Professor AK-47

ADOPT THE POWER OF THE PAST, OUT WITH THE FUTURE

Looking at the state of the world now one wonders what works and what won’t. Where do we look for solutions? While many say the future has much in store many believe however the answers for the world’s ills are rooted in the past.

But first let’s take stock. If the solutions we are seeking out lie in ideology, then democracy has proven it has failed. So are the others: totalitarianism, fascism, socialism, Fabianism, Nazism etc. If it is economics, then we are also witness to the demise of the market-controlled economy, centrally-planned economy, and the capitalist-based economy together with the socialist-based political order. If it is the form of Governments, then the one-person Administration has shown more resilience today as compared to the present collegial or two-party governments in existence in many countries. In theoretical terms as well the power matrix still holds sway in international politics. The approaches of post-structuralism have not caught the interest of scholars.

What of the future? Very much of what the past had to offer? Communism will become fashionable once more. Dependencia will attract and imperialism and hegemony will strike out once again. Once-renowned globalism will make way for uni-individualism and religion will assume a more local character: no more the universalism but more the quest for interest-groups looking for an ideology to guide their struggles or causes.

In the final analysis history will prove itself right after all! 

CLIMATE CHANGE: MAN-MADE OR NATURES NATURE?

I had the opportunity to listen to Dr Smoot a Nobel Laureate speak on the birth of the Earth at a forum early April.

Two things caught my interest. 

First his studies confirmed that Man will soon have the ability to create a new galaxy if the ingredients are available. Indeed according to Dr Smoot, you must build the structures then the web, then the filaments and finally the galaxy or galaxies. All the four must be in sync befire a new galaxy can evolve. Their studies have confirmed that this is possible given that there are now vastly-improved ‘hubble-sattelites’ that can helped in the process.

Second given the impact of his studies Dr Smoot contend that the Earth is forever expanding thus warming up the globe especially in the middle belt. The impact for us humans is that global warming has another culprit besides us humans, the continuous expansion of the Earth. 

How true this is will depend on how prepared we are to accept the realities of science or return to Nature to look for answers for solutions to our present-day problems.

SEVEN GENERATIONS OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

I read with interest the lucid argument for sustainable development as presented by Tan Sri Dzulkifli Abdul Razak, the Vice Chancellor of Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang, in the Insight column under the title "$2.30 African and the $2.20 EU cow" (New Sunday Times,, June 15, 2008).

I agree that for sustainable development to take roots there have to be a realization in us that what we do today will have an impact on future generations after us. I recalled the belief held by some Native Americans that they have identified seven generations as the length of time by which they can determine in all seriousness the idea of sustainability. In our calculation this will take around 140 years (if one were to count 20 years to comprise one generation).

If one were to follow this logic to its conclusion, we will certainly need a lot of futures thinking to appreciate what Tan Sri Dzulkifli meant by 'sustainable development' being the "development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the needs of future generations".

In the meantime, what do we do to get out of our unsustainable lifestyle? I offer the idea developed by Ivan Illich (1974) in his book, "Energy and Equity".

The idea is based on the observation that once you are dependent on something you will always do your utmost to sustain that dependence. There is therefore a correlation between dependence and sustainability. It feeds on one another.  What he says can be summed up as follows:

If you have it, you depend on it;

It then becomes a habit to you and it starts to control you;

You tend therefore to lose your sense of values on the important aspects of life,

In the end you enslave yourself to it;

The choice is no longer yours to make,

You are in fact poorer than before.

Illich was of course referring to the excesses of the transport industry in the United States of America when he wrote the book. Today the Americans have built a whole civilization based on the automobile and oil and they are in fact overwhelmingly dependent on both in order to sustain their present lifestyles. For them to sustain their global economic, social, political and technological leadership they require more oil and new energy sources which are getting less and less.

The road to our future sustainability lies in us resurrecting Buckminster Fuller's "more for less" idea and the giving up of our dependency and sustainability lifestyle.

ISLANDS, ROCKS AND LEDGES IN OUR WATERS

 

WHEREIN SITS STATE IDENTITY?

The recent decision by the International Court of Justice based in the Hague, Netherlands to award Pedra Branca (Pulau Batu Putih) to Singapore, Middle Rocks to Malaysia and the sovereignty of Southern Ledge to be determined by a new maritime boundary after future negotiations between the two countries, has evoked a range of response from all quarters both near and far.

