and talk about things, every topic becomes a political topic instead of genuinely discussing to come to a compromise. We've seen it happen all the time, they talk and talk and yet nothing is done. Like in the case of poverty. I remember checking the stats in J1 for GP, and the stats had looked like this:

I checked it again just now and it still looks the same. Still the same old coutries at the top, Sweden, Luxembourg, Norway, Denmark and Netherlands fulfilling the target they set to help the poor. 2010 is coming and I'm going to see if the countries who scheduled to reach this goal is doing anything about it. If you go to the poverty website HERE, the main page shows you the names of the children dying per hour due to hunger. It's really sad to see their faces pop up from the map. Each time I visit the site (I don't visit all the time), I tell myself I'm going to help them in future. Then again, frequent news on frauds makes you wonder where your money really goes to if you help them.

As we move into 2010, we could probably include a little resolution that is not for ourselves alone. Yes, Non Mihi Solum. Maybe besides making promises to lose weight or do well for the next exam, we could take a little time to do something for the world. Be it cutting down on plastic bag usage or donating a little to the old man selling tissue, I believe we can all start small to make an impact.

I will leave you with the lyrics in the first verse of my all time favourite MJ song, Heal the World.

There's a place in your heart
And I know that it is love
And this place could be much brighter than tomorrow.
And if you really try
You'll find there's no need to cry
In this place you'll feel
There's no hurt or sorrow.
There are ways to get there
If you care enough for the living
Make a little space, make a better place

Beneath all the plastic surgery we claim he had done, his heart is beautiful. I hope we have beautiful hearts too as we welcome the new year.

MOF2 signs off, for you and for me and the entire human race.