Please dont start the FIRE!!

Article 153 should be inclusive, otherwise it is ‘bullying’, says Christian leader

UPDATED @ 12:06:36 AM 25-12-2011

By Melissa Chi

December 24, 2011

SUBANG JAYA, Dec 24 — The Federal Constitution’s Article 153 is akin to “bullying” if it only protects the rights of one group, top church leader Reverend Dr Eu Hong Seng said today.

The National Evangelical Christian Fellowship (NECF) chairman said the rights in any nation cannot be scrutinised in a vacuum.

“I think we need to talk about the rights of others as well under article 153.

“When we talk of rights of only one group, if I may suggest, that is bullying,” he (picture) said at the Christian Federation of Malaysia (CFM) Christmas hi-tea here at the Full Gospel Tabernacle.

The annual event was attended by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon, MCA’s Loh Seng Kok, DAP’s Hannah Yeoh, PKR’s Chua Tian Chang, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Datuk Seri Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.

The reverend said nation building must be collective and for it to work, it has to be inclusive of everybody’s rights, including the East and West Malaysians, Indians, Chinese, Orang Aslis, Malays, the Sikhs and indigenous people.

Eu pointed out that democracy used to mean elected representatives are there to serve the people.

“Today, Malaysian democracy means elected representatives can threaten the people and get away with it.

“This should not be so, and we, the people of the book, are not afraid to say so,” Eu said.

The Christian leader had previously been outspoken about the controversy surrounding the raid on the Damansara Utama Methodist Church (DUMC) on August 3.

He had repeatedly stressed that there has not been any concrete proof of proselytisation, as claimed by certain quarters.

The contentious raid escalated religious conflict between Muslims and Christians in the country, with Malay newspapers highlighting allegations of Christians trying to convert Muslims through welfare work.

United Nations

A/CONF.151/26 (Vol. I)

General Assembly

Distr. GENERAL
12 August 1992 

ORIGINAL: ENGLISH

 REPORT OF THE UNITED NATIONS CONFERENCE ON 
                    ENVIRONMENT AND DEVELOPMENT*

                  (Rio de Janeiro, 3-14 June 1992)


                               Annex I

           RIO DECLARATION ON ENVIRONMENT AND DEVELOPMENT

The United Nations Conference on Environment and Development,

Having met at Rio de Janeiro from 3 to 14 June 1992,
Reaffirming the Declaration of the United Nations Conference on the Human
Environment, adopted at Stockholm on 16 June 1972, a/ and seeking to build upon
it,
    With the goal of establishing a new and equitable global partnership
through the creation of new levels of cooperation among States, key sectors of
societies and people,
    Working towards international agreements which respect the interests of
all and protect the integrity of the global environmental and developmental
system,
    Recognizing the integral and interdependent nature of the Earth, our
home
    Proclaims that:

                             Principle 1
    Human beings are at the centre of concerns for sustainable development. 
They are entitled to a healthy and productive life in harmony with nature.

                             Principle 2

    States have, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations and the
principles of international law, the sovereign right to exploit their own
resources pursuant to their own environmental and developmental policies, and
the responsibility to ensure that activities within their jurisdiction or
control do not cause damage to the environment of other States or of areas
beyond the limits of national jurisdiction.

                             Principle 3

    The right to development must be fulfilled so as to equitably meet
developmental and environmental needs of present and future generations.

                             Principle 4

    In order to achieve sustainable development, environmental protection
shall constitute an integral part of the development process and cannot be
considered in isolation from it.


                             Principle 5

    All States and all people shall cooperate in the essential task of
eradicating poverty as an indispensable requirement for sustainable
development, in order to decrease the disparities in standards of living and
better meet the needs of the majority of the people of the world.

                             Principle 6

    The special situation and needs of developing countries, particularly the
least developed and those most environmentally vulnerable, shall be given
special priority.  International actions in the field of environment and
development should also address the interests and needs of all countries.

                             Principle 7

    States shall cooperate in a spirit of global partnership to conserve,
protect and restore the health and integrity of the Earth's ecosystem.  In view
of the different contributions to global environmental degradation, States have
common but differentiated responsibilities.  The developed countries
acknowledge the responsibility that they bear in the international pursuit of
sustainable development in view of the pressures their societies place on the
global environment and of the technologies and financial resources they
command.
                             Principle 8

    To achieve sustainable development and a higher quality of life for all
people, States should reduce and eliminate unsustainable patterns of production
and consumption and promote appropriate demographic policies.

