Syed Ahmad Fathi's Blog, page 4

DSA2024: Malaysia Madani Alu-Alukan Syarikat Pembekal Senjata Kepada Israel

Malaysia Madani telah mengalu-alukan kedatangan syarikat-syarikat senjata ke Defence Services Asia and National Security Asia 2024 yang berlangsung di Kuala Lumpur pada 6-9 Mei 2024. Pameran senjata ini dilakukan ketika Perang Taufan Al-Aqsa masih berlangsung di Gaza, Palestin dan tentera Israel sedang memulakan serangan mereka untuk membunuh wanita dan kanak-kanak di Rafah. Antara syarikat yang diundang oleh kerajaan Malaysia Madani adalah Lockheed Martin dan BAE System yang membekalkan senjata kepada Israel untuk membunuh anak-anak Gaza.

Apabila dipersoalkan perihal sikap hipokrasi ini, Menteri Pertahanan telah mengeluarkan kenyataan untuk mempertahankan syarikat yang membekalkan senjata pada Israel ini. Khaled Norden mengatakan bahawa “Malaysia adalah sebuah negara perdagangan bebas yang memberi ruang kepada semua pemain industri global untuk memasarkan produk dan perkhidmatan mereka di Malaysia”. Ini secara terang-terangan telah menunjukkan sifat hipokrit kerajaan Malaysia Madani dalam solidaritinya kepada Palestin. Sementara negara lain seperti Turki telah memutuskan aktiviti perdagangan ekonomi dengan Israel, Malaysia hanya bersolidariti dengan “cakap-cakap” sahaja tanpa ada usaha yang konkrit dan berkesan.

Insiden ini juga memperlihatkan bahawa kerajaan Malaysia Madani menyokong syarikat pembekal senjata pada Israel. Kerajaan Malaysia Madani juga melalui kenyataannya kelihatan istiqamah dalam mempertahankan syarikat yang membekalkan senjata kepada Israel seperti Lockheed Martin dan BAE System.

Sepatutnya melihat gambar kanak-kanak Gaza yang pecah kepalanya, terburai perutnya, terbakar badannya, hasil pengeboman Israel menggunakan senjata Lockheed Martin dan BAE System akan membuatkan kita menitikkan air mata. Seolah begitu murah harga nyawa anak-anak kita di Rafah. Namun, disebalik semua kekejaman ini, kerajaan kita masih menyambut syarikat pembekal senjata yang membunuh kanak-kanak ini atas nama “kebebasan perdagangan”. Perkara ini sangat memalukan.

Ini juga menunjukkan bahawa kerajaan Malaysia Madani masih dibelenggu pemikiran kolonial. Sebelum ini, ketika seorang professor pro-kolonial datang, ada intelektual yang membosankan memberi alasan mempertahankannya atas nama kebebasan bersuara. Apabila syarikat yang membekalkan senjata kepada pembunuhan anak-anak di Rafah datang, kerajaan Malaysia Madani memberi alasan Malaysia mengamalkan kebebasan perdagangan. Begitulah “kebebasan” ditunggang untuk menghalalkan kolonialisme dan pembunuhan. Memalukan negara kita masih mengagungkan syarikat yang membunuh anak-anak kita.

Insiden ini pada pandangan saya sangat memalukan Malaysia. Solidariti Malaysia Madani kepada Palestin kelihatan sebagai slogan dan sembang kosong kerana masih menjemput datang syarikat yang membunuh anak-anak kita di Gaza. Solidariti seperti ini adalah solidariti palsu, sepatutnya syarikat senjata ini diludah dan dihalau keluar, bukan dijemput masuk membuat pameran. Nampaknya intelektual dan kerajaan kita masih tertawan, dengan kolonialisma dan pembunuhan pun masih belum dapat membebaskan diri dan pemikiran. Sangat memalukan. Untuk menyatakan protes saya kepada polisi Kerajaan Madani yang pro syarikat pembekal senjata kepada Israel ini, saya telah berdemo dalam Diaspora Podcast  bersama Saudara Nazreen. Dengarkan di Spotify.

The post DSA2024: Malaysia Madani Alu-Alukan Syarikat Pembekal Senjata Kepada Israel appeared first on The Independent Insight.

Environmental History: A Malaysian Personal Reflection

Introduction

Traditional history has been heavily focused on documenting wars and human conflicts as history gradually asserts itself to be a specialized field in documenting human affairs. These can be seen, for example, in the early work of historians such as Herodotus, who gave us an account on the Greco-Persian Wars using oral sources as his main materials to construct his writing.[1] But since Herodotus, history as a field has evolved in its methodologies and scope. No longer is history confined to the narrow subject of human conflicts. It has proliferated and covers a wider scope of human activities, including economics, social aspects, education and others.

Recently, I was introduced with another branch of history called environmental history in a special lecture by David Biggs, a visiting professor at Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), Penang from the University of California, Riverside, US, with a Ph.D in history with concentrations in modern Southeast Asia.[2] The lecture was refreshing as Biggs explored how we can study the effect of human activities on the environment, recording the changes and make sense of it. I did some pre-reading before the lecture and understood that Biggs had done some research in Vietnam on the impact of the Indo-China War on the population.[3] This led me to wonder whether Biggs had studied the effect of Agent Orange, a chemical compound used by the US troops in their war in Vietnam.[4] We discussed this topic in the question-and-answer session, which I find very fulfilling.

After the lecture, I was interested to read more about this topic and contacted Professor Biggs to ask whether he brought with him some of his books in physical copy. I had a hard time reading lengthy materials electronically, especially with two kids around the house. The day after the lecture, I dropped by his office in USM to discuss further on the lecture’s topic. To my surprise, it was a splendid discussion that lasted more than 2 hours. We discussed topics from the Mekong River up to the world of academia in California. Although I did not manage to get the book that I intended, Professor Biggs gracefully lent me another book, titled Ways of Being: Animals, Plants, Machines: The Search for a Planetary Intelligence written by James Bridle. To this book I will cast my focus next.

Ways of Being

The book started at Epirus, Greece, where the global oil giant, Repsol SA, was using artificial intelligence (AI) to exploit the oil reserves located beneath the soil of the forest and villages. Bridle contended that the use of the word “intelligence” is somewhat ironic, as he cannot fathom the effect that this intelligence will have on the environment.

What sort of intelligence actively participates in the drilling, draining and despoliation of the few remaining wildernesses on earth, in the name of an idea of progress we already know to be doomed? This is not an intelligence I recognize.[5]

I very much agreed with Bridle on this; for too long, humans have used their creativity and intellect to destroy and kill. Just think of the organized industrialized killing today; how precious life can be taken before their time just by a click of a button. Thousands of children lost their future in horrible wars in Ukraine and Gaza. It reminds me of the words of the late Carl Sagan after he looked at the image of earth taken by Voyager 1 at a distance of 3.7 billion miles (6 billion kilometers) from the Sun.[6] From that distance, the earth is just a small speck of pale blue dot. The image, Sagan contended, should make us more humble with one another, and it should make us seek peace instead of spilling rivers of blood. The image later became an inspiration for the title of his book; in it, Sagan discussed how future humans can settle into another planet, terraforming and re-engineering the planet to make it habitable.[7] In some sense, Sagan may have just discussed the future of environmental history, the scope of which includes the cosmic environment.

The underlying engine, in my view, of the creative and intelligent destruction of the planet is economics. Bridle touched this when he said that the destruction happens because we wanted “to maintain our current rate of growth, at whatever cost necessary.”[8] This was largely enabled by the underlying ideology in economics that more growth is a good thing. The need to reform the economic model has long been discussed in literature. One way of doing it, according to David Orrell, is to include ethics in the economic equation.[9] Growth cannot be our primary objective while discarding everything else; economics must be guided with sound ethics to make it sustainable. As we strive for endless growth, we must always bear in mind that the resources we have in the environment are finite.

