Spring Forum
to be particular, it wasn't quite spring yet. In fact, it snowed three days after the event, which was held on the 2nd of March in Four Seasons Hotel, Munich.
What a funny name for a hotel.
To quote from the program invitation's description,
The global economic crisis has raised fundamental development issues. These include the ability of the existing model of capitalism to sustain growth. New and alternative models are being discussed, based on renewable energy, sustainable, ethical and responsible business practices, green and soft technologies, environment-friendly policies and a back-to-basics culture.
Green and sustainable issues are dominating the headlines post CHOGM 2009 in Trinidad & Tobago and the COP 15 UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen 2009. This dialogue will help clarify Europe’s position on the global Green Agenda as well as facilitate greater understanding of Malaysia as a transition economy, as it adopts a pragmatic approach towards embracing green technology for a sustainable future.
Don't worry, I didn't understand it either. I went there with quite an empty head except the idea it was something that has to do with environment and Rafidah Aziz was coming. Although it is not a good practice, coming unprepared helped me to avoid being biased by having preconceived opinions.
So there we were, me and my friends (Asma, Azra, Ejan, Berun, Dayang) and also a few newly made friends, all consisting of students in Germany, seated among professionals such as Malaysian Deputy ministers, company representatives such as Siemens, and lecturers. I don't know about the other students but my head was quite light during the first part of the forum and only a few percents information seeped through my nods
(read: sleepy).
However, to summarise the forum from my personal view is as if Malaysia was pitching sale and convincing Germany that Malaysia is going 'green', thus inviting Germany to invest in my beloved land. Another stark point was to dispel the negative reviews concerning the Palm Oil, one of Malaysia biggest export.
Palm oil
Interesting how the world is against palm oil. If you have watched AFC(asian food channel), there was a documentary depicting how the palm oil encourages deforestation. Before refuting that, it is good to know that at the early stage of palm oil industry in Malaysia, it was claimed that the palm oil was fattening and bad for your health. Which was latter proven wrong. (of course anything is bad if you eat a tonne of it)
Then there was the claim that palm oil is carcinogenic/can cause cancer. Also proven wrong.
Now the hubbub is that palm oil causes deforestation and extinction of Orang utan. Also wrong? Or has they hit a jackpot?
Funny though, who are they? The activist?
Logically, "they" do not refer to the activist since the issues changes over time, rather the culprit who initialize the panic and campaigns against the palm oil is likely the one who feels threaten by the import of palm oil. Let us leave it there to avoid slandering, as there is no concrete evidence.
However in order to refute the claims, numerous bodies were established and researches done.
Exempli grati (click for bigger pic)
you can view the original document at http://www.rspo.org/files/pdf/Factsheet-RSPO-AboutPalmOil.pdf
a few comments
- Palm oil only occupies 5% of plantation land yet occupies 35% of oil produced.
- Soybean occupies 43% land, yet produces only 30% of the lot
- Palm oil is not easily affected by weather, unlike certain crops
There's also a graph though I can't find it, proving that most of the lands used for palm oil industry in Malaysia are converted from cocoa, rubber and other plantation. Thus disproving the claim that natural reserve prime forest are used. Try reading it here(what a lousy website, typical government website) or like the above, here.
And among the people responsible for these researches is Tun Musa Hitam.
Tun Musa Hitam
Before the forum started, someone came and asked, "Do you know who this is?"
I was like, "Uhm, uhm," so she proceeded to ask other students, bringing Tun Musa Hitam with her. Yes, I didn't recognize who Tun Musa Hitam is. Lol, I fail.
What's more, Tun noticed it and later after the speaker announcing him as a well known figure in Malaysia, Tun said something that sounded like this, "He said I am a well known person, but the young generations in this room mostly probably would not know me."
Muka merah sikit waktu tu.
Luckily Tun diverged, "If they want to remember me, it is quite easy. I was the first among Tun Mahathir's deputy, he got a few, that got sacked."
The floor laughed and I was quite amazed, as in order to be able to make a joke of yourself, one need's courage and humility. Throughout his speech, Tun Musa continued his anecdotes and much of them was the same nature and appealed greatly to the audience.
In short, people loved his speech, and what's more his ideas are "berwawasan".
Syok woo dengar dia cakap.
After the forum was over, we even managed to chat for a while. He was very down to earth but not less interesting. In the picture below, Azra even asked, " Tun, macam mana nak bagi ucapan menarik macam tun?"
He said, "Well, first of all you must be 70 years old..." and we laughed.
All in all, it was an invaluable experience meeting such great people and also not to forget making new friends.
*dah macam karangan rombongan budak sekolah pulak bila sampai kt hujung-hujung tu
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