                             Principle 9

    States should cooperate to strengthen endogenous capacity-building for
sustainable development by improving scientific understanding through exchanges
of scientific and technological knowledge, and by enhancing the development,
adaptation, diffusion and transfer of technologies, including new and
innovative technologies.
                            Principle 10

    Environmental issues are best handled with the participation of all
concerned citizens, at the relevant level.  At the national level, each
individual shall have appropriate access to information concerning the
environment that is held by public authorities, including information on
hazardous materials and activities in their communities, and the opportunity
to participate in decision-making processes.  States shall facilitate and
encourage public awareness and participation by making information widely
available.  Effective access to judicial and administrative proceedings,
including redress and remedy, shall be provided.

                            Principle 11

    States shall enact effective environmental legislation.  Environmental
standards, management objectives and priorities should reflect the
environmental and developmental context to which they apply.  Standards applied
by some countries may be inappropriate and of unwarranted economic and social
cost to other countries, in particular developing countries.

                            Principle 12

    States should cooperate to promote a supportive and open international
economic system that would lead to economic growth and sustainable development
in all countries, to better address the problems of environmental degradation. 
Trade policy measures for environmental purposes should not constitute a means
of arbitrary or unjustifiable discrimination or a disguised restriction on
international trade.  Unilateral actions to deal with environmental challenges
outside the jurisdiction of the importing country should be avoided. 
Environmental measures addressing transboundary or global environmental
problems should, as far as possible, be based on an international consensus.

                            Principle 13

    States shall develop national law regarding liability and compensation
for the victims of pollution and other environmental damage.  States shall also
cooperate in an expeditious and more determined manner to develop further
international law regarding liability and compensation for adverse effects of
environmental damage caused by activities within their jurisdiction or control
to areas beyond their jurisdiction.

                            Principle 14

    States should effectively cooperate to discourage or prevent the
relocation and transfer to other States of any activities and substances that
cause severe environmental degradation or are found to be harmful to human
health.
                            Principle 15

    In order to protect the environment, the precautionary approach shall be
widely applied by States according to their capabilities.  Where there are
threats of serious or irreversible damage, lack of full scientific certainty
shall not be used as a reason for postponing cost-effective measures to prevent
environmental degradation.

                            Principle 16

    National authorities should endeavour to promote the internalization of
environmental costs and the use of economic instruments, taking into account
the approach that the polluter should, in principle, bear the cost of
pollution, with due regard to the public interest and without distorting
international trade and investment.

                            Principle 17

    Environmental impact assessment, as a national instrument, shall be
undertaken for proposed activities that are likely to have a significant
adverse impact on the environment and are subject to a decision of a competent
national authority.

                            Principle 18

    States shall immediately notify other States of any natural disasters or
other emergencies that are likely to produce sudden harmful effects on the
environment of those States.  Every effort shall be made by the international
community to help States so afflicted.

                            Principle 19

    States shall provide prior and timely notification and relevant
information to potentially affected States on activities that may have a
significant adverse transboundary environmental effect and shall consult with
those States at an early stage and in good faith.

                            Principle 20

    Women have a vital role in environmental management and development. 
Their full participation is therefore essential to achieve sustainable
development.

                            Principle 21

    The creativity, ideals and courage of the youth of the world should be
mobilized to forge a global partnership in order to achieve sustainable
development and ensure a better future for all.

                            Principle 22

    Indigenous people and their communities and other local communities have
a vital role in environmental management and development because of their
knowledge and traditional practices.  States should recognize and duly support
their identity, culture and interests and enable their effective participation
in the achievement of sustainable development.

                            Principle 23

    The environment and natural resources of people under oppression,
domination and occupation shall be protected.

                            Principle 24

    Warfare is inherently destructive of sustainable development.  States
shall therefore respect international law providing protection for the
environment in times of armed conflict and cooperate in its further
development, as necessary.

                            Principle 25

    Peace, development and environmental protection are interdependent and
indivisible.

