The Manila Hijacking incident

The Hong Kong tour group in the Manila hijacking incident lost 7 members. In addition, there are 7 members suffered gunshot wounds. RTHK reports that a 5 member family lost 3 in the conflict. How can a lone hijacker cause so much damages?

Comments from the administration are equally harsh as the general public. Apparently, the inefficient police force is the prime target. Questions remains just how many victims are hurt or killed by the police? We will see when the Manila investigation is over, how much a cover up it is.

The hijacker is a former policeman, with full knowledge of the corruption scheme, taking such risk to ask for fair compensation. It is obvious the force has a particular interest to deal swiftly. Nonetheless, the dealing is poorly executed causing death to innocent foreign visitors.

With so much corruption in the world, tourism may be just another adventure for the risk seekers.

Natural Disasters - a tale of 2 countries.

Since the 2004 Boxing Day Tsunami, large scale of disasters happen every year, thousands of fatalities pile up the record book.

Currently, the news media is watching like a hawk in the latest Pakistan flood crisis.

Why is Pakistan struggling so much to deliver aids to the victims? Where is the army? Where is the air force? Where is the government? Root cause investigation clearly points to corruption. CTV news reports Canadian government initially offers a mere 2 million dollars and under UN pressure changes to $30 million. According to the latest report, the donation is still 3/4 short.

In the last few years, China suffered as many natural disasters as any other countries combined. From the Sichuan earth quake to the ZhouChu mudslides last week, thousands vanished and millions homeless. I have not seen media coverage nor I see Canadian government pledge. Instead, I watch hundreds of Chinese tourists landed in Vancouver bringing Canadian tourism industry great hope.

What is the magic formula that separate Pakistan and China?

More or less corruption?

Living in Harmony

Many self help books identify the causes of fear and pain and provide the readers ways to live in peace. Many of these are devoted to the individual readers or the family.

How can countries live in harmony? Seems like an unsustainable goal.
Is country the sum of all evils? Only the ruthless, power, greed are in the equation.

American is the democratic superpower since WW2, however, the administration keep throwing their young people to battles, be it Korean war, Vietnam war, Kuwait war, Iraq and Afghanistan.
For what actual benefits these wars bring to the people of United States?
Is this realistic to use force to bring harmony?

What if everyone read "the 7 habits of highly effective people" to begin the journey. A long long journey for sure.

Local Weather

In the first week of July, Edmonton is wet and cold. So much rain that we hardly turn on the sprinkler. Relative to last July, this summer is less welcome. However, if I compare Edmonton to the rest of the world cities, Edmonton is the best. With temperature in the high 30C and humidity in the high 80s, what else can you do except hiding inside air conditioning rooms.

The climate is changing, the climate lobbyists are active. Their suggestions of clean energy are heard everywhere in the world. Let me see how many global meetings they will have for sheer discussions, the good old wine and dance sessions.

The world is spinning towards destruction not because of natural disasters. The world is spinning towards destruction because of government mismanagement. Corruption in all levels of government, in all levels of financial institutions, in all levels of NGO. Quality of living decreases for ordinary Joe like you and me, our savings, our pensions are disappearing at an exponential rate. What recourse do we have when some one abscond our funds? The answer is zippo.

What about the lives of the South Korean sailors???

Today, United Nations Security Council did not condemn the administration of North Korea for the sinking of the South Korean submarine. Apparently, the 46 sailors died in a mindless attack. Apparently, the world is convinced whom is the attacker. Yet, the world politicians are happy to leave the families of the dead sailors suffer for the rest of their lives.

The statement is clearly a compromise of the council members. Why would the UN Security Council accept such irresponsibility? Their excuse is to keep peace in the Korean Peninsula. The scene reminds me so much of Chamberlain's unwillingness to address Hitler's aggression which eventually leads to World War II.

Wars are inevitable...imperialism, superiority, capitalism, communism. These are just a few reasons why fighting has not stopped since WWII. Why do we put our youngsters in Afghanistan, not Korea. What is justice???

Oil pollution in Nigeria

Yesterday, the news media bring my attention to Nigeria's major pollution. The oil exploration along the coast of Nigeria has created serious problem for the fishermen. The oil leaked out from the pipeline clogs up the shoreline causing death to many sea creatures. Living condition is getting worse every day for the villagers. The wealth generated by the oil industry is shared only by a few. The fact is the poor gets poorer.

In the other end of the world, Alberta is an oil rich province where the wealth is shared relatively by the countrymen. At least, the provincial administration is trying their best to create a diversified province. The fact is the poor gets richer.

Oil companies, especially global companies like Exxon-Mobile, BP, Total, Shell, who enjoy government and financial support. The massive infrastructure required to process and transport these products is capital intensive. Return on investment is a major yard stick for many oil industry executives. Investors are more aggressive in the last decade when funds managers take over the investment role.

Is it a vicious cycle of creating victims of wealth building? Small investor joins as a group to look for better wealth distribution. The simple objective for these investors is to retire on a decent pension. Most of them find not only their oil dividends dwindle, their other investment shrinks as pollution can create irreparable damage.

Football and Politics

The Nigeria government suspended the National team from participation in soccer events after their miserable performance. Soon after, FIFA issued a warning to the Nigerian President that they will boot Nigeria off if such suspension is to be carried out.

Talk about politics these days...but then politics has never been excluded from athletic events. Olympics is a typical example.

What about Mello, the Brazilian player, who successfully denied Brazil from advancing to the quarter-final. Is there a conspiracy in such blatant effort to undermine the team? What is the odds that Brazil does not make it to quarter final?

Do you lose your shirt yet?