Tuesday, February 8, 2011
South Sudan is a new country
View Larger Map
Southern Sudan, (Arabic: جنوب السودان, Janūb as-Sūdān) also known as South Sudan, is an autonomous region in the southern part of the Sudan, soon to become an independent country. Juba is its capital city. It is bordered by Ethiopia to the east; Kenya, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the south; and the Central African Republic to the west. To the north lies the predominantly Arab and Muslim region directly under the control of the central government, with its capital at Khartoum. Southern Sudan includes the vast swamp region of the Sudd formed by the White Nile, locally called the Bahr al Jebel. The region's autonomous status is a condition of a peace agreement between the Sudan People's Liberation Army/Movement (SPLA/M) and the Government of Sudan represented by the National Congress Party ending the Second Sudanese Civil War. The conflict was Africa's longest running civil war
Wrong Perception of civil war
North Sudan has historically had close ties with Egypt and is predominantly Arab and Muslim. Sudanese Arabs are, to the distinction of Middle Eastern Arabs, primarily descended from Nubians, who were arabised through immigration, intermarriage, and the introduction of Islam and the Arabic language. British colonial powers exacerbated the differences between the northern and southern parts of Sudan and arguably laid the seed for the conflict that followed after Sudan declared its independence in 1956.
There is wrong perception that the civil war of Sudan is war between Islamic Sudan of the North, and Christian South Sudan. North Sudan's population is mainly Arab and Muslim. South Sudan is predominantly Animists with a Christian minority (15 to 20%), so it is not Christian majority, but animists majority.
So it is not civil war based on religion, it is not religion war. It is political....
South Sudan independence
A referendum on independence for Southern Sudan was held from 9–15 January 2011. Preliminary results released by the Southern Sudan Referendum Commission on 30 January 2011 indicate that 98% of voters selected the "separation" option, with 1% selecting "unity". The final resuls were announced on 7 February with 98.83% of the electorate opting for secession. The Sudanese Government accepted the outcome of the referendum the same day. Southern Sudan is expected to become an independent country on 9 July 2011.
The Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) defines Southern Sudan as three southern provinces (Bahr el Ghazal, Equatoria, and Upper Nile) of the Southern Sudan Autonomous Region, leaving out Nuba Mountains, Abyei and Blue Nile. Abyei will hold a referendum on joining Southern Sudan or staying under Sudanese control, while Nuba Mountains (South Kurdufan as a whole) and Blue Nile are required to hold ill-defined "popular consultations".
Related articles
(i)North Sudan separatists celebrate referendum result in Khartoum,http://www.sudantribune.com/North-Sudan-separatists-celebrate,37912
(2)It's official: South Sudan set to secede with a 99.57 percent vote, http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Africa/2011/0130/It-s-official-South-Sudan-set-to-secede-with-a-99.57-percent-vote
(3)South Sudan votes to secede, http://english.aljazeera.net/news/africa/2011/02/20112714264792774.html
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Today is New Year Day for Chinese, Korean & Vietnamese
Today is Chinese New Year, we wish all Chinese Happy Chinese New Year. It is also Korean New Year, Vietnamese New Year. Happy Korean New year, happy Vietnamese new year.
It used to be the new year for Japanese, shōgatsu but they had changed from lunar calendar Gregorian calendar after 1873, five years from the Meiji Restoration.
To all Chinese, Korean and Vietnamese all over the world;
新年快樂; 새해 복 많이 받으세요;Vạn sự như ý
This year is the year of rabbit for Chinese; and the year of cat for Vietnamese
Chinese New Year(春节)
Chinese New Year - often called Chinese Lunar New Year although it actually is lunisolar - is the most important of the traditional Chinese holidays. Despite its winter occurrence, in China it is known as "Spring Festival," the literal translation of the Chinese name 春节 (Pinyin: Chūn Jié), owing to the difference between Western and traditional Chinese methods for computing the seasons. The festival begins on the first day of the first month (Chinese: 正月; pinyin: Zhēng Yuè) in the traditional Chinese calendar and ends with Lantern Festival which is on the 15th day. Chinese New Year's Eve, a day where Chinese families gather for their annual reunion dinner, is known as Chú Xī (除夕) or "Eve of the Passing Year."
