Catching up with one of my favorites, The Nut Graph. Perhaps, the heavily funded main stream media can learn a thing or two? Starting with the following questions:

“. . . whom did the Malaysian traditional media serve in their recent coverage of the Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (Bersih 2.0) and its 9 July 2011 rally? What would the reporting have looked like if the media had lived up to their social obligation to inform the people fairly, comprehensively and accurately of Bersih-related events? And what did the coverage instead look like?”

Bersih 2.0: “Illegal”, chaos-causing “communists”?

Written few days before the big walk. Seriously, time to free the PSM6!

BN vs Bersih: Comparing 2007 and 2011

Memories past, and fresh memories.

Political affray in Malaysia: Taken to the cleaners

What a title! Includes the iconic photo.

Live – Bersih 2.0 gathering

Just in case you missed it, here’s a line by line, tweet by tweet account.

A collection from CCM youth

Bersih 2.0 – Would Jesus have marched?

or … where would Jesus be on that unforgettable day?

Heartaches & joy ~ a bittersweet day indeed!

Stirrings from the heart of a fellow Malaysian

My own perspective of 9th July Walk For Freedom

From the Micah Mandate

July 9, My Story

A chance to hear from those who were on the ground.

Bersih 2.0 [Official]

Here’s the original 8 demands:

* * *

1. Clean the electoral roll

The electoral roll is marred with irregularities such as deceased persons and multiple persons registered under a single address or non-existent addresses. The electoral roll must be revised and updated to wipe out these ‘phantom voters’. The rakyat have a right to an electoral roll that is an accurate reflection of the voting population.

In the longer term, BERSIH 2.0 also calls for the EC to implement an automated voter registration system upon eligibility to reduce irregularities.

2. Reform postal ballot

The current postal ballot system must be reformed to ensure that all citizens of Malaysia are able to exercise their right to vote. Postal ballot should not only be open for all Malaysian citizens living abroad, but also for those within the country who cannot be physically present in their voting constituency on polling day. Police, military and civil servants too must vote normally like other voters if not on duty on polling day.

The postal ballot system must be transparent. Party agents should be allowed to monitor the entire process of postal voting.

3. Use of indelible ink

Indelible ink must be used in all elections. It is a simple, affordable and effective solution in preventing voter fraud. In 2007, the EC decided to implement the use of indelible ink. However, in the final days leading up to the 12th General Elections, the EC decided to withdraw the use of indelible ink citing legal reasons and rumours of sabotage.

BERSIH 2.0 demands for indelible ink to be used for all the upcoming elections. Failure to do so will lead to the inevitable conclusion that there is an intention to allow voter fraud.

4. Minimum 21 days campaign period

The EC should stipulate a campaign period of not less than 21 days. A longer campaign period would allow voters more time to gather information and deliberate on their choices. It will also allow candidates more time to disseminate information to rural areas. The first national elections in 1955 under the British Colonial Government had a campaign period of 42 days but the campaign period for 12th GE in 2008 was a mere 8 days.

5. Free and fair access to media

It is no secret that the Malaysian mainstream media fails to practice proportionate, fair and objective reporting for political parties of all divide. BERSIH 2.0 calls on the EC to press for all media agencies, especially state-funded media agencies such as Radio and Television Malaysia (RTM) and Bernama to allocate proportionate and objective coverage for all potlical parties.

6. Strengthen public institutions

Public institutions must act independently and impartially in upholding the rule of law and democracy. Public institutions such as the Judiciary, Attorney-General, Malaysian Anti-Corruption Agency (MACC), Police and the EC must be reformed to act independently, uphold laws and protect human rights.

In particular, the EC must perform its constitutional duty to act independently and impartially so as to enjoy public confidence. The EC cannot continue to claim that they have no power to act, as the law provides for sufficient powers to institute a credible electoral system.

7. Stop corruption

Corruption is a disease that has infected every aspect of Malaysian life. BERSIH 2.0 and the rakyat demand for an end to all forms of corruption. Current efforts to eradicate corruption are mere tokens to appease public grouses. We demand that serious action is taken against ALL allegations of corruption, including vote buying.

