Ling Shiao

First the polar bears, now the puffins?? Is it just me, or is almost every single exotic animal, ranging from fish to birds to mammals, currently endangered? It certainly feels that way.  (Don’t agree?  Check out this list: List of Endangered Animals, from A to Z.)

According to an article I located on Newsweek’s website, the once-plentiful puffin population is now dwinding. A survey conducted on one of the birds’ breeding sites, the Isle of May, shows that the number of breeding pairs found on the island have dropped by thirty percent, greatly disheartening the people who fought to save them just several decades ago. However, I myself was somewhat relieved upon reading that the puffins aren’t in any immediate danger, not yet anyway. Unfortunately, that relief was short-lived, as I read that the puffins’ population decline probably stemmed from a combination of pollution, intensive fishing, and climate change. That means that although the puffin isn’t in any immediate danger, many bird species probably are.

“The puffin isn’t the only bird at risk. Bird populations across Europe have been declining steeply in recent years. A 2007 report published jointly by several conservation groups warned that nearly half the continent’s most common birds, such as the partridge and turtledove, are in trouble.” — “The Power of Cuddly,” by Christopher Werth, Newsweek

The article states that the decline in puffin numbers might actually be a boon for conservation, because of the puffin’s cuteness. Not to be a wet blanket, but I have to disagree. If conservation efforts were based on cuteness, the tiger would be flourishing, lemurs would be dangling from virtually every tree, and we’d have pandas coming out of our ears! But who knows? Pandas, the cuddly face of China, have found hope with a panda observatory in Chengdu that breeds cubs with astonishing success and proficiency. Our national mascot, the bald eagle, has made an amazing rebound. The Grizzly bear, pictured on California’s state flag, has almost doubled its population in the past thirty years. Perhaps the puffin’s celebrity status in England is the perfect thing for it and the other species of wild birds fighting for survival.

Okay, so maybe this is a bit of a generic topic, but I was truly impressed when I saw China’s impressive (if slightly excessive) display of power and wealth at the Olympic opening ceremony. I was absolutely awed, though I couldn’t resist a small chuckle when my dad said,

“Today is a very good day to be Chinese.”

I don’t remember much about the Athens opening ceremony, but this one will stick in my memory for a long, long time. Aside from the entrancing pyrotechnics, it perfectly captured the attitude of the Chinese, a mixture of seemingly conflicting priorities and sentiments. First, the opening was strong and powerful, probably symbolic of China’s desire to show its sudden rise in wealth, to emphasize that yes, it is a country on the rise. But the drummers were instructed to smile more, to appear less intimidating. What? Then, the themes of unity and harmony were stressed over and over again, even as the Chinese displayed their martial arts masters and their sheer manpower. (For each group of performers, there were 2008 people involved, and none of the performers played dual roles.)

Besides that, they are a nation fiercely proud of their ancient heritage, yet also wanting to show the world how modern and competent they are among the world’s established superpowers.  The Bird’s Nest Olympic stadium, specially built for the 2008 games, is equipped with the most high-end visual technology available, from a gargantuan LCD screen built into the floor, to the screens encompassing the top edges of the stadium.  What is that technology used for?  To enhance a delicate performance of China’s history, from the first emperor to the age of the seas.  Yet, the director of the performance seamlessly connected the two elements in his ceremony, embracing the earliest history while facing the future.

If you’re not bored by now, or if you missed the opening ceremony, you might want to look at this slideshow of pictures from the opening ceremony, using this LINK.

So, when I went to Singapore three years ago, I remember a vibrant culture, bustling and full of life.  The shopping there was amazing, like the malls were heaven on earth.  Everyone seemed really, truly happy, even if their country was ruled by an authoritarian government, their news censored, and a plethora of seemingly unnecessary rules governed their daily lives.  All the shopkeepers, even the little old lady selling ice cream sandwiches on the sidewalk, looked like they were enjoying their work.  The sidewalks were clean and the air was fresh.  I thought it was strange that people could enjoy such a high quality of life in a country that wasn’t a true democracy, in the style of the western nations.

“The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter.” — Winston Churchill

Upon further reflection, I realized that Singapore thrives and flourishes because even though its leaders may use electoral intimidation tactics and curtail free speech, they have the distinct quality of being incorrupt, something that might not be true of even some democratic leaders.  Also, without the two-party system, less time and resources are wasted on political parties’ incessant bickering, so politicians can focus on what really matters: the people.

As for a lack of free speech, well, resourceful citizens will always find a way to express themselves.  Just take a look at this Newsweek article.  “Singapore’s Discomfort Zone”

They were the children of the noble or the powerful, chosen for the highest honor the Inca civilization could bestow: becoming a human gift to the mountain gods.  — “Children of the Ice,”  Newsweek

Apparently, that quote brings a new meaning to the words “honorable death.”   The Incas and other South American tribes have long held reputations of violence because of their tradition of human sacrifice.  That image has also been cultivated in popular culture, such as Mel Gibson’s film, Apocalypto.  However, recent archaeological finds give us insight into the human sacrifice ritual of the Incas, proving that their ritual was different from the bloody scenes we normally picture upon hearing the words “human sacrifice.”  The Newsweek article discusses three mummified bodies that show no signs of bodily injury, suggesting that they were not victims of a violent death.  They in fact may have died relatively peacefully, as a result of a painless poison administered in their food or drink.  The scientists behind the find believe that this lack of blood demonstrates how the Incas viewed this as a very religious and sacred practice.

