Wars and Boycotts 2

My post regarding the Gaza issues has generated much of debates and differences in terms of ideologies from every vantage point. If you have not read the so-called controversial post - here is the link. In this edition, I will try my best to recap at all the 14 comments that I have received and give some feedbacks. There were no rights or wrongs on your comments because they merely represents your stands on this issues, so I hope you guys don't get too hype over it.

Susane said... "I used to be forced to joint this kind of program(street protest&etc) I remembered I was in my 1st year at uni. Luckily I'm able too escape eventually"

I remembered recently that our good Minister of Education suggested the students to take part in some student movements to protest and promote hate against the Jewish. I agree that the decision made by Israel to act against Gaza was so wrong that the innocent civilians became the shooting target there. But, inflicting hates into others are just not right. If you are a Christian, you are almost assured to have heard on how Jesus Christ has told its followers to not to hate their enemy, but instead "love" them. The reason was hating your enemy will only encourage violences and avenges, in which it makes no much different between you and your enemy. Besides, hating someone would not bring an end to an issue.

Renaye said... "it's a sad thing. it's the messiest war on earth. there's always a solution but no political will. always tepuk sebelah tangan."

The solutions are there but peoples prefer to do it the hard way. In any wars in the past human history, when an authority fought with another authority, the civilians will suffered the most. Army troops and normal peasants died on a war - only the government merely stood still. But mark my following point, just because Israel is fighting the Palestine, it doesn't mean that the Jewish in general are against the Palestinian in general. Only 30-40% of Israeli respondent agreed to go on war but on the basis of Hamas constant threat into their land. There are many others Jewish who against of going war. Don't make any assumptions based on a small sample size, according to one renowned speaker, Dr Azzahari Ismail, whom concluded that we Malaysian always jumped into the conclusion too soon without knowing our facts.

Twenty-six said... "the moral is don't simply boycott..get the knowledge first."
Gempakz!!! said... "Did u know,when u buy something like ...XxXxXxX... ,u have donate to Israel to buy weapons,boms and other.."
~Wong~ said... "But then again, it won't affect Israel in any way as they are the invisible force of US economics, and those are not in the war."
firdaus said... "I'm just saying boycotting is a small & short-term solution...its not even a solution. It's better to think long term and strengthen economically, become entrepreneurs, offer alternatives and reduce the dependancy."
Some anonymous dude said... "When u buy Americans/ Israeli products:U give them money -> they buy weapon -> Kill people."
Kritz said... "What's the point of boycotting those products? Wouldn't that affect other innocent peoples too? Wouldn't that be the same?"
Harmony said... "I'm not going to just boycott my fast food and other stuffs so easily"
Acura said... "But boycotting American goods isn't a smart solution. Protesting on the streets aren't going to solve the prob. UN & the US need to do something or else the war is just going to go on & on"

This is a hard thing to investigate on. I am not an economist and I cannot assured how much the impact of buying these products will directly goes ioto the weapon coffer. The last time I checked, the consumers paid extra 5% government tax for the products, plus some 10% servgice charges in certain outlets of products. The revenue of a company will go to paying utilities, the salaries, raw materials, maintenance and social charity (in certain cases). Do not forget on other operating costs which I have not mention here.

Furthermore, most of the products and brands available in Malaysia are mostly franchise - meaning a local who brought and open these brands into our market. As mentioned before on the lengthy post, boycotts means backfire into our own volatile economy prospect and may not necessary brings an end into the issues.
I think it is not a time for us just to do any boycotting campaign for their products to end the issue. Why not focus on the main issue and tackle them on diplomacy manners or any methods available which will serves more realistic approaches to end it rather than attacking only a minor fraction of the issues. Boycotts solve problems in short term. Once we voiced our objection over Dutch and Danish products but the things cooled by itself, what's next?

I wished to thanks all our commentors which have resulted in the following conclusions:
1) All of us are against the cruelty of the Israel has done over the Palestinian over the past 20 days. The Jewish should stop attacking the Palestinian and the same goes to the Hamas. Cease the war and negotiate on a round table. Stop killing of the innocents and I believe both Israel and Hamas should be blamed.

2) Not all Jewish around the world and even those in Israel itself are supporting this war and killing. By just merely assuming a small sample size of 100 peoples who went to war doesn't make it a generalized statement that Jews are cruel, Jews killed Palestinian and so on.

3) Boycotting American and Israeli products resolves issues in temporary manners but the war will continues. Why waste our time tackling something insignificant while the core issues remain unresolved? Anyway, I believe it is an individual right to whether support or not support the campaign.