In his introduction, Bridle also touched on the “anthropocene,” which described the current time in which human activity actively shapes the environment and the planet itself.[10] I first was introduced to the concept by Prof. Biggs in his first lecture. But Bridle put forward a different thinking: instead of just humans affecting nature, it is also the other way around; nature and environments are affecting us. In fact, he argued that this binary thinking is not the correct way of perceiving our reality: there is no us and nature, in ecological terms; we are nature, we are part of the planet and the changes within it.

Another interesting point discussed by Bridle is the nature of intelligence. Bridle argued that intelligence was not uniquely human; the work in biological and behavioral sciences, he argued, has opened up the understanding of different and non-human intelligences.[11] Reading his take on intelligence makes me wonder whether he took this idea from one of the books that I had read by Rupert Sheldrake. A quick glance at the bibliography did not register Rupert’s name, but it is interesting to find that his son, Merlin Sheldrake, was listed. Sheldrake (the father) was a dissident scientist. He, in my view, takes the matter deeper. Intelligence presupposed consciousness. Sheldrake in his discussion challenged the materialism point of view about the nature of consciousness and went to discuss consciousness in nonbiological matter, including in the atoms.[12]

According to Bridle, different forms of intelligence arise as a result of different umwelt acting on the being.[13] This means that the environment has conditioned every certain being for a certain set of behavior.[14] Consequently, different forms of intelligence must be judged differently; it cannot be judged using the basis of human intelligence. This human bias will blind ourselves to other forms of intelligence as we see them to be intelligent only if they can imitate what a human can do. Apart from umwelt, each animals have individuality and personality, according to Bridle, so they can behave differently for the same set of experiments.[15] They are not an exact clone copy. This conclusion, in my view, is parallel to other previous studies on animals. For example, Jane Goodall, who studied the chimpanzee, noted that they have “a unique personality and each has his or her own individual life history.”[16] To illustrate his point, Bridle discussed the various aspects of intelligence found in apes, elephants and cephalopods.[17] In a way, he wanted to dispel the notion that intelligence is exclusive only to humans. Reviewing the scientific literature, he went further: not only humans and animals have a form of intelligence, Bridle also discussed how intelligence was found in plants. This form of intelligence includes a plant’s ability to hear, communicate, collaborate and store memories without a brain.[18] Plants also were observed to be migrating according to the changing climate condition.[19] We as humans always perceived intelligence using our human bias; we fell into the trap of anthropocentrism and anthropomorphism, which makes us view intelligence as the ability of other beings do what humans can do. This view, according to Bridle, is the mistaken view of perceiving intelligence. It will blind us from other forms of intelligence and other forms of worlds around us.  

After exploring the intelligence in animals and plants, Bridle explored the intelligence of our human ancestors. How we as a species was actually a product of the interbreeding of Sapiens, Neanderthals and Denisovans. He also challenges our perception of our ancestors; instead of ancient savages, they might also have shared many similarities with us, including the appreciation of music. As he explored the lives of our ancestry and visited ancient sites such as Göbekli Tepe, it reminded myself of a documentary by Graham Hancock that challenges the standard narratives of archeology and presupposed the existence of an advanced ancient civilization.[20] Although many accused Hancock’s theory as pseudoscience and pseudoarcheology, the fact that the debate exists seems to me that our prehistory is more complicated than we think. Humans are not just a product of interbreeding of different species; we also were made up of viruses. This fact first came up to me in a lecture by Carl Zimmer at the Royal Institution of Great Britain where he said that “our genome has a huge amount of viral DNA in it,” meaning that a part of us actually were viruses.[21] All of these led to the conclusion that we are not distinct or separate from nature; in fact, we are part of it.

Although the idea of plants and animals are intelligent is not actually new, one interesting exploration that Bridle had created is throwing machines into the mix; to view man-made machines not as a mechanistic system but part of the environment that is intelligent. The earth was presented by Bridle as alive and self-regulating as in the theory of Gaia.[22] I think this should at least make us optimistic. If earth really has a self-healing mechanism, the destructions that humans continue to make are actually not destroying the planet, as comedian George Carlin once said, we are destroying ourselves.[23] The planet will be fine; it has endured much worse catastrophes, and just as we displaced the dinosaurs as a dominant species, a new organism will evolve once humans are gone, as the earth heals herself.

Bridle explored how, in our technological advances, with even more high-speed computational power, these technologies have their limitations. One aspect that has been discussed in the book is the failure of computers to generate random numbers.[24] To overcome this problem, technologies have to collaborate with nature; they need to take quantitative values from a natural phenomenon, which is truly random. This shows that the separation between machines and nature is a false paradigm. To solve an even more complex problem, humans need to collaborate with his or her environment; these collaborations include other beings — plants, animals and machines.

All these point to a conclusion that we must acknowledge that we are part of this ecology: the world does not consist of humans, as Bridle kept repeating in his writing, the world is a “more-than-human world.” It consists of multiple beings with multiple forms of intelligence. This realization should make us ponder on how we organize our environment, to look closely at our environment and understand its history, so that we can learn from it and build a new environment that is more sustainable. As Edward Carr once said in his book, as humans become conscious of history, he began not only to shape the environment but also himself.[25] Thus, in order to become a good shaper of our history, we need to learn and understand our environment and its history.

A Malaysian Personal Reflection

Reading and studying environmental history evokes many memories of the environment when I was growing up. It suddenly makes me aware of the changes that have happened and are happening in the environment all around me. It makes me aware that the changes of this landscape have a history, an environmental history. In this section, I would like to note some of them. A personal reflection of mine.

It has been a custom in Malaysia, at the end of the holy month of Ramadhan, people would travel back to their familial village to celebrate Hari Raya (Eid al-Fitr) with their families. This phenomenon is locally called “balik kampung,” which literally means to return (balik) to the village (kampung). In my own experience, when I was a boy, we alternated between two kampungs, between Kampung Changkat Tin, Perak, to visit my father’s side of the family and Kampung Parit Tengah, Bagan Datuk, Perak, where my mother was from.

Kampung Changkat Tin today is a sleepy village, although historically it wasn’t so. The original name of the kampung was Changkat Petaling, but with the advent of the tin mining industry the new name replaced the old one.[26] The village was situated at the southern part of Kinta Valley in the state of Perak. During its heyday, Kinta Valley was the main area in which tin mining activities operated. The tin mining industry began to industrialize in Perak around the 1800s, where the local Malay leader at that time, Long Jaafar, brought in Chinese miners to develop local mines.[27] It was then further developed and expanded with new mechanical technologies under the British colonial rule. The tin mining industry made a significant impact on the social and demographic conditions of the area. Once a sleepy village, it quickly grew into a vibrant and busy industrial area. My grandfather was one of the Malay laborers working on the tin mine, where he worked on the Southern Kinta’s No. 2 dredge operated by Southern Kinta Consolidated Limited until 1969. By 1985, the global tin market began to collapse, and with it the local industry disappeared.[28] The village that once became a vibrant industrial area degraded back to its sleepy-state village.

It was a nostalgic and fun ride in the 1990s, as my father drove our family from Kuala Lumpur to Kampung Changkat Tin in our old Nissan Sunny car. We did not have smart phones at that time; the only thing you could do in the car on that long ride was to quarrel with your siblings or gaze at the landscape. I did both, naturally, but as I got older, the landscape took more of my interest. I noticed that there were a number of lakes along the road. I asked my father once, why were there so many lakes around our kampung? My father told me that the lakes are the remnants of the old, abandoned tin mines. I asked my father, why didn’t they bury the mine after they finished mining the tin? My father had said the company was supposed to do that and restore the area, but they did not have any incentive to do so. In the end, they just abandoned the site. If you look at Kinta Valley on Google Maps, you will directly notice these lakes dotting the area — hundreds of them.