Although the writer of the article holds that the children’s bodies exuded an air of “tranquility,” I cannot believe that they were in such a state of peace at the time of their deaths.  How could anyone so young accept death calmly?  I also wonder about their parents’ reactions to their deaths.  Did they honor their children because they had been chosen for the sacrifice?  Or did they secretly mourn and resent the authorities that chose their children over all the others?  Unfortunately, this article does not answer these questions, and the mummies probably won’t, either.

The Olympics!  It seems that the entirety of China is abuzz with preparations; from a frantic attempt to rid the skies of smog to an even more frenzied attempt to make the metropolis of Beijing as comfortably “Western” as possible.  However, it is quite possible that in Beijing’s scramble to spruce up its image, it has lost some of its identity; some of what made the city truly unique.

My aunt and uncle, who recently took a trip to Beijing to pick up my new cousin, a chubby little baby named Bryan who they adopted from an orphanage in a nearby village, can attest to the differences in Beijing’s culture, climate, and just overall feel.  The streets are quieter, shiny new buildings surround the pedestrians, and China’s famous “one-hour Rolex” market seems to have slowed to a trickle.  Perhaps the most shocking thing for they was that the neat little brick houses they remember from only a few years ago have transformed into towering apartment complexes.  Newsweek seems to agree with my aunt’s and uncle’s observations saying that:

“Visitors to the Games will find the newly spruced up Beijing cleaner - and blander.”   — “Taking Away Olympic Fun”, Mary Hennock and Manuela Zoninsein

However, the article mostly talks about how foreigners with businesses have been affected by the suddenly stringent rules and regulations.  I, on the other hand, was hoping to hear about it from a native Chinese person’s perspective, maybe from some elderly gentleman whose noodle shop suddenly had to comply with rules it had ignored for the past decade or so.  But, if anyone is interested in a French bar owner’s point of view, here’s the Newsweek article:  Beijing Cleans Up its Bar Scene . . . 

So I’m sure all of you know that we can’t bring water bottles, perfume bottles, tooth paste, lotion, and a plethora of other liquid/viscous materials onto airplanes.  I’m also sure you all know why.  Three young men were caught in a London airport with explosives in soda bottles, touching off an international state of hysteria, not to mention tacking on an extra stop on the already tedious process of getting through airport security.

Anyway, the three young men have pleaded guilty to the charges of planning an explosion.  Good, right?  Well, sure.  But airport security will never be the same.  On a more serious note, what really got me was that they insist that they were merely trying to publicize a movie they were making.  Apparently, they planned to cause an explosion in an iconic London site, hoping to draw enough attention to their movie to make them all famous.  Does that even make sense?  Did they forget that they were going to be arrested for the explosion, no matter whether or not any people were injured? The sheer ridiculousness of their defense only makes me believe in their guilt even more.

“How tedious is a guilty conscience!”  — John Webster

As the above quote says, this flimsy defense argument isn’t even funny, just ridiculous.  On the other hand, these lawsuits are so ridiculous, they’re actually funny:   Ten Most Ridiculous Lawsuits of All Time

“On the same basis as Mr. Brown regards himself as prime minister of Zimbabwe . . . You bloody idiots!” — Robert Mugabe, at the African Union summit in Egypt

Yes, that was Mugabe’s response when asked on what basis he considers himself the president of Zimbabwe. The second part is his furious shout to the reporters and others surrounding him that supposedly led him to make the Freudian slip. Ironically, I also think that the quote represents very accurately whether or not Mugabe is the rightful president of Zimbabwe. Perhaps he subconsciously knows that the elections were conducted in a most undemocratic manner, thus leading himself to expose the injustice with a serendipitous slip of the tongue.

I don’t know enough about Mugabe or the Zimbabwean elections to make a very educated decision on whether or not he is the rightful president, but I do know that the way his followers are intimidating the opposition is by no means democratic. Any political faction that would go so far as to utilize violence against a baby cannot possibly be the rightful rulers of any nation. Yes, I too was shocked and horrified when I read the Newsweek article about this one-year-old infant named Delani whose ankles had been brutally snapped by two “ruling party thugs,” who originally planned on attacking her mother. (”Zimbabwe, an Underground Diary,” by Rob Nordland) What crime had her mother committed to warrant such an attack? Delani’s mother, Loveness, is married to a leader in the opposition party, the Movement for Democratic Change.

Yet, it is also stunning that the Zimbabweans can laugh in the midst of all their misery, and joke about it too. A slightly morbid joke is that to enjoy a billionaire’s meal, all one has to do is order a burger and fries, which would cost upwards of 80 billion Zimbabwean dollars with a Coke. Perhaps, with a sense of humor, the Zimbabwean people will succeed in their fight for a just government.

