The advantages and disadvantages of megacities.

What is a megacity? Wikipedia defines it as a metropolitan area with a total population an excess of 10 billion people. Different people have very different opinions about the city life. Honestly, in our opinion, chasing the rat race of everyday life and getting caught up with the hustle and bustle of the city life eliminates the essence of life. It turns everything into a game. Into a competition; who’s job has a better pay, who’s driving the fastest, latest and most expensive car and even who has the best social life. If there was such a thing as The Future Foresters’ Dictionary, a megacity’s definition would be “a concrete jungle where everyone is too blinded by the harsh city lights to know that stars exists”. We do not wish to live in a megacity. HOWEVER, as how each and everything in life has its pros and cons, we are here to discuss about the advantages and disadvantages of megacities.
One of the advantages of megacities would be the effects it has on the labour pool. We’ll have a better educated, better trained and more diverse labour pool but more expensive labour costs of course. There is also the concentration of educational and training facilities, increasing the potential for human resource investments. Apart from that, the technological advancements generated from the megacities would help with a lot of things. This will also boost the healthcare in that area.
What about the disadvantages of megacities?? I can go very emotional on this one but I’ll try to keep it light. What is one of the detrimental effects of development such as a megacity? POLLUTION. That’s very obvious isn’t it? Sound, air, water and land pollution, you name it, they have it. All they think about would be development, and they don’t have the slightest streak on intelligence to bear in mind about the consequences and how they should work on conservation as well. Where do these come from? From the 10 billion people living in the megacity of course! Despite the advance in technology, not everyone is caring enough to care for the environment. The advance of technology somehow turns them into robots. All metal. The cars and other nature destroying machineries generate exhaust fumes that pollutes the air. This causes all sorts of respiratory illnesses. Apart from that, there’s the high cost of living to bear in mind. Some people who can’t afford to live up to the high standards and costs of living in the megacity but are STILL trying to be a part of it would have to resort to living at the edge of the cities instead; some end up as squatters making houses with whatever materials they can get their hands on. Usually this slum area is not a very pretty sight to look at. Although most of the developed countries tried to eliminate them from the area, it doesn’t usually work out. The sad thing is, these people who live in the slums end up looking like the dirt bags of the human caste. They are frown upon by those who are fortunate enough to not share the same fate. The ‘slummers’ are deprived from proper education, food, healthcare and other basic needs.

Basic resources such as food, fuel and water decreases very fast and it takes a lot of energy and man power to generate these resources. Depletion of natural resources such as petroleum and gas is also very problematic because these are the main source of power in a megacity. Last but not least, the loss of human values and degradation of moral values. This happens because eveyone is too busy chasing their worldly needs and possesions. Some would go to any extend to get what they want. Some parents will be too busy supporting their families that they might fail to provide their children with religious teachings to guide their children in future. This can already be seen in cities alone, what more MEGACITIES. Most would be too busy working to seek the satisfaction out of life...that they might never try to trace the last ray of sunlight and BREATHE.

Bruno Manser

BRUNO MANSER

Question 1: Who was Bruno Manser and what had he done in Sarawak?? Bruno Manser born on 25 August 1954 in Basel, Switzeland was an enviromental activist. He was well-known in Switzerland for his public activism for rainforest preservation and the protection of Indegenous people. Manser traveled to the Malaysian state of Sarawak, where he gradually made his way to the nomadic Penan living in the primeval forest. He was create web site and drew the attention of the international media to this situation and helped the Penan to defend themselves against the loggers by means of peaceful road blockades.
Question 3: In my opinion, Bruno Manser was wrong in his acts but he had the right conscience. Change is inevitable. No matter how hard you try, as the clock keeps ticking, something (even as small as a grain of sand) will change. I believe that everyone has a choice; to be or not to be. Just because a particular space of the Penans were about to be developed, it doesn't entirely mean that they will change. They can choose NOT to. They can choose to live alongside development while keeping their own cultures and traditions. There's no arguing that this will be hard BUT it's not impossible. Sarawak is one of the most beautiful and unique part of Malaysia's identity. why would a leader of a country want to eliminate this element JUST for the sake of development?Bruno wanted to stop the government from developing the jungles of Sarawak. who didn't at that point of time other than those with only dollar signs in front of their eyes?? It's wrong for us to sacrifice mother nature for our own importance. It's wrong for us to commit so much harm to the Earth that gave us life in the first place. But development IS necessary. with the increasing population at that point of time, we needed space for cropping and shelter. I'm sure there were many variables to consider when a leader decides to modernize and develop certain areas; lack of biodiversity, soil erosion, possible extinction of flora and fauna, pollution, etc. Development should be done in a more organized and subtle way. Bruno listened to his heart too much without consulting his reasons and logic. He was wrong to have taken the steps that he did. He could've approached the government and those resposible for the damage about to be done in a more civilised manner. Running around like Robin Hood, escaping the authorities, hiding like a fugitive only made him look uncivilised which is no surprise WHY the contents of his actions were misunderstood and ignored by everyone other than the media.