Although this can amount to malpractice in tin mining operation, as the industry disappeared, nature started creeping back into the area. The lakes have now evolved to become their own new environment. This environment also shaped the socioeconomic activities of the villagers. Later research on the abandoned mine (that has now become a lake) found a high concentration of lead in the water, but they also acknowledged that this water can be used as a fresh water supply after treatment.[29] Research also found that biodiversity has returned to these artificial lakes. One study recorded eight species of fish and two species of shrimp found in the lakes.[30] These former tin mining sites also now have become a natural water catchment area to control the floods and can be developed further as a recreational area for the local population.[31] The population also has decreased significantly in this area, and increasingly more people are migrating to urban areas. The history of these abandoned tin mining sites for me is very interesting; we can learn how mining changes the soil and water quality. As we learn more about them, if we look closely, we can understand the process of the Gaia healing herself as nature crawls back and restores the area with new species.

My second kampung, located in Bagan Datuk in Lower Perak, sits at the end of the Perak River where the river meets the Malacca Strait. Previously, Bagan Datuk was a small town with many villages that were involved in agriculture and plantation. In 2017, Bagan Datuk was upgraded into a district and became the 12th district in Perak.[32] My grandfather is a third generation of “Orang Banjar,” which is an ethnic group that migrated to the Malay Peninsula. My grandmother is “Orang Kampar”; she migrated to Bagan Datuk before the Malaysian independence with her family from Kuok, Bangkinang (now Indonesia). According to Salleh Lamry, Orang Banjar originated from Southern Kalimantan, and many of them migrated at the end of 19th century to the Malay Peninsula. In Bagan Datuk, Orang Banjar worked in the coconut plantation industry.[33]

The potential commercial plantation of coconut in Lower Perak was recognized circa 1910. Before independence, the British government encouraged local population to be involved in the coconut plantation; by 1948, 45,608 hectares of land was used in Lower Perak for coconut plantation with Bagan Datuk as the main hub producing the largest yield.[34] After independence, the government continued to encourage local planters to expand the coconut plantation with more land being opened. The government also helped the locals by giving them capital support. By 1966, the plantation area has grown almost double, covering 83,586 hectares.[35] So what effect does this coconut plantation industry have on me as a kid going back to my kampung during Hari Raya?

Apart from the vast coconut plantation that can be seen all over the kampung, another glaring landscape in my kampung is the vast network of irrigation waterway that was known as “parit.” Almost all of the village houses have a parit in front of them; usually a wooden bridge will connect the houses to the main road. This parit played a significant part in my relation to the kampung. As a kid, this parit was at the center of my experience in kampung. My mother used to tell me that during her time as a child, the parit was well maintained; it is constantly dredged and deepened. The water was crystal clear. She and other village children used to swim and bathe in them. Sadly, by the time I came into the scene, many of this parit had fallen into disuse. They were not well maintained and many parts of the parit were clogged with rubbish. The industry was changing in Lower Perak at that time, coconut was no longer profitable and a new crop was spreading in Malaysia, which was palm oil.

As the industry changed, so does the environment. Although the parit was disused commercially, nature has been busy in the parit. During the breeding season, the parit landscape turned pink. I was very curious about this color; the pink color turned out to be the eggs of freshwater snails called pomacea (locally known as “siput gondang”). It turned out to be an invasive species from South America that became a significant pest in the paddy fields.[36] As a kid, apart from the bright color of their pinkish eggs, these snails did not interest me much. The disused parit was rich with aquatic life including many fishes. Catching these fishes was the main agenda for me and my brother as soon as we disembarked from my father’s old Nissan Sunny. We had a great time catching these fishes; among the most abundant at that time was haruan (channa striata), puyu (anabas testudineus) and sepat (trichogaster). These catches were later brought to our aquarium in Kuala Lumpur.

As I grew older (and hopefully wiser), I came to realize that the landscape I encountered as I was growing up has a history. This history was a blend of the environment and human activities. It was also shaped by technology; for example, in the case of tin mining in Kinta Valley, the introduction of mechanical dredger (locally known as “kapal korek”) made a significant impact on the production of lakes now dotting the map. To be aware of this history, and to understand the environment, for me is very important, as it informs us of our place in the world and the role we can play to shape it for the better.

Conclusion

Environmental history is a very interesting topic to explore. It studies not only human activities, but also the intersection of human activities with nature. As we understand from the writing of James Bridle, this intersection does not mean that humans and nature are two separate beings. Our approach to studying nature and our environment is not to conquer and dominate them. Instead, we are part of nature; our environment is a mesh between humans, animals, plants and machines. As humans progress further, the need for humans to work with nature becomes ever more critical. As I reflect on environmental history with my own experiences, I notice that there are many interesting areas to explore in Malaysia. There are many landscapes shaped by previous human activities that are worthy of closer inspection. These inspections will inform us about our environmental past and help us build a better future.

Acknowledgement

I would like to thank my good editor, Rao Sharmizan, who had meticulously improved the text and made it more readable. His suggestions and thoughts always point me in a better direction in giving the text better clarity and understanding.

Bibliography

Biggs, D. Footprints of war: Militarized landscapes in Vietnam. US: University of Washington Press, 2018.

Bridle, J. Ways of Being: Animals, Plants, Machines: The Search for a Planetary Intelligence. UK: Picador, 2023.

“The Planet is Fine.”  The Orchard Enterprises PlanetThe Planet is Fine,”. Jammin’ in New York. The Orchard Enterprises. Published on April 30, 2016, YouTube video, 13:37. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sOWgN....

Carr, E. H.. What is History. UK: Penguin Books, 1964.

Goodall, J.. “Chimpanzees — bridging the gap.” The Great Ape Project (1993).

 Tiley, Marc, dir. Ancient Apocalypse, featuring Graham Hancock. Aired November 10, 2022, on Netflix.

Herman, E. S., and Chomsky, N.. Manufacturing Consent: The Political Economy of the Mass Media. US: Pantheon, 2002.

Mohd Irwani Hafiz Sahid, Fhaisol Mat Amin and Khalisanni Khalid. “Kandungan pemakanan siput gondang (Nutritional composition of the apple snail).” Buletin Teknologi MARDI 6 (2014): pp. 99-105.

Mohd Rifzal Mohd Shariff, Esmawee Endut, Ahmad Faisal Alias and NorHaslina Jaafar. “Conservation Strategies on the Abandoned Towns in the Former Tin Mining Towns in Lembah Kinta, Perak.” MAJ-Malaysia Architectural Journal 4, no. 2 (2022): 22-28.

Mohmadisa Hashim, Nasir Nayan, Yazid Saleh, Hanifah Mahat, Zahid Mat Said and Wee Fhei Shiang. “Water quality assessment of former tin mining lakes for recreational purposes in Ipoh city, Perak, Malaysia.” Indonesian Journal of Geography 50, no. 1 (2018): 25-33.

Murray, O. “Herodotus and Oral History.” In The Historian’s Craft in the Age of Herodotus, edited by Nino Luraghi, pp. 16-44. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2001.

Ng, Wei Lin. “Diversity studies of fish and shrimp species in disused tin-mining ponds of Kampar, Perak.” Final year project, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, 2011.

Nurul Asyikin Dzulkifli, Mohamad Khairul Anuar Mohd Rosli and Norasmahani Hussain.  “Pembangunan Pertanian Komersial Di Hilir Perak, 1900–1973: The Development Of The Commercial Agricultural In Lower Perak, 1900–1973.” Asian Journal Of Environment, History And Heritage 7, no. 2 (2023).

Orji, K., Sapari, N., Yusof, K., Asadpour, R. and Olisa, E. “Comparative study of water quality of rivers used for raw water supply & ex-mining lakes in Perak, Malaysia.” IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science 16, no. 1 (2013).

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Sagan, C. and Druyan, A. Pale Blue Dot: A Vision of the Human Future in Space. US: Ballantine Books, 2011.