                            Principle 26

    States shall resolve all their environmental disputes peacefully and by
appropriate means in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations.

                            Principle 27

    States and people shall cooperate in good faith and in a spirit of
partnership in the fulfilment of the principles embodied in this Declaration
and in the further development of international law in the field of sustainable
development.

BR1M RM 500 ...bantuan ringan beban Isi Rumah

Kementerian jelas status BR1M RM500

Oleh : Bernama
Tarikh : December 8, 2011

KUALA LUMPUR - Kementerian Kewangan semalam menjelaskan bahawa isi rumah yang layak memohon pemberian Bantuan Rakyat 1Malaysia (BR1M) sebanyak RM500, merujuk kepada seorang lelaki atau wanita yang menjadi ketua kepada anggota keluarga yang tinggal serumah, dan mempunyai pendapatan kasar isi rumah RM3,000 dan ke bawah.

“Ini merangkumi individu yang berkahwin; ibu/bapa tunggal yang mempunyai tanggungan; bujang yang mempunyai tanggungan; dan warga emas (berumur 60 tahun dan ke atas) sebatang kara,” kata Menteri Kewangan Kedua, Datuk Seri Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah dalam satu kenyataan semalam.
 

Katanya, setiap anak berkahwin yang mempunyai pendapatan kasar isi rumah RM3,000 dan ke bawah tetapi tinggal serumah dengan ibu bapa, dikira sebagai satu isi rumah berlainan.

“Pendapatan kasar isi rumah merujuk kepada pendapatan suami, isteri dan tanggungan yang masih bujang,” katanya dan menekankan ‘hanya ketua isi rumah sahaja yang layak memohon’.
 

Kementerian Kewangan telah membuka Bilik Gerakan untuk operasi Talian Hotline BR1M 1-800-222-500 bermula semalam bagi memudahkan orang ramai mendapat penjelasan lanjut mengenai pelaksanaan BR1M.
 

Talian Hotline ini beroperasi setiap hari bekerja, mulai 9 pagi hingga 5 petang.
 

Kementerian itu mengingatkan bahawa pendaftaran permohonan BR1M akan bermula pada 10 Disember ini hingga 10 Januari 2012.
 

Borang pendaftaran boleh didapati secara percuma di Jabatan Pembangunan Persekutuan, Jabatan Penerangan Malaysia, Pejabat Cawangan dan Pusat Khidmat Lembaga Hasil Dalam Negeri Malaysia (LHDNM), serta akhbar tempatan, katanya.
 

Borang yang lengkap diisi hendaklah disertakan salinan kad pengenalan dan slip gaji (jika berkenaan) dan diserahkan kepada Jabatan Pembangunan Persekutuan/Negeri, Jabatan Penerangan, Pejabat Cawangan dan Pusat Khidmat LHDNM.
 

Kementerian juga akan membuka pendaftaran di sekolah terpilih, dewan komuniti serta orang ramai yang berdekatan, dengan dibantu oleh petugas sambilan bagi mempastikan kelancaran proses pendaftaran.
 

Untuk tujuan ini, kerajaan melantik seramai 2,000 petugas sambilan bagi membantu dalam urusan pendaftaran permohonan di seluruh negara.

Contact Us

Division for Sustainable Development
Department of Economic and Social Affairs
Two United Nations Plaza, Room DC2-2220
New York, NY 10017, USA
Fax: + 1 212 963 4260

E-mail:

Send a message to the Division for Sustainable Development

Directions:

Our office is located on East 44th Street between 1st and 2nd Avenue

Emerging Issues

Mr. Ralph Wahnschafft
Emerging Issues Branch
Division for Sustainable Development
Department of Economic and Social Affairs
United Nations
Two UN Plaza, DC2-2106
New York, NY 10017, USA
Fax: +1 212 963 9883/9886
E-mail: Send an e-mail to the Branch

Major Groups

CSD Major Groups Programme
Communication & Outreach Branch
Division for Sustainable Development
Department of Economic and Social Affairs
United Nations
Two UN Plaza, DC2-2210
New York, NY 10017, USA
Tel: +1 917 367 8388/+ 212 963 4704
Fax: +1 917 367 2341
E-mail: csdmgresgister@un.org