4) There are two sides of stories in an event. However, it may be easier to simply pick one side, abide and stand for it, but it would be unfair to the other side. In the revolution of human thinking in the modern age, why not take into considerations from both parties before passing out judgement. We perceived Nazis were evil because the history was written by the one who won the war. Does anyone ever wonder why Germany turned into an Axis power during World War 2?

Wars and Boycotts: Do We Really Need Them?

11:30 am local time, 27 December 2008, the beginning of Israel's offensive against the Hamas in Gaza. Codenamed "Operation Cast Lead", it targets the members and infrastructure of Hamas, thus ending a 6-months truce between Israel and Hamas. Hamas accused Israel for not lifting the Gaza Strip blockade and their constant raids in Gaza, while Israel blamed Hamas for the increasing rocket and mortar attacks into its territories. 

After 15 days of raid (until January 10), the war claimed more than 800 lives with 3,700 injuries, mostly on the Palestinian side. Israel also blocked humanitarian aid into the Gaza territory although later allowed humanitarian cease-fire in between 1 to 4 pm in certain days. 

With humanitarian crisis looming in Gaza, the worst are yet to come and it leaves the civilian Palestinian, living in fear under gunfire, gun shells, mortars and bombs. Although the Israel primary objective is to target the Hamas militants, the civilians are unfortunately not spared as the collateral damages cause 25% of the casualties are from the civilians.

THE WAR IS NOT FORGED ON RELIGIOUS ISSUES?

Since Israel announced its independence following the Civil War with the Arabs that led to the termination of the British Mandate of Palestine on 14 May 1948, the conflicts have resulted a never-ending saga. Thousands of lives have perished while millions became refugees. 

Contrary to popular belief, the war is not forged due to religious issues and I wish to clarify that these are not really a continuation from the Crusader War or specifically war against Islam. I cannot help but to notice that people nowadays seems to use religion or cultural belief to justify their attack over the innocents one across their borders. 

No matter if it is the Arabic-style-suicide-bombers or an Israeli-air-raid-bombardment or even the guerrilla-styles-attack on Mumbai, there are nothing on these actions that can be justified other than the disruption of peace and harmony. There is no proper justification on why a war must happen - but let us put the blames on our greediness, hunger for land and money, dissatisfaction and selfishness when the most losses were actually the civilian to suffer.

I particularly think that most of the Malaysians will think that the conflicts between Israel and Palestine for years were due to the religious issues, which is quite untrue. I heard one said before that Israel was committing genocide against the Palestine as an effort to destroy Islam and ethnic cleansing. Partly yes and partly no. 

The act of Israel in which they attack Palestine and killing many innocent civilian is no doubt an act of genocide but concerning any efforts towards Islam-demolishing, ethnic cleansing or Islamophobia, they are not true. The reason is that the causes of the conflict are something that most of us are not aware of.

WHY GO TO SOME WAR?

There is no possible dateline on when the conflicts begin. 

Let us take the Bible first, from the exercpts of Genesis. Abraham's wife Sarah was barren but he bore a son, Ishmael with Hagar whom was Sarah's maid. Fourteen years later, Sarah became pregnant and bore a son, Isaac. Seeing this God promised to make a great nation of their people thus commanded Abraham to expel Hagar and Ishmael. Isaac's become the ancestor of the Jews, while Ishmael's the Arabs and Muslims.

Following years on invasion by the Roman Empire and Ottoman Turks Empire, the Jews fleed the land to other part of the world, especially Europe. By the end of 19th century, European Jews began arriving at the land of Palestine, seeking to establish a Jewish homeland with the tag "A people without a land for a land without people". The problem was while there were relatively small Jewish in the land and discovered that the land was occupied by Ishmael's descendants. Therefore both claimed sovereignity over the same piece of soil.

In 1947, British decided to withdrew from the land of Palestine which they took in war with the Ottoman and named in the British Mandate of Palestine. At that time the population was roughly 2/3 Arabs and 1/3 Jewish. United Nations proposed a partition plan of two states. Jewish were unhappy but accepted the proposal while the arabs rejected. 

A civil war broke and the Jewish won and called its independence in 1948 on 14 May 1948. Immediately, the Arab League nations sent troops to fight the Jewish which resulted in the victory of the Jewish with more expansion of land than originally allotted. The Jews celebrated but the Palestinians called it the "nakba". The Arabs fled their homes that caused the refugee issue that persists till today. The Jews also left their homes in Arab nations to settle in Israel.

In 1967 "Six-Day War", Israel conquered the Sinai Penisula, The Gaza strip, the West Bank, the eastern part of Jerusalem and Golan Heights. Gaza is deemed as an important bordering point between the Jews and Arabs which previously under Egypt's territories. 