Salleh Lamry. “Madam ka Banua Urang: Migrasi dan Perubahan Sosial dalam Kalangan Orang Banjar di Malaysia.” Konferensi Internasional: Transformasi Sosial dan Intelektual Orang Banjar Kontemporer. Banjarmasin, Indonesia, 2016.

Shamsul Kamal Amarudin and Shaarani Ismail. “Bagan Datuk secara rasmi daerah ke-12 Perak.” Berita Harian. January 9, 2017.

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Tarmiji Masron, Hassan Naziri Khalid, Nur Faziera Yaakub, Siti Khatijah Zamhari and Fujimaki Masami. “Tin Mining Activities and Sustainability of Mining-Based Cities in Peninsular Malaysia.” The Journal of Ritsumeikan Geographical Society 31 (2019): 27-51.

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[1] Oswyn Murray, “Herodotus and Oral History,” in The Historian’s Craft in the Age of Herodotus, ed. Nino Luraghi (Oxford: Oxford University Press2001): 16-44.

[2] David Biggs, “Special Lecture: Towards an Environmental History of Southeast Asia,” Universiti Sains Malaysia (via Webex), April 1, 2024.

[3] David Biggs, Footprints of war: Militarized landscapes in Vietnam (US: University of Washington Press, 2018).

[4] I first read the account of American chemical warfare in Vietnam with the use of material such as napalm and Agent Orange from a book by Noam Chomsky years ago. The book was co-authored by Edward S. Herman, titled Manufacturing Consent: The Political Economy of the Mass Media.

[5] James Bridle, Ways of Being: Animals, Plants, Machines: The Search for a Planetary Intelligence (UK: Picador, 2023), pp. 6.

[6] NASA/JPL-Caltech, The Pale Blue Dot, 1990, https://science.nasa.gov/resource/voyager-1s-pale-blue-dot/.

[7] Carl Sagan and Ann Druyan, Pale Blue Dot: A Vision of the Human Future in Space (US: Ballantine Books; Reprint edition, 2011).

[8] Bridle, Ways of Being: Animals, Plants, Machines: The Search for a Planetary Intelligence, p. 7.

[9] David Orrell Economyths: 11 Ways Economics Gets it Wrong (UK: Icon Books, 2017).

[10] Bridle, Ways of Being: Animals, Plants, Machines: The Search for a Planetary Intelligence, p. 16.

[11] Bridle, Ways of Being: Animals, Plants, Machines: The Search for a Planetary Intelligence, p. 10.

[12] This interesting discussion can be found in the chapter “Is Matter Unconscious”in the book by Rupert Sheldrake, The Science Delusion (London: Coronet, 2013), pp. 107-129.

[13] The term umwelt denotes the environmental factors, collectively, that are capable of affecting the behavior of an animal or individual.

[14] Bridle, Ways of Being: Animals, Plants, Machines: The Search for a Planetary Intelligence, p. 33.

[15] Bridle, Ways of Being: Animals, Plants, Machines: The Search for a Planetary Intelligence, pp. 40-41.

[16] Jane Goodall. “Chimpanzees — bridging the gap.” The Great Ape Project (1993): pp. 10-18.

[17] Bridle, Ways of Being: Animals, Plants, Machines: The Search for a Planetary Intelligence, pp. 34-56.

[18] Bridle, Ways of Being: Animals, Plants, Machines: The Search for a Planetary Intelligence, pp. 59-83.

[19] Bridle, Ways of Being: Animals, Plants, Machines: The Search for a Planetary Intelligence, pp. 123-139.

[20] Ancient Apocalypse, directed by Marc Tiley, featuring Graham Hancock, aired November 10, 2022, on Netflix.

[21] “Are Viruses Alive? — with Carl Zimmer” The Royal Institution, published on November 26, 2021, YouTube video, 53:20, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tryg5UCp6fI.

[22] Bridle, Ways of Being: Animals, Plants, Machines: The Search for a Planetary Intelligence, p. 190.

[23] “The Planet is Fine,” The Orchard Enterprises, published on April 30, 2016, YouTube video, 13:37 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sOWgNKGE5tw.

[24] This problem was discussed in chapter 7, “Getting Random,” in Bridle’s Ways of Being: Animals, Plants, Machines: The Search for a Planetary Intelligence, pp. 216-249.

[25] E. H. Carr, What is History (UK: Penguin Books, 1964), pp. 142

[26] My source for this original name is from an oral recollection from the local villager who lived in the area. His name was Said Md Nasir bin Said Ahmad. The recollection was done on April 11, 2024. “Changkat” is a Malay word for an elevated area.

[27] Tarmiji Masron, Hassan Naziri Khalid, Nur Faziera Yaakub, Siti Khatijah Zamhari and Fujimaki Masami, “Tin Mining Activities and Sustainability of Mining-Based Cities in Peninsular Malaysia,” The Journal of Ritsumeikan Geographical Society 31 (2019): 27-51.

[28] Mohd Rifzal Mohd Shariff, Esmawee Endut, Ahmad Faisal Alias and NorHaslina Jaafar, “Conservation Strategies on the Abandoned Towns in the Former Tin Mining Towns in Lembah Kinta, Perak,” MAJ-Malaysia Architectural Journal 4, no. 2 (2022): 22-28.

[29] K. U. Orji, N. Sapari, K. W. Yusof, R. Asadpour, and E. Olisa, “Comparative study of water quality of rivers used for raw water supply & ex-mining lakes in Perak, Malaysia,” IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science 16, no. 1 (2013), 012072.

[30] Ng Wei Lin, “Diversity studies of fish and shrimp species in disused tin-mining ponds of Kampar, Perak,” (final year project, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, 2011).

[31] Mohmadisa Hashim, Nasir Nayan, Yazid Saleh, Hanifah Mahat, Zahid Mat Said and Wee Fhei Shiang, “Water quality assessment of former tin mining lakes for recreational purposes in Ipoh city, Perak, Malaysia,” Indonesian Journal of Geography 50, no. 1 (2018): 25-33.

[32] Shamsul Kamal Amarudin and Shaarani Ismail, “Bagan Datuk secara rasmi daerah ke-12 Perak”. Berita Harian, January 9, 2017.

[33] Salleh Lamry, “Madam ka Banua Urang: Migrasi dan Perubahan Sosial dalam Kalangan Orang Banjar di Malaysia,” Kertas kerja dibentangkan di Konferensi Internasional: Transformasi Sosial dan Intelektual Orang Banjar Kontemporer, Banjarmasin, Indonesia (2016).

[34] Nurul Asyikin Dzulkifli, Mohamad Khairul Anuar Mohd Rosli and Norasmahani Hussain, “Pembangunan Pertanian Komersial Di Hilir Perak, 1900–1973: The Development Of The Commercial Agricultural In Lower Perak, 1900–1973,” Asian Journal Of Environment, History And Heritage 7, no. 2 (2023).

[35] Ibid.

[36] Mohd Irwani Hafiz Sahid, Fhaisol Mat Amin dan Khalisanni Khalid, “Kandungan pemakanan siput gondang (Nutritional composition of the apple snail),” Buletin Teknologi MARDI 6 (2014): 99-105.

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“Intelektual” Bodoh Yang Mempertahankan Kolonialisme

Baru-baru ini Universiti Malaya ada menjemput seorang professor dari Amerika Syarikat yang menyokong zionis dan membawa pandangan pro-kolonialisme untuk memberi syarahan. Kelakarnya, ketika professor ini sibuk mengkritik Malaysia sebagai “tidak selamat”, polis-polis di Amerika Syarikat sedang sibuk membelasah professor di sana dan menghalang mereka bersuara. Tindakan polis Amerika Syarikat ini mirip amalan fasisme, ini boleh dilihat apabila professor falsafah seperti Caroline Fohlin dilakukan dengan keras, ganas dan kejam hingga ditolak dan dibaringkan sebelum ditahan, hanya kerana menyokong pelajarnya.

