Sunday, October 07, 2007

.. Free Burma Vigil...


"Please use your liberty to promote ours"
- Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, detained Nobel Peace Laureate


There were people from all walks of life in the vigil yesterday night. It really feel good to see people with diverse background coming together in unity to make a stand against the injustice in Burma.

I was a bit disappointed when the vigil is not reported by our mainstream newspaper today. My friend told me that, it will definately not be covered as one of the demand from the vigil was for all Malaysian companies to pull out from Burma. Plus, we were protesting in front of the HQ of one of the main investors in Burma.

Other requests are for ASEAN to sack Burma, calling for China and Russia to abandon the economic interest in Burma and to intefere, calling for our Malaysian government to act, calling for the international sanctions against Myanmar et al. (will update more when I get hold of the joint statement by the organisers)


The vigil ended with some speeches by the Burmese people and a song presentation of "Heal the world" by the Burmese children.



more photo here.

***

After reading more on Burma; about the massacre of the monks who led the peaceful protest due the insane increase of the petrol price in Burma, about accounts from people inside Burma, about the struggles and endurance of Ms Aung San Suu Kyi to bring democracy to her country, my heart cries with the Burmese people. I was more compelled to attend the solidarity vigil in support of the Burma's people when I heard about it.

I asked myself what can I do to help? I don't know, but I know it can be started somewhere, as small as it may be.

How?
1) Pray

2) Stand with the Burmese Protesters by signing the online petition.

"We stand alongside the citizens of Burma in their peaceful protests. We urge you to oppose a violent crackdown on the demonstrators, and to support genuine reconciliation and democracy in Burma. We pledge to hold you accountable for any further bloodshed."


3) Attend the Vigil/ any peaceful protest.

4) Join Amnesty International to urgently send emails, faxes or letters in English or your own language. Get template of letter and contact details.
"There has been a flood of reports of alleged brutal killings, disappearances and arrests as the military in Myanmar stamped out the anti-government protests of the last week."



5) Give to Burma

Also, today, over 30 cities around the world are staging a rally against the bloody crackdown of anti-government protest.
The world marches for Burma.
Living in fear in Burma

 

Wednesday, October 03, 2007

Solidarity Vigil in Support of Burma's People

This is from SUARAM:

Please attend the following peaceful solidarity vigil in support of Burma's people, who are unable to exercise their human rights in their country, and to express our opposition towards the Burma military junta's bloody crackdown on anti-government protests. At least 13 people were killed and hundreds arrested in the crackdown on demonstration of Buddhist monks and Burma's people.

The vigil is an initiative of civil society organisations, including Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM), Civil Rights Committee of Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall (KLSCAH-CRC), Youth For Change (Y4C) and Amnesty International (AI) Malaysia.

Date:
Friday, 5 October 2007


Time:
8.00 p.m.

Venue:
KLCC (entrance nearest to Menara Maxis, opposite Avenue K)

Please come to show your solidarity. Please bring candles, candle-holders and banners.

For further information, please contact SUARAM (MoonHui) at 03-77843525 or Amnesty International (K.Shan) at 03-79552680.

Tuesday, June 19, 2007

.a candle for freedom.

I'll be there tonight.

Candlelight Vigil

There will be a peaceful candlelight vigil in support of Revathi, and many others like her, who are unable to fully exercise their Constitutionally-guaranteed freedom of faith.

The vigil is an initiative of civil society organisations including MCCBCHST (the Malaysian Consultative Council on Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism) and various women’s rights groups (All Women’s Action Society (AWAM), Sisters in Islam (SIS), Women’s Aid Organisation (WAO), Women’s Centre for Change, Penang (WCC) and Women’s Development Collective (WDC)).

Date: Tuesday, 19 June 2007

Time: 8 p.m.

Venue: Dataran Merdeka (at the flagpole)

Show your support in affirming the supremacy of the Federal Constitution and its protection of our fundamental liberties, including the freedom of belief.

Bring candles, candle-holders and banners.

***********************************************************************

Summary of Revathi’s case:

Revathi, an ethnic Indian woman, has been held in a rehabilitation center run by Islamic authorities since January 2007 because she wants the State to acknowledge she is a Hindu and not a Muslim.

