Makna kemerdekaan?

Lately, especially in the 50th year of our independent, people always talk about the meaning of being independent, their contributions to the nation, etc etc.

Sadly, we always think of what's happening now, now and now and what happened in the past, past and past. And to be easily recognized by the people or by the country, you need to climb up the Everest, jump-off parachuting on the North pole, cycle around the world even when you still haven't completed your degree after years in university or swim across whatever channels or straits in the world.

For me, those achievements are more about personal satisfaction than what you have contributed to the nation! One of the Everest climbers recently said that he/she I can't remember as it's not important to me feels sorry as he/she has dissappointed Malaysians for not reaching the peak. WTF?!! I dont give a damn if you reach the peak, or you didn't climb at all, I don't feel dissappointed at all! In what way it influenced the economy? Isn't economy the most important of all as it's always being emphasised by the leaders?

Ok, is anybody thinking about the future, future and future. Something for the next generation, our kids, our grandchildren, great great grandchildren. Read the article below from BBC...


East African ban on plastic bags

Kenya and Uganda have banned the use of thin plastic bags in an effort to curb environmental damage. Ugandan Finance Minister Ezra Suruma banned the importation and use of the thinnest bags and imposed a 120% tax on thicker ones in his new budget. The Kenyan finance minister imposed similar restrictions in his budget, following Rwanda and Tanzania.

The BBC's Juliet Njeri in Nairobi says discarded plastic bags are often seen by the roadside in residential areas. She also says that there is a problem with bags blocking drains in the city. Tanzania set the pace for the East African Community in 2006, when Vice-President Ali Mohamed Shein announced a total ban on plastic bags and ordered a switch to recyclable materials or biodegradable alternatives.

"These measures are expected to encourage the industry players to devise environmentally friendlier and hopefully recyclable bags," Kenyan Finance Minister Amos Kimunya announced in the capital, Nairobi.
Immediate effect.

The Ugandan minister said the ban was being introduced because of "serious environmental concerns and difficulties in the disposal of plastic bags and plastic containers." The ban will take effect in Kenya at the stroke of midnight on Thursday 14 June. In Uganda, Mr Suruma said the ban would come into effect on 1 July but gave traders until 30 September this year to sell off products already in stock.

Rwanda, which was admitted into the East African Community this year, banned the importation and use of plastics less than 100 microns thick in 2005.


Well, the article says it all....

But, let's play with our mind a bit...

As comparison, population for Uganda and Kenya is 28.8 and 34.3 million, respectively. Malaysia is 25.3 million. GDP (2005 figure) for Uganda and Kenya was USD8.7 and USD18.7 billion, respectively as compared to Malaysia's USD130.3 billion is 2005.

Noble efforts from these African countries whom we always looked down upon, huh? Go figure how you're celebrating the country's 50th anniversary, for yourself, for your past days heroes or your past contributions or for your future and your next generation?