Not only in Mainland China, Chinese all over the world celebrate the same Chinese New Year. Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, and all China towns in the world, including London,San Francisco, New York, Los Angeles; Wellington, Sydney, Vancouver....
Wherever you are, I wish all Chinese over the world; 新年快樂
Korean New Year(설날,Seolnal)
Korean New Year, commonly known as Seolnal (Hangul: 설날; RR: Seolnal; MR: Sǒlnal), is the first day of the lunar calendar. It is the most important of the traditional Korean holidays. It consists of a period of celebrations, starting on New Year's Day.
Wish all Korean all over the world;
새해 복 많이 받으세요
Vietnamese New Year(Tết Nguyên Đán or Tet)
This year is the year of cat(mèo/mão) for Vietnamese.
In the Vietnamese zodiac, the "cat" replaces the "rabbit" in the Chinese zodiac. Thus, a child born in the Chinese year of the rabbit was also born in the Vietnamese year of the cat (mèo/mão).
Tết Nguyên Đán, more commonly known by its shortened name Tết or "Vietnamese Lunar New Year", is the most important and popular holiday and festival in Vietnam. It is the Vietnamese New Year marking the arrival of spring based on the Lunar calendar, a lunisolar calendar. The name Tết Nguyên Đán is Sino-Vietnamese for Feast of the First Morning, derived from the Hán nôm characters 節元旦.
Tết is celebrated on the same day as Chinese New Year though exceptions arise due to the one-hour time difference between Hanoi and Beijing resulting in the alternate calculation of the new moon. It takes place from the first day of the first month of the Lunar calendar (around late January or early February) until at least the third day. Many Vietnamese prepare for Tết by cooking special holiday foods and cleaning the house. There are a lot of customs practiced during Tết, such as visiting a person's house on the first day of the new year (xông nhà), ancestral worshipping, wishing New Year's greetings, giving lucky money to children and elderly people, and opening a shop.
Tết is also an occasion for pilgrims and family reunions. During Tết, Vietnamese visit their relatives and temples, forgetting about the troubles of the past year and hoping for a better upcoming year. They consider Tết to be the first day of spring and the festival is often called Hội xuân (spring festival).
Wish all Vietnamese all over the world;
Vạn sự như ý
To all Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese and even Japanese, i wish you all and the world
"歲歲平安"(everlasting peace year after year)
It used to be the new year for Japanese, shōgatsu but they had changed from lunar calendar Gregorian calendar after 1873, five years from the Meiji Restoration.
To all Chinese, Korean and Vietnamese all over the world;
新年快樂; 새해 복 많이 받으세요;Vạn sự như ý
This year is the year of rabbit for Chinese; and the year of cat for Vietnamese
Chinese New Year(春节)
Chinese New Year - often called Chinese Lunar New Year although it actually is lunisolar - is the most important of the traditional Chinese holidays. Despite its winter occurrence, in China it is known as "Spring Festival," the literal translation of the Chinese name 春节 (Pinyin: Chūn Jié), owing to the difference between Western and traditional Chinese methods for computing the seasons. The festival begins on the first day of the first month (Chinese: 正月; pinyin: Zhēng Yuè) in the traditional Chinese calendar and ends with Lantern Festival which is on the 15th day. Chinese New Year's Eve, a day where Chinese families gather for their annual reunion dinner, is known as Chú Xī (除夕) or "Eve of the Passing Year."
Not only in Mainland China, Chinese all over the world celebrate the same Chinese New Year. Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, and all China towns in the world, including London,San Francisco, New York, Los Angeles; Wellington, Sydney, Vancouver....