8. Stop dirty politics

Malaysians are tired of dirty politics that has been the main feature of the Malaysian political arena. We demand for all political parties and politicians to put an end to gutter politics. As citizens and voters, we are not interested in gutter politics; we are interested in policies that affect the nation.
Posted

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Church of Sweden

Lutheran Church in Malaysia and Singapore

The Christian Conference of Asia

Pax Christi

Religions for Peace

Saferworld

Church of England

Amnesty UK

United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs

The International Action Network on Small Arms

Counter Proliferation Department of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office UK

OXFAM

Rolls-Royce

The Orthodox Peace Fellowship

National commission for Justice, Peace & Development of India

The Conference of European Churches

Swedish Mission Council

THE BEYERS NAUDé CENTRE FOR PUBLIC THEOLOGY

The Swedish Fellowship of Reconciliation

The Ethical Investment Advisory Group (EIAG)

The Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences (FABC)

World Council of Churches (WCC)

the International Ecumenical Peace Convocation (IEPC)

The Institute for Accountability in Southern Africa

Joint Conference Church and Development (GKKE)

Life & Peace Institute

This conference really is stretching my mind.

Arms Trade-a major cause of suffering

Great quote from a former USA president.

Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired signifies, in the final sense, a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and are not clothed. The world in arms is not spending money alone. It is spending the sweat of its laborers, the genius of its scientists, the hopes of its children. This is not a way of life at all, in any true sense. Under the cloud of threatening war, it is humanity hanging from a cross of iron.

Fighting the Illicit Trafficking of Small Arms

White Market, Grey Market and Black Market .  Hmm. these colours caught my attention this morning.  Any thing illicit is black.

Small Arms Trade

It’s a big issue which this summary tries to educate.

International action network of small arms

It’s was nice to have lunch with a representative of this organization from South Africa.  Now he is sharing on the “Ship of Shame.”

Control Arms Campaign

Apart from the more detailed (and even academic sounding) discussions, campaigns help to bring the awareness and advocacy to the ground level.

2011 Budget: Big Malaysia is back
Then we go online for a while.

Chief executive of the Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs, Wan Saiful Wan Jan, noted that 75 per cent of the government’™s budget –RM163 billion — was for operational expenditure.

“This means the government is committed to maintaining a bloated civil service, with civil servants devouring 75 per cent of the allocation!” he said in a statement to the media.

“I do not see how this Budget is coherent with the prime minister’™s intention to let the private sector lead the economy. It seems like the size of government is going to be as big as ever, if not bigger.”

He added that the Budget looked very much like a preparation for a general election.

“There are promises for more money for JKKK, KAFA teachers, and imams, as well as price cap for PLUS tolls, and various other ‘carrots’ are being dangled to voters,”said Wan Saiful.

The prime minister insisted, however, the Budget was designed to meet the aspirations of the public and that the government would not take the easy way out or sacrifice the nation’s long-term interest for short-term popularity.

“We are not dreamers,” he said in his budget speech today. “We are realists. Our success is not mere coincidence but the result of clear and careful planning as well as firm implementation.”

Clouds over Budget 2011
Another newer alternative media commentary with some pointed questions.

Why, for instance, must the Prime Minister’s official residence require a colossal allocation of RM65 million when, not too long ago, a modest allocation to upgrade and renovate the Penang Chief Minister’s official residence was shouted down and criticised?

How much was allocated to do the same for the residence of the Menteri Besar of Kelantan, another non-BN state?

Does the budget address the hardships of the urban poor? Does it make any sense to say that a 1% increase in the service tax will reduce the cost of living?

What happened to the New Village Master Plan approved some time ago? How much is allocated to it?

Will mega projects result in a reduction in the number of foreign workers?

Budget 2011′™s key strategies
Back to a free mainstream paper.

Budget 2011: Sabah & Sarawak Marginalised
Tony Pua tries to shout as loud as he can!