Batik Malaysia

Generally, Batik is a wax-resist dyeing technique on textiles. Due to modern advances in the textile industry, the term has also been used for fabrics which incorporates the traditional batik patterns although not necessarily produced using the batik techniques. Malaysian batik normally displays plants and flowers due to the Islamic culture in the country.
ANY form of art of a specific culture has it's own unique traits. As mentioned above, Batik Malaysia normally displays plants and flowers due to the Islamic culture of our country. Batik is usually the favourite item as a souvenier for tourists (local and foreign). The creativity of our Malaysian artists in producing items with the signature Batik has taken its place on the international arena. As an example, the Batik fashion show; this fashion show took place in Kuala Lumpur. On the runway, you can get a variety of clothing items from something as decent as a baju kurung to something more...modern such as a bikini top.
In my point of view, there is nothing wrong in being versatile. However, when versatility extracts out the traditional beauty of an art, it becomes something else. As stated above, Batik prints can also be found on bikini tops, halter neck tops, etc. Batik is synonymous to innocent beauty. Which is why our Malay women ancestors were viewed as sweet, gentle and beautiful. What you wear shows who you are at times. Therefore, when you turn something innocent beauty into something else JUST for the sake of fame and money, the meaning is lost. Which is why we should just stick to the original products of batik; baju kurung, sarong, kebaya, etc.
Batik portrays the Malaysian culture. Why should we turn it into something modern so that the West would be more aware of its presence??
Batik is something a unique because it not can same design which others. Althought, same cap (copper stamp) and colour used repeat again. To design batik of painting must have patient in self designer,expecially to draw and colouring. It culture, impluse very quickly in our life. In the past, batik commonly used by the women, but now it also use by the man and wear multirasional. Futhemore, the design of the sport jersey, that has use the batik culture. For the example is Kelantan Football Club.
So, we have to protect batik culture from losing in the modern world because batik is something unique that no country except Malaysia have this unique culture.

The Television Media

Problem statement: Some people say TV is bad for children because it discourages them from having exercise and from communicating with other children. However, others say it stimulates the mind and gives children knowledge of the world. Overall, is TV good or bad for children?? Give reasons.
When i received this topic, it got me thinking while walking back to my dorm. It IS true that the television media stimulates their mind and gives them a better picture of the world outside the four walls of their home. But does it discourage them from having exercise and from communicating with other children?? Not really. Television is moderation can actually be a good thing. Provided the parents monitor what their children are watching.
Studies conducted by paediatricians and child psychologists have shown that children who are exposed to good and beneficial contents of this media are more sociable with those of their age. It eliminates the fear of socializing in them. A simple program like Sesame Street or The Barney Show teaches them to make new friends, practice good manners (saying 'please' and 'thank you') and improves their vocabulary. The Disney Channel for example has the Art Attack program each day; it can develop the creative side of the child and even possibly enhance the child's creativity. Basically, preschoolers can get help learning the alphabets, grade schoolers can learn about wildlife on nature shows; there's no doubt t.v can be a good educator and entertainer.
Too much t.v however CAN be detrimental to children. Studies have shown that children who spend more than 4 hours a day are likely to be overweight. Kids who view violent acts are highly likely to pick up these acts (not to mention memorize the swear words to use them when they're fighting with others). Sometimes, TV characters also reinforce gender-role and racial stereotypes (which are poisonous to the young minds).
However, with adult supervision and monitoring, I'm sure that the young minds won't be stained with such negative pictures and values. THEREFORE, TV IS good for children provided they are exercised to practice healthy viewing habits.