Seorang individu kurang cerdik yang mengaku dirinya “intelektual” telah mempertahankan professor zionis pro-kolonialisme ini atas alasan kebebasan bersuara. “Intelektual” kambing ini telah menulis:

“I am against racism, and genocide but banning a Zionist professor is not the way. Agree to disagree is the principle of academic freedom. Both side have their cause. This is a good time not to just echoing ourselves. Cancel culture is a woke-ism thing and a disease.”

“Intelektual”

Pada pagi 27/04/24, saya bersembang dengan seorang profesor sejarah dari University California Riverside di dalam kereta. Kami ada program bersama. Beliau telah membuka cerita berkenaan dengan professor pro-kolonialisme ini. Dia cakap terus terang sahaja “the guy is an idiot”. Sedikit pun dia tidak mempertahankan professor pro-kolonialisme tersebut. “Intelektual” bodoh tempatan yang membosankan sahaja yang beria-ria dan terkinja-kinja untuk mempertahankan geng zionis pro-kolonialisme ini atas kebebasan idea.

Bagi saya, kalau ada seorang “intelektual” yang mengatakan pembunuhan 30,000 kanak-kanak “is up to debate” dalam suasana “freedom of idea”. Saya tak rasa dia ada setitik zarah pun dari sudut moral untuk digelar “intelektual”. Memalukan sahaja bersembang tentang ilmu mandiri dan kebebasan jika masih mempertahankan kolonialisme, kalau dia cerdik sedikit, dia akan sedar bahawa kolonialisme itu sendiri bercanggah dengan kebebasan.

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Adakah Serangan Iran Ke Atas Israel Hanya Wayang?

Selepas 6 bulan rakyat Gaza dibantai dan dibunuh, tiada negara-negara Arab atau negara Islam termasuklah yang kuat bersuara seperti Turki dan Malaysia yang menghantar bantuan ketenteraan, tentera pengaman/pelindung kepada rakyat Gaza. Bukan itu sahaja, malah menghantar tepung dan bantuan asas makanan pun mereka tidak mampu dan terpaksa meminta belas ihsan dari Israel dan sekutunya Amerika Syarikat untuk membantu membuka sempadan. Sebelum kita mula membahaskan subjek ini, saya mahu letak konteks itu terlebih dahulu.

Selepas Israel mengebom konsulat Iran di Damsyik, Syria pada 01 April 2024 dan membunuh 7 warganya termasuklah 2 orang jeneralnya. Akhirnya pada 14 April 2024, Iran melakukan serangan langsung ke Israel menggunakan dron dan peluru berpandu dalam operasi yang disebut sebagai Operation True Promise. Israel dan konco-konconya menyatakan bahawa 99 peratus dari projectile dari Iran ini berjaya dimusnahkan dengan bantuan dari UK, USA, Perancis dan juga negara Islam Jordan.[1] Ya, Jordan telah membantu untuk menghalang peluru berpandu dari sampai ke Israel.

Persoalan yang timbul, adakah serangan ini hanya wayang?

Jika kita melihat serangan ini dari lensa agamawan yang bermain isu sunni-syiah, ya, ia adalah satu wayang sahaja. Saya dahulu juga melihat konflik ini dari kaca mata sunni-syiah ini. Tapi saya telah lama meninggalkan paradigma ini, termasuk apabila Qasem Soleimani dibunuh dahulu, ramai yang bersorak kerana beliau adalah syiah.[2] Tapi apa yang tidak mereka sebut adalah antara yang hadir memberi penghormatan kepada Jeneral Soleimani adalah Ismail Haniyeh sendiri, di mana beliau menyatakan bahawa Soleimani adalah seorang “syahid”.

Perbahasan sunni-syiah, dalam pertarungan geo-politik melawan hegemoni Amerika Syarikat dan Israel sudah tidak menarik minat saya. Bagi saya secara peribadi, permusuhan sunni-syiah ini sudah lama berlalu, tiada keuntungan untuk umat bermusuh dan membunuh sesama sendiri. Jika kita boleh bersahabat dengan rakan-rakan Buddha, Hindhu, Kristian dan lain-lain, saya tidak nampak masalah untuk kita berkawan dengan Syiah. Kita boleh tidak setuju dari sudut akidah dan teologi, tetapi kita tidak perlu bermusuh.

Berbalik kepada persoalan “wayang Iran”. Saya telah mendengar dan membaca pelbagai analisis. Namun yang saya kira paling menarik adalah dari Dr. Mohammad Marandi dari Tehran.[3] Kebanyakan analisis yang cuba untuk merendahkan operasi serangan Iran ini adalah dari media Barat dan sumber Israel sendiri. Dari 6 bulan pembunuhan di Gaza, semua orang sedia maklum bahawa media ini kerap berbohong.[4] Jadi tidak mengejutkan jika angka “99%” itu juga adalah propaganda sahaja. Jika benar pengkalan tentera yang dibedil Iran itu tidak mengalami kemusnahan teruk, Israel boleh membenarkan wartawan melawat pengkalan ini untuk membuat pengesahan. Namun mereka tidak berani, mereka hanya mengeluarkan kenyataan, dan media Barat hanya mengulang cetak kenyataan mereka.

Bagi saya, serangan ini bukan wayang. Tetapi adalah peluang Iran untuk menguji keberkesanan pertahanan udara Israel. Iran dalam operasi ini mengumumkan sejak awal bahawa mereka akan bertindak balas, dan memberikan garis masa (time frame) untuk Israel bersedia. Iran tidak menggunakan peluru berpandu hipersonik mereka, sebaliknya menggunakan peluru berpandu generasi lama dan juga dron kos rendah “Shahed” sebagai decoy.

Di sini kita dapat memahami beberapa perkara.

Pertama, dari operasi ini, Iran dapat memahami bagaimana Israel bertindak balas. Ternyata Israel tidak mampu mempertahankan dirinya sendiri dan terpaksa bergantung kepada kuasa asing untuk membantunya termasuk dari USA, UK, Perancis dan Jordan.

Kedua, walaupun Israel diberi amaran awal dan mempunyai masa untuk bersedia, termasuklah melakukan jamming ke atas sistem GPS di negara mereka, ternyata sistem peluru berpandu Iran masih dapat menembusi pertahanan mereka. Israel sendiri kemudiannya mengakui bahawa peluru berpandu Iran berjaya membedil dua markas tentera mereka termasuk lapangan terbang tentera Nevatim.[5] Kebanyakan dron dan peluru berpandu yang berjaya dipintas adalah decoy. Ini menunjukkan, jika serangan dibuat secara mengejut, tidak diumumkan dan tidak diberi sebarang garis masa, kemusnahan yang lebih besar dapat dilakukan.

Ketiga, dari operasi ini, Iran memberi signal bahawa percaturan defensif mereka telah tamat, kini adalah fasa baharu di mana Iran boleh melakukan serangan ofensif. Amerika Syarikat juga tidak berani melakukan serangan balas terhadap Iran, malah mendesak Israel untuk tidak bertindak balas. Amerika Syarikat menyatakan jika Israel bertindak balas, mereka tidak akan bersama membantu Israel.[6] Ini kerana Amerika Syarikat sedar bahawa banyak pengkalan tentera mereka di Timur Tengah dengan mudah dapat dimusnahkan oleh Iran. Semua ini ini menunjukkan kepada saya bahawa serangan Iran bukanlah satu wayang. Tetapi mereka menggunakan peluang yang ada untuk menguji sistem pertahanan Israel. Dari operasi ini mereka dapat memahami dinamik jika serangan sebenar perlu dilakukan. Seperti yang saya tulis dalam buku saya Resistance Sudah Berbunga, perjuangan melawan Israel kini sudah memasuki fasa baharu.[7] Ia akan mengambil masa untuk memastikan Israel semakin lama semakin lemah. Di sini kita melihat bagaimana Iran melakukan long-game dan tidak tergopoh gapah. Iran sedar, Israel akan kalah juga akhirnya. Oleh itu, lebih baik ia dikalahkan dengan lebih strategik tanpa perlu perang yang lebih besar.