20 years later, a Sunni Muslim organization called Hamas (Islamic Resistance Movement) was created. Hamas is a political party, a military component and provide social responsibilities in Gaza. Israel and the United States consider Hamas as a terrorist, taken into credit for suicide bombing and rocket attacks into southern Israel.

Israli blocked the relief supplies in measure to halt rocket attacks. The Palestinians link the tactic to the Holocaust, similar to Nazi siege of the Jewish in Warsaw. Hamas continued to fire rocket into Israel while Israel continued to raid the Gaza. A 6-months truce was offered by the Egypt in which both accepted back mid-2008. After the period over, the rocket attacks continued. Each say the other's actions caused the collapse of understanding.

Israel decided it no longer could tolerate and therefore 27 December 2008 attack on the Gaza strip occured till what we are 15 days later.

TRULY HUMANITARIAN OR MERELY MERITS?

While most of the students in my college are currently busy with the program called "Untukmu Palestine", I decided to write this note to wonder if this program is based on religious reason or humanitarian reason. 

I begin to wonder what benefits this program will directly affect the suffering Palestinian? I cannot help to wonder how and where will the money will be channeled after the end of the program. It is just merely a program ran to provide merits to the students or an effort to really help the sufferings in Palestine? (In my college, you need to be active and obtain enough merit in order to get priority to get hostel accommodation for the next academic year.)

WHY WAR WILL NEVER END?

Let's look at the six core of the conflict that caused instability in the Palestine land: 

(1) Jerusalem, an ancient holy city among the Christianity, Islam and Judaism, is divided and unresolved as both parties claim assertions over the city. 

(2) Palestinian refugees that amounted to 4 million who wished to return to their home where they lived before 1948 and 1967. 

(3) Israeli settlements which expanded into Palestinian territories, but 2005 Ariel Sharon's plan was enacted to vacate Israeli settlements in Gaza, therefore returning Gaza into the hands of Palestine. 

(4) Security issues pertaining to both parties. 

(5) International status due to seperate partition of their state. 

(6) Resources distribution especially water supply among the two states due to the availability of the water resources. 

Looking at the six core issues themselves, none states the issues revolving the religious rights and so on. The efforts to end all of these fightings are not by Holy War by the Arabs or air-raids by the Israel. Diplomacy and tolerancy are the answers. It is difficult to achieve but that is the only answer to end the issues. 

Because of the near impossible, the war will just never end and the problems will never resolved. I cannot help to wonder myself how all of these core problems can be solved just like that. It only works when both states united under one nation two states that are autonomous with sharing is the only possibility towards peace! I think my idea is too ambitious, ideal and too much resembling "You Don't Mess With The Zohan".

BOYCOTT OR NOT BOYCOTT?

Boycotting brand names like McDonald, Coca-Cola, Starbucks, Manhattan Fish Market, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Microsoft and more to name of - does not it sounds hypocrite? It sounds hypocrite because all these while you spend money on them, consume their products and you end up boycotting something that are virtually part of your life. Ironic and hypocrite at the same time. There are few reasons why I think boycotting any US-made or Israel-associated products are not the answers.

(1) As mention earlier, you pay, you consume all these while and suddenly you decided to jump ship by boycotting.

(2) Why punish products that have been part of your life for years when it was the policy-makers or governments who were the one forging out and using people's money to go for some war? In recent survey, most of American and Israelites are not in favour for war. The outcome is obvious in the United States when Barack Obama won the presidential election, instead of John McCain whom will definitely following Bush's policy on wars. Going for a war requires billions of dollars been spent! Whose money are they using by the way? And how you will run your computer if you decides to boycott Microsoft as well.

(3) Boycotting products during the economy meltdown doesn't seems like a brilliant idea. In recent years many big companies offer jobs and opportunity of business to the locals and the same goes in Malaysia itself too. McDonalds offers thousands of jobs to school kids everytime holidays were around the corner. Boycotting is similar as making economy meltdown even worst indirectly. Well, this is what you get when you mix politics into daily life too much.

IN A NUTSHELL...

Before you go and blindly boycott or attend some street demonstration, just be wise and don't look on the history and current facts based on only one side. I will not joining any boycott and street protest because I think it will not bring any differences. But it doesn't mean I support Israel or against the suffering Palestinian. I choose to be neutral because I believe both conflicting parties should hold responsibles when war claimed the lives of civilians. Don't be blinded by the facts that going into war is something to be so proud about. Going into war put people's life at stacks.

MY MESSAGES...

To Israel: please stop all these non-sense raid when you say you are targetting the Hamas but it was the lifes of civilians which were perished.