Revathi was born to Indian parents who had converted to Islam before her birth. She claims she was raised by her grandmother as a Hindu. She and Suresh were married according to Hindu rites in March 2004. Revathi was advised by the Malacca Islamic Religious Department to make an application at the Malacca Syariah High Court to confirm her status as a Hindu. She did as she was told.

However, the Syariah Court ordered her detained in a rehabilitation centre in Ulu Yam, Selangor under Melaka’s Syariah criminal laws for 100 days. This detention was extended in Revathi’s absence for a further 80 days supposedly because she had not “repented”. In the meanwhile, Revathi’s Muslim mother obtained a Syariah Court order granting her custody of Revathi and Suresh’s 15 month old baby. That order was enforced on Suresh’s Hindu family with the assistance of the police.

The family is now torn apart - with the mother in detention, the child with the grandparents and the father in limbo without his family.

Link:
Malaysia Bar Forum

Monday, November 27, 2006

Princess Mononoke and Kiki

Last Wednesday, I've watched "Princess Mononoke" with my lifegroup members. We wanted to watch "Kiki, the delivery service" initially, but the dvd player coudn't read the dvd. =( So we decided to watch "Princess Mononoke" which turned out to be a real surprise.


Prince Mononoke



Prince Ashitaka

It was refreshing, to me. It's not like the typical movie/cartoon that I used to watch. I especially like the way the story was presented. The story line was rather simple. The message was clear. But the director managed to fascinate me with the plot and caught my attention for the whole two hours or so. The name of the anime is "Princess Mononoke",but the focus of the story was at Ashitaka, of how he tried to calm the hatred between the wilds/forest and the human. I do not know how to explain. It's just very refreshing for me. I really like it.

Now, I'm really looking forward to watch "Kiki, the delivery service". Masaki, my lifegroup member told me that it's really funny and nice.

I can't wait to be entertained. Waiting for David to pass it to me now. :D


Kiki, the delivery service

Friday, November 24, 2006

.I wish you love.

..it has been long since i blogged. i've always wanted to post something. but somehow it didn't just didn't happen.

now, i'm just trying to post something here.. to start the ball rolling.. so i'm just simply rambling..

..it's funny. i've even forgotten the password for my blog. i need to reset the password.

..had been listening to some jazzy songs of late. and i really like Rachael Yamagata's rendation of .I wish you love.

I wish you bluebirds in the spring, to give your heart a song to sing,
And then a kiss, but more than this, I wish you love.
And if you like lemonade to cool you in some lazy glade,
I wish you health, and more than wealth, I wish you love.
My breaking heart and I agree that you and I could never be,
So with my best, my very best, I set you free.
I wish you shelter from the storm, a cozy fire to keep you warm,
Most of all, when snowflakes fall, I wish you love.
(musical interlude)
I wish you shelter from the storm, a cozy fire to keep you warm,
Most of all, when snowflakes fall, hot time, I wish you love.
All kinds of love, a whole gang of love.


...

Thursday, July 20, 2006

i miss blogging...

i really do....

Monday, June 05, 2006

gonna miss you..

I’m so happy for my brother, he just left to UK yesterday to continue his degree! So, we had a little family gathering last weekend. Mum drove from JB just to send him off... I'm glad that we could have a lil' get-together before he departs. I'm sure she's going to miss him...


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Last dinner before he left to UK

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Hope you'll enjoy yourself in UK! gonna miss you!

Tuesday, March 21, 2006

+ crossroad +

Why suddenly life seems to be so meaningless now. Like there’s no purpose for living. I feel like the day and night just passed me by without me realizing.

Crossroad often left me wonders at the purpose of my life. Which direction should I follow, in tune with my purpose of my existence?




Wednesday, February 22, 2006

annyeong haseyo!

Have not been blogging for awhile. Von kept asking me why I didn’t update my blog. I guess I was just plainly lazy or maybe busy.

Recently, I’ve taken up the free Korean language class in MMU. Prof Kim, come to Malaysia to do some research, and had decided to give the MMU community free Korean classes. I enjoyed myself in his class. He taught us a new Korean song. I’ve learnt a few words in Korean. We practiced it among ourselves. A lot of my friends took the class too, since it’s free. :p

On the first class, Mr Kim asked us to write what we feel about Korea and how we could improve the class. We suggested organizing a class trip to Korea. Little did we know that, our idea was taken seriously by our lecturer. He invited us to visit Korea this second week of March,2006 , when he returned to his hometown for 2 weeks. Whoa.. I was speechless. Accommodation, food and tour guide provided. And now, with the current MAS travel fair, how could I resist it? However as much as I wanted to join the trip, I couldn’t, due to my financial constraint and my workload.