Wherever you are, I wish all Chinese over the world; 新年快樂
Korean New Year(설날,Seolnal)
Korean New Year, commonly known as Seolnal (Hangul: 설날; RR: Seolnal; MR: Sǒlnal), is the first day of the lunar calendar. It is the most important of the traditional Korean holidays. It consists of a period of celebrations, starting on New Year's Day.
Wish all Korean all over the world;
새해 복 많이 받으세요
Vietnamese New Year(Tết Nguyên Đán or Tet)
This year is the year of cat(mèo/mão) for Vietnamese.
In the Vietnamese zodiac, the "cat" replaces the "rabbit" in the Chinese zodiac. Thus, a child born in the Chinese year of the rabbit was also born in the Vietnamese year of the cat (mèo/mão).
Tết Nguyên Đán, more commonly known by its shortened name Tết or "Vietnamese Lunar New Year", is the most important and popular holiday and festival in Vietnam. It is the Vietnamese New Year marking the arrival of spring based on the Lunar calendar, a lunisolar calendar. The name Tết Nguyên Đán is Sino-Vietnamese for Feast of the First Morning, derived from the Hán nôm characters 節元旦.
Tết is celebrated on the same day as Chinese New Year though exceptions arise due to the one-hour time difference between Hanoi and Beijing resulting in the alternate calculation of the new moon. It takes place from the first day of the first month of the Lunar calendar (around late January or early February) until at least the third day. Many Vietnamese prepare for Tết by cooking special holiday foods and cleaning the house. There are a lot of customs practiced during Tết, such as visiting a person's house on the first day of the new year (xông nhà), ancestral worshipping, wishing New Year's greetings, giving lucky money to children and elderly people, and opening a shop.
Tết is also an occasion for pilgrims and family reunions. During Tết, Vietnamese visit their relatives and temples, forgetting about the troubles of the past year and hoping for a better upcoming year. They consider Tết to be the first day of spring and the festival is often called Hội xuân (spring festival).
Wish all Vietnamese all over the world;
Vạn sự như ý
To all Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese and even Japanese, i wish you all and the world
"歲歲平安"(everlasting peace year after year)
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Today is Reunion dinner!
Even this is a Chinese reunion dinner day, we remember people who had bought laughter, touching moments, and many many good things all the years in the past...
Remember our parents and grandparents,
Remember brothers and sisters,
Remember our friends, especially childhood friends,
Remember people who are not going home for reunion ,due to their respective duties,
Remember Yasmin Ahmad, for the colorful Chinese New Year advertisements; and P Ramli for black and white comedy movie in the 60s .... they are special...
Have a nice reunion dinner.
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
The Power of Social Media & Egypt Uprising
The people power, the power of the social media....
It is Internet Revolution of Egypt....
Wael Ghonim, Head of Marketing of Google Middle East and North Africa.
Google, Facebook.....
The revolution using the social media; it remind me of revolution using letter hiding in moon-cake in ancient China. By using communication tools,the message was passed to the masses, the message of revolution, the message of people; for democracy , for better Egypt....for freedom from bondage...
The movement to drive Mubarak out has been built on the work of online activists and fueled by deep frustration with an autocratic regime blamed for ignoring the needs of the poor and allowing corruption and official abuse to run rampant. After years of tight state control, protesters emboldened by the Tunisia unrest took to the streets on Jan. 25 and mounted a once-unimaginable series of protests across this nation of 80 million.
The repercussions were being felt around the Mideast, as other authoritarian governments fearing popular discontent pre-emptively tried to burnish their democratic image.
Social media help to spread democracy....no wonder they are worry...
After Tunisia, Egypt; which is the next country? Dictators beware....
You can ban the facebook, you can ban youtube, you can ban bloggers; but there is always loop holes. And we have wikileaks, wikipedia,......
It is Internet Revolution of Egypt....
Wael Ghonim, Head of Marketing of Google Middle East and North Africa.
Google, Facebook.....
The revolution using the social media; it remind me of revolution using letter hiding in moon-cake in ancient China. By using communication tools,the message was passed to the masses, the message of revolution, the message of people; for democracy , for better Egypt....for freedom from bondage...