To Palestine: I support you all the time because I believe in peace but I still think Hamas should hold responsibility for putting the life of civilians at stacks.

To my fellow friends at college: Read your facts right before making assumption. It is not that I don't support the program but I wonder how sincere the personels behind this program is...just ask yourself, you do this program to get merits or you really sympathy for them?

Two - Zero - Zero - Eight

I woke up this morning with so much things in my head. I had a handful of vivid dreams that I don't seems to remember. Human's sleeping pattern is unique. We have a cycle of sleep that roughly last for an hour and a half which consists of Rapid Eye Movement (REM) stage and non-REM. The REM ends with a bang, a roughly 5-10 minutes of our dream which may or may not be remembered, which is triggered by a brain structure called pons.

Nope, in this post, we are not talking about sleeps and dreams. Just that I want to enlight you that one of the dreams that I have was very much related to what had happen this year. That was the day when I became The Joker. Yes, in 2008, I become The Joker. Anyway, how's your been? Two-zero-zero-eight is another year that will be flying away in the next hours. So, lets recap my 2008 in my very own rendition.

2008 - THE YEAR IN RECAP by GreenTea
Come....it's all about FOOD AND DRINKS, FILMS, MUSICS, BLOGGINGS @ Green Tea, GADGETS, TVs and ISSUES

THE BEST COFFEE CHAIN
Need to say any more? Starbucks Coffee - enjoy Mocha Frappucino with whipped cream on top while surfing the Internet

THE BEST DESSERT SHOP
Need to say again? MOF@ Japanese Sweets and Coffees - enjoy their signature kakigori, imo and sundae with their good taste and natural sweetie red bean paste

THE BEST FAST FOOD CHAIN
Tough call but I am still putting my money on McDonald - the best thing is try to say this in within 4 seconds..."Two all beef patties special sauce lettuce cheese prickle onion and a sesame seed bun"

THE BEST PIZZERIA Tough call too but while Papa John's is still a juvenile, this year it belongs to Pizza Hut

THE BEST REVIEWED MOVIE
The Dark Knight - a monster hit of Batman saga

THE WORST REVIEWED MOVIE
It's truly Disaster Movie...one word, disastrous

THE BEST CHARACTER IN A MOVIE
The Joker and runner up is Tony Stark

THE BEST CINEMA CHAIN
Golden Screen Cinema especially the one in Pavilion and Berjaya Times Square

THE BEST SONG
"Viva La Vida" - a cheeky rhythmic and infusion of God-smack lyrics by COLDPLAY

THE MOST PLAYED SONG "
Apologize" - an addiction to its special and creative tune and lyrics by ONE REPUBLIC

THE BEST ALBUM
The Soundtrack of Mamma Mia! -a blend of feel good Abba's megahits fueling the Broadway show

THE MOST COMMENTED POST
"I Got Robbed" - 04/12/2008

THE BEST POST
"Nokia Nuffnang Silent Halloween Rocks" - 07/11/2008

THE MOST AMAZING POST
"Top Innovations of the Year" - 15/12/2008

THE BEST MOBILE PHONE COMPANY
Sony Ericsson still ahead of Nokia, although Nokia is coming in quick this year

THE BEST LAPTOP/COMPUTER COMPANY
Apple iMac, with their MacBook - too bad it is not so compatible with me

THE BEST CAR COMPANY
Toyota - good track record and it continues

THE BEST MP3 and MP4
Apple or Sony...Apple iPod I guess. You still frenzy about iPod

THE BEST TV SERIES
House MD...House is wacky as always

THE BEST NEW TV SERIES
Fringe...I love Olivia Dunham


THE TOP 5 Serious Issues
#1 - The Barisan Nasional failed to secure 2/3 majority in Parliament and at the same time lost 5 states to the Opposition

#2 -
Barack Obama becomes the first Black-American president, trashing John McCain for a Democrat sweet victory

#3 - Lehmans Brothers collapse while AIG and Iceland in blink of bankruptcy - a global economical meltdown

#4 - The high and low of oil price at global market - US$ 145 and US$ 40. In Malaysia, the flip-flop government increased 70 cents of oil price in one shot but took several reduction to bring it down

#5 - Peace never been there - South Ossetia pounded by Georgia, Gaza Strip bombed by Israel, pirates looming attack in Somalia, protests in Thailand, never-ending war in Iraq

Well, I guess that's all for now. Looks like New Year 2009 is within hours to go. so, the author of Green Tea World!! would like to wish you readers and Inniters

HAVE YOURSELF A MERRY NEW YEAR 2009 (The Christmas mood is still on) HAPPY NEW YEAR and GOD BLESS