The way I see Mr Kim is that he’s passionate in what he’s doing now. I really do envy those that can work towards their dream, just like pastors, fes workers, social workers, missionaries, artists, designers, singers or even educator.

I wish and hope and pray that one day I, too could find a job/career/path that I’m passionate about.

Saturday, January 07, 2006

The first week of 2006

The last performance of Snow Wolf Lake world tour will end in Beijing, today the 7th of January 2006. My new found friend, Jojo and her group of friends are goin there to support the show. I wish I could be there too.Heh. Can't wait for her to come back to tell me all about her trip to Beijing.

This week is quite a 'home-cooked dinner' week. hehe.. my housemate who is currently having her study week, decided not to study and cook dinner for us.. almost everyday. hahaha..

I have been following Moorthy's news and found out that this kind of case has occurred before to Malaysia’s fourth Lord President, Tun Suffian.

I failed in my attempt to win a Study Bible, courtesy of the chief-Bible Surgeon, during a quiz on our last bible surgeons meeting

Anyway, for the first Saturday of 2006, I’m currently in the lab rushing on my project.. though.. where my heart really wants to be is in Beijing at this moment! Haha..

Saturday, December 31, 2005

snow.wolf.lake synopsis

This is the most detailed synopsis I found from someone else’s blog comments hehe..

It's a wonderful musical. actually the story is basically like what you wrote with a few differences. if you listen to the dialogue and lyrics, the story is much clearer. hope this helps to clarify.


The first scene, when the girl asked her dad to tell her about the Snow Wolf Lake myth, while he sings ''不老的传说"


The rich guest, Liang-zhi and Snow's mother

For example, in the first scene, Wolf's hand is actually wounded in the tussle with Liang zhi and his cronies. it is also in this scene that we discover that Wolf was given the job as gardener due to Snow’s urgings to her mother, bc she heard this fellow was very pitiful and poor with no one to turn to.


Wolf's hand wounded

Snow also tries, in vain, to appease her mother and keep her mother from kicking wolf out for “attacking” the honored (and rich) guest, Liang-zhi. Another thing is that the older sister,Phoenix actually falls for wolf in the beginning, at the same time as snow. The problem is that Snow is the more open, extroverted type while Phoenix is shyer, and introverted; so when Phoenix was still trying to gather the courage to approach Wolf, little sister Snow already ran over to talk to him, never suspecting that her older sister was even interested in wolf.


The first time Snow dresses Wolf's wound

This is the first time that Snow has ever fallen in love, despite Liang-zhi's repeated attempts at courtship over the years. Wolf, never having any friends besides his pet monkeys,Yiyi and his flowers, falls in love with snow at first sight and is struck by her beauty and kindness (which is apparent at Snow’s concern for Wolf and when snow bandages his wounded wrist with her red scarf.)


Wolf singing

Wolf keeps a pet monkey called Yiyi, and one day, Yiyi takes Snow’s violin. Snow follows the monkey but when she attempts to retrieve her violin it bites her hand. Wolf sees this, and takes off the red cloth wrapped around his wrist and gives it to Snow. But she tears it in half, and they each dress one another’s respective wounds with half the cloth. Wolf invites her back to his lodgings, and says that he wants to plant a flower of love to be named "Snow".


Wolf scolding Yiyi(the monkey) for taking Snow's voilin


When Snow volunteers to bind wolf's wound


Snow dressing Wolf's wound with her red silk scarf



Wolf and Snow at the balcony of Wolf's house


Making wishes

The dream to go to Vienna to study to become an accomplished violinist is Snow's, not her mother's. She divulges this dream to Wolf while they are rowing on a lake near her house, explaining how she one day wants to have a house by the lake at the school in Vienna, with a patio/balcony overlooking the lake so she can practice violin by the lake. Wolf assumes he is not a part of this dream, but Snow says that of course he would be there too, and they happily name the lake "Snow Wolf Lake."