The movement to drive Mubarak out has been built on the work of online activists and fueled by deep frustration with an autocratic regime blamed for ignoring the needs of the poor and allowing corruption and official abuse to run rampant. After years of tight state control, protesters emboldened by the Tunisia unrest took to the streets on Jan. 25 and mounted a once-unimaginable series of protests across this nation of 80 million.
The repercussions were being felt around the Mideast, as other authoritarian governments fearing popular discontent pre-emptively tried to burnish their democratic image.
Social media help to spread democracy....no wonder they are worry...
After Tunisia, Egypt; which is the next country? Dictators beware....
You can ban the facebook, you can ban youtube, you can ban bloggers; but there is always loop holes. And we have wikileaks, wikipedia,......
Obama's delemma in Egypt Uprising
USA is always promoted themselves as democracy champion, Human right champion. But when the Egyptian people called for the help from the democracy champion, President Obama was undecided, he was in dilemma what to do. May be he is waiting for his strategists to come up with the SWOT analysis, what is the benefit for the change in government. That is the hidden agenda for whatever USA done. What is the benefit to the USA? that is the ultimate agenda of their foreign policy. Not democracy, not human right. There are no standard, it is the benefits that count.
If you are the champion of democracy, the champion of human right; you will act promptly regardless of races,religion, location. You should support the people for their choice of government, it is their country, not your country. You should support them as human right advocate, regardless of religion, race or location. The issue is democracy, human right and it affect the people, the neighbor, the world ; not what USA benefit from the change. If you are true champion of democracy, you decided on the basis. USA have all his right and liberty to think for themselves, but please do not portray as world champion of democracy...you are like any country, the benefit of the country come first; so why double standard and use own standard to judge others?.....
May be USA was worried about Muslim Brotherhood as future ruler, but Nobel laureate Mohamad ElBaradei insists that "the Mubarak government uses its Islamic opposition as an excuse for continue authoritarian rule.". Some said USA support ElBaradei, as candidate for the next President, so what he said may have some truth?....
The actual force behind the crisis is the youth of Egypt, the ordinary people, inspired by Tunisia, which trigger the anger that has been hidden in their heart. The threshold point has broken, the personal anger exploded into a crowd effect, it become contagion and the emotion spread. Just simple, the voices of people, the anger of the people; ordinary people. It is people power. Like Philippine, like Burma, it need support from the other stakeholder to achieve their objective. They need a champion to help them..... and yet the democracy champion has to count their cost.
It revealed the actual face of the democracy champion. Remember Iraq, how the CIA helped the dictatorship of Saddam Hussein, and later disposed him when he no longer meet their objective in the Middle East strategy. Remember how the CIA was involved in Tibet. And many that they have support and the dictatorship for the country was evolved. Are they the champion of democracy?....
Muslim Brotherhood is now allied with legal Egyptian political groups and tied to Egyptian professional unions, university campuses, and social welfare programs, the Brotherhood is a “peaceful” group that “could draw moderate Muslims who identify with [its] ideology to participate in electoral politics, thereby isolating violent jihadis.” Indeed, the Brotherhood denounced a recent terrorist attack in Egypt as a “cowardly act” and is not on the U.S. State Department’s terrorist list....Though banned by Mubarak’s regime from participating in parliamentary elections, the Brotherhood has 17 supportive representatives in the Egyptian Parliament and is supporting ElBaradei’s leadership role in forming a new government without Mubarak(source: http://news.yahoo.com/s/atlantic/20110131/cm_atlantic/themuslimbrotherhoodthefutureofegypt6780).
Some are worried this is the Islamic Wave and not Movement for democracy....or is it a uprising of Pan Arab Movement?
