EARTH DAY 2010

Updates 23rd April 2010.
Scan through Blog Profile, as I added Tiger (1200) and Malayan Tiger (2) as my interest. Would recommend those interested to add to their profile.


Today its "EARTH DAY".

Funny isn't it, if we take in a year there are 365 days except when its the leap year where it shall be counted as 366 days, and we only dedicate 1 (ONE) day as "EARTH DAY". Its just like any so called special day, "mother's day", "father's day" and "teacher's day" and so on ...

Recently there was "EARTH HOUR"

Actually we human takes a lot or so much and yet gives back a little, if possible not at all.

So, if we looked back at things that are happening, we wonder why? And we continue to wonder, as if we were never part of it.

Now lets take the Tiger as an example. Here we shall be very specific about our very own "Pak Belang" or "HARIMAU MALAYA/MALAYAN TIGER better known by its scientific name PANTHERA TIGRIS MALAYENSIS. In the wild, it is said to number less than 500. (Actually, I always wonder how they ever get the numbers, counting each and single one or there are a special radar or something ...). Although there are quite a few more in the zoos and or privately cared ... however the condition are questionable.

What can be done to protect this "National Icon" ? Its on the "Emblem of Malaysia"

How much actually can we do?

Since last monday, the 19th April, until today 20th April 2010(to be exact 1pm), I went through personally sponsored Tiger Marathon In Cyberspace (TMIC) as I visited all blog that participated in the Tiger Blogfest 2010 (an intiative of the Monyet King). Eventhough some may have overlook their initial intention to participate, most or nearly all 115 Blogs contributed.

My personal experience are numb fingers, tired eyes and painful back. However, I learn a lot about Tigers in general, effort taken, concern and cares. There are true stories, poem (got to know that April is Poetry month), and most of all, I believed friends with the same focus. If previous post, been to Europe, well now cross over to North America (Toronto, Canada). I studied there about 30 years ago, and that person is about my elder daughters age.

All in all it was great, and we should look at other avenue to make this work. Since Malaysia is one of the 13 countries, what if we have a conference or convention about our "Pak Belang". Why wait for Vladivostok, Russia?

Let us do more, its for the future. To borrow a Malay Proverb : Harimau mati meninggalkan belang, manusia mati meninggalkan nama. (A tiger leave its stripes, while human leaves his/her name).

As a saying goes,

"We did not inherit this earth, we borrowed it from our children".

PS.
Do you know of a japanese who is known as "Tiger of Malaya"

TIGER MARATHON IN CYBERSPACE ...

Tiger fest journal, thought that all will be in BM, but I know then for the benefit of our International participants.

Since yesterday, due to the Tiger Blogfest 2010, I've been visiting Blogs that participated. As of 5.15pm just now, managed to visit about 48 Blogs. Out of those 48, some had more than 1 posting while quite a few yet to do.

There quite a number of nice photo, write up and interesting cartoons. Most of all, what I once knew about our Pak Belang can be considered miniscule, compared to some of the other participants. Well ... that what this affair should be isn't it, what we know we tell, what we don't we learn from others.

Now our own Monyet King's posting about getting PM Najib to go to Vladivostok, Russia for the Tiger Conference is something. Will he go and be ... Raja Harimau ?

Back to my Marathon, I crossed the South China Sea, to Sabah and Sarawak, and all the way to Europe (i.e Belgrade, Serbia) before onward to Mexico. Although I do not understand what was written, the photo makes my day. However, our friend from Belgrade are willing to translate.

Not sure what I will see, read or learn but just can't wait to continue this journey.

Till then, all the best .... AAUUUMMMM



PS***
Kalau ada yang nak baca dalam BM saya alihbahasa la. Tapi English saya ni simple aje.

HARIMAU MALAYA

Bila buat search dengan nama Harimau Malaya, ada 237,000 results.

Tapi yang menghairankan ialah, banyak juga yang dikaitkan dengan Bolasepak Malaysia. Kalau kita ikut status Bolasepak Malaysia, nampak gayanya "HARIMAU BELANG" atau PANTHERA TIGRIS MALAYENSIS" ini dalam kategori yang sememangnya membimbangkan. Apakan tidak kalau kita tidak berhati hati dan mengambil iktibar, zaman dahulu bolasepak kita digeruni sekurang kurangnya di rantau sebelah sini. Korea Selatan, Jepun sama 'standard' lah kiranya, tapi sekarang mereka dah merasa "FIFA WORLD CUP", kita terhegeh-hegeh lah nak menang SEA GAMES (tahniah menang Gold Medal baru2 ini).

OK, bukan nak cerita tentang Bolasepak, tapi nak kaitkan sikit aje. Mengikut kajian, ada atau masih ada lebih kurang 500 ekor lagi, dalam hutan (tak kira sendiri ... seram, nak dekat). Yang selalu tengok dalam gambar, TV dsb. Oh ya adalah tenggok kat berberapa Zoo, tapi tak berani nak dekat sangat, takut kena ngap. Lagi pun kalau dekat-dekat baunya aduhai lah hancingnya.

