LOVE AND DEATH

LIP SERVICE ON RICE

(Comment in Life of Annie's blog on Padi Rescue)

Sustainable Living Institute (SAVE)13 December 2017 at 21:06

Whether Padi Rescue is registered or not is not an issue. Any informal or formal group can voice its concern for the security of our staple food.

Musonnef's problem with Bernas is his personal matter and so is his bankruptcy. In my opinion, being a concerned party he is at liberty to be with or even lead the Padi Rescue. We are talking about food on the table not only for now but future generations.

Strange that just because Bernas is established LPN cannot go on functioning. The two organisations can work and complement each other. Bernas' s scope is quite limited whereas that of LPN is extensive though not comprehensive.

Padi and rice production involves a myriad of activities to include soil and water management, improved seeds, field management, disease and pest problem, harvesting, milling, storage, quality control, marketing to list some.

When Muhyidin was the Minister of Agriculture then, Sustainable Living Institute submitted a memorandum to establish a Padi Board to include a Rice Research Institute in its ambit. Please refer our earlier posting in this blog on a copy of the memorandum to the Minister.

Although MARDI is doing rice research but lack the focus and funding because it involves with so many crops.

Malaysia has been talking towards self-sufficiency for many many years but lack the concrete policies and ideas how to spearhead to the goal. We merely pay lip service and has no political will power to accomplish it.

Take for example Japan, it is self-sufficient in rice. Their state of research is advanced. At one time they have more than 50 scientists working on the rice genome alone not to mention other aspects of rice research. In MARDI we have less than 20 researchers in rice! Its rice gene bank is under funded.

DERVISH CONVENT, MAHAN

Dervish convents have qualities of beauty and seclusion comparable to many in the West. At Mahan, in Persi, an outstanding group of buildings dating from the IX/15th century onwards houses the community founded by Shah Ni'matullah Wali, a sufi poet and mystic who settled there in 809/1406. His tomb is under the blue dome, built by Shah 'Abbas in 1010/1601. Mahan is a green oasis surrounded by desert and mountains, an image of the paradise garden. Four open courts flank the shrine. The 'spiral' roof illustrated earlier covers one of the rooms. Left: part of the ceramic decorations of the ceramic decorations of  the tomb of Al Ansari  at Gasurgah, near Herat.

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EXPO '70, TOKYO

The soaring Tower of the Sun pierced the roof of the Theme Exhibition building below it appeared the sun's "face."

Drumlike structure of Japan's pavilion symbolised the cherry blossom.

Bird's eye view of EXPO '70: at the bottom left is the spire of the U.S./S.R. Pavilion; at upper right is the low "quilted" roof of the U.S. exhibit.

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OF TONGKAT ALI AND KACIP FATIMAH

Tongkat Ali (Eurycoma longifolia)

The roots of Tongkat Ali, a small woody plant when mixed with the oil of Buah Keras and raw rice, serve as an ointment to ease abdominal pain and fever. Often the roots are boiled and administered as a tonic to women after childbirth. The leaves are used to treat cuts and head wounds and when pounded into a paste, can relieve headaches. The bark of the Tongkat Ali root can be brewed and consumed like tea to bring down a high fever. However, Tongkat Ali is probably best known as an aphrodisiac. Wood from the Tongkat Ali is extracted from the deep interior of the montane jungles, processed into capsules and sold on a commercial basis at 100 capsules to a bottle. Orang Asli suppliers claim that the effectiveness of these capsules equals or is superior to that of Viagra, and have the added advantage of being cheaper.

Kacip Fatimah (Labisia pumila)

It is a herbaceous plant that can be found quite widely in the forest. A decoction made from Kacip Fatimah is given to women in labour to hasten childbirth. After childbirth, it may still be consumed by mothers to help regain strength. The plant is also used to treat gonorrhoea, dysentery and eliminate excessive gas in the body.

LESONG KAKI - LUTUT LENGOH

Sebahagian bangunan kompleks Museum Pasir Salak yang terletak ditepi Sg Perak.

Lesong kaki yang dipamirkan di Museum. Bila pangkal lesong dipijak antan di kepalanya akan naik dan jatuh bila kaki diangkat dan padi ditumbuk. 

Teringat menolong  emak menumbuk padi menggunakan lesong kaki masa budak2 dulu. Tokonang dikampong.

MALCOLM X

His pilgrimage to Mecca further impressed of diversity, and race-colour-blind in Islam.

SUNGAI MATI MENEBAR JALA

The 'sebarau' is a medium size freshwater fish much sought after by net casting (menjala).

Orang asli much depend on freshwater fishes but the catch now is low due to polluted waters.

This river near my kampong house used to be (say 40 years ago) deep and wide where ikan kaloi was abundant and crocodiles marauding. It is now knee-deep due to siltation and the water is always murky. Only small fishes are found. What a pity state we keep our ecology. 

WHEN LIGHTNING STRIKES

Figure below: Occurrence of lightning involving ground objects.
(Left) A close lightning flash striking a tree at a distance of 60 metres. (Top) Lightning"; the discharge is triggered by the presence of a tall tower. Lugano, Switzerland.

BANDUNG - STRAWBERI DAN NURSERI

Tanaman strawberi dalam polibag.

Pamiran orkid.

 Bonsai

Pirang (dalam pasu plastik) yang perlukan rendaman air.

SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE - NATURE IN ARCHITECTURE

Sydney Opera House