Trying To Respect Planet Earth

I am watching Planet Earth again.

That shit is the shit. Its camerawork is so intense I get goosebumps watching some scenes. YES, ITS THAT GOOD.

As I watch these series again I remember how fucking amazing nature is.

But what I realize from comparing each species is that every species in this world has its simple purpose; to mate and to survive. There's nothing more to it.

So what about us humans? Are we as simple as that?

Or are we, because awarded with a reasoning mind supposed to flourish and rule the world? Does the earth really belong to us humans?

I don't know.

Personally, I feel its not fair for us to act as if we are THAT special.

I mean despite me believing that I am fucking awesome I am not about to say I disrespect nature and that unseen being called God. I don't think that little ant or that giant elephant has no purpose in our world nor do we as humans. I feel we all need to respect each other.

Most of us are way too engrossed in ourselves to stop and take a breather to realize that every single thing around us matters to some extent. Sounds pretty petty but I am not saying we should devote ourselves to everything but simply, respect it.

There is DEFINITELY not enough respect going on around this world especially towards nature. I must admit I don't respect much of nature either. I mean, I try to recycle when I am here in London and even in Canada but Malaysia still lacks the understanding and effort towards it. Not that I want Malaysia to suddenly be all recycle friendly. It would be nice but to start I would prefer us to know how to respect nature.

But hey, development is more important isn't it? We all apparently want to be rich and have access to health care because that is THE way to live. Of course it is....

But if this is so, why did we not stick to the basic healthy food? Why did we create crap like Mcdonalds and all sorts of nonsense food that's unhealthy for us? Did we not realize that when we were creating it, it was potentially bad? eh?

I don't get it you know?

We will be the death of ourselves. We humans are indeed driving ourselves to destruction by being too smart; through creating new things that is not always beneficial to us. And its like when we discover that thing we created is bad for us we create another thing that will supposedly cure us but costs a lot of money...And yet, wealth is not spread equally...

So how?

What a VICIOUS CYCLE...

I reckon I'd stick to the basics...let's TRY not to fall for it.

Try!

My Final Year Topic

It has only been 3 weeks since I finished my exams and already I am itching to do research on my final year topic.

NERD MUCH?

Yeah, well, I really want to try my best with this paper; since I can choose any topic I want. So what did I choose?

The Impact of Policy-making: Globalization for Mass Media in India

Why this?

Well, my main interest is how globalization has affected the media in a developing country and whether governments of these nations had to change policies around globalization...or not? Initially, I wanted to do a comparative study of India, China and Malaysia. However, my prof told me it would be way too much for a 12,000 word essay and that it was better to be more specific in a topic when writing a thesis as oppose to being too general.

So I decided on India.

Why India?

Well, I recently watched a segment on Aljazeera where in order to encourage the youth to vote, India's contesting parties had Bollywood celebrities in television and print advertisements making it seem 'cool' to vote. It was really interesting to me because I wondered when did political parties endorse in celebrities? Is this a new thing around the world?

I mean, the recent US Presidential elections CLEARLY showed its usage of celebrities. There was a sudden surge of actors and singers showing that they were politically concerned with their country. Concerts after concerts, talkshows after talkshows; I seriously do not remember this many celebrities involved in its US Presidential elections. It is undoubtedly clever; the US used its most powerful entity (the entertainment industry) to get people to be interested in politics. Now I am not against that. I mean hey, if they are really doing something, then great!

But back to India, was this something they were trying to copy from the US? Or had it always been like this in India? When did the Indian government decide that it was okay to use celebrities as a helping hand to campaign a party? Will other developing nations follow suit?

More importantly, is this a positive or negative impact for policy making in a country? Are we ultimately now saying that if this policy works for the media in other countries, it is okay for other governments to alter its policies too? Or is it only for specific countries like India and US (where Bollywood is in fact bigger than Hollywood)?

I am so excited to find out!

So much research to do though. I need to clearly define globalization and the media as well as know the history of India's policy making and whether much has changed. Yikes. Its funny when the school year was going on I hated the idea of writing essays. It seemed like it never ended. But to be fair, I had specific topics I had to write on. But this! This should be fascinating! And I welcome any help if anyone know what books to read or websites to look at.

Wish me luck!

Love for Dummies

When it comes to love, I am a beginner. Sometimes even a dummy.

I don't know anything about it. The protocols, the ways to behave, the things to compromise for, what to say, what not to say, etc.

I know, its a learning curve. But I find it to be the HARDEST course I have ever taken. I used to be a heartless wench. A wench who never thought about loving anyone but herself. Well most times I still am. But some days I find myself being completely whipped. I wish this wasn't so. But really, I am whipped!

So what is up with this feeling of love? How can you tell if what you're feeling is real or not? Is there a limit to loving someone? Should there be? I ask myself if I am really in love every day.

And the answer is: I have no idea.

Love is one thing, I do not understand.