Tapi, yang utama ialah kenapa kita harus mengambil "SERIOUS" tentang Pak Belang kita ni. Sebab utamanya ialah, ia adalah "IKON NEGARA". Kalau kita tak ambil peduli, nanti satu hari kita tengok gambar aje atau kat tv, pasal semuanya dah pupus. Kalau ikutkan, Maybank, PROTON dah lekatkan sebagai LOGO KORPORAT, tapi Pak Belang sebenarnya yang kita ank cerita. Dah ada pun cadangan nak tukar dari HARIMAU ke Katak la, Ayam la, Lembu, tikus la atau Beruk, tak ke haru kita!!!

Oleh yang demikian, kita kena mulakan dari sekarang. Dr Bala dah mulakan, dan ada 108 BLOG yang turut serta. Ada cerita, ada gambar dan banyak lagi.

Hari sabtu lepas (17hb April 2010) semasa sukan tahunan SK Bandar Anggerik, Shah Alam, salah satu rumah sukan(rumah kuning) telah mengambil Harimau Malaya sebagai Maskot mereka, dan diatas sifat kreatif mereka, mereka telah dipilih sebagai pasukan perbarisan paling kreatif. AAUUUMMM.

Berberapa organisasi telah memulakan langkah tertentu, diantaranya ialah MYCAT, WWF selain dari PERHILITAN. Kita perlu mengorak langkah bagi memastikan "PAK BELANG" kita sentiasa mengAAUUUMMM.

Mari kita selamatkan "PAK BELANG" ... AAUUUMMM

MALAYAN TIGER

This effort to save our tiger is commendable and it sinks well with this blog concept, therefore I am encouraging all to support. Lets make this work.

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Tiger Blogfest 2010 - 1st Announcement : Call for Participation (updated)

Dear blogging friends,

Since 1896, our nation had adopted the tiger in its emblems, crests and coat-of-arms. The king of our jungle. The symbol of courage, strength, bravery, agility and beauty. So majestic that they grace the crests of the government, universities, and private corporations. The national animal without a doubt. OUR HERITAGE.

But what have we done with our national icon. We have already killed more than 80% of them. By clearing forests without proper planning, we have deprived them of their homes. Hunting has decimated many (please watch this video of how cruel hunters are). Now there are less than 500 tigers left in the wild. And if the current rate of habitat destruction and poaching continue, these remaining tigers will be wiped out rather soon (perhaps by year 2020 when we all can be proud and call ourselves a developed nation).

We will look silly having the tiger gracing our coat-of-arms without any of them being alive. A nation that destroys its own chosen symbol surely cannot be called developed, can it ?. We owe it to our children and their children to protect our tigers in the wild. Much needs to be learnt and much more needs to be done to protect them. The current apathy cannot continue.

There are many organizations and dedicated individuals who are working very hard to raise awareness about the tiger, protect their habitats and to reduce poaching. But it is not enough. We need to reach out to more Malaysians.

The Tiger Blogfest 2010 [19 – 23 April 2010] is an avenue for the blogging community to contribute towards protecting our national heritage. All that is asked of you is to do what you are already doing so well… blog, blog and blog. Tell a story, write a poem, post a technical paper, draw cartoons, compose a song, relate your personal experience – anything as long as it convey the message of the need to protect our tigers. [preliminary details given below]

I know you will all rise to the occasion. At the same, efforts are being made with the media and NGOs to give this event publicity and the conservation community to leverage on the heightened awareness.

Regards

Planet of the Monyets

Coordinating blog

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Tiger Blogfest 2010 – Preliminary Instructions

Period

19 – 23 April 2010 [Why ? Because 22 April is Earth Day]

What to do

Post at least one piece in your blog about the need to protect the tiger. You can plan and prepare ahead of time. Your first posting must be made on 19^th April, preferably before 9.00 a.m.

You are encouraged to post additional articles during that week. But you can just stick to one post if you cannot spare the time. It would however be nice if everyone can post two pieces, one on the 19^th April and the other towards end of that week.

What to write

Post anything that you are comfortable with as long as it carries a message about the need to protect our tigers. You can choose to write a story about the tiger, post a technical paper, compose a song or a poem, draw cartoons, etc. etc. Preferably in English or Bahasa Malaysia.

Comradeship

All participating blogs should carry (1) the Tiger Blogfest 2010 logo; and (2) a common message about protecting the tiger. Both these items will be provided to all participating bloggers.

List of participating blogs

The list of participating blogs will be displayed at several tiger and nature-related websites. We are targeting 100 blogs for this inaugural Tiger Blogfest. [we already have unofficial confirmations from 22 blogs]

Other activities

Still being considered :

• Link to a petition, urging the Government to expedite the implementation of the National Tiger Action Plan
• A talk on tiger conservation – all participating bloggers will be invited

Note : The final instructions will be emailed to all particpating blogs (i.e. those who register)

Interested ?

If you are interested in doing your bit to help protect our tiger and participate in this blogfest, please contact Planet of the Monyets at gbm.ere@gmail.com to register your blog. [and if you want help beyond just writing about the tiger, do let me know too... tiger conservation could do with plenty of help]

Oh yes.... do let all your blogging friends know about this event.