The vast contributions by the 2 East Malaysian states led by BN state governments to the BN-led Federal Government when contrasted against the meagre returns to the people of Sabah and Sarawak. It is not hence completely not surprising that the people of Sabah and Sarawak believe that they have been royally screwed and we have a Commonwealth Games gold medalist who chose to don Sabah colours and not that of Malaysia.

Our prayer, theology and practice is closely related. Most Christians need to get out more, but not without the needed pauses to know where we are going. Some quick thoughts on the “gap” between “dignity, justice…running over… forgive.”:

For me the work of justice etc, is birthed out of a community that not only recognizes the need to put things right, but also the reality of the need to be forgiven. (That’s a very short sentence which needs unpacking)

Beyond the poetics – which is usually more to spark our imagination to the possible as well as theological, how all this translates to the practical requires, energetic projects & changed politics & policies – that fills those gaps.

A group of committed human agents empowered by this prayer, may paint this new picture from the sky to the ground. And of course, there are other painters as well whom may pray this prayer in a language quite different from what we are familiar with

Applauding Humility (and a good decision by Terry Jones)

Timely.

Bono once said something to the effect, “The fact that the Bible is full of messed up people used to disturb me, but now I find it a great source of comfort.”  No one is beyond redemption.

Why Faith Matters

Politicians like Tony Blair will always get mixed reviews in history.  But what he says here is worth some time.

Sadly, religion can be distorted into violent extremism. Having spiritual beliefs has never rendered a person incapable of doing wrong or evil. But far more often, faith can be a force for good. I have witnessed its positive impact wherever I’ve gone in the world. I’ve seen it at major disasters in the incredible humanitarian efforts of the Red Cross, Islamic Relief, or World Jewish Relief, all organizations inspired by belief. I’ve also seen it in the central role of synagogues, churches, temples, and mosques in helping the poor, vulnerable, and disadvantaged in every country. In every case, men and women of faith who are trying to put the idea of unconditional love into practice are leading these efforts.

We should not allow those who use religion as a divisive force to succeed. We can harness its power and common values to bring us together. This is more important than ever in an age when the Internet, mass communication, and travel are shrinking the world.

POST-COLONIAL THEOLOGY

Some of us have been taking about how the insights of post-modern thinking and post-colonial critique for a while.  Now it’s going mainstream with Brian?

It’s commonplace to talk about the extinction or evaporation of Christian faith in Europe, and in the US, we see this as a sad and tragic thing. But could it be that the faith that has been rejected in Europe is not the essential and original Christian faith, but rather the colonial Christian faith – the chauvinistic, Greco-Roman, consumerist, white-man’s Christian faith? And could it be that this faith should be rejected so something better can emerge in the void it leaves behind?

Could it be that our various modifiers these days signal parallel quests to rediscover – or create, or both – an authentic Christian faith, rooted in God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit, informed by the Scriptures, instructed by Christian tradition and history – and purged of longstanding and deeply embedded patterns of injustice? Could it be that diverse adjectives that have arisen – modifiers like emergent Christianity, big tent Christianity, missional Christianity, not to mention feminist, eco-, Latin American, black, and otherwise modified Christianity – are signs of diverse expressions of the same underlying impulse, or parallel mini-movements that will someday become one integrated movement?

A Transnational Approach to Religion

Is “Trans” going to be the new pre-fix of a lot of upcoming discourse after “post”?

Religion cannot be studied separate from the larger forces of political economy, cultural changes, and impacts of globalization. Religion has sometimes been constructed as a separate sphere of life concerned largely with the private realm in Western academia and media. Such a notion of religion is based largely on the European experience, especially since the Enlightenment. Christianity is often used as a model or a blueprint to study other religious traditions. Sadly, many commentators in the American mass media still uphold such biases, which will not foster mutual respect and dialogue. It is critical to develop a transnational and transcultural approach to the study of religion to meet the challenges of the 21st century.

It seems to me rather than side stepping this matter it’s better to be up front about it. In Norway, they have taken the initiative to combat islamophobia.  How about in Malaysia? Combat christophobia anyone?

