As Singapore’s PSI exceed 150 tonight, eyes are tearing from irritation, but they should be shed for forests long gone, and repeatedly burnt in neighbouring Indonesia.
Mongabay.com reports that green groups have targeted Asia Pulp and Paper for its role in the destruction of forests and peatlands in Bukit Tigapuluh in Central Sumatra.
“APP’s activities threaten an important population of critically endangered Sumatran orangutans as well as other at-risk species, including Sumatran tigers. APP plans to clear up to 200,000 hectares of Bukit Tigapuluh.”
See Mongabay.com
I was touched by a song I heard today. ICC Brunei Coordinator Alan Tan of Beach Bunch highlighted Malaysian singer Zainal Abidin’s song “Hijau” to me today (thanks bro’).
Zainal composed and sang the song way back in 1991, when he already asked “My fading world, Who sees you? By the time we realise, it might be too late.”
Zainal’s song is beautiful and should be heard by everyone.
Note that Abidin’s chorus is sung in his Kelantanese dialect! He’s a special guy.
Thanks to “The Imperfect Mom” for her lyrics and translation.
Hijau (Green) by Zainal Abidin (1990)
Bumi yang tiada rimba (A world without forests)
Seumpama hamba (is like a slave)
Dia dicemar manusia (she is polluted by humans)
Yang jahil ketawa (who only laugh ignorantly)Bumi yang tiada udara (A world without air)
Bagai tiada nyawa (is a world without life)
Pasti hilang suatu hari (it will one day disappear)
Tanpa disedari (without realisation)Bumi tanpa lautan (A world without the oceans)
Akan kehausan (will thirst)
Pasti lambat laun hilang (it will eventually vanish)
Duniaku yang malang (my unfortunate world)Dewasa ini kita saling merayakan (In recent days we are always celebrating)
Kejayaan yang akhirnya membinasakan (Successes that in the end will destroy us)
Apalah gunanya kematangan fikiran (What is the use of maturity of thinking)
Bila di jiwa kita masih lagi muda (when our souls remain infantile)
Dan mentah (and raw)
Ku lihat hijau (I see green)Bumiku yang kian pudar (My fading world)
Siapa yang melihat (Who sees you?)
Di kala kita tersedar (By the time we realise)
Mungkinkah terlewat (it might be too late)Korupsi,opresi,obsesi diri (Corruption, oppression, self obsession)
Polusi,depressi,di bumi,kini (Pollution, depression on earth, now)Oh …anok-anok (Oh, children)
tokleh meghaso mandi laok (will not feel how it is to swim in the sea)
Besaing,maing ghama-ghama (and play in it together)
Ale lo ni tuo umurnyo bejuto (this earth is millions of years old)
Kito usoho (we work)
Jauhke dari malapetako (to stave away disaster)
Ozon lo ni koho nipih nak nak aghi (the ozone is thinning and we still)
Keno make asak (keep burning)
Hok biso wei,pasa maknusio (poisoned by humans)
Seghemo bendo-bendo di dunio (all the things in this world)
Tokleh tehe (will not last)
Sapa bilo-bilo (forever)
Otterman speaks... 