Bibliografi

“Breaking news and analysis on day 191 of Gaza’s Al-Aqsa Flood.” The Electronic Intifada Podcast. April 15, 2024. Accessed April 16, 2024. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PSEIo....

Fabian, Emanuel. 2024. “Visiting targeted air base, IDF chief promises response to Iranian attack.” The Times of Israel, April 15.

Hamza Ali Shah. 2024. “‘Beheaded Babies’ – How Uk Media Reported Israel’s Fake News As Fact.” Declassified UK, January 04.

Marandi, Mohammad, interview by Ali Abunimah. 2024. Why Iran supports Palestine (April 8).

Syed Ahmad Fathi. 2020. “Qasem Soleimani: Dimana letaknya pendirian kita?” Meniti Jambatan Masa, January 08.

—. 2024. Resistance Sudah Berbunga. Tochka Press.

Vasilyeva, Nataliya. 2024. “Israel admits Iranian ballistic missiles struck two military bases.” The Telegraph, April 15.

[1] Emanuel Fabian. “Visiting targeted air base, IDF chief promises response to Iranian attack”. The Times of Israel, 15 April 2024. Pautan: https://www.timesofisrael.com/idf-chief-visits-airbase-hit-in-iranian-attack-says-it-will-be-met-with-a-response/

[2] Qasem Soleimani telah dibunuh oleh Amerika Syarikat pada tahun 2020. Pada Ketika itu, saya juga telah mengkritik pendekatan yang melihat kejadian itu dalam konteks sunni-syiah. Seharusnya semua umat Islam bersatu melawan hegemoni Amerika Syarikat dan juga penjajahan Israel. Rujuk Syed Ahmad Fathi. “Qasem Soleimani: Dimana letaknya pendirian kita?”. Meniti Jambatan Masa, 08 Januari 2020. Pautan: https://bersamakepuncak.blogspot.com/2020/01/qasem-soleimani-dimana-letaknya.html

[3] Terdapat beberapa analisis dari Dr. Marandi yang saya tekuni. Pertama adalah sesi podcast beliau bersama Ali Abunimah di Electronic Intifada di mana beliau menerangkan sejarah hubungan luar Iran dengan dunia sebelum serangan Iran ke atas Israel. Siaran ini bertajuk “Why Iran supports Palestine, with Ali Abunimah and Mohammad Marandi” dan boleh dilihat di pautan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2WNlRwoyUg&t=1202s . Analisis kedua beliau selepas serangan Iran ke atas Israel boleh dilihat melalui pautan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PSEIoHJmSok

[4] Contoh paling jelas adalah propaganda bahawa 40 bayi telah dipenggal oleh Hamas semasa Operasi Taufan Al-Aqsa. Rujuk artikel oleh Hamza Ali Shah. “‘Beheaded Babies’ – How Uk Media Reported Israel’s Fake News As Fact”. Declassified UK, 04 Januari 2024. Pautan: https://www.declassifieduk.org/beheaded-babies-how-uk-media-reported-israels-fake-news-as-fact/ Ini hanyalah satu sahaja contoh dari pelbagai contoh lain di mana media Barat menjadi mulut propaganda bagi jenayah genocide Israel.

[5] Nataliya Vasilyeva. “Israel admits Iranian ballistic missiles struck two military bases”. The Telegraph, 15 April 2024.

[6] “U.S. will not join any retaliatory action by Israel on Iran: White House”. Nikkei Asia, 15 April 2024. Pautan: https://asia.nikkei.com/Spotlight/Iran-tensions/U.S.-will-not-join-any-retaliatory-action-by-Israel-on-Iran-White-House

[7] Syed Ahmad Fathi. Resistance Sudah Berbunga. Tochka Press, 2024.

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Any external presence in Gaza to be considered occupying force: Hamas

The Alliance of Palestinian Resistance factions denounced on Saturday the Israeli proposal that suggests foreign Arab forces should govern the Gaza Strip, warning that such proposals aim to trap Aab countries in serving “Israel’s” agendas in Gaza, amid its drastic failure on the battlefield.

The factions also warned, in a statement in Damascus, of the dangers of complying with such proposals, affirming that they embody “a new Zionist trap and lie” that the United States and “Israel” try to impose to shift their defeat in Gaza.

“Turning to certain Arab countries for help, it [Israel], together with the US, seeks to avoid the horrible defeat they have suffered… to get the occupation army out of the huge moor it finds itself trapped in the Gaza Strip,” the statement read.

They also stressed that the Palestinian people can choose their own leadership to govern the Strip to maintain its national sovereignty and foil all Israeli-American plots to undermine its independence. The proposal, according to the Resistance actions, was put forward by Israeli Security Minister Yoav Gallant before Antony Blinken, Jake Sullivan, and Lloyd Austin.

Moreover, Arab nations must beware of getting caught in the “Zionist trap”, according to the factions’ alliance, through the promotion or support of Israeli-American plots.

Hamas also issued a statement by the Supreme Follow-up Committee of the Palestinian National and Islamic Forces stressing that the occupation leaders’ talks regarding the formation of an international or Arab force for the Gaza Strip are “a delusion and a mirage,” stressing that any “force entering the Gaza Strip is rejected, unacceptable, and would be considered an occupying force, which we will deal with accordingly.”

The Resistance movement also appreciated the Arab nations’ refusal and rejection of the Israeli proposal, vowing that governing the Palestinian reality is purely an internal national affair that does not allow any force’s intervention. All attempts, according to Hamas, to instate alternative authorities that do not consider the Palestinian people’s will, “will die before its birth” and will not succeed.

Hamas also addressed the United States and its president, Joe Biden, condemning his intention to send new shipments of weapons, including missiles and warplanes, to the criminal zionist entity, which confirms the full partnership of this administration in the brutal war of extermination waged by the Nazi-zionist occupation against our Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip.

“The insistence of Biden’s administration on its biased position and its unlimited political and military support for the occupation and its fascist policies, which seek to exterminate our people and displace them from their land, confirms the lie of the American positions regarding the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip, and the catastrophe caused by the American-backed zionist killing machine,” the statement read.

Hamas added that the ideas it proposes to protect civilians are aimed at misleading and covering up the ongoing crimes of the occupation against our people in the Gaza Strip. The movement called on the international community and the United Nations to impose a complete ban on the supply of weapons to the criminal zionist entity, and to take steps to stop the aggression, leading to holding the occupation and its leaders accountable for the violations and crimes against humanity they have committed.

Source: Al Mayadeen

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Royalti petroleum: Kenapa Terengganu baru sekarang ‘bising’?

KUALA TERENGGANU: Selepas kemunculan Menteri Besar Terengganu, Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar dalam audiosiar Keluar Sekejap semalam (13 Mac) dan beriltizam akan mempertahankan hak rakyat Terengganu berkenaan Royalti/Dana Khas yang tidak diterima daripada Kerajaan Madani, muncul pula komen yang tidak menyenangkan.

Dalam kenyataannya pada hari ini (14 Mac), PAS Terengganu yang merujuk kepada paparan Facebook@Khairul Azri berkata, “Terbaca ada orang tinggalkan komentar kenapa kerajaan negeri Terengganu sebelum ini tak ‘bising’ perihal (tentang) royalti (wang ehsan/Dana Khas) ketika sebahagian daripada mereka menjadi daripada kerajaan pusat selama 33 bulan dahulu.”

“Tak pasti yang tinggalkan komen itu memang tidak tahu atau buat-buat tak tahu yang tidak ada keperluan untuk kerajaan negeri Terengganu ‘bising’ pun kalau mereka memang telah dapat Dana Khas berkenaan.”