Some said the results of the current uprising in Egypt will look like Iran's 1979 revolution. There will be another Ayatollah Khomeini. Many who fear that Egypt's revolution will turn out like Iran, envision the Muslim Brotherhood as the post-revolutionary autocratic regime. They say, "Revolutions are dangerous, and the post-revolutionary period is often autocratic". That is USA's actual worry, they are not worry about democracy, the human right, they are worry about the strategic position if there is the change of government when their good friend Mubarak was out. If he meet their strategic requirement, he still can continue as dictator; and the human right of the Egypt people is secondary.....they only ask for reform. To USA, Saddam Hussein can be good friend if he meet their strategic objective....and be a good follower like UK.
May be the recent economic problem has make USA weaker in their global strategic position; they can only focus and use differentiation strategy. China is more strategic importance to think about other region. Their concern is focus on Korea, Japan, Taiwan bloc; The Arabic bloc; and Africa can be of secondary. The strategic goal is still economy. The up and coming economic rivals from China and India. Forget about Burma, forget about Egypt, may be to USA, they are like East Timor, peanut in their strategy position.
We respect their worry, it hold water in a way. But this is emergency call from Egypt people; why are they holding on their help?.....USA's middle east strategy and the threat to their power base, the threat to Israel if the new government of Egypt is hostile to Israel, are the main causes for worry....
Democracy is demon go crazy if use for ultimate motive; true democracy should be for the benefit of the people. Not the absolute democracy to do whatever they like, the liberty without restriction, and double standard democracy, which will create another demon, the dictatorship....may be democracy is only for superpowers, to do whatever they like, without constraints, like the king with liberty to do anything...is it democracy?. Dictator has "democratic right" too, as demon that can do anything, can go crazy; democracy champion can also be a dictator under he disguise of democracy, to do whatever thing they like, they have military power. I am the champion, you follow my style, my rule of democracy games. Otherwise you are against "democracy".... so who is the actual champion of democracy?...USA is a hypocrite as democracy champion.
Democracy or Demon, Whatever that happen, only the Egypt people has the right to determine their future; to choose their own government, their own way of life, without disturbing others.....if they want Egyptian Ayatollah Khomeini, or even Egyptian Saddam Hussein, that is their choice, their democratic right, their human right. We have no right to choose for them....
Just pray that there will not be any opportunist who robbed the fruit of people uprising in Egypt, pray that the event in Egypt will bring peace and stability to Egypt as well as the world. Where people benefits, not the superpowers, the rulers, the politicians; but the ordinary people.
Best wishes to Egypt people....let the Red Sea open for them....
Related articles
1. Nasrallah: Egyptians fighting for Arab dignity, http://www.tehrantimes.com/index_View.asp?code=235394
2. Pan-Arabism, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pan-Arabism
3. The Muslim Brotherhood: True or False, http://www.humanrightsfirst.org/2011/02/08/the-muslim-brotherhood-true-or-false/
If you are the champion of democracy, the champion of human right; you will act promptly regardless of races,religion, location. You should support the people for their choice of government, it is their country, not your country. You should support them as human right advocate, regardless of religion, race or location. The issue is democracy, human right and it affect the people, the neighbor, the world ; not what USA benefit from the change. If you are true champion of democracy, you decided on the basis. USA have all his right and liberty to think for themselves, but please do not portray as world champion of democracy...you are like any country, the benefit of the country come first; so why double standard and use own standard to judge others?.....
May be USA was worried about Muslim Brotherhood as future ruler, but Nobel laureate Mohamad ElBaradei insists that "the Mubarak government uses its Islamic opposition as an excuse for continue authoritarian rule.". Some said USA support ElBaradei, as candidate for the next President, so what he said may have some truth?....
The actual force behind the crisis is the youth of Egypt, the ordinary people, inspired by Tunisia, which trigger the anger that has been hidden in their heart. The threshold point has broken, the personal anger exploded into a crowd effect, it become contagion and the emotion spread. Just simple, the voices of people, the anger of the people; ordinary people. It is people power. Like Philippine, like Burma, it need support from the other stakeholder to achieve their objective. They need a champion to help them..... and yet the democracy champion has to count their cost.