Wolf and Snow


Wolf and Snow dancing

eanwhile Phoenix, never mentioning her feelings for wolf, has to bear hearing about Snow's blissful relationship with Wolf, and Snow, unknowing of her older sister's painful secret, keeps encouraging Phoenix to go out more and maybe she will also find her true love and they can all be happy in love.


Phoenix secretly in love with wolf



Liang-zhi

After the misunderstanding with Liang-zhi's passionate proposal and kiss, Snow and Wolf sing a duet and make up, and Snow takes wolf to a fair (hence the clowns in the background) where she is determined to show everyone that she loves him and they are together no matter that her mother and friends may think a relationship with a no-status or family background-type gardener like Wolf is inappropriate and beneath their level.


Snow and Wolf dancing

However, Liang-zhi (along with Snow's mother and some corrupt policemen) comes up with a scheme to separate snow and wolf. While snow is distracted by a friend, Liang-zhi convinces the un-educated Wolf that Snow will never go to vienna to live out her dream if wolf is with her, bc she will stay home so as to stay close to Wolf. He tells Wolf that if he really loves Snow and wishes her the best and the chance to fulfill her dreams, he should leave Snow, and suggests that wolf first tell Snow he no longer loves her, and then throw a torch into a building (unbeknownst to Wolf, it is a fireworks factory,) whereupon he will be put in jail. Liang-zhi also says that when wolf gets out of jail, snow will be back from Vienna, and their relationship can start anew, while allowing snow to achieve her dream of becoming a true violinist.


Wolf comtemplating of whether to throw the fire cracker(or torch?)


When the police tried to catch Wolf

While in jail, the guards tell wolf that Snow has been happily married to Liang-zhi, which Wolf doesn't believe at first but later feels that it must be true and becomes desolate. While he is in the depths of depression, a "wolf spirit" appears to give him encouragement. This wolf spirit has watched over the orphan wolf, and laughs and chides him for being so mopey. The wolf spirit tries to console him, saying that perhaps if snow is happy in her new life, then Wolf should be happy for her as well.So Wolf starts to try to let go of the memory of Snow.


In the jail


In the jail


In the jail



The wolf spirit and Wolf

When Wolf is released from prison, he returns to his old cottage, and finds Phoenix has been tending to his pets and flowers since his disappearance. He does not recognize Phoenix, although when he first sees her from behind, he almost thinks it's snow for a moment. Phoenixasks about the whereabouts of the person she reminded Wolf of; Wolf replies that that person is in a far away place, living a happy fortunate life, and he will probably never see her again.

Tt is at this point that he removes the red scarf from his hand, signifying that he is trying to move on and forget about snowPhoenix, seeing this gesture and hearing his words, begins to feel hope that she might be able to finally be closer to wolf and have a relationship. They become friends, as Phoenix has loved wolf this whole time, but she still never has the courage to admit that she is Snow's older sister.

On the occasion that wolf buys a present for Phoenix, she is glowingly happy, but when she opens the box, she is inwardly dismayed to discover that it is a red shawl, which hints to her that Wolf has not forgotten about Snow after all. (i forgot to mention that throughout the whole story, Snow always wears red, while Phoenix always wears purple, so red becomes a symbol for Snow.)

Phoenix and Wolf singing while selling flowers together


Phoenix's happy moments with wolf


The scene where Wolf and Phoenix dancing




Phoenix's happy moment with wolf


Phoenix 's happy moment with wolf

So one day they run into the girls’ mother by accident, where the mother tries to drag Phoenix away from Wolf, bc she blames all the family’s misfortunes on Wolf. (the family has become quite poor since Wolf was in jail and Snow was taken to Vienna.) It is here that bc he recognizes Snow’s mother, Wolf discovers that Phoenix is Snow’s sister, and also is distraught to find out that Snow has been living a cruel, unhappy, lonely life in Vienna this whole time.

Later Phoenix goes to apologize for keeping this from Wolf, and also admits that Liang-zhi and her mother (for the sake of money promised by liang-zhi) tricked snow into leaving for Vienna by telling her that Wolf was killed in prison, leaving Snow depressed and without hope.

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Phoenix apologises to Wolf


A mysterious red dressed girl keeps appearing in Wolf's dream

After hearing from the newspaper boys that snow has been killed by her husband, Wolf is utterly disconsolate; when a girl appears, a red-clad figure with her head and shoulders wrapped in a red shawl.