“Tak percaya cuba semak Laporan Ketua Audit Negara – Penyata Kewangan Negeri Terengganu – Penyumbang Hasil Utama Kerajaan Negeri Terangganu dari tahun ke tahun,” katanya sambil memaparkan senarai berikut:-

Zaman Najib Barisan Nasional (BN):

2009 – RM1.21 bilion

2010 – RM1.6 bilion

2011 – RM1.95 bilion

2012 – RM2.345 bilion

2013 – RM2.34 bilion

2014 – RM2.22 bilion

2015 – RM1.55 Bilion

2016 – RM1.05 bilion

2017 – RM1.44 bilion

2018 – RM1.15 bilion

Zaman Mahathir Pakatan Harapan (PH):

2018 – RM1.15 bilion

2019 – RM1.7 bilion

Zaman Muhyiddin Pakatan Nasional (PN):

2020 PN dpt RM1.03 bilion

Zaman Ismail Sabri BN-PN:

2021 – RM1.28 bilion

2022 – RM1.39 bilion

Zaman Anwar PH-BN (Madani)

2023 – RM510 juta (janji dalam Bajet 2023 oleh Ismail Sabri RM1.524 bilion)

Sehubungan itu, tambah kenyataan itu, “Maka jangan lah nak ‘spin’ 33 bulan tak bising atau kecoh pasal ‘royalti’ sebab memang dah dapat sejak 2009 lagi.

“Datuk Seri Najib Razak yang dipanggil ‘zalim’ boleh bagi (royalti), Tun Mahathir Mohamad yang kena tuduh sebagai ‘Firaun’ bagi (bagi balik akhirnya), Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin yang kena ejek ‘bendera putih’ pun bagi, Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri yang kena panggil ‘penyu’ pun bagi.

“Kenapa Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim yang paling kuat bercerita perihal kebajikan rakyat susah sangat nak bagi? Sedangkan masa tak berkuasa, Najib bagi RM2 Bilion lebih pun dia masih bising kata tak cukup. Paling beria perihal royalti Terengganu.

“Siap janji nak bagi sampai 20 peratus. Tapi bila dah dapat kuasa 500 juta saja, itu pun jenuh rayu,” ujar kenyataan itu.

Sumber: Harakahdaily

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Houthis: We’ll prevent Israel-linked ships from even passing through Indian Ocean toward Cape of Good Hope

The leader of Yemen’s Houthis says in a televised speech that Houthis’ operations targeting vessels will prevent Israel-linked ships from even passing through the Indian Ocean towards the Cape of Good Hope.

Around 34 Houthi members have been killed since the militia began to attack shipping lanes in solidarity with the Palestinians in the Gaza war, the Houthis’ leader, Abdul Malik al-Houthi, adds.

“Our main battle is to prevent ships linked to the Israeli enemy from passing through not only the Arabian Sea, the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, but also the Indian Ocean towards the Cape of Good Hope. This is a major step and we have begun to implement our operations related to it,” al-Houthi says;

The resistance group has been attacking ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden since November in what they say is a campaign of solidarity with Palestinians during Israel’s genocidal war in Gaza.

Around 34 Houthi members have been killed since the group began the attacks, al-Houthi says.

So urce: The Times of Israel

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Global oil industry is fueling war on Gaza

According to research, some of the world’s most successful fossil fuel firms, as well as US taxpayers, are fueling Israeli planes and tanks that are killing Palestinians in Gaza.

“Israel” relies on imported crude oil and refined products to power its massive fleet of fighter planes, tanks, and other military vehicles.

The study commissioned by the non-profit Oil Change International and observed by The Guardian indicates that the occupation relied heavily on fossil fuels from Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Russia, Brazil, Gabon, and the United States since the war began.

According to Data Desk, a UK-based IT consultancy organization that studies the fossil fuel market, the major oil firms enabling fuel deliveries include BP, Chevron, ExxonMobil, Shell, and TotalEnergies.

Since October, the occupation received 3 US tankers carrying JP8 fuel. Although one shipment departed before October 7, one left after more than 16,000 Palestinians had been killed on December 6, while the third left in February, two weeks following the International Court of Justice’s interim finding that “Israel” may be committing genocide.

David Boyd, the United Nations special rapporteur on human rights and the environment, stated that countries and companies supplying the occupation are “contributing to horrible human rights violations and may be complicit in genocide.”

Allie Rosenbluth, the US program manager at Oil Change International, called for the US to be held particularly accountable since it fuels the ongoing genocide “on top of over a hundred other weapons sales.”

Apart from US jet fuel, almost all other exports of refined petroleum products to “Israel” have ceased since October 2023, possibly reflecting the larger Red Sea crisis.

In total, more than 1,440 kilotonnes (kt) of crude oil from Azerbaijan are believed to have been shipped to “Israel” since October 2023, while two cargoes of Brazilian oil totaling 260kt have been delivered since the IOF invaded Gaza.

Although Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has harshly criticized the occupation and called its bombardment of Gaza a genocide, he has yet to issue a ban on oil exports.

The data also suggest that four shipments carrying more than 120kt of VGO departed Russia for “Israel” following the ICJ ruling.

Mahmoud Nawajaa, general coordinator of the Palestinian BDS (boycott, divest, sanction) National Committee, expressed that BDS will “expose and target” complicit states mentioned in the report, adding that they are “directly complicit in supporting its ongoing genocide. We shall never forgive them for that.”

A new campaign in the United Kingdom has been started to encourage citizens and businesses to stop paying taxes for the government’s support in “Israel’s” genocide in Gaza, which has now killed over 31,000 Palestinians.

The “No Tax for Genocide” campaign was started in the UK on Thursday to persuade citizens and companies to cease paying taxes, accusing London of assisting “Israel” in its horrific aggression on Palestine.

The campaign’s organizers contend that under both international and domestic law, British individuals risk being implicated in genocide in Gaza by paying taxes, and hence have a legal right not to pay as long as the British government supports the Israeli occupation.

Ashish Prashar, the campaign’s co-founder and spokesperson, told The Telegraph there are several legal duties, including the 1945 UN Charter, the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, and the Terrorism Act of 2000, that give a legal foundation for “tax resistance”.

“Taxpayers are committing a crime when they pay tax. This is an opportunity for people not to be complicit and demand an immediate ceasefire,” he argued.

“They’re using the money you have to veto ceasefires, to continue these atrocities, to provide political cover. You’ve elected these individuals, you fund their ability to do their jobs, you’re culpable. As the British public, do you want to be culpable?” he said in a statement.

Source: Al Mayadeen

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Schumer takes a jab at Netanyahu, calls for elections in ‘Israel’

US Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer called on Thursday for new Israeli elections, fiercely denouncing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as an impediment to peace.

Democrat Chuck Schumer, “Israel’s” long-time backer and the highest-ranking Jewish political official, told the Senate that Netanyahu’s administration “no longer fits the needs of Israel” as the war rages on in Gaza.

Schumer claimed that “Israel” was a “democracy” and noted that settlers had a right to choose a leader, but called for a “fresh debate about the future of Israel after October 7,” which he believes is best accomplished via elections.

Schumer considered it a “grave mistake” for the occupation to reject a two-state solution and encouraged mediators to do all necessary to establish a truce, free captives, and provide relief to Gaza.

Last month, the Israeli cabinet issued a statement firmly rejecting the “unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state by the international community.”

He and other Democrats like President Joe Biden himself are under fire from inside the party for Washington’s unflinching support for “Israel,” given the scale of civilian casualty and destruction in the strip.

Schumer also called for the resignation of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, citing it was necessary for a “new generation of Palestinian leaders who will work towards attaining peace with a Jewish State.”

The Senate’s Republican leader, Mitch McConnell, called Schumer’s comments “grotesque, and hypocritical,” since it was hypocritical to interfere in another country’s “democracy,” and “hyperventilate about foreign interference.”