The Islamic Council of Norway and the Church of Norway Council on Ecumenical and International Relations jointly declare that everyone is free to adopt the religious faith of their choice. We denounce, and are committed to counteracting all violence, discrimination and harassment inflicted in reaction to a person’s conversion, or desire to convert, from one religion to another, be it in Norway or abroad.

We interpret our religious traditions such that everyone has the right to freely choose their religious belief and faith community, and to practice their religion publicly as well as privately.

Missionary activity and information to others about our faith must be done according to ethically accepted standards, that is, without the use of any form of force or manipulation. If freedom of religion is to be upheld, all conversion must happen freely.
As religious communities we experience joy within our respective contexts whenever a person wishes to share our faith and join our religious community. Therefore we also respect a person’s right to convert to a different religion than our own. 

Oslo, 22nd of August 2007

Missionary Activities and Human Rights: Recommended Ground Rules for Missionary Activities

Rather than telling people that we should stop missionary activities, perhaps the better way forward is the raise the standard and our code of ethics in the way we share about our faith to others and how we invite others to adopt our “religion” or “world view”.  Let’s start with an excerpt on educational services.

Missionary activities and educational services
-    When providing education for others, religious organisations should be transparent about their religious affiliation and/or objectives.

-    Missionary organisations maintain the right of those who run schools to promote their own belief traditions. However, religious organisations should never use the offer of education merely as a tool to gain a foothold within another religious community.

-    When running preschools and schools, religious organisations should respect the religious affiliation of the pupils and not involve them in religious activities or expose them to religious propagation without explicit and voluntary consent of their parents or legal guardians. The schools should not prevent or discourage such children from practising the religion of their family while attending the institution.

-    Where such instruction is customary, organizations that run schools which provide religious instruction should allow access to alternative religious instruction for pupils with different religious affiliations.

Guiding Principles for the Responsible Dissemination of Religion or Belief

14 Principles. Here are some:

To teach, manifest, and disseminate one’s religion or belief is an established human right. Everyone has the right to attempt to convince others of the truth of one’s belief. Everyone has the right to adopt or change religion or belief without coercion and according to the dictates of conscience.

In disseminating faith or beliefs, one should be truthful and fair towards other religions and beliefs. This requires comparing the ideals of one’s own community with the ideals of other communities, and not with the alleged failures of others.

No one should knowingly make false statements regarding any aspect of other religions, nor denigrate or ridicule their beliefs, practices, or origins. Objective information about these religions is always to be desired in order to avoid the spreading of ill-founded judgments and sweeping prejudices.

Using political or economic power or facilitating its spread under the guise of disseminating religious faith or belief is improper and should be rejected.

Malaysia tribes ‘forced to convert’

Malaysia in the news for the wrong reasons again

Indigenous groups in Malaysia are accusing the government of using religion as a condition for development aid.

The ethnic tribes say infrastructure is offered to them if they abandon their animistic ways and embrace Islam – a claim the government rejects.

Foreign medical workers among 10 killed in Afghanistan

Blog reveals Afghanistan medic Karen Woo’s dedication

This is so tragic in the light of so much good these medical workers have done for Afghanistan.

The BBC understands that Dr Woo gave up a well-paid job with private healthcare provider Bupa to work in Afghanistan for minimal financial reward.

She died alongside six Americans, a German and two Afghan interpreters who had been working with Christian charity the International Assistance Mission to provide eye care in remote villages.

Her blog posts reveal that she was driven by a desire to improve the lives of ordinary Afghans – and spread the word about their plight.

RETHINKING THE SEX CRISES IN CATHOLICISM AND ANGLICANISM, PART 2

RETHINKING THE SEX CRISES IN CATHOLICISM AND ANGLICANISM, PART 3

I’m glad I slowly ploughed through the three articles.  My favorite line is a quote from Gregory of Nyssa

"Any theory divorced from living examples … is like an unbreathing statue."

My Response to Al Mohler and the Age of the Earth

How Should BioLogos Respond to Dr. Albert Mohler’s Critique: Pete’s Response

Interesting to know why Peter Enn’s had to respond.