The girl clayed in red which is actually phoenix

Wolf rushes to her, thinking it is Snow, and crying he knew she just couldn’t be dead and now nothing would ever keep them apart again. The girl finally speaks, unwrapping the shawl to reveal Phoenix, who says that if Snow is what he wants, then she is willing to become like Snow in order to be with him. Wolf, realizing it’s not Snow, his hopes raised up and then dashed to the ground, is inconsolable, and apologizes to Phoenix, explaining that he thought he could forget about snow, but he just can’t, and that no one can take her place in his heart. Phoenix is heart-broken, but tells Wolf that she will always love him, even as he will always love snow, and says she will spend forever waiting for him, and runs off crying.

Wolf, in despair at the renewed loss of Snow, crouches there crying whereupon the wolf spirit appears, once again chiding wolf for his crying and moping, but then teaches him how to go back in time. He warns Wolf that no matter what, Wolf will be unable to change what has already happened, but Wolf insists he only wants to see Snow one last time, so the wolf spirit sends him off, reminding Wolf that he must be back by midnight, or he will never be able to come back (and thus die.)


The scene when he went back in time

Back in time, Snow has just fled home after seeing Wolf and discovering he is not dead after all. She is depressed, hurt, and angry, after being deceived into marrying Liang-zhi for the sake of helping her family (the unfulfilled promise of money for her mother) and bc thinking Wolf was dead, she felt she had nothing left to hope for anyways. Liang-zhi, unsatisfied by his wife’s continued depression over the loss of Wolf, and coldness towards him (as she has made it clear she will never love him, she will always love Wolf) over this period of time has become an abusive drunk. He starts to yell at her for always moping around the house with the same depressed expression, and demands her to just smile, just once, when Snow confronts him about wolf.

Liang-zhi at first denies any deception, insisting impatiently that wolf is dead, like he has told snow over and over before. Snow asks again for him to tell her the truth, and finally says that she knows he is lying to her, bc she saw Wolf just that day. She is overcome with feelings of sorrow, betrayal, and loss, and knowing that she has been tricked for so long, and also feeling that she has somehow wronged Wolf by marrying another man. Liang-zhi, unable to control his temper at the thought of Snow still being in love with Wolf (especially after he feels he has tried so hard to win Snow over, bribing policemen, fabricating the death of wolf, giving her so many material things that she has never appeared the least bit happy for wanting of wolf,) and seeing snow clutch the red scarf (that has never left her wrist since wolf tied it there during their 2nd meeting) to her heart, hits Snow, who falls to the ground, where he yells he wouldn’t let her leave him even if he was dead, and Snow, in tears says she would rather die than be with him.

Liang-zhi loses it, crying and screaming his love and mixed hatred, and overpowers Snow, starting to strangle her, claiming if he cannot have her, then no one else can either. At this time, Wolf appears out of the time portal, rushes over to stop Liang-zhi strangling snow, and hits Liang-zhi, who falls to the ground, dazed and crazed. He helps Snow up and tries to save her by taking her back towards the time portal (as the clock starts to strike midnight,) but Liang-zhi reveals a gun, shouting that he hates himself for not killing Wolf himself in the first place. Liang-zhi, crazed and crying, pulls the trigger just as snow runs in front of wolf to block the bullet. liang-zhi, realizing he has mortally wounded Snow, runs off, more or less gone mad at the thought that he has killed the person he loved the most.

Meanwhile, the clock is finishing chiming, and of course wolf stays with Snow throughout her last breaths. she asks him to hold her and look outside, as they are finally together at their dream-place, Snow Wolf Lake.


Snow died in wolf's arm


Wolf Hugging Snow


Wolf carrying Snow's body and slowly sink into the Snow Wolf Lake

The final scene shows Snow and Wolf, dressed in splendorous white (as bride and groom) on a white boat filled with white flowers (the flowers wolf named for snow symbolizing love) surrounded by ppl also wearing white. this alludes that they are finally together, but in heaven, snow dying to save Wolf’s life, and Wolf in turn giving up his life to be with Snow.


The last scene


The wedding


Happy ending~


Snow's mother and Liang Zhi


Nnadia Chan as Phoenix


Evonne Hsu as Snow


Everyone


Jacky Cheung as Wolf


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