If it makes one do crazy things, makes one feel completely happy, completely dumbfounded, completely silly when you hear that person's voice, completely at ease, completely comfortable...Completely complete; then yeah, I guess I am in love.

Who am I in love with?

That is a good question. But I definitely have a lot to learn. I hate reading, but this is one manual I need. Don't get me started on men in general. ONE MAN is already hard to decipher.

Sigh.

London So Far

Summer is here and it gets bright so damn early and dark so damn late. I must admit its really screwed my brain up. I wake up at 6 am thinking its 8 am!

But aside from all that, I am enjoying the nothing to do days.

But I miss someone so bad because that someone becomes so busy and gives me less attention and since I require that person's attention once a week I become cranky. I wish I wasn't that way but hey, what's a girl got to do?

Silly girl.

Anyways, I've been in London for almost 10 months now and my verdict so far is that it has its awesomeness and shitness (like most cities). And there I would like to revert back to those who hate KL to stop sulking or any other person who says wherever they are seems to suck.

It doesn't. Its all in your mind, and the company.

So here's a list of 6 likes and dislikes about London:

I Like the fact that

1. You can see a diversity of humans speaking hundreds of different languages its amazing.
2. The internet is SO FAST I have way too much fun with it!
3. Quality of education here is definitely better
4. There's so many things to see all over different parts of London. East is different, West is different, North, North East; different!
5. The music scene is so established; you can go into clubs that still think the 1920s is cool and have people dress up too!
6. Public transportation is good
7. Access to other countries in Europe is fantastic! I am going to Italy this summer! Yay!
   

I Dislike the fact that

1. Everything I have mentioned above requires lots of money
2. Public transportation is good but everything seems so damn far and taking a cab home on a late night is pricey
3. University here is more traditional and systematic than it is in North America especially for my coursework
   
4. The rain is insipid and unpredictable. Make up your mind!
5. Their utilities companies are assholes.
6. You need to pay an additional cost for the channel to watch a football match when you're already Sky customer.
7. I am still not in the same country as the person I am utterly in love with

And there you have it. Overall I would never in my mind say London is crap. Nor is London the place I want to settle down and retire. Its merely a city, a place, it has its good and its bad...

Again, its all in the mind, and the company.

Sigh.

We, Me, Us

Today in the news the racism protest by Indian students in Melbourne caught my eye.

Of course there were many other things in the news that caught my eye but I can't help but feel for this issue seeing as I grew up in a 'multiracial' society that preaches on peace and equality within races.

The truth is, racism is everywhere.

And the real truth is, it can't be fought. Not until we stop comparing.

The problem with us (yes, all of us humans) is that we can't help but compare. And due to that, we often find the need to compete with each other. It always seems to be Us versus Them.

There's really hardly any "we" per say.

Even if "we" speak of saving the environment. There isn't much "we" included in this is there? Who are we referring to? Citizens of the world? How do we speak of citizens of the world if we are all dividing ourselves to different communities, cultures, countries, families and so on?

We strive for individuality don't we? So how can we speak of 'we' when it's also about 'me'?

Yeah, that's right; its a conflict.

Humans have this thing where they are afraid to be 'different' but don't want to be the 'same'. Always comparing what others have with what they have or don't have. Looking for what makes us 'different' from others. Some are even critical enough to think that they are better. And I highlight that point because these are also societies who preach to be a more globally friendly society. But how are we friendly if we keep comparing? Do we really care for the community?

Its a vicious cycle of being selfish or communal really.

I think that's how all these different theories develop i.e capitalism, communism etc.

We start by comparing.

I must admit I am the type to compare too. I am not even sure if comparing is a good or bad thing? Then again, what is good or bad?

But the point is; when one fights against racism, one is saying you're treating 'us' bad.

And when one labels themselves as a specific group, they are automatically comparing themselves to others which in turn causes 'others' to view them differently. Of course I don't believe in those others to impose violence on them. That's a whole separate issue altogether.

But maybe we should stop comparing and labeling? Maybe if we just admitted we're all just humans and not Indian, Japanese, French, White or Black and said we're all humans, it might help us feel less inferior of each other?

But then how do we find ourselves then?

Sigh.

Its too bloody late. If I could turn back time I'd kick the early ancient philosophers in the nuts for using the method of comparison to base what is considered a civil society. In some ways, their arrogance on us humans being more superior is sick. These intellectuals are so self involved they even consider women to be below them. Call me a pagan but really, man would not exist without his mother giving birth to him as women would not give birth without the man's sperm in her womb. So what's up with all the comparing? Isn't it obvious we're all here for a specific reason which therefore makes us just as important as the other?

So you know what? Its all their fault; because those silly philosophers went and compared and labeled every tom dick and harry and people believed that this was the right way to be a proper functioning society, there will never be such thing as EQUALITY.

Its all bullshit. So really, that protest they did today is not really going to do much.

Racism will not stop; not until we stop comparing.

Ugh.