Schumer emphasized the prospect of Washington utilizing its leverage if the Israelis did not alter their direction, emphasizing that if the war coalition remains in power and continues their “dangerous and inflammatory policies that test existing U.S. standards for assistance, then the United States will have no choice but to play a more active role in shaping Israeli policy by using our leverage to change the present course.”

The Democrat accused Netanyahu of being “too willing” to accept the high death toll of civilians in Gaza and emphasized that his behavior and attitude in the genocide was sinking support for “Israel” globally to “historic lows.”

“Israel cannot survive if it becomes a pariah,” Schumer stressed.

US President Joe Biden has made a “strategic mistake” by “bear-hugging” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during the current war on Gaza, according to a prominent progressive Democrat and Biden campaign surrogate Ro Khanna.

Elsewhere in his remarks, he criticized the Israeli President for conducting “a callous war” in Gaza, despite his claims of opposition from the United States.

However, his criticisms of Biden’s errors might not be well-received at the White House.

Liz Landers, guest hosting on the One Decision podcast, questioned Khanna about his recent visit to Michigan, where he engaged with leaders of the state’s sizable Arab American community.

“What did they tell you about the Biden administration’s policy with Israel?” Landers questioned.

“They were opposed,” Khanna said, stressing, “………but the bear-hugging of Netanyahu has been a strategic mistake. Netanyahu has conducted a callous war in defiance of the United States”

US President Joe Biden has repeatedly criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s handling of the Israeli war against Gaza, The Washington Post reported, highlighting the latest indication revealing Biden’s secured leverage against “Israel”.

Some of the latest indications provided by the Post vary from positions on ceasefire to political meetings.

Source: Al Mayadeen

The post Schumer takes a jab at Netanyahu, calls for elections in ‘Israel’ appeared first on The Independent Insight.

Menelusuri Kegelapan: Bahaya yang Mengintai di Balik Cyber Bullying

Oleh: Salwa Mina Jauzaa

Cyber bullying bukan sekadar bentuk pelecehan online; ini adalah ancaman serius yang dapat mengguncang kesejahteraan mental dan emosional. Setiap kata yang dilemparkan di dunia maya memiliki dampak yang mendalam, merobek kepercayaan diri, dan menghancurkan kesehatan mental.

Dalam kegelapan ruang digital, korban cyber bullying sering kali merasa terisolasi, tanpa diberi peluang untuk melarikan diri. Penyerang dapat menyamar di balik layar, menciptakan trauma yang tak terlihat namun sangat nyata. Ini bukan sekadar lelucon atau ejekan; ini adalah pukulan psikologis yang dapat meninggalkan bekas seumur hidup.

Semua orang tidak boleh meremehkan dampaknya terhadap generasi kita. Terlalu banyak jiwa muda yang merasakan beban mental yang berat akibat serangan online tanpa ampun. Oleh karena itu, mari bersama-sama membuka mata, mengakui bahaya cyber bullying, dan menjadi suara bagi mereka yang mungkin terdiam membisu.

Hentikan kegelapan ini dengan bersatu melawan cyber bullying. Kita tidak hanya melindungi satu sama lain, tetapi juga merawat hati dan jiwa muda untuk membentuk dunia maya yang aman dan penuh kasih.

Di tengah lautan dunia maya atau digital, kita hidup bukan lagi sebagai satu kelompok saja, kita adalah Indonesia yang di dalamnya hidup berbagai suku, agama, ras, dan antar golongan yang sangat beragam dan penuh dengan dinamika sosialnya. Maka sudah pasti membanjirnya interaksi sosial yang bukan hanya terjadi di ruang dunia realitas sebagai citizen di kehidupan nyata, interaksi meluber hingga ke dunia yang lebih bebas dan luas, yaitu dunia digital. Maka dibutuhkan upaya bersama, yang tidak boleh tidak mesti dimulai dari anak muda, dan siswa sebagai generasi terdidik dan diharapkan kontribusinya sebagai agen intelektual yang berdampak positif bagi masyarakat luas.

Campaign anti cyber bullying adalah salah satu yang terbesar yang dapat memberikan dampak. Kampanye anti cyber bullying kita tidak hanya menyasar dan selalu berangkat dari dan tentang teknologi tetapi juga tentang mendidik hati. Mari bersama-sama menciptakan ruang daring yang aman, penuh kasih, dan tanpa kebencian. Mulai dari hati, kita hentikan cyber bullying dan jadikan internet sebagai tempat yang penuh inspirasi dan persaudaraan. Kita tahu bahwa korban cyber bullying tidak menutup kemungkinan diterima dan dialami oleh orang lain, keluarga terdekat kita; anak yang tersayang, ayah, ibu, bahkan diri kita sendiri mungkin sudah merasakan perundungan, intimidasi, persekusi, pelecehan, ejekan yang tak tentu bidikan yang kita terima dan kekerasan yang bahkan di luar akal yang sehat. Cyber bullying mengintai kita, namun kita bisa menjadi netizen yang menghindari dan tidak ikut terlibat ke dalam chattingan atau aksi cyber bullying jenis apa saja yang tidak ada menguntungkan kita sama sekali. Perundungan di dunia maya, terjadi karena kita melibatkan emosi atau perasaan yang berlebih, jika kita menggunakan akal yang sehat, tentu kita tifak akan masuk ke dalam bullying yang tidak bermanfaat tersebut. Sebab, cyber bullying melalui media, dilakukan oleh orang yang berakal sehat, namun didorong oleh kepentingan dan emosi yang meluap-luap.

Menurut saya, orang yang membuly adalah seperti anjing yang menggonggong, kafilah cukup perlu mengucapkan kata-kata yang mengandung logika untuk membungkamnya dan langsung melanjutkan perjalanan. Tentu, seseorang bisa hanya mengabaikannya, tanpa harus menanggapi secara berlebihan. Bahkan jika perlu dalam kasus yang sudah berlebihan, dapat memberikan pelakunya Pelajaran dengan melaporkan tindakan perundungan kepada pihak yang berwajib. Tentu, jika lebih dewasa kita hanya perlu mem-block chattingan dan akses lain terhadap pelaku selamanya.   

Saling menghormati adalah kunci untuk menciptakan budaya daring yang positif. Mari bersama-sama membangun masyarakat maya yang memahami perbedaan dan menghargai keunikan. Ingatlah, setiap kata yang kita pilih di dunia maya memiliki kekuatan besar. Bersama kita kuat, bersama kita hentikan cyber bullying. Ayo jadi bagian dari gerakan ini, karena Indonesia tanpa kebencian adalah Indonesia yang sejati. #MulaiDariHati #IndonesiaTanpaBully

Tak ada yang lebih kuat daripada kebersamaan kita sebagai bangsa. Mari bersatu hati dalam kampanye anti cyber bullying ini. Dalam dunia maya yang penuh potensi, mari jadikan internet sebagai lautan kasih sayang dan penghormatan.

Kita tidak hanya menentang kejahatan daring, tapi kita juga menjadi pelopor perubahan. Ayo, tanamkan nilai-nilai positif di dunia maya, jadikan setiap interaksi sebagai jejak kebaikan. Bersama, kita adalah penjaga kemanusiaan dalam ranah maya.

Indonesia, saatnya kita bangkit dan bersatu melawan ancaman yang menggerogoti kemanusiaan di dunia maya. Tak cukup hanya mengecam, tapi saatnya beraksi! Jangan biarkan kata-kata kejam mewarnai ruang digital kita. Bersama-sama, kita punya kekuatan untuk memutus rantai kebencian.

Mari buat perubahan, jadilah suara bagi yang tidak terdengar. Sebarkan kebaikan, hentikan cyber bullying dengan tindakan nyata. Ini adalah panggilan untuk generasi pemberani yang ingin melihat perubahan sekarang!

Nota: Penulis adalah dari SMA Islam Al-Azhar Bumi Serpong Damai @ Metland.

The post Menelusuri Kegelapan: Bahaya yang Mengintai di Balik Cyber Bullying appeared first on The Independent Insight.