It revealed the actual face of the democracy champion. Remember Iraq, how the CIA helped the dictatorship of Saddam Hussein, and later disposed him when he no longer meet their objective in the Middle East strategy. Remember how the CIA was involved in Tibet. And many that they have support and the dictatorship for the country was evolved. Are they the champion of democracy?....
Muslim Brotherhood is now allied with legal Egyptian political groups and tied to Egyptian professional unions, university campuses, and social welfare programs, the Brotherhood is a “peaceful” group that “could draw moderate Muslims who identify with [its] ideology to participate in electoral politics, thereby isolating violent jihadis.” Indeed, the Brotherhood denounced a recent terrorist attack in Egypt as a “cowardly act” and is not on the U.S. State Department’s terrorist list....Though banned by Mubarak’s regime from participating in parliamentary elections, the Brotherhood has 17 supportive representatives in the Egyptian Parliament and is supporting ElBaradei’s leadership role in forming a new government without Mubarak(source: http://news.yahoo.com/s/atlantic/20110131/cm_atlantic/themuslimbrotherhoodthefutureofegypt6780).
Some are worried this is the Islamic Wave and not Movement for democracy....or is it a uprising of Pan Arab Movement?
Some said the results of the current uprising in Egypt will look like Iran's 1979 revolution. There will be another Ayatollah Khomeini. Many who fear that Egypt's revolution will turn out like Iran, envision the Muslim Brotherhood as the post-revolutionary autocratic regime. They say, "Revolutions are dangerous, and the post-revolutionary period is often autocratic". That is USA's actual worry, they are not worry about democracy, the human right, they are worry about the strategic position if there is the change of government when their good friend Mubarak was out. If he meet their strategic requirement, he still can continue as dictator; and the human right of the Egypt people is secondary.....they only ask for reform. To USA, Saddam Hussein can be good friend if he meet their strategic objective....and be a good follower like UK.
May be the recent economic problem has make USA weaker in their global strategic position; they can only focus and use differentiation strategy. China is more strategic importance to think about other region. Their concern is focus on Korea, Japan, Taiwan bloc; The Arabic bloc; and Africa can be of secondary. The strategic goal is still economy. The up and coming economic rivals from China and India. Forget about Burma, forget about Egypt, may be to USA, they are like East Timor, peanut in their strategy position.
We respect their worry, it hold water in a way. But this is emergency call from Egypt people; why are they holding on their help?.....USA's middle east strategy and the threat to their power base, the threat to Israel if the new government of Egypt is hostile to Israel, are the main causes for worry....
Democracy is demon go crazy if use for ultimate motive; true democracy should be for the benefit of the people. Not the absolute democracy to do whatever they like, the liberty without restriction, and double standard democracy, which will create another demon, the dictatorship....may be democracy is only for superpowers, to do whatever they like, without constraints, like the king with liberty to do anything...is it democracy?. Dictator has "democratic right" too, as demon that can do anything, can go crazy; democracy champion can also be a dictator under he disguise of democracy, to do whatever thing they like, they have military power. I am the champion, you follow my style, my rule of democracy games. Otherwise you are against "democracy".... so who is the actual champion of democracy?...USA is a hypocrite as democracy champion.
Democracy or Demon, Whatever that happen, only the Egypt people has the right to determine their future; to choose their own government, their own way of life, without disturbing others.....if they want Egyptian Ayatollah Khomeini, or even Egyptian Saddam Hussein, that is their choice, their democratic right, their human right. We have no right to choose for them....
Just pray that there will not be any opportunist who robbed the fruit of people uprising in Egypt, pray that the event in Egypt will bring peace and stability to Egypt as well as the world. Where people benefits, not the superpowers, the rulers, the politicians; but the ordinary people.
Best wishes to Egypt people....let the Red Sea open for them....
Related articles
1. Nasrallah: Egyptians fighting for Arab dignity, http://www.tehrantimes.com/index_View.asp?code=235394
2. Pan-Arabism, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pan-Arabism
3. The Muslim Brotherhood: True or False, http://www.humanrightsfirst.org/2011/02/08/the-muslim-brotherhood-true-or-false/
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