Officially Malaysia has regarded the decision as a win-win solution to the disputed claims. Some have blamed the Rulers of Johore in the late 1850s for not rightfully staking its claim to the islands earlier. For others it has been a question of doing too little too late.

Whatever the case should have been, no amount of blame can put the clock back. Whatever is to be done for the future is more challenging. Malaysia has to realise that it is a maritime nation and as such it has now to take stock of all its maritime jurisdictions over the multiplicity of islands, rocks, shoals and ledges in and around the Peninsula and the waters of Sabah and Sarawak. It has to review the New Map of 1979 that indeed has been a very good attempt to map out a maritime boundary for the country.

Our priority must now be to stake claims wherever we think and believe we have a right to do so. Pro-activism is called for in such matters lest we stand to lose more than we could bargain for in the long run. We have to play by the rules of the game. We occupy, build and register our presence to show we are the owners of future islands, rocks and ledges in the seas around us. If necessary we have to show our flag and our army in these places. Only in such ways can our claims be recognized later when the time comes for such to be adjudicated by the international community.

Malaysia's diplomatic machine must now be moved to track down all manner of future claims and counterclaims on all maritime jurisdictions in the region. The ASEAN Secretariat needs to establish a Maritime Division to monitor such claims as these are going to be the sources of future conflicts between the member countries.

Finally for Malaysians we must be made to realize that a deeper knowledge of the history and geography of the maritime part of Southeast Asia still matters. Like Singapore we must be seen to do our homework first, before starting negotiations on future islands, rocks and ledges in the vicinity of our country.      

THE CLASH OF MAN AND NATURE AND TECHNOLOGY

Who will emerge the victor?

In the world of movies technology always seem to triumph over Man. At least this is probably what the scriptwriters and the directors have willed this so. In real-life however, we are taught that Man has the power to dominate and conquer Nature that has now been demythologized into just mere resources for Man to manipulate and shape into things to serve Man's diverse technological interest.

Indeed History has shown that this is true. Witness the epic journeys to cross the North Pole, to climb Mount Everest, to navigate the globe, to step foot on the Moon, to battle diseases and calamities, to crack the genetic code and finally to reinvent Man in his own image. In truth all these would not have happened without technology being successfully harnessed in the service of Man.

The question is can Man really win over Technology which has now replaced Nature? To start with we will need to understand the real meaning of the term "Technology". If we were to look at the political meaning of technology we can appreciate the difficulty for us to give a positive answer to the question posed at the beginning of the paragraph.

Some of the attempts at defining a political meaning for technology include: Is technology a means to liberate human beings? Is it an extension of Man's nature to dominate the Earth? Is the drive to achieve technological superiority humanly possible? Or is it finally a rejection of our true humanity? (Carl Mitcham and Robert Mackey, 1983)

Contrast these with the various definitions that convey a philosophical problem to many: technology has been identified with inventions; some have conceived of it as applied sciences; others have referred to it as a set of means by which Man uses the forces and laws of nature; and it is used for economic purposes and even justified as a kind of secular religiosity.

In a metaphysical sense, if one were to follow the argument above to its ultimate end, Man's quest to enslave nature and now technology will lead one day to, as described by C. S. Lewis,  "the abolition of Man". (Mitcham and Mackey, 1983) A return to the basic is called for here if Man seek to restore his place in Nature. This entails going back to the roots of spirituality.

Asian Minds Initiative

 

Asian Minds Initiative seeks to present the best and the most current of Asian thoughts and talents across several issues of regional and international significance. Once a week Professor AK47 will challenge and stir up responses from local players about regional problems and maybe suggest some global and universal solutions for them.

For too long Asians have been mere watchers to world events with hardly a hope to shape let alone to steer these for our own ends. We now want this situation restored to its rightful course through dialogues and sharing and partnership opportunities that can engender mutual gains and benefits for all.

Problems that cuts across boundaries, nationalities, religious and ethnic affiliations as well as issues that stare at us individually and impact upon society generally will definitely have high-interest value and should invite the intellectual curiosity of Asians.

Responses can take many forms: direct and indirect, formal and informal, chatty snippets or pedantic prose and finally, just for the sour grapes. But whatever the choices let there be varieties galore for the Asian Minds are never bent on limiting creativity and innovation.   

Asian Minds Initiative stands by the axiom: there is always dependency in every sustainability and getting out of this cycle is still the best option for humankind.