Water & Energy, National Sustainable Development Strategies (NSDS)

Ms. Ndey-Isatou Njie
Division for Sustainable Development
Department of Economic and Social Affairs
United Nations
Two UN Plaza, DC2-2140
New York, NY 10017, USA
Tel: +1 212 963 1920
Fax: +1 917 367 3391
E-mail: pischke@un.org

Partnerships

Ms. Diane Quareless, Head, Partnerships Team
CSD Secretariat
Global Policy Branch
Division for Sustainable Development
Department of Economic and Social Affairs
United Nations
Two UN Plaza, DC2-2240
New York, NY 10017, USA
Fax: +1 212 963 8563
E-mail: beyondwssd@un.org

SIDS

Ms. Hiroko Morita-Lou, Chief
SIDS Unit
Division for Sustainable Development
Department of Economic and Social Affairs
United Nations
Two UN Plaza, DC2-2224
New York, NY 10017, USA
Tel: +1 212 963 8813
Fax: +1 212 963 4260
E-mail: morita-lou@un.org

Malaysian ' ll go Bankrupt, if fly under Euro Skies!!

Malaysia among most vulnerable to euro crisis, says Nomura

UPDATED @ 06:37:32 PM 07-12-2011

By Lee Wei Lian

December 07, 2011

Subbaraman said Malaysia’s high public debt could preclude continued stimulus spending. — Pictures by Jack Ooi

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 7 — Malaysia will be hit harder than its Asian peers by the economic crisis in Europe due to its relatively weak public finances and dependence on commodities, said Nomura International today. Its chief economist for Asia ex-Japan, Robert Subbaraman, said that unlike most countries in Asia, Malaysia will be negatively affected by an expected drop off in commodity prices while the government will also find it difficult to keep up stimulus policies.
“Malaysia is one of the economies that will weaken the most; it is in the weaker group of economies,” said Subbaraman at a media briefing here today.
Nomura forecast a growth of 2.3 per cent for Malaysia for the first quarter of next year and a full year growth of only 3 per cent in 2012, well below this year's expected growth of 4.7 per cent and also below government forecasts of between5-6 per cent.
Nomura economist for Southeast Asia Euben Paracuelles said Malaysia’s growth in the first three quarters of this year was largely led by government spending, but as public finances were relatively weak, he doubted that it would be sustainable.
Subbaraman also noted that Malaysia ranked third in Asia ex-Japan in terms of exposure to European bank claims, after Hong Kong and Singapore, which could mean a drying up of liquidity should European banks start to cut their exposure to the region.
Figures provided showed that European bank exposure to Malaysia amounted to US$50 billion (RM155 billion), or about 19 per cent of GDP, double that of the Asia ex-Japan average of nine per cent.

Commodities would dip by 15 per cent if a slowdown hits, says Paracuelles.

Only the financial centres of Hong Kong and Singapore had higher exposures, at 77 and 55 per cent of GDP respectively. “As European banks pull back exposure, it will show up as net capital outflow and availability of funding will start to dry up,” said Subbaraman.
He noted, however, that Malaysia still has a large current account surplus at 13 per cent of GDP, which should help support the ringgit against hefty depreciation against the US dollar, due to its trade performance.
Paracuelles said that if a global downturn happens, there would be a 15 per cent decline in commodity prices.
Malaysian government economists earlier said their economic projections were bolstered by expected continued high rubber and palm oil prices, which would help boost rural area spending.
Petronas said in a briefing last week that it expects oil prices to decline to US$85-87 per barrel next year, from US$110 currently.
In its November Asia Economic Monthly report, Nomura noted that Malaysia faces the prospect of unsustainable fiscal support.
“Given the public debt to GDP ratio of 55 per cent, the second highest in Asia, scope to continue with a very expansionary fiscal policy next year could prove to be limited,” said the report.
Subbaraman also said the risk of a hard landing in China is “not trivial” although the threat is greater after 2013-2014, following the handover of power to the next generation of leaders.
Nomura expects growth in Asia to drop to 6.6 per cent next year, from 7.5 per cent this year, and revised its 2012 global growth forecast from 3.8 per cent to 3.2 per cent.