I highly recommend you read the “Zimbabwe, an Underground Diary.”  Here’s the link:  LINK 

“Due to lack of inexperienced trumpeters, the end of the world has been postponed for three weeks.” — Anonymous.

So first of all, let me list the reasons why the world as we know it is coming to an end:

1) The price of gasoline is edging closer and closer to $5.00 a gallon.
2) No one has come up with an alternative fuel source that works well for the long term.
3) The average American uses up 5 times their own share of natural resources.
4) Global warming is threatening to melt icecaps, flood Venice, kill polar bears, and otherwise wreak havoc.
5) The human population is increasing faster than we can fix our problems.

Last, but by no means least, some scientists in Meyrin, Switzerland, have built an atom smasher named the “Large Hadron Collider.” (Click the name for more information.) This multi-billion dollar machine promises to either make the discovery of “dark matter” (the invisible matter that makes up 96 percent of the universe) possible or to envelope the world in chaos by creating an immense black hole, or by spitting out particles that would turn the earth into a smoldering dead lump. Hooray for scientific advancements!

Of course, the scientists who built the machine believe it poses as much threat to the world as a fluffy bunny rabbit. They scoff and say “If I believed it was dangerous, I wouldn’t be anywhere near here!” At this rate, I trust the scientists at the European Organization for Nuclear Research, who at least have their doctorates supporting their statements. Anyway, the machine will be buried 330 feet underground, so these scientists have taken precautions and aren’t entirely leaping before they look. Furthermore, this machine, which is worth billions, is touted as the largest scientific experiment in history and could possibly open up new dimensions in space, has no doubt been researched exhaustively. These scientists wouldn’t let all that money and all their time go to waste. The odds for something to go wrong are 1 in 50 million, and nothing was ever accomplished by playing it safe.

“What a caterpillar calls the end of the world, the master calls a butterfly.” — Richard Bach

“Price is what you pay.  Value is what you get.” — Warren Buffet

Okay, that may be so, but I was utterly shocked when I read the Newsweek mini-article stating that for every dollar we Americans spend on the War on Terror, we only get about ten cents’ worth of security benefits.  (Ten Cent Solution, Rana Foroohar, Newsweek)  If you take into consideration that a dollar is one hundred cents, you can easily go on to see that the war on terrorism is only ten percent cost-effective.  This leads me to question whether or not the War on Terror is actually bringing us any benefits at all.  I, for one, do not feel particularly safer because of the War on Terror.  Honestly, I wasn’t even sure it was still going on before reading this article.

So up to that point, the little article had succeeded in making me feel somewhat depressed, seeing as how it had pretty much just said that the War on Terror was pointless, and terrorism is still a . . . terrifying . . . possibility looming in the distance.  The article concluded by saying that terrorism would be solved more effectively by working more with international crime-fighting agencies, such as Interpol, or directing more funds to the IMF (International Monetary Fund) to fight money laundering.  While the Interpol suggestion made me want to smack my forehead and cry “DUH!” the IMF solution is one that is more surprising.  I had no idea that it would earn approximately ten dollars of security for every one dollar.  In conclusion, here is the link to the CNN page about the War on Terror.  You can decide for yourself if you think it’s worth fighting.

We all know that President Bush’s approval ratings both nationwide and worldwide are so low that the sunlight barely reaches them. However, did you know that none of the other major world leaders are rated much better than he is? A poll conducted by WorldPublicOpinion.org reveals that pretty much the entire world is disillusioned with its leaders. (Click here for the poll: Poll Link) The thing that struck me about the Newsweek article, Time of the Tough Guys, by Jonathan Tepperman, was that it said that the three world leaders that garnered the most trust from the 20 nations polled (albeit by a small margin) were Gordon Brown, Britain’s prime minister, Hu Jintao of the Chinese Communist Party, and Vladimir Putin of Russia. That would be one democrat and two dictators, guys. What happened? One way of looking at it is expressed in this quote:

“In a democracy, dissent is an act of faith.” — J. William Fullbright

Well, if that’s the case, then democracy is alive and healthy, as much of the world is faithfully expressing its dissent with democratic leaders. There is also a logical explanation for why the Russian Putin and Chinese Jintao are doing better in the polls; the only worrying aspect of their popularity gain would be the anti-American sentiment that probably contributed to it. Other than that, the other causes of their popularity that Tepperman wrote about don’t seem like much of a cause for concern. Both their countries are on the rise, and generally people don’t argue with success. Russia also is sitting on a lot of oil, which is especially important now. Plus, the poll isn’t weighted by country, which could have skewed some results. So, I don’t think the results of the poll should be evidence enough to say that democracy is on its way out.

However, I do disagree with Tepperman when he says that only one country (America) is suited to take center stage and resume its previous role as leader of the world. What the next president should do is focus on leading the United States, fixing the problems on the home front, before trying to save the world. It might seem selfish, but how can one hope to save the world if one’s own country is still experiencing extreme poverty, an inadequate justice system, and an economy that resembles the Titanic?