He mentioned in his presentation the BioLogos Foundation as a being on the wrong side of this culture war, a since we are not biblical literalists and we feel science affects how we read the biblical account of creation. Along the way, Mohler made numerous statments about Darwin, science, and biblical interpretation that are simply wrong, ungenerous, and potentially misleading to his listeners, so we thought we would respond.

Protest at Appointment of N.T. Wright to St. Andrews

Something a little lighter but no less significant Ironic insights.

(1) In the USA Tom Wright is regarded in some circles as the greatest threat to orthodoxy since Marcion, yet in the UK he’s chastised as a traditionalist and no one gives a flying donut roll about his views of Paul.

(2) The liberal left is, well, not really liberal (i.e. generous). They talk and cry about "inclusiveness", "diversity", and "tolerance" which is their gospel, and yet they are not willing to include those who have a different vision of human sexuality, ethics, and religion than they do! And yet they have the gall to call evangelical Christians hypocrites

Redrawing boundaries for electoral success

Snap Elections soon?

But there is one reason why BN might not call for an election as early as 2011. And that is because the redrawing of electoral boundaries, an exercise allowed by law not less than eight years after the last one, can at the earliest commence only next year, in 2011. If the analysis that electoral delimitation usually favours the ruling party is true, then BN would want to wait until the exercise was completed, usually in two years.

Selangor PKR: Joceline Tan is wrong

This is not the first time Joceline Tan has been “outed”. Wan Saiful keeps it short and snappy:

What PKR has done in Selangor is not just good governance, but also visionary. By separating the party from the state in Selangor, PKR has leapt ahead of other parties. The party administration must be separate from the state administration. These two serve different roles. They must not be mixed.

Rosmah ad placed on govt’s behalf

This is the most read article in the Nut Graph.  Interesting. A sample of investigative journalism.  We are still waiting for a response? Or did I miss it?

The Nut Graph contacted both Jamaluddin’s office in Washington, DC and the Prime Minister’s Office in Putrajaya last week about the government’s involvement in the ad, and how much it cost.

Both offices confirmed having received The Nut Graph‘s questions, but neither has replied thus far

Suara Keadilan suspended

Predictable?

Muhyiddin to Umno: Change soon or risk being overtaken

I’m a little out of touch lately.  Slowly getting back into the information loop. This article makes me wonder “why do we change?”  to what end? Some say this is “real politics”. Hmmm.

“Umno should have changed, but it was slow. Umno is like an old ship. We are not perceived as moving rapidly, so this is more critical if we are to face the 13th general election which is less than three years from now.

“If we (Umno) do not change, there will be people who will change us. They will take over (our role),” he said when opening the Putrajaya Umno delegates meeting, here tonight.

PM tells Malay contractors fate tied to Umno

I think statements like the following puzzles those who desire a better Malaysia for all. But I guess we’ll have to wait and see how all this plays out in the coming year. More media analysis needed.  Or is it so glaring for all to see?

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak told Malay contractors last night not to be complacent as their fate was tied to Umno.

“The fate of Umno and that of the Malay contractors is inseparable,” he said when officiating the 31st annual general meeting of the Malay Contractors Association (PKMM).

“Malay contractors have to continue to support Umno.”

He likened the mutually beneficial relationship between Malay contractors and Umno to twohands clapping, citing the initiatives and incentives provisioned in the New Economic Model (NEM).

Japan vs Paraguay: Penalty-kick heartbreak for Japan, but Asian soccer on the rise

It would have been really nice if Japan went through.  But then, balls hit the cross bar!

We’ll win World Cup for Africa – Ghana

That’s the spirit!

“Nobody gave us a chance to be in the quarterfinals and now we have to move on one more step to set a new African record in the competition. We have everything to do well and we just have to double our efforts to achieve results for Africa.”

Top 2010 World Cup controversies

Controversies sell.

World Cup 2010 flops by United States and England bitter disappointments on both sides of the Pond

Ouch .

Now England and USA are out of the competition, those of us that love the sport can enjoy watching quality teams like Brazil,Argentina and Germany in action to see how the beautiful game should be played.

World Cup 2010: Kaka Believes Netherlands Game Is One To Watch

I think so too.